Two suspected assassins allegedly sent to assassinate former Senate President, Senator David Mark were on Saturday apprehended by men of the Nigeria Police Force in Otukpo, Benue State.

The suspects, named Joseph Senda and Emmanuel Kura were driving a brand new Toyota Prado Jeep when arrested by the Police. According to an informed source on the details of their arrest, they had in their possession two (2) pump action rifles and four (4) AK 47 rifles.

While the suspects were in the custody of the Police at the Area Command in Makurdi, Dickson Akor, an aide of the governor of Benue State reportedly arrived to facilitate their release. But his intervention was rejected by the Police authorities who proceeded with plans to move the suspects to Abuja.

On Thursday before Saturday’s Benue South senatorial rerun, Governor Samuel Ortom was quoted as saying he couldn’t proceed on leave because he wanted to supervise the demolishing of David Mark. Efforts to reach the Governor for comments on Wednesday proved abortive.

Pockets of violence and ballot box snatching were reported across Benue South on Saturday in the course of the elections with supporters of Senator David Mark targeted and attacked.

In a brazen display of violence, Godwin Anebi a PDP youth leader was allegedly beaten to a pulp by thugs under the instruction of the APC senatorial candidate Daniel Onjeh in public glare of onlookers. He was then forced into the boot of a car and taken to an unknown location where they eventually dumped him half-dead. The incident happened at Onjeh’s Adum Oko polling unit in Orokam Ward 2. He is currently recuperating in the hospital.

Only yesterday Tuesday, about three hundred (300) armed militants invaded the Agatu village of Benue State killing and maiming residents of the area. An eyewitness told our reporter that the attackers were on a revenge mission on the people of Agatu for voting Senator David Mark in the just concluded Benue South rerun.

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/police-arrest-assassins-sent-after-david-mark-with-ak-47-rifles-in-otukpo/

What could have been a serious diplomatic row between Denmark and Nigeria was averted Tuesday when an operative of Nigeria’s Secret Police, the Department of State Security Services (also called DSS or SSS) accidentally discharged his weapon in the presence of the visiting Danish Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Kristian Jensen, The Trent reports.

Jensen, currently on a working visit to Nigeria, was at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 to meet with Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. While Jensen and his entourage were passing through security clearance, a DSS official discharged his weapon.

“Immediately, there was panic and the security detail of the visiting Danish foreign minister whisked him into the toilet for safety,” a security source told The Trent.

“It was discovered that the weapon was discharged accidentally. It was a big relief for all of us present. Nigeria, certainly, missed a bullet with that one,” our source, who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity said.

The meeting with the Vice President later held after the matter was cleared up. Jensen led a Danish delegation to Aso Rock. The delegation included the Danish Ambassador and businessmen from Denmark.

“This is what you get when you replace highly trained DSS operatives with soldiers,” a security source familiar with the situation disclosed that the shot was fired in the direction of the visiting foreign minister and it was fired by a soldier who had been assigned to the Presidential Villa.

“When the new president came he ordered that DSS operatives at the Villa [Aso Rock] be replaced with soldiers. This directive, led to disagreements between the President’s security detail and the DSS, there was a whole lot of back and forth and some officers were fired from the service because of it,” the source who pleaded anonymity told our report.

“DSS operatives who are assigned to protect the President are highly trained and in the history of the service, this kind of embarrassment has never happened,” our source said.

A top diplomat who confirmed this incident said that first thing that came to his mind was the religious riots that rocked Nigeria in 2005 following publication of editorial cartoons that depicted the Prophet Muhammad in Denmark.

Violent protests broke out in Northern Nigeria following the publication of the cartoons by a Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten. Sixteen Christian were killed in Maiduguri, Borno State, churches were torched and businesses belonging to Christians were looted and burnt down by Muslim rioters.

The Danish government defended the rights of the newspaper to free speech after violent protests broke out around the world over the cartoons. “The freedom of expression has a wide scope and the Danish government has no means of influencing the press,” the Danish prime minister at the time, Anders Fogh Rasmussen wrote in response to a letter from twelve foreign ambassadors. Rasmussen later described the episode as “Denmark’s worst international relations incident since the Second World War”.

“I thought, ‘O, my God’, I hope some sleeper terrorist has not infiltrated Aso Rock and targeted the Danish foreign leader,” the diplomat who said he was not authorised the speak on the matter and as such did not wish to be named, told our reporter. “Thankfully, the minister was not harmed. Had it been otherwise, who would have believed it was an accidental discharge?”

Mr. Jensen, 44, is in Nigeria to inaugurate the new office of the Denmark Consulate-General in Lagos and and trade mission. At the ceremony on Monday in Lagos, he announced his government’s renewed commitment to strengthen strategic areas of cooperation with Nigeria “which would strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries in the years ahead”.

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/denmarks-foreign-affairs-minister-narrowly-escapes-death-in-aso-rock/

The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that Governor Rauf Aregbesola was planning to sack striking doctors in the state and replace them with traditional healers and witch doctors.

The party’s spokesman, Diran Odeyemi, in a statement on Sunday, described the “technical” sacking of the doctors as a blackmail and a misstep on the part of the state government.

“Now that all the ill-conceived measures to cow the doctors have failed and the Plan “B” of replacing them with new intakes had been frustrated by the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Governor Aregbesola, wants to experiment with the use of native doctors,” Mr. Odeyemi said.

“Governor Aregbesola has a rich history of odd actions all in a bid to be ‘unique’. If a governor could unilaterally change the education system in Osun from the 6-3-3-4 operating across the country to 4-6-3 by recategorising primary and secondary schools in the state to Elementary, Middle and High Schools, then his plans to replace orthodox medical doctors with native doctors in this modern age cannot be dismissed with a wave of hand.”

The opposition party also accused many stakeholders in the state of not doing enough to caution the Governor Aregbesola against act that had earned the state negative publicity, charging them not to give up on the state.

“It is truly depressing that a once shining light among states of the federation could be reduced to the least in every aspect that is noble in the space of five years,” he noted.

“Osun in the last WAEC rating was 29th and least in the entire South West of Nigeria. In 2010, this same state was 9th in the entire country according to WAEC rating.

“Despite the fact that this and many actions of the present administration left sour taste in the mouth, all stakeholders in the affairs of Osun must not give up.

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/pdp-accuses-aregbesola-of-plot-to-replace-striking-doctors-with-witch-doctors/

President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2016 budget proposals are riddled with errors and provisions that may undermine his anti-graft war, civic groups say.

In some instances, the same purchase of vehicles, computers and furniture are replicated 24 times, totaling 46.5 billion naira ($234 million), 795 million naira is set aside to update the website of one ministry, while no purpose is assigned to a 10 billion naira provision in the education ministry’s spending plan, according to Oluseun Onigbinde, partner and co-founder of BudgIT, a Nigerian group that campaigns for transparency in public spending.

“The key line items you find in the budget are a disservice to the idea that this government has come to represent change,” Onigbinde, whose group first publicly raised the discrepancies, said in a Feb. 9 phone interview. “It would have been better that they took a very good look at every line item and ensured that it was justified.”

Buhari has proposed a record 6.1 trillion naira budget this year to help revive an economy reeling from the impact of the low price of oil, the source of two-thirds of government revenue. Brent crude, which compares with Nigerian oil grades, fell 0.3 percent to $33.21 as of 8:33 a.m. in London, down 42 percent this year. Additional spending will be funded through tax revenue and the deficit of 3 trillion naira through borrowing, according to the Finance Ministry.

Former ministers and high-ranking civilian and military officials that served under the previous government, are under corruption investigation. Sambo Dasuki, the former national security adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, is facing charges related to alleged misappropriation $2.1 billion meant for weapons procurement. About $150 billion
stolen by corrupt officials in the last decade is in foreign banks, Buhari said in July.

‘Padded Budget’

The government was the first to detect initial errors in the budget and Buhari wrote to lawmakers to correct them and welcomes further criticisms, Garba Shehu, a spokesman for Buhari, said by phone on Feb. 11 .

“If they know the one who padded the budget, they should announce that to the government,” Shehu said. “Anyone disagreeing with the budget is welcome to say their views, it is the only way we can make the country better.”

Buhari, 73, defeated Goodluck Jonathan in March in Nigeria’s first democratic transfer of power. He came to office promising to curb widespread corruption and end an Islamist militant insurgency ravaging the country’s northeast.

“The budget has become an instrument of the corruption process in this country over the last few years,” Jibrin Ibrahim of Abuja-based Centre for Democracy and Development, said in a Feb. 12 phone interview. “If the Buhari administration doesn’t succeed in stopping that process, then the anti-corruption war will be completely futile.”

Africa’s largest oil producer came 136th out of 175 countries in Transparency International’s 2015 world index of countries perceived as least corrupt.

Public Outrage

Onigbinde’s Lagos-based BudgIT was the first to draw public attention to spending proposals he described as “suspicious and wasteful” amounting to 111.32 billion naira, which includes 53.7 million naira repeated 52 times, 37.8 million naira appearing over 369 times, and a 3.9 billion naira allocation for the presidential clinic that exceeds funds designated for all 17 of the country’s teaching hospitals combined. These revelations have sparked public outrage and criticism of the government.

“There was a lot of expectation that there’s a clear departure from the past where previous budgets have been padded,” Onigbinde said. “All we have seen with this budget is that they have done even worse than the past.”

The budget controversy began last month when lawmakers alleged that the original document presented by Buhari on Dec. 22 had been substituted. The president said in a Jan. 19 letter to lawmakers that the original document contained errors.

It was while poring through the latest submission that BudgIT found unusual entries, including 31 million naira set aside as “rent” for the presidential residence, owned by the government, according to Onigbinde.

‘Zero Budgeting’

The Budget and Planning Ministry said in an e-mailed response to questions on Feb. 11 that errors were not “unexpected” as bureaucrats grappled with a new system called “zero budgeting” adopted by the government. It didn’t provide details of what the new system entails.

“However, the ministry has zero tolerance for malfeasance and whenever any wrongdoing is alleged, it will be thoroughly investigated and sanctions will be applied,” Charles Dafe, the ministry’s director of information, said in the statement.

Despite the explanations, criticism of the government is mounting with civic groups questioning Buhari’s running of Africa’s biggest economy.

“The executive should recall the budget,” said Ibrahim. “They have to look back at what was submitted, identify the alterations, correct them, make sure they deal with those who did the alterations, and resubmit.”

Other analysts see in the blunders signs that the government isn’t in full control.

“It’s ridiculous,” said Clement Nwankwo, executive director of Abuja-based Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre. “It doesn’t seem like the government managed to put together a first budget or has any control of its expenditure framework.”

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/buharis-budget-riddled-with-errors-puts-graft-war-in-doubt-bloomberg/

The Senator David Mark Campaign Organization for the February 20, 2016 Benue South rerun election has told the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Chief John Oyegun to call the party’s candidate Daniel Onjeh and his campaign team to order.

The Mark campaign organization said in Otukpo, Benue state on Thursday that the continued inflammatory statements, innuendo, abuse and poor conduct of Onjeh and his campaign team ahead of the rerun election is clearly unbecoming of someone aspiring to lead.

The APC, through a certain Ogenyi Okpokwu had alleged that Senator David Mark imported some armed men into Otukpo ahead of the election.

A press statement issued by Mark’s Campaign Organization Director Media & Publicity Dr. Adakole Elijah stated: “We believe very strongly that this is another APC plot to cover its antics. We cannot fall for it. We cannot be part of this crude mentality. We demand an immediate retraction and unreserved apology forthwith”.

The statement warned that they would employ all legal, legitimate means to bring Onjeh and his team to justice.

According to the statement: “We make bold to state unequivocally that we have maintained the highest level of decorum and restrain in spite of the unwarranted provocation since the campaign started.

“It is therefore instructive to remind Chief Oyegun that as a man who comes from the great Benin Kingdom the custodian of Africa rich cultural heritage where respect for elders is a grand norm, he cannot be indulging Onjeh’s ceaseless insult on our Principal.

‘The APC does not need to attack our principal. This is an election. All they need do is to tell the people what they have done or want to do. Senator Mark cannot be the APC agenda. We have an array of what we have done for the people. We cannot join issues with them.

“Our people have now seen the difference between what our principal stands for and what the APC wants to do in Benue South. They have seen how Senator Mark influences human capital development, attracting a university to Benue South, multi billion naira Otobi water dam to address the water and electricity problems in the area, the legendary Oweto/Loko bridge to facilitate movement of goods and services as well as annual scholarship to students under David Mark scholarship Foundation among others. These are verifiable facts.

“We do not need a resort to self-help to win elections. Our people are now convinced that external forces cannot determine their destiny. They know that Senator Mark represents Idoma dreams. They have decided once again to vote for Senator Mark.

“We also need to remind Security operatives to be on the alert as the APC in Benue state is perfecting plan to unleash mayhem on Benue south during and after the elections.

“Credible information reaching us indicates that the APC is said to be sewing camouflage army and police uniforms for thugs during the election.

“But what they must know by now is that our people have resolved to take their destiny in their hands. And no amount of intimidation or external forces can change their resolve to vote for Senator a Mark.

“A forth night ago, the Benue State PDP Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo alerted the security operatives of the grand design by the APC to sew fake Army uniforms for thugs to use during the election. The matter is being investigated.”

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/david-mark-to-oyegun-call-daniel-onjeh-to-order/

The Nigerian Senate has postponed voting on the 2016 budget from Feb. 25 because ministers cannot agree on revised public spending plans, lawmakers said on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

President Muhammadu Buhari presented a record $30 billion budget in December but asked for it to be withdrawn in January to make changes after a further fall in oil prices forced the deficit up to 3 trillion naira ($15 billion) from 2.2 trillion.

Abdulmumin Jibrin, chairman of the budget committee in the lower house, or House of Representatives, said the government had yet to agree on how much ministries would be allocated.

“The National Assembly sessions have witnessed disagreements between various ministers and top civil servants,” he told a joint news conference with Danjuma Goje, the chairman of a committee tasked with the budget in the upper house, or Senate.

Goje said the government wanted more “more time to do a thorough job” but did not give a new date.

“We don’t want to pass a budget that will be returned to us. We need to remove all ambiguities and paddings,” he said.

Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil producer, has held talks with the World Bank and has looked at borrowing from the African Development Bank and China Exim Bank to plug the budget gap as oil trades around $30 a barrel, down from over $100 in 2014.

On Monday, Buhari’s health minister Isaac Adewole had sharply criticised planned allocations for his ministry.

“In the revised budget as re-submitted, 15.7 billion naira for capital allocation (expenditure) has been moved to other areas. Some allocations made are not in line with our priorities,” he said.

“We have to look into the details of the budget and re-submit it to the committee. This was not what we submitted.”

After highlighting the economic challenges that confronted the country due to the fall in oil prices, the president vowed the budget would cut waste from government spending and its funds would only be used for public good.

“We are determined to ensure that our resources are managed prudently and utilized solely for the public good,” Mr. Buhari said. “To set the proper tone, one of our early decisions was the adoption of a zero based budgeting approach, which ensures that resources are aligned with government’s priorities and allocated efficiently.”

However, a breakdown of the line items of the 2016 Appropriation Bill, however, shows that what the president said cannot be farther from the truth.


Read more: http://www.signalng.com/senate-refuses-vote-on-buharis-budget-proposal/

In this video, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce makes an argument about the Nigerian economy on the floor of the Nigerian Senate.

In three different parts of the video, the “Common Sense” Senator is seen asking a fellow Senator, Dino Melaye to put his hands down. Melaye had raised his hand repeatedly in attempts to cut Senator Murray-Bruce short while he was still speaking but Murray-Bruce, each time, responded with such decisive and dismissive candour asking Melaye to put his hands down, making Dino look like a recalcitrant child.

Apparently a recording from a Senate sitting in December 2015, the video captures one of Senator Murray-Bruce’s finest moments yet on the floor of the Nigerian Senate.

The spats with Senator Dino Melaye are seen at 2:09, 4:03 and 6:43 minutes of the 7:08 minute long video.

Watch the full video here: http://www.signalng.com/dino-put-your-hands-down-how-senator-ben-bruce-shut-down-dino-melaye-video/

Nigeria’s political activists have disclosed that they have found a mass grave where hundreds of civilians who were massacred during the Nigerian army’s raids on two Shiite religious centers on December 12 and 13, 2015 were dumped, Fars News Agency has reported.

The mass grave is located in Mando Kaduna cemetery along the Birnin Gwari road near Hajj camp in Kaduna state and over 1,000 Shiites Muslims of Nigeria who were massacred by the Army have been buried there.

The political activists revealed that after massacring the Shiite people in Zaria, the Nigerian army had brought their dead bodies to Kaduna province and buried them in the mass grave.

“God bless the martyrs and grant patience to their families,” the activists said.

The Nigerian army attacked two religious centers of the country’s Shiite community on December 12, killing hundreds of defenseless civilians there. A few hours later on December 13, the military arrested Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky after raiding his house and killing three of his sons, assistants and followers.

Political activists said later that the Nigerian army forces buried and set fire on the corpses of those Shiite Muslims who had been killed during the recent raids in Zaria region.

“The Nigerian army has buried in mass graves and burnt a large number of dead bodies of those Muslims who have been massacred in the recent army forces’ attacks,” the activists revealed.

They said that the army was attempting to destroy every evidence of its crimes against the suppressed Muslim community, adding that if it had any convincing reason for the mass-killing, it wouldn’t resort to such methods to conceal its crimes.

Late in December, members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria demanded setting up of a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the killings of their members in Zaria on December 12 and 13, during its meeting with House of Representatives panel.

The movement also demanded for the unconditional release of their leader Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife who have been in the custody of security agencies since the incident.

Members of the movement made the demand when they appeared before a House of Representatives panel investigating the matter.

Although the meeting was held behind closed-door, a lawmaker at the meeting said that six members of the movement including some lawyers, chairman of their medical team, an associate professor from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the head of their education section were present.

It was also gathered that the movement members demanded for the corpses of their members for proper Islamic burial as well as the release of the injured for medical attention, alleging that hundreds of their members are currently detained in Kaduna prison without being charged to court.

The source said they told the committee that the killings were premeditated based on the way and manner they were carried out and sustained for more than 48 hours.

They said there was no reason for their leader and his wife would be held in custody for weeks without any information on his whereabouts without being charged to court.

It was wrong, they added, for anybody to refer to them as a sect, but that they are a movement comprising of adherents of Shiite, Sunni, Tijjaniyya and even Christian priests.

The source added that they alleged that apart from killing scores and destroying their Hussainiyya center, soldiers also went to where Zakzaky’s mother was buried and tried to exhume her body and also destroyed their cemetery at Darur Rahma along Jos-Zaria road.

They further said that when the killings were going on, personnel of the Red Cross who attempted to render help to the injured and evacuate those killed were denied access by soldiers.

After listening to their submissions, the committee chairman Rep Aminu Sani Jaji (APC, Zamfara), said his committee would do a thorough investigation.

He said his committee would intervene for the release of Sheikh Zakzaky and other members of the movement in detention.

The lawmaker said the committee would also visit the movement Hussainiyya, Zakzaky’s residence as well as the Darur Rahma, and other affected places to see for themselves.

He promised that he would ensure that justice is done no matter which of the two sides is found guilty.

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/mass-grave-of-zaria-shia-massacre-found-in-kaduna-state/

Born on June 16, 1989, Odion Jude Ighalo has blazed the trail into the global limelight as one of Nigeria’s most celebrated football internationals under 30. At the young age of 26, Ighalo is an aspiring footballer’s dream. Not a man of many words, in a chat with Ohimai Amaize, the Publisher of SIGNAL, the Watford striker says it all as he talks about football, growing up, family and life as he sees it in general. Excerpts:

Growing Up

I was born in Lagos on 16th June 1989. But my origin is from Edo State. It was really tough growing up but thanks to God for where I am today. Playing football was a normal thing in the neighborhood where I grew up. I grew up in Ajegunle. Frankly, I never thought I would get to where I am now. I grew up as a young footballer watching the likes of Kanu Nwankwo, Samson Siasia, Jay Jay Okocha, Samuel Eto’o, Andy Cole etc. They were like my role models and they inspired me to become a striker.

Good and bad times

The saddest moment of my life was when I got injured 2 years ago and did surgery. I thought I was not going to play football again. I was very sad. But thank God, I pulled through that phase. One of the best moments of my life was when I got double promotion with Granada to La Liga and Watford to Premier League and winning player of the month of December 2015.

How rich is Odion Ighalo?

I’m not rich but I'm blessed… Hahaha!

On career moves

One of my dreams is to play in the UEFA Champions League (UCL). I am still working towards it. As for transfers, after the season, we will see what God has in store for me but for now, it’s Watford all the way!

On recent rating of Super Eagles as world’s youngest team of 2015

I’m happy with the rating of the team as the world’s youngest football team of 2015. It’s a very good sign. It shows that the team has a great future ahead.

Relationship with God

Without God in my life I am nobody. It has always been God and I always return all the glory to Him.

When are the wedding bells ringing?

Wedding bells? Hahaha! I’ve been been married since 6 years ago with three kids but I just don’t bring my family out, especially on social media. Maybe that’s why people always think I’m single.

Read full interview here: http://www.signalng.com/interview-ive-been-married-for-six-years-with-3-kids-odion-ighalo/

President Muhammadu Buhari is proceeding on a 5-day vacation. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu disclosed this is in a statement on Friday.

Captured in a set of tweets issued from the official handle of Mallam Shehu, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo will stand as Acting President during the course of President Buhari’s absence.

“President Buhari has begun a short vacation from today, February 5 to February 10, 2016. While President Buhari is on vacation, the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo will perform the functions of the President. In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution, Pres. Buhari has dispatched a formal notice of his vacation to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives”, the statement said.

The reason for the vacation, coming barely eight months after President Buhari assumed office as President was not disclosed. But when asked by our reporter if the vacation was in relation to the President’s health, Mallam Garba Shehu said in a phone interview on Friday that the President is periodically entitled to a vacation.

“The President is entitled to a vacation. What he choses to use his vacation for is his private business”, he told SIGNAL.

A report by The Trent in January 2016 had raised concerns over the President’s health. According to the report, President Muhammadu Buhari’s aides have raised concerns over his health which is said to be in unstable condition as a result of his incessant foreign trips.

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/buhari-proc-on-5-day-vacation-osinbajo-to-act-as-president/

Addressing the European Parliament on February 3, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari said his government will not rest until over 200 school girls kidnapped in April 2014 in Chibok town of Borno State are rescued alive and reunited with their families.

According to reports, some of the girls managed to escape but over 100 are still being held captive by Boko Haram. There are fears the group which had threatened to marry the girls off, may be using them as suicide bombers – as part of a new strategy of using females for their missions.

In his address to MEPs in Strasbourg, however, President Buhari recounted some gains made by the Nigerian military in their fight against the militant group.

“All areas which were formerly under the control of Boko Haram in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe in north-eastern Nigeria, are again under our control. The displaced are gradually returning to their homes,” he said.

Buhari, who is the leader of Africa’s biggest economy, also called on the international community to provide more support to people in the Lake Chad region, who for the past six years have been terrorised by the Boko Haram sect.

He also called for closer collaboration between Europe and Nigeria to eradicate corruption and other criminal activities.

On February 4, Buhari wrapped up his European tour with a visit to London where he attended a high-level conference titled “Supporting Syria and The Region”.

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/missing-chibok-girls-will-be-rescued-president-tells-eu-parliament/

Nigeria’s president says his country’s military will only use the minimum force necessary to deal with extremists after calls for an investigation into senior commanders over abuses, including the deaths of more than 8,000 detainees.

President Muhammadu Buhari told European Union lawmakers Wednesday that Nigeria’s military has updated its “rules of engagement in fighting terrorism” and that care is being taken in “the treatment of captured terrorists.”

He said attention would be paid to civilians caught up in any fighting and protecting property.

Amnesty International demanded last year an investigation into nine commanders, including Maj. Gen. Ahmadu Mohammed, over possible war crimes including more than 8,000 detainee deaths since 2011.

Buhari promised a probe and to deal with any abuses by the military, but nothing has been done.


Read more: http://www.signalng.com/nigeria-will-limit-the-use-of-force-on-boko-haram-buhari/

Amnesty International has criticized President Muhammadu Buhari for reinstating an army general it insists was among senior officers implicated in the mass murder of hundreds of detainees in northeast Borno state.

The rights group says President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to honor promises to investigate allegations of rights abuses and war crimes leveled against some army officials coordinating counter-insurgency operations in the Boko Haram-wracked northeast.

Major General Ahmadu Mohammed was retired from the army after troops under his 7th division mutinied on May 14, 2014 in Maiduguri, refusing to embark on an anti-Boko Haram operation.

The army announced on Jan. 14, 2015 that Buhari had ordered that the general be reinstated after he was cleared of charges.

Amnesty International on Monday said that no investigation has been done into its report released on June 3, 2015.

This had implicated Maj. Gen. Mohammed and eight other senior army officials in the March 14, 2014 execution of around 640 detainees following a Boko Haram raid on Giwa army barracks in Maiduguri, capital city of Borno state.

“The reinstatement of a senior Nigerian military general implicated in the mass murder of hundreds of detainees underlines the monumental failure of the government to stamp out impunity for war crimes at the highest level,” Amnesty said.

Buhari, responding at the time to the Amnesty report, had promised the allegations would be “looked into” and that his government would “deal with all cases of human rights abuses”.

Amnesty regretted that “this investigation is yet to begin”.

The group recalled how its report had exposed a range of alleged war crimes and possible crimes against humanity committed by the military in the course of operations against Boko Haram.

It claimed that, since March 2011, more than 7,000 people were starved, suffocated and tortured to death in military detention camps.

The Nigerian authorities have yet to respond to the latest statement by the rights body.


Read more: http://www.signalng.com/amnesty-slams-buhari-over-recall-of-army-officer-wanted-for-war-crimes/

The show wasn't live and Ifeanyi Uba called in?

Tope Aluko narrowly escaped arrest by officials of the Department of State Security Services (DSS) who stormed Channels Television office Sunday night, SIGNAL can report.

Mr. Aluko, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State on Sunday night appeared on Politics Today, a live TV programme on Channels Television where he gave a breakdown of how the Ekiti State governorship election was rigged in favour of the PDP governorship candidate, now Governor, Ayodele Fayose.

Explaining a process he alleged was used in rigging the election, he said: “Before the Primaries, we had this believe that because Jonathan was coming out for second term and because we are going to be the first election in the south-west, at a meeting, we told him (former President Goodluck Jonathan) that north-east, north-west and north-central may not be too sure for him because the Hausas are clamouring for presidency and that you now have south-east and south-south, you must manage the south-west”.

“It was on the basis of that that we told him that he must manage south-west.

“Because of his interest, even before winning the primaries, we did so many security reports to tell Mr President then that he must make sure that we manage south-west zone and it was because of that that he gave us the head of security agencies,” Aluko said.

He further told Channels Television that the Minister for State for Defence and Minister of Police Affairs were made to give attention to the election because “we know that APC was everywhere in the southwest and we must naturally capture part of southwest if we want to balance what our brothers in the north were likely to bring on”.

Mr Aluko had testified at a lower Tribunal held to look into the election held last year, but he denied saying at the lower Tribunal that the election was not rigged.

He said that there was an agreement to take out some members of the All Progressive Congress to ensure that they do not give adequate support to their members. The incumbent Governor was an APC member.

“There was a strike team, a mixture of the DSS, military, the mobile police… that is about all.

“We had a meeting at Aso Rock on security and funds. We were given security and funds.

He listed the persons at the meeting to include the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces the former PDP chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, Governor Fayose and himself (Aluko).

“At the meeting President Jonathan agreed that if he needed Ekiti, he would support us to ensure that we delivered.

“At the second meeting we had Obanikoro, Jelili, Omisore… It was a combination of Osun and Ekiti people and they were discussing how we were going to move to take the south-west.

“Before the primaries, His Excellency, Ayodele Fayose, said that we can only win using the military.

“Then we came up with a plan about May,” he alleged.

When asked if his revelations were not a betrayal to Governor Fayose, who was his ally, he said there were not a betrayal, insisting that Governor Fayose betrayed him first after they swore by the bible on some agreements reached.

“We swore on the arrangement that we had before we embarked on the political venture.

“Him (Fayose) becoming the Governor, myself becoming Chief of Staff and Honourable Femi Bamisile becoming the Deputy Governor,” he explained, dismissing claims that he was coming out with the truth because he could not get what was agreed.

“For the military to indict its members because of the election of a state you will know that what I am saying is not a lie.”

He referred to a leaked audio mentioned by a military official that was at a meeting he attended, which was subsequently leaked on the internet, saying it was genuine and not doctored.

Mr Aluko also said that some monies in hard currency were giving as the funding for the Ekiti governorship election.

“That was the money given to the strike team. It was One million per Hilux van per day and they worked for three days,” he said, giving the sum as 132 million Naira.

In the course of the TV programme, operatives of the DSS stormed the Channels TV studio. Initially, it was not clear why they came. A source who witnessed their arrival disclosed the incident to SIGNAL Sunday night.

Further investigations on Monday revealed that the DSS operatives had arrived the Channels TV headquarters to effect the arrest of Mr. Aluko over the damning allegations he made in the course of the programme.

According to a Channels TV staff who did not want to be named, “They came to arrest Aluko but we told them he had left the building. So they drove into the night possibly to track him down. After they had left, we had to secretly smuggle him out of the building in disguise”, the source disclosed to this newspaper.

Aluko’s revelations on Sunday make him a material witness in investigations surrounding allegations that the Ekiti governorship election was rigged despite commendation from the US State Department that the process was fair.

Meanwhile, countering Mr Aluko’s claims, spokesperson to the Governor of Ekiti State, Lere Olayinka, said he was not surprised that Mr Aluko would make such claims, insisting that he (Aluko) was of an unstable character.

He further claimed that Mr Aluko had been involved in different crimes, ranging from admission racketeering, issuance of certificates to students while he was a lecturer.

Source:: http://www.signalng.com/ekitigate-channels-tv-staff-help-tope-aluko-escape-dss-arrest/

Gbolahan Obanikoro, son of the former Minister of State for Defense and Foreign Affairs, in this interview, clears the air on allegations against him in respect of the N4.75 billion he allegedly received through his company, Sylvan McNamara Ltd from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd). In the interview, he dismisses allegations by Sahara Reporters that the house he acquired in 2014 was from the proceeds of #DasukiGate, insisting he is a successful young entrepreneur who started acquiring properties abroad as far back as 2008.

Excerpts:

How do you respond to the allegations that you are a director of the company Sylvan McNamara Ltd and signatory to the Diamond account, which allegedly received the sum of N4.75B from the National Security Adviser?

I am not and was never a director of this company and neither am I a signatory to its account or any other account related to the entity. My involvement with this company ended as far back as 2013 before all these incidents and before my father was even appointed as a Minister, so any dealings that transpired after that is of absolutely no concern or business of mine. The bank is available to confirm who the signatories to the account are, and the CAC is also available to confirm who the directors of the company are. I am positive the authorities if at all they are investigating this matter will discover this.

The online news platform Sahara Reporters, reported in a story that you bought a home in 2014 as soon as the funds were transferred to Sylvan McNamara?

What a coincidence right? And this home according to Sahara also is a hide out. It’s just silly. I bought a home in the United Kingdom in 2008. I built my home in Nigeria in 2010, and I opted to buy a town home in the United States in 2014 during which period my wife had our third child. My focus for almost a decade has always been on business and the private sector and not politics. I have been working hard and fortunate to run a successful business. So it is definitely not out of place for me, and it is most certainly not a crime to buy a house. I’m truly grateful to Almighty Allah for all he has bestowed on me and my family.

The same online news platform alleged the funds transferred to the account were used towards the rigging of the Ekiti State Gubernatorial elections which the current governor Ayodele Fayose was victorious. How do you respond?

It seems Sahara Reporters is the only news platform doing the reporting doesn’t it? Look its simple, MO and Sahara reporters have their own thing going on. He sued Sahara reporters both in New York and Nigeria in 2014 and since then I guess he’s had his axe to grind with him, and they’ve been going back and forth since then. Their scuffle has been in the public space for a while now. MO is a politician, and in politics all this is fair game. I’ve been roped into it as you can see, my brother also, I wonder who’s next? Unfortunately, at this time in our country, defamatory and libelous reporting or journalism isn’t restricted and anyone can wake up and say anything without proof or facts without any severe repercussion. It’s unfortunate, but it’s the reality and that is what the likes of Sahara are taking advantage of.

According to the daily newspapers, the EFCC has begun its investigations, and unanimous sources within link you as signatories to the account?

Like I said earlier, my involvement with this company seized way back in 2013, and I challenge anyone to come forth with any evidence contrary to that. But let me say this; Justice is not served if authorities are taunting any information discovered during the course of their investigation to achieve a predetermined outcome. I think government must thread within the confines of the law.

What are your thoughts on the Presidents anti corruption crusade?

I have no problems with it at all. I believe it’s every Nigerian’s desire for corruption to be eradicated or at least significantly reduced. Steps have been taking in the past, steps will be taken now, and further steps will be taken even after President Buhari’s administration. Policies like the cashless system, the BVN etc were all measures taken to tackle this problem prior to the President. He has now introduced additional measures and gradually as our institutions grow, the better grip we’ll have on this problem.

Have these revelations impacted you and your family in any way?

Of course! I am a young man with an adorable wife and three beautiful children, so there is a lot at stake for me. Furthermore, as a young business man these types of unguarded allegations and press have undesirable implications on one’s business. But then again, it is not surprising especially for a family like ours. The Obanikoro name is the envy of many from political opponents of my father and brother to personal adversaries. But that’s ok. We are a God fearing Muslim family and a family deeply united with profound love and admiration for one another. We have individually and collectively accomplished a lot and as far as I am concerned the best is yet to come for the Obanikoro’s. Insha Allah.


Read more: http://www.signalng.com/ive-been-buying-houses-since-2008-gbolahan-obanikoro-dismisses-sahara-reporters-allegations/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday raised the alarm that having lost the war to the nation’s armed forces, insurgents are desperately seeking ways of returning to the society to wreak havoc, PUNCH reports.

Buhari therefore called on all Nigerians, especially those that are resident in areas previously ravaged by terrorists, to be more vigilant and ready to work with security operatives in ending the war against insurgency.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President made the submission while reacting to the spate of suicide bombings in Chibok market, Dolari Internally Displaced Person’s camp in Borno State and the Gombi market in Adamawa State.

He said the insurgents’ gradual return was meant to embarrass his government and that was why they chose isolated communities and markets as their targets.

He said the insurgents had suffered immensely from the sustained bombardments of their camps and hide outs by the Nigerian military and had resorted to using desperate measures to gain cheap media attention.

The President added that the terrorists had been rendered weak, confused and homeless after repeated bombings and ravaging of their camps and hide outs by the military, forcing them to find their way back into the society to wreak havoc, like the case of the Dalori IDP camp.

He said, “I urge all citizens wherever they live to own the war against terror and to be part of the fight because it is the only way we can finish the remaining work that needs to be done to make our country safe again.

“Having lost the war, they (the insurgents) are seeking ways and means to gradually find their way back into society.

“They are not returning to contribute but to cause more havoc. They are so desperate to embarrass the government and the people that they have no qualms attacking isolated communities and markets.”

Buhari noted that the materials for the Improvised Explosive Devices were locally sourced by the insurgents.

He therefore urged Nigerians to be more circumspect and report suspicious purchases and movements of unusual components in any part of the country, especially the North East.

The President extended his condolences to all the people of Chibok, Gombi and Dalori who lost loved ones in the recent attacks and prayed that the Almighty God will comfort them and grant the injured persons quick recovery.

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/boko-haram-are-desperate-to-embarrass-my-government-buhari-reacts-to-dalori-massacre/

The All Progressives Congress (APC), on Sunday, condemned the decision by leadership of the Catholic Church, Enugu Parish to transfer the fire-brand Enugu cleric, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka from Christ the King Parish in the Government Reserved Area, GRA, of the state to Our Lady Parish in Emene, a suburb of the state, Vanguard newspaper reports.

The fiery priest and Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry has presided as the Parish Priest of Christ the King Parish, G.R.A, for over 20 years.

But in the Emene parish, where he was transferred to, he is to serve under another priest.

Spokesperson of the APC South-East Caucus, Osita Okechukwu, who spoke against the transfer of Mbaka said, “It was wrong to punish the fearless priest for his prophecies which has proved to be from God.”

Okechukwu while expressing concern over Mbaka’s safety alleged that the transfer was influenced by outside forces, adding that worshippers may find it difficult to get to Emene for programmes of the Adoration Ministry.

The condemnation of Father Mbaka's transfer by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party is coming 24 hours after suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Saturday attacked Dalori, a village 4 kilometers from the Borno State capital Maiduguri, reportedly leaving over 100 killed.

The suspected terrorists torched the villagers' houses, leaving livestock and scores burnt beyond recognition after they had looted and carted away foodstuffs.

The Nigerian government is yet to officially condemn or issue a statement on the attack.

Dalori is a few kilometres from one of the major IDP camps along the Maiduguri-Bama road and a stone throw from the University of Maiduguri.

The attack comes despite claims by President Buhari that the insurgents had largely been defeated.

The Boko Haram insurgency in Northern Nigeria has led to the death of over 20,000 people since it began in 2009.

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/apc-condemns-catholic-churchs-transfer-of-fr-mbaka-silent-over-dalori-massacre/

Indications emerged on Friday that journalist and creative writer, Tolu Ogunlesi allegedly co-authored an article, by The Economist, which labeled Nigeria’s former president, Goodluck Jonathan, an ineffectual buffoon. The article also described President Buhari’s approach to dealing with Nigeria’s economic challenges as “crude.”

The article which attracted the condemnation of many Nigerians, saw The Economist trending for hours in the Nigerian social media space.

Tolu Ogunlesi, investigations revealed, has been working as a ‘ghost-writer’ for The Economist. An informed source who did not want to be named disclosed to SIGNAL that Ogunlesi has authored many of The Economist’s articles focused on Nigeria, including the one last year in which the magazine endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari shortly before the elections of March 28, 2015. Ogunlesi is also a regular contributor to foreign newspapers like the Financial Times.

Ogunlesi’s history of anti-Jonathan rhetoric

During the administration of former President Jonathan, Tolu Ogunlesi carved a niche for himself as a government critic writing extensively in articles on local and foreign journals criticizing the government and administrative style of the former Nigerian president.

Ogunlesi’s disdain for Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience Jonathan just like that of many anti-government voices in the social media was unhidden. He is credited as the script-writer of the cartoon remake of “Personally” by PSquare which mocked and ridiculed the former president and his wife. Ogunlesi’s cartoon remake of the song originally done by PSquare, received the sponsorship of foreign donors like the Ford Foundation and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).

In another development, Ogunlesi was also allegedly behind the ‘Wendell Simlin’ propaganda which labeled Reno Omokri, then Special Assistant on New Media to former President Jonathan as the man behind an anonymous e-mail spreading accusations that then Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Lamido Sanusi, was a Boko Haram sympathiser and sponsor.

Re-writing Jonathan’s legacies

Ogunlesi’s ability to weave unflattering narratives against the Jonathan administration endeared him to Buhari’s presidential campaign and he is reported to have carried out a couple of foreign media hatchet-jobs for the Buhari presidential campaign, chief amongst which was, and still is, to re-write the legacies and accomplishments of Goodluck Jonathan. The logic behind this strategy, is hinged on the idea that if Jonathan is branded and presented to the international community as the worst thing that ever happened to Nigeria, the gains of his administration and his legacies would have been easily eroded, an informed source who did not want to be named told SIGNAL.

“One big challenge of Buhari’s government is the achievements of former President Jonathan which Buhari himself has discovered will be very difficult to surpass. So part of what they are trying to do is blame Jonathan for everything that went wrong with Nigeria, demonize him and make him look weak, corrupt and incompetent so that Buhari can easily smell like roses and pardoned by Nigerians if he is unable to deliver his campaign promises”, the source said.

It wasn’t surprising when in July 2015, news broke that President Muhammadu Buhari had appointed Tolu Ogunlesi as his Special Assistant on New Media. While Ogunlesi is yet to officially resume this duty, months after the announcement, government sources say he is already on the government’s payroll working behind the scenes on a “brief” aimed at demystifying Jonathan and re-writing his legacies.

Ever since, Ogunlesi has reportedly been ‘consulting’ for Buhari’s government and recently assembled some social media bloggers and activists to meet with Nigeria’s information Minister Lai Mohammed at a meeting in Lagos.

Curiously, just as President Jonathan was delivering a speech in Geneva on Wednesday where he gave an account of his stewardship to an audience of global observers, Ogunlesi tweeted in reference to Jonathan: “Claiming ‘I built schools’ as achievement while you allowed BH operate unchallenged, & securocrats looted defense funds. SMH.” In a follow up tweet, he said: “History will be kind to the fisherman’s son, for he intends to re-write it himself” in brazen contempt of the former president.

Barely 24 hours later, The Economist published the article denigrating Goodluck Jonathan.

Despite being publicly outed on Friday in the Nigerian social media as the man behind the Jonathan article, Ogunlesi is uncharacteristically yet to deny the allegation.

A hatchet-job gone wrong?

But if Tolu Ogunlesi is working for the government of President Buhari, why was Buhari also sharply criticized in the article by The Economist? An informed source who spoke to SIGNAL described it as ‘playing smart’. “Tolu is attempting to eat his cake and have it at the same time. He is clearly on the payroll of Buhari’s government to manage some aspects of the government’s foreign media, but he is also using the opportunity to anonymously hit back at Buhari’s government. Many people who supported Buhari are disappointed with him but can’t openly criticize him for fear of being ridiculed by the opposition. Tolu is also not happy that after his appointment was announced months ago, he is yet to be confirmed. So for him, this is an outlet to anonymously vent his anger at Buhari’s government. Don’t be fooled by the seeming objectivity of the article. I don’t even have a problem with Tolu abusing Jonathan or Buhari, but let him chose one. He cannot be under the payroll of one and then turn round to insult both of them. You are paid by Buhari to manage his perception in the social media, but you are also going behind to anonymously use the platform he is paying for to attack him. That is not being smart. It is being dishonest”, the source said.

Over time, The Economist, SIGNAL gathered has indicated more than passing interest in Nigeria. A report in June 2015 by the magazine, titled: “Enabling a more productive Nigeria: Powering SMEs” cited Tolu Ogunlesi as having contributed reporting and fieldwork.

When it comes to critical Nigeria articles, Ogunlesi and Eleanor Whitehead, the Nigeria correspondent of The Economist, SIGNAL gathered, are the go-to persons.

Read full article with attachments here: http://www.signalng.com/exclusive-tolu-ogunlesi-wrote-the-economist-article-calling-gej-an-ineffectual-buffoon/

Nigeria’s former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has described as unrealistic, figures being bandied by President Buhari’s government alleging his government was corrupt.

Speaking after a press conference to receive a democracy award in Geneva, Switzerland, Jonathan urged caution about the figures being elicited by Buhari’s government regarding corruption.

“Sometimes people think that I was president since the independence (of Nigeria) and not for five years. Sometimes they say that we have lost over $150 billion in funds in the five years that I was president,” Jonathan told Quartz.

“Because of politics, some people come up with more money and say that $49.8 billion were missing within 18 months, ” Jonathan added.

Last week, Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s information minister claimed 55 people, including former governors, cabinet ministers and other government officials stole $9 billion from the country’s treasury. That according to Buhari’s government included $2.1 billion intended for the purchase of weapons to fight Boko Haram.

Jonathan also referred to allegations in December 2013 of non-remittance of $49.8 billion in oil revenue by the country’s public oil authority, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). At the time, Lamido Sanusi, the central bank governor told Jonathan about tens of billions owed to the state, in a letter that was leaked to the press. Sanusi was later fired.

“The same person who raised the issue, within two days said the money was $12 billion, and the two days later said it was $20 billion,” Jonathan said.

“Regarding the $9 billion,” he added, “The truth will come out.”

In October, Jonathan’s former oil minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke was arrested in the United Kingdom for bribery and money laundering.

Jonathan became a global hero when he left office. In the run-up to the elections in March, Africa’s largest economy had seemed on the brink. Boko Haram insurgents were running riot, rumors of corruption were growing daily and the threat of conflict and political crisis if the election results were contested.

But instead of triggering a crisis, Jonathan stood aside when rival Muhammadu Buhari was clearly winning the vote. Many experts think his early concession spared the country from conflict and he has rightly got praise and more recently awards for his role.

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/buharis-accusations-unrealistic-jonathan-breaks-silence-on-corruption-probe/

Daniel Onjeh, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Benue South senatorial re-run has said there is nothing wrong in listing Tiv politician Senator George Akume as his number one referee in documents he submitted to INEC as a candidate of his party.

Onjeh disclosed this while reacting to a publication by SIGNAL which made the revelation that his number one referee was Senator George Akume, contrary to earlier denials by Onjeh’s campaign that he was not being backed by Tiv politicians who are behind a conspiracy to unseat Senator David Mark in the Senate.

Documents made available to SIGNAL had confirmed the details. In Daniel Onjeh’s INEC FORM CF.001, received and stamped by INEC on 30th December, 2014, Onjeh listed only two referees: Senator George Akume, a former Governor of Benue State and Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Deputy Minister for Education, Ghana.

Onjeh in a press statement released through Chief Eloyi Ogbe, a member of his campaign organization said there was nothing wrong in having Senator Akume as his benefactor.

In the statement, Onjeh also claimed that he listed Chief Audu Ogbeh as his referee daring SIGNAL to publish the entire document.

“In an attempt to deceive the people to believe in their war cry where no war existed between the peoples of Benue State, they fail to include the page where the name of Chief Audu Ogbe was also included as one of the Referees. This is falsehood in the highest order and it is unbecoming of the campaign of an individual to whom, the noble people of zone C has given their trust for the last 16 and half years to clutch at straws with this. If they were not afraid that their lies would show, they should have published the whole form for the world to see”, Onjeh said.

But further investigations by SIGNAL have revealed that Onjeh lied in claiming that Audu Ogbeh was also listed as his referee in his CV submitted to INEC.

SIGNAL on Thursday obtained the full documents, which contain Onjeh’s credentials, and contrary to Onjeh’s claim, Audu Ogbeh is not listed as his referee.

Below is Daniel Onjeh’s complete INEC FORM CF.001 along with his credentials, received and stamped by INEC on 30th December 2014.

Click here to read full story with images: http://www.signalng.com/daniel-onjeh-lied-inec-documents-reveal-audu-ogbeh-is-not-his-referee/

Nigeria's former President, Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday addressed the global community in Geneva, Switzerland at a press conference hosted by the Geneva Press Club. Below is the full text of the speech focused on Security, Education and Development in Africa exclusively obtained by SIGNAL.

Protocols

Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, I thank you for coming to hear me speak on the twin issues of education and security.

Though this event is billed as a press conference on a Better Security and Education for West Africa, for the sake of time, I will focus on my experience in government which gave me a practical demonstration of how education impacts on security.

I will thereafter touch on my post presidential focus which is on advancing democracy and good governance in Africa and increasing access to opportunity for wealth generation in Africa.

If you peruse the official UNESCO literacy rates by country, what you will find is that all of the top ten most literate nations in the world are at peace, while almost all of the top 10 least literate nations in the world are in a state of either outright war or general insecurity.

Lower education levels are linked to poverty and poverty is one of the chief causative factors of crime whether it is terrorism or militancy or felonies.

With this at the back of my mind, I began the practice of giving education the highest sectoral allocation beginning with my very first budget as President in 2011.

My policy was to fight insecurity in the immediate term using counter insurgency strategies and the military and for the long term I fought it using education as a tool.

As I have always believed, if we do not spend billions educating our youths today, we will spend it fighting insecurity tomorrow. And you do not have to spend on education just because of insecurity. It is also the prudent thing to do.

Nigeria, or any African nation for that matter, can never become wealthy by selling more minerals or raw materials such as oil. Our wealth as a nation is between the ears of our people.

It is no coincidence that the Northeast epicenter of terrorism in Nigeria is also the region with the highest rate of illiteracy and the least developed part of Nigeria.

In Nigeria, the Federal Government actually does not have a responsibility for primary and secondary education, but I could not in good conscience stomach a situation where 52.4% of males in the Northeastern region of Nigeria have no formal Western education.

The figure is even worse when you take into account the states most affected by the insurgency.

83.3% of male population in Yobe state have no formal Western education. In Borno state it is 63.6%.

Bearing this in mind is it a coincidence that the Boko Haram insurgency is strongest in these two states?

So even though we did not have a responsibility for primary and secondary education going by the way the Nigerian federation works, I felt that where I had ability, I also had responsibility even if the constitution said it was not my responsibility.

Knowing that terrorism thrives under such conditions my immediate goal was to increase the penetration of Western education in the region while at the same time making sure that the people of the region did not see it as a threat to their age old practices of itinerant Islamic education known as Almajiri.

For the first time in Nigeria’s history, the Federal Government which I led, set out to build 400 Almajiri schools with specialized curricula that combined Western and Islamic education. 160 of them had been completed before I left office.

I am also glad to state that when I emerged as President of Nigeria on May 6th 2010, there were nine states in the Northern part of the country that did not have universities. By the time I left office on the 29th of May 2015, there was no Nigerian state without at least one Federal University.

Now the dearth of access to formal education over years created the ideal breeding ground for terror to thrive in parts of Nigeria but there are obviously other dimensions to the issue of insecurity in Nigeria and particularly terrorism.

You may recall that the fall of the Gaddafi regime in August 2011 led to a situation where sophisticated weapons fell into the hands of a number of non state actors with attendant increase in terrorism and instability in North and West Africa.

The administration I headed initiated partnership across West Africa to contain such instability in nations such as Mali, which I personally visited in furtherance of peace.

And with those countries contiguous to Nigeria, especially nations around the Lake Chad Basin, we formed a coalition for the purpose of having a common front against terrorists through the revived Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

Those efforts continue till today and have in large part helped decimate the capacity of Boko Haram.

Another aspect of the anti terror war we waged in Nigeria that has not received enough attention is our effort to improve on our intelligence gathering capacity.

Prior to my administration, Nigeria’s intelligence architecture was designed largely around regime protection, but through much sustained effort we were able to build capacity such that our intelligence agencies were able to trace and apprehend the masterminds behind such notorious terror incidences as the Christmas Day bombing of the St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State.

Other suspects were also traced and arrested including those behind the Nyanya and Kuje bombings.

Not only did we apprehend suspects, but we tried and convicted some of them including the ring leader of the Madalla bombing cell, Kabir Sokoto, who is right now serving a prison sentence.

But leadership is about the future. I am sure you have not come here to hear me talk about the way backward. You, like everyone else, want to hear about the way forward.

I am no longer in office, and I no longer have executive powers on a national level. However, I am more convinced now than ever about the nexus between education and security.

My foundation, The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, was formed to further democracy, good governance and wealth generation in Africa.

Of course, Charity begins at home and for the future, what Nigeria needs is to focus on making education a priority.

Thankfully, the administration that succeeded mine in its first budget, appears to have seen wisdom in continuing the practice of giving education the highest sectoral allocation. This is commendable.

I feel that what people in my position, statesmen and former leaders, ought to be doing is to help build consensus all over Africa, to ensure that certain issues should not be politicized.

Education is one of those issues. If former African leaders can form themselves into an advisory group to gently impress on incumbent leaders the necessity of meeting the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommended allocation of 26% of a nations annual budget on education, I am certain that Africa will make geometric progress in meeting her Millennium Development Goals and improving on every index of the Human Development Index.

Data has shown that as spending on education increases, health and well being increases and incidences of maternal and infant mortality reduce.

In Nigeria for instance, Average Life Expectancy had plateaued in the mid 40s for decades, but after 2011, when we began giving education the highest sectoral allocation, according to the United Nations, Nigeria enjoyed her highest increase in Average Life Expectancy since records were kept. We moved from an Average Life Expectancy of 47 years before 2011 to 54 years by 2015.

I had earlier told you about the connection between education and insecurity.

I believe that it is the job of former leaders and elder statesmen to convince Executive and Legislative branches across Africa to work together to achieve the UNESCO recommended percentage as a barest minimum.

I intend to offer my services, through The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, for this purpose and I invite interested organizations to help us make this happen.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, this, in a nutshell are some of my thoughts for a Better Security and Education for Africa and I will now entertain your questions.

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/exclusive-full-text-of-goodluck-jonathans-speech-in-geneva/

Human Rights Watch says Nigeria’s new government is violating rights on many fronts in its fight against Boko Haram’s Islamic uprising and in bringing corrupt politicians to book.

The allegations in the New York-based organization’s global report published Wednesday offers fuel to opponents who accuse President Muhammadu Buhari of acting as he did as a former military dictator.

The report says Buhari’s inauguration in May “has not diminished the potency of the country’s serious human rights challenges.”

Buhari has not acted on promises to investigate allegations that the military is committing extrajudicial killings and illegally detaining people suspected of being Boko Haram fighters or supporters.

Human Rights Watch said the worst atrocity of 2015 in Nigeria was Boko Haram’s slaughter of 2,000 civilians in Baga, a northeastern fishing settlement.

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/human-rights-watch-accuses-buhari-of-human-rights-violations/

Contrary to claims by Daniel Onjeh, the APC senatorial candidate for Benue South that he is not being sponsored by politicians of Tiv extraction in a conspiracy to dislodge former Senate President, David Mark from the Senate, fresh details have revealed that not only is Senator George Akume financing Daniel Onjeh, he is actually listed as Onjeh’s referee in documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Documents made available to SIGNAL on Tuesday confirmed the details.

In Daniel Onjeh’s INEC FORM CF.001, received and stamped by INEC on 30th December, 2014, Onjeh who has no known career since he vacated his position as President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in 2003 listed fishing and internet browsing amongst his hobbies.

Supporters of Senator David Mark have fingered external interests from the Tiv part of Benue State as the backers of Daniel Onjeh, a claim Onjeh’s campaign has vehemently denied. The revelation of Senator Akume as Onjeh’s prime referee puts paid to denials by Onjeh that he has nothing to do with the Tiv conspiracy to unseat David Mark in the Senate.

In a chat with SIGNAL on Tuesday, a concerned Idoma youth leader who did not want to be named described the Tiv agenda to unseat David Mark as irresponsible and unfortunate. He described Onjeh as an opportunist pre-dating his days as NANS President.

According to the source, “I was the one who made Daniel Onjeh NANS President and it is a development I have lived to regret. I was serving as a youth corper when Onjeh was running for NANS President. I became interested in him the moment I discovered he was an Idoma like me. I left what I was doing and mobilized extensively for him to win. Immediately he became NANS President, Onjeh became extremely arrogant. Nobody could talk to him again. There was a time we had an issue and we told Onjeh as NANS President to speak to the Minister of Education. He refused. He said his office as NANS President was bigger than that of a Minister that he will not beg the Minister. Look, let me tell you, Onjeh knows what he is doing. He is a scopist. This election for him is a scope. He knows he won’t win but he is using the election to raise money from the Tiv politicians who believe they can use him against David Mark. He has contested before for local government chairman in Ogbadibo local government, he lost. He contested again for House of Reps, he was rejected. This time he wants to be a Senator.”

Another Idoma youth and close confidant of Onjeh during his NANS presidency days told SIGNAL that Onjeh in the Senate simply means Idoma land would have been completely enslaved to the Tivs as Onjeh would be taking instructions from his Tiv benefactors like George Akume. He also noted that Onjeh in the Senate would be a disservice to the Idoma people and tantamount to “replacing a Lion with a Goat” in the Senate.”

“We know Onjeh is being backed by Tiv politicians like Akume who see David Mark as a threat to them not just in the Senate but in Benue State as a whole. But who is this Onjeh of a boy? Why is he not starting at the State House of Assembly? How can you jump from NANS President to Senate? Onjeh is inexperienced, he has never worked in any office since he graduated. He has no record of any career. Not a single one! He doesn’t have a house to live in Idoma land. He doesn’t even live in Orokam where he hails from. His parents live in Kaduna. So when he gets into the Senate, the first thing he will do is to build a house in Abuja, build one in Makurdi and build one in Otukpo before even going to his village Orokam. Is that the kind of person we want to represent us in the Senate?”, the Idoma youth who pleaded anonymity queried.

It will be recalled that the Court of Appeal, Makurdi Division, annulled the election of the immediate past Senate President, Senator David Mark.

The Court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct fresh elections in the Benue South senatorial district within 90 days.

Mark’s victory at the March 28th., 2015 National Assembly elections, was challenged by Daniel Onjeh of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who petitioned the Benue state Legislative Houses elections tribunal asking for the cancellation of the election and an order detailing INEC to conduct fresh election in the district.

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/senator-george-akume-listed-as-daniel-onjehs-referee-in-inec-documents/

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has come under fire for spending over N100 million for the senatorial declaration event of APC Benue South senatorial candidate, Mr. Daniel Onjeh when civil servants in the state are being owed months of unpaid salaries.

This is coming as the governor has also been accused of borrowing excessively to the tune N60 billion within a space of seven months since he assumed office as governor of Benue State.

In the midst of Benue State government’s inability to pay salaries, several Benue State indigenes who spoke to SIGNAL on Monday on condition of anonymity lamented Ortom’s flagrant wastage of the state’s resources on frivolous projects that have no direct or indirect bearing on the welfare of Benue State workers, the latest being the political campaign of Daniel Onjeh.

“What is the relevance of Daniel Onjeh’s election to Benue State that the governor pulled out N100 million from the state’s treasury for his declaration on Saturday when I am being owed 4 months salary?”, a concerned Benue civil servant who did not want to be named queried in frustration.

A top official of the Benue State government who spoke to this newspaper decried Ortom’s excessive borrowing since he came into office. “The first month he came he borrowed N10 billion. The second month he borrowed N5 billion. Then he got a bailout of N28.1 billion. Just a few days ago, he wrote to the Benue State House of Assembly seeking permission to borrow another N15 billion. What is all this borrowing about? These are debts that Benue State will continue to pay for the next 60 years. What it means is that Ortom has mortgaged the future of Benue State for the next 60 years. Despite all these borrowing, he is seven months in office and owing 4 months salaries. So where is the money going to? Benue State is in a mess”, the source lamented painfully.

Ortom, SIGNAL gathered pulled out the sum of N100 million for Saturday’s declaration ceremony of Daniel Onjeh who is contesting for the Benue South Senatorial district election under Ortom’s All Progressives Congress (APC).

Efforts to reach the governor's media assistant for a reaction have proved abortive.

But supporters of the governor are quick to argue that the governor is borrowing to start up government and set a base for looking into the critical financial challenges faced by the state workers. They also claim the issue of unpaid salaries was an inheritance from the past administration.

Notwithstanding, Governor Ortom recently collected N28.1 billion bailout funds released by the federal government as interest free loan to the state. The money, Benue State indigenes had expected would be used in settling a backlog of unpaid salaries of workers.

Seven months after Ortom entered office as governor; workers in the state are being owed salaries for the past 4 months. This is even more shocking as the governor is said to have borrowed a gigantic N60 billion so far in just seven months raising critical questions as to where all the funds have vanished into.

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/benue-state-governor-ortom-unable-to-pay-salaries-after-borrowing-n60-billion-in-7-months/

A witness brought in by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today, January 25 said she received $2 million from the national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, Naij reports.

This is coming as Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja directed the EFCC on Monday to open its case in the N400m money laundering charges against the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh.

The judge overruled the objection of the defence to the commencement of the trial before directing the EFCC to call its first witness on Monday.

The witness, Nneka Ararume, tagged PW1 is a former wealth manager with Assets Resource Management (ARM). She said she received the sum of $2 million in December 2014 on behalf of Metuh’s company.

“In December 2014, I received the sum of $2 million in $100 bills for future investments in favour of Dextra Investments,” Ararume said.

She continued: “We only have access to the funds when the client transfers money to us or when the client asks us to transfer money to them, we have all client’s account details on file.”

When examined, Ararume also said does not know precisely how long it took Metuh to accumulate the said sum. She added that Metuh was already running the portfolio as a client before she joined ARM in April, 2013.

Meanwhile, counsel to Metuh, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) argued that the trial could not commence as he was only served with an additional proof of evidence containing the witness statement of an EFCC investigator this morning.

Ikpeazu added that it was agreed that trial would commence today on the assumption that Metuh would have fulfilled ‎ the bail conditions.

The trial judge is still entertaining submissions on the issues.

The judge had ruled as part of bail conditions that the sureties must produce the certificates of occupancy of the property which must be verified by the Chief Registrar of the court and confirmed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The judge, who also ordered that Metuh must deposit his traveling documents with the court pending the period of his trial, also ordered the EFCC to verify the residences of the sureties which must be in Abuja.

The EFCC alleged in the charges that Metuh, who was arraigned along a firm, Destra Investments Ltd, received N400m, part of the money meant for the procurement of arms, from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2014.

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/i-received-2-million-from-olisa-metuh-witness/

Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been dragged to a Federal High Court, Abuja following pre-election evidences that he ought not to stand for election over his involvement in a series of corrupt matters relating to billions of dollars looted by Nigeria’s late military dictator, General Sani Abacha.

The suit HHC/ABJ/CS/312/2015, filed against the serving governor at the Federal High Court Abuja by the plaintiff, anti corruption crusader and lawyer Barrister Sahabi Sani Sami enumerated a series of corrupt cases involving the governor both home and abroad for which he is still refunding money secretly at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), but the ruling APC government allegedly is covering him.

The case was brought before the court on Thursday but the court adjourned hearing. The judge Ademola Adeniyi moved the case to Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016 to allow parties involved adopt their various addresses.

The judge said it is not possible to take the preliminary objections and substantive hearing immediately.

“There is no way we can take the two together. It was for definite hearing as at December 10 but after that so many things have changed,” Adeniyi said.

After the session’s adjournment, the plaintiff, Sani Sami told journalists he expects the candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) be sworn in since the a All Progressive Congress (APC) party candidate is not qualified.

Sami said: “We all know who Abubakar Bagudu is, talk about Abacha’s loot you can only think of Bagudu. We are interested in helping president Buhari fight corruption by not allowing corrupt people hold public offices.”

But defence counsel, Riki Tarfa said his team is ready to defend all allegations against the defendant.

“The allegations are baseless, all of them,” Tarfa said.

Also speaking, Machidu Attahiru, the Kebbi state APC chairman said: “Kebbi people voted and made their choice for four years and we stand by that.”

He said despite the court sittings, the governor, Bagudu is not distracted or deterred from delivering his mandate to the people of Kebbi state.

Bagudu, SIGNAL investigations have revealed, is wanted in the United States of America, over his involvement in the looting of over $600 million during the reign of late General Sani Abacha.

“General Abacha, his son Mohammed Sani Abacha, their associate Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and others embezzled, misappropriated and extorted billions from the government of Nigeria and others, then laundered their criminal proceeds through the purchase of bonds backed by the United States using U.S. financial institutions”, a report by the US Justice department revealed.

READ: U.S. Freezes More Than $458 Million Stolen by Former Nigerian Dictator in Largest Kleptocracy Forfeiture Action Ever Brought in the U.S.
http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/us-freezes-more-458-million-stolen-former-nigerian-dictator-largest-kleptocracy-forfeiture

Documents show that Between January 1994 and June 1998, General Sani Abacha, National Security Advisor Gwarzo, Bagudu and Mohammed Abacha stole more than $2 billion from Nigeria by fraudulently and falsely representing that the funds were to be used for national security purposes.

Despite its anti-corruption war, the APC government of President Muhammadu Buhari has been silent over the issue. President Buhari it will be recalled served under the regime of General Abacha as Chairman of the late dictator’s Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), a body which has never been subjected to any government probe despite allegations that it was used by Abacha to siphon billions of dollars from Nigeria’s treasury.

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/wanted-in-the-us-for-fraud-apcs-governor-bagudu-of-kebbi-dragged-to-court/

President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter addressed to the Senate President Bukola Saraki on Tuesday contains a serious error.

The letter, personally signed by Buhari, claimed that the 2016 budget proposal was submitted on 22 December, 2016 instead of 22 December, 2015.

The letter reads:

“It will be recalled that on Tuesday, 22 December, 2016, I presented my 2016 budget proposals to the joint sitting of the national assembly. I submitted a draft bill accompanied by a schedule of details.

“At the time of submission, we indicated that because the details had just been produced, we would have had to check to ensure that there were no errors in the detailed breakdown contained in the schedule.

“That has since been completed and I understand that the corrections have been submitted.

“The national assembly would therefore have the details as submitted on the 22nd and a copy containing the corrections submitted last week. It appears that this has led to some confusion.

“In this regard, please find attached the corrected version. This is the version the national assembly should work with as my 2016 budget estimates. The draft bill remains the same and there are no changes in any of the figures.”


Read more: http://www.signalng.com/9582-2/

Mixed reactions have trailed the handcuffing of Nigeria’s opposition spokesman Chief Olisa Metuh who appeared in court on Tuesday for his bail application hearing handcuffed by prison officials.

Drawing a sharp contrast between the treatment meted to Metuh and former NSA Sambo Dasuki, some Nigerians in the social media have condemned the Buhari government’s double-sided approach in the war against corruption.

All through his appearances in court, the former NSA Sambo Dasuki with bigger allegations of graft leveled against him was allowed to freely walk into the court premises without the restraints of handcuffs leaving many unanswered questions as to why Olisa Metuh, the image maker of Nigeria’s leading opposition party was paraded like a common criminal.

Yusuff Olagoke, a legal practitioner who spoke to SIGNAL on Tuesday said there was nothing out of place in the use of handcuffs on Metuh by prison officials. According to him, the prison officials have the discretion to place any suspect in restraints if they sufficiently believe there are reasons to protect the suspect from harming himself in the course of being transported from the prison to court or sustaining injuries if attacked in the course of the transportation. He however noted that “the presumption of a suspect’s innocence is activated the moment he or she steps into the courtroom.”

However, a Twitter user who tweets anonymously via the handle @StoPropaganda alleged government interference and manipulation, accusing the Minister of Interior Lt. General Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) for personally ordering Olisa Metuh to be put in handcuffs for the “newspaper photo effect”.

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/questions-dasuki-came-to-court-like-a-boss-metuh-was-brought-in-handcuffs/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemns in totality the brazen display of authoritarianism demonstrated by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC Government in handcuffing its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh even when the court is yet to hear his case.

This development which expectedly elicited widespread public outcry clearly betrays an extra-judicial, top political witch-hunt policy of the APC, carefully designed to humiliate, embarrass and portray PDP leaders as common criminals and set the stage to cow and decimate opposition and perceived foes of the government.

The question remains, if not to mortify, dehumanize and break our National Publicity Secretary, who has been very vocal against the APC administration, and of course to send a signal to others critical of the government, what else would have informed the decision to produce him in court in handcuffs, even when his case does not border on security threat?

Is this an attempt to sway the court and ambush the judicial process against our National Publicity Secretary, all because of his stance against observed ineptitude and dictatorial tendencies of this administration?

The PDP invites all Nigerians and the international community to note the emerging barefaced abuse of state power and violation of constitutional provisions regarding the arrest, detention and eventual arraignment of our spokesperson.

Nigerians by now, should be extremely scared that our country is fast drifting into a police state where being in opposition or holding views divergent to that of the government makes one a criminal and an enemy of the state.

For now, the target of the on-going lopsided war against corruption is the PDP and its leaders. All APC members, including those with known corruption issues are immune from investigation, arrest and prosecution.

However, more worrisome is the fact that institutions of government, especially security and corrective agencies have now fallen victims of dictatorial abuses. Our fear now is that in no time, ordinary citizens of Nigerians, who in the last 16 years have lived under the rule of law and constitutionally guaranteed personal liberty, would begin to suffer brutality and oppression.

Under PDP administration, some Nigerians, including APC leader and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu were tried but never humiliated; now we see security operatives under this regime being used to crush and humiliate the opposition.

Finally, while we study the bail conditions, we urge all PDP members to remain calm, united, focused and continue to pray for the nation and her people. We also urge the media to remain on the side of justice, fairness and rule of law and resist the pressure of being used as a tool to promote arbitrariness and abuse of process in the so-called fight against corruption.

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/handcuffing-of-olisa-metuh-a-deliberate-plot-to-weaken-our-party-pdp/