Abeyjide:


God bless you.

BabaO2:
The caption should actually be Saraki returns the local government salary he deducted from Kwara State monthly allocation.

wisino1:
Nice one from him

AS political permutations for the 2019 general elections increase, candidates and their parties have continued to devise means of wooing support for their candidacy a development that has brightened the chances of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) winning the governorship election in Gombe State following the defection into the party of a former governorship aspirant of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Nafiu Bala Gombe.

Also not fewer than 200 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Shongom Local Area of the State have declared their loyalty to the opposition APC in the state.

While speaking to Journalists on the latest development, the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mrs Naomi Joel Awak said this has increased the party’s popularity in the state and shown that it is ready to take over the leadership in the forthcoming elections.

However, while giving reasons for his defection to the APC, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who was also the National Secretary of the DPP, said he has resigned from his office in the party and has switched tent to the APC because his former party has lost focus and direction.

Nafiu Bala Gombe explained in a statement made available to newsmen in Gombe that, “I withdraw from contesting for the office of Governor of Gombe state which I had earlier indicated interest. I fully lend my support to the candidate of the All progressives Congress in Gombe State, Alhaji Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya.”

The State Chairman of the APC, Mr Nitte Amangal, while receiving over 250 members of the PDP into the APC in Shongom Local Government Area said that the decampees have seen the light and are willing to join forces in taking Nigeria to the next level and change the governance of Gombe State for the better.

https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/182682/

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has asked Nigerians to be wary of a former president who pretends to be the conscience of the nation.

Soyinka said this in Abuja on Wednesday at a symposium on fake news organised by BBC News.

The playwright, who was a panelist at the event tagged, ‘Nigeria 2019: Countering Fake News’, urged the traditional media not to spread unfounded allegations as the electronic media sometimes do.

The Nobel Laureate said if the former leader had been referring to a certain person for eight years as ‘a devil’ and is now telling Nigerians to vote for the devil, then there is a reason for Nigerians to express some doubt.

Soyinka said, “We have got to develop a very healthy skepticism. If someone in a position of power for eight years has lectured a nation for eight years and after that, continued year after year to continue to direct the minds of a whole nation in one direction, only saying, ‘This is Lucifer from hell’ for eight years in office and several more years out of office saying, ‘This is Lucifer’ and then one day he changed and says: ‘Behold your redeemer;’ which of the two is fake news?”

He did not mention the former president he was referring to, nor the alleged Lucifer.

ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE INAUGURATION OF A TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE ON WEDNESDAY, 9TH JANUARY 2019 AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA, ABUJA

Protocols:

The last time Nigeria’s national minimum wage was reviewed was in 2011. It is therefore evident that a review is necessary, despite the prevailing fiscal challenges. This is why I constituted the Tripartite Committee of Government, Organized Private Sector and Labour to consider the National Minimum Wage and make recommendations to Government for its upward review.

2. That Committee has since submitted its report with some recommendations. We are currently working on the final steps that will lead to the submission of a National Minimum Wage Amendment Bill to the National Assembly.

3. I want to make it clear that there is no question about whether the National Minimum Wage will be reviewed upwards. I am committed to a review of the Minimum Wage.

4. Also, it is important to explain that even though the subject of a National Minimum Wage is in the Exclusive Legislative List, we have been meeting with the State Governors because it is imperative that the Federal Government carries the State Governments along in determining any upward review of the minimum wage for workers.

5. This is especially necessary considering the prevailing public sector revenue challenges, which have made it extremely difficult for some of the governments to pay workers as and when due.

6. As you know we, at the Federal level, have made adequate provision for the increase in the Minimum Wage in our 2019 Budget proposals which we submitted to the National Assembly. Therefore, we will be able to meet the additional costs that will be incurred in moving up all personnel who are currently earning below the new minimum wage.

7. However, we anticipate that after the new minimum wage has been passed into law we will be going into negotiations for salary review for all the workers who are already earning above the new minimum wage. It is therefore important that we are properly prepared to meet these demands.

8. We must therefore look at ways of implementing these consequential wage adjustments in a manner that does not have adverse effects on our national development plans, as laid out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). The ERGP sets appropriate targets for levels of Capital Expenditure, Public Debt, Inflation, Employment, etc. It is absolutely important that the implementation of a new minimum wage does not adversely affect these targets, and thereby erode the envisaged gains for the workers.

9. It is against this background that I have set up a Technical Committee to advise Government on how best to fund, in a sustained manner, the additional costs that will arise from the implementation of the consequential increases in salaries and allowances for workers currently earning above the new minimum wage.

10. The Technical Committee being inaugurated today will be chaired by an Economist and Financial Expert, Mr. Bismarck Rewane. Other members of the Committee are experienced economists and administrators from the private sector working together with all the relevant officials in the Government.

11. The Terms of Reference of the Committee are:

a. To develop, and advise government on how to successfully bring about a smooth implementation of impending wage increases;

b. Identify new revenue sources, as well as areas of existing expenditure from where some savings could be made in order to fund the wage increases without adversely impacting the nation’s development goals as set out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan;

c. Propose a work plan and modalities for the implementation of the salary increases;

d. Any other suggestions that will assist in the implementation of this, and future wage increases.

12. Given the urgency of this exercise, the Committee is expected to complete its deliberations and submit its report and recommendations within one month today.

13. It is now my pleasure to formally inaugurate the Technical Advisory Committee on the Implementation of an Increase in the National Minimum Wage.

14. Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Tunde Omolehin, Sokoto

The Legal Adviser of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto State, Alhaji Nasiru Sahabi Tambuwal, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

His defection was announced in Dange town, headquarters of Dange/Shuni local government during the flag off of the campaigns for the 2019 general elections.

Other defectors included a former special assistant to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Alhaji Yaro Illelar-Gajara; PDP Women Leader in Tambuwal local government, Hajiya A’in Sokoto; former chairman, Matawalle G-23 and another top notcher of the party, Alhaji Hamza Yeriman Shuni, among others.

The former PDP chieftains said thousands of their supporters across their respective wards had also moved along with them to their new party.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Sahabi Tambuwal and Alhaji Illelar-Gajara said they left their former party because it lacked justice and fairness.

They also stated that they joined APC because of it had focus and fairness and the patriotic spirit and trustworthiness of its leaders.

Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has broken Nigeria’s all-time revenue generation record, after generating N5.3 trillion in 2018.

In Nigeria, FIRS highest revenue generation was previously recorded in 2012, when the agency generated N5.07 trillion.

Tunde Fowler, FIRS chairman, who announced the 2018 record said the cost of collection as a percentage of actual taxes collected has been reducing, as the government is generating more at a time when oil prices are low.

“While we have been steadily increasing revenue collection over the years, our cost of collection has actually been going down,” Fowler said.

“In 2016 we collected N3,307 trillion, in 2017 we collected N4,027 trillion and in 2018 we collected N5,320 trillion. Meanwhile, the cost of collection as a percentage of actual taxes collected has been reducing; in 2016 it was 2.6%, in 2017 it was 2.49% while in 2018 it was 2.14%.”

“The Service has been making tremendous efforts in also increasing the amount of non-oil revenue it collects. Non-oil collection has contributed 64.99% in 2016, in 2017 it contributed 62.25% and in 2018 it contributed 53.62%.

“This represents the government’s focus on increasing non-oil sources of revenue and the diversification of the Nigerian economy.”

TheCable had initially reported that the revenue collection agency was set to break Nigeria’s all-time record, after it generated N5 trillion in 50 weeks.

FIRS’ generation of N5.3 trillion is significant as it was at a period when oil prices averaged $70 per barrel. Oil price was at an average of $100 to $120 per barrel between 2010 and 2013.

Non-Oil component of the N5.320 trillion is N2.467 trillion (53.62 percent), while oil element of the collection is N2.852 trillion (46.38 percent).

From audit alone, FIRS collected N212,792 billion from 2278 cases with a huge reduction in audit circle.

Fowler said only companies that made a profit are obliged to pay taxes, adding that if a company is situated in Nigeria it is only fair that it pays its fair share of tax for the benefit of all Nigerians.

He said FIRS deployed ICT initiatives that enable a taxpayer to pay taxes from anywhere in the world, at any time, stating that the e-payment channel has ensured that Nigerians can pay taxes with the click of a button and also download their receipts.

Other e-Services are the e-Registration, e-Filing, -Stamp Duty and e-Tax Clearance Certificate.

“Taxpayers can now also choose the tax office where they would like to conduct their tax transactions. Before now, if one was registered with a particular tax office, one had to conduct all of their tax transactions in that office,” he adds.

“However, to make it more convenient for the taxpayer, they can now choose which ever office they wish to conduct their transactions with.

He noted that Nigerian taxpayers are embracing the modern way of tax collection, introduced by the FIRS through the six e-Solutions.

“We are automating the collection of Value Added Tax, VAT in key sectors which will facilitate reduction in compliance cost in the long term. We are doing System to system integration between banks and FIRS.

“And I am happy to announce to you that we had a 31% increase year on year in VAT collection in the banks that have gone live between Jan 2017- Dec 2018 and collected N25bn so far.

“Amongst others, there is also the Government Information Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), which links FIRS to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation OAGF for real-time exchange of information and data.

“We are also automating the payment of VAT by states through the State Offices of Accountant General Platform (SAG). This will ensure that we aautomate and deduct at source and remittance of VAT and WHT from State governments contract payments directly to FIRS’s account and so far, collected 13bn.

He noted that taxpayers that requested for and processed their Tax Clearance Certificate, TCC through tcc.firs.gov.ng, from the comfort of their homes.

“Tax clearance on the platform grew from 9,574 – 59,350 within a year of introducing the platform. Auto VAT collection in key sectors has also facilitated in reducing the cost of compliance.

“Between January, 2017 and December, 2018 VAT collection increased by 31% which translates to a collection of N25 billion. Overall, in 2019 VAT crossed the N1 trillion mark.

“Indeed, VAT is the fastest growing tax type in the world and even rich countries that did not depend on taxation have now introduced VAT, like the United Arab Emirates.

“In 2016 FIRS initiated a tax amnesty programme which attracted over 3000 applications for waiver of interest and penalties. The programme resulted in payment of over N68 billion out of about N96.2 billion liability established by the exercise.

VAIDS AIDS REVENUE GENERATION

The Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), which was initiated by the federal ministry of finance and the FIRS, received over 5,122 applications under the Scheme.

The Scheme resulted in voluntary declarations of over N92 billion, with over N54 billion paid so far by companies.

Fowler also explained how FIRS ascertained whether those companies with banking turnover of N1 billion are tax compliant or not.

“FIRS wrote to all commercial banks in May 2018, requesting for a list of companies, partnerships and enterprises with a banking turnover of N1 billion and above,” he adds.

“This activity was aimed at ascertaining those companies that are compliant with the tax laws and those that are not compliant. So far, non-compliant organisations have paid about N21.75 billion.

“Companies that had a Tax Identification Number (TIN) and were paying were 45261, those that had a TIN but were not paying were 40611 and those without a TIN and who were not paying were 34504.”

The agency has set a target of N8 trillion for the 2019 fiscal year.

Amina Zakari, a national commissioner at the Independent and National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been appointed to head the collation centre of the elections.

Zakari was appointed to head the committee on collation centre, one of the two committees for the election which the commission inaugurated on Thursday in Abuja.

Speaking during the inauguration, Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, said the committee shall be responsible for the national collation centre – the International Conference Centre – from where results of the Presidential election will be announced.

“It will serve as the secretariat for collation of results and venue for briefing of international observers and the media,” he said.

WHO IS ZAKARI?

The national commissioner was once appointed acting chairman of INEC.

She had been at the commission’s department of health and welfare after being redeployed as the head of electoral operations and logistics.

Her redeployment took place after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused her of working for President Muhammadu Buhari and demanded that she be moved.

Kola Ologbondiyan, spokesman of the PDP, had said in a statement: “While Prof. Mahmood Yakubu can no longer be trusted to conduct the 2019 general election, it is public knowledge that Mrs Amina Zakari, the INEC Director in charge of Operations and ICT, is a direct blood relation of Mr President and as such, we believe that she cannot be an impartial arbiter in an election involving her uncle.”

The party had also told the commission not to “bow to pressure” and return Zakari to her former position.The second committee, on electoral logistics, is chaired by Ahmed Mu’azu, national commissioner.

It includes key government institutions and security agencies whose roles according to the chairman are defined in the electoral act.

No Nigerian territory is currently under the control of the Boko Haram insurgents, the Centre for Conflict Resolution and Management (CCRM) has claimed.

In its latest report, released on Wednesday, the body said contrary to the media report, no town in the country was being controlled by the violent group.

Presenting the report on Wednesday, the Executive Director of the centre, Mrs. Betty Aku, said the centre was making this disclosure after an on-the-spot assessment of Baga Town Kukuwa LGA of Borno State and others parts of North Eastern Nigeria.

The centre made the revelation in the wake of the rumoured takeover of the town by Boko Haram insurgents.

The reports said Baga had remained a battleground for the Nigerian Military and the Boko Haram insurgents for factors such as its proximity to the neighbouring francophone countries, its economic potentials, and activities evident in farming, livestock rearing, and fishing.

Aku said Data analysis and interviews were used to answer critical research questions.

“After an analysis of the findings of the researchers, the following were arrived at: Baga town and its environs are not under the control of Boko Haram Insurgents.

“Baga Town witnessed an attempted takeover by heavily armed Boko Haram Insurgents, but the attack was successfully repelled by the combined grand and air forces of the Armed Forces.

“Baga and its environs are accessible to all commuters. There is no section of the state under the control of Boko Haram Insurgents.

The second attempt lasted several hours until the military deployed air support to the ground troops.

“Our researchers gathered that there was no attempt by the Insurgents to inflict harm on the locals. They were strictly out to take control of the military base and possibly gain access to the armoury. This much was also gathered for other communities included in the rumoured takeover by Boko Haram insurgents.

“It was also gathered that the town of Cross Kauwa was briefly occupied by the Boko Haram insurgents after the first attempt at the military base in Baga. The insurgents launched the second attack from Cross Kauwa before dispersing using the Lake Chad route into the fringes in Chad and Niger.

By Soni Daniel, Abuja

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered an interim forfeiture of the controversial $2.8 million, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission seized last week from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

Justice A. T. Mohammed granted the order following a motion filed by the EFCC praying it to do so following the non-appearance of the entities which claimed ownership of the cash to show up and claim it. In granting the prayer, the court asked EFCC to publish the order in national newspapers in accordance with appropriate laws.

The order comes despite strong protest by Bankers Warehouse, which has claimed ownership of the huge cash and has asked the anti-graft agency to urgently return the money and tender an unreserved apology for the seizure. But unmoved by the banker’s threat, EFCC also went ahead and deposed to an affidavit of urgency for the matter to be heard on December 27th 2018, before a vacation Judge sitting in Port Harcourt.

It will be recalled that the commission had on Thursday last week intercepted the said money based on intelligence report from two persons: Ighoh Augustine and Ezekwe Emmanuel suspected to be money launderers, at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

The agency claimed in a statement that the suspects had confessed during interrogation that they had been in the business of moving cash for “some notable banks”, for over six years and were in the process of doing same for Union Bank Plc, located at New Market, Onitsha, Anambra State, before their arrest.

They also claimed to be working for a company known as Bankers Warehouse. At the time of filing this report, the alleged owner of the money (Union bank) had not made any physical presence in any of the commission’s offices, including the Enugu office, to establish its claim.

The EFCC Spokesman, Tony Orilade, said on Monday that efforts were being made to secure warrant for the detention of the suspects pending when they would be charged to court.

The warrant is consequent upon the refusal of the claimant bank or any of the relatives to come for the release of the suspects.

CyberWolf:
Yes oo

CyberWolf:
I don’t usually do this but I have to openly declare where I stand. I was a staunch supporter of PDP especially during the 2015 general election but because of some recent changes in the political inclination of my family, I formally defect from PDP to APC. My reason is not because APC is better than PDP( they are the same as far as I’m concern), but because politics is a game of interest and most especially, family over everything. So for today, I’m supporting APC in next year’s election. APC!!!!! Next Level!!! 4+4

cc: Lalasticlala oya oo .. to the promise land

The immediate past National Treasurer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Buhari Bala and four local government chairmen of the party on Wednesday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bala also donated a 53-suit office plaza and 11 cars to President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Atiku Bagudu campaign organization.

They were received by Governor Bagudu and other APC leaders in the state, including the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, at the flag-off of APC Governorship campaign held in Argungu local government area which is the hometown of the Governorship candidate of PDP, Alhaji Isa Galaudu.

They also received members of the Kwankwasiyya movement in the state.

Speaking at the event, Bala said they were convinced by the tremendous achievements of the APC-led governments both at the state and national levels.

He promised to work for the success of their new party in the forthcoming elections.

In his remarks, the state Chairman of APC, Arc. Bala Kangiwa, said the people of the state had no reason whatsoever not to vote for APC in the next elections because of the achievements recorded by President Buhari and Governor Bagudu.

He called on eligible voters to ensure they obtained their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) before the elections.

The Director General Buhari/Bagudu campaign organization, Alhaji Suleiman Argungu, said there was no ward that had not benefitted from Bagudu’s projects, just as he mentioned some of the projects executed by the federal government in the state.

According to Argungu, the economic policy of President Buhari is succeeding, citing the diversification of economy which gave birth to the anchor borrower programme which was flagged off in the state.

He noted that Kebbi state was at the verge of feeding the nation.

He scored the President high in the fight against insurgency, corruption and in the provision of infrastructures across the country.

In yet another tragic setback for Nigeria’s counter-terrorism war, at least 167 police officers have absconded from a training facility after being told they would be deployed in active combat against Boko Haram insurgents, PREMIUM TIMES can report today.

The fleeing officers, who have now been declared wanted with potentially grave consequences if found, were amongst the 2,000 additional police officers recently drafted by Inspector-General Ibrahim Idris to complement the efforts of the military against rampaging terrorists in the volatile North-east.

The officers did not submit their arms, ammunition and other official equipment in their possession when they fled, introducing a serious security threat to their abscondment, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

Mr Idris deployed them after Boko Haram’s invasion of Nigerian Army 157 Task Force Battalion on November 18 prompted calls for intensified synergy amongst security agencies.

They were sent on an induction training at the Nigerian Army Special Forces Training School in Buni Yadi, Yobe State. But many of them started fleeing last weekend after learning that they would be deployed to locations where Boko Haram fighters are still active, especially communities along Nigeria’s border with Niger and Chad Republic.

Top security officials briefed on the development told PREMIUM TIMES the mobile police officers had expected to be deployed around Maiduguri, the capital of Boko Haram’s heartland of Borno State, and other relatively peaceful settlements in the region.

“It was after their training when they were told that they will be deployed to the frontlines that many absconded,” the official said under strict anonymity because the matter was still being handled with utmost secrecy amongst the military and police leadership. “They thought they will be deployed in town to mount checkpoints and be extorting innocent citizens.”

The official, however, said the public should be reluctant in condemning the police officers, saying their action was largely informed by the recent development in the counter-terrorism operations.

“They are seeing how the operation is being mismanaged by an incompetent and corrupt Army leadership, and therefore do not want to suffer the same fate as soldiers who are being wasted carelessly in large number,” the official said.

Another senior mobile police officer in one of the units affected questioned both the training and deployment of the officers.

“When did the police start sending its officers to army training school when we have our own. Even when they are deployed for joint operations, each agency trains its own,” the officer said. He confirmed that the various heads of the mobile units had been informed about the deserters and given orders to find them.

PRODUCE WITH ESCORT
Neither the police nor the Nigerian Army was willing to comment on the development when reached by PREMIUM TIMES Thursday morning. But this newspaper has obtained documents showing that all the 167 officers who absconded have been declared wanted.

Security sources said messages had been sent to different mobile police units where the 167 officers were respectively drawn, with strident instruction that they must be tracked down, arrested and produced with escort because they might be harmful, especially since they fled with their arms.

The alert was sent to about 25 mopol units in 20 states across the country, with their names and service numbers attached. Like the military, there are usually serious consequences for refusing deployment in the police.

Since the officers are still within the rank-and-file, they are likely to face orderly room proceeding if found, and disciplinary actions could range from long suspension to outright dismissal, depending on the trial officer and individual context.

A WORSENING INSURGENCY HUSHED UP

Military sources said the disappearance of the 167 police officers, when considered alongside the string of attacks on military bases by Boko Haram, showed that the military leadership was insincere about the state of the war against the insurgency.

Mr Buratai often warns military personnel against sending out details about developments on the battlefronts, saying such disclosure could demoralise troops.

This is despite President Muhammadu Buhari and service chiefs’ perennial insistence that the insurgency had been defeated, ascribing frequent deadly attacks to the sect’s remnants hibernating along the fringes of Nigerian divide with Niger and Chad.

“The situation is really terrible in the North-East,” a military chief said of the nearly 10-year-old war. “It has never been as bad as it is right now.”

Security analysts acknowledged there were initial successes between late 2014 and late 2015, but this was largely attributed to foreign mercenaries who were contracted by the last administration.

Dozens of attacks have been carried out against Nigerian military formations since July, leaving hundreds of soldiers dead amidst fear of a resurgent sect.

But the military rejected insinuations that the insurgents had regrouped, pointing to its recorded gains of pushing them back into the fringes of three states of the North-east, as against several states they were operating in before 2015.

The military said asides being confined to fewer states along the Nigerian border with Niger, Chad and Cameroon, the sect has also been prevented from being able to carry out attacks on major Nigerian cities like Kano, Abuja and Kaduna, where it detonated several explosives in the past, including the bombing of the United Nations office in Abuja.

See Full List

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary forfeiture of 46 properties allegedly belonging to Dr. Ngozi Olojeme, the Deputy Chairman, Finance Committee of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation in the 2015 election.

The court order, a copy of which was seen by our correspondent, showed that the properties were located in several locations in Abuja, Delta, Enugu and Bayelsa States.

The properties comprise 27 buildings, including a bank, office buildings and houses, at various stages of development and several pieces of undeveloped land.

Some of the properties include: a twin duplex office building – Plot R/151 (No. 30A) Kingsway Road, Old GRA, Enugu State; a parcel of land measuring 4833.241 sq. metres located at Uberi Bush along Mbiama Road, Akenta, Yenegoa, Bayelsa State; and a parcel of land located at Igbandaden Bush, Emeya 2 Town, Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa.

Others include: Properties located at 196, Melford Okilo Road, Amarata-Epie, Yenegoa, Bayelsa State (six units of one bedroom apartments, one unit of five bedroom bungalows, a block of six units of office space); a mansion at 24 Kainji Crescent, Maitama, Abuja and a bank building (former Intercontinental Bank) located at Plot No. 933 Cadastral Zone B01, Gudu District, Abuja

Olejeme, who was the Chairman of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, is wanted in a case of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds and money laundering.

The former chairman is alleged to have, along with Mr Umar Munir Abubakar, the former Managing Director of NSITF, mismanaged and diverted well over N69b in government funds into their personal accounts through the award of suspicious and bogus contracts to proxy companies.

The suspect, who served as the Chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund from 2009 to 2015, was in June declared wanted for allegedly diverting N69bn from the agency but turned herself in last Monday.

Olojeme is also the widow to Felix Obuah, the late Chief Security Officer to Jonathan, was said to have fled the country shortly after her sack by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

The suspect, who was also the convener of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme sub-committee on Public Works and Road Rehabilitation, finally reported at the EFCC on Monday after which she was detained.
sub-committee on Public Works and Road Rehabilitation, finally reported at the EFCC on Monday after which she was detained.


The NSITF, which was headed by Olojeme, is a social insurance scheme designed to provide compensation to employees who suffer from occupational accidents or diseases in the line of duty. The organisation is funded by deducting 1 per cent from all government and private sector employees enrolled in the scheme.

However, according to documents made available to The PUNCH, Olojeme and some directors in the company allegedly diverted billions of naira including funds meant for the payment of allowances of its staff as well as compensation of contributors

Trouble started for Olojeme shortly after her sack by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

The EFCC subsequently received a petition alleging that over N50bn from the Employee Compensation Scheme fund paid by Ministries Department and Agencies and private companies as well as another N18bn being the contribution of the Federal Government as take-off grants to the NSITF were mismanaged and diverted into the personal accounts of Olojeme and Umar Abubakar, the Managing Director of the NSITF.

The EFCC immediately set up a team of detectives to look into the allegation. The commission looked into the bank account of the NSITF and discovered suspicious transactions and diversion of funds.

Some funds were said to have been traced to accounts of some consultants and contractors who were mainly fronts of Olojeme and other directors in the NSITF.

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, has urged Nigerians not to vote based on promises but on the record of those making promises.

Symington said this in a video while wishing Nigerians a Merry Christmas.

He urged Nigerians to remember that their future is in their hands and no foreign power can solve their problems but all solutions can only come from within.

The US ambassador said, “As you go into 2019 you will be facing a new round of elections. What you do in those elections would be crucial not just for you but for all of us. And as you get ready, I ask you to think of three things.

“First, charge your potential leaders with this notion: Say not just what you say you will do for the country but what have you already done. Second, it is incredibly important that you recognise that in a democracy, it is you who gets to make the decision.”

Symington urged Nigerians to guard their Permanent Voter Cards and not sell it.

The US envoy urged Nigerians to report any anomalies on election day, adding that the task of improving democracy is a collective one.

He said, “On election day and every day, the citizens of Nigeria are the ones that lead this country so take good care of your voter cards, make sure no one convinces you to either give it to them or sell it to them and on election day.

“I hope you will vote and I hope you will vote for people who don’t just say the right thing but people who you are convinced based on their records will do the right thing for you and for others.”

Symington praised the many Nigerians who had in one way or the other contributed to the development of the nation.

He specifically praised 83-year-old Imam of Nghar village, Gashish District in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar, who saved about 300 persons on June 24 when suspected herdsmen invaded about 15 communities in the Barkin Ladi LGA, killing over 200 persons.

Petersamuel8:
I stay in lokoja, there is no how dino will loose this election, we will vote for him only because of that useless governor

The Oba of Lagos Oba Akiolu 1 has said that God will not allow any other party apart from All Progressives Congress (APC) to take over the State in the forthcoming general election in 2019.

He made this remark yesterday in Lagos at the 11th Annual Hijrah Lecture and Commissioning of the new House of Assembly Mosque. He said the new Mosque was unique especially as it was built inside the Assembly complex where Bills are passed into law. Oba Akioly also argued that it was not enough to build Mosque but that the custodians of the Mosque should be properly taken care of.

He also advised the custodians not to be involved in anything that would tarnish image of the religion. Speaker of Lagos State of Assembly Mr. Mudashiru Obasa commended the congregation for donating fund for the rebuilding of the Mosque. He described a Mosque as a Holy place to Worship Allah and supplicate to Him, adding that the custodians should do everything to ensure that it serves purpose for which it was built.

Governor Ambode was represented by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. AbdulHakeem Abdulateef who is the Chief Imam of the House of Assembly Mosque. In his speech, the Chairman of the Muslim Community of the Assembly, Mr. Sikiru Osinowo thanked God Almighty for the completion of the mosque.

“We started the mosque project so that we could fulfil the purpose of our coming here. We have been Muslim Speakers, and God made it possible for us to build the new mosque during the time of the current Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa,” he said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu Zonal Office, on Thursday, December 20, 2018, intercepted $2.8million (Two Million, Eight Hundred Thousand United State Dollars), from two people, suspected to be money launderers, at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

The suspects, namely Ighoh Augustine and Ezekwe Emmanuel, allegedly working for a company: Bankers Warehouse, were nabbed based on intelligence report.

Upon their arrests, they were caught with consignments of two suitcases, containing $1.4 million each, totalling $2.8 million, at the departure lounge of the airport while about to board an Arik Air evening flight to Lagos.

During interrogation, the suspects confessed that they have been in the business of conveying cash for "some notable banks", for over six years and were in the process of doing same for Union Bank Plc, located at New Market, Onitsha, Anambra State, when they were caught.

The suspects further confessed that they had so far carried out such assignments, "four times this year".

They are presently giving useful information to operatives of the Commission, and will be charged to court soon.

About 3,252 members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kogi West Senatorial District.

Those who dumped the PDP in the district which is represented by Dino Melaye in the National Assembly included two former Kogi Commissioners of Water Resources, Tunji Oshanusi, and Agriculture, Femi Abolarinwa.

The News Agency Nigeria, NAN, reports that the decampees were received by the APC Zonal Chairman, Ropo Asagun at the township stadium in Kabba during the official flag-off of APC Zonal Rally.

Addressing the decampees, Asagun commended them for teaming up with the ruling party, adding that it was a clear indication that the APC administration had performed creditably, both at the federal and state levels.

“This defection is an indication that APC is generally accepted in Kogi west, and the state at large, which is an assurance of our party’s victory in the 2019 general elections.

“The party will not discriminate against any member whether old or new,” Asagun said.

In his remarks, the Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Chief Matthew Kolawole, urged the people to get their PVCs and vote for APC.

“APC is the only party that can save us from the hands of looters; do not sell your conscience, your PVC is your power.

“In the last three and half years, President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice have done very well. Our achievements will speak for us,” Kolawole said.

The National Coordinator of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Benue State, Alhaji Garus Gololo, on Thursday took a swipe at the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, stating that if elected, he (Atiku) would create division in the country.

Gololao was reacting to a statement by Atiku campaign media organisation. One of the Alhaji Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign spokesmen, Phrank Shaibu, had earlier in the week said there would be more killings of farmers by suspected Fulani herdsmen if President Muhammadu Buhari was re-elected next year.

The Miyetti Allah leader in Benue State said it was wrong for Atiku to have made such inciting statement, noting that it was not only Fulani herdsmen that had issues with farmers in Nigeria.

He said, “We Fulani herdsmen are not killers and before Buhari came to power, there were crisis between farmers and herders in Benue, Tarawa, Nasarawa, Adamawa and some other states.

He said, “I am disappointed in Atiku because he had already divided Nigeria even when he has not come to power. Buhari has nothing to do with herdsmen, he is a Nigerian and it is the people of Nigeria that voted him into power and l believe they will still vote him again in 2019.”

“Nigerians should ask Atiku about the N68.8bn proceeds from NEPA which he sold when he superintended over the privatisation process of the then NEPA.

“People should talk about the power plants or the money he raised from the sale of that public asset. As far as I am concerned, Atiku is not a credible candidate to contest the coming presidential election in Nigeria because he is so sentimental and if they vote him in as president, he would divide Nigeria the more.

“So, for us Fulanis, we are not killers, neither are we criminals nor kidnappers and President Buhari has nothing to do with herdsmen. It is the people of Nigeria who voted Buhari in 2015 and they will still vote him .The crisis between farmers and herdsmen is a common thing everywhere across the world it is not peculiar to Nigeria.”

Gololo asked the PDP presidential candidate if herdsmen were responsible for killings when he was a vice president.

The International Police have issued an arrest warrant for former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke following a request by the Federal Government to the agency.

An impeccable source stated that the necessary charges had been filed and attached to the extradition request by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

By this request, all Interpol member countries were obliged to arrest the former minister anywhere she is seen on their territories.

Madueke had been holed up in London, United Kingdom for over three years.

Attached to the extradition request, our correspondent gathered, was the November 4, 2018 order for her arrest by Justice Valentine Ashi of the FCT High Court.

The court had directed the Inspector-General of Police; the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Director-General of the State Security Service and all heads of other agencies to apprehend the ex-petroleum minister.

The judge further directed that the order which was signed by the court registrar, E. Balami, should be attached to a warrant for execution on Madueke.

The source said, “We have filed the necessary processes and the Interpol has red-flagged Allison-Madueke. This means that the extradition process has been kickstarted and the former minister may be arrested by the United Kingdom police or any police agency all over the world and repatriated to Nigeria.”

Checks on the Interpol website, however, indicated that the accused person had not been listed.

Only the profiles of two male Nigerians-Ehirobo Nathaniel, 53, and Ernest Kenel, 49-wanted for advance fee fraud- were listed on the website.

Pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation Afenifere has endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for reelection in 2019.

It tongue lashed any other group against the decision and choice as usurpers and renegades.

Afenifere’s spokesperson Chief Biodun Akin-Fasae spoke with reporters on outcomes of a meeting of delegates and elders from the six Southwest states at the House of Chiefs, Oyo State House of Assembly Complex, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan on Thursday.

The group is led by the longest living Senator in Nigeria, Pa Ayo Fasanmi.

Notable figures at the meeting, which lasted about four hours, were a former governor of Oyo state Dr Omololu Olunloyo; Prince Tajudeen Olusi; Dr. Abayomi Finnih; Chief Adeleke Adewoyin and Prince Biodun Ogunleye.

Others were a former Deputy Governor of Oyo state, Chief Iyiola Oladokun and Pa Ayo Afolabi.

State government representatives at the meeting were Dr Morounkola Thomas (Oyo); Mr Oladosu Oladipo, Chief Akin Fasae (Ekiti); Mr Muyiwa Ige (Osun); Prof. Adebanjo Ademodi (Ondo); Mr Tokunbo Ajasin and Mr Awa Bamiji among others.

Chief Akin-Fasae said: “We have decided to host the whole Yorubaland in Ibadan on January 29, 2019.

“It is to proclaim the support of the Yorubaland for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 and also to tell the whole world that the Afenifere that Baba Awolowo created before he left is still intact as a progressive movement and any Afenifere person who is not in the progressive is not part of us.

“We are now telling the whole Yoruba people and the whole world that Afenifere, as enunciated and enacted by Late Sage Obafemi Awolowo, is still intact and we are going to support President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo come 2019 Presidential election.”

Probed by reporters on why the apex Yoruba body was supporting the President despite economic situation of the nation, the spokesperson said: “The issue of the economy is a collective issue. The economy has been bastardised for years and as at now, President Buhari is trying his best.

“So, Buhari is trying his best and the best is yet to come. That is why we are asking people to vote for him, particularly in this Yoruba land come 2019 presidential election.”

When asked the authenticity of the support in view of another faction of the group supporting another presidential candidate, Akin-Fasae said: “The Afenifere that we know in Yorubaland is a progressive movement and this is where we are today in Ibadan. The other Afenifere (the Ayo Adebanjo Group) that is talking about Atiku are not part of us. They are usurpers in the group. They are usurpers.

“The Yoruba are not divided; there are not so many Afeniferes. Yoruba is a nation and even during the time of Baba Awolowo, there were dissent voices. So, we are not embarrassed. Our group is led by the longest living senator in Nigeria, Pa Ayo Fasanmi. You can see everybody there, including Senator Durojaiye, Dr Olunloyo, Baba Olusi. So, every other person in Yoruba land who is not a renegade is with us. There was no time Afenifere has not been a socio-political organisation. It is a socio-cultural and political organisation. That is just the full name of Afenifere…”

The Abuja judge, who ordered the arrest and production of the Imo governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hope Uzodinma, has died.

Judge Abdulwahab Mohammed of the Grade 1 Area Court, Kubwa, Abuja, The Nation learnt, died on Saturday at the National Hospital, Abuja.

An official of the court told The Nation on Monday that Mohammed died at the National Hospital Abuja, to which he was rushed when he slumped on Saturday.

The official said the late judge had his tooth extracted at the Kubwa General Hospital but suffered complications thereafter.

It was learnt the judge has had frequent visits to the hospital to address the complications until he suddenly slumped last Saturday and had to be rushed to the National Hospital.

The 32-year-old Mohammed, who was from Edo State, is said to have left behind a pregnant wife.

In a letter in October this year, the late judge referred the case of criminal complaint, made against Uzodinma, a serving Senator, representing Orlu District, Imo State, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation and appropriate action.

Mohammed resorted to referring the case to the EFCC following Uzodinma’s alleged consistent failure to attend court to answer to the complaint made against him and his firms by Chitex Ventures Ltd and Chima Akuzie, who claimed that the Senator issued them a N200 million UBA dud (bounced cheque).

When the case came up again on October 29, Uzodinma was still absent in court, following which Judge Muhammad elected to refer the case to the EFCC for investigation and further necessary actions.

Lawyer to the complainant in N200m dud cheque case, Oluwatosin Ojaomo said he heard about the news of the judge’s death and was shocked that such a young a brilliant man could die so suddenly.