₦airaland Forum

The Federal Government has revealed plans to deliver Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) on at least four key projects within the nation’s oil and gas industry by the end of last quarter this year. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipreye Sylva, disclosed this while speaking at the ongoing 24th World Energy Congress (WEC) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday. Sylva, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the event, said his vision was to bequeath a vibrant petroleum industry which shall guarantee long term strategic investments and prosperity for Nigerians.

“My plan is to ensure that during my tenure, four Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) are taken. I am sure that within the next quarter, we should be able to conclude on some of these FIDs so as to grow the industry,” the minister said in a statement circulated by NNPC today. The minister also highlighted gas development as part of government’s priority to fast track the industrialization drive of the country.

“As you are aware, we are focusing on the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline project which will address some of our power issues and encourage the setting up of local industries and businesses along different areas in Nigeria.” Sylva also shed more light on the imperative of rehabilitating the nation’s refineries, saying that it was unsustainable for Nigeria to continue to import petroleum products.

The minister further stated that while private investment in the refining sector is encouraged, government should focus more on the repair of its existing refineries. “People are talking about modular refineries; we know that modular refineries are part of the solution but they can only be part of the solution and not the solutions themselves. So, we are going to try to encourage modular refineries but before that, we are going to really focus on repairing the existing refineries to ensure that we are back on stream very shortly,” Sylva added.

Describing crude oil theft as “intractable”, Sylva said government was looking at practicable solutions to the menace. He maintained that government was also looking at the issue of reducing the cost of production through robust engagement with the International Oil Companies (IOCs) towards getting best value for all stakeholders.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/fg-to-deliver-four-key-oil-gas-projects-by-year-end-timi-sylva.html

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have condemned in strong terms the gruesome killing of innocent Nigerians living in South Africa and called on the federal government to take definite measures on it.

The chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson, said in a statement on Wednesday night that the recurring xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa was unfortunate and barbaric. They also condemned Nigerians who used the occasion to foment trouble in Nigeria.

“The governors condemn the recent counter-violence visited on innocent people by hoodlums in Nigeria who exploited the ongoing xenophobic attacks to foment trouble in the country.

“We urge angry Nigerians not to forget that virtually all the businesses like MTN, DSTV, Shoprite and several others may be owned by South Africans in Lagos; but there are franchised to Nigerians who are the majority shareholders and investors, noting that Nigeria cannot attempt to find a solution to a criminality by committing another criminality.

“The PDP Governors however express solidarity to the victims and those families who have lost their loved ones and implore the Federal Government to rollout ‘definitive measures’ and effectively respond to the xenophobic violence in South Africa at the diplomatic level,” the governors said.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-governors-condemn-killing-of-nigerians-in-south-africa.html

Nigeria’s biggest carrier, Air Peace, has written the Federal Government, expressing readiness to evacuate stranded Nigerians from South Africa following the resurgence of Xenophopic attacks. The airline made its intention known in a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama, saying the situation in a South African is unfortunate. The Chief Operating Officer of the airline, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide, signed the letter which was dated September 4, 2019.

The Chairman of the Airline, Mr. Allen Onyema, said the gesture was in solidarity with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. Air Peace appealed to the Nigerian embassy in South Africa and the South African government to transport stranded Nigerians to the Airport for Air Peace to convey them home. The letter read: “The xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa is an unfortunate event and we cannot fold our hands and watch our fellow Nigerians to be killed by South Africans.

“To this end, Air Peace is willing to support the Nigerian government’s effort in this matter by deploying our B77 aircraft immediately to South Africa to evacuate Nigerians back home “We humbly plead with the Federal Government to please inform the Nigerian Embassy and the South African Government to rescue the stranded Nigerians by transporting them to the airport to allow Air Peace evacuate them to Nigeria.

“We would appreciate your unflinching support in this regard.” Reacting to the proposal, the Minister of Foreign Affairs welcomed the offer and said it would be a relief to government and Nigerians in South Africa who might be stranded following increasing violence in the Southern African country.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/just-in-air-peace-moves-to-evacuate-stranded-nigerians-in-south-africa.html

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Port Harcourt Zonal office, has recovered N1 billion from suspected Ponzi scheme fraudsters in the zone.

The head of the zonal office, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who disclosed this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the commission recovered the said amount out of N2 billion the suspects collected from their victims.

He said men of the commission, after surveillance activities, arrested the suspects who, he said, promised their victims 10% monthly returns and payment of the principal after six months.

He said the suspects convinced their victims that they were into foreign exchange and crypto currency trading. Bawa also stated that the zone, in the last eight months, recorded 149 convictions, made N268,934,375.75, $2,012,568.00, and £15,000 recoveries while 162 cases are still pending in court.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/efcc-recovers-n1bn-from-ponzi-scheme-suspects-in-rivers.html

This man

A member of House of Representatives, representing Ibadan North federal constituency, Hon. Musiliudeen Akinremi, has frowned at the incessant attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, urging the Federal Government to recall Nigeria’s envoy to South Africa and close down the South African embassy in the country within the next 24 hours.

Akinremi, who is the Vice Chairman, House of Representatives committee on science and technology, described the Monday’s killings of Nigerians in South Africa as heinous. He decried international communities’ continuous silence on the endless attacks on Nigerians in foreign lands.

The lawmaker, in a chat with journalists in Ibadan on Tuesday, said: “Enough is enough and an injustice to one is an injustice to all.” He asked those perpetrating the dastard acts to go back to their history and would know how Nigerian government stood by their country and its people during the Apartheid, and on very many occasions. “These actions taken against Nigerians by South Africans is so unjustified and is an international crime against humanity.

“As lawmakers and voice of the Nigerian people, we must rise up and call on President Muhammadu Buhari to do something against South African interests in Nigeria.” “We must continue to insist on the rule of law and the observance of due process at all times.

Let the law there take its course whenever crimes are committed by Nigerians.” “Our government appears to have been too silent about these happenings. Its very sad and disturbing. I think there should be a diplomatic face-off between Nigeria and South Africa by now.”

“We should recall the Nigerian Ambassador and consequently give a 24-hour notice to his South African counterpart to vacate our country.” “More stringent measures are proposed to follow. The incessant killings and molestation are not acceptable in any sane society.”

“Let us wake up from our slumber. Exploration by our people for greener pastures elsewhere should not be an invitation to graveyards because decapitation is not solution to a headache,” Akinremi fumed. Akinremi argued further that the South African government was engaging in a conspiracy act for its alleged silence and inability to arrest the culprits.

He added that since Buhari was elected to protect lives of citizens wherever they are, it behooves on the federal government to rise to this clarion call and safeguard the lives and business interests of Nigerians, “as we are doing here to protect all South African investments and its people.”

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/xenophobia-close-south-african-embassy-in-nigeria-now-rep-member-tells-fg.html

h

Chai!

Good development

The resumed sitting of Bauchi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal was briefly disrupted after police fired teargas to disperse an unruly crowd outside. The crowd became restive when Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed leaves the Tribunal after appearing as the First Respondent in the case between him and former governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar.

His supporters and that of the former governor hauled verbal assaults, leading to fisticuffs which attracted the attention of the police and other security agents present at the Magistrate Court premises where the Tribunal is sitting.

The police later fired teargas to disperse the unruly crowd. The teargas however, seeps into the Courtroom, leading to temporary stoppage of proceedings as people, including the Judges, Lawyers and witnesses, covered their noses and eyes to protect themselves from the teargas. The three panel judges, the petitioners and the defence legal teams left the Courtroom as people battled with the effect of the teargas.

It could be recalled that the case was adjourned to Tuesday for the opening of defence by the PDP and Governor Bala Mohammed’s lawyers after INEC closed its submission without calling any witness on Monday. The PDP has already called its first witness in the case before the incidence.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/bauchi-governorship-tribunal-disrupted-as-police-disperse-crowd-with-teargas.html

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Conscience Party (NCP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack all the serving service chiefs and replace them with those with fresh ideas on how to end the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East. The NEC also accused the security agents in the country of conniving with criminals to carry out “their nefarious activities,” adding that Nigerians were losing hope in the government.

Addressing newsmen yesterday in Abuja, at the end of the party’s NEC meeting, the party’s National Chairman and former presidential candidate of the party, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, said the security chiefs lacked new ideas to end the security challenges bedeviling the nation.

“NEC demands a complete overhauling of our security operatives. The service chiefs have tried their best. It is time to let them go and put in place new ones with fresh ideas on how to secure and protect the people and the country in general,” he said. Dr. Tanko said the NEC also asked President Buhari to declare a state of emergency on the economy and the agriculture sectors.

The NCP Chief explained that Nigerians were waxing in abject poverty and hunger while the government is, allegedly, busy hounding opposition elements in the country. The party called on the government to release unconditionally all political detainees, who were arrested because of their protest against government’s alleged anti-people policies.

“NEC notes with great concern the high level of intimidation, harassment, conspiracy, condescending and arrest of any person of opposition political parties.” The party however said while it was in support of revolution through the ballot it was against any form of violent revolution in the country.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/b-haram-ncp-wants-service-chiefs-sacked.html

The spate of kidnapping in the country is taking a toll on the economy as the payment of ransom running into millions is making Nigerians poorer, Daily Trust investigation has shown.

Families of victims interviewed in different parts of the country have given accounts of how the payment of ransom robbed them of their means of livelihood and, in several instances, their loved ones as well. While some have incurred huge debts from borrowing others had to sell their farmlands, livestock and other properties to secure the release of their beloved ones.

In April this year, a Takum-based businessman Usman Mayo, was held captive even after his family paid N100m to the kidnappers who insisted on another N100m before freeing him. The abductors eventually released him after collecting another N5m.

Even the three final year students of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) kidnapped on the Abuja-Kaduna highway were freed after their families coughed out N5.5m as ransom. Their coursemates said the three had traveled to Abuja on behalf of the diner committee to meet with prominent lawyers and Senior Advocates for financial support. In Sokoto, parents of a kidnapped victim from Gundumi, Goronyo local government area, Mallama Rabi Mahmuda, said they sold all their livestock and stored grains to raise the N2milliom demanded by her captives. The housewife said her relations also had to beg the well-to-do in the area to meet up with the kidnappers’ demand.

“We are now suffering economically because we don’t have stored grains. The livestock we usually sold to raise money when in need is no longer available too,” she said. Mallama Rabi said they are now living in abject poverty without any means of buying other livestock. The Village Head of Danta Sakko, Alhaji Bello Aliyu, said about N70million had been paid as ransom since kidnapping started in the area over two years now.

In Edo State, a kidnapped victim, Ade Iyaju, said “I paid N500, 000 to regain freedom. My wife sold her jewelleries and some of her belongings to get me released. Apart from my colleagues in the office, friends also donated money. We virtually sold our belongings.” He said after regaining his freedom, he is still paying debts. In Zamfara, Daily Trust gathered that dozens of farmlands and plots of land had been sold by families in their quest to pay ransom after the kidnap of their loved ones.

Some families, who spoke to our correspondent, said their numerous assets including houses had slipped off their hands just for their abducted family members to regain freedom. “In January 2018, when they kidnapped my brother on his way home from a local market at Dangulbi in Maru local government I had to sell more than 120 bags of maize to raise ransom and this was not even enough because our father had to sell a good portion of his farmland to raise the N1.3m ransom placed on my brother’s head”, said a resident.

Another resident, Ali Abdullahi from Gama Giwa village in Maradun local government area, whose father, alongside his daughter was kidnapped, said they sold five of their cows and two farmlands to free them.

“As I am talking to you now we are no longer residing in Gama Giwa village because we lost our farmlands on which we depend for our livelihood. My father is at Talata Mafara town staying with his brother while I am now in Sokoto surviving by commercial bike riding”, Abdullahi said.

Daily Trust reports that incidents of kidnapping are on the decline in many parts of Zamfara State, with many bandits embracing the government’s peace efforts. In Kaduna, relatives of kidnap victims say they go through lots of stress to raise ransom money as most victims are economically disadvantaged.

A kidnap victim in Rijana, a town on the Kaduna-Abuja expressway, said when he was kidnapped earlier this year, his relatives had to resort to various means to raise the N450, 000 finally negotiated upon. He said his relatives had to empty all their savings and even had to borrow from their friends to raise the amount. Another resident of Birnin Gwari, a driver, who was kidnapped along the Birnin Gwari-Funtua road, said when the kidnappers finally agreed to collect N500,000 as ransom, he had to instruct his family to sell the mud house he had built to raise the money.

“My friends also set up a committee that went round to collect contributions, some gave N20, 000 some N30, 000 until the amount was complete,” he said. Our correspondent in Katsina reports that a father (names withheld) who paid N2million as ransom for his two children kidnapped last year said: “I sold my house, borrowed some monies which I am still repaying to secure their release. It is not easy, my whole business can’t help out; I had no option than to sell my house and other belongings to raise the monies.”

According to the source an elderly man came down with paralysis because of pressures trying to raise ransom monies to rescue his child in kidnappers’ captivity. In Nasarawa State, the village head of Hunki in Awe local Government, Malam Muhammadu Hunki said his abductors demanded for a ransom of N4million but later accepted N600, 000 before they released him, adding that his family suffered to raise the money.

Experts react A Yobe based economist, Dr Binta Yahaya, said the economic effect of kidnapping and the demand for ransom has huge implications on Nigeria’s economy, adding that it is a social problem that must be tackled by government squarely. “The growing rate of insecurity on the roads has both social and economic implications.

The fear of uncertainty on the land discourages investment and movement across the country, because not many Nigerians can afford traveling by air which seems the safest means currently. It will also discourage the supply of agricultural products leading to shortage of supply to meet the growing demand”, she said. Also speaking, Dr Mohammed Ali said kidnapping for ransom has far-reaching consequences that could affect investments, production of goods and services and movement of skilled labor from one part of the country to another.

He said investors will be skeptical to come to Nigeria to invest with the prevailing insecurity in many parts of the country even with our abundant resources, adding that the hospitality business and other sectors will also suffer a great deal. “Farmers will be scared to go to farm for fear of being kidnapped; even education because parents will prefer to keep their children safe at home than send them to where they may be kidnapped,” he added.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/how-kidnapping-is-making-families-poorer.html

Gov Yahaya Bello of Kogi State yesterday emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Nov. 16 Governorship election. But one of the aspirants who challenged Bello for the ticket described the processes that produced the governor as candidate of the party as “mockery,” saying the national headquarters of the party should cancel the primary election and organize another one.

Gov. Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State said Bello emerged winner of the governorship ticket by polling 3,369 votes to beat eight other aspirants who contested the governorship primaries conducted by the party in Lokoja.

Badaru who led the electoral panel that conducted the process, announced that Mr Babatunde Irukera came second with 109 votes; while Rep. Hassan Bewa came third with 44 votes.

According to him, Yahaya Audu, the younger brother of former Governor Abubakar Audu scored 10 votes, Sani Abdullahi polled seven votes, and Abubakar Bashir got three votes. Gov. Badaru also said that Mrs Blessing Ekele, Mrs Hadiza Ibrahim, Mr Yakubu Mohammed and Mr Danlami Mohammed scored zero votes. According to Badaru, 3,596 accredited delegates voted during the primary election out of which 54 votes were declared invalid.

But speaking to Daily Trust, Yakubu Mohammed said what transpired in Lokoja undermined acceptable democratic practice, saying the aspirants were kept in the dark. “We were not given the list of delegates; we were also not given clearance certificate to show that we would be part of the process. This is a disgrace to Kogi State. “In fact, there was no communication between the national headquarters of the party of the aspirants; we have never have it so low in Kogi.

They earlier disqualified some of us, then they said they have qualified some of us to contest. We came for the election but the delegates were denied opportunity to cast their votes; it is somebody who will cast the vote for you. They all cast the votes for Bello,” he said. Asked if he will go to court, Mohammed said, “I am not going to any court; I will leave them with their shame but the national headquarters should do the needful to save the par

Source: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/aspirant-kicks-as-bello-wins-kogi-apc-governorship-ticket.html

There is tension among the governorship aspirants of the ruling APC in Kogi State over a purported plot to doctor the delegates’ list ahead of the primary election where the standard bearer will emerge.

Sources told Daily Trust yesterday that the-power-that-be in the Confluence State was no longer comfortable with the list submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

One of the sources said the list, which comprised delegates from 239 wards and 21 local government areas, might be doctored to include the names of those who would support the aspiration of the preferred aspirant.

Though 12 out of the 16 governorship aspirants on the APC platform had been screened out by a six-member screening committee headed by Senator Hope Uzodimma, Daily Trust gathered that more aspirants had been cleared by an appeal committee. A meeting of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) was held yesterday to consider a report of the appeal committee which was said to have finally cleared a former Chief of Naval Staff, Usman Jibrin and Yakubu Mohammed among others.

The two aspirants together with Prof. Mohammed Seidu Onailu, Mustapha Mona Audu, Hadiza Iyoma Ibrahim, Yahaya Odidi Audu, Sani Lulu Abdullahi, Gen. Patrick Adenu Akpa, Engr. Danlami Umar Mohammed, Babatunde Ayo Kunle Irukera, Rukkaya Ibrahim and Mohammed Abubakar Audu were earlier disqualified by the Senator Uzodimma -led screening committee. The committee cleared only four aspirants, including incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello, Mrs Ekele Blessing, Engr. Abubakar Bashir and Hassan Abdullahi. Meanwhile, the governorship primary election had been scheduled for tomorrow, while the outcome of the exercise could be challenged or appealed against by Monday, September 2.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/anxiety-in-kogi-over-apc-delegates-list.html

To be a businessman or businesswoman is good....

hmm

Barely 24 hours after accountants and lawyers disagreed with the Central Bank of Nigeria, the apex bank, in collaboration with the bankers committee, announced that it has approved the inclusion of a clause that mandates borrowers to agree that their loan balances would be offset from their bank balances across the industry. Briefing journalists at the end of the 345th Bankers Committee Meeting in Lagos, the Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability (2020), Aishah Ahmad, said the new clause to be included in offer letters henceforth would require the provision of the Bank Verification Number (BVN), Tax Identification Number (TIN) and signing the clause that allows for a bank wide set off of loan balances.

The deputy governor said the Credit Protection clause in addition to the recent directive to banks to achieve 60 percent loan to deposit ratio by September 30th is expected to spur lending by adding additional N1 trillion to the credit balance sheet of the banks.

Ahmad said: “In taking loans, you agree to repay the loan, should you default, the total amount of deposit you have across the industry will be applied towards repaying the loans.” This she said will enable banks to lend with more confidence. “We came up with this because we do not want LDR directive to raise Non Performing Loans (NPLs) in the industry,” she added.

Reacting to the announcement, Matthew Ogagavworia, a chartered accountant with interest in forensic accounting, assurance, tax and management consultancy said, “You cannot abridge the power of the court by merely introducing an amendment or a clause, unless the bankers committee will go ahead to push for a legislation for the power of adjudication. Ogagavworia, who is also a chartered stockbroker with considerable experience in securities trading, valuation, equity research and portfolio management, posited that a more detailed approach should be pursued He said: “It is a good idea, but there should be a fine balance. Because you cannot be a big man in bank “A” and a chronic debtor in bank “B”, as a forensic accountant and I have acted in both sides of the divide.

“Before now, when you borrow, there has always been a right of set off within the bank but with this announcement, a legal process has to be set for the central bank to midwife, because the bankers committee cannot constitute itself into a court of law. The only body that can issue penalty and interest is the court. So I see that playing out with the people that may be affected.”

He referred to the case of March 2018, when the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling of the Federal High Court (the trial court) and decided that the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) acted beyond its statutory powers when it imposed a fine on Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (ExxonMobil). NOSDRA (the appellant) had instituted the action against ExxonMobil (the respondent) claiming the sum of N10,000,000 as penalty for the alleged infringement of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency Act 2006 (NOSDRA Act), and the regulations made thereunder. NOSDRA argued that levying a fine on ExxonMobil was done under Section 6(2) and (3) of the NOSDRA Act.

ExxonMobil on its part argued that the judicial arm of government has the exclusive powers of imposing fines and penalties, and queried if NOSDRA, being a non-judicial entity, could impose a fine or penalty on ExxonMobil. After considering the parties’ submissions, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and affirmed the ruling of the trial court. Relevant portions of the decision are set out below: “On the facts and circumstances of this case, I am of the firm, but humble view that the imposition of penalties by the appellant was ultra vires its powers, especially where no platform was established to observe the principles of natural justice. Penalties or fines are imposed as punishment for an offence or violation of the law.

The power as well as competence to come to that finding belong to the courts, and the appellant is not clothed with the power to properly exercise that function in view of the law creating the appellant (NOSDRA). There is, therefore, a lacuna in that law establishing the appellant.” Ogagavworia therefore argued that under the 1999 Constitution, only judicial bodies can impose fines or penalties and NOSDRA, not being a judicial body, cannot impose fines or penalties. Liborous Anegbette-Oshoma, a Constitutional Lawyer and Head Attorney at Liborous Oshoma Chambers said: “The problem is that we most times don’t think through the politics.

If there is a debit balance in a loan account and that balance is a subject of dispute, then it will give leverage to the bank to behave recklessly. “When you introduce a clause like that without caveat or limitation, it gives room for more dispute because it gives undue advantage to the bank to determine interest and collect by fiat.” He said the pronouncement should be properly thought through. “I think the introduction of the credit bureau is a fantastic idea.

They should make sure that debtors are cleared by the bureau before they access credit in the first place.” According to Oshoma: “It is almost impossible for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take a kobo from an account because it is like garnishment of an account with court order On his part, the Executive Director of Centre for Social Justice, Barrister Eze Onyekwere said: “Banks have always been known for overcharging customers account. The bankers committee should simply do the right thing; go to court.”

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/forensic-accountants-lawyers-fault-cbn-decision-on-loan-defaulters.html

hmmm

The National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Kaduna has upheld the election of Sen. Uba Sani. The tribunal, while delivering judgment on a petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s candidate in the Feb. 23 election for Kaduna Central senatorial zone, Danjuma Lawal popularly known as Mr. LA, dismissed the petition for lack of merit.

Lawal had asked the tribunal to nullify the election of Sen. Uba Sani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of Kaduna Central Senatorial District on grounds of alleged irregularities.

Chairman of the three-man Tribunal, Justice Adamu H. Suleiman, in a three-hour judgement, said Adamu and the PDP failed to provide substantial evidence of all allegations contained in the petition. He said that the petitioners presented 38 witnesses before tribunal but all failed to present convincing evidence to warrant the nullification of Uba Sani’s election as information given by witnesses under cross-examination were in variance with what they presented to the tribunal in writing.

The Chairman said the petitioners and their witnesses failed to provide evidence of allegations of over voting, massive rigging, ballot snatching and violence in some parts of Birnin Gwari, Igabi and Giwa LGs as contained in their petition. Suleiman said, most of the witnesses told the tribunal that the elections were conducted in those affected areas within time stipulated by the electoral act 2010.

He said some of the information on allegations of massive rigging, ballot stuffing and violence in those polling units were obtained by proxy saying, “the court would not use third party information/Hear Say as evidence as contained in the petition.” The Tribunal also dismissed the petitioner’s allegation that Uba Sani did not resign his appointment as Political Adviser to Gov Nasiru El-Rufai as baseless. The Tribunal had struck out a similar petition against Uba Sani by Senator Shehu Sani for lack of merit.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/again-tribunal-upholds-uba-sanis-victory.html

APC & Oshio baba...Nigerian are unhappy

free things are not always good...let us work hard to make Nigeria better!

Screening of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants in Bayelsa state about to commence at the party secretariat along Yenagoa-Mbiama road Yenagoa.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/the-race-for-bayelsa-governor-apc-candidates-set-for-screening.html

.Why Police Affairs Ministry returned

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said the entire structure of the Nigeria Police Force is being overhauled, re-positioned and primed with modern technological gadgets to meet rising challenges across the nation. Receiving traditional rulers from the North led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the president said an intelligence loop among all security outfits had been created.

He said the ongoing reform of the police would include recruitment of more hands, cultivation of stronger local intelligence and networking with communities, traditional rulers and adequate training.

The president had on July 31 met with traditional rulers from the South-west. He noted that the return of the Ministry of Police Affairs was purposely to drive the new initiative of ensuring proper provision of security of lives and property, with proactive intelligence gathering to nip crimes in the bud.

“I have decided to meet with your highnesses to assure you that government is determined to tackle and deal decisively with all security challenges facing us as a nation. “This consultation therefore is to engage you, our royal fathers, so that collectively, we can arrive at solutions to any and all security problems in the country. “We must all play our part to finally address these security challenges, particularly traditional rulers in your respective communities where you feel the pulse of the people, being the closest to the populace at the grassroots level,’’ he said. He urged the traditional rulers to provide more support to security agencies with their versatile knowledge of communities and individuals.

“These policies and programmes include a robust revamping of police intelligence gathering capacity and the significant boosting of the numbers of security personnel in our local communities. This in specific terms will include recruiting more police officers and doing so whenever possible from their local government areas, where they would then be stationed in the best traditions of policing worldwide. “Working with the state governments also, we intend to improve the equipping of the police force with advanced technology and equipment that can facilitate their work.

To drive this, I recently created a full-fledged Ministry of Police Affairs. The president said CCTVs would be installed on highways and other strategic locations so that activities in some hidden places can be exposed, more effectively monitored and open to actionable interventions. We’re fully in your support – Sultan In his remark, the Sultan of Sokoto assured the president of the full support of traditional rulers.

“We have come to assure you of our total support, total commitment and undiluted dedication to moving the nation forward as one of the best countries of the world,’’ the emir said. He said the traditional thrones in various communities predated the amalgamation of the protectorates, and all the forefathers had always upheld the virtues of peace, unity and stability. The Sultan commended Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara for the relative peace in the state after he was sworn into office, and decided to open up all channels of communication, urging other governors to adopt same model.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-were-overhauling-police-force.html

Following the creation of new ministries and restructuring of some, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the redeployment of some federal permanent secretaries who will also serve as the accounting officers of the ministries. The Director, Communications Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHoSCF), Mrs. Wunmi Ogunmosunle, said in a statement yesterday in Abuja that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, signed the circular authorizing the reshuffle.

The affected permanent secretaries are; Engr. Daudu Narai-Ministry of Special Duties; Mr. Louis Edozien-Ministry of Power; Mr. Mbaeri Maurice Nnamdi-Ministry of Police Affairs and Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse-Ministry of Finance.

Others are; Dr. Muhammed Dikwa-Finance (Special Duties); Mr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhire, Finance (Budget and National Planning); Mrs Anagbogu Nkiruka-Ministry of Women Affairs; Alhaji Sabiu Zakari-Ministry of Transportation.

Dr. Mohammed Bukar-Ministry of Works and Housing; Engr. Hassan Musa-Ministry of Aviation, Director (Air Transport Management) to oversee office of the permanent secretary; and Mrs. Anetu-Anne Aliu, Director, Social Welfare, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs (Director, Social Welfare) to oversee office of the permanent secretary, the circular said. According to Mrs. Oyo-Ita, the arrangement takes immediate effect and remains till further notice.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-reshuffles-federal-perm-secs.html

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed an online video purportedly showing the minister, Geoffrey Onyeama being chased out of a meeting with some members of the Nigerian Community in Vienna, Austria.

The video was circulated on social media few days after members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) attacked a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in Germany.

It showed Onyeama being ushered out of the meeting after a visibly aggrieved Nigerian made incoherent declarations against the unity of the country. The Ministry, in a statement on Friday by its spokesperson, Ferdinand Nwonye, said the incident captured in the video took place three years ago.

It condemned the circulation of the old video by mischief makers and called on the public to disregard the video in it’s entirety. The statement said, “The facts are that at the end of a very pleasant and informative interactive session, a group of no more than five individuals complained vociferously that they had not been given the opportunity to speak.”

“The Minister in his magnanimity prevailed on the organizers to allow a representative of the group to speak, and the fellow when given the floor unfortunately proceeded to make incoherent declarations against the unity of the Nigeria.” “The Honourable Minister in his response condemned the glorification of conflict and admonished them that they were too young to appreciate the traumatic horrors of violent conflict as witnessed during the Nigerian Civil War.

“One of the young men took exemption to the Honourable Minister’s peaceful disposition and was getting more agitated and vocal, at which point the Minister was ushered out of the meeting room as the meeting had already ended.”

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/fg-dismisses-online-video-of-foreign-minister-being-chased-out-of-meeting-in-austria.html

Normalcy have returned to Gubio and Magumeri communities of Borno after the Wednesday night attack coordinated by the Boko Haram insurgents. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the residents in the affected areas returned to their homes after the insurgents’ attacks at Gubio and Magumeri headquarters of Magumari and Gubio Local Government Areas of the state.

The insurgents attacked the communities at about 6:00 pm; torched residential homes, schools, offices, looted food items and abducted a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the affected communities. The insurgents attacked the communities barely 12 days after a similar incursion in Gubio following the withdrawal of troops in the area.

Mr Zanna Modu, the Caretaker Chairman of Gubio Local Government Council, told newsmen in Maiduguri that the insurgents looted food items, razed houses and public buildings. Modu disclosed that people who earlier fled for safety had returned after the insurgents withdrew on Thursday. “It is unfortunate that few days after the insurgents attack; another element of the terrorists infiltrated the town at about 6:00 pm on Wednesday.

“I am in Maiduguri on official engagements and I received calls over the attack, they withdrew after causing serious damage,” he said. Also, Mr Usman Zanna, a member of the House of Representatives (Gubio-Magumeri-Kaga Federal Constituency), said the insurgents torched Magumeri council headquarters, public buildings and houses in the area. Zanna said that many people were displaced due to the destruction of their homes by the insurgents.

He noted that the insurgents took advantage of troop’s withdrawal from the affected areas to commit atrocities in the communities. “The situation is calm; people returned to their homes on Thursday”. Efforts to get reactions by Col. Ado Isa, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, proved abortive as he did not respond to inquiries sent to him through Short Service Message (SMS).

However, Maj.-Gen. Benson Akinroluyo, the former Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, had disclosed that the troop’s redeployment was part of strategies to enhance the counter insurgency campaign. Akinroluyo stated this when Gov. Babagana Zulum, paid a visit to commiserate with the Gubio community over the insurgents attack on Aug. 10. (NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/normalcy-returns-to-borno-communities-after-boko-haram-attack.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the re-appointment of Mr Femi Adesina as Special Adviser, Media and Publicity and Malam Garba Shehu as Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity. A statement by the Deputy Director (Information), State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye said the president also re-appointed Mr Laolu Akande as Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President. President Buhari equally retained Tolu Ogunlesi, Bashir Ahmad, Lauretta Onochie and Nazir Bashiru as Special Assistant, Digital/New Media, Personal Assistant, New Media, Personal Assistant, Social Media and Personal Assistant, Visual Documentation, respectively.

Following the election of Shaaban Ibrahim Sharada, the former Personal Assistant, Broadcast Media, as member of House of Representatives, the President has appointed Buhari Sallau as his replacement. All appointments take effect from May 29, 2019, except that of the new entrant into the team, Buhari Sallau.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-re-appoints-adesina-shehu-as-media-aides.html

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday said a Federal High Court in Abuja had granted it permission to freeze various sums of money in bank accounts traced to a former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari. A statement from ICPC spokesperson, Mrs. Rasheedat Okoduwa, said Justice Taiwo Taiwo gave the permission yesterday when he ruled on an ex-parte motion filed by the ICPC ordering that the accounts containing $669, 248.89 and N24.3 million domiciled with Polaris and Zenith banks respectively, be frozen.

She said the sums were funds allegedly stashed in the personal accounts of the former governor and companies belonging to him, which include: Kayatawa Nigeria Limited and B. T. Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.

She said a breakdown showed that N12, 912, 848.68 was stashed in the former governor’s Zenith Bank account; N11, 159, 674.17 found in a Zenith Bank account operated by Kayatawa and N217, 388.04 also in Zenith Bank belonging to B.T. Oil and Gas Nigeria Ltd. “$56, 056.75 was discovered in the former governor’s Polaris Bank account. Another $301, 319.99 was kept in Kayatawa’s Zenith Bank account, while $311, 872.15 was found in BT Oil and Gas’ Zenith Bank account, “ she said. She added that, “The monies, when converted and put together, bring the total amount frozen to N263, 033, 519.3.” Okoduwa said the judge also ruled that the commission should publish the order of interim forfeiture in a national daily within 14 days, and that the affected parties should show reason why the funds should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.

She said the ICPC had approached the court through Section 48 (1), (2) and (3) (a) and (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, praying for an order of interim forfeiture of the alleged funds to the federal government. She said all the sums were alleged to have been proceeds of corruption emanating from the illegal activities of the governor and his representatives.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/court-freezes-6m-n248-3m-in-ex-zamfara-gov-yaris-accounts.html