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If the recent move by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is anything to go buy, Nigeria may be on the verge of becoming an helicopter-producing country before the end of 2019.

Already, the agency has been given a Presidential marching order to produce made-in-Nigeria helicopters through reverse engineering method.

It has therefore sought partnership with the aviation regulatory authority, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to provide relevant guides to ensure the helicopters to be produced meet international standards.

The agency charged with the responsibility of fast-tracking home-initiated industrialization has placed order for a Dynali H3 easy flyer sport ultralight helicopter for the purpose of reverse engineering, it was gathered.

Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Sanni Haruna, spoke in Lagos, yesterday, during a courtesy visit to the NCAA headquarters where he was received by the DG, Capt. Mukhtar Usman.

The NCAA DG assured that the authority would partner with the agency to provide guidance in line with global standard and recommended practices in aviation.

He said, “As you know aviation is highly regulated; it is international in nature and that is why NASENI came today for us to partner and work to ensure that international standard and recommended practices are maintained because aviation is a high precision industry, it involves safety and security.”

The EVC disclosed that in line with the agency’s mandate in Aviation and Aeronautics Technology, it has reached out to potential partners and manufacturers of helicopters.

He said Dynali Helicopter manufacturer was found to be a willing partner, adding that it was selected because its technology is easier to copy, learn, domesticate and modify.

“They are willing to build the capacity of our staff for maintenance, repair, assembly and manufacturing of helicopters in Nigeria”, he said.

The EVC assured that before the end of 2019, staff of the agency would have mastered building the helicopters, adding that the agency had in the past produced unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).

He said, “Research and Development is not one or two – day affair but we have facilities for reverse engineering.”



“In fact we have a centre which we call Rapid Prototyping Centre. Any machine that you want to reproduce, we have facilities, advanced manufacturing equipment for that matter on how to give us something fast but then aviation is a high safety and security industry that certain things, we must wait for certification from here (NCAA) before we proceed further.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/made-in-nigeria-helicopters-get-boost-as-naseni-ncaa-forge-partnership.html

An FCT High Court, Nyanya on Wednesday convicted a job seeker , Raymond Azuka for forging the signature of former finance minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala.

NAN reports that on May 19, 2015, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed six counts bordering on forgery.

The EFCC said that Obiejigo, a Higher National Diploma holder from Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra allegedly forged a reference letter purportedly from the Okonjo-Iweala alongside his curriculum vitae requesting for employment into the commission and Nigerian Security Printing and Minting, NSPM.

In convicting Azuka, Justice Baba Idris, fixed Dec. 7, for sentencing.

Baba held that out of the six counst, the court convicted Azuka on two counts.

He held that the confessional statements by the defendant, contained the evidence where the defendant admitted forging the reference letter purported to have been signed by Okonjo- Iweala..

Baba held that the admittance was the best evidence and in this instance, the defendant admitted forging the reference letters and EFCC provided graphic evidence of that too. (NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/court-convicts-job-seeker-for-forging-ex-finance-minister-ngozi-okonjo-iwealas-signature.html

Former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, has written to the Federal High Court in Abuja demanding to be excused from further appearance for his trial.

Dasuki is facing trial over illegal possession of arms and money laundering, alleged diversion of $2.1bn arms fund, among others.


But in the letter dated November 12, 2018 and addressed to the Registrar of the Federal High Court Abuja, the former NSA accused the President Muhammadu Buhari administration of high-handedness, “hypocrisy,

lopsided/partisan rule of law” in the conduct of his trial.


He listed the various orders for his bail including by domestic and the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, which he said the Federal Government failed to obey, adding that it is ironical that it still wants the indulgence of the judiciary for his prosecution.

In the letter, Dasuki said he became worried after the president in his maiden media chat on December 30, 2015 said the weight of crimes he [the former NSA] committed against the Nigerian state were such that he would jump bail if allowed any form of freedom.

He added that the statement was reiterated by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) on July 13 when he was quoted to have said that irrespective of any court order for his (Dasuki) release, the Federal Government would not comply.

“The resolve to continue to detain me against the several orders of court and in brazen violation of the constitution is wrongful and arbitrary. It has inflicted physical, emotional and psychological torture on my family and me. The decision of the Federal Government is not only high-handed, it is also arbitrary and in violation of both domestic and international laws on human rights.

“At this juncture, it will seem that the Nigerian Government is not inclined to yield or obey the orders of any court of law; whether domestic or international. Ironically, the Federal Government still wants to ride on judicial wings to prosecute me when it does not comply with the orders that proceed from the court especially in relation to me.

“Since the Federal Government has resolved not to comply with judicial orders directing my release, it is better for the court to also absolve me of the need to submit myself for further prosecution. Justice should be evenly dispensed, as opposed to same, being in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria,” Dasuki wrote.

He can be tried in absentia – Prosecution

However, following Dasuki’s absence in court yesterday, Prosecution counsel Dipo Okpeseyi (SAN) asked the court to proceed without Dasuki in line with Section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. He argued that he was not given notice of the letter.

Speaking after the case, Okpeseyi maintained that Dasuki was in 2015 released on bail, adding that if he was later rearrested and detained it is not before the court.

“I believe he will have a rethink because it is not in his character. It is totally against his calling as senior military officer, a crown prince and someone that has held one of the highest offices in the land. That would not be his natural instinct because I know he is a gentleman. But whatever it is the court would have a final say,” he said.

An official of the Ministry of Justice, who pleaded anonymity, said Dasuki’s decision is not the right approach to enforce the bail orders of the courts. He added that the former NSA ought to continue using the instrumentality of the law to pursue whatever grievances he has.

Dasuki was in December, 2015 arraigned on a five-count charge of unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering to the tune of $2bn.

Meanwhile, Justice Ahmed Mohammed had said the defendant ought not to write the court directly except through his counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN).

The case has been adjourned to November 19 for hearing.

Trial may become a nullity – Awomolo

A senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, has urged the federal government to release the former NSA to ensure his trial doesn’t become a nullity in the face of the law.

Awomolo, a life bencher, told our reporter yesterday that Dasuki being a Nigerian, is a citizen entitled to all the rights and privileges the Constitution guaranteed to every Nigerian.

“Yes, we know he is undergoing trial for ordinarily bailable offences and judges in exercise of their powers under the constitution have granted him bails and he had met all the conditions. He is entitled to defend himself with a free mind and not under detention.

“Let all Nigerians plead with the Federal Government to, on compassionate ground, reconsider his case and in the interest of our hard earned but fledgling democracy release Dasuki.

“The right to defend himself freely is a constitutional right which cannot be lightly taken away otherwise the whole proceeding will be a nullity and void but the court may order him to be brought and such order must be obeyed,” Awomolo said.

Cases involving FG and Dasuki

1. The former NSA was on Sept 1, 2015 arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of illegal possession of arms and money laundering. He was granted bail.

2. On Dec. 13, 2015, he was re-arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja alongside Shuaibu Salisu and others on 19-count charges over alleged diversion of $2.1bn.

3. Two days later, on Dec 15, 2015, he was charged before an FCT High Court alongside Bashir Yuguda, Attahiru Bafarawa and four others over alleged diversion of $2.1bn arms funds

4. On October 4, 2016 the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice ordered the release of the former NSA and awarded the sum of N15m compensation against the FG

5. On July 2 a Federal High Court in Abuja granted him bail on the N100m bail bond.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/dasuki-writes-court-vows-not-to-submit-to-further-trial.html

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, will return to the country before November 18, 2018, reliable party sources told Daily Trust Saturday yesterday. One of them said Oshiomhole had to travel to the United States as a matter of urgency, “because of a personal matter”.

Another party source said Oshiomhole is slated to return well before next Saturday, because of the federal constituency by-election in Kwara State. “He will surely return before the official commencement of presidential and National Assembly campaigns on November 18. Don’t forget that the APC will also be participating in the by-election in Kwara State. So, the chairman is coming back to lead the campaigns,” he said.

Oshiomhole had left the country early morning of Wednesday in the midst of the furore caused by his reported interrogation by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Sunday and Monday, over alleged fraudulent activities during the primaries held in some states.

An aggrieved aspirant for Enugu West Senatorial District ticket, Osita Okechukwu, had on Thursday said that Oshiomhole seemed to have “run away to evade the substitution window meant to redress the grievances of the casualties of his inactions.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/oshiomhole-to-return-before-campaigns-begin.html

A former executive secretary of the National Universities Commission, Professor Peter Okebukola, says over 60 percent of project reports of Nigerian undergraduates are plagiarised.

Speaking yesterday at the first Kwara State University Education Lecture, Okebukola said the rate of plagiarism as a form of academic corruption at the Masters level was between 15 and 20 percent and eight percent at the PhD level.

“It’s academic corruption when lecturers don’t show up in classes as required or teach only 10 subjects out of about 20 in a semester, and when students negotiate with lecturers for marks”, he said.

Okebukola said that solving problems in the education sector might be challenging, but not impossible.

“Government must place high premium on education by providing adequate financial resources for the sector. Our institutions of learning must also look for innovative ways to raise funds. The teaching profession must be considered as one of the most important jobs and accorded due regard. The Minister of Education must appeal to state governors to give special emphasis to addressing the problem of low quality of basic education. Also, there is the need for an enabling environment to be created for teachers and students through improved conditions of service, provision of basic infrastructures for the delivery of quality education.

He said Nigerian universities were grossly under resourced in human and physical resources, calling for adequate funding of public educational institutions in the country.

Okebukola also appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities to embrace dialogue in resolving the ongoing strike.


https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/60-of-nigerian-undergraduate-projects-plagiarised.html

Complaints have trailed the ongoing display of national register of voters by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at polling units across the country, Daily Trust reports.

The display, which began on November 6 for public scrutiny and possible claims and objections, is slated to end on November 12, 2018.

Our correspondents across the states report that that there were complaints as prospective voters troop to the display centres to check their names.

Findings revealed that the complaints ranged from omission to misspelling of names, as well as the appearance of the names of dead people and expatriates on the register. Others complained of being referred from one centre to the other to check their names.

Our correspondent in Gombe, who went round some polling unit in parts of the metropolis, described the turnout of prospective voters as impressive.

A staff of the electoral commission in Gombe State, Dahiru Hamza, told Daily Trust that most of the complaints received so far had to do with omission of voters’ picture, error in date of birth and incorrect spelling.

“Since we started this exercise two days ago, only few cases of total omission of names were recorded. People are coming with one complain or another, but most of them are minor mistakes,” he said.

A woman said she saw names of three dead people in the register, adding that she would draw the attention of INEC officials with a view to removing them.

On their part, the two major political parties in the state – All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed satisfaction with the exercise.

The Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Buba Shanu, said the display will reduce the issue of multiple registrations and give people the opportunity to correct mistakes in their PVCs.

Also, deputy chairman of the APC, Mr Julius Ishaya, said they had monitored the exercise and were satisfied with the arrangement made by the electoral commission.

According to the INEC Public Affairs Officer, Mr Bigun Mohorret, a total of 1, 400, 392 voters have been registered by the commission in Gombe.

PVCs carted away in Kogi

In Kogi State, checks by Daily Trust indicated that INEC has commenced the display of the registers across the 2,548 polling units in the state.

It was equally observed that registered voters who were yet to collect their PVCs used the avenue to collect them.

However, at one of the registration areas at Egume in Dekina Local Government area of the state, it was gathered that some hoodlums invaded the area and allegedly carted away some PVCs meant for distribution to owners.

When contacted, the Head of Voter Education and Publicity at the INEC office in the state, Alhaji Bagudu Biambo, told Daily Trust that the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof James Apam, had gone to the area to ascertain the true situation of things.

He said the REC would brief journalists on the details of his findings upon return from the area.

On the issues of complaints emanating from the displayed register, Biambo said such complaints would be entertained between November 11 and 13 at the INEC registration areas across the state.

He said the preliminary voters register for the state contained a total number of 1,647,348.

Missing names in Bayelsa, Katsina

Some voters in Bayelsa State, who were registered during the last voter’s registration exercise, complained that their names were missing in the register displayed at various polling units in the state.

Also, there are few complaints about wrong spelling of names and putting people in the units and wards far from their places of residence.

At Ompadec field in Amarata, Yenagoa Local Government Area, a prospective voter told Daily Trust that his name was wrongly spelt but his photograph was okay. He said he would have lodged complain his name was missing.

Also, another person said he registered about three months ago but hasn’t seen his name on the register.

Bayelsa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Cyril Omoregbe, had during a stakeholders meeting on Monday told the people that the essence of displaying the voters list is to ensure that mistakes were corrected.

In Katsina State, prospective voters were spotted at Kofar Kudu I, II, and III trying to find their names on the list with many of them saying they did not see theirs.

One of them who simply identified himself as Malam Hassan said “I’m confused! I have been voting in this primary school but can’t find my name on the register. I’m yet to lodge complain but will surely do so before the time elapse.”

Another voter was seen going through the list for the third time but insisted that he did not see his name.

The spokesman of PDP in the state, Sani Bello Jibia, said they had already told their members to go back to their respective polling units and check their names in case there were anomalies.

“By next week, the party will collate all the complaints raised by members with a view of pushing them forward for appropriate action,” he said.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Jibrin Zarewa, had at a stakeholders meeting said the register would be displayed in all the 4,902 polling units in the state and that those with complaints should channel them to Revision Officers (REVO’s) at the 361 wards in the state.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2019-polls-complaints-trail-display-of-voters-register.html

Senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clashed yesterday over the Federal Government’s social intervention programme (SIP).

Minority Leader Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti), who brought a motion before her colleagues, said the SIP was being used for political purpose.

This is even as the senators resolved to probe both the federal government’s social intervention fund and the SURE-P under the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan.

Olujimi said those given the fund were asked to fill forms alongside details of their permanent voters’ cards, noting that those without PVCs were denied.

She said it was apparent that the fund was used to influence voters as the 2019 elections approach.

“As we speak, people are asked to bring their PVCs to collect it. I have some of the forms here with me where it is written ‘I stand with Buhari.’

“For me, there’s no corruption greater than using our collective purse to maintain a political party. There’s need for us to have a high-powered committee to probe this. That’s my prayer,” she said.

But immediately she concluded her statement, Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe), sought to speak and was permitted to do so by Senate President Bukola Saraki.

But PDP senators would not allow him speak, with Dino Melaye (PDP, Kogi) leaving his seat to approach his APC colleagues, shouting on top of their voices.

Lawan stood for several minutes as Melaye and other PDP senators kept disrupting him. It took Saraki several minutes to calm the senators down.

“This drama is unnecessary. The minority leader has spoken, and the leader wants to speak, he should be allowed to speak,” Saraki said and asked Melaye to return to his seat.

After returning to his seat, Melaye once again interrupted by raising a point of order, citing Senate Order 43, which he said provides that a motion needed to be seconded before a debate could be taken. But Saraki insisted that Lawan be allowed to speak.

In his submission, Lawan said “For the first time in the history of social intervention programme in Nigeria, we have a full proof system that any part of Nigeria that you come from, you can apply online and be captured.”

Senator Albert Akpan (PDP, Akwa Ibom) then raised another point of order, saying based on the Senate rules, those in support of a motion should speak first before those against, hence Lawan should not be allowed to speak at that point.

But Saraki said: “I think we’re wasting more time. We would have finished by now. Leader would have finished speaking, and I would have asked somebody to second. Many at times here, we did it like that from here.”

When Lawan was once again allowed to speak, he said he was not opposing the motion but that he wanted to set the records straight.

“We were all here when SURE-P and whatever were instituted and the funds were stolen. I have no objection in the investigation. What I don’t want is for the minority leader or any other person to make this matter a partisan one,” he said.

‎It was then resolved that an ad hoc panel be constituted to investigate the matter and report back to the Senate.

Senator Jibrin Barau (APC, Kano), in an additional prayer, said the ad hoc committee should also investigate the SURE-P programme.

Though PDP senators kicked against the prayer via their voice votes, Saraki granted it.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apc-pdp-senators-clash-over-fgs-social-intervention-fund.html

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said that its crude oil and gas export sale in August 2018 was $470million, indicating an upsurge of about $78million when compared to July export figures of $391.91million.

The corporation stated this in its Monthly Financial and Operations report for August 2018 released on Wednesday in Abuja by its spokesman Mr. Ndu Ughamadu.

The report indicated that crude oil export sales contributed $337.62 million which represents 71.83 percent of the dollar transactions compared with $283.43million contribution in the previous month.

The release said export gas sales during the period amounted to $132.38million, adding that the August 2017 to August 2018 crude oil and gas export was worth $5.26billion.

Contribution from crude oil during the period, it stated, amounted to $336.43 million, while gas and miscellaneous receipt stood at $101.33million and $12.48million respectively.

A further breakdown of the figures showed that out of the export receipts, $142.31million was remitted to the Federation Account, while $307.93 million was remitted to fund the JV cost recovery for the month of August, 2018 to guarantee current and future production.

Total export crude oil & gas receipt for the period August 2017 to August 2018 stood at $5.23billion out of which $3.74 billion was transferred to JV Cash Call as first line charge and the balance of $1.49 billion paid into the Federation Account.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/oil-gas-export-sales-rose-by-78m-in-august-nnpc.html

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The State Executive Committee (SEC) of the PDP in Ekiti State has dissociated itself from the purported stakeholders meeting which replaced former governor Ayodele Fayose with the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, as leader of the party in the state.

The SEC therefore reaffirmed its stand with the former governor as the leader of the party in the state.


The SEC is the highest organ of the party in the state and it comprised of the State Working Committee, party chairmen and secretaries at local government and wards and elected public office holders among others.

The SEC, in a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting in Ado Ekiti, alleged that Olujimi and a former PDP state secretary, Dr. Tope Aluko, were agents of the APC commissioned to destabilize the PDP.


It would be recalled that Aluko had led some aggrieved PDP members to invade the party’s secretariat on Ajilosun Road, Ado Ekiti on Thursday during which they accused the state executive members of making suspicious withdrawals from the party’s account.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ekiti-pdp-rejects-olujimi-restores-fayose-as-leader.html

President Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu emboldened the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to frustrate the plot by three governors to force their anointed candidates on the party, Daily Trust reports.

Oshiomhole acted with the clear approval of Buhari and Tinubu before dumping the anointed candidates of the governors, our correspondent gathered. The party has since submitted its governorship candidates list to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), except for Zamfara State.

But it was gathered that the decision to submit names other than the preferred candidates of Governor Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara) was taken after a meeting of the president with Tinubu and Oshiomhole at the State House in Abuja. Tinubu and Oshiomhole met the President on Wednesday.

A source close to the Villa and Oshiomhole said the party had submitted the names of Senator Hope Uzodinma for Imo and Chief Dapo Abiodun for Ogun. Okorocha who chairs the Progressive Governors’ Forum had anointed his son in-law, Uche Nwosu, while Amosun has been having sleepless nights over his preferred candidate, Rep. Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade.

The source, who pleaded not to be mentioned, said:” Oshiomhole ignored the threat of the governors because of the maximum support of the two leaders of the party, the president and Asiwaju. They are solidly behind him. He has submitted the names of Uzodinma for Imo and Dapo for Ogun State. But for Zamfara, we don’t know what he has done because of it peculiarity,”

Last month, INEC had said it was not expecting any list of candidates of the party from Zamfara.

Last minute efforts by the governors including meeting with President Buhari couldn’t change the development. Okorocha and Amosun were separately at the Villa on Thursday to seek the intervention of the president. It was gathered that the president insisted that party supremacy and rule of law must be respected.

What Buhari told aggrieved aspirants

Buhari on Tuesday urged party aspirants who lost out in the primaries to remain faithful to the country and hold fast on integrity, saying there would be more opportunities along the way.

Speaking at a dinner with the APC Aspirants Forum at the Presidential Villa, Buhari said the primary motivation to contest elections should be to improve the country, and not for pecuniary reasons.

“I spoke with the APC party chairman almost every other day, at least for an hour during the primaries. And sometimes, we met for two and half hours on ensuring internal democracy during the primaries. In spite of all efforts to appease everyone and give them a chance at the polls, some aspirants were still not treated fairly.

“I urge you to stay faithful if your objective is to serve the country. I came back to power in this “agbada’’ to convince Nigerians to make sacrifices that the country needs now for a better future,’’ he said.

Tinubu, Okorocha ‘clash’ in Villa

Tinubu and Okorocha engaged in verbal war over Comrade Adams Oshiomhole during separate interviews with State House reporters. While Tinubu, after meeting with Buhari on Wednesday, said Oshiomhole was on the right path, Okorocha punctured him on Thursday.

Tinubu said: “We all have to respect the party supremacy. You were all here when we had the congress, we elected the new executive, the convention we had it, the NEC was formed and we surrendered to avoid conflict, to avoid domination, to avoid abuse of power, we surrendered our rights, all rights to the National Working Committee headed by Adams Oshiomhole, that the National Working Committee should set up electoral bodies to supervise various state congresses and elections. We signed off for it. So, if it is not in our individual favour, so be it. We gave three options, consensus, where there is no consensus because if you are more than two or three and you cannot agree on one candidate, you go to the next level.

“The next level is the stakeholders delegates and you have to be supervised by the National Working Committee of the party, national election committee of the party. That shows party supremacy or the freest option, the less cumbersome is to open direct primary, line up and count the number, 1,2,3. If you win, you win and if you fail, go home. Then an appeal committee was set up to listen to all appeals, internal mechanism for conflict resolution. It was there you cannot turn round against that, you cannot turn against all of that, no. Party is supreme, party must be respected, abuses will not do it and anger will not do it. It is party politics, somebody will win and somebody will lose, too bad.”

Faulting Tinubu on Oshiomhole, Okorocha said: “No, maybe he is being misinformed, if he was properly informed he would not say what Oshiomhole is doing is the right thing.”

Okorocha while puncturing the claim, said: “I am here to clear the air that the presidency is behind what Oshiomhole is doing in some of the states and which has affected our party negatively, and from my understanding from Mr President, there is no such directive for Oshiomhole to do anything illegal or create any sort of injustice.

“So, Oshiomhole is on his own in this whole thing. There is no presidency’s support for him to refuse candidates who won elections and give wrong candidates who didn’t win election. This is the matter and I will simply say that he is not with the consent of the presidency, he is on his own,” he said.

Asked whether the crisis would split the party, he said: “So long as Muhammadu Buhari is still the president of Nigeria, and remains the leader of this party, the party will remain intact.”

On the report that Oshiomhole has submitted Uzodinma’s name to INEC, he said: “He can’t! I don’t think the National Working Committee will do that because in the first place, the committee sent a 13-man delegation who conducted the election and 12 of them signed, proving that Uche Nwosu won the election with 265,000 votes as against Uzodinma who got less than 7,000 votes, so they can’t do that.

“And there is a letter to that effect from the National Working Committee saying Uche Nwosu won, there is a Certificate of Return given to Uche Nwosu, there is a police report saying Uche Nwosu. So nobody can do that and if they do that, that must be the worst imposition in the history of Nigeria.”

Oshiomhole on plot to remove him

Speaking on the plot to remove him, Oshiomhole on Wednesday in the Villa said he was absolutely committed to justice, fairness and enforcement of rules.

“I have no illusions, this job I am doing is not a pensionable job, but I did promise myself that if I am going to be on this job for one day, I will do according to the rules and according to my conscience, I will be fair and just to all and God will give me the courage and the wisdom to do His will. How far that can take me is exclusively in the hands of God.

“Let me say that if there is a choice between my conscience-what I believe is right and mortgaging that conscience in order to keep the job, I will have no difficulty resolving it in favour of my conscience. And those who know, know that at my age I cannot learn new tricks,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/anointed-candidates-how-buhari-tinubu-backed-oshiomhole-on-amosun-okorocha-yari.html

Organised labour leaders yesterday reiterated their commitment to shut down the nation’s economy on November 6, 2018 if the federal government refuses to accede to N30,000 minimum wage as recommended by the tripartite negotiating committee.

The labour leaders who converged in Lagos to appraise recent developments urged Nigerians to stockpile food and other essential needs to avoid starving as the strike lasts.

The meeting which was attended by the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), United Labour Congress (UTC) and their affiliates, said the N30,000 new national minimum was the outcome of many days negotiations by the tripartite committee set up by the federal government and the acceptance of the new wage by them was borne out of a sense of patriotism and attitude of “give and take”.

In a communiqué read by the national president of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, labour said: “The Central Working Committee in session considers the report that was presented by the joint leadership of organized labour, particularly all members of the tripartite negotiating committee and we considered the recent mischief of government in an attempt to impede the outcome of the concluded new national minimum wage negotiation. The organized labour leaders expressed their unwavering stand on the report and that since the negotiating team of new minimum wage had concluded its assignment, precisely on the November 5, 2018 and agreed on a minimum wage of N30,000, government should accept the report.”

He said the labour condemned the recent attempt by the federal government to embark on arm-twisting tactic to cow workers into submission with the introduction of no work no pay rule.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/labour-insists-on-n30000-minimum-wage.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has hosted the son of former President OlusegunObasanjo at the State House Villa, Abuja.

Olujonwon Obasanjo was hosted yesterday night at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The details of the meeting were scanty at the time this report around 11.pm.

Presidential Spokesperson, Femi Adesina, on his Facebook wall, confirmed that the president hosted the Obasanjo’s son

The visit came weeks after Obasanjo publicly endorsed the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, saying the former vice president was better than Buhari.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-hosts-obasanjos-son-in-villa.html

A Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to issue bench warrant against a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bello Haliru, who was absent from hearing in money laundering charges against him and two others.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed on Wednesday ruled that the court will also foreclose his case and proceed without him if he fails to appear at the next adjourned date.

The decision followed an application by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Leke Atolagbe for the issuance of a bench warrant against Haliru for violating the terms of the release of his international passport for overseas medical treatment.

Justice Mohammed, who observed that the defendant violated the 30 days granted him for overseas treatment, however noted that the defence counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN) sent a letter that he will on Wednesday October 31 undergo surgery in a London hospital.

“Records show that the third defendant has never been absent in court since this trial started,” the judge said.

The EFCC had in January, 2016 arraigned Bello Haliru, his son, Abba and his company, Bam Projects and Property Ltd for allegedly receiving the sum of N300 million from the former NSA, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki for PDP’s 2015 campaigns.

The case has been adjourned to December 13 for trial.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/armsgate-court-threatens-to-issue-bench-warrant-for-ex-pdp-boss.html

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Sai baba

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen has assured that the judiciary will attend to disputes arising from the 2019 general elections with fairness.

Justice Onnoghen made this declaration yesterday at the inauguration of 30 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) at the Supreme Court Complex in Abuja.

“As we prepare for the 2019 general elections, I reiterate that the judiciary will in determining electoral disputes, continue to play the role of Independent and dispassionate arbiter without fear or favour; affection or ill-will.

“However, the court must partner with key stakeholders to play a critical role in the sensitization and voter education to ensure that eligible members of the public are properly enlightened,” he said.

While noting that the Supreme Court treated 1, 439 cases including motions, 438 appeals and 192 criminal matters in the previous year, he pledged the commitment of the judiciary to the speedy dispensation of justice.

Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) reiterated the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to the independence of the judiciary.

He said the directive that every fund standing to the credit of the various courts be paid to the heads of the courts in line with the provisions of the Constitution, was a display of that commitment.

The AGF, who was represented by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dayo Apata suggested a review of the judicial long vacations to a staggered vacations regime for judges to prevent the annual shutdown of the judiciary.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Paul Usoro (SAN) charged the new SANs to be humble in their relations with other lawyers, explaining that the privilege bestowed by the new rank could be withdrawn at any time on grounds of misconduct.

Thirty one individuals were shortlisted out of the 164 lawyers who applied for the rank. However, the CJN said Ikhide Ehighelua was dropped by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) over misconduct.

Among the inductees is the first female professor to become a SAN, Oluyemisi Adefunke Bamgbose.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/cjn-pledges-unbiased-judiciary-ahead-2019-polls.html

Good luck

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris to suspend the investigation of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in next Saturday’s elections in Osun state, Senator Ademola Adeleke, for alleged exam malpractice.

The police yesterday summoned Adeleke and four others to report to the police Special Investigation Panel in Abuja for arraignment in court.

He and the other suspects will face a charge of examination malpractice, criminal conspiracy, impersonation, the police said.

However, a source in the presidency confirmed to newsmen that Buhari had ordered the police chief to stop the invitation of the PDP candidate until after the September 22 governorship election in the state.

“The President has ordered that Adeleke should not be invited until after Saturday’s election,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer, acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, in a statement invited Adeleke to report to the Special Investigation Panel, Force Headquarters, Abuja immediately for arraignment in court

Also invited in connection with the case are Mr. Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr. Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr. Dare Olutope (School Teacher, who facilitated the commission of the crime).

A statement by the force spokesperson acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, yesterday in Abuja said that the invitation was in connection with alleged examination malpractice, criminal conspiracy, impersonation, breach of duty as well as aiding and abetting.

Moshood said the police in Osun on July 21 received and acted on an actionable intelligence about an ongoing examination malpractice involving Sen. Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke at Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School in the state.

He said that when the police arrived at the school, only Sikiru Adeleke was found seated for the examination while Sen. Adeleke’s seat was vacant.

The spokesman said that further investigation revealed that both Adeleke and his brother, Sikiru registered and were sitting for the 2017 NECO as internal candidates, impersonating students of the school.

“This crime was facilitated by the principal of the school and two other members of staff of the school for which they are under investigation and being charged to court,” he said.

He said that the school’s principal, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau, the staff responsible for registration, Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo, and a teacher, Mr Dare Olutope, were arrested on July 21.

The spokesperson said Adeleke was arrested on July 27, while Sikiru Adeleke was arrested on August 8.

He alleged that Senator Adeleke made a cautionary statement and admitted that he registered for the 2017 NECO examinations as an internal student in the said school and didn’t sit for the examination. Moshood said that Sen. Adeleke and four others were arrested, investigated, granted bail and will be charged to court.

The police said: “The Ojo/Aro 2017 NECO, SSCE school photo album (School’s copy), with Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke Photographs in school uniform in the said album.

“Senator Ademola Adeleke in the NECO 2017 Result obtained claimed that he was born on 12th June 1997 but in his statement to the Police, Senator Ademola Adeleke wrote 13th May 1960 as his Date of Birth.

“The photographs of both Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke appearing side by side in the photo album have no NECO stamps on them.

“Senator Ademola Adeleke and four others were arrested, investigated, granted bail and being charged to court.

“Charges of Examination Malpractice, Criminal Conspiracy, Personation, Breach of Duty, Aiding and Abetting against Senator Ademola Adeleke (PDP Governorship Aspirant in the 22nd September, 2018 Gubernatorial Election in Osun State) and four (4) others namely; MR Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr Dare Olutope (School Teacher who facilitated the commission of the crime) have been filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja under the Examination Malpractice Act, CAP E15, 2004 today, Wednesday, 19th September, 2018.

Contacted, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said: “ I don’t know anything about that”.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/osun-elections-buhari-stops-police-summon-of-adeleke.html

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has recovered N7.5 million unused grants from 11 lecturers of the Kaduna Polytechnic.

Spokesperson of the commission, Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

Okoduwa said the money was part of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) grant released to the school between 2010 and 2017 for staff capacity development through local and international trainings.

“ICPC, through its North West Zonal office, which coordinated the investigation on the utilisation of TETFund grants in the institution, found that the 11 lecturers failed to attend the trainings despite having received monies.

“The trainings were scheduled to hold in Nigeria and three other countries, including the United States of America, Greece and the United Arab Emirates,” she said. (NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/tetfund-icpc-recovers-n7-5m-from-11-kadpoly-lecturers-spokesperson.html

Gunmen have killed 11 persons at Lopandet Dwei community in Du District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau, the state’s Police Command confirmed on Monday.

DSP Terna Tyopev, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos that the attack was carried out on Sunday night.

“Yesterday at about 8:30.p.m, we received a distress call that gunmen attacked Lopandet Dwei Du area of Jos South Local Government Area of the state.

“We immediately mobilised to the scene. On arrival, we discovered that some people were already shot.

“We immediately rushed the victims to Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and Plateau Specialist Hospital.

“Doctors at both hospitals confirmed the death of 11 persons while 12 others who are badly wounded were being treated at the hospitals, ” he said.

Tyopev said armed security personnel were deployed to the area to forestall further attacks and break down of law and order.

He said investigation was ongoing to arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

The spokesperson appealed to residents of the area to remain calm and law-abiding, assuring that security agencies were doing everything to secure lives and properties.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/police-confirm-killing-of-11-in-jos.html

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has denied appointing anybody as APC flagbearer for 2019 governorship election in Rivers State.

The media were awashed with report of Amaechi’s appointment of a Lagos base businessman, Tonye Dele Cole as the APC flagbearer for 2019 governorship election in Rivers State.

Amaechi in a press statement issued on Saturday by his media office described as misleading, misguided and deliberately disttorted claims linking him to a purported ‘appointment’ of a governorship candidate for the APC in Rivers State for the 2019 gubernatorial election.

Amaechi in the statement said "as an individual, a registered voter and a card carrying APC member from Rivers State, it’s the Honourable Minister’s inalienable, constitutionally enshrined democratic right to back/support/promote any qualified fellow party member of his choice, to aspire to be the candidate of the party in the State in the forthcoming governorship election or any other election."

The Transportation Minister said as a true and thorough democrat , he recognizes that the Party candidates for the 2019 general elections will be elected by party members through the prescribed democratic process in the party’s constitution, rules and regulations.

"It is therefore preposterous, mischievous; wholly and intentionally disingenuous and deceitful for anyone to claim, allege or even insinuate that the Honourable Minister has “appointed” a governorship candidate for APC in Rivers State," he stated in the statement.

https://dailytrust-d13d.kxcdn.com/amaechi-denies-appointing-any-guber-candidate-for-2019-268555.html

The Chief of Army Staff Gen Tukur Buratai said there is an ongoing process to access N2bn takeoff fund from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) as approved by the Federal Executive Council for the Nigerian Army University, Biu, Borno State.

Buratai stated this yesterday in Abuja when he visited the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Dr Abdullahi Bichi Baffa.

He said the fund is expected as soon as all the processes are carried out to kickoff the varsity by getting all the necessary facilities and staff.

He said the varsity is going to serve as a unique solution centre in terms of science and technology as well as in military capabilities in terms of equipment and innovation.

“There is an important innovation which we intend to bring about in the Nigerian Army in particular. This day you cannot fight just within the conventional sense, warfare has transformed greatly and it requires more scientific and intellectual approach than it used to be in those days,” he said.

He said the Nigerian Army has gone ahead to see to the need for such university that will tailor their specific innovation needs as well as solution centre in military science and technology.

The university, according to him, will further enhance the army’s ability to deal with all the challenges scientifically and more professionally.

While commending TETfund for it support, he said the fund has transformed the landscape of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, saying “we used to have depilated infrastructure or laboratory left unattended to, but a lot of change is taking place and Nigeria is moving to greater height in education attainment.”

In his response, the TETfund boss said having gotten approval for the take-off grant, the fund will issue the allocation letter to the army immediately they release the approval for 2018 intervention budget.

While calling for the use of the fund for the purpose intended when released, Baffa congratulated the army for getting the approval to establish the university which, he said, is long overdue.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/army-varsity-set-to-access-n2bn-takeoff-grant-buratai-267796.html

The Federal Government has no plan to Islamize the country, the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha has said.

The SGF said this in Jos, Plateau State, yesterday at a two-day Peace Summit organized by the northern chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

He said: “There was a dummy sold to Christians that there is a plan to Islamize Nigeria, I often asked the church whenever I have the opportunity, and said if there is an Islamic agenda why we don’t have Christian Agenda?”

Mustapha said those peddling the rumor always cited examples of Nigeria being a member of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC).

“How did we get into OIC? We first had an observer status in 1969, that’s how we first got there, by then our father and one of the most respected figure in this country, General Yakubu Gowon was at the helm of the affairs,

“In 1986 under IBB was when we graduated from an observer status to active full membership, by that we became full members with voting rights and with right to be voted into office,” he said.

The SGF said the issue of the Islamic banking system was initiated in 2005 during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He said: “Obasanjo took the decision because of the benefits that would be accrued to the country in his best of judgment as the leader. And Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela, former Minister of Finance, became the executive director of the bank and since then, every Finance Minister including the present one is an Executive Director of that bank.”

He clarified that even Shari’a that used to create the siege mentality over Christians was in the 1979 constitution.

He added: “The third is the issue was insurgency that we had in this country, the first pronounced one was in 1983 that’s during Mai Tatsine, which erupted in Kano, Maiduguri and later Yola, and I am confident to say that when it erupted it spread but the current president was the one that decisively dealt with it.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/no-plan-to-islamize-nigeria-fg-267799.html

Gov Samuel Ortom of Benue has advised Sen. George Akume to showcase his achievements in his 11 years sojourn as senator, “instead of castigating me at every opportunity”.

“Akume should showcase his score card. He has been in the senate for more than 11 years and the constituents want to hear what he has done.

“He appears obsessed with abusing me every minute; that is not what the people want to hear,” Ortom told newsmen on Monday in Makurdi.

The governor spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and ICT, Mr Tahav Agerzua, at a special interaction with newsmen.

“The man (Akume) keeps insulting me at every turn. But, while he is raising questions about me, more questions are being raised about whether he has been an asset or liability to the people,” he said.

He also criticised a situation where politicians arrogate divine powers to themselves, stressing that only God had the power to decide the fate of man.

“Nobody should boast that he can make someone governor. Only God can do that. Mr Aper Aku became the first civilian governor of Benue without anyone’s support. Rev. Fr Moses Adasu moved from the Church to the Government House without a political godfather.

“So, it is wrong for anyone to claim that he made me governor and could unseat me,” he said.

The governor dismissed claims that he recently gave N2 billion to PDP’s eight governorship candidates, and wondered where such money could have come from.

He also rejected claims that he was afraid to contest the PDP governorship tickets with other aspirants, pointing out that he ran the entire PDP governorship primary before moving to the APC to pick its ticket in 2014.

Ortom alleged that Akume was struggling to pit him against PDP governorship aspirants because he rejected the automatic ticket offered by the APC.

“PDP will not force Ortom on its members. Let all aspirants canvass for votes from the delegates and refrain from media wars,” he said. (NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ortom-to-akume-leave-me-alone-showcase-your-score-card-267749.html

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The National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters on Monday rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) proposed budget of N189 billion, urging the electoral body to revert to the initial N143 billion earlier submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The lawmakers stated this after a closed-door meeting of the Joint Committee chaired by Senator Suleiman Nazif (APC, Bauchi).

Nazif, who read out the resolution of the Joint Committee to newsmen in Abuja, said, "As you are aware, our last meeting was held on August 17.

"We decided to resume today August 27, to consider the harmonised budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

"The Joint Committee has sat and we have deliberated a position to adopt the N143 billion earlier presented to us by President Muhammadu Buhari.

"It is the wish of this Committee that INEC present the N143 billion as requested by Mr. President.

"This Committee therefore adjourns and will reconvene tomorrow by 1 pm to consider the N143bn INEC budget."

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/breaking-inec-budget-n-assembly-rejects-n189bn-insists-on-n143bn-267747.html

The Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr Usman Gur Mohammed said three attempts for a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) to monitor electricity grid have failed, with one project costing $46 million (about N16.586 billion).

SCADA system is a modern tool for real time data and voice exchange between remote power stations and the National Control Centre (NCC), experts have noted.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Trust, Mohammed said: “Nigeria has failed attempts to have a functional SCADA three times. The last one was between 2006 and 2007 when I was in the Project Management Unit (PMU) of TCN when World Bank financed it and Nigeria spent about $46 million. However, the SCADA had significant deficiency that it cannot see more than 40 per cent of the network.”

He said a committee was established to review the failed SCADA project along with the Power Grid of India among other experts.

“We also brought original SCADA equipment manufactures and all the experts of SCADA to scrutinise the report of the committee and the experts came up with their findings.

“It has become very clear from the SCADA experts reports that we cannot even start the procurement of SCADA until we fix our network communication backbone,” said Mohammed whose appointment was confirmed for a four year term in February 2018.

On how TCN would deliver a 20,000 megawatts (MW) transmission capacity in about four years, the TCN boss said the Transmission Rehabilitation Expansion Plan (TREP) launched in 2017 was transforming the public utility firm after it was plunged by a four year contract management under Manitoba Hydro International Nigeria Ltd (MHINL).

He said, “Since we came in February 2017, we inherited a TCN which was managed by Manitoba Hydro Company. For four years, what Nigeria paid Manitoba hydro for the contract was $23m plus. But Manitoba Hydro mismanaged TCN to the extent that the company was at the point of total collapse, so we had to come up with a programme on how to move TCN forward.”

To save the national grid for frequent system collapse, Mohammed said the Nigeria Electricity and Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved that TCN procures 300MW spinning reserve which will be raised to 450MW gradually to meet the 10 per cent requirement for a 4,500MW national grid.

He said TCN under his leadership has raised $1.7bn from multilateral donors for the expansion of the grid from which it has installed 29 transformers between 2017 and July 2018. More projects are underway to expand the grid to 20,000MW by 2021, Mohammed noted.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/why-n16-6bn-power-surveillance-projects-failed-to-improve-grid-267599.html

May the good Lord protect us in this Country. Those that died may their soul rest in peace and injuries ones i wish them quick recovering