The Integrity Group in the House of Representatives has demanded a comprehensive probe of the 10 principal officers of the House over allegations of padding the 2016 budget.
Their spokesman and member representing Bungudu/Maru Federal Constituency, Hon. Abdulmalik Zubairu Bungudu, told Daily Trust in Abuja yesterday after a meeting of the group that there was no justification in narrowing the allegation to only four officers.

He said in order to ensure proper transparency and accountability, the probe should be expanded.
“All the 10 principal officers of the House must account for their deeds and must come and justify what they are alleged to have done in the padding, including the House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila. There should be no exemption in this matter. If it comes to matter of truth, nobody should be exempted, everybody must account for his deeds,” he said.
Bungudu said there was nothing wrong with the recent revelations by the former chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin, as the disclosure would end what he termed “jungle justice” in the House.
“Though some are saying he is doing it because he was removed as chairman, yes, but if you look at it very well, you would realise that what was operating in the National Assembly is just jungle justice. We were elected on equal status, but someone may have the privilege of appropriating up to N3 or N4 billion to his constituency for his people to benefit, but someone else would have only N40m to N50m, there is no justification for this. That’s why even before Abdulmumin disclosed all these things, there were serious allegations on the matter, it was not disclosed openly until when he was removed,” he added.
He said the Integrity Group which emerged last week as a result of the existence of two other groups has over 106 members so far, and was determined to ensure that justice prevailed over the budget padding crisis, even if it meant proceeding to the court.
“We created this group with an initial 36 members to serve as a platform to express ourselves on these issues, and there are also other issues beyond these in the 8th National Assembly,” he added, noting that after the current recess, the group would address the perennial delay of the legislators’ salaries.

Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/budget-padding-integrity-group-demands-expanded-probe-of-principal-officers/157485.html#Quhce26U8sCEMBdV.99

Kano state Government said it has uncovered plans by the former Governor of the state, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to disrupt next Saturday’s state House of Assembly by-election in Minjibir. Government Spokesman, and Commissioner of information, Youth, Sports and culture, Malam Muhammad Garba in a terse statement made available to newsmen last night in Kano stated that Kwankwaso and his supporters have orchestrated plans to unleash mayhem during the rescheduled election. Minjibir by-election was rescheduled for next Saturday following botched attempt to hold same last April due to break down of law and order midway through the exercise. According to the former President of Nigerian Union of Journalists, “information at our disposal suggested that Kwankwaso has hired thugs from neighboring country of Niger Republic, states of Katsina and Jigawa to unleash Mayhem on Innocent and law abiding electorates, with the aim of scuttling the entire process for his selfish reasons.” Comrade Garba revealed “we have received credible information that the Kwankwasiyya group, knowing fully that their anti- party disposition will fail resorted to hiring of thugs from the republic of Niger and neighboring states of Katsina and Jigawa state.” He stated further “we want to state that as a responsible government, we will not sit down and fold our hands for some disgruntled elements to cause chaos in the state and destroyed the relative peace” Sequel to the unfolding security threat, Garba said ” we have informed the security agencies of this nefarious plan, and we will support them to protect lives and property of law abiding citizens. Continuing further, Garba reiterated that “as a responsible government we will not be party to any process that is undemocratic and unlawful.” The Commissioner therefore enjoins all citizens of the state especially the people of Minjibir local government to be law abiding, while he urged them to go out and exercise their franchise without any fear of molestation, while assuring them of their safety. But in a swift reaction, Engr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso described the allegation as “cheap blackmail”. The allegation is false, unfounded but cheaply designed to maligned a distinguished figure for been a gentleman, AbdulSalam said. Kwankwaso who spoke through the spokesperson of Kwankwasiyya Foundation, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam wondered why Ganduje’s administration was obsessed with maligned a sitting Mp for political benefit. Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam said “If they have a nightmare, it’s Kwankwaso, if they anticipated failure, it’s Kwankwaso, and you continued to wonder why they are so scared of there shadows” He therefore advised them to concentrate on governance and stop chasing shadows.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/kwankwaso-has-hired-thugs-from-niger-to-disrupt-minjibir-by-election-says-knsg/

I called a long-standing friend who lives in Bauchi and he corroborated this story. He said the woman is well known. I have no further comment on this subject ...... "But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and he healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief". (Mark 6:6).

The official price of kerosene will move up to N135 from N73 per litre on Monday, THISDAY investigation revealed wednesday.

According to reliable sources, the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has decided to increase the ex-depot price to N135 per litre with effect from Monday, after the next consignment of about 17,000MT capacity imported vessel arrives Lagos this week.




THISDAY gathered that following foreign exchange crisis, which makes it difficult for the private marketers to access foreign exchange at the official price, the PPMC assumed the sole importer of kerosene, thus leading to the scarcity of the product.

But THISDAY learnt that the public who are the end users would not be losing much as the product had always sold above the N73 official price because of racketeering by officials of PPMC and the marketers.

In the massive scam, officials of PPMC allocate the product to marketers at ex-depot price of N73 per litre, while the marketers sell to the public at over N180 per litre, THISDAY’s investigation revealed.

In a circular number: PPMC/MKT/IBN/01/2016, signed by one LNS Madubuike, the PPMC had directed marketers to pay N73 per litre for kerosene imported by the company. The marketers, however, sell the product to the public at between N180 and N250 per litre.

Some independent marketers, who could not get allocation from the PPMC, told THISDAY that some officials of PPMC collect bribe of N1 million on every truck of kerosene allocated to the marketers.

Another alleged scam by PPMC officials in kerosene importation, it was learnt, is that up to 50 trucks are not discharged in every imported vessel.

According to a PPMC source, after discharging kerosene to the private marketers, this quantity is left in the vessel by PPMC as Remain on Board (ROB) and nobody knows what happens to this product.
NNPC’s spokesman, Mr. Garuba Deen Muhammadu, however, told THISDAY yesterday that he would find out the true situation from the PPMC before responding to the issues raised.

But it was gathered that PPMC has been the sole importer of kerosene as the private marketers use their limited foreign exchange to focus on the importation of petrol.

An official of PPMC, who was not happy with the fraud in kerosene allocation, said that it was brisk business between some officials of the company and the marketers.

“We thought that things will change with the new administration. It actually changed initially but is now business-as-usual. It does not serve public interest to allocate kerosene at N73 or N135 per litre to some people at public expense and the beneficiaries will sell to the public at N180 and even N250 in some instances. This arrangement serves private pockets and something has to be done fast about it,” he said.

Investigation revealed that from the last consignment imported by the PPMC, the independent marketers were selling at ex-depot price of between N170 and 182 per litre.

Some of the independent marketers whose depots had sold kerosene between N170 and N182 per litre include: Capital Oil, Eterna Oil; Rahamaniyya, Aquitane, AA Rano, and Obat Oil.

It was also gathered from PPMC sources that Honeywell, Aiteo and NIPCO Plc would share the next consignment of PPMC’s kerosene that will arrive this week.
However, it was gathered that PPMC has increased the ex-depot price of this new consignment from N73 per litre to N135 per litre.

It was also learnt that because of the scam perpetrated by the marketers and the PPMC officials in kerosene allocation, the major marketers have shunned kerosene business to protect their business integrity.

“The whole kerosene thing is messy and that is why the major marketers do not want to get involved. The major marketers are not ready to give anybody bribe and sell above stipulated price. The whole thing improved when President Buhari came in initially. You will recall that Forte Oil became involved and it sold kerosene at N50 per litre to the public and it was publicised. But now, we are back to the status quo and the whole thing has become messy. The major marketers are not ready to play ball to get kerosene allocation,” said one of the major marketers, who spoke to THISDAY off the record.

At the early stage of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Forte Oil had commenced the sale of what it described as “Buhari Kerosene” at N50 per litre in its retail outlets in Lagos.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/07/28/nnpc-hikes-kerosene-price-to-n135-on-monday/

By Anthonia Duru

Tade and Mirabel had an understanding. They had been married for three years before they had their first child. Mirabel is used to Tade’s bossy attitudes as he was used to having things done his way. Often times Mirabel ignores him and calms him down afterwards. Fifteen days after, they had their child through caesarian section. Tade woke Mirabel when she was trying to take her siesta after hours of trying to put the baby to sleep. Tade requested for lunch and Mirabel who was visibly tired called the house help to help arrange meal for Tade. Despite this Tade was heady but Mirabel ignored him knowing full well that he will calm down. This didn’t go down well with Mama Mirabel who felt Tade is not considering her daughter’s frail health. She threw insults at Tade and verbal battle was raging. Mirabel tried in vain to diffuse the situation, to no avail. Her mother grabbed Tade’s shirt and in his struggle to pull away, the shirt had torn. Tade sent Mirabel’s mum out of their home that night.
Pam, who hails from Imo State after she had her first child invited her mother who operates a restaurant in Owerri to come down to Lagos so she can assist her in taking care of her new baby. Pam’s mother like most grandmothers joyfully came over to take care of her grandchild. After six months she informed her daughter that she will return to her base in Owerri and so she demanded her daughter to give her the sum of N450,000 (Four hundred and fifty thousand naira) for the services she rendered in the six months. According to Pam, her mother said she closed down her restaurant for six months and she would have made over one million naira. “My mother really surprised me as she insisted she will collect N450,000 from us. Initially I thought she was joking but she meant it. I tried not to inform my husband because it is unheard of that a mother is charging for taking care of her grandchild but at the long run after quarrel my husband heard of it. I informed some elders in our village, they perceived her but she won’t listen. After much plea we paid her N250,000 and bought her six ankara fabrics. My husband and myself vowed there and then that we will never invite anybody for omugwo,” Pam narrated her story.
For Evelyn (not real name) her mother-in-law came three weeks after she put to bed to assist her in taking care of her child. “Mama” as Evelyn calls her mother-in-law instead of babysitting was being “babysitted”. “Mama will always complain of pains especially when husband was around. I bath my baby and despite the fact that mama was around my daughter was going to crèche. I asked myself one day if Mama came over to add to our burden. The first thing she demands for once she wakes up is food; she never for once bath my child. I told my husband I can’t cope with two babies because Mama was acting like a baby. Initially, my husband was indifferent, later he said I was unnecessarily finding fault with his mum. After much quarrel he grudgingly took Mama back to the village. I still spent about N100,000 in buying things for Mama when she was returning to the village. I am better without her around,” Evelyn narrated.
Unlike Evelyn and Pam, Toyin Adewumi is a bit luckier as her mother-in-law who has been staying with her for over 30 years when she had her first child has been so helpful in bringing up her children. According to Toyin who is now a grandmother, her mother-in-law takes it upon herself to take care of her great grandchildren from birth. Toyin’s octogenarian mother-in-law helped raising Toyin’s five children and three grandchildren. “When I tell people I can’t bath a baby, they find it hard to believe, my mother-in-law did everything and I will forever be grateful to her,” Toyin said while eluogising her mother-in-law.
From time immemorial, every woman after childbirth needs special care for herself and the new creature. She needs a helping hand(s) as she may not have the physical strength to carry out some chores. Omugwo is the word, in Igbo tradition, that defines the period when a mother, mother-in-law, aunt, or other older female relative, comes to help a young mother after she has given birth. It is considered a thing of pride to most, especially Moms, and daughters to also dream of such a time when they will get some relief. This beautiful practice is also an avenue to pass vital parenting tips, knowledge or information. The birth of a child always brings unlimited joy and excitement not only to the parents involved but to every other person related to them either by blood or friendship. The baby and the nursing mother has to be ministered to by someone mostly women. In most cases, the person who takes care of her (the just delivered woman) is her mother. If the mother is not alive or available, her step-mother performs the functions. During omugwo, the person that comes to stay takes over most of the house chores and responsibilities including cooking (for both husband and wife), cleaning, carrying the baby while the new mum rests.
As beautiful as the practice is it can also be abused.
Initially, everything is fine till criticisms start. “You need to hold the baby’s head like this” “Please enough of the feeding bottle! What she needs is breast milk” “Why are you drinking cold water? Don’t you want your stomach to go down?” “What do you mean you don’t want to drink pap, you want your breast milk to dry up, abi?”
The worst of Omugwo happens when there is already friction in the home, before mother or mother-in-law gets there, the presence of a third party that is not so neutral can further aggravate feud.
Omugwo can be really tricky indeed! But there are some ways in which it can work!
Both parties can make a success of Omugwo situation by ensuring that, regardless of how irritated one person made the other feel, there should always be mutual respect, love, and appreciation! There are boundaries and all parties should always have that at their consciousness. For the caregiver, it will be out of place to intervene in any argument or disagreement. Even though you as a grandmother goes into your daughter’s house with your wealth of experience, respect the fact that it is her home and don’t try to change the processes or routines.
To enjoy Omugwo, new mothers should be patient with whoever comes and appreciate the time she is dedicating to help you. In turn, mothers should keep in mind the primary purpose for which they are there, without veering into areas that are of no concern to them.
http://independentnig.com/2016/07/27/making-omugwo-work/

ogwucheveekee:
PDP were literally the reason why benue voted APC tho southern benue remains with david mark which ever way

Indeed you're very correct. I think they deserve more attention/compensation than they seem to be getting? The State has become a killing field. Frequent news of massacre akin to genocide.

Benue voted massively for APC in both the Presidential and Governorship. The APC leaders there should exploit their links to the Federal Government and the party leadership to demand an explanation for the seeming indifference to the activities of these rampaging marauding murderers. That said, every State irrespective of political leaning and loyalties should be equally protected. In my view, this lawlessness should get equal if not more attention than the fight against corruption. The full force of government should be deployed holistically against ALL threats wherever they occur.

Waoh! Buy why are they wearing identical? Did they selflessly spend their own money to buy the uniforms and heartily endorse him? Just curious........

Barring any last minute change in plans, truck owners would suspend transportation of petroleum products across the country, beginning from today. FUEL-2016 The truck owners had last week, issued a seven-day ultimatum within which to withdraw their services over alleged unpaid bridging claims and reduction of freight rate paid to its members by the Petroleum Equalisation Fund, PEF. At a joint press briefing addressed by the leaderships of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, the groups threatened to withdraw their services at the expiration of the seven-day. National President of NARTO, Alhaji Kassim Ibrahim Bataiya, who was assisted by PTD’s Comrade salimon Olatidi at the media briefing, demanded that the management board of the PEF must immediately commence the full payment of transporters’ claims. The truck owners warned that they will suspend their services of movement of petroleum products from one destination to the other through out the country, should the management of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund, PEF, continue to default in payments of transporters’ claims. Alhaji Bataiya asked the management board of PEF to immediately commence the full payment of transporters’ claims as well as the accumulated outstanding claims in respect of the period January 1, 2011 to May 11, 2016 at the rate applicable from 2011 to December 31, 2015. He further asked the PEF management board to immediately conclude the review of the freight rate from May 12, 2016 to date, in accordance with the bridging fund approved by the government.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/fuel-scarcity-looms-truck-owners-withdraw-services/

Some flights have been cancelled again today and some others delayed severely! Where is the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? What are the Ministers of Petroleum, Transport and Aviation doing to address the recurrent scarcity of aviation fuel. Tax paying, law abiding Nigerians, several of who voted for change are having a rough deal at the airports, missing appointments, experiencing harrowing hardship and disrupting business/social plans. Kerosene is way off the roof.

This happened 10th July as in 2 weeks ago and before last week's attack on INEC?

Thanks beloved. Do you know where the GS will minister from today?

The presenter of a popular radio programme on Love FM Abuja, Ahmed Isah, who prides himself as ordinary president, has come under intense criticism over recent comments on his programme: Brekete Family, where he made caricature of an airline and its staff, adding that he prefers travelling with another airline, which he claimed is more prompt in service delivery. Apparently advertising for a carrier, Isah said the air transport company unlike its competitor, was not known for delaying passengers hence he must be at the airport for his travel way before take-off time. Waxing in Pigeon English, he said: “I dey follow Air Peace 9’ocock. They no dey waste time. They no dey like the other one wey start with A, come get R, with I, come carry K (Arik) Those ones, they can cancel flight. They can suspend. They can- they can… and without apology ooo.” He continued, “You go see them dey waka-nyanga tolotolo for airport after they don disappoint you finish. Anytime I send person to buy me ticket, and the person returns and say Ar… I will shout… I go say na you go fly am. If them talk say their fight na 9’0clock, make you dey go airport around 1 to 2 o’clock in the afternoon.’’ This remark unsettled some staff of the airline who complained to select newsmen in Abuja that it was unbecoming of the on-air personality who should always detach bias and sentiments from the job to be making such comment on radio. The workers pleaded for anonymity because they were not authorized to speak for the air transport company. The concerned staff said “it was because Ahmed Isah knew that what he was doing was wrong that was why he rather spelt our company’s name than pronounce it”. They explained that they had to speak up because it is them who would “bear the brunt if Brekete family succeeds in reducing the cash inflow to Arik by his clandestine and wicked campaign to make air travellers avoid our airline.” When asked how this can be, they said that “when people no longer fly Arik, the company may experience cash crunch and the next thing management will likely do is to relieve workers.” Claiming that the management of the radio station is helpless over the excesses of Brekete family and its major anchor in view of the mammoth listenership it attracts particularly among those in the lower rung of the society, they alleged that Mr. Isah often attacks those who do not patronize him, regretting that what he does is outright blackmail. One of the concerned staff said: “We have to engage the media in this development as Ahmed Isah’s comment is capable of rendering most of us jobless. Since what he said is untrue, we suspect that he is out to take our airline out of the market to the advantage of those who pay his bills. Imagine what will happen to some of us if Arik is not able to generate enough money because of this bad publicity. We will lose our jobs! If that happens, I wonder where we would run to as there are no jobs anywhere. Government and well-meaning individuals should caution that man.” Also speaking, another staff said, “I wonder if Isah got any form of journalism training. Ethically, it’s even wrong to promote a company by openly de-marketing its competitor. How can he place two companies in the sector side by side, glorifying one and firing verbal missiles at one? What have we done to this man? Was he talking out of his personal experience or what people told him? Has he ever experienced same and drew the attention of the airline to such? I see his comment as cheap blackmail. Maybe because he speaks in pigeon, he feels he can get away with his attacks on the corporate world.” Another female staff who claimed to have encountered Ahmed Isah once said, “I think that programme should be probed. Many growing companies have series of complaints against the method used by Isah and co, and the man behind the mic is very arrogant. He takes advantage of his charitable services to the poor and the needy in the society to blackmail businesses and organizations. I had thought journalism preaches objectivity, so where is that in his program? He didn’t even make efforts to get the reaction of my bosses. I really felt bad hearing him say that about us and Arik. He has succeeded in painting us all in bad light even when what he is saying is unfounded.” Reacting to the development, the President, National Association of Aircrafts and Pilot Engineers, Comrade Isaac Balami said, “it was a bad publicity for Arik. Arik can begin to look at it as if it was sponsored against it. It is highly unethical and unprofessional for a radio presenter to be promoting a particular airline and at the same time castigating another airline. You can’t compare a new airline with the one that has been in business long before it. “Just like every radio station has issues; will he (the presenter) be happy if someone comes publicly to say that other stations are better than the one airing his programme? Isah or whatever he calls himself must be guided properly and watch his utterances so as not to throw professionalism to the wind.” Balami however confirmed that a lot of transformation is going on in the aviation industry as his union is holding talks with the minister on how to tackle existing challenges in the aviation sector.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/popular-host-of-brekete-family-programme-under-fire-for-derogatory-comments/

Meanwhile, NTI has advised students, members of staff and other stakeholders to remain calm over the NUC’s declaration of its degree and Postgraduate Diploma in Education programmes illegal.

The institute’s Chief protocol and Public Relations Officer, Malam Jibrin Adamu, gave the advice in Kaduna while reacting to NUC’s advertisements which invalidated certificates issued by institute in the last 15 years.

Adamu, while speaking with NAN on Thursday, noted that both NUC and NTI were government agencies, adding that officials of both organisations would meet in the next few days to resolve the issues.

“It should be noted that both NTI and NUC are Federal Government agencies and within the next few days both bodies will meet and sort out the issues amicably.

“For now, we are calling on our students, members of staff and all stakeholders to remain calm as the issue will be attended to,’’ Adamu said. (NAN)

Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/nuc-clarifies-position-on-nti-degree-postgraduate-programmes/156283.html#9RF28gZdc7KSm7EW.99

Meanwhile, NTI has advised students, members of staff and other stakeholders to remain calm over the NUC’s declaration of its degree and Postgraduate Diploma in Education programmes illegal.

The institute’s Chief protocol and Public Relations Officer, Malam Jibrin Adamu, gave the advice in Kaduna while reacting to NUC’s advertisements which invalidated certificates issued by institute in the last 15 years.

Adamu, while speaking with NAN on Thursday, noted that both NUC and NTI were government agencies, adding that officials of both organisations would meet in the next few days to resolve the issues.

“It should be noted that both NTI and NUC are Federal Government agencies and within the next few days both bodies will meet and sort out the issues amicably.

“For now, we are calling on our students, members of staff and all stakeholders to remain calm as the issue will be attended to,’’ Adamu said. (NAN)

Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/nuc-clarifies-position-on-nti-degree-postgraduate-programmes/156283.html#9RF28gZdc7KSm7EW.99

Meanwhile, NTI has advised students, members of staff and other stakeholders to remain calm over the NUC’s declaration of its degree and Postgraduate Diploma in Education programmes illegal.

The institute’s Chief protocol and Public Relations Officer, Malam Jibrin Adamu, gave the advice in Kaduna while reacting to NUC’s advertisements which invalidated certificates issued by institute in the last 15 years.

Adamu, while speaking with NAN on Thursday, noted that both NUC and NTI were government agencies, adding that officials of both organisations would meet in the next few days to resolve the issues.

“It should be noted that both NTI and NUC are Federal Government agencies and within the next few days both bodies will meet and sort out the issues amicably.

“For now, we are calling on our students, members of staff and all stakeholders to remain calm as the issue will be attended to,’’ Adamu said. (NAN)

Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/nuc-clarifies-position-on-nti-degree-postgraduate-programmes/156283.html#9RF28gZdc7KSm7EW.99

Reducing your age is a lie. It's sinful and you shouldn't do it. Study with your true age and work with it. God will stand by you. This is an unpopular advice but it is the truth and the truth will make you free. Life doesn't end on earth. And to all others indulging in same popular sin, repent, give your life to Jesus and be born again today. God bless you.

As it is in all countries all over the world, except, perhaps, in a few totalitarian states (if there still exists any), the Nigerian Supreme Court, the highest in the land, is the final forum for appeal in the nation’s adjudicatory system. The Apex Court, as it is often called, has interpreted the Constitution and has decided the country’s pre-eminent legal disputes since it was established. In fact, virtually every issue of significance or dispute of immense value in the Nigerian society eventually arrives at the Supreme Court. Its decisions ultimately affect the rights and freedoms of every citizen–rich, poor, Nigerians or foreigners living in the country, pregnant women, those accused of committing crime, those on death row, publishers, journalists, lawyers, bankers, accountants, environmentalists, business men and women, armed robbers, drug peddlers, prostitutes, and a host of others. The period from its inception till date, has not only witnessed the departure of several members of the Court, including one of its most influential figures in recent times, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa(though not Chief Justice), but the arrival of the first female Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar. This period constitutes years, moreover, that were characterised by the continuing recognition of the verities of the Court’s role as a policymaker, of its tripartite role as a legal, a governmental, and, yes, an organic political institution. The Supreme Court has limited but exclusive original jurisdiction in any dispute between the Federation and a state or between states if and in so far as that dispute involves any question (whether of law or fact) on which the existence of a legal right depends. Indeed, the Supreme Court has continued to manifest its embrace of an activist role, of judicial legislating, of lawmaking, of judicial activism, even if some of its nuances may well be distinguished from its predecessor tribunals. Above all, the Court, since the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria in 1914 when the pioneer Chief Justice was Sir Edwin Speed, maintained its revered and enviable tradition of succession based on seniority. Of course, to establish criteria for standards of merit as a basis for selection of individuals qualified to serve on our courts is difficult and definitionally controversial, still establishment of criteria for qualification and selection and for bases for evaluative judgements of performance cannot be ruled out. Yet, unfortunately, the media are, of recent inundated with feelers of plots by the powers-that-be to politicise the succession process of the Apex Court which is much against the cherished tradition of the Court. With the reigning Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed due for retirement on November 10, 2016 when he would have attained his mandatory retirement age of 70, an alleged plot by the powers-that-be to truncate the age-long seniority rule in the judiciary is said to be in the pipeline. Reports have it that there are very powerful forces plotting to alter the seniority rule that would probably see the second-in-command, Hon. Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen take over the affairs of the Apex Court after Mohammed retires from the Bench come November 10. These sinister forces have reportedly argued that anybody appointed to be CJN must not necessarily be the most senior justice of the Supreme Court. But their lame argument holds no water as more progressive lawyers and concerned Nigerians have condemned the move. Not even military rulers, including General Muhammadu Buhari himself, with the enormous powers they wielded, attempted to emasculate the highest court in the land. Even throughout his eight two-terms tenure as civilian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo did not change the rule governing succession at the Supreme Court. If we must consolidate this democratic dispensation, then we must not be seen to be dragging it to the mud. In the face of obvious agitations for secession and militancy in the South East and South-South amidst cries of marginalisation, we must be careful not to aggravate the situation due to the ambition and maladroit hues of a few people in power who want to see Nigeria as their private estate. Indeed, there are palpable fears that if President Buhari succumbs to mounting pressures from some Northern elite and their All Progressives Congress, APC, collaborators not to send Justice Onnoghen’s name to the Senate for confirmation as CJN, the South will miss the golden opportunity to clinch the exalted office. It would be recalled that Justice Ayo Irikefe who was CJN between 1985 and 1987 was the last Southerner to occupy the office, about 30 years ago. Unarguably, the CJN sits as “Primus inter pares” (first among equals) in the intricate power calculus in the nation’s judiciary and one of the first five most important personalities in government. He is the Chairman of the Federal Judicial Service Commission, FJSC, as well as Chairman of the National Judicial Council, NJC. Both commissions are very important as they are involved in the process of promoting anybody to any position in the federal judiciary. Against the backdrop of the perceived attempt by the powers-that-be to northernise and Islamise all existing institutions of government in Nigeria in an orchestrated and vengeful political gerrymandering, any attempt to undermine the judiciary would spell doom for the country. Since 1914 when this vast geographical abstraction became one Nigeria, and since 1960 when the country gained flag independence on a platter of gold from its colonial masters, the headship of all courts, including the Supreme Court is usually based on seniority. In fact, from the High Court to the Supreme Court, the tradition has not changed. It is therefore not now that a Southerner will qualify to occupy the seat that the tradition would change abruptly. Yet, it is not about Onnoghen as a person. It is about equity and justice which the Supreme Court indubitably symbolises. But if Onnoghen is denied this opportunity, chances of having another Southerner to occupy the position could be very remote in a country we all lay claim to as ours, as it would be 15 to 20 years from now since most of the justices in the Apex Court would remain on the queue till they retire at 70. The Supreme Court of Nigeria consists of the CJN and such number of justices of the Supreme Court, not exceeding 21, as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly. Presently, the Court is made up of the CJN and 14 other Justices. If, as investigation revealed, the plot to stop Onnoghen started gathering momentum when the APC expressed anger with the Apex Court’s favourable verdict for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in some South-South states, why use Onnoghen as scape goat? Do leaders of the ruling party expect the Court to dance to their tune at the expense of justice? Why have they forgotten so soon that Onnoghen was among the three justices of the Supreme Court who took a minority position and insisted that the massively flawed 2007 presidential election which enthroned the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua be cancelled in favour of Mr. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP)? Born on December 22, 1950, in Cross River State of Nigeria, Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen who graduated in Second Class Upper Division from the prestigious University of Legon, Ghana, became a justice of the Supreme Court in 2005. If nominated and confirmed by the Senate, he would retire from the Bench in 2020 when he would have clocked 70. The incumbent CJN, Justice Mohammed is from Taraba State while the next after Onnoghen, Justice Tanko Mohammed hails from Bauchi State. Since after Justice Irikefe in 1985, the North has produced virtually all the CJNs till date: In the United States of America, the Supreme Court is made up of the Chief Justice of the United States of America and eight other Associate Justices. Even in that country from where we borrowed our Executive Presidential System of government, the implications of power and influence in the Supreme Court, beginning with the dramatic shift that occurred as leadership passed from the inimitable Earl Warren to Warren Burger were legendary. The years from the late ’60s the ’70s were years of great dramatic tension. With the forced resignation of Abe Fortas, the passing of both the highly esteemed John Harlan and the great jurist Hugo Black, and finally, the illness and resignation of the Court’s great libertarian, William O. Douglas, a realignment took place. With President Nixon’s appointments- Burger himself, Harry Blackmun, William Rehnquist, Lewis Powell- and the appointment of John Paul Stevens by President Gerald Ford, only William Brennan and Thurgood Marshall remained of the old liberal majority. So, there is the place of ideological balance in the Supreme Court. Currently, in the Nigerian Supreme Court, with the exit of brilliant minds such as Justice Pat Asholonu, and Justice Oputa, Onnoghen happens to be the Court’s intellectual power house. If, as investigation revealed, the plot to stop Onnoghen started gathering momentum when the APC expressed anger with the Apex Court’s favourable verdict for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in some South South States, why use Onnoghen as scape goat? Do leaders of the ruling party expect the Court to dance to their tune at the expense of justice? Why have they forgotten so soon that Onnoghen was among the three justices of the Supreme Court who took a minority position and insisted that the massively flawed 2007 presidential election which enthroned the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua be cancelled in favour of Mr. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP)? Born on December 22, 1950, in Cross River State of Nigeria, Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen who graduated in Second Class Upper Division from the prestigious University of Legon, Ghana, became a justice of the Supreme Court in 2005. If nominated and confirmed by the Senate, he would retire from the Bench in 2020 when he would have clocked 70. The incumbent CJN, Justice Mohammed is from Taraba State while the next after Onnoghen, Justice Tanko Mohammed hails from Bauchi State. Since after Justice Irikefe in 1985, the North has produced virtually all the CJNs till date: Justice Mohammed Bello (1987-1995), Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais (1995-2006), Justice Salisu Modibo Alfa Belgore (2006-2007), Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi (2007-2009), Justice Aloysius Iyorgyer Katsina-Alu (2009-2011), Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar (2012-2014) and the presiding deity, Justice Mahmud Mohammed (2014 till date).
Dan Amor, a journalist and public policy analyst, wrote from Abuja

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/politics-succession-supreme-court/

The speaker of Zamfara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi Garba Rikiji, his deputy, Muhammad Abubakar Gumi, the majority leader, Isah Abdulmumini and the chief whip, Abdullahi Dansadau have been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) and detained in Abuja over their alleged plan to impeach Governor Abdulaziz Yari.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that the remaining 20 members of the Assembly have fled to Kaduna, where they issued a statement, last night, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in what they described as abuse of office by Governor Yari.






Though the legislators were short of saying they would impeach the governor, they accused him of misappropriating financial allocation to the state, and failing to implement the budget in the last five years.
The statement, which was signed by the House Committee Chairman on Information, Mannir Aliyu Gidan Jaja, also accused the governor of “corrupt usage of local government funds for state purposes.”
Other charges against the governors by the legislators include “Inadequate explanation of N1 billion commercial agriculture (CBN) loan, non-remittance of pension funds to pension administrators, non-remittance of 5 percent emirate councils funds, the gross misappropriation of bailout funds to the state by the federal government to settle workers’ salaries, including N10b for 2014 and N1.46b in 2016.”
The assembly members also accused Governor Yari of crippling governance in the state through his constant travelling abroad and his refusal to address the issues raised by them.
“Rather he resorted to political intimidation, arrest and detention of principal officers of the House and other supporting staff.”
The statement, therefore, called on President Buhari to give directive for unconditional release of the affected officers.
Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Police Commissioner, Mr Istifanus Shattima, has said that he has deployed additional operatives to stop miscreants from disrupting normal activities at the House of Assembly.
Shattima told Daily Trust that deployment of troops to the Assembly was in response to the action of a mob which attacked the private residence of the speaker.
The attack at the speaker’s residence followed a rumour circulating in the state and the social media, to the effect that members of the House of Assembly were planning to impeach governor Yari.
When contacted to comment on the development, the state commissioner of information, Umar Jibo Bukuyum, did not pick his call or respond to a text message.
Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/politics/dss-arrests-zamfara-speaker-dep-others-over-plot-to-impeach-gov-yari/156079.html#9KRT50Ze8Pbafyvt.99

The speaker of Zamfara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi Garba Rikiji, his deputy, Muhammad Abubakar Gumi, the majority leader, Isah Abdulmumini and the chief whip, Abdullahi Dansadau have been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) and detained in Abuja over their alleged plan to impeach Governor Abdulaziz Yari.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that the remaining 20 members of the Assembly have fled to Kaduna, where they issued a statement, last night, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in what they described as abuse of office by Governor Yari.






Though the legislators were short of saying they would impeach the governor, they accused him of misappropriating financial allocation to the state, and failing to implement the budget in the last five years.
The statement, which was signed by the House Committee Chairman on Information, Mannir Aliyu Gidan Jaja, also accused the governor of “corrupt usage of local government funds for state purposes.”
Other charges against the governors by the legislators include “Inadequate explanation of N1 billion commercial agriculture (CBN) loan, non-remittance of pension funds to pension administrators, non-remittance of 5 percent emirate councils funds, the gross misappropriation of bailout funds to the state by the federal government to settle workers’ salaries, including N10b for 2014 and N1.46b in 2016.”
The assembly members also accused Governor Yari of crippling governance in the state through his constant travelling abroad and his refusal to address the issues raised by them.
“Rather he resorted to political intimidation, arrest and detention of principal officers of the House and other supporting staff.”
The statement, therefore, called on President Buhari to give directive for unconditional release of the affected officers.
Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Police Commissioner, Mr Istifanus Shattima, has said that he has deployed additional operatives to stop miscreants from disrupting normal activities at the House of Assembly.
Shattima told Daily Trust that deployment of troops to the Assembly was in response to the action of a mob which attacked the private residence of the speaker.
The attack at the speaker’s residence followed a rumour circulating in the state and the social media, to the effect that members of the House of Assembly were planning to impeach governor Yari.
When contacted to comment on the development, the state commissioner of information, Umar Jibo Bukuyum, did not pick his call or respond to a text message.
Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/politics/dss-arrests-zamfara-speaker-dep-others-over-plot-to-impeach-gov-yari/156079.html#9KRT50Ze8Pbafyvt.99

Nigeria must not be reduced to a Police state or military rule under whatever guise. People are being slaughtered and beheaded, raped and plundered at home, on the highways and in their communities yet security agencies are dissipating energy? Security votes and resources should be refocused on the marauding murderers killing hapless Nigerians with reckless impunity and unrestrained audacity. Government at all levels should prioritise the security and welfare of the citizenry. This is the minimum benchmark for assessing the performance of any government. Anything else in the absence of this is playing to the gallery.

Nigeria must not be reduced to a Police state or military rule under whatever guise. People are being slaughtered and beheaded, raped and plundered at home, on the highways and in their communities yet security agencies are dissipating energy? Security votes and resources should be refocused on the marauding murderers killing hapless Nigerians with reckless impunity and unrestrained audacity. Government at all levels should prioritise the security and welfare of the citizenry. This is the minimum benchmark for assessing the performance of any government. Anything else in the absence of this is playing to the gallery.

This issue deserves the urgent focus of the Federal Government and its security agencies.

These mindless killings and wanton lawlessness by religious radicals/marauding murderers must not only be condemned but dealt with decisively by the Federal Government of Nigeria that controls the security agencies. Just. Some progress has been made in tackling Boko Haram but we need decisive action on spiraling inflation, kidnapping which has become a nationwide phenomenon, religious radicalism and intolerance which is an unnoticed monster in parts of the country, rising rape, renewed militancy, anger and hunger, despair and depression, politics of prebendalism and crass opportunism, armed robbery, unemployment, genocidal killings by marauding murderers, cult related violence, collapsing value of the Naira, unpaid workers salary, massive staff lay offs and political inertia. The trend of hate preachings and killings, ethno-religious tension/threats and perception of religious conquest must be combated robustly and roundly.

These mindless killings and wanton lawlessness must not only be condemned but dealt with decisively by the Federal Government of Nigeria that controls the security agencies. Just this year, the District Head of Monguna in this same Bokkos LGA was murdered in controversial circumstances along with his driver. Some progress has been made in tackling Boko Haram but we need decisive action on spiraling inflation, kidnapping which has become a nationwide phenomenon, religious radicalism and intolerance which is an unnoticed monster in parts of the country, rising rape, renewed militancy, anger and hunger, despair and depression, politics of prebendalism and crass opportunism, armed robbery, unemployment, genocidal killings by marauding murderers, cult related violence, collapsing value of the Naira, unpaid workers salary, massive staff lay offs and political inertia.

The Federal Government has not been remitting the pension contributions of most of its workers into their Retirement Savings Accounts under the Contributory Pension Scheme since October last year.

This revelation was contained in the 2016 annual report of the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria, which was obtained exclusively by our correspondent on Wednesday.

PenOp stated in the report, “Compliance with regard to remittances of pension contributions from the public sector at both the federal and state levels have lagged notably. While remittances from the Federal Government through the National Pension Commission were last received for September 2015, some states have outstanding remittances dating back over two years.”




The association, however, said private sector remittances had been more consistent though impacted by the current adverse economic environment in the country.

Most of the federal workers affected are direct employees of ministries, who are not under the parastals but are being paid by PenCom with the funds released from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

It was also gathered that the Federal Government had also failed to increase its contribution into the RSAs of workers in the parastals by crediting their accounts with 15 per cent of their total monthly emolument two years after the Pension Reform Act, 2014 increased the contribution to 18 per cent (10 per cent for employers and eight per cent for the workers instead of the 7.5 per cent that each was contributing before 2014).

The implication of the non-remittance of the pension contributions to the workers’ RSAs is that upon retirement, most of the workers will be unable to process their pensions until all arrears are paid together with their accrued rights under the Defined Benefits Scheme.

However, the Pension Fund Administrators may agree to pay the retirees if their unpaid arrears are negligible by then.

Amidst the dire economic challenges in the country, PenOp said the aggregate pension assets under the CPS grew by 15 per cent from N4.61tn as of the end of December 2014 to N5.3tn in 2015.

The association said the call to invest a greater portion of the pension funds in infrastructure required clear, calm, incisive and strategic thinking to achieve any notable success.

“With N5.3tn grown over an 11-year period, careless deployment could wipe these gains out in an instant,” PenOp said.

If looked at as a constituent part of national economic strategy, PenOp said the focus would switch to how it could support the industry to grow beyond N20tn.
http://punchng.com/fg-stops-remittance-workers-pension-deductions/

Ha ha. Everybody calm down. Tony Attah is a jolly good fellow from Kogi State in North Central Nigeria. He was nominated by Shell and Shell always produces the MD of NLNG while other JV partners produce other positions. Just relax and all shall be well!

Ha ha. Everybody calm down. Tony Attah is a jolly good fellow from Kogi State in North Central Nigeria.

The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) saw it coming. Last June 3, it raised the alarm over the malpractices in the liquefied petroleum subsector, warning that if nothing was done, price rise was imminent.

Shortly after, the price of cooking gas rose sharply from N2.3 million to N4.3 million for 20 tonnes. The cost of filling a 12.5-kilogramme cylinder went up from N3,000 to N4,000.

Investigation by The Nation revealed that off-takers appointed by the Nigeria LNG hijacked the LPG business as they control the shipping and the terminals from which the product is supplied to various sales points in the country.

After a screening, the NLNG appointed six firms to lift the product to terminals and depots in Lagos for distribution to consumers. The off-takers, which are Le Global, Harig, Linetrade, Chimons, Greenfield, and Hyson, an arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), lift 150,000 metric tonnes yearly. However, it was alleged that the off-takers were conniving with terminal owners to hike the price.



According to sources, this happened because the NLNG and other regulatory bodies failed in their supervisory roles.

The Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers (LPGAR) National Chairman, Mr. Michael Umudu, confirmed that the LPG business has been hijacked by a cabal. But he did not mention names.

He said: “I am not here to mention names, but we all know that NLNG appointed a selected number of firms to receive and market the product. They should explain to us the factors that brought us to this precarious situation. They (off-takers) should explain to LPG stakeholders, the government and the consumers what happened. We worked together to persuade the government to intervene when the sector was almost dead in 2007. They were appointed to receive and redistribute with the intention of making the product available to other marketers because it is not possible for every marketer to receive directly. Now see what is happening. Our common patrimony has been hijacked by some people who are playing the ostrich.

“I know what we suffered in the past to rescue this industry and now a few privileged ones are taking advantage of the sector. This has not happened in the industry before. We have never witnessed supply shortage without any known cause. The last major scarcity we had was in 2013 when NLNG had a dispute with NIMASA and the distribution was halted as part of sanctions placed on NLNG by NIMASA. The crisis lasted for weeks, but LPG price was not up to what it is today. There were marginal rise in price in the past, which were caused by rise in price of crude oil.

“We were able to easily adjust because the effect was minimal. But now no genuine reason has been given, and the price kept going up. We suspect stage-managed supply shortages to be cause. The situation is such that the LPG industry has been pocketed by a few. Some of them did not even participate in the process that led to the relative growth being witnessed in the sector in recent years.”

According to him, the alleged cabal does not think about the growth and future of the LPG sub-sector, because “all they think is self, self and only self”.

“The cabal protects its members interest only. They are organised and cohesive in their dealings,” he added.

The alleged hijack of the LPG business, it was learnt, started when a private depot was the only depot selling LPG. “The depot kept increasing the price and everyone was complaining, including some off-takers, mainly Nigerians. The depot was accused of being owned by foreigners, whose interest was not the progress of Nigeria, but to exploit Nigerians. Eventually, another consignment arrived three weeks after in which many indigenous off-takers had allocation. We expected them to sell at normal price or at least bearable price as a show of patriotism, but instead the price continued to go up higher,” a source said.

According to the source, members of the cabal are so powerful that they presented one-sided data to the NLNG. “They are highly connected. They present themselves as if they represent the common interests of the sector. So, what is happening is that the NLNG is made to believe that there is normalcy in the sector whereas the reverse is the case. It is just unfortunate,” he added.

On what the members of ALPGAM, NALPGAM and LPGAR are doing to address the problem, Umudu told The Nation that the only organisation that is independent of this cartel is the one he heads and that is LPGAR branch of NUPENG.

“They are so powerful and parade a lot of cash. Of course, you know what money can do in Nigeria. They do everything to suppress and impoverish gas retailers and their umbrella body – LPGAR. But we don’t mind. We will continue to provide checks and balances in the sector. “We are planning a number of events to tell the whole world what is happening.

“Apart from publicity, we are planning to petition relevant authorities and if that does not suffice, we move to the next stage which is protest. Our lawyers are already instructed to secure for us necessary police clearance. We are planning to stage some protests to bring this to the notice of some arms of government.

“We are peace loving people but should not submit to this kind of exploitation. Though the president of Nigeria LP Gas Association, Mr. Dayo Adeshina, told me he is planning a meeting of the stakeholders to address the problem. We are waiting and hope it happens soon.’’

Umudu said LPG retailers planned to meet with agencies, such as the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and Products and Pipeline Marketing Company (PPMC), on the issue. “Meeting the regulatory bodies is part of activities we have planned for next week and beyond. This battle may take longer than one may ordinarily imagine because the powers of the people and organisations involved. I don’t take them for granted at all. They approximate themselves to the whole sector.

“They often advance the argument that it is a free market. But they don’t realise that even in the Western world where liberalisation originated, you dare not manipulate the system for personal gains,” he said, adding that the monopoly must be broken and the NLNG should get more involved in the process beyond making the product available. They should monitor what happens at the transportation level.
http://thenationonlineng.net/cabal-hijacked-cooking-gas-business/

My people, one consistent message of the Lord Jesus Christ was "repent and believe the gospel". The Apostles carried on the same message. Any church or ministry should as a minimum, check how frequent and fervent it preaches repentance from sin and practical Christian living. I mean radical separation from sin, immorality, stealing from government/companies, adultery, corruption, bribery, fornication, lying, worldliness, materialism, indecency and immodest dressing, homosexuality, lesbianism, examination malpractices etc.