₦airaland Forum

Meanwhile, in Kaduna, marketers have taken advantage of the acute shortage to increase fuel price to N500 a litre as against the government regulated price of N86.50.

Our correspondent reported that only a handful of filling stations were seen dispensing the product at exorbitant rates with long queues of motorists desperate to purchase at any price.

Some filling station who were seen selling above the government regulated price along Kaduna-Abuja, Kaduna-Kachia and Kaduna-Zaria roads, suddenly stop dispensation of the product for fear of clampdown by the Department and Petroleum Resources (DPR), LEADERSHIP observed.

A motorist at one of filling stations along Nnamdi Azikiwe road, Nuhu Audi, who lamented the situation, said, “We are calling on government to ensure availability of the fuel in order to discourage such illegal sale of the product.”

Another motorists, Usman Mohammed, said: “How can a litre of fuel sell for between N400 and N500, even black marketers do not display their jerry cans anymore. No filling station is selling in the areas I passed through. This has never happened before in the history of this country,” he lamented.
http://leadership.ng/news/516116/fuel-scarcity-persists-april-7-target-elapse

A concrete report on the crisis in Festac town area of Lagos state has emerged with investigation being launched into the activities of the NSCDC officials in the area.

A Commercial motorcyclist aka Okada rider was killed yesterday and three others injured when Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officials allegedly shot at customers at a Forte Oil Filling Station in Festac, Lagos, according to the Nation.

Ossy Emeka died on the spot; the injured – Smart, Kabiru Yusuf (KB) and Diran – were whisked away by the NSCDC officials.

According to his colleagues, the late Emeka, who recently started an auto spare-parts business, after his mother gave him N600,000, was about quitting commercial motorcycling.

The NSCDC officials, who came in a patrol van, reportedly attempted to seize jerry cans of petrol from some black marketers. The officers, it was learnt, were led by some motorcyclists who were beneficiaries of the seized product.

The motorcyclists were said to have led the officers from Second Rainbow into Festac Town because the petrol is given to them. They reportedly pointed out some of the black marketers and where their kegs were hidden.

In anger, some youths and others, who queued up for fuel with their generators and motorcycle fuel tanks took on the beneficiaries of the seized fuel. The NSCDC men were said to have stopped a commercial bus and asked a passenger identified as Smart, who just bought petrol in a keg, to surrender it.

Smart was said to have refused and the NSCDC men allegedly started beating him. Smart was said to have doused himself with the petrol.

An eyewitness said: “Immediately he poured the fuel on his body, a female officer cocked her gun; shot Smart on his buttocks and kept shooting in the air. Then, she went and asked for permission from another man who was inside their vehicle and when she returned, she shot Diran alias Kowope and KB (Kabiru Yusuf) on their legs.

“They shot sporadically for about 20 minutes here. Meanwhile, at G-Close, opposite the Festac Town Muslim Community (FTMC) Mosque, the NSCDC woman shot Ossy three times on his neck and chest.

“As they were shooting, people were running in the confusion. Ossy was carrying his motorcycle’s fuel tank and heading towards the filling station to buy fuel. He was not a black marketer and he stays on Sixth Avenue.

“They shot him three times and ensured he was dead.”

The eyewitness, who gave his name as Emmanuel said the NSCDC officials abandoned Eze’s body and took about five people hostage including the three with gunshot injuries.

Another eyewitness, who gave her name as Ada, said all was calm until the arrival of the NSCDC officials.

She claimed the army, navy personnel and policemen from the Area E Command were inside the filling station maintaining order, adding that the NSCDC men arrived after they left.

“The army, navy and police were here. They were flogging people who were not maintaining peace and also chasing black marketers away from the filling station. Everywhere was peaceful and calm.

“But when they moved upward few minutes later, the NSCDC people came with some Okada riders. Those NSCDC people are not even from Festac division, they came all the way from First Rainbow where they have been seizing fuel and giving it out.

“Before they shot Ossy three times, they cut him with knife first. It was the NSCDC people that cut him. After cutting him around his upper arm, they shot him three times.

“I really do not know why they killed him because he was not selling fuel. He’s a very quiet Okada man. They left his body there, it was police that came and carried him away. The woman who started the shooting is fair in complexion,” she said.

There were blood stains on the ground of the filling station when The Nation got there yesterday.

The Area E Commander, Chris Owolabi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), and the Festac Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Monday Agbonika, led their men to pacify the angry youth.

Soldiers attached to the Operation Mesa have taken over the area; the sale of fuel has been suspended at the station.

A woman, who described herself as Kabiru Yusuf’s mother was seen begging policemen to rescue her son from the NSCDC men.

According to her, the officials took her son to Alausa, alongside two others.

“I really do not know what happened. But I got a call that my son was taken to Alausa that’s why I came here. My son does not sell fuel. I heard he was not shot, others said he was shot, so, I do not know which one to believe,” she said.

At the time of this report, the police were still gathering information on the NSCDC men and their unit.

Police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), said investigation was on to identify the civil defence operatives.

“Some yet to be identified civil defence men in a patrol vehicle had scuffle with some men at AP filling station which led to indiscriminate firing from the civil defence personnel.

“One motorcycle (Okada) rider Emeka other name yet unknown was shot dead while three others severely injured. The men of Area E Command were called upon, the Area Commander ACP Chris Tokunbo Owolabi is currently on ground restoring normalcy in the area; the command has commenced investigation to identify the civil defence operatives that were involved,” she said.

http://www.tori.ng/news/25991/festac-crisis-true-account-of-the-onslaught-launch.html

okoji:
Hello, has anyone applied through the Belgian embassy recently? Has the processing time improved?

Can the Leopard change it's spots? They may even be worse with the recent terrorist attacks in their country!

The Plateau State Government (PLSG) has spent N20 billion to rehabilitate four federal roads in the state, Mr Sunday Hyat, the Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Works, said on Thursday.

Hyat disclosed this in Jos while conducting Governor Simon Lalong round some of the roads that had benefitted from the state’s intervention funds.

Hyat said that, however, the state had received only N1.2 billion of the amount as reimbursement.

“The Plateau State Government is still seeking a balance of N18.8 billion from the Federal Government; we have written to the Federal Ministry of Works for the reimbursement of the balance,” he said.

He listed the projects implemented by the state to include: the dualisation of the Polo Road in Jos, at a cost N2.7billion, as well as the dualisation of Mararaba Jama’a-Heipang Road up to Inland Container Depot, Jos, executed at N2.04 billion.

Other projects, he said, include: the construction of a flyover at the Federal Secretariat Junction with slip roads and under-passes at the cost of N4.6 billion.

The PS said that the state had commenced the reconstruction and resurfacing of the Mararaba Ja’maa-British-America Junction Road estimated to cost it N10.55 billion.

He said that three out of the four projects had been completed, while the reconstruction and resurfacing of Mararaba Jama’a- British America Junction was ongoing.

He said that the projects were executed under the joint supervision of the Federal Ministry of Works and the Plateau Ministry of Works.

According to Hyat, the Federal Ministry has confirmed that the projects met the specifications and are qualified for the reimbursement.

In his remarks, Governor Lalong said that the state government recently secured an infrastructure loan of N10 billion with which it re-mobilised contractors to site.

He said that the contractors had sometime stopped works as a result of lack of funds.

The governor said that the state was determined to complete the projects to alleviate the sufferings of the people.

Lalong said he was personally inspecting the projects to ensure that contractors did not compromise standards.
http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2016/04/07/plateau-spent-n20bn-on-federal-roads-ministry-of-works/

Department of State Services (DSS) sources speaking with SaharaReporters have stated that the Shiite leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, has not been released because of the gruesome injuries he and his wife sustained during the Nigerian army’s raid on their home in December 2015.

This DSS source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the Nigerian government was in a major dilemma about how to release Sheikh Zakzaky. The two civilians are in DSS custody, according to this source.

It will be recalled that the Nigerian army rampaged against the IMN for three days in Kaduna State last December 2015. The incident occurred when a convoy of military vehicles, one of which was carrying the Chief of Army Staff TY Buratai, was blocked by IMN protesters. The military, who argued they were provoked, massacred at least 300 people according to Human Rights Watch.

The use of violent force by the military continued for three days, including the destruction of Shiite sites of worship, and the raid and detention of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife after the rampaging soldiers shot and killed three of his sons. Shortly after the attack images emerged of Shiekh Zakzaky plopped into a wheelbarrow with severe injuries.

The DSS source disclosed to SaharaReporters that the condition of Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife is so disturbing that Nigerian authorities worry it could provoke a backlash by the IMN and Shiite Muslims across the world.

“[Sheikh Zakzaky] is blinded in one eye from a bullet wound to the skull” the source stated. They added that his eye had popped out because of this injury.

Sheikh Zakzaky was also shot in the leg during the military’s raid on his home that took place on Monday, December 14th, 2015.

SaharaReporters has also confirmed that Sheikh Zakzaky’s wife, who was arrested in the raid with her husband, received a bullet wound in the abdomen and arm and would continue to require critical medical attention.

These developments come days after the Minister of Defense, Mansur Muhammad Dan Ali, told SaharaReporters that military force against the group did not extend beyond Saturday, December 12th. Mr. Dan Ali did not want to comment on who authorized the use of force because a board of inquiry is currently investigating the events.

Ibrahim Musa, the spokesman for the IMN, told SaharaReporters that “we demand the immediate release of Sheikh Zakzaky so that we can take good care of him. They should release him so we can get him treatment.”
http://saharareporters.com/2016/04/05/sheikh-zakzaky-blinded-one-eye-dss-sources-say

We need an update now that Khalid Albarnawi has been arrested.

State governments are spending billions of naira in pension payments to their former governors who are also drawing salaries from public purse as serving senators and ministers, Daily Trust reports.

There are 21 former governors and deputies in the Senate and President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.

The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) approves payment of 300 percent basic salary as severance allowances for political office holders on leaving office.

However, various state assemblies had approved a wide range of entitlements for ex-governors and their deputies.

Though the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) Act doesn’t prohibit the former governors from drawing dual remuneration simultaneously, there are concerns on the financial implications on the states.

Only recently, President Buhari said 27 states were struggling to pay salaries despite collecting N662 billion bailout funds from the federal government last year.

The former governors now senators are: Bukola Saraki (Kwara), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Kabiru Gaya (Kano), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Theodore Orji (Abia), Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara), Joshua Dariye (Plateau) and Jonah Jang (Plateau).

Others are Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto), Ahmed Sani Yarima (Zamfara), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), George Akume (Benue) and Isiaka Adeleke (Osun).

Former deputy governors in the Senate are Ms Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti) and Enyinaya Harcourt Abaribe (Abia) while Danladi Abubakar Sani was the acting governor of Taraba state.

Former governors now ministers include Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Chris Ngige (Anambra) and Babatunde Fashola (Lagos).

Largesse for ex-governors

The Lagos Pension Law approved by former governor Bola Tinubu in 2007, a former governor will enjoy the following benefits for life: Two houses, one in Lagos and another in Abuja. (Property experts estimate such a house in Lagos to cost N500m and Abuja N700m.)

Others are six brand new cars replaceable every three years; furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual salary to be paid every two years, and a close to N2.5m as pension (about N30m pension annually).

He will also enjoy security detail, free medicals including for his immediate families.

Other benefits are 10 percent house maintenance, 30 percent car maintenance, 10 percent entertainment, 20 percent utility, and several domestic staff.

In Rivers, the law provides 100 percent of annual basic salaries for ex-governor and deputy, one residential house for former governor “anywhere of his choice in Nigeria”; one residential house anywhere in Rivers for the deputy, three cars for the ex-governor every four years; two cars for the deputy every four years.

His furniture is 300 percent of annual basic salary every four years en bloc. House maintenance is 10 percent of annual basic salary.

In Akwa Ibom, the law provides for N200m annual pay to ex governors, deputies. He enjoys a pension for life at a rate equivalent to the salary of the incumbent governor/deputy governor respectively.

A new official car and a utility vehicle every four years; one personal aide and provision of adequate security; a cook, chauffeurs and security guards for the governor at a sum not exceeding N5m per month and N2.5m for the deputy governor.

There is also a free medical services for governor and spouse at an amount not exceeding N100m for the governor per annum and N50m for the deputy governor.

Also, there is a five-bedroom mansion in Abuja and Akwa Ibom and allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary for the deputy governor.

He takes a furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary every four years in addition to severance gratuity.

The Kano State Pension Rights of Governor and Deputy Governor Law 2007 provides for 100 percent of annual basic salaries for former governor and deputy.

Furnished and equipped office, as well as a 6-bedroom house; “well-furnished” 4-bedroom for deputy, plus an office.

The former governor is also entitled to free medical treatment along with his immediate families within and outside Nigeria where necessary. It is same for deputy.

Two drivers are also for former governor and a driver for his deputy; and personal staff below the rank of a Principal Administrative Officer and a PA not below grade level 10. There is a provision for a 30- day vacation within and outside Nigeria.

In Gombe, there is N300 million executive pension benefits for the ex-governor.

In Kwara, the 2010 law gives a former governor two cars and a security car, replaceable every three years, a “well-furnished 5-bedroom duplex,” furniture allowance of 300 per cent of his salary; five personal staff, three SSS, free medical care for the governor and the deputy, 30 percent of salary for car maintenance, 20 per cent for utility, 10 percent for entertainment, 10 per cent for house maintenance.

The Zamfara version of the law, signed in 2006, gives former governors pension for life, two personal staff, two vehicles replaceable every four years, two drivers, free medical for the former governors and deputies and their immediate families in Nigeria or abroad.

The law also gives the former governors a 4-bedroom house in Zamfara and an office, free telephone and 30 days paid vacation outside Nigeria.

In Sokoto, former governors and deputy governors are to receive N200m and N180m respectively being monetization for other entitlements which include domestic aides, residence and vehicles that could be renewed after every four years.

Section 2 (2) of the Sokoto State Grant of Pension (governor and deputy governor) Law, 2013 states that “the total annual pension to be paid to the governor and deputy governor, shall be at a rate equivalent to the annual total salary of the incumbent governor or deputy governor of the state respectively.”

We breached no law –Ex-govs

Senate President Bukola Saraki confirmed collecting the pension but said the money goes as scholarship for indigent students.

Speaking through his media aide, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said his monthly pension was being paid into a special account.

Yusuf said Saraki “directed that a special account should be opened into which the money should be paid and that it should be used for a scholarship and education programme to be administered by a Board of Trustees.”

Plateau State ex-governor, Senator Joshua Dariye, said he was collecting N600,000 as pension monthly from the state government.

“They are paying me N600, 000 plus but they have not paid me my severance benefit. What do you mean? Those people that retired in the army and are now senators, are they not collecting their pensions?

“Even retired civil servants that are senators are being paid their pensions. This is pension and not salary. We all know that it is illegal to collect two salaries at a time,” he said by telephone.

Dariye said his pension could not stop the state government from paying teachers and other civil servants.

Kebbi State ex-governor, Senator Adamu Aliero said “There is nothing wrong for a former governor now serving as senator or minister to be collecting pension. It is consistent with the pension law and absolutely nothing is wrong.”

He however said he had not been collecting his pension because “my immediate successor (Sa’idu Dakingari) did not pay me. And also the present governor (Atiku Bagudu) is not paying me.”

Ebonyi State former governor, Senator Sam Egwu said he was collecting N462, 144 monthly as pension.

Egwu, who sent a text message to our correspondent containing his pension bank alert, said “It is a constitutional requirement that somebody who worked and retried must be given pension. It was under my tenure that the Ebonyi pension law was amended but I allowed it to be this meager because my state is a very poor one.”

Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong told Daily Trust that pension law is not implementable because “the former chief executives left the present administration with too much debt.

“They left the state heavily indebted that the present administration is battling to pay, and cannot be shouldering the upkeep of the former chief executives at the same time,” Lalong said through his spokesman Emmanuel Nanle.

What senators, ministers earn

According to RMAFC, a minister receives an annual basic salary of N2m, accommodation N4m, vehicle loan N8m, furniture allowance N6m, utility N607, 920, vehicle maintenance N1.5m, entertainment N911, 880 and leave allowance N202, 640.

The minister also receives N506, 600 for personal assistants, N1.5 million for domestic staff, N303, 960 for newspapers and N6m as severance gratuity.

In addition, the minister is entitled to N35,000 as duty tour allowance (DTA) per day. For foreign trips, a minister receives $1,000 per day.

A senator earns a basic salary of N2,026,400.00, accommodation, motor vehicle loan(400% of their annual basic salary), motor vehicle maintenance allowance (75% of annual basic salary), furniture allowance(300% of their annual basic salary), utilities allowance( 30% of their basic salary), and medical allowance.

Other benefits they are earning are newspaper allowances, special assistant (between Grade Level 12 and 14), personal assistant, two legislative aides, one senior legislative aide, entertainment allowance, wardrobe allowance, constituency allowance and severance gratuity.

‘Legally right, morally wrong’

Senior Advocate of Nigeria Mike Ozekhome said receiving double income is “morally and ethically reprehensible. You are either pensioned, or you are working. You cannot be both a pensioner and an active worker simultaneously.”

He said the former governors “must drop one income. Since they are actively working at the National Assembly now and earning income, they must forgo the pension money from their cash-strapped states, until they retire in the true sense of the word. They cannot eat their cake and have it, nor have their cake and eat it. They cannot approbate and reprobate simultaneously.”

Another senior lawyer Sebastine Hon said, “While this is morally condemnable, the ex-governors have breached no law. We are operating a federal system of government; and it is no secret that past presidents are also entitled to and are indeed benefiting from life ex cathedra benefits. Since former presidents are scooping these benefits, what stops ex-governors from also enjoying same?”

The lawyer however, said it was another ball game if any of the former state executives decided on moral grounds to waive his statutory benefits on account of the current poor finances of his state.

Barrister Esther Uzoma, national coordinator of Proactive Gender Initiatives (PGI), said with many states battling to pay the N18, 000 minimum wage, “double remuneration is criminal and unpatriotic. Culprits should be tried. Citizens must demand greater accountability we must interrogate the life style of the political class who somehow manage to flourish and bloom in this economic wilderness.”

What the law says

Section 2 (a) of the CCB law provides that a public officer shall not “receive or be paid the emoluments of any public office at the same time as he receives or is paid emoluments of any other public office; or (b) except where he is not employed on full time basis, engage or participate in the management or running of any private business, profession or trade; but nothing in this sub-paragraph shall prevent a public officer from engaging in farming.”

Section 4 of the law says “A public officer shall not, after his retirement from public service and while receiving pension from public funds, accept more than one remunerative position as Chairman, Director or employee of – (a) a company owned or controlled by the government; or (b) any public authority. A retired public servant shall not receive any other remuneration from public funds in addition to his pension and the emolument of such one remunerative position.”

Section 14 of the same law exempted lawmakers from the above provisions thus: “In its application to public officers –(a) members of legislative houses shall be exempted from the Provisions of paragraph 4 of this Code; and (b) the National Assembly may by law exempt any cadre of public officers from the provisions of paragraph 4and 11 of this Code if it appears to it that their position in the Public Service is below the rank which it considers appropriate for the application of the provisions.”

Despite the above law, a coalition of 40 Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) had sued the 36 state governors, 36 state assemblies, RMAFC and the attorney general of the federation seeking to nullify the various pension laws enacted by some of the 36 States Houses of Assembly.

The suit which was filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja by the NGOs lead counsel, Barrister Chino Obiagwu, and seeking an order to recover any pension payments paid to ex-governor or deputy, saying the RMAFC law supersedes any law passed by the state legislatures.


The case was adjourned to April 12, 2016.

Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/double-pay-for-ex-govs-now-senators-ministers/140833.html#wt0pb9r5sjPv5G8P.99

The seemingly silence of the organised labour, led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the face of the lingering fuel crisis in the country is already raising serious concerns amongst Nigerians.

Many Nigerians have said it is unusual for the NLC to remain silent in the face of such national issue such as scarcity of fuel, especially because it has lingered for more than a month.

The NLC recently admitted the woes workers are passing through as a result of the ongoing scarcity of petrol. NLC president, Ayuba Wabba said the crisis has affected workers productivity adversely nationwide.

He said: “If you look at the scenario it is a reoccurring decimal, people are facing serious fuel challenges from one day to the other. This is affecting productivity, it also put workers on unnecessary and undue pressure because you know that the salary is fixed.

“Anytime there is an increase in any commodity either power or petroleum product certainly it deplete that available income at the disposal of the worker.

But the silence by the congress in the ongoing fuel crisis is giving Nigerians a cause to be concerned.

The NLC since its inception has earned a reputation for being a voice for the oppressed and kicking against government policies that that appears to be anti-people. In 2012 when the then government announced an increment of pump price of petroleum, the NLC led other civil society group in a protest that became known as occupy Nigeria.

However, since the current scarcity, the NLC has done little to indicate that it is ready to tackle the government on the issues that led to the scarcity. This has kept many Nigerians wondering if the congress is now compromised or now

The last statement issued by the NLC condemning the fuel scarcity was issued on March 3. The congress had in the statement expressed concerns over the recurring scarcity of petroleum products, especially the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, known as petrol across the country, threatening to ask workers to stay at home should the scarcity persists.

That statement was issued more than a month ago, and the scarcity has lingered. And with statement coming out of government circles, it appears the scarcity will still persist for a while. Yet, the NLC or any of its affiliates union in the oil and gas sector have not addressed the challenge being experienced by workers.

“Labour leaders must not allow the welfare of the people to be compromised. If labour leaders do not stand up for the people at this time as they have done in the past, posterity will not forgive them,” Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose said recently while reacting

Fayose, who reminded the unionists of how they led their members to protest when fuel price was hiked by the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2012, said that: “No matter the political party in government, labour unions must stand by their members in particular and the people in general.”

In a recent interview, Wabba said of the current fuel crisis: “It is deliberate to create scarcity, the present situation has remained. This particular scarcity is deliberate; government has no taken a proactive action to stop scarcity, so it’s deliberate. They have not done enough to prevent this scarcity.”

Usually, the NLC would have led a protest or at least issued public statement to draw government attention to

“This is so unusual. This silent by the labour is suspect. It has never happened before. My take is that the NLC has been compromised. This is something fishy about their silence” a civil servant, Remi Doyin told our reporter.

Also speaking, a motorist in Abuja, Okechukwu Nwoye said, “In the past, the NLC would have led a protest or even gone on a nationwide strike. Why they are not saying anything or confronting the government, nobody can tell.”

But for Chris Maxwell, the NLC may have understood that there is no point opposing the government policies if it is for the best interest of all Nigerians.

He said, “Perhaps the NLC understands now that it has to allow government remove fuel subsidy. If the NLC had not protested in 2012 and had allowed government to remove the subsidy, perhaps, we will not be experiencing the current fuel crisis.”

Another FCT resident, Julius Okorie said, “justifiably, every Nigerian deserves to be concerned. It is very unlike the NLC we have come to know. This can’t be the same NLC that confronted the Obasanjo government on numerous occasion.”

Whatever the case may be, Nigerians as it appears have great confidence in the NLC and expect them to always protect thier interest. The fact remains that the fuel crisis is worsening with motorists sleeping at petrol stations and the organised labour must speak up and be seen to be on the side of the people.
http://leadership.ng/news/515120/fuel-scarcity-nigerians-express-concern-nlcs-silence

A video showing two officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) demanding bribes from Nigerians has been sent to TheCable and uploaded on video-sharing website, YouTube.

Titled ‘Corruption Report Nigeria’ and published on Monday, the scene of the alleged crime is the Port Harcourt airport in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers state.

A hidden camera with which the act was filmed showed two Customs officers seated on either side of a desk, while three people stood sideways, against the wall.

The two officers inspect some papers; and one of them, raising his voice at one of the three people in the room, says: “Where the thing now? E dey hard you to bring?”

After counting what looked like eight N1,000 notes, the officer returns it in annoyance, saying: “Take! Take!!!”

When the fellow refuses to collect the money, the officer squeezes it into his hands, and adds: “You’re not ready; anybody wey no wan cooperate, we go leave am.”

The officer eventually walks out; but with the recording going blank for a few seconds, it was unclear exactly how much he left with.

This is not the first time that incidents of bribery and corruption have been exposed in the Customs.

In December 2015, an undercover investigation by TheCable revealed series of sharp practices involving Customs officials, as well as other border and security agencies, clearing agents, and banks.
https://www.thecable.ng/exposed-two-customs-officers-filmed-demanding-bribes-port-harcourt-airport

A video showing two officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) demanding bribes from Nigerians has been sent to TheCable and uploaded on video-sharing website, YouTube.

Titled ‘Corruption Report Nigeria’ and published on Monday, the scene of the alleged crime is the Port Harcourt airport in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers state.

A hidden camera with which the act was filmed showed two Customs officers seated on either side of a desk, while three people stood sideways, against the wall.

The two officers inspect some papers; and one of them, raising his voice at one of the three people in the room, says: “Where the thing now? E dey hard you to bring?”
https://www.thecable.ng/exposed-two-customs-officers-filmed-demanding-bribes-port-harcourt-airport
After counting what looked like eight N1,000 notes, the officer returns it in annoyance, saying: “Take! Take!!!”

When the fellow refuses to collect the money, the officer squeezes it into his hands, and adds: “You’re not ready; anybody wey no wan cooperate, we go leave am.”



The officer eventually walks out; but with the recording going blank for a few seconds, it was unclear exactly how much he left with.

This is not the first time that incidents of bribery and corruption have been exposed in the Customs.

In December 2015, an undercover investigation by TheCable revealed series of sharp practices involving Customs officials, as well as other border and security agencies, clearing agents, and banks.

As part of its target of N45 billion as it’s annual Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in Kaduna State, petty traders such as those selling tomatoes, frying bean cakes, selling other petty goods are also expected to pay tax in the state, the Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) Mallam Muktar Ahmed has disclosed.

According to the KASIRS chairman, those who engages in petty sales will make their payment based on what he called “presumptive tax” according the size of their business and sales.

He said, there has been meetings with unions and business groups to that effect.

Mallam Ahmed also disclosed that 20 billion naira is targeted to be generated from the MDAs while 25 billion naira is targeted to be generated from the state internal service.

The Chairman who stated this while briefing newsmen in Kaduna, added that “it is no longer news that the dip in the nation’s oil earnings has affected allocations from the federal account, this scenario has been on for months foisting a serious crunch on federal, state and local government allocations.

“Consequently it has become pertinent for states to take on the issue of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) seriously as it is the only way to cushion the effects of falling federal allocations and for states to be self-sustaining.”

He stressed that in view of the set target and bearing in mind the promise of delivering dividends of democracy to the good people of Kaduna State, the Governor Mallam Nasir Ahmad el- Rufai, upon assumption of office hit the ground running by setting up a committee headed by Mrs Ifueko Omogui Okauru , a seasoned tax administrator and one time executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) who was mandated with the task of reviewing the tax and revenue generating mechanism in the state in order to widen the tax net and also collect all potential revenues within the state.

“The committee submitted its report in August 2015 and based on the recommendations of the committee and in recognition of the need for legislative empowerment of the State board of Internal Revenue, an executive bill known as the Kaduna State tax (Codification and consolidation) law, 2016 was sponsored and passed by the Kaduna State House of Assembly and assented to by the governor.
http://leadership.ng/news/515136/n45bn-igr-tomatoes-akara-sellers-pay-tax-kaduna

A number of hoodlums on Friday evening attacked places of worship in Ungwar Boro, an area in Chikun local government area of Kaduna State, molesting worshipers, destroying churches and carting away money and other valuables.
Eye witnesses said that the hoodlums numbering over 40 came in more than five tricycles carrying sticks, iron rods, machetes and petrol.


The hoodlums, Daily Trust learnt, first attacked Christian worshipers praying on the popular Feroro mountain top in the area where Christians from different churches usually gather to pray every first day of the month.
One of the pastors praying with his members at the mountain top, Pastor Yusuf Joseph narrated his ordeal, saying, “I was at the mountain top praying with my members about 5.30pm when I saw some boys destroying somewhere belonging to another church. Suddenly, I saw one of the boys pointing at me and saying, ‘This is one of the prophets we want to kill.’ When I heard that, I quickly alerted my members and asked them to scamper for safety. Before I knew what was happening, the hoodlums had jumped the fence to where I was.
“I was mobbed by the hoodlums as they hit me severally with sticks and iron. I ran into a nearby church to tell the worshipers to run for their dear lives. Then I headed to the police station in the area to alert the Police that the area was under attack. The Police followed me to the mountain top to chase the hoodlums but only one of them was caught.”
The founder of one of the churches, Redemption Hill Church that was also attacked, Prophetess Juliana Adebayo narrated that though Friday was not a service day, five people were in the church praying when the hoodlums stormed the place, destroying the windows, doors, pulpits, aluminium frames and musical instruments.
“The members and people around the church ran, leaving behind their wallets, purses, handsets and other valuables. Large sums of money belonging to different bands in the church were also stolen by the hoodlums as they destroyed the altar. The church has been existing for over 25 years and we have never experienced anything like this,” she said.
The reason for the hoodlums’ attack remained unknown by yesterday but Daily Trust learnt that the death of a boy who got drowned in the Feroro river triggered their action. Some of the residents of the area said that the boy was in accompany of his friend who were drunk.
When contacted, the spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Zubairu Abubakar confirmed the incident, saying one Akim Samuel of ECWA church had been arrested over the attack.
He further said preliminary investigation revealed that the perpetrators were Christian youths. He also confirmed the death of the boy, ThankGod Peter, 20, who went to Feroro river with his friend to swim and got drowned shortly before the attack.

Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/hoodlums-attack-places-of-worship-in-kaduna/140855.html#JipcxO6kLrhErf2r.99

Two cars were completely razed, while many escaped death in an explosion that rocked Yola, the Adamawa State capital late Thursday night.

The incident occurred at a filling station located around Wuro-jobe area of the metropolis, at about 8pm.

No live was lost in the explosion.

The incident, a military officer told Punch, occurred at a filling station belonging to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, licensed marketer.


He said it took the fire fighters stationed at Faro bottling company located at wuro-jobe several hours to put it out.

The cause of the fire still remains unknown at the time of filling this report.

http://dailypost.ng/2016/04/01/explosion-rocks-nnpc-filling-station-in-yola/?utm_source=DailyPost+Newsletter&utm_campaign=d198fa525d-Morning_headlines&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7c25dc3ce6-d198fa525d-227643941

A joint meeting of all Benue socio-cultural groups and religious leaders has flayed President Muhammadu Buhari, Army, Police chiefs, and the state governor for failing to visit Agatu and other besieged Benue communities after the mass attacks and killings in the communities by suspected Fulani militia. agatu1 They contended that the action smacked of insensitivity and care free attitude on the part of the leaders to the plight of the people of the state. A communique issued in Makurdi at the end of a combined meeting of the Mdzough U Tiv, the Idoma National Forum and the Omi Ny’Igede, on the killings and wanton destruction of property of Benue indigenes by Fulani herdsmen, they expressed worry at the delay in setting up of the Presidential Investigative Panel as promised by President Buhari. Among others, the meeting had in attendance, the Catholic Bishop of Gboko Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Williams Avenya that of Katsina-Ala Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Adobo. Part of the communique read, “the inability of the President, the nation’s Army and Police Chiefs, and the Governor of Benue State to visit the worst affected communities of Agatu and other areas where recent mass murder attacks were carried out for on the spot assessment of the level of devastation indicates lack of seriousness deserving of the crisis. The delay in setting up the Presidential Investigation Panel promised by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is also becoming worrisome. “The proposed Town Hall Meeting by the Federal Government is not only diversionary, but a deliberate ploy to downplay the degree of attention and seriousness that should be accorded the invasion of our land. “We reject the Federal Government’s proposal at this time, but insist on Judicial Commission of Enquiry to unravel the root cause(s) of the massacre of our people. We advise that all relevant government agencies saddled with the responsibilities of home land security begin the process of disarming Fulani herdsmen across the country to avoid a counter arms buildup by helpless communities in self defence.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/agatu-benue-leaders-flay-buhari-army-police-gov-others/

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa state chapter, has slammed the party’s candidate in the last governorship election in the state, Chief Timipre Silva, for allegedly sidelining the leadership and trying to corner federal appointments due to the state for only his cronies.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, state APC chairman, Chief Timipa Orunimighe, said the party is also demanding the resignation of the Minister of State for Agriculture, Heineken Lokpobiri, for alleged inducement he made to Silva to secure the appointment.

Similarly, Orunimighe alleged that Sylva has compiled and submitted names of some other non-APC members to the Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF) for federal appointments without the knowledge of the state executives.

“We also want to call on the Minister represent Bayelsa, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, the junior minister to resign his appointment reason being that he also paid for the slot of his ministerial position and I also believe and those of us standing here know very well that he is not a member of the party,” he said.

Orunimighe who was accompanied during the conference by the Deputy Chairman and Secretary of the party in the state, accused the former governor of attempting to single-handedly pick appointment slots meant for Bayelsa.

“As APC chairman in Bayelsa and very strong exco, we have spoken with him. We told him we will stand against that as a people, if we can stand against Jonathan as a President, if we can stand against the governor of Bayelsa state Sarieke Dickson to tell him we don’t like his antecedent as governor, we can also tell our leader that we don’t like his antecedents. We are not ready as a people to sell any slot of appointment to be given to Bayelsans.”

Silva who spoke on the telephone, countered the allegation of monetary inducement by accusing the state party chairman of collecting money from the PDP candidate, Governor Seriake Dickson, and colluding with the governor to sabotage his election.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/03/30/bayelsa-apc-accuses-silva-of-betrayal/

Motorists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) spend over 24 hours at fillings stations to get premium Motor Spirit.

A check by the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Tuesday showed that the situation was persistent as many stations still witnessed massive queues.

NAN reports that most of the filling stations were not dispensing products.

On the kubwa Express Road, it was observed that only NNPC outlets and Mobil sold products to motorists.

At Gwarinpa and Kado Estate, Forte, Conoil, Total, Alhamajir filling stations were not dispensing.

One of the staff at Conoil who spoke on anonymity, said the station had not dispensed in the last four days.

“We are expecting our products and any moment it arrives, we will definitely sell.

“The situation is critical but we will do our best to help out,” he said.

On the Lugbe Airport Road, while the NNPC outlets and Conoil were dispensing, Ashafa, MRS, Total and others were not selling.

Also in Nyaya, Mararaba Keffi road, only the NNPC was dispensing the product while AA Rano, Total, Conoil and others had no product to sell.

NAN reports that most filling stations in the city centre were dispensing with massive queue at various stations.

Mr Emeka Tobias, a taxi driver, told NAN that he passed a night at the filling station and was yet to get the product.

“I am hopeful that in the next couple of hours, I will get; I slept here because I need to buy this for my car.

“I am a taxi driver; I cannot afford (to buy from) black market,” he said.


Also, Mr Efoma Amos, a public servant, attributed the long queue and chaotic situation to inability of buyers to be orderly.

“I came in here around 5 a.m. and for more that four hours, I did not move the car because some people scattered the queue.

“Again the people arranging the queues are more interested in collecting ‘small change’ and creating room for chaotic situation witnessed here.

“I placed a call on DPR to report the case; they promised to bring their boys, but they are yet to be here,” he said.

He urged government to find a lasting solution to the situation.

Another customer, Mrs Amina Ahmed, said that the fuel scarcity was the greatest punishment Nigerians had been receiving in the last one year.

“When President Jonathan was there, we thought that it was corruption that was making this scarcity to persist.

“We thought that President Buhari would solve the situation but it seems the system is worst.

“May God help our country; that’s all I can say for now,” she added.

Meanwhile, the NNPC has reassured Nigerians that it was doing everything possible to ensure lasting solution to the problem.

“We wish to re-assure Nigerians that we are on top of the petroleum products supply and distribution situation, and we remain committed to eliminating this endemic issue once and for all within the next few days.

“We genuinely sympathise with the attendant sufferings and wish to reassure that we are focused and committed to bring an end to this situation within the next few days.

“We kindly call on all Nigerians to partner with us on this journey to allow the whole process of change come into fruition,” it said. (NAN)
http://dailypost.ng/2016/03/30/fuel-scarcity-we-spend-over-24-hours-to-get-petrol-abuja-residents-lament/.

Motorists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) spend over 24 hours at fillings stations to get premium Motor Spirit.

A check by the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Tuesday showed that the situation was persistent as many stations still witnessed massive queues.

NAN reports that most of the filling stations were not dispensing products.

On the kubwa Express Road, it was observed that only NNPC outlets and Mobil sold products to motorists.

At Gwarinpa and Kado Estate, Forte, Conoil, Total, Alhamajir filling stations were not dispensing.

One of the staff at Conoil who spoke on anonymity, said the station had not dispensed in the last four days.

“We are expecting our products and any moment it arrives, we will definitely sell.

“The situation is critical but we will do our best to help out,” he said.

On the Lugbe Airport Road, while the NNPC outlets and Conoil were dispensing, Ashafa, MRS, Total and others were not selling.

Also in Nyaya, Mararaba Keffi road, only the NNPC was dispensing the product while AA Rano, Total, Conoil and others had no product to sell.

NAN reports that most filling stations in the city centre were dispensing with massive queue at various stations.

Mr Emeka Tobias, a taxi driver, told NAN that he passed a night at the filling station and was yet to get the product.

“I am hopeful that in the next couple of hours, I will get; I slept here because I need to buy this for my car.

“I am a taxi driver; I cannot afford (to buy from) black market,” he said.


Also, Mr Efoma Amos, a public servant, attributed the long queue and chaotic situation to inability of buyers to be orderly.

“I came in here around 5 a.m. and for more that four hours, I did not move the car because some people scattered the queue.

“Again the people arranging the queues are more interested in collecting ‘small change’ and creating room for chaotic situation witnessed here.

“I placed a call on DPR to report the case; they promised to bring their boys, but they are yet to be here,” he said.

He urged government to find a lasting solution to the situation.

Another customer, Mrs Amina Ahmed, said that the fuel scarcity was the greatest punishment Nigerians had been receiving in the last one year.

“When President Jonathan was there, we thought that it was corruption that was making this scarcity to persist.

“We thought that President Buhari would solve the situation but it seems the system is worst.

“May God help our country; that’s all I can say for now,” she added.

Meanwhile, the NNPC has reassured Nigerians that it was doing everything possible to ensure lasting solution to the problem.

“We wish to re-assure Nigerians that we are on top of the petroleum products supply and distribution situation, and we remain committed to eliminating this endemic issue once and for all within the next few days.

“We genuinely sympathise with the attendant sufferings and wish to reassure that we are focused and committed to bring an end to this situation within the next few days.

“We kindly call on all Nigerians to partner with us on this journey to allow the whole process of change come into fruition,” it said. (NAN)
http://dailypost.ng/2016/03/30/fuel-scarcity-we-spend-over-24-hours-to-get-petrol-abuja-residents-lament/.

UIA04:
I'm a girl. For your info there is nothing like justice of state high court it is judge and chief judge except she is a justice of the court of Appeal or Supreme Court which is on a federal level. Check your constitution.

Thanks lady for the clarity. All the same she is not in the Supreme Court and didn't get her current job because her husband is Governor. I wish you well.

This is no longer (if it has ever been) a matter of wailers. My friend in Abuja just told me today that he is ready to join in any anti-government protest over same issues of power and fuel supply. He said he had to get up at 2am to shower due to excess heat as a result of PHCN blackout and of course, he cant keep running fuel through out the night at nearly N200 a litre. My friend said it's been very bad in Jos, Plateau State and a gallon goes for as much as N1800 because a taskforce is chasing/arresting black marketers so it is now an underground market for fuel. A friend in Port Harcourt has been roaming from station to station like a nomad in search of fuel at official price. He cant afford to buy at N150. People, we are grappling with a national emergency! My understanding is that we have raked in money from recovered stolen funds and locked up so much in the TSA. It is in time like this that critical thinkers and out of the box executives/financial managers manifest .. we need prompt and pragmatic delivery of promised changes. Excuses have expired and are not acceptable/tenable.

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the Federal Government was not considering the release of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, from the Department of State Services (DSS) custody.

The president said that Dasuki, has multiple cases in court, which he must diligently face and resolve.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, told New Telegraph yesterday in Abuja, that the issues on the shoulders of the former NSA were all complicated.

In response to claims that Buhari does not respect court orders and continues to keep Dasuki in detention, the presidential spokesman said, “the ex-NSA’s problem is not with President Buhari who I must say has the highest regard for the rule of law.”

Garba pointed out that Buhari remained the best friend of the rule of law and due process the country has so far seen.

“If five courts of the land are trying different cases in which a man is involved and one or two of those courts let the accused persons go home on bail, what happens with the other three cases?

“If you are a prisons controller, will you set that person free when you have three other judges directing that he be kept in detention?

“Colonel Dasuki faces a multiplicity of cases and, sadly for him, his hand appears to be showing in more of the cases as recent revelations from the ongoing investigation in the Office of the NSA has shown,” he added.
http://dailypost.ng/2016/03/29/why-dasuki-will-remain-in-detention-presidency/

What a unique gathering and golden opportunity for the people at this event to deliberate on the lingering fuel scarcity, how to find an out of the box approach to the collapsing national currency, epileptic power supply, persistent insecurity, endless killings by nomads, intermittent Boko Haram attacks, widespread unemployment and pervasive hunger/anger in the land ..... a storm is gathering in the street sirs!

SUSPECTED Fulani herdsmen, weekend, kidnapped two persons, including the Community Liaison Officer of Midwestern Oil and Gas, Mr. Kingsley Ikuni, at Kwale, headquarters of Ndokwa West Local Government Area, Delta State. It was, however, gathered that one of those abducted was later released after an undisclosed amount of money was paid to the herdsmen, while Ikuni was still being held hostage. A source in the community told Vanguard that lkuni was kidnapped on his way to his house at Azuenze in the Umusadege area of the town. He said the other victim was abducted along Kwale-Ogume Road, Kwale, adding that “after some hours, a ransom was demanded for his release. “The security agencies available, with support from the community people, tried every possible means to rescue the victims but all efforts yielded no positive result as relatives of the other victim had to run around to raise the requested ransom. “On the provision of the agreed amount, the other victim was released and the kidnappers, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, openly came out for the exchange and were seen with AK-47 rifles.” Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, Celestina Kalu, said the victims were abducted by some of the community’s youths and kept in the custody of the herdsmen.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/fulani-herdsmen-kidnap-2-delta/

The lingering fuel shortages worsened at the weekend as most independent marketers have exhausted their stock of petrol, while the major marketers were selling to only their retail outlets, THISDAY has learnt.

With the public holiday declared on Friday, it was learnt that no depot loaded petrol, thus further tightening the supply situation at the weekend.

THISDAY gathered that on Thursday, there was no petrol at the depots of Sahara Energy, Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, AA Rano, Ascon, AZ, Bovas, D Jones, Eurafric, Eterna Oil, Fatgbems, Global Fleet, Gulf Treasure, Hensmor, Honeywell, Ibakem, Ibeto, Index, Obat Oil, Rahamaniyya, and Swift Petroleum.

While Aquatane, Ascon, Folawiyo and AZ were selling kerosene on Thursday, Integrated Oil, Index and MRS sold both kerosene and diesel.

Capital Oil, Eterna Oil, Gulf Treasure, Ibakem and Stallonire were also selling diesel.

THISDAY gathered that only Capital Oil, Heyden Petroleum, Folawiyo and MRS had stock of petrol on Thursday.

With this development, marketers who managed to source product from the few depots that had stock of petrol at normal price, sold to third parties at very exorbitant ex-depot prices of between N113 and N119 per litre.

This has made the queues at filling stations to stretch longer and longer at the weekend with prices ranging between N110 to N120, except the major marketers, who sold at normal price.

It was also gathered that some independent marketers who open their retail outlets only at night, sell at even N140 per litre and above.

Some of the marketers, who spoke to THISDAY, said the supply was very tight at the weekend with the public holiday declared on Friday worsening the situation as no depot loaded in Lagos on that day.

THISDAY gathered that a vessel, MT ALIZEA brought in about 30,000MT of petrol for NNPC on Saturday, which was shared by NIPCO Plc, Aiteo and Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc but it was still a drop in the ocean.

Another marketer, who spoke about the fuel situation, insisted that some marketers would continue to profiteer under the situation so long as scarcity persisted.

“Once there is scarcity, there will be profiteering and there is nothing anyone can do to stop it. Kachikwu started by directing DPR to sell people’s product for free when they were cut cheating but where did it take us to? Cheating continues and it can only stop when the system is flooded with product,” explained one of the marketers.

After weeks of promises by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiary, Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), on their capacity to meet domestic demand for petrol and end the fuel shortages, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, admitted last week that there was no quick fix to the perennial problem.

The minister, who spoke with State House correspondents after President Muhammadu Buhari met with him and the leadership of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), said it was a sheer magic to achieve the present level of supplies of fuel by the NNPC alone.

Under the present circumstances, NNPC has been forced to resort to crude oil swaps, which the minister previously said the government would end, in the hope that at least 50 per cent of domestic demand is met, but would not see the back of fuel queues.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/03/28/fuel-crisis-worsens-as-most-depots-run-out-of-product/

For those who know the inside gist of what really transpired, it was a bad case! Both political parties (and some of their senior leaders) would have been implicated if a very thorough and independent investigation was conducted. If they have been released, then it was a "political solution". Before you comment, go and find out what really happened at the Ikwerre LGA collation centre, who attacked election officials after failing to compromise them, what was the role of some security officials, who stole original result sheets and who attacked the convoy escorting the results from Isiokpo to Port Harcourt? Left for me ALL culprits (both APC and PDP involved in the whole Rivers election saga) should have been diligently prosecuted but the powers that be, including security agencies know more than is said on Nairaland! May we be delivered from ungodly politicians (irrespective of party) including those who have deceived some Nairalanders to insult each other and even act as their e-warriors whereas the bottom line is that they don't really care about us including you who is their staunch supporter!

UIA04:
So wike also made his wife a justice of the Supreme Court. Just like that his predecessor who ruled between '99 and 2007

Bro no vex, just use google and you will get accurate information. Wike's wife is a Justice of the State High Court NOT Supreme Court. She attained that even before her husband became State Governor.

Arik Air Flight W3101 to London from Lagos yesterday declared an emergency and landed safely later, 30 minutes behind schedule.
According to mailonline.com, the flight that was operated by Airbus A330-200 aircraft was scheduled to land at Heathrow in London at 18:30 but touched down at 18:57.
Official statement from the airline explained that the Airbus A330-200 developed technical problem while on ground at the Heathrow Airport and was therefore declared AOG (Aircraft on Ground), which means it was no more airworthy until the technical problem was corrected.
This has prompted the airline to reschedule its flight from London to Lagos that ought to leave London on March 24 night, to Lagos, so it would now leave on Friday morning.
However, Arik said the incident would not affect the airline’s Lagos to London flight on Friday, March 25 that was already schedule to operate by 12:45p.m.
THISDAY gathered that the flight took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos for a six hours, 45 minutes flight to London and landed at Terminal 4, Heathrow.
Arik Air, the largest Nigerian carrier, has operated for 10 years without any major incident both in its domestic, regional and international flights and in September 18, 2012 it airlifted its 10 millionth passenger on a flight between Johannesburg and Lagos.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/03/25/arik-london-flight-declares-emergency-at-heathrow-airport-2/

SINCE almost 10 months ago today, that Buhari became our President with his Party’s powerful mantra of ‘Change’ we can point to some few areas of the change, the first being his avowed fight against corruption, which is very good and encouraging. So far, not one single APC member has been arraigned or is known to be under the ‘EFCC radar’, but that is no cause for alarm yet. Buhari has started a good cause, and have set the nation on the course to fight corruption, such that if he forgets or overlooks the probe and investigation of his party members, someone will do it, in the future, and that is one good hope in this fight against corruption; It can never be business as usual for our leaders and those who aspire to lead us, as every of them have become potential prisoners, from the Local Government, States, to Federal level. The fight against corruption has seen Buhari make over 18 foreign trips in the last ten months, which to my mind is a good way to enjoy what he missed during his first tenure as Head of State over 30 years ago, and these presidential diplomatic shuttles make some of us feel good, except when he visits the Arab Muslim world and starts to drag us into the the Shiite- Sunni fights for whatever reasons because Nigeria, dejure, is not a Muslim Nation, and we do not want wars within Nigeria. One of the major huge successes of these presidential shuttles is the report in The Nation of March 22nd that 7 former governors, six ministers, a Presidential Aide implicated in the $2.1 Billion arms deal, ex-military chiefs currently under probe, agents, fronts of some public officers, five chieftains of the PDP may loose property and cash worth hundreds of millions of US dollars in Dubai, UAE, thanks to the agreements between Nigeria and UAE championed by Buhari early this year. The paper also reports that a team of Anti-Graft agencies officials, Ministry of Justice, etc have left for Dubai, to bring back the stolen monies, and some to take glory. In Igbo land, we say that he who must share meat among blind people, must continue to talk, because when he keeps quiet, the blind people will presume that he is chopping the meat. Those who have flown to Dubai must produce full, accurate and complete report on the cash and property contents of the booties, so that the presumption of complicity is not invoked against them. Some of the former governors involved, according to reports, include one from the South South, two from the North Central, two from the North East, one from North West, and One from the South West, and that a former governor made a botched attempt to transfer $517 Million to Dominican Republic, because the UAE law is more anti-looting of public funds. We shall soon know who they are, for what is hidden is so that it may come to light in due season. Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed six agreements to enhance bilateral relations between them, in January 2016.One of them, the Judicial Agreements on Extradition, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters, and Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal and Commercial Matters, including the recovery and repatriation of stolen wealth, is helping these recoveries. We hope that this type of agreements will be signed by other nations like Turkey, where some governors from the South East, visited in the company of over 100 persons, as soon as they received the workers salaries bail out funds, last year. The EFCC radar should be beamed on Turkey, and other nations too. We hope that with these results from UAE, America will do something about stolen funds in their system, the Houses owned by former Governors and Political Office Holders in choice areas like Potomac in New York, and other states in America; What about the hotels, malls, and huge deposits in South African Banks, Morroco, and wherever? Nigerian citizens should as a call to civic duty volunteer information about stealing by leaders. The maxim should be “If you must lead, don’t steal” Buhari has started a very good cause, and the good hope is that Nigerians will follow this course to the full, and way beyond this administration. However, one major concern now is our national inability to manage and control the destruction by cows and herdsmen. Since 2009, these herdsmen have destroyed lives, and property worth billions of Naira within the Northern and southern zones of Nigeria. How can we allow cows to break up Nigeria? The recent mass murders of Agatu people by the Fulani Herdsmen, in which over 3000 persons were killed, and 7000 persons pushed into IDP centres remain a deep sore on the face of this government. Police claims it was over bloated, and while our Senate tried unsucessfully, to blame Boko Haram, in an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Saleh Bayeri, the Interim National Secretary of Gan Allah Fulani Association, an umbrella body of Fulani associations in Nigeria, rose in defence of his kinsmen, saying the February bloody conflict in Benue was a reprisal attack by his people against the Agatus for killing one Shehu Abdullahi, and carting away over 200 cows of his, and for the killing, in 2013, of a prominent Fulani leader, Ardo Madaki, who was beheaded by the Agatus right in the presence of their District head, an action that reverberated across all Fulani people in the whole of West Africa and the clamour for revenge began to grow strong. He blamed government inaction, and says they do not trust the Senate. If we are to follow the argument of the Fulani Herdsmen, other tribes of Nigeria should be planning a great reprisal against all Herdsmen for the destruction of plants and agricultural produce they have inflicted on people across the zones. Whether Herdsmen accept it or not, these killings are genocidal, and criminal and we wonder when the perpetrators will be brought to book, as two evils can never make a right.Haba! Mr Clement Udegbe, a lawyer, can be reached at ceeaai@yahoo.com.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/will-change-affect-fulani-herdsmen/

Hopes by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, to clinch some seats in the just concluded state and national assemblies polls, has turned out catastrophic for the party.

So far, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, has been declared winner in eleven state constituencies namely; Port Harcourt Akuku Toru 1, Omuma, Degema, Ahoada East 1, Ahaoda East 2, Emohua, Akuku – Toru 2, Obio- Akpor 1, Obio-Akpor 2 and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni. The APC secured the Opobo constituency.

The election that had generated so much tension in the state was characterized by widespread violence, diversion of electoral materials and intimidation. Hence, the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend polls in: Khana, Bonny, Gokana, Andoni, Tai, Eleme, Etche and Asari-Toru local government areas.

The rerun elections was necessitated by a Court of Appeal judgment which nullified the 22 House of Assembly, 12 House of Representatives and 3 senatorial seats won by the PDP in the March and April 2015 general election, following a petition by the APC challenging the results declared by INEC.

In the run-up to the elections, the APC was hoping that a good performance in some of the state and national assemblies constituencies could help it push its way through back to the corridors of power in Rivers State. But then, Governor Nyesom Wike, who was not a candidate in the polls, had fought hard to ensure that this does not happen because an APC in-road in the state legislature would have been a major setback to his firm grip on power.

But as the dust raised by the keenly contested combative elections settles, and the APC absorbs the results, it has to come to terms with the reality that the political dynamics in the state has changed.

Cognisance that the electorates most times would not evaluate a political party based on his party’s manifesto, but that they vote according to how they feel about a particular candidate, Governor Wike had consciously since the assumption of office in May 2015, attempted to address issues of infrastructural decay and delay in the payment of workers salaries which the past APC-led government in the state failed to tackled before it exited power.

While some of the APC candidates were indeed electable people, their party misread the sentiments on ground in the state. The APC also came late into campaign frenzy and appeared ill-prepared for the contest.

From the beginning to the end of their campaigns, the party was not really focused on issues of governance and on the candidates of the ruling party, but was busy castigating the state government. By failing to effectively campaign, the APC squandered the chance to seize power from the PDP.

Besides kicking off its campaigns late, APC hinged its confident to wrest political party from the ruling PDP solely on the Minister of Transportation and immediate past governor of the state, Chibuike Amaechi.

Considering the PDP’s popularity in Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor councils, Governor Wike, awrae that the rural areas were likely going to be the real battleground in elections, spent considerable time since the polls were annulled to mobilise PDP supporters using the caretaker council chairmen.

The Supreme Court judgment, which validated Governor Wike’s victory in the 2015 governorship further, served as a morale booster for the PDP ahead of the re-run polls.

Prior to the polls, the PDP had attempted to taint the past administration as corrupt, hinging it on Amaechi administration’s inability to pay workers salaries and address the decaying infrastructural deficits before exiting office. Following vitriol verbal attacks between Wike and Amaechi, PDP had created the impression in the minds of the people that there was going to be massive deployment of security apparatus on the election day to pave way for INEC to subvert the will of people. The APC, however, did not adequately counter PDP’s propaganda.

A political analyst, Mr. Steve Woke, told The Guardian that the PDP had been successful at creating doubt in the hearts of its supporters and voters, causing them to feel that the election will be rigged, hence, the resistance seen in four Ogoni councils namely Eleme, Khana, Gokana and Tai where elections were suspended.

“Some of us had expected the APC to earn more seats, but the party misread the situation on ground. It had depended on Amaechi’s laudable performance in office during its governorship election campaign last year, and repeated the same during the just concluded rerun polls.

“A lot has changed in Rivers state. The PDP’s early start during the campaigning period gave it the necessary edge. If the APC had been more on the ground, they would have had a clearer picture of how voters actually felt about their last days in power.

The voting was merely sentimental than reasoning,” said Woke.

Another political observer, Mrs. Sandra Maduka, said the striking difference between PDP and APC supporters was that the PDP supporters have remained the feelers, the hands, and the feet of the party since the party’s attempt to wrest power from the Amaechi-led APC government since 2013.

“The PDP had governed Rivers uninterrupted between 1999 to 2013 when the then governor, Chibuike Amaechi, decamped to the APC. But then power returned to the PDP in 2015. The strength of party is in its numbers and this made it possible for the party to reach every constituent in the state to canvas for votes. I doubt if the APC possess the same numbers as the PDP who worked really hard to win voters back with their grassroots going around canvassing support” she said.

The rerun national and state Assemblies elections in Rivers State were characterized by violence, hijack of electoral materials and voters apathy.

Of note, is the scuffle that ensued on Saturday at the registration area center (RAC) in Abalama, Asari-Toru local government area, as APC and PDP members tried to undo each other in the bid to hijack the voting materials.

Amid the pandemonium, three white Toyota Hilux van conveying persons in police and army uniform stormed the place and opened fire on people. One person was allegedly killed and several persons injured. The gunshot, which lasted several minutes, forced people to, scampered into the nearby bush for safety.

Similarly, in Abonnema waterfront in Akuku Toru Local Government Area, argument broke out between APC and PDP members as election materials were about to be transported to riverine communities, particularly Kula. It was gathered that supporters of both parties had attempted to snatch the election materials. Amid the disagreement that ensued, some of the youths allegedly began shooting as well as detonated dynamite forcing people to flee the area while the materials were said to have been taken away by one of the parties.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 6 Calabar, Baba Bolanta, told journalists in Port Harcourt that the police arrested 24 suspects during the election comprising 22 males and two females. Bolanta said the suspects were currently in police custody and were undergoing interrogations on allegations of criminal and electoral offences.

He also stated that the massive deployment of police officers drastically assisted in leveraging the palpable fear associated with the re-run election, adding that pockets of security breaches were recorded.

Meanwhile, Governor Wike has declared that the rerun elections in the state have shown clearly who was on ground and which party was the accepted one by the people.

According to him, the rerun elections have proven that the control of INEC, Federal might, military, police and other security agencies do not translate to electoral victories, as the people will always resist agents of rigging.

The APC hopes now depended on the remaining constituencies in the eight local government areas where INEC has suspended polls.
http://guardian.ng/features/why-apc-lost-in-rivers/

There will be no vacancy in the Presidency in 2019, members of the National Caucus of the All Progressives Congress, APC, declared on Tuesday night in a seeming lure to President Muhammadu Buhari to seek a second term. Oyegun and BuhariOyegun and Buhari The national caucus, comprising serving and former governors, the National Assembly leadership, and selected members of the national executive of the party, at the meeting said the endorsement of President Buhari for a second term would help to stabilise the polity in the face of what members described as the 16-year rot inherited from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Meanwhile, the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has dismissed insinuations of a threat against his position, just as the caucus, Tuesday night, constituted a committee to resolve all pending issues in the party. One of the issues agreed on at the meeting, Vanguard learned yesterday, was that President Buhari should be given opportunity to seek a second term. Though the issue of a second term for the President was generally agreed, caucus members, however, also agreed that it would be too early in the day to kick start a second term campaign for the President. Vanguard learned that the issue was brought up as a way of resting restiveness among some party leaders, who have been divided over their various aspirations for 2019. The positioning by different party leaders on 2019 has been blamed for the problems that led to the crisis in the National Assembly and also the inability of the party to inaugurate its Board of Trustees, BoT, till date. “With Buhari contesting in 2019, those who have been squabbling will now have to queue up behind him and put the interest of the party ahead,” a source privy to the development revealed yesterday. Remarkably, leading senators in the party on Tuesday night met in Abuja where they also pledged to unify themselves in the face of the prospect of losing their influence to the more united PDP caucus. Meanwhile, Odigie-Oyegun speaking to reporters at the end of the caucus meeting on Tuesday night dismissed reports of pressures on him to resign his office. He said: “I am not aware that my office is under threat. I led the party to the State House. It amazes me, occasionally it annoys me. That is one of the things you have to endure when you are in a position like mine.” Noting the trend of the meeting, Odigie-Oyegun said that a committee had been constituted to resolve all the crises in the party. Speaking on the performance of his party’s government almost one year after taking over power, the national chairman pleaded for time on the part of Nigerians. He said the government would come on full stream when the 2016 budget is passed.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/presidency-no-vacancy-2019-apc/

The Bank Verification Number (BVN) introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to link individuals to their various bank accounts has led to a whopping N2.6 trillion being trapped in various banks across the country, Independent gathered. Owners of these accounts, it is said, failed to make claims to the said sum by refusing to link their BVN to the accounts for fear of being labeled money launderers. With the institution of BVN, no bank customer can withdraw money from an account unless it is linked with the number, which synchronizes the customer’s different accounts. “If you have 10 accounts in different banks it will be linked to you and the CBN will have a clear summary of all the money you have,” said a bank manager in a first generation bank. As a result of the measure, no less than N2.6 trillion is said to have been trapped in banks with owners refusing to pick them up without flagging enquiries on how they made the monies. Independent findings reveal that the BVN has also facilitated a reduction on illegal trading in forex by Bureau de Change (BDC) operators. Before now, BDCs submit bogus lists of buyers of forex from account owners. But with BVN, the list could be vetted upon comparing accounts thus putting faces on applications for forex. It was long suspected by the Federal Government and the monetary authorities that a good chunk of federal allocations to states, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) find their way into Wuse and other forex exchange hubs in Lagos and other states. “It’s the first port of call for those willing to exchange looted money into dollar, pounds and euros in their onward transfer to offshore accounts and private pockets,” explained a senior operative with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). At the fore of the surreptitious transactions are bankers and registered BDC operators who freight forex to the black market in the hitherto rampant financial malfeasance otherwise called ‘round tripping.’ “Taking the black market out of play is reducing transfer of illicit funds significantly,” explained the EFCC operative. It would be recalled that there was a major altercation between Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Nenadi Usman, both then serving ministers in the finance ministry under former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the one hand and state governors on the other. The ministers had drawn the public’s attention to flurry of activities in the black market whenever federal allocations reach the states. Bismark Rewane, CEO, Financial Derivatives, also linked bankers and officials in the apex bank to this economy-crippling racket. But with the new measures and going by the scenario being painted in the anguish of the forex dealers, those in the habit of using the black market as conduit for looting public funds appear to be the first causalities. Last year, the CBN had said that any bank customer without the BVN would from November 1, 2015 be deemed to have inadequate know your customer (KYC) information. - See more at: http://independentnig.com/2016/03/bvn-n2-6trn-laundered-funds-trapped-banks/#sthash.uj6Tuyft.dpuf

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Military Authority are yet to effect the release of Colonel Nicholas Ashinze, the former Military Assistant to former National Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) as at 10am today Wednesday March 23, 2016.

PRNigeria gathered that the serving Colonel is still being held incommunicado by the two authorities in defiance of the high court order of March 14, 2016 that directed his release.

A Judge of an Abuja High Court, sitting in Jabi, Justice Yusuf Haliru had on March 14, 2016 ordered EFCC, and the Nigerian Army (NA), to release the serving Colonel, Nicholas Ashinze who served as Military Assistant to former NSAs, Sambo Dasuki and Patrick Azazi.

Colonel Ashinze who was detained before resuming his new posting as Defence Attaché in Germany, has been in detention since December 23, 2015.
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In his judgment, Justice Yusuf Haliru, had ordered the anti-graft agency and the army to immediately release the applicant on self-recognition, saying his detention for over three months without trial, was “‎illegal, wrongful, unlawful and constituted a blatant violation of the fundamental rights of the applicant.”

The court also ordered the immediate release of documents and items the anti-graft agency seized from the house of the applicant.

‎Justice Haliru who cautioned the EFCC and the Army which he said acted as if Nigeria was still under military ‎dictatorship said: “The EFCC is a creation of the ‎law. The court will not allow it to act as if it is above the law. It is remarkable to note that the motto of the EFCC is that nobody is above the law, yet they are acting as if they are above the law.

“The EFCC Act is not superior to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The respondents in this matter have not behaved as if we are in a civilised society. They have behaved as if we are in a military dictatorship ‎where they arrest and release persons at will.”

The judge said the constitution stipulated that any person so detained should be charged to court within reasonable time not exceeding two months from the date of arrest.

Justice Haliru stressed that under section 36 of the 1999 constitution, as amended, an accused person is deemed innocent until his guilt is established. ‎

He, therefore, asked: “Why has the 1st respondent kept the applicant without bringing him to court? Why was the applicant, being a serving military officer who could be easily reached, not granted administrative bail? Or is it that the applicant has been found guilty and already serving his jail term?‎

“Nobody should be subjected to the whims and caprices of the EFCC.


“The essence of the rule of law and constitutional provisions is to ensure a just balance between the ruler and the ruled, between the powerful and the weak.

“Though the EFCC has the responsibility to investigate financial crime, it must however conduct its operations in accordance with the rule of law.

“The court is empowered to guard against improper use of power by any member of the society or agency, EFCC inclusive.‎

“The detention of the applicant, for all intent and purposes, is not just unfair but unfortunate.

“We all support the fight against corruption but it must not be done with utter impunity and disregard to rule of law. The right to personal liberty is guaranteed every citizen of Nigeria by our constitution.

“Why has the first respondent fail to bring the applicant to court since December 2015? Is it that the first, second and third respondents already sentenced the applicant to jail in their own court”.

“The continued detention of the applicant since December is a blatant violation of his fundamental human right”.

The Justice Haliru thereafter declared that the respondents must comply with the court order and effect the release of the applicant.

However, 10 clear days after the court order was made, the two authorities are yet to release the applicant from their custody.
http://dailypost.ng/2016/03/23/efcc-army-yet-to-release-dasukis-ex-aide-10-days-after-court-order/

Some All Progressives Congress senators who opposed the election of Bukola Saraki as Senate President, held a rare meeting Tuesday with Mr. Saraki’s key supporters from the same party, casting aside differences that for months polarised the ruling party’s senate caucus.

The meeting between the anti-Saraki group’s so-called Unity Forum and pro-Saraki’s Like Minds, had in attendance 10 senators – five from each of the two camps. It took place at the Asokoro residence of Aliyu Wammako, a former Sokoto State governor.

Mr. Wamakko confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that the talks held.

The two sides had for months opposed the other, with some members of Unity Group pushing for Mr. Saraki’s removal.
The two groups emerged in the run up to the election of the Senate’s principal officers.

Mr. Saraki won the top seat in defiance of his party, APC’s decision to support his challenger, Ahmed Lawan.

Unity Forum’s most outspoken member, Kabiru Marafa, recently called for Mr. Saraki’s in view of the senate president’s ongoing trial for alleged false declaration of assets.

Tuesday’s meeting had in attendance Mr. Lawan, Mr. Marafa, Gbenga Ashafa, and Suleiman Hukunyi as part of the group’s team.

One the other side, the Like Minds were represented by Danjuma Goje, Mr. Wammako, Sani Yerima, Kabiru Gaya and Adamu Aliero.

Speaking exclusively to PREMIUM TIMES at the end of the meeting which ended around 6.50 PM, Mr. Wammako said the meeting was held to end the crisis that hit the APC caucus following Mr. Saraki’s emergence as senate president.

He said it was high time the Senators belonging to the ruling party agreed to work together in the interest of Nigeria and to support President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Effectively the meeting has brought an end to crisis in the Senate between APC Senators who now support the Senate President, Bukola Saraki,” Mr. Wamako said.

This development came ahead of Mr. Saraki’s day at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Thursday when the tribunal is expected to rule on his motion for the dismissal of the case against him on grounds of procedural error.

Another Senator, a member of the Unity Forum, who attended the meeting but asked that his identity be protected, said the meeting had three outcomes and that both sides agreed “to have a united APC caucus”.

The Senator said the first outcome was that the composition of Senate committees be reviewed to conform with the Standing Rules of the Senate.

He said an upward review of the number of the committees must follow due process as prescribed the section 60 of the Senate Rules.

The second point, he said, was that committees should also be reconstituted to “favour APC Senators”.

He said it was finally agreed that the APC caucus henceforth be “loyal to our party and be committed to its objectives”.

“The number three point is the supremacy of our party, loyalty to our leaders and support for President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

He said the “the meeting was held in the interest our party and Nigeria”.

Asked if the meeting was held to settle the longstanding Saraki row, he said, “It is beyond Saraki”. But he added that “there is no crisis between us again”.

“This man (Saraki) is in court and anything can happen.

“So APC Senators must come together and unite; otherwise, if anything happens to Saraki in the court PDP Senators who are very united may take over the Senate.

“And that would be a very great disservice to our party, the President and Nigerians who voted for change.

“So, we are now uniting like PDP Senators and are settling our differences,” the Senator said.
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/200671-anti-saraki-senators-back-rally-round-embattled-senate-president.html