Festac Town killing: Civil Defence yet to hand over suspect to us —Police

The Lagos State Police Command has said that the investigation into the killing of a petrol hawker on April 6 in Festac Town had not been abandoned.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Dolapo Badmos, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, on Saturday, that the suspected killer of the hawker was yet to be handed over by the Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for interrogation.
NAN reported that a man allegedly died when operatives believed to be from the NSCDC were trying to arrest and seize jerry cans of petrol from the hawkers.
The situation was brought under control by the police and other security agents.
“Investigation into the killing is still on, but the suspect has not been handed over to the police.
“We have requested the Lagos State command of the NSCDC to hand over the suspect for interrogation and there is nothing we can do for now,’’ Badmos said.
Efforts to get the NSCDC spokesman in the state, Mr Chibuzor Mefor, to comment on the development were unsuccessful as he did not responds to calls or SMS sent to him.

6-yr-old girl burnt to death inside Lagos church during vigil

The Lagos State Fire Service has said that a six-year-old girl was burnt to death in a church in the early hours of Saturday in Egbeda area of the state.

The director of the service, Mr Rasak Fadipe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident occurred at about 2:00 a.m. at Faith Revival Church.
Fadipe said that the inferno affected the boys’ quarters of the church, while a vigil was going on at the main auditorium.
“We met the fire raging when we arrived. It was after the fire was put out that we discovered the girl’s burnt body in one of the rooms.
“The church authorities were yet to ascertain the cause of the fire. We finally put out the fire at about 5:00 a.m.,” he said.

Ramadan: Pastor Bails Out Muslim Inmates From Kaduna Prison

The founder of Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation, Pastor Yohanna Buru, has secured the release of Muslim inmates from Kaduna prison.
The Christian leader’s decision to secure the bail of the inmates was with a view to helping them partake in the Ramadan fast with their families, friends and relatives.
He said the Ramadan month was a sacred month for Muslims, during which they devoted time and resources in the service of Allah and to pray for favours.
“We select only Muslims male and female inmate because we want them to go back home and pray for the country, we select only Muslims because this is their holy month of Ramadan, and we selected Muslims so as to strengthening peaceful co-existence between Muslims and Christians and we selected Muslim in order to let them know that Christians are their brothers not enemy,” he said.
Buru also noted that some inmates who are being locked up in prisons across the country were not guilty of the offence but were in jail due to lapses in the nation’s judicial system.
He said that such people need help regardless of their religion or political affiliation, adding that such gesture would foster peace and unity in the country.
“The issue of religious differences between Islam and Christianity in Nigeria must be down-played to allow for unity and peace.”

Remembering MKO and June 12

This day, June 12 will always be remembered by those who have defied the culture of silence and conspiracy against a significant moment in Nigerian history, to remind us of how today, 23 years ago, the battle against the exit of the military from power was fought at the ballot by a determined Nigerian people. It is indeed sad that apart from the Southwest states of Oyo, Ogun, Lagos and Osun, which have doggedly continued to celebrate the hero, and later martyr of that battle, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, there has been studied indifference to the June 12 phenomenon by the Federal Government and remarkably, the rest of Nigeria.

This is sadder still because MKO Abiola was not an ethnic champion: he was a man of pan-Nigerian vision and ambition, who went into politics to give the people hope, to unite them and lead them out of poverty. His campaign manifesto was instructively titled “Hope 93 — Farewell to Poverty: How to make Nigeria a better place for all.”

When Nigerians voted in the presidential election of June 12, 1993, they chose the Muslim-Muslim ticket of MKO Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). MKO Abiola not only defeated the Presidential candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC), Bashir Tofa in his home state of Kano, he also defeated him “fairly and squarely” with “58.4% of the popular vote and a majority in 20 out of 30 states and the FCT.”

That election was adjudged to be free and fair, and peaceful. But the Ibrahim Babangida-led military government had been playing games with the transition-to-civilian rule, and so it chose not to announce the final results of the election, and later on June 23, 1993, the Presidential election was annulled.

This was a coup against the Nigerian people, and an act of brazen injustice, but June 12 will go down in history as the birthday of the revolution that swept the Nigerian military back to the barracks. The media began to refer to MKO Abiola as “the man widely believed to have won the June 12, 1993 election”, or perhaps, “the undeclared winner” but those who played key roles at the time, including Humphrey Nwosu, the chief electoral umpire, have since confessed that “their hands were tied”, and that indeed MKO Abiola won the election. General Ibrahim Babangida, then Head of State, has not been able to live down that error of judgment. It was the final error that also consumed his government, forcing him to “step aside”, and as it turned out “step away”. He left behind an Interim National Government (ING) led by Chief Ernest Shonekan who was handpicked for the assignment, but the ING contrivance only survived for 83 days; in November 1993, General Sani Abacha, who was in the ING as Minister of Defence, seized power. It was obvious that the military never wanted to relinquish power.

June 12 brought out the worst and the best in the people: the worst in the military and its hungry agents definitely, but the injustice of its annulment released the people’s energy and capacity for protest. Progressive Nigerians spoke in unison against military tyranny and the violation of their right to choose. The Abacha government, which had initially deceived the progressives about its intentions, unleashed a reign of terror on the country: media houses were attacked, journalists were jailed, bombed, beaten, civil society activists were hauled into detention. But the repression was met with stiff resistance.

The people insisted on the election of June 12, the military’s exit and Abiola’s declaration as winner of the election. On June 11, 1994, in what is now known as the Epetedo declaration, Chief MKO Abiola declared a Government of National Unity and asked for his mandate to be duly recognised. He was subsequently arrested for treasonable felony, but that only added fuel to the protests. Abiola later died in custody on July 7, 1998, a month to the day, after General Sani Abacha himself died.

But the real outcome was that the military had been branded evil, and the people would accept nothing but the end of military rule. This was the scenario that led to the return to democratic rule on May 29, 1999, and the specific choice of a political figure from the South West to assuage the expressed fears of the South West that the denial of MKO Abiola’s mandate was an assault on the right of the South West. The ethnicisation of the June 12 protest was unfortunate because indeed the struggle against tyranny recruited foot soldiers from virtually every part of the country, international support also gave the struggle higher relevance; those were the days when serving foreign diplomats joined pro-democracy protesters to wave placards on the streets. Many died, and they were all from across Nigeria, businesses were affected, but the people were determined to make the sacrifice. It was that revolution that made May 29, 1999 possible, and if any date is deserving of celebration, it is June 12.

The irony is that those who benefited most from MKO Abiola’s martyrdom do not want to be reminded of him. And those who used to talk about injustice have since, given the opportunity, inflicted their own injustice on the people. Those who used to swear by Abiola’s name have since found new political patrons. Those who proclaimed Abiola as the symbol of democracy and the rallying point for the people’s hopes have since been dancing on his grave. Successive federal administrations since 1999, have also failed to redress the injustice of 1993, by doing the minimum of declaring June 12 a national holiday. There have been suggestions along this line, including the possibility of a post-humous national honour (the only constraint here is that the national honour is not awarded post-humously although there is nothing that expressly forbids this in the enabling Act), or the naming of a major national monument after MKO, or the official admission that the June 12, 1993 election was indeed won and lost and was not in any way inconclusive.

Truth: Nigeria forgets too soon, too easily. For, when indeed the Jonathan administration tried to address this injustice by naming a significant national institution after MKO Abiola, the attempt resulted in controversy and a storm. The last paragraph of then President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2012 Democracy Day speech had renamed the University of Lagos after MKO Abiola. Both the students and staff trooped to the streets in protest. They rejected the name-change and declared that their university’s name is a brand that nobody, not even the Federal Government of Nigeria could tamper with, in honour of anybody, living or dead.

They said they were not consulted and the University Act had not been amended. Politics and opportunism was read into the gesture, and the government had to eat the humble pie. Would the reaction be different if another government were to take the same step, the same way the reaction to the increase in the pump price of petroleum products has been different this year, under a different dispensation?

MKO Abiola was a victim of military politics and conspiracy, now his martyrdom and legacy seem lost in the intricate web of conditioned amnesia and the ego of those who continue to compete with his memory. In a country where history is no longer taught, and there are no well-managed museums and monuments to make history part of the public landscape, a generation is already emerging, like the generation of UNILAG students in 2012, who may someday ask: who is MKO Abiola? Those who refuse to teach history run the risk of producing children who may lack the capacity to remember and the wisdom to appreciate history’s many lessons.

Those who insist speculatively that MKO Abiola could not have been a good President also miss the point about his example and legacy: his martyrdom shaped the architecture of much that happened subsequently in Nigerian history, and it is not the military’s duty to veto the people of Nigeria. The military have been shipped out of power for good, they can only return as they have been doing as retired soldiers, and whatever happens with our democracy, the people are resolved that nobody can annul their right to choose, and it is part of their right to choose, to sometimes make mistakes and learn.

The various state governments and civil groups that remember and celebrate MKO Abiola every year deserve a pat on the back for defying amnesia. June 12 is ultimately not just about one man who became a symbol; it is also about the collective struggle against military tyranny, a reminder of people power and the value of civil society; it is that historical moment when Nigerians voted for change and stood by it.

On this occasion of the 23rd anniversary, may the words of MKO Abiola at Epetedo on June 11, 1994 prick our conscience: “People of Nigeria, exactly one year ago, you turned out in your millions to vote for me, Chief MKO Abiola as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But politicians in uniform, who call themselves soldiers but are more devious than any civilian would want to be, deprived you of your God-given right to be ruled by the President you had yourselves elected. These soldier-politicians introduced into our body politic, a concept hitherto unknown to our political lexicography, something strangely called the “annulment” of an election perceived by all to have been the fairest, cleanest and most peaceful ever held in our nation.

“…My hope has always been to arouse whatever remnants of patriotism are left in the hearts of these thieves of your mandate, and to persuade them that they should not allow their personal desire to rule to usher our beloved country into an ear of political instability and ruin…

“Instead they have resorted to the tactics of divide and rule, bribery, and political perfidy, misinformation and (vile) propaganda. How much longer can we tolerate all this? There is no humiliation I have not endured, no snare that has not been put in my path, no “setup” that has not been designed for me in my endeavor to use the path of peace to enforce the mandate that you bestowed on me one year ago. It has been a long night. But the dawn is here. Today people of Nigeria, I join you all in saying, “Enough is Enough!”…Enough of military rule…Enough of square pegs in round holes…” I recommend a reading of the entire declaration by all patriots in remembrance of Chief MKO Abiola.

Ambode appoints 57 council sole administrators

LAGOS State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yes­terday, approved the appoint­ment of new sole administra­tors to oversee the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs) in the state.
According to a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, the new appointees would be sworn-in on Mon­day, June 13, 2016 at the Ban­quet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja.
The appointment of the 57 sole administrators followed the dissolution of the Caretak­er Committees in line with the resolution of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Bello added that the new appointees would take charge of their re­spective councils pending the conduct of council elections.
In view of this develop­ment, he said the governor had directed the Executive Secre­taries to hand over the affairs of their respective councils to the Head of Administration.
The list of the appointees includes: Ayeni A. Babatunde; Adebayo Taoheed; Adekunle Julius; Samuel Ojo; Jacob Kent; Mrs. Bashorun Bolanle A.; Gbenga Abiola; Olumide Olayomi; Mrs. Yeyintola D. Agaba; Isa Abiola Jubril; Yusuf Temitope; Alh. Musa Nasir A. Ogunleye Gbola­hon; Babatunde Adetunji; Olu Ogunniyi; Sola Akande; Alh. Wasiu Sanni; Abiola Kola­wole Esrom; Muyiwa Oke­sanya and Shukura Okeowo.
Others are: William La­wanson; Label Raji; Ibrahim Adigun; Mrs. Samiat O. Raji; Segun Anifowoshe; Sherif Balogun; Ilelaboye Rasaq; Mrs. Stella Kokumo; Yinka Kazeem; Quadri Ganiu; Prin­cess Abiodun Elegushi; Mrs. Doyin Y. Salami; Ms Soikoya Abimbola; Bolaji Adele Solo­mon; Mrs. Animawun Adeju­moke; Shefiu O. Osinnuga; Adefuye Bayo; Biodun Agba­je; Genesis N. Williams; Engr. Biodun Taiwo; Okinurudeen Bamidele; Gokef Ona Ola­wale; Abdul Adewale; Femi John; Sanya Oshijo; Ipaye N. Adeleke; Hon. Tunde Alao; Are B. Abiola; Samson Akerele Oloyede; James Ag­boola; Princess Aderemi Ade­bowale; Rotimi Ogunwuyi; Olufemi Okedeyi; Rojaiye A. Olayemi; Surakat O. Idogun; Emmanuel Aguda and Habib Aileru.

Mark hails Wike as agent of development

FORMER Senate President, Senator David Mark, has commended Riv­ers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, for being an agent of genuine development for the people of the state.

This is as Governor Wike de­clared that the PDP would con­tinue to solve the developmental challenges of the people by keep­ing campaign promises made to the people.
Commissioning the eight-kilo­metre Ozuoba-Ogbogoro-Rumuol­umeni road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on Saturday, the former Senate President de­scribed the governor as agent of “true change” who has improved the living condition of the people by his deliv­ery of democracy dividends.
Senator Mark said that Gover­nor Wike has used his mandate to positively change the developmental outlook of Rivers State, keeping his promises, instead of giving excuses for failure.
Speaking on the project delivery of Governor Wike , Senator Mark said : “so far, he has governed well , now people are beginning to see the results of the promises that he made.
“He is not only keeping his prom­ises , he also has the welfare of the people at heart. That is what gover­nance is all about. Those who voted him are reaping the benefits of democ­racy.
“Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is a man of action who keeps to his words and promises. I want to thank you for keeping to your promises.’
He said all the PDP gover­nors have kept their promises, while those who promised change to Nige­rians have failed to deliver.
“I am a great advocate of change. Because what brought APC to power is change. Now we have seen that change has not taken place. We have to change that change now. Why we must change the change is because those who called for change are not keeping their prom­ise”, Senator Mark said.
In his address, Gover­nor Wike said that in his projects delivery framework, he was not con­cerned about who awarded the proj­ect, but its impact on the lives of the people.
He said: “For us, as PDP, we knew there were problems before we made pledges. That is why we are re­solving the problems that we met on ground . It does not matter the party you belong, we shall continue to de­liver democracy dividends to all Riv­ers people “
He said that as a governor he would always work in line with the cam­paign promises he made , because the people have always supported him.
“I pleaded with you to give me your mandate when I came here to campaign. Today, I am back to ful­fill that pledge because you gave me the opportunity to serve”, the gov­ernor said. Wike reiterated his com­mitment to flush out cultists from the state, noting that security agen­cies have been given the free hand to deal decisively with cultists.
He said: “Since they have said that I will not sleep, they will not sleep. Any­one who is arrested, will be dealt with in line with the tenets of the law. Whether you belong to the PDP or APC, you will not be spared if you are a cultist”.
Works Commissioner, Bathuel Ihe­anyichukwu said the road was award­ed by the previous administration, but abandoned at 30percent completion stage. He said the road was impass­able before Governor Wike recon­structed it and revived

I’m getting used to rumours of my death –IBB

FORMER military presi­dent, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has said the he is getting used to rumours of his death.
Speaking at his hilltop mansion after returning from Germany where he undertook a medical treatment, Bababngida said there was no need spreading rumour about death, since everybody will get ill or die.
Babangida had arrived Minna International air­port last Friday in a chat­tered aircraft amidst tight security. He looked hale and hearthy, but chose to wear a black caftan and black cap to match.
Amongst those seen in his entourage was his son Aminu, and Hali­ma his last daughter, while the former
governor of the state, Abdullahi Kure, his el­dest son Mohammed Babangida, Aisha Ba­bangida, Umar Ndanusa and a former federal per­manent secretary, Idris Adamu Kutawere were at the airport to welcome him.
On his death rumour, Babangida said, “as a Muslim it is written that every human being shall die and get sick”
He recalled that it was not the first time that the rumour of his death would be out in the public, stressing that he was getting used to it now, though he won­dered why people were con­stantly peddling the rumour of his death at the slightest news of attending to his health.
He disclosed that it was just a structural medical problem that was being ad­dressed by medical experts and periodic medical check­ups.

Restructuring: Why Buhari may fail

A fresh crusade to restructure Nigeria based on the 2014 National Conference is gaining momentum. Various groups and top political figures like former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Emeka Anyaoku, and former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, have entreated President Muhammadu Buhari to open the report with a view to implementing the salient recommendations within it that can foster national integration and drive economic development. However, the President is not yet persuaded, going by his dismissal of the report during the first anniversary of his government. The advocacy of these groups is noble, and the President should not shut out the implementation of the report.

Sadly, Nigeria has missed several opportunities to reform its fatally flawed federalism after the Civil War (1967 to 1970). One such opportunity was offered by the June 12, 1993 presidential election annulment crisis, which 23rd anniversary is being marked today. The election was convincingly won by Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party, who defeated Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention. The poll was adjudged the freest in Nigeria’s political history. Although the annulment eventually presaged the return to democracy in May 1999, Nigeria has yet to recover from the cascading conspiracy masterminded by the then military president, Ibrahim Babangida, because a section of the country did not want Abiola to take up his legitimately given mandate.

Yet, 23 years after, several nationalities in the country still feel aggrieved because of the way they are being unjustly treated. Take the case of Fulani herdsmen, who are destroying farms and killing people with impunity in the North-Central and Southern states. This year alone, they have massacred hundreds in Agatu, Benue State; Ukpabi-Nimbo, Enugu State; Oke-Ako, Ekiti State; and Oke Ogun, Oyo State without any penalty. The Niger Delta, which produces oil, Nigeria’s major revenue earner, is environmentally degraded.

But, to Buhari, the conference, convoked by the Goodluck Jonathan Presidency to discuss Nigeria’s skewed federalism, was “nothing more than a waste of N9 billion.” He admits that he has not bothered to touch the report, saying it is likely to end up in the archives. Although it is not a perfect document, there are over 600 suggestions there to pore over and choose the ones to implement. In reality, the socio-political problems assailing the country should convince Buhari to reconsider his position. You don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Nigeria need not descend into internecine war like the former Yugoslavia, Sudan and Somalia, which disintegrated violently.

The sentiments that Jonathan himself should have begun the implementation of the report, particularly the proposals that needed only executive attention, should not becloud us from seeing its inherent advantages. Most of the issues discussed at the confab – which are still raging – are based on an unworkable federalism that offers no hope to the over 250 ethnic nationalities in the country. Resource control, an overbearing centre that appropriates 52.6 per cent of all revenues, centralised police, and the anomaly of local government areas as federating units, are pertinent issues begging for attention.

There were practical proposals from the conference that could help reduce economic and political tension hobbling our polity. The most critical among them is making only the states federating units. This is the global norm in federalism. It would leave states to have as many LGAs as they desire since they would no longer be funded from the resources of other states. The other vital proposals include the creation of state police agencies, and placing electricity and railways on the Concurrent Legislative List.

All these recommendations are in tune with the vision of the founding fathers of Nigeria, who campaigned for independence from British colonial rule, and negotiated the regionalism of the First Republic that paved the way for competition and rapid development of the three original federating units. In truth, no Nigerian should have problems with these proposals.

Before the current economic distress occasioned by the crash in oil revenues, the confab’s proposal to cut down on the cost of running government was a breath of common sense. It had proposed limiting the number of federal ministers to 18, three from each of the six geopolitical zones, and the merger of states for those wishing to do so. It also recommended the submission of the budget to the National Assembly at a date not later than the September of the preceding year. This would have addressed the delay witnessed in the passage of the 2016 budget in May this year.

The proposals that states should be empowered by law to exploit the mineral resources in their domain, the legal recognition of the Excess Crude Account/Sovereign Wealth Fund and the progressive increment of the slanted derivation principle are brave and consistent with the tenets of federalism as being practised in the United States, Canada, India and Australia. In all these countries, the constituent units control the bulk of their resources and contribute a proportion to the centre.

In spite of 55 years of independence marked by huge oil revenues, Nigeria is still not a nation. The reason is obvious: our twisted political system, which has entrenched mediocrity over merit, “federal character” over efficiency, ethnicity over patriotism, and religion over hard work.

The truth is, Nigeria’s political structure is collapsing. The agitations in different parts of the country are a sign that there is a need to quickly tackle the issues at stake. Before the opportunity fades away, and jeopardises the chance to re-work Nigeria into a true, united and economically viable nation, Buhari should act on the report, now.

EFCC seizes Adamawa ex-acting gov, Fintiri’s N500m house

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has seized a terrace house belonging to a former acting Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri. The house is located on No. 7, Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja.

One of our correspondents, who visited the house, was told that the property was worth about N500m.

The house had painted at its entrance the inscription, ‘EFCC, under investigation’.

Fintiri was arrested by the anti-graft agency 10 days ago following a petition by former members of his cabinet that he embezzled N1.9bn during the three months he acted as governor.

The suspect, who was the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, became acting governor after the impeachment of the substantive governor, Murtala Nyako, and his deputy, Bala Ngilari, in 2014.

He acted as the state governor from July 15, 2014 to October 8, 2014.

A source at the EFCC told one of our correspondents that Fintiri allegedly diverted the fund that was meant for the construction of the Faculty of Law at the Adamawa State University.

He said, “Before his impeachment, Nyako left a balance of N1,957,045,82 in the state government’s project account with the Yola branch of Zenith Bank, with account number 1011325467. Out of the money, N497m was meant for the construction of a law faculty at the university, which was to be sited at the former Teachers’ College, Yola.

“However, when Fintiri took over as acting governor, he transferred the proposed faculty from Yola to the Mubi campus of the ADSU and later laid the foundation; but after that, the project never took off.

“Investigations revealed that on Fintiri’s orders, part of the N1.9bn was released to the Ministry of Works and a contract was awarded to a construction company, Mayim Construction Limited, for the construction of roads in Mararaba Garta and Kamale in the Michika Local Government Area of the state. The company, we believe, is owned by Fintiri, which is illegal.

“The roads in question have not been constructed.”

The source added that Fintiri also purchased Highland Tea, a tea manufacturing company located on the Mambilla Plateau and jointly owned by Adamawa and Taraba states. The tea company owed N600m to the Bank of Agriculture, which Fintiri paid promptly and became its sole owner.

The source alleged that Fintiri, through his company, bought the assets of a firm, S M Nguroje Nigeria Limited, through the Bank of Agriculture for N650m

The property is a tea plantation and processing plant located in Taraba State.

“We believe that part of the N1.9bn was used in buying the tea plantation,” the source added.

The EFCC is also investigating a loan of N5bn taken by Fintiri as acting governor. It was alleged that the suspect took the loan without following due process.

Fintiri, the source said, would soon be charged to court.

However, a spokesman for Fintiri, who did not want his name in print, said the allegations were baseless, adding that all the contracts were awarded in accordance with the laws of the state.

He said Fintiri’s house was not seized but was only put under investigation.

He said, “The bids for the contracts were transparent and the ministries concerned duly advertised the projects for pre-qualification tender, which was not opened before Fintiri’s tenure ended.

“I think what you as a journalist should do is to find out why a suspect will be held for over 48 hours without being charged to court.”

Meanwhile, the Presidency on Saturday said efforts by the Muhammadu Buhari administration to recover funds stolen by former government officials as well as other individuals were a continuous exercise.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said this in an interview with one of our correspondents.

Adesina was reacting to the criticism that trailed the release of the amounts so far recovered from suspected looters by the Federal Government.

The government said it had recovered a total of N115.7bn in cash, while assets worth over N1.9tn had been frozen in the last one year.

In a statement by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the government said the recoveries were made between May 29, 2015 and May 25, 2016.

The government gave the breakdown of the loot as N78,325,354,631.82; $185,119,584.61; £3,508,355.46 and €11,250.

A conversion of the funds using the official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Nigeria showed that the recovered loot added up to N115,792,760,499.

But some individuals and groups alleged that the amount declared as having been recovered was not the actual amount returned by the suspected looters.

Adesina, however, said this was why the President made it clear that there would be regular updates on the recovered funds by the minister.

“Recovery of loot and declaration of same is a continuing process. The President made it clear in his May 29 broadcast that the Minister of Information would give continuous updates,” the presidential spokesman said.

Army sacks Jonathan, Yar’Adua’s ex-ADCs, 58 others

The Nigerian Army Council has retired a former Aide de Camp to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan; Col. Ojogbane Adegbe; a former Principal Secretary to an ex -National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.); Col. Nicholas Achinze, a former ADC to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, Brig. Gen. A. H.  Sa’ad; and 57 other senior officers.

The affected officers, according to the council, are retired for their involvement in arms procurement under the Goodluck Jonathan administration and their role in the 2015 general elections.The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Saturday that a large number of the senior officers were retired from the service on Friday.

Usman did not give the exact number of those affected. Sources, however, disclosed to our correspondent that no fewer than 60 senior officers of the Army were affected by the exercise.

Usman said those affected in the retirement exercise included major generals, brigadier generals, colonels, lieutenant-colonels and a major

Usman quoted service exigencies as the reason for the decision by Army authorities to approve the purge in the service.

He recalled that the service recently probed the activities of some officers in the 2015 election.

He also recalled that some officers of the service had been arraigned in court, following the outcome of the investigation by the presidential committee probing defence contracts in the country.

Usman added, “The Nigerian Army wishes to inform the general public that quite a number of senior officers of the Nigerian Army were retired from service yesterday.

“Those retired were mainly some major generals, brigadier generals, colonels, lieutenant colonels and a major.

“Their retirement was based on service exigencies. It should be recalled that not too long ago some officers were investigated for being partisan during the 2015 general elections.

“Similarly, the investigation by the presidential committee investigating defence contracts revealed a lot. Some officers have already been arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.”

He urged members of the public not to read the current move out of context as the military must remain apolitical at all times.

He said the decision by the government to retire the affected officers should be supported by all.

However, a source, who confided in our correspondent, said a number of those mentioned in connection with the procurement of defence equipment and those found to have played some questionable roles in the 2015 election were affected.

Besides Jonathan and Yar’Adua’s aides, others are  Maj. -Gen. M.Y. Ibrahim, F. O. Ali;  Brig.-Gen. A. Abdusalam; M. G. Ali, Onibasa; L. N. Bello;  Brig.-Gen. D. Abdulsalam, Brig.-Gen. Momoni and M.G. Ali.

Other officers said to be included are Fiboinumana, Agachi, Okonkwo,  Audu,  Oladunjoye, C. O. Amadi, Adimoha, Dazang, Arigbe, Egemole, Baba-Ochanpa, A. Mohd, S. D. Aliyu, LM Bello, Ejemai, Lawan, M. G. Ali, Achinze Ilo, and  Col. Audu.

The EFCC had in February detained and interrogated some army officers including Adegbe and Achinze.

They were detained and quizzed in connection with the ongoing probe into the alleged arms procurement scandal by Dasuki. Both of them were released after filing separate suits against their detention.

Also, a panel set up by the Army had in January indicted 92 officers over their roles in the 2015 general elections.

The panel report specifically recommended that two officers amongst the indicted soldiers were to be retired at once, while three were to lose their immediate commands.

Submitting the report at the Army Headquarters Abuja, the Chairman of the investigation team, Maj.-Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, who is the GOC 1 Division, had said a thorough job was done before the recommendations were made.

Catholic church threatens to pull out of CAN

THE election for the presidency of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has assumed a new twist as the outgoing President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is said to have summoned a meeting of the President-in-Council, PIC, for tomorrow amidst reports that the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN, has threatened to pull out of CAN.

Feelers indicated that Dr. Jeremiah Gado, the candidate of TEKAN/ECWA bloc and alleged government candidate for the CAN presidency, has approached an Abuja High Court for unlawful denial as a candidate in the election. It was learnt that the TEKAN/ECWA candidate was actually looking for an interim injunction to stop the election but the court refused to grant the request. The court instead asked that the parties be put on notice and served to enable them appear before it on Tuesday. A reliable source close to the umbrella body of Christians confirmed the development, saying Gado had approached the court seeking to address his undue denial as a candidate for the presidential election and some other issues. •Oritsejafor According to the schedule of events, the election of a new President to succeed Oritsejafor is billed for Tuesday by the 309 members of the CAN, NEC. The Electoral College has screened the only two candidates —Rev. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle of the Baptist Convention, who polled eight votes, and Prof. Joseph Otubu of the Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), who scored two votes. According to the Constitution of CAN, the Electoral College, headed by erstwhile Chaplain to two Nigerian presidents and Head, Aso Rock Villa Chapel, Rev. William Okoye, was expected to screen the nominated candidates and recommend two of them for the National Executive Council for election. The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN and the Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, CPFN/PFN, which nominated the outgoing president, did not present candidates for the election. Following the unresolved dispute in the TEKAN/ECWA bloc the number of candidates for the CAN president was reduced to just two which, some now reason, should have made the Electoral College to recommend the two to NEC for the election. Meanwhile there were indications last night that the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN, has threatened to severe relationship with CAN, unless the impasse is resolved and adequate opportunity is given to every candidate who had indicated interest in the presidential contest. Details were sketchy but the CSN was said to have threatened that they would pull out of CAN if the election was not cancelled. Our source, who said it was still top secret as at yesterday evening, claimed that the Catholic Secretariat, making up one bloc of CAN, had sent in a letter demanding that the election was cancelled…”because indirectly they are looking for an ECWA man to lea.

Militants split over FG, Avengers’ negotiations

MILITANTS in the Niger Delta are falling apart over negotiations with the Federal Government, which bowed to stakeholders’ demand for dialogue and announced a two-week ceasefire to create a window for engagement, on Monday. The militants were at loggerheads also over the former ‘General Officer Commanding’, GOC, of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, who had denied involvement in the bombings in the oil-rich region, but his name keeps springing up. This happened on a day Tompolo appealed to the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), which has claimed responsibility for the bombings, to put a halt to its activities, saying, “You have not only succeeded in militarizing the Niger Delta region now, but you have also succeeded in giving birth to so many negotiators and political jobbers within the government circle, who are very serious rumour peddlers in the country now.” Oduku raises the alarm Meanwhile, the Commandant General of the Riverine Security (Coast Guard of the Federation), Commander Bibi Oduku, whose organization is collaborating with security agencies to track down criminals on the waterways, yesterday, said: “We received information that NDA’s next targets are Choba Bridge, Rivers State, Kaiama Bridge, Patani, Imo River Bridge between Rivers and Abia; and the bridge linking Rivers and Akwa-Ibom in Ogoni axis. “The militant group also plans to bomb the Nigeria Port Authority, NPA, Warri; NPA, Port Harcourt; NPA Onne; NPA Calabar; MTN; Airtel; Glo and Etisalat facilities in the Niger Delta region with other major oil and gas facilities. Security agencies must take fast action to forestall the attacks.” Crack The NDA has said it is opposed to negotiations with government and declared, last Wednesday: “This is to inform the general public that we are not negotiating with any committee. If the Federal Government is discussing with any group, they are doing that on their own.” But the Joint Revolutionary Council, JRC, of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Front, JNDLF, the presumed umbrella group of militants in the region, countered the Avengers, at the weekend, saying militants would negotiate with government. The JRC ‘General Duties’, Akotebe Darikoro, in a statement, with three others, suggested that the cluster was already discussing with government. The group went on: “We shall continue to engage in dialogue with the Federal Government if our demands are met. “Our representatives in the dialogue, especially the governors and others, will not betray our demands with the Federal Government. Any betrayal on their own part shall be viewed as betrayal of the entire region and we shall go after them immediately as they know our mode of operation in which they will not escape from us.” Also reacting to a plea by MEND that it should give President Muhammadu Buhari a breather, the NDA, in a statement by its spokesperson, ‘Brig General’ Mudoch Agbinobi, said MEND was a band of criminal elements and political sidekicks of one of the South-South governors and an ex-governor from the region. It said: “The NDA is unperturbed, we have a mandate that is clearly a departure from those old tactics of the defunct so-called MEND that indulged in kidnapping, hostage taking, sea piracy, illegal oil bunkering, bank robberies and social crimes.” Twists and turns NDA has been manifestly antagonistic to Tompolo since the former militant leader took newspaper space, early last month, to condemn its violent activities. It issued him a three-day ultimatum on May 3 to retract his criticism, which it saw as “taking sides with the Federal Government to fight the Niger Delta people.” Its words: “We hereby give you a three -day ultimatum to apologize to Niger Delta Avengers in the same national dailies as anything other than that will mean that we shall bring the war to your doorsteps by blowing up all oil installations within your backyard (Gbaramatu Kingdom)”. Tompolo did not comply with the demand and NDA attacked oil facilities in Gbaramatu Kingdom and other parts of Warri South-West local government area, leading to the invasion of Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Ijaw Kingdom. The militant group mocked Tompolo for the invasion of Oporoza; Kurutie, his father’s town and other Ijaw communities, saying the government he teamed up with again swooped on his people and molested them. Tompolo talks tough over Oporoza seized gold sword Militants In a related development, more trouble appeared to be looming in the Niger Delta if a gold sword reportedly seized from the palace of Oporoza by the Joint Task Force of the Nigerian Army is not returned with immediate effect. Sunday Vanguard gathered from security sources in Abuja familiar with the Oporoza operation that Tompolo is furious over the seizure of the golden sword by soldiers. The soldiers reportedly swopped on Oporoza last week and made away with some traditional paraphernalia, including the golden sword regarded as the symbol of authority of the Oporoza deity, and the motorised boat usually used by the Oporoza Council of Chiefs. Sunday Vanguard learnt from authoritative military sources that Tompolo demanded that the sword must be returned as the first step for him to listen to anyone who wants to meet him for any discussion about the boiling Niger Delta. “It is true we have met with Tompolo in the last few weeks but he is very angry that the military desecrated the palace of Oporoza and made away with items related to their god,” one of the sources said. The security official, who has been part of the Federal Government team to end the rage of the NDA over oil installations in the region, expressed the willingness of the team to wade into the rift and recover the seized traditional items and calm frayed nerves. As a fence-mending measure, Sunday Vanguard learnt that the JTF might return the golden sword and the traditional rulers boat any moment from now. Although the source did not say where they met with Tompolo, he pointed out that the former MEND leader was not afraid of appearing before the courts to face trial over alleged corruption but was worried about what he called ‘undue harassment’ by security agents. “As things are, Tompolo is concerned about his security and not going to court to defend his name. That is just the sticking point. If there is an assurance by the EFCC and other security agencies that his safety is guaranteed, he will come out to defend himself against all the charges levelled against him,” the security official said. Ijaw women protest Also, yesterday, Ijaw women protested the invasion of Gbaramatu Kingdom by soldiers and have tabled five demands before the federal government to wit: implementation of the Niger Delta blue print; restructuring of Nigeria and return to true fiscal federalism, resource control and ownership; implementation of the PIB Bill; and no more military presence in Ijaw communities. Addressing reporters in Oporoza, President, Ijaw Women Connect (IWC), Rosemary Graham, said: “Ijaw women’s visit to Oporoza community after the military invasion is an eye opener for us as mothers of the Ijaw nation to the unwarranted and unprovoked attack on innocent and defenseless people of that community and the wanton destruction of properties.” Take-off of Brass LNG will end militancy, sea piracy in Niger Delta —Bayelsa Elders The elders and traditional heads from Bayelsa East, yesterday, said a permanent solution to the rising incidence of sea piracy, oil and gas pipeline attacks and violent crimes by militants in Niger Delta was the take-off of the Brass Liquefied Natural Gas Project (Brass LNG). The elders, drawn from Brass and Nembe local government areas, said though the local and state governments have done much in the area of providing employment, initiating security and peace along the waterways and creeks of the state and the region, the delay in the take off of the Brass LNG project has left many youths jobless, restive and involved in the renewed violence in the region. The concerned elders, in a statement issued in Yenagoa and signed by Chief Newton Ayibatare, said though a position paper has been sent to the Chairman of the Brass Local Government, Hon. Bello Bina, and the State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, the take off of the Brass LNG will employ over 16,000 restive youths and improve revenue to the Local Councils, state and Federal Governments.

From ‘for better for worse’ vow, to death sentence

You do, don’t you? Yes, I do . And you said so in the presence of a hundred or more people as witnesses. Then you hosted an Owambe to drive home your point. You are sentenced to ‘ death’. Till death do you part. Then things begin to fall apart. But should you kill each other with your bare hands? Are men really made that way? To kick things around? Blame her mouth. Of course, everybody knows she talks too much. But you should have known that her mouth runs like tap water and she would never stop offending you with her words and, indeed, that’s why you should learn to be partially deaf. Little things are breaking homes. Men are killing their wives over flimsiest reasons. Everyday, people are fighting with their significant other over insignificant matters . You now begin to hate the one you love. You were not really sure initially. Or how can one love and hate the same person at the same time? Love can be a good thing though, but it can also turn a seemingly stable person into a flimsy bridge holding a lot of weight. Love is very powerful and anything with power can destroy, including love. Your love story was not ending well. You started well. Your love for each other was blind, deaf and dumb. You were both warned but you were meant for each other. It was the most amazing thing you’ve ever felt in your entire life. Your love story was almost like a movie—everything wasn’t perfect but you loved each other so intensely. Then the problems started to creep in. He’s more carefree and just go with the flow, and you suspect he has commitment issues. Or, you have a lot of anxiety and some attachment issues and ended up pushing him away. Fast forward the next few years. Things started deteriorating. What he did or you did or failed to do became a big deal. A bag of sour cream and onions. How he/she was pressing the toothpaste became a big deal. Many don’t like the toothpaste being pressed in the middle. A lawyer recently had to reconcile a couple who couldn’t stand each other because the wife didn’t like how her husband was pressing the toothpaste. Her complaints and insults led to a fight that saw the husband heading to the divorce court. But the good lawyer was able to patch things up between them. And who would have believed that a man’s peaceful sleep could irritate his wife? That peaceful sleep was causing her sleeplessness. He was snoring and that alone could bring down the roof. She decided that she could not take it and so did not. She walked away and both found other people. Hehehehe. Don’t make a joke of checking your man’s phone and reading his text messages. He could kill you for doing so and if he didn’t, you could just land yourself in trouble. You could see what you ought not to see that could break your heart and who would you blame? A marriage counselor and lawyer, Mrs Kaine revealed that one of the cases she handled in a divorce court was started by the wife who flipped through her husband’s phone and saw what she ought not to see. “Ordinarily, they were a happy couple until that weekend. The husband stayed at home and while he tried to fix a lot of things around the house, his loving wife grabbed his phone and began to flip through. Then she saw the recording of her husband making it out with another woman.” All hell was let loose. And yet, this was a man who never stayed out late or hanged out with the boys at weekends. The entire episode ended in the divorce court and that was after a huge fight that left the man with a broken head and his wife with blood-shot eyes. And the other woman? Her business place was left in ruins. Checking his phone could spell suicide because that would be tantamount to invading his privacy and most men wouldn’t take it. “ Check through my phone? That’s rubbish because I don’t check through hers. What would my wife or my girlfriend doing, checking through my phone? I am not a saint when it comes to women and I have never pretended about it. So, why would she go looking for trouble?” asked Ade, a lawyer. “ There are many things a man cannot stomach. Some men would not mind but I mind. If my wife is chatting with another man, I don’t know because I trust her and I expect her to trust me. If she sees me discussing with a woman, I expect her to understand that I have that freedom to talk with other women about other issues because they are not emotionally attached to me. I have the freedom to talk business and discuss other issues. If she complains, its her business.” In another divorce case, a simple thing as little as social etiquette caused a huge fight between an urbane husband and his wife. “She asked to be given ‘mineral’ in a party and the husband flew up. Mineral, how can an educated woman request for a bottle of ‘mineral? Doesn’t she know whether it is coke, Fanta, Malt or juice that she wants? Does she have to call it ‘mineral’ like local women? Doesn’t she even have the grace to say she wants something soft or non-alcoholic? Mineral? After all the years she spent in the university, she comes to a high-class party here to rub mud on my face by requesting for ‘ mineral.” The couple fought all the way home and eventually ended up in the divorce court after she said something that made him to slap her several times and bruised her mouth.. And how could a fairly successful businessman, Emeka have thought that by marrying a daughter of a rich transporter, all his problems would be solved? “ I was the cause of everything ,” said Emeka’s best man, Fred. “When the first daughter of this wealthy transporter from the South East got married, her father settled her and her new husband and made her husband stupendously rich. I was related to the man and I shared their experience with my best friend and on learning that the man still had another daughter, he decided to go for her. “That was a huge mistake. Emeka wooed Nkiru and she agreed to marry him. A wedding date was set and preparations began. Emeka sold two of his cars and left one with the hope that after the marriage, what the inlaws would give their daughter would buy him better cars. But he was wrong. “It was the mother-in-law that perceived him as a gold-digger and told her husband. And at the reception, his father-in-law told the guests that Nkiru was his best child and he spent millions to train her to become a qualified medical doctor and a gynecologist. He said |Nkiru was an oil-well to her husband and the best gift any man could have. No special gift was given the couple like the man gave t his first daughter. “ Then on the way home after the reception, Emeka began to complain that the bride’s family did not make any contribution to the wedding and the reception and that no special gift was given to them by the wife’s family. When the complaint became too much, the wife asked him whether he married her for love or for her father’s money and right there on their way home, a fight ensued. Emeka beat his new wife to a pulp and her cousin who was a bridesmaid at the wedding and who was also in the car called her father with her mobile phone. The big man came with armed policemen to arrest the groom when the couple were just a few metres to their matrimonial home. The transporter took his daughter back to his house and that marked the end of the marriage. They were never reconciled. In fact, Nkiru never went to Emeka’s house. It was at that point that Nkiru collected all the presents given to her at the wedding by her own family and their friends while she left those given by Emeka’s friends. Today, they are both married to other people.” There are endless stories of woe leading to marital problems and in some cases, death. Sometimes, the problem could be his family or hers. It could be the way she carried herself and as John Mento, a public relations practctioner said, his wife always tied wrapper across her breasts at home and he didn’t like that. He has complained several times and her response had always been that she was not looking for another husband. She apparently didn’t know she was on the verge of losing the one she has. Or it could be his drinking too much and always smelling like a brewery. Then he would stagger home every night and left his clothings and shoes all over the sitting room. Nothing could be more nauseating to a woman than messing up the home she strived so hard to keep. She’d arrange the house and he would scatter them. Men don’t like dirty homes but he was the one scattering everything. Did he want to kill her? Then, she’d give him food and forget to give him water. Didn’t her mother train her well? The argument over money never stopped. She would bring up the issue of money when he was feeling cozy. What kind of woman would do that? Was she trying to hold him to ransom? And there were the kids. Ohhhh. Those brats. He’s too strict and wouldn’t take nonsense from the kids. But she didn’t want him to touch her kids. Of course, he called them brats but they were her brats. Has he ever been pregnant? Would he rather the children run into hiding when they heard the horn of his car? His own mum spoiled him too. Bought him football and toy guns as a child and that’s why he was kicking her around anyway. Her friends! Gosh! Those gossips. He could never stand them. All they talked about were clothes, jewelry and shoes and they were putting ideas into her head. He liked football. She preferred Telemundo. He was a Chelsea fan. She was Arsenal or Man U. She could never stop getting on his nerves. Too many things. And you were boring her! Women! You could never hear the last of what they were capable of doing to a man and so, you had to cut the long story short. So, you killed her. Not that you meant to but she was annoying you, calling you unprintable names and you got so mad and pushed her and she fell and hit her head on something. You are a murderer. Or you suddenly became the world wrestling champion because of her and your kids were watching? Are you a kid? Didn’t you know before you embarked on the business of marriage? Just take a few things and walk. Serious. As simple as that and you’d keep your soul from trouble. And she would come back begging for forgiveness. She would definitely do. Infact, her entire family would come and beg and you must forgive. She would say she was sorry even though from her heart of hearts, she didn’t mean it. Just look into her eyes. Were those eyes sorry? But she has asked and that was the most important thing. So forgive. Or would you want the kids to be called ‘children from broken home’ in school? That way, they would never forgive you. Marriage. Indeed, it would eventually kill you because it has been a death sentence all the while. Till death do you part.

Oshiomhole Has Rated Me The Best To Succeed Him – Deputy

Edo Deputy Governor, Dr Pius Odubu, on Saturday said Gov. Adams Oshiomhole had rated him as the best candidate for the Sept. 10 gubernatorial election in the state.

Odubu, an aspirant to the governorship position on the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the claim at a reception organised for him by his team of supporters in Benin.
He said that he had understudied the governor since their assumption of office more than seven years ago, and that th3e governor had groomed him for the number one seat.
“I have been in school; I have been in Oshiomhole’s school of governance and he, himself, has rated me as the best.
“We need a governor that will hit the ground running. We need a governor that is game-ready and not one with potential.
“We will bring to bear, all that the governor has taught us, and our expertise. We will do the greatest good to the greatest number of the people within the shortest time possible when we get there.
“By His grace, I know and I believe that I am the man that will take over from the governor,’’ Odubu said.
He urged APC’s delegates for the June 18 primaries of the party not to be coerced into voting against their preferred aspirant, stressing that they must freely choose who would govern them.
On alleged massive buying of Permanent Voters Cards (PVC’s) by a particular aspirant, he advised that voters must protect their PVCs.
He said, “my good people of Edo, I hear they are collecting your PVCs; please, your PVC is your property, it is your right, don’t sell it, don’t mortgage your future.
“You have to freely choose the man or woman that you want. You must choose who will govern Edo of your own free volition,’’ the aspirant said.
He announced that he had been cleared for the primaries by the party’s screening committee and appealed to his supporters to remain steadfast and conduct themselves peacefully before, during and exercise. (NAN)

Islamic State Claims Bombings Near Shi’ite Shrine In Damascus

Islamic State claimed responsibility for suicide and car bomb blasts that struck a Damascus suburb on Saturday near Syria’s holiest Shi’ite Muslim shrine, and a monitoring group said at least 20 people were killed.
State television showed debris, mangled cars and wrecked shops in a main commercial thoroughfare near the Sayeda Zeinab shrine, in an area where at least three bomb attacks claimed by Islamic State have killed and wounded scores of people this year.
The ultra-hardline Sunni militants of IS, whose many foes are advancing on a number of fronts in both Syria and Iraq, are avowed enemies of Shi’ites, whom they consider a heretical group within Islam.
State media said at least eight people were killed. But the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the death toll had risen to at least 20, including at least 13 civilians, with the other victims coming from pro-government militias. It said the number was expected to rise because many of the scores of wounded people were in critical condition.
Islamic State, also known as Daesh, said two of its suicide bombers had blown themselves up and operatives had detonated an explosives-laden car, according to the IS-affiliated Amaq news agency.
U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said Washington condemned the attack in the strongest terms. “This terrorist act demonstrates once again the inhumanity and brutality of all that Daesh does and all it stands for,” he said.
The Sayeda Zeinab shrine is a magnet for thousands of Iraqi and Afghan Shi’ite militia recruits who go there before being assigned to front lines, where they fight against the Sunni rebel groups trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad. Almost every Shi’ite militia fighter bears insignia on his combat fatigues with the words “For your sake, Sayeda Zeinab”.
SECTARIAN SPLIT
The heavily garrisoned area near the shrine is also a well known stronghold of Lebanon’s powerful Shi’ite Hezbollah group, an Iranian-backed movement that is one of Assad’s chief allies.
Non-jihadist rebels say Iran’s strong military intervention on the side of Assad, alongside its backing of other Shi’ite militias, is fuelling the sectarian dimension of the nearly six-year Syrian civil war by drawing even more radical foreign Sunni jihadists into the country.
Separately, U.S.-backed Syrian forces made new territorial gains against Islamic State on Saturday, moving closer to another of its major strongholds in northern Syria, according to the monitoring group.
The Observatory said the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF), bringing together Kurdish and Arab fighters, were now almost 17 km (10 miles) from the city of al-Bab, an Islamic State stronghold north east of Aleppo.
The SDF on Friday cut off the last route into the encircled town of Manbij from al-Bab after over a week of advances around that area, allowing it to lay siege to the large town from all directions, the monitor said..
In other frontlines in northern Syria, two rebel sources said Russian and Syrian jets stepped up their relentless aerial bombing of their positions in the northern city of Aleppo.
They said fighters had overnight repelled a major Syrian army attack on the Malah front in an drive to reach the strategic Catello highway, which is the only route in and out of rebel-held areas.
The army has for months sought to advance towards the highway to lay siege to rebel-held areas where over 400,000 people live.
A convoy of aid from the International Committee of the Red Cross entered the rebel-held city of Houla in the province of Homs, the third besieged area to receive supplies in the past 24 hours, aid workers said.
On Friday, aid convoys reached two rebel-held towns near Damascus, marking the first delivery of food supplies to Daraya since 2012, after the government granted permission for the trips, the United Nations said.

Federal Government planning to use seized properties as offices

According to news report, the Federal Government is planning to use some properties seized from looters as offices in a bid to reduce the high rent they pay for office buildings by government agencies. Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, disclosed this yesterday June 10th at the opening of a meeting with members of the National Steering Committee of the Efficiency Unit.

The Federal Government since May 29, 2015 have seized over 350 buildings through the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission, ICPC, and the Eonomic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

“The average annual expenditure on rent for the three year period 2012 to 2014 was N3.55bn. The issuance of price guidelines and initiatives for reducing expenditure on rent on office and residential buildings will be the primary focus in the coming months. And to achieve that, we are already looking at using properties that were forfeited from recoveries and moving some of our agencies to occupy those properties rather than paying rent.”

Breaking: Army Retires Generals, Colonels and A Major

 

Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, Abuja: The Nigerian Army wishes to inform the general public that quite a number of senior officers of the Nigerian Army were retired from service yesterday.
Those retired were mainly some Major Generals, Brigadier Generals, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and a Major.

Their retirement was based on Service exigencies. It should be recalled that not too long ago some officers were investigated for being partisan during the 2015 General Elections.
Similarly, the investigation by the Presidential Committee investigating Defence Contracts revealed a lot.
Some officers have already been arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
People should therefore not read this out of context.
The military must remain apolitical and professional at all times.
We must applaud and support this laudable and bold initiative by the government.

Obama is 'fired up' for Clinton as Democrats seek to unify party

U.S. President Barack Obama formally endorsed Hillary Clinton’s White House bid on Thursday and called for Democrats to unite behind her after a protracted battle with Bernie Sanders for the party nomination.
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts also backed Clinton on Thursday, telling MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” that presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump was “a genuine threat to the country.”
Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee, said it “means the world” to her that Obama had her back in a bruising campaign for the Nov. 8 election.
Clinton also said she had the “highest regard” for Warren, a fiery critic of Wall Street, and was “really pleased to have her good ideas and support.”
Vice President Joe Biden also waded into the campaign on Thursday. “Whoever the next president is, and God willing in my view it will be Secretary Clinton,” Biden said in a speech at the American Constitution Society in Washington.
The Obama endorsement increases pressure on Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, to bow out of the race and lend his support to Clinton so that the party can focus on defeating Trump.
“It is absolutely a joy and an honour that President Obama and I over the years have gone from fierce competitors to true friends,” Clinton told Reuters in an interview.
After an unexpectedly tough battle against Sanders’ challenge from the left, former first lady Clinton made history when she reached the number of delegates needed to win the party nomination this week. That made her the first woman to lead a major U.S. party as its White House candidate.
Obama, who enjoys rising approval ratings as he nears the end of eight years in office, will appear with Clinton on the campaign trail next week in Wisconsin.
The two were opponents in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary race, which Obama won, but they buried their rivalry and she served as his secretary of state for four years. Clinton is the 2016 candidate who the White House believes will best safeguard Obama’s legacy.
“I don’t think there’s ever been someone so qualified to hold this office,” Obama said of Clinton in a video. “I’m with her. I am fired up, and I cannot wait to get out there and campaign for Hillary.”
Trump assailed the endorsement on Twitter: “He wants four more years of Obama—but nobody else does!”
Clinton’s campaign tweeted a brash response: “Delete your account.”
Sanders, who galvanized young voters with his calls for more social equality and measures to rein in Wall Street, has been reluctant to concede the race, despite concerns among leading Democrats that continuing party divisions could hamper Clinton’s efforts to beat Trump.
TOWARD THE EXIT
Obama and other senior Democrats are seeking a delicate balance of rallying the party behind Clinton, while not alienating Sanders and his supporters.
In what appeared to be an attempt to gently ease Sanders toward giving up his campaign, Obama met the democratic socialist for about an hour in the White House, laughing warmly as they walked into the Oval Office.
Although Sanders told reporters afterward that he still planned to compete in the final nominating contest in Washington, D.C., next Tuesday, he said he would work with Clinton to defeat Trump.
Sanders was then welcomed on Capitol Hill by Senator Harry Reid, the top Democrat in the Senate. Reid said the lawmaker from Vermont was in a “good place” with his Democratic colleagues. He suggested that Sanders was close to acknowledging defeat by Clinton.
“I didn't hear a single word about him trying to change the fact that she is the nominee, I think he's accepted that,” Reid told reporters.
In the endorsement video, Obama recalled the party unity that followed his prolonged primary battle against Clinton in 2008.
“Secretary Clinton and Senator Sanders may have been rivals during this primary, but they’re both patriots who love this country and they share a vision for an America that we all believe in,” Obama said.
Warren told MSNBC she was endorsing Clinton because “a female fighter in the lead is exactly what this country needs.”
Warren's populist credentials will boost Clinton's ability to court Sanders voters as she prepares to battle Trump. Warren was the only female Democratic U.S. senator who did not endorse Clinton during the primary race.
Clinton told Reuters she and Warren had similar views about issues such as economic policy and protecting the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which Warren pushed to start.
Trump said in an interview with Reuters last month that he would try to dismantle the Dodd-Frank law.
In the interview with Reuters, Clinton said her overall economic package, including plans to rein in Wall Street and cut taxes for the middle class, would come during the first 100 days of her presidency if she defeats Trump.
Clinton previously said a plan to generate jobs by investing in transportation and other infrastructure spending and immigration reform would be among other early priorities.
“One of the things that President Obama said yesterday is he thought his job was to remind the American people what a really serious job this is, the tough choices, the hard decisions, the high stakes in choosing a president and commander in chief,” Clinton said.
“And I know how important it is to get off to a really good start in the White House,” she said.
Trump, a wealthy real estate developer who became the party’s presumptive nominee last month after seeing off a large group of rivals, is well behind Clinton’s campaign in terms of fundraising and policy infrastructure.
On Thursday, his top donors were holding their first official meeting in New York. Trump also met with industry leaders in New York at an event organised by oil billionaire Harold Hamm.

Blast hits NPDC pipeline in Nigeria's Delta region

An explosion rocked a pipeline operated by a subsidiary of Nigeria’s state oil company in the West African country’s restive Delta region late on Thursday, a security official and a community leader both said on Friday.
Oil output by OPEC member Nigeria has fallen to a 20-year low due to a series of attacks on oil pipelines in the southern Niger Delta, home to much of the country’s oil and gas wealth, in the last few months.
The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) pipeline at Sanomi Creek, around the Ogidigben area of Warri South West, exploded around 8 p.m. local time (1900 GMT), said the source who said that people nearby heard “a loud explosion”.
“There is fire burning,” said Chief Godspower Gbenekama, a local community leader.
Nobody has claimed responsibility for the blast.
On Wednesday, the Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group that has claimed responsibility for most of the recent attacks, rejected an offer to start talks with the government.

Suspect dies in EFCC custody

Desmond Nunugwo, a suspect undergoing investigations in the hands of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has died.

The EFCC announced Friday that the suspect's death was confirmed at a hospital where he was rushed to after he took ill
the Spokesman of EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren,  in a statement in Abuja said the late suspect was alleged to have fraudulently obtained N91 million from an acquaintance under false pretext.
He added that Nunugwo had tricked his victim into believing that he had high business associates in Dubai and United Arab Emirates who were at the verge of buying Nicon Insurance.
The spokesman said that the suspect had convinced his victim of his disposition to help her start stock fish business.
“Consequently, the victim wired N91 million into Nunugwo's nominated account in a new generation bank.
“After the transfer of funds, Nunugwo became evasive, forcing the victim to report the transaction to EFCC.
“Nunugwo was arrested in Utako, Abuja, at about 5.33 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, 2016.
“His statement was taken, where he admitted receiving the money from the complainant, with additional information that he transferred N30 million of the said money to Norway.”
The EFCC spokesman said that the suspect, who could not explain the whereabouts of the balance of N61 million was detained at about 7.30 p.m. in the absence of anybody to take him on bail.
“Six hours later, he suddenly complained of discomfort and was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“The incident has already been reported at the Wuse Police Station, where investigation into the cause of the sudden death has commenced.”

2016 INTERNATIONAL ALBINO AWARENESS DAY

The 2nd edition of the international Albino awareness day is around the corner and the Albino Foundation in Nigeria is using the opportunity to address issues concerning the health of People Living with Albinism(PWA). This is as a result of the increase in the number of deaths relating to skin cancer for PWA.
The CEO/ founder of the Albino Foundation in Nigeria, Mr Jake Estelle, says this year's awareness as a medium to urge the Federal Government to resume free treatment of skin cancer for PWA, not just at the National Hospital, Abuja, but in all federal and state hospitals within the country.
He also confirmed the availability of a solution to skin cancer , a Sun Screen Cream which he says has The Albino Foundation logo that was manufactured in Germany has now being brought into the country.
“This cream is important because it will help prevent skin cancer. Even when you are exposed to the sun, even if it is for a short while, it will prevent the sun from damaging your skin. This is an antidote to skin cancer when used regularly ,"
Albinism is a congenital disorder where people lack pigment in their skin, hair and eyes. And it is known to affect one in every 20,000 people.
PWA's have suffered a lot of discrimination, stigmatization, dehumanization and killings around the world, especially in Africa.
The United Nations at her general assembly on 18th December 2014, set aside June 13th of every years as International Albinism Awareness day, and this year is the 2nd edition with the theme : "Addressing Health Issues in Albinism: The Need For Stakeholders Intervention.

Two Suspected Pipeline Vandals Arrested In Ogun

Two pipeline vandals have been arrested in a village in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State in southwest Nigeria.

The arrest of the two middle-aged men was made by the Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) on Friday.

The agency said they were vandalising a pipeline of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) with some other suspects who escaped.
Items found at the site include, nine vehicles, seven motorcycles and scores of jerry can loaded with substance suspected to be Premium Motor Spirit
The Ogun State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Akinwande Abulowaye, said the men were arrested through information from members of the community and would be handed over to the police to be charged accordingly.
“They will be made to face the consequences of their action,” he said
The road to the vandalised NNPC pipeline seemed rough and impassable about 10 kilometres away to the main road, making easy access difficult.
At the site the commandant, however, advised vandals to end their illegal activities in the region and urged them to engage in legal and lawful means of livelihood.
Pipeline vandalism have become a major challenge that must be tackled by Nigeria’s security agencies, as it has continued to pose a threat to the nation’s oil output which is hugely relied on as a major source of revenue.

Road Accident Claims Six Lives In Yobe

Six people have been confirmed dead in a road accident at Kukareta village outskirt of Damaturu the Yobe State capital.

The Sector Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Farouk Abdallah, who confirmed the incident to Channels Television in Damaturu, said that the cause of the accident was still under investigation but it occurred along the Damaturu-Maiduguri highway.

He revealed that four people initially died in the mishap but later the death toll rose to a figure he could not confirm.
The authorities of Sani Abacha Specialists Hospital in Damaturu told Channels Television off camera that the death toll in the accident increased to six and seven others who sustained various degrees of injuries were receiving treatment at the hospital.
According to the FRSC spokesperson, the bus with number plate Bauchi KTG 473 YG took off from Kano and was going to Maiduguri the Borno State capital when the incident occurred.
He called on road users to avoid over-speeding, use of worn out tyres and to always observe road signs as a measure to check road accidents.
The bodies of those killed in the accident have been deposited at the Sani Abacha Specialists’ Hospital Damaturu, waiting to be claimed by their relations.