Releasing Nnamdi Kanu will save Nigeria from more troubles –MASSOB

THE spiritual leader of the Move­ment for the Actualization of Sover­eign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and International Coordinator of Biafran Christian Movement (ICBCM), Ndubuisi Igwekani, has said that more calamities would befall Nige­ria if the Federal Government con­tinues to detain the leader of the In­digenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

He warned that if anything un­toward happens to the IPOB leader, Nigeria would be on flame, adding that the African continent would not contain whatwould happen if he dies in prison.

Igwekani stated this after an emer­gency meeting of Biafran Christian Movement yesterday, calling on the international community to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to release Kanu to go for medical treat­ment. “Federal government has no power to continue to detain Nnamdi Kanu after a court of competent ju­risdiction had granted him bail. We want to call on President Buhari to release Nnamdi Kanu with imme­diate effect because we are running out of patience. They should release Kanu to go for medical treatment and if anything happens to Kanu Ni­geria will be on flames and we will not take it lightly with the leaders of this country,” he threatened.

He dismissed Ohaneze Ndigbo as a knocked engine and called for a new platform to represent the voice of the Igbo nation. His words: “Ohaneze Ndigbo which is the mo­tor that carries the entire Igbo na­tions presently has knocked engine by delving into politics. We are call­ing on the Igbo nation to come up with another platform that will chart the cause of Igbo socio-cultural af­fairs because the present Ohaneze is as good as dead and will soon be buried.

“The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not speaking the minds of Igbo nation. Look at what happened last week during their Exco meeting in Enugu when they were allegedly attacked as they were allegedly shar­ing money probably given to them by politicians.”

“We know that Igbo are suffering in this country and we need leaders who are not politicians who will speak on behalf of Ndigbo in this country which the Ohaneze Ndigbo has failed to do. We need people that can speak on the social cultural in­terest and not politicians.”

He lamented further: “The roads in Southeast zone are nothing to write home about. They are death traps and Ohaneze is not saying anything about it, they are after their pockets. We describe the gathering of Owerri as gathering of politicians who are looking for contracts and we will never associate ourselves with such Ohanaeze leaders.”

He also urged the people of the old eastern region who are now in the South-South not to be deceived by the enemies in the land that they are not part of Biafra, calling on them “to remain steadfast and come together to chart a new course for Biafra state where they belong.

Restructuring ‘ll end Nigeria’s problems, Atiku insists

HE roaring din for self de­termination currently rocking the nation and demands for restructuring to stem the tide, yesterday rang high at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Me­morial Hall, Kaduna. A rare as­semblage of leaders of northern extraction, including President Muhammadu Buhari dissected the sore issue and tacitly sought for a less costly means of dous­ing the flame. They spoke at the memorial conference in honour of former military gov­ernor of the defunct northern region, the late General Hassan Usman Katsina. Buhari urged Nigerians to make use of the 1999 constitution to fight for their rights, instead of toeing the line of illegality in their agi­tations

The president spoke as spe­cial guest of honour.

He stressed that the constitu­tion contains all necessary por­tions that guarantee the rights the people should enjoy.

Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Interior, Ab­dulraman Dambazau added that Nigerians, particularly northerners, should emulate the virtues of General Katsina.

He said, “Nigeria has come a long way as a democratic na­tion. So the rights of all Nige­rians are in the 1999 Constitu­tion. They must abide by the constitution to achieve what­ever goals.

“I call on all elected persons to give good governance to the people, Nigerians deserve good governance.

“My leadership is improving on security, fighting corruption; Boko Haram insurgency has been brought under control.

“We must unite as a nation for national integration; emu­late virtues of late General Has­san Usman Katsina.”

Former vice president, Al­haji Atiku Abubakar hit the nail on the head when he said that it will be better for Nigeria to be restructured than to go to war with the various agitating groups in the country before allowing them to realize such agitations. Atiku, who has been consistent in his call for restruc­turing contended that “whether we like or support it or not, re­structuring will eventually hap­pen in Nigeria.”

He further canvassed the idea that, to either restructure or allow the agitators have their way in a peaceful manner, a National Conference should be convened by the Federal Gov­ernment to allow every part of the country come to a roundta­ble to negotiate how to go their separate ways as brothers and sisters doing business together in the environment.

He spoke on the topic, “The challenges of national integra­tion and survival of democracy in Nigeria”. Dwelling more on national integration, the former vice president, and twice presi­dential aspirant described it as the process by which different components of a country, with economic, political and cultural links, develop a sense of na­tionhood, of unity, of oneness, of interdependence, irrespec­tive of their different histories, experiences, ideologies, and cultural values and practices. He, however, regretted that “as a country we have might­ily struggled to live up to this ideal. We have obviously not done enough to realize national integration, and the survival of our democracy is still a work in progress. The cost to us has been enormous. We even fought a civil war to forcibly keep the country together.” Re­viewing the pervading socio-political climate, he observed “that different segments of Nigeria’s population have, at different times and sometimes at the same time, expressed feelings of marginalization, of being short- changed domi­nated, oppressed, threatened, or even targeted for elimination.” These agitations and misgiv­ings, according to him have always been met with vari­ous measures which include “ the creation of states from the earlier three(and later four)re­gions to the current 36 states; a civil war, and other military operations in different parts of the country at different times; federal character principle; changes to revenue allocation formulae, National Youth Ser­vice Corps; federal takeover or establishment and manage­ment of schools, universities, hospitals, and huge federal presence in the economy as an investor. Others include the excessive centralization and concentration of power at the federal level and the weakening of the federating states; and amnesty for repen­tant ex- militants of the Niger Delta. He said these measures have failed woefully, leading to a fragile unity, unstable de­mocracy and more grievances. Atiku blamed the failure of the policies on “sectional interests and sentiments.” Accusing the Nigerian state of inflicting con­flicting policies on the people, Atiku cited the requirement of state and local government of origin rather than residency for access to government services and jobs.

He blamed the pervading belief among many Nigerians that the greatest beneficiary of the status quo is the North on their knee- jack resistance to calls for restructuring, the reliance on oil revenue which comes from outside the North, the leading role it played in the civil war, and northerners being the heads of government at the national level for much of the post independence period un­til 1999, during which period much of the current structure was put in place. He deplored the pervading poverty in the North, the bankruptcy of most of the states that depend on federal allocation to survive, alarming school dropouts, dwindling agricultural output, and obsolete way of herding in the 21st century as some of the ills plaguing the North. He em­phasized the inevitability of re­structuring the country, saying

“The question is whether it will happen around a confer­ence table, in a direction influ­enced by us and whether we will be an equal partner in the process. Or will it happen in a more unpredictable arena and in a manner over which we have little influence? It should be at a table and we need to be at that table.

“A nation is an organism; it grows, it evolves, it changes, it adapts. And like other or­ganisms if it does not adapt, it dies.” Expatiating further on restructuring, Atiku said; “those who argue that restruc­turing of the polity won’t be necessary once we diversify the economy are mistaken.

“As long as the Federal Government remains overly dominant relative to the fed­erating states, it will continue to matter which section of the country captures federal power with its attendant instability.

“And as long as the Federal Government keeps the bulk of oil revenues for itself, its desire and will to provide the leader­ship needed to diversify the economy will continue to be limited.”

He extolled the virtues of the late Usman Katsina and the role he played in fostering the nation’s unity, regretting that his efforts in that direction should not be in vain, because Nigeria’s unity is currently un­der severe stress. Calling on statesmen to rise up to the chal­lenge and proffer solutions, he said “We cannot tell a person who says he feels pain that he does not feel pain.”

This was even as former military head of state, retired General Yakubu Gowon, who was the chairman on the occa­sion said that the Nigerian mili­tary did not see Biafran fighters during the war as enemies, but rebels fighting a cause they be­lieved was right.

Gowon said it was this perception of seeing them as rebels rather than ene­mies that forced the Federal Government to integrate the Biafrans into the federal sys­tem without a carryover of animosity.

In his speech, a former vice chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Zaria, Pro­fessor Ango Abdullahi said the northern region can no lon­ger guarantee the unity of the country because, it has paid its dues in doing so since the era of the premier of the North and Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ah­madu Bello.

He said those Nigerians who are saying that Nigeria can’t be divided are actually making a mistake, stressing that the country is very divis­ible in the face of current ava­lanche of agitations and sepa­ratist tendencies.

Indonesia execution: FG begs for mercy

The Federal Government has appealed to the Republic of Indonesia to temper justice with mercy by commuting the sentence of remaining three Nigeria put on death row. Indonesia executed four convicted drug traffickers, including three Nigerians, early on Friday as it pushed ahead with its “war against drugs”, although another 10 scheduled executions were delayed.

 The appeal was made yesterday when the Ministry of foriegn Affairs summoned the charge d’ Affairs of the Embassy of Republic of Indonesia. The Federal Government In a statement made available to the press yesterday said, “ though three of them have since been executed, we are still pleading on behalf of the remaining three. As many as 14 people were originally set to face the firing squad together on Friday, but officials decided a “comprehensive review” was needed to “avoid any mistake” in the 10 cases, Attorney General H. Muhammad Prasetyo said. The date for the next round of executions has not been set, Prasetyo told reporters in Jakarta.

Naval officer shoots okada rider in Kogi • Prosecute culprit, NOPRIN tells Navy chief

The Network on Police Reform in Nigeria has called for an investigation of Navy Commander Otuh Bassey, who shot an okada rider, Muhammed Idachaba, in Idah, Kogi State. Idachaba was shot by on Tuesday, 26 July, 2016 after Bassey allegedly frog-matched him and told him to kneel as punishment for claiming right of way with the naval officer who was riding an SUV.

In a report by NOPRIN describing “the inhuman and degrading treatment and shooting of a motorcycle rider,” it was learnt that the motorcycle rider was riding from Sabon Gari area of Idah when Navy Commander Bassey, who is said to be the Assistant Commandant of the Idah Naval Post attempted to shove him off the road with his Pathfinder SUV.

The group said in a statement signed by its National Commander, Okechukwu Nwanguma, “Because the road was bad, the motorcycle rider felt that the Naval officer was trying to manoeuvre through the potholes. “A little distance ahead, the okada rider met the same Naval officer parked by the roadside and as he passed, the Naval officer entered his vehicle and gave chase. He double-crossed the okada rider and forced him to a stop. “The Naval officer, who was carrying a girl in his SUV, came out from his car and ordered the okada rider to park his bike, and he obeyed. He ordered him to kneel down and he also obeyed, and he then ordered him to frog-match.”

NOPRIN said information it gathered showed that the encounter took a different turn when it became apparent that the punishment being meted out to the okada rider was for a past grievance.

The Naval officer reportedly asked if the okada rider remembered what he told him during the last state assembly re-run election at Ogegele.

NOPRIN said the Naval officer told his victim “that he promised that he was going to waste him any moment, and that the time has come. “At this point, the Naval officer drew his pistol and started to shoot the boy and that he shot him several times until the boy fell in a poll of his own blood. “Believing that the okada rider was dead, the Naval officer entered his SUV and drove to a motor park where he dropped off the girl he was carrying in his car and left.”

NOPRIN learnt that unknown to the Naval officer, a plain-clothe policeman witnessed the incident nearby. The policeman would later trail Bassey to the motor park. As soon as the naval officer dropped off his female passenger, the policeman arrested her and took her to the police station.

 “The girl then called the Naval officer from the police station and informed him about her arrest. He arrived at the police station and made statement claiming that he did not shoot the boy on purpose,” NOPRIN said. That the okada rider was taken to Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja. But the medical centre workers were on strike. He is scheduled to go for surgery on Monday August 12, 2016.

NOPRIN said it considers the action of the Naval officer, a gross abuse of power and disgraceful to the image and professional integrity of the Nigerian Navy. The group has now called on the Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ekwe Ibas, to investigate Bassey for his conduct. It says the Naval officer has to be dismissed or handed over to the police for prosecution.

Spokesperson for the Navy, Commodore  Christian Ezekobe, was not available for comment on this case on Friday as his line remained unreachable as of press time.

Police rescue another chained child in Ogun as culprit flees

The Ogun Police Command has rescued   another child, 10-year-old Promise Udeh, found chained in a house at Saraki, Adigbe area of Abeokuta, Ogun State. She was rescued on Thursday around 7.30 pm when neighbours living close to the building where she was chained alerted the police.

Promise as at the time she was found

She was rescued barely a week after the police and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps rescued a nine-year-old boy, Korede Taiwo, chained by his father, Francis, for over a month for stealing.

The father and his step-mother, Kehinde, would soon appear in court.

The acting Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said Promise was chained by her aunt, Chiamaka Okafor, who accused her of stealing N4,000. She was said to have been chained for two days (Wednesday and Thursday) before she was rescued. Oyeyemi said Chiamaka is currently on the run but her husband, Sunday Okafor has been arrested.

Narrating how the police found the child, the police spokesperson said, “We had an information that the girl was chained to a burglarproof window at an uncompleted building at Adigbe area and this led our men to the scene. “The girl told us that it was her aunty who chained her on the allegation that she stole a sum of N4,000. The woman is now on the run, while her husband, who is an accomplice, has been arrested and he is helping us in our investigation.”

Chiamaka, however, escaped arrest on Friday around 4pm, when the Divisional Police Officer of Adigbe led a team of policemen and journalists to the home of the Okafors, tucked in the inner part of the area. On sighting the police team, she allegedly fled through the backdoor, leaving behind her four children including a baby of about six months. One of them, Godwin said,”our mummy has gone to buy baby food.”

A frantic search for her in the neighbourhood did not yield any positive result. However, three of the Okafors’ relatives and a tenant who occupied the boys quarters in the house, were arrested.

The tenant, Segun Poviesi, who’s a Beninese, said the landlady (Chiamaka) was still in the house, barely few minutes before the arrival of the police team. He said, “She was still around about two minutes before you arrived here. I could hear splash of water from the bathroom of the main building. But I did not know how she escaped.”

But his fiancee, Omotoyosi Odu, confirmed that Chiamaka, who is the landlady, indeed chained Promise, adding that she was starved for the two days before she was rescued. She told the policemen that the victim was first chained to burglarproof iron in the Okafors’ kitchen, before she was later transferred to a room in the uncompleted part of the boys quarters. 

She said, “At a point, when the girl was chained to the window in the kitchen, she was crying out to me that ‘I should please give her food.’ Other neighbours too heared her cry.

“Then the landlord had left home for their shop at Pansheke Market. Later, the girl was moved to the boys’ quarters and chained again. Some of us tried to intervene but she warned us to steer clear, because it was none of our business.” It could not be established whether Promise is a relation of the Okafors or a housemaid.

Meanwhile, Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the new state Commissioner of Police, has ordered the arrest of the fleeing suspect,Chiamaka, who allegedly chained the victim.

He said, “The Commissioner of Police, IIiyasu Ahmed, has ordered a manhunt for the fleeing woman in order to bring her to justice, so as to serve as deterrent to others. “The commissioner of police is not happy with the situation barely a week after one Korede Taiwo was equally rescued from similar situation. “The matter is under investigation and the police is after Chiamaka Okafor. As soon as we complete the investigation, they will be charged to court.”

Promise has been moved to the welfare home, Stella Obasanjo Children’s Home, Ibara GRA, Abeokuta.

Photos of two Nigerian children crying after their mother died in the Mediterranean on their way to Europe

Two unidentified Nigerian siblings aged 11 and 10, were rescued in the Mediterranean on Friday after losing their mother while on a dangerous journey to Europe.

The heartbreaking photographs of the boy and girl by Associated Press were published by Dailymail as  they sobbed and comforted each other aboard a rescue boat.

According to Dailymail, the children were part of 150 migrants rescued by an NGO’s boat while trying to make the journey from Libya to Europe aboard an overcrowded craft.

A leading migration group had said more than 3,000 people had died while trying to cross the Mediterranean this year, nearly a 60 per cent increase from this time in 2015.

The latest rescue came after Italy on Thursday launched a hard-hitting campaign on the Internet, TV, radio and social media to warn African migrants of the many dangers they face in trying to reach Europe..

UNICEF resumes aid to northern Nigeria after convoy attack

UNICEF will continue to provide assistance to millions of conflict-affected children in northeast Nigeria, despite an attack on its convoy by Boko Haram Islamists, the UN children’s agency has said.

The jihadists ambushed a humanitarian convoy that included workers from UNICEF, UNFPA, and IOM while returning from Bama in northeast Borno state on Thursday, injuring several people, including two soldiers, and prompting UNICEF to temporarily suspend relief assistance to review the situation. “We are working at full strength in the Borno state capital Maiduguri,” UNICEF Nigeria Representative Jean Gough said in a statement late Friday. “We continue to call for increased efforts to reach people in desperate need across the state. We cannot let this heartless attack divert any of us from reaching the more than two million people who are in dire need of immediate humanitarian assistance.”

The agency urged donors and humanitarian organisations to scale-up the response to the emerging disaster in Borno state, the epicentre of Boko Haram’s seven-year insurgency. “The violence has disrupted farming and markets, destroyed food stocks, and damaged or destroyed health and water facilities. We absolutely have to reach more of these communities,” he said.

UNICEF estimates that 244,000 children will suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year in Borno state alone. And if they are not reached with treatment, one in five of them will die.

The agency has provided two million people with health services and treated 56,000 children for malnutrition in the three conflict-affected states of northeast Nigeria. Thursday’s attack was the first such attack on aid workers in the volatile region.

Nigerian military said the attack left two soldiers and three civilians injured, including UN aid workers. Some cities in the northeast, including Bama, had gone for up to 18 months without any humanitarian deliveries before aid agencies and the UN arrived in June. Many areas can only be accessed under escort from the Nigerian army.

In May, the UN said 9.2 million people living around Lake Chad, which forms the border of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger, were in desperate need of food. Seven million of them are in Nigeria.

Boko Haram, which seeks to impose strict Islamic law in northern Nigeria, has been blamed for some 20,000 deaths and displacing more than 2.6 million people since 2009

Reps say no need for external probe of Dogara, others

Members of the House of Reps Committee on Appropriation said yesterday that there was no breach whatsoever in the 2016 budget process that would warrant the probe of Speaker Yakubu Dogara, his deputy Yussuf Suleimon Lasun, chief whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa and minority leader, Leo Ogor. Addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, deputy chairman of the committee, Rep Chris Emeka Azubogu (PDP, Anambra), who was accompanied by eight other members of the committee, said the allegations levelled against the quartet by the former chairman of the committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin, were all lies

Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara

.A new group in the House known as ‘Transparency Group’ comprising of over 100 members, had on Wednesday called for an external probe into the matter and that anybody found wanting should be punished. But the appropriation committee members insisted that there was no need for that.

Jibrin had following his sack last week alleged that Dogara and the other three leaders tried to force him to insert projects worth N40 billion for them in the budget, among other weighty allegations.

However, the lawmakers said they were dismayed and disappointed by Jibrin’s conduct and allegations since his removal, saying he was the one who perpetrated all the irregularities in the budget. They also alleged that Jibrin “hijacked” the budget process and single-handedly ran away from them only to return after weeks with a report on the budget. “We wish to state that we totally disassociate ourselves from all the calculated plot to pull down the integrity of the leadership and members of the 8th House of Representatives.”

They said following Jibrin’s action of “hijacking” the budget, they approached the Speaker with complaints and demanded the former chairman’s sack.

While calling on Jibrin to tow the path of honour and conduct himself in a manner befitting of a lawmaker, the legislators said they were “solidly in support of Mr Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers of the House of Reps.”

APC wins Imo North Senatorial rerun, 2 state constituencies

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr Ben Uwajumogu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of Imo North Senatorial District rerun election held on July 28.

Uwajumogu scored 56,076 votes to defeat Mr Athan Achonu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 43, 815 votes. Prof. Arinze Agbogu, the INEC Returning Officer for Imo North Senatorial District, who announced the result in the early hours of Friday, said the outcome was a summation of scores of July 23 and that of July 28 exercise.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that Uwajumogu, had scored 48,921 on July 23, while Achonu, of the PDP, scored 40, 142 votes which made INEC to declare the rerun inconclusive. Agbogu said that available data before him showed that Uwajumogu had majority of lawful votes cast, and therefore returned elected for the Imo North Senatorial District.

Similarly, INEC declared Mr Nkenna Nzeruo of the APC winner of Oru East State Constituency, while Mr Collins Chiji also of APC was declared winner for Isiala Mbano State Constituency.

The two state constituencies’ elections were equally declared inconclusive due to reported cases of violence that marred the exercise in some communities in the two areas on July 23. Uwajumogu told journalists in Owerri that he was highly elated over the victory, adding “my gratitude goes more to Gov. Rochas Okorocha whose structure helped me to win this senatorial election’’.

Remove, probe Justice Okon Abang for judicial rascality – PDP youths beg NJC

Following the ruling of Justice Okon Abang, which sacked the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, youths of the party have called for the removal of the Federal High Court judge. The youths, under the aegis of Peoples Democratic Party National Youth Forum, PDPNYF, urged the National Judicial Council, NJC, to as a matter of “urgency” remove the judge and further “probe him for judicial rascality.”

Juatice Okon Abang

Aside ruling that the Makarfi-led committee was illegal and could not conduct any function on behalf of the party, Justice Abang also barred the caretaker committee from conducting the National Convention slated for August 17 in Port Harcourt. The committee has however insisted on proceeding with the convention.

The National Coordinator of PDPNYF, Usman Austin, while reacting to the pronouncement of the judge in a statement, also appealed to the immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan, to mediate in the crisis currently bedeviling the opposition party.

According to the statement, “The judiciary must not be a place where anyone runs into and hide his misdeed, it is now clear that justice Okon Abang has turn his own arm of judiciary to be a rubber stamp for anyone who can afford the bid. “We ask all concern sundries to wave into this judicial rascality exhibited by justice Okon Abang before it eats deep into the marrows of our democracy, he is not only a threat to democracy but also a threat to human right and stain to the bench.

“PDP is a family and each time it has internal misunderstanding the said justice Okon Abang dives in to set fire on a fresh wood, it is alarming how much interest he picks on matter that concerns the PDP.

“The manner and mode in which judgements are obtained from justice Okon Abang is an abuse to constitutional rights… it is very unfortunate, the same he did in the Abia governorship election case. We totally say no to this act of using his office to stain the countries judiciary and making it a laughing stock. “We therefore call on the National judicial council to as a matter of urgency remove Justice Okon Abang and further probe his ill judicial rascality and constitutional doctoration to save our judiciary as well democracy.

“The PDP youth are as a matter of urgency call on concerned advisory bodies like President Gooduck Jonathan to come into this lingering matter and save this party from the hands of scoundrels who seek to shortchange it for their self interest.”

FG to generate 6,000 megawatts of electricity by December 2016 – Fashola

The Federal Government has promised to generate 6, 000 megawatts by December 2016.

It said based on the measures put in place, the target was achievable. The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola gave this assurance during a visit by delegates from the International Monetary Fund, IMF, in his office. 

Fashola, who was represented by the Minister of State Power, Works and Housing, Hon Mustapha Shehuri, insisted that the Buhari-led administration will not rest until it achieved the target of power generation, address infrastructural decay in the sector and a sustainable economy. 

According to the Minister, the government through its unveiled Road Map to Power will tackle the decay of infrastructure via a holistic approach.

“We are expecting that our generating capacity will be over 6, 000 megawatts by end of 2016, 10, 000 in 2019, and 30, 000 megawatts in 2030, as planned within the maxim of incremental, stable and un-interrupted power”, he stated.

The Minister further pledged that with the recent steps taken by the government to exploit the abundant solar energy in the country by the signing of the Power Purchase Agreements, PPAs, with 14 companies in nine states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, the feat would be achieved.

How I rejected a former Governor’s N405m brief to launder funds abroad – Falana

Human rights lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has revealed how he rejected a N405 million from a former governor to help him launder funds abroad. Falana made this disclosure at an anti-corruption workshop in Abuja. This revelation was contained in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) monthly magazine, ALERT.

Femi Falana

Falana was quoted as saying that “The governor asked me to assist him in transferring money abroad, and that I should claim it to be proceeds from sale of his property in Nigeria. “And the price was extremely attractive. He was going to pay me a million pounds then, when money was money. “The governor said he had chosen me for the shady deal, because ‘nobody will suspect you.’

“I told him, ‘Your Excellency, so it is my reputation that you want to buy with your one million pounds? “Some of my colleagues thought I was stupid, but those who accepted the offer later found themselves in trouble, as they were arrested and humiliated. They were only lucky not to have been charged to court.”

He advised lawyers against being used by politically exposed persons.

He added that: “Lawyers have a paramount role to play in the fight against economic and financial crimes, as they are the ones usually employed by well-heeled members of the society to help perfect documents for illicit transactions, and to cover up their tracks.”

Falana faulted the ruling of Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which held that Section 5 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 could not be applied to lawyers.

The judge in the ruling restrained the Federal Government, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), from enforcing the section as it relates to legal practitioners

Some ministers are squatting in Abuja, says Amaechi

Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, says some ministers are currently squatting in Abuja, adding that they are living like most Nigerians. Speaking to Osasu Igbinedion, on The Osasu Show, Amaechi, who recently launched the Abuja-Kaduna railway line alongside President Muhammadu Buhari, said the rail line would make housing cheaper in Abuja.

“Listen to me; do you know that ministers, as we are talking now, some of them are squatting? We are living in conditions equal to that of most Nigerians,” he said. The minister said Nigerians can now live in Kaduna and work in Abuja, while paying less for accommodation in Kaduna.

“For those who don’t have houses, they’re able to rent houses at a cheap cost in Kaduna as against that of Abuja. It also impacts the savings; you have disposable income in your hand. It also impacts on agriculture, agricultural produce, you can transport easily and it will impact on cost of production because at that point, you’re able to move the cargo at a cheaper cost. “And then whatever comes out of production, will be sold to the people at a cheaper cost. So basically, it has economic importance that would at the end of the day, impact on the socio-economic entities of Kaduna and Abuja.”

‘BUHARI WILL SACK ME IF THERE’S EVIDENCE OF CORRUPTION

The minister said accusations against him are baseless, adding that those calling on Buhari to sack him need evidence to achieve their aim. “You know I have said I several times, if I was to be the governor, and I have evidence against them, I would go to court. “Okay, I’m at the court of appeal as former governor and I said ‘can I see the report that says I was indebted’? Till today, they’re not able to produce the report so the case is not able to go on because judges of the court of appeal say ‘we can’t go on except we see the documents to base our judgment on’. “Till today, Rivers State government is not able to produce the document. So if a man is corrupt, don’t go to radio and TV, produce the evidence.

“No Nigerian is thinking about it; oh Buhari should sack Governor Amaechi he’s corrupt, provide it, he doesn’t need to sack me. What will sack me is to provide the evidence in court; the president will have no choice but to relieve me of my position.”

WIKE-AMAECHI PEACE DEAL

When asked about the truce with Nyesom Wike, his successor, Amaechi said he had no comment.

“No comments. No, no comments. This interview is about minister of transportation and nothing more,” he said, going on to talk about his “zero-tolerance” for crime. “I served as governor for eight years. Let one person come forward and say Amaechi supervised the killing of somebody or hired political thugs to go and kill somebody or hired political thugs to disrupt a meeting,” Amaechi said.

“From when I started politics in 1987 till now, I’m looking for the person. In all these madness going on in Rivers State, have you read anywhere in the newspaper where my name is mentioned about killings? “First, I’m a Christian, I believe that only God can create human beings and if you take life, it is irreplaceable and there is no justification, whether political or religious or anything that can make you take life. If you do that, first, the law should come after you, secondly, your God should judge you.”

A lady is SUG president in northern Nigeria for the first time in 30 years

Amina Yahaya has achieved the feat of becoming the first female student union leader in northern Nigeria — for the first time in more than three decades. Asides breaking the norm of male leadership, Yahaya, a 400 level student of English, is also the first woman to lead the students of Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto state.

Aisha Yahaya

Najatu Mohammed, prominent activist and politician, became the first SUG president of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, more than 30 years ago. She is believed to have contested the post and won in the early 80s, which earned her the record of the first female to lead a student union in Africa.

Speaking to the BBC Hausa service, Yahaya said she didn’t always get the support of her female colleagues. “When it comes to leadership issues we [women] are own enemies”, the new student union leader said. “We don’t support one another mostly because some of us assume that ‘women are arrogant’ so I won’t support her. When I came to this university, there was only one female professor in my department. She’s been my role model.”

Yahaya, who was elected vice president of the school’s union in September 2015, took over the office on Wednesday after the impeachment of the elected SUG president.

On Wednesday, Umar Faruk Sai’d, the former student union leader, was impeached after getting a ‘no confidence’ vote from the legislative arm of the student assembly. Sai’d was accused of abusing the provision of the union’s constitution by withdrawing N200, 000 from the coffers without approval, among other alleged misdemeanours.

In the interview with BBC, Yahaya further disclosed her aspiration to go into national politics in the future and possibly break more glass ceilings.

In May, Lauretta Obakpolo, another female 400-level Pharmacy student, was elected president of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

Obakpolo beat five other candidates to win the election with 2,283 votes.

Nigeria’s women relay team thrown out Rio after failing dope test

Nigeria’s women’s 4x400m quartet has been disqualified from Rio 2016 by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Tosin Adeloye

 Nigeria’s medals prospect in the track and field of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, diminished by one when Tosin Adeloye, a member of the team, tested positive to banned substance at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Super Grand Prix/Warri Relays which took place in Warri, Delta state, on July 24, 2015.

The quarter miler, who has now been banned for eight years, was a member of the Nigerian quartet that placed fourth at the IAAF World Championship in Beijing in August 2015.

A baby is the sole survivor of a fatal accident in Enugu State

According to Abia Facts Newspaper, the fatal accident occurred five hours ago hours ago at Udi LGA of Enugu State. The vehicle belonging to Royal Mass Transit somersaulted several times. All the occupants died except the baby pictured held by a passerby.

Baby who survived the accident held by a passerby

Stephen Keshi's son expresses disappointment over FG's unfulfilled promises to honor his father

Stephen Keshi Junior, son of former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, took to his IG page yesterday to express his disappointment at the Federal government's unfulfilled promises to honor his father at his father's funeral rites which kicked off in Benin city Edo state yesterday July 28th. He wrote:

"I sat in front of the federal government on national television a few weeks ago and they promised they would honor pops the way he deserves. They said that he has done too much for the country for them not to. They made us change dates to fit the federal governments schedule. But they didn't do as promised, we aren't mad, nor sad, just disappointed, they should be ashamed of themselves.

 This sends a terrible message to our youth that are striving to do great things for Nigeria. The good thing is that We was raised not to ask for handouts. There will be no more postponements, today the funeral ceremonies began in Benin, the place he loved, where his career started. My sisters, brother and I held it down, with the help of a few others, and now we are putting our pops to rest. We don't owe anyone shit and we can say they owe pops everything. No salt, it is not the people's fault, we still love Nigeria as pops did" he said

National Convention still holds on August 17th- PDP insist

PDP says their party convention slated for August 17th in Rivers state will still hold despite  yesterday's court order by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High court, stopping the convention. Read the party's press statement below:

The Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, CON has reacted to the Ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday July 28, 2016, presided over by the controversial Judge, Justice Okon Abang describing it as objectionable, questionable and very strange to say the least in the history of Nigeria Judiciary.

The Party in a statement by its Spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye declared that what Justice Okon Abang did today is to Seat on an Appeal over the Court of competent and coordinate jurisdiction and that’s what makes his Interlocutory Order very strange. The Judgment of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt was very clear that the National Caretaker Committee was duly constituted and recognized; and in line with that, the scheduled National Convention for August 17, 2016 still holds.

We have just received information that Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an Order of Interlocutory Injunction stopping our scheduled National Convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, but we want to state that the Judgment of the 4th of July, 2016 supersedes any Ex-Parte Order or Interlocutory Injunctions. So, our National Convention will hold as scheduled in Port Harcourt, Rivers State” Prince Adeyeye said.

Let Nigerians recall the two former Judgments before the Port Harcourt Judgment, declared that Senator Sheriff is not qualified to be a National Chairman given that the PDP Constitution 2014 which he claimed brought him to power is not in existence and therefore, null and void.

The PDP wants Nigerians to know that Justice Okon Abang is deliberately engaging in acts of derailing the Country’s democracy given the fact that his Court is not an Appeal Court that can set aside any Judgment. He has penchant for abuse of court processes and actions of legal impunity. This Judge Nigerians will recall, issued Judgment against the Governor of Abia State that led to INEC re-issuing another Certificate of Return to a man who did not contest election thereby causing unnecessary hardship on the people of that State. He also issued an Order to INEC to recognize Senator Sheriff’s candidates in Edo and Ondo states before they could even plan their purported congress in Edo.

In today’s Case, this same Judge out rightly denied the PDP representation in Court which is unheard of by serving the Plaintiff (Sheriff & Co.) who instituted the Case also as PDP (defendants). His excesses are extremely absurd, strange and unbecoming of a Judge who enjoys putting the Judiciary on the spot. We therefore bring this matter before the highest level of Judiciary in the Country to stop this Judge forthwith from waging war against the PDP.

We are equally calling on Nigerians and the international community to compel Nigeria Judiciary to address Justice Abang’s excesses before he kills our hard earned democracy.

However, the Party is law abiding and therefore, will apply for Stay of Execution of this Order and also Appeal it.

Finally, the Party calls on all its members and teaming supporters nationwide to remain calm and law abiding and be rest assured that the PDP National Convention will hold as scheduled and all preparation towards the August 17, 2016 National Convention remains the same.

Signed:

Prince Dayo Adeyeye

Member, National Caretaker Committee

Nigerian man allegedly hacked into bank's electronic mail in Ghana and stole money

 A Nigerian man identified as Godwin Onwuneme Udu was arrested at Haatso, Ghana on July 19, for allegedly hacking into a bank’s electronic mail and stealing  GH¢25,000. The deputy director in-charge of the Unit, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Eugene Nyavor, said the management of the bank (name withheld) arrested and handed over Godwin to the police.

Godwin Onwuneme

Godwin allegedly transferred the cash from the customer and transferred it into his personal account at a different bank. He was nabbed by the police and bank officials on his way to withdraw the money from his bank at Haatso.

 It was also revealed that he been operating with other gangsters and have engaged in another fraud case also being handled by the Documentation Fraud Unit at the police headquarter in Accra.

 According to ASP Nyavor, the suspect hacked into the bank’s email account and transferred the money from a customer’s account into a different account. The bank noticed the fraud and mounted surveillance, which led to his arrest at the Haatso branch of the bank where he had gone to withdraw some money using a check book. He has provisionally been charged for stealing and is being prepared for court.

ASP Nyavor urged banks to consult expects to monitor their control systems to save them from any financial losses.

"Bankers must also ensure that they get authorization from customers before huge sums of money are given out, even when the bearer has a check book,"  he said.

18 year old man convicted for stabbing Nigerian man to death in the UK

18 year old Kaleb Amponsah (left), has been found guilty of the stabbing to death, 27 year old Ade Afariogun (right) which took

place on January 29th this year. On the day of the incident, Ade was in Plaistow Park with three female friends when they noticed Amponsah ride his bike past them on several occasions and staring aggressively at them.

As Ade was leaving the park, Amponsah confronted and started an argument with him. A scuffle ensued during which the two exchanged punches.

Ade's friend attempted to intervene by pulling Amponsah away but Amponsah produced a large knife from his waistband, ans stabbed Ade in his stomach twice. So brutal was the attack, that Ade received a 12cm injury to his abdomen. He was rushed to Royal London Hospital, but despite the best efforts of medical staff, he died during the early hours of Monday 1 February.

Immediately after the incident, Amponsah fled from the scene, leaving Ade bleeding on the ground. In his haste, he left behind his bike and mobile phone. This proved vital in the investigation as detectives were able to retrieve his DNA from both. After leaving the park, Amponsah called a friend and went straight to his address a few streets away from the murder scene. There he stayed for less than 20 minutes before getting a taxi to a street near his home address. He returned to his home for a brief period, changing his clothes in the process. He then took a second taxi from a nearby location to a friend who lived locally, where he spent the remainder of the afternoon.

On February 5th, Amponsah was arrested at his home address. Searches at the property revealed the clothing worn by the killer, and a large knife concealed within his mattress in his bedroom. At the court hearing yesterday July 28th, Ade's step-dad, Kay Oluwa, said he had completed qualifications and was due to start a new job just days after he was stabbed to death by Kaleb Amponsah.

In a family witness statement, Mr Oluwa, wrote: "Ade was a great big brother to my two younger boys. He had committed crimes but he had done his time and was moving forward with his life. He has been snatched away from us and for what?" Mr Oluwa said Ade had been imprisoned for “horrible crimes” but that he had used his time in prison to study and focus on his career, after telling his parents he wanted to “change his life”. He added: “He was due to start work the Monday after he was killed. I can never explain to you what it is like as a family to receive a call like the one that we got on January 29 and I truly hope none of you ever have to experience it. My wife has been emotionally destroyed; she cannot process what has happened and we can’t talk to each other about it. The strain on our marriage as a result is huge. Neither of us are emotionally strong enough to cope and this trial has been devastating and placed a new cloud over us. My younger two sons are numb, upset and angry all in one. I have had to be strong for them but I am finding it hard. We may never know the true reason but I do know that Kaleb Amponsah has shown no remorse, shows no understanding of what he has done to our family and is a danger if he can kill someone over something so minor as a wrong look."he said

A UK detective who spoke on Amponsah's arrest said "Five months after the original charge, Amponsah admitted being responsible for the fatal stabbing but claimed he had acted in self-defence after the victim attacked him. Thankfully the jury saw through this unlikely scenario, recognising this for the needless and cold-blooded murder it was.

The park where this took place is well used by a wide range of borough residents and the local community should feel reassured that this type of attack is an extremely rare occurrence. Ade was in the park with friends when he was killed for reasons that we have been unable to ascertain.

He was well loved by his family and friends, who miss him very much." Amponsah will be sentenced at the Old Bailey in the week commencing August 15th.

Source: metpolice/ EveningStandard

Watch ambassadorial nominees who failed to recite National Anthem, Pledge

Russian woman beheaded on first date with a man she met online

A 22-year-old Russian woman named Kristina Medvedeva was beheaded on her very first date with a man she met online. Kristina, a shop assistant in the Russian city of Ekaterinburg, was seeking for love on the internet and reportedly described her relationship status as 'actively searching' on one social media site.

Russian Media say she was known to be active on at least one dating website. She shared a flat with a friend, and had gone on a first date with a stranger on 24 July, the day she was murdered.

Her badly mutilated body with her head almost totally severed was found on the shore of a lake close to a residential area, three days after she was last seen. Reports say there was no evidence that she had been raped and the police have also not been able to track the man she was with from her internet history

Alleged Turkish coupists own schools, hospitals in Nigeria –Envoy

The Government of Turkey on Thursday said it had alerted the Federal Government to the existence of schools allegedly owned by suspected terrorists and want them shut down. Turkey said it had officially notified the Nigerian government “to the existence of 17 of such schools in Nigeria, which bear the name of Turkey” but were not owned by the European country.

The country said the institutions, which ranged from schools to hospitals, were allegedly owned by the Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organisation allegedly founded by Fethullah Gulen.

The Turkish government, which stated that the country did not own any school in Nigeria, said similar schools established in Turkey had been shut down.

A document released by the Turkish embassy listed the indicted schools and institutions as Surat Educational Limited, Abuja; Nigerian-Turkish International School, in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Yobe, Ogun and Lagos; and the Nigerian-Turkish Nile University, Abuja.

Others, according to the embassy, are The Association of Businessmen and Investors of Nigeria and Turkey/Abinat, Abuja and Lagos; Ufuk Dialogue Foundation, Abuja; Nigerian-Turkish Nizamiye Hospital, Abuja; and Vefa Travel Agency, Abuja.

The Ambassador of Turkey to Nigeria, Mr. Hakan Cakil, while speaking to the Vice- Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Shehu Sani, when the latter paid the diplomat a visit at his Abuja office, allegedly that the owners of the schools sponsored the recent coup in Turkey.

Sani was there in company with select journalists, including our correspondent.

According to the ambassador, confessions by the coup plotters, who are currently under investigation, have indicated that the same syndicate which hatched the botched July 15, 2016 coup, own the schools in Nigeria.

Cakil said the organisation and its investments had enjoyed wide acceptance by the public in Turkey until suspected coupists confessed to using the organisations for terrorist activities.

The ambassador said, “You may be aware that the Government of Turkey has started to investigate the sponsors of the coup and it is now very clear that Gulen was behind the coup. There are some testimonies we have taken from the military officials.

On the schools in Nigeria, the envoy said, “In Nigeria, they have 17 schools; some of them are in Kano, Abuja, Lagos, etc., and they are offering scholarships to their graduates. They are not Turkish government schools. The schools bearing “Turkish” are schools belonging to Fethullah Gulen.

“We are starting a legal process to take the name “Turkish” out of the name of the schools. They are not the schools of the Turkish government; they are misleading the public.

The ambassador alleged that the universities were used to indoctrinate international students including Nigerians by the group. He added, “I have already contacted my counterpart in Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and I have already requested officially, both orally and written, for the closure of these schools. Also, I have informed Mr. Geoffrey Onyema and Mr. Abba Kyari on this subject, requesting their support on closing down the schools,” he said. The diplomat noted that his country had attached “too much importance” to the issue.

Sani, in his response, said the Nigerian government would first investigate the allegations before acting on them.He said, “Those issues you raised are issues someone like me will like to pursue to the end. We cannot claim to be a democracy and harbour people who will overthrow government in another country.

But when contacted, the Director of Press and Public Communication, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Clement Aduku, said he was not aware of the letter by the Turkish mission. “I have not seen any such of communications yet, but will find out from our principals if they have seen or received any update on the matter,” he said in an SMS.

Bricklayer abducts two children, sells three-year-old for N1, 500

A suspected child abductor, Ola Ibikunle, has been detained by the police after he was caught with a four-year-old girl in the Oyero area of Ijoko, Ogun State. It was learnt that Ibikunle, a bricklayer, had held his victim, Eniola, by the neck and was about to strangle her in an uncompleted building when he was caught by passersby.

Ola Ibikunle

 The suspect, who confessed to have stolen a three-year-old boy and sold him for N1,500, was later handed over to operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Agbado Police Division.

Our correspondent gathered that Eniola and her 11-year-old sister, Opeyemi, were following their father, Segun Quadri, to a church in Ijoko around 2pm on Tuesday. The father was said to have gone some distance ahead when the suspect ambushed the children and abducted Eniola. The victim’s sister, Opeyemi, reportedly raised the alarm which caught the attention of some passersby.

The suspect was reportedly met in an uncompleted building while trying to strangle the girl. An angry mob had beaten him up before the police arrived on the scene. Ibikunle, who hails from Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, told our correspondent that Eniola was his second victim. The suspect, who spoke in Yoruba, confessed to have stolen a three-year-old boy around the Ijoko area sometime in June and sold him to a man in the Sango area for N1,500.

He said, “I am a bricklayer, but I use child abduction to augment my wages. A man in the Sango area contracted me to always get children for him. I don’t know what he uses them for. Last month, I abducted a boy of about three years and sold him to the man for N1,500. “This girl (Eniola) was the second child I would abduct, but I did not succeed.” The victim’s father, Segun, said he and the children were already late for a church programme on that day which made him to walk faster than them.

He said, “The incident happened around 1pm on Tuesday. We had a programme in our church and we were late. Since Opeyemi is older, I thought they should be able to find their way to the church. “I had gone some distance ahead when some people called me that Opeyemi said her younger sister had been abducted. She said the abductor escaped with Eniola to an uncompleted building and she led us there. We met him holding her by the neck.”

A police source told our correspondent that efforts were being made to apprehend the buyer of the abducted children. “The suspect has confessed to the crime and he stated that he sells his victims to a man in the Sango area. But he has yet to mention the name of the kingpin. Some operatives followed him to the area twice, but he did not lead them to the man’s house. We are going to ensure that we track him down,” the source said.

The Ogun State acting Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the suspect would be further investigated. He said, “It is a case of suspected child stealing. The police were able to arrest the suspect with the help of residents. The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, has directed that the suspect should be transferred to the command headquarters for a thorough investigation.”

Police Inspector detained for allegedly stealing plantain

A police inspector attached to the Railway Police Command, Ebute-Meta, identified only as Joseph, has been detained for allegedly stealing bunches of plantain. PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspect was arrested on Tuesday while trying to hide the plantain in two trucks.

It was learnt that a senior police officer in the command ordered his detention and his arraignment for the crime. A source at the command, however, said another senior officer pleaded with the officer that the suspect be released as the incident could embarrass the command.

He said, “The inspector is attached to the Railway Police Command. On Tuesday around 12pm, he went to the commissioner’s lodge and harvested plantains without any authority. As if that was not bad enough, he brought two trucks into the command to take the plantain away. He wanted to cover up the plantains with some iron sheets so that he could take them through the gate without being detected.

“He was on this when some workers at the Railway Command called the attention of the authorities to it and he was arrested.” Another source told PUNCH Metro that the superior officer of the suspect pleaded for his release. He said, “The matter is still on. The senior officer who pleaded that he should not be prosecuted explained that the action could dent the image of the command.”

The Commissioner of Police, Railway Police Command, Pius Imue, however, said he was not in Lagos, adding that he could not comment on the incident.

He said, “I have been in Abuja since last weekend for the inauguration of the Abuja-Kaduna railway line, so I haven’t been on the ground to know about the incident. And if this happened in the command, officers who were on the ground would have attended to it.”

I may stay away from government after this ministerial appointment- Amaechi says

Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, says he might stay away from government at the end of his current appointment. Speaking at a meeting on corruption organised by the ministry of justice, the former speaker and governor of Rivers state lamented the “deliberate attempt” to link public office holders to corruption.

Rotimi Amaecchi

 Denying the allegations of corruption against him, Amaechi said while in Rivers, he was transparent and did not embezzle money meant for the people. He also denied the allegation of Nyesom Wike, his successor, that he received over N3.1 trillion during his tenure as the state’s number one citizen. “I feel that after this ministerial appointment, I should do everything possible to stay away from government because in spite of all the forms of transparency I introduced in government, one man could begin to tell lies to Nigerians and Nigerians believe him,” he said.

“The governor of Rivers state said I squandered N3 trillion. I did not receive up to N1.8 trillion as governor both from IGR and funds from federal allocation. So, how could I have squandered money I did not even receive in the first place? You can see the politics of lies and lies.” Amaechi said transparency in the use of public funds was a major factor during his administration.

He said as governor, and the people of Rivers  were briefed periodically on how funds were being utilized, adding that the state became the first to implement the bureau of public procurement (BPP) act. Amaechi said this helped in putting government’s activities under scrutiny. “If you had followed the Rivers state government when I was governor, we were the first state to introduce the public procurement law in the country. The state cabinet used to call the director-general of public procurement in the state as an alternative governor, that they wanted an amendment to that law,” he said. “The reason they wanted amendment is that he (DG) refused to increase the threshold to one hundred million naira, per ministry, instead he reduced it to 10 million naira.

“I had a battle with him (DG BPE) and the world bank who insisted that we should not go for an amendment but should persuade him to increase the threshold. I remember the cabinet tried to go to court against him and I remember that he was also trying to go to court against commissioners.

“In fact, the procurement DG wrote a memo that I felt was very incriminating requesting that since the law requires the governor to take any commissioner who doesn’t comply with the public procurement law to court, I should please take the commissioner of education to court for not complying… Everybody in the cabinet felt that he was an alternative governor, they felt that he was slowing the process.”

UN suspends humanitarian aid to Borno over Boko Haram ambush

The United Nations has “temporarily suspended” humanitarian missions to Borno state, the nerve center of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. A humanitarian escort duty and Nigerian soldiers were on Thursday ambushed and attacked by Boko Haram insurgents. The convoy which was en route Maiduguri from Bama, included staff from UNICEF, UNFPA, and IOM.

A UNICEF employee and an IOM contractor were injured in the deadly attack which was managed and repelled by troops of the Nigerian Army

According to Sani Usman, the Nigerian Army spokesperson, the terrorists were hiding in Meleri village, a few kilometres from Kawuri. “The gallant troops however, successfully cleared the ambush and exploited up to Afunori,” Usman said. “Unfortunately, 2 soldiers and 3 civilians were wounded in the ambush, among whom were staff of United Nations agencies and other international humanitarian organizations. The wounded have been evacuated to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri and they are in stable condition.”

UNICEF regretted that a humanitarian convoy was attacked while “returning from delivering desperately needed humanitarian assistance.” “UNICEF can confirm that a UNICEF employee and an IOM contractor were injured in the attack and are being treated at a local hospital. All other UNICEF, IOM and UNFPA staff are safe. “The convoy was in a remote area of northeastern Nigeria, where protracted conflict has caused extreme suffering and has triggered a severe malnutrition crisis. This was not only an attack on humanitarian workers. It is an attack on the people who most need the assistance and aid that these workers were bringing. “The United Nations has temporarily suspended humanitarian assistance missions pending review of the security situation.”

Also on Thursday, the United Nations Security Council harped on the need to increase military cooperation between West African countries to fight against Boko Haram. The UNSC acknowledged the progress made in the implementation of the Joint Multinational Force and urged member states to “improve cooperation and military coordination in the region, refuse harbouring Boko Haram, facilitate the restoration of the rule of law” in towns liberated form Boko Haram and to “allow humanitarian access”.

I’ll continue talking even if I’m incarcerated, says Fayose

Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, says he will keep criticising the current administration even if he ends up being incarcerated. Speaking on Thursday during a programme on Orange 94.5 FM in Akure, Ondo state capital, Fayose said his silence would make the masses suffer.

He said he has nothing personal against President Muhammadu Buhari, but he wants Nigerians to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

“I don’t hate President Buhari but what I have been saying is truth and he knows I have been saying the truth,” he said. “I was 24 years old when he became military head of state, and that was the same way things were difficult. We queued up before we could purchase essential commodities. “I am saying the truth so that the president can do things that will benefit the people of this country. They want to shut me up, but I will not stop talking… I will continue to talk even in incarceration. If I stop talking Nigerian masses will suffer.” Fayose described his battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a “vendetta mission” by the federal government.

Denying the allegations that he received money from Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), Fayose said he never met Dasuki in person. “I have never seen Dasuki before and I don’t work in his office,” he said.

“They are on vendetta mission. They said I collected money from Dasuki and I have told them that I did not collect a dime from Dasuki. I have N300m in my fixed deposit account in Zenith Bank and I declared it in my assets declaration form. “I have challenged them to publish the statement made to the EFCC by Dasuki where he said he gave Senator Musiliu Obanikoro money to give me or where Obanikoro himself said he gave me money. “Since they have seen that the Dasuki money issue won’t offer them the implication of Fayose that they desperately needed, they are now harassing contractors in the state. But I can assure them that their efforts will come to nothing.”

He also advised the people of Ondo to vote against the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November governorship election.

“Don’t allow the APC to take over this state, if you allow them, your condition would be worse than what you are passing through now, their government would be a disaster for you,” he said. “They have nothing to offer, all they know is propaganda, you can see what is happening in Nigeria now, if you vote for them what they are doing at the national level is what they would be doing here. You can see what is happening in all the states they are controlling. “Look at our condition in Nigeria, our condition is getting worse on daily basis, they have no solution to the economic problem facing the nation currently, yet they say they want to take over your state, I enjoined you, don’t allow them, they have nothing to offer.”