Buhari orders release of 10,000 tons of grains

Pays outstanding N600 billion owed to fuel marketers in subsidy payments By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA – As a way of cushioning the effect of poverty and hunger in the land, President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday directed the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh to release 10,000 tons of grains from the national strategic grains reserves for national distribution. The directive was also a counter measure to the current astronomic prices of goods and seeming exploitation within the market system. The president also directed the agriculture minister “to ensure that all the able-bodied men and women in IDP camps be assisted to return to farming immediately.” PRESIDENT BUHARI ATTENDS APC NEC MEETING President Buhari’s directive followed a submission by a faction of the opposition Conference of Nigerian Political Parties,CNPP, that Nigerians under the president’s watch were facing unprecedented hardship. President’s charge was contained in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the president on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu. Shehu in the statement also stated that the president upon assumption of office paid off accumulated subsidy debts of N600 billion owed to marketers. This was as he stated that there were social programmes captured in the 2016 budgets to Bette the lot of Nigerians. He refuted claims that the presidency would allow Nigerians to suffer. The statement read in part: “The Presidency however asserts that the devastation of the economy was caused by the Boko Haram insurgency, corruption and the lack of planning by the past administrations and one that should not be blamed on the Change Agenda of the Muhammadu Buhari administration. “The Presidency firmly rejects the insinuations that poverty and lack are products of the Change mantra. “This should be dismissed as an erroneous and misplaced opposition criticism. The President understands the pain and the cries of the citizens of this country and he is spending sleepless nights over how he can make life better for everyone. “Contrary to assertions by a faction of the opposition Conference of Nigerian Political Parties,CNPP, the President’s energy and focus are on changing the life of Nigerians, with a view to making it better than he met it. “Change is a process. Change does not happen overnight. Change can be inconvenient. Change sometimes comes with pain. Over the past year, the government has been working night and day to deliver on its promise of change to Nigerians, and the painful process is still ongoing. “This is work in progress. As life gradually returns to normal in much of the country and the northeast in particular, agriculture will resume and traders from neighbouring African countries will once again feel safe to do business with us–yet another boost for our economy. “But it Is only when we appreciate where we are coming that we will grasp the full meaning and essence of what the ongoing journey entails.

Buhari spending sleepless nights on how to make life better for Nigerians- Shehu

To check food price increases and exploitation of common people by traders, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered for the release of 10,000 tons of grains from the national strategic grains reserves for national distribution.

This decision was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

Buhari has also directed the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh to ensure that all the able-bodied men and women in IDP camps be assisted to return to farming immediately.

The directives were in reaction to calls for government measures to ease hardship associated with food inflation.


The Presidency however asserted that the devastation of the economy was caused by the Boko Haram insurgency, corruption and the lack of planning by the past administrations and one that should not be blamed on the Change Agenda of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The Presidency also rejected the insinuations that poverty and lack are products of the Change mantra.

The statement reads: “This should be dismissed as an erroneous and misplaced opposition criticism. The President understands the pain and the cries of the citizens of this country and he is spending sleepless nights over how he can make life better for everyone.

“Contrary to assertions by a faction of the opposition Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), the President’s energy and focus are on changing the life of Nigerians, with a view to making it better than he met it.

“Change is a process. Change does not happen overnight. Change can be inconvenient. Change sometimes comes with pain. Over the past year, the government has been working night and day to deliver on its promise of change to Nigerians, and the painful process is still ongoing.

“This is work in progress. As life gradually returns to normal in much of the country and the northeast in particular, agriculture will resume and traders from neighbouring African countries will once again feel safe to do business with us, yet another boost for our economy.”

The Presidency maintained that it is only when Nigerians appreciate where they are coming from that they will grasp the full meaning and essence of what the ongoing journey entails.

Activists ask Buhari to clear Sambisa Forest for herdsmen

A human rights group, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice has asked President Muhammadu Buhari, to go and clear Sambisa Forest which is the hideout of the Boko Haram sect for Fulani herdsmen to graze their livestock.

The Chairman of CHRSJ, Sulaiman Adeniyi, said this in a statement he made available to our correspondent in Osogbo on Sunday.

The group said instead of acquiring land all over the country for grazing, Buhari should clear the Sambisa Forest for herdsmen to graze their animals.

Adeniyi said herdsmen had constituted themselves a threat to the peace of the nation with their atrocities, saying relocating them to Sambisa Forest would be a better alternative rather than starting another crisis with landowners all over the country

The statement read, “The President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government of Nigeria should go and clear the den of Boko Haram sect, popularly called ‘Sambiza Forest’ for its proposed ‘Grazing Reserve Project’ for the Fulani Herdsmen.

“The proposed bill would increase avoidable crisis in the land through the violent resistance across the region of the country. The Fulani herdsmen have become dangerous species across the states of the federation.

“President Buhari should drop the idea of forcing the grazing reserves bill on the states contrary to section 17,18 and 20 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, in order to save the country from imminent violent problem.

“The proposed grazing reserves idea is ill-conceived, illegal, unconstitutional, self-serving, retrogressive, day-light robbery and time bomb which is capable of igniting monumental crisis across the length and breadth of the nation.”

The group called on politicians and international community to prevail on the President to drop the idea, saying it might spark another crisis which would be difficult to solve.

The group also applauded the Amnesty International for exposing
the high rates of alleged human rights abuses of the nation’s security agents in the war against Boko Haram sect,

Adeniyi stressed that Nigeria had lost thousands of civilians because of the alleged excessiveness of the military in the North-eastern part of Nigeria.

Fayose behind fuel scarcity

The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has accused Governor Ayodele Fayose of alleged complicity in the fuel supply crisis in the state.

In a statement by the state Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party said it was in possession of “incontrovertible evidence” that the governor was allegedly contributing to the scarcity of fuel in the state to sabotage the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administrationAccusing Fayose and his aides of mischievously disparaging the President for not doing enough to make fuel available to Nigerians while they were the actual culprits, Olatunbosun said available information confirmed that daily allocations of fuel to the state were allegedly being diverted to other states with the alleged connivance of some National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas officials.

But reacting, Fayose’s Special Assistant on New Media and Public Communication, Lere Olayinka, said the allegation was unfounded, telling the APC to be wise.

“Is it the governor that is also responsible for fuel scarcity in other states? They are only trying to seek relevance. They better face the task of bringing good governance to the people,” he added.

Olatunbosun said available records revealed that 10 trailers of fuel for Ekiti State on Fayose’s request were diverted mostly to stations outside the state.

“The Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Mrs Dupe Alade, had earlier written for same allocation but her letter to NNPC was stepped down when Fayose used his office to request for the allocation of fuel to 10 filling stations, many of which do not exist in Ekiti State.

“The governor’s letter was addressed to the Area Manager at Mosimi and minuted to Ore and was processed by the Ore office of NNPC.

“The trailers were loaded on Wednesday and Thursday the 20th and 21st of April but the real fuel companies and vendors were prevented from loading until the 10 trailers demanded by the governor left the depot but were diverted to other stations outside Ekiti State,” he stated.

Olatunbosun stated that the development reportedly elicited protests and complaints from the real fuel marketers in Ekiti State, adding that this had resulted in acute shortage of fuel in the state with few stations dispensing fuel selling at prohibitive costs to the masses that Fayose claimed to be their friends.

He listed the company names in the letter of the governor to include Amsek Filling Station opposite Omolayo along Ikere road, Ado-Ekiti, that is selling above official price.

“Other stations not in existence in Ekiti State but which appeared in the governor’s letter is Royal Oil, which the letter falsely claimed to exist in Omuo-Ekiti.

“Rova Oil, also on the governor’s letter, no longer exists in Ekiti because it has since been sold and its name changed and it is now operating under NNPC. It is located in Ajilosun area of the state capital and selling above NNPC official price.

“Other non-existent stations in Ekiti but which appeared in the governor’s letter and was allocated fuel is Bisi Jay located in Ile-Oluji in Ondo State.

“The other company that received Ekiti State’s allocation is Ademur located in Osun State. This company has no station in Ekiti and it has no lifting right or permit in Ore, while Eyeowa Fuel that got allocation does not exist in Ekiti,” he explained.

He alleged that Moson Global located in Ifon, Ondo State, also received Ekiti allocation at NNPC official price but selling above official price to the public.

He challenged the governor to deny ever writing to the NNPC for fuel allocation.

“There is need for the security agencies and the Minister for Petroleum to investigate the governor’s activities at the NNPC offices both in Ore and Mosimi and the roles of NUPENG officials in this wicked unleashing of pains on Ekiti people by unpatriotic act to sabotage the Federal Government,” he added.

Man Stabs Girlfriend To Death Over Describing His Small Manhood On WhatsApp Chat

A man who allegedly stabbed his lover to death when he found her chatting on WhatsApp is under police guard in hospital after he also tried to kill himself. It is believed the man got enraged when he checked his girlfriend’s phone and saw that she was telling her best friend about his small p_enis. The message read: ‘Aww shame une pipi elincane’ The 37-year-old man from AA section in Umlazi, who worked in the same building as his dead girlfriend (27), allegedly strangled her first before he pulled out a knife and stabbed her to death on Monday.

suspected that the couple had a heated argument at the girlfriend’s workplace, which is on the fourth floor of a building on Smith Street at the Durban CBD. Witnesses told cops that the man who works at a lawyers’ offce in the building had suspected his girlfriend of cheating on him.

Police spokesman Captain Khephu Ndlovu told reporters that according to what the police were told at the scene, the man had accused his girlfriend of cheating on him. Ndlovu said the suspect reportedly stabbed his girlfriend from Siyanda near KwaMashu to death. “He allegedly first grabbed her by the throat and strangled her before stabbing her once in the chest. She died on the scene.

“After that he tried to kill himself by stabbing himself on the neck. He did not die and was taken to a local hospital, where he is under police guard. Once the suspect has recovered enough, he will make his first court appearance to face a charge of murder,” said Ndlovu.

Soldiers batter female student for late payment of fee

Two soldiers attached to Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, have allegedly battered a female student of the school, Miss Oladokun Leshi Folashade, and denied her entry into the school’s premises to sit her exams.

The incident occurred on April 18, 2016.

It was learnt that the school had asked students to pay a mandatory fee of N5, 000 for the repair of one of the buildings that got burnt in the school recently.

Oladokun, 28, a National Diploma 2 student of Mass Communication, was among over 100 students who could not pay the said sum within the stipulated period and decided to pay cash on the day of the incident.

She was however turned back by the soldiers, who insisted that she would not be allowed to do her exams.

It was learnt that the soldiers pounced on Miss Oladokun and mercilessly flogged her while she pleaded to be allowed to pay the fee and do her exams.

A petition by her lawyer, Mr. Habeeb Whyte of R.R.A & Associates,

has since been forwarded to the Ogun State Governor’s Office, the Ministry of Education, Office of the Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly and National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS).

The petition dated April 20, reads in part: ”Our client (Oladokun Leshi Folashade) informed us on April 19, 2016, that in the early hours of April 18, 2016, she and several other students of the polytechnic were barred and denied access to write the Use of English (GND 201) examination because they had not paid the required sum of N5,000, being a fee that was made compulsory for all students to be paid for the maintenance and replacement of the burnt equipment in the school premises before writing their examinations.

“Our client, having paid her school fees for the session, went to the school premises with the hope of paying her own maintenance fee in cash.

“The said N5,000 was rejected at the entry point on the ground that it was too late for her to pay the fees. She stood at the school gate with other (affected) students of the institution, hoping that the management would collect the said N5,000 from her and allow her write her examination.

“She pleaded profusely but that did not attract the mercy of the management of the institution, especially the Rector.” According to the petition, trouble began when the Rector of the school, Prof. Jumoke Awoderu, ordered soldiers attached to the school to use force to disperse the affected students.

“We gathered that the Rector of the school gave an order to the officers of Operation Mesa (a special security outfit of the Nigeria Army) attached to the school to use force to send away her (Oladokun) and other students from the the school’s gate; this was done to spite our client and her colleagues.

“In obedience to the standing order of the Rector by the men in uniform, our client was flogged several times by two men in uniform with wire and the tail end of their guns, making her to sustain injuries.

“She was further dragged on the floor and brutally molested, making her to sustain several injuries on her body.

“This humiliation from the men in uniform attracted other students and members of the community who condemned the arbitrary use of power.

“The men in uniform, having realised the gravity of what they had done, took our client to the office of the Rector and lied that our client was confrontational. The Rector saw this and instead of doing the needful ordered that our client be taken to Tapon Police Station to make statements on what actually transpired between her and the men in uniform despite her bad condition.”

Oladokun, a native of Isara Remo, according to the petition, was said to have been detained at the police station for about 10 hours before she was released, following the intervention of a traditional ruler. The petition added:”It is disheartening that when our client was taken to the police station, she was detained from the hours of 12:30 pm to 10:00 pm until the intervention of His Royal Highness, Oba Beje of Oke Agbo in Ijebu Igbo, who other students of the institution had gone to report the unfortunate incident to.

“The traditional ruler came down to the station and secured the release of our client who at that time had lost a lot of blood.

“Our client informed us that the monarch frowned at the act of the police officers and the school authorities.

“This unfortunate act done to our client is vexatious, callous and a gross abuse of her fundamental human rights and human dignity.

“This is least expected from the top official of an institution and the police. Many a time, acts like these are being swept under the carpet and victims are made to suffer in vain.

“That would not happen in this case. This would be pursued to the highest point of ensuring that justice is done. We implore you to use your good office to investigate this matter and ensure that justice is allowed to prevail.”

The Rector of the Polytechnic, Mrs Bilesanmi Awoderu, told the The Nation that the information it got about what happened to the female student was not correct. Prodded to give what she considered the correct account of what transpired, she declined further comment.

Awoderui, who spoke briefly on the telephone, gave conditions under which she would speak further on the matter. She said she would have to first get clearance from the Ogun State Government to supply information about the issue, asking our correspondent to find a date to come down to the institution’s campus at Ijebu-Igbo once the permission to speak on the issue was granted.

However, further calls and text messages to her mobile phone to knowif she was on campus at the time or

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of Ogun State Ministry of Education, Mr. Kayode Oduyebo, said that he was not aware of the incident or any petition relating to the incident.

In a text message forwarded to our correspondent, Oduyebo said: “This is yet to be brought to my notice”

Recalling her ordeal in the hands of the soldiers, Miss Oladokun said: ”As I was bleeding from the brutality the soldiers meted out to me, the Rector asked them to take me to Tapon Police Station where I was detained for many hours before I was set free after the intervention of Oba Baje of Oke Agbo in Ijebu Igbo.

“As I speak with you I have not recovered from both the injuries sustained and the trauma of the needless attack on me.”

It was learnt that the polytechnic had initially invited Miss Oladokun to appear before the Students Disciplinary Committee (SDC) yesterday, but the invitation was cancelled on Thursday for no clear reasons.

Meanwhile, the national leadership of NAOSS has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the state government to bring the masterminds of the incident to justice.

A statement signed by the National President of the body, Comrade Michael Adewale, said: ”It is disheartening and barbaric that security operatives who are assigned to maintain law and order in the state are the ones molesting and infringing on the rights of Ogun State students.

“The leadership of NAOSS, which is saddled with the responsibility of agitating for the protection of fundamental human rights of its members, is irrevocably stating that we are urging the authorities to use their offices to find justice to this case, as we won’t hesitate to move our national secretariat to Ijebu Igbo and take to the streets across Ogun State in the next seven days.”

Confirming the incident in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, the spokesman of Ogun Police Command, Mr.Muyiwa Adejobi said: “The lady(Folashade) was brought to the station by soldiers attached to OP MESA on the allegation that she incited students against the school authorities.

We incidented the case and handled the matter professionally because she was bleeding.She was not detained but quickly released to the traditional ruler of Oke Agbo community in Ijebu Igbo on bail.

U.S. to mobilise more aid for Nigeria – Amb. Power

The U.S. on Friday pledged to mobilise more aid and support for Nigeria and other countries affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power made the pledge at a Town Hall Meeting with the students and staff of American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola.

Power noted that the current assistance to Nigeria and other affected countries was inadequate in meeting the food and medical needs of the Internally Displace Persons (IDPs), among others.

“When I return to United Nations in New York, I plan to deliver an urgent message to other member states that we together need to do much more to support Nigeria and other affected countries in responding to this immense problem,’’ she said.


Power noted that so far, the U.S. support to Nigeria covered only 13 per cent of the UN requirements in meeting the needs of the IDPs in the country.

She commended the efforts of the Nigerian military to contain the Boko Haram insurgents, citing the soldiers’ latest repel of the insurgents’ attack in Kareto as a feat.

She urged the military to continue the campaign within the rules of engagement by respecting the people’s human rights in the fight so as to garner the citizens’ trust and goodwill.

“This (respect for human rights) is something we had discussed in all our meetings with the leaders in Cameroon, Chad, President Buhari and respective regional militaries,’’ she said.

Power noted that Boko Haram had an unparalleled record in the area of human rights abuses, adding that the U.S. was now very active in efforts to strengthen the Nigerian military’s capacity to perform optimally.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while in Yola, Power visited IDPs camps, addressed a news conference and took time off in the evening to play basketball with the students of AUN.

DPR shuts four petrol stations in Abuja

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Saturday shut four petrol stations in Abuja for hoarding, under dispensing and other sharp practices while selling Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in the city.

DPR Zonal Operation Controller, North Central, Alhaji Mohammed Usman, told journalists while monitoring some filling stations that the agency would continue to sanction those engaging in sharp practices.

Usman said that most of the filling stations visited had products to sell, adding that there was no need for the long queues witnessed in the city.

The Zonal Controller said the DPR had directed that henceforth, there should be no fuel reserve fuel for the so called “special customers.”


Mr. Ademola Abraham, a motorist, at NNPC Beulah, commended the effort of the DPR in ensuring that the products were dispensed fairly.

“We have been here (petrol filling station) since 6:00am, but they refused to sell to us. Yesterday, we saw them discharging products but they refused to sell,’’ he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Student dies after fight at Delaware high school

A 16-year-old girl died Thursday after fighting with other girls in a bathroom at Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington, Delaware, authorities said.
"There was an altercation that initially started between two people, and my understanding is that additional individuals joined in against the one person," said Gary Fullman, chief of staff to the Wilmington mayor.
The student was badly injured and transported by helicopter to A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children, where she died, Fullman said.The fight broke out about 8:15 a.m. as classes started, in a bathroom on the main floor of the school, principal Stanley Spoor said at a news conference. He didn't say what caused the fight. Two students are being questioned by Wilmington police, he said. No charges have been filed yet, authorities said. Wilmington Police Chief Bobby Cummings said it's not believed a weapon was used.
The name of the victim, a sophomore, has not been released. An autopsy will determine the cause of death.
Students at the school were kept in class until 10:15 a.m. and sent home for the day, school officials said. Robocalls were sent to family members, who rushed to pick up their children. Some of them said they didn't know exactly what had happened.
"They said there was a fight," Denise Dinkins told CNN affiliate WPVI. "I don't know. I am just trying to find my grandson."Grief counselors and mental health teams will be available for students "so they have an opportunity to process prior to the weekend break," said Kathy Demerest of the New Castle County Vocational Technical School District.
City officials expressed sorrow at the violence.
"My heart is broken," Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams said at the news conference. "I am so upset that a young lady lost her life today. Things like this shouldn't happen. My heart bleeds for the family, the kids who go to this school and the administrators, and our city."
"This is not only an unspeakable tragedy for her family, but also for the school, and the entire community," said a statement on the school district website. "We express our prayers and deepest sympathy to her family, who need your support and sensitivity at this time."

Civilians killed as air strikes pound Aleppo

Air strikes launched by the Syrian government have killed several civilians and injured dozens in the northern city of Aleppo as the ceasefire between the government and opposition groups crumbles.

At least 20 people were killed across Aleppo and several dozen injured in the attacks, according to sources on the ground.

The strikes targeted four different, predominantly civilian areas in the city, said Zouhir Al Shimale, a local journalist.
"These are all civilian areas, and people were near or at the mosques when the strikes hit," he told Al Jazeera by telephone, estimating that at least 30 civilians were injured in the Bustan al-Qasr area alone.

"The bombardment happened during the Friday prayers. I was on the way prayers when it happened in the al-Mashhad [neighbourhood]. People started going out of the mosque and running.Shimale said Aleppo's streets mostly emptied following the attacks, with people rushing home to avoid being in open spaces.

"People have gotten used to it. They know that at any moment, the regime could strike again."

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, government air strikes also targeted towns across Syria's Idlib province, killing at least three civilians. "

Army Parades Fake Colonel, Three Real Soldiers In Abuja

The Nigerian Army on Friday paraded a fake colonel, Mr Prince Onyemauche and three serving soldiers who until their arrest had indulged in fraudulent activities in different parts of the country.

Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman announced the arrest at a news conference in Abuja, where the suspect was paraded.

According to Usman, the suspect was arrested in Gwagwalada on Feb. 17 alongside three soldiers, including one Staff Sergeant Jacob Philip, by troops of 176 Special Forces Guards Battalion.

He said the suspect had earlier escaped being caught at an Abaji military checkpoint where he claimed to be a colonel in the Nigerian Army.

“The suspect was driving a grey-coloured Toyota Tacoma Pick-up van with registration number Lagos LSD 05 BM at the time of his arrest.

“The suspects were moved to Gwagwalada barracks where a search was conducted on the Toyota Tacoma van.

“Items found in the vehicle include an AK 47 rifle and four magazines, out of which two were empty, while the other two were loaded with 42 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

“Others include a Luger pistol, 21 x 9mm parabellium ammunition, six cell phones, one Samsung galaxy tablet, 12 cheque booklets, six ATM cards and the sum of N1, 011,300,’’ he said.

Usman said investigation revealed that the suspect had been illegally using soldiers as escorts while travelling outside Lagos to his village in Imo and sometimes to Abuja.

He said the arrested soldiers who were travelling with the suspect without official authorisation would be tried through a court martial.

Usman urged the public to be aware that not all persons that claimed to be military personnel were truly so.

Obama’s team in Nigeria to back Buhari’s plans

The United States President, Barack Obama, has sent a 42-member high-power delegation to Nigeria in support of the three priority areas of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Leader of the delegation, Ms Samantha Power, said on Thursday in Abuja that the three areas – security, economy and governance remain the focus of the delegation’s visit to Nigeria.

Power at a joint press conference with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said Nigeria remains a strategic partner to the U.S. not only in Africa but globally.

“As you (Onyeama) indicated, Obama has sent me and members of his cabinet to lead an inter-agency delegation to Nigeria,” she said.

Power, who is U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, said the delegation would reflect on the three pillars of the present administration which are security, economy and governance.

She explained that the partnership is so much bigger and would bear fruits to include other aspects of our partnership.

“It will include dealing with Boko Haram, trade, economic development, the strengthening of institutions and the fight that you the country is waging against corruption.

“All of these are intrinsically central for the people of Nigeria who want to live in a secured environment and dignity and have maximum opportunity.”

According to her, all the other aspects that the visit will cover include focus on critical areas for dealing with the emergency situation, caused by the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast.

She also said the Nigeria-U.S Bi-National Commission meeting, which held in Washington in March, had started yielding fruitful results.

“It’s been a very fruitful dialogue and I think there is a lot of homework that has come out of it.

“And there are a number of issues which I look forward to discussing with you; that’s how we move forward in stronger ways,” she said.

Police declare ex-militant leader wanted over alleged arson

THE Rivers State Police Command on Thursday declared an ex-militant leader, Solomon Ndigbara, wanted for alleged arson.

Ndigbara who hails from Yeghe community in Gokana Local Government, Rivers State, was said to have ordered the burning of a building.

The command disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday by its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Muhammad.

Muhammad explained in the statement that the suspect had, in February 2016, set ablaze a property in Bori, the headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of the state.

The state police spokesman urged every one with useful information on the whereabouts of the ex-militants leader to report to the police.

“The Rivers State Police Command has declared one Solomon Ndigabara ‘m’, a native of Yeghe community of Gokana Local Government, Rivers State.

“He (Ndigbara) is wanted for the alleged arson he planned and executed on 22/02/2016 on a property worth millions of naira in Bori, Khana Local Government.

“He is dark in complexion, about 5.9 inches tall and in his early 50s. His last known address is Yeghe community of Gokana Local Government, Rivers State.

“Any person or group of persons with useful and actionable information as to the whereabouts of the wanted person should report to the nearest police station or call the following Police distress lines; 08032003514,08028915460, 08028915462 and 08160723892, the statement read.

Saraki faces fresh charges for receiving governor’s salary as senator

The Federal Government has amended the charges of false asset declaration preferred against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja.

With the amendment, Saraki will be facing two fresh charges in addition to the 13 counts originally preferred against him, which comprised false asset declaration and maintaining of offshore account while serving as Governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011.

The additional charges, include allegation that Saraki continued to receive salary and emoluments as Governor of Kwara State after the expiration of his tenure and at the same time, from the Federal Government as a senator between June 2011 and October 2013.

The offence is said to be contrary to section 6(a) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. CAP. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 2(a), Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

It is said to be punishable under section 23(2) of the code of conduct bureau and tribunal act as incorporated under paragraph 18, Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

The other additional charge is that Saraki failed to declare to the Code of Conduct Bureau on assumption of office as Governor of Kwara State in 2003, his leasehold interest leasehold in the property at 42, Remi Fani Kayode Street, Ikeja, Lagos.

He was said to have acquired the property in December 12, 1996 through his company, Skyview Properties Limited from First Finance trust Limited.

The offence is said to be contrary to section 15(1)(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, CAP. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 11(1) and (2), Part I o the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

It is said to be punishable under section 23(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act as incorporated under paragraph 18, Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

Our correspondent learnt on Thursday shortly after Saraki’s ongoing trial before the CCT was adjourned till April 27 for further cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, that the Federal Government might further amend the charges before they will be read to the accused person.

Court sends Rivers ex-LG chair back to prison

THE Magistrates’ Court of Rivers State sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered that the former Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Ojukaye Amachree should remain in prison till May 4, 2016 when it will reconvene for the Director of Public Prosecution’s advice.

The Chief Magistrate, I. O. Agbesor, had on Wednesday remanded Ojukaye temporally till Thursday when it ruled on the issue of jurisdiction.

However, at the resumed sitting on Thursday, Agbesor ruled that he lacked the power to entertain the matter, adding that the charges against the accused were capital offences.

But the chief magistrate asserted that he was empowered by the provisions of the Criminal Miscellaneous Procedure Law of Rivers State section 3 and 4, respectively, to remand an accused person pending DPP’s report.

Agbesor, thereby, ordered that the original case file be remitted to DPP while the accused person remained in prison till 4th May for the advice.

“Ordinarily, I would have considered the issues raised by the defence counsel, but based on legal position, Section 3 and 4 of Criminal Miscellaneous Procedure Law of Rivers State, the accused is hereby remanded in prison and the case file be sent to DPP.

“The argument of the defence counsel lacks merit and legal content. So, the defence application is struck out. The original case file be deposited to the court registrar and be remitted to the DPP for advice,” he ruled.

Amachree, who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, was arraigned in court by the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Musa Kimo, for alleged murder of one Mr. Smart Soberekon in his (Amachree) LGA.

Amachree is facing two counts bordering on felony and murder of the Soberekon.

Meanwhile, the counsel for the accused person, Mr. Ken Atsuete, described the ruling of the chief magistrate as wrong.

Atsuete, who spoke with newsmen shortly after the ruling, stressed that it was wrong for an accused person to be remanded without taking a plea.

He disclosed that the ruling of the court would be tested through more legal means.

“The court has given a ruling and the ruling of the court is clearly that a Magistrate Court does not have jurisdiction, but, said never-the-less that he has the power to remand under the Criminal Miscellaneous Procedure Law of Rivers State.

“The magistrate said he has exercised that power and that he has decided to order that the defendant be remanded even though we feel that it is a wrong decision because the plea of the defendant has not been taken.

PDP in anger

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has alleged that a 16-year-old daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari, whose name it gave as Hanan, flew first class on Monday from Abuja to London.
The opposition party said the president’s daughter flying first class smacked of hypocrisy considering the fact that there is a directive banning all cabinet ministers and certain categories of federal government officials from traveling first class.
The PDP made the claim in a series of tweets via its official Twitter handle @PdpNigeria.

Our Change is not One Chance, Buhari assures Nigerians

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended Nigerians for their perseverance while urging them not to lose confidence in the ability of his administration to bring about the change they so much desire.
The president stated this at the 2015 Vanguard Awards in Lagos on Friday night, where he was honoured with the Personality of the Year Award 2015.
The President, who was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that he was keenly aware of the difficulties that Nigerians were facing, especially as a result of the fuel scarcity, poor power supply and inflation.
“As a government that was propelled into office by the power of the people, we cannot but feel the pains of our compatriots, and we deeply empathise with them.
“We are working round the clock to ease the pains of Nigerians, and the effort of the government has started yielding fruits.
“We seek to make the petroleum products available nationwide, restore gas supply to the power generating firms, improve the economy and put Nigerians back to work,’’ he said.
The president said that he understood that Nigerians had started questioning whether this indeed was the `Change’ they voted for.
He said that some had even gone as far as saying that by voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigerians had entered “One Chance’’.
“Well, I can tell Nigerians that our change agenda is real, and that indeed, they will get the change they voted for.
“Nigerians have not entered ‘One Chance’, because the ‘One Chance’ drivers and their conductors have been driven out of town.
“Change is a process, and that process has begun. The pains of today are temporary, and will soon give way to abundant joy as we put our country firmly on the path of sustainable growth and development,’’ he said.
The President said that all Nigerians, the civil society organisations and the media were the real heroes of the last general elections and the country’s democracy in general.
He commended the media for the role it played in ensuring the relative success of the last general elections and the resilience of the nation’s democracy since the beginning of the Republic.
“When the history of the last general elections as well as our democracy is eventually written, I have no doubt that the media will occupy a prominent place on its honour’s list.
“This is not a surprise because there is no contesting the fact that from the pre-independence years through the years of independence, the various attempts at democratic governance and the years of military interregnum, the media has stood solidly on the side of the people.
“It has fought for the national interest without compromising its integrity,’’ the President said.
In bestowing the honour on the President, the Vanguard described him as “a living example of what tenacity, fortitude, and perseverance meant in human experience.’’
“Until future experience proves otherwise, Buhari is the closest yet that Nigeria will have to America’s Abraham Lincoln,’’ it said.