Headmen vs benue: President expresses shock, orders investigation over battle

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered an investigation into the clashes between herdsmen and indigenes of communities in Benue State in central Nigeria. Fulani herdsman with gun A statement on Sunday, by Presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, said President Buhari expressed deep shock at the latest incident during the past week, which led to hundreds of deaths in four communities in Agatu, Benue State. He ordered security agencies to get to the root causes of the problem. “We will act immediately. “We will conduct an investigation to know exactly what happened. The only way to bring an end to the violence once and for all is to look beyond one incident and ascertain exactly what factors are behind the conflicts,” he said. President Buhari stressed that all Nigerians must learn to live together as one, in peace and unity. “We are all one nation and one people. There should not be any reason why Nigerians of any group or tongue cannot now reside with one another wherever they find themselves after decades of living together.” The President further expressed condolences to the government and people of Benue State, particularly the people of the Agatu communities, assuring them that the government would do everything possible to ensure that no such incident ever occurred in their midst again. “Once the investigations are concluded, we will act immediately to address the root of the problem,” he said.

I will rather die in jail than for Ohaneze Ndigbo say Nnamdi Kanu

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB has warned those who are claiming to be representing them, including the members of Ohaneze Ndigbo and its youth wing Ohaneze Youths Wing, in negotiating for the release of its leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu to stop such move, that nobody speaks or represent them, unless such person or persons are designated officers of IPOB worldwide.

The group also said that its leader Mr. Kanu has said that he will rather die in jail that the Ohaneze Ndigbo to claim the glory of his release, saying he has no business with the Igbo Socio cultural Organization.“I will rather die in jail than for Ohaneze Ndigbo claim the glory of my release. ” he said IPOB in a statement signed by its United kingdom spokesmen, Dr Clifford Iroanya and Emma Mmezu, a lawyer said “we are in court and our wish is to expose the fraudulent charge of treasonable felony before the whole world. At the end of this case the corrupt and compromised segment of the Nigerian judiciary will be publicly disgraced. “Our march to freedom is unstoppable; this is something Buhari ought to know. We have come to die for Biafra if that is what it will take to be free. Our resolve should not be underestimated. As our leader will always say, “Nigeria will kill us, we will kill them but in the end we will win” IPOB reaction follows an alarm raised from Enugu yesterday by some of their members that some people suspected to be Ohaneze Ndigbo and their youth wing Ohaneze Ndigbo Youths Wing were impersonating their leaders in Enugu, claiming to be representing them in meeting with some American Officials who were in Nigeria to have a meeting with IPOB on the release of their leader and what they want be done to them for peace to reign, which they said needs their designated officers presence and contribution, but they were not informed, but the people went ahead to speak for IPOB when they do not have the powers and authorization of the group to speak for them. Some people alleged to be members of the Ohaneze Ndigbo and Ohaneze Youth wing were said to had met with some Americans, at Nike Lake Resort Hotel between 6pm and 7pm Saturday evening.

NCC wants media to familiarise with Cybercrime Act 2015

Communications Commission (NCC) has urged the media to familiarise itself with the contents of the Cybercrime Act as it affected practice of the profession. The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, gave the advice in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday. Danbatta said that familiarising with the contents of the law would ensure that the professionals did not fall under its punishment. The NCC boss said that the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Detection. Response, Investigation and Prosecution of Cybercrimes and other Related Matters) Act 2015 was an Act of Parliament, which had become law. He said that the Act was assented to by the former President Goodluck Jonathan, on May 15, 2015 and reads: “It is therefore imperative for those in the New Media to familiarise themselves with the contents of the law as it affects their practice. “The Act does not encumber the freedom of expression as enshrined in the constitution; rather, it seeks to protect those whose freedom may be damaged by the freedom freely expressed by others. “Section 24 of the Act deals with Cyber stalking and also prescribes punishment for `Any person who knowingly or intentionally sends a message or other matter by means of computer systems or network’, which, among others, he knows to be false. “This might be for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to another or causes such a message to be sent. “The person commits an offence under this Act and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine of not more than N7 million or imprisonment for a term not more than three years or to both such fine and imprisonment.’’ Danbatta said that the Act shared out responsibilities to the various Information and Communication Technology (ICT) stakeholders, including cybercafé operators, financial institutions and telecom service providers. “Section 38(1) expected a service provider to keep all traffic data and subscriber information as may be prescribed by the relevant authority, for the time being, responsible for the regulation of communication services in Nigeria, for a period of two years. “Part 11 &111 of the Act deal with Designation of certain computer systems or networks as critical national infrastructure and offences and penalties for damaging such critical infrastructure, respectively.’’ Danbatta said it might be interesting to juxtapose this part of the Act with Section 1 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 1975. “The Criminal Justice Act provides stiffer penalties for damages to telephone communication works, electricity transmission lines and oil pipelines and enables armed patrols to arrest any person committing an offence under this Act. “It will be interesting to juxtapose the two Acts and see how they work together to protect telecommunications infrastructure. “Therefore, media professionals should help to canvass the position of the Law and bring needed attention to the severity of the offence and how willful destruction of these facilities impact negatively on the country in all ramifications,’’ the NCC boss said. In the statement, the commission said it was aware of the pervasive influence of the Social Media and had responded by setting up an Online and Special Publications Unit, which was domiciled in the Public Affairs Department. The commission said part of the responsibilities of the unit was to engage those who employ the New Media on their platform to publish the commission’s activities online and in real time. According to the commission, it streams its activities live on social media platforms such as twitter, Facebook and YouTube, in order to reach the online community.

PDP, APC lose members to SDP in Ondo

Hundreds of the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress members in Ondo State on Sunday defected to the Social Democratic Party in Ode Irele, the headquarters of Irele Local Government Area of the state.
The defectors said they decided to join the SDP because they were tired of their former parties which they said had allegedly neglected them, saying the state government too had abandoned their area in terms of developmental projects .
Leader of defectors and women leader of the PDP in the local government, Mrs Ibidun Balogun said ” many of us sold our goods and farm produce particularly to support this government of PDP but at the end of the day, it was neglect, backstabbing and victimisation while they also levied us with heavy taxes and unfavourable policy.
“As of today, there are no meaningful developmental projects in Ode Irele and our people have been left in their own fate particularly on the total electricity blackout going to two years in the community and the southern part of the state”.
Welcoming the decampees, the National Chairman of SDP, Chief Olu Falae, said the image of the Social Democratic Party has started soaring higher in the state since the official defection of Dr. Olu Agunloye with thousands of supporters to the party.
Falae, who was represented by the party’s senatorial chairman (South),Mr. Lekan Adeodu, said the party was keenly ready to contest and win with a landslide in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Earlier, the governorship candidate of the party , Dr. Olu Agunloye, said with the defection of the former PDP and APC members to the party, the SDP remained unbeatable in the race to the government ‘s seat, expressing optimism that he would be the next governor of the state.
He advised the new members to get prepare for a neighbour-to-neighbour campaign in order to get massive support for the party ahead of the governorship election.

I won’t pay N5,000 to those who don’t work – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has ruled out the possibility of his government paying N5,000 monthly allowance to unemployed youths in the country as promised by his party, the All Progressives Congress, ahead of the 2015 presidential election.

Buhari’s new position is contrary to the stand of many of his officials who have at different times claimed that the fund to implement the promise had already been provided for in the 2016 Budget currently before the National Assembly.

The President who is currently on a one-week official visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar however made it clear in Saudi Arabia during an interactive session that he could not be paying those who do not work.

He said he has a “slightly different priority” from the position of his party on the payment of the unemployed which he described as a “largesse.”

The President said rather than paying the unemployed, his administration would build infrastructure and empower able-bodied men to work.

“This largesse: N5,000 for the unemployed, I have got a slightly different priority.

“I would rather do the infrastructure, the school and correct them and empower agriculture, mining so that every able-bodied person can go and get work instead of giving N5,000 to those who don’t work,” Buhari declared.

The APC, which defeated the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the March 28 presidential election, had promised during its campaign that if elected to the central government, it would pay N5,000 monthly to 25 million jobless youths as well as introduce a free school feeding programme.

Appeal court truck crushes man, two sons to death in Edo

Tragedy struck at Ofumwengbe in Ovia South West local government area of Edo state at the weekend as a truck crushed a father of five and his two sons.

Mr Joseph Adeke, a farmer. and his two sons 15-year-old Jeffrey and Ovie (13) were crushed by a truck owned by an Abuja Federal Court of Appeal.

“The man went to pick the children who were in SS1 and JSS1 of Evergreen School, a private school in Ofumwengbe, and was on his way home when they were run over by the truck.

“They were riding on a motorcycle and the truck, which was carrying some papers (documents) had brake failure and the driver lost control,” an eyewitness told our reporter.

The driver of the truck, whose identity was not immediately known, was arrested and taken to Iguobazuwa division of the Nigerian Police.

Attempts by our reporter to speak with the Divisional Police Officer was abortive as he was said to be “unavailable” when our reporter visited the station on Sunday afternoon.

The truck, which was sighted at the station premises, had its plate number removed.

The grief-stricken mother and wife of the victims, Mrs Helen Adeke was too devastated to speak.

But a member of the grieving family, Mr Tony Odoyibo, confirmed the report in a telephone chat with our reporter.

Odoyibo described the incident as “a grave loss to the family. The two children are the oldest sons.”

Our reporter’s attempt to get confirmation from the Commander in charge of Okada Junction of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) was abortive.

Although he promised to get back to our reporter, the commander was yet to return our call over one hour later before press time on Sunday.

FG probes EFCC, ICPC, Pensions over N1.3tr revenue

The federal government has resolved to trace the whereabouts of the over N1.3trillion said to have been recovered from treasury looters by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Also to be investigated is the whereabouts of the N80billion and assets seized from corrupt public officers by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences and Commission (ICPC) and Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT).

It has consequently raised three committees to find the money.

The committees were constituted by the Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), The Nation gathered yesterday.

Specifically, the panels will find out what became of the assets and cash recovered from the late Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, one time Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, and pension thieves.

Well placed sources said the panels are expected to reconcile the records of the EFCC, ICPC and the Pension Task Force in arriving at their conclusions.

According to one of the sources, the presidency opted for the committees to enable it have a “true picture of the recovery records of the anti-graft agencies.”

He said the government was concerned that “politics is creeping into the whereabouts of the assets and cash got from looters.”

“All the committees are multi-agencies, including the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Nigeria and anybody managing remittances from these anti-graft agencies.

“The committees will also consider court judgments, assets seized abroad and cash and assets under Temporary Assets Forfeiture Clause.

“The committees will interact with present and past heads of anti-graft agencies and Pension Task Force. The government is not after maligning anybody or group but it is out to streamline records and present the real situation to Nigerians.

“These are more or less purely fact-finding committees to resolve all lingering issues on the status of the recovery by these agencies.”

Responding to a question, the top source said: “For instance, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said it has so far recovered over N80bn looted funds.

“The funds include N23b funds stashed in 40 banks across the country by looters. ICPC has also received over 4,497 petitions with 899 concluded, while 470 are still pending in court.

“These committees will locate all these funds, how much has been utilised and for what purposes. This will require going through remittances into the Federation Account.”

The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) confirmed the setting up of the committees last night.

The International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) recently issued a Red Alert on the former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, giving the relevant security agencies to arrest Maina in any part of the world.

The Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr.Wilson Uwujaren, said Maina was wanted for his alleged role in the fraudulent biometric contracts through which he and former Head of Service, Steve Oronsaye and two others allegedly mismanaged over N2billion of pension funds.

Maina was on July 21, 2015 charged alongside Oronsaye, Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited before a Federal High Court on a 24-count charge bordering on procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretence.

While Oronsaye and two others were in court and pleaded not guilty to the charge, Maina is nowhere to be found.

However, on July 21 when the court heard the bail applications of the accused persons, Maina through his counsel, Esther Uzoma told the court that he was not at large, claiming that the EFCC had never invited him.

The setting up of the committees by the federal government is coming on the heels of the Senate’s declaration of the immediate past Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde wanted over the whereabouts of the N1 trillion which the agency recovered from treasury looters

At its plenary session on Thursday, the Senate directed its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to issue a warrant of arrest on Lamorde to compel him to explain the whereabouts of the money in EFCC’s custody.

One Dr. George Uboh had petitioned the Senate to probe the matter.

Uboh, Chief Executive Officer of Panic Alert Security Systems (PASS), had alleged that EFCC under Lamorde short-changed the federal government in the remittance of funds and properties recovered from the late Alamieyeseigha and a former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun.

The anti-graft agency, according to him “has descended into the abyss of corruption and financial crimes.”

He added: “EFCC operates accounts in banks to warehouse recovered funds, which do not reflect in EFCC’s audited accounts. EFCC doctors and manipulates bank accounts to conceal diversion of funds.

“EFCC releases recovered funds to unidentified persons and EFCC officials. EFCC moves funds from its recovery accounts to EFCC operations accounts from where it diverts same.

“Over 95% of EFCC’s recoveries in foreign currencies, other than those from multinational companies, have been diverted.

“EFCC trades with recovered funds through bank deposits and placements.

“EFCC colludes with real estate companies in order to grossly undervalue seized assets before there are sold to their cronies.

“EFCC has not accounted for offshore recoveries.

“Over half of the assets seized from suspects are not reflected in EFCC exhibit records.”

Uboh claimed that the amounts of money recovered by the EFCC from Alamieyeseigha and Tafa Balogun were at different times falsified by officials of the agency with a view to perpetrating fraud.

Lamorde, a senior police officer, is yet to be arrested.

He is currently attending the Senior Executive Course 38 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies at Kuru, near Jos.

When reporters approached him at the institution on Friday to respond to the Senate’s decision to have him arrested, the former EFCC boss said he would have to get a clearance from his bosses at the Police Headquarters to say anything on the issue.

However, his lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, had earlier asked the Police authorities disregard the Senate threat to arrest Lamorde.

He branded the Senate action as “legislative rascality”, and said the police should “resist the invitation to drag themselves into this illegal scheme.”

Keyamo said he has already filed a suit at the Federal High Court seeking an interpretation of the powers of the Senate with respect to investigations.

He said the Red Chamber refused to defend itself in court following which the Committee set up to probe Lamorde was restrained from proceeding with its assignment pending the determination of the substantive suit.

He said: “whilst there is no restriction on the powers of a court of law to issue a Warrant of Arrest against anybody who fails to honour its summons, the Senate’s own rules forbid it to do anything in respect of matters that are pending in a court of law.

“The conducts of the Senate and the committee amount to legislative rascality as they seek to usurp the powers of the judiciary and to undermine its authority. We most respectfully urge the Nigeria Police Force to await the outcome of the matter pending in court before deciding one way or the other about the enforcement of the said Warrant of Arrest, if eventually issued.”

Boko Haram Largely Defeated, Chibok Girls Will be Rescued – Buratai

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has said the Nigerian military has entered mop up phase in the fight against Boko Haram and that it would soon release all captives, including Chibok girls.

Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai said this in Maiduguri while meeting with Borno Elders Forum as part of measures adopted to consolidate on the gains recorded in the counter-insurgency operation.

“We were given three major tasks, and we have made efforts toward achieving two”.
“The first task is to defeat Boko Haram, and I want to tell you that as at today Boko Haram has been defeated”.
“When I say defeat, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there won’t be hitches here and there. We have entered the mop-up stage of our operation”.

“The second task is to support the civil authorities in caring and protecting the Internally Displaced Persons and to help the civil authorities in restoring normalcy and rebuilding those areas that have been liberated.
“It has already commenced in places like Bama, Gamboru Ngala, Baga, Mongonu and most of those areas are deserted because they are afraid that they could be attacked.
“So, we will embark on confidence building to encourage them to come back by assisting the civil authorities”.

He acknowledged the support of the elders and urged them and the entire Borno people to be patient with the military particularly on measures initiated to tackle the insurgents.

He said measures such as the closure of markets and curfews were all taken to address gaps observed in the military operation.
Chairman of the Borno Elders Forum, Amb. Gaji Galtimari appreciated the efforts of the military in containing the menace of insurgency in the north-east.

He said that the military had succeeded in decimating the insurgents to the extent that the regular bomb and gun attacks were limited in parts of the region.

Galtimari said Borno elders were in support of measures adopted by the military in finally ending the menace of Boko Haram and pledged to do more to support the military

President journey to Islamise Nigeria, says Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose Governor Nyesom on Saturday accused President Muhammadu Buhari of mapping ways towards making Nigeria an Islamic nation. Fayose made the allegations while delivering a speech at the inter–denominational thanksgiving held in Port-Harcourt to celebrate the victory of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike after the supreme court ruling. Governor Fayose, who referred to himself as Peter, the rock who cannot be harmed by anyone, announced to the crowd that he had a secret to reveal. He asked those present if he should reveal the big secret about the Buhari led, APC government. After the crowd yelled that he should reveal it, Fayose said: “They have started subtle moves to make Nigeria an Islamic nation, but God will stop them. This was done in 1984, it failed, it would fail again.” To underline an earlier boast that he could not be intimidated by the ruling party, Fayose further stated: “I am not far away, I am in Ekiti. I am Ayo Fayose, Peter the rock, if you hit me you will be in trouble. If I hit you, you will be in trouble.” To substantiate his claim about the President’s plan to make Nigeria an Islamic nation, Fayose said: “Why did five of them go to Saudi Arabia to wait for our man there (referring to President Buhari and state governors), if they don’t have agenda. “The agenda is coming small small, but we will resist it. Nigeria is a free nation where we proclaim the name of Jesus Christ freely, and we believe in Allah for those who are muslims. This nation will not be taken for an Islamic nation,” Fayose said. As a closing remark, the Ekiti State governor went on to declare and “decree” the return of a PDP-led government in 2019.

First s6xually transmitted case of Zika recorded in France

A first case of Zika spread through s6xual transmission has been recorded in France after a woman was infected when her partner returned from Brazil, Heath Minister Marisol Touraine told AFP on Saturday. The case was detected several days ago in “a woman who is not pregnant,” the minister told AFP during a visit to French Guiana, confirming information initially given to AFP by a medical source. The couple lives in the Paris area and the woman is “doing well”, the minister’s entourage said.

Rev King must die by hanging

Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, a.k.a Reverend King ,the General Overseer of Lagos-based Christian Praying Assembly, yesterday lost an eight year legal battle to save his neck from the hangman’s noose after the Supreme Court insisted he must keep a date with the executioner.

The apex court affirmed the conviction and death sentence given to him by the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja, on January 11, 2007 for attempted murder and murder.

Justice Joseph Oyewole, now of the Court of Appeal, had found him guilty of setting ablaze six members of his church on July 22, 2006.

One of victims, Ann Uzoh, died 11 days later in a medical facility from the burns she sustained.

The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, in a judgment delivered by Justice Fatimo Akinbami on February 1, 2013, affirmed the judgment of the High Court.

Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who read the Supreme Court’s lead judgment of the unanimous decision of a five-man bench yesterday said: “Facts of this case could have been lifted from an horror film.”

Reviewing the case before his ruling, Ngwuta said: “It was agreed by parties that the appellant was the General Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly (CPA) with headquarters in Ajao Estate, Lagos. It was also agreed that he had a father-son/daughter-relationship with the victims of the incident. And this is the point where they depart:

“The prosecution’s case is that the appellant accused six of his people (followers) of immoral behaviour. He called them together, beat each of them with hard objects and after the beating, he assembled them downstairs, made them kneel down, hobbled together and he caused petrol to be poured on them, and he struck a match and threw same at them.

“They all sustained various degrees of burns. While five of them escaped. The sixth person, who later died, suffered 65 per cent degree burns. You can imagine what she went through in her last days at the hospital.

“The appellant denied this. But said though he punished them for immoral behaviour, the punishment was different from the incident that gave birth to the charge. He said they (the victims) sustained injuries when a generating set exploded. That was his case. But throughout the proceedings (trial), this mysterious generating set was never produced.

“The trial High Court convicted him as charged. And on each of counts one to five, he was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment which was to run concurrently. On the sixth count of murder, he was sentenced to death by hanging.

“He was dissatisfied with the judgment and appealed to the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and affirmed the judgment of the trial court. And he appealed to this court.

“Twelve issues were distilled from the grounds of appeal. The respondents had nine issues. The nine issues were encompassed in the appellant’s 12 issues.

“I decided to determine the appeal on those 12 issues. I considered each of them and at the end, I came to the conclusion that the appeal has no merit.

“Having considered all the arguments by learned counsel for the parties in addition to the records, I resolve the 12 issues formulated by the appellant against him. Consequently, I hold that the appeal is bereft of merit and it is dismissed. The judgment of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed the judgment of the trial court, is hereby affirmed.

“The prison terms for attempted murder are no longer relevant and are discountenanced in view of the death penalty hereby affirmed. Appeal dismissed.”

King could only be spared from hanging, if the Lagos State Governor decides to commute the death sentence to imprisonment.

UN soldier kills commander in Mali

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali has launched an inquiry after a Chadian soldier opened fire inside a UN base, killing his own commander and a doctor in the unit.

The suspect, who was reportedly unhappy with working conditions, was arrested after Thursday’s killings at the base in the northern town of Kidal.

The UN called it a “revenge attack.”

Chadian soldiers have twice abandoned positions in northern Mali over the last year over unpaid salaries, the BBC reports.

Chad is a key contributor to the UN mission in Mali, which currently has 9,000 troops on the ground.

International troops have been in Mali since Islamist forces seized the north of the country four years ago.

The government of Chad has previously accused the UN of neglecting its troops in northern Mali, saying they are placed in great danger, and lack logistics and adequate food supplies.

A dozen other Chadian soldiers accused of “disobedience” have also been arrested at the same base, AFP news agency reports, quoting unnamed UN sources.

92 Boko Haram members killed in Cameroon

Cameroon’s army killed 92 members of Boko Haram sect and freed 850 villagers in a joint operation with Nigerian forces, the government of the Central African nation said on Friday.

The operation in the Nigerian village of Kumshe, close to the border with Cameroon, was conducted under the auspices of a multinational force fighting Boko Haram, a statement from Communications Minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, said.

“Two Cameroonian soldiers were killed (during the operation) by an accidental mine explosion. Five other soldiers were wounded,” Reuters quoted Bakary as saying in the statement.

He added that the army captured weapons and ammunition and found a centre for production of homemade mines.

There was no immediate comment from Nigeria or independent confirmation of the operation or toll, Reuters added.

Four killed in accidental explosion at Police Anti-bomb Squad Office

Bombs retrieved from Boko Haram exploded accidentally yesterday at the Police Anti-bomb Squad Office in Jimeta, Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

Four people died while scores of policemen were injured. School children were cut by shattered glass.

Crying kids, screaming parents and panick vendors ran for their lives when an officer warned of the possibility of a secondary explosion in Yola’s Jimeta neighborhood. The police station is in a commercial area surrounded by a market, the main prison, a post office, a TV station and two primary schools.

Fire engines and ambulances with sirens blaring arrived at the scene. The office of the Police Anti-Bomb Squad was razed along with nearby buildings in the police complex.

The powerful blast shattered windows for blocks.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that four persons died. According to a statement by Senior Information Officer Sani Datti, the explosion occurred at about noon and the injured persons taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Yola.

According to the statement, nearby Jimeta Primary School, Post Office, old NITEL building and some neighbouring houses were affected.

“The bombs (that exploded) are among those retrieved from Boko Haram,” Deputy Superintendent Othman Abubakar, told The Associated Press. He denied that the bombs were planted.

Rescue officials recovered four bodies and ferried at least 20 wounded children and people to the hospital, according to PR Nigeria, an agency that disseminates government statements.

“I heard a deafening bang,” said Ibrahim Abubakar, a trader whose shop is outside the headquarters of the Jimeta Divisional Police Station. “I saw smoke around the station and over 10 bodies,” he said.

Adamawa State Police chief Mohammed Gazali said the recovered bomb exploded from the store used by the Police Command to warehouse exhibits.

He said most of those affected by the blast were policemen.

“Policemen were mostly affected and we don’t know the actual casualties for now as the place is not yet safe for us to go in,” Gazali said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the explosion also affected the walls of Majalisa Primary School where some pupils were injured.

Commissioner for Information Malam Ahmad Sajoh said the pupils sustained minor injuries and had been treated and discharged from hospital.

NAN reports that the station where the blast occurred contained offices of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Motor Traffic Department (MTD) and the police tailoring section.

The incident has led to hurried closure of markets and schools in the area as residents scamper home fp

Refund N310m for 23 cars, EFCC tells Uche Secondus

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy National Chairman Uche Secondus has offered to return the 23 luxury cars he got from a business associate of the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

But the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) asked Secondus to refund to the Federal Government N310 million, being the worth of the vehicles.

Secondus may however remain in detention for a while because the anti-graft agency is still probing his relationship with an oil baron.

There were indications yesterday that the screening of Secondus’ financial transactions might provide more clues beyond the 23 vehicles.

Secondus was quizzed for hours yesterday by EFCC operatives.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Secondus is still under interrogation because there are fresh clues we are looking into on how diverted oil receipts from the oil magnate were used for logistics for the PDP.

“The Deputy National Chairman of PDP has admitted that he collected the 23 vehicles from the oil baron.

“At a point during the interrogation, Secondus voluntarily offered to return all the vehicles to EFCC. He said he was willing to retrieve the vehicles from the beneficiaries.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “The EFCC has asked Secondus to refund N310million cash being the worth of the vehicles.

“We are actually not interested in the vehicles, as the value would have depreciated. Oil revenue was used to buy these vehicles and we are demanding nothing but the N310million.

“It is left to the suspect to cooperate with our team.”

There were indications last night that Secondus might remain in detention for a while, pending the conclusion of investigation into his activities with the oil baron.

“We will keep Secondus in safe custody. Apart from making refunds, there are other clues we have which require more interaction with him,” the source said.

Asked if Secondus might face trial, the source said: “It is not impossible but investigation is yet to be completed.”

The vehicles bazaar has created shocks in PDP because most leaders of the party were unaware.

A member of the National Working Committee (NWC) said some of the party’s leading lights were just hearing for the first time that vehicles were given to the party by an oil baron. “The revelation is shocking,” he said, adding:

“The way some leaders of the party hijacked the campaign machinery is baffling. At least, some of us did not get from these vehicles”.

The former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, was still in Lagos as at last night in continuation of interrogation on “some funds received from NIMASA”.

Another EFCC source said: “The team managing investigation on NIMASA is yet to release him. I think he has a lot to answer on funds got from NIMASA. Badeh will remain in Lagos for a while.”

The EFCC is yet to vacate the restriction order on Air Chief Marshal Badeh’s accounts and those of 17 other military chiefs detained over the $2.1b arms deals.

The EFCC source said: “The investigation of these former and serving military officers is still ongoing. The restriction order on their accounts is yet to be vacated.”

Some of those affected are the most senior Air Force officer, AVM A. M. Mamu (the Chief of Administration); AVM O.T.Oguntoyinbo (former Director of Production, Defence Headquarters); AVM R.A. Ojuawo (Air Officer Tactical Air Command, Makurdi; AVM J.B. Adigun(former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting in NAF); and AVM JA Kayode-Beckley(Director, Armament Research in Air Force Research and Development Centre); AVM T Omenyi (MD, NAF Holdings), four top officers at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) – Air Cdre. A. O. Ogunjobi; Air Cdre. G.M.D. Gwani; Air Cdre. S.O. Makinde; Air Cdre. A.Y. Lassa and Col. N. Ashinze , who was the Special Military Assistant to the ex-National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

Senate orders arrest of ex-EFCC boss

The stage may be set for the arrest of immediate past Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde over alleged financial crime and corruption.

The Senate Thursday asked its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to comply with relevant Sections of the Constitution that empowered it to issue a warrant of arrest on Lamorde for refusing to appear before it when invited.

The 11-man committee investigated allegations of financial crimes and corruption brought against Lamorde by Dr. George Uboh, a human rights activist.

Chairman of the investigative Committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, presented the report of his committee to Senate in plenary Thursday.

Anyanwu told the Senate that after a series inviting Lamorde to appear before the committee to tell his own side of the story on allegations of financial crime and corruption leveled against him by Dr. Uboh, the former EFCC boss failed to honour the invitation.

The committee chairman specifically referred to three letters of invitation written to invite Lamorde to appear before the committee dated 19th August 2015, 3rd November 2015 and 11 November, 2015 which he said did not convince Lamorde to appear before the Ethics and Privileges Committee.

He noted that on receiving the letter of invitation dated 19th August, 2015 from the Committee, Lamorde wrote the Committee through his Special Assistant to claim (1) “That due to time constraint and the nature of their operations, the EFCC Chairman was unable to appear before the Committee, and suggested 31st September, 2015 as a more convenient date he would appear before the Committee;

(2) That if what the Committee wanted was comprehensive information of all recoveries forfeited and/or restituted funds and property in defence of the said allegations, then the Committee must wait until September, 2015 when it (EFCC) would submit its annual report to the National Assembly.

(3) That the petitioner, Dr. George Uboh was an accused person in a case instituted against him by EFCC (FRNV George Uboh, CR/21/09) before Hon. Justice A.J. Aledetoyinbo of High Court 3 of the Federal Capital Territory Judicial Division on charges bordering criminal breach of trust;

(4) That the petitioner was once convicted by a US Court for engaging in credit card fraud.”

Anyanwu told the Senate that after his committee digested the contents of Mr. Lamorde’s response, it again invited Mr. Lamorde to appear before it, advising him not to confuse the invitation of an investigative committee to appear before it to say his own side of the story as a public servant over a serious allegation against his person, with EFCC’s routine annual report responsibility to the National Assembly, or the Senate President’s previous invitation to a briefing.

The Committee chairman said that Lamorde further responded through his Special Assistant “That he was at St. Petersbury, Russia, attending the 8th Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) and that he had been there since 29th October, 2015.”

Anyanwu said that Lamorde again requested for a new date and time to enable him to honour the invitation.

He noted that when the committee received Mr. Lamorde’s second letter of excuse, it decided to write a third letter of invitation dated 11 November, 2015; this time, threatening that it would no longer accept flimsy excuses for his non appearance.

He said that after going through the facts available, the Committee observed “that having waited in vain for the appearance of Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde since 24th November, 2015 and not seeing or hearing from him, it was forced to conclude that Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde wants to evade investigation by the Committee.”

Anyanwu noted that “Consequently, the Committee reasoned that the only way to get the former EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, to appear before it was to invoke the powers of the Senate in Section 89(1c&d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and compel his appearance.”

He said that the Committee was “convinced that unless this line of action was taken, the National Assembly might be drawn into consequential disrepute in the future.”

The Committee therefore recommended in its submission (1)“That to save the National Assembly, as the highest law-making body of the nation, from irreparable damage to its reputation and capacity to summon, the former EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, be compelled to appear before the Committee to answer for activities of his tenure.

(2)That to effect recommendation ‘1’ above, a warrant of arrest be issued by the Senate for his arrest.”

Anyanwu said the Senate may wish to consider and adopt the recommendations of the Committee as proposed.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu intervened by raising a Point of Order.

Ekweremadu referred the Senate to Sections 88(1) and 89 (1c&d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended.

He said; “Subject to the provisions of this constitution, each house of the National Assembly shall have power by resolution, published in a journal or the official gazette of the federal government to direct or cause to be directed, an investigation into (a) any matter with respect to which it has powers to make laws. (b) the conduct of affairs of any person, authority ministry of government, department, charged with the responsibility of executing or administering laws enacted by National Assembly and disbursing or administering money appropriated or to be appropriated by the National Assembly.

“So on the basis of this section that this enquiry is being conducted.

Now the subject under investigation has refused to come; what do we do?

“That is what is now covered by section 89 which says;”

“For the purposes of any investigation under Section 88 of this Constitution and subject to the provisions thereof, the Senate or the House of Representatives or a committee appointed in accordance with section 62 of this constitution shall have powers to:

(1) Procure all evidence written or oral, direct or ask as it may deem necessary and examine all persons as witnesses whose evidence (2)may be relevant to the investigation

(2) Require all evidence to be given on oath

(3) Summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence at any place or produce evidence in his possession.

(4) Issue a warrant to compel the attendance of any person who after having been summoned, fails, refuses or neglects to do so and does not excuse such failure, refusal or neglect to the satisfaction of the House or the Committee in question and order him to pay all cost due to have been occasioned in compelling his attendance by reason of his failure, refusal or neglect to obey the summons and also impose such fines that may be prescribed for any such failure shall be recoverable in the same manner as a fine imposed by a court of law.

(5) The warrant issued under this section may be served or executed by any member of the Nigerian Police Force or by any person authorized by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives as the case may be.”

Ekweremadu said that “what is required here is for the committee to issue a warrant of arrest and then the President of the Senate will direct the Police to effect the arrest.”

He added, “It is not the business of the Senate in plenary to do so otherwise we will be offending this part of the constitution.

“So the issue of warrant of arrest is not something that we will take a resolution on, the resolution has already been taken by the committee.

“If there is any consequential order that needs to be made, the committee can deal with that and direct it through the Office of the President of the Senate who will direct the Police to effect the warrant.”

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki sustained Ekweremadu’s Point of Order

Saraki said; “The issue has been well spelt out by the Deputy Senate President, he has clearly referred to the constitution.

“Based on the Constitution this matter does not need to come to us at plenary.

“It should be left at the level of the committee and in accordance with section 89 of the Constitution. So I will sustain the point of order of the DSP.”

Anyanwu had, reeled out Uboh’s allegations against Lamorde to include:

That EFCC operates accounts in banks to warehouse recovered funds which do not reflect in EFCC’s audited account;

That EFCC doctors and manipulates bank accounts to conceal diversion of funds

That EFCC releases recovered funds to unidentified persons and EFCC officials

That EFCC moves fund from its recovery accounts to EFCC operations account from where it diverts same.

That over 95 percent of EFCC recoveries in foreign currencies, other than those from multi-national companies, has been diverted.

That EFCC trades with recovered funds through bank deposits and placements.

That EFCC colludes with real estate companies in order to grossly under value seized assets before they are sold to their cronies.

That EFCC has not accounted for offshore recoveries

That over half of the assets seized from suspects were not reflected in EFCC exhibit records.

Anyanwu said that Uboh prayed the Senate to stop from receiving further allocations from the Federal Government until it accounts for the huge remittable funds recovered which the Commission is still holding back, contrary to the EFCC Act, 2006 and financial regulations

Ten out of 11 members of the committee endorsed the report presented by Anyanwu except Senate Deputy Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South.)

Lagos to transform National Museum to world standard

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has vowed to transform the National Museum in Lagos to a modern-day cultural edifice of international standard.

The Governor said this on Thursday at the Lagos House, Ikeja when Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lai Mohammed visited.

Pledging to partner with the Federal Government to give face-lift to federal infrastructure in the state, the Governor noted that considering the strategic importance of culture and tourism to the identity of people, there was no better time for Lagos and the Federal Government to collaborate in driving the essence of culture with the view to improving on the situation on ground and thereby improve on the economy and develop the nation.

The Governor said Onikan, where the museum is located, is a melting port of the cultural heritage of Lagos and Nigeria by extension, hence, serious efforts must be put in place to start to recreate the monument to adequately situate the history of the country.

“Just the same way we have collaborated with the police, we will collaborate with you and ensure that whatever we can do to create a facelift to the infrastructure of the Federal Government in Lagos, we will do it because it will eventually be to the benefit of Lagosians and eventually aid the economic growth of Lagos.

“Talking precisely about the National Museum at Onikan, we will go straight with the commissioners here to see how we can put up a modern-day museum of international standard and see how that can work towards our Lagos@50 Celebration next year.

“We are not only doing it for Nigeria, but also for the future of our cultural heritage. We believe strongly that the axis around Onikan and Marina is actually the melting port of our cultural heritage and we must start to recreate the monument in that area to be able to say a whole lot about the history of Lagos and more importantly, a whole lot about the history of Nigeria and so we would see how we can run as fast as possible on that,” the Governor said.

Ambode, who lamented that some Nigerian languages are gradually going into extinction due to lack of preservation of cultural values, said that with the renewed commitment of the federal and state governments, issues of youth unemployment could be adequately addressed using culture, tourism, arts, sports and entertainment.

“That is why we are committed to the Employment Trust Fund. We are just about to inaugurate it and every year for the next four years, we will be putting N6.25 billion, totaling N25 billion. Using that fund, we will be creating arts and recording studios and business incubators because we don’t longer want our artistes to be recording their works outside Nigeria.

We can do it and that is where we are going. That will create a lot of energy among our younger ones and before you know it, they are on track and we too are on track as a very viable economy,” Governor Ambode said.

Mohammed said he was in Lagos to solicit the support of the Governor and State Government to collaborate in jointly moving the state and indeed the country forward in areas of culture and tourism.

He said Lagos remains the economic and financial hub of Nigeria, and that it was worthy to underscore the fact that the state is thriving under Governor Ambode, who he said is not only doing well but has greatly improved on all he met on ground.

He said the Blue Line Rail project being built by the State Government, when completed in December, would not only be the first in Nigeria, but also greatly boost the economy and tourism potentials of the state, as well as the 10-lane Lagos-Badagry expressway.

The Minister said: “Governor Ambode is doing very well. Look at his emphasis on security; he met a security trust fund which was doing very well, and is now doing better. He has almost doubled the kind of equipment and facilities and assistance he is giving the police.

“Only recently, we passed in the Federal Executive Council, a $200 million loan application for Lagos State to complete the Blue Line Rail. This is a project that had been stalled for political reasons and he pushed through this.

“Look at Light Up Lagos Project, it makes it easy for you to move from point A to point B without any problems and this ultimately will impact positively on the economy of the state. He’s on the right track,” he said

ICAN faults calls for devaluation of Naira

Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, yesterday faulted individuals and groups calling for the devaluation of the nation’s currency, saying they were not sincere as devaluing the Naira would create more problems for the country.


The institute urged Nigerians to show understanding and not to pressurize President Muhammadu Buhari to devalue the Naira because since the country was not an exporting economy, it would be foolhardy to devalue the nation’s currency. Jos District ICAN Chairman, Mr. Pam Gyang, who spoke with journalists at the “Catch Them Young” programme organized by the District alongside ICAN national body to sensitize school children on the need to have interest in the accounting profession, pleaded with Nigerians to patience until the dollar stabilized. He commended the federal government on her fight against corruption and insecurity and charged her not to neglect the economy, stressing the need for the diversification of the economy to boost growth. Gyang said: “Accountants are disciplined people; we abhor corruption so we support the fight against it but the economy is backward. We have been advising government but politics override our advice. What we failed to do in the past is affecting us today. We need to diversify the economy. No country survives without borrowing. We can borrow but we should not devalue the naira. We should not be in a hurry to devalue the naira because we are not exporting anything. ”Devaluing the naira will create more problems for us. We should be patience and not behave as if without dollars we can’t live, when we have patience, the dollar will stabilize.” He added that the 400 students from 26 secondary schools across the state were assembled in Jos and encouraged to aspire to be chartered accountants because of dearth of chartered accountants in the country, saying a situation where there were “only 39, 000 available chartered accountants in the country does not augur well for the country.”

Falana asks court to ban dollar as legal tender

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, praying for an order restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria from allowing market forces to determine the exchange rate of the naira.

The senior advocate also asked the court in his suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/146/16, to direct the CBN to stop the use of the United States of America’s dollar as a legal tender in Nigeria.

The suit was filed on behalf of Falana by a lawyer in his firm, Mr. Wisdom Elum.

The CBN is sued as the sole defendant in the suit, which has yet to be assigned to a judge.

Falana alleged in the suit that the CBN’s monetary policy had led to a situation where too much naira was made to chase a few dollars with an attendant weaker naira and adverse multiplier effects such as rising inflation, closure of factories and high level of unemployment.

He also alleged that the CBN had so “dollarised the economy” that the foreign currency had become a legal tender, with school fees as well as rents now being charged and paid in dollars “to the detriment of the economy.”

He contended that while the CBN had fixed the exchange rate at N198 to a dollar, and President Muhammadu Buhari had continued to restate his promise not to devalue the naira, the apex bank “had allowed market forces to increase the exchange rate to over N400 to a dollar.”

A supporting affidavit deposed to by another lawyer in Falana’s law firm, Mr. Femi Adedeji, stated, “The devaluation of the currency and dollarisation of the economy have made mockery of the yet-to-be-passed 2016 budget of the Federal Government.

“The monetary policy of the defendant (the CBN) has led to a situation whereby too much naira chase few dollars, thereby making the naira weaker in relation to the dollar and instigating an adverse multiplier effect.

“The monetary policy of the defendant has also led to increasing costs, rapidly rising inflation and interest rates, closure of factories and the attendant high level of unemployment.”

The lawyer, therefore asked the court to determine, “whether the monetary policy of the defendant, which allows market forces to fix and determine the exchange rate of the naira is not a violation of Section 16 of the CBN (Establishment) Act 2007 and Section 16 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.”

The SAN asked the court to determine whether the CBN decision to allow the US dollar as a legal tender for payment of any amount in Nigeria was not a contravention of Section 20 of the CBN Act.

He sought the following prayers: “A declaration that by virtue of Section 16 of the CBN Act 2007 the defendant shall fix and determine the exchange rate of the naira by a suitable mechanism devised for that purpose.

“A declaration that the monetary policy of the defendant, which allows market forces to fix and determine the exchange rate of the naira, is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates Section 16 of the CBN Act 2007.

“A declaration that the dollarisation of the economy through the use of the US dollar as a legal tender in Nigeria is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates Section 20 of the CBN Act, 2007.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from allowing market forces to determine the exchange rate of the naira in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.

“An order directing the defendant to stop forthwith the use of the US dollar as a legal tender in Nigeria in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.”

Casual worker ‘stabs’ colleague to death

The police have arrested a casual worker, Raphael Nwoye, for allegedly stabbing his colleague, Ifeanyi Onuoha, to death over a woman.

The woman, Ngozi Okpara, yesterday relived how Nwoye allegedly stabbed the late Onuoha on the head and back.

It was gathered that immediately Nwoye realised that Onuoha was dead, he rushed to his home on 3, Omolabake Adeoti Street in Ajao Estate, Isolo Local Council Development Area of Lagos, packed his belongings and attempted to flee.

Three men were said to have chased and caught him after a fight.

Nwoye, who was arrested by operatives of Isolo Police Station, has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) at Panti, Yaba, Lagos.

Nwoye was said to have accused Onuoha of beating Ngozi, his girlfriend.

One of their friends invited them for settlement, but during the peace talk, tempers flared.

Nwoye left the peace meeting and returned with a kitchen knife with which he allegedly stabbed Onuoha on the neck and back. Onuoha reportedly died on the spot.

Yesterday, Okpara said she and Onuoha were inside his apartment when one Tony came to call him for the peace talk.

Okpara said: “After a few hours, someone came and called me that my husband had been stabbed to death at Omolabake Street. I dashed to the scene. When I got there I met Ifeanyi in a pool of his blood. He was about to be evacuated by the policemen. My husband and Raphael both work at the same factory, Second Francis Warehouse.

“But early this year, Raphael came to our house and threatened to kill Ifeanyi. He told me to warn Ifeanyi, that whenever he comes across him, he would make sure he terminates his life. I warned Ifeanyi from relating with the suspect.

“I heard that Raphael’s master is boasting that he is going to settle the police and bring Raphael out of detention,” said Okpara.

The command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the late Onuoha’s body has been deposited at the Isolo General Hospital morgue.

PDP chief in trouble over 23 cars bought w

Detectives are questioning a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief on how crude oil proceeds were used to buy choice vehicles for party big wigs.

Prince Uche Secondus is being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly receiving 23 choice vehicles from a business associate of ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Secondus, PDP Deputy National Chairman, has been grilled for about eight hours on the curious gifts.

The detention of Secondus has created panic in the PDP because some leaders of the party were allocated some of the luxury vehicles.

Secondus was arrested early yesterday and taken to the EFCC’s Abuja headquarters for questioning.

The funds used for the purchase of the vehicles were sourced from crude oil receipts, which the associate did not remit.

The unnamed businessman has been in detention in the last three weeks.

A source said: “We have detained Secondus to assist the EFCC in its ongoing investigation of how oil receipts were diverted to the purchase of 23 vehicles.

“A business associate of ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, who operates a private upstream oil and gas company, confirmed that the accruable revenue was used to buy the said vehicles.

“Our operatives stumbled on these records in the course of going through the Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAAs) with the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

“We have quizzed Secondus for about eight hours and he has made a statement. But we are yet to admit him to bail until the investigation gets to a convenient bend.”

Responding to a question, the source said preliminary investigation confirmed that revenue from oil was used for campaign purposes by the PDP.

“This is not the first time that oil cash has been diverted to campaign activities in 2015. Some indigenous oil companies were directed to finance PDP’s campaign.

“For instance, the N10 billion disbursed to delegates at PDP nomination convention was withdrawn from the CBN/ OAGF Signature Bonus Account.”

The PDP Deputy National Chairman is also being quizzed over the N10 billion given to PDP delegates to the National Convention that picked former President Goodluck Jonathan as party candidate.

In an October 29, 2015 memo, which was delivered to the EFCC’s Director of Operations, the CBN said:”Your letter ref: EFCC/EC/ CBN/ 12/163 dated 21st September 2915 to the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and the directive by the management that we provide some explanations, we wish to state as follows:

“The N10billion constitutes two tranches of N5.08billion each debited to the CBN/OAGF SIGNATURE BONUS ACCOUNT NO 400225220 vide OAGF memo Ref: FD/LP2015/1/28 DF to the Office of the National Security Adviser A/C Number 20172241019 with the CBN Abuja and the second was for credit into the account of National Security Adviser Account Number 1014199287 with Zenith Bank Plc Wuse II Abuja.

“The transactions were consummated on November 10, 2014. The mandate that authorised the withdrawal of USD47.0m was from the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA) with REF: NSA/366/S dated November 26, 2014. The mandate was processed for dollar cash payment to Mr. S. A. Salisu on November 27, 2014.

“The USD5.0m was via a memo from the ONSA memo REF: ACCT/86/VOL. 2/ 218 dated November 13, 2014. The National Security Adviser Account Number 20172241019 was debited and Dollar cash payment made to Mr. Wambai Ibrahim on November 14, 2014 in line with the mandate.

“The Euro 4.0m and Euro 1.6m transactions were via mandate from ONSA memo REF: NASS/ 366/S dated November 26, 2014. The NSA’s Account Number 20172241019 was debited and Euro cash payment effected as follows: Euro 4.0m on December 3, 2014 and Euro 1.6M was on December 24, 2014. These sums were released to Mr. S. A. Salisu as stipulated in the mandate. Attached are copies of all the relevant documents please.”

Secondus’s arrest has created panic in the PDP because some leaders of the party benefited from the vehicles bazaar.

A party leader said: “Actually, some of our leaders were given some of these vehicles but we did not know that oil revenue was used to buy them. And you know, Secondus was the acting National Chairman of PDP during the elections.

“There is panic everywhere because the EFCC may not seize the vehicles from these leaders, it will only ask them to pay the full value.”

In a statement last night by its National Legal Adviser Victor Kwon, the PDP lamented Secondus’ arrest.

The statement said:

”The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) laments the oppressive and unfair treatments against its key leaders by the Federal Government.

”The party alerts the nation that the arrest and detention of its Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is part of the grand script by the APC-led Federal Government to decimate the opposition.

”We are also aware that plans have been perfected by the Federal Government to arrest and detain the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio and other leaders of the party on imaginary charges.

”Indeed, intelligence available to the party shows that the Federal Government, using its various agencies, is bent on destroying any opposition to the ruling party as all indications show that the government is more interested in humiliating the PDP than fighting corruption.

”Finally, we state that this war on the PDP and its leaders has indeed gone too far. It has now become a mockery of democratic practice.”

Navy goes tough on kidnappers, vandals in Niger Delta

The Nigerian Navy has launched 25 gunboats to tackle the menace of kidnapping and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral, Ibok Ekwe Abas, said he inaugurated the gunboats in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to support naval operations against kidnapping and other criminalities in the maritime environment.
Abas, who spoke at the Headquarters of the Central Naval Command (CNC), Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Wednesday said active community participation was required to stamp out kidnapping and pipeline vandalism.
Abas spoke shortly after meeting with the senior officials and commanders of the CNC behind closed doors.
He said since kidnappers operate on land, live among people and return to the creeks with their victims, members of the public should furnish security agencies with information about such individuals.

FG to investigate MTN’s payment claim

The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, on Wednesday said the ministry would investigate claim by South African mobile telecommunication giant, MTN that it has paid 50 billion naira into government’s coffers towards a possible settlement of the dispute with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The minister also said the firm’s claim that it has withdrawn the matter from court is being investigated by government.

The Special Assistant on Media Affairs to the Minister, Mr. Victor Oluwadamilare, told The Nation that government’s position on the matter has been made clear, but MTN went to court for reasons best known to it.

He said: “Government’s position on the matter is sacrosant, MTN secured 25 percent reduction on the fine imposed by the regulatory body. Suddenly, it proceeded to court to challenge the government. Now we are told they have withdrawn the case from court and have paid 50 billion naira to government.

“Well, I can tell you on behalf of the Minister of Communications and Technology that we are studying the situation. If it is confirmed that they have withdrawn the case from court and have paid the said amount, then the government would make its position known on the matter.”

Jonathan’s ex-ADC sues EFCC ‎over unlawful detention

President Goodluck Jonathan’s ex-Aide de Camp (ADC) Col. Ojogbane Adegbe, has sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), claiming unlawful detention.


Adegbe, in a fundamental rights enforcement suit before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Gudu, is demanding N100m compensation.


The applicant, in the suit filed by his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), on February 17, said he has been in EFCC custody since February 11 and has not been charged with any offence.


He argued that the EFCC has violated his right to personal liberty and freedom of movement as guaranteed under Section 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution by his detention.


‎Adegbe contended that EFCC’s action violated Articles 5,6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.


He said the army authorities summoned him from the United Kingdom where he had been attending a course since he finished serving as Jonathan’s ADC on May 29, 2015 to honour EFCC invitation.

2017 Population Census demarcation of areas delayed in Borno

The proposed National Population Commission’s Enumeration Area Demarcation in Borno State has been hit by hitches, the Honourable Federal Commissioner in charge of the state, Alhaji Muhammadu Hamma disclosed on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference, Hamma said the second phase of the EAD which was supposed to commence on February 22 and run till March 14 in Kwaya Kusar local government area of the state has had to be shifted till next Monday because it was bedeviled with logistic problem.

Hamma explained that the EAD represents the foundation on which the entire census architecture stands, and forms the basis for the planning and execution of the census project.

The Commissioner, who revealed that 40 demarcators have been dispatched to Kwaya Kusar to conduct the EAD, said the Commission in order to have a successful Population Census in 2017 has adopted a meticulous and gradual approach.

He said this would allow for practical experimentation of the methodology and necessary adjustment in implementation and flexibility.

He said in order to ensure commitment of field staff during the exercise, only staff of the Commission have been deployed as demarcators in the EAD.

PDP laments arrest of its leaders

The Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday lamented what it described as oppressive and unfair treatments against its key leaders by the Federal Government.

The party in a statement by its National Legal Adviser, Mr. Victor Kwom, alerted the nation that the arrest and detention of its Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was part of “the grand script by the APC-led Federal Government to decimate the opposition.”

Kwom said, “We are also aware that plans have been perfected by the Federal Government to arrest and detain the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu; Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Godswill Akpabio and other leaders of the party on imaginary charges.

“Indeed, intelligence available to the party shows that the Federal Government, using its various agencies, is bent on destroying any opposition to the ruling party as all indications show that the government is more interested in humiliating the PDP than fighting corruption.

“We state that this war on the PDP and its leaders has indeed gone too far. It has now become a mockery of democratic practice.”

policemen, soldiers clash in Abia

THERE was commotion on Monday morning in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, when policemen attached to the Railway Police Station manhandled an unidentified army captain for allegedly parking his 18-seater Mitsubishi bus close to the fence of the station.

An eyewitness, who does not want his name on print, said the Divisional Police Officer attached to the station was driving into the station in his white Toyota Highlander SUV car when he spotted the bus and ordered the owner to park the vehicle properly.

The DPO had insisted that the army captain’s vehicle was blocking his way.

The source said when the driver of the bus came out dressed in ash colour native attire, he greeted the DPO and quickly wanted to move his bus, but the police officer ordered him to come closer and explain why he should block his way to the station.

He said, “The man continued to plead with the police officer who was fiercely angry and also refused to allow him to remove his bus, ordering his men to arrest the man.

“Then the man told him he was a captain in the Nigerian army, but he insisted that he must obey his orders first.”

When Southern City News visited the police station, residents who owned business around the place, were seen pleading on behalf of the soldier, but the DPO would not listen.

“The DPO was shouting on top of his voice, saying, ‘he (army captain) must obey my arrest order. You people should tell him to obey my arrest order, you must obey my arrest, you said you are a captain, you must tell me how many wars you have fought’.

“The officer boasted he had fought in three states invaded by Boko Haram; Bornu, Adamawa and Yobe before coming here. He said the army captain must show him his identity card and ordered that he (army captain) should be dragged into the cell,” the eyewitness said.

It was learnt that the situation created panic around the railway area as shop owners closed their shops to avoid been hit by stray bullet as the policemen began to shoot sporadically into the air.

But the drama became messier when four soldiers arrived at the police station in about 20 minutes time and discovered that the man who was beaten by the police was actually an army captain.

One of them was heard saying, “I thought it was even a junior officer,” as he ordered another policeman to call the DPO.

In less than 15 minutes, four Hilux vans fully loaded with soldiers landed at the police station, just as the soldiers expressed anger at what happened to their boss.

They later took the DPO away and another police officer with them to their base, after giving them the beating of their life.

Efforts made to contact the state Police Public Relation Officers, Mr. Ezekiel Odeviotu, proved abortive, as he did not take calls put across to his mobile phone number.

Odeviotu later sent a text message to our correspondent, saying, I am in a meeting.”

Buhari vows to deal with culprits

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday evening vowed that all those involved in the “padding” of the 2016 National Budget which led to the discrepancies in the document would face the most severe punishment.

He said the alterations which he described as embarrassing and disappointing, made the document being debated in the National Assembly completely different from what was prepared by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

According to a statement on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President spoke in Riyadh while addressing the Nigerian Community in Saudi Arabia.

The President was said to have condemned the distortion of the budget proposals by those he called entrenched interests.

He said since he had been holding public offices, he had never heard about budget padding before this incident.

He regretted that the unauthorised alterations had completely changed the document from the one he presented to the National Assembly.

The President however gave the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma, a clean bill of health, saying he worked did a good job.

Buhari said, “The culprits will not go unpunished. I have been a military governor, petroleum minister, military Head of State and headed the Petroleum Trust Fund.

“Never had I heard the words budget padding. Our Minister of Budget and National Planning did a great job with his team.

“The Minister became almost half his size during the time, working night and day to get the budget ready, only for some people to pad it.

“What he gave us was not what was finally being debated. It is very embarrassing and disappointing. We will not allow those who did it to go unpunished.”

The President also assured members of the Nigerian community that his administration was working diligently to fulfill its campaign promises, particularly on security, unemployment, and corruption.

Reaffirming his government’s zero tolerance for corruption, Buhari said the war against corruption was a monumental task that he is determined to tackle successfully.

“We have zero tolerance for corruption and other unethical practices. We will deal decisively with anybody found wanting,” he promised members of the Nigerian community.