Tag Archives: Seeks

Senate Leader Ndume Seeks To Save Magu, Visits Buhari

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The report of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), will decide if the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, will retain his job.

The Presidency had, in a statement on Sunday, said President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the AGF to investigate all top government officials accused of corruption.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in the statement, said any official found guilty of the allegations levelled against him or her would not escape prosecution.

“The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to a number of reports in the media, in which various accusations of corruption have been levelled against some top officials in the administration.

“In that regard, President Buhari has instructed the Attorney-General of the Federation to investigate the involvement of any top government officials accused of any wrong-doing. If any of them are liable, they will not escape prosecution,” the statement had read.

The Senate had, on Thursday last week, refused to confirm Magu as the EFCC chairman as requested by Buhari, citing a negative “security report” on the anti-graft agency’s boss by the Department of State Services.

The DSS, in the report, had said Magu had failed integrity test and would be unfit to drive the anti-graft fight of the government.

Besides Magu, other top government officials recently accused of corruption include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari.

It was gathered that Malami was expected to forward the reports on his investigations to the President in January, which would determine the fate of the government officials.

It was learnt that the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume; the National Security Adviser, Major Gen. Babagana Monguno; and a former Chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, had been making moves to save Magu by reaching out to the President.

Findings, however, showed that the President had yet to take a final decision on the report of the DSS, which stated that Magu was not eligible for the post.

It was gathered that a private meeting between Buhari and Ndume on Monday was part of efforts to save the EFCC boss.

A reliable source, who was privy to the meeting, said that the President was keen on conducting an independent investigation into the allegations against Magu in the DSS report.

The source added that the findings of the investigation would determine if Magu would be dropped or not.

The source stated, “Ndume is very close to the President and one of his closest supporters. The Senate Leader’s visit to Buhari was private but Magu’s issue was raised.

“Ndume made the President to understand that there is a conspiracy against the man but the truth will always prevail and evil will never succeed over evil. Somebody must be there to do the job and it cannot be business as usual.

“Ndume told the President that the Senate had not rejected Magu. He also told the President that the content of the DSS report was not an indictment but mere allegations, the reason why the President ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation to conduct an investigation.”

But Ndume, in an interview with State House correspondents after the meeting with the president on Monday,  said there was no truth in the reports that the Senate  rejected the nomination of Magu as the EFCC chairman.

He said what the Senate had done was to step down Magu’s screening until issues surrounding the security report concerning him were cleared.

Ndume stated, “Let me say categorically that the Senate did not reject Ibrahim Magu as the chairman (of the EFCC).

“What happened was that we slated his confirmation for Thursday. Then, we had an issue of a letter from the Department of State Services that could not allow us to continue with the confirmation without further clarifications.

“So, we then concluded that since we have a letter that we cannot ignore, we cannot do the confirmation. So, it was not that we sat down to take a decision that we have rejected Ibrahim Magu. I want that to come out clearly.

When reminded that the Senate spokesperson said the Senate rejected Magu and would return the nomination to the President, Ndume said the position was not correct.

“I was part of the persons that wrote the short press statement which stated that the Senate cannot continue with the confirmation. It is different from saying that the Senate has rejected him. In fact, we have referred the other four nominees to the committee,” Ndume said.

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Senate Seeks Overhaul Of NYSC Scheme

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Yesterday the Senate urged the Federal Government to overhaul and reposition the NYSC in the interest of corps members.

The resolution followed a review of the death of three corps members – Miss Oladepo, Miss Elechi Chiyerom and Mr. Ukeme Asuquo in orientation camps in Kano, Zamfara and Bayelsa.

Chief Whip Senator Olusola Adeyeye, (Osun Central) painted the pathetic deaths of the corps members at the NYSC camps.

Senators in plenary agreed with Adeyeye that steps should be taken for the total overhaul of NYSC scheme.

The Senate agreed that the state of orientation camps across the country was unfit for human habitation.

Apart from total overhaul of the scheme, the Senate urged the government to immediately improve medical facilities in all NYSC orientation camps including deploying experienced medical personnel in the camps.

The upper chamber also mandated its Committee on Sports and Youth Development to conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the three corps members in order to prevent future occurrence.

Adeyeye said: “The death of corps members is becoming a recurrent decimal in almost all NYSC Camps across the country. Experienced medical personnel are practically non-existent in all our Orientation Camps across the country as fresh doctors who have not garnered any experience are the ones administering treatments to corps members.

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Dasuki Writes CJN, Seeks Quicker Hearing Of Appeals

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Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), has urged the Supreme Court to grant him accelerated hearing in his two pending appeals for bail.

In a plea letter to the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, he claimed that his two appeal cases for bail were filed in compliance with the Supreme Court practice directions in August and had since been pending for hearing.

In the letter by his lead counsel, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), dated November 30 and received by the apex judicial arm on December 6, Dasuki asked the court to exercise its discretion in his favour by granting quick determination of the two appeals because of their peculiar natures.

Daudu in the letter recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned his client on charges of breach of trust, criminal misappropriation and sundry offences before two high courts of the Federal Capital Territory between September and December last year.

The counsel claimed that following a ‘not guilty plea’ by his client, the two courts granted him bail and the conditions perfected by the appellant.

The letter further explained that no sooner had Dasuki perfected his bail conditions than the DSS operatives swooped on him and abducted him at the Kuje Prison gate and have since kept him in detention without trial at an unknown location.

Meanwhile, Justice Hakeem Oshodi of a Lagos High Court in Ikeja has granted the applications filed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Godwin Obla and Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia asking for variations of their bail conditions.

The judge in a ruling after listening to the arguments from their lawyers held that he had no choice than to exercise his discretionary powers in favour of the duo in view of the fact that the EFCC did not raise any objection to the applications.

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http://guardian.ng/news/dasuki-writes-cjn-seeks-quicker-hearing-of-appeals/

Gambian President Seeks Re-election After 22 Years In Office

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The incumbent president of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh,  is as addressed as His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Doctor Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh Naasiru Deen.

In addition to his fondness for titles is his undying love for power! Twenty-two years on, The Gambian president currently seeks re-election in the December 1 presidential election, and says he’s “only answerable to God.”

So far, Jammeh has spent four terms in office at the rate of five years per term, having stood for election and winning to become president of his tiny West African country in 1996.

The AFP reports that Jammeh seized power in a 1994 coup and has maintained it ever since with a mixture of severity, mysticism and iron-clad self-belief.

“No matter what people say about me, I am not moved… I don’t listen to anybody because I know what is important,” he said while depositing his candidacy for this week’s presidential election.
Governing, he said, “is between me and God Almighty.”

A deeply devout Muslim, Jammeh, 51, and husband of four wives, grew up in the western village of Kanilai in 1965, the year that The Gambia, a long east-west sliver of land bordered by Senegal, gained independence from Britain.

Never seen without his Koran, sceptre and prayer beads, Jammeh’s billowing white robes are rumoured to hide a bulletproof vest, the legacy of several coup attempts by his own guards.

He has promised to bury critics “nine feet deep” and told the UN Secretary-General to “go to hell” after Ban Ki-moon called for an investigation into an activist’s death in custody.

But in another moment, he urged his supporters to restrain themselves from violence and allow Thursday’s election to go ahead peacefully.

Jammeh controls several businesses in the country and has in the past seized them without warning, discouraging foreign investment.

The state of the economy has pushed many young Gambians to take the “Back Way”, or migrant route across the Sahara to Libya, where they board boats bound for Italy.

Credit: punchng

Saudi Prince Seeks To End Ban On Women Driving

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An outspoken billionaire Saudi prince has called for an “urgent” end to his country’s ban on women driving, saying it is a matter not just of rights but of economic necessity.

“Stop the debate: Time for women to drive,” Prince Alwaleed bin Talal said on his official Twitter account.

Alwaleed is an unusually forthright member of Saudi Arabia’s extensive royal family. He holds no political posts but chairs Kingdom Holding Co., which has interests including in US banking giant Citigroup and the Euro Disney theme park.

He is a longtime advocate of women’s rights in the conservative Islamic kingdom, which has some of the world’s tightest restrictions on women and is the only country where they are not allowed to drive.

In conjunction with his short tweet, Alwaleed’s office issued an uncharacteristically long statement late Tuesday outlining his reasons for supporting an end to the ban. “Preventing a woman from driving a car is today an issue of rights similar to the one that forbade her from receiving an education or having an independent identity,” Alwaleed said.

“They are all unjust acts by a traditional society, far more restrictive than what is lawfully allowed by the precepts of religion.” He also detailed the “economic costs” of women having to rely on foreign private drivers or taxis, since public transit is not a viable alternative in the kingdom.

Using foreign drivers drains billions of dollars from the Saudi economy, Alwaleed said. He calculated that families spend an average of 3,800 riyals ($1,000/940 euros) a month on a driver, money which otherwise could help household incomes at a time when many are making do with less. Even if their husbands can take time out to transport the women, that requires temporarily leaving the office and “undermines the productivity of the workforce,” Alwaleed said.

“Having women drive has become an urgent social demand predicated upon current economic circumstances.” The prince said he is making his call on behalf of those with “limited means”.

Activists say women’s driving is not technically illegal but that the ban is linked to tradition and custom. Some women have challenged the prohibition by getting behind the wheel and posting images of themselves online.

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http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/saudi-prince-seeks-end-ban-women-driving/

Shell Seeks To Block Nigeria Pollution Claims In London Court

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Dutch oil giant Shell on Tuesday urged a High Court judge in Britain to block pollution claims brought against it by more than 40,000 Nigerians, demanding the case be heard in Nigeria instead.

Lawyers for the claimants are demanding action from Shell to clean up oil spills that have devastated their Niger Delta communities for decades.

But Royal Dutch Shell lawyer Peter Goldsmith told High Court of England and Wales judge Peter Fraser that the cases concerned “fundamentally Nigerian issues”, and shouldn’t be heard in London.
“The claims raise issues of Nigerian common law, customary law and legislation,” he said during the first day of the three-day hearing. “The events are said to have occurred in Nigeria and the alleged physical damage is all said to be found in Nigeria.”

Shell pointed out that the case involves its Nigerian subsidiary SPDC, which runs a joint venture with the government. Goldsmith said the case was aimed at “procuring an ‘anchor defendant’” to establish the High Court’s jurisdiction over SPDC, opening the door for further claims.

Daniel Leader from legal firm Leigh Day, which is representing the claimants, said oil spills from Shell’s pipelines had “blighted the lives of the thousands of Nigerians who live in Ogale and Bille” communities.

“It is clear to the claimants that Royal Dutch Shell is ultimately responsible for failing to ensure that its Nigerian subsidiary operates without causing environmental devastation,” he said in a statement.

“At the moment these communities have no choice — they have to take them to court to get them to act.”

King Emere Godwin Bebe Okpabi of the Ogale community told AFP his community had no option but to seek a ruling in London.

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Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/shell-seeks-block-nigeria-pollution-claims-london-court/

SERAP Seeks Court’s Permission To Prosecute Patience Jonathan Over $15m

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Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sought the leave of the Federal High Court in Lagos to apply for an order of Mandamus, compelling the Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami (SAN) to prosecute former first lady Mrs. Patience Jonathan over $15m unexplained wealth frozen in four companies’ accounts.

SERAP, in the suit filed on its behalf by its executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni is asking the court to declare that the failure of the Malami to institute criminal proceedings against Mrs. Jonathan over the disputed accounts is unconstitutional and unlawful as it

contradicts and in conflict with the duties and obligations of the Respondent under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

The organisation in the suit brought under Order 34, Rules 1 (1) (a); 2, Rule 3 (1) and (2) (a), (b) and (c) of the Federal High Court Rules, 2009 and Inherent Jurisdiction of the Court argued that the Attorney General of the Federation has a duty to prosecute inte tional illicit enrichment, that is, a significant increase in the assets of a public official that he or she cannot reasonably explain in relation to his or her lawful income.

SERAP also maintained that, “By virtue of Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) the Attorney General of the Federation is constitutionally empowered to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person in Nigeria in respect of any offence created by or under any Act of the National assembly in superior courts in Nigeria.

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http://leadership.ng/news/552039/15m-serap-seeks-courts-permission-to-prosecute-patience-jonathan

AGF Seeks Further Evidence To Prosecute Saraki, Ekweremadu

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Three months after it charged Senate President Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, and two others with forging the Senate Standing Rules, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice has declared the investigation into the alleged offence inconclusive.
The AGF, Abubakar Malami, is now desperately seeking fresh investigations that will enable him convict the accused persons, even though he has not withdrawn the pending charges against them.
To get the court to accept the charges, the AGF had told the court that investigations into the alleged forgery had been concluded.
In June, when the case was first filed in court and before the arraignment of Saraki and other co-accused persons, the federal government deposed to an affidavit, which was attached to the case file at the time, attesting that investigations into the matter had been concluded.
In the charge sheet dated June 10, 2016 and signed by D.E Kaswe Esq., Principal State Counsel on behalf of the AGF, and which was backed by an Affidavit of Completion of Investigation deposed to at the Federal High Court Registry, Abuja, on the same date by Okara Neji Jonah, a litigation officer in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, attested that the police had concluded its investigations.
Okara swore that “the FCIID (Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department) has concluded investigation of the case and has forwarded the file to the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation for Prosecution”.
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Buhari Seeks $14bn For Restoration Of Lake Chad

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday called for global support for the cleanup of Ogoniland and to raise 14 billion US Dollars for the restoration of Lake Chad Basin.

The president made the call while presenting Nigeria’s statement at the 71th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, U.S.A.

He said the call had become imperative in view of the drying up of the Lake Chad to the negative consequences of Climate Change.

He said, “Nigeria is proud to have been part of the process leading to the adoption of the Paris Agreement in December 2015, and supports the African Union Initiative on the Great Green Wall to halt desertification.’’

The president said it was in furtherance of the country’s commitment to environmental sustainability that Nigeria launched the cleanup of Ogoniland.

He called on development partners and multinationals to contribute to the Ogoniland Restoration Fund.

The Nigerian leader also spoke on dangers posed by global terrorists.

He said, “Nigeria has made remarkable progress in our resolve to defeat Boko Haram, whose capacity to launch orchestrated attacks as a formed group has been severely degraded.

“In the last few months, their operations have been limited to sporadic use of Improvised Explosive Devices against soft targets.”

According to him, Nigeria will continue to fight terrorism “based on the established rules of engagement and in conformity with international best practices”.

Buhari also called for enhanced international cooperation to defeat the global scourge.

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http://punchng.com/buhari-seeks-14bn-restoration-lake-chad/

Soyinka Seeks Trial Of Hate Preachers

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Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka yesterday advocated the prosecution of hate preachers to stem religious violence.

Soyinka noted that religious violence would be encouraged if those who instigate killings in the name of blasphemy are allowed to walk freely without being made to face trial.

He spoke at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) while delivering a lecture titled: “Culture At Risk.”

Soyinka noted that prosecution of advocates of religious violence would deter others nursing the idea of inciting more violence.

He said the bombings and killings of innocent citizens across the country was a result of what they had been made to believe from the religious perspective.

Describing religion as the greatest threat to culture, Soyinka described the destruction of mosques, churches, shrines and ancient monuments as a product of religious intolerance.

He said Nigerians must learn to tolerate one another irrespective of cultural and religious difference.

“When you have people like that who I know that have instigated the killing of others walking freely on the street, without being made to pay restitution for incitement to murder under the banner of cultural relativism, it encourages others to continue in the act.

“My view is that, we can complain, we can proffer, we can condemn, as much as we want, until those who are guilty, even by curious liability when a murder is committed are brought to book and made to apologise to the whole nation,  and face penalty, such will not stop.

“In my view, it is that toxin injected into the social consciousness of the followers of that religion, which has resulted in the murder of its citizens. Is there something called vicarious guilt or not? The question I ask is: Was that deputy governor ever brought to trial? Was his boss, Ahmed Yerima?

“Should we be surprised and start shouting aloud and condemning some stupid young fellows who took the law into their own hands and killed, burnt eight people alive, who were not even part of the original scenario.

“I call them stupid and a disgrace to their school, Abdul Gusau Polytechnic. I say they are stupid and a disgrace to learning anywhere because even a child who leaves in a community must understand  that, if you want to create a serious fight between two people, just say that, ‘That individual whom you are targeting has abused your mother’. It is as elementary as that.

“It is this kind of mentality that created Boko Haram and all its seedling, the sense of intolerance, the failure to understand that you are just another member of society and you have no right over another human being.

“My view is that we can complain, we can protest, we can condemn as much as we want. Until those who are guilty even of vicarious liability when a murder is committed are brought to book and made to apologise to the whole nation and do penance.”

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Soyinka seeks trial of hate preachers

Chinese Company Seeks To Acquire Ajaokuta Steel Company

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A Chinese consortium, China Polaris Technologies Co., Ltd, is seeking to acquire the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) to further boost Nigeria’s diversification drive.

During a courtesy visit to the Minister of State for Solid Minerals Development Hon. Abubakar Bawa Bwari in his office in Abuja, Chief Executive Officer of the company Mr. Zhang Wendong, said the mission of his team’s visit was to indicate the group’s interest in investing in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.

While indicating the company’s interest to acquire ASCL, Wendong said they had discovered an iron ore site of high quality that can be explored to provide raw materials for the Ajaokuta Company and other steel processing companies in the country.

He said the consortium was a group of companies that were into mining, exploration, financing, provision of technologies, commodity exchange and minerals product beneficiation. He urged the Ministry to speed up the process of obtaining mining licenses and how to link up with licensed companies in the sector to foster partnership.

Read More: dailytrust

Buhari Seeks Emergency Powers To Tackle Economy

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President Muhammadu Buhari will be seeking emergency powers from the National Assembly to push his planned stimulus for the economy.

The objectives of the action-plan on the economy, which is in recession, include shoring up the value of the naira, creation of more jobs, boosting of foreign reserves, reviving  the manufacturing sector and improving power.

Government sources said the decision to seek emergency powers for the President was based on a proposal from the economic team headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The team reviewed the various policies so far introduced and how they have affected the economy.

The economic team, it was learnt, gauged the mood of the polity and decided that unless there is an urgency which some of the extant laws will not permit, “the recession may be longer than expected and Nigerians will not get the desired respite, which is the goal of this government”.

An executive bill titled: “Emergency Economic Stabilisation Bill 2016” is to be presented to the National Assembly when the Senate and the House of Representatives resume from vacation on September 12.

In the bill, the executive will be asking for the President to be given sweeping powers to set aside some extant laws and use executive orders to roll out an economic recovery package within the next one year.

Buhari will be seeking powers to:

  • abridge the procurement process to support stimulus spending on critical sectors of the economy;
  • make orders to favour local contractors/suppliers in contract awards;
  • abridge the process of sale or lease of government assets to generate revenue;
  • allow virement of budgetary allocation to projects that are urgent, without going back to the National Assembly.
  • amend certain laws, such as the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Act, so that states that cannot access their cash trapped in the accounts of the commission because they cannot meet the counterpart funding, can do so; and
  • to embark on radical reforms in visa issuance at Nigeria’s consular offices and on arrival in the country and to compel some agencies of government like the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the National Agency for Foods Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and others to improve on their turn around operation time for the benefit of business.

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Buhari seeks emergency powers to tackle economy

Budget Padding: Abdulmumin Seeks Court Protection From Arrest

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In a dramatic twist to the row over the 2016 budget padding allegations causing disharmony in the House of Representatives, the hunter now appears to be the hunted, going by emerging development.

The erstwhile Chairman of the Committee on Appropriation, Jibrin Abdulmumin, who made the budget-padding allegation, has approached a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order to restrain the Nigerian Police from arresting him.

The respondents in the suit are the Nigeria Police, the Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner of Police (FCT), Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Hon. Yusuf Lasun, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Hon. Leo Ogor and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
The lawmaker, in his tweets and statements had given the impression that he was enjoying the cooperation of the police, over the allegations against Dogara and others.

But Abdulmumin, in the suit filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja with No: FHC/ABJ/CS/595, said there was a police siege on his home and that up till the time of filing the suit on August 9, 2016, the siege was still in force.

The affidavit deposed on his behalf by his legislative aide, Mr. Bashir Bello said this was “in a bid to arrest him unlawfully and achieve their pre-determined aim of tampering with his fundamental human rights.”

Abdulmumin, in the suit, accused the police of plotting to “nab him and also put him out of circulation and so as to lay their hands on the said documents and destroy the evidence therein, and avoid a leakage of their roles in the budget issue.”
The embattled lawmaker, in a separate suit, also sued Dogara, the Clerk of the House and others, to restrain the lower chamber from suspending him.

Read More: thisdaylive

ExxonMobil Seeks Alternative Route To Export Qua Iboe Grade

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As repairs continue on its main export pipeline damaged last month, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, is seeking to use an alternative pipeline to transport its Qua Iboe crude grade from the company’s producing fields to its Qua Iboe export terminal in Akwa Ibom State.

ExxonMobil’s subsea pipeline was purportedly breached by a militia group last month, forcing the company to declare force majeure on the export of the Qua Iboe crude grade, Nigeria’s largest export stream.

The Niger Delta Avengers had claimed responsibility for the attack on the company’s 48-inch pipeline, which the company denied, calling it a “system anomaly”.
Reuters quoted company sources as saying that the company later found substantial damage that would take at least one to two months to repair.

Whatever the cause of the damage, port sources and oil traders said repairs would take months, spurring the decision to try to export via a second, smaller pipeline that also feeds the platform.
“Exxon is preparing the alternate export line,” one source informed Reuters, adding that if it is successful, some exports could emerge within two weeks.

Two sources added that Exxon, and the Qua Iboe terminal itself, were not sharing details on the repair progress or export plans for fear of provoking militant attacks on oil infrastructure.
A spokesman for Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited declined to comment on the plan to use an alternative pipeline, saying: “We’re continuing to make progress, but we would not speculate on a timeline for repairs.”

Nigeria’s oil production has been impacted by militancy since the beginning of the year, with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) saying in its latest monthly report that pipeline attacks had taken out some 700,000 barrels per day from the country’s production, which was above 2 million bpd.

Read More: thisdaylive

Abacha Loot: World Bank Seeks More Time To Give Details

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The World Bank has again asked for more time to release details on the spending of recovered loot by late General Sani Abacha. This followed the bank’s decision to refer “portion of appeal by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to the Bank Archives Unit for processing for public access.”

In a letter dated 8 August 2016 and sent to SERAP, the World Bank said, “In response to your request under AI4288, we would like to inform you that we are working on your request as referred to the Archives by the Access to Information Committee in its decision on the appeal and need additional time to provide a more comprehensive response. We regret any inconvenience for this delay.”

This development was disclosed today in a statement by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni. The World Bank’s request for more time followed the appeal SERAP lodged with the Bank on 5 February 2016 on the ground that the Bank’s decision on its initial request did not reveal “important portions of the information requested on how Abacha loot was spent.”

This is the second time the World Bank is asking for additional time to provide SERAP with details of spending of Abacha loot. It would be recalled that the bank in a letter dated 15 October 2015 and signed by Ann May of the Access to Information Team said that “In response to your request under AI3982, we would like to inform you that we are still considering your request and need additional time to provide you with a more comprehensive response.”

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FG Seeks Help, Consults Financial Experts Over Recession

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President Muhammadu Buhari’s Economic Management Team met with top economists and financial experts in Abuja on Tuesday in continuation of its consultations towards tackling the country’s economic recession.

The meeting, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, had in attendance Bismarck Rewane, Akpan Ekpo, Ayo Teriba, Badeye Sani and Bode Augusto.

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, told State House Correspondents after the meeting that the economic team was in the middle of consultations to develop a mid-term economic framework.

He said the experts made presentations to the Economic Management Team on their response to the draft Medium Term Economic Framework (MTEF), which was still a consultative document.

“It is part of a comprehensive consultation process that we are embarking on to make sure that we reach out to a wide spectrum of Nigerians to get a feed back in terms of how best to make sure that we come out of this recession.

“That we get the best possible MTEF (Medium Term Economic Framework).

“The Fiscal Responsibility Act requires us to do so.

“On Thursday, we will be meeting in Lagos with private sector to continue with the consultations,’’ Mr. Udoma said.

He acknowledged that the Economic Team had met with some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) last week and would hold similar consultations with members of the organised private sector.

The Minister said that at the end of the consultations the Federal Government would come out with a programme which had received the “buy-in’’ of many Nigerians.

“That was what this process was about,’’ he added.

Credit: NAN

Panama Seeks To Punish Countries That Blacklist It As ‘Tax Haven’

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The government of Panama on Tuesday announced a bill that would take a range of steps against countries that put it on their blacklists of “tax havens” in the wake of the Panama Papers revelations.

The legislation would impose tax, trade and migration measures on companies or individuals from those countries that “engage in practices that discriminate or imply damage to economic interests” of Panama, a statement said.

The move could be directed at France, which put Panama back on its national blacklist of tax havens in April following the Panama Papers reports, which showed how some of the world’s wealthy stashed assets in offshore firms created by the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.

Colombia could also be targeted for keeping tariffs on Panama textile imports despite a World Trade Organization ruling calling for them to be scrapped.

Panama has vowed to improve its fight against money laundering and tax evasion, but has fallen short of regulations the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development wants to see adopted internationally.

The bill will be put to Panama’s Congress for debate and a vote.

Credit: Guardian

Nigeria Seeks South Africa’s Cooperation To Build Military Complex

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Nigeria is seeking the support of South Africa to build a national industrial military complex, even as both countries are working to prevent illegal defence transactions.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Danladi Sheni, who revealed this yesterday at the opening of the Nigeria-South Africa Defence Industry Inaugural Seminar (NIGSA 2016), said enhanced military cooperation based on certain legal frameworks could be achieved after the seminar.

Sheni said, “We are looking at the whole gamut of our military cooperation, at the end of it all Nigeria and SA will have a mutually beneficial defence relationship. We also want to see how the SA military establishment will assist us in establishing our own industrial military complex.” According to the top civil servant, besides the military equipment and training that Nigeria stands to benefit, the military industrial complex would create jobs, boost industrialization and on the overall would contribute to the economic enhancement of the country.

Responding, South African Secretary for Defence Sam Gulube said the threats being faced today in Africa and the entire global community require decisive action and cooperation among nations, especially in defence, which is critical.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Army yesterday said it was carrying out a comprehensive forensic audit of all its formations, the operations in the Northeast and other parts of the country.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. General Yusuf Buratai, who made this known yesterday in Abuja when he received the principal partner of a law firm, St. Francis Xavier Solicitors in his office, said that the Army under his leadership would not tolerate any form of corruption as he has always emphasized the need for basic audit of army accounts.

Credit: Guardian

Nigerian Victim Of S’Africa Xenophobia Seeks Compensation

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Mr. Chika Emehelu, a 36-year-old Nigerian businessman in South Africa, yesterday appealed to the federal government to persuade the South African government to pay him compensation for the losses he incurred during the wave of xenophobic attacks in the country in 2013.
Emehelu, a native of Udi in Enugu State, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Johannesburg that he lost more than R800,000 (N12 million) in the May 2013 xenophobic attacks in that country.
The businessman, who is married to a South African and has three children, said his three shops at Portnolloth, a community in Northern Cape Province of South Africa, were looted during the attack.
Emehelu also said local authorities in the province came and took an inventory of the items stolen and destroyed, promising to pay him compensation.
He however said nothing had been done since then, adding that his family members were going through hard times.
Emehelu also said he had submitted all relevant documents to the South African authorities after the incident, adding that he was running a duly registered business outfit.
He also said officers from the Nigerian Mission in South Africa had visited his shops to take inventory.
Emehelu appealed to the federal government to remind the South African government to pay compensation to Nigerians who suffered losses during the xenophobic attacks.
“As I speak, I lost everything to the mob attack and I need government’s assistance to revive my business,” he said.
Mr. Ikechukwu Anyene, President of Nigeria Union in South Africa, said the body had compiled a list of Nigerians affected in the attacks and submitted it to the federal government through Nigeria’s consul general in the country.
Credit: Thisday

EU Seeks Partnership With Niger Delta Ministry

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A team of experts from the European Union (EU) has urged the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to step up collaborative efforts with the EU towards providing potable water for people in the region.

The EU team made the call during a courtesy visit to Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, the Minister, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, in Abuja.

The Leader of the EU team, Mr Alobert Achten, said that the initiative, under the aegis of the Niger Delta Support Programme (NDSP), had been on for sometime but needed to be sustained.

The NDSP has four components comprising employment opportunities and social services, public finance management, water and sanitation and micro-projects.

The objective is to mitigate the conflicts in the region by addressing the main causes of unrest and violence.

The water and sanitation component of this programme is mainly to enhance access to safe, adequate and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services.

This component is already active in five states — Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Rivers — and we are taking two local government areas per state.’’

The EU Representative, however, complained that the programme received little cooperation from some states.

He said that N2.4 billion from the EU was about to be lost because states were unable to pay their counterpart fund, adding that the deadline is the end of this month.

All the contracts risk being cancelled and beneficiary communities will feel betrayed.”

He urged the minister to intervene in the interest of the Niger Delta region.

Responding, Usani appreciated the EU for showing interest in developing the Niger Delta.

Credit: Guardian

Association Seeks Reduction Of JAMB Cut Off Mark

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The Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) has been advised to reduce the cut off for under-graduates seeking admission into tertiary institutions to address alleged irregularities noticed in this year’s examination.

Giving his opinion on the conduct and outcome of the extermination, a member of the Association of Private Coaching Centers, Olawuyi Olufemi, said complaints ranging from non-provision of calculator, irregular shutting down of computers and non-release of the results of the students were rampant.

He said that the additional allocation of 40 marks to some students was not clear, wondering how some would benefit while others would be exempted.

Mr Olufemi further urged JAMB to find a lasting solution to alleged irregularities and requested that the body should urgently release the results still outstanding.

Some students also explained their experience, ranging from non-release of results to irregular shutting down of computers during examinations.

Credit: ChannelsTv

Pastor Seeks Marriage Dissolution Because His Wife Told Congregation He Is A Ritualist

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A pastor, Michael Temiloluwa, last Friday prayed a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan to dissolve his union with his wife, Funmilayo, over her maligning and perpetual trouble-making attitude.

According to Temiloluwa, his wife had told the congregation in his church that he was planning to use her for rituals. He told the court: “Funmilayo has over a period of time tarnished my image, not only in our neighbourhood and in the church, but also in other public fora, by lying that I have engaged in unholy means as a pastor.

“I have tried every possible means of getting her to discontinue with these behaviours. I have even reported her to her relatives, but all to no avail.

“Worst still, she is an unrepentant trouble-maker, who uses all sorts of evil means to achieve her purpose. In fact, Funmilayo has neglected her role as a wife in order to make things difficult for me. In her typical disobedience, she sometimes leave my home for two months without my consent,” Temiloluwa, said.

However, his wife, Funmilayo, even though did not deny the allegations against her, claimed that her husband was far away from her. “Temiloluwa never sat down with me as a husband to discuss any issue, but rather preferred going to other people’s homes for unnecessary discussion,” Funmilayo stated.

She, however, refuted the allegation of being a troublemaker.The presiding President of the court, Mr. Ademola Odunade, however, adjourned judgment in the case till March 30, 2016, but ordered both parties to attend the court on that date with some of their relatives and the two children produced by the union.

Credit: Guardian

N119bn Fraud: FG Seeks To Seize Tompolo’s Assets

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The federal government has asked a Federal High Court in Lagos to freeze the assets of former militant leader Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo) who is charged alongside eight others with converting public funds to private pockets.

In the application by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Festus Keyamo, the prosecution is seeking an order of the court to confiscate all moveable and immoveable properties of Tompolo discovered by the anti-graft agency. The application which was made based on Sections 80 and 81 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015 attached the properties to be seized thus: No. 1 Chief Agbamu Close DDPA Extension Warri (Effurun), Delta State; and all properties of Mieka Dive Ltd and Mieka Dive Training Institute Ltd situated at No. 77, Lioth Street, ODPA Ugborikoko, Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State; all properties of Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd; All properties of Muhaabix Global Services Ltd; a River Crew Change Boat named MUHA -15.

Others are: the property known as “Tompolo Dockyard”, by the end of Enerhen Road, Effurun, Warri; “Tompolo Yard” at Chevron Clinic Road, Next to Next Oil, Edjeba, Warri; Diving School at Kurutie, at Escravos River and “Tompolo House” at Oporaza Town, opposite the Palace in Delta State.

Credit: dailytrust

Insurgency: Air Force Seeks Cordial Civil-Military Relations

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The Nigerian Air Force has established a Directorate of Civil-Military Relations to earn and sustain the support of the civil populace for its operations and activities.

Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Friday, the Director of Civil-Military Relations of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Afam Chukwu, said the security challenges faced by the nation, especially in the northeast, required a holistic approach by all Nigerians for the military to achieve sustainable success.

He also announced the establishment of a Public Information/Complaints Desk in the directorate in order to smoothen outstanding rough edges and enhance the mutual benefits between the military and the civil populace.

Counter-terrorism operations have continued in the northeast region of Nigeria, with the Air Force providing surveillance support to ground troops.

On February 2, the Nigerian Air Force’s Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UAV) destroyed a logistics base used by members of the Boko Haram terrorist group.

The UAV destroyed the base of the insurgents in Borno, one of the states the terrorist group has attacked in its over six years insurgency.

According to the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, the UAV was on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission when it came across the gathering of Boko Haram terrorists at Garin Moloma, about one kilometer north of the Sambisa forest.

Credit: ChannelsTv

Germany Seeks Favourable Investment Environment In Nigeria

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The visiting President of Federal Republic of Germany, Mr Joachim Gauck, has advised the Nigerian Government to create the right investment environment for more German businesses.

Gauck made the call in Lagos at a reception held for him and members of delegation of German Parliament and German companies that visited Abuja and Lagos.

The German President, who expressed satisfaction at the successes so far made by German companies in Nigeria, said that it was imperative for Nigeria to evolve measures that would reduce trade barriers.

“My visit to Nigeria has offered me another opportunity to further deepen economic cooperation between Nigeria and Germany.

“I am particularly impressed by the successes so far achieved by German companies on ground in Nigeria.

“We will want the Nigerian government to create the right investment for more German investments by creating the right framework that will reduce trade barriers between us,’’ he said.

Gauck expressed the readiness of more German companies to offer their products to the Nigerian markets as well as willing to share Germans’ know-how with Nigerians.

The president also disclosed his government’s plan to strengthen cooperation with Nigeria in areas of infrastructure, energy, electricity and other sectors.

“Our cooperation will be deepened once we have been able to set up a bilateral chamber of commerce and industry which would then become the centre point for trade relationships.

“We will also be willing to share with Nigeria the experiences we have acquired over the years in trying to achieve a cooperative business exchange,’’ he said.

Credit: NAN

Saraki Seeks Stronger Nigeria-Ukraine Ties

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Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, canvassed a stronger bilateral and economic ties between Nigeria and the Republic of Ukraine.

Saraki, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, stated this while playing host the Ukrainian ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Valerii Aleksandruk, who visited him in Abuja.

He thanked the Ukrainian authorities for their support to Nigeria, especially in the fight against terrorism, while commiserating with Ukrainian government over the recent loss of lives in the eastern part of the country.

Saraki said: “I want to use this opportunity to show our appreciation for the friendly relationship that exists between the two countries. Particularly, I want to also acknowledge the support that Ukraine has given us in the fight against terrorism, the military co-operations, and supply of arms and ammunition which has gone a long way to help us in the fight.”

Credit: DailyTimes

Buhari Writes To National Assembly, Seeks Stiffer Punishment For Corruption

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President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the National Assembly (NASS) to seek stiffer laws on his anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria.

President Buhari sent two separate bills to NASS which he hopes would heighten the fight against corruption.

First is the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Bill 2016.

The bill seeks to repeal the Money Laundering Act 2011 as amended in 2012 to widen the scope of money laundering offenses.

It also seeks to expand the scope of operation of anti-corruption agencies namely Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission and Code of Conduct Bureau.

When passed into law, Nigerians would be required to do due diligence on their customers or risk going to jail.

It however provides protection for anyone who discovers and makes disclosure of money laundering.

The second executive bill from President Buhari is the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill 2016.

This bill seeks to facilitate and create an avenue for Nigeria to obtain assistance from the international community to fight corruption.

Credit: ChannelsTv

Yobe Seeks FG’s Support In Re-positioning Healthcare Systems

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Yobe State Government has appealed to the Federal Government to urgently reposition deplorable healthcare facilities in the state.

Governor Ibrahim Gaidam made the appeal on Monday in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, in a meeting with the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, who was in the state to access the situation of the healthcare facilities ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency.

The Governor said that the insurgency had grounded most healthcare facilities in the state thereby affecting the entire healthcare system.

He said that despite the tremendous efforts made in the health sector by the State Government, a lot needed to be done to improve the health needs of the people.

Credit: ChannelsTv

Metuh Sues FG, Seeks Release From Detention

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The detained National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, on Monday filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit before a Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking his immediate release from custody.

Metuh had since January 5, 2016 been taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for questioning for allegedly benefiting from the $2.1bn arms funds allegedly diverted by a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

The EFCC believed that Metuh received N400m of the allegedly diverted arms funds, but the PDP spokesperson had reportedly claimed that the sum was for an undisclosed service he rendered to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

On Monday, Metuh claimed in the suit he filed through his lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, that his arrest was part of the grand plan of the ruling All Progressives Congress to silence the opposition and make Nigeria a one-party country.

Credit: Punch

Information Minister Seeks Support Of Police For Media Houses

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, is seeking the support of the police to provide security for media houses.

Speaking with Members of the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) in Abuja, Mr Mohammed said the initiative will help ensure that media houses run effectively without interference from criminally minded persons.

He appealed to broadcast organizations to join in the campaign against insecurity in the country.

He added that the spate of insecurity in the country and how to tackle it headlong is what informed this meeting.

Top officials of the broadcast houses freely express their minds on issues that affect them and how the campaign against terrorism can be sustained.

Mr Mohammed responded to their questions but called for a synergy between the Ministry and the Nigerian Police in providing adequate security for broadcast organizations.

Credit: ChannelsTv

Fayemi Seeks America’s Help To Develop Solid Minerals Sector

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The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Fayemi Kayode, is requesting the assistance of the United States of America for the development of the sector.

He has asked the American government to provide technical assistance as well as create international market for produce as the federal government is determined to develop the sector to provide alternatives to the nation’s dwindling oil revenue.

Meanwhile, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle, during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, gave an assurance of the cooperation of the American Geological Survey.

Credit: ChannelsTV

Senate Seeks Increase In Supplementary Budget

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The Senate Committee on Appropriation is seeking an increase in the 465.5 billion Naira supplementary budget submitted to the upper chamber last week to 573.5 billion Naira.

The new figure includes an additional 108 billion Naira meant for fuel subsidy in the last quarter of 2015, which was not captured in the 465.5 billion Naira supplementary budget.

The decision, leading to the increased budget, followed the discovery by the Senate Committee on Appropriation that the subsidy captured in the budget was only for the period covering January to September.

The committee frowned at the development, stressing that leaving the subsidy for the period of October to December out of the budget would be counter-productive and would lead the nation to another round of fuel scarcity in no distant time.

Credit: ChannelsTV

DSS Seeks Withdrawal Of Case Against Nnamdi Kanu

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The Department of State Service (DSS), has filed an application before a Magistrate Court sitting in Abuja seeking to withdraw the case of criminal conspiracy and criminal intimidation preferred against the leader of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, the prosecutor told the court that the DSS had uncovered fresh facts against the accused person who is also being tried for unlawfully belonging to an illegal society.

He added that the ?facts against the accused person requires further investigation.

Lawyer to the accused person, however, opposed the application on the ground that the State Service had refused to comply with the order of the court granting the accused person bail since October 19, 2015.

He further prayed the court to order the DSS to transfer the accused person to prison custody for easy access by his lawyers.

Credit: ChannelsTV

FG Seeks Revocation Of Dasuki’s Bail, Wants Him Imprisoned

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The federal government, on Monday, asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to revoke the bail granted the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, on September 1, and also commit him to prison pending his trial.

In a fresh motion on notice, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Diri, sought revocation of the bail granted the ex-NSA in the unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering charges earlier brought against him.

The motion, signed by Mr. Diri, was brought to the court pursuant to section 169 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

The ground of the motion was that Mr. Dasuki was undergoing investigation by a committee auditing the procurement of arms in the armed forces and defence sector from 2007 to date.

The motion observed that the interim report of the probe panel indicated misappropriation of over $2billion, and that the investigation had been revealing further facts requiring the presence of Mr. Dasuki to assist in the investigation.

The motion also informed the court that there was a presidential directive for the arrest of those indicted including Mr. Dasuki and that the interest of the nation was at stake.

The federal government also claimed that the investigation of Mr. Dasuki had not been concluded and that he might tamper with the investigation if allowed to go abroad.

The motion further contended that the ailment of Mr. Dasuki could be treated at the National Hospital, Abuja and other teaching hospitals in the country.

Credit: PremiumTimes

SSS Seeks Transfer Of Nnamdi Kanu’s Case To Higher Court

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The State Security Service on Monday asked an Abuja magistrate court to discontinue its case against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

Mr. Kanu was arraigned for criminal conspiracy, engaging in unlawful society and criminal intimidation, which violate Section 97, 97B and 397 of the penal code.

The presiding magistrate, Usman Shuaibu, had issued an order for the bail of Mr. Kanu on the condition of presenting a surety of Grade Level 16 with a landed property in Garki or Wuse areas worth N20 million.

On resumption today, the prosecution counsel, Moses Idakwo, told the court the accused person was yet to fully meet the requirement for his bail.

He explained that the reason for Mr. Kanu’s continued detention in the custody of the SSS was his inability to fully meet the requirement for bail.

He told the court that although the service had confirmed the office of the surety presented by the accused, the location of the surety’s plot was yet to be ascertained.

Counsel to the defense, Vincent Obete, however informed the court about the affidavit before it, noting that the prosecution refused taking the necessary step to confirm the location of the surety’s plot of land.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Alleged Murder: Witness Seeks Fayose’s Aides’ Probe

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The star witness in the alleged murder of former Ekiti State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Chairman Omolafe Aderiye has spoken of how he was “tutored” to implicate eight persons accused of complicity in the crime.

The late Aderiye’s Personal Assistant, Gbolahan Okeowo, revealed that he secretly recorded the voices of the two aides of Governor Ayo Fayose whom he accused of “tutoring” him to write another statement which indicted the accused.

On trial for the ex-NURTW boss’ murder are: Bayo Aderiye (aka Ojugo), Niyi Adedipe (aka Apase), Sola Durodola, Oso Farotimi, Ajayi Kayode, Sola Adenijo (aka Solar) and Rotimi Olanbiwonnu (aka Mentilo).

Also implicated in the murder is a security aide to former Governor Kayode Fayemi, Deji Adesokan (aka Jarule) who has been declared wanted for Omolafe’s murder.

Credit: NationOnline

Again, N’Assembly Seeks President’s Assent To Constitution Amendment Bill

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In a bid to strengthen democracy and good governance in the polity, the National Assembly would soon resubmit portions of the fourth constitution amendment Bill to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, made this known yesterday when he received report of the 2015 elections European Union Observer Mission in Nigeria from the Chief Observer, Mr. Santiago Fisas, in his office.

Buhari’s predecessor, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had withheld assent to the fourth constitution amendment bill on the basis that key provisions in the amendments did not meet the requirements of Section 9(3) of the 1999 Constitution.

Read More: ngrguardiannews

Wada Visits Buhari, Seeks Level Playing Field

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Kogi State governor and flag bearer of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the November governorship election of the state, Mr. Idris Wada has sued for a level playing field for all participating political parties, saying it was absolutely necessary in the interest of peace.

The governor who spoke to State House Correspondents Wednesday after a private meeting with president Mohammadu Buhari revealed that his performance would secure him a second term.

He stated that the flagging off of his campaign on Tuesday recorded an impressive turnout, an indication that he was in the good book of the people of the state.

“I thank God that I am the candidate of the PDP for the election. Yesterday, we had a tumultuous turnout of our supporters and members of our party when I launched my senatorial campaign at the Eastern Senatorial Zone of Kogi State at Ayingba. It was a very successful rally and the turnout of people.

“In terms of preparation, we are working hard. I am also working with security agencies to ensure that there is a secured and safe environment for our people in the course of the campaign and during the election…”

Read More: vanguardngr

Pastor Seeks Divorce After 15 Years Of Marriage Over Nagging

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A pastor, Tunde Adekunle, on Monday urged an Akure Customary Court to dissolve his 15 year-old marriage to his wife, Agbeke for alleged frequent nagging.

Adekunle, founder of Christ Living Church, Owo, Ondo State, said that his wife was hell-bent in making life unbearable for him.

The cleric also told the court that some of the scars on his body were caused by the constant fisticuffs between them, adding that there was no more affection existing in the marriage.

He said that the respondent was a “disgrace to his pastoral calling’’, noting that she had once torn his cloth in front of his congregation when he was preaching.

Agbeke, in her response, denied the allegations, but said that she was ready to part with the petitioner.

He said that the union had produced four children.

She accused her husband of being promiscuous, night crawling, failure to carrying out marital responsibilities of providing for the house and the upkeep and education of the children.

The President of the court, Mrs Olayinka Falodun, in her ruling urged the petitioner to take care of the welfare of the children.

Read More: leadership

PMB Seeks Senate Approval To Obtain N14.7 bn Loan For Edo State

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Buhari has written to the Senate requesting for the approval to obtain a total of $75 million credit loan amounting to N14.7 billion from the World Bank for Edo State.

According to President Buhari, the proposed loan facility of $ 75 million would be a second leg of a Development Policy Programme the World Bank had approved in 2012 which was a total sum of 225million dollars ( N44.1 billion ) to Edo state government designed to be implemented in three tranches of 75millon per annum.

The letter which was read to Senators Tuesday by Senate President Bukola Saraki, said that the Edo State government would carry out some developmental projects for the growth and development of the state.

He also said that it would help generate employment, increase the Internally generated revenue base of the state, provide infrastructure as well as increase private Investment in the state.

Meanwhile, Edo external debt profile of Edo State already stands at $123 million dollars.

In the letter titled, “Request for approval to obtain 75million USD credit facilities from the world bank for Edo state, Senate President Saraki said, “I am writing to seek the consideration from the National Assambly an approval for the request from Edo state government to obtain a 75million dollar credit facility from the World Bank.

“You may wish to know that the World Bank had aproved a development policy programme for the total sum of 225million dollars to Edo state government in 2012 to be implemented in three tranches of 75millon per annum.

“The first tranch was approved by the national assembly in the 2012/2014 Federal Government external ruling borrowing plan.

“The Development Policy Operation, DPO has since been successful implemented by the state in 2014. Following this success, the bank’s board of executive directors approved the second tranch. On April 29, 2015, the DPO two was captured in the federal governernment external borrowing plan of 2014/2017 which is pending with the national assembly.

“It is for the above reason that I seek your favour to facilitate the consideration and approval of the development policy operation 2 loan of 75 million to enable the state to consolidate on the gaze of the first tranch of the operation DPO…”

Read More: vanguardngr

 

PMB Seeks Senate’s Confirmation Of Newly Appointed Service Chiefs

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The Senate on Tuesday announced the receipt of a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari, requesting the confirmation of Service Chiefs, recently appointed by him. President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, read the letter at plenary as the Red Chamber resumed after five weeds recess.

Saraki said that the letter for confirmation of the appointments was in accordance with the provisions of Section18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act, 2004.

Read More: vanguardngr

Ambode Seeks Navy’s Support To Tackle Robberies

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Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State says the Nigerian Navy, like other stakeholders, should be part of the efforts to rid the state of crime.

The governor, according to a statement on Tuesday, spoke during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Usman Jibrin, at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

Ambode stated that the call became imperative due to the spate of robbery attacks in Lagos State, which started a week into his administration.

The governor added that the need for the full involvement of the navy in the fight against crime informed his audience with the Chief of Naval Staff. He said, “Lagos State is the commercial hub of the country. The state is therefore strategic and cannot be allowed to become a breeding ground for criminals.”

The governor recalled that some robbers struck at two different banks in the Ikorodu area of the state last Wednesday and carted away undisclosed amount of money before fleeing via the waterways.

“My administration has therefore resolved to evolve strategies that will frontally confront insecurity through collaborative efforts of the government, the private sector and security agencies. The rise in the spate of armed robbery must be stopped,” he added.

In his response, Jibrin, who was flanked by other senior officers of the Nigerian Navy, congratulated the governor on his election and inauguration.

The CNS said Lagos State, being the major operational hub of the Nigerian Navy as a coastal state with vast maritime potential could not be allowed to be a haven for criminals.

He said, “There is the need for combined use of the security forces on air, waters and on the ground for effective control of crimes in the state.”

Read More: punchng

Wike Seeks Buhari’s Support To Probe Amaechi

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Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday commenced probe of the administration of his predecessor, Chibuike Amaechi as he constituted a seven man Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice George Omereji to investigate alleged sale of some state assets as well as the projects for which funds were allegedly released but not executed.

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry which has 23 terms of reference has one month to turn in its report.

Wike’s action was coming against the backdrop of claims by Amaechi’s former Deputy, Tele Ikuru that the former administration under which he served was the most corrupt in the state.

Ikuru alleged that his former boss allegedly spent N812 million to furnish his private residence.

The former deputy governor spoke at Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday while handing over the final report of the transition committee he chaired adding that the former government also spent N4.96 billion on the proposed Justice Adolphus Karibi Whyte Hospital with no structures on the ground.

Read More: vanguardngr