Tag Archives: Aide

President Buhari not hospitalised but will talk if he wishes to – Aide

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President Muhammadu Buhari is not ill and admitted in any hospital in London as being speculated. But he cannot be forced to speak to Nigerians, the presidency declared yesterday.

The clarification came amid rumours that Buhari is critically down with an undisclosed sickness that may lead to his death. But according to the presidency, Buhari is in London on vacation.

This clarification may not stop the rumour mill being stoked by those who expect the president to speak out or appear in the public to dispel the speculation about his health .

Buhari transmitted a letter to the National Assembly to the effect that he would begin a 10-day vacation from January 23, 2017, but he actually began the vacation two days earlier, January 21. If the date to reckon with is January 23, he will be due to resume work on February 3. But if January 21 is the date to take, Buhari will be expected back at work on February 1.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, made the clarification yesterday in a live interview programme on CNBC Africa, which was monitored in Abuja. He said that the rumoured hospitalisation of the president was a figment of people’s imagination.
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“The president is in London on vacation. He is not in any hospital and he is not ill. When he was travelling last week, the statement we put out was that he was going on vacation, and during the vacation he would do routine medical check-up and nothing has changed from what we pushed out last week. If anybody has fed something else into the rumour mill, that is just what it is – rumour,” Adesina said.

He said the president would decide if he wished to talk to Nigerians from the UK or not. “Despite the fact that he is a president, he still has his rights. Compelling him to come out and talk will be infringing on his rights. The president will talk if he wishes to, if he doesn’t wish to, nobody will compel him to talk. The truth is that the president is on vacation and he has given a date on which he will return to work.”

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed also refuted a media report alleging that governors were planning to send a delegation to confirm the health status of Buhari in London. He says there is no need for such an emissary since the president is in good health.

Receiving members of the Presidential Committee on the Northeast Initiative’s Sub-Committee on Economic Development yesterday, the minister stated that governors were not meeting in Abuja because there was no need for it and there was no plan to send any emissary to London to see the president.

Meanwhile, security agents are planning to arrest and prosecute those peddling speculative news about Buhari’s health. A recent report that Buhari died in a foreign hospital nearly swept the nation into mourning again, after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in circumstances shrouded in secrecy. The report was later confirmed to be false.

The Guardian learnt that the government, in a bid to curb the trend, has tasked top security agencies in the country to fish out the troublemakers, especially unregistered online media organisations which, in seeking recognition and ‘hits’, publicise fake news.

When The Guardian contacted the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Don Awunah, an Acting Commissioner of Police (Ag.CP), to confirm the report, he said those behind it were “just mischief makers out to deceive the public.’’

“You know the online thing especially, it is gradually becoming a menace to the Nigerian society. People stay in the comfort of
their rooms and claim they are publishing online, whereas they peddle a bunch of lies,” he remarked.

He said the visit of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to the United Kingdom to strengthen technical partnership with the London Metropolitan Police was also misrepresented by an online publication that he led a delegation of government officials to visit Buhari.

Asked if the police were tracing those behind the rumour with a view to bringing them to justice, Awunah said though they were not known, it would be proper to ask them to stop.

But a competent source told The Guardian on the condition of anonymity that those publishing and circulating the stories could be fished out within one week.

“But for now, there are some modalities being worked out, legislative frameworks and otherwise. The other way is that they would be charged with tax evasion, we all know it is a serious offence against the government for one not to pay tax, especially on a profitable venture,” he said.

A legal practitioner in Abuja, Cosmas Akighir, reacted thus: “The publishers of these alleged false stories have their freedom to circulate information, but it has to be credible in a manner that it is neither libelous nor seditious. If it is to inform, based on credible background, such a person is not liable.

“On the threat to democracy, it is two-folds: one is that, by circulating false information, like the one on the death of the president, you are fuelling the embers of insecurity and endangering democracy in the process.

“Where there is hunger for power in the military, like we had during the Gen. Sani Abacha days, some soldiers would have started playing martial music on national radio, announcing their takeover. So publishers or rather practitioners must be circumspect in what they publish.

“On another front, arresting these carriers of fake information would not go down well with the government. It is already unpopular among Nigerians. But if there are arrests, it would stem the tide of publication of false news.”

Dr. Anthony Igyuve of the Department of Mass Communication, Nasarawa State University, remarked: “Where a practitioner fails to send in credible and verifiable stories for publication, the whole essence of information dissemination is defeated. What is happening in the social media now is irresponsible and highly condemnable. Unfortunately, some of these so-called publishers were not adequately trained to practise, but the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the National Press Council (NPC) have failed in their role to standardise practice and ensure that quacks are weeded out.”

I won’t protect my aide from DSS if found guilty – Saraki

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Senate President Bukola Saraki has said he would not shield aide, Ugochinyere Ikenga from the Department of State Services (DSS).

 

The secret police had accused Ikenga of plotting with Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, to destabilise the federal capital territory (FCT).

 

The secret police had raided his office on Thursday.

 

Saraki in his reaction said Ikenga should face the consequences if found guilty of the allegation levlled against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).

 

“The attention of the Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki has been drawn to a statement issued by the Department of State Services (DSS) in which the department raised allegations against Mr Ugochinyere Ikenga, an aide to the senate president,” Yusuph Olaniyonu, media aide of the senate president, said in a statement.

 

“Though the DSS has not officially informed the senate president of the allegations against Ikenga, Dr. Saraki, having read the statement now circulating online will want to make it clear that he will never condone any action by any of his aides which threatens the peace of the country or is against the provisions of the law.

 

“Dr Saraki hereby calls on the DSS to properly investigate the allegations against Mr. Ikenga and if he is found to have acted against the law, then the law should take its natural course.”

Alleged N1.219 Billion Fraud Trial: Fayose’s Aide Plotting to Abscond – EFCC

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged that Abiodun Agbele, an aide of Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, was plotting to abscond from his ongoing trial.

Agbele is being tried with three firms – Sylvan Macnamara Ltd, De Privateer Ltd and Spotless Ltd – on 11 counts of money laundering, involving about N4,685,723,000 allegedly taken by former National Security Adviser (NSA) from the account of the office of the NSA domicile in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The prosecution alleged that Agbele and others knew that the N4,685,723,000 formed part of the proceeds of alleged unlawful activities by Dasuki.

The prosecution claimed that on June 17, 2014, Agbele, Obanikoro and other suspects (said to be at large) took N1,219,000,000 from the total N4,685,723,000, when they “reasonably ought to have known” that the money was part of proceeds of Dasuki’s unlawful activity”.

The EFCC’s fresh allegation of Agbele’s alleged plot to abscond was contained in a notice of appeal it filed against a December 5, 2016 ruling of Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Agbele and others are being tried before Justice Dimgba, who earlier granted Agbele bail and ordered him to, among others, deposit his international passport with the court as part of the condition for bail.

Agbele, however, applied to the court for the release of his passport to enable him travel abroad on medical ground, an application Justice Dimgba granted in his December 5 ruling.

In the notice of appeal, filed before the Court of Appeal, Abuja by EFCC’s lawyer, Wahab Shittu, it was alleged that having been aware of the enormity of the case against him, with the commencement of trial, Agbele may not return to continue his trial.

“There are sufficient materials in the proof of evidence before the trial court confirming that the 1st respondent (Agbele) took custody of N1.219 billion, forming the subject matter of the case and providing sufficient ground for the 1st respondent to abscond from the on-going trial process.

“There is no undertaking provided by the 1ts respondent or his counsel to the effect that the 1st respondent will return to the country before the next adjourned dates of January 25 – 27, 2017.

“The allegations levelled against the 1st respondent are weighty, bordering on alleged corrupt practices running into billions of naira.

“There are sufficient materials before the court revealing that the 1st respondent may not return to the country to face his trial. Not less than 20 witnesses have been lined up, ready to give evidence against the 1st respondent.

“Trial has already commenced in the proceedings against the 1st respondent and others, which trial may be truncated permanently should the 1st respondent absconds from the trial by failing to return to the country.

“A consideration for the entire circumstances of the case, including the huge sums of money involved, including extra-judicial statements of the 1st respondent in the proof of evidence before the trial court, acknowledging receipt of the sum of N1.219 billion ought to have dictated the refusal of the 1st respondent’ application for the release of his international passport by the trial court,” the EFCC said.

He, therefore, urged the Appeal Court to set aside the December 5 order by Justice Dimgba allowing the release of Agbele’s passport.

No date is given yet by the appellate court for the hearing of the appeal.

 

Source : Nigerian Eye

Okowa sacks aide for defrauding Dogara of N250,000

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Delta state Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has sacked his Senior Special Assistant on Protocol, Mr. Temple Mudi, for allegedly defrauding the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, of N250,000.

 

The Speaker, it was gathered in Government House, Asaba, yesterday was allegedly defrauded by Okowa’s sacked aide when he visited the Big Heart state for a public function.

 

Temple was said to have privately approached the Speaker and told him that ‘one of his convoy vehicles hit his Hilux van when he previously visited the state and that he spent N250, 000 to fix it back.’

 

A top government functionary at the Government House, Asaba yesterday said the Speaker was immediately moved with pity after Temple’s tale, even as he expressed concern and agreeably refunded the money.

“At a second thought, the Speaker decided to discuss the matter with a member, representing Ika Federal Constituency, Hon. Victor Nwokolo, who in-turn tabled the matter before Governor Okowa, before the case assumed a new dimension”, the government official disclosed.

 

Apparently miffed, the governor, however, summoned the Director of Protocol (Government House), Mr. Victor Eboigbe, with a view to unearthing what actually transpired between the Speaker and the former aide.

 

“His Excellency, the Governor,was pissed off by the fraudulent character of Mr. Temple, who swindled a distinguished visitor to the state of N250, 000.

 

His Excellency has directed his D.O.P (Director of Protocol) to relieve him of his appointment,” the source further disclosed.

Fani-Kayode ‘Slumps’ In EFCC Custody– Aide

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Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, slumped while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Saturday, his aide has said.

Mr. Fani-Kayode was promptly revived by a team at the EFCC’s medical facility, the minister’s spokesperson, Jude Ndukwe, said in a statement Tuesday.

“But for the quick and professional intervention of the medical team in the EFCC medical facilities, the story could have been different, it could have been fatal!” he said.

“We must commend the medical staff at the Commission’s medical facility. They were prompt in their response, and very impressive in their care. It is very heartwarming to know that some professionals have not allowed the political witch hunt and persecution of political opponents and perceived enemies taint their professional calling. We hope this extends to all facets of the Nigerian society.”

Mr. Fani-Kayode, who served as the director of media and publicity for the Goodluck Jonathan presidential election campaign team in 2015, was arrested on Friday by the EFCC on allegations of corruption. He had earlier been released after being held for 67 days.

The outspoken former minister is currently standing trial for allegedly receiving illicit funds from former National Security Adviser.

He denies wrongdoing, and accuses the Buhari administration of targeting him as part of a wider campaign to silence opposition politicians.

Mr. Ndukwe said Mr. Fani-Kayode’s health condition had been communicated to the EFCC, and blasted the commission for re-arresting him.

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Court Orders EFCC To Pay N5 Million Damages To Fayose’s Aide

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A Federal Capital Territory High Court has granted bail to Abiodun Agbele, an aide to the Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose.

Mr. Agbele was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on July 1 on allegations of fraud.

The EFCC said Mr. Agbele received huge public funds from a former defence minister, Musiliu Obanikoro, and delivered same to Mr. Fayose.

The judge, Olukayode Fadeniyi, declared that the failure of the EFCC to charge Mr. Agbele to court, since his arrest, amounted to an abuse of his fundamental rights.

He ordered the commission to pay a compensation of N5 million to Mr. Agbele.

The court also ruled that Mr. Agbele be admitted to bail with a bond of N50 million and a surety not below the cadre of a director in the civil service.

Alternatively, Mr. Agbele is required to provide a surety who is a responsible Nigerian citizen, with landed property in any part of Abuja.

“The surety shall depose an affidavit of means,” the court also ruled.

Mr. Fadeniyi also ordered Mr. Agbele to submit his international passport at the commission.

Credit: PremiumTimes

EFCC Detaining Fani-Kayode After Meeting Bail Conditions, Silencing Of Opposition- Aide

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Jude Ndukwe, aide to erstwhile Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, on Tuesday, decried that despite meeting the bail conditions set by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Fani-Kayode was still being held by the anti-graft agency.

Ndukwe in a statement condemned the continued detention of the former minister by the EFCC, describing it as a tactics to keeping key and vocal members of the opposition out of circulation without due regard to Nigerian laws.

The statement read: “This tactics of keeping key and vocal members of the opposition out of circulation without due regard to our laws and or harass them with charges that cannot stand the test of judicial requirements has got to stop. The sweet smelling savour of democracy will be polluted when the opposition is stifled.

“The continued detention of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode in EFCC custody for this long, despite meeting his bail conditions goes a long way to show that this fight is not about corruption after all, but all about silencing the opposition.

“We condemn in very strong terms these acts of intimidation and harassment and request that he (Chief Fani-Kayode) be released forthwith, even as we call on all well-meaning Nigerians to know who to hold responsible should anything untoward happen to Chief Femi Fani-Kayode!

“This act of executive rascality, at a time when Nigerians are groaning more than ever before over the economic hardship inflicted on them by this administration, is needless. It will achieve nothing but will only lead to a puerile end.”

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Saraki’s Aide Refuses Food From DSS

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The family of the Senior Special Assistant to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Youth and Students Matters, Barr. Ikenga Ugochinyere, has said the Barrister has refused to eat in the last 3 days he has been in detention. According to them he has not accepted any food or drink from them.

In a press conference organized by his brother yesterday, he disclosed that they have also not allowed them to give him food or water, a situation he said might take a toll on his health.

 

 

 

Source – Vanguardngr.com

Why Buhari Is Yet To Disclose Recovered Loots- Aide

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The presidency has said monies recovered from corrupt government officials and their accomplices cannot be made public now because they are to be used as evidence against the looters during prosecution.

Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media to the President, Malam Garba Shehu, who disclosed this to journalists in Abuja at the weekend said the recovered funds, which he noted was running into billions of naira, have been kept in a special account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Shehu said the delay in making public what has been recovered was engendered by the need to ensure that those who stole public funds are made to face the wrath of the law.

His words: “On the issue of how much has been returned, let me state that the money so far retrieved is money to be used as evidence in court, and this is in line with the position of President Muhammadu Buhari who said two things; we will recover and we will prosecute. So as it is now, you don’t go and bring out all these millions returned. I am aware that there is an account in the CBN where some of these funds are being kept, but they are evidences for a judge to see, they are not for public display. I think that is the challenge we have at the moment.”

Assuring Nigerians yearning for employment opportunities that the good times are around the corner with the passage of the budget, Shehu said Buhari-led administration was living up to its campaign promises to Nigerians.

He disclosed that Vice President Yemi Osibajo would soon begin a town hall meeting which would accord him the opportunity to educate Nigerians on the policies of the current administration. “I want to congratulate Nigerians for supporting the administration and especially, during the period most people consider to be a difficult one. A lot of people had expected jobs by way of key appointments in boards, ministries and the parastatals and so on, that have been held back by the fact that the president has promised a major restructuring of the executive arm of the government, including the reduction of ministries from 42 to about 24. That will not go without concomitant challenges on the existing parastatals and agencies of government, which obviously have to be modified to fit into the existing ministerial structure.

“Also, I congratulate Nigerians on the achievements the President has recorded fighting Boko Haram terrorism. The military has said its technical victory. I think that as citizens of this country, we must be able to say something and defend that, this is well beyond technical victory; no city in the country is under curfew now, all military roadblocks have been removed except when they are necessitated by a crime situation and people are freely moving, and normal life is been restored to the Northeast geo- political zone.”

Credit: Guardian

Ex-VP Sambo’s Aide Admits Receiving N25 Million For Election Website

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A former special adviser on political matters to ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo, Abba Dabo, on Thursday told Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja that he was paid N25 million by the national publicity secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, to create a website.

The money was part of the N400 million arms purchase funds allegedly given to Mr. Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited by the former NSA, Sambo Dasuki.

Mr. Dabo, while being led in evidence by the counsel to Economic Financial Crimes Commission, Sylvanus Tahir, told the court that he was paid the money through the second defendant’s company account, Destra Investment Limited.

Mr. Dabo, also a former spokesperson for ex-President Shehu Shagari, was a former editor of Sunday New Nigeria and Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo and one time deputy national chairman of the PDP (North).

According to him, the said money was for media and publicity campaign for the PDP presidential election.

Explaining how the money was expended, Mr. Dabo told the court that he created a media support system and a website called “WhatsApp Nigeria” to run media advocacy campaign for the party.

“I raised a team of facilitators and young internet experts were also employed to manage the website,” Mr. Dabo stated.

The witness further told the court that he was shocked to hear in the media that the money given to him by Mr. Metuh was part of the funds set aside to procure arms for fighting insurgency.

“Therefore, I decided to return the money to the EFCC,” Mr. Dabo said.

Justice Abang, at the instance of counsel to the second defendant, Onyechi Ikpeazu, adjourned to February 9 for further hearing.

Credit: PremiumTimes

SSS Detains Faleke, Abubakar Audu’s Son- Aide

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The Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the November 21, 2015 Governorship election in Kogi State, James Faleke, and Mohammed, the eldest son of Abubakar Audu, the late APC governorship candidate, Abubakar Audu, were on Saturday invited by the State Security Services for undisclosed reason, and then detained.

The Director, Media and Publicity of Audu/Faleke Campaign Organisation, Duro Meseko, said in a statement on Saturday that the duo arrived the SSS headquarters in Abuja at exactly 10.00am and were kept in an office with assurances that an officer would attend to them only to keep them indefinitely.

Mr. Meseko said the two politicians were kept in an isolated office till 4p.m on Saturday evening.

He said, “I’m surprised my Principal and the eldest son of our political leader, Mohammed are still being kept as I speak with you which is 4pm. What could be responsible for this ill treatment by the SSS?

“Or could they be acting the intimidation script? Trying to arms-twist them into abandoning the sacred mandate freely given to the Audu/Faleke team by the generality of Kogi people?

“Let me make it abundantly clear that our mandate is sacred and no amount of of technical detention, intimidation and harassment would shake our resolve to get justice through the judiciary.?

“I refuse to believe that the presidency has hands in the arrest! But we may not rule out the fact that the power that be must have wielded their influence in the arrest, but we are not not pertubed over the development, because we believe that God ultimately vindicate us.”

The SSS has had no official spokesperson since Marilyn Ogar was removed, and could therefore not be reached for comments.

Credit: Premiumtimes

Diezani Alison-Madueke Not Dead– Aide

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Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke is not dead as being speculated yesterday in the digital and social media, an aide, Mr Kevin Alanso has said.
Alanso who served as her adviserwhenshe was Minister, dismissed her death rumours in a text message to THEWILL.  The former Minister is undergoing chemotherapy in a London hospital for a malignant cancer.
Credit: DailyTrust

Ekweremadu Escapes Assassination Attempt, Suspected Foreign Mercenary Sighted- Aide

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The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, escaped suspected assassination attempt, Tuesday.

The attempt, according to Uche Anichukwu, the dep?uty senate president’s spokesperson, occurred at about 10:00am between Apo Flyover and Dantata Construction Company’s yard, close to the Old Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Headquarters junction on his way to work.

The suspected assassins who Mr. Anichukwu said operated in a tinted white-coloured Mercedez Benz AMG E63 without a plate number, were reportedly chauffeured by a long-bearded light skinned foreigner, apparently a mercenary.

The spokesperson continued,”The vehicle, which was positioned by the Apo Bridge, on noticing that the Deputy President of the Senate’s convoy took the right turn to join the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway instead, made a turn. The occupants attempted to attack the convoy, but were blocked. The driver violently broke into the convoy and they made several frantic attempts to attack the Senator’s official car.

”When charged at by the security operatives attached to the Deputy President of the Senate, the Benz driver made a U-turn, and partially smashed an oncoming vehicle on the opposite lane of the highway and escaped.

”The development has already been reported to the security agencies.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

Another Aide of Gov Dickson Resigns

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These are not the best of times for Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State in his bid for a second term in office as another top aide, the State Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Chief Furoebi Akene, has resigned from his administration. This brings to six the number of aides that have resigned in the last one month.

Although Akene did not state specifically the reason for his resignation, THISDAY gathered that he had been at a cold war with the commissioner for works whom he had accused of usurping his duties, as the commissioner for lands.

Pissed off by the refusal of Dickson to look into his complaints against the Commissioner for Works, Akene had moved abroad in the last three months until he returned this week to tender his resignation.

Akene,  in his resignation letter to the governor, said his decision to pull out of the cabinet was to enable him attend to pressing personal and family issues just as he expressed gratitude to the governor for giving him the opportunity to serve the state.

Credit: Thisday

Buhari Is Shy Interacting With Women- Aide

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Some insight has been provided into President Muhammadu Buhari’s aversion for women and the low number of female appointments since he assumed office, with his Senior Special Assistant, Political Matters, Mr. Gideon Samani, disclosing that the president did not include many women in his cabinet because he is “very shy dealing with the opposite sex”.

Samani, who spoke on Thursday in Abuja at the fifth annual lecture series organised by the Change We Need in Nigeria group, said Buhari was used to interacting with men, but added quickly that the issue of gender inequality would be addressed by the president.

His statement contrasted with that of a ministerial nominee from Kogi State, Mr. James Ocholi (SAN), who in defence of the low representation of women in the federal cabinet, told the Senate on Thursday that Buhari had brought women into prominence, including the late Prof. Dora Akunyili.

According to Samani, “If you are close to Mr. President, you will know that he has the interest of the nation as his uppermost priority.  He did not intentionally marginalize women.

“It is just that Mr. President is shy with women. He has been interacting mostly with men. I can assure you that in the shortest time, this issue of gender inequality will be dealt with.”

Credit: ThisDay

Ex-Police IG, Okiro, Denies Stealing N275m; Says Aide Set Him Up

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The Chairman, Police Service Commission, Mike Okiro, on Monday reacted to the allegation that he defrauded the commission of N275 million and vowed not to succumb to blackmail.

Mr. Okiri alleged that a staff of the commission, Aaron Kaase, of the Press Unit, colluded with a journalist to blackmail him with the allegation to collect N10 million.

The chairman, who spoke at a news conference in Abuja, said the commission received N350 million from the Federal Government to train its staff to monitor the conduct of police officers involved in the 2015 general elections.

Mr. Okiro had appeared before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences on June 4, following a petition by Kaase that he embezzled N275 million belonging to the commission.

“I still believe that a clear conscience fears no accusation and I will not yield to blackmail no matter how long it takes to clear my name.

“I have nothing to fear,” he said.

According to Mr. Okiro, the commission received N350 million for election monitoring/conferences/training of the staff of the commission and deployed them to states to monitor police conduct during the general elections of 2015.

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Why President Buhari Has Not Moved To Aso Rock- Aide

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head of President Muhammadu Buhari’s media team, Garba Shehu, on Sunday said Buhari had yet to move to the Presidential Villa, Abuja because his official residence was not ready for habitation.

Shehu, in an exclusive interview with our correspondent said workers were currently cleaning and refurbishing the President’s official residence. He said Buhari would not move in until that exercise was completed.

Shehu said, “As far as the President is concerned, the place (his official residence) is not ready yet.  Workers are cleaning and refurbishing the place. Once the exercise is completed, the President will move in.”

When asked to be specific on how soon Buhari would move in, Shehu said he believed it would not take time. Meanwhile, personnel of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, especially security operatives are currently at a crossroads on the direction their work will take this week.

The PUNCH’s investigation on Sunday revealed that their dilemma was based on the failure of President Buhari to relocate to the State House and his failure to appoint key aides, three days after his inauguration.

A Presidency official who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity said they were not yet sure of the President’s schedule and itinerary for the week. This, he said, was because Buhari had yet to appoint a Chief of Staff whose responsibility it is to arrange the President’s day-to-day activities.

He said, “As we are talking now, we do not know his (the President’s) activities for tomorrow (today). We cannot plan for his activities. We do not know which groups he will be meeting or how many people he will be meeting.

“It is when we have an idea of those who he will be meeting that we can schedule them regarding allocation of time and venue.

“These would have been easier for us if a Chief of Staff is in place.”

A security source also said the situation was affecting the security department.

He said because they were not carried along, the inauguration gala night held inside the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa on Friday nearly flopped as people kept trooping in. He however expressed the hope that by the time Buhari’s Chief Security Officer meets with them on Monday (today), there would be a clear direction on their activities.

“For now, we are waiting for the two big men (President and Vice President) to move into the Villa so that we can do our jobs. For now, we are only securing the seat of power without the men of power,” he declared.

Credit: punchng

Aide Of Former Minister To Be Arraigned Over N60m Scam

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Muhammed Gital, a former chief of staff to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed is set to be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a N60m scam.

Gital will be arraigned on Thursday alongside Sani Abba, the Deputy Director, Mass Housing at the Federal Capital Development Authority over their involvement in a N60million land scam.

They allegedly conspired and defrauded Duru Ejiogu, the managing director of Visioni and Strauss Nigeria Limited on the pretext that it would be used to facilitate the change of Land Use in respect of Plot No: 523, Cadastral Zone BOO Kukwaba District, from Passive Recreation to Residential.

Read More: PremiumTimes

Amaechi’s Aide Abducted in Rally

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Gunmen have abducted the anchorman to Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi events, Freddy Ndigbara in Port-harcourt, Rivers State capital. Ndigbara was said to have been whisked away on Sunday by hoodlums in Kaani Community, Khana Local Government Area of the state.

He was said to have been accosted and forced him into a waiting car by the gunmen during a ward rally organised by the All Progressives Congress in the area.

Eye witness account said the hoodlums stormed the rally with a red Toyota Highlander sports utility vehicle, made a quick search for their target before forcing him into the car and immediately sped off to an unknown destination.

Read More: Punch