ECOWAS Court To Rule On Dasuki’s Case Against Nigerian Govt

Posted on October 4, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The West African regional court is to deliver judgment on a suit filed by a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, against the Nigeria government.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice will rule on Mr. Dasuki’s petition that his rights had been violated by the Nigerian government.

Mr. Dasuki has been held by the government since December 2015, despite being granted bail by three courts.

Mr. Dasuki asked the ECOWAS Court to award him N500 million in damages for the alleged violation of his fundamental human rights.

Justice Friday Nwoke postponed the judgement originally scheduled for June 29 as judges went on vacation.

Proceedings in the case ended with the conclusion of oral evidence by two officials of the State Security Service, SSS.

Lawyers who represented the federal government, Williams Obiora and Alu Agbi, told the court that Mr. Dasuki was detained for his own protection.

Mr. Agbe said Mr. Dasuki’s release from detention would constitute a threat to national security.

They told the Court that considering that national security superseded individual security, the law permitted the SSS to restrict the movement of any citizen when his life was in danger.

They also argued that Mr. Dasuki was illegally in possession of firearms.

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FG Seeks Help, Consults Financial Experts Over Recession

Posted on August 3, 2016 by Staff Reporter

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

Nigerian Govt Unbundles State Oil Company, NNPC, Into 7 Units

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Staff Reporter

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday approved the immediate unbundling of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, into seven independent operational units.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, who announced the unbundling of the national oil company in Abuja, said five of the seven operational units will be strictly business-focussed in line with global best practices of national oil companies.

The new units include those for Upstream, Downstream, Gas & Power, Refineries, Ventures, Corporate Planning & Services and Finance and Accounts.

Each of the units would be headed by chief executive officers, namely Bello Rabiu for Upstream; Henry Ikem-Onih (downstream); Anibor Kragha (Refineries); Saudu Mohammed (Gas & Power), while Babatunde Adeniran, Ventures.

The Group Executive Director in charge of Finance & Services would be Isiaka Abdulrazaq, while the Executive Head, Corporate Services will be Isa Inuwa.

All appointments take immediate effect.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Nigerian Govt. Recovers Over $14million In Unpaid Oil Royalty From This Firm

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian government has succeeded in compelling the Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited, Jide Omokore to cough out over $14m, being crude oil royalty which his company failed to remit to the federal treasury, administration insiders said.

High ranking federal officials familiar with the development told this newspaper that the funds were supposed to have been paid between 2011 and 2012 by Atlantic Energy which was, in controversial circumstances, awarded oil assets by the Goodluck Jonathan government shortly after it was incorporated in 2010.

Sources said the money was finally paid into the Federal Government’s account with JP Morgan Chase on January 29, after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission waded into the matter of recovering taxes due to the Federal Government.

“The investigation of tax defaulters in the dollar-soaked oil industry is continuing,” a source at the EFCC said Wednesday. “Those who failed to willingly pay up stand the risk of arrest and prosecution for tax fraud.”

Operatives of the EFCC had on January 27 questioned Mr. Omokore, an ally of former President Jonathan in connection with a series of multi-billion dollar crude export deals.

Mr. Omokore could not be reached for comments Wednesday. But his company recently issued a statement saying it was getting back on course after submitting its plan to settle outstanding financial commitments to the Nigerian authorities.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Tambuwal Urges Nigerian Govt To End Rice Import Waiver

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The current waiver regime enjoyed by rice importers is hampering local production of the commodity and should be phased out by the Nigerian government, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has stated.

Mr. Tambuwal gave the advice when he received the new Customs Area Controller for Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states, Muhammad Kabir.
The governor said preliminary studies undertaken showed that despite efforts to boost local rice production, unfavourable government policies such as rice import waivers were the impediments to objectives of achieving local self-sufficiency.

The position taken by the Sokoto governor is similar to the one taken by the Nigerian Senate recently on the same matter.

Mr. Tambuwal also said that the quality of rice produced locally is of international standard and far better than many imported into the country. He said his administration would continue to support farmers in rice production to enable them acquire standard facilities that will process their produce.
“We have the potential to meet Africa’s rice needs,” he added.

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OPC Helped Nigerian Govt. Save N3 bn- Gani Adams

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress, Gani Adams, on Wednesday said the group saved the country N3billion that would have been lost to the cartel in the oil sector.

Mr. Adams made this known while speaking on a radio call-in programme, “Day Breakshow” of Rockcity F.M Radio Station, Abeokuta. He lamented that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, which signed the contract, is still owes the association even after the expiration of the contract.

The OPC, during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, got awarded a contract to protect the pipelines facilities in the South-West of the country.

Mr. Gani said in the course of protecting the pipelines, the group lost two of its members to the vandals, adding that several others also sustained various degree of injuries, and are still undergoing medical treatment.

The Congress leader said he was optimistic that the authorities of the NNPC would not renege on the contract agreement since it was a legal agreement.

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Nigerian Govt Sues Senate House Over Constitution Amendments

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Federal Government has instituted a suit at the Supreme Court to nullify the proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution. President Goodluck Jonathan had withheld his assent to the amendments to some sections of the document sent to him by the National Assembly.

In a seven-page letter to the Senate President, David Mark, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, the president queried the decision of the National Assembly to whittle down some executive powers of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He faulted some amendments which gives executive powers and duties to the legislature and the judiciary.

Mr. Jonathan explained his position on the amendment and why he declined to sign the document into law. “In view of the foregoing and absence of credible evidence that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Fourth Alteration) Act 2015 satisfied the strict requirements of Section 9(3) of the 1999 Constitution, it will be unconstitutional for me to assent to it,” the president said.

“I therefore withhold my assent and accordingly remit Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Fourth Alteration) Act 2015 to the Senate /House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

However, the National Assembly said after 30 days, it would override the veto of the president.