Tag Archives: NSA

Robert Harward rejects President Trump’s offer to replace Flynn as NSA.

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U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee as his new National Security Adviser, Robert Harward, a retired Vice Admiral, has turned down the offer, according to reports.

Mr. Harward was to replace Trump’s former adviser, Michael Flynn, retired Army Lt. Gen., who resigned on Monday for misleading Vice President Mike Pence over his conversations with Russia’s ambassador to the U.S.

Mr. Harward, a former Navy SEAL, was said to have cited “financial and family issues that would have been challenging in this position” in explaining his decision to decline the offer.

“Like all service members understand, and live, this job requires 24 hours a day, seven days a week focus and commitment to do it right. I currently could not make that commitment.

“My thoughts and prayers are with those that carry such heavy burdens and responsibility for taking care of our country’s national security concerns,” Mr. Harward said in a statement.

Mr. Harward’s statement declining to accept the position came a day after reports that President Trump had offered the job to him following Mr. Flynn’s resignation.

Mr. Trump was reportedly “a bit surprised when Harward responded by saying he needed a couple of days to think it over”.

Reports said Mr. Harward’s decision followed his concern about whether the top advisers in Mr. Trump’s administration would allow him to install his own staff on the National Security Council, particularly the Deputy National Security Adviser, K.T. McFarland, whom Mr. Trump had asked to stay on.

Following Mr. Flynn’s resignation from his post, Mr. Trump had named Keith Kellogg, a retired Army Lt. Gen., who previously served as Mr. Flynn’s Chief of Staff on the National Security Council, as his acting National Security Adviser.

Mr. Harward was among several individuals floated for the position to replace Mr. Flynn, along with Homeland Security Adviser, Tom Bossert, and David Petraeus, a former Director of Criminal Investigative Agency (CIA), and retired Army Gen.

 

Source: NAN

U.S. National Security Advsier, Flynn, resigns.

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President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Michael Flynn, resigned late on Monday after revelations that he had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States.

It was discovered that the conversation had taken place before Mr. Trump took office; and Mr. Flynn had misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations.

Mr. Flynn’s resignation came hours after it was reported that the Justice Department had warned the White House weeks ago that Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail for contacts with Russian ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, before Mr. Trump took power on Jan. 20.

His departure is a sobering development in Mr. Trump’s young presidency, a 24-day period during which his White House has been repeatedly distracted by miscues and internal dramas.

The departure could also slow Mr. Trump’s bid to warm up relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mr. Flynn submitted his resignation hours after Mr. Trump, through a spokesman, pointedly declined to publicly back Mr. Flynn, saying he was reviewing the situation and talking to Mr. Pence.

Mr. Flynn promised Mr. Pence that he had not discussed U.S. sanctions with the Russians, but transcripts of communications described by U.S. officials showed that the subject had come up in conversations between him and the Russian ambassador.

Such contacts could potentially be in violation of a law banning private citizens from engaging in foreign policy known as the Logan Act.

Mr. Pence had defended Mr. Flynn in television interviews and was described by administration officials as upset about being misled.

“Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the vice president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador.

“I have sincerely apologised to the president and the vice president, and they have accepted my apology,” Flynn said in his resignation letter.

Keith Kellogg, a retired army general, who has been chief of staff of the White House National Security Council, was named the acting national security adviser while Mr. Trump determines who should fill the position.

Mr. Kellogg, retired General David Petraeus, a former CIA director, and Robert Harward, a former deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, are under consideration for the position, a White House official said.

Mr. Harward was however described by officials as the leading candidate.

Sally Yates, the then-acting U.S. attorney general, had told the White House late last month that she believed Mr. Flynn had misled them about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador.

She said Mr. Flynn might have put himself in a compromising position, possibly leaving himself vulnerable to blackmail, the official said.

Ms. Yates was later fired for opposing Mr. Trump’s temporary entry ban for people from seven mostly Muslim nations.

A U.S. official, describing the intercepted communications, said Mr. Flynn did not make any promises about lifting the sanctions.

However, he indicated that sanctions imposed by President Barack Obama on Russia for its Ukraine incursion “would not necessarily carry over to an administration seeking to improve relations between the U.S. and Russia.”

Mr. Flynn, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general, was an early supporter of Mr. Trump and shares his interest in shaking up the establishment in Washington.

He frequently raised eyebrows among Washington’s foreign policy establishment for trying to persuade Mr. Trump to warm up U.S. relations with Russia.

A U.S. official said Mr. Flynn’s departure, coupled with Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and Syria and Republican congressional opposition to removing sanctions on Russia, removes Mr. Trump’s most ardent advocate of taking a softer line towards Mr. Putin.

Mr. Flynn’s leaving “may make a significant course change less likely, at least any time soon,” the official said.

Another official said Mr. Flynn’s departure may strengthen the hands of some cabinet secretaries, including Defence Secretary, Jim Mattis and Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson.

However, the second official said Mr. Flynn’s exit could also reinforce the power of presidential aides , Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller, whom he described as already having the president’s ear.

Congressional Democrats expressed alarm at the developments surrounding Mr. Flynn and called for a classified briefing by administration officials to explain what had happened.

“We are communicating this request to the Department of Justice and FBI this evening,” said Democratic representatives John Conyers of Michigan and Elijah Cummings of Maryland.

U.S. Representative Adam Schiff of California, ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said Mr. Flynn’s departure does not end the questions over his contacts with the Russians.

“The Trump administration has yet to be forthcoming about who was aware of Flynn’s conversations with the ambassador and whether he was acting on the instructions of the president or any other officials, or with their knowledge,” Mr. Schiff said.

The committee’s chairman, Republican Devin Nunes, thanked Mr. Flynn for his service.

“Washington D.C. can be a rough town for honourable people, and Flynn, who has always been a soldier, not a politician, deserves America’s gratitude and respect,” he said.

 

Source: Reuters

Nigerian government insists on secret trial of ex-NSA Sambo Dasuki.

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For the second time, the Federal Government applied to the Federal High Court in Abuja for protection of witnesses that will testify against the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, in the charge of unlawful possession of fire-arms and money laundering brought against him.

The fresh application to that effect was brought to court by Oladipo Okpeseyi recently engaged by the federal government to lead the prosecution.

In the motion dated January 23 and filed January 24, the government is insisting that the witnesses be given protection by the court by not allowing their names and addresses to be made public in the course of the trial.

But in an opposition to the fresh request, Mr. Dasuki asked the court to dismiss the government motion on the ground that it lacks merit and constitutes a gross abuse of court process.

The Ex-NSA in a counter affidavit filed by his lead counsel, Ahmed Raji, argued that there was no justification for the Federal Government to have brought the motion for secret trial for the second time having lost in the first motion.

The defendant insisted that the federal government had on its own volition placed the charges against him in the internet where the names, addresses and positions of the witnesses were conspicuously put at the disposal of the general public.

Besides, Mr. Dasuki maintained that when the first application was argued by the then Director of Public Prosecution of Nigeria, Mohamed Diri, Justice Adeniyi Adenola of the same court in a landmark ruling dismissed the request on the ground that the witnesses were already known by the public having given their names through the internet.

Mr. Dasuki’s lawyer further said that bringing the same motion to the same court constituted a gross abuse of court process and that what the prosecution ought to do if not satisfied with the decision of Justice Ademola, was to have gone to the Court of Appeal to ventilate its anger.

Mr. Dasuki, who attached a copy of the earlier court ruling on the application, urged the trial judge, Ahmed Mohammed, not to allow the fresh motion for secret trial to be entertained because it would violate his right to fair trial and will run contrary to the principle of the rule of law and natural justice.

When the motion came up on Tuesday, Mr. Opeseyi could not move the motion on the ground that the defence had just served him a voluminous counter affidavit objecting to the motion.

The prosecution counsel told Justice Mohammed that so many fundamental issues were raised in the counter affidavit and that plethora of authorities were also cited in the counter affidavit.

He, therefore, applied for an adjournment to enable him study the counter affidavit and respond to it appropriately.

The defence did not object to the request for the adjournment but clarified that the fresh motion for secret trial was served on the defendant last Thursday, hence their counter affidavit prepared over the weekend was served today within the time allowed by law.

Justice Mohammed has therefore fixed hearing of the motion for March 1.

The Federal Government through the Department of the State Security Service had in 2015 slammed a 2-count charge of unlawful possession of fire-arms and money laundering on Mr. Dasuki.

But the trial suffered a setback last year when Justice Ademola withdrew from further conducting the trial following his arrest by the SSS, also called DSS, on allegations of corruption.

The withdrawal of Mr. Ademola from the trial prompted the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Ibrahim Auta, to transfer the case file to the present judge

The Ex-NSA who pleaded not guilty to the charges was in 2015 admitted to bail by Mr. Ademola but was disallowed by the SSS from enjoying the bail. The security agency rearrested him and kept him in its custody since December 2015.

Other courts like the ECOWAS court have also granted Mr. Dasuki bail, with all ignored by the SSS.

 

Source: Premium Times

Dasuki paid Dokpesi N2.1bn without a contract, says witness.

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Shuaibu Salisu Abdulmalik, a former director of finance at the office of the national security adviser, on Tuesday told a federal high court, Abuja, that Sambo Dasuki, former NSA, paid N2.1bn into the account of Raymond Dokpesi’s company – Daar Communications Plc – without a contract.

 

Abdulmalik, who testified as prosecution witness 2 before Justice John Tsoho, said the money was not captured in the NSA budget.

 

The witness was the director of finance and administration at ONSA between November 2010 – 2015.

 

Led in evidence by Rotimi Jacobs, counsel to the EFCC, Abdulmalik said: “My schedule of duty includes: general administration; finance; preparation of budget and salaries. I also liaise with the accountant-general of the federation, AGF, as well as the minister of finance.”

 

“Sometime in January 2015, the then NSA (Dasuki) and I were having breakfast in his office as usual when he gave me Dr. Dokpesi’s number and asked me to call him. He said Dokpesi would give me an account number and that I should credit the account with N500million. After breakfast, I called Dokpesi and introduced myself to him. He sent his PA to me, who was woman and whose name I have forgotten. The woman gave me Dopkesi’s personal account number, but I told her that the CBN would not pay money to a personal account.”

 

According to Abdulmalik, Dokpesi’s PA came the next day with details of Daar Investments and Holding Company Limited’s account domiciled with First Bank.

 

“I collected the account details and prepared the mandate for NSA to sign. The NSA did not tell me the purpose of the transfer, so in the mandate, I put MEDIA CAMPAIGN as the purpose of the transfer and took the mandate to CBN,” he said.

 

The witness further narrated how he transferred additional funds to the same account.

 

According to him, “the transfers totalled N2,120,000,000.”

 

Abdulmalik stated that the funds were transferred between January and March 2015, adding that “to the best of my knowledge, no contract existed between the ONSA and Dokpesi nor his company”.

 

He clarified the phrase “all due process complied with” written on the mandate to simply mean, “all the signatories signed accordingly”. He explained that the signatories as stipulated by the financial regulations were the NSA and him, being the counter-signer.

 

The former DFA also insisted: “We did not budget for any media campaign. As far as I can remember, this is the first time such payment will be made from the ONSA.”

 

The judge adjourned the trial to February 7 and 8, 2017.

Boko Haram terrorists, suspects must be prosecuted – NSA

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The Federal Government has vowed to prosecute Boko Haram terrorists and anybody suspected to be engaged in acts of terrorism using the instruments of the law.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja, at the technical consultations on considering and developing comprehensive approach to prosecuting, rehabilitating, and re-integrating former members of Boko Haram terrorists.

Mr. Monguno said Nigeria has resolved to win the fight against terrorism through its core national values, which includes respect for human rights as guaranteed by Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution and relevant international human rights conventions.

He stressed that “whereas violent do not respect human rights, and share no such values, we are committed to ensuring that every suspect charged with terrorism has a day in court”.

He stated that counter-terrorism measures are only effective when anchored within a rule of law and human rights framework, and “why we undertook a holistic approach to strengthening our criminal justice system to serve as our most formidable weapon against terrorism”.

Against this backdrop, he said Nigeria was partnering with the European Union (EU), United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and other relevant agencies to find the best “approach to prosecuting, rehabilitating and re-integrating former members of Boko Haram”.

“We are therefore, looking beyond the ongoing counter-isurgency campaigns in the Northeast to the next phase where Violent Extremist Offenders (VEOs) who had either repented or had passed through the criminal justice process were rehabilitated and re-integrated back to the society,” he stated.

Mr. Monguno said this commitment to defeat terror through the strength of laws and values informed the “Abuja Declaration on the Treatment of Violent Extremist Offenders under the Nigeria Countering Violent Extremist (CVE) Programme of April 14, 2016, which among others recommended that:

“CVE programmes need to be developed and implemented within a strategic policy and legal framework that promotes an end to violence, accountability, justice, re-integration and reconciliation; and Federal Government establishes and implements a sector-wide monitoring and evaluation framework for the De-radicalisation programme through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

“Also that appropriate authorities develop and establish a mechanism for the transfer of those awaiting trial or convict(s) to the custody of the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS); and investigation and justice agencies establish a coordination mechanism to ensure that prosecution and court hearings are conducted in a timely fashion and in accordance with national legislation,” he said.

Also speaking, the representative of the EU delegation, Richard Young, stated that “in tackling global terrorism, there were various views on its solutions, including those of the view that terrorists who surrender and are captured should be sent to prison, de-radicalised and be reintegrated back into the society, and those of the view that terrorists should be fully prosecuted and face the law, which he said was a difficult view”.

Ex-NSA Sambo Dasuki calls for accelerated hearing of his trial

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The former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki has called on the Supreme Court to accelerate his trial.

According to Vanguard, Dasuki also said he had earlier lodged two appeals against his continued detention.

In a letter to the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, the ex-NSA, through his lawyer, J.B. Daudu (SAN), asks the apex court to quickly determine his appeals.

 

An excerpt of the letter reads: “The same government having breached his right to fair trial by not allowing him proceed on bail to have adequate time and facilities to prepare his defence, interfered with his constitutionally guaranteed presumption of innocence by continuing to detain him without trial has insisted on several occasions to proceed with the charges afore described, knowing fully well that the appellant has no access to documents with which he would wish to defend himself.”

Sambo Dasuki has been in detention after being granted bail by several court of competent jurisdiction.

The former NSA was arrested and charged to court for allegedly diverting funds meant for the purchase of weapons for the Army  to prosecute the war against Boko Haram.

Pulse: Obanikoro is going down, but he won’t do so alone.

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The walls are closing in on Musiliu Obanikoro, former Minister of State for Defence.

Obanikoro has been singing his way deeper and deeper into trouble, sources at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have told Pulse.

Obanikoro surprisingly turned himself into the waiting arms of the anti-graft agency as soon as he touched down in Nigeria from the United States last week.

The former Lagos State Governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is being investigated for frittering N4.745bn.

The sum came from the $2.1bn meant for the procurement of arms but which was diverted to meet political ends by erstwhile National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, investigators say.

Arms Deal Scandal: Musiliu Obanikoro Is On The run?

Obanikoro has been with the EFCC since October 17, 2016 and it’s quite the turnaround for a man who only said in June that his trial was a media one – a circus.

“Suggestions of an EFCC investigation have dwelt solely in the realm of rumours, over which I have sued several media organisations to court,” Obanikoro had thundered from his safe haven in the U.S.

“I cannot submit myself to such glaring witch-hunt, injustice and charade but I’ll fight it legally, with God and clear conscience on my side.

“Since EFCC opted to make this a media trial/circus, let them make public any document linking me or any of my children to any financial scam.

“The allegations are lies, not backed by fact or evidence but a burning desire to obliterate the opposition and keep Nigerians distracted. Rumours of extradition are also lies – false allegations cannot stand up to any decent legal inquiry in a civilised system such as in the US”, Obanikoro had barked.

EFCC operatives have told Pulse that it’s a different Obanikoro who has been cooling his heels in custody of the anti-graft agency since last week.

“He’s been singing like a canary. He’s mentioned Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose. He’s also mentioned Iyiola Omisore. You’ll recall that Fayose and Omisore were some of the voices in that Ekiti election rigging audio tape which became public in 2015”.

Obanikoro has confessed to handing over N2.3bn to Fayose; air-lifted through Akure in Ondo State, in two chartered aircrafts.

The money found its way into Ekiti in the run-up to the 2014 Governorship contest in the South West State.

Fayose won that election, unseating the incumbent, John Kayode Fayemi.

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose

Obanikoro has also admitted that he transferred N1.7 billion of the sum to the 2014 Governorship candidate of the PDP in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Unlike Fayose, however, Omisore came up short in Osun State. Rauf Aregbesola of the APC, nullified the billions making its way round the country at the time from the PDP, in his home State.

Obanikoro has also disclosed to investigators that he was disbursing the money following orders from Dasuki.

Dasuki was NSA to then President Goodluck Jonathan.

Another EFCC operative told the press:  “He (Obanikoro) admitted that he transferred N1.7bn to Senator Iyiola Omisire out of the N4.685bn paid into the Sylva Mcnamara’s account on the instructions of Col. Sambo Dasuki, the former NSA.

“He said a total of N3.880bn was transferred to Fayose and Omisore from the N4.685bn that was transferred to the company account of Sylva McNamara.

“The former minister told the commission that Tope Aluko (the then Ekti State Secretary of the PDP) and other PDP leaders were present when the dollars were handed over to Fayose, who took them to a room next to where they met.”

An EFCC operative who spoke to Pulse on the basis of anonymity because he had not been authorized to comment on the subject, said: “We have him (Obanikoro) exactly where we want him. The feeling we are getting is that he won’t go down without the likes of Fayose and Omisore”.

ECOWAS Court Order: Why Buhari Will Keep Dasuki In Detention

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Dasuki, NSA in the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration, is standing trial for embezzlement of over $15 billion fund meant for equipment and other logistics to fight Boko Haram, the insurgent group troubling the Northeastern part of the country.

The ECOWAS Court on Tuesday ordered Dasuki’s release. He went to the court after a Federal High Court’s order that he should be released was ignored.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s biographer, JohnPaden, hinted that Dasuki’s release from detention may not happen soon.

In Chapter 15 of the book, “Muhammadu Buhari – The challenges of Leadership in Nigeria” which focuses on ‘Military Procurement Accountability’, Paden noted that Buhari believed in confronting to the end any act of corruption that will undermine the integrity of the military.

He also disclosed that such corruption in military procurement that puts the lives of the foot soldiers at risk is capable of endangering the Nigeria Project itself.

Paden writes: “For Buhari who has said openly that he wants to be remembered for fighting corruption, it will be an unmitigated disaster for his legacy if such a gargantuan fleecing went on in his primary constituency, the military, and he failed to unearth it and punish the culprits.

“Buhari knows that Task Force and Division Commanders knew of and approved these arms purchases; Service Chiefs knew too; Ministers of Defence and Finance knew; Chief of Staff knew; civil servants in the Ministries of Defence and Finance knew, Chief of Staff to the President knew; the Vice President knew; and the President knew. It is why Buhari will keep his foot on Dasuki’s throat until he fesses up.

“Who really was Sambo Dasuki fronting for in Jonathan’s cabinet? That is the main question to which Buhari is also seeking answers.”

Paden continued: “As noted throughout this study, Buhari has a strong belief in right and wrong. He also has an abiding respect for the Nigerian military as an institution that can help hold Nigeria together.

“From Buhari’s perspective, if corruption in military procurement undermines the integrity of the military, that corruption must be confronted.

“And if such procurement allegations weaken the military response to Boko Haram and put ordinary foot soldiers at risk, that corruption poses a double threat, endangering even the Nigeria Project itself.”

Paden however ruled out personal or political affiliation as a reason for Dasuki’s continuous incarceration.

He said: “It is beyond the scope of this study to assess all the back stories of the relationship between Buhari and Dasuki. Suffice it to say that the so-called grudge between the two has never really existed.

“Dasuki is twelve years younger than Buhari, even though Dasuki did participate in the 1985 countercoup. The family of Ibrahim Dasuki and the Buhari extended family have been linked by marriage for more than four decades.

“In addition, in his inaugural address, Buhari had professed that although ‘the past is prologue’, he had no time to pursue alleged ‘enemies.”

“Other personal relationships in play included Buhari’s relationship with Jonathan’s Minister of Defence, General Aliyu Gusau and Buhari’s relationship with General Babangida, who has played such a ubiquitous role in Fourth Republic politics.

“Yet the real story probably has little to do with personal or political relationships.”

$15bn Arms Deals: Panel Traces Funds To Five Children Of Ex-Army Chief

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The Presidential Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement (CADEP) has traced about N2billion, meant for the purchase of vehicles for the Nigerian Army, to the accounts of five children of a former Chief of Army Staff.

 

The accounts were said to have been frozen as at the time of filing this report.

 

Also, the panel discovered that about 42 units of Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) rejected by Iraq were resold to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram insurgents.

 

It said the poor equipment accounted for the loss of lives and soldiers in the North-East.

 

The panel’s findings are contained in a brief which was  obtained by The Nation.

The outcome of the panel’s investigation suggested that the children of the ex-Chief of Army Staff allegedly used two companies for the deal.

 

The panel said: “The committee reviewed the procurement carried out by Chok Ventures Ltd and Integrated Equipment Services Ltd, two companies that shared the same registered office, had one name as common controlling shareholder and sole or mandatory signatory to the various banks accounts of the companies.”

 

The committee further established that between March 2011 and December 2013, the two companies exclusively procured various types of Toyota and Mitsubishi vehicles worth over N2, 000,000,000.00 for the Nigerian Army without any competitive bidding.

 

Most of the contracts awarded to the companies were also split, awarded on the same date or within a short space of time at costs and mobilization higher than the prescribed thresholds.

 

For instance, on February 13 and 15, the two companies were awarded contracts worth N260, 000.000.00 and N315, 000,000.00 respectively for supplies of various vehicles. The Nigerian Army could not justify the exclusive selection of these vendors against other renowned distributors of same brands of vehicles procured.

 

More seriously, the committee found no credible evidence of delivery of the vehicles by the two companies as there were no receipt vouchers, but only unauthenticated delivery notes, invoices and waybills that were purportedly used for the deliveries.

 

Nevertheless, the vendors were fully paid based on job completion certificate authenticated by the then Chief of Logistics, Maj Gen D.D. Kitchener (rtd). The payments were also made without deduction of Withholding Tax (WHT). Furthermore, analyses of the various bank accounts of the two companies showed transfers to individuals , some of who are believed to be children of the army chief.

 

“Thus, the committee recommends further investigation to determine delivery of the vehicles and relationship of funds beneficiaries with the former COAS and the two companies. Furthermore, the panel said that Lt Gen O. A. Ihejirika (rtd), Maj Gen D. D. Kitchener (rtd), Col A. M. Inuwa and Mr Chinedu Onyekwere should be held accountable for the issues arising out of the contracts.”

 

The panel observed that the award of contracts in the Nigerian Army was fraught with irregularities.

 

It said a company was registered on November 17, 2014 and awarded $125,179,299.10 on the same day.

 

It said: “The Nigerian Army, between April and August 2014, entered into four contract agreements with Societe D’Equipmenteux Internationale  (SEI Nig Ltd)  for procurement of Cobra Armoured Personnel Carriers, Shilka Self-Propelled Artillery Guns, Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) as well as various ammunition and spares funded by the ONSA.”

 

The contracts for the Cobra APCs and Shilka Guns were not executed as they were not funded. However, the costs for procurement of the AFVs; ammunition and spares were $398,550,000.00 and $484,765,000.00 respectively totalling $883,315,000.00.

 

In November 2014, the ONSA awarded contract to Conella Services Limited for procurement of 72 various arms and ammunition that included MRAP vehicles, Mi-17 helicopter at the cost of $125,179,299.10.

 

The committee observed that the company was registered in Nigeria on 17 November, 2014 and awarded the contract on the same date, while the EUC for the procurement was issued a day later on 18 November, 2014. Furthermore, the ONSA paid $36,996,530.00 and N2,209,582,296.00 to the vendor between November 2014 and 15 April, 2015.

 

However, the Nigerian Army denied receipt of any procurement from Conella Services Ltd.

 

Similarly, the committee tried in vain to reach officials of the company to confirm execution of the contract. There is, therefore, the need for further investigation of Conella Services Ltd.

 

The committee observed that SEI and its two associated companies, APC Axial Ltd and HK-Sawki Nig Ltd, were incorporated in May 2014 with two Nigerien brothers, Hima Aboubakar and Ousmane Hima Massy as the only directors.

 

Between May 2014 and March 2015, the ONSA mandated CBN to release various sums totaling $386,954,000.00 to SEI and the two associated companies for ‘procurement of technical equipment’, without tying the money to particular items of procurement.

 

Thus, the allotment of the funds was left at the discretion of the vendor without input or consultation with ONSA or the Nigerian Army.

 

“Furthermore, some of the funds transferred preceded the formalization of SEI contracts with the Nigerian Army. There was also no evidence of any contract to justify the payments made by ONSA to the SEI associate companies. Consequently, it had been difficult for the ONSA, the Nigerian Army and SEI to reconcile the accounts vis-a-vis the equipment delivered.”

 

The panel also uncovered that 42 units of Armoured Personnel Carrier(APC) which were rejected by Iraq were later sold to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram insurgents.

 

It claimed that some of the APCs were either expired or unsuitable leading to loss of lives.

 

It added: “The committee observed that one of the new equipment SEI procured for the Nigerian Army from Ukraine was BTR-4E APC.”

 

However, according to the Ukraine’s state enterprise, Lviv Armour Repair Plant, the designers of the equipment, “some of the products sold to Nigeria in 2014 were actually among 42 units designed for Iraq which subsequently rejected them due to poor performance rating”.

 

The Nigerian Army did not also undertake the mandatory pre-shipment inspections provided for in the contract agreements. Instead, the NA deployed an infantry officer, who lacked the technical knowledge to assess the capabilities and shortcomings of the equipment, to oversee the shipment of the items for the Nigerian Army from Ukraine.

 

Additionally, the two-week training availed the technicians and operators was inadequate for them to comprehend the technical workings of the newly introduced equipment.

 

The committee’s interactions with the field operators revealed that although the platforms and ammunition procured by SEI were deployed for the NE operations, some of them were aged or expired, lacked spares and prone to breakdown without immediate recovery equipment.

“Therefore, failure to carry out pre-shipment inspection and inadequate training resulted in procurement of some unreliable equipment that reduced the capacity of the Nigerian Army in the North East operations and resulted in the loss of lives and equipment.”

 

On some payments to SEI on T-72 Tanks, the panel said the company made about $93,000,000.00 profit without paying the mandatory 5 per cent Withholding Tax(WHT).

 

It said: “SEI submitted a document to the committee reconciling the items it delivered to the Nigerian Army vis-a-vis the payments made to it by ONSA.”

 

According to SEI, the total value of the contracts it executed amounted to $909,065,824.00 and not the  $883,315,000.00 reflected in the two contract agreements it signed with Nigerian Army.

 

Furthermore, SEI claimed that it delivered goods worth $697,718,168.00 whereas only $198,289,672.00 was paid to it by ONSA.

 

Credit: TheNation

Metuh’s Firm Among 78 Paid For Doing Nothing – NSA’s Office

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An official of the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mr. Bali Ndam, on Tuesday narrated to a Federal High Court in Abuja the processes leading to the charges of money laundering and fraudulent receipt of the sum of N400m from the ONSA in November 2014, preferred against the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh.

Ndam, a Legal Adviser at the ONSA, who appeared before Justice Okon Abang as the third prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday, said the incumbent NSA, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, sent a petition dated November 28, 2015 to the commission over “payment of contracts without award”.

Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, the witness said “a list of companies and individuals about 78 in number” was attached to the NSA’s petition to the EFCC.

He said he could “vividly remember” that Metuh’s firm, Destra Investments Limited, with whom the PDP spokesperson is standing trial, was among the 78 beneficiaries of the allegedly ?fraudulent payment.

But an attempt by the prosecution to tender the petition and other documents, including the electronic mandate issued by the ONSA to the Controller of the Abuja branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria for payments in favour of the 78 beneficiaries, was opposed by the defence counsel, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN).

The judge is currently writing his bench ruling on the objection raised by the defence against the admisibility of the documents.

Metuh, who has a pending application for variation of the conditions of bail granted him by the court was also produced in court on handcuffs by prison officials on Tuesday.

The court has fixed tomorrow, Wednesday for the hearing of the application for variation of the bail terms, which his lawyer said he had laboured unsuccessfully to meet.

The EFCC is prosecuting  Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, on seven counts of money laundering and fraudulent receipt of N400m meant for procurement of arms from from the Office of the NSA on November 22, 2014, and used the funds for the PDP’s campaign activities.

The prosecution alleged that the N400m from which Metuh was said to have given about N21m to a former Chairman, Board of Trustee of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, was “part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity” of the immediate past NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

The prosecution, led by Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, opened its case on Monday by calling two witnesses – an employee of a financial services firm, Asset and Resource Management Company Limited, Nneka Ararume, and a bureau de change operator, Sie Iyenome.

While Ararume testified on how she received a $2m cash from Metuh at his home in Abuja on December 2, 2014, Iyenome narrated to the court his role in converting the sum $1m part of the total sum of $2m

‘The N4.6billion I Received From Dasuki Was For Spiritual Purpose’ – Ex-Sokoto Governor, Bafarawa

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The alleged diversion of $2.2 billion meant for arms purchase by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan continue to generate more revelations as former Sokoto State Governor Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa denied receiving any money from the embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA) retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki.

Controversy has led to arrest of Dasuki and some prominent Nigerians by the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A statement in Abuja yesterday by one of his aides, a former Special Adviser on Youths and Students Matters during his term as Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Akibu Dalhatu said Bafarawa has no deal
with the former NSA nor collected any money from him for any purpose.
Besides, Dalhatu lamented what he called deliberate media campaign aimed at tarnishing the image of the former governor saying it appears that the media was being used to play out a script that has been written long before now.

“The truth is that Governor Bafarawa went to the EFCC to honour an invitation made to him by the agency while he was abroad. He had informed them through a letter by his lawyers that he was abroad and would honour their invitation on return. Governor Bafarawa went to the office of EFCC with his lawyer and an aide,” he added.

However, Bafarawa had stated that he received N4.6 billion from Dasuki for “spiritual purposes.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) also added its voice to the matter calling for stringent punishment for those found guilty.
NLC president, Comrade Ayuba Wabba told journalists yesterday in Abuja that capital punishment for offenders cannot be ruled out to stem the tide of corruption bedeviling the country.

Wabba noted that the mind-boggling revelation by the erstwhile Director of Finance to Dasuki, Shuaibu Salisu, should be commended and should be well protected as a whistle-blower.

Source: DailyTrust

NSA, Microsoft Team Up To Tackle Cyber Crime In Nigeria

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Worried with the increasing cybercrime that cause more economic harm than good in Nigeria, platforms and productivity services giant, Microsoft Nigeria has joined forces with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and other industry stakeholders, to tackle the ugly trend.

 
With over N159 billion lost by Nigerians through online scam and identity theft between 2000 and 2013 as well as 2,175 websites defaced within the same period, in a cybersecurity capacity building workshop organised last week in Abuja between Microsoft and NSA, participants agreed that there was need for education and awareness intervention for security and law enforcement and other ICT regulatory agencies in Nigeria for enhancing the security of the country’s cyberspace so as to checkmate cybercrime promptly.

 

Earlier in his welcome speech, the National Security Adviser, Major Babagana Monguno, represented by Barrister. Isaac Idu, Director of Internal Security in the office said, “The cyberspace virtual global domain while dismantling barriers to commerce, is increasingly transforming our economy and security posture, creating opportunities for innovations and the means to improve general welfare of the citizens.

 
Since cybersecurity had taken the dimension of global phenomena which requires concerted efforts of both the private and public strategy to tame it, Major Monguno expressed happiness that Microsoft as a key partner is aligning itself with ONSA to provide a secure online space in the country as part of efforts to ensure security strategy to secure the cyber space.
Reiterating that the workshop was part of government’s renewed measures towards safeguarding the nation’s presence in cyberspace and ensuring protection of the national critical information infrastructure, Monguno explained that the Federal Government was determined to confront the threats in the Nigerian cyberspace, uphold and support the openness of the cyberspace as well as balance security with respect to privacy and fundamental rights.
In his address, the Managing Director, Microsoft Nigeria, Mr. Kabelo Makwane said the partnership on the cybersecurity capacity building workshop was borne out of the desire to support ONSA, Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies ( MDAs), to grow capacity with respect to global approaches to national cybersecurity strategy, addressing cybersecurity risks through amongst others computer emergency response Team (CERT) management, security and privacy of data in the cloud, cybersecurity forensics and audit skills, global policy and legal developments, cloud computing and its benefits, growing local data hosting capabilities, in line with the new Nigerian cybercrime law, the Cybercrime Act 2015.
According to Makwane, ONSA’s National Cybersecurity Strategy (NCSS) closely aligns with Microsoft’s ambition to provide a safe, secure and resilient online environment.
For the Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Mr. Peter Jack, the agency had established the NITDA’s cert.NG centre to police the cyberspace.
He added that the agency is constantly involved in critical role in capacity building through the agency’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) centres established in 2014, adding, “We are also concerned and have started the Child Online Campaign.
Security policy
We believe strongly in multi stakeholders strategy, as we have worked closely with ONSA in formulating the national cyber-security policy formulation and documents”.
According to him, NITDA has also concluded plans to collaborate with ONSA to develop a framework aimed at addressing child online abuse in the country.
He said: “We wait eagerly to call all the stakeholders to have the Cybercrime Council inaugurated and then we can make progress.”
Noting that the time had come for multi-stakeholder’s strategy to combat all forms of cybercrimes and identity theft, Jack disclosed that of the 2,175 websites that had been defaced, 585 were actually government websites.
Meanwhile, conscious of the diversity of implications of the nation’s risk exposure in cyberspace, the Federal Government as a matter of urgency had put in place cohesive measures towards addressing the emerging risks effectively.

 

Credit : Vanguard

Ogundana Michael Rotimi: On The Trial of Sambo Dasuki?

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Before Sambo Dasuki travels abroad for his radiotherapy, before he decides not to come back home for health reasons, before he grants “The Boss”, Dele Momodu an exclusive interview from his home abroad on the many allegations against him, before he sorts public sympathy through his health condition, before Nigeria forgets about all his atrocities, let me remind Nigerians about his activities as the National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Goodluck Jonathan.

For those that don`t know him, Sambo Mohammed Dasuki, is from a royal family in Sokoto. He is the son of the former Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmed Dasuki, who was deposed by the military regime of late Gen. Sani Abacha. Sambo Dasuki, as he is popularly called is a retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army and the former National Security Adviser (NSA). He was appointed NSA by the former President of Nigeria, Dr. Ebele Goodluck Jonathan on June 22, 2012, following the removal of General Owoye Andrew Azazi. Dasuki was sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 13, 2015.

For a clear record, Sambo Dasuki was the National Security Adviser from June 22, 2012 through July 13, 2015. That means he was the NSA for 3 years 21 days.

There were no doubts that terrorist activities increased sporadically under the watch of Sambo Dasuki, when he was the NSA. Moreover, under him, terrorists became more powerful and sophisticated while the Nigerian Army was in shortage of personnel and arms. Also, under his watch, insurgents did the impossible, the least anyone could have thought just a small group could achieve- they claimed several Nigerian territories and hoisted their flags on them.

Regrettable, every attempt by the military to fight back the insurgents were to no avail because they had no weapons to confront them. The fact is, a lot of terrorists activities under the watch of Dasuki, could have been averted if our military had got the right hardware.

Ironically, under the same period while the insurgence increases and Boko Haram were waxing stronger, our security budgets also increased but with little or no significant impacts against the terrorists.

How could we have budgeted so much on security hardware and logistics within the same period of increased terrorism and there were no impacts of such against the insurgents?

How could we have allegedly spent so much on arms procurement but the men on the forefront of the war were complaining of lack of arms and even bullets?

 The point is, under the leadership of Sambo Dasuki as NSA, the security of the country grew from bad to worse and terrorism spontaneously increased with little political will to combat it.

Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered for the arrest of, Rtd. Col Sambo Dasuki, and all other persons indicted in the interim report of the 13- man investigative committee earlier inaugurated by the president to look into arms procurement by the Nigerian military for the purpose of fighting the Boko Haran insurgency ravaging the North-Eastern Nigeria.

The Federal Government had in August, through the office of the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno, set up the committee headed by Rtd. AVM J.O.N. Ode, to unravel the arms scam.

The committee found out some shady deals in arms procurement during the watch of Dasuki which calls for prosecution. However, I hope this prosecution will not go the way many others had gone.

Had funds siphoned through arms procurement been properly used for the purpose they were meant for, thousands of needless Nigerian deaths would have been avoided.

Had funds siphoned through arms procurement been properly used for the purpose they were meant for, the ridicule Nigeria had faced in the international community would have also been averted.

The arrest and prosecution of Dasuki and others involved in the deals is as important as the arms procurement itself as it will in one way or the other bring closure to those that have lost the lives of their loved ones and/or properties to the insurgence that has rampaged the country due to the wickedness and greed of some.

Such greed and wickedness that was responsible for the kidnapping of about 276 schoolgirls from their school hostel in Chibok community, Borno State where they sort for education. More than 50 escaped. Abubaka Shekau announced his intention of selling them into slavery. And up till today, the girls are still missing. It was under the tutelage of Dasuki.

September 29, 2013, gunmen approached a dormitory at the College of Agriculture Gujba in Yobe state and open fire on sleeping students. It was under the watch of Dasuki.

It was still that greed by those few behind the arms scam that made it possible for Boko Haram to attack Baga community, in Borno State, seizing it and the multinational joint task force military base. As the militants advanced the army fled. Some residents managed to escape to Chad. The Baga massacre was one of the Nigerian Army’s biggest defeats in terms of loss of equipment and civilian casualties. All these happened while Dasuki watched.

On February 25, 2014, fifty-nine boys were killed at the Federal Government College of Buni Yadi in Yobe State, Nigeria, while the students were sleeping. They threw explosives into dorm rooms as they sprayed the rooms with gunfire. The twenty-four buildings of the school were likewise burnt down as a result of the attack. This also could have been avoided had Dasuki arms procurement were genuine.

The blood of the innocent victims of multiple bomb blasts in Nigerian, that were lost because they were not protected, the blood of our gallant soldiers that have fallen to the Boko Haram insurgency because they were not given the right weapon to go to war, demand for justice.

Hence, Sambo Dasuki and others must have their days in court; it is the least that could be done. The Boko Haram insurgency have caused the lives of over 15 thousands innocent people, had left million displayed from their homes, have left the economics of the region chattered and have made some, disabled, hopeless and hapless.

So before Dasuki finally gets a chance to travel abroad for radiotherapy, Nigerians demand justice, the victims demand closure. The trial of Sambo Dasuki must not be halted.

God Bless Nigeria     

Ogundana Michael Rotimi is a Nigerian Biochemist, Socio-economic & Political Commentator and Public Speaker. He tweets @MickeySunny.

Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates

N333bn Arms scandal: Security Agencies Set To Invite Badeh, Others

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There were indications on Wednesday that security agencies, including the police, were concluding arrangements to invite some former service chiefs, who were said to have been indicted by a committee, set up by President Muhammdu Buhari to probe arms procurement during the last administration.

Investigations showed that indicted service chiefs would be charged, while those who were not affected by the probe panel’s report might serve as witnesses during the trial of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki(retd.), and others said to be the masterminds of the alleged scam.

It was learnt that those, who might be invited, include ex-naval chiefs, Vice-Admiral Dele Ezeoba, (2010-2013), and Vice Admiral Usman Jubril (2014-2015).

In the Air Force, former officers that may be invited include Air Marshal Mohammmed Dikko (2010-2012); Air Marshal Alex Badeh (2012-2013), who later became the Chief of Defence Staff, and Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (2013-2015).

The police could not be reached on Wednesday for information on when the ex-military chiefs, said to be allegedly indicted by the report of the Presidential Arms Procurement Committee, would face interrogation over their involvement in the purchase of arms during the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, did not respond to calls put through to her mobile while she had yet to respond to a text message sent to her as of the time of filing this report.

The arms procurement panel, which submitted its report on Tuesday, had indicted certain persons, chief among whom was the immediate ex-NSA, who, among other allegations, was said to have awarded about N333bn arms contracts, which the panel described as fictitious and phantom.

But Dasuki, who had initially been arraigned for illegal arms possession and money laundering, has faulted the report of the probe panel which indicted him of awarding fictitious contracts, 53 failed contracts, and payment for equipment without due process and proper documentation, among others.

Dasuki said in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday that all the contracts in question were executed and payments made with the approval of Jonathan.

The former NSA described the conclusions of the John Ode-led panel’s submission as baseless and lacking in diligence.

Dasuki explained that contrary to the claim by the panel, there were no fictitious contracts or diversion of contract sums as all the services acknowledged receipt of delivered items in writing in addition to the fact that the military agencies had their own contractors.

He alleged that the outcome of the report only showed the desperation of the Presidency to hang some former public and military officers, who served the country at great a risk to their lives.

Dasuki pointed out that if the members of the panel had invited him to appear before them, he would have given them the necessary documents to avoid some of their findings which he described as jaundiced.

He also faulted the panel’s claim that he awarded fictitious contracts between March 2012 and March 2015, saying he was appointed NSA on June 22, 2012 and could not have awarded contracts before then.

Dasuki added, “To set the records straight, Nigerians should appreciate that the AVM Jon Ode-led panel did not invite the ex-NSA under any guise before arriving at its ambiguous findings. At least, fairness demands that the panel ought to hear from Dasuki instead of its recourse to hasty conclusions. If the panel had been more patient and painstaking, it would have been availed of all relevant documents on some of the jaundiced findings.

“As if acting a script, the Presidency alleged that the panel accused Dasuki of awarding fictitious contracts between March 2012 and March 2015. Contrary to this claim, Dasuki was not the NSA in March 2012 and could not have awarded any contract in whatever name. The ex-NSA was appointed by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on June 22, 2012.

“All contracts and accruing payments were made with the approval of the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces. Once the ex-President approved, the former NSA paid. So, there was due process for every purchase in line with regulations guiding arms procurement for the Armed Forces.

“The conclusions of the panel were presumptive, baseless and lacked diligence.”

He explained that all the arms of the Armed Forces acknowledged that they received the weapons they had applied for.

“While awaiting judicial process on these allegations, it is proper to make some references to show that the Presidency is just desperate to hang some former public and military officers, who served this nation at the risk to their lives.

“It is laughable for the panel to assume that four Alpha jets and 12 helicopters were undelivered.”

He said it was his expectation that he should have been questioned if there were issues relating to the arms purchased under him.

Dasuki, who denied being a thief or a treasury looter, noted that he was just the clearing house for the purchases as all the contracts and the equipment purchased were done with Presidential approval.

Dasuki said the former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, acknowledged receipt of the four Alpha jets and the helicopters in a memo to the ONSA with reference no. NAF/905/D/CAS of November 28, 2014,

He stated that Amosu also confirmed receipt of ‘F-7 N1 aircraft combination of 250kg bombs and accessories at $2,894,000 with the cost of freight at $1,200,000’ on October 21, 2014.

The former NSA vowed to meet the Presidency in court, where he said he would defend himself.

NSA Warns Of Likely Boko Haram Attack On Lagos Ports

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The office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, has issued a security alert on the likelihood of Boko Haram attack on Lagos seaports.

The alert was as a result of the concern expressed by the United States Embassy on the security situation at the nation’s seaports.

The security alert was signed by Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Enforcement and Intelligence, Mr. Dan Ugo, on behalf of the Comptroller General, Col. Hameed Ali (retd).

Following the security alert, the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has begun the restriction of persons into its various commands and formations in Lagos.

The development has brought about an increase in the level of security checks at all access points into the ports.

Read More: vanguardngr

Former NSA Sambo Dasuki Arrested

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Immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sabo Dasuki (rtd.), has been arrested and whisked to an unknown destination, a report from Abuja said.

He was arrested Last night, according to a report in the blog, Per Second News. “According to credible security source, the soldiers attached to the residence of the embattled NSA had been withdrawn on the orders of the president paving the way for his arrest yesterday evening,” the report said.

Soldiers had earlier been reported to have surrounded Dasuki’s residence. It is not yet clear why the Muhammadu Buhari administration moved against Dasuki but reports spoke about petitions against
him bordering on alleged financial impropriety.

Ahmad Salkida Disputes NSA’s Claim Of De-Radicalizing 22 Boko Haram Members

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The office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) yesterday told President Muhammadu Buhari, that no fewer than 22 women and girls, recruited as suicide bombers by the Boko Haram sect and another 47 former sect members were now undergoing rehabilitation after voluntarily embracing a de-radicalization programme of the office under the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) programme. But Ahmad Salkida with twitter Handle @contactsaldika disputes such claims saying you can only de radicalize people you understand their ideologies and reasons for what they do, and only clerics could achieve such a feat that the NSA seems to be claiming to have achieved Read tweets below.

Buhari To Appoint New Service Chiefs, NSA, DG SSS

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Barring all unforeseen circumstances, all the service chiefs, the director general, State Security Services (SSS) and the national security adviser (NSA) are going with President Goodluck Jonathan.

The service chiefs are Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, the chief of defence staff (CDS), Lt General Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah, the chief of army staff, Vice Admiral Usman O. Jibrin, the chief of naval staff (CNS) and Air Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu, chief of air staff.

These top military chiefs were appointed by the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan, when on 16th January, 2014, a statement issued and signed by his media adviser, Dr Reuben Abati announced their appointments in replacement of the then chief of defence staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim; chief of army staff, Lt. Gen. Azuibuike Ihejirika; and chief of naval staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Joseph Ezeoba.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP last week, an informed security observer explained that it was the usual practice that service chiefs departed from the scene once the tenure of their principal expired in order to allow the new helmsman to begin on a fresh note.

“It is the norm; service chiefs always depart from the scene with the man who hired them in order to allow the new leader to bring in those who are loyal to him. Remember, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo came in, he sacked those who worked for General Abdusalami Abubakar and brought his own into the offices.

Those who came on board with Obasanjo on 29th May, 1999 were Lt-Gen.Victor Malu (Army), Vice-Admiral Victor Ombu (Navy) and Air Marshal Isaac Alfa (Air Force) to replace Maj.-Gen. Alex Ogomudia (Army), Rear-Admiral Samuel Afolayan (Navy) and Air Vice-Marshal Jonah Wuyep (Air Force).

Speaking further, our source, a retired military officer, explained that with the security challenges going on in the country, the incoming president would like to overhaul the security agencies with a view to bringing in those whom he believes would help him accomplish his vision.

“With or without the ongoing war against the terrorists, Buhari would inject his own men whom he believes would help him implement his vision for the nation in terms of the security challenges. Those who are there now have been doing their best and we are seeing the results, yet that should not stop Buhari from appointing his own men at least for security and loyalty reasons”.

Our source who reminded us that Jonathan himself replaced those he inherited from the late President Umaru Yar’Adua also disclosed that the new president, General Buhari would name a new NSA and new DG, SSS in his first week in office who would help him in identifying those who could be in charge of all the security agencies.

Credit: leadership

BBOG Group Demands NSA’s Weekly Update On Rescue of Chibok Girls

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In line with its determination to continue with the demand for the rescue of the Chibok girls and monitor the May 29 deadline given by the national security adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) for the rescue of the girls, the #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) group has called for weekly updates from the NSA on the development.

In a speech read at the group’s meeting yesterday and signed by its leaders, Oby Ezekwesili and Hadiza Bala Usman, the group said it has become necessary for Nigerians to know through the NSA if there is any development in the search for the girls.

Part of the speech reads: “The group, however, noted that in expectation of the development in the weeks leading to May 29, it is extremely worried that the public is not being told the whole truth of efforts to rescue our girls. We, therefore, ask that as part of the recent efforts, the NSA should ensure that the military and federal government present the Nigerian public, especially the parents of our Chibok girls with the truth, the absolute truth and nothing but the truth on the real situation.

“We want the answer to our main concern and key issue: where are our Chibok girls? We demand evidence that our authorities are beyond the usual statements, factually working to both locate and rescue our 219 girls. We want the NSA to commence a weekly update on progress being made by the rescue operation since his April 14, 2015 declaration.”

The group also revealed that it has launched a monitoring initiative to be known as the #BBOGCountDownToMay29, anchored on recent declarations of the NSA, adding that it will continue to monitor the Sambisa invasion to ensure that the girls are rescued as promised by the NSA.

“We therefore wish to notify the Federal Government and the public that#BringBackOurGirls movement has launched a monitoring initiative to be known asThe group also noted that “Our Movement has commenced another monitoring initiative anchored on recent declarations of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

“We therefore wish to notify the Federal Government and the public that#BringBackOurGirls movement has launched a monitoring initiative to be known as theColonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) had on April 14 which marked the the first year commemoration of the abduction of our girls assured the public in his media briefing that our missing 219 Chibok schoolgirls, and others held by the insurgents will be rescued by our military. He assured that as the military invades Sambisa Forest and conquers Boko Haram, our girls among other victims will be rescued on or before the handover of government to a new administration on May 29.”

the#BBOGCountDownToMay29. Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) had on April 14 which marked the the first year commemoration of the abduction of our girls assured the public in his media briefing that our missing 219 Chibok schoolgirls, and others held by the insurgents will be rescued by our military. He assured that as the military invades Sambisa Forest and conquers Boko Haram, our girls among other victims will be rescued on or before the handover of government to a new administration on May 29.”

The group further noted that it is determined to monitor the activities of Sambisa invasion, with a view to seeing theChibok girls rescued as promised by the NSA.

“Over the past one year, our movement has kept faith with hope that our girls will be swiftly rescued. We continue with the strong hope by holding the National Security Advisor to his promise by launching this citizens monitoring tool to enable us to actively follow and track developments as reported by verifiable media sources on the latest rescue mission publicly announced.

 

Maheeda Reacts to Proposed Ban on Porn Websites

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Maheeda has reacted to the move by the FG to block all porn sites in Nigeria, saying she is indifferent as far as the issue was concerned.

However, reacting to the statement, Maheeda denied being a porn star on her twitter page. She said she is only a nudist and won’t be showing any concern as far as the NSA statement was concerned.

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Credit: dailypost.ng