YENAGOA – A chieftain of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, in Bayelsa state and
former commissioner for Agriculture, and
Environment, Chief Lionel Jonathan –Omo,
has appealed to the incoming president
elect, Muhammad Buhari to exercise caution
in probing the outgoing administration of
President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to Chief Jonathan -Omo,
attempts to prosecute Jonathan by the
incoming administration might cause
violent uprising in the Niger Delta and
should be avoided completely.
Jonathan-Omo made the remarks
Wednesday in Yenagoa during a chat with
newsmen while presenting a 54 page letter
to President-Elect Muhammad Buhari and
titled, “Road map to Success.”
Addressing Buhari, he said: “As you take
over power please don’t prosecute or
persecute President Jonathan, you will
indirectly provoke a recrudescence of
violence in the Niger Delta. Young
boys will hang on that as a subterfuge
to cause violent uprising again in the
Niger Delta. Avoid it completely.”
He said he is convince that with the
antecedents of Buhari and his deep sense of
integrity and discipline, he will fix Nigeria,
although not immediately. “I am convinced
that Buhari will succeed because of his
unflagging desire to rule Nigeria. He has an
internal motivation to do the job, and that
internal motivation will transform to vision,”
he said.
Thursday 28 May 2015
Woman Stabs Son To Death On Children's Day In Ogun
A young woman, Funmilayo Adeyanju, in a
fit of anger hacked her three years old son
to death on Children Day, throwing
neighbours at the Ogunso area of Otta,
Ado-Odo/Otta local government area of
Ogun State into shock and mourning.
Adeyanju was said to have returned from
somewhere and had barely rested for about
30minutes when she picked up a kitchen
knife and attacked the boy.
She allegedly pinned her son called
Emmanuel to ground and savagely stabbed
him in the chest, abdomen, head and other
parts of the body, leaving him to die in a
pool of his blood around 4pm on
Wednesday.
It is not yet clear what provoked the killing,
but many people that are familiar with the
circumstance of the mother and child,
claimed it may not be unconnected with the
trauma of the relationship between the
woman and her biological father.
The Nation gathered that the boy is the
product of the incestuous between
Funmilayo and her father about four years
ago.
The state’s Police Public Relations Officer,
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the
incident, said policemen from Ota Division
have arrested the woman while the remains
of her slain child have been evacuated to the
mortuary.
Adejobi said: “Policemen have been to the
scene to recover the body of the child. The
woman has been acting strangely like a
person who is of unsound mind. The police
would carry out proper investigation.
“The police will work on the state of mind of
the woman and we’ll have to seek the help
of an expert to know her mental state.”
fit of anger hacked her three years old son
to death on Children Day, throwing
neighbours at the Ogunso area of Otta,
Ado-Odo/Otta local government area of
Ogun State into shock and mourning.
Adeyanju was said to have returned from
somewhere and had barely rested for about
30minutes when she picked up a kitchen
knife and attacked the boy.
She allegedly pinned her son called
Emmanuel to ground and savagely stabbed
him in the chest, abdomen, head and other
parts of the body, leaving him to die in a
pool of his blood around 4pm on
Wednesday.
It is not yet clear what provoked the killing,
but many people that are familiar with the
circumstance of the mother and child,
claimed it may not be unconnected with the
trauma of the relationship between the
woman and her biological father.
The Nation gathered that the boy is the
product of the incestuous between
Funmilayo and her father about four years
ago.
The state’s Police Public Relations Officer,
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the
incident, said policemen from Ota Division
have arrested the woman while the remains
of her slain child have been evacuated to the
mortuary.
Adejobi said: “Policemen have been to the
scene to recover the body of the child. The
woman has been acting strangely like a
person who is of unsound mind. The police
would carry out proper investigation.
“The police will work on the state of mind of
the woman and we’ll have to seek the help
of an expert to know her mental state.”
No More Business As Usual, Buhari Warns
President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has
reaffirmed his willingness to work with any leader
of the National Assembly that the process throws
up,irrespective of what part of the country he or
she comes from.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Mr.
Buhari said that this has become necessary in
view of the continued name-dropping in some
circles linking his name to some candidates.
“I am prepared to work with any leaders that the
House or Senate selects,” Mr. Buhari said in the
earlierstatement two weeks ago. “It doesn’t
matter who the person is or where he or she is
from.
”He added: “there is due process for the selection
of leaders of the National Assembly, and I will not
interfere in that process”.
Their has been controversy over the election of
new leaders of the Senate and House of
Representatives, as the All Progressives Congress
which has the majority seats has failed so far to
allocate the offices to different regions of the
country.
Sources in the party say the delay is apparently
because Mr. Buhari has refused to approve any
formula for the election.
Leaders of the party say the APC will not jettison
zoning, but add that the party will consider merit
first.The president-elect has insisted he will not
back any candidate.
In his statement Wednesday, Mr. Buhari said the
media and the public should begin to get used to
no more “business as usual”.
“Nigeria has indeed entered a new dispensation,”
he said. “My administration does not intend to
repeat the same mistakes made by previous
governments.”
reaffirmed his willingness to work with any leader
of the National Assembly that the process throws
up,irrespective of what part of the country he or
she comes from.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Mr.
Buhari said that this has become necessary in
view of the continued name-dropping in some
circles linking his name to some candidates.
“I am prepared to work with any leaders that the
House or Senate selects,” Mr. Buhari said in the
earlierstatement two weeks ago. “It doesn’t
matter who the person is or where he or she is
from.
”He added: “there is due process for the selection
of leaders of the National Assembly, and I will not
interfere in that process”.
Their has been controversy over the election of
new leaders of the Senate and House of
Representatives, as the All Progressives Congress
which has the majority seats has failed so far to
allocate the offices to different regions of the
country.
Sources in the party say the delay is apparently
because Mr. Buhari has refused to approve any
formula for the election.
Leaders of the party say the APC will not jettison
zoning, but add that the party will consider merit
first.The president-elect has insisted he will not
back any candidate.
In his statement Wednesday, Mr. Buhari said the
media and the public should begin to get used to
no more “business as usual”.
“Nigeria has indeed entered a new dispensation,”
he said. “My administration does not intend to
repeat the same mistakes made by previous
governments.”
» MTN To Withdraw Multi-million Digital Library Donated To UNILAG «
MOBILE telecommunications firm, MTN
Nigeria may have commenced
subterranean moves to evacuate the
abandoned Universities Connect Library at
the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka,
Lagos.
The state-of-the-art digital library, donated
to the school in 2005, has been placed
under lock and key in the last five years and
much to the dissatisfaction of the donor
organisation.
In-house sources at the Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) office of the
telecommunication outfit informed The
Guardian that the evacuation processes
would begin soon, even as it was gathered
that troubled Lagos State University (LASU),
Ojo Campus may be the new beneficiary.
The abandoned facility helped the 54-year-
old institution to link up with other citadels
of learning for reference books and research
materials. It put at the disposal of the
school, intellectual resources of over 5,500
libraries, organisations, publishers of
academic journals, professional reference
and scholarly works.
“This library will support the assembly and
creative use of up-to-date information at the
click of a mouse,” Executive Director, MTN
Foundation, Amina Oyagbola, had said at
the commissioning.
At the opening, the library guaranteed two-
year subscription to journals, books and so
on, as well as a two-year maintenance
contract to ensure the environment was
adequately maintained.
It was gathered that the facility and its 125
networked computers, three laser jet
printers, a server, and VSAT-based Internet
connectivity, 15 air-conditioners, and
alternative power generation all ran like a
well oiled machine for the two years.
But without plans for onward maintenance,
the library struggled for relevance among
researchers. Today and 10 years after it was
commissioned, many undergraduates are
not aware that such facility ever existed or
what it represents sitting next to their Main
Library.
A doctorate student of the institution (an
undergraduate in 2005), told The Guardian
that the problem started gradually around
2008. He recalled ease of access to
academic materials suddenly became
difficult, with complaints over
malfunctioning system, power outage,
network issues and faulty server.
“Internet enabled phones were still a luxury
then, so the digital library was more of a
respite for researcher to get things done
and quickly too. But with technical
problems, one cannot but lose interest.
Later, it was the case of staffers that would
not come to work. All of these dragged on
till it eventually shutdown,” he said on
condition of anonymity.
When The Guardian visited recently, it was
all covered in thick dust, overgrown weed
and firmly locked in chains and padlocks.
Citing the library at Akintunde Ojo Main
Library annex was also a challenge for the
sensitive infrastructure. The building, which
sits besides the school’s main library,
overlooking the Lagos lagoon, is one of
those early structures affected by the poor
maintenance culture.
Since the building ceased to be the Main
Dining Hall for Akokaites back in the 1970s –
when Structural Adjustment Programme
(SAP) scraped school feeding programme
for Nigerian students – the Akintunde Ojo
building became a junkyard, and makeshift
library for all-night readers during
examination periods.
Sources within the school alleged that
“yearly royalty” also became a subject of
feisty battle between the school
management, the donor and a top ranking
personality in the university system that
had approved the project at inception.
MTN Corporate Social Executive, Akinwale
Goodluck, recently at the Lagos State
Support Our School Initiative Breakfast
Meeting, said the world-class facility, a pride
of his organisation, had been locked up for
years, because the school management
could just not keep to agreements in a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
signed in 2004.
Goodluck, who gave credit to the Lagos
State government and the ministry of
education on effective partnership till date,
said a state-owned tertiary institution would
be the new beneficiary of the digital library
when it was retrieved from UNILAG.
“We are happy to transfer this facility to
Lagos State,” Goodluck said.
Authorities of UNILAG, however maintained
that they had given the telecommunication
outfit their blessing to remove the facility,
after sections of the second agreement
were breached by the mobile outfit.
Nigeria may have commenced
subterranean moves to evacuate the
abandoned Universities Connect Library at
the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka,
Lagos.
The state-of-the-art digital library, donated
to the school in 2005, has been placed
under lock and key in the last five years and
much to the dissatisfaction of the donor
organisation.
In-house sources at the Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) office of the
telecommunication outfit informed The
Guardian that the evacuation processes
would begin soon, even as it was gathered
that troubled Lagos State University (LASU),
Ojo Campus may be the new beneficiary.
The abandoned facility helped the 54-year-
old institution to link up with other citadels
of learning for reference books and research
materials. It put at the disposal of the
school, intellectual resources of over 5,500
libraries, organisations, publishers of
academic journals, professional reference
and scholarly works.
“This library will support the assembly and
creative use of up-to-date information at the
click of a mouse,” Executive Director, MTN
Foundation, Amina Oyagbola, had said at
the commissioning.
At the opening, the library guaranteed two-
year subscription to journals, books and so
on, as well as a two-year maintenance
contract to ensure the environment was
adequately maintained.
It was gathered that the facility and its 125
networked computers, three laser jet
printers, a server, and VSAT-based Internet
connectivity, 15 air-conditioners, and
alternative power generation all ran like a
well oiled machine for the two years.
But without plans for onward maintenance,
the library struggled for relevance among
researchers. Today and 10 years after it was
commissioned, many undergraduates are
not aware that such facility ever existed or
what it represents sitting next to their Main
Library.
A doctorate student of the institution (an
undergraduate in 2005), told The Guardian
that the problem started gradually around
2008. He recalled ease of access to
academic materials suddenly became
difficult, with complaints over
malfunctioning system, power outage,
network issues and faulty server.
“Internet enabled phones were still a luxury
then, so the digital library was more of a
respite for researcher to get things done
and quickly too. But with technical
problems, one cannot but lose interest.
Later, it was the case of staffers that would
not come to work. All of these dragged on
till it eventually shutdown,” he said on
condition of anonymity.
When The Guardian visited recently, it was
all covered in thick dust, overgrown weed
and firmly locked in chains and padlocks.
Citing the library at Akintunde Ojo Main
Library annex was also a challenge for the
sensitive infrastructure. The building, which
sits besides the school’s main library,
overlooking the Lagos lagoon, is one of
those early structures affected by the poor
maintenance culture.
Since the building ceased to be the Main
Dining Hall for Akokaites back in the 1970s –
when Structural Adjustment Programme
(SAP) scraped school feeding programme
for Nigerian students – the Akintunde Ojo
building became a junkyard, and makeshift
library for all-night readers during
examination periods.
Sources within the school alleged that
“yearly royalty” also became a subject of
feisty battle between the school
management, the donor and a top ranking
personality in the university system that
had approved the project at inception.
MTN Corporate Social Executive, Akinwale
Goodluck, recently at the Lagos State
Support Our School Initiative Breakfast
Meeting, said the world-class facility, a pride
of his organisation, had been locked up for
years, because the school management
could just not keep to agreements in a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
signed in 2004.
Goodluck, who gave credit to the Lagos
State government and the ministry of
education on effective partnership till date,
said a state-owned tertiary institution would
be the new beneficiary of the digital library
when it was retrieved from UNILAG.
“We are happy to transfer this facility to
Lagos State,” Goodluck said.
Authorities of UNILAG, however maintained
that they had given the telecommunication
outfit their blessing to remove the facility,
after sections of the second agreement
were breached by the mobile outfit.
» Why NAFDAC Shut Down Chocolat Royal, Cool, Wazobia FM Chairman On The Run «
National Agency for Food and Drugs
Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Tuesday
night, sealed completely the business outlet of a
popular elite and confectionary company,
Chocolat Royal has emerged, The City Reporters
can exclusively report.
Apart from the importation, storage and use of
fake, unregistered and expired/unwholesome
food products to produce consumables for
customers, we can authoritatively report that
Chocolat Royal was sealed by NAFDAC on
discovery of six illegal 40ft cold rooms fully
stocked with contaminated food products built on
top of sewages (suck away pit) and in front of
toilets.
Not only that majority of these food products
discovered, have expired since 2004, (11- years
ago) and the least 2013, the most worrisome
aspect of it all was the discovery to the
consternation of NAFDAC officials that the
management of Chocolat Royal had revalidated
the expiring dates of almost all the food products,
while 90 % of them were not even written in
English language and therefore not registered.
While two of the illegal cold rooms built in front
of toilets were discovered at the Chocolat Royal
headquarters at 267A Etim Iyang Crescent,
another two were discovered and also sealed at
N0 1 Karimu Kotun resident of the Chairman, Mr
Amin Moussalli both located in Victoria Island
Lagos.
Investigations revealed that Mr Moussalli the
chairman of AIM consultants with chains of
media houses which include, Cool, Nigeria Info,
Wazobia FM stations, Cool as well as WEE
television stations who is now at large travels
abroad to source for companies whose food
products have few months to expire.
This Lebanese business mogul receives these
products mostly for free or at a reduced price
and also gets paid from these companies to
evacuate the products which ordinarily would
have cost them colossal amount of money to
dispose and ships in large quantities to Nigeria
which has become his dumping ground for food
toxic for close to two decades.
These products are then cleared at the wharf and
offloaded inside the two cold rooms at his Karimu
Kotun resident, Victoria Island where they are
then transferred to Chocolat Royal headquarters
and then used to prepare ice creams, chocolates,
beverages and pastries for members of the
public.
At the end of the double operations which lasted
for nine hours, imported fake, unregistered and
expired food products worth over N1bn stocked
in these illegal cold rooms were evacuated in six
Hilux vans and buses which NAFDAC stormed
the place with.
This remarkable feat by NAFDAC was as a result
of a tip off from The City Reporters editor/
associate editor New Telegraph who for three
years has investigated the activities of Chocolat
Royal; a company reputable for playing host to
top Nigerian and foreign echelons , including
governors, legislatures, managing directors,
artistes and others for close to two decades.
When the officials of Food and Drug regulatory
Agency stormed Chocolat Royal at exactly
12:15PM with some team of mobile police officers,
they were resisted vehemently from carrying out
their duties by some senior staff of the
confectionary company led by the Finance
Director Mr. Idowu Adebayo and others who
apparently were on the know of the plot by their
Management to decimate Nigeria’s population
through food poison.
Understanding the gravity of what was about to
happen if eventually discovered, they denied
NAFDAC officials’ access to the cold rooms and
stores to forestall more discoveries after some
large quantities of the expired food products were
discovered in their freezers, kitchens and bars
upstairs, requesting for search warrant from the
officials; a ploy later discovered to be a strategy to
enable them evacuate the cold rooms and stores.
The atmosphere was charged to the extent that
the bouncers were almost engaging the NAFDAC
officials in a brawl forcing the mobile police
officers to apply force and made some arrests
which eventually made most of them to retreat
Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Tuesday
night, sealed completely the business outlet of a
popular elite and confectionary company,
Chocolat Royal has emerged, The City Reporters
can exclusively report.
Apart from the importation, storage and use of
fake, unregistered and expired/unwholesome
food products to produce consumables for
customers, we can authoritatively report that
Chocolat Royal was sealed by NAFDAC on
discovery of six illegal 40ft cold rooms fully
stocked with contaminated food products built on
top of sewages (suck away pit) and in front of
toilets.
Not only that majority of these food products
discovered, have expired since 2004, (11- years
ago) and the least 2013, the most worrisome
aspect of it all was the discovery to the
consternation of NAFDAC officials that the
management of Chocolat Royal had revalidated
the expiring dates of almost all the food products,
while 90 % of them were not even written in
English language and therefore not registered.
While two of the illegal cold rooms built in front
of toilets were discovered at the Chocolat Royal
headquarters at 267A Etim Iyang Crescent,
another two were discovered and also sealed at
N0 1 Karimu Kotun resident of the Chairman, Mr
Amin Moussalli both located in Victoria Island
Lagos.
Investigations revealed that Mr Moussalli the
chairman of AIM consultants with chains of
media houses which include, Cool, Nigeria Info,
Wazobia FM stations, Cool as well as WEE
television stations who is now at large travels
abroad to source for companies whose food
products have few months to expire.
This Lebanese business mogul receives these
products mostly for free or at a reduced price
and also gets paid from these companies to
evacuate the products which ordinarily would
have cost them colossal amount of money to
dispose and ships in large quantities to Nigeria
which has become his dumping ground for food
toxic for close to two decades.
These products are then cleared at the wharf and
offloaded inside the two cold rooms at his Karimu
Kotun resident, Victoria Island where they are
then transferred to Chocolat Royal headquarters
and then used to prepare ice creams, chocolates,
beverages and pastries for members of the
public.
At the end of the double operations which lasted
for nine hours, imported fake, unregistered and
expired food products worth over N1bn stocked
in these illegal cold rooms were evacuated in six
Hilux vans and buses which NAFDAC stormed
the place with.
This remarkable feat by NAFDAC was as a result
of a tip off from The City Reporters editor/
associate editor New Telegraph who for three
years has investigated the activities of Chocolat
Royal; a company reputable for playing host to
top Nigerian and foreign echelons , including
governors, legislatures, managing directors,
artistes and others for close to two decades.
When the officials of Food and Drug regulatory
Agency stormed Chocolat Royal at exactly
12:15PM with some team of mobile police officers,
they were resisted vehemently from carrying out
their duties by some senior staff of the
confectionary company led by the Finance
Director Mr. Idowu Adebayo and others who
apparently were on the know of the plot by their
Management to decimate Nigeria’s population
through food poison.
Understanding the gravity of what was about to
happen if eventually discovered, they denied
NAFDAC officials’ access to the cold rooms and
stores to forestall more discoveries after some
large quantities of the expired food products were
discovered in their freezers, kitchens and bars
upstairs, requesting for search warrant from the
officials; a ploy later discovered to be a strategy to
enable them evacuate the cold rooms and stores.
The atmosphere was charged to the extent that
the bouncers were almost engaging the NAFDAC
officials in a brawl forcing the mobile police
officers to apply force and made some arrests
which eventually made most of them to retreat
Sunday 24 May 2015
Kashamu Under House Arrest, To Appear In Court Monday - NDLEA
After hours long siege on his Lekki – Lagos
home, the National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency (NDLEA) on Saturday said it has
placed Senator – elect, Prince Buruji
Kashamu, under house arrest.
He will be arraigned in court on Monday.
The anti – drugs law agency added that it
has also commenced the proceedures
required for the extradition of the embattled
billionaire hotelier and Southwest leader of
the Peoples Demicratic Party(PDP).
In a statement by the Head, NDLEA’s Public
Affairs, Ofoyeju Mitchell, the agency stated
that a special team of the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency has confined Ogun
East Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu to his
Lagos residence.
“A special team of the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency has confined Ogun
East Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu to his
Lagos residence pending his appearance in
court on Monday May 25, 2015 to perfect
his extradition to the United States.
“Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDFLEA,
Ahmadu Giade said that the operation is in
line with the legal process of extradition.
“The Agency has commenced extradition
procedures against Senator-elect, Buruji
Kashamu in line with the laws of country.
He has been in contact with his attorneys
and will appear in court on Monday” Giade
stated.
“The residence of Buruji was raided by
narcotic operatives at about 5am this
morning. Further information will be
communicated to the media,” the statement
reads.
home, the National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency (NDLEA) on Saturday said it has
placed Senator – elect, Prince Buruji
Kashamu, under house arrest.
He will be arraigned in court on Monday.
The anti – drugs law agency added that it
has also commenced the proceedures
required for the extradition of the embattled
billionaire hotelier and Southwest leader of
the Peoples Demicratic Party(PDP).
In a statement by the Head, NDLEA’s Public
Affairs, Ofoyeju Mitchell, the agency stated
that a special team of the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency has confined Ogun
East Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu to his
Lagos residence.
“A special team of the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency has confined Ogun
East Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu to his
Lagos residence pending his appearance in
court on Monday May 25, 2015 to perfect
his extradition to the United States.
“Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDFLEA,
Ahmadu Giade said that the operation is in
line with the legal process of extradition.
“The Agency has commenced extradition
procedures against Senator-elect, Buruji
Kashamu in line with the laws of country.
He has been in contact with his attorneys
and will appear in court on Monday” Giade
stated.
“The residence of Buruji was raided by
narcotic operatives at about 5am this
morning. Further information will be
communicated to the media,” the statement
reads.
» 13 Banks Lose N138bn To Loan Defaulters «
Loan default by customers made 13 Deposit
Money Banks to lose a combined sum of
N138bn in the 2014 financial year, according
to calculations by our correspondent.
Data obtained from the 2014 annual reports
of the banks showed that the various losses
were incurred under their respective interest
expenses, which were charged against the
profits they made in the financial year.
According to the annual reports, five Tier-1
banks, Access Bank Plc, First Bank of Nigeria
Limited, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, United
Bank for Africa Plc and Zenith Bank Plc,
incurred total loan impairment charges
(provision for credit losses) of N64.4bn.
The provisions made for credit losses were
Access Bank, N11.7bn; First Bank of Nigeria,
N25.9bn; GTB, N7.1bn; UBA, N6.6bn; and
Zenith Bank, N13.1bn.
The annual reports also showed that eight
Tier-2 banks namely: Diamond Bank Plc,
First City Monument Bank Limited, Fidelity
Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Sterling Bank
Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Unity Bank
Plc and Wema Bank Plc, incurred N73.6bn
as total provision for credit losses.
Diamond Bank made provision for N26.4bn
credit loss; FCMB, N10.6bn; Fidelity Bank,
N4.3bn; Stanbic IBTC Bank, N3.2bn; Sterling
Bank, N7.4bn; Union Bank, N6.6bn; Unity
Bank, N15bn; and Wema Bank, N0.1bn.
Banks are required to make provisions for
loans whose recovery has come under
certain degree of probability. The provision
is usually charged against the income or
profit made for a given period.
It is termed loan impairment charges or
provision for credit losses in their financial
statements.
According to wikinvest.com, the
International Financial Reporting Standards
require a discounted cash flow
methodology for estimating impairment on
pools of homogeneous customer loans,
which requires the incorporation of the time
value of money relating to recovery
estimates.
Also under the IFRS, future recoveries on
charged-off loans are accrued for on a
discounted basis and a recovery asset is
recorded.
Financial and economic analysts said the
amount for loan default lost by the banks
was relatively high compared to the total
profit the banks made in the financial year
under review.
They estimated that N138bn loss by the 13
banks was equivalent to over N10bn loss
for each bank, noting that this was high for
any bank.
The Managing Director, Cowry Asset
Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu,
said, “I think the provisions have actually
increased because of specific industry
challenges. The Nigerian banks are heavily
exposed to the oil and gas sector as well as
the power industry.
“Banks financed oil well and other activities
in the upstream sector; with the decline in
oil prices, the banks will have to make some
provisions. In addition, the devaluation of
the naira has made players in the
downstream oil sector to find themselves in
very difficult situations. The banks will need
to make provisions in these areas too.”
Chukwu said the banks financed the power
sector privatisation and with the gas supply
challenges facing the power firms, most of
the loans had started having issues.
According to him, there is a need to check
the trend in order to mitigate the rising
amount of non-performing loans in the
banking sector.
The Head, Research and Investment
Advisory, Sterling Capital, Mr. Sewa Wusu,
said, “Default rate is high because users of
funds are getting loans at very high rates
from the banks, with some customers
getting loans at between 28 and 30 per cent.
“The manufacturing companies are
operating under a very difficult condition,
including high cost of transport and other
inputs. They may not be able to generate
enough earnings to meet up with their
obligations. The government needs to
improve the business environment.”
Corroborating Wusu’s view, the Head,
Investment and Research, BGL Plc, Mr. Femi
Ademola, said the banks ended up with
huge provisions for loan defaults due to
high interest rates and other business risk
factors.
He listed these risks to include falling oil
prices and unstable exchange rate.
Money Banks to lose a combined sum of
N138bn in the 2014 financial year, according
to calculations by our correspondent.
Data obtained from the 2014 annual reports
of the banks showed that the various losses
were incurred under their respective interest
expenses, which were charged against the
profits they made in the financial year.
According to the annual reports, five Tier-1
banks, Access Bank Plc, First Bank of Nigeria
Limited, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, United
Bank for Africa Plc and Zenith Bank Plc,
incurred total loan impairment charges
(provision for credit losses) of N64.4bn.
The provisions made for credit losses were
Access Bank, N11.7bn; First Bank of Nigeria,
N25.9bn; GTB, N7.1bn; UBA, N6.6bn; and
Zenith Bank, N13.1bn.
The annual reports also showed that eight
Tier-2 banks namely: Diamond Bank Plc,
First City Monument Bank Limited, Fidelity
Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Sterling Bank
Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Unity Bank
Plc and Wema Bank Plc, incurred N73.6bn
as total provision for credit losses.
Diamond Bank made provision for N26.4bn
credit loss; FCMB, N10.6bn; Fidelity Bank,
N4.3bn; Stanbic IBTC Bank, N3.2bn; Sterling
Bank, N7.4bn; Union Bank, N6.6bn; Unity
Bank, N15bn; and Wema Bank, N0.1bn.
Banks are required to make provisions for
loans whose recovery has come under
certain degree of probability. The provision
is usually charged against the income or
profit made for a given period.
It is termed loan impairment charges or
provision for credit losses in their financial
statements.
According to wikinvest.com, the
International Financial Reporting Standards
require a discounted cash flow
methodology for estimating impairment on
pools of homogeneous customer loans,
which requires the incorporation of the time
value of money relating to recovery
estimates.
Also under the IFRS, future recoveries on
charged-off loans are accrued for on a
discounted basis and a recovery asset is
recorded.
Financial and economic analysts said the
amount for loan default lost by the banks
was relatively high compared to the total
profit the banks made in the financial year
under review.
They estimated that N138bn loss by the 13
banks was equivalent to over N10bn loss
for each bank, noting that this was high for
any bank.
The Managing Director, Cowry Asset
Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu,
said, “I think the provisions have actually
increased because of specific industry
challenges. The Nigerian banks are heavily
exposed to the oil and gas sector as well as
the power industry.
“Banks financed oil well and other activities
in the upstream sector; with the decline in
oil prices, the banks will have to make some
provisions. In addition, the devaluation of
the naira has made players in the
downstream oil sector to find themselves in
very difficult situations. The banks will need
to make provisions in these areas too.”
Chukwu said the banks financed the power
sector privatisation and with the gas supply
challenges facing the power firms, most of
the loans had started having issues.
According to him, there is a need to check
the trend in order to mitigate the rising
amount of non-performing loans in the
banking sector.
The Head, Research and Investment
Advisory, Sterling Capital, Mr. Sewa Wusu,
said, “Default rate is high because users of
funds are getting loans at very high rates
from the banks, with some customers
getting loans at between 28 and 30 per cent.
“The manufacturing companies are
operating under a very difficult condition,
including high cost of transport and other
inputs. They may not be able to generate
enough earnings to meet up with their
obligations. The government needs to
improve the business environment.”
Corroborating Wusu’s view, the Head,
Investment and Research, BGL Plc, Mr. Femi
Ademola, said the banks ended up with
huge provisions for loan defaults due to
high interest rates and other business risk
factors.
He listed these risks to include falling oil
prices and unstable exchange rate.
» Buhari Rejects Rolls Royce Provided By Nigerian High Commission In London- The Nation «
President-elect Muhammadu Buhari,
currently
on a private visit to England, on Friday
turned
down the use of a Rolls Royce made
available
for him by the Nigerian High Commission in
London.
Buhari shocked officials of the High
Commission when, on landing at the
Heathrow
Airport, he declined to make use of the Rolls
Royce and other facilities offered him.
The Nation gathered that after exchanging
pleasantries with the embassy officials led
by
the High Commissioner, Dr Dalhatu Tafida,
the
president-elect politely told them that his
visit
was strictly private and he had made
arrangement for all his needs while in the
UK.
He reportedly thanked them for the warm
reception and quickly hopped into a less
flamboyant car he had arranged for and
drove
out of the airport.
A source said: “It appeared he was
uncomfortable with the number of exotic
cars
in the convoy.
“Hard as the stunned diplomats present
tried
to convince him, he refused to bulge,
insisting
that since he did not inform the
Commission of
his visit because it was not an official trip,
hence he was not entitled to such
grandeur.”
Buhari, yesterday, held talks with British
Prime
Minister David Cameron at his 10, Downing
Street official residence.
Top of their discussion was the continued
threat to Nigeria’s security by the terror
group,
Boko Haram.
The official website of the UK government
said
after the talks that “both leaders
congratulated
each other on their recent election victories
and discussed the challenges facing
Nigeria.”
It added: “the Prime Minister stressed the
UK’s
wish to work for a stable, prosperous and
secure Nigeria.
“The leaders discussed security in the
region
and the fight against terrorism, particularly
the
threat posed by Boko Haram.
“They discussed the need for a regional
approach and agreed to continue working
together to build the capacity of the Nigerian
Army, with the UK continuing to provide
military training and intelligence support.
“On tackling corruption, they agreed this
was a
priority to ensure Nigeria’s prosperity and
success.”
Mr. Cameron was said to have agreed to
look at
what technical assistance and support the
UK
could provide to the Nigerian government
as it
looks to undertake its reforms.
“They also discussed the need to tackle
organised crime and the links between the
UK
and Nigeria.
“Finally, they talked about the challenges
posed
by migration from Africa to Europe and the
president-elect said he would do all he could
to
secure Nigeria’s borders,” the statement
said.
currently
on a private visit to England, on Friday
turned
down the use of a Rolls Royce made
available
for him by the Nigerian High Commission in
London.
Buhari shocked officials of the High
Commission when, on landing at the
Heathrow
Airport, he declined to make use of the Rolls
Royce and other facilities offered him.
The Nation gathered that after exchanging
pleasantries with the embassy officials led
by
the High Commissioner, Dr Dalhatu Tafida,
the
president-elect politely told them that his
visit
was strictly private and he had made
arrangement for all his needs while in the
UK.
He reportedly thanked them for the warm
reception and quickly hopped into a less
flamboyant car he had arranged for and
drove
out of the airport.
A source said: “It appeared he was
uncomfortable with the number of exotic
cars
in the convoy.
“Hard as the stunned diplomats present
tried
to convince him, he refused to bulge,
insisting
that since he did not inform the
Commission of
his visit because it was not an official trip,
hence he was not entitled to such
grandeur.”
Buhari, yesterday, held talks with British
Prime
Minister David Cameron at his 10, Downing
Street official residence.
Top of their discussion was the continued
threat to Nigeria’s security by the terror
group,
Boko Haram.
The official website of the UK government
said
after the talks that “both leaders
congratulated
each other on their recent election victories
and discussed the challenges facing
Nigeria.”
It added: “the Prime Minister stressed the
UK’s
wish to work for a stable, prosperous and
secure Nigeria.
“The leaders discussed security in the
region
and the fight against terrorism, particularly
the
threat posed by Boko Haram.
“They discussed the need for a regional
approach and agreed to continue working
together to build the capacity of the Nigerian
Army, with the UK continuing to provide
military training and intelligence support.
“On tackling corruption, they agreed this
was a
priority to ensure Nigeria’s prosperity and
success.”
Mr. Cameron was said to have agreed to
look at
what technical assistance and support the
UK
could provide to the Nigerian government
as it
looks to undertake its reforms.
“They also discussed the need to tackle
organised crime and the links between the
UK
and Nigeria.
“Finally, they talked about the challenges
posed
by migration from Africa to Europe and the
president-elect said he would do all he could
to
secure Nigeria’s borders,” the statement
said.
» Buhari Must Probe Jonathan For The Sake Of National Interest! - Theophilus Danjuma «
Former Defence minister, General
Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), yesterday
advised the President-elect, General
Muhammadu Buhari, to investigate
President Goodluck Jonathan’s
administration over the $60billion debt
profile it would bequeath to the country,
with nothing to justify it.
Danjuma made the call in Takum, Taraba
State, during the commissioning and
handing over of two bridges he built along
Takum-Katsina Ala Road.
The call came days after the Vice President-
elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has raised
concern about the huge debt burden that
President Jonathan was bequeathing to
Buhari’s government.
Professor Osinbajo, while speaking at a
two-day policy dialogue last Wednesday on
the implementation of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) agenda for change, noted
that the country was experiencing its worst
moment in history, as a whopping $
60billion local and foreign debt was hanging
on its neck, while over two-thirds of the
states in the country were owing workers’
salaries and the Federal Government was
borrowing to fund recurrent expenditure.
He also disclosed that about 110 million
Nigerians were wallowing in poverty.
Commenting on Saturday, Danjuma
lamented that the outgoing administration
had nothing to show for incurring the debt
and emphasized that a probe was needed
to uncover what happened to the fund.
“It is disheartening to know that the
incoming government of Buhari will have to
contend with a debt of over $60billion and
there is nothing to show for this huge
debt,” he said.
“Well, we would know what happened to
these monies, because I believe that the
Buhari administration has to, and should, in
national interest, investigate the
administration so that we would know
what happened.”
The former minister said he chose to steer
clear of politics because “all the political
parties are the same [and] very bad.”
adding that “I rather steer clear of it. I
support anyone who comes to me for
money based on what I make of their
person irrespective of political affiliations,”
he said.
General Danjuma said he constructed the
bridges to address the plight of his people
and cut the number of deaths and
permanent disabilities caused by the
replaced dilapidated bridges.
“The project started when I noticed the
deplorable state of the bridges and realized
that they have become deathtraps and a
major cause of serious disabilities in the
society over the years. I was determined
that something has to be done and
immediately initiated the project.
“Being aware that this is a federal road, I
sought and obtained permission from
Works Ministry and the work commenced.
We worked closely with the ministry and
other relevant bodies and today, the
challenges are over and I’m glad this is
over,” Danjuma stated.
Danjuma who regretted that the road has
not been given any serious attention since
the Civil War, called on the minister to
award the contract for the building of the
road to a competent civil engineering
company, not Federal Road Maintenance
Agency (FERMA), noting that the contract
supposedly awarded for the construction of
the road over a year ago had been ignored
completely to the detriment of the people.
Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), yesterday
advised the President-elect, General
Muhammadu Buhari, to investigate
President Goodluck Jonathan’s
administration over the $60billion debt
profile it would bequeath to the country,
with nothing to justify it.
Danjuma made the call in Takum, Taraba
State, during the commissioning and
handing over of two bridges he built along
Takum-Katsina Ala Road.
The call came days after the Vice President-
elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has raised
concern about the huge debt burden that
President Jonathan was bequeathing to
Buhari’s government.
Professor Osinbajo, while speaking at a
two-day policy dialogue last Wednesday on
the implementation of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) agenda for change, noted
that the country was experiencing its worst
moment in history, as a whopping $
60billion local and foreign debt was hanging
on its neck, while over two-thirds of the
states in the country were owing workers’
salaries and the Federal Government was
borrowing to fund recurrent expenditure.
He also disclosed that about 110 million
Nigerians were wallowing in poverty.
Commenting on Saturday, Danjuma
lamented that the outgoing administration
had nothing to show for incurring the debt
and emphasized that a probe was needed
to uncover what happened to the fund.
“It is disheartening to know that the
incoming government of Buhari will have to
contend with a debt of over $60billion and
there is nothing to show for this huge
debt,” he said.
“Well, we would know what happened to
these monies, because I believe that the
Buhari administration has to, and should, in
national interest, investigate the
administration so that we would know
what happened.”
The former minister said he chose to steer
clear of politics because “all the political
parties are the same [and] very bad.”
adding that “I rather steer clear of it. I
support anyone who comes to me for
money based on what I make of their
person irrespective of political affiliations,”
he said.
General Danjuma said he constructed the
bridges to address the plight of his people
and cut the number of deaths and
permanent disabilities caused by the
replaced dilapidated bridges.
“The project started when I noticed the
deplorable state of the bridges and realized
that they have become deathtraps and a
major cause of serious disabilities in the
society over the years. I was determined
that something has to be done and
immediately initiated the project.
“Being aware that this is a federal road, I
sought and obtained permission from
Works Ministry and the work commenced.
We worked closely with the ministry and
other relevant bodies and today, the
challenges are over and I’m glad this is
over,” Danjuma stated.
Danjuma who regretted that the road has
not been given any serious attention since
the Civil War, called on the minister to
award the contract for the building of the
road to a competent civil engineering
company, not Federal Road Maintenance
Agency (FERMA), noting that the contract
supposedly awarded for the construction of
the road over a year ago had been ignored
completely to the detriment of the people.
Saturday 23 May 2015
» Passenger Kills Driver, Absconds With His Audi 80 Car «
Men of the Edo State Police Command have
arrested a 33-year old man, Kelvin
Omoregbe, for killing a cab driver and
absconding with the victim’s Audi 80 car.
The suspect reportedly contacted the
victim’s family and demanded for $30,000
as ransom after attempts to take the car to
Lagos failed.
The Nation gathered that the 67-year old
victim, Deacon Sunday Arigame, a retiree of
the Nigerian Telecommunication (NITEL),
had been hired once by the suspect and
they exchanged phone numbers.
The suspect, according to reports, called
Arigame at about 2pm three weeks ago to
take him to his building site at Ovbiogie
village in Ovia North East local government
area of the state.
Omoregbe, who is being detained at the
police headquarters, said he pretended to
lodge at a hotel at Oluku and bought
pegging woods with which he planned to
perpetrate the act.
The suspect said he did not lodge at the
hotel but only waited outside the hotel gate
to create the impression of a rich man.
Omoregbe, who claimed to have dropped
out of Junior Secondary School, on arrival
at the lonely site, took out the woods he
bought and intentionally left his bag in the
car.
He said, “After hitting him, I took his phone
and drove his car to Lagos that night. Along
Ekpe road near Lagos, I ran into a team of
policemen on patrol and narrowly escaped
arrest when they demanded for the vehicle
particulars.”
“I abandoned the car and return to Benin. I
decided to poise as a member of a kidnap
gang and started demanding money from
the family.”
arrested a 33-year old man, Kelvin
Omoregbe, for killing a cab driver and
absconding with the victim’s Audi 80 car.
The suspect reportedly contacted the
victim’s family and demanded for $30,000
as ransom after attempts to take the car to
Lagos failed.
The Nation gathered that the 67-year old
victim, Deacon Sunday Arigame, a retiree of
the Nigerian Telecommunication (NITEL),
had been hired once by the suspect and
they exchanged phone numbers.
The suspect, according to reports, called
Arigame at about 2pm three weeks ago to
take him to his building site at Ovbiogie
village in Ovia North East local government
area of the state.
Omoregbe, who is being detained at the
police headquarters, said he pretended to
lodge at a hotel at Oluku and bought
pegging woods with which he planned to
perpetrate the act.
The suspect said he did not lodge at the
hotel but only waited outside the hotel gate
to create the impression of a rich man.
Omoregbe, who claimed to have dropped
out of Junior Secondary School, on arrival
at the lonely site, took out the woods he
bought and intentionally left his bag in the
car.
He said, “After hitting him, I took his phone
and drove his car to Lagos that night. Along
Ekpe road near Lagos, I ran into a team of
policemen on patrol and narrowly escaped
arrest when they demanded for the vehicle
particulars.”
“I abandoned the car and return to Benin. I
decided to poise as a member of a kidnap
gang and started demanding money from
the family.”
» Nigerian Army Pulls 34 Generals Out Of Service «
A total of 34 infantry generals were pulled out of
service on Friday at the Jaji Military Cantonment in
Kaduna State. NAN reports that the officers
comprised 20 Majors-General and 14 Brigadiers-
General, who retired between 2005 and 2015. In a
valedictory speech, retired Maj.-Gen. Joseph
Shoboiki, former Director, Training, Nigerian
Army, expressed appreciation for the gesture and
pledged that the retired officers would remain
committed to the service of Nigeria. Shoboiki
admonished the serving military personnel to
remain focused and resolute, and exhibit total
loyalty to the constituted authorities. “Your loyalty
to the Federal Republic of Nigeria can best be
given through vigilance and security
consciousness.
You must continue to demonstrate total
commitment to your duty of defending our dear
country. “These values are essential if you must
continue to uphold and discharge assigned
constitutional responsibilities and sustain our
nascent democracy,” he said. He expressed
conviction that the Nigerian military would
overcome the current security challenges in the
country. NAN reports that the Chief of Army
Staff, Lt. General, Kenneth Minima was
represented at the event by the General Officer
Commanding(GOC), 1 Division of the Nigerian
Army, Maj.-Gen. Kenneth Osuji. He urged the
retired generals to continue to support the
military, saying that their departure would not
create any vacuum as they were not retired on
the same date.
service on Friday at the Jaji Military Cantonment in
Kaduna State. NAN reports that the officers
comprised 20 Majors-General and 14 Brigadiers-
General, who retired between 2005 and 2015. In a
valedictory speech, retired Maj.-Gen. Joseph
Shoboiki, former Director, Training, Nigerian
Army, expressed appreciation for the gesture and
pledged that the retired officers would remain
committed to the service of Nigeria. Shoboiki
admonished the serving military personnel to
remain focused and resolute, and exhibit total
loyalty to the constituted authorities. “Your loyalty
to the Federal Republic of Nigeria can best be
given through vigilance and security
consciousness.
You must continue to demonstrate total
commitment to your duty of defending our dear
country. “These values are essential if you must
continue to uphold and discharge assigned
constitutional responsibilities and sustain our
nascent democracy,” he said. He expressed
conviction that the Nigerian military would
overcome the current security challenges in the
country. NAN reports that the Chief of Army
Staff, Lt. General, Kenneth Minima was
represented at the event by the General Officer
Commanding(GOC), 1 Division of the Nigerian
Army, Maj.-Gen. Kenneth Osuji. He urged the
retired generals to continue to support the
military, saying that their departure would not
create any vacuum as they were not retired on
the same date.
Ministry Receives N5bn For Clean Cookstoves Project, Says Minister
The Minister of Environment, Mrs Laurentia
Mallam on Friday disclosed that the ministry
had received N5 billion to implement the
Clean Cookstoves project in the country.
Mallam made this known after the
inspection of the procured clean cookstoves
at National Stadium in Abuja.
She said that the ministry had already paid
15 per cent of the contract sum to Integra
Renewable Energy Services Ltd. to supply
the items.
“We have paid N1.3 billion out of N9.2 billion
to the contractors and shall soon start
distributing the stoves to the beneficiaries in
the rural areas.
“There is no secret in what we are doing;
we are transparent, the balance from the N5
billion is in the ministry’s account, we shall
pay it at the appropriate time,“ the minister
said.
According to Mallam, the project is part of
the Presidential initiative on deforestation
and it is very dear to the heart of the
ministry.
Meanwhile, the Integra Renewable Energy
Services Ltd., the contractor handling the
Clean Cookstoves project, confirmed that
the Federal Government had released N1.3
billon out of N9.2 billon to execute the
project.
Mr Clinton Biragbara, the Secretary of the
company, stated this at the 3rd
stakeholders’ meeting on Clean Cookstoves
Monitoring and Financing in Abuja.
According to Biragbara, the company is
asking the ministry to extend the duration of
the execution of the project to ensure
effective collation and distribution.
“We are still working with the Federal
Ministry of Environment to get waiver to
bring the wonderbags to the country,’’ he
said
However, the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) recalls that the Federal Executive
Council had in November, 2014 approved
N9. 2 billion to buy 750,000 clean
cookstoves and 18,000 wonderbags for
rural women.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN), Mr Boma Young-Harry, Managing
Director of the company, said the company
had supplied over 120,000 gas cylinders
and 12,000 ecostoves to the ministry.
He said the company had also supplied
over 20,000 different brands of ecostoves,
among other items.
Mr Oludotun Babayemi, a Monitoring and
Evaluation Expert, Connected Development
Organisation (CODE), an NGO, said that it
had started monitoring the procurement
and distribution of the stoves.
Babayemi said that the organisation under
its `Follow the Money Network` had written
to the ministry, demanding for details of the
procurement and distribution of the stoves.
According to him, the organisation has
been following the execution of the project
using the instrument of Freedom of
Information Bill.
“We have not received any response from
the ministry concerning our request, asking
for the information on the work plan,
procedure for distribution and also the
beneficiaries.
“The citizens are asking where is the N9.2
billion and when the stoves will get to them.
“That is why we need to know how much
has been released so far and how it’s been
spent because we believe that every
government intervention is supposed to get
to its final destination.’’
Reacting, Mr Umar Umar , an Assistant
Director, in the Procurement Unit, Federal
Ministry of Environment, appealed to
newsmen to always get correct information
before publishing their stories.
“Most of the reports published on this
project were not correct so I will advice the
media to get the correct information from
the spokesperson of the ministry,“ he said.
NAN reports that other stakeholders who
spoke also hinged on effective collaboration
of all the stakeholders to ensure the success
and sustainability of the project.
NAN also reports that the project is
supposed to be implemented under the
Rural Women Energy Security (RUWES)
project, an initiative of the Federal Ministry
of Environment launched in 2013.
The initiative is aimed at addressing the
problems of cooking with firewood in the
country.
Mallam on Friday disclosed that the ministry
had received N5 billion to implement the
Clean Cookstoves project in the country.
Mallam made this known after the
inspection of the procured clean cookstoves
at National Stadium in Abuja.
She said that the ministry had already paid
15 per cent of the contract sum to Integra
Renewable Energy Services Ltd. to supply
the items.
“We have paid N1.3 billion out of N9.2 billion
to the contractors and shall soon start
distributing the stoves to the beneficiaries in
the rural areas.
“There is no secret in what we are doing;
we are transparent, the balance from the N5
billion is in the ministry’s account, we shall
pay it at the appropriate time,“ the minister
said.
According to Mallam, the project is part of
the Presidential initiative on deforestation
and it is very dear to the heart of the
ministry.
Meanwhile, the Integra Renewable Energy
Services Ltd., the contractor handling the
Clean Cookstoves project, confirmed that
the Federal Government had released N1.3
billon out of N9.2 billon to execute the
project.
Mr Clinton Biragbara, the Secretary of the
company, stated this at the 3rd
stakeholders’ meeting on Clean Cookstoves
Monitoring and Financing in Abuja.
According to Biragbara, the company is
asking the ministry to extend the duration of
the execution of the project to ensure
effective collation and distribution.
“We are still working with the Federal
Ministry of Environment to get waiver to
bring the wonderbags to the country,’’ he
said
However, the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) recalls that the Federal Executive
Council had in November, 2014 approved
N9. 2 billion to buy 750,000 clean
cookstoves and 18,000 wonderbags for
rural women.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN), Mr Boma Young-Harry, Managing
Director of the company, said the company
had supplied over 120,000 gas cylinders
and 12,000 ecostoves to the ministry.
He said the company had also supplied
over 20,000 different brands of ecostoves,
among other items.
Mr Oludotun Babayemi, a Monitoring and
Evaluation Expert, Connected Development
Organisation (CODE), an NGO, said that it
had started monitoring the procurement
and distribution of the stoves.
Babayemi said that the organisation under
its `Follow the Money Network` had written
to the ministry, demanding for details of the
procurement and distribution of the stoves.
According to him, the organisation has
been following the execution of the project
using the instrument of Freedom of
Information Bill.
“We have not received any response from
the ministry concerning our request, asking
for the information on the work plan,
procedure for distribution and also the
beneficiaries.
“The citizens are asking where is the N9.2
billion and when the stoves will get to them.
“That is why we need to know how much
has been released so far and how it’s been
spent because we believe that every
government intervention is supposed to get
to its final destination.’’
Reacting, Mr Umar Umar , an Assistant
Director, in the Procurement Unit, Federal
Ministry of Environment, appealed to
newsmen to always get correct information
before publishing their stories.
“Most of the reports published on this
project were not correct so I will advice the
media to get the correct information from
the spokesperson of the ministry,“ he said.
NAN reports that other stakeholders who
spoke also hinged on effective collaboration
of all the stakeholders to ensure the success
and sustainability of the project.
NAN also reports that the project is
supposed to be implemented under the
Rural Women Energy Security (RUWES)
project, an initiative of the Federal Ministry
of Environment launched in 2013.
The initiative is aimed at addressing the
problems of cooking with firewood in the
country.
Senate Presidency: Akume Disagrees With Tinubu, Akande On Zoning
The Senate Minority Leader and front-line
contender in the race for the Senate Presidency,
Senator George Akume, on Friday disagreed with
the Pioneer National Chairman of the All
Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande and a
leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over
their declaration that zoning arrangement won’t
be used to determine the next Senate President.
Akume, who spoke with journalists in his Abuja
residence on Friday evening, maintained that the
party, before now, had adopted a zoning
arrangement which favoured the emergence of
the president of the 8th senate, from the North
Central, being his geopolitical zone.
Akande had, in an interview with The Punch
earlier this week, said the party would not
employ the use of zoning to determine the next
senate president and that anybody was free to
fight for the position.
He had said, “We want the best man to occupy
the position. But the trouble is that some people
have been talking about zoning and we are asking
questions. Is it zoning according to nationality?
“Within the North-Central alone, there are so
many nationalities. Is it zoning according to
religion? So, we want to be very careful so that
we don’t introduce into our system what had not
been there before.”
“We want to be careful, otherwise, we won’t be
able to produce the best. We are trying to select
the best man. We don’t want to entertain what
brought the PDP down.”
Also, Tinubu, in an interview with journalists in
Abuja on Thursday, said zoning will not be used
to compromise the quality of leadership for the
National Assembly adding that the party had
decided to allow all those interested in the
leadership of the federal parliament, to contest.
He had said, “Merit will not be compromised. You
have to be competent, you have to possess the
kind of character, attributes of the leader. You
have to be pan-Nigerian and be a very solid
character to lead the National Assembly and that
is what we are talking about.
“We would not use zoning to determine and
compromise the credibility, the qualification of an
individual. If you take zoning as discriminatory in
some instances, you might compromise the
quality of an individual. Let everybody aspire.”
But Akume insisted that zoning was part and
parcel of the politics of Nigeria, arguing that
Dr.Goodluck Jonathan became the President of
Nigeria as a result of zoning.
He said, “Even if zoning is not explicitly stated in
the Constitution, there is always this letting to
understanding that there must be fairness and
balance in the occupation of strategic positions.
We should not throw away zoning.
“In every zone, there are capable Nigerians that
will hold their own in every endeavour. So,
basically zoning is acceptable to me because it
ensures stability. I have not heard from the party
that they have jettisoned zoning.
“I remember, the last meeting we had, there was
this issue that it has been zoned to North Central.
I do not know it has been taken away because
the party has not said they are taking it away but
all I want to say is that the party made a
comment on it.
“I am a faithful party man. I was part of the team
that negotiated the merger of this party and I am
also in the privilege position to talk about the
dynamism of APC.”
Akume said there was nothing wrong with the
North Central, and in particular, Benue State,
producing the Senate President all the time even
as he argued that the North-West, has also,
always produced the president of the country.
contender in the race for the Senate Presidency,
Senator George Akume, on Friday disagreed with
the Pioneer National Chairman of the All
Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande and a
leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over
their declaration that zoning arrangement won’t
be used to determine the next Senate President.
Akume, who spoke with journalists in his Abuja
residence on Friday evening, maintained that the
party, before now, had adopted a zoning
arrangement which favoured the emergence of
the president of the 8th senate, from the North
Central, being his geopolitical zone.
Akande had, in an interview with The Punch
earlier this week, said the party would not
employ the use of zoning to determine the next
senate president and that anybody was free to
fight for the position.
He had said, “We want the best man to occupy
the position. But the trouble is that some people
have been talking about zoning and we are asking
questions. Is it zoning according to nationality?
“Within the North-Central alone, there are so
many nationalities. Is it zoning according to
religion? So, we want to be very careful so that
we don’t introduce into our system what had not
been there before.”
“We want to be careful, otherwise, we won’t be
able to produce the best. We are trying to select
the best man. We don’t want to entertain what
brought the PDP down.”
Also, Tinubu, in an interview with journalists in
Abuja on Thursday, said zoning will not be used
to compromise the quality of leadership for the
National Assembly adding that the party had
decided to allow all those interested in the
leadership of the federal parliament, to contest.
He had said, “Merit will not be compromised. You
have to be competent, you have to possess the
kind of character, attributes of the leader. You
have to be pan-Nigerian and be a very solid
character to lead the National Assembly and that
is what we are talking about.
“We would not use zoning to determine and
compromise the credibility, the qualification of an
individual. If you take zoning as discriminatory in
some instances, you might compromise the
quality of an individual. Let everybody aspire.”
But Akume insisted that zoning was part and
parcel of the politics of Nigeria, arguing that
Dr.Goodluck Jonathan became the President of
Nigeria as a result of zoning.
He said, “Even if zoning is not explicitly stated in
the Constitution, there is always this letting to
understanding that there must be fairness and
balance in the occupation of strategic positions.
We should not throw away zoning.
“In every zone, there are capable Nigerians that
will hold their own in every endeavour. So,
basically zoning is acceptable to me because it
ensures stability. I have not heard from the party
that they have jettisoned zoning.
“I remember, the last meeting we had, there was
this issue that it has been zoned to North Central.
I do not know it has been taken away because
the party has not said they are taking it away but
all I want to say is that the party made a
comment on it.
“I am a faithful party man. I was part of the team
that negotiated the merger of this party and I am
also in the privilege position to talk about the
dynamism of APC.”
Akume said there was nothing wrong with the
North Central, and in particular, Benue State,
producing the Senate President all the time even
as he argued that the North-West, has also,
always produced the president of the country.
» FG Raises Alarm Over Dwindling Electricity Supply, Power Plants Shutdown
Abuja – The Federal Government on Friday in
Abuja raised alarm over dwindling and epileptic
electricity supply across the country.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr
Godknows Igali, made this known after a meeting
with Vice-President Namadi Sambo to State
House correspondents in Abuja.
Igali, and Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Minister of Power,
had briefed Sambo on the state of power
generation, transmission and distribution in the
country.
\
He said the ongoing strike by Petroleum and
Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria
(PENGASSAN) and the National Union of
Petroleum and Natural Gas had further worsened
the power supply situation.
The workers were protesting the transfer of the
operatorship of the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 42 to
two indigenous companies, claiming the move
would affect the fortunes of NPDC and its staff.
“With the strike which has gone on for one or
two days there is dramatic turn as of this
afternoon we have gone down for the all time
low to 1,327 megawatts.
“So, if you look at it from 4,800 there is dramatic
turn, the loss is terrible,’’ Igali said.
He said as at 12 noon May 22, 2015, Utorogu,
CHEVRON ORE DO, OB EN gas plants were all
shutdown while UGHELI and CNL ESCRAVOS
were already isolated.
He said, “on the eastern axis Shell Gas, ALAKIRI
has also been shutdown. This has led to the
several power plants being stranded and
shutdown.
“This includes EGBIN, OLORUNSHOGO I & 11,
OMOTOSHO 1& 11, GEREGU I & 11, IHONVOR and
SAPELE (NIPP) on the western axis and ALAOJI on
the eastern end.’’
According to him, besides, pipeline vandalism
which has continued to have very negative
impact on the power supply situation in the
country, the ongoing strike by the labour unions
in the oil and gas sector has added additional toll.
“The overall effect is that power supply which
had started picking up steadily since the
beginning of the week following repairs of
various vandalised portions of the ELP Line and
the Trans-Forcados Gas Pipelines, has fallen to all-
time-unprecedented low of 1,327m was at 1.00
p.m. May22, 2015.
He, therefore, warned that “situation could get
worse if the strike continues’’.
Igali expressed the hope that the ongoing
discussion between the Federal Ministry of
Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation and, the labour unions,
would end amicably.
“Indeed, it is hoped the labour unions will help
restore supply of gas to the power plants even
while negotiation are ongoing.’’(NAN)
Abuja raised alarm over dwindling and epileptic
electricity supply across the country.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr
Godknows Igali, made this known after a meeting
with Vice-President Namadi Sambo to State
House correspondents in Abuja.
Igali, and Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Minister of Power,
had briefed Sambo on the state of power
generation, transmission and distribution in the
country.
\
He said the ongoing strike by Petroleum and
Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria
(PENGASSAN) and the National Union of
Petroleum and Natural Gas had further worsened
the power supply situation.
The workers were protesting the transfer of the
operatorship of the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 42 to
two indigenous companies, claiming the move
would affect the fortunes of NPDC and its staff.
“With the strike which has gone on for one or
two days there is dramatic turn as of this
afternoon we have gone down for the all time
low to 1,327 megawatts.
“So, if you look at it from 4,800 there is dramatic
turn, the loss is terrible,’’ Igali said.
He said as at 12 noon May 22, 2015, Utorogu,
CHEVRON ORE DO, OB EN gas plants were all
shutdown while UGHELI and CNL ESCRAVOS
were already isolated.
He said, “on the eastern axis Shell Gas, ALAKIRI
has also been shutdown. This has led to the
several power plants being stranded and
shutdown.
“This includes EGBIN, OLORUNSHOGO I & 11,
OMOTOSHO 1& 11, GEREGU I & 11, IHONVOR and
SAPELE (NIPP) on the western axis and ALAOJI on
the eastern end.’’
According to him, besides, pipeline vandalism
which has continued to have very negative
impact on the power supply situation in the
country, the ongoing strike by the labour unions
in the oil and gas sector has added additional toll.
“The overall effect is that power supply which
had started picking up steadily since the
beginning of the week following repairs of
various vandalised portions of the ELP Line and
the Trans-Forcados Gas Pipelines, has fallen to all-
time-unprecedented low of 1,327m was at 1.00
p.m. May22, 2015.
He, therefore, warned that “situation could get
worse if the strike continues’’.
Igali expressed the hope that the ongoing
discussion between the Federal Ministry of
Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation and, the labour unions,
would end amicably.
“Indeed, it is hoped the labour unions will help
restore supply of gas to the power plants even
while negotiation are ongoing.’’(NAN)
Thursday 21 May 2015
20-year-old Girl Stabs Lover Boy To Death
Tragedy struck yesterday at Ubomiri community
in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State
when a 20-year-old girl allegedly stabbed her
undergraduate lover to death with a kitchen knife
in their house.
The suspect, Chisom Anyanwu who is a student
of Akwakuama Girls Secondary School, Owerri
had allegedly killed his lover, who visited her
following an argument.
The deceased, simply identified as Apo, aged 28,
an undergraduate and a native of Egbeada also in
Mbaitoli council area had paid an unscheduled
visit to his girlfriend at their family house at about
noon yesterday.
However, it was learnt that trouble started
between the two lovers when the suspect who
was cooking, did not take kindly to the deceased’s
unscheduled visit to her family house. She asked
him to leave immediately as she would not want
her elder brothers and sisters to see him.
But the deceased allegedly refused to leave and in
the altercation that ensued between the two
lovers, Chisom allegedly grabbed the kitchen knife
and stabbed Apo on the chest.
The deceased, who was said to be the only son
of his parents, according to an eyewitness, was
rushed to the Christian Medical Centre, Nworieubi
in the area where he eventually died.
However, angry youths of Egbeada community,
on hearing of the death of their kinsman, stormed
the family house of the suspect and allegedly set
it ablaze.
The state police command’s spokesman, Mr.
Andrew Enwerem (DSP), said the suspect is in
their custody, while investigation on the matter
has commenced.
in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State
when a 20-year-old girl allegedly stabbed her
undergraduate lover to death with a kitchen knife
in their house.
The suspect, Chisom Anyanwu who is a student
of Akwakuama Girls Secondary School, Owerri
had allegedly killed his lover, who visited her
following an argument.
The deceased, simply identified as Apo, aged 28,
an undergraduate and a native of Egbeada also in
Mbaitoli council area had paid an unscheduled
visit to his girlfriend at their family house at about
noon yesterday.
However, it was learnt that trouble started
between the two lovers when the suspect who
was cooking, did not take kindly to the deceased’s
unscheduled visit to her family house. She asked
him to leave immediately as she would not want
her elder brothers and sisters to see him.
But the deceased allegedly refused to leave and in
the altercation that ensued between the two
lovers, Chisom allegedly grabbed the kitchen knife
and stabbed Apo on the chest.
The deceased, who was said to be the only son
of his parents, according to an eyewitness, was
rushed to the Christian Medical Centre, Nworieubi
in the area where he eventually died.
However, angry youths of Egbeada community,
on hearing of the death of their kinsman, stormed
the family house of the suspect and allegedly set
it ablaze.
The state police command’s spokesman, Mr.
Andrew Enwerem (DSP), said the suspect is in
their custody, while investigation on the matter
has commenced.
Security Guard Dies After Winning Drinking, Smoking Bet.
LAGOS—A security man, simply identified
as Thompson, has died after drinking a
bottle of a popular alcoholic drink and
smoking five sticks of cigarette in two
minutes, which were the terms of a bet he
entered into with others he met at a joint.
The incident happened at Agege area of
Lagos on May 7, after the deceased bought
bottles of Ogogoro (local gin) for his
drinking companions, who then challenged
him to finish a bottle of bitters and smoke
five sticks of cigarette within a stipulated
time.
If he had won, the friends would have paid
for everything he consumed. Vanguard
gathered that after agreeing to the terms,
the deceased opened the bottle of bitters,
drank it in less than two minutes, smoked
two sticks of cigarette, stood up and began
to walk away. His friend’s story His friend,
28-year-old Earnest Joseph, who had gone
out with him said:
“At about 8am, Thompson returned from
his security guard job, went inside his
room and slept. “Later in the afternoon, two
of his friends came. So I prepared Eba
because he had soup and we all ate. We
went out to a nearby local hot drink vendor,
popularly called Tee Sugar. Thompson
bought N50 quantity of Dongoyaro and
N30 sachet of Chelsea for each of us. “From
there we went to another vendor in the
neighbourhood and met some of
Thompson’s friends from his home town.
He ordered for two full bottles of local gin,
Ogogoro, which we drank together. “As
soon as we finished consuming the first
bottle, Thompson and his relatives began to
speak their local dialect, which I do not
understand. “All of a sudden, the vendor
brought a big bottle of bitters. I asked
Thompson if he was the one that ordered
for the bottle. He said his friends ordered it
and that he wants to prove to them that he
can drink a bottle of Alomo Bitters and five
sticks of cigarettes.
“I tried to stop him but he drank it in less
than two minutes, smoked two sticks of
cigarette and decided to leave. His relatives
called him back to smoke the remaining
three.” Trouble He said trouble started as
soon as he finished the fifth stick. He
reportedly became uncomfortable,
staggering, sweating profusely and
breathing heavily as he walked away.
Joseph said he took Thompson home on
okada. He was said to have vomited several
times and then died at about 8p.m. in his
room. Joseph said:
“I was arrested because I was the one that
brought him home in that condition.”
Confirming the incident, Lagos State Police
Public Relations Officer, Deputy
Superintendent of Police, Kenneth Nwosu,
said the suspect has been arrested and the
case transferred to the Homicide Division of
the Department of Criminal Investigation,
Yaba, Lagos
as Thompson, has died after drinking a
bottle of a popular alcoholic drink and
smoking five sticks of cigarette in two
minutes, which were the terms of a bet he
entered into with others he met at a joint.
The incident happened at Agege area of
Lagos on May 7, after the deceased bought
bottles of Ogogoro (local gin) for his
drinking companions, who then challenged
him to finish a bottle of bitters and smoke
five sticks of cigarette within a stipulated
time.
If he had won, the friends would have paid
for everything he consumed. Vanguard
gathered that after agreeing to the terms,
the deceased opened the bottle of bitters,
drank it in less than two minutes, smoked
two sticks of cigarette, stood up and began
to walk away. His friend’s story His friend,
28-year-old Earnest Joseph, who had gone
out with him said:
“At about 8am, Thompson returned from
his security guard job, went inside his
room and slept. “Later in the afternoon, two
of his friends came. So I prepared Eba
because he had soup and we all ate. We
went out to a nearby local hot drink vendor,
popularly called Tee Sugar. Thompson
bought N50 quantity of Dongoyaro and
N30 sachet of Chelsea for each of us. “From
there we went to another vendor in the
neighbourhood and met some of
Thompson’s friends from his home town.
He ordered for two full bottles of local gin,
Ogogoro, which we drank together. “As
soon as we finished consuming the first
bottle, Thompson and his relatives began to
speak their local dialect, which I do not
understand. “All of a sudden, the vendor
brought a big bottle of bitters. I asked
Thompson if he was the one that ordered
for the bottle. He said his friends ordered it
and that he wants to prove to them that he
can drink a bottle of Alomo Bitters and five
sticks of cigarettes.
“I tried to stop him but he drank it in less
than two minutes, smoked two sticks of
cigarette and decided to leave. His relatives
called him back to smoke the remaining
three.” Trouble He said trouble started as
soon as he finished the fifth stick. He
reportedly became uncomfortable,
staggering, sweating profusely and
breathing heavily as he walked away.
Joseph said he took Thompson home on
okada. He was said to have vomited several
times and then died at about 8p.m. in his
room. Joseph said:
“I was arrested because I was the one that
brought him home in that condition.”
Confirming the incident, Lagos State Police
Public Relations Officer, Deputy
Superintendent of Police, Kenneth Nwosu,
said the suspect has been arrested and the
case transferred to the Homicide Division of
the Department of Criminal Investigation,
Yaba, Lagos
We Are Not Part Of Governors Forum Reconciliation
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) under the
leadership of Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau
State has denied any reconciliation with the Rivers
State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi-led faction.
In a statement released in Abuja and signed by
the Secretary and Administrator of the Forum,
Osaro Onaiwu, the governors stated that any
such reconciliation attempt was futile as a
majority of the governors will be out of office in a
matter of days and therefore should leave issues
of reconciliation, reorganisation and a new
Chairman to the incoming governors. The
statement further described the purported
reconciliation as a selfish attempt by a group of
governors to force new leadership of the forum
on the in-coming governors.
The governors noted that both the Chairman,
Jonah Jang and his Deputy, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko
of Ondo State along with a majority of governors
were visibly absent because they did not consider
it a priority at this late hour to be part of a selfish
project.
leadership of Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau
State has denied any reconciliation with the Rivers
State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi-led faction.
In a statement released in Abuja and signed by
the Secretary and Administrator of the Forum,
Osaro Onaiwu, the governors stated that any
such reconciliation attempt was futile as a
majority of the governors will be out of office in a
matter of days and therefore should leave issues
of reconciliation, reorganisation and a new
Chairman to the incoming governors. The
statement further described the purported
reconciliation as a selfish attempt by a group of
governors to force new leadership of the forum
on the in-coming governors.
The governors noted that both the Chairman,
Jonah Jang and his Deputy, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko
of Ondo State along with a majority of governors
were visibly absent because they did not consider
it a priority at this late hour to be part of a selfish
project.
» Tottenham Grants Adebayor Leave After He Contemplates Suicide
Compassionate leave: Emmanuel Adebayor has
been given time off by Spurs.
Emmanuel Adebayor has been given
compassionate leave by Tottenham after
revealing he contemplated suicide.
He has already been ruled out of Sunday’s final
game of the season against Everton and he will
not go on their post-season tour of Malaysia and
Sydney.
It means he has almost certainly played his last
game for the club.
The troubled Togolese striker, 31, has held urgent
talks with his club after the latest round of his
explosive public war of words with his family.
Mirror Sport today published his disturbing
allegations that he had to be talked out of killing
himself by his sister Iyabo.
been given time off by Spurs.
Emmanuel Adebayor has been given
compassionate leave by Tottenham after
revealing he contemplated suicide.
He has already been ruled out of Sunday’s final
game of the season against Everton and he will
not go on their post-season tour of Malaysia and
Sydney.
It means he has almost certainly played his last
game for the club.
The troubled Togolese striker, 31, has held urgent
talks with his club after the latest round of his
explosive public war of words with his family.
Mirror Sport today published his disturbing
allegations that he had to be talked out of killing
himself by his sister Iyabo.
Senate Begins Probe Of Fuel Scarcity
AS fuel scarcity continues nationwide, the Senate
Thursday directed its committees on Petroleum
Resources ( Upstream and Downstream ) to
immediately commence investigation into the
remote and immediate causes of the fuel crisis in
the country.
The Senate Order was sequel to the motion by
the Deputy Senate Majority Leader, Senator Abdul
Ningi, who had called on the lawmakers to pay
serious attention to the fuel crisis that had created
great hardship for Nigerians at the moment.
Senator Ningi wondered why a country that has
abundant oil resources should face the kind of
biting scarcity that had increased the suffering of
Nigerians.
But the Deputy Senate President, Ike
Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary,
noted that since the Deputy Senate Leader raised
the motion under personal explanation, the senate
would not debate it but would rather approved
his prayers.
Senator Ekweremadu said, ” Ningi’s prayers are
simple and straightforward. He is asking us, as
representatives of the people, to direct our
committees on upstream and downstream, to
find out what is currently going on the oil sector
and possibly find a way of addressing it.
“In that regard, we now ask our committees on
Petroleum Resources ( Upstream and
Downstream), to find out what is going on and
what the government is doing about it and report
back on Tuesday last week. That is our wish”
The Senate Deputy leader had while moving his
motion, said since the Senate still has the
mandate of the people until June 1, it had the
responsibility to intervene in the unfortunate
development.
According to him, “We need to know whether
fuel scarcity has come to stay. We need to know
whether it has become part of our life. We need
to plan.
“By planning and talking about it we our now
sensitising Nigerians to brace up for the
impending issue of fuel scarcity whether it is
going to be here permanently or temporary.
“But we can’t know all these things until we hear
from the experts. Therefore my prayer is to ask
the committee on downstream and upstream to
come up with explanations next Tuesday through
which Nigerians will know and plan their future.
“Otherwise, I think its legally and morally wrong
to keep silent about it, sweep it under the carpet
and to continue to believe these things are usual.”
Thursday directed its committees on Petroleum
Resources ( Upstream and Downstream ) to
immediately commence investigation into the
remote and immediate causes of the fuel crisis in
the country.
The Senate Order was sequel to the motion by
the Deputy Senate Majority Leader, Senator Abdul
Ningi, who had called on the lawmakers to pay
serious attention to the fuel crisis that had created
great hardship for Nigerians at the moment.
Senator Ningi wondered why a country that has
abundant oil resources should face the kind of
biting scarcity that had increased the suffering of
Nigerians.
But the Deputy Senate President, Ike
Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary,
noted that since the Deputy Senate Leader raised
the motion under personal explanation, the senate
would not debate it but would rather approved
his prayers.
Senator Ekweremadu said, ” Ningi’s prayers are
simple and straightforward. He is asking us, as
representatives of the people, to direct our
committees on upstream and downstream, to
find out what is currently going on the oil sector
and possibly find a way of addressing it.
“In that regard, we now ask our committees on
Petroleum Resources ( Upstream and
Downstream), to find out what is going on and
what the government is doing about it and report
back on Tuesday last week. That is our wish”
The Senate Deputy leader had while moving his
motion, said since the Senate still has the
mandate of the people until June 1, it had the
responsibility to intervene in the unfortunate
development.
According to him, “We need to know whether
fuel scarcity has come to stay. We need to know
whether it has become part of our life. We need
to plan.
“By planning and talking about it we our now
sensitising Nigerians to brace up for the
impending issue of fuel scarcity whether it is
going to be here permanently or temporary.
“But we can’t know all these things until we hear
from the experts. Therefore my prayer is to ask
the committee on downstream and upstream to
come up with explanations next Tuesday through
which Nigerians will know and plan their future.
“Otherwise, I think its legally and morally wrong
to keep silent about it, sweep it under the carpet
and to continue to believe these things are usual.”
Must Read: Shocking Facts About Abortion You Need To Know
Abortion as generally known is the medical
process of ending a pregnancy so it does not
result in the birth of a baby. Research has shed
more light on the disadvantages of having an
abortion.
According to The Foundation for Africa Cultural
Heritage, cancer is now one of the risks
associated with undergoing an abortion.
According to FACH president, Dr. Nkechi
Asogwa, many cases of bosom cancer have
been linked to the aftermath of an abortion.
Asogwa further said that contraceptives and
other birth control pills that have been banned in
the United States due to their side effects were
being shipped to Nigeria, adding that Nigerians
deserve to be told the medical risks involved in
taking birth control pills, to enable them to make
informed choice.
According to her:
“When you terminate a pregnancy you end
many ongoing processes in the body such as the
preparation of bosom for the secretion of milk.
So the tissues that were cut off suddenly would
become fragile and they can trigger the formation
of cancerous cells in the bosom. There are about
five health implications attached to most of these
drugs and that was why they were banned in the
West. But here, no one is asking questions”
Bomedical scientist, Obianuju Ekeocha speaking at
the forum also warned that abortion might
damage the womb and lead to future infertility.
She called on the Federal Government to resist
any pressure from international partners to
legalise abortion.
process of ending a pregnancy so it does not
result in the birth of a baby. Research has shed
more light on the disadvantages of having an
abortion.
According to The Foundation for Africa Cultural
Heritage, cancer is now one of the risks
associated with undergoing an abortion.
According to FACH president, Dr. Nkechi
Asogwa, many cases of bosom cancer have
been linked to the aftermath of an abortion.
Asogwa further said that contraceptives and
other birth control pills that have been banned in
the United States due to their side effects were
being shipped to Nigeria, adding that Nigerians
deserve to be told the medical risks involved in
taking birth control pills, to enable them to make
informed choice.
According to her:
“When you terminate a pregnancy you end
many ongoing processes in the body such as the
preparation of bosom for the secretion of milk.
So the tissues that were cut off suddenly would
become fragile and they can trigger the formation
of cancerous cells in the bosom. There are about
five health implications attached to most of these
drugs and that was why they were banned in the
West. But here, no one is asking questions”
Bomedical scientist, Obianuju Ekeocha speaking at
the forum also warned that abortion might
damage the womb and lead to future infertility.
She called on the Federal Government to resist
any pressure from international partners to
legalise abortion.
Senate Presidency: 59 APC Senators To Select Sole Candidate
Ahead of a one-day retreat organized
by the All Progressives Congress
(APC) for its senators-elect in Abuja
tomorrow, checks indicate that the
party is going ahead with an open
primary to select a sole candidate to
succeed David Mark as Senate
President next month.
A ranking senator from the South west told
Daily Sun yesterday that the APC is set to
organise primary election for all contenders
for the Senate Presidency, “much in line
with how the primary was conducted to
select our presidential candidate in 2014.”
All 59 senators and senators-elect of the
party would be delegates at the primary.
The ranks of the APC senators depleted by
one with the death, on Saturday, May 16, of
Borno senator, Ahmed Khlaifa Zannah.
It is yet unclear whether the primary would
hold in Abuja or Lagos but it was further
gathered that, all the 59 senators and
senators-elect are “expected to sign an
undertaking to abide by the party position
on whoever emerges as the party’s
candidate after the primary.
“Thereafter, the runner-up is expected
to emerge as the deputy Senate
President. In the event where the
runner-up is from the same zone as
the winner of the primary, another
primary election would be conducted
and whoever emerges would be the
deputy.”
Some senators are reportedly not happy
with the arrangement. They would rather
senators are allowed to “choose our leader
in the chamber,” said a senator from the
North west but who declined to be named.
Presently, major contenders are:
Senators Ahmad Lawan (Yobe, North
east), Bukola Saraki (Kwara, North
central), George Akume (Benue, North
central) and Ali Mohammed Ndume
(Borno, North east).
Daily Sun checks reveal that the major
contenders have since sited their campaign
headquarters at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel
in Abuja and spending heavily with block
bookings for presidential suites every week.
The presidential suites are now venues
where the aspirants hold court, and also,
hold regular consultations and schedule
meetings with their returning colleagues as
well as senators – elect across the APC and
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Another ranking senator privy to the
arrangement claimed that “aspirants have
been picking hotel bills of members of the
incoming Eighth Senate, almost
immediately after the one-week induction
programme organised by the National
Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS).
Meanwhile, about 65 senators, gathered
under the aegis of The Like Minds have
vowed never to allow imposition of a new
Senate “by some highly influential members
of the APC.”
They argued that the initial decision to zone
the position of presiding officers of both
chambers and the endorsement of certain
aspirants by some caucuses, was to ensure
the emergence of anointed aspirant that
would be imposed on the lawmakers.
Some legislators believed that the current
arrangement by the party to conduct a
primary election would not only guarantee
legislative independence but also produce
presiding officers who would not take
orders from any individual within the party.
“Instead of having a Senate President that
would take directives from a particular
individual within the party, we would prefer
someone who is independent-minded…,”he
said.
by the All Progressives Congress
(APC) for its senators-elect in Abuja
tomorrow, checks indicate that the
party is going ahead with an open
primary to select a sole candidate to
succeed David Mark as Senate
President next month.
A ranking senator from the South west told
Daily Sun yesterday that the APC is set to
organise primary election for all contenders
for the Senate Presidency, “much in line
with how the primary was conducted to
select our presidential candidate in 2014.”
All 59 senators and senators-elect of the
party would be delegates at the primary.
The ranks of the APC senators depleted by
one with the death, on Saturday, May 16, of
Borno senator, Ahmed Khlaifa Zannah.
It is yet unclear whether the primary would
hold in Abuja or Lagos but it was further
gathered that, all the 59 senators and
senators-elect are “expected to sign an
undertaking to abide by the party position
on whoever emerges as the party’s
candidate after the primary.
“Thereafter, the runner-up is expected
to emerge as the deputy Senate
President. In the event where the
runner-up is from the same zone as
the winner of the primary, another
primary election would be conducted
and whoever emerges would be the
deputy.”
Some senators are reportedly not happy
with the arrangement. They would rather
senators are allowed to “choose our leader
in the chamber,” said a senator from the
North west but who declined to be named.
Presently, major contenders are:
Senators Ahmad Lawan (Yobe, North
east), Bukola Saraki (Kwara, North
central), George Akume (Benue, North
central) and Ali Mohammed Ndume
(Borno, North east).
Daily Sun checks reveal that the major
contenders have since sited their campaign
headquarters at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel
in Abuja and spending heavily with block
bookings for presidential suites every week.
The presidential suites are now venues
where the aspirants hold court, and also,
hold regular consultations and schedule
meetings with their returning colleagues as
well as senators – elect across the APC and
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Another ranking senator privy to the
arrangement claimed that “aspirants have
been picking hotel bills of members of the
incoming Eighth Senate, almost
immediately after the one-week induction
programme organised by the National
Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS).
Meanwhile, about 65 senators, gathered
under the aegis of The Like Minds have
vowed never to allow imposition of a new
Senate “by some highly influential members
of the APC.”
They argued that the initial decision to zone
the position of presiding officers of both
chambers and the endorsement of certain
aspirants by some caucuses, was to ensure
the emergence of anointed aspirant that
would be imposed on the lawmakers.
Some legislators believed that the current
arrangement by the party to conduct a
primary election would not only guarantee
legislative independence but also produce
presiding officers who would not take
orders from any individual within the party.
“Instead of having a Senate President that
would take directives from a particular
individual within the party, we would prefer
someone who is independent-minded…,”he
said.
Kaduna Police Arrest 31 Robbery Suspects, Recover 8 Vehicles
The Kaduna State Police Command has
arrested 31 armed robbery suspects
who specialize in snatching of cars,
motorcycles and women handbags.
The Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State
Command, Umar Shehu, said an AK47 rifle,
four bareta pistols, four single barrel short
guns, five single barrel long guns, 39
rounds of live ammunition and 92 live
cartridges were recovered from them.
The Commissioner also disclosed that the
suspects were arrested in Zaria, Kafanchan
and Kaduna, the state capital, by operatives
of the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB),
during a stop and search operation and
cross fire, following a tip-off from members
of the public.
During the operation, a total number of 8
vehicles of various kinds including a Prado
jeep, 14 motorcycles were also recovered
from the robbers.
Mr Shehu noted ed that the arrests were
made within this month of May, 2015.
According to the Commissioner, the
suspects usually take their stolen vehicles to
Niger Republic, where they sell them to their
accomplices, adding that the command is
working closely with the Interpol in Niger
Republic to track down stolen vehicles and
their buyers.
Other arrests made by the command
include 16 members of a suspected terrorist
group known as ‘Sara- Suka in Rigasa, Igabi
Local Government Area of the state, where
they have been attacking residents and later
killed a middle aged man, injuring two
others.
Mr Shehu however reiterated that the
command would not relent in its fight
against criminals and criminality throughout
the state, urging car owners to come to the
command with their vehicle papers to claim
their vehicles.
One of the robbery suspects, Ibrahim Kabir,
who is a 20 year old boy and a 200 level
Accountancy student of Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria, confessed to the crime.
Kabir narrated how he got involved in the
crime and however begged for forgiveness.
He also disclosed how they sold the stolen
vehicles at giveaway prices.
arrested 31 armed robbery suspects
who specialize in snatching of cars,
motorcycles and women handbags.
The Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State
Command, Umar Shehu, said an AK47 rifle,
four bareta pistols, four single barrel short
guns, five single barrel long guns, 39
rounds of live ammunition and 92 live
cartridges were recovered from them.
The Commissioner also disclosed that the
suspects were arrested in Zaria, Kafanchan
and Kaduna, the state capital, by operatives
of the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB),
during a stop and search operation and
cross fire, following a tip-off from members
of the public.
During the operation, a total number of 8
vehicles of various kinds including a Prado
jeep, 14 motorcycles were also recovered
from the robbers.
Mr Shehu noted ed that the arrests were
made within this month of May, 2015.
According to the Commissioner, the
suspects usually take their stolen vehicles to
Niger Republic, where they sell them to their
accomplices, adding that the command is
working closely with the Interpol in Niger
Republic to track down stolen vehicles and
their buyers.
Other arrests made by the command
include 16 members of a suspected terrorist
group known as ‘Sara- Suka in Rigasa, Igabi
Local Government Area of the state, where
they have been attacking residents and later
killed a middle aged man, injuring two
others.
Mr Shehu however reiterated that the
command would not relent in its fight
against criminals and criminality throughout
the state, urging car owners to come to the
command with their vehicle papers to claim
their vehicles.
One of the robbery suspects, Ibrahim Kabir,
who is a 20 year old boy and a 200 level
Accountancy student of Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria, confessed to the crime.
Kabir narrated how he got involved in the
crime and however begged for forgiveness.
He also disclosed how they sold the stolen
vehicles at giveaway prices.
Saturday 16 May 2015
» Code Of Conduct Bureau Orders Jonathan, Ministers, Others To Declare Assets «
Conduct Bureau orders Jonathan, ministers,
others to declare assets
May 15, 2015
Written by Yusuf Alli, Abuja
The Code of Conduct Bureau has made Assets
Declaration Forms available to President Goodluck
Jonathan, ministers and political office holders.
Also, all newly-elected governors, National
Assembly and State Houses of Assembly
members have been directed to obtain assets
declaration forms.
It, however, said after the submission of the
forms, its officers will move round nationwide to
verify the claims of political office holders.
According to a notice by the Secretary to the
bureau, Mr. Kolade Omoyola, the filling of assets
declaration forms is in line with the 5th Schedule
to the 1999 Constitution.
The terse notice reads in part: “The Code of
Conduct Bureau wishes to remind all political
office holders to declare their assets on
assumption and vacation of office in accordance
with paragraph II of the 5th Schedule of the 1999
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Assets declaration forms are available for
collection at the Code of Conduct Bureau. Please
note that the declaration of assets does not end
with the submission of forms only as the Bureau
would verify such declarations for further
necessary action.”
others to declare assets
May 15, 2015
Written by Yusuf Alli, Abuja
The Code of Conduct Bureau has made Assets
Declaration Forms available to President Goodluck
Jonathan, ministers and political office holders.
Also, all newly-elected governors, National
Assembly and State Houses of Assembly
members have been directed to obtain assets
declaration forms.
It, however, said after the submission of the
forms, its officers will move round nationwide to
verify the claims of political office holders.
According to a notice by the Secretary to the
bureau, Mr. Kolade Omoyola, the filling of assets
declaration forms is in line with the 5th Schedule
to the 1999 Constitution.
The terse notice reads in part: “The Code of
Conduct Bureau wishes to remind all political
office holders to declare their assets on
assumption and vacation of office in accordance
with paragraph II of the 5th Schedule of the 1999
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Assets declaration forms are available for
collection at the Code of Conduct Bureau. Please
note that the declaration of assets does not end
with the submission of forms only as the Bureau
would verify such declarations for further
necessary action.”
Man Kills Best Friend, Dumps Corpse In Forest
Detectives attached to the Homicide Section,
Ogun State Police Command, are hunting
for a man who lured his best friend into a
forest, killed and abandoned his corpse
there.
The fleeing suspect, John, was said to have
invited his friend, Idris Alaba to a party, but
later tricked into him a forest, where he
used a plank to smash his head. The man
died instantly.
The murder of Alaba was later discovered
after police arrested the two children of
John, just as they had packed their
belongings and were about to run away
from the community.
According to residents at Ibafo, Obafemi
Owode Local Government, Ogun State,
where the incident happened, the deceased
was the head of the vigilante group in the
area.
The suspect’s children said they overheard
their dad, telling somebody that Alaba was
disturbing their business in the community.
Alaba’s journey to the grave started on May
3, 2015 after John invited him to a party in
Shagamu.
The two men left the resident of Alaba at
Ajemobi Street, and rode on a motorbike to
the supposed function.
The family of the deceased however
became worried when the night was far
gone and their father did not come home.
Anxious they called his line, but it was
switched off, they now called the phone of
his friend. John told them that he left Alaba
at the party.
A family friend said: “The kids of Alaba said
they were worried after speaking with John.
He was the one that took their father to the
party. They were also worried about the
brusque way John spoke to them.”
A member of Alaba’s community said:
“Immediately we rushed to John’s home,
along Ebute Ojora Road. We were shocked
to find John’s two kids armed with their
luggage. It was clear they were running
away. We apprehended and handed them
over to the policemen at Ibafo Police
Station.”
One of John’s kids, simply identified as
David pleaded for mercy from the angry
residents. “The kids said they overheard
their father saying the late vigilante man
was disturbing them from carrying out
their business in the community. He said
they would deal with him.”
One of the members of the vigilante group
in the community, Mr. Amos Omoedo,
said: “The children of the deceased called
me and some other members of the group
on Monday morning that they had been
searching for their father since Sunday. It
when we got to Ibafo Police Station with
family members of our boss, that the
children of the suspect told the Divisional
Police Officer (DPO) that their father took the
victim to Makun Forest in Sagamu.”
Local vigilante members from Ibafo,
Abeokuta and Sagamu, moblised and went
straight to the forest.
Omoedo recounted: “When we got to the
forest, it took us hours before we could
enter the forest. The first thing we noticed in
the forest was the foot path they took. We
saw the motorbike tracks. We followed the
tracks and traced the victim. We found him
dead. The plank used in smashing his head
was beside him.”
Ogun State Police Command, are hunting
for a man who lured his best friend into a
forest, killed and abandoned his corpse
there.
The fleeing suspect, John, was said to have
invited his friend, Idris Alaba to a party, but
later tricked into him a forest, where he
used a plank to smash his head. The man
died instantly.
The murder of Alaba was later discovered
after police arrested the two children of
John, just as they had packed their
belongings and were about to run away
from the community.
According to residents at Ibafo, Obafemi
Owode Local Government, Ogun State,
where the incident happened, the deceased
was the head of the vigilante group in the
area.
The suspect’s children said they overheard
their dad, telling somebody that Alaba was
disturbing their business in the community.
Alaba’s journey to the grave started on May
3, 2015 after John invited him to a party in
Shagamu.
The two men left the resident of Alaba at
Ajemobi Street, and rode on a motorbike to
the supposed function.
The family of the deceased however
became worried when the night was far
gone and their father did not come home.
Anxious they called his line, but it was
switched off, they now called the phone of
his friend. John told them that he left Alaba
at the party.
A family friend said: “The kids of Alaba said
they were worried after speaking with John.
He was the one that took their father to the
party. They were also worried about the
brusque way John spoke to them.”
A member of Alaba’s community said:
“Immediately we rushed to John’s home,
along Ebute Ojora Road. We were shocked
to find John’s two kids armed with their
luggage. It was clear they were running
away. We apprehended and handed them
over to the policemen at Ibafo Police
Station.”
One of John’s kids, simply identified as
David pleaded for mercy from the angry
residents. “The kids said they overheard
their father saying the late vigilante man
was disturbing them from carrying out
their business in the community. He said
they would deal with him.”
One of the members of the vigilante group
in the community, Mr. Amos Omoedo,
said: “The children of the deceased called
me and some other members of the group
on Monday morning that they had been
searching for their father since Sunday. It
when we got to Ibafo Police Station with
family members of our boss, that the
children of the suspect told the Divisional
Police Officer (DPO) that their father took the
victim to Makun Forest in Sagamu.”
Local vigilante members from Ibafo,
Abeokuta and Sagamu, moblised and went
straight to the forest.
Omoedo recounted: “When we got to the
forest, it took us hours before we could
enter the forest. The first thing we noticed in
the forest was the foot path they took. We
saw the motorbike tracks. We followed the
tracks and traced the victim. We found him
dead. The plank used in smashing his head
was beside him.”
» Abacha Loot: Secret Deal GEJ 'Approved' To Save Abacha’s Family From Prosecution
For allegedly helping their father plunder
Nigeria of an estimated $5 billion in the
1990s, Mohammed and Abba Abacha, and
other relatives of the late dictator, Sani
Abacha, have been rewarded by the
Nigerian government.
A secret deal between the government and
the Abachas, wants the family to return part
of the loot, in exchange for perpetual
immunity against prosecution.
The deal, kept classified for months, was
personally approved by President Goodluck
Jonathan in July 2014, and jointly authored
by the Attorney General, Mohammed
Adoke.
The terms of the agreement, obtained by
PREMIUM TIMES in March, have alarmed
anti-corruption activists.
“The agreement is (also) a tragic triumph of
impunity,” said The Berne Declaration, a
Swiss nongovernmental organization,
which for years has monitored efforts by
the Nigerian government to recover
hundreds of millions of dollars stashed by
the former military ruler, and his family, in
bank accounts across Europe, and America.
The agreement closes criminal proceedings
for the plundering of the Nigerian treasury
against the perpetrators and their
accomplices, with the result that they go
unpunished.
Foreign banks involved in the heist have
also not been convicted of money
laundering.
Worse, Swiss lawyers and other attorneys
who helped facilitate the so-called out-of-
court settlement, will pocket fees up to five
per cent of all monies recovered from the
family from banks in Switzerland and other
countries. The government expressly
agreed to pay one of the attorneys $28
million.
“This is all the more troubling because
many of the banks involved have not been
convicted of money laundering. It is equally
incomprehensible that the Swiss lawyers
involved may pocket up to 7 percent of the
sum for their services, as this money
belongs to the Nigerian population,” Berne
Declaration said.
The base of the agreement is for the Abacha
family to cooperate with federal authorities
to have the stolen funds repatriated, in
exchange for clemency.
On receipt of the assets, Nigeria will “end
any and all legal proceedings and
investigations against the settling parties
(referring to the Abacha family)”.
The government will “recognise” properties
owned by the family in Nigeria, the
agreement says.
“The FRN (Federal Republic of Nigeria) will
withdraw any and all civil proceedings
against the settling parties,” one clause in
the agreement states.
Another clause says, “The FRN will end,
without any finding of liability or guilt, any
and all proceedings of whatever kind
including criminal, civil or administrative
proceedings contemplated or pending in
any court in Nigeria (including in relation to
forfeiture and or restraint) relating to or
arising out of any investigations into the
resolved matter, …”.
“The FRN will provide to any government,
authority or organisation, where necessary,
information, clearance or such other
documentation or support as may be
required by any or all of the Settling Parties
to ensure and guarantee unrestricted
movement in and out of Nigeria or in any
other state or country,” another clause
adds.
As Nigeria’s military leader between 1993
and 1998, Mr. Abacha stashed away billions
of dollars of public funds in various
accounts abroad.
Transparency International estimates $5
billion was stolen.
The money include those in three accounts
at HSBC Bank Plc, one in Standard Bank Plc
in England; five accounts in CÃtibank Private
Bank of London; one account in Deutsche
Bank International Ltd, in Jersey, United
States; three accounts in Banque SBA SA
and one in Standard Alliance Corporation in
France.
There are also funds in nine accounts in
Luxemburg and Liechtenstein totaling about
$248.64 million and Euros179.14 million,
which was transferred to the Bank for
International Settlements (BI) in 2014.
In June 2014, Liechtenstein agreed to return
$227m, while the U.S. froze some $458m
hidden by Abacha in bank accounts.
Switzerland had earlier returned some $
700m. By March 2015, the country agreed
to return a further $380m.
The recovery of the money had been
blocked by legal action brought by
companies linked to members of the
Abacha family.
The government’s initial charges against
Abacha’s oldest son, Mohammed Abacha,
was for unlawfully receiving government
money from his father.
The Nigerian government agreed to the
secret deal as a sort of plea bargain, to have
the Abacha family drop its case, and allow
the money to be repatriated.
Geneva prosecutors had also closed their
own case against the Abacha.
Anti-corruption activists argue that granting
immunity to those who helped in stealing
the country blind will only embolden others
to do worse.
They also question why the Nigerian
government failed to lay clearly as part of
the agreement how recovered money will
be applied from the benefit of Nigerians.
“The agreement between Nigeria and the
Abacha family, approved by the Public
Prosecutor in Geneva, does not contain a
single provision to ensure that the returned
money will be of benefit to the Nigerian
people from whom it was stolen in the
nineties and who continue to suffer
endemic corruption,” Bernes Declaration
said.
“The entire arrangement is questionable,”
said David Ugolor of the Africa Network for
Environment and Economic Justice. “We
must let Switzerland see the need to
suspend further decision on the return of
the money stolen by Abacha until all the
terms are clearly established in a manner
that would really benefit Nigerians.”
Anchored by Attorney General Adoke, the
agreement compels the Federal
Government to withdraw all pending cases
against any member of the Abacha family
at home and abroad, while all organs of
government, including the National
Assembly, were barred from asking
questions with the intention of recovering
the stolen wealth.
Also, the deal forbids the government from
taking any action to limit the constitutional
rights, including freedom of movement of
the Abachas within and outside Nigeria and
right to property, in connection with the
theft.
Mohammed and Abba Abacha represented
the Abacha family in the negotiations, which
also involved international brokers.
Mr. Adoke represented Nigeria on the
instructions of President Jonathan.
“I hereby confirm that the Honourable
Attorney General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke
SAN CFR, has full authority to contract in
that capacity in relation to the Repatriation
Agreement between the Federal Republic of
Nigeria and Alhaji Mohammed Sani Abacha
and Alhaji Abba Abacha,” the president
wrote.
As part of the agreement, Nigeria will pay
four per cent of the sums recovered and
repatriated to Nigeria to Swiss agent, Enrico
Monfrini of Monfrini, Crettol & Associe,
which also entitled to another $5 million for
litigation expenses.
Another 2.8 percent of the recovered or
repatriated sum was agreed to be paid
Christian Luscher of CMS Von Erlach Poncet
Ltd (subject to a cap of $28million), while
the Abacha are expected to settle the legal
fees of their appointed agent, Nicola
Boulton, of Byrne and Partners of London.
Nigeria of an estimated $5 billion in the
1990s, Mohammed and Abba Abacha, and
other relatives of the late dictator, Sani
Abacha, have been rewarded by the
Nigerian government.
A secret deal between the government and
the Abachas, wants the family to return part
of the loot, in exchange for perpetual
immunity against prosecution.
The deal, kept classified for months, was
personally approved by President Goodluck
Jonathan in July 2014, and jointly authored
by the Attorney General, Mohammed
Adoke.
The terms of the agreement, obtained by
PREMIUM TIMES in March, have alarmed
anti-corruption activists.
“The agreement is (also) a tragic triumph of
impunity,” said The Berne Declaration, a
Swiss nongovernmental organization,
which for years has monitored efforts by
the Nigerian government to recover
hundreds of millions of dollars stashed by
the former military ruler, and his family, in
bank accounts across Europe, and America.
The agreement closes criminal proceedings
for the plundering of the Nigerian treasury
against the perpetrators and their
accomplices, with the result that they go
unpunished.
Foreign banks involved in the heist have
also not been convicted of money
laundering.
Worse, Swiss lawyers and other attorneys
who helped facilitate the so-called out-of-
court settlement, will pocket fees up to five
per cent of all monies recovered from the
family from banks in Switzerland and other
countries. The government expressly
agreed to pay one of the attorneys $28
million.
“This is all the more troubling because
many of the banks involved have not been
convicted of money laundering. It is equally
incomprehensible that the Swiss lawyers
involved may pocket up to 7 percent of the
sum for their services, as this money
belongs to the Nigerian population,” Berne
Declaration said.
The base of the agreement is for the Abacha
family to cooperate with federal authorities
to have the stolen funds repatriated, in
exchange for clemency.
On receipt of the assets, Nigeria will “end
any and all legal proceedings and
investigations against the settling parties
(referring to the Abacha family)”.
The government will “recognise” properties
owned by the family in Nigeria, the
agreement says.
“The FRN (Federal Republic of Nigeria) will
withdraw any and all civil proceedings
against the settling parties,” one clause in
the agreement states.
Another clause says, “The FRN will end,
without any finding of liability or guilt, any
and all proceedings of whatever kind
including criminal, civil or administrative
proceedings contemplated or pending in
any court in Nigeria (including in relation to
forfeiture and or restraint) relating to or
arising out of any investigations into the
resolved matter, …”.
“The FRN will provide to any government,
authority or organisation, where necessary,
information, clearance or such other
documentation or support as may be
required by any or all of the Settling Parties
to ensure and guarantee unrestricted
movement in and out of Nigeria or in any
other state or country,” another clause
adds.
As Nigeria’s military leader between 1993
and 1998, Mr. Abacha stashed away billions
of dollars of public funds in various
accounts abroad.
Transparency International estimates $5
billion was stolen.
The money include those in three accounts
at HSBC Bank Plc, one in Standard Bank Plc
in England; five accounts in CÃtibank Private
Bank of London; one account in Deutsche
Bank International Ltd, in Jersey, United
States; three accounts in Banque SBA SA
and one in Standard Alliance Corporation in
France.
There are also funds in nine accounts in
Luxemburg and Liechtenstein totaling about
$248.64 million and Euros179.14 million,
which was transferred to the Bank for
International Settlements (BI) in 2014.
In June 2014, Liechtenstein agreed to return
$227m, while the U.S. froze some $458m
hidden by Abacha in bank accounts.
Switzerland had earlier returned some $
700m. By March 2015, the country agreed
to return a further $380m.
The recovery of the money had been
blocked by legal action brought by
companies linked to members of the
Abacha family.
The government’s initial charges against
Abacha’s oldest son, Mohammed Abacha,
was for unlawfully receiving government
money from his father.
The Nigerian government agreed to the
secret deal as a sort of plea bargain, to have
the Abacha family drop its case, and allow
the money to be repatriated.
Geneva prosecutors had also closed their
own case against the Abacha.
Anti-corruption activists argue that granting
immunity to those who helped in stealing
the country blind will only embolden others
to do worse.
They also question why the Nigerian
government failed to lay clearly as part of
the agreement how recovered money will
be applied from the benefit of Nigerians.
“The agreement between Nigeria and the
Abacha family, approved by the Public
Prosecutor in Geneva, does not contain a
single provision to ensure that the returned
money will be of benefit to the Nigerian
people from whom it was stolen in the
nineties and who continue to suffer
endemic corruption,” Bernes Declaration
said.
“The entire arrangement is questionable,”
said David Ugolor of the Africa Network for
Environment and Economic Justice. “We
must let Switzerland see the need to
suspend further decision on the return of
the money stolen by Abacha until all the
terms are clearly established in a manner
that would really benefit Nigerians.”
Anchored by Attorney General Adoke, the
agreement compels the Federal
Government to withdraw all pending cases
against any member of the Abacha family
at home and abroad, while all organs of
government, including the National
Assembly, were barred from asking
questions with the intention of recovering
the stolen wealth.
Also, the deal forbids the government from
taking any action to limit the constitutional
rights, including freedom of movement of
the Abachas within and outside Nigeria and
right to property, in connection with the
theft.
Mohammed and Abba Abacha represented
the Abacha family in the negotiations, which
also involved international brokers.
Mr. Adoke represented Nigeria on the
instructions of President Jonathan.
“I hereby confirm that the Honourable
Attorney General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke
SAN CFR, has full authority to contract in
that capacity in relation to the Repatriation
Agreement between the Federal Republic of
Nigeria and Alhaji Mohammed Sani Abacha
and Alhaji Abba Abacha,” the president
wrote.
As part of the agreement, Nigeria will pay
four per cent of the sums recovered and
repatriated to Nigeria to Swiss agent, Enrico
Monfrini of Monfrini, Crettol & Associe,
which also entitled to another $5 million for
litigation expenses.
Another 2.8 percent of the recovered or
repatriated sum was agreed to be paid
Christian Luscher of CMS Von Erlach Poncet
Ltd (subject to a cap of $28million), while
the Abacha are expected to settle the legal
fees of their appointed agent, Nicola
Boulton, of Byrne and Partners of London.
My Husband Beats Me As If We Are In Boxing Competition - Woman Tells Lagos Court
A trader, Fatimo Nurudeen, on Friday pleaded
with an
Agege Customary Court in Lagos State to
dissolve her
12-year-old marriage for alleged frequent beating
and
fetish practice by her husband.
Fatimo, 31, who lives at 32, Akiode St., Ibafo,
Ogun,
told the court that her husband beats her
frequently.
“I don’t think my husband is normal because he
beats
me as if we are in a boxing competition.
“Also, he brought home a substance suspected
to be
fetish in nature and put it in our room. I was
afraid of
it, and my children and myself had to run for our
dear
lives from our matrimonial home.
“My husband drinks to stupor and smokes Indian
hemp, after which he usually loses self control.
“I do not love him anymore, I want a dissolution
of our
marriage ,” the mother of two children; ages
seven
years and ten years said.
Fatimo also told the court that she had been the
one
responsible for the upkeep of her children before
and
after she had packed out of her husband’s house
three years’ ago.
“I want the custody of my children but I want
him to be
responsible for their monthly upkeep,” she said.
The husband, Ayomide Yakubu, 35, a welder by
occupation, failed to appear in court.
The President, Mr Phillips Williams, told the
woman to
maintain the peace and ordered the court
registrar to
serve Yakubu another court summons.
Williams adjourned the case to June 1 for further
hearing.(NAN)
with an
Agege Customary Court in Lagos State to
dissolve her
12-year-old marriage for alleged frequent beating
and
fetish practice by her husband.
Fatimo, 31, who lives at 32, Akiode St., Ibafo,
Ogun,
told the court that her husband beats her
frequently.
“I don’t think my husband is normal because he
beats
me as if we are in a boxing competition.
“Also, he brought home a substance suspected
to be
fetish in nature and put it in our room. I was
afraid of
it, and my children and myself had to run for our
dear
lives from our matrimonial home.
“My husband drinks to stupor and smokes Indian
hemp, after which he usually loses self control.
“I do not love him anymore, I want a dissolution
of our
marriage ,” the mother of two children; ages
seven
years and ten years said.
Fatimo also told the court that she had been the
one
responsible for the upkeep of her children before
and
after she had packed out of her husband’s house
three years’ ago.
“I want the custody of my children but I want
him to be
responsible for their monthly upkeep,” she said.
The husband, Ayomide Yakubu, 35, a welder by
occupation, failed to appear in court.
The President, Mr Phillips Williams, told the
woman to
maintain the peace and ordered the court
registrar to
serve Yakubu another court summons.
Williams adjourned the case to June 1 for further
hearing.(NAN)
Pipeline Surveillance: Buhari To Revoke Jonathan’s Contracts To OPC, Ex-militant
By Levinus Nwabughiogu, Abuja
Anyone who thinks that the administration
of the incoming president, General
Mohammadu Buhari would tolerate the
surveillance of oil pipelines and waterways
by private individuals or groups should
better think again as there are now plans to
discard the practice and revert to the use of
conventional security agencies.
Saturday Vanguard’s investigations
during the week indicated that already
some highly placed persons in Buhari’s
camp with military and security
backgrounds have begun to fashion
out ways that would facilitate the
process.
It was gathered that the man behind the
process was a Director in the All
Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential
Campaign Organisation.
His briefs included to liaise with experts in
the sector and other people with rich legal
background to work out the template for
the new surveillance policy.
When this is completed, the incoming
administration, we gathered, would
further equip the Nigerian Armed
Forces, especially the Army and Navy,
as well as the police and the Nigerian
Security and Civil Defence Corps,
NSCDC and hand them over the job of
protecting the oil pipelines and other
installations both onshore and
offshore .
The implication of this however, is that
Buhari’s government would stop the
contract with some former Niger-Delta
militants or groups like the Odua People’s
Congress, OPC in the South-west region
which the Jonathan administration had
awarded such contracts.
The contracts to ex-militants to police
Nigeria’s waterways runs into billions of
naira, the money, experts say should have
been invested in the Navy to perform the
role.
In the build up to the last general elections in
the country, the media was awash with
reports that the outgoing president, Dr.
Goodluck Jonathan awarded a surveillance
contract estimated at about N9 billion to the
OPC. OPC leader, Gani Adams severally
thanked President Jonathan for the contract.
Buhari had Wednesday, during his meeting
with Rivers State chieftains of APC in Abuja
warned that his government will not
tolerate”an army within the army or a police
within the police” in the country.
He had also, at a forum in Abuja, told
Nigerians that he would upon assumption
of office reopen the books of the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC for
proper auditing in a bid to ensure
transparency in the oil sector of the
economy.
Speaking in exclusive interview with
Vanguard, a member of the Board of
Trustees of APC, Chief Sam Nkire said that
Buhari would have to tinker with the
contracts if they were not properly
awarded.
According to Nkire, the outgoing
government of the People’s Democratic
Party, PDP, had a lot of underhand deals
with some groups.
“Well, once a government has been swept
away, it ceases to exist. The new
government takes charge and whatever it
decides to do, becomes the law. If the
government or presidency of Buhari thinks
those contracts were not properly given out
or were not given to qualified people, of
course, the government will cancel those
contracts.
“And from what I know of the incoming
president, he will not waste a day to cancel
those contracts because these are the
reasons why Nigerians rejected the PDP
government. Because, they did things that
should not be done. They did things
without recourse to the law.
“They did things with impunity and
knowing Buhari as a man who abhors
impunity; a man we can say is one of the
incorruptible persons, I will be surprised if
he does not revoke contracts that were
wrongly awarded if he sees them”, Nkire
said.
Other areas the incoming Buhari’s regime
would look into according to Saturday
Vanguard’s investigations include the
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency, NIMASA, an agency responsible
for the regulation of the activities of Nigerian
shipping, maritime, labour and coastal
waters and the Federal Inland Revenue
Service, FIRS.
Sources who spoke to Saturday Vanguard
said that the two agencies stink with
corruption and financial improprieties.
“ Two other agencies Buhari must look into
are NIMASA and FIRS. Stories of corruption
in those organizations cannot be ignored.
For the incoming president to be taken
seriously in his pledge to fight and win the
war against corruption, he must sanitize
these places. They stink,” a reliable APC
source added.
Anyone who thinks that the administration
of the incoming president, General
Mohammadu Buhari would tolerate the
surveillance of oil pipelines and waterways
by private individuals or groups should
better think again as there are now plans to
discard the practice and revert to the use of
conventional security agencies.
Saturday Vanguard’s investigations
during the week indicated that already
some highly placed persons in Buhari’s
camp with military and security
backgrounds have begun to fashion
out ways that would facilitate the
process.
It was gathered that the man behind the
process was a Director in the All
Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential
Campaign Organisation.
His briefs included to liaise with experts in
the sector and other people with rich legal
background to work out the template for
the new surveillance policy.
When this is completed, the incoming
administration, we gathered, would
further equip the Nigerian Armed
Forces, especially the Army and Navy,
as well as the police and the Nigerian
Security and Civil Defence Corps,
NSCDC and hand them over the job of
protecting the oil pipelines and other
installations both onshore and
offshore .
The implication of this however, is that
Buhari’s government would stop the
contract with some former Niger-Delta
militants or groups like the Odua People’s
Congress, OPC in the South-west region
which the Jonathan administration had
awarded such contracts.
The contracts to ex-militants to police
Nigeria’s waterways runs into billions of
naira, the money, experts say should have
been invested in the Navy to perform the
role.
In the build up to the last general elections in
the country, the media was awash with
reports that the outgoing president, Dr.
Goodluck Jonathan awarded a surveillance
contract estimated at about N9 billion to the
OPC. OPC leader, Gani Adams severally
thanked President Jonathan for the contract.
Buhari had Wednesday, during his meeting
with Rivers State chieftains of APC in Abuja
warned that his government will not
tolerate”an army within the army or a police
within the police” in the country.
He had also, at a forum in Abuja, told
Nigerians that he would upon assumption
of office reopen the books of the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC for
proper auditing in a bid to ensure
transparency in the oil sector of the
economy.
Speaking in exclusive interview with
Vanguard, a member of the Board of
Trustees of APC, Chief Sam Nkire said that
Buhari would have to tinker with the
contracts if they were not properly
awarded.
According to Nkire, the outgoing
government of the People’s Democratic
Party, PDP, had a lot of underhand deals
with some groups.
“Well, once a government has been swept
away, it ceases to exist. The new
government takes charge and whatever it
decides to do, becomes the law. If the
government or presidency of Buhari thinks
those contracts were not properly given out
or were not given to qualified people, of
course, the government will cancel those
contracts.
“And from what I know of the incoming
president, he will not waste a day to cancel
those contracts because these are the
reasons why Nigerians rejected the PDP
government. Because, they did things that
should not be done. They did things
without recourse to the law.
“They did things with impunity and
knowing Buhari as a man who abhors
impunity; a man we can say is one of the
incorruptible persons, I will be surprised if
he does not revoke contracts that were
wrongly awarded if he sees them”, Nkire
said.
Other areas the incoming Buhari’s regime
would look into according to Saturday
Vanguard’s investigations include the
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency, NIMASA, an agency responsible
for the regulation of the activities of Nigerian
shipping, maritime, labour and coastal
waters and the Federal Inland Revenue
Service, FIRS.
Sources who spoke to Saturday Vanguard
said that the two agencies stink with
corruption and financial improprieties.
“ Two other agencies Buhari must look into
are NIMASA and FIRS. Stories of corruption
in those organizations cannot be ignored.
For the incoming president to be taken
seriously in his pledge to fight and win the
war against corruption, he must sanitize
these places. They stink,” a reliable APC
source added.
Friday 15 May 2015
Loyalist troops in Burundi early on Friday detained at least three leaders of a failed coup against President Pierre Nkurunziza, with an AFP reporter hearing the arrest by telephone. The coup leaders’ spokesman, Venon Ndabaneze, was speaking to AFP confirming that the putschists had decided to surrender when loyalist troops arrested him, deputy coup leader Cyrille Ndayirukiye and another senior figure among the mutineers. AFP remained on the line as the leaders were detained. The leader of the coup attempt, former intelligence chief General Godefroid Niyombare, also said he was surrendering. “We have decided to surrender,” coup leader General Godefroid Niyombare also said by telephone, adding that troops loyal to the president were approaching him. “I hope they won’t kill us,” he added. It was unclear what happened to him.
An Abuja High Court on Thursday threw
out an application filed to stop Mrs. Patience
Jonathan from holding an emergency
meeting of African First Ladies Peace
Mission (AFLPM) in Abuja today, May 15.
The trial judge, Justice Baba-Yusuf,
yesterday refused to stop the meeting
because the two affidavits filed by the
plaintiffs were contradictory and
incompetent.
The judge said the affidavits were contrary
to Section 115 (3) (4) of the Evidence Act
2011.
The court also held that the plaintiffs slept
on their right since the application was not
presented timeously before the court.
The court noted that the plaintiffs became
aware of the facts they deposed to in their
affidavits since April 23, 2015 but did not
bring the application until May to stop the
event which was to hold today.
The court mentioned that by the nature of
the event, dignitaries must have arrived the
country from all parts of the continent and
by its nature, enormous resources would
have been put in to organise the event.
The motion to stop the event was moved
yesterday and the court delivered its ruling
on the same day since the court had no
choice as the event was fixed for today.
The plaintiffs, who include Nana Module
Onwodi, Ekemma Ugborough Arisa, Louisa
Ono Eikhomun and Deborah Oboh claimed
that the said emergency meeting called by
Mrs. Jonathan was called in “bad faith” as it
was aimed at scuttling any chance of Aisha
Buhari becoming the President of AFLPM.
Other defendants in the matter include Juliet
Mene, Juliet Pearce, Sonia Adolf and Kate
Duru.
The plaintiffs had filed a writ of summons
for themselves and on behalf of concerned
Women for Peace and Development,
seeking to stop the emergency meeting
called by Jonathan aimed at picking a new
President of AFLPM from among the other
African first ladies to succeed her.
They explained that the defendant stepped
into the shoes of President of AFLPM after
Turai Yar’Adua stepped down following the
death of her husband, Umaru Musa
Yar’Adua.
The plaintiffs claimed that the tenure of
office of president of the mission is three
years, which is expected to elapse in July
2015 and therefore any attempt for the
defendant to convene a meeting to elect a
new president would amount to
shortchanging Mrs. Buhari who ought to
get a chance by May 29, 2015 to participate
and even contest the office of president in
July, 2015.
They averred that “the defendant /
respondent’s intention to hold an election on
May 2015 is inimical to the progress and
development of the country” as “not only
shall we be affected as individuals but the
entire nation will be affected as our position
in the committee of African nation’s will be
relegated”.
They further averred that”the other African
nation’s who are members of the Mission
have unanimously agreed that the summit
and the election be held in July”
They submitted that Jonathan’s interest is
“selfish and totally in bad faith” and urged
the court to grant an order of interlocutory
injunction restraining the defendant /
Respondent from convening, hosting the
said meeting for the purpose of the electing
the President for the Mission or from taking
any step that will prejudice or foist on the
applicants and the court a fair accompli
pending the hearing of the suit.
Justice Baba-Yusuf will entertain the
interlocutory application today.
out an application filed to stop Mrs. Patience
Jonathan from holding an emergency
meeting of African First Ladies Peace
Mission (AFLPM) in Abuja today, May 15.
The trial judge, Justice Baba-Yusuf,
yesterday refused to stop the meeting
because the two affidavits filed by the
plaintiffs were contradictory and
incompetent.
The judge said the affidavits were contrary
to Section 115 (3) (4) of the Evidence Act
2011.
The court also held that the plaintiffs slept
on their right since the application was not
presented timeously before the court.
The court noted that the plaintiffs became
aware of the facts they deposed to in their
affidavits since April 23, 2015 but did not
bring the application until May to stop the
event which was to hold today.
The court mentioned that by the nature of
the event, dignitaries must have arrived the
country from all parts of the continent and
by its nature, enormous resources would
have been put in to organise the event.
The motion to stop the event was moved
yesterday and the court delivered its ruling
on the same day since the court had no
choice as the event was fixed for today.
The plaintiffs, who include Nana Module
Onwodi, Ekemma Ugborough Arisa, Louisa
Ono Eikhomun and Deborah Oboh claimed
that the said emergency meeting called by
Mrs. Jonathan was called in “bad faith” as it
was aimed at scuttling any chance of Aisha
Buhari becoming the President of AFLPM.
Other defendants in the matter include Juliet
Mene, Juliet Pearce, Sonia Adolf and Kate
Duru.
The plaintiffs had filed a writ of summons
for themselves and on behalf of concerned
Women for Peace and Development,
seeking to stop the emergency meeting
called by Jonathan aimed at picking a new
President of AFLPM from among the other
African first ladies to succeed her.
They explained that the defendant stepped
into the shoes of President of AFLPM after
Turai Yar’Adua stepped down following the
death of her husband, Umaru Musa
Yar’Adua.
The plaintiffs claimed that the tenure of
office of president of the mission is three
years, which is expected to elapse in July
2015 and therefore any attempt for the
defendant to convene a meeting to elect a
new president would amount to
shortchanging Mrs. Buhari who ought to
get a chance by May 29, 2015 to participate
and even contest the office of president in
July, 2015.
They averred that “the defendant /
respondent’s intention to hold an election on
May 2015 is inimical to the progress and
development of the country” as “not only
shall we be affected as individuals but the
entire nation will be affected as our position
in the committee of African nation’s will be
relegated”.
They further averred that”the other African
nation’s who are members of the Mission
have unanimously agreed that the summit
and the election be held in July”
They submitted that Jonathan’s interest is
“selfish and totally in bad faith” and urged
the court to grant an order of interlocutory
injunction restraining the defendant /
Respondent from convening, hosting the
said meeting for the purpose of the electing
the President for the Mission or from taking
any step that will prejudice or foist on the
applicants and the court a fair accompli
pending the hearing of the suit.
Justice Baba-Yusuf will entertain the
interlocutory application today.
Burundi Coup Leaders Surrender.
Loyalist troops in Burundi early on Friday
detained at least three leaders of a failed
coup against President Pierre Nkurunziza,
with an AFP reporter hearing the arrest by
telephone.
The coup leaders’ spokesman, Venon
Ndabaneze, was speaking to AFP
confirming that the putschists had decided
to surrender when loyalist troops arrested
him, deputy coup leader Cyrille Ndayirukiye
and another senior figure among the
mutineers.
AFP remained on the line as the leaders
were detained.
The leader of the coup attempt, former
intelligence chief General Godefroid
Niyombare, also said he was surrendering.
“We have decided to surrender,” coup
leader General Godefroid Niyombare also
said by telephone, adding that troops loyal
to the president were approaching him.
“I hope they won’t kill us,” he added.
It was unclear what happened to him.
detained at least three leaders of a failed
coup against President Pierre Nkurunziza,
with an AFP reporter hearing the arrest by
telephone.
The coup leaders’ spokesman, Venon
Ndabaneze, was speaking to AFP
confirming that the putschists had decided
to surrender when loyalist troops arrested
him, deputy coup leader Cyrille Ndayirukiye
and another senior figure among the
mutineers.
AFP remained on the line as the leaders
were detained.
The leader of the coup attempt, former
intelligence chief General Godefroid
Niyombare, also said he was surrendering.
“We have decided to surrender,” coup
leader General Godefroid Niyombare also
said by telephone, adding that troops loyal
to the president were approaching him.
“I hope they won’t kill us,” he added.
It was unclear what happened to him.
I Will Return Stronger To Rebuild PDP,Johnathan Tells Party Leadership
*Says he’ll take a short rest outside Nigeria
*Adds: My very close aides did not vote
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan
has told the National Working Committee,
NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, that he would return stronger to help
rebuild the party after taking a short break
outside the country with his family.
The President urged the leadership,
stakeholders, leaders, elders and members
of the PDP to put behind them the defeat
the party suffered during the March 28
presidential election where it lost to the All
Progressives Congress, APC, after 16 years
in power and build the party for future
elections.
President Jonathan, who did not actually
blame the leadership of the party for his
loss at the election, was said to have heaped
the blames on some of his very close aides,
just as he told the NWC members that a
Special Adviser from the North did not even
vote on the day of Presidential election.
Vanguard gathered that President Jonathan,
who thanked members of the NWC for
their support, disclosed to them that soon
after the May 29 handover of government,
he would travel outside the country with his
family, rest, recuperate and then come back
to politics later, but not immediately.
President Jonathan who also warned the
leadership of the party against apportioning
blames asked them to ensure that the PDP
does not disintegrate because of March and
April elections.
PDP will bounce back
He said from all indications, the PDP would
bounce back against the backdrop that there
would be the problem of ego where three
persons will be serving as Presidents of the
country with only one elected.
The Wednesday meeting was held behind
closed doors at the Presidential Villa with the
aim of ending the lingering crisis in the
party after the general elections where
some PDP governors, party leaders,
stakeholders and members have been
calling for the sack of the present National
Working Committee, NWC, under Alhaji
Adamu Mu’azu.
The meeting, the first of its kind since the
PDP lost the presidency after 16 years of
leadership to the Presidential candidate of
the All Progressives Congress, APC, General
Muhammadu Buhari, retd, was a
postmortem on the election, to discuss the
way forward for the party especially the
move to heal the inflicted wounds, to
restrategise as well as reposition the party.
It was also gathered that those present at
the meeting used the opportunity to
ruminate on the elections and the loss
where they wished that the PDP would
have won the election.
The ruling PDP, which controlled the
Presidency, the Senate and the House of
Representatives for 16 years since 1999, did
not only suffer Presidential defeat, but it lost
in its traditional states of Plateau; Niger;
Kaduna; Benue; Bauchi and Jigawa.
*Adds: My very close aides did not vote
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan
has told the National Working Committee,
NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, that he would return stronger to help
rebuild the party after taking a short break
outside the country with his family.
The President urged the leadership,
stakeholders, leaders, elders and members
of the PDP to put behind them the defeat
the party suffered during the March 28
presidential election where it lost to the All
Progressives Congress, APC, after 16 years
in power and build the party for future
elections.
President Jonathan, who did not actually
blame the leadership of the party for his
loss at the election, was said to have heaped
the blames on some of his very close aides,
just as he told the NWC members that a
Special Adviser from the North did not even
vote on the day of Presidential election.
Vanguard gathered that President Jonathan,
who thanked members of the NWC for
their support, disclosed to them that soon
after the May 29 handover of government,
he would travel outside the country with his
family, rest, recuperate and then come back
to politics later, but not immediately.
President Jonathan who also warned the
leadership of the party against apportioning
blames asked them to ensure that the PDP
does not disintegrate because of March and
April elections.
PDP will bounce back
He said from all indications, the PDP would
bounce back against the backdrop that there
would be the problem of ego where three
persons will be serving as Presidents of the
country with only one elected.
The Wednesday meeting was held behind
closed doors at the Presidential Villa with the
aim of ending the lingering crisis in the
party after the general elections where
some PDP governors, party leaders,
stakeholders and members have been
calling for the sack of the present National
Working Committee, NWC, under Alhaji
Adamu Mu’azu.
The meeting, the first of its kind since the
PDP lost the presidency after 16 years of
leadership to the Presidential candidate of
the All Progressives Congress, APC, General
Muhammadu Buhari, retd, was a
postmortem on the election, to discuss the
way forward for the party especially the
move to heal the inflicted wounds, to
restrategise as well as reposition the party.
It was also gathered that those present at
the meeting used the opportunity to
ruminate on the elections and the loss
where they wished that the PDP would
have won the election.
The ruling PDP, which controlled the
Presidency, the Senate and the House of
Representatives for 16 years since 1999, did
not only suffer Presidential defeat, but it lost
in its traditional states of Plateau; Niger;
Kaduna; Benue; Bauchi and Jigawa.
Man Excretes 70 Wraps Of Cocaine In NDLEA Net
The National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency(NDLEA)at the international wing of
the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport (NAA),Abuja,
has arrested a 39-year-old suspected drug
trafficker, Celestine Ikechukwu Okonkwo,
for excreting 70 wraps of cocaine weighing
1.326kg shortly on arrival from Brazil.
NDLEA Commander at Abuja Airport, Mr.
Hamisu Lawan, who disclosed this
yesterday, said that the suspect tested
positive for cocaine ingestion.
According to Hamisu, “the suspect tested
positive to drug ingestion while returning
from Sao Paulo, Brazil. He later excreted 70
wraps of cocaine weighing 1.326kg.”
Narrating his ordeal in the hands of drug
barons, who sponsored his trip to Brazil
under the guise of white collar job, the
suspect who sells used clothes at Idumota
market, said that he was promised mouth-
watering job opportunities here in Nigeria.
He however said that he was made to
suffer untold hardship before being used in
smuggling cocaine.
Confessing, Celestine said that he was a
happy man until the drug barons
approached him with a promise of better
job abroad.
According to him, “I was in my shop at
Idumota market where I sell used clothes. I
will never forget the day a young man
came to my shop to buy shirt. He told me
he is from Anambra and that he lives in
Brazil. He also promised to help me with a
good job opportunity over there. Honestly,
I was excited and felt it was answer to my
age long prayer. He collected my phone
number and left. This was how it all
started.”
Narrating his ordeal further, he stated that
after three months, the man whose identity
he did not mention called him that he was
back to Nigeria.
In his words, “he prepared my
international passport and also
secured a visa for me. Then he told
me to get set to travel anytime. Few
weeks later, he brought my ticket and
I travelled to Brazil in January 2015. He
gave me the name of the hotel where
I will stay pending when he will get
me a job. I was eventually abandoned
to suffer. When I exhausted my
money, I began to sleep in a church. I
also began to work for a Nigerian
woman who owns a restaurant in
order not to starve to death”.
The suspect also claimed that drug
trafficking was not originally discussed with
him before he left Nigeria.
According to him, “Nobody discussed drug
trafficking with me while in Nigeria. It was
after I had lived in the church for some
months that my sponsor located me in Sau
Paulo. I was told that there is no free lunch
in Brazil and that I have suffered and
experienced difficult life in Brazil. This was
the point they introduced drug trafficking as
the only way out. They said that was what
people do to make money. It took me
about seven hours to swallow 70 wraps of
cocaine. I was inexperienced because
it was my first time. They promised to
pay me N400,000 when I get to
Nigeria.”
Agency(NDLEA)at the international wing of
the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport (NAA),Abuja,
has arrested a 39-year-old suspected drug
trafficker, Celestine Ikechukwu Okonkwo,
for excreting 70 wraps of cocaine weighing
1.326kg shortly on arrival from Brazil.
NDLEA Commander at Abuja Airport, Mr.
Hamisu Lawan, who disclosed this
yesterday, said that the suspect tested
positive for cocaine ingestion.
According to Hamisu, “the suspect tested
positive to drug ingestion while returning
from Sao Paulo, Brazil. He later excreted 70
wraps of cocaine weighing 1.326kg.”
Narrating his ordeal in the hands of drug
barons, who sponsored his trip to Brazil
under the guise of white collar job, the
suspect who sells used clothes at Idumota
market, said that he was promised mouth-
watering job opportunities here in Nigeria.
He however said that he was made to
suffer untold hardship before being used in
smuggling cocaine.
Confessing, Celestine said that he was a
happy man until the drug barons
approached him with a promise of better
job abroad.
According to him, “I was in my shop at
Idumota market where I sell used clothes. I
will never forget the day a young man
came to my shop to buy shirt. He told me
he is from Anambra and that he lives in
Brazil. He also promised to help me with a
good job opportunity over there. Honestly,
I was excited and felt it was answer to my
age long prayer. He collected my phone
number and left. This was how it all
started.”
Narrating his ordeal further, he stated that
after three months, the man whose identity
he did not mention called him that he was
back to Nigeria.
In his words, “he prepared my
international passport and also
secured a visa for me. Then he told
me to get set to travel anytime. Few
weeks later, he brought my ticket and
I travelled to Brazil in January 2015. He
gave me the name of the hotel where
I will stay pending when he will get
me a job. I was eventually abandoned
to suffer. When I exhausted my
money, I began to sleep in a church. I
also began to work for a Nigerian
woman who owns a restaurant in
order not to starve to death”.
The suspect also claimed that drug
trafficking was not originally discussed with
him before he left Nigeria.
According to him, “Nobody discussed drug
trafficking with me while in Nigeria. It was
after I had lived in the church for some
months that my sponsor located me in Sau
Paulo. I was told that there is no free lunch
in Brazil and that I have suffered and
experienced difficult life in Brazil. This was
the point they introduced drug trafficking as
the only way out. They said that was what
people do to make money. It took me
about seven hours to swallow 70 wraps of
cocaine. I was inexperienced because
it was my first time. They promised to
pay me N400,000 when I get to
Nigeria.”
If APC Did Not Win, I Knew I Was Going To Be In Trouble- Gov Amaechi
Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi
yesterday said he would have been
hounded out of the country by the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP)-led government,
had the All Progressives Congress (APC)
lost the election.
Amaechi spoke at the public presentation of
the compilation of his administration’s
achievements in Lagos. The book
“Dynamics of Change: The Amaechi Years”
is edited by Dr Chidi Amuta and Dr Yemi
Ogunbiyi.
Amaechi said he knew that he would be in
trouble if change did not happen in Nigeria
and was prepared to make the sacrifices
necessary to make it happen.
“I knew I was going to be in trouble.
Anything that would cause that change
not to take place, I was ready to make
that sacrifice. The federal government
sent out a signal that if they won
nobody should let me out of Nigeria
from any airport. One day Asiwaju got
angry with me. He was very angry. I
went to his house with Mallam Nasir
El-Rufai and knelt down, saying ‘please
let’s not disagree, let’s win first and
then we can disagree’.”
“I lost my passport in Ghana and went to
the High Commission. They gave me a
certificate but the Ambassador was given a
query for doing so. I later applied for a
passport and they gave me green, not red.
Now they have given it to me – two weeks
ago,” Amaechi said.
The governor said while his battle with
President Goodluck Jonathan lasted, many
of his friends either abandoned or took care
not to be seen with him in public. He said
he was mostly preoccupied with bringing
change to Nigeria and not about what to get
from the government.
“I told Asiwaju that what is important is to
make a history of the first civilian coup in
Nigeria when your children and
grandchildren read the history with your
name as one of the people who helped
bring about change in Nigeria.
“I said, let us focus on the victory. I
remember the day of the convention, there
were so many intrigues, there will be
convention, there won’t be convention, I
said my leader, if we don’t do the
convention we are finished, the press will
say APC cannot hold a convention, lead us
now, there must be convention and
election. So, he turned to me and said look
for Tunde (Fashola), let us go.”
The event which was well-attended by
chieftains of the APC was a time of tributes
and eulogies for Amaechi by his friends and
colleagues. Some of those present included:
APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed
Tinubu, National Chairman, Chief John
Odigie-Oyegun, former interim chairman,
Chief Bisi Akande and Nobel laureate Prof.
Wole Soyinka.
There were also Governors Ibikunle
Amosun (Ogun), Abdulazeez Yari (Zamfara)
, representatives of Kwara and Bauchi state
governors. governors-elect of Kaduna and
Lagos states, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and Mr.
Akinwunmi Ambode.
yesterday said he would have been
hounded out of the country by the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP)-led government,
had the All Progressives Congress (APC)
lost the election.
Amaechi spoke at the public presentation of
the compilation of his administration’s
achievements in Lagos. The book
“Dynamics of Change: The Amaechi Years”
is edited by Dr Chidi Amuta and Dr Yemi
Ogunbiyi.
Amaechi said he knew that he would be in
trouble if change did not happen in Nigeria
and was prepared to make the sacrifices
necessary to make it happen.
“I knew I was going to be in trouble.
Anything that would cause that change
not to take place, I was ready to make
that sacrifice. The federal government
sent out a signal that if they won
nobody should let me out of Nigeria
from any airport. One day Asiwaju got
angry with me. He was very angry. I
went to his house with Mallam Nasir
El-Rufai and knelt down, saying ‘please
let’s not disagree, let’s win first and
then we can disagree’.”
“I lost my passport in Ghana and went to
the High Commission. They gave me a
certificate but the Ambassador was given a
query for doing so. I later applied for a
passport and they gave me green, not red.
Now they have given it to me – two weeks
ago,” Amaechi said.
The governor said while his battle with
President Goodluck Jonathan lasted, many
of his friends either abandoned or took care
not to be seen with him in public. He said
he was mostly preoccupied with bringing
change to Nigeria and not about what to get
from the government.
“I told Asiwaju that what is important is to
make a history of the first civilian coup in
Nigeria when your children and
grandchildren read the history with your
name as one of the people who helped
bring about change in Nigeria.
“I said, let us focus on the victory. I
remember the day of the convention, there
were so many intrigues, there will be
convention, there won’t be convention, I
said my leader, if we don’t do the
convention we are finished, the press will
say APC cannot hold a convention, lead us
now, there must be convention and
election. So, he turned to me and said look
for Tunde (Fashola), let us go.”
The event which was well-attended by
chieftains of the APC was a time of tributes
and eulogies for Amaechi by his friends and
colleagues. Some of those present included:
APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed
Tinubu, National Chairman, Chief John
Odigie-Oyegun, former interim chairman,
Chief Bisi Akande and Nobel laureate Prof.
Wole Soyinka.
There were also Governors Ibikunle
Amosun (Ogun), Abdulazeez Yari (Zamfara)
, representatives of Kwara and Bauchi state
governors. governors-elect of Kaduna and
Lagos states, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and Mr.
Akinwunmi Ambode.
Imo Poly Staff Drag Rector To Okija Shrine- Vanguard
—The crisis of confidence rocking Imo
State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Ohaji/Egbema
Local Council Area of the state, has
degenerated to the point of the institution’s
Rector, Rev. Fr. Wence Madu, being dragged to
the dreaded Okija Shrine in Anambra State.
The invitation letter, which was allegedly
extended to the Rector, was signed by one
Ukaegbu N. Ogidi, who claimed that there was
a complaint of injustice against Rev. Fr.
Madu.
While stating that any respondent coming to
Ogwugwu Okija must come with clean hands,
Ogidi also informed the Rector that “Ogwugwu
kills only those whose hands are not clean,
especially those who committed evil against
their fellow human beings at work places,
churches, mosques, markets and other public
places.”
The letter also claimed that Rev. Fr. Madu
knew about the issue at stake, “but turned
around to conspire and deal with an innocent
person.”
The Rector was equally reminded in the mail
that he “should feel free to reverse the
injustice with your conspirators and
collaborators against the complainants to
avoid coming to Ogwugwu and other
unpleasant consequences.”
The custodians of the shrine similarly informed
the Rector that he should on arrival, look for
the Chief Priest for briefing and other
formalities.
Then the threat: “But where you fail to come
because of any reason, we shall come to your
residence or office. The truth must be
uncovered at all cost.”
When Vanguard visited the Rector’s office,
yesterday, to ascertain if he got such an
invitation or not, somebody who claimed to be
a staff of the office said the Imo Polytechnic
boss was not in the office.
State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Ohaji/Egbema
Local Council Area of the state, has
degenerated to the point of the institution’s
Rector, Rev. Fr. Wence Madu, being dragged to
the dreaded Okija Shrine in Anambra State.
The invitation letter, which was allegedly
extended to the Rector, was signed by one
Ukaegbu N. Ogidi, who claimed that there was
a complaint of injustice against Rev. Fr.
Madu.
While stating that any respondent coming to
Ogwugwu Okija must come with clean hands,
Ogidi also informed the Rector that “Ogwugwu
kills only those whose hands are not clean,
especially those who committed evil against
their fellow human beings at work places,
churches, mosques, markets and other public
places.”
The letter also claimed that Rev. Fr. Madu
knew about the issue at stake, “but turned
around to conspire and deal with an innocent
person.”
The Rector was equally reminded in the mail
that he “should feel free to reverse the
injustice with your conspirators and
collaborators against the complainants to
avoid coming to Ogwugwu and other
unpleasant consequences.”
The custodians of the shrine similarly informed
the Rector that he should on arrival, look for
the Chief Priest for briefing and other
formalities.
Then the threat: “But where you fail to come
because of any reason, we shall come to your
residence or office. The truth must be
uncovered at all cost.”
When Vanguard visited the Rector’s office,
yesterday, to ascertain if he got such an
invitation or not, somebody who claimed to be
a staff of the office said the Imo Polytechnic
boss was not in the office.
Uniabuja Students Lockout FCT Minister Over Students’ Bus, Others
ABUJA- STUDENTS of the University of
Abuja under the aegis, FCT National
Association of Nigeria Students, NANS,
yesterday locked out the Minister of the
Federal Capital Territory Administration,
FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed and other
government officials over the refusal of the
administration to purchase for them a
School bus.
The protesting students who barricaded the
entrance and exit gates of the FCTA
Secretariat in Area 11, Garki District, Abuja
for about some hours on Thursday,
demanded that the FCTA must purchase a
vehicle for their association immediately to
enable them attend their various
conventions; develop the University of
Abuja’s Unity Park; solve water supply
challenges at the University of Abuja’s mini
campus and furnish the common room of
the NANS Chairman.
The protesting students, led by the
Chairman of the University of Abuja Chapter
of the National Association of Nigerian
Students (NANS), Comrade Friday
Omadewu Adayi, laid siege to the FCTA
Secretariat from 12noon till yesterday
evening insisting that they would not leave
the place unless the FCTA met their
demands.
Following the crippling of business activities
and to avoid any breakdown of law and
order, selected leaders of the students later
met with FCT officials led by the FCT
Education Secretary, Alhaji Kabir Usman
who promised to look into their demands.
The FCTA was of the view that since the
University was a federal one, most of
demands were either untenable or should
have been pursued through the Federal
Ministry of Education which administers the
University of Abuja.
The Secretary announced that the request
by the students for a donation of a vehicle
to the FCT NANS was receiving attention
and would be granted if funds become
available, adding that while the FCTA
acknowledged the right of the students to
request for assistance, it abhors any action
taken to disrupt government activities.
Condemning the act, the FCTA noted that it
was wrong for the students to attempt to
use force to compel government to fulfill
requests that are not statutory
responsibilities of the FCTA, just as it
described the protest as unjustifiable and
embarrassing.
In a statement signed later by the Special
Assistant, Media to the Minister, Nosike
Ogbuenyi, the FCTA said, ” The point
should be stressed that it is not part of
FCTA’s official responsibility to furnish the
NANS Chairman’s common room at the
University of Abuja or to provide internal
infrastructure in Federal universities.
Similarly, government action on the kind of
demands made by the students is
discretionary and dependent on resource
availability.
” Nonetheless, the FCTA cherishes robust
relationship with NANS even though it
frowns at any attempt to hold it to ransom
by students over welfare and logistics
demands by individuals or groups.
“The FCTA advises the students to desist
from lawless acts like blocking of gates.
However, the Administration will continue
to assist students through its various
mechanisms including award of
scholarships. It will equally continue to give
logistics support to students’ organizations
such as NANS provided that due process is
followed and sufficient notice given in all
cases. While we are doing this, we call on
parents to always watch their children and
wards closely by calling them to order
whenever the need arises.
“The FCT Administration through its Water
Board has provided potable and
wholesome water to the residents of the
Federal Capital Territory including
Gwagwalada township by the recent
commissioning of the Lower Usuma Dam
Phases III & IV Water Treatment Plants and
therefore it is the duty of individuals,
institutions and corporate organizations to
undertake water reticulation in their areas of
abode. “
Abuja under the aegis, FCT National
Association of Nigeria Students, NANS,
yesterday locked out the Minister of the
Federal Capital Territory Administration,
FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed and other
government officials over the refusal of the
administration to purchase for them a
School bus.
The protesting students who barricaded the
entrance and exit gates of the FCTA
Secretariat in Area 11, Garki District, Abuja
for about some hours on Thursday,
demanded that the FCTA must purchase a
vehicle for their association immediately to
enable them attend their various
conventions; develop the University of
Abuja’s Unity Park; solve water supply
challenges at the University of Abuja’s mini
campus and furnish the common room of
the NANS Chairman.
The protesting students, led by the
Chairman of the University of Abuja Chapter
of the National Association of Nigerian
Students (NANS), Comrade Friday
Omadewu Adayi, laid siege to the FCTA
Secretariat from 12noon till yesterday
evening insisting that they would not leave
the place unless the FCTA met their
demands.
Following the crippling of business activities
and to avoid any breakdown of law and
order, selected leaders of the students later
met with FCT officials led by the FCT
Education Secretary, Alhaji Kabir Usman
who promised to look into their demands.
The FCTA was of the view that since the
University was a federal one, most of
demands were either untenable or should
have been pursued through the Federal
Ministry of Education which administers the
University of Abuja.
The Secretary announced that the request
by the students for a donation of a vehicle
to the FCT NANS was receiving attention
and would be granted if funds become
available, adding that while the FCTA
acknowledged the right of the students to
request for assistance, it abhors any action
taken to disrupt government activities.
Condemning the act, the FCTA noted that it
was wrong for the students to attempt to
use force to compel government to fulfill
requests that are not statutory
responsibilities of the FCTA, just as it
described the protest as unjustifiable and
embarrassing.
In a statement signed later by the Special
Assistant, Media to the Minister, Nosike
Ogbuenyi, the FCTA said, ” The point
should be stressed that it is not part of
FCTA’s official responsibility to furnish the
NANS Chairman’s common room at the
University of Abuja or to provide internal
infrastructure in Federal universities.
Similarly, government action on the kind of
demands made by the students is
discretionary and dependent on resource
availability.
” Nonetheless, the FCTA cherishes robust
relationship with NANS even though it
frowns at any attempt to hold it to ransom
by students over welfare and logistics
demands by individuals or groups.
“The FCTA advises the students to desist
from lawless acts like blocking of gates.
However, the Administration will continue
to assist students through its various
mechanisms including award of
scholarships. It will equally continue to give
logistics support to students’ organizations
such as NANS provided that due process is
followed and sufficient notice given in all
cases. While we are doing this, we call on
parents to always watch their children and
wards closely by calling them to order
whenever the need arises.
“The FCT Administration through its Water
Board has provided potable and
wholesome water to the residents of the
Federal Capital Territory including
Gwagwalada township by the recent
commissioning of the Lower Usuma Dam
Phases III & IV Water Treatment Plants and
therefore it is the duty of individuals,
institutions and corporate organizations to
undertake water reticulation in their areas of
abode. “
Govornors Elect Who Are Likely To Lose At The Tribunals
1) Okezie Ikpeazu - PDP Abia state : The swift
reverse of cancellations in 3 LGAs of the sate after
Gov Orji stormed the INEC collation center with
other PDP chieftains is an evidence to reckon with
by the opposition APGA. Many election
irregularities spotted by internation observers in
the state is a point worth it for the opposition
APGA, since they have recorded evidence of
election malpractises. The arrest of 6 INEc staffs
caught thumbprinting for PDP has caused
sleepless nights for the ruling party, as the InEC
staffs has remained in Police custody, till when
needed at the tribunals.
2) Emmanuel Udom - PDP Akwa-ibom state. :
Card readers accrediting largely below the
number of voters the PDP candidte won with is a
pure evidence of fraud.
3) Nyesom Wike - PDP Rivers state: Suffers same
fate as Akwa Ibom
4) Rochas Okorocha - APC Imo state: Looking at
the margin at which the incumbent won, one can
fairly stress that there was irregularities,
Malfunction of card readers at the oppositions
strongholds, arrest of Adhoc staffs working for
the incumbent, delay in results announcement,
(stalemated). A reliable source has it that the
opposition has strong evidence at hand to
surmount the incumbent's victory at the just
concluded pools.
Feel free to add or remove.
reverse of cancellations in 3 LGAs of the sate after
Gov Orji stormed the INEC collation center with
other PDP chieftains is an evidence to reckon with
by the opposition APGA. Many election
irregularities spotted by internation observers in
the state is a point worth it for the opposition
APGA, since they have recorded evidence of
election malpractises. The arrest of 6 INEc staffs
caught thumbprinting for PDP has caused
sleepless nights for the ruling party, as the InEC
staffs has remained in Police custody, till when
needed at the tribunals.
2) Emmanuel Udom - PDP Akwa-ibom state. :
Card readers accrediting largely below the
number of voters the PDP candidte won with is a
pure evidence of fraud.
3) Nyesom Wike - PDP Rivers state: Suffers same
fate as Akwa Ibom
4) Rochas Okorocha - APC Imo state: Looking at
the margin at which the incumbent won, one can
fairly stress that there was irregularities,
Malfunction of card readers at the oppositions
strongholds, arrest of Adhoc staffs working for
the incumbent, delay in results announcement,
(stalemated). A reliable source has it that the
opposition has strong evidence at hand to
surmount the incumbent's victory at the just
concluded pools.
Feel free to add or remove.
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