Youths under the aegis of Abak 5 say they have endorsed the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for another term in the 2019 governorship election.
The youths are drawn from the Abak, Ika, Ukanafun, Oruk Anam and Etim Ekpo local government areas of the state.
They disclosed their decision to support the governor in 2019 at a reception organised for him and his wife, Martha, at the Abak township stadium, a statement by the group said.
Speaking at the occasion, Emmanuel appreciated the reception accorded him and his wife, saying that it was a thing of pride that the infrastructural consolidation drive of his administration had been extended to the area with adequate acknowledgment from the people, culminating in his endorsement for 2019.
He said that he would continue to drive infrastructural development at the local governments, noting that renovation would soon commence at the General Hospital, Ikot Okoro, while a general hospital was being proposed for residents of the Ukanafun Local Government Area to address their medical needs.
The statement added, “The governor announced plans to make the area an industrial hub with an uninterrupted electricity supply to boost the fertiliser plant at the Abak Local Government Area which would commence operations in a couple of months.”
Emmanuel further explained that with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding worth $18m with a foreign firm, modalities had been put in place for the establishment of a skills acquisition centre to offer training for the youths at the Mkpat Enin and the Oruk Anam local government areas.
The statement quoted the governor as saying that his administration was committed to boosting the educational sector, stating that the commitment was demonstrated by the ongoing rehabilitation of schools and recruitment of qualified teachers.
The governor however appealed to the youths to end the unwarranted destruction of lives and property in the Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun local government areas, explaining that no meaningful development could occur in a restive environment.
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President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerian universities to be more transparent in their operations, adding that accountability is a key ingredient needed to drive national development.
In a speech delivered through the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Adamu Rasheed, on the final day of the 49th convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos on Friday, President Buhari reiterated his government’s resolve at enacting policies that would significantly improve the nation’s education sector.
He said the universities were not making justifiable utility of funds being released to them by the Federal Government, a situation, which he pointed has always inhibited learning and research.
While promising more funding, Buhari called on the universities to always make optimum use of all funds released to them.
About 5,830 degrees across all levels of learning were awarded to deserving graduates across different disciplines.
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Operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons have arrested the directors of two travel and tour agencies in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Ibrahim Wali and Nasiru Jubril, for allegedly trafficking 96 Nigerians to Saudi Arabia, using the 2017 Hajj exercise as pretext.
According to NAPTIP in a release on Friday, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria had written a letter of complaint against one of the travel agencies, which got allocation to take 450 persons to Saudi Arabia during the 2017 Hajj exercise.
NAPTIP said, however, months after the Hajj operations ended, the company was unable to account for 96 of the people it took to the Asian country, noting that every attempt by the company to bring the people back proved abortive.
Our correspondent learnt that in the course of the investigation, Wali alleged that it was his friend, Jubril, who transacted the business and was culpable for the missing persons.
The anti-trafficking agency said the two suspects were making useful statements as investigation continued.
Speaking on the arrest, the NAPTIP Director–General, Julie Okah–Donli, warned travel and tour operators in the country to desist from recruiting Nigerians for sexual and labour exploitation, adding that their actions were inimical to the development of the country.
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The Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, on Friday said it had expelled 202 students for cultism and examination malpractice between 2015 and 2018.
Rector of the institution, Mr. Samuel Sogunro, in a report said 183 students were expelled for cultism while 19 were sent packing for exam malpractices during the period.
Sogunro said that 88 of the 183 students were in the School of Full-Time Studies while 95 were in the School of Part-Time Studies.
According to him, nine of the 19 students dismissed for exam malpractice were full-time and 10 were part-time students.
He said, “The present administration has zero tolerance for cultism and the Polytechnic Governing Council has directed that the names of the culprits should be published in a national daily and that would be done soon.”
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An employee of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Limited, Mr. Uchenna Okagwu, on Friday told an Ikeja High Court how he paid 232,000 euros (about N99.76m) to alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, to secure the release of his boss.
Okagwu said that he paid the sum to the kidnapper to secure the release of Mr. Donatus Dunu, Managing Director of the company.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Evans is facing trial alongside Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba for this and other crimes.
Okagwu told the court that Evans and his gang threatened to kill him if he made any mistake while trying to deliver the ransom.
He said, “About two months after my boss was kidnapped, I got a call from his brother, Anselem, to deliver 232, 000 euros to the kidnappers.
“He gave me his phone that the abductors would use it to direct me to where I would deliver the ransom.
“Soon I started receiving calls with the phone from the kidnappers, who warned that I should make no mistakes that if I did, I would be shot.
“I was asked if I knew the way towards Mile 2 and I said yes. I went with the money inside the vehicle. From there, I was directed to FESTAC, and until I got to a place at Okota.
“I was told to get to a street immediately after the canal where commercial motorcyclists stay and drive down. I was asked to describe everything I saw and should tell them when I saw a blinking light on an electric pole.
“At a point, I was asked to park, get down from the vehicle with the ransom and walk back.
“As I walked to the back of my vehicle and I was three steps away, I was asked to drop the ransom; I did so and was told to move immediately after dropping the money.
“As I looked around, I only saw a vehicle parked at the beginning of the street with full lights on, the vehicle looked like an SUV.”
The case was adjourned to June 22 for continuation of trial.
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A pastor’s wife, Mrs. Uzoamaka Ibeneme, on Friday lost her 21-year-old marriage when an Igando Customary Court in Lagos, dissolved the union on grounds of adultery, the News Agency of Nigeria has reported.
President of the court, Mr. Akin Akinniyi, who delivered the judgment, said the petitioner, Pastor Joshua Ibeneme, was adamant in spite of the mediation by the court and family intervention.
He said, “Since the petitioner insisted on divorce after several interventions, the court is therefore left with no option but to grant him his wish and pronounce the union dissolved.
“The court hereby pronounces the marriage between Pastor Joshua Ibeneme and Mrs. Uzoamaka Ibeneme dissolved today.
“Both of you will henceforth cease to be husband and wife, each of you should go on his or her separate ways unmolested.
“The court wishes both of you well in your future endeavour.
“Any squabble between both you from now on shall be treated as criminal and any violation of this judgment will be regarded as contempt of court and will attract imprisonment without option of fine.”
Earlier, the 53-year-old had approached the court to end his marriage to the woman, who he said was messing around with church members.
He said, “My wife had sexual affair with two of my church members, a deacon and a bishop. Both of them were telling my other members that they slept with my wife because she enticed them.
“Whenever I return from a trip, my last born always tells me that men came to pick and drop my wife. Even God told me to divorce her or else she will destroy my ministry.
“My wife starved me of sex for more than five years; whenever I want to sleep with her, she would give one excuse or the other and in fact, she has moved out of my room to a separate room.
“But she gives it to my members freely.”
Meanwhile a five-year-old marriage between a 35-year-old trader, Bilikisu Azeez, and her husband, Olusesi, was also dissolved by the court on Friday.
Bilikisu had told the court that her husband, Olusesi, starved her of sex for more than two years, a development which, she said, had affected her health.
She said, “My husband has been starving me of sex since he married his youngest wife; he has turned me to an abandoned property.”
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The Commander of the Ondo State National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr. Mohammed Sokoto, has said that no fewer than 11,000 hectares of cannabis farmland also known as Indian hemp had been destroyed in the state.
The NDLEA boss, who stated this while speaking with journalists in Akure, the state capital, said the command made the destruction between 2015 and 2018.
According to him, if such amount of farmland was not destroyed, it would have produced about one million kilograms of cannabis, which would be a danger to the peace of the state.
Sokoto also disclosed that no fewer than 80 drug offenders were apprehended by the men of the agency during the period under review.
He stated further that the culprits were currently facing prosecution in court.
He said, “In the area of cannabis farm destruction which is one of the enforcement we are doing, we have destroyed over 11,000 hectares of cannabis farms between 2015 and 2018.
“Also, about 80 drug offenders were apprehended and are in for jail term.
“We have discovered 10 forest reserves where cannabis is being cultivated in Ondo State and action would be taken in this regard in due course.”
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Keeping your couch clean might have always be a struggle, especially when you have messy toddlers, distracted teenagers, a less-than-neat roommate or an untidy spouse. However, it doesn’t have to be difficult to clean it, whether at home or in the office. The following simple steps, as stated on cnet.com, can help you take your sofa from its grubby state to beautiful in just an afternoon or perhaps in the weekend.
Strip it down
The first step is to remove the cushion covers – if your couch has removable cushions. Simply unzip each cushion cover and pull it off, making sure not to pull any stuffing along with it.
Most pillows are made with a sheet of white fluff called batting over a square of foam padding. Do not remove the sheet of batting. If it looks a little dirty, dab the soiled areas with a damp cloth. The dirt should come right up.
If your couch doesn’t have removable covers, your focus will be on spot cleaning. Just skip to the rest of the tips below.
Start a load
Next, turn all of the cushion covers inside out and throw them in the washing machine. Use enough detergent for a small load and skip the fabric softener. If your pillow covers have special washing instructions on their labels, be sure to follow them.
If you can’t find any washing instructions, set your washer to gentle cycle with a slow spin speed and warm water. Your cushion covers are somewhat delicate, so these settings are important. Otherwise, you may end up with a tear or a detached zipper when the load is done.
When your cushion covers are clean, don’t put them in the dryer. It is a little too tough on the seams of the covers. Instead, let them hang somewhere to air-dry. Be sure each cover is completely dry before you put them back on the cushions to avoid the growth of mildew or mould.
Suck it up
While the covers are washing, vacuum your couch using an upholstery attachment on your vacuum’s hose. Your vacuum may have so many attachments that you’re not sure which one is for upholstery. That’s okay! The upholstery attachment is the one with the bush around the suction area. The brush prevents fabrics on the sofa from getting sucked into the hose.
Be sure to pay close attention to divots and creases in the fabric. Crumbs and dust tend to gather in these areas.
Remove stains
If you don’t have slipcovers or you find stains on the arms and back of your couch, you’ll need to spot-clean. Here are some options for spot-cleaning:
For general scuffs and stains: Dampen a dishcloth and warm water. Then, dab each spot firmly, but don’t rub. This will remove dust and dirt from the fibres without damaging them.
For oil stains: Mix two drops of dish soap with 16 ounces of warm water. Then, spray the dingy area with the mixture, let the spray sit for five minutes and dab the spot with a clean, damp cloth.
Before you spot-clean, test the solution you plan to use on a hidden area, such as where the fabric folds around the bottom of the frame. It’s best to test an area and wait 24 hours before determining if a solution is safe, since results can take time to appear.
If your couch is made of leather, use a cleaner that is specifically made for leather and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Drying is the last step to a clean sofa. Let all of the areas you cleaned dry before anyone sits down. You can speed up the process by setting a portable fan in front of the couch or by using a blow dryer set on low heat.
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission has dragged a former Managing Director of Oil Petroleum Limited, Mr. Nnaemeka Nwawka, to a Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State over alleged money laundering .
Standing trial with Nwawka before Justice I. B. Gafaiare are Jude Anakwe and Agbaim Nwachukwu.
The charge against the trio was brought against them in two separate petitions to EFCC by a businessman, Chief C.N. Ibeto.
When the matter came up, Nwawka’s lawyer, Mr. Nnoruka Udechukwu, (SAN), asked Justice Gafai to excuse him from the case.
He said that Chief Ibeto had continuously boasted that “no matter the arguments the defendants would put forward in the court, the defendants would be sentenced to prison at the pleasure of Ibeto.”
The lawyer added, “The applicant has substantial proof in the internet and the news media that Ibeto has the capability to deliver on his boasts, which he had made directly to the applicant.
“Even the charge sheet was numbered and indicated to be filed at the Federal High Court in Awka before the formal filing as the applicants had seen same in Abuja even before it was formally filed in court”.
Udechukwu maintained that the applicant was satisfied in his fears that he has other ongoing cases with Ibeto pending before the same court, adding that at every stage of the cases, Ibeto’s predictions of the outcome had been completely right.
He contended that the applicant was convinced that if the court went ahead to try his client and eventually convicts him, he would have been convicted according to Ibeto ‘s boasts and design, rather than according to the dictates of justice.
“In that event, the applicant would be of the view that justice had been miscarried,” he added.
He, therefore, urged the court to transfer the substantive matter to be tried by another judge in accordance with section 22 (1) of the Federal High Court Act.
The prosecuting counsel, H.O Anasor, opposed the application, arguing that although the defendants claimed that this was not a case where the Honourable Court was accused of bias but it was clear that the court was being accused of bias by the defendants.
Citing relevant authorities, the prosecuting counsel contended that there was no cogent facts to entitle the judge to disqualify himself from the matter.
He urged the court to dismiss the application and direct that the case be proceeded for trial.
The judge, Justice I. B. Gafai, adjourned the matter to June 19, 2018, for ruling on the application asking him to disqualify himself in the case.
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Elizabeth Badejo
eb_africadreamwedding@yahoo.com
www.stringmynaijawedding.com …08097360766
Life is certainly full of ups and downs and taking the decision to make a lifetime commitment such as getting married can become one of life’s most complicated choices too. Your relationship has been nothing but great and it seems more perfect now than ever to spend the rest of your lives together; your wedding date has also been set. Suddenly, the unexpected happens and you have to make a decision to either postpone or cancel the wedding until further notice.
Perhaps you and your partner are presently at a crossroads; confused and anxious about the consequences of making such a drastic decision, you are not alone as many prospective couples are caught between this ‘supposed’ bad luck when planning their dream wedding.
Cold feet
One of the most common reasons why some couples postpone or cancel their wedding is due to ‘cold feet’, a pre-wedding syndrome common in both brides and grooms either due to fear and anxiety or a total loss of interest in going ahead with the marriage. The postponement of the marriage can also bring about a lot of reforms in your relationships and allow both of you to understand the importance of the journey ahead and if you are really prepared to make the sacrifices too.
Pitter patter of feet
The wedding planning period can be stressful and unexciting for a bride if she suddenly finds out that she is expecting a baby. As thrilling as the news of becoming parents for the first time can be, it can also take its toll on the new mother especially if the due date is closer to the wedding dates set. You may want to consider the option of postponing the wedding so that you can both focus on the arrival of the new addition.
Bad addictions
Building a positive relationship together is important in marriage but when your partner has certain bad habits that seem to have taken absolute control of his/her behaviour, it is important to deal with the situation especially if they are health related. If your partner is addicted to illicit drugs, gambling, physical, mental or emotional abuse, it is very important that you take a very decisive step to safeguard yourself from harm first. Explore the options of postponing the marriage in order to get him/her help or cancelling the marriage to save you both from an uncertain future together.
Infidelity
There is a myth that once a wedding date is fixed, it is inappropriate to postpone or cancel irrespective of the circumstances in order to avoid bad luck but in the situation where you discover that your partner has been cheating on you, it may also be bad luck to go ahead.
Expectations can also be cut short when you realise that the relationship you have built for many years is about to crumble before your very eyes. It may be a wise decision to postpone your marriage and work on gaining the trust back or cancel the wedding if you can no longer trust again.
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Political tension in the Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress deepened on Friday when unidentified hoodlums set the party secretariat on fire.
Our correspondent, who visited the secretariat at the Imo State University junction in Owerri around 6.30 pm, amidst heavy downpour, saw smoke coming out of the building.
No firefighter was seen on the ground even as several people watched from afar as the building was engulfed in smoke.
It was gathered that some equipment as well as party documents were destroyed in the incident.
When contacted, the state party chairmen, Hilary Eke, said the development was the handiwork of some unidentified hoodlums who wanted to frustrate the local government areas congress of the party holding on Saturday (today).
He however vowed that the exercise would be conducted, insisting that the contentious wards congress of the party last week was successful.
He urged those who lost during last weekend’s exercise to give peace a chance.
He said, “Despite the provocation, the local government areas congress must go on today. It is not taking place at the party secretariat, but at the 27 local government areas.
“My duty is to report this incident to the police and the police have the duty to investigate so that those who attacked the secretariat will be identified.”
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The Ogun State Police Command says it has arrested eight suspects over a bloody pre-dawn clash between two rival cult gangs in Ijebu Igbo on Wednesday, which resulted to the death of one person.
The police say the suspects were members of Aiye and Eiye confraternity.
Public Relations Officer for the command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the suspects were picked up at their hideouts where they were holding a meeting in preparation for another attack.
He said immediately the report of the clash got to the notice of the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, he directed the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad and Anti-Cultist/Kidnapping sections to move in and apprehend the hoodlums.
Oyeyemi said the Officer-in-charge of FSARS, Uba Adam, and his team swung into action and embarked on a thorough investigation, adding that their efforts paid off when the hoodlums were discovered.
He said, “They stormed the place and got eight of them arrested with various types of dangerous arms and ammunition.
“The suspects are Muyiwa Talabi, Tunde Adeyemi, Korede Pariosho, Dayo Johnson, Segun Saka, Niyi Adeshina, Micheal Oluwaseun and Afolabi Ismail.”
Oyeyemi said through investigation, the police discovered that the duo of Talabi and Adeshina were the ones, who allegedly hacked the victim to death.
He said in a retaliatory move, their co-accomplice, who also played a prominent role in the killing, was traced to his house by the rival gang and killed on Friday morning before the police arrived at the place.
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday closed its case in the trial of a former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, who is being prosecuted for an alleged fraud of N2.9bn.
Kalu was re-arraigned on October 31, 2016 by the EFCC on 34 counts of money laundering before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
He was re-arraigned alongside Udeh Udeogu and Slok Nigeria Limited.
The EFCC closed its case on Friday following the cross-examination by its last witness, Chidi Chukwuka, a forensic investigator.
The witness had while fielding questions from Kalu’s lawyer, Prof. Awa Kalu (SAN), told the court that the EFCC was not aware that former President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote ex-American President, George Bush, over a $1.7m Potomac house which a former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, purchased in 2003.
He said the alleged letter between Obasanjo and Bush was none of the anti-graft agency’s business.
He equally denied knowledge of the existence of any similar correspondence between Obasanjo and then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair.
“I suggest to you that it was not only the EFCC that was interested in the property in Exhibit W1. I said so because then President Olusegun Obasanjo had correspondence with then US President, George W. Bush,” Kalu confronted Chukwuka.
Responding, the investigator said, “My office is in the EFCC, not in the US.”
“You may not also be aware that Obasanjo was in correspondence with then UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, with respect to some properties,” Kalu suggested to the witness.
“Not to my knowledge,” he replied.
Asked by the SAN whether the EFCC discovered in the course of its investigations that the former governor acquired a “family house” in Boston, Massachusetts, “as far back as 1997”, Chukwuka said he did not investigate the property.
“We are aware that the first defendant, by Nigerian standard, it is possible he has a house in the US but the house in the US was not subject to investigation; so, we did not pay attention to that,” he added.
“Did you find out that the area where that family house was located had racial issue on account of which he put it up for sale?” the lawyer asked the investigator.
“It was not part of our investigation,” he said.
The lawyer further suggested to the investigator that “as a result of the racial issue, the first defendant sold the property for $3.8m in 2003,” to which, Chukwuka again replied that “it was not part of our investigation, sir.”
“Did your investigation show that the Potomac house was acquired with proceeds from the sale of the Boston property?” Kalu asked the investigator.
“We found an account where $1.7m was drawn and paid from a Nigerian bank,” the investigator said.
“Did you uncover an account from Nigeria or any part of Africa where $1.7m was drawn to pay for the property?” Kalu asked.
“It may interest you that the suspect was investigated that time and he had foreign accounts and funds were moved from Nigeria into those foreign accounts,” the investigator said.
“I suggest to you that the property in Potomac was funded from an offshore account in the US,” Kalu put to the investigator, who then responded, “You are right.”
“Specifically, that fund was from Chase Manhattan Bank, now JPMorgan; that was where the house was paid for,” Kalu said, to which Chukwuka replied, “Yes.”
The witness, however, said he was not aware that the ex-governor is a “legal permanent resident” in the US who holds a green card.
The witness said he was aware that Kalu filled and submitted assets declaration forms in 1999 and 2003.
“Did the asset declaration forms of 1999 and 2003 show the first defendant to be a pauper, a person who has no means or worthless?” Kalu asked the investigator.”
amid tears from thousands of sympathisers, who besieged his premises at Goron Dutse in the Dala Local Government Area of Kano State.
Prominent among personalities, who witnessed the interment of the late cleric, included the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa’ad 111, the Emir of Kano, Mohammad Sanusi 11, and business magnate, Aliko Dangote, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai and several others.
The remains of the Islamic scholar was laid before a large congregation of Islamic faithful in an ambulance at the Sheikh Muhammad Rabiu Mosque, which was named after his late father, Mohammadu Rabiu.
The funeral prayer was led by Sheik Tijjani Aliyu Sisa, the Chief Imam of Kaulaha Mosque in Senegal, who stood in for Sheik Inyass.
The late Rabiu had died last Monday at the age of 93 during a protracted illness at a London hospital.
In an interview, the Chief Imam of Kofar Mata, Sheikh Nasir Adam, described the late khalifa as a dedicated and committed gentleman who served as an embodiment of justice and a good philanthropist.
As a close confidant to the late Sheik Isiaka Rabiu, the Chief Imam said the vacuum created by his death would be very difficult to fill. The late Khalifa left behind 42 children and so many grand children to mourn him.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday advised the children of the late Islamic scholar and businessman to build on the cherished legacies of gentlemanliness and friendliness of their father.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists.
Shehu said Buhari was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, at the burial of the deceased in Kano.
The President challenged his children to build on his laudable legacies and surpass them.
“Your father lived a life worthy of emulation,” the President said.
The Federal Government delegation included the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Munguno (retd.); Minister of Water Resources, Sulaiman Adamu, the Ministers of State for Aviation and Environment, Hadi Sirika and Ibrahim Usman Jibril.
Others were the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris and Shehu.
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…for awarding contracts to firms indicted in $1.2bn Malabu scam
Ade Adesomoju and Leye Aluko
Civil rights groups and eminent lawyers on Friday berated the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government for awarding $1.8bn contracts for the Turn Around Maintenance of refineries to some companies indicted in the $1.2bn Malabu scam.
The groups, including the Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project, in separate interviews with Saturday PUNCH on Friday, said the government’s action had shown that it was not serious with the anti-graft war.
The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the fresh TAM plan for the country’s four refineries had on Tuesday queried the criteria used in selecting the consortium of firms listed for the contracts.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had set aside over $1.8bn for the repairs, which the corporation preferred to call “comprehensive rehabilitation”, as against the traditional TAM.
The House is investigating the desirability of another TAM on the refineries after a series of TAM in the past reportedly gulped “over $20bn” and still left the plants operating at below 20 per cent installed capacity.
The panel, which is chaired by a member of the All Progressives Congress from Kaduna State, Mr. Garba Datti-Muhammad, had summoned the NNPC to produce documents on the status of the refineries and the financial implications of running them at the expense of taxpayers.
But, on Tuesday, after examining the documents, lawmakers observed that some of the firms engaged to carry out the fresh $1.8bn TAM were facing corruption charges across the globe, including the celebrated $1.2bn Malabu oil deal linked to former Nigerian government top officials.
Among the consortium of firms on the NNPC’s list were names like Trafigura, ENI, MIRS and Sahara.
The lawmakers particularly cited the case of ENI, whose directors they said were facing prosecution in some countries, including Italy.
Some Nigerians, including two lawyers, Mr. Monday Ubani, who is the 2nd Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association and the President of the Committee for Defence of Human Rights, Mr. Malachy Ugwummadu, condemned the award of refineries TAM’ contract to some companies indicted in the Malabu scam.
Reacting to the development on Friday, Ugwummadu said the conduct of the Federal Government through the NNPC by engaging the indicted companies in such contract, violated constitutional provisions which mandate the government to abolish corruption in the country.
He said, “You will appreciate that the controversy surrounding the OPL 245 Malabu oil deal is one of a national embarrassment with international dimension.
“Our concern is that the controversy and the web of intrigues are such that the image of Nigeria as a country struggling with corruption has further plummeted as a result of our inability to track the components of corruption network at a time when the accomplices that engaged in the same chain of corrupt transactions are being prosecuted in other climes.
“To further compound the embarrassing situation is this revelation that companies allegedly involved in the same corrupt activities have now been rehabilitated and then certified to be fit and proper to continue transacting with NNPC.
“That is clearly against section 15(5) of the Constitution which is to the effect that the state shall abolish all forms of corrupt practices and abuse of office.”
On his part, Ubani said it was a blow to the image of a country that claims to be fighting corruption.”
Also, SERAP and CACOL scolded the NNPC over the award of $1.8bn TAM contract to the indicted firms.
The civil societies said the NNPC had made the Federal Government’s fight against corruption look like noisemaking, calling on anti-graft agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to conduct an independent and thorough investigation, apart from what the House of Representatives was doing on the matter.
The SERAP Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said, “If you worked for a particular establishment and the work given to you was done in a manner that was inappropriate, that should indicate to the person you worked for that you have no integrity and you cannot deliver efficiently.
“This will only show that the government is serious and whatever agenda the government proposes will be effectively accomplished. But for the NNPC to now give contracts to these firms shows the government is not serious and that all what we are saying about anti-corruption is noisemaking.”
The CACOL Director, Debo Adeniran, said, “Our stand is that the House of Representatives is not an anti-corruption agency. As long as there is an evidence that these contracts have been awarded to firms under investigation or indicted under some previous contracts, there is no point in wasting time and resources to set up another investigative panel whose report will now be taken to anti-graft agencies.”
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There are strong indications of a looming showdown at the Senate on Tuesday as the lawmaker representing the Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, says he will attend the plenary.
The senator stated this in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, while reacting to the nullification of his suspension by the Federal High Court, Abuja.
But it was learnt that the Senate had yet to inform security men to allow the Delta Central senator access to the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
Saturday PUNCH had exclusively reported on April 21 that the Senate had ordered security agents to prevent Omo-Agege from entering its chamber.
But the senator said his planned resumption was not based on court nullifying his suspension, because he never believed that a legislature could suspend a member.
Asked if he would resume legislative duties on Tuesday, Omo-Agege said, “Absolutely. I have already told you that I reserve the right to come to sitting anytime. I am coming not because of this judgment but because I have always maintained that they have no right to suspend.
“I did not just take that position. I took that position based on the extant laws which have been pronounced upon by various courts, including the Court of Appeal in Jos concerning the Speaker of Bauchi State House of Assembly. That is a pronouncement that can be extended to everyone. I did not even need to go to court to seek a re-validation.
“Be that as it may, I reserve the right to show up anytime to attend plenary, to represent my people, and that right of representation cannot be tampered with by anyone irrespective of the provision.”
Omo-Agege pointed out that only his constituents have the power to remove him from the senatorial seat he is currently occupying.
He said, “I am grateful to God and I give God all the glory. I must tell you that this verdict did not come to me as a surprise because I have always known the law. The law is very clear that no legislature has the powers to suspend anybody (member) for one day. That is the position I have always taken. It was on the basis of that understanding that I went to plenary on the 18th of April.
“From day one, I considered this suspension, unlawful and unconstitutional. What the court has just done is to re-validate that position. Only my constituents – the Urhobo people – have the right to determine whether or not I can be in the Senate; no one else, no matter how highly placed.”
It was, however, gathered the lawmaker might not be allowed to gain access to the Senate.
A source in the Senate, who confided in Saturday PUNCH, stated, “We have yet to inform the security agents and he will not be allowed to enter the senate until the judgment is discussed at the plenary.”
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi-Abdullahi, had on Thursday told one of our correspondents that the lawmakers had yet to be formally informed about the judgment.
We’ll deliberate on Omo-Agege’s case on Tuesday –Senate
But when contacted on Friday, Sabi-Abdullahi, said the lawmakers would discuss Omo-Agege’s matter at the plenary on Tuesday. He said he could not confirm if the senator could resume or not.
Sabi-Abdullahi said, “There is an appeal against the judgment, according to media reports. But I cannot be speaking for the Senate and reply on what was reported, I must get the facts from the relevant people within the institution. Now, I am not in Abuja. I’ve been asked and I said no, until we resume. When we resume on Tuesday, whatever facts are there, we are going to get the facts and we will be able to know what is happening.”
It was learnt that the Senate had filed for a stay of execution of the judgment and that it had no plan to recall Omo-Agege
Senate files stay of judgment execution
Counsel for the Senate and its President, Mr. Mahmud Magaji (SAN), told one of our correspondents on Friday that he had filed along with his notice of appeal, an application for stay of execution of the judgment reinstating Senator Omo-Agege.
“We filed an application for stay of execution of the judgment alongside our notice of appeal,” Magaji said.
An aide to the Senate President, Bankole Omisore, had on Thursday indicated that the Senate would appeal the judgment.
Omo-Agege had, one week after his suspension, attended Senate plenary. The lawmaker’s attendance had occurred same time when suspected thugs invaded the Senate chamber while plenary was ongoing and made away with the mace.
Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, had disclosed that the sergeants-at-arms and security personnel had been ordered to block Omo-Agege whenever he tries to enter the chamber.
The Senate had on April 12, 2018, suspended Omo-Agege for 90 legislative days for dragging the chamber to court over the amendment to the Electoral Act 2010 which seeks to reshuffle the sequence of polls during a general election.
However, the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday nullified the 90-day suspension imposed by the Senate on Omo-Agege. Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, in the judgment, said the order nullifying the suspension was “with immediate effect.”
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When Corporal Tumba Garba (retd.) joined the Nigerian Army on July 21, 1965, two years before the start of the civil war, he had no idea he would become a driver to the top brass in the military, some of whom later went on to become the country’s heads of state.
Sharing his memories in the military with our correspondent, Garba, who is father of Senator Binta Masi Garba, representing Adamawa North District in the National Assembly, said with pride that there was virtually no important personality in the military that he didn’t drive.
“I fought in the civil war. Our division was stationed in Enugu. Two years after the war ended, my division returned to Kaduna. Later that year, after our division returned to Kaduna, I was appointed a standby driver attached to the fleet for all foreign dignitaries.
“I drove every important foreign dignitary. I drove almost all the top-ranking military officers of that era also. There was no important personality that I didn’t drive.
“I drove former President Olusegun Obasanjo. I also drove late General Murtala Mohammed, General Sani Abacha, General Jeremiah Useni (retd.), and Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.) when he was the Chief of Staff. I also drove General M.B. Haruna and even General Paul Tarfa (retd.),” Garba said.
Since 1942 when he obtained his driving licence, Garba said he was happy that none of the vehicles assigned to him was involved in any accident even until 1985 when he left the military.
Garba also narrated how he drove President Muhammadu Buhari as a colonel in the Nigerian Army.
“He was the General Officer Commanding Zone 3 before he became the director of Supply and Transport. I drove him when he was the director of military supply and transport,” he said.
Speaking of his knowledge of Buhari, Garba said, “Buhari is one person who cares for your welfare. He wouldn’t cheat. The Buhari I know would take hours to finish a bottle of soft drink. One bottle of soft drink was too much for him to finish in five hours.
“He abhors corruption and is also a man of few words, who rarely speaks. He hates cheating. I also know he served in different capacities and went for several courses in the army before he Became the governor of the North-East; Minister of Petroleum; and General Officer Commanding 3 Division in Jos, from where he went on to become the military head of state, after the coup that overthrew the civilian government of Shehu Shagari.”
Following the overthrow of the Shehu Shagari regime, Garba said he felt happy for Buhari, but was sad that he never had the opportunity of seeing him again – until 2015 when he became a civilian President.
He said, “I decided I wanted to see him after failed attempts in the past to see him as a military man. But my daughter, who is now a serving senator questioned my curiosity. She wanted to know my relationship with Buhari. I simply replied, ‘I was once his driver.’ Many people asked me the same question when Binta was taking me to meet with the President.
“Eventually, I saw him. We hugged each other and took pictures. I sat close to him and he felt very happy. It was one of the happiest days of my life. Buhari told me, ‘Garba, it’s been long. It’s good to see you after all this while.’”
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Asked if he had ever imagined that his daughter would become a senator someday, Garba replied, “Well, there is an adage in Hausa that says that a good Friday is noticeable on Thursday. There’s one important incident I would never forget. When she was in school, quite young then, the Kaduna State handball team had featured her in a handball competition.
“Immediately she reached home, she handed over all the money she got from the competition to me. She did not take even N1 from it. She often said, ‘Daddy, take it’. She has continued to behave that way till date such that her mother even envies her closeness to me, saying she’s my favourite child. When she finished school, the New Nigeria Newspapers employed her and she worked with them and from there, she joined politics. I didn’t know she would become what she is today.”
Corporal Tumba Garba
As the father of the only female member of the senate from the north, Garba said he always felt happy, disclosing that one of the things he had always told himself was that since he didn’t have an opportunity to have Western education, he would invest all he had to give all his children good education.
“My maternal grandfather had withdrawn me from the school I was attending in Mubi. It was later in life that I obtained adult education. Consequently, I was able to read and write my name,” he said.
Disclosing that he had a special relationship with his senator daughter, Garba said the singular act of always thinking about others distinguished her from her siblings.
“She is also likeable and doesn’t discriminate,” he said.
Recently when he met with the Muslim Council from Adamawa North Senatorial District and wept, the retired military officer said he had done so based on what was said about her daughter.
He said, “I later realised this is nothing but politics. I was among those who began politics in northern Nigeria with the Sardauna of Sokoto. Politics during the time of Sardauna was different from the politics as we see it today. In those days, there was no division or discrimination whether you were a pagan, Muslim or Christian. Even though pagans formed a large part of the population, yet Sardauna regarded all as the same.
“I compared the type of politics played then and what is practised today. I then concluded it was important to reach out to the Muslim Council because of the statements being attributed to Binta; I did that just to set the records straight and tell them that Sardauna never played this kind of politics. Today, Saurduana will be rolling in his grave to see the kind of politics being played in the north.
“So, I decided to invite the leaders of the Muslim faith from the five local governments – Mubi South, Mubi North, Maiha, Madagali and Michika – to let them know I do not have any problem with Binta. And that Binta will never insult Islam; that everything being said about her is false.
“I don’t have any problem with my children, including their mothers. It was unfortunate that something like this happened. Binta never intended to insult Islam. Our family by history is a very tolerant one and it has coexisted with everyone and allowed anyone to practise their faith.”
The senator had in April narrated during her 50th birthday how her properties were set ablaze by her father after she became a Christian while she was in primary school.
“My father was infuriated and he burnt everything I had because of my decision to follow Christ. I suffered so much because of the name of Jesus. I would have been nothing if not for His grace,” she had stated.
Asked if her daughter’s narration was untrue, Garba said he wept when he heard about the report initially, but later stopped weeping, saying he realised it was purely about politics.
He said, “There’s no difference between Binta and me. Look at the SUV she bought for me; when I complained that it was too high for me to climb, she got me a Mercedes-Benz that’s easier for me to climb. Every year, she sponsors all of us to Mecca.
“Every year, I must go to Mecca. It was only the last Hajj that I didn’t go as a result of old age. I also tell her not to discriminate against anyone and she has listened to my advice. Binta does not discriminate.
“When she wanted to marry a Christian, she told me she had found a fiancé who’s a Christian and I asked her, ‘Binta, how can you marry a Christian and become a Christian?’ She replied, ‘That is what I want.’ I allowed her and gave her my blessing. She married him and became a Christian.”
Asked how his father, who was a Christian, also reacted when he too decided to convert to Islam, Garba shared, “When I told him I had embraced Islam, he said if that was what I wanted, he had no problem with it.
“I told him, ‘Papa, I don’t understand your religion. You do not practise your religion because as for me, you don’t have a religion yet. As for me, I have joined Islam, the right faith of Allah. He allowed me and did not protest. He then told me to go, saying God would be with me.”
Garba said he was always surprised at the level of religious intolerance in the country today, particularly in the north, saying, “I worked closely with the late Sardauna of Sokoto. I drove his Minister of Works. The late Sardauna did not discriminate; he never gave preference to anyone because of their faith. Sardauna would never force you to convert to Islam.
“To him, there is no compulsion in religion. Anybody willing to become a Muslim at the time, Sardauna would give him money, clothes and prayer beads. During his time, there was no bigotry. But today, we have moved into mixing politics with religion. During the late Sardauna era, there was no tribalism or religious bigotry. This I always tell my daughter, never to discriminate and I thank her for listening.”
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A former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, will be arraigned on Monday at the Plateau State High Court in Jos, after he would have spent 168 hours (one week) in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja, a family source has said.
“Jonah David Jang has not been released. The case is coming up on Monday and he will be arraigned before Justice Daniel Longji of Plateau State High Court in Jos on the 12 counts filed against him by the EFCC,” the source said.
The EFCC had preferred 12 charges against him over an alleged fraud amounting to about N6.3bn.
The ex-governor, who currently represents Plateau-North Senatorial District, allegedly embezzled some special funds released to the state by the Central Bank of Nigeria. He was said to have perpetrated the fraud two months to the end of his tenure as governor in 2015.
Jang, in a motion on notice filed by his team of lawyers led by Christopher Eichie, Yakubu Philemon and Kola Oseni, before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja to enforce his fundamental human rights, said he was diabetic.
He asked the court to order the EFCC to pay him N500m in damages for his detention without trial and to offer him public apology in two national newspapers.
In a related development, the General Overseer of the Evangelical Outreach Ministries International, Prophet Isa El-Buba, has said that Nigerians seeking to contest the Presidency in the 2019 general elections with President Muhammadu Buhari should expect mass arrest.
He also warned that Nigeria would soon cease to exist if the trend of killings and attacks on Christians by suspected Fulani herdsmen in different parts of the country continued unchecked.
El-Buba said this in an interview with journalists in Jos, while reacting to the continued detention of Jang by the EFCC, without trial.
He said, “The continued detention of Jang without trial is jungle justice. One thing I know about Jang is that he can fight injustice and oppression. The Bible is very clear; a government that establishes itself on the seat of righteousness and justice will live.
“But a government that establishes itself on injustice and unrighteousness will be taken off and this is what we are going to see. As we prepare for the 2019 elections, Nigerians should expect mass arrest. Anybody seeking election should be ready for arrest.
“I don’t see any reason why the EFCC should continue to keep Jang without arraignment. There is no reason for the confinement of Jang because he has always shown up whenever he is invited.”
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President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday returned to Nigeria after meeting with his doctors in London, United Kingdom.
Buhari returned to the country about 24 hours ahead of schedule.
He was earlier scheduled to return on Saturday (today) at the end of what the Presidency described as a four-day medical trip.
He left the country on Tuesday.
There were however fears that the Nigerian leader who was ill for the better part of 2017 might remain in the British capital beyond his scheduled return date.
The President was received at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja by top government officials that included ministers, presidential aides and security chiefs.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, told our correspondent that the President’s arrival ahead of schedule confirmed the Presidency’s position that there was no cause for alarm regarding the latest trip, which he said was at the instance of Buhari’s doctor.
“Yes, his arrival ahead of schedule has again proven the naysayers wrong.
“Those who said the President won’t return as scheduled should begin to look for another narrative,” the presidential spokesman said.
Shehu, had in a statement on Monday, announced Buhari’s latest medical trip.
The statement had read, “President Muhammadu Buhari will tomorrow (Tuesday) undertake a four-day trip to the United Kingdom.
“In the course of the technical stopover for aircraft maintenance in London on his way back from Washington last week, the President had a meeting with his doctor.
“The doctor requested the President to return for a meeting which he agreed to do. President Buhari will return on Saturday, May 12th.
“On his return, the President’s two-day state visit to Jigawa, which was postponed because of the All Progressives Congress’ ward congresses, will now take place on Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th of May.”
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President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday commiserated with the Christian community on the death of the General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Musa Asake.
The President’s condolence message was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.
The statement read, “President Muhammadu Buhari joins the national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Christian community in Nigeria in mourning the passing on of the General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. (Dr.) Musa Asake.
“The President, while commiserating with the family of the late reverend, prays that God Almighty will comfort all those who mourn the departed, and grant his soul eternal rest.”
Meanwhile, the Northern Christian Elders Forum said it received with shock the death of Asake, describing him as a hero.
The organisation also described him as the epitome of humility whose death “has created a very big vacuum in the body of Christ in Nigeria.”
The Public Relations Officer of NOCEF, Sunday Oibe, in a statement issued on Friday, entitled, ‘Musa Asake: We’ve lost a strong pillar’, said the deceased was humble, unassuming and not materialistic.
According to him, Asake will be greatly missed in the conglomeration of 15 churches under the aegis of Tarayar Ekklisiyoyin Kristi A Nigeria (meaning, Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri Christians) and Evangelical Church Winning All.
Our correspondent learnt that he died on Friday morning in Abuja after a long battle with his health.
CAN confirmed Asake’s death.
In a statement by Adebayo Oladeji, the Special Assistant (Media & Communications) to the CAN President, Dr. Samson Ayokunle.
It said that Asake died on Friday, May 11, 2018, after a brief illness.
“His last official assignment was the press conference he addressed few days ago on the incessant killings in the country, where CAN called on Christians to embark on a peaceful protest with a view to waking up the Federal Government and the security agencies to their constitutional responsibilities. Asake’s burial to be announced later,” the statement added.
His brother and former member of the House of Representatives, Jonathan Asake, confirmed the death in an interview with Saturday PUNCH.
“Yes, he died this morning; we are in the mortuary right now. I was with him yesterday (Thursday) in his house,” he said.
A source alleged that throughout the time he was battling with his health, “some senior officials of CAN neither visited him nor made any effort to contribute money, but were busy playing politics.”
“Now that he is dead, the battle for his successor will make or destroy CAN, except God intervenes,” the source added.
The deceased, an indigene of Southern Kaduna, was vocal in the defence of Christianity in Nigeria.
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