SENATOR AKUME: I REGRET HELPING SAMUEL ORTOM BECOME GOVERNOR

Former governor of Benue state, Senator George Akume, has said that he made a grevious mistake by supporting Samuel Ortom in 2015 to emerge as governor of Benue state.

He said that he realised the kind of person the governor was after he recently dumped the All Progressives Congress Party for the Peoples Democratic Party.

Akume’s regret came just as the APC leaders and stakeholders warned that they would no longer fold their hands and allow blatant breach of the constitution by Governor Ortom.

Speaking at a press conference at the weekend, Senator Akume, said the Benue APC leaders had expressed their confidence in both President Muhammadu Buhari and the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, for their laudable achievements.

Akume who said that Benue state was under siege due to the unfortunate actions of the governor, lamented what he described as abuse of the law through the wrongful removal of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange, from office.

On the sudden change of gear after Ortom defected to the PDP, Akume said that he and other APC leaders in Benue state didn’t know much about Ortom’s record until when he left.

“For Ortom to run away with our mandate and continue to commit series of constitutional breaches is completely unacceptable,” he said.

He accused the governor of unconstitutionally removing the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly.

He also accused the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Speaker Yakubu Dogara of supporting illegality in Benue State.

A bitter Akume said: “If it were in those days during Obasanjo administration, we would have sacked that man with just five lawmakers for his unconstitutional acts.”

While stating the party’s position, Akume described the Ortom-led administration as a disaster, warning that APC members cannot continue to watch the situation without reacting.

According to Akume, 11 out of the 23 Local Government chairmen of Benue state who are loyal to APC are being persecuted by the state government and are being starved of funds.

He also alleged that the government had been withholding allowances of the faction of Benue state House of Assembly loyal to APC, without any justifiable reason.

He said that APC was urging the Federal Government to consider suspending allocations to local governments in Benue pending full investigation of their accounts.

Speaking on behalf of the Benue APC stakeholders, Akume warned that if the governor did not desist from his unconstitutional acts, including plan to sack APC loyal chairmen of local councils and to unleash terror on our members, we are going to use every constitutional means to checkmate him.”

Akume also asked the Federal Government to investigate the alleged stockpiling of arms by loyalists of the governor.

He said that Ortom was using religious sentiments and herdsmen killings as a means of winning reelection in 2019.

Regarding an alleged move by the governor to sack some local government council chairmen loyal to APC, Akume said that the party will not allow it to happen.

The party therefore directed the local government chairmen to resist moves to remove them from office saying “impunity will collide with impunity.”

The APC leaders also alleged that Governor Ortom had collected about N28 billion as bailout funds since the inception of the present administration.

PLATEAU: TWO KILLED AS BANDITS RUSTLE 70 COWS

Two persons were confirmed killed on Friday in Turu village in Kuru District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State by suspected Fulani herdsmen as they rustled 70 cows.

Sources said that three herders who were in control of the cows were taken along with the 70 cows and were declared missing.

However, security operatives were able to rescue the 70 cows and one of the herders, who had been declared missing. The other two herders, aged 10 and 14 were killed during the rustling.

When contacted, the spokesperson of Plateau State Police Command, Matthias Tyopev, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident.

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He warned cattle farmers against employing teenagers but “more matured herders who can take care of the herds and sense danger far ahead of them.”

Tyopev said, “On September 14 2018 at about 19:15hrs, Ezekiel Dalyop of Turu village in Kuru District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State reported at the Kaduna Vom Police Division that three herders entrusted with 70 of his cattle were missing.

“The Police swung into action immediately the complaint was incidented and were able to rescue one of the herders by name Bitrus Joseph (16 years) unhurt. The police team of detectives also recovered the 70 missing cattle.

“Unfortunately, in the process of rustling the cattle, two of the herders; Meshack Dalyop (14 years) and Pam Danjuma (10 years) were killed and dumped in the bush at Dahool Bob in Kuru District. Their corpses have been recovered and deposited at the Vom Christian Hospital.

“While we commiserate with the families that lost loved ones, we are urging owners of cattle to employ more matured herders who can take care of the herds and sense danger far ahead of them. The command is intensifying efforts aimed at arresting the perpetrators of this dastardly act to face justice.”

FULL TEXT: KEMI ADEOSUN ’S RESIGNATION LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUHARI

14th September, 2018
His Excellency
Muhammadu Buhari
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
State House
Aso Villa
Abuja

Dear Excellency,

Let me commence by thanking you profusely for the honour and privilege of serving under your inspirational leadership. It has been a truly rewarding experience to learn from you and to observe at close quarters your integrity and sense of duty.

I have, today, become privy to the findings of the investigation into the allegation made in an online medium that the Certificate of Exemption from National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) that I had presented was not genuine. This has come as a shock to me and I believe that in line with this administration’s focus on integrity, I must do the honourable thing and resign.

Your Excellency, kindly permit me to outline some of the background to this matter. I was born and raised in the United Kingdom, indeed my parental family home remains in London. My visits to Nigeria up until the age of thirty-four (34) were holidays, with visas obtained in my UK passport. I obtained my first Nigerian passport at the age of thirty-four (34) and when I relocated there was debate as to whether NYSC Law applied to me. Upon enquiry as to my status relating to NYSC, I was informed that due to my residency history and having exceeded the age of thirty (30), I was exempted from the requirement to serve. Until recent events, that remained my understanding.

On the basis of that advice and with the guidance and assistance of those, I thought were trusted associates, NYSC were approached for documentary proof of status. I then received the certificate in question. Having never worked in NYSC, visited the premises, been privy to nor familiar with their operations, I had no reason to suspect that the certificate was anything but genuine. Indeed, I presented that certificate at the 2011 Ogun State House of Assembly and in 2015 for Directorate of State Services (DSS) Clearance as well as to the National Assembly for screening. Be that as it may, as someone totally committed to a culture of probity and accountability I have decided to resign with effect from Friday, 14th September, 2018.

Your Excellency, It has been an exceptional privilege to have served our nation under your leadership and to have played a role in steering our economy at a very challenging time. I am proud that Nigeria has brought discipline into its finances, has identified and is pursuing a path to long term sustainable growth that will unlock the potential in this great economy. Under your leadership, Nigeria was able to exit recession and has now started to lay the foundations for lasting growth and wealth creation. Repositioning this huge economy is not a short term task and there are no short cuts, indeed there are tough decisions still to be made but I have no doubt that your focus on infrastructural investment, revenue mobilisation and value for money in public expenditure will deliver growth, wealth and opportunity for all Nigerians.

I thank His Excellency, the Vice President and my colleagues in the Federal Executive Council for the huge pleasure and honour of working with them. I also thank most specially, the team in the ‘Finance Family’ of advisers and heads of agencies under the Ministry of Finance. Your Excellency, this group of committed Nigerians represent a range of backgrounds, ethnicities and ages. They have worked well above and beyond the call of duty to support me in the tasks assigned. The diversity in my team and their ability to work cohesively to deliver reforms, convinces me that Nigeria has the human capital required to succeed.

Your Excellency, let me conclude by commending your patience and support, during the long search for the truth in this matter. I thank you again for giving me the honour of serving under your leadership, it is a rare privilege, which I do not take for granted. As a Nigerian and committed progressive, I appreciate you for your dogged commitment to improving this nation.

Please be assured, as always, of my highest regards and best wishes

Kemi Adeosun (Mrs)

ONE DAY AT A TIME LYRICS - Cristy Lane

One Day At A Time - Christy Lane

One Day at a time, sweet Jesus

I'm only human, I'm just a woman
Help me believe in what I could be and all that I am
Show me the stairway I have to climb
Lord, for my sake teach me to take one day at a time

One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from You
Just give me the strength to do everyday
What I have to do

Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord, help me today, show me the way
One day at a time

Do you remember when You walked among men?
Well Jesus, You know, if You're looking below, it's worse now than then
Cheating an stealing, violence and crime
So for my sake, teach me to take one day at a time

One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from You
Just give me the strength to do everyday
What I have to do

Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord, help me today, show me the way

One day at a time

Christy Lane

HOW DEFENCE MINISTRY MISSPENT N35bn LOAN ON SUBSTANDARD MILITARY EQUIPMENT – PRESIDENTIAL REPORT

A Presidential Committee report on the Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement in the Armed Forces from 2007 to 2015 has revealed that a N35bn loan given to the Ministry of Defence for the purchase of Contingent-Owned Equipment was misspent on equipment, which did not meet the United Nations’ standards.

The committee, in its Fourth Interim Report, obtained by The PUNCH, said it observed several abnormalities in the Ministry of Defence’s administration and use of the N35bn loan.

The Fourth report, released on October 23, 2016, through the Office of the National Security Adviser, for submission to President Muhammadu Buhari, detailed how the Ministry of Defence and the Debt Management Office did not follow due process in the release and use of the N35bn loan.

It said that the lapses in the disbursement and administration of the N35bn should make the Federal Government call for a review of the “entire DMO loan portfolio with a view to remedying the observed lapses.”

President Buhari had in 2015 approved that the committee should investigate the former service chiefs, military officers and ministry officials who were allegedly involved in the irregularities uncovered in the contract awards and procurement process.

The committee had said it was investigating 18 retired and serving military personnel, 12 serving and retired public officials and 24 chief executive officers of companies involved in the procurement.

Among those the committee is investigating are two former Chiefs of Army Staff, Lt Gen Onyeabo Ihejirika (retd.) and Lt Gen. Kenneth Minimah (retd.), former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Nurudeen Mohammed, and three former Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Defence, Bukar Aji, Haruna Sanusi and E.O. Oyemomi.

The committee had in July 2016 released its Third Interim Report on the Audit of the Defence Equipment Procurement, which said that a total of N185bn  and $685m were spent on procurement and operations between 2007 and 2015.

The Third Report stated that between 2007 and 2015, the committee found out that N71bn and $685m were spent on procurements for the Nigerian Army by the ministries of defence, finance, foreign affairs and environment.

Others mentioned in the Third Report were the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Office of the National Security Adviser. The report said that some state governments, notably Adamawa, Kano and Yobe, as well as the ministries of finance and power also funded the army operations with N114bn during the eight years.

Our correspondent obtained the Fourth Interim Report on Wednesday, which further revealed that a N35bn loan given to the Ministry of Defence for the purchase of Contingent-Owned Equipment was misspent and failed to meet the UN standards.

The report partly reads, “In March 2008, the President approved the request of the Ministry of Defence for the procurement Contingent-Owned Equipment with a domestic loan of N35bn by selective tendering through Original Equipment Manufacturers or their representatives and reputable defence vendors. It was estimated that the nation would generate over N4bn annually from the COE and recoup the investment within nine years. Consequently, the Debt Management Office raised and transferred the loan into the MOD Unity Bank Operations Account in June 2008, instead of a dedicated capital project account.

“In spite of the sense of urgency created by the MOD, the funds remained inexplicably unutilised for the intended purpose for over nine months thus stalling the anticipated reimbursement and repayment of the loan for more than two years. MOD awarded the first set of eight contracts with a total value of N9.2bn in October 2018.

However, while some of the equipment procured was not required based on the Memorandum of Understanding Nigeria signed with the UN, others were acquired at highly inflated costs, far above the Generic Fair Market Value recommended by the UN.

“Additionally, equipment that did not attract any reimbursement from the UN were procured in excess of the total requirements of the battalions in the UN Missions. For instance, procurement of the K-38 High-Speed Assault Patrol Boats awarded to Doiyatec Communications Limited at N3.12bn was wasteful as boats were not needed in the landlocked region of Sudan. Moreover, Level II Hospital was procured through Kishalom Nigeria Limited at N475m whereas the UN recommended only N10.5m for such equipment.”

The Presidential Committee report added that the MOD also retained the N35bn  loan at the bank for 21 months and subsequently disbursed the outstanding balance of N28.4bn into six commercial banks.

It said, “Similarly, the MOD procured a large quantity of communications equipment from RCN Nigeria Limited and Richfield Technologies at the total cost of N5.2bn even though the equipment did not attract reimbursement from the UN. These trends manifested in all subsequent contracts awarded by the MOD from the N35bn loan, suggesting that the entire loan package was deliberately packaged to rip off the nation.

“Furthermore, the MOD contravened emphatic Presidential directive that the loan should be used only for procurement of COE that would generate reimbursement from the UN for repayment of the loan. The committee also established that in June 2010, MOD transferred the sum of N2.175bn from the 35bn to the Defence Intelligence Agency as a loan for construction of building for the Defence Section at the Nigerian Embassy in Brazil. However, the DIA could not account for the utilisation of the money released as it was confirmed that only N400m  from the 2010 budgetary appropriation was remitted to Brazil for the stated purpose.

“Over N1bn of the N35bn loan was also used to settle bills of 10 revalidated contracts awarded in 2006. Unfortunately, some of the contractors still failed to perform or return the sum of N262m paid to it as 20 per cent mobilisation fees for contracts worth over N1.31bn. In the committee’s view, it was fraudulent and a disservice for the MOD to commit the funds into expenditures other than those approved by the President.”

Responding to the indictment of the Debt Management Office, Director General, Ms Patience Oniha, said there was actually a Memorandum of Understanding between DMO and the Ministry of Defence.

She said available record indicated that the ministry had been able to repay a significant part of the loan while the balance had been restructured.

Oniha said, “There was a loan to that effect. However, there was a MoU. There were terms. For confidential sake, I will not disclose the figures involved.

“The Ministry of Defence has been servicing the loan. The loan has not been fully repaid but there has been restructuring. They have made a significant repayment but for confidential purpose, I will not disclose the amount involved. For the President to grant a standalone approval means that there was some sense of urgency around it.”

BREAKING: KEMI ADEOSUN RESIGNS

Kemi Adeosun

Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has reportedly resigned from the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to sources, Adeosun resigned over allegations that she forged her National Youth Service Corps certificate.

However, it was gathered that the minister resumed in her office this morning and it is unclear when the reported resignation will take effect.

Adeosun had come under fire with several Nigerians, particularly on the social media, demanding investigations from the Federal Government into the allegations and calling for her resignation for presenting an alleged forged exemption certificate.

The reports claimed that the finance minister, who did not participate in the one-year national youth service, allegedly forged an Exemption Certificate several years after her graduation.

The certificate, which is dated September 2009, was reportedly signed by an NYSC Director-General, Yusuf Bomoi, who already left the scheme in January 2009.

In November 2015, Adeosun was appointed as Minister of Finance under President Muhammadu Buhari after she had been cleared by the Department of State Services and by the Senate.

SOUTHERN, MIDDLE-BELT LEADERS CONDEMN BUHARI’S REMOVAL OF MATTHEW SEIYEFA AS SSS DG

New SSS DG Yusuf Bichi

Some elder statesmen from the south and parts of central Nigeria have condemned the removal of Matthew Seiyefa as the Director-General of the State Security Service by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The leaders said Mr Buhari’s action has further shown that he does not believe in a united Nigeria in which state duties are conducted with fairness and equity.

Mr Seiyefa was replaced by Yusuf Bichi from Kano State Thursday night. He will take office on Friday, the presidency said in a statement announcing the changes.

Mr Seiyefa, from Bayelsa State in the oil-rich Niger-Delta, was appointed on August 7 by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Mr Osinbajo, who was acting-president at the time, took the decision as part of a disciplinary action against Lawal Daura, who was accused of organising organising an SSS siege to the National Assembly without approval from the presidency.

Mr Seiyefa’s appointment was widely hailed by rights activists and pro-democracy campaigners who largely saw him as fitting for the position based on his antecedent in service.

Although he was due to retire next year, there have been strong indications that Mr Buhari was keen on removing him from office in order to appoint someone he feels more comfortable with ahead of 2019 elections.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Seiyefa was pressured into subservience by Mr Buhari’s Chief of Staff Abba Kyari. Mr Kyari overruled some personnel and administrative changes made by Mr Seiyefa shortly after assuming office, despite strong protest from the top spy chief.

Mr Seiyefa was the most-senior official at the SSS when Mr Osinbajo asked him to lead, a development that was widely celebrated at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja and field offices across the country.

It was not immediately clear whether he would be asked to return to his previous position at the SSS training school or be compulsorily retired when Mr Bichi assumes office Friday.

Mr Buhari’s action has drawn criticism from leaders in the southern parts of the country, who condemned the president for being too quick to undo the laudable appointment made by Mr Osinbajo, which also placed a southerner in the top national security position for the first time since Mr Buhari assumed office in May 2015.

The leaders in their statement said Mr Buhari has dismantled all precedents that engendered a united Nigeria in order to satisfy his sectional inclinations.

They said Mr Bichi has retired from service but was only brought back because six most-senior officials at the SSS who should have led the agency based on hierarchy are all southerners.

Mr Buhari has been accused of glaring lopsidedness in his appointments, especially into security and law enforcement agencies. He often pushes back against this claim by pointing to some appointments he made from the south.

Read the full statement as sent to PREMIUM TIMES bellow:

Appointment of new DG-DSS: Buhari’s vote-of-no-confidence in One Nigeria.

The outright disregard for the conditions precedent for a united Nigeria and an inclusive country which President Buhari has become well known for was taken to a new height this evening with the removal of the Acting DG of DSS,Mr Matthew Seiyefa and replacement with Mr Yusuf Magaji Bichi from Kano.

The I-don’t-care and in-your-face attitude of the President in restoring Nigeria security architecture to the provocative situation of having 16 out of 17 service chiefs from his corner of the country is a clear demonstration of the fact that Nigeria for General Muhammadu Buhari is no more than his section of Nigeria and the resources and the constitutionally mandatory votes from other sections of the country.

Since 1960,Nigeria has never had a leader more sectional ,narrow,parochial ,and tribalistic like the current President who went on a global stage to divide Nigeria into “97% and 5%”.

We have looked critically at the profiles of the Acting DG who was removed and the one Buhari just appointed and it is crystal clear that Bichi does not come with any experience close to that of Seiyefa.

The only qualification for this appointment is therefore only the rabid nepotism of the President which has seen him always masking personal and sectional interest as “national interest.”

Besides, Bichi is an out-of-the -system man drafted by Mr Lawan Daura in the days of his nepotism rule at the DSS.

The next six most senior persons in line of succession at the DSS after Seiyefa are from our findings are all southerners which may explain why the President picked a man who already retired from the DSS to lead because of ethnic affinity.

That the President went ahead to deep himself further into the cocoon of ethnic irredentism in making this insensitive appointment shows clearly that he does not care a hoot about the unity ,cohesion and oneness of Nigeria.

We reject this appointment and we do not shy in telling Mr President that he no longer pretends that the country is one under him.

In the last few days, there have been fears coming from the international community about the dangers that would come the way of Nigeria if Mr President returns for another term.

With his latest action,we add that the country is not safe in the remainder of his first term.

Lastly we ask Mr President: Are we still one county?

Chief E.K Clark.

SOUTH SOUTH

Chief Ayo Adebanjo

SOUTH WEST

Chief John Nwodo.

SOUTH EAST

Mr Bitrus Pogu

MIDDLE BELT.

2019: ATIKU ALLEGES THREAT TO LIFE, PETITIONS BUHARI

Atiku Abubakar

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has alleged threat to his life and those of his family members.

He said the threat was as a result of his desire to contest the 2019 presidential election.

Atiku is among the 13 presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The petition, titled “Petition Over Criminal Intimidation And Threat To My Life, That Of Members Of My Family, And Cyber Stalking Using Mobile Phone  Number 08148228704.”

A copy of the petition, dated September 7, 2018,  was also sent to the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus.

In the petition, Atiku alleged that his wife and daughters have received separate text messages from the mobile line, asking him to back out of the race.

He said the callers said that if he refused to drop his presidential ambition, his wife and daughters would be raped and killed.

As a result of this, he begged the President to order the deployment of more policemen around him and his family.

He said the unknown author of the threat text messages said his family was being watched closely.

He also called on the President to order an urgent investigation into the matter.

The petition read in part,  “I present my highest compliments to the president and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and have the honour to request your Excellency to kindly review/investigation an urgent consideration for extra protection for my family and I against some criminal intimidation and threat to my life, that of my family, and the cyberstalking against my family and I, using telephone mobile number +2348148228704.

“The author  threatened that if I don’t  withdraw from the contest, ‘we will kill,  rape your wife and daughters’, whom they identified as Mariam who works at CBN and Fatima, the former commissioner in Adamawa State.’

“The author of the threat messages also said ‘we will blow your plane off the sky and we will poison you and your family. You are going to see what we will do with your family. We know where and where your children travel to.’

“The author of the messages threatened that they will blow up all my property and those of my wife’s. They said ‘we control the aviation towers in Nigeria and South Africa.

‘ We are in government and Buhari will win again. Your party members will never select you and if they do, we will assassinat (sic) you. We will kill you by blowing up your plane.’

“In the separate text messages to my wife and daughter, they asked them to ask me to back down from the contest or they will be harmed.”

Atiku added;  “from the foregoing, Mr. President can see that if adequate and urgent steps are not taken to identify and dealing with these threats,  it could lead to serious breaches and may constitute a real danger to national security.

“Considering that this threats border on the right of my family and I to life as well as my freedom to aspire for and contest for the Presidency in Nigeria, I urge you to commence urgent investigation with a view to identifying the person (s) behind the threat, expose and prosecute the culprit (s) in accordance with the laws.

“I request that you ensure the continued protection of my rights to life, that of my family, my property and my rights and freedoms to associate and aspire to any political office as guaranteed under the 1999 Nigerian constitution (as amended)."

ENUGU RESIDENTS DEFY IPOB’s SIT-AT-HOME ORDER, GO ABOUT NORMAL ACTIVITIES

Residents of Enugu metropolis on Friday went about their normal activities disregarding the Sit-At-Home order given by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

A Correspondent of NAN, who monitored the situation in the metropolis following the order, reports that there were no signs of compliance as business premises were open, the roads busy with vehicular traffic and people were seen going about their activities.

This, however, may not be unconnected with the security arrangement by the government of Enugu State and the security agencies that encouraged people to disregard the order and go about their businesses.

It will be recalled that the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Mohammad Danmallam, had told NAN that the security community in the South-East had made adequate aerial and land deployment to ensure the safety of citizens.

Danmallam said that the deployment was made at about 8pm on Thursday following a joint security meeting.

The joint security team comprises personnel of the Nigerian Army; Nigerian Air Force; Nigeria Police and Department of State Services.

Others are the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; Nigerian Prisons Service; Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Immigration ServicService and Nigeria Customs Service.

“The deployment of security personnel, vehicles, aircrafts and other logistics was to forestall the sit-at-home order across the South-East states by IPOB meant to take effect today (Friday),’’ he said.

Danmallam noted that security personnel had also been deployed to protect critical state and government infrastructure as well as public places.

According to him, “We already have our personnel, vehicles, surveillance aircrafts and other logistics out there.”

The IPOB had earlier written to various unions and associations in the states, including local government council areas in the South-East, to shut down businesses and other activities, while it posted notice of the sit-at-home order in strategic locations across the zone.

NAN also reports that both private and public vehicles were in large numbers on the roads going about their normal businesses.

At Trans-Ekulu, Nowas, Nike Lake Resort and Abakpa Nike Market axis there was heavy traffic as people were struggling to go to their work and business places.

A businessman, Mr Ugochukwu Enyivigbo, said that the IPOB had deceived them a lot with its seat-at- home order and at the end of the whole thing nothing would happen.

Enyivigbo said that previous IPOB orders that he observed did not favour him at all, adding that when he came out the next morning some of his colleagues who did not observe it told him business was good.

He explained that he would be the last person that would observe such orders again, describing the IPOB members as jobless people.

Mr Steven Ugwu, a public servant, said that IPOB did not employ him and had no right to stop him from going to work.

Ugwu said that there were no signs of the order in his area as at this morning.

Others who spoke to NAN expressed dismay with the order, saying it was counter-productive to the aspirations of the people on how to have a strong economy and be able to feed their families.

Although Danmallam had charged Divisional Police Officers, head of departments and formations to be pro-active and professional in dealing with trouble-makers, the IPOB is a proscribed organisation.

It will be recalled that the Federal High Court in Abuja on September 21, 2017, gave judicial backing to the Executive Order of President Muhammadu Buhari, outlawing the IPOB and declared its activities as acts of terrorism and illegality.

(NAN)

MINIMUM WAGE: LABOUR GIVES FG 14DAY ULTIMATUM AMIDST FG'S ASSURANCE

Labour leaders in Nigeria yesterday cautioned the Federal Government to stop foot dragging on the New Minimum Wage and allow the tripartite committeeconclude its job to avoid industrial crisis.

The ultimatum coincided with an assurance from the Federal Government on the new minimum wage.

The labour leaders, who are members of the Minimum Wage Committee at a joint news conference addressed in Lagos, gave the federal government 14 days to ensure that the committee conclude its work or be ready to face industrial action.

Mr Ayuba Wabba , Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, said that the committee was not pleased with the comments alleged to have been made by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige.

According to him, Ngige had last week allegedly said that the committee should adjourn indefinitely to enable him do further consultations with the government.

“We view his supposed pronouncement with great concern, suspicion and outrage.

“This new antic certainly is not acceptable to Nigerian workers, who had expected a New National Minimum Wage since 2016, “he said.

The NLC president said that in the course of the meeting, the committee members had time to consult and received memoranda and inputs from 21 state governments, specialized Agencies of the Federal Government, the Organized Private Sector, Organised Labour and the general public.

Mr Joe Ajaero, President of the United Labour Congress, (ULC) said that issues concerning the minimum wage has been concluded and that the committee was expecting government representative to pronounce their own figure.

Ajaero, however, refused to give a likely figure that could be approved as minimum wage and also did not give a clear answer on whether government was sincere on paying the new wage.

He said that the call for a new minimum wage became necessary because it was already overdue, and in view of the increasing cost of goods and services.

The news conference was attended by top labour leaders from NLC, TUC and ULC.

The Presidency on Wednesday reassured workers of the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to an increase in the minimum wage.

Sen. Ita Enang, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Enang spoke in response to alleged lack of commitment by the Federal Government to an upward review of the minimum wage, which has been N18, 000 for over eight years.

“I want to assure you that the Buhari-led administration is very honest and committed to reviewing the salaries of workers.

“If he was not, he would not have set up a committee on minimum wage headed by a retired Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. This is a sign of commitment, the Minister of Labour is part of it.

“So, it shows the level of commitment, and it is not a committee of the Federal Executive Council, it is a presidential committee set up and inaugurated by the president.”

Enang urged NLC to consider unemployed Nigerians in its demand for salary increment.

”The workers and labour should include all those who are qualified to be employed but are not yet employed.

“So, when we are talking about increase in the salaries of workers, let us also make allowance for new people to be employed.

“That is; thinking about those you and I have trained who have graduated, who out of frustration sometimes act and behave in a manner which they ought not to, and sometimes take to social media to harass the government and you.

“Sometimes, they even revolt against you in the house because they do not have what to do.

“So, when we are talking about increase in salaries, I agree to it, but I think we should also factor along creating employment for those who are yet to have.”

The presidential aide said the Federal Government was already working towards achieving that by encouraging its agencies and parastatals to employ young and qualified Nigerians.

Enang stated that the government was also creating self-employment opportunities for enterprising youths through its social investment programme.

He said the government was equally creating the enabling environment in the agricultural and technological sectors for young Nigerians.

The tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee, made up of 29 members drawn from organised labour and the federal and state governments, was inaugurated in May, 2017.

Although the committee was given till Sept. 1 to submit its report, it could not meet the deadline due to disagreement over the minimum wage figure.

On Aug. 21, Minister of Labour and Employment Dr Chris Ngige, however, blamed the delay on the inability of state governors to agree on a figure.

According to the minister, the Federal Government through its Economic Management Team, is working with the governors to find a common ground

Until then, the minister said he could not tell when the new minimum wage would be implemented.

The NLC on Monday said the Committee on National Minimum Wage was yet to agree only on a figure for the new minimum wage for the Nigerian workers.

Wabba said: “However, just before we conclude, the Minister of Labour spoke at that occasion as a representative of the Federal Government, saying the they needed to go and consult before arriving at a figure.

“We felt that since this committee was inaugurated in November and everybody was aware that all stakeholders needed to tidy up whatever consultations they needed to do and make sure that we are able to work within that timeline.

“Clearly speaking, they were not prepared to produce a figure by that date. But our report has been completed. What is left is just to agree on a particular figure as minimum wage.

“All the parameters to be used to arrive at a figure are there. I can say clearly that states have sent in memorandums.

“In fact, 21 states sent in memorandums, with about 12 quoting figures, NECA has submitted a figure, organised labour has submitted a figure.

“With this new development, they are saying that they want to consult, we could say that it is not a fair process if somebody is saying at this point that he has not consulted,” he said.

Wabba noted that the organised labour, would meet formally and issue a formal statement, and also see how they would ensure that the interest of Nigerian worker was not in any way undermined.

According to him, this is where we are and we think that it is proper that we put the fact before our members.

“Labour leaders have already called for our organ meetings where we will brief our members.

“Already, it is in public domain that both the government and labour agreed that the timeline must be respected and they were saying that September is not feasible.

“We are committed to respecting the timeline and that is why we left everything we are doing to do the needful to be able to do a good job.

”All the parameters you can think of have been considered and the report is ready. But the only thing missing is the issue of the figure.”

The NLC president also recalled that individual states had quoted figures and every state was given the opportunity to make its own presentation.

He also noted that a letter was written to every state by the secretariat to send in their memo, making their inputs and 21 of them actually made inputs.

“You are aware of the figures quoted by organised labour. We have enough data to do justice to the work and we have actually done justice to the work. I am telling you that this is what has happened.

“So there was enough time for everybody to make input. This should have been consummated but some people are saying they need time for consultation.

”We thought that should not have been the situation, because of the importance of the issue to Nigerian workers; and the workers can also not continue to be patient,” he said.

STOP PAYING TITHE, PASTOR TELLS FOLLOWERS, SAYS IT’S FRAUD

Dan Owusu-Asiamah.

A Ghanaian pastor, Dan Owusu-Asiamah, has urged Christians to stop paying tithe, claiming some pastors are using it as a means to defraud them.

According to Adomonline, Owusu-Asiamah made the revelation on a radio programme on Monday, where he alleged that some pastors are defrauding church members because they use the tithe to enrich themselves.

He explained that the book of Deuteronomy in the Bible prohibits pastors from extorting money from their congregation.

Owusu-Asiamah added that pastors who collect 10 per cent of their members’ incomes are no different from “corrupt” politicians.

He said, “Tithe-paying is fraud. Under no circumstance was anyone asked to pay tithe in the Bible. Tithing has to do with foodstuffs. Everything they are doing now is wrong. We speak about corruption and talk about politicians. Corruption begins in the church. The church is actively doing these things. In Deuteronomy 14:25, it tells you, a tithe isn’t about money.”

“There is a difference between offertory and tithing, Malachi chapter 3: 8-10 says tithing has nothing to do with money but offering does. I challenge every clergyman to open a passage that says we should pay tithe on a monthly basis. No apostle asked a Christian to give one-tenth.

Now it’s more like a law that some churches even collect the tithe before they bury the dead. How do you mark those who pay tithe in church?”

EFCC DECLARES FOUR RIVERS STATE GOVT OFFICIALS WANTED

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has declared four Rivers State government officials wanted.

The four officials identified as Fubara Siminayi, Harrisonba Bessi Princewill, Lekia V. Bukpor and Dagogo Rodderick Abere were declared wanted over a case of criminal conspiracy, money laundering, misappropriation of public funds and abuse of office to the tune of N117 billion.

The Anti-corruption agency disclosed this in a letter signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren.

The letter reads: “The public is hereby notified that the persons whose photographs appear in this alert are wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

“Fubara Siminayi, Harrisonba Bessi Princewill, Lekia V. Bukpor and Dagogo Rodderick Abere, officials of the Rivers State Government, are wanted in a case of criminal conspiracy, money laundering, misappropriation of public funds and abuse of office to the tune of N117 billion (One hundred and seventeen billion Naira).

“The suspects, in their capacity as signatories to the Rivers State Government account, are alleged to have acted as proxies to several government officials and conspired, fraudulently withdrew and diverted the sum between 2015 and 2018.

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ALEX IWOBI , WILFRED NDIDI SHOW OFF WIZKID JERSEY: STAR BOY.

Alex Iwobi

Super Eagles stars Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi are the latest footballers to rock the new Wizkid jersey, according to  Pulse Nigeria.

Both players represented Nigeria  at the 2018 World Cup  in Russia.

Arsenal  forward  Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang modelled the jersey through a post on his official Instgram account.

Leicester City midfielder  Ndidi   and Arsenal attacker Iwobi however showed off the jersey after the official launch on Monday by  sportswear giants Nike.

Iwobi,  who was ruled out of  Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations  qualifier against Seychelles  in Victoria by injury,  posted a picture of him in the merchandise along with a message, “S T A R B O Y, Together Let’s Push & Create Something Iconic.”

Wizkid  said  his jersey in partnership with Nike was sold out in less than 10 minutes.

Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho and Stoke City’s  Oghenekaro Etebo  earlier modelled the merchandise.

ELECTION 2019 : I AM ATIKU’S SENIOR, I WON’T STEP DOWN FOR HIM – LAMIDO

 
Atiku Abubakar and Sule Lamido

A former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has responded to a statement in which former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, said Mr Lamido would step down for him in the presidential race.

Both men are running for the ticket of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alongside about ten other aspirants.

At a meeting with PDP leaders in Dutse, Jigawa State on Monday, Mr Abubakar said he believed Mr Lamido would step down for him as his elder brother.

He said he believed Mr Lamido would concede the ticket to him because the former governor is his younger brother and shares the same political ideology with him.

Mr Abubakar based his prediction on the scenario in the aborted Third Republic when the Yar’Adua brothers initially sought the tickets of the defunct Social Democratic Party.

The late Shehu, who was the elder, was running for president while the late Umar sought the ticket of the same party for governorship of Katsina State.

Mr. Atiku recalled that the late Musa was eventually persuaded to sacrifice his ambition so as not to jeopardise the chances of his elder brother.

“But with the intervention of elders in the state, the junior brother Umar Musa stepped down for another aspirant so that the politics will not be a family affair, leaving Shehu Musa to contest for president while someone from another family vied for governor,” Mr Abubakar said.

Mr Abubakar told the gathering that his mother was from Jigawar Sarki, a village in Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State before her family migrated to Adamawa State where Mr Abubakar was born.

Responding to Mr Abubakar’s comment through a statement on Tuesday by his media aide, Adamu Usman, Mr Lamido said he would not step down.

“While it is true he (Mr Abubakar) is older than me age-wise, I’m senior to him politically because I was in the House of Representatives in 1979 when he was an employee of Nigeria Customs Services.

“And if age is the criterion for standing election then he should drop out for Buhari.”

According to Mr Usman, Mr Lamido had been “patient, loyal, committed and consistent” in politics despite all the odds and his travails.

“Even if Lamido did not shows interest to contest, PDP should have called him to be the flag bearer and if there is anyone the other aspirants should step down for, it should be Sule Lamido because he has the goodwill, political experience and capacity to confront the ruling party, APC.

“Also if Lamido is to step down, why would he aspire in the first place? Sule Lamido is out to run for the president come 2019 God willing,” Mr Usman stated.

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JUDGE ORDERS ACCELERATED TRIAL OF EVANS

Evans

Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court, Lagos on Tuesday warned counsel to Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias “Evans” that no further delays would be tolerated in his ongoing trial.

Justice Oshodi gave the warning following a 30-minute  verbal exchange he had with  Mr Chinonye Obiagwu,  Evans’ new defence counsel who had prayed for an adjournment to study the case file.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Obiagwu is one of  the 31 newly-shortlisted  Senior Advocate of Nigeria  for induction on September 24.

Justice Oshodi said, “I cannot come from home during vacation to be told that the matter will not go on for one excuse or the other.

“Counsel should desist from filing applications targeting at stalling trial,  parties must get their witnesses ready, so that justice will be served within reasonable time frame.”

NAN reported that Evans had on various occasions hired two defence counsel; Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje and Mr Noel Brown to represent him.

The changes in defence counsel had caused delays in the trial.

Previous court proceedings held on June 26, had been put on hold due to Brown taking over from  Ogungbeje who was Evans’ first defence counsel at the onset of his trial.

Evans is standing trial alongside Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

The six accused were arraigned on August 30, 2017 on two-count of conspiracy and kidnapping of the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceutical Limited, Donatus Dunu, from whose family they allegedly collected 223,000 Euro (N100m) as ransom.

Evans and his co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Earlier during proceedings, a witness,  Inspector Idowu Haruna of the Intelligence Response Team that arrested the defendants, had told the court how the accused were arrested.

Haruna’ who was led in evidence by Mr Adebayo Haroun,  the State Prosecuting counsel, told the  court that the statements of the defendants were not obtained under duress but rather in a conducive environment.

Following Haruna’s revelation of how the statement were obtained, the prosecuting officer urged the court to admit the statements as evidence.

Obiagwu,  however opposed the admissibility of the statements on the premise that they were obtained under duress prompting Justice Oshodi to order a trial-within-trial.

During the trial-within-trial,  Haruna told the court that when Dunu,  Evans’ alleged victim escaped from the kidnappers den, he was brought to the Anti-Kidnapping Department,  Ikeja and was later taken to the then Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr Fatai Owoseni.

“Owoseni then ordered a team to move to the defendants hideout at Igando, a suburb of Lagos.

” On getting to the house, the abductors had fled the scene with their little possessions but the police team found some ammunitions in the house which the defendants left behind,” he said.

Haruna revealed that during interrogation,  Evans had alleged that he enjoyed the services of some officers of the Nigerian Army during their kidnap operations.

“Whenever they were going on their  operation,  they put on army uniform to camouflage as army officers and disguise in order to deceive their prey.

“Two army officers involved were later arrested and taken before their superiors at Abati Barracks for disciplinary actions.

“They were dismissed and taken back to the police for further disciplinary action,” Haruna said.

The case was adjourned until October 26 for continuation of the trial-within-trial.

(NAN)

NASARAWA GAS EXPLOSION DEATH TOLL NOW NINE, - GOVERNOR

Gov. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura

The death toll from the gas explosion on Monday at Monaco gas station in Nasarawa has risen to nine.

Governor Umaru Al-Makura confirmed the figures on Tuesday when he visited the scene of the incident to assess the level of damage.

Al-Makura, who described the incident as “unfortunate” condoled the families of those who lost their lives, and assured that government would do its best to ensure that the survivors of the fire outbreak get the best medical attention.

“Last night, I got a report that six people died as a result of the burns sustained from the incident, but this morning, I was told that three more people had been confirmed dead.

“We were able to transfer 17 victims, who had over 60 per cent burns out of the 37 persons affected to the National Trauma Centre in Abuja, but three among them later died.

“Shortly before I arrived here, another child died while being removed from a pregnant mother, who also suffered severe burns.

“So, at the moment, we have recorded nine deaths as against the large figures being speculated in the media,” Al-Makura said.

He said the remaining 14 casualties currently at the National Trauma Centre were responding to treatment.

“I have directed that all the victims be given the best treatment available and for those in critical condition, requiring to be moved abroad, the Nasarawa State Government will take care of their bills just to ensure they live,” he assured.

The governor called on residents of the state to obtain proper approval before situating their structures anywhere in the state in order to avert a repeat of such occurrence.

“I have called for a meeting with the committee on development control for us to review approvals for situaing all businesses that pose danger to the people, especially gas stations.

“We have agreed that existing stations must comply with the safe distance specifications,” he said.

He also said that he had directed the state fire service to cordon-off the area for the next seven days to ensure that it is totally safe for habitation.

“We discovered that gas was still leaking from the tanks and we are making contact with the Department of Petroleum Resources and other agencies with the necessary equipment to assist in evacuating gas from the area,” Al-Makura added.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Monaco gas station in Lafia was on Monday morning engulfed by fire when a tanker offloading the liquified gas suddenly went ablaze.

Mr Dogara Dalhatu, the Chief Fire Officer of the Nasarawa State Fire Service, who confirmed the incident attributed it to a spark around the vicinity where the gas was being discharged.

Dalhatu, however, said the inferno has been put under control by men of the fire service.

He said that about 10 vehicles, five motorcycles and three tricycles were destroyed by the fire.

(NAN)

WE’LL CONTINUE TO DEPRIVE LOOTERS THE FRUITS OF THEIR CRIMES – BUHARI

President M. Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari said in Abuja on Tuesday that his administration was committed to depriving looters of public assets of the fruits of their crimes.

Describing asset recovery as an anti-corruption tool, he called on the National Assembly to take all necessary steps to pass the pending Proceeds of Crimes Bill.

He said the bill when passed and assented to would “revolutionise our asset recovery and management architecture”.

Buhari said this at the Presidential Villa while officially receiving the report of the three-man presidential committee set up to audit recovered funds.

The President had on November 22, 2017, inaugurated the committee which comprised Mr. Olufemi Lijadu, Mrs. Gloria Chinyere Bibigha and Mr. Mohammed Nami.

The committee was given the mandate to carry out a comprehensive audit of assets and funds recovered by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria from May 29, 2015, to November 22, 2017.

Although details of the report of the committee were not released, the President promised to implement its findings and recommendations.

He described corruption as constituting “a threat to the well-being, national security, and economy of Nigeria”, adding that his administration “will not allow the wanton diversion and embezzlement of public funds into private pockets”.

He added, “Thus, we intend to continue taking all necessary measures to deprive looters of public assets of the fruits of their crimes.

“It is in keeping with the Anti-corruption Policy of this Government, and in line with global best practices that this Committee was set-up to review our asset recovery and management practices in order to evolve a proper management, transparency and accountability culture in the management of recovered assets.

“Given our history of impunity, much of Nigeria’s wealth has historically been squandered or stolen; leaving us with inadequate infrastructure for our growing population and economy.

“Asset Recovery is thus one of the essential tools for fighting corruption and we must, therefore, take issues of managing such recovered assets very seriously.

“We must utilise proceeds of our recoveries optimally to address our economic and social problems, and loopholes for stealing public funds must be blocked.

JUST IN: AREGBESOLA RELEASES N19.8 BILLION FOR WORKERS’ SALARY ARREARS

Gov. Rauf Aregbesola

The governor of Osun State, His Excellency, Rauf Aregbesola, has authorised the release of N19.8 billion for payment of four months salary of the workers as well as pensioners.

The State’s Commissioner for Finance Bola Oyebamiji, in a statement on Tuesday said the governor had approved the release of nineteen billion, eight hundred and one million, three hundred and twenty-eight thousand, two hundred and seventy-one naira, twenty-two kobo for disbursement to the workers and pensioners.

The workers are being owed a backlog of salaries, with some cadre receiving only portions of their pay.

The state government applauded the workers for their perseverance and commitment to the state despite its lean finances, in a statement.

“In line with its agenda and fulfillment of its promise to the state workers regarding prioritisation of their welfare above others, the government of the State of Osun has commenced payment of full salary and arrears in line with available resources.

“This decision was taken at the meeting of the Fund Apportionment Committee led by Comrade Hassan Sumonu with labour and government representatives in attendance.

“In line with labour unions’ demands and current financial position of the state, government of the State of Osun led by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has authorised payment of of four (4) months salary arrears and 2016 leave bonus to its workers.

“Also, Mr Governor has directed that going-forward, workers in the state should be paid their full salary as and when due to demonstrate his commitment to his earlier promises.

“With this, Government of the State of Osun has commenced gradual disbursement of Nineteen Billion, Eight Hundred and One Million, Three Hundred and Twenty-Eight Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy-One Naira, Twenty-Two Kobo (19,801,328,271.22) as salaries and other entitlements to its workers”, the statement read.

APC GIVES CONDITION FOR EMERGENCE OF CONSENSUS CANDIDATES

The All Progressives Congress has given conditions for the emergence of consensus candidates for all elective positions.

This was contained in a statement signed by the acting National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Yekini Nabena, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

The statement read “The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to announcements of consensus candidates for elective positions in some states.

“It is therefore pertinent to make some clarifications to enlighten Party faithful on the procedure for nominating candidates.

“While consensus is provided for by the Party’s Constitution, the option is conditional.

“Consensus does not foreclose Direct or Indirect Primaries for all elective positions as contained in the resolution of the 6^th meeting of the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

“Again, consensus will apply when no other aspirant signify interest (i.e. through purchase of nomination forms) for the position in question.”

Recall that the Ogun, Zamfara and Yobe state chapters of the APC earlier announced the emergence of “consensus” candidates for the governorship position amidst protests from other aspirants.

BAKERS SET TO INCREASE BREAD PRICES

The high cost of baking ingredients may push bread prices up, bakers have warned.

The Premium Bread Makers Association of Nigeria gave this warning on Monday at a press briefing in Lagos.

“The challenges we face as a result of incessant increase in the prices of baking ingredients have rendered most premium bakeries comatose making us to operate at a loss,” the President of the association, Mr Jemide Tosan, stated.

The association noted that whereas the prices of flour, sugar and other baking ingredients had increased threefold in the past three years, there had been no corresponding increase in the prices of premium bread by the PBAN members.

It said between 2015 and 2018, the price of flour had increased from N6,500 to N11,500 per 50kg bag, while sugar had seen 77 per cent rise in price in the same period, with salt, margarine, yeast and preservatives had recorded 84 per cent, 67 per cent, 112 per cent, 45 per cent and 137 per cent increases, respectively.

Also, the price of diesel, which is used to power factory generators on a 24-hour basis, had gone up by 57 per cent, while the price of improvers used in enhancing the quality of bread had risen by 160 per cent during the period, the association stated, adding that conversely, the price of bread had only witnessed 11 per cent rise within the period.

“Most of us got loans with double-digit interest rates from financial institutions to fund our bakery projects and are finding it extremely difficult to meet our loan repayment obligations,” Tosan noted, adding that something had to be done to save the industry from extinction.

He said, “Given the current situation, most premium bakeries may be forced to embark on a price increase, which will further make bread unaffordable to the common man.

“As an association, we are totally committed to ensuring that Nigerians have healthy, quality, affordable and harmless bread on their tables.

“It is in light of this that we appeal to the Federal Government to look into the issues that currently threaten the existence of the premium bakery industry in Nigeria.”

MAN, 25, BURNT HIS BOSS’ CREDENTIALS FOR REFUSING TO INCREASE SALARY

A 25-year-old store keeper, Abubakar Hussaini, who was on Tuesday sentenced to 12 months imprisonment by a Kubwa Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, said he burnt his boss’s credentials for his failure to increase his salary‎.

Hussaini said the complainant, Mr Jack Jiang, a Chinese, promised to increase his salary, but failed to do so.‎

‎Hussaini who pleaded guilty to charges of criminal trespass, mischief by fire and theft, begged the court for leniency.

The judge, Abdulwahab Mohammed, however, sentenced Hussaini to 12 months imprisonment, but gave him N20,000 option of fine.

He also warned Hussaini to be of good behaviour and to also desist from committing crime.

The prosecutor, John Okpa, had told the court that Jiang reported the matter at the Area Command, Life Camp, Abuja on August 26.

He said that Hussaini criminally trespassed into the complainant’s house and stole a traveling bag containing five wrist watches, two bangles, four T -shirts and credentials.

Okpa said that all the said items were valued at N1.5 million.

The prosecutor said that four wrist watches, two bangles, two T-shirts and the traveling bag were recovered from Hussaini during police investigations.

He further said that Hussaini burnt the complainant’s credentials, adding that the offences contravened Sections 348, 336 and 288 of the Penal Code.

(NAN).

GUNMEN KILL IMO CATHOLIC PRIEST, ONE OTHER, SNATCH VEHICLE

Tragedy struck in Nkwerre in the Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State on Monday night after gunmen murdered a Catholic priest and made away with his vehicle.

The gunmen equally murdered a young man whose identity could not be ascertained immediately.

The man was said to be with the priest in his vehicle when the criminals struck.

A native of the community told our correspondent on Tuesday morning that the priest, identified as Rev Fr. Jude Egbuom, was until his death in charge of St Patrick’s Catholic Parish, Amucha, in the Njaba LGA of the state.

He hailed from Umuwala, a village in Nkwerre Community.

He was attacked around 8pm when he went to a barber’s shop on Anara-Nkwerre Road in Nkwerre town.

He reportedly resisted giving the car keys to his killers, which angered them.

The cleric was immediately shot together with the other victim in his vehicle ,while the criminals fled.

A native of the community said, “The circumstances surrounding the killing of the priest indicated that it was a case of armed robbery.

“It could not have been a case of assassination, who did the gentle priest offend? He was from our community, Nkwerre and was doing his missionary work at Njaba, a nearby LGA. ”

When contacted, the police spokesperson, Andrew Enwerem, confirmed the killings and said that the police commissioner, Dasuki Galadanchi, had deployed the Tactical Unit of the command in the area.

The police spokesperson said, “The incident is confirmed. Rev Fr.Jude Egbuom of St Patrick’s Catholic parish Amucha was murdered last night.

“Another person whose identity had yet to be known was also killed by the hoodlums. The priest was in his priestly regalia when they shot him dead.

FG, STATES, LGs SHARE N2TN IN THREE MONTHS

Increase in crude oil price as well as domestic oil production raised the nation’s revenues from oil, which made the three tiers of government to share N2tn in the second quarter of this year, the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative has said.

The Director, Communications and Advocacy, NEITI, Dr Ogbonnaya Orji, said in a statement made available to our correspondent on Monday that the disclosure was contained in agency’s Quarterly Review.

According to the statement, the federal, state and local governments shared N3.95tn from the Federation Account in the first six months of the year.

Featuring data sourced from the National Bureau of Statistics, the statement also showed that within the first half of the year, Osun State received N10.24bn from the Federation Account, while its account was debited with N14.52bn.

This means that the total deductions from the state’s account was N4.28bn more than it received from the Federation Account. States accounts are debited due to local and foreign debts they have contracted.

In contrast, Delta State received the highest amount of N101.19bn in the first half of the year. Total deductions for the state amounted to N13.81bn or 13.65 per cent of the money received from the Federation Account within the period.

The Quarterly Review, according to Orji, further showed that the total Federation Accounts Allocation Committee disbursements in the second quarter of the year were 46 per cent higher than the figure for the same period in 2017 and 127 per cent higher than for the same period in 2016.

The report noted that while N2tn was shared in the second quarter of the year, N1.38tn was disbursed during the same period last year and only N886.38bn was shared in the second quarter of 2016.

“In fact, quarter two 2018 was the first time an amount of N2tn was disbursed since the quarter three of 2014. This is a run of 14 consecutive quarters of disbursements below N2tn,” the report stated.

NEITI hinged the increase in revenue earned and shared by the three tiers of government on the rebound in oil prices in the international crude oil market as well as increase in domestic crude oil production.

The rise in disbursement recorded in the second quarter of 2018, the report noted, was the highest to the federation since the third quarter of 2014.

The report attributed the positive development to the rise in crude oil prices and similar increase in oil production.

The Quarterly Review was quoted as stating, “Average oil price in 2016 was $43.5 per barrel, while in 2017 oil price averaged $54.2 per barrel. However, in the first six months of 2018, average oil price was $70.6 per barrel. Thus, on the average, oil price increased by 62.2 per cent between 2016 and the first half of 2018.

“Total oil production in 2016 was 661.1 million barrels, while the figure was 690 million barrels in 2017. In 2016, average monthly oil production was 55.1 million barrels, while it was 57.5 million barrels in 2017. For the first two months of 2018 for which data is available, average production was 59 million barrels.”

The disbursements made by FAAC represented an increase of 41 per cent when compared to the N2.79tn disbursed in the first half of 2017 and 95 per cent increase on the N2tn disbursed in the first half of 2016.

A breakdown of the disbursements showed that the Federal Government received N1.65tn; states received N1.38tn; while the local governments got N795bn.

The disparity in the revenues received by each of the three tiers of government was based on the revenue sharing formula of the federation as stipulated in the Constitution, the statement added.

The NEITI Quarterly Review showed that the lowest monthly figure of N635.6bn disbursed in the first half of 2018 was N121.4bn higher than the highest monthly figure of N514.2bn disbursed in the first half of 2017 and N218bn higher than the N417bn for 2016.

“These figures clearly indicate that revenue accruing to the federation in the first half of 2018 completely outstripped revenues in the previous two years,” the report stated.

Another feature of the NEITI report was the significant increase in Value Added Tax disbursements during the period under review. VAT disbursements increased by 35 per cent between the first quarter of 2015 and the second quarter of 2018.

“It is interesting that VAT has been generally increasing over time. This bodes well for the government’s efforts at increasing revenue from non-oil sources,” it added.

NEITI expressed hope about increased revenues to the government from both oil and non-oil sectors, but cautioned that the volatile and unpredictable nature of government revenues would continue to make planning difficult for all tiers of government, increasing difficulties in implementing their budgets.

It said that there was a need to place priority attention on internally generated revenues.

MFM SLAMS LIBEL SUIT AGAINST THISDAY NEWSPAPERS, DEMANDS N500BN

The Incorporated Trustees of Mountain of Fire & Miracles Ministries and the church’s founder, Dr Daniel Olukoya, have commenced a legal action against ThisDay Newspapers for allegedly publishing a libellous story against them.

The suit marked PHC/2257/2018 was filed before the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt.

The cleric and his church are demanding N500bn in damages from the newspaper for the alleged injury caused them by the defendant’s publication.

The claimants are urging the court to make an order, directing the newspaper “to tender a written apology and a retraction published prominently on its website and for three consecutive days on the front page of ThisDay Newspaper and in at least three other nationally circulating newspapers and two international magazines, including TIME International.”

The claimants also want the court to order the defendant “to pull down and erase the offending story from the Internet forthwith.”

They are also seeking an order of perpetual injunction “restraining the defendant by itself, its agents, servants, privies or other persons howsoever called or described from further publishing and/or disseminating libellous stories and statements against the claimants.”

The cleric and his church are also praying the court to put the cost of filing the lawsuit on the newspaper.

ALAO-AKALA DENIES DUMPING APC, SUBMITS OYO GOV NOMINATION FORMS

A former Oyo State governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, has denied plans to dump the All Progressives Congress in order to achieve his ambition of contesting in the state governorship election in 2019.

The former governor, on Monday, left Ibadan for Abuja to submit his governorship nomination forms which confirmed his decision to contest the 2019 governorship election on the platform of the APC in the state.

After two meetings between the governor, Abiola Ajimobi, and 26 governorship aspirants of the party on Saturday and Sunday, an unconfirmed report said Alao-Akala and a few other aspirants were uncomfortable with the governor’s body language and that they were considering defecting to other parties.

Alao-Akala was said to have made contact with the leadership of the Africa Democratic Congress in a bid to be the party’s standard bearer for the 2019 governorship election in the state.

But a statement signed by the Head, New Media and Public Affairs, Alao-Akala Campaign Organisation, Jeremiah Akande, denied the move, stressing that the former governor was not considering dropping his ambition or dumping the APC.

The statement read in part, “The Media and Publicity Directorate of Alao-Akala Campaign Organisation, after a careful study of the said report and unfounded information pieced together in the body of the story, came to a professional conclusion that the idea behind the report was a mere publicity stunt aimed at laundering the image of the political party in question.

“The campaign organisation of Alao-Akala wishes to once again reiterate His Excellency, Alao-Akala’s unshaken commitment and dedication to the ideals of the APC in Oyo State and at the national level and urge his teeming supporters to remain steadfast and resolute in their belief in him, as the journey towards 2019 begins in earnest.”

GEORGE AKUME ATTACKS ORTOM, SAYS GOV’S PhD CERTIFICATE IS FAKE

 

The senator representing Benue North-West Senatorial District, George Akume, and Governor Samuel Ortom took on each other on Monday in a war of words.

Akume had at the All Progressives Congress expanded caucus meeting held at Castle Event Centre, Makurdi on Sunday described Ortom as a non-performer, alleging that the governor was parading a fake doctoral degree.

Akume, who accused the governor of running the Social Investment Programme like his family entity, argued that he needed to be voted out of power next year.

Apparently reacting to the views expressed by Ortom in an interview he granted newsmen, Akume said, “Ortom said he has PhD from the Commonwealth University of Berlin, but there is nothing like Commonwealth University. At least, I’m a graduate of the University of Ibadan, where I bagged my first and second degrees. I am also a fellow of the Institute of Management and I have honourary PhD from the University of Jos.

“He said I was a protocol officer while he was a local government chairman and that I served him, I never saw Ortom in the government house that period.

“He is saying I never won an election, but I won an election in 1999, he (Ortom) was in SDP; also in 2003 when I moved to ACN, I also won elections but the last election, Ortom lost in his local government. When I was building PDP, where was Ortom?” Akume asked.

Akume also accused Ortom of always insulting President Muhammadu Buhari.

He challenged the governor to clear the backlog of salaries arrears owed workers and pensioners in the state, who, he said, were dying of hunger.

But reacting on behalf of his principal, Ortom’s Adviser on Media and ICT, Tahav Agerzua, described Akume as a drunk who could not be taken seriously.

Agerzua, who said PhD was not a prerequisite for being a governor, described Akume’s allegation as a diversionary tactic.

The governor’s aide, who wondered when Akume became an assessment authority, challenged the senator to give an account of his stewardship in the red chamber.

“Akume is not an accreditation authority and he cannot speak on that. In any case, that has no basis because PhD is not a prerequisite for governorship; so, it is a diversionary tactic.  Let him give an account of his stewardship; he should stop assessing others, he is not an assessment authority.

“Moreover, everybody knows that he is a drunk; what he said stems out of his drunkenness; he is not someone to be taken seriously.”

EX-IGP SULEIMAN ABBA PICKS APC SENATORIAL FORMS

Suleiman Abba

Suleiman Abba, a former Inspector General of Police, has joined the race for the All Progressives Congress ticket for the Jigawa State central senatorial district.

Abba picked his nomination and expression of interest forms at the National Secretariat of the APC in Abuja, on Monday.

He told newsmen that he was in the race to bring quality representation for his constituents and contribute meaningfully to national development.

ICPC TO PARTNER INEC AGAINST VOTE-BUYING

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has expressed its readiness to partner the Independent National Electoral Commission to tackle the menace of vote-buying in the electoral system.

Acting Chairman of ICPC, Musa Abubakar, made this known when he visited the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday in Abuja.

Abubakar said that ICPC identified with INEC and Nigerians on the issue of vote-buying and was willing to work with the election management body to curb the ugly trend.

He said the commission was empowered to deal with all cases of corruption, including those committed during elections.

“The ICPC is empowered to investigate and prosecute any person involved in any act of bribery and corruption under any laws that prohibit corruption.

“I believe the Electoral Act also has provisions that deal with corruption and all forms of malpractices during the election.

“So, vote-buying is one of the corrupt practices under both our law and Electoral Act.

“The main reason for this visit is to identify with the commission and the general public on the issue of vote-buying.

“We assure you that the ICPC is ever ready to partner INEC to ensure that this trend is totally eliminated or reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.

Responding, Yakubu commended ICPC for its commitment to partner INEC to tackle “this new brand of electoral crime.”

He said that the commission was prepared to ensure that vote-buying did not determine the outcome of 2019 general elections.

“The votes cast by citizens will continue to determine who wins in our elections. We are focusing more on the processes leading to that outcome.

“The outcome of any election is in the hand of the voter, but we are responsible for ensuring that the process is free and credible,” he said.

(NAN)

KANO POLICE ARREST WHATSAPP GROUP ADMIN, MEMBERS FOR SHARING FAKE NEWS

The Kano State Police Command has arrested an administrator and members of a WhatsApp Group for circulating fake news and an image of a married woman whom they claimed was trafficking in children in the city.

The spokesperson of the Police in the state, Magaji Majiya, told PRNigeria that the suspects were arrested and paraded after the victim of the circulated image lodged a formal complaint to the Police Command.

Mr Majiya said: “We received a complaint from a married woman and a civil servant, Mrs Bushirat Madaki, that her picture is being shared on WhatsApp group with the intent to malign and incite the public against her.

“Upon receiving the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Rabiu Yusuf ordered an immediate investigation by a special team who were able to trace and arrest three married suspects a man and two women for circulating the fake and offensive information.

“When confronted over the petition against them, the suspects admitted that the image and material on the woman were shared and forwarded in their group.

“They also admitted that they didn’t know the woman in person and have never had interaction with her before distributing the image and the story. They, therefore, sought forgiveness.

“For now, the Police Command has granted the suspects bail because the offense is bailable while further investigation is ongoing.

“The police command is also currently providing security cover for the innocent woman for fear of mob attacks because her image and the false report on her have gone viral.”

The police spokesperson said it is an offence to share or circulate fake news that could undermine national security or incite the public against innocent people.

“We call on social media users to be wary of what they receive and share or forward on social media, especially WhatsApp. We should guard against the misuse of social media platforms by sharing and forwarding objectionable or fake messages,” he said.

Concerns have been raised about social media misuse as fake news, morphed photographs and disturbing videos with fabricated local narratives are being circulated that can trigger tension, political crisis and even communal conflict in sensitive communities.

TWO DEAD, 37 INJURED IN GAS EXPLOSION IN NASARAWA

File photo: Gas explosion

The Nasarawa State Government on Monday expressed shock and sadness over a gas explosion in Lafia in which two persons have been confirmed dead and 37 others injured.

The Deputy Governor, Mr Silas Agara, said during on-the-spot assessment visit to the scene of the incident that the government would take the necessary steps to unravel the cause of the accident.

Agara, accompanied by the Commissioner of Police, Yahaya Bello, and Chairman, Lafia Local Government, Malam Aminu Muazu, described the explosion which occurred at Monaco Gas plant within the premises of Natson Filling station on Jos Road, Lafia, as most unfortunate.

He expressed his condolences and sympathy to the victims on behalf of Governor Umaru Al-Makur and assured the people of the government’s readiness to respond to the emergency and ensure a thorough investigation of the incident.

Agara applauded the security and emergency response teams for their quick intervention and advised the public to stay away from the scene to allow relevant agencies to carry out their investigation into the matter.

He and his entourage later visited the 37 victims with various degrees of injuries at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia.

On the casualty figure, Mrs Faustina Alegbe, the Federal Road Safety Corps Sector Commander in the State, told NANthat two persons died while 37 people were injured.

“So far, 37 people are receiving treatment in the hospital but two have been confirmed dead by the doctors.

“Tomorrow, we will go back to the hospital to do an update. But I can tell you that I was in the hospital myself to do a physical count and as at now, 37 are receiving treatment with two dead,” she said.

(NAN)