Ten Things You Need To know This Morning

Good morning! Here are 10 things you need to know this morning:

1. The Federal government has disclosed that fuel subsidy will be removed in 2016, stating that the pump price of fuel will be moved from 87 naira per litre to 97 naira per litre. This was disclosed when the The federal executives appeared before the joint committees of the National Assembly on Finance to defend the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, MTEF & FSP, documents presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari.

2.Following the clash between the Nigerian Army and the Shi’ite Muslim sect, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has disclosed that he escaped from the scene of the incident through divine intervention as the intention of the group was to have him assassinated. He claimed that the sect were heavily armed and not defenseless as claimed.Things You Need To know This Morning

3.The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has vehemently kicked against the bail applications filed by the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), and two others before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja. The prosecution, led by Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), in separate counter-affidavits to the bail applications, said the accused persons could abscond if granted bail by the court.

4.Renowned politician and economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, on Monday advised the Federal Government to speedily publish the list of those who returned stolen public funds to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

5.The leadership of International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, Intersociety, has dragged Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja before the National Judicial Council, NJC, stating that his role in the case involving Nnamdi Kanu of IPOB was unsatisfactory and unconstitutional. This follows the controversial and unconstitutional perpetual detention of Kanu, leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and Director of Radio Biafra, in the guise of “investigating him for offenses of terrorism and terrorism financing.”

6.Elder statesman and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has expressed his anger over the ongoing Biafra protest, saying that it makes no sense to protest when Ndigbo are their own problems. He was interacting with newsmen in Owerri, the Imo state capital.

7.The Special Task Force (STF) in charge of security in Plateau on Monday confirmed that 12 persons were killed in an attack on Kwata community in Jos South Local Government. Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, STF Spokesperson, stated also that several others were injured in the attack that took place on Monday morning.

8.A magistrate court in Port Harcourt has remanded one Mohammed Salisu, Yahaya Lawal, Maxwell Atago, Ado Garba and Uche Onu in prison custody for allegedly impersonating Salisu Buhari, the first son of President Mohammadu Buhari. The five were accused of a six count charge of advanced fee fraud, forgery and impersonation.

9.Troops operating in Bama axis, yesterday cleared Boko Haram terrorists out of Aulari general area located within the Sambisa forest. In a statement issued by Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, it was disclosed that the troops cleared all the 4 camps located within the area plus other areas.

10.Report has claimed that Nollywood comic actor, Dede One Day is dead. It was gathered that the actor died of high blood pressure in the early hours of Monday after performing at an event on Sunday. Detail is still very sketchy.

No Plans to Impeach Gov. Muhammadu Jibrilla - Speaker

Alhaji Kabiru Mijinyawa, the Speaker, Adamawa House of Assembly, has dismissed alleged plans to impeach Gov. Muhammadu Jibrilla.

Mijinyawa, during a special sitting of the house on Monday in Yola, described the alleged plan as “malicious”.

“The attention of the house is drawn over false publication that members of the house are gathering signatures to impeach the sitting governor.No Plans to Impeach Gov. Muhammadu Jibrilla - Speaker

“The publication was purely a mischief from the enemies of the state who always wish us bad luck,” Mijinyawa said.

Similarly, the Chief Whip of the house, Mr. Hassan Burguma, condemned the allegation.

Burguma, at a news conference in Yola on Monday, also said that the house had never signed any document to impeach the governor.

“As far as the house is concerned, there was nothing like impeachment discussion in the house.”

Bello is Audu’s replacement confirmed by INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday confirmed that it has been intimated of the All Progressives Congress, APC’s choice of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as the party’s replacement for the deceased Abubakar Audu in Saturday’s supplementary election.

Speaking with newsmen, INEC’s Deputy Director in charge of Publicity, Mr Nick Dazang said: “They have sent the name of their replacement candidate, the runner-up in their primaries, that is Yahaya Bello, to the commission.”

Bello is Audu’s replacement confirmed by INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday confirmed that it has been intimated of the All Progressives Congress, APC’s choice of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as the party’s replacement for the deceased Abubakar Audu in Saturday’s supplementary election.

Speaking with newsmen, INEC’s Deputy Director in charge of Publicity, Mr Nick Dazang said: “They have sent the name of their replacement candidate, the runner-up in their primaries, that is Yahaya Bello, to the commission.”

Judge to rule in suits on Kogi guber 24 hours

Judgment in all suits involving the inconclusive Kogi governorship election will be delivered 24 hours before the supplementary poll scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for Saturday. This was disclosed yesterday by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The incumbent Governor and standard bearer of the PDP, Idris Wada had filed a suit praying the court to declare him winner of the November 21 governorship election. This was as Johnson Usman, Emmanuel Daikwo and Emmanuel Igbokwe, filed legal action, asking the court to conduct a fresh governorship election in the state.

PDP Says That APC are playing politics with the dead in Rivers

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, Felix Obuah has called on the state Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to stop playing politics with the dead.

Speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Obuah, said it was unfortunate that the opposition was using those that died to play politics in the state.

While urging politicians in the state to respect the dead, the state PDP Chairman stressed that the PDP had no hand in the death of anyone in the state.

Appeal Court reserves judgment in Rivers guber poll

The Court of Appeal, Abuja on Thursday reserved judgment in an appeal filed by Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers challenging his removal by the election petitions tribunal for the state.

The court of appeal panel presided over by Justice Dongban Memsem held that it would communicate the judgment date to parties in the appeal.

“Ruling on all motions raised by the parties and judgment is hereby reserved. The date will be communicated to all parties,’’ she said.

Kidnapped Ken Saro-Wiwa Registrar Freed

The Rivers State Police Command Saturday night announced that Mrs. Lilian Davies has been freed from kidnappers.

She was freed on Friday at about 3:30 pm by special tactical outfit set up by the Commissioner of Police to tackle the menace of kidnappings.

Senate Excludes Amaechi's Name for Screening

The upper chamber of the National Assembly has again excluded the name of embattled Rivers former Governor, Rotimi Ameachi, from today’s screening.

From the Order Paper of the Senate, it was gathered that only three of the nominees will be appearing before the lawmakers for screening as ministers.

Meanwhile, DAILY POST correspondent reports that there is confusion in the Senate at the first version of the Order Paper had 8 ministerial nominees including Rotimi Amaechi, but was quickly replaced with another one without his name.

The latest one which was circulated exactly as the Senate begins plenary has only the following names:

Barrister Shittu Adebayo

Claudius Omoleye Daramola

Khadija Abba Ibrahim

http://dailypost.ng/2015/10/20/breaking-senate-excludes-amaechi-from-nominees-for-screening-on-tuesday/?

Buhari Using EFCC To Fight His Enemies – Ayo Adebanjo

Chief Ayo Adebanjo has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of using his anti-corruption war as vendetta, just like Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Chief Ayo Adebanjo stated that Obasanjo used the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to harass all his political opponents under the guise of fighting corruption.

Adebanjo said this while reacting to an allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party that the EFCC was only probing ex-PDP governors while ex-All Progressives Congress governors like Babatunde Fashola and Rotimi Amaechi, accused of corruption, were being rewarded with ministerial appointments.

“When fighting corruption, you must not be partisan. This particular one looks like a vendetta. He should immediately make amends. This is obviously partisan and I am not happy about that.

“We want a clean country. As Buhari said, if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us. However, it must not look like a vendetta. This was how Obasanjo did during his time. He went after only those that were against his political ambition.

“Things like this could rubbish any anti-corruption campaign.”

Adebanjo further urged the EFCC to investigate the ex-APC governors that had also been accused of corruption so as to ensure balance.

Maxwell Ashiuloka – Abuja

http://www.thebreakingtimes.com/confusion-rocks-nigerian-senate-live-tv/?

I remains the INEC REC in Rivers State - Khan

THE Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Gesila Khan, has said that she remains the state REC and that she has not been transferred.

Khan was reacting to claims in some quarters that she had been transferred by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The state REC, who was alleged to have been arrested and detained by the operatives of the Department of State Service, spoke with journalists on Monday at the state INEC office, Port Harcourt, during the ongoing inspection and certification of materials used for the 2015 polls.

Khan maintained that she would not have been part of the ongoing exercise at the state INEC office if she had been transferred as speculated.

“I am here and I am still here. I have not been transferred. If I had been transferred, I would not be sitting here; I would be packing my things. Even if I am transferred, there is nothing wrong with that because it is government work and anytime you are called to move, you move. But for now, I have not been called to move,” she stressed.

On whether she had any regret as a result of her experience so far in Rivers State, the REC said, “I have no regret whatsoever. I am an HR (Human Resources) manager; so, anything you see in life, you move along with it. You cannot predict man. They are free to think and say what they want.”

She, however, pointed out that the photocopying of election materials and certification of documents were going on without any hitches.

Explaining that the INEC headquarters drafted three administrative secretaries to assist in the exercise, Khan noted that this was necessary in order not to delay the submission of required materials to the election tribunal.

“During the presidential election, three national commissioners came; during the governorship election, three national commissioners came and now again, we have three administrative secretaries. That is just to make the job fast and you know the tribunals are time-bound and the work (sorting our election materials) is voluminous.

“We have been working since. Today, it is either this document or another. Some (of the materials), they want in longhand while some (others), they want it in shorthand. So, the law says when they request, you give them and since the time is very short, we have to,” she said.

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress has disagreed with the State Electoral Commissioner that she was detained by the DSS for two weeks.

The state APC said the DSS invited Khan for questioning, alleging that her actions and inactions constituted a security threat to the state and the country at large.

Describing Khan as a victim of her own devices, the state APC, in a statement signed by its Secretary, Media and Publicity Committee, Mr. Godstime Orlukwu, said her alleged refusal to release materials used during the last election was capable of affecting the peace of the state.

He said, “The attention of the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has been drawn to claims in the media credited to the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dame Gesila Khan, that she was detained by the DSS for two weeks.”

“The APC believes that Khan was never detained. Rather, the DSS invited her for questioning, having been convinced that her actions and deliberate inactions constituted serious threat to the security of Rivers State and, by extension, that of the country,” the statement read.

The party, however, challenged Khan to show evidence that she was detained for two weeks, adding that INEC would not have sent a taskforce to Rivers for the election materials if the REC had complied with the directive that the elections materials should be released.

“The APC is convinced that Dame Khan’s latest assertions are only aimed currying public sympathy and drawing attention away from her malfeasance before, during and after the last general elections.

“We believe that such antics would be unable to exonerate her and her cohorts from their electoral sins in Rivers State,” the statement read.

Tribunal dismisses Wike’s N100 default complaint against Peterside

The Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Monday rejected another application by the state governor, Nyesom Wike, asking for the dismissal of the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress’ Candidate in the April 11, 2015 poll, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission had filed separate ‎applications praying for the dismissal of the petition challenging Wike’s victory at the poll on the grounds that the petitioners failed to pay the N100 said to be prescribed as fee for the issuance of the pre-hearing notice.

The Justice Mu’azu Pindiga-led tribunal’s two separate rulings dismissing the applications on Monday were part of the string of recent decisions ‎of the tribunal rejecting applications by the respondents to stop the hearing of the case.

Various interlocutory applications by the respondents had prevented the tribunal from proceeding to the hearing of the main petition three months after it was filed, despite the statutory 180 days period within which the petition must be heard and determined.

In separate rulings on the applications by Wike and INEC, the tribunal, on Monday, held that ‎application for issuance of pre-hearing notice was not part of documents for which a filing fee must be paid as prescribed in paragraph 37(4) of the 1st Schedule to the Electoral Act.

The tribunal also held that contrary to the applicants’ contention, the petitioners validly applied for the issuance of the pre-hearing notice (Forms TF 007 and TF 008) within seven days of exchanging the necessary replies between the petitioners and the respondents as stipulated by law.

“There is no defect in the pre-hearing notice. The tribunal therefore holds that the application filed by the 1st respondent (INEC) is hereby discountenanced and accordingly dismissed,” Justice Pindiga ruled.

The tribunal also adopted the same ruling on Wike’s application.

Through their respective lawyers, Wike and INEC had argued that the failure of the petitioners to pay the fee constituted an infringement on provisions of Paragraphs 18(1), (3) and 47 of the 1st Schedule to the Electoral Act as amended.

Wike’s lawyer, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), had while arguing the application on August 15, urged the tribunal to be persuaded by a ruling delivered by the Imo State Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal in Owerri on July 22, 2015 and which ‎dismissed a governorship petition based on the petiitioner’s failure to pay the N100 fee.

INEC’s lawyer, Chief‎ K. C Njamanze (SAN), who also canvassed the same argument, said the payment of the fee was a condition precedent for the tribunal to assume jurisdiction on the petition. ‎ But counsel for Peterside and the APC, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), had asked tribunal to dismiss the respondents’ application for lacking in merit.

Olujinmi insisted that since the application for the pre-hearing notice was by a letter to the Secretary to the tribunal, his clients were not liable to pay for filing fee as such was not specifically provided for in any law.

He added that even if his clients were required to pay the fee, failure to do so could only amount to a mere irregularity which the tribunal could direct them to pay at any time.

He urged the tribunal not to allow the justice of the petition to be defeated by mere technicality which the respondents’ applications were predicated. ‎

Meanwhile, the tribunal also on Monday heard and adjourned till Wednesday ruling on five separate applications filed by parties to the petition.

One of the petitions was filed by INEC, two of them were fil‎ed by ‎Wike while the two others were filed by the petitioners. The PDP did not file any application.

Arguing INEC’s application filed by INEC on June 30, ‎the commission’s counsel, Wale Ballogun, asked the tribunal to dismiss the petitioners’ reply to the response of the commission to the petition.

In Wike’s application filed on July 11, his counsel, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), sought an order of the tribunal for stay of execution of the tribunal’s ruling granting leave to the petitioners to inspect documents used for the conduct of the April 11 poll, pending his appeal against the ruling.

In a separate application dated August 1, Wike also sought another order striking out all the witness statements on oath filed by the petitioners for not disclosing the full names and identities of the deponets.

On their part, the petitioners, through their counsel, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), filed an ‎application on July 16, in which they asked the tribunal to direct that all notices of preliminary objection already filed and yet to be filed by the respondents, should be raised in their final written addresses after the hearing of the petition.

In another application, filed on July 17, the petitioners want the tribunal to order INEC to move the electoral materials used for the conduct of the April 11 poll to Abuja for them to inspect the necessary documents.

At the hearing of the applications on Monday, all the three respondents – INEC, Wike and PDP – did not oppose one another’s applications but opposed the ones filed by the petitioners.

However, the petitioner’s counsel, Olujinmi, opposed all the applications filed by the respondents.

Ruling on the applications was adjourned till Wednesday.

Custom Boss - ​I’m resigning so Buhari won’t fire me

The Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Dikko Abdullahi, who is leaving his post on Tuesday, August 18, says he is leaving behind a transparent system and that he has nothing to fear.
Mr. Abdullahi said he was voluntarily leaving office, partly to avoid being fired by President Muhammadu Buhari, and also to allow the younger generation take over.
“The time I’m leaving is the time I feel those young ones that have developed the software can come up and manage the software,” he told journalists Monday after meeting the president.
“So that is basically the reason and I’m sending out this signal to all those who have stayed put.
“Don’t stay until you are asked you to go. When you feel you have done so much and you believe in the system you have built, then why do you stay? Why don’t you be an umpire? Leave, be by the side and watch and advise,” he said.
Mr. Abdullahi left after putting in six years as the head of Customs, one of Nigeria’s main revenue sources besides oil and gas.

The Buhari administration has replaced the leadership of critical government offices, and last week, as part of wider reforms, announced an extensive audit of all revenue generating agencies of government.
Mr. Abdullahi wrote to the president on August 3 seeking permission to stand down. Mr. Buhari approved his resignation request 11 days later.
Fielding questions from journalists after meeting the president on Monday, the former Customs boss said under his watch revenue appreciated by 20 percent.
“Revenue appreciated by 20 percent from when I took over and the officers that did the work are still around and I think that the NCS – I stand to be corrected- is the only service that is fully automated in the system of operation,” he said, saying it is time for the younger generation who built the automated systems to take over.
“We have no fear,” he added.
He said the only way the Customs service can move forward is to give chance to the younger generation.

Source: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/188534-%e2%80%8bim-resigning-so-buhari-wont-fire-me-customs-boss.html

Seduction not reason behind my sexy bikini photos– Etiko Destiny

By Ayo Onikoyi
Blossoming Nollywood actress, Etiko Destiny, who shot into limelight in the flick ‘Idemili nearly started a riot of thoughts and emotions on Wednesday when she released some bikini photos to mark her birthday, which came up on same day.
The reactions on the internet were mixture of admiration, outrage and sheer disbelief. While many greeted her courage and loved her for it, some were in bewilderment and slammed her for going over the edge in showing her sexy bum.
For those who could not stomach actress’ show of her cute bum, perky tummy and creamy skin, they dubbed her a seductress, claiming the only reason behind shooting those pictures must be to seduce men and have them jump in her bed.
In a chat with Potpourri, the sexy bombshell dispelled the notion and said her intention was never to seduce anyone or have any man eying her bed.

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/seduction-not-reason-behind-my-sexy-bikini-photos-etiko-destiny/

Jonathan contributed to Agbaje’s defeat

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, Tunji Shelle, says former President Goodluck Jonathan contributed to the defeat of the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, by his inaction.

Shelle said this on Saturday while addressing party supporters at the inauguration of the constituency office of Mr. Dipo Olorunrinu, who represents Amuwo Odofin constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

He said Jonathan allowed the All Progressives Congress get away with a lot of illegalities during the last election which ultimately led to his own defeat.

He said when Jonathan lost the election, the effect spilled over to Lagos, thereby causing Agbaje’s defeat.

Shelle said, “Without fear of contradiction, I am sure we won the governorship election. If Mr. President had not declined or had not allowed illegalities to take place and if he had not allowed the APC to win at the national level, the PDP would have won Lagos fair and square because our governorship candidate had the merit and capacity to win the election in Lagos State.

“He was the man that every Lagosian wanted and I am sure that they voted for him. You will see that even the difference between his own (votes) and that of the governor’s (Akinwunmi Ambode), is very small. And it is small because we did our best to control the excesses of the APC in Lagos.

“We have never had it this tough or this good but in an election somebody would have to count his blessings at the end of the day.”

Shelle noted that the party won eight assembly seats and six House of Representatives seats. He said the PDP’s victory would have been far greater than that but for the rigging by the APC.

He said he was confident of Agbaje becoming governor of Lagos State as Agbaje’s case had been taken to the Appeal Court after it was struck out by the Election Petitions Tribunal.

He said, “We have not lost out and we believe we are going to regain some of the seats that the APC are occupying for the time being. We are still at the tribunal for the governorship election and we have even moved to the appeal stage. We may be asked to go back to the tribunal but whichever way it goes, we stand a high chance of winning at the tribunal at the Appeal Court. So, Jimi Agbaje is still very OK and we believe at the end of the day, victory will be our lot.”

Shelle, who had been suspended by the PDP State Executive Committee, insisted that he remained the chairman.

He said those calling for his removal should wait till November or December when a new congress would take place.

He said, “I don’t want to remain at the chairman forever. But, whoever, is interested in becoming the chairman should wait till November or December when another executive committee will be set up. Why can’t they exercise patience? I never did this to the people that are older than me in Lagos. People should learn to respect the party and the rules of the game.”

Source: http://www.punchng.com/politics/jonathan-contributed-to-agbajes-defeat-pdp-chair/

Man City beating leaves Chelsea sick

Manchester City earned first blood in the title race after beating Chelsea 3-0 in a heavyweight Super Sunday clash Sky Sports reports.

With just two games on the board, City are already five points clear of the current champions.

Sergio Aguero opened the scoring on 31 minutes – finally converting one of five presentable chances in a one-sided opening to the match.

John Terry was substituted at half-time by Jose Mourinho in attempt to tighten things up but City kept the pressure on and Vincent Kompany doubled the lead on 79 minutes.

Fernandinho, who could have been sent off for an elbow on Diego Costa in the first half, struck a late third.

City started fast at the Etihad Stadium and could have been ahead within 30 seconds but stand-in Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, who replaced the suspended Thibaut Courtois, denied the striker from close range.

The battle between the striker and the ‘keeper continued with Begovic denying Aguero three more times in the opening 30 minutes, the pick of which was a one-handed save from a fierce drive from City’s top goalscorer from last season.

Chelsea were being outplayed in every department and City finally got their noses in front just after the half-hour mark.

Aguero and Yaya Toure linked up to bamboozle a flat-footed John Terry and Gary Cahill on the edge of the area before the striker steadied himself to skilfully roll the ball into the corner of the net.

Chelsea’s service towards Eden Hazard and Diego Costa was non-existent in the first half and the striker cut a frustrated figure. His mood was angered further on 42 minutes when he was cracked in the head by a Fernandinho elbow that drew blood on Costa’s brow and just a yellow card from referee Martin Atkinson.

Terry was the fall guy for Chelsea’s dismal opening 45 minutes, being replaced by Kurt Zouma at the break – the first time Mourinho has substituted Terry in the Premier League.

The visitors did improve after the break with Hazard seeing more of the ball and City being forced deeper into their own half. However, when Chelsea’s chance came on 70 minutes, they didn’t take it.

Hazard was found inside the box by Costa and although he beat Kompany with a clever shimmy, his shot from 12 yards was too close to Joe Hart, who pushed the ball to safety.

Kompany showed Hazard how it should be done with 11 minutes remaining.

He showed a greater desire than Branislav Ivanovic to meet a David Silva corner at the near post and flicked a well-judged header into the far corner.

The Etihad, with its new third tier added to the south stand, was now rocking and Fernandinho answered the crowd’s demands for more goals with five minutes remaining.

Ivanovic’s sloppy clearance was seized upon by the rampaging City attack and the ball was worked to the midfielder, who spanked a first-time effort into the far corner.

Costa hit the post for Chelsea in stoppage time but this was to be City’s day. The champions have work to do.

Okonjo-Iweala denies diverting $600m Chinese loan

The immediate past Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Sunday described as untrue the allegation that a substantial part of the $1bn Chinese loan obtained for a railway project was diverted.

Okonjo-Iweala, in a statement issued by her media adviser, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, also said that contrary to the allegation, the Kano-Lagos rail project was not part of the projects listed for funding for the Chinese loan.

President Muhammadu Buhari had last Monday queried the Ministry of Finance over alleged diversion of the foreign loan obtained for the rail project by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Specifically, the President was seeking clarification on the alleged diversion of $600m, which was part of a $1.005bn loan obtained from the China-Exim Bank for the construction of a standard gauge rail line linking Lagos to Kano.

The funds were said to have been moved elsewhere.

But while reacting to the allegation, Okonjo-Iweala, who spearheaded the negotiation of the loan during her time as finance minister, said the China-EximBank kept and disbursed funds for approved projects to contractors based on milestones.

The funds, she added, were not domiciled with the Finance ministry.

Giving a breakdown of the loan and how it was utilised, the former minister said that $500m was used for the expansion of four international airport terminals in Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt, $500m for the Abuja light rail project, $984m for the Zungeru hydro-electric power project and $100m for the Galaxy backbone project

Okonjo-Iweala, in the statement, noted that even if the alleged project was on the list of China-EximBank funded projects, diversion of any Chinese funds would have been extremely difficult because the terms of the contract and the processes would simply not have permitted such action.

The statement reads in part, “We have continued to receive media inquiries regarding an allegation reportedly made by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Alhaji Mohammed Bashar, that a substantial part of a $1bn loan obtained from the China-EximBank by the Jonathan administration for a Kano-Lagos rail project was diverted to other projects.

“I want to state categorically that there is no truth in the reported allegation. Anyone who is interested can cross-check with the China-EximBank or the Chinese Embassy.

“It is noteworthy that even though President Buhari, in his reported comments on the allegation, made no reference to Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, rightly stressed the need for due process and transparency in the execution of public projects, a sponsored media campaign has once again been launched by political elements to make the former minister the culprit in a non-existent scandal.

“The alleged diversion has no substance for the simple reason that the Kano-Lagos project was not even among the projects presented for funding by the China EximBank for several strategic infrastructural projects across the country. In fact, it was the Lagos–Ibadan rail project, not Lagos-Kano rail project that was proposed in the original application to the China-EximBank. But in the end, no funds were assigned for the Lagos-Ibadan rail project by the China-EximBank.”

The funds, according to her, were released directly to the Chinese firm executing the contract only after the presentation of a duly certified proof of work by the Federal Ministry of Transport, based on the agreed milestones.

Source: http://www.punchng.com/business/money/okonjo-iweala-denies-diverting-600m-chinese-loan/

APC says Jonathan’s govt looted N11tn

THE All Progressives Congress on Sunday alleged that about $56bn (N11.02tn) was looted during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and that the Buhari government needed to recover the funds to fulfill the change promised by the APC.

In the breakdown by the ruling party, it said $6bn (1.2tn, at the rate of N197 to dollar) was stolen by some of Jonathan’s ministers and that 160 million barrels of crude worth $13.9bn (N2.74tn) were lost between 2009 and 2012 while $13bn (N2.56tn) in NLNG dividends was mostly unaccounted for.

The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this in a statement on Sunday.

Mohammed’s statement read in part, “Some instances of the looting are as follows: N3.8tn out of the N8.1tn earned from crude oil (2012-2015) withheld by NNPC; $2.1bn (N413.7bn) from Excess Crude Account unaccounted for; Department of Petroleum Resources’ unremitted N109.7bn royalty from oil firms.

“Others are: $6bn (1.2tn) allegedly looted by some ministers of the last administration; 160 million barrels of crude worth $13.9bn (N2.74tn) lost between 2009 and 2012; $15m (N2.96bn) from the botched arms deal yet to be returned to Nigeria; $13bn (N2.56tn) in NLNG dividends mostly unaccounted for; N30bn rice waiver; and N183bn unaccounted for at the NDDC.”

The APC consequently lashed out at those telling President Muhammadu Buhari not to waste time probing the Jonathan administration.

The statement seems to be in reaction to a statement by the National Peace Committee, which reportedly told Buhari that probing the past administration was not a substitute for governance.

The APC, however, said there was no way the Buhari government could effectively take off if it did not recover some of the trillions stolen under Jonathan and that the party’s promise of change was based on the assumption that it would recover some stolen funds.

The statement added, “It is absolutely gratifying that Nigerians are vehemently opposed to the few who would rather have the government of the day turn a blind eye to the looted funds and, in their words, carry on with the process of governance.

“Truly, what sort of governance can go on if the billions of naira in a few hands are not recovered? In the first instance, the government needs every kobo of the funds it can muster to bring about the change it has promised Nigerians.

“Secondly, leaving such hair-raising funds in the hands of the few looters is dangerous, because they can use the funds to destabilise any government. In fact, no one will be surprised if the looters use their dirty funds to sponsor public demonstrations against the government’s determination to recover the funds.

‘’Thirdly, allowing those who privatised the commonwealth to get away is offering a thumbs-up for looting. No responsible government will do that.”

The party said that those who stole had embarked on an increasingly-bold campaign to discredit the government of the day and sabotage the funds’ recovery process, using newspaper columnists, ‘talking heads’ and otherwise respectable opinion leaders.

The APC submitted that it was necessary to remind Nigerians of the “massive looting of the treasury” that took place in the past few years, so the citizens could better appreciate the seriousness of the issue at stake.

The party said the listed “missing” funds constituted just a tip of the iceberg, adding, ‘’The level of looting that went on in other sectors is better imagined, hence the need for all Nigerians to rally around the Buhari administration to recover the loots, bring the looters to justice and to put in place measures to prevent such looting in the future.”

But the Peoples Democratic Party, in its reaction on Sunday, said the figures released by the APC were imaginary.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement, described Mohammed’s statement as “reckless, irresponsible and highly provocative.”

Metuh said, “In trying to escalate their stock-in-trade of lies, wild allegations and falsehood, the APC failed to understand that their baseless fabrications are capable of throwing an unsuspecting nation into chaos.

“The spate of fabrications by Lai Mohammed has become a sickening source of worry for well-meaning Nigerians, including those in his party.”

The PDP spokesperson called on Buhari and the APC, as a party, to call their spokesman to order before he plunges the country into crisis with wild and unsubstantiated claims.

He said the APC-led government should get serious with the fight against corruption by investigating and prosecuting corrupt persons, rather than unnecessarily playing to the gallery.

Buhari Seeks Fearless Judges To Try Looters

President Muhammadu Buhari has commenced the process of identifying a few fearless and courageous judges who will be saddled with the responsibility of prosecuting persons who have been found to have stolen national resources, THE PUNCH has learnt.

Buhari had while granting audience to members of the National Peace Committee led by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar in the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday disclosed that the prosecution of the indicted persons would commence in a matter of weeks.

“Those who have stolen the national wealth will be in court in a matter of weeks and Nigerians will know those who have short-changed them,” the President had told his guests.

Our correspondent however learnt on Sunday that the prosecution would not be open to “just any judge.”

It was learnt that the President was committed to ensuring that only judges who would expedite action on the cases and would be fearless in discharging their duties would be enlisted for the prosecution.

A source confided in our correspondent that that was one of the assignments Buhari gave to the Prof. Itse Sagay-led Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption which he set up on Monday.

The source said it would not be necessary to set up special courts to try corruption cases since efforts were already underway to identify judges that would key into the President’s dream of ensuring that no looter was left unpunished.

He said, “We do not need to entertain any fear that the prosecution of corruption-related cases will not be fast enough because many of our courts are already weighed down by many cases.

“The truth of the matter is that not all judges will be considered to take up the cases of those who have stolen our commonwealth.

“As a matter of fact, one of the assignments the President gave the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption led by Prof. Sagay is to identify fearless and courageous judges that will handle the cases.

“The idea is to ensure that the judges who will handle the cases will not be just any judges. They must be those who will expedite actions on the cases and discharge their duties with courage.

“You can see that with this development, the issue of special courts for corruption cases may not come. It is about special judges.”

Our correspondent also gathered that Buhari was already considering withdrawing national honours from any individual found to have looted the nation’s treasury.

It was learnt that the President’s position was that the nation should not be seen to be honouring any fruadulent person.

“The President will not hesitate to strip any corrupt person of national honour. Can you honour a person for milking the nation dry? It is irrelevant how long such persons have been bestowed with the national honours, they will be stripped of them,” the source said.

When contacted, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said it was reasonable that anybody found to be corrupt should be stripped of national honours.

Adesina however said such withdrawal of national honours would not be done until affected persons had been convicted by competent courts.

“Although it has not been considered, it is reasonable that those found guilty of corruption should be stripped of national honours bestowed on them. However, this will not be done before conviction,” the presidential spokesman said.

While announcing the establishment of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption on Monday, Adesina had said its brief was to advise the present administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

He said the committee was also saddled with the responsibility of developing comprehensive interventions for achieving the recommended reforms.

Source: http://www.punchng.com/news/buhari-seeks-fearless-judges-to-try-looters/

Fayose to Buhari: No one can intimidate Me

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to tread cautiously and be mindful of the body language of those hailing him today.

The governor, who said he was aware of sinister plots to destabilise his government because of his strong and truthful stands on national issues, vowed to “continue to speak the truth no matter whose ox is gored.”

Reminding the President that he is not heading a military regime, Fayose added that he could not be cowed by threats from any quarters.

According to a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose urged Buhari to take the advice of the former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee, which told him to tread cautiously.

The statement said, “Opposition is one of the roots on which democracy stands and any President or governor that does not want opposition will eventually become a dictator.

“I want to state without fear or favour that I will continue to speak the truth no matter whose ox is gored.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us and no one can intimidate me or the good people of Ekiti State who freely and overwhelmingly gave me their mandate.

“Democracy as a form of government thrives on our ability to ask questions and get answers from our leaders.”

The governor urged the President to listen to wise counsel from Abubakar.

“The Peace Committee has reminded the President that he is not heading a military government and with the calibre of Nigerians in the committee, their wise counsel should not be ignored.

“These are Nigerians who don’t need personal favours from the President and he should get the message very clearly that he is being told not to act as a dictator,” Fayose said.

Fayose, who also advised the President to know that Nigerians were not interested in “any honeymoon,” but their well-being, added that Buhari’s achievements in his first 100 days so far were “harassment of Peoples Democratic Party leaders, appointment of his in-law and kinsmen into sensitive positions, selective fight against corruption and arrest and detention of INEC officials who worked in states won by the PDP.”

While declaring support for the fight against corruption, Fayose however noted that “fighting corruption should not be synonymous with convicting Nigerians on the pages of newspapers.”

NNPC Has Not Remitted Any Money Yet - FG

Four Months after former President Goodluch Jonathan directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to refund $1.48bn (N291.56bn) into the Federation Account, the corporation has yet to do so.

An international audit firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, was last year hired to carry out a forensic audit of the corporation following an allegation by the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, that $49bn was not remitted to the Federation Account by the NNPC.

Sanusi, who is now the Emir of Kano, had written a letter to Jonathan that the amount was not remitted to the Federation Account by the NNPC.

But following the controversy, which the letter generated, a committee was set up to reconcile the account.

Sanusi later recanted and said the unremitted fund was $12bn. He again changed the figure to $20bn.

PwC had stated in its report that while the total gross revenues generated from crude oil lifting was $69.34bn between January 2012 and July 2013 and not $67bn as earlier stated by the Senate Reconciliation Committee, what was remitted to the Federation Account was $50.81bn and not $47bn.

Within the $69.34bn, the audit report revealed that $28.22bn was the value of the domestic crude oil allocated to the NNPC, adding that the total amount spent on subsidy for Premium Motor Spirit amounted to $5.32bn.

But speaking on Tuesday shortly after this month’s Federation Account Allocation Committee meeting, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Anastacia Nwaobia, said no amount had been refunded as directed by Jonathan.

She said, “On refund from the NNPC, that was not discussed but you can see that from the breakdown, we have a refund of what we have been expecting from the NNPC to the Federal Government. We had a refund of about N6.33bn.

“The refund that you are asking about, maybe it is a fallout of the forensic audit; that has not been done. The forensic audit is still being considered and I am sure that when a decision is taken, it will be communicated and you will have that information.”

Speaking on the amount shared at the meeting, Nwaobia said the sum of N418.4bn was shared among the federal, states and local governments as revenue for the month of May.

She said that the shared amount comprised the month’s statutory revenue of N324bn and N6.3bn refunded by NNPC, being the corporation’s indebtedness to the federation before the release of the forensic audit report.

The permanent secretary said, “The gross revenue of N324.96bn received for the month was higher than the N282.06bn received in the previous month by N41.99bn. The distributable statutory revenue for the month is N324.06bn. The sum of N6.33bn was refunded by the NNPC to the Federal Government.

“Also, there was an exchange gain of N31.24bn, which is proposed for distribution. The total revenue distributable for the current month, including VAT, is N418.4bn.”

Giving the breakdown of the revenue shared among the three tiers of government, Nwaobia said after deducting the sum of N6.82bn as cost of collection, the Federal Government received N151.8bn, representing 52.68 per cent; states, N76.9bn, or 26.72 per cent of the total; while the local governments received N59.3bn, or 20.60 per cent of the amount distributed.

She announced that N29bn, representing 13 per cent derivation revenue, was also shared among the oil producing states.

President parries question on ministerial list

President Muhammadu Buhari may shock state governors and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress by the time he releases the list of his ministerial nominees, investigation has revealed.

THE PUNCH learnt on Tuesday that indication that Buhari was keeping matters relating to the appointment close to his chest emerged during a meeting he held with state governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

A governor who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that one of his colleagues raised the issue at the meeting.

He said the governor had asked the President when the names of ministerial nominees would be sent to the Senate for screening.

He said Buhari however refused to answer the question posed by the governor.

This, he explained, was an indication that the President did not want to talk on the matter.

“During the meeting today, a governor asked the President what is delaying the list of his ministerial list.

“The President did not answer that question. That, to me, means that he is keeping details to his chest,” the source said.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina; and his Senior Special Assistant and Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report.

Source: http://www.punchng.com/news/president-parries-question-on-ministerial-list/

Buhari-US’ll assist us to recover stolen funds

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said his administration had received firm assurances of cooperation from the United States and other countries in his quest to recover and repatriate funds stolen from Nigeria.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President spoke while granting audience to members of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Adesina quoted Buhari as saying that it was now up to Nigeria to provide the international community with the facts and figures needed to drive the recovery effort.

He said he would be busy, in the next three months, getting the facts that would help in recovering the stolen funds.

“In the next three months, our administration will be busy getting those facts and the figures to help us recover our stolen funds in foreign countries,” Adesina quoted the President as saying.

Citing the report submitted by the Ahmed Joda-led transition committee, President Buhari said that several revenue-generating institutions in the country had been compromised.

On insecurity, the President was also quoted as telling the traditional rulers that they would play a key role in stemming terrorism and insurgency in the country.

This, he said, they would do by assisting the government with cost-effective intelligence gathering.

Buhari also assured the traditional rulers that his administration was working hard to end insecurity and terrorism in the country in the shortest possible time with the cooperation of neighbouring countries and the international community.

Acknowledging that Nigerians expected a lot from his administration, the President appealed for patience and understanding while his government works diligently to speedily overcome the huge national challenges it inherited.

The Sultan had earlier presented the Northern Traditional Rulers’ recommendations to the President on issues related to national development.

He told the President that as custodians of tradition and stakeholders in the Nigerian project, the traditional rulers had a responsibility to always advise political leaders on the “path of truth and justice.”

“We have always advised our leaders, but their acceptance of our advice is their own prerogative,” the Sultan said.

The traditional rulers assured the President of their unflinching support for his administration’s efforts to fulfil its promises to Nigerians.

The traditional rulers later joined the President in the traditional breaking of fast.

They were also joined by some state governors.

Source: http://www.punchng.com/news/usll-assist-us-to-recover-stolen-funds-buhari/

Fresh crisis brews in APC

The sharing of principal offices in the Senate seems to be creating a fresh crisis in the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The principal offices are the Senate Leader; the Deputy Senate Leader; the Chief Whip and the Deputy Chief Whip.

While the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, is believed to have recommended to the APC National Working Committee that the positions be allocated to the zones, some leaders of the party, especially those from the South-West, want them filled by the party’s hierarchy.

A senator made this known to one of our correspondents in Abuja on Thursday just as the APC NWC meeting   on Thursday   failed to agree on the modalities for brokering peace among aggrieved members of the party.

The senator warned that if the issue was not quickly resolved, the Senate and the APC might “face another round of crisis bigger than that that resulted from Saraki’s emergence as Senate president.”

He added, “The Senate President, had after wide consultations, suggested how the officers to occupy these posts could be appointed. He suggested the allocation of the four principal offices to some of the geopolitical zones.

“But some leaders, who are still angry with his (Saraki) emergence, turned down his suggestion. Some of the influential leaders from the South-West are insisting that the party should fill the offices. This is in spite of the fact that the chairman of our party (John Odigie-Oyegun) and other members of the NWC are in support of allocating the principal offices to zones.

“The South-West leaders are even saying that allowing the party leadership to fill the offices, remained the only way to allow peace to reign in the Senate.”

A Senator from the North-Central , who is loyal to Saraki, confirmed the development on condition of anonymity .

He said that it was true that some APC leaders were insisting that the party should nominate the senators who would occupy the four principal offices .

He said, “By the Senate tradition, the party in majority normally sends the offices to the zones where the Senate caucuses would meet and choose among themselves in the zone, who occupies the offices.

“Some other leaders of the party are claiming that asking the party to produce the principal officers was a smart way   to impose the Senate Leader, the Deputy Senate Leader, the Chief Whip and the Deputy Chief Whip on the Senate.”

The senator claimed that a “very influential “ leader of the party from the South-West had allegedly written Odigie- Oyegun that the leaders would fill the positions. “

He said, “Some of us were just called by some members of the NWC intimating us of details of a letter forwarded to the body that it should just fill the remaining four leadership positions in the Senate.

“In fact, the letter from the South-West leader is that the party must take charge and name its preferred candidates for the four offices.”

It was further learnt that some senators had already met with some NWC members asking them to ignore the letter.

They   were said to have insisted that the tradition remained that the zonal caucuses which did not produce the Senate President and his deputy should meet and nominate among themselves.

They added that it was when there were two or more nominations that,   an election could hold and that whoever scored the highest votes   would be the candidate.

Efforts to get the spokesperson for the pro – Saraki group, Dino Melaye, failed because his mobile phone was switched off.

Spokesperson for the Senate Unity Forum, a group of senators loyal to   Lawan, Kabir Marafa, argued that the choice of other principal officers who are not elected on the floor of the Senate, remained the sole business of the party leadership.

He said, “How can the executive of the party at the zonal levels determine who will be made the Senate Leader, the Deputy Senate Leader, the Chief Whip   and the Deputy Chief Whip?

“It is the party executive that would determine all these. So the party would write the Senate President. That is the tradition. It cannot be done at the zonal level, it is absurd. There should be due process in whatever things   we do.”

But when contacted , the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Lai Mohammed simply said,   “No comment.”

NWC meeting deadlocked

Meanwhile, the leaders of the party will meet again on Friday   following their failure to reach an agreement on how to end the crisis that arose due to the National Assembly leadership elections .

The meeting, which was held behind closed doors at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja   started at about 5.20pm. It   lasted for a little over an hour.

Details of the meeting were not made public as of   8pm on Thursday when this story was filed.     When approached for comments ,   Odigie-Oyegun,   said, “We will meet again tomorrow to continue.”

It was however learnt that the party leaders had been unable to get supporters of the Senate President and the APC’s preferred candidate for the Senate Presidency , Ahmed Lawan, to meet face-to-face.

One of our correspondents, who visited the APC secretariat observed that the posters and banners of a former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, had disappeared from the secretariat.

His banners were hitherto pasted   side by side those of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

Most of the banners were put up by individuals and groups   supporting the APC.

It is not clear what led to the disappearance of the posters and banners.

PDP Will Regain Power in 2019 - Mimiko

The newly-elected Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, Ondo’s Olusegun Mimiko, on Thursday said that the opposition party would regain power at the centre come 2019.

Mimiko said the PDP had in fact commenced the process of taking back power from the All Progressives Congress during the next general elections.

He said this at the Akure airport during a mini-reception organised for him on his return from Abuja, where he was voted as the new PDP governors’ chairman on Wednesday.

Mimiko said the governors were determined to give the PDP a new face as the opposition party, pledging that the party’s engagement of the ruling APC would be robust and offer alternative policy platform and programmes for the country.

He said the PDP governors had resolved to collectively work assiduously and excel in governance with a view to re-branding the party and selling it to all Nigerians.

He said, “We must sustain enthusiasm in our party; and as governors who have pivotal roles to play in re-branding our party, we must show in governance term the difference between us and the APC and these are the challenges ahead of us.

“As opposition party, our engagement will be robust; we must offer alternative policy platform and programme when we criticise one. We must show Nigerians that we are a different party. We will not be abusive in opposing the government and we will praise where it is worthy of praise and criticise in a very robust manner”

He said that the PDP in Ondo State had reached an appreciable level of repositioning and that the party was “overwhelmingly” in charge in the state.

The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Jumoke Akindele, noted at the reception that the emergence of Mimiko as the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum was well deserved.

Wike - I Met An Empty Treasury

THE Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that contrary to the claims by the immediate past administration that it left N7bn in the state coffers, he met an empty treasury.

Wike explained that the treasury where the monthly Federal Allocation accruing to the state was always kept had remained in debit as at May 29 when he (governor) took over the reins of governance in the state.

The governor made this remark on Thursday at the Government House in Port Harcourt during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and officials of Julius Berger and a Chinese Construction firm, CCECC, for the rehabilitation of 33 kilometres of township roads in the state capital.

He stated that from the brief he received from the state Accountant General after his inauguration, only one revenue account with Sterling Bank had some funds left by the immediate past administration.

Wike said, “I want to say on good authority that we did not meet any N7bn, as being speculated. The state’s FAAC account as at May 29 (2015) was in debit. That was the briefing I received from the Accountant-General.”

Signing the MoU with the two construction giants, Wike explained that the step was to realise his administration zero potholes programme launched on May 29, 2015.

According to the governor, while Julius Berger is to handle the rehabilitation of 11 kilometres of township roads alongside street lights and traffic lights, the CCECC will handle 20 kilometres of township roads in Port Harcourt.

He explained that the state government had resolved to work with the construction giants to rebuild road infrastructure in the state capital. He added that the revival of facilities in the state capital was beyond political consideration.

Wike noted that the funds for the ‘Operation Zero Potholes’ had been set aside, hence the signing of the MoU to ensure that the companies concluded work in 120 days.

He, however, promised to personally monitor the execution of the projects by the construction giants.

Wike explained that his administration had resolved to take the N10bn loan with specific focus on key projects to be implemented, noting that the request to the state House of Assembly was accompanied by all the projects to be executed.

NNPC - WE WILL KICK START PORT HARCOURT REFINERY BY JULY

The Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Joseph Dawha, on Thursday said the Port Harcourt Refinery might resume operation by July.

Dawha said this while addressing newsmen after a tour of some filling stations in Abuja with some top management staff of the corporation.

``When the refinery comes up stream in late June or early July we expect that it will run at least 80 per cent installed capacity.

``It will give us a contribution of about five million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on a daily basis.”

Dawha said the ongoing Turn Around Maintenance(TAM) of the refineries was a conscious effort to ensure that they were all running.

``If the refineries were not in depth or in good state to process crude for maximum gain there was no need of sending crude to such refineries for processing.

``What we do is to fix them so that we can get the real value for products.

``We are satisfied with the level of work carried out so far at the Port Harcourt Refinery so that if we start processing crude now we will get value for the refined products.

``So there will not be distraction as it will be, if refineries were operating properly.”

The GMD also decried the spate of vandalism of the pipeline in the country, stressing that the NNPC was working hard to put in place mechanism to minimise the menace.

He described the situation as ``a very serious matter”, noting that NNPC could not use the pipeline network supply because of vandalism.

``If you send products through the vandalised pipeline then you lose the product.

``We cannot live it that way; we have to repair them but as you do that, it is vandalised again. It is a very serious matter.

``We are left with the option of trucking which involves a lot of logistics to succeed.”

The Managing Director of the Pipeline Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Prince Haruna Momoh, condemned the recent vandalised system 2B pipeline of the NNPC in Lagos.

According to him, the system 2B pipeline in Ije Ododo in Lagos is the most vandalised structure.

He said that already the situation had been controlled and repair of the pipeline would soon begin.

``As at today, the NNPC imports 50 per cent of the petroleum products into the country as part of the 40 million litres daily consumption by Nigerians.

``The corporation will continue to intensify its efforts to wet the country with products from its coastal depots to inland depots.”

He said the NNPC was ready to work with all the relevant stakeholders in the downstream sector of the Oil and Gas Industry to end the lingering fuel scarcity. (NAN)

GOVERNOR OF AKWA IBOM STATE TO SET UP TECHNICAL COMMITTEE FOR PEACOCK PAINTS INDUSTRY

As part of his plans to revitalise moribund industries in the state, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency Mr. Udom Emmanuel on Wednesday June 10, 2015 paid a visit to the Peacock Paints Industry in Ikot Ekan , Etinan local government area.

During the visit, the governor promised to within two weeks, set up a technical committee that will assess the current condition of the moribund paint factory and advise government accordingly.

It should please be noted that His Excellency the Governor did not promise to bring the factory back to full operations in two weeks as erroneously published in some social media platforms.

Signed

Ekerete Udoh, SSA(Media)/CPS to the Governor

Akwa Ibom State

TINUBU CONFRONT BUHARI FOR ALLEGED TREACHERY

A Former Governor of Lagos State and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu has surprisingly criticized President Muhammadu Buhari​,​​ ​saying he betrayed the party.

This is in the wake of events that led to the emergence of Ex-Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki as the President of the Eighth Senate and the return of Chief Ike Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President for a​ ​third term.

Tinubu, who on Wednesday through the Nation Newspaper​,​ in an article titled “The untold story of PDP’s coup behind Saraki’s Senate Presidency” pointed an accusing finger at President Buhari for displaying neutrality in who emerges as the Senate President without due regard to the fate of the party.

According to Tinubu; “Despite the choice of National Assembly leaders being a mixture of party politics and legislative duty, the aloofness, or the perceived neutrality of the President allowed the ‘fight’ within APC to fester until it went of hand.”

He explained that the invitation of the APC lawmakers to the International Conference Centre, ICC, was said to be at the behest of the President; shockingly, the President did not show up.

“The bewildered 51 APC Senators, who were waiting endlessly for the President in ICC, watched the proceeding of the inaugural session from a nearby TV box.

“Before the 51 APC Senators could race down the five-kilometre stretch from ICC to the Assembly Complex, Saraki had emerged as an unopposed candidate.

“To add insult to injury, President Muhammadu Buhari neither showed up nor sent apology to the stranded Senators at the ICC.

“They were left at the mercy of troops from the Brigade of Guards, who had already been deployed in the centre ahead of the supposed arrival of the President.

“Unfortunately, there was no communication between his office and the 51 APC Senators who heeded his invitation.

“It was around 10.35am, we saw that the inaugural session was already on and Saraki had been elected. If we were to be defeated, it should have been done on the floor.”

In defence ​of President Buhari​,​ a highly-placed source, said: “The President had actually made up his mind to be at the ICC but there were feelers that some associates and strategists prevailed on him not to dabble in the selection of the Assembly leadership because he will portray himself as an inconsistent leader having promised not to interfere in the internal affairs of the Legislature.

“Probably acting a pro-Saraki’s script, these associates/strategists made the President to realise that his last-minute intervention would amount to dancing to the tune of one man: Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

“Even if President Buhari is not interested in a second term, he owes the APC a duty to keep the party intact.”

Tinubu therefore stressed that the coup in the National Assembly by PDP was a litmus test for Buhari’s leadership prowess.

“The President may need to assert himself by playing a fatherly role to reunite his political platform that is in tatters.

“When some leaders met with the President after the coup in the Senate, he was said to ‘be hollow’ without a solution to the crisis at hand. The time to act is now,” he emphasized.

The APC National leader berated Buhari for the refusal of the APC leadership to address the important index of power-sharing formula deprived its National Assembly members of the much-needed unity.

“If there had been an acceptable formula in place, the situation may not degenerate to this extent. What Saraki did was to be tactical in conceding the Deputy Senate President to the Southeast which is almost relegated to the background by the Buhari administration.”

“Unless an urgent reconciliation is put in place, the anti-party activities which led to Saraki’s Senate Presidency might cause a prolong crisis in the party. And with plans by the APC leadership to enforce discipline, some leaders might call it quit with the party,” Tinubu added.

Source: http://www.agendang.com/index.php/multimedia/photos/item/289-tinubu-blasts-buhari-for-alleged-treachery

Buhari Declears Over N900 million Asset

“Mr. Integrity”, Buhari lied about his asset which is over N900Million, curiously he borrowed N27Million from a Bank to be able to pay for party nomination form as a candidate..”—Wumi Akintide

In a piece titled: “APC & BUHARI ARE GOING TO HAVE THE SHORTEST HONEYMOON WITH NIGERIANS!”, Dr. Wumi Akintide, said, that he is a little suspicious now about President Buhari’s integrity.

His words: “…..I was a little bit taken aback when the man recently declared his asset. It was close to 900 million Naira. Here was a man who had to borrow 27 million from the Bank to be able to pay for his nomination paper as a candidate…….”, he said.

On Aisha Buhari Cartier Watch scandal, Mr. Akintide said, “That someone would pay attention to the Cartier wrist watch Aisha Buhari wore to the Inauguration ceremony tells me loud and clear that the PDP is not going to let go on making Nigerians know that the change they thought they have voted on March 28 for was a day dream. The PDP wanted to prove that Aisha is not different from Dame Patience Jonathan who had built a crawling estate in Rivers State using her position as first lady to enrich herself. The speculation has put Aisha on the defensive. It has put her in an embarrassing or awkward position to now admit that the wrist watch she was wearing was a fake Cartier she bought in some flea market in London or New York for only 129.00 Dollars and not for 35,000 Dollars from Macy’s or Savoy Row in London where celebrities shop as rumored by some elements in the PDP who want to damage the first couple irredeemably as closet capitalists pretending to be social democrats. I have heard some people say the APC is no better than the PDP. Their members are going to loot Nigeria pretty much like the PDP has done. I am beginning to think that they sure have a point. If the APC allows such impression to gain traction, it has done itself a disfavor to put it mildly.

On INEC form he said: “I was a little bit taken aback when the man recently declared his asset. It was close to 900 million Naira. Here was a man who had to borrow 27 million from the Bank to be able to pay for his nomination paper as a candidate. Nigerians now know that the man is far much richer than he wanted Nigerians to believe when he started his campaign. That asset compared to any of his peers like Babangida, Sani Abacha, Obasanjo, Abdulsalam Abubakar, and Ebele Jonathan has to be viewed as only a drop in the ocean. I sure get that but I am still a bit surprised. The asset he declared was done like the old one where he could not be charged for perjury or over-up if he or his Vice President had lied in the declaration. It was nonsense pure and simple…

Critics think Buhari is a liar, dubiously corrupt. Adding that he, Buhari unprompted promised to Buhari said, on assumption of office on May 29, he will:-End corruption in Nigeria; Make N1.00 = US$1.00; Provide 24 hours electricity in entire Nigeria; Fix all the roads and streets in Nigeria; Pay every unemployed graduate N5,000 ($5,000) per month for 2 years; Jail all the thieves in Nigeria; Build 4 mega Refineries in Nigeria…”, said, Chris Udoh.

But APC, agent, and Buhari supporter, Joseph Igietseme, at CDC, think otherwise. He words: “..Yours below exemplified the problems in the society and why things are in constant mess; some of us like to use different and double standards to assess or evaluate leaders, so that they can make excuses for people they support and malign people they dont like or support. Its not fair citizenship because we sacrifice national principles for nepotism in any color [ethnic, buddy etc].
JUI would like to refresh your memories by presenting the following sequence of events on Assets declaration in reference:

“.Greed and Leadership corruption are rampant in Nigeria; so citizens would like leaders to declare their assets to CCB before and after taking offices; the constitution also requires it; Some leaders have complied and even went further to publicized their assets declaration; however, some leaders have kept their assets declaration out of the public, although Nigerians will prefer the public announcement of declared assets; Some of us who supported Jonathan know that he refused to make his assets declaration public even when the predecessor [Yar'Adua] publicized his declaration; while some citizens had a problem with the half measure of Jonathan that only met the minimum requirement of the constitution, some other like Chris Udoh and Pastor Joe had no issues with it because he was their man! Some of you even defended the minimum constitutional action of Jonathan, arguing that the public announcement was voluntary, not required!

Adding to aforesaid, “Now, a new leader has come into office and he has promptly declared his assets that met the minimum requirement of the constitution; however, people like Chris Udoh and Pastor Joe are now obsessed with the voluntary public announcement which they didnt care about with the leader they supported. Is this double standard or bias? The audience can take it from here!!..jUI hopes Brother Chris Udoh wont repose like Pastor Joe, that he’s confused about the bias call JUI is making on him; Hahaha! The fact is that Pastor Joe and Chris Udoh are being called on a double standard; and they should be trying to dance any kpan-logo or kokoma”, he said.

Respected educator,Abba Gumel, is getting confused about Buhari on this topic, because Buhari did promise to made his assets public once he assumed office May 29, 2015. Buhari is yet to keep his promise. His words: “I find myself in the rather uncomfortable position of actually fully agreeing with you on this one. It seems, perhaps, that change has indeed come to our beloved Ajegunle (to the extent that you and I are becoming ideologically the same). Chei, miracles do happen…even in our own Ajegunle-:))). Bro. JUI, Pastor Joe is right on this one. The President promised to public-ally declare his assets. He meant what he said, and the Buhari we know always keep his word. So, it was always only a matter of short time before the public declaration is made. We, at the APC, always honour our commitments…unlike our PDP brothers who seem not to know the meaning of the word “commitment”.

Another Buhari critic, Joe Attueyi, response. “Yes indeed I am satisfied with this approach that says Buhari intends to keep his promise to make PUBLIC his asset declaration after CCB verification.

Adding that, “If we had joined those of you high-fiving him for meeting the constitutional requirement and asking anybody interested in the details to use FOI Act to access we wouldn’t be where we are today on this issue would we?

“There should be a teachable moment in this for you. It is NOT a mark of support to a leader to hail his every move– whether right or wrong. Followers, especially the intellectuals like you, have an obligation to point out to leaders where their actions require adjustments.

“Those of us who advised the president to keep his freely given pledge–an advice he has now accepted-have done him greater service than those of you including his media adviser asking us to go use FOI Act…”, he said.

Read full text beneath:

I am predicting that the Buhari Government are going to have the shortest honeymoon with Nigerians and many of their ardent supporters in the mainstream and social media and rightly so. Unless Buhari changes his current lethargic and snail speed approach to governance, he is going nowhere but down to put it bluntly.

There is no way Buhari is going to meet the huge expectations of Nigerians if he continues to drag his feet and simply look the other way all because he wants to be too careful and painstaking in taking decision. I know there is a limit to how much we can expect from a 73 year old man who is probably going to fall asleep or take a fall climbing the steps like 90 year old Robert Mugabe has been doing lately to the total embarrassment of Zimbabwe because the man does not know where to draw the line and call it quit. I do not want the predictions of Ayo Fayose to come thru for Buhari who could be going thru mid-life crisis or health challenges as predicted by the loquacious Fayose.

I have reason to believe that Ayo Fayose the embattled Ekiti Governor could do anything. He may have put a spell or a jinx on Buhari from all I am able to see as a Nigerian who would not put anything past Ayo Fayose who claims to be a born again Christian but who could have been paying some nocturnal visits to Okija Shomorika or Aiyelala shrines in Okitipupa area for all you know. I say that because the man is an outlaw, and would do anything to remain Governor by all means.

Nigerians fully understand that Buhari is not a Houdini or Professor Moshudi Peller, Nigerian greatest magician. Buhari himself has tried to lower Nigerians’ expectation on that score because he probably knows his limitations. Some of you might think it is too early to start passing judgment on Buhari but I am going to do it because I care too much about the man because I knew him in his prime as an incorruptible leader with very low tolerance level for corruption.

I was a little bit taken aback when the man recently declared his asset. It was close to 900 million Naira. Here was a man who had to borrow 27 million from the Bank to be able to pay for his nomination paper as a candidate. Nigerians now know that the man is far much richer than he wanted Nigerians to believe when he started his campaign. That asset compared to any of his peers like Babangida, Sani Abacha, Obasanjo, Abdulsalam Abubakar, and Ebele Jonathan has to be viewed as only a drop in the ocean. I sure get that but I am still a bit surprised. The asset he declared was done like the old one where he could not be charged for perjury or over-up if he or his Vice President had lied in the declaration. It was nonsense pure and simple…

I am aware that other African leaders like Mobutu Sese Seko, Houphet Boigny, and Emperor Jean Bokasa were far much richer in their life time than most of our leaders, but you still have to wonder how our leaders plunder their countries to get richer the whole country. Ebele Jonathan the shoeless canoe man of Otuoke is almost as rich as Bill Gates or Dangote today if you add the wealth of his power-drunk first lady.

I fully understand that Buhari who has voluntarily dropped his title of a General in the Nigerian Army is proceeding with great caution because he does not want to look like a dictator or being blackmailed or stigmatized as one by the PDP, and even by some elements in his own party who want to act and behave like the PDP did for 16 years of total impunity and recklessness in Nigeria
I concur that Buhari needs to proceed with caution but caution is one thing and lethargy, sloppiness and foolhardiness belong to a different kettle of fish for a man who was a former Head of State for 20 months from August 1983 as a military dictator. They constitute a different ballgame and for a man who has sought the office of a civilian President for 12 consecutive years and should have been fully ready to know some of the things he wants to do, and some of the individuals he would need to get the job done. He ought to have known what the Nigerian Constitution would permit him to do with the consensus of his party majority in both Houses of Parliament. He does not come away now like a man who has gone thru that baptism of fire and conviction. He does not look to me like a proactive President right now. He looks like somebody waiting to react to events as they occur which is not good enough.

Buhari should have had a rapid response team in place by now to help him define his order of priorities after March 28 when it became clear he has won the election, and after his nemesis has conceded victory without wasting time. The magnanimous concession by President Jonathan should have given Buhari a leg up to fine-tune some of his the things he wants to do on taking over from Jonathan on May 29 just like David Cameron has been doing in Britain. He should have seized the opportunity of his inaugural address to demonstrate that conviction more forcefully than he did.

He should have given his listeners some concrete ideas about where he wanted to take Nigeria beyond his election campaign rhetoric. That we still don’t know who is Secretary to Government is going to be up till now is a proof the man is far from ready to lead. It could also be a proof that there is a big division in the rank and file of the APC. That is not something they can be proud of having waited for 16 years to come this far. Chairman of the Party, John Odigie Oyegun as a former Administrator and Permanent Secretary should have known that.

By failing to do a few things, Buhari is beginning to lose some credibility and traction in my judgment sad to say. The APC ought to be fully aware that they have their job cut out for them because the PDP is not going to give them a breathing space at all because the PDP is understandably aggrieved and very unhappy to have been kicked out of office and denied 4 more years of anomie and total hopelessness that have become their legacy as a the biggest party in Africa.

The APC has woken up a sleeping lion from its slumber and some of their members are going to go after the APC with vengeance, and rightly so, because Politics is a blood sport in much of the third world believe it or not.

That someone would pay attention to the Cartier wrist watch Aisha Buhari wore to the Inauguration ceremony tell me loud and clear that the PDP is not going to let go on making Nigerians know that the change they thought they have voted on March 28 for was a day dream. The PDP wanted to prove that Aisha is not different from Dame Patience Jonathan who had built a crawling estate in Rivers State using her position as first lady to enrich herself. The speculation has put Aisha on the defensive. It has put her in an embarrassing or awkward position to now admit that the wrist watch she was wearing was a fake Cartier she bought in some flea market in London or New York for only 129.00 Dollars and not for 35,000 Dollars from Macy’s or Savoy Row in London where celebrities shop as rumored by some elements in the PDP who want to damage the first couple irredeemably as closet capitalists pretending to be social democrats. I have heard some people say the APC is no better than the PDP. Their members are going to loot Nigeria pretty much like the PDP has done. I am beginning to think that they sure have a point. If the APC allows such impression to gain traction, it has done itself a disfavor to put it mildly.

I agree that the speculation is a little irritant, but it is one that Buhari does not need this early in his Administration. I once mentioned what General Murtala Mohammed did on taking over from General Gowon in 1975. He gave the nation a laundry list of what he wanted to do and his order of priorities. He actually challenged or dared the Press and the Media to put his feet to fire if for any reason he did not keep his promise.

He was sure of what he wanted to do and he gave a very swift indication of that when he canceled the 1973/74 Census with immediate effect and automatic alacrity by taking the advice of Obafemi Awolowo hook, line and sinker. There was no pretense about Murtala Mohammed for the 200 days he was Head of State. What you saw was what you got. Nigerians cannot say the same thing of Buhari if you are judging him by what he has done in his first week in office as a catalyst for change in Nigeria.

I thought Buhari should have made a pronouncement on the 60 military officers and soldiers who are awaiting execution for deserting the war against Boko Haram on the excuse they lacked the arms and weapons to fight back. If Buhari could not talk about their fate with his inauguration address, he should at least have said something about them within a day or two of his inauguration.
I had expected him to issue some statement on what should be the fate of Captain Sagir Koli who blew the whistle on the complicity of Brigadier-General Aliyu Momoh on the well-documented rigging of the Ekiti election in favor of Governor Ayo Fayose at the Spotless Hotel at Ado Ekiti. The poor man had been forced to become a fugitive offender in his own country for doing what was expected of him as a commissioned officer with an oath of allegiance to Nigeria.

Up till now, Buhari has not found the time to address that issue and to show that he cared a hoot about what has happened to that Captain and his 13 year old brother who was illegally detained and imprisoned against his own will just because he is the brother of a whistle blower.

That development should have forced Buhari to immediately sponsor a Bill on a Whistle Blower protection Law as the first order of business by the APC-controlled Parliament in Abuja. If he was too busy to put together a bill because of other pressing national issues, he should, at least, have issued a statement to show that he cared. As a professional soldier and a General for that matter, he should never have allowed that issue to go unaddressed within a week of his assuming office. I found that reprehensible to say the least. Rigging of election in Nigeria is never going to stop until and unless our leaders begin to demonstrate some sensitivity and revulsion against the malfeasance.

Buhari ought to have made statements showing that he was proactively thinking about what to do about the excessive salaries and allowances our legislators pay to themselves and the implication of the Immunity from public prosecution for any criminal act some of our leaders in Government may have committed during their tenure in office.

It is as if that problem is no longer an issue for Buhari and Osinbajo and the power brokers in his party now that the ball is in their court, and they are on the receiving end. I deeply regret this observation and so should all Nigerians. The APC leaders all talked a good game about that while they were still lobbying Nigerians to give them a chance. Once they get elected, they appear to want to completely sweep the subject under the carpet.

Some of us are not going to let them get away with it. I for one supported Buhari and the APC because I thought Nigeria deserved a change. Their criminal silence about the subject bothers the hell out of me. That is why I am writing about it now to remind Buhari and the APC that they are already beginning to fall short. Many of you may not agree with me on this concern, but that is the way I feel and I am going to keep harping on it until they hear me loud and clear.

The most disturbing development to me right now is the impunity Governor Ayo Fayose has continued to demonstrate in Ekiti after Jonathan has handed over to Buhari. I could not believe my eyes that Ayo Fayose was allowed to deploy the Nigerian Police and State Security to continue to intimidate the 19 Ekiti legislators including their Speaker who have been driven out of Ekiti with the complicity of President Jonathan.

I can understand Ayo Fayose using his own State Police, if he has one to do what he has been doing with reckless abandon in Ekiti. It is the Federal Government that controls the Police and the State Security in Nigeria because unlike America State Governors in Nigeria do not have their own Police Once Buhari took over from Jonathan on May 29, the Nigerian Police, the State Security and the Nigerian Military now have to report to him and no longer to Jonathan because the PDP has been ousted from power.
The Chief of Defense Staff, General Barde, the Inspector -General of Police, Mr. Arase, and Alhaji Dasuki, the Director of Security were all supposed to take their orders from Buhari as President and Commander-in-Chief from May 29th.

Nigerians want to know who authorized Governor Fayose to deploy the Police to continue to harass the 19 Ekiti APC legislators. How could the new I.G. in Abuja and his Police Commissioner in Ado- Ekiti look the other way while Ayo Fayose was using the Police and his thugs to barricade all the roads leading to Ekiti and to the Ekiti House of Assembly? Ayo Fayose deliberately wanted to deny those legislators any access and free movement in Ekiti until his new legislators come on board on June 6th or thereabout.
He barricaded the entrance to the Ekiti House of Assembly because he wanted to make it impossible for the 19 legislators to carry out their lawful duties as legislators or to impeach him if they wanted to? I can understand Ayo Fayose doing that under Goodluck Jonathan because Jonathan had no respect for the rule of Law. All he cared about was protecting the PDP and their criminal activities in Government. It is abominable to have Ayo Fayose doing that with Buhari as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief.

The implication of the silence of Buhari makes me wants to throw up. What exactly was Buhari up to or thinking to give Ayo Fayose that kind of latitude? Your guess is as good as mine. Buhari is going to be away from Nigeria visiting Niger, Chad and Cameroons for a few days. After that, he would be traveling to Germany to attend some meetings. By the time he comes back, Ayo Fayose would have gotten away with his criminality in Ekiti.

I call the development “Okaraba Baba Edi” meaning that Buhari and his party leaders and power brokers and Inspector-General of Police. Arase have all been hypnotized by voodoo or something to go to sleep and not pay any mind to what is happening in Ekiti. It is simply insane that Buhari would have closed his eyes to what is happening in Ekiti and leave the country without doing something about the situation.

Time is of the essence. If Buhari does anything after he comes back from his trip, it is going to be too little too late. Osinbajo as an attorney should have known the full ramifications of what Ayo Fayose is doing to humiliate, oppress and victimize 19 APC legislators in Ekiti. What are those legislators supposed to think of their own party and their President? I am not saying that two wrongs make a right but right is right and wrong is wrong.

If Buhari and the APC continue this trend of gross negligence and apathy towards their own members and interest within reason, they are going to have the shortest honeymoon with Nigerians, and they would deserve to lose in 2019 when Nigerians have another chance to keep the APC and Buhari in power or vote them out.
I rest my case.

Source: http://www.agendang.com/index.php/multimedia/photos/item/269-assets-declaration-buhari-shocks-supporters-declares-over-n900m