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Nigeria never contacted us to shut down Radio Biafra, says UK

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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Nigeria never contacted us to shut down Radio Biafra, says UK

The British High Commission in Nigeria says it is not aware of any request by Nigeria against Radio Biafra, which is broadcast from London.

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, had told the media that the UK government refused to shut down Radio Biafra despite the diplomatic approaches taken by the federal government.

“Who does not know that the IPOB internal radio is located in London? We know the diplomatic moves we have been taking and approaching the UK, all the damages it (Radio Biafra) has done, but they don’t see it that way, for them (the British government), it is about freedom of expression,” Mohammed said.

But responding to the allegation, Joe Abuku, spokesman of the British High Commission in Nigeria, issued a statement saying the UK was “not aware of any representation from the Nigerian government about Radio Biafra”.

“Were we to receive any such request, we would of course consider it carefully on the basis of the available evidence, recognising that freedom of speech and expression carries responsibilities,” Abuku stated.

On Thursday, the French Embassy in Nigeria also denied Lai Mohammed’s allegation that the financial headquarters of the IPOB is in France.

“We don’t have any knowledge of a particular presence of IPOB in France and the Nigerian authorities never got in touch with the embassy on this point,” a statement by the embassy read.

UPDATED: UK believes Radio Biafra is about freedom of expression, says Lai

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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UPDATED: UK believes Radio Biafra is about freedom of expression, says Lai

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information, has said that the British government frustrated all efforts of the Nigerian government to shut down Radio Biafra’s broadcast from the UK.

While addressing State House correspondents after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Meeting at the State House, Mohammed, said the financial headquarters of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is in France.

He singled out France and the United Kingdom for criticism over the IPOB crisis in Nigeria.

“We have the records, we know IPOB collects money from many people from diaspora, they collect money from many people in Nigeria they collect money from some foreign countries, this is clear,” Mohammed said.

“Let me tell you, the financial headquarters is in France, we know, but you see, can you as a government stop sending money to your parents? You have to block the sources of finance that is what I said recently.

“It is incontrovertible that some people in diaspora contribute money to IPOB, where does he (Nnamdi Kanu) get his money from?

“Who does not know that the IPOB internal radio is located in London? We know the diplomatic moves we have been taking and approaching the UK, all the damages it has done but they don’t see it that way; for them (the British government), it is about freedom of expression.”

But the French embassy in Nigeria has countered the claims and expressed surprise at Mohammed’s utterances.

Claude Abily, a political counsellor in the French embassy in Nigeria, issued a press statement on Thursday saying the country had no knowledge of what Mohammed was talking about.

“The embassy of France was surprised by the statement made yesterday by the minister of information and culture indicating that the financial headquarters of IPOB is in France,” the statement read.

“We don’t have any knowledge of a particular presence of IPOB in France and the Nigerian authorities never got in touch with the embassy on this point. We stand ready to examine any information which could support this statement.

“Furthermore, we would like to reiterate that France actively cooperates with Nigeria in the field of security and that we strongly support the unity of the country.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated. The italicised and emboldened quote was initially wrongly credited to Claude Abily, but it has been brought to our notice that it was indeed made by Lai Mohammed. The error is regretted and has been corrected.

No one is untouchable in the war against corruption, says Magu

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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No one is untouchable in the war against corruption, says Magu

Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says nobody, no matter how highly placed, will be “untouchable” in the ongoing anti-corruption crusade.

Speaking at the 20th Anniversary Public Lecture and Award Ceremony of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN), Magu, who was represented by Tony Orilade, Acting Head of the Public Interface Unit of the EFCC, assured Nigerians that the age of impunity is over.

“We are winning the war against corruption because the age of impunity is over, and never again would anyone be treated as sacred cow,” Magu said.

“We are blessed with both human and mineral resources. But why have we been unable to explore and exploit our potentials to the fullest? Your answer is as good as mine – corruption.

“Anywhere in the world where strict adherence to ethics and values by the citizenry is lacking, there will always be obvious deficit in morals, which is the antidote to corruption”.

“As far as we are striving to fight corruption to a standstill in Nigeria, sadly, it is fighting back, really hard.”

Magu said such fightback is not only on the pages of newspapers, but also in direct attacks on operatives of the agency.

He cited the incident in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, in August, where a top investigator was shot but narrowly escaped death, and Abuja in June where some gunmen attacked the office of the EFCC but were repelled by security men.

“This is why I am using this platform and opportunity to call on you all, members of the fourth estate of the realm, to support the fight against corruption,” Magu said, adding that the EFCC remains committed “in ensuring that we rigorously pursue our mandate of ridding Nigeria of all forms of economic and financial crimes”.

In his speech, Bukka Abba, the head of publicity, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), commended Magu whom he described as “transparent and courageous”.

Magu has been having a running battle with the Senate over his confirmation as substantial Chairman of the EFCC.

Twice the upper legislative chamber has rejected his nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari, insisting that he is not as “clean” as he claims to be.

‘You can’t leave’… Abia NYSC denies ordering corps members to vacate state

YEKEEN Akinwale
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‘You can’t leave’… Abia NYSC denies ordering corps members to vacate state

The management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Abia State Secretariat, says it did not issued any directive to corps members serving in the state to vacate the state on or before October 1, 2017.

In statement by Nnachi Omaka, acting Public Relations Officer (ACPRO) of NYSC in the state, the corps management urged corps members to disregard a false directive circulating on social media that they should vacate the state.

This is in the wake of the agitation and tension in Abia State over protests by members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the deployment of soldiers to the state by the Federal Government for ‘Operation Python Dance II’.

The statement reads: “The attention of the NYSC Management in Abia State has been drawn to the news going round in the social media among corps members that the State Coordinator has ordered all corps members serving in Abia State to leave the State on or before October 1, 2017.

“The general public and indeed all corps members are by this release informed that there was no such directive from the management of the scheme.

“In view of the above, all corps members are expected to remain at their places of primary assignment as Abia is safe and calm.”

Oloyede: I know the shameful secrets of the VCs criticising new JAMB cut-off marks but I won’t say

YEKEEN Akinwale
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Oloyede: I know the shameful secrets of the VCs criticising new JAMB cut-off marks but I won’t say

 

Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), says he knows the secrets of “three or four” universities that have been criticising the new cut-off marks recently announced by the board, but he will only “smile” rather than reveal them due to the “shame” that would be generated.

In August, JAMB lowered the minimum cut-off marks for admission into universities to 120, the lowest in recent history. That of polytechnics and colleges of education were pegged at 100, and 110 for innovative enterprising institutes.

Previously, the cut-off mark for universities had hovered between 180 and 200, while that for polytechnics and colleges of education ranged from 160 to 180.

Speaking with participants at a training and sensitisation forum on Central Admissions Processing Systems (CAPS) for the 2017/2018 academic session, held in Abuja on Thursday, Oloyede said the board would no longer regularise improperly conducted admissions, beginning from 2016.

He said that all the backlog of irregular admissions up to 2015 would however be regularized, noting that the board would no longer accept what he describes as ‘under the table admission’ by the institutions.

“We know that you have abused the process, and what have you been doing before? You admit someone with 100 and some with zero and all you do is to attach a cheque of N5000 and send it down in the name of regularization, without their picture and anything and then they are regularised,” he said.

“We are saying that we have not stopped to do backlog but as from 2016 we wouldn’t allow anybody to do that kind of thing. You can no longer admit under the table. Let us know the problem. This nation is one of the nations accused of lacking accurate data.”

He accused managements of tertiary institutions of culpability in the lack of accurate data about the population of Nigerian students.

“We don’t have accurate data because what we have on record is different from what we have in real life. We cannot continue like that,” he said.

“We will proclaim to the whole world that we have 500,000 students in our institutions but in reality we have about one million. Five hundred thousands have been admitted illegally. And we cannot continue to pain the country as one of the worst in Africa.

“But it is because of our sharp practices that we do not have accurate data. We are saying come up with the problem; let’s solve the problem so that we can capture our data correctly. When we say regularisation, it means you have done something that is irregular.

“So all irregular admission, we would regularise them up to 2015 because — the students, many of them are culpable — from 2016, anybody who is not properly admitted is not properly admitted and therefore cannot benefit from backlog regularisation.  That’s why this year, we say, ‘tell us exactly what you are admitting, what you want to admit’ and then [we] work with it.”

Oloyede further lamented what he called sharp hypocrisy among certain university authorities who have been condemning the recently-announced cut-off marks for admission into tertiary institutions.

He said: “Part of the problem is that we are saying that we are in a government that is talking about change and acting about change; many of you here know what we have been doing over the years.

“You come to Abuja and declare cut-off at 180; you and I, we know that you admit students with much more lower than 180 under the table so many reasons. I have seen those institutions that are pontificating over the television and I smile.

“How I wish and I always pray to God that it is the same God that created me that created Jega. If Jega can be patient, why will I not be patient? So I always believe that if I want to show you the secrets of those universities — three or four of them who are pontificating — and they would be ashamed of what they are been doing under the table. I won’t do that for many reasons.

“But let people be sincere and stop being hypocritical in what they do. they know that I’m in the position to know and I know. If any one of them is actually sincere,  let him swear to an affidavit that I have not been taking less than 140, 150 and I will show that almost all of them without exception who are pontificating over screen in Nigeria admit even zero — as low as zero.”

EFCC investigates ‘new-generation bank’ over N1.4bn gift from Akpabio

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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EFCC investigates ‘new-generation bank’ over N1.4bn gift from Akpabio

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has written to a “new-generation” bank to explain the N1.4 billion gift it received from Godswill Akpabio, former Governor of Akwa-Ibom State.

An EFCC source who pleaded anonymity told the Punch that the so-called gift was given in three tranches in 2013 by Akpabio, who is now the Senate Minority Leader, during his time as Governor.

“Among several allegations (against Akpabio) that are already in the public domain, the commission has made some progress in investigating the circumstances in which Apkabio, in 2013, paid N566, 883,728.66; N441,808,081.90; and N392, 631,943.37 as gifts to a new generation bank,” the source said.

However, the Akwa Ibom State Government, instead of cooperate with the EFCC, instituted a court case against the commission, saying that it has no powers to investigate state affairs.

The source told reporters that the Akwa Ibom state government had ignored several requests by the EFCC to release some officials of the government as part of the investigations into the activities of the Akpabio-administration.

“On March 7, 2017, the commission wrote to the Secretary to the State Government, asking for the release of Mr. Effiong Efiakedoho, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Special Duties, to appear before the EFCC on March 13,” the source said.

“He was summoned specifically in respect of matters relating to a hotel, Four Point by Sheraton Hotel, Raffia City Plaza, A 342 Highway. There was no response.

“On May 8, 2017, a letter, requesting the Accountant General of the state to appear at the EFCC on May 18, was also ignored.

“The Accountant General was specifically summoned in respect of an aspect of the investigation relating to a company, Sindeng Nigeria Limited.

“The Commissioner for Works was also invited through a letter of May 19, 2017 and asked to report to the commission’s zonal office in Port Harcourt with respect to a road construction contract awarded to Nigturks Civil Technologies Limited. He too failed to honour the invitation.

“A May 26, 2017 letter to the Secretary to the State Government to release the Accountant General of the state for interrogation on June 5, on the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme, was also ignored.”

Uwemedimo Nwoko, Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State, wrote a letter to the EFCC on June 28, informing the commission that the state has gone to court to challenge the powers of the EFCC to investigate States.

Nwoko asked the commission to wait until the case has been determined before taking further action.

When contacted by reporters, Anietie Ekong, Akpabio’s media aide, said his boss would not want to comment on the issue since the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State had already clarified it.

“We are aware of the issue because someone else called earlier to confirm the allegation. The Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State has responded to the matter and we are not ready to take the issue with anybody,” Ekong said.

Lai: I don’t care about legality of army’s actions… IPOB is a terrorist group

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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Lai: I don’t care about legality of army’s actions… IPOB is a terrorist group

Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information, says the army was right to designate the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a terrorist group despite not following the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act.

Mohammed was speaking during a chat with State House Correspondents after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“Let me state clearly that it is within the rights of individuals or groups to seek self-determination. But this pursuit has to be non-violent,” he said.

“Where any group crosses the line by engaging in violence, it risks being cut to size and that’s exactly what has happened to IPOB.

“I am not interested in the semantics or legality of troop’s deployment or the proscription of IPOB. All I know is that IPOB has engaged in terrorist activities such as: Setting up parallel military and paramilitary organisations, clashing with the national army and attempting to seize rifles from soldiers, using weapons such as machetes, molotov cocktails and sticks and mounting roadblocks to extort money from people, among others.

“To those who have engaged in semantics or legality, I ask: Which country in the world will tolerate those activities I have listed above? Which national army will look the other way when it is being attacked by a band of thugs?”

Mohammed confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari, before leaving for New York, did sign the document to kick-start the process that will culminate in the formal declaration of IPOB as a terrorist group by the appropriate authority.

He explained that the Army took the steps it did in order to ensure that things did not get out of hand in the South East.

On Monday, Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff, explained that what the Defence Headquarters did was not a declaration but only a pronouncement to enable it bring the situation in the South East under control.

“You have to get it very clear. First of all, what the Defence Headquarters did was to make pronouncement,” Buratai said.

“It wasn’t a declaration per se. But this has given room for the right step to be taken. I think the government is doing the right thing.”

IT’S OFFICIAL: Court declares IPOB members ‘terrorists’

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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IT’S OFFICIAL: Court declares IPOB members ‘terrorists’

The Federal High Court in Abuja has officially declared the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a terrorist organisation.

The declaration was contained in a court document signed by Babatunde Adejoro Ashafa, the Registrar  of the court, following an application filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

Bankole Omisore, the Special Assistant to Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, shared the documents via his Twitter handle on Wednesday.

It read in part: “An order of this Honourable Court declaring that the activities of the Respondent (Indigenous People of Biafra) in any part of Nigeria especially in the South–East and South–South Regions of Nigeria amount to acts of terrorism and illegality.

“An order restraining any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecuting of the collective intention or otherwise of the Respondent either in groups or as individual by whatever names they are called and publishing same in the official gazette and two (2) National Dailies.

“An order restraining any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the Respondent (Indigenous People of Biafra) under any other name or platform however called or described is granted.”

17 NGOs sue FG over ‘illegal’ permits for GM cotton and maize

Chikezie OMEJE
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17 NGOs sue FG over ‘illegal’ permits for GM cotton and maize

A group of 17 non-governmental organisations has filed a suit against the federal government before the Abuja Federal High Court over permits issued by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) for Genetic Modified (GM) cotton and maize in the country.

The group led, by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), is asking the court to revoke the permits issued to Monsanto Agricultural Nigeria Limited for the commercial release of BT Cotton (MON 15985).

They are also asking for the revocation of the permit granted the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) for the confined field trial of NK603 and MON89034X NK 603 maize in Nigeria.

A statement signed by Joyce Ebebeinwe, a biosafety project officer in HOMEF, noted that the federal government issued Monsanto the permits on May 1, 2016, which was a public holiday being Sunday and Workers Day.

For the reason that the permits were issued on public, non-working day, the NGOs asked that they should be declared illegal, null and void.

They also argued that the permit issued to NBDA violated the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.

They are therefore asking the court for a perpetual injunction to restrain both Monsanto and NBDA from carrying out any activity in respect to the permits.

Defendants in the suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/846/201) are: NBMA, the Minister of Environment, MOSANTO, NABDA, Minister of Agriculture, the Attorney General of the Federation and the National Agency for Foods Drugs and Administration (NAFDAC).

The group maintained that the issuance of the permits to both Monsanto and NBDA constitutes threat to the fundamental human rights of the general public and a breach of the 1999 constitution as amended in 2011.

In the Originating Summons deposed to by Nnimmo Bassey, HOMEF Executive Director, asked the the court to determine: “Whether with regard to section 15 of the interpretation Act 2004, the grant of the approval by the agency on a Sunday is a valid Act.

“Having regards to sections 2 and 3(B) of Biosafety Act, 2015 as well as Article 1 of Cartagena protocol, principle 15 of the RIO declaration on environment and development codifying the customary international law on precautionary principle, whether the grant of the permits has satisfied the letters and spirit of the biosafety Act 2015

“Whether given the nature of the subject matter and the provisions of the enabling laws, the agency has exercised its discretion to grant the approval legally and fairly.

“Whether the whole process of granting the permits is not in breach of and a threat to the fundamental human rights of the plaintiffs as well as the general public as per sections 14 (1) and (2), 20, 33, 34, 36 and 39 of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria as amended 2011.

“Whether the membership of the 2nd and 4th defendants on the board of the 1st defendants does not violate the provisions of section 32 of biosafety Act and the rules of natural justice, so as to render the process of the grant of the said permits invalid.

“Whether the decision taken by the 1st defendant is consistent with section 28 (A), (C) of the national biosafety management Act 2015.”

Based on the foregoing, the group asked the court for: “A declaration that the 1st defendant did not comply with the provisions of the National Biosafety management agency act in granting the permits to the 3rd and 4th defendants for the purpose of commercial release of BT cotton (MON 15985) and confined field trial with (1) NK603 and (2) MON89034 X NK603 maize in Nigeria

“A declaration that the issuance of the said permits on the 1st of May 2016 which happens to be a public holiday being Sunday and Worker’s day is illegal, null and void.

“A declaration that the procedure and issuance of the permits to the 3rd for the purpose of commercial release of BT cotton (MON 15985) and to the 3rd and 4th defendants for confined field trial with (1) NK603 and (2) MON89034 X NK603 maize in Nigeria constitutes a breach of and a threat to the fundamental human rights of the general public as enshrined in section 33, 34 36 and 39 of the 1999 constitution of Nigerian as amended 2011.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 3rd defendant and 4th defendant by themselves, their agents, servants, workmen or otherwise whatsoever from carrying out any activity or further activities pursuant to the permits granted by the 1st defendant.

“An order revoking the permits granted by the 1st defendant to the 3rd and 4th defendant/respondents.”

 

 

 

Hembe loses supreme court appeal, gets N1m fine

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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Hembe loses supreme court appeal, gets N1m fine

 

The Supreme Court has upheld its initial judgement ordering Herman Hembe, who represented Vandeikiya/Konshisha Federal constituency of Benue State at the House of Representatives, to vacate his seat at the National Assembly.

Hembe had approached the Supreme Court again asking it to refer his case to a lower court for retrial, after he was ordered to return all the salaries he earned during his time as an illegal House member.

The Apex Court also awarded the sum of N1million against him in favour of Dorathy Mato, whom the court had ordered to replace him.

Hembe had written to the Supreme Court begging it to change its directive on the refund of salaries, saying he had no savings from his salaries as he had used the monies to cater for his family needs.

In June, Hembe was sacked as a lawmaker by the Supreme Court, which held that he was not the valid candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2015 National Assembly election.

The judgement also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately issue a certificate of return to Dorothy Mato, a former fashion designer and member of the Benue State House of Assembly, as the authentic winner of the election.

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