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EFCC Arrests Uche Ogah

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EFCC Arrests Uche Ogah
Uche Ogah
Uche Ogah

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested Uche Ogah, the man who was declared winner of Abia State Governorship Election in a controversial judgment delivered by Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja Federal high court.

Ogah was arrested at the premises of the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Lagos Island.

The Special Fraud Unit of Nigeria Police had arraigned him and three others before the court over allegation of forgery, but on Monday, the police told the court that it was withdrawing the charges.

The Prosecutor, Henri Obasi, a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, informed the court that the withdrawal of the charge against all the defendants was at the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, and pursuant to section 73(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The presiding Chief Magistate, Kikelomo Ayeye, struck out the charges and discharged the defendants. However, as he was stepping out of the court premises, Ogah was whisked away by some men who claimed to be operatives of the EFCC.

Recall that on June 27, Justice Abang had ruled that Ogah should be issued a certificate of return as the Governor of Abia State, stating that Okezie Ikpeazu was not qualified to have run for the office, having tendered fake tax documents during his party’s screening exercise in 2015.

The ruling was appealed by Ikpeazu and the Appeal court ordered that status quo be maintained pending the determination of the case.

Group Urges DSS To Hand Over Arrested Judges To Judicial Council

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Group Urges DSS To Hand Over Arrested Judges To Judicial Council

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A group known as Partners West Africa – Nigeria, has called on the DSS to release the judges arrested in raids across the country on Saturday, and hand over findings of its investigations to the National Judicial Council,NJC, which is the appropriate authority to deal with such issues.

Executive Director of the group, Kemi Okenyodo, said that the anti-corruption war must be prosecuted with total adherence to the rule of law so as not to set a bad example.

“Failure to do this (abide by the rule of law) creates a group of sympathizers that can take advantage of the lack of due process to continue to perpetrate actions that undermine the credibility of the nation state.”

The group reiterated its belief “that anybody found wanting should be made to face the full extent of the law because nobody irrespective of the position he or she occupies is above the laws of the land.”

Okenyodo acknowledged that there was need to cleanse the judicial system and rid it of corruption.

He revealed that a study conducted in 2010 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, with support from the UN showed that the judiciary receives the largest bribe among other Nigerian institutions stained with corruption.

He however added that though it is true that “public confidence in the judiciary has dwindled over the past years”, the National Judicial Council, NJC, “has taken steps to sanction over 70 judges in the past five years. The most recent decisions made public on the 30th September 2016.”

Okenyodo said: “At Partners West Africa–Nigeria: Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, accountability of the judicial sector to the laws of the land and to average Nigerians cannot be compromised.

“The process of achieving this ‘cleansing’ which we all clamor for needs to be done within the remits of the law and mandate of all agencies involved so that it stands the test of open, transparent prosecution in the courts of law.”

He agreed that the DSS has a responsibility to provide leadership and criminal justice in Nigeria, but the NJC also has the responsibility of investigating accusations and petitions of corruption brought against judges.

“It is our belief that if the NJC has become ineffective, steps need to be taken to ensure that its internal accountability mechanisms are strengthened so as to ensure it plays it its rightful role within the judicial oversight system in a timely manner,” he stated.

Aisha Buhari Laments Sabotage Of Women Loan Scheme

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Aisha Buhari Laments Sabotage Of Women Loan Scheme
Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari
Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari

Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari has condemned the sale of interest forms which would enable Nigerian women participate in a free loan scheme she is championing.

She said that the interest forms were supposed to be freely obtained from the Ministry of Women Affairs, but reports say they are being sold for between N1,500 and N5,000, using her name.

President Buhari’s wife, in a statement issued by her media aide, Adebisi Ajayi, said that selling the interest forms “defeats the purpose of the programme which is mainly to assist women, especially those at the grass roots.”

She called on those involved in the act to “desist from sabotaging the programme and allow the Nigerian women to feel the change mantra.”

Buhari Hands Over Presidential Aircrafts To Air Force

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Buhari Hands Over Presidential Aircrafts To Air Force

 

buhari-hands-over-presidential-aircrafts-to-air-force1

President Muhammadu Buhari has handed over two aircrafts from the presidential fleet to the Nigerian Air Force.

The handover took place on Monday at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

According to the Presidency Office of Digital Engagement, the two helicopters, both AgustaWestland AW101 models, were acquired by the federal government on October 20, 2014 and May 21, 2015 respectively.

Reports have it that the two aircrafts possess Ballistics defence capabilities and are equipped against certain forms of missile attacks.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar said:  “It is with a big sense of appreciation that I accept these helicopters into the Air Force.”

He added that “One of the helicopters will be configured and deployed as an Air Ambulance, while the second will be deployed as a Troop Carrier.

“The two Helicopters will be immediately reconfigured and deployed to the Northeast for the use of Nigerian troops,” he stated.

Recall that that the Presidency had advertised two other planes from the presidential fleet – “a Falcon 7x executive jet and Hawker4000” for sale.

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu said that the advert for the two aircraft were duly authorized by the Presidency in fulfillment of his campaign promises to cut down on economic wastages.

“When he campaigned to be President, the then APC candidate, Buhari if you recall, promised to look at the presidential air fleet with a view to cutting down on waste,” Shehu had said.

He added that “I am sure the Commander of the Presidential air fleet will, any time from now, call you to a ceremony at which he will hand over some other aircraft to the Airforce for their operations.

Chief Justice Laments Raid On Judges

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Chief Justice Laments Raid On Judges
CJN Mahmud Mohammed
CJN Mahmud Mohammed

Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Mahmud Muhammed has described the raids carried out by Department of State Service, DSS, on the homes of Judges over the weekend as “saddening and deeply regrettable.”

The CJN said this on Monday during a valedictory court sitting in honour of Justice Suleiman Galadima, in Abuja.

Mohammed, urged Nigerians to be calm and prayerful, saying that an emergency meeting of the National Judicial Council, NJC, will take place on Tuesday, during which the issues will be properly analysed.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has rejected the explanation by President Muhammadu Buhari on the raids carried out by DSS.

The president in a statement by his media adviser, Garba Shehu, had said that the raids on the judges residence was an assault on corruption and not on the judiciary, adding that the operation followed due process.

NBA president, Abubakar Mahmud, said that the NBA’s position was not to protect the judge’s but to stand up against corruption.

According to him, the DSS should not be the ones to undertake the operations.

Referring to the incident in Ghana where some of the country’s judges were arrested for alleged bribery, Mahmud said the events in Ghana took two years of investigations before the Judges were arrested and did not follow the Gestapo action of the DSS.

UNHCR Kicks Off Skills Training For 1,000 Borno IDPs

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UNHCR Kicks Off Skills Training For 1,000 Borno IDPs

unhcr-begins-skills-acquisition-traing-for-idps-in-borno-state

The United Nations High Commission on Refugee, UNHCR, has flagged off skills acquisition training for 1,000 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in Borno State, as part of its empowerment initiatives for victims of insurgency.

UNHCR Country Representative, Angele Atangana, during the flag-off ceremony, said that the programme was targeted at IDPs residing in the host communities of Maiduguri and Jere Local Government Areas of the state.

She said that the aim of the programme was to impact skills on the beneficiaries so they can be self-reliant when they return home, while urging the trainees to be focused during the training exercise.

Atangana also praised the State Government for its effort towards the successful take off of the training.

She said: “I am really impressed with what I have seen here today. Am particularly happy with the large turn-out of participants at the training, I want to encourage you to pay attention to your instructors through-out the training.”

Coordinator of the programme, Idris Alooma, said that the training programme was in collaboration with the State and the Federal Government to prepare the displaced persons for the eventual return to their homes following the liberation of more communities by the military.

“The programme is a joint collaboration by the UNHCR, the Borno and the Federal Government towards reintegrating IDPs back to the communities,” Alooma said.

“This is a pilot project which will last for only two weeks at the end of which the beneficiaries would have learnt a skill.”

According to the coordinator, the training will be in areas of carpentry, iron pending, tailoring, bead making, shoe making, bag making among others.

He added that: “Each of the trainees will be given a token daily as transport allowance for the duration of the training. At the end of the programme, a take-off capital will also be granted to those who complete their training successfully to enable them set up their own businesses.”

DSS Still After Port-Harcourt Judge

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DSS Still After Port-Harcourt Judge
Director Genersl of DSS, Lawan Daura
Director General of DSS, Lawan Daura

More details are emerging with regards to the botched attempt to arrest Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court, Port-Harcourt.

Operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, had raided the Judge’s house on Friday but could not effect his arrest following the intervention of Governor Nyesom Wike.

However, sources from the DSS say the Service is still tracking Liman and would arrest him sooner than later.

Justice Liman was alleged to have collected bribes from Governor Wike in order to give favourable judgment to the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The sources also accused the judge of being a middle man who collects bribes from litigants and then pass them on to other judges.

PREMIUM TIMES quoted a top SSS official as saying that “We received a petition that he (Liman) received bribes to give his ruling and our investigations confirmed it.

“He travels across the border to Ghana, Republic of Benin and other West African countries to meet lawyers in hotels to take bribes for himself and his colleagues on the bench,” he said.

The DSS source also gave more insight as to why the operation failed.

“The vehicle that was used to cart away the $2million was faster than our men’s own,” the source said.

“They just couldn’t catch up with them at such a high speed. It’s like chasing a 7-cylinder vehicle with a 3-cylinder.”

He added that “We will arrest him in coming days; we have no doubt about this as we have enough evidence to nail him in court. By bringing Governor Wike in, he has worsened his own case.”

But in a statement, Governor Wike dismissed the allegations as an attempt by the DSS to divert attention from its gross desecration of the constitution.‎

He said: “In the police, erring and corrupt policemen are first given orderly room trial, sacked and then appropriately prosecuted.

“For judicial officers, the DSS has no role. I am not in support of any judicial official being involved in corruption. This impunity must stop.”

Also, Justice Liman reportedly released a statement in which he denied the allegation against him.

The statement published on a website, ‘TheNigerianLawyer’  quoted Liman as saying: “I’m not asking anybody to believe or disbelieve whether I stashed $2m, an amount that is equivalent to about N1b.”

“Perhaps you might think the SSS probably exaggerated the amount, but all these would have been relevant considerations if they had actually searched my house.

“If I had $2m or even a quarter of it I would have abandoned this horrible profession that has lost its dignity.

“In fact I have already lost interest in it and have made up my mind to say bye bye to it. I believe there is a life beyond every other thing,” he said.

The seven Justices whose residences were raided and who are believed to still be in DSS detention are: Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court; Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja and Kabir Auta of the Kano High Court.

Others are Muazu Pindiga of Gombe High Court, Mohammed Tsamiya of the Court of Appeal in Ilorin, and the Chief Judge of Enugu State, I. A. Umezulike.

Reports say that access to the bank accounts of the detained judges had revealed that they had been collecting money from different sources in the discharge of their duties but had used the names and pictures of their wives, children and siblings to open such banks account.

Trump’s Sexual Comments Dominate Second US Presidential Debate

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Trump’s Sexual Comments Dominate Second US Presidential Debate

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The controversy surrounding the obscene remarks made by Republican Presidential Nominee, Donald Trump, dominated the second part of the US presidential debate which held on Sunday.

A 2005 video recording released on Friday showed Trump bragging about groping women.

But when pressed on whether he had engaged in sexual misconduct with any woman, he denied doing so rather Trump tried to defend himself by launching a ferocious attack on Bill Clinton, former US President and husband of the Democratic Nominee, Hillary.

The former president has been accused of sexual misbehavior in the past.

Trump denied ever sexually assaulting women, but about ex-President Clinton he said, “There’s never been anybody in the history of politics that has been so abusive to women.”

No criminal charges have ever been brought against Clinton in any allegations of sexual assault.

Hillary Clinton refused to address his comments about her husband.

She rather said that the explosive video has shown who Trump really was.

“With prior Republican nominees, I disagreed with them,” she added, “but I never questioned their fitness to serve.

“I think it’s clear to anyone who heard (the video) that it represents exactly who he is.”

As the two contestants mounted the stage at the beginning of the debate, they did not shake hands, striking a bitter tone that would continue throughout.

Trump said if he became president, he would appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Clinton and she would be in prison over her private email arrangements.

“Everything he just said is absolutely false but I’m not surprised,” she responded. “It’s just awfully good that someone with the temperament of Donald Trump is not in charge of the law in our country.”

“Because you’d be in jail,” he interrupted.

Trump also accused his Democratic rival of having “tremendous hate in her heart” for referring to his supporters as “deplorables”.

Clinton said she apologised for the comment, adding that “My argument is not with his supporters, it’s with him, about the hateful and divisive campaign he has run.”

The two candidates also differed on the conflict in Syria, Russian aggression, Trump’s refusal to release his tax returns and his plan for the “extreme vetting” of immigrants arriving from countries with links to terrorism.

The evening concluded when an audience member asked the candidates to say one positive thing about each other.

Clinton said his children were a great reflection of him while Trump called his opponent “a fighter” who never gives up.

An hour before the debate began, Trump addressed a press conference flanked by three women who had accused Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct. He described the women as “very courageous”.

The Republican nominee has under immense pressure since the video was released on Friday.

At least 33 senior Republicans – including senators, members of Congress, and state governors – have withdrawn their support since the video surfaced on Friday.

Top on the list were former Republican nominee, John McCain, former Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice and former California Governor and Hollywood Star, Arnold Schwarzneeger.

Presidency Backs Raid Of Judges’s Residences

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Presidency Backs Raid Of Judges’s Residences
President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari

The Presidency has expressed support for the weekend raid of the residences of some Judges, calling it  an attack on corruption and not on the judiciary.

In a statement by Garba Shehu,  President Muhammadu Buhari said the operations carried out by the Department of State Services, DSS, was an attack on corruption, not judiciary, as he has the highest regard for the third arm of government.

“The Presidency assures that the President reserves his highest respect for the institution of the judiciary as the third arm of government,” Shehu stated.

“To this end, the President will not do anything to undermine its independence.

“The recent surgical operation against some judicial officers is specifically targeted at corruption and not at the judiciary as an institution.”

The presidential spokesman stated that President Buhari “remains a committed democrat, in words and in his actions, and will not take any action in violation of the constitution.”

He however frowned at “section of the media” whose reports portray the DSS operation “as a confrontation between the executive and judicial arms of government.”

Shehu pointed out that “all due processes of the law, including the possession of search and arrest warrants were obtained before the searches” were conducted on the judges’ residences.

“To suggest that the government is acting outside the law in a dictatorial manner is to breach the interest of the state,” he concluded.

Document Show Erisco Foods’ Claim On Forex Untrue

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Document Show Erisco Foods’ Claim On Forex Untrue

document-show-erisco-foods-claim-on-forex-untrue

The claims by Erisco food, a Nigerian tomato processing company, that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has deliberately refused to allocate forex to the company may not be true after all according to documents from the CBN.

The tomato company has received about N2 billion worth of forex in intervention from the CBN in the last two years, of which N1 billion was received early this year, with claims to “finance” the purchase of a tomato processing machine.

An acting director in the corporate communications department of the CBN, Isaac Okorafor, however said that the CBN allocates forex only to banks, adding that manufacturers should go to their banks for forex.

The CBN official who is currently in Washington DC for the annual meetings of the IMF/World Bank, said, “By practice, we do not join issues with individuals on matters of this nature. All I can tell you is that the CBN does not allocate foreign exchange,” he said.

“All business persons, manufacturers, traders, etc are expected to approach their respective banks to bid for and obtain foreign exchange. Whether they succeed or not is their business.

“No amount of blackmail through paid advertorial or sponsored reports could make the CBN change its policy.”

Also, a source at one of the commercial banks who pleaded anonymity, said that Erisco may have flouted some of the CBN guidelines.

“I don’t want to get into the CBN-Erisco matter, but word is going round that Erisco may have been importing fresh tomatoes,” the source said.

Eric Umeofia, chief executive officer of Erisco foods, had on Wednesday told journalists during a press conference that over 1,500 employees of the company could lose their jobs due to lack of support from the central bank.

He alleged that CBN does not make good its promise to allocate 60% of foreign exchange to indigenous manufacturers.

“It is unbelievable that for over two months, no forex has been allocated to Erisco Foods whereas the same forex is allocated daily for the importation of finished goods.

“Products that can be easily produced locally like fish head, tomato paste, razor blade are on the forex bids of the various banks,” he had said.

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