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Budget Padding: Why Lawmakers Support Dogara

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Budget Padding: Why Lawmakers Support Dogara
Abdulmumin Jibrin
Abdulmumin Jibrinbri

The controversy in the House of Representatives over allegations of corruption against Speaker Yakubu Dogara has assumed a new dimension as Abdulmumin Jibrin, former chairman of the appropriation committee has revealed why his colleagues are keeping quiet over his allegations.

Jibrin said that each member of the House receives N10 million, every month, as running cost, and that is what the speaker was using to blackmail them.

He said: “The amount (about 10 million naira) received monthly at present by members is the least since the regime of this fraud started.

“At various time in the past Hon Members have received between about 10 to 20 million naira averagely per month and often pocket the money

“The running cost fraud is what Speaker Dogara used to blackmail members to get support and ignore all the grievous allegations I raised.

“All Mr Speaker did was to tacitly threaten members at the caucus before our resumption by reminding them of the running cost they pocket.”

The embattled lawmaker added that “A means was devised to receive part of the four-year cumulative of such money up front” which means that “A member can take up to 200 to 400 million at once.”

“Nobody is saying money should not be allocated to run activities of members. The problem is the money is diverted for personal use, period!”

Jibrin said that he always reminded his colleagues that “only international footballers like Mikel Obi, Pogba are known to earn such colossal amount monthly.”

He added that he was happy that President Muhammadu Buhari has so far kept mum over the goings-on at the lower legislative chamber.

“If PMB had jumped into the matter earlier, trust Nigerians, they would have concluded that the Presidency is using me to fight the House,” he said.

Jibrin also noted that there have been lots of threat on his life and those of his family members, adding that his security details were being gradually withdrawn.

“Anybody who can reach Mr President should inform him that in the face of several threats to my life and that of my family, one of the security agencies has withdrawn their officers protecting me.

“This has made me vulnerable in the face of such persistent threats,” he stated.

The lawmaker however vowed that he would continue with the struggle to rid the House of Representatives of corruption, adding that no amount of threats or intimidation will deter me.”

APC Spokesman Writes Buhari, Calls For Oyegun’s Resignation

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APC Spokesman Writes Buhari, Calls For Oyegun’s Resignation
APC National Chairman, John Oyegun
APC National Chairman, John Oyegun

The deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank, has written an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, urging him to ensure that the national chairman of the party, John Oyegun, resigns.

Frank told the president that the call for Oyegun’s resignation has become necessary as the chairman lacks the capacity to resolve the challenges facing the party all over the country.

The APC image maker reminded president Buhari that he (Frank) “was one of the very first persons in the party who took the bull by the horn and openly raised the alarm of urgent issues which had to be addressed in other to steer the APC ship in its right course,” but all his efforts seemed to have fallen on deaf ears and “no one took me seriously at the time.”

Frank said that cracks started appearing on the walls of the party when some National Assembly members, elected on the party’s platform, went against the decision and instruction of the party leadership in electing principal officers of the Senate and House of Representatives.

He also referred to the manner with which the National Chairman handled the APC primary election in Bayelsa State, saying it was the major reason the party lost the election.

He again reminded the president about what transpired “when my immediate boss, Alhaji Lai Mohammed became the minister of information.

“I was supposed to immediately fill in the gap and act in his stead as enshrined in our party constitution as the acting national publicity secretary of the party, but this was not to be as I was out rightly being persecuted for reasons unknown and perhaps for selfish interest.”

Frank maintained that all these incidents, added to the weighty allegation of Bribery against the National Chairman, by one of the party’s chieftain, Bola Tinubu with regards to the recent Ondo governorship primaries is enough for Oyegun to step aside.

He said: “This weighty allegation should and must be properly investigated because of course ‘there is no smoke without fire.

“Mr. President sir, the episode of the recent Ondo primaries is just one case too many befalling the APC under the leadership of Chief Oyegun.

“As far as I am aware, APC under Oyegun has not been able to resolve any crisis in the party since we became the ruling party.”

The APC spokesman asked President Buhari whether he has forgotten “your experience under Chief Oyegun’s chairmanship in the defunct All Nigerians People’s Party ,ANPP, that eventually led to the series of events which saw your exit from the part.

“It is said that ‘a stitch in time saves nine,” he concluded.

NIMASA Moves To Shore Up Revenue

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NIMASA Moves To Shore Up Revenue
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NIMASA DG, Dakuku Peterside

In a bid to shore up its revenue amidst the Nation’s dwindling economy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has appointed Snecou Financial Services Company Limited to assist in revenue generation.

The contract which also has the company serving as a recovery agent for debts owed the Agency is for a period of two years in the first instance with an option for renewal.

The approval for this contract was recently granted by the Parastatals Tenders Board , PTB, of the Agency at its 55th session which held in the Agency’s head office in Lagos.

Given the urgent need to recover the Agency’s debts which is in billions of naira, the Agency sought and obtained approval for a “Certificate of No Objection” from the Bureau of Public Procurement in line with the Public Procurement Act, PPA.

According to the contractual agreement already endorsed by both parties, the contract is based on a success rate of 13 percent using a benchmark of $19,753,012.36 and N239,607,155.52 monthly revenue while a maximum cap of 15 percent success rate is payable on any new revenue head discovered  by the consultants within the contract period.

In other words, Snecou Financial Services Company Limited will be paid 13% of only the revenue that is above the threshold of the approved benchmark in the course of the contracting period. Similarly, Messrs Snecou will also be entitled to a maximum of 15% of new revenue streams discovered during the period.

This is in line with the vision of the Director General, Dakuku Peterside which is in accordance with the Agency’s Medium Term Strategic Growth Plan, part of which is to enhance the Agency’s revenue.

According to the DG, “we have awarded a debt recovery contract which is totally different from what Global West was doing for NIMASA. The contract was not awarded to the Chairman of the APC in Rivers State. It was awarded to Snecou Nigeria Limited and we advertised the contract in several newspapers. So I don’t see what is wrong with awarding a contract to get our money from debtors.

Peterside also noted that the Agency’s debts is around 4 to 5 billion dollars which has necessitated an urgent need to recover them in order to develop requisite infrastructure for the maritime industry.

Debts owed NIMASA by various operators in the maritime industry had grown exponentially over the last five years even necessitating an investigation and convocation of a Public Hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration in June this year.

This contract is expected to recover these debts and channel the funds into developing critical infrastructure as well as knowledgeable manpower for the industry.

Edo Election: ‎ 5 Candidates Reject Results

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Edo Election: ‎ 5 Candidates Reject Results
INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu
INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu

Candidates of five out of the 19 political parties that contested Wednesday’s Edo state governorship election have called for the cancellation of the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

At a press conference in Benin City the state capital on Saturday, Chairman of the Inter-party Advisory Council , IPAC, Frank Ukonga, who also participated in the election under the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, alleged that INEC falsified the results to favor the APC.

He said that the figures INEC officials read and displayed on national television were in total variance with the ones their own agents and observers obtained from the polling units across the state.

“The results that INEC made public do not tally with what most if not all our agents came back home with.

“We are calling for the cancellation of the entire election because INEC gave APC the PDP votes,” Ukonga said.

Andrew Igwemoh, candidate of the Advanced Congress of Democrats, ACD, said there were glaring errors in the figures computed by INEC, adding that the entire process was characterised by open exchange of money between party agents and voters.

“I am calling for the cancellation of the results especially that of Etsako West local government because what transpired on the field is not what INEC made public. The mathematical errors are too obvious to be ignored” he said.

Another candidate, Omorogieva Gbajumo, of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, said Nigerians are still wondering how INEC came up with about 66, 000 missing votes whereas voters voted soon as they were accredited.

He said: “It is clear that the votes declared by INEC are not correct. Even parties which were not on the ballot were allocated some votes by the electoral empire which shows that something does not add up”.

He said that INEC should not have used only lecturers from the Federal University in Ekiti state as collation officers, since their Vice-chancellor has already be chosen as the Chief Returning Officer, and they may be obliged to do his bidding.

Thompson Osadolor of Kowa Party on his part claimed that since accreditation and voting was done simultaneously, and the election was adjudged generally peaceful across the state, INEC had no business cancelling any ballot.

“It is a shame on INEC and it should do the needful by ensuring that the voice of Edo people which was loud and clear on September 28 is reflected by declaring the true results of the elections”.

In the opinion of Ishaka Paul of the Action Alliance, AA, “INEC Is not telling the truth. I can say the results that gave victory to another party rather than the PDP is a replay of a rehearsed template because there is nothing to link the results from the field with that which INEC gave”.

The 5 candidates said they would continue to call for the cancellation of the election so that the will of Edo people will be upheld and Nigeria’s nascent democracy may be enhanced.

Kidnapped CBN Governor’s Wife Regains Freedom

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Kidnapped CBN Governor’s Wife Regains Freedom
CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele
CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

Margaret Emefiele, Wife of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Godwin Emefiele, who was reportedly kidnapped on Thursday, has been released by her abductors.

Family sources said she was rescued “due to the gallantry of the Armed Forces, Police and Security Forces”, in Ugoneki near Benin City and is currently recuperating in Government House, Asaba.

Confirming the release, in a statement on Saturday, the CBN governor expressed gratitude to God and President Muhammadu Buhari for her release, vowing that he would continue to serve the country “without any fear of intimidation”.

Emefiele praised security agencies for their “gallantry” in bringing his back home within 24 hours in compliance with the directive of the president.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Delta and Edo state governments, friends and well-wishers whose prayers and goodwill, helped to bring this harrowing experience to a joyful end.

This Recession Will Not Last, Buhari Reassures Nigerians

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This Recession Will Not Last, Buhari Reassures Nigerians

this-recession-will-not-last-buhari-reassures-nigerians

President Muhammadu Buhari today reassured Nigerians that the current economic recession being experienced in the country, which has led to hardship and suffering by the populace, will not last.

The President encouraged citizens not to allow “Temporary problems” to “blind or divert us from the corrective course this government has charted for our nation.”

“We have identified the country’s salient problems and we are working hard at lasting solutions,” he said.

“I ran for office because I know that good government is the only way to ensure prosperity and abundance for all. I remain resolutely committed to this objective.

“I believe that this recession will not last,” Buhari declared, in a spee ch to mark the country’s 56th independence anniversary.

The president added that the destruction of oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta has drastically reduced Nigeria’s crude oil output “to below One million barrels per day against the normal two point two million barrels per day.”

“Consequently, the naira is at its weakest, but the situation will stabilize,” he vowed.

Buhari said his administration is working hard to reduce Nigeria’s huge spendings on food importation as well as the importation of refined petroleum products.

He said: “We are going to repair our four refineries so that Nigeria can produce most of our petrol requirements locally, pending the coming on stream of new refineries. That way we will save ten billion USD yearly in importing fuel.

“At the same time, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Bank have been mobilized to encourage local production of rice, maize, sorghum, millet and soya beans. Our target is to achieve domestic self-sufficiency in these staples by 2018.”

On the issue of power supply, president Buhari said his administration was able to raise power generation to 5000 megawatts “for the first time in our history”.

He regretted, however that “renewed militancy and destruction of gas pipelines caused acute shortage of gas and constant drop in electricity output available on the grid.”

He said that government is “engaging with responsible leadership in the (Niger Delta) region to find lasting solutions to genuine grievances of the area”, warning that “we will not allow a tiny minority of thugs to cripple the country’s economy.”

Buhari added that efforts were on “with projects utilizing alternate technologies such as hydro, wind, and solar to contribute to our energy mix.”

“In this respect, the Mambilla Hydro project, after many years of delay is taking off this year. Contract negotiations are nearing completion with Chinese firms for technical and financial commitments.”

With regards to road construction, President Buhari disclosed that a total of N720.5 billion has so far been released this year to cater for capital projects

He added that “the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has received one hundred and ninety seven point five billion naira. Work on several highways has now resumed.”

He said a lot of underground work is ongoing to rehabilitate the Nation’s railway system.

Buhari noted that Nigeria is partnering with China in that regard and very soon, many rail lines across the country, including “the Lagos-Calabar railway will also be on stream.”

The President said: “We have initiated the National Housing Programme. Our first budget this year is devoting thirty five point six billion naira.

“Much of the house building will be private – sector led but Government is initiating a pilot housing scheme of two thousand eight hundred and thirty eight units uniformly spread across the 36 states and FCT.”

Buhari said Nigeria’s international image has tremendously improved as “Wherever I go, I have been received with un-accustomed hospitality. Investors from all over the world are falling over themselves to come and do business in Nigeria.”

He promised that the “programmes I have outlined will revive the economy, restore the value of the naira and drive hunger from our land.”

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There’s Work Ahead For Better Future, US Tells Nigeria At 56

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There’s Work Ahead For Better Future, US Tells Nigeria At 56

theres-work-ahead-for-better-future-us-tells-nigeria-at-56

The United States’ Secretary of State, John Kerry, has said that though Nigeria had made commendable progress since its independence, there is still much to be done.

He said this in a congratulatory message to the Nation on its 56th Independence Day celebration.

“On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the citizens of Nigeria as you celebrate your Independence Day on October 1,” Kerry wrote.

He said that after his recent trip to Nigeria, he was more optimistic that the government and people of the country were resolved “to build a better future.”

Secretary Kerry, however, added that “There is still much work to be done to provide economic opportunities for all, end corruption, win the fight against Boko Haram, ensure broad respect for human rights and provide humanitarian relief for millions of displaced people.

“But we know that Nigerians are hard at work to address these challenges,” he said.

Kerry assured that the United States looks forward “to deepening our partnership and friendship with Nigerians from all walks of life, so that we may work together for the betterment of Nigeria and all of Africa.”

NJC Recommends Retirement, Sack For Erring Judges

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NJC Recommends Retirement, Sack For Erring Judges
Mahmud Mohammed, Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the NJC
Mahmud Mohammed, Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the NJC

The National Judicial Council, NJC, has recommended compulsory retirement for two justices and dismissal for a third one. Both are to take immediate effect.

They are Justice Mohammed Tsamiya, Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division and Justice I. A. Umezulike, Chief Judge, Enugu State.

Justice Kabiru Auta of the Kano State High Court was recommended for dismissal and to be handed over to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 1, Kano, for prosecution.

This decision was reached at the 78th Meeting of the NJC, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, in Abuja.

A press statement released by the council, which also serves as the disciplinary body for justices in Nigeria, revealed that Justice Tsamiya was recommended for compulsory retirement based on a petition written against him by Nnamdi Iro Oji with regards to his handling of the an election appeal in the Owerri division of the court of appeal

In the Petition, Tsamiya was accused of: Corruption, malice and vindictiveness; and giving perverse and conflicting decisions on the same issue in similar matters.

In the case of the Enugu state chief judge, Justice Umezulike, he was found guilty of delivering judgement in a certain case “about 126 days after addresses were adopted, contrary to constitutional provisions that judgement should be delivered within a period of 90 days.”

Umezulike was also found guilty of accepting a donation of N10 million made by one “Prince Arthur Eze during the pendency of the two cases in His Lordship’s Court, both of which Prince Arthur Eze has vested interest,” as well as “many instances of abuse of Judicial powers, by the Chief Judge.”

Justice Auta of the Kano High Court was recommended for dismissal and prosecution “following the findings of the Council on the allegations levelled against him by Kabiru Yakassai which bothered on impersonation and obtaining huge sums of money by false pretence.

The NJC stated that it has suspended the affected Justices from Office with immediate effect, “pending the approval of the recommendations of the Council for their compulsory retirement and dismissal respectively” from President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, respectively.

Supreme Court Gives Reason For Upholding Kogi Election

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Supreme Court Gives Reason For Upholding Kogi Election

supreme-court-gives-reason-for-upholding-kogi-election

The Supreme Court has given reasons why it upheld the election of Yahaya Bello as the duly elected Governor of Kogi State, and why it rejected the prayers of James Faleke.

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Edun, who read out the reasons, stated that Faleke, who was the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2015 governorship election, cannot be declared winner of the poll since he did not participate in the primary elections.

The apex court held that Faleke cannot benefit from the vote or take the place of the initial governorship candidate of the APC, late Abubakar Audu, because he did not meet the condition precedent.

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Justice Kekere-Ekun explained that Faleke did not obtain nomination form nor did he participate in the primary election and as such, cannot under any circumstances, be made the governorship candidate to replace Audu.

She added that before Audu’s sudden death after the November 21 governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had already declared the election inconclusive and that since the election, had not been completed and the final result issued by the electoral body, Faleke, as a running mate, cannot claim ‎victory in the election.

The apex court upheld the substitution of Yahaya Bello to replace Audu because in the face of the law, Bello obtained nomination form, took part in the primary election and came second, unlike Faleke who did not meet that condition.

Recall that Falake was the running mate to the late Audu who was already coasting to victory in the governorship election before his sudden death.

Bello was then presented by the APC as replacement for Audu, but Faleke argued that he was the right person to take Audu’s place since the governorship ticket was a joint one.

Faleke, not satisfied with the judgments of the election tribunal and the Appeal Court which upheld Bello’s victory, approached the Supreme Court.

But the Supreme Court also affirmed Bello as the duly elected Governor of Kogi State.

Court To Hear Jibrin’s Case On Oct. 21

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Court To Hear Jibrin’s Case On Oct. 21
Abdulmumin Jibrin
Abdulmumin Jibrin

Justice Okon Abang, of the Federal High Court Abuja, has fixed October 21 for the hearing of a suit filed by Abdulmumin Jibrin, former Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriation, challenging his suspension from the House.

Jibrin, a lawmaker from Kano State, was on Wednesday suspended by the House of Representatives for 180 legislative days.

Before his suspension, Jibrin had on August 9, filed a lawsuit seeking to stop any plan by the lower legislative chamber to suspend him; a case which was still pending before the court.

The case was reassigned to Justice John Tsoho when the court resumed from ‎vacation and the matter was fixed for Friday for mention.

However, on resumption, Jibrin’s lawyer, Mohammed Abdulhamid, informed the judge that the House of Representatives had gone ahead to suspend his client irrespective of the fact that the case was already in court.

Justice Tsoho said since the day’s business was for the mention of the case, he would prefer to adjourn it till October 21 for the hearing of all pending motions.

Apart from Jibrin’s motion, also pending before the court is a notice of preliminary objection filed by the House of Representatives ‎and other defendants challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.

Jibrin’s suspension on Wednesday was a fallout of his campaign since July for the removal of the House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and other principal officers of the House over allegation that they padded the 2016 budget with about N40bn.

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