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House Of Reps Suspends Jibrin For 180 Days

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House Of Reps Suspends Jibrin For 180 Days
Abdulmumin Jibrin
Abdulmumin Jibrin

The House of Representatives has handed a 180-day suspension to Abdulmumin Jibrin, the former chairman of the House committee on Appropriation, who is at the centre of the budget padding scandal that has rocked the house in recent months.

This followed a motion moved by Nicholas Ossai, chairman of the House Committee on Ethics and privileges, and adopted by the whole House.

Jibrin will also not be able to hold any position of responsibility for the span of the current National Assembly.

The Kano State lawmaker had refused to appear before the house committee on ethics and privileges which had been mandated to investigate the complaints that Jibrin had undermined the integrity of the House.

It would be recalled that when the lawmakers returned from their 2-month leave on September 21, a lawmaker, Emmanuel Orker-Jev, moved a motion to have Jibrin investigated for allegedly breaching the privileges of the members.

The matter was subsequently referred to the Ethics and Privileges Committee for further investigation with the mandate to turn in their findings within one week.

Jibrin, however, boycotted the hearing, even though his demand that the sitting be thrown open to the public was met.

His suspension means that he would be banned from the premises of the National Assembly in the course of the disciplinary action, and would not receive salaries or allowances.

The House of Reps. sits three days in a week, meaning that Jibrin’s suspension would last more than a year.

Reacting to his suspension, Jibrin said he would sue speaker Dogara for contempt of court.

He said the case was in court as at the time the house tabled his matter.

Looming Humanitarian Crisis In Northeast May Be Worse Than Insurgency, MSF Warns

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Looming Humanitarian Crisis In Northeast May Be Worse Than Insurgency, MSF Warns

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By Kingsley Obiejesi

Unless urgent steps are taken to address the alarming food shortages faced by internally displaced persons, IDPs, in Borno State, Nigeria may soon be faced with a humanitarian crisis that is worse than the Boko Haram violence that has claimed more than 20,000 lives, the international medical humanitarian organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF, has warned.

The warning was issued today, Friday, in a press statement sent to the www.icirnigeria.org.

According to MSF, IDPs both in remote parts of the state and the capital, Maiduguri, are facing the problem of severe food shortages.

“The desperate living conditions in Borno state show the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict between Boko Haram and the Nigerian military. In several locations, people have sought refuge in towns or camps controlled by the military, and are entirely reliant on outside aid that does not reach them,” the statement read.

According to MSF, one in 10 children under the age of five suffers from life-threatening severe acute malnutrition in the border town of Ngala, where 80,000 displaced live in a camp cut off from the outside world. The organisation, which accessed the camp n September 19, was told that people depended on less than half a litter of water per day. MSF teams provided food and medical care, while it scales up assistance.

In Gambaru, another nearby border town, more than one in seven children face severe acute malnutrition.

infographics-of-humanitarian-crisis-in-the-northeast

 

“The town’s 123,000 residents lack basic food supplies and have no access to healthcare after the town’s only clinic was burnt down. Roads are too dangerous for people to go elsewhere for medical care,” MSF added.

While towns like Bama, Banki and Gwoza face similar situations as Ngala and Gambaru, the MSF is shocked to find that in Maiduguri, where there has been no violence and several aid organisations are present for the past two years, the humanitarian crisis is similar.

Particularly, MSF found that in Custom House camp, an unofficial IDPs shelter, one in five children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition and the mortality rate “five times higher than what is considered an emergency, the main cause being hunger”.

In June, the www.icirnigeria.org reported the deplorable conditions IDPs faced in Bama, where as many as 21 deaths were recorded daily.

MSF later raised an alarm when it accessed the camp and also discovered that death stared people in the face.

“Although a nutrition emergency was declared three months ago, there has been a serious failure to help the people of Borno,”Hugues Robert, MSF’s head of emergency response, said.

The organisation is again calling for help for displaced persons.

“So far the aid response has been massively insufficient, uncoordinated and ill-adapted to the needs of people who are suffering the consequences of this crisis,” Natalie Roberts, MSF emergency programme manager, said.

“To avert an even greater humanitarian disaster, food and medical care must be delivered now to remote and accessible areas in Borno state. Nigerian authorities have a responsibility to make sure this happens for the sake of thousands who are at risk of imminent death.”

Shettima Tours Liberated Communities; Promised To Rebuild Churches

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Shettima Tours Liberated Communities; Promised To Rebuild Churches
Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima
Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has continued his supervisory tour of liberated communities in the state, promising that he would rebuild both churches and other structures destroyed by Boko Haram.

He made the promise on Wednesday during his assessment of Lassa, Askira-Uba Local Government Area on Wednesday.

Shettima expressed shock at the level of destruction, adding that the government would commence rehabilitation of the town in a short while.

“We are saddened by the large scale destruction in Lassa which is a predominantly Christian community,” he said.

“We are going to rebuild churches and other structures destroyed in Lassa and other communities around.

“We are doing this because we have a duty as a government to ensure fairness, equity and justice in all our endeavors.

“We believe that the Christian community has rights to be served like its Muslims counterpart, since we have rebuilt Mosques destroyed in other places, we must rebuild churches too,” Shettima assured.

The governor promised that the churches would be ready by Christmas this year.

He said: “I want to assure that the churches will be rebuilt before December, so that the people can celebrate the Christmas in a more conducive atmosphere.

“We will also make sure that all private houses destroyed are rebuilt without delay.

“We are not doing this for political reasons because we are not facing any election now. Our actions are based on the desire to serve people and to ensure equity among them.

Governor Shettima also visited Gwoza, where he promised to rebuild the palace of the Emir of Gwoza, Muhammad Timta.

“The Emir of Gwoza wants to return home but for his palace which is badly damaged. We will rebuild the palace in the next one month so he can come back,” he said.

The next port of call for the Governor was Pulka, another liberated community, where he pledged “to take immediate action to tackle the problem of water shortage facing the people.”

“We shall put in place the necessarily mechanism to address the problem immediately I return back to Maiduguri,” he said.

“We have to commend the gallantry of the military in ensuring that peace returns to our communities.

“We must continue to support them to ensure that the peace is maintained, people should give them 100 percent cooperation and report strange happenings to them,” Shettima advised.

Nigerian Army Gives Reasons For Dismissal of 22 Senior Officers

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Nigerian Army Gives Reasons For Dismissal of 22 Senior Officers

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The Nigerian Army has finally given reasons why it retired some senior army officers in June this year.

An investigation by PREMIUM TIMES revealed that the reasons include alleged money laundering, arms procurement scam, illegal sale of military vehicle and professional misconduct in election matters.

The Army Council had compulsorily retired 38 senior officers in June, with the Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, a colonel, saying that the officers were dismissed on the grounds of arms procurement fraud and professional misconduct in the 2015 elections.

But investigation revealed that most of the affected officers were never queried nor indicted by any panel but rather were sent away for reasons that showed high-level arbitrariness, pettiness, witch-hunting and partisanship by Army authorities.

In the statement released by the army to confirmed the retirement exercise, there was no specific reason given for retiring each of the officers.

Even in the June 9 dismissal letter – seen by PREMIUM TIMES – given to the affected officers, there was no specific reason, other than reference to Paragraph 09.02c(4) of the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers 2012, which is “disciplinary grounds i.e. serious offence”.

But official documents filed by the Army in court and seen by this newspaper showed the actual reasons the Army gave for sending at least 22 of the officers away.

Nwokoro Ijioma (N/8304), Major General, was accused of “illegal sale of 17 military vehicles.” The duo of Ohifeme Ejemai (N/8340), Major General, and A.S. Saad (N/8392), Brigadier General, were compulsorily retired for “fraud and money laundering”.

LM Bello (N/8799), another Brigadier General, was retired for “arms procurement (fraud)/ distortion and partisanship”.

Three other Brigadier Generals, A. Onibasa (N/9072), D. Abdulsalam (N/9165) and Idam Agachi (N/8780) were respectively retired because they “engaged in acts of corruption.”

However, “money laundering” was added for Mr. Agachi.

For Peter Ekpeyong (N/8730), O.U. Nwankwo (N/9678), Feyisetan Kayode (N/9344), M.A. Suleiman (N10030) and Tobiah Minimah (N/10185), all Colonels, “disciplinary grounds” were cited as reasons for their compulsory retirement.

Apart from “disciplinary grounds”, Mr. Minimah, a brother of a former Army Chief, Kenneth Minimah, was also alleged to have been involved in “partisan election” – same allegation faced by D.R. Hassan (N/9909), C.K. Ukoha (N/10319) and Timothy Oladuntoye (N/10338), also Colonels.

Then, five Lieutenant Colonels – Chinonye Amadi (N10359), O.A. Ochankpa (N/10419), K.O. Adimoha (N/10421) A. Mohammed (N/10659) and Abubakar Mohammed (N/10662) – were also accused of “involvement in election matters”.

The two remaining Lt. Colonels, D.B. Dazang (N/10414) and T.E. Arigbe (N/10416) had their careers brought to an abrupt end for “disciplinary issues”.

However, contrary to the Army’s claims, -PREMIUM TIMES’ findings show that at least 15 of the 22 officers seeking redress were not indicted by any panel before they were dismissed.

Among the 15, only Brigadier General A. Saad actually appeared before a panel. Even he was, however, cleared by the arms procurement probe panel. None of the other 14 were queried or invited to appear before any panel, a contravention of Army rule.

“These charges are new to us,” one of the dismissed officers said.

“Nobody ever mentioned it or accused any of us, at least not me, before we were dismissed,” he added.

The fifteen who were never indicted are Messrs. Ijioma and Ejemai (Major Generals); Messrs. Saad, Bello, Abdulsalam, and Agachi (Brigadier Generals); Messrs Nwankwo, Minimah, Ukoha, Oladuntoye, and Suleiman (Colonels); and Messrs Ochankpa, Adimoha, A. Mohammed, and Abubakar Mohammed (Lieutenant Colonels).

Two others who were neither queried nor indicted by any panel, as our investigations revealed, were not among the 22 who sought redress. Mormoni Bashir (N/8396), a former principal staff officer to ex-National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, and I. Lawson (N/8812), a Defense Attache in China did not appeal their dismissals.

The 22 who are seeking redress have already written to the President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to a July letter by the Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin, to President Muhammadu Buhari, the 22 officers complained that Army authorities breached laws in ending their careers abruptly.

Except Mr. Efemai who prefers voluntary retirement, the officers are praying the president to consider their appeals and reinstate them into the army.

This report was first published by PREMIUM TIMES.

Saraki’s Trial Stalled Again

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Saraki’s Trial Stalled Again

saraki-trial-stalls-again

The trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for alleged forgery was stalled on Wednesday, as the prosecution counsel, Aliyu Umar, said he had not prepared a response to a fresh motion by the defendants challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

Umar is prosecuting the case on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federal, Abubakar Malami.

Recall that Saraki, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, and two others were arraigned by the federal government on the allegation of forgery of the Senate standing rules used in the election of principal officers of the senate in June 2015.

The case had been adjourned  till September 28 due to the annual vacation of the judiciary.

But when proceedings resumed on Wednesday, the prosecution counsel told the court that he had just received a fresh motion from the defendants challenging the jurisdiction of the court in respect of the charges against them and asking that the case be dismissed.

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He noted that the matter has to do with the fundamental right of parties to fair hearing, and he needs to properly prepare his response to the motion.

Umar said: “Just now I became aware of a motion by the first defendant and served on us on September 26.

“The motion is fundamental because it is asking your lordship to decline jurisdiction and quash the charges. It is a short notice.

“I have not filed anything? It is fundamental to fair hearing. Under the circumstances, I will ask for an adjournment to enable me to respond to the motion,” he said.

Mahmud Magaji, counsel to one of the accused persons, however, objected the application for adjournment.

He stated that the office of the Attorney-General, which is the chief prosecuting counsel, was served the motion months ago and had all the opportunities to respond to the applications.

“The act of prosecution is serious business, especially in a criminal charge.

“I urge your lordship not to allow us to descend to the internal working of the prosecution. In view of this, I’m objecting to the application for adjournment,” he said.

Also, Counsel to Saraki, Paul Erokoro, asked the court to refuse the prayers of the prosecution, describing it as lacking in merit.

“On behalf of the third defendant I submit that the application has no merit.

“If the Attorney-General has not deemed it fit to pass the entire case file to the counsel, then we should be allowed to move our motion. We are ready to proceed,” Erokoro said.

The trial judge, Yusuf Haliru, adjourned the matter till October 7.

Edo Election: Turnout Impressive

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Edo Election: Turnout Impressive

edo-election-turnout-impressive

The Edo Governorship election, which holds today after an 18 days postponement, kicked off on a high note as reports indicate an enthusiastic voter turnout.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had directed that accreditation and voting will take place simultaneously.

In many polling units visited by journalists, the process had begun and voters were seen peacefully carrying out their civic responsibilities.

Various security agencies were reportedly on ground to maintain law and order.

Nineteen candidates are running for the governorship post but the main contest will be between Godwin Obaseki of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Tracy Agol of the Peoples’ Party of Nigeria, PPN,  is the only female contestant in the race.

However, seven political parties have women as their deputy governorship candidates.

According to statistics by INEC, Edo State has a total of 1,925,105 registered voters; 192 Registration Areas; 2,627 Polling Units and 4,011 Voting Points.

The Nigerian police had deployed 25,000 police officers to the state to ensure peace and security during the polls.

A total of 44 groups comprising of government agencies, international and local Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs and civil society organizations, were accredited by INEC as election observers.

Oshiomhole Alleges Plans By INEC To Rig Election For PDP

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Oshiomhole Alleges Plans By INEC To Rig Election For PDP
Governor Adms Oshiomhole and the US Consul-General John Bray
Governor Adms Oshiomhole and the US Consul-General John Bray

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has raised alarm over a purported fake voter register which he alleged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, intend to use to cause confusion during the governorship election scheduled to hold on Wednesday in the State.

Oshiomhole claimed that the fake voter register had the picture of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the infamous Nigerian “underwear bomber” who was jailed in the United States in 2012  for terrorism offences.

The governor made the allegations when the United State’s Consul-General, John Bray, visited him on Tuesday.

He said that he was shocked to see the picture of Abdulmutallab in the fake register, but with a Benin name.

Abdulmutallab was handed a life sentence in the US after he attempted to detonate explosives hidden in his underwear on board an aircraft from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan on Christmas day 2009.

Governor Oshiomhole said: “Right now, we have evidence of two versions of voter’s register – the one they have officially distributed and the one that some elements within the ICT in INEC have also produced in Abuja.

“If the INEC has two versions of voters register and they display one officially, then we have a problem. And the reason why this is extremely worrisome for me is that in my election in 2012, INEC tried to use this method to disenfranchise many of our supporters.”

“For example, I was shocked to find the portrait of Mr Abdulmutalab, and that will interest your Excellency, the young man who has been jailed in the US for a terrorist act. His portrait is in the fake voter’s register with a Benin name under it. I am sure if you look at the face, if we don’t know the face, you the US officials know the face. And you find the name under it, that it is a Benin name in Ovia South West.”

The comrade governor also alleged that INEC had cleared some opposition party members as election observers.

“Last night, in my local government, one of the PDP leaders, who incidentally is on the list of INEC observers, I can be very specific, one Tenebe. we have information that he got boys around and they were shooting but the police went to apprehend them; they engaged the police in a shooting.

“The police had to go and reinforce. As we speak, I don’t have information as to how that was settled. If you have people like this engaged in violence, then it poses a challenge,” Oshiomhole said.

In his reply, the US Consul General, said that he was in the state with his team “to observe the elections”, adding that it was important that the election would be peaceful, fair and credible and reflect the will of the Edo citizens.

“The postponement was a setback a few weeks ago, but I still believe it offers us the opportunity to hold the first successful and transparent gubernatorial election in states in 2016,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nick Dazang, INEC’s Deputy Director, Voter Education and Publicity, has said that governor Oshiomhole’s claims were false as no member of PDP was accredited as election observer in Edo.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that the allegation had been investigated and found to be untrue.

“The commission promptly directed that this grave allegation be thoroughly investigated.

“I am delighted to report that the commission did not see any of the names among the nearly 3,000 it has accredited,’’ Dazang said.

He assured all candidates and political parties in the Edo governorship election of INEC’s neutrality.

Abia Governorship Tussle Moves To Supreme Court

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Abia Governorship Tussle Moves To Supreme Court
Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu
Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu

The Supreme Court in Abuja on Tuesday commenced hearing of motions brought before it regarding the Abia State governorship tussle.

Samson Ogah, had approached the apex court after the appeal court nullified the June 27 judgement of a Federal High Court in Abuja, which declared him governor of the state.

Justice Okon Abang, on June 27 this year, ruled that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, was not qualified to have run for the post of governor, having presented fake tax papers during his screening by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The Judge also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to issue Ogah a certificate of return, being the runner up to Ikpeazu in the PDP governorship primary election in 2014.

But a five-man panel of justices, led by Justice Morenike Ogunwumiju, on August 18, nullified the decision of the lower court; saying that Justice Abang’s ruling was a rape of democracy.

Ogah consequently approached the Supreme court, asking it to set aside the decision of the appeal court and affirm him as Governor of Abia State.

Three motions were heard at the commencement of the hearing at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, including one from Alex Oti, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the governorship election.

Oti sought the leave of the court to be joined in the matter, an application that was opposed by Wale Olanikpekun and Alex Iziyon, Counsel to Ikpeazu and Ogah, respectively.

They argued that a similar application was turned down at the lower court and neither Oti nor his counsel appealed the decision when they had the opportunity to do so.

The seven-member-panel of Supreme Court Justices led by Mahmud Tanko took note of the points but decided to allow Oti’s counsel, Patrick Ekueto, to submit his application, saying a decision would be taken afterwards.

After adopting the motions, the court adjourned to allow parties file their brief of arguments.

Mr. Tanko said a date would be communicated to the parties for hearing on the substantive applications.

FG To Re-Introduce Weigh Bridges On Federal Roads

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FG To Re-Introduce Weigh Bridges On Federal Roads
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Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola

Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Tuesday said that the Federal Government would reintroduce the use of weigh bridges on the nation’s highways. A Weigh bridge is a weighing machine for vehicles.

Fashola, made the disclosure while addressing journalists at the ongoing ‘Made in Nigeria Summit 2016’ at the Eko Atlantic City in Lagos.

The minister said that presently, the weigh bridges were not working optimally, adding that repair works were ongoing on some of them.

“The bridges are not in optimum use, but we are rehabilitating and re-installing some.

“You will see increased regulatory compliance on the roads as they return to motorable quality,’’ Fashola said.

On the issue of re-introduction of toll gates as a means of financing the maintenance of roads, the minister said that it would be left for Nigerians to decide.

He noted that tolling alone will not be able to finance road maintenance because of traffic variation on different routes.

“If you toll, it is usually best practice to provide an alternative route and therefore, depending on how heavy the traffic is, people may choose to use the longer route in order to save money,’’ he said;

He explained that members of the National Assembly were working on a bill that would “give some legislative framework for tolling.’’

Fashola added that government had begun creation of a road maintenance plan in order to create jobs and business opportunities for small businesses, artisan and other professionals in Nigeria’s construction industry.

Chief Justice, Other Judicial Officers Earn N33.47 Billion In One Year

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Chief Justice, Other Judicial Officers Earn N33.47 Billion In One Year

chief-justice-other-judicial-officers-earn-n33-47-billion-in-one-year

The total earnings of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, federal and State judicial officers in emoluments and allowances in the last one year has been put at N33.47 billion.

VANGUARD newspaper reports that the figure was revealed in a report obtained and computed by an Economic intelligence magazine, ‘Economic Confidential’.

The report showed the annual salaries, regular and non-regular allowances of 934 judicial officers in the country, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Allowances such as: vehicle maintenance and fuel, Personal Assistants, domestic staff, entertainment and utilities, Hardship allowance, Outfit and newspapers allowances.

According to the report, the CJN has an annual salary of N3.36 million and like the Nigerian President, he is provided with vehicle maintenance and fueling, domestic staff, entertainment, utilities and newspapers.

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The report noted that “Furthermore, the CJN has 25 percent of his annual basic salary reserved for personal assistant and outfit each or its equivalent of N840,993.13 respectively and half of his annual salary as hardship allowance which amounts to N1,681,986.25.

“However, accommodation and furniture will be provided for the CJN, while annual leave, severance gratuity and vehicle loan which is optional will be 10%, 300% and 400% respectively.”

The CJN also earns N50,000 per night in duty tour allowance within Nigeria, and $2000.00 per night when overseas.

Justices of the Supreme Court and the President of the Court of Appeal earn N2.47 million each in annual salary, while Justice of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of Federal High Court, Chief Judge of the FCT, Judge of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court, Grand Khadi of the FCT Sharia Court of Appeal, President FCT Customary Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of States, Grand Khadi state Sharia Court of Appeal and President state Customary Court of Appeal all have N1.99 million each as annual salary.

Furthermore, Judges of the Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, FCT High Court, State High Courts, FCT Sharia Court of Appeal, FCT Customary Court of Appeal, Khadi state Sharia Court of Appeal and State Customary Court of Appeal all have N1.80 million each as annual salary.

All the Judges in the country apart from the Chief Justice of Nigeria, receive 75% of their annual salaries as Vehicle maintenance and fueling, 25% for Personal Assistant, 50% as hardship allowance, 75% for domestic staff, 45% for entertainment. Others are: 30% of their annual salaries for utilities, 25% for outfit and 15% for newspapers.

Also,  all judges except the CJN, collect 200% for accommodation once a year, 300% of annual salary for furniture, 10% for annual leave, 300% as severance gratuity and 400% for vehicle loan which is optional.

All the Justices of the Supreme Court and President of the Court of Appeal are entitled to N35,000.00 as duty tour allowance per night within the country, while their Estacode is $1300 per night when they travel out of the country.

Justices of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of Federal High Court, Chief Judge of the FCT, Judge of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court, Grand Khadi of the FCT Sharia Court of Appeal, President FCT Customary Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of States, Grand Khadi state Sharia Court of Appeal and President state Customary Court of Appeal all have N30,000 as duty tour allowances each within the country and $1,100 as estacode.

Other judges outside the above are entitled to N25,000.00 as duty tour allowances per night within the country and $800 for estacode when they travel out of the country per night.

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