Former First Lady Patience Jonathan has said that she is the owner of the $31.4 million involved in an alleged fraud case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The EFCC had charged former presidential aide, Amajuoyi Azubike-Briggs and former Skye Bank official, Damola Bolodeoku, as well as five other companies for alleged fraud to the tune of $31.4 million.
The anti-graft agency had also frozen the Skye Bank account where the money was allegedly kept.
However, counsel to the first defendant, Gboyega Oduwole, informed the court that the former First Lady has filed a fundamental application against the EFCC, claiming ownership of the money.
According to the application filed on September 6, 2016, Jonathan asked the court to make an order for the enforcement of her fundamental rights, in terms of reliefs she sought, and named the EFCC and Skye Bank Plc as defendants.
The former First Lady asked the court to make a declaration that the fund standing to the credit of four of the companies and an account in her own name in Skye Bank belonged to her.
She also asked the court to declare that the action of the respondents in placing a freezing order on the said accounts without any order of a competent court of law or prior notice to her, to be in breach of her fundamental rights as contained in Nigeria’s constitution.
The military operation in the Niger Delta region, Operation Crocodile Smile has been extended to Imo State, as government troops raided two prominent kidnappers’ camps belonging to rival cultists.
Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, a Colonel, in a statement on Saturday said the operations, carried out in Umoubi and Umudike forests, both in Ohaji Egbema local government area of the state, was conducted on Thursday by troops from 34 Artillery Brigade.
“During the raid, one Chigozie aka “Chi boy”, a notorious kingpin of one of the cult groups lost his life, while another member was later discovered dead in the forest and quite a number of the gang members were believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds.”
“The troops recovered quite a number of military uniforms and mobile telephones and other household items before destroying the camps to prevent the cultists regrouping in the area,” the statement read.
Usman said the troops have continued combing the forests with a view to fishing out other members of the gangs.
President Muhammadu Buhari will lead Nigeria’s delegates to the 71st UN General Assembly, UNGA, where he is expected to defend his administration’s human rights record and also sign the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
The general assembly is scheduled to begin at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday, September 13.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, made this known in Abuja on Friday at a news conference, adding that the president would be discussing series of issues which had direct impact on Nigeria.
The Paris Climate Conference held in December 2015, 195 countries adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal.
The agreement, which will become effective by 2020, sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to 2°C.
Onyeama said China and the US had already signed the agreement and Nigeria signing it would send a signal to the world that the country was serious about dealing with climate change.
He said the UNGA conference will afford President Buhari another opportunity to meet with world leaders and continue to build on the country’s reputation.
Onyeama said: “It is one unique conference where world leaders assemble and address issues pre-occupying their minds, it is a wonderful opportunity for the president to build on his reputation.
“President Buhari is well regarded by the world leaders and it will give him opportunity to reconnect and engage them on various issues.
“He needs world leaders’ support in the areas of economy, security, anti-corruption and governance. He will use the opportunity to push for Nigeria’s interest at the UN,” the minister said.
The minister said that President Buhari would also use the opportunity to look for foreign markets for Nigeria’s products, garner support for the economy, as well as canvass for the repatriation of Nigeria’s stolen money in foreign banks.
“Mr President will use the opportunity to canvass for support for the recharge of Lake Chad,” Onyeama said.
“There will be a discussion on Lake Chad Basin and how to recharge the lake through Central Africa which will cost about 15 billion dollars.
“Mr President will engage and push for investors on the project. He will be looking at Public, Private Partnership to mobilise that kind of funding for Lake Chad.
“Such investment will have direct impact on at least five million people,” he said.
The foreign affairs minister said there will also be a discussion on one vision, one Africa where all African nations can have a voice on issues that have direct impact on the continent.
According to him, the EU would be putting 31 billion euros on the table to address certain issues affecting Middle East and part of Africa.
He said that Nigeria was the only one invited for the meeting to look into how to spend the money, adding that the forum would give Nigeria opportunity to access the fund.
Two committees that will oversee the process to concession the nation’s major airports have been inaugurated by the federal government.
The committees namely: the Project Steering Committee and the Project Delivery Committee, were inaugurated by the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, in his office in Abuja, on Friday.
He said the Project Steering Committee, of which he is the chairman, will provide the general direction, and steer the course of Public Private Partnership project concessions in the aviation sector.
Sirika explained that the driving force behind government’s resolve to concession the airports was the over-riding national interest in ensuring the establishment and sustenance of world class standards in both infrastructural development and service delivery.
He said some of the reservations being expressed by people about the exercise were born out of “misconception that concession is synonymous with privatisation”
The aviation minister clarified that the airports remained the properties of the Federal Government and that more jobs will be generated at the end of the day.
Terms of reference for the committees include: “approval of technical, financial and legal framework for the successful preparation and execution of the concession; provision of policy guidelines and general direction on all matters relating to concession of projects and programmes in the aviation sector.
Others are to “consider and facilitate necessary permits, clearances and approve action plans, budgets and financial requests submitted by the Project Delivery Committee.”
About N97 billion debt owed electricity companies by ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, will soon be paid by the federal government.
Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said this during a meeting with officials of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, on Friday.
He said that the ministry was carrying out a careful verification of the debts in order to ascertain the exact amount, considering that the debt stretches to several years.
The minister also outlawed the procurement of transformers by electricity consumers, maintaining that it remains the duty of distribution companies, Discos.
He also charged operators in the nation’s power sector to improve investments in order to upgrade their networks.
Addressing electricity distribution companies, Fashola said: “You must continue to make distribution asset investments. Private purchase of transformers should stop.
“That is the responsibility of the distribution companies. We still have cases of people buying transformers themselves. This should not be the case.”
He charged the operators to improve customer relationship as well as close the metering gap and educate consumers on energy conservation.
“Since the distribution companies are now owned by private enterprises, you need to make it easy for people to reach you. Let us all understand that the problems we have are not technical. They are manmade,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, says it is seeking investors for its $7.5 billion system expansion agenda geared at attaining 20,000MW by 2022.
A breakdown of the five-year plan shows that the TCN hopes to achieve 6,600MW by the end of 2016; 10,000MW in 2018; 13,000MW in 2020; 16,000MW for 2021 and 20,000MW by 2022.
The nation’s electricity capacity currently stands at 5,300MW.
A draft of the Nigerian Power Sector Investment Opportunities and Guidelines obtained by the media noted that investment in the sector was very attractive owing to its growth potential.
The document, however, lamented the inability of the transmission and distribution companies to effectively discharge their duties.
Parents of students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, in Ogbomosho, Oyo state, on Friday protested against the continued closure of the school, and called on the Oyo State government to take over the university.
A student of the school who witnessed the protest said that the parents got information that there would be a meeting of the school’s management on Friday and decided to use the opportunity to express their disapproval at the myriad of issues troubling the school, which has led to students sitting at home for three months.
The protest took place around 10:00 am, with parents carrying placards bearing different messages and calling on the Abiola Ajimobi-led Oyo State government to take over the school.
“Oyo State take over LAUTECH,” “Pay Oyo State workers with Oyo State money”, “Gbadesin (the vice chancellor, Adeniyi Gbadegesin) don’t sell Oyo State to Osun,” are some of the messages on the placards.
The vice chancellor, Adeniyi Gbadegesin, a Professor, confirmed to www.icirnigeria.org that a protest took place but said he was out of town and was only informed about it.
“I was informed that there was a protest but unfortunately, I am not in Ogbomosho. You know, one has to be there to investigate things to find out what truly happened,” Gbadegesin told our reporter on phone.
LAUTECH, jointly owned by Oyo and Osun states, has been closed down since June 13 following protests by students over the results of Student Union Government Election and also the refusal of the school chapter of the Academic Staff Union of University, ASUU, to submit examinations question papers unless they were paid their outstanding salaries and other allowances.
NIMASA DG, Dakuku Peterside, poses with cadets from the Nigerian Navy during a visit to the agency’s head office in Lagos
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has said that it will continue to partner with the Nigerian Navy for the security of Nigerian water ways and the optimum exploration of the nation’s marine resources.
Director General of the agency, Dakuku Peterside gave the assurance when Naval Cadets of the 66 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, visited the Agency on a study visit.
He assured the Cadets that the symbiotic relationship that exists between NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy will be sustained, adding that their visit to NIMASA is a step in the right direction as they will always have reason to interact with the Maritime Administration upon commissioning.
Peterside praised the gallantry and bravery of Officers and Ratings of the Nigerian Navy, which he described as one of the best Naval Forces in the world.
The DG commended the young Cadets for choosing to serve and protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
He said: “You have chosen a very noble course as brave men and women, only the brave will chose to enlist in our military.
“As courageous men and women, you have offered to make all forms of sacrifices first for the good of our country and for all of us your country men and women so that we can move about freely; most importantly so that the territorial integrity of our nation will be protected,” he added.
The Naval Cadets were led on the visit by Alfred Oride, a Naval Commander, and the visit was aimed at familiarizing them with NIMASA’s activities as they relate to the Nigerian Navy.
Dangote Cement has disclosed its plan to start mining coal at Ankpa, Kogi State, in November this year.
The company said that due to acute gas shortage in the country, following disruptions of supply by militants in the Niger Delta region, it had switched its plant lines to coal to minimise cost.
Chief Executive Officer of the company, Onne van der Weijde, said that disruption to gas supply had deteriorated, adding: “These are challenging times for Nigeria and Dangote Cement but we are taking strong actions that will position the company for continuing success.
“Our coal mining initiative will benefit both the company and the Nigerian economy by reducing the need for foreign exchange and helping us to both protect existing jobs and create new ones.
The company said that many of its production lines were now capable of running entirely on coal, hoping that this development would eliminate the company’s dependence on gas supplies, imported coal and, more significantly, LPFO.
However, environmental experts say there are numerous damaging environmental impacts of coal that occur through its mining, preparation, combustion, waste storage, and transport.
According to research published on sourcewatch.org “Air pollution from coal-fired power plants includes sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter (PM), and heavy metals, leading to smog, acid rain, toxins in the environment, and numerous respiratory, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular effects.”
The pollution from coal mines is mainly due to emissions of particulate matter and gases including methane (CH4), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOx), as well as carbon monoxide (CO).
The research also found that “Coal dust stirred up during the mining process, as well as released during coal transport, can cause severe and potentially deadly respiratory problems.”
Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, has assured Nigerians of adequate security during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration scheduled to hold on September 12 just as he ordered deployment of policemen to vulnerable communities and spots.
This is following the reported threats of terrorist attacks in some states of the federation; a development that led to the postponement of the Governorship election in Edo state.
Consequently, the IGP has ordered massive deployment of Police personnel across the country to curb such plans.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Donald Awunah made this known in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.
The statement read: “In order to ensure adequate security and guarantee utmost protection of life and property during the celebration and throughout the public holidays, the Inspector General of Police has directed the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of zonal commands and all the Commissioners of Police in the state commands to deploy adequate personnel to cover all the Eid-El-Kabir praying grounds, recreation centres, public places, public infrastructures and utilities, and other points and venues where celebration will take place.
“Similarly, the Police Commanders are directed to collaborate with sister agencies, cultivate intelligence, interface with community leaders to monitor the activities of undesirable elements in the society who may take undue advantage of the public holidays to cause mischief and disturb public peace.”
Awunah also stated that “Sustained surveillance and special attention will be paid to flash/vulnerable points and other identifiable hot spots to prevent criminalities during the Sallah celebration and beyond.”
He said the Police is confident that the operational strategies being executed for the Sallah festivities will guarantee a peaceful and hitch free Eid-El-Kabir celebration.
The FPRO conveyed the IGP’s commendation to officers and men of the police for their “dedication and commitment in ensuring that security and peace prevail throughout the Country despite the enormous challenges.”
“The IGP therefore wishes the Muslim faithful and all Nigerians a happy celebration. He however implores them to be vigilant and continue to support the Police to prevent crimes in their localities,” the statement concluded.
Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo-Udoma and his Minister of State counterpart, Zainab Ahmed
The Federal Government is proposing the sum of N6.5 trillion for the 2017 fiscal year, according to a report by Voice of Nigeria.
This was contained in a budget call circular issued by the office of the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The circular noted that the budget proposal was in accordance with the 2017-2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper.
It said the aggregate Federal Government retained revenue for the 2017 fiscal year was projected at N4.1 billion, while the aggregate expenditure level was projected to be N6.9 billion.
“This aggregate expenditure is made up of statutory transfers of N370.7 billion, Debt Service of N1.63 billion, Recurrent (non-debt) expenditure of N2.56 billion and Capital expenditure of N1.76 billion,” the circular read.
“The N1.63 billion in respect of Debt Service is made up of N1.47 billion for domestic debt; N159.6 billion for foreign debt and N177.4 billion for sinking fund to retire maturing loans.”
It said the capital expenditure would be guided strictly by the justification and critical nature of such programmes and budgets.
It also said the N1.76 billion set aside for critical capital expenditure includes N150 billion for Special Intervention Programme, N200 billion for Capital Supplementation and N1.41 billion for MDAs capital expenditure
“Additionally, the Federal Government intends to incur recurrent expenditure of N350 billion on the Special Intervention Programmes, bringing the total to N500 billion,” it said.
The document also directed all MDAs to prepare the budget based on the 2017-2019 MTEF.
According to the circular, the budget preparation should take into consideration the policies and strategies contained in the document as it outlines the development priorities of the Federal Government.
It also noted that the annual budget would continue to be prepared using the Zero-Based Budgeting approach and in line with the government’s policy thrust.
The circular discouraged the practice of regular incremental budget adjustments, each project was to be carefully scrutinised before resources were allocated and that the ZBB process places emphasis on actual needs and not wants.
It said: “Therefore, all MDAs are to carefully scrutinise and justify their projects and programmes for which resources are to be allocated in line with the immediate needs of the country and government’s development priorities.”
The priorities were grouped into six broad pillars to reflect the 26 policy priority programmes of the Government.
It listed the pillars to be economic reforms/growth, social development, critical infrastructure, states/regional development, governance, security and environment.
The Federal Executive Council on August 24 approved the 2017-2019 MTEF and FSP.
The budget call circular is in line with the 2017 budget preparation calendar signalling the commencement of MDAs’ preparation of their 2017 budgets.
