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Nigerian Troops Nab Boko Haram Kingpin

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Nigerian Troops Nab Boko Haram Kingpin
One of the arrested terrorists
One of the arrested terrorists

The Nigerian troops currently engaged in clearance operations in the North east, known as Operation LAFIYA DOLE, with the assistance of Vigilante groups on routine checks, have arrested a high profile suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Mohammed Mohammed.

He was arrested in Zauro at Sabon Gari, Damboa Local Government Area, Borno State,

Army spokesman, Sani Usman, said preliminary investigation shows that the suspected terrorist kingpin was was trying to flee to Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, from Sambisa Forest when he was arrested.

“The troops recovered a Gionee brand of mobile telephone handset and a fake SAIE/JIBWIS identification card to perfect his escape and the sum of N7,900.00k,” Sani said.

He added that soldiers “also intercepted another suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Lawal Aboi, along Damboa-Bale road”, who was on his way to voluntarily surrender to the troops in Damboa because he was tired of fighting for no just cause.

The army spokesman said that both suspects are undergoing further interrogation.

FG Promises To Deliver Badagry Port By 2021

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FG Promises To Deliver Badagry Port By 2021

FEC-Meeting-4

The federal government has said that it hopes to conclude the Badagry deep seaport by 2021.

Minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this while addressing the media alongside two other ministers at the state house after the weekly Federal Executive Council Meeting.

Mohammed said the $2.56 billion project would be funded by public-private sector partnership.

Babatunde Fashola, minister of power, works and housing, also said the project remains in line with the administration’s macroeconomic policies to fund its infrastructure.

He said, “There is transparency and accountability on the private side of the economy than we have on the public side of our economic life,

“As for the Badagry port, well, it is a port that is long overdue… Our ports, in terms of technology, are behind maritime transport industry; there are bigger vessels being built across the world and they require larger depths in other to berth.

“Some of our competitors on the continent like Djibouti are building bigger ports, so if we don’t build this port, we risk becoming noncompetitive and we risk a threat to our maritime, in the sense that they become a port of trans-shipment instead of original destination.

“That is the business and economic basis for the development of this port,” Fashola said.

He added that the fact that all of the financing for the project will come from the private sector “is consistent with what this government stands for in terms of allowing private capital… for the development of our people.”

Fashola said that the project was delayed due to the past administration’s inability to grant approval for the project.

Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, corroborated Fashola, saying that the money needed for the project would not be contributed by either the federal government or the Lagos state government.

Gowon Supports Calls For Restructuring Nigeria

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Gowon Supports Calls For Restructuring Nigeria
Yakubu Gowon
Yakubu Gowon

Nigeria’s former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon has thrown his weight behind calls for the restructuring of the country, saying there is nothing wrong with the idea provided it was done within the context of one Nigeria.

He made this known when Shehu Sani, a serving Senator from Kaduna State, paid him a courtesy visit on Wednesday in Abuja.

“We can restructure within one Nigeria context. I did it in 1967; we created states to stop eastern Nigeria from seceding,” Gowon said.

He added that “We had to do something to ensure the fear of their seceding did not exist; a serious issue of a part of the country wanting to breakaway when we already lost a part to Cameroon.

“If we had allowed the eastern region to go away, the map of Nigeria would have looked funny; it would have been tilted one way.

“So, we decided overnight to break the fear through the creation of states. If we had to save the country that was the only way to do it.

“We also ensured that no state was too big or too small to threaten the unity of the country,’’ the former head of state said.

Gowon maintained that the call for true federalism in the country was not a bad idea as well.

“What is true federalism? As long as it means respect for oneness of our country, it is alright, but if it means to breakaway, it is not my way of thinking’’, he said.

It would be recalled that it was during Gowon’s tenure as head of state that the country was divided into 12 states namely: North-Western, North-Eastern, Kano, North-Central, Benue-Plateau, Kwara, Western, Lagos, Mid-Western, Rivers (a South-Eastern state), and East-Central states.

National Assembly Gets New Clerk

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National Assembly Gets New Clerk
National Assembly Complex
National Assembly Complex

The National Assembly Service Commission has appointed Ataba Sani-Omolori as the new Clerk of the National Assembly.

The decision was taken at the commission’s 443rd meeting and the new Clerk’s appointment takes effect from August 15, 2016.

Sani-Omolori has been in acting capacity for a while and he takes over from Salisu Maikasuwa who has been on terminal leave since May.

Before his appointment, Sani- Omolori was a former Clerk of the House of Representatives.

You will recall that Salisu Maikusuwa was charged alongside Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and former clerk of the 7th House of Representatives, Benedict Efeturi in the allegation of forgery of the Senate Standing Rule, which was used in the election of principal officers in the senate.

The case was adjourned till September 28 for continuation of hearing.

 

Goodluck Jonathan Visits Buhari, Makes Case For One Nigeria

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Goodluck Jonathan Visits Buhari, Makes Case For One Nigeria
President Buhari with former President Jonathan at the State House today
President Buhari with former President Jonathan at the State House today

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential Villa, to discuss his recent international engagements and to offer his opinion on the ongoing crisis in the Niger Delta.

Speaking to state house correspondents, Jonathan said that he was strongly against the disintegration of Nigeria, adding that he was working with other leaders to find solutions to the renewed militancy in the oil-rich region.

“I came to brief the president about some of my engagements. As you are aware I will be leading the AU elections monitoring team to Zambia, I came to brief the president about some of this external engagement. It is the tradition,” he said.

On the agitations for cessation in various parts of the country, the former president said Nigeria was only termed “great” because of its size and diversity and not necessarily because of its oil.

“Those of you that have followed my talks when I was here, my emphasis is that we need a united Nigeria and I always emphasize that Nigeria is great not just about the oil – so many countries produce more oil than Nigeria nobody notices them.

“We are great because of our size, the human resources we have, the diversity we have, if we fragment the country into small components we will be forgotten by the world.”

It would be recalled that a new group in the Niger Delta, named “Adaka Boro Avengers” had threatened to declare an independent Niger Delta Republic on Monday, August 1, but later said it had to call off the plan due to interventions from ex-president Jonathan and other leaders in the region.

Jonathan said, “It’s not just about me but about all the traditional rulers, elders and opinion leaders that are of the Ijaw ethnic nationality; we have been in touch to see that peace reigns in the country,

“That has been my focal position and without peace, there cannot be development anywhere in the world.

“We are all working collectively to see that issues are resolved,” the former president said.

He however would not speak on the ongoing anti-corruption drive that have seen many of his appointees and former aides arrested and undergoing trial by the EFCC.

“I don’t want to talk about that one because there are too many cases that are in court, it will not be fair to make comments, I will talk at the appropriate time when most of these things are resolved,” he said.

Dogara Pays Lawmakers $25,000 To Sign Vote Of Confidence Register – Jibrin

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Dogara Pays Lawmakers $25,000 To Sign Vote Of Confidence Register – Jibrin

 

Dogara and Jibrin
Dogara and Jibrin

There is no letting up in the drama that has characterized the removal of Abdulmumin Jibrin as the chairman of the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriation as the Kano State lawmaker has not stopped “singing” about “how fantastically corrupt” Speaker Yakubu Dogara is.

Fresh from answering a summon by the All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders on Tuesday, the aggrieved lawmaker has made another round of accusation against the “Speaker and his corrupt gang of 12”.

This time, Jibrin alleged that Dogara, in conjuction with two other members of the House, Zakari Mohammed and Jagaba Adams, as well as “DCOS to Mr Speaker Hon CID Maduabum”, is handing out $25,000 dollars to members of the house for them to sign a vote of confidence register.

In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Jibrin said: “Fellow Nigerians, in a desperate attempt, corrupt Speaker Dogara and the 3 others have opened a register for a vote of confidence signature.

“The register is opened at his Asokoro guest house located at Wilbeford Juta crescent. Hon members are giving $25,000 to sign.

“This disgraceful act is coordinated by Hon Zakari Mohammed, Hon Jagaba Adams Jagaba and DCOS to Mr Speaker Hon CID Maduabum.”

Jibrin also said that the insinuation that he was being backed by external forces against the speaker is unfounded and baseless.

“I am also obliged to respond to some allegations that I am sponsored by some external forces to destabilize the House of Representatives.

“The worthless and laughable allegation is orchestrated by Speaker Dogara and his gang of thieves to discredit my unstoppable mission.

“He will soon resort to religious blackmail forgetting I was the one muslim from northwest that spearheaded & mobilized resources for his election,” he said.

He added that “My stand is that the corrupt Speaker Dogara, Lasun, Doguwa & Ogor must listen to Nigerians, reconvene the house immediately and step aside.

“Investigation by anti-graft agencies is already on & I pledge to support the investigation and prosecution of these corrupt public officers.

Jibrin reiterated that he was not backing out of the allegations, adding that his meeting with leaders of the APC was cordial.

“… I stand by my allegations against Speaker Dogara and his corrupt gang of 12. We shall continue this struggle. There is no going back!!!

“I had a very good meeting with my party APC yesterday. I thank the party for their objectivity & I will continue to cooperate with the party,” he concluded.

Igbo Traders Close Shops In Kano Over Killing Of Kinsman

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Igbo Traders Close Shops In Kano Over Killing Of Kinsman
File
File

Economic activities were paralysed in Kano this morning as Igbo traders protesting the killing of their kinsman refused to open their shops.

The traders staged mass protest and organised a mass prayer to expressed their displeasure over killing of Augustine Tochukwu Ilo ,a patent drug dealer who was killed last week by Special Anti-Robbery Squad,SARS,

The Igbo traders said they are demanding for justice, adding that Igbo people were being killed and the perpetrators were not being apprehended and asking “what is our offence ,or are we not Nigerians?”

As early as 6 a m on Wednesday, all shops belonging to Igbo communities across the 44 local government areas of the state were closed down, while the traders assembled at Runfa primary school,where they first staged a peaceful demonstration, before they went for prayer

While speaking with pressmen, the chairman, Igbo Traders Association, ITA, Emmanuel Amadi, said it was pathetic and sad that innocent Igbo people are now targets of killers, a situation that must be stopped.

According to him, “we are here to pay our solidarity to an Igbo woman who was killed at Kofa Wambe over alleged blasphemy, just as we are still mourning over this sad event, the police went again to kill Augustine for no just reason.”

Amadi noted that it was painful that the innocent wife of late Augustine has been made a widow due to untimely death of her husband, and his two children have become fatherless.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as ”stop this annihilation of Ndigbo”, “Life is sacred, stop wasting the lives of Ndigbo” and “stop the targeted elimination of Igbo people”, among others.

Augustine’s widow, Ebere, who also spoke with journalists, urged the pressmen to ask the police the offence of her late husband.

Ebere further stated ”you can see my daughters are young, but so unfortunate ,they have lost their father at a tender age, when they are supposed to be enjoying fatherly care.”

The program was rounded off with prayer from different pastors that God should reveal the killers.

ISIS Names New Boko Haram Leader

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ISIS Names New Boko Haram Leader
Abubakar Shekau
Abubakar Shekau

The BBC has reported that the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, ISIS terrorist group has named a new leader for the Boko Haram in the person of Abu Musab Al-barnawi who was featured in ISIS’ latest magazine.

The report was not clear on what would or has become of Abubakar Shekau, who had led the terrorist group since its founder, Mohammed Yusuf, was killed in 2009.

The Boko Haram had pledged allegiance to ISIS early 2015 after which not much had been heard from Shekau since then.

He last appeared in a video amid speculation that he had been killed, declaring that the end had come for him.

“For me the end has come,” he had said in the video, which was subdued compared to his other videos in which he bragged and taunted the Nigerian government.

Under his leadership, the group had carried attacks in several states in the North East, killing thousands and displacing millions of Nigerians and claiming some Nigerian territories especially in the Northeastern region of the country.

The Boko Haram is responsible for the kidnap of more than 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, an attack that attracted global condemnation and outcry.

Unfortunately the abducted girls are yet to be rescued from captivity, save for one of them, Amina Ali, who managed to escape from the terrorists and was rescued by some Civilian JTF members earlier this year.

The terrorist group also claimed responsibility for attacks on the United Nations Office, Abuja as well as blasts in the Nyanya axis of the Federal Capital Territory that killed more than 80 people.

A late push by the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan and an onslaught by the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has resulted in the deaths and arrests of many of the insurgents with survivors retreating farther into the Sambisa Forest.

Godsday Orubebe Charged With Corruption Over East – West Road Contract

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Godsday Orubebe Charged With Corruption Over East – West Road Contract

Former Niger Delta Minister, Godsday-Orubebe

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC on Tuesday filed corruption charges against former Minister of Niger Delta during the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Godsday Orubebe at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court.

Orubebe is to be arraigned along with Oludare Lawrence Alaba, Ephraim Towelde Zaki and Gitto construction limited on a five count charge bordering on corruption, diversion of funds and perjury in connection with alleged illegal diversion of nearly N2 billion naira meant for for the dualisation of Section IV of the East West Road.

The former minister is alleged to have circumvented a Federal Executive Council, FEC, approval for the dualisation of the Eket – Oron Road, part of the East West Road which runs from Edo to Bayelsa states, by instructing the contractor, Gitto Construction, to rehabilitate it instead.

Apart from this ministerial directive which ensured that the contractor merely rehabilitated the existing road instead of dualising it, thereby conferring undue advantage on the construction firm, Orubebe also allegedly in cahoots with Alaba and Zaki ensured that the money meant for compensation for residents whose properties were marked for demolition was diverted and instead paid to Gitto.

The sum of N2,320,686,826.00 (Two billion, three hundred and twenty million, six hundred and eighty six thousand, eight hundred and twenty six naira) had been approved for payment of compensation to owners of properties that were to be demolished to make way for the dualisation of the road but rather than make the payment, the minister caused the money to be diverted and paid to the contractor in addition to the N37 billion paid for the road construction.

Orubebe is also accused of making false statements to the ICPC claiming that the decision to rehabilitate the road rather than dualise it was taken after he had left office as the Minister of Niger Delta.

Documents on the case obtained exclusively by the www.icirnigeria.org from the court indicate that contract for the construction of Section IV of the 50 kilometre East – West Road from Eket to Oron was first approved by the federal government in September 2006. Approval was given for the award of the contract by the Federal Executive Council on September 13, 2006 and the contract awarded on September 28, 2006 for N26 billion, with a 42 month completion date.

However, in June 2011, FEC approved a variation in the cost of the contract to N37 billion with 26 months extended completion date granted. In addition, N2.3 billion was approved for compensation to residents whose houses would be affected by the dualisation project.

In November 2011, Orubebe orchestrated a stakeholders meeting where it was decided that the road would not be dualised but merely rehabilitated, contrary to the FEC approval and the contract agreement. This would mean that the contractor would only rehabilitate the single lane road for which it had already received over N30 billion to dualise.

After that meeting, acting on the minister’s instruction, Alaba, an assistant director in the ministry, in flagrant disobedience of the FEC approval and the letters of the contract wrote to Gitto Construction directing it to rehabilitate the road instead of dualising it.

No cost variations were done and the contractor was not asked to return any money.

Worse still, the N2.3 billion approved for compensation for affected residents and released to the contractor for disbursement was not paid to them.

Court documents showed that of the amount only N75,303,147.70 was paid as compensation to some of the affected residents. Also, the sum of N203,083,273.84 was paid to the consultant who assessed claims of affected persons, leaving a balance of N1.9 billion.

It is alleged that Orubebe and other accused persons directed the contractor to divert the remaining N1.9 billion towards the completion of the contract, again unilaterally without recourse to the Federal Executive Council.

In April 2015, then Minister of Niger Delta, Stephen Oru convinced former President Jonathan to approve additional N14 billion for the construction of a bypass on the road to divert vehicular traffic for the city centre in Eket. Presidential approval was given and the money is believed to have been released, partly or fully, to the contractor but that bypass is yet to be constructed.

The case has not been assigned to any judge. However, it is likely to be handled by a vacation judge, the courts being on recess.

Orubebe is already being tried by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, for false declaration of assets. His trial commenced in April.

Read the full charges against Orubebe below.

COUNT  1

That you ELDER GODSDAY PETER ORUBEBE  sometime in September 2015 or thereabout at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Abuja, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did make false statement to officers of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICIP), Messrs Eric Anona, Isiona Okolo and Bukar Galadima in the course of their official duty, when you informed them in writing respecting the contract for the dualisation of Eket Urban Road that the decision to rehabilitate  instead of dualisation was taken when you had left office as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which information you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section25 (1)(a) and punishable under Section 25 (1) (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

COUNT 2

That you, ELDER GODSDAY PETER ORUBEBE, sometime between 2010 and 2014 or thereabout, while being a Hon. Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, deployed to the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, used your position as minister to confer an unfair advantage upon Gitto Costruzioni Generali (Nig.) Ltd by circumventing the approval of the Federal Executive Council respecting the contract for the dualization of the Eket-Oron Road when you took a decision to rehabilitate the road contrary to the award letter reference No. WR14522/Vol. 1/55 dated 28/09/2006 as approved by the Federal Executive Council and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under the section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act, 2000.

COUNT 3

That you OLUDARE LAWRENCE ALABA (M) sometimes between 2010 and 2014 or thereabout, while being in the employment of the Federal Government of Nigeria, deployed to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, as Assistant Director, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court, did direct the spending of the balance of the compensation money totaling the sum of (N1, 965,576,153.46) being meant to compensate owners of the Eket Urban Section of the East-West Road (Section IV) via a letter reference No EWR/S4/CN5883/COMP/vol.9/429 dated 23/01/2015 as part of the contract sum when you knew that the money was for compensation only and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(5) of the Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act, 2000

COUNT 4

That you, GITTO COSTRUZIONI GENERALI (NIG.) LTD, through Mr Ephraim Tewolde Zeri, Director Contracts, sometime between 2010 and 2014 or thereabouts within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, cheated the Federal Government of Nigeria of the sum N1,965,576,153.46 being balance of the compensation money of N2, 320,686,826.00 with the knowledge to cause wrongful loss to the Federal Government of Nigeria whose interest in the compensation money meant for owners of the properties marked for demolition in respect of the dualisation of the Eket Urban Section of the East-West Road (Section IV) you were bound by the contract for the dualisation of the Eket Urban Section of the East-West Road (Section IV) to protect, by returning the said balance to the Federal Government of Nigeria but failed to return same and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under the section 323 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory 2006.

 COUNT 5

That you ELDER GODSDAY PETER ORUBEBE (m), OLUDARE LAWRENCE ALABA (m), MR. EPHRAIM TEWOLDE ZERI< DIRECTOR CONTRACTS and GITTO COSTRUZIONI GENERALI (NIG.) LTD, sometimes between 2010 and 2014 or thereabout, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, agreed to deploy the balance of the compensation money of N1, 965,576,153.46 meant for owners of properties marked for demolition in respect of Eket Urban Section of the East-West Road (Section IV) into the contract for the dualisation of the Eket Urban Section of the East-West Road (Section IV) against the purpose for which the money was meant for and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code CAP 532 laws of the Federal Capital Territory 2006.

President Buhari Appoints New Perm. Sec., Reshuffles 8 Others

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President Buhari Appoints New Perm. Sec., Reshuffles 8 Others
Head of Service of the Federation
Head of Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Olusola Enikanolaiye as permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the redeployment of eight other permanent secretaries.

Haruna Yazid, Director of Communication in the office of the Head of Service of the Federation, made this known in a statement on Tuesday.

Enikanolaiye, before his appointment was the Charge-de affairs at the Nigerian High Commission, India.
In the reshuffling of 8 other permanent secretaries, Habiba Lawal was moved from the Ministry of Science & Technology to Ecological Funds office (OSGF). He replaces Abbas Mohammed who has been moved to the Ministry of Solid Minerals.

Similarly Istifanus Fuktur was redeployed from the Ministry of Solid Minerals to Police Service Commission.
Adamu Bello, who was formerly with the Ministry of Women Affairs, swapped places with Amina Shamaki who served in the Ministry of Health.

Also redeployed are Belema Asifieka from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to the Ministry of Science & Technology; Alo Williams Nwankwo from Economic Affairs Office, OSGF to Ministry of Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs; and Bamgbose Akindele from the Political Affairs Office OSGF to Political & Economic Affairs Office, OSGF.

According to Yazid, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, directed that the process of handing and taking over should be completed on or before the Aug. 5.

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