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Buhari’s Ministers Disagree On State Of The Economy

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Buhari’s Ministers Disagree On State Of The Economy
Kemi Adeosun and Udo-Udoma
Kemi Adeosun and Udo-Udoma

Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, and her counterpart in the Budget Ministry, Udoma Udo- Udoma today gave conflicting assessment of the state of the Nigerian economy.

Adeosun, who appeared before the Senate to brief the lawmakers on the state of the economy, remarked that the economy was technically in a state of recession.

She said the federal government is aware of the sufferings the recession have caused Nigerians but that steps are being taken to ensure that the nation gets out of its present economic challenge.

Adeosun also urged Nigerians not to panic over recent international reports casting the nation’s economy in bad light but should rather believe in the policies of government geared towards achieving a stable economy.

She explained to the lawmakers certain government’s strategies aimed at ensuring fiscal discipline in the face of the recession, including a huge reduction in recurrent expenditure.

The Minister also told the lawmakers that N14 billion has been released for the Social Intervention Programme, while a total of N247 billion capital releases has been made and expressed confidence that these will stimulate economic activities.

However, in a swift reaction, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo-Udoma, denied claims made by the Finance Minister, insisting that Nigeria’s economy is not yet in recession.

Udoma said this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the National Economic Council meeting presided over by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

Udo-Udoma explained that the first quarter of the year may have been negative, but it is only when the second quarter is negative that one can conclude that there is a recession.

He added that government is doing its best to stop the country from plunging into recession despite the fact that the year has been difficult, and urged Nigerians to remain hopeful and patient.

Killing Of Monarch: Plateau On Edge As More Die

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Killing Of Monarch: Plateau On Edge As More Die
Elders of Bokkos Community at the palace of their dead Monarch
Elders of Bokkos Community at the palace of their dead Monarch

A demonstration by youths protesting the killing of a Monarch in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau state turned violent when soldiers opened fire at the crowd who blocked the road and prevented vehicular traffic.

Not less than four people are said to have died when the rampaging youths tried to engage the soldiers.

Witnesses say that three of seven people who were injured in the attack, died, bringing the death toll to four.

Soldiers serving with the Special Task Force on Jos crisis on Thursday opened fire on youth who blocked a road in Bokkos in protest of the killing of a monarch and a night attack there Wednesday.

Residents said there is tension in Bokkos town, as many have fled the area to seek refuge elsewhere. The weekly Thursday market in the town could not open due to the crisis.

The military special task force has also imposed a 24-hour curfew on the town.

A spokesperson for the STF, Ikedichi Iweha, denied that soldiers killed the youth. He however confirmed the death of three of the youth who barricaded the routes.

Iweha, a captain, said the youth were about to lynch some persons they suspected of being responsible for the killings, when soldiers intervened.

He said the youth shot at soldiers, injuring some of them.

OAU Senate Appoints Acting VC

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OAU Senate Appoints Acting VC

oau,,

The Senate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife has appointed Anthony Elujoba as its Acting Vice Chancellor.

Elujoba, a professor of Pharmacognosy, is also a fellow of the Royal Society of UK Research Fellow.

The federal government had on July 17 directed the Senate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State to immediately recommend a qualified person for appointment, as acting VC.

The President also directed that all the candidates that had earlier contested for the position should not be considered for nomination.

The directive came after a crisis that led to the shutdown of the institution on June 22 following protests by the Non Academic Staff of Universities, NASU, and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU,over alleged imposition of a Vice-Chancellor.

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Saraki Pacifies Opponents, Reshuffles Senate Committees

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Saraki Pacifies Opponents, Reshuffles Senate Committees
Senate President, Bukola Saraki
Senate President, Bukola Saraki

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has reshuffled the leaderships of the Senate’s committees.

Reports say this is in fulfillment of one of the conditions put forward by the Unity Forum Senators for peace to reign in the red chamber.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, caucus in the upper house of the National Assembly had been split in two – the Unity Forum and the Like minds – following the crisis that accompanied the election of the Senate’s principal officers in June last year. It is believed that Saraki belongs to the ‘Like minds’ faction.

Kabiru Marafa, perhaps Saraki’s most outspoken critic, will now oversee the Petroleum downstream Committee. A ‘juicy’ committee, analysts say, considering he was chairman of the committee on National population.

Oluremi Tinubu, another key anti-Saraki senator was named chairperson of the Committee on Environment. She was the Chairperson of the Committee on women affairs.

Also Suleiman Hukunyi, another Unity forum senator will now head the Committee on National Identity.

Eyinnaya Abaribe and Adamu Aliero were made heads of the committees on power and aviation respectively. Also, Senator Baba Karumai will now head the committee on rules and business.

The re-composition of the Senate committees is seen as a ploy to calm frayed nerves following allegations by majority of the APC senators that Saraki was tilting more towards the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Saraki made the announcement shortly before the senate adjourned on Thursday, as the National Assembly begins another one month recess.

US Sex Allegations Against Lawmakers Spurious – Foreign Affairs Minister

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US Sex Allegations Against Lawmakers Spurious – Foreign Affairs Minister
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama

Nigeria’s foreign minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, said he has his doubts on the ability of the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, to substantiate the allegation of sexual misconduct against three Nigerian lawmakers in the U.S.

Entwistle had written to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, , Yakubu Dogara, alleging that three members of the house namely, Mohammed Galolo, Samuel Ikon and Mark Gbillah were involved in sexual misbehavior at a hotel during a US-sponsored leadership programme in Cleveland, Ohio.

Dogara immediately set up a fact-finding committee to investigate the matter and ascertain the true nature of things, following the vehement denial of the affected lawmakers of involvement in such unbecoming behavior.

Days before the first public hearing on the matter, Ambassador Entwistle was reported as saying that he would provide video evidence to substantiate his claims, but on the day of the hearing, Entwistle failed to turn up.

Chairman of the Committee, Nicholas Ossai, rescheduled the hearing to Thursday, 21 July in a bid to allow the Ambassador come up with his evidence, but again, the US Ambassador did not show up.

The foreign affairs minister, who appeared before the house, told the lawmakers that Entwistle had confirmed to him that the victims of the alleged assaults had declined to give testimony to House of Representatives Committee on Ethics.

Entwistle “confirmed that the allegations were made and he told me that the hotel housekeeper has refused to testify in respect of the matter,” Onyeama said.

He added that “The allegations are ambiguous. He (Entwistle) did not present any evidence nor did he indicate that they have any corroborative evidence”.

The three accused lawmakers had on Wednesday given their testimony before the committee, accusing the U.S. Ambassador of deliberately embarrassing the Nigerian parliament.

The house committee chairman told journalists that the committee has concluded its findings and is compiling a report to present to the House leadership.

Fayose’s Ally Gets Bail, Awarded N5 Million Damages

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Fayose’s Ally Gets Bail, Awarded N5 Million Damages

FAYOSE-IN-COURT.FEDERAL-HIGH-COURT

An Abuja High Court has granted bail to Abiodun Agbele‎, an ally of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, who has been in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, since June 27, and awarded N5 million damages against the anti-graft agency.

Agbele was arrested in Lagos on June 27 and has since been detained by the EFCC for his part in the N1.2 billion allegedly give to Fayose during the Ekiti State governorship election in 2014.

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi held that the continued incarceration of the suspect without being charged to court and without the backing of any competent remand order amounted to a “gross violation” of his right.

Adeniyi said that remand order obtained by the EFCC‎ from a Magistrate’s Court in Ogba, Lagos, on June 30, to keep the suspect in custody for 14 days, became non-effective upon his transfer to Abuja on July 1 as it was outside the Jurisdiction of the Lagos court.

He said that there was no legal justification for the detention of the suspect between July 1 and July 13, when the suspect served his fundamental human rights suit on the anti-graft commission.

The judge then granted  Agbele bail to the tune of N50 million with one surety who must be at least a director in either the federal civil service or the FCT Administration.

He also said that alternatively, the surety could be any responsible Nigerian with verifiable residential address in Abuja, and with title documents of property in Abuja.

However, Justice Adeniyi ordered the EFCC to pay Agbele‎ N5 million as damages against the suspect’s “wrongful and illegal detention” from July 1 till date condemning in very strong terms what he described as EFCC’s “gross abuse of powers” and its “arrogant display of executive might”‎.

Though, the court ordered the suspect to deposit his passport with the EFCC as part of the bail conditions, the judge directed that the passport and any other of the suspect’s personal belonging should be released to him if the anti-graft agency fails to charge him within 21 days.

Saraki Denies Decamping To PDP

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Saraki Denies Decamping To PDP
Senate President, Bukola Saraki
Senate President, Bukola Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki has denied dumping the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

There have been strong speculations that the number three citizen had returned to the PDP, following his attendance of a meeting convened by the Senate caucus of the party.

But the former governor of Kwara State has quickly moved to squash the speculations.

In a statement issued today by his Special Assistant, New Media, Bamikole Omishore, the Senate President said he remains committed to the party he helped to bring to power in the 2015 general elections, adding that he only attended the PDP senators’ meeting in his capacity as the leader of the National Assembly and just for 30 minutes.

“The Senate President would like to assure every Nigerian that he is committed to the APC-led government and appreciates the confidence reposed in him and the APC during the 2015 General Elections,” the statement read.

IG Orders Arrest Of killers Of Plateau Monarch As Crisis Escalates

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IG Orders Arrest Of killers Of Plateau Monarch As Crisis Escalates

Plateau crisis

The Acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, has directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police operations, Joshack Habilla, to ensure the arrest of the killers of Lazarus Agaie, the traditional ruler of Bokkos in Plateau, who was murdered in cold blood on Monday.

The directive is contained in a statement issued by the Force Public relations Officer, Don Awunah, in Abuja on Thursday.

The IGP said those behind the gruesome murder of the monarch would be fished out in record time for prosecution, adding that it was sad to see the life of any Nigerian, irrespective of his or her status, snuffed out by any criminal gang in whatever name.

Idris acknowledged that the death of the monarch, his family and orderly, were particularly painful, but he urged the people to remain calm and avoid reprisal attacks.

He called on the aggrieved to be patient and cooperate with the Police in their investigation as no stone would be left unturned in arresting the culprits.

The Police chief assured Nigerians that the force under his watch would ensure decency in the polity.

The Plateau Monarch was murdered alongside his wife, son and Police orderly.

Meanwhile, Soldiers attached to the Special Task Force on Jos crisis on Thursday reportedly opened fire on protesting youths of Bokkos community.

The youths were reported to have blocked the road leading to the community in protest of the killing of their king and another attack by hoodlums on the community on Wednesday night.

According to PREMIUM TIMES, witnesses say at least one person was killed and five others were injured.

The youths had reportedly refused the soldiers entrance into the area, and instead asked that they produce the killers of their king.

Residents say tension is high in Bokkos town with many fleeing the area to seek refuge elsewhere.

The weekly Thursday market in the town could not hold due to the crisis.

It was reported, however, that the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations, Habila Joshak, is currently in Bokkos, having been deployed from the Force Headquarters, Abuja, by the IGP to ensure the arrest of the killers of the monarch.

At Bokkos council police station where the youth gathered, Joshak called on the people to remain peaceful, assuring them that perpetrators of the crime would be arrested and prosecuted.

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More Women, Children Rescued By Nigerian Troops

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More Women, Children Rescued By Nigerian Troops
Troops helping some rescued victims with food and water
Troops helping some rescued victims with food and water

The Nigerian Troops engaged in fighting and clearance patrol, Codenamed “Operation TIGER CLAW” has rescued 38 women and 42 children in Gangere village, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Sani Usman, acting director of Army Public Relations said the troops, acting on intelligence report, swooped on terrorists that some Boko Haram terrorists were converging in the village with intent of carrying out attacks on some isolated communities.

Usman said 42 Boko Haram terrorists were killed during the ensuing operation while unconfirmed number of the insurgents escaped with gunshot wounds.

“Similarly, 38 women and 42 children held captives were rescued from the insurgents. The women and children were taken to the military medical facility in Baga for checks. They were further assisted with food and clothing.

“The patrol team also recovered 504 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 162 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, 1 Land Cruiser Jeep, 34 Jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automated Gas Oil (AGO), while 55 Motorcycles were demobilized during the operation,” Usman added.

The Army spokesman said the troops have continued to intensify vigilance and maintained high level of alertness, and are making concerted efforts to clear the remnants of the terrorists in their area of responsibilities.

Usman also stated that suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked Bakin Dutse community at the early hours of Wednesday, killing one person and injuring 4 other persons.

He said the insurgents took to their heels on arrival of troops, but a continuous patrol of the general area is ongoing with the hope of finding and apprehending the attackers.

Similarly, Usman said that troops on routine patrol in Kumshe-Banki were ambushed by four suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

The troops engaged them and three of them died as a result of gunshot wounds.

“The lone survivor is currently being interrogated and has been making very useful statements,” Usman added.

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I Have No Regrets Fighting Corruption – Ribadu

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I Have No Regrets Fighting Corruption – Ribadu
Nuhu Ribadu
Nuhu Ribadu

Former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, has said that he has no regrets championing the fight against corruption in the country, and would do it again if given the chance.

Ribadu made the remarks as a guest speaker during the National Stakeholders Workshop on the Recovery and Management of Recovered Assets, which was organized by the Itse Sagay-led Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC, and the Commonwealth secretariat.

He said though he is still paying dearly for his anti-corruption activities, especially now that he is into politics, he is proud of what the EFCC was able to achieve under his leadership.

“I’m still paying dearly. In my own madness, I decided to go into politics and I am still paying for it. But I’m not bothered; I will continue fighting to the last of my breath. If I’m given the opportunity, I will do it again,” Ribadu said.

The former governorship aspirant in Adamawa state also frowned at the allegation that the immediate past chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, embezzled more than N1 trillion of the monies recovered by the commission.

Ribadu said the past and present leaders of the commission have over the years handled recovered loot in a manner that deserves commendation by Nigerians and not condemnation.

He however said the development wasn’t really a surprise to him as that was a clear case of corruption fighting back.

“Considering the care we took in handling whatever was in our custody, I find it baffling and disheartening when I hear people make insinuations about how we handled recovered assets. It is the most unfair remark but certainly not totally surprising as the fight against corruption is essentially a thankless job, especially in our climes,” Ribadu said.

He added: “That was why I was telling Prof. (Itse Sagay), that ‘don’t bother sir, people will abuse you, don’t say anything’. This is the job. We are hurting people, we are taking things from those who took things desperately and we denied them chance to make good use of it and enjoy it with their families.”

Ribadu said it was rather senior lawyers who pocketed billions of dollars as a result of the unearthing of major corruption cases like the Halliburton case.

“A case in point is the Halliburton investigation, where, after we had done the bulk of the work, it was turned into a milking cow for some senior lawyers who made millions of dollars out of it,” he said.

Ribadu said it was regrettable that other foreign countries, such as the US and the UK also recovered lots of money from the Halliburton case and other cases of high level corruption, but the Nigerian government did not get anything because it failed to take any step.

He said, “I ended up taking this case to the US authorities. Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do here in Nigeria,

“It was the case of powerful companies bribing and compromising the system and getting away with it, and we were hopelessly helpless.

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