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Our Trial Is A Violation Of Independence Of Legislature – Saraki

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Our Trial Is A Violation Of Independence Of Legislature – Saraki
Senate President, Bukola Saraki
Senate President, Bukola Saraki

Senate President, Bukola Saraki released a statement on Monday in Abuja, insisting that the ongoing forgery trial against himself and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, was just another phase in the relentless persecution of the Leadership of the Senate as well as a violation of the principle of separation of powers between the Executive and the Legislative arms of government.

Part of the statement reads, “In our view, the charges filed by the Attorney General represent a violation of the principle of the Separation of Powers between the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch as enshrined in our Constitution,

“Furthermore, it is farcical to allege that a criminal act occurred during Senate procedural actions and the mere suggestion demonstrates a desperate overreach by the office of the Attorney General. These trumped up charges is only another phase in the relentless persecution of the leadership of the Senate.”

Saraki said it was regrettable that at a time when the whole of government should be working together to meet Nigeria’s many challenges, “we are once again distracted by the Executive branch’s inability to move beyond a leadership election among Senate peers.”

He reiterated his commitment to the responsibilities that the office of the Senate President imposes on him and will not yield to individuals who are bent on undermining the country’s democracy in order to satisfy their selfish interests, adding that if it means “losing my personal freedom, let the doors of jails be thrown open and I shall be a happy guest.”

Earlier in the day, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail to Saraki, Ekweremadu and the two other accused persons over charges of alleged criminal conspiracy and forgery of the Senate Standing Rules 2015.

But the trial judge Yusuf Halilu, also said the accused may be remanded in Kuje prison if they fail to meet their bail conditions.

The defendants were required to provide two reasonable sureties who must be Nigerians and who must own property in Asokoro, Maitama, Wuse II or Garki areas of Abuja.

The trial of the Senate principal officers alongside former clerk of the National assembly, Salisu Maikasua and his former deputy, Benedict Efeturi, commenced on Monday morning.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Before the trial commenced, Justice Halilu tried to maintain order in the court by asking supporters to vacate their seats so that lawyers could sit.

Halilu also asked journalists and lawmakers supporting the Senate President to leave the courtroom, saying that the names of persons that would be allowed in would be called.

The case was adjourned till July 11 for commencement of trial.

Niger Community Cries Out Over Lead Poisoning

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Niger Community Cries Out Over Lead Poisoning

A year after a tragic outbreak of lead poisoning in Shikira, a rural community in Niger State, which led to the death of scores of children, the government is yet to come to the aid of the people.

Abdulahi Katako, the Galadima of Kagara, told Global Rights Nigeria that officials of Niger State government have visited the community and made promises for the remediation of the community ravaged by lead poisoning but are yet to fulfil them.

“The governor of Niger state, the commissioner for health and other senior ministry of health officials have visited the community and made promises. But those promises have not been fulfilled, the community leader stated.

“What I think should be done is for the federal, state and local government to come together to address the problem because children are dying as a result of illicit gold mining in the community,” he said further.

In May 2015, there was an outbreak of lead poisoning due to illicit gold mining in Shikira community of Niger state leading to the death of scores of children.

Laboratory testing carried out in the community confirmed high levels of lead in the blood of scores of surviving children, livestock’s and water reserves.

Families who lost children recounted tales of woes and said they are yet to get over their tragedies.

Fatima Umoru who lost four children to lead poisoning is still traumatised by the tragedy so much so that the sight of other children leaves her sad as she remembers the children she lost.

“I feel sad every day I remember my children; children you laugh together, eat together and do things together. Whenever I see other children I feel sad my children are no more.”

Huzi Adamu, also a bereaved mother, said she lost five children to lead poisoning. “We have lost our children and our properties and there is no one to help us. The government has forgotten us,” she said.

Within a few months after the outbreak of lead poisoning in the community, more than 28 children reportedly died.

The illness has taken many of the children away starts by vomiting and running temperature. It is usually followed by uncontrollable convulsion.

The woes of the community are compounded as they can not access medical treatment in government hospitals, forcing parents to seek help of traditional medicine practitioners.

In May, a non – governmental organisation, NGO, Connected Development called on the federal government to approve a N500 million clean up intervention fund for remediation work in the community.

The Executive Director of CODE, Hamzat Lawal, lamented that nothing serious had been done about the tragedy one year after the submission of the report of the Response Planning committee on outbreak of Lead Poisoning in Shakira.

“It is sad that nothing meaningful has been done about the crisis since the submission of the Committee’s report which contained that N500 million, this kind of attitudes is even more worrisome and shocking as the outbreak left other children with many anomalies such as fever, pallor, abdominal pain, vomiting, convulsion, altered level of consciousness and nervous breakdown. If nothing is done urgently, these children would be deformed for life,” he warned.

 

Court Sacks Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu

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Court Sacks Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu
Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu
Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu

The federal high court in Abuja has removed the governor of Abia state, Okezie Ikpeazu, from office, citing fake tax returns by the governor during the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governorship primaries in the state in December 2014.

Justice Okon Abang ordered INEC to cede the certificate of return issued to Ikpeazu to Uche Ogah, his opponent in the primary election, and ordered the Abia State Chief Judge to swear in Ogah as the substantive governor of the state.

In his ruling, Justice Abang said Ikpeazu was not qualified for the PDP primaries in the first place, having tendered fake tax clearance papers during the screening.

INEC had in April 2015, declared Ikpeazu winner of the Abia State governorship election having polled 264,713 votes to defeat Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, who polled 180,882 votes.

PDP Crisis: INEC Decides On Makarfi, Sheriff’s Factions Next Week

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PDP Crisis: INEC Decides On Makarfi, Sheriff’s Factions Next Week
PDP Caretaker Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi
PDP Caretaker Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi

The independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will next week decide on which of the two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, it will recognize.

Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to INEC made this known on Sunday.

He said INEC had not recognized any faction of the PDP, adding that its position would be clear after a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt delivers judgment on the matter on July 4.

“There is a pending case in court on this contentious issue, which is likely to be decided on July 4. INEC’s position on the matter will depend on the anticipated court judgment,” Oyekanmi said.

He explained that INEC monitored the primary in Edo State conducted by the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction based on the order of the court in Port Harcourt, but that the Ali Modu-Sheriff faction later went to court to vacate the order.

“INEC did monitor the Makarfi group’s primary election in Edo State, based on the Port Harcourt high court order, which gave recognition to his group. Now the Modu-Sheriff group has gone to court to vacate that order, and the court will deliver judgment on the matter on July 4. To that extent, INEC will not monitor Sheriff’s planned primary election,” Oyekanmi clarified.

Justice Makhmud Liman of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, will on July 4, rule on the PDP national convention which was convened by Modu-Sheriff  and held on May 21.

But the party’s elders organized a parallel exercise in Abuja.

However, instead of electing new officers, the convention produced a caretaker committee headed by Makarfi. But Sheriff is insisting that he remains the acting chairman of the party, leading to series of court cases, the latest of which will be decided on July 4.

Kidnapped Expatriates Regain Freedom In Calabar

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gunmen in yobe

Five expatriates and two Nigerians kidnapped by gunmen in Calabar last Thursday were on Sunday released by their captors with various degrees of injuries.

The seven persons were workers of Macmahon Construction Company, a contracting firm working with a cement manufacturing company in Calabar.

It was gathered that an undisclosed amount of money was paid as ransom by the company to secure the release of the workers made up of five foreigners and two Nigerians who were kidnapped on their way to work on Thursday, June 23 and their driver killed in the process.

A source who disclosed the release of the kidnapped men said “All the seven of them were released in the early hours of today (Sunday) with injuries. Nobody knows why they were injured but they are receiving medical attention.”

Reports say other foreigners working with the cement company had stopped going to work for fear of being abducted.

An anonymous Nigerian worker in the company disclosed that top management workers who are Nigerians are now scared of going to work.

However, Jude Ngaji, Cross River State Security Adviser said no ransom was paid for their release and it was not true that all of the abducted victims sustained injuries.

“I can confirm that they have been released. I was with them a short while ago. It is only the two Nigerians that had injuries while one or two others have scars. They have all been treated and have also had contacts with their families. Their spirits were high,” he said.

Dangote’s Gas Pipeline Will Help Solve Electricity Problem – Osinbajo

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Dangote’s Gas Pipeline Will Help Solve Electricity Problem – Osinbajo

dangote-refineery

The ongoing sub-sea gas pipeline project by the Dangote Group which will supply three billion cubic feet of gas daily has the potential of solving the problem electricity in the country, says Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The Vice President spoke when he paid a visit to the on-going Dangote’s $17 billion Gas Pipeline, Fertilizer, petrochemicals and Refineries project at the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

Osinbajo also said the refinery, petrochemical, gas and fertilizer projects being undertaken by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man would be a major strategic asset for Nigeria, adding that the project as a whole is an incredible industrial undertaken being the largest and the most ambitious in Africa.

“This is incredible if it can be done because it would be a major strategic asset for Nigeria, it would boost our power supply tremendously,” Osinbajo said.

Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor of Lagos, also added that the Dangote Group’s refinery projects will create 235,000 jobs upon completion.

“Apart from the 135,000 direct jobs that will be created from the projects, another 100,000 indirect jobs would be generated while income accruable to the federal government would be in the region of over $500million in three years,” he said.

“Firstly, there is a refinery project that is ongoing; second there is a petrochemical project that is also ongoing.

“There is pipeline transfer project that brings gas from Bonny down to Olokonla and down to Lekki and then the fourth one is the fertilizer project all in one location.

“The coming of the Vice President to inspect this project is instructive and a sign post that the Federal Government is in support of what is going on.

The refinery is expected to come on stream by the first quarter of 2019 and the gas project by 2018.

Present at the visit were Kemi Adeosun, Minister of Finance; Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Solid Minerals; Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing and Okechukwu Enelamah, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.

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Troops Clear More Settlements In Northeast, Rescue 5,000 Hostages

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Troops Clear More Settlements In Northeast, Rescue 5,000 Hostages

NigerianArmyRejoicing
Troops of 21 Brigade and Civilian Joint Task Force have conducted a fighting patrol to Zangebe, Maiwa, Algaiti and Mainari villages in which 6 Boko Haram terrorists were killed and several others wounded.

The troops also liberated over 5,000 Boko Haram hostages and recovered 5 motorcycles and 5 bicycles.

Similarly, troops of 7 Division Garrison Rapid Deployment Force, RDF, in conjunction with the police and Civilian JTF today also conducted Boko Haram terrorists clearance operations at Masu Yiwa, Ladin Buta, Bazaka, Kesa Gala, Tabla, Fahinde, Shirori, Gizina, Maska Aribe, Maska and Maska Lawanti villages, all in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State.

One 1 Civilian JTF was however killed in the operations while a soldier and 1 Mobile Policeman were wounded. The bodies of the Civilian JTF; the wounded soldier and his police counterpart have since been evacuated to Maiduguri.

A statement by Sani Usman, spokesman of the army, said the army commiserates with the families of the departed Civilian JTF, and said the wounded are in stable condition and responding to treatment.

In a related development, troops of 192 Battalion, 26 Task Force Brigade and some vigilantes  also embarked on fighting patrol along Kusarha-Zalidava general area on Sunday, killing 2 Boko Haram terrorists and recovering 1 General Purpose Machine Gun, a belt of 7.62mm ammunition containing 42 rounds.

One of the vigilantes sustained an injury in the eye during the encounter but he has been moved to the hospital and is responding to treatment.

Buratai’s Commitment Unparalleled, Army Says

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Buratai’s Commitment Unparalleled, Army Says

Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor
Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor

The Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Lucky Irabor, a Major General, has called on the public, particularly those in the northeast, to rise in defence of the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, a Lieutenant General, in the face of allegations concerning his commitment in the fight against Boko Haram.

Irabor made the call in Maiduguri on Saturday when he gave an update on the progress of the counterinsurgency operation following allegations of corruptions by a group known as “Concerned Soldiers and Officers from the North East” against Buratai.

Aside alleging that the army chief and his wives own properties in Dubai, the group accused him of not doing enough in the fight against the insurgents, an accusation the theater commander debunked.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Chief of Army Staff,COAS, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, since assumption of office, has taken the affairs of Operation Lafia Dole to a level that showed unparalleled commitment to the operational effectiveness and good welfare of troops. For example, between January till now, the COAS has provided various quantities of ammunition types, vehicles and other equipment in the Theatre.

” He has equally provided uniforms and boots for all the troops in Operation Lafia Dole. The payment of allowances and other requirements have been regular and in most cases, up-front. The COAS’ regular visits to the frontline are well known to all. The aggregate impact of the efforts is the huge operational successes being recorded in the Theatre,” Irabor said.

This, he added, has led to the increase in morale of troops in the front lines.

He also dismissed insinuations that the motorcycles bought for the Motorcycle Battalion, which has proved very effective in securing the Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu and Damaturu-Buni Yadi-Biu roads in Borno and Yobe States, were second hand.

“When a report of that nature was received earlier, the COAS instituted a high-powered investigation by Military Police. The findings of the investigation team revealed that the motorcycles were brand new and were delivered in crates as knocked-down-parts. The technicians who fixed some of them, failed to tighten some knots firmly which was later rectified. Ever since, the motorcycles have proven useful in various operations,” Irabor noted.

He called the report part of terrorist strategy to distract the military from its operations but warned that it would fail.

Earlier, army spokesperson, Sani Usman, a Colonel, addressed the aspect of the allegations claiming the Chief of Army Staff and his wives own a property in Dubai that was paid in one transaction.

“It is a fact that the Buratai family have two properties in Dubai that were paid for instalmentally through personal savings three years ago. This, along with other personal assets have consistently been declared by General Buratai in his Assets Declaration Form as Commander Multinational Joint Task Force Commander and as Chief of Army Staff,” Usman said in a statement.

The statement also said Buratai does not have a bank account with Skye Bank and was never a director of procurement at the army headquarters. The army’s Directorate of Procurement, Usman said, was established by the Chief of Army Staff only a year ago.

The army expressed worries over the “baseless allegation”, which it claimed is meant to discredit its leader, but warned that the army can only be spurred to carry out its responsibilities with zeal.

Charles Okah Still in Prison Custody

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Charles Okah Still in Prison Custody
Charles Okah
Charles Okah

Contrary to speculations that there was a jail break in Kuje Medium Security Prison and that Charles Okah had escaped from lawful custody, prison authorities have confirmed that he is still in their custody.

This was contained in a statement by spokesman of the service, DCP Franscis Enobore.

He however confirmed that two inmates of the prison escaped at about 1930hrs.

He also insisted there was no jail break.

“The inmates in question were awaiting trial for culpable homicide and have no relationship with Charles Okah in whatever manner as is being speculated.

“Efforts are on in collaboration with sister security agencies and relevant bodies to recapture the fleeing prisoners.

“The Controller General of Prisons, apart from immediately dispatching a team to the Prison to carry out preliminary investigation, was also personally on ground to have a first-hand information about the incident. He directed the team to do a thorough job and expeditiously too in order to establish the circumstances surrounding the escape noting that any staff found culpable would be made to face the full wrath of the law,” the statement added.

Niger Is Investor Friendly – Gov. Sani

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Niger Is Investor Friendly – Gov. Sani
Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello
Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello

Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani has assured investors of a conducive atmosphere for their investments.

 

The governor gave this assurance when officials of the Dangote group met with the state government to finalise agreement for a proposed N140billion sugar plant to be built by the group in the state.

 

Governor Sani, who was represented at the event by his deputy Ahmad Kesto said that one of the means of creating job opportunities for youths by his administration is by encouraging investors and development partners.

 

He appealed to other investors, especially those in agriculture and agro-allied industry to cash in on the state’s comparative advantage and various economic incentives being offered by the government to invest in the state.

 

A technical committee was set up to study and harmonies all issues in order to ensure a successful take-off of the Sugar factory while the office of the state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice was also directed to prepare a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, before the next meeting.

 

Murtala Zubairu, head of human resource and administration, sugar refinery of Dangote Group, commended the approach of the state government for the successful take off of the multi billion naira project.

 

He said the project which will be in phases will be kick- started in few months with the take off of the Sugar Cane plantation.

 

Zubairu assured the government and people of the state that Dangote Group is a socially responsible entity and promised that the company will not renege in her responsibilities to the host community and the state in general.

 

The sugar cane plantation and sugar factory when in place is expected to provide 2,200 direct jobs, 5,300 in-direct jobs, while the plant is expected to produce1,100 tonnes of sugar annually as well as produce ethanol, generate 20 megawatts of power among others.

 

 

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