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Butchers In Borno Deny Sponsoring Boko Haram Terrorists

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Butchers In Borno Deny Sponsoring Boko Haram Terrorists

Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

Butchers at the Maiduguri Central Abattoir, in Borno state, under the aegis of Butchers Union of Nigeria, BUN, have urged the public to disregard information that it is providing cover for members of the Boko Haram sect.

The union was reacting to a recent statement credited to the Gwoza Christian Community Association, GCCA, in which it referred to the abattoir as a breeding ground for Boko Haram.

The GCCA went on to accuse governor Kashim Shettima of donating N25 million to the butchers and by extension to members of the sect.

Spokesman for the Christian group, Ayuba J. Bassa, noted that the generosity of the governor was coming at a time when Christians in Gwoza were being killed by the Boko Haram insurgents whose breeding ground was the very abattoir in which the governor was making such investment.

The butchers, however, denied having any member of the dreaded sect in the fold and described the statement “as malicious and baseless”.

In a statement jointly signed by the union’s chairman, Abubakar Ngula, the secretary general, Stephen David and the Sarkin-Pawa (Chief butcher), Mala Modu, the union said butchers in the abattoir comprise of people from all background and religions and that such comments were capable of injuring the peace of the abattoir and the state in general.

David who spoke on behalf of the others said if his union had any sympathy for Boko Haram, he as a Christian would have been killed long ago.

“I hail from Gwoza, precisely from Bayan Dutse, Gava Nbuwan-mission, and I am Christian by faith. If the abattoir is a breeding ground for Boko Haram, then I wouldn’t have been alive today, talk more of me becoming the Secretary General of the Butchers’ Union. As such we call on the general public to disregard such assertion,” he said.

As for the donation, it explained that the N25 million given to the association recently by Borno state government was a loan.

“For the public not to be misled, the truth is that Borno State Governor has never given the sum of N25 million to butchers from Gwoza at the Abattoir.

However, the Borno state Government has out of its magnanimity granted a loan of N25 million to the National Butchers Union at the Maiduguri abattoir with the aim of promoting small scale entrepreneurship”, the union stated.

Rights Groups Condemn Egypt’s New Protest Restriction Law

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Rights Groups Condemn Egypt’s New Protest Restriction Law

Human rights groups in Egypt have condemned as repressive interim President Adly Mansour’s signing into law new rules on holding protests.

The final version of the law is yet to be issued but reports say it requires permission from the police in advance before protests can be held.

“The draft law seeks to criminalise all forms of peaceful assembly, including demonstrations and public meetings and gives the state free hand to disperse peaceful gatherings by use of force,” 19 Egyptian organisations said in a statement.

However, Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi said the new law was designed to protect “the right of protesters” and that it required them to give “notice” rather than seek permission.

Government sources said the legislation had been watered down to require three rather than seven days’ notice.

Mass protests have led to the toppling of two presidents in the past three years in Egypt.

Parliamentary and presidential elections are due to take place next year but human rights groups have accused the military-backed authorities of anti-democratic tendencies.

Thousands of Muslim Brotherhood members have been detained since Morsi’s overthrow, though the authorities say this is part of combating terrorism.

NSCDC Arrest Four Pipeline Vandals In Kwara

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NSCDC Arrest Four Pipeline Vandals In Kwara

Four persons suspected to have damaged pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in Afon, Kwara state, have been arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.

The commandant of the agency in the state, Gana Yerima, confirmed the arrest of the suspects to journalist on Monday in Ilorin.

Yerima said the suspected vandals were about syphoning petroleum product into a waiting oil truck at about 1:30 a.m. when official of the command, who were on surveillance duty in the area, arrived at the scene following a tip-off.

He alleged that on sighting the NSCDC team, the suspects opened fire but were overpowered by the “superior firepower of my men” and subsequently arrested.

Yerima said that aside from the truck, with reg. no. OYO XA 773 WEL, an 18-seater bus with reg. no. XB 954 AME, and a Toyota Corolla, marked AR 351 KEY, were found at the scene.

He added that a generator, a pumping machine and three long hoses were also discovered at the scene.

Yerima said that the command has maintained a 24-hour surveillance of pipelines in the area since he assumed office in the state in 2012 and warned vandals still operating in Kwara to relocate, saying the state would no longer be conducive to their activities.

He also urged members of the public to continue to support the command by supplying useful information that would lead to the arrest people that destroy public facilities in the state.

Cross Rivers Goes Tough On Tax Evaders

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Cross Rivers Goes Tough On Tax Evaders

The Cross River Internal Revenue Service has embarked on the closure of business premises in Calabar over tax evasion.

The head of informal sector in the Cross River Internal Revenue Service, Denis Usibe, said the exercise was due to failure by the owners of the businesses to pay their Personal Income Tax and PAYE, for 2012 and 2013.

He noted that the payment of tax is a civic responsibility but expressed disappointment that in spite of the government’s campaigns through the media on the need for people to pay their taxes, some people still chose to remain recalcitrant.

“We have tried to wear a human face in tax enforcement; we are in November 2013; yet, some people have not paid taxes for 2012. We have entered into dialogue with various traders’ associations; nevertheless, there is no improvement,” he said.

Mike Igbo, the head of communication of the agency, said that a task force had been set up to educate the people on their civic responsibilities and monitor tax payment across the state.

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He said that the exercise would be carried out in all the major towns of the state, including Obudu, Ikom, Ugep and Ogoja.

“The exercise is to invigorate the process of tax collection and generation of revenue for the state. People have started complying by coming to the IRS office to pay,” he said.

Some of those affected lamented that the tax being imposed on them was too high and, hence the reason why they are unable to comply with the directive.

 

Senate Queries CBN Over Bureau De Change Licence Cancellation

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Senate Queries CBN Over Bureau De Change Licence Cancellation

The Senate committee on banking, insurance and other financial institutions, has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to explain in a detailed report why the licences of 20 bureau de change operators were revoked.

This is contained in a letter titled ‘Revocation of Licences of Twenty Bureaux De Change (BDC),’ dated November 13, which was addressed to the governor.

Chairman of the committee, Bassey Edet Otu, expressed particular concern over the revocation of the licence owned by the First Bank of Nigeria, FBN.

The letter read: “You may recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently revoked the operating licences of 20 Bureaux de Change in the country. The reason advanced for this measure include; (1) Failure to render returns on the utilisation of foreign exchange purchase and (2) Inability to provide documentary evidence that their purchases were utilised for eligible transactions in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011  and other guidelines.”

“However, it is very sad to note that the FBN BDC, owned by the First Bank of Nigeria Plc, one of the leading deposit banks that is expected to lead by example, is involved in this unethical and unprofessional conduct. As a result of this development, there has been persistent public outcry and call for an investigative hearing on the matter.”

It added: “In the interim, this distinguished committee saddled with the oversight responsibility in the banking and allied industry hereby requests you to forward a detailed report on the entire cancellation of the BDC licences and the involvement of the FBN BDC in the whole matter.”

On September 26, the CBN released the names of 20 bureau de change operators whose licences were revoked for alleged foreign exchange malpractices.

The names of those affected include: FBN BDC, Amity Global BDC Ltd., Haruna A. Rahaman BDC, Majia BDC, Ahali BDC Ltd, Lawabash BDC Ltd, Bin Dahuud BDC, Garin Gabas BDC, D&D BDC, Fatahul BDC Ltd, Global Payments BDC, Startime BDC, Plannet Ventures BDC Ltd, Fadima BDC Ltd, Optimum BDC Ltd, Secon BDC Ltd., Asabana BDC Ltd., Maiksal BDC Ltd and Alim BDC Ltd.

The Apex Bank governor said that the affected operators bought dollars from commercial banks without accounting for what the dollars were needed for, nor the purchasers of the money and that they would be prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for money laundering.

Sanusi said independent investigations carried out by the CBN revealed that that commercial banks were importing billions of US dollars in the country for onward sale to the affected BDCs and that Nigeria had taken over from Russian as the highest importer of U.S. dollars in the world.

He said the effect of this is the fall of the nation’s local currency at the foreign exchange market.

Senate Queries CBN Over Bureau De Change Licence Cancellation

The Senate committee on banking, insurance and other financial institutions, has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to explain in a detailed report why the licences of 20 bureau de change operators were revoked.

 
This is contained in a letter titled ‘Revocation of Licences of Twenty Bureaux De Change (BDC),’ dated November 13, which was addressed to the governor.
 
Chairman of the committee, Bassey Edet Otu, expressed particular concern over the revocation of the licence owned by the First Bank of Nigeria, FBN.
 
The letter read: “You may recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently revoked the operating licences of 20 Bureaux de Change in the country. The reason advanced for this measure include; (1) Failure to render returns on the utilisation of foreign exchange purchase and (2) Inability to provide documentary evidence that their purchases were utilised for eligible transactions in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011  and other guidelines.”
 
“However, it is very sad to note that the FBN BDC, owned by the First Bank of Nigeria Plc, one of the leading deposit banks that is expected to lead by example, is involved in this unethical and unprofessional conduct. As a result of this development, there has been persistent public outcry and call for an investigative hearing on the matter.”
 
It added: “In the interim, this distinguished committee saddled with the oversight responsibility in the banking and allied industry hereby requests you to forward a detailed report on the entire cancellation of the BDC licences and the involvement of the FBN BDC in the whole matter.”
 
On September 26, the CBN released the names of 20 bureau de change operators whose licences were revoked for alleged foreign exchange malpractices.
 
The names of those affected include: FBN BDC, Amity Global BDC Ltd., Haruna A. Rahaman BDC, Majia BDC, Ahali BDC Ltd, Lawabash BDC Ltd, Bin Dahuud BDC, Garin Gabas BDC, D&D BDC, Fatahul BDC Ltd, Global Payments BDC, Startime BDC, Plannet Ventures BDC Ltd, Fadima BDC Ltd, Optimum BDC Ltd, Secon BDC Ltd., Asabana BDC Ltd., Maiksal BDC Ltd and Alim BDC Ltd.
 
The Apex Bank governor said that the affected operators bought dollars from commercial banks without accounting for what the dollars were needed for, nor the purchasers of the money and that they would be prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for money laundering.
 
Sanusi said independent investigations carried out by the CBN revealed that that commercial banks were importing billions of US dollars in the country for onward sale to the affected BDCs and that Nigeria had taken over from Russian as the highest importer of U.S. dollars in the world.
 
He said the effect of this is the fall of the nation’s local currency at the foreign exchange market.

Don’t Expect Al-Makura To Transform Nasarawa In One Night- Commissioner

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Don’t Expect Al-Makura To Transform Nasarawa In One Night- Commissioner

By Godwin Ojoshimite

Indigenes and inhabitants of Nasarawa state has been urged to be patient, as the administration of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura is on top gear to transform the state.

The appeal was made by the State Commissioner for Works, Transport and Housing, Mohammed Yahaya Wada when he spoke to newsmen during the weekend.

Wada was responding to criticisms that the Al-Makura-led administration is sideling a part of the state capital belonging to the Eggons.

“Let us be realistic, if Lafia has tens of kilometres, the governor is so fair to see that every place feel the impact of government. It’s a gradual process. We don’t expect the governor to transform the state over a night. So, for anybody to launch such complaint, I think he is unfair to the entire state not just the governor,” he said.

He said the governor was doing well in managing the “little” resource left after paying the mandatory minimum wage.

“I remember vividly, we inspected the road at Bukan-Sidi (Eggon settlement), we went with contractors and it is in drawing board. We cannot just start construction. We have to cost it, design it and look at the budgetary provision,” Wada explained.

On the issue of the delay in the distribution of tricycles procured by the state government, the commissioner said the delay was caused by non payment of people who collected in first batch, adding that the state government has fashioned out a new modus operandi, and will soon commence distribution.

He urged all and sundry to support the administration for optimum development.

ASUU Accuses Govt of Murdering Festus Iyayi

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ASUU Accuses Govt of Murdering Festus Iyayi

From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, at the weekend accused  the government and “its agents of killing its former president, Festus Iyayi, who died in an auto crash weeks ago.

In a press statement issued at the weekend by the University of Benin chapter of ASUU, the union alleged that Iyayi  “did not just die in an accident but that he was wilfully murdered by the State and its agents,” adding that “at the appropriate time ASUU and Prof. Iyayi’s family shall demand concrete answers from the State for his murder.”

The statement which was signed by the Union’s chairman and secretary, Anthony Monye-Emina and Okeri Henry, respectively, said it was aware that there were deliberate steps being taken by the State and its agents to distort the facts of the ‘accident’ as it happened.

The union said it will call for an autopsy to be performed on the corpse of the late Festus Iyayi, in order to determine the actual cause of his death, just as it warned that Governor Idris Wada (of Kogi State) and those ancillary to the accident would be made to face trial for the murder Prof. Iyayi.”

ASUU said it will work together with the family to give Iyayi the befitting burial that he deserves, stressing that it did not want any state interference in his burial.

“His burial should not be an avenue for government officials to score cheap political points as we will resist any state involvement in the burial,” the union stated.

However, a spokesman for Iyayi family, Robert Ebewele, told newsmen that the issue of autopsy was ASUU’s affair and that the family would go on with burial plans for Iyayi earlier slated for the first week of December, even as the result of the post mortem examination was being awaited.

Meanwhile, civil society organisations in Edo State have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government to set up a panel of inquiry to investigate Iyayi’s death or face unpleasant reactions from Nigerians.

The organisations, made up of legal practitioners, students, labour unions and lecturers, made their position known at the weekend at a symposium and street protests organised by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, the National Human Rights Commission and  Citizens Wealth Platform to mark 2013 International Day to End Impunity.

Executive director of ANEEJ, David Ugolor, said that a society not driven by justice was unacceptable, hence the need for the federal government to set up a panel of inquiry into the killing of the former ASUU president.

Nigeria To Privatise Refineries In 2014

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Nigeria To Privatise Refineries In 2014

The Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, says it will privatise the four refineries in Nigeria next year as part of the ongoing oil sector reforms.

This is the second time government is disclosing plans to privatise its refineries as the minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, had earlier said that the four government-owned refineries would be privatised in the first quarter of next year.

“The plans are currently at the preliminary stage, where the blueprint of the policy will be decided…We are working with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources on this. We are just in the preliminary discussion with them and very soon, we will make public the work plan for the processes, including the engagement of advisers, to advise us on the transaction,” head of public communications at the bureau, Chigbo Anichebe, said.

Anichebe said that the privatisation would be handled in line with the usual strategy of the bureau, which is to sell a certain percentage of shares and reserve a certain percentage for the workers, host communities and the Nigerians public.

He urged Nigerians not to be apprehensive about the refineries’ sale because only capable and visionary investors would be considered in the privatisation process.

“People should not be edgy about this transaction because we have done this over and over again. When we first started with the telecommunications sector, people were worried that we will give it to the wrong people…People were also worried about the security implications and all that. I believe that whether these companies end up with local or foreign investors, what is important is the efficiency of whoever is handling it,” he explained.

According to him, foremost considerations will be that the buyers have the financial force and technical know-how to run the companies.

“We don’t bother about where they come from, as long as they are coming with clean money to invest in our economy. So, when we are doing our evaluation of investors for the transaction, that is what we will look at,” he stressed.

The bureau, he said, would also begin the privatisation of the housing sector, Abuja Security and Commodity Exchange Plc. as well as the transportation sector in 2014.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo approved the sale of the refineries during his administration in 2007 but late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s government  reversed the sale of the refineries for lack of transparency in the transaction.

12 Feared Dead In Latest Boko Haram Raid In Borno

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12 Feared Dead In Latest Boko Haram Raid In Borno

By Musdapha Ilo

No fewer than 12 persons are feared dead in Borno State after suspected members of deadly Boko Haram sect attacked Sandiya village in Damboa local government area, setting ablaze several buildings and shooting at escapees.

An unknown number of persons have also been displaced. It was gathered that some residents of the village opposed to the activities of the sect leaked information about them to the military who used the intelligence to record success in recent confrontations.

The gunmen were therefore believed to have embarked on a revenge mission to the community which had declared itself an enemy by exposing their activities.

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Eyewitnesses said the fully armed gunmen numbering about 30 stormed the village in three Hilux vehicles and motorcycles and shot sporadically at helpless and unarmed residents, killing at least 12 persons and inflicting bullets wounds on many others.

Confirming the incident in an email message to journalists, the Borno State Commissioner of Police, Tanko Lawal, said, “The story is true, hoodlums invaded the community and killed 12 people, burnt houses, steal vehicles and motorcycles.”

Damboa, approximately 85 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, has witnessed several deadly attacks by the sect.

Civilian JTF Tasked On Discipline

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Civilian JTF Tasked On Discipline

Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

The Nigerian Army has admonished members of the youth vigilante group, popularly referred to as the Civilian JTF, to remain disciplined and continue to complement the efforts of the military in phasing out insurgency in Borno State.

The General Officer Commanding 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Obidah Ethan, a major general, gave the charge when he visited to the training camp of the over 800 youths presently undergoing empowerment training.

Ethan said the conduct of the vigilante youths so far has been commendable, adding they have proved to be formidable partners in the fight against insurgency.

He also commended the Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, for steps taken by his administration towards giving the youths of the state reorientation through the Borno State Youth Empowerment Scheme, BOYES.

Ethan equally acknowledged the efforts of the trainers and resource persons from the military, police, paramilitary organisations and other security agencies at the training camp for equipping the volunteer youths with the necessary skills required to further improve their efficiency on the field.

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