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Taraba State Speaker Is Dead

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Taraba State Speaker Is Dead

The speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Haruna Tsokwa is dead.

Tsokwa reportedly took ill last Thursday and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Jalingo, were he died Monday morning.

His corpse was later moved to the Taraba Specialist Hospital.

The late Speaker was among the majority lawmakers in the state House of Assembly, who insisted that the ailing governor, Dambaba Suntai could not resume work after his foreign medical treatment because of his frail state of health and was therefore a staunch supporter of the acting state governor, Garuba Umar, in the on-going battle for the state.

Tsokwa escaped death on September 19, following an ambush by unknown gunmen along the Jos-Abuja road but some of the policemen travelling with him sustained gunshot wounds.

He was expected to lead a delegation of the state Christian community to the yearly pilgrimage in Israel, before his death.

Ozekhome Admits Paying Ransom For Release

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From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

Human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, who was kidnapped in August has admitted paying ransom for his release.

Ozekhome made the disclosure during a thanksgiving service at St. Mary Catholic Church, Ivikwe in Edo state.

He said several of his friends, including former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship aspirant in Edo state, Ken Imansuagbon, donated unsparingly to make up the ransom sum.

The lawyer told the congregation that his son and a trusted lawyer in his chambers, delivered the money to his kidnappers at a specified place.

“I then asked my wife to send my son, Ilugbekhai, and one of my most trusted lawyers who is also like my son, to bring the money,” he said.

Recalling his experience at the point of abduction, Ozekhome said: “They showed me a pistol and a bullet. They asked if I knew what it could do. They told me that they will send me to my early grave if my family members failed to raise the huge amount they demanded for my ransom. At that point, I urinated in my knicker.”

The activist lawyer also disclosed that his son and the lawyer, who delivered the ransom, were also abducted and a ransom had to be paid for their release.

He said: “I will now continue to serve God, because if God is with you, no body will be against you. Henceforth, my household will continue to serve God, and will continue helping the needy, especially the widows and helpless in the society.”

Chaotic Bishop of Auchi Diocese, Gabriel Dunia, who officiated at the thanksgiving service, urged the congregation to be thankful to God in everything.

Among dignitaries present at the service were Ken Imasuagbon, the Onogie of Ebele, Aikpaogie I; Andrew Yusuf Dirisu, the Okudepilagbe of Okpella among others.

Ozekhome’s kidnappers had insisted on collecting N100 million before his release and rejected the money offered to them by the family, claiming that he had the capability to pay the named ransom.

Four officers of the Edo Police Command were killed in a gun duel with the kidnappers in a failed attempt to rescue the legal luminary.

UK Stops Plans To Impose £3000 Visa Bond On Nigerians

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UK Stops Plans To Impose £3000 Visa Bond On Nigerians

Britain is halting a plan to force visitors from six commonwealth  countries to pay a cash bond of £3,000 (about 750,000), that would deter people from over staying in the country.

Under the plan, visitors from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Ghana seeking a six-month British visa would have been mandated to pay a 3,000 pounds cash bond, refundable when they return before the expiration of their visa.

They will forfeit the money if they overstay in Britain after their visa
has expired.

This plan prompted an outcry from the government of the affected countries, making the UK to halt plans on the discriminatory policy..

The then Nigerian foreign minister, Olugbenga Ashiru, said in June that the bond scheme was “not only discriminatory but also capable of undermining the spirit of the Commonwealth family”.

“The government has been considering whether we pilot a bond scheme that would deter people from overstaying the visa. We have decided not to proceed,” a home office official told the AFP.

The London-based Sunday Times newspaper reported yesterday that the scheme backed by Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives had been blocked by junior coalition partners, the Liberal Democrats.

Army Disputes Casualty Figures In Borno Attack

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Army Disputes Casualty Figures In Borno Attack

Musdapha Ilo – Maiduguri

The Army on Sunday said contrary to media reports, five persons, not 30, were murdered in a most recent attack in Bulakuri, Borno state on a wedding convoy

Spokesman for the Army, Mohammed Dole, a lieutenant colonel, said the report in the media that 30 persons were killed was false and urged journalists to always verify facts before going to press.

“Please be informed that the media report on the alleged killing of 30 persons is false,” he said.

Dole said that the attack was launched on a bus at a village called Bulakuri in Bama, headquarters of Bama local government area of Borno.

“There was actually an attack on a bus at Bulakuri village resulting in the killing five persons and not 30 as indicated in the report,” he said.

According to the Army spokesman, the corpses of the victims are in Bama and not Maiduguri as reported in the media.

The groom was reportedly amongst the victims.

Survivors. Who spoke to journalists, said the groom and well wishers were ambushed on Saturday on their way back to Maiduguri after the wedding ceremony which took place in Michika, a town in Adamawa State.

Gov Al-Makura Sacks Aides To Escape Impeachment

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Gov Al-Makura Sacks Aides To Escape Impeachment

By Godwin Ojoshimite

Nasarawa State governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, has sacrificed two officials of his government to stave off a threat of impeachment by the state House of Assembly.

The House had demanded the sacking of the special adviser on inter-party relation Hajara Danyaro and the general manager of Nasarawa Transport Company, Philip Iyakwari, in August but the governor had ignored the request.

However, on Sunday, the secretary to the state government, Zanaib Abdulmumuni, issued a statement which she also announced on Nasarawa Broadcasting Service, NBS, that the two officials had resigned

“The governor has received and accepted the resignation of his special adviser on inter-party relation, Hajiya Hajara Danyaro and the general manager of Nasarawa Transport Company, Philip Iyakwari,” the statement said.

A source close to the government but who does not want to be named told our reporter last night in Lafia that Almakura had no choice but to ask the two officials to resign as it was one of the conditions given by members of the House to stop a planned impeachment process against him.

The source said that 23 out of 24 members of the House had, as at Sunday afternoon, agreed to support the governor’s impeachment.

Almakura is billed to appear before the House Monday to answer questions on sundry issues and today’s announcement of the sacking of the two officials is meant to douse the flame of impeachment threats.

The House had earlier passed a resolution that the governor should sack Iyakwari for inefficiency and Danyaro for being rude to the Assembly.

The special adviser to the governor incurred the wrath of members of the House when she said on the state broadcasting station that the lawmakers were paid N300 million as leave grant and when the House demanded for apology she refused to give any.

When the governor was summoned on August 27 to explain why he did not carry out the resolution asking him to sack the officials, he reasoned that he was not bound to do so.

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“When the House pass a resolution it would want such resolutions respected. But, from my understanding with due respect, it is at the discretion of the governor “.

But the governor has since changed tunes as he has finally succumbed to pressure by asking the two aides to resign.

Almakura’s position has been peculiar since he became governor in 2011 as the 24 – member House is made up of 19 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members with the governor’s All Peoples Congress having only four members.

BPP DG’s Tenure Extension Illegal, Failed Due Process

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BPP DG’s Tenure Extension Illegal, Failed Due Process

By Mohammed Bougei Attah

The recent disclosure by the Leadership Newspaper of October 31, 2013 that the tenure of the current Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Engr. Emeka Ezeh expired in January this year and the subsequent rejoinder credited to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), as published in the same newspaper on November 1, 2013 to disprove that story is something that should worry Nigerians about the current government.

There is also a presumption in law that, where there is no evidence to the contrary, things are presumed to have been rightly and properly done. This is expressed in the Latin maxim omnia praesumuntur rite esse acta. This presumption is commonly resorted to and applied especially with respect to official Acts – Shitta-Bey v AG Fed (1998) CLR 9(a) (SC).

While it is a fact that the late President Shehu Musa Yar’Adua appointed the present Director General of the Bureau with effect from July 27, 2007 in acting position, he was however illegally confirmed on January 29, 2009 for another four (4) years expiring by midnight of 22nd January 2013. By this, the tenure scaled above the statutory four years tenure prescribed in the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007.

The word duly extended as used by the Office of the SGF demonstrates lack of adequate knowledge of governance system. As a fact, the tenure was illegally and not dully extended as it did not follow due process of law. In other words, the term ‘Duly Extended’ cannot stand the content of provisions of the laws on the appointment of the DG. It is therefore important first to draw the attention of the public to this abuse in public offices.

The appointment or renewal of tenure of the Director General of BPP and their other principal staff is a POLITICAL Appointment but STATUTORY requirement which is to be performed by the President and the National Council of Public Procurement (NCPP) as prescribed by law. While the Council appoints the Principal Officers, it also conducts competitive selection process and makes recommendation to President for consent and approval. Thus the power of the President to appoint or renew the appointment of the Director General of BPP is derived from Section 7(1) of PPA and read together with Section 5(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the appointment is strictly based on the recommendation of the Council after a competitive selection process.

Since the elongated tenure approved by late President Yaradua and inherited by President Jonathan expired by midnight of January 22 2013, the question now is whether it is proper or constitutional for President Jonathan to appoint a substantive Director General for BPP with effect from or to renew the illegal tenure of the Director General for another four years without the inauguration of the National Council on Public Procurement, that is required by law to advertise the position for a competitive selection process? The answer of course is NO.
The Supreme Court ruled in the case of Ogbonna V AG of Imo State(1992) CLR 2(b) on the 7th on February 1992 that non observance of a statutory provision on a substantive issue is not capable of being waived and when such non observance occurs, it renders the act illegal, null and void and of no effect.

Section 7(1) of PPA states unambiguous the procedure for the appointment of a DG for the Bureau. It states clearly that “There shall be for the Bureau, a Director-General who shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Council after competitive selections” This therefore means that the DG of BPP as envisaged by law, cannot emerge before the NCPP. And the minimum qualifications established by law for the post of DG are also clearly contained in the PPA and other extant laws. The candidate is required to 1. Hold adequate professional qualification in procurement for a minimum of 15 years (see 7(2) (c) of PPA; 2. Also simultaneously hold relevant professional qualification in procurement for a minimum of 15 years (see 7(2) (C) of PPA; 3. Also simultaneously, be a member of CIPSMN qualified by examination (see 11(9) of CIPSMN Act 2007), 4. The CIPSMN Act also specified in Part IV Section 8 and Part V section 2 (b) (ii) that foreign trained professionals in Procurement who wish to practice in Nigeria are required to “within 12 months after the commencement of the Act, seek registration with the Institute to become members” and Section 5 of CIPSMN Act also confirm that such enrolment shall be after passing prescribed examination conducted by CIPSMN Nigeria.

Section 16(1) of PPA (under the Fundamental Principles for Procurement) states that ‘Subject to the prior review thresholds as may from time to time be set by the Bureau and pursuant to Section 7 (1).

This implies that if there is no DG appointed in accordance with section 7(1), procurement processes are not required to take place. A Court of competent jurisdiction thus may easily quash any administrative decisions of BPP on Bidders and MDAs in dispute on account of improper constitution of BPP /NCPP as required by law.

The order of Certiorari as we know, is basically an order which a court of superior record issues (in this case, the Federal High Court) or makes in the exercise of its supervisory jurisdiction and directed to inferior courts, tribunals or bodies entrusted with judicial or quasi-judicial functions in order to keep them within the limits of jurisdiction allowed to them by the enabling laws. The order of certiorari removes proceedings into the High Court for the purpose of being quashed. In the case of BPP this extends to any judgment, order or decision, made by them in respect of any dispute on procurement proceedings between Bidders and MDAs or between two bidders in any MDA, pursuant to Section 54 of PPA.

The above therefore implies that in line with the principles laid down in the case of Gabriel Madukolu & Ors vs Jonathan Nkemdilim (1962 1 All Nlr 1 and restated in the Case of Babale Vs Abdulkadir (1993) 3 NWLR (PT. 281) page 253, BPP will have no legal jurisdiction to take administrative decisions that will be binding on Bidders and MDAs in dispute without the proper constitution of NCPP and BPP as required by law.

It is on record that the two legislative chambers of the National Assembly are fully aware of this cases and illegality when they declared the Office of the DG of the Bureau and the activities of the Bureau illegal in July this year. Nigerians have not been informed of a reversal of this resolution. That virtue of the provisions of Section 4(2)(4)(a) and (b) read together with Part I, schedule 49 of the 1999 constitution, the National Assembly used the powers vested in them by the constitution to declare Purchasing and Supply (including Procurement, logistics, stores management, warehousing, supply) as a Professional occupation and established the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN) as the only body to determine required standards of knowledge, who is a professional in the field and to regulate the license for practicing purchasing and supply in Nigeria.

On the basis of the above submissions, it important to advise the President once again to constitutes and inaugurates the National Council on Public Procurement in accordance with Section 1 of the Public Procurement Act 2007, to help in promoting good governance especially in the economy, especially power, security, electoral process, security, infrastructure, and to encourage the fight against corruption.

Also, the National Council on Public Procurement so constituted should recommend to the President for appointment, an Acting Director General of BPP while advertising the position for Substantive appointment in accordance with Sections 7 (1), 7 (2)(c) of the Public Procurement Act and Section 11(9) of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management Act 2007. This will promote rule of law and due process in a procurement economy and also encourage the use of procurement technocrats and professionals as obtained in international best practices to improve budget implementation
Attah, National Coordinator, Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative
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Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative (PRADIN) PRADIN is a select group of civil society actors trained under the Federal Government of Nigeria Economic Reforms and Governance Program (ERGP) with funding from the World Bank. The project was conceived by the Office of the Adviser to the President on Relations with Civil Society and with technical support from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN)

Iran Jails Editor Over Offensive Article

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Iran Jails Editor Over Offensive Article

Editor of Bahar, an Iranian reformist newspaper, Saeed Pourazizi, has been jailed for publishing an article on Shia Islam deemed offensive by authorities.

The ISNA news agency quoted Pourazizi’s wife, Masoumeh Shahriari, as saying her husband was summoned to court but was taken to jail instead.

She said authorities have demanded bail in exchange for his release.

The week preceding Pourazizi’s arrest, the government had banned Bahar because of an article authorities said questioned Shia Islam’s beliefs about the Prophet Mohammed’s appointed successor.

Shia Islam is the official religion of Iran.

The daily had issued an apology, saying publishing the article was an “unintentional mistake” and it had temporarily suspended activities to “ease the tensions”.

Culture Minister, Ali Janati, said the article “foments religious conflicts” and that the daily had received earlier warnings.

Bahar and several other reformist dailies, notably Shargh, only resumed publication at the end of 2012 after a ban lasting several years.

Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, the country’s judiciary chief said his department will “act with determination against those who falsify the history and try to undermine the fundamentals of the regime”.

APC Blames Gov Obi For Anambra Stampede

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The All Progressives Congress, APC, has blamed the governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, for the death of some 30 crusaders in a stampede early Saturday morning in Uke, Idemili north local government area of the state.

The party’s interim national publicity secretary, Lai Mohammed, reasoned that if Obi and the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA,Willie Obiano, had not turned the praying ground to a campaign ground, the ugly incident that ensued would not have happened.

The party said while there was nothing wrong in a state governor attending a vigil, such visit should not be impromptu in order for the organizers to make the necessary security arrangements.

It added that such visit should not have been used as a licence to engage in political campaign.

The party also condemned the move of the governor to set up a panel to investigate the stampede, saying it would amount to presiding over a case that one is involved in.

“Considering that the Governor himself is at the centre of the whole tragedy, setting up a panel to investigate the cause of the stampede will amount to seeking to be a judge in your own case. The only cause of the stampede is the Governor’s ill-advised visit to the vigil,” the statement said.

It continued: “The simple truth is that there would have been no stampede if Governor Obi had not come to the vigil or, even if he had come, had not attempted to politicize the gathering that was meant strictly for prayers.”

The APC warned the governor to desist from imposing a candidate on the state against the wish of the people.

The Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry in its usual practice organised a crusade to mark entrance into a new month and hundreds of worshippers who attended the programme booed at the governor and Obiano when they tried to launch a campaign, resulting in a stampede as security details attached to Obi tried to defend their boss.

The police is yet to give an official figure of casualty more than 24 hours after the incident.

Many Feared Dead In Anambra Stampede

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Many Feared Dead In Anambra Stampede

A stampede at the Holy Ghost Adoration Ground in Uke, Idemili North Local Government of Anambra State, led to several deaths on Saturday morning.

The Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, organises a weekly crusade at the ground which is usually attended by hundreds of worshippers.

Being the first Saturday in the month of November, the programme promised to be special and it attracted more worshipers.

However, they got more than they bargained for as stampede, the cause of is yet to be determined, led to the death of many, bringing the program me to an abrupt halt.

The police public relations officer for the state command, Emeka Chukwuemeka, said the casaulty figure cannot immediately be ascertained, but reports say at least 23 had died and another 100 injured.

“The number of deaths cannot be ascertained now until we conclude investigations because some persons who fainted were later resuscitated,” Chukwuemeka said.

He said investigations have begun into unravelling the cause of the incident.

Meanwhile, the candidate of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, for the November 16 governorship election, Chris Ngige, has blamed governor Peter Obi and his party, the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, candidate, Willie Obiano, for the incident.

Ngige said that reports reaching him indicate that “the APGA campaign train went to the Adoration Ground at Ukeh and induced stampede as Obi’s goons charged at worshipers who booed at them for campaigning at the Holy ground.”

Reacting to the incident, however, governor Obi who expressed shock over the incident, promised to set up a panel of enquiry to determine the immediate and remote causes of the stampede.

He also promised to take care of the medical bills of the victims.

Guinea-Bissau Postpones Election For Lack Of Funds

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Guinea-Bissau Postpones Election For Lack Of Funds

Guinea-Bissau will postpone an election planned for November until early next year due to lack of funds, officials said on Friday.

The election is supposed to return the West African country to democracy after a military coup last year and western and regional powers and the United Nations, UN, had all urged it to hold the vote before the year ends.

“There is no sufficient funding to hold general elections,” interim President Manuel Sherifo Nhamadjo said.

He had previously indicated that the vote would take place on November 24.

The UN special representative to the country, Jose Ramos-Horta, said that $20 million had been raised for the election, adding that he now expected it to happen either in February or March.

“We have to first of all proceed with voter registration and after that the general elections could be held,” said Augusto Mendes, president of Guinea Bissau’s electoral commission.

“This will probably be sometime in the first quarter of 2014,” he added.

The coup-prone former Portuguese colony is notorious as a trafficking hub for narcotics from South America to Europe.

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