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Group Petitions NASS Over Ministry’s Attempt To Frustrate FOIA Request

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Group Petitions NASS Over Ministry’s Attempt To Frustrate FOIA Request

A non-governmental organization, the Public and Private Development Centre, PPDC, has asked the National Assembly to sanction the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development for “deliberately trying the frustrate the effectiveness of the Freedom of Information Act through prohibitive charges”.

In a petition, addressed to both chambers of the Assemblyand the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, the PPDC said the ministry was asking it to pay N65,000 to access information it requested under the FOI Act, contrary to the Schedule of Fees prescribed by the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Spokesperson for the organization, SeemberNyager, also alleged that the ministry was resorting to this tactic in order to prevent it and its procurement monitors from monitoring its contracting processes in accordance with the Public Procurement Act, 2007

The group further alleged that when it offered to inspect the relevant records, which would not require the ministry making copies for it, it insisted that it must first pay N65,000.

The PPDC has therefore called on the National Assembly to wade into the matter and put an end to such acts of impunity and disregard for the law, saying: “unless this was done, other public institutions could gradually adopt similar tactics to frustrate the efforts of the National Assembly and the President to ensure transparency in public institutions”.

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The petition, copied to President Goodluck Jonathan and the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, relies on the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 which seeks to make public records more freely available to citizens.

The Public and Private Development Centre is a citizen sector organization established to increase citizen participation in governance and development in a way that improves the integrity of public and private sector governance processes particularly through procurement monitoring.

Shettima Appeals For More Support From FG

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Shettima Appeals For More Support From FG

By Musdapha Ilo

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has called on the federal government to stand by the state as it grapples to reclaim peace from the hands of terrorists operating in the Northeast region.

Shettima who was represented by the commissioner for education, Inuwa Kubo, at a Northeast Peace Summit organized by the Youth Federation for World Peace in Maiduguri, lamented that the federal government has not done enough to assist the state tackle the problem of insecurity, as well as provide cushioning measures for victims of the continuous attacks that have spanned four years.

The governor disclosed that his administration has spent huge amount of its scarce resource on security and assistance to victims of Boko Haram insurgency and there is still much left to be done.

He stressed that there was need for the Federal Government to assist and partner with the state government in sustaining emerging peace especially in Maiduguri, the state capital.

The Project Manager of the British Council, Kano office, Ryan Grist charged the media to help the region build and sustain peace.

“There are obviously something positive about Borno,” he declared urging the media to highlight such positive things to allow peace return fully.

It would be recalled that last week the Borno State House of Assembly passed a vote of no confidence on the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration over the ongoing Boko Haram crisis in the state, insisting that the situation has deteriorated.

Leader of the Assembly, Idrissa Jidda, while expressing displeasure over the handling of the security situation by the federal government, hailed the state governor for his approach to the impending security challenges.

Jidda said the governor has done creditably well in giving hope to the people of the state and could have performed better if he had received the necessary support from the federal government.

‘Dead’ Boko Hara Leader, Shekau Reappears In New Video

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‘Dead’ Boko Hara Leader, Shekau Reappears In New Video

The leader of the outlawed Boko Haram sect, Abubakur Shekau, who was claimed to have died somewhere in Cameroon from gunshot wounds inflicted on him by the Nigerian military has resurfaced Wednesday in a recorded video message threatening to continue his killing spree until democracy is crushed in Nigeria.

Shekau boasted that he remains invincible and mocked world leaders including President Barack Obama (United States), President Francois Hollande (France) and Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.

Shekau, who was surrounded in the video mailed to some journalists by dozens of his lieutenants all dressed in military camouflage, spoke amidst laughter and sarcasm as he accepted responsibility for recent attacks in Borno state.

“It was said that I was killed, but here I am; I deliberately refused to respond on time; but here I am talking and laughing at Nigerian authority who misled the world that I am dead,” he said.

Until he was declared dead, Shekau was the most wanted Nigerian in history with a ransom of N50 million from Nigerian government and $7 million from the American government.

He declared that his ultimate aim is to ensure that democracy is dethroned in Nigeria.

His message was delivered in Hausa but translated to mean: “The world should know that I can not die except by the will of Allah. I have told you that all that I do is prescribed by the Quran. The essence of it is to carry out the injunctions. Don’t bother yourselves stopping me because I cannot be stopped. The war is more grievous than you think, and it will consume you”.

Shekau said further: “I swear by Allah that there will be no democracy in Nigeria. We are going to rise against it and we shall soon defeat it, The concept of government of the people by the people, for the people cannot continue to exist. It shall soon, very soon, be replaced by Government of Allah, by Allah for Allah”

“I believe by now Lt. Col Sagir Musa, who issued the statement of my death should bury his head in shame; President Jonathan should bury his head in shame; President Barrack Obama should bury his head in shame, President François Hollande should bury his head in shame.”

He further mocked: “How shameful is it for Nigerian military for a man they called inconsequential to defeat them and seize their tankers and arms. We have celebrated our victory in Monguno, Benisheikh and surrounding villages, and we shall not relent  untill total victory comes our way, by Allah’s will’.

It would be recalled that the now disbanded JTF in Borno state had on August 19, 2013 issued a statement through its spokesman, Lt Col Musa, who is now spokesman of the Army 7 Division that Shekau may have been mortally injured in a military shootout on June 30, 2013.

 

SSS Arrest Ozekhome’s Kidnapper

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By Jefferson Ibiwale

Reports just reaching www.icirnigeria.org indicate that the State Security Service, SSS, has arrested the man believed to have masterminded the kidnap of human rights lawyer, Mike Ozhekome.

Reliable security sources said that the kidnap kingpin, whose name was given as Kelvin Oburuvbe, is the leader of a kidnap ring that operates in Edo and Delta states.

He was reportedly kidnapped in Benin on Wednesday by security operatives who had been on his trail, after a tip off.

The source could, however, not say if any other suspect was arrested along with Oburuvbe who is being interrogated at the SSS headquarters in Benin.

It will be recalled that Ozhekome and his driver were abducted on August 24 along Benin Auchi road and held for three weeks before being released after an unspecified ransom was paid by his family to the kidnappers.

After his release, the lawyer had advocated the granting of amnesty to kidnappers, adding that his abductors were young educated men frustrated by the Nigerian society.

 

The PDP Has Capacity To Resolve Its Differences – Gov. Aliyu

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The PDP Has Capacity To Resolve Its Differences – Gov. Aliyu

By Nma Shekwolo

Governor of Niger state, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu on Wednesday warned external forces working to aggravate the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to steer clear, insisting that the party has the capacity to solve its problems.

The governor stated this while receiving the Brigade Commander 31 Field Artillery Brigade Nigerian Army, Hassan Abayomi Salihu, a Majo General, in Minna.

Aliyu, an outspoken member of the Abubakar Baraje-led faction alleged
they were external forces striving to worsen the crisis and make the differences among members irreconcilable.

“The PDP has the capacity to resolve whatever differences we have, we must not allow people who are outside the party to get so enmeshed in the problem that is not their own and in the process kill that which we want to build,” he said.

He said he had seen a lot of articles in the media which prove these party haters are out to create more animosity and anarchy within the party.

“What is happening is an internal affair of the PDP because I am beginning to see a sign as if some people don’t want reconciliation to take place through the type of articles they are planting in newspapers,” he noted.

Aliyu stressed that the G7 Governors involved in the crisis were matured enough to know when to hold on and when to let go, adding that the essence of the crisis plaguing the ruling party is to strengthen democracy in the country by building a democratic culture in politicians “to the extent that their words will always be their bond”.

He commended the Military for their discipline and stressed the need for military training for all adult civilians in order to create a disciplined society.

The governor reiterated the call for an extension of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, programme from the present 12 months to 18 months, with the last 6 months devoted to military training of members.

Earlier, the Commander had commended the cordial relationship between the military and civil population in Niger state and the support given to security agencies in the state by the government.

Salihu said the Brigade is currently training its officers and men on how to tackle insurgency across the country using communication.

Benin High Court Awards Oshiomhole N25 Million In Libel Suit

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Benin High Court Awards Oshiomhole N25 Million In Libel Suit

By Jefferson Ibiwale/Benin

A High Court in Benin City has awarded the sum of N25million as damages to the Edo state Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, in deciding a libel suit against Docklands Communication and one Loye Amzat, publishers and Editor of the News of the People Magazine.

In the suit, Oshiomhole had dragged the soft sell weekly magazine to court demanding for N250m as damages over a report with the headline, “Oshiomhole’s Sex Power Exposed: Impregnates Young Girl Six Months After Death of Wife”.

Governor Oshiomhole who personally appeared in court as witness said the publication libelled his person and that the defendant, among other things, falsely wrote that he bought the said girl a jeep including interfering in the academic activities of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, on behalf of the girl.

Oshiomhole also said the magazine alleged that he used sexual enhancement drugs and that he had done traditional marriage with the purported girl, just as he added that the edition, which was widely circulated, coincided with the preparations of one of his daughter’s wedding.

He told the court that he demanded damages because the said the publication caused him and his children psychological trauma just six months after the death of his wife.

Justice Efe Ikponmwen in his judgment also ordered the defendant to publish a well-worded retraction and apology in a similarly conspicuous manner in an edition of the magazine.

The trial Judge held that the governor’s evidence proved that the magazine publication was libellous.

Justice Ikponmwen noted that even though the public has a right to know about a public officer, such information should be in line with the law.

Senate Mandates Committee To Probe Apo Killings

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Senate Mandates Committee To Probe Apo Killings

The Nigerian Senate has ordered investigation into the recent shootout at an uncompleted building in the Apo District of Abuja, apparently not satisfied with the Department of State Security Services, SSS claims that the persons killed were members of the Boko Haram Sect who were using the building as a hide out.

In a motion at the resumption of Plenary on Tuesday, Sahabi Ya’u, a lawmaker from Zamfara State, noted with dismay, the shootings which he observed left nine people, mostly tri-cycle operators, dead, most of whom he said were indigenes of Zamfara, Katsina and Kano States.

About sixteen others had various degrees of serious injuries.

“The eye witness further claimed that the mid-night operation went horribly wrong when eight of the squatters were shot dead by the combined team of SSS operatives and the Army in an orgy of unrestrained shootings”, the Senator told the House.

The motion caused a debate among the lawmakers as some of them argued that it was too hasty and that the security operatives were on top of the situation.

Another legislator, Nkechi Nworgu from Abia State in the South East, argued that the Boko Haram Sect had unleashed mayhem on innocent Nigerians, even at worship centers and called for caution in dealing with the issue.

“We must not be hasty in condemning the killings and must allow thorough investigation into the matter”, she said.

However, her colleague Sadiq Yar’Adua from Katsina State, said the rights of citizens were being trampled upon and opposed the killing of innocent citizens by security operatives.

“It is important for us to establish the truth because times without number, our rights are violated”, he maintained.

The Senate Majority Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba, from Cross River State, likened the incident in Apo on Friday to international terrorist activities which have been threatening global peace.

“The Apo killings took place on Friday, on Saturday, the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi, Kenya was invaded by Al Shabaab and on Sunday there was an attack by Al-Qaeda in Pakistan,” he said.

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The Senate Leader expressed the belief that there was a link between what happened in Abuja and other parts of the world.

In his comments, the Senate President, David Mark, condemned terrorism and extra judicial killings, saying that details on the matter must be obtained before further actions are taken on the matter.

The Senate therefore, mandated its joint committee on National Security and Intelligence, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to investigate the circumstances that led to the killings and report back in a week.

Group Threatens Nationwide Action If ASUU Strike Persists After 14 Days

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Group Threatens Nationwide Action If ASUU Strike Persists After 14 Days

A group known as the Alpha Liberation Organisation has threatened a repeat of the 2012 nationwide subsidy protest if the Federal Government and the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, failed to negotiate and call off the lingering strike at the end of a 14-day ultimatum it issued.

Abuoma Chuka, the National President of the group, told newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra State, that the ultimatum takes effect on Tuesday.

He said that his organisation was already negotiating with coalitions of civil society groups nationwide and students’ bodies to stage a nationwide protest after the expiration of the ultimatum.

Chuka noted that the strike, which made thousands of students to roam the streets, would enter its 100th day at the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum.

“If the Federal Government fails to do everything to call off the strike, we will stage a protest. In fact, exactly what happened during the fuel subsidy days will happen again; and no force can take us back. We are into negotiations with all civil society groups; we will also mobilise the youth; we will jump into the streets,” he said.

Chuka, who lauded the listening posture of the Federal Government, however, blamed it for entering into an agreement which it could not honour.

He noted that since the onset of the strike, there had been more than 11 negotiations between the Federal Government and the union.

“It is a very good development and the government has been able to offer N130 billion to appease ASUU. So, we appreciate that; But then, the Federal Government entered into a MoU with ASUU, which it has not kept up till now. The government is not faithful to the agreement,” he said.

The group leader recalled that the 2009 agreement stated that all federal universities would require N1.5 trillion between 2009 and 2011 to address the decay in university education.

He also noted that in the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed between ASUU and the government in 2012, the Federal Government decided to extend the arrangement to include both federal and state universities.

Chuka called on the government to make concerted efforts to resolve the lingering crisis and by so doing stem academic brain drain and students’ migration to foreign universities.

 

Interior Ministry Denies Demanding Bribe From Applicants

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Interior Ministry Denies Demanding Bribe From Applicants

The Ministry of Interior has denied charging fees from applicants seeking recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Fatima Bamidele, said in a statement on Tuesday that the ministry did not collect N1,000 as processing fee from applicants as speculated.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service do not charge and will not accept money for jobs,” she said.

The permanent secretary explained that the current recruitment was in continuation of an earlier effort by the ministry to recruit officers manually into the Nigeria Immigration Service which was marred by controversies until it was discontinued.

“Consequently, a new ICT-based recruitment exercise had to be adopted for the purpose of fairness, transparency and accountability in line with the transformation agenda of the government,” she said.

According to the statement, a consultant was engaged to provide an Internet platform to enable applicants access the application forms that will enable the ministry process the applications.

It said the consultant was authorised to charge a maximum processing fee of N1,000 per applicant to cover the cost of scratch card to gain access to the site.

Bamidele said: “This is intended to save the applicants the cost of travelling to Abuja to submit their applications, as well as avoid other inherent risks including unauthorised middlemen activities and other abuses”

The statement further warned that “Anybody who demands for and accepts money or bribes for jobs into the services under the ministry will be appropriately sanctioned in line with extant regulations guiding discipline in the service.”

 

Egypt’s Police Shuts Down Brotherhood’s Newspaper

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Egypt’s Police Shuts Down Brotherhood’s Newspaper

Egyptian authorities have shut down the headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice newspaper in Cairo.

It is the latest move aimed at crushing the Islamist movement, the Brotherhood said on Wednesday.

The move follows Monday’s decision by an Egyptian court to suspend the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood and any of its associations.

“We the journalists of the Freedom and Justice newspaper condemn the security forces for closing down the headquarters of the newspaper,” the Brotherhood said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

Police stormed the building overnight and removed the contents. A source at the Cairo Security Department said the raid followed Monday’s court ruling which banned the Brotherhood and ordered its funds seized.

“A court ruling was issued to do it on charges of inciting violence and terrorism in the recent past,” a security source said, referring to the operation.

Since the uprising following President Mohammed Morsi’s removal by the military on July 3, there has been no agreement on figures for victims of the crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood, but estimates of the detained range from 1,000 to 8,000.

 

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