The Presidency has reacted to the African Development Bank, ADB’sreport indicating that Nigeria’s poverty rate has increased from 65.5 per cent in 1996 to 69.0 per cent in 2010.

The special adviser to the President on media and publicity, ReubenAbati, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that the report was “suspicious, devoid of truth and political”

He said it was inconceivable that ADB’s report came barely a month after it was noted by the UN at the 38th session of the Food and Agricultural Organisation, FAO, in Rome, that the country had recorded significant reduction in poverty and hunger.

In its most recent annual report of the bank, titled African Economic Outlook, the AfDB had said that “The proportion of people living below the national poverty line in Nigeria has worsened.”

The bank’s report also doubts that the federal government is able to reduce poverty rate by 2015, as it describes present efforts as seemingly weak.

“Nigeria’s prospect of halving poverty by 2015 seems weak. Poverty is higher in rural areas at 73.2 per cent than in urban area at 61.8 per cent,” it said.

The report also noted that the rate of poverty varied significantly between the urban and rural citizens and among the geographical zones, adding that 66 per cent of the rural population lives below poverty line of one dollar per day.

“Malnutrition is widespread,” it said, “Rural areas and disadvantaged groups are particularly vulnerable to chronic food shortage and unbalanced nutrition,” it added.

The ADB report also mentioned that as at 2011 unemployment rate was at 24 per cent compared to 21 per cent in 2010, adding that the rate was high among the age bracket of between 15 and 24, and 25 to 44, at 38 per cent and 22 per cent, respectively.

It said that according to the National Bureau of Statistics, an average of 1.8 million people join the labour market every year over the past five years, with a projection that that number would grow from three million in 2012 to about 8.5 million in 2015.

The bank recommends that efforts to tackle poverty and unemployment in the country must be doubled to ensure effective engagement of the youth for economic growth and development.

The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Umar  El-Kanemi has called for peace in the state and urged citizens to support government and shun violence.

El-Kanemi said the killings of innocent citizens by the Boko Haraminsurgents must stop, insisting that Islam does not condone it.

El – Kanemi who spoke to journalists through Musa Liman, theZanna Sabnoma, chief mobilizer of events, of Borno Emirate, said the indiscriminate and unjust killing of innocent people was unjustifiable, noting that Islam forbids killing in whatever guise and that it was wrong for the insurgents to claim they are jihadistsfighting the cause of Islamic religion.

“We need to respect our differences, respect sanctity of life and give support to those in authority. We have see more deaths here and this killing should be over,” he said.

The royal father also commended the youths in the state for their bravery in fishing out members of the sect.

“The youth volunteers should be commended, they need everybody’s support and prayers. Imagine young men with sticks and cutlasses chasing armed men with sophisticated weapons. Therefore, I urge our people to give them support,” he said.

The Shehu of Borno also harped on the need to embrace education, as it is key to human development.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, has reiterated that his administration was now ready to begin the task of transforming the state.

Shettima gave the assurance during the Sallah visit on him by theBorno elders and leaders of thought led by Usman Gaji Galtimari.

The governor commended the elders for living up to their responsibilities, especially in the face of the unrest in the state.

He also emphasized that education remains the portent tool to tackle poverty and insecurity, adding that his administration will continue to work towards ensuring quality and accessible education, good health and viable agriculture that would create job opportunities for the teeming youth of the state.

“We would not mind even to pay money to parents to send their wards to school,” the governor said.

He highlighted joblessness, poverty, illiteracy and hunger, as some of the causes of the security in Borno.

The International Criminal Court, ICC, has accused the Nigerian terrorist group, Boko Haram, of crimes against humanity.

ICC Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, identified the crimes committed the group as murder and persecution.

The court found that the group had, since July 2009, launched widespread and systematic attacks in different parts of Nigeria that have led to the untimely death of thousands of persons, irrespective of religion or tribe.

“The scale and intensity of the attacks have increased over time,”Bensouda said.

The ICC said it was now assessing whether the national authorities are conducting genuine proceedings in relation “to those who appear to bear the greatest responsibility for such crimes, and the gravity of such crimes.”

The prosecutor added that her office was still assessing three other phases of the situation in Nigeria, and that once completed, she would decide if these situations meets the legal criteria established by the Rome Statute.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR, have repeatedly warnedBoko Haram against attacks on civilians.

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Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has outlawed the fundamentalist sect and declared a state of emergency in the three most affected states in May to enable the government clampdown on the insurgents.

According to a UNHCR report released in June, related anti-insurgent operations and general insecurity have uprooted thousands of people in north-eastern Nigeria with more than 6,000 of them fleeing to neighbouring Niger for safety.

Located in The Hague, in the Netherlands, the ICC is an independent, permanent court that tries persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes if national authorities with jurisdiction are unwilling or unable to do so genuinely.

The Majority Leader of the Rivers House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge brought against him.

Lloyd was arraigned before a Port Harcourt High Court on charges bordering on attempted murder, conspiracy, wounding, assault, and malicious damage.

The presiding Judge, Justice Latan Nyordee, said the plea of the accused could be taken on the ground that he had been properly arraigned before court adding that the earlier oral announcement of the attorney-general of the state, Nwogu Boms, taking over the case was premature.

Counsel to the accused, Beluolisa Nwofor said that he had applied for his bail through a motion on notice which the court graciously allowed him to argue

Speaking to newsmen, Nwofor said that he argued a motion for his client’s bail because all his offences were bailable and Lloyd had been in detention beyond the number of days allowed by law.

The judge, however, struck the counter affidavit against the bail of the accused and postponed hearing on the motion for bail till next court sitting.

Adjourning the case to August 14 for hearing, Nyordee ruled that the accused should be remanded in prison custody.

Nigeria is set to join the league of countries that have ratified the Arms Trade Treaty, as the minister of trade and investment,Olugbenga Ashiru, is expected to sign and ratify the treaty at the UN Headquarters in New York this month.

The adoption of the treaty is a realisation of efforts that started in 2006 following the adoption of the UN resolution 61/89.

Nigeria not only co-sponsored the treaty but coordinated the African group throughout the process of negotiation.

The resolution recommended the establishment of common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.

Members of the UN adopted the treaty on April 2, 2013 and it was made open for signatures on June 3, 2013. So far, 81 member countries have ratified the treaty.

The treaty stipulates the prevention/eradication of illicit arms as well as their diversion and would ensure the prohibition of illicit transfer of conventional arms within the African region.

It would also ensure the reduction in human suffering and contribute to regional peace, security and stability.

The ratification is expected to take place next Monday.

A Port Harcourt High Court on Wednesday granted bail to ChidiLloyd, the detained Majority Leader of the Rivers House of Assembly.

Lloyd was arraigned before the court over a six-count charge of attempted murder, conspiracy, wounding, assault, and malicious damage.

Presiding Justice Latan Nyordee granted Lloyd bail in the sum of N10million and three sureties in like sum, and directed Lloyd to deposit his international passport with the court.

He said that Lloyd was granted bail because the offences with which he was charged are bailable and that he had been in detention beyond the days allowed by law.

The judge said another consideration in granting bail to Lloyd was his health as he was reported to be diabetic and hypertensive.

Justice Nyordee said that two of the sureties should have landed property valued at N10 million in Port Harcourt, while one should be a Grade Level 16 officer in the civil service.

Beluolisa Nwofor, counsel to Lloyd, had pleaded that his client’s international passport should not be deposited in court because of his health condition which might require travelling abroad.

The judge objected to the plea on grounds that the case had been ruled and adjourned to Nov. 21 for hearing.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the adjournment, Nwofor said he was happy that the long fight to obtain bail for his client was successful.

“Although it is not a permanent bail, but a temporary one for him to stand trial, we are happy about that,” Nwofor said.

Nwofor said that he had filed an application to have the case against his client dismissed on grounds of abuse of court process.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested one Kingsley Mudi for having 30 ATM cards in his possession.

Mudi who was picked up last Friday at a Fidelity Bank ATM spot inWarri, Delta State following a tip-off, also had on him eight signedUBA cheques belonging to different persons.

He had allegedly withdrawn a total sum of N550, 000 with the ATM cards before he was arrested.

According to a statement signed by the EFCC’s head of media and publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, the culprit who claimed to be a discjockey and barbing saloon operator, has volunteered useful information to investigators on his modus operandi.

The commission said he will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.