Poor supply responsible for attacks on electricity workers’

The high spate of attacks on electricity workers and the rate of vandalism in the power sector are the consequences of high bills and poor power supply across the country, the Acting Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Dr. Vincent Akpotaire, has said.

Akpotaire said this when he led a team of BPE officials on a fact finding visit to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, according to a statement made available to our correspondent in Abuja on Thursday by the Head of Public Communications at the privatisation agency, Mr. Alex Okoh.

 

The BPE helmsman decried the spate of vandalism of facilities and attacks on employees of power companies across the country and stressed that “these have to do with the gaps in the value chain in terms of tariff, power supply and the willingness of customers to pay, which need to be worked on.”

He enjoined owners of the successor companies of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria to make their rebranding effort to reflect in improved service delivery to consumers in the country.

According to him, no matter their genuine efforts to invest in equipment and infrastructure, “what the Nigerian consumer is concerned with is improved and efficient power supply.”

The BPE boss maintained that the efforts would come to naught if the companies did not impact on the quality of life of their consumers.

“Your effort to improve services is quite impressive but rebranding is not only in colours, but also in the way your operations and services impact on the quality of life of your customers,” Akpotaire told the management of the BEDC.

While advising the company to constantly interact with its customers through town hall meetings and publicity, he enjoined the BEDC to also use the instrumentality of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors to enlighten its customers on a continuous basis.

The BPE boss noted the positive infrastructural transformation by the company in the last two years compared to the dilapidated infrastructure that was the lot of the company when he visited some time ago, adding that if the customers were not enlightened on the efforts being made, the frequent confrontations with the field staff by some communities would not abate.

Akpotaire stressed that the fracas the power distribution companies were engaged in with their customers were tied to the twin issue of perceived high tariffs and poor supply.

In her presentation, the Managing Director, BEDC, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, said the company prides itself in the area of human capital development as it was constantly upgrading its employees at all levels through a Memorandum of Understanding it signed with Elizade University for continuous training of the staff.

Osibodu said for improved commercial operation, the BEDC had engaged a team of professionals from Kosovo through the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development to man strategic business units.

She said the firm was deploying a first-level grid metering monitor, especially for maximum demand customers right from the office.

She also decried the hostile activities of some customers resulting in physical attacks on the workers, vandalism of offices and equipment as well as the destruction of vehicles, which resulted in the shutting down of some stations in Auchi, Edo State, and Sapele in Delta State.

I’m not on the run from EFCC – Obanikoro

A former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has said that he is not on the run from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone, Obanikoro, who recently bagged a degree in History from an American university, said he was not a fugitive running away from justice.

 

Obanikoro, who debunked newspaper reports suggesting that he fled the country in order to evade the ongoing $2.1 arms probe by the EFCC, stressed that the reports were in the realm of speculation.

A text by Obanikoro read, “To begin with, no allegation has been made against me officially that I know of. Therefore, I have no reason to run. I know for sure that all the accusations in the media are in the realm of speculation.”

Shortly after former President Goodluck Jonathan lost his re-election bid last year, Obanikoro said he was going to pursue an academic course in the US, stressing that life was not all about politics.

“That’s politics for you; you win some, you lose some. And there’s life after politics. I’m going to the US to pursue a degree,” he had said.

Troops battling the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East of the country protested unavailability of arms and ammunition, a situation that military authorities frowned on.

This led to the trial of some top military officers and men, some of whom were found guilty and sentenced to death. A number of the protesting soldiers also suffered demotion.

A former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, was charged in December in connection with the arms probe.

Dasuki was accused of awarding phantom contracts to buy helicopters, fighter jets and ammunition, which he denied.

Twelve senior Nigerian army officers were handed over to the anti-corruption agency for their alleged involvement in the arms scandal.

The army did not name them, but said they included six serving generals.

Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman, said the 12 officers referred to the EFCC included three serving major-generals, one retired major-general, three brigadier-generals, four colonels and a lieutenant-colonel.

It is yet to be seen whether the Lagos-born former senator would visit Nigeria after the completion of his degree.

CCTV captures customer who abducted one -year-old girl

A Closed Circuit Television Camera at a supermarket in the Abule Egba area of Lagos State has shown that a woman, identified only as Mama Oyin, who disguised as a customer, strapped a  one-year-old girl, Fehintola Lawal, to her back before allegedly escaping with the girl.

The footage, obtained by the police and Fehintola’s family members on Thursday, captured how Mama Oyin walked around the supermarket, as she searched for items, a few minutes before the alleged abduction.

 

WE had reported on Thursday that Mama Oyin met Fehintola’s mother and grandmother, who were traders in the Abule Egba area, on Saturday, and said she needed some items, which were said to be unavailable.

It was reported that the suspect had returned to the traders on Sunday, telling them that she newly moved to the area.

Our correspondent had reported that Mama Oyin returned on Monday around 11am and begged for direction to where she could buy the items in Agege, after which the girl’s mother offered to go with the suspect, who was said to be friendly.

Fehintola was reported to have fallen asleep and Mama Oyin was said to have requested to strap the one-year-old to her back, while she (Mama Oyin) handed over her bag to Lola.

After boarding a tricycle to Abattoir junction and taking a commercial motorcycle to Oko Oba, Agege, the women were said to have taken separate motorcycles, during which Mama Oyin disappeared with the rider on Olaniyi Street.

The matter was said to have been reported at the Abattoir and Elere police divisions the same day.

Fehintola’s aunt, Lolade Oseni, had told PUNCH Metro that the bag Mama Oyin dropped with Lola contained papers cut to currency sizes, adding that the phone numbers she gave them did not connect.

Our correspondent learnt on Thursday that the police had obtained a CCTV footage showing the suspect with Fehintola in the supermarket.

In the footage also obtained by PUNCH Metro, Mama Oyin with the child on her back and Lola Lawal were seen holding yellow polythene bags and searching for items to buy in the supermarket.

Mama Oyin, who wore a black gown with dotted white strips, had after two minutes proceeded to the exit followed by the victim’s mother.

The aunt, Oseni, told our correspondent that she hoped the police would rescue Fehintola as the family members were all distraught over the incident.

She said, “Mama Oyin did not sleep in our house on Saturday and Sunday when she visited us. She went back to her supposed house when it was late. The address she left in our church which she followed us to on Sunday is also fake.

“We obtained the footage on Thursday. The police worked with the supermarket to release the video to us. We are hoping that our daughter will be safely rescued by the police. We have also gone to Eleweran, Abeokuta, Ogun State, to see the police authorities there.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the command was collaborating with the Ogun State Police Command as the search for Fehintola had been extended.

She added that the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, had ordered that the matter be transferred to the State Department of Criminal Investigations, Yaba.

She said, “The two commands are working together on the case. We are extending the investigation to Ogun State, around the Ijoko area. The CP has directed that the case be transferred to the SDCI, Yaba, for discreet investigation.

“Parents should beware of friends, and particularly friends that are not traceable, as we have been having cases of friends disappearing with children of their victims.”

NLC leaders meet Saraki, Dogara, say strike continues

The President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, and his team met for about 40 minutes behind closed-doors on Thursday evening,  with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to discuss the nationwide strike over the hike in fuel price.

Wabba told journalists after the parley that the strike would continue until the Federal Government resumed talks with the NLC, under his leadership,  on  the crisis.

 

The NLC team, however, told the Senate leadership  that the workers were ready to go back to the  negotiation table with the Federal Government over the fuel matter any time invitation to that effect was extended to them.

He debunked reports that labour leaders walked out on the negotiation team of the Federal Government on Tuesday night before the strike commenced on Wednesday.

Wabba said, “We are trying to engage government in negotiations essentially about the trade issue, about the electricity tariff but importantly about the increase in the pump price of PMS from N87 to N145 and we have assured the Senate President that at no point had we walked out on the government.

“In fact, when those issues were presented and the position of government was made known to us, we did not actually agree and  we requested that we excused them.

“We have not at any point walked out on government and we are still open to discussion and dialogue because we are also doing this in the best interest of all of us as working class and also the larger population of citizens.

“But as things are now, the strike continues until needed resolutions are arrived at in further negotiations with the Federal Government.”

Saraki said the meeting with the leadership of the NLC  was part of the process to find a lasting solution to the impasse and trying to see how  the upper chamber could bring an end to the strike.

He said, “I am happy to report that the NLC has  shown its commitment to continue to dialogue with government and our role is to see that we facilitate and ensure  that the dialogue can address the issues.

“I am encouraged by what they have said and confident that we would be able to do this. We will play our own role in facilitating and ensuring that we can bring the two parties together so that we can find a lasting solution that will reduce the hardships that Nigerians are going through.”

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives on Thursday called for the payment of a “living wage” to Nigerian workers to cushion the effects of the N145 new pump price of petrol on the people.

This was an indirect support for a rise in the national minimum wage from N18,000, but the House did not say how much a new minimum wage could be.

Labour has since demanded an increase of the minimum wage to N56,000.

Lawmakers also appealed to the leadership of the NLC to suspend the strike.

The Speaker of the House, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, spoke with reporters soon after a meeting between the House and the leadership of the NLC ended about 6.45pm on Thursday at the National Assembly.

Fuel subsidy, heavy yoke that couldn’t continue —Tinubu

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has urged Nigerians not to lament the removal of fuel subsidy, which he described as a heavy yoke that the government could not allow to linger.

The former Governor of Lagos State said for almost three decades, the country had entertained distortions in the downstream oil sector by operating an opaque system susceptible to manipulations and structured in a way that allowed a few people to gain mightily from the system and feed fat on the misery and frustration of millions of Nigerians.


 

Tinubu said this on Thursday in a statement entitled, ‘Ending price fixing, the making of economic sense’.

He said it was understandable that the new pricing decision elicited mixed reactions from a cross-section of Nigerians as fuel subsidy had been with the nation for such a long period that it seemed an integral part of the country’s political and economic life.

“However, we should not lament the departure of something just because of its longevity, particularly, when that very policy had ceased to serve us long ago,” he stated.

The APC leader said the decision to end the subsidy was hard but inevitable, adding that it had transformed into a system where wrongdoers benefitted at the expense of the innocent.

“The bogus supplier was paid for supplying nothing, while you sweated in long queues for fuel that was never there. The smuggler secreted fuel across the border, while our economy crossed the border into fuel scarcity,” he added.

Tinubu said as the price stayed fixed at a low level, investors were apprehensive about fixing existing or building new refineries, and the petrochemical industry remained unfertilised because potential investors could not decipher how they could make a decent return under such a pricing regime.

According to him, because of these imbalances, the nation was forced to export hard currency and many jobs to purchase fuel and other products abroad.

He said, “While the price of fuel was cheap on paper, these were the hidden costs that made the subsidy regime an expensive and heavy yoke that the nation could not continue. With dwindling revenue from oil due to the slump in global oil prices and a dwindling forex reserve, the country could no longer live in denial.

“President (Muhammadu) Buhari, after carefully weighing the options, decided to do what is right. In an act of courage, he removed the oil subsidy, thereby freeing the downstream component of this strategic sector of the economy from the distortions of price fixing.”

The APC leader, however, stated that the decision should not be a step towards conservative austerity as practiced by the former government, which he said simply wanted to end the programme to “prove obedient to neoliberal economic doctrines.”

“They offered no programmes of valid compensation to the people. Instead, they instigated a policy of monumental fraud known as SURE-P. However, the only thing sure about it was that its architects would siphon the public’s funds to fatten their own wallets. They wanted to save money (for themselves) yet exploited the people for no good reason at all,” he added.

Tinubu said the Buhari government took a vastly different approach, adding, “Given the inefficiencies inherent in the pricing regime, this administration asked the fundamental question: could this money be better spent to help the most vulnerable of our people?

“For it was also recognised that the pricing regime was a regressive feature. Its benefit went disproportionately to the rich who needed no such help. Better to use the sums to more directly and exclusively assist the poor and working class Nigerians.”

He said Buhari followed through with a N500bn fund to support a social safety programme and empower the poor and needy, adding that five million school children would be fed for 200 days, among other plans of funding social infrastructure, education, transportation, health and other critical areas needing attention.

The APC leader stated, “What the President did is about the future of our country and that of the next generation. This government is transferring the funds to better spend them and better save the people.

“Nothing in this world is perfect but this decision is a just and correct one aimed at bolstering the economy, while caring better for those the system has unfairly treated.”

 

N23bn Diezani bribe: EFCC investigates Uduaghan, Ndudi Elumelu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has begun investigations into the roles of  the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, and a former federal lawmaker, Ndudi Elumelu, for in the $115m (N23bn) disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the build-up to the 2015 presidential election.

The EFCC also grilled a former Delta State Commissioner for Finance, Chief David Edevbie; and a former state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Chairman, Chief Edwin Uzor, for their alleged roles in the scam.



 .  

According to detectives in the anti-graft agency, the ‘Delta share’ of the money, which was N450m, was withdrawn from the Nnebisi branch of Fidelity Bank in Delta State and handed over to Uduaghan.

“During interrogation at the Port Harcourt office of the EFCC, we were told that the money was N450m and it was received through the Nnebisi branch of Fidelity Bank, Delta State, and handed over to Uduaghan for disbursement to the local governments during the 2015 general elections.

“The next step will be to quiz Uduaghan so that he can explain his own side of the story. They will be in court as soon as investigations are completed.”

All attempts to speak with Elumelu proved abortive as he neither answered calls not responded to a text message sent to his telephone on Thursday night.

As part of investigations into the fraud in the oil sector last month, the EFCC discovered that Diezani allegedly deposited $115m into Fidelity Bank through four companies.

She was alleged to have also given $26m cash to the Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, before the presidential election in 2015.

EFCC authorities alleged that the $115m, which was later converted to N23bn, was used to bribe officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The EFCC has since arrested over 20 INEC officials and quizzed some former governors, including ex-governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and ex-governor Ibrahim Shekerau of Kano State.

Meanwhile, a former Senior Special Assistance to the Bayelsa State Governor on Millennium Development Goals, Mr. Apere Embeleakpo, and the agency’s accountant, Allison Amachree, have been interrogated by the EFCC over their alleged involvement in the embezzlement of over N380m belonging to the agency.

They were alleged to have diverted the money by awarding fictitious contracts among themselves without following due process.

Already some properties, belonging to the suspects, including a petrol station, two plazas and their bank accounts, have also come under investigations following a court order obtained by the EFCC.

“Although the suspects were picked up and granted administrative bail by the EFCC, further investigations are ongoing. The suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is completed,” an EFCC source stated.

Probe, jail corrupt judges, group tells EFCC

A group, Movement Against Corruption, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to learn from Ghana by prosecuting corrupt judges in the country.

The group said  Ghana took a drastic step against judicial corruption in December, last year  when its judicial council sacked 22 judges accused of taking bribes to influence judgments before their courts.

 This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the group’s Director, Strategy and Communication, Folashade Hassan.

The statement read, “We would like to see a day when some corrupt judges would be prosecuted and jailed as this is the only way the anti-corruption war would make a meaningful impact and provide positive result for the people.

“Some judges believe that they are above every Nigerian citizen yet they are subject to the constitution like all of us. Some judges have committed judicial murder and have not been punished for this. We therefore appeal to President Muhammadu (Buhari) to strengthen the National Judicial Council  and ensure that  the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission prosecutes judges accused of any crime.

“MAC is proposing that the NJC must act on the retired judges who embarrass the bench and forward their reports to the ICPC for prosecution. Any serving or retired judge found culpable should be jailed. We need to follow the Ghanaian example if we intend to pursue the anti-graft war with sincerity and results.”

Singer, IC drops ‘Yellow Tomato’ remix

Talented upcoming music act, Kingsley Chima Irozuru, who is popularly known as IC, is set to take the music industry by storm with a remix to his single ‘Yellow Tomato’ which was released a few years back.

 

According to the Abia state born artiste who has an MSc from the School of Media and Performing Arts, Middlesex University, London “Yellow Tomato remix is targeted at every woman, regardless of her skin color. It has to do with how a woman appears in a man’s eyes.”.

Continuing, the artiste who is currently pursuing his doctorate degree says”Yellow Tomato is about eulogising women. A little bit of controversy went on during the first release of the original song. A couple of people asked me why I referred to only light skinned women. I do appreciate every skin tone, but I wanted to key into the jovial side.”

The remix features R&B singer and winner of Airtel One Mic All Stars, Acetune and is spiced with a bit of highlife and upbeat rhythms. The artiste who is currently working on his EP says he would love to work with Yemi Alade , Tiwa Savage, Seyi Shay, D’Banj and 2Face. “I observed Yemi Alade grow from strength to strength. She kept re-inventing her music and it has become what it is today”

Obesere, promoter battle over new video

Sensational and highly controversial Fuji musician, Alhaji Qudus Abass Akande famously known as Obesere is in the news again. This time, the Ibadan, Oyo State born musician is being battled by his promoter, Alhaji Taofeek Bello Abefe, the CEO of Solid Worth Entertainment. According to findings, Taofeek feels betrayed by Obesere whom he accused of leaking the video of his new song, Ebelesua on Youtube as against their agreement.

 

According to sources,  it was alleged that there was an agreement between the duo which was for the promoter to release the musical video in contention, Ebelesua along with other videos in the video album. It’s on this alleged breach of agreement that the promoter is now threatening to sue the artiste.

Meanwhile, efforts to reach the promoter proved abortive as he was said to be outside the country at the time of filling this report. However, when contacted, Obesere who said  he’s busy working on his forthcoming hip hop album denied having anything to do with the leak. “I know nothing about it and I can’t explain how it happened,” he insisted.

However, following the leak on April 20, 2016, the video has been enjoying massive air play.   Shot by Dr. Bee, the video is the visuals for Obesere’s recent single, Ebelesua, which featured hip hop ‘Rap Lord’, Olamide with cameo appearances by comic actor, Afeez Oyetoro popularly known as Saka, Jaywon and DJ Tee.

Rio Olympics: Dalung cries over lack of fund to train athletes

WITH barely three months to the start of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung has cried out over the inability of the country’s contingent to embark on overseas training.

 

Dalung who appeared yesterday before the Senate Committee on Sports said already the 78 athletes that have qualified ought to have started their foreign camping but for the lack of funds. He regretted that the N2.9 billion  which President Mohammed Buhari released last year for the 2015 All Africa Games as well as the preparation for the Olympic was not effectively utilized for the purpose for which it was released. However, Dalung vow-ed that every effort would be put in place to unravel how the money was expended.

This is however, contrary to claims by the former Director General of the defunct National Sports Commission, Mallam  Alhassan Yalkmut that he left behind over N640 million after the All Africa Games.

It was however, gathered the money was transferred into the Treasury Single Account, TSA  introduced by the APC government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nevertheless, the Minister while expressing the positives so far said Nigeria has succeeded in making payments for the country’s participation as well as paying for the accommodation of the contingent. “Let me say that this administration will do everything to unravel what happened to the money, I will assure you of that.”

Earlier the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Obinna Ogba said the legislative arm of government has done everything during the budget defence to make sure that the athletes got all that will make them to excel adding that the federal government should do all it nerds to do to adequately prepare the athletes for the games.

Siasia invites Amuzie, Awoniyi, Ajayi for Korea tourney

Nigeria has added several high profile names to the Dream Team VI squad that’ll participate in a tourney in preparation for the 2016 Olympics.

 

Olhanense starlet Stanley Amuzie, KV Oostende’s Saviour Godwin and several others have been included to play for Nigeria’s U23 team in next month’s South Korea Four-Nation championship.

The squad also included Kayseri Erciyesspor defender Saturday Keigo, Azubike Okechukwu, Taiwo Awoniyi, Sodiq Popoola, Nathan Oduwa and Usman Mohammed, with Junior Ajayi ruled out of the competition after his Tunisian club failed to release him of the championship.

General secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation Sanusi Muhammed said the U23 team would depart for the South Korea on May 30, 2016 for the championship which kicks off in the first week of June.

Hosts South Korea, Denmark and Honduras will feature in the tourney expected to prepare the Nigerians for the Rio Olympics in August.

Fuel price hike: NLC faction, CSOs berated over failed protests

The Coalition of Civil Society Against Corrupt Persons in Nigeria has berated the Comrade Ayuba Wabba-led faction of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and its Civil Society Organisations allies over what it described as failed protests against the increase in the price of petrol, saying it shows they are out of tune with the thinking and yearnings of Nigerians.

A statement by the coalition’s National President, Linus Ejilogo, on Friday, said the days when labour leaders ride on popular demands to blackmail and extort the government for personal interests are over.

The statement accused Labour and its CSO allies of working with elements of the past administration to make the incumbent government look bad by sabotaging its efforts at remedying the mess it inherited.

It declared that “Labour’s inability to accept that Nigerians refuse to join the bandwagon by a cross section of self-serving labour and CSO leaders to further compound the current economic hardship is unfortunate. If they can open their eyes to recognize the truth they will realize that their failed protest have confirmed that no group of persons could drag us back to the Egypt where past administrations in this country have held us.”

The coalition noted that the few instances and sectors where the strike and protests called by labour had effect were indicative of the incompetence of the staff there and their inability to deliver on what they draw salaries for.

According to the group, “ASUU and SSANU that shut down universities for every flimsy excuse they can think of have proven their uncontested position as the enemies of the poor masses whose children have been made into perpetual residents of the nation’s higher institutions of learning and after a while awarded certificates that cannot neither sustain them in lives or make them employable.

“It is therefore no surprise that the staff who should be helping them get education are only good at calling for strikes.”

The statement advised labour to divert its energy into rebuilding its public perception among Nigerians who now see it as a divisive force especially with the factionalisation of its leadership.

It noted that “There is no basis for citizens to trust a labour movement whose leadership is juicy to the point of causing the kind of rift currently rocking it and they can definitely not march behind such leaders in protests even if the issue being championed is reasonable.

“In this case what labour is asking for is unreasonable and potentially injurious to the long term wellbeing of the people. In the past, when Nigerians had thought labour was championing their cause, union leaders had betrayed everyone as they used popular protests to negotiate deals for themselves only to abandon the so-called struggle until the next time they are broke.”

The coalition, however, hailed Nigerians for being realistic with their acceptance of the government’s decision on the pricing of petrol as it urged them to continue resist attempts to manipulate them.

Air-sea search intensifies for crashed EgyptAir plane

Search teams scoured the Mediterranean on Friday for the remains of an EgyptAir plane which crashed with 66 people on board, as mystery surrounded its fate despite suspicions of terrorism.

Egypt’s aviation minister had said that a “terrorist attack” was a more likely cause than technical failure for the Airbus A320’s sudden disappearance from radar screens on a flight from Cairo from Paris.

But French Foreign Minister Jean-March Ayrault said there was “absolutely no indication” of why the flight came down.

“We’re looking at all possibilities, but none is being favoured over the others because we have absolutely no indication on the causes,” he told French television.

The tragedy raised fears of a repeat of the bombing of a Russian passenger jet by the Islamic State jihadist group over Egypt last October that killed all 224 people on board.

An Egyptian government official said the search was ongoing after debris found off a Greek island turned out to be unrelated to the crashed plane.

“The search is continuing, and will continue until we find something,” the official told AFP.

EgyptAir had prematurely announced on Thursday that wreckage from the plane had been founding floating at sea off the island of Karpathos, northeast of Crete, only to backtrack after Greece denied any debris had been found.

The plane disappeared between Karpathos and the Egyptian coast in the early hours of Thursday morning, without its crew sending a distress signal.

Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos said the aircraft had swerved sharply twice in Egyptian airspace before plunging 22,000 feet (6,700 metres) and disappearing from radar screens.

– ‘Intensified search’ –

Both Egypt and Greece dispatched aircraft and naval vessels on a search mission. They were expected to be joined by French teams, while the US sent a surveillance plane to help with the operation.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi demanded an “intensified search” for the aircraft after reports by the airline that wreckage from the plane had been found were retracted.

French President Francois Hollande said on Thursday that it was clear the plane had crashed, and authorities in both Paris and Cairo opened investigations.

EgyptAir said 15 French citizens were among the 26 foreign passengers on the plane, who also included a Briton and at least one Canadian.

Both France and Egypt have come under attack by IS jihadists in the past year, and Hollande promised a comprehensive probe into the cause of the crash.

IS has been waging a deadly insurgency against Egyptian security forces and last October claimed the bombing of the Russian airliner flying home holidaymakers from the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.

In the United States, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said “it’s too early to definitively say what may have caused this disaster”.

The catastrophe also entered the US presidential election campaign, where national security is shaping up a prominent issue.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said it appeared to be “yet another terrorist attack,” adding “When will we get tough, smart and vigilant?”

His likely Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton agreed that it “does appear that it was an act of terrorism” and “once again shines a very bright light on the threats that we face from organised terror groups”.

– Pilot reported no problem –

Greek civil aviation chief Constantinos Litzerakos said the pilot had mentioned no problem in his last communication before the plane disappeared, and it had not deviated from its course.

“The flight controllers contacted the pilot at a height of 37,000 feet (near Athens)… he did not mention a problem,” Litzerakos told Greece’s Antenna TV.

Neither the Greek coastguard nor the navy could confirm reports that a passing ship had seen “a ball of fire in the sky”.

The civil aviation chief said if there had been an explosion, any debris would have been scattered across a wide area.

The passengers also included two Iraqis and one citizen from each of Algeria, Belgium, Chad, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and Sudan, as well as 30 Egyptians, the airline said. They included a boy and two babies.

Seven crew members and three security men were also on board.

EgyptAir said the plane had been manufactured in 2003. Airbus said it had clocked up 48,000 flight hours.

EgyptAir hit the headlines in March when a flight from the coastal city of Alexandria to Cairo was hijacked and forced to divert to Cyprus, where the hijacker, who was described as “unstable”, demanded to see his ex-wife.

The suspect was due in court in Cyprus for an extradition hearing on Friday.

Last October, foreign governments issued travel warnings for Egypt and demanded a review of security at its airports after IS downed the Russian airliner with what it said was a bomb concealed in a soda can that had been smuggled into the hold.

Brent back above $49 as oil prices resume uptick

Brent crude powered back above $49 a barrel in Asia Friday as oil prices resumed their rise after the dollar eased and militants blew up another pipeline in African producer Nigeria.

 

A rally that pushed oil prices to a series of 2016 highs since last week had taken a breather over the past two days after minutes of an April meeting showed that the US Fed kept the door open to raising interest rates in June, sending the dollar higher.

A stronger greenback puts downward pressure on oil, as it makes the dollar-priced commodity more expensive, curtailing demand and depressing prices.

At around 0615 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in June was up 48 cents, or 1.00 percent, at $48.64 and Brent crude for July gained 39 cents, or 0.80 percent, to $49.20.

Analysts said prices resumed their uptick after the dollar eased and threats of supply disruptions returned to the fore following the bombing of a gas pipeline owned by the Nigerian subsidiary of Italy’s Eni in the latest attack on the country’s oil facilities.

Earlier, a new militant group called the Niger Delta Avengers(NDA) carried out several attacks on key pipelines and facilities operated by oil majors Shell and Chevron, hurting output in Africa’s biggest economy and major crude producer.

Officials said Nigeria’s output had slumped to 1.4 million barrels per day from 2.2 million because of the unrest.

The Nigeria disruptions come on top of a reduction in Canada’s output due to wildfires threatening the country’s oil sands region.

“The pause in the dollar rally and continued concerns over supply disruptions in Nigeria are supportive of oil prices,” said Bernard Aw, an analyst with IG Markets in Singapore.

“In addition, Anas Al-Saleh, Kuwait’s acting oil minister… expects the oil market to rebalance in the second half of this year as demand increases. Therefore, it could be only a matter of time before crude pushes beyond $50,” he told AFP.

US Federal Reserve policymakers meet from June 14-15, with investors watching their decision on interest rates.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries also meets on June 2 in Vienna, with the market fixed on whether they will take action to reduce the global crude supply glut.

We’re not pressurising Jonathan’s cousin — EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has faulted claims of the detained cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Azibaola Robert that he was being pressurised by the agency to implicate the former president in the alleged diversion of $40 million.

EFCC, in a counter affidavit opposed to the suit by Robert before the Federal High Court, Lagos, seeking for an order to release him from the custody of the commission, denied any plot to implicate Jonathan in the fraud his cousin was being investigate for.

Robert is being investigated over an alleged diversion of $40 million through One-Plus Holdings and Kakatar Construction Limited.

Robert, who was arrested on March 23, 2016, but granted bail on April 7, 2016 by a Federal High Court, Abuja is being held by the commission, which had refused to charge him to court or release him as directed by the court.

Following the bail granted him by the high court, EFCC came to Lagos, where it obtained a magistrate court order to still detain him.

Meanwhile, in the 37-paragraph counter-affidavit, the agency averred that the ex-president’s cousin was not only being investigate over alleged diversion of $40m but also on the theft of N2.5 billion from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.

It further averred that zonal offices of the agency were saddled with the responsibility of investigating any case or cases reported to them and that Robert was alleged to have received the sum of $40m from former National Security Adviser to the president, Col. Sambo Dansuki (retd) and diverted same to his personal use and to the use of others.

Ladipo market mayhem: Police reconcile warring factions

Lagos — In a bid to end the clash that had crippled business activities at the Ladipo market, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, on Wednesday evening held a closed-door meeting with the leadership of the market.

WE gathered that the meeting was attended by the leadership of the Igbo and Yorubas in the market, aimed at ending the lingering crisis that had led to destruction of property which worth could not be accurately ascertained.

It was learned that Owoseni addressed the traders briefly before he ordered the Departmental Police Officer, DPO of Olosan to ensure that he broker peace between the factions involved in the clash.

The clash was said to have started at about 10am on Tuesday, when some hoodlums (largely of Yoruba extraction) stormed the market to collect parking fees but were resisted by the traders, who were mostly of Igbo extraction.

Speaking to us, Mr. Gabriel Oganeze, Chairman of Olateju/Rotimi Traders Association, said; “Truly we attended the meeting called by the CP and the aim was to end the clash that has led to destruction of property. We are committed to ensure that there is a lasting peace in the market, as this is when we will be able to do business without fear.”

Oganeze disclosed that; ‘’Although some of the traders whose property were destroyed during the clash demanded compensation but we are yet to reach conclusion on that. this is because we will need to see the Central Executive Committee of the market before any decision is taken on such demand.”

…We lost over N300 million — Traders
Lamenting the quantum of goods and property destroyed in the mayhem, Oganeze said; “We calculated the worth of goods destroyed in the inferno and we discovered that over N300 million goods were destroyed in the inferno.”

Two structures were on Wednesday razed displacing at least 100 traders. The two burnt structures were Light House Hotel on 13 Osoro Street and a plaza on 12 Olapeju Street, Mushin Local Government.

Corroborating this, the chairman said; “The cost I told you excludes the two buildings. And the reason we cannot state the worth of the buildings destroyed was because we are not the owners.”

We’ve reclaimed Ekiti PDP from Fayose, says BoT member

Ado-Ekiti – A member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustee, Chief Clement Awoyelu has declared that Governor Ayodele Fayose has lost grip of the party in the state.

Awoyelu, the pioneer Chairman of the party in the state and former Senate Deputy Chief Whip, said reclaiming the party from the governor remains the best option for the party to avert imminent destruction occasioned by Fayose’s alleged one-man show in the running of the party.

He spoke in Ado Ekiti yesterday during the swearing-in of a faction of the State Executive Committee of the PDP, believed to be loyal to the Senator representing Ogun East, Buruji Kashamu.


But the a swift reaction through his Chief Press Secretary said Awoyelu must be day-dreaming.

The group purportedly sworn-in yesterday, had earlier got a court verdict through the federal high court validating the election of those elected under this group and nullified the elections of those loyal to Fayose during the May 10, 2016 State congress held in Ekiti.
Awoyelu, who said he has no personal grudge against Fayose, added that the grouse with the governor has always been that he should follow due process and desist from arrogating the party to himself and run it like his personal estate.

“I have been in the party politics for more than 50 years and that is why we are trying to restructure our party. We will never sleep until we reclaim our party from Governor Fayose. We are ready to correct all the wrongs in our party.

“I have grouse with Fayose in two ways: One, I have never seen a state where governor will be the one to appoint councillorship candidates. This is wrong because it is the duty of the party leaders. Two, the governor has appropriated the party to himself . The governor has not attended any meeting at the party secretariat, instead he relocated the party to his house in Afao Ekiti. These, we will not tolerate.

“I have been a member of the PDP National Executive Committee since 1998, Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan were attending meeting at Wadata Plaza in Abuja. But this is not so under Governor Fayose.

“Governor Fayose was not in Ekiti when we formed PDP . He didn’t know anything about PDP . And we thank God that the election of the new SEC and the verdict of the court have shown that God and the pople have rejected the governor. We have reclaimed the state from him.

“As SEC of the party, you have nothing to fear because the court had validated your victories. You should ensure unity in our party and bring every aggrieved member on board”, he said.

A former envoy to Canada and Secretary to Ekiti State Government, Amb Dare Bejide, urged the new SEC to instill discipline in the party and make it a formidable force to be able to win elections.

Bejide hinted that the verdict of the Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo on Tuesday, recognizing Chief Williams Ajayi-led State Working Committee, had automatically barred delegates selected by Gboyega Oguntuase’s faction from participating in the party’s national congress holding in Port Harcourt, River State, on Saturday.

The chairman of the faction, Chief Ajayi, assured the party leaders that he would pursue unity and ensure that the party stand united.

‘Awoyelu day-dreaming’
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Fayose, Mr Idowu Adelusi in a reply to Vanguard enquiry said; ‘’In Ekiti State, PDP has only one executive led by Barr Gboyega Oguntuase. Their is no faction in Ekiti PDP.

‘’One is surprised that Chief Awoyelu as knowledgeable as he is in politics, will back a congress which by all standard did not meet the requirement. That congress, I can boast, is a nullity and time will tell.

‘’Saying that Ekiti PDP will be taken from Governor Fayose by Awoyelu group is a wishful thinking. We advise Chief Awoyelu to come back home.”

Metuh vomits in court, trial stalled

Spokesperson of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh, yesterday again broke down in court with signs of ill-health, repeatedly throwing up at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he is being tried for alleged corruption.

Metuh’s apparent ill-health led the court to adjourn the case.

The PDP spokesperson is being tried for allegedly receiving N400 million of government arms money.

 

His counsel, Etiaba Etiaba, said Metuh’s health condition deteriorated on Wednesday night, forcing his brother-in-law, Andy Aghaji, to rush him to hospital.

He said on arrival at the hospital, they found that nurses were on strike. A doctor, who attended to Metuh, directed that he be brought back to the hospital, yesterday.

Etiaba said the doctor had warned that the drugs he administered would make Metuh drowsy and that he would have to take another medication at 11 am Thursday. He said the PDP spokesman left the hospital at 3.30 am, yesterday.

Etiaba said he advised Metuh to see if he could manage himself to the court, since he had no understanding about the gravity of his health condition.

At the court, the PDP spokesman began to vomit and had to be assisted to the court room by his relatives. The counsel prayed the court to adjourn the case to enable Metuh return to the hospital.

The prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, did not object to the application.

The judge adjourned the case till May 23 and Metuh immediately returned to the hospital.

Pastor hawking ‘fetish’ meat in Ondo arrested

THERE was a mild drama in Akure, the Ondo State capital, when a self- acclaimed pastor with one of the Pentecostal churches, was arrested for allegedly hawking fetish items.

The pastor, Adeniyi Johnson, said to be mentally challenged, was arrested by resident of Ijomu in Akure metropolis while hawking the items as fried meat in the area.

The pastor, according to eyewitness account, brought out the items from his pocket and put them inside a tray before hawking.

WE gathered that those who saw him immediately raised alarm and were trying to lynch him before some elders intervened and suggested he should be taken to the Oba’s palace.

 

Reports had it that the suspect, who is in police custody, was formally in the Iju/Ita Ogbolu branch of the church, before he was transferred to Ipogun branch.

When he was reportedly quizzed by the palace chiefs, the suspect said he was divinely instructed to share the items so as to save his ailing son.

On hearing his confession, the crowd that followed him to the palace attempted to stone him to death, but the palace chiefs reportedly prevented them as the suspect was taken into the inner chambers of the Oba.

The suspect reportedly told the chiefs that his son was dying and that unless people eat the fried meat he was hawking that the son might not survive.

He was said to have pleaded with those who arrested him to allow him finish what he had started so as to save his dying son.

The chiefs later arranged for his transfer to the custody of the Police.

WE learned that he is being detained at the Police Area Command headquarters of the state for interrogation.

Sources at his church revealed that he had been sacked over a month ago to enable his family take care of his mental problem.

Egbeda murder: Police to arraign Lekan Shonde today

The Lagos State Police will today, arraign  Lekan Shonde , the dockworker who allegedly killed his wife during a scuffle at their Egbeda residence in Lagos two weeks ago, to court.

The suspect, is expected to be arraigned before the Ebute-Metta  Magistrate’s Court.

This is just as family of  late Ronke has  begun plans to bury her.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni,  confirmed that the command had concluded its investigation and would charge the suspect to court today. He was, however, silent on the charges against him.

Meanwhile, the  decision to bury Ronke as reliably gathered, was reached after deliberation by members of the Bewaji’s family.

There was also indication that the family was not ready to  prosecute the suspect, as sources told US that it had resolved to leave everything to God.

Efforts at speaking  with the deceased’s sister, Bolatito Bewaji, yesterday, proved abortive as she politely told this reporter that she was not in the mood to speak on anything regarding the death or burial arrangement of her late sister.

She said: “I am sorry, I am not in the position to speak on that at the moment,” she however, promised to get back to this reporter.

But a member of the family, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “From all indications, it is obvious the family may not prosecute Lekan. The bereaved mother, who is a devout Christian has resigned to fate.

“She said she is not ready for any further noise, as the death of her daughter is devastating enough. Even if you call them, nobody will speak to you because they have been given strict directive not to speak to anyone, especially journalists.

“Yes, burial arrangement is on. But I cannot tell you  the date that has been fixed. But it is going to be very soon. She is gone for good and there is no reason to keep the corpse, we want to do the necessary,” the sources said.

FG to provide 1bn eggs for school feeding programme

THE federal government has said its decision to partially deregulate the downstream sector of the petroleum sector would enhance its school feeding programme.

Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, stated this yesterday, when a federal government delegation, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, David Babachir Lawal, met with members of the National Working Committee and State Executive Committees of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abuja.

 

At the meeting called to discuss the issues thrown up by deregulation, Mohammed listed several impacts the policy would have on Nigerians.

He said, “The first is the employment of 500,000 unemployed graduates, the second is the employment of 100,000 non graduates, technicians and artisans. The third is the one meal a day programme targeting 5.5 million pupils all over Nigeria. This is the most exciting of all our programmes. Even if we are going to give these children one egg a day, it means we will need 5.5 million eggs and in a calendar year of 200 days, we will need over a billion eggs. You can imagine what this will do to agriculture.

“We have the enterprise scheme which is a system of revolving loan. We are targeting one million market women and men, 460,000 artisans and technicians and 200,000 agricultural workers to be given loans through their cooperatives to start their own businesses. We have the N5,000 conditional cash transfers to one million most vulnerable Nigerians as a first phase. Then finally, we have bursaries, scholarships for all students in Nigeria studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said such meetings would be convened on a regular basis so party members would understand government’s policy. He said:

“What this does is to arm everyone of us from the national and state levels so that we can speak with confidence, in addition to whatever passion we can muster about what is going on at the national level and go away with the conviction that things are not just happening capriciously with the conviction that we promised change. Change is a process, it is not an event, not something that happens the day after the government was sworn-in.”

Army rescues second Chibok girl, Serah Luka, 97 women

Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, Acting Director Army Public Relations, has confirmed the rescue of another Chibok girl, Serah Luka, aside Amina Ali who was rescued on Tuesday.

Amina Ali on Tuesday was rescued by troops and civilian vigilantes near Boko Haram’s stronghold in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno state.

 

Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman said that the second Chibok girl was among 97 women that were rescued by troops of 231 Battalion, 331 Artillery Regiment (AR), Detachment of Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF) 2, Explosive Ordinance (EOD) Team and Civilian Vigilante group of Buratai.

The troops he said rescued her during a clearance operations at Shettima Aboh, Hong and Biladdili general area in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

“At about 11.00am today, Thursday, 19th May 2016, troops of 231 Battalion, 331 Artillery Regiment (AR), Detachment of Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF) 2, Explosive Ordinance (EOD) Team and Civilian Vigilante group of Buratai, conducted clearance operations at Shettima Aboh, Hong and Biladdili general area in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

During the operations, the troops killed 35 Boko Haram terrorists and recovered several arms and ammunitions and other items.

In addition, they rescued 97 women and children held captives by the Boko Haram terrorists.

We are glad to state that among those rescued is a girl believed to be one of the Chibok Government Secondary School girls that were abducted on 14th April 2014 by the Boko Haram terrorists.

Her name is Miss Serah Luka, who is number 157 on the list of the abducted school girls.

She is believed to be the daughter of Pastor Luka.

During debriefing the girl revealed that she was a JSS1 student of the school at the time they were abducted. She further added that she hails from Madagali, Adamawa State.

She averred that she reported at the school barely two months and one week before her unfortunate abduction along with other girls over two years ago.

She added that there are three other girls who fled from Shettima Aboh when the troops invaded the area earlier today which led to their rescue.

She is presently receiving medical attention at the medical facility of Abogo Largema Cantonment, Biu, Borno State. he said

The first of the abducted students to be found, 19-year-old Amina Ali and her mother met President Muhammadu Buhari at his official residence in Abuja earlier Thursday, where the head of state said the government was “doing all it can to rescue the remaining Chibok girls”.

“Amina’s rescue gives us new hope, and offers a unique opportunity for vital information,” he said in a statement.

Amina was quoted as saying by a campaign group pushing for the girls’ release that all the students were still being held in the former game reserve, where the Islamists have had camps, but that six had died.

Nigeria’s military has been mounting an offensive in the sprawling, semi-desert scrubland since late April to flush out rebel fighters.

Nigeria loses N2.79bn daily as Qua Iboe terminal is shut

Nigeria is losing about N2.79 billion daily following the closure of ExxonMobil operated Qua Iboe terminal, whose workers were evacuated yesterday.

Qua Iboe is Nigeria’s largest crude oil stream and exports usually more than 300,000 barrels per day.

At the current oil price of $47 per barrel, the country is bound to lose billions of Naira daily. A market source said the evacuation was caused by the threat from militants and that tanks had been emptied of crude.

Exxon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

However, the management of Exxon Mobil, yesterday said production was ongoing at Qua Iboe crude oil terminal, despite criminal activity that obstructed staff access to a bridge leading to the terminal in the early hours of yesterday.

Exxon Mobil cut Qua Iboe production and declared force majeure on exports last Friday, after a drilling rig, experiencing mechanical difficulties, damaged the pipeline it jointly owns with the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Production was ramped up again earlier this week.

The business plan of the country to export about 800,000 barrels per day Bonny Light and Qua Iboe grade in May and June have already been hampered.

This is the third time facilities of international oil companies would be attacked by the Niger Delta militants in three months.

Earlier last week, Chevron Nigeria Limited’s Okan offshore facility was shut-in.

Nigerian Navy spokesperson, Commodore Chris Ezekobe, who also confirmed the incident, said the attack occurred about 40 nautical miles from the Escravos terminal, around Warri in Delta State.

A group known as the Niger Delta Avengers had claimed responsibility for the attack.

The same group said it carried out an attack on a Shell Oil pipeline in February which shut down the 250,000 barrel-a-day Forcados export terminal.

Also last Saturday, Shell  evacuated  98 key personnel on board by helicopters from Eja OML 79, where production of 90,000 barrels of oil per day has been halted.

Sources said a small group of staff has been left on the platform to carry out skeletal operations.

The staff and facility are offered protection by two gunboats belonging to the military Joint Taskforce of the Federal Government.

Close to Eja 79 is the Bonga Field, which has a larger production capacity and is operated by another Shell subsidiary, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO).

Buhari receives rescued Chibok schoolgirl in Abuja

Rescued Chibok schoolgirl, Amina Ali-Nkeki, on Thursday arrived at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for audience with President Muhammadu Buhari. The girl, her baby, her mother and her brother, were led to the villa by Borno governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, at about 2.46 p.m.

 

The governor and the girl, with her child were quickly taken to the president’s office by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari, for a closed-door interaction with the president. NAN also reports that the girl and her baby were dressed in hijab and were shielded from newsmen by security officials.

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday in a statement, confirmed the rescue of Ali-Nkeki, one of the Chibok school girls in Borno, abducted in April, 2014 by Boko Haram insurgents. The statement issued by acting spokesman of the army, Col. Sani Usman, said that the girl was among other persons rescued by troops at Baale community near Damboa in Borno.