Breaking: Avengers bomb Chevron’s Escravos tank farm in Delta

New militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers, Thursday, destroyed the main pipeline supplying gas that provides electricity to the Escravos tank farm in Delta state owned by Chevron.

In a tweet sent via its Twitter handle,  @NDAvengers, the armed militant group, said the latest action was carried out after Chevron ignored its May 12 warning not to fix a major crude pipeline blown up by the group early in the month.

Details later…

Buhari’s one year, a colossal waste, says Fayose

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, Wednesday, described the recent increment in the pump price of petrol as one of the gifts of President Muhammadu Buhari to Nigerians to celebrate his one year in office, saying the president’s one year in office as “a colossal waste.”

In a statement titled; “Petrol Price Increment as Buhari’s 1st Year Anniversary Gift to Nigerians” which he personally signed, the governor said the Federal Government was indirectly collecting N58.50 naira tax from suffering Nigerians on each litre of petrol they buy.”

The statement read; “Despite his electoral promise to reduce petrol pump price from the N87 per litre that he met it, President  Muhammadu Buhari increased the price to N145! With this increment, Buhari has further impoverished Nigerians.

“Nigerians should be reminded that on April 14, 2015, President Buhari’s ally and former Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Prof. Tam

David-West, told Nigerians that Gen. Mohammed Buhari (who was then President-elect), will reduce the fuel pump price from N87 to N40 per litre. Buhari did not debunk this statement made by his friend and major supporter.

“Also, when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan reduced the petrol pump price from N97 to N87 per litre in January 2015, former Lagos State Governor who is now Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola said N10 reduction of the petrol pump price was too low and that Nigerians will get a better deal under Buhari. Fashola tweeted on January 18, 2015; ‘On PMS price reduction by N10. Now they listen. Oil the raw material drop over 50%, N10 is just about 10%. Good try but Nija can get a beta deal.’

“In rewarding Nigerians for electing him as president, President Buhari opted to increase petrol pump price by N58.50!

“The first justification of the increment was removal of subsidy. But Nigerians were later stunned when the Vice President, Prof Yemi

Osinbajo said pump price of petrol was increased because Nigeria was broke!

“In other words, President Buhari increased petrol pump price because the country was broke and it needed to shore up its revenue base. The N58.50 added to the previous pump price of N86.50 was an Indirect Tax imposed on each litre of petrol purchased by Nigerians.

“Simply put, the Federal Government is indirectly collecting N58.50 naira tax from suffering Nigerians on each litre of petrol they buy.

Buhari is no doubt acting like the proverbial Agbalowomeri Baale Jontolo (A king that exploit his extremely poor subject to further

enrich himself).

“It is on record that on May 2 this year, the federal government, in the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) Template

released in Abuja, told Nigerians that it was subsidising petrol at N12.62 per litre.

“In 2012 when the Dr Jonathan removed fuel subsidy and increased petrol price to N141 per litre, crude oil was selling at $111 per

barrel.

“If not wickedness, how can petrol price be increased to N145 per litre when crude oil is now selling at $49 per barrel?

“Increasing petrol pump price by N58.50 when the federal government claimed it was subsidising the product at N12.62 per litre is clear

wickedness on the part of President Buhari.

“In the history of Nigeria, increase in price of petrol has never been as high as it was done by Buhari, putting Nigerians in severe hardship

as the product affects every sector of the economy.

“Too bad, those who opposed removal of fuel subsidy in 2012 and funded the Occupy Nigeria protest are the ones canvassing support for this Buhari’s wicked one year anniversary gift to Nigerians.

The labour unions are now completely cowed, dashing completely hope of the common people of Nigeria.

“Interestingly, this is not the first election promise by APC/Buhari that have been jettisoned since they got into office. The N5,000

unemployment benefits promised the downtrodden was derisively put down by this President as “largesse” with the president spurning the

emotional plea of his own wife to the contrary. To add salt and insult unto injury, he traveled abroad to make the statement.

“Despite the mindless and indefensible hike in fuel price, the commodity is still not available. Minister of state for Petroleum says there is no forex to pay for fuel import; yet there is forex to indulge Buhari’s foreign-trip profligacy.

“Presidential spin doctors and APC chieftains labouring to hoodwink the people speak glibly of how so-called deregulation will make

products available, reduce cost through competition and the interplay of market forces as well as encourage private sector to build more

refineries. But thank God who loves Nigerians so much, the lies of these people was by divine arrangement, I suppose, revealed by no less a person than the junior minister Ibe Kachikwu himself when he said importation of fuel continues till 2019.

“Nigerians should be reminded that the manner of hardship being faced now was also faced during Buhari’s first coming as a military dictator when people had to queue for essential commodities. Now, Nigerians can’t even afford common tomato to prepare soup.

“So Nigerians you have heard the truth: Under Buhari/APC, it is almost certain that our suffering will continue till 2019.

“Nigerians, remember I warned you before Buhari was elected; I have been warning you since Buhari became president and I am warning now that if nothing is done urgently, the economy of Nigeria will collapse.”

FG, states, LGs share N281bn

The Federal Government, states and local governments have shared N281.500 billion from federation revenue that accrued to the nation in the month of April.

The figure represented a decline of about N18.2 billion compared to the N299.74 billion shared last month.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, who briefed journalists at the end of the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, meeting in Abuja yesterday, blamed low oil receipts for the low revenue.

The Federal Government took N110.612 billion; states, N82. 663 billion and local governments, N60.904 billion. Oil-producing states got an additional N15 billion in derivation.

The revenue collection agencies deducted costs of collection under which the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, took N4.822 billion; Nigeria Customs Service, N2.489 billion, while Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, got N1.198 billion.

Police arrest neighbour over rape of disabled girl

Indian police have arrested the neighbour of a mentally disabled girl who allegedly raped her and left her for dead in New Delhi, officials said Thursday, the latest incident of sexual violence to spark public outrage.

Locals found the 13-year-old orphan unconscious and with multiple injuries, lying near a secluded railway track on May 18, after she went missing from her relatives’ home the day before.

She is now recovering in hospital after undergoing life-saving surgery, following the attack in a southern district of the Indian capital.

“We have arrested the girl’s neighbour for rape and on attempted murder charges. The girl is mentally disabled,” Rajesh Kumar, an investigator in the case told AFP.

The perpetrator raped the girl before attacking her with a sharp object, causing grievous injuries all over her body, he said.

“She had injuries and cuts on her torso, neck, private parts and limbs. He had left her to die by the railway tracks,” Kumar said.

A spokesman for Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences, where the victim was treated, said she was stable and under observation.

“She will need more time to recover completely,” Rajeev Maikhuri said.

Opposition parties seized on the attack to criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s national government, which controls the Delhi city police force.

“Such incidents remind us that the Delhi government should have control over law and order,” the city’s chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was quoted by television network NDTV as saying, after visiting the victim in hospital.

The fatal gang-rape of a student on a bus in New Delhi in 2012 unleashed a wave of public outrage and street protests against violence towards women in India.

That incident prompted the government to toughen penalties for rapists and overhaul policing to better protect women and children.

The transport minister said Wednesday panic buttons would be fitted on all India’s public buses to curb sex attacks on women.

Last month a student was brutally raped and murdered in southern Kerala state, triggering days of protests across the country.

More than 36,000 rapes were reported in India in 2014, although activists say the true number is likely much higher.

Kogi Assembly Crisis: Drama as police try to stop G15 sitting

Their was wide drama at the Kogi State House of Assembly today, Thursday, as the G15 group tried to resume sitting at the Assembly complex.

The G15 group led by Momoh Jimoh Lawal had notified all the security agencies in the state of their court judgment last week and intention to resume sitting, yet the combined team of Police and National security defence barricaded the complex, forcing the legislators to trekked the 500 meter to the assembly gate.

The lawmakers, who faced the same trouble at the gate of the Assembly complex, turned down all plea from the security operative not to enter. They gained entrance to the complex, sat for 15 minutes and hurriedly adjourned when the security operatives regroup and disrupt the setting.
…Details later.

Sheriff, Makarfi sent out of PDP BoT meeting

The former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ali Modu Sheriff and the chairman of the Caretaker committee of the Party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi were excused out of a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the party which is on going in Abuja.

Senator Sheriff walked into the Transcorp Hilton venue of the meeting at about 11:10 am and was followed five minutes later by Senator Makarfi.

The duo sat at the high table alongside the chairman of the Board, Senator Jibril Wali and the secretary, Chief Ojo Maduekwe.

Few minutes later, the chairman of the board announced
that the board had a very important decision to take before the commencement of the meeting.

At this point, he asked journalists covering the opening ceremony to leave the hall and less than five minutes later, Senators Sheriff and Makarfi walked out of the meeting hall.

A member of the board who does not want to be named told vanguard that the two were asked to leave the hall because it would be inappropriate for them to be in attendance at a meeting that was going to discuss their matter.

Moreso yesterday eight out of 11 members of the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party dumped Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as they pledged their loyalty and support to the Ahmed Makarfi led caretaker committee of the party.

In a resolution passed at their meeting in Abuja, the members of the Committee said as products of the national convention of the party, “we accept without equivocations all decisions and resolutions of the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party held at Portharcourt on the 21st of May, 2016”.

The members said the resolutions at the PDP convention in Portharcourt “Merely reechoes our undeniable as members of the National Working Committee to give up our tenures for congresses and convention to be held in May 2016”.

While pledging their support for and cooperation with the Ahmed Makarfi led caretaker committee, the former NWC members noted that the constitution of a caretaker committee falls within the powers of the national convention as enshrined in section 33(5) (e) of the party constitution.

While enjoining the party’s teeming supporters and other critical stakeholders to support the Ahmed Makarfi led caretaker committee, the members call on other party leaders to shun personal interest and work towards moving the party forward.

It added that in the absence of the national chairman of the party at the convention, it was appropriate for the Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus to preside over the convention in accordance with sections 33 and 35 of the party’s constitution.

Those who signed the resolution were Uche Secondus, Deputy National Chairman, Solomon Onwe, Deputy National Secretary, Victor Kwon, National Legal Adviser, Dr Kema Chikwe, Woman Leader, Abdullahi Maibasira, Uouth Leader, BolajI Anani, National Financial Secretary, Buharu Bala, National Treasurer and Olisah Metuh, National Publicity Secretary.

The national Secretary and National Auditor, Professor Adewale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanj respectively were not signatory to the resolution as both of them are in court to challenge elections into their offices.

Details later.

Chelsea could sue Manchester United over Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho’s contract negotiations to become the next manager of Manchester United appear to hinge on the rights to the use of his image on merchandise, British media reported on Thursday.

The rights are owned by his former club Chelsea and, while they are not expected to stop his hiring, they have drawn out the talks with Manchester United this week, the reports cited club sources as saying.

Mourinho was the manager at Chelsea before his sacking in December and the shop at the Blues’ Stamford Bridge ground still sells mugs, posters and phone cases bearing his image.

The Guardian newspaper reported that the west London club bought the image rights in 2005 during his first stint as manager, and wants to sell them at a high price.

Chelsea registered the brand “Jose Mourinho” for five types of merchandise until 2025 and for the others until 2023 under European Union intellectual property laws, the report said.

Chelsea have not commented on the information but the rights issue was no impediment to Mourinho going on to work at Inter Milan and Real Madrid before coming back to Stamford Bridge.

Sports lawyer Carol Couse told the BBC it was “really unusual” for an individual not to own the trademark to their own name.

“If United had a brand of Mourinho clothing, it would be in breach of the trademark Chelsea currently own,” said Couse, of law firm Mills and Reeve.

“If Chelsea didn’t grant a licence, every time United used Jose Mourinho’s name in a commercial capacity against those products, Chelsea could sue Manchester United,” she said.

“I would suspect United would rather just pay a licence fee.”

Meanwhile, Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said he was excited by Mourinho’s expected arrival at Old Trafford.

“We don’t know who will be our new manager yet, but it looks like it’s going to be an interesting derby in Manchester next season,” the Germany captain said, with Pep Guardiola arriving as manager of United’s rivals Manchester City.

“The enthusiasm for football in Manchester is great and, if Mourinho does take over at United, I think all of the players want to train under him so it’s going to be quite a special season.”

When Mourinho was in charge of Real Madrid and Guardiola running their sworn enemies Barcelona, the Portuguese never missed an opportunity to take a swipe at the Spaniard.

City finished last season in fourth place ahead of fifth-placed United on goal difference, keeping the Red Devils from qualifying for the lucrative Champions League.

The failure to join Europe’s elite next season cost Louis van Gaal his job as United manager, despite winning the FA Cup in his last game in charge.

North Korea is a ‘big worry for all of us’, says Obama at G7

US President Barack Obama took aim at North Korea Thursday, calling it a “big worry” after a meeting with his G7 counterparts, as tensions escalate following Pyongyang’s series of nuclear tests.

Obama made the remark at a briefing on the sidelines of Group of Seven talks in Japan where North Korea’s provocations and its nuclear ambitions are among the topics on a packed agenda.

“North Korea is a big worry for all of us,” Obama said.

“It is not the thing that poses necessarily the most immediate risk. (But) when you have such an unstable regime that is so isolated, that poses the kind of medium-term threat that we have to pay a lot of attention to.”

Tensions between North and South Korea have been running high since Pyongyang conducted its fourth nuclear test in January.

In recent weeks, the North has made repeated proposals for military talks aimed at de-escalating the situation — but the South has dismissed the offer as an “insincere” propaganda ploy.

The current administration of South Korean President Park Geun-Hye is adamant that substantive inter-Korean talks can only begin once the North makes a tangible commitment to denuclearisation.

Also Thursday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged a return to talks with North Korea, during a visit to South Korea that has fuelled speculation of his presidential ambitions in his home country.

“We must find the path back to dialogue,” Ban said at a peace and security forum.

North Korea held its first ruling party congress for nearly 40 years earlier this month, formally endorsing leader Kim Jong-Un’s policy of expanding the country’s nuclear arsenal.

The congress was seen as an elaborate coronation for the 33-year-old Kim, securing his status as supreme leader and confirming his legacy “byungjin” doctrine of twin economic and nuclear development.

The UN Security Council in March imposed its toughest sanctions to date following the January nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch the following month.

The North had already been subject to a range of sanctions because of earlier nuclear tests — in 2006, 2009 and 2013 — and a series of long-range missile tests presented as satellite launches.

The Security Council resolutions condemned the nuclear tests and rocket launches as a threat to international peace and security.

North Korea has challenged the sanctions, arguing that no international laws or agreements stipulate that nuclear tests are such a threat.

It has also noted that the Security Council never sanctioned the United States or other countries for their nuclear tests or ballistic missile launches.

Its long-held argument is its push for a nuclear deterrent has been forced by US hostility.

Obama denounces Trump’s ‘ignorance of world affairs’

US President Barack Obama on Thursday criticised presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s policy ideas as demonstrating “ignorance” of how the world works.

Trump, the billionaire US real-estate mogul and reality TV star, has dominated headlines since launching his presidential campaign last year with a mix of incendiary comments and policy stances seen as insulting Mexicans, Muslims and women, among others.

He has proposed building a giant wall along the US border with Mexico to keep out illegal immigrants and vows that he will get the southern neighbour to pay for it.

“A lot of the proposals that he has made demonstrate either ignorance of world affairs or a cavalier attitude or an interest in getting tweets and headlines,” Obama told reporters on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit.

“They are paying very close attention to this election,” Obama said, referring to other world leaders.

“I think it’s fair to say they are surprised by the Republican nominee,” he added.

“They are not sure how seriously to take some of his pronouncements. But they’re rattled by them, and for good reason.”

Trump has also proposed a temporary ban on Muslim immigration, citing fears of jihadist attacks such as those that have occurred in Europe and the US city of San Bernardino.

He has disdained the usual cautiousness of past candidates for the country’s highest office — Republican or Democrat — who while appealing to their base constituencies have still often tried to take positions closer to the centre that would appeal to broad cross sections of the electorate.

November’s election to succeed Obama, who is wrapping up a second term, is shaping up to be the nastiest campaign in recent memory as voters express historically deep and practically identical levels of discomfort with both Trump and chief rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Hajj agent jailled six years for N1.5m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday secured the conviction of one Mallam Kabiru Jibrin before Justice Joseph Awak of Gombe State High Court after he was found guilty of a three-count charge bordering on obtaining N1.5 million by false pretence.

The complainant, Aliyu Audu Awwal, had alleged that the convict defrauded him and one Mallam Hussani Kumo, of the sum on the pretext that the said amount will be used to secure Hajj seats for them but diverted the money for his personal use.

Kumo also alleged that the convict collected his Honda Accord car(2005 model) under the guise that he would sell the car and use the proceed to secure additional Hajj seats which he never did.

The convict pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him.
Count three of the charge reads, “That you, Mallam Kabiru Jibrin (m) sometime in September, 2013 or thereabout in Gombe, Gombe State which is within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court falsely pretended to be a Hajj agent and dishonestly induced one Aliyu Audu Awwal to give you the cummulative sum of (N810,000.000), eight hundred and ten thousand naira only through your UBA Acct.No:1005433707 under the false believe that the money will be used to secure a Hajj seat for him to enable him perform the 2013 Hajj and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Law, Laws of Northern Nigeria”.

In view of the plea of the convict, Justice Awak after taking cognizance the fact that the convict had paid the whole money back to the complainant, convicted and sentenced him to six years imprisonment with an option of N60,000 fine.

Osinbajo inaugurates National Prosecution Coordination Committee

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON is expected to inaugurate the National Prosecution Coordination Committee (NPCC) which is primarily charged with the handling high profile cases having public interest elements in Nigeria.

The formation of the Committee which will be inaugurated on Friday, 27th May, 2016 at the Presidential Villa, going by its spokesman, Comrade Salihu Othman Isah is pursuant to the powers vested on the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN as the nation’s Chief Law Officer as contained in Section 174(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under Section 174(1) vested the powers on the Attorney General of the Federation to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law in Nigeria, other than a court martial, in respect of any offence created by or under any Act of the National Assembly.

The HAGF is also to take over and continue any such criminal proceedings that may have been instituted by any other authority or person. He is equally charged to discontinue at any stage before judgment is delivered any such criminal proceedings instituted or undertaken by him or any other authority or person. This is the position of the Constitution.”

Comrade Isah who doubles as the Media Adviser to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice revealed in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, that the 19-man Committee is charged with the efficient, effective and result oriented prosecution of high profile criminal cases in the country.

According to him, the Committee is also to guarantee prompt contact and synergy between investigators and the prosecutors of high profile criminal cases, manage information to the public on such cases as well as to ensure strict compliance to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

For its terms of reference, the NPCC is to advise the HAGF on the exercise of his prosecutorial powers in Section 150 and 174 of the 1999 Constitution, prepare the policy strategy document for the coordination of investigation and prosecution of high profile criminal cases in Nigeria and to also collate the list of such cases as well as assigning them to prosecution teams.

The Committee will scrutinize the proof of evidence and charges in high profile criminal cases in the country before arraignment. In addition, it will receive and analyse reports from the investigation and prosecution teams engaged to handle such cases.

Tension in N-Delta as ultimatum to Danjuma, Atiku, others expires today

THERE is anxiety in the Niger Delta as the two-week ultimatum given owners of oil blocs in the region by Niger Delta Avengers to evacuate their staff and shut down operations ends today, while secret talks with the militant group have run into  a hitch.

The militant group in a statement by its spokesperson, Col Murdoch Agbinibo on May 12, gave the former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma (retd), former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and other declared oil bloc owners two weeks  to shut down operations or have themselves to blame.

Meanwhile, alleged talks between the Federal Government and an intermediary of Niger Delta Avengers on how to end hostilities in the region by the militant group have collapsed,  while security agencies have allegedly concluded plans to infiltrate the meeting of Ijaw youths today in Warri to take a collective position on the Niger Delta Avengers.

A security source told our reporter: “All security operatives in the country are currently on their toes following security reports that the Niger Delta Avengers has promised to resume hostilities after the expiration of its two-week ultimatum.”

Niger Delta Avengers not based in Egbema

 

This came as the people of Egbema ethnic nationality in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State have refuted media reports that the new militant group, Niger Delta Avengers has its base in Egbema Kingdom, saying there was no iota of truth in the said publication.

Egbema people in a statement by Mr. Jude Ukori, yesterday, said whoever, said the base of the Niger Delta Avengers was in Egbema Kingdom should identify the location.

He noted that despite the fact that they were not getting benefits politically and economically from successive government as a major oil producing kingdom, they will never resort to unlawful acts.

According to him, “The author of the story could have at least mentioned one of the communities in Egbema Kingdom where such a base was situated. Since he failed to mention any, the publication was a wild allegation generated by criminals and mischievous persons in an attempt to drag the good name of Egbema people to the mud.”

Also, Niger Delta Peace Movement in Delta State, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to disregard the  accusation by self-acclaimed whistle blowers that ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, was behind the Niger Delta Avengers and  explore a pragmatic solution to develop Niger Delta.

Buhari being misinformed

A statement by its president, Mr. Tonfa Cyprian, said: “These informants are misinforming Mr. President out of hatred for Tompolo and their bid to curry favour from him for their personal aggrandizement, but Mr. President can end the resurgence of militancy if he makes development of the region his priority.

“From careful observation of the pattern of attack by the militants’ on oil installations, it is obvious that it will be very difficult to contain their operations with force because they are very conversant with the terrain. The weapon to use is not force but development.

40 Nigerians deported from UK, Australia

For the second time in a month, United Kingdom and Australia, yesterday, jointly deported 40 Nigerians for various immigration offences.
The deportees, males and females, arrived the Hajj camp area of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on chartered aircraft.

It will be recalled that last year, more than 40 Nigerians were similarly deported from UK for what the United Kingdom government called immigration offences. Switzerland also deported some Nigerians.

 

The latest deportees came on two separate chartered flights. One of the chartered aircraft, with registration number ZTA -4741, arrived Lagos Airport with 36 Nigerians: 29 males and seven females.

Also, an Air Seychelles aircraft, with registration number SND-1, brought four males into the country for similar immigration offences.

Citizens of other African countries, such as Ghana, Liberia and Egypt, were also deported.

The returnees were received by various agencies at the airport, while officials of Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, checked their identities to ascertain their nationalities.

A source close to the terminal, who did not want his name in print, said some of the deportees were violent when immigration officers attached to the international wing of the airport attempted to take their fingerprints.

Reps stop NNPC’s bid to sell 3 refineries

THE House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation, yesterday, stopped the proposed sale of the nation’s three refineries by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

They are Port-Hacourt, Kaduna and Warri refineries.

 

The committee made the pronouncement after engaging officials of the NNPC and the Bureau of Public Enterprises,BPE, on the exercise and   declared that NNPC violated the provisions of  BPE Act Section 11 of 2009

During the interactive session, members of the committee accused the NNPC of acting unilaterally by going ahead with the exercise without involving other stakeholders as contained in the Act.

Exchange  of words

Before making the declaration, chairman of the committee, Ahmed Yerima, said there was an exchange of words between the Group Executive Director of the NNPC in charge of refineries, Mr Anibor Kragba, and the members of the committee which led to abrupt adjournment of the sitting.

Before the sitting commenced, members of the committee were not particularly happy when  informed that the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, who is also Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, was being represented by the Group Executive Director, Anibor Kragba

Most members of the committee kicked against the arrangement, insisting that the Minister of State should appear personally at a later date to explain why the NNPC was planning to sell the refineries without following due process.

The lawmakers said their action was based on past experience with the corporation when its chief executives failed to honour invitations extended to the organisation.

However, after assurances from the corporation’s Group Executive Director that he had the mandate of the minister to represent him and was competent to handle the matter in question, he was allowed to represent Kachikwu.

No plan to privatise refineries —NNPC

Kragba was allowed to make his presentation along side Acting BPE Director General, Mr Vincent Akpotarie, during which he denied that the corporation was out to privatise the refineries.

According to him, the NNPC is only sourcing for core investors to invest in the refineries, since their rehabilitation was capital intensive.

The committee demanded to know who authorised the corporation to embark on such an exercise without the knowledge of the National Assembly and the BPE.

Kragba, however, said he needed to clarify the information, stressing that he was just appointed.

This did not go down well with the lawmakers, who challenged him on his earlier claim that he was competent to handle the matter to their satisfaction.

Kragba interjected, saying: “With due respect to this Honourable Committee, I was appointed into office by Mr President, who believed in my competence.”

Reps call  off sitting

This statement irked all the members, who went wild because of his choice of words considered to be derogatory on them and resolved to call off the sitting immediately.

Chairman of the committee, Yerima, ruled that the NNPC should stop the exercise immediately for gross violation of the BPE Act. He cautioned Kragba to be careful with his choice of words before the parliament.

He said: “I’m sure if Mr President reads this BPE Act, he will not be happy with what you are doing. We are preaching change, change in our ways of doing things for the betterment of the country and yet we the leaders are doing things the other way round.

“Impunity is still rampant, I’m a member of All Progressives Congress, APC, and promised the people of real change before they gave us their votes.”

Acting Director-General of the BPE, Mr Akpotaire, had earlier raised some fundamental issues on the privatisation that needed to be sorted out before it could be done in the interest of the nation, saying BPE was not part of the whole process.

Nimbo attack: How Police nabbed 5 suspects

In its renewed determination to rid the society of crimes and all forms of criminality, the police have  arrested five of the suspects involved in the midnight raid on Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The suspects, alleged to be herdsmen, had on April 25, 2016, attacked the sleepy community, killing over 40 persons and inflicting injuries on scores of others.

They were said to have been arrested by operatives of the  Inspector-General of Police, IGP’s Intelligence Response Team, IRT, based on credible technical intelligence.

 

The suspects include Mohammed Zurai, Ciroma Musa, Sale Adamu, Suleiman Laute and Haruna Laute.

One Gionee L88 mobile phone with memory card containing the video recording of the massacre in the community was recovered from the suspects.

Also, the team on the May 6, 2016, busted a three-man syndicate of deadly bank robbers/kidnappers and recovered arms, ammunition, dynamites, rifle and servicing tools from them.

The gang members, including Gogo Ume, Ikado Michael and Ifeanyi Kalu, had been terrorizing Rivers, Imo and Enugu states.

Items recovered from them include 3 AK-47 rifles; 1 LAR rifle; 310 rounds of live ammunition; 12 rifle magazines; rifle servicing tools; cache of dynamite explosive; one Toyota Highlander Jeep; one Toyota Venza jeep; and one Ford Edge Jeep.

In continuation of the IRT anti-kidnapping operations in Kaduna State, the team on May 20, 2016  arrested Babangida Ibrahim; Idris Abubakar and Idris Mai Anguwa in the state for being allegedly involved in kidnapping and robbery, while different caliber of weapons were also recovered from the bandits.

Reacting to the development, the IGP, Solomon Arase, expressed satisfaction with the high sense of patriotism and professionalism, with which the members of the team carried out their duties.

The IGP assured Nigerians that the Police would remain dynamic and creative in formulating new strategies for fighting crimes and criminality and urged Nigerians to continue to support the force.

Meantime,the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, yesterday, described the arrest of the five suspects involved in the Nimbo community killings as  an assault on Ndigbo following prior knowledge at the disposal of the Nigeria Police Force,NPF, which deliberately decided to sabotage the security of lives and properties.

MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu,told Vanguard that,”the arrest is a diversionary tactic. How can you tell me that Nigerian Police that had first-hand information of the attack were not complicit in the mayhem.

”It is a deliberate assault on Ndigbo. They must have arrested innocent citizens whom they want to parade to save their battered image. The Fulani herdsmen are the foot soldiers of President Buhari. The arrest is trash.”

Nobody can destroy PDP —Gov Wike

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  will continue to remain a firm and united party in the country,  noting that no single individual can destroy it.

The governor in a statement by his media aide, Mr Simeon Nwakaudu said, that Senator Modu Sheriff made desperate move against the Port Harcourt, Rivers State convention of the party  when it dawned on him that he was not qualified to contest for the office of national Chairman  of the party by the result of the screening committee.

He said: “We have  seen that there is a hidden  agenda.  But nobody can destroy the  PDP.  PDP  will wax stronger.  Those around the  former acting National Chairman  have questionable  character.  They are people who think that they can use the judiciary to cause crisis.

“In my entire political career , I have never seen a man with many opponents  as Senator Sheriff. Modu Sheriff  should  apologise  to  the  party,” Governor Wike  noted .

States endorse 22-Point Action Plan to weed out ghost workers

The 36 state governments have endorsed a 22-point Fiscal Reform Action Plan designed to weed out ghost workers, with a view to reforming the finances of states and local governments in the country.

Federal Ministry of Finance disclosed this in a statement,yesterday.

The statement, signed by Special Adviser, Media to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Festus Akanbi, said:  “States have agreed to reform the finances of states and local governments under a Fiscal Sustainability Programme to ensure their long term viability.

“The 22-point fiscal reform action plan to be implemented by states under the programme, mirrors the ongoing public financial management reforms being undertaken by the Federal Government, including: biometric capture of all civil servants, establishment of an efficiency unit, implementation of continuous audit, improvement in Independently Generated Revenue (IGR) and measures to achieve sustainable debt management.

“The reforms were unanimously agreed by state governors during the National Economic Council meeting last Thursday.”

“The Federal Government is developing a financial support structure which will be directly tied to the attainment of agreed fiscal reform milestones.

‘’The ultimate objective of the programme is to ensure that states are set on a path towards fiscal sustainability.”

Assets declaration: FG alleges plot to frustrate Saraki’s trial

The Federal Government, yesterday, accused the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, of attempting to frustrate his ongoing trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja. Government, which is prosecuting Saraki on a 16-count amended charge bordering on alleged false/anticipatory declaration of assets, accused the defendant of deliberately prolonging the cross-examination of the star prosecution witness, Mr. Michael Wetkas.

 

At the resumed hearing on the matter yesterday, government lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, decried that Saraki’s defence team, led by a former Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, had taken a total of 11 days to cross-examine the witness.

Wetkas, who commenced his evidence-in-chief on  April 6, is an investigative officer with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. He was the head of  a three-man crack team that investigated six separate petitions lodged against Saraki in 2014. Jacobs, SAN, urged the Justice Danladi Umar-led tribunal to compel Saraki’s team to round-off the cross-examination to enable the government produce other witnesses to testify against the Senate President.

“My lord this is very bad. The defence has used ten days to cross-examine this particular witness and if this matter is adjourned again today, that will bring the total number of days to eleven. It is obvious that they don’t want us to make progress in this matter.

“They have kept this man in the witness box for ten days and they have not even shown any sign of concluding with him. It is on record that three different lawyers in the team of the defendant have taken turns to cross-examine him. ‘’All they have been trying to do is to crush the spirit of this witness. This is quite frustrating. I urge my lord to adjourn this matter till  Thursday  so that they can conclude with this witness,” Jacobs submitted.

However, Saraki’s lead counsel, Agabi, SAN, urged the tribunal to disregard the submission which he said would only defeat the ends to justice.

“My lords should ignore Rotimi; I know the spirit driving him. I was a prosecutor myself before I was appointed an AGF. What the law has asked this court to do is to protect the defendant. That is basically the essence of trial, to ensure that an innocent man is not wrongly convicted. Rotimi is complaining about the witness, but he has said nothing about the defendant who has been in the dock for as long as the witness has been in the box.

“All the prosecution wants is for the tribunal to convict the defendant quickly. He does not want us to carry on with the cross-examination. That will not work!” Agabi stated. Meanwhile, insistence by the prosecution for further hearing on the matter to be adjourned till today, drew the ire of the second member of the tribunal panel, Justice  Agwaza Atedze, who observed that the law did not provide any limit within which cross-examination could be conducted.

“Rotimi, the chairman has explained to you that this tribunal already has a case fixed for  tomorrow (today) and will not be able to hear this matter, yet you want us to adjourn according to your wish. ‘’Are you saying that we should shut out the defendant from cross-examining the witness? Do you not appreciate the enormity of work this trial is making us to do? Or do you think when we leave here, we go to kiss a girl?” Justice Atedze queried in anger.

The tribunal subsequently adjourned the case till next Wednesday. Earlier, the witness, while being cross-examined by another lawyer in Saraki’s team, Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN, told the court that the defendant failed to declare his ownership of Plot 2482 Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama, Abuja, claiming that it belongs to one of his companies, Carlisle Properties & Investment Ltd.

He said that the property was originally allocated to one David Baba Akawo on August 1991 but was purchased by Saraki through his firm in 1993. The witness however admitted that Saraki’s name was not mentioned in the Power of Attorney for the transfer of ownership the property. He said: “Parties to the Power of Attorney were only two- Baba Akawo and Carlisle. It was made almost 10 years before the defendant became a governor. In the document, the defendant was not personally mentioned”.

Wetkas insisted that the said property was the same as No 1 Tragus Close, Maitama which was named in the charge, saying it belongs to the defendant.  “My lord we believe it belongs to the defendant because Carlisle Properties & Investment Ltd is his company and he later declared the property as his own in further assets declarations he made before the Code of Conduct Bureau.

“We also had an interaction with the 2nd Director of the company, Oluwatoyin Ojora, wife of the defendant, who confirmed to us that the property belongs to the defendant. The 2nd Director which is Babs Trading & Manufacturing Ltd is also a company the defendant declared as his own.

“The position of the wife of the defendant that the company belongs to the husband was also confirmed by the Managing Director of Carlisle Properties & Investment Ltd, Mr. Kennedy Izuagbe. “However, going by Form CAC-2A, the defendant’s name was not mentioned”, the witness added.  Nevertheless, Saraki’s lawyer Usoro, SAN, drew attention of the tribunal to count-six of the charge.

He argued that contrary to the allegation by FG that Saraki acquired the property in 1993, he said the facts were clear that the defendant was never mentioned in the Power of Attorney for purchase of the property.

US ready to help Nigeria tackle militants

UNITED States of America, USA, Consular General to Nigeria, His Excellency , John Bray, yesterday, expressed his country’s preparedness to help Nigeria establish peace and end the ongoing violence in the South -South region by Niger Delta Avengers and other militant groups.‎‎

The Consular General stated this on Wednesday when he visited the former national chairman of Association of Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria, ATROMPCON, and Pere of Seimbiri Kingdom, Delta State, HRM Charles Ayemi-Botu at his Edjeba Palace Annexe, Warri.

Bray, who was visiting Warri for the first time, asserted: “We are looking at whatever we can do to assist the Nigerian Government in establishing a peaceful, prosperous region in the South-South of Nigeria.”
‎
Shedding light on the visit, HRM Ayemi-Botu said the United States Consular General was in his palace to seek solution to the recent bombings of oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta.

The monarch asserted : “He said he was coming to visit me as the Niger Delta is boiling viz-a-viz the recent bombing of oil pipelines and that he ‎would like to find out the solutions to stop the bombing.”

“He observed that immediately after the elections of last year, things were very peaceful, but from January this year, things started changing, so he wanted a way out

“Physically, they had wanted how they can create an enabling environment to ensure that peace reigns because it is when there is peace that there is development,” Ayemi-Botu added.‎

Speaking his mind, the traditional ruler called on the President Muhammadu Buhari -led Federal
Government to “dialogue with the militants and see the region as part of his primary constituency , instead of engaging them with guns to save the economy from further collapse.”

N23bn Diezani poll bribe: How Adamu, Madaki, Kumo shared N900m — EFCC

More startling revelations on how top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party shared the sum of N900 million bribe to ensure the victory of former President Goodluck Jonathan last year emerged in Abuja last night.

 

The bribe was reportedly lavished on the party big wigs by former Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Alison Madueke, who channelled it through Fidelity Bank, whose Managing Director, Nnamdi Okonkwo, was invited along with one other officials and questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the transaction, which the agency claimed was not reported to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.

As part of its investigation into the receipt and sharing of the cash in two states of Gombe and Adamawa, the EFCC stumbled on evidence that top leaders of the PDP in the two states shared the cash among themselves and others.

The two states chapter of the PDP received N450 million each but was shared by different persons at different locations and not much is known of how much of the fund was actually used by the recipients to work for the re-election of the former President.

According to records of investigation obtained by the EFCC, which Vanguard sighted last night, Senator Sa’idu Umar Kumo of Gombe State, who was the former National Secretary of All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, signed and collected N450 million campaign fund for the re-election of the former President Goodluck Jonathan.

When confronted by EFCC operatives on Wednesday, Kumo, admitted that out of the N450 million which was sent to Gombe State, he received a paltry share of N2 million, which he promised to return to the EFCC to secure his own freedom.

When the records of the disbursement in Adamawa State were scrutinised by EFCC operatives, it was discovered that the state chairman of the PDP, Chief Joel H. Madaki, and Ambassador Hassan Adamu (Wakili Adamawa) signed and collected the state’s share of N450 million from Fidelity Bank for onward sharing to beneficiaries in Yola.

Madaki, in his statement to EFCC, admitted out of the said amount, he got only N5 million but quickly promised to refund the amount to EFCC.

But in Taraba State, the then acting governor, Sani Dandali Abubakar, who is now a senator representing the state in the National Assembly, joined hand with the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mark Bako Useni, and the Minister from the state, Joel Ikenya, to distribute the state’s share of N450 million.

EFCC was trying to determine how much each of the trio took for themselves since they claimed they gave the amount to the local government areas of the state.

They told EFCC agents that they gave N140 million (28m each) to five local government areas while N264 million ( 24 million each) went to the remaining local government areas.

However, Useni admitted that he collected Takum local government’s share of N24m.

Furthermore, the three politicians confessed to interrogators that they personally benefited from the fund. The former minister admitted to have taken N4 million from the bribe and quickly presented a Guarantee Trust Bank draft of N2 million with a pledge to refund the balance today.

His co- suspect deposited a draft from Stanbic IBTC for one million and the balance to be paid later.