Over 743,000 children fled homes to escape violence in Nigeria — UNICEF

Over 743,000 children fled homes to escape violence in Nigeria — UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says over 743,000
under-18 children have fled their homes to escape violence perpetrated by Boko Haram in the North-East.

The Chief Child Protection UNICEF Nigeria, Rachel Harvey, who spoke
in Abuja during an occasion to commemorate this year’s Children’s
Day celebrations, lamented that many Nigerian children were still living
under the shadow of one form of violence or the other.

She said, “Most alarming is the level of violence in the North-East, of
which children are bearing the brunt. Over 743,000 under-18s have
fled their homes to escape the violence.”

According to her, this year’s Children’s day focuses on an important
and timely theme for Nigeria: Violence Against Children: Addressing
the Challenges.

Harvey said, “Many children in Nigeria live under the shadow of
violence not just in their communities, but also in their homes and in
their schools, places that should provide safety from harm.

“Children have lost their lives, witnessed horrific acts of violence, been
forcibly recruited to fight and been subjected to sexual violence,” she
said.

The immediate past Minster of Women Affairs and Social
Development, Hajia Zainab Maina, who also spoke there, said the fact
remained that Nigerian children are still at risk of the ugliest form of
violence, crisis, rape, trafficking, torture, sale of babies.

The Minister said the choice of this year’s theme was informed by the
Nigerian environment characterised by insecurity.

“The choice of our theme was informed by our Nigerian environment
that is currently being characterised with insecurity as well as violence
against women and children”, she added.

Maina said it was a calculated attempt by the Ministry to create more
awareness, sensitize stakeholders on the ills of violence, sexual abuse
and exploitation of children.

After inauguration as governor, Ambode appoints SSG, COS May 29

After inauguration as governor, Ambode appoints SSG, COS May 29

Akinwunmi Ambode, the governor of Lagos state, on Friday announced his first list of appointments moments after his inauguration into office.

In a statement he personally signed in Lagos, Ambode named Tunji Bello as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Samuel Olukunle Ojo as Chief of Staff (COS).

Abiodun Bamgboye was appointed principal private secretary, while Habib Adamson Aruna was appointed Chief Press Secretary (CPS).

The appointments take immediate effect. “Bello, journalist and lawyer is a former commissioner for environment. He studied Political Science at the University of Ibadan and also attended the University of Lagos, where he bagged a Masters in International Law and Diplomacy.

He later read law at the same university,” read the statement. “His bustling journalism career started with the now defunct Concord Press Nigeria, where he rose from being a feature writer to become the editor of National Concord. He was appointed commissioner for environment in July 2011 by former Governor of the state, Babatunde Fashola.”

Ojo, the new COS , is presently the permanent secretary in the office of the COS.

“Aruna rose from the ranks to become the editor of Sunday Independent, from where he resigned in November 2014 to set up Upshotreports, an online newspaper,” it added.

“He studied Political Science at Bayero University and obtained a Masters in the same course at the University of Ibadan.

He attended journalism courses both home and abroad and has been a consistent promoter of progressive ideas.”

FOR THE RECORDS: President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 Inauguration Speech

Inaugural speech by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari following his swearing-in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29th May, 2015

I am immensely grateful to God Who Has preserved us to witness this day and this occasion. Today marks a triumph for Nigeria and an occasion to celebrate her freedom and cherish her democracy. Nigerians have shown their commitment to democracy and are determined to entrench its culture. Our journey has not been easy but thanks to the determination of our people and strong support from friends abroad we have today a truly democratically elected government in place.
I would like to thank President Goodluck Jonathan for his display of statesmanship in setting a precedent for us that has now made our people proud to be Nigerians wherever they are. With the support and cooperation he has given to the transition process, he has made it possible for us to show the world that despite the perceived tension in the land we can be a united people capable of doing what is right for our nation. Together we co-operated to surprise the world that had come to expect only the worst from Nigeria. I hope this act of graciously accepting defeat by the outgoing President will become the standard of political conduct in the country.
I would like to thank the millions of our supporters who believed in us even when the cause seemed hopeless. I salute their resolve in waiting long hours in rain and hot sunshine to register and cast their votes and stay all night if necessary to protect and ensure their votes count and were counted.  I thank those who tirelessly carried the campaign on the social media. At the same time, I thank our other countrymen and women who did not vote for us but contributed to make our democratic culture truly competitive, strong and definitive.
I thank all of you.
Having just a few minutes ago sworn on the Holy Book, I intend to keep my oath and serve as President to all Nigerians.
I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody.
A few people have privately voiced fears that on coming back to office I shall go after them. These fears are groundless. There will be no paying off old scores. The past is prologue.
Our neighbours in the Sub-region and our African brethenen should rest assured that Nigeria under our administration will be ready to play any leadership role that Africa expects of it. Here I would like to thank the governments and people of Cameroon, Chad and Niger for committing their armed forces to fight Boko Haram in Nigeria.
I also wish to assure the wider international community of our readiness to cooperate and help to combat threats of cross-border terrorism, sea piracy, refugees and boat people, financial crime, cyber crime, climate change, the spread of communicable diseases and other challenges of the 21st century.
At home we face enormous challenges. Insecurity, pervasive corruption, the hitherto unending and seemingly impossible fuel and power shortages are the immediate concerns. We are going to tackle them head on. Nigerians will not regret that they have entrusted national responsibility to us. We must not succumb to hopelessness and defeatism. We can fix our problems.
In recent times Nigerian leaders appear to have misread our mission. Our founding fathers, Mr Herbert Macauley, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Malam Aminu Kano, Chief J.S. Tarka, Mr Eyo Ita, Chief Denis Osadeby, Chief Ladoke Akintola and their colleagues worked to establish certain standards of governance. They might have differed in their methods or tactics or details, but they were united in establishing a viable and progressive country. Some of their successors behaved like spoilt children breaking everything and bringing disorder to the house.
Furthermore, we as Nigerians must remind ourselves that we are heirs to great civilizations: Shehu Othman Dan fodio’s caliphate, the Kanem Borno Empire, the Oyo Empire, the Benin Empire and King Jaja’s formidable domain. The blood of those great ancestors flow in our veins. What is now required is to build on these legacies, to modernize and uplift Nigeria.
Daunting as the task may be it is by no means insurmountable. There is now a national consensus that our chosen route to national development is democracy. To achieve our objectives we must consciously work the democratic system. The Federal Executive under my watch will not seek to encroach on the duties and functions of the Legislative and Judicial arms of government. The law enforcing authorities will be charged to operate within the Constitution. We shall rebuild and reform the public service to become more effective and more serviceable. We shall charge them to apply themselves with integrity to stabilize the system.
For their part the legislative arm must keep to their brief of making laws, carrying out over-sight functions and doing so expeditiously. The judicial system needs reform to cleanse itself from its immediate past. The country now expects the judiciary to act with dispatch on all cases especially on corruption, serious financial crimes or abuse of office. It is only when the three arms act constitutionally that government will be enabled to serve the country optimally and avoid the confusion all too often bedeviling governance today.
Elsewhere relations between Abuja and the States have to be clarified if we are to serve the country better. Constitutionally there are limits to powers of each of the three tiers of government but that should not mean the Federal Government should fold its arms and close its eyes to what is going on in the states and local governments. Not least the operations of the Local Government Joint Account. While the Federal Government can not interfere in the details of its operations it will ensure that the gross corruption at the local level is checked. As far as the constitution allows me I will try to ensure that there is responsible and accountable governance at all levels of government in the country. For I will not have kept my own trust with the Nigerian people if I allow others abuse theirs under my watch.
However, no matter how well organized the governments of the federation are they can not succeed without the support, understanding and cooperation of labour unions, organized private sector, the press and civil society organizations. I appeal to employers and workers alike to unite in raising productivity so that everybody will have the opportunity to share in increased prosperity. The Nigerian press is the most vibrant in Africa. My appeal to the media today – and this includes the social media – is to exercise its considerable powers with responsibility and patriotism.
My appeal for unity is predicated on the seriousness of the legacy we are getting into. With depleted foreign reserves, falling oil prices, leakages and debts the Nigerian economy is in deep trouble and will require careful management to bring it round and to tackle the immediate challenges confronting us, namely; Boko Haram, the Niger Delta situation, the power shortages and unemployment especially among young people. For the longer term we have to improve the standards of our education. We have to look at the whole field of medicare. We have to upgrade our dilapidated physical infrastructure.
The most immediate is Boko Haram’s insurgency. Progress has been made in recent weeks by our security forces but victory can not be achieved by basing the Command and Control Centre in Abuja. The command centre will be relocated to Maiduguri and remain until Boko Haram is completely subdued. But we can not claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by insurgents.
This government will do all it can to rescue them alive. Boko Haram is a typical example of small fires causing large fires. An eccentric and unorthodox preacher with a tiny following was given posthumous fame and following by his extra judicial murder at the hands of the police. Since then through official bungling, negligence, complacency or collusion Boko Haram became a terrifying force taking tens of thousands of lives and capturing several towns and villages covering swathes of Nigerian sovereign territory.
Boko Haram is a mindless, godless group who are as far away from Islam as one can think of. At the end of the hostilities when the group is subdued the Government intends to commission a sociological study to determine its origins, remote and immediate causes of the movement, its sponsors, the international connexions to ensure that measures are taken to prevent a reccurrence of this evil. For now the Armed Forces will be fully charged with prosecuting the fight against Boko haram. We shall overhaul the rules of engagement to avoid human rights violations in operations. We shall improve operational and legal mechanisms so that disciplinary steps are taken against proven human right violations by the Armed Forces.
Boko Haram is not only the security issue bedeviling our country. The spate of kidnappings, armed robberies, herdsmen/farmers clashes, cattle rustlings all help to add to the general air of insecurity in our land. We are going to erect and maintain an efficient, disciplined people – friendly and well – compensated security forces within an over – all security architecture.
The amnesty programme in the Niger Delta is due to end in December, but the Government intends to invest heavily in the projects, and programmes currently in place. I call on the leadership and people in these areas to cooperate with the State and Federal Government in the rehabilitation programmes which will be streamlined and made more effective. As ever, I am ready to listen to grievances of my fellow Nigerians. I extend my hand of fellowship to them so that we can bring peace and build prosperity for our people.
No single cause can be identified to explain Nigerian’s poor economic performance over the years than the power situation. It is a national shame that an economy of 180 million generates only 4,000MW, and distributes even less. Continuous tinkering with the structures of power supply and distribution and close on $20b expanded since 1999 have only brought darkness, frustration, misery, and resignation among Nigerians. We will not allow this to go on. Careful studies are under way during this transition to identify the quickest, safest and most cost-effective way to bring light and relief to Nigerians.
Unemployment, notably youth un-employment features strongly in our Party’s Manifesto. We intend to attack the problem frontally through revival of agriculture, solid minerals mining as well as credits to small and medium size businesses to kick – start these enterprises. We shall quickly examine the best way to revive major industries and accelerate the revival and development of our railways, roads and general infrastructure.
Your Excellencies, My fellow Nigerians I can not recall when Nigeria enjoyed so much goodwill abroad as now. The messages I received from East and West, from powerful and small countries are indicative of international expectations on us. At home the newly elected government is basking in a reservoir of goodwill and high expectations. Nigeria therefore has a window of opportunity to fulfill our long – standing potential of pulling ourselves together and realizing our mission as a great nation.
Our situation somehow reminds one of a passage in Shakespeare’s Julius Ceasar
            There is a tide in the affairs of men which,
            taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
            Omitted, all the voyage of their life,
            Is bound in shallows and miseries.
We have an opportunity. Let us take it.
Thank you
Muhammadu Buhari
President Federal Republic of NIGERIA
and Commander in-chief-of the Armed forces

Adesina wins AfDB presidency

Adesina wins AfDB presidency

Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister Akinwumi Adesina won an election on Thursday to
be the new president of the African Development Bank, the pan-African lender
announced in its Twitter account.

Adesina will take over from outgoing bank president Donald Kaberuka on
September 1.

Nigeria’s import-export trade declines by N110.2bn – NBS

Nigeria’s import-export trade declines by N110.2bn – NBS

The value of Nigeria’s merchandise trade declined by N110.2bn or 2.2
per cent on quarter-on-quarter basis at the end of the first quarter of
this year.

It went down from about N4.99trn recorded in the fourth quarter of
2014 to about N4.88trn as at the end of March this year.

The Merchandise Trade Report published by the National Bureau of
Statistics (NBS) yesterday indicated that the drop in the export-import
trade occurred despite improvement in the nation’s export trade by
N275.6bn, representing 9.3 per cent increase over the recorded value
of exports in the preceding quarter, while import dropped by N385.8bn.

The bureau reported however that the rise in export and decline in
import improved the country’s trade balance, which increased by 71.6
per cent from the preceding quarter, to about N1.59trn during the
quarter under review

It stated further that in comparison with the corresponding quarter of
2014, the value of total merchandise trade decreased by N639.5bn or
11.6 per cent, while the trade balance decreased by N839.1bn or 34.6
per cent.

A further analysis of the merchandise trade figures showed that during
the quarter under review, the value of Nigeria’s imports stood at
N1.65trn, representing a decrease of N385.8bn or 19.0 per cent from
the N2.03trn recorded in the preceding quarter.

Year-on-year import value increased by N99.8bn or 6.5 per cent, from
the value of N1.55trn recorded in the corresponding quarter of last
year.

Classification of the import by sections indicates that “boilers,
machinery and appliances” dominated it, accounting for 27.7 per cent
of the total value of import in the quarter under review.

The NBS clarified further: “Other commodities which contributed
considerably to the value of import in the review period were mineral
products (13.1 per cent), base metals and articles of base metals
(10.2 per cent), vehicles, aircraft and associated parts (9.6 per cent),
and products of the chemical and allied industries (8.7 per cent).
“The key drivers of the year-on-year growth were boilers, machinery
and appliances and vegetable products, which increased by N88.7bn or
24.2 per cent and N33.8bn or 47.6 per cent from Q1 of 2014 values
respectively.
“Imports classified by broad economic category revealed that industrial
supplies not elsewhere classified, ranked first with N491.4bn or 29.9
per cent of total Q1, 2015.”
According to the agency, the product with the greatest import value
was motor spirit, which stood at N181.3bn or 11.0 per cent of the
total, while the country’s major import sources are China, United
States, Belgium, Netherlands and India, which respectively accounted
for N387.5bn or 23.6 per cent, N133.8bn or 8.1 per cent, N118.7bn or
7.2 per cent, N108.7bn or 6.6 per cent and N96.6bn or 5.9 per cent of
the total value of goods imported during the quarter.
The bureau reported that when analysed by continent, the country
consumed goods largely imported from Asia, with an import value of
N708.2bn or 43.0 per cent of the quarterly total, compared with
Europe’s value of N458.4bn or 27.9 per cent and Africa’s N252.2bn or
15.3 per cent. Import from the ECOWAS region amounted to N9.6b or
3.8 per cent of the total value of import from Africa.
Comparatively, the value of exports totalled N3.23trn in the first
quarter of this year, indicating an increase of N275.6bn or 9.3 per cent
over the value recorded in the preceding quarter.
The bureau stated that relative to the opening quarter of 2014, the
value of exports declined by N739.3bn or 18.6 per cent, with crude oil
contributing N2.25trn or 69.7 per cent to the value of total of export,
thus dominating the structure.
It explained that when classified by section, the export trade trend
showed that Nigeria exported mainly mineral products, which
accounted for N2, 880.3bn or 89.2 per cent of total export.
Other products exported by Nigeria include vehicles, aircraft and parts
thereof; vessels etc at N185.8bn or 5.8 per cent of the total; prepared
foodstuff; beverages, spirits and vinegar; tobacco at N53.8bn or 1.7
per cent of the total, and vegetable products at N36.7bn or 1.1 per
cent of total export.
NBS stated: “Natural Liquefied Gas was the product with the second
greatest export value, after crude oil, with a value of N306.2bn or 9.5
per cent of the total export value during the period of review. “Nigeria
exported goods mainly to India, Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and
Brazil, which values stood at N436.6bn or 13.5 per cent, N319.6bn or
9.9 per cent, N263.4bn or 8.2 per cent, N260.0bn or 8.0 per cent and
N257.0bn or 8.0 per cent of the Q1, 2015, totals respectively.
“Exports by continent of destination revealed that Nigeria mainly
exported goods to Europe and Asia, which accounted for N1, 152bn or
35.7 per cent, and N909.1bn or 28.1 per cent respectively of total
export during Q1 2015.
“Nigeria exported goods valued at N601bn or 18.6 per cent of total
exports to the continent of Africa, while exports to the ECOWAS region
totalled N277.3bn or 46.1 per cent of the total goods exported to
Africa,” the Bureau added.

NASS removes controversial clauses in constitution amendment

NASS Removes Fontroversial Clauses In Constitution Amendment

The National Assembly has agreed to remove the
controversial clauses in the amendments to the
Constitution under the Fourth Alteration Act, 2015,
which it passed this year.
It would be recalled that President Goodluck
Jonathan had withheld his assent to the amendments
to the 1999 Constitution and the AGF instituted a
suit against the lawmakers to annul the
amendments.
The lawmakers’ agreed to amend the Act in an out
of court settlement between the representatives of
the executive and legislative arms of government in
Abuja on May 26.
Parties agreed that the views of the president be
considered and effected by deleting some alterations
in the Alteration Act, 2015, for which the president
had withheld his assent.
The six-point of settlement in the suit between the
Attorney-General of the Federation and the National
Assembly, was made public on Wednesday.
According to the terms, NASS agreed to delete
alterations made to Section 8 of the Principal Act on
referendum in respect of state creation.
It also agreed to delete alterations made to Section 9
of the Principal Act dispensing with the assent of
the president in the process of constitution
amendment.
NASS also agreed to delete alterations made in
Sections 45a-45b of the Act relating to Free Basic
Education and Maternal Healthcare Services.
It also deleted alterations made to Sections 150, 174,
195 and 211 of the Principal Act relating to the
separation of the office of the Attorney-General of
the Federation and Minister of Justice.
This also applies to State Attorney-General and
Commissioner For Justice.
Accordingly, the suit of the Attorney-General in Suit
No: SC/214/ 2015 before the Supreme Court was
withdrawn following a motion for discontinuance.
The court accordingly struck out the case.
It was also agreed that President Goodluck Jonathan
shall assent to the Fourth Alteration Act, 2015.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government on Wednesday
said it had arrived at an amicable resolution of the
dispute with the National Assembly (NASS) over the
constitution amendments.
At the resumed hearing of the case, Mr Bayo Ojo
(SAN), counsel to the federal government, informed
the court that parties had met and settled the
matter.
Ojo said that in view of the agreement reached by
the parties, he would like to file a fresh motion for
discontinuance of the suit later in the day.
“The parties met yesterday and both made
concessions and were able to reach agreement on
the terms of settlement.
Mr Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), counsel to the NASS,
corroborated Ojo’s submission, saying that it was
true that the parties had settled.
He urged the court to strike out the suit outright on
account of the parties’ agreement to settle their
differences.
Ojo , however, opposed the oral application,
explaining that he needed to brief President
Jonathan after Wednesday’s Federal Executive
Council meeting on the settlement terms.
He urged the court to grant him an adjournment to
enable him to return to the court to file the notice of
discontinuance.
“Under Order 50 Rule 2 (1), within time, that is 14
days, to file the notice of discontinuance without
necessary seeking leave of the court to do so,’’ Ojo
prayed the court.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud
Mohammed, who presided, however, ruled that the
sitting be stood down till 4 p.m., to enable Ojo brief
Jonathan and return to file the discontinuance
motion.
Ojo had on Monday sought to amend the originating
summons which he filed on behalf of the Attorney-
General of the Federation.
He had sought to substitute the AGF with the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the
plaintiff in the suit.
Awomolo had opposed the application on the ground
that it was “incurably defective.’’
Awomolo argued that the proper party in the suit
was the President of Nigeria, who was not before
the court and, therefore, urged the court to strike
out the suit.
Responding to Awomolo’s submission, Ojo argued
that his application, dated May 20, and brought to
court on Monday was to cure the inherent
defectiveness of his originating summons.
The CJN, however, disagreed with Ojo, saying that
even if the AGF was replaced with the President, the
originating process would still be defective since the
supporting affidavit was not sworn to by the
president.
This prompted the court to direct the parties to go
back and reconcile and report their out-of-court
settlement on Wednesday.
In the originating summons filed on behalf of the
President and Attorney-General of the Federation,
Ojo had argued that the amendment passed by NASS
did not have the mandatory requirement of four-
fifth majority of members.
The government also requested the Supreme Court to
give an order nullifying and setting aside Sections 3,
4, 12, 14, 21, 23, 36, 39, 40, 43 and 44 of the Fourth
Alteration Act, 2015 purportedly passed by the
legislature.
Ojo argued that the defendant was making moves,
with the tacit consent of state legislators, to employ
certain provisions of the Constitution to pass the
purported Fourth Alteration Act, 2015 into Law.
According to the plaintiff’s counsel, the Fourth
Alteration Act 2015 contains many proposed
amendments inconsistent with the spirit of
federalism, separation of powers and checks and
balances.
He argued that it would be in the interest of justice
to grant all prayers sought because most of the
provisions of the purported Fourth Alteration Act
2015 are contrary to public policy and good
governance.
The National Assembly had before the filing of the
suit by the Federal Government and Thursday’s
order for the maintenance of status quo, said after
30 days, it would go ahead to override the
president’s veto.

Court Orders NDLEA Operatives To Vacate Kashamu’s Residence

Court Orders NDLEA Operatives To Vacate Kashamu’s Residence 

Temporary reprieve came the way of embattled Ogun State Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu as a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to vacate his Lagos residence.

Justice Ibrahim Buba, who gave the order while ruling on a committal application filed by Kashamu's counsel, Ajibola Oluyede, also directed the men of the Nigerian police to ensure that NDLEA operatives vacate Kashamu’s residence immediately “without a free for all.”

It will be recalled that the NDLEA had, on Saturday, placed Kashamu on house arrest pending his scheduled appearance in court on Monday.

But contrary to expectation, the NDLEA could not produce Kashamu in court on Monday as the PDP chieftain reportedly refused to yield to attempt to take him to court.

The PDP chieftain,  according to the Agency, had insisted that the NDLEA Must Produce a warrant of arrest in line with the extradition treaty before he can be taken to court.

Also on Monday Kashamu has filed a contempt proceedings against the Attorney General of the Federation and the Chairman of the NDLEA before Justice Buba alleging that they disobeyed an order of another judge of the court, Justice Okon Abang, directing all parties before him to maintained status quo pending the final determination of the suit.

Justice Abang gave the order in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Kashamu though another of his lawyers, Alex Iziyon (SAN) to challenge his proposed extradition to the United States of America for an alleged drug-related offences.

Respondents in the suit are: Chairman, Nigerian Drug Laws Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), Director General, Department of State Security(DSS) The Interpol National Central Bureau(NCB) and Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF.

Others are; The Clerk of the National Assembly, The National Security Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission(ICPC), Nigeria Custom Services, the Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

When the committal proceedings resumed before Justice Buba on Tuesday, Iziyon (SAN) while responding to application for an adjournment of the matter by a lawyer from the Attorney General's office, Mrs. A. C. Akwiwu, urged the court to direct the NDLEA officers to vacate his client's house.

The lawyer submitted that the action of the agency is against the order of Justice Abang and that judgement in the matter has been fixed for the 27th of May (today).

Iziyon further urged the court for order that any warrant or application by anyone should be brought to the court and that the court should also direct other law enforcement agencies to ensure that any order made by the court are obeyed since the NDLEA officers who laying siege to Kashamu's residence are armed.

Lawyer representing the AGF, Akwiwu, had asked for an adjournment of the matter on the ground that the case is quasi - criminal in nature and that all the orders being sought by the applicant should await the response of the AGF to the processes filed.

"We are here out of respect for the court. We seek to regularise our appearance before the court. We shall be seeking for a further date to enable us react to the processes filed by the applicant ", she said.

After, listening to the arguments of both parties, Justice Buba, in a bench ruling described the case as a unique one, in the sense that the applicant has been in and out of the court.

While making reference to the sister case before his brother Judge, Okon Abang, he held that parties in the matter were bound by the order of the court which directed that status quo should be maintained pending the determination of the suit.

According to Justice Buba, the order of Justice Abang, whether right or wrong is binding on parties and must be obeyed. The position of the law is clear, that is, any person against whom an order is made is bound to obey it or go on appeal.

The court also held that even though it will be in the interest of justice to grant the AGF's application for adjournment, justice will be better served in the case if the oral application made by Kashamu's lawyer is granted.

"The men of the NDLEA are hereby ordered to vacate the residence of the applicant in line with the order of Justice Abang ", the judge ruled.

Justice Buba also directed that the Nigerian Police Force (NPF)  must be notified of the pending contempt proceedings before the court and that the order must be published by the applicant in a national daily.

The court thereafter adjourn the matter till June 4, for the hearing of the contempt proceedings.

Kashamu refuses to Leave Residence, Insisted That NDLEA Must Produce Warrant Of Arrest

Kashamu refuses to Leave Residence, Insisted That NDLEA Must Produce Warrant Of Arrest

Embattled Ogun State Senator elect, Buruji Kashamu has refused to surrender himself to officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, who stormed his Lagos residence this morning to convey him to court for his extradition trial.

Kashamu is insisting that the NDLEA Must Produce a warrant of arrest in line with the extradition treaty before he can be taken to court.

A short message sent to Journalists by Kashamu's personal assistant,  Austin Oniyokor reads: "It has just come to limelight that the NDLEA did not obtain a warrant of arrest from the court as required by the extradition treaty.

"Kashamu's lawyer, Barrister Ajibola Oluyede requested from them the court we are going to only to be told that they are just going to file the papers as no court has been assigned with the case or has ordered his arrest.

Meanwhile, many of his supporters stormed the court on Monday in solidarity with the embattled senator-elect,  carrying placards with various inscriptions.

Some of the messages on the placards reads: "Leave Kashamu alone", "We voted for him, he is our man", "Kashamu is a great state man", "Kashamu is not a drug baron", "Ilegal detention,  illegal arrest must stop".

Legal Implications of Kashamu's Extradition - Femi Falana

Legal Implications of  Kashamu's Extradition - Femi Falana 

The Extradition Treaty between Nigeria and  the United States was signed on June 24, 1935 while it entered into force on June 24, 1935. The treaty was signed with the United States  by the British colonial regime which then exercised dominion over the territory  of Nigeria. When Nigeria obtained  political independence from the Britannic Majesty in 1960 the treaty was, like several others, adopted by the federal government. By virtue of Article 3 of the Treaty, extradition shall be reciprocally granted for crimes or offences such as  Murder, Manslaughter,  Administering drugs or using instruments with intent to procure the miscarriage of women,  Rape,  Threats, by letter or otherwise, with intent to extort money or other things of value, larceny or embezzlement,  Fraud or  fraudulent conversion, Obtaining money, valuable security, or goods, by false pretences; Crimes or offences or attempted crimes or offences in connection with the traffic in dangerous drugs.

Under the treaty, extradition shall not take place if the person claimed has already been tried and discharged or punished, or is still under trial in the territories of the High Contracting Party applied to, for the crime or offence for which his extradition is demanded. If the person claimed should be under examination or under punishment in the territories of the High Contracting Party applied to for any other crime or offence, his extradition shall be deferred until the conclusion of the trial and the full execution of any punishment awarded to him. Even though the treaty is silent on civil proceedings  challenging the legal validity of the extradition of any person the exercise may be stayed or suspended if there is a court order to that effect.

By virtue of  the Extradition Act Cap E25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 the Attorney-General or a court shall not surrender a  fugitive criminal if satisfied that the offence in respect of which his surrender is sought is an offence of a political character or that the request for  surrender, although purporting to be made in respect of an extradition Crime, was in fact made for the purpose of prosecuting or punishing him on account of his race; religion, nationality or political opinions or was otherwise not made in good faith or in the interests of justice; or that, if surrendered, he is likely to be prejudiced at his trial, or to be punished, detained or restricted in his personal liberty, by reason of his race, religion, nationality or political opinions.

With respect to Chief Buruji Kashamu, the order of the federal high court that he should not be extradited has been set aside by the Court of Appeal. Although the appeal filed against the decision is pending at the Supreme Court there is no order of execution or interlocutory injunction restraining the federal government from extraditing Chief Kashamu to the United States to stand trial for drug trafficking. Hence, the PDP chieftain and senator-elect has initiated a fresh suit at the federal high court to thwart any move to extradite him to the United States!  As the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke SAN has not been legally prohibited on the matter he is reported to have concluded arrangements to commence extradition proceedings on the basis of a request made by the United States pursuant to  the Extradition Treaty.

Before Chief Kashamu parted ways with President Olusegun Obasanjo in the PDP and before the appointment of Mrs. Roli George as the Director-General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Chief Kashamu had been on the wanted list of the United States for drug related offences. Therefore the allegation that Chief Obasanjo and Chief Olabode George are behind the ongoing moves to extradite the senator-elect is illogical, spurious and diversionary. Instead of politicizing the planned extradition proceedings Chief Kashamu should be prepared for the legal battle ahead.  He is lucky that he is detained in his own house. But for his status as a member of the ruling class Chief Kashamu would have been bundled to the NDLEA detention facility in Lagos where he would have been denied access to his phone. 

It should also be pointed out that the  decent treatment being accorded Chief Kashamu is part of the intangible dividends of democracy.Only the rich are detained in their homes as the concept of "house arrest" is unknown to our criminal justice system.  Under the defunct military junta the embattled PDP leader would have been arrested, handcuffed and handed to American security officials.  He would have been further manacled and flown to the United States for trial. At the material time, extradition proceedings were not conducted in any court. Once a request was made by the United States or any other country under an extradition treaty the person claimed was arrested by any of the security agencies and thrown out of the country.

In the instant case, to ensure that the house arrest of Chief Kashamu does not extend beyond 48 hours the NDLEA surrounded his house in Lagos on Saturday morning. The NDLEA has confirmed that the extradition hearing of the senator-elect would commence on Monday morning. Thus, by the combined effect of section 35 of the Constitution and the Extradition Act, Chief Kashamu would appear in the federal high court on May 25 where the Attorney-General of the Federation will apply for his extradition  to the United States. Since there is equality before the law it is hoped that the security forces and the Attorney-General will always treaty  Nigerian citizens with decency and dignity whenever there is reasonable suspicion to arrest them for allegedly committing  criminal offences. 

 

 Having consistently excoriated Chief Obasanjo on behalf of President Jonathan and having invested in the aborted efforts to capture the South West geo-political zone for the PDP, Chief Kashamu has cause to be frustrated and tired of life. But he should be advised not to commit suicide or harm himself for his seeming betrayal by the outgoing Administration which decided, rather belatedly,  to collaborate with the American  government in humiliating him. Notwithstanding that he has been used and dumped Chief Kashamu should be prepared for his trial in the United States. After all, he has repeatedly maintained that this is case of a mistaken identity. With his enormous wealth he should hire a top lawyer in the United States who will assist him to prove that he is not the person wanted for drug related offences.

 

In the light of the foregoing, it is submitted that the fundamental right of Chief Kashamu to personal liberty cannot be said to have been violated since the procedure for extraditing him was made by the United States under an existing and valid treaty. The planned extradition to determine whether or not Chief Kashamu should be extradited to the United States accords with the rule of law as it is in line with the provisions of the Extradition Act . To ensure that the sword of Damocles does not continue to hang menacingly on his head, Chief Kashamu may wish to surrender himself for trial in the United States instead of embarking on  a prolonged legal battle in Nigeria. But if he insists on his innocence let the law take its course through the extradition proceedings.

Buhari needs N4.1trn for fuel subsidy, salaries, others – APC National Chairman

Buhari needs N4.1trn for fuel subsidy, salaries, others – APC National Chairman

Ahead of the inauguration of the incoming administration, National
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-
Oyegun, on Saturday, said that the incoming government would need
about. N4.1 trillion to pay salaries at the federal and state levels,
petrol subsidy, and service debts incurred by the outgoing
administration.
The APC National Chairman, who stated this at a two-day retreat for
APC senators-elect in Abuja in a speech entitled “Extraordinary Times
Require Extraordinary Actions”, however told the incoming lawmakers:
“Make no mistake about it, the days ahead will be tough, and this is
not crying wolf.”
According to him, “From the first day of this government, a total of 4.1
trillion Naira will be required for sundry expenses, including oil subsidy
payment, arrears of salaries at federal and state levels and debt
servicing, just to mention a few.
“Put this against the background of the falling oil prices, the
unprecedented$60-billion debt which the outgoing government has left
for the incoming one, the largely depleted Excess Crude Account
(ECA), the $60 billion that has been lost in the last four years to crude
oil theft (and which are perhaps still being lost as we speak), the need
to rapidly create jobs for our teeming army of unemployed youths,
enhance the security of the citizenry and improve the economy, and
you will begin to understand the enormity of the challenges ahead.”
“This is not a lamentation forum, but still, we must tell ourselves the
truth about the state of the nation, and the expectations of our people.
“In fact, to a number of our compatriots, by May 30, a day after the
swearing of our president-elect, all the streets in Nigeria will be air
conditioned while electricity will become stable and fuel scarcity will
be a thing of the past. Yes, we will get there, but it won’t happen
overnight”, he noted.
Continuing he said, “You, our senators-elect, will be called upon to
take extraordinary actions to address the extraordinary challenges that
confront our nation.
“The incoming president, more than anyone else, needs the support
and cooperation of the 8th national assembly to fulfill his campaign
promise to Nigerians.
“You may be required to pass important bills at very short notices.
This will not be unprecedented but will require a buy-in to the
programmes of the president and the party and willingness to work
with him and the party for the benefit of all Nigerians. The demands
on you will be tasking, but you are up to the task!
“Fortunately we have the numbers, even though we believe that a
bipartisan effort – to which we are open – will be a better deal
“And there is good news! You, our Senators-elect, share in the dreams
of the President and our party to make our country great again.
“May I also remind you that all eyes will be on our party – and by
extension on all of you – to see if our government will walk its talk in
terms of running a lean and effective government, one that eschews
waste, corruption and indiscipline, and one that will harness the
nation’s human, material and natural resources for the well-being of
the people.
“There is no magic wand to make our economy better overnight.
Against the realities on the ground, some of which I listed earlier,
reviving our economy will be a long and tortuous process. Bold
decisions will need to be taken, and this can only be possible if there
is a synergy among our party, the National Assembly and the
President. We know you will not fail us, and you will not fail Nigerians”,
he stated.

Okonjo-Iweala clears air on fuel crisis, FG debts … says $63.7bn debt stock from govts since 1960

Okonjo-Iweala clears air on fuel crisis, FG debts … says $63.7bn debt stock from govts since 1960

The federal government yesterday shed light on the current fuel crisis,
explaining that subsidy payments to marketers have been delayed as
the claims reeked of fraud.

The Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, disclosed that marketers
had submitted to the government claims to the tune of N159billion in
exchange rate differentials.

She told reporters at a farewell meeting in Abuja that she would not
approve payment of the claims unless verified by the relevant
authorities.

“Marketers were asking for N159 billion for exchange rate differentials
from the outstanding N200 billion. There has been so much fraud and
scam so I have refused to sign for that money but have agreed that a
committee be set up involving the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to
verify marketers’ claims,” she said.

”Marketers just want to make Nigerians suffer,” she added.
The minister also slammed the marketers for allegedly blackmailing
Nigerians and asked the people to resist.

Insisting that the current fuel scarcity has nothing to do with paying
the marketers, she said: “They are making a lot of money from black
market activities, people should rise up against the blackmail of oil
marketers.

“I will not pay the N159 billion without verification, Nigerians should
not allow themselves to be blackmailed.”

The minister said there was something curious about the supply of
and payment for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

Her words: “I cannot say that the problem is due to not paying
marketers, the process of paying marketers is always a rolling process
and there has never been a time government reduced its financial
obligation to marketers to zero.

“In a year where so much effort has been made to pay marketers
including prioritizing their payment as subsidy claims in favour of other financial obligation like paying contractors, yet fuel scarcity still
persists at this  particular point in time suggests that something
suspicious is happening.”

She responded to the claim by Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi
Osinbajo, that the Jonathan administration will be leaving a $60 billion
debt burden for the in-coming government.

She said that Nigeria’s total debt indeed stands at $63.7 billion but it
is the totality of all the debts incurred by
successive governments since 1960.

“No $60 billion was accumulated under the Jonathan administration,”
she said.

She added: “Current debt stock includes both federal and state
governments debts made up of $9.7 billion external debt or 15 per
cent of total debt stock and $54 billion or 85 per cent domestic debt
stock.

“Nigeria is still repaying the multilateral loans it collected on
concessionary terms with as long as 40 years maturity periods.”

The breakdown of the accumulated domestic stock is $18.575 billion
outstanding by 2007, $17.3 billion accumulated between 2008 and
2011 and $18 billion accumulated between 2012 and 2015.

“This is so because of something that happened in 2010 because of
the salary increment under Yar’Adua administration which increased
civil servants salaries by 53 per cent.

“Those bonds have been rolled over and government had to weather
the difficulties because resources to fund such increase were not
there,” she said.

She described Nigeria’s debt to GDP ratio as one of the lowest in the
world.

On the domestic debt stock, she said 20 per cent is owed by state
governments with Lagos state having an external debt burden of
N1.169 trillion while the balance of 80 per cent belongs to the federal
government.

Reviewing her tenure, Okonjo-Iweala said she has no regrets in serving
the country and declared that anyone called upon to serve
Nigeria should consider it a privilege.

“Some people criticise from afar but some came home in spite of
challenges to serve,” she said.

She faulted suggestions that the economy was mismanaged, saying:
“The economy is reacting to the forces of demand and supply but
there is hope for the country. Only that people will have to make
sacrifices.

“The out-going government, she said, achieved a lot but she lamented
that “there are very serious attempts to rewrite history.”

Towards May 29: Nigerians brace for long fuel scarcity

Towards May 29: Nigerians brace for long fuel scarcity

It all started like the normal queues and fuel scarcity Nigerians have
been used to over the years, especially following a price hike or strike
or threat of it by workers in the oil sector.

But unlike in the past when the queues thinned out over time,
particularly when there has been an agreement between the workers
and the federal government or denial of impending increase in pump
price, the current fuel scarcity is lingering and may persist for some
time to come.

Already, the scarcity, which is worsening by the day, following shortfall
in supply (importation), compared to demand, has negatively affected
all commercial, economic and social activities across the country,
which is the seventh largest oil producer in the world. Gradually, the
number of filling stations with products to dispense is reducing, with
petrol selling between N120 and N200 per litre, depending on location.

Correspondingly, the number of black marketers has increased, with
hawkers, including women and teens, found on the major roads.

Similarly, more black market depots have emerged and are thriving,
with some filling stations with the product more willing to sell directly
to them than customers/end users.

The erratic power supply is putting more pressure on demand for the
products, with some Nigerians warning that the scarcity would persist
until early June this year, when the oncoming government must have
taken over and negotiated with the major importers on new terms and
payments.

In Lagos, as in many other parts of the country, most filling stations
were barricaded and the few that had products witnessed long queues
of vehicles. In some parts, black marketers were cashing in on the
situation by selling to desperate customers for as much as N3000 for
10 litres.

The scarcity has forced many car owners to park their vehicles at
home, adding to the number of stranded commuters at major bus
stops as few commercial vehicles on the road hiked their fares to
remain afloat. Surprisingly, the effect of the four-week-old scarcity has
also trickled down to how the city is lit at night and reduced noise
pollution in most neighbourhoods as only a few generating sets now
run at night.

Most areas in Lagos remained in darkness at night as many can no
longer get fuel to power their sets or can no longer afford at the
current prices which have been increased by about 300 per cent.

The major oil marketers had on Wednesday last week warned that the
current scarcity may persist beyond May 29 if the federal government
fails to pay their outstanding claims on subsidy. The government is yet
to take any decisive decision on the development and it is not clear
how the incoming government would handle the delicate situation
either.

The Executive Secretary of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria
(MOMAN), Mr. Obafemi Olawore, had disclosed at a media briefing last
week that the outstanding payment on subsidy and interest remained
unpaid by government and had led to its members’ inability to import
petroleum products in the last few days, warning that the scarcity
might persist beyond the handover date (May 29).

“Because of the huge outstanding that we have; because we have not
been able to pay back the loan we have taken, because our suppliers
are not too confident, we are unable to bring fresh import,” he
explained.

Olawore said unless the over N200 billion that the government owes
both MOMAN and DAPPMA was paid, the scarcity might remain.

Executive Secretary of Depot and Petroleum Products Marketing
Association (DAPPMA), Mr. Olufemi Adewole, also said the federal
government owes its members over N200 billion.

As it stands, the scarcity is likely to bite harder in the coming days as
the available products are used up. – Guardian.

NCC bans MTN’s TruTalk promo

NCC bans MTN’s TruTalk promo

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has placed a ban on the ongoing MTN TruTalk+ saying that failure to comply with the directives given in the memo halting the promo will attract sever sanction.

NCC asked MTN Nigeria Communications to stop the implementation of a tariff
plan called MTN TruTalk+ or face serious sanctions as the regulator said it did not give any approval for such service.

A press statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Tony Ojobo
also barred MTN from further advertisement of such service in the
print, electronic media or its websites.

The Commission in a letter dated May 19, 2015 with ref No NCC/
MTN/18/15 and signed by the Head, Compliance Monitoring and
Enforcement, Mr. Efosa Idehen and Head, Legal and Regulatory
Services, Mrs. Yetunde Akinloye, said the records of the Commission
showed that the operator has no approval of the regulatory authority
before embarking on the new promotional tariff plan.

The Commission said that its Compliance Unit revealed that the new
tariff with daily access fee of N5, allowed subscribers to call all
networks at 11k/sec and N20k/sec to UK, USA, India, Canada and
China.

“The Commission’s investigations showed that MTN Nigeria
Communications Ltd has already configured this tariff plan on their
network and has therefore implemented same” without the appropriate
regulatory approval. It said the action contravenes section 108 (1) of
the Nigeria Communications Act 2003.

“Consequent upon the above, the Commission thereby directs MTN
Nigeria Communications Ltd to immediately discontinue this Tariff Plan
and all associated advertisements regarding same or otherwise face
regulatory sanctions accordingly” it said.

US releases documents recovered in Osama bin Laden raid

US releases documents recovered in Osama bin Laden raid

US government on Wednesday in Washington released a list of now declassified
documents recovered during the 2011 raid on al- Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden ’s compound in Pakistan.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said the list of documents
contained hundreds of letters to family members and associates as well as
statements on anti - government demonstrations in Egypt.

It said the documents include the wars in Afghanistan , Iraq and other current
events and series of list of reading materials found in the compound.

It said these included the US government-commissioned report on the September 11, 2001 , terrorist attacks, indictments against terrorist suspects, a book by Noam Chomsky and dozens of English -language books dealing with conspiracy theories.

It said the documents also included 19 publications about France and notes on
the German economy.

It said President Barack Obama has called for the intelligence community to
review documents for release , as part of a bid to increase transparency within
the intelligence community.

The office said hundreds of more documents would also be reviewed for possible release.

“ All documents whose publication will not hurt ongoing operations against al-
Qaeda or their affiliates will be released , ” it added.

Bin Laden was killed in the May 2011 raid by US Navy Seals on the compound
where he had been hiding in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

PENGASSAN, NUPENG begin strike to worsen current fuel crisis

PENGASSAN, NUPENG begin strike to worsen current fuel crisis

Hopes of a timely end to the current fuel scarcity dimmed further
yesterday as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association
of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and
Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, began an indefinite strike that may
completely cripple economic activities nationwide.

In Abuja, the protesting labour union members barricaded the entrance of the headquarters of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, thereby preventing the employees from resuming in their efforts to get its management attends to their demands.

Specifically, PENGASSAN called for a declaration of emergency in the
oil and gas sector and urged the incoming government to do
everything possible to address the plethora of issues bedevilling the
sector in order to ensure its efficiency.

The association’s President, Mr. Francis Johnson, in a statement
pointed out that there were many issues requiring urgent attention
from the incoming government to reposition the industry for efficient
and effective delivery of its benefits to Nigerians. For instance, he
canvassed the need for the Muhammadu Buhari-led government to call an all-inclusive stakeholders’ forum to critically examine and proffer workable and enduring solutions to all the problems in the larger interest of the country.

“All the subsectors of the oil and gas industry have one challenge or
the other and all these challenges are affecting the deliveries of the
benefits of our God-given hydrocarbon resources to the country and
the entire people of Nigeria.

“These challenges are as result of past neglects, wrong policies and
policy summersault in some areas of the sub-sectors.

“All these are inflicting pains on Nigerians who ought to be enjoying
the benefits of the natural resources that God bequeathed to the
country,” Johnson said.

He listed some of the challenges to include, pipeline vandalism, crude
oil theft, state of the refineries, intractable and persistent scarcity of
petroleum products, subsidy payment controversies, and divestment.

Others are, illegal transfer or allocation of oil blocks, irregular Joint
Venture, JV, funding with emphasis on delay in cash call payment,
inadequate funding of government agencies in the sector and undue
interference in the management of government agencies.

The union leader said that the stakeholders’ forum will chart ways of
attending to the critical challenges affecting the industry and evolve a
framework that will facilitate its stability, adding that machinery should
be set in motion for periodic meetings to evaluate and review the
success and workability of the framework.

NUPENG on its own said it was time the Federal Government assess
more critically how the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company,
NPDC, was being managed with a view to ensuring that the guiding
laws and rules relating to the operations of the company are
subverted.

Assistant General Secretary of NUPENG, Mr. Adamson Momoh, said
that the strike against NPDC, which is an arm of NNPC, would
continue until the management sees reasons with the workers.

In Lagos, the effects of the strike started manifesting as long queues,
which had abated fairly since Monday, became more pronounced in
filling stations as motorists renew their struggles to buy fuel.

Independent and black marketers virtually took over sales of fuel,
dispensing at between N120 and N150 per litre, depending on the
station and bargaining power of customers. Most major marketers had
no product to sell.

The unions had given a notice, which expired last weekend, urging the
Federal Government to reverse the transfer of operatorship of the
Joint Venture, JV, partnership in OMLs 40 and 42 to Neconde Energy
Nigeria Limited and Elcrest Exploration and Production Limited.

A statement from the JV partners, said the shut-in has affected all
NPDC operated assets in joint venture with indigenous companies that had applied for operatorship, except Neconde, who, prior to the crisis, had been awarded the operatorship of OML 42, and immediately got the Joint Task Force, JTF, to secure the assets.

Elcrest (OML 40) which is next in line to be awarded operatorship,
Shoreline OML 30 and FHN/Afren (OML 26) have now been shut as oil
evacuation is hampered from OML 34 which relies on the OML 30
pumping station.

SEC hammers BGL, suspends Okumagba from capital market

SEC hammers BGL, suspends Okumagba from capital market

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has
suspended BGL Asset Management Ltd, BGL Capital
Ltd and BGL Securities Ltd from all capital market
activities.

This is contained in a statement in Lagos on
Wednesday by the Commission.

SEC directed that Mr Albert Okumagba, the Group
Managing Director, BGL Group, should cease to be a
registered sponsored individual with the
commission.

This directive, according to the statement follows the
withdrawal of the registration of BGL Plc as a capital
market operator.

The statement disclosed that all suspicious
transactions observed in the course of the
investigation had been referred to the appropriate
law enforcement agencies for further investigation.

It stated that BGL Asset Management, BGL Capital
and BGL Securities and all individuals involved in
the management of the said companies had been
referred to the SEC Administrative Proceedings
Committee (APC).

The statement said that the suspension was a fall out
of the commission’s Executive Management
Committee meeting held on May 19.

It said that the committee considered the report of a
detailed investigation into the various complaints
received from investors against subsidiaries of BGL
Group.

According to the statement, the committee directs
BGL Asset Management Ltd, BGL Capital Ltd and
BGL Securities Ltd to be suspended from all capital
market activities.

“All sponsored individuals of BGL Asset Management
, BGL Capital and BGL Securities whose particulars
are contained in the commission’s record as at
December 2014 be suspended from performing any
capital market activity.”

Okumagba prior to the investigation was the
President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS)
but was asked to step aside by the institute because
of investors’ confidence.

Mr Mounir Gwarzo, SEC Director-General, in April
said that the commission was investigating the
operations of BGL Plc, a financial services company.

Gwarzo said that the commission had set up an
interim management team to investigate the
company’s operations.

“What we did for BGL was basically extending our
investigation process.

“We undertook target inspection of BGL, when we
finished the investigation, we came up with our
own report and we wrote them a letter and we said
we wanted them to clarify.

“They responded by asking us for additional time to
respond and we granted them that additional time
and they responded.

“We reviewed their response and we felt there is a
need for us to go in and confirm or clarify certain
things. That is the situation we are in now,” Gwarzo
said.

He said that the findings of the interim management
team would determine its next line of action.

“We set up an interim management team that has
already moved in and is doing its job and I don’t
want to pre-empt what they will come up with.

But the moment they finish the report, SEC will look
at it and take the next line of action,” Gwarzo said.

The interim management team set up for BGL by SEC
was headed by Mr Oladipo Aina, with Mr Abubakar
Ambursa, Mrs Hafsat Rufai, Ms Temitayo Siyanbola
and Ms Tonne Ladipo-Ajayi as members.

NJC bars judges from presenting books, accepting gifts

NJC bars judges from presenting books, accepting gifts

The National Judicial Council has barred further writing of books in honour of
serving judges, The PUNCH has learnt.
It was gathered on Wednesday that the NJC took the decision to bar serving
judges from accepting such honour on Wednesday, the first day of the council’s
ongoing quarterly meetings in Abuja.
The meeting for the current quarter in this year started on Wednesday and will
end on Thursday.
A member of the NJC told our correspondent that the council lamented over the
implication of such book presentations which usually attracted donations from
politicians and most of the time litigants whose cases would come before such
judges.
The council was said to have directed those who intend to honour a judge to wait
until the retirement of such a judge from office.
According to the source, the issue was tabled before the council by the Chief
Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, referring to a report in The
PUNCH of May 18, 2015 and This Day newspaper on the recent presentation of a
book written in honour of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
The PUNCH ’s feature story titled ‘Donations in honour of judges raise ethical
questions’ reported that the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Esama,
donated N8m towards the book, ‘Encyclopedia of Civil Procedures and Practices
of Superior Courts.’
The source, who spoke with our correspondent, said that the CJN was not happy
with the development, following which the NJC took the decision to bar serving
judges from accepting books being written in their names.
“The NJC has said that such honour should be reserved for retired judges,” the
source said.
The book presentation event on April 30, 2015, took place on the same day that
Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced one of
Igbinedion’s sons, Michael, to a six-year jail term with an option of N3m fine for
N25bn money laundering offences.
Michael is a younger brother of Lucky, also Igbinedion’s son, and a former
governor of Edo State for eight years.
The public had expressed concern about the judgment which gave Michael an
option of N3m fine but sentenced his co-accused, who used to be an aide to
Lucky as governor, Patrick Eboigbodin, to 20 years imprisonment without an option
of fine for the same offences.
Justice Liman had, on April 29, 2015, convicted Michael, who is a younger brother
to Lucky, and adjourned till April 30 for sentencing.

We Are Not Part of Governors’ Forum Reconciliation, Says Jang’s Ngf

We Are Not Part of Governors’ Forum Reconciliation, Says Jang’s NGF

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) under the leadership of Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State has denied any reconciliation with the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi-led faction.

In a statement released in Abuja and signed by the Secretary and Administrator of the Forum, Osaro Onaiwu, the governors stated that any such reconciliation attempt was futile as a majority of the governors will be out of office in a matter of days and therefore should leave issues of reconciliation, reorganisation and a new Chairman to the incoming governors.

The statement further described the purported reconciliation as a selfish attempt by a group of governors to force new leadership of the forum on the in-coming governors.

The governors noted that both the Chairman, Jonah Jang and his Deputy, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State along with a majority of governors were visibly absent because they did not consider it a priority at this late hour to be part of a selfish project.

We’re inheriting Nigeria’s worst economy in history – Osinbajo

We’re inheriting Nigeria’s worst economy in history – Osinbajo

The Vice President-elect, Prof. Yomi Osinbajo, on Wednesday said Nigeria’s
economy is in its worst shape in history.
He put the nation’s local and international debt profile at US$60billion with a 2015
debt serving bill of N953.6billion, representing 21 per cent of the 2015 budget.
Osinbajo gave these statistics in his remarks at the opening of a 2-day Policy
Dialogue on the Implementation of the Agenda for Change, which began in Abuja
on Wednesday.
He noted that an estimated 110 million, out of the nation’s over 170 million
population, live in extreme poverty while the largest chunk of the benefits of our
national wealth accrues to a small percentage of the population.
According to him, the nation’s dwindling oil revenues has made it difficult for two
thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states to pay salaries.
He said, “We are concerned that our economy is currently in, perhaps, its worst
moment in history. Local and international debts stand at US$ 60 billion.
“Our debt servicing bill for 2015 is N953.6 billion, 21 per cent of our budget. On
account of severely dwindled resources, over two-thirds of the states in Nigeria
owe salaries.
“Federal institutions are not in much better shape. Today, the nation borrows to
fund recurrent expenditure.”
This, he explained, is against the backdrop of a highly unequal society in which,
by some reckoning, the largest percentage of the benefits of our national wealth
accrues to a small group within our population.
Osinbajo said the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress offers a vision of
shared prosperity and soci0-economic inclusion for all Nigerians that leaves no
one behind in the pursuit of a prosperous and fulfilling life.
According to him, the goal of the policy dialogue is to interrogate the positions
and propositions before a wider audience and to lunch a robust public
conversation on policy directions and priorities that will help inform the incoming
administration’s approach in the next four years.
He further explained that the forum exemplifies the sort of consultative and
consensual approach to policy-making that the APC and the new administration
intend to model in office.
The Vice President elect also declared that sessions during the dialogue would
explore a wide range of policy priorities including the diversification of the
economy in the wake of dwindling oil revenues.
In order to achieve this, he said, the administration intends to engender job-led
growth through the revitalisation of agriculture in pursuit of job creation and food
security, improving the regulatory frameworks in the most strategic sphere of
economic activity.
Earlier, a former Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Mr. Peter Mandelson,
who represented former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, advised the incoming
administration, to take advantage of its current level of public support to take
hard decisions.
He explained that with the current state of affairs, the task ahead of the incoming
administration was indeed a daunting one.
Drawing from the experiences of the Labour Party in Britain, Mr. Peter Mandelson
said, the first rule of governance is “Be true to your word; be true to your
mandate.”
He urged the Buhari-led administration not to be afraid to take hard decisions but
that it must remain mindful of the timing of such decisions.
Mandelson also advised the administration not to attempt to do everything at
once but ensure that things are done with proper planning along with a
commitment to delivery.

VIO not permitted to check drivers licence, vehicle particulars—FRSC

VIO not permitted to check drivers licence, vehicle particulars—FRSC

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr.
Boboye Oyeyemi, on Monday, said that the corps would commence a
crackdown on drivers who possess fake drivers license.

He also explained that the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) were not
permitted by law to inspect vehicle and drivers licences.

Paying a courtesy visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, Oyeyemi explained that people who work with some elements to procure fake drivers licence would not have a hiding place.

He also appealed to the Inspector General for improved collaboration with the corps, especially in the areas of security, sharing intelligence and prosecution of offenders.

He also declared war on some youths who constitute themselves into nuisance on Abuja streets driving vehicles recklessly in the name of “stunting”, adding that they constitute danger not only to themselves, but also on the generality of road users.

Oyeyemi equally lamented the abuse of siren and construction of speed breakers indiscriminately by some persons or communities.
According to him, “The statutory responsibility of the VIO does not include to stop people and ask for drivers licence. There is no statutory powers given them to do so.

“All that we do are contained in the transfer of powers by the IG. If the police stops you to ask for your particulars, they are doing what they are statutorily empowered to do. What we need is collaboration to be able to do our jobs very well.

Speaking on the progress the corps has made, the FRSC boss said that road crashes reduced by 40 per cent last year.

Court nullifies Benue Rep-elect’s election, orders prosecution

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to nullify the Certificate of Return issued to Christian Abah  for the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal ‎Constituency seat in the House of Representatives‎ at the forthcoming 8th National Assembly.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola, delivering judgment in the suit, challenging Abah’s eligibility to stand for the election, held that the allegation of certificate forgery levelled against him by the plaintiff, Mr. Hassan Saleh, had been established to be true.

Abah was said to have forged an Ordinary National Diploma certificate in Accountancy, purportedly obtained from the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, in 1985.

Justice Ademola said his findings revealed that an earlier judgment of the  National/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, ‎sitting in Makurdi, delivered on September 6, 2011, and a letter by the Registrar of the polytechnic, Mr. Suleiman Buba, affirmed that the certificate presented by Abah to INEC was forged.

The court ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to immediately commence prosecution of Abah for forgery and perjury.

Abah, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, had earlier been declared unopposed and elected being the only candidate presented for the March 28, 2015 election.

The court,  in his judgment, declared all the votes that accrued to him in the PDP’s primary, held on December 6, 2014, as wasted and also declared Saleh, who came second as the winner of the primary.

He ordered INEC to issue a fresh Certificate of Return to Saleh.

The court also ordered the incoming Speaker of the ‎8th National Assembly to swear in Saleh as the member representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal ‎Constituency.

The court also berated the conduct of the counsel for PDP and Abah in the suit, Mr. S.I Ameh (SAN), for the frivolous applications and tactics to delay the hearing of the case.

Justice Ademola therefore ordered that the processes filed in the suit and his judgment be served on the Nigerian Bar Association, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee with a view of taking appropriate sanctions against Ameh.

The judge also imposed a N450,000 fine on the three defendants – the PDP, INEC and Abah in favour of the plaintiff.

The court berated both the INEC and PDP for promoting “the culture of impunity” by their failure to disqualify Abah from participating in the election in view of the court judgment that had since 2011 affirmed that he (Abah) presented a forged certificate for the purpose of standing for an election.

Mu’azu resigns as PDP chairman

… Secondus takes over

Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu on Wednesday resigned as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The embattled chairman in a letter he wrote to the party’s Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, noted that due to the party’s defeat in the March 28 presidential election, it has become important for him vacate his position as PDP chairman for peace to reign in the party.

He asked Secondus to take over as acting national chairman in line with the party’s constitution.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, who confirmed this to

journalists at the Wadata Plaza secretariat of the party, commended Muazu for

his services to the PDP and love for the nation.

He said, “I can confirm that we have received the resignation of the National

Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu. I can confirm that the chairman, who had health

challenges, stayed on for the primaries, for the campaigns and the elections and

after consultations with his family, and in his personal interest, he had decided to

resign.

“This party commends him for his services to the party and for his love for the

nation. We wish him well. We will not forget him. In line with the constitution, the

Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, has taken charge of the affairs

of the party as acting national chairman of the party. The constitution does not

recognise a vacuum.”

Metuh said Secondus would be in charge pending when a replacement would be

appointed from the North-East.