FG takes over ill-managed Yola Disco from private investors

FG takes over ill-managed Yola Disco from private investors

Following what the Federal Government described as bad management by investor of the Yola Electricity Distribution Company, the Federal Ministry of Power has taken over the management and control of the distribution company.

It has also appointed Mr. Baba Mustapha, an engineer, to lead the
company in the capacity of an acting managing director. Before his
new appointment, Mustapha was a deputy director in the Ministry of
Power.

The Head of Public Communication, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr.
Alex Okoh, confirmed the takeover of the electricity distribution
company in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Abuja on
Thursday. He, however, declined to give further details.

Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Company had on six
occasions (November 10, 2013, August 27, 2014, October 15, 2014,
April 9, 2015, April 30, 2015 and May 13, 2015) given notices of force
majeure, which is an irresistible force or compulsion such as will
excuse a party from performing his or her part of a contract.

Consequently, the matter was tabled before the sub-committee of the
Technical Committee on Power of the National Council on Privatisation
at one of its meetings.

The sub-committee recognised the reality of the force majeure, which
was in line with clause seven of the Share Purchase Agreement and
made recommendations to the technical committee.

The force majeure clause is a standard clause in most contracts and
includes events like natural disasters, wars and other occurrences not
within the power or control of the executing party that makes
implementation of the contract impossible.

Clause seven of the SPA stated that in a war situation, where the core
investor could not operate, it could invoke force majeure on issues
beyond its control.

The Yola Electricity Distribution Company covers Adamawa, Borno,
Taraba and Yobe states. Except for Taraba State, the other three have
been mostly affected by the activities of the Islamic insurgent group,
the Boko Haram, and the subsequent war against it.

The recommendations of the sub-committee were deliberated upon by
the Technical Committee of the NCP at its meeting in April, where the
basis for the declaration of force majeure was also acknowledged,
according to the BPE.

The technical committee made recommendations to the NCP, which at
its first meeting for 2015 held at the Presidential Villa, set up a
committee comprising the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power as
the chairman; a representative of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory
Commission and the Director-General of the BPE, to explore the
implementation of the terms of the force majeure.

The Yola Disco is one of the 11 electricity distribution companies that
were sold to private sector operators in a gale of reforms of the
nation’s power industry that led to the unbundling of the defunct
monopoly, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Company won the bid for
the YEDC and was required to pay N9.31bn for the firm.

Many Nigerians have expressed disappointment at the turnout of the
privatisation exercise as the significant improvement expected from
the power sector following the reform has not yet happened.

Agency report

CBN Adjusts Rate As Naira Falls To 244

CBN Adjusts Rate As Naira Falls To 244

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Thursday adjusted its exchange rate peg to N197 against the United States’ dollar from the N196.95 it set last week, data on the bank’s website showed.

This came on the heels of a further decline in naira to 243 against the
dollar at the parallel market on Thursday.

The persistent decline of the naira in the parallel market followed the
introduction of new measures by the central bank last month,
restricting access to hard currency at the interbank in a bid to
conserve dwindling foreign exchange reserves.

The forex rate adjustment on Thursday was the fifth since the CBN
introduced tight controls on the forex market in February, Reuters
reported.

The bank said at the time that it would sell dollars only at N198 to
customers through the interbank based on direct orders by banks.

The naira traded at 199.50 to the dollar on the interbank market on
Thursday, compared to the 197 per dollar rate at which it closed on
Wednesday.

Forex dealers said the outcome of the Monetary Policy Committee
meeting of the CBN due on Friday (today) could affect the naira.

“We are very optimistic that the central bank would come out with
some measures to support the naira at the end of its MPC meeting on
Friday,” the Acting President, Association of Bureau De Change
Operators, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, told our correspondent.

He also said the association had met with the CBN in Abuja on
Thursday to discuss the need to reverse the recent policy requesting
BDCs to collect prospective customers’ Bank Verification Number
before selling forex to them.

A Reuters poll showed the bank could hold interest rates for now.

The Head, Investment Research, Afrinvest West Africa, a research and
investment advisory firm, Mr. Ayodeji Ebo, and his team, predicted that
the MPC would take some key decisions at the meeting.

In its report on the MPC meeting, the team said, “We imagine the MPC
will favour one of the following possible scenarios: Leave all policy
rates unchanged and continue to adopt administrative measures to
curb naira volatility while rebuilding external reserves; or increase the
naira intervention rate in the interbank market and raise cash reserve
requirements to 35 per cent to reduce naira liquidity that could spur
FX speculation; or increase monetary policy rate by 50bps to attract
foreign portfolio investment, while subsequently loosening restrictions on FX trading.

“We place a 70 per cent probability on scenario one, 20 per cent
probability on scenario two and 10 per cent on the third scenario.”

Agency report

NERC Loses Bid To Vacate Order On Electricity Tariff Hike

NERC Loses Bid To Vacate Order On Electricity Tariff Hike

An attempt by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to get a Federal High Court in Lagos to lift an order of the court restraining the commission from increasing electricity tariff in the country has failed.

NERC yesterday failed to convince Justice Mohammed Idris of the validity of its case as the court struck out a preliminary objection filed by the commission against a suit filed by a lawyer, Toluwani Adebiyi against the proposed hike in electricity tariff across the country.

NERC had filed the objection to challenged the locus standi of the lawyer to file the suit, insisting that the suit disclosed no reasonable cause of action, and that the applicant failed to comply with relevant provisions of the law, as the suit was wrongly instituted.

The commission had also maintained in its application to set aside the interim order that the lawyer misrepresented facts thereby misleading the court to grant same.

However, in his ruling, Justice Idris, who first dealt with the preliminary objection challenging his jurisdiction to hear the case, held that from the processes before him, the defendant (NERC) failed to comply with the mandatory provision of Order 29 Rule 4 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules to the effect that such objection must be filed within 21 days after service.

Justice Idris also rejected the argument of NERC’s counsel that the provision was discretionary, stating that the operating word “Shall” makes it mandatory for the court to observe the provision.

The court held, “The objection is incompetent and it is hereby struck out having been filed outside the 21 days stipulated by Order 29 Rule 4”.

On motion to discharge the interim order, the court similarly held that it was not filed within seven days as stipulated by Order 26 Rule 11, and no order for extension of time was sought.

According to the judge, this error rendered the motion incompetent, and he accordingly struck it out.

“The ex-parte order of this court restraining hike in electricity tariff is valid and still subsisting, Justice Idris held.  

The court has adjourned the matter  to September 23, 2015 for hearing of the substantive suit.

Adebiyi had in the suit urged the court for an order restraining NERC from implementing any upward review of electricity tariff without a meaningful and significant improvement in power supply at least for 18 hours in a day in most communities in Nigeria.

The lawyer had also asked the court for an order restraining NERC from foisting compulsory service charge on pre-paid meters not until "the meters are designed to read charges per second of consumption and not a flat rate of service not rendered or power not used."

He also prayed the court to bar NERC from further  enforcing the collection service charge on pre-paid meters until there is visible efficient and reliable power supply like those of foreign countries where the idea of service charge was borrowed.

Adebiyi is further asking for an order of court mandating the NERC to do the needful and generate more power to meet the electricity use of Nigerians, adding that the needful should include and not limited to a multiple long-term financing approach, sourced from the banks, capital market, insurance and other sectors of finance to power the sector.

Finally, the lawyer is asking the court to mandate the NERC to make available to all Nigerians within a reasonable time of maximum of two years, prepaid meters as a way to stop the throat-cutting indiscriminate estimated bill and which must be devoid of the arbitrary service charge, but only chargeable on power consumed.

In an affidavit in support of the suit personally deposed to by the applicant, the lawyer lamented that despite the motto and mission of

NERC which were expressly stated as "keeping the light on and to meet the needs of Nigeria for safe, adequate, reliable and affordable electricity," most communities in Nigeria do not get more than 30 minutes if electricity supply, while the remaining 23 hours and 30 minutes were always without light and in total darkness.

"Nigeria poor masses are paying an estimated and indiscriminate residential bills ranging from N5, 000 to N18, 000, spending an average of N15, 000 to N20, 000 for fuel to maintain generating set.

 "Businesses have collapsed, industries have closed down, and residents cannot sleep comfortably at night due to inefficiency of our power industry".

"Companies and commercial Houses are groaning under throat-cutting power bill which they are paying for, yet not getting the benefit for such payment," Adebiyi stated.

He stressed that the proposed increase in electricity tariff was coming amidst the tangled web of poor power supply with no reasonable proof of improvement.

"The situation is self evident, it readily speaks for itself because everyone is suffering from poor power outrage.

"Bringing further increase amidst this tangled web of hardship and without any improvement in power supply, will be highly unjustifiable and will be an economic burden on Nigeria populace. It is totally absurd and not for the good of the people, and therefore must be stopped," Adebiyi submitted.

Buhari to Washington Post: "Why I won't form my cabinet until September"

Buhari to Washington Post: "Why I won't form my cabinet until September"

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, said it would neither be prudent nor
serve the interests of sound government for him to have formed his cabinet
immediately he was inaugurated on May 29.
He said it was necessary for the country to first put new rules of conduct and
good governance in place before he could make critical appointments into his
government.
Buhari made the clarification in his article titled, “Nigeria committed to good
governance and fighting terror”, published by the Washington Post ahead of his
historic meeting with President Barack Obama of United States.
He said it was noteworthy that Obama himself did not have his full cabinet in
place for several months after first taking office.
He said despite that delay, the US did not cease to function in the interim.
He said, “As I meet with President Obama today, the first time a president of the
United States will encounter a Nigerian counterpart following the peaceful transfer
of power in a contested election in our history, I will be discussing my plans for
critical reforms.
“So, too, will I discuss why the formation of my administration is taking time and,
crucially, why it must. Already there are voices saying these changes are taking
too long, even though only six weeks have passed since my inauguration. I hear
such calls, but this task cannot and should not be rushed.
“When cabinet ministers are appointed in September, it will be some months after
I took the oath of office. It is worth noting that Obama himself did not have his
full Cabinet in place for several months after first taking office; the United States
did not cease to function in the interim.
“In Nigeria’s case, it would neither be prudent nor serve the interests of sound
government to have made these appointments immediately on my elevation to the
presidency; instead, Nigeria must first put new rules of conduct and good
governance in place.
“I cannot stress how important it is to ensure that this process is carried out
correctly, just as it has been crucial to first install the correct leadership of the
military and security services before we fully take the fight to Boko Haram.”
Buhari said there were too few examples in the history of Nigeria since
independence where it can been said that good management and governance
were instituted at national level.
He said the lack of a governance framework had allowed many of those in
charge, devoid of any real checks and balances, to plunder.
The President said the fact that he now seeks Obama’s assistance in locating and
returning $150bn stolen in the past decade and held in foreign bank accounts on
behalf of former, corrupt officials was a testament to how badly Nigeria had been
run.
This way of conducting the nation’s affairs, he said, cannot continue.
He also argued that failure of governance has been as much a factor in Nigeria’s
inability thus far to defeat Boko Haram  as have been issues with the military
campaign itself.
“So the path we must take is simple, even if it is not easy: First, instill rules and
good governance; second, install officials who are experienced and capable of
managing state agencies and ministries; and third, seek to recover funds stolen
under previous regimes so that this money can be invested in Nigeria for the
benefit of all of our citizens.
“We seek the support and partnership of the United States in these tasks. The
importance of the fight against terrorism and corruption in Nigeria, Africa’s most
powerful economy and largest populace, cannot be underestimated.
“Our allies can provide much-needed military training and intelligence as our
soldiers take the war effort to Boko Haram. Similarly, we look to US businesses
as well as the Obama administration to help develop governance initiatives that
can ensure that Nigeria’s wealth benefits all its people, not just a few.
“By taking these steps, we will be positioned to benefit from increased investment
— particularly in energy and electricity — from the United States,” he added.
Buhari said since he was elected on a platform of change, he was aware that
Nigerians desire change more than anything else.
He said he knew that Nigerians were impatient for action, the same way he
realised that the world waits to see evidence that his administration will be
different from all those that came before.
He however admitted that reforming the country after many years of abuse
cannot be achieved overnight.
“In our campaigns against both Boko Haram and corruption, we should remain
steadfast and remember, as it is said: ‘Have patience. All things become difficult
before they become easy,'” he added.
Buhari said this month, the world moved a step closer to the defeat of Boko
Haram that has terrorised hundreds of thousands in the northern states of Nigeria.
He recalled that in one of his first acts since his inauguration, he has replaced the
nation’s service chiefs.
He said the new service chiefs had not been chosen because of their familiarity
with those in government, as was too often the case in the past, but on their
track records and qualifications alone.
These new military leaders, the President added, will be based in Borno State
where the headquarters of the armed services have been relocated.
He said the shift of resources and command directly to the front line, in addition
to the replacement of the head of the State Security Services, and a new
emphasis on working in partnership with Nigeria’s neighbours, has equipped his
government to take the fight directly to Boko Haram.
He said the nation has started seeing a degrading of Boko Haram’s capabilities as
a fighting force.
He said, “In recent weeks, it appears to have shifted away from confronting the
military directly to an increase in attacks on civilian areas, as we saw only last
week when an elderly woman and 10-year-old girl blew themselves up at a Muslim
prayer gathering in northeastern Nigeria.
“We should not be confused by this change, hateful as it is: It does not mean that
Boko Haram is succeeding in its aims — it shows that it is losing.
“While we work to defeat the terrorists, I ask the people of Nigeria and the world
for resolve and fortitude. The campaign we will wage will not be easy; it may not
be swift. We should expect stages of success and also moments when it may
appear that our advances have been checked.
“But no one should have any doubt as to the strength of our collective will or my
commitment to rid this nation of terror and bring back peace and normalcy to all
affected areas.
“Similarly, my determination should not be underestimated in other matters. This
includes instilling good governance and tackling the scourge of corruption that has
held Nigeria back for too long.”

Uproar as Nigerians in UK pay N10, 000 for BVN

Uproar as Nigerians in UK pay N10, 000 for BVN

Nigerians in London, United Kingdom, have expressed frustration over
the compulsory payment of £30 (about N10, 000) for the registration of the Bank Verification Number, as directed by the Central Bank of
Nigeria.

Apparently sad over their plight, some of them during the week stormed the Nigeria High Commission in London to protest against the directive of the apex bank.

Others took to the social media to vent their anger.

The CBN had recently extended the deadline for the BVN registration from June 30 to October 31, 2015 as disclosed in a circular issued to all deposit money banks operating in the country.

The Director, Banking and Payment Systems Department of the CBN, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, said the extension became imperative in order to give bank customers more time to participate in the enrolment exercise.

The circular had read in part, “It has come to our notice that the BVN registration has elicited tremendous interest from the Nigerian banks’ customers who crowded the banking halls in order to beat the deadline.

“Furthermore, there is the need to give Nigerian banks’ customers in the Diaspora ample time to enrol on the programme. The guideline for their enrolment is being finalised and will be released soon.”

Though the BVN registration in Nigeria is free, Nigerians living in London have had to part with N10, 000 to enrol on the exercise.

The directive was said to have been issued by the apex bank, as confirmed by the UK chapter of the All Progressives Congress and Zenith Bank.

The APC, UK chapter, had asked the bank on Twitter about the authenticity of the directive and the bank replied, saying, “The letter is genuine. The fee is as communicated by CBN and the enrolment company was contracted by the CBN. We trust this helps.”

Meanwhile, a user of a popular blogging platform, Nairaland , by the name klem93, said he was shocked to have seen photos of Nigerians thronging the Nigeria High Commission in London in frustration.

He wrote, “I thought it is going to be smooth sailing as I read that BVN for Nigerians in London had begun. I didn’t know it is going to be the same way as it went in Nigeria. A reader of my blog who lives in London wrote me an email: ‘The Nigeria High Commission in London needs an urgent overhaul. This afternoon, we Nigerians were treated like animals in Fleet Street, London, all because we wanted to do BVN for those of us who have accounts in Nigeria.

“Things soon became chaotic and someone called police on us. They allowed us to converge on the street and then locked us out. We were also being forced to pay £30.00 each, but none of the officials or the website could explain what the money was meant for. Is it not free in Nigeria?”

Eleojoe23, another user of the platform, protested, “£30? What for? They truly deserve an explanation. Maybe the high commission thinks that since they live in London, they should have enough money to spare. Do they think people just go out and pick money on the streets in London?”

Another user of the platform, Julioralph, said, “30 pounds for what? Members of staff at the high commission should be changed. Even the CBN is at fault as well; they don’t have proper plans for those abroad concerning this BVN stuff.”

Attempts to get the comment of the ministry’s spokesperson, Ogbole Ahmedu-Ode, were not successful as he could not be reached on the phone. He also did not respond to a text message that was sent to him.

But investigations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs showed that the ministry was not involved in the BVN registration held in the UK.
A highly placed official in the ministry explained that the Nigeria High Commission in UK was not involved in the BVN registration, stressing that it was handled by a private firm which has no relationship with the embassy.

The source said that the high commission officials saw the posters advertising the BVN registration in London like other members of the public, noting that the “BVN registration was the private affair of a private company.”

“Neither the Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor the Nigeria High Commission in the UK was involved in the BVN registration; the programme was handled by a private company which has no relationship with the ministry or the high commission,” the
official said on Friday.

Also, the Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Mr. Mu’azu Ibrahim, could not be reached for comments as repeated calls made to his mobile phone did not connect.

Punch

My 24-hour SSS ordeal, by Sambo Dasuki

My 24-hour SSS ordeal, by Sambo Dasuki

Passport, $40,000, nine cars, three rifles seized
Former NSA alleges plot to implicate him

The former National Security Adviser, Mr. Sambo Dasuki, yesterday raised the
alarm over what he saw as plot by the State Security Service (SSS) to
implicate him in alleged security breaches.

He said Nigerians should know that the invasion of his house by the SSS was
a sheer witch-hunt. He said it was sad that the operatives of the security
agency broke into his ailing father’s house in Sokoto and broke his safe.

Dasuki, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent on the phone yesterday,
said he does not deserve such treatment because as the National Security
Adviser he did not maltreat any Nigerian.

He said he was subjected to a 12-hour ordeal from 6pm on Thursday till 6am
on Friday.

“The SSS operatives came in two trucks with a search warrant from a
Magistrate Court. The warrant gave them the power to search for ‘illegal
weapons and any incriminating item.’ You can imagine what that is supposed
to mean.

“I left office on Tuesday and they got the warrant on Wednesday and executed
it by 6pm on Thursday.

“From 6pm on Thursday, throughout the night till about 6am this morning
(Friday), they were searching my house looking for incriminating items.

“They restricted my movement. I cannot go out and no one can visit me. All
those who attempted to see me were stopped from doing so.

“In fact, my son was blocked from entering my residence. My two cooks, who
used to come from their homes to prepare my meals, were also disallowed
from leaving my house.

“The only person allowed was the man who feeds my dogs. And he only
related with the dogs.

“By Friday morning, they packed away all the nine cars in my residence. I
could not go out to perform the Eid-el-Fitr prayer because of the restriction.
Even when I sought permission to go to Eid Praying Ground, they promised to
provide a vehicle but they never did.”

Responding to a question, Dasuki said: “This is just a witch-hunt; they are
desperately looking for something to implicate me.

“They went to my father’s house including breaking into the ceiling to look for
incriminating documents. They broke a safe in my father’s house.

“Also, my sister kept a 20-year old box in my father’s house, they also forced it
open. What has my father got to do with this?

“And the old man is in hospital in London. He was shocked to hear that they
broke into his house. The good thing is that they did not find anything.

“They brought the photocopy of a 2007 draft by my brother, Ahmed, and asked
me to comment on it. Was I in office in 2007 as NSA? You can see the extent
to which they are ready to go to implicate me,” he said.

The State Security operatives yesterday also seized his international passport
and $40,000 cash found in his house.

They retrieved three rifles which were being used by members of the
protective team while in office.

The disengagement of the Protective team was yet to be completed yesterday
but the SSS asked him to explain how he came about the rifles.

At about 6 pm yesterday. the SSS operatives were withdrawn from his
residence.

Dasuki’s movement remains however restricted to the country as his traveling
documents are now with the SSS.

According to findings, the SSS team obtained statement from him from about
5pm till some minutes to 6pm.

A source said: “They seized the ex-NSA passport and raised issues on how he
came about the $40,000 in his house. They went to the extent of asking him to
give the details of how he came about the cash.

“On the rifles, they repeatedly questioned him on what he was doing with
them. He took time to explain that they belong to members of the Protective
Team guarding him. They became excited as if they had found an evidence
against him.

“I think by the time the case gets to a court, Nigerians will know the truth or
otherwise of their findings.

On the allegations against him, especially the ones bordering on purchase of
arms, funds for counter-insurgency and the seized $15million in South Africa,
Dasuki said: “I read some of these allegations in The Nation but nobody has
asked me some of these things they are saying. I was not even in charge of
some of these things. How do I account for all?

“And if you want me to respond to these issues, you have to give me access to
relevant documents. You do not need to restrict my movement. You can see
that they are just out to set me up. Even if they find a knife in my house, they
will say it is incriminating.”

“There are some who should account 10 times for some of these allegations
they are raising but they are walking about freely, ” he added.

Dasuki, who sounded confident on the phone, said as a retired senior military
officer and ex-NSA, he ought to be better treated.

“Everybody should know what is happening. They sent some low-level officers,
looking for something to implicate me.

“It is just a witch-hunt. If you want me to make clarifications on any issue, in
the spirit of democracy and the rule of Law, have the courtesy to invite me
and as a gentleman, I will honour the invitation. Sending two trucks to lay siege
on my house and restrict my movement is just abysmal.

“For a man who left office on Tuesday, where will I run to? I have nothing to
fear.”

The former NSA said he was unfairly treated by the SSS because when he was
in charge of the nation’s security, he was “cautious, careful and fair “in his
approach.

He added: “I was fair to all as NSA. Even when I had security cause to act on
some issues, inflammatory comments and actions against the government of
the day by those in the opposition, I exercised restraint. I did not restrict
anyone’s movement, I never asked security agents to occupy anybody’s house.

“But that is the new change we have, this is our own definition of democracy.

All I know is that everything has a beginning and an end in a democracy. I gave
my best for this transition, which led to the victory of the opposition over the
ruling party.

Buhari Goes to America; First Son, 32 Others Make Entourage Muhammadu Buhari

Buhari Goes to America; First Son, 32 Others Make Entourage
Muhammadu Buhari

Shettima, Oshiomhole, Amaechi, Emefiele among delegation
President to hold town hall meeting with US Diaspora Nigerians

With an official entourage of 33 including his son Yusuf, President Muhammadu
Buhari arrives the Joint Base Andrews Airport, Washington DC Sunday to kick
start his official visit to the United States.

Apart from getting a brief on the visit from Nigeria’s Ambassador to the US
Professor Ade Adefuye and his team, Buhari will have a private dinner with
Madeline Albright former US Secretary of State after settling down at the historic
Blair House in Pennsylvania Avenue, the first time a visiting Nigerian leader would be so honoured.

The President who is billed to hold a Town Hall meeting with Nigerians in the
Diaspora Tuesday will on Monday be officially welcomed at the White House
starting with a breakfast meeting of five at the Naval Observatory, the official
residence of the US Vice President Senator Joe Biden.

When THISDAY put a call to Adefuye on the expectations of the visit and what
Nigeria stood to gain, he said the visit was strategic on many fronts because
Nigeria and the US remain partners on many fronts.

According to him, the US recognises Nigeria as an emerging economic giant not
just in Africa but in the global village adding this is the first time the US is inviting a newly elected African leader who has been in office for less than two months, to a state visit.

President Buhari, Adefuye said, “has what it takes to drive this emerging role of
Nigeria and I am glad to receive him on this historic visit. The expectation that
President Buhari will reposition the nation along the path of greatness is not
misplaced.”

The importance of the visit to the US, Adefuye added, “is in the fact that the US
is accommodating President Buhari at Blair House, the first of its kind for a
Nigerian leader and at no expense to the country.”

Part of the high point of the visit is the long awaited lecture of Buhari at the
United States Institute of Peace (USIP) on his last day in the US.

The institute had expected him to deliver a public lecture at the heat of the
Presidential campaign in February. USIP Director of Programmes, Ms. Jennifer
Cooke had envisaged an event that would attract a large audience of US policy
makers, academics, business leaders, and Nigerians in the Diaspora, an
expectation that has even become heightened with the President’s rising profile
since his defeat of Goodluck Jonathan a sitting president and the first time this is happening in the political space of the country.

The interactive session jointly organised by USIP, National Democratic Institute,
International Republican Institute, Centre for Strategic Studies and the Atlantic
Council will offer the President an opportunity to highlight on his policy direction
and the expectations in the days ahead.

The Corporate Council for Africa (CCA) which also cancelled its lunch session
with Buhari will along with the US Chamber of Commerce hold an interactive
dinner with the president who would also have another media chat at the Blair
House, later holding talks with Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate of the World Health
Organisation (WHO) on Economic Assistance Programme for the North East and
other important stakeholders on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
The Blair House breakfast meeting which is restricted to five people includes the
President, his host Senator Biden, the Permanent. Secretary Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA), Governor of Borno State; Ambassador Ade Adefuye and Rotimi
Amaechi, former Governor of Rivers State.

The White House visit which is billed to last one hour will be followed by a media
chat at the Pool Spray, a bilateral meeting with Secretary of Commerce Penny
Pritzker, US Trade Representative Michael Froman with Imo State Governor
Rochas Okorocha and his Nassarawa State counterpart in attendance
Buhari will also hold talks on corruption with Loretta Lynch, US Attorney General
with Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Permanent Secretary, MFA; Director General, Nigerian Intelligence Agency and the Solicitor General of the Federation in attendance.

He would later hold talks on Strengthening the Nigerian Economy with Jack Lew,
US Secretary of the Treasury, with the Governor of the Central Bank Godwin
Emefiele Permanent Secretary, MFA and Director General of the Budget as part of his team.

Apart from receiving in audience the US Black Caucus in the House of
Representatives, Buhari will be at the Capitol Hill the equivalent of the National
Assembly holding sessions with the Senate and House committees on Foreign
Affairs with lunch hosted by US Secretary of State, John Kerry with Borno State
Governor Kashim Shettima, his Oyo State counterpart Abiola Ajimobi, Permanent Secretary MFA, Ambassador Ade Adefuye, Director-General of NIA, Permanent Secretary Trade and Investment and businessman Ismaila Funtua
After his meeting with the US Director of the CIA, the President will be host of a
courtesy call from his colleagues of the Class of 1980 of the US Army War
College arriving at the Nigerian Embassy for the Town Hall Meeting as well as the Meet & Greet Session by Nigerian Youths in the US with Mo Abudu moderating while meeting later in the afternoon, a group of potential investors in the agricultural sector.

On Buhari’s entourage are Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Adams Oshiomhole, Kashim
Shettima, Abiola Adeyemi Ajimobi, Godwin Emefiele, Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Hadi Sirika, Ambassador. Paul Bulus Z, Ambassador. Ayodele Oke, Alhaji. Aliyu Ismaila, Ambassador. A.A. Musa, Ambassador. G.B. Igali, Aliyu Yahaya Gusau, Dr. Mahmud Mohammed, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Ismaila Isa Funtua, Mr. Femi Adesina and Dr. Suhayb Sanusi Rafindadi.

Also on the entourage are Malam Garba, Mohammed Sarki, Kalu Abba-Snr,
Ambassador Lawal A. Kazaure, Air Commodore N. B. Bali, Nura Rimi, Bashir
Abubakar, Lt. Col. M. Lawal Abubakar, Abdulkarim Dauda, Yau Abdullahi and
Sabiu Yusuf.

Others are Yusuf Maiyaki, Adamu Sambo, Emmanuel Anrihi, Bayo Omoboriowo,
Baba Ujah, Lawal Mato-Snr, Gbenga Folagbade and Shehu Lawal Abubakar.

Thisday 

Maj. General Yusuf Tukur Buratai: new army chief

New service chiefs unveiled, Buratai heads army

Maj. General Yusuf Tukur Buratai: new army chief

President Muhammadu Buhari has promptly announced replacements for the service chiefs sacked this morning.

A statement by President Buhari’s special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina said Major-General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin is now the new Chief of Defence Staff, while Major-General Tukur Yusuf Buratai is the new Chief of Army Staff.

The duo replaced Alex Badeh and Kenneth Minimah, former CDS and former army chief.

Adesina also unveiled Buhari’s pick for the post of Chief of Naval staff.

He is Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas. He replaces Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin.
Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar is the new Chief of Air Staff, replacing
Adesola Amosu, while Air Vice Marshal Monday Riku Morgan is the Chief of
Defence Intelligence.
Major-General Babagana Monguno from Borno state is the National Security
Adviser, succeeding Colonel Sambo Dasuki, who was appointed by former
President Goodluck Jonathan.
The new Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Olonishakin (N/6901) hails from Ekiti
State.
Until his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff today, he was the Head of the
Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command in Minna, Niger State.
The new Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Buratai hails from Borno State. Until his
new appointment today, he was the Commander of the Multinational Joint Task
Force which has its headquarters in N’djamena.
Maj-Gen. Buratai has previously served as Commander of the Nigerian Army’s 2nd
Brigade in Port Harcourt and Commander of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry
in Jaji, Kaduna State.
The new Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibas (NN/0746) hails from Cross River
State.
He enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 26th Regular
Course in 1979 and was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in 1983. His previous
appointments include: Naval Provost Marshal, Chief Staff Officer, Naval Training
Command, Chief of Administration, Naval Headquarters, Flag Officer Commanding
Western Naval Command and Chief of Logistics, Naval Headquarters.
Until his appointment as Chief of Naval Staff, he was the Chief Executive Officer
of Navy Holdings Limited.
The new Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar (NAF/1433) hails from
Bauchi State. His previous appointments include: Chief of Standards and
Evaluation, NAF Headquarters; Chief of Defence Communications and Air Officer
Commanding, NAF Training Command.
Until his appointment today as Chief of Air Staff, he was the Chief of
Administration, NAF Headquarters.
The new Service Chiefs will hold their appointments in an acting capacity until
confirmed by the Senate.
President Buhari thanked the outgoing Service Chiefs and National Security
Adviser for their services to the nation and wished them well in their future
endeavours.

Frivolous case: CJN orders lawyer to pay N.5m

Frivolous case: CJN orders lawyer to pay N.5m

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, recently at the
Supreme Court in Abuja, slammed a N500, 000 fine on a lawyer for bringing a
frivolous appeal before the apex court.
The CJN, who handed down the court order last Monday, said the fine must be
paid by Barrister Okey Uzoho.
The full panel of the apex court, presided over by the CJN, also included Justices
Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen and Ibrahim Tanko Muhammed, Muhammad
Saifullah Muntaka-Coommassie, Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, John Inyang Okoro and
Amiru Sanusi.
Trouble started for the lawyer when he brought an application to relist a matter
which had already been decided by the Supreme Court in favour of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The lawyer represented the All Progressives Congress (APC) and others (formerly
Action Congress of Nigeria ACN) in the 2011 governorship election in Akwa Ibom
State, which was won by Godswill Akpabio.
In his ruling, Justice Mohammed said, “The motion, filed on May 27, 2015, having
been withdrawn without objection from the learned counsel to the respondent, is
hereby struck out.
“There shall, however, be a N500, 000 cost to the respondents, to be paid by the
learned counsel to the applicants, Mr. Okey Uzoho, for allowing himself to be used
to bring this frivolous application to court.”

Update: Coroner's Court calls for Prosecution Of Synagogue, Contractors Over Building Collapse

Update: Coroner's Court calls for Prosecution Of Synagogue,  Contractors Over Building Collapse

The Lagos State Corner, Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe yesterday called for the investigate and prosecute of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) over its failure to secure the necessary permit and approval before commencing the construction of the collapsed structure.

The Coroner also recommended that the contractors, Oladele Ogundele and Akinbela Fatiregun, who were in charged of the construction of the collapsed building be investigated and prosecuted for criminal negligence by the relevant authority.

Magistrate Komolafe further asked relevant authorities to carry out detailed "fitness for habitation test" on all the structures/building withing the premises of the church.

The Coroner in its verdict also held that the building collapsed due to structural failure caused by the combination of designs, detailing errors and foundation fuilure.

He also concluded that the death of the 116 victims of the collapse was consistent with blunt force trauma that would normally be sustained from a collapsed building.

According to the coroner the victims are made up of 60 males, and 56 females; among whom was a boy aged 6 years and that 6 bodies are yet to be identified

He also stated that 85 of the victims are of South African origin while others are 22 Nigerians, 2 Benenois and 1 Togolses.

It will be recalled that the Lagos State Government had  set up the Inquest under the state Coroner’s System Law No.7 of 2007 to investigate the cause and circumstances resulting in the death of 116 people, mostly foreigners.

However, in spite of repeated summons issued on him by the Coroner the founder of the church, Prophet Temitope Joshua refused to appear before the inquest.

Joshua instead of appearing to testify before the inquest had gone before the Lagos State High Court to challenged the jurisdiction of the Coroner's Court to conduct the investigation and to summon him.

He had also urged the court to declare that the Coroner had exceeded the jurisdiction of a coroner's court by delving into areas that were beyond its scope.

Alhough his application was dismissed by Justice Lateefa Okunnu for lack of merit, Joshua had further ran to the Court of Appeal to overturn the high court decision.

Joshua, had initially linked the tragedy to a strange aircraft wandering above the building shortly before it fell.

A video which was released by the church on the social media platforms showed the plane allegedly hovering around the six storey building which served as a guest house for foreign worshippers, before its collapse .

However in it verdict, Magistrate Komolafe dismissed the suggestion holding that there is no evidence before the court to support the claim.

Magistrate Komolafe also called for the transfer of the Divisional  Police Officer, Ikotun Police Station, CSP Haruna Alaba from the Division for unprofessional conduct.

He recommended that government agencies responsible for monitoring and inspection at very stage of construction should be alive to their responsibility and vigilant.

The Coroner also urged the government in the alternative to outsourced the function of monitoring and inspection to competent professional body that will detect violation of building laws and regulations early before any failure.

Magistrate Komolafe further called on government to get rid of corruption,  including issuance of fake receipt and greasing of palms during inspection on construction works on site.

He also asked government, NGO and other ancillary bodies to educate and sensitizing the public on the need to always allow the Statutory/First Responders perform their duties during rescue operation/emergency cases and not take over the duties.

The Coroner further recommended that government should make it mandatory for professional involved in the design and supervision of major structural building construction to have professional indemnity.

A total of 32 witnesses testified while 45 exhibits were tendered doing the proceedings.

While adopting his final address, counsel to SCOAN, Olalekan Ojo maintained that external forces remains a responsible cause of the building collapse.

Ojo cited the testimony of a 37-year-old graduate of Chemistry from the University of Maiduguri, Mr. Biedomo Iguniewe, who had suggested that the building may have collapsed due to infrasonic radiation, Ojo said Biedomo's evidence was never contradicted.

The lawyer also argued that the non existence of a building plan for the collapsed building as alluded to by the Lagos State Government has nothing to do with the structure of the building which he insisted was built according to standard.

He further submitted  that the contract for the collapsed building was proper contracted to competent engineers and if anyone must be questioned for the building collapse, it should be the engineers and not the Synagogue church.

Ojo advised the Lagos State Government to take appropriate steps to regularise the building construction and approval applications shown to be pending with the relevant state agencies.

However, the Lagos State Government in it own submission stated that the inquest must be guided by section 40 of the coroners law which bestows on it the role to find out who the deceased are, when and how they died.

The government noted that since the issue of who the deceased are and when they died had been resolved by the pathological report prepared by the state  chief medical director, Prof John Obafunwa, the inquest must only concern itself with how they died.

The state pointed out that in finding how the deceased died, its postulated four issues which the quest should resolve in its favour: They include: lack of access to the collapse building site, illegality in the construction of the building, alleged sabotage and structural defect.

The government urged the inquest to resolve the issues in the interest of justice using the body of evidence and testimonies of witnesses and experts which were unchallenged.

ECA: FAAC faults Okonjo-Iweala, denies approving $2bn withdrawal

ECA: FAAC faults Okonjo-Iweala, denies approving $2bn withdrawal

The Federation Account Allocation Committee on Tuesday faulted
comments credited to a former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala, that it approved the withdrawal of $2bn from the Excess Crude Account.

The committee, in a statement issued on its behalf by Forum of Finance
Commissioners in Abuja, stated that the law setting it up did not give it the power
to approve withdrawals from the ECA.
Okonjo-Iweala had while responding to allegations made by state governors that
she made withdrawals from the ECA without authorisation, said issues relating to
expenditure were usually discussed at FAAC meetings attended by finance
commissioners of the 36 states of the federation.
She had said through a statement issued by her spokesperson, Paul Nwabuikwu,
“The allegation by some governors that former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala, spent $2.1bn out of the Excess Crude Account ‘without
authorisation’ is false, malicious and totally without foundation.
“It is curious that in their desperation to use the esteemed National Economic
Council for political and personal vendetta, the persons behind these allegations
acted as if the constitutionally recognised FAAC, a potent expression of Nigeria’s
fiscal federalism, does not exist.
“But Nigerians know that collective revenues, allocations and expenditures of the
three tiers of government are the concern of the monthly FAAC meetings.”
But reacting to the ex-minister’s comments, the committee said in its statement
that Okonjo-Iweala’s expalnation “is far from the fact and is misleading.”
It said, “It has come to our notice the statement credited to the former
Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-
Iweala, that the Federation Account Allocation Committee approved the
withdrawal from Excess Crude (Foreign) Account the sum of $2bn. This
statement is far from the fact and is misleading.
“We wish to state unequivocally that FAAC does not have the authority to approve
withdrawals from the ECA and, therefore, could not have approved the withdrawal
from the Excess Crude (Foreign) Account the sum of $2bn.
“According to the law setting up FAAC, which pre-dates the ECA, it cannot
approve withdrawal and has not done so in the past.
“If anything, FAAC, as records of its meetings indicate, had often queried the
activities on the ECA, and, therefore, did not decide any withdrawal.”
The statement noted that while FAAC had in December 2014 observed the
withdrawal of $2bn from the ECA, the then Minister of State for Finance and
Chairman of FAAC, Bashir Yuguda, had when asked during the plenary of FAAC
meetings of the respective months explained that former President Goodluck
Jonathan gave approval for the withdrawals to pay oil marketers’ subsidy claims.
Yuguda reportedly stated that the action would be ratified by NEC.
FAAC stated in the statement, “It should be noted, therefore, that FAAC did not
and could not have approved nor taken the decision to withdraw the sum of $2bn
from the ECA.
“We would want to excuse Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala on this misrepresentation
because she was not in attendance during FAAC plenary and may not have been
fully and adequately made abreast of every FAAC activity.”
But Okonjo-Iweala, while reacting to the finance commissioners’ statement on
Tuesday, said the approval for the withdrawal of the funds was given by former
President Goodluck Jonathan.
She said in a statement by Nwabuikwu, “Payments made were used for petroleum
subsidies for the Nigerian people and were approved by Mr. President. Therefore,
there is no question of mismanaging any resources here.
“For the avoidance of doubt, at no time did Dr. Okonjo-Iweala say that FAAC
approved such expenditures. What she said was that all these expenditures were
discussed at FAAC meetings attended by finance commissioners from the 36
states.
“It is, therefore, clear that there was no misrepresentation by Dr. Okonjo-Iweala.
“The question before us is: why is there such an excessive attempt to batter her
name in an attempt to damage her reputation? It is clear, as I said in my previous
statement, that the motive is malicious and very political, and, therefore, will not
succeed.
“If monies were used to pay for subsidies for the Nigerian people and duly
approved, why is Okonjo-Iweala’s name being battered in this way? This
persecution should stop.”

States need fiscal balance, not bailout – Punch

States need fiscal balance, not bailout – Punch

 

The report that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of N713.7 billion intervention funds for the federal and state governments
to pay workers’ salaries should bring relief to civil servants who have
been bearing the burden of a drastic fall in oil revenues for some time
now. But the bailout should be seen as a palliative; the harsh forces
of economics demand that government at all levels learn how to live
within their means. The package contains N413.7 billion from special
intervention funds and about N250 billion to N300 billion to be
advanced as a soft loan to states by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Also,
the Debt Management Office will assist the insolvent states to
reschedule their over N660 billion bank loans.

So far, no fewer than 24 states have failed to pay salaries, some with a
backlog stretching up to 10 months. How the workers are surviving
under such a condition cannot cease to marvel. But no state chief
executive has been able to capture the stark realities of the situation
in as vivid a manner as the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola. In
an address to declare open the sixth Assembly of the state, the
governor painted a picture of total gloom and helplessness. Aregbesola
said he met a wage bill of N1.4 billion, upon assuming the mantle of
leadership in 2010. But, egged on by an unprecedented financial
windfall, fuelled by unparalleled boom in the oil trade, the wage bill
shot up to N3.5 billion by the end of 2012. At the same time, the
statutory allocation to the state from Abuja only recorded a marginal
increase of about N400 million, from N2.1 billion to N2.5 billion.
The Osun State scenario is not by any means peculiar; it actually
offers an insight into what obtains in states across the country. In his
comments at the Adegoke Adelabu Memorial Lecture in Ibadan last
year, the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, said the state’s wage bill
of N2 billion he inherited had more than doubled to N4.6 billion. Today,
it stands at about N5.2 billion, while the monthly allocation of N4
billion collected last year has plummeted in line with the current
dwindling oil revenues. In Rivers State, where the wage bill has
ballooned from N2.5 billion to N9.2 billion in the last eight years,
former governor Rotimi Amaechi said the monthly allocation had
reduced by 50 per cent.
Most of the governors have blamed their dire financial situation on the
minimum wage increase of 2011; but not many have been honest
enough to admit that the entities they preside over are mere cost
centres that cannot deliver development. At the slightest opportunity –
as was evident during the last National Conference – a motley group
of agitators demand the creation of new states. None of them ever
gives a thought to the viability of such states. So, rather than play the
role of agents of development, states now encourage laziness, and
wait, arms folded, for manna to fall from Abuja.
Perhaps, the time has come for a reappraisal of the states as they are
currently structured. As the immediate past Lagos State Governor,
Babatunde Fashola, said recently, there is the need to merge states
that are not viable so that the burden borne by one state can be
evenly sustained when two or more are bonded together. This makes a
lot of sense given that the country fared much better when there were
just three or four regions – salaries were more readily paid and
development delivered effortlessly. Some of the landmark
achievements in the South-West, such as the establishment of the
first television station in Africa, creation of industrial estates, the
building of the Cocoa House and a network of roads, among others,
were products of a period when the current five states were just one
entity, the Western Region.
By then, the federating units – Western, Eastern, Northern and Mid-
Western regions – were run as a business, producing their resources
and paying tax to the centre. Today, our states have become beggarly,
surviving mainly on hydro-carbon revenues.
The public finance approach of running government as a business
should be re-introduced in our national life. Contiguous states have to
pool resources and work towards self-sustenance in the true spirit of
federalism. They should review their fiscal management style in tune
with the current realities. For instance, how many of them have taken
a look at the staff strength of their civil service within the period that
their wage bill had been ballooning? How many of them have done a
biometric audit of their staff to weed out “ghost” workers?
At the level of the governors and their retinue of aides, it is important
to note that the pressure they put on wages is out of proportion to
their relevance. Apart from the need to cut down on the number of
commissioners and other aides, reviewing their bloated remunerations
has become imperative. The same goes for House of Assembly
members. The time has come to see politics as an opportunity to
render service; not to amass wealth. The newly-elected Governor of
Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, Ajimobi and a few others have already
taken the right step by cutting the number of their commissioners.
These are short-term measures. Fiscal repair will not come overnight;
it requires serious planning and a strong political will to take difficult
decisions. In the long run, states should work assiduously for a
constitutional review that will enable them to explore and exploit
minerals within their territories. That is exactly what federalism is all
about.

U.S. jets intercept Russian bombers off California, Alaska coasts

U.S. jets intercept Russian bombers off California, Alaska coasts

On July 4, two pairs of Russian Tupolev Tu-95 bombers approached the United States (U.S.) West coast, causing the Air Force to scramble to intercept the planes before they breached U.S. airspace.

Fox News reports that the first incident occurred at
10:30 am ET off the coast of Alaska, when NORAD
identified the Russian planes and two F-22s hurried
to intercept them. Another incident occurred at 11
am ET off the coast of central California, and was
responded to by two F-15s.

The Russian bombers they intercepted are capable of
carrying nuclear weapons, but sources do not
indicate whether or not they were armed.

The Air Force intercepted the bombers before they
entered America’s sovereign air space, which
extends 12 miles out from the coast, but the
presence of the bombers is an ominous sign during
the heightened tensions between Russia and the U.S.

As retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney,
who formerly commanded the North American
Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) told the
Washington Free Beacon: “It’s becoming very
obvious that Putin is testing Obama and his national
security team.”

The type of warfare being teased is reminiscent of
the Cold War not only in theory, but in practice.

“These long-range aviation excursions are
duplicating exercises I experienced during the
height of the Cold War when I commanded the
Alaska NORAD region,” McInerney told the Free
Beacon.

Pentagon officials haven’t given the exact location of
the interceptions, but ABC News cites one official as
saying that it could have taken place as “far out as
200 miles.”

The Pentagon’s John Kirby told the Free Beacon that
they assessed the flight of the Russian bombers as
another training activity.

We have no plans to arrest Ekweremadu – Police

We have no plans to arrest Ekweremadu – Police

The Nigeria Police Force has stated categorically that it has no plans to arrest
deputy senate president , Ike Ekweremadu or blackmail him in a bid to force him
to relinquish his position as deputy senate president .

It would be recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party had alleged that the
police in conjunction with the ruling All Progressives Congress are scheming to
force Ekweremadu to step down as deputy senate president .

In a reaction to the accusation, Abayomi Shogunle , Deputy Force Public Relations Officer ( Public Information Officer /Spokesperson) wrote what really transpired on Twitter.

“ The Nigeria Police Force received a petition from a senator alleging
unauthorized substitution of senate document and the matter was referred to
Force CIID Abuja for investigation, ” he said .

He noted that : “ In line with the policy of the Police leadership of gathering
evidence before invitation, a letter was sent to the clerk of the national assembly
to facilitate a meeting of some principal senate members /clerk with Police
investigating team headed by DIG FCIID at their convenient time and venue.

“ No plans to arrest Deputy Senate President as Nigeria Police Force have healthy respect for democratic values , ” Shogunle said in a trilogy of tweets .

UPDATE: Over 40 killed in twin blast in Jos

UPDATE: Over 40 killed in twin blast in Jos

People gather at the site of suicide bomb attack at Redeem Christian church in
Potiskum, Nigeria, Sunday, July 5, 2015. (AP Photo/Adamu Adamu)
JOS, (AP) — Two bombs blamed on the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram
exploded at a crowded mosque and an elite Muslim restaurant in Nigeria’s central
city of Jos, killing 44 people, officials said Monday.
Sixty-seven other people were wounded in the attacks Sunday night and were
being treated at hospitals, said National Emergency Management Agency
coordinator Abdussalam Mohammed.
The explosion at the Yantaya Mosque came as leading cleric Sani Yahaya of the
Jama’atu Izalatul Bidia organization, which preaches peaceful co-existence of all
religions, was addressing a crowd during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan,
according to survivors who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
Another bomb exploded at Shagalinku, a restaurant patronized by state governors
and other elite politicians seeking specialties from Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north.
Jos is a hotspot for violent religious confrontations, located in the center of the
country where Nigeria’s majority Muslim north and mainly Christian south collide.
The city has been targeted in the past by bomb blasts claimed by Boko Haram
extremists that have killed hundreds of people.
Sunday’s attacks are the latest in a string blamed on Boko Haram that have killed
more than 200 people over the past week in northeast Nigeria.
The extremists returned Sunday to northeastern villages attacked three days
earlier, killing nine villagers and burning down 32 churches and about 300 homes,
said Stephen Apagu, chairman of a vigilante self-defense group in Borno state’s
Askira-Uba local government area.
He said the vigilantes killed three militants.
Boko Haram took over a large swath of northeastern Nigeria last year and stepped
up cross-border raids. A multinational army from Nigeria and its neighbors forced
the militants out of towns, but bombings and village attacks increased in recent
weeks, apparently in response to an Islamic State group order for more mayhem
during Ramadan. Boko Haram became the Islamic State group’s West Africa
franchise earlier this year.

Court Acquitts & Discharges Fani-Kayode On Money Laundering Charge

Court Acquitts & Discharges Fani-Kayode On Money Laundering Charge

Reprieve came the way of former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode as Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday discharged and acquitted him of the money laundering charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia in her judgment on the case held that the anti-graft agency failed to prove it's case against Fani-Kayode beyond reasonable doubt.

The court also held that the prosecution team led by Festus Keyamo failed to prove the source of the money or that the former minister directed that the money should be paid into his account.

She also declared that the prosecution has failed to prove these elements saying it is necessary for sufficient and unequivocal evidences to be put before the court as to how the monies were lodged in the accused person's account.

The judge also dismissed the testimony of the 4th prosecution witness, Supo Agbaje as unreliable, vague and an afterthought as it contradicted his earlier statement to the EFCC.

Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia identified two issues for determination,  the first is that there was a cash deposit of a sum beyond the legal threshold and that the accused persons accepted or authorised the payment of the sum into his account.

Though the court agreed with the prosecution that the sums of N1 million and N1.1 million where paid into the account of the accused persons but the giver of the money remained unclear.

"The prosecution has not been able to adduce any credible evidence before the court to convince it that the accused person gave the money to anybody to pay into his account".

According to the court, in a case where the court is faced with contradictory evidence, the court must resolved the contradictions in the favour of the accused persons as the court can not pick and chose which of the evidence to believe.

The court also disagreed with the prosecution that the mere deposit of the said sum in the accused account is enough to nail him.

"I hold that the prosecution failed to prove it's case beyond reasonable doubt in line with Section 15 (1) of the Money Laundering Act and I am of the view that the accused person must be discharged and acquitted".

Fani-Kayode was arraigned before the court by the EFCC on a two count charge of laundering the sum of N2.1 million, while he was serving in President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration as Minister of Aviation and Minister of Culture and tourism.

He was specifically accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of conducting financial transaction exceeding N500,000, which was not done through a financial institution by accepting cash payment of various sum which was further carried in cash to First City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB)) through some of his associates. 

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
  
It would be recalled that the former Minister was first arraigned sometime in December 23, 2008, before Justice Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Lagos on a 47-count charge.

He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was admitted to bail in the sum of N200 Million with two sureties in like sum by the judge.

He was then re-arraigned before Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako in 2010, following the transfer of Mohammed from the Lagos Division.

Again, he was re-arraigned before Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia on February 11, 2013. after the transfer of Justice Murtala-Nyako to the Jos Division of the court.

He was later re-arraigned before Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia on March 6, following the amendment of the 47-count charge to 40-counts after the EFCC dropped seven of the counts.

It will also be recalled that Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia had in November last year dismissed 38 out of the 40 counts against the accused.

The judge, however, said the accused would need to prove his innocence in respect of counts 25 and 26 of the charges.

At the trial of the former minister, EFCC had called four witnesses, while the defence only called two witnesses.