7 dead in kaduna Air Force crash
Seven persons are reported dead on an Air Force Training flight which crashed into Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA Officers Quarters, Kaduna on Saturday morning.
Those on board the flight which crashed at about 6. 47am included the pilot, co-pilot, two engineers and three passengers.
The Nation learnt that the Abuja bound flight crashed about ten minutes after
take off from the NAF base.
Surulere Federal Constituency: Gbajabiamila Knows Fate September 29
The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ikeja yesterday fixed September 29 for judgment on the petition filed against the victory of the House of Representatives majority leader, Dr. Olufemi Gbajabiamila in the March 28, 2015 general election.
The petition was instituted against Gbajabiamila, who won on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), by the the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Surulere Federal Constituency I of Lagos State, Tony Ashikodi.
Ashokodi is alleging irregularities during the election, which he insisted, breached the provisions of Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) approved guidelines for the polls.
At the resumed hearing of the petition on Wednesday, the three-man panel, presided over by Justice C.U Anwuka fixed September 28 for judgment after lawyers in the case argued and adopted their clients written addresses.
While adopting his final address the petitioner maintained that Gbajabiamila was not duly elected or returned by the majority of lawful votes cast during the election held on March 28, 2015.
He urged the court to void the election by reason of manifest breach and violation of the Electoral Act 2015 Election Guidelines. Adding that a fresh election be ordered to be conducted by the INEC for the constituency.
The petitioner relied on Section 53(2) of the Electoral Act which provides" where the votes cast at an election in any polling unit exceed the number of registered votes in that polling unit, the result of the election for that polling unit shall be declare null and void by the commission and another election may be conducted at a date to be fixed by the Commission where the result at the polling unit may affect the overall result in the constituency."
He further cited Section 63,71 and 74 of the Act that the form shall be signed and stamped by the presiding officer and counter signed by the candidates or their polling agents where available at the polling unit.
However, counsel to Gbajabiamila and the APC, Omotayo Olatunbosun and Tayo Olaitan argued that the petitioner's argument was based on misconception of the law and a misrepresentation of facts.
Olatunbosun submitted that, "the documents were actually dumped on the Tribunal without any witness demonstrating the specific purposes each document was meant to serve. It is on record that none of the documents tendered was linked with specifically in open court to the allegations in the petitions nor to specific paragraphs of the petition.
"The only witness called by the petitioner was himself. His testimony constitutes, at best documentary hearsay. All he said about the occurrence of the event in issue is that he briefly visited the ward collation centres. There was no attempt on the part of the petitioner to call persons who actually witnessed the alleged events of alterations, cancelations, manipulations and falsifications."
The petitioner had alleged irregularities in the conduct of the election, stating that "the final figures in the tally of results the Form EC 8C(i) were cancelled and altered by the APL with a view of declaring Gbajabiamila the winner of the election. The 14,351 received by the respondent was whimsically changed to 21,715 while 16,079 earlier recorded for petitioner was changed to 14,550."
I never said President Jonathan fought corruption in a civilised manner - Falana
In a desperate move to discredit the anti corruption programme of the Muhammadu Buhari Admistration some misguided fellows have attempted to link me with the forces of corruption that are fighting back in the country.
I was alleged to have "suggested" in an interview in the channels television, that President Jonathan fought corruption in a more civilised manner than President Buhari. I never made such a stupid statement. Hence, the "suggestion" ascribed to me is grossly misleading and downright dishonest .
In accusing the influential members of the National Peace Committee of gargantuan hypocrisy I did say that tbeir chairman, General Abbdulsami Abubakar even probed the dead and recovered properties and over $1 billion from the Abacha loot which are contained in the Forfeiture Decree No 45 of 1999.
With respect to President Jonathan I did say that his Administration recovered $970 million from the said Abacha loot and sacked 3 of his ministers. I never said tbat those actions were taken quitely as tbey were announced and celebrated in the media by the Jonathan Administration. Consequently, I questioned the motive of the members of the National Peace Committee in calling for "soft landing" for corrupt people.
Convinced that the call was a demonstration of class solidarity I urged the Buhari Administration not to be deterred in prosecuting the anti-corruption war. In fact, I did not hesitate in supporting President Buhari's anti corruption policy by citing section 15 of the Constitution which has imposed a duty on the the Nigerian State to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power.
In the light of the foregoing, I challenge the reactionary forces that have twisted and manipulated my views to reproduce any statement made by me suggesting that President Jonathan fought corruption in a civilised manner. To expose the mala fide of the satanic forces that are desperate to sustain corruption and impunity in our country readers may wish to check my full interview inwww.channels.tv and Sunday Punch of August 23. 2015.
Oil prices near six-year lows ahead of US energy report
Oil prices dipped on Wednesday, trading near six-year lows ahead of the latest US energy report after jitters over China’s faltering economy spurred heavy losses this week, analysts said.
US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for October delivery fell 13 cents to $39.18 in Asian trading, while Brent crude for October eased 13 cents to $43.08 in late-morning trade.
Both contracts gained on bargain-hunting Tuesday, after plummeting to their lowest levels since early 2009 a day earlier as investors fret about falling demand in the face of a world supply glut.
“US crude inventories continue to be the weekly constant mover for oil prices in this period of stagnant fundamentals,” said Daniel Ang, investment analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore.
“If inventories turn out lower than estimates, we may see prices get more support and vice versa,” he added.
Industry group American Petroleum Institute reportedly said Tuesday that US crude reserves shrank by 7.3 million barrels in the week to
August 21.
The numbers signalled healthy demand in the world’s top crude consumer ahead of the more closely watched official stockpiles report from the US Energy Information Administration later Wednesday.
Oil prices have come under pressure from concerns that China’s slowing economy will curb demand for the commodities that have helped feed its astonishing growth over the past three decades.
The devaluation of the yuan two weeks ago fuelled economic fears, sparking a slump in world equities sending commodities, as measured by the Bloomberg Commodity Index of 22 raw materials, to a 16-year-low on Monday.
Losses continued in Shanghai shares on Wednesday, while other Asian markets were mixed, after China’s central bank cut its benchmark lending and deposit interest rates in a bid to boost confidence.
“Although this did not revive the markets, it did put a stop to the bleeding and markets remain quiet at the start of the day,” Ang said.
Curfew in India's Ahmedabad as massive caste protests turn violent
India has deployed paramilitary forces and imposed a curfew in Ahmedabad, the capital of the Gujarat state, after violence broke out at a protest led by a powerful caste to demand more government jobs and college places.
The Gujarat state government imposed a curfew in parts of Ahmedabad and four other cities and towns across the western state and called in paramilitary reinforcements on Wednesday after members of the affluent Patel caste protested in the city.
Stone-throwing Patels torched cars, buses and police stations over the arrest of their leader, Hardik Patel, who had hours earlier on Tuesday led a massive protest in Ahmedabad, senior police officers said.
At least a dozen officers were injured in the violence, prompting the first curfew in the state since 2002 when communal riots left at least 1,000 people dead, Gujarat Director General of Police P.C Thakur said.
"The curfew was imposed following large scale arson and rioting by members of the Patidar [or Patel] community in different cities of the state late on Tuesday," Thakur told the AFP news agency.
"There was heavy stone pelting of police vehicles and torching of police stations in Unjha and Kalol towns," he said.
Hardik Patel, 22, appealed for calm after his release overnight on bail but also called for a new strike on Wednesday.
As many as 100 buses were torched and property damaged in the violence in Ahmedabad, Surat and Mehsana cities and the towns of Unjha and Visnagar, local officers said.
About half a million Patels rallied in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, paralysing the city, to demand preferential treatment.
Schools said they would remain closed on Wednesday, but it was unclear how many businesses would follow the strike call.
Gujarat's chief minister, Anandiben Patel, urged members of her own community to maintain the peace.
India sets aside a proportion of government jobs and university places for Dalits, known as "untouchables", and for so-called "other backward castes" under measures intended to bring victims of the worst discrimination into the mainstream.
She has said that giving into the demands of the Patels was not possible because India's Supreme Court has mandated that state governments can set aside only 50 percent of jobs and school seats for "backward castes" and that existing low caste groups already fill those spots.
The Patels, one of the state's most affluent castes, who make up around 20 percent of Gujarat's 63 million population, say they are struggling to compete with less privileged castes for jobs.
The move to secure preferential treatment was launched at a rally in Visnagar, in northern Gujarat on July 6. It has since become a mass movement as thousands have taken to the streets of Surat, Vadodara, Mehsana and in Ahmedabad to press for quotas.
Source: Agencies
Pregnant woman, five others killed in Damaturu twin explosions
Six people, including two suspected suicide bombers, have died in two bomb
explosions that occurred on Tuesday in Damaturu, Yobe State capital.
Yobe Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Toyin Gbadegeshin,
confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria.
Gbadegeshin said three others were in critical condition, while 40 others, who
sustained various degrees of injury, had been taken to hospitals in the area.
He said one of the explosions involving a female suicide bomber of about 12
years of age, happened at the entrance of the Damaturu main motor park.
“The girl detonated the explosive at the screening centre of the motor park gate,
killing herself and four others, including a pregnant woman and a baby.
“The other explosive went off at about the same time with the first one at
Pompomari, when a suspected male suicide bomber, sensing he will be
apprehended, ran into a nearby bush and the explosive went off, killing him
alone,” the police spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Director of Press to Yobe Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, described
the incident as “sad and unfortunate.”
NAN reports that officials of the State Emergency Management Agency and
hospital staff were providing emergency support to the victims.
Debt Restructuring: Osun, Delta, Ogun, Eight Others Issue N322.78bn Bonds
11 more states to follow as ECA rises marginally to $2.207bn
Tobi Soniyi in Abuja
In a bid to secure debt relief that will free up funds to meet their financial
obligations to workers, contractors and other debtors, Osun, Delta and Ogun have
topped the list of 11 states, which have issued federal government bonds (FGN
Bonds) to 14 commercial banks under a debt-restructuring programme facilitated
by the federal government.
The 36 states of the federation had approached President Muhammadu Buhari in
June to ask for a bailout that would enable them pay salary arrears to their
employees and meet other pressing obligations.
In response, the president approved the disbursement of $1.7 billion paid into the
Federation Account by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) company to the
three tiers of government; a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) N250 billion to N300
billion Special Intervention Fund meant solely for the payment of backlog of staff
salaries; and the restructuring of their commercial loans with the banks through
either bond issuance or into long tenored loans of 20 years.
Seizing on the opening, 22 states of the federation have applied to the Debt
Management Office (DMO) for their debts to be restructured into FGN Bonds.
This was disclosed on Thursday at the 60th National Economic Council (NEC)
meeting held at the council chamber in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Of the 22 states, 11 have been screened by the CBN and DMO, and FGN Bonds
issued to 14 banks.
Information obtained exclusively by THISDAY showed that Osun State issued a
bond of N88.6 billion, Delta – N69.8 billion, Ogun – N55.4 billion, Imo – N37.1
billion and Ekiti – N18.8 billion.
Others are: Kwara – N15.6 billion, Edo – N11.9 billion, Benue – N10.9 billion, Oyo
– N9.1 billion, Bauchi – N6.5 billion and Kogi – N0.81 billion.
A source at the CBN, however, clarified that the option to restructure their
commercial loans with the banks to longer tenors of 20 years, at an interest rate
of 16 per cent, was still available to the states.
At the meeting, which was presided over by the vice-president, Professor Yemi
Osinbajo (SAN), the council received briefings on developments in the economy,
the power and energy sectors from the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Godwin
Emefiele, the Director-General of the DMO, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, Group
Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr.
Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, and also from the ad hoc committee of the council on
the management of the Excess Crude Account (ECA).
Briefing journalists at the State House after the meeting, Governors Willie Obiano
(Anambra), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa) and Ibikunle
Amosu (Ogun) explained that the restructuring was an avenue provided by the
federal government to assist indebted states.
Highlights of the meeting included the report by the Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Anastasia Nwaobia, that the current ECA stood at US
$2.207 billion as at August 2015.
Also, Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, presented a provisional report of
the ad hoc committee set up by NEC to review the operations and management
of the ECA/Federation Account.
The Director-General of the DMO told the council that based on the approval of
the president on the plan to restructure bank loans of the states into FGN Bonds
in order to address their fiscal imbalance, 22 states submitted reports and applied
for restructuring as at August 19.
Nwankwo added that the DMO had requested the states to undertake
reconciliations with the banks and ensure that their loans had been jointly
authenticated with the banks as at June 30, 2015.
A briefing note issued at the end of the meeting by the Senior Special Assistant
to the Vice-President, Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, said: “As at August
14, 2015, of the 22 states that have applied, FGN Bonds have been issued in
respect of the loans of 11 states.
“The bonds were issued to 14 banks after submitting the reconciled figures and
other required documents for the restructuring.
“DMO is now reviewing additional submissions by states in the second phase of
the programme.”
The CBN governor also briefed the council on the economy and exchange rate
management.
The governor attributed the economic situation to declining oil prices, which have
put a drag on the country’s foreign reserves, exchange rate movements and put
pressure on the domestic currency, inflation and the CBN’s tight monetary policy.
Emefiele briefed the council on some of the measures the CBN had put in place
to address the situation, including interventions in the foreign exchange market to
stabilise rates; cessation of foreign currency cash deposits in banks; closure of
the CBN official foreign exchange window; reclassification of eligible goods; and
services to the window.
Oshiomhole, after presenting the provisional report of the committee on the
operations and management of the ECA/Federation Account, told the council that
the committee had invited all the relevant revenue generating agencies of the
federal government which contribute to the Federation Account.
The Edo governor informed the council on the appointment of two international
audit firms to carry out a forensic audit of the ECA/Federation Account from
January 2010 to June 30 2015, in order to arrive at a comprehensive report on the
operations of the ECA/Federation Account.
He told the council that a more comprehensive report would be submitted later.
The council also received briefings from NNPC’s GMD on the ongoing reforms in
the petroleum industry.
He informed the council that the reforms would offer aspects of performance
management, transparency and accountability, proper focus in investment
attraction, zero tolerance for corruption, cost auditing improved stakeholders
management and relationship, and image rebranding, among others.
Kachikwu also urged the governors to assist in protecting oil and gas
infrastructure in their states.
The council was also briefed on the developments in the power sector under the
present administration in the last two months.
Council was informed that there was an overall increase in power supply by 29
per cent in the first six-weeks of this administration compared to the last weeks
of the previous administration.
The statement further read: “Council was informed that power generation reached
a significant 4,662MW by July 29, 2015.
“That there is now a publicly accessible websitewww.nesistats.org to bring a new
level of transparency in the sector.
“That the TCN (Transmission Company of Nigeria) management contract has been
extended for another year.
“Council was also informed that some of the next top priorities for the next two
months in the power sector are: the repair of stranded hydro capacity, to reduce
load rejection by Discos and stop haemorrhaging of gas from power plants to
industrial off-takers, as well as fixing major transmission and transformation
constraints.”
NEC also called on the state governments to ensure payments of electricity bills
by their ministries, departments and agencies (MDA).
Council was informed that there is a 45 per cent default rate among the states in
the pay of their electricity bills.
The states were also urged to provide security to reduce vandalism of electricity
distribution assets in their domains.
UN: Nigeria Has Highest Number of IDPs Worldwide
The United Nations Country Representative, Mr. Dauda Toure, has said Nigeria has the highest number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the world numbering 1.5 million.
Toure, who stated this yesterday in Abuja while giving his goodwill message to
commemorate the 2015 World Humanitarian Day organised by the National
Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), noted that a major problem for the
victims was lack of access to them, most of whom are not in camps but in host
communities.
While commending NEMA for the work it had been doing, he said there was a
need to scale up response to crisis in the country.
Toure said there was a need for more resources to be made available to improve
responsiveness in the areas of education and health care.
He further appealed to international communities and non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) to make more resources available to help to rebuild the
livelihoods of the affected victims of insurgency in the North-east, adding that the
region has a lot of potential to develop.
In his opening remarks, the Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Mohammed Sani
Sidi, said the world humanitarian day was a universal event scheduled for August
19 every year.
According to him, the day was set aside by the United Nations General Assembly
since 2008 to celebrate the gallantry of humanitarian service providers who have
lost their lives or survived different threats while providing humanitarian services
to persons caught in the web of natural or human-induced disasters especially in
violent conflict situations.
The director general noted that the theme of this year’s event, “Inspiring the
World’s Humanity”, was intended to inspire action by people around the world to
demonstrate and demand greater humanity and create widespread support for
human action.
“The world which is now noted to be more volatile due to prevailing complex
emergencies has placed a serious burden on humanitarian workers who are
working in risky environments in various countries to bring hope to the people
affected by disasters. This is the time to show solidarity and commend their
efforts,” he said.
Senators Concerned as Buhari May Have Overlooked Confirmations for
AMCON
Some members of the National Assembly have expressed concern that in
announcing the appointment of a new executive management team for the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), President Muhammadu Buhari may have overlooked the statutory requirement of seeking the Senate’s confirmation for his nominees before they can become substantive appointees.
The president was also expected to have consulted with the Federal Ministry of
Finance and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which by virtue of their ownership of
50 per cent each in AMCON, are statutorily required to nominate the executive
management team and forward their recommendations to the president.
The president on Tuesday approved the dissolution of AMCON’s executive
management team and simultaneously approved the reconstitution of a new
management team for the corporation.
With the announcement, Mr. Mustapha Chike-Obi, the pioneer managing director
of AMCON, was immediately replaced by Ahmed Lawan Kuru. In addition, three
new executive directors were also appointed.
But the AMCON Act 2010 clearly stipulates that such appointments by the
president shall be subject to the confirmation of the Senate, which the statement
from the president’s media aide, Femi Adesina, was silent on.
In contrast, when the president appointed the service chiefs in June, he made it
clear that their appointment was subject to their confirmation by the Senate.
Specifically, Section 10 (1) of the AMCON Act, 2010, states: “The board shall
consist of the following members to be appointed by the president subject to the
confirmation of the Senate: “(a) A part-time Chairman who shall be a nominee of the Federal Ministry of Finance in consultation with the Minister.
“(b) A Managing Director who shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the
corporation nominated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“(c) Three Executive Directors, who shall be nominated by the CBN in consultation with the Minister; and “(d) Five other non-Executive Directors, two to be nominated by the Federal Ministry of Finance, two by the CBN and one by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).”
According to a National Assembly source, the dilemma in the appointments by the president, who directed that their appointments came into effect on Tuesday, is that with the lawmakers on recess till September 29, this will mean that the
confirmation will be kept in abeyance.
“The new management team of AMCON requires Senate confirmation by law.
The president just made the announcement without simultaneously seeking for their confirmation by the Senate.
“As it stands, except the Senate decides to hold an emergency session for the
purpose of their confirmation, they would have to wait until September 29,” he
explained.
When contacted, a senior presidency official admitted that it was an oversight,
adding that the clarification on the appointment of the new management team for AMCON was subject to confirmation by the Senate would be made public today.
He added that a letter will also be forwarded by the president to the Senate
seeking for the confirmation of his nominees, in line with the AMCON Act.
Also an official of AMCON informed THISDAY that in the absence of a substantive executive management team and a board, which was dissolved by the president last month alongside other boards of federal parastatals, the activities of the corporation might be hampered.
The official explained that the only “A” signatories to AMCON’s bank accounts
were from the ousted executive management team and it would require the board to form a quorum, comprising three non-executive directors and two executive directors, and pass a resolution to alter the “A” and “B” signatories of the corporation.
“This means that our activities may be hampered for a while and possibly the
payment of salaries affected until these bureaucratic hurdles are scaled.
“The problem is the law setting up AMCON clearly spells out all these issues,” he
said.
AMCON was created by an Act of the National Assembly to be a key stabilising
and revitalising tool to revive the financial system by efficiently resolving the non-performing loan assets of the banks in the Nigerian economy.
The new executive directors of the corporation are Kola Ayeye, Eberechukwu
Uneze and Aminu Ismail. They replaced Mofoluke Benedicta Dosumu, Hewitt
Adegboyega Benson and Abbas Mohammed Jega, who were appointed alongside Chike-Obi in 2010.
