$322m Abacha Loot To Be Spent On The Poor – FG

$322m Abacha Loot To Be Spent On The Poor – FG

The federal government said yesterday that it will spend the $322.51 million Abacha loot on empowering indigent Nigerians.

Speaking with journalists in Washington DC yesterday, The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, confirmed the recovery of the sum of US$322,515,931.83 Abacha funds from the Swiss Government into a special account in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The funds, according to her, have been earmarked for the National Social Safety Nets programme of the federal government.

“The objective of the National Social Safety Nets Project for Nigeria is to provide access to targeted transfers to poor and vulnerable households under an expanded national social safety nets system,” Adeosun stated.

She also hinted that the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) has raised the tax payers’ base from 13 million in 2015 to 17 million as at 2018, with more high net worth individuals being captured.

According to her, some states have recorded a surge in assets declaration by high net worth individuals, citing Lagos and Ogun States as examples.

She said, “The level of compliance has been considerable especially personal income taxes, and the state is excited about the number of people who have adjusted their level of compliance.

“Let me give example with Ogun State. I was speaking with the Chairman there, and he said the number of people paying N10 million and above in Ogun State has risen to 200. We asked for that statistics before; I do not think that Ogun had more than 20. So, VAIDS has succeeded in getting a High Networth Individuals (HNIs) really stand up to pay their fair share for national development.”

Adeosun mentioned that the rate of compliance as well as requests from professional bodies led to the extension of the deadline from March 30, 2018 to June 30, 2018.

FG To Sustain Economic Growth Outlook- Emefiele

Meanwhile, governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele assured yesterday that the apex bank will do everything possible to ensure that the country’s positive growth outlook is sustained.

The CBN governor spoke during a joint press briefing with the Minister of Finance, Adeosun, at the end of the 2018 International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring Meeting in Washington DC, United States.

On the monetary front, Emefiele disclosed that the country’s foreign reserves had risen to US$47.93 billion.
He reiterated Nigeria’s positive growth outlook, noting that the IMF and World Bank had projected a growth of 2.5 per cent for Nigeria.

“There is need to save for the raining day and also continue to grow the foreign reserves. If we had enough reserves, we wouldn’t have suffered the recession shocks,” he explained.

The CBN governor assured that concerted efforts were ongoing to realise the 80 per cent target for financial inclusion by 2020.

On her part, Adeosun, who noted that the present growth outlook contrasted with the outlook in 2015, stated that inflation rate was slowing down while the foreign reserves were rising.

Expressing optimism on federal government’s sustenance of the growth trajectory, the minister however called for vigilance and focus for the country not to fall back into recession.

She said, “We are confident that if we diligently implement our economic plan, we will grow the economy. We have room to grow but other countries do not have rooms to grow.

“By 2019, the growth will be far more robust than the present level in 2018.

We are therefore very optimistic in sustaining Nigeria’s economic growth.

We are going to use this opportunity to grow our fiscal buffers, particularly aggressively growing our revenue base.

“The Administration has succeeded in building macroeconomic resilience for Nigeria, particularly revising the funding mix, rebuilding fiscal buffers, enhancing foreign exchange reserves and focusing on import substitution strategies.”

On the State-Owned-Enterprises such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, she disclosed that the government would continue to efficiently and effectively manage their costs and plug leakages.

“We must make sure that every money that is earned comes in. We will drive the process of improving governance,” she added.

On the nation’s domestic debt, the Minister stated that the Government would not aggressively grow the debt.

She disclosed that the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) deadline was extended by three months till June 30, 2018 due to the appeals from taxpayers for more time to regularise their tax status.

She revealed that the present Administration has raised the taxpayers’ base from 13 million in 2015 to 17 million as at 2018.

‘We Weren’t Consulted For The US-Nigeria Investment Summit’

Meanwhile, faulting the comment made by the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, berating government officials for not attending a US-Nigeria Investment Summit at the Nigerian embassy on Saturday as part of the World Bank-IMF Springs Meeting going on Washington DC, USA, the Minister of Finance and the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Adeosun and Emefiele, have said they were not scheduled to attend the summit.

Speaking at the joint press conference in Washington DC yesterday, Emefiele and Adeosun said it was unfair for the public to flay them over an event they were not aware of beforehand.

The CBN governor who apologised to investors who attended the summit explained that he was not aware of the summit before he arrived for the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings.

He said, “I think, it is important for me to say this. When I arrived in Washington, the officials of the Embassy spoke with me that there was going to be a US-Nigeria Summit and I said I will check my schedule because I wasn’t consulted when this summit was being organised.

“What one would have expected is that they would have checked my schedule and that of the Finance minister if they thought that our presence at the summit was very necessary. They could have checked our schedule to see that there was no conflict.

“I sit here to say the US Nigeria Summit was meant to hold between 2pm and 3pm, whereas the World Bank Development Committee plenary session which is an assembly of ministers and governors of central banks was to hold between 2.15 and 5pm. There was no way the minister of finance and myself could have been at those meetings”.

The CBN Governor further explained that the minister of Finance and himself were in Washington DC to attend the statutory meetings of the World Bank and IMF.

“The minister of Finance and for me being the governor of the CBN, what takes preeminence is the meetings in the IMF as well as the meeting at the World Bank”, he added.

On her part, Adeosun said while she got to know of the event late, there was no way she could attend, as she had to represent not only Nigeria but 22 other countries in Africa.

She noted: “I attended the IMFC which is the highest decision making body of the IMF and I represent 23 African countries in that role. So, one of the things I have to do is to issue a statement on behalf of those 23 countries, which includes most of the Anglophone countries like South Africa, Mozambique and others.

“So, my primary role here as well as having the Nigerian hat on is to represent the 23 African countries. There has been some controversy over the scheduling. I wasn’t due at any event. I was here as a governor of the IMF and member of IMFC to represent the 23 African countries and that schedule is what I must adhere to. I think maybe there was some scheduling challenges there”.

Naira Slides Down Further At Investors’ Window

Naira Slides Down Further At Investors’ Window

The Naira on Thursday, depreciated further at the investors’ window, exchanging at N360.31 to the dollar.
The Nigerian currency lost 15 kobo from N360.16 traded on Wednesday.

The naira also dipped at the parallel market, selling at N363 to the dollar while the Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N515 and N445.

Trading at the Bureau De Change (BDC) segment saw the Naira closed at N362 to the dollar while the Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N515 and N445.

The Naira traded at N305.6 to the dollar at the CBN window.

Meanwhile, traders at the BDC segment said they had been experiencing liquidity squeeze, adding that some BDCs had been technically edged out of the CBN window due to operational loses.

Some employees of BDCs have been laid-off as a consequence of the liquidity squeeze, thereby increasing the number of the unemployed at the labour market.

However, CBN had continued to inject foreign exchange into the market to defend the Naira from the antics of currency speculators.

In 2017 alone, CBN injected about 16 billion dollars to the FOREX market.

EFCC Recovers N2.273b Assets From Fayose, Obanikoro, Omisore

EFCC Recovers N2.273b Assets From Fayose, Obanikoro, Omisore 

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered property and cash worth N2.273 billion from Governor Ayodele Fayose, ex-Deputy Governor Iyiola Omisore and a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, out of the N4.685 billion allocated to them by the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The said cash, which was sourced from the $2.1 billion voted for arms procurement, was meant for the 2014 governorship campaign by Fayose and Omisore on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The trial of Omisore by EFCC is expected to begin any moment from now because charges have been preferred and filed against him.

The EFCC is awaiting a date from the court for the arraignment of Omisore, who might be re-arrested.

But the prosecution of Fayose is withheld till after the completion of his tenure and immediately he hands over to the next governor of the state.

But Obanikoro, who was allegedly the courier of the fund to Fayose and Omisore, was still being investigated by detectives following more cases he was allegedly linked with.

A fact-sheet obtained from the EFCC revealed that out of the N4.685 billion, detectives traced N2.0030 billion to Omisore; N685 million to Obanikoro and N1.3 billion and $5.377 million (at the exchange rate of N168 to $1) to Fayose.

The document said: “The N4.685 billion was disbursed by ONSA through a company, Sylvan McNamara Limited, which was submitted by Obanikoro for onward transfer to Fayose and Omisore for their gubernatorial election in 2014 on the platform of the PDP.

“Out of the sum, Omisore got N1.7 billion and additional N330 million was given to him through his company, Fimex Guilt Limited, bringing his campaign slush cash to N2.0030 billion.

“From his share, Omisore has paid back N350 million. Although he pleaded for more time, EFCC is expecting the balance from him.”

The fact-sheet stated that charges have been preferred against Omisore.
The document gave the details of how arms cash was allocated to Fayose and the retention of N685 million by Obanikoro.

It said: On his part, Fayose was allocated N1.3 billion and $5.377 million (at the exchange rate of N168.

The $5,377,000 was handed over in cash by Obanikoro to Fayose while the N1.3 billion was received by Fayose’s associate, Mr. Abiodun Agbele, in the presence of the ex-Minister’s Aide-de-Camp, who also accompanied them to the bank along with bank officials.

“From the $5 million, Fayose gave his Personal Assistant, Agbele about $1million, which he exchanged to Naira and paid for properties on behalf of the governor. Detectives suspected that Fayose added more of the N1.3 billion cash to what he gave Agbele to buy the affected assets.

“The properties worth N1.8 billion purchased with the said proceeds of crime have been recovered from Fayose and his sister, Moji Ladeji.

“These assets include four in Lagos (N1.1 billion) and two in Abuja worth about N500 million to N700 million.

“But Fayose has been claiming that he used his company, Spotless to obtain a loan of N120 million from Zenith Bank as part of what he used to buy one of the properties in Abuja. We are already tracking how he disbursed the N1.3 billion.

“A prima facie case has been established against Fayose but he is enjoying immunity from prosecution as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

He will, however, face trial as soon as he hands over power to his successor.

“But the associate of the governor, Abiodun Agbele, has been charged to court accordingly.”

Regarding the investigation of Obanikoro, the fact-sheet indicated that “the ex-minister retained N685 million out of the N4.685 billion given to him by ONSA.

“A sum of N123 million has been recovered from Obanikoro, who claimed he was only asked to deliver the cash to both Fayose and Omisore for their gubernatorial campaign.

“The ex-minister is still under investigation following some cases allegedly still linked with him.”

•Judges nullify victory at high court
THE Court of Appeal yesterday ordered two accounts of Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose domiciled with the Zenith Bank to be frozen.

The court gave the order having been convinced by the argument of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that they were used to keep proceeds of crime.

The three-man panel, led Justice Joseph Shagbaor Ikyegh, allowed the EFCC appeal and upturned the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, which was delivered about one year and four months ago.

Other members of the panel are Justice Boloukurumo Moses Ugo and Justice Mohammed Mustapha.

The judgment of the lower court, which unblocked the governor’s two accounts, was delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo on December 13, 2016.

Fayose withdrew N5 million from one of the accounts immediately and transferred the sum of N75 to his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN).

Dissatisfied with the Ado-Ekiti Federal High Court’s verdict, the EFCC filed an appeal at the appellate court on three grounds.

The anti-graft agency contended that the immunity enjoyed by the governor did not preclude his account from being frozen.

The Appeal Court allowed the appeal and held that Fayose’s accounts, which were unblocked by the Federal High Court, be frozen.

The court delivered the judgment upon reading the record of the appeal and after hearing EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, Fayose’s counsel, Mike Ozekhome and Zenith Bank’s counsel, Mr. Oluwasegun Ayinde.

Justice Ikyegh ordered “that the appeal is meritorious and, having resolved all three issues agitated in the appeal in appellant’s (EFCC’s) favour.

“That the appeal is hereby allowed; that the judgment delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Ekiti Judicial Division, on the 13th day of December, 2016, granting the claims of the 1st respondent in Suit No: FHC/AD/CS/27/2016 is hereby set aside.”

The two accounts had earlier been frozen by Justice Mohammed Shuaibu of Federal High Court, Lagos in an ex-parte motion brought by the EFCC.

Sultan Gives Miyetti Allah 2 Months To Fish Out Killer Herdsmen

Sultan Gives Miyetti Allah 2 Months To Fish Out Killer Herdsmen

The Sultan of Sokoto and president-general of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday gave the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) two months to identify and apprehend herdsmen behind the killings in the country.

Specifically, he charged the association to find out whether Fulani herdsmen are responsible for the killings or some bandits are disguising as herdsmen to perpetrate the act.

Speaking in his palace during the formal swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected executives of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, the Sultan decried the unwarranted labelling of Fulanis as the killer herdsmen behind massacre in Nigeria.

He insisted that Fulanis are not purveyors of trouble but apostles of peaceful coexistence, just as he warned that generalising a whole race to be bad is a grievous injustice on the people.

He said, “To you the newly elected leadership of MACBAN, I want to remind you that your task is a very challenging one. Don’t forget that Fulanis are also being killed in Nigeria and no media attention is given to it.

“However, we are giving you two months to go round the entire country and find out why Fulanis are accused of being behind the killings. Go and find out who are those Fulanis doing the killings. Also find out if it is other people that are doing the killings and are accusing the Fulanis. Please, we want to get the truth from you within two months”.

The Sultan urged the Miyetti Allah leadership never to be ashamed of being called Fulanis because they are simply herders and not troublemakers.

He said, “We are not ashamed to be called Fulanis because Fulanis are not trouble makers. Despite the fact that any wrong doing in Nigeria now is erroneously said to be caused by Fulanis.

“We however want people to know that though there might be bad ones amongst the Fulanis, just like there are in every race, that is not enough justification to generalise that all Fulanis are bad”.

Insisting that there are herders who are not Fulanis, the Sultan said a typical Fulani man caters for his cattle and will never have time to go for trouble.

Urging the Fulanis to fear God in all their dealings, the religious and traditional leader equally charged Nigerian security agencies to wake up to their responsibilities by ensuring that all those wielding weapons to ferment trouble are arrested and prosecuted.

Appealing to Nigerians to embrace peaceful coexistence, the Sultan charged other states to emulate Sokoto State on how best to accommodate people for peaceful coexistence.

Responding on behalf of all newly elected officers after the oath of office was administered on them by Barrister Abdulrahman Harande Tsamiya, the national president of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Mohammed Kirowa, appealed to Fulanis to continue to embrace peaceful coexistence.

Kirowa who said that Fulanis are not purveyors of troubles added that they will never relent in ensuring that Fulanis live in peace with everybody.

Senate Seeks Review Of Security Tactics

Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately review his security tactics as well as change heads of security agencies and service chiefs, saying it is time to appoint men and women with fresh ideas.

Apparently frustrated and angered by the unabated spate of killings across the country by herdsmen and criminal militia groups, the Senators submitted that because Nigerians are increasingly becoming disappointed and frustrated over government’s failings and inactions on the growing insecurity, democracy has become endangered.

In a motion moved on the matter, Senator Suleiman Adokwe (PDP, Nasarawa State), said the president should seek immediate help from the international community to arrest the worsening insecurity situation in the country.

On his part, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan (APC, Lagos State) insisted that President Buhari must inject fresh ideas into how the security problems in the country can be remedied.

Adeola noted that there is nowhere that is safe in Nigeria with the daily killings that the nation is regaled with.
“The security situation has not improved and what the president need at this time is fresh ideas on how to tackle numerous security challenges confronting the nation” the lawmaker stated.

He argued that the only way to get fresh ideas for the president to address the security challenges is to remove the incumbent service chiefs to give room for those with fresh ideas, stressing that the nation should do away with unproductive tenure elongation in areas where fresh ideas are needed.

“We know the way the military organisation operates. Those with fresh ideas dare not come out against their superiors or else they risk premature retirement from service. So, the current service chiefs should go to allow officers with fresh ideas address our alarming security issues”, he stated.

Also speaking, Senator Jeremiah Useni (PDP, Plateau State), identified the constant clashes among security agencies as part of the security problems.

He maintained that heads of such agencies be removed to pave way for more harmonious relationship among security agencies.

Defending his motion earlier, Adokwe said: “Throughout the weekend and up to the moment that I am speaking, herdsmen have unleashed terrorism and mayhem on the people of my senatorial district, leaving many dead bodies, numerous wounded persons and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons. The victims are largely the Tiv-speaking ethnic nationalities with a reported dead toll of 32 persons and we are still counting.

“The real tragedy is not in the well-coordinated and simultaneous carnage across Awe, Obi, Keana and Doma local government areas of Southern senatorial district but the tragedy stems from the fact that for four days running, this mayhem continues unhindered, unchecked, unstopped by any arm of the law and security enforcement agencies”.

Also contributing, Senator Barnabas Gemade (APC, Benue State) stated that the country is becoming a state without control, a state that is experiencing anarchy and a state in which ethnic cleansing has been witnessed.

According to him, “it is a shame that a sitting government could watch criminality go to the level that we have seen it today and rather than rise up and take very decisive steps against it, we embark on deniability and simply shield this evil by just explaining with flimsy excuses that these are communal clashes in those communities.

“I don’t understand why responsible people elected to control the governments of Nigeria will simply turn away from the reality of facing this matter squarely. And the Inspector-General will fly by helicopter to a town, land in the market square and be asking people whether there is militia in this town or not. And nobody whatsoever seems to call anybody to order. This is very sad. We have done enough of a minute silence for innocent Nigerians being killed”, he added.

Ruling on the motion, deputy president of Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, noted that the primary purpose of government anywhere in the world is the preservation of the lives of citizens.

“If citizens are being killed, we owe the responsibility as a parliament to give it the desired attention. And we will never stop talking about these killings. Unless it stops, we will never be tired of speaking about it”, he stated.

On the need to seek external help, he said, “The time has come for us to seek help from other countries as some of us have suggested here. We should not be ashamed to ask for help.

“The President met with the UK Prime Minister and she was of the opinion that Britain would help us security wise. America is also offering to help. We should not be reluctant to come out openly and say we need help because what we have now is a global village”.

CJN Moves To Enhance Efficient Justice Delivery

CJN Moves To Enhance Efficient Justice Delivery 

In a bid to ensure efficient justice delivery and case management in the country, the judiciary has adopted the use of new technology, with the introduction of Nigeria Case Management System (NCMS).

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, disclosed this in Abuja during the opening ceremony of a refresher course for magistrates, organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI).

The CJN said the innovative case management system is presently being piloted by the Supreme Court and will soon be rolled out to the strata of courts in the country.

According to the CJN, technology has transformed the manner in which service of court processes, record keeping and retrieval of data and other operations are carried out in courts.

“Technology has afforded us the opportunity to have virtual libraries and law reports at our finger tips.

Case management tools can now be accessed 24 hours a day from the comfort of our homes and hearing notices will, in the nearest future be e-mailed to lawyers once enrolment on the Judiciary’s Nigerian Legal E-Mail System (NILES), is fully achieved in conjunction with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

“As we speak, the deadline for paper court processes in the Supreme Court has been fixed for July 2018, the CJN stated and urged Magistrates to be proficient in the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) as the e-proficiency will become a veritable pre-requisite for career advancement within the judiciary”.

While charging the Magistrates to carry out their judicial functions in line with the constitution of the country, Onnoghen said continuing judicial education is a mandatory requirement for every judicial officer who sits on the Bench for adjudication.

“It is pertinent to remind you as Magistrates, that you must be mindful of your professional duties as well as the ethical content of the Code of Conduct for judicial officers.

“It is an indispensable guide to the proper conduct and performance of your duties”, he said and urged the Magistrates to take charge of their courts in the discharge of their judicial functions.

The NJI administrator, Justice Rosaline Bozimo, who also spoke at the occasion with the theme: “Promoting excellence in the administration of justice in lower courts” said it was in line with the current drive of the CJN, in ensuring that excellence in service delivery is enhanced at all levels of the judicial process.

She said the course was organised by the institute in fulfillment of its statutory mandate for judicial officers and their supporting staff with a view to expanding and improving their overall knowledge and performance in their duties.

Police Arrest Primary School Dropout Working as Medical Doctor in Lagos

Police Arrest Primary School Dropout Working as Medical Doctor in Lagos

The police in Lagos have blown the whistle on a primary school dropout who has been practising as a medical doctor in Lagos for four years.

Thirty-nine-year old Abdulrahman Mohammed told reporters at a police parade in Ikeja, today, that he was a medicine merchant, but the police found that he had been giving his patients intravenous injections, conducting medical tests, and taking their urine and blood samples.

He said that he was buying his drugs from Idumota market.

The fake doctor, Mohammed, and medical items allegedly recovered from him.

Mohammed was paraded alongside a dismissed policeman, Gimba Zalaba, who was found doing illegal activities in police uniform.

Addressing reporters at the parade, the state commissioner of police, Mr Imohimi Edgal said “Detectives from the Area D Command, Mushin, arrested one Abdulrahman Mohammed, a native of Ran Village in Gamboru Ngala local government area of Borno State for operating as a medical doctor at House Number 3, Bamishile Street, at Idi -Araba, whereas his education stopped at primary school level.

“Further investigation into the activities of Abdulrahman Mohammed, who has been impersonating as a medical doctor for the past four years revealed that he had been practicing as a doctor since 2014. He had been administrating intravenous injections, conducting medical test on his patients, and taking urine and blood samples from his patients. According to him, he buys his drugs from Idumota market.”

Narrating how he was arrested, Mohammed said, “I was a hawker. I was hawking drugs before I decided to open a pharmacy. I did not finish my primary school and I was not taught to sell the drugs. My pharmacy was not licensed.”

The arrested fake policeman, Zalaba.
On his part, the fake policeman said, “My name is Gimba Zalaba. I was dismissed in 2015 because I travelled without permission for one month.

The police declared me a deserter and that was what led to my dismissal. Someone called me to come and carry out a security job, but I did not have money so I wore the uniform to get free ride. I was however arrested under the bridge at Ikeja.”

EFCC Drags Globacom, Israni To Court Over $6.7m Fraud

EFCC Drags Globacom, Israni To Court Over $6.7m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday charged  telecommunications company, Globacom Limited and its Head of Marketing Department, Ashok Israni, before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja over an alleged $6,786,674.61 fraud.

The Globacom and Israni were dragged before the court presided over by Justice Olusola Williams on a one count charge by the anti-graft agency.

The one count charge read, "Ashok Israni and Globacom Limited, sometime in 2008 in Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, induced Emitac Mobile Solutions, LLC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates to confer a benefit on you by permitting Emitac Mobile Solutions, LLC to provide you with Blackberry solutions services, valued at USD6,786,674.64 on the understanding that the benefit will be paid for, which pretence you knew to be false."

The EFCC maintained that the firm and Israni acted contrary to Section 1(2)(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.

However, the planned arraignment of the defendants could not go on Monday, as they were not in court.

The prosecutor, A.B.C. Ozioko, told the court that the EFCC was making efforts to produce Israni, who had been granted an administrative bail by the anti-graft agency.

Ozioko said, "My Lord, we are sorry we are not able to produce the defendants.

"As part of efforts to ensure that trial commences, we brought the complainants all the way from Dubai.

"We have no choice but to seek a date for arraignment," the lawyer stated.

Based on the development, Justice Williams adjourned the case till May 15 for the arraignment of the defendants.

4 Months After Flag-off, NRC Yet To Move Cargoes From Kaduna Dryport

4 Months After Flag-off, NRC Yet To Move Cargoes From Kaduna Dryport

Commercial activities at the Kaduna Inland Container Dryport (ICD) has suffered massive setback as the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has failed to move cargoes from the Apapa seaports to the dryport, LEADERSHIP investigation has shown.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari on January 2, 2018 officially flagged-off the Kaduna ICD for activities. The Kaduna ICD is the first of its kind in Nigeria created and designed to receive cargoes from Apapa Port in Lagos, through the railway.

The dryport is also designated as port of origin for exports and port of destination for imports. It was also designed to accelerate the implementation of the federal government’s economic diversification policy by providing for importers and exporters located within the nation’s hinterland, especially industrial and commercial outfits, access to shipping and port services without necessarily visiting the seaports.

But, the motives for the creation of the dryport is greatly under threat as importers now move their cargoes from the port through trucks instead of rail.

Speaking exclusively to LEADERSHIP, a top management staff of the ICD said the inability of the NRC to move cargoes from the seaport to the ICD has affected operations. The source who craved anonymity said few cargoes they received at the dryport were brought by trucks.

The source also said even though the railway corporation promised to dedicate wagons and locomotives at a stakeholders meeting in Lagos for the exercise, after the commissioning, they are yet to fulfil their promise.

“When we had a stakeholders meeting at Federal Place Hotel, Lagos, the Managing Director of NRC promised that they will dedicate locomotives and wagons but as at now, they have not done their part, but they promise they are working on it.

He stated further that shippers from the Northern part of the country have expressed disappointment over non-functional rail system into the dryport. “Northern Shippers have been coming and asking whether the rail is working and we have told them they will start operations by this quarter.

They believe rail is cheaper and safe.

“If we use rail, we have more advantage to attract northern shippers and the dryport has cost leverage compared to what is obtainable in Lagos ports. If we are to entice customers, rail use must be working because, we can use rail for both import and export,” he said.

He said: “They have not started moving containers either in or out, but they have promised that before the end of this quarter they will give us locomotives and wagons. The movement of cargoes they did was last year, and that was when they had a wash out but they have concluded the washout. What we need now is wagons and locomotive.”

On the impact of the trucking cargoes by road, he said “Since the train is not working, we have been getting cargoes by roads and you know our roads are bad and the best option is the rail even in South Africa that is what is used.”

But, speaking to LEADERSHIP in January, managing director of NRC, Engineer Fidet Okhiria disclosed that the corporation would be discussing with the Kaduna ICD management for movement of cargoes in and out of the dryport. “We will be discussing with the Kaduna ICD management and if the goods going to the dryports are readily available, then we are ready to move the cargoes.

“Rail doesn’t carry goods in pieces rather, we carry in bulk. We have the wagons and when they are ready they are loaded and not that they will be waiting for Mr. A to bring one cargo or Mr. B to bring in another cargoe, rather it is direct from the shippers to the dryport.

“We believe the containers will be readily available and not one person taking container to Benin, another to Warri but everyone having containers destined for Kaduna dryport being taken on the rail and have it loaded on the wagon and taken to the ICD,” he said.

Anxiety As Importers Smuggled 530 Expired Energy Drink, Spagetti Out Of Lagos Ports

Anxiety As Importers Smuggled 530 Expired Energy Drink, Spagetti Out Of Lagos Ports

A total of 530 packages of expired energy drink imported from Europe and banned spaghetti from Turkey were smuggled out of the Lagos Port Complex without necessary Customs clearance, last week, LEADERSHIP has learnt.

At the time of filling this report, it was not clear whether the containers illegally exited through the Apapa Port or the Tin-Can Island Port, but importation of Spagetti is on the federal government’s import prohibition list.

According to the import prohibition list on the website of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Spaghetti/Noodles – H.S. Codes 1902.1100 – 1902.30.0000 are banned from being imported into Nigeria.

Confirming this, the Customs Area Controller of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja, Compt. Mohammed Uba, disclosed that the container also contained 2,260 cartoons of Gonca Spagetti made in Turkey.

LEADERSHIP recalls that that was not the first time cargoes would be smuggled out of the Lagos port without proper clearance procedure.

Last year, 661 pump action rifles were smuggled out of the Apapa Port without necessary clearance but was intercepted by officers of FOU Zone A on its way to the owners’ warehouses.

Also, in May 2016, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Maritime Command, Musa Katsina, intercepted a truck conveying a 40-foot container that he alleged was smuggled out of the ports at midnight. The container when examined contained used tyres that were not declared and used vehicles that were under declared.

Stakeholders at the port have, however, confirmed that containers especially contrabands are smuggled on a daily basis out of the Lagos Port -Apapa and Tin-Can – with the connivance of Customs officers.

Confirming further, the Customs CAC said the container even though was declared as baking powder in the Single Goods Declaration (SGD), further investigation revealed it was cartons of Gonca Spagetti and energy drinks that were not examined nor cleared from the seaport.

He said: “The 1x20ft container no: CSNU 106087/4 carried 2,260 cartoons of Gonca Spagetti made in Turkey and 530 package of Rifle Energy drinks made in Europe as against baking powder declared in the SGD. Investigation revealed that the container was never exited, we are still investigating and all those found culpable will face the full wrath of the law.

“While 1x40ft container no: PCIU 865957/1 was seized for carrying 200 cartons of ladies shoes, 134 cartons of children’s ware among other items as against keyboard and mouse declared in the SGD; 1x40ft container no:FCIU 80992/0 was seized for carrying 2,300 cartons of tiffany chocolate,385 cartons of tiffany crunch ‘n’ cream biscuit as against “Tapet for fuel pump complete”.

These are clear cases of false declarations, liable to seizure and forfeiture.”

The Customs boss also warned smugglers both at the nation’s seaports and land borders to desist as his officers are on standby to subdue them. “Let me warn all smugglers/intending ones and their accomplices to desist from such trade malpractices and invest their money in legitimate business, as the Unit has devised other operational modalities that will give them a run for their money and count their losses and finally end in jail” he said.

63,000 Disengaged Workers Withdraw N20.64bn From Pension Funds

63,000 Disengaged Workers Withdraw N20.64bn From Pension Funds

The incessant loss of jobs by workers in the public and private sectors on a daily basis,  in the country, may have taken its tool on the N7.51 trillion pension assets as about 63,000 unemployed Nigerians withdrew N20.64 billion from their pension contributions in 2017 alone,
LEADERSHIP investigation can now reveal.

This payment is about 24 per cent of the total amount of N82.57 billion paid to this category of people since the inception of the Contributory Pension Scheme(CPS) in 2004.

Of the 63,000 disengaged workers, LEADERSHIP finding shows that 95 per cent of them are from private sector, an indication of lack of job security in the private sector of the nation's economy. The public sector seems to be better in terms of job security as only about five per cent of pension contributors were affected by the job loss.

The Pension Reforms Act (PRA) 2014, currently in use, makes provision for Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders under the age of 50 years who were disengaged and were unable to secure another job within four months of their disengagement to access 25 per cent of their pension contributions.

Investigation shows that the cutting cost measure adopted by public and private entities is leading to consistent loss of jobs.

However, the lean prospect of finding a new job immediately after the loss of an earlier job, was responsible for increase in demand for 25 per cent of pension contributions.

A document sourced from the National Pension Commission (PenCom) revealed that, in the first quarter of last year, precisely, between January to March 2017, 15,863 pension contributors, under the age of 50 years, who were disengaged from work and were unable to secure another job within 4 months of disengagement, were granted N3.97 billion from their respective Retirement Savings Account(RSA).

Further findings show that the private sector accounted for 95.22 per cent of the disengaged RSA holders, with the public sector accounted for 4.78 per cent.

In the second quarter 2017, however, PenCom granted approval for payment of N5.17 billion to 13,337 disengaged workers, while in the third quarter, 16,165 unemployed RSA holders, who falls under the aforementioned category, were paid N5 billion from their pension accounts.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, approval was granted for payment of N6.54 billion to 17,828 RSA holders who were under the age of 50 years and were disengaged from work and unable to secure another job within 4 months of disengagement, thus, bring the cumulative payment for last year to N20.64 billion paid to 63,000 disengaged workers.

Further finding shows a cumulative total number of disengaged RSA holders who were paid 25 percent was 250,293 and were paid N82.57 billion from inception to date. From this figure, the private sector accounted for 95.40 percent (238,786) while the public sector accounted for 4.60 percent (11,507). 

Moreover, while some firms in both public and private sectors have downsized, some are preparing to lay-off more workers in the current year, in a bid to cut their expenditure, meaning that, more workers are going to be disengaged, hence, more pension contributors will demand for 25 per cent of their RSA balance in the current year.

Some of the beneficiaries, industry sources disclosed, are investing this money in their business ideas in a bid to be self employed, while some used it to meet their more immediate financial needs.   

Speaking in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP at the weekend, the Managing Director, AXA Mansard Pension Fund Administrator(PFA), Mr. Dapo Akinsanya, said the job loss shows the tough time the country is passing through, noting that, the pension industry is performing one of its civic responsibility, by paying the 25 per cent pension contribution to these beneficiaries. 

He said the industry is losing nothing as the investment income emanating from investment of pension assets far outweighs the payment made to these people.

Believing that this will also enhances the integrity of the new pension scheme, he added that, the pension funds has been growing irrespective of whatever payment made out of it.

The former Head, Benefits and Insurance Department, PenCom, Mr. Olulana Loyinmi, had, in 2016, said, the increase in the number of contributors applying for the 25 per cent of their pension contributions was as a result of increase in job loss adding that, 50 per cent of the documents PenCom processed on pension matters are actually from those demanding for 25 per cent of their pension contributions.

"That is an indication of how people are losing their jobs or are getting disengaged and having waited for about four months without getting another job, they resort to access their retirement account," he said then.

SOURCE: LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER

Naira Abuse: Police, CBN Arrest 5 in Ogun

Naira Abuse: Police, CBN Arrest 5 in Ogun

After issuing several warnings, the police and officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria have swooped on people allegedly abusing the Naira in Ogun State.

According to Ogun police spokesman, ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, five persons were captured in various parts of the state for hawking and selling Naira notes this weekend.

Oyeyemi identified the suspects as: Toyin Alegbe, Kehinde Akinbode, Shoneye Latifat, Kehinde Olanrewaju and Iyanuoluwa Shokunbi.

He said that they were arrested in Ijebu Ode, Sagamu and Abeokuta areas of the state “during a sting operation jointly carried out by police operatives of Ogun State police command and officials of Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) on Thursday 12th and Friday 13th of April 2018”.

Oyeyemi added that the operation was in line with the provisions of section 21(1) of the CBN act 2007, which made hawking, selling and abuse of Naira a punishable offence.

“Various denominations of Naira notes totalling 1,560,000 were recovered from the suspects who were publicly exhibiting their illicit trades,” he said.

Oyeyemi told NewsmakersNG in his statement that the Commissioner of Police (CP) Mr Ahmed Iliyasu, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department, Aminu Alhassan, to commence full scale investigation into the activities of the suspects.

The CP has further warned members of the public to desist “from any act capable of soiling, abusing or destroying the Naira which is one of the symbols of our national identity.

The CP therefore expressed his readiness to work with all government agencies to stamp out crime and criminality in the state”.

FoI Act Applicable To All States In Nigeria, Says Appeal

FoI Act Applicable To All States In Nigeria, Says Appeal 

The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has ruled that Nigerian states have no powers to reject any requests filed under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI).

The Court ruled that the requests for information, especially around public expenditure, under the FoI, are made in public interest and should be honoured by all states across the country.

A three-member panel of the Court gave the ruling in an appeal filed by a journalist, Martins Alo, against the Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly and Auditor-General of the state.

Alo had demanded the audited report of Ondo State Government between 2012 and 2014 to properly access how public funds are utilised in the state.

His request was,however rejected by the authority concern, prompting him to seek judicial redress.

Akure Division of Ondo State High Court had previously ruled in 2016 that the journalist had no right to demand how the state was spending money.

The lower court presided over by Justice Williams Akintoroye ,ruled that the FoI was not applicable to states and the request was not in public interest to begin with.

Akintoroye, also said Alo should pay a damage of N10,000 for wasting time and resources of the state.

But Mr Alo’s lawyer, Femi Emodamori, appealed the ruling on behalf of his client, arguing that Mr Akintoroye erred in his judgment and that his client was acting in public interest.

But Court of Appeal judges who sat on the matter which included Uzo Ndukwe-Anyanwu, Obande Ogbuinya and Ridwan Abdullahi, rejected Mr Akintoroye’s ruling and agreed with the appellant that the FoI was applicable to states and it was in public interest for the state government to release its audited report.

Ndukwe-Anyanwu wrote the lead opinion, saying Mr Alo has a right to act on behalf of the public to obtain the information from state authorities. He also quashed the N10,000 fine imposed by the lower court.

“In a democratic dispensation, such as the Nigeria’s, the citizens have been proclaimed the owners of sovereignty and mandates that place leaders in the saddle,” Mr Ogbuinya said in his concurring opinion.

The citizens have a right to know details of “expenditure of public funds generated from their taxes,” Ogbuinya added.

It would be recalled that states, including Lagos, Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom and Ondo, have been rejecting FoI requests relating to their activities since the law was signed in 2011 by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The states argued that the FoI is a federal law and its provisions are simply not binding on their respective jurisdictions, frustrating accountability efforts by media outlets and transparency advocates.

Speaking on the development, a rights activist , Inibehe Effiong said, “The decision of the Court of Appeal is consistent with well-established principles of legislation.”

Effiong said, “By virtue of paragraph four and five in part two of the second schedule of the Constitution, the states should know that the National Assembly can make laws with respect to the archives and pubic records,” he said. “The FoI Act is a law that stipulates how the public should have access to public record.”

“Even if a State House of Assembly makes a law about how the public should have access to public record, such law would only be subservient to a similar one passed by the National Assembly.

‘I am not surprised by the judgement. The states too know this but they’re just wasting public funds in challenging the matter, he added.

“Only international treaties and instruments could be domesticated, you don’t need to domesticate a federal law,” the lawyer added.

“Anyone who is aggrieved should proceed to the Supreme Court, but I am confident that the Supreme Court will uphold the ruling of the Court of Appeal.”

Syria Downs Most Missiles Of US, UK, France – Russia

Syria Downs Most Missiles Of US, UK, France – Russia

Syria was able to down most of the missiles launched by U.S, UK and France, Russian Defense Ministry revealed on Saturday.

The ministry said that the missiles were downed by the Arab Republic’s air defenses as they approached their targets.

“The Syrian air defense system has been conducting an anti-air fight,” the ministry added.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Syria repelled the Western attack by air defense complexes made in the USSR over 30 years ago.

“Syrian means of air defense: S-125, S-200 air defense systems, Buk and Kvadrat were used in the repelling the missile strike.”

According to the Russian military, the massive missile strike on objects of military and civilian infrastructure was conducted by US warships jointly with the UK and French air forces at 3:42-5:10 Moscow time.

A total of 100 cruise and air-to-surface missiles were launched at targets in Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry stated, noting that two US warships carried out the attack from the Red Sea, as well as tactical aviation over the Mediterranean Sea and B-1B bombers from al-Tanf area.

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, has slammed the Western states’ move, saying that the strike “has been launched at the capital of a sovereign state that has been fighting for survival for years amid terrorist aggression.”

Earlier in the day, the United States, the United Kingdom and France launched missile strikes on a number of targets in Syria in response to an alleged chemical attack in the Damascus’ suburb of Douma, Eastern Ghouta.

The countries blamed on Damascus despite the launch of a probe into the incident.

On Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that it had proof that the “chemical attack” in Douma had been a provocation and had been staged by Western-backed NGOs, including the White Helmets.

Man, 70, Arrested For Abducting Woman For 28 Years

Man, 70, Arrested For Abducting Woman For 28 Years

A 70-year-old man, Alhaji Aliyu Onmaya, has been apprehended by Benue State Police Command for allegedly abducting a Cameroonian woman, Martha Eyom, for 28 years.

The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, who paraded the suspect, yesterday, in Makurdi, alleged that he abducted his victim in 1990, explaining that his arrest was effected in Makurdi after a tip-off by the victim and her father.

“We arrested him when the father of his victim alerted us, this was after the woman had escaped from the suspect’s home,” Owoseni said.

Narrating her ordeal, the victim said, “It all happened 28 years ago when my friends and I came from Cameroon to write JAMB examination in Calabar.

“My abductor saw us and chatted with us after which he waved an handkerchief on my face. At that point, I lost my memory and did not know anything about myself”, she said.

“I’ve been living with him since then and we have two children, one of them is in the university now.

“The last place we lived was Otukpo. A young man helped me and a pastor who prayed and set me free from the spell that was on me.

“With the help of the young man, who is from Nigeria but plays football in Cameroon, I was able to traced my place and returned home 28 years after he mysteriously took me away.”

The father of the victim, Michael Eyong, who was with her at the police headquarters in Makurdi, said he accompanied his daughter back to Benue to seek justice.

“We are from Mamfe in Cameroon. The man kidnapped my daughter for 28years and, within this period of her disappearance, I lived in pains because she is my first child.

“My 16-year-old little daughter returned home a week ago as a 44-year-old woman, looking even older than her age. I thank God for answering my prayer.

“We were able to arrest his alleged abductor with the help of Benue State Police Commissioner. All I am asking for at the moment is justice. He should be made to face the wrath of the law for what he did to my daughter and my family”.

Lagos Set To Enforce Stage Carriage Permit Law NEWS

Lagos Set To Enforce Stage Carriage Permit Law NEWS

Lagos State Government yesterday said it is set to commence enforcement of the Stage Carriage Permit law to put an end to the continuous use of Lagos State roads and infrastructure by vehicle owners that have not obtained the stage Carriage Permit as stipulated by the State’s Road Traffic Law.

The Law which is a provision of the Road Traffic Law, mandates operators of any motor vehicle designed for the carriage of goods or passengers to obtain the permit.

According to a statement issued by the State’s Ministry of Transportation obtaining the permit will enable it to develop a robust data base of all vehicles that falls within the category for safety, security and raising the general public’s confidence in government policies.

The Ministry therefore enjoined those concerned to obtain the document as defaulters will henceforth be subjected to the provision of the relevant sections of State Road Traffic Law which stipulated penalty for such default.

The Ministry in the statement signed by Public Relations Officer of the Ministry Mr. Olatunji Aribisala recalled that various engagements and advocacy meeting had been held to sensitize those concerned to government intentions and plans.

The Ministry therefore reiterated that the provisions of the Law that regulate commercial passenger vehicle operators activities which are designed to ensure safety, security, and reliability in that in that sector are still relevant and will be enforced.

The government noted that those who operate taxi schemes, in various forms as well as those on technology platforms that provide linkages between operators and passengers are operating without recourse to the Law.

Buhari has bungled anti-graft war – Kwara Speaker

Buhari has bungled anti-graft war – Kwara Speaker

The Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad, on Tuesday accused the Federal Government of failing to show the required immediate response after the armed robbery attacks about some banks in Offa in the Offa Local Government Area of the state.

Ahmad, a close ally of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, also said President Muhammadu Buhari had bungled the anti -corruption war.

The robbery led to the loss of many lives, money and other valuables.

He said the robbery lent credence to the doubt expressed by some citizens about Buhari’s ability to take actions that would unite and secure the country.

He said, “That one (inaction) is reflected in Offa when the incident happened. We were all saddened and grieving, looking for fatherly words to placate our grief. Those words never came until three days after.

“The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, even cut short his journey to come; but the Federal Government that is in control of security apparatus, which lost policemen, if civilians are not worth anything to them, did not act on time.

“I will score the APC or whoever that is at the Federal Government very low. I am in Kwara and if this thing happened and the person that is in control of security did not do anything until 72 hours later, it is an after- thought. I am disappointed. And if you ask me to go with whoever that is, I will think twice.”

He also accused Buhari of failing in his avowed anti-corruption campaign, arguing that it was wrong for Buhari to have made anti-graft war the priority of his government’s programme considering the slow dispensation of justice in Nigeria.

Ahmad, who expressed his views during an interview with journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, said, “The best person that Nigeria has ever had to fight corruption since independence is Buhari but he bungled it . He did ! And I cannot see him correcting this.

“I delivered a lecture at the Nigeria Union of Journalists event in Ibadan when this government was less than six months. I told them, you cannot fight corruption in Nigeria the way the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or the Federal Government was fighting it. From day one , you know that our court system is slow; the Administration of Criminal Justice has reduced it by 40 or 50 per cent but it is still slow.

“You have only four years, how can you place your number one priority on a platform that you know is beyond your control, the judiciary? You cannot fight corruption with the judiciary alone , you cannot.”

He noted that there were many anti- graft strategies that should have been adopted, adding that the court should have been the last resort.

He urged the Federal Government to make Nigerians embrace the anti-graft war by exposing corrupt people and strengthening anti-graft institutions.

He said, “We have told him (Buhari) that he should strengthen the state and federal lawmakers . Get the buy-in of Nigerians, which is zero at the moment. Nobody believes you are fighting corruption; when you place that priority on the door of the judiciary and after three years, you tell me that the judiciary is the stumbling block; we warned you that you cannot fight corruption in four years through the judiciary, you cannot. 

The speaker also said it was prejudicial for the Federal Government to mention the names of the people being prosecuted in court for allegedly looting the treasury.

Ahmad said, “Whoever is preparing that list is taking Nigerians for a ride. If you tell them that it (the list) is one - sided, they will mention some APC members that are on the list but if you look critically, you will see that those APC members are those that are not in agreement with them. So, it does not still answer the question that you are putting only the opposition in the list.”

Buhari Declares For Second Term

Buhari Declares For Second Term

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday told the National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he will be seeking the party nomination to fly the party flag in the 2019 presidential election.

The party NEC also approved waiver for members of the National Working Committee and other leaders across all levels wishing to contest party offices as part of soft landing measure for those willing to contest.

Plateau state governor, Simon Lalong who briefed the media at the end of the party’s shortest NEC meeting ever that the President informed the meeting that in view of the resolution of the tenure elongation issue and the adoption of the report of the Technical Committee, he will be seeking nomination for re-election.

The NEC meeting which started with the arrival of the President at about 11.02 and the introduction of members present ended at about 11.55 am when the President departed the APC national secretariat.
Lalong said the NEC meeting also approved a waiver for members of the leadership from the ward level to the national level to contest in line with the recommendation of the technical committee report.

Lalong who addressed the media alongside the National Publicity Secretary said the recommendation of the technical committee was unanimously adopted by the meeting.

Lalong said “We were given a task to work within a short time. Within that time, we considered those who were for and against. We looked at the issue extensively and did wilder consultations and arrived at a point where we considered not only the legal point, but also the political options available.

“That is why we came to the point that, if we are going to conduct that election within the time available, then the concern shown by other members on the issue of disenfranchisement and allowing others to contest was very genuine. We also considered the opinion of the President and we arrived at the point that it is constitutionally valid to conduct congresses.

“We also decided that if, in conducting the elections, certain conditions are not going to be fulfilled, it means that some people will be disenfranchised. We spoke about the 21 days’ notice and the fulfillment of article 31.

“If we are going to comply with this, the constitution require that certain weavers should be granted to those who are crying that they will be disenfranchised. We came to the conclusion that if these provisions are taken care of, then there was no need for anybody to say there should be no congress.

“Our conclusion is that we must conduct congresses. We looked at the second aspect of the legality of the action and we said that in every constitution and the election of the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, we are not saints, we are not angels.

“It is assumed that in the course of doing things, there may be unforeseen circumstances that will stop you or you reached a brick wall and therefore fail to conclude the exercise. That was the option that was made by the party, in creating an opportunity for there to be an option for you when you get that brickwall. So, we married the two position.

“So, conducting the congresses will also create an opportunity for even those who are not yet members of the party or who have come to the party, but not yet registered because the constitution provide that you must be a registered member of the party and that for you to vote and be noted for, you must be a card carrying member.

There was also the issue of reconciliation.

“With this, the constitutional notices are being provided and we will work within this short period. That is why we concluded that everybody be carried along and everybody’s interest protected in this report. It was a unanimous decision to adopt the recommendations that was made to a point that the President felt so happy and excited and said that because of this reunion and unity in the party, he will now consider and also accept the appeal by several members of the society and the party that he recontest and he accepted to recontest. So, he is going to recontest for the position of the President of the federal republic of Nigeria.”

Article 31 1 (Iii) of the APC constitution states that “Any Party office holder interested in contesting for an elective office (whether party office or office in a general election) shall resign and leave office 30 days prior to the date of nomination or Party primary for the Office he or she is seeking to contest”, while article 31(2) states that “Subject to the approval of the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee may in special circumstances grant a waiver to a person not otherwise qualified under Article 31(1) of this Constitution if, in its opinion, such a waiver is in the best interest of the Party.”

Also speaking, National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said members were leaving the meeting with smiles because it has been a win win situation for all members of the party, adding that those who thought the party will start breaking up after the NEC meeting were disappointed.

Abdullahi said “This is the shortest NEC meeting that we have had. This is because the challenge before us has been clear all along and that what we want is a win win situation for all and that is the work that the committee had done, to find a mid-course that will take care of the interest of everyone.

“Those who have been clamouring that we must have congresses and that who were afraid that if we have congresses, they will be swept away. The committee recommendation has taken care of both; that you must do congresses and that the requirement of the law that you must resign 30 days before you can contest will have to be waived.

“In essence, you don’t have to resign before you can contest. That way, the matter has been resolved and as far as APC is concerned, the storm that everyone was expecting to happen did not happen and the collapse that people were expecting to start from this NEC meeting today did not happen.

“So we are leaving the NEC meeting reunited and strong family of progressive politics in Nigeria. We are also happy and you can see that our countenance has changed and we are happy that Mr. President has accepted and has announced his wish to recontest in 2019.”

Governors present include Ibikunle Amosu (Ogun), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Jubrilla Bindo (Adamawa), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (Kano), Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Deputy Governor of Edo state, Phillip Shuaibu, Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo).

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, House leader, Femi Gbajabiamila among others.

Muslim lawyers reject new FCT court dress code

Muslim lawyers reject new FCT court dress code

The Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria has rejected the new directive given by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on how lawyers should dress.

According to MULAN, the FCT High Court had in a press release on March 28, 2018 “prohibited the use of any apparel underneath wigs by lawyers and by extension the hijab by female Muslim lawyers.”

But in a communiqué generated at the end of its National Executive Committee meeting in Benin, Edo State, on April 3, 2018, MULAN rejected the directive, describing it as “unfortunate, draconian, illegal, unconstitutional and unlawful.”

In the said communiqués signed by its President, Dr. Kamal Dawud, the body contended that the directive by the FCT High Court was at variance with Section 38 of the constitution, which guarantees citizens’ right to manifest their religion.

It added that the court’s decision was “contrary to the 2004 resolution of the Body of Benchers which allows female Law School students and legal practitioners to use head cover underneath their wigs.”

“MULAN NEC condemns the directive in the press release in the strongest term and urges the FCT High Court to reverse its decision contained in the press release forthwith, ”the communiqué said.

The body of Muslim lawyers described as needless the furor generated in the legal circles over the case of Firdausa Al-Jannah Amasa, who was barred from the call to Bar ceremony for wearing hijab.

It insisted that there was no law prohibiting the use of hijab, adding that Section 38 of the constitution, which guarantees the right of individuals to manifest their religious beliefs, had “enjoyed several judicial interpretations by superior courts to the effect that this right is inalienable provided it does not go against public interest.”

“The use of Hijab in public institutions, in particular, has enjoyed affirmative judicial interpretation. For this reason, MULAN NEC wonders why this issue is generating this avoidable furor especially in the echelon of justice,” it said.

The body of Muslim lawyers, however, said it had finally resolved “to design a hijab-compliant collaret with bib for use by Muslim female legal practitioners so as to conform to the tradition of the legal profession in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, the body said it had yet to endorse any presidential candidate for the 2018 Nigerian Bar Association national election.

Fed Govt to deregister NGOs over terrorism, money laundering

Fed Govt to deregister NGOs over terrorism, money laundering

The Federal Government has begun the profiling of Non-Governmental organisations (NGOs) with the intention of deregistering those involved in questionable activities.

It was learnt that the measure was aimed at curbing money laundering and terrorist financing,
The profiling activities presently being carried out by the Special Control Unit on Money Laundering (SCUML), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) is in compliance with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendation.

The FATF recommendation requires countries to adopt necessary measures to prevent the use of NGOs for nefarious activities.

NFIU’s Director Francis Usani, who broke the news in Abuja yesterday, said the need to profile and review activities of NGOs were informed by the realisation that the groups have become “veritable tools to launder money and finance terrorism”.

Usani said the government was also exploring other options, including sensitising NGOs on their obligations to ensure they do not unwittingly yield themselves to terrorists and other criminals.

The NFIU Director spoke at a “regional workshop on the development of effective frameworks and structure to fight terrorist financing/money laundering through non-profit organisations (NPOs)”.

It was organised by the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).

“It is obvious that Designated Non-Financial Business or Profession (DNFBP) and particularly NPOs pose a major challenge in our respective Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) culture, and this challenge has been identified in our various national risk assessments.

“There are case studies in Nigeria and in the West African sub-region and globally too, where NPOs have been used as veritable tools to launder money and finance terrorism,” Usani said.

He added that the realisation of this fact informed why FATF, under its Recommendation 8, directed that countries should review the adequacy of laws and regulations that relate to NPOs/NGOs that could be abused for the financing of terrorism.

GIABA’s Director General Kimelabalou Aba said the workshop was to educate players in the NPOs and a measure to protect NPOs against abuses because their extended logistical networks, large transitory workforces, cash-intensive nature of operations now make them highly vulnerable to terrorist financing.

Mrs. Stella Maduka of the Federal Ministry of Finance blamed the growing unemployment rate globally for the increasing in terrorist activities.

Facebook says data leak hits 87m users, widening privacy scandal

Facebook says data leak hits 87m users, widening privacy scandal

Facebook Inc (FB.O) said on Wednesday that the personal information of up to 87 million users may have been improperly shared with political consultancy Cambridge Analytica.

This number is up from a previous news media estimate of more than 50 million.

Most of the 87 million people whose data was shared with Cambridge Analytica, were in the United States, Facebook Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer wrote in a blog post.

Cambridge Analytica worked on U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign.

Facebook said it was taking steps to restrict the personal data available to third-party app developers.

The world’s largest-social-media company has been hammered by investors and faces anger from users, advertisers and lawmakers after a series of scandals about fake-news stories, election-meddling and privacy.
Last month, Facebook acknowledged that personal information about millions of users wrongly ended up in the hands of Cambridge Analytica.

Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg will testify about the matter next week before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, the panel said on Wednesday.

Shares in Facebook were down 1.4 per cent on Wednesday to 153.90 dollars . They are down more than 16 percent since the Cambridge Analytica scandal broke.

The previous estimate of more than 50 million Facebook users affected by the data leak came from two newspapers, the New York Times and London’s Observer, based on their investigations of Cambridge Analytica.

Schroepfer did not provide details of how Facebook came to determine its higher estimate.

However, he said Facebook would tell people if their information may have been improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica.

A representative from Cambridge Analytica could not immediately be reached for comment.

The British-based consultancy has denied wrongdoing.

It says it engaged a university professor “in good faith” to collect Facebook data in a manner similar to how other third-party app developers have harvested personal information.

The scandal has kicked off investigations by Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and by some 37 U.S. state attorneys general.