Nigerian Eye

President Buhari must resign from office as a birthday gift to Nigerians - Fani-Kayode

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Former aviation minister and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to resign from office as a birthday gift to Nigerians. 
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Fani-Kayode who called for Buhari’s resignation in a tweet on Saturday described the president as a disaster to the country. 
 
While congratulating the president on his 75th birthday which comes up tomorrow, Fani-Kayode said he disagreed with him on everything ”and I deplore his agenda and ways.” 
 
Read Fani-Kayode’s tweet below: 
 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">”I congratulate @MBuhari on his 75th birthday even though I disagree with him on virtually everything and I deplore his agenda and ways. I believe that he has been a disaster as Pres. and that the best birthday gift he can give the Nigerian people is his resignation letter.”</blockquote>
 
Fani-Kayode who is facing trial for money laundering was also the former Director of Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation.

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Former aviation minister and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, has asked President Muhammadu Buhar...

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PDP rebranding itself with stolen arms money – Lai Mohammed

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The Federal Government last night justified the approval by the National Economic Council of $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account for the fight against insecurity even as it, for the first time gave reasons for its assertion that the Boko Haram insurgency has been defeated. 
 
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The Federal Government’s claims conveyed by the minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed during an exclusive interview came as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and some other political stakeholders faulted the resolution of the NEC on the drawing of the money. The PDP in its reaction had alleged that it was unnecessary for the Federal Government to get $1 billion to fight a war the government had in the past claimed to have won. The PDP in its reaction articulated by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan had also alleged that the funds were some surreptitious purposes claiming that the era of lies and propaganda were over. 
 
The claims of the PDP were further articulated by leading human rights lawyer, Barrister Mike Ozekhome who said that lies have an expiry date and also by Senator Mao Ohabunwa, PDP Abia North who faulted the decision by NEC saying that only the National Assembly could release money for the Federal Government. The All Progressives Congress, APC National Publicity Secretary could not be reached as he did not pick calls to his registered phone line. Mohammed in his reaction blamed the PDP alleging that the PDP is now rebranding itself with the stolen money that was originally meant to fight Boko Haram noting that in one day, “the PDP under Jonathan in one day distributed $269 million cash and N100 billion which was supposed to be money meant to fight Boko Haram.” Saying that the PDP does not know when to keep quiet, he said: “the sad thing about PDP is that they do not know when not to talk. If they were smart they would know when not to talk,” Mohammed said. 
 
He further stated... 
 
“If not for their rapacious corruption Boko Haram would not have metamorphosed into the monster that it became before we came in. If only they had approached governance with honesty transparency, and sense of purpose Boko Haram would not have raged between 2009 and 2015, it was their inept handling of Boko Haram and their corruption that put us in this mess. “They seem not to understand that the biggest challenge to any government and the primary responsibility of any government is law and order and security. It is because of the fact that we have been able to contain Boko Haram that they were able to hold their national convention in Abuja. 
 
“During their time they were not able to celebrate the National Day openly. Under their watch, Boko Haram not only occupied 27 local governments in Borno State, but was also active in almost ten states. Not that alone, they used to stroll to the federal capital, and three times they went to bomb the United Nations, the Police headquarters and under their watch, the Thisday newspaper was bombed and under their watch, about 200 Chibok girls were abducted.” Defending the December 2015 declaration by the Federal Government that Boko Haram had been defeated, Mohammed said: 
 
“Why do we say that we have decimated Boko Haram? It is not propaganda. Since we came in 30 months, there has been no single bomb explosion in the Federal Capital, and that is not a mean feat! It is because they don’t understand what security means, they don’t even understand what terrorism means,” he added. “It does not lie in the mouth of the PDP to even criticise the government, and it was their corruption that led us to where we are today. They are spending the same money which they stole, and they are using the money to rebrand themselves, they have no moral justification whatsoever,” the minister fumed yesterday. 
 
The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ologbondiyan, said the party was alarmed by the subtle plot by the ruling APC administration to secure approvals without recourse to due process, and for purposes of fighting the same insurgents, it earlier claimed to have defeated. “The PDP wondered why the APC-led federal government had to recourse to the National Economic Council (NEC) while avoiding the direct constitutional appropriation channel of the National Assembly for funding of items already provided for in the federal budget if it actually has nothing to hide. “The PDP supports the fight against insurgency. 
 
We hold our officers and men confronting the terrorists and securing our territorial integrity in high esteem, but we are concerned about the manipulative tendencies connected with the approvals as well as the veracity of claimed purpose of the fund,” the statement read in part. While urging the APC-led government to avail Nigerians more information about the intended use of the funds, the party said “Nigerians would recall that the federal government had claimed that it has since defeated the insurgents. If it would take a billion dollar from a nation’s savings to kill what they long claimed dead, then we challenge the APC government to come clean and tell Nigerians the whole truth. 
 
“The era of lies and propaganda is long gone, and Nigerians now know the truth. The federal government must be held accountable and stopped from any move to fritter away our national savings,” even as it called on “The National Assembly to interrogate this proposed disbursement and subject it to a thorough but rapid interrogation.” The party further enjoined the Buhari administration to tender an unreserved apology to Nigerians, saying “By accepting the $1bn for fighting insurgency, the APC-led federal government has admitted that it lied when it announced that it had defeated the insurgents. 
 
They should, therefore, apologize to Nigerians for giving them a false sense of security, resulting in their vulnerability to attacks by terrorists.” The party vowed to inflict heavy defeat on the ruling party come 2019, noting that Nigerians are waiting earnestly for the next general election to make their decision. 
 
Chief Ozekhome on his part said: “My take on this is that lies have expiry date, and when that date comes, the truth will overtake lies. This government demonised the government of Goodluck Jonathan as having failed to degrade Boko Haram, whereas Boko Haram was so degraded that elections held peacefully in the entire six States of the North East. The height of this alleged non- defeat of the Boko Haram is one of the major planks on which they won the elections. “Now, the same government is suddenly asking for $1 billion which is about N365 billion, enough for one of the States in Nigeria, to fight the same Boko Haram. “There are two scenarios here: One, the government has been lying that Boko Haram has been degraded because we have all seen in the last one and half year that Boko Haram has become more vicious, more potent, more daring and more courageous. 
 
“Secondly, money is being quietly taken to prepare for 2019 elections using Boko Haram as an alibi.” Senator Ohabunwa on his part flayed the NEC saying the action was illegal. He said, “Only the National Assembly can appropriate funds for the Federal government. The National Executive Council NEC has no such powers; any money that is not appropriated as prescribed by the act of the National Assembly is illegal.” On his part, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, APC, Kaduna North who noted that no amount to fight would be too much said: “Insurgency in Nigeria is a national calamity. It has cost the nation time, lives and unquantifiable resources. 
 
Any amount to be voted to fight it and remedy our polity of that insecurity is justified. Senator Hunkuyi, however, took issues with the denomination of the currency used in the withdrawal. “The method of funding or sources of funding is yet another issue. It must be stated that the official currency of budget and expenditure in Nigeria is and remains the Nigerian currency which is the Naira. 
 
“While I am not yet in full picture of the source of the funds or areas of expenditure for the funds to cover, I await to be better informed on the sources of funding before making further comments.”

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Nigerian Air Force kill many Boko Haram members in fresh air strikes

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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) announced yesterday that it had carried out more air strikes against Boko Haram terrorists in the Sambisa general area in Borno State, killing scores of them and destroying their structures and hideouts in the process. 
 
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The bombardment of the insurgents were said to have been conducted with four fighter jets and two helicopters after series of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissannce (ISR) missions had been carried out on the target areas. 
 
According to the Director of Public Relations and Information of NAF, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole carried out the strikes in an operation code-named operation Ruwan Wuta III. 
 
He explained in a statement supported with a declassified video footage that “on 12 Dec 17, the Air Task Force of OP LAFIYA DOLE commenced an intensive bombardment of the hideouts of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) in Northern BORNO and the SAMBISA general area in an operation codenamed Operation RUWAN WUTA 3. 
 
“On the first day of the Operation, an air interdiction mission was conducted on a BHT hideout in KOLARAM, which is 37km East of MONGUNO.” 
 
According to AVM Adesanya “Previous Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions by Nigerian Air Force (NAF) platforms had revealed KOLARAM to be an active BHT location from where the terrorists had launched attacks on our surface forces in Northern BORNO. 
 
“Accordingly, 2 NAF helicopters were detailed for a pre-dawn attack on the settlement, followed by another wave of attacks from 4 fighter aircraft. 
 
“Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) showed that several structures were destroyed, causing fire within the settlement while some insurgents were killed in the process. 
 
“On the same day, one NAF helicopter and some fighter aircraft attacked an adjoining settlement Southeast of KOLARAM, targeting structures that had been observed to host significant BHT activities. The targeted BHT structures were destroyed and engulfed in fire, killing the terrorists hiding in them. 
 
“During the attacks on KOLARAM and Southeast of KOLARAM, some escaping insurgents were tracked as they fled northwards to JUBILARAM, which is 38km Northeast of MONGUNO. 
 
“ Accordingly, another wave of air interdiction was launched on the location, which was also found to be active with BHT activities. Four NAF fighter aircraft took turns to attack structures occupied by BHT elements in the settlement. 
 
“Subsequent BDA revealed that the attacks resulted in a large part of the settlement being engulfed in fire, thereby destroying the BHTs structures and neutralising the fleeing BHTs,” AVM Adesanya stated.

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Nigerian jailed in Vietnam for import scam

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A Southern Vietnam court has sentenced a Nigerian to 18 years in prison over a fake customs enforcement scam,state media reported yesterday. 
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Michael Ikechukwu Leonard, 45, was convicted on Thursday of “deceiving others to steal their assets” in a scam which targeted wealthy Vietnamese women. 
 
The court in Can Tho city determined that Leonard gained his victims’ trust on messaging apps, using various alter egos, including a U.S. army officer. 
 
The convict was said to have promised to send his victims valuable presents, including laptops and jewellery from the U.S. 
 
Local accomplices, Huynh Ha Binh, Huynh Ha Uyen and Nguyen Tran Quynh Nhi would then contact the women, claiming to be customs agents and demand fees or fines for the non-existent shipments. 
 
They successfully conned a woman in Can Tho out of 28,500 dollars, leading to their arrest. 
 
It is unclear how many women were duped by the gang in total. 
 
Leonard’s accomplices received sentences ranging from 12 to 15 years.

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One soldier has been sentenced to death while others are to serve various jail terms following a judgment delivered yesterday by the General Court Martial of 7 Division Nigeria Army sitting in Maiduguri, Borno State. 
 
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The trial followed investigation into alleged human rights abuse by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole on members of the public. 
 
Delivering his judgments, the President of the Court Martial, Brigadier General Gbenga Olusegun Adesina, explained that the offences were contrary to Nigerian Army’s Rules of Engagement (ROE) as well as Nigerian Laws and Geneva Conventions which Nigeria is signatory to, stressing that “ the Nigerian Army, as a professional army, holds these laws in high esteem.” 
 
Lance Corporal John Godwin who is to face execution, was charged with murder, punishable under Section 106 (a) of Armed Forces Acts (Cap A20), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004, for killing five rescued civilians in Yamteke town of Borno State in November, 2015. 
 
The court availed that the civilians were earlier rescued by troops of the soldier’s battalion and were taken for investigation when Cpl John Godwin shot five to death. 
 
The deceased, according to him, include Saleh Bello, Ibrahim Bello, Abba Ali, Abubakar Musa and Isa Garba aged between 17 and 22. 
 
“Godwin has run afoul of human rights violations and the rules of engagement while fighting Boko Haram. You’re guilty of murder as charged before this court martial and sentenced you to death,” said Adesina. 
 
The courts also slammed jail sentences on other soldiers for various offences, including manslaughter and illegal possession of fire arms and ammunition. 
 
Sergeant Innocent Ototo, bagged life imprisonment on charge of manslaughter after he allegedly tortured and killed a 13-year-old boy, Yakubu Isa, whom he alleged stole his phone. The incident happened at Zamanbari area of Maiduguri metropolis in Borno State. 
 
Two other soldiers, Lance Corporal Benjamin Osage and Private Sunday Onwe, were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment each for offences bordering on manslaughter and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. 
 
“Sunday Awe, a private soldier attached to 112 Task Force Battalion, Mafa in Borno State, was also sentenced to 20 months imprisonment for unlawful prossession of 1, 339 rounds of ammunition,” Brig. Gen. Adesina said. 
 
He added that Private Bitrus Yunana and Lance Corporal Ayuba Jonathan were also sentenced to five years jail term each for unlawful possession of 925 and 450 rounds of ammunition on August 2, 2016. 
 
He said, however, that the death and imprisonment sentences were subject to the confirmation of sections 141, paragraph two and 152 of paragraph 1 of the Armed Forces Act. 
 
The court martial was adjourned to January 11, 2018.

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REVEALED: Why ex-Senate President David Mark was arrested, quizzed

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There were revelations yesterday on why former Senate President, Senator David Mark, was arrested and quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC). 
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A source in Mark’s camp told our correspondent that the EFCC wanted the former Senate President to account for the campaign cash sent to Benue State by the campaign team of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the build-up to the 2015 presidential election. 
 
But the source said that EFCC was merely chasing shadows because Mark was never a part of ex-President Jonathan’s campaign team. 
 
“EFCC is chasing shadows, all the allegations border on sheer politics because 2019 poll is around the corner,” the source said yesterday. 
 
It added: “They asked Mark to account for campaign cash sent to Benue State when Oga (Mark) was not part of ex-President’s Jonathan’s campaign team. 
 
“In fact, the campaign team in Benue State was coordinated by ex-Governor Gabriel Suswam. The former Senate President was kept in the dark. 
 
“Oga was sidelined during Jonathan’s campaign and there is no way he can account for what he did not know about.” 
 
While Mark’s camp believes that his arrest by the EFCC had political undertone, a source said the former Senate President may issue a formal statement today (Saturday) on what transpired between him and the EFCC. 
 
It was learnt yesterday that the EFCC had raised a new team to grill the former Senate President on Monday on the alleged campaign cash suspected to have been sourced from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). 
 
A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Barring any last-minute change of schedule, the ex-President of the Senate has been advised to return to the EFCC on Monday for a comprehensive grilling. 
 
 
 
 
 
“A team of detectives has been raised to interrogate him. After the session on Monday, the EFCC will then release the details on why Mark was invited. 
 
“So far, we don’t want to take any action which may jeopardise ongoing investigation of the ex-President of the Senate.” 
 
Offering an insight into what transpired between Mark and EFCC officials before he was granted administrative bail on Thursday, a source in Mark’s camp said: “One online medium is talking of money shared to Senators. But when Oga was confronted, he said he had no knowledge of the amount in question. 
 
“He asked the EFCC operatives to show any evidence linking him with the sharing of any cash. These operatives could not produce a sheet of the beneficiaries of the so-called funds. 
 
“Mark has not shown interest in any office in 2019 and they have started hounding him. It is really unfortunate.” 
 
Asked of the next step, the source added: “The ex-President of the Senate may issue an official statement on Saturday (today).” 
 
Meanwhile, the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu has promised to launch in-depth investigation into the cases of corruption reported by the ECOWAS Commission President, Marcel de Souza. 
 
A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC said Magu made the disclosure during a visit the ECOWAS President paid him. 
 
Magu said: “I am happy to see you here. I assure you that we will launch investigation into the activities in the Commission (ECOWAS), and we will soon sanitise it. 
 
“We have a strategy to unravel any fraudulent activity. We will partner with you to bring corrupt elements within the system to justice.” 
 
The President of the ECOWAS Commission however commended the EFCC for its resolve in tackling corruption in Nigeria. 
 
He said the agency “compares with similar bodies in the West for its efficiency and effectiveness.” 
 
He added: “We are here to appreciate the great job EFCC is doing in fighting corruption and to see how the agency can help us investigate some cases of internal corruption within the ECOWAS Commission.” 
 
While commending President Buhari for making the fight against corruption a cardinal focus of his government, Souza said that “there is no gainsaying that the efforts of the present administration in redeeming the image of Nigeria in the international community are yielding positive results.”+

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President Buhari will be 75 on Sunday

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President Muhammadu Buhari clocks 75 on Sunday. He was born on December 17, 1942 in Daura, Katsina State. 
 
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If President Buhari contests the 2019 presidential election and wins, he will be the oldest president Nigeria has ever had at 77 years. This means he will rule the country till he is 81. 
 
Already, his successes in the fight against corruption and insecurity are the subjects of debate everyday. 
 
He will also be facing a stiff competition from the PDP who are desperate to regain the power they lost in 2015.

Latest-News President Buhari will be 75 on Sunday

President Muhammadu Buhari clocks 75 on Sunday. He was born on December 17, 1942 in Daura, Katsina State. If President Buhari contest...

Nigerians disagree with Buhari over $1 Billion to fight terrorism

22:12 Unknown 0

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Several Nigerians have taken to social media to register their disaffection with the planned withdrawal of a whopping $1b dollars from the Excess Crude Account to fight the Boko Haram insurgents it claimed it technically defeated last year. 
 
Read some Tweets below... 
 
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<div class="storify"><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="no" height="750" src="//storify.com/gurulove/nigerians-react-to-fg-s-planned-withdrawal-of-from/embed" width="100%"></iframe><script src="//storify.com/gurulove/nigerians-react-to-fg-s-planned-withdrawal-of-from.js" type="text/javascript">
</script><noscript>[<a href="//storify.com/gurulove/nigerians-react-to-fg-s-planned-withdrawal-of-from" target="_blank">View the story " Nigerians react to FG's planned withdrawal of $1b from Excess Crude Account to fight defeated Boko Haram" on Storify</a>]</noscript></div>
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Latest-News Nigerians disagree with Buhari over $1 Billion to fight terrorism

Several Nigerians have taken to social media to register their disaffection with the planned withdrawal of a whopping $1b dollars from th...

IT'S NEVER LATE: Obasanjo bags PhD in Christian Theology

20:47 Unknown 0

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday bagged the award of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Christian Theology from the Department of Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts of the National Open University of Nigeria(NOUN), Abeokuta Study Centre, Ogun State. 
 
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Obasanjo was pronounced worthy and competent for the award after 163 minutes robust defence of his voluminous thesis before a six – man panel. Obasanjo’s PhD Thesis is titled: “Resolving the Unfinished Agenda in Liberation Theology: Leadership, Poverty and Underdevelopment in North Eastern Nigeria.” 
 
The ex- President whose matriculation number reads NOU 146058901, submitted the thesis to his department as part of the requirements for the award of a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Christian Theology. Vanguard gathered that,the panelists are Prof. Deji Ayegboyin(Major Supervisor), Dr. Mustapha Raheem Adejoro,( Head of Department, Religious Studies,NOUN), Prof. Nebath Tanglang(School of Postgraduate Studies, NOUN), Dr. Samaila Mande(Dean, Postgraduate School,NOUN), Prof. Godwin Akper (Internal Supervisor and Dean, Faculty of Arts,NOUN) and Prof. Cletus Gotan(External Supervisor). 
 
Asked by Dr. Samaila Mande, who chaired the panel, to justify in a nutshell why he should be awarded a PhD degree of the institution, Obasanjo said he had put in “enough study” and “intellectual rigours” to produce his work based on diligent guide and supervision from his teachers and supervisors. 
 
And speaking on behalf of the Panel at the end of the final defence, Dr. Mande said the Obasanjo has satisfied the requirements and thus qualified for the award of Doctor of Philosophy degree in Christian Theology of NOUN. Mande said it was a thing joy to him as the ex – President happened to be one of the pioneer students to bag PhD in Christian Theology under his management, expressing the confidence that the feat would be well celebrated during the NOUN convocations.

Latest-News IT'S NEVER LATE: Obasanjo bags PhD in Christian Theology

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday bagged the award of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Christian Theology from the Department of R...

‘I don’t run family government ‘ - Governor Okorocha

20:47 Unknown 0

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Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, has said that he does not run family government as alleged by some elites in the state. 
 
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He said that those behind the allegation have missed the point. 
 
According to him, “more than 4,000 children had gone to University through Rochas Foundation and more than 15,000 of such children are also in the various colleges of the Foundation”. 
 
He continued that, “when some of them graduate, they chose to be with me and I cannot afford to say no to them and if any of such children becomes anything under me they would say he or she is a member of Rochas Family” 
 
He however said that he does not deny that since his ambition in life is to see people grow through him. 
 
Governor Okorocha spoke when more than five thousand members of the ROCHAS MANDATE MOVEMENT held solidarity rally in his honour him in Owerri. 
 
Okorocha stated further that “those who never offered the people of the state leadership when they held sway but only shared the people’s resources would never come back to power in the state”. 
 
He said stressed that “Uche Nwosu (his son in-law) who is from Nkwerre Local Government Area and Prince Eze Madumere, from Mbaitoli LGA are all counted today members of my family because they have grown to prominence”, adding that “but when they took those steps of faith no one counted them as members of my family”. 
 
The governor noted that he has done the state and her people proud with his monumental achievements. 
 
The Imo governor also reiterated that he would neither run for Senate nor for the President in 2019, but would be keen in who succeeds him and who can sustain the tempo of the achievements recorded by his administration. 
 
His words, “The people I see here are people who are committed. People that are following me not because of what they could gain from me, but because of what we have done for the world. As it stands, come 2019, I’m contesting for nothing. But in my heart, I have searched out and resolved that one man has good thoughts about Nigeria in his heart. Secondly, the possibility of leadership will easily get to the Igbos after him. That man is President Muhammadu Buhari”. 
 
He added “My coming as a leader in Imo State was by your efforts. No big political bigwig supported me and in my stride, I have brought sitting Heads of states of other countries to Imo State”. 
 
In her speech, the Coordinator of the group and Supervisory Commissioner for the Ministry of Happiness and Purpose Fulfillment Mrs. Ogechi Ololo, said the Movement will be poised to insure that someone with the passion to develop the state like the governor will govern the state in 2019, adding that Imo People will not afford to cock and bull stories with Free Education, Urban Renewal and so on.

Latest-News ‘I don’t run family government ‘ - Governor Okorocha

Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, has said that he does not run family government as alleged by some elites in the state. He said t...

FIFA threatens to ban Spain from 2018 World Cup

20:22 Unknown 0

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The governing body of world football confirmed on Friday that it has written to the Spanish federation (RFEF) warning they could be suspended form the 2018 World Cup because of political interference. 
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Earlier in the day Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Spain had received “no such letter from FIFA.” 
 
The issue centres on the RFEF presidency. Angel Maria Villar, who was also a senior FIFA and UEFA official, resigned after being arrested in July on suspicion of embezzling funds. Villar was replaced, on an interim basis, by Juan Luis Larrea, another long-time football administrator. 
 
Even though he is only a stand-in, Larrea has made clear he wants to see out Villar’s term, which was due to end in 2020. The Spanish National Sports Agency (CSD) has objected and that prompted FIFA’s warning, reported on Friday by the daily El Pais. 
 
“We can confirm that FIFA recently sent a letter to the Spanish FA (RFEF) expressing its concern at the current situation in the association and reiterating that, under the FIFA Statutes, all member associations must manage their affairs independently and ensure that there is no interference by third parties in internal matters,” said a FIFA statement. 
 
“FIFA is in contact with the RFEF, and a joint FIFA-UEFA delegation will be sent to Madrid shortly to monitor and assess the situation in the association,” the statement continued. 
 
The RFEF and the Spanish government insisted on Friday that Spain would go to the World Cup in Russia. 
 
“I just can’t see that scenario,” Rajoy said at a press conference in Brussels. “I am absolutely convinced Spain will go to the World Cup, and will win.” 
 
Rajoy said Spain’s sports minister had told him the Spanish authorities had “received no official communication from FIFA but only a letter from a member of FIFA requesting a meeting.” He said his government’s attitude was “exemplary.” 
 
Villar was re-elected for an eighth term as president last May. He had run the RFEF for 29 years until his arrest on suspicion of creating a network of corruption in Spanish football. 
 
Last month, Luis Rubiales, the former head of the players’ union and an ally of Villar’s put forward a motion of censure against Larrea with the objective of becoming president himself. That motion is scheduled for a vote on January 16. 
 
At the same time, the Spanish cabinet, acting on requests from the CSD, demanded fresh RFEF elections because of irregularities in the vote last May. FIFA sees this as external political interference. 
 
AFP

Latest-News FIFA threatens to ban Spain from 2018 World Cup

The governing body of world football confirmed on Friday that it has written to the Spanish federation (RFEF) warning they could be suspe...

Nigerian musician, Burnaboy arrested for alleged robbery

20:22 Unknown 0

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Nigerian artiste, Damini Ogulu popularly known as ‘Burna Boy’, on Friday submitted himself to the Lagos State Police Command over his alleged role in a robbery attack on a fellow artiste, Mr. 2kay. 
 
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The Command’s spokesperson, SP Chike Oti, in a statement said the ‘Soke’ crooner was “subsequently arrested, interrogated and detained and is expected to be charged to court on Monday alongside four of members of the gang earlier arrested”. 
 
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal, after the interrogation, said the State Police Command has zero tolerance for all forms of crime and would not hesitate to prosecute anyone found culpable in any criminal offence perpetrated in the State. 
 
“There would be no sacred cows. This Command is poised to ensure that every resident can feel safe wherever they are and carry out their businesses without fear or favour. Anyone, therefore, found to be involved in this case would be made to face the law to clear his or her name or face prosecution,” the statement quoted Imohimi as saying. 
 
The pop musician, who was declared wanted by the Lagos Police Command in connection with the robbery attack on another popular musician, Mr. 2kay at Eko Hotel and Suites early last month, reported to the Command headquarters in Ikeja at about 5pm. 
 
Tunmise Omotore, gang leader of the suspected robbers, had confessed on how they disguised as room service to rob Mr. 2kay at Eko Hotel and Suites on the instruction of Burba Boy’s Road Manager, Joel Kantiock.

Latest-News Nigerian musician, Burnaboy arrested for alleged robbery

Nigerian artiste, Damini Ogulu popularly known as ‘Burna Boy’, on Friday submitted himself to the Lagos State Police Command over his al...

Nigeria needs its troops back – Buhari tells Guinea Bissau

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Latest-News Nigeria needs its troops back – Buhari tells Guinea Bissau

PHOTOS: Buhari receives ECOWAS commission boss in Abuja

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday received the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Marcel A. de Souza, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. 
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Latest-News PHOTOS: Buhari receives ECOWAS commission boss in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday received the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Marcel A. de Souza, at the Presidential Villa, Abuj...

Excess Crude Account: SERAP, CSOs flay NEC for $1bn approval to fight Boko Haram

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The National Economic Council, on Thursday, asked the Federal Government to withdraw $1bn from the $2.3bn currently in the Excess Crude Account and use it to fight insurgency in the North-East. 
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The decision was taken at a meeting of the council presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. 
 
The council chaired by the Vice-President has all state governors as members. 
 
Some civil society groups and analysts, however, faulted the move by the Federal Government on the basis that past allocations to defence and the anti-terrorism operations had yet to be judiciously accounted for. 
 
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, disclosed the decision of NEC to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting. 
 
Obaseki said council members expected that the money would be spent on the purchase of security equipment, procurement of intelligence and logistics, among others. 
 
He said the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, announced the governors’ decision at the meeting. 
 
The governor stated, “The NEC also resolved through the Chairman of the NGF to support the effort of the Federal Government in the area of security. 
 
“Pleased with the achievements that have been made till date in the fight against insurgency, particularly in the North-East, the governors of Nigeria, through their chairman, announced at the NEC meeting that the governors have given permission to the Federal Government to spend the sum of $1bn on the fight against insurgency. 
 
“This money is supposed to be taken from the Excess Crude Account. 
 
“As you know, the issue of security, particularly as regards the North-East, is a very comprehensive response by federal forces. So, we expect that the contribution of the states to these efforts will cover the whole array of activities required to secure the country and counter-insurgency. 
 
“We expect that the amount will include but not limited to the purchase of equipment, procuring intelligence and logistics and all things required to ensure that we finally put an end to the scourge of insurgence.” 
 
Towards the end of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, the Federal Government requested and got approval from the National Assembly for a loan of $1bn to fight the Boko Haram menace. 
 
No explanation has been given on how the money was expended to date. 
 
FG threatens to stop budget support facility to defaulting states 
 
Meanwhile, Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, said the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, gave an update on the budget support loan granted to states by the Federal Government. 
 
The governor quoted the minister as complaining that most states had failed to meet certain conditions for the loan as earlier agreed. 
 
He further quoted the minister as saying that the Federal Government would not hesitate to stop giving the support to defaulting states. 
 
Dankwambo added, “The Minister of Finance informed council that the budget support facility to states is also based on certain conditions as agreed under the fiscal responsibility plan. 
 
“She complained that most states are yet to comply, adding that non-compliance will make her ministry stop any further payment to states that do not comply.” 
 
The governor added that the council received the update report on the forensic audit of revenue that accrued into the federation account up to 2015. 
 
He said as a follow-up to the report that was submitted last month, the council was informed that KPMG was still conducting the audit of the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Communications Commission. 
 
Dankwambo also quoted  the Accountant General of the Federation as putting the balance in the Natural Resources Development Fund Account as of December 13 at N106.984bn. 
 
The balance in the Excess Crude Account was also put at $2.317bn while that of the Stabilisation Fund Account was put at N7.78bn. 
 
But civil societies have lambasted NEC for planning to take $1bn from the ECA to fight terrorism, noting that earlier funds expended to fight Boko Haram had yet to be accounted for. 
 
The President, Campaign for Democracy, Usman Abdul, said, “This is what happens when you have leaders who are not thinkers. They cannot think outside the box. We are bound to be faced with such challenges. 
 
“The military have come out to say that Boko Haram was technically defeated and Camp Zero was captured. I don’t see then any rationale behind dipping our hands into our excess crude account. 
 
“These are the proceeds of our generality and we have other presidential sources of revenue going into the North-East. What is the Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiative doing? The political leaders are rather looking for ways to steal money for the 2019 campaigns.” 
 
Also, the Executive Director, Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, believed the past allocations to defence and the military should be accounted for before voting another huge amount for military operations. 
 
Adeniran added, “Let us first know how the budgetary allocations for defence and the military have been expended. We all recall the $2.1bn Dasuki loot. The governors should not put their eyes on the excess crude oil account. 
 
“The Ministry of Defence and the services should first give account of how the monies on fighting the Boko Haram insurgency were spent before we can start talking about dipping hands into our excess crude account.” 
 
On its part, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project said the decision to take $1bn from the excess crude account was not rational, adding that anything outside the budgetary allocations must be tabled before the National Assembly for consideration and approval. 
 
SERAP Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, stated, “Whatever is not properly appropriated for should not be considered. That is the only way we can maintain sanity in our public expenditure. 
 
“The Presidency may want to say that security matters are fundamental. But we cannot continue to have all manner of expenditures on Boko Haram. That will be reckless to me.” 
 
North-East crisis needs extraordinary approach –Utomi, security experts 
 
However, a frontline political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, told one of our correspondents that the crisis in the North-East was a big issue that needed extraordinary approach to be adequately addressed 
 
He said, “An extraordinary intervention of the nature of what you have described is needed. As a student of history, I think the North-East matter is important and should be given the right priority because we need to do something strategic about that region. 
 
“This is because the situation in the North-East is very much akin to the situation in Ethiopia and Somalia back in the 1980s that fuelled the old view of Africa, which was known as Afro-pessimism, meaning that Africa was a lost continent of diseases and wars, etc. That is what the North-East crisis has caused Nigeria.” 
 
Also, a security analyst, Ben Okezie, said no amount was too much to fight insurgency, noting that without addressing the security issues, there could be no development. 
 
Okezie, who lauded the move, explained that countries like the United States had spent billions of dollars to fight insurgency and insecurity within and outside their borders. 
 
“No amount is too much to spend on fighting insurgency because without peace, there cannot be social or economic development. I think it is a good development,” he noted. 
 
A retired Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, also endorsed the decision to withdraw money from the excess crude account, noting that without security, no development could take place. 
 
The ex-Lagos CP added, “It is a good move but the government should ensure that it is judiciously utilised. I also want President Buhari to caution the governors and other office seekers against arming thugs to win elections. Insecurity is the result of proliferation of arms.” 
 
Between 2011 and 2014, N6.21tn was shared from the Excess Crude Account by the three tiers of government. 
 
A former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had while releasing the figure said the Federal Government received N3.29tn, while the 36 states got a total of N2.92tn from the ECA within the four year period. 
 
The opening balance was $4.56bn in 2011 and reached a peak the following year at $8.7bn before declining to $2.3bn in 2013.</div>

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$1b to fight Boko Haram: PDP asks FG to apologise to Nigerians

16:42 Unknown 0

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday described the claimed approval for the release of $1bn to the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government under the guise of fighting Boko Haram terrorists in the northeast as curious and alarming. 
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The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the party was alarmed by what it described as the manipulative plot by the APC administration to secure approvals without recourse to due process, and for purposes of fighting the same insurgents it claimed it had since defeated. 
 
The PDP also wondered why the APC-led Federal Government had to recourse to the National Economic Council (NEC) while “avoiding the direct constitutional appropriation channel of the National Assembly for funding of items already provided for in the federal budget if it actually has nothing to hide.” 
 
According to the statement, “The PDP supports the fight against insurgency. We hold our officers and men confronting the terrorists and securing our territorial integrity in high esteem, but we are concerned about the manipulative tendencies connected with the approvals as well as the veracity of claimed purpose of the fund. 
 
“Nigerians would recall that the APC-led Federal Government had claimed that it has since defeated the insurgents. 
 
“If it would take a billion dollar from a nation’s savings to kill what they long claimed dead, then we challenge APC government to come clean and tell Nigerians the whole truth. 
 
“The era of lies and propaganda is long gone and Nigerians now know the truth. The Federal Government must be held accountable and stopped from any move to fritter away our national savings. 
 
“We therefore call on the National Assembly to interrogate this proposed disbursement and subject it to a thorough but rapid interrogation”, the statement said. 
 
The party also noted that the development has rubbished the integrity of the current administration and demanded that it apologize to Nigerians for lying to them about the actual state of the fight against insurgency in Nigeria. 
 
“By accepting the $1bn for fighting insurgency, the APC-led Federal Government has admitted that it lied when it announced that it has defeated the insurgents. They should therefore apologize to Nigerians for giving them a false sense of security, resulting in their vulnerability to attacks by terrorists.” 
 
“The PDP recalled that the three points upon which APC hinged their promise were security, corruption and economy and it is apparent that they have failed in all. 
 
“On the economy, they have taken us into recession; on security, Boko Haram is still ravaging our people; on the corruption, the APC Government has only embarked on witch hunt of the opposition while enmeshed in monumental corruption thriving unabated right inside the engine of its administration.” 
 
“The PDP vowed to ensure the APC does not continue to play with the intelligence of Nigerians, who are now only waiting for 2019 to consign them into the dustbin of history.”</div>

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Libya: President Buhari cautions against evacuation of foreigners into Nigeria

16:42 Unknown 0

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President Muhammadu Buhari says it is important to always authenticate the origin of people abroad in distress before evacuating them to Nigeria, saying “not every black man is a Nigerian.” 
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Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said in a statement on Friday that Buhari made his position known at a meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. 
 
Buhari, who spoke on recent repatriation of some Nigerians from Libya, said not every black man was a Nigerian, and was, therefore, important to authenticate the origin of the people in distress before they were evacuated. 
 
He said “we are trying to bring as many as possible from Libya. But not every black man is a Nigerian. 
 
“Others claim to be Nigerians, when they are not, and because they have destroyed their travel papers, we can’t claim them, except there is proper documentation.” 
 
The President, however, noted that good neighbourliness and relationship were important for security and economic development. 
 
“That was why I visited all our neighbours. Such relationship is crucial for security, and economic development so our youths could get jobs,’’ he said. 
 
On recharging of the Lake Chad, he said “the earlier we get it done, the better, so that our youths don’t continue to dare the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea.’’ 
 
The AU Commission boss congratulated the President for what he was doing for Nigeria, and for Africa. 
 
He said “without President Buhari, and without Nigeria, many things would not have been possible. 
 
“I appreciate the role you played in my election and all that you do in ECOWAS, Lake Chad Basin Commission, and the entire continent.</div>

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Yul Edochie defects to APGA after poor outing at Anambra guber poll

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Shehu Sani kicks against $1bn approved to fight insurgents

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Alleged double registration: Dino Melaye, Faleke, others ask Yahaya Bello to resign

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Guardiola wins Manager of the Month for third consecutive time

15:37 Unknown 0

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Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola, has been named Premier League Manager of the Month for November. 
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Guardiola wins the prize for the third consecutive month, after his team won all four of their matches in the month. 
 
The Spaniard had scooped the gong in September and October, as City embarked on their record-breaking run of 15 successive league victories. 
 
Guardiola beat off competition from Antonio Conte, Sean Dyche, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Arsene Wenger to land the November award. 
 
The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona coach, welcomes Tottenham Hotspur in the game of the weekend, as they seek to extend their 11-point gap at the top of the table. 
 </div>

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Rev. Fr. Mbaka reveals why tiku should be Nigeria’s next president

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Prince Harry, Meghan Markle wedding date announced

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LASU increases acceptance fee

14:47 Unknown 0

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The Lagos State University (LASU) says it has no plan to increase tuition despite increasing acceptance fee for its new intakes. 
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The university made the clarification in its official bulletin signed by Adekoya Martins, coordinator, LASU, centre for information press and public relations unit. 
 
Adekoya said the university increased its acceptance fee from N10,000 to N20,000. 
 
He said the N20,000 is payable once by candidates recently offered provisional admission by the institution. 
 
NAN reports that the institution offered admission to 3,500 candidates for the 2017/2018 academic session. 
 
“Attention of LASU Management has again been drawn to the erroneous insinuations making the rounds, especially on the social media, regarding a plan to increase or purported increase in the school fee being paid by its students presently,” he said. 
 
“What the university has done is to increase the acceptance fee from N10,000 to N20,000 and this remains the cheapest in Nigeria compared to what other universities charge as their acceptance fee. 
 
“The university management, however, wishes to reiterate that there is no increment in tuition, neither are there plans to effect any increment.” 
 
He urged members of the university community and the general public to disregard any contrary information and be wary of mischief makers trying to incite and create unnecessary tension in the university. 
 </div>

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Senate Legalises Card Reader, Sets Fees For Aspirants

14:47 Unknown 0

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<div style="text-align: center;"> </div>
The Electoral Act No. 6, 2010 Amendment Bill 2017 passed recently by the senate makes it mandatory for use of card reader and banned manual accreditation, when it becomes a law. 
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According to the amendment, House of Representatives aspirants are now to pay N1,000,000 and those for State Assembly will pay N500,000. 
 
The law stated there shall now be full biometric accreditation of voters with Smart Card Readers and/or other technological devices, as may introduce for elections by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC). 
 
It states that presiding officers must now instantly transmit accreditation and results from polling units to various collation centres. 
 
“Presiding Officer who contravenes this shall be imprisoned for at least 5 years (no option of fine). 
 
“All presiding officers must now first record accreditation data and polling results on INEC’s prescribed forms before transmitting them. The data/result recorded must be the same with what they transmitted.’’ 
 
According to the amendment, INEC has unfettered powers to conduct elections by electronic voting. 
 
Besides manual registers, INEC has been mandated to keep electronic registers of voters. 
 
“INEC is now mandated to publish Voters’ Registers on its Official website(s) for public scrutiny at least 30 days before a general election and any INEC staff who is responsible for this but fails to act as prescribed shall be liable on conviction to 6 months imprisonment. 
 
“INEC is now mandated to keep a National Electronic Register of Election Results as a distinct database or repository of polling unit by polling unit results for all elections conducted by INEC. 
 
“ Collation of election result is now mainly electronic, as transmitted unit results will help to determine final results on real time basis. 
 
“INEC is now mandated to record details of electoral materials – quantities, serial numbers used to conduct elections (for proper tracking),’’ the amendment stated.’’ 
 
The bill states that a political party whose candidate dies after commencement of an election and before the declaration of the result of that election now has a 14-day window to conduct a fresh primary in order for INEC to conduct a fresh election within 21 days of the death of the party’s candidate; 
 
“Political Parties’ Polling Agents are now entitled to inspect originals of electoral materials before commencement of election and any Presiding Officer who violates this provision of the law shall be imprisoned for at least 1 year. 
 
“No Political Party can impose qualification/disqualification criteria, measures or conditions on any Nigerian for the purpose of nomination for elective offices, except as provided in the 1999 Constitution. 
 
“The election of a winner of an election can no longer be challenged on grounds of qualification, if he/she (winner) satisfied the applicable requirements of sections 65, 106, 131 or 177 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and he is not, as may be applicable, in breach of sections 66, 107, 137 or 182 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. [For example, a person’s election cannot be challenged on the ground that he did not pay tax, as this is not a qualifying condition under the Constitution.] 
 
“All members of Political Parties are now eligible to determine the Ad-Hoc Delegates to elect candidates of parties in indirect primaries. The capacity of party executives to unduly influence or rig party primaries has been reasonably curtailed, if not totally removed. 
 
“Parties can no longer impose arbitrary nomination fees on political aspirants. The Bill passed prescribes limits for each elective offices.’’ 
 
Accordingly, the bill recommended N150,000 for a Ward Councillorship aspirant in the FCT; and States; N250,000 for an Area Council Chairmanship aspirant in the FCT; and Council Chairmanship in other LGAs of States; and N500,000 for a House of Assembly aspirant. 
 
It prescribed N1,000,000 for a House of Representatives aspirant; N2,000,000 for a Senatorial aspirant; N5,000,000 for a Governorship aspirant; and N10,000,000) for a Presidential aspirant. 
 </div>

Latest-News Senate Legalises Card Reader, Sets Fees For Aspirants

The Electoral Act No. 6, 2010 Amendment Bill 2017 passed recently by the senate makes it mandatory for use of card reader and banned manu...

NNPC Absolves Abba Kyari

14:42 Unknown 0

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The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has disclaimed reports credited to its Group Managing Director, Mr Maikanti Baru, linking Abba Kyari to N50 billion kept away from Treasury Single Account (TSA). 
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NNPC said on Friday that Baru never said that the Chief of Staff to the President directed the Corporation to keep the sum of N50 billion away from TSA. 
 
A statement on Friday by the Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, Group General Manager Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Abuja, said that the allegation was baseless and “ a clear misrepresentation of the truth’’. 
 
Ughamadu noted that an online publication made the allegation recently. 
 
“By virtue of the operations of the NNPC, the Corporation had made series of compelling cases to the Presidency and the Central Bank of Nigeria to allow certain categories of accounts operate outside the TSA, as they contain co-mingled funds governed by detailed agreements with local and international implications. 
 
“NNPC equally wishes to state that while these necessary approvals sought by the NNPC were graciously given by the Presidency, the Chief of Staff merely conveyed the notice of these approvals to the Corporation. 
 
“In the same vein, members of the relevant committee of the National Assembly have requested for copies of such approvals, which were duly provided by the Corporation. 
 
“To claim that the Chief of Staff single-handedly approved these exemptions was not only unfair, but is a complete misrepresentation of facts to mislead the general public.’’</div>

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Benue Assembly confirms Idoma man as Chief Judge

14:32 Unknown 0

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Benue State House of Assembly on Friday confirmed Justice Adam Onum as the new Chief Judge of the State. 
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The confirmation of Justice Onum came after the retirement of Justice Iorhemen Hwande who served for 11 years. 
 
Justice Onum made history as the first Chief Judge from the Idoma extraction since the creation of the state 41 years ago. 
 
Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom has hailed the retired Chief Judge, Justice Hwande, for his commitment to service. 
 
Speaking at the valedictory session for the retired Chief Judge, Ortom said that the virtues he exhibited while in active service had impacted positively on the judiciary. 
 
“We are convinced that he is leaving a Judicial system that will continue to improve itself for the good of the common man.  Having given the best part of his life to serve God and the people through his career, Honorable Justice Iorhemen Hwande is retiring to a peaceful life.” 
 </div>

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Brazilian football chief, Del Nero, given 90-day ban

14:32 Unknown 0

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FIFA handed Brazilian football confederation president Marco Polo Del Nero a 90-day ban from all football activities on Friday. 
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The 76-year-old, a former member of the FIFA Council, is the latest prominent South American official to be banned by the sport’s governing body as part of its investigation into a vast corruption scandal. 
 </div>

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Army sentences soldier to death for killing five rescued civilians

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A General Court Martial sitting in Maiduguri, Borno State, has sentenced a soldier serving in Operation Lafiya Dole, Lance Corporal John Godwin, to death. 
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The court sentenced Godwin to death for killing five rescued civilians in the Yamteke area of Borno State during investigation. 
 
This is just as some other soldiers were jailed by the court for various offences ranging from manslaughter to illegal possession of fire arms and ammunition. 
 
The soldier was charged with murder, which is punishable under Section 106 (a) of Armed Forces Acts (Cap A20), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004. 
 
According to Lt Colonel Kingsley Samuel, 7 Division’s spokesperson, who confirmed the sentence, “The civilians were earlier rescued by troops of Godwin’s battalion and were taken for investigation at the time he shot and killed five of them. 
 
“Another soldier, Sergeant Innocent Ototo, was sentenced to life imprisonment for manslaughter after torturing and killing a 13-year-old boy who he said stole his phone. 
 
The incident happened at Zamanbari area of Maiduguri in Borno State.” 
 </div>

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‘Awolowo was a lawyer but finance minister’ — Fayemi tackles Agbakoba on portfolio mismatch

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Maina attacks presidency, says bigger thieves working with Buhari

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SSG of Adamawa State, Dr Umar Bindir, justifies owning of AK 47 by herdsmen

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Nigerian jailed 18 years in Vietnam for import scam

13:17 Unknown 0

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A Southern Vietnam court has sentenced a Nigerian  to 18 years in prison over a fake customs enforcement scam,  state media reported on Friday. 
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A local media reported that Michael Ikechukwu Leonard, 45, was convicted on Thursday of “deceiving others to steal their assets” in a scam which targeted wealthy Vietnamese women. 
 
The court in Can Tho city determined that Leonard gained his victims’ trust on messaging apps using various alter egos, including a US army officer. 
 
The convict was said to have promised  to send  his victims  valuable presents,  including laptops and jewellery from the US. 
 
Local accomplices,  Huynh Ha Binh, Huynh Ha Uyen and Nguyen Tran Quynh Nhi,  would then contact the women claiming to be customs agents and demand fees or fines for the non-existent shipments. 
 
They successfully conned a woman in Can Tho out of  28,500 dollars, leading to their arrest. 
 
It is unclear how many women were duped by the gang in total. 
 
Leonard’s accomplices received sentences ranging from 12 to 15 years.</div>

Latest-News Nigerian jailed 18 years in Vietnam for import scam

A Southern Vietnam court has sentenced a Nigerian to 18 years in prison over a fake customs enforcement scam, state media reported on Fr...

Buhari approves purchase of vessels to reduce illegal activities on waterways

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Latest-News Buhari approves purchase of vessels to reduce illegal activities on waterways

DPR sanctions 10 filling stations over price hike

12:47 Unknown 0

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The Department of Petroleum Resources on Friday said it had sanctioned 10 petrol filling stations in Zamfara for selling fuel above official pump price. 
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The Acting Controller of the department in Gusau, Saleh Audu, told newsmen in Gusau. 
 
Audu said DPR had visited 35 filling stations across the state in the past one week and discovered that 10 out of the stations were selling fuel above N145 per litre. 
 
He said three other stations were penalised for violating rules and regulations of the department. 
 
He advised motorists to support the department to enable it to carry out its duty effectively. 
 
“Members of the public should assist us with information on malpractices by owners of filling stations that sell fuel above official pump price, under dispensation, hoarding, and diversion, among others.” 
 
The Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Gusau Depot Branch, Alhaji Sirajo Kamba, however, said that the increase in pump price followed a unilateral decision by private depots to increase the price of the commodity. 
 
“Most of the stations selling above official price are getting it from private depots. We got the product at between N144 and N145 per liter from such depots as against N133 directed by the government. 
 
“We cannot run at a loss. We have been calling on the Federal Government to investigate and address these issues,’’ he said. 
 
“Members of IPMAN are law-abiding, we are ready to cooperate with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that fuel supply has improved.</div>

Latest-News DPR sanctions 10 filling stations over price hike

The Department of Petroleum Resources on Friday said it had sanctioned 10 petrol filling stations in Zamfara for selling fuel above offici...

Libya Slavery: 1,317 Nigerians Rescued In 10 Days

12:42 Unknown 0

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The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says a total of 1,317 Nigerians have voluntarily returned from Libya in the last 10 days having been stranded in the volatile country en route Europe. 
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The Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha Maihajja, made the disclosure while receiving a fresh batch of 116 Nigerians who arrived the country on Friday morning. 
 
The  new set of returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos aboard a Buraq Airlines with Registration Number 5A-WAC at 5:39am. 
 
At least 3,000 Nigerians have voluntarily returned from Libya through the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) supported programme, in the last few months. 
 
Maihajja, represented by Suleiman Yakubu, south-west zonal coordinator, said that the Nigerians returned in various batches between December 5 and December 15 with the assistance of the IOM and the European Union (EU). 
 
According to him, the figure has already surpassed the 1, 295 Nigerians who voluntarily returned from Libya in the month of November. 
 
Maihajja said that the federal government would continue to work with the international organisations to ensure the return of more Nigerians from Libya where they had been facing severe hardships and rights violations. 
 
They comprised 46 adult females, 60 adult males and 10 children and infants respectively. 
 
Also, on ground to welcome the returnees were officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the police. 
 </div>

Latest-News Libya Slavery: 1,317 Nigerians Rescued In 10 Days

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IPOB reacts to Ohanaeze’s position on another civil war

12:42 Unknown 0

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Fayose: $1bn is for Buhari’s reelection… I’m not among govs who approved it

11:52 Unknown 0

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Paul Okoye opens up on why their mansion, Squareville is up for sale

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PDP’s bet on Atiku to take it back to power

11:32 Unknown 0

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Speed limiters don’t reduce life span — FRSC

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The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Bauchi State Command has debunked the claim that the speed limit device reduces the life span of vehicle engines. 
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The Sector Head of Operations Bauchi Command, Paul Gua who stated this yesterday while fielding questions from newsmen on the command’s preparedness for the Christmas festive season, said some drivers of commercial vehicles were using the excuse as one of the grounds for resisting the installation of the device. 
 
According to him, the device had no negative effect on vehicles, noting that passengers travelling during the festive season should ensure they patronize motor parks that had the device installed in their vehicles. 
 
“You and I know that speed kills not just occupants of a car, the engine is also affected. So how can speed limit device reduce the life span of an engine? The device is just to control speed, since most commercial drivers refuse to control their speed while driving. Most of the device come with trackers that will be used to trace the whereabouts of vehicle, in case it got stolen. So, the device has many benefits to the owner of the vehicle” he said 
 
He said the FRSC was not responsible for installing the device in commercial vehicles, but was only enforcing compliance with the rule, pointing out that the commission had licensed vendors to install the device. 
 
The FRSC Head of operation said some of the measures put in place by the commission to guarantee a hitch free festive season included deployment officers on a 24 hours surveillance, road patrols , deployment of a rescue standby team in case of emergencies and stationing of FRSC ambulances for quick intervention in cases of accidents.</div>

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Bobrisky apologizes to Mc Galaxy

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APGA shuns court order, flags off campaign

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Osun Assembly reverses self, revokes arrest warrant against Bola Ige’s son

10:47 Unknown 0

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Boko Haram: Kanu leads African all-stars in charity match for IDPs

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Nigeria’s former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu led a team of African all-stars in a charity football match on Thursday, to raise money for people displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency and highlight their plight. 
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Kanu, Senegal’s El-Hadji Diouf, Fabian McCarthy of South Africa and Cyrille Mubiala from the Democratic Republic of Congo were in a side that took on Nigeria Premier League side Kano Pillars at Kano’s Sani Abacha stadium. 
 
The home side won 2-1 in front of a 16,000-strong crowd. 
 
Ticket sales from the “Match for IDPs” (internally displaced persons) will be combined with money from a charity dinner to support those made homeless by the eight-year conflict. 
 
The Islamist insurgency began in 2009 and has since killed at least 20,000 people and made more than 2.6 million homeless. 
 
Diouf told reporters after the match his aim by playing was “to raise awareness of the dire need of the IDPs and raise funds to support them”. 
 
“Whatever money is raised here will be used to support the IDPs,” added the former Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers forward. 
 
Boko Haram has been pushed out of captured towns and villages in the northeast but the military counter-insurgency has laid bare the extent of the devastation wrought on the remote region. 
 
Some 1.8 million IDPs in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states still live either in sprawling, unsanitary camps or with family members. Others have fled as refugees to neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon. 
 
With farmers killed and land blighted by conflict, food shortages have been widespread, forcing IDPs to rely on handouts from international aid agencies, who have had to scale back operations because of a lack of funding. 
 
IDPs remain vulnerable to continued Boko Haram attacks, particularly from suicide bombers, while women and young girls have been exposed to sexual abuse in the camps, including from security personnel and officials. 
 
Match organiser Abi Goodman said: “We want to use football to communicate with the people about what is going on in the IDP camps. 
 
“What we are doing is a drop in the ocean as the IDP needs are so huge. 
 
“But we want to use this as a rallying point for the government, wealthy individuals and Nigerians living abroad to support the IDPs,” she added.</div>

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"Panel report indicting Fayemi can’t pass integrity test"

10:37 Unknown 0

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Approval of $1 billion is for 2019 election not to fight Boko Haram – Fani-Kayode alleges

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We’ll never allow another civil war – Ohaneze tells IPOB

10:37 Unknown 0

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Why Nigerian universities can’t produce qualified accountants – ICAN

09:42 Unknown 0

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The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, has explained why some Nigerian universities cannot produce qualified accountants. 
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The body, at its 2017 annual award and gala night in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said ICAN provided opportunity of retraining and equipping accountants with requisite skills to function effectively. 
 
Chairman of the event planning committee, Mr. Timothy Osondu, and member of ICAN Port Harcourt and District Society, said ICAN had a different syllabus used in retraining of accountants. 
 
Osondu explained that most universities in the nation could not produce qualified accountants because either their syllabuses were compromised or the lecturers took bribes to pass the students. 
 
He said that ICAN in its training puts closer check on the teachers and students during the period, adding that the retraining process for would-be accountants was taken seriously.</div>

Latest-News Why Nigerian universities can’t produce qualified accountants – ICAN

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Ajimobi presents N267b budget to Oyo Assembly

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Kachikwu promises fuel scarcity will end this weekend

09:22 Unknown 0

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EFCC will not spare corrupt aviation workers – Magu

09:22 Unknown 0

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Falana faults Buhari, Ekwueme’s treatment abroad

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Avoid politicians, they can destroy you – CJN, Onnoghen warns judges

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British Government speaks on support for IPOB, restructuring

09:07 Unknown 0

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Go to school, I did after marriage – Aisha Buhari

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The Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, has challenged women and youths in Bauchi State to strive hard to acquire knowledge so that they can benefit from opportunities that may come their way. 
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She stated this at the closing ceremony of the Skills Acquisition and Empowerment Training Programme initiated and sponsored by her pet project, Future Assured, which took place on Thursday at the Multipurpose Indoor Sports Hall, in Bauchi. 
 
According to her, since most things are becoming digitalised, there is the need for the women and youths to be literate if they must benefit from various opportunities. 
 
The President’s wife cited herself as an example to encourage women and children, pointing out to them that it was after her marriage that she went back to school. 
 
“You know, when I got married, I just finished my secondary school education. I didn’t think my husband will be President again, but I still continued with my education and this is where God has brought me to today. 
 
“I want to call on our people with a strong voice, education has become a compulsory thing that we must acquire. 
 
“We must understand English and know how to speak it so that when any intervention comes, we will benefit from it. So, please, for God’s sake, people should continue to go to school even if you will not work in an office and earn money, but, so that, when opportunities come up tomorrow, you will not be left out. 
 
“So, nobody should relent or give up in going to school to acquire knowledge. We should keep reading and schooling for the benefit of the society.” 
 
Mrs. Buhari said that since the establishment of her pet project, Future Assured, about two years ago, empowerment of women and youths had been her major priority. 
 
She said that over 10, 000 graduates had benefited from different skills acquisition training, adding that the beneficiaries had become successful entrepreneurs. 
 
“Today’s event is another milestone with the graduation of over 1,000 beneficiaries who will be presented with certificates and some money to establish themselves,” she stated. 
 
She added, “I hope that the skills you have acquired will translate into more productive and fruitful life. I also hope that in the long run, the economy of this country will benefit from these skills.”</div>

Latest-News Go to school, I did after marriage – Aisha Buhari

The Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, has challenged women and youths in Bauchi State to strive hard to acquire knowledge so that they ...

2019: Join APGA or be sacked, Obiano tells South East governors

09:02 Unknown 0

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The Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, on Thursday described the All Progressives Grand Alliance as the “South-East hurricane". 
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He asked the governors in the South-East geopolitical zone to join APGA now if they would wish to be re-elected in the 2019 general elections. 
 
Obiano stated this at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, the Anambra State capital, during a function tagged, “Victory Rally/ Commencement of Anambra  Central Senatorial  District Rerun Campaign.” 
 
He said many serving senators and House of Representatives’ members from the geopolitical zone had approached him to join APGA. 
 
Describing APGA as the Igbo philosophy and identity, Obiano added, “What we are telling everybody now is to join APGA within  a reasonable time to be able to get the chance to contest election on our platform in 2019. 
 
“What happened here on November 18 when APGA swept the entire poll in Anambra State will be replicated in Imo, Abia, Enugu, and Ebonyi states in 2019. 
 
“APGA is a hurricane that nobody can stop in the South-East. What I’m telling my brother governors in the South-East is for them to join APGA now if they wish to be re-elected; otherwise, sorry for them, they must lose their seats to APGA in 2019.” 
 
Obiano, who described  the January 13 senatorial rerun in the state as a simple mathematics, said he had put on his victory garb again as the chairman of the campaign organisation of the APGA candidate in the election, Chief Victor Umeh, to “crush any opposition” in the race. 
 
Speaking, Umeh dismissed the judgment of Justice John Tsoho of the Abuja Federal High Court as dead on arrival. 
 
Justice Tsoho had in the judgment ordered that Chief Ikechukwu Obiora be sworn in as the winner of the 2015 Anambra Central senatorial election. 
 
Describing Tsoho’s decision as of no effect, Umeh said the January 13 rerun poll was sacrosanct. 
 
Umeh said it would amount to judicial absurdity for a high court’s decision to supersede a Court of  Appeal judgment that had earlier ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct the poll within 90 days in compliance with the INEC timetable which had scheduled the rerun for January 13. 
 
He said, “The January 13th January election as fixed by INEC for the Anambra Central Senatorial District election will hold. Nobody or court can challenge the ruling of the Appeal Court.” 
 
C</div>

Latest-News 2019: Join APGA or be sacked, Obiano tells South East governors

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Security Threats By Agencies: Magu, Daura, Dauda Appear Before Senate Committee

08:47 Unknown 0

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Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, yesterday,  appeared before the Senate Ad- hoc Committee that is investigating the   November 21, 2017 incident, where EFCC tried to arrest former directors general of National Intelligence Agency, NIA and Department of State Services, DSS, Ayo Oke and Mr. Ita Ekpenyong, respectively. 
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Also before the Ad-hoc Committee which is chaired by the Deputy Senate Chief Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena (APC, Edo North) yesterday,  were the Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Mr. Lawal Daura  and acting Director- General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ambassador Muhammed Dauda. 
 
It will be recalled that there was alleged security threat on November 21, following the face- off between the EFCC, DSS and NIA, over attempt by EFCC operatives to arrest  Ekpenyong and Oke in Abuja. 
 
Meanwhile, the face-off between Daura and Magu, yesterday , degenerated  before  the Senators and Journalists in Conference room 022, as both heads of government agencies  refused to exchange pleasantries. 
 
At yesterday’s investigative hearing, Magu came into the hall at 2.17 p.m., with his men, while Daura came in 30 minutes later. 
 
Magu and his men were seated in the middle row of the hall, while Daura and his men sat at the left row and Dauda, the Acting Director General of NIA sat at the extreme right. 
 
A short drama played out when they both saw Magu on the front row, but Daura boycotted  the row and instead, opted for another seat. They did not exchange pleasantries before the commencement of the business of the day. 
 
In a similar move, acting Director-General of NIA, Dauda, who walked in when the hearing was about to commence, also boycotted Magu’s seat and opted for another one. 
 
He did not exchange pleasantries with Magu either. 
 
Journalists were however, asked to leave the hall because of the sensitive nature of the issue. 
 
Trouble started when Alimikhena asked the trio, Daura, Magu and Dauda if they had any comments to make. While Magu and Dauda did not object to the presence of newsmen, Daura however told Senators that he would only speak freely if journalists were not in the room. 
 
On his part, Alimikhena said: “I have heard what you said. The matter is of security importance to this country. We want to see the agencies work together. We will oblige what you requeted. We want to ensure that you are comfortable enough to give something. 
 
Another member of the committee and Chairman of Senate committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, supported the position of Alimikhena. 
 
Before the issue of whether to investigate them in Camera was resolved, Senator Alimikhena who raised it said that the trial must be carried out in public because they fought a dirty fight and no respect for Espirit de corps, adding  that what happened was a disgrace to the security agencies and a shame to the sister security agencies. 
 
Replying Magu said that there was nothing like dirty fight, but there was resistance when there was a move to effect an arrest. 
 
At the end of the day, the majority had it that the exercise should be carried out in the secret. 
 
Following the agreement, Senator Alimikhena announced that room 022 was a big one for such an exercise which later made them to move to room 431, with only the EFCC boss to appear, just as the Chairman announced that others would be communicated on when they would appear before the Committee. 
 
It will be recalled that there was alleged security threat November 21 following the face- off between the EFCC, DSS and NIA over attempt by EFCC operatives to arrest former Director- General of DSS, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong abs his counterpart in NIA, Mr. Ayo Oke in Abuja. 
 
The Senate had penultimate Thursday  named a committee to probe  the alleged security threat following the face-off between the EFCC,  DSS and NIA over attempt by the EFCC to arrest former Director – General of DSS, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong  and his counterpart in NIA, Mr. Ayo Oke in Abuja.</div>

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Alleged N5.3bn Fraud: Ex-Enugu Governor Challenges Court Jurisdiction

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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VhTGvkbZyPLyc9CEdjrFQEUb0LrDRiaezACS0OxH2AS8lRHJ3JhCZjKJltjRhiDcLJlBR3c3dhZ3y5rXDvRVKf_oBMPlJwthdTe3N-G6B-5LdxrPPfa-f27j03pDXMIUYqSbBF1izuw/s1600/Chimaroke+Nnamani.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VhTGvkbZyPLyc9CEdjrFQEUb0LrDRiaezACS0OxH2AS8lRHJ3JhCZjKJltjRhiDcLJlBR3c3dhZ3y5rXDvRVKf_oBMPlJwthdTe3N-G6B-5LdxrPPfa-f27j03pDXMIUYqSbBF1izuw/s400/Chimaroke+Nnamani.jpg" /></a></div>
A former governor of Enugu State, Mr Chimaroke Nnamani, has challenged the jurisdiction of a Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos to try him on allegations of fraud to the tune of N5.3billion. 
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This followed a bench warrant issued by Justice Chuka Obiozor against the former governor and one Sunday Anyaogu on Monday last week. 
 
Justice Obiozor issued the warrant following their failure to appear in court to take their pleas on the criminal charge filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). 
 
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Thursday, Nnamani’s lawyer, Abubakar Shamsudeen, informed the court of his client’s application challenging the jurisdiction of the court. 
 
In the application, the former governor claimed that the court lacked the competence to try him and determine the offences against him, especially as a plea bargain agreement has been reached between him, eight others and the EFCC. 
 
The result of the plea agreement, according to him, led to the institution and determination of an amended charge between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, dated July 7, 2015. 
 
Nnamani, therefore, asked the court to among other things, set aside the charge against him and to make an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it’s agents, or any other persons deriving power from the Federal Government of Nigeria from inviting, instituting, maintaining or otherwise prosecuting him in respect of the charges pending the hearing and determination of his application. 
 
His counsel also pleaded with the court to withdraw the bench warrant issued against the second defendant, Sunday Anyaogu, whom he said came to court voluntarily. 
 
The lawyer told the court that the second defendant was not aware that the matter came up at the last adjourned date, and when informed, he voluntarily made himself available before the court on Thursday. 
 
On his part, counsel to the EFCC, Kelvin Uzozie, told the court that he had just been served with the former governor’s application and asked for a short adjournment to enable him to respond to it. 
 
After listening to the parties, Justice Obiozor adjourned the matter till January 19, 2018, for hearing and determination of the application, as well as to take the plea of the defendants on the charges. 
 
The judge insisted that the bench warrant issued against the former governor subsists while that of the second defendant was withdrawn. 
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