Army recalls 3,032 soldiers to battle Boko Haram

 

Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Tukur Buratai

The Nigerian Army has recalled 3,032 soldiers who were summarily dismissed from the service last year for alleged offences in relation to the defunct Operation Zaman Lafiya.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said during a briefing in Abuja on Thursday that the 3, 032 soldiers were among 5,000 dismissed soldiers whose cases were recently reviewed by a panel set up by the Army authorities at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

He stated, however, that the panel led by the General Officer Commanding One Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, did not grant pardon to soldiers who were dismissed for criminal cases.

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He explained that some of the soldiers dismissed for criminal cases had the judgments delivered against them upheld.

He stressed that while some of the soldiers were pardoned, others even got stiffer penalties against charges levelled against them.

Usman said, “You may recall that the Nigerian Army, some time ago, instituted a committee to review the recent disciplinary cases in the service especially of those soldiers in the defunct Op Zaman Lafiya, the aim of which was to ensure discipline, regimentation and justice in the system.

“The committee has concluded its sitting last week and has made certain recommendations that led to the reinstatement of 3,032 soldiers into the Nigerian Army out of 5,000 cases that were reviewed.

“The reinstated soldiers have shown total readiness to be relaunched into the theatre to combat insurgency and have now commenced a retraining exercise at the Nigerian Army Training Centre, Kontagora, Niger State.

“This training is to reorient the affected soldiers and prepare them for this closing stage of the operational aspect of the counter insurgency operations with more weapons and new leadership.

“It must, however, be made clear that not all the dismissed soldiers were granted pardon and recalled. Those with criminal cases, for instance, have their sentences upheld.”

The PUNCH had reported exclusively last month during the sitting of the panel that the Army had recalled 2,500 soldiers who were undergoing reorientation training for deployment in the North-East at the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Centre, Kotangora.

Usman, who also commented on the cases of the 66 soldiers condemned to die by firing squad last year, said that their cases had gone to the Appeal Court. The Acting Army Spokesman who said that the soldiers had filed for appeal said that the judicial process was ongoing.

He admitted that while there were some territories still under the control of the Boko Haram, he was optimistic that all such territories would be recovered within the three-month deadline given to the military to end the counter insurgency by the President.

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Cleaner caught with N53m at Lagos airport

 

Murtala Muhammed International Airport

An airport cleaner has been arrested with the sum of $271,135 (about N53m) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, it has been learnt.

The suspect was arrested by the aviation security personnel of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria while trying to carry the huge sum of money through the screening point.

The airport worker, named Mr. Tijani Owolabi, works with one of the cleaning contractors at the airport, according to a FAAN statement.

The statement quoted the Deputy General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mr. Onyekwere Nnaekpe, as saying that some of the foreign currency was found on Owolabi while the rest was recovered from the sanitary bucket he was holding while trying to pass through screening machine.

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Nnaekpe said the agency suspected that Owolabi was conveying the currency to an accomplice at the airside of the airport.

The statement by the FAAN read in part, “Aviation security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria today September 3, 2015 prevented the trafficking of a total sum of 271,135 American dollars through the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.

“The sum was found on a worker with one of the cleaning contractors at the airport, Mr. Tijani Owolabi, during a pat down at one of the screening points at ‘D’ Finger of the international terminal.

“The airport cleaner who was suspected to be conveying the foreign currency to an accomplice at the sterile area of the terminal, was immediately apprehended by aviation security staff on duty and handed over to the appropriate security agencies at the airport for further investigation.”

The development came barely two weeks after an Arik Air flight attendant, Mr. Chika Udensi, was arrested at Heathrow Airport in London with 20 kilogrammes of cocaine.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency later arrested his accomplice, Oliver Ikechukwu Chibuzor Oliver, an Arik Air catering worker, who smuggled the drug among catering supplies into the aircraft for Udensi.

NDLEA and other security agencies said they had increased security surveillance at the nation’s airports, especially the international airports.

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IG bans use of commercial vehicles for operations

 

Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase
| credits: http://www.thescoopng.com

The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has directed that all police commands and formations should immediately stop the use of commercial vehicles and those painted in states’ commercial colours for police operations and patrol duties.

The directive was contained in a circular issued to all police formations and commands nationwide on Thursday.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, in Abuja, explained that the directive was due to “enormous negative consequences associated with such practices, as complained by members of the public.”

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The IG further warned that violation of the order by any police unit will attract severe sanctions.

Meanwhile, Nigerians have called on governments of Economic Community of West African States to ease the difficulty of movement of citizens in these countries.

An Afro-barometer research conducted by the CLEEN Foundation indicated that 62 per cent of Nigerians said West Africans should be able to move freely across international borders in order to trade or work.

More than half of respondents to questionnaires made available during the research lamented that movement across ECOWAS states was very difficult.

The respondents, who were also asked to choose the model of development preferred for the country from other countries, including United States, China, United Kingdom, South Africa and India, preferred the US development model followed by China.

The report also showed that while respondents said the investment strides of China in Nigeria and their influence on the Nigerian economy were positive, majority of respondents said quality of Chinese products contributed to China’s negative image in the country.

On the issue of remittance of funds from friends or relatives living in foreign countries, majority of respondents said they have never received money from anyone abroad.

The Programme Manager of CLEEN Foundation, Nengak Daniel, said the research team interviewed 2,400 adult respondents between November and December 2014.

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Tribunal dismisses Wike’s objection to new chairman

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike

Hearing of the main petition filed by the All Progressives Congress and its governorship candidate in the April 11, 2015 election in Rivers State, Dakuku Peterside, challenging the election of Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party, began on Thursday.

The APC and Peterside called their first set of witnesses to testify before the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja on Thursday after about four months of battling with a series of interlocutory applications filed by the respondents seeking the dismissal of their petition at the preliminary stage.

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The tribunal has a statutory limit of 180 days within which it must hear and determine the petition.

The hearing, however, began on Thursday under a new chairman of the three-member tribunal, Justice Mohammed Ambrosa, who by a letter from the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, dated September 1, 2015, was asked to replace the former chairman, Justice Mu’azu Pindiga.

Justice Ambrosa, who presided over the Thursday’s proceedings, earlier dismissed the protest by Wike’s lawyer, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), and the counsel for the PDP, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), against the change of the chairman of the tribunal.

Counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), did not, however, protest against the change of the chairman of the tribunal. INEC, Wike and the PDP are the respondents to the petition.

Ukala, who told the tribunal that he was appearing in protest, urged the tribunal to either adjourn the case to enable his team to consult on what steps to take on the development or start the entire proceedings afresh.

“We are worried because yesterday, a number of newspapers published a story that there were subterranean moves by some powerful forces to implement changes in the election tribunal and we got here this morning to find out that the story was not a mere hallucination but a reality that is staring at us in the face,” Ukala said.

Uche, who also subscribed to the same line of argument, said the sudden change of the chairman of the tribunal could threaten “a fundamental pillar of confidence in justice administration” which he said was “rooted in transparency.”

In his response, lead counsel for the petitioners, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), said his team also became aware of the change of the tribunal chairman only when the panel members came into the courtroom.

He, however, said he had no reason to protest against the new head of the tribunal as the petitioners had lost a lot of time.

Olujinmi said, “We also came in this morning to find out that a new chairman has been posted to head this tribunal.

“We, on our side, cannot question your obedience of the order posting you to head this tribunal.”

In its ruling delivered by Justice Ambrosa, the tribunal dismissed the protests, saying it could not afford to waste more time.

He noted that by the 180-day limitation, the tribunal must round off its sitting on October 30.

This development, he said, would leave his panel with only about five days to prepare its judgment after all parties must have concluded their cases.

“The petitioners are therefore called upon to open their case,” the tribunal ordered.

Among the first set of the petitioners’ witnesses called by Oljinmi on Thursday were APC collation agents in some wards in the state, who testified that elections did not hold in their various domains because of the violence allegedly orchestrated by armed thugs loyal to the PDP.

The witnesses included Jack Olugu, John Koottee and Alabrabra Jappalli, who all testified that elections did not hold in their respective domains.

The hearing continues Friday.

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Marwa hails Buhari on appointments

Buba Marwa

A former military administrator of Lagos State, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd.), has hailed the appointment of Babachir David Lawal as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

A statement issued on Thursday by his media aide, Bello Zubairu, said Lawal’s appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari “is not only a plus to his tribe or state or the North but the country as a whole.”

Marwa described the new SGF as a thoroughbred party loyalist and philanthropist with great contacts across Nigeria.

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“His life as an accomplished businessman, a pastor and his military background will in no little way ensure high level of discipline and impact positively on his duties as SGF,” the statement quoted the Marwa as saying.

He also described Lawal as a “fair, straight-calls it as it is, honest man who is not a yes-man,” adding that, “he will no doubt bring new sense of direction into office and as an engine room of government, we are sure the President will get honest advice and as such policies will be well implemented and properly monitored.”

Marwa also described the appointment of Femi Adesina as the President’s Special Adviser


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Asset declaration: SERAP hails Buhari, Osinbajo

A civil society organisation, the Secio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, said the public declaration of assets by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has set the tone for a culture of transparency in governance.
The group, in a statement on Thursday by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, lauded Buhari and Osinbajo for the gesture, saying they had demonstrated that transparency in governance is not a mirage.
It expressed the hope that this public declaration of assets by the President and the Vice President would bring about the needed transformation in the institutional framework for fighting corruption in Nigeria.
It however urged them to ensure that other top government officials and the ministers to be appointment take a cue from them.
The statement read, “Today’s publication of asset declarations by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, turns the page on transparency and accountability in Nigeria.

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“Compared to former President Goodluck Jonathan who notoriously failed to publish his asset declaration despite repeated demands by Nigerians, both Buhari and Osinbajo have shown by publicly declaring their assets that transparency doesn’t take years to achieve.
“Nigerians will now be able to use the assets published as a baseline  for comparison at the end of the term of this government.
“SERAP urges the Buhari government to also publish asset declarations of their senior officials and ministers once appointed.”
“SERAP hopes that this publication of asset declarations will translate into real reform of the legal and institutional frameworks established to fight corruption and good governance as well as greater respect for human rights including socio-economic rights of Nigerians such as the rights to food, to health, to education and to adequate housing, and thus improve quality of life for ordinary citizens.
“We also urge President Buhari to urgently take measures to seek amendment of the law relating to declaration of assets to include the requirement of public disclosure so as to bring it in line with international standards and best practices such as the UN Convention against Corruption.”
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, had in a statement on Thursday, made public the details of the assets declared by Buhari and Osinbajo to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
According a statement, the President had about N30m in his only bank account with the Union Bank Plc, while the Vice President had a balance of N94m, $900,000 and £19,000 in his bank accounts.
A civil society organisation, the Secio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, said the public declaration of assets by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has set the tone for a culture of transparency in governance.
The group, in a statement on Thursday by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, lauded Buhari and Osinbajo for the gesture, saying they had demonstrated that transparency in governance is not a mirage.
It expressed the hope that this public declaration of assets by the President and the Vice President would bring about the needed transformation in the institutional framework for fighting corruption in Nigeria.
It however urged them to ensure that other top government officials and the ministers to be appointment take a cue from them.
The statement read, “Today’s publication of asset declarations by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, turns the page on transparency and accountability in Nigeria.

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“Compared to former President Goodluck Jonathan who notoriously failed to publish his asset declaration despite repeated demands by Nigerians, both Buhari and Osinbajo have shown by publicly declaring their assets that transparency doesn’t take years to achieve.
“Nigerians will now be able to use the assets published as a baseline  for comparison at the end of the term of this government.
“SERAP urges the Buhari government to also publish asset declarations of their senior officials and ministers once appointed.”
“SERAP hopes that this publication of asset declarations will translate into real reform of the legal and institutional frameworks established to fight corruption and good governance as well as greater respect for human rights including socio-economic rights of Nigerians such as the rights to food, to health, to education and to adequate housing, and thus improve quality of life for ordinary citizens.
“We also urge President Buhari to urgently take measures to seek amendment of the law relating to declaration of assets to include the requirement of public disclosure so as to bring it in line with international standards and best practices such as the UN Convention against Corruption.”
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, had in a statement on Thursday, made public the details of the assets declared by Buhari and Osinbajo to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
According a statement, the President had about N30m in his only bank account with the Union Bank Plc, while the Vice President had a balance of N94m, $900,000 and £19,000 in his bank accounts.

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Nobody can probe me —Amaechi

Former Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi

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The immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, says no anti-corruption agency in the country can probe him.

The PUNCH had reported that Amaechi along with some other former governors: Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano); Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Shehu Shema (Katsina) and Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State were being probed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and related offences Commission.

However, Chief Tony Okocha, a former aide to Amaechi, told one of our correspondents that the ex-governor was not afraid of ICPC or the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as long as the probe was not a witch-hunt.

Okocha, however, recalled that the ICPC and the EFCC had not vacated a court order stopping any of them from investigating any Rivers Government official and as such could not probe him.

He stated that Governor Nyesom Wike was a beneficiary of such order from the court, adding that until the court injunction was vacated, it would be illegal for the ICPC to probe his boss.

“I have always said that Amaechi is not afraid of the EFCC or the ICPC as long as such probe is not a witch-hunt. Again, there is a court order that the EFCC or other agency like it cannot probe any government official in the state. Wike is a beneficiary of that court order.

“Until that court order is vacated, the ICPC or the EFCC have no right to investigate Amaechi. Since what they are going to investigate is his (Amaechi’s) activities while in government, the EFCC and the ICPC do not have such right to do so based on the standing court order.”

The Chief Press Secretary to Fashola, Mr. Hakeem Bello, did not respond to the intended probe of his boss by the ICPC.

However, Fashola, while speaking at the 16th annual Bishop Mike Okonkwo Lecture in Lagos, “I will not respond to allegations of corruption on the pages of newspapers.”

Similarly, Shema, Kwankwaso and Lamido did not respond to phone calls on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has challenged the ICPC to explain to Nigerians why it did not include former Governor Kayode Fayemi among those it is currently probing.

According to the party, the anti-graft agencies have been given more than enough petitions and facts to assist them in getting to the root of the financial misconduct allegedly perpetrated by Fayemi while in office.

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Buhari declares 270 cattle, mud houses, N30m, others • Osinbajo worth $900,000, N94m and more

President Muhammadu Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday made public details of their assets, which had been declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau.

According a statement by the President’s Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President has about N30m in his only bank account with the Union Bank Plc, while the Vice President has a balance of N94m, $900,000 and 19,000 pounds in his bank accounts.

Shehu’s statement said the President had shares in Berger Paints, Skye Bank and Union Bank and a total of seven houses, comprising two mud and a standard house in Daura, his hometown; two homes in Kaduna, one in Kano and one in Abuja.

Also belonging to the President are two undeveloped plots of land in Kano and Port Harcourt. The President did not ascertain the location of the Port Harcourt land, according to the statement.

Buhari also has an orchard and a ranch in Daura with 270 heads of cattle, 25 sheep, five horses, a variety of birds and a number of economic trees in them.

But the statement did not disclose the worth of the landed property and other assets, which both the President and the Vice President had declared.

Shehu said the President had no oil well and foreign bank accounts.

Buhari was also said to have declared that he had several cars, two of which he said were bought with his savings and the others supplied to him by the Federal Government in his capacity as a former Head of State.

“The rest were donated to him by well-wishers after his jeep was damaged in a Boko Haram bomb attack on his convoy in July 2014,” the statement added.

For the Vice-President, Shehu said Osinbajo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, declared a four-bedroomed residence at Victoria Garden City in Lagos; three-bedroomed flat in Ikoyi, Lagos; two bedroomed flat at the Redempion Camp, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway; and a two-bedroomed mortgage property in Bedford, England.

The vice president operates his Simmons Cooper Law firm, which is based in Lagos and has shares in MTN Nigeria, Octogenerium Ltd., Windsor Grant Ltd., Tarapolsa Vistorion Ltd., and Aviva Ltd., all of which are based in Lagos.

Osinbajo is also said to have one Infinity 4-Wheel Drive SUV, one Mercedes Benz and a Prado Jeep.

Shehu’s statement read in part, “The documents submitted to the CCB, which officials say are still being vetted and will soon be made public, show that prior to being sworn in on May 29, President Buhari had less than N30m to his name. He also had only one bank account, with the Union Bank. President Buhari had no foreign account, no factory and no enterprises. He also had no registered company and no oil wells.

“The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) who had been a successful lawyer before his foray into politics declared a bank balance of about N94m and $900,000 in his bank accounts.

“President Buhari declared however that he had shares in Berger Paints, Union Bank and Skye Bank.

“The documents also revealed that President Buhari had a total of five homes, and two mud houses in Daura. He had two homes in Kaduna, one each in Kano, Daura and in Abuja. One of the mud houses in Daura was inherited from his late older sister, another from his late father. He borrowed money from the old Barclays Bank to build two of his homes.

“President Buhari also has two undeveloped plots of land, one in Kano and the other in Port Harcourt. He is still trying to trace the location of the Port Harcourt land.’’

Reacting to the declaration of assets by Buhari and Osinbajo, a lawyer, Carol Ajie, said the documents had loopholes.

Ajie said Buhari and his deputy needed to “make clear if they have liabilities or not, bearing in mind that the Constitution places emphasis on assets and liabilities.”

The lawyer said, “We need a bit more on specificity on some of the items such as shares in Berger Paints, Union Bank and Skye Bank, considering the length of time between April when he won the election and now, a period of six months for assets valuation of his seven houses located in Daura, Kano, Kaduna and Abuja.

“We have no addresses on these houses and what type of houses-bungalow, block of flats or duplexes- and estate valuer’s estimates. Same for his farms, orchard and a ranch in Daura, etc.

Another legal practitioner, Mr. Kayode Ajulo, said the President had yet to complete the declaration “as it is the law that his spouse is not a civil servant; the spouse must declare her asset in the same manner as done by President Buhari.”

“The same goes for his Vice. As it is, there may be likelihood of violation of the law on declaration of assets,” he added.

President of the Nigerian Voters Assembly, Mashood Erubami, said the declaration signified leadership by example.

Erubami said, “This is leadership by example. The declaration will leave no one in doubt about the commitment of the Buhari/Osinbajo administration to govern transparently and be accountable to Nigerians before and after office. With the declaration of the President, nobody will be spared from not declaring his or her assets in accordance with the laws of the land.

“It is now left to the Code of Conduct Bureau to vet the declared assets in order to ensure that the assets are real and appropriately valued. The assets must not be overvalued, and must be vetted to have been fairly acquired with truly extended current market value. Declaration of assets is a precondition for selfless, transparent and accountable government, which must not be sparing and selective.”

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Probe donation for Jonathan’s re-election, group tells EFCC

The International Society for Social Justice and
Human Rights has called on the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission to probe the
sources of funds donated by governors and
supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan for the
presidential campaign.
Governors in the Peoples Democratic Party,
businessmen, multinational organisations and
interest groups donated the sum of N21.27 billion
to support the re-election bid of President
Jonathan.
But the Chancellor of the ISSJHR, Dr. Jackson
Omenazu, described the development as a
flagrant abuse of the Electoral Act that made it
possible for political parties to embark on
fundraising to prosecute their campaigns.
Omenazu, who spoke in a telephone interview
with our correspondent on Wednesday, explained
that the donation of such a huge sum was aimed
at gaining a ‘criminal advantage’ over other
political parties.
He observed that 80 percent of the donors had, at
one time or the other, been entrusted with public
funds and added that it could be possible that
some of the donors could have mismanaged
public funds kept in their care.
Omenazu said, “It is a flagrant abuse of the
country’s Electoral Act that made it possible for
parties to embark on fundraising. From our
investigation, 80 percent of the donors are those
who are being entrusted with public funds and
may have mismanaged public funds.
“What they (PDP governors and other donors)
have done is to morally kidnap Mr. President so
that he will not be able to ask them to give
account of how they manage public funds at their
disposal.
“The PDP governors should have donated from
their individual pockets and not money belonging
to their states. It is a flagrant abuse of the
required financial regulations and there is a need
for EFFC’s intervention.
“Mr. President’s silence is a tacit approval of
corruption. Political parties’ fund raising is
supposed to come from the grassroots. Doing it
the way it was done by PDP governors and other
groups is to gain criminal advantage over other
political parties going for the same position.”
Omenazu maintained that it was wrong for any
political party to ‘coerce’ public office holders and
state governors entrusted with public funds to
embark on such a spending spree.

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Pastor Kumuyi urgess Deeper Life members to get voter cards

The General Overseer of Deeper Life Bible Church,
Williams Kumuyi, has directed all members to get
their voter cards to vote for a credible
government in 2015 elections.
He reiterated the need for people to shun religion
and ethnic sentiment in choosing leaders in the
elections.
Kumuyi spoke on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti
while declaring open a three-day revival, in Ekiti
State, in an event organised by Pastor Debo
Taiwo.
He said, “I declare that all members of deeper life
should go and get their voter cards so that we will
vote for a credible government. Whoever is voted,
if he is not doing the right thing, then we will
have the right to complain.
“If we must vote for the right kind of people, we
must exercise our right to vote.
He advised Nigerians to look at the past record of
politicians and the manifesto of their parties in
choosing their leaders in 2015.
“We should not vote for people because we are
from the same area or of the same church. People
should vote based on the credentials of the
leaders. We have to look at the records of those
that are contesting for us to elect credible leaders
that will bring development.
“It won’t be wise for people to start voting for
somebody because he is from your area or is a
member of your church. This is the more reason
why people should speak through the ballot by
participating actively in the electoral system.”
He also appealed to politicians to learn to accept
defeat in elections while urging winners to be
magnanimous.

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Troops kill suicide bomber in Gombe, discover bomb factory

The defence authorities have said that a suicide
bomber who rammed a Honda car primed with
Improvised Explosive Devices into a military
checkpoint in Bajoga, Gombe State, have been
shot dead by soldiers.
The Director of Defence Information, Major Gennral
Chris Olukolade, said in an electronic mail on
Wednesday that the suicide bomber successfully
rammed the bomb-laden Honda car into the
military checkpoint but the bombs failed to
explode.
Olukolade said that the soldiers reacted swiftly by
killing the bomber who was trying to flee the
scene of the incident.
He stated that the troops retrieved the IEDs from
the car and handed them over to the police.
“A suicide bomber who rammed into a military
checkpoint in Bajoga, Gombe State yesterday,
failed to achieve his mission.
“His attempt to escape also failed as he was
brought down by vigilant soldiers when he tried
to flee after hitting a military Amoured Personnel
Carrier with his IED-laden Honda car. The
explosives which failed to detonate have been
evacuated and handed to the police.”
It was also stated that security agents raided a
hideout of terrorists in Nasarawa Local
Government Area of Kano State and discovered a
bomb making factory in the area.
Olukolade said that some bomb-making experts
arrested by the security agents were already
undergoing investigation.
According to him, the security forces were
expecting the latest arrests to give some useful
clues into the activities of the sect.

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Lt. Col., 15 others jailed over Chibok girls’ abduction

The Nigerian Army has sentenced three officers
and 13 other soldiers to two years’ imprisonment
each over the April 14, 2014 abduction of over
200 schoolchildren from their hostel in Chibok,
Borno State, by Boko Haram insurgents.
The soldiers, including a Lieutenant Colonel, a
Captain and a Second lieutenant, were arraigned
before a General Military Court Martial at the
Maxwell Khobe Military Cantonment, Rukuba in
Jos, Plateau State, in October 2014.
The officers are Col. A. O. Ojo, Capt. O. O.
Ogunrinde, and 2nd Lieutenant V.I. Godknows.
Although the trial started at the headquarters of
the 3rd Armoured Division of the Army in Jos, the
court was moved to Kaduna where the judgment
was delivered on Tuesday.
The GCM panel convened by the General Officer
Commanding I Division, Kaduna, Maj.Gen. K. C.
Osuji, comprised Brig. Gen. Ogunlade (President);
Col. J. O. Sokoya, Col. M. Kadiri, Col. M. W.
Abubakar, Col. A. A. Bamgbose, Col. A. Garba and
Col E.M . Albara
Our correspondent learnt on Tuesday that the
panel concluded that the prosecution was able to
prove the case against the soldiers.
But the Defence counsel to Col. Ojo, Mr. Shuaibu
Isah, told our correspondent on the telephone that
the judgment was a far cry from the evidence
presented before the court.
Isah said he would appeal against the judgment
to the confirming authority, which is the Chief of
Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah.
He said, “We are not satisfied with the judgment
of the court. We intend to file an appeal against
this verdict before the confirming authorities…”
A source at the court said that Ojo was convicted
on two counts of failing to reinforce Chibok when
it came under Boko Haram attack on April 14 and
for allegedly releasing information without
verification to the Army authorities.
He said the “unverified information” caused the
Defence Headquarters to issue a ‘false’ statement
on the release of the abducted girls.
The source added that Ojo, who was said to have
resumed duty the day before the attack, had
responded to the charge of failing to reinforce
Chibok by explaining that he got the information
on the Chibok attack at his location in Biu by
1a.m.
The Lt. Col. was also said to have explained that
he had other operational issues such as his
inability to notify the nearby military formation in
Damboa.
On the charge that he gave unverified information
to the Army authorities, the officer said he never
gave any figure on the “rescued or abducted
girls.”
It was gathered that the lawyers to Godknows
told the court martial that their client, who was
charged with cowardly behaviour, was at the
Chibok location with 13 soldiers armed with AK
47 but with limited rounds of ammunition to
confront over 200 heavily armed Boko Haram
fighters.
Another source said that Godknows left four men
to defend the camp while he took nine others to
confront the insurgents before pulling back due to
their high number and overwhelming fire power.
The charges against the soldiers which centred on
failure to perform military duty carry a maximum
of two years imprisonment.

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Railway lines in Nigeria will commence operations soon says Tukur

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the Board Chairman of
Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), on Monday
said all the railway lines in the country would
commence operations soon.
Tukur disclosed this while briefing newsmen in
Port Harcourt.
He said the corporation had concluded plans to
commence operation along Port Harcourt – Enugu
railway lines to enhance rail transportation in the
zone.
The chairman said the rehabilitated South-Eastern
railway terminals would promote easy and
affordable transportation of people and agricultural
produce across the region.

“Our railway transportation system has long been
moribund but President Goodluck Jonathan’s led
administration has revived the system.
“Nigerian Railway Corporation is no longer what it
used to be, we are no longer using analogue
locomotive engines, and our facilities are up to
date in line with global standard.
“NRC has acquired digitalised trains and coaches
to enhance efficient services to Nigerians’’, he
said.

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FG ready to pay workers’ salary arrears before Christmas

The Federal Government on Monday assured it
workers that the three months salary arrears of
civil servants of some Ministries, Departments and
Agencies would be paid before Christmas.
The Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,
who gave the assurance in a statement by her
Special Adviser on Communication, Mr Paul
Nwabuikwu, said already, the processing of their
salaries had begun since last Friday.
There are 14 MDAs whose salaries are currently
being delayed owing to what the ministry of
finance described as a technical glitch which
affected the Integrated Personnel and Payroll
Information System through which payments are
made.
The statement alleged that in the 14 MDAs, there
had been a misuse of the salary budgets to pay
promotion arrears and other allowances.
The statement read in part, “The processing of the
December salaries started on Friday and is
continuing today.
“Civil servants should therefore get the salaries in
their accounts shortly.
“Also being processed are the salaries of the staff
of 14 MDAs where there has been a misuse of the
salary budgets to pay promotion arrears and
other allowances.
“In reaction to the wrong action, the IPPIS system,
which is programmed to reject irregular
procedures, had locked the MDAs in question out
of the system. This led to the unfortunate delays.
“We have taken action to rectify the problem and
the salary arrears of the staff of the affected MDAs
will be paid along with those of their colleagues in
other agencies.”

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Ex-minister urges EFCC to step up anti-graft war

A former Attorney General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi, (SAN), has urged
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
to be steadfast in the prosecution of the campaign
against corruption in the country.
He said the operatives of the EFCC must carry out
their responsibilities with the conviction that
society had put them in a position to enforce the
nation’s laws against corruption.
The former AGF said he had the belief that the
commission had credible personnel with the
capacity to enforce the laws of the land.
A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of
the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, quoted Agabi as
having made the comment while delivering the
Special Guest’s address at the commission’s
maiden ‘Rewards and Recognition’ ceremony in
Abuja on Monday.
He charged the EFCC to play a pivotal role in the
collective task to build the country.
He said, “Our country is ours to build, and you
are in the remarkable position, having been
appointed to investigate and prosecute all those
who undermine that work through corruption.
“Our laws are not self-enforcing, they require
good men and women to enforce them, and you of
the EFCC are the good men and women that the
nation has appointed to see to the enforcement of
our laws.”
The former AGF under whose tenure the EFCC was
established by the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo
Administration in 2003, said the commission had
survived serious challenges to develop into an
institution of great repute within and outside the
country.

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Transitional electricity market to begin Jan 1

The Federal Government has announced that the
effective date for the beginning of all contractual
obligations in the Nigerian electricity market has
been fixed for January 1, 2015.
It said January 1, 2015 is also the date for the
declaration of the long awaited Transition
Electricity Market.
The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, who
disclosed this at a stakeholders forum on Monday
in Abuja, said the main focus of TEM would be the
consummation of all contractual obligations as
stipulated in the market rules.
He said TEM declaration was not the start of the
transition, but an attempt to make the market
more mature and robust.
Nebo, in a statement by the Federal Ministry of
Power, called on all players to fulfill their
obligations, stressing that the Federal Government
would not accept any excuse as to why they were
unable to provide Nigerians with uninterrupted
power supply.
The minister disclosed that the Central Bank of
Nigeria was ready, hence all market participants
should perfect their papers in order to access
cheap funds under the government’s intervention
initiative.
Nebo also disclosed that government was
determined to radically address the lingering
metering-gap existing in the power sector.
This, he said, would help block leakages in
revenue, thereby making more resources available
for investment.

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Jonathan seeks royal fathers’ help for peaceful elections

President Goodluck Jonathan has appealed to
traditional rulers to assist in sensitising their
people towards peaceful elections in 2015.
Jonathan made the appeal in Abuja on Monday in
his address at the 7th General Assembly of the
National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria.
The President was represented by Vice- President
Namadi Sambo at the 7th general assembly of the
NCTRN with the theme ‘Sustaining the natural
mandate of the traditional institutions in
contemporary Nigeria’.
Jonathan acknowledged the unifying force and the
tremendous contributions of the traditional rulers
in maintaining peace in the country.
The President said, “As royal fathers and
traditional rulers, such a time calls for your wise
counsel and the enlightenment of your subjects as
well as prayers to ensure hitch-free and
successful elections across the federation.
“The role of the traditional institutions as the
custodian of our rich cultural heritage has
contributed immensely to ensuring high moral
standard amongst the citizenry and must be
greatly appreciated.”
He called on the royal fathers to assist
governments at all levels to end security
challenges in the country.
Jonathan said government was doing its best in
uplifting the socio-economic status of Nigerians
through job and wealth creation mechanisms.
Earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad
Abubakar III, said the commitment of the royal
fathers to the peace, unity, justice and stability of
the nation.
He urged government to positively look into their
recommendations.

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Female suicide bomber kills 19 in Gombe motor park

At least 19 people were killed and more than 40
others wounded on Monday when a female
suicide bomber detonated explosives at Dukku
motor park in Gombe, Gombe State.
The bomber was said to have disguised herself as
a passenger with the lethal weapon hidden in a
sack, which she used in deceiving other
passengers at the park.
Eyewitnesses said the incident happened at about
10.50am when the park was said to be filled with
passengers, who were eager to travel out of the
state capital to their respective destinations for
the Yuletide.
The female bomber was said to have detonated
the explosives on her near a Sharoon bus that
was already filled with passengers.
“The bomber chose her target carefully because
she timed when the bus was fully loaded with
passengers. It appeared she was standing by and
observing before carrying out her nefarious act,”
an eyewitness said.
Two buses were completely burnt, while majority
of the victims were said to be hawkers and
passengers.
One of the visitors to the park believed the
bomber would not have succeeded if there had
been serious screening at the gate.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state
command, Fwaji Atajiri, confirmed the incident.
He said 19 people died while 25 were injured,
adding that the police had already condoned off
the area.
The police spokesman said the casualties had
been taken to mortuary, adding that the injured
were being treated at the Gombe Specialist
Hospital.
Atajiri called on the general public to assist
security agencies by ensuring that they report
suspicious movements in their midst.

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Explosion Kills Scores In Potiskum, Yobe State

A suicide bomber has detonated an explosive device killing scores of Muslim worshippers in Potiskum the Yobe State capital.

Witnesses said that the Muslim brotherhood, the Shia, were on procession in Potiskum metropolis in observance of the 10th Day of Muharram 1436 celebration when the explosion went off among the worshippers killing scores of those in the procession.

It was also gathered that the bomber was among the worshippers when the explosion went off around 11:15 on Monday morning

Residents said that several followers of the group, particularly women and children, were killed by the explosion as security forces have presently cleared off the area to prevent further attack.

The Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Mr Markus Danladi, who confirmed the incident, said that the suicide bomber took advantage of the procession to carry out his dastardly act but casualty figure was yet to be known.

“Yes a suicide bomber was among the Shia group and detonated his explosive device, killing members of the group, but I am still on my way to the scene of the incident,” the CP said.

The entire area has presently been condoned off by security men as residents remain in their various locations to avoid being victims of any attack.

Potiskum has been experiencing several bomb attacks with the last one before this occurring two days after the Eid-el Fitr Sallah celebration where worshippers were killed in two separate mosque attacks.

NEWS GENESIS (C) 2014 All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from News Genesis.

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“I Went Into Drug Trafficking To Pay For My Wedding” – Nigerian Man Tells NDLEA

The pressure to have a big, flamboyant wedding has landed a Nigerian man in big trouble.
Chike Pauline, 40, was arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, after being caught with one kilogramme of substance suspected to be methamphetamine, Vanguard reports. He was apprehended during the outward screening of passengers on a Rwanda Air flight.
During preliminary investigations, Pauline told National Drug Law Agency (NDLEA) officials that he had been lured into drug trafficking because of his desperation to raise money for his wedding coming up in December this year.
“I am a patent medicine dealer in Aba, Abia State. My arrest is very unfortunate because I am a hardworking person. I was deceived into drug trafficking because I was desperate to perform my marriage ceremony by the end of the year. I was optimistic that I will not be arrested, but things did not go according to my expectation. What must I do to set myself free from this predicament?” he said.
He reportedly begged the officials not to imprison him, as he still intends to conduct his wedding in December.
The case is currently under investigation.

- See more at: http://silverbirdtv.com/entertainment-news/i-went-drug-trafficking-pay-my-wedding-nigerian-man-tells-ndlea#sthash.QaLhVK2Q.dpuf

The pressure to have a big, flamboyant wedding has landed a Nigerian man in big trouble.
Chike Pauline, 40, was arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, after being caught with one kilogramme of substance suspected to be methamphetamine, Vanguard reports. He was apprehended during the outward screening of passengers on a Rwanda Air flight.
During preliminary investigations, Pauline told National Drug Law Agency (NDLEA) officials that he had been lured into drug trafficking because of his desperation to raise money for his wedding coming up in December this year.
“I am a patent medicine dealer in Aba, Abia State. My arrest is very unfortunate because I am a hardworking person. I was deceived into drug trafficking because I was desperate to perform my marriage ceremony by the end of the year. I was optimistic that I will not be arrested, but things did not go according to my expectation. What must I do to set myself free from this predicament?” he said.
He reportedly begged the officials not to imprison him, as he still intends to conduct his wedding in December.
The case is currently under investigation.

- See more at: http://silverbirdtv.com/entertainment-news/i-went-drug-trafficking-pay-my-wedding-nigerian-man-tells-ndlea#sthash.QaLhVK2Q.dpuf

NEWS GENESIS (C) 2014 All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from News Genesis.

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