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The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), in Kwara, has demanded the refund of N33.6 billion the state Government deducted from the 16 Local Governments' statutorily allocations for 84 months.
The NULGE State Secretary, Mr Afolabi Abayomi made the demand in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Ilorin.
He said the N33.6billion was unconstitutionally deducted by the government to pay salaries of Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers.
Abayomi declared that payment of Junior Secondary school teachers was not the responsibility of the Local Governments.
He said the sum of N400million was illegally deducted from local governments' monthly allocation since 2009.
The secretary also said the state government had failed to release the Federal Government's contribution to local government pensioners since 2009.
He, therefore, asked the state government to henceforth desist from this illegal deduction and to also refund Federal Government's pension contribution deducted.
Abayomi added that NULGE State Administrative Secretary (SAC) met on October 14 and came out with the decision to say no to these illegal deductions.
He said that the 16 local government areas were short changed in their September statutory allocations using LG Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC).
Abayomi said the short-changing culture was being used in favour of a "State Agency that draws salaries their statutory salary from the Local Government Allocations".
"The SAC-in-Session wishes to stress here that the mode of the distribution of the August allocations shareable in September 2016 was unfair, bias, unconstitutional and thus rejected by the Union in Kwara State.
"SAC-in-session also resolved to withdraw from the participation in the monthly Joint Allocation Committee meeting because of the unholy activities coupled with deceitful tendencies and domineering roles of the state government," he said.
Abayomi said that the state government should as a matter of urgency transfer state government's technocrats posted to local government agencies to enable LG staff, who were trained, to manage such agencies as applicable in other states.
The secretary called on the state government to commence payment of Domestic Allowance to GL. 15, 16 and 17 officers at the Local Government level as it was paid to the State Civil Servants.
He implored Local Government workers in the state to remain calm even in the face of alleged unfair treatments meted on them by the state government.
Abayomi assured LG workers that NULGE National President. General Secretary and other National Officers would be visiting Kwara to assess the plights of LG workers.
Reacting to the allegation, Mr Muyideen Akorede the Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed, on Media and Publicity, said the state government doesn't deduct money from LG.
"Funds are shared among Basic Education teachers, LGs, Pensioners, Traditional councils as prescribed by law.
"The Ahmed administration ensures this distribution is done in transparently manner on monthly basis. So there is no basis for a demand refund of that or any other figure.
"The government only proposed to take over Payment of JSS teachers in order to reduce the burden on LGs and enhance their capacity to pay workers in view of reduced allocation.
"It is ironic NULGE is using that as the basis for its illogical demand for refund. We all know allocations have dropped to all tiers of government due to drop in oil prices.
"It's time NULGE woke up to that reality. The Ahmed administration does not tamper with LG funds," the Governor 's aide said.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) may have had a rethink on its position and resolve to investigate complaints of corruption against some judges.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman National Judicial Council, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has been reportedly said that he would forward recommendations on the investigation to appropriate authorities.
The spokesman to the CJN said in a statement that as soon as such investigations were completed, appropriate recommendations would be made to the President or Governors who would have the final say on the affected judicial officers.
He further stated that the judges would be charged for the offences disclosed from the facts against them and be prosecuted if necessary.
Some of the officials are those arrested few weeks ago by Department of State Services (DSS) and huge sums of money recovered from some of them.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria had condemned the sting operations carried out by the Department of State Services (DSS) on October 7 and October 8.
He said it was a clear assault on the independence of the Nigerian Judiciary.
The Justice also flayed the Nigerian Bar Association, for its advice to suspend the judges for the period of their travail in the interest of justice.
He said that the DSS has yet to forward any complaint or any official communication regarding the seven Judicial Officers to the National Judicial Council.
Justice Mohammed further said that some of the affected Judicial Officers had already been investigated by the NJC, which found some culpable and recommended their removal from office by dismissal or retirement to the President and respective Governors as provided under the Constitution.
The NJC said that it would be unlawful for it to yield to the call by the NBA, as "that position breaches the 2014 revised judicial discipline regulations formulated by NJC pursuant to section 160 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended".
Chelsea supporters taunted Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho with chants of “You’re not special anymore!” as his Stamford Bridge return yielded a humiliating 4-0 defeat on Sunday.
With seven major titles across two spells, Mourinho is Chelsea’s most successful ever manager, but his return to his old stomping ground ended in one of the most chastening results of his career.
Pedro Rodriguez opened the scoring after just 30 seconds and Chelsea did not look back, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante completing an emphatic Premier League victory.
It was a fitting tribute to former Chelsea vice-chairman Matthew Harding, whose death in a helicopter crash 20 years ago was marked prior to kick-off with banners and a giant flag.
Antonio Conte’s side have now won three consecutive league games without conceding a goal and climbed to fourth place, just a point below leaders Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Mourinho, in stark contrast, has already tasted defeat three times in the league with United, who trail City by six points ahead of Wednesday’s Manchester derby in the League Cup fourth round.
The team sheet told a tale of two captains: United’s, Wayne Rooney, was absent after reportedly injuring his thigh, while Chelsea’s, John Terry, remained on the bench following an ankle injury.
Manchester United’s Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho (L) shakes hands with Chelsea’s Italian head coach Antonio Conte (R) after the final whistle of the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London on October 23, 2016. AFP
Mourinho was greeted warmly by Terry and former assistant Steve Holland prior to the game, sharing a warm embrace with the former, but Chelsea’s hospitality vanished within 30 seconds of kick-off.
Chris Smalling inexplicably allowed Marcos Alonso’s pass from Chelsea’s left to bounce past him and Pedro nipped in to round United goalkeeper David de Gea and roll the ball home.
Mourinho, sacked for the second time by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich last December, looked faintly shellshocked.
– Bailly blow –
He saw his side squander a chance to level when Zlatan Ibrahimovic headed over after Antonio Valencia had stood up a cross from the right.
More slack defending allowed Chelsea to double their lead in the 21st minute, Cahill slamming home after Hazard’s corner had struck Ander Herrera and bounced down inside the six-yard box.
A pocket of Chelsea fans beside the dug-outs turned Mourinho’s ‘Special One’ nickname back on him, chanting: “You’re not special anymore!”
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had been relatively untroubled up to that point, although he produced a smart double save to repel Herrera’s left-foot effort and Jesse Lingard’s follow-up.
It was an ideal first half for Chelsea, but David Luiz was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card after planting his studs in Marouane Fellaini’s knee five minutes before half-time.
Mourinho changed tack at half-time, sending on Juan Mata for Fellaini and moving Marcus Rashford up front alongside Ibrahimovic in a 4-4-2 formation.
He was forced into another change seven minutes into the second half when Eric Bailly sustained a knock, with Marcos Rojo coming on at left-back and Daley Blind moving to centre-back.
Lingard sought to sound the revolt for United, wriggling away from a pair of Chelsea players and unleashing a crisp drive that Courtois had to push away.
But in the 62nd minute it was game over. Nemanja Matic’s pass down the inside-left channel found Hazard, who checked inside Smalling and steered a shot into the bottom-right corner.
Kante completed the rout, darting between Smalling and the sleep-walking Paul Pogba to tuck away his first Chelsea goal since his close-season switch from Leicester City.
U.S. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton has said she no longer cares what her Republican rival Donald Trump might say and will focus on issues instead.
"I debated him for four and a half hours," she said, recalling their acrimonious exchanges. "I don't even think about responding to him anymore."
She was speaking to reporters aboard her campaign plane.
Mr Trump used a rally in Gettysburg to promise curbs on lobbying and new trade and climate change negotiations.
With just 16 days until the election, much of the recent focus has been on controversies linked to his campaign.
On Saturday, he again promised to sue every woman who had accused him of sexual assault or inappropriate behaviour as soon as his presidential campaign was over.
While the tycoon lags behind Mrs Clinton in opinion polls, he recently narrowed the gap to about four percentage points.
Asked about Mr Trump's threat to sue his accusers, Mrs Clinton said her focus had turned to helping elect other Democrats on Nov. 8, when Congressional seats are also being contested
"He can say whatever he wants; he can run his campaign however he wants to," she said.
"I'm going to let the American people decide between what he offers and what we offer."
The polls may be wrong in Arizona but if they are correct, it may be the start of a Democratic trend that doesn't just put the state in play in a Clinton 2016 rout scenario, it makes Arizona a legitimate swing state in coming elections.
"The demographics in the state are continuing to change," says Arizona State University political science professor Richard Herrera.
"If there is another increase in Latino voters, which there almost certainly will be, followed with an increase in party registrants, this could become a real battleground in future elections."
For Democrats, that's a dream scenario, giving them new and plentiful paths to electoral success.
For Republicans, it could mean the start of a long-term political nightmare.
Speaking on stage in Pittsburgh, Mrs Clinton called for Americans to unite.
ABUJA- THE 260-kilometre Superhighway project executed by the Cross River State Government has come under serious criticism as some environmental scientists under the auspices of the Alliance of Leading Environmental Research and Thinkers, ALERT, alleged that the Cross River National Park has been endangered by the project.
This was stated by Director, ALERT, James Cook University, Australia, Prof William Laurance, who led other environmental scientists on assessment of the project described it as peril to the wild life park.
According to Laurance the Cross River National Park sustains two-thirds of Nigeria's surviving tropical rainforest, and millions of trees have been bulldozed along the proposed road route.
He also argued that the proposed superhighway if completed could rapidly worsen a deepening environmental and social crisis in Nigeria.
He said: "Nigeria needs better roads, but this is one of the most ill-conceived infrastructure projects we've seen anywhere. Southern Nigeria in general, and Cross River National Park in particular, are some of the most biologically and culturally important real estate on the planet.
"It would be tragic if they were destroyed or severely degraded by such a short-sighted development scheme."
He also alleged that the Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, of the project had technical itches.
"Independent analyses on the Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, have shown it to be a technical farce, and its validity is being challenged in a lawsuit brought by nongovernmental groups in Nigeria," he stated.
In his assertion a researcher Nigerian Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, and member of ALERT, Dr. Mahmoud Mahmoud, said, "As currently proposed, the highway would slice through the most critical forested areas of Nigeria.
"It would open up a Pandora's box of environmental problems, such as illegal deforestation, poaching, and encroachment, especially for Cross River National Park.
"We can only hope that common sense prevails. There are alternative routes for the highway that would be far less damaging to the environment and local peoples."
Another member of ALERT and former environmental advisor to three United States' Presidents, Prof Thomas Lovejoy, referred to the Cross River National Park as the 'Biological Jewel' of Nigeria, said the country has lost nine-tenth of her forest resources.
"Nigeria has already lost nine-tenths of its forests, with much of its surviving forest being fragmented and over hunted. In this context, Cross River National Park is irreplaceable—a biological jewel.
"It sustains a remarkable 18 species of primates, including the critically endangered Cross River Gorilla plus other imperilled wildlife such as forest elephants and leopards", Lovejoy added.
By Ben Agande Abuja – The Factional candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 20 Ondo State governorship election, Jimoh Ibrahim, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of trying exclude him from the election by not accepting his papers as the authentic candidate of the PDP.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja Sunday evening, Mr Ibrahim said the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) is not an appeal Court, therefore cannot determine who is the PDP candidate in the election.
The business mogul’s claim to being the candidate of the PDP was strengthened last week when an Abuja high Court ruled that the Electoral body should recognise Ibrahim, who was produced by the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the party. Jimoh Ibrahim
His attempt to file the court judgement was allegedly rebuffed by an official of the party whom he alleged demanded a bribe of one million Dollars from him.
But the chief press secretary to the chairman of INEC, Rotimi Oyekunmi denied the allegations saying no demand was made of the candidate.
Speaking further on the matter, Jimoh Ibrahim said though the electoral body had said it will obey the court judgement immediately it was served, the music changed “immediately INEC was served the judgement.
” After the service, the music changed. INEC should not allow one governor to destroy its reputation. We are not saying that INEC will not obey the court judgement.One of the officials demanded for one million dollar bribe from me to process the court judgement” healleged.
The PDP chieftain who said he had petitioned president Muhammadu Buhari and reported the official to the INEC chairman also demanded the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, saying that he is card carrying member of the PDP.
Jimoh said he cannot be trusted to conduct a free and fair election in the state.
However, in a reaction, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekunmi said” it is not true that Mrs Babalola demanded one million dollar bribe from Jimoh Ibrahim. Two other officials of INEC witnessed the encounter between Mrs Babalola and Jimoh Ibrahim.
Jimoh Ibrahim brought a copy of his judgement and wanted to impress it on INEC to collect it. But we told him that we already have it. It is incharitable and ungodly of businessman of his stature to make this kind of allegation” he said.
AN international humanitarian organisation, the Mercy Corps and Ford Foundation have revealed that recruitment into Boko Haram sect was mainly being achieved through gifts, gratification and promise of protection to members.
This was a product of a year long research done to ascertain what fuels the recruitment of community members, youths especially, into becoming tools for destabilisation and destruction, as well as why some communities support the sect's activities secretly in the North-eastern part of the country, especially in Borno State and its neighbours where its activities were prominent in recent years.
With the help of locals, who were hired as research assistants, Mercy Corps and its research team went into several communities inhabited by members of the sect, as well as friends and relatives of the sect, and then spoke to former Boko Haram members and the youths who resisted joining the organisation to ascertain their motives for joining the sect or why they resisted joining, respectively.
Their findings- with the presence of poverty, lack of economic and social presence in most communities, and the belief by many that their communities lacked government presence, Boko Haram presented a lifeline, offering economic ambition to attract or coerce youths by offering financial assistance for young people to grow their businesses, while also offering protection to those sympathetic to their cause.
For some, Boko Haram invested as high as one million naira into their cattle rearing business or farming, while for others, as low as ten thousand naira, motor bikes or even sewing machines were distributed, and in return, they were either made to participate in the sects' activities or made to provide other forms of support, including provision of intelligence to the group and logistics. For those who rejected the offers, they lived at the mercy of the deadly insurgents who did not spare some of them.
By Chimaobi Nwaiwu. Nnewi – The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has said that the people who actually committed treason against Nigeria and should be languishing in prison are now the people pretending to love the country.
IPOB in its public enlightenment series number three, signed by its spokespersons Mr Emma Nmezu, a lawyer, and Dr. Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya, said that President Muhammadu Buhari has no moral justification to talk about, or accuse anybody in the country of committing treason having committed it several times and went scot free.
Muhammadu Buhari, who is today the President of Nigeria and enjoying his office through democratic process was part of the people that overthrew a democratically elected government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, against the wish of Nigerians, and became Head of State, thereby truncating the democratic process that would have taking Nigeria beyond what it is today.
In the Public Enlightenment Series 3, titled, "Two compelling reasons why the National Assembly must immediately activate Section -143 of the Constitution of Nigeria" IPOB said "Retired Major-General Muhammadu Buhari came into limelight on three occasions before being forced on Nigerians as their president by the combined might of Mr. Barack Obama and Mr. David Cameron."POB potesters grounding Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, during their 1 Million March, to call for the immediate release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu was arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS, on his way into Nigeria from UK
The public enlightenment series statement also read: "the three occasions are President Buhari came into limelight were before he became Nigerian President were on the 29th of July 1966, he participated in the assassination of Major-General J. T. U. Aguiyi-Ironsi who was then Head of State of Nigeria, a treasonable felony act number one."
"In 1968, he was part of the group of Northern soldiers who massacred over two million Biafrans at Owerri. On the 31st of December 1983, he committed treason when he forcefully and violently overthrew the democratically elected Federal Government of Nigeria headed by Alhaji Aliyu Usman Shehu Shagari."
"Even after committing treason and just before he was overthrown in August 1985, everybody knows what he did with the lives of several civilians courtesy of Decree-2 and Decree-4.
"Thirty-two years after committing treason, he became the President of Nigeria on the 29th of May 2015 and within seven months of his checkered presidency, committed two grievous and unpardonable misconducts that should be grounds for activation of Section-143 of Nigeria's Constitution."
According to IPOB, Buhari's candidacy for presidential election was not in compliance with Section-131(d) of the Constitution which states thus: "A person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President if he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent."
"Till date Mr. President has not provided any proof that he had a School Certificate, if he has not cleared the doubt, it can be inferred that whatever he presented was forged, which should necessitate the application of Section-137(1-j) which states that: "A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if he has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission."
"Mr President has committed the act of misconducts on two grounds, and these are unarguable cases of perjury and abuse of office. Buhari lied under oath, which is in contravention of Section-19 of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution which states as follows:
"Misconduct” means breach of the Oath of Allegiance or oath of office of a member or breach of the provisions of this Constitution or a misconduct of such nature as amounts to bribery or corruption or false declaration of assets and liabilities".
"Recall that on the 29th of May 2015, Buhari took Oaths of Allegiance and Oath of Office of President which includes non-interference in the discharge of the duties of other arms government.
However, he told the world during his Media Chat of December 30, 2015, that Nnamdi Kanu and Sambo Dasuki will never be released and this was after the courts have ordered their unconditional release.
"Buhari's comment was not only a violation of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, but it is also in violation of Part-I Section-9 of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution which states that "A public officer shall not do or direct to be done, in abuse of his office, any arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of any other person knowing that such act is unlawful or contrary to any government policy."
"On the same day of his Media Chat, he committed perjury when he lied to the public by saying that even though Nnamdi Kanu has two International Passports, he (Nnamdi Kanu) never entered Nigeria with any passport. Buhari's statement can be viewed on the Youtube link.
"Mr. President made this statement in his capacity as the President of Nigeria for which he took an oath per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution and thereby committing perjury as defined by the term "misconduct" in Section-19 of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.
"On this basis, we, therefore, call on the National Assembly to immediately activate Section-143 of the Constitution of Nigeria to avoid further casualties. The removal of Buhari using Section-143 of the Constitution will ensure a temporary stability for Nigeria as the country prepares for its dissolution into the founding nations of Biafra, Arewa, and Oduduwa.
"Without the removal of Buhari, according to Section-143 of the Constitution, the unstoppable and irreversible disintegration of Nigeria into the nations above may take a violent and calamitous path which will end up hurting internal and external stakeholders in Nigeria, including the economic interests of foreign governments.
"A stitch in time saves nine and Biafra exit from the British creation called Nigeria is irrevocable and unchangeable."
By Emma Amaize, Egufe Yafugborhi and Perez Brisibe WARRI- THE Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, on Sunday, endorsed the October 31 meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, aimed at finding solutions to the current Niger Delta crisis.
However, a group, Urhobo Commoun Cause, UCC, in Delta state, led by Henry Obukohwo Tafri , has rejected the representation of PANDEF, led by the former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, saying it was concerned about alleged 'internal colonialism perpetrated by the leadership of Chief Clark."
MEND, in a statement by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, backing Clark-led PANDEF, asserted: "The forthcoming meeting vindicates MEND and Federal Government's continued insistence and belief ab initio that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari meant well for the sustainable peace and development of the hitherto neglected Niger Delta region."
It said: "MEND reiterates that we were the first and only militant group in the Niger Delta region who were meaningfully and constructively engaged in talks with the Federal Government with a view to resolving the Niger Delta crisis; as duly confirmed by no less a person than President Muhammadu Buhari sometime in July, 2016 in his farewell remarks to the outgoing German Ambassador, Mr. Michael Zinner.
His Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu later confirmed our claim when he informed the media that the Presidency was “waiting to receive the final agreement.”
"Following the fruitful talks, several concessions were secured by both parties. For the federal government, the major concession they secured was that MEND pledged the group's firm commitment to work assiduously to get all aggrieved militant groups in the region to ceasefire and line up behind a single umbrella body.
"MEND duly kept to the terms of the agreement by leveraging on its vast contacts to prevail on militant groups, criminal elements amongst others to ceasefire and recognized Chief Edwin Clark to lead the Niger Delta region in proposed talks with the federal government," it said.
The group noted: "And coming on the heels of a breakthrough, on August 27, 2016, MEND formally disbanded the Odein Ajumogobia-led Aaron team 2 and also lined up behind Chief Edwin Clark; in the overall interest and common good of the people of the Niger Delta region."
"The federal government, Nigerians and the international community would certainly agree that, as part of these concerted patriotic efforts by MEND within the preceding six months of this year, relative peace has since returned to the Niger Delta region. The country's oil and gas production capacity has also increased tremendously.
"However, in spite of MEND efforts, the federal government is yet to keep to the terms of the agreement reached with the group. Indeed, one of the key concessions secured by MEND was that, the federal government would concede to the release of certain political prisoners, including but not limited to the Okah Brothers – Henry and Charles," the group said.
It added: "Nevertheless, with news of the forthcoming meeting between President Buhari and the Chief Clark-led PANDEF, we are confident that the concessions already secured by MEND shall be respected by the federal government."
"Consequently, we urge members of the Chief Edwin Clark-led PANDEF to put aside personal interests and ambitions of primitive aggrandizement. Rather, we implore them to realize that the Niger Delta region is at a zebra crossing and, therefore, they must remain steadfast and focused on their core mandate, to wit: restoration of sustainable and permanent peace and development of the region," it said.
The UCC in a statement, said: "We, the Urhobo people, reject completely the list of the Central Working Committee (CWC) Chief E.K Clark forwarded to the presidency as representatives of South-South ethnic nationalities,"
"The list forwarded to the Nigeria President does not represent the true population of the ethnic nationalities in the South-South, and furthermore, the membership of the committee did not take into consideration the economic contribution of the various ethnic nationalities to common national purse," the group said.
Security experts in Lagos on Sunday urged Nigerians to publish and report phone numbers of suspected fraudsters on every available platform, so that the appropriate security agencies could go after them.
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, they said that reporting the numbers would reduce cases of fraudsters who deceive unsuspecting members of the public and defraud them.
Mr Festus Akapo, a security consultant, said that with the advent of the social media, Nigerians could easily publish the phone numbers of suspected fraudsters and alert the public to be wary of them.
"Through the social media, security agencies can be alerted and mobile network providers will also be alerted, so that they can work together to track down the fraudsters," he said.
Also, Mr Charles Sullivan, Head Media Operations at Bells Security, said that Nigerians often take for granted how far the little effort of publishing or reporting a fraudsters' phone number could go.
"Whenever we receive fraudulent calls, we should endeavour to make public the phone numbers and also share on various social media forum until it gets to the appropriate authority," he said.
Mr Ayodeji Fadipe, a security consultant, equally said that the only way Nigerians could help security agencies was to provide them with adequate information on any perceived criminal activity.
"One of the ways to do this is to save the suspected fraudsters' phone number and forward it to security agents for proper investigation.
"Although the fraudulent subscribers should be easily tracked, if the number had been registered, the most important thing is a collaboration between security agencies and network providers."
Contributing, Mr Michael Ehizoje, another security expert, said that there were mobile phone applications that would ordinarily reveal the identity of a caller and make it easy to report a fraudulent call.
"There are different user-friendly applications to track fraudulent calls; Nigerians should not feel reluctant to report these fraudsters to the relevant security agencies," he said.
By AbdulSalam Muhammad KANO – The executive Governor of Kano state, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje weekend threatened to probe his estranged predecessor and a sitting Federal MP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s tenure.
In a highly worded press statement signed by the state Commissioner of information and culture, Alhaji Muhammad Garba that was made available to Vanguard noted that Kwankwaso’s penchant of peddling unsubstantiated allegations may put him on a collision course with Kano state government. Kwankwaso and Ganduje
Ganduje declared that “this deliberate distortion of facts and spreading of falsehood is capable of provoking the government to drop its non-confrontational stance and institute commission of inquiry to prove the previous administration particularly on illegal land deals, education and infrastructure.”
Ganduje’s reaction came on the heel of an ultimatum by Kwankwasiyya movement on a sitting Governor to drop his red cap within 24 hours or else face legal hurdles.
The statement added “the threat of legal action against Governor Ganduje by the movement if he fails to stop wearing red cap within 48 hours is the most laughable, pathetic, clear indication of their ignorance of the law and history of political struggle in Kano. They should have known that red cap was introduced by Late Aminu Kano and popularized by him, his followers and disciples for which Governor Ganduje was among. He was also at the forefront of its re-introduction during the second tenure of Kwankwaso in 2011. Who then could better claim the red cap doctrine?
The statement noted that "this unfortunate behaviour lacking in any tint of civility, decency and responsible politicking that has become the hallmark of top echelons of the Kwankwasiyya movement is, to say the least, laughable, pathetic, pitiful and desperate attempt to misguide the public and bring the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and his personality to disrepute.” –
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA – The Legal Defence and Assistance Project, LEDAP, has challenged the powers of the National Assembly to summon or question any of the seven judges arrested by the Department of State Service, DSS, over allegation of corruption.
The body, in a statement on Sunday, said it was wrong for the National Assembly to summon the accused judges to appear before the Senate Committee on Judiciary.
It maintained that the legislature has no oversight powers over judicial officers under the constitutional principle of separation of powers as entrenched in sections 4, 5 and 6 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
“LEDAP draws the attention of the National Assembly that under the Constitution, it is only the National Judicial Council (NJC) that has the power of control and discipline of judges and justices of superior courts in Nigeria.
Any interference by the legislature or the executive into the conduct of judges in carrying out their judicial functions will amount to unlawful interference with the independence of the judiciary. Ngwuta, Okoroand Ademola
“The 1999 Constitution, unlike the legal framework of past military regimes, has consolidated the independence of the judiciary and established the NJC as the only body responsible for management of the judiciary.
“LEDAP is concerned that the recent raid and arrest of judges and justices by the DSS, and continued assault and raid on judges by other agencies of the executive, have the effect of opening up the judiciary to unlawful and unconstitutional interference and intimidation by other arms of government, the reason for which the Senate has the temerity to speak about inviting judicial officers for questioning.
“LEDAP will shortly approach the courts to seek orders restraining any such invitation or summon of the arrested judicial officers as it amounts to attempt to brow-beat and intimidate the judiciary.
“There are a lot of corruption issues and corrupt politicians in the legislature and executive which should pre-occupy the Senators. The scandal arising from the padding of the budget, which has been going on for many years in the legislature with connivance of the executive, as well as bogus and secretive huge allowances and emoluments claimed by legislators are more damaging economic crimes against the Nigerian people that the Senate should address rather than intimidating few judges alleged to be corrupt.
“There are several court orders directing the National Assembly to disclose salaries and emoluments of its members, and details of constituency allowances claimed yearly by legislators . It has refused to obey these judgements of the courts.
“The legislators appropriate nearly a quarter of national wealth to themselves and account to no one. Nigerian legislators, adjudged as the most corrupt and most expensive in the world, has no legal or moral right to superintendent over alleged corruption in the judiciary.
“LEDAP calls on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to resist attempts by the executive and legislature to control and manage the judiciary. Such situation will on the long run denigrate the judiciary and legal profession and threaten the rule of law.
“The independence of the judiciary, as guaranteed in the Constitution, is essential element of any democracy. The NBA can work with NJC to improve on its complaint management system to ensure that judicial discipline is effectively and efficiently enforced.
“The association cannot, as a result of current challenges, allow the other arms of government to destroy the age-long integrity of the Nigerian judiciary”, read the statement signed by National Coordinator of the body, Mr. Chino Obiagwu.
Utsunomiya – A 72 year-old retired soldier blew himself up in a park in the Japanese city of Utsunomiya, killing himself and injuring three other people in an apparent suicide.
A media report on Sunday in Utsunomiya said that a second explosion, separate from the blast that killed the former Self Defence Force member, caused a fire in a nearby parking lot.
It said the man's home 8 km (5 miles) from the park burnt to the ground.
Images made available by the media showed two burnt out cars, one of which belonged to the dead man, about 200 metres (650 feet) from the park and a charred broken bench at the edge of the park, where a folk art festival was underway.
The police in the city said they had discovered a suicide note written by the man and were investigating the three incidents, but did not give further details.
Experts report noted that suicide rates have declined in Japan in recent years, but remain among the highest in the world, with around 30,000 people a year taking their own lives.
They identified financial stress of surviving on small pensions as the reason for pushing some retired people to end their lives.
They recalled that in 2015, a 71 year-old man set himself on fire on a bullet train in an incident that also claimed the life of a 52 year-old woman travelling in the same carriage.
Lagos – The Lagos State Government on Sunday said it would arraign the key suspects arrested for the kidnap of the traditional ruler of Iba Town, Oba Goriola Oseni before a Lagos High Court in Igbosere on Monday, Oct. 24.
Mr Adeniji Kazeem, the State's Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, said in a statement that the four suspects — Duba Furejo, Ododomo Isaiah, Reuben Anthony and Yerin Fresh would be arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo.
They are to be charged with conspiracy, murder, armed robbery and kidnapping
The statement said the suspects would be arraigned on eight count charges relating to kidnapping of the monarch, murder of the palace security guard — Sunday Okanlawon and a commercial motorcycle rider, Joseph Okeke.
It said they would also be charged for attempted murder of the monarch's wife, Olori Abosede Oseni and robbery of her property.
According to the statement, the present administration is resolved to rid the state of all forms of criminality.Toba Foreje (left) and Isaiah Ofodomu, suspected kidnappers of Oba Goriola Oseni, Oniba of Iba-land in Iba Local Council Development Area[LCDA] paraded by Lagos state Governor and Commissioner of Police at Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez
"The office of the Attorney General will work closely with all security agencies to ensure that all cases of kidnapping, cultism, rape, sexual and domestic violence crimes are swiftly prosecuted to a logical conclusion.
"The swift commencement of the trial of the suspects in the kidnap of the monarch is a strong signal by the administration of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode that it is not business as usual for criminals.
"If you commit a crime, we will find you and prosecute you no matter how long it takes.
"Gov. Ambode as part of his commitment to make the state a safe place to live in and do business, will continue to support law enforcement agencies in the investigation and apprehension of all criminals.
"The governor is also committed to ensuring that Lagos State becomes a no-go area for criminals who target innocent citizens for kidnapping and collection of ransom in an effort to get rich quick," the statement said.
On July 16, Okanlawon and Okeke were killed while the monarch was abducted and kept in captivity for about three weeks.
The sustained pressure and intelligence gathering from law enforcement agencies, however, led to the rescue of the monarch, while the four suspects were apprehended in the process.
Lafia – The officials of Nasarawa United FC have boasted that the Lafia side would beat FC Ifeanyi Ubah in the upcoming 2016 Federation Cup final to lift the trophy.
The Head Coach, Kabiru Dogo, said that he foresaw no other outcome of the match but victory for his team giving their mentality.
"The boys have this giants' mentality that helped them to overcome their opponents to get to the final.
"What we are waiting for now is to lift the trophy because we believe we have what it takes to be champions.
"I have huge respect for Ifeanyi Ubah but my team's recent performances has shown that we can overcome them,'' Dogo said, boasting of their readiness for the encounter.
He described the mood on the training ground as highly positive, adding that the players were totally focused on finishing the task ahead of them.
"With due respect to our opponents, by the special grace of God, we are coming back to Lafia with Cup.
"All we are waiting for now is for the day to come. Right now, we are training and strategising on how to achieve our goal,'' he said.
The Solid Miners coach commended the Nasarawa State Government and management of the club for paying all outstanding allowances to avert negative feelings that might affect the team's performance.
"The boys are happy with the attitude of the state government and the management.
"As I talk to you, they are well motivated for this game. That is why I am confident, we will get nothing less than victory,'' Dogo said.
Also, Musa Elayo, the club's Media Officer, expressed the team's readiness to take on Ifeanyi Ubah and come out victorious against all odds.
"Whatever game plan they have, our boys are ready and will survive their onslaught. They are well motivated for this game and have promised us they will come out victorious,'' he said.
He added that preparations were in top gear with regards to logistics and other necessities to ensure a smooth execution of the team's victory plan.
NAN reports that Nasarawa United will take on Ifeanyi Ubah in the final of the 2016 Federation Cup at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos State.
Both teams defeated their opponents — Enyimba International of Aba and Crown FC of Ogbomoso respectively in the semi-finals to book their places in the final to be played on Oct. 30.
Port Harcourt – Misbahu Lawan, President, Para-Soccer Federation of Nigeria (PSFN) said on Sunday that Para-soccer has been positively impacting the lives of the physically challenged.
Lawan, who is also the National Chairman, Polio Survivors of Nigeria (PSN), said in Port Harcourt that Nigerians no longer see them as beggars.
He said that people had looked down on them because of their disability but all that had changed because of para-soccer.WALE, AN OSUN PARA-SOCCER STRIKER, BREAKING THROUGH THE OPPONENTS’DEFENCE DURING THE OPENING MATCH BETWEEN OSUN AND KWARA AT THE ONGOING 3RD WORLD POLIO DAY NATIONAL PARA-SOCCER TOURNAMENT IN ABUJA. OSUN WON 3-0.
"Initially people looked down on any person with disability. The only thing Nigerians knew then was, once you are disabled, you are a beggar.
"With this game, the attitude of people has changed on the issue of disability, especially looking at us as a people who can entertain others and contribute to the development of Nigeria,'' he said.
According to Lawan, apart from employment many people with disability have got through the sport, it has also made them to engage in other businesses with income from the game.
"The pain with disability in Nigeria has dropped because some of us have got employment, running private businesses and are highly educated.
"A lot of people with disability in the country are professors. That is to tell that we have changed from the negative way to the positive,'' he added.
Lawan said that as a collective group of people with disability, they were determined to promote the image of Nigeria.
"All stakeholders believe that we should continue working to ensure that we promote the image of this country at all levels we can as our contribution,'' he said.
Abuja – The Nigeria Police Force on Sunday said there would be no cover-up in the case of the Assistant Commissioner of Police arrested with N2.7 million bribe money.
The Head, Compliant Response Unit (CRU), Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Abayomi Shogunle, disclosed this in an interview in Abuja.
He said the police had taken all necessary actions provided in the Police Act and Regulations in respect of the case.
He added that "I don't see anybody covering up this particular case because the necessary actions needed to be taken, the normal disciplinary procedure as provided under the Police Act and Regulations are being followed."
Shogunle said the officer in question had already been issued a query and a criminal investigation had been conducted by the X-squad.
The officer had since responded to the query and had faced the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC), he said.
Shogunle added that the FDC had made its recommendations to the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), which had been forwarded to the Police Service Commission ( PSC) for ratification.
"The processes needed have been done and all we are just waiting for is the recommendations of the PSC," he said.
He pointed out that it was when the Commission informed the I-G on the matter that the CRU would in turn inform the public on the matter.
Shogunle said that I-G had directed the unit to ensure that it discharged its responsibilities without impunity in line with its motto.
"One of the things the I-G has tasked the CRU, which is no to impunity, is that the unit should ensure that it upholds that motto," he added.
It would be recalled that information about the recovery of the N2.7 million bribe money from the officer in question was made known in the third quarter report of the CRU, signed by Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Abayomi Shogunle, Head of CRU in Abuja.
The report said the recovery followed a complaint made to the CRU through a telephone call.
On alleged preferential treatment for senior officers, Shogunle said the unit had taken up all cases against all police officers irrespective of their ranks.
"Probably, we get more complaints against the junior ranks because they interact more with members of the public.
"They are the ones that are always out on the streets. So it is possible you will get more complaints against them than the senior officers."
Shogunle assured that all complaints irrespective of the ranks of the persons would be treated based on merit, adding that the rule of law would always prevail.
The CRU head said that the inclusion of the X-squad unit of the police was yielding result.
"One of the breakthroughs we have had as contained in the CRU third quarter report was actually done by the x-squad.
"This is the kind of things the public should expect with the inclusion of the squad by the I-G in the fight against corruption," he said.
He said there was cordial working relationship between the Nigeria Police Force through the CRU and human rights groups in the country.
"As a matter of fact, we have a committee made up of these organisations to review policing operations nationwide.
"We hear from them issues of policing and also give them feedback on their cases that were handled by the CRU," he said.
Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League with a 1-1 draw at home to Southampton on Sunday, although the performance again raised question marks over the title credentials of Pep Guardiola's team after a fifth consecutive game without a victory.
Kelechi Iheanacho's eighth goal in his last 11 league games cancelled out Nathan Redmond's first-half opener for Southampton, which owed much to an extraordinary mistrake by City defender John Stones.
City, after winning their first 10 games under Spanish coach Guardiola, have suffered a major dip in form.
Guardiola had spoken passionately in the wake of the midweek 4-0 defeat at former club Barcelona about his desire to stick to his footballing philosophy.
Those beliefs, however, must have been sorely tested in a first half in which his side failed to test Fraser Forster in the Southampton goal and fell behind to the visitors.
The Saints went ahead in the 27th minute following a disastrous back pass from England centre-half Stones, who nonchalantly laid the ball back into the City penalty area despite the presence of Redmond.
The forward retained his composure, beating Vincent Kompany to the ball and rounding Claudio Bravo before converting into the open net.
Following Bravo's costly defensive slip in the midweek Champions League tie, it was another blow to Guardiola and a handful of home supporters booed the team off at the interval.
Iheanacho celebrating his goal against Southampton
– Harsh decision –
For all their defensive problems, however, City were equally ineffective at the other end in the first half — their best effort coming when Stones had a 31st-minute effort ruled out for offside.
The defender appeared to have made amends for his earlier error when he headed home Kevin De Bruyne's free-kick only for referee Mark Clattenburg to rule it out — a decision which replays suggested was harsh.
An early David Silva cross was easily picked out by Forster, Ilkay Gundogan shot just wide from the edge of the area and Raheem Sterling drilled a shot way off target.
Instead, the Saints looked more likely to score, particularly on the break, with Dusan Tadic testing Bravo with an early cross-shot.
Guardiola wasted no time in altering his tactics at the interval, with Iheanacho replacing De Bruyne who was clearly still below peak form following a recent injury lay-off.
The situation might have worsened for City in the opening exchanges after the break when Aleksandar Kolarov was booked for a body check on Charlie Austin as the Southampton striker attempted to chase a through ball.
But City finally started to assert some control with Sterling's low 54th-minute cross just bouncing beyond Silva's far-post lunge.
Moments later, Iheanacho equalised after a flowing move exposed gaps in Southampton’s defence with passes from Fernandinho and Leroy Sane allowing the young Nigerian to sweep in a confident finish from six yards.
City's passing, so inconsistent in the first half, had also improved markedly and a concerted attack ended with Sterling finding Iheanacho who turned and centred for Silva, only for a deflection off a defender to save the Saints.
After 68 minutes, the increasingly effective Gundogan worked his way through midfield, via a series of give-and-gos, before seeing Forster keep out his low drive with a one-handed diving stop.
Silva also found himself in space in the Southampton area, producing a near-post shot which Forster blocked with a solid parry.
But there were also warning signs for Guardiola, notably in the 74th minute when Sofiane Boufal found Austin in space in the City area only for his shot to be well saved by Bravo.
Soon afterwards, Steven Davis was similarly left unguarded just outside the home box and curled a shot narrowly wide.
Aguero also twice came close, first with a stooping, off-target header and then with a determined run and a low shot which flashed across the face of goal.
![Toba Foreje (left) and Isaiah Ofodomu, suspected kidnappers of Oba Goriola Oseni, Oniba of Iba-land in Iba Local Council Development Area[LCDA] paraded by Lagos state Governor and Commissioner of Police at Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez](http://www.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Ambode-Parade-Kidnapper-of-Oba-Goriola-Oseni-Oni-of-Iba-in-Lagos-5.jpg)
