A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
The House of Representatives on Thursday urged the National Pensions Commission to ensure prompt payment of pensions in order to mitigate the sufferings of pensioners in the country.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Prestige Ossy (PDP-Abia) entitled "Need to Create a More Conducive Atmosphere for Senior Citizens to Access Their Pension When Due''.
Moving the motion, Ossy expressed concern that citizens who spent most of their active years working for the country were deprived of their entitlements.
He said, "it was disheartening that 12 years after the Pensions Reform Act of 2004 was enacted, state governments and the organised private sector have failed to fully activate the contributory pension scheme.
"Most retirees who are old and frail are made to stand in long queues for hours in a bid to collect their pensions, which sometimes lead to the collapse or untimely death of some persons in the process.
"The mode of accessing pension in Nigeria is too rigorous for these old and frail citizens and there is urgent need to device a less cumbersome procedure to access pensions by senior citizens.''
Ossy called for probe into allegation that most states in the country did not release funds for payment of pensioners as and at when due.
"This has resulted to some of them being owed up to nine months pension arrears as a result of sharp practices on the part of state government officials, who use the monies for pensions for their personal aggrandizement,'' he added.
Ruling on the matter, the Speaker of the house, Mr Yakubu Dogara, mandated the Committee on Pensions to investigate the immediate and remote causes of delay in payment of pensions in the country.
The Committee was given four weeks to report back to the house.
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has denied offering bribe of any kind to justices of the Court of Appeal. Mimiko, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Eni Akinsola, said the allegation of bribery was yet another effort to distract the judiciary and confuse the public by Jimoh Ibrahima and his agent, one Biyi Poroye.
Mimiko
“We have heard of the grave but specious allegation by one Biyi Poroye and Mr Jimoh Ibrahim that Governor Mimiko openly boasted about offering, and or offered, bribe running into hundreds of Millions of Naira to some Justices of the Appeal Court in respect of the cases before their Lordships on the 2016 election in Ondo State. “We say, without any equivocation, that the governor did not offer bribe of any amount let alone boast of doing so to any justice of the Court of Appeal,” the statement said. Biyi Poroye had in a petition to the Court of Appeal Panel on the Ondo case alleged that Governor Mimiko bribed the justices and boasted about the bribe. The Ondo Governor added that the allegation was an obvious lie which should ordinarily have been discountenanced but for the fact that now more than ever before lies and falsehood are believed more than the truth. “With the prevalence of blackmail, propagation of lies and outright falsehood on the Ondo election, we hasten to say that this ungodly lie is what it is: a concoction from the pit of hell, ” the statement reads. Mimiko who welcomed the effort of the courts to investigate the allegation of bribery also gave hints of legal actions to bring the liars to justice.
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Thursday, pleaded with the oil companies operating in the State, to invest in the Agricultural sector to create jobs for the youths.
Okorocha stated this in Owerri, during the 2016 Indigenous Technology Forum and Exhibition at Concord Hotel, organized by Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC.
The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Udo Agoha, said that agriculture was top in the agenda of the present administration.
Okorocha, who spoke through the Commissioner for Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, said, ” I wish to draw your attention to the need to further expand your contribution to the current efforts of Government to engage youths in meaningful economic activities through skills acquisition, empowerment and employment including infrastructure development.
“This is part of your corporate social responsibility which I urge you to give serious attention to as I expect a comprehensive format in this regard in due course . You must draw up an action plan for human capital development in the areas where you operate.
Speaking also, the Vice Chairman/Managing Director, Nigeria Agip Oil Companies, NAOC, Massimo Insulla, described the event as “a reflection of our ideals as contained in the new mission” which he said, “recognizes that diversity across all aspects of our operations and organization is something to be cherished.
“We believe in the value of long term partnership with the countries and communities where we operate.”
ABUJA- SENATE President Bukola Saraki yesterday reiterated that the Senate would be introducing a Host Community legislation into the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, PIGB, 2016 to help complement the Governance and Institutional Framework Bill of the revised Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB which passed the Second Reading at the Senate on Wednesday.
In a statement signed by Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Special Adviser on Media & Publicity to the Senate President, Saraki stated that with the institutional and governance framework aspect of the PIB at the Committee Stage, it was necessary for the Senate to begin work on the passage of the host community development legislation, which would be aimed at addressing issues relating to community participation, security, and the ecological debt incurred by host communities from oil extraction.
Saraki said, “For many years now the PIB has been stalled at different stages for one reason or the other," Saraki stated, "At this point, the Senate is ready and willing to do everything that it takes to get Nigeria's economy out of this recession — and the efficient and effective management of our oil resources is a key component of this.
"Now that the legislation to provide a governance and institutional framework for the petroleum industry has passed Second Reading, it is time to re-introduce the host community development legislation to address the legitimate agitations of the people of the Niger Delta.”
By the calculation of the Senate President, work on the passage of the two key bills will be nearing completion stage before the end of the year.
The Senate President also stated that he has asked legislators from the Upper Legislative Chamber to work together and introduce the host community development legislation, within four weeks, emphasising the fact that the predicaments of host communities that have faced the adverse effects of oil exploration for decades need to be addressed.
The version of the PIB that is now at Committee Stage is sponsored by Senator Omotayo D. Alasoadura and Twenty-eight Co-Sponsors.
The Bill with the long title of "An Act to Provide for the Governance and Institutional Framework for the Petroleum Industry and for Other Related Matters" is aimed at creating an efficient and effective governing institution for the petroleum industry by defining clear and separate roles for all involved entities and establishing a framework for the creation of commercially oriented and profit- driven petroleum bodies that ensure value addition and internationalization of the petroleum industry.
LAFIA- ON the move to ban importation of rice into the country in 2017, a rice production giant, OLAM Nigeria, yesterday, urged the Federal Government to embark on gradual process to close the supply gap of 2.5 million tonnes in five years.
This was stated by the General Manager, GM, Project Coordinator, OLAM Nigeria, Mahesh Nimje, while conducting a media tour of the company’s rice farm and mill in Rukubi, Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, where he said rice produced by the company has been of high quality for local consumption.
Nimje reacting to the move said the Federal Government should support and provide more enabling environment for local investors and farmers to close the huge supply gap of 2.5 million tonnes before finally banning rice importation into the country.
According to him on enhancing domestic food security through scaling up rice cultivation, Olam has started developing a 13,500 hectares fully irrigated paddy farm on greenfield site in Ondorie, Nasarawa State.
He further stated that the farm will be expecting a yield of 10mt per hectare (over two annual crop cycles), based on four varieties of high-yield rice tested with the West African Rice Development Association, which 4,040 hectares are already under cultivation, with a further 3000 hectares on target for 2016/17, and 1000 workers are employed on the farm.
He said: "There is the supply gap of 2.5 million tonnes and the demand is still high, that is the reason why demand has gone up more than the supply. So that gap cannot be filled within one or two years but five years for the government to encourage efforts of the local producers of rice, like the Anchor Borrower Scheme, more support to farmers, training institutes for farmers, and also should encourage international companies to establish farm like Olam.
"In the last one year there has not been much importers, the effort of government has yield some results, but not that much to bridge the entire gap. The 2017 ban of rice importation is too closer because the gap is still 2.5 million tonnes.
"Like Olam's effort as you can see is all rice farm and that has challenged the communities around which the people have gone into serious rice farming, and they need more facilities. With the encouragement from the government the gap can be closed but it will take five years.
"It will take five years for government to achieve that target, but they should keep that will power and good work of supporting the farmers, international farmers to establish like Olam."
He also urged the government to continue its support for local rice farmers and millers to close the supply gap, as Olam has been giving support to rice out-growers in the community with supply of fertilisers and cheaper seeds, and also free training.
"We urge organisations like the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to help farmers get some credit for yield per hectare. Government should put in more efforts and support to rice farmers with the Anchor Borrowers Scheme and IFAD assisted programme, and also give better environment to companies here in Nigeria, and it will attract other investors to come into the rice sub-sector", he stated.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has lashed out at the United States again and even called the Americans "monkeys" and “fools.”
He was reacting to news reports that the U.S. State Department had halted the planned sale of some 26,000 assault rifles to the Philippine National Police due to human rights concerns.
Philippine-President-Rodrigo-Duterte
"Look at these monkeys. They're stopping the sale of 26,000 assault rifles to us. Son of a bitch. There are a lot of airguns. The Americans are fools," Duterte said.
He spoke during the send-off ceremony of 17 Vietnamese fishermen who were caught poaching in waters in September in Sual town, Pangasinan.
Duterte also slammed the U.S. for intervening in the Philippines' affairs, adding it was the Americans who started the verbal war.
"Son of a bitch! I'm fuming mad. They started it first," Duterte added, recalling how the Americans treated Filipinos like "a dog on leash" after "living in the fat" of Filipinos during their 50 years of occupation of the Philippines.
Duterte said that he has lost respect for America. "That's my problem with America. They are rude to us that's why I'm rude to them," he said.
He reiterated that the Philippines is a sovereign country and should not be treated like a colony, adding that the U.S. treats the Philippines like a dog on leash that is thrown food if it follows orders from its master. "In our case, it's in the form of (foreign aids)," he said.
Duterte cited how the U.S. "destroyed" Iraq, "undermined" Libya, and now trying to destroy Syria.
"If somebody here could tell me a good rationale, or rationale if you may, tell me if what the U.S. is doing is right. In the case of Iraq, you destroyed a country, killed the leaders. No weapons of mass destruction found," he said.
It was the first time that Duterte laced his speech with expletives again after vowing that he would stop swearing after he said God had told him to stop cursing while on a plane from a visit in Japan.
The German government has declared interest in partnering Nigeria to salvage the recession rocking the country through vocational trainings to provide jobs for the teaming youths, ensure good qualification and through boosting of enterprise in Nigeria.
It said this is necessary considering the rate at which quality of products coming from local factories, work places and artisans has continued to drop, a development that calls for technical expertise to improve the quality of products and services spread across markets in Nigeria.
Addressing participants on the benefits of dual vocational training partnership with Nigeria, the Consul General, Consulate General, Federal Republic of Germany, Mr Ingo Herbert, said the German Dual Vocational Training, a project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, commenced in Nigeria in 2013 to ensure employability and qualification of teeming unemployed youths as well as serve as a tool for achieving greater productivity among the workforce.
He said this at an event organised by delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria which is in collaboration with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Gienssen-Friedberg, Germany. The even pulled together over 60 representatives both from the public and private sectors with various interests in vocational training. Panelists who are experts on vocational training and education spoke on the need to embrace vocational training at this challenging time in Nigeria.
The project is coordinated by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria in collaboration with the different stakeholders, nationwide which include the Nigerian-German Business Association, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ogun State Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Also present were visiting members of the German Parliament and representatives of the Giessen-Friedberg Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Germany.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), an organization set up by the Nigerian government since 1973 to ensure Nigerian students give a mandatory one-year service upon graduation, recently issued out call-up letters to certain individuals who have qualified to join the last batch for the year.
However, while these individuals are much elated to get the opportunity, seeing as completing the service year entitles one to employment, a number of them are perturbed as to how to cope with the three weeks "orientation" period spent in a military-controlled boot "camp" away from family and friends.Jumia Travel , therefore, suggests 7 ways prospective youth corpers can maximize their time at the NYSC camp.
Join the OBS
The Orientation Broadcasting Service (OBS) is a great way to serve while in the camp. A very important unit of the camp, it will offer you opportunities to not only develop your editorial and media skills, you will get to know the key officers in the camp. It also gives you a measure of authority and allows you to get an exemption from some of the camp activities which you may be averse to.
Run a small business
You can actually make money while at the orientation camp. You can offer services such as hair dressing or laundry to others in the camp who need them for a fee or you can rent a stall at the Mami market and sell food items which most corpers need from day to day. It is a great way to hone your business skills before you are launched into the labour market.
Do an online course
The orientation period does not have to be all activities and socializing, you can further develop yourself on the side by registering and going through a short online course during your stay. The good thing about online learning is that it is flexible so you can actually plan it around the time that you will be leaving the camp.
Socialize and actually meet new people
The NYSC scheme was originally established to encourage oneness among citizens in the country and promote national unity. By sending these individuals to other states, the expectation is that they mix with people of other tribes, social and family backgrounds and learn the culture of the indigenes in the place they are posted. Rather than sticking to yourself all through the orientation process, use your spare time to actually fraternize and get to know the people in your platoon and camp as a whole. You would be surprised how many new things you will learn about Nigeria and what connections you may make for the future.
Start applying for jobs
The orientation period is not too early a time to start sending out your CVs to potential employers. The NYSC orientation can actually serve as an avenue for corpers to share job information and career resources, so take advantage of that and start early.
AN INDIGINEOUS firm, Gr8jobsng has launched a project entitled Project Employ in order to assist local organisations and multinational organisations in the recruitment of staff at no cost.
Briefing newsmen yesterday in Lagos, the Chairman Executive Officer of the firm, Mrs. Omomene Odike said the increasing rate of job loss in Nigeria informed the introduction of the project, adding that it would assist employers in hiring the right people, adding that it would also be of assistance to those, who want to change jobs.
She said the initiative which is scheduled to run its first edition in the months of November and December 2016 could be assessed through Gr8jobsng platform on www.Gr8jobsng.com.
She said: ”With the official announcement of the recession in August and the numerous job cuts that followed the recession, this initiative has come at the most opportune moment for job seekers and professionals who are trying to secure a job or change a job.
"With the experience of having run an HR consulting firm, U-Connect, for 12 years, I fully understand the recruitment process and how highly important it is to employers to get the right employee, the pain of the recession and what this means for so many Nigerians. We hope to promote employment in Nigeria by offering our recruitment expertise for free to companies and organizations for a few months."
An England High Court ruled on Thursday that the British government requires parliamentary approval to trigger the process of exiting the European Union, upsetting Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plans.
The government said it would appeal against the decision and a spokeswoman for May said the prime minister would press ahead with the planned timetable of launching talks on the terms of Brexit by the end of March.
The pound rose on the court's ruling, hitting a three-week high against the dollar. Many investors took the view that lawmakers would temper the government's policies and make an economically disruptive "hard Brexit" less likely.
"The most fundamental rule of the UK's constitution is that parliament is sovereign and can make and unmake any law it chooses," said Lord Chief Justice John Thomas, England's most senior judge.
Thomas and two other senior judges did not spell out what action the government needed to take. They also did not say whether it would need to pass a new law to trigger the divorce proceedings, which could face opposition and amendments from both houses of parliament, particularly the House of Lords, the unelected upper chamber.
In theory, parliament could block Brexit altogether. But few people expect that outcome, given that the British people voted by 52 to 48 percent to leave the EU in a referendum in June.
However, the ruling makes the already daunting task of taking Britain out of a club it joined 43 years ago even more complex. It also puts at risk May's March deadline triggering Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, the formal step needed to start the process of exiting the bloc.
"The government is disappointed by the court's judgment," trade minister Liam Fox told parliament. "The country voted to leave the European Union in a referendum approved by acts of parliament. The government is determined to respect the result of the referendum."
Making clear the government planned to stick to its timetable, the spokeswoman for May said: "Our plan remains to invoke Article 50 by the end of March, we believe the legal timetable should allow for that."
"HARD BREXIT" NOW LESS LIKELY?
The court ruled that the government could not trigger Article 50 without approval from parliament.
"The court does not accept the argument put forward by the government," Thomas said. "We decide that the government does not have power … to give notice pursuant to Article 50 for the UK to withdraw from the European Union."
The judges granted the government permission to appeal to the Supreme Court, Britain's highest judicial body, which has set aside Dec. 5-8 to deal with the matter.
Investment manager Gina Miller, the lead claimant in the legal challenge, said the case was about "process, not politics" and rejected accusations of trying to usurp the will of the people.
"One of the big arguments (in the referendum) was parliamentary sovereignty," she told reporters. "So you can't on the day you get back sovereignty decide you're going to sidestep or throw it away."
Lawmakers largely voted to remain in the EU in the June referendum. Many investors believe greater parliamentary involvement in the process would therefore reduce the influence of ministers in May's government who are strongly pro-Brexit.
*We respect independence & impartiality of the judiciary
Ben Agande, Abuja.
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has dissociated itself from the petition written by one Mr. Biyi Poroye against the Justice Jummai Sankey led Appeal Panel set up to determine appeals against the judgment of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court.
In a statement signed by the spokesman of the party Dayo Adeyeye, the party said it finds the petition to be distasteful, offensive, indecent and completely out of keeping with the principles, ideology and ethos of our party to make such unsubstantiated allegations against members of an institution as important as the Judiciary.
According to the party, “over the course of our 16 years in power and in our almost two years out of power, our party has demonstrated respect and reverence for the Judiciary. In this time, we have ensured that we never besmirched the integrity and reputation of the Judiciary through the mud, even when we were not comfortable with the judgments and pronouncements that were given.
It is important to stress that neither the writer of the petition nor his sponsors are members of our party. They are a group of people with powerful backers within and outside government who are determined to bend all institutions of democracy to suit their whims, and while failing, they are willing to resort to destructive tactics against such institutions. Even our party is a victim of their destructive tendencies. All their attempt is to pervert justice and stop the will of justice from rolling on.
It said “As a responsible political party, we reaffirm our faith in the Judiciary as the last hope of the common man. We have faith that there are men and women of integrity in the Judiciary who ensure that justice is not only done, but that it is seen to be done.
” We use this opportunity to encourage the Judiciary to weather this storm of blackmail, harassment and intimidation currently being heralded by evil men in the country”.
President Muhammadu Buhari will pay a 2-day official visit to Edo State on Monday 7 November.
The visit will end Tuesday, just in time before Governor Adams Oshiomhole ends his tenure on 12 November.
In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, the President will use the occasion of his historic visit to pay a courtesy call on His Royal Majesty, Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II.
The President will thereafter commission several key projects in the state, including the new 5-Star Central Hospital in Benin City; the Upper Siluko Road and the Samuel Ogbemudia College (formerly New Era College, Benin City).
He will also commission the Edo University, Iyamho and the Ugbegun-Ujiogba-Ebudin-Igueben -Ewohinmi road.
The President will also inspect the reclaimed Queen Ede Erosion site, in Benin City.
Party leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, public servants, market women, civil society groups, students, youth organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations and the general public are invited to warmly receive the President and join him as he commissions the projects as part of the "Finishing Strong, finishing Well" agenda of Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole.
Oshiomhole, who became governor eight years ago will hand over to his protege, Godwin Obaseki on 12 November.
Oshiomhole, who is already thinking of life after retirement spoke a few weeks ago about his legacy:
"I want to be remembered as a factory worker who worked and laboured as a daily paid worker in the most subordinates post in textile mill.
"Rising to become leader of the textile union and eventually spending eight years as NLC president, then going back home to confront the most feared and vicious godfathers that monopolised Edo state.
"I fought godfathers, which is essential to make way for liberal democracy".
ABUJA-Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nassarawa of State has said that his government has entered into collaboration with federal government to provide critical infrastructures lacking in his state.
Such infrastructures, he said, were mainly power and mass housing.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after a private meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday, the governor said the collaboration was necessary to provide shelter for the teeming population within the borders of Nassara State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
He said that already the federal government has put in place a robust power infrastructure in the state to support the government’s industrial revolution plan.
He also stated that the government had acquired 13,000 hectares of land for mass housing, saying that when completed it would depopulate the FCT. “I came to thank the president on the effort the federal government is making towards industrializing Nassarawa State through provision of robust power infrastructure in the state.
“Only two weeks ago, a team was sent to ensure continuation of the process of injecting a substation which is likely to provide the 330 KV line substation that will be the foundation for effective power supply in the state. That I have come to show my appreciation on behalf of the people of the State to Mr. President.
“Also, another issue that has to do with mass housing and plan area. It is the issue of the 13,000 hectares which had been earmarked for a planned area which will take care of both mass housing and industrial power.
“Having that very close to the federal capital is something that adds a lot of value to the life of the people living within the federal capital and Nassarawa state as well. This will help relieve the FCT with the congestion and gridlock with regards to population explosion.
“By the time this 13,000 hectares is fully taken off, a lot of people within the federal capital and Nassara benefiting from it. This will substantially reduce the congestion and explosion of population within the FCT.
“Already, with this understanding and collaboration, the activities of speculators had reduced to the barest minimum. By the time it is ready, I am sure that everybody within and Abuja and Nassarawa will smile”, he said.
CEO, Fine & Country West Africa, Udo Okonjo; CEO, Wheatbaker Hotel, Mosun Ogunbanjo; Arc. Bayo Odulami of Design Group Nigeria and Andrea Geday of El Alan Construction, are among panelists billed for a homes & hospitality conference themed 'Business of Luxury', being organised by Essential Interiors Magazine in collaboration with ThisDay Newspapers.
The one-day conference expected to be the high-point of the duo's maiden exhibition tagged 'Made by Design', holding from tomorrow November 4th – 6th, 2016 in Lagos, and featuring luxury products offered in the country by over 50 luxury homes & hospitality brands, according to Titi Ogufere, Publisher, Essential Interiors Magazine, is designed to provide networking experience among key players in the market.
"The event caters to the luxury home owners, real estate developers, hospitality business owners, architects and designers," Ogufere said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it had always been ready to conclude the suspended re-run parliamentary elections in Rivers, but subject to conducive environment for the exercise.
Mr Nick Dazang, Deputy Director of Voter Education and Publicity in the commission, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Dazang spoke in reaction to the Dec. 10 deadline given to the commission by the National Assembly on Wednesday to conduct the outstanding polls in Rivers.
The Senate had threatened to suspend plenary if INEC failed to meet the deadline.
Dazang said that it was unfortunate that in spite of the commission's readiness for the elections, some stakeholders in the state were uncooperative, not helping to create peaceful environment needed for conduct of the exercise.
He said that as a sign of good faith, INEC had engaged stakeholders in several meetings in Abuja and in the state on the issue.
"In fact, at a point we articulated a road map of activities that would climax with the National and State Assembly elections in the state.
"Sadly, on the eve of the proposed schedule for the conduct of the elections in that state, our office in one of the local government areas of the state was razed down.
"In spite of this, we have remained resolute in our determination and have continued to engage with stakeholders.
"Our determination is further underscored by the fact that recently, the commission directed all relevant departments to submit their inputs for the Rivers National andthe Rivers National and State Assembly elections," he said.
The deputy director said that the commission's initial plan was to conclude all suspended elections before the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo state in September and November, respectively.
"This was however truncated by the spate of violence particularly in Rivers and the inflammatory rhetoric of some stakeholders," he said.
He, however, assured that with the ultimatum by the lawmakers, INEC would meet with the stakeholders to review the situation and agree on a date.
Recall that the re-run elections in the state ordered by the judiciary and scheduled for March 19, 2016 was cancelled in parts of the state due to high level of violence that characterised the exercise.
The commission fixed July 31 to conclude the elections, but was again forced to postpone the exercise following reports of violence ahead of the polls.
It, therefore, resolved that it would return to the state to conclude the elections only when the state government and all stakeholders in the state gave undertaking of adequate security during the period the exercise would be conducted.
Dazing told newsmen that neither the Rivers Government nor the stakeholders had given the undertaking.
Hillary Clinton is back on the driver's seat five days to the US election.
The latest Reuters/Ipsos daily tracking poll released on Wednesday, showed the Democratic candidate holding the same 6 percentage point advantage over Republican Donald Trump among likely voters.
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are tightening their grips on the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations.
She held the same margin before an FBI announcement that reignited the controversy about her email practices.
The Oct. 28-Nov. 1 opinion poll was conducted almost entirely after FBI Director James Comey notified Congress last Friday his agency would examine newly discovered emails that might pertain to Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state.
Comey said he did not know whether the emails were significant and released no information other than that they existed. His announcement drew outrage from Democrats who voiced concern it would unfairly influence voters so close to next week's election. Trump and other Republicans seized on the news to revive questions about Clinton's credibility.
Among 1,772 people who have either voted already or were identified as likely voters in the Nov. 8 election, 45 percent said they supported Clinton, while 39 percent said they backed Trump. On Thursday, the day before Comey's announcement, Clinton led Trump by 43 percent to 37 percent.
In a four-way poll that included alternative party candidates, Clinton led Trump by 8 percentage points among likely voters. Forty-five percent supported Clinton, while 37 percent backed Trump. Five percent supported Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson and 2 percent backed Jill Stein of the Green Party.
Other national polls have shown Clinton's lead shrinking over the past week. RealClearPolitics, which averages most major opinion polls, showed Clinton's lead had narrowed to 1.7 points on Wednesday from 4.6 points last Friday.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online in English in all 50 states. It had a credibility interval, a measure of accuracy, of 3 percentage points.
Clinton's position is stronger than national polls imply given that the race is decided by the Electoral College system of tallying wins from the states. Some 270 electoral votes are needed to win and Democrats have a built-in advantage, with large states such as California and New York traditionally voting Democratic.
Clinton looked likely to win at least 226 electoral votes, leaving her needing 44 votes to pick up from the 132 votes at stake in "toss-up" states such as Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Iowa, Arizona, Colorado and Nevada, according to estimates by RealClearPolitics on Wednesday afternoon.
Trump, on the other hand, has a steeper path to climb, looking likely to win 180 electoral votes and so needing 90 of the 132 votes from the current battleground states, the website showed.
Both candidates are focusing their final campaign efforts on those crucial states.
Clinton has been spending a lot of time in Florida, which yields a rich haul of 29 electoral votes. In a tight race there, the RealClearPolitics average of polls from Florida put Trump one point ahead of Clinton on Wednesday.
"No state is more important, and it's close," a Clinton aide told reporters on Tuesday. "It's a state that Trump has to win … we don't believe he has any path without Florida."
A Kano High Court presided by Honourable Justice Dije Abdu Aboki has convicted and sentenced one Aliyu Suleiman to 195 years imprisonment for allegedly stealing over N21, 000,000 (Twenty one Million Naira only) from Albasu Microfinance Bank. Upon his arraignment, the convict who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on the September 30, 2014, pleaded not guilty to all the count charge brought against him by the EFCC.
The convict was a former staff of Oceanic Bank who was engaged and entrusted by the Albasu Community to take charge of their Microfinance Bank.
While in charge, the convict violated that trust and siphoned over N21, 000,000 (Twenty Million Naira) by forging signatures of the other signatories to the funds.
In her judgment on Wednesday, November 2, 2016, Justice Aboki sentenced the convict to serve two years on each of the first forty four counts he was charged with and a fine of N300, 000 on each.
Where the convict defaults the fine, he is to serve additional six months imprisonment on each count.
From count 45 to 74, the convict was sentenced to fine of N500, 000 or twelve months imprisonment on each count while on count 75 to 105, he is to pay fine of N200, 000 or twelve months imprisonment on each count with the exception of count 97 which appeared to be duplication. The sentences were to run concurrently. The convict was also ordered to restitute the sum of N14, 815,000 (Fourteen Million, Eight Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Naira Only) to the Albasu Community or spend five more years in prison.
ABUJA – The Coalition of All Progressive Congress (APC) support groups across the country has called on the leadership of the party to sanction the party's Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, over unguarded utterances and anti-party activities.
The coalition said that Timi Frank through his utterances had decided to actively work and speak against the collective decisions and interests of the party's hierarchy.
Addressing newsmen on behalf of the groups, in Abuja, the Convener, APC Youth Solidarity Network (AYSN), Prince Danesi Momoh noted that Frank's activities are in brazen breach of the APC constitution, which all members of the party have sworn to uphold.
Prince Momoh said that Timi Frank was not speaking on behalf of the APC youths as he claimed, adding that Frank's comments on the teething problems facing the party, reflect his political interest, consequently pitched him against the wider interests of the party.
"In both content and context, Comrade Frank's utterances and actions constitute anti-party activities to the extent that they are causing an unnecessary distraction to the Party's resolve to fully support the President deliver on the promises made by our great Party to the electorate," he said.
Prince Momoh added that if APC leadership failed to take action on the issue, it means that people could do anything they wished, a situation that might bring anarchy.
According to him, "The APC has laws and those laws must be enforced to ensure discipline and the supremacy of the Party's position in all matters.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator, Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC), Comrade Jator Abido wondered for long the leadership of the Party will continue to ignore the activities of Comrade Timi Frank, asking "Is Comrade Timi Frank bigger than the party?
" It is clear that Comrade Timi Frank is not only disregarding the hierarchical order of the party but has also made himself agent provocateur in the public domain by severally going against the official position of the party at the sponsorship of some disgruntled individuals who are only nominally still in the party.
"Instead of dragging the party to public ridicule, the honorable thing for the Deputy National Publicity Secretary is to seek redress for any grievances within his party. Being in a system and publicly criticizing and sabotaging the system he swore on oath to defend and whose policies and positions he should be committed to, bear the tell tale signs of a fifth columnist.
"The danger in Comrade Timi Franks' intransigence is that, by virtue of being the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Party, many may misinterpret his personal opinions to be the official position of the Party or the true reflection of what is happening inside the party.
"We call on the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to immediately enforce Article 21 (Discipline of Party Members) of the Party’s constitution in dealing with Comrade Timi Frank who has now assumed the position of the enemy within.
"The time to sanction Comrade Timi Frank, in the strongest of terms, is now," he said.
Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), the counsel to Jimoh Ibrahim and the self-acclaimed Chairman of PDP in Ondo State, Biyi Poroye, in the ongoing appeal case over the governorship candidature of the PDP in the state, on Wednesday, withdrew himself from handling the case, citing ethical and integrity reasons.
Izinyon, in his letter to Ibrahim, a copy of which was made available to newsmen, said “with what happened yesterday in court with the matter associated with Mr Tayo Jegede’s motion, you’ll recall my person was indicted by the presiding justice as having foreknowledge of the petition written by Poroye despite by protest and innocence."
He said “It is in this regard that I hereby withdraw from further appearance.”
For professional ethics and my integrity, I cannot continue on this as I was not told or given a copy of the said petition.
It would be recalled that the Appeal panel led by Justice Jumai Sankey, specially constituted to give accelerated hearings to the case had withdrawn from the case on Tuesday over what they described as direct attack and abuse on their persons by Poroye through his petition against the panel.
In his reaction through his social media platform, Ibrahim boasted that Izinyon is not privy to the ploy by his team to subvert justice in the case, and his team won’t relent on all effort to obstruct Justice.
He said “In this matter we have 6 lawyers going to court while six are in the strategic room. If one is out, two will be added if one is paid 30m alone new one will get same. Izinyon is not even aware of cases we filed at Supreme Court. We know which lawyer we use for what.”
Also, Izinyon told Jomoh that his letter of withdrawal was to enable Jimoh brief another lawyer who would take over the case. He equally talked of a joinder which he did for Jinmoh, an assignment which he was promised N10m (ten million naira) but which he had only received N5m (Five million naira).
"Meanwhile, I have done the motion for joinder for you which is 50-50 chances as I discussed with you before. Your senator friend was to assist in this respect as he promised to pay me N10m (Ten million naira). Also, I have done Nos 2, 3 and 4 in the list sent on 27/10/2016 without any payment. In this connection kindly take out N5m (Five Million Naira) from the N10m (Ten Million Naira) given as we have done half with N5m (Five Million) you had promised to give for the secretarial service of all the other cases as listed as set off in the circumstances for the balance," he wrote.
He also wrote that, "The joinder application we file was on the instruction of your Senator friend as stated above as at the cost he promised but nothing paid so far."
Rivers State Governor , Nyesom Wike, has commended the Nigerian Senate for rising to the occasion in defence of democracy as it concerns rerun elections in the state.
The governor declared that it is important that Rivers State gets her full representation at the Senate , the House of Representatives and the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Speaking at the Government House , Port Harcourt when he granting audience to a delegation of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission on Thursday , he said: "I thank God that the Senate has risen to the occasion.
"It is important that the Senate has taken the right action that will ensure that Rivers State gets her representatives to speak for the state when issues of National importance are discussed in the Senate and the House of Representatives "
He reiterated that there was no reason why the Independent National Electoral Commission has been unable to conduct the rerun elections because the state still generates the highest oil revenue and no pipeline vandalized as a result of insecurity.
Commenting on the presentation by the delegation of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission , Governor Wike faulted the claim that the non oil sector is now generating 50 per cent of the nation's revenue since recession .
He noted that the country still relied on oil revenue , but pointed out that it is necessary to diversify the country's revenue generation mechanism .
He, however , stated that the Rivers State Government will support the auditing and generation of statistics of the non oil revenue sector by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
Leader of the Commission's Delegation and Federal Commissioner, Mr Sanya Omirin, said that the team was in the state to conduct a holistic auditing of the non-oil sector, verify mining companies with licenses, verify mining leases and confirm royalties that accrue from mining.
He added that the commission was working to bring all mining operators within the tax operations of the government for revenue generation.
He said the steps have become necessary because of the need to diversify the nation's economy .
