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By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA – Senior legal practitioners in the country, on Wednesday, gave reasons why President Muhammadu Buhari cannot re-nominate Mr. Ibrahim Magu for confirmation as substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after being rejected twice by the Senate.
The lawyers, comprising Senior Advocates of Nigeria, said Magu’s second rejection by the Senate means he could no longer remain in office as Acting Chairman of the anti-graft agency.Ibrahim Magu
They said continuous sending of Magu’s name to the Senate would amount to making a mockery of extant provisions of the 1999 constitution, as amended.
In his reaction entitled ‘The legal and moral issues of the second and final rejection of confirmation of Magu as EFCC Chairman’, constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, said: “Going by sections 2(1) and 2(3) of the EFCC Act, he (Magu) ceases to be the Executive Chairman of the commission.
“Having left his ‘acting’ position during his proposal to the Senate, he also loses his ‘acting’ capacity.
“It is simply a bad case.The Senate is the only repository of confirmatory powers of the EFCC Chairman. And it has spoken. That is the beauty of the doctrine of separation of powers between the three Arms of government, the Executive, the legislature and the judiciary, as ably propounded by Baron De Montesque in 1748.
” Magu’s problem is self-inflicted from within the APC ruling party itself, that is also not comfortable with the way he has carried on with his functions.The worm that kills the maize is right inside the maize.
“His tenure should have nothing to do with efficiency and effectiveness alone, which he apparently possesses.The role of the number one anti-Corruption Czar should be more. It should also embody the finest and most edifying virtues of nobility in terms of observance of citizens’ fundamental rights and the all important rule of law concept.
“The anti- corruption war has so far been fought without a human face, in the most crude, most bizarre, most discriminatory and most degrading manner that diminishes the humanity and respectability of Nigerians and bring us back into the Hobesian state of nature where life was short, nasty and brutish.
“The anti corruption fight has been fought in the most opaque, selective, bestial and humiliating manner, devoid of any scintilla or modicum of decency and respect for our collective and individual civil liberties and freedoms. It has all but reduced Nigeria to a one Party state,with everyone decamping to APC ,because once you do that,you are immediately and automatically protected from the inquisition of EFCC and like Naaman the leper who was dipped into River Jordan seven times and became cleansed of his leprosy, such a decampee is cleansed of his political leprosy and antecedental criminality”.
Another constitutional lawyer, Mr. Sebastian Hon, SAN, said: “I have always maintained that Senate confirmation hearings are not jamborees but are weighty constitutional exercises requiring deep public interest considerations on the part of the Upper Chamber.
“The framers of our Constitution did not insert this sine qua non for the appointment of certain categories of public officers just for the fun of it; rather the legislative mischief is to ensure checks and balances so that Nigeria will not at any given time have a despotic President who will be ridding rough shod on the national psyche and consequently be toying with our commonwealth.
“I don’t subscribe to the insinuation that 109 eminent Nigerians sitting in the Upper Legislative Chambers, coming from different political and cultural persuasions, will act twice in unison for no justifiable reason.
“In this case, damning reports have twice been written by the DSS against the person of Mr. Magu, which reports constituted the fons et origo (source) of Senate’s twine rejection of Mr. Magu.
“While I personally believe Mr. Magu has done exceptionally well, deserving of confirmation by the Senate, I lack the moral justification to insist that the DSS which has far more investigative reach than me is only playing games or is being economical with the truth by twice moving against his confirmation. Let me boldly say that if the SSS and the Senate are acting in some insidious conspiracy, Nigeria is finished! I will, indeed, warn the two regulatory bodies that there is nothing hidden that will one day not be exposed, supposing they playing such games!
“Having sounded that note of warning, however, I will strongly counsel Mr. President not to present Mr. Magu again for confirmation.
“The reason is plain enough: it is nigh impossible for the DSS to make a u-turn, after twice launching out against Mr. Magu; and secondly, the Senate has not shown any intention of dumping the DSS.
“To Mr. Magu, I will personally say he has done well, at least in my personal but limited perception. However, it does appear the position of substantive EFCC Chairman is not his now”.
On his part, Mr. Kayode Ajulo said: “By the extant provision of our Constitution, the senate rejection of Magu, is the rejection by the entire Nigerians and what’s is expected is for the President to send another name out of 160 million Nigerians to the senate as it is the continuous sending of the same name is mockery of the provisions of our law”.
The Senate’s rejected Acting Chirman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu has accused the Department of State Services, DSS, of denying him the right to fair hearing.
Mr. Magu said he was never invited by the DSS to state his own side of the story and that, based on the two petition letters submitted to the Senate by DSS against his confirmation as EFCC’s boss, the allegations against his person stands groundless.
Recall that the Senate, Today, rejected for the second time, to confirm Magu as the substantive Chairman of the anti-graft agency.
The Senate had cited issues raised in the DSS petition letters to it wherein Magu was said to be unfit to man the commission haven failed integrity test.
"Magu has failed integrity test and will constitute a liability to the anti-corruption drive of the present administration," read the report the agency presented to the senate.
, Ibrahim Magu
Senator representing Kogi west, Senator Dino Melaye had drawn the attention of the Senate members to the petition letters submitted to it by DSS. Senator Melaye asked Magu, "Do you have the integrity to head the commission?"
"With what I read this morning, I also have to inform you that every nominee who comes to this senate, we do request for screening from the DSS. It did not start with you, and it will not end with you."
"So it is at the premise of this request that we received this from the DSS, the Department of State Services is to us what the FBI and CIA is to the US, and we cannot ridicule, we cannot undermine, we cannot put to abeyance the report of the DSS."
Melaye also asked, "Anyone who wants to be chairman of the EFCC must be unblemished, must be pure, must be stainless… After this report, do you still see yourself qualified to be the chairman of the EFCC or do we take you to Golgotha?"
However, in his response, Mr. Magu said, "What does it mean if DSS submits two report on the same person, the same day?"
"There is a right to fair hearing, but up till now the DSS has not invited me to hear my own side. This is a constitutional issue."
Despite his defense, the Senate, in a popular vote, rejected him as the substantive boss of the commission.
Recall that in December last year, the Senate rejected the confirmation of Mr Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The Senate said security reports about the person of Mr Magu was not favorable for his clearance for the anti-graft agency's top job and asked President Muhammadu Buhari who nominated him to immediately replaced him.
AS Nigeria joined rest of the world to mark this year's Internal Women's Day, a nongovernmental organisation, the Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) has charged Nigerian women to rise up to the challenge of becoming pacesetters in national development.
The Executive Director of LAPO, Mrs. Sabina Idowu-Osehobo, who gave the charge while speaking at the 2017 International Women's Day Ceremony organised by LAPO Lagos 2 Region said the importance of women in the society cannot be overemphasised.
The International Women's Day had the theme: "Be Bold for Change," while LAPO's celebration had the sub-theme, "Women as Pacesetters in National Development."
The Executive Director who was represented by Mrs Sandra Asowata, Regional Officer, LAPO Lagos 2 Region, said: "International Women's Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by women who have played extraordinary roles in the history of their families, communities and society at large.
"On this special day, we are asking you to be bold for change, call on yourself to help forge a better working and gender equal world." According to her, LAPO on its part has been doing a lot to better the lives of women.
Idowu-Osehobo said the region provided free health screening and referrals for 2,554 men and 36,234 women in 2016. She said the tests included malaria, diabetes, blood pressure and hepatitis; adding that sensitisation programmes were also carried out on cervical cancer, hand washing, breastfeeding among others.
According to her, women were also empowered socially through topics ranging from son preference, teenage pregnancy, domestic violence, self-esteem, leadership in governance as well as marriage and separation.
In her lecture, Dr Chika Okangbe of the School of Medicine, Babcock University, Ogun State, said gender-based gaps exist across the globe which could
.As Ahmad challenges Hayatou By Tony Ubani in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The 29-year-old reign of 71-year-old Camerounian, Issa Hayatou will go through an acid test today at the majestic African Union Building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
At the 39th Ordinary Congress of the Confederation of African football, CAF, in Addis Ababa, the chance of a life time beckons on Madagascar’s Ahmad to beat the gangling Camerounian whose long stay in office coupled with his iron grip on CAF has thrown up a group of fiery younger generation who for the first time will present a serious challenge to Hayatou.
With all manner of intrigues being employed for and against, Ahmad survived what would have seen Hayatou win unopposed when the Executive committee accused him of flouting the rules of the election by holding political rallies under the guise of a birthday celebration. His sin included attracting FIFA’s President Gianni Infantino without a continental representative as it were in attendance at the so called birthday bash. Sports Vanguard which is among the world media covering the election gathered that the accusation did not go down well with the numerous Ahmad supporters. Tempers flared and the hall became chaotic but the situation was brought under control when the accusation was dropped to signal that Ahmad would vie for the elections today.
As the FA presidents emerged from the meeting, meeting in groups and finalising their strategies, one thing was clear — that the Lion of African football(Hayatou) has lost control of his pride that he held tenaciously for almost three decades.
According to one of the architects of change for the CAF election; “Hayatou has tried his best but complained of his style of his distaste for dissenting views and his vindictiveness for such individuals.
There are also palpable fears that the former Camerounian athlete will unleash terror on his political opponents if he survives and turns the table against the storm that has gathered in Addis Ababa.
One other observer noted that Hayatou may have lost it when Africa’s political leaders in an Africa Union meeting in this same Ethiopia disparaged his leadership of African football. That may have given teeth to the number of African countries who have flashed the green light to go for Change.
The ‘almighty’ Hayatou may still pull one of the biggest surprises to use his power of incumbency to bounce back. For a man who learnt his acts of governance from former Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Association, late Patrick Okpomo, he has not shown gratitude to the country that imparted the knowledge to him. Interestingly, while Hayatou was learning his trade from Okpomo, Pinnick was equally growing up under the roof and tutelage of Okpomo. The experiences garnered under Okpomo will be at play in deciding who rules African football.
One other thing that played out here was the unfounded rumour that Nigerian Government has made a U-turn to vote for for Hayatou after Sports Minister told FA President, Melvin Amaju Pinnick to vote for anybody that will be beneficial to Nigerian football. That volte face has since been discovered to be a distraction as Senate Committee Chairman, Senator Obinna Ogba who is the head of Government delegation is on ground and does not go against the tide of events here.
Importantly, too, Pinnick will also be going for a place in the now elusive Executive Committee of CAF. Three former NFF Presidents, Sani Lulu, Ibrahim Galadima and Maigari had tried their hands on the Executive Committee but failed to get to that position. Their failure was not because of incompetence but largely due to Nigerians who worked against them.
That scenario is at play here against Amaju so much so that a bitter African official asked “why are you people in Nigeria always against your fellow Nigerians?
Some Nigerian moneybags who support Hayatou have vowed that Pinnick will not get to win a seat on the CAF exco. And if their wish backed with their money comes true, it leaves Nigeria, a giant in Africa, a powerhouse in African football holding the horns of the cow for little countries who find it difficult to pay their dues milking the cow and determining the fate of Nigerian football in the Boardroom. God save Nigeria!
The Federal Executive Council has approved the establishment of the Nigeria Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council to enhance the performance of the Nation's industrial sector.
The Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Mr Okechukwu Enelamah, made this known in Abuja on Wednesday at the end of the council meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Enelamah said the Advisory Council, to be chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, would assist the government in formulating policies and strategies for enhancing the Nation's industrial sector.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah
"We received approval for the establishment of Nigeria Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council.
"The main aim of this council is to assist the government in formulating policies and strategies that will enhance the performance of the industrial sector in furtherance of the country's industrialisation programmes.
"So, the purpose of the Industrial Council is to create platform for partnering with the private sector and other interests to work together to make sure that we achieve our industrialisation goals.
"The Council will be chaired by the Vice-President and it will include a number of ministers and also leading members of the private sector."
SImilarly, the minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewale, said that the council approved a bill for the Legal Framework for the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
"At today's FEC meeting we took a conscious decision to move the agenda of public health intervention forward.
"What is known internationally is that there always is an epidemic or another disease outbreak.
"But what we do not know is when and where it will happen and for most countries what we need to do is to get ourselves prepared for the next epidemic.
"As you might be aware, the National Council on Health's meeting in Lagos in 2007 took a resolution to establish a Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
''The Centre became operational in 2012 and actually constituted a major force in combating Ebola and has been very operational in handling the issue of Lassa fever in different parts of the country.
"So, what we have done today is to provide the legal framework for this agency so that it can validly perform the role that is expected of such a front line intervention agency.''
He said that the council's approval would allow the ministry work with the National Assembly for a legislative action so that it can formally become an Act of Parliament."
In his contribution, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammad, said his ministry informed the council of Nigeria's bid to host the 2018 IPI World Congress.
By Tony Ubani in Addis Ababa President Issa Hayatou and his loyalists to today’s CAF elections have promised to do something dramatic if the Septuagenarian turns back the hand of the clock to win the CAF Presidential election against his Madagascar opposition, Hamad.Issa Hayatou
The number of Hayatou’s loyalists who have turned against the Camerounian who has ruled CAF for 29 years has sent a warning signal to him. One of his trusted aides confessed yesterday at the lobby of Radisson Blue hotel that Hayatou will not see out his tenure as CAF President if he eventually wins today.
The aide who begged for anonymity said that Hayatou was stunned to see the growing opposition against him and confided that he would resign before the end of his tenure for his deputy to see off his tenure and organize a credible election that will see a new entrant to the office.
“He’s shocked at the growing dissent against him. He truly means well for African football and only wanted to stay in office when his country(Cameroun) hosts the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. He feels that that will be a befitting way to quit CAF. There is no doubt that he(Hayatou) has contributed immensely to the growth of African football. But he feels pained that many have ridiculed him asking what his achievements are”. I tell you that only a miracle will make Hayatou not to win. But when he wins, he has been humbled and will do the noble thing not to go the distance”, the source volunteered.
However, the opposition were locked up in their hotel rooms yesterday to avoid being compromised by money bags. “We’ll take their money and vote our conscience”, another source from the change mantra insisted.
Russia’s Premier League has closed Rostov’s stadium because of the poor condition of the pitch, a week after Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho slammed the surface as unplayable.
The league said Wednesday that it was banning matches at the Olimp-2 arena — as well as the Central Stadium in Kazan — until the pitches meet its standards.
Rostov’s pitch was described as “a field” by Jose Mourinho
Mourinho had decried the state of the pitch — which was dry and devoid of grass in areas — ahead of the 1-1 draw with Rostov in their Europa League match last Thursday.
“It is hard for me to believe we are going to play on that field — if you can call it a field,” Mourinho thundered.
Rostov regional deputy governor Igor Guskov told TASS news agency that late spring frosts were the main reason for the pitch’s shoddy condition.
“Currently the stadium’s technical team is taking all the necessary measures,” he said.
Premier League officials said that Rostov will have their pitch inspected again on March 24, ahead of their next home game, with Krasnodar on March 31
Mr Clement Nwankwo, a leader of the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, has raised concerns over what he described as security agencies' interference in electoral processes in the country.
Nwankwo, said at the quarterly meeting of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with Civil society Organisations (CSOs) on Wednesday in Abuja that interference of security agencies in elections was worrisome.
He commended INEC and the Inspector-General of Police for raising investigative panels on the Dec. 10, 2016 legislative re-run elections in Rivers.
"We don't want to go back to pre-2010 where security agencies were perceived to be subverting electoral process," Nwankwo said.
He added that CSOs would be happy to see INEC engage the security organisations on interference of their personnel in electoral processes.
He also advised INEC to devise a means of addressing the challenge that voters encounter as a result of restriction of movement on election days.
According to Nwankwo, this suggestion is important, especially for voters who reside at far distances away from their voting centres.
Earlier, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had reiterated the commission's commitment to partner the CSOs in improving the country's electoral process.
Yakubu described CSOs as strong partners in the development of electoral processes.
"For instance, since 2015 INEC concluded 167 off-season elections in virtually all the states of the federation.
"In the last two major elections we conducted in Edo and Ondo, INEC accredited 91 CSOs, which collectively deployed 5, 425 officers.
"From Kogi election to last Rivers rerun, INEC accredited 468 observer-groups and literally, they deployed thousands of personnel.
"The highest deployment was in Kogi followed by Bayelsa, FCT, Edo and Ondo states," Yakubu said.
He added that the reports of CSOs during the elections were also helpful in fine-tuning some of the electoral processes and procedures.
He said that in some of the actions the commission had taken, it had implemented some of the recommendations even if we don't credit specific CSOs.
"At the end of the day what is more important is to have viable democracy and election process rather than individuals taking credit," Yakubu added.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said on Wednesday that it has suspended the Christian Day of Mourning based on credible reports of concern.
This is contained in a statement signed by Rev. Musa Asake, General Secretary, CAN, and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.
The CAN President, Rev Samson Ayokunle, according to the statement, said the day was formerly scheduled to take place globally on March 19, 2017.
Ayokunle states that the suspension of the programme was due to misunderstanding, misinterpretation and subsequent security concerns.
He took cognizance of the preparations that various Christian groups have made to participate in the programme.
Ayokunle explained that the programme was designed in all honesty and sincerity, to mourn the death of thousands of Christians murdered by religious insurgents.
"All Nigerian Christian assemblies are urged to have a normal Sunday Worship on March 19, 2017, but suspend any action on theDay of Mourning.
"Christians should be careful and watchful. Further communication shall be issued by CAN in due course.
"In the meantime, we are all urged to remain steadfast and resolute in the Grace of God that Nigeria shall overcome the present distress and peace shall prevail all over the nation, ''he said.
Alhaji Samaila Sanusi, the Special Adviser on Investment to Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi State said on Wednesday that he had resigned his appointment due to `unfriendly working environment.
Sanusi, who announced his resignation in Bauchi while briefing newsmen, said he had submitted his letter to the governor, through the office of Secretary to State Government.
"I planned to resign since the day you challenged us to continue being in service or quit at the beginning of the executive council meeting, held on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017.
"After several consultations with my supporters, I felt it was time for me to go.
"As you are aware, our government came into being through popular votes of the overwhelming majority of the good people of Bauchi State.
Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar
"There is very high expectation of dividends of democracy from us by the electorate, this calls for deployment of wealth of knowledge and professional experience into play towards meeting the legitimate yearnings and aspiration of our people,'' he wrote in his letter.
He said all avenues to hold talks with the state governor on official issues and development, proved abortive.
He however thanked the governor for giving him the opportunity to serve in the present administration.
Efforts by newsmen to reach the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Communication, Alhaji Sabo Mohammed, through telephone, for his comment, was futile as he did not pick the call.
On his side, Press Secretary to the Governor, Malam Abubakar Sufi, when contacted for comments, said that he was not aware of the development.
He however said that political appointments had been spread to ensure equal representation as part of dividends of democracy.
The Special Adviser on Investment was appointed on Feb. 15, 2016,
He was the second high ranking aide of the governor to resign, in the last few months.
In December 2016, the Commissioner of Budget and Planning, Shehu Ningi, also resigned.
Mr. Ningi stepped down a day after Governor Mohammed Abubakar presented the 2017 budget estimates to the state's House of Assembly.
The former commissioner said he decided to resign because the governor did not encourage members of his cabinet to offer advice on how to run the state.
Mr. Ningi, in his resignation letter to the governor, explained that the environment in which he could exercise his advisory role as member of the State Executive Council had been "unaccommodating, debilitating and non-adviser friendly".
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti on Wednesday warned its members against hate speech in their campaigns ahead of the 2018 governorship elections.
Mrs Kemi Olaleye, the party Deputy Chairman in Ekiti, also warned against politics of bitterness that could ruffle the party cohesion ahead of the party primaries.
Olaleye, in a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun, gave the warning while addressing party members at the secretariat in Ado-Ekiti.
INEC
She also called for unity and comradeship among members, particularly the aspirants, urging them to ensure that their campaigns were issue-based.
Olaleye said that the party would not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions against any erring member.
The deputy chairman said she was worried about the series of attacks in the social media, adding that such development should stop henceforth.
She commended the aspirants that had so far visited the party secretariat to declare their interest.
Olaleye said that so far, no fewer than eight aspirants from different parts of the state had visited the party secretariat to indicate their interest to contest the governorship seat.
"Therefore, the purported publication in some media that only one aspirant visited the state office of our party is not true.
"It will pay us if party leaders and members can remain in unity and lend support to strengthen the party for victory in the coming elections.
"The party office is open to all members, and as officers of the party, we are always available to serve the interest of the party and the party members," Olaleye said.
Senate Rejection means Magu Immediately Ceases to act as EFCC Chairman – Ozekhome. **Says Buhari can no longer re-present Magu's name.
Constitutional Lawyer and Human Rights Activists, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has said the second rejection by the Senate to consider Acting EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu for confirmation has put the final nail on his nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari and he ceases to act in that capacity.Magu
Speaking to Vanguard in a statement while throwing light on 'The Legal and Moral Issues of the Second and Final Rejection of Confirmation of Magu as EFCC Chairman', Ozekhome said that Ibrahim Magu has henceforth ceased to be the Chairman of the EFCC going by the powers vested on the Senate by the constitution.
He said, "Going by sections 2(1) and 2(3) of the EFCC Act, he ceases to be the Executive Chairman. Having left his “acting” position during his proposal to the Senate, he also loses his “acting” capacity. It is simply a bad case.
"The Senate is the only repository of confirmatory powers of the EFCC Chairman. And it has spoken. That is the beauty of the doctrine of separation of powers between the three Arms of government, the Executive, the legislature and the judiciary, as ably propounded by Baron de Montesquieu in 1748.
"Magu’s problem is self-inflicted from within the APC ruling party itself that is also not comfortable with the way he has carried on with his functions".
"The worm that kills the maize is right inside the maize. His tenure should have nothing to do with efficiency and effectiveness alone, which he apparently possesses.
"The role of the number one anti-Corruption Czar should be more. It should also embody the finest and most edifying virtues of nobility in terms of observance of citizens’ fundamental rights and the all-important rule of law concept.
"The anti- corruption war has so far been fought without a human face, in the most crude, most bizarre, most discriminatory and most degrading manner that diminishes the humanity and respectability of Nigerians and bring us back into the Hobesian state of nature where life was short, nasty and brutish.
"The anti-corruption fight has been fought in the most opaque, selective, bestial and humiliating manner, devoid of any scintilla or modicum of decency and respect for our collective and individual civil liberties and freedoms.
"It has all but reduced Nigeria to a one Party state, with everyone decamping to APC, because once you do that, you are immediately and automatically protected from the inquisition of EFCC and like Naaman the leper who was dipped into River Jordan seven times and became cleansed of his leprosy, such a decampee is cleansed of his political leprosy and antecedental criminality.
"EFCC has been acting outside of and above the Law, contrary to its motto, using the most detestable, unorthodox, arm-twisting and extra- legal tactics to intimidate, humiliate and bamboozle hapless opponents, critics of Government, opposition elements and critical voices of reason and dissension.
"It should never be as bad as this. Buhari can no longer re-present Magu’s name again, because of the serious moral burden, ethical challenges and legal impediments thus imposed on him with this second definitive rejection, this time after a full screening.
"Re-presenting his name will raise more questions than answers as to why the insistence on One man. This is unlike the first instance when Senate merely turned him down without any screening.
"That it was done shortly after the celebrated arrival of President Buhari from his medical vacation makes it more interesting and more significant as it underlines the independence of the Legislature, the Senate.
"It is high time for PMB to look for another competent Nigerian out of about 180 million people in population. After all, there was once a Nuhu Ribadu, a Mrs. Waziri and a Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde.
…vows to enforces anti-kidnapping laws in full By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor
Alarmed by the activities of terrorists and kidnappers in the state, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, Wednesday, stormed some property in Okene Local Government Area of the state and got them demolished as a demonstration of his administration's determination to rid the state of criminals.
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi StateGovernor Bello, who was accompanied by the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu and heads of other security agencies, particularly demolished buildings used by suspected kidnappers, Boko Haram terrorists and armed robbers in Okene in the Central Senatorial District of the state.
The two buildings brought down yesterday belonged to a suspected kidnap kingpin popularly known as Alhaji Tijani Bakare in Oyunkoko Ward in Okene while the second building levelled to the ground by the machines was the notorious Ahlul-Sunnah Mosque in Inike, Okene LGA which was reportedly hijacked in 2015 by members of the Boko Haram terrorist group and has been serving as an operational base for their nefarious activities.
The Governor said he had no sympathy for anyone engaging in heinous acts, as he would implement to the letter the law against anti-kidnapping, robbery and terrorism. He said however is found culpable by the law would be made to face the full weight of the law without fear or favour.
"For those who are in the habit of harbouring criminals in their houses, we will fish them out and mete out serious punishment to them as if they are criminals themselves," the governor warned.
The governor warned that more property of criminals would be demolished as they are identified by the security agencies to serve as a deterrent to potential criminals and hoodlums.
Kogi State Police Commissioner, Mr Wilson Inalegwu, said it would no longer be business as usual for criminal elements operating in any part of the state, saying the action was to send a strong message to kidnappers and hoodlums that they must change their ways.
Inalegwu said, "They should work hard and earn a decent living. We want to make Kogi safe so that those living here or travelling through Kogi will not have fear of being kidnapped."
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has described the adultery allegation against Apostle Johnson Suleiman of the Omega Power Ministry by one Miss Stephanie Otobo as "high level conspiracy meant to destroy the integrity of the pastor and silence his critical and principled voice of truth and dissent in a nation fast becoming a one-party state.”Stephanie Otobo and Apostle Joshua Suleiman
He said; "This was the same way they tried to drag the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christians Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye in the mud. The whole world was aghast at how they insulted and ridiculed the highly-revered RCCG General Overseer. But for the outcry from all over the world, they almost bundled out Pastor Adeboye from his position as RCCG General Overseer and could have even arrested the General Overseer of Winners Chapel, David Oyedepo.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor declared unequivocally that; ” I stand by Apostle Suleiman and other men of God being directly or indirectly persecuted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) cabal.”
The governor said; “their evil plan is to destroy the Church so as to silence every perceivable strong voice of opposition. And their mode of operation is to take on every vocal, principled, and popular man of God one after the other.
“Should it not interest Nigerians and the international community that up till today, none of those herdsmen that killed thousands of Nigerians in Benue, Enugu, Delta, Ogun, Plateau and Kaduna States have been arrested? Even those arrested in connection with the murder n Abuja-based female pastor, Eunice Elisha have been released.”
Governor Fayose wondered why all the adultery allegations and blackmail against Apostle Suleiman surfaced only after he spoke out against the reckless and indiscriminate killing of Christians in Southern Kaduna and his subsequent encounter with the Department of State Services (DSS).
"This, no doubt, is a continuation of the desperate but despicable and condemnable attempts to destroy opposition and the voices of reason in this country so as to subjugate every decent Nigerian and turn the country into a banana republic.
"After politically subjugating many Nigerians, including a section of the Judiciary that refused to do their bidding; they have now turned on men of God, this is condemnable,” the governor said.
Governor Fayose charged the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other Christian bodies not to stay aloof but to stand up resolutely and speak out vociferously against what he called "orchestrated attempt to destroy the Church and respected Church leaders in Nigeria."
He berated those behind the travails of Apostle Suleiman as confirmed polygamists, serial adulterers, and others whose holier-than-thou attitude was sheer hypocrisy.
"Anyone who has a case against any man of God should swear an oath, proceed to the law court and face the rigours, rather than engage in media trial and character assassination, which have become the hallmark of this administration."
Governor Fayose wondered why the perpetrators of the wicked scheme against Apostle Suleiman were not relenting even after the father of the woman making the wild allegations had punctured her loathsome and outrageous claims.
"The family of Stephanie Otobo has disclaimed her and her claims. Rather than own up and recant, those paying for the entire drama are making her to keep changing and modifying her claims, with they all still collapsed like a pack of cards. All other efforts to enlist other blackmailers against this man of God have likewise collapsed irretrievably.
"I therefore make bold to say that I stand by Apostle Suleiman. I also call on all those who believe in me to do likewise and carry the message abroad. To me, this plot against Apostle Suleiman is madness carried too far.
“One wonders why this same resources and vigour with which Apostle Suleiman is being blackmailed have not been deployed into confronting those murderous herdsmen that are slaughtering Nigerians like animals across the country," Fayose concluded.
Justice Halilu Yusuf of the FCT High Court, Jabi has ordered the Nigerian Prisons to plan for surgery to extract the bullet lodged in the leg of a defendant for trial.
The judge gave the order on Wednesday before adjourning the case of the alleged robbery preferred against 10 men to March 27.
He said that this should be done before the defendants were brought to court on the next adjourned date.
The 10 suspects are Livinus Mbagha, Uchenna Mbagha, Godwin Timothy, Onyekachi Nnamdi, Ifeanyi Oram, Raini Nludshira, Cyril Ubah, Aniekan Sunday, Chigozie Chukwu and Ikechukwu Egbo.
According to the Judge, it is the duty of the prison authority to take care of the welfare suspect at the prison custody.
He said that a suspect at the prison custody was still deemed innocent until the contrary was proven by the law.
Uchenna Mbagha had told the court that there was a bullet in his leg making it difficult for him to stand.
The prosecution had told the court at the first day of arraignment, Nov. 15, 2016 that the suspects were being arraigned for robbing the property of Lento Aluminium company Jabi, Abuja.
But the judge adjourned the proceedings following the absence of the prosecutor, Mrs Blessing Ezeala, at the court when the matter resumed for hearing.
The judge said that since the court had waited up till 12:30 p.m., it had no option than to adjourn the matter to another date.
According to the prosecution, the suspects disguised themselves as policemen between 2 a.m .and 5 a.m. on May 28, 2016, beat up and tie the security men on duty to carry out the robbery operation.
The prosecution said that the suspects robbed the company of 10 aluminium coils worth N25 million and other valuable items.
Ezeala said that the crime contravened the provisions of sections 1, 2, 3 and 6 of the Robbery and Firearms Special Provision Act, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
–says I’m committed to the ruling party. By AbdulSalam Muhammad
KANO – Immediate past Governor of Kano state, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Wednesday, accused the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar and Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of working with Makarfi led faction to tumble the ruling APC in 2019.*Kwankwaso
A statement issued on his behalf by the former Secretary to Kano state Government, Rabiu Suleiman and made available to the media in Kano denied news report of his purported defection from All Progressive Party (APC).
The strongman of Kano politics in the press statement alleged that, “what is true is that it has been brought to our attention that Governor Ganduje of Kano State has been working with the Makarfi faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other politicians of northern extraction, and from what we know, they are aspiring to float a new party, the APDP.”
Senator Kwankwaso (Kano central) said that he was not surprised by the political move of the two political gladiators going by their antecedent.
According to Kwankwaso “It is a well known fact that Governor Ganduje is not happy with the APC’s style of leadership and its commitment to stand on the side of the truth. This is evident in the letter the national leadership of the APC sent to Kano, reaffirming the chairmanship of Umar Haruna Doguwa as the substantive chairman of the party as against the government’s imposed leadership.”
Kwankwaso who ruled Kano in 1999 but lost a second term bid in 2003,staged a dramatic stunt in 2011 declared that he remains a senior stakeholder in the ruling All Progressive Party.
Kwankwaso also said he has no reason to defect from the APC but accused one certain Illiyasu Kwankwaso as been used to smear his name and political standing.
In his words "to set the record straight, we have to understand that these lies originated from Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso, who bears no allegiance to Senator Kwankwaso.
Accordingly, “Musa Iliyasu worked with Malam Shekarau as his Commissioner for Local Governments and still stands in as his spokesperson.
Kwankwaso further said “it is an open secret that Governor Ganduje and Malam Shekarau have pitched tent against Senator Kwankwaso, hence, there is no way, Musa Iliyasu, even though he came from the same town with Senator Kwankwaso could speak for the Distinguished Senator. Not on a matter like this".
The strong worded statement declared that "On this note, I want to affirm that Senator Kwankwaso remain in the APC, and as is his trademark, he is loyal to any course he believes in. Such is the case with the APC".
"Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso has always stood for truth and justice, as he has always done for the improvement of quality of lives for the masses, which is what the APC Government, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari stands for".
The Minister of Communication, Mr Adebayo Shittu, on Wednesday said government would provide an enabling environment for the youths to thrive digitally.
Shittu said this during the media briefing organised by Google to mark the Digital Skills for Africa to reach one million people, tagged: Digital Million Milestone.
The minister was represented by Mrs Monisola Udoh, the Director, Information Communication and Technology (ICT) of the ministry.
Adebayo-Shittu, Communications Minister
According to Shittu, the impact the training will have on the youth will be enormous, therefore there is need for government to key into the Google training.
"There is need for proper policy and guideline that will make way for an enabling environment for the youths to thrive digitally,'' he said.
Shittu said that government had a major role to develop the human capacity and ICT was a platform that they would leverage upon.
He said that Nigeria had a good productive age group and their energy should be harnessed, which Google could make globally competitive.
Mr Smart Akande, the Legal Adviser, Office of SSA to the President on Sustainable Development Goals said that one of the goals of government was to remove poverty in the country and Google Digital Skills training was an avenue to do so.
"When the economy is not growing, poverty thrives and the bulk of people that will be affected are the youths and our major concern is graduates that do not have access to digital skills.
"Today, we are saying recession is everywhere, it is the aggregate of all efforts will bring the country out of recession,'' he said.
Akande said that in the nearest future with this kind of skills training, Nigeria would be transformed to be better informed to compete at international level and the economy all to be better.
Mr Tayo Olosunde, the Managing Director, Mindthegap, said that young people want to be successful as such needed the opportunity to launch out.
Ms. Bunmi Banjo, the Head of Brands and Digital Skills at Google Nigeria, said that the journey to one million was to figure out what could be done to help the economy progress.
According to her, making sure that there is an impact on the trainee was the next thing on the mind of Google.
"Having one million digitally skilled young people in Africa is good for everyone.
"If young people have the right skills, they will build businesses, create jobs and boost economic growth across the continent.
"How to connect the young people in Africa for them to better utilise the internet as a person or as a Small and Medium Enterprises to create jobs and help people in the community is our goal.
"There is need for Africans to also contribute to the digital economy,'' she said.
Banjo said that the 27 countries participated in the training of which 97 per cent was done offline while three per cent was online and that 53 per cent were men while 47 per cent were women.
She said that out of the one million trained, 500,000 were from Nigeria, attributing that to the support it got from government and the private sector.
Banjo said that going forward Google would develop an offline kit that did not have access to data, adding that local languages would be introduced more to focus on women to bridge gender gap.
She said that an impact accessing programme would also be conducted to make sure that the training they got was better utilised.
Some of the beneficiaries of the Google Digital Skills for Africa One-Million Milestone are Oluwamayowa Oshidero (Ibadan), Vanessa Morris (Lagos), Tele Williams-Aina (Lagos), Vanessa Mbaramah (Coutonu) and Segun Abodunrin (Lagos).
A trainee, Morris said: "I learnt to do things strategically and that came from the tools and skills I got from the training.''
Another trainee, Abodunrin said that the training provided a platform for him to access businesses that would help him to succeed.
Earlier, the Google Country Manager, Mrs Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, said that the web was a driver of economic growth and was transforming society as a whole.
According to her, people must be equipped through training and re-skilling to make use of the tools and take advantage of it for entrepreneurship, employment and e-inclusion.
The Digital Skills for Africa programme was aimed to help close the digital gap in Africa, improve employability and encourage entrepreneurship among young people.
The Wife of the Nasarawa State Governor, Mrs Mairo Al-Makura, has urged parents and guardians to inculcate in their children and wards love and tolerance.
Al-Makura gave the advice in an interview with journalists on the sideline of International Conference on Love and Tolerance held on Wednesday in Abuja.
She said that children should learn to love and tolerate their fellow compatriots in the interest of peace, mutual respect, especially between the Muslims and Christians in the country.
children
According to her, parents must endeavour to teach their children the significance of mutual love and tolerance in promoting religious harmony in their immediate environment and the country at large.
" We as parents need to inculcate the values of tolerance, love in our kids.
" If we start from there I think it will go a long way to bringing back peace, love and tolerance between Muslims and Christian in the country, Al-Makura said.
The wife of the governor also advised religious leaders to always tell their followers the very truth contained in the religious scriptures, stressing that scriptural truth would help in enhancing inter-religious harmony in the country.
She said that both Islam and Christianity preach peace, love and brotherhood, adding that there can never be meaningful development without peace.
Similarly, she stressed the need for both Muslims and Christians to love one another in order to make peace reign supreme in the society.
" I can vividly recall when I was young during Christmas we don't cook food in our house because our neighbours who are Christians will bring food for us.
" Likewise during Sallah celebration our Christian neighbours do not cook because we will give food to them, but sadly the story is no longer the same," she said.
Mrs Al-Makura said since her husband became governor in 2011, she has been working assiduously to promote inter-cultural and religious harmony among all ethnic groups in the state.
" We are working round the clock to enhance peace, unity and harmony in our dear state," she said.
By AbdulSalam Muhammad KANO – It was a good news to Nigerian farmers following announcement by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe that a bag of fertilizer would soon cost less than N6, 000 in Nigeria.Fertilizer
Chief Ogbe optimism was sequel to an agreement reached between the Federal Government and the Government of Morocco on supply of the product.
Chief Ogbeh made the revelation in Kano, during the 2017 wheat harvest ceremony at Garun- Babba, in Garun- Mallam Local Government area of the state said that arrangement on that order has been finalized.
Ogbe said "President Buhari signed an agreement with the Moroccan Government, we went to Morocco and had a good agreement for phosphate import. With the importation of phosphate we will put fertilizer on the market for less than N6, 000,"
The Agricultural Minister disclosed that already, blending plants in the country have swung into action, assuring that the Federal government would continue to support farmers to produce more for local consumption and export.
The Minister lamented that before the Federal government's renewed drive on agriculture, the country was losing millions of dollars annually to import rice, wheat and milk, which could be produced in sufficient quantity locally.
Chief Ogbeh who praised the government of Kano for leading the way in rice processing and agricultural transforming in the country assured of the support of the Federal government towards transforming the sector.
He announced plans to create special grazing reserves for herdsmen across the country, revealing that the Federal Government would also train 3,000 Civil Defense Officers to protect herdsmen from cattle rustlers.
Earlier, the state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, disclosed that his administration had granted a loan of N100 million each to wheat and rice farmers associations in the state to enable them purchase seedlings and other requited consumables to boost their endeavor, even as free storage facilities have been provided for the to prevent undue loss.
"The state government recently approved N50 million short-term loans for wheat farmers who need quick cash, to prevent them from selling off their produce at give-away prices, until its price stabilized in the market", the governor added .
In addition, he said the administration recently purchased 500 zero fuel water pumping machines and placed order for the supply of 5,000 as part of commitment to boost irrigation in the state, assuring that his administration is willing to support wheat and rice farmers to boosts their productivity.
On cattle grazing, the governor announced that "a large expanse of land would be provided around Dansoshiya in Kiru Local Government area to serve as model settlement for herdsmen, in a bid to curtail recurring clashes between farmers and herdsmen".
Governor Ganduje also recalled that his administration trained 60 Fulani youth in artificial insemination, in Turkey, to expose them to modern breeding techniques, revealing that refrigerators would also be provided to Fulani dairy women as part of value addition to dairy chain.
The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund says it has so far provided treatment for 12, 000 of the 50,000 severely malnourished children in the North-East ravaged by insurgency.
Mr Omar Abdi, the UNICEF Executive Director, Programmes, made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri.
Abdi, who led a team of officials on a visit, said that UNICEF was working toward reaching more children affected by the problem in the area.
"We are seriously concerned about the situation of children as a result of conflict; nearly 50,000 children are severely malnourished as a result of food crisis in the North-East.
*File photo: Malnourished children
"We have scaled up our programmes in working with the partners to support the government's efforts toward responding to the crisis.
"So far, we have scaled up our response at the malnourished community reaching 12,000 children that were severely malnourished," he said.
Abdi said that UNICEF still needs to do more, considering the gravity of the problem.
"We need to double that number four times in order to reach those children that are affected.
"Children that are severely malnourished, if not treated, can be at risk of dying, not of malnutrition alone, but of diseases like cholera and diarrhea," he said.
The UNICEF official said that the visit to Borno was aimed at getting first hand information on the humanitarian crisis in the state.
"We are here to see the situation of children in this war-ravaged region and to talk to partners, government and non-governmental organisations on response to the emergency.
"UNICEF has always been around working with the state governments," he said.
Abdi described Nigeria as one of the largest UNICEF programmes in the world.
According to him, the agency is also concern about the protection of children, especially those affected by wars, and also their education.
"Nearly a quarter of kids in the area are still out of school.
"Those in schools are studying in overcrowded classes, so they need more spacious classes," he said.
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