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
Abuja – The Federal Government on Thursday renewed its resolve to negotiate for the release of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls and other captives.
President Muhammadu Buhari (standing) speaking during a reception for the 82 Chibok girls. ABOVE RIGHT: A cross-section of the girls. BELOW RIGHT: Members of the BBOG jubilating yesterday.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Sen. Aisha Alhassan, said this at a media briefing in Abuja.
"We cannot say when the girls will be released, if they will release the remaining girls for their members we will gladly do that and we don't regret our actions.
"If we have our way, the girls will be released tomorrow but negotiation is still ongoing for the remaining abducted girls," she said.
Alhassan explained that the 82 girls released recently were undergoing medical screening, and would afterwards go for psychosocial therapy and refresher courses to facilitate their quick reintegration into the society.
She said pictures of the 82 girls had been sent for their parents to confirm their identification as some have similar names.
"It is not true that we are not allowing the parents to see their children; we allow them access but not everyday.
"Most of them prefer to be here because they don't want to be reminded of their experiences having to go to their community.
"Those saying we are not allowing them access are not the direct parents of the girls; we cannot bring anybody to see them apart from their biological parents, allowing visitors everyday will not allow them to heal fast.''
She said allowing unnecessary visits would jeopardise the release of the remaining girls and other captives.
Alhassan said there was need to help the girls forget the trauma they experienced from the bush.
She said all the girls would resume the new academic session in September, including the recently released 82 Chibok girls, adding that they will undergo skill acquisition and ICT.
"The other girls released earlier have been undergoing some teachings in Biology, Civic Education, English, Mathematics and Geography pending the time they will resume school.
"The 82 girls who will undergo medical screening and psychosocial therapy will also join in the new academic session,'' Alhassan said.
According to her, the first 24 girls released were in bad shape as they underwent two months screening.
The minister added that a team of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and a doctor were available to attend to the girls.
Alhassan said the girls were given adequate care by the Federal Government to enable them live a normal life.
NO fewer than 2, 000 mosques and Islamic organisations have been registered by Lagos State Government to ease resources allocation.
Confirming the registration of religious houses and organizations in the State, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, argued that the registration of religious organisations was to have accurate data of every place of worship located in the state on a centralised database.
Though Abdul-Lateef did not state the number of mosque and Muslim organizations registered but said 10, 000 religious organizations have been captured by the government in the ongoing registration of religious organization.
Speaking at the 2017 Ministerial press briefing, the commissioner explained that the registration was free and it was for data gathering, orientation and to strengthen security arrangements in the state.
According to him, "This is to allow the State Government have a reliable data of religious organisations and their locations, with a view to carry them along with state government policies.
"It is expected that the policy, because of effective resource allocation and efficient management inherent in it, will bring and extend benefits to many more churches and mosques in the State. At present, the website has over 10,000 data of religious organisations including Mosque across the state," he added.
Lagos – Mr Wale Tinubu, the Managing Director, Oando Plc on Thursday said that the company would seek approval from the Federal Government for the refurbishment of one or two refineries.
Tinubu stated this at the company's facts behind the figures at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos.
He said that refurbishment of the refineries would enable the country to end fuel importation.
Tinubu stated that the company would take advantage of its indigenous status by participating in the Federal Government bid.
He added that militancy activities were affecting its production in the Niger Delta.
The managing director said that 2016 was a challenging year for companies due to foreign exchange challenges.
He added that the company was besieged with liquidity constraints, devaluation of the naira and a slump in oil earnings due to low oil prices intensified by the insurgency in the Niger Delta.
According to him, the company has mapped out strategies to mitigate the foreign exchange challenges, as 90 per cent of its earnings focus will be on dollar, while 10 per cent will be in naira.
On the midstream, Tinubu said that the company would invest in acquisition of NIPP grid connected power utilities in the current financial year.
He stated that the company would commence phased development of gas distribution system in Tema industrial area Ghana in 2018.
The company for the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2016, posted a profit after tax of N3.5 billion, this was against a loss after tax of N47.6 billion posted in the preceding period of 2015.
The result showed that the company posted a turnover of N569 billion against N380 billion recorded in the comparative period of 2015, representing an increase of 49 per cent.
Its net debt reduced by 35 per cent to N230.6 billion in contrast with N355.4 billion posted in 2015.
Tinubu attributed the performance to its proactive timely execution of its restructuring programme of growth in upstream division.
He said that some divestments embarked upon by the company during the period under review resulted in a net debt reduction of 125 billion dollars.
He attributed the company's return to profitability to focus on dollar denominated earnings.
Tinubu stated that 2016 saw the country plunge into a recession for the first time in over two decades.
Mr Haruna Jalo-Waziri , NSE Executive Director, Capital Market commended the company for coming for the facts behind the figures.
Jalo-Waziri said that timely and accurate information helped investors in making the right investment decision.
He also urged the company to always comply with good corporate governance, noting that the exchange would continue to provide the needed platform for quoted companies to excel. (NAN)
Abeokuta – Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun on Thursday escaped death in an auto accident at the Ibafo axis of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The governor's Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Juwon Soyinka, said in a statement that the incident happened when a bullion van belonging to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ran into Amosun's convoy in the area.
He said: "The incident which occurred around Ibafo while the governor was travelling to Lagos for an official assignment, resulted in damage to the escort vehicles in the governor's convoy.
"The CBN convoy drivers, driving dangerously, attempted to overtake the governor's convoy without regard for the safety of other road users.
"On sensing danger, the governor's escort commander used a public address system mounted on his vehicle to warn the CBN convoy drivers to desist from such reckless driving.
"Not only was the governor's escort commander ignored, the CBN convoy drivers went ahead to crush his vehicle and subsequently went after other vehicles in the governor's convoy, including his official car.
" The CBN convoy was later brought to a halt by the security team attached to the governor," Soyinka said.
Amosun, according to Soyinka, described the manner of driving of the drivers in the CBN convoy as reckless.
"We will not allow such senseless and reckless behaviour in Ogun State," Soyinka quoted Amosun as saying.
Soyinka also said: " If this could happen to a governor within his territory, you can imagine what they would do to our citizens who are simply going about their legitimate business.
"Governor Amosun, who expressed disappointment at the reckless manner in which the CBN bullion van convoy moved on the road, warned that such act of impunity will no longer be tolerated within the borders of Ogun.''
He explained that the governor had cause to personally caution reckless CBN convoy drivers in the state on a number of occasions.
"On several occasions, the Ogun State governor had to personally turn back reckless CBN bullion van drivers who often drive against traffic with impunity on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway," he said.
Abuja -The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has said that the opposition created a faction within ranks to undermine the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The council said this in a statement signed by Mr Gambo Jagindi, the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to NYCN President Murtala Garba.
Jagindi said the opposition is using youths as a tool of destabilisation of President Muhammadu Buhari's administration.
He disassociated the Garba-led council from a faction of the NYCN circulating posters for a planned election.
The spokesman alleged that those circulating the posters of a purported election to form a parallel NYCN had no mandate to do so as the council already had a leadership in place headed by Garba.
He said that the current leadership of the council came into power following the unity congress that was held between Aug. 25 and 27, 2016, in Abuja.
He described those trying to create disunity among Nigerian youths as enemies of democracy who were bent on destroying the strides being achieved by the council.
Jagindi noted that the council was currently recovering from the crisis that nearly crippled it.
He reiterated the commitment of the current leadership of NYCN to support the policies and programmes of Buhari's administration that were aimed at sustainable development of the country.
According him, the council will continue to pursue its programmes that tend to promote youth reorientation and attitudinal change.
He added that the council would continue to mobilise youths to support good government policies aimed at ensuring national development.
"NYCN by this statement is disassociating itself from the actions of a misguided few that were misleading the general public,'' he said.
Lagos – The Lagos State Government on Thursday intensified its smart city initiative with the unveiling of a free public Wi-Fi at the Ndubuisi Kanu Park, located at Alausa.
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode said at the event that one of the overriding policy objectives of his administration was to build a globally competitive economy.
Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that provides high-speed internet and network connections.
Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr Olufemi Odubiyi said that the economy of the state was being developed to provide opportunity for self fulfilment.
He said that achieving global competitiveness would entail keying into new ways of doing things and the deployment of technology, especially the internet.
According to him, the provision of free public Wi-Fi in the park is part of the administration's efforts to make Lagos a smart city.
"It is consistent with our commitment to make Lagos work for all.
"Parks and gardens have been established in different parts of the state to provide a conducive environment for recreation and relaxation.
"Just last week, the number of gardens and parks in the state increased with the opening of the Badagry Park.
"The increased patronage of these facilities, which is no longer restricted to festive season, has made it necessary to equip these centres with free Wi-Fi to serve the needs of visitors to these parks.
"As you relax and enjoy the recreation facilities in these parks, we are also making it possible for you to access your email, browse and search the internet on your tablets, smartphones and laptops, via a reliable public Wi-Fi," he said.
Ambode said the the free Wi-Fi was another landmark in the administration's desire to integrate the State's economy in the mainstream of the 21st century economy.
He said that recently, the government unveiled the Citizens' Gate Portal, a platform designed to bridge the communication gap between the citizens and the state government.
According to him, his administration, with the launch of the free public Wi-Fi, has empowered citizens to express their views on the platform, as non-availability of data will no longer be a constraint.
"As a responsive government, I wish to assure all residents of Lagos State of our commitment to continue to develop and implement innovative ideas that will promote the delivery of dividends of good governance.
"As I launch the free public Wi-Fi in this park, it is my belief that this service will enhance productivity and add value to all our parks and gardens," he said.
The free Wi-Fi/internet access project is an initiative of the Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology.
In his capacity as the Commissioner, Odubiyi said that the free Wi-Fi/internet access at park and Gardens was starting from the Ndubuisi Kanu Park, as it would be extended to others in the State.
He said the government was creating a safe, healthy and conducive environment for the residents of Lagos, in line with the Governor's pledge at the inception of the administration.
According to him, the administration has continued to demonstrate its commitment to the pledge through various programmes, aimed at making the state livable for all and sundry.
"WiFi is a facility allowing computers, smartphones and other devices to connect to the internet or communicate with one another wirelessly within a particular area.
"One of the biggest benefits of offering Wi-Fi is that it will provide new ways for the public to enhance social/leisure activities and this will encourage more patronage to the parks.
"We are embarking on providing free public Wi-Fi in our parks and gardens spread across the states to further enhance social/leisure activities," Odubiyi said.
Ikeja – A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Abiodun Owonikoko has said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has no evidence linking his client Mr Rickey Tarfa (SAN) to alleged bribery of two judges.
Tarfa is being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency of two charges of offering gratification to a public official and perverting the course of justice. Ricky Tarfa According to the EFCC, Tarfa allegedly bribed Justice Mohammed Yinusa and Justice H.A Ngajiwa to pervert the course of justice.
Tarfa claims to be innocent of the charges.
Owonikoko, made the assertion on Thursday, while cross-examining Mr Danladi Daniel, a detective with the EFCC.
"The EFCC has no evidence directly linking Rickey Tarfa's chambers to the bank accounts of the judges.
"Our findings revealed that the alleged UBA bank account which belonged to Justice Mohammed Yinusa, belonged to someone who bears the same name, one Mr Mohammed Auwal Yinusa," he said.
Owonikoko presented to the court an affidavit sworn by Justice Yinusa's namesake claiming ownership of the said account.
Explaining the alleged illegal communication that the SAN had with the judges, Owonikoko noted that the Tarfa, had prior personal relationships with Justice Ngajiwa and Justice Yinusa.
"Justice Yinusa was one year junior to Rickey Tarfa when he was studying law at the university of Maiduguri from 1982-1986 and they are friends.
"Justice Ngajiwa worked at the chambers of Rickey Tarfa for over 17 years.
"Ever since Ngajiwa became a judge, Rickey Tarfa has never had a case before him.
"Before Ngajiwa became a judge, he had over 300 cases he was handling at the Rickey Tarfa chambers some of which are still pending in court," he said.
Owonikoko also accused the EFCC of not concluding their investigations before charging the SAN to court
"Justice Yinusa's statement to the EFCC was given on Oct. 17, 2016 which is seven months after he was charged in February 2016.
"The call logs from MTN which allegedly showed the communications between the defendant and the judges were obtained on Feb. 11, which is six days after the defendant was charged.
"The defendants phones were retrieved by deceit by the operatives of the EFCC, they told Tarfa's driver that his boss was requesting for his phones and when he brought the phones, they were seized.
"The phones did not become an exhibit of the EFCC until Feb. 9, after the defendant was charged," Owonikoko claimed.
Owonikoko noted that the EFCC did not profile Tarfa during the course of their investigation.
"You did not try during the course of your investigation to profile Rickey Tarfa and his lawfirm.
"His lawfirm is the biggest lawfirm in Nigeria, employing over 100 lawyers with branches in Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt and Yola.
"He currently has two retired judges working as consultants for his chambers," he said.
Responding to Owonikoko's accusations, Daniel said "The defendant signed a consent of analysis form for his phone, it is not true that the phones became exhibits after Feb. 9, 2017.
"We have documents linking one Esther Agu, a staff of Rickey Tarfa's chambers to Justice Yinusa, though, we don't have documents showing that the defendant directly made any payment to the judge.
"I am not aware that ever since Justice Ngajiwa became a judge, the defendant has not had a case before him," Daniel said.
Earlier, during proceedings, Daniel during his evidence-in-chief, revealed details of text message as well as voice communications between Tarfa and the judges.
"On Jan.2, 2014, there were three text messages between the defendant and a member of his staff stating that they were in court for a case to be assigned before Justice Yinusa.
"There are biometrics captured by MTN communications of the defendant and Justice Yinusa the voice communications were from Tarfa's MTN, number- 08034600777 and Justice Yinusa's MTN number-08035967291," he said.
The detective read aloud details of the voice communications including late night calls between the SAN and the judge.
"Esther Agu, a staff of the defendant, made a payment of N2.5million into the bank account of Justice Yinusa.
"Based on the account records, the payments were made on May 15, 2015.
"The payments were made when there were three EFCC cases in which Tarfa was the counsel for the opposing parties before Justice Yinusa.
"The communications started sometime in February 2015 and ended sometime in September 2015 after judgments were delivered in those cases.
"There were some text messages between Justice Ngajiwa and the defendant on Oct. 16, 2014 in which Justice Ngajiwa sent his Guaranty Trust Bank details to the defendant.
"The defendant also sent another person a text message on that day to pay $5, 000 into the bank account of the judge," Daniel said.
Justice Aishat Opesanwo adjourned the case to July 7 for continuation of trial.
An Ikeja High Court was on Thursday thrown into confusion after a witness slumped and died in the court just before testifying in a land case.
The deceased who was in his late 30s had come to court to testify in a land dispute before Justice O.A. Olayinka.
"Before the case was called for trial, he started coughing and gasping and had to leave the courtroom.
"He was vomiting a lot of blood and onlookers were scared to go near him. He collapsed on the corridors of the courtroom and a medical team came in with an ambulance to take body away.
"His lawyer informed Justice Olayinka of his client's death and she immediately stopped proceedings for the day," a witness said.
When newsmen visited the courtroom, clothes smudged with blood were seen on the corridors of the courtroom as well as the blood-stained shirt and leather slippers of the deceased.
KEEP your knees and feet to yourself. That's the overarching message from Expedia's latest etiquette survey which identified the rear seat-back kicker as the most annoying type of flier.
A passenger in a wrong position in a plane
It's bad news for long-legged travelers who fly economy and those who sit in front of them: A full 64 percent of respondents cited the rear seat kicker as the most offensive in-flight "etiquette violator."
Pollsters also asked respondents to weigh in on the controversial subject of seat reclining, and found that 37 percent of Americans would choose to ban it altogether or restrict the practice on short-haul flights. More than half (53 percent) of travelers said they recline their seats, while about a quarter (23 percent) said they refrain because they deem it "improper etiquette."
The poll surveyed 1,005 passengers on their biggest in-flight pet peeves. Here are the results: The Rear Seat Kicker; Inattentive Parents ; the Aromatic Passenger ;the Audio Insensitive ; the Boozer; the undresser and the amorous among others.
The United States Government on Thursday announced that it had in the last two years spent $500million (about N152billion) on humanitarian assistance to communities in North-eastern Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
Mr Natan Holt, the U.S. Deputy Director at the Office of West African Affairs, Bureau of African Affairs, in Washington, D.C. made the announcement in a teleconference with Journalists from across Africa.
Holt, who expressed his government's joy at the release of 82 more Chibok girls at the weekend, said that the girls were among thousands of victims of Boko Haram.
"Many of you will have also followed the news of the release of the Chibok girls over the weekend. That was a heart-warming and positive development for these young women and their families.
"We provide a range of assistance to Nigerian authorities in their efforts to combat Boko Haram and ISIS in West Africa.
"That includes intelligence sharing, training, advice on strategic communications, and various services to support victims of Boko Haram.
"We have provided close to $500 million in humanitarian assistance over the last two years to those affected by the conflict in Northeastern Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad,'' he said.
According to him, Nigeria and her current challenges will continue to occupy an important place for the U.S.
Holt said that his government had gone from the place of, "not being on the same page with Nigeria, to a place where we see things very much in the same terms.
"The future of Nigeria matters not just for Nigeria, but very much for its neighbours and I would argue for this planet.
"We have gone from a place where we were often not on the same page with Nigeria, to a place where we see things very much in the same 1`terms,'' he added.
LOOKING to fulfill a lifelong dream to tour one of the most iconic ships in history? Travellers interested in exploring the wreckage of the Titanic will have to pay a high price for the experience. Luxury travel company Blue Marble Private is offering voyages to the ship for $105,129 per person – almost double what travelers paid for Deep Ocean Expeditions' 2012 journey to the wreckage, according to CNN.
The eight-day trip will kick off in Canada in May 2018 and transport participants in a submersible to the wreck site, where travelers will have as many as three days of diving, up to three hours a day, to examine the ship, which rests 12,000 feet below the surface of the North Atlantic Ocean. The chance to "explore Titanic's massive debris field, home to numerous artifacts strewn across the ocean floor, nearly undisturbed for over a century," will also be available to voyagers, Blue Marble Private founder Elizabeth Ellis told CNN.
She also revealed one of the perks for "mission specialists" who take part in the experience. "During the dive, your crew may conduct 3D and 2D sonar scans or search for one of the ship's giant boilers, enormous propellers, and other landmarks of this famous vessel." Although the first trip is fully booked, there are still potential trips in summer 2019.
The Naira on Thursday gained N2 against the dollar at the parallel market as it was traded at N386 to the dollar, stronger than the N388 it closed on Wednesday.
At the same segment, the pound sterling and the Euro closed at N495 and N425, respectively.
At the Bureau De Change (BDC), the naira was N362 to the dollar, while the pound sterling and the Euro exchanged for N492 and N423, respectively.
The naira was exchanged at N305.6 to the dollar at the interbank.
Currency traders said that the weekly offering of foreign exchange to BDCs by the CBN was paying off and restoring stability to the exchange rate.
Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, the President of Association of Bureau de Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), said that he expected the naira to continue to appreciate in the coming weeks.
Gwadabe said that BDCs had taken measures to ensure that they would not run foul of the law in the foreign exchange market.
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA-In a manner that apparently portrays an affinity between them, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said that President Muhammadu Buhari sees him as a brother and also treats him like his son.
—President Muhammadu Buhari receives briefing from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (right) after the president's resumption at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: STATE HOUSE.
He spoke in Katsina, the home state of President Buhari on Thursday while launching the State’s version of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise, MSMEs clinic.
Osinbajo’s latest position has overtly countered the perception in some quarters that there may not be any love lost between him and his boss following the wording of a recent letter the President wrote to the National Assembly, announcing a transfer of power to him (Osinbajo).
President Buhari had on Sunday at the verge of his departure to London for a follow-up on his medicals written to the National Parliament, informing the lawmakers of his trip abroad in the fulfillment of Section 145 of the 1999 constitution.
While many expected the president to categorically state that Osinbajo would “act” in his stead, the President in the letter said that his vice will “coordinate” the activities of government in his absence.
The development didn’t sink well to many and has consequently elicited concerns across the nation.
But in a series of tweets @akandeoj yesterday, the spokesman to the Acting President, Laolu Akande quoted Osinbajo as saying that President Buhari has assigned him many responsibilities outside treating him like a son.
The remarks were however a response to the benign and hospital words of the Emir of Katsina to Osinbajo who had said “Here you are home, welcome to the most peaceful state”. We all sit together side by side”, during the launch.
Responding Osinbajo said: “I feel very much @home in KT. Moreso because this is the State of the President who has taken me as a brother.”
“In fact, the President has taken me as a son in the way he treats me”.
“The amount of responsibilities President Buhari has given me shows he seriously believes we can live together as brothers”.
“I pray the Lord will preserve our President to continue to lead as the nation has voted him to do. He seriously believes in Ngr unity.”
US President Donald Trump insisted Thursday he always intended to fire FBI director James Comey, undercutting the initial White House explanation that he acted on the recommendation of top justice officials.
Opponents have claimed that Comey’s shock sacking was a bid to stall an FBI investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election, which is also looking into possible collusion between the Kremlin and Trump’s team.
Trump
In announcing Comey’s dismissal on Tuesday, the White House said it was based on a damning assessment of his handling of a probe into Hillary Clinton’s emails — but Trump told the NBC network that he was always going to dismiss him.
“I was going to fire him regardless of recommendations,” said the president. “He’s a showboat, he’s a grandstander.”
Vice President Mike Pence and a string of White House officials have said Trump acted upon the advice of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and his deputy, Rod Rosenstein — although administration officials have also said the president had steadily “lost confidence” in Comey’s leadership prior to firing him.
Trump’s interview was released on the same day the interim head of the FBI told the US Congress that Comey’s sacking would not derail the Russia investigation.
“There has been no effort to impede our investigation to date,” acting director Andrew McCabe told the Senate Intelligence Committee, in a hearing that capped two days of high drama provoked by the dismissal.
“You cannot stop the men and women of the FBI from doing the right thing,” he said. “All of the agents involved in the investigation are still in their positions.”
While Trump told NBC that the outgoing director had left the agency in “turmoil”, McCabe rejected any suggestion that Comey had lost the support of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s rank and file.
“Director Comey enjoyed broad support within the FBI and still does today,” he told the committee. “I hold director Comey in the highest regard. I have the highest respect for his abilities and his integrity.”
Echoing a widely-held view in opposition ranks, the senior democrat on the Senate committee, John Warner, called the timing of Comey’s dismissal “especially troubling.”
“He was leading an active counterintelligence investigation into any links between the Trump campaign and the Russian government or its representatives, and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia’s efforts to interfere in our election.”
“For many people, including myself, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that the president’s decision to remove Director Comey was related to this investigation.”
McCabe gave no information on the status of the FBI probe, which dates back to July last year when the agency became aware of alleged Russian hacking of Democratic party computers and communications.
– ‘Not under investigation’ –
McCabe and five other top intelligence officials, including the heads of the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, reiterated their January conclusion that the Russian government was behind the effort to manipulate last year’s election.
Trump has repeatedly downplayed suspicions of Russian interference, and dismisses any notion of collusion with his team as “fake news.”
The president told NBC he had personally asked Comey whether he was under investigation — an admission that could expose the president to allegations of interfering with the ongoing FBI probe.
“I actually asked him, yes. I said, ‘If it’s possible would you let me know am I under investigation?'” Trump said, recounting one of three conversations about the issue — two over the phone and one over dinner.
“He said, ‘you are not under investigation,'” Trump claimed, repeating an assertion he first made as he announced Comey’s firing.
McCabe refused to respond to panel questions on the claim, saying: “I can’t comment on any conversations the director may have had with the president.”
He also pledged not to discuss the Russia investigation with the White House, saying it had adequate resources to proceed. Unconfirmed media reports said that Comey in recent weeks sought more financial resources from the government to support the probe.
“I can assure you we are covered,” McCabe told the panel when asked if the FBI needs more money for the investigation.
By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA – National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has lashed back at critics of the party’s ambitious expansion, saying the APC is not for integrity-challenged politicians currently within the radar of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC.
Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Odigie-Oyegun spoke Thursday when he received Senators Florence Ita-Giwa and John Enoh at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
“I know that those who do not wish us well often tend to misinterpret some of these happenings as running away, thinking that they would have protection from the EFCC. Of course, I am not aware in your case that anybody is harassing you with the EFCC.
In any case, it is obvious and played out today that we do not offer sanctuary to anybody running from the arms of the law. The evidence is all over the place”, said the chairman.
Ita-Giwa and Enoh had recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party PDP to the APC.
“We welcome you to the headquarters of the APC headquarters. It is an honour that has been bestowed on only very few persons. One thing made your presence significant here. Traditionally, the South-south has been the heart of the unity and oneness of this nation, whether during the civil war or post-civil war.
“In spite of the obvious difficulties that the nation is passing through, people like you voluntarily wanted to assist in this responsibility of helping in nation building.
“Of course, our party does not have the presence it ought to have in the South-south. So when people of your calibre join us in the struggle, we from the South-south are particularly glad and happy. On that parochial basis, I welcome you”, he said.
Responding, Sen. Ita-Giwa said, “coming to the party is like a home coming, and I am identifying with the people I have known before.
I feel very comfortable identifying with the calibre of people in the APC. I will like to correct the erroneous notion that I decamped or they call it defection because there is no party to defect from. I personally stopped attending meetings, in the last two years, just because of the impunity there.
“It is on record that in 2015, I had gone to the presidential candidate to say that I was leaving the party, so I was potentially one of the politicians that were forcefully driven out of the party”, she said.
BY UGOCHUKWU ALARIBE ABA- A medical doctor identified as I.J. Mbaekpe, has committed suicide in Aba, Abia State.
Vanguard gathered that Mbaekpe who lives at the Abayi area of the city has been suffering from undisclosed ailment for about 30 years.
According to a family source, the medical doctor, aged 74, kept lamenting that he was tired of life, as his health condition defied solution.
While his wife, Mary, was said to be out of the house, Mbaekpe allegedly shot himself which attracted neighbours. He died as he was being taken to the hospital.
"He has been sick for about 30 years now. While the family continued to take care of him and seek solution to his ailment, he kept telling us that he was tired of life. While his wife was out of the house, he shot himself. Nobody knew he could get to the extent of taking his life," the family source said.
Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Godfrey Ogbonna, who confirmed the incident, stated that the medical doctor was reported to have suffered from a sickness for about 30 years and committed suicide.
The Senate Intelligence Committee had its first chance on Thursday to question the acting director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the wake of President Donald Trump's decision to fire James Comey.
Andrew McCabe became acting director after Trump fired Comey on Tuesday.
He is filling Comey's shoes at the previously scheduled hearing, which was supposed to discuss "worldwide threats" but took on new significance after Comey's firing.
The chairman of the committee, Sen. Richard Burr asked the panel, which includes other top intelligence chiefs, to focus on the original topic of the hearing.
Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the committee, said that would be difficult to do.
"The timing of director Comey's dismissal to me and many members of the committee on both sides of the aisle is especially troubling," Warner said.
McCabe told the committee that he could not comment after being asked about conversations Comey had with Trump.
The question referred to Trump's statement Tuesday in his letter dismissing Comey that he "greatly appreciate" Comey informing him that he is not under investigation.
Despite attempts by Republicans on the committee to stick to the broader questions about threats to U.S. security, Democrats on the committee are largely questioning McCabe and other top officials about investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
The White House justified the firing of Comey based on his handling of the Hillary Clinton email affair.
However, opposition Democrats suspects said it was because the FBI was advancing its investigation into possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.
By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO LOKOJA – Kogi state government says contrary to speculation in some quarters, the recent appointment of traditional rulers were based on fairness, justice and due process. Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State
Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Abubakar Ohere stated this yesterday in Lokoja during the presentation of letters of appointment to thirteen newly appointed traditional rulers between 2nd and 3rd class status.
Ohere said, “The era of imposition of traditional rulers in any community is over. Appointment of any chiefs is now based on the Kogi State Chief Appointment, Disposition and Establishment of Traditional Council Law.
He called on the newly appointed Chiefs to partner with the state government towards its ‘new Direction’ agenda especially in the fight against crime, criminality and other forms of social vices in their domain.
He urged them to also support the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello, assuring them of the government commitment to improve on their welfare packages.
Responding on behalf of the appointees, the Olu of Ayetoro-Gbede, Oba Sunday Ehindero thanked the state governor, Yahaya Bello for finding them worthy of the appointment, promised their loyalty and support to his government.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers, (NUT), has said that it will breed more illiterates than literates, should federal government hands over primary education to Local government council.
This was made known to newsmen by the president of the association,Micheal Olukoya, during a recent workshop in Abuja. Olukoya made the assertion while reminiscing lost members killed by Boko Haram in North East area and laments the backlog of salary owed teachers in over 28 states.
School Children
According to him, "Education should be seen as a right enshrined in our constitution. We are not against local government autonomy, but if FG says primary education should go to the local governments, it will lead to slavery. We will be breeding more illiterates than literates.
"We appeal to the federal government not to contemplate handing over primary education to local government councils under the guise of local government autonomy.
"If we attempt to put primary education under the purview of local government administration, we shall be going back to the analogue age. We will not allow that to happen.
"The economic recession has worsened the situation of teachers with many teachers being owed by state governments. As I speak, about 28 states owe our teachers. The commercialisation and privatisation of education in Nigeria should be condemned. The policy has left education in the hands of private proprietors of schools who charge outrageous school fees in the bid to make profit," Olukoya said.
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