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..No, you subjected our staff to crude intimidation over alleged Biafra, militants stories-The Sun
By Soni Daniel
Abuja: The management of the Sun Publishing Limited and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have disagreed on the visit of the anti-crime agency to the company's head office in Lagos on Monday.
While the EFCC claimed that its visit was to ascertain the state of its assets of the company, which it said were under a subsisting forfeiture order, the company accused the EFCC of subjecting its workers to crude harassment over stories it did relating to Biafra and Niger Delta militants.
EFCC operatives
The Spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, made the position of the agency known in a statement released to Vanguard last night in Abuja.
Uwujaren said that the visit had nothing to do with any publication by the newspaper but was specifically geared towards determining the assets of the company.
Uwujaren said, "Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the early hours of today, June 12, 2017 visited the head office of the Sun Newspaper in Lagos. "The visit which lasted for less an hour was part of routine efforts to ascertain the state of the assets of the publishing company which is subject of subsisting interim forfeiture order. Prior to the visit, the Commission had written to the management of the company to account for its management of the assets for the period of the subsisting court order.
"The Commission still awaits the response of the Sun and will not be distracted by any attempt to whip up sentiments by alluding to an appeal which has been pending for ten years. The Commission's action is without prejudice to any appeal and only meant to verify the integrity of the assets.
"Contrary to claims in a statement released to the media by the management of the Sun, no staff of the media outfit was molested or intimidated for the few minutes that operatives of the Commission spent in the premises of the company.
"The claim that "EFCC operatives subjected our staff to crude intimidation, psychological and emotional trauma, even as some of the men accused our organization of publishing pro-Biafra, Boko Haram , and Niger Delta Militant stories ," is strange and clearly the figment of the imagination of the Sun.
"There was no reason to molest anybody as the commission has always related professionally with the publishing outfit. The attempt also to link the visit to the acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu's threat to sue the organization over a libelous publication is also diversionary.
"Magu is pursuing that option in his private capacity and his lawyer, Wahab Shittu, did write the Sun and his letter was widely published in the media on March 31, 2017."
But the Management of the Sun disagreed with the EFCC, saying that EFCC invaded its premises and subjected the workers to crude intimidation over stories.
Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi were on target as Iran confirmed their spot in the 2018 World Cup finals with a 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on Monday.
Iranian players celebrate with their coach Carlos Queiroz after winning the 2018 World Cup qualifying football match between Iran and Uzbekistan at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on June 12, 2017. Iran won 2-0. / AFP PHOTO
It was Iran’s sixth win from eight matches in Group A which took the table-toppers to 20 points, while South Korea are second on 13 ahead of their match against Qatar on Tuesday.
Iran are still unbeaten in the third stage of qualifying and amazingly have not conceded a single goal during the campaign, thus underlining their credentials as one of Asia’s football giants.
On Monday, they recorded their second win over Uzbekistan on the road to Russia, with Rostov forward Azmoun first finding the net in the 23rd minute with a right-footed shot from the left of the box following a through ball from Alireza Jahanbaksh.
Iran were clearly the dominant side in front of their home fans and could have easily emerged winners with an even more impressive scoreline but for some lacklustre finishing.
In the 48th minute Taremi drew a foul from Akmal Shorakhmedov, but Masoud Shojaei fired the resulting penalty high over the crossbar.
The Uzbeks struggled for momentum and failed to break down the famed Iranian defence, eventually conceding their second goal of the match in the 88th minute with Taremi finishing from Azmoun’s pass.
Iran have played in the World Cup finals four times in the past – in 1978, 1998, 2006 and 2014 – while Uzbekistan are still seeking their first ever qualification.
Samvel Babayan’s men, who have 12 points from eight matches, are not yet out of contention for an automatic place but will have to win their remaining two matches and hope other results go in their favour.
Iran join hosts Russia and five-time champions Brazil in securing a place for the tournament which runs from June 14 to July 15, 2018.
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has faulted the no confidence vote passed on Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) by the state House of Assembly.
The minister, who criticised the action on Monday in Enugu at the 16th power sector monthly meeting, appealed to the state government to settle the N2.6 billion it owed EEDC.
He said the debt contributed to the challenges faced by the distribution company in meeting the electricity needs of its consumers.
He expressed dismay that the company had been under assault in Enugu State.
Fashola
"EEDC appealed to me to intervene and impress on the state government to settle the huge debts it owed the company,'' he said.
He said that the distribution company might not have impressed its customers due to obvious challenges.
"The power sector is in transition and the type of result we expect may not come immediately.
"The interest of the EEDC and the customers will be better served if the state assembly collaborates with the company instead of the no confidence vote," Fashola said.
The minister said it was ridiculous that the state assembly passed no confidence vote on the EEDC when the government owed it N2.6 billion.
"The more attention we pay to the power sector by paying for the power we consume, the more result we get.
"If attention is not paid to the sector, there will be poor performance and no amount of vote of no confidence will improve their performance," he added.
Fashola said it was obvious that most of the power distribution companies had performed below expectation and urged them to improve on their performance.
He stressed the need for EEDC to improve on its communication with the public in order to build mutual trust.
He reiterated the commitment of the federal government to improve the power sector, which was evident in the institution of the power sector recovery plan that would soon be launched.
In the first quarter of 2017, Enugu state Assembly passed a vote of no confidence on the EEDC, citing poor service delivery.
Meanwhile, the state government through the Commissioner for Information, Dr Godwin Udeuhele, said the government is making efforts to settle the debts accumulated by successive administrations.
He said that the incumbent government had paid some amount of money to show its commitment.
The commissioner said that a committee made up of government officials and staff of EEDC had been set up to sort out the actual amount owed the company.
The Sun Publishing Limited has asked the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal for an order restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or its agents, servants, officers or anybody howsoever from further attempting to seal off its premises pending the hearing and determination of its appeal before the court.
The action was sequel to Monday invasion of the corporate Head office of the company by operatives of the anti-graft agency.
In a motion on notice dated and filed June 12, 2017, the company accused the EFCC of resorting to self-help by attempting to enforce an interim forfeiture order, which has been appealed upon.
The motion which was filed by counsel to the company, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) further drew the attention of the court to a pending motion for stay of execution of the ex-parte interim order of forfeiture.
The motion which was brought pursuant to order 4, rule 6 of the Court of Appeal rules, 2016 is seeking for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the respondent ( the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), either by themselves, their agents, officers, servants, privies or anybody howsoever described from enforcing or attempting to enforce, or purporting to enforce, the ex parte interim order of forfeiture made by Justice Anwuri Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja in suit No. FHC/ABJ/M/462/07 made on July 2007 adversely affecting and against the appellant/applicant, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
The appellant had filed an appeal against the decision of Justice Chikere, which is still pending before the Court of Appeal.
In addition, the appellant also filed a motion for stay of execution of the ex-parte interim order made by the Federal High Court, adversely affecting the appellant/applicant, which appeal is also pending before the appellate court.
The publishing outfit has since filed her brief of arguments in this appeal and ready to prosecute the appeal, but the respondent who is out of time, he filed a motion for extension of time, which is yet to be taken, and which has delayed the hearing of the appeal.
Counsel to the appellant, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) has accused the EFCC of reporting to self-help by attempting to enforce the interim order by trying to seal off the appellant/ applicant’s office premises.
He told the Court of Appeal in his motion that the resort to self-help by the EFCC will render the appeal nugatory and will amount to undue interference with the subject matter in litigation be the court.
He submitted that as a mark of respect to the court of law, and respect for the rule of law, parties ought to stay every action in respect of the subject matter in litigation.
In a 20 paragraphs supporting affidavit deposed by Alexander Ebute, the applicant traced the history of the case with respect to the ex-parte originating summons filed by the EFCC and dated July 20, 2007 .
The said originating summons sought inter alia an order of the Federal High Court temporarily forfeiting the assets of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, the former governor of Abia State.
The appellant averred that it is a dully registered publishing company in Nigeria having a distinct legal personality, and is not an asset of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, and was not subject nor suspect of any investigation, and an accused person with any charge pending against her, and was not made a party to the proceedings before the said Federal High Court.
That Justice Chikere granted the interim order sought by the EFCC on July 24, 2007 without any notice to the
appellant or any investigation or charge pending against the appellant.
The depodent further averred in the supporting affidavit that being dissatisfied with the decision of the trial judge refusing to discharge the said ex-parte order affecting a third party, promptly filed a notice of appeal dated and filed on July 4, 2008.
Ebute further averred that the appellant also filed a stay of execution of the interim order of forfeiture before the Court of Appeal.
That the Court of Appeal has fixed hearing of the appeal for Wednesday, July 14, 2017.
That unfortunately, despite the pendency of this appeal, and the above said motions, the EFCC is seeking to resort to self-help in this matter to enforce the interim order, the subject matter of this appeal.
By Olasunkanmi Akoni Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State council, has condemned Monday’s invasion of the Apapa-Lagos premises of The Sun Newspapers by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
In a statement issued by the Chairman, Deji Elumoye, described as “barbaric” the gestapo- style seal up of the newspaper house.
The Council, therefore, issued EFCC a 72-hour ultimatum to publicly apologise to The Sun management and the affected staff for the un warranted siege “failure which we will not hesitate to ask our team of lawyers to seek redress in court”.
The union wondered why EFCC would ransack the premises of the media outfit without any search warrant and subject innocent workers to unnecessary harassment and stress.
According to the statement, “The EFCC by the invasion had infringed on the fundamental human rights of the workers whose movement in and out of the company was curtailed by security operatives for over an hour
“This is a great violation of the freedom of movement and association of the affected Nigerian citizens as entrenched in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended.”
Lagos NUJ added that if The Sun as a media outfit had erred or had issues with EFCC or anybody/ organisation, the court of law is the proper place to seek redress “rather than taking the laws into their hands as EFCC just did.”
The Republic of Indonesia has rekindled its bilateral economic cooperation with Nigeria with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on business exploration between both countries.
The MoU, signed during the Indonesia-Nigeria Business Forum held in Lagos recently, was witnessed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Nigeria, Mr. Harry Purwanto; Indonesia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Mrs. Retno Marsudi, delegations of business communities from both countries among other stakeholders.
The Acting Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Dr. Yetunde Oni, was at the event.
The Indonesian ambassador said he believed that since the two countries shared some commonalities in terms of natural resources, the time was up for them to leverage these for the prosperity of their citizens.
Purwanto said, "Given that Nigeria and Indonesia share many commonalities, it is high time for us to work together using our activity and initiatives to transform our relationship for something concrete that will bring mutual progress, prosperity for the people of both countries.
"I attach great importance to this meeting to be translated into action in continuity and making our relationship mutually beneficial."
According to the ambassador, Nigeria is one of its key trade partners in Africa, adding that aside many Indonesian companies operating in Nigeria, his country sells some items to the Nigerian market.
Among these, he said, were building materials and palm oil.
Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Retno Marsudi, noted that since the establishment of bilateral relationship between the two countries in the mid 60s, their political relationship had grown.
She, however, lamented the sharp decline in the volume of trade between the two countries.
She said, "Indonesia is the largest and most dynamic economy with a Gross Domestic Product of $861bn and growing at five per cent, Nigeria's GDP of $586bn is strong with 182 million population.
“We have all the energy and potential to enhance our economic cooperation in order to transform our strong political relation to something that will be beneficial to our people."
On this year's World Environmental Day with the theme; "'Connecting People to Nature", LG Electronics has urged global organisations to invest in things that would protect the environment.
The World Environment Day, WED, is a widely celebrated global day for positive environmental actions. As the biggest annual event for positive environmental action, it is celebrated every year on June 5th, and it creates an ideal opportunity for robust Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, activation programmes.
To mark the day in Lagos, employees of LG trouped out to support local heritage and environmental conservation programmes in line with United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP. Among activities to mark day includes; e-waste clean ups, tree planting, beach clean ups and awareness campaigns across its various regions.
Speaking on the day, LG Electronics, Middle East and Africa, Mr. Kevin Cha, observed that Global companies like LG need to remain at the forefront of social and environmental contribution, and they must lead as examples with authenticity within the global community.
Cha stated that his organisation believes in responsible environmental stewardship and has identified environmental conservation as one among the global CSR pillars.
He added that with World Environment Day bringing together the global community to make a global impact, the ongoing efforts would not only support the environment but make lasting changes among the employees to become forever agents of positive social change.
"As long-time partner of UNEP, LG Electronics has been screening the organization's World Environment Day's video on its outdoor LED displays in the New York City Times Square throughout the month of June. In Nigeria, staff of LG electronics converged at the Hermitage beach resort along Epe expressway in Lagos state, to clean-up the expansive beach which is in line with this year's theme "Connect more with Nature. The company also donated some cleaning items to the host community for the regular cleaning of the beach.
Speaking on what informed the event, Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Taeick Son, said "It is only in cleaner and secured environment that we can achieve meaningful growth and development in the country. This is what has informed us as a company to embark on this beach cleaning exercise to mark the world environment day and the reason why we continuously design products that would meet world environment standard thereby helping our teeming consumers experience cleaner and greener lifestyle."
He called on LG consumers and its employees to remain responsible citizens and advocates of social and environmental change.
He recalled that since 2016, more than 90,000 LG employees from 89 business sites in 48 countries volunteered for social contribution initiatives, and the employees have been actively contributing towards social and environmental causes.
The Nigerian Guild of Editors received with shock news of the invasion of the premises of the SUN Publishing Limited by heavily armed EFCC operatives in the early hours of June 12, 2017.The fierce looking operatives prevented staff of the organisation from either entering or leaving the premises of the company and disrupted the circulation processes.
The unwarranted siege to the company subjected staff of the organisation to crude intimidation, psychological and emotional trauma.
The EFCC had accused THE SUN of publishing pro-Biafra , Boko Haram and Niger Delta militant stories.
The latest action of the EFCC on a newspaper house is a sad reminder of the dark years of military dictatorship and a deliberate effort to muzzle the press.
As a statutory agency birthed by an Act of Parliament in a democracy, we had expected the EFCC to explore civil means of addressing perceived infraction by a critical stakeholder in the Nigerian democratic project.
EFCC operatives
Rather than see the Fourth Estate of the Realm as an opposition, the Commission should realise that the media is an indispensable partner in its fight against corruption.
The Guild notes that the latest affront on THE SUN by operatives of the EFCC is one in a number of targeted attempts by a section of the nation's security apparatchik to gag free press. We recall the recent expulsion of Mr. Olalekan Adetayo, the State House correspondent of Punch Newspapers from Aso Rock by Bashir Abubakar, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The alleged forfeiture order the EFCC brandished this morning is 10 years old and a matter still before the Court of Appeal. The Guild wonders why the Commission felt it had to act ahead of a case before a court of competent jurisdiction.
It bears restating that such an attempt to intimidate the media does incalculable damage to the image of the EFCC and indeed the Nigerian government. Besides, it does not only undermine the foundation of our young democracy, it is a major threat to its sustenance and existence.
The Guild condemns the EFFC action in its entirety and calls on the Commission to purge itself of all anti-democratic tendencies in order to foster mutual cooperation with the media and other stakeholders in its crusade against graft.
The Guild calls on the EFCC to put an end to its current attempts to gag the Press and also demands an unreserved apology from the Commission to the SUN Publishing Limited.
The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has, Monday, cleared Senator Mudasiru Hussein to contest the party's primaries for the Osun West senatorial district holding tomorrow, Tuesday June 13, 2017.
This is the outcome of the meeting of the NWC in Abuja which reviewed the decision of the Appeal Panel which had earlier dismissed the appeal filed by Senator Hussain on Sunday.
A statement signed by the Director, Media & Strategy, APC, Osun, Barr. Kunle Oyatomi said that "by the regulation of the party, the decision of the NWC of the party is final."
The statement also said that "therefore, delegates for the APC West senatorial district primaries are to proceed to the designated centre for the exercise on Tuesday."
Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon reaffirmed he is “99.9 %” sure of retiring at the end of next season — unless he finally ends his quest to win the Champions League.
Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon
“Yes, I’m 99.9 % sure that’s how it will go,” said Buffon when asked by Sky Sport if he would keep to an earlier promise to hang up his gloves at the end of the 2017-2018 campaign.
“I will have one final, intense season full of key dates, then it will be time to call it a day.”
Buffon, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, had previously said next season would be his last, although he is not expected to fully retire until after the 2018 World Cup in Russia — if Italy qualify.
But the 39-year-old left a tiny chance of going back on his decision, after losing the 2017 Champions League final to Real Madrid (4-1) and the 2015 edition to Barcelona (3-1).
“If we win the Champions League I will continue to play one more season so I can also try to win the World Club Cup and other trophies,” he added.
Owing to the quit notice threat issued Igbo in the northern part of the country by the Coalition of Northern Youths, (CNY), Vanguard gathered that Igbo are likely not to comply because of the following reasons:
1. Federal government is not in support of the given threat and as such the national assembly has warned people seeking for the division of the country to desist from such act.
According to the Senate President Bukola Saraki, "the Senate must stand for a non negotiable and united Nigeria, and that unity and peace were key issues that must be guaranteed for any meaningful development to take place.
"We must stand clearly and act clearly to defend this country. The unity of this country is not negotiable" Saraki said.
Also, the Chairman Senate Committee on Army, Sen. George Akume, said the senate must rise up to make a statement condemning the various agitations in parts of the country. He said if the senate kept quiet in the face of the agitations, it would be failing as a major legislative arm of government.
According to him "I want to call the attention of this Senate to movements in this country, including Biafra, Arewa, some groups in the Western part of the country and many others.
"We must rise up to make a statement on what is happening. We will be failing if we do not do something that will reassure the people on the need for one Nigeria. "We are greater being together than going our separate ways,'' he said.
2. Chief of Army staff, Tukur Buratai, has told those agitating for an independent state to "forget it." According to him "Those individuals and groups that are bent on destabilising our country I think they have to wait till may be the next three or four millennia for them to do that. That is, may be the next generation of officers and men will allow them at all," he said.
"Having been given the millennium hero award, I want to call on all the agitators for separation and other acts of destabilisation; they better forget it, not in this era, not in this millennium.
"I want to say that we would continue to do our best to maintain security atmosphere that is needed as provided for in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. We have been tasked to defend our country, he finally said.
3. Another is the South East governor's statement issued today. According to statement signed by Engr. David Nweze Umahi, Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman of South East Governors Forum "The South East Governors Forum has repeatedly reiterated its commitment to and preference for the existence of a virile, united, prosperous and progressive Federal Republic of Nigeria where justice, fairness, equity, mutual respect and equality of opportunity to all citizens regardless of creed, ethnicity or gender will reign supreme under the inflexible rule of law.We have had occasion recently to take this position publicly in response to the agitative but peaceful actions of some Igbo youth. We will continue to take a similar stance in response to any action that might threaten the cohesiveness of this nation or designed to cause its rupture.
"We call on all our Igbo sons and daughters resident in Northern Nigeria to go about their lawful daily engagements without fear of intimidation, hindrance or molestation."
4. The encouraging words of Governor Nyesom Wike, that Niger Delta will not divide Nigeria, "unity non-negotiable".
According to him, "Sultan of Sokoto,Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, has been working tirelessly to ring peace and to bring unity to the people. So for all of us this is what is meant by one Nigeria.
"We cannot run away from this country. The unity of this country is very, very paramount. The unity of this country is non-negotiable.'' He said that he was from the Niger Delta, Rivers State to be specific, "So I cannot see us in a divided country. No way. We stand for the unity of this country."
5. What will happen to their properties (businesses and mansions) if they decide to come back? This is a very important point given by an interviewee who sticks that Nigeria will be a better place undivided than divided. He asked the following questions, will they carry their mansions on their head? Who will buy their properties if they want to sale it? And how much will they slate for the mansion? How sure are we that Igbo are going to make it if they abandon their properties and travel to their various villages?
These are critically questions that need urgent answer. Please do air your opinions here.
Former minister of Aviation Mr Femi Fani-Kayode had decried the raid on The Sun newspaper by the the Economic and Financial Crime Commission.
Femi Fani-Kayode
The company in a statement on Monday morning said that heavily armed men from the office of the EFCC invaded its premises and ordered the security personnel to take them round the company premises.
Fani-Kayode reacting to raid said that the raiding of the Sun Newspaper by agents of the EFCC was barbaric and irresponsible. It was nothing but a crude and shameless power-show by a weak, dying, paranoid and nervous government.
He further said ‘I am not in the least bit surprised by this development because that is the way this government has been behaving for the last two years.’
‘If it is not the homes and offices of opposition figures that they are raiding for no just cause it is that of judges, National Assembly members, bloggers, writers and journalists.
‘They do not know how to run a country and their incompetence is not only self-evident but it also speaks volumes.
‘They are always threatening the most basic freedoms of the Nigerian people attempting to destroy and malign them.
‘The truth is that they want to turn Nigeria into a police state and to intimidate everyone and anyone that is ready to expose their evil and that speaks truth about their abominable record of performance in office. In this respect they are worst than Hitler’s Nazis.
What they fail to appreciate is that they will not be in power forever and that governments come and governments go.
One day they themselves will be subjected to this kind of wickedness and they will be the ones on the receiving end of this type of evil.
I am surprised that Acting President Osinbajo, who I have some respect for, can sit by and allow such things to happen under his watch.
The EFCC and any other government security or intelligence agency ought to be encouraged to do their job but they must operate within the confines of decency and the law.
They are not above the law and they should stop breaking it and operating with impunity. They should stop violating the human rights and civil liberties of the Nigerian people in the course of their duty.
The Acting President should call them to order and keep them on a tight leash. This government must be made to understand that nobody is intimidated by the antics of these gutless and cowardly bullies or by their gestapo tactics.
The worse they can do is to kill and they can only do that if God permits it.
They are heartless, wicked, contemptuous, crooked, full of poison and evil and God will punish them for their lies and the wickedness that they continue to inflict on good and decent innocent men and women all over this country.
Yet whatever they choose to do let it be clearly understood that an attack on the media, the press, free speech and press freedom is an attack on us all and we will resist it with every fiber of our being.
We cannot be muscled, muzzled or silenced and they have absolutely no right to behave in this barbaric and unlawful manner.
I condemn this shameless raid and I urge the Sun Newspaper and ALL other media houses, both online and offline, not to allow themselves to be intimidated or cowered into submission.
It is only a matter of time before this evil darkness that has gripped our nation and that torments our people passes.
The Economic and Financial Crime commission has raided the office of The Sun Newspaper in Lagos.
According to a statement from the The Sun Newspaper on Monday morning heavily armed men from the office of the EFCC invaded the company’s premises and ordered the security personnel to take them round the company premises.
Read the statement from the company:
Law -abiding staff of The Sun Publishing Limited resumed work this morning, June 12, 2017 to behold heavily armed EFCC operatives in our company. They claimed to have "orders from above" to seal up the premises of The Sun Publishing Limited.Orji Uzor Kalu
At gunpoint, they ordered our security personnel to take them round the company premises, after which they proceeded to prevent staff from either entering or leaving the premises, and disrupted our circulation process.
For one gruelling hour, EFCC operatives subjected our staff to crude intimidation, psychological and emotional trauma, even as some of the men accused our organisation of publishing pro-Biafra, Boko Haram and Niger Delta militant stories, as they surveyed our premises.
We recall that in 2007, (10 years ago) the EFCC had obtained an interim forfeiture order in respect of some assets of The Sun, attached to a suit against our Publisher, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, for which we have filed an appeal, which is still pending in court.
We also recall that the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu had written a letter personally signed by him dated 23rd of May and received on the 7th of June, asking The Sun management to report to the Commission on 5th of June, detailing our operations in the last 10 years, on account of an interim order of forfeiture under appeal
As law-abiding corporate citizen, our lawyer, Chief Chris Uche SAN, wrote the Commission to intimate the Agency that the issue was pending before the court of Appeal. The receipt of our correspondence was duly acknowledged.
We were therefore shocked that our premises would be invaded by the Commission under whatever guise. This is condemnable and reprehensible. No one, agency or authority should be above the laws of our country. An abuse of the law is a recipe for chaos.
Magu had in an earlier letter threatened to sue The Sun over a report published by one of our titles, pertaining to a report on the investigation of a property allegedly traced to his wife. But up till now, we are yet to receive any court process.
In the light of the above, we strongly view this onslaught against The Sun as a personal vendetta by the leadership of the Commission, and by extension a declaration of war against the media.
In this invasion of our premises, it is crystal clear that what Magu and his Commission are after is not only to intimidate and muzzle us, but a furious attempt to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it.
On the issue of the interim order, which he purportedly based his invasion, Magu knows the matter has been on appeal since 2007 for which hearing comes up this week. But rather than wait for the court process, the commission under the leadership of Magu, typically resorted to self help.
We want the general public to take note of this authoritarianism and high-handedness, which has been the hallmark of Magu's leadership of the EFCC.
The other charge of publishing Biafra, Boko Haram and Niger Delta militant stories is very ridiculous, baseless and anti-Press freedom.
We like to state that we are neither an ethnic, political nor religious newspaper, but we are the Voice of the Nation, reflecting all sides, all views and all shades of opinion in line with the ethics of our profession.
We challenge Magu and his Commission to show where The Sun's stories have been different from other papers in the country.
We call on well-meaning citizens and relevant authorities to restrain Magu and his Commission from taking the laws into their hands.
The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has reiterated that the recent faceoff between the State Government and the Oil Marketers in the State was not meant to witch-hunt anybody or group but to guarantee the safety of lives and properties of the citizens of the state.
The governor said this while inaugurating a 12 Member Committee on Re-certification of Petrol Filling Stations in Ekiti held at the Conference Hall of the Governor's Office in Ado-Ekiti .
Mr. Fayose who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, expressed his view that the operations of Oil Marketers and their filling stations should conform with minimum safety measures in the society where they operated.
The Governor advised the committee to be thorough and ensure that they delve into all aspects relating to the size, location and other technicalities regarding the siting and operation of petrol filling stations.
He said that his government believed that the caliber of personalities that made up the committee would do the needful to ensure absolute compliance to global best practices.
Responding, the Chairman of the Re-Certification of the Petrol Filling Stations Committee, Mr. Kayode Oso thanked the Governor for giving them the opportunity to serve the state with the assurance that the committee would work assiduously to accomplish the task placed before within the time frame of one month giving to them.
The membership of the Committee which was drawn from the representatives of the state government, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has Mr. Kayode Oso as the Chairman and Barrister Soji Awe as the secretary.
Other members are Mr. Bisi Akinola, Dr. Samuel Omotosho, Hon. Kole Abiodun, Dr. (Mrs) Adekunmi Obaisi and Comrade Tokunbo Korodo.
Others are Comrade Olujide Kilanko, Comrade Tayo Aboyeji, Mr. Sina Amao, Mr. George Idowu and Mr. Wale Oseni, who was represented by Mr. Adewole Emmanuel.
Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, on Monday in Abuja described sports as the only vaccine to end agitations and unnecessary anxiety in the country.
"Apart from ICT, sports is the second largest employer in the world and only sports can address the challenges of this country,'' Dalung said while addressing the newly-inaugurated seven-man electoral appeal committee for the National Sports Federation elections.
The minister said sports is the only vaccine and instrument to stop agitations, with the way the country is presently.
"If the right thing is done, young people will realise their talents and will have hope in this country, or else the sermon of peace will be like a mere gospel to a hungry man,'' he said.
Dalung added that Nigerians must change their attitude to sports development, in the areas of sponsorship and encouraging the youths to do sports.
"If we neglect sports we should forget about peace,'' he said.
The 2017 elections into the boards of the national sports federations are scheduled for Tuesday in Abuja.
REMARKS BY AG. PRESIDENT YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, AT THE SIGNING OF THE 2017 APPROPRIATION BILL INTO LAW ON MONDAY 12TH JUNE 2017 AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA, ABUJA.
A few minutes ago, I signed the 2017 Appropriations Bill into law. This is an important milestone in our economic recovery and Growth plan laid in April by President Muhammadu Buhari.Acting President Yemi Osinbajo signing a document
I would like to express my appreciation to the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as the entire leadership and members of the National Assembly for completing work on the 2017 Appropriation Bill. And I will return to this point presently.
The process of preparing and processing this Bill was much smoother than the 2016 Appropriations Bill. On the executive side, there were no allegations of errors, or mistakes, and there was a significant improvement in the quality of the preparation, as well as the presentation.
I wish to commend the Ministry of Budget and Planning for such a remarkable improvement over a single budget cycle.
On the side of the National Assembly, I wish to commend the collaborative spirit of the engagements our MDAs had with their various committees, and with the leadership, during the budget defence sessions. There were far fewer reported cases of acrimony, or hostile wrangling this year, than in the past.
From the reports we received, the sessions were generally conducted in a friendly atmosphere. There is no doubt that our democracy is maturing.
However, the final presentation and the signing of the budget has been considerably delayed. This was largely due to disagreements we had about the changes introduced to our 2017 Budget proposals by the National Assembly.
The executive took the view that the changes fundamentally affected some of our priority programmes and would make implementation extremely difficult and in some cases impossible.
I must say that the entire leadership of the National Assembly led by the Senate President and the Speaker, adopted a commendably patriotic and statesmanlike approach to our engagements on resolving these critical issues.
In sum, the engagements yielded acceptable results . The most important being that the leadership of the National Assembly has given us a commitment that the National Assembly will re-instate the budgetary allocations for all the important executive projects, such as the railway standard gauge projects, the Mambilla Power Project, the Second Niger Bridge, the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway etc. which they had reduced to fund some of the new projects they introduced.
This re-instatement will be by way of an application for virement by the Executive which they have agreed will be expeditiously considered and approved by the National Assembly.
It is as a result of that understanding and the outcome of our detailed engagements that we feel able to sign the 2017 Appropriations Bill into law today.
I am also pleased to mention that, in our discussions with the leadership of the National Assembly, we have jointly resolved to return to a predictable January to December fiscal year.
It is a particularly important development because this accords with the financial year of most private sector companies, underscoring the crucial relationship between government and the private sector.
Therefore, on the understanding that we will be submitting the 2018 Budget to the National Assembly by October 2017, the leadership of the National Assembly has committed to working towards the passage of the 2018 Budget into law before the end of 2017. I must, once more, express my appreciation to the leadership of the National Assembly, for the collaborative spirit in which these discussions were conducted.
The 2017 Budget, which I have signed into law today, is christened "Budget of Economic Recovery and Growth" and reflects our commitment to ensure strong linkage between the medium-term Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) recently launched by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari and the annual budgets.
It is designed to bring the Nigerian economy out of recession unto a path of sustainable and inclusive growth. The budget has a revenue projection of N5.08 trillion and an aggregate expenditure of N7.44 trillion. The projected fiscal deficit of N2.36 trillion is to be financed largely by borrowing.
Let me assure those who have expressed concern about the growing public debt that we are taking several actions to grow government revenues as well as plug revenue leakages. This is because, notwithstanding the fact that our borrowings are still within sustainability limits, we are determined, in the medium term, to reduce our reliance on borrowings to finance our expenditures.
Details of the budget, as approved by the National Assembly, will be made available by the Honourable Minister of Budget and National Planning.
As you are all aware, our economy is already signaling a gradual recovery as growth is headed towards positive territory. First quarter GDP, at -0.52% compares favourably with -2.06% in the first quarter of 2016. Inflation is declining – down to 17.24% from 18.74% as at May 2016. Our external reserves are now US$30.28 billion as at June 8, 2017 up from US$26.59 billion as at May 31, 2016.
We are also gradually instilling confidence in our exchange rate regime. This improvement in GDP growth and other macro-economic indicators is largely attributable to our strategic implementation of the 2016 Budget as well as stronger macroeconomic management and policy coordination.
I am confident that the 2017 Budget will deliver positive economic growth and prosperity – one that is self-sustaining and inclusive. In this regard, the 2017 budget will be implemented in line with our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.
Over the 2017-2020 plan period, we are focusing on five (5) key execution priorities, namely: *Stabilizing the macroeconomic environment; *Agriculture and Food security; *Energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products; *Improved transportation infrastructure; and *Industrialization through support for micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs).
The 2017 budget includes provisions that reflect these priorities.
To demonstrate our commitment to following through our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, the 2017 budget allocates over N2 trillion to capital expenditure, principally infrastructure.
For instance, we are committing over N200 billion to improve transport infrastructure such as roads and rail; over N500 billion for investments in works, power, and housing; and N46 billion for Special Economic Zone Projects to be set up in each geopolitical zone.
The signing of the budget today will trigger activities in the domestic economy which will lead to job creation and more opportunities for employment, especially for our youth. And, as I indicated earlier, we will be returning to the National Assembly to seek upward adjustments by way of virements in relation to a number of critical projects which have received inadequate provision in the budget just passed by the National Assembly.
We acknowledge that government alone cannot achieve the overarching goal of delivering inclusive growth; that is why the 2017 budget provides a lot of opportunities for partnerships with the private sector.
To help the private sector thrive, we are determined to create an enabling business environment. We are already recording verifiable progress across several areas ranging from a new Visa-on-Arrival scheme to reforms at our ports and regulatory agencies. The Online business registration process has reduced time required for business registration from 10 to 2 days. It is expected that the Executive Order on transparency and efficiency in the business environment will make it even easier for investors to get the permits and licenses they require for their businesses.
Pursuant to our commitments to the Open Government Partnership, we recently issued an Executive Order that will promote budget transparency, accountability and efficiency. We want to make the Federal budget work more efficiently for the people.
Thus, beyond the huge provisions for investments in critical infrastructure, we have mandated Government agencies to spend more of their budgets on locally produced goods. This will open more opportunities for job creation with benefits for government in form of tax revenues.
We are also working hard to improve our revenue collection efficiency so that we can achieve our revenue projections. While we are deploying technological tools to enhance collections, the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) will continue to contribute significantly to improving transparency and accountability over government revenues.
Our fight against corruption is yielding positive results. Some of the recoveries are included in the 2017 Budget which will be expended on identifiable capital projects.
Already, we are beginning to see some improvement in the quality of public expenditure. This is great motivation for us to remain resolute in our fight against corruption so that economic prosperity is enjoyed by all Nigerians.
Let me reiterate that the implementation of our 2017 Budget will bring added impetus to our ongoing economic recovery. We will intensify our economic diversification efforts in our bid to expand opportunities for wealth creation and employment, thereby creating inclusive and sustainable growth.
Our path to progress and abundance is clear. The tools are in place and the resilient, resourceful and hardworking Nigerian people are set to go. I have no doubt that by the grace of God, the bleakness of recession is about to witness the uplifting dawn of abundance.
Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state has condemned the quit notice recently given to Igbos living in northern Nigeria by Arewa Youth Coalition Forum and sued for unity among Nigerians.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, in Yanegoa on Monday, Dickson said it was regrettable that some people would deliberately build-up hatred against fellow Nigerians.
He said that all Nigerians were guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution to live in any place of their choice and pursue their legitimate businesses without molestation.
Dickson said that it was high time the Federal Government showed leadership by designing a comprehensive master plan to reconcile all citizens irrespective of tribe or religion.
According to him, the Federal Government must deliberately build confidence among all the people, give a sense of belonging to all component parts and deliberately return sovereignty to the people to stem the tide of quit notices.
•Gov Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa
He said that breaking the country was not in the interest of anybody or ethnic group.
"Our strength as a country lies in our diversity and population. We are better off, if we continue to live together as one people.
"This is why the Federal Government must urgently show leadership and deliberately reconcile all sections of this country and address legitimate questions.
"Only leadership can put to rest the tension and hate in this country,'' he said.
The governor commended the Northern Governors and their Eastern counterparts for rising in unison to condemn the quit notices and hate comments.
He said that the Nigerian Governors Forum was worried about the state of the country and had set up a committee "of which I am a member, to intervene and give hope to the people of Nigeria and resolve conflicts''.
On the lingering leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dickson urged the party faithful not to lose hope "because PDP will bounce back''.
He called on those defecting from the party to desist from such action, stressing that PDP was a national institution that must not die.
He stated that the country was in need of a strong political party in government and a strong opposition party, and claimed that such were currently lacking as the All Progressives Congress (APC) was also enmeshed in crisis.
Dickson, who is the Chairman of the PDP National Reconciliation Committee, said that he was speaking out of concern following the defection of PDP members to other parties and reports of party leaders floating alternative political platforms.
He said that if PDP leaders had accepted his committee's reconciliation template, "a unity national convention would have held this month to elect national leadership''.
According to him, this would have put to rest the leadership crisis rocking the party.
The governor lamented that some party leaders opted for the court, which could only adjudicate but could not reconcile feuding parties.
He said that political leaders in Nigeria exerted much pressure on the judiciary by failing to do things rightly, "by failing to build consensus and refusing to respect laid down rules of politics''.
He added that such leaders also branded anybody holding contrary opinion as being "anti-party'', saying that the implication was that Nigerian politicians had become more ''militant than the military''.
Dickson, therefore, advised political leaders to stop relying on the judiciary to resolve an internal affair of a party, saying that internal disputes could best be resolved through a political solution.
He noted that the failure of the PDP leaders to unite, especially after the loss of federal power, had weakened the party across the country, particularly in Edo, Ondo, Benue and Lagos.
The governor said that his committee has not relented in the reconciliation and confidence-building assignment in the party, irrespective of the lingering litigation.
A US appeals court on Monday left in place a block on President Donald Trump’s travel ban targeting citizens from six Muslim majority nations — the latest in a string of judicial blows for the controversial measure.
US President, Donald Trump
The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit largely upheld an injunction on the ban issued by a lower court, but however said the government was within its right to review the vetting process for people entering the country.
“Immigration, even for the president, is not a one-person show,” the ruling said. “The president, in issuing the executive order, exceeded the scope of the authority delegated to him by Congress.”
The decision came just ahead of a deadline for states challenging the ban to submit briefings before the US Supreme Court in response to the Trump administration’s request that the nine justices hear the case.
The US Justice Department filed an emergency application to the Supreme Court on June 1, urging it to undo two lower court rulings blocking Trump’s decision to prevent entry to travelers from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.
The Trump administration argues the ban is needed to ward off terrorist attacks in the country.
Critics say the ban is discriminatory and violates the US constitution by specifically targeting Muslim-majority countries.
American singer and songwriter, Katy Perry is ready to bury the hatchet on her long-running feud with pop rival Taylor Swift.
Katy Perry and Taylor Swift
Perry, described Swift, as a "fantastic songwriter" and expressed the hope that they can be examples of strong women in the music industry.
However, Swift, 27, had yet to respond to the olive branch on Sunday and end the bad blood between two of pop music's biggest female singers.
"I am ready to let it go," Perry said in a global podcast on Saturday to promote her new album "Witness."
"I forgive her (Swift) and I'm sorry for anything I ever did, and I hope the same from her. I love her, and I want the best for her. And I think she's a fantastic songwriter," Perry, 32, added.
The feud, which started as a dispute over back up dancers, has dominated the personal and professional lives of the two singers for more than three years and played out in their songs.
Swift on Friday released her back catalogue to streaming services, after eschewing most such platforms for three years, on the same day that Perry released her new album "Witness" in what was widely seen as a bid to steal Perry's thunder.
Swift's 2014 single "Bad Blood" was believed to be directed at Perry.
Perry described her new single, "Swish Swish," released last month, as "a great anthem for people to use whenever somebody's trying to hold you down or bully you."
In her Saturday podcast, Perry said she hoped both she and Swift "can be representatives of strong women that come together despite their differences."
"I just really truly want to come together in a place of love and forgiveness and understanding and compassion," Perry said.
Swift, who has not released an album since 2014's best-selling "1989" and has adopted a low public profile in recent months, stayed silent on her social media accounts at the weekend.
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