I'M NOT STEPPING DOWN! SAYS ROBERT MUGABE

ROBERT MUGABE

Zimbabwe’s President, Robert Mugabe, said on Saturday he was not stepping down nor dying.
He said there was no one with his political stature who could immediately take over from him.
The 93-year-old leader has been in charge in the former British colony since independence in 1980.
His health is closely watched by Zimbabweans, who fear the country could face chaos if he dies without anointing a successor.

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Mugabe told tens of thousands of supporters at a rally in the town of Chinhoyi, in his home province, that doctors were recently surprised by his “strong bone system.”
He has travelled to Singapore three times this year for what officials said is routine medical treatment.
“There is the issue that the president is going. I am not going,” Reuters quoted Mugabe as saying to supporters on the grounds of a local university, 100 km (60 miles) west of the capital Harare.
“The president is dying. I am not dying. I will have an ailment here and there but body-wise, all my internal organs are very firm, very strong.”
Mugabe, who looks frail, had walked onto the stage slowly but without assistance.

The issue of who will succeed the veteran Zimbabwean leader has deeply divided the ruling party, with two factions supporting Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Mugabe’s wife, Grace.
Grace had on Thursday challenged Mugabe to name his preferred successor, to end divisions over the future leadership of ZANU-PF.
She repeated the call on Saturday, adding that Mugabe would lead the process to choose his eventual successor.


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WIZKID TEAMS UP WITH MASTERKRAFT TO RECORD SIX SONGS IN 24 HOURS (LISTEN HERE)

Wizkid returned back to the country recently and without wasting much time he went strong to the studio with legendary ace producer, Masterkraft, to record six songs in 24 hours.



The first instant release is titled “Medicine“; a firm reminder that Wizkid hasn’t lost the art of either riding a wave or creating one.

Listen and Download Here.

'BEING SINGLE DRAWS YOU CLOSER TO GOD' - CHIDINMA EKILE

Singer Chidinma today outlined the benefits of being single on her Instagram page. She stated that that time when you’re not married is the best time to develop a close relationship with God.
The “Kedike” singer explained that while there is nothing wrong with wanting to get married, one also needs to wait on the Lord while worshiping him and ministering to him. She wrote:

Some of you do not understand the benefits of being single, while you’re not married, you ought to be involved with God. At 5am you can lie in bed and pray in the spirit, you can lie on the floor and worship, you can lie in the bath, praising and worshipping for as long as you want.
The Lord wants you to come home at the end of the day and say ‘Lord, I went through so much today, I couldn’t wait to get home to worship you, I’m glad you’re here’. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be married, just take care of the Lord while you’re waiting, minister to Him and worship Him. You’re in a position and posture of prayer. The Lord has become your necessary food.
There is a special relationship between God and the single believer. God has a special anointing for the woman who is free to seek Him. Her prayer life should explode in miracles.

WHAT TO DO IF CONDOM BREAKS DURING SEX

Yes, we all should use protection during sex. If it’s not about preventing pregnancy, then it’s definitely about preventing sexually transmitted diseases.
However, stuff happens and condoms can snap or even break loose while you’re very much at it!

 • Stop the sex immediately.
  
Well, this is a panicky situation! If you’ve noticed something, or even just want to check, stop what you are doing and check the condom.

It is not okay to carry on, and turn around later saying, ‘Oh, well, I did notice something but I was too busy enjoying it’.
If you can’t immediately spot the condom, go to the bathroom before you do anything else. Try to pee, and push as you do so. This will help to remove any extra sperm, and the ‘bearing down’ action will help to dislodge the condom if it didn’t come out earlier.
If there has been no ejaculation, there is still a chance of pregnancy so you should also have a quick wash. You need to do all this before you start digging around in there on the off-chance you scrape yourself with a nail, which could lead to a more serious infection.

 • Find it.

Usually, the condom will still be around the penis but sometimes it’s nowhere to be found. It may still be inside the vagina. Having a condom come off in the vaginal canal or the anus is a lot more common than you may think, so here is where you don’t have to panic. In fact, panicking would be very bad because you really do need to relax.
First of all, the moment’s gone. Don’t try to reclaim the sexy atmosphere because you currently have some plastic in your vagina and you need to focus on getting it out.
Lie back, relax, and see if your partner will help take it out. He’ll be able to get a better angle, and you won’t be so tense.
Basically, push as if you’re going for a big poo, but focusing more on your vagina. You can try this yourself, but don’t panic if it doesn’t come out immediately.
Sometimes, the condom may come down over a few hours, so don’t go clawing away at your vagina. Go watch telly, have a cup of tea, give it a couple of hours and try again in a squatting position. If it still hasn’t come out after a few tries, see your doctor.

• Aftercare.

Ladies, you can still get pregnant even if he didn’t ejaculate, so, emergency contraception might be your next bet.
A man’s pre-cum fluid contains millions of sperm, and it only takes one to reach the goal. Even if we take babies out of the equation, each of you will still be at risk from STIs and it takes three months before some infections will show up on tests.
This shouldn’t kill your sex life, though. Just learn from it – invest in different condoms and avoid using those types again.
Think about using more lubricant. Was the sex comfortable in the first place? Maybe it was too frantic, too rushed, too dry. And never, ever be afraid to say, ‘Stop. I just want to check’.

'SARAKI HEADS THE WORST SENATE IN NIGERIA'S HISTORY' - ITSE SAGAY

 

Prof. Itse Sagay

Renowned lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), says the 8th Senate is the worst in the history of Nigeria, adding that they will be kicked out come 2019.

Sagay said this in a statement written in his personal capacity and not as the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption.

The senior advocate described the current constitution amendment as a hypocritical exercise which would lead nowhere.

READ ALSO: SARAKI'S ACQUITTAL CANNOT STAND - FG

Sagay added, “This Senate is by far the worst in Nigerian history. Nothing good has ever emanated from them. Their grab for executive powers, confrontation with the President and Vice-President, their love of self-serving legislation and total insensitivity to the common interest of Nigeria is sensational and unprecedented.

“The outcome of all this malevolence against Nigerians is that they will achieve nothing before they leave in 2019, and Nigerians will turn out in millions to clap them out of relevance.”

He specifically lambasted the Bukola Saraki-led Senate for refusing to devolve powers to the states, scrapping the State Electoral Commission and for refusing to ensure 35 per cent affirmative action for women.

Sagay, who is a former Dean of Law at the University of Benin, said the senators were only pursuing their self-interest at the expense of Nigerians.
The senior advocate said, “To summarise the attitude of Senate to constitutional reforms, their decisions on Wednesday 26th July 2017, demonstrate their contempt and disdain for federalism and women, and their inordinate self-love and self-indulgence, amounting to narcissism, at the expense of all other Nigerians.

“Their rejection of devolution of some powers to the states involving transfer of some items to the concurrent list, their scrapping of States Electoral Commissions, entrenching local governments as a tier of government in a supposed federation, clearly demonstrates their hostility to federalism and to the empowerment of the 36 states in order to make them more independent and effective.

READ ALSO: HOW SENATORS WERE BRIBED TO PASS PEACE CORPS BILL

“On the other hand, their inordinate self-love is demonstrated by their craving for immunity, participation in the Council of State and elimination of the President’s power to approve constitutional amendments.”

The professor of law said since the Senate had failed Nigerians, the only way to ensure far-reaching social change would be for a constituent assembly to be established.
Sagay added, “These proposed alterations of the constitution will fail because they are anti-people, vainglorious, selfish, negative and irresponsible.
“Ultimately, Nigerians will establish a constituent assembly, where genuine changes will be made to the basis of our mutual association in a manner consistent with our multi-ethnic nationality society.”

Efforts to get the Senate to react to Sagay failed on Friday.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi-Abdullahi, could not be reached for comments. He neither picked calls made to him or reply a text message sent him.







CREDIT: PUNCH

NNPC AMBUSH: DEATH TOLL RISES TO 69

At least 69 people are known to have died in a Boko Haram ambush of an oil exploration team in northeast Nigeria, as three men kidnapped by the jihadists made a video appeal.
Experts said the attack — Boko Haram’s bloodiest this year — underscored the persistent threat it poses, despite government claims the group is a spent force.

“So far the death toll stands at 69,” said an aid agency worker involved in the recovery of bodies after the attack in the Magumeri area of Borno state on Tuesday.
The worker, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said 19 soldiers, 33 civilian militia and 17 civilians were killed.
“The last body was recovered Friday in the bush in the Geidam district of neighbouring Yobe state, which is several kilometres from the scene of the ambush,” he told AFP.

“It shows the victim, who had gunshot wounds, died after trekking a long distance. There could be more such victims in the bush.”

Another source with knowledge of the rescue operation gave the death toll as “70 or more” and also said it was unclear whether all the victims had been accounted for.
The attack hit Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation staff.

“It’s a confirmation of the boldness and reassurance that Boko Haram has managed to gain over the last six weeks,” said Yan St-Pierre, from the Modern Security Consulting Group.
“They have been attacking more and more military outposts and more military convoys. For them to go after NNPC personnel just shows they don’t fear any military reprisal.
“Basically they have managed to gain enough resources, enough material, to plan ambushes targeted towards high value targets.”

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– Video appeal –

News of the rising death toll came after Boko Haram published a four-minute video in which three men identified themselves as being from the University of Maiduguri.
The trio were part of a NNPC team on a mission to find commercial quantities of oil in the Lake Chad basin.

“I want to call on the acting president professor Yemi Osinbajo to come to our rescue to meet the demand,” one of the men says in the video, which he said was shot on Friday.
He attributed the attack to the Islamic State-supported Boko Haram faction headed by Abu Mus’ab Al-Barnawi, which has vowed to hit military and government targets.
“They have promised us that if their demands are met they will release us immediately to go back to the work we were caught doing,” the man added.
There was no indication of where the video was shot but Magumeri is some 50 kilometres (31 miles) by road northwest of Maiduguri.

University of Maiduguri spokesman Danjuma Gambo confirmed the identities of the three kidnapped men in the video.

“They are our staff but one more is yet to be accounted for,” he told AFP.
Five members of staff from the university — two lecturers, two technologists and a driver — were killed, vice-chancellor Ibrahim Njodi said on Friday.
He told reporters the university had been hesitant to send staff with the NNPC team but had been assured about security.
Nigeria is searching for oil in the northeast to try to reduce its reliance on supplies from the Niger delta, where militant attacks have slashed production.
– Suicide bombings –

Kidnapping has been a feature of the Boko Haram insurgency, which has killed at least 20,000, displaced more than 2.6 million and left millions of others on the brink of famine.
Thousands of women and girls have been seized, to be married off to fighters, used as sex slaves or suicide bombers, while men and boys have been made to fight in the Islamist ranks.

The al-Barnawi faction differs from fighters loyal to Boko Haram’s long-time leader Abubakar Shekau in that it disagrees with the indiscriminate targeting of civilians. On Friday, two suicide bombers struck a camp for displaced people in Dikwa, 90 kilometres (56 miles) east of Maiduguri, killing five.

Civilian militia member Babakura Kolo said the men disguised themselves as traders wanting to buy grain.

In Bama, 70 kilometres (45 miles) southeast of Maiduguri, three young female suicide bombers were killed when their explosives detonated prematurely on Thursday, he added.
“A fourth bomber, an 11-year-old girl, was too frightened to pull the trigger. She succeeded in removing her vest and sneaked into town. She was found and taken into custody,” he said.

ALSO READ: BOKO HARAM RETURNS TO SAMBISA FOREST

BOKO HARAM IS BACK! KILL 8 AND INJURE 15

At least eight persons were confirmed dead and 15 others critically injured Friday evening after two teenage female suicide bombers attacked a residential area of Dikwa, 80 kilometres from Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

News of the attack got to Maiduguri late Saturday afternoon as local government officials from the attacked community said they could not mobilise for emergency response due to lack of communication facilities.
Boko Haram, three years ago, destroyed virtually every social infrastructure like telecom masts in the area, at a time it held the town.

The military celebrated the recapture of Dikwa in late 2015. Most of the earlier displaced residents of Dikwa later returned to their community from Cameroon.
On Friday night, residents say, two female suicide bombers sneaked into a government built 20-unit housing estate in Dikwa and carried out coordinated attack there.

About eight persons, excluding the suicide bombers, died.
The chairman of Dikwa council, Rawa Goni-Modu, who led a team of rescue officials to evacuate the injured persons from Dikwa to the hospital in Maiduguri, informed journalists that 15 persons were also injured.
“The attack took place last (Friday) night when two Boko Haram girls blew up the bomb they carried on their bodies within the 20-housing in Dikwa,” he said.

He said some of the injured ones had been given medication and are responding to treatment.
The attack is the latest in a series of intensified attacks carried by Boko Haram suicide bombers since March this year.
Suicide attacks by Boko Haram has become almost a daily occurrence around Maiduguri in the past three months.

The worsening trend prompted the Nigeria chief of army staff, Tukur Buratai to issue a 40-day ultimatum to the commanders of the counterinsurgency operations in the northeast to arrest the group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, and also end the insurgency







CREDIT: PREMIUM TIMES

EXCLUSIVE: SENATORS BRIBED TO PASS PEACE CORPS BILL

To pass the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill, senators received kickbacks in form of job slots and cash reward from the promoters of the proposed paramilitary organisation, PREMIUM TIMES can report.
Scores of senators received at least seven employment slots each to back the bill, which was passed to, amongst other things, create the Nigerian Peace Corps as the country’s newest law enforcement agency.
Some of the lawmakers considered key to the passage of the law got as much as 500 slots, our findings show.

Other senators received cash rewards for their acquiescence, multiple senators, including those who benefited, told PREMIUM TIMES.
The bribery scheme became so brazen that some senators who were members of the committees that worked on the bill pointedly accused each other of being bought by the Peace Corps.

But the leadership of the Senate quickly weighed in, made peace amongst the feuding senators and hushed up the case, consequently saving the upper chamber from another major embarrassment, our sources said.
But the Peace Corps denied offering bribes to lawmakers to secure the major milestone in its decade-long quest to become a government agency.

“At no point did our organisation offered any bribes to lawmakers,” Milicent Umoru, the group’s spokesperson, told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday. “The bill actually suffered a whole lot before it was finally adopted a few days ago.”

Both chambers of the National Assembly passed the bill “because they see it as necessary to curb acute unemployment amongst Nigerian youth,” she added. It remains unclear Saturday whether members of the House of Representatives also took bribes to pass the bill.

The Senate approved the harmonised version of the controversial bill on Tuesday, despite deep scepticism from its own Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters that the bill offers virtually no unique service to the public.

David Umaru, the committee chairman who was mandated by the Senate to look into the significance of the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill, delivered a scathing review of the paramilitary group when he laid the findings of his committee before the Senate Tuesday.

“The powers, functions, e.t.c., of the Peace Corps call for concern and this committee would wish that they are subjected to further examination,” Mr. Umaru, APC-Niger East, said.

The senator said the attempts by promoters of the Peace Corps to make government absorb it was strange and starkly different from the approach of its sister organisation in the United States.

“The American Peace Corps, which is used as a model, does not operate as a permanent and pensionable employment as intended in Nigeria under this proposed legislation,” Mr. Umaru said. “Rather, its employment is for a limited period of five years only for regular employees and 24 months for volunteers.”

Yet, Mr. Umaru went on to recommend that the Senate should proceed with passing the harmonised version of the Peace Corps Bill, clearing the way for its onward transfer to the president’s desk for assent.

Dickson Akoh, Peace Corps’ national commandant, said his organisations would offer what the American Peace Corps offers and even more.

National Commandant of the Nigerian Peace Corps, Dickson Akoh

The Peace Corps will achieve capacity building for youth creativity and intervention; capacity building for youth development and empowerment in agriculture; and peace education and conflict resolution, Mr. Akoh said.
But a majority of existing government agencies expressed strong opposition to the creation of the organisation.
At a House committee hearing during consideration of the bill, the Office of the Head of Service (HoS) said several government agencies with similar mandates as Peace Corps already exist and listed the Ministry of Youth Development and Ministry of Employment, Labour and Productivity and Ministry of Environment as examples.

A copy of the forms offered to senators

A copy of the forms offered to senators

 Other existing law enforcement agencies include: Ministry of Education, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, National Orientation Agency, National Poverty Eradication Programme and, National Directorate of Employment. The list is far from being exhausted, the head of service said.

Consequently, the HoS urged lawmakers to consider “the implications of the proposed creation of Nigerian Peace Corps on the cost of governance and duplication of duties of existing agencies.”

Law enforcement agencies have taken measures against the Peace Corps since at least 2003 when the State Security Service arrested Mr. Akoh and shut down his offices across the country.

He resumed operation in 2007. But when the SSS clamped down on his organisation again, he launched a civil lawsuit which has dragged since then.

This year alone, the police have detained Mr. Akoh at least twice.

At the first incident, armed officers from police, SSS and the Nigerian Army stormed the head office of the Peace Corps and took Mr. Akoh and more than 40 others into custody.

The head office was also shut by the police, and has not been reopened ever since.

Mr. Akoh said he had won at least 11 cases against different security agencies over the past 15 years. The police will neither confirm nor deny this assertion.

President Muhammdu Buhari and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo at the FEC meeting on the 22nd of March 2017

While several agencies under executive control have openly expressed opposition to the Peace Corps, President Muhammadu Buhari and Acting President Yemi Osinbajo have not said whether they will assent to the bill or reject it.
Enquiries directed to presidential spokespersons, including Garba Shehu, Laolu Akande and Femi Adesina, went unanswered throughout Thursday.

Senate sources with knowledge about the tactics of the Peace Corps told PREMIUM TIMES the group’s promoters gave millions of naira to some senators.
“Apart from the cash bribes that they offered, they even gave some key lawmakers who worked to ensure that the bill was passed more than 1000 job slots,” a senator said.

But PREMIUM TIMES could not confirm if Mr. Umaru received cash bribes from the Peace Corps.
fd
Promoters of the Peace Corps also put pressure on some lawmakers through their constituents.

“They asked our constituents to inundate us with calls about jobs prospects in the Peace Corps,” the senator said.

David Umar

Senate spokesperson, Abdullahi Aliyu, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES request for comments on the allegations.
But Enyinnaya Abaribe, PDP-Abia South, denied receiving any bribes from the Peace Corps.

The “allegation is beneath contempt,” he said.

“None at all,” he said while responding to specific question on whether he received cash bribes.

Mr. Akoh was said to raised funds from the sale of forms to unemployed youth seeking job placement in his organisation. He has been selling employment forms to prospective recruits at N1,500 per copy.

But he told PREMIUM TIMES in January that the N40,000 he collects from prospective members was meant for registration, training, procurement of kits, amongst others.

“The ICPC has investigated us in 2004 and established that we’re not extorting money from the youth,” he added.

Other than the possible employment opportunities that an established Peace Corps could bring to Nigerian youth, there appears to be no other unique reason for its creation.

But even “this can be achieved by strengthening existing agencies and not necessarily creating a new one so as not to overburden the federal government,” Mr. Umaru said.

Yet, the senator declined requests from PREMIUM TIMES seeking to know why he urged his colleagues to allow the Peace Corps Bill scale through in disregard of the findings of his committee.

40 YEARS OLD MAN WHO SWIMS TO WORK EVERYDAY

 
 

BENJAMIN DAVID

Most commuters in Munich, Germany, spend hours stuck in traffic or trying to squeeze into one of the overcrowded subway trains every morning but for 40-year-old Benjamin David, commuting is actually a relaxing experience. Every day, he jumps into the Isar River and swims two kilometres to his workplace in Kulturstrand, according to Der Spiegel.

David used to be one of the thousands of the city’s dwellers trying to make their way to work on busy roads and cycling paths but two years ago he decided that he needed to find a simpler alternative and the Isar River seemed like the obvious answer. It flows right past his apartment and even though no one has been using it for travelling purposes in decades, it used to be the best ways to get around. Instead of paddling on a raft, the 40-year-old decided to swim to work instead, and that’s been his main commute for the past two years.

Once at the office, he dries himself with a towel, puts on a t-shirt and waits for his colleagues to get through the heavy traffic by enjoying a cappuccino at a cafe.

The swimming commuter found the perfect way to keep his things dry while he is in the water – a special bag that is not only waterproof but also fills up with air when you roll it shut, acting as a buoy. It holds his laptop, paperwork and clothes, allowing him to simply float down the river if his arms get tired.

NNPC AMBUSH: UNIMAD STAFFS BEG FOR THEIR RELEASE, IN BOKO HARAM VIDEO

UNIMAD staffs abducted by B'Haram

Three of the four missing staff of the University of Maiduguri, Unimaid, who were abducted after Boko Haram ambushed them and killed five of their colleagues have appeared in a video released by the insurgents.

In the video, they were shown calling on the government of Nigeria to negotiate their release.

The geologists and their aides were attacked while carry out an oil exploration research that was subcontracted to the university by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

The 4 minutes 30 second grainy footage featured the three staff of Unimaid sitting in a room in which the walls were covered with purple clothing designed with roses.

The three abductees took turn to personally introduce themselves as Yusuf Ibrahim, a lecturer, Geology department, University of Maiduguri; Haruna…a driver from the University of Maiduguri; and Dr. Solomon a lecturer from the University of Maiduguri.

Mr. Solomon who sat in the middle spoke briefly in Hausa before switching to English.

He confirmed that they were abducted on July 25 by Boko Haram fighters whom he carefully referred to as “soldiers of Khalifa Albarnawi”, when they were carrying out geological survey services for the NNPC on behalf of the University of Maiduguri.

Mr. Albarnawi is the leader of a faction of Boko Haram, which broke out from the faction headed by Abub‎akar Shekau.
Mr. Solomon said the Nigeria government and all other relevant authorities linked with the service they were providing before they were abducted should comply with the demands of their abductors and ensure they are released alive.

He did not mention any specific condition; but warned that the use of excessive force to rescue them should not be an option the government of Nigeria should consider.

His message reads in full:-

“We are recording this video on the 28 of July 2017. I want to reemphasise that we were caught on the 25th of July 2017

I want to call on the entire community of University of Maiduguri, I also want to call on our coordinator of the project, Professor Saidu Baba, and Professor Adamu Zubama, I want to call on the leadership of ASUU under the leadership of Dani Mamman; I want to call on the Vice Chancellor University of Maiduguri, Professor Ibrahim Njodi; I want to call on the state governor, His Excellency Kashim Shettima, I want to call on the NNPC, for which this group is doing a collaborative work with the University of Maiduguri, under exploration; I want to call on the leadership of the NNPC to join in this rescue, Iwant to call on the entire media community to support this our cry so that we will be rescued alive.

“I want to call on the acting President Professor Yemi Osinbajo to come to our rescue to meet the demand of soldiers of Khalifa under the leadership of Abu-Musab Al-Barnawi. They have promised us that if their demands are met, they will release us immediately to go back to the work we were caught doing. I want to call on the attention of the entire country that we were captured doing the work of exploration of acquiring gravity, magnetic and soil geo-chemistry for exploration in the Nigeria sector of the Chad basin which would boost the economy of the nation.

“We were caught while in the line of our service to the country, I want to call the attention of the acting president that we have seen the route we took up to this position where we are recording this video right now. I want to advise that the use of excessive force is not the solution and will not be the solution. We want to call on the federal government to meet this demand as they promised they will release us immediately. We call on Nigerians to support our cry to be rescued alive”.

The video was released in the same way the Shekau faction did when they also released the video of abducted women that were captured after the ambush of a convoy of travellers along Maiduguri-Biu road on June 21.
Mr. Shekau released a video of the abducted women on July 17 where they were shown crying and calling on the federal government to negotiate their rescue.

It is not certain if the government has commenced any negotiations to rescue the women.

The Nigeria Army had earlier claimed it had rescued all the NNPC geologists after a rescue mission, a claim later faulted by the lecturers union, ASUU, and the university’s vice chancellor; as well as the new video.





CREDIT: PREMIUM TIMES

FALSE ASSET DECLARATION: SARAKI'S ACQUITTAL CANNOT STAND. - FG

BUKOLA SARAKI

The Federal Government has argued that the acquittal granted Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in his trial for false assets declaration before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) cannot stand because the tribunal erred in law in reaching its decision.

The FG therefore, urged the Court of Appeal in Abuja to remedy the error committed by the CCT headed by Danladi Umar, by reversing its decision and ordering the continuation of the trial.

The FG’s position is contained in a brief of argument filed yesterday at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, for the office of the Attorney General of the Federation by a team of lawyers led by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).

The CCT, in its judgment on June 14, 2017, upheld the no-case submission by Saraki, and acquitted him of the 13 counts of false assets declaration brought against him by the state.


In the FG’s brief of argument sighted by The Nation shortly after it was filed yesterday, the FG argued in detail, the 11 grounds contained in the notice of appeal it filed earlier this year.

The FG described the CCT judgment as “unconstitutional and without jurisdiction.” It added that the CCT erred in law by upholding Saraki’s no-case submission “when the onus of proof” was on him to show “that there was no infraction in the Code of Conduct Forms.

“By the provisions of paragraphs 11 (2), (3) and (13) of Part 1, 5th Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), once the Code of Conduct form filled by the public officer is investigated and found to be false or that some assets are beyond the legitimate income of the public officer or that the assets were acquired by means of corrupt practices, the public officer concerned is deemed to have breached the Code of Conduct and it is for him to show to the tribunal that there is no infraction in the form.

“The honourable tribunal wrongly placed the onus of proof on the prosecution contrary to paragraphs 11 (2), (3) and (13) of Part 1, 5th Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) clearly excluded the presumption of innocence on the allegation of infraction of the Code of Conduct by public officers and the Tribunal wrongly applied the presumption of innocence contrary to the constitutional requirement. The tribunal’s decision is unconstitutional and without jurisdiction.

The tribunal’s decision is against its earlier ruling delivered on March 24, 2016 and the decision of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/A/172C/2016 where it was decided that the defendant need not to be invited. The tribunal wrongly overruled the decisions of the Court of Appeal and itself,” it said.


The FG argued that the CCT erred when it described the testimony of a prosecution witness as hearsay.

It said: “PWIII is an investigator with the Code of Conduct Bureau who gave evidence of the role he played, what he saw and the outcome of his investigation.

“The Tribunal failed to consider paragraphs 11 (2), (3) and (13) of Part 1, 5th Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which imposed the onus of proof on the respondent to justify his declaration. The evidence of PWIII is not hearsay evidence.”

The FG also faulted the decision of the co-member of the CCT, William Agwaza, who held that the joint investigative team, comprising operatives of the EFCC, the Department of State Services and the CCB was unknown to law.

It said:”The respondent, by his own application dated 1st March, 2016, had raised the same issue that it is only the Code of Conduct Bureau that could investigate him and that the power of investigation cannot be delegated to the EFCC or any other body or agency.

“The tribunal, by its ruling delivered on 24th March, 2016, ruled and dismissed the application of the respondent and he appealed to the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/A/172C/2016.

“The Court of Appeal in the judgment delivered 27th October, 2016, by Aboki, PJCA, dismissed the appeal and held that “there is nothing in any law preventing the Code of Conduct Bureau, an agent of the FG, from collaborating or acting in concert with any other organs of the FG, which are also engaged in investigations and prosecution of criminal matters in order to achieve its mandate under the constitution and the law.

“By the ruling of Hon. Agwadza, he has unwittingly sat on appeal and overruled the earlier decision of the Tribunal and the decision of the Court of Appeal. The decision of Hon. Agwadza borders on judicial rascality and impertinence.”

The FG equally faulted the CCT pronouncement that the prosecution did not tender the original asset declaration forms of the respondent and his statement when they were available.

It said: “Exhibits 1 to 6, 26 and 45 qualify as public documents under Section 102 of the Evidence Act, 2011, and there is no law that makes only the original of public documents admissible in law.

“The Tribunal failed to consider the provisions of Sections 102, 104, 105 and 146 of the Evidence Act, 2011 to the effect that a certified true copy of a public document or part thereof may be produced in proof of the contents of the public document or a part thereof.

“The Tribunal effectively overruled the decisions of the Supreme Court in Odubeko v. Fowler (1993) 7 NWLR (Pt. 308) 637 and the Court of Appeal in Tumo v. Muwana (2000) 12 NWLR (Pt. 681) 370 that courts must presume certified true copies of public document as genuine and act on it unless there is a contrary evidence.

“The Tribunal completely closed its eyes to the fact that the prosecution produced the original of the assets declaration forms before the Tribunal and requested the Tribunal and the defendant to compare the original with the certified true copies without any objection from the defendant.

“The Code of Conduct Tribunal erred in law in upholding the no-case submission raised by the respondent at the close of prosecution’s case and in discharging the respondent.

“By the authorities cited, the prosecution only has a duty to show that there are some infractions of the Code of Conduct prescribed for public officers under the Constitution and the prosecution had established those infractions through his witnesses.”

INNOSON MOTORS SUE GTB FOR N400 BILLION OVER CHARACTER ASSASSINATION

Innocent Chukwuma, CEO, Innoson Motors

Businessman Innocent Chukwuma and his company, Innoson Nig Limited, have filed a fresh lawsuit against Guaranty Trust Bank PLC in the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, claiming N400 billion damages for injury to their reputation, moral character, credibility, office, vocation and trade.

They are also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining GT Bank from further defaming them.

The lawsuit, which was filed by Mr. Chukwuma’s counsel, Joseph Mbadugha, is sequel to a recent decision by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in favour of Innoson Nigeria Ltd. in Appeal No: SC/694/2014 between GTB and Innoson.

In that judgment, delivered on May 12, 2017, the Supreme Court dismissed GT Bank’s application.

Innoson had prevailed in various lawsuits against GT Bank. On July 29, 2011, the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division, through a garnishee order absolute, ordered the bank to pay N2,048,737,443.6K (Two Billion, Forty-Eight Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty-Three Naira, Sixty-Seven Kobo) to Innoson.

GTBank however appealed the judgment at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division. But in a unanimous judgment, delivered on February 6, 2014, the appellate court dismissed the appeal, affirmed the judgment of the trial court and ordered the Defendant (GT Bank) to pay N2, 048,737,443.6K (Two Billion, Forty-Eight Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty-Three Naira, Sixty-Seven Kobo) to Innoson.

GT Bank appealed to the Supreme Court on 11 grounds. Subsequently, the bank sought to amend its notice of appeal- to adduce fresh evidence- to show that Innoson obtained the judgment of the Court of Appeal by fraud and fraudulent suppression of material facts.

GT Bank had through its motion on notice in Appeal No: SC/694/2014 dated January 22, 2016 and filed at the Supreme Court on February 5, 2016, with a 15-paragraph affidavit in support, averred that Innoson obtained the Court of Appeal Judgment against it by fraud.





Similarly, in paragraphs 9 and 10 of the affidavit in support of the said Motion on Notice deposed to by Sarah Ugamah, GT Bank said Innoson fraudulently suppressed information that it was paid N1,406,515,845.98 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Six Million, Five Hundred and Fifteen Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty-Five naira, Ninety-Eight Kobo) in liquidation of the judgment debt.

However, in a unanimous decision on May 12, 2017, the Supreme Court dismissed the said motion on notice. And while dismissing the motion, the apex court stated, inter alia, that GT Bank engaged in double speaking and in a frivolous frolic in bringing the application.

In the fresh suit, Innoson and Mr. Chukwuma argued that the words published by GT Bank –that it obtained the Court of Appeal Judgment by fraud and fraudulent suppression of the fact that Innoson Nig. Ltd. was paid the sum N1, 406,515,845.98 in final liquidation of the judgment debt – implies that Mr. Chukwuma and Innoson are dubious, dishonest, dishonourable, and untrustworthy, of questionable character, fraudster, criminally deceptive, cheats and obtaining money through false pretences.

In consequence, the applicants are claiming against the GT Bank Plc. as follows: N100 billion exemplary damages; N100 billion for injury to feelings-mental pains and anxiety; N150 billion for injury to reputation and N50 billion general damages.

They further demand:

AN ORDER that the published words complained of be retracted by the Defendant – GT Bank with an apology published in two National dailies;

AN ORDER of perpetual injunction restraining the GT Bank from further maligning or otherwise defaming them in the words or similar words, complained of in this motion;

AN ORDER of perpetual injunction restraining GT Bank, its agents, privies or whomsoever from further defaming the plaintiffs;

Twenty-two percent (22%) interest on the said sums of money claimed above commencing on January 22, 2016 till the date of judgment and thereafter at the same rate of 22 per cent interest until the satisfaction of the judgment debt.




CREDIT: PREMIUM TIMES

NIGERIA INVESTIGATES IMPORTATION OF SNAKES

The Federal Government says it has commenced investigation to uncover the importers of three consignments containing 140 species of snakes and 660 other animals imported into Nigeria from Cameroon.
 
Fabmimi.com recalls that the Nigeria Customs Service on July 26 intercepted three consignments containing 140 species of snakes and 660 other animals in Calabar, Cross River State.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, told journalists in Abuja on Friday that the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) had been directed to commence the investigation immediately.

Mr. Ogbeh reiterated the need for officials of the NAQS to be stationed at the country’s ports to enable them to address such issues before they escalated.

The minister who expressed the fear that if the quality of agricultural produce imported into Nigeria was not checked, a sort of biological warfare could also be launched against the country’s agricultural sector.
“It is very important to know the tendencies of saying that the quarantine service should not be kept away from the ports.

“It is a threat and a danger because the other day, somebody attempted to smuggle kolanuts to Saudi Arabia.
“The Saudis have told us not to bring kolanuts into their country.
“The Quarantine Service had to go into the aircraft and stop the plane from leaving; it then brought the kolanuts down and now, it is snakes.
“Our ambition is to become a major agricultural nation, if the quality of what we take out and that of the materials coming in are not known to us, anything can happen.
“The dangers include biological warfare, which can be launched against our agriculture industry.
“These are reasons why the quarantine service must be allowed to play its roles without necessarily disrupting the ports’ routine functions,” Mr. Ogbeh said.
Fabmimi.com reports the containers were brought in aboard a Cameroonian vessel, ‘MV Flesh’, through the Calabar waterway.

The containers reportedly contained snakes and other animals such as geckos, millipedes, hairy frogs and spiders.

25 BURNT TO DEATH IN KOGI ACCIDENT

No fewer than 25 persons lost their lives in a fatal accident that occurred in Lokoja ,Kogi State, capital, on Friday, when a tanker conveying fuel and an 18-seater bus coming from the North had a head-on coalition. Our correspondent observed that the incident resulted in fire, which burnt both vehicles to ashes.

The accident which occurred at the Lokoja end of Felele – Okene – Abuja Road at about 1:30pm saw residents of the area scampering for safety.
Our correspondent who visited the scene reports that the fire service, which arrived the scene at about 2:20pm, to salvage the situation only worked for few minutes as it ran out of water.

Our reporter counted 18 unidentified bodies burnt beyond recognition, while about 10 cars parked by the roadside were equally consumed in the inferno.
Sympathisers watching helplessly expressed shock and blamed the accident on the poor nature of the road.
An eyewitness, Bawasa Ibrahim, said two tricycle riders popularly called Keke Napep, were equally burnt in the accident.

Ibrahim said, “The tanker and the 18-seater bus were trying to overtake each other. But unfortunately, the tanker lost balance and it fell on the bus. We have been complaining to the government to fix this road. Now you can see how many lives that have been lost. No fewer than 25 burnt bodies can be seen here.”

Another eyewitness, Haruna Sadiq, who sympathised with families of the victims, said people in the area called the fire service for more 20 minutes but that they claimed there was no fuel in their vehicle.
“I am really disappointed with our firemen. We have been calling them that people were dying here, but all we could hear was that they didn’t have fuel. What a shame,” he said.

He, however, appealed to the government to do the needful, stating that a similar accident happened on the same spot where lives were also lost.
The sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Kogi State Command, Mr. Segun Martin, who confirmed the accident, however put the causality figure at 10 as of the time of filling this report because the fire was still raging. He added that a tanker, truck and a tricycle were involved in the accident.

FLOOD: SNAKES INVADE RIVERS RESIDENTS HOMES

Gov Wike of Rivers state

Saturday July 22, 2017 will be a day that will never be forgotten in a hurry by residents of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. The reason is not farfetched; that was the day flood chased them out of the comfort of their homes. Not only did the flood deny most tenants sleep, property owners dropped the toga of landlords and landladies to join in scooping water out of their various apartments.

After hours of rainfall, the entire city was ravaged by perhaps the worst flooding in recent times. The rain, which began at about 10pm did not show any sign of abatement till the following morning, Sunday July 23. Some Christians, who had gone to church as early as 7.30am had to turn back to their houses, having noticed that worshippers would need many canoes to remain afloat inside their various churches.

While some residents, who were lucky to live on the second or third floor of some storey buildings did not experience the disturbing effect of the deluge on the fateful day, to move out and get food to fend for their families became an uphill task because everywhere was flooded. It rained about 11 hours.


The Chairman of Ogodoni Landlords’ Association, Mr. Okem Weli told Saturday PUNCH that he and his family were caught unawares by the flood, adding that they were all asleep when the children noticed the rate at which water was entering the rooms, even while the doors were locked.

Weli narrated, “I have been bailing water from my house. The flood chased all of us away and my family members are not back yet because the place is still flooded. Between 10.30 pm to 11pm, we had already gone to bed, though it was drizzling then. We never had it in mind that the rain would be that much. All of a sudden, my children began to call me to come and see and by the time I came, the flood was already getting to the window level and already filling my room. I began to call neighbours to find a way and escape. Within a twinkle of an eye, the flood had reached my waist and I had to evacuate my family.

“By the time I came to see if I could save some of my documents, everything had been submerged in the water. My house is built on a high ground but the flood did not respect anything like that. All my educational certificates from primary school certificate up to university are gone with the flood.”

The landlord also recalled that residents of Ogodoni in Rumuolumeni, had during the tenure of the immediate past administration asked the government to build a mini-bridge and do away with culvert in order to stop the flooding of the area during heavy rainfall. He lamented that some of the churches in the place could not save any of their property because they were not within when the rain began.

He stressed, “We had told the previous government to construct a mini-bridge to contain the water, but the Rotimi Amaechi administration did not do that before it left. Wike inherited it and we told him that what we wanted was a mini bridge and that if we continued with this colonial culvert, it would not stop the flood. We want the canal to be cleared of silt. Some churches could not save a pin because they were not around when the heavy rain started. We have many churches around this place. They came to their churches the following morning and saw that the properties were submerged under the flood.

“On that day, snakes were everywhere. They (snakes) were also trying to avoid the flood. What I did when I went back to my house later was to pour kerosene at some strategic points to chase any snake lurking around the compound or inside the house away. Not one, not two snakes; a lot of snakes came with the flood. Some of the areas became a temporary snake island. How would you enter the water when you know there are snakes floating on it? I had a newly bought flat screen television that was still in the carton; it was carried away by the flood.”

While Weli was not alone in the disaster that hit some parts of Rumuolumeni, a pastor of Triumphant Christian Assembly, Pastor Joshua David, lamented that he lost important documents to the flood, adding that he was not within when the incident occurred on Saturday. He said that he had to call his wife to evacuate the children from the house. The cleric appealed to the state government to come to their rescue by de-silting canals and constructing a mini-bridge.

According to him, “I was not around; only my family members were around. I travelled to Owerri. We could not even enter the house (same building housing the church). The whole place was flooded and most of our properties were submerged. I had earlier called them to leave the house and look for a safe place to sleep. Some other properties are still outside; my church equipment are damaged, books and other documents, including the documents of the land, are all destroyed. We are calling on the state government to come and rescue the situation by constructing a mini bridge. With a mini bridge, we will not suffer this flood disaster.

Chinedu Muoneke, a Port Harcourt-based businessman, who hails from Anambra State, but built a bungalow in Obio/Akpor, Rivers State cried to high heavens over the loss of his car, which he parked at the front of his house, to the Saturday flood. Muoneke explained that though he had been shut out of his house for the past two days, he hoped to gain entrance as soon as the flood completely finds its way out of his apartment.

He observed that in some areas, flood usually came with rabbits and other bush meat while the one that happened within his place last Saturday pushed out snakes from their natural habitat.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the landlord in Rumuolumeni, further said, “This (pointing to the road leading to his flooded house) is an access road to Iwofe Road, see that electric pole is at Iwofe Road. We are living in the upper land, we are not supposed to experience this flood, but for the blockages here. If water is coming from Saint John’s and Akah junction, instead of entering the culvert, it will divert and come into our area and flood this place; and then gradually moves out.

“When they were constructing the road, we told them we didn’t need rings, we told them we needed mini-bridges. We can hire earth movers from companies to bring out the rings. And these rings were buried deep inside the ground. The day we did an excavation, we found the beacon of our neighbour under the gutter. This to tell you the kind of things nature has done.”

Away from Rumuolumeni to D-Line, a 25-year-old man reportedly died after stepping on a naked wire, while the flood dealt a huge blow to residents of one of the densely populated parts of Port Harcourt. Worst hit is the Federal Road Safety Corps building located on Aba Road in the same D-Line. Many vehicles were buried under the water as workers were not on duty on the wet Saturday.

Our correspondent observed that the more than 12 operating vehicles were immersed in the flood, even as nearby mechanic workshops were engaged to put the cars and Hilux vans belonging to the FRSC back to shape. An official of the corps, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the rain fell when officers were not in the office. He lamented that he had to tow his official vehicle to the mechanic after he resumed work on Monday only to discover the damage the flood did to the Hilux van.

Also on Awka Street in D-Line, Port Harcourt, residents were seen spreading clothes that earlier went under the flood, but were later found and washed. Narrating their experience, a resident, who identified himself as Henry, stated that some hoodlums cashed in on the disaster to look for generators to steal, having noticed that occupants of some of the houses had already been displaced by the unexpected deluge.

“We have been vigilant since we learnt that one generator belonging to our neighbour was stolen by hoodlums during the period everybody was running helter-skelter to save their property from being destroyed by water. Some of us are mounting surveillance within the area in order not to lose any generator and other property again,” the resident said.

In her remark, one of the occupants of No. 8, Akwa Street, who simply gave her name as Blessing, called on the state government to come to their rescue, adding that most of them lost all their belongings to the flood.

Another resident, Pastor Namso Udoh, complained that since the construction of the Rumuolumeni-Iwofe Road, they had never lived comfortably in the area. Udoh called on the state government to intervene to save the residents of the area from continuous flooding. He further called for quick provision of relief materials for victims, adding that such measure would help the people to lead a normal live again.

Responding to the people’s call for rescue, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, on Sunday evening, assured residents of Port Harcourt and other flooded communities that his administration would tackle the environmental challenge headlong.

He empathised with residents affected by the flooding, assuring that his administration would work with relevant agencies to resolve the issues thrown up by the flooding.

Speaking after he inspected some areas impacted by flooding caused by torrential rainfall, Wike directed relevant government agencies to take immediate remedial measures.

The governor inspected the flooded areas in Port Harcourt with Julius Berger engineers and officials of the State Ministry of Works, even as he directed the continuous de-silting of all major canals in the town.

Wike advised residents of Port Harcourt to stop dumping refuse in water channels, adding that such actions lead to blockage of water channels, causing flooding during heavy rainfall.

Also, in response to the incident, the Rivers State Waste Management Agency, has terminated the contracts of 20 de-silting contractors under its employ. The Sole Administrator of RIWAMA, Chief Felix Obuah, said in a statement that the decision to relieve the contractors of their jobs was reached after a meeting with them on Monday. The statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr. Jerry Needam, indicated that the lukewarm attitude of the contractors was no longer acceptable, hence their sacking.

“The sacking, which is with immediate effect, became necessary due to the lukewarm attitude of the de-silting contractors to their job and which is no longer tolerable by the agency. The Rivers State Waste Management Agency can no longer allow the contractors continue to flout its directives with impunity,” the statement read. Obuah pointed out that the stubbornness of the contractors was partly responsible for the flooding recorded in some parts of the state and added that the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, had expressed worry over the development.

“That same stubbornness of the contractors is partly responsible for the regrettable flooding being recorded in parts of the state for which the state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike is very disturbed,” the sole administrator stressed. Obuah, however, also frowned on the continued pouring of solid wastes into gutters and waterways by residents.








SOURCE: PUNCH

Kim And Kanye's Surrogate Is Three Months Pregnant With Their Third Child

Another little West is on the way!

Kim and Kanye's surrogate is three months pregnant with their third child, Us Weekly reports.

The woman, who is a San Diego mom in her late 20s, is due to give birth around January 2018. The couple selected her to carry their baby after doctors told the reality star that another pregnancy would be too dangerous for her health, due to the condition placenta accreta.

The pair are paying the woman $45K in monthly installments, and have already paid the surrogacy agency $68,850 as a deposit. Among their requests? No drinking, smoking, or drug use, no raw fish, and no handling cat litter. 

Kim toyed with the idea of having Kourtney or Khloe carry a baby for her, but ultimately settled on a professional to do the job.

North and Saint better make room for the newest addition!

NNPC AMBUSH: 'NOBODY WAS RESCUED' SAYS UNIMAID VC

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Abubakar Njodi, on Friday lashed out at the military over claims it made that it had rescued oil workers that were recently ambushed and captured by Boko Haram fighters.

The crew of geologists and their aides were from the university and were subcontracted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

Mr. Njodi had earlier said the institution had been engaged in providing consultancy services to the NNPC in the Lake Chad region.

A livid vice chancellor, whose brother was among those killed, faulted claims made last Wednesday by the spokesperson of the Nigeria Army, Sani Usman, who had told the media that soldiers had rescued the kidnapped officials.

Speaking during a condolence visit paid on him by officials of the federal ministry of petroleum, the vice chancellor said he still could not understand why the Nigeria Army chose to mislead the world with the spurious claims.

“The military said it has rescued all the geologists working for NNPC. I wonder how can the recovery of corpses be referred to as being rescued,” he said.

Mr. Njodi said his staff were out in the danger zone carrying out the oil exploration services after the security operatives had assured them of their safety.

“We are all at liberty to guess now as to whether security was provided or not,” he said.



“We have lost four vibrant members of our academic staff in that incident. None of the affected lecturers put in less than ten years in the university. For me to get a replacement for them would be difficult. We are talking of a department that has about 12 to 13 members of academic staff. Four of them are no more.”

The Minister of Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, had on Thursday also said the exploration only continued after security assurances by the military.

Mr. Kachikwu also announced a halt to oil exploration in the Lake Chad Basin until the military assures of better security in the area.

The leader of the visiting delegation to the vice chancellor, Saidu Muhammed, who is the Chief Operation Officer of Gas and Petroleum services of the petroleum ministry, had earlier delivered a condolence letter on behalf of the minister of petroleum to the vice chancellor.

He said the ministry would continue to strengthen its partnership with the university despite the “hiccups” that happened this week.

Earlier, during a similar courtesy visit by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, Mr. Njodi confirmed to journalists that the deceased were two geologists, two technologists and a driver from the institution. PREMIUM TIMES had reported the burial of the driver, who was a brother to the vice chancellor.

Mr. Njodi added that four other staff were still missing: two lecturers, one technologist and a driver.
He explained to the education minister why the university had entered into a partnership with the NNPC.
“In our commitment to contribute to the country’s economic development, we defied the odds and joined the operation. Initially, we reluctantly accepted to go back and joined the operation, but we were assured of adequate security.

“The deceased (victims of the insurgency) should be immortalised, they deserve the national honour,’’ he added.

Boko Haram gunmen had on Tuesday attacked a crew of geological scientists from the University of Maiduguri who were assisting the NNPC in carrying out surveys in the Lake Chad region where the federal government believes there are chances of getting new deposits of crude.

The military had said it lost 9 soldiers and that the missing NNPC officials were rescued.
However, even the military casualty is believed to be higher as about 18 corpses of soldiers who lost their lives in the bloody rescue mission were said by hospital officials to have been brought into morgues in Maiduguri alongside about 30 other civilians casualties. The total unofficial death toll is believed to be 48.

The attack came few days after the Nigeria Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, issued a 40-day ultimatum for the commanders of the counterinsurgency operation to secure the arrest of the Boko Haram leader ‘dead or alive.’

A rattled President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday night directed that all the service chiefs relocate to Maiduguri to personally supervise the counterinsurgency operation.

YOUTHS WARN NNAMDI KANU AGAINST HOLDING RALLY IN OWERRI

NNAMDI KANU; LEADER OF IPOB

Commercial activities were grounded, while some commercial banks were, on Friday, shut in Owerri, Imo State, as thousands of Indigenous People of Biafra converged on the city from the other four South East and some South South states, calling for the secession of Nigeria.

This is even as a coalition of Imo Council of Youths, One Nigeria Group, Nigeria Youths Unity Group and Youth Assembly of Nigeria have warned the IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu from holding any rallying in the state.
At a press briefing in Owerri on Friday, the coordinators of the various youth bodies, Azunnaya Andrew, Emeka Igwe, GTC Samuel and Jeff Nwoha, said they would resist any activity or programme which seeks to threaten the country’s sovereignty.

Andrew said the youth group which he coordinates was totally against any move which will put to question the unity of the country.

The youth leader said, “One Nigeria Group stands for oneness of Nigeria. We totally condemn the pro-Biafra rally, which is going on in Owerri now, and which is being conducted by one Nnamdi Kanu.
“Even in the midst of marginalisation, we are supporting the governments of Muhammadu Buhari and Rochas Okorocha. We will not allow them to hold such rally in Imo State again.”

On his part, Igwe, who chairs Nigeria Youth Unity Group, said Biafra was not the solution to the problems of Ndigbo.
He said, “We are for the unity of Nigeria despite the injustices. We are not ready for war. The event of the Nigeria civil war is still fresh in our minds. These pro-Biafra youths are very inexperienced.”

Samuel, who is the speaker of Youth Assembly of Nigeria, said instead of a Sovereign State of Biafra, the youths of the South East were in support of the restructuring of the country.
According to him, “These pro-Biafra youths need orientation. What we support is restructuring, not secession. IPOB lacks orientation. Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable. No war, no separation.”

Nwoha said the youths were in support of Buhari and Okorocha, calling on the government to grant resource control to states, especially oil-bearing communities, adding that the measure will help to calm frayed nerves.

The state commissioner of police, Chris Ezike, who spoke to our correspondent on the phone said the pro-Biafra rally was being closely monitored by his command, assuring residents and visitors of their safety .

As of the time of filing this report, Kanu had yet to arrive, this is even as his multitude of supporters barricaded the Warehouse Junction, causing heavy traffic in the state capital.





SOURCE: PUNCH

ABDUCTED LAGOS STUDENTS: 20 KIDNAPPERS KILLED DURING RESCUE MISSION. - POLICE

Twenty kidnappers were killed, while eight policemen and four civilian volunteers sustained injuries in the rescue of the abducted Lagos School boys on Friday.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni disclosed this while briefing the media on the rescue of the students of Igbonla Model College, Epe.
He, however, disclosed that one civilian volunteer unfortunately died in the process of rescuing the students.

The Commissioner also said that a suspect, who attempted to capitalize on the situation to swindle the parents of the students by asking that they should bring ransom to Abeokuta, was arrested and is currently in police custody.
He praised the South West Governors for demonstrating clear commitment to combat crime in the region, saying that the communiqué issued in Abeokuta with respect to creation of Joint Security Task Force for the region, is already yielding positive result.

The State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode hailed the successful rescue of the six kidnapped students and assured that the government would utilise the academic break to reinforce security in all schools in the State, especially in the suburb and riverine areas to prevent a re-occurrence.

The Governor, who spoke through the State’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Mrs. Oluranti Adebule said he remained totally committed to ensuring the security of all residents especially students and would spare nothing to ensure that schools remain safe from all forms of crime and criminality.

He said: “The issue of security is a social contract that we have signed with the people of Lagos and we would ensure that we do not disappoint. As far as our schools are concerned, we are going back to the drawing board to secure our schools before the next academic session”.

Governor Ambode, who commended the collaborative efforts by security agencies from Lagos and Ondo States, specially thanked the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo for his interventions towards ensuring the safe rescue of the students.

Presenting the rescued students to the media, he said they would be debriefed and taken through comprehensive medical tests so as to ensure that they recover from the trauma they might have passed through while in the custody of their abductors.
Also speaking, Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu commended Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Ambode for working tirelessly on the matter, saying that the duo demonstrated uncommon interest in the whole process leading to the safe return of the students.

Akeredolu said he never believed the kidnappers could be hibernating in Ondo creeks until he was told about a month ago during the National Economic Council (NEC) Meeting in Abuja by Osinbajo, and later Governor Ambode, while he immediately deployed his deputy, Mr Alfred Agboola who is from the riverine areas in Ondo, to take up the matter.

He said Agboola immediately swung into action and worked with the Delta State Deputy Governor, as well as security agencies to ensure safe return of the students.

While acknowledging the role of Governor Ambode, Akeredolu said: “I must commend Governor Ambode for his commitment to the rescue of the students. At the meeting of Western Nigeria Governors’ forum held in Abeokuta on Monday, we discussed the issue of the students and Governor Ambode mentioned the issue of joint security patrol in our riverine areas.

“He (Governor Ambode) was very committed to it and he expressed readiness to support with the needed resources. Throughout the days the students were in captivity, the Lagos State Governor never kept his eyes off the ball and he kept working on it until today that we have the students back,” Akeredolu said. 




SOURCE: THE NATION

ANDY UBA NOT FIT TO BE GOVERNOR. - ANAMBRA YOUTHS

A group of young professionals in Anambra State have demanded that the All Progressives Congress (APC) should disqualify Senator Nnamdi (Andy) Uba as a possible flag bearer for the party in the forthcoming Anambra governorship election scheduled for November 2017.

In a statement released after a press conference in Abuja, the Anambra Young Professionals Forum (AYPF) warned the APC to disqualify Mr. Uba as a governorship candidate or “we will mobilize our youths for mass protest vote against APC in November.”

Mr. Uba, who last year defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC, has been campaigning to win the APC’s nomination to face incumbent Governor Willie Obiano in the November election. Other APC governorship aspirants include Chike Obidigbo, Bart Nwibe, Obinna Uzo, Tony Nwoye and George Muoghalu.

In its statement, AYPF said its members had “watched with silence and consternation, and likewise with total disbelief, the jamboree of days back where Senator Nnamdi Uba, representing Anambra South Senatorial Zone, mobilized 40 senators to accompany him to pick up the form to signify his intention to contest for the governorship of Anambra State under the platform of the APC.” Describing Mr. Uba’s action as a national shame, the young professionals said it was shocking “that we are today celebrating an individual who we as Anambra State Young Professionals see as the biggest stumbling block to the growth of Anambra youths. This is an individual who has nothing to show in Anambra for his eight years as the closest aide of President [Olusegun] Obasanjo, nothing to show to date for being a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and today he has cross carpeted from PDP, a party that ruined our beloved state, to become the supposed celebrated bride of APC, a party that has the opportunity to be the best solution for Anambra State for years to come. As far as we are concerned, Andy Uba should be a permanent guest with the EFCC and the DSS to tell us how somebody who was just a presidential aide and a serving senator has become one of the richest Nigerians today with investments running into billions of dollars.”
The young professionals of Anambra State origin asked: “What is the moral standing for any party to even consider Andy Uba as their candidate? What are those senators who accompanied him actually celebrating? Can all those people go home to their families and sleep peacefully at night believing their conscience true that this man they want to hoist on Anambra State will help the state or rather cripple the state for good? What value will Andy Uba ever add to Anambra today, when he could not add any value throughout the period he had the wherewithal to do same, or does he simply want to migrate from National Assembly to Government House to see if he can amass the remaining money accruable to the state to make him the richest man in Africa?”

In its statement, signed by Chukwudi Okongwu, the young professionals' group also drew attention to the “ongoing controversy surrounding Senator Andy Uba’s educational qualifications where he has been accused of falsifying his results and using same to fraudulently deceive INEC and the electorate.” AYPF further asked, “How can such an individual be parading himself as a likely candidate to represent a party that is trying to show us in the south east that they do not hate us but are ready to make things better for us? For starters, it is important for all stakeholders concerned to note that Senator Andy Uba will not win any votes in Anambra North and Anambra Central Senatorial zones if he emerges the ticket holder in the elections. He can manipulate the delegates with money (which I am sure he would have by now) and brainwash the party at the national level that he is a popular candidate, but the truth is he will lose woefully in these zones as stated. And what is our grouse? As youths, we cannot forget how Senator Uba and his brother Chris “Eselu” Uba used the instrument of state under PDP and the Presidency of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to kidnap our sitting Governor from Anambra Central and orchestrated the most humiliating scenario in the history of Nigeria where a duly elected chief executive of a state was treated like a nobody, and the whole state thrown into turmoil for the simple reason that these individuals wanted to divert our resources for themselves.”

According to the group, the attempt by the Uba brothers to hijack power in Anambra opened “the door for insecurity to creep into Anambra State, of which we are still battling with today. Not done, it is also this same Senator that used [the] instrument of power to frustrate a lot of development projects that would have gotten to Anambra North, when he was the closest man to President Obasanjo, instead all he did was frustrate the youths by helping fuel the communal clashes between Umuleri and Aguleri then, believing that with such a divide he would make the state ungovernable. This is the same individual the APC believes the youths will vote for?”

Mr. Okongwu said Anambra’s young professionals had decided to make their stand known “to APC and indeed any other political party that is serious of having a good outing in Anambra State during the governorship elections coming up in November. We have kept mute before now believing Senator Uba [would] come to his senses and back down, but now that he has shown he has no shame, we have decided it is also time to show we have shame.”

The group stated, “We want the national body of the APC to note that if Senator Andy Uba is given the ticket of the party for the governorship elections, we will not vote APC in the coming elections and we will guarantee that the party will fail woefully! They will share money, we will collect the money, but we will not vote for APC! We believe there are so many young, intelligent, vibrant & resourceful candidates in the party who should be encouraged to take the mantle of the party to the state, and we as young Anambra professionals will stand behind that candidate once his/her manifesto is people oriented. Anambra State has rejected Andy Uba since 2007, and nothing has changed. We will still reject Andy Uba even in 2023. He has nothing to offer Anambra State. It is time to put Andy Uba where he belongs, and that is to make sure he answers for all his past deeds and explains how he came about his wealth. To show that this is not just another aimless threat, we have also decided to show the party that all the young professionals from Anambra State mean business with this declaration. To this effect, we have fully mobilized all our youths from Anambra State to march in our thousands on Monday, 31st July 2017 to the National Headquarters of APC, to show our unanimous decision that we have rejected Andy Uba and if the party does not reject him, APC will not get a single vote in November 2017. This protest march will fully show our strength in number, our grassroots representation & outreach, and our determination to make sure that Anambra State is great again. This is our statement of intent. This is our stand for the good of our state and our youths.”