'Nigeria has never had a more transparent, more accountable government than the Buhari Administration'' Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has urged the global anti-corruption body Transparency International (TI) to support, rather than condemn, the Buhari Administration's fight against corruption.''Nigeria has never had a more transparent, more accountable government than the Buhari Administration,'' the Minister said when he received a TI delegation, led by the Chair of the body's International Board, Delia Ferreira Rubio, in Abuja on Friday.''As a policy, this government is the most committed to fighting corruption.   

We need your support in the area of advocacy and capacity building,'' he said.Alhaji Mohammed said TI and the local civil society organizations affiliated to it have not offered the necessary support to the Administration, adding: ''They look at the actions of an aberrant few to condemn the government.''He said when the government disclosed that just 55 people stole 1.34 trillion naira between 2006 and 2013, and when it published the listof looters, in response to a challenge from the opposition, a section of the civil society was busy parroting the cliche that the allegations were one-sided, instead of supporting the government's action.The Minister also tasked TI and its affiliates to show more understanding for the sociological complexities of fighting corruption in Nigeria, especially because it operates a federal system of government under which the federal government has no control over the actions of the federating states.He said the Administration is not just fighting corruption with laws and prosecution, but also with education and inclusiveness in government, citing the government's 'Change Begins With Me' programme as an example of efforts being made to achieve attitudinal change among the citizenry.Alhaji Mohammed said Nigeria is succeeding in its anti-corruption fight because the fight is being led by a President whose integrity isbeyond reproach noting: ''Even his worst critics won't say he indulges in or encourages corruption.''He said corrupt persons are using looted funds to mount a virulous campaign against the administration, especially in the social media, because they know that the re-election of the President will spell doom for them.For her part, the TI global chair said she decided to visit Nigeria, her first-ever visit to Africa, because the country can set the tonefor the continent in the fight against corruption.Ms Ferreira Rubio said TI's mandate is to offer support through civil society organizations and the private sector to foster the fight against corruption.   

   She said while the government is doing a lot to fight corruption, it should ensure more transparency and more efficiency in service delivery.''We are not an opposition anywhere in the world. We are just an NGO working in over 100 countries of the world. We are not enemies. We are here to help,'' she said.

Okocha didn’t make my son — Iwobi’s father

Okocha

Success for many, has many friends, as not a few people would love to be associated with a successful name, brand, person or in the football world, a star player, who is making waves, posting chart-bursting performances and hitting the marks, week in, week out.

For Arsenal and Eagles forward, Alex Iwobi, the above statement suffixes as the 22-year old has been receiving plaudits from all and sundry after his World Cup qualifying goal in last October’s penultimate  qualifier against Zambia at the Champions of Nest Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

And as the praises have been flowing in, so also the controversies, with claims and counter-claims as to who sowed the seed of development that has seen the former England youth star blossom into a gem on the playing pitch.

One controversial claim has is that former Eagles captain, Austin Okocha was instrumental in making Iwobi the star he has become in Nigerian football folklore, even though Okocha is yet to credit his nephew’s growing fame to himself.

This comes despite Iwobi’s admission that Okocha, like Thiery Henry influenced his rise to stardom as he looked up to them as role models to follow in his professional football journey.

And adding his voice to the issue, Iwobi’s father has told Sports Vanguard that it was incorrect to say Okocha made Iwobi become a star, even as he admitted that he never planned for Iwobi to become a football star.

Speaking to Sports Vanguard in Lagos  Iwobi’s father said, ‘’just like any other father, you support your child in whatever he or she wants to do.. There was no plan for Alex to become a footballer, not to talk of a star. He took it up on himself and as a good parent, we only had to support, because ultimately it was down to him’’, he said.

Vanguard News 

Marriage will no longer be fashionable soon – Charly Boy

Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has explained why he told popular blogger, Linda Ikeji, to forget about marriage.
Recall that the blogger broke the news of her pregnancy early this week and it has generated comments on various platforms.

Posting from his Instagram handle @areafada1, Charly Boy said, “For those brainless cells who couldn’t grasp why I told Linda Ikeji to forget about marriage, they don’t make men like they used to. Most young men are just looking for someone to pay their bills. Linda has been burnt so many times by useless wayo men parading themselves as prospective husbands. Most good men are already taken. Most men don’t have the confidence to live with an already made woman. Most women desire a very strong man, who can take charge and take care. Marriage very soon will no longer be fashionable because most people can’t cope. Marriage is a good thing, if you’re lucky, but it’s not for everybody.”

He added, “One of my daughter’s has been a single mother after leaving a very abusive marriage. She is the best mum I know and doing well for herself. Marriage can only work for two people who understand that it is a lot of discipline and hard work. It’s not a tea party. Even some so called “Men of God” can’t hold down a marriage.

“I have managed to survive almost 40 years with the same woman – no be sey e sweet like dat. So, mumu men should go think about their lives. It takes two to tango. Leave Linda alone. Go face your life.”.

How I ‘reunited’ with my daughter – Leah Sharibu’s mother

Mrs Rabecca Sharibu, mother of the only Dapchi schoolgirl still in Boko Haram captivity has narrated how she reunited with her daughter, Leah Sharibu in dream.

Daily Trust quoted her as saying Leah appeared to her midnight in red dress, hugged her with a smile and said: “I finally got my freedom Mama”.

Rebecca recalled that in the trance, her daughter explained what she’s going through.

She said: “We hugged each other very tight in such a way that no force can saparate us before.

“Leah told me: Mama I really suffered in their hand. We use to sleep on leaves and barely take bath. but, they fed me well.

“That minutes of excitement nearly took away all my sorrow. Sadly, it was a dream. I cried when I opened my eyes and realized it was a dream.

“I tried going back to sleep for more discussion but I couldn’t. I cried throughout that night and pray that God should make it a reality”.

On whether she would allow Leah to continue in the school, Rabecca replied, “She rather stay out of school than returning to GGSTC Dapchi. I already transferred her brother to a school in Jos. She is the only one I am waiting for now”.

Rebecca lamented that no official from the federal, state governments or the school has visited again to sympathize with her.

“It’s very sad and frustrating each time we hear something from the media about our daughter. Recently, government said that negotiation for my daughter’s release is complicated.

“As parents, we should be informed of any development before going to press. The government’s attitude of relaying the information is making me angrier and more frightened by the day. Each time a story like this come up,” she said

The mother said that since the release of the abducted schoolgirls, only one of them ‘Aisha’ had visited.

“She told me that many of them wanted to come but they don’t want see me crying. Her best friend Liana usually call me on phone to ask about Leah but has not came to visit me”, Rebecca added.

EFCC begins probe of Obasanjo's $16 Billion power projects

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has set machinery in motion to probe the controversy surrounding the $16 billion allegedly spent on power projects during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.



The anti-graft agency may invite two ex-ministers, former top

officials of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), present and past officials of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company and all the people recommended for investigation by a committee of the House of Representatives.

A team in EFCC was already collating facts and figures at press time yesterday.

But a top source, who spoke in confidence, said the move was not targeted at ex-President Obasanjo.

According to findings by our correspondent, the EFCC might conduct a forensic and comprehensive investigation into the alleged $16 billion power projects.

The scope of the investigation includes the total cost of the projects, how much was withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account (ECA), the total number of contracts awarded, the extent of compliance with due process and the status of the execution of all the projects.

A top source, who spoke in confidence yesterday, said: “We are looking into all the allegations and issues surrounding the power projects.

“We will conduct a comprehensive and forensic probe to ascertain the true status of all the projects.

“This investigation will actually ascertain how much has been spent so far.

“We have many figures being bandied about as follows: $16 billion, $13.278 billion, $10.3 billion, $8.4 billion and $8.55 billion.

“This is not an investigation aimed at ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo or anybody. We have to step in to set the records straight.

“Already, a team is collating facts and figures on these projects as part of the preliminary level/ bend of the investigation.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “We will retrieve the report of the House of Representatives Committee which investigated the power projects.

“The House actually recommended 18 top former public officers, including two ex-ministers, for investigation by anti-graft agencies, especially EFCC and ICPC.

“Many salient issues were raised for investigation by the House

Committee, which was headed by Hon. Ndudi Elumelu.”

The issues raised by the Elumelu Committee were as follows:

• All NIPP payments were made without following due process
• No meaningful progress was made in the execution of power contracts
• Officials rushed to pay contractors in full even before engineering design for the projects have been completed and approved
• NIPP contracts were not only overpriced in comparison with PHCN contracts, they were also wide off the mark
• Widespread evidence of systematic over-scoping of projects in order to inflate costs both in PHCN and NIPP
• NIPP Distribution EPC contracts were awarded at costs averaging about 10 times the norm when compared to PHCN contracts.
• The Ndudi Elumelu Committee was put in place by the House on January 31, 2008 to look into how much was spent on power projects.

In its report, the committee said that about $13.278 billion was spent on power projects between 1999 and 2007.

The committee recommended termination of 13 contracts and review of 10 projects.

About 15 contracting and consulting companies were asked to be investigated by the appropriate agencies.

$16 Billion Power Project Scandal: 'Obasanjo should be probed' - Arewa group

The mouthpiece of Northern Nigeria, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has backed the call on President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to probe former President Olusegun Obasanjo over the alleged $16 billion power project scandal.


The ACF said that doing so would send a signal to other public office holders on the need for prudent management of the nation’s resources.

National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, in an exclusive interview with The Nation, said it is worrisome that those that were responsible for the failure of the power project were not brought to justice despite the previous probe by the National Assembly.

According to the ACF spokesman, “the calls by some Nigerians on President Buhari to probe the alleged $16 billion power project scandal is not misplaced, considering the harm corruption has inflicted on the nation and the promise by this regime to fight it.


“From 1999 to date, the promises made by our political leaders to improve power supply have mostly been observed in the breach.

“The National Assembly had sometimes probed the alleged corruption associated with power supply, but Nigerians are yet to know the fate of that probe.

“Most worrisome is the lack of the political will to bring to justice those found guilty by the probes which have, unfortunately, continued to encourage corruption by making it a way of life and culture.

“Therefore, the change we need is to make public officials, however highly placed, account for their malfeasance while in office.

“The probe will serve as a deterrence to others and also instil prudence in managing public office for performance.”

Following fresh alarm by President Muhammadu Buhari, some civil society organisations have demanded for the probe of the alleged $16 billion power contracts.



These organizations include Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership

(CACOL).

SERAP said: “We welcome the focus by President Buhari on the massive allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the power sector and urge him to expand his searchlight beyond the Obasanjo government by ensuring accountability and full recovery of the over N11 trillion squandered by the three administrations.

“It is only by pursuing all the allegations and taking the evidence before the court that the truth will be revealed and justice best served. This is the only way to conclusively address the systemic corruption in the power sector and an entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators.

“Addressing impunity in the power sector should be total. This would help improve the integrity of government and public confidence and trust in their government. It would also serve as a vehicle to further the public’s perception of fairness and thoroughness, and to avert any appearance of political considerations in the whole exercise.

“By immediately pursuing justice and recovery of any stolen assets in the power sector, the Buhari government would be acting in the public interest, and consistent with the spirit and letter of the constitution, particularly Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution dealing with Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, and providing that high-level public officials have a clear obligation to eradicate all corrupt practices and abuse of power.

“SERAP notes that lack of access to uninterrupted energy/electricity services has forced many citizens to use and collect frequently contaminated surface water for drinking and household uses; and denied the citizens the ability and services for boiling, purifying, disinfecting and storing water, as well as for irrigation to increase the productivity of lands, thereby decreasing the availability of food supplies and undermining employment opportunities.”

On its part, CACOL said: “Our stand is that the Federal Government should waste no time further but should probe whoever is behind poorly implemented national projects.

“Now that the President has confirmed that $16 bn was wasted under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Buhari administration needs to summon enough courage and political
will to bring the culprits to book.
“Power, influence and political leanings should not be considered in bringing whoever is guilty to book.”

Buhari receives 2018 Appropriation Bill

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday night received the 2018 Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly.


Senate President Bukola Saraki had promised on Thursday night that the document would get to the President for assent yesterday.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, confirmed on the telephone that the budget has been transmitted to the executive arm of government.

He said: “I can confirm to you that the budget has left the National Assembly.”

Asked about the destination of the document, Enang added: “When the budget leaves the National Assembly, it goes to the President. The President has received the budget.”

My style of 'Change' makes people resign from my cabinet – Bauchi governor boasts

Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, on Friday said his style of bringing about change in the governance of the state was forcing people to resign from his cabinet.


He said it was very difficult for people to embrace the change he had introduced into governance.

Abubakar spoke with State House correspondents after a meeting he had with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The state deputy governor, Nuhu Gidado, had on Wednesday resigned his appointment.

Apart from the deputy governor, others who have resigned from Abubakar’s cabinet include the former Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Shehu Ningi; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment, Samaila Sanusi, and the Deputy Caretaker Chairman of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, Munnir Yisin.

When asked why government officials were resigning in droves, Abubakar said, “Because I have come to Bauchi State to engender change and change is very very difficult for people to accept.

“People are used to a certain way of doing business and I have come to change that way of doing business because that way was destroying Bauchi State.

“So, we had to put a stop to it, we had to bring Bauchi State out of the dungeon.

“I give people a chance and if you think you can go at my pace, you stay and if you can’t go at my pace, you resign.”

The governor however insisted that nothing untoward happened between him and his former deputy before he resigned.

“What transpired is in the letter of the deputy and I think people should read that letter.

“Read the entire letter and you will see that there was nothing bad that transpired between us.

“In his final paragraph, he said that he remained loyal to his leader and his brother. In my response, I eulogised him and wished him the best in his future endeavour and assured him of the support of the good people of Bauchi State. There was no problem whatsoever,”the governor said.

On why he found it easy to accept Gidado’s resignation, he said, “The word resignation connotes a will on the part of the person who has offered.

“He offered his letter willingly and there is no way you can force him to accept an employment when the time has come for him to look elsewhere.”

Abubakar insisted that he had a fantastic working relationship with his former deputy while it lasted. He quoted Gidado as saying many times that he was the most pampered deputy governor in Nigeria.

When reminded that the spokesman to the deputy governor said on television that he resigned because he was not being treated as part of the government, the governor said, “I think he is wrong. Go to the House of Assembly and check, I went on official leave twice since I took over and each time I transmitted a letter to the House of Assembly making him the acting governor of Bauchi.

“Moreover, I gave him the most important ministry, Ministry of Education where I have been allocating the largest share of the budget of Bauchi State from the time I took over till date.”

I’m ashamed Nigeria’s now used for negative example – Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says he is ashamed that Nigeria is now being used as a negative example in the international community.
He cited recent instances when the Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, mocked the poor state of security in Nigeria and the naira’s weakening status.

Jonathan spoke at the inauguration of the first bridge built by Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on Friday night.

The former President lamented that things were so bad in the country that Nigeria had lost its respect in Africa.

He said, “He (Ghanaian President) said Ghana is not like Nigeria where cattle roam the streets. At another occasion in the United Kingdom, he made scathing remarks about Nigeria’s currency.

“I feel ashamed as a former President that the president of a neighbouring country used Nigeria as negative examples.

“If a neighbouring African president will use Nigeria to make negative examples, then we as leaders must know certain things are wrong in the country. That means we as leaders must change the way we do things.”

The former President, therefore, urged Nigerian leaders to show serious concern, noting that many things had gone wrong in the country.

Jonathan also advised President Muhammadu Buhari to resist pressure to rig the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State and subsequent elections in the country.

He praised the people of Ekiti for their support for the Peoples Democratic Party, urging them to support the youthful candidates of the party in the election.

The party has elected 50-year-old Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, and 39-year-old Deji Ogunsakin as his running mate.

Jonathan described Fayose as an exemplary leader and loyal party man, who had done the PDP proud in all areas.

He said, “I don’t believe anybody can defeat the PDP in Ekiti if election is going to be held.”

He said, “I use this opportunity to call on Mr. President because I was there before. When you are there, there is so much pressure on you to use your power to subjugate democracy.

“Don’t do that because when you are going; the only thing you leave behind is your good name. If you use it wrongly, posterity will haunt you. I call on Mr. President to use his power to strengthen democracy.”

Jonathan also defended Nigerian youths, saying they were one of the best in the world and should not be branded lazy as recently remarked by Buhari.

“We must encourage young people to work hard. I don’t think Nigerian youths are lazy, I have worked with some of them in my cabinet as governor and president. Nigerian youths are great people with intelligence,” he said.

At the event, Governor Ayodele Fayose said the 77-member election committee raised by the All Progressives Congress for the Ekiti governorship election showed the desperation of the party to win at all costs.

“I will defeat them by the grace of God,” he said.

REVEALED: How we gave lawmakers N17 Billion to pass 2015 budget — Okonjo-Iweala

Ex-finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has revealed the blackmail and arm twisting that characterised budget passing by the National Assembly during the Goodluck Jonathan Administration.
She cited an instance in 2015 when the National Assembly leadership forced the executive arm to part with N17 billion for the federal lawmakers to pass that year’s budget.

That, she said, was at a time crude price had gone down drastically.

The N17 billion alleged bribe, according to Okonjo-Iweala in her book Fighting Corruption is Dangerous:The Story Behind the Headlines, was besides the NASS N150 billion annual ‘standard’ budget.

She described federal legislators as a tough political group to deal with.

Her words: “The legislature was concerned largely about three things—the size of its own budget; the nature and the size of the capital budget, particularly investment projects; and the number and geographical location of the projects.

“Senators and Representatives felt that their role as appropriators of the budget was not just to vet and approve budget parameters and oversee budget implementation, but also to shape the size and content of the budgets, including details of specific projects.”

She said members of the NASS Finance and Appropriation even felt ”they had the right–indeed the duty–to get into the details of the budget formulation and preparation process all along the budget value chain.”

The ex-minister said the NASS leadership, working through the various committees, “sought to add more to individual projects or create completely new, unappropriated major projects, thereby distorting the budget.”

But she explained that “not all National Assembly members supported these unfortunate manipulations of the budget.”

She added: “National Assembly members had negotiated large increases in the National Assembly budgets and would brook no discussions or challenges on the issue.

“Their operational budget had ballooned to N150 billion or 16 per cent of the budget and almost 3.5 times the 2006 budget (in naira).”

Okonjo-Iweala said when it was proposed that the lawmakers should give up some of their benefits in view of dwindling revenue in 2015, they bluntly refused to do so.

“By the time we presented the budget on December 16, 2014, oil prices had fallen further to $58 per barrel.

“We were prepared and we knew we had to trigger the additional expenditure and revenue measures in 2015 to make the budget work.

“This would be tough, given that we had entered an election year,” she said.

”Indeed, legislators initially refused to accept any cuts to their regular N150 billion budget, despite dwindling revenues.

“But eventually, they agreed to a 13 per cent cut against a backdrop of ministers accepting a voluntary 50 per cent cut to their basic salaries.

“In a tough session with the National Assembly’s ad hoc committee on the budget (made up of chairs of the Finance Committee and Appropriation Committee of both chambers and other leaders of the National Assembly), an additional N20 billion was re-introduced as election expenses for National Assembly members.

“We insisted the amount be dropped because it nullified the 13 per cent cut made to their statutory budget, but managed to reduce the N20 billion figure by only N3 billion to N17 billion.

“This became the price to pay to have the 2015 budget passed.”
Okonjo-Iweala was Jonathan’s finance minister from August 17, 2011 to May 29, 2015.

She had served in the same capacity in the Obasanjo government.
The Federal Government proposed to spend N4.454 trillion that year.

Oyo-Ita advocates salary increment for civil servants

Winifred Oyo-Ita, head of the civil service of the federation, says there is a need for the federal government to increase the salary of civil servants in the country.

She said this is part of the 2017-2020 federal civil service strategy and implementation plan to boost civil service in the country.

Oyo-Ita spoke on Wednesday at a sensitisation workshop organised for civil servants in Abuja.

She said the strategy, which has been approved by the federal executive council, had eight priority areas aimed at making the nation’s civil service efficient, productive and incorruptible.

She said the priority areas, inclusive of salary review, were selected based on their relevance to the economic recovery growth plan.

“We need to launch a salary review of the civil service as a first step to enhance the value proposition of civil servants,” Oyo-Ita said.

“I am for salary review. We must increase salary. I am not saying this as a union leader but because I am aware of what workers go through.”

She added that the plan also seeks to re-design three core training modules, including leadership enhancement and development programme as a top talent programme to cultivate the next generation of leaders in the service.

It also aims to drive high-level impact, institutionalise performance management, drive innovation as well as introduce non-monetary recognition into the civil service.

Oyo-Ita said by 2020, the plan is expected to have delivered outcomes that include N60n-120bn savings from cleaning HR data on IPPIS; and N2.5bn annual savings from digitising content.

She added that 25,000 civil servants are expected to have been trained through revamped core modules contained in the plan, while 200 future leaders would also be trained.

Armed policemen raid Ondo residence of Kuku, Jonathan’s former aide

 

Armed policemen raided the Ondo residence of Kingsley Kuku, former special adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta.

A source who revealed this said the policemen arrived the residence at Arogbo, Ese-Odo local government area of Ondo state, around 3pm on Thursday.

He said the security operatives, numbering at least 30, opened fire, sparking tension in the community.

 

They were said to have forcefully broken into all the rooms in the house.

“After combing all the rooms in the house in a commando style, they left without anything incriminating,” the source said.

“The operation lasted for an hour. Nobody was arrested. They left after destroying a lot of things.”

Femi Joseph, spokesman of the state police command, could not be reached for comments as of the time this report was filed.

In 2015, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) invited Kuku, who is currently in the US, for questioning on several occasions but he failed to honour the invitations.

The anti-graft agency has not taken any further action on the matter since then, citing a court order restraining it from doing so.

However, the DSS allegedly accused the EFCC of shielding the former presidential aide, whom the agency wanted for interrogation.

 

The secret police alleged that Kuku was behind some of the militant activities in the Niger Delta.

But he denied the claim, saying the agency was desperate to arrest to him so as to give him the “Dasuki treatment”.

Mace theft: APC lawmakers suspended

Gombe State House of Assembly, yesterday, suspended four members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for fleeing with the mace during plenary.

Majority Leader and Chairman Committee on Information, Mr Fabulous Amos, made the announcement while briefing newsmen after an emergency plenary session.

He said Abdullahi Abubakar Maiwanka (Akko-west), Walid Mohammed (Kwami-west), Mohammed A. Bello (Gombe-south) and Abubakar Sadiq Ibrahim (Yamaltu-west) have been suspended for four legislative sittings.

Amos disclosed that the matter was referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate the incident.

A member of the house, Abdullahi Maiwanka, had during plenary on Thursday grabbed the mace and fled the assembly.

The action was reportedly prompted by the failure of three out of the eight members of the APC in the house to impeach the Minority Leader, Ahmed Usman Haruna.

Gombe State Government has reacted to the development

Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Alhaji Ahmed Umar Sulaiman, alleged that the unfortunate incident was the fallout of the recent congresses conducted by the APC.

 “The commotion was as a result of a faction within the APC that wants to change its leadership in the house,” he said.

How Nigerian soldiers, civilians impregnated us, killed our husbands – Victim

File image 

Fatima Bukari, one of the alleged victims of rape by soldiers and Civilian Joint TaskForce (CJTF), has revealed the ordeal they have had to endure in exchange for food in the North-East.Bukari said apart from the fact that her husband was beaten and taken away on the pretext that he was a Boko Haram member, they have had to endure repeated rape, in exchange for food, resulting in them having children without fathers.

Both women spoke at the official presentation of the AI report in Abuja, yesterday.

Fatima, who spoke through an interpreter, Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, a gender activist and human rights defender, said:

“We are all IDPs. We were in our state, peacefully in our community but gradually we started facing certain kind of challenges. So when we were rescued, we were the brought into Bama with our men. We were told that we were going to be taken to the authorities for safety.

“Ever since we came into the Bama prison area, the men were subjected to all kinds of humiliations, they were beaten every now and then. They kept beating our men and saying we were all Boko Haram members and we said we were not. For example, my husband was being beaten by four members of the Civilian JTF and soldier.

“In fact they kept beating him for four days. After four days, we were evacuated and then brought to the General Hospital Camp. So, before separating us, they brought the men out, washed them up and then blindfolded them and transported them to Maiduguri, before taking us to Bama Camp. Before evacuating us, they told us that “your husbands have been taken to Maiduguri and you also will be taken.

“That was how we were taken dumped at Gewa General Hospital Camp.

“So, when we were brought to the General Hospital Camp, there was no food nor water and we had been separated from our husbands. The soldiers and the civilian JTF will come with their food and give to whoever they choose to give; in fact they have spoilt many of our women.

“The soldier who led the beating and humiliation of my husband, followed me to the camp with plenty of food and asked for sex and when I asked him ‘haven’t you seen my husband,’ he replied; ‘has anyone who has been taken to the barrack ever come back?’

“As I am speaking to you, there are many women like me who we are left in Bama, some of them have become pregnant, some have delivered without fathers.

“Their children are fathered by the soldiers and civilian JTF. So, it is getting to three years, we are not in Maiduguri, nothing has happened except hardship.”

In her response, Hajiya Allamin, said rather deny the report, Nigerian authorities must act and bring perpetrators to book.

She added that there are 1,600 of such women who have been registered and were willing to talk.

“The military denying the report will not help the situation. These are real women speaking about their ordeals. We have registered 1,600 of this category of women, they are there and can testify.

 “So, denial will not help us. Why can’t we dialogue, speak out so that the impunity could be addressed?” She queried.

Nigerian economy: What we did during Jonathan govt – Okonjo-Iweala

Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Friday said part of what the Goodluck Jonathan administration did to improve the Nigerian economy was target setting.

She said this while calling for a massive education of insurance policy makers in the country to achieve deep insurance penetration among the populace.

Okonjo-Iweala told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Busan, South Korea, on the sideline of the Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB), that insurance penetration in Africa and Nigeria in particular was very low.

“As the world is experiencing so much uncertainties and a lot of volatility in the economy, people really need to think more deeply about insurance and how they can help protect themselves and their families, even their countries against these risks,” she stated.

She said insurance penetration in Africa was as low as three per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and about 0.3 per cent of GDP in Nigeria, stressing the need for proper enlightenment and education of the populace.

“We really need to move forward; there is a lot of opportunities, so we need massive education and insurance companies must take some responsibilities by working with government in this direction.

“We should set ourselves some targets; we were beginning to do that earlier on when we were in government; to see if we could really, by 2020, 2025, 2030, set targets of having insurance penetrate deeply,” she said

Rape in IDPs camps: FG should not ignore Amnesty International report – Shehu Sani

Shehu Sani, the senator representing Kaduna Central has called on the federal government to look into amnesty international report which accused security agencies of raping thousands of women and girls at the Internally Displaced Persons camps in the country.

Amnesty International on Thursday in a new report entitled “They betrayed us”, stated “how the Nigerian military and Civilian Joint Task Force (Civilian JTF) have separated women from their husbands and confined them in remote ‘satellite camps’ where they have been raped, sometimes in exchange for food.”

However, the Nigerian Military condemned the report, describing it as a a false and urged the public to disregard it.

Reacting, Sani urged the government not to ignore such report but take actions against perpetrators.

The Kaduna lawmaker on his Twitter page noted that the report had an iota of truth which if tackled will hinder future occurrence of human rights abuses

He wrote “I just attended the Amnesty Nigeria launch of their report on treatment of women in the North East.

“The Federal Government shouldn’t dismiss it but should study the report, view it as a mirror and take actions against the perpetrators of the documented gross human rights abuses.

“The amnesty report on Nigeria tells us the uncomfortable truth. It cast the light on the dark corners of impunity. It’s about us, it’s about what some of us did to some of us. The report hurts but it can help to heal, by using it to avert future occurrence.

“All bad precedents begins with justifiable measures.”

Meanwhile, the presidency had stated that the report was inherently battling with credibility, falling vehemently short of evidential narration.

Garba Shehu, on Wednesday said the report is short on credibility because it does not contain factual leads that could have laid the foundation for investigative actions.

UN speaks on Buhari’s fight against corruption

The United Nations, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has commended Nigeria’s leading role in the fight against corruption in Africa.

Guterres made the commendation in his remarks at high-level debate marking the 15th anniversary of adoption of UN Convention Against Corruption in New York.

The secretary-general pointed out that through Nigeria’s anti-money laundering efforts, stolen funds had been returned.

Guterres said, “African countries have taken a leading role in moving this agenda forward in the last AU Summit.

“And with measures as for example through anti-money laundering efforts in Nigeria and Tunisia, which have seen funds returned.”

He said if governments were serious about doing the best for their citizens, then pledges to promote integrity and clamp down on corruption must be more than campaign promises and words on paper.

“Millions will go to the polls this year with corruption high on their agenda. I make an urgent call to our global leadership to take a moral stand and install a culture of integrity from the top down.

“It all begins with setting an example. By tackling corruption, governments can show they mean business. We must all do more.”

According to him, those who can least afford corruption suffer the most adding, corruption cripples economic development, stifles entrepreneurship and deters investment.

Continuing, Guterres said, “Society cannot function equitably and efficiently when public officials – from doctors to police, judges and politicians – enrich themselves rather than perform their duties with integrity. “Corruption robs funds from schools, hospitals, infrastructure and other vital services.

“Human trafficking and migrant smuggling, illicit financial flows and illegal trade in natural resources, weapons, drugs and cultural heritage are all made possible because of corruption.

“It fuels conflict, and when a hard-won peace is achieved, corruption undermines recovery. Corruption and impunity are corrosive, breeding frustration and fostering further corruption when people see no other way of achieving their goals.”

The UN chief added that the lack of opportunities for young women and men, often exacerbated in corrupt societies, could feed into the cynical narratives of terrorists and violent extremists.

“The answer is to root out and eradicate corruption at all levels and restore trust where it has been lost,” the secretary-general stressed.

He said UN would continue to support Member States every step of the way, from helping to engage and empower citizens in this fight, to helping build and enhance institutions that could deliver on their promise

The UN chief urged Member States to use the 15th anniversary Convention as a platform to mobilise political and popular support for the fight against corruption. He said the fight against corruption is the world’s most agile instrument in the hands of the international community to achieve our common goals of good governance, stability and prosperity.

Also speaking, the President of the UN General Assembly, Miroslav Lajčák, reiterated that corruption hurt all sections of the society adding, it “destroys everything in its path.”

Ultimately, corruption causes suffering to ordinary people going about their daily lives, he stressed, citing common examples: “When they are stopped at checkpoints, for bribes.

“When a bus does not come – or a clinic does not open – because budgets were mismanaged. Or when they lose all of their savings, from extortion,” said Lajčák.

Yury Fedotov, the Executive-Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, also noted that while Sustainable Development Goal 16 explicitly urged action against corruption, tackling the problem was a prerequisite for overall economic growth.

 “Anti-corruption responses are also crucial to ensuring access to healthcare, water, education and other vital services; protecting forests, oceans and wildlife; and reducing inequalities,” Fedotov added.

Bodies of slain Fulani youths killed in Taraba State.

Below are the dead bodies of the slain Fulani youths killed in Yorro LGA, Taraba State.
Hope there won't be a repraisal attack

See what happened to a 2 year old boy left by his careless mum in the car.

A mother, Mrs Olaore Yetunde, a resident of Adetoro Adelaja street, Magodo, Lagos, on May 24, 2018, put her 2-year-old son in harms way by leaving him alone in the  car while she dashed into her apartment situate in the aforementioned address to pick up an item.

According to the findings of the police team that visited the scene, Mrs Olaore drove her Hyundai 4-wheel-drive SUV with registration number AAA 507 DE  into her compound  at Adetoro  Adelaja street,  Magodo. She  left her son in the car and hurriedly  went inside her apartment to pick up an item without properly bringing the car to a halt with the handbrake.
The result was that before she could come back to the car, it had drifted out   through one side of the gate that was left open after she drove inside. The car further drifted across the road and slide off the main road into a 20 feet gully with the bottom of the car facing up after it somersaulted severally.

The infant who sustained injuries in the head and the arm was rescued by the Command Rapid Response Squad patrol team stationed near the scene of incident.

The child was instantly rushed to an undisclosed hospital for a first aid  from where he was referred to another hospital in Ikeja for a comprehensive  treatment.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Imohimi Edgal advised parents to draw lessons from the unfortunate incident and never leave their little children all by themselves in their cars. The CP reiterated that negligent parents would be prosecuted in accordance with relevant laws.

FG Declares Tuesday, May 29, Public Holiday

The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared Tuesday, May 29, as public holiday to celebrate the 2018 Democracy Day in Nigeria.

The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau, made the declaration on Friday in Abuja on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary, Dr M. Umar.

Dambazau congratulated Nigerians on the occasion and pledged government’s continued dedication to entrenching democracy in Nigeria.

He also urged all Nigerians to trust and support the government in its commitment to building an indivisible, peaceful and greater nation based on the tenets of democracy.

The Minister also seized the opportunity to wish all Nigerians a Happy Democracy Day celebration.

Intending grooms and groomsmen will no longer wear beards during any wedding service conducted in RCCG.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God has reportedly asked its church ministers to ensure that intending grooms and their groomsmen do not wear ''Taliban'' beards during any wedding service conducted in any of its brances. The church gave the order to its letter to the Ministers dated May 15th. See a copy of the letter below... 

Family severes ties with their daughter who is seeking to marry her lesbian partner in Nigeria

The Shoremi family in Nigeria have taken a newspaper advertorial to announce they have severed all ties with one of their daughters, Shalom, who recently tried to wed her lesbian partner here in Nigeria.Shalom had applied for marriage license from the Federal Marriage Registry but was denied as same sex marriage is prohibited in Nigeria. Former president Goodluck Jonathan had signed the Anti-gay bill into law in 2007. See the advertorial published by the Family below
Source LIB

Priest performs wedding ceremony at Daudu IDP camp for 4 couples in Benue State. PHOTOS

Four couples were joined in Holy Matrimony last Sunday, at Daudu Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Benue State.The state had experienced series of attacks by Fulani herdsmen,  leading to the killing of hundreds of people, with thousands currently displaced from their ancestral lands.More photos below... 

Supporters gather in front of court to pray against Buhari and EFCC over arraignment of ex-Kano Governor, Shekarau.PHOTOS

Scores of supporters gathered in front of the Federal High court, Kano on Thursday, to offer a special prayer against the EFCC and President Buhari because former Governor of Kano and Education Minister, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was arraigned over N950m campaign fund. 
 Shekarau, Ambassador Aminu Wali and Engineer Mansur Ahmed were arraigned before Justice Zainab B. Abubakar on a six-count charge bothering on money laundering to the tune of N950m.When the charges were read to the three accused persons, they pleaded not guilty. Their counsel, Mr Sam T. Ologunorisa, said:“My clients are on bail since May 2016 and have never jumped bail or temper with the commission’s investigation and they always complied with the directives of the commission. Now, the commission has completed its investigation into this case and all witnesses in this case are available and ready to appear before the court. So based on this development, I humbly apply for the bail of my clients.”Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Jonson Ojogbane, did not object to the bail application, but urged the court to grant the bail on certain terms and conditions.Justice Abubakar granted bail to Shekarau, Wali and Ahmed on the sum of N100m each with two reliable sureties in the like sum.She said one of the sureties must possess a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court while the other must be a director in either state or federal civil service. She said the accused and the sureties must deposit their travelling passports at the office of the deputy registrar of the court.Zainab adjourned the case till June 26 for continuation. 
 According to Daily Trust, Shekarau and Wali's supporters were injured when armed policemen deployed to the court fired live ammunition and tear-gas canisters to disperse them.The police action caused pandemonium among the dignitaries, journalists and lawyers that attended the session. 
 Trouble started shortly after JusticeAbubakar granted the three accused persons bail and people started leaving the court. 
 Hundreds of supporters of the two politicians, who converged outside the court, insisted on reaching the main gate, but the police started firing tear-gas and live ammunitions into the air to disperse them.Shekarau, Wali and Ahmed were later whisked away by operatives of the EFCC.