APC’s 12m votes claim is plot to rig 2019 poll – Atiku

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC’s) claim that it already has 12 million votes is plot to rig next Saturday’s election.
Atiku in a statement yesterday by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, said “the APC has been huffing and puffing about how it already has 12 million votes in the kitty even before the votes are cast and in spite of the deservedly huge acceptance of the PDP across the nooks and crannies of the country.”
The former Vice President said APC’s attempts to rig the election if implemented would earn the ruling party the people’s wrath.
“The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had on Thursday said that President Muhammadu Buhari has 12 million voters that have been with them over the years.
“Based on the result of the poll by Williams and Associates, Nigerians see that the percentage of voters who have indicated their interest to vote in next week’s election has gone up 17.4% (from 63% in 2015 to 74% in 2019), representing an 11% increase in voter turnout against what it was in 2015.

“When we apply this to the 2019 registered voter base of 84 million, we get to a total of 40.4 million votes to be cast on February 16.
“We also note that the Williams & Associates poll not only predicted an Atiku win, but it demonstrated in unmistaken terms that 42% more Nigerians believe that Atiku will be the next president over Buhari,” Atiku said.

We’ll generate $30b, 1.5m jobs from `Made in Nigeria for Export’ – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari says the implementation of the Federal Government’s Made in Nigeria for Exports (MINE) will generate 30 billion dollars and create 1.5million jobs by 2025.

MINE is a presidential special priority intervention programme implemented by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, but under Buhari’s direct supervision.

The president stated this at the signing of agreement between Nigeria Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Investment Company and Strategic Investment Partners at the State House, Abuja on Friday.

According to him, MINE is using Special Economic Zones to achieve the objectives of boosting the share of manufacturing in Gross Domestic Product to 20 per cent.

“Under my direct supervision, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment is implementing Project MINE (Made in Nigeria for Exports) as a Presidential special priority intervention using Special Economic Zones to achieve the objectives of; boosting manufacturing’s share of GDP to 20%, generating $30bn in annual export earnings; and creating 1.5 million new jobs all by 2025.

“In order to achieve these ambitious objectives, we are implementing a comprehensive plan including but not limited to the following:

“We have set up the Nigeria SEZ Investment Company Limited as a vehicle for participating in Public Private Partnerships involving Federal and State governments and local and foreign private investors.

“This company will develop new Special Economic Zones all over the country, offering advanced infrastructure and facilities at competitive costs,’’ he said.

The president revealed that the projects in the pilot phase included Enyimba Economic City, Funtua Cotton Cluster and Lekki Model Industrial Park.

He announced that experienced SEZ developers and operators were needed to partner with the government to upgrade its Free Trade Zones in Calabar and Kano, and to offer first-class standards of infrastructure and facilities.

He said: “Whilst we await the completion of the process of bringing in these investors, the Federal Executive Council has approved the award of contracts in excess of N19.45 billion for the needed investment in Calabar and Kano Free Trade Zones and work is currently ongoing.

“This is the highest amount of capital investment ever in the history of these zones.’’

The President said the federal government had allocated funds to upgrade the capabilities of management and the systems in the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, to strengthen it as a regulator of the SEZ.

He added that government was also allocating substantial resources to the provision of “outside the fence” infrastructure to ensure that SEZ are connected to global, regional and domestic markets.

“We are reviewing our incentive framework to ensure competitiveness relative to the other countries with whom we are in the race to attract export oriented global manufacturing investment.

“We will extend the early successes we have achieved in Ease of Doing Business to the areas critical to globally competitive export-oriented manufacturing operations,’’ he said.

The president thanked the investment partners including the Africa Export and Import Bank (AFREXIM); Africa Finance Corporation (AFC); Bank of Industry (BOI); Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and the African Development Bank (AFDB) for their support for the initiative.

Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Okechukwu Enelamah, explained that the agreement would actualise the nation’s industrialisation agenda and provision of infrastructural facilities.

He thanked the president for approving resources to attract world class advisers for the implementation of the initiative.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those who signed the agreement included President Afreximbank, Dr Benedict Oramah; the Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr Olukayode Pitan and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, Mr Uche Orji.

EFCC unable to serve ex-NIA DG Oke, wife with charge

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) on Wednesday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that it was unable to serve former National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director-General Ambassador Ayodele Oke and his wife Folasade with the money laundering charge filed against them.

Prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo told Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke that the defendants where still outside the court’s jurisdiction.
“We are having issues with service of the charge,” Oyedepo said.
According to him, the commission made unsuccessful efforts to reach Oke and his wife.
“We have gone to their known addresses but could not find them to be able to serve them with the charge,” Oyedepo said.
He noted that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) empowers the judge to make an order compelling the defendants’ appearance.
But, Justice Aneke said he could not make any such order because the case was not yet properly before him.



“I’ve not seen your file. It’s when I see the file that I can determine the urgency of any application.
“I can’t exercise my discretion without seeing the efforts you’ve made on paper,” the judge said.
He asked Oyedepo to return in 24 hours with the necessary processes.
The defendants’ whereabouts is unknown, with reports saying they had left the country.
Oke and his wife were charged in connection with the $43, 449, 947, 000 found in Flat 7B, No. 16 Osborne Road, Osborne Towers in Ikoyi Lagos.
Justice Muslim Hassan had on June 6, 2017, granted a final forfeiture order of the funds since no one appeared before the court to claim them
The four-count charge against the couple was signed by Oyedepo, Nnaemeka Omewa and Idris Abubakar Mohammed.
EFCC in the Proof of Evidence revealed how Flat 7B was bought for $1, 658,000 (N596, 880,000)
It said one Alhaji Shehu Usman Anka will give evidence of the receipt of the sum of $1, 658,000 from the wife of the ex-NIA boss.
The anti-graft agency also said that the agency got about $289, 202, 382.00 from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
It added that one Benjamin Kiksenenso will give evidence of how he was instructed to go to the CBN to collect the $289, 202, 382.00.

The charges against the ex-NIA boss are:

“That you, Amb. Ayodele Oke, Mrs. Folasade Ayodele Oke on or about the 12th day of April 2017 in Lagos concealed the sum of $43, 449, 947, 000 property of the Federal Government of Nigeria in Flat 7B, No. 16 Osborne Road, Osborne Towers, Ikoyi Lagos which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.



“That you Amb. Ayodele Oke and Mrs. Folasade Ayodele Oke between 25th day of August 2015 and 2nd day of September 2015 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court indirectly used the sum of $1, 658, 000 property of the Federal Government of Nigeria to acquire Flat 7B, No. 16 Osborne Road, Osborne Towers, Ikoyi Lagos which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

“That you Amb. Ayodele Oke and Mrs. Folasade Ayodele Oke between 25th day of August 2015 and 2nd day of September 2015 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court directly retained $160, 777, 136. 85 property of the Federal Government of Nigeria which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.


“That you Amb. Ayodele Oke and Mrs. Folasade Ayodele Oke between 25th day of August 2015 and 2nd day of September 2015 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court directly converted $160, 777, 136. 85 property of the Federal Government of Nigeria to your own use which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

Justice Aneke adjourned until Thursday.

Unusual weather condition ‘led to’ crash of Osinbajo’s chopper

The helicopter which conveyed Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo from Abuja to Kabba in Kogi state, crash-landed as a result of unusual weather condition.

Caverton Helicopters, owners of the aircraft, said this in a statement issued on Saturday.

Osinbajo was on a campaign trip to Kogi when the chopper crash-landed in Kabba. There were no injuries recorded during the incident.

The vice-president came out unhurt and immediately continued his business in the state, receiving a warm welcome from residents as he was driven through the town.

Josiah Choms, Caverton managing director, said investigation into the incident has commenced.

“An Augusta AW139 Helicopter, under management by Caverton Helicopters was involved in a mishap on landing in Kabba, Kogi State around 3pm today (2nd February 2019) as a result of unusual weather conditions,” he said.

“There were no injuries to the passengers or crew on board and they were all quickly and safely evacuated.

“The relevant authorities have been duly informed and an investigation into the incident has commenced. We will, of course, support the authorities as required.:

In a statement, the media team of the vice-president also confirmed that investigation was underway.

Lalolu Akande, media aide of the vice-president, said Stephen Ocheni, minister of state for labour, senior presidential aides, security officials and the crew were on board the ill-fated aircraft.

“We are grateful to God for His protection and safety, and we thank the crew and security personnel for their prompt response and service. We are also grateful for the tremendous expressions of concern and affection, as well as prayers from all,” he said in a statement.

“As is procedural, a full investigation into the causes of the incident would be conducted by aviation authorities.”

The crash was the second the vice-president was involved in within eight months.

INEC Releases Full List Of Governorship, State Assembly Candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the full list of the governorship and State House of Assembly candidates for the general elections.

SEE THE FULL LIST BELOW

Source ChannellsTv