President Buhari returns to the country today.

President Muhammadu Buhari will return to the country later today, after receiving medical attention in London.Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina has confirmed, in his statement, he said

"The President had left the country on May 7, this year, after handing over power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who has functioned as Acting President since then.

President Buhari is expected to speak to Nigerians in a broadcast by 7 a.m on Monday, August 21, 2017.

He thanks all Nigerians who have prayed ceaselessly for his recovery and well-being since the beginning of the health challenge.

FEMI ADESINA"
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
August 19, 2017

'Human life must be considered as sacrosanct" - Gov Ortom commiserates with Anambra State over killings.

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has commiserated with the government and people of Anambra State over the killing of innocent worshipers by a gunman who invaded St. Phillips Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the state.

A statement signed by  Terver Akase his  Chief Press Secretary,he stated that
"Governor Ortom is saddened by the incident and joins millions of other Nigerians in condemning the dastardly act.

He says human life must be considered as sacrosanct by all, stressing that the Ozubulu incident is indeed a black day not only in Anambra State but also across the country.

The governor  emphasized that places of worship should not targets of attacks even in war situations,he  wonders what might have motivated the gunman to embark on the murderous mission.

The Governor urged the Church to be prayerful and remain courageous at this trying moment.

He also  prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed and speedy healing of the injured worshipers.

Two ICPC board members appointed by Osinbajo under investigation for ‘multi-million naira corruption’

Two of the 14 members announced to the board of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other offences Commission (ICPC) are being investigated by the anti-corruption agency for alleged corruption in the region of N1billion, the ICIR is reporting.

The two nominees are Maimuna Aliyu and Sa’ad Alanamu.

The appointments were announced on Tuesday following approval by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo. The proposed new board is to be headed by Bolaji Owasanoye, a professor of law and current secretary of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC).

While Mr. Alanamu is being investigated on corruption charges allegedly committed while he headed several institutions in Kwara State, Ms. Aliyu has a longstanding case of abuse of office, misappropriation and diversion of public funds against her.

In fact, the ICIR learnt on Friday that charges were already being prepared against her by the ICPC in preparation to taking her to court when her name was announced as member of the new board of the commission.

Apart from the ICPC investigation, ICIR said its investigations showed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Police have investigated several corruption cases against Ms. Aliyu, a former executive director of the Aso Savings and Loans.

In fact, in May, a police investigative report indicted her and recommended her for prosecution. The investigative report dated May 31, 2017, and signed by Taiwo Oyewale, a Superintendent of Police, for the Deputy Commissioner of Police, IGP Monitoring Unit, said Ms. Aliyu illegally converted to personal use a total of N58 million being proceeds of three plots of land belonging to her employers, Aso Savings and Loans.

Police investigations showed that as executive director, marketing, Ms. Aliyu got approval to sell three of the bank’s landed properties in Abuja. The plots were offered for N19 million each. Ms. Aliyu is said to have sold the lands for N58 million but refused to hand over the money to the bank.

The police investigations commenced after Aso Savings and Loans wrote a petition in November 2016 alleging that Ms. Aliyu, who had by then retired from the bank for three years, refused to hand over the proceeds of the land sale.

The same month, the bank also wrote a petition against her to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the EFCC and the ICPC

In one of the investigations, it was discovered that Ms. Aliyu actually sold the three plots of land entrusted to her by the bank at N40 million each (instead of N19 million) totaling N120 million and held on to every penny.

Apart from the N120 million allegedly misappropriated by her, the bank also lodged several complaints of abuse of office and conversion or diversion of its funds, totaling nearly N1 billion.

The bank alleged that in 2012, Ms. Aliyu sought and got a mortgage facility of N40 million to purchase five houses – four-bedroom detached mansionettes.

However, after she resigned her appointment in September 2013, the former executive director said she could no longer bear the burden of the payments and requested the bank to cancel the mortgage on four units and take them over. She said she would continue to maintain the mortgage contract on just one unit.

However, since 2013 when she left the bank, Ms. Aliyu has refused to hand over the four houses and has not serviced the mortgage on them. In fact, investigators believe she has since sold the units and pocketed the money.

The bank also alleged that Ms. Aliyu abused her office by illegally allocating a house at Aso Groove Estate to her son, Sand Aliyu.

According to the bank, Ms. Aliyu had showed interest in buying the house for her son in the name of a company in which he is a director.

However, because she had all the keys of the houses put up for sale by the bank since she was in charge of marketing and sales, Ms. Aliyu handed over the key to the house to her son without paying a dime for the house worth N210 million. She still has not paid for the house till date and her son continues to live there.

Senior police officers familiar with the case, who spoke to the ICIR on condition of anonymity, are miffed about her appointment and wonder how she could have passed through security checks with all the investigations and indictments against her by security and anti-corruption agencies.

ICIR attempted to reach Ms. Aliyu for comments, but her known telephone number was switched off throughout Friday and was still unreachable as of press time.

Mr. Alanamu, described as a protégé of Olusola Saraki, late politician and father of Senate President Bukola Saraki, is being investigated by the ICPC for corruption and bribery.

ICPC Head Office

He is being accused of collecting bribes from contractors handling TETFUND contracts, which he approved as Chairman of the Board of Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin. Mr. Alanamu could not be reached, Friday.

As in the case of Aliyu, questions are being raised about how he passed security screening with the ongoing investigation against him at the ICPC.

This story was first published by the ICIR. We have their permission to republish.

Source Premium Times

"Nigerian Looters Funding Biafra, Boko Haram, Restructuring Agitation" - Magu

Nigerian looters funding Biafra, Boko Haram, restructuring agitation, says Magu

• No Going Back On EFCC Boss, Senate Tells Presidency

The acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, said the current agitation for restructuring and Biafra are being financed by looters of the country’s treasury over the years.

Besides, Magu reminded those attempting to frustrate the Federal Government’s war against corruption to be battle-ready, insisted that the EFCC would not be deterred in the clampdown on all the criminally-minded persons in the country.

The EFCC chairman, who spoke yesterday at a stakeholder’s meeting in Kano, insisted if the country must move forward, Nigerians must be determined to fight corruption at all levels.

Magu regretted that the multiply effect of corruption is threatening the unity of the country and cautioned Nigerians to resist the temptation of corruption, while desisting from celebrating corrupt persons in their domain.
According to Magu: “Corruption is a threat to the unity of this country and we must fight, despite the stumblingly blocks.

“Agitations of restructuring the nation, Biafra and even Book Haram are being financed by looters of the country. The looters are ready to continue sponsoring all these violence against the state just to create confusion to distract attention against them. But that will not succeed.

“I can assure you that the President and the Vice President are committed to the fight against corruption and we have this political will in our leaders. We would not be deterred; we will continue fighting the war against corruption in this country.

“Again, those looting our wealth in this country are not more than 10,000 people and I don’t think there is any way the will of these people will prevail upon over the 150 million people of Nigeria.”

Magu explained that the purpose of the Kano meeting was to brief the civil society group about the fight so far and seek suggestions to further strengthen the commission.

Chairman of Kano State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kabiru Ado Mingibir, lamented the economic impact of corruption, which he said has adversely affected the survival of workers, who are being owned several months of salary.

He assured the EFCC that workers in the state were ready to support the anti-corruption fight.

Meanwhile, the senate has insisted that its rejection of Magu nomination “still stands.

According to the Chairman of its Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Sabi Abdullah, yesterday, the senate has already made its resolution.

He added: “Most times, based on how we communicate, we don’t go to press immediately because somebody has made a statement; we usually discuss issues.

“You know before we made that resolution, the issue was debated. It is not because the executive has said something, we will react to it. We discuss issues first.

“He was brought to us for confirmation and on the basis of damning reports from the DSS, we rejected him twice.

“It is left for Nigerians to see and we have done our part. We are expressing the opinion of the Senate, its stand and its position.

“We have given it a resolution. For now, that is what subsists and until we get a response, otherwise officially, we are not going back.”

This came in reaction to Thursday’s statement by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo that President Muhammadu Buhari has resolved to work with Magu to tackle corruption in the country.

Senator storm out of EFCC launch for involving el-Rufai

Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has walked out of the official commissioning ceremony of EFCC office in Kaduna to protest the attendance of Governor Nasir El-rufai, describing as aberration.

The event which took place Thurs
day was the launching of the Kaduna zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The anti-graft agency had invited the two politicians, amongst other dignitaries, to the commissioning of the new office at Wurno Road, Kaduna.
But Sani drove out of the venue to protest the invitation handed to Gov. El-Rufai, his arch rival, describing it as an aberration.

Senator told journalists that his action was “in objection to invitation of the Kaduna State Governor”.
“I honoured the invitation to launch the zonal office of the EFCC and to participate in a stakeholders forum.
“I don’t think someone invited in this event fits in to the philosophy and principles of the EFCC.

“I don’t know how the EFCC can squarely investigate corruption cases in Kaduna with some of this characters cutting the tape of their new abode,” Sani said.

Efforts by people at the gate to convince the Senator to return to the event were unsuccessful.
Other dignitaries who attended the event are the Senator representing Kaduna North, Sulaiman Hunkuyi, immediate past governor of the state, Ramalan Yero, the EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu, and the representative of Namadi Sambo, Shehu Idris, the Emir of Zazzau, among others.

Nigerian Pilot

INEC deploys 14 new RECs to states

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has approved the posting of 14 newly sworn-in Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to states, according to a statement by its Secretary, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu.

The statement made available on Friday in Abuja, showed that Prof. James Apam from Benue was posted to Kogi, while Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda from Plateau was posted to Benue.

It said that Halilu Pai from FCT was posted to Plateau, Umar Ibrahim (Taraba) to Gombe; Ahmad Makama (Bauchi) to Taraba; Ibrahim Abdullahi (Adamawa) to Bauchi; and Prof. Godwill Obioma (Abia) to Ebonyi.

Dr. Nwachukwu Orji of Ebonyi was posted to Anambra; Dr Iloh Chuks (Enugu) to Abia; Emeka Joseph (Imo) to Enugu State and Francis Ezeonu (Anambra) to Imo.

The commission also approved the posting of Obo Effanga (Cross River) to Edo; Dr. Briyi Frankland (Bayelsa) to Cross River; and Agboke Olaleke (Ogun) to Ondo.

NAN reports that the posting was released immediately after the new RECs took their oaths of office at the INEC headquarters, Abuja.

INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu had earlier told the officials that none of them would be posted to his or her state of origin, and urged them to be prepared to serve in any part of the country.

He advised them to adhere strictly to the provisions of the constitution, electoral act and other legal frameworks in the discharge of their duties. (NAN)

Fayose commends Obaseki’s leadership style

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has commended the leadership style of his Edo Counterpart, Gov Godwin Obaseki, describing it as impressive.

This was at the Edo State Government House in Benin City on Thursday during a courtesy visit by the Ekiti State governor.

He added that the Edo governor was doing his best to ensure a better future for people of the state.

According to him, “Politicians look forward to an election, but a leader looks forward to the future of the people. For me as an individual, who knows what it takes in Ekiti, I know the governor is doing his best.”

Meanwhile, Fayose stressed that his visit to Edo was private and did not have any political undertones.

Also, speaking to Newsmen, Obaseki commended Fayose for ensuring orderliness and cleanliness in Ekiti, especially in the state capital; Ado-Ekiti.

He described Fayose as an interesting and good person, who had done his share in developing his state, stressing also that the Ekiti Governor’s visit was not politically motivated as he was in the state to attend a University convocation ceremony.

Abuja, Lagos among top 60 most expensive cities globally–survey

Lagos and Abuja ranked 29th and 59th respectively as the most expensive cities to live in a 2017 global cost of living survey.

The 23rd Cost of Living Survey carried out by Mercer, the world’s largest human resource consulting firm, found that African, Asian, and European cities dominated the 2017 list of most expensive locations for working abroad.

According to the survey, Lagos ranked 13th while Abuja ranked 20th in 2016.

The capital city of Angola, Luanda, however, ranked first globally moving up from second place and taking over from Hong Kong as the world’s most expensive city.

The survey attributed cost of goods and security as factors that determined the cost of living in Luanda.

Other African cities that ranked high reflected high living costs and prices of goods for expatriate employees.

They include Victoria, Seychelles in the 14th position, N’djamena, Chad in the 16th position and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo ranked 18th.

The least expensive African cities include Gaborone, Botswana in the 196th position; Cape Town, South Africa ranking 199th and Blantyre, Malawi ranking 205th.

Windhoek, Namibia ranked 206 while Tunis, Tunisia ranked 209 and was found to be the least expensive country globally.

In Europe, three cities remained in the top 10 list of most expensive cities for expatriates, which included Zurich, Geneva and Bern which ranked fourth, seventh and 10th respectively.

Moscow ranked 14th and London ranked 30th position and the German cities of Munich, Frankfurt and Berlin dropped significantly ranking 98, 117 and 120 respectively.

Also, five of the top 10 expensive cities in the ranking were in Asia; Hong Kong ranked second and was found to be the most expensive city in the region as a result of its currency pegged to the US dollar, which drove up the cost of accommodations locally.

Others are Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul and Shanghai which ranked third, fifth, sixth and eighth respectively.

Ms Nathalie Constantin-Métral, Principal at Mercer responsible for compiling the survey ranking, explained that the majority of Chinese cities fell in the ranking due to the weakening of the Chinese yuan against the U.S. dollar.

In India, Mumbai ranked 57, moving up 25 places due to its rapid economic growth, inflation on the goods and services basket and a stable currency against the U.S. Dollar.

New Delhi and Chennai ranked 99 and 135 respectively.

In the Middle East, Tel Aviv ranked 17 and and continues to be the most expensive city for expatriates followed by Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh ranking 20, 23 and 52 respectively.

Jeddah ranked 117, Muscat ranked 92 and Doha ranked 81 and are among the least expensive cities in the region.

The survey found that cities in the U.S. were the most expensive locations in the Americas.

New York City ranked ninth as the costliest city; San Francisco ranked 22nd and Los Angeles 24th.

Constantin-Métral said, “Overall, U.S. cities either remained stable in the ranking or have slightly increased due to the movement of the U.S. dollar against the majority of currencies worldwide.

The Canadian city of Vancouver ranked 107, overtaking Toronto which ranked 119, to become the most expensive Canadian city in the ranking. Ottawa was found to be the least expensive city in Canada ranking 152.

“The Canadian dollar has appreciated in value triggering the major jumps in this year’s ranking,” explained Constantin-Métral.

Mercer’s 23rd annual Cost of Living Survey finds that factors like instability of housing markets and inflation for goods and services contribute to the overall cost of doing business in today’s global environment.

The survey is designed to help multinational companies and governments determine compensation allowances for their expatriate employees.

What Beef! Fayose ,Tinubu and Ambode all smiles at Lagos at 50 event

  Despite his unwavering criticisms of the APCled government,  Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has celebrated with Lagos State as it marks 50 years of its founding.

Fayose was all smiles as he greeted APC chieftain, Bola Tinubu and Lagos State governor, Ambode.

“Nigerians Can Now Own Houses With N30,000” – Osinbajo

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo says under the N100 billion social housing scheme of the present administration, anyone who can afford N30,000 will be able to own a house.

He said this at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday at an event tagged “A Smile for Every Nigerian” organised to commemorate the administration’s second anniversary.

The acting president explained that the housing scheme was part of the administration’s social intervention prpgramme that had not been mentioned.

He said: “This is 100bn set aside for the Family Home Fund our Social Housing Project. The 100b is a yearly contribution to  our N1trn Social Housing Fund, the largest in the history of the country. The World Bank and the African Development Bank are contributors to the Fund. From this Fund, developers will borrow 80% of the cost of project and counter fund with their own 20%.

“The same fund will enable us to provide inexpensive mortgages for hundreds of thousands across the country who want to own homes. Anyone who can afford N30,000 will be able to buy a home under our new social housing fund scheme. Already, the project has started in 11 states. We expect that this family housing fund will jump start and expand construction exponentially across the country.”

Speaking further, the acting president maintained that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth should translate to jobs.

“First the trickle down model has proved far too slow to stem the tide of poverty in one of the fastest growing populations in the world. Secondly, most of the growth was on  account of the oil sector which is capital intensive  but not  labour intensive.

“So, while we were recording growth levels of 7% because of the high oil prices, unemployment figures grew, the acting president stated.

He sad in developing the APC manifesto and the economic development plans, the administration knew it had to directly intervene with a massive social investment programme that would tackle poverty and exclusion across the various spectra.

See Atiku Abubakar Serving Food To Underprivileged Children In His School.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar pictured yesterday, March 28 serving food to underprivileged children at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) Yola, Adamawa State. More photos after the cut.

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Taraba: PDP Is Paying The Price Of Impunity- APC

The All Progressives Congress has said Saturday’s judgement of the Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal is the clearest indication yet that the PDP has started harvesting what it sowed in its years of impunity and recklessness, hence it should blame itself for whatever tragedy has now befallen it.read more

Tinubu Attacks Saraki For Disloyalty To The Ruling Party,Says He Is APCOn Paper ! PDP In His Soul !

The National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Lagos, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday openly attacked Senate President Bukola Saraki, accusing him of disloyalty to the ruling party.

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