The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Activists urge EFCC to prosecute ex-AGF Aondoakaa for ‘corruption’

    Activists and members of a civil society group, Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), have urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to order the arrest and prosecution of a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN), in the next seven days for alleged corruption and abuse of office.

    In a petition addressed to the chairman of the anti-graft agency, dated Tuesday, August 13, and titled: “Pending allegations against Mr Micheal Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN) bordering on fraud, corruption, flagrant abuse of his office as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice between 2007 to 2010 as well as involvement in the $182 million Halliburton scam,” the group spoke in Abuja through its Director of Special Duties, Akan Augustine Eneji.

    The petitioners alleged that in 2010, Aondoakaa was stripped of the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, following several petitions against him for alleged unethical conducts while he was the AGF.

    The petition reads: “We recall with bitterness how Aondoakaa, being a close associate of James Ibori, the disgraced former governor of oil-rich Delta State, worked openly to undermine the independence of the EFCC and to derail domestic and international efforts to bring Ibori to justice. His strong-arm tactics and near usurpation of the powers of the commission earned him considerable notoriety…”

    “Available information shows that he interfered in many of the EFCC prosecutions and destroyed cases relating to corrupt governors, mostly by discontinuing hearings and trials – even without clear power to do so.

    “In one such instance, it happened that after the EFCC appealed a decision by the Court of Appeal, transferring the case to Ibori’s home state – where Ibori still wielded enormous influence – the (then) Attorney General ordered that the appeal be withdrawn.

    Read Also: Alleged N3b fraud: EFCC seizes Head of Service Oyo-Ita’s passports

    “Mr. Aondoakaa is also alleged to have interfered in the money laundering case against Ibori and his associates in the United Kingdom (UK). After an English court froze $35 million of Ibori’s assets in August 2007, Mr. Aondoakaa provided Ibori’s lawyer with a letter stating that Ibori had been ‘investigated’ in Nigeria and no charges had been filed against him, despite the fact that the EFCC was still investigating the matter and finalising criminal charges. The letter led the English court to temporarily lift the freeze on Ibori’s assets.

    “According to leaked United States (U.S) State Department cables, Mr. Aondoakaa also refused to negotiate a broad prisoner transfer agreement with British authorities unless the UK dropped efforts to prosecute Ibori for money laundering.

    “We are aware that the EFCC, in November, 2016, invited and quizzed Mr. Aondoakaa for several hours over his alleged role in the $182 million Halliburton scam. The case, into which he was frustrating investigations during his time in office, relates to an alleged contract involving a four-company joint venture to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant on Bonny Island.

    “It is on record that in 2009, KBR, a former subsidiary of Halliburton, agreed to pay $402 million after admitting that it bribed Nigerian officials through office of the Attorney General and that Halliburton paid $177 million to settle allegations by the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission without admitting any wrongdoing.

    “It is our demand that investigations into this very sensitive case be reopened as a matter of urgency with a view to arraigning Mr. Aondoakaa before the court.

    “This will go a long way in proving to the overwhelming population of Nigerians, who stand on the path of justice, that the EFCC is truly committed to tackling the menace of corruption headlong, no matter who gets offended.

    “It is rather unfortunate that Mr. Aondakaa has continued to walk the streets as a free citizen and strengthening his hands in Benue State politics, instead of cooling (his feet) in prison. We maintain that the inordinate delay on the part of the EFCC to arrest and prosecute Mr. Aondakaa for the aforementioned Halliburton scam is an attempt at shielding him…”

  • ‘NRC will no longer allow rooftop riding on its trains’

    The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) yesterday warned rooftop riders against endangering their lives.

    The corporation said it would no longer treat the offence with levity.

    NRC’s Lagos District Manager Jerry Oche told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the corporation was not pleased with the rate miscreants ride on top of moving trains.

    He said: “We are not encouraging anybody to join the train at all cost; it is not the last resort.

    “I want you to be my customers, but I will not want you to endanger your life because of a train. If you are injured or dead, the society and your family will suffer the loss.

    “The train is the cheapest means of transportation, and it is the fastest in Lagos State, as far as traffic is concerned. But, please, there is no substitute for life.”

    The district manager said take rooftop riders would face the wrath of the law.

    Oche said: “We have about 15 coaches on a train for every trip with 90 people in a coach. This is about 1,350 passengers on a trip at a peak period.

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    “Right now, most of our trains are filled up to full capacity with passengers standing. But we don’t encourage those hanging and those sitting at the rooftop of a moving train.”

    The district manager said the corporation had announced the termination of its Mass Transit Train Service (MTTS) at Agbado Station due to ongoing construction of a standard gauge.

    He said the contractors needed to move the construction materials from place to place to fast-track the completion of the project.

    Oche said the operations had also received speed restrictions where the construction was taking place to avoid casualties.

    “So, all these challenges have hindered our full operations, especially between Agege and Iju to Agbado, where there are speed restrictions.

    “In fact, in these places, we crawl because of the standard gauge equipment.

    “The NRC management would have stopped operations, but passengers will suffer for it. So, we have to consider their plight,” he said.

    NAN reports that the Lagos District, on August 1, announced the termination of the MTTS at Agbado Station, following the ongoing construction of standard gauge.

    The termination of the MTTS was announced by Mrs Khadijah Aroyewum-Adekomaiya, the District Public Relations Officer (DPRO).

    The MTTS service, which starts from Apapa/Iddo Stations in Lagos State, usually terminates at the Ijoko/Kajola Station, as against Agbado Station, both in Ogun State.

    She added that instead of Ijoko, the termination station would be at the Agbado station.

  • Court to rule on suit seeking to stop ministerial inauguration

    THe Federal High Court Abuja will, on Monday, deliver its ruling in a suit seeking to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from inaugurating the 43 ministerial nominees over the exclusion of an FCT indigene from his cabinet list. The applicant, Mr Musa Baba-Panya, who is also the counsel in the case, yesterday approached the court with an ex parte motion, asking the court to stop the President from carrying out the inauguration.

    In suit, Baba-Panya, who is also an indigene of Karu in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said the president’s action was contrary to an Appeal Court judgment delivered in 2018.

    President Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) are respondents in the matter.

    Read Also: Group asks court to nullify Ejele’s appointment as DESOPADEC board chairman

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the President will inaugurate the 43 ministers-designate, earlier confirmed by the Senate, on August 21.

    NAN also reports that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), on August 6 said the inauguration would hold at the Federal Executive Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Baba-Panya, who argued that the Appeal Court’s ruling was a compelling order, said it was served on the President through the AGF.

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo, who ordered that the suit should begin during the vacation period of the court, adjourned the matter till August 19 for ruling.

  • Lawan urges Nigerians not to compromise unity

    WITH a promise that the Ninth Senate will work for the nation’s progress, Senate President Ahmad Lawan yesterday cautioned Nigerians against compromising unity.

    He described the constitution of relevant parliamentary committees as a demonstration of National Assembly’s preparedness to work for the nation’s progress.

    The Senate President stressed the importance of unity to national development and cohesion.

    Lawan spoke yesterday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his return from pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

    He was received by Senators Barau Jibrin, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele and his Deputy Chief of Staff Mohammed Karage.

    Lawan said: “Nigerians should thank God that we are still together. As such, we should work to ensure that the unity of this country is not compromised.”

    Read Also: Photos: Senate President Lawan returns from Hajj

    The Senate President urged Nigerians to continue to pray for their leaders, adding that leaders are supposed to serve the people.

    According to him, no leader will like to deliberately fail to perform.

    “Also, in times of challenges, like we are going through presently, Nigerians should continue to be behind their leaders with prayers and support backed by understanding. By the Grace of God, Nigeria will reach those great heights we have long prayed for,” Lawan said.

    The Senate President reiterated his appeal to the Executive arm of government on the need to be on the same page with the National Assembly to reverse what he called the undesirable trend of the current budget cycle in Nigeria.

    He said: “We need to work for a budget that will be passed by the National Assembly by December. That requires that we work assiduously with the Executive arm of government.

    “We want to have the budget laid before the National Assembly by the end of September and for the National Assembly to lock up the whole of October this year for budget defence so that it can be processed and passed before we go on Christmas break. It is doable; it is achievable and attainable.

    “I’m sure if we are able to achieve that, Nigeria’s economy will witness a boost. Businesses in Nigeria will have something predictable to work with. I believe that together with the Executive arm of government, we should be able to do this as it is fundamental to us in the National Assembly. I’m sure the Executive arm is also looking forward to that.”

    A statement by his media adviser, Ola Awoniyi, also quoted Lawan as saying the Ninth National Assembly has been properly constituted, especially with the various committees in place.

  • Fed Govt will redouble efforts to boost healthcare, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Federal Government will redouble efforts to improve the provision of health facilities, equipment and services in the country.

    He said the people living in rural areas would be given priority to access improved health services.

    The President spoke yesterday in his home town of Daura, Katsina State, at the inauguration of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Reference Hospital in the town.

    A statement by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, quoted the President as saying the Federal Government had, in the last four years, invested huge resources in the health sector.

    The statement said it had increased budgetary allocation from N259 billion in 2015 to over N340 billion in 2018.

    “Accordingly, significant strides have been made to life expectancy and reduced some of the killer diseases associated with child and maternal mortality to less than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030, as planned in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

    “Despite this, more efforts are needed to fully eradicate a wide range of diseases and many persistent and emerging health issues in our society,” President Buhari said.

    Read Also: Osun state to benefit from health services worth N916 million – Minister

    The President said dependence on foreign countries for medical treatment could be reduced by turning around the nation’s Health sector.

    He stressed that health services in the rural areas deserve more attention.

    “To achieve this, we must now redouble efforts to focus on providing more efficient funding of the Health sector, improve sanitation and hygiene, and increase access to medical care in the rural areas in order to save lives of millions of Nigerians.

    “There is, therefore, no more auspicious time to commission this Reference Hospital than now,” the President added.

    President Buhari hailed the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, for siting the hospital, which has state-of-art medical equipment for radio diagnosis, cancer screening, dialysis, laboratory diagnosis and research, in Daura, to serve the aligning states and communities.

    “This hospital will minimise the need for people in these areas to travel to Kano, Kaduna, Abuja, or even overseas, to receive medical treatment.

    “I urge you to maintain the highest standard and quality services the military is known for in attending to patients and the host community. Maintenance is central to efficiency and satisfactory service delivery,” the President said.

    The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Mrs Nuratu Batagarawa, said the project was conceived and implemented with personnel of the military and the community in mind to provide quality health services.

    Abubakar said the 60-bed hospital has nine medical consultants, as well as 61 general medical practitioners and dentists.

    “These developments have significantly enhanced the capacity of the medical services branch to provide quality healthcare to our personnel,” he said.

    The Chief of Air Staff added that the hospital has ultra-modern operating theatres, an intensive care unit, medical laboratory, eye and dental clinics and a physiotherapy department.

  • Govt College Ughelli Old Boys meet in Lagos Sunday

    The quarterly meeting of Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association (GCUOBA) will hold in Lagos on Sunday.

    A statement issued by the President of the Lagos branch of GCUOBA, Mr. Sam Omatseye, said the meeting will take place at the secretariat of the association at No 22, McNeil Road, Yaba, Lagos at 2.30 pm.

    The meeting, the statement added, promises to be a fascinating time with all the old boys in Lagos.

    “Old boys of all generations, including the young and Ancient Mariners, have indicated interest to attend,” the statement added.

  • No unbeaten run for Barcelona this season as Athletic Bilbao wins

    Champions Barcelona fell to a 1-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao in their opening La Liga game of the season thanks to a sensational late overhead kick from veteran striker Aritz Aduriz.

    The 38-year-old came off the bench late in the game and soon made Barca pay for squandering several chances by acrobatically lashing an unstoppable shot into the net in the 89th minute.

    The Catalans were without injured captain Lionel Messi but lined up with 200 million euros of new talent in France forward Antoine Griezmann and Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

    However, they lacked sparkle against an energetic Bilbao side.

    Luis Suarez struck the near post in the first half when presented with a terrible back pass from Athletic’s Unai Lopez.

    However, he was soon forced off with a calf injury, while substitute Rafinha rattled the crossbar after coming on. (Reuters/NAN)

  • Why we chased away polio immunisation officials — Kano community

    Members of Makuntiri community in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State, on Friday gave reasons for chasing away health workers drafted to conduct polio immunization in the community.

    The angry community members who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that they took the action to draw government attention to their plight.

    According to them, the road leading to the community is in terrible condition while the bridge linking them to other areas had collapsed.

    Malam Ahmad Ubale, a resident, said they had done all that was necessary to notify government about the state of the road leading to the community, to no avail.

    “To show you that we have been left out, people hardly come to visit our community until polio periods; so this time we have to chase the workers away.

    “We did that because government has given priority to immunization more than anything else, so our rejecting it is to draw government officials attention to our condition,” Ubale said.

    Another resident, Malam Mudi Bala, expressed concern over the collapse of economic activities in the community as people hardly visit to transact businesses because of the collapsed bridge.

    “You have seen it yourself,  the community isn’t easily accessible especially with vehicles. Whenever we go out of the community, it’s always difficult coming back.

    “Our people suffer from other ailments and we are expected to take them to the hospitals which are far from here; how do we cope with the situation,” he said.

    Bala, however, appealed to the government for prompt intervention to improve their living condition, saying they were not asking for too much.

    NAN reports that the Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Health, Alhaji Usman Bala, later led the immunization team back to the community and got the children immunized.

    He noted the grievances of the community but warned the residents to desist, henceforth, from injecting politics into health related issues.

    NAN reports that Bunkure Local Government had targeted about 62,000 children below the age of five for immunization in the just concluded August Immunization Plus Days. (NAN)

  • Police parade suspected killers of two Catholic priests in Enugu

    The Enugu State Police Command on Friday paraded the suspected killers of two Catholic priests of Enugu Diocese as another escaped assassination by unidentified gunmen.

    Reverend Fr. Paul Offu and Fr. Clement Ugwu were killed on August 1 and March 14, 2019 respectively by suspected gunmen.

    While Fr. Offu was killed by Fulani Herdsmen on August 1, 2019 along Ihe-Agbudu Road in Awgu Local Government Area of the state, Rev.  Fr. Ugwu Parish priest of St. Mark Catholic Church, Obinofia Ndiuno in Ezeagu Local Government Area of the State was kidnapped and killed on March 14, 2019.

    The police also paraded the suspected kidnappers of the traditional ruler of Obom-Agbogugu, Awgu Local Government Area of state, Igwe Sunday Orji and his wife who were kidnapped on Sunday August 3, 2019 along Enugu – Port-Harcourt Expressway.

    Meanwhile, barely two weeks Fr. Offu was killed another Priest, Rev. Fr. Chimezie Ani was attacked and escaped by whiskers on Thursday along Ugwuomu road after Caritas University.

    The gunmen who was said to have been chasing another vehicle when Fr. Ani’s car ran into them, had his vehicle pelted with bullets and windscreen shattered.

    Fr. Ani who spoke to reporters thanked God for his mercy and protection that he was able to escape unhurt from the assailants.

    Read Also: Police parade 49 for alleged robbery, cultism

    According to him: “the attack happened after Caritas University towards Ugwuomu that I ran into them firing at the SUV in my opposite direction but miraculous I drove on my reverse for a very long distance before turning.”

    Confirming the incident to Saturday Punch, the Director communications, Enugu Catholic Diocese, Rev. Fr. Benjamin Achi said, “yes the incident happened along Ugwuomu road as you heard. We are very grateful to God that he was not harmed, he was able to navigate on reverse to a safe distance.”

    The Police Commissioner, Suleiman Balarabe who paraded the suspected killers of the priests alongside other 30 suspects, who were arrested for various criminal offences said that the command has devised measures to protect Catholic priests from such incident in the future.

    He said that one Ibrahim Adamu 25yrs from Taraba state and Idris Tobe 28yrs were arrested in connection with the killing of Fr. Offu while three other suspects are still at large.

    The Commissioner also said that one Idris Umaru was arrested for the kidnap and murder of Secretary of Uzo-Uwani local government area, who killed in March 2019.

    On the kidnap of Igwe Sunday Orji and his wife the Commissioner said that three suspects, “Garba Basulugu, Mohammed Lagu and Mojunpan Duna were arrested in connection”.

    While fielding questions from journalists, Balarabe promised that those who attacked Fr. Ani would soon be arrested as his men were already after the hoodlums.

  • President Buhari urges Youths to take up sports as career

    President Muhammadu Buhari has urged more young men and women in Nigeria to pursue sporting careers, which can bring rewarding incomes, promote healthy local and global relationships, and ensure unity.

    The President, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity,Malam Garba Shehu, in Daura, Katsina State, on Friday, believed that the health benefits in sports should make it more attractive to both young and old.

    Shehu stated that President Buhari was speaking when he received organizers of the Muhammadu Buhari Cup Competition in Katsina and some soccer teams at his country home.

    The Muhammadu Buhari Cup Competition is held annually in Daura Emirate to encourage youths to develop interest in sporting careers and enhance their skills.

    The president said: “I want the younger generation of our population to take part in sports so as to keep away from mischief and lawlessness.”

    Read Also: Buhari’s directive anti-people, says PDP

    President Buhari commended organizers of the competition for maintaining unity among the youths in the Emirate, adding that by keeping the young people positively engaged, sporting activities also protect them from negative influences.

    In addition to physical and mental fitness, he said sports also provides employment and ensures wellbeing.

    “Sports provide jobs opportunities. It is also a business from which you can earn respectable incomes.

    ”Those who compete and excel at state and zones will eventually rise into national reckoning with focus and determination,” he further maintained.

    The Secretary of the Local Organising Committee of the competition, Malam Aliyu Bello told the President that before introduction of various cup competitions, young people in the Emirate were contending with idleness, lawlessness and in some cases, drugs abuse.

    He said revival of sporting events in the state by Alhaji Sani Abu had brought a decline in negative activities.

    The Director of Sports in Katsina State, Nalado Iro Kankia, assured the President that the state government would continue to provide facilities and opportunities for promotion of sports.

    (NAN)