Senate President Dr. Ahmad Lawan yesterday departed Abuja, the nation’s capital, for Saudi Arabia to join millions of Muslim faithful from around the world for this year’s Hajj (pilgrimage).
A statement by his Special Adviser (SA) on Media, Ola Awoniyi, said Dr. Lawan will pray for peace, unity and progress of Nigeria.
He will also pray for the success of the Ninth National Assembly, now on annual recess.
Dr. Lawan is expected back home as soon as the Hajj rites are over.
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the electoral body in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to engage all stakeholders in Guinea Bissau ahead of the November 24 presidential election.
The success of the election, he said, will restore stability and eventual withdrawal of ECOWAS troop from the country.
This is as President Buhari also assured the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commission (ECONEC) of Nigeria’s continuous support towards ensuring credible electoral process in the sub-region.
The President spoke yesterday at a symposium organises by ECONEC in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The symposium was among the programmes lined up for the sixth Biennial General Assembly of ECONEC.
President Buhari said Nigeria supported the affirmative action in the nomination of candidates for elections as part of efforts to ensure inclusiveness in the electoral process.
Stressing the impact of the “Not Too Young Bill”, which he signed into law before the 2019 general polls, the President said his administration would ensure the involvement of other categories of citizens, like persons living with disabilities and internally displaced persons (IDPs), for integration into the electoral process in Nigeria and other countries in the sub-region in general.
President Buhari, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, said: “With the successful conduct of parliamentary elections in Guinea Bissau in March this year, the next big step is the presidential election. I urge ECONEC to continue to work with ECOWAS by engaging all stakeholders in the country for a successful presidential election scheduled for November 24 to restore stability and eventually facilitate the withdrawal of troops.
“I want to assure you of Nigeria’s continued assistance because a credible election in our sub-region is not only good for democracy and periodic elections, it is also good for overall sub-regional stability. We cannot allow the failure of the political process to destabilise our countries to the extent that regional military intervention becomes inevitable, as is unfortunately still the case in the sub-region.
“This is a very encouraging sign of our steady progress in ensuring that all segments of our society have a voice in the management of public affairs, especially through the democratic process. It is also an indication that in spite of the progress achieved so far, more needs to be done by governments through legislation, by political parties through affirmative action in the nomination of candidates for election and by all stakeholders through unrelenting advocacy for greater inclusion of all segments of society in the democratic and electoral processes.”
Saudi Arabian Hajj authorities have deviced new measures to prevent stampede, frictions and loss of lives on Arafat Day, the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah.
The representative of The National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr Aliyu Tanko, announced this to reporters yesterday after meetings with the Saudi authorities at the tents of Mina and Musdalifa.
Tanko said: “Every year, ideas come on how to improve the process and avoid any kind of casualty. The authorities have, therefore, come up with measures to control the movement to the Jamurat because that is usually the source of casualties every year.
“So, to avoid any such situation, they have come up with new ideas, including the use of modern technology, to protect the lives of the pilgrims.”
The NAHCON representative said the Saudi authorities had expressed serious concern about Nigeria due to its position as the country with one-third of pilgrims from non-Arab African nations.
He said the authorities had dedicated a road to Nigeria at Musdalifa from where pilgrims from the West African nation will board buses back to Mina.
In turn, the authorities expect orderliness and compliance from the pilgrims.
Musdalifa is the site where pilgrims offer Maghreb (early evening) and Ishai (late evening) prayers after mounting the Mount Arafat, before proceeding to cast stones at Jamurat.
“After Arafat and after sunset, it has been said that people should not pray Maghreb until they arrive the Musdalifa to combine Maghreb and Ishai. In the past, some pilgrims would go to Musdalifa while some would go to Mina; some would get lost and find themselves in Makkah, not in their tents in Mina.
“This is, therefore, an idea to make the hajj process easy, safe and at reasonable time.
“It is usually pilgrims who choose to go individually that get lost because of the similarities of the roads and the congestion of pilgrims,” Tanko said.
Besides, the authorities have also put the kingdom’s army, police and traffic officers on standby.
The Chairman of Bi-Courtney Group of Companies, Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN), and two of his companies are not indebted to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), the company’s management said on Tuesday.
AMCON had claimed that the eminent lawyer and businessman as well as two of his companies – Bi-Courtney Limited (Bi-Courtney) and Roygate Properties Limited (Roygate) – are indebted to AMCON.
In a statement yesterday, the management recalled that on July 30, the Chairman of AMCON, Dr Muiz Banire, at a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, released the names of firms he alleged were AMCON’s top 20 debtors.
It claimed that the Federal Government of Nigeria, which owns AMCON, is owing Bi-Courtney over N132 billion.
The statement said AMCON had been ordered by a competent court of law to deduct any debt allegedly owed to AMCON by Dr Babalakin, Bi-Courtney and Roygate from this sum.
It added: “In 2012, AMCON had alleged that Roygate, Bi-Courtney and Resort International Limited (Resort), companies belonging to Dr. Babalakin, were indebted to AMCON by N9 billion, N20 billion and N20 billion respectively. On April 5, 2012, the Federal High Court in a suit, Bi-Courtney Limited v. Attorney General of the Federation, ordered that whatever debt that was then owed by Dr Babalakin, Bi-Courtney, Roygate and other associated companies to any agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, be deducted from the over N132 billion, which the Federal Government owed Bi-Courtney (the set-off Order).
“An appeal by the Federal Government against the set-off order was dismissed by the Court of Appeal for lack of diligent prosecution (the dismissal judgment). As at the time of filing this report, the Federal Government has no pending appeal against the dismissal judgment at the Supreme Court, which is the final appellate court in Nigeria.
“Independently, AMCON obtained the leave (permission) of the Court of Appeal as an interested party in AMCON v. Bi-Courtney and Attorney General of the Federation, to challenge the set-off order.
“However, Bi-Courtney successfully challenged the leave at the Supreme Court, in Bi-Courtney v. Attorney General of the Federation and AMCON. On April 5, 2019, the Supreme Court delivered a judgment in Bi-Courtney’s favour to the effect that the proceedings before the Court of Appeal was incompetent (the Supreme Court judgment).
“In effect, from April 5, 2019, there is no appeal against the set-off order. It follows, therefore, that in consequence of the set-off order and effective from April 5, 2012, Dr Babalakin, Bi-Courtney and Roygate had a net judgment credit of approximately N83 billion from the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“Notably, before the Supreme Court judgment, AMCON sued Resort, claiming, amongst other reliefs, N20 billion. In a judgment delivered on June 13, 2018, AMCON lost the case and was ordered to pay substantial damages to Resort (the judgment of 5 June, 2018).
“Summarily, the court held that:
(i) Resort did not owe AMCON N20 billion;
(ii) On the transaction which supported AMCON’s suit, the Federal Government of Nigeria owed Resort N55 billion at an interest of 17.6 per cent per annum since December 3, 2015.
(iii) AMCON should pay N3 billon as damages to Resort. Indeed, the Federal Government’s present total indebtedness is in excess of N100 billion.”
The Federal Government has promised to support the building of synergies with youths and other young persons across the world to promote decent work for all.
The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, William Alo, stated this in a pledge on behalf of the government at the closing ceremony of a three-day Global Youth Employment Forum (GYEF) in Abuja.
Alo noted that as the most populous black nation on earth and the largest economy in Africa, the Nigerian government was conscious of its responsibility, hence the need to build synergies for young entrepreneurs in the country to address unemployment matters.
He said: “The three-day lively discussions and thought-provoking sessions were anchored by the best world resource persons, governments and social partners from all over the world. They came together to share their experiences here in Nigeria their knowledge and expertise as well as challenges.
“This will no doubt galvanise creativity, synergies and resourcefulness of the youths towards tapping into these new employment opportunities by government to create a better tomorrow for themselves.
“As a responsible government and a member of the Global Youth Initiative, we will strategically use the outcome of the forum to create a data base of international best practices that are proven in promoting decent work for young people around the world in order to strengthen our initiatives in youth employment schemes.”
Alo told the participants that Nigeria is the fastest-growing economy in Africa.
The permanent secretary invited the youth to invest in Nigeria and visit the country for tourism.
The Country Director of International Labour Organisation (ILO) office in Nigeria, Dennis Zulu, expressed the global labour body’s satisfaction with Nigeria for successfully hosting the GYEF.
Zulu said he was impressed by the active participation of youths in all the sessions, saying this contributed to the recommendations that were put together to produce the blueprint for outlining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the SDG 8.
He noted that many policies and legislations in many countries, including Nigeria, are not really supported by necessary funding resources to implement them.
The Federal Government on Tuesday inaugurated the permanent standing committee on Inter-Governmental Affairs under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
The SGF, Boss Mustapha, explained that the committee is not new as it had existed under the defunct Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs.
He recalled that following the scrapping of the ministry at the inception of the present administration in 2015, two departments of the ministry, namely, Special Duties as well as States and Local Governments Affairs, were transferred to the Office of the SGF, while the committee became dormant.
Mustapha, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ecological Fund Office, Dr. Habiba Lawal, said while the SGF/SSGs Forum examines Federal and state governments’ operations within the context of the Federal system of government, the Inter-Governmental Affairs Committee provides avenue for regular interface among all tiers of government.
He said: “They evaluate, share ideas and experiences on specific policies, programmes, projects and activities of the three tiers of government with a view to creating the much-needed coordination and synergy in our collective desire to actualise our goals of improving the quality of service delivery to our people.
“We considered it appropriate to resuscitate and re-establish the committee to serve this critical role in the coordination and implementation of our national policies and programmes.
“In reconstituting the committee, we deemed it necessary to expand the scope of the membership by bringing all relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that have direct bearing on activities of the states and local governments.
“We also brought SSGs, one each from all the six geo-politic zones, the Director General of Governors’ Forum and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to create a broad-based platform for decision making and implementation by the Committee.”
The membership, he said, include the SGF as Chairman; members include the Permanent Secretary (PEAO-OSGF), Permanent Secretary (Special Duties-OSGF), Permanent Secretary (Fedweral Ministry of Justice), Permanent Secretary (Federal Ministry of Finance) and Permanent Secretary (Budget and Planning).
Other members are: the Permanent Secretary (Federal Ministry of Health), Permanent Secretary (Federal Ministry of Education), Permanent Secretary (Federal Ministry of Agriculture), Permanent Secretary (Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Permanent Secretary (Federal Ministry Niger Delta) and Permanent Secretary (Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports).
Also in the committee are: Permanent Secretary (Information and Culture), Permanent Secretary (Women Affairs), SSAP (Sustainable Development Goals), SAP (Social Investment), Director General (Governors’ Forum) and Secretary General (ALGON).
It also has: the SSG, Akwa Ibom State; SSG, Ebonyi State; SSG, Ekiti State; SSG, Gombe State; SSG, Kaduna State and SSG, Plateau State, while Dthe irector (S and LG/OSGF) will serve as Secretary of the committee.
The committee, Mustapha said, can co-opt any MDA it considers necessary in carrying out its responsibilities.
He added that the terms of reference of the committee are: “To serve as the coordinating link in the activities of the three tiers of government in the fulfilment of their statutory obligations.
“To serve as the coordinating link in the activities of the three tiers of government in the fulfilment of their statutory obligations.
“To remove all areas of friction in the operations of the three tiers of government.
“To make appropriate policy inputs and recommendations on cross-cutting activities of the three tiers of government.
“To examine and take appropriate actions on petitions and complaints brought before it by the three tiers of government.
“To promote a harmonious fiscal federalism between the three tiers of governments, and
“To handle issues as may arise or referred to it from time to time.”
The SGF urged the committee members to see their appointment as a patriotic call to duty devoid of partisanship.
“I appeal to you all to put in your best and give your maximum cooperation to ensure the success of the committee in the overall interest of our dear Country,” he said.
One of the petitioners at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), and its candidate, Pastor Aminchi Habu, have given reasons for their decision to withdraw the petition they filed against the outcome of the last presidential election.
The party and Habu, in their petition, had asked the court to void the election on the ground that PDM’s logo was excluded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the ballot papers.
When the petition was called on July 25, the petitioners’ lawyer Aliyu Lemu said he had been instructed by his clients to withdraw the petition, which had INEC, President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as respondents.
The court consequently dismissed the petition.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, Habu said his party withdrew the petition because the Federal Government agreed to address the issues affecting his constituency, which informed why he chose to contest the election.
Habu said there is no division in his party and that he and PDM were not induced by anyone to withdraw their petition.
He said: “I stand before you with a heart full of joy and happiness. I am filled with joy and happiness over the decision I took to withdraw the petition on Tuesday, July 23, 2019.
“You will recall that I filed a petition before the Presidential Election Tribunal, which is also the Federal Court of Appeal, to challenge my unlawful exclusion by INEC.
“I withdrew my case because I have been vindicated. I came to the honourable Court of Appeal to seek a remedy for my exclusion and today I am convinced that I do not need to proceed further with this petition for the reasons I am about to state to you.
“I took the decision to contest the highest office in this country so that I would make a difference to my immediate constituency and the country.
“My name is Pastor Aminchi Habu. I represent the marginalised and hard-working people of the Northern Christian community, the Middle Belt and Northern minorities.
“I took the decision to contest so that I would be a voice for the above constituency, which I represent.
“My people were mobilised and ready to overwhelmingly deliver on my mandate only to realise that my party and its logo were missing on the ballot paper. We went to the court to seek redress for my unlawful exclusion.
“However, in the intervening period since filing my petition, the parties involved have, despite the pending petition, sought political remedies and solutions to address my concern.
“In the series of the deliberations leading to my withdrawal, I have interacted with the respondents and I have been assuaged.
“But most importantly, I have now discovered that the present government of the APC, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, shares my vision and that of my people.
“The reasons for which I decided to contest the February 23 general election of this country is the same vision and zeal with which the government of President Buhari operates.
“It is an inclusive government where the voices of the minority are heard, despite the majority having their way.
“I have presented the wishes of my people, the majority of Nigerians and their desires to this government, which has listened and promised to act on these wishes.
“Instead of leading this court to annual the election, I have decided to work with this government to deliver on its electoral promises and mandate.
“I urge all patriotic citizens of this country to join us in giving our support to this government to achieve its electoral promises for the purpose of moving this country to the Next Level. That is the way of statesmanship. That is the way to peace in our country.”
A five-year-old girl, Zainab Muritala, is missing.
She was discovered to be missing since July 19 after going to buy biscuit.
She lived with her aunty at 1B, Abikoye Street, Amukoko, Lagos.
Her father, Mr. Ramon Muritala, told The Nation that Zainab became missing around 7pm on July 19 when she went to buy biscuit.
Describing Zainab as a lively, young girl, Muritala said: “She was playing outside the house around 7pm that day and she later went inside to meet her guardian, who is my sister, to ask her for money to buy biscuit. She went to buy the biscuit, while my sister waited for her to return, but we have been waiting for her since then. We went out to look for her, but could not find her.”
He said the incident has been reported at police stations, “but efforts have proved abortive, as the girl has not been found.”
Muritala said the search is still on.
He begged anyone with information about his missing daughter to report to the nearest police station.
A 26-year-old man, Peter Ejovwoke, charged with being a member of a cult and unlawful possession of a gun, yesterday appeared at an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court.
Ejovwoke, whose address was not provided, is facing charges of conspiracy, unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon and being a member of a cult.
He pleaded not guilty.
Prosecuting Inspector Donjour Perezi alleged that the defendant committed the offences with others at large on July 27, at 1:30pm, at Ago Hausa, Ajeromi in Ajegunle-Apapa area of Lagos.
He alleged that the police caught Ejovwoke with a locally-made pistol and two cartridges.
Perezi said the defendant belonged to a cult called Vikings Confraternity, adding that he and his accomplices breached the peace by fighting in public.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened sections 42(a), 33 and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
Magistrate Bukola Mogaji granted the defendant N50, 000 bail with two sureties.
She said one of the sureties must be a clergyman.
The case was adjourned till August 30.
Lagos State Government, in line with the best global practice, will deploy technology to enhance safety on roads, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation Dr. Taiwo Olufemi Salaam has said.
He spoke yesterday while launching the bi-annual road safety campaign week of the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) at Alausa, Ikeja.
Salaam said the deployment of technology by successive administrations had led to a drastic reduction in fatality rates, making the state to record the lowest accident rate of 78 persons, with 531 people injured in 2017.
He said the trending analysis of fatal road crashes between 2016 and 2018 showed that 73,504 lives were lost to fatal crashes in 3075 cases.
Citing the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports, Salaam said at least 229,524 cases of road crashes were recorded between 2000 and 2018, an average of 12,080 annually.
“This situation has a major negative impact in the socio-economic well-being of the country, hence there is need for a more holistic and strategic plan, especially as it concerns safer vehicles and safer road users in line with the UN Decade of Action (2011 -2020) and the National Road Safety Strategy Document (NRSS) 2019-2023,” he said.