The Nation Newspaper

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  • Crackdown on Boko Haram

    Crackdown on Boko Haram

    -JTF kills 35 members in Yobe,- Kingpin shot dead in Adamawa,

    -156 sect members arrested ,- Arms, ammunition recovered

    There was a massive security crackdown on the Boko Haram sect in the Northeast yesterday.

    A kingpin of the sect was gunned down in Adamawa State during a gun fight; 35 others were killed in Yobe.

    No fewer than 156 members of the sect that has been responsible for unprecedented attacks and the death of close to 1,000 people were arrested in the raids.

    Guns and explosives in various forms and shades, ammunition, army and police uniforms, mobile telephone SIM cards, vehicle number plate, and drugs were among the 67 items seized from the sect’s hideout in Yobe, according to the Joint Task Force (JTF).

    The Yobe JTF said a house-to-house search, which started at the weekend and lasted till the early hours of yesterday, to flush out the insurgents led to an “unprecedented success in the clampdown on suspected terrorists”.

    JTF Spokesman in Yobe Lt. Lazarus Eli, who said the operation was continuous, confirmed that 35 members of the sect had been killed.

    In Adamawa, the internal joint army-police security, “Operation Restore Sanity”, said it killed a key commander of the sect, Abubakar Yola, alias Abu Jihad, in a shoot-out early yesterday, in Mubi.

    Also arrested were 156 persons, including four believed to be unit commanders involved in the recent bombings of MTN, Globacom and Airtel base station masts.

    Five women and six children were rescued in a house believed to be an arms and ammunition dump.

    The Brigade Commander of 23rd Armoured Brigade, Brig.-Gen. John Nwoaga, in company with police commissioner and the director of State Security Services (SSS), said the kingpin was shot during a gun battle with his men.

    He said over 300 improvised explosive devices, 25 assorted brands of rifles, mostly AK 47 submachine guns, were recovered.

    There were over 2000 daggers, swords, bows and arrows seized.

    The compound at Shagari Low Cost Housing, Mubi was where the items were seized.

    But the sect members seem undaunted, in spite of the clampdown.

    The home of the Speaker of the Yobe State House of Assembly, Mr. Adamu Dala Dogo, was on Sunday night set ablaze.

    Also burnt down by assailants suspected to be Boko Haram members was the house of the younger brother to the governor, Alhaji Sheriff Gaidam, and Hon. Goni Bukar, a member of the House of Representatives from Yobe state.

    An eyewitness said two beheaded bodies were seen being carried away by security operatives yesterday morning.

    The home of the speaker and the two others are located at Shagari Low Cost Housing Estate on Gashua Road, one of the troubled areas of the city.

    The onslaught on the houses was said to have been lunched between 2am and 4am on Sunday night. The local security attached to the houses fled when the assailants came in a large number.

    “Nobody was killed because the Speaker, the lawmaker and the governor’s brother evacuated their immediate families soon after peace eluded Damaturu.”

    “The local guards attached to the houses also fled,” Kabiru Musa, a resident said, adding:

    “However, when I peeped through the window this morning, I saw a military pick up van zooming up with two beheaded bodies…it was a gory sight. I also saw smoke billowing in the direction of the house of the speaker.”

    A source at the Yobe State Police Command confirmed the burning of the three houses and the killing of the two civilians.

     

  • Jonathan visits First Lady in Germany

    Jonathan visits First Lady in Germany

    President Goodluck Jonathan has visited his ailing wife, Dame Pateince , who has been in a German hospital for about a month.

    The President, who flew out of the country on Sunday for New York to attend the first-ever High-Level Plenary Session of the United Nations on the Rule of Law, had a stopover in Germany.

    The First Lady was scheduled to accompany the President to the UN General Assembly, but she fell ill.

    Her state of health could not be ascertained yesterday and it is still not known when she will return to Abuja.

    Dame Patience was reported to have been flown out of the country on September 1, following an unstated health challenge. Various ailments have been attributed for her sudden disappearance from the Presidential Villa.

    Till date, there has not been any statement from the Presidency on Dame Patience’s health.

    Sources in New York and at The Presidency in Abuja told our correspondent yesterday that the President made a stopover in Frankfurt from where he travelled to Wisbaden to see his ailing wife.

    A source said: “Yes; I can confirm to you that there was a stopover in Germany. That should be expected, especially when the First Lady has been out of the country for quite some time. The most important thing is that the President arrived New York on schedule and he is already settling down for what he came to do here.”

    Dame Patience’s Special Assistant on Media, Ayo Osinlu who had confirmed the trip to the media when she travelled, however, insisted that Mrs. Jonathan was resting and not seeking medical attention.

    He added that the First Lady was expected back in the country this week but did not give a specific date.

     

  • North’s governors raise panel on onshore/offshore claim

    North’s governors raise panel on onshore/offshore claim

    •Senators meet today in Abuja

    In spite of the fact that the Federal Government has foreclosed the review of the Onshore/Offshore oil dichotomy, fresh facts emerged yesterday that the Northern Governors have raised a committee to advise them on the next step.

    Also, some Northern Senators are meeting today on the issue to suggest ways out for the region.

    There has been agitation and debate on the need or otherwise to review the onshore-offshore oil dichotomy, which partly forms the basis for the allocation of derivation proceeds from the Federation Account.

    Some Northern governors, who are championing the review, claimed that the formula has reduced the distributable funds from the Federation Account to all tiers of government.

    But in contrast, governors from the Southsouth are demanding a review of the derivation formula from 13 per cent to 50 per cent.

    Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) has however foreclosed the review of the judgment of the Supreme Court on the matter.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that Northern governors have not given up on their agitation for the review of the Onshore/Offshore oil dichotomy.

    A Northern governor, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent, said: “I am aware that Northern Governors have set up a committee on the Onshore/Offshore oil dichotomy. The committee will look into the judgment of the Supreme Court, the current agitation for a review of the dichotomy and weigh options for the North.

    “We will make our final position known when the committee submits its report.”

    Asked why the Northern governors have raised a panel on the matter, the governor said: “It is because the nation is undergoing a fresh constitution review.”

    “There is Supreme Court judgment but it is also an issue that is not beyond political solution which can still be given a legal backing.

    “The North is certainly coming up with fresh arguments; it is left to the rest parts of the country to allow the debate to flourish.”

    It could not be immediately ascertained when the panel will submit its report, but the governor added: “Very soon.”

    Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who is one of the proponents for the review of the Onshore/Offshore Oil Dichotomy, said: “The AGF is talking about interpretation of the judgment of the Supreme Court; I am also talking about politics or political reality.

    “I am not talking about onshore /offshore because I wanted to abuse anybody. But this is the junction; this is the point to talk. People are going for constitution review, things are now on the table. I did not say it last year or year before but now things are on the table.”

    There were indications last night that some Northern Senators might meet today in Abuja on the demand by the region for the review of the Onshore/Offshore Oil Dichotomy.

    A Senator, who spoke with our correspondent last night, said: “We are meeting to look into all sides of the argument on the review in order to be able to advise our governors and Northerners properly on what to do.

    “ We are also taking into consideration the fact that government is prospecting for oil in some Northern states.”

    The AGF had at a valedictory session in honour of Justice Francis Fedode Tabai at the Supreme Court, Abuja, foreclosed the review of the judgment of the Supreme Court on Onshore/Offshore Oil Dichotomy.

    He said: “It is pertinent to remind all interest groups in the matter that it is too early in the day to forget that the esteemed court, in the matter of A.G. Adamawa & 21 Ors v. A.G. Federation & 8 Ors (2005) NWLR (Part 958) 581 was invited to rule on the constitutionality or otherwise of the Allocation of Revenue (Abolition of Dichotomy in the Application of the principle of Derivation) Act 2004.

    “The court, in a well-reasoned judgment, after benefiting from the submissions of some of our country’s finest legal minds, reached the reasoned-conclusion that the Act was not in conflict with the 1999 Constitution and was indeed properly made by the National Assembly to place the implementation of Section 162 of the constitution on a more certain and predictable basis.

    “In the light of the unanimous position of the Supreme Court on this issue, expressed since 2005, it behooves on us all to promote the sanctity of our judicial system by recognizing that the pronouncement of this court should neither be treated with levity nor be subjected to undue politicization in the name of politics or the pursuit of particular interests.”

     

  • Boko Haram is political, says Oritsejafor

    Boko Haram is political, says Oritsejafor

    President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has described the mayhem unleashed in parts of the country by the fundamentalist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, as political.

    Speaking at the opening of a six-day meeting of the Niger Delta Christian Leaders Forum at the Christian Central Chapel International (CCCI) in Calabar yesterday, Pastor Oritsejafor said the group was created and sponsored by those who want to create political space for themselves and if they fail to achieve that, seek to divide the country along religious lines.

    He rejected the notion that poverty is one of the factors fuelling the crisis, saying it is a lie by the organisation’s sponsors to mislead Nigerians and the world.

    He said: “Boko Haram is fuelled by extreme religious ideology and not poverty because they have not come out to tell us that they are killing people because they are poor.

    “The Leader of Boko Haram is from a very wealthy family background and even that young man who wanted to blow up an American airline, his father is one of the richest men in Nigeria. The claim that the fundamentalist group is created by poverty is a false one by its sponsors and apologists.”

    According to Pastor Oritsejafor, the sponsors of Boko Haram have control of a section of the media, so they feed the public with “half-truths”.

    Responding to claims that he is a fundamentalist and a partisan leader, he said: “I have never shot a gun before; I have never killed anybody before. I have never encouraged anybody to kill anybody before; but what I do is to identify the truth and respond to it because I am not afraid of trouble.”

    Pastor Oritsejafor described the Niger Delta Region as a great region on whose pedestal Nigeria is standing to lay claim to greatness.

    His words: “Niger Delta is a region of great people and it is the region that has given Nigeria its greatness, yet we are poor. The Niger Delta is big yet we are small, the Niger Delta is powerful, yet we are weak, this is time for change. All those things that have eluded us, we shall reclaim them.”

     

  • Yuguda’s brother in-law kidnapped in Bauchi

    Yuguda’s brother in-law kidnapped in Bauchi

    Gunmen yesterday kidnapped a Bauchi Politician, Alhaji Muhammadu Sade, fondly called Osama bin Ladin.

    Yuguda is away in the United States on a trip with President Jonathan Goodluck.

    The gunmen killed the security guard, fired several shots, before taking Sade away.

    Bauchi State Police Commissioner Mohammed Ladan said: “We are investigating the matter, we have so far arrested one suspect who is helping us in our investigation.”

    Sade,is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in Bauchi State and a very close political associate, is a brother-in-law to Governor Yuguda.

    He is also a businessman and a top car dealer in Bauchi.

    A family member to Sade, Mallam Hafizu Dahiru, said yesterday that his daughter called his wife and informed her that gunmen kidnapped Sade in their residence along Railway road, Bauchi.

    Hafizu said Sade was kidnapped on his way to a nearby Mosque from his house for the morning prayer, at about 5 am.But before they took him away,the assailants shot and killed the security man at the entrance to the house.

    No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnap.

    State PDP Assistant Publicity Secretary, Bashir Bukar Riminzayan, condemned the kidnap.

    He attributed the development to bad leadership saying: “we advised our leaders to be fair and just to all”.

    Riminzayan appealed to security agencies to beef up security in the state and protect lives and properties of innocent citizens.

     

  • Judge’s transfer stalls Bankole’s trial

    FORMER House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole had his trial stalled yesterday, following the transfer of the presiding judge, Justice Donatus Okorowo to the Federal High Court,Taraba.

    Bankole is facing a 16-count charge of contracts inflation and awards without due process slammed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The contracts financial profile according to the anti-graft agency, is N9 billion.

    Justice Okorowo had adjourned trial till September 24, 25, 26 and 27.

    At the last sitting, the court had admitted some documents tendered against the accused by the EFCC.

    The alleged contracts included: 400 units of 40-inch Samsung TV sets supplied at N525, 000 each instead of N295, 000; 800 units of HP Compaq Desktop Computers at N330, 000 each instead of N160,000; 100 units of Sharp Digital Copier 5316 at N270,000 each instead of N160,000 and 400 units of HP Laserjet at N150,000 instead of N60,000.

    The alleged scam also included: two Range Rover (bullet proof) vehicles, two Range Rover (not bullet proof) vehicles; three Mercedes Benz S-600 cars and 400 DSTV Systems all purchased without due process.

    They included minutes of series of meetings puortedly held in the conference room of the former speaker which contained details the contract scam.

    Bankole, through his counsel, Wale Akoni (SAN), had challenged the document,t saying they were not numbered serially and incomplete.

    The rosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo blamed it on typographical error which he argued did not affect the contents of the documents.

    Admitting the documents as evidence, Justice Okorowo held that since the validity of the documents was not in contention, the court had no option than to rely on it.

    He advised the defence counsel to address the issue in his final address.

    Under cross-examination, a prosecution witness, Adeboye Adeniyi, tendered letters giving details of the contract entered by the House with some companies.

    After he was discharged, the prosecution counsel, Oghenovo Otemu asked for a long adjournment to enable him subpoena other witnesses.

    His prayer was granted by the court despite objection by the defence team.

    The trial was adjourned till September 24, 25,26 and 27.

     

  • Illegal refineries shut in Aba

    Four persons, believed to be operating two illegal petroleum refineries in Aba, Abia State have been arrested by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    The NSCDC said the sealing of the illegal refineries followed the information from concerned citizens .

    Many items were recovered from the suspects as investigation commenced.

    Spokesman of the Corps, Victor Ogbonna said 16, 25-litre cans of substance believed to be adulterated products and other items were recovered.

    Ogbonna said the illegal refinery was identified at 41 Milverton Avenue by a team of its joint anti-vandals and counter terrorism squad, where Michael Udeze and Ifeanyi Aduzie, were arrested.

    He said the second illegal refinery was located at 12 Umuoji Street by 139 Port-Harcourt road, in a house that has 14 rooms. Substance suspected to be AGO [diesel], was recovered.

    He spoke on the second illegal refinery: “our team recovered substance believed to be AGO, while Mrs Chibuzor Nwaogu and one Nnamdi believed to be owners of the illegal refinery were arrested and are being investigated”.

    The NSCDC, Nathaniel Ubong condemned the operation of illegal refineries and oil bunkering that has been giving the state a bad name, adding that his command will not relent in its efforts to ensure that the illegal businesses are closed.

    Ubong noted that those operating illegal refineries and oil bunkering in the state caused reduction in revenue accruable to the state from the Federation Account, adding that Governor Theodore Orji is doing all in his power to put a stop to such illegal businesses in the state.

    He advised those who are involved in the business to relocate to another state or start another type of business as the command is ready to compliment the effort of the governor. “My command is ready to tackle such group of people operating in the state”.

    The commandant urged traditional rulers and other concerned citizens in the state not to relent in giving them information, stressing that they need such information to function properly, as they are determined to sanitise the state from illegal businesses.

    Ubong also told the community leaders to educate their people on the dangers of allowing illegal refineries and oil bunkering to flourish within their communities, “the laws of the land must be allowed to take its course and it will never be compromised for any reason”.

     

  • Enugu councillor arrested for car snatching

    A Local government Councillor (names withheld) has been reportedly arrested by the police in Enugu for alleged car robbery.

    Sources close to the local government secretariat at Enugu-Ezike in Igboeze North, said the who was based in Onitsha, Anambra State, he came into office this year, was last week whisked away by law enforcement agents, following a tip-off.

    It was gathered that the lawmaker was linked to a car snatched somewhere in Seme border which was traced to Obollo-Afor in Udenu Local government Area of Enugu State, where it was showcased for sale by a motor dealer.

    Following an interrogation, the motor dealer confessed to the police that the vehicle belonged to the councillor.

    It was learnt that the state government had to withdraw the Councillor’s offered pending the outcome of his trial.

    Enugu Police spokesman Ebere Amarizu said he should be given time to get details of the matter.

    He said the councillor was not in the custody of the Enugu State Police Command.

    It was, however, learnt that his arrest was carried out by the Rivers State Police command, where the case was reported.

     

  • Imoke, deputy at war over dethronement of Calabar monarch

    THE reluctance of the Cross River State Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC) to air the announcement of the dethronement of the Paramount Ruler of the Efuts, Muri Munene Efiong Mbukpa, and the emergence of Muri Itam Hogan as the new monarch since last Friday has sparked off speculations that the action may have pitched Governor Liyel Imoke, against his deputy, Mr. Efiok Cobham.

    It was learnt that Hogan emerged on Friday after a purported election in which five of the eight clan heads of the Efut people voted for him.

    The Nation gathered that the election, which was reportedly held at the legislative chambers of the Calabar South Local Government Council, was supervised by state government officials.

    It was reportedly covered by the state-owned media.

    Mbuka’s dethronement by Imoke is seen in some quarters as “an interference” in traditional matters, which fall under Cobham’s purview.

    Mbukpa said he remains the Muri Munene of the Efuts.

    The Efut Combined Assembly, which is the highest policy and decision making body of the Efuts, insisted that having qualified and carried out the necessary traditional rites as the Muri Munene since the demise of his predecessor in 2009, Mbukpa remains their traditional head.

    Chairman of the assembly Ndabo Obo said: “Once the traditional rites of the selection processes for the Muri Munene have been done at the traditionally approved location and the selected person is traditionally crowned by the Efut Combined Assembly, the rite can never be repeated until the demise of the incumbent.”

  • Reps order release of impounded vessels

    Reps order release of impounded vessels

    The House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) and the House Committee on Navy have directed the Navy and the Police to release the vessel, MT St. Vanessa, impounded on allegations of illegal bunkering.

    The chairman of the Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Muraina Ajibola, announced the directive yesterday after a meeting of the two committees with representatives of the Navy, agents of the vessel and the Police.

    The lawmakers also ordered the police to immediately begin the withdrawal of the court case instituted against the owner of the vessel.

    The committees said it had investigated the issue and found that the vessel had not broken any law.

    The committees’ position is against a September 21 report by the Chief of Naval Staff,Vice Admiral Ola Saad Ibrahim.

    In the report, Vice Admiral Ibrahim said:“Past antecedents that vessels came into Nigerian waters to engage in diverse forms of illegal activities undetected and unchallenged. Some of these activities were human trafficking, illegal dealings in arms, drug trafficking, oil theft, illegal bunkering, poaching and piracy.

    “It is a result of such activities common in the West African coast, that the Maritime domain awareness facilities were installed. Consequently, the arrest of MT St. Vanessa would act as deterrent to other vessels engaged in illegalities or entering the country’s maritime domain without clear purposes.”

    He stated that “activities of the vessels offshore Lome and Salt Pond within Ghanian territorial waters, necessitated that further enquiries be made to ascertain if they were duly authorised by appropriate authorities in Togo and Ghana.

    “Consequently, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has been requested to liaise on behalf of the Nigerian Navy and the outcome of this efforts is still being awaited. There is therefore, the need to carefully investigate the activities of MT St Vanessa within Nigerian waters to a logical conclusion.”