The Nation Newspaper

Tag: absence

  • ‘Absence of audit law weakens OAuGF’

    The absence of an Audit Law is impacting negatively on the effective performance on the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAuGF), a former House of Representatives
    member, Jerry Ugokwe, has said.

    Ugokwe, who was a one-time Nigeria’s Ambassador to Austria, said the office has not been able to discharge its mandate effectively as a result of the absence of the law.

    He spoke yesterday at a consultative dialogue session organised by Friends of Democracy in conjunction with Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) PERL-ECP,  in Abuja.

    He said the OAuGF, as a key agency of the Federal Government should be strengthened to contribute to the government’s fight against corruption.

    In his words: “The Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAuGF) is the Supreme Audit institution that our country has. As such, it plays a key role when we talk about the fight against corruption.

    “The question then is – how far have we gone? The office has underperformed; it has not been able to discharge its mandate effectively as a result of the absence of the Audit Law.

    “Over a number of decades, the OAuGF had under-performed in its role due to major neglect and under-investment. One of its key challenges has been a lack of independence from the Executive arm of government it is meant to audit,”describing those against the passage of the Audit Bill as “enemies of democracy.”

    He noted that stakeholders must support the audit bill to ensure its smooth passage. “We must therefore support the assent of the Audit Bill,” he said.

    A retired director of the OAuGF,  Ismail Adeleye, said the Auditor-General’s office could not function properly if reports submitted to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) are not considered and dealt with decisively, stating that the accountability cycle is not complete without looking at the recommendations of the auditor-general.

    He said: “The economic cycle involves budgeting, spending, accounting and auditing. When the auditing is done, it must come back to the National Assembly, then to the Executive for the implementation of recommendations by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly.

    “The challenge in the past is that the cycle is never completed in terms of implementation. After the Auditor-General sends its report to the National Assembly, there is nothing that the Auditor-General can do concerning implementation.

     

     

     

    “What the OAuGF has done in the past three years to help the situation is that prior to year 2015, we were not releasing the audit report to the public. Now, our reports are on our website. Once we submit the report to the National Assembly, after a statutory period, it will be released on the website so that Nigerians can see it.

    “Once the Auditor-General releases its report, it is the responsibility of the public and civil society organisations to take the process further and see it to a logical conclusion by pressuring the executive on implementations.

    “In India for instance, once the Auditor-General submits its budget to the National Assembly, the budget is not touched at all. In fact, the last experience we had there is a situation where the National Assembly told the Auditor-General to add to the budget amount to carry out additional functions. The same thing happens in the United Kingdom. Things are so structured that the Auditor-General is not encumbered in any way.”

    The session commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the fight against corruption and efforts taken so far to strengthen accountability mechanisms in the country.

    It also lauded the OAuGF for championing key reforms.

    Commending the National Assembly for the passage of the Audit Bill, it urged the President to expressly assent to the Audit Bill when transmitted as it will complement the anti-corruption fight of the federal government.

  • Puel cries over Ndidi’s absence

    Claude Puel fears Wilfred Ndidi’s  suspension will leave a noticeable gap in the centre of Leicester’s midfield.

    The Foxes won 2-0 at Brighton on Saturday but the victory came at a cost as Ndidi was dismissed for a second bookable offence three minutes from time.

    He is set to serve a two-match suspension following his second red card of the season, while the ban could yet be increased because of his initial refusal to leave the field.

    Manager Puel, who thought Ndidi’s second yellow card – shown for a challenge on Brighton defender Shane Duffy – was harsh, said: “He is a very important player for us.

    “He will get possession in a lot of balls and prevents the opponent from making contact.

    “He’s been fantastic since the beginning of the season.

    “To lose him just in this moment of the season is harsh for us because as a team we do not have a lot of players with the same attributes.

    “We will try and find a solution, a collective response about this sending-off.”

    Late goals from Vicente Iborra and Jamie Vardy, either side of Ndidi’s dismissal, masked a poor performance from the Foxes as they boosted their Europa League aspirations on the south coast.

    Puel’s men were also indebted to goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who atoned for his error in the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Chelsea by saving Glenn Murray’s 77th-minute penalty.

  • $9.8m fraud: Witness’ absence stalls ex-NNPC GMD’s trial

    $9.8m fraud: Witness’ absence stalls ex-NNPC GMD’s trial

    The trial of former Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mr. Andrew Yakubu was yesterday stalled at the Federal High Court, Abuja, due to the absence of prosecution witnesses.

    When the matter was called up, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Ben Ikani, told the court that the matter was for continuation of trial, but that unfortunately, his witnesses were not present in court.

    Yakubu’s counsel Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN) also told the court that in the circumstance, he had filed an application seeking the leave of court for his client to attend to his health.

    Raji told the court that the prosecution had not opposed the application.

    The trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, granted the application, as the prosecution raised no objection and adjourned the matter until May 10.

    On the last adjourned date, Mr. Waziri Nitte, the second prosecution witness, told the court how he and his colleagues raided a house in Kaduna and recovered a huge sum of money in foreign currency.

    Nitte, who was led in evidence by Ikani, told the court that he was a detective with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The witness, who said they acted based on an intelligence report that the house in question was stashed with money, added that the money recovered was taken to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    “We searched the house and found a safe which was locked, we engaged the services of a locksmith who unlocked the safe and upon counting the money, it amounted to $9,772, 800 and £74,000.”

    Yakubu was arraigned by the EFCC on a six-count charge, bordering on non-disclosure of assets and fraud, charges to which he pleaded not guilty.

    Yakubu was alleged to have, as “Group Managing Director of NNPC between 2012 and 2014, within the jurisdiction of the court, with intent to avoid lawful transaction, transported to Kaduna $9.8 million and £74,000.

    He was also accused of failure to disclose $9.8 million and £74,000 in his asset declaration form, a crime which contravened Section 27 (3) of the EFCC Act.

  • What happened in Buhari’s absence

    What happened in Buhari’s absence

    For the 103 days that President Muhammadu Buhari’s medical vacation lasted, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo held the fort. The Nation kept a diary of major events in his absence. The diary is presented below.

    President Muhammadu Buhari is back at work. His trip to the United Kingdom (UK) ended on Saturday, after 103 days. He was in London between May 7 and August 2017 on follow-up appointments with his doctors.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was in the saddle to steer the ship of State.

    Buhari had written to the two chambers of the National Assembly notifying them of his trip and transferring power to his deputy as Acting President in line with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Osinbajo had, at the beginning of the year, functioned in an acting capacity when the President spent about 50 days (between January 19 and March 10) on medical vacation in the UK.

    It was therefore a familiar terrain for the vice president, who, many have commended of being a competent and loyal lieutenant.

    The 36 state governors have nick-named Osinbajo as a ‘System Stabilizer’.

    As soon as Buhari took off on May 7 from the Nnamdi Azikiwe in Abuja, the vice president settled down to business.

    Before Buhari’s trips, Osinbajo WAS running tight schedules on a daily basis, but his itinerary became tighter with the President’s trip.

    Some of the functions he carried out for the period Buhari was away included presiding over the third edition of the Presidential quarterly Business Forum at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja on May 8.

    The acting president also received Borno elders, led by Governor Kassim Shetima, who had come to express their gratitude to the presidency for the safe return of 82 of Chibok schoolgirls, abducted by Boko Haram terrorists.

    On May 9, Osinbajo chaired the Niger Delta Inter-Ministerial meeting at the State House in Abuja. Another meeting involving the management team of Agip oil was also hosted same day.

    The vice president Osinbajo chaired the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on May 10, before hosting his immediate predecessor Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa.

    On May 11, the Acting President launched the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) clinic in Katsina State on Thursday.

    On May 12, Osinbajo inaugurated a nine-member board for the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and on May 15, he chaired the Economic Management Team (EMT) meeting. He also met with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gabriel Olonisakin at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    He attended the 10th anniversary of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on May 16, before meeting with Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and Monguno at the Presidential Villa.

    Also on May 16, Osinbajo  met with a delegation comprising of the Chairman of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Hakeem Bello-Osagie, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Waheed Al-Muhari and Mubadala Development Company (Sovereign Wealth Fund of the Government of Dubai) Director Kahled Al-Qubaisi.

    On May 17, Osinbajo chaired the weekly FEC meeting before engaging in telephone discussions with the Ivorien and Liberians presidents Alassane Ouattara and Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who was the then Economic Community West Africa Community (ECOWAS) chairperson. The parley was to find a peaceful resolution of crisis in Cote d’Ivoire, where a fraction of the West Africa’s Armed Forces had mutinied against the Ouattara-led government.

    The Acting President also met with SCB Group Chief Executive Officer Mr. Bill Winters at the State House in Abuja.

    On May 18, Osinbajo signed three Executive Orders on the Ease of Business, fast track budget submission and promote Made in Nigeria products.

    He also met with Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima after a meeting with the Boundary Commission at the State House, Abuja on May 19

    On May 20, the Acting President was in Ekiti State to attend the funeral service of late Maj-Gen Robert Adeyinka Adebayo at Iyin Ekiti.

    He chaired the EMT meeting at the State House in Abuja on May 22.

    The Acting President attended a sensitisation meeting with civil servants on the Executive Order – Ease of Doing Business at the International Conference Center (ICC) on May 24. Straight from the meeting, he headed straight to the Council Chamber to chair the FEC.

    The following day, the Acting President attended a forum on “Biafra, 50 years after” at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. He also presided over the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and reveived a delegation of the African Union (AU) Directors-General of Customs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Osinbajo later reveived the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli at the State House.

    On May 26, the vice president kick-started the May 27 Children’s Day activities when he received pupils from many schools who were on a tour of the Presidential Villa.

    Ahead of the May 29 Democracy Day, the Acting President was at Garki Market, Abuja, on May 26 to have firsthand information on the prices of food items.

    In the night, the Acting President left Nigeria for a day trip to Italy to attend the G7 Summit Special Outreach Forum on Africa with selected African nations and leaders, including Nigeria, Guinea, Tunisia, Niger, Ethiopia and Kenya.

    On Sunday May 28, Osinbajo attended an interdenominational church service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja as part of the Democracy Day celebration, marking President Muhammadu Buhari’s second year administration.

    On May 29, Osinbajo attended the National Social Investment Program Commemorative event marking President Buhari’s administration, at the old Banquet Hall of the State House.

    The First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Managing Director (Commercial Banking), Mr. Adam Nuru, handed over the Portal for Home Grown School Feeding Programme to the Acting President at the State House in Abuja on May 30. He also inaugurated the Nigeria Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council and signed two new laws to ease access to credit for MSMEs.

    Also on May 30, the Acting President received Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and he presided over the FEC meeting on May 31.

    On June 1, Osinbajo paid a day trip to Cross River State and proceeded to Ogun State the following day to inaugurate a $23 million Feminine Care Line (Always Ultra) of Procter & Gamble (P&G) in Agbara.

    The vice president on June 5 attended the Conference on Promoting International Co-operation in Combating Illicit Financial Flow and Enhancing Asset Recovery to foster sustainable development at the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

    He also chaired the EMT meeting on a day he received the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Mrs. Retno Marsudi.

    The acting president met with representatives of Brass Fertiliser Company on June 6. Bayelsa State Governor Sariake Dickson was the meeting.

    Osinbajo, the same day, also received a delegation from the Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN), led by its President Mr. Richard Olafare, and the Director-General of the National Agricultural Seed Council, Dr. P.O. Ojo.

    On June 7, the Acting President chaired the weekly FEC meeting and later received a message from Nigerien President Issoufou Mahamadou, through Foumakoye Gado, Minister of Petroleum of the Republic of Niger.

    The Acting President also received the President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo in his office the same day.

    Osinbajo was in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital on June 8 to inaugurate the Special Relief Intervention Plan, involving New Food Distribution Plan for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Northeast.

    On June 9, the Acting President received the Olowo of Owo, Oba Olateru Olagbegi, at the State House, Abuja.

    He also received a Special Envoy from the Egyptian President Abd El-Fattah El-Sisi, Ms. Moushira Khattab, who is vying for the position of Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

    Members of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers also visited him the same day at the Presidential Villa to discuss the Federal Government’s policy on Modular Refineries in the Niger Delta.

    Osinbajo attended the wedding of Chief Bisi Akande’s daughter in Ibadan, Oyo State on Saturday June 10, and on June 12, the Acting President declared open the Golden Jubilee Conference of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers that had its theme as “Law, Security and National Development” at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Akwa, Anambra State.

    The acting president also signed the 2017 Appropriation Bill into Law at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on June 12 and the following day, he opened the National Mining Summit in Abuja.

    Later that day, he held a consultative session with leaders of thought from the Northern region at the old Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja.

    On June 14, Osinbajo chaired the weekly FEC and in the evening, he held a consultative session with leaders of thought from the Southeast region of the country at the State House.

    On June 15, the Acting President met with airline stakeholders at the State House, including Azman Air President Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, IATA Southwest Africa Area Manager Samson Fatokun,  SkyJet Chairman Kashim Shettima, AON Chairman Nogie Meggison, and  Dana Air Chief Executive Officer Jacky Hathiramani.

    He later later met behind closed doors with the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II at the Presidential Villa.

    The Acting President declared opened the 18th Assembly of ECOWAS’ Health Ministers at the ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja on June 16.

    He also met with members of theNational Assembly members from the Northeast) on the New Grain Distribution System for IDPs.

    The acting president met with royal fathers from the Southeast at the Presidential Villa on June 18 and on June 19, Osinbajo chaired the EMT in his office.

    He also met with Global Leader Chartered Financial Analysts, Mr. Paul Smith, at the State House same day.

    In the evening, he hosted traditional rulers from the North to Iftar dinner at the Presidential Villa.

    On June 21, Osinbajo presided over the weekly FEC and in the evening, he held consultative & Iftar meeting with governors at the State House to discuss rising ethnic agitations between northern and southeastern groups towards finding lasting solution.

    The following day, the Acting President held an interactive session with media executives at the old Banquet Hall of the State House on ethnic agitations in the country.

    Osinbajo attended the Graduation Ceremony of Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Senior Course 39 in Jaji, Kaduna State, on June 23 and on June 25, he hosted Muslim faithful and religious leaders, who paid him the 2017 Eid-el-Fitr (Sallah) homage at his Aguda House official residence at the Presidential Villa.

    Osinbajo later in the day received Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo at the Presidential Villa and on June 28, the Acting President chaired the FEC at the State House.

    He launched the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) at the old Banquet Hall of the State House on June 29 and also chaired the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Presidential Villa.

    The Acting President was at the Summit of the 29th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU in Ethiopia on July 3.

    On July, 26, he chaired the weekly FEC where he inaugurated two new ministers. On August 2, he attended the Institute for Security Studies Seminar Themed: Unity in Diversity, in Abuja as well as chaired the weekly FEC.

    He later met with the All Progressives Congress (APC) party chairmen from 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at the State House in Abuja.

    The Acting President met with Pan Niger Delta Development Forum (PANDEF) at the State House in Abuja on the August 3.

    He inaugurated a judicial committee to review human rights abuse on August 5.

    On August 6, the Acting President received Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye, a Houston, United State (U.S.)-based Nigerian doctor, who successfully led a medical team that operated on a foetus and won the U.S. and global acclaim for the feat.

    The acting president met with Nigeria Initiative for Economic Development (NIED) at the Banquet Hall of the President Villa on May 7.

    He attended the Eighth Day Fidau for Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s mother, Alhaja Saratu  Aregbesola on August 8 and on August 9, Osinbajo chaired the weekly FEC.

    On August 11, the acting president inaugurated the Presidential Panel to review Compliance of Armed Forces to human rights.

    He attended the Niger State Investment Summit 2017 in Minna on August 14 and on August 16, he chaired the FEC and assigned portfolios to the two newly sworn-in ministers.

    On the same day, he met with the International Press Institute (IPI) board at the State House and on August 17, Osinbajo chaired the NEC Retreat at the old Banquet Hall of the State House.

    The acting president attended the inauguration of President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, in Kigali on August 18.

  • Dasuki’s absence ploy to delay trial, says prosecutor

    Dasuki’s absence ploy to delay trial, says prosecutor

    The trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), at a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was stalled yesterday due to his absence in court.

    When the matter came up for hearing, prosecution counsel Mr. Oluwaleke Atolagbe told Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf that the absence of the former NSA was a ploy to delay the trial.

    Dasuki is charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; former director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the NSA (ONSA) Shuaibu Salisu; former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa; his son, Sagir Attahiru; and the company belonging to the former governor, Dalhatu Investment Limited.

    He is also facing a 22-count charge bordering of criminal breach of trust and fraudulent diversion of public fund, totalling N19.4 billion, contrary to Section 215 of Penal Code and Section 17 (b) of the EFCC Act, 2004.

    Atolagbe stated that though yesterday was scheduled for commencement of trial, the prosecution received a letter from the office of the counsel to the former NSA, Ahmed Raji (SAN), requesting an adjournment on the grounds that the second defendant had a case at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Atolagbe said: “The situation is most unfortunate. When I contacted the officials of this court, I was told the court is ready. We are ready and it is apparent other counsel are ready too.”

    “This attitude of the second defendant counsel is deliberate. The same set of counsel representing Dasuki took this date with the rest of us together.

    “This is unfair on both the prosecution and other counsels and even my lord. This is a ploy to stall this trial. This should be strongly condemned by my lord.”

    He informed the court some witnesses are in court, but that the case could not hold due to Dasuki’s absence.

    Counsel to other defendants informed the court they received the letter from the second defendant’s counsel when they got to court.

    They agreed the matter could not proceed without Dasuki in court since it was a joint trial. They did not object to the application for adjournment.

    Ruling on the application, the judge stated that he agreed with the submission that the application was a ploy to delay trial.

    “By this type of conduct, the counsel to the second defendant is already tasking the patience of the court,” the judge declared.

    Justice Baba-Yusuf said he had no option than to agree to adjourn the matter due to Dasuki’s absence.

    He adjourned the case till June 29 for hearing.

  • On Buhari’s absence at FEC meeting

    SIR: My simple reaction to President Muhammadu Buhari’s absence for the third consecutive time at the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting is that the government should come clean on the exact current state of the president’s health. There is nothing to be ashamed of about this. PMB is over 74, for God’s sake. Even younger elements fall ill. There is no need for a shadowing faceless cabal to hold PMB down in a simulated prison, incognito and incommunicado, denying millions of Nigerians who elected him, including those who did not, of his presence, action and Presidency. It is simply callous and inconsiderate of them.

    There is no need to put Nigeria on a dangerous precipice, through needless anxiety, curiosity, guesswork, permutations, doubts, analysis, gossips, rumours and conspiracy theories. As President of Nigeria, PMB ceased to be a private citizen from May 29, 2015, when he was sworn into office as President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    He automatically became public property, whose deeds, misdeeds, action and inaction, are subjected to rigorous public scrutiny. This is one of the dire prices leaders pay for choosing voluntarily to be leaders. PMB can return to the UK for further medical attention, and rest, whilst his Vice, Prof Yemi Osibanjo, SAN, acts in his place. This happened before for 49 days and heavens did not fall. Heavens will not now fall. I personally, on my part and from my little corner, wish President Buhari speedy recovery, uncommon energy and vigour and God’s guidance and protection, to be able to lead Nigeria to the promised land.

     

    • Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN,

    Lagos.

  • Buhari’s absence hasn’t affected running of govt, says Oyegun

    Buhari’s absence hasn’t affected running of govt, says Oyegun

    •Party’s non-elective convention holds April 29

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said yesterday the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari had not affected the running of government.

    Speaking at a meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) with governors elected on the party’s  platform, Oyegun accused some Nigerians of using the social media to distabilise the polity with their unwholesome speculations about every move of the party.

    The meeting was attended by 12 of the 24 governors elected on the APC platform.

    Three others were represented by their deputies. The rest were absent.

    Governors at the meeting are: Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa), Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (Kano), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo).

    The governors of Lagos, Oyo and Niger were represented by their deputies.

    Governors who were absent and not represented are: Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Jibrilla Bindo (Adamawa), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Raul Aregbesola (Osun), Ibikunle Amosu (Ogun), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Kashim Shetima (Borno) and Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe).

    Oyegun said: “It is important to say that our meeting today has absolutely nothing to do with the health status of the President. Today, the papers were replete with all manner of speculations.

    “It has become the pastime of the social media to carry all manners of fake and totally out of line speculations as to any step that we take on virtually any issue. I think this is something that we have to talk about later.

    “What makes me happy, in spite of these negative speculations and attempt to destabilise the polity is that, thanks to his respect for due process and the constitution of this nation, the President has left a structure that is functioning very effectively in spite of his unfortunate absence.

    “One can say quite clearly that the wish of Mr. President is that the government will continue to function efficiently and effectively and that the party also should continue and proceed to execute its normal duties and functions.”

    Oyegun blamed what he called miscommunication for the absence of some of the governors, saying: “I am quite aware that due to miscommunication, a lot of you became aware of this meeting today and the fact that you are here is a matter of deep pride.

    “The purpose of the meeting is very clear. There are lots of things that must happen in preparation towards our non-elective convention, which the states must be actively involved. We are going to have state congresses, ward congresses and fill vacancies. We will take the opportunity to feel every single vacancy at all levels of the party arising from death, appointment and others. We are also required to elect three delegates that will participate in the forthcoming convention.”

    Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari said the meeting resolved that the governors and the leadership should meet monthly to discuss issues affecting the party.

    He said the meeting drew a time-table for the non-elective convention scheduled for April and also resolved to continuously support the party and the government.

    The communique issued at the end of the meeting said meeting reviewed the state of the party, x-raying the challenges facing the APC in relations to funding and financing.

    “It was agreed that the party is not effectively funded as it should be. A new funding mechanism was, therefore, devised based on a planned continuous membership registration exercise across the country. The meeting agreed that this is the only sustainable way to fund the party.

    “The meeting also discussed the situations in some of the state chapters of the party, and it was agreed that an effective conflict resolution mechanism will be put in place to stem the tide of internal dissension and resolve existing issues.

    “As we near the midterm, the meeting also resolved to launch a project to showcase the accomplishments of APC governors in all the 24 states controlled by the Party.

    “The upcoming non-elective convention was also discussed and it was agreed that the convention will take place on April 29th.

    “The meeting acknowledged that the President, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari has been away longer than was originally envisaged. The meeting however, commended the President for following the rule of law by allowing the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to assume proper leadership and by so doing saved the country the kind of trauma that was experienced in the past.

    “The meeting commended the Acting President, the leadership of the National Assembly and the APC governors for standing strong and ensuring that government continues to run smoothly, while praying to the Almighty God to bring the President back safe and sound.”

  • Magistrate’s absence stalls Kanu’s trial

    Magistrate’s absence stalls Kanu’s trial

    The absence of Magistrate Shuabu Usman yesterday stalled ruling on whether the Federal Government could withdraw its charges against leader of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

    Usman was said to have stayed away because he lost his father.

    The prosecution did not also produce Kanu to the disappointment of his supporters who had besieged the court.

    On the last hearing on November 22, prosecution lawyer, Moses Idakwo applied to withdraw the charge before the Magistrate Court.

    But Kanu’s lawyer, Vincent Egechukwu Obeta objected to the application, insisting that an earlier court order granting bail to the accused must first be obeyed before any application for a transfer could be heard.

    Chief Magistrate Shuaib Usman adjourned till December 1 for ruling.

    When parties arrived at the Court yesterday, they were told the court would not sit because the magistrate was bereaved.

    Despite his absence in court, his supporters turned out in large numbers, with some holding the Biafra flag and others displaying placards with inscriptions of solidarity with Kanu. They were however restricted by policemen.

     

  • On leave without absence

    On leave without absence

    There are different kinds of leaves, and some are more terminal than others. Some leaves terminate while others exterminate. For example, there is terminal leave before retirement, which is the Civil Service way of saying please leave and don’t come back. There is also sick leave, which is another way of saying that even though you are sick of it all, you are not about to leave. In America where you must earn your dime, a couple of sick leaves can earn you terminal leave.

    The reason for these loud ruminations should be obvious. After repeatedly failing to cadge a leave of real absence from the onerous responsibility of writing this column, snooper decided to ask the editor to put it about last week that this column was going on a short leave. But this was swiftly countermanded by the authorities. “Sir, the voice sweetly cajoled, how can you go on leave when so many issues are crying for attention?”

    Snooper had thought that it was the other way round, and that so many issues are already crying from the attention of the column. No column is exempt from the biases and prejudices that drive the columnist.  In a society riven by ethnic, religious, political and cultural animosities, column writing is often an agonistic contention with the columnist often reminding one of a bloodied gladiator in a coliseum.  The column often wields the heavy cane with a magisterial frown, but can itself be mugged severely in a counter offensive.

    The trick is never to obsess on a particular topic, a particular individual or particular groups. When you write repeatedly and adversarially on a particular topic or individual or groups, you come across as mean and vindictive; a tortured psychotic pursuing an unworthy vendetta. This is why snooper never returns to his vomit, no matter the provocation. The last word must never belong to those who utter the first.

    Yes indeed, there are so many issues crying for attention.  There is the stalemate in the senate, which has made it impossible for that hallowed body to exercise any moral or genuine political authority on developments in the nation. There is the legal logjam whereby so many writs and counter writs have virtually impaled justice and a just order in the nation. There is the worsening economic plight of the nation as President Buhari battles with the fallout of a burglarized treasury. There is the bogey of secession which is beginning to assume a nasty dimension in the eastern part of the nation.

    In the circumstances, the columnist has a stark choice. Either one goes on leave without absence, or on leave of presence or leave in absentia or completely AWOL which means Away Without being On Leave. In the military, this is often treated as desertion. In wartime situations, it is often met with summary execution.

    We have chosen to be on leave without absence, which means that for the next few weeks while the columnist is technically on leave, the page will be filled with articles from the past thirty five years written by the columnist which throws interesting light on the present. This morning, we start with a tribute to the great Nigerian intellectual and man of ideas, the late Stanley Macebuh , who showed what it takes to assemble a truly pan-Nigerian team which can shape and profoundly affect the cultural, intellectual and political destiny of the nation.

  • Judge’s absence stalls plan to re-arraign Oronsaye, others

    Judge’s absence stalls plan to re-arraign Oronsaye, others

    THE scheduled re-arraignment of former Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF), Steven Oronsaye, and some others was stalled yesterday following the absence of Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, before who a fresh charge was filed.

    The prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said on November 3 that it  filed a new charge of money laundering against Oronsaye and some others.

    Its lawyer, Adebisi Adeniyi, said the new charge contained 35 counts with additional defendants, which were mainly corporate organisations.

    The new defendants are Global Services Limited, Cluster Logistic Limited, Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, Crew Investment & Construction Company Limited, together with Oronsaye, Afe and his company, who were earlier arraigned in a separate charge.

    The court adjourned to November 25 for their arraignment on the fresh charge.

    When parties got to court yesterday, they learnt from court officials that the judge was attending the All Nigeria Judges’ conference and could not attend court. A new date of December 2, was selected.

    Oronsaye and two others – Osarenkhoe Afe and his company, Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited – were earlier arraigned on July 13, on a 24-count for allegedly laundering about N1.2 billion. They pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    They were charged under Section 14 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, which offences are said to be punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.