The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abuja

  • Buhari hosts Presidential Campaign Council to dinner

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday night hosted the officials of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) to a dinner.

    It was held at the New Banquet Hall of the presidential villa, Abuja.

    Those in attendance when the dinner started around 8:10pm include; the Director General of the PCC, Rotimi Amaechi, former Senate President, Ken Nnmani, Senator Ali Ndume, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

    Also at the dinner were the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu and Senator Bashir Lado.

    Others were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha,  Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.

    The President had in January, inaugurated the campaign council with him as chairman and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the co-chairman.

  • I know nothing about the stealing of Amnesty equipment- Dokubo

    …sets up investigative panel

     

    The Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Charles Dokubo has stated that he knows nothing about the stealing of the equipment from the just-commissioned Vocational Training Center in Kaiama, Bayelsa State and has also set up an investigative panel to look into the pilferage.

    The Coordinator shut down rumours of his involvement in the looting during the launch of the Special Investigative Panel to probe the invasion and looting of the training center which took place in Abuja on Monday.

    The members of the panel include Brig-Gen. Sotunde Sangonuga, who is the Chairman of the panel, Mr. Dodoye Arikpo (DSS), Barr. Paddy Ogon, Mrs. Cynthia Ogbe, Mr. Reuben Wilson, and Mr. Unyime Eyo.

    According to Dokubo, he had traveled to his home state of Rivers to participate in the Presidential elections and was not present during the incident.

    “On the evening of Wednesday, 13th February 2019, news filtered into me that certain persons had invaded this same Vocational Training Center in Kaiama and had, in fact, overwhelmed the security men guarding it.

    “The soldiers and other security forces deployed to quell the situation were under strict instruction not to do anything to escalate the tensed pre-election situation in the region.

    “It is not entirely true that the soldiers and other security agencies sent to the place during the incident did nothing to stop the orgy of looting.”

    Dokubo charged the Special Investigative Panel to ‘truly appraise the roles played by the military and other security agencies in Kaiama on that day’ and ensured his office’s full support and cooperation.

    “We shall provide whatever this panel needs to do its job thoroughly without any form of hindrance,” he stated.

    “All summons by this panel must be obeyed by all persons in this office and any subpoenaed document must be supplied.”

    “The Special Investigative Panel has seven working days to complete its investigations and submit its report.”

    Responding to the Coordinator, the Chairman of the Panel, Brig-Gen. Sangonuga disclosed that the panel has started working before the inauguration of the President.

    “We promise a very detailed report that will give insight to what actually happened,” he assured.

    “We are not new to the Amnesty Programme and we are also touched by what happened.”

  • Ex-Amnesty Coordinator Boroh, 16 others lose N732.85m to FG

    Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the forfeiture of N732.85 to the Federal Government by 17 former officials of the from the Presidential Amnesty Programme Office.

    The forfeiture includes a plot of land situated at Katsina Road by Ogbomosho Road, Kaduna North Local Government, worth N190million, all believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

    Out of the cash, a former Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Gen. Paul Boroh forfeited about N124million to the government.

    According to a statement by the Acting Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Tony Orilade, Justice James Tsoho granted the application on Friday.

    The EFCC sought the final forfeiture of N732.85million to the Federal Government.

    The commission was able to secure the final forfeiture following the adoption of non-conviction based forfeiture proceedings.

    The statement said: “The forfeited sum of N732.85million was stolen from the Presidential Amnesty Programme Office by 17 respondents to the suit.

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    “The 17 Respondents to the suit include Paul Tarela Boroh, Hanafi Musa Moriki, Allotey Asari Edem, Joshua Ebiemeyefa.

    Others are D. Wokoma, Bernard Ochoche, Cecilia Adebisi, Omofuma Faith, Olusegun Opeyemi Okungbure, Beggi Erepatei, Matti Abdul, Stella Nnamatti, Theresa Okoro, Chika Nsirim, Omonyemen Osunbor, Musa Odiringa, and Ode Martins Olajide.

    “Justice Tsoho had granted an interim forfeiture order on November 16, 2018, following the ex-parte application filed by the lawyer to the EFCC, Bar Abbah Mohammed.

    “The ex-parte motion was brought before the court, pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act 2006, and Section 44(2)(B)(K) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), seeking for an order of interim forfeiture of the said sum and property.

    “Granting the interim forfeiture of the said N732.85million, Justice Tsoho also ordered the EFCC to advertise the order in the newspapers for any interested party to show cause within 14 days on why the money should not be forfeited to the government.

    “Investigations by the EFCC had uncovered the various sums of N124,000,000; N320,000,000; N68,768,916; N1,900,000; N5,125,000; N3,000,000; N28,595,755; N6,137,000; N40,000,000; N46,800,000; N16,315,000; N2,547,800; N3,900,000; N8,234,650; N6,800,000; N2,651,000, and N1,970,750 traced to the respondents, respectively.

    “The judge consequently ordered that the monies and property should be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.”

    The EFCC application for the forfeiture reads in part:

    *An interim Order of this Honourable Court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the total sum of N124,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Twenty Four Million Naira) being part of funds disclosed by the Commission’s investigation to be in the possession of the 1st respondent ( Paul Boroh) and returned to the Commission via bank drafts as annexed to the supporting affidavit herein which sum is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.

    *An interim Order of this Honourable Court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria a plot of land with certificate of occupancy number NC11065 situate at Katsina Road by Ogbomosho Road, Kaduna North Local Government measuring 1.1414 acres described in the survey plan with beacon nos. ZA.5475, ZA.5476, ZA.5477, ZA.5474 worth the sum of N190million  and the total sum of N320million being properties found by the Commission in the possession of the 2nd respondent ( Hanafi Musa Moriki) and returned to the Commission via title documents and bank drafts as annexed to the supporting affidavit herein which properties are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.

    *An interim Order of this Honourable Court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the total sum of N68,768,916.00  found by the commission in the possession of the 3rd Respondent and returned to the Commission via bank drafts as annexed to the supporting affidavit herein which sum is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.”

     

  • Buhari, Amosun meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday met behind closed doors with Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
    Amosun, who won Senate seat during the National Assembly elections in Ogun State, was on Friday suspended by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for anti-party activities.
    Discussion at the closed doors meeting with the President may not be unconnected with the latest suspension.
    Apart from campaigning for the reelection of President Buhari, Amosun has been backing the Ogun State governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Adekunle Akinlade, for the 9th March Ogun State governorship election in the state.

    Read also: ACPN denies endorsing Okowa

    Akinlade, before moving to APM, was governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but lost to Dapo Abiodun, who eventually emerged as the APC Governorship candidate for Ogun State.
    But National Headquarters of the APC is solidly behind Abiodun.

  • SERAP sues Fed Govt, states at ECOWAS Court over attacks on journalists, bloggers

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a suit against the federal and state governments at ECOWAS Court of Justice, Abuja over the frequent and repressive application of the Cybercrime Act to harass, intimidate, arbitrarily arrest, detain, and unfairly prosecute anyone found publishing views or facts perceived to be critical of their administration.

    In the suit filed by its solicitor, Femi Falana (SAN), number ECW/CCJ/APP/09/19 filed last week at the ECOWAS Court, SERAP is seeking a declaration that the actions of the defendants and its agents and allstates of the federation in arbitrarily enforcing the provisions of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 particularly its section 24 to harass, intimidate, arrest, detain, prosecute and imprison journalists, bloggers, and social media users, violate the rights to freedom of expression, information, opinion and privacy and media freedom, guaranteed under Articles 6,8,9 and 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights;Articles 7,9,17 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party

    It prayed the court for a declaration thatthe provisions of the Cybercrime Act 2015 are entirely inconsistent and incompatible with international human rights standards and infringe on the rights to the freedom of expression, information and opinion guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights

    It also asked for a declaration that the continuing use and application by thedefendant and its agents and several states in Nigeria of the Cybercrime Act 2015 is illegal and unlawful, as it amounts to breaches of obligations to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights to freedom of expression and information and media freedom

    The organization therefore asked the court for an order directing the defendants to immediately repeal or amend the Cybercrime Act 2015 in line with Nigerian obligations under international human rights law

    It also asked the court for an orderdirecting the defendant and or its agents and several states of Nigeria to provide effective remedies and reparation, including adequate compensation, restitution, satisfaction or guarantees of non-repetition that the court may deem fit to grant to human rights defenders, activists bloggers, journalists and other online and off-line media practitioners that have been harassed, intimidated, unlawfully arrested, detained, and unfairly prosecuted by the defendant among others.

    SERAP argued that: “the federal and several state governments and their agents have trampled on the rights to freedom of expression and information of bloggers, journalists, activists, and social media users through the repressive use and implementation of the vaguely worded provisions of the Cybercrime Act..

    The organization argued: “The fundamental question for the court is whether the federal and state governments, by using and applying the Cybercrime Act and other similar laws on cyberstalking and sedition to prosecute journalists, bloggers and activists over perceived critical views, violate the rights to freedom of expression and access to information”.

    It submitted: “under international freedom of expression jurisprudence, the answer is ‘yes’,”

    To support the suit, SERAP, in a chronologically order, highlighted some of the high-profile cases of harassment, intimidation, arrest, unlawful detention, prosecution and imprisonment of journalists, bloggers, and activists for alleged cyberstalking.

    The suit read in part: “The idea of a democracy is that the people are encouraged to express their criticisms, even their wrong-headed criticisms, of elected government officials, in the expectation that this process will improve the process of government. In circumstances of public debate concerning public figures in the political domain and public institutions, the value placed by legal principles and jurisprudence upon uninhibited expression is particularly high.

    “The systematic and persistent use of the Cybercrime Act and other similar laws on alleged cyberstalking to prosecute and imprison journalists, bloggers and activists for their criticism of public officials runs afoul of freedom of expression principles, namely: that criminal prosecutions against journalists and bloggers is never an appropriate remedy for alleged defamation of government officials, and that  news reporting about government officials are matters of public interest, which should be accorded heightened protection.

    “Sanctions for defamation should not be so large as to exert a chilling effect on freedom of opinion, expression and media freedom; penal sanctions, in particular imprisonment, should never be applied. This implies a free press and other media able to comment on public issues without censorship or restraint and to inform public opinion. The public also has a corresponding right to receive output.

    “Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act which provides for the offence of cyberstalking has been severally used and applied by the Defendant and its agents and several stategovernments across the country in molesting, intimidating, harassing and witch-hunting anyone found publishingviews or facts deemed critical of government and/or government officials.

    “The vaguely worded offence of cyberstalking as stated in the Cybercrime Act is accorded a wide interpretation that extends to factual and true reports by activists, journalists, social media users and bloggers, thereby leaving a chilling effect on the rights to freedom of expression and information and media freedom and on citizens’ participation in the fight against corruption.

    “The abusive and repressive use of the vaguely worded provisions of the Cybercrime Act to stifle and muzzle perceived critics, journalists, bloggers and other media practitioners is an affront and it is dangerous to the rule of law and protection of the human rights of people.

    “Stories published online have been deemed ‘offensive’, ‘obstructive’, ‘insulting’ or ‘annoying’ with actionable consequence under section 24 of the Act even when the stories are true, correct and factual. Some stories published through traditional media outlets (print and electronic) that were never sanctioned by the government have been sanctioned by the same government upon being republished through online platforms.”

    No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

  • Buhari’s victory is ordained by God – Prophet Omale

    The Founder of  the Divine Hand of God Ministries International, Abuja, Prophet Emmanuel Omale, says  the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari is ordained by God.
     
    Omale told newsmen on Saturday in Abuja  that God gave victory to Buhari for the turn around of the country.
     He urged all Nigerians to support the president in the interest of the nation.
     
    The cleric who revealed the re-election of  Buhari in his prophecies for year 2019 on Dec.  31, 2018 advised Nigerians to stop questioning Buhari’s re-election.
    Omale said that it was God that anointed Buhari to lead Nigeria at this time and to lead Nigeria for eight years.
    He said  when God had anointed someone to be a leader or a President, no one could stop it.
    “The world can hate him, the world can try to reject him but God has ordained him,” he said.
    Omale said that the second tenure of Buhari was a  blessing in disguise for Nigerians as the nation would witness an unprecedented rapid development.
     “The coming back of Buhari is going to be for the good of the people, the poor people are going to be able to eat three  times a day.
    ” There will be improvement in electricity supply, we are going to have infrastructure development.
    “God is going to use Buhari to build a new Nigeria, to lay a solid foundation, and my advice to Nigerians is that we should support Buhari and pray for him.
    Omale also urged the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to accept the outcome of the election  as the will of God.
    “He should just call Buhari so that they can work together for the progress of the country because of his love for Nigeria
    “Nigerians love him so much, Christians love him, God loves him, so he should just call  Buhari  so that they can work together for the future of our country, because I know he has a good plan for this country‎,”  he said.
    Omale also advised  the PDP and all other  political parties  that lost the election to start praying for Buhari  to succeed.
    He advised President   Buhari to see himself as a father to the nation and the citizenry irrespective of political, religious affiliations or ethnicity backgrounds for the nation under his leadership to get to the promised land.
    “Again I will tell him that he should open his arms, embrace and forgive everybody, because if the President considers carefully, he will observe the way his victory came, he will  know that it is God that brought him back to the throne.
    “He should remember that though many were fighting him, God gave him victory.  It is not money or people, ” he said.
    Omale said that there was a mystery about Buhari  and that people would soon see that it was God that made him President for the Peoples’ sake. (NAN)

  • Ex-Air Force chief gets 21-year jail term for N136m contract fraud

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a retired senior official of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshall Tony Omenyi (retd) to 21 years cumulative term of imprisonment after being convicted on a three-count charge of fraud.

    Omenyi was the Managing Director of Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited, a subsidiary company of Nigerian Air Force, when he was said to have committed the offence.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, in a judgment on Thursday, sentenced Omenyi to seven years per count and directed that the term of imprisonment shall run concurrently.

    The EFCC had in 2016 charged Omenyi and his company, Huzee Nigeria Limited with three counts of money laundering, upon a report by the panel set up by the Federal Government to investigate the use of the funds allocated for the purchase of arms under previous administrations,

    The prosecution said Omenyi, between January and November 2014, received various sums of money estimated at about N136,323, 000 through his company, Huzee Nigeria Limited from Sky Experts Nigeria Limited, a contractor with NAF.

    M.S Abubakar, who led the prosecution team alleged that Omenyi, a sole signatory to the bank account of Huzee Nigeria Limited, received various sums of fund from the contractor when he and the company reasonably ought to know that the various sums of money formed part of the proceed of corruption.

    By their conduct, the defendants were said to have violated section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 and punishable under section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act, which provided a minimum of seven years and maximum of 14 years imprisonment for the offence.

    Omenyi was arraigned, with his company, Huzee Nigeria Limited, on November 11, 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    They were charged with abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N136,323,000 .

    The defendants, who was represented by Gordy Uche (SAN), denied the charges and pleaded not guilty to the charges, following which a trail was conducted, during which the prosecution called five witnesses and tendered about 20 documents, which were admitted in evidence, and closed its case on April 17, 2018.

    The defendant also conducted their case at the closure of the prosecution’s case.

    In his judgment on Thursday, Justice Dimgba analysed the evidence led by both parties and found that of the prosecution credible.

    The judge said: “Having fully reflected on the above defence as well as evaluated the evidence before me, as a matter of fact, I agree with the prosecution that the defence is a sham.

    “What motivation does the defendant have, for spending his own personal funds towards the execution of contracts awarded by the Nigerian Air Force on behalf of the contractor, when the proper thing to do is get the Nigeria Air Force to expend the funds on behalf of the contractor to ensure the project is done?

    “One indisputable thing is that, by the state of the law, and the entire circumstances of the case, the money received by the defendant as played out in count one, two and three, by themselves, raised criminal abilities against the defendants.

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    “I do not believe that the explanations given by the defence to the charges are credible

    “A public official with any role to play in any contract awarded by a government agency to a contractor should at all times operate at an arms-length with the said contractor.

    “The first defendant (Omenyi) has not operated by this standard.”

    “In the final analysis, the funds received by the defendants, as contained in counts one to three, are kickbacks in the contracts awarded by the Nigerian Airforce.

    “Any way it is looked at, either as a direct bribe or kickbacks, or as a share of revenue or profits with a business partner, so long as the source of the funds is from the Nigerian Airforce and linked to the execution of contracts of Nigerian Airforce, I am of the view that the monies as contained in count one to three are rooted in corruption.”

    The judge proceeded to convict the defendants on all the counts and sentenced the first defendant to seven year-per-count.

    Justice Dimgba equally ordered Huzee Nigeria Limited, “being a corporate entity” to forfeit the sum of N60 million in the custody of the EFCC to the Federal Government.

    He added: “I further order that the second defendant be compulsory wound up by the Federal Government.”

  • ICPC seizes 12 landed property in Abuja

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has seized 12 landed properties belonging to a construction firm and its owner.

    The Commission disclosed this in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa, in Abuja on Wednesday.

    According to the statement, the property, which are located in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja belonged to Mrs Ochuko Momoh, Director, Blaid Construction Limited.

    The commission said that Momoh is under the scrutiny of the commission in respect of an on-going investigation.

    The statement lists the property to include: two duplexes located at No. 14A, Lungu Crescent, Wuse 2 and No. 6 Casamance Street, Wuse Zone 3.

    Others are a mansion situated at No. 16 River Niger Street, Maitama; a bungalow at No. 35, Abidjan Street, Wuse Zone 3; two uncompleted residential estates located at Plot 618 Mabushi (B06) and Plot 1468 Katampe District.

    ”Terrace duplexes on Plots No. 21, 22, 23 and 26, Olympia Estate, Kaura District; a shopping complex on Plot 27, Waziri Ibrahim Waziri Crescent, Apo District; three vacant pieces of land located at Plot No. 1824, No. 1827 and No. 2017 Katampe District and a block of six apartments on Plot 799, Ebitu Ukiwe street, Utako.”

    The statement said that the seizure, which was carried out after an intelligence-led investigation, was based on the opinion of the commission that the properties owned by Momoh and her firm ”are excessive.”

    ”This is having regard to their past and present emoluments and all other circumstances.

    ”To this end, the commission will issue public notices of the seizure and shall cause them to be served on the appropriate land registries and Ministries and Departments where these properties are situated as required by law.” (NAN)

  • I don’t believe in rumour, I’ll wait for INEC result, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari would rather wait for the result that will be declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rather than rely on rumours.

    He was dismissing the various results being posted on social media platforms in the aftermath of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly election.

    The President, who spoke on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from his Daura country home in Katsina, said he would wait for the final result declaration by INEC.

    Buhari left Abuja on Friday for Daura, Katsina State, in order to exercise his civic responsibility.

    Read also: Kogi again?

    Asked his reaction to news  from across the country, he said: “I don’t want to depend on rumours, but we will rather wait for INEC to announce the results.”

    On his message to Nigerians as they await the release of the results, Buhari said: “Well, l hope that Nigerians will appreciate that it was this government which made sure that they were allowed in security and peace to cast their votes for whichever party and candidates they wanted.”

    The Co-Chairman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed TInubu expressed optimism that ruling party will win.

  • Buhari leaves Daura for Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari has departed his hometown of Daura to Katsina en route Abuja after participating in the presidential and National Assembly elections held on February 23, 2018.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Buhari was seen off at the helipad in Daura by the Emir of Daura Alhaji Farouk Umar ,well-wishers and relations.

    Read Also: Buhari wins Nasarawa for the first time

    Buhari left Daura at 10:am on Monday in a presidential helicopter marked NA-541.

    NAN also reports that the president was expected back in Daura by next week to enable him to participate in the Governorship and State Assembly elections scheduled for March 9.