The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abuja

  • Presidency blames insecurity, killings on politicians

    Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, has attributed insecurity and killings in the country to corrupt politicians.

    He said that the politicians involved were those who no longer had access loot public treasury.

    Shehu, who stated this on Monday in Abuja while speaking with newsmen, said that such politicians were bent on taking the shine out of the Buhari-led administration.

    “The competition for power has become fiercer because the stakes are very high,” he said.

    According to Shehu, Buhari is being attacked especially because he has unleashed on the country, a war against corruption.

    This, he said, had never been so in the country as access to public treasury for looting had been blocked to some persons.

    The aide, however, said that the president was lucky because he had a judiciary which was transforming itself and was on the same page with him in fighting corruption.

    “As I speak to you now, two former state governors are in jail; a lot of people thought that this war against corruption is a joke and that the back-and-forth that had characterized this over time, will continue.

    “One of the two cases was determined after 11 years of back-and-forth between lawyers and Judges, kicking the ball from this court to that court.

    Read Also: Buhari’s speech at the signing of 2018 budget into law

    “A lot of these harsh attacks against the president are coming from people who had become used to life style they cannot sustain.

    “On record, there were people in this country, because they are influential, they had permanent suite in major hotels in Abuja where they leave lavishly at public expense.

    “And, when they are leaving, they are accompanied with bags of Ghana-Must-Go,” he said.

    Shehu added that the president had blocked access to national resources for lazy people, politicians, especially those who were fighting back, because they were not happy.

    He said that the Buhari-led Federal Government was building infrastructure across the country.

    According to him, there is no state in the country where a minimum of two federal roads are not being newly constructed or reconstructed.

    “We have more electricity that cannot be consumed, 2,000 megawatts of electricity that nobody is taking.

    “By the year ending, we are going to hit 10,000 megawatts from the 2,600 that we inherited,” he said, adding that government’s problem was how to sale and distribute electricity to those who needed it.

    The president’s aide noted that those criticising Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) would not give up as 2019 elections drew closer.

    “They will continue to fight the president, but the happiness we have is that ordinary low-level Nigerians understand the huge conspiracy.

    “Nigerians are with the president, the elite are going to places – America and the United Kingdom – and they are clicking in posh homes in Abuja, Lagos and some major cities in the country.

    “They are trying to thwart the goodwill of the president towards the people.

    “But, this economy is being re-built; more foreign investment is coming, more infrastructure is being given to Nigerians and even the security infrastructure which had suffered neglect over the years is being given priority,” he said.

    Shehu added that if those attacking the president had done what they ought to have done by equipping and training the military, things would have been different.

    He maintained that no government in the past was doing as much for the military and the police as the current administration.

    He said the Federal Government was putting in place infrastructure in the prisons and the EFCC that people may think that it was lavishing much money on the institutions.

    Shehu also said that the government was putting in place world-class infrastructure for Nigerians, and the government understood that its detractors wanted to take away attention from it.

    He reaffirmed that the government would continue to stay on the message and on course, no matter the distraction.

    He expressed optimism that the APC would not only win the presidency in 2019, but would win more states, especially in the South-East.

     

    NAN

  • NiMet predicts cloudy weather, thunderstorms for Friday

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted prospects of thunderstorms and moderate rains over the Central States such as Minna, Abuja, Jos, Lafia, Kaduna, Bauchi, Gombe, Jalingo and Lokoja on Friday morning.

    NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Thursday also predicted day and night temperatures in the range of 26 to 33 and 18 to 23 degrees Celsius, respectively.

    It added that there are also chances of thunderstorms over places like Makurdi, Abuja, Mambilla Plateau, Jos, Yola, Ilorin and Ibi in the evening and night hours.

    The agency predicted that the Southern states would experience morning cloudiness with prospects of light rains over the coastal cities such as Ikom, Calabar, Ijebu Ode, Lagos and few cities around the South-West.

    Read Also: NiMet predicts thunderstorms, rains in central Nigeria on Tuesday

    It also predicted thunderstorms and moderate rains over Osogbo, Akure, Ado Ekiti, Benin, Asaba, Abakaliki, Enugu and Owerri including the coastal cities like Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Lagos and Ijebu Ode respectively.

    NiMet further predicted that the region would have day and night temperatures in the range of 29 to 32 and 20 to 24 degrees Celsius, respectively.

    According to NiMet, Northern States will experience cloudy to partly cloudy situation with chances of thunderstorms over Sokoto, Gusau and Kebbi during the morning hours.

    “Northern States will also experience day and night temperatures in the ranges of 32 to 36 and 22 to 24 respectively.

    “Cloudy to partly cloudy condition is expected with prospects of thunderstorms and rains with varying intensities over the Country in the next 24 hours,” NiMet predicted.

     

    NAN

  • N950m fraud: Court adjourns Shekarau, others case to October 18

    A Federal high court sitting in Kano Tuesday adjourned the N950million fraud suit, involving the former governor of Kano state Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, former Minister of Foreign Affairs ambassador Aminu Wali and Director General Goodluck Jonathan Campaign organization, Engr. Mansur Ahmed till October 18, 2018.

    The three suspects were accused of criminal offence of money laundering to the tune N950million by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in which each of them allegedly collected N25million to facilitate former president Jonathan’s 2015 presidential campaign.

    In his submission, the prosecuting counsel Barr. Jonson Ojogbane informed the court that EFCC had already applied for the transfer of the matter, through the Chief Justice of the Federal high court in Abuja, from Kano to another judicial division due to security threat. Barr. Ojogbone thereby sought for adjournment of the suit to enable them conclude the process of the transfer, expediently waiting for the lordship approval.

    According to the EFCC lawyer “ I wish to inform the court that, after we left here on the last day, due to the difficult situation we find ourselves and subsequent even same day at our Kano office, it is practically impossible for us to continue to prosecute this case in this judicial division. Consequently, we wrote a letter to the Chief Judge of the Federal high court in Abuja on the 1st June, 2018, seeking for his gracious intervention, to transfer this case from this division to another division which is saver to all concern.

    Read Also: N950m fraud: Shekarau, two others quizzed

    “ We also further wrote an application, dated 25th June, 2018, for the adjournment of this case to enable us complete the process of the transfer. Section 98 sub-section (1)(2)

    Of the administration of criminal justice act.2015, where its stated clear that, the Chief Judge has the power to transfer a case from one court to another, we wish to apply that this case is adjourned to another.

    Interjected midway, the presiding Judge, Justice Zainab Abubakar Kaji insisted that the prosecution counsel cannot request for such application for adjournment without specifically mentioning a date that will be convenient to both parties.

    On his part, counsel to the first defendant (Ibrahim Shekarau) Jibrin S. Okutepa (SAN), who vehemently opposed the application on transfer of the case from Kano insisted that the transfer was a sign that the prosecution was not prepared to continue with the suit.

    Okutepa who argued that the prosecution has not excuse to apply for such application on the basis of security threat with all the security apparatus at his disposal, also averred that the prosecution was not mindful of financial expenses and other implications that might cause his clients.

    According to Okutepa “ We are in court this morning (Tuesday), we walk to the court in peace, we are worried that the prosecution who has all the apparatus at his disposal will entertain such fears and went ahead to apply for the transfer of this case. It is a sign that the prosecution are not ready”.

    Counsel to second (Aminu Wali) and third ( Mansur Ahmad) defendants, Sam T. Ologunorisa (SAN) who also challenged the prosecution’s application for transfer however raised alarm that from intelligence report that ”there is the likelihood that our clients and over 50 witnesses maybe kidnapped on their way to Abuja.

    In her ruling the presiding Judge, Justice Zainab Abukakar said “application such as this, are meant for the court to stay action, until the Chief Judge response or accede to the request, on whether the case will continue in Kano or not.

    The Judge thereby adjourned the case to 18th of October, 2018, pending the request before the Chief Judge.

  • Police arraign woman over assault

    The police on Tuesday arraigned 27-year-old Joy Orji in a Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for assaulting Goodness Obi.

    Orji, who resides at Idu opposite furniture village Karmo, Abuja, is facing a three-count charge of intentional insult, criminal force/assault, contrary to Section 265 of the Penal Code.

    The prosecutor, Mrs Okagha Ijeoma, told the court that the matter was reported at Karmo Police Station, Abuja, on June 17 by Obi of the same address.

    Ijeoma said that on the same date, Orji went to the complainant’s house while she was cooking and intentionally assaulted her, pointing finger at her for no cause.

    Read Also: Police offer N1m bounty on masked woman

    The prosecutor added that in the process, Orji called the complainant all kinds of names, saying she was a stupid and rejected woman.

    She said that Orji also threatened to deal with the complainant, adding that she would continue to suffer all the days of her life.

    However, Orji pleaded not guilty and the judge, Mr Maiwada Inuwa, granted him bail in the sum of N20,000 and one surety in like sum.

    Inuwa ordered that the surety should have a reasonable means of livelihood and must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

    He adjourned the matter until Aug. 28 for hearing.

  • APC Convention is a quit notice signal to PDP, Fayose – Presidency

    The Presidency says the All Progressive Congress (APC) convention holding at the Eagle Square, Abuja, would be a quit notice signal to the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, gave the assurance to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the ongoing convention arena.

    Enang, who said he expected a peaceful poll at the convention, said the successful completion of the occasion would also indicate a quit notice to the Ekiti State’s incumbent governor, Ayo Fayose.

    NAN reports that the governorship election in the state, which is scheduled to hold on July 14, has the immediate-past Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, as the APC gubernatorial candidate.

    ”It is a signal to PDP and Ayo Peter Fayose that we have served him quit notice and that he will quit.

    ”With the strength of APC in the Federal Government at the federal level and the strength of APC in Ekiti State, we will win Ekiti and we will sack PDP from the seat,” Enang said.

    He said he expected a fruitful and rancour-free convention.

    He urged the winners and losers in the ongoing convention to display a spirit of sportsmanship.

    ”My words for the winners today, be magnanimous in victory, and for the losers, be also accommodating. Let all those who lose also play into the party, let those who win accommodate those who may not win today,” he said.

    Also speaking, the Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, said the convention would go well and come out successful.

    ”You can see that everybody is happy to be here. We are lucky that we have Muhammadu Buhari as our president; everybody loves him.

    ”No matter the differences or disagreement in the generality of membership, the president’s position as a beloved leader and mentor is sacrosanct. And I think that will contribute largely to the final successful outcome of this convention,” he said.

  • Policeman killed as Shi’ites protest in Kaduna, Abuja

    •El-Zakzaky’s trial stalled

    A riot policeman died yesterday when members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shi’ites, protested in Kaduna.

    This protest followed their inability to access the court where their leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, was billed for trial.

    Exits and entrances leading to the court located inside Gabasawa police station were blocked.

    Reporters, who arrived at the court as early as 7am, were barred from the premises, and only stood far away to observe happenings.

    An eyewitness said the policeman, who was among troops deployed to stop the protesters, was overpowered around Ahmadu Bello Way.

    He said: “The policemen fired tear gas and live ammunition and initially succeeded in pushing the protesters back, but the protesters overpowered a mobile policeman and he was mobbed to death. His gun was also taken away.”

    Meanwhile, El-Zakzaky’s trial did not hold as the trial Magistrate was said to be indisposed and absent.

    It was gathered that the Magistrate was in an accident on Wednesday, barely 24 hours before hearing.

    A source who pleaded for anonymity said: “The judge went to the barbing saloon on Wednesday and he was hit by an oncoming tricycle.”

    But El-Zakzaky’s lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) told reporters that the case did not hold as the Magistrate was indisposed and so absent.

    Falana, however, declined further comment, saying he would not comment on the charges against his client until they are read in court.

    The case, it was gathered, was adjourned till July 11.

    As at press time yesterday, a detachment of military team had been deployed in the affected area, patrolling between Leventist and Katsina Roundabout of the highway.

    Members of the sect also  marched on the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Abuja to protest El-Zakzaky’s “unlawful prosecution”.

    They were received by the NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu.

    The protest halted vehicular movement.

    Their spokesman, Abdullahi Musa berated the police for attacking the Kaduna protesters with live ammunition.

    He said: “The police have continued to violate our right to peaceful gathering. Yesterday (Wednesday), they opened fire on us in Kaduna and 23 people were injured. They arrested 10 of the injured people and we have only 13 of them with us receiving treatment.

    “As I speak now, the police are still shooting at our members in Kaduna and the carnage continues.”

    Musa urged President Muhammadu Buhari to release their leader, El-Zakzaky, who has been in detention since December 2015.

    Ojukwu, who emphasised the right of every Nigerian to embark on peaceful demonstration, described it as a constitutional right which the NHRC will protect as long as the demonstration is peaceful.

    “We will stand with you as long as you are peaceful. Nobody has any right to use live ammunition on anybody carrying out a peaceful demonstration. We urge you to continue to be peaceful because the truth must come to light one day.

    “It is good that somebody is taken to court than to be perpetually kept in detention because in court, unless you prove a case beyond every reasonable doubt, nothing can be done. All you need is to put evidences together, get a good lawyer and put across your case,” Ojukwu said.

    The protesters later dispersed upon Ojukwu’s advice.

     

  • IS suspects held in Abuja, Bauchi

    Three suspected commanders of the Islamic State (IS) in West Africa international terrorist network and many of their Boko Haram associates have been arrested in Abuja and Bauchi, the Department of State Services (DSS) said yesterday.

    According to the security agency, the arrests were made during special operations.

    Also arrested are suspected cultists, armed robbers, internet fraudsters and kidnappers.

    A suspected kidnapper, Victoria Nwabueze, was apprehended on May 14 along with members of a gang that abducted a victim, Bimbo Adebiyi, who they took to their hideout at Grace Estate in Ajah, Lagos.

    DSS’ spokesman Tony Opuiyo, in a statement, alleged that the suspected ISWA terrorists were planning operations in Abuja and other parts of the country.

    The statement came in the wake of the report by a British newspaper that IS was sending its commanders from Syria to Nigeria for trainng in an “exchange programme.”

    The DSS said: “Determined to continuously thwart the budding cells of the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) and Boko Haram , the Service conducted special operations on identified targets; this led to the successful arrest of Bashiru Adams and Rufai Sajo , commanders of the group on May 5 at Kukuntu Village, Gwagwalada Area Council, FCT, Abuja .

    “The Service on April 28 at Muda Lawal Market, Bauchi, Bauchi State, arrested another member of the ISWA , Umar Dogo.

    “The suspects were discovered to have· concluded plans to not only perpetuate the ideals of the Movement in the area, but to, in collaboration with Boko Haram, carry out heinous violent attacks on innocent persons .

    “Following intelligence reports, Adamu Hassan (aka Bale) and Abubakr Abubakar (aka Alhaji /Buba) , experts in Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) assembly were arrested; also on 12th and 19th April 2018, at Gassol and Ardo local government areas of Taraba State, Mohammed saleh (aka Azrak) and Iliyasu Abubakar (aka Ruwa), Boko Haram members and cattle rustlers were apprehended,” the statement said.

    The DSS spokesman added that a joint team of DSS, Army and police personnel were ambushed by a 100-strong gang of armed herdsmen in Taraba state while gunrunners were caught in Nasarawa and Benue states and student cultists were rounded up in Kogi state.

    “ On 9 th May , 2018 , around Katibu Village , Lau LGA , Taraba State , a joint team of the Service, the Military and the Police while on a clearance patrol , encountered an ambush by a group· of armed herdsmen , numbering about 100 .

    “The operatives’ superior firepower forced a retreat by the attackers, however , during the confrontation, 10 herdsmen were killed and several others escaped with bullet wounds; the following items were recovered – 2 AK- 47 Rifles , 1 G 3 rifle , 3 dane guns , 2 cutlasses , and 4 motorcycles .

    “On 25 th May , 2018 , Abdulhameed MUSA and Adamu ABDULKAREEM , both members of a militia group· terrorizing villages in Nasarawa State were arrested at Yelwa Village , Doma LGA of the State .

    “On 14 th May , 2018 , the Service rescued a kidnap victim· , Bimbo ADEBIYI upon a raid· of the group’s hideout at Grace Estate , Ajah , Lagos State; other members of the kidnap gang· that were apprehended include: Tunde AKINSOLA; Wakil ALADE; Olumide BRAIMOH; Raymond ADINGIOU, IsiaqABESIN, Victoria NWABUEZE and Zabala AMOLOKWE

    “Similarly , on 29 th May , 2018 , Umar ALI , leader· of a kidnap syndicate notable for operating around Edo and Delta States was arrested at Oghara , Ethiope West LGA , Delta State; also arrested were some of Ali’s lieutenants , namely: Faruk BELLO , Bello ALI , Mohammed ALI and Abdullahi ALI .

    “This gang· was responsible for the abduction of a Turkish national· in Ifaki , Ekiti State on 6 th May , 2018

  • CBN boosts forex market with $210 million

    Mr Isaac Okorafor, Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said the apex bank boosted the foreign exchange market with 210 million dollars to meet customers’ requests in various segments.

    Okoroafor said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    According to him, the bank, in its desire to meet customers’ needs, offered 100 million dollars to authorised dealers in the wholesale segment of the market, while the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment got 55 million dollars.

    Read Also: Forex: CBN boosts retail SMIS with $343.06m

    Okorafor also said customers needing foreign exchange for invisibles such as tuition fees, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), among others, were also allocated 55 million dollars.

    He recalled that the CBN on Thursday, intervened with 343.06 million dollars to cater for requests in the retail segment of the foreign exchange market.

    He added that the naira continued its stability in the foreign exchange market, exchanging at an average of N360 per dollar in the Bureau De Change (BDC), segment of the market Wednesday.

  • NiMet predicts thunderstorms, rains on Thursday

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted prospects of thunderstorms with rains over the central states such as Makurdi, Jos, Taraba, Kaduna, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Abuja, Bauchi and Gombe on Thursday morning.

    NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Wednesday also predicted day and night temperatures in the range of 26 to 30 and 18 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.

    It added that Bida, Minna, Abuja, Lafia, Lokoja, Jos and Ilorin axis were envisaged to experience thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening hours.

    The agency predicted that the southern states would experience moderate rains over the entire coastal cities and southeast inland such as Enugu, Owerri, Awka and Abakaliki axis in the morning hours.

    It also predicted localised rain/showers over the coastal and inland states later in the day with day and night temperatures in the range of 28 to 30 and 21 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.

    According to NiMet, northern states will experience thunderstorms with rains over Maiduguri, Nguru, Katsina, Kano and Dutse axis in the morning hours.

    “Sokoto, Gusau, Yelwa and Kebbi will have prospects of thunderstorm with rains in the afternoon and evening hours with day and night temperatures of 33 to 37 and 21 to 27 degrees Celsius respectively.

    “There are prospects of thunderstorms and rains over several parts of the country with varying intensities in the next 24 hours,” NiMet predicts.

  • FG ready to tackle ISIS threat – Minister

    … As Dambazau presents Immigration’s curriculum, training manuals 

     

    The Federal Government has said on Wednesday that it is taking serious the report that a terrorist group, the Islamic State was sending insurgents trained in Syria to the country as part of a terror exchange programme.

    Government disclosed that report  is going through adequate examination, adding that all that is needed to be done to protect the country is being implemented.

    Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), who disclosed this in Abuja explained that the government will not rest on its oars in securing the country no matter the situation.

    Dambazau said these while answering questions shortly after the presentation of curriculum and training manuals for Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS) training institutions.

    The minister said, “When information like this (influx of ISIS members into the country) comes, we do not take things for granted. Even if it is true or not because it is a security information.

    “Before now, we are prepared to ensure that everything we need to do security-wise is being done and such information also raises alarm and we will double our efforts towards that.”

    Speaking earlier while unveiling the training manuals, Dambazau stressed the importance of training to the security services, noting that henceforth, promotion of personnel and career progression will be tied to trainings and courses attended by the officers.

    Read Also: How Buhari is changing Nigeria, by minister

    He said, “If you travel a lot, you will see what happens in other countries. They solely focus on training and they will be sent on courses to determine your career progression.”

    “We will tie promotion to every course for every rank. There is a course that is expected that you go through for you to qualify for that rank. There is promotion exams; For progression, training is very important. It is very clear in the immigration rules. There is need for us to give that motivation. It gives you room to work hard.  This will apply to all the (security) services,” the minister added.

    The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede disclosed that the curriculum, manuals and teachers guide were prepared by over 30 university professors and professionals.

    The documents, he explained, would be used at NIS Command and Staff College, Sokoto, Nigeria Immigration Training School, Kano, Nigeria Immigration Training School, Orlu and Nigeria Immigration Training School, Ahoada.

    Babandede said: “I strongly believe that this initiative will produce well-trained and better equipped officers and men that will reposition the NIS to contribute its quota in the change agenda of this administration. Training and manpower development is a strong foundation and pivotal to the life, continued existence, efficiency of an organization, especially one like ours.