The Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Investigation of Local Content Element on Total Upstream Nigeria Limited $16 Billion Egina deep sea oil project and other related projects on Wednesday stumbled another un-utilised $400million proceed from sale of gas resources.
The committee made the discovery when its chairman, Senator Solomon Adeola (Lagos West) requested to know from the Group General Manager of NAPIMS, Mr. Roland Ebuware who represented NNPC Group Managing Director Mr. Maikanti Baru, the fate of gas fallout of the 200,000 barrel per day Egina Oil project.
Adeola noted that so far only the crude oil aspect of proceed is in public domain.
Mr. Ebuware told the committee that no agreement is in place on what to do with the proceed of the gas from the project which is to be piped to Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) company other than putting it in an escrow account.
He added that a similar ongoing project, the Bonga Deep Sea Oil Project already have $400million in an Escrow account waiting for a detailed agreement on sharing formula between the Nigerian Government and the International Oil Companies (IOCs).
He regretted that since no agreement is in place for such sharing the fund is just lying idle.
He noted that it is expected that similar proceeds from Egina will lie idle until an agreement on sharing formula is arrived.
He said that the Senate could come in through legislation or other instruments to ensure that such huge funds are utilized for developmental purposes.
Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North West) expressed disbelief that such huge funds has been un-utilized for developmental purposes due to lack of agreement.
Akpabio noted that in an era of serious budget deficits year in year out, such funds should have come handy in North East Development, the Second Niger Bridge and even payment of the monthly N5,000 benefits promised by the Federal Government to unemployed youths.
Engineer Simbi Wabote, the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) stated that in execution of the Egina projects there are infractions of the Local Content Act sometimes occasioned by exigencies of lack of capacity as well as infringement of expatriate quota adding that it is often difficult to enforce some provisions of the law as conviction through litigation process has to take place before enforcement.
He suggested the need to amend the Local Content Act for sanctions for breaches without the long drawn litigation process adding that he will forward the various infractions to the committee as a guide in possible amendment of the law.
Senator Adeola reiterated the need for a holistic amendment of the Local Content Act of 2010 in light of the various discoveries of the committee if the Act is to achieve it aims of allowing Nigeria to benefit from the Oil and Gas industry and prevent leakages of our foreign currency adding that such amendment will also include broadening the law to include manufacturing, ICT and construction industries.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the Senate Monday night met with six aspirants to the position of the party’s National Chairman.
The meeting, which was still holding at the Asokoro private residence of the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio was still in progress at the time of filing this report.
The aspirants that appeared before the senators included Chief Olabode George, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Prince Uche Secondus, Prof Taoheed Adedoja and Mr Jimi Agbaje.
The purpose of the meeting, which was being chaired by Akpabio was to interact with the aspirants, with the view to determining the suitability of each of the aspirants for the position of chairman.
Secondus and Agbaje who are in their 50s, are the youngest of the aspirants and are considered late entrants into the race.
George and Adeniran are in their 70s while Dokpesi and Adedoja are in their mid-60s.
The aspirants are billed to also meet with the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi shortly before today’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the party’s Abuja secretariat.
The NEC will be considering approval for the December 9 date and venue for the convention.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senate Caucus on Wednesday, met with the party’s, minority leaders of State Assemblies, assuring that the party was stronger and set to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), from power in 2019.
Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Godswill Akpabio made this known while briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting, which held behind a closed door at the National Assembly Complex.
He said that a teeming number of stalwarts of other political parties “were on their way to the main opposition party in droves.
“These are the Minority Leaders of the PDP in different State Houses of Assembly, who are in Abuja to interact with the Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, and the Minority leader of the Senate.
“We congratulated ourselves that we stood firm and at the end. God gave us victory at the Supreme Court and the party is now waxing stronger.
“We have reviewed the state of the party and re-evaluated the situation, state by state, and we found out that the party is stronger than it was.
“And as I speak, stalwarts and thousands of members of other political parties, starting from APC, all the way down to APGA, are on their way to the PDP.
“We also want to urge the leadership of the party at the national level to open the door wide open between now and the next convention to receive them.”
Akpabio said the caucus also discussed the guideline for the forthcoming national convention of the PDP in order to make meaningful contributions to the meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
Speaking on behalf of the PDP Forum of the State Assemblies, Minority Leader of the Imo House of Assembly, Hon. Ken Agbim, assured of total support and mobilisation at the grassroots to give the party victory in 2019.
Super Eagles’ forwards Victor Moses and Alex Iwobi were among players conspicuously absent as the team held their first training session at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Tuesday.
The Super Eagles are preparing to face the Chipolopolo of Zambia on Saturday in Uyo in an all-important 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
According to the official twitter handle of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Eagles’ first training session saw a total of 19 players taking part.
The two-hour training session began at about 4.30 p.m. and ended at 6.30 p.m.
The players who took part in the training include Dele Ajiboye, Elderson Echiejile, John Ogu, Anthony Nwakaeme, Oghenekaro Etebo and Ikechukwu Ezenwa who arrived at the team’s camp on Monday afternoon.
Also around were team captain Mikel Obi, Odion Ighalo, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Ahmed Musa, Abdullahi Shehu, Wilfred Ndidi and birthday boy Kelechi Iheanacho who arrived late on Monday.
Trabzonspor FC of Turkey midfielder Ogenyi Onazi, Olaoluwa Aina and Chidozie Awaziem who arrived on Tuesday also participated in the training.
Two players on the team’s standby list, home-based Afeez Aremu and Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, were also part of the training.
Among those missing from the training session were Iwobi and Moses Simon who arrived at about 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
Chelsea winger Moses was yet to arrive at the team’s camp at the Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort as at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Eagles are expected to hold another open training session on Wednesday, including two more closed sessions on Thursday and Friday.
A pre-match press parley is also scheduled to hold at Le Meridien on Thursday by 11.30 a.m. ahead of the match on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Onazi was quoted on the NFF twitter handle as saying the team would give its all to ensure victory against the Chipolopolo of Zambia on Saturday
“We will give it all it takes as far as football is concerned” -@OnaziOgenyi #NGAZAM #SoarSuperEagles.
The NFF also took time to congratulate Iheanacho on the occasion of his birthday on Tuesday.
“Happy birthday @NGSuperEagles forward @67Kelechi. Keep shining!’’, the Federation wrote.
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Nigeria’s Super Eagles over Friday’s impressive win over the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, joined millions of football-loving Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora in applauding the senior men’s football team for their disciplined, skilful and entertaining display against the defending African champions.
While noting the exhilarating victory, he said that Nigeria is on the verge of qualification for the World Cup in Russia 2018.
The President urged the players to sustain the momentum as they approach the crucial second leg of the tie in Yaounde, on Monday.
Buhari also enjoined Nigerians who always see football as a unifying platform, to continue to pray and support the team to guarantee victory next week and make qualification doubly sure.
He also commended the Akwa Ibom State Government for its continued support and provision of excellent hosting facilities
South African national team coach, Stuart Baxter, says winning Nigeria in an African Nations Cup qualifier is very interesting.
Baxter made the assertion at Uyo on Saturday after his team beat the Super Eagles 2-0 at the Godswill Akpabio stadium.
The South African coach said “We opened up the game in the first half but unfortunately we did not score. Beating Nigeria is very interesting.
“Nigeria is a very good side but my boys prevented them from scoring. We are trying to develop our boys and expose them,’’ he said.
South African striker, Tokelo Rantie lived up to his billing as he scored in the 56th minute while Percy Tau who replaced Rantie, scored the second goal for his side in the 83rd minute.
The visitors sized up the Eagles in the first half, took advantage of their slower opponents in the second half of the match stringed crisp passes that sunk the Eagles in their backyard.
Moses Simon, Etebo Oghenekaro and Ndidi Wilfred were easily the best Eagles on the pitch on a day the team failed to fly.
Incidentally, Rantie was the player whose goals stopped the Nigeria senior male football team in the 2014 nation’s cup qualifier.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Saturday’s defeat by South Africa was the first loss of Gernot Rohr as Super Eagles Head coach.
Rohr said, after the match, that his boys played well in the first half but were overpowered by the experience of the South Africans in the second half.
According to him, We had difficulties in finishing the match because we made so many efforts in the first half while some of our players were tired in the second half.
“We tried to open the wings and bring power to the team but unfortunately it did not yield fruits.
“I have trust in these boys because they played well in the first half but they could not score. We win and lose together.
“I think the next game with Cameroon will be very interesting. It will be better, much, much better,” he said.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the Senate on Wednesday raised the alarm, alleging plots to harass, intimidate and place the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, in detention in the next two weeks.
Addressing journalists at the National Assembly, the senators fingered “some persons in the Presidency” as masterminds of the plot.
Speaking on behalf of the opposition lawmakers, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe said the unnamed persons were plotting to use the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other security agencies to carry out the plot.
According to him, the security agencies were planning to plant huge sums of money in Ekweremadu’s residence in Enugu and elsewhere, then conduct a search on the premises to fish out the planted incriminating items.
He alleged another plot to plant a gun in his car just to frame him up.
Condemning the alleged plot, which they said must be resisted, the senators called on peace loving members of the public to be aware of what they described as an insidious plan to cow dissenting voices in the country.
Abaribe said the detention of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, his Benue and Niger States counterparts, Gabriel Suswam and Babangida Aliyu respectively, has raised questions about the administration’s human rights compliance.
“This is a worrying trend about happenings in our country today. A situation where you can be set up through the security agencies and be put in prison for nothing sounds the death knell for democracy and human rights in Nigeria,” Abaribe added.
Others at the briefing were Ekweremadu; Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio; Senator Theodore Orji and Gilbert Nnaji among others.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to disqualify Senate President, Bukola Saraki and 10 other Senators being prosecuted and investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from participating in the process leading to the confirmation of Ibarhim Magu as Chairman of the EFCC.
The request formed part of prayers contained in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/102/2017 filed in Abuja on Monday by a lawyer, Raji Rasheed Oyewumi.
Other Senators named in the suit with Saraki, as defendants, include Godswill Akpabio, Jonah Jang, Aliyu Wammako, Stella Oduah, Theodore Orji, Rabiu Kwankwanso, Ahmed Sani, Danjuma Goje, Joshua Dariye and Adamu Abdullahi.
Also listed as defendants are the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the Attorney General of the Federation and Magu.
The plaintiff’s contention is to the effect that, since the Senators are either being tried or investigated for economic and financial crimes in various courts and tribunals by the EFCC under the leadership of Magu, he (Magu) will not be afforded fair
Senate President, Bukola Saraki
hearing by the Senate headed by Saraki.
Oyewumi stated, in a supporting affidavit, that Saraki exhibited bias against the confirmation of Magu when he (Saraki) failed to read the letter of the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, seeking the confirmation of Magu, on the floor of the Senate until July 14, 2016 even when he got the letter on June 17, 2016.
He said, in further manifestation of their bias and conflicting interest in the nomination of the 15th defendant (Magu) the 1st defendant (Saraki) together with 2nd to 11 defendants (other named Senators) did not consider the 15th defendant’s nomination until December 15, 2016 when they rejected Magu’s nomination six months after the letter was read on the floor.
The plaintiff said the Senators flouted the Senate Standing Orders when they acted on the letter by rejecting Magu’s nomination without first, referring Magu to the appropriate committee of the 13th defendant (Senate), an executive or closed session instead of an open session.
He added that unlike when he recused himself from the proceedings leading to the passage of the Bill for the amendment of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act on October 27, 2016, because of his ongoing prosecution at the CCT, Saraki failed to recuse himself when the Senate was considering the confirmation of Magu.
Senator Godswill Akpabio
The plaintiff identified some of the cases against the Senators, which Magu and his EFCC are currently handling.
“The 1st defendant (Saraki) was investigated by the 15th defendant on an allegation of false declaration of assets which culminated in the 1ts defendant’s arraignment and ongoing prosecution at the CCT in charge No: CCT/ABJ/01/2015, and a prime prosecution witness in the trial, Michael Wetkas is an officer of the EFCC.
He said the 2nd defendant (Akpabio) was being investigated by the EFCC over the allegation of abuse of office, diversion of public funds and embezzlement in relation to a petition by a lawyer, Leo Ekpeyong.
The plaintiff said the 3rd defendant, (Jang) was being investigated by Magu’s EFCC for allegedly awarding various contracts running into several billions of naira without due process and allegedly diverting N2billion Small and medium Scale Enterprises loan given by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) during his tenure.
The reliefs being sought by the plaintiffs are:
*A declaration that the 1st defendant is disqualified by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) from presiding over or participating in the deliberation, screening and voting on the nomination of the 15th defendant for the position of Chairman of the EFCC due to the apparent conflict of interest arising from the 15th defendant’s active role in his ongoing trial at the CCT.
*A declaration that the 2nd to 11th defendants are jointly and severally disqualified by the Constitution and the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended) from participating In the deliberation, screening and voting on the nomination of the 15th defendant for the position of Chairman of EFCC due to the apparent conflict of interest arising from their pending or ongoing cases of financial and economic crimes, given that the 15th defendant is coordinating and supervising the investigation into or prosecution for the said financial and economic crimes.
*A declaration that the 1st to 13th defendants jointly and severally violated the Senate Standing Order 2015 9as amended)n when they participated in the screening, deliberation and voting on the first or earlier nomination of the 15th defendant in the 13th defendant on the 15th day of December 2016 by not declaring their pecuniary interests in view of their pending or ongoing cases of financial and economic crimes, given that the 15th defendant is coordinating and supervising the investigation into or prosecution for the said financial and economic crimes.
*A declaration that the first and earlier rejection of the nomination of the 15th defendant for the position of Chairman of EFCC on the 15th day of December 2016 without first referring the 15th defendant to the appropriate committee of the 13th defendant and at an executive or closed session instead of an open session, is illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.
*A declaration that the 15th defendant is entitled to be accorded fair hearing by the 1st to the 13th defendant during screening, deliberation and voting in the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on his nomination for the position of Chairman of the EFCC.
*An order of injunction restraining the 1st defendant from presiding over or participating in the screening, deliberation or voting on the nomination of the 15th defendant for the position of Chairman of the EFCC.
*An order of injunction restraining the 2nd to 11th defendants from or participating in the screening, deliberation or voting on the nomination of the 15th defendant for the position of Chairman of the EFCC.
The case is yet to be assigned to any judge for hearing.
Former President General Ibrahim Babangida could not hold his joy Saturday as Super Eagles flogged Desert Warriors of Algeria 3-1 to earn their second victory of the World Cup qualifiers.
He did not only give the entire team a pat on the back for the impressive run but also singled out Chelsea duo Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel who scored 25th , 42nd and 90th minute goals for Nigeria respectively. The Minna born General went ahead to urge his followers on twitter to retweet his submission as a mark of love for the Nigerian team who by their performance have consolidated on leadership of the group with six points and five goals in the kitty .
“I am really proud of the super Eagles. RETWEET if you also do. Mikel and Moses” he enthused
The encouter drew creme dela creme of the society including senate President Bukola Saraki to the nest of Champions. Also on hand to cheer the Eagles to victory was the former Akwa Ibom State Governor Senator Godswill Akpabio who incidentally built the venue
One of the thrilling highlights was the moment Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi re-enacted the trade mark of his nephew and former Super Eagles captain Austin Okocha, flipping the ball above the heads of two Algerian players to the admiration of fans.
An equally satisfied former international Jonathan Akpoborie later summed up his feeling “Very good victory for Nigeria today,” he said
Former Akwa Ibom governor and Senate minority leader, Godswill Akpabio has quell any inkling of a quarrel between him and his successor, Emmanuel Udom.
Akpabio said the perceived rift remains in the imagination of political jobbers who want to fan the ember of disunity in the state.
He also lampooned those who said they were out to protect the governor’s mandate, describing them as fair weather friends who want to eat where they have not sown.
The former governor spoke at the weekend in Abuja at the 50th birthday celebration of the Special Adviser to the governor on Security matters, Captain Iniobong Ekong (rtd).
Both men described the retired army captain as a loyal and dependable hand, whose word is his bond.
Governor Udom was represented by the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Uwemedimo Nwoko.
Akpabio whose choice of words showed his disapproval of any form of division amongst his political allies said those representing the state at the National Assembly are fully behind the governor and will stand by him to the end.
He was also quick to remind those that cares to listen that when Governor Udom was thrown up, the plan was that he will do two terms and that arrangement according to him has not changed.
The Senate minority leader therefore said it was a shame that those who benefitted from his generosity while in office as governor are now the ones trying to create division in the state, calling some people Akpabio boys and another Udom boys. He also predicted that these same people will soon decamp to other party before 2018.
He said “please tell the governor that I said in the public, there is no shaking and that the three senators and ten members of the House of Representatives, are solidly behind him.
“Tell the governor that we love him and he should not listen to slanders and blackmails, that the state is intact for him and that we are proud of what he is doing.
“The thirteen of us will remain steadfast with him beyond 2019.”
He stressed that the mandate given to the governor was for two terms; we support what the governor is doing “we are not disappointed of him.”
Akpabio also urged the people of Akwa Ibom to keep faith with the governor and support him to succeed; adding that though Nigerian economy is presently on a life support, the governor he said had done very well.
The representative of the governor in his remark said that nobody amongst his former aides will embarrass him.
Nwoko also assured his former boss of his readiness to protect him from any form of embarrassment.
