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  • Nigerians not yet fed up with corruption-ex-Kenya anti-graft chief

    Nigerians are not yet tired of corruption, which is why it is still being tolerated, former Director of the Kenyan Anti-Corruption Agency, Prof Patrick Lumumba has declared.

    Speaking at the 49th annual conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, Lumumba said: “the day Nigerians become tired of corrupt practices, the actions that would follow would put an end to graft.”

    He lamented that in a society where people celebrate those that fraudulently enrich themselves, corruption will continue to thrive.

    Prof Lumumba maintained that “corruption is a crime against humanity. Experiences have demonstrated that if a people in a country are sufficiently fed up they will rise up.

    “If we think that the international community will solve our problems, then we have shown that we are incapable of solving them.

    “Sometimes, I think Nigerians and many Africans are not fed up. Because the day we are fed up, things will begin to change.

    “But as long as we celebrate thieves, as long as we celebrate money no matter how they are got, everybody will want to have the money and they don’t care about how it is got. The day we begin to get angry, the country will change in one month.”

    President Muhammadu Buhari, while declaring the conference open, said that government has recognised the damaging effect of corruption on the economy and is doing everything to address the issue.

    Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Buhari noted that corruption and impunity grow when accountability is disregarded and people get away with all manner of questionable things and accountants are unable to check them.

    Read Also; JUST IN: Ekiti Tribunal sacks Senate spokesperson, declares Olujimi

    He said his administration’s fight against corruption “is a struggle for nation building and the future generation.”

    According to the President: “If we do not slay corruption with the passion it deserves, we will not get the result that we need.

    “On our part, we will continue to provide the desired leadership and I am certain and optimistic that the glorious day we all long for will not be long in coming.

    “Corruption, our greatest enemy will certainly fight back, but we must continue to fight to effect a change to our value system.”

  • Shiites have right to practice faith – Falana

    Activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) on Tuesday said Shiite members have the right to practice their religion.

    He recalled that the Federal government clarified IMN’s proscription to the effect that the fundamental right of the Shiites to freedom of religion has not been abrogated.

    “To the extent that the Shiites are observing a religious rite, it is callous and highhanded on the part of the Sunnis in government to authorise the police to massacre them.

    Read Also; Police arrest four Shi’ites protesters in Kaduna

    “It is unacceptable to kill religious worshippers by officials of the federal and state governments that are currently negotiating and bribing bandits and kidnappers,” Falana said.

  • Tribunal judgement open robbery, says Adeyeye

    The chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Dayo Adeyeye has described the judgement of the Ekiti State election tribunal as “open robbery” and a direct assault on the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary.

    The tribunal yesterday nullified Adeyeye’s election and declared his opponent in the Ekiti South senatorial district, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) the winner of the election.

    Adeyeye, who contested the election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the February 23 election.

    Reacting to the judgement, Adeyeye, in a statement he released shortly after the judgement, said the whole word knew that the election that brought him in was the “freest and fairest” in the history of elections in Ekiti State.

    Read Also; How I made Fayose Ekiti Governor, By Olujimi

    Adeyeye said, “No doubt the judgement was purchased. And upon proper scrutiny, the filthy lucre that influenced it will be revealed.

    “The judges shamelessly contradicted themselves throughout the judgement. They went to great lengths to reach a conclusion that did not follow from the premise with jaundiced and twisted logic.

    “To the teeming masses of Ekiti south whose votes the tribunal is trying to steal for Olujimi, they should rest assured that the judgement will not stand.

    “I have instructed my lawyers to immediately proceed on appeal. And by the grace of almighty God, we shall have justice.
    Meanwhile, I will remain focused on my duty to my constituents and the nation. We shall prevail.”

  • Xenophobia: Nigeria Consul General promises hitch free evacuation

    Nigeria Consul General in Johannesburg, Godwin Adama, has assured Nigerians that Wednesday evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa will be hitch free.

    Adama noted that the mission in South Africa has put in place measures to ease evacuation of the willing Nigerians.

    He also noted that proper documentation has been carried out and the mission is ready for the evacuation exercise.

    The envoy said that mission had also put necessary checks in place to ensure that other nationals do not take the advantage of the free flight by Air Peace to come into Nigeria.

    Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, had last week volunteered to send aircraft to evacuate Nigerians who wish to return home free of charge.

    “Air Peace is willing to support the Nigerian Government’s efforts in this matter by deploying our B777 aircraft to evacuate Nigerians back home,” Onyema said.

    The Chairman of the Air Peace had also warned the returnees not to pay any money as the exercise was free of charge. The consul general said that the two missions in Pretoria and Johannesburg were working assiduously to ensure itch free flight for the returnees.

    Adama said: “We are documenting people through filling of relevant form with information such as place of birth, state of origin, local government areas.

    “We also check nationality and discourage wives with different nationalities to avoid bringing in other nationals. We equally discourage those wanting to take advantage of the flight.

    “The two Missions are working together to make a success of the repatriation exercise.

    Read Also; Xenophobia: What are Nigeria’s legal options?

    “Nigerians will be conveyed in buses from the two missions to the airport at early hours of the morning on Wednesday to ensure smooth operations,” he said.

    NAN reports that Adama had said that the first flight would leave Johannesburg leaves by 9 a.m. on Wednesday with about 320 passengers while the second flight would leave on Thursday all things being equal.

    Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Kabiru Bala also said that the mission was equally responding to the needs of those willing to return, especially those who had issues with their documents.

    “We are documenting them. Those without travel documents, we shall provide them with Emergency Travel Certificates.

    “There are other governmental procedures that we must observe. Relevant agencies of government in Nigeria must be informed and must be ready to receive the returnees.

    “Hard work is now going on at the High Commission and Consulate in this regard,” he said (NAN)

  • Ekiti Tribunal sacks Senate spokesperson, declares Olujimi

    The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ado Ekiti, state capital, has nullified the election that produced Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Dayo Adeyeye.

    Adeyeye was declared the winner of the Ekiti South Senatorial District poll.

    Hon. Danladi Adeck, a member of the three-man panel of the tribunal, who read the unanimous judgement on Tuesday declared former Minority leader and the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Senator Biodun Olujimi winner of the election.

    Following the declaration of Adeyeye, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress( APC) winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) in the February 23, 2019 Ekiti South Senatorial election, Olujimi, had approached the tribunal to praying that she should be declared the actual winner of the election.

    She submitted that she scored the highest number of lawful votes cast during the election.

    Olujimi prayed the tribunal to nullify Adeyeye’s victory and order supplementary election accordingly in the district.

    In her written address, the petitioner claimed that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Acts, having been allegedly fraught with all manners of irregularities.

    She prayed the Tribunal to annul votes in areas that were found to be incredibly marked with irregularities like over voting, multiple thump printing, ballot snatching, ballot stuffing and improper ballot counting should be canceled to know the actual winner of the poll.

    Read Also: How I made Fayose Ekiti Governor, By Olujimi

    The petitioner also accused the INEC of dereliction of duties, saying most of the documents used for the conduct of the election were not duly signed by agents.

    But the respondents countered the submission, saying INEC did what was right and constitutional, by declaring the candidate of the APC the winner having found to have got the highest number of lawful votes.

    Justice Adeck nullified the elections in some polling units to declare Olujimi the authentic winner of the polls.

    Eventually, Olujimi polled a total of 54,894 to emerge victorious over the Adeyeye, who polled 52,243.

    He added that apart from the nullification in some units, the outcome of the tribunal’s verdict was predicated on the recount of the ballots by the contending forces as granted by the court.

    Justice Adeck, said for the petitioner to be so declared, she must prove those cases of criminal allegations of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Acts and other corrupt practices raised in her petition beyond reasonable doubt, which he said she did.

    The tribunal said in Ikere, Gbonyin and Emure local governments, the petitioner was able to prove cases of over voting and votes in those units were expunged from the ballots.

    The Tribunal said: “It is not tenable to say that marked ballots were not properly deposited in the boxes because when this did not happen, then it will lead to over voting and will affect counting at every level of collation.

    “To avoid this pitfall, those elections must be expunged in order not to vitiate the electoral process. Therefore, after those votes were deducted, PDP was left with 54, 894 while the respondent polled 52, 243.

    “The petitioner having polled the highest number of lawful votes should be declared the winner of the election.

    “We hereby declare the petitioner the winner and he is hereby returned elected.

    “We hereby direct the INEC to withdraw the certificate of return from the respondent and issue same to the petitioner,” he said.

  • Taraba Killings: Police, Army must work together – Prof. Gambari

    Elder statesman and former Nigeria Ambassador to the United Nations, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari Tuesday said following the unfortunate killings of three police detectives and a civilian in Taraba state, the Police and the Nigerian Army cannot afford to go their separate ways.

    Prof. Gambari, who said there is urgent need for a national conversation on the security challenges facing the country, warned that if the police and the army go their separate ways, the security of the nation would be compromised.

    He canvassed for continuous collaboration and dialogue not only between the Police and the army, but among all the nation’s security agencies.

    He also said the civil society, the traditional institutions and religious institutions should support and provide intelligence for the security agencies to enable them tackled the security problems facing the country headlong.

    He further advised the Federal Government to adopt parts of the recommendations of the 2014 constitutional conference to address the myriad of challenges facing the country.

    Specifically Prof. Gambari said the government should adopt some recommendations of the conference to tackle the current security challenges facing the country especially in the areas of community police or state police, asserting that the government should not throw away the baby with the bath water.

    Prof Gambari spoke with reporters shortly after delivering an address as the Chairman of the security summit organized by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) and the New Partnership for African Development, (NEPAD) at premises of the NARC at Asokoro, Abuja.

    The theme of the summit was” Terrorism, Insurgency, and Incidence of Electoral Violence in Nigeria: The Role of Security Agencies”.

    He said: “We cannot leave everything to the Nigerian police and the Nigerian Army, even leaving high way patrols to Army, the level of the challenge will weaken the police and over stretched the army.

    “There is need for continuous process of collaboration and synergy between the police and the Army to avoid the Taraba scenario in the future. If everybody goes their separate ways the security of the nation will be compromised.

    “Then again we need to assist the police and security agencies with intelligence and all the members of the society, traditional rulers, religious leaders. We have to look at those institutions that worked in the past and try to really use them in collaborative effort because security is the business of all of us.

    “Community policing, we need a conversation in this country very urgently whether it is community police, whether it is state police, all of this and you remember there was a national conference that made some recommendations in 2014.

    “Let us look at not the person who set up the this national conference, but what are the things there that can be used, and what are the things that will come out from this seminar today that will help us in terms of getting a better police and a better army because if we leave everything to the Nigerian Army even highway patrol, that will weaken the police and overstretched the Nigerian Arm”.

    Delivering his address at the summit, Prof. Gambari underscored the need for Nigeria to play its global, continental and national role in charting the way forward for Nigeria’s national security, sustainable peace and development.

    He said the Federal Government, the political elite and Nigeria’s security architecture should examine the roles played by Nigeria in restoring peace and orderliness to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Durfur, Sudan, in forming a synergy to end the current security challenges facing the country.

    Read Also: We lost 15 members in Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi others – IMN

    He said there is urgent need for Nigeria to find out the root causes of the conflicts confront us as a nation, regretting that going by the activities of IPOB, it appears that the nation’s political elite have not learnt anything from history.

    Prof. Gambari further submitted that inequality; lack of opportunities, youth unemployment and lack of peace building mechanism are parts of the problems facing the country and therefore urged the government to address them by providing political, social and economic security for the citizenry.

    He said Nigerians should learn to say no to electoral violence and other vices that are capable of reversing the gains recorded in the past 20 years of democracy, noting that we have to create condition for peace and development of the country.

    “If we can help Liberia and Sierra Leone as well as Darfur achieves peace, then, we should be able to replicate this at home. Wherever Africa is going, Nigeria should be there first. We must not fail world, Africa and Nigeria,” Prof. Gambari asserted.

    The Chief of Army Staff, (COAS) Lt Gen Tukur Buratai in his remarks said the army would continue to play its constitutional role of maintaining peace and orderliness in the country alongside other security agencies, saying that the army would not compromise its dignity and integrity in this regard.

    Buratai said the summit was timely while the theme was apt considering the involvement of the military in maintaining peace and its roles during elections, arguing that the present situation require the understanding of every stakeholder in moving the country forward.

    The COAS said there is need for all security institutions and development agencies to work together for common good, stressing that the military would continue to play its role of defending the territorial integrity of the country even if it had to pay the supreme sacrifice.

    Buratai said “Security and development moves in the same direction. We need to work together even if we have to pay the supreme sacrifice and that is why army personnel are deploy to all zones to assist the police in keeping the peace.

    “We have made significant progress to ensure that lives are safe and maintain security. In keeping the peace troops must carry out their task in line with extant laws. They are expected to do their jobs with dignity.”

    Buratai commended the organizers of the summit for their efforts to enrich the knowledge of the participants and impact on the society, asserting that the Nigerian Army would continue to partner with groups and individuals to bring lasting peace and development to the country.

  • Trump sacks National Security Adviser John Bolton

    American President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that he had fired his National Security Adviser John Bolton.

    The President made the announcement in a tweet in which he said he “disagreed strongly” with Bolton on “many issues”

    “I informed John Bolton last night that his services are no longer needed at the White House,” he said.

    “I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the Administration, and therefore I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning.

    Read Also; Donald J. Trump and the decline of the United States

    “I thank John very much for his service. I will be naming a new National Security Advisor next week.”

    However, after Trump’s announcement, Bolton himself tweeted a direct contradiction of the president’s claim, saying: “I offered to resign last night and President Trump said, ‘Let’s talk about it tomorrow.’”

    Bolton had served as Trump’s top national-security aide since April 9, 2018.

  • FG receives N2trn in first half 2019 – DG Budget

    The Federal Government received two trillion naira as revenue from January to June 2019, Director-General of the Budget Office, Mr Ben Akabueze, has said.

    Akabueze disclosed this at the Public Consultative Forum on the 2020 to 2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) in Abuja on Tuesday.

    He explained that within the period under review, about N3.3 trillion was expended by the Federal Government.

    The director-general said that there was an average of 1.6 million barrel of crude oil production per day on base production.

    He disclosed that an aggregate of four trillion naira revenue was collected in 2018 with expenditure of N7.4 trillion, including N1.7 trillion capital budget within the period.

    He expressed hope that the remaining half of the year would be better in terms of revenue performance.

    Akabueze disclosed that from the data received from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the country’s oil production output had risen to 2.1 million barrels per day.

    Also, at the forum, the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Babatunde Fowler, urged taxpayers in the country to monitor their taxes to ensure they were remitted to appropriate authority.

    “It is now a responsibility of everybody, especially taxpayers, to monitor to ensure transparency and accountability, if you have your tax deducted, then ask for the receipt.

    Read Also: Minimum wage: FG, labour to meet Sept. 16

    “Make sure you check within 41 days of when the money was remitted to the federation account.

    “This is important because during the tax amnesty close to 40 per cent has to do with withholding of tax, deducted but not remitted,’’ Fowler said.

    He added that the service had put in place measures to ensure that only those companies that paid tax would access government’s contracts and services.

    Fowler said necessary facilities would be deployed to the Office of the Accountant-General, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor and other government agencies to ensure compliance. (NAN)

  • Xenophobic attacks: Ohaneze tasks South East governors on returnees

    The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Tuesday appealed to South East governors to make provision to receive Igbos repatriated from South Africa.

    The body said that the governors should take steps to make life less stressful for Nigerians of Igbo extraction willing to return to the country from South Africa.

    President of Ohaneze, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja Mr. Odozi Nwodozi, made the appeal at a press conference to flag off preparation for 2019 Igbo Day celebration in Abuja.

    The Ohaneze chieftain who said that it was imperative for South East governors to brace up to receive the returnees from South Africa noted that the gesture would encourage other Nigerians to leave the former Apartheid enclave.

    Nwodozi noted that it was clear that majority of those to be repatriated from South Africa were Nigerians of Igbo extraction.

    He added that the Federal Government should also be up and doing to take care of the returnees.

    He noted that it was a sad commentary that South Africans should ask fellow Africans to leave their country.

    Nigeria, he recalled, was a front line state during the struggle to liberate South Africa from the strangle hold of Apartheid regime.

    He also recalled that a former South African President, Nelson Mandela, was at a time harboured by a first Republic Minister, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi in Igbo land.

    Read Also; Politicians funding IPOB – Ohaneze Youths

    He said, “First of all on the sad event taking place in South Africa, it is not only a blight on South Africa but it is also a shame to the entirety of Africa, knowing the role that Nigeria played in the liberation of South Africa.

    “Nigeria was a frontline State in that struggle. Nigeria in the 70s took responsibility in not only nurturing but empowering those that are today, leaders in South Africa.

    “I am also aware that Nelson Mandela in the heydays of his struggle was quartered in Igbo land, precisely in the house of the one we call the boy is good, Chief Mbazurike Amaechi, the only surviving minister of the first republic.

    “For South Africans to at this stage start behaving the way they are doing, is quite unfortunate.

    “However, with the return of our brothers and sisters, Ohaneze is not empowered economically to assist but I am sure the states and the federal government must have done things to make sure that those people coming back don’t feel the effect of their unexpected disengagement from South Africa.

    “So on the issue of xenophobia attack, the South East governors must put things on the ground to assist those returning from South Africa, the bulk of who are Igbo people. “We call on them to use this opportunity to put infrastructure that will cushion the effect of their unplanned dislocation from South Africa.

    On the attack on former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu in Germany he said:

    “I must start by saying that we are all Biafrans in spirit by the mere fact that we are born Igbo. However, we must put what we are doing into contemporary times and perspectives.

    “We must know that there is a culture of respect for elders, it is a taboo in the Igbo land for a child to beat his father. The Nuremberg experience was shameful.

    “We must give honour to our elders but if our elder makes mistake we should not come to the market square to insult our elders. We have a way of telling our elders, you have not done it right.

    “Therefore, this year’s Igbo Day is not an avenue to molest anybody. Anybody, be they politicians or public servants, they are all welcome to the ceremonies of this year’s Igbo Day.

    “I’m sure our brothers that were involved in that unfortunate Nuremberg experience have come to the reality that they made a mistake and I am telling you they are forgiven.”

  • COZA: N10m is not my problem-Timi Dakolo

    Popular singer and songwriter, Timi Dakolo has debunked the rumour his wife, Busola, demanded N10m compensation from the Senior Pastor of the Commowealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo over her rape allegation.

    The music star on his Instagram page stated that N10m is not his problem.

    “Dem say I dey look for 10 million, how much be 10 million? One weekend show. See, do you see this studio?

    “Do you know how much to pay for this studio? Some Nigerians they do not have sense…they should better come and enjoy my life.

    “Do I look like 10 million is my problem? Don’t go and be beliving all these lies.

    “I was in the studio when someone now buzz me that ‘Timi you asked for 10 million,” he said.

    Before his comments, Busola also debunked the news that she demanded N10m from Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo.

    However, Bukola had demanded ‘personal apology letter’ from Fatoyinbo whom she accused of raping her years ago.

    Read Also: Alleged rape: Ashimolowo may testify in suit against COZA pastor

    In a suit filed on her behalf by her lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi and Co in Abuja, the photographer and mother of three said the resultant effect of the rape has affected her marriage and caused her continuous emotional and psychological distress, which has not ceased.

    According to the suit filed by her lawyers, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo raped her twice and threatened her life after that. it also states that after the rape incidents, she started loathing for everything around her and withdrew to herself and away from all spiritual activities of the church.

    “The claimant avers that the defendant in the process used his hand to cover her mouth, thereby muffling her screams. The claimant avers that the defendant made efforts to penetrate her vagina, whilst she struggled to fight him off; however, the defendant overpowered her and penetrated her vagina and had sexual intercourse with her…

    “The defendant further proceeded to threaten the claimant’s life by telling her he would greatly harm her if she ever revealed the incident to anyone.

    “The claimant avers that following her second ordeal with the defendant, she became dejected, kept to herself and hated herself, developed utter loathing for everything around her and withdrew to herself and away from all spiritual activities of the church,” it reads.