The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria newspaper

  • Tribunal upholds Abaribe’s election

    The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, the Abia State capital has upheld the declaration of the Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Delivering the judgement, a member of the three member panel, Justice Wasiu Animahun faulted the decision of the petitioners to rely on card reader accreditation.

    He noted that the machine could not take the place of the voters’ register as it was only complimentary.

    The panel held that if the number of over-voting claimed by the petitioners was removed from the figure with which Abaribe was declared winner, he would still maintain a reasonable margin of lead over the petitioners.

    Dismissing the petition for lack of merit, the tribunal held that the petitioners failed to prove their allegation of irregularities.

    It, however, awarded the cost of N500, 000 against the petitioners in favour of the second (Abaribe) and third PDP respondents.

    But the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, candidate Chief Chris Nkwonta, has faulted the judgment of the election petition tribunal.

    But In an interview, Nkwonta said the tribunal erred in law when it failed to consider that the fact that the INEC guideline on the use of smart card readers for accreditation of voters, was part of the electoral process.

    He alleged that going by the total number of accredited voters by the card reader, the results announced by INEC is higher than what is recorded in the card readers.

    Read Also: Seadogs, Abaribe, Sani: enough is enough

    The APGA chieftain lamented that the tribunal also ignored the various cases of over voting and numerous mutilations results entered in favour of his opponent and expressed hope that the Court of Appeal would rectify the matter.

    “The tribunal erred in its judgment. It ignored the major flank of the petition which was the issue of use of smart card readers to accredit voters. The use of smart card readers as an INEC guideline to accredit voters is part of the electoral process meant to ensure the integrity of the system. The tribunal also ignored the serial mutilation of results across polling units in the zone, especially in Obingwa where my opponent comes from. The question is, if my opponent is popular, why did he have to resort to rigging in his local government?

    “Our judicial system must check the issue of desperation among political office seekers. The issue is that during election, a candidate will manipulate the system to be declared winner because he knows that his action will be rendered a fait accompli by the tribunal. This is unfair. There is no doubt that the Court of Appeal will not ignore such facts.”

  • Funding gaps working against road constructions – Fashola

    The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola on Wednesday declared that budget funding gaps had worked against completion of roads projects in the country in the last four years.

    He was answering question on the poor state of roads in the country against the series of approvals given by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) during the first tenure.

    At the post FEC briefing on Wednesday, Fashola also disclosed that not all the over N300 billion budgeted was released.

    According to him, his office is yet to get any money since he got reappointed as minister as there are still paper work processes going on.

    He explained that some of the road works going on are based on goodwill.

    Stressing that there have been criticism against borrowing during the first tenure, he said that community support is also needed to facilitate construction of roads projects in the country.

    He gave an instance of over N10 billion already accruing as compensation on the 2nd Niger Bridge.

    The Minister also disclosed that the FEC approved a total of N8.2 billion for roads projects on Wednesday.

  • Malabu Oil Block: Magu releases probe details, says Adoke is liable

    The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu has said a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke(SAN) has a case to answer over the Settlement Agreement on Malabu Oil Block (OPL 25).

    He said Adoke has been offering the reading public in the account of his sojourn in governance a bouquet of half-truths and plain lies.

    He said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo did not discuss, counsel, or direct him in any way on any issue concerning Adoke.

    He said the EFCC is not the battle axe of political figures and could not have been called out to deal with anyone as being insinuated by Adoke.

    He said after satisfying his long desire to titillate the public with some tales by moonlight Adoke should make himself available for trial.

    Magu, who made his position known in a statement through the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the commission’s investigation has implicated Adoke in the matter of the implementation of the settlement and resolution of agreements on Oil Prospecting License OPL 245 and OPL214.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests Prison’s staff, five others for ATM fraud

    He said the probe of OPL 245 was not a witch-hunt in any form.

    He said: “It is important for the public to know that the investigation of the lucrative Oil Prospecting License 245 Settlement deal, otherwise known as the Malabu Scandal, by EFCC was not an enterprise in witch-hunt or malice.

    “The Magu-led leadership of the commission, in consideration of persistent public demand for closer scrutiny of the transaction, coupled with emerging information suggestive of opacity in the consummation of the deal, acted in national interest to determine that overall public good was not sacrificed on the altar of personal interest of those who perfected the deal.

    “The investigation had been discreet, with no threat of direct physical harm to Adoke or any other person implicated in the deal.

    “The commission’s investigation holds Adoke liable in the matter of the implementation of the settlement and resolution of agreements on Oil Prospecting License OPL 245 and OPL214 between Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd, belonging to former Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete and the federal government of Nigeria in 2010.”

    The EFCC chairman released the details of the investigations into Malabu Oil Block scandal.

    He added: “It could be recalled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had revoked the OPL 245, which the late General Sani Abacha granted to Etete, who was his Petroleum Minister and reassigned it Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company. Etete’s Malabu Oil and Gas, however, reclaimed the oil block in 2006 through the court. While Shell challenged the decision, a fraudulent settlement and resolution was perfected under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government with Shell and Eni buying the oil block from Malabu in the sum of $1.1billion.

    “EFCC’s investigations however revealed crimes, that border on conspiracy, forgery of bank documents, bribery, corruption and money laundering to the tune of over $1.2 billon against Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd, Shell Nigeria Ultra deep (SNUD) Nigeria Agip Exploration (NAE) and their officials. Some of those officials are already facing criminal trials in Switzerland and Italy.

    “The investigations further revealed that Etete and others fraudulently received an aggregate sum of US$ 801,540,000 (Eight Hundred Million, Five Hundred and Forty Thousand United States Dollars) from Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company, Nigeria Agip Exploration Ltd and ENI SPA in relation to the oil prospecting license.

    “Adoke as the then Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice allegedly abused his office in respect of the granting of the oil prospecting license OPL 245 to Shell and ENI.

    “A prima facie case, bordering on official corruption was established by the Commission following the investigations, culminating in court charges against Adoke, Etete and others, which is still pending before the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court.”

    He advised Adoke to return home for trial.

    “The arraignment of Adoke SAN, Etete and others could not take place because they along with other defendants have remained at large, refusing to make themselves available for trial.

    “The former chief law officer of the federation prefers to remain in self-exile, and engage the Commission in needless media war.

    “Having now satisfied his long desire to titillate the public with some tales by moonlight in the mould of a semi author-biography, Adoke should now make himself available for trial,” he said.

    Magu however faulted alleged attempts by Adoke to rewrite history.

    He said: “The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Ibrahim Magu is alarmed by the brazen attempt by former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), to rewrite history and portray himself as victim of persecution regarding the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC’s) investigation of the OPL 245 Settlement Agreement (Malabu).

    “In the last few days the Nigerian media has been awash with previews of Adoke’s book, titled: “Burden of Service: Reminiscences of Nigeria’s former Attorney General,” in which he took aim at the EFCC boss as being part of a deadly triumvirate that had been hounding and persecuting him since he left office in 2015. The other two alleged traducers, mentioned by Adoke are the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and former senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume. Adoke claims that he had been viciously maligned by this threesome to the extent that he contemplated suicide.

    “Specifically, he claimed in Chapter 8 of the book, that Magu was recruited by Prof. Osinbajo to hound and persecute him despite, as he claimed, his role in reinstating Magu to the EFCC from the police “where he had been vegetating.”

    “Adoke attributes his source of information on the alleged Osinbajo instruction to Magu against him to an unnamed governor from the North West, who according to him, claimed Magu told him that he had the instruction of Osinbajo to “deal with Adoke.”

    “Adoke also claims that an unnamed senator also confided in him that Magu nursed a personal grudge against him because he believed that he (Adoke) owned half of the Centenary City in Abuja.

    “That Adoke neither named the North-West governor nor the Senator that provided the weighty intelligence on which he took Magu to the guillotine in his book, could only mean one thing: the claims are tissues of lies, contrived to entertain and attract underserved attention to himself.

    “The acting Chairman of EFCC Ibrahim Magu categorically states that at no time did the Vice President discuss, counsel, or direct him in any way on any issue concerning Mr. Adoke. It is wicked and evil to make such a false allegation against anybody especially where it is based on hearsay.”

    Magu accused Adoke of employing marketing gimmick to wet public appetite for his book.

    He added: “These yarns, being spewed by hirelings of the former AGF are nothing but a marketing gimmick, dubiously orchestrated to wet public appetite and sufficiently stir curiosity ahead of the official release of the book on Monday, September 16, 2019.

    “But it is obvious that what Adoke is offering the reading public in the account of his sojourn in governance is nothing but a bouquet of half-truths and plain lies.

    “The accounts in Chapters 8 and 9 as it relates to the EFCC and its Chairman, Ibrahim Magu are not only inaccurate but self-serving.

    “For the records and emphasis, Magu never received any instructions from the Vice President, neither had he communicated verbally or in writing to any governor from the North-West or senator about such a patently false purported instruction from Osinbajo to “deal with Adoke.”

    “The EFCC is not the battle axe of political figures and could not have been called out to deal with anyone. Adoke’s ploy is simple. He wants to create a false narrative that the offenses for which he has been charged are not genuine but are the product of some high level conspiracy against him. But, first of all, there is no discernible reason for such a conspiracy. Secondly, it is an entirely false premise. It is clear that this is symptomatic of a drowning man clutching at straws.

    “Adoke ran well outside the track when he said he was instrumental to reinstating Magu, to the EFCC from the police “where he had been vegetating.”

    “ The Commission is unaware of Adoke’s role in Magu’s return to the Commission in 2012 after being away for a few years. It is well known that the EFCC Acting Chairman is a pioneer staff of the Commission, with many stripes to his sleeves by way of accomplishments that have no link to Adoke.

    “Magu and the EFCC have no interest in any public spat with Adoke who remains a suspect under investigation for criminal offences and against whom a competent court had issued a subsisting warrant for his arrest.

    “ The said warrant has already been executed by the International Police Organization (INTERPOL) which placed him on its wanted list. The option before Adoke is to return home and answer to his charges.

    “It is however gratifying that the former AGF abandoned the idea of committing suicide as taking that route would have amounted to a monumental waste of resources on the part of the EFCC. So much has been spent in diligently investigating the OPL 245 scandal that the Commission needs Adoke to be alive to answer to his charges, and clear his name before the court.

    “It makes no sense to deceive the people with claims that he had been exonerated of any wrong doing by the court. As a senior advocate, he should know that a civil suit cannot exonerate one from criminal liability.”

  • BREAKING: $9.6bn judgement: Reps summon Malami, Sylva, others

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday set up a 17-man ad hoc committee to as a matter of urgency, invite the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the federation, Abubakar Malami and his counterpart in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Timpriye Sylva.

    They are to give situational report on the matter and explain the lapse in judgement of time and due diligence in the (miss)handling of the case with a view to finding lasting solutions to the avalanche of extant and future cases.

    The ad hoc committee is headed by Hon. Sada Soli (APC Katsina).

    The lawmakers are also to invite other officials of the ministries, saddled with the responsibility to negotiate the agreement with P&ID and the prosecution of the matter before the tribunal.

    This was sequel to the passage of motion of urgent national importance sponsored by a member, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere.

    Ihonvbere, while moving the motion noted that the recent judgement debt of $9.6 billion (with daily interest accruing) by a commercial court in the United Kingdom against Nigeria, in a matter between Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Limited “leaves a very sour taste in the mouth.”

    He said for a country with a foreign reserve of only $45 billion and a sovereign debt profile of over $80 billion, the judgment debt is not only punitive but would devastatingly affect the Nigerian economy.

    Details shortly…

  • BREAKING: Running mate crisis: Dickson sacks special adviser

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson has dismissed Mrs. Helen Bob, as a Special Adviser in his administration.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said that Bob was dismissed for repeated acts of gross misconduct, indiscipline, irresponsibility and acts unbecoming of a person occupying the high position of Special Adviser in any government whatsoever.

    Soriwei said that Bob, who was a governor’s aide for almost eight years, was among 130 special advisers out of over 2000 appointees engaged by the governor.

    It was gathered that the development was in connection with Bob’s recent public outburst over Dickson’s choice of candidate and running mate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the November 16 governorship election.

    Bob had condemned some decisions taken by the governor describing them as recipes for failures in the election and saying she was ready to be relieved of her post in the government.

    Bob, who was former Chairperson of Brass Local Government Area, particularly expresses her angst over governor’s choice of Senator Lawrence Ewrujakpor as the party’s running mate.

    She also described a stakeholders’ meeting proposed by the governor to seek possible substitution of Erwujakpor as unnecessary since according to her the governor had the knife and the yam.

    She said: “For me, there is no need calling stakeholders to hear governor’s briefing as usual because they may not be given opportunity to speak out their minds. Even if they do, their opinions will never count because of our past experiences.

    “We all recalled how three aspirants emerged from him to speak for a Restoration political family and the entire PDP. Not even the party leadership could call a meeting to discuss the way forward but strongly supported the governor to ensure one of them won the PDP ticket while others were disgraced.

    “He may be the last PDP governor if he doesn’t fix all these disheartening issues that have clouded our dear PDP. The governor is a very intelligent and experienced personality that knows what best to do at the right time.

    Read Also: Dickson to PDP leaders: stop issuing unauthorized statements

    “He need not any stakeholders meeting to fix the party back to the way it used to win general elections. Since 2015 that the model of choosing who bears the PDP flags in state House of Assembly, House of Reps and Senate seats changed to imposition of candidates due to favouritism, family and friends, we have lost more seats than ever.

    “With all due respect my boss, the truth is bitter but I have to state it here clearly that this imposition of candidates is an unpopular and old school kind of party primary model that is why we lost those seats to the APC.

    “Frankly speaking, even those who are close with you are only there to ensure there salaries read hence will never tell you the truth. Please take a good decision yourself as you have always done to fix all the collapsing walls of the party as no stakeholders have any role to play at this point”.

  • WAEC Registrar bows out month end

    Registrar, West African Examinations Council (WAEC) International office, Dr Iyi Uwadiae, will complete his tenure month-end.

    During a teleconference from Ghana headquarters of the examining body on Wednesday, Uwadiae told journalists gathered at the WAEC International office in Agidingbi, Lagos that his seven-year tenure (consisting of a five-year official tenure and two year extension) as the 12th registrar of the Council, had been successful.

    Uwadiae, who took over from another Nigerian, Alhaja Mulikat Bello on October 1, 2012, however, refused to name his successor. He said the successor, who has already been appointed would be named when he assumes office on October 1, 2019.

    “I anticipate that you will be anxious to know who is going to succeed me. I am glad to inform you that my successor has been appointed. I will, however, want to appeal to you to grant me the indulgence of not unveiling the personality at this forum, as you are quite aware that the Council has an official process of doing so soon after assumption of office. There will be a press release or conference to that effect,” he said.

    During his tenure, Uwadiae said the council was able to complete its headquarters which took 15 years to build in 2016. He added that Liberia fully adopted the WASSCE from 2018, while the Council increased additional diets of the WASSCE and Basic Education Certificate Examination for private candidates in member countries.

    To prevent examination malpractice and leakages, the Registrar said the Council decided to acquire facilities to print in-house.

    Read Also; WAEC opens five-day African assessment bodies’ conference today

    “The Secretariat paid the deserved attention to the issue of examination leakage and resolved to settle for nothing short of total eradication of the nuisance. We pursued a status of self-reliance in printing services which could guarantee our set target of 100% in-house printing of question papers. As at now, each national office has reached a certain stage in the establishment of an in-house printing press. Other types of malpractice also received our deepest reflection, as the Council constructed or furnished for use its own standard/model examination halls in places like Lagos and Benin City in Nigeria, Accra, Cape Coast, Wa and Koforidua in Ghana and Tubmanburg in Liberia,” he said.

    Regarding the use of technology, Uwadiae said the Council under him had used software and various gadgets to prevent and check examination malpractices.

    “We built tighter security around our examination materials and conduct as various gadgets and software were deployed for identification of candidates, capturing of data and detection of irregularities at examination centres,” he said.

    Uwadiae also said the teleconference facility used for the press conference was being used for the first time. He said the facility was in place in three of the five member countries, namely Ghana, Nigeria and Gambia.

  • Buhari condoles with Olukoyede family

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with family of Secretary to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) Ola Olukoyede, over the passing of his mother and the family matriarch, Mrs Moroluke Marian Fakoyede.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, condoled with family members, friends and Mrs Fakoyede’s close associates over the sad loss.

    He urged them to take solace in the good works of the God-fearing woman, who treasured love for family and neighbours.

    Read Also; Buhari presides over FEC as NEMA, EFCC, others make presentations

    As the family prepares for her final journey home on Friday, President Buhari prayed that the Almighty God will grant Mrs Fakoyede eternal rest, and comfort all members of the family.

  • Panic as suspected cultists raid shops in Uyo

    There is panic among residents of Udoette street and other nearby areas close to the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom state following an attack on shop owners by suspected cultists on Monday night.

    The Nation exclusively reported last week that some streets close to the University of Uyo and the Uyo City Polytechnic were under siege by hoodlums suspected to be cultists.

    Our correspondent who carried out a thorough investigation into the situation mentioned Udoette, Ikot Ekang, streets and Itu road among dark spots with the UNIUYO and Uyo City Polytechnic axis.

    The report further stated that some residents of the affected areas in Uyo had vacated their rented apartments while landlords were selling their houses for fear of being killed.

    In a fresh attack which occurred Monday night between 8 and 9pm, our correspondent gathered that shop owners and passers-by were attacked and robbed by some suspected cultists.

    The Nation learnt that the gangsters started their operations from Udoette and proceeded to Itu road collecting money, GSM phones, drinks and other valuable items from their victims.

    Read Also: Gunmen raid UniUyo female hostel

    A source who pleaded anonymity disclosed that Udoette is a secret cults and armed robbers zone, adding that, the hoodlums normally trooped out from Udoette Lane with dangerous weapons such as axes, guns and knives etc.

    He stated further that from 6pm the areas are very dangerous for the residents, passes by and shop operators.

    According to him”Udoette is a very dangerous area because of these cultists who are bent on robbing, raping and making life unbearable for us.

    “Government should send in security men to these areas and especially Ebong Essien street.”

    Also speaking,a businessman disclosed that the perpetrators usually hide at Essien inyang street after they are done with their operations.

    He expressed dismay that businesses have been adversely affected due to the high cases of insecurity.

    “We are now leaving here in morbid fear and discomfort whereas it is not supposed to be so. As I speak we don’t have peace and we can’t move freely at night.

    “We want the government to come to our aid by sending security men to this area to protect us.

    ”Cultists are not stronger than the government, so they should take immediate action concerning the menace because nothing have been done positively to curb the situation”, he said.

    Efforts to reach the state police public relations officer, Odiko MacDon proved abortive as he did not respond to phone calls and text message sent to him.

  • Two brothers docked for duping PFN President

    Two brothers, Avan Smart aged 61 and Avan Jerry aged 29, have been arraigned before an Oredo Magistrate Court for allegedly duping President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Rev. Felix Omobude, the sum of N3m.

    The two brothers were arraigned on seven-count charges bothering on forgery, stealing and obtaining under false pretence.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Police Prosecutor, ASP Patrick Agbonifo, informed the court that the suspects committed the offence on May 31st and June 24, 2019 at the headquarters of the New Covenant Church, Benin City.

    ASP Agbonifo said the suspects presented themselves as contractors to the Edo State Government and bidded to construct road within the Light House Polytechnic, owned by Rev. Omobude.

    Agonifo said the suspects presented forge documents of an unregistered company to Rev Omobude.

    He said they collected the sum of N3m under false pretences.

    The offences, according to Agbonifo, were punishable under sections 516, 390, 467 and 419 of the Criminal Code vol II laws of the defunct Bendel State now applicable to Edo State.

    It was gathered that the brothers were arrested following a petition to the State Commissioner of Police, Danmallam Abubakar.

    Presiding Magistrate, I A Osayande granted the accused bail to the sum of N200,000 each and a surety in like sum.

    Osayande adjourned the case to September 26, 2019.

  • Six signs to show your partner is truly committed to you

    Before you can determine the seriousness of your relationship, it is imperative to be able to have conversations about tough subjects with your partner, such as having a clear idea of what being ‘committed’ means to you and learn about your partner’s definition of it.

    You could be dating your partner for a while and think things are going great. But you can never really know for sure unless they actually tell you how they feel about you.

    You should also know that for some, being comfortable enough to express how they feel takes time. So here is how to tell if your partner is truly committed to what you share:

    They speak in “We”

    Bringing your partner into your world is an essential part of a relationship and a proof of commitment.

    People in committed relationships speak about themselves as “we.” This simply means that they are bringing you into their lives and making you part of many of the things they do.

    They are highly satisfied

    The strongest predictor of commitment is satisfaction. If you are highly satisfied, you are often committed.

    They see their relationship as better

    Committed partners tend to believe their relationships are better than other people’s relationships.

    They don’t pay attention to potential alternative partners. They don’t even notice attractive people around them.

    They make sacrifices

    What is commitment without sacrifice? Committed partners make sacrifices for each other and don’t expect favours to be returned, at least not immediately. They have a more long-range view of things and make decisions based on what’s best for the relationship, not what’s best for themselves as individuals.

     

    Read Also; Six mistakes newly wedded couples make

    They are always ready to try new things with you

    Trying new things is scary. There’s always the possibility of failure and nobody ever wants to look stupid. But if your partner is willing to step outside of their comfort and do something they’ve never done before with you, they’re likely all in.

    They are willing to talk about the future

    Just because they share something real, serious and genuine, they are willing to have a discussion about the future with you.

    If your partner has dropped their walls and let you in, that’s a good sign they are serious about you. A partner who is all in is willing to engage in vulnerable and potentially uncomfortable conversations.

     

     

    mydomaine.com