The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NSA

  • NSA, security chiefs for Senate today

    NSA, security chiefs for Senate today

    National Security Adviser (NSA) Babagana Monguno and other security chiefs will today appear before the Senate to brief the lawmakers on their efforts to secure release of the Chibok school girls.

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu announced this yesterday.

    Ekweremadu, who took over Senate plenary in the absence of Senate President Bukola Saraki, who is on trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), asked senators to attend the sitting.

    He said the sitting, scheduled to start by 1pm, would be a closed session.

    The Senate, on April 14, resolved to invite Monguno and security chiefs to brief it on their efforts to secure release of the school girls.

    It hailed the #Bring Back Our Girls group for its doggedness in the campaign for release of the Chibok girls.

    It asked security agencies to do everything humanly possible to ensure that release of the girls.

    The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion by Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) and three others entitled “Abduction of Chibok school girls-two years after.”

    The motion elicited angry reactions from senators who felt that two years was long enough for the government to have recovered the school girls.

    Melaye lamented the plight of the girls and their parents.

    He insisted that the Federal Government cannot be said to have succeeded until the girls are rescued.

     

     

  • Chibok girls: NSA, others meet Senators Wednesday

    Chibok girls: NSA, others meet Senators Wednesday

    The National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno and other security chiefs will on Wednesday appear before the Senate to brief the lawmakers on their efforts to ensure the release of the abducted Chibok school girls.

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, announced this on Tuesday.

    Ekweremadu, who took over Senate plenary when the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, left the chamber for his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), asked Senators to attend the briefing by the NSA and service chiefs.

    He said the sitting scheduled to start at 1:00pm would be held behind closed doors.

    The Senate on April 14 invited the NSA and other security chiefs to brief the lawmakers on their efforts to secure the release of the abducted girls.

    The upper chamber also commended members of the Bring Back Our Girls group for their doggedness in the campaign for the release of the girls.

    It asked security agencies to do everything humanly possible to ensure that release of the girls.

  • Chibok girls: Senate summons NSA, other security chiefs

    Chibok girls: Senate summons NSA, other security chiefs

    The Senate Thursday resolved to invite the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno and other security chiefs to brief it on their efforts to secure the release of the Chibok school girls.

    The upper chamber also commended the Bring Back Our Girls group for their doggedness in the campaign for the release of the Chibok girls.

    It asked security agencies to do everything humanly possible to ensure that release of the girls.

    The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion by Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) and three others entitled “Abduction of Chibok school girls-two years after.”

    The motion elicited angry reactions from Senators who felt that two years was long enough for the government to have recovered the school girls.

    Senator Melaye lamented the plight of the girls and their parents.

    He insisted that the Federal Government cannot be said to have succeeded until the girls are rescued.

    He said: “We cannot succeed as a government until those girls are released. Getting back the over 200 Chibok school girls into the society is important and a must for our security agencies.

    “The abduction of over 200 girls by Boko Haram has wrongly affected us as a people as could be seen in the international condemnation of the government’s slow reaction to this unprecedented outrage committed against Nigerian womanhood. Never before has such criminal viciousness been perpetrated on Nigerian womanhood.”

    Melaye noted that Thursday “makes it 730 days, 17520 hours and 1,051 minutes that our Chibok school girls have been under captivity. It will be recalled the night of 14-15 April, 2014, 276 girls were kidnapped from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, the responsibility for the abduction was claimed by Boko Haram. Luckily, 57 of the school girls managed to escape making 219 still missing.”

    He said that outside propaganda videos created by the Islamist militant group, none of the girls has been seen and the families of the missing girls have been traumatized because of their daughters.

    Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, in his contribution said that Melaye and some other members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) used the abduction of the Chibok school girls to win last year’s general elections.

    Akpabio wondered why those who led protests against the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan to rescue the girls have suddenly kept mum.

    He said, “I remember in 2014, Dino Melaye used to wear T-shirt and he led the protest to ensure that the abducted school girls were released.

    “He was always at the National Fountain to lead a protest against the government. He eventually cashed in on it and won election to the Senate. Other people in APC also did the same thing.”

    Former President Jonathan came under local and international attack over the way and manner the government handled the issue of the abducted school girls.

    Jonathan was accused of playing politics with the rescue of the girls.

    At last year’s general elections, President Muhammadu Buhari who was the presidential candidate of APC, promised to rescue the girls two months into his government.

    The government has insisted that it does not know the whereabouts of the girls and when they will be rescued.

    Some other Senators, who also supported the motion, asked the federal government to go beyond the yearly ritual of celebrating the anniversary of the abduction of the girls.

    The lawmakers said the government should explore every available avenue to ensure that the girls are rescued.

     

  • N13.9 arms deal: FG accuses Dasuki of plotting to scuttle trial

    N13.9 arms deal: FG accuses Dasuki of plotting to scuttle trial

    • Court to rule Feb 8

    The Federal Government Thursday accused former National Security Adviser (NSA), Mohammed Sambo Dasuki of plotting to scuttle his trial before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, Abuja.

    Dasuki is being tried with a former Director of Finance and Administration, Office of the National Security Adviser, Shuaibu Salisu, a former General Manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Babakusa and two  companies – Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited  – on a 19-count charge  bordering on money laundering and criminal breach of trust.

    The accusation is contained in a counter-affidavit filed by the prosecution against an application filed by Dasuki.

    The ex-NSA is, in an application he filed last month, accused the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and by extension, the Federal Government, of breaching his right to prepare for his defence by re-arresting him after the court granted him bail on December 18 last years.

    He urged the court to among others, restrain the prosecution from proceeding with the trial or quash all the charges against him on the ground that the prosecution could no longer proceed with the case having allegedly flouted the court’s order granting him bail.

    Arguing the prosecution’s counter -affidavit Thursday, prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) contended that the application was misconceived and an attempt to frustrate proceedings in the case.

    He faulted Dasuki’s claim that the prosecution has flouted the court’s order.

    He noted that Dasuki, in an affidavit supporting his application, admitted that he was released from Kuje Prison after he met the bail condition.

    Jacobs argued that having admitted that he was released from prison based on the bail granted him, Dasuki could not now turn around to accuse the prosecution of disobeying the court’s order granting him bail.

    The prosecution lawyer noted that Dasuki was re-arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in respect of separate allegations of criminality.

    He argued that it was wrong for Dasuki to seek to hold EFCC for contempt on account of actions taken by the DSS. It was his position that Dasuki ought to initiate fundamental rights enforcement proceedings, under Section 46 of the Constitution, if he was convinced that the re-arrest amounted to a violation of his rights.

    Jacobs noted that the order for bail made by the court on December 18 last year did not restrain other security agencies from further arresting him in relation to separate offences.

    “It is the EFCC that is prosecuting this case. The DSS has a separate case against him before the Federal High Court. If he has anything against DSS for re-arresting him, he should go before the FHC.

    “This application is intended to delay the trial here. The application is an abuse of court process.

    “They admitted in their affidavit that he was released from Kuje prison. By their admission, the order was obeyed. There is no other of this court that has been breached as they alleged.

    “That order granting bail to the applicant (Dasuki) did not confer immunity on him against further arrest,” Jacobs said.

    He urged the court to reject Dasuki’s application on the ground that it was without merit and only intended to delay trial.

    Earlier, while arguing the application, Dasuki’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN) argued that the re-arrest of his client by DSS was a violation of his client’s right to fair trial and the right to prepare for his defence.

    “The 1st defendant (Dasuki) was granted bail on December 18, 2015 he perfected the bail, but shortly afterwards, the complainant (EFCC) took him (Dasuki) into custody again.

    “We have shown how his denial of freedom has denied him the ability to prepare for his defence. And it is a breach of his right to fair trial.

    “His liberty was breached despite the order of the court. It is our argument that a party in breach of court order cannot seek the court’s indulgence, including seeking to continue with the prosecution of the defendant,” Daudu said.

    He faulted Jacob’s attempt to distinguish between EFCC and DSS, arguing that they were both agents of the Executive, who were allegedly carrying out a purported instruction of the President to keep Dasuki in custody at all cost.

    Jacobs also queried the legitimacy of the powers of the EFCC, DSS and other agencies of the Federal Government to prosecute, arguing that it was only the Nigeria Police Force, under Section 204 of the Constitution that has such prosecutorial power.

    Daudu said his client’s application is intended to compel the prosecution, who is an agent of the Federal Government, to comply with an existing order of the court.

    “The prosecution of all cases should be grounded to compel the Executive to obey court’s orders. It is high time the court asserts itself by insisting that its orders are complied with,” Daudu said.

    He urged the court to grant his client’s application.

    The trial judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf refused oral applications by other defence lawyers – Akin Olujinmi, Solomon Umoh, A. I. Layonu and Olajide Ayodele (all Senior Advocates of Nigeria) – for an adjournment to enable them file written submission in support of Dasuki’s application.

    The judge held that parties were allowed ample time to file their processes in the case, but Olujinmi, Umoh, Layonu and Ayodeji failed to utilise the opportunity granted to all parytes.

    He upheld Jacobs’ argument that there was no cogent reason adduced by the four lawyers to warrant an adjournment.

    The judge adjourned to February 8 for ruling.

     

  • Armsgate: Late arrival of Dasuki stalls proceedings

    Armsgate: Late arrival of Dasuki stalls proceedings

    Proceedings were stalled Tuesday in the trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Mohammed Sambo Dasuki and others at the High Court of the federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja by the late production of Dasuki in court by the Department of State Services (DSS).

    Dasuki is being tried with a former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, and a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, a former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, the ex-governor’s son, Sagir Attahiru, and a firm, Dalhatu Investment on a 22-count in which they were accused of looting about N13billion public funds.

    When the case was called Tuesday, the other defendants in the case were in court, except Dasuki. The judge also noted that other parties in the case were yet to respond to a fresh application by Dasuki, seeking to stop further proceedings in the case.

    Dasuki was later brought in by men of the DSS while the judge, Justice Peter Affen was in the process of adjourning the case.

    The judge proceeded to adjourn to February 9 to enable parties respond to Dasuki’s application.

    In his application, Dasuki wants the court to prohibit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission  (EFCC) from prosecuting him on the ground that the EFCC could not continue with his trial have failed to earlier orders of the court made on December 21 last year, admitting him to bail.

    He filed a similar application in another charge pending against him and others before Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf of the same FCT High Court.

    “An order prohibiting the complainant (prosecution) from further prosecuting the instant charge or any order charge against the second defendant (Dasuki), or seeking any form of indulgence before this honourable court in Nigeria, except and unless it complies with the order of this court made on December 21, 2015, the said order which remains valid for all intents and purposes, having not been set aside by any appellate court.

    “An order discharging the second defendant/applicant of all the offences contained in the instant charge, the said charge which cannot be lawfully prosecuted by the complainant who is in brazen disobedience of a subsisting ‎order of this honourable court made on December 21, 2015.”

    He also sought as alternative prayers, “A mandatory order directing the complainant who acts through the Department of State Services/EFCC and other enforcement agencies, to immediately produce the second defendant in court, by which this honourable court may give directives as it considers appropriate, for the administration of justice in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

    “An order staying further proceedings in this charge until the second defendant/applicant exhausts the remedies available to him him law for the enforcement of his right to liberty, the said right which had already been preserved by the order December 21, 2015.”

  • NSA Hails Nigerian Athletes on AAG Performance

    NSA Hails Nigerian Athletes on AAG Performance

    •Nominations for Nigerian Sports Award to Close September 26

    Organizers of the prestigious Nigerian Sports Award, Unmissable Incentives Limited has commended and congratulate d the Nigerian athletes on the just concluded All African Games for the outstanding performance and medal haul at the tournament.

    Kayode Idowu, Executive Director, Unmissable Incentives Limited, disclosed this in Lagos on Monday while briefing the media on developments on the 2015 edition of the Nigerian Sports Award.

    He also heaped praises on the Nigerian Basketball Team, D’Tigers for winning the recently concluded FIBA Africa Basketball competition and picking the ticket to compete in the Basketball event at the next Olympic billed to hold in Rio, Brazil.

    Idowu also used the opportunity to announce that the nominations of Sportsmen and Women for the different categories of awards for the 2015 edition would close on Saturday, September 26, 2015

    He revealed that the nominations for this year’s edition of the award was deliberately prolonged to close after the just concluded All African Games to accommodate the different major sporting activities for the year.

    ‘’In the past, we have had instances where some Nigerian Sportsmen and Women recorded some outstanding performances during the course of the award year but couldn’t make it into nominations. This is why we decided to ensure that nominations for this year closes at the end of all the major sporting events” he said. He then restates the call for Nigerians to seize the opportunity of the remaining few days to nominate their favourite Nigerian athletes who have recorded excellence performance in their various sports during the course of the year.

    He urged Nigerian sports enthusiasts to visit the website of the award using the link – http://nigeriansportsaward.com/nominations/ or nominate on Facebook as well as Twitter.

    It would be recalled that the nominations phase of the 2015 edition of the award opened on June 4th, 2015. Verification of entries by the Auditors would hold between September 26th and 28th while the announcement of final shortlist would be made public on October 6th.

  • Statistical Association seeks Customs roles in oil import, export

    Statistical Association seeks Customs roles in oil import, export

    •Aregbesola seeks cooperation with NSA

    The Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA) has urged on the Federal Government to involve the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in the monitoring of crude oil export and refined petroleum products importation with a view to ensuring reliable statistical data on the nation’s merchandise.

    This is even as it also called for urgent review of the existing policies guiding the economic activities in the Export Processing Zones (EPZs) such that the export-import trade business in the zones could be accessible to agencies involved in data collation and production for national planning and development.

    Setting this agenda for government at the just ended 39th Annual Conference of the Association in Oshogbo, Osun State, its National President, Dr Mohammed Tumala, said these policy measures were required to get accurate data on Nigeria’s merchandise trade trends on a broader scale and by implication, support statistics-based planning for development.

    Tumala, who described the exclusion of statistics as a core subject in secondary school curriculum as undesirable for the country, said the involvement of the NCS in crude oil lifting and fuel import regime, given the agency’s capacity to do so, would go a long way in minimising the abuses that had characterised the oil and gas industry operations over the years.

    On the current moves to build a credible identity database for Nigerians as well as the  anti-corruption crusade in the country, Tumala said such agenda would only succeed if the relevant agencies had the right data to work  with and also involve professional statisticians in the collation, analysing, production, and application of such statistical data on their investigations.

    He therefore advised security agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to see how they could begin to rely on and adopt proactive data mining approaches to fight financial and other crimes in the country.

    While expressing the readiness of the NSA to partner with the various agencies including the EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (CPC), Directorate of State Security Services (DSSS) and the National Identity Management Commission  (NIMC), Tumala said  the group was prepared to help state governments establish their Bureaux of Statistics to support their drive towards effective policy implementation.

    In his opening speech at the Conference, Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, appealed to the association to rise to the challenge of helping the country develop a credible statistical database on key areas of education, health and the economy, among others, with a view to supporting the tiers of government in basing their developmental agenda on statistics-based planning.

  • Boko Haram: NSA, service chiefs land in Maiduguri

    •300,000 lives lost to insurgency,says Gov Shettima

    The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major -General  Babagana Monguno (rtd),the Chief of Defence Staff,Lieutenant General Abayomi Olonisakin and the Army, Naval and Air force chiefs of staff, as well as the Police Inspector General, yesterday stormed Maiduguri for a personal evaluation  of the security challenge in the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency.

    The NSA, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs -Lieutenant General  Tukur Buratai (Army);Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibs (Navy) and Air Maarshal Sadique Abubakar (Air Force) – were decorated with their new ranks 24 hours earlier by President Muhammadu Buhari, who gave them three months to end the insurgency.

    The NSA, accompanied by the service chiefs and    IGP  Solomon Arase, paid a courtesy call on Governor  Kashim Shettima at the Government House in Maiduguri, with a vow that Boko Haram days are numbered.

    He said: “In less than 24 hours after we were sworn in and decorated by the President, we are here in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital for a reassessment of the military operations to  end the  insurgency in three months. As you can see,  the President has picked the right service chiefs  to end this senseless terror.

    “We are to assess all the military operational details that will facilitate the  various aerial and ground troops’ fight  against Boko Haram . This has to be done  before we can launch a consistent and rapid campaign against terror and terrorists activities in the North East and the country at large.

    “We are not going to work against your interest  restoring peace and unity to the North East. We are here for all of you affected by this terrorism that has  claimed the lives of many of your sons, daughters, parents, guardians, including traditional and religious leaders sacked from towns and villages for over six years.”

    He sought the assistance of the people of the state by way of  ‘credible information’ to  end the insurgency.

    ” People  should come out from their closets and assist the military to  end  this insurgency,” he said.

    Receiving the delegation,  Governor Shettima said the government and the people would not shirk their responsibility in the anti Boko Haram fight.

    He said the insurgency has climed up to 300,000 lives  across 20 local government areas of the state.

    He added: “We will continue to work for the people by investing in education, so that our children and future generations do not become another new set of insurgents.

    “We are saying that we are against Boko Haram, because of the establishment of our Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to end this madness of incessant killings and destruction of people’s property, in not only in Borno State, but the neighbouring states of Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Taraba and Bauchi in the North East.

    “If this Boko Haram madness comes to an end; your names will be written in gold; and the country and its citizenry will be proud of all of you here in Maiduguri,” Shettima said.

  • Search on Dasuki’s house legal, says Falana

    Search on Dasuki’s house legal, says Falana

    Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has said that the search conducted on the residence of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki by officials of the State Security Services (SSS) last Thursday was legal and authorized by law.
    Falana in a statement issued in Lagos Sunday however said that Col. Dasuki breached the law when he refused to allow the SSS officials “free and unhindered access” to his residence for several hours last Thursday.
    According to Falana, contrary to the information circulated in the media by the former NSA, his house was not illegally raided but lawfully searched pursuant to a warrant issued by a Magistrate.
    “The fundamental rights to personal liberty and privacy of the home of every Nigerian citizen are constitutionally guaranteed. As fundamental rights are not absolute they may be breached in accordance with a procedure permitted by law.
    “Hence, by virtue of section 146 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, the residence of any citizen can be searched with a warrant duly signed by a Judge, Magistrate or Justice of the Peace. Section 149 thereof imposes a duty on any person residing in any building which is liable to be searched to allow free and unhindered access to it and afford all reasonable facilities for its search,” Falana stated.
    The lawyer recalled that a team of State Security Service (SSS) officials, armed with a search warrant, had attempted to execute the warrant on the private residence of Col. Sambo Dasuki Dasuki, in Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory.
    He noted that the former NSA who was convinced that he did not deserve to have his house searched refused to allow the SSS officials access to his house for several hours adding that the search could not be conducted until the armed troops guiding the house were withdrawn by the Army Authorities.

  • • Firing of Service Chiefs, NSA too late in coming

    • Firing of Service Chiefs, NSA too late in coming

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s removal of the Service Chiefs and the National Security Adviser (NSA) on Monday must have come as sweet music in the ears of many Nigerians. Left to the average Nigerian, the military officers ought not to have lasted a day in office beyond May 29 when President Buhari was sworn in. Those sacked are: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt-Gen Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral  Usman Jubrin, Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Adesola Amosun and NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki. (rtd).

    They were replaced with Major-General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin (CDS), Major-General T.Y. Buratai (COAS), Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (CNS), Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Monday Riku Morgan, Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) and retired major-General Babagana Monguno (NSA).

    It is heart-warming that President Buhari did the needful on the former military chiefs at last. Of course Nigerians who had been clamouring for their removal have genuine cause to so do. Like most of our national institutions, the military had become a shadow of what it was years back. One of the most prominent of its problems was its blatant politicisation by politicians of the erstwhile ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) who used the military’s monopoly of coercive force to unlawfully affect electoral outcomes.

    Soldiers were used to protect election-riggers, harass and intimidate political opponents, and empower favoured candidates, especially during the last governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states. It is a surprise that Lt.-Gen. Minimah chose not to investigate the outrageous perversion of military values in spite of its very disturbing implications for the polity, until his sack on Monday.

    But it is not enough to sack public officials; they must be made to account for their stewardship. The military, especially in the last four years, enjoyed robust budgetary allocations. In fiscal 2012, 2013 and 2014, defence got N921 billion, N1.055 trillion and N968.127 billion, respectively, yet much of the anti-insurgency campaign has been characterised by widespread complaints by soldiers about poor pay and the lack of arms, ammunition and equipment. In encounter after encounter, the military was forced to retreat by apparently better-armed Boko Haram insurgents.

    In March this year, some soldiers protested the failure of the Federal Government to pay their wages in full. Instead of the promised N150,000 per month for anti-insurgency troops, they were allegedly paid only N30,000 per month. Soldiers returning from peace-keeping operations abroad have protested the unauthorised reduction or non-payment of their entitlements, only to be arrested and court-martialed for their troubles. Members of the Ex-servicemen Welfare Association regularly protest the non-payment of their pension arrears. Nigerians are interested in how the defence budgets were spent.

    Rather than comprehensively investigate the financial anomalies which were causing so many heart-breaking battlefield reversals, the military hierarchy focused solely on court-martialing soldiers. Over 500 military personnel have faced charges of insubordination, cowardice and mutiny, and have been sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment. Some have received the death penalty.

    Ironically, the military surge which began in February has shown that a properly-equipped and motivated armed forces is more than a match for Boko Haram. Clearly, issues of pay, equipment and competent leadership are far more important to success as opposed to the isolated emphasis on discipline.

    The new military helmsmen must address the deep-rooted problems that have persistently weakened morale, crippled effectiveness and consequently engendered fear in the face of the enemy. They should revisit the recent military trials and punishments. If the army is to come to equity, it must do so with clean hands. It makes no sense to arraign soldiers for acts of indiscipline and cowardice while doing nothing about partisan manipulation of the military and rampant corruption within the military hierarchy.

    Above all, the new military chiefs must ensure that Boko Haram is defeated as soon as possible. And that can only be done if the military shreds its political toga for its core professional role. Time is of the essence.

    ‘It is heart-warming that President Buhari did the needful on the former military chiefs at last. Of course Nigerians who had been clamouring for their removal have genuine cause to so do. Like most of our national institutions, the military had become a shadow of what it was years back’