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Tag: Usman Jibrin

  • Court adjourns ex- Navy chief’s fraud trial till June 14

    Court adjourns ex- Navy chief’s fraud trial till June 14

    An FCT High Court on Monday adjourned the N600 million fraud trial involving a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, till June 14.

    Justice Sadiq Umar adjourned the case after the cross-examination  of fourth prosecution witness, Mr. Abdulkadir Wakili.

    Jibrin was arraigned on May 25, 2016 on a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy and purchase of a property valued at N600 million without budgetary provision.

    He was charged alongside retired Rear Admiral Bala Mshelia, retired Rear Admiral Shehu Ahmadu, and Harbour Bay International Limited.

    RELATED: Ex-Naval chief diverted N677m tranches – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had alleged that the property was purchased from the account of Naval Engineering Services Limited.

    At the resumed hearing on Monday, Wakili from Nigerian Navy Budget Office, Abuja, testified and presented the Navy budget from 2013 to 2014.

    Maikya objected to the admissibility of the document, as it was the same document presented already in the Navy Budget and that it was not admissible in law.

    The prosecuting counsel, Mr Abdullah Faruk, argued that the tendering of the document was in line with Section 106 (b) of the Evidence Act.

    He said that the document was approved by the National Assembly.

    Earlier, Mr Peter Ogwu, Managing Director, Peterus Nigeria Limited, the company that sold the property to Harbour Bay International Limited, testified in the matter.

    Ogwu, led in evidence by Faruk, said that the property was sold in March 2014 by his company to Harbour Bay.

    Ogwu said that all the legal documents to the property were presented to the Diamond Bank branch office manager were the money was paid in.

  • ‘Fed Govt equipping navy’

    ‘Fed Govt equipping navy’

    Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin has said the Federal Government was increasing its equipment to combat oil theft and other criminal activities bedevilling the nation’s oil industry.

    Vice Admiral Jibrin spoke when he visited the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta in Warri, Delta State.

    He said the navy, under his watch, had arrested 38 vessels for illegal activities on Nigerian waters.

    The naval chief, who was accmpanied by the commander of the NNS Delta, Musa Gemu, said the Federal Government had made heavy investments into helping the navy discharge its statutory duties.

    Two military vessels are expected from China, one of which is due to arrive in the country before August and another one donated by the United States Navy, which is also expected to arrive by August.

  • Navy conducts free medical screening

    Navy conducts free medical screening

    The Nigerian Navy (NN) yesterday conducted free medical screening for the public to increase awareness on pertinent health issues.

    The screening, which was part of the 2014 NN Health Week, was conducted at the NNS Quorra Parade Ground in Apapa, Lagos.

    People were screened for high blood pressure; blood sugar, HIV, Malaria parasite, Typhoid and Body Mass Index (BMI).

    Declaring the two-day event open, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, who was represented by the Chief of Project Monitoring, Implantation and Evaluation, Rear Admiral J.A. Akinwale said the annual exercise provides an interface with other stakeholders in order for the force to enhance its capacity building initiative for better handling of issues confronting efficient medical service delivery.

    Tagged “effective and efficient healthcare delivery in the NN: challenges and prospects”,  Jibrin said without healthy personnel, the force cannot optimally discharge its constitutional responsibilities.

    While reiterating the navy’s commitment to transform the quality and standard of health services in all its medical facilities, Jibrin said the NN Hospital in Calabar would soon be completed and opened for use.

    At the event were the Flag Officers Commanding (FOCs) Western Naval Command (WNC) and Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) Rear Admirals Sanmi Alade and Goddy Ayankpele respectively; Director of Science, Walter Reed Programme, Gen. O.S. Njoku (rtd.); former Director, Naval Medical Services, Surgeon Commodore B.A. Sanni (rtd.); Commandant, Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba, Gen. R.N. Nkado; Director, Nigerian AirForce Hospital, Ikeja, Air Commodore S.M. Shinkafi and Commandant, NNS Quorra, Commodore A.M. Adeboyega.

    Speaking to newsmen after the event, Director of the Naval Medical Services Rear Admiral A. B. Afolayan said the navy was concerned with the mental health of its personnel adding that consultants have been drafted to check and monitor naval personnel to ensure those suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome are catered for.

    “We insist that our personnel who go for operations and missions are thoroughly debriefed and monitored when they return because most times, some of them manifest post traumatic distress syndrome.

    “Already, we have engaged the services of some consultants to help access the level of mental state of personnel and those who have question marks on the result of the findings of the consultants would be monitored.

     

  • It’s no longer business as usual for oil thieves, says Naval chief

    It’s no longer business as usual for oil thieves, says Naval chief

    •Navy not responsible for fuel scarcity

    From the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin came yesterday a warning to those engaging in illegality at sea: desist or risk being caught.

    Jibrin, who spoke during a joint military exercise between the Nigerian Navy and visiting Italian Navy Task Group tagged: “Exercise Ijewere” at the high sea, said that choke points have been established in troublesome areas with resources deployed to ensure no criminal was left uncaught.

    He was answering questions on how he intend to curb the rising incidents of crude oil theft as well as piracy that have robbed the nation economically.

    Jibril said: “We have deployed both human and material resources and have laid ambush to monitor all activities in the creeks.

    “Now, we wait for those who go to the creeks to perform illegality at anchorage positions. As long as we are able to establish choke points, all activities in the creeks now have just one passage way to deliver their ill-gotten goods. So, we wait for them and arrest them.”

    On allegations by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) that the Navy’s new tactics was responsible for the current fuel scarcity, Jibrin said the claim was unfounded.

    He noted that the force’s new approach in apprehending criminals may have resulted in one or two hours delay for ships, adding that only vessels without genuine documents are held.

    “NNPC can better explain what is happening. Though, I am not holding brief for them, I was told that the budget is a constrain that has limited NNPC’s effectiveness, particularly with regards to the subsidy issue which is extended to importers who bring in the products.

    “Right now, the amount that is produced locally is not enough to meet the demands of the population, that is why there is scarcity.

    “So, whoever is blaming the navy’s strategy of not allowing any ship pass our maritime domain unchecked by maritime forces for fuel scarcity is ignorant of the workings of the navy.

    “In the course of investigation, vessels may have encountered one or two hours delay but with genuine document, they are not delayed,” he said.

    On security situation in the Gulf of Guinea, the CNS said there is better cooperation between navies of neighbouring countries as criminals can now be pursued into Cameroon, Togo, Benin Republic and Ghana waters without restrictions.

     

  • Reps approve Service chiefs’ nomination

    Reps approve Service chiefs’ nomination

    The House of Representatives has approved the nomination of the four Service chiefs submitted by President Goodluck Jonathan for confirmation.

    The nominees are: Air Marshal Alex Badeh, Chief of Defence Staff; Maj.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin, Chef of the Naval Staff and Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu, Chief of Air Staff.

    A Joint Committee of Defence, Army, Navy and Air Force submitted its report at plenary yesterday.

    It noted that the military chiefs had been found capable and suitable for tackling the security challenges confronting the country, among other responsibilities expected of them.

    Following its mandate, the joint committee met on Monday, January 27, to deliberate on the modalities for the screening. The nominated Service chiefs were invited and the appeared before the joint committee three days later.

    At the screening, the lawmakers examined the appearance, composure, presentation and the knowledge of the nominees to get a general assessment of their capabilities and suitability for the positions.

     

  • Jonathan, Service chiefs meet over insecurity

    Jonathan, Service chiefs meet over insecurity

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met for several hours with Service chiefs behind closed-door at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    The discussions at the meeting, the first since the appointment of new Service chiefs last month, were not unconnected with the rising onslaught of the Boko Haram Islamic sect and other insurgents in the Northeast.

    The violence unleashed on the residents of the region has led to the death of scores of people with loss of property in tow.

    No statement was issued at the end of the meeting.

    The Service chiefs declined comments on what they discussed with the President.

    At the meeting were: the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu.

    Also there were: the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.); Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Abubakar Mohammed and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim.

    When reporters approached him for comments on the meeting, Air Marshall Alex Badeh declined to speak.

    Prodded further, however, he said: “I will only speak if you will allow me to speak in my dialect.”

  • Senate to Service chiefs: stop insurgency, kidnapping, oil theft

    Senate to Service chiefs: stop insurgency, kidnapping, oil theft

    SENATORS urged the Service Chiefs yesterday to stop the escalating insurgency, kidnapping, oil theft and pipelines vandalisation in the country.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence and Army, Senator George Sekibo, spoke shortly before the Senate Joint Committee on Defence and Army, Navy and Air Force went into a closed-door screening of the newly appointed Service Chiefs in Abuja.

    The senate referred the President’s letter, seeking for the clearance of the military top brass to the committee which will send its recommendations to the Committee of the Whole for approval.

    Sekibo (Rivers East), warned that the lawlessness and impunity across the country could lead to its disintegration, if not nipped in the bud.

    He noted that the screening of the nominees was not about their academic qualification, but their “competence in strategic military operations”.

    He said: “It is pertinent to mention that our country is going through some major security challenges, including among others the Northeast insurgency, the oil theft and pipeline vandalisation in the Southsouth and kidnapping in the Southeast and other parts of our country.

    “If the required attention is not given to these challenges, they are capable of disintegrating our country or putting our nation’s unity in question.

    “It is the wish of the Senate and indeed the entire nation that no part of this country would be allowed to exist in lawlessness and every part of the country must be fully protected, as that is one of the primary objectives of a good government.

    “The oil theft and vandalisation of pipelines in the Southsouth region is a major economic breach with resultant effect of reducing national earnings from the oil and gas sector and this must be stopped.

    “It is our belief that the change of batons from the previous service chiefs by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to those of you who are presenting yourselves for screening is to work towards achieving tranquility in the Northeast region, eliminate oil theft and pipeline vandalisation in the Southsouth region, stop the kidnapping in the Southeast region and other areas of the country and also perform your other constitutional duties.

    “The screening, therefore, may not necessarily be to assess your academic but your competence in strategic military operations.”

    Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh, Chief of Army Staff, Major General Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin and Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu were at the screening.

    Apart from Sekibo, other committee members who conducted the screening are All Progressive Congress (APC) Senators Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central), Babafemi Ojudu (Ekiti Central), Akin Odunsi (Ogun West), Mohammed Sani Saleh (Kaduna Central), Atai Ali Aidoko (Kogi East) and Ajayi Robert Borofice (Ondo North).

    Others are Basheer Garba Mohammed and Ifeanyi Okowa.

    The presence of the APC senators raised some eyebrows, considering the directive of the party’s national leadership that its lawmakers should block all Executive Bills or confirmation of nominees from the President, pending the resolution of the Rivers State crisis.