Asari-Dokubo debunks reports of flying into Abuja aboard presidential jet

The leader of Niger Delta people’s Volunteers Force, NDPVF, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, Friday, debunked reports that he was flown into Abuja aboard presidential jet shortly after his release by the Beninoise gendarmes, saying he was still in Cotonou, the capital of Benin Republic.

Alhaji Asari-Dokubo who described the reports as tissues of lies said he will flying into the country aboard commercial flight any moment from now.

The arrogance of Shekau and his group is unislamic. Which President if not Goodluck, will accept somebody to tell him to become a Muslim or resign?

Asari-Dokubo who spoke through the South East/North Central Coordinator of Niger Delta People’s Volunteers Force, Mr. Emmanuel Amakiri in Abuja, accused enemies of the present administration for his current travail and incarceration by Beninoise gendarmes.

He said that there was no iota of truth in the insinuation that President Jonathan deployed a jet to ferry him to Abuja a few hours after his release.

According to him, “we want to correct erroneous impression making round in some quarters concerning the unfortunate incident in Benin republic in the arrest of the leader of NDPVF and our mentor, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo.

“After all efforts by his followers and the Nigerian people we were able to secure his release. There was a rumour that presidential jet was deployed to BeninRepublic to fly him to Abuja.

“As I speak with you, Asari-Dokubo is still BeninRepublic, and possibly to come back to Nigeria by today or tomorrow aboard commercial flight.

“So, we are here to debunk emphatically that no presidential jet ever brought Asari-Dokubo to Abuja. He will come with Arik aircraft and all of us, his followers, friends and admirers will be at the airport in the public glare to receive him,” he said.

Spread of terrorism: Army uncovers Boko Haram’s new tactics

The Chief of Army Staff Lt General Azubike Ihejirika, has advised Nigerians not to panic over speculation of the spread of terrorists into other regions of the country, assuring that security moves were in top gear to monitor terrorists movements just as the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru also alerted Nigerians that Boko Haram terrorists have come out with new tactics to circumvent security measures put in place towards curtailing their activities in the North East.

The new methods according to General Attahiru include resorting to attacks on soft targets and erecting snap road blocks on major highways in the north east.

He however stressed that the Army has been responding swiftly through effective combat patrols both on air and land.

15. Goc 1 Div., Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab (l), with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, at the First Commanding Officers’ Workshop on Enhancing Military Professionalism in Kaduna on Tuesday

General Attahiru said: “While the onslaught on the violence extremist organisation continues, the insurgents have devised methods to circumvent the new security measures by resorting to attacks on soft targets and erecting snap road blocks on major highways in the north east” he said.

”Equally, our troops have responded appropriately through effective combat patrols both on land and air in order to dominate the area of operations,” he stated.

Describing the United States’ designation of Boko Haram and Ansaru as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTO) as a step in the right direction, he noted that the Nigerian Army has continued to carry out “full spectrum counter-insurgency operations, with emphasis on both kinetic and non-kinetic operations to shape the operational environment in the north east”.

”Currently, 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in conjunction with the Nigerian Air force had carried out simultaneous offensive operations. Based on these operations, insurgents were successfully cleared from some camps in SambisaForest, BitaVillage in Damboa Local Government as well as Gujba in neighbouring YobeState. Many insurgents were killed and large cache of arms and ammunition were also recovered,” the Army spokesman said.

In the same vein, the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 2 Division Garrison, Major General Ahmed Jubrin expressed the readiness of the Nigerian Army to combat terrorism and other security challenges in the country.

Addressing the soldiers, General Jubrin who was represented by the Commander, 4 Brigade, Benin, Brig.-Gen. Patrick Akem, said at the end of the 2 Brigade “Inter Brigade Combat Proficiency Competition,” which ended in Benin City, yesterday, said that the exercise was geared towards combat readiness, as much as confidence building for men of the Nigerian Army.

According to him, “all these are geared ensuring that the desire of the Chief of Army Staff to build capacity in a manner that will position us to tackle the challenges we are facing currently. We have done this not only to create awareness but to give confidence to the nation that indeed we are training and we are able to tackle the challenges that we are facing.

Chief of Army Staff in Lagos

Speaking in Lagos while commissioning the remodeled headquarters of the Nigerian Army Engineers Complex, at Bonny cantonment , Victoria Island, Ihejirika noted that attempt by some insurgents to

spread from the North eastern region of the country to other regions have met brick-wall following their subsequent arrests, adding that the Nigerian Army would continue to do its best in providing equipment and logistics to enable troops carry out their duties”.

He said, “The spread should not cause panic. We monitor their movement and the exposure on them is beefed up in the North East in particular and in other parts of the North and the tendency is not for them to fret down wards.”

What we are trying to do is to build new cells in the new areas particularly for those of them that are unrepentant.a

We have a common understanding with the SSS ,the police and other sister services to continue to monitor them and they are being arrested”.

Commending the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers for turning giving its head quarters a structural face lift, Ihejirika noted that the initiative and courage to undertake such project was in line with his vision to transform the Nigerian Army into a force that would meet the demands of the present challenges as well as remain relevant in national development.

According to him, “ this giant strides entailed a lot of sacrifice, integrity and on the part of the commander and his officers and soldiers. It is a proof that the transformation agenda of the president, commander- in chief of Armed Forces, Dr Goodluck Jonathan is being imbibed by some commanders in the Nigeria Army.”

He therefore,urged other commanders to emulate such,even as he encouraged the Commander, officers and soldiers of the Corps to strive more to improve upon the standards attained, noting that  any organisation that is not growing is dying. here is still room for improvement particularly in support for the Nigeria Army operations in the North East where we have made progress the Army Headquarters in the face of limited resources and other competing needs.

DEFECTION OF G-7 GOVS: Anxiety reigns over Tambuwal’s seat

WHAT fate now awaits the leadership of the House of Representatives in the light of the new development? Where does Speaker Aminu Tambuwal belong? Will he join the APC to keep his seat or sacrifice it? These are obviously questions earnestly begging for answers now that most of the G7 Governors have  defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The aggrieved governors are Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers State), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa State), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano State), Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara State), Aliyu Wamako ( Sokoto State), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger State).

As of now the Jigawa and Niger states governors have not pulled out of the PDP.
The Governors have been having a running battle since August 31, 2013 when they with Abubakar Baraje and other members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) including former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Ababakar,  staged a walk out from the party’s Special Convention at Eagles Square to form what later became the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) chaired by Baraje.

Shortly after the development, 58 members of the House of Representatives publicly switched sides to the Kawu Baraje nPDP after declaring their support for the governors.

The members included Abdullahi Balarabe, Abdulmumin Jibrin, Ali Ahmad, Abdullahi Muhammad Wamako, Abdullahi Muhammed Rico, Abdulmalik Usman Cheche, Adamu Bashir, Ahman-Patigi Aliyu, Ahmed Zerew, Aishatu Ahmed Binani, Aiyedun Akeem Olayinka, Alhassan Ado Garba, Aliyu Madaki, Aliyu Shehu, Aminu Shagari, Aminu Sulyman, Aminu Tukur, Andrew Uchendu, Bashir Baballe, Blessing Nsiegbe.

*Tambuwal

There were also Dakuku Peterside, Dawari George, Faruq Muhammed Lawan, Gibson Nathaniel, Gogo Bright Tamunu, Haliru Zakari Jikantoro, Hassan Adamu, Hussain Namadi, Ibrahim Ebbo, Ibrahim Tijjani Kivawa, Issa Bashir, Kabiru Achida, Khabeeb Mustapha, Maurice Pronen, Mohammed Sabo, Mpigi Barinada, Muhammad Ahmed Mukhtar, Muhammad Ibrahim, Muhammad Sani Kutigi, Mukhtari Muhammad, Musa Ado, Musa Sarkin-Adar, Mustapha Bala Dawaki, Mustapha Mashood, Ogbonna Nwuke, Rafiu Ibrahim, Sa’ad Nabunkari, Sani Muhammed Aliyu, Shuaibu Gobir, Sokonte Davies, Sufiyanu Ubale, Umar Bature, Usman Wada, Yusuph Dunari Sule, Yusuph Galambi, and Zakari Muhammed.

Following their sojourn in the nPDP, a virulent division erupted in the House between them and other members of mainstream PDP under the chairmanship of Alhaji Bamamga Tukur. Literally, the members were pro-President Goodluck Jonathan.

The division was felt on September 1, 2013 when Baraje led the group of G7 on a courtesy call on the leadership of the House.

Little had introductions and protocols been observed than a rumpus occurred in the House between the members of the two factions. Clothes were torn. Chairs were freely used in the melee that later became a free for all. Since then, the House has never been the same as there have been deep -seated  animosities and aggressions among members.

The face-off reached its apogee at a point when motions and bills were turned down by members of the nPDP who seemingly formed an alliance with the opposition and outnumbered the mainstream PDP.

The grouse of the breakaway faction  was hinged on the manner Tukur carried himself and his office. Some called him Lord of the Manor  while others said he was becoming too autocratic and intolerant and subsequently demanded his sack.

But President Jonathan was not ready to sacrifice Tukur.

With this on the ground, the G-7 governors and the members declared “to your tents o Isreal”.

To this end, meetings after meetings, sometimes nocturnal, were held between the President and the breakaway faction all to no avail.

The matter also assumed another dimension when Tukur approached the court which eventually ruled in his favour. But that was far from solving the internal wrangling and bickering eating up the party.

It was to climax when the Governors began a massive consultation with those considered the ancient pillars of the PDP. This was in company of the likes of former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, who are leaders of the APC.

This saw the likes of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former heads of state, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdusalami Abubukar hosting the governors in a bid to find solution to the matter.

But the matter assumed a dangerous dimension on Tuesday when the five of the aggrieved governors nPDP leaders defected to APC.

Surely, the development is expected to have a spiral effect on the House. There is apprehension that it
could scuttle the leadership of the PDP-led House.

How? It will make the PDP which used to be the majority, a minority party in the House.
This is predicated on the calculation that the members under the nPDP would also follow their governors to APC.

At the moment, the House has 360 members. Of this number, APC which is an offspring of ACN, ANPP, and CPC has 138 members.

At present, PDP has 208 members, while the opposition APC has 138 members. With the exception of Jigawa and Niger states whose governors said they are still part of the PDP, Kano, Kwara, Rivers, Adamawa and Sokoto states have a total of 48 lawmakers out of which about 40 are said to be with the nPDP.

Should the 40 PDP members in the five G7 governors states join the APC, the party’s lawmakers will now be 178, while the PDP will be left with 168. This will ultimately make the APC to be in majority leaving the PDP as the minority  in the House.

Also if all the 67  nPDP members defect to APC, it will have  a total of 205 members.
With this, the mainstream PDP or Pro-Jonathan lawmakers will take the back seat while APC would take the lead.

But there are big questions. Will Speaker Tambuwal whose State Governor, Wamakko and his colleague-lawmakers from Sokoto had gone to APC follow suit or play the dissident? Would he prefer to sacrifice his exalted office? What happens when the number is streamlined?

House will decide my fate— Tambuwal

However, on the heels of the development, the speaker said it was at the discretion of the House members to know whether they would follow their governors or not.

In a statement by his Media Aide, Mallam Imam Imam, the Tambuwal said they would follow the process if they wanted to cross carpet to APC.

He said: “Members of Parliament ( MPs )will decide collectively on when to defect. They have their internal process if they decide to cross carpet, let’s wait and see whether they can activate the process or not.”

Reps rule out leadership change in House

Meanwhile, the House said on Thursday that despite the defection of  five nPDP governors to the opposition APC, nothing will change in its leadership as no member has so far communicated to the leadership of his intention to move.

Briefing  journalists yesterday, Deputy Spokesman of the House Rep Victor Afam Ogene (APGA, Anambra) said until such a time when members formally declare their intention, the House remains the way it is.

He said Section 68 (1) of the Nigeria 1999 constitution as amended  provides that members can only defect to another political party in group base on merger agreement but that what is happening in the PDP cannot be defined as such.

“In politics, things like this happen, but as a House, we remain one. Section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 constitution, as amended, says people cannot cross carpet in group except in merger situation. But defection has to do with individual member, so if they’re defecting, the proper thing must be done by activating that section of the constitution.

“As at now, we are not aware of any member defecting to another party. Remember, going by our rule, until a party has 181 members, you can’t talk of having the majority.”

Before Ogene’s briefing, individual members spoke to Vanguard on the implications of the development.

It’ll make PDP a minority in the House – Nwuke

Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, member representing Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said: “I think that the timing of the merger is perfect. It is coming in the face of unnecessary delays, unnecessary deceptions and some lack of faith in the negotiation between the President, officials of the PDP and the governors. I think that the governors had given hope to Nigeria and they have given a Christmas package to their supporters who indeed have been yearning for some change in the direction of Nigerian politics. So, I believe that the movement is significant at least for now, we can say to ourselves that we know those who are progressive-minded and we know those who are reactionary within the Nigerian system.”

On the likely effect on the House of Reps, he said: “Certainly, it will tilt the balance of power within the House. That is clear because what it means is that the PDP will move from a majority to becoming the minority within the House.  That is the present impact it will have. I don’t imagine that it will affect the leadership of the House under Speaker Tambuwal. What is key is that as it stands now, the PDP is in minority. Their status has changed. The leadership of the House will certainly become minority in the House while those within the APC will certainly become the majority.”

It is a welcome development— Sumaila

Also speaking, Hon. Suleiman Abdurahman Kawu Sumaila, Deputy Minority Leader, said: “We received with the joy the long-awaited merger of our beloved political party the All Progressives Congress with the group of G7 governors of the nPDP. It is a welcome development that will forever shape the political history of Nigeria. With this merger, a new chapter has now been opened in our collective struggles for the emancipation of the Nigerian people from the 14 years of internal slavery, bondage and suppression under the PDP.”

It won’t affect PDP –Bawa

Chief Whip of the House, Hon Mohammed Ishaka Bawa (PDP,Taraba), said the development would not affect the PDP.
”As the Nigerian constitution provides, they have the right to freedom of association; they have the right to launch any political party of their choice. Nobody is in PDP by force. You can decide to leave at any time you wish to. But what I want Nigerians to know is that PDP will continue to wax stronger despite all that is happening.

This is not the first time in PDP; this is not the first time in the political development of Nigeria. I’ll like to take you back to 1983 when some progressive governors decided to leave their party; we had Nwobodo,  Abubakar Barde, Abubakar Rimi and a host of them who left their party, but what was the result after they left?

”If that is their wish, the constitution guarantees them that freedom. In PDP, we have 1001 ways of consolidating ourselves. In 2011, there were some strong members of the PDP that left, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, but the PDP still won.

”It depends on the calculation and the members that show interest. Is it all members that show interest? We’re not aware of any member that wants to move with his governor. Until a letter is sent to Mr Speaker and read on the floor of the House we cannot decide to count to know the number of people who defected. PDP will never be minority in the House up to 2015; I can assure you that. The members will not automatically leave; they’ll remain in the party.”

They’re  free to join APC— Igbokwe

Speaking in like manner, Hon Nnanna Igbokwe(PDP, Imo), lawmakers who wished to defect are were free to do so. “They are free to join any party they like, that is the beauty of democracy. But to say that it will affect the PDP, I don’t think so.

This will make our democracy to become more robust; it will make us to go back and strategise. I would have loved that the issue causing the standoff was resolved amicably. PDP is a big party and I know that it will overcome the challenge posed by the exit of these people”.
Other Reps speak

Also reacting, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Opposition Leader in the House, said: “We receive them and all others who are committed to change and who are progressive in inclination with open arms. The change that all Nigerians desire has only just started”.

Hon. Dakuku Peterside (PDP, Rivers) said, “it is a watershed in our democratic journey and hope rekindled.

The beneficiary is the Nigerian people, democracy and democratic culture can never be the same again and our democratic institutions will be strengthened by implication . Never again will the people be taken for granted”.

To Hon. Abiodun Faleke (APC, Lagos),  “this is the best for Nigeria at this point of our democratic journey.

The House of Representatives will witness better performance with this development, I believe”.
Hon. Aliyu Madaki (PDP, Kano), said: “This landmark event has shown us that our democracy is growing and strong too.

If people can have the freedom to choose where they want to belong, I think, as a people, we should be commended. “For me, I see this as a way forward for our democracy and with this, the future is not only brought for our democracy but the entirety of Nigerian people.
I believe Nigerians will see begin to see a more vibrant federal legislature because there is a new order in place”.

Hon. Lanre Odubote (APC, Lagos), added: “It’s a development to our polity as it will save us from the impunity and corruption that pervade the system since 1999.”

Rep Sani Madaki, PDP, Kano said he join Kwankwaso in APC.  “We’ll follow our governors; there’s no doubt about it. We can’t continue to stay and face injustice. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for, and this will eventually change the leadership in the House.

Also, Rep Razaq Bello-Osagie, APC representing Oredo Federal Constituency, Edo said: “The G7 governors are Nigerians whose rights are protected in the 1999 constitution including the right of association with an alternative and truly progressive APC platform. Nigerians have lost faith in the ability of PDP as a party to provide leadership in a country so blessed with human and material resources.”

Crisis Brews In OAU as Academic Staff Protest Board’s Imposition Of “HND Holder” As Acting Director

Members of the academic staff of the National Center for Technology Management (NACETEM), a research institute located on the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University, have decried the forceful imposition of a holder of the Higher National Diploma as the acting director general.

The staff members questioned the board’s appointment of Yusuf Abdullah Muhammad as the acting Director General/CEO after the exit of the last DG, Willie Siyanbola. The protesting staff expressed dismay over the appointment of Mr. Muhammad, whom they described as having no qualification in research or technology, adding that such qualification ought to be requisite.

In a solidarity press conference, the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) called on the Federal Government to intervene by reversing the appointment in order to save the institution from crisis. The union threatened a series protests at OAU and outside if the government failed to intervene.

“NACETEM is an agency that provides critical knowledge support in the area of science, technology and innovation (STI) management. The agency’s activities span human capacity building, policy research and consultancy services in STI management,” the union said. It criticized the imposition of a DG with no background in either technology administration or in research.

The union admitted that Mr. Muhammad is the oldest staff after the former DG, but insisted that it was wrong to use seniority as the criterion in appointing the institute’s leader.

The union’s statement added: “The Board, in its own wisdom, has nominated Mr. Yusuf Abdullah Muhammad, an administrator and a HND holder in accountancy, to superintend over a research institute that has at least 10 PhD holders and over 30 Masters Degree holders in its fold. Being the most senior in terms of rank, the officer ordinarily would have been made to act. But the peculiarity of the agency’s mandate requires a seasoned academic which the agency has in large supply.”

The union condemned the appointment of “an incompetent and unacceptable headship for NACETEM by the governing board.”

The union accused the agency’s new board of modifying its statutes in order to clear the way for the appointment of the new acting director, adding that Mr. Muhammad played a role in doctoring the statutes.

“To our surprise, an abridged version of the draft enabling law, sponsored solely by Mr. Yusuf Abdullah Muhammad, was considered by this same governing board at its special board meeting held in Abuja on 20th November, 2013. We [would] like to draw your attention to the fact that major elements of the initial draft enabling law which had been considered by various offices and the management team of NACETEM have been put aside,” the statement asserted.

ASURI alleged that Mr. Muhammad had introduced some changes into the laws to facilitate his eventual appointment as NACETEM’s substantive DG. The union stated that some of the irregularities that arose from changes made by Mr. Muhammad include composition of the governing board, the requirements for the position of the DG/CEO, the functions and mandates of the agency, and the removal of the power of the agency to award postgraduate certificates and degrees.

According to the union, the “abridged enabling law” reportedly made by Mr. Muhammad also ceded some powers and sole responsibility of the DG/CEO to the board. The ceded powers include the responsibility to set up guidelines, regulate and manage NACETEM funds, ratify appointments as well as termination and dismissal of junior staff of the agency.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source at the institution alleged that Mr. Muhammad’s appointment was part of a strategy by a former administrator to cover up some mismanagement and misdeeds at the agency.

NACETEM staff charged that the board, in a desperate move to push through Mr. Muhammad’s appointment before its ratification, his name was hurriedly used in a national daily newspaper as the acting DG.

“It was also observed with utmost surprise that a publication on page 34 of the Vanguard of Monday, 25th November, 2013 portrayed Mr. Yusuf Muhammad as the new Acting Director-General of the agency when there [was] no approval to that effect. In fact, what the paper published as an appointment was merely a proposal by the governing board, which was not acceptable to ASURI and a host of other members of staff. This is seen as a collective insult on the psyche of the agency and a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the agency which has been built up over the years,” the protesting staff stated.

In a letter to Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Ms. Omobola Johnson, who also oversees the Ministry of Science and Technology, the union demanded that a candidate with a PhD in Technology Management, Sciences, Engineering or Social Sciences be appointed as the new acting Director-General in order to avert a crisis.

The statement also called for a new board composed of technocrats and at least a south westerner. The union gave a two-day ultimatum for their demands to be met.

Nigeria Secret Police Release US-Based Medical Practitioner & Lawyer Detained Over “Online Activism"

Emmanuel Fashakin

Nigeria's secret police today arrested and later released a United States based medical practitioner, Emmanuel Fashakin on arrival at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport.

Dr. Fashakin is an older brother of Rotimi Fashakin, former spokesman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) arrived on Arik airline flight into Lagos only to be detained by the SSS.

The doctor, who is also a lawyer, is well known on Nigerian listservs for his comments on the state of affairs in Nigeria.

His lawyer, Bamidele Aturu confirmed the arrest and subsequent release an hour ago, stating that he was held for several hours in the custody of the SSS both at the airport and its Kingsway road offices in Ikoyi Lagos. 

The arrest of Dr. Fashakin offers evidence that the Goodluck Jonathan government is opening a new front not in the war against Nigeria’s problems of which it has become a part, but on critics of bad governance. 

In his letter to the Director General of the SSS, which was copied to the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Aturu called for his client to be released immediately.

He pointed out that it is indefensible to subject a person who had been on an eleven hour non-stop flight to the physical and psychological stress of detention which cause is not divulged for hours.  

The lawyer also stressed that the detention constitutes an unwarranted violation of the right of Dr. Fashakin to respect for the dignity of his person and not to be subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment as guaranteed by section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, Articles 4 and 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and all other International Human Rights Instruments.

“Since no reason has been advanced for the detention of our client, we want to believe that it has nothing to do with his well-known expression on the internet of opinions about how to advance democracy in Nigeria and ensure that our people are rescued from the abyss of inexplicable poverty occasioned by greed and graft,” he said.  “Whatever may be the case, we would like to make it clear the arrest and detention of our client is unacceptable and that we shall implacably seek all possible and known legal remedies on his behalf.” 

Demanding that Dr. Fashakin be released within 24 hours, Mr. Aturu said he would otherwise be compelled to take all lawful and necessary steps to ensure that the rights of his client are protected, including going to court. 

It would be recalled that only last week, President Jonathan threatened to sue critics for libel for reporting on the seedy and corrupt tendencies of his government. 

“As unregulated as they are beyond the bounds of legal action for libel and willful defamation of the character and reputation of a President who has courageously stepped forward to serve his country,” presidential spokesman Reuben Abati said.

Nigerians believe Mr. Jonathan’s government to be the most corrupt and hypocritical in the country’s history, and even his former Internet fans who supported him in the 2011 elections continue to say so in various fora.

The Fate Of Three Lebanese Hezbollah Suspects As Decided Today In Abuja

The Federal High Court in Abuja today ruled on the case between the Federal Government and three Lebanese suspects arrested for illegal possession of weapons and connection with the Hezbollah.  The suspects are Talal Ahmad Roda, Mustapha Fawaz, the owner of a popular Amigo Supermarket and Abdallah Tahini 

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Kano arrested the men on May 31 with a large cache of arms in a bunker during a raid on their residence. Weapons recovered were 17 AK 47 rifles, 44 magazines, four land mines and 12 RPG bombs, 14 RPG chargers, 11 66 mm anti-tanks weapons, one SMG magazine, one pistol and several magazines.

Also recovered were 11, 433 rounds of 7.26 mm special, 76 hand grenades, rocket-propelled guns, and 122 calibre artillery and anti-mine weapons.

The suspects, who were previously in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS), were later transferred to prison custody following an alarm raised by the suspects that their lives were not safe in the hands of the SSS.  

The arrests also led to the closure of Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Recreational Center, both of which are owned by Mr. Fawaz.

However today, Justice Ademola Adeniji of the Federal High Court in Abuja acquitted and discharged Mr. Fawaz and Tahini while sentencing Ahmad Roda to life imprisonment.

 Our photographers captured the end of trial here.

Oshiomhole apologises over comments to a widow

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo on Friday apologised for the comments he made to a widow in Benin during an inspection tour on Mission Road, in the state capital, a fortnight ago.

Oshiomhole said that he now regretted the comments which had become the subject of discourse in the social media.

The Governor, however, noted that he made the comments in anger.

Oshiomhole’s apology was made when the leadership of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), paid him a courtesy visit in Benin.

He noted that though the challenge of modern times had bestowed on the shoulders of some women and single mothers the status of bread winners of their homes, such should not be used as an accuse to flout the laws.

The Governor urged the Muslim women leaders to use their offices to propagate the essence of healthy living among children and women in the nation and the need to maintain proper sanitary conditions in their neighbourhoods.

Oshiomhole lamented that the challenge of widowhood had also exposed children to different temptations, adding that there was the need for society to be careful, to avoid unwittingly creating more problems for the nation.

He noted that money was not the best thing that guaranteed ones happiness, “but honesty and selfless service.

The Governor added that if Muslims and Christians were adequately committed to their religious doctrines, the world would be a better place.

He urged the women to propagate the message of Islam through the nooks and crannies of the nation, and to also inculcate the values of honesty in their followers.

Oshiomhole, however, assured the association of government’s support in ensuring that its present leadership made remarkable progress and also consolidated on the successes of their predecessors.

Earlier, the FOMWAN National President, Hajia Amina Omoti, urged the state government to look into the issue of the teaching of Islamic Religious Studies in public schools in the state.

Omoti also solicited for government’s moral and financial support for the effective running of the association. (NAN)

Why I resigned as SURE-P chairman – Kolade

The Chairman of Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, Dr Christopher Kolade, yesterday, explained why he resigned from the agency, saying it had nothing to do with the allegation of the missing N500 billion SURE-P fund.

Kolade, who made the clarification in an interactive forum with newsmen in Abuja, noted that he threw in the towel on health grounds.

He said: “I am now old and I need to wind down some activities that take some of my energy. By next month, I will be 81, so you don’t blame me for not having youthful energy at the age of 81.”

Kolade explained that in his resignation letter to President Goodluck Jonathan dated September 25, there was never any allegation on ground to warrant his forceful withdrawal as the chairman of the committee.

Dr Christopher Kolade

The resignation letter dated September 25 and entitled “Withdrawal from Chairmanship of the SURE-P Committee” read: “I wish to inform you, respectfully, of my decision to resign from the position of Chairman of the SURE-P Committee.

“My desire is that the resignation should take effect as soon as Mr. President names a new chairman, but not later than the end of November 2013.

“Mr. President, it has been a worthwhile experience for me to serve as chairman since the inauguration of the committee in February 2012.

“However, as I approach my 81st birthday, I wish to retire from the more time and energy consuming parts of my responsibilities and activities, one of which is the SURE-P Committee chairmanship.

“Mr. President, please accept my sincere thanks and appreciation for the opportunity to serve in the position of chairman as well as my prayers for good progress and success for Nigeria in the years ahead.”

Kolade further explained that the subsidy money was shared among the three tiers of government, with the Federal Government taking 41 per cent, 54 per cent went to state and local governments, while the remaining five per cent is to be used for ecological project.

He said the 41 per cent of the money that belonged to the Federal Government is N300 billion, and that the committee had accounted for it before the Senate committee.

According to him, the alleged missing N500 billion was shared by the state and local governments, and that, those that were spreading the rumour were aware of it.

He said: “The person that raised this is deliberately saying it. There is a report to clarify this. The report that fund is missing is nothing but to hit up the polity.”

Kolade, therefore, urged the media to cross check issues before publication.

PHOTONEWS: Soldiers And Police Stop Protesting APC Leaders Demanding Cancellation Of Anambra Gubernatorial Election

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party demanding the cancellation of Anambra gubernatorial poll were stopped by a detachment of soldiers and heavily armed policemen and prevented from reaching the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission offices in Abuja. The leaders including former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu, former military head of state, Muhammadu Buhari, Chief Bis Akande and Ogbonaya Onu, also a former leader of All Nigeria Peoples Party were physically prevented by the police from reaching INEC offices.

Governor Babatunde Fashola Says Oduah’s Armoured Cars Will Buy 51 Police Patrol Vehicles - PM News, lagos

Gov. Babatunde Fashola

Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has said that the two armoured cars bought at the cost of N255 million for the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, will purchase 51 patrol vehicles for the Nigerian Police.

The governor said this at the 7th annual Town Hall Meeting on Security, themed: ‘Sustaining Local Responding To Rising National Security Challenges,’ held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

“It is sad to know that the Federal Government that allocate three patrol vehicles for one state police command of 370, 000 police men, is unable to resolve how N255 million was used to purchase 2 saloon vehicles for one officer. It is a very grave irony.

“The cost of average vehicle needed to patrol the state is just N5 million. And with such fund, we will have put at least 51 patrol vehicles on the road, patrolling the streets of Lagos.”

“In spite of all this, they resist the idea of a state police. The money from the fund was in the last one year used to provide vehicles for the Nigerian Prison Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, National Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC and indeed the airport wing of the Nigerian police, is funded from this money. And it is the same aviation ministry that manage the airport that we had this very odious car scandal of N255 million.”

The governor noted that the upshot of central Government’s failure to confront security has continued for the past seven years.
“The residents of Lagos have borne the burden of that neglect, and there is no indication that anything will change soon, in spite of endless reform deliberation and proposals.”
On the crime rate in the state, Fashola said “Our crime data base now has record content of 92, 488 which helps us to keep track of all those who have been arrested, prosecuted, jailed or have any contact with the criminal justice system.”
He added that the state is preparing for a future of crime prevention, saying “it will be technologically driven, scientifically grounded and result assured.”

PHOTONEWS: APC Leaders In Street March To Demand Cancellation of Anambra Gubernatorial Election

The leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) today commenced street protests by  marching to the headquarters of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.

The protesters with notable party officials  submitted a formal petition calling for the outright cancelation of the controversial governorship election in the Anambra State.