PHOTONEWS : President Jonathan's "Diehard" Supporters Want Petroleum Minister Diezani Sacked

A youth group that described itself as diehard supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan held a protest march in Warri, Delta State over the weekend to request the removal of controversial Petroleum minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke and the minister of Internal affair, Abba Moro.

The group reported the event as stated below: More troubles seem to be brewing for the embattled Minister of Petroleum Affairs Mrs Deziani Alison Madueke and her counterpart at the Ministry of Interior Affairs Comrade Patrick Abba Moro when youths from the Niger Delta held a protest rally in the city of Warri at the weekend to demand their immediate resignation or sack from office.

The youths who stated that they were die hard supporters of Dr. Goodluck presidency and government vowed to lead more protest to the venue of  the ongoing national Conference and the National assembly at Abuja until their demands were not given favorable consideration.

The Protest rally which was marshalled by members of the Niger Delta People Salvation Front (NDPSF) Delta/Edo Zone amongst other groups like Niger Delta Freedom Movement was led by an Urhobo Youth Leader, Social Justice Activist and Spokesman to Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo Asari, Comrade Rex Ekiugbo Anighoro who stated that it was time for all Non Performing Ministers and Presidential Appointees of the President to resign and get sacked or face the full opposition of youths across Nigeria.

Speaking to the Press, Comrade Rex Ekiugbo Anighoro remarked that Deziani Alison Madueke and Patrick Abba Moro were bad eggs who are generating negative publicity and unnecessary distraction for the Goodluck Jonathan's administration and as such must go.

He stated that all the protesting youths most of whom were graduates from tertiary institutions were irrevocably and unrepentantly commitment to the Goodluck Jonathan's presidency and as supporters of the best performing president Nigeria has ever produced they have decided to be that still small voice of reason that will motivate and challenge the president to perform better and finish strong. Comrade Rex Anighoro noted that the likes of the Jezebelian oil goddess and the blood sucking monster that Deziani and Moro are, do not deserve to remain in government as they do not add value to the people nor enhance public service delivery."

 Let it be known that our mission here is not to aid the sanguinary appetite of an opposition who are mere alarmist and blackmailers, indeed we are here to perform a patriotic duty of supporting Dr. Jonathan perform better, we want him to finish strong and get reelected by a landslide, to ensure this we think it is necessary for him to sack all dead woods and also boost public confidence, we intend to continually be the still small voice that will constructively engage the government to do much more for the people, Jonathan is our father and we believe in him and as children of the house we have come to demand that the house be cleansed and organized much better, we are not here to energize the opposition but to ensure Jonathan that Jonathan win more support and finishes strong. We think Deziani has misrepresented us as Niger Deltans specifically she has not shown impeachable character and virtues of integrity and humility we expected of her she has not created opportunities for our young people but has carried on arrogantly and corruptly so we demand that she should go, the youths of Niger Delta has rejected her, so she must leave but if Mr. President do not heed our call we will continue to push and insist and express our displeasure ,however it is his call to do what is needful,we stand by Mr. President but Deziani and Moro must go and we shall extent this to other ministers and federal appointees we find so wanting" he stated.

Comrade Rex Anighoro speaking further stated that they were thankful to Mr. President for sacking Elder Godsday Orubebe whom they had led a similar protest against, they also commended Mr. President for courageously sacking Stella Oduah and Sanusi Lamido all of whom who have generated negative publicity for Mr. President, they now urge him to do much more by sacking Deziani and Moro,win more support and shut up the opposition who have been blowing things out of proportion just to discredit Jonathan's Presidency.

The youths who held one minute silence for the repose of the souls of the youths who died at the screening exercise by the Nigerian Immigration Service were clad in red T-shirts  with the inscription "Mr President we support you but sack Deziani and Moro now.The youths who marched the Warri express way danced to Fela Anikulakpo Kuti hits amongst other alutarized songs, carrying various placards with inscription such as "the oil goddess must go", "Sack Moro the blood sucking monster now" "Mr President enough is enough, sack all non performing ministers now", "On Goodluck Jonathan we stand but we say no to Deziani", "stop allowing Alarming People Cultist (APC) and lying mohammed lie against Mr.President", you are embarrassing Mr. President Deziani and Moro resign" now amongst others.

The youths further declared their support for the ongoing National Conference and President Goodluck Jonathan re-election

Sambisa: Hundreds of terrorists killed, 20 soldiers missing

Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade

No fewer than an estimated 2,000 insurgents were killed in a combined operation by Special Forces and the men of the Air Force on Friday and Saturday in the volatile Sambisa Forest of Borno State, which has become a prominent hideout of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

What would have been a great victory for the Special Forces was, however, marred by an operational misunderstanding between the ground troops and the officers in the Air Force Alpha Jet.

Investigations revealed that 20 soldiers are still missing as a result of the operational misunderstanding.

It was learnt that mid-way into the operation, the Air Force Alpha Jet radioed the ground forces who had advanced in three companies, that they should withdraw because it was running out of bombs.

It was learnt that while the second and the third battalions withdrew, the first company of soldiers did not get the critical operational order.

The situation was said to have put them at a numerical disadvantage in the encounter with the insurgents.

It was gathered that the soldiers fought their way through in desperation until they got to Bama Barracks.

Investigation revealed that a headcount among the soldiers revealed that  20 of them were missing.

The military would not declare a soldier dead unless the corpse is recovered.

It was further learnt that the soldiers became bitter because they felt they were not given the operational information that could have prevented the ugly occurrence.

Investigations further revealed that the angry soldiers became unruly and refused to take further orders from their superiors.

It was gathered that the soldiers, who came from 103 Battalion, Okuname under 81 Div Enugu, only take instructions from their commanding officer.

It was learnt that the commanders are still in the process of resolving the issue as of the time of filing this story.

However, the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade, said the officers only went to their commanders to narrate their operational experience.

He said the issues had been resolved.

He confirmed that the Special Forces bombed the main operational headquarters of the insurgents where many of them were killed in droves.

Olukolade said, “There were operational issues; the issues have been resolved for the operation to commence.

The spokesman added that some of the soldiers that were said to be missing had returned to base.

“The troops only came to narrate their operational experience to the commanders for them to be resolved and they have been resolved; and the operation is already continuing,” He said

Petroleum Minister Diezani Jet Scandal: APC Warns Against Federal Government Interference With House Probe

Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke

The All Progressives Congress today warned the Federal Government against any attempts to interfere with the House investigation into the Petroleum Minister's jet scandal.

The House of Representatives Committee is conducting an investigation into allegations the Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, embezzled public funds of 10 billion Naira for the use of chartered private jets.  

The APC's interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said, "Scandal is the hallmark of the PDP-led Federal Government and the presidency, hence both may not feel the public anger at the report that a minister, whose most notable 'achievement' is her contribution
to Nigerians' burden with her fixation on endless fuel price increases, has been frittering away the country's resources on the altar of unprecedented profligacy."

Mohammed added, ''…Nigerians are interested in knowing the truth. …Nigerians will like to know whether or not the minister spent the huge funds on jets, who authorized the spending of such funds, whether or not the expenditure was appropriated by the National Assembly and
which laws allow a government minister to junket around the world even on private trips."

The party commended the House Committee on Public Accounts for its diligence and its willingness to be fair and to carry out a thorough investigation, and urged committee members to put the interests of Nigerians above any individual or party's interest.

Jonathan suggests international conspiracy in arms flow to Boko Haram

President Goodluck Jonathan has spoken of the likelihood of an international conspiracy aimed at fuelling insurgency in Africa to curb the continent’s growth, raising the possibility of extremist Boko Haram and other networks drawing their increasingly sophisticated weapons from “external forces”.

Mr. Jonathan spoke on Saturday in Abuja in an address to delegates to the joint annual meeting of the ministers of finance, planning, and economic development of the Economic Community of Africa, and those of the African Union.

The conference, which has as its theme: “Industrialization for Inclusive and Transformative Development Agenda”, is attended by African leaders as well as heads of international and regional development institutions and agencies.

Mr. Jonathan said it was worrisome that children who can hardly fend for themselves economically are the ones wielding sophisticated weapons used by the insurgents like Boko Haram to attack and destabilize the country.

“Whenever the issue of insecurity is mentioned, what readily comes to mind is: Where is the money used to buy these expensive guns coming from?” he asked.

“When one looks at the characters carrying these sophisticated weapons in the turbulent areas, including the northern part of my country – like an AK-47 riffle that is approximately more than $1,000, compared to the total cost of the materials they put on, including the canvass, which is often not up to $50, the question to ask is: Where is the money used in buying these expensive guns by these very poor wretched boys that carry these weapons to kill, destabilize the society, and increase our problems, in terms of economic development, coming from? Are there some external forces that don’t want Africa to grow that are providing these weapons?”

To evolve a strategy to combat the scourge of terrorism and promote economic development, President Jonathan urged African governments to come together to deepen their regional integration efforts and work towards a continental free trade area.

He also implored the continent’s leaders to find answers to the question why Africa’s economic growth has not translated into job creation in their various domains.

On why the problem has persisted, President Jonathan wondered if it has to do with Africa’s reluctance to shift her economic base away from primary commodities, lack of energy, corruption in government and the private sector, dearth of key infrastructure, problem of unstable governments or insecurity.

He called on the delegates to team up and exchange ideas, share knowledge and learn from each other’s experiences, adding that they should work together to execute regional infrastructure projects towards the implementation of the continent’s plans for industrialization and trade integration.

The Liberian president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who also spoke at the conference, said the time is now for African countries to actualize the Common African Position, CAP, for the industrialization and development of the continent.

Ms. Sirleaf said the all-inclusive document, which was adopted at the 26th AU Head of Government meeting at Addis Ababa, has received a wide range of consultations by member-states.

The deputy secretary-general of the United Nations, Jan Eliasson, stated: “There can be no peace without development, no development without peace, and no peace or development without human rights and the rule of law.”

He said the nexus between peace and development was essential, while effective institutions and rule of law were paramount ingredients for both peace and development in every society.

The ambitious commitment to establish a continental free trade area by 2017, he noted, would give momentum to Africa’s industrial development efforts, pointing out, however, that this required caution in the mobilization of domestic resources towards it.

At the media briefing later, Mr. Eliasson acknowledged terrorism as a difficult problem to handle based on the experience in other parts of the world, including Latin America, where terrorism and organized crime work together.

He said efforts have to be made to control the flow of funds to the insurgent groups, drawing attention to the importance of the work of the High Level Panel, led by former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, to curb Illicit financial flows from Africa.

Mr. Eliasson said the problem of financing of terrorism activities required concerted collaboration, since it was neither a national nor regional problem alone, but also international.

“The loss of $50 billion each year from such financial outflows, which far exceeds the amount of official development assistance to Africa, is unacceptable,” he said.

“Halting illicit financial flows at the sources and at their destinations, will help fund substantial parts of the continent’s long-term Agenda for 2063.”

Though he commended the effort by the Nigerian government to tackle the terrorism in the country, he said the UN and the international Community reacted with shock and total disgust the recent killing of innocent school children in Yobe State by the armed bandits.

While thanking the Nigerian government for supporting the effort to reconstruct the UN HQs building in Abuja destroyed in 2011 by terrorists, Mr. Eliasson expressed the hope that the office would restored to its functional state before long.

Tinubu, Sheriff in near fisticuff at APC NEC meeting

Modu Sheriff (third from left) threatens to slap Bola Tinubu (right)

The recent meeting of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, almost turned violent following the threat by a former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff to beat up a national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu.

Mr. Sheriff exploded midway into the meeting, raining abuses on Mr. Tinubu and threatening to slap the former Lagos State governor.

But for the intervention of the some party leaders attending the meeting, including a former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari and a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, the former Borno Governor, almost made real his threat.

The APC NEC meeting, which was held at the party’s headquarters in the Wuse 2 District of Abuja, was convened last Monday to discuss some pressing issues in the party, including the impending inaugural ward, local government and state congresses as well as a national convention.

The membership of the party’s NEC includes all members of the National Working Committees, NWC, Board of Trustees, BoT, former presidents, vice presidents, governors and their deputies who are members of the party, and leaders of the party in the National Assembly.

Mr. Sheriff is a member of the organ in his capacity as a former governor and a leader of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, which last year merged with the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Congress for Progressives Change, CPC, and a section of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, to form the APC.

He was the Chairman of the ANPP Board of Trustees until the merger. On his part, apart from being a former governor, Mr. Tinubu is a respected leading light of the country’s main opposition party.

At the end of the meeting, the APC NEC fixed May 24 for its first national convention. It also fixed April 5 for the ward congresses while the local government and state congresses will hold April 12 and 23 respectively.

Our sources said Messrs. Sheriff and Tinubu clashed when the meeting began discussions on the congresses and convention.

It was gathered that the during the discussion, the APC National Chairman, Bisi Akande, who was presiding over the meeting nominated himself and the National Secretary, Tijjani Tumsah to serve as chairman and secretary respectively of the National Convention Committee, NCC, which would also oversee the conduct of the congresses.

Angered by the suggestion, this newspaper was informed that the former Borno State Governor, who is popularly called SAS (Senator Ali Sheriff) or GAS (Governor Ali Sheriff) while in power between 2003 and 2007, grabbed the microphone and expressed his opposition to the choices.

Mr. Sheriff was also said to have made some remarks which suggested that he believed that APC was not yet mature as a party.

He was reportedly cautioned by Mr. Tinubu, who asked him not to speak about the party in a negative manner. The former Lagos State Governor also asked Mr. Sheriff to quit the APC and go elsewhere, if he was not comfortable with the party.

At this point, Mr. Sheriff, who was now holding firmly to the microphone, allegedly began to insult Mr. Tinubu, asking him if he owned the party.

“Who are you? Who do you think you are? Are you the owner of the party?” the former Borno governor reportedly inquired from Mr. Tinubu in a fit of anger.

All the leaders of the party present at the meeting reportedly watched with amazement as the 58-year old former Borno State governor reportedly rained abuses on Mr. Tinubu, 62, who on his part, kept his cool all through.

Our sources said Mr. Buhari saved the day when, sensing danger in allowing Mr. Sheriff to continue insulting Mr. Tinubu, intervened. The former head of state was said to have tongue-lashed Mr. Sheriff for losing his composure.

Attemptsto speak with Mr. Tinubu were not successful. His media aide, Sunday Dare could not also be reached as he did not respond to calls to his mobile telephone on Friday and Saturday.

Also, Mr. Sheriff could not be reached as he was said to have travelled out of the country on Friday morning.

A commissioner in his administration, who pleaded anonymity (saying he was not competent to speak for the former governor) said although he was not at the meeting where the two former governors exchanged verbal punches, he heard about it.

“I was not at the meeting, but I heard about it. I think it was just one of those disagreements among party members. Bola Tinubu was said to have made a remark, which didn’t go down well with Sheriff. But the matter has been resolved,” the former commissioner confirmed that the party official contacted was willing to speak on the matter. A senior member of the party, who said he was not competent to speak on behalf of the party, but who also confirmed the altercation between the two former governors to this newspaper, insisted he would not speak officially despite prodding by this reporter.

“I can’t speak on this matter. It will be against my principle and I may not be objective. Personally, I am not one to speak in a way that will portray my party in bad light,” the member said.

It was gathered that Mr. Sheriff’s action was a product of bottled-up anger over the refusal of the party to accord him a prominent place in the fold since the conclusion of the merger talks and eventual registration of the party.

The former Borno governor was said to have repeatedly position himself to play greater role given the positions he had occupied as a senator, governor and ANPP BoT chair.

Our source alleged that the former governor has always fingered Mr. Tinubu, for the “ill-treatment” and the former Lagos Governor’s remark presented a veritable opportunity to strike against him (Tinubu).

Mr. Sheriff, it was further learnt has always believed that Mr. Tinubu has not achieved politically than him as they were not only former senators, but also fellow two-time governors.

“All this is about ego. Ali Modu Sheriff believes that he was a governor just like Tinubu and both are former senators and so should not be treated in such manner,” the source told this newspaper.

Another source within the APC who is conversant with the workings of the opposition party, told this paper that Messrs. Tinubu and Buhari as well as some other key leaders are afraid that given him (Sheriff) a prominent role to play could backfire on the young party.

The source said Mr. Buhari had always been uncomfortable with Mr. Sheriff since their days in the defunct ANPP, where the former was presidential candidate twice (2003 and 2007.)

It was further gathered that some APC leaders suspect Mr. Sheriff to be a mole planted in the opposition party by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, perhaps due to his closeness to some senior members of the ruling party.

Besides, the role he is suspected to have played in the emergence and evolution of the extremist Boko Haram sect is  also a source of concern to some APC leaders.

The not-so-robust relationship between Mr. Sheriff and his successor, Kashim Shettima has reportedly not helped the ex-Borno Governor’s desire to play greater role in the APC.

However, in spite of all this, some of the party’s leaders are not willing to let Mr. Sheriff turn his back on the APC as he still has some political value to bring to the merger. This, it was gathered, is majorly because of his popularity in the north eastern state of Borno.

One of our sources however argued that Mr. Tinubu has overreached himself by his disposition to some issues in the party, which, in his estimation, could affect the fortunes of the party.

“Tinubu forgets that the prefects he groomed are now principals in their own right,” the source volunteered. “Nobody will allow him to trade off this golden opportunity for the change Nigerians earnestly yearn for in 2015. He can be pardoned for what he did to Ribadu in 2011 presidential election, but not now.”

How the gun battle began — SSS; It’s not true – security sources, residents

The Department of State Services has issued a statement, claiming that the sustained gun battle around its headquarters and the vicinity of the presidential villa this morning began after a detainee disarmed an operative and tried to effect a jailbreak.

“At 0715 hours, the Service suspect handler went to the detention facility within the Headquarters to feed the suspects,” the SSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, said in the statement. “One of the suspects attempted to disarm him by hitting him at the back of his head with his handcuff. His attempt to escape drew the attention of other guards at the facility who fired some shots to warn and deter others.

“The gun shots attracted the attention of the military with whom we have an understanding of mutual assistance in the event of any threat. The Army immediately deployed a team to reinforce our perimeter guards to forestall any external collaborators. The situation has since been brought under control.”

But knowledgeable security sources said that the SSS narrative begs further questions because they are “untrue and misleading”.

The sources frame their doubts around the presumed impenetrability of the DSS facility and headquarters; the unusually huge military intervention force; the quality of ordinance deployed; and the prolonged period of gun exchange.

“The truth is that a jailbreak is impossible in the SSS headquarters,” one of our sources said.”It has two fences and is highly fortified. And there is no way a man on handcuff could launch an attack vicious enough to disarm an operative.

“Also our people need to tell the world whether it was only one gun taken from the disarmed operative that the detainees used in engaging soldiers and SSS operatives in sustained gun battle for about three hours.

“If it is about subduing one man who attempted a jailbreak, why did we need truckloads of fully armed soldiers and deployment of Armoured Personnel Carriers, RPGs and other sophisticated weapons?

“Also, why did the exchange of fire lasted for so long? Why did we have to deploy helicopter gunships to hover around the villa and Yellow House (SSS headquarters).

“Nigerians should demand the truth. I can tell you that a more serious incident happened than our people are willing to admit and there is a serious attempt at cover-up.”

Some residents of the area also believe what happened could not have been just an attempted jailbreak.

“Whatever this is, it appears more serious than an attempted jailbreak claimed by the SSS,” former Minister Nasir El-Rufai, who live a few metres away from the SSS headquarters said. “May God Protect the innocent and destroy the murderers, kidnappers and planners of genocide, Amen.”

Another former minister, whose home neighboured the SSS headquarters, Femi Fani-Kayode said,”I live 50 metres away from the SSS headquarters and the Villa and what I witnessed with my eyes and heard this morning was a full scale battle.”

The entire vicinity of the presidential palace and the SSS headquarters has been cordoned off, making it impossible for journalists to do area assessment with a view to determining what actually happened.

Nigeria faces food shortage, government warns

The National Economic Council, NEC, has raised alarm over imminent “shortage of food in the entire country” due to mercenary attacks in 17 states.

The NEC is chaired by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, and made up of the 36 state governors and some ministers. The NEC’s meeting of Thursday, its first since June 2013, called for urgent security measures to stem the attacks.

Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau, alongside Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Gabriel Suswam of Benue and the Minister of State for Works and Supervising Minister of National Planning, Bashir Yuguda, briefed journalists after the meeting.

The governors said that unless urgent steps were taken to put an end to the incessant attacks against farmers in the states, the farmers may not be able to return to their farms ahead of the farming season, which could lead to food shortage in the country.

Hundreds of people have been killed in such clashes and thousands displaced.

According to the governors, the displacement of farmers in the affected states was a matter of great concern to both the federal and state governments.
“As a matter of fact, council was quite worried about this and we feel if something is not done immediately, our farmers may not be able to work in their farms and that means shortage of food in the entire country,” the governors said.

The Council mandated the Vice President to hold an urgent consultation with President Goodluck Jonathan “so that an emergency meeting will be conveyed of all the affected states so that we can find an immediate solution to the problem,” Mr. Jang said.

The governor said Council also received a presentation by the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, a retired colonel, on the incessant conflicts between farmers and pastorialists. The presentation highlighted the challenges and solutions to the conflicts in Nigeria.

“According to the NSA’s presentation, 17 states have been identified as flash points, among which are Plateau, Benue, Adamawa, Niger, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Kwara, Kaduna, Oyo, Delta, Edo, Kogi, amongst others,” Mr. Jang said.

The NSA reported to the Council that his office was working on organising an International Conference in Nigeria to deal with the situation. He disclosed that an international NGO in Geneva was already working with some communities in Plateau State to find ways of settling the conflicts.

The meeting was also told that apart from the pastoralists, some yet to be identified mercenaries had also invaded the affected states.

Speaking on the military style tactics employed by the mercenaries, Governor Suswam stated that some of the insurgents have been found to wear military uniforms during their operations making tracking them more difficult.

“The fact of the matter is that the insurgents now wear military uniforms. While local cattle grazers move around with cattle, these insurgents now come to town in their large numbers and in trailers loads,” Mr. Suswam said.

He disclosed that a comprehensive discussion was held in the Council and the Governors of Delta and Edo states said that people came into their states in trucks without cattle.

Mr. Suswam said that some of the female members of the mercenary groups that have been arrested so far were found with AK47 assault rifles.

“Even their women carry AK 47. So, these are not the regular Fulani we are used to who are within our country. These are people moving into our country with a mission we are yet to know. But the NSA assured us that serious actions are being taken to address and contain these people who are moving into Nigeria from destinations that we do not even know,” the governor said.

According to him, some of the mercenaries arrested in Kogi state were currently being drilled with a view to establishing both the source of the weapons as well as area of origin.

“The Governor of Kogi also confirmed that they had cordoned an area because these people came in four trucks. They have asked security to cordone them. It is actually a cause for concern because mercenaries have taken over. What is happening is that this is beyond the Fulanis that we know, and who are a part of us. These are different crops of people, either parading as Fulani or people who are Fulani from displaced areas because they are heavily armed. The Fulani around us here are never heavily armed,” Mr. Suswam said.

Government’s finance

Mr. Akpabio disclosed that the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had briefed the Council on the Excess Crude Account, ECA, saying that as at Thursday it stood at $3.5 billion (N577 billion) after payments for fuel subsidy and SURE-P.

He said NEC also resolved that details of spending on Excess Crude be given to states on time and also urged that expeditious action be taken to sort out all the legalities surrounding the ECA.

Speaking further on the clashes between farmers and herdsmen, the governors said the NEC asked Mr. Suswam to join an existing committee on grazing reserves under the chairmanship of Governor Murtala Nyako. The committee was already working to provide solutions to the farmers and pastorialists conflicts while Mr. Suswam would join as co- chair to hasten action on the committee’s work.

“A Technical Committee would also be set up to come up with recommendations on how to manage incessant conflicts between crop farmers and pastorialists, to report within 2 weeks,” the Benue governor said.
The Technical Committee is made up of the Minister of Agriculture as Chairman, as well as the Minister of Environment, the Minister of Science and Technology, the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Water Resources, the Minister of National Planning, the NSA, the DG of National Orientation Agency, NOA and representatives of states.

National Conference “Sleeping Delegate” Hamma Misau Is Dead

Rtd AIG Mohammed Hamma Misau

A delegate at the ongoing National Conference in Nigeria, retired police AIG Hamma Misau has died at the National Hospital in Abuja. Mallam Misau died last night of an undisclosed illness at the age of 67.

Mallam Misau became famous after a photo of him taking a nap at the conference was shared  on social media three days ago.

Barrister Mohammed Hamma a cousin to the retired police officer confirmed his demise. He said a Muslim funeral is due shortly in Bauchi for the late delegate. Mallam Hamma Misau hails from Misau in Bauchi state.

Nigerian Military Kill 11 Boko Haram Militants At Cameroon Border, Nab Foreign Arms Dealer

Recovered Weapons

Detained Terrorist Suspects

The Nigerian military on Thursday killed 11 suspected Boko Haram fighters on the Cameroon border in Adamawa state.

The sect fighters, according to spokesman Major General Chris Olukolade in a statement, were forced out of their hideout in the forest by hunger. 

He said the group of terrorists attempting to escape into Cameroon through Taraba and Gumti in Adamawa State, came under heavy fire from troops on patrol of the area in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign.  He explained that they had been trapped as a result of ongoing offensive  by troops along the borders and were given out when some of them could no longer bear the hunger in their make shift camps.  

“Those who were apprehended led troops to other hideouts where fierce fighting ensued,” the statement said.  “Seven terrorists died, while a large number of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and rifles were recovered including over seventy motorcycles.  Similar encounter in Gombi also led to the death of 4 other terrorists.”

General Olukolade further stated that sustained patrols and searches by the Multi National Joint Task Force led to the arrest of more terrorists, including a heavily-armed suspect who is claiming dual nationalities of Chad and Burkina-Faso.

“He was arrested with different caliber of arms and ammunitions along the Chad borders and is currently helping in ongoing investigation by the Special Forces. Patrols are still ongoing around the Lake Chad including Kwatan, Kanwa, Kwatan Yobe and other Islands.”

Billionaire Dangote, Governor Fashola Accused Of Using Police To Snatch Disputed Land

Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote and Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola are using ruthless police officers to evacuate residents of the Idasho community in order to facilitate the billionaire’s take-over of a huge parcel of land.

Police officers from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) today invaded the Idasho community to force the residents out of their land which Mr. Dangote, a billionaire businessman, wants to acquire. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the policemen arrived at about noon (Nigerian time) and arrested any residents who protested their invasion. Two eyewitnesses also reported that the officers began shooting in the air and lobbing teargas at Panseke, one of the villages in the community.

One resident said the policemen were irked when some members of the community accosted them and served them a notice indicating that the land is a subject of an ongoing lawsuit. The invading officers defied the notice of court process. They arrested and took away residents, including women, who informed them that they were in court over the land.

 “Who born you?” one of the police officers reportedly said, waving off the residents.

A few weeks ago, Governor Fashola had told community leaders in the affected area that their land would be used as the site of a petrochemical plant proposed by Mr. Dangote. The community leaders had protested the move, demanding to be duly resettled and fully compensated.
 

A community spokesman who asked for anonymity accused the Lagos State government, in collaboration with the handlers of the Lekki Free Zone Project and Mr. Dangote, of being determined to force the residents out without any form of compensation or resettlement.

Mr. Fashola had earlier used policemen from nearby local police stations to terrorize the residents of the community. A resident claimed that the governor and Mr. Dangote decided to call in officers from a dreaded anti-robbery unit because the local police officers, on learning that the case was in court, had declined to continue harassing the residents.

A police officer at the Akodo Police Station near the community confirmed that they had shown reluctance to heed Governor Fashola's deployment requests to the community, stating that they were aware the disputed land was in court.

A community member accused Mr. Dangote of using his wealth to manipulate policemen from the SARS to “clear” the area of residents in order to move forward with his refinery project.

Several residents also asserted that, two weeks ago, the Lagos State Government had used police officers to frame up residents by accusing them of stealing tools from the site. They said officials of the Free Zone management raised a false alarm that some equipment was missing from the site they proposed for Mr. Dangote's petrochemical plant. “Police just came here and arrested people,” one of the residents disclosed.

A member of the staff of the Free Zone confirmed to our correspondent that no tools were missing or stolen. Even so, the arrested residents were arraigned in court on trumped-up theft charges.

“This is a vicious attack on us by Governor Fashola. He desperately wants to give our land to Dangote without doing the proper thing,” one community leader said.

One resident said he called his sister, arrested by the invading police, to know her whereabouts, but a police officer answered her phone. The man said the officer warned him that they were on a mission to “clear the land for Alhaji Dangote.”

Ousted CBN Governor Sanusi Turns Down FRC Invitation, Citing Bias, Absence Of Statutory Power, and Violation Of Rule of Law

Ousted CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has declined the invitation of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) to appear before it, citing bias, breach of the rules of natural justice, absence of statutory power, violation of the rule of law, and conduct prejudicial to good public administration and the special position of the CBN. 

In a letter to the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of FRC, his lawyer, Kola Awodein, recalled that following a letter of invitation from the FRC dated 14 March, Mr. Sanusi responded on 16 March seeking clarity on the specific activities of the CBN sought to be investigated, to which he was yet to receive a response.

“Our Client was thus surprised to see the FRC’s advertorial on page 51 of ThisDay Newspaper and page 34 of the Punch Newspaper (as well as other newspapers) on 24 March 2014 inviting him in respect of the same subject matter,” the letter said.   “We take the view that this advertorial is in bad faith, just as it is calculated to embarrass and disparage our Client. We are also of the firm view that this advertorial is evidence of an avowed intent to act prejudicially.”

It described as appalling the fact that Mr. Sanusi was now being invited after the FRC had arrived at false and malicious conclusions in its Briefing Note dated 7 June 2013 to President Goodluck Jonathan, and that it was evident that the FRC has pre-judged what it now purports to investigate, thereby compromising the integrity of any such investigation.

“Above all, it is obvious from your enabling statute, the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act 2011, in particular Sections 7, 8, 11, 25, 28, 58(2) and 62 thereof, the FRC lacks the authority and the powers to conduct the investigation it seeks to undertake,” the letter said.

“Whilst our Client is not averse to an objective investigation by an appropriate and impartial authority into the activities of the CBN during his tenure as Governor, or into his own activities as a citizen, our Client is constrained to decline the FRC’s invitation on the basis of bias, breach of the rules of natural justice, absence of statutory power, violation of the rule of law, and conduct prejudicial to good public administration and the special position of the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

Text of the letter:

The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer

Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria,

Elephant Cement House (3rd Floor),

Assbifi Road, Alausa,

Ikeja, Lagos.

Dear Sir,

Re: On-going Investigation of Central bank of Nigeria – Advertorial in National Dailies

1.        We are Counsel to Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi CON, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on whose behalf we write.

2.        Our Client received the letter of 14 March 2014 from the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC), wherein he was invited to appear before the FRC to explain his involvement in the activities of the CBN between 2011 and 2012. We refer to our Client’s response of 16 March 2014 to the FRC by which he sought clarity on the specific activities of the CBN sought to be investigated, to which he is yet to receive a response.

3.        Our Client was thus surprised to see the FRC’s advertorial on page 51 of ThisDay Newspaper and page 34 of the Punch Newspaper (as well as other newspapers) on 24 March 2014 inviting him in respect of the same subject matter.  We take the view that this advertorial is in bad faith, just as it is calculated to embarrass and disparage our Client. We are also of the firm view that this advertorial is evidence of an avowed intent to act prejudicially.

4.        At all events, it is appalling that our Client is now being invited after the FRC had arrived at false and malicious conclusions in its Briefing Note dated 7 June 2013 to the President (Briefing Note). Those conclusions include:

4.1     “Incompetence or acting outside the object clause of the CBN”;

4.2     “Nonchalance”;

4.3     “Fraudulent activities”;

4.4     “Wastefulness”;

4.5     “Abuse of due process”; and

4.6     “Deliberate efforts to misrepresent facts”.

5.        In addition, you recommended to the President that His Excellency cause our Client and the Deputy Governors of the CBN to “… cease from holding office in the CBN…so that the opposition to the Federal Government does not take advantage of the information and use it to attack the government...”

6.        It is evident from the foregoing conclusions and recommendations that the FRC has pre-judged what it now purports to investigate, thereby compromising the integrity of any such investigation.

7.        Moreover, the credibility of the purported investigation is further undermined by the fact that in reaching the decisions contained in the Briefing Note, the FRC neither heard nor provided our Client with the opportunity to respond to the weighty allegations that led to the unfounded conclusions contained therein.

8.        Above all, it is obvious from your enabling statute, the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act 2011, in particular Sections 7, 8, 11, 25, 28, 58(2) and 62 thereof, the FRC lacks the authority and the powers to conduct the investigation it seeks to undertake.

9.        Whilst our Client is not averse to an objective investigation by an appropriate and impartial authority into the activities of the CBN during his tenure as Governor, or into his own activities as a citizen, our Client is constrained to decline the FRC’s invitation on the basis of bias, breach of the rules of natural justice, absence of statutory power, violation of the rule of law, and conduct prejudicial to good public administration and the special position of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Yours faithfully,

Kola Awodein SAN