Swindlers swoop on Jonathan’s ministers-By Iheanacho Nwosu

Ministers and key officials of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan have additional headache to contend with as conmen have swooped on them.
Hiding under the guise of good Samaritans willing to assist them secure soft-landing from corruption probes, some well-placed Nigerians, among them senior members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and  security operatives are said to be fleecing  former  ministers and top government  officials in Jonathan’s government of millions of naira.
A prominent Nigerian, who held an influential and strategic position in the last government, blew the whistle on how some security operatives are inundating him and his former colleagues with tales of probes by either the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices  (and other related) Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) against them.
The former government minister official, who declined to be named, revealed that the people often offer to assist ex-ministers to either stop the probe or arrange a soft landing if they (ex-ministers) would part with a negotiated amount of money in cash.
“These days, what we see and hear everyday from security men and key members of the ruling party is that this and that probe is going on at the EFCC against Jonathan’s men. They will tell you to bring so so amount of money to enable them stop the probe.
“Out  of fear, some of us accede to their requests…”
The former government official said targets include ministers like Works, Aviation, Transport, Water Resources, Federal Capital Territory and Education and added that some peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members were working hand-in-glove with APC members to swindle them.
Corroborating his claims, an aide  to one of the former ministers lamented what he described as an “obnoxious development where some APC members were terrorising members of Jonathan’s cabinet with threats of investigations with a view to “extorting money” from them.
He, however, did not name such APC leaders or those in the corridors of power who were ripping Jonathan’s men off.
President  Buhari had repeatedly assured   that he was not on a mission  to witch-hunt or victimise anybody. However, Jonathan’s men are not convinced of the sincerity of the assurance .
According to the former government official , the fear that the incumbent administration is after the former President, Dr Jonathan and those that worked with him is growing . He insisted that the fear is genuine  arguing that if President Buhari’s assurance was reliable , some   elements his government and party would not have turned  the anti-graft campaign into platforms for extorting monies from exministers and other public officers.
Although the source was forthcoming on the former ministers that have been swindled , he said the targets were those that held grade A ministries like  works, aviation, transport, water resources, federal capital territory and education.
He stressed that   some top members of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), were curiously working hand in gloves with some dubious APC stalwarts  in perpetrating this fraud.
He cautioned   that unless President Buhari establishes a balance in the anti-corruption campaign by redressing what  he said was a skewed clampdown on the opposition, the culture of extortion will persist thereby fuelling hate and more corruption.
He charged  security agencies to  wake up to their responsibilities by apprehending these fraudsters who masquerade as genuine anti-corruption fighters.

Culled from Sun

BREAKING NEWS - Halle Berry To Divorce Olivier Martinez After Two Years Of Marriage

We called it!

After we'd reported that things were on the rocks for Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez back in July, and as it turns out Halle has filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.

The couple released a statement this morning, "It is with a heavy heart that we have come to the decision to divorce. We move forward with love and respect for one another and the shared focus for what is best for our son. We wish each other nothing but happiness in life, and we hope that you respect our, and most importantly our children's privacy, as we go through this difficult period."

The site is also reporting that money will likely not be an issue because the actors had a prenup. A source told the publication that the issue was a "personality difference" between the two and that Olivier's alleged assault of an LAX worker in January (and subsequent civil suit) has only damaged the relationship further.

According to TMZ, the duo have a two-year-old child, Maceo, and instead of asking for joint or primary custody, Halle is reportedly asking for whatever is in "the best interests of the child." We have a feeling her bitter feud with ex Gabriel Aubrey over their daughter Nahla has made Halle cautious in how she proceeds with her custody agreement with Olivier.

And in an interesting twist, Olivier has filed for divorce as well, after Halle filed her papers first. Olivier cited “irreconcilable differences” in the official documents and requested joint custody of Maceo. Despite the rocky marriage, Halle is apparently expecting a quick and easy divorce. We guess we will see about that!

We had a number of clues that things weren't going well for the pair, who were married in 2013: When we saw Halle in July, the A-list star was noticeably missing something important -- her striking emerald engagement ring! The Frankie & Alice star and her French hubby used to barely leave each other's sides, in the past six months we've barely seen the two together, if at all. That's never a good sign!

A source told us in July, "Halle and Olivier's marriage is all but over. They haven't spent time together in months, but Halle isn't ready to go public with the split. That's why she's wearing those gold rings - to distract from the fact she's not wearing her emerald wedding band."

Oddly enough, our photogs caught Halle, Olivier and Maceo out a Halloween fair two weekends ago. The feuding couple was all smiles while out and about. Just proves you never know what's going on inside a relationship ...

It's understandable that the mother-of-two wanted to keep her relationship woes under wraps. This is her third failed attempt at a happily ever after!

Links: Halle Berry • Olivier Martinez

 

Culled from x17 

Tribunal Rulings: PDP Fights Backs, Summons Leadership Meeting

Olisa Metuh

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has summoned an emergency meeting of the party’s national caucus to discuss the current onslaught against the party and its candidates in the last general elections by the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led federal government.

In a statement issued yesterday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the caucus, which would meet on October 29, would focus on the unrelenting schemes by the APC and its federal government to use some unpatriotic elements in the judiciary to advance their plot to take over states won by the PDP, particularly Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Delta, Taraba and Abia States.

The national caucus meeting is in furtherance of the decision of the leadership of the party to fully activate its structures in stiff resistance to the manipulations, coercions and threats of the APC-led government, and in line with the unbending determination by the party not to, in any way whatsoever, surrender any mandate freely given it to by the people at any level across the country, no matter the pressure.

The PDP had last weekend expressed its anger and disappointment over the outcome of the election tribunal judgment which annulled the governorship election result in Rivers State as well as ordered a re-run in 18 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State, another state controlled by the party.

It urged all its members, supporters and lovers of democracy across the country to rise up and use all lawful means to resist anti-democratic forces, now using the judiciary and security agencies in their desperate scheme to subvert the will of the people and destroy the nation’s democracy.

It said though it seeks peace, it was not ready to accept the peace of a graveyard, neither was it willing to surrender the mandate freely given to it by the people in any part of the country, particularly in Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Delta, Abia, Taraba and other states where it won in the last general election.

“Let it be known, and clearly too, that no matter the strong-arming, threats and manipulations by the APC government, the PDP is not willing to, and will never surrender the mandate freely given to us by the people in states where we won in the last general elections, neither are the people of those states willing to allow sectional invaders to exert influence on those to be in charge of their affairs.”

Culled from Thisday

APC Has Nothing To Do With Saraki’s Trial – Gbajabiamila George Agba

The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has faulted the insinuation that the politics of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was responsible for the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
Contending that nothing could be farther from the truth than such a claim, Gbajabiamila said Saraki’s trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) bordered strictly on the law.
Gbajabiamila stated this when led some members of the House to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock, Abuja.
Speaking to journalists immediately after they had finished the closed door meeting with the president, the majority leader also said there was no leadership crisis in the National Assembly at the moment.
He said, “Everything that has a beginning has an end. I don’t think and I don’t know if there is any leadership crisis in the National Assembly. I am not sure at what you are alluding to; I am not in the Senate. But the little I understand is that there is an issue involving the Senate President. That has nothing to do with the APC.
“That has to do with the issue of law and I am sure the Senate President is being represented and he will have his day in court. If the matter comes up, I don’t think it is an APC issue; it is not an APC issue at all. There is no crisis, not in the House”.
Gbajabiamila also spurned reports suggesting that there were plans to resolve Saraki’s trial politically, Saying he was not going to comment or promote reports that were unsubstantiated.
He also foreclosed the possibility of any crisis erupting from the constitution of House committees. He said, “It would be handled by members of the House. The correct thing is that justice is done, equity is done and once that is done, then there is not going to be a problem”, he stated.
On their visit to the President, Gbajabiamila said it was a routine parley and that discussion at the meeting dwelled on budget and other issues.

Culled from leadership

Politics Stalls Ministerial Screening, Stalks Senate President's Trial Wednesday

Senate champers

By Omololu Ogunmade and  Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

High wire politics and intrigues surrounding the screening and confirmation of ministerial nominees assumed a new dimension yesterday when the Senate decided to postpone the entire exercise, as well as its plenary.

Although no reason was given for the postponement, sources said it was as a result of the resumption of Senate President Bukola Saraki’s trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) today.

According to the acting Clerk of the Senate, Nelson Ayewoh, plenary will resume tomorrow.
With the postponement of plenary and ministerial screening, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who under normal circumstances should have presided today, has also been prevented from doing so.

It is believed that the decision not to allow Ekweremadu to preside since he became Saraki’s deputy is a fallout of the controversy which trailed his emergence as Saraki’s deputy from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as well as the anger it caused among members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A senator, who preferred not to be named, also explained that the reason for keeping Ekweremadu out in the cold, albeit temporarily, was a strategic one in order to prevent him from presiding over the Senate today when the screening of the former Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi, should have come up.

He said since the PDP caucus of the Senate yesterday unanimously resolved to oppose Amaechi’s screening and confirmation, allowing Ekweremadu to preside today would amount to “leading a lamb, in this case Amaechi, to the slaughter”, as the PDP senators would have their way by not confirming his nomination.

Saraki is facing a 13-count charge for false declaration of assets preferred against him by the Code of Conduction Bureau (CCB).
His trial remains on course, as both the Federal High Court and Federal Court of Appeal deferred adjudication on the suits filed by Saraki challenging the jurisdiction of CCT on the matter.

The Senate president had through his counsel prayed the Court of Appeal for an order halting his trial by the tribunal pending the hearing and determination of his motion on notice before the appellate court.

But the appellate court, against expectations on Monday, postponed ruling on the case indefinitely.
The court, which had earlier granted accelerated hearing to the appellant, and fixed October 19 for definite ruling on the case, failed to offer an explanation for the postponement but said it would communicate a new date to the parties to the suit.

In the same vein, the presiding judge handling the case at the Federal High Court, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, two weeks ago remitted the case to the chief judge for re-assignment, citing media pressure.

The Dalandi Umar-led tribunal, in which Saraki was arraigned on September 22, fixed continuation of his trial for October 21, 22 and 23 for the federal government to prove the charges brought against him.

But Saraki on the day pleaded not guilty to the 13-count charge, maintaining that he was being prosecuted at the tribunal because he was the Senate President.

He also faulted the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) over its failure to first invite him to draw his attention to the discrepancies, if any, to his asset declaration forms for clarification as demanded by law.

However, concerns are mounting over the Court of Appeal’s unexplained decision to defer the ruling on Saraki’s suit indefinitely.
Another senator, who spoke on the issue, warned that the judges of the Court of Appeal were essentially dragging the judiciary into the political fray, adding that it was a throwback to the impunity that prevailed in the PDP era.

The senator, who is also a lawyer, pointed out that it was worrisome that the Court of Appeal had set a date for ruling on Saraki’s case challenging the jurisdiction of the CCT, “yet it postponed ruling without an explanation”.

“It shows that there were external factors that informed the judges' decision to postpone indefinitely and this is a dent on the so-called war against corruption and the change mantra of the Muhammadu Buhari administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC),” he added.

Meanwhile, the uncertainty over Amaechi's ministerial nomination continued in the Senate yesterday, when the PDP caucus of the upper chamber rose from its meeting vowing to resist the former Rivers governor’s screening and confirmation.

Accordingly, THISDAY learnt that the senators resolved to endorse the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions said to have recommended that the screening of Amaechi should not be considered since doing so would be sub-judice.

A source told THISDAY that the PDP senators were vehement in their resolve to ensure that the report is not discarded but should serve as the basis for the suspension of the screening of the former governor in accordance with Order 53(5) of the Senate Standing Orders. The order prohibits the consideration of any matter that is before a law court if in the opinion of the president of the senate taking such a matter will be sub-judice.

Amaechi had told the committee while appearing before it last week that the matter contained in the petition against his screening by The Integrity Group was already sub-judice, thus forcing the committee to announce its withdrawal from its investigation.
THISDAY also learnt that the screening process might be prolonged, as the repeat of last week’s exercise during which no fewer than 10 ministerial nominees were screened in one day, would not happen again.

Instead, the screening will now be done piecemeal, that is, only two or three nominees will be screened a day.
With the PDP senators’ resolution, Amaechi has succeeded in polarising the Senate, as the APC senators had at their own caucus meeting on Monday resolved to back his screening and confirmation.

Earlier yesterday, the initial order paper containing the business of the day circulated by the Senate had listed Amaechi as the third on a list of eight ministerial nominees scheduled for screening, but the senators went into a closed-door session, following which the order paper was withdrawn and replaced with another one which reduced the number of those slated for screening to three.

Consequently, Amaechi’s name disappeared from the list while the three names presented in the revised list were Adebayo Shittu (Oyo); Prof. Omoleye Daramola (Ondo) and Khadijah Abba-Ibrahim. There was no official reason from the senate for the sudden change.
An APC senator, who did not want to be named, however told THISDAY yesterday that Amaechi’s screening was put off to avoid an uproar during his screening among the senators.

According to him, since the APC had resolved to back him, there was an appeal by the leadership of the Senate to the PDP caucus to appease those who were strongly opposed to his screening.

The source added that this move led to the decision to screen only three ministerial nominees yesterday so that the PDP senators would have ample time to resolve among themselves how Amaechi’s screening would be devoid of rancour today.
He explained: “The screening was put off today (yesterday) to enable members of PDP caucus appease the hardliners among them to smoothen the path for Amaechi’s screening.

“The truth is that whether anyone likes it or not, Amaechi will be confirmed. We in the APC caucus have resolved to confirm Amaechi.”
With Amaechi’s fate still undecided, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions again failed to submit its report on the petition by The Integrity Group against his screening.

It was learnt that the presentation of the report yesterday was considered unnecessary since Amaechi was not going to be screened, even though he was in the National Assembly along with the other seven nominees.

Nevertheless, confusion arose when Shittu and Abbah-Ibrahim were eventually screened yesterday as slated in the revised order paper, but Daramola was not screened.

The source explained that Daramola’s screening was suspended till today to enable PDP members hold their caucus meeting.
Shittu, during his screening, denied an allegation that he was indicted in 2000 over his roles in a religious crisis. He said he was in Saudi Arabia when a gazette purportedly indicting him was issued by the government of Oyo State.

According to him, he was never invited by the Commission of Inquiry, which investigated the crisis, adding that in law, no panel can indict anyone who has not been invited to defend himself against an allegation.

He claimed that his purported indictment was not an indictment after all, arguing that the gazette only advised him to refrain from publishing inflammatory comments capable of fuelling a religious crisis and further denied the allegation that he was a religious fanatic.
He also added that the government had thereafter pardoned those indicted in the gazette, thus rendering his alleged indictment null and void.

Also screened yesterday was Mrs. Abba-Ibrahim, a third-term member of the House of Representatives, who is also the wife of a former governor of Yobe State and three term senator, Bukar Abba-Ibrahim.

After introducing herself, in accordance with the Senate’s tradition, she was asked to bow and go.
Prior to the screening of the two ministerial nominees, the Senate yesterday received more petitions against other nominees.
The first was from Senator Achom Nneji (Imo North), who presented 10 petitions against the nomination of Professor Anthony Auwuka of Imo State to the upper chamber.

Although details of the petitions were not available yesterday, Auwuka, a former Vice-Chancellor of Imo State University, was alleged to have run the institution with impunity.

Also. a group, known as Concerned Professors, who are against the nomination of a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI) and nominee from Osun State, Professor Isaac Adewole, submitted a petition to office of the senate president.

Among others, the UI professors accused Adewole of mismanaging the university’s funds and called for his investigation. They also accused him of covering the alleged diversion of the institution’s money from its bank account with the defunct Afribank, UI branch by his wife’s cousin to a private bank account.

“In the spirit of the fight against corruption by the government, it is appropriate to investigate the several matters of mismanagement and diversion of public funds raised against Professor Adewole in the aforementioned petition before he is considered for the position of Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The signal sent to the University of Ibadan community and indeed the whole world by Professor Adewole’s nomination is that these acts of corruption on the part of Professor Adewole do not matter to the government,” the petitioners said.

The petitioners further alleged that as the Provost of the College of Medicine, UI between 2002 and 2006, Adewole used his position to employ his second wife as a lecturer in his department instead of employing a more qualified candidate, Dr. Aihmaku, at the time.

Culled from Thisday

Ministerial Screening: Amaechi, Aisha Abubakar Face Senate Today

Bode Gbadebo, By Edegbe Odemwingie, By Jonathan Isaiah

As the Senate resumes screening of the remaining 18 ministerial nominees today, strong indications emerged yesterday that former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi and Aisha Abubakar, who have petitions against them, will be screened today.
This is sequel to positive reports the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions is set to present before the Senate this morning on petitions written against them by their petitioners from Rivers and Sokoto states respectively.
While the committee is setting aside the petitions written against Amaechi by Port Harcourt-based Integrity Group, in its report on the grounds that issues raised therein are already in the court of law, it is throwing out outrightly the one written against Aisha Abubakar by concerned Sokoto   women on the grounds of being routed through wrong channels.
Aisha, who faced the Senate committee yesterday on the petition written against her by Sokoto women, got a clean bill of health from all the committee members who said the petition should not be treated for only being copied to the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, and not directly addressed to him.
First to raise the issue was Senator Obinna Ogba Joshua (PDP Ebonyi Central) who pointed out that the petition was addressed directly to President Muhammadu Buhari and not the Senate president which according to him, contravenes rule 41(5a) of the Senate standing order.
Other members of the committee like Senators Dino Melaye (APC Kogi West), Jerry Useni (PDP Plateau South), Binta Garba Mashi (APC Adamawa North) and Wale Omogunwa (PDP Ondo South),   concurred with Obinna’s submission by urging the committee chairman to disregard the petition in its entirety for being wrongly addressed.
Senator Melaye in particular said since the petition was directly addressed to President Buhari and   not the Senate president, the committee should consider it as dead on arrival.
He added that another procedural defect in the petition was the rules of letter writing that the   petitioners did not follow.
He said a petition is supposed to be signed by petitioners before copying other interested parties and not copying before signing, adding that “going by all these identified blunders, the petition is more or less, a wishy-washy one which should not be treated in any way by the committee but rather dumped in the trash can”.
But the chairman of the committee, Sam Anyanwu (PDP Imo East), before giving Aisha Abubakar a clean bill of health, asked her two questions on fundamental issues raised against her in the petition.
He asked whether she is an indigene of Sokoto State or not, to which she answered ‘yes’, saying   she is a native of Dogondaji town in Tambuwal local government.
On whether she belongs to any political party, she said no, being a serving public officer.
Briefing journalists later on the two reports, the committee chairman said they were very straightforward and their reports are ready for submission on the floor of the Senate today.
“Our reports on petitions against Amaechi and Aisha Abubakar are ready and will be laid before the   Senate tomorrow (today), to pave way for their screening”, he said.
The Senate last week approved the nomination of former governors of Lagos, Babatunde Fashola; Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi; Abdulraham Dambazau and 15 others as ministers.
Others are Senator Udoma Udo-Udoma, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, General Abdurrahman Dambazau, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Mrs Amina Mohammed, Sulaiman Adamu and Ibrahim Usman Jibril. Senators Aisha Alhassan (Taraba), Chris Ngige (Anambra) Hadi Sirika, Kemi Adeosun (Ogun), Abubakar Malami, SAN (Kebbi), Solomon Dalong (Plateau), Ibe Kachikwu (Delta) were also confirmed.
Ministerial Nominees Visit Dogara
Preparatory to the resumption of screening of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominees at the Senate today, about seven of them yesterday met behind closed doors with the speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, in his office.
An official in the speaker’s office, who wished to remain anonymous, however, told LEADERSHIP that the visit was a “private” one. This is against the backdrop that the speaker is not known to have any official link with the confirmation of ministers by the Upper House.
Those involved in the visit were the second batch of ministerial nominees including Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa) Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto), Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna), retired Brigadier-General Mansur Dan Ali (Zamfara), Suleiman Bello (Adamawa), Khadija Bukar Abba (Yobe), among others.
Journalists, however, laid ambush for the august visitors, who were seen coming out of the Speaker’s Conference Room after the visit in company of the duo of President Buhari’s senior special assistants on National Assembly matters, Senator Ita Enang (Senate) and Hon. Abdulrahaman Kawu Sumaila (House of Reps).
At a point, a LEADERSHIP reporter approached one of the nominees, General Dan Ali, who like others was waiting to enter an elevator, but he declined comment on the motive behind their parley with Dogara.
Meanwhile, the senior special assistant to the president on NASS matters (Reps), Hon. Sumaila, insisted that the visit was a private one, thereby corroborating the speaker’s office.

Culled from Leadership

Former Edo NMA Chairman, 2 Others Kidnapped By Patrick Ochoga

Former chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Edo State Chapter, Dr Philip Ugbodaga, and two other doctors whose identities are yet to be known were reportedly kidnapped in Friday in faraway Imo State where they had gone to render free medical services to some communities courtesy of a friend who was championing free medical services to members of the community.
Leadership gathered that Ugbodaga and his colleagues had hardly arrived at their base when they were forcefully stopped by the suspected kidnappers and taken away at gunpoint by three of the occupants of the vehicle to an unknown destination. At the time of this report, the suspected kidnapers were yet to make any contact.
Family members have been reluctant to comment on the incident but security agencies are already investigating the kidnapping.
It was reliably gathered that the incident happened at Isu local government near Umuaka when a particular vehicle suspected to have been trailing them ordered them to stop and picked Ugbodaga and the two other doctors.
Convener of Edo Focus, Aiyamenkhue Edokpolor, a platform for socio-economic discourse about the state where Ugbodaga is an active member, has called on IGP Solomon Arase to rescue the victims and arrest the perpetrators.
“The news of Dr. Phillip Ugbodaga’s kidnap came to us as a rude shock because apart from his easy-going lifestyle; he is an indefatigable advocate for the emancipation of the poor; the preservation of the rights of the oppressed Nigerians and health care provider for the vulnerable citizens of Edo and Nigeria. For us, there is certainly no justification for such a person in Ugbodaga’s standing to be kidnapped assuming the perpetrators considers moral grounds as a precursor for their action; however, we are appealing to the Inspector General of Police – Mr. Solomon Arase to deploy his professional expertise towards the safe and healthy release of our dear brother and comrade.
In his statement on the kidnap, immediate past president of the NMA, Dr Osahon Enabulele who is also part of the platform said “It’s really sad that our brother Dr Philip Ugbodaga was kidnapped by some faceless individuals. While I urge all to fervently pray for his speedy release, I commend all on-going efforts being made to secure his safe release. Undoubtedly, our brother’s kidnap is yet another reminder of the failure of the Nigerian State.

Culled from Leadership

Flood: Pregnant woman, 7 children drown in Delta

From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
About eight persons including a pregnant woman and seven children are feared dead as they reportedly drowned in the River Niger following the rise in the level of water due to incessant rainfall and opening of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroun.
The victims, who were said to be missing since the current flood ravaging parts of Delta State started, were said to be natives of Utchi, a community along the bank of the Niger in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of the state.
The children were said to be returning from school while the pregnant woman was returning from Anambra State when they were caught by a storm, which threw them into the river where they reportedly drowned.
Chairman of the Ndokwa East council area, Mrs. Nkechi Chukwurah, said corpses of the victims were yet to be found.
Speaking in Asaba yesterday on the sidelines of a stakeholders’ meeting on the ravaging flood, Chukwurah lamented the impact of the flood in the locality, adding that two persons have also died.
She told newsmen that despite initial hesitation from residents in flood-prone communities to move to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Ashaka, about 170 persons have reported at the camp as the water level keeps rising.
“As at this morning, we have recorded about 170 persons at the camp. They said the water stood still at the Niger and was now flowing into the communities thereby raising the volume in the communities, and I think that is the reason they are coming out on their own.
“They are calling us to come back and pick them but we do not have the resources to do that because we actually wasted money initially to move around urging them to come out without much success,” she said.
Earlier, at the stakeholders’ meeting, the Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro, who doubles as the state chairman of the flood management committee, said a lot had been done to cushion the effect of the flood on victims.
One of the monarchs who spoke during the meeting, Emmanuel Delekpe, traditional ruler of Udu Kingdom, lamented failure of the Federal Government to build buffer dams to take the excess water from the Camerounian dam.

Culled from Sun

How MDAs Short-changed Nigeria by Remitting Dollar Revenue in Naira

 Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade

•  States: CBN bailout insufficient to offset backlog of salaries

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

The National Economic Council (NEC) was on Thursday told how some federal government agencies short-changed the country by remitting dollar revenue into the Federation Account in naira.

The Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade, who briefed State House correspondents alongside three of his colleagues – Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto and Darius Ishaku of Taraba – said the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, gave the council a brief report on the agencies that were involved in the practice.

Ayade specifically mentioned the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as some of the culprits. He however said that the scam was not limited to the agencies mentioned above.

Ayade said: “We received a brief report on the FGN agencies remitting dollar revenues in naira into the Federation Account, which was given by the CBN governor.

“He (Emefiele) said investigations were ongoing. Such agencies include but are not limited to NNPC, NIMASA and NPA.”

Also yesterday, state governors warned that in the face of continuing shortfalls in accruals to the federation, the bailout funds from the CBN was still not enough for the states to take care of the backlog of salary arrears owed workers in their states.

The states however assured the public that all funds received so far from the CBN for the purpose of offsetting the backlog of salaries would be used for that purpose only.

Concerns were raised that some states planned to divert the bailout funds amounting to N338 billion for 27 states to other projects.

But the governors maintained that they had no plan to divert the funds.
While answering questions after the briefing, Mimiko disclosed that the bailout funds would not be enough to take care of outstanding salaries, which includes pensions and gratuities, in the face of continuing revenue shortfalls accruing to the Federation Account.

He said: “The bailout is a short term measure to cater for the salary arrears. But the truth is that the accruals are low, so the final solution to the shortfall for the payment of salaries still has to be addressed.”

The states also said that the federal government had assured them that it would assist them in tackling the crisis created by floods in affected states.

On the status of the Excess Crude Account (ACA), Ayade said: “The permanent secretary (Ministry of Finance) briefed the council on the excess crude account which stands at $2.2 billion as at October 15th.

“Also on the provision of concessionary loans to states based on collaterisation of the excess crude account, the CBN governor briefed that 27 states had made a request for the N10 billion facility and that is currently being processed.

“He (Emefiele) has called on the affected states to complete all necessary documentation for the said loan to the 27 states.”

On the demand for a refund of funds spent by the state governments on federal government projects in their states, he said Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo also assured them that those who had followed the right procedure and due process in incurring the expenses, a review was being undertaken by the federal government to address the issue.

“Also there was an update on all states that are affected by flooding and the vice-president briefed us and confirmed that the federal government was processing all such affected states with a view to assisting states impacted by floods,” he said.

Fielding questions from the correspondents on why some states still owed their workers salaries despite the bailout funds disbursed by the CBN, Ayade and Mimiko said that their own states no longer owed salaries.

They also denounced allegations that the bailout funds were being diverted into other purposes.

According to them, there was a verification process carried out by the state governments, which was responsible for the delays in some states.

“Cross River is not owing and we are not diverting the funds. But also do not forget that when the money comes, there is a verification process to be done. The ICPC is sending a team to intervene and guidelines and modalities were prescribed in the way and manner this money will be disbursed.

“So some states are just beginning to receive the money and they need to get through this procedure before the CBN can release the funds. I want to assure you that for any state that has received the bailout, the money is specifically for salaries and it is not gong to be used to service any other business or for any infrastructure project.

“The money is specifically for the payment of salaries and all the states will comply as far as we receive it, because it is a computation of what has come up.
“When states were doing the compilation of their salary indebtedness, they included things like gratuities and all other things which were removed by CBN when they were paying.

“So all of that had to be streamlined at the state level before they could effect payments and that explains some of the delays. Definitely there will be no movement of the funds outside the mandate of payment of salaries,” Ayade explained.

Also, the governors spoke on the outbreak of floods, the funds set aside for such emergencies and measure being put in place to salvage flooded areas in the country.

On the measures being taken to mitigate the flooding is some states, Mimiko said: “The details were not discussed as per what individual states should be doing but there is no question about the fact that individual states are customising their responses depending on the level and impact of the flooding that has been experienced.

“What the council discussed was the mechanism whereby the federal government will come up with a holistic approach. We have not discussed the details, the details may be discussed at the next meeting but it does not mean that the states are not intervening to mitigate the disaster.”

In his briefing, Ishaku added: “Let me add that before the flooding took place, the federal government had issued warning alerts. So most of the people in the flood prone areas had been evacuated but you know that there are some communities that found it very difficult to relocate and now they are facing the realities on the ground.

“But a lot of effort has been made by most states and the VP has also asked that those states that have not briefed the federal government, should compile their reports. However, most states have done so.”

Culled from Thisday

Robbers overrun FESTAC Town

•40 robbers invade banks in broad day light
•Heavy shooting, stray bullets kill mum, baby girl
By Chris Oji, Mosunmola Omokunga and Chioma Igbokwe


The peace of Festac Town in Mile 2 area of Lagos was shattered on Tuesday when 40 armed robbers stormed three banks located on 4th Avenue and carted away currencies in naira and dollars.
The hoodlums, however, left behind wailing, anguish and pain in the household of Mr. Peter Ndirika after a stray bullet shot by the robbers killed his wife, Jane Ebele and   her one and a half year old baby, Masoma Ndisika.
The robbers, who operated for over two hours without restraint, and numbering about 40, reportedly accessed the banks through the canal in a speedboat and announced their presence by shooting sporadically into the air.
At the end of the operation, little Masoma laid dead having been hit in the neck by a stray bullet which had earlier hit her mother, Jane. The bullet, according to her neighbours penetrated her chest before hitting her daughter.
While Masoma died in their flat on Block 8, Flat 13 on 4th Avenue, her mother, Ebele died in the  hospital she was  rushed to for treatment.
Eye witnesses told Daily Sun that the robbers gained entry into the banks by blowing up the entrance with dynamite and the sound of the explosion sent panic across the vicinity.
Thereafter, it was two hours of chaos, fear, panic and pains. After robbing and looting the vaults of the two banks, they  stormed another bank in the area.
It was also gathered that while the robbery lasted, the robbers who were armed with GMP riffles fired their guns sparodically to scare away policemen.
The robbers eventually succeeded in carting away about N28 million. But according to witnesses, the robbers went away with cash in foreign and local currencies in Ghana-must-go bags.  Some eyewitnesses said while the robbers fled the scene, some bundles of dollar notes and naira fell from the Ghana-must-go bags. “Can you imagine, they took the dollar notes and left naira notes!”
Daily Sun also gathered that, that same morning, local bureau de change dealers on 22 Road in FESTAC Town were robbed before the attacks on the banks
As the robbers shot  bullets into in the air, there was response from other quarters  (speculated to have come from men of  the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) which temporarily destabilised the robbers. The eyewitnesses said that the response infuriated the robbers who shot sporadically into the air and in different directions as a form of defence.
They eventually escaped with a speedboat through the canal.
However, at the Ndirika’s residence in Flat 13, it was anguish and pain all through.
Ndirika reportedly worked at Alimosho Local Government area as a nurse and was on afternoon duty preparatory to going to work when the unfortunate incident happened.
Mrs Uju Darlington, a family friend, who was also in the same house when the incident happened, narrated the story to Daily Sun. She said they were all at home when the shootings started and so, they all “ran for cover and immediately, shut the door and laid down on the floor as a safety measure.
“But, while they were lying on the floor, the woman heard the voice of her baby who was in the room. She dashed into the room to comfort her.
“As was cuddling her baby, in less than a minute, the woman just screamed and threw the baby on the bed. As she screamed, there was a flash of fire in the house.
“Everyone in the house ran to her rescue and the woman started shouting ‘please help me fast…, please help me fast, oh God I’m dying o, I’m dying’. The woman was in pains and in the pool of her own blood.
“By the time paramedics arrived to administer First Aid, they discovered a deep cut on her shoulders and her chest, which suggested that the bullet ripped her chest to get to her shoulders.
“Amidst the pandemonium, and since the shootings was ongoing, there was no way that they could rush the woman to the hospital. First aid was performed on her by dressing the wound and covering it. We waited while the shootings continued for another one hour. At that point, the baby was no longer crying but in the pool of her own blood…
“When they finally arrived at the hospital, Masoma was confirmed dead on the spot and her corpse was brought back home. But her mother was admitted in the hospital where she later died.”
The bereaved, Mr. Peter Ndirika, has been inconsolable since yesterday morning. It was gathered that he had left for work when the incident happened. However,  neighbours broke the news to him.
Not less than 10 minutes after the robbers left, heavily armed policemen, came to the scene in about 20 police vehicles and an ASP amour tank. Even the Area Commander of FESTAC Town, Mr. Frank Mba, was also on ground.
In a jiffy, a huge crowd had besieged the area to have a glimpse of what happened.
Although Mba led his men to the scene, a huge crowd had besieged the area and was almost unruly, when news filtered in  about the death of Masoma and her mother. Police reportedly called for reinforcement with naval officers and soldiers who restored calm.
He told Daily Sun that, “at about 8.25, the Command received information of sporadic shooting along 4th Avenue. A joint team of policemen from Area E and FESTAC Division promptly responded to the incident.
“On arrival, the policemen engaged the robbers numbering over 40 all in military camouflage and armed to the teeth in fierce gun battle. Not withstanding the numerical disadvantage of the police strength at the beginning of the operation, the hot exchange of fire, forced the robbers who were simultaneously robbing two banks to abandon the operation.
“The police action equally forced the robbers to abandon N27 715.921.74k, which was later recovered by the police and transferred under armed escort safe keeping into another bank. Police actions also forced the armed robbers to abandon 240 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
“The robbers later retreated to the water front from where they fled in speed boats
The scene of crime has been condoned off while investigating has since commenced.”
A Police source told Crime watch Today, however, “we were deceived  by the robbers. They came with two vehicles believed to have been be snatched. “We didn’t confront them in order to avoid casualties. We called for reinforcement, barricaded the roads, not knowing that the hoodlums had already parked two speed boats in the canal near 6th Avenue.
“As we were chased them, they drove towards 6th Avenue and escaped in two boats. It was a well organised robbery.It was a big lesson to us.
“I must confess, the robbers were armed with GMP riffles and dynamites. The two persons the robbers shot dead were not killed at the scene.They were hit by stray bullets but, there has not been any official report about the deaths…”

Culled from Sun

Police Arrest 10 as Adenuga’s In-law is Killed in Land Tussle

 Tajudeen Disu
 

• Ambode orders police to fish out perpetrators

Gboyega Akinsanmi and Chiemelie Ezeobi in Lagos

The Managing Director of Lekki Worldwide Investment Company, Mr. Tajudeen Disu, who was in charge of the Lekki Free Trade Zone, was monday morning killed in Lagos during a community uprising.

Disu was the father of Jameel Disu who is married to Bella, the second daughter of business mogul and Chairman of Globacom, Mr. Mike Adenuga.

The Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Dangote Refinery, who was identified as Colonel Usman (rtd), was also severely injured in the fracas.

THISDAY gathered that the fracas began in the morning when members of the Okunraye community in the Lekki area of the state sighted some members of staff of the said refinery at the site.

According to an eyewitness, the members of the community stormed the site and asked them to vacate the vicinity, alleging that the said land was snatched from them.

During the confrontation, the deceased tried to calm frayed nerves when some hoodlums allegedly hijacked the otherwise peaceful protest and unleashed mayhem in the process.

According to another report, the deceased had called in the police to restore peace, but the policemen allegedly shot at the crowd and killed two people.

After regrouping, the community again angrily stormed the area and it was in the process that some persons killed Disu and severely injured the refinery’s CSO.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Joseph Offor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the command had initially arrested 20 suspects in connection with the murder.

He said: “Immediately the incident happened, the police were able to restore peace and they also arrested 20 persons in connection with the incident including the Baale (chief) of the community.”

THISDAY however gathered that although 20 suspects were initially arrested, 10 of them were later released after they had been profiled and found innocent of the said allegations.

However, Offor said the police still have the Baale and the chairman of the O'odua Peoples Congress (OPC) and other high profile community members in their custody.

Also, the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the police have swung into action and investigations have commenced into ascertaining what really happened.

He said: “We have so far arrested 10 suspects and the arrests we have made are of those who were directly responsible. We are in the state of the operation.

“We would do a diligent investigation and we would ensure that those people behind the fracas and death – not just the people we see on the road are perpetrators – and there may be sponsors, are brought to book.

“We will go after these sponsors and I can assure you that we will ensure the investigation is carried out as speedily as possible and we will make sure they are diligently prosecuted.”

Reacting to the incident, the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, monday ordered the police to fish out the perpetrators behind the murder of Disu.

While expressing shock and sadness over his death, Ambode said the late Disu was shot by assailants during an official visit to one of the villages within the zone in the early hours of yesterday.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, the governor said: “We are deeply touched over the loss of our dedicated officer at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Alhaji Tajudeen Disu, who was until his death the arrow head of the free trade zone Initiative.

“It really saddens my heart and the heart of all of us because this was somebody that had been dedicated to his duty in the past 10 years. He was a man who was committed to promoting the inflow of investment to Lagos State.

“This is a great concern and I have directed the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to investigate the cause of the death. The Commissioner of Police must do a thorough investigation to unravel the root cause of what has just happened because he was on a peaceful mission to that place.”

He urged residents of the area to remain calm, as his administration would continue to ensure that the security of lives and property is accorded necessary priority and that the zone is safe for investors.

He said: “I want to appeal to all our people in Ibeju Lekki axis that they should give peace a chance; it is in the interest of all Lagosians that we attract as many investors to the state.

“That is what we have been doing and have improved upon in the last four months. I implore everybody to be calm. We would get to the root of this unfortunate incident.

“I will like everybody to also know that we are trying our best but we can only appeal to our people to allow peace to reign in the free trade zone.

“That is the only way we can allow more people to be involved in this trade zone. Let me tell our people that we are on the right track for the kind of job creation we want to bring to Lagos State.”

Culled from Thisday

How Alamieyeseigha Died Few Hours Before Planned Oversea Treatment- By Osa Okhomina

Fresh facts emerged yesterday on how the first elected governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alameiseigha died at the Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) few hours before he could be flown abroad for further treatment by the Bayelsa State government.
Also confirmed was the fact that Late Alameiseigha was never in a coma for two days as claimed by some media reports.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the Bayelsa State government had activated a plan to fly him overseas for further treatment before he died on Saturday.
The arrangement, according to a top Bayelsa State government official, was at the instance of the state deputy governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd) after his visit to Alamiyeseigha on his sick bed at the hospital in Port Harcourt.
It was gathered that the state deputy governor, who was at Omoku in Rivers State for a programme at Agip on hearing about the former governor’s poor health called him on phone on Friday and spoke with him at about 8.15pm, before his demise on Saturday contrary to claims that he (Alamieyeseigha) was in coma for two days before he passed on.
“This is a sad loss for Bayelsa and Ijaw nation. Contrary to claim that Alamieyeseigha was in coma for two days before he passed on, the state deputy governor who was at Omoku for a programme at Agip on hearing about Alamieyeseigha’s poor health called and spoke with him on phone at about 8.15pm.
He even directed the state commissioner of Health, Dr. Ayibatonye Owei to stay back and monitor him. The deputy governor later visited him at the hospital on Saturday morning before leaving for Yenagoa with an instruction that an air ambulance be put on notice for him (Aalamieyeseigha) to be flown abroad for further treatment.
“Shortly after the deputy governor arrived Yenagoa, he received the sad news that Alamieyeseigha had passed on,” the source said.
The state commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dan Kikile, confirmed to LEADERSHIP yesterday said the deputy governor, actually spoke with the former governor on phone on Friday but declined further comments.
He confirmed that Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha died of complications arising from high blood pressure and diabetes which affected his kidney. “He had chronic kidney disease which was aggravated by the sudden rise in his blood pressure and the long diabetes,” he said.

Culled from Leadership

Hajj Stampede: NAHCON Confirms 99 Nigerians Dead, 214 Missing-Sunday Okobi

Hajj Stampede



National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Thursday confirmed the death of 99 Nigerian pilgrims, 42 injured and 214 others missing in the recent stampede at Mina, Saudi Arabia.

The total number of Nigerians pilgrims affected in the stampede were 355, the commission further revealed.

According to the Commissioner Planning, Research Statistic Information and Library Service (PRSILS) of the commission, Dr. Saleh Okenwa told reporters in Makkah on Thursday that the total number of Nigerians affected in the incident was 355.

He however insisted that those missing cannot be declared dead, since identification of those affected were still being collated by the Saudi Arabia health authorities in conjunction with Nigerian and other health officials.

He further gave the breakdown of the victims as 73 deaths from the state pilgrim welfare board, agencies and commissions, while the remaining 26 were from the tour operators.

“Those injured were 42, 41 from the state pilgrims and one from tour operators. The numbers of missing from the states were 96 males, 94 females and four males who were officials, totaling 194, while 10 males and 10 females were missing from the tour operators. Of those injured only seven remain in the hospitals on admission and receiving treatments and others were discharged,” Okenwa said.

When asked on the fate of the missing if there were hope that they can be found alive, the commissioner said: “In the early days people expressed hope but the hope is weaning. We cannot declared those missing as dead since there is no evidence to state that they have been confirmed dead."

Culled from Thisday

Money Laundering: EFCC Quizzes Diezani’s Ally, Omokore Abdullahi UmarMoney Laundering: EFCC Quizzes Diezani’s Ally, Omokore- Abdullahi Umar

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday quizzed Jide Omokore, owner of Atlantic Energy, who is said to be a business associate of former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reports.
But Omokore was said to have been granted administrative bail after answering certain qestions from the EFCC operatives.
Omokore is being investigated by the EFCC on allegations of money laundering and conspiracy to siphon billions of naira in fraudulent oil industry contracts while Alison-Madueke was minister.
Atlantic Energy recently debunked the corruption allegation levelled against it that it facilitated bogus oil swap deals that cost the country billions of naira.
Our sources at the anti-graft agency noted that the commission conducted simultaneous searches on Omokore’s houses in Lagos and the house of the former minister in Abuja, as she was being questioned in the UK.
The sources also confirmed that officials from the United Kingdom National Crime Agency are presently in Nigeria, actively collaborating with EFCC operatives on the ongoing probe of the oil sector.

Culled from Leadership

Saudi Tragedy: Iran, Egypt, Nigeria Top List of Foreign Casualties

 Scene of the stampede at the hajj in Mina, Saudi Arabia

Saudi authorities have yet to provide a breakdown of the nationalities of the 769 Muslim pilgrims they say were killed in the hajj stampede, but a number of countries have announced the deaths of their citizens.

The death toll given below by foreign officials and media is now 990, well in excess of the Saudi figure, reported AFP.

The tallies also show another 615 people as unaccounted for: Iran - 464 dead; Egypt - 124 dead, 72 missing; Nigeria: 64 dead, 244 missing; Mali: 60 dead; Indonesia: 59 dead, 74 missing; India: 51 dead, 63 missing; Pakistan: 46 dead, more than 40 missing; Niger: 22 dead; Cameroun: 20 dead; Ivory Coast: 14 dead, 77 missing; Chad: 11 dead; Algeria: 11 dead; Senegal: 10 dead; Morocco: 10 dead, 29 missing; Somalia: 8 dead (media reports); Libya: 4 dead, 16 missing; Tanzania: 4 dead; Kenya: 3 dead; Tunisia: 2 dead; Burkina Faso: 1 dead; Burundi: 1 dead; Netherlands: 1 dead; Benin: unspecified number of deaths.

Culled from Thisday