Army dismisses Shekau’s video as mere propaganda-Seun Akioye

Col. Usman

The army yesterday dismissed a new video in which Boko Haram’s elusive leader Abubakar Shekau is disputing a claim that the jihadist group had been routed from its Sambisa Forest stronghold.

“It is mere terrorists propaganda,” the military said.

Shekau was boasting that the sect’s fighters remained strong.

He said: “We are safe. We have not been flushed out of anywhere. And tactics and strategies cannot reveal our location except if Allah wills by his decree,” Shekau said in the 25-minute video, flanked by masked armed fighters.

“You should not be telling lies to the people,” he said, referring to President Muhammadu Buhari who said on Christmas Eve that the extremist group had been defeated and driven away from the forest, its last known bastion.

“If you indeed crushed us, how can you see me like this? How many times have you killed us in your bogus death?” he asked.

But the Army dismissed his claim as “mere terrorists propaganda”.

It was not immediately clear where the new video was shot, but Shekau, who spoke in Hausa and Arabic, said it was filmed on Christmas Day.

Shekau last appeared in a video in September where he disputed a claim by the military that he had been wounded in battle.

He vowed to continue fighting on until an Islamic state was imposed in northern Nigeria.

“Our aim is to establish an Islamic Caliphate and we have our own Caliphate, we are not part of Nigeria.”

Buhari had announced that a months-long military campaign in the 1,300 square-kilometre (500 square-mile) forest in northeastern Borno State had led to the “final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave in Sambisa Forest”.

The government and the military have frequently claimed victories against the Islamic State group affiliate but access to the epicentre of the conflict is strictly controlled.

That has made independent verification of official statements about victories virtually impossible.

There have been video clips of troops setting fire to Boko Haram camps. Many bodies of suspected insurgents are displayed in the videos.

Besides, the army said on Wednesday that it recovered Shekau’s personal Quran and the flag displayed in his videos.

Also, there has been no major Boko Haram attack recently, many displaced people have returned to their homes.

Attacks have meanwhile continued, with Boko Haram using suicide bombers.

The Boko Haram’s insurgency has killed at least 20,000 and forced some 2.6 million others to flee their homes since 2009.

The violence has sparked a dire humanitarian crisis in the region, with thousands of children facing the risk of famine and starvation.

A statement by Army spokesman Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman Kukasheka, said:

“The attention of the Nigerian Army is drawn to a video clip released by Boko Haram terrorist group from an undisclosed location a while ago, showing its purported leader making spurious claims.

 ”While effort is on going to subject the video to further forensic analysis, the Nigerian Army wishes to reiterate that it has captured and occupied the last known stronghold of the terrorists group in the Sambisa forest.

 ”We would like to reassure the public that this video is nothing but mere terrorists propaganda aimed at creating fear in the minds of people and to remain relevant. Therefore, there is no cause for alarm, more so as concerted effort in clearing the vestiges of Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hiding is still ongoing.

 ”Our gallant troops deployed in various parts of the Northeast have continued to intensify search for all persons associated with Boko Haram terrorist group with a view to bringing them to justice.

“Consequently, the public are hereby enjoined to go about their normal lawful business, remain vigilant and security conscious. They should also report any suspicious person or group of persons to security agencies.”

Culled from Nation

Naira weakens to N490/$ at parallel market

The Naira yesterday weakened to N490 to a dollar at the parallel market after appreciating to N485 to a dollar during the Christmas break.

 The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Naira lost five points, representing a depreciation of 1.03 per cent, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N590 and 502, respectively.

 At the Bureau De Change (BDC) Window, the Naira traded at N399 to a dollar, CBN controlled rate, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N602 and N510, respectively.

 The Naira traded at N305.25 to a dollar at the official interbank market.

Traders at the market said that the scarcity of forex was still exerting pressures on the Naira.

 Meanwhile, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) said the pressure on the Naira was disturbing and dangerous to investment, output and employment.

Gwadabe called for harmony between the fiscal and monetary policies in addressing the woes of the Naira.

 “There is the need for concerted collaboration among both the fiscal, monetary policy makers and the operators in the economy to address this monster facing the economy.

 “I must confess that I am disturbed and worried,’’ Gwadabe said.

Culled from Nation

Protesters storm National Assembly Posted By: Onyedi Ojiabor

A group women who stormed the Federal High Court, Lagos in solidarity with ex-First-Lady Mrs. Patience Jonathan...yesterday. PHOTO: Joseph Jibueze

A COALITION of Ethnic Nationalities yesterday protested the alleged persecution of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s family members by the Department of State Services (DSS) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) “under the guise of war against corruption”.

The groups claimed that operatives of DSS, EFCC and National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) invaded the Abuja residence of Mrs. Patience Jonathan in her absence.

The protesters, who were heading for the National Assembly, were stopped at the Federal Secretariat, by a group of policemen.

Some of the protesters, however, assembled at the first gate to the National Assembly, where they addressed reporters on their mission to Abuja.

The protesting groups included Ijaw Youths, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum and Yoruba Youth Council.

They expressed displeasure over the ongoing trial of the former First Lady and a cousin of the former president, Roberts Azibaola and his wife, Stella, by EFCC on what they described as “phantom charges”.

The protesters, who displayed various inscriptions lampooning the EFCC and the DSS, urged the National Assembly and other concerned Nigerians to intervene.

In a letter, the groups appealed to the National Assembly leadership to call “DSS, EFCC and NDLEA to order over alleged witch-hunting against the former President’s family members”.

They asked the National Assembly to ensure that the agencies adhered strictly to the principle of rule of law in their operations.

They said: “An agency set up by an Act of Parliament can definitely not be allowed to be turned into a tool for witch-hunting of perceived enemies by any government in power.”

Leaders of the groups included Bristol Alagbariya Emmanuel (Secretary-General, Ijaw Youth Council), Eric Oluwole (National President, Yoruba Youths Council) and Mazi Okechukwu (National Youth leader, Ohanaeze).

Culled from Nation

Robots to steal 15 MILLION British jobs in coming decades, warns Bank of England boss-Steve Robson

Mark Carney warned that the next technological revolution will "mercilessly" destroy jobs and livelihoods

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney spoke of the dangers of globalisation (Photo: REUTERS

 

Robots and machines could replace 15 million British jobs in the coming decades, the governor of the Bank of England has claimed.
Mark Carney used a high-profile speech to outline some of the stark realities of globalisation and free trade.
He said: "Every technological revolution mercilessly destroys jobs and livelihoods – and therefore identities – well before the new ones emerge."
Mr Carney predicted that "middle-class service jobs" will be "hollowed out" by "machine learning and global sourcing".
He said: "Globalisation is associated with low wages, insecure employment, stateless corporations and striking inequalities.
"For free trade to benefit all requires some redistribution."
"We need to move towards more inclusive growth where everyone has a stake in globalisation."
While the picture in the UK is "complex", there are high levels of overall inequality, with "sharper disparities" emerging in recent years, Mr Carney said.
"When combined with low growth of incomes and entrenched intergenerational inequality, it is no wonder that many question their prospects," he said.
Bank of England governor Mark Carney has said that a transitional period after Brexit is "absolutely desirable" for business.
The governor agreed that it would be "advantageous" for firms to have a period of adjustment and time to restructure after a deal is struck with the European Union.

Mr Carney said: "We need to move towards more inclusive growth" (Photo: REUTERS)

Millions of 'middle-class service jobs' will be overtaken by automation, Mr Carney warned

"Of course, on the surface yes, it's absolutely desirable," he told Channel 4 news.
But even without a transitional period, "people will adjust", Mr Carney said.
"It's desirable. It's very much desirable from a European perspective in the financial sector.
"The Government has to weight a whole host of issues for a whole host of industries, and determine its priorities, and only the Government can do that."
He told Channel 4 there has been "a lost decade of growth" for households which has fuelled anxiety across the UK.
"Real incomes in this country have not grown for the last 10 years.
"That is incredible and shines a light on the inequality, inequalities that exist in this economy ... That light also gets shone on the Bank of England, quite responsibly."

Mr Carney said that inequality in modern economies remains a serious problem (Photo: Getty)

But the governor defended monetary policy in a speech at Liverpool John Moores University on Monday.
He credited monetary policy for having helped create 2.5 million jobs, increase wages by 17% and raise real gross domestic product (GDP) by 15%.
Mr Carney also denied claims that monetary policy tools such as the Bank's quantitative easing programme (QE), which sees the central bank print money to buy Government bonds, have disproportionately hurt savers but aided the asset rich.
The Bank has embarked on controversial measures including ultra-low interest rates and quantitative easing since the financial crisis, and cut rates to a record low of 0.25% in August as part of a post- Brexit stimulus package.
Answering questions following his speech, the governor said he would not "pretend to know exactly why people decided to vote" for Brexit , but noted that alongside sovereignty and economic prospects, people seemed to feel they were "losing control".
"(What) most felt was a sense of losing control, taking back control ... and it's felt because of those large forces of trade and this rapid shift in technology", which have added to job insecurities, he said.
"How do you as a country ... how do you equip people at a local level so that they'll be ready for those changes?"
Mr Carney said governmental policies will be key in boosting UK prosperity.
He said: "The Chancellor's recent Autumn Statement begins the process of rebalancing policies.
"While fiscal prudence will continue, the degree of fiscal drag will be reduced somewhat, and major investments in the structural drivers of productivity."

Culled from Daily Mirror

Abia guber: Ikpeazu, Nwosu know fate today as Appeal Court decides- Chuks Onuoha

The five man panel of the Court of Appeal, sitting in Owerri will today,  December 2 hear the appeal filed by Sir Friday Nwosu against the judgment of the Federal High Court, Owerri, which cleared Ikpeazu of allegations of submission of false information and forged tax documents.
A source at the Appeal Court told Daily Sun yesterday  that the appeal which was earlier slated to be heard on December 5 and 6 was brought back to  December 2.
Our source also said judgment may be  delivered on the appeal today to allow parties who might not be satisfied with its verdict appeal to the Supreme Court, as there were pending appeals on the same suit at the apex court.
The court would also determine two appeals filed by Ikpeazu and the PDP against some aspects of  the judgment which held that the court had jurisdiction to hear the suit while Nwosu was also right to have commenced the matter through originating summons.
The court had earlier fixed September 22 and 23, 2016, for hearing and judgment, but when the case came up for mention on that date, presiding judge, Justice R.C. Agbo upheld the argument of the counsel to the fourth respondent, O.J. Nnadi, who said he was not served.
The case was adjourned to October 20.  But on October 20, the court further adjourned to allow the Supreme Court determine a motion filed by Nwosu in which he prayed the apex court to take over the matter.
The motion was, however,  struck out on November 8, 2016 which made the Court of Appeal to resume hearing on the appeal.

Culled from Sun

CBN scam: Trial stalled by prosecution

CBN boss Godwin Emefiele

Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday adjourned hearing in the alleged N8 billion Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ibadan branch, currency scam till December 6.

This followed absence of the prosecution, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in court.

The EFCC listed Tope Akintade as fourth defendant in June.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Akintade was reported to be suffering from high blood pressure, as well as prostate cancer.

Akintade, through his counsel, Femi Edema, entered into a plea bargain with the EFCC, but could not complete all processes.

“We are frustrated and disappointed by the absence of the prosecution without any notice; all processes involved in the arrangement have now been completed and certified by EFCC’s Head Office in Abuja,” Edema said.

NAN reports that Kolawole Babalola, Adeola Olaniran, Philip Togun and Akintade, with others, are being tried for multiple charges of conspiracy, forgery, stealing and recirculation of mutilated N8 billion notes.

Culled from Nation

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, Presents Biggest Ever Budget Proposed By A Nigerian State

The Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday presented the 2017 budget proposal of N813 billion to the House of Assembly, assuring that the budget would be judiciously implemented to continue the infrastructural renewal and the enhancement of Lagos as one of the foremost tourism and investment destination in Africa.
Mr. Ambode, who tagged the budget “The Golden Jubilee Budget” as it coincides with the State’s 50th Anniversary, said it would focus on physical infrastructure, while social sectors especially health, education, youth and social development would get adequate attention.
“In the course of the 2017 Financial Year, we shall carry out fundamental reforms on all our modes of transportation – Roads, Water and the Walkways. In this wise, a Public Transport Infrastructure Bond will be issued in the course of the year,” Mr. Ambode said.
“The State Government will embark on the Urbanisation of the Marina axis, Waterways Channelization, establishment of more Parks and Gardens as well as the Community Sports Centres and Stadiums in different locations across the State.”
The 2017 budget saw an increase by N150 billion from the 2016 budget.
The budget is also the biggest for any Nigerian state ever.
Giving the key components of the budget, Governor Ambode said recurrent expenditure would gulp N300. 535 billion while N512.464 billion would be dedicated to capital expenditure, representing a Capital/Recurrent ratio of 63 percent to 37 percent.
According to the governor, road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance would be one of the key focuses of the budget, adding that efforts would be geared towards roads that will open up the hinterlands, improve connectivity in the State and reduce travel time.
He listed some of the road projects to include Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road from Oshodi, Agric-Isawo-Owotu-Arepo Road in Ikorodu, Igbe-Igbogbo Phase II- Bola Tinubu Way in Ikorodu, Ijegun Imore Phase II Amuwo in Ojo axis, Oke-Oso-Araga-Poka in Epe, Epe-Poka-Mojoda in the Epe axis and the completion of the Abule-Egba, Ajah and Pen Cinema flyovers.
The governor also said that within the course of the budget implementation, his administration would enter into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) to execute some road projects including Oke Oso-Itoikin dualisation Project in the Epe axis, Okokomaiko-Seme Road Project in Badagry axis and Ikorodu-Agbowa-Itoikin-Ijebu Ode Road Project in Ikorodu axis, just as he disclosed that the Phase II of the 114 Local Government Roads project as well as the construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge would also kick off in 2017.

“We will fully implement the Medical Health Insurance Scheme and deploy e-Health/ e-insurance Health Service solutions; and complete the on-going upgrading and extension work in the State General Hospitals and Ayinke House in Ikeja. Work will commence on our Medical Park in the 2017 fiscal year,” Mr. Ambode said.
On the revenue expected from federal allocation, the governor said a conservative approach was taken owing to the falling oil prices, which according to him, was about $41.98per barrel at the time of finalising the budget.
He, however, expressed optimism that the state would get an increase in Federal allocation through the 13 percent derivation from Oil and Gas in 2017.
“In view of our financing gap, we shall continue to sustain deficit financing in the short-to-medium term; enhance revenue growth throughout the year on several initiatives including automation and efficient revenue administration,” the governor said.
Giving a sectoral breakdown of the 2017 Budget Estimates, Commissioner for Finance, Akinyemi Ashade, said the governor earmarked N205.85 billion for General Public Services representing 25.32 percent of the budget, N36.43 billion to Public Order and Safety, representing 4.48 percent, while Economic Affairs received a lion share of N295.84 billion representing 36.39 percent.
In other sectors, the commissioner said Environment got N56.31 billion, representing 6.93 percent, Health got N57.29 billion representing 7.05 percent, while Education got N92.4 billion representing 11.37 percent of the budget.
The Commissioner also said the budget would be funded from a total revenue estimate of N642.849billion while the balance of N170.150billion would be funded through a N100bn Bond Issuance program and a combination of internal and external loans.
Receiving the Budget, Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, commended Mr. Ambode for keeping faith with the 2016 budget in the area of implementation, adding that Lagos has witnessed a quantum leap in the last one year.
Mr. Obasa, while assuring the governor that members of the House would give the 2017 fiscal document due diligence for the benefit of Lagosians, called on the Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to furnish the House with all the necessary documents to enable it fast-track the budget approval process.
The Lagos Speaker also seized the occasion to call on the Senate to reconsider the Special Status Bill for Lagos State, saying there was no better time to accord the State such recognition.

Culled from Abiyamo in PREMIUM TIMES

N4.7bn fraud: Obanikoro returns N134m to EFCC, promises to repay N450m in 2017-Ameh Comrade Godwin

There are indications that a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, on Monday returned N30m to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The latest refund brings the total amount of money he has returned to the EFCC to N134m.
“Obanikoro came on Monday and presented a draft of about N30m. Initially we did not want to collect it because it is small compared to what he is supposed to have given us. However, the legal department advised us to collect it,” Punch quoted an insider as saying.

Obanikoro had in October returned N104m to the commission.
The ex-minister, who returned to Nigeria last month after spending about 15 months in the United States, was accused of receiving N4.7bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser under the leadership of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).
Obanikoro had said in his statement of oath at the EFCC that after receiving the money in 2014, he gave N1.219bn to the then governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, while N1.3bn was given to the PDP candidate in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
He also confessed to giving Fayose a separate $5.377m at Spotless Hotel in Ekiti State in the presence of party leaders, including the then PDP Secretary, Mr. Tope Aluko.

Obanikoro was said to have kept about N785m for himself, which he allegedly spent while campaigning ahead of the PDP governorship primary in Lagos State. Mr. Jimi Agbaje won the primary.

However, the EFCC asked Obanikoro to return about N584m out of which he had already returned N134m.
At the EFCC office on Monday, Obanikoro promised the detectives that he would return the remaining N450m in 2017.
The source added, “About N450m is remaining and Obanikoro has promised to pay the rest in 2017. He will also be reporting at our office every two weeks.”
At the Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba last week, Mr. Alade Sunday, a manager with a commercial bank, narrated how Obanikoro delivered about N1.219bn to Fayose’s aide, Abiodun Agbele, for onward transmission to his boss.
He had also said it took the cashiers about 10 days to count the money.
Sunday had said Obanikoro flew with the cash to Akure Airport and the money was loaded into bullion vans.
He had said, “When we got to the airport, we waited for some minutes before the aircraft arrived. When the aircraft offloaded its passengers, one of them appeared to me to be Senator Musliu Obanikoro and the other one appeared to be his ADC, Adewale.
“Agbele walked up to them and had a discussion with them. Thereafter, he signalled me to bring the van. Bags loaded with cash were loaded into the van and Obanikoro’s ADC, Agbele and I drove back to the bank.”

Culled from Daily Times

EFCC arraigns judge, SAN for alleged corruption, forgery-Adebisi Onanuga

SOME OF THE CHARGES
•Obla offered Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia N5million
•Unlawfully enriching herself as a public officer
•Received $793,800 in several transactions from various sources between 2012 and 2015 ‘so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income’
•Forged a deed of assignment of County City Bricks Development Company Limited and Nigel & Colive Limited dated July 5, 2010
•Giving false information to the EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned a judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and a senior lawyer, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN) for alleged bribery and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
The judge and the senior lawyer were arraigned on a 30-count charge before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja.
The charges were read to them after Justice Oshodi ordered them to move from the court gallery into the dock.
“Unfortunately, you have to be in the dock,” Justice Oshodi told them.
The defendants were asked by the court’s registrar if they understood English language, to which they answered in the affirmative.
Thereafter, each of the 30-count charge was read.
The EFCC, alleged that Obla, while appearing in a suit before Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, offered a gratification of N5million to the judge to allegedly induce her to refrain from acting in the exercise of her official duties as a public officer.
Obla, the EFCC claimed, paid the money from the account of his company, Obla & Company Limited, with United Bank for Africa, to Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia through the bank account of Nigel & Colive Ltd in Diamond Bank Plc.
The EFCC claimed that the judge and the lawyer acted contrary to sections 64 (1) and 97 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No. 11, 2011.
They both pleaded not guilty to the offence.
Obla was dressed in a blue suit, a white shirt and a blue tie to match. His co-defendant, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia was in a black suit and a skirt.
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, who had 24 out of the 30 counts preferred against her, was accused of unlawfully enriching herself as a public officer, contrary to the provision of Section 82(a) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State No. 11, 2011.
The judge was alleged to have received $793,800 in several transactions from various sources between 2012 and 2015 “so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income”.
According to the EFCC, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, by her actions, violated Section 82(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No. 11, 2011.
The judge was alleged to have forged a deed of assignment of County City Bricks Development Company Limited and Nigel & Colive Limited dated July 5, 2010, which the EFCC claimed was purportedly prepared and signed by Charles Musa & Co.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.
In count 30, the EFCC accused Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia of giving false information to one of its operatives, Lawal Abdullahi, on October 19, 2016 by allegedly claiming on the telephone to be on admission at Gold Cross Hospital, Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, while she was not there.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 39(2)(a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia pleaded not guilty to the charges.
EFCC prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo prayed the court for a trial date and for an order remanding the defendants in prison custody pending their trial.
But Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia’s counsel, Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN), and Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), for Obla, said while they had no objection to the prayer for a trial date, they were opposed to the application to remand their clients in prisons.
Both of them told the court that they had filed bail applications for their clients.
Akoni urged Justice Oshodi to grant Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia bail on self-recognition as a judge of the Federal High Court or to grant her bail on liberal terms, with a condition that the EFCC should not be the one to verify the bail conditions.
Adedipe also prayed Justice Oshodi to grant Obla bail on liberal terms, assuring that he would make himself available for trial.
“When he was allowed to travel to the U.S., he did so and returned and submitted his passport to the EFCC.
“He is one of them in EFCC. He prosecutes cases for them. Rather than pay him, they dragged him to court. He is a respected member of the Bar, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria,” Adedipe said.
Oyedepo opposed their requests and urged Justice Oshodi not to grant the defendants bail but to order an accelerated hearing of the case.
Oyedepo said if released on bail, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia would interfere with investigation and the prosecution witnesses.
He recalled that it was on that basis that the EFCC revoked the administrative bail earlier granted the judge.
After standing down the case for about two hours, Justice Oshodi, in a ruling, admitted both defendants to bail on self-recognition.
He ordered them to deposit N20m each and their passport to the chief registrar of the court pending conclusion of their trial.
Justice Oshodi warned that the bail would be revoked if the defendants failed to meet the conditions within seven days.
The trial began immediately thereafter, with the EFCC calling its first witness, Mr. Adedamola Oshodi, a Diamond Bank Plc official.
The case was, however, adjourned till January 9, next year for continuation of trial, following the submission of the defence counsel who said they were not prepared for the trial.

Culled from Nation

Nigeria’s social security targets 50 per cent of citizens, says Ngige-Tony Akowe

•Minister promises more jobs
Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige has promised that 50 per cent of the citizenry will be captured under the social security net within the life of this administration.
He said besides the 200,000 graduates beginning work in December, more would be employed as part of a social intervention scheme.
Ngige, who spoke at the World Social Security Summit in Panama City, Panama, said the government’s decision to employ 200,000 graduates, despite teething economic challenges, was an expression of its commitment to lift millions out of poverty.
According to him, “social intervention is one of the cardinal progammes of the administration. Our objective is to tackle youth unemployment and restiveness through job creation, notwithstanding the tough economic challenges we face.
“Some of the programmes in our integrated social protection scheme are being implemented as evidenced in the 200,000 graduates, who will commence work next month.
“More jobs are in the offing. Our target is to ensure that millions of Nigerians are lifted out of poverty line while at least 50 per cent of the population is captured in the social security net.”
The minister, who spoke on the topic: “Evolving Role of Social Security in a Changing World”, stressed that despite teething economic challenges, the Federal Government remain undeterred in pursuing its social security goals.
He added that priority will being given to health care delivery to rural dwellers was core.
He said government would support operations of the National Health Insurance Scheme and that of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM).
Ngige said the activities of the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) were enhanced to make it more responsive to achieving social security goals.
On the sidelines of the summit, the minister sought assistance of China in developing and deepening Nigeria’s social protection programmes.
In a bilateral discussion with the Chinese Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, Mr. Yin Weimin, Ngige said Nigeria would tap into the Chinese model of Social Security Academy to institutionalise social security practices in the country.
China won the best Social Security Nation for 2016, having captured 100 million persons yearly into its social security, totalling a billion in the last decade.

Culled from Nation

Presidency Kicks Off Job Scheme for Half A Million Unemployed Graduates

*200,000 Nigerians selected to start work as teachers, agric & health workers in their communities December 1
*Names of successful first batch participants to be posted on N-Power Portal

All is now set for the deployment of 200,000 unemployed graduates selected in the first batch of the Buhari administration's plan to hire half a million Nigerians.

While the 200,000 have been selected about two weeks ago, their names have now been sent to state governments and the FCT who would deploy them to their specific programme assignments. The names would also be published this week on the N-Power internet portal, while the participants would start receiving SMS messages informing them of their selection as from Monday November 21, 2016.

State governments and the FCT are also encouraged to post the names of the successful first batch applicants in their local government areas while there would be further public announcements.

Between now and the end of the month, the states and the FCT would be engaged in deploying the graduates who would formally start working and earning their stipends on December 1, 2016.

Of the 200,000 first batch, 150,000 of them would teach, 30,000 would work in the Agric sector and 20,000 in Healthcare delivery covering the three specific programme assignments.

The N-Power Volunteer Corps is an expression of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to invest in the human capital development of Nigerian citizens, particularly our young people. The N-Power programmme is also an innovative means to enhance ailing public services in the area of basic education and primary healthcare. Also in the agric sector, it is aimed at achieving self-sufficiency by giving our farmers relevant advisory services.

The Federal Government of Nigeria hereby congratulates all 200,000 successful applicants in the first batch, and they are encouraged to take this opportunity seriously by learning the skills that will brighten their future. They are also implored to serve their communities with commitment and dedication.

For those who have not been selected at this time, there is a waiting list based on the total number of applicants, and subsequent batches will absorb more of the qualified applicants.

All together, the N-Power will engage and train 500,000 young unemployed graduates. It is a paid volunteering programme of a 2-year duration that engages graduates in their immediate communities, where they will assist in improving the inadequacies in the education, health, and agriculture sectors.

The 500,000 graduates under the N-Power Corps programme will be trained in skills that will enable them exit after two years to economically viable job and business opportunities.

As part of the programme, the participnts would own tablets that will contain information necessary for their specific engagements, as well as information for their continuous training and developments.

Participants will be provided teaching, instructional, and advisory solutions in 4 main focus areas, and will be paid a monthly stipend of N30,000 during the programme. The 4 main focus areas are in basic education, agriculture extension services, public health and community education (civic and adult education).

Besides the N-Power programme for undergraduates, there are other schemes for non-graduates. These are: N-Power Knowledge, which would select 25,000 young Nigerians and N-Power Build 75,000, all of whom shall be trained and paid during the duration of the scheme.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity
In the Office of the Vice President

Kachikwu seeks early repairs of refineries -John Ofikhenua and Nafisat Jimoh

•Dr. Kachikwu

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, yesterday advocated for the speedy rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries, to skip their being sold as scraps.

  He warned that if urgent measures were not taken before the  Dangote Refinery becomes operational,   the nation’s four refineries might be sold as scraps in 2019.

Kachikwu, who gave the warning at the the stakeholders’ consultative forum on the draft National Gas Policy and National Oil Policy in Abuja, said the only option opened to the country was to ensure that the refineries work within the shortest possible time.

He said: “Refineries would have to work; it is really not an option anymore. And not only should it work, it has to work very quickly. The reality is that if we do not privatise and we do not concession — which is not what we are doing —then we have a responsibility to find private capital to get them to where they should be.

“This is because if we do not get them to work, in 2019, I can assure you that if Dangote system works well, we would have scraps, we won’t have refineries, because by then it would be too late to do anything.”

The minister however sought efforts to address the issue of cost of production in the petroleum industry, to bring down the cost to a reasonable and manageable level.

He said that crude oil is still produced at $27 per barrel in Nigeria, adding that no decent country would produce at that amount at a period when oil price is unpredictable as it is now.

He said: “They are lots of things we still need to address. Cost is a key issue. We are still at $27 per barrels. No decent country would produce oil at $27 per barrel at a time when the pricing is unpredictable. Again, we are going to try to get those figures below $18 per barrel.”

The minister noted that the Federal Government is committed to fully deregulating the downstream sector of the petroleum industry. He said while the process have started, and since it is a continuing process, the government would continue fine-tuning  it until it gets to where it should be.

“At every given time in the history of every country, you will always have partial deregulation. The reason been that you have to catch up each time and make an amendment, and even if it is just one day, you might have some level of subsidy for that one or two days before it is removed.

“What is important is the goal post; where are we headed; where we are headed is to try and free the industry, so that it can do its own rules, set its own prices itself,” he said.

Souce: Nation

Charlie Sheen's Ex Brooke Mueller Accused Of "Beating Her Kids," According To Police Audio

Brooke Mueller seems to be going on a downward spiral, and she's taking her kids with her …

On Tuesday night, Charlie Sheen's ex wife was seen at a bar in Salt Lake City, Utah with her twin sons, Bob and Max. According to TMZ, the troubled real estate agent was reportedly barefoot at the SLC bar, looking "disheveled" and trying to bum a cigarette from a fellow bar fly. She then popped up at several area hotels, looking for a room. Huh?!

Sadly her boys were there for all of it. As if that wasn't disturbing enough, the night didn't seem to end there …

At around 6 AM on Wednesday, the outlet reports that Mueller, who just did an interview in which she said she was on "good terms" with her ex and was bored living in Park City with her boys, tried to drive her SUV off after police were contacted about a woman swinging violently at her children. We guess that's one way to spice up your "boring" life -- but probably not the best way to do that!

A witness says he and friends pulled over to confront her and she immediately started yelling at them. The witness says he eventually recognized Mueller and she seemed "high as a kite." He also said that Bob and Max were wearing their PJs and did not have shoes. The witness says that one of boys begged, "Don't call the cops, they are going to take my mommy away!" They then called the police.

In keeping with the report, audio obtained of a police dispatcher has an eyewitness calling in and describing a woman matching Mueller's beating her two sons at a car wash.

Law enforcement sources claim that Utah's state police spoke to the erratic mother on the phone and confirmed that the children are no longer in danger. The authorities also said they are not arresting her since she did not commit a crime.

On Tuesday night, Sheen was alerted to the trouble and wanted the Salt Lake City police to a welfare check on his sons. After the children were found, the wild actor commented about the ordeal, "I'm just trying to get my kids home safe. I have no other details that relate to the ongoing event."

We hope those kids are safe and away from Mueller -- she needs major help! No one seems to be #winning in this scene ... 

 

Culled from x17

Senate rejects Buhari’s list of non-career envoys-By Azimazi Momoh Jimoh

National Assembly

• Okays 47 ambassadors
The Senate has refused to confirm all the 46 non-career ambassadorial nominees forwarded to it by President Muhammadu Buhari. It, however, approved all the 47 designated as career envoys.
There have been protests and complaints by some prominent members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), including state governors, against the manner the President Buhari has been allegedly making political appointments without the input of other stakeholders.
Just last Monday, a meeting was held between the National Assembly leadership, representatives of the Governors’ Forum and the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa over the alleged lopsided political appointments.
At yesterday’s plenary, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Monsurat Sunmonu, whose panel was to screen the 46 non-career ambassadorial nominees, informed her colleagues that the committee had received over 250 petitions against the nominees.
While presenting the report on the screening, she submitted that the committee was at the crossroads in treating the list of the non-career ambassadors designates. She suggested that the list be referred back to the president to allow him redress the alleged shortcomings observed by the petitioners.
Sunmonu said: “We thought that the issue raised on the career nominees would be addressed in the list of the non-career ambassadorial nominees but unfortunately the 46 nominees have more troubles than the others.
“We have received over 250 petitions on the non-career nominees. We find it difficult to start screening. My proposal is that we return the list of the non-career nominees to the president to look at it again.”
When the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, put the question to voice vote, it was unanimously affirmed.
President Buhari had on October 20, sent 46 names of non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation and approval.
Notable on the list rejected yesterday are the Deputy Director-General, Buhari Campaign Organisation, Senator Olorunibe Mamora (Lagos State); retired Justice of the Supreme Court, George Oguntade (Lagos); Yusuf Tuggar (Bauchi) and the immediate past deputy governor of Niger State, Ahmed Ibeto (Niger).
Two of the prominent politicians on the list, former National Secretary of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Usman Bugaje and a former deputy governor of Plateau State, Mrs. Paullen Tallen, had earlier rejected their nominations
Speaking after plenary yesterday, Senate Spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said that unless the issues arising from the 250 petitions were resolved, the Senate would not do anything about the nominees.
In confirming the 47 career nominees, the Senate ignored observations by senators that 14 of them had less than 30 months left to stay in service while three others couldn’t recite the National Anthem during the screening.
In his remarks after the confirmation, Saraki urged the entire 47 career ambassadors –designate, to be good envoys of the country wherever they were posted.

Guardian

NNPC appoints, redeploys management staff -John Ofikhenua

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has announced the appointment and redeployment of top Management staff across board in a major exercise said to be designed to reflect operational realities and ensure sustained performance and profitability.

In a podcast to the staff, Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru said that the changes were informed by the desire to consolidate on the restructuring exercise through realigning jobs with requisite competences and experiences in line with international best practices, while taking deliberate measures to ensure fairness and equity as well as the capacity to deliver.

“As you might have heard, His Excellency Mr. President has approved the High Level Organogram of the Corporation and appointment of Staff into various positions. Most importantly, the changes were done in the spirit of entrenching professionalism and accountability which is a cardinal principle of our 12 Business Focus Areas which are hinged on the slogan moving NNPC Forward…Together,” he said.

While calling on staff members to support the ongoing restructuring efforts, the GMD noted that NNPC has made some progress in the implementation of the 12 Business Focus Areas.
“We can now deliver crude to our refineries, we have stabilized fuel supply across the country, Frontier Exploration Services and Integrated Data Services Limited have mobilized to the Benue trough and will soon resume activities in the Chad basin,’’ he said.

In all, 109 Management staff were promoted while 24 were redeployed in the exercise which saw the return of veteran journalist, Ndu Ughamadu as Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division. He takes over from Garba Deen Muhammad.

  Nation

Militant groups attack Clark’s PANDEF over comments- Ben Dunno, Warri

Leader of Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday came under severe criticism from three different militant groups in the region over his comment at the weekend where in described militants as criminals.
The groups, the Reformed Egbesu Boys of the Niger Delta (REBND), the Niger Delta Sea Dogs (NDSD) and the Niger Delta Sea Commandos (NDSC), which hitherto subscribed to the peace move being spearheaded by PANDEF, has denounced its support for the group.
They have consequently aligned themselves with the adamant militant group, Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM), that had consistently referred to Chief Clark-led group as selfish and self-seeking individuals who do not have the interest of the region at heart.
The groups, in a joint statement made available to newsmen in Warri yesterday and signed by their leaders, Tony Alagbakereowei, Ebi Abakoromor and Jaspa Ayabeke, accused PANDEF of sabotaging regional interest in its 16-point demands by deliberately removing their primary demand for an increment of the statutory 13 percent Derivation Fund and that the fund be directed to the oil-bearing communities.
The bodies also debunked the claim that all the militant groups in the region had thrown their weight behind the PANDEF campaign, stressing that such claim was false and unfounded.
According to their statement, ‘’The same set of leaders, who failed to develop our region during their days of leadership can never be given the opportunity and mandate to represent us the the expected talks with the Federal Government. Our leaders should not forget that it was due to their incapability to develop our region that led to this renewed militancy.
‘’On the 16-point placed before the president, none of our demands was presented. One of the most important demands that was expected on the frontline of the demands is the increment of the 13 percent Derivation Fund and payment of the same directly to the oil-bearing communities.
The groups, however, urged President Buhari to set up the much awaited team that will interface with their mandated representatives.

---

… Ateke Tom sues for peace
From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Former leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante (NDV), Ateke Tom, has called for a non-violent and transparent national and state assemblies rerun elections in Rivers State.
Ateke, who briefed journalists in Okochiri, Okrika Local Government Area, said the state has lost its position at the national level as a result of non-representation at the federal parliament.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed December 10 to complete the suspended legislative rerun elections in the state.
Ateke thanked INEC for the rescheduled election and urged the people to conduct themselves with decorum and use the opportunity to produce good representation at the National Assembly.
“I urge Rivers people to come out in peace and vote on the day of the election. I encourage them to do the election without violence. They should vote any party of their choice and avoid violence because after the election, we will still be Rivers people.
“Before Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or All Progressives Congress (APC), we were Rivers people. And we should make the rerun elections peaceful. I thank INEC for fixing the elections. Everybody should be free to go out and vote his or her choice,” he noted.
Ateke urged political parties to go about their campaigns without fear of attacks, adding: “If any political party wants to campaign in my bedroom, come I will give you my key.”
He advised both the federal and state governments to ensure the rerun elections are hitch-free.

Culled from Sun

Senate throws out Grazing Bills-Onyedi Ojiabor

Saraki

THE debate on the controversial bills for the establishment of Grazing Areas Management Agency and another for the establishment of National Ranches Commission was aborted in the Senate yesterday.

The bills – “A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of Grazing Areas Management Agency and for other related Matters, 2016 sponsored by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano Central); A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of National Ranches Commission for the regulation, management, preservation and control of ranches and for connected purposes, 2026 proposed by Senator Barnabas Gemade (Benue North East) and A Bill for an Act to control the keeping and movement of cattle and related matters thereto, 2016 sponsored by Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North) – were withdrawn due to disagreement on the way forward.

 Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, told his colleagues that the upper legislative chamber lacked the power to legislate on livestock matters.

Ekweremadu said the states were better suited, according to constitutional provisions to deal with the issues raised in the bills since the issues were residual matters.

 He said: “The issues at stake here are neither in the Exclusive List nor in the Concurrent List. I believe therefore it is a Residual matter; it is for states to decide how to deal with it.

 ”I believe the matter here concerns everybody given the level of carnage and the conflicts going on in different states. So, I feel the concern of my colleagues, but unfortunately, we do not have power to legislate on matters relating to livestock in this Assembly.

 ”It is a matter reserved for the states. So, I believe that the bills by Kwankwaso, Gemade and Utazi are beyond the reach of this National Assembly and should be accordingly withdrawn so that the states under the constitution should be able to deal with the matters which the constitution has prescribe for them.”

 Ekweremadu quoted copiously from the constitution to buttress his position.

 Senate Leader Mohammed Ali Ndume, in his contribution, said Ekweremadu raised fundamental issues that should not be ignored.

Ndume added that there was no point the Senate wasting its time debating the Bills if it lacked power to legislate on the matter.

 Gemade, who spoke on the consolidation of the bills, noted that though the three bills seemed to deal with the same subject matter, the fundamentals of the bills were different.

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki seemed not to be comfortable with the trend of debate on the bills.

 He said since the understanding that the bills would be consolidated could not sail through, the bills should be stepped down.

 He noted that the only reason bills were captured in the Order Paper was on the understanding that they would be consolidated.

After Saraki’s suggestion, Ndume promptly moved that the bills be stepped down.

The motion was adopted.

Culled from Nation

US election results trickle in: Trump takes lead - David Lawal

 Electoral Votes Won out of 270

Clinton – 215

Trump – 254

The state of the Presidential election in the United States has been very tight even as analysts are beginning to say that Hillary Clinton under-performs every Democratic nominee since at least Al Gore.
As at the time of filing this report, Clinton has surprised her critics after pulling 55 electoral votes from California which puts her back in the lead against Donald Trump.

Considering the Electoral College maps, Clinton has 190 votes while Trump has 186 after he won North Carolina.
Results continue to trickle in for the ongoing election in the United States of America to elect the 45th President.
So far, republican candidate Donald Trump defeats Democrats Hillary Clinton in the elections that have held at Alabama, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Mississippi, North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota, Kansas, Wyoming, Arkansas and a few others.
However, Clinton has won Dixville Notch, Vermont, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Delawar. The figures are fast changing as voters cast their votes across the country.
Over all, Republicans will retain the control of the United States House while the Senate seats remain undecided as election is ongoing.
Also, Clinton adds 7 electoral votes after winning Connecticut, putting the results of the Electoral votes at Clinton 109 and Trump 167.
Again, Trump adds another 18 electoral votes from Missouri to his votes as he pursues 270 electoral votes to emerge the next President of the United States.

Nation

APC crisis deepens as Tinubu evades peace meeting-By Seye Olumide

  

Bola Tinubu

‘He may not return to Nigeria until after Ondo polls’
The crisis in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is taking a turn for the worse. It was learnt that a meeting scheduled for last week Tuesday to resolve the controversy trailing the September 3 governorship primaries in Ondo State won by the former President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, did not hold.
A source from the party said he was not aware of any meeting scheduled for last Tuesday, but confirmed the one scheduled for today at the instance of the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
The Guardian learnt that the National Leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, who is considered central to the issues, tactically evaded the last Tuesday meeting on the excuse of going abroad for a medical treatment.

Tinubu has been having a running battle with Odigie-Oyegun over the Ondo primaries and had openly called for his removal in a published statement. Akeredolu, who allegedly got the blessings of some APC leaders led by Odigie-Oyegun and some ministers, won the primaries against Mr. Segun Abraham, the alleged preferred candidate of Tinubu. The situation resulted in the defection of Mr. Olusola Oke, one of the APC governorship aspirants, to the Alliance for Democracy (AD) to pursue his ambition.
As the crisis deepens, there is a rumour that the Abuja caucus is supporting Akeredolu while Tinubu, the Lagos chapter and some stakeholders in the South West zone are backing Oke, a development some people have described as anti-party activity perpetrated by the national leader.
It was learnt that whether the reconciliation meeting was to have been held last week or will hold today, Tinubu is not favourably disposed to attending any meeting with Odigie-Oyegun.
An influential party leader in the South West said: “I am not aware of the last Tuesday meeting but I knew that the national chairman called for a meeting for November 8 and the invitation was extended to some leaders including Chief Bisi Akande and Tinubu. What the agenda is, I don’t know but obviously the national leader is currently in Chicago and may definitely not attend the meeting.”
When The Guardian sought the opinions of some South West APC leaders on the issue, many of them said the crisis was beyond what they would want to get themselves involved in.
One of those approached, however, said : “Did you want me to tell you that some people are involved in anti-party activity when I don’t have any proof? There is a crisis, yes, but it has to do with the leadership of the party. They will resolve it.”
When also asked if Tinubu would return from his medical trip before the election, he retorted, “I am neither Tinubu nor Odigie-Oyegun. You can direct your question to them. I don’t want to get involved.”
Yet another South West member of the party said: “I am not from Lagos or Ondo. It is true I am close to the national leader but that doesn’t mean anything because I belong to the Oyo chapter of APC.”
The Guardian learnt that Tinubu deliberately travelled abroad to avoid going to Ondo to campaign for Akeredolu. “For instance, it would look abnormal if President Muhammadu Buhari goes to Ondo to campaign for Akeredolu and Tinubu fails to follow him. The best bet for him is to stay out of the country until the Ondo election is conducted.”
It was also alleged that some leaders of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere are sympathetic to Tinubu over his plight in the APC and by so doing have decided to give their blessings to Oke, whom the national leader is allegedly supporting.
But the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin dismissed the insinuation, saying he was not aware of such sympathy.

“I don’t have any interest in the Ondo governorship election outside the fact that the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede was shortchanged and his mandate transferred to Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim under questionable circumstances.” “That development speaks volume about the kind of shenanigans Nigerians should anticipate in the conduct of the election. I doubt if there is going to be a level playing field for all the candidates to test their popularity before the electorate.”
Odumakin who said he spoke for himself, further denied having any sympathy for the APC. “I don’t belong to their party and Afenifere is not into partisan politics,” he said.

Culled from Guardian

Police nab most wanted kidnapper, assassin in Kogi — By Christopher OJI

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4th November 2016 - Fear of God made me produce Rapture –Ibekwe

4th November 2016 - Kimani, Omawumi, others thrill at Nekede Glo Campus Storm

4th November 2016 - Osinbajo, Adeosun, Dabiri shine at Arise Women Conference

4th November 2016 - The DMO and mass reporting

4th November 2016 - December deadline for Rivers rerun polls

4th November 2016 - What has really changed?

4th November 2016 - Why we should care for the environment

4th November 2016 - Nigeria’s alarming maternal mortality rate

4th November 2016 - Battle of Uyo: Algeria re-jigs squad for Eagles

4th November 2016 - My man must be sexy, caring and good on bed –Linda Ikeji, Blogger

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Home / National / Police nab most wanted kidnapper, assassin in Kogi

A suspected notorious kidnapper and serial killer alleged to have been terrorizing  high profile citizens in the country, has been arrested.
The suspect, Zakeri Yua Isiaka, is also alleged to be  an armed robbery kingpin as well as a political thug responsible for series of death in the last general election, in Kogi and some states in the South-West.
His gang usually dressed in military-camouflage during operations and were allegedly involved in the kidnap of high profile citizens, especially in Kogi State.
The suspect, aged 30, was arrested by the operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Special, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), led by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Abba Kyari, penultimate Sunday, along the Okene- Akure Highway.
Items recovered are 15 automatic rifles including an Ak47,suspected to have been snatched from policemen.
Also recovered were several AK 47 magazines and different calibres of ammunition. A security personnel who participated in the operation that led to his arrest, described Isiaka as the most powerful and  dreaded  political thug in Kogi, Kwara, Ondo, Ogun and Lagos states.
The source also disclosed that he was trained by a factional leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta  (MEND) before he formed his own gang.
According the police source, the suspect and his gang members had been involved in several major robberies, kidnappings and political-related killings in the country.
The suspect in his confessional statement said;  “ My name is Zakeri Isiaka Yua, I am from Odu-Ochelle Village in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State. I have nine wives and 15 children. I went  into farming after I left school.  I farmed at Iseyin in Oyo State, for about  eight years  before I  went to Port Harcourt , Rivers State  where I joined the  militant leaders.
‘When I got to Port Harcourt, I  stayed with a boy from my village.  Because I had no job . I started  visiting an Indian hemp smoking joints in the area. I later discovered that those who visited the joints are mainly into  oil bunkering.  I told them that I wanted to join them and  they started beating me.  They thought I was an informant, I was beaten for one week before a guy took interest in me. He allowed me to join them,” he noted.
“They thought me how to handle fire arms  and we did lots of oil bunkering. I was making close to N3million each trip.  After I made my money ‘I came to Abuja  and settled down. I built a house and then I went into sales of vehicle. I was buying and selling cars.  I also came back with three guns and I kept them in the village.
The police said they have declared man hunt for other members of the gang and that the suspect would soon be charged to the court.

Culled from Sun

In a tightened race, Clinton and Trump make urgent push to get out the vote-Philip , Anne Gaeran and David Nakamura

Trump suggests a 'merit system' for accepting immigrants

Play Video0:47

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump mused about accepting immigrants to the United States using a "merit system" during a campaign rally in Pensacola, Fla. (The Washington Post)

By Jenna Johnson, Abby Phillip and Matea Gold November 2 at 9:19 PM

ORLANDO — The presidential campaign broke into a final, urgent sprint Wednesday as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton and their allies fanned across the country, warning supporters against complacency and pressing their case to the remaining pool of ambivalent voters.
The tightness of the race — and the multiple states poised to have a pivotal effect on the outcome — was apparent in the vast distances covered by the candidates and their surrogates, as well as the tens of millions of dollars in advertising lined up to fill the airwaves in the last days.
A bullish Trump spent the day in Florida, assuring supporters that he was on the path to victory, while his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, raced through Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. Trump’s children also campaigned in key battlegrounds on his behalf, making stops in Colorado, North Carolina, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
“We are going to win back the White House,” Trump told supporters gathered in the sweltering sun in Orlando. But he urged them to get out and vote, warning: “We don’t want to blow it.”
“Give us two more days, I think we’re going to be winning everywhere,” Trump concluded.

Clinton slams Trump's treatment of women in Florida

Video3:07

At a rally in Dade City, Fla., Nov. 1, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton deplored how Republican rival Donald Trump has treated women like Alicia Machado. "We cannot hide from this," Clinton said. (Photo: Melina Mara/The Washington Post; Video: The Washington Post)

Clinton, who was slated to hold events late Wednesday in Nevada and Arizona, was backed by a full cast of Democratic and liberal heavy-hitters across the country, including President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
After arriving in Las Vegas, Clinton’s first stop was the lunchroom of the Mirage casino, where she urged workers to get out to vote early.
“Make sure you get out and vote. . . . I need your help on Tuesday!” the candidate told employees, many of whom were wearing uniforms. They lined up to greet her enthusiastically, and one woman grabbed Clinton by the arm, kissed her own hand and placed it on the candidate.
Earlier in the day, Biden told a crowd in Palm Beach Gardens: “You win here in Florida, it is all over. We can go to bed early on election night!”
A few moments later, Obama made the same case to supporters in Chapel Hill, N.C. “So I hate to put a little pressure on you, but the fate of the republic rests on your shoulders,” he told the crowd gathered on a sports field at the University of North Carolina.
In a radio interview broadcast Wednesday morning, the president expressed concern about turnout among African Americans, pressing black voters to go to the polls for Clinton to protect the policies he has implemented.
“The African American vote right now is not as solid as it needs to be,” Obama said on “The Tom Joyner Morning Show,” framing the election as not only a race between Clinton and Trump, but also one in which his record is on the line.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump seemed to give himself some advice during the final days of the presidential election saying, "no side-tracks, Donald. Nice and easy." (The Washington Post)

“I need everybody to understand that everything we’ve done is dependent on being able to pass the baton to somebody who believes in the same things I believe in,” the president said.

[Obama worries black vote ‘is not as solid as it needs to be’]

To shore up support among black voters, Clinton released a radio ad Wednesday titled “Disrespect” that says Trump “openly mocks the African American community.” The spot will air in Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and North Carolina, her campaign said.
The Clinton team dipped into its bulging war chest to increase its ad investments across the country for the final week of the campaign, purchasing airtime in Wisconsin and doubling its television spending in Arizona to $1 million.
A Democratic nominee for president has not won Arizona since Bill Clinton in 1996, but polls show a competitive contest there.
In addition, the campaign is expanding its air presence in Colorado, Virginia, Michigan and New Mexico with six-figure buys.
The new spending is fueled by Clinton’s large bank account. As of Oct. 19, she had more than $62 million on hand, compared with Trump’s $16 million.
This week, the campaign said it raised a record $11.3 million in 48 hours online. Clinton’s online fundraising has reached its highest level since she became the Democratic nominee in July, officials said, giving them the resources to blanket the airwaves.
“We’re not going to leave any money on the table,” said Clinton communications director Jennifer Palmieri.
The surge in donations coincides with news of a renewed FBI inquiry into Clinton’s use of a private email server when she was secretary of state, a development that Democrats have angrily branded as unfair. Fundraising appeals have asked Clinton supporters to “have her back” at a difficult time.

[After another release of documents, FBI finds itself caught in a partisan fray]

At the same time, the controversy has invigorated Trump and his supporters. The campaign said it had raised $100 million in small-dollar donors in October — meaning it saw a huge flood of contributions in the last 11 days of the month.
Trump has been focusing heavily this week on the FBI’s latest probe, often wildly exaggerating or changing key details. In Orlando, he said that all 650,000 emails that were located on a laptop belonging to Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of Clinton aide Huma Abedin, belonged to Clinton. Officials have not yet said whether any of the emails are connected to Clinton.
In Orlando, the GOP nominee predicted that Clinton “is likely to be under investigation for many years, probably concluding in a criminal trial.”
“Hillary wants to blame everyone else for her mounting legal troubles and I don’t see — if you’ve watched her last few speeches over the last few days, she has become totally unhinged,” he said. “Unbelievable. What she’s saying and what she’s doing it, actually, it’s unbelievable. But she has no one to blame but herself.”
Earlier in the day, at a rally in Miami, Trump called his Democratic rival a “very unstable person.” He did not elaborate on his claim.
Obama also briefly addressed for the first time the FBI’s revived review of Clinton’s emails, saying in an interview with NowThis News posted Wednesday that the agency does not “operate on innuendo” and emphasizing that there is no evidence that the Democratic nominee had violated the law.
Meanwhile, the deadly shootings of two police officers in central Iowa prompted two of Clinton’s top surrogates to cancel a Wednesday campaign event in the state. Former president Bill Clinton and vice-presidential nominee Tim Kaine scuttled a get-out-the-vote event in Des Moines, Clinton’s campaign announced.
The officers were shot in their squad cars in Des Moines and Urbandale. Authorities took a suspect into custody on Wednesday morning.

[Iowa police capture suspect after ‘ambush-style’ killings of two officers]

Animosity against the news media flared at Trump’s rallies on Wednesday as he accused reporters of taking part in a “rigged” system. The tension was particularly acute in Miami, where the usual buffer zone between supporters and the traveling press was missing. Screaming supporters stood just inches from reporters.
At one point, the candidate appeared to single out NBC News reporter Katy Tur for criticism, as he has done before.
“We have massive crowds. There’s something happening. They’re not reporting it. Katy, you’re not reporting it, Katy. There’s something happening, Katy. There’s something happening, Katy,” Trump said.
As the rally continued, one man near the press pen shouted menacingly at Tur.
Trump also lambasted both Bill and Hillary Clinton, saying: “If Hillary Clinton were to be elected, it would create an unprecedented and protracted constitutional crisis. Haven’t we just been through a lot with the Clintons? Right?”
As Trump spoke, a man in the crowd kept screaming, “He’s a rapist!”
Rep. Raúl R. Labrador (Idaho) was an introductory speaker at Trump’s rally — a rare GOP lawmaker who traveled from out of state to campaign with the nominee. Sen. Marco Rubio, a defeated GOP primary rival locked in a tight reelection battle, did not appear with Trump.

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Breaking news about local government in D.C., Md., Va.

“I’m here because what we need to do in this election is we need to elect somebody that can believe and does believe in the American Dream,” said Labrador, who then told the crowd about how he grew up in Puerto Rico and ended up a Republican. Later he added, “I need you to do everything you can for the next seven days to make America great again.”
As the crowd waited for Trump to arrive, a local GOP official spoke about the importance of voting for Republicans up and down the ticket — but the crowd was distracted by a woman wearing a jail jumpsuit and a Clinton mask who posed for photo after photo.
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus also addressed supporters, saying in Miami that while Trump is “not politically correct,” he doesn’t lie like Clinton.
“We’re in a battle for freedom,” Priebus said, “and Donald Trump will fight for our freedom.”

Phillip reported from Las Vegas and Gold reported from Washington. Anne Gearan and David Nakamura in Washington and Juliet Eilperin in Chapel Hill, N.C., contributed to this report.

Culled from washington post