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