☰I’m paying for opposing all-Muslim ticket - Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki says he is paying the price for what he calls “the original sin” – opposing the choice of a Muslim-Muslim ticket by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 presidential election.

Saraki denied that he fell out with his party for striking a deal with the PDP to win the senate presidency in June 2015 as alleged by celebrity journalist and Ovation publisher, Dele Momodu.

The senate president, who is currently facing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on allegations of false declaration of assets, said: “Most people talk about the Senate Presidency position, but this was not my only offence.

“I have also been accused of helping to frustrate some people’s opportunity to emerge as President Muhammadu  Buhari’s running mate. But I have no problem with anybody.”

His reference to Muslim-Muslim ticket is believed to be an allusion to former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu, a Muslim, who reportedly wanted to be running mate to Buhari before Yemi Osinbajo, a pastor, was picked.

Saraki, also a Muslim, said it was not going to be politically smart to field an all-Muslim ticket.

“My concern was that it would not be politically smart of us to run with a Muslim-Muslim ticket. I doubt if we would have won the election if we had done this, especially after the PDP had successfully framed us a Muslim party. I felt we were no longer in 1993,” he said.

“Perhaps, more than ever before, Nigerians are more sensitive to issues of religious balancing. This… was my original sin. What they say to themselves, among other things, was that if he could conspire against our ambition, then he must not realize his own ambition as well.

“For me however, I have no regrets about this. I only stood for what I believed was in the best interest of the party and in the best interest of Nigeria.”

In 1993, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) fielded a Muslim-Muslim ticket featuring MKO Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe and was believed to have won the presidential election, although the announcement of results was stopped midway and annulled by the military government.

SOURCE: THE CABLE 

Birds now suicide bombers for Boko Haram

After suffering huge defeat from security forces, the Boko Haram sect has devised a new strategy in its operations.

 According to Lamidi Adeosun, general officer commanding (GOC), 7 division of the Nigerian army, Maiduguri, the insurgents now strap bombs to birds. Adeosun revealed this to American diplomats and security officials during the briefing at the headquarters of the multinational joint task force MNJTF) in Chad.

The Independent said the officer showed gruesome photos of the victims of Boko Haram’s attacks and their latest weapons. “One picture showed a bird with an explosive strapped on its back, demonstrating a lot of ingenuity,” Independent said in its report.

Adeosun was quoted as saying his forces had received intelligence that ISIS members were being embedded with Boko Haram but that the Nigerian sect had not satisfied requirements for greater operational co-ordination.

In March 2015, Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram leader, made a pledge of allegiance to ISIS, and urged those who shared the same ideology across Africa to take such step.

The move was a major coup for the so-called Islamic State, which renamed its affiliate Wilāyat Gharb Ifrīqīyyah (West Africa Province). After expanding its violent campaign from Nigeria to Chad, Niger and Cameroon, Boko Haram was named the deadliest terror group in the world last year.

SOURCE: THE CABLE

Music Legend, Prince Dies At 57

The shocking death of the man who penned hits such as “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Nothing Compares 2 U” and “When Doves Cry” hit fans and fellow artists hard.

 Shocked fans have laid bouquets and purple balloons outside Prince’s home in Minnesota, where he died at the age of 57 yesterday.

Hundreds of people braved the rain to mourn and celebrate the life and work of the music icon – and his sister, Tyka Nelson, came outside to tell the crowd: “He loved all of you. Thank you for loving him back.”

The cause of the singer’s death remains unclear, but celebrity website TMZ said Prince had been treated for a drug overdose in the week before his death, citing multiple unnamed sources.

SOURCE: LEADERSHIP

Nigeria Never Benefited From Past Naira Devaluation – PMB

President Muhammadu Buahri insisted on Friday in Abuja that he was yet to be convinced that the vast majority of ordinary Nigerians will derive any tangible benefit from a devaluation of the Naira.

 Speaking at a meeting with members of the Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries, President Buhari in a statement by his special adviser media, Femi Adesina, said that he still held the conviction which motivated his principled resistance to devaluation in his first tenure as Head of State.

 “When I was military Head of State, the IMF and the World Bank wanted us devalue the Naira and remove petrol subsidy but I stood my grounds for the good of Nigeria. “The Naira remained strong against the Dollar and other foreign currencies until I was removed from office in August, 1985 and it was devalued.

 “But how many factories were built and how many jobs were created by the devaluation? “That is why I’m still asking to be convinced today on the benefits of devaluation,” President Buhari told the retired Permanent Secretaries led by Otunba Christopher Tugbobo.

President Buhari welcomed the Council’s pledge of support for the successful implementation of his administration’s Change Agenda, especially in the priority areas of improving security, curbing corruption and revitalising the national economy.

 “I am glad you have rightly identified the key issues we campaigned on. “We need a dynamic bureaucracy which will not mislead us into taking wrong decisions,” the President said.

SOURCE: LEADERSHIP

Senate threatens to veto Buhari on 2016 budget

 The threat of veto override could be triggered from next Tuesday upon the lapse of the 30- day constitutional window given the President to sign the bill tomorrow.

The vow in a closed- door session of the Senate came as senators across party ranks rose in uproar against the alleged actions of the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje in mutilating the inputs of the Senate committees on the budget.

The vow by the senators to override the President’s apparent veto on the 2016 appropriation bill, they claimed, was in line with constitutional provisions requiring the President to sign the budget bill within 30 days of receiving it or have his veto overridden.

It was gathered that the closed-door meeting which lasted for one hour, thirty minutes, presided over by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu was characterized by uproar as senators shouted on one another following some irreconcilable differences.

A source at the meeting disclosed that there was a very sharp disagreement between members of the Appropriations Committee who complained that the committee chairman, Senator Goje, APC, Gombe Central, hijacked the entire budget process and outsourced it to his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin.

 According to the source, some angry Senators were said to have accused the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki of appointing Goje as chairman of Appropriation simply because he was a loyalist of his and a number of other senators also called for his removal from the position.

 “We have decided to go and beg President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the budget into law and after which every other correction and amendment will be done,” a source present at the session said.

More Details in VANGUARD

EFCC Quizzes Ex- Pres. Jonathan Minister Nenadi Usman, Over N2.9bn Fund

Sources at the EFCC said the former Finance Minister, was taken into custody on Thursday for questioning.

She was taken into custody for allegedly receiving 2.5 billion Naira of the four billion Naira taken out of the Central Bank of Nigeria, on the orders of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

 It was also gathered that 140 million Naira was allegedly paid into the Zenith Bank account of Mrs Usman, who was also the Director of Finance of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation in January.

Mr Iloh was also arrested for allegedly obtaining a questionable 316 million Naira from public account.

SOURCE: CHANNELS

Saraki rejects Omolori as Clerk to the National Assembly

The president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has requested the National Assembly Service Commission to reverse the appointment of Mohammed Sani-Omolori, as the Clerk to the Assembly, to allow further consultations.

Mr. Sani-Omolori was named the acting Clerk to the National Assembly on Wednesday in a letter by the Executive Chairman of the NASC. He was until his appointment the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

 In a letter dated April 21 by his Chief of Staff, Isa Galaudu, to Mr. Fika, the senate president, who is the chairman of the National Assembly, said the appointment did not follow due process.

He argued that the Commission should have first considered Ben Efeturi, who is currently the deputy clerk to the National Assembly, for the position to replace Salisu Maikasuwa, who is proceeding on pre-retirement leave this month.

Below is Saraki’s Letter

 21st April, 2016
 The Chairman National Assembly Service Commission
TOS Benson Street, Utako, Abuja

 Withdrawal of Letter of Appointment of Acting Clerk of National Assembly

 We present to you the compliments of the President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON.

Please recall that during your last meeting with the Senate President on April 20, 2016, the procedure of the appointment of the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly was discussed. The Commission was directed to follow due process and ensure that seniority is adhered to.

Of course, Mr Benedict Efeturi who is Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly (DCNA) and who has previously acted as the Clerk of the National Assembly should be the first to be considered.

The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives were informed that Mr. Efeturi was not considered for the appointment because he was not duly appointed as Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly.

On further enquiry, we found he was duly appointed by the National Assembly Service Commission vide Extract from Minutes of its 403rd Meeting held on Friday, 21st November, 2014.

From the foregoing, you have misled and misinformed the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Consequently, I am directed by His Excellency, the Senate President, to inform you that the letter appointing Mr Sani Omolori as Acting Clerk of the National Assembly, be withdrawn immediately for further consultations.

 Please accept the assurances of my warmest regards.
Sen. Isa Galaudu

Chief of Staff to the Senate President

CULLED FROM PREMIUM TIMES

Ministry of Education to merge Christian, Islamic studies in schools

The Federal Ministry of Education’s move to reduce the workload of primary and junior secondary pupils from 20 to a maximum of ten subjects under the nine-year basic educational curriculum was welcomed in most quarters as it would align our system with international paradigms.

 However, under this scheme which was developed by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Christian and Islamic Religious Studies, which are separately taught, will now be merged under a compulsory subject known as Religion and National Values (RNV). Other subjects brought under the RNV include Civic Education, Social Studies, and Security Education.

 What irks us and other well-meaning and worried Nigerians is the problem of portraying the persons, significance and teachings of Jesus Christ, the founder of the Christian faith and Prophet Mohammed, the Prophet of Islam, to our children in a way that will not cause religious upheavals in the country.

A major source of the conflicts between adherents of the two religions around the world for nearly two thousand years is that they do not have a unified viewpoint on the places of these two. Secondly, the Bible and the Qur’an are not on the same page on major issues about man in this world and hereafter.

One of the most objectionable aspects of the RNV is that it forces Christian children to memorise and recite the Qur’an while Muslim children are made to study Biblical texts even in predominantly Muslim areas where exposure to Christianity is strictly forbidden in Nigeria.

It also encourages children to disobey their parents if they forbid them to follow Allah. Two prominent religious leaders, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, and the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Alfred Adewale Martins, have condemned this move, calling on the Federal Government to maintain the separate teachings of these faiths to avoid unnecessary confusion and conflicts.

 We remind the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigerians have inalienable right to religious freedom. Furthermore, the Child’s rights Act of 2003 preserves the right of the child not to be exposed to any religion contrary to that of his parents or guardians.

The RNV is a vain and reckless attempt to “harmonise” Christianity and Islam, which is as impossible as mixing water with oil. It is unconstitutional, unpatriotic and unwarranted; and we vehemently oppose it. We condemn the surreptitious moves to impose the preferred faith of some adherents on the rest, and call on those pushing this unholy and explosive agenda to think of the grave consequences they could pose to the unity and stability of Nigeria.

SOURCE: VANGUARD

NLC To Senators: Return Exotic Cars Or Face The Wrath Of Nigerians

 

The Nigeria Labour Congress has called on senators who benefited from a recent purchase of 108 brand new Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles by the Senate to immediately return same or face the wrath of the Nigerian people.

 The union described the purchase, coming at a time the country is enduring excruciating financial crisis, as a crime against the people. Reports said senators have started taking delivery of the new Sports Utility Vehicles, SUVs, since last week at the rate of N35.1 million per unit.

 In a statement by the NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, on Monday, Labour said it was “morally despicable and shameful” that the lawmakers embarked on such acquisition when they were supposed to occupy themselves with issues that would benefit the people.

 “We consider appalling, insensitive and greedy the decision of the Senate to acquire 108 Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps (one for each member less the Senate President) after collecting car “loans” in August last year for the same purpose,” Mr. Wabba said.

“It is equally morally despicable and shameful that they are doing this after publicly admitting that the standing committees of the Senate are unable to perform their statutory functions due to paucity of funds.”

Mr. Wabba said the prices of the vehicles were grossly inflated and demanded that the lawmakers explain where they sourced the funds since the 2016 Appropriation Bill had not been signed into law.

 “We at the Nigeria Labour Congress equally consider it a willful and grievous criminal act the inflation of the unit cost of each of the cars by over a 100 percent, as each car supposedly cost N35.1 million instead of N17 million. “Aside from this, Nigerians are keen to know from where they got money for the purchase of these cars without appropriation.”

 Mr. Wabba also rubbished the explanation put forward by the Senate to justify the purchase. “The defence offered by the Senate spokesperson, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, is laughable and childish. According to him, Special Advisers use jeeps, why not Senators or do Nigerians expect them to trek to work? And in any case, cars are capital projects! “Couldn’t this have been put to better uses such as the constituency projects of these same Senators?

At a time with severe economic challenges and deepening poverty in the land, can the Senate afford this level of reckless luxury and arrogance? “The answer is “no”. “Their multiple acts of criminality, ranging from acquiring these cars after previously taking loans for the same purpose; spending money without appropriation and over inflating costs constitute not just corruption but a crime against the Nigerian people whom they claim to represent,” Mr. Wabba said.

The Labour leaders, therefore, called on the senators to return the vehicles or face public backlash, adding that no one is above the law. “Accordingly, we demand they return those cars to whoever supplied them or the appropriate agencies prosecute them for corruption.

 “In the event none of this happens, they should be prepared to keep a date with Nigerian workers and their civil society allies including market women and students. “No one is above the law,” the Labour leader said.

SOURCE: PREMIUM TIMES

2016 Budget Row: NASS Softpedals, Reaches Truce With Presidency

After a week long face-off between the Presidency and the National Assembly, indications emerged, last night, that the lawmakers had soft- pedaled on their tough stance by accepting to review the budget.

Vanguard learned that the change of heart by the legislators, who had earlier threatened to veto the President on the matter, followed series of rapprochement between the Presidency and the top echelon of the NASS since the return of President Muhammadu Buhari from China.

A competent Presidential source confirmed, last night, that the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, had also met severally with key functionaries of the NASS and explained to them the imperatives of reworking the budget in the overall interest of Nigerians.

The source said that even before Buhari returned to Abuja last Saturday, the major infractions committed by the Finance and Appropriations committees of the NASS, which had rendered the budget inoperative, had been laid bare before the leadership of the legislature and their support sought in reviewing it.

The top-ranking official explained to Vanguard that the leadership of the legislature was shocked to see the extent to which the budget had been distorted and huge sums of money diverted to what the Presidency considers ‘irrelevant’ and against national interest.

According to the official, the Presidency viewed what the lawmakers did to the budget as virtually ‘rewriting’ the budget by removing provisions for key national projects and replacing them with ‘personal’ items which add no real value to Nigerians.

The source said the distortions, which had already been compiled by ministers, who used most of last week to work on the fiscal document, caught the lawmakers napping in eight areas. The eight major areas of budget infractions were said to have been presented to Buhari upon his return to Nigeria and he felt disappointed by the antics of those who committed the act against the nation.

The Presidency officials said the areas had been shown to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, who were shocked to learn of the development. One source close to the rapprochement said it was the stunning revelations from the Presidency that convinced the two leaders that the budget should be taken back and reviewed, given the level of distortions found in the document.

 “After some formal and informal interactions, both leaders of the NASS have indicated willingness to reconsider the controversial appropriation bill,” a Presidency official confirmed last night. Efforts to speak with the Minister of Budget, Sen. Udoma Udoma, proved abortive, as he did not pick his phone. The minister’s Media Adviser, Mr. Akpandem James, could not also be reached for comments as at press time.

SOURCE: VANGUARD

Senator Isah Misau Constituents Stoned Him for “supporting Saraki against Buhari”

A Senator, Isah Misau, who represents Bauchi Central district, came under attack by irate youth on Saturday in Ningi, part of his constituency, two persons who claimed to have witnessed the incident told journalists. The two sources said Mr. Misau was in Ningi for a social function when he came under attack.

 It was at the social function that the Senator was pelted with stones and bottles, the witnesses said. One of them, Isa Sa’ad said Mr. Misau was attacked because of his support for the embattled Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who is under public pressure to resign because of his ongoing corruption trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Mr. Sa’ad also said Ningi youth considered the Senate President as opposing President Muhammadu Buhari and that “anybody supporting Saraki is anti-Buhari”. “You are aware Isah Hammah Misau is supporting Saraki who is corrupt and against the change agenda of President Buhari,” Mr. Misau said. “And you see, Misau was sent to the Senate because we wanted him to support Buhari.

But after getting to the Senate, he has teamed up with other people to support Saraki. Anybody supporting Saraki is anti- Buhari. “That’s why people were throwing stones and bottles at him. He brought four cars but left with the smallest because others were damaged.
“He left his cap and shoe while trying to escape.”

 “I was in Ningi but not attacked – Senator Misau

This report was delayed for 24 hours as we were unable to get through to Mr. Misau for his reaction.

PREMIUM TIMES was able to talk to him eventually Monday morning. He said it was true that he was in Ningi “as part of my constituency tour” on Saturday.

 Besides political reaaon, he said he was in Ningi to condole with one Captain Ningi who is bereaved. He, however, said he was not attacked. “You know when we go like that, we give people money,” the senator said. “So it may be that the violence started after I left when they were trying to share money. “But there is nothing like that (that he was attacked). I am not aware myself. I read the report online too.”

SOURCE: PREMIUM TIMES

We Have Powers to Impose Fine - FRSC

THE Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) yesterday denied social media reports that a Federal High Court (FHC) in Lagos nullified its power to issue fines, tickets and impound offenders’ vehicles.

 Speaking in Abuja, the commission’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Bisi Kazeem, said FRSC was aware of the post on social media questioning its powers to punish traffic offenders.

 He said: “The truth is that there is no judgment of the FHC Lagos on the Tope Alabi case as is being circulated. “What happened was that one Barrister Tope Alabi challenged the powers of the FRSC to arrest him and impound his vehicle and make him pay fines for offences alleged.

 “Justice Tsoho of the FHC held that FRSC had no such powers. This was in September 2014. “However, in a case on all fours with the Tope Alabi case earlier in March, same year, 2014, same Justice Tsoho in the case of Bren Williams & Anor v FRSC held that FRSC had statutory powers to issue notice of offence, arrest and detain vehicles suspected to have been used to commit traffic offences.”

 According to Kazeem, on that same day Justice Tsoho delivered another judgment similar to the Tope Alabi case in Emmanuel Ofoegbu v FRSC. He said the judge held that FRSC had no powers to set deadlines for motorists to change over to new number plates and that it would be ultra vires the powers of FRSC.

 He said the decision was challenged on Appeal and the appellate court held, inter alia, in October 2014: “That FRSC had statutory powers conferred by its enabling laws made pursuant to the Nigerian Constitution to regulate the use of number plates, design and set deadlines for change over to new ones.

CULLED FROM THE NATION

Gov polls: EFCC arrests INEC chiefs for taking N675m in bribes

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has found over N675.1m in the bank accounts of different Independent National Electoral Commission officials in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Delta states.

According to the anti-graft agency, the money was received and shared by the officials during the last governorship elections. Our correspondents gathered that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the 2015 election in Rivers State, Mrs. Gesila Khan, and other officials of INEC are already in EFCC custody.

Khan was quizzed by the Department of State Services in July last year but was never charged.

However, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that Khan and four others were arrested on Thursday, by the zonal office of the EFCC in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The residences of all the suspects were subsequently searched and incriminating documents were said to have been recovered by the commission.

According to impeccable sources at the EFCC, Khan, who is now the REC in Cross River State, allegedly received N185.8m ahead of the March 28 and April 11, 2015 election.

A source at the EFCC, who did not want his name in print, said Khan had made confessional statements and was cooperating with the commission. He alleged that Khan received money through a special bank account and the commission had received overwhelming evidence.

He said, “Khan was the REC in Rivers State in 2015 election before she was transferred to Cross River early this year. She was said to have received N185.8m. She has made confessional statements.”

The anti-graft agency also arrested one Edem Okon Essanga, who is a retired INEC official. Essanga was arrested alongside his alleged accomplice, Immaculata Asuquo, who is the Head, Voter Education, INEC, Akwa Ibom State. Essanga was alleged to have received over N240m which he shared among INEC ad hoc workers during the last election.

“Essanga received N241.1m during the general election. He admitted receiving the money and confirmed sharing it with different ad hoc workers during the election. His accomplice Asuquo has also been arrested,” the source added.

The source also disclosed that the EFCC had arrested one Fidelia Omoile who was the INEC electoral officer in Isoko-South Local Government Area, Delta State.

Apart from tracing over N112m to her, the commission also recovered some sensitive electoral materials during a search of her apartments in Edo and Delta states. “She received N112.4m during the 2015 general election.

A search warrant was executed at her residences in Asaba and Benin. Sensitive materials used in the 2015 elections were recovered, including evidence of the suspicious bank transaction and land documents that will assist us in our investigations,” the source said.

The commission also arrested one Oluchi Obi Brown who was the INEC administrative secretary in Delta State. She allegedly received over N111m. Further investigations by detectives revealed that Brown had about $75,000 in an account in the United States. “Oluchi received N111.5m during the general election.

Investigations showed that she operates a foreign account with the Bank of America. As of February this year, the account balance was $75,857, (N24, 274,240),” the source added. The sum total of the money found in the bank accounts of the INEC officials is N675.1m.

More Details in PUNCH

Buhari in China to borrow ‘cheapest money’ to finance 2016 Budget deficits – Kemi Adeosun

Buhari in China to borrow ‘cheapest money’ to finance 2016 Budget deficits – Kemi Adeosun


The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun has revealed the reason behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s trip to China.

 According to Adeosun, the President’s visit to China was aimed at building a stronger ties with the Asian country and to “borrow the cheapest money possible” to finance the 2016 budget deficit.

 Speaking with Financial Times and Reuters, the Minister said the country was considering selling a Chinese panda bond to help finance a budget deficit of about $11bn.

Adeosun said, “we are looking obviously at the lowest cost of funds to fund our budget deficit. “Initially, we were looking simply at the eurobond but then we began to explore opportunities; so there is a possibility of issuing a panda bond.”

 Adeosun added that the priority is to borrow “the cheapest possible money”, which would be a total of 1.8tn naira from international and Nigerian markets.

 Noting that the renminbi-denominated bond would be cheaper than issuing a eurobond, the Ministry said, “there’s the possibility of doing a Samurai (yen-denominated bond) which is also an option we’ll look at. We’re simply shopping around for the best deals.”

SOURCE: DAILY POST

Nigeria Is Not Sick” We Don’t Need IMF Loans – Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun

Nigeria Is Not Sick” We Don’t Need IMF Loans – Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun



The Managing Director of International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Legarde says the state of Nigeria’s economy is critical and requires proactive monetary, fiscal and structural policies to put it on the path of growth.

The IMF position during a media conference at the IMF WD spring meetings attracted the reaction of Nigeria’s Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun.

The Minister, said Nigeria will overcome its economic challenges without taking loan facility from the IMF. She disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday.

Adeosun made the observation at the ongoing Spring Meetings of the IMF-World Bank in Washington DC in response to why the government has refused to apply for IMF loans.

 The statement quoted the minister as saying that Nigeria was adapting to its new realities by implementing fiscal policies to steer the country back on track for stable growth with a diversified economy.

Signed by the Special Adviser to the Minister on Media, Mr Festus Akanbi, the statement said the minister expressed optimism that sound fiscal policies and investments would boost Nigeria’s economy by 2017.

 Adeosun insisted that what the country was passing through was surmountable because government was already applying a “cocktail of measures to address the problem.

 “Nigeria is not sick. The real vulnerability in the Nigerian economy is over-dependence on a single source of revenue; oil. “We have resolved to build resilience into the country’s economy to hedge against future oil shocks.

This is because dependence on oil brings about vulnerability and laziness. “So, we are doing a combination of things to diversify our economy, with revenue mobilisation to enable sufficient investment in developing the non-oil sectors.

“We have great opportunities to reset the Nigerian economy and ensure that as we go forward, growth will be in a sustainable manner so that we won’t be vulnerable to oil price fluctuations.’’

SOURCE: NTA NEWS

Aguero Bags Hat-trick As Man City Beat Chelsea Apart

Manchester City secured vital three points from Chelsea yesterday, as Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne inspired the visitors to an easy 0-3 victory.

 Manuel Pellegrini’s side did much more than take full command of the top four chase by so comprehensively taking Chelsea apart in their own stadium at the weekend. They also took on a new mood for the end of the season.

Real Madrid should be much more fearful of their semifinal opponents than many in the Spanish media had been after Friday’s draw. The win puts City four points clear of Manchester United, as former Real Madrid target Sergio Aguero claimed a fine hat trick, ably assisted by the brilliant Kevin De Bruyne, with the last goal of the game also seeing international teammate Thibaut Courtois sent off late on.

The oddity is City were initially lethargic as Chelsea had the better of the early chances. Once City got a hold of the game on 22 minutes, though, they never let go and only got more confident.

By 33 minutes, Aguero had put his first of the game past Courtois, finishing a fine break with an effort from the edge of the box that deflected off Gary Cahill. The Argentine claimed a second on 54 minutes and this was so much cleaner, as he powered the ball past Courtois.

 The Chelsea goalkeeper was then caught out on 80 minutes, as a Fernandinho run to go one-on-one forced Courtois into a foul, and allowed Aguero to grab his hat trick from the penalty spot.

SOURCE: LEADERSHIP 

Nigeria risks FIFA ban … As Jos court sacks Pinnick-led NFF board

Nigeria may be risking another ban from the world football governing body, FIFA, after a Federal High Court sitting in Jos on Friday annulled the September 30, 2014 election that brought in the present executive board of the Nigeria Football Federation led by Amaju Pinnick.

Justice Musa Kurya of the Jos High Court, re-listed the earlier withdrawn case filed by the plaintiffs, Senator Obinna Ogba and Yahaya Adama on Friday after both men had approached the court to re-list the earlier withdrawn case against the NFF.

The judge also ruled that the election of August 26, 2014 remained valid, hence identifying Chris Giwa as the president of the NFF.

In October 2014, the same Federal High Court sitting before Justice Ambrose Allagoa had ruled against the election that brought the Pinnick-led board into the federation, saying it was not recognised.

Justice Allagoa said, “I have set aside all the proceedings and decisions of the Warri Extra Ordinary meeting of the 20th September and the Elective Congress of 30th September, which were direct contravention of the orders of this court as granted on September 19.”

Later in the same month, the case was struck out following an out-of-court settlement, which was presided over by former Nigeria President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, in the face of an impending FIFA suspension. After Giwa had withdrawn the case in October 2014, he headed for the Court of Arbitration for Sports, which threw out their case citing lack of adequate evidence.

But on Friday, Justice Kurya, having upheld all the previous reliefs of the plaintiffs, also ruled that Giwa should take charge as president of the football federation pending the final determination of the suit.

However, in a swift reaction, the Pinnick-led board filed an appeal and a stay-of-execution against the decision of the Federal High Court, Jos.

 In a statement released on Friday, the NFF said since an appeal, a motion to vacate the order and a stay-of-execution had been filed, on the same day as the judgement, the status quo remained the same.

The NFF 1st vice-president, Seyi Akinwunmi, described the situation as a sad one, adding that the board was still in control. “This is a sad one primarily because we have enjoyed a period of peace and have been able to work without the court-today-court-tomorrow situation of the last half of 2014,” Akinwunmi said.

“We have filed for stay-of-execution and that means the status quo remains and anything done is done at the actors’ peril. I can assure football –loving Nigerians that there is no reason to panic as we are in full charge and there is no trouble whatsoever.

“There is no order for the Giwa group to take over the Glass House. In fact many of his so-called board members have called to dissociate themselves from the matter.”

 With this latest development, which is coming three months after the sports minister, Solomon Dalung, had called a reconciliatory meeting between the Giwa and Pinnick camps, there are now fears among Nigerians that the country could be faced with sanctions from FIFA.

 The FIFA rule, which states that national football associations must not be subjected to government control and that football matters be settled in the Court of Arbitration for Sports only, appears to have been broken once again by the country.

 If the lingering issue is not settled soon, a FIFA ban will mean that football lovers in the country would be denied access to see the Nigerian Olympic football team in action. The Super Falcons as well as the other age-grade teams would also be affected by the sanction.

PUNCH 

Why Buhari was absent at Friday’s emergency FEC meeting – Presidency

 Despite being at the State House where the meeting was held, President Muhammadu Buhari did not show up for the emergency Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting convened yesterday to scrutinise details of the 2016 Appropriation Bill sent to him by the National Assembly.

The extra-ordinary meeting, which was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, was attended by cabinet members, heads of ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, as well as some presidential aides.

 Revealing why his principal did not show up for the meeting, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, told Daily Trust that there was no need for him to be there, adding that there was likely to be more of such meetings.

 Speaking yesterday, Shehu told the newspaper that “there was no need for him to be present to study the budget details. The meeting didn’t require the president’s presence. “It (the extraordinary budget meeting) is ongoing. We might even have other meetings of this.”

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had told State House correspondents after the meeting that it was convened to give ministers the opportunity to look at the budget details and how their respective ministries were affected.

Source: DAILY POST 

2016 Budget Still Work In Progress – FG …As Osinbajo presides over emergency FEC meeting

The federal government said yesterday that the 2016 budget estimates document which was submitted to the presidency was still a work in progress.

 Briefing State House Correspondents mid way into an emergency Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, Minister of Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed said that the Ministers had been mandated to study the budget details as it affect their respective Ministries.

Mohammed who said the meeting had broken up after sitting for two hours apparently to enable Muslims observe the Friday prayers added that the meeting would continue later in the day, hinting that there would be a statement on its resolution at the end.

“As you all know, we received the details of the 2016 budget from the National Assembly yesterday. An ordinary meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC was called this morning for the available ministers to look at the details of the budget and how it affects his or her ministry.

 “Let’s say that at this point, it is still work in progress. We have broken up to resume later in the afternoon. There is nothing definite to say. Yes, we have seen it. We are studying it and we will come out with a statement later”, Mohammed said.

 Meanwhile, for the first time in this administration, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presided over yesterday’s emergency FEC meeting, as President Buhari was conspicuously absent. Although no official reason yet as why the president is absent, his absence surprised members of FEC made up of the 36 ministers, the Vice President, the Secretary to the State Government (SGF) among others.

Source: LEADERSHIP 

2016 BUDGET: Buhari still withholds assent, sends budget details to Ministries for review

 From the presidency to the National Assembly and back to the presidency, the 2016 Budget estimate is now domiciled in the respective federal ministries for critical review. This was after the document had been debated, pruned from its original figure of N6.08 trillion to N6.06 trillion and passed into law by the National Assembly last week.

But while transmitting the approved copy to the presidency, the National Assembly failed to attach the details and only included the highlights. The development infuriated president Mohammadu Buhari who, while away in the United States last week, said that he was withdrawing his assent until the details were made available to him.

President Buhari’s fury was hinged on the incidences of “padding” which characterized the budget. He said “Some bureaucrats removed what we put in the proposal and replaced it with what they wanted. I have to look at the bill that has been passed by the National Assembly, ministry by ministry, to be sure that what has been brought back for me to sign is in line with our original submission”.

The president had since vowed to mete out punitive measures to those found culpable on the matter.

But on Thursday, the National Assembly transmitted the details of the budget to the presidency. However, instead of signing the document, the president on Friday made good use his words and ordered that the document be sent back to the 36 Ministries for review.

 This was made known after an emergency meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC which the president summoned immediately after he received the budget details on Thursday.

SOURCE: VANGUARD 

I feel your pains, I will not disappoint you – Buhari begs Nigerians

 President Muhammdu Buhari on Friday called for patience with his administration, stating that he feels the pains of Nigerians and that he was working towards turning the hardship around.

Buahari made the appeal in Lagos during the Vanguard Personality Award ceremony where he was jointly honoured with his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan as Personality of the Year, 2015.

 Represented by the Minister of information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Buhari said, “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me use this opportunity to tell our compatriots that this administration is keenly aware of the difficulties they are facing at this time, resulting mostly from the fuel scarcity, poor power supply, inflation etc.

“As a government that was propelled into office by the power of the people, we cannot but feel the pains of our compatriots, and we deeply empathise with them. We are working round the clock to ease the pains of Nigerians, and the efforts of the government have started yielding fruits as we seek to make the petroleum products available nationwide, restore gas supply to the power generating firms, reflate the economy and put Nigerians back to work.

 “We understand that Nigerians have started questioning whether this indeed is the CHANGE they voted for, while some have even gone as far as saying that by voting for our party, Nigerians have entered one chance. “Well, I can tell Nigerians that our CHANGE AGENDA is real, and that indeed, they will get the change they voted for. Nigerians have not entered One Chance, because the One Chance drivers and their conductors have been driven out of town.

 “While we cannot but provide context for the challenges being faced by our countrymen and women today, in the sense that it has taken years of mismanagement, corruption and inefficiency to get to this sorry pass, we make no excuses.

 After all the people voted for us so we can correct the mistakes of the past and enthrone good governance. We are doing just that. But we want our compatriots to realize that 16 years of rot cannot be cleaned up overnight. It is much easier to destroy than to build. But we are determined to rebuild our country and to make life more abundant for our people.

“Change is a process, and that process has begun. We commend Nigerians for their perseverance. We urge them not to lose their confidence in the ability of this Administration to bring about the much- needed change. The pains of today are temporary, and will soon give way to abundance joy as we put our country firmly on the path of sustainable growth and development.”

 SOURCE: DAILY POST 

Nigeria’s Debt Profile Hits N12trn – DMO

The Director General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Abraham Nwankwo has said Nigeria debt profile for both domestic and external debts as at December 31,2015 stands at 12 trillion naira.

This is even as he revealed that the 2016 appropriation budget allows the government to borrow an additional 1 trillion, eight hundred and eighty four billion naira.

 The DG stated this in a paper delivered at a one day Enlightenment workshop for the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) which held in Abuja Yesterday, with the theme ‘ Debt Sustainability and the Challenge of Financing Economic Recovery’ Giving a breakdown of the amount to be borrowed which includes external borrowing of N900 billion and domestic borrowing of N984billion naira respectively, he said, “The logic is to re- balance total public stock in favor of less costly external funds.

 The logic in the 2016 borrowing is to borrow from external sources to reduce the cost of debt servicing. Nwankwo noted that there was nothing wrong in Nigerian borrowing because in modern economies almost every government runs deficit budget.

LEADERSHIP

Nigerian ‘with links to ISIS’arrested in Germany

A 29-year-old Nigerian has been arrested in Germany over alleged connection to the Islamic state in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

 According to a report on Reuters, German police detained him on Thursday, alongside an Iraqi, accusing them of planning “a serious act of violence”.

 Thomas Steinkraus-Koch, a prosecutor, said security sources provided information that both men could have been in contact with members of ISIS.

 The suspects were detained in the Bavarian capital Munich and nearby Fuerstenfeldbruck, police said in a separate statement, adding there had been no imminent threat to the public.

 Police did not immediately find any suspicious items, but were pursuing their investigation, they added.

Islamic State released a video on Tuesday suggesting it might carry out further attacks in the West, naming London, Berlin and Rome as possible targets.

SOURCE: THE CABLE

#PanamaPapers: EmbattledDavid Mark lies, claimsexposed offshore companiesnot his

A former Senate president, David

Mark, has finally responded to
report exposing his link with
offshore shell companies in breach
of Nigeria’s code of conduct for
public officers.

On Tuesday, PREMIUM TIMES
exclusively reported Mr. Mark’s
links with eight offshore companies
in British Virgin Island as shown by
the leaked database of Mossack
Fonseca, a Panamanian law firm
reputed for helping clients register
shell companies, some of which are
used for illicit purposes.

The Mossack Fonseca database
shows that Mr. Mark is one of
Nigeria’s most extensive users of
offshore shell companies, even while
being a public official.

The companies are Sikera Overseas
S.A, Colsan Enterprises Limited,
Goldwin Transworld Limited,
Hartland Estates Limited, Marlin
Holdings Limited, Medley Holdings
Limited, Quetta Properties Limited,
and Centenary Holdings Limited.

In the documents, Mr. Mark was
repeatedly marked as a politically
exposed person, and at a point the
former Senate President had to send
documents, across to Mossack
Fonseca to prove that he was clean.
Before the report was published on
Monday, Mr. Mark declined to
respond to PREMIUM TIMES inquiry.

But on Thursday, he responded
through a statement by his media
aide, Paul Mumeh, denying link to
any offshore company.

In his response Thursday, Mr. Mark claimed he had gone through the #PanamaPapers database and that he was never mentioned anywhere.

PREMIUM TIMES

#PanamaPapers: Africa’s richest man, Dangote, his brother, Dantata, linked to shell companies in tax havens

With a staggering $15.4 billion wealth, Nigeria’s businessman and industrialist, Aliko Dangote, is on Forbes Rich List as the richest man in Africa. But does Mr. Dangote pay his fair share of tax in Nigeria or is he hiding assets abroad? That remains unclear.

Yet that question has become even more relevant across the globe following discoveries of several secret shell companies linked to the businessman, his allies and relatives.

According to internal data of the Panama-based offshore-provider, Mossack Fonseca, obtained by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and shared by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) with PREMIUM TIMES and over 100 other media partners in 82 countries, Mr. Dangote, his relative, Sayyu Dantata, as well as his business allies have over the years used shell companies domiciled in controversial tax havens in their business transactions.

The unprecedented year-long investigation involving 11.5 million secret documents – which stretch from 1977 to December 2015 – expose the hidden underground of the world economy, a network of banks, law firms and other middlemen that utilize shell companies, sometimes using them to hide illegal wealth.

Mr. Dangote is one of the most prominent clients of Mossack Fonseca, and in Panama alone, based on company registration addresses provided by shareholders, 13 shell companies registered by the firm are directly linked to persons and companies who in turn are linked to the billionaire and his allies.

Mr. Dangote, alongside his half brother, Sayyu Dantata, the founder of MRS Holdings (a leading West African oil-marketing firm, which acquired Chevron-Texaco’s downstream assets in 2007) bought equal shares of 12,500 each from OVLAS S.A, a shell company registered in Seycheles, on October 6, 2003.

According to the documents, three years after they existed as shareholders of the company, the trio – Dangote, Dantata and M.R.S Oil and Gas Company Limited – ceased to be shareholder in the company. That was on April 12, 2006. But in an arrangement that seems curious, Mr. Dangote was issued a higher amount of shares – 250,000 – on the same day he resigned.

In the same manner, his brother, Mr. Dantata, was issued the same amount of 250,000 shares. That means the businessmen simply resold the shares back to themselves. Their company, MRS Oil and Gas, was re-issued 500,000 shares. After three years of holding the shares, they all ceased to be shareholders.

Again, they resumed possession of the shares again as in the previous time, but this time it seems Mr. Dangote sold his shares to Mr. Dantata and M.R.S Oil and Gas Company Limited. Mr. Dangote ceased to be shareholder permanently on July 6, 2009, and Mr. Dantata’s amount of shares doubled to 500,000 shares while MRS Oil and Gas CO, LTD retained its 500,000 shares.

 Documents show Mr. Danatata never sold, transferred his shares or ceased to be a shareholder till date.

Full Details in PREMIUM TIMES 

Saraki received salary as governor till August 2015 —Witness

The Federal Government, yesterday, told the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja, how the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, collected salaries as the governor of Kwara State for four years after his tenure had elapsed.

However, Kwara State government, in a swift reaction, denied paying the former governor salary after he left office in May 2011.

Furthermore, Abdulwahab Isa, the Director-General of Abubakar Bukola Saraki Constituency Office, otherwise known as Mandate , said the Senate President does not have access to his pension account, which is dedicated to helping students across the state.

 At the CCT sitting yesterday, a star prosecution witness, Mr. Michael Wetkass, who is a Detective Superintendent with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, told the tribunal that investigation revealed that, whereas Saraki’s tenure as governor of the state ended on May 29, 2011, he stopped collecting salary on August 31, 2015.

Details in VANGUARD 

2016 Budget: NASS sends details to Buhari

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Appropriation on Wednesday submitted a detailed document of the 2016 budget to the clerk of the assembly for onwards transmission to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent.

 The Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin submitted the 1,800 paged document to the Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, at about 5.07pm which will be transmitted to the President.

 Jibrin while addressing newsmen after laying the details said the committee worked for days to clean up the budget and break down the details. Noting that the National Assemble has done its part, Jibrin said all is set for the President to play his part by assenting to the budget.

 On whether the details were exactly what the President submitted to the National Assembly in December last year, Jibrin said the legislature exercised its power of appropriation to allocate resources in the budget.

Jibrin said, “We have worked on the details. Naturally, there will be inputs from the lawmakers and there will be inputs from the executive. “Our job is to find a middle course. We have done our part and we expect Mr. President to play his own part.”

The 2016 budget submitted to the the joint session of the National Assembly last December was passed on March 23 after much delay but the President had refused to put his assent pending when details of the budget is sent to him.

SOURCE: DAILY POST 

800 Boko Haram Members Surrender – DHQ

The Defence authorities have said that not less than 800 members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect had surrendered to the military in the last three weeks.

The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, confirmed to our correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday that 800 of the insurgents surrendered to the troops of the Nigerian Army in the last three weeks.

He said, “I can confirm that about 800 of the Boko Haram members have surrendered to the military.”

 Abubakar spoke barely 24 hours after the Defence Headquarters announced the establishment of a rehabilitation camp for repentant Boko Haram members. Abubakar had said in a statement on Tuesday that the rehabilitation camp was being established under Operation Safe Corridor which was created as a platform to rehabilitate and integrate repentant members of the sect to the society.

SOURCE: PUNCH 

DASUKIGATE: EFCC quizzes Jonathan’s cousin over $40m ONSA cash

President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Azibaola Roberts, remains in detention over a $40million (N12.7b) contract obtained from the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA) to ‘pacify’ militants in the Niger Delta.

Roberts, who was arrested alongside colleague Dakoru Atukpa, is the Managing Director of Kakatar Construction and Engineering Company Limited and One-Plus Holdings. Gordy Uche (SAN), accused the EFCC of embarking on a vendetta mission against the ex-President. He said Roberts is being persecuted because of his blood link with Jonathan.

The EFCC arrested Roberts and Dakoru on March 23 as part of the ongoing probe of 300 companies involved in phantom contracts at the ONSA. It was gathered that as at last night, the suspects, who could not meet their bail terms, were still with the EFCC.

A source in the commission said: “The suspects were arrested in respect of payment of $40million by ONSA for a contract which was tagged as purchase of tactical equipment for Special Forces.

 “When they interacted with our investigators, they could not explain what the contract was meant for. They said they used the money to pacify militants in the Niger Delta. “Even though we wanted to accept their claim, there is no documentary evidence to show how the $40m contract was awarded, how it was disbursed and the list of beneficiaries.

 “The case is not about being a blood relation of a former President or not. Is he the only relation of the ex-President? “We are looking into payments made by ONSA and $40miilion was advanced without any record of how the contract or how it was awarded or done.”

The Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed the investigation of Jonathan’s cousin and Dakoru, said the agency had been fair in investigating the $40million.

More Details in THE NATION 

Health Minister Endorses Use Of Herbal Medicine

Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole , has ordered that henceforth , all mosquito nets used in the country must be locally produced .

He also endorsed the use of herbal medicines, and recommended that the drugs be produced in the country under the supervision of Nigerian Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development ( NIPRD) , and National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control ( NAFDAC ).

 Prof. Adewole said this at the presentation of “ NAFDAC Guidelines 2016 ” on Tuesday in Abuja.

 He disclosed that billions of “hard-earned” monies were being used by the nation to import mosquito nets and other drugs that could be produced in the country, adding that the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, a body of drugs and related products manufacturers in the country , could produce mosquito nets,  as the products are part of medical devices.

Speaking further , the minister urged NAFDAC to partner with Universities of Zaria, Enugu, Ibadan and Jos to enhance research into local production of drugs .

SOURCE: INFORMATION NIGERIA