Police foil plot to bomb Third Mainland Bridge

The police have foiled an attempt by a notorious Niger Delta militant group operating from the creeks of Ikorodu and Arepo on the outskirts of Lagos and Ogun states to blow up the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

A top commander of the group, Abiodun Amos, who is also known as Senti, an Ijaw from Arogbo, Ese-Odo Local Government of Ondo State, who is also said to be the group’s explosive expert, was arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT), who trailed him to a river bank at Majidun, Ikorodu, Lagos.

Two AK47 rifles hidden in a “Ghana-Must-Go” bag were found with the suspect. He led the IRT operatives to a vehicle parked discreetly within Ikorodu, where a large catche of dynamite and detonators was recovered— from its boot.

It was also learnt that Amos’ arrest followed intelligence generated by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), which was passed on to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, indicating that the group was at its final stage of carrying out an attack on the Third Mainland Bridge—Africa’s longest at 13 kilometres.

The IGP, who was said to have been miffed by the report, directed his operatives at the IRT, led by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Abba Kyari, to investigate the report. It was confirmed that the group was actually planning to blow up the bridge at the end of November. The group, detectives discovered, had acquired large quantities of dynamite and several other explosives for the attack.

In October 2016, the group, which has no known identity and was notorious for pipeline vandalism, kidnapping and bank robberies, demanded for amnesty, threatening to disrupt the economy within Lagos and Ogun states if the Federal Government did not dialogue with it and grant its members pipeline protection contracts.

The leader of the militant group, known as “General” Ossy Ibori, who coordinated most of the bank robberies and high profile kidnappings, including that of three schoolgirls at Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School in Ikorodu, four landlords at Isheri North, Oniba of Ibaland, Oba Goriola Oseni and many others within Lagos and Ogun states, boasted in an interview that his group had over 21 “generals” commanding 7,800 battle-ready boys.

He added that the group was rich enough to fight the Federal Government as it had acquired thousands of military grade arms and ammunition, which he said would be deployed in disrupting the economy within Lagos and Ogun states, should the Federal Government fail to dialogue with the group and grant its wishes.

Sources disclosed that the IRT operatives made several arrests within Ikorodu and other parts of Lagos State. One of the suspects is said to have given the police the information, which they used in trailing and arresting Amos, who was on his way into the creeks.

The 43-year-old suspect confessed that his group was formerly into pipeline vandalism but they resorted to kidnapping when it became difficult for them to vandalise and sell their stolen petroleum products. According to him; “ we went into bank robberies and kidnapping because we wanted to get government attention and all we wanted was for them to grant us amnesty and also offer us pipeline protection contract. We have made several appeals and the government is not listening to us. “General” Ossy said ‘if we don’t blow up the Third Mainland Bridge government’ they would not listen to us. We had concluded plans and we decided to carry out the attack by November ending. I am the group’s explosive expert and before I was arrested we were going into the creek to conclude plans on how to carry out the attack.”

Police spokesman Don Awuna, a deputy Commissioner (DCP) said: “Yes, an individual was arrested. On sighting the policemen, the second suspect jumped out of his car and escaped into the bush, abandoning the operational vehicle.

”On searching the vehicle, two cartons of Gelatine dynamite explosives and hundreds of detonators were recovered in the boot of the car. Efforts are in progress to arrest the remaining gang members”.

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Troops recover Shekau’s Qur’an, flag

The military gave more details yesterday about the capture of Sambisa Forest, including Camp Zero and Camp S (shape), the last bastion of the Boko Haram insurgents.

The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, the military team that battled the sect, Major-Gen. Lucky Irabor, said yesterday that sect leader Abubakar Shekau’s Qur’an and flag were recovered.

Gen. Irabor, who gave an update on “Operation Rescue Final’’ in Maiduguri, said: “We believe that the Holy Book and the flag were abandoned by Abubakar Shekau while he escaped.

“The book will be taken to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Burutai, for onward presentation to Mr President.

“We have also made a lot of arrests. Our troops in Damboa arrested about 15 Boko Haram members. We also arrested one Musa from Potiskum on Christmas Day.

“On Dec. 26 our troops also intercepted two Boko Haram suspects in Maiduguri.

“We, therefore, warn residents of the state to be wary of people coming to hide in and around their houses.

“We are also warning residents to report any suspected Boko Haram members hiding in their houses to the relevant security agencies and any failure to do that would be tantamount to supporting and sympathising with the sect’s activities,’’ he said.

Gen. Irabor added that troops arrested about 1,240 suspected terrorists during a mop-up operation by troops inside the forest.

According to him, 413 of the suspects were adults; 323 were women; 251 male children and 253 were female children.

He said: “We are interrogating them to know whether they are Boko Haram members, because there is no way somebody that is not their member would live inside Sambisa forest.

“We are still on the trail of the terrorists and I want to assure you that all escape routes have been blocked.

“Within this period, also, about 30 fleeing suspected Boko Haram members have surrendered to the Niger Multinational Troops on the shores of the lake Chad and we learnt that they were taken to Diffa in Niger Republic.

“The suspects include 24 male and six female.

“We would like to use this opportunity to encourage the terrorists to give up the fight because the window is still open,” the commander said.

Gen. Irabor noted that the Sambisa Forest was abandoned without any government presence which made it easy for the insurgents to take advantage of the area.

He said the activities of the army in the area would not affect the original purpose of the land which is a game reserve.

He added that the army would construct roads into the forest, and called on the government and other individuals to support the army in its endeavour to succeed in the fight.

He said the operation was still on going at the Sambisa forest and other parts of the North East to ensure a total wipe out of the terrorists

Gen. Irabor pleaded with individuals and organisations to assist the military with useful information about the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in their midst and support or logistics to end the insurgency completely and permanently.

He urged the government to move in quickly and establish civil authorities in the liberated areas to enable residents return to their various communities.

“Let me state that we have won the war by destroying terrorists’ fortress, and smoked them out from this forest. We are however in a transition phase after winning the war against Boko Haram insurgency and terrorism. We need to win the peace now”

The Theatre Commander also denied the picture of a Whiteman being circulated on the social media as a suspect arrested by troops during the operation in Sambisa forest.

“That picture of the Whiteman being circulated as an arrested Boko Haram suspect from Sambisa Forest is not from us. That picture is not from the army. It is not our picture”, Gen. Irabor said.

Niger Republic’s Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum said dozens of Boko Haram fighters had given themselves up to authorities in southern Niger.

The minister said 31 young people from Diffa, who were enrolled a few years ago in Boko Haram, decided to surrender.

The fighters arrived in the remote desert town of Diffa in groups and were being held by local authorities.

“I learnt that the first who surrendered were not arrested, and I surrendered.

“We expect a pardon from the government so that we can participate in the development of the country and help us get rid of the trauma,’’ a former Boko Haram combatant told reporters.

In June, tens of thousands of people fled Diffa as Boko Haram swept the region.

Five Niger Republic soldiers were killed by the militants near Diffa in September.

It was not clear what would become of the ex-Boko Haram fighters, but authorities said there was the possibility of reintegrating them back into society.

A security source said a meeting had been held in Diffa to discuss “the conditions of surrender”, without providing further details.

Boko Haram has killed 15,000 people and displaced over two million during a seven-year insurgency aimed at creating an Islamic state in Nigeria.

In recent years, its attacks have spilled into neighbouring Niger, Cameroon and Chad.

Hundreds of Boko Haram fighters surrendered in Chad in October and November as the group ceded territory.

The group controlled an area about the size of Belgium in early 2015 but has since been pushed back by international forces, including troops from Niger.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday announced that the army captured Boko Haram’s last enclave in the vast Sambisa forest on Friday.

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Etete, 12 others set for trial in Italy

Former Minister of Petroleum Dan Etete is to be arraigned in Italy over his alleged involvement in the $1.1billion Malabu oil deal.
Dan Etete
Last week, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) slammed a seven-count charge of money laundering and fraud on Mr. Etete and others at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The Italian prosecutors have filed the notice in a Milan court, accordin g to Premium Times.

Apart from Etete, another Nigerian, Chukwuemeka Obi, is among the 11 individuals to be charged by the Italian authorities. Shell and Eni are also to be sued to take the defendants to 13. Mr. Obi and his firm, EVP, had laid claim to about $110 million of the $1.1 billion paid by Shell and Eni for OPL 245, considered Nigeria’s richest oil block.

The money is trapped in Switzerland where it has been frozen by a court.

Mr. Obi sued Malabu for $110 million in London, which he said was his entitlement for helping to facilitate the deal between the oil majors and Malabu.

In July 2013, the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, presided over by Lady Justice Gloster, ruled in favour of Mr. Obi that he was entitled to “a fee of 8.5% of the total disposal consideration of $1.3 billion”.

Following the court’s ruling, the money was transferred to EVP’s Swiss accounts. However, Italian authorities who had by then started investigating the fraudulent deal asked Swiss authorities to freeze the money where it has since remained.

Others found culpable by Italian authorities include: DescaJzi Claudio, the CEO of Eni; his predecessor, Paolo Scaroni; Roberto Casula, Armanna Vincenzo, Antonio Pagano, Ednan Agaev, Luigi Bisignani and Falcioni Gianfranco.

Italian prosecutors are also charging Eni and Royal Dutch Shell for their involvement in the deal as multinational firms.

As part of their findings, Italian prosecutors said officials of Italian oil giant Eni may have received $50 million bribe from the $1.1 billion the company and Shell paid into a Nigerian government account in 2011.

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CBN Gov proposes N100b tax on mobile phone users

•Calls longer than 3 mins to attract surcharge

•Says economy facing stagflation

Mobile phone users will be in for hard times if proposal by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele to the federal government to introduce mobile phone call tax becomes a reality.

The Governor, who broke the news at the 2016 Annual Bankers’ Dinner organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) on Friday night, in Lagos, said such tax, targeted at the middle, upper class and long phone call makers, can generate N100 billion annually into the federal government coffers.

Speaking on the theme: “Policy options for reversing Nigeria’s economic downturn” he said the country’s economy is currently facing a classical case of “stagflation” and although the 2016 budget is well on track to tackle it, there is need to boost revenue generation base though increased taxes.

He suggested that government could explore opportunities for more revenues to wriggle out of stagflation and recession by introducing a negligible telecom surcharge to be paid by initiator of a telephone call.

“There are several ways we can raise additional revenue to finance the increased expenditure that is needed to engender fast and sustainable growth in the economy. I think we can consider introducing a negligible telecom surcharge to be entirely borne by the initiator of a call. In order to protect the poor and vulnerable amongst us, we could structure it to only take effect after the third minute of talk. Some analyses have indicated that the government could earn about N100 billion per annum from this alone,” he stated.

Emefiele explained that the surcharge will mainly be borne by middle and upper class people since many poor people do not make calls for more than three minutes.

He explained that stagflation occurs when a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is falling or stagnant while unemployment and inflation are rising, all simultaneously.

“As recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicate, Nigeria’s GDP growth decelerated by 0.36 per cent and 2.1 per cent in the first and second quarters of 2016, respectively. More also, the rate of price inflation for the months of September and October were 17.9 per cent and 18.3 per cent, respectively, while official statistics also indicate that the country’s unemployment rate increased to 12.1 per cent and 13.3 per cent during the first and second quarters,” he stated.

Emefiele said that stagflation is a difficult condition for policymakers to deal with, insisting that no single macroeconomic policy can address rising inflation and slow growth simultaneously, because fighting inflation may require implementing policies that might, in the short term, be inimical to economic growth, whereas expansionary policies to stimulate growth usually worsen inflation.

Still on taxes, the CBN boss said government could also consider introducing minimal property taxes across the country. “This not only raises money for the government but also could be a veritable weapon against corruption since it creates a database of who really owns homes in this country. Another option to consider would be to fully implement the 2003 Cabotage Act. This is Act stipulates that all cargoes and passengers in the inland and coastal waters be transported by ships and ferries built, owned, crewed and manned by Nigerians,” he said.

Emefiele explained that contrary to the requirement of this Act, there are several foreign-owned vessels providing shipping services locally. “Out of about 600 ships that operate within our waters, only about 60 of them are owned by Nigerians and are mostly idle, in violation of the Act. Industry sources suggest Nigeria may be losing as much as N2 trillion annually from this anomaly. In addition to raising revenue, a full implementation of the Act could also spur job creation, capacity building, and significant backward integration,” he said.

Speaking further, he said that exchange rate is simply a price that is determined by the forces of demand and supply.

He said that while the proposal may seem controversial, variants of this policy have proven to be highly effective in other climes and even here in Nigeria. “For example, throughout the early days of South Korea’s economic renaissance, the government intermittently used excessively stiff tariffs, quantitative restrictions and prohibitive inland taxes to effectively ban many items with potential for high imports, and simultaneously, offered generous and subsidized loans to firms for export promotion causes. In fact, at some point, about 93 per cent of total imports into South Korea were subject to one or more such restrictions,” he said.

Emefiele admitted that interest rates are a veritable tool for curtailing inflation but with inflation at over 18 per cent, the regulator would be abjectly failing on one of its cardinal objectives if it cuts interest rates at this time. “Second, for those who say we need a rate cut to spur growth, we need to remind that high inflation is highly inimical to economic growth. Indeed, many empirical studies have estimated the threshold level at which inflation becomes significantly growth retarding to be 11 per cent for developing countries. With ours at 18.3 per cent, one must question the judgment of cutting interest rates at this time,” he said.

The CBN Governor insisted that interest rates reflect not just the cost of capital but also the cost of doing business, hence, the need to also look at interest rates from the perspective of the lender. “Given that most banks have to individually provide security, power, and other infrastructure, it is not surprising that some of these costs are passed on to customers in the form of high interest rates. Notwithstanding these facts, we will continue to use moral suasion to encourage commercial banks to be more considerate in interest charges on customers,” he stated.

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Corruption How Buhari's Minister was indicted and charged with fraud in 2000

A committee set up by the Donald Duke govt in Cross River in 2000 was said to have found Usani guilty.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Usani, was indicted and charged with fraud in 2000 by the Cross River state government, Premium Times authoritatively reports.

Usani, who after serving as the Cross River commissioner for Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development in 1999, was indicted by a committee set up by the Donald Duke administration.

According to the report, the committee was set up to investigate financial impropriety among officials of the preceding military administration in the state.

In the report filed by the committee headed by Orok Oyo, Usani was said to intended to defraud the state government.

The committee also said Usani refused to apply government approved scales when he paid out some money as fees to Gersh Henshaw & Company, a firm of estate surveyors and valuers.

The firm reportedly handled the contract for the valuation of vehicles, workshops and equipment belonging to the Cross River State Water Board.

The valuation was said to be part of the African Development Bank water project in the state.

According to the committee, the state government lost N16.323 million because of Usani’s "deliberate" action.

The then governor Duke was said to have accepted the committee's report and further directed that the N16, 323,150 be recovered from Usani, and that he should be prosecuted as well.

Investigation by Premium Times revealed that the state government filed a complaint against Usani at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

It was, however, discovered that after CCB forwarded the case to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for trial, the state government swiftly requested that the case be discontinued, without giving any reason for its action.

A letter addressed to the CCB Chairman by the then secretary to the state government and dated July 5, 2001, said the instruction to drop the case against Usani and others charged along with him came from the governor, Donald Duke.

It was gathered that in CCB's reply, it informed the government that the tribunal, in accordance with Duke's instruction, had on September 12, 2001 discontinued further criminal proceedings, and struck out the case against Usani and others.

The newspaper reported that Duke did not respond to its inquiries on why he ordered the discontinuation of the trial.

President Muhammadu Buhari has been accused by the opposition of only targeting officers of the immediate past government and chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party in his anti-corruption war and conveniently leaving out alleged corrupt members of his cabinet and associates.

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CBN Another suspect in N8bn currency scam seeks plea bargain

The plea bargain will be the second in the case in which bank officials allegedly conspired to steal N8bn defaced naira notes.
Another suspect involved in the N8 billion Central Bank currency scam is currently negotiating for a plea bargain, NAN reports.

One of the suspects being prosecuted, Tope Akintade, has begun the process for plea bargain arrangement with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The commission’s counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, told a court on Wednesday, October 26, that the arrangement is yet to be completed with the defence counsel, Femi Edema.

Akintade is one of the several bank officials who allegedly conspired to steal and conceal mutilated and defaced naira notes amounting to N8 billion, from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He had disclosed that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which is believed to be the reason for his decision.

He is the second of the accused persons to opt for a plea bargain.

Earlier in the month, Ademola Oni had pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for each of five charges for which he was convicted. Since the charges are to run concurrently, Oni will only spend two and a half years in jail.

On Wednesday, Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, adjourned the trial of the accused persons till November 18.

The adjournment followed the illegibility of copies of documentary evidence produced by the EFCC.

The judge said that it is necessary to give all the parties concerned in the matter equal opportunity to read what is contained in the first two sheets of the documentary evidence given by a prosecution witness, Omotayo Igbosanu.

All the defence counsel had complained about their inability to read the documentary evidence made by Mr. Igbosanu as contained in the illegible pages.

Kolawole Babalola, Adeola Olaniran, Philip Togun, Ibrahim Salami, Emmanuel Odiah and Tope Akintade, along with others, have been standing trial on multiple charges.

The charges borders on alleged conspiracy, forgery, theft and recirculation of N8 billion currencies belonging to the CBN.
Igbosanu, the Head of Currency Processing and Disposal Unit of CBN, Ibadan branch, told the court that the accused persons only destroyed N98 million out of the possible N610 million.

He added that Sterling Bank of Nigeria sent 61 boxes containing a total sum of N610 million out of which the accused persons replaced cut newspapers or lower denominations with moneys meant for destruction.

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Herdsmen: Fayose raises alarm as Presidency urges calm

THE Presidency yesterday appealed to cattle owners and Ekiti people to seek a common ground in finding a solution to the festering row between herdsmen and farmers.
The Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, made the appeal yesterday when he met with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).
At the meeting, MACBAN spokesman Baba Othman Ngelzarma said his group was not opposed to the new Ekiti grazing law but rejects a situation where Governor Ayo Fayose deliberately leads the constant attacks and killings of their cows.
He said his group may stop the supply of cattle and goats to Ekiti State.
“We are in support of the law stopping grazing from 6pm to 6am but oppose a situation where armed men shoot and kill our cattles during the day.
Ojudu thanked the association for the meeting.
He said in a democracy every opportunity for dialogue should be explored.
The special adviser said the symbiotic relationship between the herdsmen and the people should be explored.
Governor Ayo Fayose has alerted communities to the threat by MACBAN.
MACBAN, in a statement at the weekend, claimed that the Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals (EGEM) on October 21, killed five cows.
Ngelzarma urged the Federal Government to intervene “before this macabre incident develops into a feud involving our members and the Ekiti State government”.
At a briefing at the Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, Fayose dismissed MACBAN’s claim that five cows were killed on Friday.
He said the cows are alive and in the government’s custody.
The governor accused the Federal Government of backing the herdsmen to attack communities.
Fayose said: “Four days after this threat was issued, the Federal Government is yet to act.
“The silence of the Federal Government has further confirmed the insinuation that there is a plot to support the herdsmen to invade some boundary towns and villages in Ekiti State.”
The governor continued: “I am therefore using this opportunity to put Ekiti people, especially residents of boundary towns, on red alert. Ekiti people must be prepared to defend their land against these Philistines, whose attributes and characters are extremism, violence, bloodshed and destruction.”
The governor said: “Why didn’t Miyetti Allah warn its members when they were killing Nigerians and destroying farmlands?
“Are their cows more important than human lives?
“To us in Ekiti, 5000 cows cannot be equated to human beings who are being killed daily by herdsmen across the country.
“MACBAN should know that cattle farmers are not different from other farmers.
“If they want to rear cows in Ekiti, they should do so in accordance with the laws of the state.
“After all, law prohibiting sale and consumption of alcohol was made in Kano State and the law is being enforced while Sharia Law made in some states in the North is also being enforced.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Prohibition of Cattle and other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti State Bill that was signed into law on August 29 remains in force.
“MACBAN should tell its members to comply with this law by seeking from the government designated land for grazing, which the government is always willing to give.
“It is strange that the association kept silent when its members killed two people and injured several others in Oke-Ako in Ekiti State.”

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Budget: Buhari writes NASS to borrow $29.96bn external loan

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday forwarded a request to the National Assembly to approve external borrowing plan of $29.960 billion to execute key infrastructural projects across the country between 2016 and 2018.
The president also requested for virement of N180.8 billion in the 2016 budget for provision of needed votes for some critical sectors across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
Buhari made the requests in two separate letters to the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, which were read on the floor of both chambers.
The president, in the external borrowing plan, explained that targeted projects cuts across all sectors with special emphasis on infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, water supply, growth and employment generation.
Other sectors he said included poverty reduction through social safety net programmes and governance and financial management reforms, among others.
According to him, the cost of the projects and programmes under the borrowing (rolling) plan is $29.960 billion.
This is made up of proposed projects and programmes loan of $11.274 billion, Special National Infrastructure projects $10.686 billion, Euro bonds of $4.5 billion and Federal Government budget support of $3.5 billion.
He explained further that the loan was very necessary in view of the serious infrastructure deficit in the country.
He said the country had huge infrastructure deficit and enormous financial resources required to fill the gap in the face of dwindling resources.
“This is in addition to the inability of our annual budgetary provisions to bridge the deficit. It has become necessary to resort to prudent external borrowing to bridge the financing gap.
“This will largely be applied to key infrastructure projects namely power, railway and roads among others,” he added.
Buhari said the N180 billion would be moved from monies already appropriated for special intervention programmes both recurrent and capital for funding of critical recurrent and capital items.
He said the request arose due to shortfalls in provisions for personnel costs; inadequate provision ab initio for amnesty programme; continuing requirements to sustain the war against insurgency; and depreciation of the Naira.
The letter reads in part: “In the course of implementing the 2016 Appropriation Act, several MDAs have presented issues pertaining to salary shortfalls, the settlement of part of which has led to the depletion of the Public Service Wage Adjustment.
“This Vote, which had a provision of N33,597,400,000, now has a balance of N2, 758,296,000.
“The provision for NYSC in the 2016 budget is inadequate to cater for the number of corps members to be mobilised this year.
“In fact, an additional N8.5 billion is required to cover the backlog of 129,469 corps members who are due for call-up but would otherwise be left out till next year due to funding constraints.
“Similarly, the provision for meal subsidy for the Unity Colleges is inadequate for the number of students in the schools.
“Due to the devaluation of the Naira, the budgetary provisions for the foreign missions are no longer sufficient to cover all their costs.”
In another letter dated Oct. 24, the president also requested the National Assembly to approve the virement of funds appropriated for special intervention (recurrent) and special intervention (capital) to fund some critical recurrent and capital items.
According to him, the reasons for the request for virement, include shortfalls in provisions for personnel costs; inadequate provision ab initio for some items like the amnesty programme; continuing requirements to sustain the war against insurgency and depreciation of the naira.
“However, considering the fact that budgeted revenues are running behind target due to the renewed violence in the Niger Delta.
“Also there are no supplementary revenue sources, the most viable option for now is the virement of appropriated funds from heads or sub-heads that may not be fully utilised before the end of this fiscal year,” Buhari added.
An analysis of the proposed virement shows that Public Service Wage Adjustment (PSWA) will gulp N71,800 billion.
“Contingency N1.2 billion, margin for increase in cost N2 billion for cadet feeding – Police Academy, Wudil, Kano, N932.4 million; amnesty programme N35 billion; internal operations of the armed forces N5.205 billion.
“Operation Lafiya Dole N13.933 billion; NYSC N19.792 billion; foreign missions N14.667 billion, and augmentation of meal subsidy/direct teaching and laboratory cost of N900 million bringing the total to N166.630,886,954 billion.
“Statutory transfers to Public Complaints Commission is estimated to gulp N1.2 billion while the virement in respect of capital expenditure for the Nigerian Air Force is N12.708 billion.
“Capital Supplementation: Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE) is N1.5 billion bringing the total to N14,208,367,476 billion.”
Lastly, the president requested that N300 million be vired from the budget of the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to fund the construction of 132KVA sub-station of fallen transmission towers, replacement of glass insulators at Gwaram, Jigawa. (NAN)

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Jonathan: Dasuki didn’t steal $2.2b weapons cash

‘Our best yielded an era of unprecedented economic growth for Nigeria’
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has replied his administration’s critics, saying former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki could not have stolen the $2.2 billion cash voted for arms purchase.
He also said his administration may not be perfect but he did his best.
Besides, he advised Nigeria and other African countries on how to break even – they should invest in education and youth entrepreneurship.
It was all at a lecture on Youth Entrepreneurship at the famous Oxford Union in the United Kingdom.
The text of the lecture and some parts of the transcript of the question session were released to the media yesterday by PRNigeria, a military propaganda outfit against Boko Haram during the Jonathan administration.
The ex-President said: “They said the National Security Adviser (Sambo Dasuki) stole $2.2billion. I don’t believe somebody can just steal $2.2 billion.
“We bought warships, we bought aircraft, we bought lots of weapons for the army and so on and so forth and you are still saying 2.2 billion; so where did we get the money to buy all those things?
”Yes, there were some issues. Yes, there are still corruption issues but some of it were overblown. I’d say exaggerated and they give a very bad impression about our nation. You cannot say the national security adviser stole $2.2billion. It is not just possible.”
But Jonathan said he would not want to speak futher to avoid engaging in any act of subjudice to the ongoing court process.
He added: “One thing about the issue of corruption is that these matters are in court; let’s allow some of these processes to end. Lately, some judges’ (homes) were also invaded. There are so many things involved and we have to follow up these matters to conclusion before we know the fact.
“I don’t want to be seen as a former president challenging what the sitting government is doing so I have decided to keep quiet for the court to look into them.”
He said allegations of corruption were not unique to his administration, adding:
“You will see that it has become a major topic whenever there is a change of government … I am not saying there is no corruption in Nigeria; there is corruption. If you look at corruption, there is almost no country that is free; the degree varies, the perception varies.
“Transparency International talks about the way corruption is being perceived in different economies; why do we talk about the way corruption is being perceived?
It depends on the issue raised in the media every day.”
Earlier in his lecture, Jonathan said his administration might not have been perfect but it offered Nigeria the best.
He said: “We may not have been perfect, but we did our best, and our best yielded an era of unprecedented economic growth for Nigeria. A growth that proved the truism that a nation’s wealth is not underneath the ground but between the ears of her people.
“Under my watch, Nigeria was projected by CNN Money to be the third fastest growing economy in the world for the year 2015 and rated as the largest economy in Africa and the 23rd in the world by the World Bank and the IMF, with a GDP above half a trillion US dollars. “
He expressed confidence that Nigerian youth and African youths could lift up the continent to a glorious economic era.
Jonathan said: “Nigeria has a crop of talented youth but the nation has not properly keyed into the global sports industry. The Fund would have been a catalyst to promoting the Nigerian sports industry by promoting training, welfare of athletes and manufacturing of sporting equipment, among other things.
“Distinguished audience, let me conclude my speech by urging contemporary African leaders to see youth entrepreneurship as a collective project transcending national boundaries. I believe in the Nigerian youth and indeed African youths. My conviction is not only an emotional one, but one grounded in my experience with youths from all over the continent.
“You will agree that foremost in the minds of many youth is a desire to develop their dreams and potentials.
“Placing them closer to the driving wheel, does a lot for their confidence. Despite incredible challenges, Nigerian youths are achieving great things and placing Nigeria positively in the world map.
“Nigerian youths are an inspiration to their leaders. I once said that I was not elected President of Nigeria to spread poverty, I was elected to generate and spread wealth.
“My belief in this regard is that getting a job or being a worker cannot completely cure the disease of poverty. It is only your own business that can provide such security and give you the financial freedom you need to prosper.
“That was why my administration introduced these initiatives and policies to enable Nigeria’s youths take their own destinies in their hands.
“You can appreciate that there was a lot of emphasis on education during my time at the helm of both my State and my Nation. This is because the richest people today are those who develop ideas and commercialise them.
“Viable ideas can only come from educated minds, and money pursues ideas. My three flagship programmes, i.e. the gifted and talented children schools in Bayelsa State, the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovation and Development and the ICT Incubation Centers (Co-Creation Hub) were geared towards developing that calibre of youth.”
Jonathan reeled out how his administration initiated many programmes to encourage youths to develop their talents.
He said: “My administration came up with various programmes to encourage young entrepreneurs. The most popular is the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria “YouWIN.”
“It was a unique intervention launched in 2012, which targeted youth with unique business proposals in start-ups and expansion of existing enterprises. YouWin is structured as a competitive cyclic initiative which invites and reviews business plans submitted by youth. Young people who wanted to be entrepreneurs were asked to submit their business proposals. The best business plans were chosen based on relevance, profitability, demand and practicability.
“The winners were trained and given grants. YouWIN was multi-sector- cutting across light manufacturing, food processing, and the service sector. The motivation for this program is for young people to go into SMEs, create jobs for other young people with the expectation that some would grow to large scale businesses.
“In addition to YouWin, under our broad based Agricultural Transformation Agenda, we developed the Youth Employment in Agriculture Program [YEAP] – and like many of our other youth programs, we incorporated the youth themselves in its design. This took a complete value chain approach from farming to processing and marketing.
“Just like in the YouWIN initiative, my administration gave young farmers grants and training. The young people who were involved were called “Nagropreneurs”.
“We also launched The Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS). The objective of this program was to provide temporary work experience for fresh graduates, to enhance their capacity to attract permanent jobs. Eligible graduates are posted to corporations and companies in the private and public sectors. They received practical training and mentorship for a one-year period, within which remuneration is paid by the government.
“This enabled the young graduates to acquire relevant experience. We also increased the allowances due to Youth Corp members by more than 100% in 2011. This was in line with our policy of youth empowerment and development.
“To ensure that the Nigerian youth benefit massively in the ICT revolution, we created a special Ministry of Communication Technology. We wanted the Nigerian Youth to be self-employed and exploit the advantages of ICT.
“The ministry, among other things, improved broadband penetration, set up ICT incubation centres in Lagos and Calabar. The efforts of the Young software engineers at the Lagos Co-Creation Hub (CC Hub) became so successful that it did not only give birth to many thriving start-ups, but their activities also attracted the attention of Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg who chose it as his first stop during his first ever visit to Africa. One sector we deliberately encouraged to stimulate job growth for Nigerian Youth was the Nigerian entertainment industry.
“We identified Nollywood as a sector that can employ many young people. We provided a grant of $200 million and for the first time, Nollywood became a major contributor to our GDP. In 2014, Nollywood contributed 1.4% to our GDP. The sporting industry was also not left out. We encouraged our young people in that sector. I was to launch a Fund to encourage sporting activities in the country but I had to bow out by 29th of May 2015.”
The high point of the session was Jonathan’s reaction to the ongoing trial of his former NSA for alleged mismanagement of about $2.1m arms cash.
Dasuki had on December 13, 2015 said he disbursed the cash on Jonathan’s instructions.
The ex-NSA said: “I wish to state as follows: That I have been publicly indicted and any statement may jeopardize my defence. Having been briefed by the EFCC investigators on why I was invited, I will answer the charges in court. As such, I do not wish to make any further statement on the matter.
“That I am aware in November (I cannot remember the exact date), my office requested the CBN to exchange N10billion from the account of the Office of National Security Adviser domiciled in CBN. The money was exchanged at $47m and some Euros which I cannot remember. The exact amount was delivered at my residence.
“The money was for delegates that attended the nomination convention for the PDP. Presidential nomination. The money was paid and sent to Hon. (Waripamowei) Dudafa (SSAP Household) and ADC(C-IC) for distribution on the instruction of the President.
“Based on the statement of Director of Finance and administration (Salisu), Ibrahim Wambai, and Yazidu Ibrahim, all the cash (both foreign and local) are usually given to them for official use.
“I also noted the statement of Sagir Bafarawa whose company is Dalhatu Investment which he stated that he received the sum of N4,633,000,000 from the account of the Office of the NSA. I authorized the payment . The money was for vehicles, motorcycles for youth empowerment and women sent to Saudi Arabia. I got the proposal from the President. I do not have the proposal; it should be at the office in the Villa.”

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CBN limit offshore spending limit on naira debits cards

Offshore spending limit on naira debits cards by CBN

Since the central bank of Nigeria has placed spending limit on the naira debit card it is becoming increasingly difficult for Nigerians to do foreign transaction.

On the 11th of October Bank Customers noticed that $250 is the maximum oversea spending limit on naira debit card.

On the 13th of October it was further reduced from $250 to $100 maximum oversea spending limit on naira debit card.

The policy has made things difficult for the IT industry as many companies were stranded for days not knowing what to do or how to pay their foreign providers.

To make matter worse banks did not send the regular circular ahead as they usually do informing their customers of the new policy, I cannot tell if it is a directive from CBN not to inform the public or it was a deliberate attempt by the banks to keep their customers in the dark.

Before now Nigerians shop online with their naira debit cards and some pay for some other services like websites hosting and the likes, but with the spending limit most of the companies oversea will start losing their Nigeria clients because most people will look for local alternative services providers.

It is time to look out for local providers for most of your services another option is to buy dollars from the black market and fund your dollar account.

In my opinion patronizing the local vendors will go a long way in solving the naira crisis.

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Ondo Election Mimiko, Fayose flag off Jegede's campaign amid candidacy crisis

INEC says it will take a stand if by October 27 the PDP does not decide on the legitimate candidate representing the party.

Candidate of the Ahmed Makarfi-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming Ondo governorship election, Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), has officially kicked off campaign ahead of the November 26 poll.

The legitimacy of Jegede's candidacy still hinges on the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the October 27 deadline given to the party to reconcile and choose one candidate for the election.

INEC says the PDP must choose one person between Jegede and billionaire Jimoh Ibrahim, whose name was submitted as the party's candidate by the Ali Modu Sheriff faction, on or before the deadline.

The Commission says it will take a stand after October 27 if the two factions fail to agree on one candidate.

At the flag-off ceremony of Jegede on Wednesday, October 19, the Ondo state Governor, Olusegun Mimiko expressed confidence in the senior lawyer, saying he will continue to move the state higher.

The event was attended by Makarfi, who was represented by Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Governor Ayodele Fayose, South West PDP Chairman, Eddy Olafeso, former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Omolade Oluwateru, John Olubunmi Olowe, Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo, Ondo state Assembly Speaker, Jumoke Akindele, National Assembly members among others.
The ceremony held despite unconfirmed reports that Sheriff offered the Inspector General Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, N180 million to order his men to stop Jegede's flag-off from taking place.

Jegede served under Mimiko as the Attorney-General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.

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Patience Jonathan Here's why we all need Ex-First Lady's kind of friends

If your friends haven't been pumping millions of dollars into your life, it may just be time to change them

Former First Lady, Dame Patience Faka Jonathan, has got some bad ass, dope friends.

Buddies who made sure she received $15m as gifts in a span of 15 years.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), is coercing the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to prosecute Mrs. Jonathan over allegations that she stole $15m, ostensibly from State coffers while her husband, Goodluck Jonathan, was President.

Not so fast, SERAP.
But Mama Peace (as the former First Lady is fondly called) has said she can explain. Her friends have been looking out for her, she says.

“The funds in question were legitimate gifts from her friends and well-wishers over the last 15 years which she had been saving in order to utilise to upgrade family businesses and concerns which had been somewhat dormant by reasons of the long period of her husband service as a public officer in Nigeria”, the former First Lady said in a statement made available to Pulse.

The money came from friends so numerous, Mama Peace can’t even put names and faces to most of them.

“The gifts were given in small contributions by several persons, some of whom she cannot even now recall over this period of 15 years...sometimes in as small a gift as N250,000", the statement read.

If you were one of Mrs. Jonathan's friends; donating to her purse unconditionally, rest assured you've been forgotten. You are now history, to put it nicely.

How we hated breaking that to you!

“In order to preserve the value of these funds, which she did not require for any purpose at the time, she changed them into foreign exchange and kept them as cash for a long period in her home safe in Port Harcourt and Abuja”, the statement read some more.

Mrs. Jonathan’s $15m gift has long been the subject of intense debates and investigations by Law Enforcement. The first reaction from her team was that the money came from legitimate earnings.
Mrs. Jonathan sheds some more light on how the money made it from a safe in her family home to the banks.

“It was when the family home in Otuoke was burnt down by hoodlums under the instigation of political adversaries in 2010 that she began to think about banking these gifts, which had now grown to large sums in the United States dollars.

“In 2010 she therefore summoned one of her husband’s domestic aides, Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel Dudafa, to assist her in opening bank accounts into which the funds could be deposited.

“Unknown to her, the said Dudafa, in a bid to be discreet about the owner of the funds, decided to bank the funds in the names of companies owned by him.

“When she discovered this, she was constrained to continue with the names of the companies when she was advised that it did not make any difference as to the ownership of the funds since the director of the company would appoint her as sole signatory to the accounts in question.”

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operative who spoke to Pulse on the basis of anonymity, said the anti-graft agency isn’t sold on Mrs. Jonathan’s story just yet.

“Her story doesn't add up. My brother, you went to school na! Does that make any sense to you?

"Recall that we’ve frozen the accounts opened by fronts for Mrs. Jonathan. We’ll make sure the money is returned to State coffers if we eventually establish that the money belongs to the State. If she now says her friends gave her the money in a 15 year span, that’s an average of $1m from a friend annually. Investigations are ongoing so I won’t disclose so much now”, said the EFCC operative who spoke to Pulse on the basis of anonymity because he hadn’t been authorized to comment on the subject.

Moral of the story: we all need new friends. Like yesterday.

Goodbye, old circle of friends, it was nice hanging out with y'all.

Is the EFCC unfairly targeting Patience Jonathan?»

Yes, it's a witch hunt
No, she should be prosecuted
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Olusegun Mimiko Governor asks police to find killers of his CSO

The officer was reportedly killed by armed robbers on October 19, 2016, around Sango community in Ondo state.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state has called on the police to find the killers of his Chief Security Officer (CSO), Idowu Oyewole.

Oyewole, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), was reportedly killed by armed robbers on Wednesday, October 19, 2016.

According to reports, the incident that cost the policeman his life, took place around Sango community, along Akure/Ado Ekiti road, Akure.

Governor Mimiko, in a condolence message to Oyewole’s family, prayed that God will wipe their tears.

He also said that the family will miss the presence of their bread winner, adding that he was dedicated to his work.

The Governor called on security agencies to ensure that the criminals who murdered his CSO are brought to book.

The message of condolence was delivered to Oyewole’s family by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, in Akure, on Friday, October 21, 2016.

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In Enugu 1 dead as police attack robbers in military uniforms

Enugu police have smashed a robbery syndicate disguising as military officers in Nsukka area of the state.

The Police in Enugu, on Saturday, said they have smashed a highway robbery syndicate disguising as military officers at the Nsukka axis of Enugu-Makurdi road.
The police said they recovered two double barrel guns fabricated as AK 47 rifle, money, a pair of boots and torches, among others.

The police spokesman in the State, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Enugu that the hoodlums were dressed in military camouflage.

“The Police Counter Terrorism Unit Axis received a distress call on Thursday that hoodlums had blocked the road by Inyi in Igboeze North and wreaking havoc on their victims.

“The unit swung into action promptly which resulted in exchange of fire.

“One of the hoodlums was fatally injured and later confirmed dead by a doctor.

“Another hoodlum identified as Godwin Okpe from Ogbadigbo in Benue dressed in camouflage is also fatally injured and being revived to aid operatives in their investigation.

“Others escaped with bullet wounds’’, Amaraizu added.

He appealed to members of the public particularly hospital operators to watch out for any one with suspected bullet injury and report promptly to any nearby police station.

Commissioner of Police in Enugu state, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, applauded the effort of the policemen.

Ojukwu said that the command would continue to maintain functional security for members of the public as well as motorists in the state.

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Ph D holder dies on graduation day

A doctoral degree graduate of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Dr Abdulhafeez Adedimeji died on Saturday morning hours before the graduation ceremony of the institution.

Adedimeji’s death was disclosed by Dean, Faculty of Post Graduate Studies of the University, Professor Badmas Olanrewaju Yusuf while presenting graduates for the award of doctoral degree.

The late Adedimeji who bagged Ph.d degree in Arabic was among the 166 doctoral degree students the university graduated.

Until his death, Adedimeji was a lecturer at the Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun state.

The cause of Adedimeji’s death was not disclosed.

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Fulani cattle breeders warn Fayose over ‘arrest’ of cows

Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) comprising Fulani cattle herders is spoiling for a show down with Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.

They are angry with him over the introduction of the Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals (EGEM),a vigilance group tasked with ‘arresting’ cows found invading and damaging farms in the state.

The association branded Fayose’s action unscrupulous and targeted at “our members who are bona fide citizens of the country.”

Baba Othman Ngelzarma, spokesman for the group in a statement yesterday said, “the anti-malu vigilante group shot five cows and carted away the meat but the herdsman was able to flee with the rest of his cattle.”

Continuing, MACBAN said: “As far as we know, Ekiti State is not an island of its own , but a state within the Federal Republic of Nigeria and while the Governor is permitted to carry out actions geared towards protecting the interest of Ekiti State, such actions should follow the rule of law.

“We deplore this act of brigandage and call on Governor Fayose to offer an unreserved apology to MACBAN, and equally set machinery in motion with a view to compensating our members who lost five cows in this primitive adventure.

“That the brutality of the Ekiti Grazing enforcement marshals (popularly known as Anti- malu) on herdsmen is even outside the time stipulated by that law (if the law exists at all).

“The federal government should therefore look into the actions and activities of this committee because we cannot fold our hands while the only means of survival of our members is taken away and destroyed.

“We are hereby constrained to implore the federal government through its security agencies to wade into this unprovoked and primitive aggression against our members, before this macabre incident develops into unquenchable inferno involving our members and Ekiti State government.

However, the group sympathized with the government of Kaduna State, and the people of Kaduna South over the recent attack on Godogodo community by people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

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Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom Sacks All Commissioners...See Details

A shocking political decision has been taken by the Governor of Akwa Ibom state as he sacks all of his commissioners.

 

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom

 

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state has sacked his entire cabinet.

 

No reason was given, according to a statement issued in Uyo on Saturday by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Etekamba Umoren. Umoren directed the Permanent secretaries to take over from the commissioners pending the formation of a new cabinet.

 

According to the statement, the governor expressed gratitude to the outgoing cabinet members for their services to the state. The statement added that Emmanuel wished them success in their future endeavours.

 

Majority of the outgoing commissioners had been in the state executive council since 2007, when Senator Godswill Akpabio was in charge of the state. Akpabio, against all opposition,  virtually installed  Emmanuel as his successor.

 

Those sacked are: Barrister Uwemedimo Thomas Nwoko – Attorney-General/Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Akan Okon,  commissioner for Finance, Dr. Mathew Nathan Ekaette, Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

 

Others are Mr. Ephraim Akparawa Inyang-eyen, Commissioner for Works, Prince Godwin Ntukude, Commissioner of Transport,  Aniekan Simon Akpan – Commissioner of Education, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, Commissioner of Health, Uwem Ita Etuk – Commissioner of Lands/Town Planning, Mr. Enobong Emmanuel Uwah, Commissioner of Housing and Urban Renewal.

 

Also affected in the dissolution order are: Dr. Iniobong Ene Essien, Commissioner of Environment and Mineral Resources, Mr. Aniekan John Umanah, Commissioner of Information and Communications,  Victor Etim Antai – Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,  Emmanuel Moses Enoidem, Commissioner of Investment, Commerce & Industry, Ekong Sampson – Commissioner of Rural Development and Dr. Emmanuel Ating Onwioduokit, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Development.

 

The other members of the cabinet are Dr. (Mrs) Elizabeth Donald Obot, Commissioner of Science and Technology, Otuekong Emmanuel Udo Ibiok – Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Glory Emmanuel Edet, Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Monday Ebong Uko Commissioner of Youths and Sports and Engr. Etido Inyang, Commissioner of Special Duties.

 

NAN

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FG Takes Over Educational and Professional Goals of the 21 Chibok Girls...See New Details

The abducted Chibok girls who were recently released by the Boko Haram terror sect, have been met with yet another good fortune.

 The Chibok girls inside the Aso Rock

 

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday revealed the plans that are in store for the Chibok girls who were released from the grip of Boko Haram.

 

The president said that the Federal Government will henceforth take over the educational and professional needs of the 21 Chibok girls.

 

Mr Buhari gave the promise while receiving the girls at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

 

According to him, the girls have experienced the worst of life and now should be able to get the best the world can offer.

 

More details later...

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It's a Lie From the Pit of Hell - Fayose Denies Shutting Down Access Bank Branch in Ekiti

Following the fiasco between Governor Fayose and the EFCC, the governor has denied claims that he closed down the Access Bank branch in the state where the incident happened.

Governor Ayodele Fayose and Sonia Chikwendu, wife of former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode

 

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has said news making the rounds that he shutdown the Access Bank branch in state over the incident with EFCC who tried to arrest Sonia Chikwendu, wife of former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in the bank premises is a lie from the pit of hell.

 

This was made clear in a statement issued by Fayose's Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi.

 

The statement reads: "The attention of the state government has been drawn to rumours making the round, especially on social media that Ekiti State Government has shut down‎ a branch of Access Bank in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

"This is definitely coming from the warped minds of opposition elements, whose mouths have been locked by the sterling performance of Governor Ayodele Fayose and the unprecedented support he is enjoying from the people of the state.

"For the sake of clarity, Ekiti State Government has no axe to grind with the management of Access Bank. Also, the state government does not license banks and can't withdraw same.

"We enjoin the good people of Ekiti State and Nigerians in general to disregard such unfounded rumours. They should not let themselves be dragged to the level of the unintelligent like the opposition people have shown by embarking on this type of insinuation they probably brought from the pit of hell."

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It's time to check Governor Fayose into a mental facility

Governor Ayo Fayose has reduced the release of the Chibok girls to politics. He needs to be stopped
Ayodele Fayose who is the Governor of Ekiti State, keeps breaking his own records for the silliest comments ever made, this side of the Atlantic.

This week, the garrulous Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of one of the most enlightened States in the federation, plunged into lower depths.

Soon after news broke that 21 Chibok schoolgirls have been released from Boko Haram captivity, Fayose issued another of his very senseless press statements.
The release of the girls, said the Governor, was a diversionary tactic from the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency--yet another script from the Buhari administration to deflect attention from his foibles on the economy, Fayose said.

Here's Fayose in his own words:

"Nigerians are no longer interested in the lies and make believes of the APC- led federal government. Rather, Nigerians want the economy fixed and food on their tables.

“As for me, I keep my fingers crossed on this reported release of 21 Chibok girls. This is because we were once told by this same government that one of the girls was released and the girl, who was supposed to be writing Physics WAEC examination then could not speak one sentence in English.

“Again, it was reported yesterday that Boko Haram bombed Maiduguri, Borno State and killed more than 10 people. How the same Boko Haram insurgents that bombed Maiduguri yesterday could release 21 Chibok girls today is a question Nigerians must ask.

“Until proved otherwise, the story still appears like one of the diversionary tactics of the federal government.

“We have heard enough stories on corruption, the federal government should give Nigerians food. The people are suffering and their sufferings must be attended to by the federal government.

“Propaganda, cheap lies and diversionary tactics must give way for serious governance.”

For Fayose and his ilk, what should have been a moment of joy for everyone across the political divide, was a good opportunity to play politics. It didn't matter to the Governor that the families of the released girls don't care for his politics or bile. It didn't matter to Fayose that the parents of these girls have been in agony for close to three years as their wards turned into sex slaves for the Boko Haram savages.

Not for Fayose the gripping, emaciated images of the girls on Television--cradling kids they had no say in bringing to the world.

Here's a Governor who, alongside some of his PDP folks, never believed the girls were abducted in the first place. The sheer heartlessness of it all!

Rabid and classless, a Governor of a State in Nigeria really thinks every occurrence in his alternative universe is a propaganda tool; that life is a binary--split between PDP or APC, sensitivity be damned!

To be shocked by the hollowness and shallowness of Fayose is to be amazed that the sky is up there.

In the last couple of years, we've been treated to one senseless Fayose statement after another--press statements that could have been written from a sewer. We know better than to expect anything sensible from the Fayose stable.

But yesterday was a low blow, even for him. To issue that kind of statement without a care in the world as to whether it was going to rub the released girls, their families or the nation the wrong way, was sickening and gut wrenching.

Fayose should know when to play his filthy brand of politics. It should never be with the lives and emotions of suffering people. That will be asking for too much, we know, but insist we must.

And if we don't get any reprieve from Fayose and his laptop in the near future, may we recommend that he's checked into a health facility to have his vocal chords and grey matter checked?

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