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Nigerians Demand ‘Bring Back Our Soldiers’ After B’Haram Abducts 105 Troops #BringBackOurSoldiers

Mohammed Useni
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Nigerians Demand ‘Bring Back Our Soldiers’ After B’Haram Abducts 105 Troops #BringBackOurSoldiers

Nigerians have taken to social media to demand the release of some 105 troops believed to have been kidnapped by terror group Boko Haram. The soldiers went missing during a battle against the militants in Gudunbali, Borno state, on 18 November.

At least 105 soldiers out of 157, including their commanding officer, went missing after being attacked by the insurgents, The Premium Times reported. The newspaper quoted one source as saying that the militants also captured a T-72 tank and several artillery weapons from the unit.

Following the news of the suspected abduction, dozens of Nigerians took to social media to demand the soldiers’ release under the hashtag #BringBackOurSoldiers, which echoes the similar #BringBackourGirls online campaign launched in April after some 219 girls were abducted by the Boko Haram while they were attending a school in Chibok, a remote village in Borno.

Adamawa, Yobe and Borno ? and northern Cameroon, with coordinated bombings also occurring in other parts of Nigeria, as well as Chad and Niger. In recent months, Chad and Niger have declared a state of emergency in areas affected by Boko Haram attacks.

Read some of the tweets below…

Saraki Orders Investigation Of Umar, CCT Chairman Probing Him Over Alleged False Asset Declaration

Mohammed Useni
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Saraki Orders Investigation Of Umar, CCT Chairman Probing Him Over Alleged False Asset Declaration

The Senate is to begin investigating allegations of corruption levelled against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Mr Danladi Umar.

The Senate took the decision to commence the investigation after a federal lawmaker, Senator Obinna Ogba, submitted a petition on behalf of a group, the Anti-Corruption Network which made the allegations against the CCT Chairman.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, referred the petition to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for legislative work.

The same group had submitted a petition to the House of Representatives against the CCT Chairman over similar allegations.

The Chairman of CCT, Mr Danladi, is currently hearing a case of false asset declaration against the Senate President, Dr.? Bukola Saraki.

 

EFCC Arrests Nkechi Ejele, Recently Sacked Permanent Secretary

Mohammed Useni
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EFCC Arrests Nkechi Ejele, Recently Sacked Permanent Secretary

The immediate past permanent secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Nkechi Ejele, is currently being interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for her role in the alleged misapplication of funds meant for the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) appropriated to the Ministry in 2013 and 2014.

Sources at the Commission tell Premium Times that Mrs. Ejele arrived the headquarters of the agency at about 10am, on Thursday.
She is still being interrogated by operatives of the commission.

Mrs Ejele was deployed from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (Manpower Development Unit) to the Ministry Tourism, Culture & National Orientation on March 6, 2013.

She remained in that ministry until she was removed by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 10, 2015.

A former chairman of SURE-P, Christopher Kolade, recently said he resigned his position in 2013 because its operations were becoming tainted with corruption and politics, thereby losing its credibility.

He said some officials of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan were practising “something that was lower than the transparency”, expected of an interventionist agency like SURE-P?.

He said he met resistance when he raised the issues as he was overruled by some powerful forces within the administration.

Diezani’s Family Outraged Over Dele Momodu’s Visit, Lawyer Says Conversation Was For Private Consumption

Mohammed Useni
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Diezani’s Family Outraged Over Dele Momodu’s Visit, Lawyer Says Conversation Was For Private Consumption

Members of the immediate family of embattled former Minister for Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, as well as her legal team are outraged over the recent visit of Nigerian journalist Dele Momodu to the former minister’s London flat.

In an interview with SaharaReporters, Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s Nigerian lawyer, Oscar Onwudiwe, asserted that the ex-minister never intended or authorized anything from that meeting to be broadcast to the public.

According to Mr. Onwudiwe’s account, Mr. Momodu, publisher of The Boss magazine, “met (with Diezani) on a personal visit with the family.” He added that Mr. Momodu and the family had enjoyed a good relationship in the past.

Even so, Mr. Onwudiwe insisted that no permission was ever granted to have Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s photo taken. He stated that the ex-minister’s family became “very upset” about what has transpired after the meeting between Mr. Momodu and the former minister. The lawyer disclosed that Mrs. Alison-Madueke and her family were not ready for her to make public statements yet.

The reporting based on Mr. Momodu’s meeting with Mrs. Alison-Madueke has stirred national controversy. In the interview, the former Minister denied ever stealing money while in government. However, a significant percentage of the Nigerian public believes her assertion to be untrue.

“We Are Needing Another Bailout” – Nigerian Governors Declare Bankruptcy

Mohammed Useni
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“We Are Needing Another Bailout” – Nigerian Governors Declare Bankruptcy

The Nigerian governors’ forum is worried that more states may be unable to pay workers’ salaries if the revenue of the country continues to be on the decline.

Abdul’aziz Yari, governor of Zamfara and chairman of the forum, said this while briefing reporters on the resolutions of the forum at its meeting in Abuja late Wednesday.

TheCable reports that he said the forum discussed the economy and resolved to look for means to enhance states’ internally generated revenues as well to cut overhead cost, especially the salaries of political office holders.

Yari added that the forum also resolved to diversify the country’s economy from petroleum to agriculture and mining.

“The situation is no longer the same when we were asked to pay N18,000 minimum wage, when oil price was $126 per barrel and continued paying N18,000 minimum wage when the oil is $41 per barrel and the source of government expenditure is from oil, and we have not seen prospects in the oil industry in the near future,” he said.

“We are coming together in a roundtable with President Buhammadu Buhari and his team of ministers, technocrats, economic experts to see how we can tackle our situation.”

Yari said the governors had also resolved to hold a roundtable with all stakeholders to articulate a robust strategy to tackle the deplorable economic situation in the country.

On his part Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state said there was no way the country could continue with a situation where expenditure is more than income.

He said very soon many states would be technically declared bankrupt, adding that there might be need for another bailout fund for states running on deficit every month.

“We are faced with a situation where we either have to reduce cost through salary reduction or downsize,” he said.

“All these we don’t want to do but prefer to have a roundtable with the president, ministers, economists to look for means of getting out of this problem.”

Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state said the economic situation was worrisome as more states would reach a stage where they would be unable to pay salaries.

“I believe that [this] is the same situation with the federal government,”he said.

He said there was a need to look into the salaries of political office holders and other salaries.

“It is not a situation of being able to run government now. Most states are not able to pay salaries not to talk of capital projects.

“If we cannot fund capital development, then the rest of Nigerians are just shut out of government.

“Those of us in government, both politicians and civil servants, are possibly not more than five per cent of the entire population of Nigeria.

What will happen to the other 95 per cent? What happens to infrastructure? Can we talk about industry without infrastructure?”

At least 105 Soldiers Of The 157 Battalion Missing After Fierce Gun Battle With Boko Haram

Mohammed Useni
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At least 105 Soldiers Of The 157 Battalion Missing After Fierce Gun Battle With Boko Haram

At least 105 soldiers of the 157 Battalion, including their commanding officer, are feared missing after they came under intense attack from Boko Haram insurgents at Gudunbali, Borno State, on Wednesday, according to military sources.

PREMIUM TIMES is EXCLUSIVELY reporting that the terrorists also captured a T-72 tank as well as several artillery weapons from the unit.

“Gudunbali was attacked this morning and some weapons were captured from the battalion. Two officers and 105 soldiers are still missing,” the platform sources tell reporter Nicholas Ibekwe.

“They captured a T-72 tank from the unit and some artillery weapons were also captured. The commanding Officer (CO) of the battalion is yet to be seen but no one has been confirmed dead yet,” the source added.

Another source however said the T-72 tank was recovered after a prolonged fight with Boko Haram insurgents. The gunner and tank commander were injured in the process, he said.

Also reportedly captured by the insurgents were eight vehicles, a truck loaded with 60,000 rounds of AA ammunition and three artillery pieces.

Boko Haram carried out a series of mass killings in Baga between January 3 and January 7, 2015, after the army headquarters there was sacked by the insurgents.

 

Nigerian Government To Increase Petroleum Pump Price In January 2016

Mohammed Useni
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Nigerian Government To Increase Petroleum Pump Price In January 2016

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, yesterday gave an indication that a new pump price will come into effect next January 2016.

As a result of the scarcity, a litre of premium motor spirit (PMS) now sells for N300 in many parts of Rivers State, including Port Harcourt. In Anambra, it is about N150 for a litre. The NLC, in a statement signed by the president, Ayuba Wabba, yesterday, described the situation as ‘disheartening.’

Speaking in Abuja yesterday during his unscheduled visit to some filling stations within the metropolis, Kachikwu explained that it was high time Nigeria took practical look at the pricing dynamics of the oil and gas downstream sector.

He, however, he was emphatic that there would be no reduction in pump price of regulated products.

“If we don’t deal with these systemic issues, these things will continue to repeat themselves; so, long term answer is simple: We have got to look at the pricing dynamics by January and see how we can sustain supply in this sort of current environment. We have to look at whether we have enough budgetary provisions to deal with these issues, but I am working very closely with the President who is in charge of the sector and takes very direct interest in the sector. But we are going to find solutions to all of these,” he said.

Kachikwu also instructed the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to distribute petrol of any filling stations involved in hoarding to customers free of charge.

While marketers have insisted that they would not import product until payments are made, Kachikwu gave the assurance that payment would be made within the next two weeks, saying: “I am sure within the next one or two weeks, this will be done and the President is looking at shorter ways to get this done, and once we get the Senate’s concurrence (even if the approval for the extra budgetary allocation has not come), the President will authorise the CBN to pay the money.”

He also disclosed that he is leading talks with the Senate President who is in turn working with his team to ensure that something is done about the non-payment.

Kachikwu listed comatose pipelines as a major challenge confronting domestic supply of petroleum products just as he hinted that pumping activities are beginning to happen at the Mosimi pump station.

He added: “We also have the fact that because of the delay in the release of funds for petroleum subsidy. Many individuals are not bringing in products, and so NNPC really has been the one trying to supply products to all parts of the country. It is almost a 100 per cent scenario, as opposed to what it used to be which is about 50 per cent. I am getting all the (oil) majors to be involved and I am instructing that the majors take charge of their stations and bring in products.”

Security Agents Reportedly Begin Manhunt For Ex-military Chiefs, Arms Dealers Indicted In Phoney Deals

Mohammed Useni
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Security Agents Reportedly Begin Manhunt For Ex-military Chiefs, Arms Dealers Indicted In Phoney Deals

Security agents have launched a manhunt for former military and security chiefs suspected to have duped the country of billions in phoney arms deals.

Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki has been named in the deals. He said yesterday that he was ready to defend his action in court after President Muhammadu Buhari ordered his arrest.

Also to be arrested are former Chiefs of Defence Staff and five service chiefs indicted by a panel which examined arms purchases from 2007 to 2015.

The panel has summoned 30 arms contractors, The Nation learnt last night. All the suspects may have their movement restricted to the country, pending further interrogation and arraignment in court.

Col. Dasuki has got a court’s nod to travel abroad for medical treatment, but the Federal Government has refused to let him go. According to a source, the former NSA is a “security risk” and the nation cannot afford to let him “slip away”.

All the suspects implicated in the arms deals have been placed under surveillance. But none was yet to be arrested as at the time of filing this report. A top source said: “Those accused of mismanaging N644billion include some former Chiefs of Defence Staff, about five service chiefs and some security chiefs.

“They have all been placed under surveillance and some of them may be arrested any moment from now pending their arraignment in court.

“Their names have not been released to avoid any acts that may jeopardise attempts to bring them to justice.

“Immediately they are arrested, we will release their list to the public.”

There were indications last night that the Presidency may have foreclosed Col. Dasuki’s overseas trip.

A source said: “With the revelations from the panel probing arms deals, Dasuki is a security threat. No sane government will allow him to travel abroad.

“So, the ex-NSA cannot step out of Nigeria, until he is brought to trial on these allegations. But no one is molesting him at all; he is still under house arrest.”

Asked why Dasuki was still under house arrest, the source said he would have been picked up but we don’t want to treat his case as an isolated one.

“Do not forget that he has a subsisting case in court. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will present these new facts against Dasuki to the court and the security implications of allowing him to travel abroad,” the source said, pleading not to be named because of what he described as the sensitivity of the matter.

Before the President raised the panel, there had been some petitions before the Office of the National Security Adviser(NSA), the Department of State Services(DSS) and Defence Intelligence Agency(DIA) among others on shady deals in procurement process in the Armed Forces.

A source said: “We are having this challenge because military purchases are exempted by law from undergoing procurement process.

“I think the problem at hand may assist the nation to learn from the models of other countries.”

Buhari Okays NJC Recommendations, Sacks Justice Lambo Akanbi

Mohammed Useni
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Buhari Okays NJC Recommendations, Sacks Justice Lambo Akanbi

A judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Lambo Akanbi, has been retired compulsorily.

He was until his compulsory retirement the judge at the Port Harcourt Division of the Court.

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved his sack after the National Judicial Council (NJC) found him guilty of violating the code of conduct for judicial officers.

In a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja, the ?Acting Director of Information at the NJC, Mr. Soji Oye, said the president’s approval followed a recommendation made to him in that regard by the council.

The NJC had at its 74th meeting which held earlier in the month considered various allegations levelled against the judge by Shell Petroleum Company Nigeria Limited.

In the exercise of its constitutional powers, at the same meeting, the council had suspended Justice Akanbi from office before the president approved his compulsory retirement.

The council’s statement reads: “The allegations levelled against Justice Akanbi and contained in the petition are inter-alia:-
That Justice Akanbi unilaterally appointed Mr. Emeka Nkwo of CYN-JAC (NIG) LTD who was not proposed by any of the parties as referee or valuer in Suit Nos FHC/PH/CS/434/2012 and FHC/PH/CS/435/2012.

“He also appointed the same referee or valuer in Suit FHC/PH/CS/25/2003, which is another matter involving one of the parties in the first suit.”

“That he heard and concluded the case without dealing with the notice of preliminary objection on the Jurisdiction of his court.”

“That he sat on the case in the Federal High Court, Yenegoa in Suit FHC/YNG/CS/30/2013 after a new Judge had been transferred to the state without a fiat from the Hon. Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.”

“That the Judge also delivered the ruling in Suit No FHC/PH/CS/07/2009, four months after final addresses were taken without any cogent reason contrary to the constitutional provisions that judgment should be delivered within a period of 90 days.”

“That Justice Akanbi also dismissed the application to set aside the report prepared by the valuer, CYN – JAC (NIG) LTD and later changed the Ruling to Judgement which prevented the Respondent from pursuing the application for stay of proceedings at the Court of Appeal.”

“That Justice Akanbi also failed to give a copy of his ruling delivered on 12th June, 2013 to the complainant until 28th June, 2013.”

Ex-EFCC Chairman, Lamorde Disguised Through Cotonou Borders Escaping Alleged N2.05Trn Fraud Probe, Sighted In London

Mohammed Useni
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Ex-EFCC Chairman, Lamorde Disguised Through Cotonou Borders Escaping Alleged N2.05Trn Fraud Probe, Sighted In London

Immediate past Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, who failed to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, on Tuesday to answer questions on alleged fraud of about N2.05 trillion, has escaped the country.

Lamorde, according to reliable sources who spoke to NigerianPilot, left Nigeria in the wee hours of Friday last week through the Cotonou, Benin Republic border disguised. He was said to have later traveled from there to the United Kingdom where he was sighted on Monday evening.

It could not be established before press time why he decided to leave the country unceremoniously and surreptitiously through the land borders with the neighbouring country, but close sources said he did that to avoid arrest by security agents who it was gathered had laid siege around his Abuja residence to pick him up for questioning on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari over allegations of official corruption and self-enrichment.

His alleged escape contradicts the statement by his lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo to the Senate on Tuesday where in Keyamo told the Senate that his client was sick and traveled out of the country for medical treatment.

Those who saw Lamorde less than 24 hours before he left the shores of Nigeria said he was fit as fiddle. It was also alleged that shortly after his removal on Monday November 9, Lamorde went to his office late in the night and cleared all important documents and evidences that could be used against him, before the ceremonial handing over to his successor Mr. Ibrahim Magu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police.
Said an informed security source last night: “If indeed Lamorde was sick, how come the sickness became so serious within the very short period he was removed from office? Before going abroad for medical treatment, a patient would have been attended to by a Nigerian physician who will later refer the patient abroad for further medical attention if need be.

Going by what Keyamo said, which hospital was Lamorde initially admitted and which Nigerian doctor referred him abroad? And why didn’t Keyamo submit medical report of his client to the Senate to buttress his argument? It is unfortunate that someone like Lamorde who was arresting and harassing Nigerians on every flimsy excuse would now run away from the same justice and people want us to believe them?”, stated our source, a senior EFCC official.

 

Boko Haram Ranked Ahead Of ISIS As World’s Deadliest Terrorist Group

Mohammed Useni
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Boko Haram Ranked Ahead Of ISIS As World’s Deadliest Terrorist Group

Boko Haram, the militant group that has tortured Nigeria and its neighbors for years, was responsible for 6,664 deaths last year, more than any other terrorist group in the world, including the Islamic State, which killed 6,073 people in 2014, according to a report released Wednesday tracking terrorist attacks globally.

Boko Haram has pledged its allegiance to the Islamic State, but it is unclear what support the group is giving Boko Haram beyond assisting with publicity.

The report released Wednesday, from the Institute of Economics & Peace, said the Islamic State and Boko Haram were responsible for half of all global deaths attributed to terrorism.

Last year, the deaths attributed to Boko Haram alone increased by more than 300 percent, the report said.

The report found a drastic increase in terrorist attacks last year, with the majority occurring in three countries: Iraq, Syria and Nigeria, where other militant groups besides Boko Haram operate.

“In Nigeria, private citizens are overwhelmingly targeted, most often with firearms resulting in very high levels of deaths per attack,” the report said.

Security experts, regional authorities and Western military officials have credited Mr. Buhari’s renewed push against Boko Haram for scattering the group, which gained notoriety in the United States when it kidnapped scores of schoolgirls and seized entire towns in northern Nigeria.

They say the string of recent attacks on various public places is evidence that the group is grasping to gain real ground and is no longer as capable of holding territory. Still, attacks in crowded spots like schools and markets, long a staple of Boko Haram’s mayhem, can be extremely deadly.

This is the third year the economics and peace institute has released its Global Terrorism Index, a study of terrorist activity around the world. The index is based on data collected as part of a program run by the University of Maryland dedicated to the study of terrorism around the world.

The report estimated that $117 billion was spent worldwide to fight terrorism. It said that two countries, Cameroon and Ukraine, experienced no terrorism-related deaths in 2013 but that each had more than 500 deaths from terrorism the following year.

In Ukraine, the spike in deaths came largely from militants in the region who are suspected of shooting down a Malaysia Airlines plane, killing all on board. In Cameroon, the report said Boko Haram had expanded its reach into the country with bombings.

Nigerian Govt Bans Importation Of Small Generators “I Better Pass My Neighbour”

Mohammed Useni
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Nigerian Govt Bans Importation Of Small Generators “I Better Pass My Neighbour”

The Federal Government has banned the importation of small generators popularly known as I better pass my neighbour.

Madugu Sanni Jubrin, the Controller, Federation Operations Unit Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) made this revelation while speaking with journalists in Lagos.

Jubrin said “The smaller generators have been banned by the Federal Government because it is causing air pollution and destruction of our lungs and breathing system. That is why they have banned it but people are still interested in smuggling them in, that is why we intercepted them.

“If you go to the market, you still see them because people have imported them before the ban. So it is the leftover they had before the ban that they are selling because the law did not backdate the ban and it is not an absolute prohibition.

“It is prohibition by trade which means you cannot bring it in large quantity and sell to the public. That is the type of prohibition we have on this but if you buy one piece, Customs will not seize it.

“We will not relent in our efforts. When we see any prohibited item, we will seize, arrest the people and we will allow the law court to take decision on prosecuting them. So it is better for them to stop smuggling than to continue when they know Customs will catch up with them.”

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