Solid-Minerals: FG Approves 13% Derivation For States

Federal Government has given approval for the implementation of the constitutionally guaranteed 13 percent derivation from mineral revenues to deserving states.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, announced this on Tuesday at a workshop on Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) in the development of mining sector in Sokoto.

He said, “We have gotten approval for the implementation of the constitutionally guaranteed 13 percent derivation for mineral revenue to states. 

“This is similar to the derivation that oil-producing states are currently enjoying from the Federation Account."

Fayemi said the Federal Government was working closely to build the capacity of state governments in the structuring of the vehicles to participate in mining in their jurisdictions.

He added that this is without undermining private sector players nor discouraging mining enterprise within their states.

Most states in Nigeria have one or two solid minerals. This is a good move if followed through.

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AGF Malami queries Magu, begins probe into DSS allegations

The office of Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, has begun investigations into various allegations against some top Federal Government officials as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Following the President’s directive, the AGF had, on Monday, issued a query to the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

Sources in the Federal Ministry of Justice and the EFCC in Abuja confirmed to Punch that the query was delivered to Magu on Monday.

It was learnt that the query was accompanied by allegations contained in the security report prepared by the Department of State Services and upon which the Senate had, last Thursday, rejected his confirmation as the EFCC chairman.

“The AGF has started enforcing the directive by the President. I can confirm to you that the minister has taken the first step by querying the Acting Chairman of the EFCC,” a source confirmed.

Also, a source close to the acting Chairman of the Commission said the anti-corruption officer had received the query.

He said he had already commenced preparing his defence to the allegations raised by the DSS.

The source added, “Yes, he has received the query with the DSS report sent to the Senate on him. Ironically, the query only contains one of the letters written by the DSS to the Senate.

“I think he has no problem with the query, but the question being asked by some people is that, he ought to have been given time to respond to the allegations before the Senate took that position.”

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How Ex-AGF Adoke sent $800m to Ex-Minister, Company... [Details On $1.1bn Malabu Oil Scam]

The immediate past Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), may soon be extradited from his new home in Holland as the EFCC has filed charges before a Federal High Court in Abuja for his alleged role in the $1.1bn Malabu oil scam.

The Malabu oil scam, which has been under investigation for over four years, relates to the billions of dollars paid by oil giants, Shell and ENI, into a Federal Government account, for OPL 245, considered the richest oil block in Africa.

The money was allegedly diverted by Adoke and paid into private accounts.

The EFCC accused Adoke of illegally transferring over $800m to a former Minister of Petroleum, Dan Etete, and Etete’s oil firm, Malabu Oil & Gas Limited from a Federal Government account.

The commission also accused oil magnate, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, the Chairman of A. A. Group and Rocky Top Services, of receiving $336,456,906.78.

The charge reads, “That you, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), on or about August 10, 2011 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, aided Dauzia Loya Etete (aka Dan Etete) and Malabu Oil & Gas Limited to commit the offence of money laundering by facilitating the payment of an aggregate sum of $801,540,000 only to Dauzia Loya Etete (aka Dan Etete) and Malabu Oil & Gas through the Federal Government of Nigeria Escrow account with number 41451493, IBAN GB 30CHAS609242411493 with JP Morgan Chase Bank in London, which you reasonably ought to have known represented the proceeds of an unlawful activity to wit: fraud, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

Punch learnt that Adoke, who has been in Holland since last year, would be arraigned in absentia.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria had refused to honour all EFCC invitations, claiming that he was undertaking a degree in Holland.

He claimed his academic programme was about to end and would return in August but refused to return since then.

He subsequently wrote a letter to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, saying he would not return because he had uncovered a plot by EFCC and some of his political enemies to disgrace him in Nigeria.

A source at the EFCC said, “We have given Adoke enough time but he refused to honour any invitation; so, we will arraign him in absentia. It is expected that the court will issue a bench warrant on him and we can go ahead to declare him wanted.

“Since we know his location, we will begin extradition proceedings against him and ensure that he is brought back if he continues to remain uncooperative.”

The EFCC also slammed four charges against ex-oil minister, Etete, and Malabu Oil & Gas Limited for allegedly receiving $400m and $401m at separate times in August 2011 from Adoke, adding that Etete knew that the money was stolen and it belongs to Nigeria and all Nigerians.

Abeg make them bring back our money oh!

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Electoral College confirms Donald Trump as US President

America’s Electoral College has on Monday made Donald Trump‘s victory official, despite a last-ditch campaign by Democrats hoping against the odds its members could revolt and keep the Republican billionaire out of the White House.

Before now, this college's step in a US presidential election is a rubber stamp formality that tends to go unnoticed. But not this time.

The country is bitterly divided following Trump‘s shock win over Hillary Clinton, with the woman defeating Trump with nearly three million votes in the actual voting.

Plus, there’s uproar over allegations of Russian hacking of Democrats during the campaign to sway the vote in favor of Trump.

When US voters cast their ballots on November 8, they did not directly elect the next president but rather 538 electors charged with translating their wishes into reality.

Trump won a clear majority of those electors: 306. At least 270 are needed for election.

Electors — most of them party members without name recognition — gathered on Monday in each state plus the District of Columbia that houses the capital Washington to officially designate the next president and vice president. 

And Trump gets it. It is settled!

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Senate Leader Ndume Visits Buhari... Moves To Save Magu

The report of Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), will decide if the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, will retain his job.

“The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to reports in the media, in which various accusations of corruption have been levelled against some top officials in the administration.

“In that regard, President Buhari has instructed the Attorney-General of the Federation to investigate the involvement of any top government officials accused of any wrong-doing. If any of them are liable, they will not escape prosecution,” a statement from the Presidency read.

It was gathered that Malami was expected to forward the reports on his investigations to the President in January, which would determine the fate of the government officials.

It was learnt that the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume; the National Security Adviser, Major Gen. Babagana Monguno; and a former Chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, had been making moves to save Magu by reaching out to the President.

Findings, however, showed that the President had yet to take a decision on the report of the DSS, which said Magu was not eligible for the post and also turn around to say he should be considered.

It was gathered that a private meeting between Buhari and Ndume on Monday was part of efforts to save the EFCC boss.

A source, who was privy to the meeting, told Punch that the President was keen on conducting an independent investigation into the allegations against Magu in the DSS report.

The source stated, “Ndume is very close to the President and one of his closest supporters. The Senate Leader’s visit to Buhari was private but Magu’s issue was raised.

“Ndume made the President to understand that there is a conspiracy against the man but the truth will always prevail and evil will never succeed over evil. Somebody must be there to do the job and it cannot be business as usual.

“Ndume told the President that the Senate had not rejected Magu. He also told the President that the content of the DSS report was not an indictment but mere allegations, the reason why the President ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation to conduct an investigation.”

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Will Donald Trump lose out on being president of the US after today's Electoral college votes?

For Anti-Trump supporters, there is still some glimmer of hope that president-elect Donald Trump won't be sworn in as president of the United States come January 2017 due to today's Electoral College votes.

In the recently concluded U.S Presidential election, Trump won the electoral college votes, defeating Clinton in major states, while Clinton won the popular votes, amassing over 2 million votes than her rival. 

 

There's a possibility, though slim, that Trump won't be president if electors in the elctoral college vote decide to vote against the victor and vote against their states' results.

Read the interesting article by CNN.com after the cut.

The 538 members of the Electoral College are set on Monday to make President-elect Donald Trump's victory official.

In all 50 state capitals and the District of Columbia, electors -- chosen by the state parties of the candidate who carried their state, Trump or Hillary Clinton -- will meet to cast their ballots. The gatherings will remove the last bit of drama from 2016's unprecedented election season -- and post-election efforts to persuade Republican electors to vote against Trump, in some cases in violation of state laws requiring electors to support the victor.

Heightening the tension in recent weeks: Clinton actually won the popular vote by about 3 million -- making Trump the worst-performing winner in the popular vote since 1876.

 

Trump's victory is not, as he has described it, a landslide. He is expected to garner just 56.9% of the electoral vote, assuming all electors vote according to their states' results. That will give Trump the 44th-largest share of the electoral vote out of 54 presidential elections since the modern system started in 1804.

It's a better performance, though, than President George W. Bush's razor-tight victory in 2000 and slightly larger win in 2004.

 

Bush, too, lost the popular vote -- but Trump lost by a larger margin. He will become the worst-performing president in the popular vote relative to his closest rival aside from Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876 and John Quincy Adams in 1824, an election that featured four candidates and was decided by the House of Representatives.

 

Clinton won 48.2% of the vote to Trump's 46.2% -- a lead of more than 2.8 million votes and more than 2% as of Friday, with that lead expected to grow as the final ballots are tallied.

There's no national meeting of the Electoral College. Instead, electors gather in each state -- usually in the Capitol.

 

Under federal law, though, electors must gather on December 19. And each elector must sign six copies certifying their votes for president and vice president.

Two ballots go to the National Archives. One goes to the president of the Senate. Two go to their state's chief elections officer. And one goes to a local judge.

 

After Monday's votes, there is still one last step: On January 6, Congress has to officially count the electoral votes. Vice President Joe Biden will preside over the count.

 

Lawmakers can technically object -- in writing, with objections signed by at least one House and one Senate member -- to individual electoral votes or entire states' results. If the House and Senate support that objection, the vote or votes in question are thrown out. But that has never happened.

After the votes are counted, the results are final, and Trump is officially set for his inauguration at noon on January 20.

Source: CNN

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REVEALED: Judge earns N24m annually, spent N500m in 10 months secretly

The Federal Government had said investigations had shown that a top Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, spent over N500m between just January and October 2016 despite his total annual legitimate earnings, including his allowances being N24million.

How is the judge making Hundreds of Millions without any other job?

This was disclosed in a document prepared by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Charles Adeogun-Philips, summarising the case of the prosecution against the Justice of the Supreme Court, who was on November 21, 2016, arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

During his arraignment, Ngwuta pleaded not guilty to 16 counts, including money laundering and others relating to fraudulent obtainment of multiple passports.

The document stated that the case brought against the judge, “chronicles corrupt enrichment, violations of the money laundering laws of our land, passport fraud, and an attempt to obstruct justice by a judicial officer.”

The prosecution alleged that from the N500m, the apex court justice transferred dollar equivalent of N313m cash in $100 bills to a building contractor within the period of nine months between January and September, 2016, to “develop several landed properties” for him.

It explained that earlier in 2015, the defendant, within a period of one month, made various cash payments totalling $180,000 to the building contractor.

It also alleged that during the raid on the defendant’s Abuja house by the operatives of the Department of State Services on October 7, 2016, total sums of N38.358m, $319,596 and £25,915 were found in his possession.

According to the prosecution, the Justice of the apex court gave no satisfactory explanation for the huge sums of money found in his possession.

Prosecutor’s documentThe document partly read, “Another witness will testify before this court that the defendant’s total annual income, including allowances in 2016 amounted to approximately N24,000,000.

“It beggars belief how a serving public servant could have under his direct control, in a 10-month period spanning between January and October alone, cash sums in excess of N500,000,000.”

Adeogun-Philips said proposed prosecution witnesses would also appear in court to testify over the huge funds found in possession of the defendant, among other allegations.

The document stated, “In the course of this trial, the Federal Republic of Nigeria will adduce evidence from a building contractor engaged by the defendant, as to how in a period of nine months, spanning between January and September 2016, he received the total sum of N313,000,000 from the defendant in cash, which was paid to him mostly in $100 bills to develop landed properties for the defendant.

“This court will also hear from another witness, how in his capacity as an architect engaged by the defendant in 2015, he received from the defendant within a period of one month, various cash payments totalling $180,000.

“Investigators will further tell this honourable court how during a search at his residence on October 7, 2016, cash totalling: (1) N35,358,000 (2) $319,956 and £25,915 were found in the defendant’s possession.”

The prosecution alleged that the defendant had betrayed “the judicial oath of allegiance to discharge his duties as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, faithfully, with honesty, and to the best of his abilities”, which he swore to on June 23, 2011 when he was promoted to the Supreme Court bench.

The trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, adjourned till January 16, 2017, for the prosecution to start calling its witnesses.

Lawyer Adeogun-Philips added, “The court will, in the course of this trial, hear how the defendant, having been confronted with the maze of evidence against him, following the search of his official residence in Abuja and his subsequent arrest on October 7, 2016, and oblivious of being under DSS surveillance, prevailed on a potential prosecution witness following his release on administrative bail on October 9, 2016, to remove from his bathroom at his private residence in Ebonyi State several bags containing several land title documents and the sum of N27m cash.

“The evidence will also reveal how the defendant ordered the same witness to remove three luxury vehicles from his residence following which the said vehicles were subsequently concealed at various locations in Ebonyi State in an attempt to obstruct ongoing investigations in this case.”

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Police: Wike’s CSO withdrawn for participating in political rally

This was contained in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Donald Awunah.

The statement was in reaction to allegations by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, that the CSO’s withdrawal was meant to make him vulnerable to physical attacks during the forthcoming legislative rerun in the state.

Wike had announced the withdrawal of his CSO last Monday and alleged that the police were partisan and plotting to compromise his security, stressing that he was looking up to God and the youths to protect him.

But in its first reaction to the allegation, the police stated that

the CSO’s participation in the political rally of an opposition party to the governor in a clandestine and suspicious manner was considered mischievous and detrimental to the security of the state and public order.

The police said his alleged action was contrary to his oath of office which constituted an offence.

DCP Awunah said when questioned by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in Rivers State, the former CSO demonstrated brazen indiscipline and showed disrespect to the senior officer, “exhibiting conduct that violates all known norms of the force.”

He said, “In the course of monitoring the public protest, an Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in Rivers State observed the presence of the CSO among the protesting partisan crowd as illegal, unlawful and outside prescribed schedule of the duties of a CSO.

“The active presence of the CSO to the governor in a partisan crowd of an opposition party to the governor in a clandestine and suspicious manner was considered mischievous and detrimental to the security of the state and public order and also contrary to his oath of office which constitute an offence against discipline.

“The CSO to the governor, when challenged by a superior officer demonstrated brazen indiscipline and showed disrespect to the senior officer, exhibiting conduct that violates all known norms of the force.

“Accordingly, the CSO was officially queried for discreditable conduct, insubordination, engaging in partisan political activities, illegal duty and act unbecoming of a public officer.”

The police spokesman further said that as a result of the gross misconduct and apparent partisanship by Nwosu, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, ordered his redeployment pending further disciplinary action.

“To this end, the IG has also constituted an investigative inquiry into the officer’s open engagement in political activities, disrespect to senior officers and unethical practices,” DCP Awunah added.

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Police officers, Soldiers, Air Force men, arrested for sexually assasulting IDPs- IGP says

Some soldiers, police officers, men of the Nigeria Air Force, have been arrested for sexually assaulting female Internally Displaced persons in various camps. Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, disclosed this yesterday while speaking with some senior officers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. He said the recent report by the International Huma Rights Watch which indicted the security agents, necessitated an investigation by the police which found some of the officers culpable.

“About three or four weeks ago, I established a panel to investigate some allegations made by the Human Rights Watch. Investigation was conducted by the IGPs Monitoring Team at the Force Headquarters and they made contact with the Human Rights Watch in order for them to help us verify some of the allegations but, according to the response we got, they said they don’t reveal their sources of information. Despite that, our officers, with much tenacity and professionalism, were able to unearth some of the allegations and we have so far arrested some suspects. Some of these suspects are police officers, some are from sister agencies while some are civilians. As I am talking to you, we have two police officers under investigation and they are in detention now. We have a prison warden, two civilian JTF, a civilian from the Ministry of Agriculture, Maiduguri who is now in our detention. In respect of our sister agency, we have written to them for them to avail us some of their personnel. These sister agencies, we are expecting three; obviously from the Army, and one from Airforce. Those are the people presently subjected to investigation. We know that it is an unfortunate incident that happened in most of these IDP camps and we are putting a lot of measures in place to address some of these issues. We have deployed a lot of women police officers in the camps in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe state and we are going into partnership with the United States to see how we can enhance the training of our personnel who we are going to attach to some of these IDPs. As usual, those in the police and the military, as a procedure, we are going to dismiss them first before we take them to court but I am assuring that they will be taken to court to answer for this criminal act which they conducted.”he said

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Buhari's govt bans importation of vehicles on land borders... Nigerians React

An official release by the Customs confirmed that:
1. Importation of vehicles into Nigeria through the land Borders have been banned by the Federal Government. The prohibition order covers all new and used vehicles.

2. The Ban is sequel to a Presidential Directive restricting all vehicle imports to Nigeria Sea Ports only. The order takes effect from 1st January 2017.

3. The restriction on importation of vehicles follows that of Rice, whose imports have been banned through the land Borders since April 2016.

4. Importers of vehicles through the land borders are requested to utilize the grace period up till 31st December 2016 to clear their vehicle imports landed in neighbouring Ports.

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Governor Wike: Police Have Withdrawn My CSO

Ahead of the highly dranatic legislative rerun elections in the Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike has raised the alarm that his Chief Security Officer has been withdrawn.

Wike said his CSO was withdrawn on Monday alongside several other policemen from Government House, Port Harcourt.

The governor added that the Police High Command on Monday effected the transfer of 500 senior and junior police officers from the state.

He spoke at Khana Local Government Area when he led the Peoples Democratic Party candidates to campaign at Babbe, Ken Khana and Nyor Khana districts.

Wike, who claimed that the police were partisan and plotting to compromise his security, added that he was looking up to God and the youths to protect him.

“Does the Inspector-General of Police vote in Rivers State? The APC can take the IG. For me, I will remain with the people,” Wike said.

Reacting to the alleged transfer of Wike’s CSO, Governo, Ayo Fayose called on the international community to intervene and protect the opposition parties in Nigeria from the oppression of the Federal Government.

The governor said the indices in the country had shown that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration would go to any length to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

Fayose said the withdrawal of the CSO and several other policemen, a few days before the December 10 rerun elections into the National and State Assemblies, had exposed the ulterior agenda of the Federal Government through the police authorities.

He said, “There is an election scheduled for this weekend and the Federal Government through the instrumentality of police transferred the Chief Security Officer of Governor Nyesom Wike, this is an indication that there is a game plan to suppress the opposition ahead of the election.

“It is becoming glaring that there is a possibility of his (Wike) life being threatened and the readiness of the APC to rig the election at all costs."

“It is unfortunate that the most populous black nation in the world is being run like this. Perhaps, those that brought President Muhammadu Buhari didn’t envisage these indices of an oppressed nation.”

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BUHARI: Fine From Far but Far From Fine

Written by Reno Omokri

Tell me if you have noticed this trend - your friends and acquaintances who used to shout 'sai Buhari' and 'body language' and who used to fight anyone who criticized President Buhari, have quietly dropped those slogans, stopped defending him and now either concentrate on European Football or US Politics. Tell me I am not hallucinating, that I am not the only one noticing this!

Nigeria under Muhammadu Buhari is degenerating so badly and we have never had it so bad, yet the very administration which is likely to go down as the worst government in Nigeria's history keeps pointing accusing fingers at other and more successful previous governments as being the source of our woes!

If it is true that previous governments were looting Nigeria and are the cause of our present economic woes, then how come recession came as soon as 'looting' stopped and Buhari came? 

Does it make sense? Common sense dictates that if the above argument were true then Buhari's coming would have heralded prosperity not austerity.

Yet people with no knowledge of history blame oil price. Under President Buhari oil price has been an average of $40 but under former President Obasanjo's 8 years oil averaged $20, yet Obasanjo paid off Nigeria's debt, achieved 5% GDP growth and still fought corruption without scaring away foreign and domestic investors.

Under former President Jonathan, we achieved an unprecedented 7% GDP growth, emerged as the third fastest growing economy in the world and the largest economy in Africa and revived our railways which had been moribund from the first Buhari military government. Yet today, a man who promised heaven and earth to get elected now tells us that he almost ran away after his swearing in. Why almost? He should have ran away. Are we better off that he did not run away? A bad workman always blame his tools but only fools will be deceived!

And to add salt to injury, an administration that cannot point to one single tangible achievement is now floating the kite for second term! Really!!

Buhari married a beautiful Nigeria, then beat her to the extent that she needs life support to survive but instead of taking her to the hospital he stylishly announces plans to marry a 2nd wife! That is the only way I can describe this second term focus in the midst of the unprecedented recession, famine and double digit inflation he put us in. And then the Presidency's statement even made bold to say “the masses are solidly behind Buhari" for 2019! The only way I see that happening is if President Buhari uses famine to finish the masses off before then!

Since President Buhari is fond of comparing himself favorably with President Jonathan, let me point out a few comparisons that he may have failed to notice.

While in office, former President Goodluck Jonathan's children schooled in Nigeria yet he provided foreign exchange to ordinary Nigerians to school their own kids abroad. On the contrary, President Muhammadu Buhari's children school abroad but he denies Nigerians forex to school their own kids there!

President Muhammadu lost election three times and each time he refused to concede defeat. Everybody cheated him. Obasanjo rigged him out, Yar'adua did the same abs then ex President Jonathan stole his victory. Well ex President Jonathan lost election once and conceded even before votes had finished being counted and for the first time in Nigeria's history the candidate who lost did not challenge his loss on court. Under President Muhammadu we have had 'inconclusive elections', under President Jonathan all elections were conclusive.

Jonathan, while President, travelled to London and praised the 'entrepreneurial' spirit of Nigerians. President Muhammadu went to London and told the The Telegraph of London that Nigerians 'reputation for crime had made them unwelcome in Britain'.

Ex President Jonathan never blamed past administrations for the problems, such as a collapsed railway, that he met. He fixed those he could and today our railways are revived. President Muhammadu blames past governments for everything yet he has not fixed any problem. Some say he has made them worse!

Yet in every other speech President Muhammadu accuses former President Jonathan of destroying Nigeria. If this is not a case of pot calling kettle black then I do not know what will qualify as such!

During the electioneering campaign, both President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo' both promised 3 million jobs in their first year in office (we lost 4.58 million during their first year). And then after reducing the amount to only 200,000 N-Power jobs which are to commence on December 1st, 2016, the government through the Nigerian Communications Commission 'directed' GSM firms to hike data tariffs. On the surface, this looked like a plan to rob Peter to pay N-Power.

The situation made me ponder our fate. In other climes, regulators are the ones who direct vendors to reduce prices, but in Nigeria the banking regulator, (CBN) directs banks to charge stamp duty, the telecommunications regulator,
(NCC) directs telcos to increase data charges, the road regulators, (FRSC) announces plans to raise charges for number plates and drivers licence, the tax regulators (FIRS) warns that you will require tax clearance to get an international passport, the electricity regulator (NERC) directs GENCOS to increase tariffs!

Does anyone remember that GSM/Internet rate plans collapsed from ₦3,000 to ₦1,000 under 'clueless' Goodluck Jonathan? I need a witness. Does anyone recall that fuel price crashed from ₦97 to ₦87 under the 'failed' PDP administration.

Again, I say boldly that only a fool expects a President who could not make money for himself in his private business to make money for his nation through public service! It is like expecting a man who could not build a house for himself to build a city for his followers!

And someone called Ibrahim Zakari Biu responded to me saying that Buhari was not poor as a private citizen but it was more of a case that he did not love wealth.

But Ibrahim Zakari Biu for the sake of argument let me agree with you that the private citizen Buhari was not poor and only did not love wealth. Whether poor or average or ascetic, the fact remains that it is not prosperity. If President Buhari does not love wealth, Nigerians do. He should not impose his personal vow of poverty on the rest of us. He can remain poor with his family but as for me and my house, we shall prosper in Jesus' name!

You hired a polytechnic graduate as minister of finance yet you blame Jonathan for recession. You hired a French graduate as agriculture minister yet you blame Jonathan for skyrocketing food prices. You hired a man that does not know how much Nigeria owes as budget minister yet you falsely claimed Jonathan did not save. Your minister of transport read literature which is why he literally gave you credit for railways that Jonathan built. Your minister of power read law which is why he knows how to defend himself for the powerlessness of his ministry. Your Minister of Information and Culture thinks he can end the recession by turning us all to masquerade dressers.

Conclusion: A cartoon loving President can only appoint cartoonish characters as ministers!

-  Reno Omokri

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N450bn Loot: EFCC to grill Ex-ministers, Perm Secs

The EFCC is set to grill some ex-ministers who served the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan as well as some serving and ex-permanent secretaries and directors of budget and finance in charge of revenue-generating Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The fresh investigation, it was learnt, was sequel to a report by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, that the Federal Government would prosecute any official of revenue-generating agencies indicted in the audit report, which revealed that N450bn was not remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund Account.

The unremitted amount, which involved about 33 revenue-generating agencies of government, was for the 2010 to 2015 fiscal period which falls under the leadership of Jonathan.

They were just making money and sharing it to themselves.

Some of the agencies are the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, National Health Insurance Scheme, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and Nigerian Communications Commission.

Others are the Nigerian Postal Service, National Information Technology and Development Agency, Nigerian Television Authority, Bureau of Public Enterprises, National Pension Commission and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc.

The list also has the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria.

It was gathered that the commission would this week interrogate the affected officers, a majority of whom served between 2010 and 2015.

A source at the EFCC said, “We will invite the permanent secretaries of some of the agencies because the permanent secretaries are the chief accounting officers. We will also invite the directors of finance and budget in some of these agencies while the ministers that we believe may have approved such spending will also be invited.

“We discovered that many of these infractions had been taking place but never received much attention from the Federal Government because of the excess oil money during the Jonathan administration. Now that the Federal Government is cooperating fully with us, we will look into the matter thoroughly.

“We discovered that many agencies have never paid any money and never generated any operating surplus including some whose salaries, overheads and capital are paid by the Federal Government. In addition to that, they generate revenue which they spend without any form of control.”

The EFCC told our correspondent that many of the heads of the agencies were already under probe or were already being prosecuted.

The detective noted that a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, and some directors of the agency were already being prosecuted for an alleged N34.5bn fraud.

The source at the EFCC said, “We are aware that money which was meant to be deposited into the Consolidate Revenue Fund Account was diverted while agencies were making extra-budgetary expenses. In some instances, such was done with the collusion of ministers.

“You are aware that a former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, gave approval to the NCAA to spend N255m on two cars. We have already charged her.’’

The National Assembly had argued that the 31 agencies listed as revenue-generating had their budgets shrouded in secrecy which had let to abuse.

For instance, in the case of the NCAA, the purchase of the two vehicles for Oduah was not listed in the budget by the agency.

The ministry’s own budget too had no plan to purchase any car for the minister or other officials.

Oduah’s spokesman, Joe Ibi, had told Punch that the cars were to protect her from “imminent threats” bred by the minister’s purported radical reforms in the aviation industry.

It was secrecy that had ostensibly helped NCAA and others spend freely with little or no oversight.

All the funds used by the NCAA were internally generated from charges on airlines, passengers and fines etc as stipulated by the Civil Aviation law.

Between 2009 and 2012, the agency raised N35.3bn and spent all of it on its internal need.

Adeosun had said, “Some agencies have never credited the Consolidated Revenue Fund despite having salary, capital and overhead (expenditures) financed by the Federal Government. Indeed, cost to income rates of 99.8 per cent has been the average, meaning that they spend all their internally generated revenue and subventions released to them.”

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Alleged Bribery: APC Rejects Resignation of Legal Adviser

The National Working Committee, NWC, of the All Progressives Congress has rejected the offer to step aside by its National Legal Adviser, Muiz Banire.

An official of the party who declined to be named because he is not permitted to speak on the matter has confirmed to PT that the offer was rejected.

He said, "It is true, I have even seen a copy of the (rejection) letter today, the NWC has rejected the Legal Adviser’s request."

Mr. Banire had three weeks ago written to the national chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, offering to step down from his office as National Legal Adviser following an investigation launched by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The anti-graft agency is investigating how N500,000 found in the account of a judge under scrutiny was traced to APC legal adviser Mr. Banire.

He reportedly informed the EFCC that the money was a gift to the judge as contribution for the burial expenses of his late mother about three years ago.

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We Are Reviewing Campaign Promises, No Enough Money – Obaseki

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, said he has begun a review of the campaign promises made to the citizens of the state before his election on September 26.

Obaseki explained that he had started taking stock both at the Government House and the different ministries in the state to ascertain the amount of resources available to meet the promises.

The governor spoke during a meeting with the state leadership and executive members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benin. He said:

“I want to use this opportunity to inform you that, since we took over government last week, what we are trying to do is stock-taking to understand how things are in the Government House, to understand what is going on in each ministry, to review the promises we made during our election and to see whether the resources we have is enough to meet those promises. 

“We are doing ground work and over the next three weeks, we will conclude what we are doing and then invite a much larger house.”

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Why I omitted Tinubu from my victory speech – Akeredolu

Ondo State governor-elect, Rotimi Akeredolu, has said he did not acknowledge a national leader of the All APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in his victory speech because it was not expedient to do so.

He said having acknowledged President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the recognised national leader of the party, and the National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, it was safe to infer that he had acknowledged all the party’s leaders.

Akeredolu said this while answering State House correspondents’ questions shortly after he and his deputy, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, met Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

They were led to the meeting, which was their first after their victory, by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Campaign Council in Ondo State, Governor Simon Lalong.

The governor-elect, who said the relationship between him and Tinubu was cordial, explained that mentioning the name of Asiwaju specifically would have amounted to him mentioning the names of about 37 other leaders of the party.

He said, “On the names that were mentioned in my speech when expressing gratitude and that I didn’t specifically thank Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I thanked the President and the leader of our party profusely for the leadership which he showed leading to this election.

“I also thanked our indefatigable chairman for standing by the truth and for his position on this matter that led to this election. I have no reason to do otherwise.

“Party structure, to the best of my knowledge, is very clear. You have the leadership of the party and that is represented by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

“After an election, a chief executive emerges, he becomes a leader of the party, you don’t have to personalise and be looking for leaders all over the place."

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Obanikoro returns N134m to EFCC… to return more N450m

Former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has returned N30m to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. This brings the total he has returned to the EFCC to N134m.

A source at EFCC said, “Obanikoro came on Monday and presented a draft of about N30m. Initially we did not want to collect it because it is small compared to what he is supposed to have given us. However, the legal department advised us to collect it.”

Obanikoro had in October returned N104m to the commission. The ex-minister, who returned to Nigeria last month after spending about 15 months in the United States, was accused of receiving N4.7bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser under the leadership of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

Obanikoro had said in his statement of oath at the EFCC that after receiving the money in 2014, he gave N1.219bn to the then governorship candidate of the PDP in Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, while N1.3bn was given to the PDP candidate in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

He also confessed to giving Fayose a separate $5.377m at Spotless Hotel in Ekiti in the presence of party leaders including the then PDP Secretary, Mr. Tope Aluko.

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

However, the EFCC asked Obanikoro to return about N584m out of which he had already returned N134m.

At the EFCC on Monday, Obanikoro promised that he would return the remaining N450m in 2017.

The source told Punch that, “About N450m is remaining and Obanikoro has promised to pay the rest in 2017. He will also be reporting at our office every two weeks.”

Also, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba last week, Alade Sunday, a manager at Zenith Bank, narrated how Obanikoro delivered about N1.219bn to Fayose’s aide, Abiodun Agbele, for onward transmission to his boss.

He had also said it took the cashiers about 10 days to count the money.

Sunday had said Obanikoro flew with the cash to Akure Airport and the money was loaded into bullion vans.

He had said, “When we got to the airport, we waited for some minutes before the aircraft arrived. When the aircraft offloaded its passengers, one of them appeared to me to be Senator Musliu Obanikoro and the other one appeared to be his ADC, Adewale.

“Agbele walked up to them and had a discussion with them. Thereafter, he signalled me to bring the van. Bags loaded with cash were loaded into the van and Obanikoro’s ADC, Agbele and I drove back to the bank.”

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I Approved DSS Raids On "Corrupt" Jjudges – AGF Malami

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said on Tuesday that EFCC had no exclusive rights to investigations, including matters relating to financial crimes.

He also said his office received full briefing and gave backing to the arrest of some judges by the Department of State Services over allegations of corruption last month.

Malami made these clarifications in Abuja as he appeared before an ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives at the National Assembly.

The committee, which is chaired by Garba Dhatti, is investigating all cases of invasion of property and arrests of persons by the DSS from May 2015 till date.

The AGF said there were reasonable grounds to justify the judges' arrest, looking at the high number of petitions that had been received by his office, DSS, EFCC and other anti-graft agencies.

Citing Section 15 (5) of the 1999 Constitution, he stated that the state had a responsibility to halt all acts of corruption and could deploy any agency with the capacity to achieve that purpose.

He also said the state waded into the matter after the National Judicial Council was duly notified but was not willing to act.

Malami also told the session that judges had no immunity against prosecution, adding that there was no requirement of law which stipulated that only the EFCC must investigate financial crimes.

“When issue of commission of corruption practice is established, the executive has the responsibility of investigation without recourse to the judiciary.

“That is how the idea of taking the advantage of Section 15 (5) arose.

“I asked the EFCC and the DSS and another agency to investigate because they were in receipt of several petitions on the same subject and I was informed by the DSS before the search and arrest and I did not object.”

Malami further disclosed how he received reports on the raids.

He said, “The DSS presented a formal report to me before and after effecting the search and arrest; they informed me that the operation will be done at any hour without restriction.

“I had no objection that the operation would be carried out at night because I have taken time to go through the administration of Criminal Justice Act and I was convinced that this operation can be conducted at any hour, any moment without restriction.

“I didn’t have to inform the Inspector-General of Police or Commissioner of Police in the State about the DSS operation because they were also under the same constitutional obligation to act. One of the agencies had investigated, came up with a report and I was convinced.”

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Continuous detention of Dasuki, Kanu, Wicked and Barbaric – Fani Kayode

Femi Fani-Kayode has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to release some political detainees in the country, saying their detention was illegal and barbaric.

The former Aviation Minister called on the President to release former NSA Sambo Dasuki, leader of the Indigeous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Warimpa Dudafa and former FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed.

All accused persons are currently in custody of security agencies over their alleged involvement in corrupt practices and for alleged treason.

Reacting via a series of tweets, Fani-Kayode said: “Col Sambo Dasuki has been illegally detained under the most hideous condition for one year, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for one year, Mr Warimpa Dudafa for eight month and Sen Bala Mohammed for one month.

“This is wicked, barbaric, and inhuman. It is a gross violation of their human rights and civil liberties.

“None of them have been convicted of any crime and the courts have ordered that each of them be released.

“I hereby call on President Muhammadu Buhari to RELEASE them and allow them to go home to their families.”

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N4.7bn "Fraud": Obanikoro To Testify Against Fayose

A reliable source said, “Senator Obanikoro came to the EFCC office on Monday morning as part of investigations into the N4.7bn. Since he has confessed that he was the one who collected the N4.7bn and distributed it, he is in the best position to testify in court.

“The EFCC wants him to testify against Agbele which will also build a strong case against Fayose who currently enjoys immunity. Obanikoro has agreed and will be listed as one of the EFCC witnesses.

“If Agbele is convicted, it automatically means that Fayose will also be convicted once he is charged in 2018. So let Fayose continue to play games. Omisore and Obanikoro are cooperating and returning money. Their troubles will end soon while Fayose’s own will keep getting worse.”

A source told Punch that EFCC could still charge Obanikoro to court if he failed to cooperate.

He said, “Obanikoro has returned N104m and has pledged to return N480m in instalments every four months but if he cannot cooperate with the EFCC, then he and his sons may be charged along with the others.

“Plea bargain and negotiation are a standard practice in criminal justice across the world.”

Obanikoro had told the EFCC in his statement of oath that he received N4.7bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser under the leadership of Col. Sambo Dasuki in June 2014.

In his statement, the ex-minister told the EFCC that he handed N1.3bn to the then governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore; while N1.219bn was given to Fayose through his aide, Agbele, during the build-up to the Ekiti governorship election which Fayose won.

Obanikoro was said to have converted a remainder of the money into $5.377m and handed it to Fayose at Spotless Hotel, Ado Ekiti, in the presence of the then Ekiti State PDP Secretary, Tope Aluko, and other party stalwarts.

He is believed to have kept about N785m for himself, an action which is said to have angered Fayose.

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Tinubu Is A Priceless Asset – President Buhari

President Buhari Muhammadu Buhari has dismissed rumours that he and APC leadership are at odds with one of the party's leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, describing such rumours as mischievous.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said the President was highly embarrassed by such "suggestions" and that Buhari was in regular contact with Tinubu before, during and after the Ondo gubernatorial election.

He said any suggestions that Buhari and the party machinery were working to destroy Tinubu had no foundation in truth or any credibility, explaining that the President was impressed by Tinubu's assurance not to work against the party in Ondo and he honoured his words.

The Presidential Media Aide also explained that President Buhari regards Tinubu as a priceless political asset to the party whose immeasurable contributions to the development and progress of the ruling party are known to all.

Malam Garba Shehu advised rumour mongers stop spreading the seeds of discord and animosity between the President and Tinubu or the party, adding that the President is proud of the Jagaban and his pivotal role in the party and the movement.

President Buhari commended Tinubu's spirit of comradeship in promptly congratulating Rotimi Akeredolu who was elected Governor.

The President also noted that at a time his administration is preoccupied with governance issues, rumours of divisions and alleged scheming within the party are counterproductive to internal unity and cohesion in APC.

He appealed to APC members and supporters to ignore rumours that could harm party unity.

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