24 Hours Naija News Update: February 2016

Matters arising from the Supreme Court judgment in the Saraki case

INTRODUCTION: The Supreme Court, our apex court, has spoken in the Dr Bukola Saraki case, and its judgment, delivered on February 5, 2016 carries an authority that is unchallengeable, except in the court of public opinion, which is a vital bedrock of governance in a democratic society, such as we aspire to become. All of us, as stakeholders in the Nigerian state project, constitute the latter court, and have a duty to contribute to the discussion on the questions provoked by the Supreme Court judgment in the case. The unchallengeability of the said judgment pre-supposes that it meets the standards of near-infallibility, conclusiveness and finality expected from a court of last resort, and that it is informed by the compelling need to ensure that decisions of the Court, as a court of last resort, are consistent with each other, and, above all, with the supreme law of the land, the Constitution, as well as with laws validly enacted by the legislature, all in the interest of the need, also imperative, for certainty and symmetry in the law and for its orderly development. Whether the Supreme Court decision on the issue of the jurisdiction of the CCT is consistent with the constitution. The judgment in the Saraki case will now be critically examined against the standards and requirements stated above, beginning with the issue whether the decision is consistent with the law of the Constitution which, in affirmation of it supremacy, declares null and void, “any law “ that is inconsistent with its provisions: section 1(3). A court decision is indisputably a law within the meaning of section 1(3). The Supreme Court held, per Onnoghen JSC delivering the lead judgment, that “paragraph 18 of the 5th schedule to the 1999 Constitution as amended is replete with unambiguous terms and expressions indicating that the proceedings before the said Conduct of Tribunal are criminal in nature”, that “the said tribunal has a quasi-criminal jurisdiction designed by the 1999 Constitution”, and that “it is a peculiar tribunal crafted by the Constitution.” The question arising is whether the Supreme Court is right in holding that the Constitution itself invests the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) with a quasi-criminal jurisdiction. The decision is based partly on inference from the fact that many of the stipulations in the Code of Conduct in the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution are coached in prohibitory terms. But a close look at the Code shows that, notwithstanding the prohibitory terms of such stipulations, the Code is, in its essential character, simply a body of rules designed to regulate the civil, not criminal, behaviour of public officers, much in the fashion of the Civil Service Rules. The view that the Fifth Schedule invests the CCT with a quasi-criminal jurisdiction is negated by paragraphs 18(3) & (6) of the said Schedule, especially paragraph 18(3) which says that “the sanctions mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) hereof shall be without prejudice to the penalties that may be imposed by any law where the conduct is also a criminal offence” This suggests that the conduct proscribed by the Code is not thereby made a criminal offence. In any case, it is not the purpose or role of a constitution anywhere in the world to create criminal offences, that being the function of the statute law. Conformably with the generally accepted role of a constitution, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 provides in section 36(12) that “a person shall not be convicted of a criminal offence unless that offence is defined and the penalty thereof is prescribed in a written law, and in this subsection, a written law refers to an Act of the National Assembly or a Law of a State, any subsidiary legislation or instrument under the provisions of a law” (emphasis supplied). Criminal jurisdiction The Constitution is not included. Accordingly, any criminal jurisdiction or “quasi-criminal jurisdiction” claimed for the CCT could not have derived from, or been conferred on it by, the Constitution. The Supreme Court’s attribution of a quasi-criminal jurisdiction to the CCT is also inconsistent with section 6 of the Constitution, which vests judicial power in nine courts listed by name in subsection (5) and “such other courts as may be authorized by law to exercise jurisdiction on matters with respect to which the National Assembly [or a House of Assembly] may make laws”. The CCT is not one of the nine courts listed by name in section 6(5). Since it is established by the Constitution, and if it had been the intention that it should share in the vesting of judicial power, the Constitution should have mentioned it by name like the nine courts so named, instead of leaving it to be included by law made later by the National Assembly under the residual clause. It must be concluded, therefore, that the CCT does not partake in the vesting of judicial power; in other words, it is not one of the courts in which judicial power is vested by section 6(1) of the Constitution – assuming it to be a court in the distinctive sense of section 6 of the Constitution. Judicial power The implication of this conclusion flows from the nature of judicial power and the incidents that are exclusive to it. The High Court of Australia (the highest court in that country) has held in Waterside Workers’ Federation of Australia v. J.W. Alexander Ltd (1918) 25 CLR 434 at page 444, per Chief Justice Griffith for the Court: “It is not disputed that convictions for offences and the imposition of penalties and punishments are matter appertaining exclusively to judicial powers.” The word “exclusively” is underlined for purposes of emphasis. The learned Chief Justice has observed earlier in the judgment at page 442: “It is impossible under the constitution to confer such functions upon any body other than a court, nor can the difficulty be avoided by designating a body, which is not in its essential character a court, by that name, or by calling the function by another name. In short, any attempt to vest any part of the judicial power…….in any body other than a court is entirely ineffective”. As under the Constitution of Nigeria 1999, judicial power is vested in courts specified in section 6(5), it follows that the courts so listed are the only tribunals that can try and convict a person for a criminal offence under the principle laid down by the High Court of Australia in Waterside Workers’ Federation of Australia v. J.W. Alexander Ltd, supra. The CCT, not being so listed, has no power or jurisdiction, derived from the Constitution, to try, convict and impose punishment on persons for a criminal offence; the decision of the Supreme Court attributing such jurisdiction to it, as jurisdiction derived from the Constitution, is null and void under section 1(3) of the Constitution; also any law made by the National Assembly that confers such jurisdiction on the CCT is null and void (see further below) The principle of the decision in Waterside Workers’ Federation of Australia v. J.W. Alexander Ltd, supra, as enshrined in sections 6, 35(1)(a) and 36(4) of the Constitution of Nigeria, has been affirmed and re-affirmed by our Supreme Court. Disciplinary tribunal Thus, in Sofekun v. Akinyemi (1981) 1 NCLR 135 where a public officer in the public service of the then Western Region of Nigeria was dismissed upon a finding of guilt for indecent assault and attempted rape by a disciplinary tribunal constituted and empowered in that behalf under the Public Service Commission Regulations, his dismissal was held null and void by the Supreme Court as a usurpation of judicial power. In a judgment concurred in by Irikefe, Bello, Idigbe, Obaseki, Eso and Aniagolu JJSC, Fatayi-Williams CJN said at page 146: “It seems to me that once a person is accused of a criminal offence, he must be tried in a court of law where the complaints of his accusers can be ventilated in public and where he would be sure of getting a fair hearing….. No other Tribunal, Investigating Panel or Committee will do…If Regulations such as those under attack in this appeal were valid, the judicial power could be wholly absorbed by the Commission (one of the organs of the Executive branch of the State Government) and taken out of the hand of the magistrates and judges…. If the Commission is allowed to get away with it, judicial power will certainly be eroded……The jurisdiction and authority of the courts of this country cannot be usurped by either the Executive or the Legislative branch of the Federal or State Government under any guise or pretext whatsoever”. (emphasis supplied). The decision was re-affirmed by the Court in Garba v. University of Maiduguri [1986] 1 NWLR (Pt 18) 550 where some students involved in acts of rioting and arson were expelled from the University. Constitutional requirement The Supreme Court, reversing the Court of Appeal and affirming the trial court, declared the expulsion null and void: first, since the expulsion was based on criminal offences alleged to have been committed by the students, only the court, but not the Visitor, Vice-Chancellor or the investigating panel set up by the University, is, by virtue of sections 6 and 33(1), (4) and (13) of the 1979 Constitution, competent to adjudicate upon the guilt or innocence of the students for the alleged criminal offences; second, whilst the University authorities may expel a student for misconduct not amounting to a criminal offence, yet as a disciplinary body, they are bound to act judicially, comply with the constitutional requirement of fair hearing and observe the other requirement of the rule of natural justice; in this case, the students were not given a fair hearing, and as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, being a victim of the students’ rampage (his house was burnt down), his chairmanship of the investigating panel created a real likelihood of bias in that he was thereby put in a position of being both a witness and a judge all at the same time. It is remarkable that, in Justice Onnoghen’s 37-page lead judgment, section 6 of the Constitution and the Supreme Court’s previous decisions in Sofekun v. Akinyemi (supra) and Garba v. University of Jos (supra), based on that section were not cited or considered. They were also not cited or considered in any of the other judgments delivered in the case. The judgments must be taken to have been given per incuriam, with the consequences noted later below. But the public deserves to know why. The issue of jurisdiction in the Saraki case cannot be settled aright without reference to section 6 and the decisions based on it.

Senators, Reps query CBN over utilisation of N1trn revenue in 2015

ABUJA—THE joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Banking and Currency yesterday queried the nation’s apex bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for allegedly spending N1.062 trillion revenue above the N482.167 billion proposed income for the year 2015. The lawmakers, who lamented that the apex bank overshot its spending in the 2014 appropriation by over fifty percent during the 2015 budget performance and 2016 budget defence of budgetary allocation to CBN, noted that the bank had imbibed the habit of spending more than what was budgeted to it. According to them, “CBN is developing a culture of spend as I earn attitude. They added hat the bank should have remitted N400 billion operating surplus to government’s treasury. The lawmakers also queried what they described as the astronomical increase in staff cost from N158.134 billion in 2015 to N408.808 billion as proposed in 2016 budget; and non-inclusion of commission for brokers, Dutch income, in its budget proposal. They wondered why the CBN should spend N780 million on the dealing room, N226 million for recruitment, N1.5 billion on research, N75.980 billion loss incurred from SWAP, N.8 billion on data collection and about N1 billion on Entrepreneurial Development Centre. The committee demanded for CBN financial statement, nominal roll, details of foreign and domestic investments, among other contentious issues raised at the meeting. To address some of the contending issues on the operations and core mandate of the banks, the committee resolved to hold a special session next week with CBN management. Speaking at the budget defence, representatives of the CBN disclosed that the country’s foreign reserve which stands at $27.66 billion, might decline further to $18 billion for 2016. On the recent calls for the devaluation of naira, Adebayo Adelabu, CBN Deputy Governor (Corporate Affairs) and Suleiman Barau, CBN Deputy Governor (Operations), while fielding questions from the lawmakers, defended the position of government not to further devalue the Naira. They, however, noted that the bank did not envisage devaluation of naira and assured of maintaining the $196.97/$1 exchange rate. and other interventions in critical sectors of the economy, including agriculture, power, aviation and SMEs, aimed at stabilizing the economy. He further disclosed that the sum of N616 billion revenue was realised from the devaluation of naira in 2014 and that a large chunk of the revenue was spent to stabilize the economy through mopping up of liquidity. Also contributing, Barau, who disclosed that commercial banks had about N8 trillion balances domiciled with the CBN at present, stressed the need to organise real sector reform for banks in the bid to improve lending.

President Buhari takes concrete stand on Naira devaluation

– President Muhammadu Buhari rejects naira devaluation – Says developed countries can afford it because of their competition – Reveals his administration’s plan to cusion the effect of oil fall in the global market President Muhammadu Buhari has once again reiterated that his government would not devalue the naira, Speaking on February 20, at a Presidential Panel Roundtable on Investment and Growth Opportunities at the opening session of the Africa 2016: “Business for Africa, Egypt and the World” at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, Buhari completely ruled out any though of devaluing the currency. President Buhari, who stressed his disapproval to naira devaluation, revealed that Nigeria cannot compete with developed countries which are already in production competition among themselves. He stated that developed countries can afford to afford to devalue their local currencies. “Developed countries are competing among themselves and when they devalue they compete better and manufacture and export more. But we are not competing and exporting but importing everything including toothpicks. So, why should we devalue our currency?” Buhari asked. The president disclosed that his government was mapping out ways to guarantee national food security before export of food produce to other countries. President Buhari said the only way Nigeria can escape from the current dwindling oil price in the global oil market because of her dependence on oil revenue is to focus on agriculture. He said with the increasing number of unemployed youths in the country, his administration would also focus on solid minerals development. “The land is there and we need machinery inputs, fertilizer and insecticides,” Buhari said.

Police withdraw Tompolo’s security aides

WARRI- GOVERNOR of one of the South-South states and prominent Ijaw leaders in Delta region have counseled the ex-General Officer Commanding, GOC, defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, to show up before the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, which renewed a bench warrant for his arrest on Monday. An Ijaw leader, who preferred anonymity told Vanguard, yesterday: “Our counsel to Tompolo is to stem the feared bombardment of our communities and harassment of innocent citizens by security operatives under the guise of searching for him and perpetrators of January pipeline bombing in the state.” Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, had withdrawn the security aides approved for Tompolo by the Federal Government since 2009 under the leadership of late President Umaru Yar’Adua. Vanguard learned that the security aides, who had been with Tompolo for nearly six years, were withdrawn soon after Justice Ibrahim Buba issued the first bench warrant against the ex-militant leader, last month. A source close to Tompolo confirmed the development to Vanguard, yesterday. In addition, security chiefs in the Niger-Delta were reportedly strategizing, yesterday, on how to track down Tompolo following the court order to produce him on February 19. Two key questions the Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger-Delta had posed to those it arrested over the January pipeline bombing in Delta state were their link with Tompolo and his whereabouts, which it was yet to unravel until the court renewed the bench warrant.

South-East students burdened with fees, levies

Awka—Although the governors of the five South-East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, always affirmed their determination to give priority to the education of youths as leaders, the situation on ground show otherwise, as students pay exorbitant school fees in the region. Imo State is the only exemption as it had been providing free education for students since Governor Rochas Okorocha assumed office in 2011. y. However, Okorocha has vowed to introduce fees for non-natives of the state as Imo people resident in other states were made to pay school fees. He said it was foolhardy to provide free education for non-natives when it was not the same thing in other states, where Imo people reside. A survey carried out in the five states showed that apart from Imo, which was implementing free education at all levels, the other four states were not education-friendly as they charged high fees even as some implemented discriminatory school fees among the students. … of fees, levies In Anambra State, where education is regarded as the biggest industry, students in public primary and secondary schools pay levies instead of school fees. Senior secondary school students pay about N3,000 as levies, while those in the junior classes pay about N2,500 per session even as admissions into such schools attracted an initial payment of about N12,000 for each student. Those seeking admission into any class are usually charged fees for the three terms in a session, even if they were changing schools in the third term. The situation is, however, different for the private and missionary schools where fees range from N20,000 to N100,000 per term. Apart from the official school fees, levies are charged through the various Parents’ Teachers Associations, PTAs, especially if there were projects to be executed in the school. For the tertiary institution, fees at the state-owned Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University range from N100,000 for non-professional courses to N130,000 for professional courses. The fees include sundry charges such as students’ union dues, departmental fees, laboratory fees among others. Abia In Abia State, primary and secondary schools are also said to be free, but some schools charge illegal levies of between N1,000 and N3,000 yearly. Fees charged at the state’s tertiary institutions are high compared to the financial capacity of the indigenes. At Abia State University, the fees are between N65,000 and N300,000, depending on the course of study. Medicine and other related courses cost much higher than the arts and social sciences. At the state polytechnic in Aba, students are charged between N50,000 to N60,000, per semester, while those at the College of Education, Technical, pay fees ranging from N45,000 to N50,000, per semester. Ebonyi In Ebonyi State, which is the most educationally backward in the geo-political zone, primary and secondary schools are also said to be free. At the College of Education, Ikwo, new and year two students pay N35,000 with those in their third/ final year paying N20,000. For those of the Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ikwo, new entrants pay N56,000 while the old students pay N36,000 per session. The state government, however, charged discriminatory fees as non-natives of the state paid much higher. Ebonyi State indigenous students pay N80,000, while non-indigenes pay N120,000 each. Enugu There are no tuition fees in public primary and secondary schools in Enugu State. However, various levies are paid at both levels. Primary school pupils pay an average of N1,000 for various projects initiated by the Parents’ Teachers Associations, PTAs. Even those in secondary schools pay various levies ranging from N100 to N900 per session. Both JSS 3 and SS 3 students pay between N700 and N900 in addition to the official fees charged for their examinations. At the Enugu State College of Education, Technical, ESCET, new students for NCE programme pay N48,000 while those undergoing degree courses pay N69,000 including acceptance fees. Also in ESCET, Sandwich/Part-Time Degree tuition, including acceptance fee, is N80,000. Students at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, pay N126,000, excluding N25,000 acceptance fee and other departmental fees. Students who choose to stay in the hostels pay an additional N40,000. At the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, new students pay N65,000, including acceptance fees, while hostel accommodation is N40,000. The University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, which is a Federal Government-owned institution, pegged its own fees at N90,000 apart from a compulsory laptop fee of N75,000 for new students, even as old students pay N55,000 each. Imo Imo State Government has been operating free education programme since Governor Okorocha came on board in 2011. He promised giving school bags, textbooks, desks, sandals and teaching aids to the pupils and their schools. The governor took off with the programme, but events had since proved that he has slowed down or completely stopped the implementation of the policy. Some school heads, interviewed within the week, confessed that they had since run out of instructional materials, even as they said that parents now provided books and uniforms for their wards. South East Voice investigations showed that it was doubtful if the state government would go on with the free education policy, especially with the current economic down turn in the country. Only recently, Okorocha told journalists that he was seriously thinking of slamming fees on non-indigenes, pointing out that it was foolhardy to give such people free education in Imo, while Imo people were forced to pay fees in other states.

South-East students burdened with fees, levies

Pensioner dies during screening in benin

BENIN — A pensioner, identified as Sunday Oboite, slumped and died, yesterday, during screening of pensioners of Oredo Local Government in Edo State. The pensioner slumped at the reception of the council secretariat after taking Viju milk and water, provided by a good Samaritan when he complained of hunger for several hours. His death caused pandemonium among the council workers as they crowded the reception to catch a glimpse of his corpse. The 75 years old Oboite reportedly worked in the works department of the council before he retired. The council had directed that the pensioners come for screening before they would be paid their 10 months pension arrears. Vanguard gathered that when the pensioners presented themselves for screening at 8a.m., they were asked to go to Urhokpota Hall, which is about 100 meters away. However, the late pensioner was unable to go with his colleagues but chose to wait at the reception due to hunger. Secretary of Oredo Pensioners Association, James Erhunmen-se, said Oboite came to the screening venue alone and complained of not having any money to buy food and drugs. He slumped at 1:20p.m. and doctors at the council confirmed him dead. But by 3p.m., his corpse was yet to be removed.

24 hours naija news update: 17 Facts You Should Know If You Are Dating A Short...

24 hours naija news update: 17 Facts You Should Know If You Are Dating A Short...: [1] Everything she does is cute and adorable, but do not tell her she’s cute or adorable. She wants to be a s3-xy goddess, not “cute.” This ...

24 hours naija news update: 17 Facts You Should Know If You Are Dating A Short...

17 Facts You Should Know If You Are Dating A Short Girl

[1] Everything she does is cute and adorable, but do not tell her she’s cute or adorable. She wants to be a s3-xy goddess, not “cute.” This means she wants you to make her feel like she’s Gisele even though she’s tiny. [2] Also “TINY” is not a cute pet name. Call her babe, baby, bae — whatever. But do not call her tiny, shorty or small for that matter (unless you’ve cleared it with her and she’s down with that nickname). [3] Please don’t ask to pick or carry her up. She isn’t a puppy or a baby. She wants to know you respect her. If she wants you to pick her up, she’ll most likely run and jump on you like she’s re enacting a scene from Hollywood movie The Notebook. [4] Though She doesn’t discriminate against shorter guys, but she has her eye on tall men maybe that was why she prefered you to that short dude. Why? She wants to give her kids a shot at being tall one day, and in her dreams, her 5-foot-2 self + your 6-foot-3 self = a 5-foot-9 daughter/son. [5] One important point I've come to realize is that What she lacks in height, she makes up for in personality. There’s a good chance your petite new love interest is a “firecracker,” as some say, which will make you love her even more. [6] You’ll most likely have to bend down or at least strain your neck every time you want to kiss her. But it will be so worth the crick in your neck that you’ll probably get once in a while... And remember she will also have to leap ova to kiss you too. [7] Never for any reason underestimate her. She might be small in size but I can bet she’s probably tougher than you... ask me? [8] Don’t rest your arm on top of her head. It makes her feel like her neck is going to break (note: It was made to support the weight of her pretty little head only, possibly along with a motorcycle helmet) If you’re that kind of guy, your arm on her head makes her look like your kid sister, not your lover. [9] She likes being little. Don’t make it sound like a bad thing. After all, she can wear the highest heels without looking ridiculous, which she knows makes her tall friends jealous. [10] If you keep things where she can’t reach them, she will always make you get them for her everytime. So please don’t put her poo on a high shelf... except. [11] She will always be in high heels, so don’t expect to be able to walk to dinner. And if you do want a romantic night of walking around town, let her know in advance so girlfriend can at least wear a wedge. [12] She is really good at crawling into small places, like the window of your apartment that you’re locked out of. So, on the off chance that you left your window open, she’s got this and you’ll be chilling on your couch in no time. [13] Hold her hand. Always. It’s actually pretty scary to be lost in a crowd of people taller than you, so hang on tight and don’t let go of her. [14] Any time she wants to tell you something in your ear, be prepared to bend down to her level. Unless of course you’re sitting down. Then it’s much easier to communicate. [15] Unlike the tall girl you last dated, you can put her in almost any position you want when you’re fooling around. Think Cirque de Soleil-like positions like these. Yes, this could be your best reality. [16] When you meet her IRL, she doesn’t need to be reminded that she’s tiny. She knows how petite she is, but just because you might be seeing her/learning this information for the first time doesn’t mean you need to voice it. So, when you do finally meet her on your first date, do NOT tell her that she looks so much taller in her Instagram photos. Because that, my friend, is a backhanded compliment. [17] She makes one hell of a little spoon, very stubborn. But She’ll be the yin to your yang and all will be right in your world.

TUC serves Buhari, Osinbajo notice to kick start work on new minimum wage

ABUJA – Apparently jolted by the governors threat to reduce the minimum wage, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, has asked the federal government to review the current minimum wage with the aim of increasing it. This was even as the Congress has urged the federal government to outrightly reverse the privatization of electricity distribution companies, DISCOS, and also cancel the increase in the electricity tariff, saying that had failed. Speaking during a courtesy call on Vice President Yemi Osinabjo at the presidential villa, Abu

JAMB gives 48hrs ultimatum for candidates to complete registration

As a result of ceaseless protests by prospective candidates who have not been able to complete their registration for this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has announced the reopening of the portal for a period of 48 hours. In a statement issued Tuesday by the board’s Director of Media and Public Relations, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the portal which was reopened at exactly 12 midnight on Tuesday, February 23, will be closed by same time on Thursday, February 25. He, however, insisted that there would be no opportunity for fresh registration but for only candidates who had initiated registration process before the February 5 deadline. “The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board hereby direct all candidates who have initiated the process of registration for the 2016 UTME but couldn’t upload and complete their registration process as at Friday 5th February, 2016 to do so within 48 hours starting from 12 midnighton Tuesday, 23rd February 2016, when the website will be opened to 12 midnight on Thursday 25th February, 2016 when the website will be closed. “The Board wishes to state that the directive doesn’t cover fresh registration but only those who had either done offline registration or visited our website but could not submit,” the statement reads in part. It would be recalled that JAMB had earlier insisted that there would be no extension but the pressure from the candidates and other stakeholders in the education sector had compelled JAMB to reconsider its position

2016 budget: I will deal with those who “padded” the budget, Buhari vows

ABUJA – In a development that has openly shown his anger and dissatisfaction with the controversy trailing the 2016 budget proposal currently being debated at the National Assembly, President Mohammadu Buhari has vowed to deal decisively with those said to be the masterminds of the “budget padding”. This was even as the President, for the first time, admitted that the budget he submitted to the national legislature late December 2015 for approval had been utterly doctored. It will be recalled that there had been arguments and counter-arguments particularly in the senate as to whether the document had about three versions. President Muhammadu Buhari At a time, the document was declared missing. Addressing the Nigerian Community in Saudi Arabia late Tuesday night, President Buhari condemned the distortion of the budget proposals by entrenched interests. He revealed that the minister of budget and national planning, Mr. Udo Udoma did an excellent job of knitting the budget together, only to be distorted by unknown persons. The President said that the unauthorised alterations had completely changed the document from the one he presented to the National Assembly, vowing to severely punish anyone found culpable. “The culprits will not go unpunished. I have been a military governor, petroleum minister, military Head of State and headed the Petroleum Trust Fund. “Never had I heard the words “budget padding”. Our Minister of Budget and National Planning did a great job with his team. The Minister became almost half his size during the time, working night and day to get the budget ready, only for some people to pad it. “What he gave us was not what was finally being debated. It is very embarrassing and disappointing. We will not allow those who did it to go unpunished,” President Buhari vowed. The President also assured members of the Nigerian community that his administration was working diligently to fulfil its campaign promises, particularly on security, unemployment, and corruption. Reaffirming his government’s zero tolerance for corruption, President Buhari said that the war against corruption was a monumental task that he is determined to tackle successfully. “We have zero tolerance for corruption and other unethical practices. We will deal decisively with anybody found wanting,” he promised members of the Nigerian community. A statement by the presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina on Wednesday stated that the President Buhari also used the opportunity of the gathering to brief Nigerians in Saudi Arabia on his administration’s efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria. “Our armed forces have done a great job of dealing decisively with Boko Haram. We are collaborating with our neighbors in the operations of the Multinational Joint Task Force to handle security threats in the sub-region and we have significantly destroyed the capacity of the insurgents,” the President said. He also spoke on efforts being made to diversify the Nigerian economy, stressing that more opportunities are now open for local and foreign investors in the country.

23 Boko Haram terrorists killed, 150 hostages rescued by Nigeria/Cameroon troops

Abuja – 23 Boko Haram terrorists killed, 150 Hostages rescued as Nigeria/Cameroon troops continue clear out of terrorists hideouts. The Nigerian Army said Tuesday night that in line with the Chief of Army Staff’s directive for troops to maintain the momentum, troops of 7 Division carried out major operations against the Boko Haram terrorist’s locations in Talala and Kumshe axis. During the joint operation between elements of 7 Division and the Cameroonian forces along Banki-Kumshe axis, 20 Boko Haram terrorists were killed, the troops destroyed 4 AK 47 rifles and captured a gun truck mounted with an Anti-Aircraft Gun (AA Gun) and 2 AK 47 rifles, as well as a 60mm mortar and a Dane gun. Also, troops at Kodo rescued 150 persons who were mainly children. In addition, a house with Boko Haram terrorists’ flag at Fatake caught fire with several ammunitions explosions in which 3 Boko Haram terrorists were killed in the house. A statement issued last night by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman said, “The joint operation which was carried out with Cameroonian forces was quite successful as a number of the terrorists were killed, some of their weapons and equipment either destroyed or captured. “Unfortunately, 3 soldiers sustained injuries and a vehicle damaged as a result of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). “Troops also encountered about 10 other IEDs along the route of advance which were cleared. Most of the terrorists ran in disarray towards Fatake where troops on blocking position cleared them. “Along the Talala axis despite an IED in which 1 soldier was wounded and a damaged vehicle, the operation is progressing very well. Moreso as the Nigerian Air Force has been assisting with interdiction and surveillance. “It is important to state that 5 Brigade and 7 Multinational Joint Task Force were doing very well in their respective area of operations. “This is made possible by the steady supply of needed logistics into the various formations and units fighting the Boko Haram terrorists. “The Army also launched new mine clearing equipment, weapons and their ammunitions. It is noteworthy, apart from being the first mine clearing machines in the inventory of the Nigerian Army; it is one of the best in the world. “In a related development, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, has once again personally commended the troops for their impressive performance thus far. “He made the commendation shortly after a briefing by the Deputy Theatre Commander and also the Land Component Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Major General LEO Irabor and the General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Brigadier General VO Ezugwu at the Theatre Command, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Maiduguri. “The Chief of Army Staff was in Maiduguri on official visit to formations and units in the North East. He was accompanied by the Chief of Training and Operations, Major General YM Abubakar and other senior officers from the Army Headquarters. “It is pertinent to state that in all the formations and units visited, troops morale remains high, focused and determined to bring the fight against terrorism and insurgency to a logical and successful end.”

CAN election: Tension mounts over alleged plan by FG to install Northern President

Abuja—Ahead of the expiration of the tenure of the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor in July, tension is already mounting within the Christian community following alleged plans by President Muhammadu Buhari and All Progressives Congress, APC, to install a Northern successor. This appeared to be a repeat of what transpired during the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. Already, APC, is said to be interested in sponsoring a pro-Buhari clergy from the North to avoid any radical opposition to his administration from the Christian community. A group of Christians under the umbrella of Christ Redeemers Union, yesterday, claimed that the Presidency was interested in CAN election for some selfish reasons. But the Presidency debunked the allegation, saying Buhari did not interfere in an internal affairs of any organisation. Reacting, the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Communications), Mr. Femi Adesina, dismissed the allegation, saying Buhari does not interfere in the internal affairs of any organisation. He said: “It means that some Nigerians don’t know their President; Your President, Muhammadu Buhari did not interfere in things like that; so they need to know the person who is their President.” The National Director of CRU, Dr. Ebenezer Olusola Abednego, who disclosed this to newsmen, in Abuja, said that Christians would resist any plan by the Presidency to instal its in CAN Presidency. Olusola explained that the APC government was desperate to ensure the emergence of its candidate in CAN who will lead the Nigerian Christians community. “We have it on good authority that any leader being installed by the Presidency in CAN would avoid any virulent criticism of the Buhari government and this has informed their desperate to install a leadership that will not be critical. “But we are vehemently opposed to government meddling into a purely religious affairs and should the Presidency succeed in installing an APC/Buhari stooge in CAN, we will pull out of CAN. We are ready for them, we have it on good authority that some Muslim leaders from the North are behind the plot. But by the power in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, every knee shall bow and they won’t succeed.” Reacting to this, the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Communications), Mr. Femi Adesina, dismissed the allegation, saying Buhari does not interfere in the internal affairs of any organisation. He said: “It means that some Nigerians don’t know their President; Your President, Muhammadu Buhari does not interfere in things like that; so they need to know the person who is their President. “The people making the allegation can’t insist that they are correct because that is the man for you and Buhari doesn’t interfere in anything. If he doesn’t interfere in State elections where his own party, APC is having candidates, how will he interfere in CAN elections? They don’t know their President.”

$2b Malabu scam: Stop maligning me, go and clear your name, Atiku tells Adoke

BARELY 24 four hours after writing a comprehensive letter to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, exonerating himself of any infraction in the controversial Malabu Oil scam, the immediate past Attorney General , Mohammed Adoke, has been asked to face his problems and stop dragging others in the mud. Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, issued the warning in response to Adoke’s claim in the letter that he (Atiku) was among those behind his travails for not helping them to get a share of the $2 billion as ‘shareholders’ of Malabu. In the letter to Osinbajo on Monday, Adoke had alleged that the aggrieved individuals including Atiku, who is posing as Lawal Abba were behind the smear campaign against him for not extending the proceeds of the deal to them. Adoke said: “I was also informed that these individuals had enlisted a notorious online media to smear my name with allegations of corruption and bribery and that some agents of the Abacha family and one Lawal Abba acting for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President were behind the scheme. “They claim that they were shareholders in Malabu Oil and Gas Limited and had been short-changed by the main shareholder of the company, and that I had refused to use my official position as Attorney General of the Federation to help them get their dues from the main shareholder. “It is apparent from these publications that the intention is not necessarily the clarifications sought by the EFCC but a carefully orchestrated plan for my assured unjustified persecution, humiliation and disgrace by a known group with interest in the Malabu matter that are aggrieved over my official role in the resolution of the case. /

$24bn oil swap/OPA deals: They lied against me—Diezani

Former Minister for Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has described the narratives of her former group managing directors, GMDs, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, with regard to the ongoing legislative probe of the oil swap and OPA deals as fabricated tissues of lies. Mr. Andrew Yakubu and Mr Austen Oniwon. Mr. Andrew Yakubu and Mr Austen Oniwon. The embattled former minister’s denial comes as she strongly refuted claims that she approved $24 billion for Renewal of the Crude Oil/Refined Products Exchange Agreement, otherwise called oil swap deals without contracts. From the inception of the deal in 2009, Federal Government was meant to realise about $1.82 million per 60,000 barrels per day, bpd, against the then losses of $1.47 million being recorded by the corporation. It is uncertain if all the proceeds from the deal were remitted to the federation account. During their appearances before the legislators last week, Mr. Austin Oniwon, who was GMD, NNPC, from May 17, 2010 to June 12, 2012, and Mr. Andrew Yakubu, June 12, 2012, to August 2, 2014, said Alison-Madueke had granted them approvals for contracts extension. In a statement meant to set the records straight yesterday, she rejected some newspaper and online reports, which claimed that she granted an “extension” instead of ‘Approval for the Renewal of Contracts’ for the swap arrangements. Alison-Madueke, who is currently undergoing extensive cancer treatment in London, was quoted as describing the latest attack as “fabricated tissues of lies deviously concocted to sustain the escalating evil narratives against her person.” Contracts approvals The embattled former minister, who spoke through her spokesman, Mr. Clem Aguiyi, recalled that she gave the following approvals for renewal of contract: one-year term each for both Messrs Trafigura Beheer BV, and Messrs Societe Ivoirienne de Raffinage (SIR), in August 2010; two-year term in August 2011 for the same companies, and one-year term to NNPC subsidiary, Duke Oil, in January 2011. She added: “Two other approvals were consequently sought by the GMD, NNPC, the first of these on August 29, 2014, seeking to ratify all three aforementioned approvals, which had apparently variously expired during the course of 2013.” She said she approved all three “in view of the criticality of the situation. Expiry of those terms was put at December 31, 2014, following assurances to the minister that the contractual obligations of the parties to NNPC had, in fact, been fully met, despite the regrettable lapse in renewal time.” In her narrative, the lapses in expiration to renewal dates were put at seven months for Duke Oil, 10 for SIR, and 12 months for Trafigura. OPA approvals Furthermore, Alison-Madueke recalled that she had given fresh approvals for Offshore Processing Agreements, OPA, on October 28, 2014, following the recommendation of the then Group Managing Director, GMD, NNPC. The approvals included a new term of two years commencing from January 1, 2015, for Sahara Energy Resources Ltd; Aiteo Energy and Duke Oil. According to her, “NNPC strongly recommended and outlined the benefits of the OPA over the swaps and put forward the case for migration from the OPA and crude exchange (SWAP) contracts to OPAs fully. “NNPC posited that the ‘experienced benefits of the OPA to the Federation’ would be much greater. All approvals were due process-driven and were only given by the Minister, following formal statutory written requests, which contained the technical basis for the renewal and were sent to the Minister by the GMD-NNPC, as is the normal practice. “NNPC had clearly requested for the approval of the Minister for ‘Renewal of the Crude Oil – Refined Products Exchange Agreement’ and ‘Renewal of Offshore Processing Agreement’ on all the various occasions outlined earlier in this press release.” Her spokesman further noted that “whereas, it is the Minister’s responsibility to either give or refuse ‘approval’, it was not within her purview as Minister to draft, initiate or conclude the processes of signing the final contracts. “It is the statutory responsibility of NNPC to ensure that all technical areas are duly covered and all requisite due process parameters are duly implemented.”

Omokore opens up on oil swap deals

ABUJA— The Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited, Mr. Jide Omokore, has reportedly been cooperating with operatives, who are probing him over multi-billion oil swap deals between his firm and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. Ibrahim Magu Omokore, an active player in the oil sector during the previous administration, was taken in by EFCC last week to assist them in unraveling how his firm won oil swap deals running into billions of dollars, and whether such money had been remitted to the coffers of the government. A source confided in Vanguard last night: “We are trying to extract from him the quantity of oil his company was awarded under the oil swap deal and how much he has so far remitted to the government. “So far, he has been cooperating with our operatives but we have not extracted the exact figure of what the deals were worth; we are certainly making progress.” Asked if he would be charged to court over the deals, the source said the investigation had not progressed to where charges could be pressed yet. Omokore’s company was among those accused of lifting crude oil, worth billions of dollars, but only remitting a fraction of its worth to the government. Jonathan’s former ADC A former aide-de-camp, ADC, to immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Ojogbane Adegbe, has claimed ignorance of the contents of the parcels, which he routinely passed from the then President to individuals and groups. Adegbe, who is being questioned by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over the N10 billion said to have been passed from former national Security Adviser, NSA, to him and one other aide of Jonathan to share to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, delegates, reportedly told his interrogators that he never looked into the contents of parcels handed over to him by the then President in the course of his duties. He has, therefore, pleaded with EFCC not to hold him responsible for whatever happened in the course of his duties as the President’s ADC. A source close to the interrogation told Vanguard in confidence that the former ADC had admitted that he used to receive many parcels from the President and passed same to their owners without opening to look at their contents, as it was not part of his duties to look at the contents or question the President’s orders. A source said: “The ADC explained to our operatives that part of his schedule of work was to collect and handover documents and sealed parcels from his Commander-in-Chief to individuals.” Adegbe is said to have insisted that as a serving officer, he was bound by his oath of commission into the Armed Forces and would not divulge official secrets which he swore to keep. The operatives are said to so far met a brick wall in the interrogation of the former ADC but had decided to press him with the hope that he would open up on the N10 billion cash by naming the beneficiaries and why.

Tonto Dikeh welcomes baby boy

Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh has finally welcomed a baby boy in the United States, where she delivered her baby. tontoThe actress broke the good news on her Instagram page yesterday. She wrote, “Today I experienced the Greatest Miracle known to man. I can’t begin to explain the joy I feel, it’s super awesome. I bless the Lord almighty for his protection/Safety and Strength and the birth of my Baby. My Pregnancy was such a beautiful one Stress free, Lovely, Spiritually great, Healthy and safe. Please join me in welcoming my baby into a perfect and loving world that God my King kong and I will create. I am overwhelmed and over joyed, I am a Mother now. Wow. That’s something I never saw coming but God is indeed the master planner of our lives. His Grace, Love. Mercy, unlimited blessings, protection, Peace and so much more than I can express I have known & can testify to.” “Thank you God(the father,the son and the HolyGhost) for this blissful journey..I indeed gave birth like A Hebrew woman. #PROUDMUMMY #YUMMYMUMMY #LITTLESUNSHINEX #BABY Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/tonto-dikeh-welcomes-baby-boy/

Biafra: Kanu rejects FG’s request for secret trial

ABUJA – The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, who is facing a six-count treason charge, has opposed an application by the federal government to conduct his trial in secret. FG had in the application it filed before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, decried that all the witnesses billed to testify against Kanu and two other pro-Biafra agitators, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, who are facing trial with him, have declined to appear in court. Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, sandwiched between security operaives, leaving the court yesterday in Abuja. Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, sandwiched between security operaives, leaving the court yesterday in Abuja. It said the witnesses insisted that they would not testify against the defendants unless their safety was guaranteed. Consequently, government lawyer, Mr. David Kaswe,‎ prayed trial Justice John Tsoho to issue an order protecting the identities of the witnesses by ‎allowing them to either wear facial mask or to testify behind screens. FG equally applied for an order excluding persons except journalists from witnessing the proceedings. “The measure is to safeguard the lives of prosecution witnesses who live in the geographical region where the defendants come from. Since their arrest, there has been violent protests for the defendants to be released. “The witnesses have already indicated fear to give evidence in view of perceived backlash. My lord, they have categorically informed us that unless they could be guaranteed some form of protection by the court, they would not come to testify. “In the light is t‎his, the case of the prosecution will be greatly affected should there be any reason for the witnesses not to come to court”, Kaswe submitted. Meanwhile, Kanu, through his lead counsel, Chief Chuks Muoma, SAN, vehemently opposed the application which he said grossly lacked merit. He argued that section 36(4) of the 1999 constitution made no provision for masquerades to testify in a trial ‎involving an alleged act of treason. “An accused person under our jurisprudence and justice ad‎ministration must be confronted with his accusers eye-ball to eye-ball. “My lord we operate an accusatorial‎ system of procedure under the common law. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to have been done. “It is not within common sense to malign and accuse someone in public and apply to try him in the bedroom. Having been accused in public we want to also be tried in public. “We therefore urge this court not to allow masquerades to testify before it. We want to see their faces and ask them questions. As masquerades, how will the court be able to gauge their demeanour and body language? Is it by the rhythm of their dance steps? “The tenets of justice outweigh this application and we urge my lord to reject it. It has no merit whatsoever. Secret trial is for terrorism charge, it is not for the type of offence for which these defendants were charged. “Secret trial does not apply in a case of treasonable felony or involvement in alleged ‎unlawful society. During the trial we will prove to them that we are not an illegal organisation”, Muoma added. After listening to the parties, Justice Tsoho stood down ruling on the matter till 2pm. Kanu who was hitherto the Director of Radio Biafra and Television, ‎has been in detention since October 14, 2015, when he was arrested by security operatives upon his arrival to Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom. The defendants were alleged to have committed treasonable felony, an offence punishable under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. FG alleged that they were the ones managing the affairs of the IPOB which it described as “an unlawful society”. Specifically, Kanu was alleged to have illegally smuggled radio transmitters into Nigeria, which he used to disseminate “hate broadcasts”, encouraging the “secession of the Republic ofBiafra”, from Nigeria. However, the accused persons, pleaded not guilty to the charge on January 20, even as the court ordered their remand at Kuje prison ‎in Abuja.

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