EFCC challenges court jurisdiction in $9.7m recovered from Yakubu (Read full details)

http://ift.tt/2n5Aqhe

Former Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Andrew Yakubu

The Abuja Federal High Court lacks the jurisdiction to hear and determine the fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by the former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu, so declared the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

EFCC is challenging the suit on the ground that the alleged breach of fundamental rights of the applicant happened in Kano State.Counsel to the EFCC, Johnson Ojogbane, in a preliminary objection to the applicant’s originating summons, urged the court to discountenance the suit.

When the matter came up yesterday before Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed, counsel to the applicant (Yakubu), Ahmed Raji (SAN), told the court his client has been in the custody of the EFCC since February 8, 2017.

He asked the court to take into cognizance that Yakubu was abroad receiving treatment when he was invited to Nigeria by the EFCC for questioning and has since been detained. The court adjourned the matter to March 14, 2017.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2nccm9e

Petroleum agency’s $11m expenditure shocks Senate panel (Read full details)

http://ift.tt/2lirdzZ

Reps engage NNPC, DPR on availability, cost of kerosene
Members of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) were yesterday shocked when management of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), a subsidiary of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) reported that it spent $9m on staff transfers in its 2016 budgetary allocation.

It also spent another $2m for maintenance of vehicles out of its 2016 budgetary allocation of $171m.

This infuriated the committee led by its Chairman, Senator Tayo Alasoadura (APC Ondo Central), who immediately demanded a breakdown of the $171m budget profile.

But the General Manager of NAPIMS, Engineer Catherine Ngozi Ihemewho, told the committee that the annual budget of the agency was always broken into capital and operating expenditure as stated in its 2016 budget performance document forwarded to the committee.

She said out of the $171m 2016 budget, $17.7m was for capital expenditure while $154m was meant for operating expenditure from where the $9m cost of staff transfers and $2m for vehicle maintenance were taken.

When asked what she meant by staff transfers on which she spent $9m, she said: “On staff transfers, we are part of the NNPC group and sometimes you have staff transferred in and out of one subsidiary to the other with attendant payment of allowances “.

The committee ordered her to provide details of the agency’s spending of the entire $171m 2016 budget within 24 hours as against the lump sum figure presented to it.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) has mandated the NNPC and Department for Petroleum Resources (DPR) to ensure that kerosene was made available and affordable to users.

The lawmakers said to achieve this, there was need for the Federal Government to come up with a policy on the deregulation of products as it applies to diesel and PMS to avert further scarcity.

Their resolve followed a motion by Hon. Segun Adekola (PDP Ekiti) calling on the House of Representatives to institute measures aimed at reducing the cost of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) and making it readily accessible to the people.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2lVNkta

Another 171 Nigerians return from Libya with tales of woe (Read full details)

http://ift.tt/2lc1XIk

Some of the recent returnees at MMIA

Another batch of 171 Nigerians arrived Lagos from Libya yesterday with tales of woes and sad experiences in the North African country.

The voluntary returnees touched down at the Cargo section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos around 4pm, aboard a Buraq Air plane with registration number TNSIB (UZ189/190). They were 95 females (comprising 83 adults, 10 children and two infants) and 79 males (73 adults, two children and one infant).

Three of the returnees had medical cases. One came with burns, another depression and the third had a minor ailment.

A total of 171 Nigerians were deported on February 21, while 161 voluntarily returned with the support of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on February 14 this year. Yesterday’s return was the third this year and eighth of such in the last 15 months.

Eloha Erhie, from Delta State, told The Guardian that she was lured to Libya by an agent who promised to help her get to Germany. But on getting to Libya, she was defrauded of N360,000 and subsequently sold to slavery for 600 Dinas (N1.2million). She was still repaying one-year on when she was arrested by authorities in January this year.

Erhie said of Libya: “It is not a country I would have wished for my enemy. They (Libyans) treat all human beings as animals. They don’t value life at all. They kidnap freely, white or black.

“Even taxi man will kidnap you and take you to prison where you will suffer for nine months out of a year. No good food or water. Whether cold or heat, they are all bad. I’m happy to make it back alive,” she said.

Another returnee, Ezekiel, said he managed to escape being shot on a day his neighbourhood was besieged and many blacks killed in one fell swoop.

Deputy Director, Search and Rescue, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Dr. Bandele Onimode, said no fewer than 643 persons had been received from Libya between December 14, 2016 and yesterday.

According to him, efforts to return Nigerians stranded in the nooks and crannies of Libya are ongoing, and as soon as IOM Libya and their Nigerian counterpart notify of another coordination of Nigerians, NEMA will respond with necessary machinery to receive the returnees.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2mh6wD9

Military destroys 80 illegal refineries in Niger Delta (Read full details)

http://ift.tt/2lW1OZH

• Women group flays payment of 13% derivation to states
• Ondo ex-militants lament discrimination, warn of hostilities

Troops of the military joint task force code named Operation Delta Safe have intensified its onslaught against crude oil thieves leading to the destruction of 80 illegal refineries in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states.

A statement signed by spokesman of Operation Delta Safe, Major Abubakar Abdullah, yesterday said the troops who patrolled Obhoyohan and Ngiri Creeks and environs in Nembe Local Government Area or Bayelsa State destroyed seven illegal refineries.

He said the illegal refineries had over 150,000 litres of stolen crude oil while three suspects were arrested in connection with the refineries and that they and are currently undergoing investigation.

In Delta, he said troops who patrol around Sara Abileye Swamp in Warri South West Local Government Area and discovered a network of six illegal refineries made up of four storage tanks, two dug out pits filled with products suspected to be stolen crude oil, among other findings.
In Rivers, the troops destroyed other 10 illegal refineries around Bolo in Bonny Local Government Area in addition to 25 others earlier raided at Creek six and Ijokiri in same council area.

Meanwhile, a group of women in the Niger Delta under the aegis of Society for the Protection of Women Welfare in Oil and Gas Producing States has condemned the continued direct payment of 13 per cent derivation to state governments, describing it as illegal and unconstitutional.

The ‎group made the assertion yesterday at their stakeholders meeting in Benin City, Edo State where they declared that most of the states in the Niger Delta region were not using the fund judiciously for the benefit of their host communities.

In a related development, a group of ex-militants yesterday threatened to resume hostilities in the oil producing areas of Ondo State if the Federal Government fails to appoint an indigene of the area to the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The ex-militants, code named the Eagle Strike Camp in Ilaje area of the state, lamented that their ethnic group was grossly marginalized in government appointments despite several entreaties by indigenes of the area.

In a statement signed by Mr. Niyi Uyimitigha and three other members of the group, they said out of the nine oil producing state in the country, only the area has no representative on the board of the NDDC since Mr. Tokunbo Ajasin was disqualified on account of being a non- indigene of the area.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2mhhjx8

Ondo PDP cautions Akeredolu on creation of LCDAs (Read full details)

http://ift.tt/2lWqBxR

Akeredolu

Following the dissolution of local councils in Ondo State, the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned Governor Rotimi Akeredolu against creating new Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), saying it will cause unnecessary distractions and confusion.

The party claimed there were alleged plans by the Akeredolu administration to create LCDAs and appoint members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as council chairmen.

PDP’s Director of Publicity, Mr. Ayo Fadaka, who had earlier raised an alarm on alleged plots to attack the PDP council executives by APC members, said in Akure yesterday that the creation of LCDAs would only cause unnecessary tension in the state.

He also alleged that the APC-led state government plans to starve the PDP controlled 18 local councils of funds and the necessary support for smooth administration.

But the Vice Chairman of the APC in the state, Mr. Ade Adetimehin, assured that the government had no plans to create new LCDAs at the moment and dismissed PDP allegations as wrong and misleading.

“I don’t know where the PDP got their information from. Creation of LCDAs takes a long process and it is not in our plans for now. We just took over the government. What we are doing now is how to move the state forward. The PDP is just raising unnecessary alarm,” he said.

But Fadaka said: “If they think they want to create LCDAs because those that currently control the local government in the state are members of the PDP, we must tell them that they are really preparing for a serious discord in our state.”

Meanwhile, Akeredolu had assured that he has no plans to dissolve the existing local government councils as it had been widely speculated before and after his swearing-in ceremony.

The governor’s lawyer, Mr. Charles Titiloye, disclosed at the Court of Appeal that the governor was unaware of any suit on dissolution of the 18 local government councils in the state.

Whereas Akeredolu had purportedly appealed a judgment delivered by Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi of the state High Court in January 2017, restraining him from removing the council bosses from office.

But Titiloye affirmed that the governor was neither aware of the High Court order restraining him from dissolving the councils nor the appeal supposedly filed by him.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2mPUiEM

UN lauds military onslaught against insurgency, pledges more aid (Read full details)

http://ift.tt/2lcBmQh

The theatre commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major-General Lucky Irabor. PHOTO:

Nigeria has only 18 months to tackle crisis

The United Nations Security Council has commended the Nigerian military for its successful operations against Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast.

President of the council, Mathew Rycroft who led 14 permanent ambassadors on an assessment tour of the humanitarian crisis in Borno state said the UN was in support of the troops’ operations.

The ambassadors on the tour were those of China, Japan, United States of America, United Kingdom, South Korea, Senegal, Ethiopia, Germany, Norway and France.

He said: “The security council had resolved to help the Nigerian government to overcome its humanitarian challenges in the Lake Chad region.”He added that the member countries in the region would scale up their humanitarian assistance to ensure the resettlement of the over 2.6 million displaced persons.

He said the crisis in the northeast would no longer be neglected, as the UN Security Council had assessed the situation on ground. The delegation, which also visited the state governor Kashim Shettima, described the crisis as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises in recent times.

Rycroft said at a press conference in Abuja yesterday that:
“The crisis in the Lake Chad Basin is one of the largest and the most neglected crisis and we want to shine the spotlight so that the whole world, including the government of the region could step up response before it is too late.

“We have only 18 month to attend to this crisis, because after that the Nigerian government would be busy with elections. It is important that the problem is addressed before the next elections.”

He also urged the Nigerian government to disburse the $1bn that it pledged at the Oslo Conference in response to the humanitarian crisis.Shettima urged the council to increase its humanitarian assistance, adding that his government was committed to job creation and education, particularly that of the girl child.

According to him, the root cause of the Boko Haram insurgency is illiteracy, poverty and unemployment, hence his government has committed huge investments to the sector.

The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj-Gen. Lucky Irabor, disclosed that the porous borders between Nigeria and the neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroon in the Lake Chad region was the greatest challenge that the military was facing.Irabor said the military had adopted a code of conduct and rules of engagement to ensure that the rights of citizens were not violated.

He stressed that the army had also constituted a court martial to try the ‘bad eggs’ in the military. He solicited greater support of the UN to ensure that these borders are well secured.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2n8Es45

Shiites fault government’s claims on activities similar to Boko Haram (Read full details)

http://ift.tt/2lxYhWi

Shiites

Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiites have faulted the claim by the Federal Government that its activities are similar to that of Boko Haram insurgents.

The group also condemned the continued detention of its leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, after the Federal High Court, Abuja ordered their release.

IMN in their reaction to a response by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to a report by Amnesty International said, “the response signed by the ministry’s spokesperson misfired on several grounds.”

Debunking the submission by the government that Shiites should be equated to Boko Haram, the spokesman of the group, Mallam Ibrahim Musa in a statement yesterday said: “We are particularly concerned with what the ministry said concerning the case of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky that his case is a high and sensitive national security issue.

“It further alleged that the activities of the Sheikh Zakzaky-led movement is reminiscent of Boko Haram, which has become a menace and a source of concern not only to Nigeria, but to the world. This is a wild and baseless allegation by the ministry.”

The Shiites spokesman added: “The ministry further said that the conduct of the movement cannot be tolerated by any progressive democratic government. What is progressive or even democratic about a government that tramples on citizens’ rights with impunity and reckless abandon?

What is democratic about a government that violates the constitution and disregards the rule of law?”

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2mz1app

Halogen bridges gap on Abuja Airport closure (Read full details)

http://ift.tt/2lPZljz

Halogen Security Company Ltd<br />

Nigeria foremost security solutions services provider, Halogen Security Company Ltd, has perfected plans to ensure that air travellers to and from Abuja during the six weeks that the Abuja Airport will be closed for maintenance will do so in style, safety and comfort through its Secured Mobility Business.

In conjunction with charter partners, the company will be providing air travel options for intending travellers into Abuja through Minna, while also rendering executive chauffer and escort services from Kaduna Airport to Abuja.

Uche Mojekwu, Associate Director, Brand and Strategic Marketing, Halogen Security Company, said, “we are out to provide individual and corporate bodies with travel security and ‘peace of mind’ during the six-week closure period announced by the Federal Government. Our services will be in three categories of Halo Secured Air Plus, Halo Secured Ground Plus and Halo Secured Ground solutions available in premium, executive and classic.”

She explained that travellers who opt for the Halo Secured Air Plus will be flown in a chartered aircraft and subsequently shuttled to Abuja in a helicopter from Lagos or Port Harcourt, with an option to provide a chauffeur driven vehicle, escort team and other land transportation requirements within Abuja.

Those who flew other airlines may opt for Halo Secured Ground Plus or Halo Secured Ground Solution. The passenger will be offered free on-line personal trackers, chauffeured into Abuja from Kaduna Airport (or vice versa) with options of bullet proof and executive SUVs, buses or saloon cars in a lead and chase escorts formation, under the careful watch of high level security commanders.

“Our solutions provide different options for individual and corporate bodies to take advantage of the charter and helicopter charter services; free personal trackers for passengers, security trained chauffeurs with different options of SUV, salon cars and buses; escort team in a lead and chase formation under the professional watch of our high level commanders,” she said.

These services, according to her, are available on affordable rates and have been carefully designed to provide safe, comfortable and a unique travel experience to our clients during this period.

Abuja currently receives over 12,000 air travellers daily which would require adequate planning and logistics, hence the solution. She enjoined businesses and individuals to enjoy comfort, save both time and money, while also avoiding psychological trauma by taking advantage of the innovative services by Halogen.

Halogen Security Company was established in 1992 specifically to meet increasing challenges in Nigeria’s security industry. The company has grown into a total security solutions powerhouse with bespoke cutting edge security solutions across focused sectors delivered within the spectrum of global best practice with presence in the thirty six states and the Federal Capital Territory. The company operates in association with Bidvest South Africa on the basis of technical expertise and operational efficiency. It is the first indigenous security company to earn the NIS:ISO 9001:2000 certification which has been upgraded to NIS:ISO 9001:2008. Intending travelers who want to take advantage of this service can contact the company on protocol@halogensecurity.com. 

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2myZKv2

Novelist Paula Fox dies at 93…Read full details

http://ift.tt/2m9tdZW

Paula Fox

The award-winning children’s novelist Paula Fox, known for frankly exploring abandonment and loss, has died in New York. She was 93.

Fox died at a hospital near her Brooklyn home, her daughter, Linda Carroll-Barraud told The New York Times.

She was awarded the Newbery Medal, the top children’s literature honor, in 1974 for “The Slave Dancer.” The controversial novel centered on the Atlantic slave trade in the mid-19th century.

Over her long career, Fox penned more than 20 books for young people and six aimed at adults.

They were tied together by her spare style and interest in the breaking down of things — from families to health to love.

The feelings were familiar to Fox, who wrote about her parents not wanting her: they left her in a foundling hospital and went off to travel.

Her life zigged and zagged, from being brought up in the United States and Cuba by family, friends and a small-town preacher, then reclaimed by her parents. At 16, she left to follow her own path.

She briefly studied at New York’s prestigious Julliard School for musicians, worked as a journalist and married twice. She thrived at writing for decades.

Fox was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1978 for her body of children’s work.

She is survived by her husband, two children and several grandchildren, including the rock star-actress Courtney Love, 52.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2mcBv50

Rohr replaces Mikel with Ndidi

Kaduna workers allege unfair plans to sell govt quarters

Father docked over alleged rape of his daughter

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

A 52-year-old man, Chukwuma Eze, was yesterday charged before an Ikeja chief magistrate’s court in Lagos for allegedly raping his daughter.

The accused, a driver, who resides at 2, Agbeke Close, Iyana-Era, Badagry Expressway, a suburb of Lagos, is facing a charge of rape.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Raphael Donny, told the court that the offence was committed in June 2016 at the accused’s residence.

He said: “The accused raped his 17-year-old daughter and threatened to kill her if she tells anyone.

“The victim’s mother was separated from her father and because of this, she stays with her mother and goes to her father for holidays.

“When the victim got to her mother’s house, she told her what happened,”

Donny said that the accused was later apprehended by the police.

The offence contravened Section 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, entered a “not guilty” plea.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Davies Abegunde, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Abegunde adjourned the case to March 22, for advice from the Office of the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

The post Father docked over alleged rape of his daughter appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2mghX0k

Nationwide strike: Health workers extend ultimatum by 7 days

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

By Chioma Obinna

Lagos—Following the expiration of its 30-day strike ultimatum two days ago, health workers under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals, NUAHP, yesterday extended its strike notice by seven days.

In a press statement signed by its National General Secretary, Comrade O.A Obisesan and made available to Vanguard, the union announced 6th of March, 2017 as the new date for the commencement of the nationwide strike.

Obisesan explained that the extension was based on the request made by the representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Employment and Head of Service, Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission during a meeting in Abuja, where Federal Ministry of Health was conspicuously absent, for the union to shift ground on the strike since a high level body was already meeting on the matters in contention.

Continuing, he said; “We unanimously agreed that the strike ultimatum be shifted by one week to enable the government communicate and implement the outcome of the meeting to the union with a view to averting the industrial action.

“All members are hereby put on notice to withdraw their services with effect from 12:01am on 6th  March, 2017 until otherwise instructed.”

The  NUAHP  last month issued a 30-day strike ultimatum to the government for ignoring the plight of their members and inflicting pains on Nigerians.

The ultimatum would have elapses on 27th of last month.

 

The post Nationwide strike: Health workers extend ultimatum by 7 days appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2mHqZAX

CAF Elections: Hayatou’s opponent, Ahmad storms Nigeria

Abia seeks partnership with NYSC on production of kits

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

By Caleb Ayansina
ABUJA — Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, yesterday, told the leadership of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC,  that artisans in the state could produce better uniforms and footwears for corps members, seeking collaboration between Abia and NYSC on the production of kits for corps members.

Ikpeazu, who spoke when he met with NYSC Director-General, Brigadier-General Suleiman Kazaure, in Abuja, said over one million pairs of shoes were being exported from Abia State on weekly basis,  contending that partnering the scheme would boost the economy of the state and also empower young Nigerians.

According to him, “I can assure you that 80 percent of the products are produced in Aba, because we have quality assurance in Aba today. We want to have products that we can put our stamp of authority so that we can be held responsible.”

The governor promised to see to the establishment of an outfit for the production of NYSC kits to train corps members and empower those with good business proposals.

He said: “We will do something around helping the Abia people to get this bank guarantee we are talking about. We are working our way around it to favour the voiceless, those people who are actually doing this with their hands, yet they are unable to interpret the language of the bank.”

Responding, Kazaure told the governor that Abia producers were welcome to NYSC bidding/procurement process to avoid going contrary to legal rules.

He maintained that the scheme was widely respected for its law-abiding principle, though it believed the governor and the Abians, procurement rules would be strictly followed.

“Once Abia people meet our standard, they will have our support. NYSC is not in doubt about what is happening in Abia State.” he added.

 

The post Abia seeks partnership with NYSC on production of kits appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2mgvHs4