Elder Dempser – Make A Way [Mp3, Lyrics, Wiki, Bio]

http://ift.tt/2kZqa9E

Elder Dempster is an anointed songwriter and singer, an inspiration to many. This dynamic international award winning gospel musician envisions dynamic worship songs and lively praise tunes which God has been using to bless the church of Christ, restoring joy with his songs of faith, ushering people into the manifest presence of God that will inturn renew their passion for God and a conquering faith.
He is out with the 2 Singles off his forth coming studio album titled “MOST HIGH”

Elder Dempser – Make A Way

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2myQO5v

Boko Haram attack kills seven in Nigeria (Read full details)

http://ift.tt/2kSkJWH

PHOTO:AFP

At least seven soldiers were killed in a Boko Haram attack on military positions in northeast Nigeria, a civilian vigilante and a security source said on Friday.

The attack happened in the town of Gajiram, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) by road north of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, on Wednesday afternoon.

A military source in Maiduguri and a civilian vigilante, Babakura Kolo, both told AFP on Thursday that the fighting lasted for about two hours and that three soldiers were killed.

But Kolo said on Friday that the toll was had risen and that it was “now seven, including one lieutenant, and six rank and file.

“Yesterday, three bodies of soldiers were found but four more bodies were found during a search.”

The security source said three militants were also killed and troops were combing the area to find other rebel fighters.

AFP contacted the military for comment but there was no immediate response.

Fighters loyal to Abu Musab Al-Barnawi were suspected of carrying out the attack, said Kolo.

The Islamic State group, to which Boko Haram is affiliated, announced that Barnawi was leader last year.

He split from the faction following long-time Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau in opposition at his indiscriminate attacks on civilians.

Barnawi has instead vowed to hit only “hard” targets such as the military and police. His group is believed to operate in northern Borno state, towards Lake Chad and the border with Niger.

According to the security source, the insurgents went door to door collecting recently distributed food aid for residents.

Kolo said vigilantes had been told by arrested Boko Haram suspects that they sourced most of their food from Gajiram and Monguno, a garrison town 60 kilometres away.

Nigeria’s government wants the hundreds of thousands of displaced people staying in camps and host communities to return to their homes as soon as the military makes areas safe again.

But another attack on Wednesday near Gajiganna, some 50 kilometres from Maiduguri on the way to Gajiram, highlighted the risks they run.

“Some displaced people were returning to their villages in the area to harvest their abandoned cornfields when they were intercepted by Boko Haram,” said Kolo.

“They killed some and took away others,” he said, without specifying a death toll.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2kUfdGn

Toure says Man City need more goals to see off Monaco

http://ift.tt/2l7CwIv

Manchester City's Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure / AFP PHOTO / OLLY GREENWOOD

Manchester City’s Yaya Toure believes his side must score at least two more goals against Monaco if they are to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

City twice came from behind to defeat the Ligue 1 leaders in a stunning 5-3 win in the first leg of their last 16 clash at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, with Sergio Aguero scoring twice for the Premier League club.

But given how their defence was tested at home, midfielder Toure said merely trying to defend their lead was not a viable tactic for the second leg in Monaco in three weeks’ time.

“The game is not finished, we have one game to play away in Monaco. We don’t have to underestimate them and must try to score goals again. We are a team that can get the goals but we can concede goals,” Toure said.

The 33-year-old Ivory Coast international, out of contract at the end of the season, added: “Monaco are such a good team, as you could see. People underrated them but it was not easy.

“They are young, they have pace, they have desire and we needed to show more. I think we showed more. After going two down we continued to believe.

“After the game my wife called me and said we were looking young today, the team was brilliant.”

Raheem Sterling gave City a 26th-minute lead but a loose kick by home goalkeeper Willy Caballero enabled Monaco to level through Radamel Falcao’s header.

A dawdling Nicolas Otamendi was at fault for Monaco’s second goal, scored by Kylian Mbappe, and then conceded a penalty, only for Caballero to save Falcao’s effort.

Sergio Aguero and Falcao swapped goals, the latter scoring with a sublime chip.

Aguero’s volley made it 3-3 in the 71st minute before City surged ahead as further goals from John Stones and Leroy Sane saw Pep Guardiola’s men to a remarkable win.

“The goalkeeper Caballero made the important save to be honest,” said Toure. “He put us back in the game again.”

He added: “The game was unbelievable. That is why I want to stay in Europe. We saw a real team. We were fighting, running everywhere.

“But we need to continue. We are delighted with the win but maybe we can score more, because in the Champions League it always costs when you concede goals.”

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mbBe06

Shun acts that can breed disunity, criss, tells Christians

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Saturday enjoined Christians to continue to make conscious efforts to sustain the peaceful atmosphere across the country, urging them to also refrain from acts capable of breeding division and igniting avoidable crisis.

The Governor, who spoke at the 2017 Inter-Denominational Divine Service organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the Shepherdhill Baptist Church, Obanikoro, Lagos, said he was absolutely convinced that the success stories his administration has recorded so far were made possible by the collective prayers of all Lagosians and more importantly the relatively peaceful atmosphere that has prevailed within the State over time.

“Every situation whether good or bad requires prayers. For us in Lagos State, we have been truly blessed. Indeed, we have enjoyed His grace which has enabled us as a State, to experience unprecedented breakthroughs inspite of economic recession. For instance, a lot of investments and new businesses have come into our State in the last twenty-one (21) months and there are many more in the process.

He therefore urged Christians to lead from the front and continue to pray for not just the progress of the State but the nation at large, just as he assured that his government will continue to promote fairness, justice and everything that will make life more comfortable for Lagosians.

“At this critical period in the history of our nation, the church and indeed everyone who believes in the efficacy of prayer have a responsibility and patriotic duty to pray for the wellbeing and progress of our State and nation. Prayer is the master key and there is no challenge that cannot be surmounted with prayers.

“We remain committed to the goal of making the Lagos work for all; making all our communities economically viable and liveable as well as creating opportunities for everyone to actualise his/her potentials, without discrimination on the basis of ethnic affiliation, religious beliefs or socio- economic circumstances. By His grace, Lagos State will continue to prosper and our nation will rise again and become a pride to the entire black race and humanity,” Governor Ambode said.

The Governor, who also expressed his delight to be part of the service, commended the Chairman, Executives and entire membership of CAN in Lagos, for sustaining the initiative which has become a yearly event that brings Christians from different denomination to worship and pray together.

Earlier, Chairman of CAN, Lagos State Branch, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola thanked Governor Ambode for finding time to grace the occasion, noting that it was the first time in the history of the service that a Governor of Lagos State of the Christian faith would be attending the programme personally.

Bamgbola also lauded the Governor for the several laudable projects he had initiated since he assumed office, saying that Lagosians were greatly feeling the impact across the State.

“We wish to let you know here today that we are proud of the wonderful and excellent work that the Lord is using you t do in our dear state of Lagos. In less than two years, God has used you to do great work that every well-meaning Lagosian is commending daily. It is self-evident that truly: ‘Itesiwaju Eko lo jewa l’ogun”, the CAN boss said.

Corroborating him, Rev. Sunday Matilukuro who gave the sermon, said he was particularly amazed on how Governor Ambode was able to surmount the early challenges his administration faced to deliver life changing projects across the State.

“When I was in my former station, we were reading about the traffic jam all over Lagos and I was wondering what was happening, but when I came on visit to Lagos, I was wondering what the noise was all about because what I was seeing was different. You are gradually transforming Lagos to the megacity that it is,” Matilukuro said.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Grace in a Recession’, the cleric urged Christians to seek the face of God and shun sin if they must rise above recession to succeed.

The post Shun acts that can breed disunity, criss, tells Christians appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2m0mPDV

JNI prays for Buhari’s quick recovery, safe return

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Dutse – The Jigawa chapter of the Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI) has organised a special prayer for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari and his safe return to the country.

Its Secretary, Malam Muhammad Babangida, disclosed on Sunday in Dutse.

Babangida said the prayer was conducted on Friday in Miga local government area of the state.

He explained that a special prayer was also offered for peace and economic prosperity in the country.

According to him, the gesture is to seek God’s intervention in the nation’s quest to overcome the present insecurity in some parts of the country.

Babangida expressed optimism that fervent prayers by Nigerians would enable the Buhari administration to overcome the nation’s challenges.

He said the president, governors and other leaders needed prayers for God’s grace and wisdom to steer the affairs of the nation toward salvaging it from its present challenges.

The post JNI prays for Buhari’s quick recovery, safe return appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2l9geZo

Turning 93, Zimbabwe’s Mugabe rules out retirement

Go to court over alleged diversion of N388.304bn Paris Club loan by states, SERAP tells FG

http://ift.tt/2kBlsyp

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has written to the Accountant – General of the Federation Alh. Ahmed Idris, FCNA requesting him “to urgently pass on information to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN relating to the release of N388.304 billion London Paris Club loan refunds to 35 states by the federal government so that Mr Malami can take steps to initiate legal action against the states that allegedly diverted and mismanaged the funds.”

The organization asked Alh. Idris to compile and pass on information on the spending of the funds by states to Mr Malami so that he can take appropriate legal action to “compel the states to widely publish, including on a dedicated website, details of spending of the funds by them. We request that you take this step within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter, failing which SERAP will institute legal proceedings to compel the discharge of duty in this matter.”

In the open letter dated 17 February 2017 and signed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni the organization said: “SERAP strongly believes that passing on information on the spending by states of N388.304 billion London Paris Club loan refunds to Mr Malami and bringing a case against the states that have allegedly diverted and mismanaged funds meant for payment of salaries and pension is rational, and would be a powerful tool to deter corruption in the states of the federation.”
The letter reads in part: “Pursuing such action will also send a strong message that President Muhammadu Buhari would not tolerate corruption in the disbursement of funds by his government no matter who is involved. Such legal action will be deemed incidental to the power of the federal government to achieve effective implementation of anticorruption legislation such as the ICPC Act, which is applicable in all states of the federation, and will not amount to interference with activities within the states involved.”
“The Accountant General of the Federation ought to be decisive in this matter and pass on the information on the release and spending of the funds, especially given the fact that the current economic problem and recession is largely attributable to widespread corruption and abuse of power, and that foreign countries generally regard and treat Nigerians as corrupt people.”

“To do otherwise is to limit the scope of the anticorruption agenda of the federal government, and encourage impunity for alleged corruption and mismanagement within these states.”

“SERAP is seriously concerned about allegations of corruption and mismanagement of funds by several states including under-declaration of refunds; diversion of some of the loan funds; curious payment of service charge to some consultants and tracing of some of the cash to personal accounts of some governors.”

“Rather than spending the funds to pay all outstanding salaries of workers and provide targeted social assistance schemes for pensioners, several states have allegedly diverted and mismanaged the funds.”
“SERAP is also concerned that allegations of corruption and mismanagement of in the spending of N388.304 billion London Paris Club loan refunds have undermined the human dignity of workers and pensioners facing difficult circumstances that deprive them of their capacity to fully realize their internationally recognized economic and social rights.”
“The allegations of corruption in the spending of the London Paris Club loan refunds have also exacerbated poverty, social exclusion, and violated the government’s obligation to use its maximum available resources to fully realize the right of all persons especially workers and pensioners who are the most vulnerable sectors of the population.”
“Allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the spending of N388.304 billion London Paris Club loan refunds by states are of utmost national concerns, as they affect the body politic of the country, and undermine constitutional authority of the federal government to fight corruption and abuse of power under enabling legislation.”
“Legal action your office is also wholly consistent with the aim of the Constitution to wipe out corrupt practices, as entrenched in section 15(5) of the1999 Constitution (as amended) which provides that “the state shall abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power.”
“Under section 10(2) of the Interpretation Act, the constitution and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, which confer power to do any act, “shall be construed as also conferring all such other powers as are reasonably necessary to enable that act to be done or are incidental to the doing of it.”
“SERAP notes that President Muhammadu Buhari has promised that his government will take corruption and abuse of power regardless of who is involved, and underscored the fact that there can be no sustainable development where corruption is the norm.”

“SERAP therefore asks you to release the information on the funds to Mr Malami so that he can take steps to pursue appropriate legal action against states that allegedly diverted and mismanaged the London Paris Club loan refunds with a view to seeking from the state publication of the following including on a dedicated website: a. Detailed information on the total amount of the London Paris Club loan refunds that have been spent by each state; b. Details on the total amount of the funds spent on outstanding workers’ salaries and pension as well as other projects as appropriate.”

“According to SERAP’s information, the Federal Government released N388.304billion of the N522.74 billion to 35 states as refunds of over-deductions on London-Paris Club loans. The amounts received by the states are as follows: Akwa Ibom N14.5bn; Bayelsa N14.5bn; Delta N14.5bn; Kaduna N14.3bn; Katsina N14,5bn; Lagos N14.5bn; Rivers N14.5bn; Borno N13,654138,849.49; Imo 13bn; Jigawa 13.2bn; Niger N13.4bn; Bauchi N12.7bn and Benue N12.7bn.”

“Other states Anambra N11.3bn; Cross River N11.3bn8; Edo N11.3bn; Kebbi N11bn; Kogi N11.2bn; Osun N11.7bn; Sokoto N11.9bn; Abia N10.6bn; Ogun N10.6bn; Plateau N10.4bn; Yobe N10bn; and Zamfara N10bn. Other states are: Adamawa N4.8bn; Ebonyi N3.3bn; Ekiti N8.8bn; Enugu N9.9bn; Gombe N8.3bn; Kwara N5.4bn; Nasarawa N8.4bn; Ondo N6.5bn; Oyo N7.2bn and Taraba N4.2bn.”

The post Go to court over alleged diversion of N388.304bn Paris Club loan by states, SERAP tells FG appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2l9gI1S

Man butchers wife for ritual, buries corpse in shallow grave

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

BY EVELYN USMAN

Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 36-year- old man who allegedly murdered his wife for ritual purpose in Ijora.

The suspect , Shakiru Bello, was apprehended in Ibadan, Oyo State, where he had allegedly gone to take cover after the alleged dastardly act in an uncompleted building, on Monday.

He was alleged to have dismembered the wife’s body with cutlass and buried her in a shallow grave in order  not to give himself away, before leaving for Ibadan, his home town.

Luck was said to have run against him following suspicion on the disappearance of the wife, Sherifat, by his in-law. Their suspicion, according to a relative of the deceased, followed earlier alleged attempt on the wife by the husband.

It was gathered that  the suspect allegedly inserted  some charms into Sherifat’s private part while sleeping in their one room apartment in Shomolu area of the state, a situation that led her to stay away from him for some time.

However, on Monday, the deceased was said to have called the husband on phone, demanding N10,000 for the upkeep of their three children. They agreed to meet in Ebute-Metta area, from where they proceeded to Ijora where the alleged act took place.

Residents besieged Ijora Police Division after the news of the incident spread. Some of the curious residents followed the police and the suspect to the shallow grave where the corpse of Sherifat was buried and subsequently exhumed.

The dismembered body parts, which included the head, two hands and legs, were in decomposing state. The  stench from the exhumed body parts did not deter the anxious crowd from having a glimpse of them.

At this point, the crowd called for instant justice on the suspect, appealing to the police to release him for mob action.

In order to avoid the invasion of the police station, the suspect and exhibits were taken to the Area ‘B’  Command, Apapa, with some residents still following on motorcycles.

During interrogation, the suspect, blamed the incident on the devil.

“I don’t know what to say than it was the devil that pushed me into butchering my wife. I am from Ibadan, in Oyo State.We have been married for 14 years now. We have three children. I was at Shomolu when she called me to meet her at Estate bus stop, Ebutte-Metta.  She wanted to collect N10, 000 from me.

We later went to Ijora area where I killed her inside an uncompleted building. I killed her on Monday. If I did not bury her, people will easily link me with her death. Yet I have been caught. It was the work of the devil”.

The suspect, as gathered, would be transferred to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba.

The post Man butchers wife for ritual, buries corpse in shallow grave appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2lwavO0

2017 Budget: Taking the process a notch higher

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

By Yusuph Olaniyonu

Since President Muhammadu Buhari submitted the 2017 Appropriations proposal to the joint sitting of the two branches of the National Assembly last December, many Nigerians have been on the watch to know what difference will attend the process of passing it compared to that of last year.

The 2016 process was bedevilled with so many problems. First, while members of the National Assembly proceeded on End of year recess after receiving the document so late from the President, during the holiday, there were speculations that the document submitted in the full glare of the public had developed wings. Though the National Assembly insisted the information was untrue, later facts revealed that what happened was an attempt by some officials from the executive arm to replace what the President submitted with a new document.

President Buhari eventually wrote the federal legislature formally replacing the budget proposal. This was followed by series of denials of the proposed estimates contained in the budget by some Ministries, Departments and Agencies. These rebuttals and rejection of the proposed estimates by MDAs became what is now famously referred to as ‘Budget Padding’. This is because it is believed that some bureaucrats in the Budget Office inflated and imported strange figures into the Appropriation Bill without the knowledge of the heads of MDAs to which they are attributed.

The budget padding syndrome led to the sanctioning of some officials in the Budget Office. To strengthen the operation of the office, a new head, Dr. Ben Akabueze was appointed. Remember the 2016 budget was the first full budget to be prepared and implemented by the Buhari administration. Thus, apart from the shake-up in the Budget Office, it is obvious that both the executive and the legislature needed to buckle up to avoid a repeat of the embarrassment that attended the last year’s budget.

In preparation for this year’s budget, the Senate set up a committee comprising Senators and members from the Ministry of Budget and the National Institute of Legislative Studies (NILS) to review the process and make recommendations for improvements. The committee headed by then majority leader, Sen. Ali Ndume suggested several methods and measures which if eventually adopted will ease the process, make it more thorough and transparent.

One of the recommendations is a time table which will see the President submitting the budget well on time while the passage and assent to the Appropriation bill will take place before the end of the year.

More importantly, the National Assembly under its Chairman and Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki canvassed and emphasised improved consultations between the Presidency and the legislature so that majority of the grey and dark areas of the budget would have been cleared between both sides before the process commences.

From the legislative point, the lawmakers on their own had several in-house discussions where all members were made to understand what to do and have their time-line on the process of passage of the budget. The Senate and House of Representatives officially commenced the process on January 24 with a three-day plenary debate of the general principles of the 2017 budget. On   January 26, Saraki held a meeting with Committee chairmen to brief them on the need to be diligent, transparent and be fast about the budget. During the briefing, Saraki distributed a document prepared by a Civil Society Organisation, BudgIt, which already identified 601 areas of the budget proposal which it termed “Frivolous and Suspicious Items”. The BudgIt document is expected to serve as a guide for the legislators.

Last Monday, the National Assembly unfolded another innovation into the budget process with the commencement of a three-day unprecedented public hearing. This enables members of the public, Civil society groups, socio-cultural groups and others to have a say in what the budget will eventually look like. Through the public hearing, the National Assembly is broadening and democratising participation in the budget process.

The defence before the legislative committees by MDAs which was concluded last Friday has been devoid of any allegation or scandal. The committees are keeping to the time table agreed with their leadership. It is also expected that harmonisation at committee level has been concluded. By tomorrow, submission of committee reports to the Appropriation Committee based on an earlier announced schedule will begin and end on Friday, February 24. On Tuesday February 21, plenary will resume. All that will now be left will be compilation of committee reports, engagement of the leadership by the appropriation committee as well as interface with some committees, laying reports at plenary and consideration/passage of the budget.

It is expected that before the end of March, the budget should be ready for assent by President Buhari. This will be clear ten weeks gained considering that the 2016 budget in operation was passed in May. The early passage of the budget will give ample time for the National Assembly to roll out the plan contained in the reports of the Committee on Budget reform to create a system-driven, process-oriented auto-Pilot budget process before the next exercise.

The success of the budget process as planned by the National Assembly will affect its implementation and relevance in uplifting the standard of living of the people. That is the objective of the first ever public hearing on the passage of the Appropriation Act introduced by National Assembly.

 

*Olaniyonu is Special Adviser to Senate President on Media and Publicity.

The post 2017 Budget: Taking the process a notch higher appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2kW4g2I

Alleged disparity in troops’ payments, posting: Army asks those dissatisfied to quit

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

THE Nigerian Army has asked its personnel dissatisfied with its operations to voluntarily quit the service if they so wish.

The Army said the statement was necessitated by what it called “ a campaign of calumny on social media platforms by some individuals or group of persons bordering on payment of troops operations allowances, rotation in the North East and comparing troops’ pay to what obtains in neighbouring countries.”

In a statement through its spokesman, Brigadier General Sani Usman, the Army, which said it would launch investigation into the development, noted that the “fabricators are most probably being sponsored by the categories of people that frustrated themselves out of the   Army and political self-defeatists.”

“They are clearly sentimental and   lack knowledge of the Nigerian Army of today.

“Any soldier who is not satisfied with the professional drive of the Nigerian Army and that of the government can do himself a world of good by voluntarily discharging from the Nigerian Army, “the statement quoted the Nigerian Army as saying.

The full statement read in part :” The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a campaign of calumny on social media platforms by some individuals or group of persons.

“The faceless persons have been making spurious and unfounded allegations bordering on payment of troops operations allowances, rotation in the North East and comparing troops’ pay to what obtains in neighbouring countries.

“The fabricators are most probably being sponsored by the categories of people that frustrated themselves out of the   Army and political self-defeatists.

“They are clearly sentimental and   lack knowledge of the Nigerian Army of today.”

The post Alleged disparity in troops’ payments, posting: Army asks those dissatisfied to quit appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2lw0SPi

FG Vs. Chidi Duru: Questioning the efficacy of our justice system

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

By Bayo Akintola

Nze Chidi Duru, a former House of Representatives member, was, on Monday, January 16, 2017, arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court at Tinubu, Lagos, alongside Mr. Smart Iheazor. Duru and Iheazor, said to be lawyers of 28 and 30 years at the Bar, respectively, were alleged to have conspired with others still at large and invaded the office of the First Guarantee Pension Limited (FGPL), a pension fund administrator, with the intent to forcefully take over the management and assets of the company. The Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police charged them with a four-count charge of stealing, conspiracy, impersonation and breach of peace.

Three weeks after, the Federal Government, again, arraigned Duru before Hon. Justice Peter Affen on a four-count charge of criminal breach of trust and forgery.  Counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, told the court that Duru diverted N16m of First Guarantee Pension and used it to purchase lands in Lagos in favour of Grand Towers Plc and MVJJDA Africa Ltd, companies he has interest in. Duru was also accused of falsifying an ordinary resolution of FGPL dated June 2, 2008 and forged the signatures of the subscribers/shareholders of the company and used it for fraud.

While the Lagos matter was adjourned to  March 9,  Abuja case was adjourned to February 27, for hearing of Duru’s preliminary objection to his trial.

Duru was alleged to have committed the offences of criminal breach of trust and forging of shareholders signatures in 2008. He was indicted and sacked by the PENCOM Board in 2011 for serial  alleged fraud, forgery of shareholders signatures and fraudulent diversion of their funds running into millions. The then Inspector-General of Police, M.D. Abubakar, in 2012, arrested and granted Duru bail but went to procure an injunction restraining the police from prosecuting him. The I.G declared Duru and his brother, Ugochukwu Duru, wanted.

It is on record that the EFCC before then arrested Duru in 2011 over allegations of financial crimes against the pension administrator (FGPL).

The Magu-led EFCC seemed to have played a fast one on Duru by deploying operational intelligence to withdraw the charges in Lagos. It was apparently used to lure him out of alleged hiding and it worked. As soon as the charges were withdrawn, Duru announced that EFCC had exonerated him of the criminal allegations regarding First Guarantee Pension. Perhaps this emboldened him to go to the FGPL in a bid to take over its management despite pending cases on the matter at the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

Duru’s family, on their part, turned the law upside down when they rushed to the media to say that the arraignment of their son again, by EFCC, on a charge it previously withdrew amounts to double jeopardy.

The police should be commended for promptly arresting and charging Duru to court just five days after he went to the pension fund administrator’s office. In previous cases, Duru had allegedly dodged  law enforcement agencies.

However, while stakeholders in the pension industry are celebrating the  trial of  Duru, we should rather question the fact that he is just being arraigned afresh almost 10 years after allegedly committing the said offences. This raises serious questions about the efficacy of our justice system.

The central goal of our criminal justice system should be to deliver justice to all in an effective, accountable, and fair manner. But in Nigeria, the legal principle that “justice delayed is justice denied” no longer means anything to us.

In the Duru case, the court is still hearing the bail petitions and preliminary objections of the accused nearly a decade after the alleged crimes were committed. This should not be so!  An accused person who is convinced of his innocence should be keen on quick dispensation of his case to clear his/her name and free himself/herself from that tainted toga of criminality. Nigerians, especially the pension community, want to see an end to this matter in the overall public interest.

*Akintola is Lagos based public affairs analyst.

 

The post FG Vs. Chidi Duru: Questioning the efficacy of our justice system appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2kW2qim