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EFCC to arraign Obanikoro, Fani-Kayode in Nov
Jonathan under attack for saying Dasuki didn’t steal $2.1bn
Condemnation on Tuesday greeted the comments by former President Goodluck Jonathan that a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd,), did not steal $2.1bn contrary to the accusation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, currently prosecuting the ex-NSA.
Jonathan had stated that it was inconceivable to say that Dasuki stole $2.2bn, contending that his government, where Dasuki served as the NSA, bought warships, aircraft and a lot of equipment for the military during the period.
Dasuki, who has been in detention since mid-2015, is being prosecuted by the EFCC for alleged diversion of arms fund, totalling $2.1bn.
Jonathan argued that it would not be right to say that $2.2bn was stolen with the equipment and arms bought by his administration when he delivered a lecture on Youth Entrepreneurship at the Oxford Union in the United Kingdom on Tuesday.
Jonathan, in a statement by an Abuja-based public relations outfit, the PR Nigeria, said he had kept quiet to allow the court to handle the ongoing prosecution of the former NSA so as not to be seen as a former President challenging a sitting administration.
But the Presidency called on Jonathan to allow the court to decide the fate of his former NSA.
When asked to react to the comment, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the courts should be allowed to decide the matter which he said was subjudice.
Recession: Buhari seeks N’Assembly’s approval for $29.96bn loan
Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, expressed sadness over the sack of the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Umezuluike, by the National Judicial Council.
The NJC had, at its 78th meeting on September 29, recommended Umezuluike’s compulsory retirement to the state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
The decision followed findings made by the NJC after investigating petitions filed against Umezuluike in which he was accused of various acts of professional misconduct.
An Acting Chief Judge, Justice Priscilla Emehelu, has already been appointed as Umezuluike’s replacement.
Umezuluike’s woes deepened after he was arrested during a recent crackdown on judicial officers suspected of involvement in shady deals by the Department of State Services.
However, Umezuluike was praised by the Enugu lawmakers at a plenary on Tuesday, when they accepted a letter in which Ugwuanyi sought the House’s permission to send the former chief judge on compulsory retirement following the NJC decision.
The said letter was in line with the procedure for the removal of judicial officers from office, as stipulated in Section 292 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution.
Lawmakers, who spoke before the House resolved to accept the letter, expressed regrets over Umezuluike’s sacking.
They noted that he had served the state ‘meritoriously’, and would have retired ‘honourably’ in the next two months, had the NJC not sacked him.
Senate okays reintroduction of tolls on federal roads
The Senate on Tuesday passed a motion seeking to revive collection of tolls on federal highways across the country.
It said collection of toll, from motorists was the only way to construct and maintain roads and enhance their efficiency.
The upper chamber of the National Assembly recalled that tolls were abolished by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2004, who argued that the revenue for road maintenance should rather be generated from an increased pump price of petrol.
A member of the Senate representing Bauchi-North Senatorial District, Suleiman Nazif, who moved the motion titled, ‘Need for the re-establishment of tolls on our federal highways,’ however, said the Senate was alarmed that the state of the country’s infrastructure, including roads, was worrisome, “particularly due to corruption and mismanagement of resources over the years.”
He stated that maintenance of roads could be taken seriously instead of constructing new ones.
Nazif said even though the reintroduction of tolls was coming during economic recession, more lives were being lost due to the bad state of the roads.
He added that he was mindful of the current situation in the country, “where times are hard and resources are scarce.”
He added, “When we talk about tollgates, the major and critical issues are: one, what is the amount that will be fixed for tolls? Two, who are those that will be the collectors of the tolls? Three, what will the money be utilised for? These are the major reasons and problems of the average Nigerian.”
Nazif, in the motion, said, “The Senate notes that the main purpose of the tollgates is for revenue generation, which will aid effective and efficient maintenance of federal highways; observes that the deplorable state of roads in Nigeria has certainly become a national shame and an unnecessary embarrassment.
“The Senate notes that the re-establishment of tollgates is a solution to saving the nation’s generally dilapidated road networks; observes that besides revenue generation, the presence of tollgates, which are normally managed by armed security agents, provides a level of safety for road users; notes that government alone cannot fund road construction.”
Militants blow up export line, crude production threatened
Militants on Tuesday morning attacked an export line operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited at Escravos in the Warri South West Council Area of Delta State.
The attack, which the Niger Delta Avengers, claimed responsibility for, reportedly occurred at about 3:45am.
It marks the first attack by the militant group on an oil facility since it announced a ceasefire and nominated the Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Group to hold talks on its behalf with the Federal Government.
Jay Z to rally voters for Clinton
Make service year voluntary- Sen Shehu Sani tells FG
Senator Shehu Sani has asked the Federal government to make service year voluntary or provide life insurance cover for all corpers during the programme. Sani said this during a condolence visit to the family of Lawal Kontagora, a youth corps member allegedly killed by unknown gunmen in Kaduna recently.
“This is not the first time, it has always been the case, when it happens, we mourn we condemn the action. This happened in my constituency and he is part of my constituency. I have a duty to pursue this case to its logical conclusion. If such things happen to others and they are being ignored, I virtually will not fold my arms and see this kind of things happen. I am taking this issue to the National Assembly. We have to choose what to do and being a corps member. It is either the government makes the service year voluntary or there should be increased funding or insurance’’ he said
//
There were indications on Tuesday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was making arrangements to arraign the former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, in November.
A top operative of the commission, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, stated that the commission would commence the prosecution of the former minister in the first week of November.
The source did not specify the exact charges that would be filed against the former minister, who was arrested penultimate Monday and has since been in EFCC custody.
The source added, “He would be arranged in court for the disbursement of some of the funds traced to the account of Silva McNamara.
“I can’t say the exact charges but definitely, his case has to do with how some of the N4.7bn, traced to the account of the company, was spent.”
Babajide and Gbolahan, two of Obanikoro’s sons, were said to be directors of Silva McNamara when N4.7bn was allegedly paid into the company’s accounts.
A top operative of the commission, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, stated that the commission would commence the prosecution of the former minister in the first week of November.
The source did not specify the exact charges that would be filed against the former minister, who was arrested penultimate Monday and has since been in EFCC custody.
The source added, “He would be arranged in court for the disbursement of some of the funds traced to the account of Silva McNamara.
“I can’t say the exact charges but definitely, his case has to do with how some of the N4.7bn, traced to the account of the company, was spent.”
Babajide and Gbolahan, two of Obanikoro’s sons, were said to be directors of Silva McNamara when N4.7bn was allegedly paid into the company’s accounts.
Jonathan under attack for saying Dasuki didn’t steal $2.1bn
Condemnation on Tuesday greeted the comments by former President Goodluck Jonathan that a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd,), did not steal $2.1bn contrary to the accusation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, currently prosecuting the ex-NSA.
Jonathan had stated that it was inconceivable to say that Dasuki stole $2.2bn, contending that his government, where Dasuki served as the NSA, bought warships, aircraft and a lot of equipment for the military during the period.
Dasuki, who has been in detention since mid-2015, is being prosecuted by the EFCC for alleged diversion of arms fund, totalling $2.1bn.
Jonathan argued that it would not be right to say that $2.2bn was stolen with the equipment and arms bought by his administration when he delivered a lecture on Youth Entrepreneurship at the Oxford Union in the United Kingdom on Tuesday.
Jonathan, in a statement by an Abuja-based public relations outfit, the PR Nigeria, said he had kept quiet to allow the court to handle the ongoing prosecution of the former NSA so as not to be seen as a former President challenging a sitting administration.
But the Presidency called on Jonathan to allow the court to decide the fate of his former NSA.
When asked to react to the comment, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the courts should be allowed to decide the matter which he said was subjudice.
Recession: Buhari seeks N’Assembly’s approval for $29.96bn loan
President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the National Assembly to approve his administration’s external borrowing plan of $29.96bn for the execution of key programmes and infrastructural projects across the country.
The sum, if approved, will be spent on projects in this year’s budget and up till 2018.
The President also sought legislative approval for virements totalling N180.8bn in the 2016 budget to cater for votes by some sectors of the economy.
Buhari made the requests in two separate letters to both the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, which were read to lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly during Tuesday’s plenary.
Enugu lawmakers hail sacked CJ, gov seeks Emehelu’s confirmation
The President also sought legislative approval for virements totalling N180.8bn in the 2016 budget to cater for votes by some sectors of the economy.
Buhari made the requests in two separate letters to both the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, which were read to lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly during Tuesday’s plenary.
Enugu lawmakers hail sacked CJ, gov seeks Emehelu’s confirmation
Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, expressed sadness over the sack of the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Umezuluike, by the National Judicial Council.
The NJC had, at its 78th meeting on September 29, recommended Umezuluike’s compulsory retirement to the state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
The decision followed findings made by the NJC after investigating petitions filed against Umezuluike in which he was accused of various acts of professional misconduct.
An Acting Chief Judge, Justice Priscilla Emehelu, has already been appointed as Umezuluike’s replacement.
Umezuluike’s woes deepened after he was arrested during a recent crackdown on judicial officers suspected of involvement in shady deals by the Department of State Services.
However, Umezuluike was praised by the Enugu lawmakers at a plenary on Tuesday, when they accepted a letter in which Ugwuanyi sought the House’s permission to send the former chief judge on compulsory retirement following the NJC decision.
The said letter was in line with the procedure for the removal of judicial officers from office, as stipulated in Section 292 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution.
Lawmakers, who spoke before the House resolved to accept the letter, expressed regrets over Umezuluike’s sacking.
They noted that he had served the state ‘meritoriously’, and would have retired ‘honourably’ in the next two months, had the NJC not sacked him.
Senate okays reintroduction of tolls on federal roads
The Senate on Tuesday passed a motion seeking to revive collection of tolls on federal highways across the country.
It said collection of toll, from motorists was the only way to construct and maintain roads and enhance their efficiency.
The upper chamber of the National Assembly recalled that tolls were abolished by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2004, who argued that the revenue for road maintenance should rather be generated from an increased pump price of petrol.
A member of the Senate representing Bauchi-North Senatorial District, Suleiman Nazif, who moved the motion titled, ‘Need for the re-establishment of tolls on our federal highways,’ however, said the Senate was alarmed that the state of the country’s infrastructure, including roads, was worrisome, “particularly due to corruption and mismanagement of resources over the years.”
He stated that maintenance of roads could be taken seriously instead of constructing new ones.
Nazif said even though the reintroduction of tolls was coming during economic recession, more lives were being lost due to the bad state of the roads.
He added that he was mindful of the current situation in the country, “where times are hard and resources are scarce.”
He added, “When we talk about tollgates, the major and critical issues are: one, what is the amount that will be fixed for tolls? Two, who are those that will be the collectors of the tolls? Three, what will the money be utilised for? These are the major reasons and problems of the average Nigerian.”
Nazif, in the motion, said, “The Senate notes that the main purpose of the tollgates is for revenue generation, which will aid effective and efficient maintenance of federal highways; observes that the deplorable state of roads in Nigeria has certainly become a national shame and an unnecessary embarrassment.
“The Senate notes that the re-establishment of tollgates is a solution to saving the nation’s generally dilapidated road networks; observes that besides revenue generation, the presence of tollgates, which are normally managed by armed security agents, provides a level of safety for road users; notes that government alone cannot fund road construction.”
Militants blow up export line, crude production threatened
Militants on Tuesday morning attacked an export line operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited at Escravos in the Warri South West Council Area of Delta State.
The attack, which the Niger Delta Avengers, claimed responsibility for, reportedly occurred at about 3:45am.
It marks the first attack by the militant group on an oil facility since it announced a ceasefire and nominated the Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Group to hold talks on its behalf with the Federal Government.
Jay Z to rally voters for Clinton
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speaks during the third and final US presidential debate with Republican nominee Donald Trump at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 19, 2016. Photo: Paul J. Richards / AFP
Rap mogul Jay Z will return to the stage to rally voters for Hillary Clinton in the key swing state of Ohio, her campaign said Tuesday.
The Democratic presidential candidate’s website invited fans to enter a lottery for a ticket to Jay Z’s free show, which will take place on November 4 in Cleveland.
The rapper and husband of Beyonce also performed in Ohio to support President Barack Obama during the 2012 election when he tinkered with his hit “99 Problems” to throw in a reference to Republican rival Mitt Romney.
Jay Z has played few shows in the past two years as he focuses on his Tidal streaming company, although he is also scheduled to perform next month in India at the Global Citizen Festival against poverty.
Rap mogul Jay Z will return to the stage to rally voters for Hillary Clinton in the key swing state of Ohio, her campaign said Tuesday.
The Democratic presidential candidate’s website invited fans to enter a lottery for a ticket to Jay Z’s free show, which will take place on November 4 in Cleveland.
The rapper and husband of Beyonce also performed in Ohio to support President Barack Obama during the 2012 election when he tinkered with his hit “99 Problems” to throw in a reference to Republican rival Mitt Romney.
Jay Z has played few shows in the past two years as he focuses on his Tidal streaming company, although he is also scheduled to perform next month in India at the Global Citizen Festival against poverty.
Make service year voluntary- Sen Shehu Sani tells FG
Senator Shehu Sani has asked the Federal government to make service year voluntary or provide life insurance cover for all corpers during the programme. Sani said this during a condolence visit to the family of Lawal Kontagora, a youth corps member allegedly killed by unknown gunmen in Kaduna recently.“This is not the first time, it has always been the case, when it happens, we mourn we condemn the action. This happened in my constituency and he is part of my constituency. I have a duty to pursue this case to its logical conclusion. If such things happen to others and they are being ignored, I virtually will not fold my arms and see this kind of things happen. I am taking this issue to the National Assembly. We have to choose what to do and being a corps member. It is either the government makes the service year voluntary or there should be increased funding or insurance’’ he said
