The Supreme Court has ruled that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has obeyed the bails granted the former National Security Adviser, retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki in respect of his continued detention.
The apex court held that following the EFCC compliance with the lower courts’ ruling on his bail, the Controller of Prison in Kuje, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), implemented the bail on December 29, 2015.
Justice Ajembi Eko, in his ruling today, Friday, in the case, said that the appeal brought by Dasuki lacked merit and constituted abuse of court process and therefore dismissed it.
Dasuki had filed an appeal challenging his continued detention and praying for suspension of his trial pending the time the bail orders were obeyed by government, but Justice Ajembi Eko said that the EFCC cannot be held responsible for the continued detention of the Ex-NSA since the detention was carried out by the Department State Service (DSS).
Justice Eko in the unanimous judgement, therefore said that since the bail order was implemented by the Prison Controller it has been obeyed as far as the charges against him at the FCT High Court was concerned.
The Apex Court said that from the claims and counter-claims of Dasuki and EFCC, it was clear that Dasuki was rearrested at the premises of the Kuje Prison on December 29, 2015 by DSS.
The Supreme Court therefore affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal and the FCT High Court which had in their separate decisions held that EFCC cannot be held responsible for the detention of Dasuki by DSS.
The Court ordered Dasuki and EFCC to go back to the FCT High Court to continue with the trial in the charges brought aginst him by the anti-graft agency.
The Federal High Court under Justice Adeniyi Ademola, FCT High Court under Justice Peter Affem and another FCT High Court under Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf had at different times, granted bails to Dasuki. He was therefore released from Kuje prison on December 29, 2015 after meeting the bail conditions.
However, immediately after his release, operatives of DSS re-arrested him and had since held him. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to cut the costs of running the organization for better efficiency towards achievement of the objectives of the sub-regional body.
Speaking while receiving the new President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Jean Claude Brou at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, today, Friday, the President also called on the member states of the organization to pay their annual contributions as and when due.
President Buhari said that a lot of work had already been done towards cutting running cost for which a committee had recommended the reduction of the number of commissioners, and a drastic reduction in the cost of keeping them in office.
“We must work towards limiting costs, keeping the number of statutory positions low and running the organization more efficiently.”
Buhari welcome the new President of the ECOWAS Commission to Abuja and pledged the full support of the government of Nigeria in ensuring that his tenure was successful.
“The task is enormous. The job is not easy, given the many challenges facing the sub-region, ranging from issues of security and that posed by the environment, including the shrinkage of the Lake Chad.”
He stressed the full commitment of Nigeria, working with other ECOWAS member countries, towards finding lasting solution to the problems.
In his remarks, Mr. Brou, said that he had come to inform President Buhari that he had assumed office at the ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja from this week, and fully prepared to address priority issues such as the common currency, restructuring of the organisation and the pending issue of new memberships.
He presented a special message from the Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara to President Buhari and condoled him on the recent deaths of his family members. [myad]
As Nigeria prepares for the 2018 raining season, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to collaborate with commercial banks to ensure affordable capital is available to the farmers and agro dealers.
The President, who expressed satisfaction on the manner in which fertilizers were distributed to farmers in the last farming season, also the ministry of agriculture and rural development to conclude the planning for the government programmes for the 2018 season to ensure synergy.
The President, who had an audience with members of the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, today, Friday, equally asked the ministry of finance and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to immediately engage the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) to conclude their orders for fertilizers.
“The NSA and the security agencies should be ready to allow and protect the movement of all agricultural goods. Specifically, issues relating to end user certificates must be prioritized.
“The NPA (Nigeria Port Authority) should provide all the necessary support required to expedite the offloading and evacuation of the imported materials.
“And finally, the NSIA and FEPSAN, under the able leadership of the Governor of Jigawa, must ensure quality and affordable fertilizer is available to farmers at the right time.
The President, who noted that farmers in the southern parts of the country will soon be planting crops, stressed that all the stakeholders, must do their bits to ensure that fertilizer is readily available.
The President, who vowed that Nigeria’s journey to self sufficiency in food security is not negotiable, said that unlike in previous Governments where trucks conveying fertiliser would miraculously disappear in transit, in 2017, none of the 3,333 trucks that participated in the last year’s programme went missing.
“I want to assure all participants of the PFI that, we will continue to provide adequate security so that this program, and its positive impact on Nigeria, is sustained.
“We are all aware of the great partnership between the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and State Governors to ensure Nigeria feeds itself. I want to encourage you to continue on this track. Specifically, you must all support programs like the PFI and work together to ensure we never return to the dark days of import dependence. I am pleased to hear that already, the CBN is working with the commercial banks on programs that will further expand and enhance the PFI.” [myad]
The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on North East Initiatives (PCNI), General Theophilus Y. Danjuma and former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida held a four hour crucial security meeting yesterday, Thursday at IBB Top Hill Villa Minna, Niger State.
It was gathered that their discussion might not be unconnected with recent developments in the country, concerning the security challenges as well as the 2019 general elections.
It was also gathered that the recent Boko Haram resurgence, herdsmen clashes resulting to many deaths in Taraba, the home state of Danjuma, Benue, Plateau and other states, in addition to the abduction of 110 Dapchi school girls might have been responsible for the generals to meet and deliberate on way forward for the country, to complement government efforts at looking for a way out of the thorny situations.
A top source said: “this is not the first time that the duo would be meeting to proffer solution to Nigeria’s security situation, as advice from them could be crucial in resolving the unstable developments in the polity.”
President Muhammadu Buhari is virtually angry with Boko Haram for going as far as attacking humanitarian workers in Rann, Borno State, even as he gave assurance that the end of the insurgents is just around the corner.
President Buhari who spoke in strong terms, like calling Boko Haram as godless, brutish that should be utterly despised, said, in a statement by his spokesman that such cowardly attacks can only bolster the determination of government to bring the Boko Haram insurgency to a decisive end, in the shortest possible time.
“As I have always maintained, no true religion advocates hurting the innocent. To now further attack and kill those offering humanitarian aid is the height of bestiality. It is odious before both God and man.”
President Buhari sympathized with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies working at Rann, and in the country generally. [myad]
The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has accused the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, of running a secret and fraudulent administration.
Reacting to statements credited to Governor Wike that he (Peterside) wrote to the Federal Ministry of Finance, demanding to know how much Rivers state has received since 2015, the NIMASA boss said that he has every right to know what his state earns from the federal government.
“It is true that I requested from Federal Ministry of Finance details of all allocation given to Rivers state from the inception of the Wike’s administration. As a citizen, it is my right to know as the current government has been run as a private entity belonging to Wike and his small circle of friends.
“The Wike’s government has been everything but transparent and accountable. I have serious evidence that this government is the most corrupt from the creation of Rivers state till date. If the government has nothing to hide, a citizen demanding to know should not be an issue to the governor. The only reason why the governor is making an issue out of it is that he has everything to hide.”
Dr. Peterside said that the governor has not told Rivers people the value of any project he claims he has done, neither has he deemed it fit to give an account of stewardship to the people.
“Nobody in Rivers state today knows that value of projects Wike claims he has done. The governor just awards contracts to his clique of friends and cronies. Not one single project has been advertised for bidding in Rivers state, despite the existence of Public Procurement Law.
“Local government workers are being owed for months, pensioners have not been paid, contract lecturers and others with Rivers State University are being owed for more than eight months, staff of Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency have not been paid for over two years, civil servants are being owed arrears of entitlements for months, amongst several liabilities.
“What exactly has Wike done that can justify the huge sums of money he has received. There is nothing more criminal and dangerous than a governor not telling his people the value of projects he claims he is doing. This is the greatest dilemma in Rivers state.”
Regretting that the governor has been bereft of ideas on how to move Rivers people out of poverty, he lamented: “Governor Wike has been most unfair to Rivers people, too many of our people are moving down the poverty line. We must hold Wike and the government he runs to account for our money he is fretting away and spending recklessly.” [myad]
The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) has made it clear that it will prosecute Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State of double registration at an appropriate time.
“The allegation of double registration has not been swept under the carpet; we cannot prosecute Bello now because he enjoys immunity as a sitting governor.
“He has committed an offence and we shall prosecute him when he is out office.”
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kogi state, Professor James Apam, who made the clarifications today, Thursday in Lokoja, said that the recent issuance of a temporary voter’s card to the governor did not mean that the issue of double registration had been swept under the carpet.
INEC had, on February 26, issued a temporary voter’s card to the governor after applying for the transfer of his permanent card from Abuja to Okene.
INEC had last year, declared the second registration done by Governor Yahaya Bello, on May 23 at the Government House, Lokoja as illegal and contrary to the Electoral Act.
The electoral body, through one of its Federal Commissioners, Emmanuel Shoyebi, said that the registration, which was done outside the designated registration centre, also amounted to double registration which is a criminal offence.
Shoyebi said that Governor Yahaya Bello did his first registration at Wuse Zone 11 in Abuja, on Jan. 30, 2011.
For their involvement in the double registration saga, a senior official of INEC was compulsorily retired from service while two others were summarily dismissed last month.
Apam, however, explained that a temporary voter’s card was issued to the governor based on legal advice, saying that the governor would surely face the consequences of his crime at the appropriate time.
He said that INEC’s legal advisers had advised the electoral body not to deny Bello his right to vote and be voted for since he could not be tried at the moment. [myad]
Nigerian upper chamber of the National Assembly, the Senate, is now working on a bill that make an offence punishable by hanging of any person found guilty of any form of hate speech that results in the death of another person
The bill, which reflects the growing concern over the spate of violence in the nation, was sponsored by the spokesman of the upper chamber, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger).
The bill also seeks the establishment of an ‘Independent National Commission for Hate Speeches,’ which shall enforce hate speech laws across the country. It will also ensure the elimination of the menace and advise the Federal Government.
For offences such as harassment on the grounds of ethnicity or racial contempt, a culprit shall be sentenced to “not less than a five-year jail term or a fine of not less than N10 million or both.”
The bill notes: “A person who uses, publishes, presents, produces, plays, provides, distributes and/or directs the performance of any material, written and/or visual, which is threatening, abusive or insulting or involves the use of threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, commits an offence, if such person intends thereby to stir up ethnic hatred, or having regard to all the circumstances, ethnic hatred is likely to be stirred up against any person or person from such an ethnic group in Nigeria.”
It notes also that “a person subjects another to harassment on the basis of ethnicity for the purposes of this section where, on ethnic grounds, he unjustifiably engages in a conduct which has the purpose or effect of (a) violating that other person’s dignity or (b) creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the person subjected to the harassment.
“Conduct shall be regarded as having the effect specified in subsection (1) (a) or (b) of this section if, having regard to all the circumstances, including in particular the perception of that other person, it should reasonably be considered as having that effect.” The National Commission for Hate Speeches shall be headed by an executive chairperson who would be appointed by the president on recommendation of the National Council of State, subject to the confirmation of at least two-third majority of the National Assembly.
“The commission shall discourage persons, institutions, political parties and associations from advocating or promoting discrimination or discriminatory practices through the use of hate speeches; promote tolerance, understanding and acceptance of diversity in all aspects of national life and encourage full participation by all ethnic communities in the social, economic, cultural and political life of other communities. It shall also plan, supervise, coordinate and promote educational and training programmes to create public awareness, support and advancement of peace and harmony among ethnic communities and racial groups.
“It shall furthermore promote respect for religious, cultural, linguistic and other forms of diversity in a plural society; promote equal access by persons of all ethnic communities and racial groups to public or other services and facilities provided by the government.”
The Dangote Rice Outgrower Scheme in Jigawa State reached a turning point today, Thursday, when the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, laid the foundation stone for the construction of a multi-billion Naira rice processing mill in Hadin, Jigawa state.
The mill with capacity to process 16 metric tons of paddy rice per hour, when completed, will in a year, process paddy rice worth N14 billion, to be bought directly from the famers in Jigawa state at market rate.
Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony in Hadin, Kaugama local government area, Alhaji Aliko Dangote said that the commencement of the construction of the integrated rice processing plant was the culmination of series of events which began with the signing of a $1billion agreement with the federal government for the integrated rice production in Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kano, Niger and Jigawa.
“We have continued to pioneer new approaches to empowering our primary stakeholders and our farmers, through the Dangote outgrowers programme thereby creating thousands of jobs, increasing incomes poverty reduction in rural communities by providing high quality agro-inputs, technical support and secured market for farmers.
“It will also create access to finance, mechanization and irrigation services so as to enhance agricultural productivity.”
He recalled that the Rice limited started the outgrowers scheme in 2016 with thousands of hectares of land in Hadejia, Jigawa state, creating over 10,000 jobs (direct and indirect) to farmers, even as he said that with the new ultra modern mill, enough paddy rice will be grown and harvested for processing. According the business mogul, the mill which will take only months for installation and commissioning is the first in the series of five other mills coming up in Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi and Niger States in the first phase, while in the second phase, other mills will be built in Nasarawa, Kogi, and other states. “When these planned six mills come fully on stream, we will achieve a capacity of seven hundred thousand metric tons per annum of Par boiled rice, which will make Dangote Rice the largest rice producer in Africa and will make a bold step in making Nigeria self-sufficient in Rice production, stop importation and save the nation foreign exchange .”
Dangote said that towards co-creating value for all stakeholders, the company has engaged about 20,000 out growers who are expected to produce an average of 180,000 tons of paddy rice on about 30,000 hectares of land.
“We are focused on engaging in the region of 300,000 farmers in the next 12 months when our rice mills are all functional and we achieve steady state. “We will continue to launch massive agricultural projects across the country in rice and dairy farming. Our push for backward integration in providing our own raw materials on a massive scale has led to the planned investment of $4.6 billion over the next three years in sugar, rice and dairy production alone. That will eliminate the country’s reliance on imported materials, and the foreign exchange headaches that comes with it.”
In his opening remarks, the Dangote Group Executive Director, Devakumar Edwin explained that the Dangote Rice team has been involved in scaling up the outgrower operations to a least 5,000 hectares this season and this will very soon increase and grow to over 15,000 hectares cultivated per cycle or season to fully optimize operations.
He said that the establishment of a Multi-billion Naira state-of-the-art integrated rice processing facility to process at least 260 metric tons of rice paddy per day grown which is produced from thousands of local rice out growers within Jigawa state is a giant step forward and expresses his company’s confidence and faith in local farmers to continuously stand with Dangote to make this project a success. Located on 25 hectares site in Hadin, Edwin noted that the mill is earmarked to begin operations in the last quarter of 2018.
“During the construction phase and when it becomes fully operational, hundreds of employment opportunities will be created, knowledge transference and skills developed among our teeming youthful population thereby boosting local economy.
“The Jigawa famers are in for a good times as the 125, 000 metric tons of paddy rice that this plant requires for processing will be brought from the farmers of Jigawa for an estimated purchase price of N14 billion per annum. This is a huge benefit for the farmers in Jigawa. This mill will be producing high quality parboiled rice that competes with the best in the world this is in-line with our continuous aim to touch the lives of millions who believe in the Dangote brand.
“Jigawa State is endowed and blessed with vast fertile land, water resources, climate and progressive people, as well as one of the fastest growing agricultural destinations in Nigeria. The state was identified as an ideal location for us to set up our first facility in Nigeria. This obviously reinforces our commitment to supporting the efforts of the present administration in developing a robust agro-industry in Nigeria. “We made commitment to Nigerians that we will produce 1 million metric ton of quality par boiled rice. Since then we have embarked on several initiatives towards achieving this objective with support and collaboration from state and federal government agencies, ministries and departments, non-governmental organizations, community based organizations, traditional and financial institutions, etc.” [myad]
The former Prime Minister of the State of Qatar and Emir, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani has said that the global opinion on Nigeria as an investment destination had been boosted by President Muhammadu Buhari’s strong standing against corruption and adherence to the rule of law.
Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani made the remarks today, Thursday, when he led a Qatari business delegation on a visit to the Nigerian leader at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He pledged that members of the delegation and the government of Qatar are interested in investing in Nigeria’s oil, railway, aviation and power sectors.
This was even as President Buhari narrated the successes which his government’s diversification in the nation’s economy, from oil, has attained even as he appreciated moves by foreign private invest mentors to increase investments in Nigeria.
President Buhari said that his government’s policy of diversification in the economy has, in the past two years, turned Nigeria into one of the most attractive investment destinations in Africa.
“My administration’s economic agenda has always been to move away from over reliance on crude oil and food importation. Nigeria is a blessed country. We have fertile land. We have young and energetic population. And we have a very strong legal and regulatory system that protects capital and investments, both local and foreign.
“As you are aware, Nigeria just exited its worst recession in more than two decades. We have more than doubled our foreign reserves. We are winning the war against corruption. We are developing our infrastructure. And we are enforcing the rule of law. As a result of this, we are seeing significant growth in the non-oil sector which is creating thousands of jobs across the country.”
The President cited the current strategic partnership between Moroccan and Nigerian fertilizer companies as part of the success stories.
“Today, due to this alliance, Nigeria has over 13 functioning fertilizer blending plants with another four in the pipeline. This is purely driven by the private sector.
“In 2017 alone, we saw significant commitments and agreements by major global organisations in infrastructure projects such as: the proposed USD 9 billion Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical complex in Lagos; the completed USD 600 million Lafarge Plant in Calabar; the proposed rail stock; the proposed USD 1.3 billion public private partnership with General Electric on Rail Track Development and the proposed ENI/Agip rehabilitation of Port Harcourt Refinery. You can see clearly that foreign private companies are coming back to Nigeria and making massive investments within our existing legal and regulatory frameworks.” [myad]
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