There is no doubt that Kogi state is on the path of development. Since his assumption as the fourth executive governor of the confluence state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has shown a strong commitment to the development of the state. He demonstrated this in the areas of security, infrastructural development, equity and inclusive governance, disdain for corruption, and among others.
It’s generally agreed that Kogi state was fastly gravitating towards a hub for all forms of criminalities before Bello took over the mantle of leaderships in January last year. But today, the state is wearing a new look – away from been a haven for criminals; away from civil servant state; away from ethnic conflicts, and away from corruption and mismanagement of the state’s limited resources by the political elites.
No doubt that his achievements within the one year of his administration have won him not only local and national commendation but also international recognition.
During a courtesy visit to the Gov Yahaya Bello by the United State ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington in Lokoja, the state capital, he (Symington) did not hesitate to acknowledge the good work of Yahaya Bello in the hitherto described one of the poorest states in the country. This is a clear evidence of his strong commitment towards upliftment of the state to an enviable height.
Furthermore, the recent swift arrest and demolition of criminals and Kidnappers’ dens in the state show that the governor has remained unrelenting, undeterred in ensuring a secured, prosperous Kogi state of our dream.
While we have cause to commend the governor for his rare developmental posture in the state, we must also charge him to do more and draw his attention to any useful mechanism that would complement his current efforts in wiping out criminal elements in the state.
However, multiple studies have established the relationship between poverty, unemployment and crime cum terrorism in the developing countries like Nigeria. Poverty and unemployment, therefore, have largely contributed to the rising cases of insecurity in the country. Analysts believe that these very same phenomena keep manifesting in different colours in line with the subsisting culture and topography of different parts of the country – kidnapping, armed robbery, Boko Haram, militancy, herdsmen, and among other different manifestations are perpetual effects of these same causes.
It’s, therefore, instructive to state that, the rise of criminalities in Kogi state cannot be easily separated from the same acute poverty and unemployment that keep ravaging our country in different ways for decades.
While the crushing of criminal elements continues across the state, government must also quickly complement this effort by putting in place programmes that will realistically engage unemployed youths in the state. Massive employment and empowerment schemes should be rolled out and run concurrently with the current stick approach against the criminals and kidnappers, so as to achieve a long, lasting and all-encompassing solution to the problem of insecurity in the state.
Crushing criminals, kidnappers and their dens without curbing the root causes would be tantamount to an exercise that will have little or short-term impact on the state, with the possible re-appearance of the same problem which may be deadlier than the current one in the nearest future. [myad]
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has said that the Senators are afraid to confirm Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), because some Senators have skeletons in their cupboards.
In a statement today, Saturday, MURIC’s director Ishaq Akintola, said: “Senate has shown that it is not fighting corruption. On the contrary, it is fighting for corruption by rejecting a firebrand anti-graft boss; it has exposed itself as an institution with skeletons in its cupboard.”
MURIC said that Godswill Akpabio, a representative of Akwa Ibom North-West, had allegedly said: ‘Magu wants us to confirm him so he can use some of us for pepper soup.’
“Akpabio’s alleged utterance confirms our worst fears. This senate will not confirm any EFCC boss who refuses to withdraw cases involving its members. This Senate will not confirm any anti-graft boss who is not ready to treat senators as sacred cows even if they are corrupt.
“Our suspicion has been confirmed by senator Akpabio. Now we know why senate rejected Magu. It is simply because our senators hands are not clean so they fear a no-nonsense anti-graft boss.”
MURIC expressed their disappointment by the Senate’s decision to frustrate Magu’s confirmation, saying that the “Senate has demonstrated its readiness to kill EFCC and any other anti-corruption agency that has the temerity to investigate its members.
“The issue is not even Magu this time around. We also entertain the fear that these senators will not allow any other EFCC boss to function effectively even if Magu is removed.
“Senate does not want any agency investigating fraud anywhere around the red chamber. Senate wants its members to be untouchable.
“The first rejection of Magu was meant to serve as a yellow card from the senators and the message was clear, “Back off or we will never confirm you.
“The excuse used by Senate to deny Magu that confirmation is neither here nor there. Somebody somewhere is playing Jekyll and Hyde.” [myad]
Zenith Bank Plc has announced its search for young talented Nigeria on who it would invest to make them productive even as the bank vowed to be more committed to the development of sport in Nigeria. The Deputy Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, who spoke ahead of the Delta State Principals Cup competition which is being sponsored by the bank, said that the gesture is to fulfill the bank’s corporate social responsibility.
Saying that the bank has a bias for youth development, the Deputy Managing Director said that the Zenith Bank also has passion for youth empowerment programmes. He added that the bank had also intervened in areas like ICT, and sports development, adding that in the last twelve years the bank has singlehandedly sponsored and supported female basketball league nationally. He said that its sponsorship of the Zenith Bank Delta Principal Cup is a move to recapture the competition’s lost glory, adding that the Principal’s Cup in the 70’s and 80’s was the epitome of sports development. “For Zenith Bank Principals’ Cup sponsorship, we looked at it and felt that it is time for us to take bring back its lost glory. In those glorious days of the 70’s and 80’s Principal Cup was the epitome of sports development. We felt that by us developing and partnering with Delta State to refresh, rejuvenate and revitalize sports development we will provide the opportunity for talents to be developed, nurtured, and it is an opportunity for us to make it a lot more expansive, make it all inclusive, complement the State’s efforts in terms social development and also create a basis for standardization in the school’s curriculum. He said that the Zenith Bank Delta Principal’s Cup will unearth sporting talents “that can be nurtured and encouraged to reach its fullest potentials of sporting excellence,” saying “the Sunday Olisehs, Stephen Keshis and so many other talents abound in the State.” According to Onyeagwu, the “sole essence for us is to help Delta State and individual proprietors of private schools to see how we can bring back sports development to where it was in the golden era of yester years.” He said the bank’s sponsorship was for the long term, stressing that Zenith Bank’s values of fairness, professionalism will guarantee future involvement. His words: “Everything we do we do with all our hearts, with a whole lot of commitment. Asking that if we are in the long haul is akin to asking are we doing touch-and-go? It is not a case of touch-and-go. “We are going to be in the long haul. What we crave for is for fairness, professionalism, we will not encourage hooliganism, mercenaries for as long as it is developed, nurtured professionally be sure that this partnership will be for the long haul.” Zenith Bank is the headline sponsor of the national Women Basketball League, having bankrolled it for 12 years. The bank is also recently launched an under-13 football tournament in partnership with the Nigerian Football Federation aimed at catching young talents. Onyeagwu was in Asaba yesterday for the formal opening ceremony of the maiden Delta State Principals,
At the occasion, the Delta Commissioner for Secondary and Basic Education, Chiedu Ebie stressed the importance of academic prowess in the development of a child, but noted that sports and extra-curricular activities also play important roles in the development of a child. He said one of the aims of the Principal’s Cup was to help improve schools sports in Delta State, especially in public schools. ”We all know the importance of sports in education and in the development of the child and so as much as we will like to ensure that academic prowess is given its rightful position, sports and extracurricular activities play very important role in the development of a child. One of the things we set out to achieve was to see how we can improve school sports in Delta State, especially in public schools.” Managing Director, Hideapluxx, Tony Oritse-Pemu , said he was motivated to provide a platform to showcase their talents, in a bid to help youths channel their talents from social vices into productive ends. He said the Zenith Bank Principal’s Cup is a junior tier football championship for all public/private schools, adding that it is a project to revive football at secondary school level. Pemu said the competition was created to “create a long career presence for youths in their football life ,squeeze down societal vices and homeland crimes which is often inspired by high idle time and very importantly it is designed as a means of encouraging academic excellence”. In an exciting football match heralding the competition, Okwe Basic Secondary School, Okwe pipped Zappa Mixed Secondary School, Asabal 1-0. The goal was scored in the 52nd minute by captain of the side Chibuike Obiora following a swift counter attacking move. Despite the best efforts of the Zappa team they could not turn the tide. [myad]
Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo, has described the appointment of 110 Ministers which announced recently as a necessary investment that needed to be made.
Speaking on national television yesterday, Friday, Akufo-Addo said: “It is a necessary investment to make.
“I’m aware that people are concerned about what they see as maybe the cost of this large government.”
According to him, the costs of his new government would not be as high as people have complained about.
“The number, for instance, among the deputy ministers — 42 out of 50 are all parliamentarians, and in effect converting them from parliamentarians into ministers, the marginal cost of that transformation is minimal in terms of the public exchequer.”
He insisted that the ministers are needed for the “rapid transformation of this country.” [myad]
A group under the aegis of #IStandwithBuhari has asked the Biafra Republic agitators to perish the dream that they would ever get a country for themselves, describing the thought as Utopian.
The group warned the agitators not to disrupt the 2023 political calculation of when the Igbo should work hard to produce the president of the country, saying that that only way the Igbo can get the Presidency in 2023 is for them to support President Muhammadu Buhari to complete his second term tenure.
Speaking through its south-east media director in a statement, Mr. Ebube Mbonu, the group said that it is only when the Igbo had shown solidarity and support for the Buhari administration that it would be reciprocated by developing the region and support the Igbo presidency agenda of 2023.
The group’s press statement read in part: “It came to us as a shock to read the recent press release by IPOB condemning the free demonstration of goodwill by thousands of Ndigbo who have chosen to identify with progress and their open attack on the governor of Anambra State, His Excellency Willie Obiano, who spoke in support of the exercise and condemned IPOB as a faceless organization comprised of misguided youths.
“IPOB issued threats through statements before the victorious march by #IStandWithBuhari in Awka, Anambra State. In those threats, they warned that no youth from the South East should take part in the solidarity rally, and that they would send their army of followers to disrupt any show of support for President Muhammadu Buhari on 10th March.
“On the day of the rally, Ndigbo defied their orders, came out in their thousands, went about their normal daily activities, and no one incident of social disturbance was recorded anywhere in the state or the region.
“We want to join the voice of Governor Obiano and indeed all other well meaning Ndigbo to call out IPOB as nothing but I unpatriotic organisation playing on the sentiments of misguided.
“#IStandWithBuhari will not be deterred by threats, and we also will no longer keep quiet and allow some few faceless individuals continue to put the region in such a light that attracts nothing but enmity and hate for our people and our land.” [myad]
The court-recognized Ali Modu Sheriff’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got the support chairman of 23 states chapter of the party, as they endorsed the recommendation of Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson’s reconciliation committee for a political solution.
The chairmen supported the committee’s reports and recommendation for an all-inclusive unity convention to be held as soon as possible.
The 23 PDP State chairmen, in a joint communiqué, read to journalists in Abuja by the FCT chairman, Yunusa Suleiman, after their emergence meeting held yesterday, Friday night, said that Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, remained the chairman of the party, going by the pronouncement of the Appeal Court.
They suggested that every organ of the party, group or individuals that has anything to add to the recommendations should present same to the national chairman for consideration and deliberations, saying it would deepen internal democracy and support an all-inclusive regeneration of the party.
The communique was signed by PDP chairmen from Jigawa, Adamawa, Niger, Gombe, Taraba, Zamfara, Yobe, Kebbi, Kwara, Bayelsa, FCT, Ogun, Oyo, Lagos, Imo, Borno, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Kogi, Benue and Cross River States.
The communique reads: “The PDP Chapter Chairmen are very concerned about the crises engulfing the party as it is degenerating into the several decamping from the party across the Nation.
“Bearing in mind the upcoming Presidential Election timeline recently announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as other elections fast approaching, and as key political actors of the polity, we cannot sit back and allow our party denigrate to this level and has thus decided to come forward and proffer solutions to this crisis.
“After exhaustive deliberations on the issues affecting the party, we the Chairmen of State Chapters in the country at its meeting held on the 17th of March 2017 resolved as follows:
“In line with the only template presented by the Peace and Reconciliation Committee of our Party headed by Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, Governor of Bayelsa State, we wish to state that we support the recommendation that a political solution is the best and only solution to our crisis without prejudice to the on-going judicial processes.
“We are also in support of the committees’ recommendation of an all-inclusive unity convention to be held as soon as possible.
“We therefore suggest that every organ of the party, group or individuals that has anything to add to the aforementioned recommendations should present same to the National Chairman for consideration and deliberations as we believe this will deepen our internal democracy and support an all-inclusive regeneration of the party.
“We as legitimately elected Chairmen wish to state on the grounds of clarity that we shall never be in support or be a part of any thought of tinkering with the option of leaving the PDP and forming another party.
“We shall at all times align ourselves to any judicial pronouncement of a superior court on this matter.
“We call upon all party leaders and members to make the necessary sacrifices to ensure the survival of the party at this critical period of our history.
“We also call upon the National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sherriff and the National Working Committee (NWC) to abide by the recommendations of the peace and reconciliation committee for the sake of our great party.
“As a forum, we shall continue to engage the party leadership and all relevant stakeholders with a view to having a hitch free convention and call upon all leaders and party members to work towards the realisation of this objective.
“The Chairmen appreciate the efforts of the former President, Governors, the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, Past leaders and elders of the party for their untiring efforts at resolving the on-going crisis in the party.” [myad]
Mr. Raji Ahmed, lawyer to the former Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu, has alerted the nation that the physical and mental health of his client is deteriorating, even as he seeks for his bail to enable him to take adequate care of his ailing health.
The 62 year old Andrew Yakubu, who has been diagnosed with High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) and other health matters, is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over alleged money laundry
The lawyer argued that his client has been charged on bailable offences under the laws of the land, adding that the application to admit the defendant to bail is pursuant to: 1. SECTIONS 158 (1), (2) AND (3), 32 (3), 165, 167 AND 168 (b) OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT, 2015;
SECTIONS 35, 36 (5) AND 36 (6) (b) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999 (AS AMENDED).
Raji, who is the lead counsel to Andrew Yakubu had in an application dated March 13, 2017, prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail pending trial, seeking the following Orders:
An Order of this Honourable Court :
admitting the Defendant/Applicant to bail on self-recognizance, pending hearing and determination of the charges preferred against him.
IN ALTERNATIVE TO (a) ABOVE
admitting the Defendant/Applicant to bail on liberal terms, pending hearing and determination of the charges preferred against him.
An Order of this Honourable Court for an interim release of the
Defendant/Applicant’s International Passport to enable him embark on a 3 (three) week trip abroad to complete his medical treatment which he suspended to honour the EFCC’s invitation.
An Order directing the EFCC to immediately release the Applicant’s International Passport to him or his Solicitors on record in terms of Relief 3 above.
AND for such further Order(s) as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.
TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the grounds upon which this Application is brought
are as follows:
The offences with which the Defendant/Applicant is charged are bailable offences.
The Defendant/Applicant has never been convicted of any offence in Nigeria or any other jurisdiction.
By Section 36 (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Defendant/Applicant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 (the Act), all offences are bailable.
All offences under the Act can be compounded through plea bargain and imprisonment is no longer the sole means of punishment.
The reputation and past credible record of the Defendant/Applicant, as well as his status as an eminent Nigerian, attest to the fact that he will not jump bail if he is granted same.
Investigation has been completed. Thus, there is no likelihood that the Defendant/Applicant will interfere with investigation.
The Defendant/Applicant is willing to, and will, always and punctually attend his trial.
The Defendant/Applicant is ready to provide responsible surety or sureties as may be required by this Honourable Court as a condition for the grant of this Application.
The Applicant suspended his medical treatment for a prostrate related ailment and was due to consult a Urologist in respect thereof before he returned to Nigeria to honour the invitation of the EFCC.
Owing to seizure of the Defendant/Applicant’s International passport by the Complainant (acting through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission), the Defendant/Applicant has been unable to travel abroad to complete the treatment which he suspended.
As a consequence of the above, the Defendant/Applicant’s health has deteriorated tremendously requiring immediate medical intervention.
It is in the interest of justice to grant this Application, so that the Applicant cane be fit to stand trial in this case.
Also, in a 22-point affidavit deposed to in support of Summons to admit to bail, the defendant’s Wife, Mrs. Sarah Yakubu, stated among others that:
I am the wife of the Defendant/Applicant, by virtue of which fact I am conversant with facts of this case;
I have the requisite consent of the Defendant/Applicant to depose to this Affidavit;
That the Defendant/Applicant left the UK, came into Nigeria and voluntarily reported himself to the EFCC without any force or arrest on the said 8th of February, 2017 and has been detained by the EFCC till date.
I know that the Defendant/Applicant has been very ill for some time now. He suffers a High Blood Pressure and Diabetes in addition to aforesaid unhealthy prognosis of his prostrate.
That in honouring the invitation of the EFCC, the Defendant/Applicant was unable to complete treatment of the aforesaid life-threatening ailments.
That the Defendant/Applicant’s doctors have recommended an “urgent further attention” for his health situation. Now shown to me and marked as Exhibit ‘A’ is a copy of a “To whom it may concern note issued by the Defendant’s doctors in England, United Kingdom.
He is completely innocent of the allegations against him as contained in the instant charge before this Honourable Court.
He is very willing to defend his integrity and his name, and, as such, if the Complainant/Respondent has any case against him he is ready to meet the case.
He is willing to fulfill any condition(s) stipulated by this Honourable Court for his admission to bail.
If released on bail,
(i) he will not commit any offence whatsoever;
(ii) he will not attempt to evade his trial but punctually attend his trial to conclusion;
That his health condition has deteriorated considerably since his incarceration at the office of the EFCC.
That unless he receives proper medical attention he will be unable to adequately prepare his defence and stand trial for the offences charged.
That the medical facilities availed him by the Complainant in its detention facility are inadequate to meet the exigencies of his health situation.
As a consequence of his inability to complete his medical treatment, he now experiences excruciating
pains resulting from several complications, which require urgent medical attention.
Family sources confirmed that Andrew Yakubu voluntarily abandoned his treatment in the U.K to attend to EFCC’s charges. he was arraigned by the EFCC on March 16 this year before Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
He is facing a six-count charge bordering on money laundering, non-disclosure of assets and fraud.
The arraignment followed recovery of the sum of $9,772,000 and £74,000 on February 3, 2017 in a building in Kaduna belonging to him.
The defendant, who was out of the country as at the time of recovery of the money, however, reported voluntarily to the EFCC’s Kano Zonal Office on February 8, 2017, and admitted ownership of the house and the money recovered.
He however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Andrew Yakubu served as the NNPC GMD under former President Goodluck Jonathan between June 2012 and August 2014. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari waved to people when he emerged from Presidential Villa Mosque after the Friday (Jum’at) prayer. To his right is the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno. [myad]
The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is expected to is expected to deliver a paper on the topic, “Give Us Our Money Back – Nigeria’s Fight Against Corruption: A Critical Conversation,” at an international conference on money laundering and assets recovery on March 21, in London
Magu was invited to the conference by two leading anti-corruption organizations: the Transparency International and Global Witness.
According the post on EFCC facebook wall, the invitation from the Global Witness and Transparency International is in recognition of the invaluable role the Magu-led EFCC has played in his more than one year in office in recovery of stolen funds.
“It also coincidentally comes a few days after members of the Nigerian Senate chose to overlook the strides achieved by Magu, and instead refused his re-nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari as the substantive chairman of the EFCC. “The international conference, which is coming on the heels of the 2016 London Anti-Corruption Summit, will focus on the progress of Nigeria’s asset recovery and anti-corruption efforts. It will also feature panel discussions for “critical exchange of views” between officials and non-government experts from Nigeria and the United Kingdom.” it said that a few international personalities have been invited along with Magu to participate in the conference.
Among those from Nigeria are Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information; Professor Itse Sagay, Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC); its secretary, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye and Olanrewaju Suraju of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda. [myad]
President Mohammadu Buhari has taken his war against corruption to the doorsteps of royal fathers across the country, insisting that any of them that found to be corrupt should be stripped of his title.
The President, who spoke through the minister of youth and sports, Solomon Dalung, in Wukari Local Government Council of Taraba state, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Aku-Uka of Wukari, Dr Shekarau Angyu, said that the traditional institution ought to be in the vanguard of the anti-corruption crusade.
He made it clear that his administration will not condone monarch treading the path of corruption, adding that the traditional institution has vital roles to play in the growth of the country.
Buhari said that the idea of well-placed persons bribing their ways to acquired traditional titles must as well be discouraged, saying that such attitude breeds corrupt practices.
The President praised the Aku-Uka who is the chairman, council of chief in Taraba State even as he asked people to join hands with his administration to wipe out corruption from the country.
Earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Mohammed Abubakar, called on Nigerians to embrace peace and love, adding that insecurity is the major problem which presently bedevilling the country.
“All parts of the country have its share of insecurity. Nigerians must, therefore, continue to work towards stabilising our country, as both religions (Christianity and Islam) demand that we love one another.” [myad]
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As Gov Bello Crushes Criminals, Kidnappers In Kogi, By Deen Adavize
It’s generally agreed that Kogi state was fastly gravitating towards a hub for all forms of criminalities before Bello took over the mantle of leaderships in January last year. But today, the state is wearing a new look – away from been a haven for criminals; away from civil servant state; away from ethnic conflicts, and away from corruption and mismanagement of the state’s limited resources by the political elites.
No doubt that his achievements within the one year of his administration have won him not only local and national commendation but also international recognition.
During a courtesy visit to the Gov Yahaya Bello by the United State ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington in Lokoja, the state capital, he (Symington) did not hesitate to acknowledge the good work of Yahaya Bello in the hitherto described one of the poorest states in the country. This is a clear evidence of his strong commitment towards upliftment of the state to an enviable height.
Furthermore, the recent swift arrest and demolition of criminals and Kidnappers’ dens in the state show that the governor has remained unrelenting, undeterred in ensuring a secured, prosperous Kogi state of our dream.
While we have cause to commend the governor for his rare developmental posture in the state, we must also charge him to do more and draw his attention to any useful mechanism that would complement his current efforts in wiping out criminal elements in the state.
However, multiple studies have established the relationship between poverty, unemployment and crime cum terrorism in the developing countries like Nigeria. Poverty and unemployment, therefore, have largely contributed to the rising cases of insecurity in the country. Analysts believe that these very same phenomena keep manifesting in different colours in line with the subsisting culture and topography of different parts of the country – kidnapping, armed robbery, Boko Haram, militancy, herdsmen, and among other different manifestations are perpetual effects of these same causes.
It’s, therefore, instructive to state that, the rise of criminalities in Kogi state cannot be easily separated from the same acute poverty and unemployment that keep ravaging our country in different ways for decades.
While the crushing of criminal elements continues across the state, government must also quickly complement this effort by putting in place programmes that will realistically engage unemployed youths in the state. Massive employment and empowerment schemes should be rolled out and run concurrently with the current stick approach against the criminals and kidnappers, so as to achieve a long, lasting and all-encompassing solution to the problem of insecurity in the state.
Crushing criminals, kidnappers and their dens without curbing the root causes would be tantamount to an exercise that will have little or short-term impact on the state, with the possible re-appearance of the same problem which may be deadlier than the current one in the nearest future. [myad]