Senor special assistant to President Muammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, has said that policy of whistle-blowing is an opportunity for Nigerians to make legitimate millions under the present government.
“If you see stolen money going anywhere, you will not only be honoured for pointing it out for discovery but you can earn a commission. So reward by exposing that. About 10 million USD and they give 2.5 of that. That money can change one’s life.
“The important policy of whistle blower that the president has instituted, it gives an opportunity to me, you and to every citizen of this country.”
Garba Shehu, who was answering questions from news men today, Sunday, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said that if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had remained in power after 2015, the dreaded Boko Haram terrorist sect would have taken over Aso Rock.
According to him, President Buhari has done a lot with regards to national security as he has curbed the activities of the insurgents, adding: “there are many people who believe that if not for president Muhammadu Buhari, PDP had continued in this country in 2015 they would have taken over Aso Rock by now.
“We have achieved so much in terms of security. Look at all of the way the efforts that have been put in rolling back Boko Haram.” [myad]
The Nigeria Army has formally referred to Biafran Republic agitators, under the canopy of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as criminal gang from it will no longer condone any form of false allegation.
According to the spokesman of the 6 Division of the Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt, Aminu Iliyasu, the allegations by one Emma Powerful, who claimed to be the media and publicity secretary of IPOB that soldiers shot dead eleven IPOB members on January 20 during a solidarity rally in Port Harcourt to celebrate the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States of America, is false.
Aminu Iliyasu confirmed that soldiers deployed to ensure peace on the street restrained themselves from firing a single shot despite provocations from the protesters.
“The allegation is false, malicious and existed in the figment of his imagination. We therefore wish to warn Mr. Emma Powerful and other likeminded mischief makers that the Nigerian Army will no longer tolerate such spurious and unfounded allegations that are injurious to the hard-earned image and reputation of the Nigerian Army, its selfless and dedicated officers and soldiers by any group of criminals regardless of their appellation.”
The army spokesperson said that on the day of the protest, members of the group were mobilized from Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Cross River States for an alleged rally with dubious intent of molesting innocent citizens, intimidating passers-by and wrecking havoc on commuters thereby disturbing public peace, safety and security.
“The choice of Port Harcourt (the Garden City) as the epicentre of the protest has left much to be desired. It is however worthy to restate that one of the constitutional responsibilities of the Nigerian Army is to come to the aid of the civil authority whenever the need arises. In line with this constitutional mandate, troops of 29 Battalion Nigerian Army, were deployed in conjunction with other sister security agencies to prevent any loss of life or property with strict adherence to the established Rules of Engagement.
“Despite all provocative attempts occasioned by the stoning of security agents and the smashing of commuters’ windscreens by the violent protesters, troops refused to be cajoled into the criminal gang’s trap to fire a single shot. This is indicative of the troops’ total compliance with their Rules of Engagement. The violent protest was subsequently subdued with the use of tear gas and arrests were made by a sister security agency with no casualty recorded on either side.
“It is however worrisome and disturbing for anyone to falsely accuse troops deployed in support of civil authority who conducted their duty professionally under the beaming lenses of cameras of allegedly killing 11 citizens of our great country. A well observed trend of this criminal gang is the malicious posting of old videos and pictures from their archives on social media platforms which has no bearing on their claims to attract public sympathy and whip sentiments among the citizenry.
“To this end, Headquarters 6 Division Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, wishes to inform the public that the allegation is not true and should be dismissed as mere propaganda by the separatist group. We wish to restate our total commitment to the protection of lives and properties within the Division’s Area of Responsibility.
“We therefore solicit the cooperation and understanding of all peace loving citizens and further enjoin them to join hands to help eradicating all forms of criminality within Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Delta States. This will no doubt enhance mutual co-existence, peace and socio-economic development of the region.” [myad]
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has made it clear that he is comfortable with the official residence he is presently occupying. He insisted that he had no need for other official residence which incidentally, the previous government started work on. In a statement by senior special assistant to Osinbajo on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, the acting President declared: “I have said publicly that I consider Aguda House, which I currently occupy, a befitting official residence for me and sufficient for my needs.” The Presidency was reacting to media reports which linked the present administration of Muhammadu Buharo to building of a new official residence for the occupant of the Office of the Vice President, including the controversial gatehouse. Which the statement said “preceded this administration. “The project which started in 2010, was initiated and funded by the immediate past administration, but had never featured in the two budget proposals of the Buhari administration: neither in the 2016 nor the 2017 spending plans. “Any suggestion therefore that this project benefits our administration or that it reflects our spending style or preferences is not only misleading but blatantly false.” The statement confirmed that the project is now about 85 percent completed, but that “the Federal Government, in the circumstances, will decide at the appropriate time on what is the best use for the 14 buildings already on the project site.” [myad]
“I killed her on Monday. If I did not bury her, people would easily link me with her death. Yet I have been caught. It was the work of the devil.”
These confessions were made by a man who gave his name simply as Bello and was arrested by police in Lagos State for allegedly killing his wife and burying her remains in a shallow grave.
“We have been married for 14 years.”
The wife, Sherifat, was said to have demanded money from Bello for upkeep allowance for their three children. Bello agreed to give her the money but asked her to come to a particular place in Ebute Metta area of the state to collect it.
They met at the designated place where they both moved to Ijora after which Bello allegedly pounced on her. She died on the spot and the suspect allegedly proceeded to dismember her corpse apparently to remove certain parts, after which he buried her remains in a shallow grave and reportedly absconded to his hometown in Ibadan.
A couple of days after the victim failed to return home, her relations reportedly raised alarm. They subsequently contacted the police and Bello was arrested and detained at the Area ‘B’ Police Command, Apapa.
In the course of investigation, Bello led the police to the shallow grave where he blamed the devil for his act.
A family member of the deceased said that the pubic hair and some other parts of the deceased were missing, suggesting that she must have been killed for ritual purpose.
The Police have exhumed the body of the deceased.
Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Owoseni, said it was not Bello’s first attempt to kill his wife.
The CP said an earlier attempt which involved the suspect inserting charm in the woman’s private part had led to their separation in the past before they reconciled.
“The offence was committed last Monday inside an uncompleted building in the area.
“Recovered from the grave in the presence of a large crowd of people yesterday were the head, two hands and legs were in their decomposing state.
“The exhumed parts were later buried at Amukoko cemetery.
“The case has been transferred to the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIID, Yaba,” the CP stated. [myad]
The Borno Government has set up new guard locations in strategic areas to prevent the remnant of Boko Haram insurgents from carrying out attacks.
Special Adviser to Governor Kashim Shettima on Communication and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau, in a statement in Maiduguri on Sunday, said that the measure was adopted after an emergency Security Council meeting in Maiduguri.
“Following resurgence of attacks by suspected remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents in some parts of the state, Shettima held an emergency security meeting with heads of the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Police and the Department of State Security.
“The meeting is part of the initiatives to take proactive measures to tackle recent upsurge in insurgents’ attacks.
“At the end of the meeting, new guard locations were established in some routes across the state to curtail the movement of remnants of Boko Haram fighters.
“Deployment of security personnel to various locations were increased with additional number of local vigilantes (the Civilian JTF).
“The governor gave approval for the release of additional patrol vehicles to security agencies for increased surveillance.
“He also approved logistics to compliment efforts of the Federal Government in strengthening armed forces, while measures were adopted to strengthen the Civilian JTF and hunters.”
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff has said that both governors Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state and Nyeson Wike of Rivers have brought shame to the party, vowing to shut them out of any responsible positions in the party in future.
Speaking against the background of the Friday court of appeal judgment which confirmed him as authentic chairman of the PDP, Senator Sheriff vowed to put in place machinery that would not give room to people like Wike and Fayose in any future arrangement in the party.
“I will engineer a restructuring of PDP such that characters like Wike and Fayose cannot find a way through to attain any position of prominence in our party in the future.
“They have brought shame and agony through the application of their crude and godless politics which is at variance with the principles upon which our founding fathers built our great party.
“We must find a way to sieve things so that only men of character and integrity can come through for positions of responsibility at all levels of our political engagement in the country.
“We must urgently steer the ship of PDP clear of the path of infamy which Wike and Fayose has brought our party, making Nigerians to mistaken PDP as a training ground for thugs. That is the urgent task we have. We cannot continue to advertise thug brand and expect Nigerians to take us seriously.”
Meanwhile, Modu Sheriff to organize a national convention of the PDP within the shortest time, saying that the convention was imperative as it would enable interested party members to aspire for positions.
He said that he is not interested to be chairman of the party, but is more interested in reuniting the members and make sure that the party has credible leaders, who would make it win the 2019 elections.
He said that following the judgment, he had received many telephone calls from PDP leaders and that he had also reached out to many persons over the unity of the party.
“All the leaders of the party will be consulted between now and the next one week and we will come out with a firm roadmap that will lead to successful convention. I can assure you that within the shortest possible time we will organize a successful national convention so that people can aspire for whatever positions they want.
“Regarding the ruling of the Appeal Court on Friday, I want to assure you that nobody is victor and no one is a loser. In fact, I have spoken to almost all the people that are affected by the court decision and assured them of my readiness to work with them to ensure that the party returns as one family.” [myad]
Grace, the wife of Zimbabwe’s President, Robert Mugabe, has said that even if her husband dies today, he would still win the Presidential election scheduled for next year.
Grace, who was addressing a rally of the governing Zanu-PF party in Buhera, south-east of the capital Harare, said: “one day when God decides that Mugabe dies, we will have his corpse appear as a candidate on the ballot paper.
“You will see people voting for Mugabe as a corpse. I am seriously telling you, just to show people how people love their president.”
Grace Mugabe accused some ruling ZANU-PF party officials of plotting to take over from her husband.
She said the officials, some from the era of guerrilla war against white rule, cannot take power from Mugabe because they too were old.
“Anyone who was with Mugabe in 1980 has no right to tell him he is old. If you want Mugabe to go, then you leave together.
“You also have to leave. Then we take over because we were not there in 1980,” Grace said, pointing to herself.
Mugabe, who declared he wants to live until 100 and rule till that age, has governed Zimbabwe since the end of white-majority rule in 1980 following a bloody war.
Mugabe, who will turn 93 on Tuesday, has slowed down on public engagements, while his 51-year-old wife has become increasingly visible in political circles. [myad]
Ex Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Mr. Femi Fani-Koyde has called on members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to prepare to leave the party’s carcass for the treacherous mole called Sheriff and form a new party.
“It is time for us to quit the PDP, leave its carcass for the treacherous mole called Sheriff and form a new party.”
Fani Kayode, who reacted to the appeal court judgment that recognized the factional National Chairman of the Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the authentic leader of the party, in a series of tweets on his twitter handle wrote: “The Court of Appeal decision is absurd.”
A three-man panel of judges in a unanimous decision agreed that the former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, is the authentic National Chairman of the party. [myad]
Nigeria’s Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has assented to seven bills passed by the National Assembly.
The bills are: Oath (Amendment) Act 2017, Defence Space Administration Act, Veterinary Surgeons (Amendment Act).
This was confirmed by the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang.
Other bills signed by Osinbajo are: National Film and Video Censors Boad, Pension Rights of Judges, Nigerian Institute of Social Science (Establishment ACT and Mortgage Institutions Amendment Act.
Enang explained that the Acts, other than the Defence Space Administration Act and Institute of Soil science were mainly Amendments to the Principal Act.
Osinbajo has been acting for President Muhammadu Buhari since January 19.
Buhari is currently on medical vacation and is expected to return shortly. [myad]
The former President, Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdullahi, has admitted that there are judges in Nigeria but not all of them are corrupt.
He declared: “we are not disputing the fact that there is no bad element in the judiciary, but not all in the system are bad. If you compare the number of the bad ones, the good ones out-number the bad ones.”
Justice Umaru Abdullahi spoke today, Saturday, during a public presentation of the journal on Private and Comparative Law, organized in his honour by the Faculty of Law of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
“The judiciary is a human and Nigerian institution. Therefore, it is not surprising that some few judicial officers are being picked up for going out of their parameters of judicial function.’’
The former appeal court judge insisted that the Nigerian judiciary has developed into a very solid institution, adding that it has been delivering services to the continuity of the country and is in the forefront in providing solutions to some of the problems facing the country.
Justice Umaru Abdullahi said that it is unfair to condemn the judiciary because of the few bad ones, as there is no sector in Nigeria that is insulated from corruption.
“There is the machinery the government can use effectively to flush out bad elements in the judiciary.”
He said that the government also has the machinery to ensure that only credible persons are appointed as judges.
The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, said that the judiciary has been trying its best in the fight against corruption, adding that the judiciary has a standard of measuring judges.
“We have our code of conduct the judicial officer is expected to abide with, If you see anything different from our code of conduct, that officer would have gone astray.
“If you go strictly by the code of conduct you can’t go wrong; So, we are committed to the fight against corruption.” [myad]
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Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has made it clear that he is comfortable with the official residence he is presently occupying.
