Anti-Corruption Body Recovers 40 Vehicles From Retired Directors At Water Resources Ministry

January 25, 2017

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) has recovered over 40 vehicles from retired directors and assistant directors of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

The chairman of ICPC, Barrister Ekpo Nta, who announced this through a Commissioner, Alhaji Bako Abdullahi, said that the vehicles were recovered by a crack team led by the commission’s Director of Asset Tracing, Frank Nanakumo.

According to Nta, one of the directors alone carted away five vehicles after his retirement, adding that his agency acted on intelligence report on the looting of operational and utility vehicles of the affected ministry.

Breakdown of the recovered vehicles is as follows: Hilux pickup (13); 1 Hilux pickup; 2 Toyota RAV4; 1 Audi Q7; 1 Ford Explorer; 1 Land Rover; 1 Nissan Patrol; 8 Toyota Prado; 3 Toyota Avensis; 7 Toyota Corolla; 1 Toyota Camry and 1 Audi A6.

Nta said: “it is extremely sad that vehicles meant for the administrative and operational responsibilities of government establishment were dishonestly made away with by retiring senior public officers in whose oversight were the vehicles.

“However, it is fulfilling because the commission in its usual effort was alive to its law enforcement and prevention mandate in the fight against corruption.

“Ladies and gentlemen, in all seriousness, this formality should not just be for handing-over of recovered vehicles from an anti-corruption agency to another public institution. Rather, it should be a moment for solemn reflection on our avowed commitment to public service and the thought processes of the public servant going into retirement.

“You will agree with me that, it is not so much that official vehicles of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources were dishonestly made away with by retiring public servants.

“However, what is more significant is the need to ask some questions and consistently interrogate how 40 government vehicles were removed without authorization.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is also important to say that in the fight against corruption, it is not so much about those who dishonestly enriched themselves through government vehicles, but the opportunities for corruption that made this corrupt act possible in the first place.” [myad]

100,000 Americans Append Their Signatures For Impeachment Of President Trump

Greenbarge Reporters

January 25, 2017

No fewer than 100,000 Americans are said too have appended their signature in a move to seek for the impeachment of the new American President, Donald Trump. The campaign is being spearheaded by Civil rights groups, among which are the Free Speech for People and the RootsAction, both of them non-partisan and non-profit organization.

Information said that since the drive named ‘ImpeachTrumpNow’ started, the petition has received over 100,000 signatures in support of the impeachment move

The homepage of the site says: “Sign here to impeach Donald Trump now.”

It added: “from the moment he assumed the office, President Donald Trump has been in direct violation of the US Constitution. The President is not above the law. We will not allow President Trump to profit from the presidency at the expense of our democracy.

“We are calling upon Congress to pass a resolution calling for the House Committee on the Judiciary to investigate whether sufficient grounds exist for the impeachment of Donald John Trump, President of the United States,” said Free Speech for People and RootsAction on the website.

The “Impeach Trump Now” campaign describes what the nation is witnessing with Trump to be worse than Nixon and the Watergate scandal, in which former President Richard Nixon was found tampering with the election. (Nixon resigned before he could be impeached.) They claim that President Trump’s personal and business holdings in the United States and abroad are unprecedented conflicts of interest and therefore are grounds for impeachment.

Trump last year during the campaign sent out a tweet asking if a president can be impeached for gross incompetence

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is expected to sign a number of executive orders on Wednesday which would restrict immigration from Syria and six other Middle Eastern or African countries.

Another one of the orders will reportedly block visas from being issued to Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Trump’s purported restrictions may also include a temporary ban on admitting refugees from countries until the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security can increase the intensity of vetting. [myad]

PDP Says Buhari’s Anti-Corruption War Is Witch-Hunting Mechanism

Greenbarge Reporters

January 25, 2017

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war is a witch-hunting mechanism to harass PDP members and perceived enemies of his administration.

The party was reacting to the President’s clearance of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, of corruption allegations.

A statement today, Wednesday, by the spokesman of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said that the clearing of Magu and Lawal has finally confirmed their earlier assertion that the ‘anti-corruption war’ of the All Progressive Congress (APC)- led administration was ruse.

“It is no longer news that all those who are serving in the government of President Muhammadu Buhari or who are members of his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) within the last two years of his administration have all been cleared of any wrong doing; notwithstanding documentary and other incontrovertible evidences to the contrary.

“The Presidency in today’s dispensation is the ‘Judicial Clearing House’ issuing clean bill of health to all accused corrupt officials who are members of the APC and friends of the administration.

“It is quite disturbing that the President cleared his SGF of wrong doing despite the weighty evidences of his “grass-cutting abilities” uncovered by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, implicating Babachir of complicity in the award of contracts relating to the IDP camp in Borno State amounting to over 200 million Naira.

“It is more worrisome that Mr. President made light of the DSS Report which directly indicted the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, of several unwholesome and corrupt practices in the line of his duties.

“President Buhari saw nothing wrong in the report but was quick to order the invasion of judges homes in a Gestapo and commando-style following the same DSS report.

“What a double standard! It appears that the APC led government is implementing two constitutions in Nigeria; one for the PDP and other opposition parties and their leaders; while the other is for the ruling party, the APC and friends of this administration.”

The PDP also alluded to the clearance given to the Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, in the Dubai property saga, found to belong to the Army Staff.

“The Chief of Army Staff was cleared of all accusations even with convincing evidence of owning choice properties in Dubai beyond his income; and also overwhelming evidence of misdeeds while serving as Director of Procurement in the last administration.

“Notwithstanding, President Buhari cleared him by attributing his ownership of choice properties to diligent and thrifty saving of his wages but went after Supreme Court Justices for owning properties as if the Judges too cannot also save from their own wages.

“In the same vien, ‘Buhari’s Court’ also cleared the Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau for owning properties worth over 1.5 billion Naira in the United States of America; and in fact rather than being prosecuted, he was rewarded with the highest budget vote in the 2017 Budget.” [myad]

Kidnapped Turkish School Students Set Free, Police Say No Ransom Paid

Greenbarge Reporters

January 24, 2017

Kidnappers, who abducted students and workers at the Nigerian-Turkish International School, Isheri, in Ogun State, 11 days ago, have just set them free tonight.
According to the police, the eight victims were dropped off at the back of the school.
The police had earlier today, Tuesday, told reporters that the victims would regain freedom within 24 hours.
While giving the assurance in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, Kayode Aderanti, said that the kidnapped students and staff of NTIC would be released within 24 hours.
He spoke with reporters shortly after his visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his hilltop residence in Abeokuta.
Aderanti said that he spoke with the leader of the search team shortly before his visit and got a positive response from him.
He however denied that the victims’ families had paid ransom.
“No ransom has been paid,’’ he said.
The AIG commended the state’s Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, for putting in place an effective security system in the state.
He urged residents of Ogun to partner with the police to ensure that lives and property were properly secured. [myad]

We Found No Corrupt Cases Against EFCC Boss And SGF – Buhari

Greenbarge Reporters

January 24, 2017

President Muhammadu Buhari has told the Senate that the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, have been cleared of alleged corrupt practices following an investigation into allegations against them.

In a letter read during plenary today, Tuesday, by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, which re-nominated Magu as Chairman of the EFCC, the President said Magu and Lawal were cleared of corruption in a report by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

‎In the letter, Buhari requested the upper legislative chamber to reconsider its decision to reject the appointment of Magu as substantive chairman of the EFCC.
The letter was read shortly after the Senate returned from a closed-session that lasted about 80 minutes.

The Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo had sent the letter to the Senate on Sunday evening. [myad]

Osinbajo Insists On Reward And Punishment System In Public Sector

Greenbarge Reporters

January 24, 2017

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has again stressed the need to evolve award and punishment systems in the public sector as a way of moving the nation forward in all other sectors.

“We have to be committed to what we want to achieve. We must develop a system that punishes bad behaviour and reward good behaviour,”

The Vice President, who spoke today, Tuesday, at the monthly meeting of the Presidential Enabling Business Council (PEBEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said: “we are at a point when we feel obliged to do our very best to improve in all the factors that will create an enabling environment for businesses in the country.

He wanted the Council to consider different options, and decisions that would be taken in the nation’s ports; on starting a business, construction permits, registering property, getting credit, trading across the borders and enforcement of contracts among others.

President Muhammadu Buhari had established the Council demonstrating the highest possible political will necessary to identify and implement the reforms that will improve the business environment in Nigeria, thereby improving Nigeria’s ranking in the annual World Bank Doing Business global ranking.

Today’s meeting of the Council, with nine cabinet ministers in attendance, included an interactive session with the World Bank team led by the Country Director, Rachid Benmessaoud, and other senior officials from the Washington DC head office of the global financial institution. [myad]

Economy: Monetary Policy Committee Laments Complicated Policy Environment

Greenbarge Reporters

January 24, 2017

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has lamented that both external and domestic conditions have blended to significantly complicate the policy environment on the economy.
The Committee, which held its first statutory meeting of fiscal 2017 on 23rd and 24th January, 2017, said that over the last few weeks the pillars of the old order – free trade, multilateralism and globalization have come under intense pressure, and seemingly giving way to an era of enlightened national interest in the conduct of international economic relations.
The Committee noted that on the domestic front, the economy remains in recession and inflation pressures have yet to recede.
It said that the meeting was held against the backdrop of increased uncertainty arising from political and economic developments around the world. The Committee, whose meeting was attended by all its 10 members, reviewed the global and domestic economic and financial environments in 2016 and the outlook for the short to medium term in 2017.
It noted that the uncertainty in the external environment persisted owing to a combination of recent political and economic developments. “The key issues include: Brexit, the rising wave of populist and anti-globalization sentiments anchored by emerging bilateralism, divergent monetary policy stance of the advanced central banks and disorderly commodity price movements. With global output growth improving sluggishly, the outlook for 2017 remains unchanged owing to persisting uncertainties in commodity prices and volatility in the financial markets as well as slowing demand in the advanced economies and the emerging markets.
“The MPC welcomed the modest increase in oil prices following the last OPEC decision to cut output and noted the increase in the policy rate of the US Federal Reserve Bank in December 2016 and the potential implications of that decision for international interest rates and capital flows. While noting the materiality of the output cut on oil prices, the Committee cautioned that the effect could rapidly wane, given the likelihood of a supply glut from non-OPEC members, low level of global economic activity and weak growth. Emerging markets and developing economies, in particular, have continued to confront strong headwinds such as low commodity prices, rising inflation, currency instability, intractable low aggregate demand and subdued capital flows.
“Overall, the Committee noted that whereas improved commodity prices may provide modest tailwinds for resource-dependent economies in 2017, the medium-term outlook continues to be muffled by stagnation and uncertainty in the prospects for global trade, subdued investment and heightened policy uncertainty, especially in some major economies. Nevertheless, the IMF estimates that these constraints would decline; paving way for mild improvements in economic growth from 3.1 per cent in 2016 to 3.4 per cent in 2017.
“Global inflation commenced a moderate but steady rise on the backdrop of improvements in oil prices and currency depreciation in several emerging markets. However, amongst the major advanced economies, only the U.S Fed has commenced policy tightening[Note:1] while the Bank of Japan (BOJ), the Bank of England and the European Central Bank, all retained their accommodative policy stance at their most recent meetings.”
The committee said that data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in November 2016 showed that the economy contracted further by 2.24 per cent in Q3 2016, having slipped into recession following another contraction in output in Q2, 2016.
“Although the overall contraction in Q3 was greater than was observed in Q1 and Q2, the non-oil sector grew by 0.03 per cent in Q3, driven mainly by agriculture, which grew by 4.54 per cent. The Committee is of the view that the key undercurrents i.e. scarcity of foreign exchange, low fiscal activity, high energy prices and the accumulation of salary arrears – cannot be directly ameliorated by monetary policy actions.”
The Committee hopes that the recent increase in oil prices would be complemented by production gains to provide the needed tailwinds to sustainable economic activity. In that regard, the Committee commends the commitment of the fiscal authorities to step up efforts to fill the aggregate demand gap through a speedy resolution of the domestic indebtedness of the federal government to states and local contractors. The Committee believes that doing so will aid the effort towards economic recovery.
The committee noted that money supply (M2) grew by 19.02 per cent in 2016, being 8.0 percentage points higher than its programmed limit. It underscored the necessity of keeping the economy adequately lubricated in the face of declining output. Growth in Net Domestic Credit (NDC) was 24.79 per cent at end-December 2016, being 17.94 per cent above its provisional benchmark for 2016.
“Likewise, growth in net credit to government, at 58.84 per cent, surpassed its programmed target of 47.4 per cent. In effect, all the major monetary aggregates exceeded their programmed provisional benchmarks for fiscal 2016.
“Headline inflation (year-on-year) continued to rise, creeping up in December 2016 to 18.55 per cent from 18.48 per cent in November, and 18.33 per cent in October, thus sustaining the upward momentum since January 2016. The increase in headline inflation in December 2016 was driven by increase in the food component, which inched up from 17.19 per cent in November to 17.39 per cent in December. Core inflation, on the other hand, moderated slightly to 18.05 per cent in December 2016 from 18.24 per cent in November.” [myad]

Quest For Religious Harmony: Sultan Abubakar, Cardinal Onaiyekan Endorse Dialogue

Greenbarge Reporters

January 24, 2017

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, and Arch-bishop of the Abuja Arch-diocese, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, are to attend a two-day conference in Abuja that is aimed at exploring common grounds for supporting interreligious dialogue in Nigeria
The event, organised by International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID), an intergovernmental organization that promotes dialogue to build peace in conflict areas that is based in Vienna, Austria, and the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), in collaboration with the Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC), is to bring “together 100 key actors from diverse Nigerian communities, both Christian and Muslim, to find common ground to build and support a platform for interreligious dialogue in Nigeria.”
A statement by KAICIID on Tuesday, said that the two-day event will aim at the promotion of dialogue through improving on the successes of previous conference held in September.
According to the statement, “The conference entitled ‘Coordinate to Achieve 2 – Inclusive and Sustainable Interreligious Dialogue in Nigeria’ (CtA2) will be held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 25 to 26 January and is a follow-up of the Coordinate to Achieve conference held in September 2016. The conference will be structured along both intra- and interreligious tracks and will be an opportunity for community leaders to coordinate their efforts toward establishing a sustainable interreligious dialogue platform and securing an action plan for the platform. They will also discuss promoting religious coexistence, an initiative led by the IMC.
“The success of the first Coordinate to Achieve conference was indicative of the fact that leaders in Nigeria want to work together to promote religious coexistence and dialogue,” said the Director General of KAICIID, Fahad Abualnasr.
“Dialogue will support inter- and intra-religious understanding among religious leadership to enable inclusive dialogue to build peace. We look forward to acting as a facilitator to support the efforts of religious communities.”
The first Coordinate, according to the statement, was aimed at achieving a set of action plans to establish a platform for dialogue and founded the Central Coordination Committee (CCC), a committee composed of a wide variety of esteemed religious representatives, both Christian and Muslim. [myad]

Buhari Insists On Magu As EFCC Boss, Sends His Name Back To Senate For Confirmation

Greenbarge Reporters

January 24, 2017

President Muhammadu Buhari has indicated that it is Ibrahim Magu he would like to formally head the anti-corruption body: Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in a substantive status and has therefore, forwarded his name back to the Senate for confirmation.

A letter to that effect from the President, was read at the floor of Senate today, Tuesday, by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Abubakar Saraki. He also read another letter in which the President said he would not sack the Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal as requested by the Senate

The resubmission of Magu’s name for confirmation as EFCC boss, came against the background of an earlier denial by the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Mr. Ita Enang, that he was not aware of such.

Enang had said: “you are about the third person calling me on this matter. I am not aware of that discussion and I don’t want to speak on the matter because I don’t have details.”

Senate had on December 15, 2016, rejected the request for the confirmation of Magu, based on security reports from the Department of State Security (DSS). It thereafter returned the nomination Magu to the President for further action.

The presidency had in July 2016 written the Senate, requesting the screening and confirmation of Magu as Substantive Chairman of EFCC.

Buhari appointed Magu as acting chairman of the EFCC after the removal of Ibrahim Lamorde on November 9, 2015.

Before his appointment as the acting EFCC chairman, Magu was the Head of Economic Governance Unit of the commission. [myad]

Buhari Is At War With Everyone, Including National Assembly – Dr. Junaid

Greenbarge Reporters

January 24, 2017

Second Republic House of Representatives member from Kano State, Dr. Junaid Mohammed has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari is at war with everyone, including the National Assembly.

Dr. Junaidu, who reacted to the senior special assistant to President Buhari on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu who attacked his earlier view on Buhari, said that if Bhari’s wife, Aisha, could attack him, it showed that all is not well.

He asked Garba Shehu to stop telling Nigerians lies about the health of his boss, saying that late General Sanni Abacha was supposedly one of the healthiest President Nigeria ever had.

“I believe Shehu is under pressure which is why he attacked me. However, I believe strongly they need to stop lying to Nigerians about Mr. President’s health. Can they actually tell Nigerians what this medical leave or routine check-up is? They don’t seem to be telling us the truth.

“If I am to comment on issues that concern Nigerians, I won’t shy away from telling President Buhari the home truth anywhere he is making mistakes. I criticized General Abacha as Head of State and told him some truths in private and sometimes face to face. I believe if people can challenge their friends in power, it shows they are not intimidated by the powerful.

“If Aisha Buhari can say what she said about her husband, I think the President needs to check himself and retrace his steps on some issues that concern the country. I think the question the President needs to ask himself is that after one he has taken over the reins of power, what has changed? Is Nigeria better off than when he took over on May 29, 2015? The truth is that Nigeria is worse off today than when Buhari took over the reins of power.

“Every Nigerian today is worse off and nothing seems to be working under this government. Some who are rich in 2015 cannot say same today due to the economic woes that Nigeria is presently experiencing and we cannot continue to close our eyes off it.

“This administration has failed in taming the economic woes that seems to have turned everyone poor in present day Nigeria. Even though the administration made some giant strides in the fight against Boko Haram, the country is still not safe as people still live in fears even in Kano today. And there are also political crises in the party where President won his own election. So the President seems to be at war with everyone including the National Assembly members.

“I believe President Buhari should engage in turning around the fortunes of Nigeria economically, politically and security wise. By now, his administration should have stopped blaming the Jonathan government for their woes. I believe that in Politics, you take assets and liabilities.” [myad]

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