Wife of the former President, Dame Patience Jonathan
Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the freezing of Ex-First Lady, Patience Jonathan’s several bank accounts in corruption proceeds hidden in bank’s around the country.
The action is believed to be the largest kleptocracy forfeiture action brought against a first lady in the country’s history.
The restraint of funds announced today includes accounts with Skye Bank, Diamond Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Eco Bank and Fidelity bank.
Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, on the platform og the All Progressives Congress (APC), has accused Governor Nyeson Wike of Rivers State of playing what he called politics of rascality.
Senator Abe condemned the decision of the governor of Rivers State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to swear in the duly elected APC members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, describing it as rascality and impunity.
“This kind of rascality and impunity that we are experiencing in Rivers State will not be allowed and tolerated,”
The Senator, who spoke to news men in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State insisted that the law makers elected on the platform of the APC will march into the Rivers State House of Assembly to participate in the deliberations of the House.
He said that the option for the APC lawmakers to march into the state House of Assembly to begin their function has become expedient following the insistence of Governor Nyesom Wike that the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly would not swear them in.
“If the Speaker will not swear them in, they will match into the House of Assembly and take their place because they have been returned”.
He asked well-meaning Nigerians to condemn the actions of the governor as such could derail our democracy even as he contended that swearing-in of members of the House was not constitutional but ceremonial, arguing that in the absence of the swearing-in, the elected legislators have the right to participate in the deliberations.
“There is no constitutional requirement for swearing-in law makers in the country. It is a ceremony, which the Speaker may perform if he so chooses. If he chooses not to swear them in, that cannot in anyway de-legitimize their membership of the House of Assembly. So, the Speaker has a choice. He can swear them in, which is what he is expected to do as the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly or he can refuse and they will go into the House of Assembly and take their seats without his permission because he has no right to sit as a tribunal over the return of any legislator.”
Senator Abe also indicated that he will challenge the Commission of Inquiry setup by Governor Wike to investigate the act of violence and other matters that occurred during the December 10 re-run elections in Rivers State.
He said that although the setting up of the commission by the governor appeared amusing, there is the need to challenge it in Court as such Commission is intended to produce documented indictment on the leaders of APC.
“I think this is the joke of the year. Like every other joke that has been reduced to pen and paper, we are going to treat it seriously. We will challenge that so-called commission in the Court,”
Senator Abe said that it has become necessary to challenge the commission because such commission should be unbiased but past commissions setup by the governor had demonstrated that the intention was to indict APC members and exonerate PDP members from any culpability.
He added that the setting up of the commission runs against the legal maxim that one cannot be a judge in his own case.
Senator Abe expressed discontent that the governor will perpetuate a lot of atrocities and impunity, only to setup a commission of inquiry to exonerate himself and his party and blame the APC.
He said that the governor chose to setup the commission having heard that the Inspector-General of Police had commenced investigation in some allegations against the governor.
“Because the Inspector-General of Police has asked the Police to investigate allegations and the circumstance of the things that happened here and then the chief suspect says that he has no confidence in the investigation of the Police and went ahead to setup his own inquiry. This is a man that for the past one week has done nothing but to express his bias. He has already indicted everybody that he can indict and then he is setting up a commission of inquiry. How would any other person have confidence in that kind of inquiry when his bias is known; his prejudice is clear? Like every other commission that has been set up by this administration, it is design with one thing and only one thing in mind to indict leaders of All Progressives Congress in Rivers State.” [myad]
The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has asked Christians to stop defacing the capital city with all types of posters on evangelism.
The minister, who received in audience in his office today, Friday, the new executives of the FCT chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), asked the new leadership to help reach out to their members to stop indiscriminate pasting of posters which deface the city.
He assured them that his government would strengthen collaboration with religious organizations in the capital city as a way of fostering unity and harmony.
The minister, who congratulated the new executive committee over their election, called for proactive engagement to nip security challenges in the bud, even as he promised to work with the new CAN leadership to build on the work of their predecessors.
Earlier, the former FCT CAN Chairman and now the Chairman of CAN, North Central Zone, Rev. Israel Akanji who led the delegation, said that CAN has received enormous support from the FCT Administration over the years and appreciated the tremendous support they have been enjoying during festive periods.
The Chairman commended the minister for the interfaith collaboration which he government has encouraged. [myad]
The Governing Board of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has approved the promotion of 76 Management Staff of the Agency to their next grade levels.
The promotions were approved at the 34th meeting of the Board which held in Lagos from 20th to 21st, December, 2016 under the chairmanship of General Jonathan India Garba (rtd).
Eight Deputy Directors were promoted to the level of Directors, 15 Assistant Directors were promoted to Deputy Directors while 56 grade level 14 officers were promoted to their next grade of Assistant Directors.
Those who were promoted to Directors include the Agency’s Spokesperson, Hajia Lami Tumaka, Head of Procurement department, Mr. Sani Mohammed, Head of Financial Services department, Mr. Olayemi Abbas and his counterpart in Cabotage department, Mr. Hassan el-Yakub.
Others are the Coordinator of Western Zonal Operations, Hajia Aisha Jummai Musa, Head of Marine Environment Management department, Mrs. Susan Asagwara, Head of Shipping Development department, Mr. Akin Akinyosoye and his counterpart in Legal Services, Mr. Suleman Abdulsalam.
The promotion went through a rigorous process where independent consultants were engaged to carry out the exercise.
Similarly, the Executive Management of the Agency has also approved the promotion of a total number of 222 non-management staff between grade levels 4-14.
Meanwhile, the Governing Board has enjoined the newly promoted staff to dedicate themselves to duty as the promotions will undoubtedly come with more responsibilities, adding that henceforth promotion exercises in the Agency will be conducted as at when due. [myad]
As President Yahya Jammeh plans to cling to power in spite of international opposition, the West Africa’s regional bloc, Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) is flexing muscle, threatening a military action to flush him out of power.
This is even as President Jammeh had long tagged ECOWAS as an intruder into the internal affairs of the Gambia.
ECOWAS is said to have put standby military forces on alert in case President Jammeh does not step down when his mandate ends on January 19.
ECOWAS commission president, Marcel de Souza said this on Malian TV on Thursday night.
Jammeh has vowed to stay in power despite losing a Dec. 1 election to rival Adama Barrow, raising the possibility that regional powers may intervene to oust him if diplomacy does not succeed in persuading him to leave.
“We have put standby forces on alert if he does not (step down) on Jan. 19 when his mandate ends,” De Souza said.
“No one has the right to oppose the will of the people.”
Barrow’s surprise victory and Jammeh’s initial decision to concede power after 22 years in power was seen across Africa as a moment of hope. But the president changed his mind a week later and said again on Tuesday that he would not step down, rebuffing efforts by West African leaders to persuade him.
Jammeh said that the electoral count was flawed and that ECOWAS has no right to meddle in Gambia’s internal affairs.
The regional bloc has mandated Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to act as mediator to offer Jammeh an “honourable exit,” but if he does not take it then forces might be deployed, De Souza said.
The BBC quoted De Souza as saying in an interview that Senegalese troops would lead any military intervention.
Senegal is Gambia’s only territorial neighbour and has a frequently stormy relationship with the country, having sent troops there during a 1981 coup.
Senegal has indicated that military action would be an absolute last resort.
Diplomats say ECOWAS would probably seek approval from the U.N. Security Council for the use of force. ECOWAS deployed troops to Liberia and Sierra Leone during civil wars in the 1990s, setting a precedent for possible intervention.
A first step for raising pressure once the handover date passes is likely to be targeted sanctions by the U.N. and others, diplomats say, also raising the possibility that Jammeh could be offered asylum abroad.
Barrow’s supporters suggested on Thursday that the president might not immediately be prosecuted for alleged human rights abuses during his rule.
“Justice is absolutely essential … but we are going to take the route to truth and reconciliation,” said coalition spokesman Halifa Sallah at a meeting with the African Bar Association.
Gambia’s Supreme Court will hear a legal challenge on Jan. 10 from Jammeh’s ruling party which wants to overturn the election result.
President Muhammadu Buhari has shown that he is proud of the governor of Lagos, Omowunmi Ambode and his Kebbi state counterpart, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu for the success they have achieved, partnership to produce local rice that has been christened LAKE Rice – Lagos-Kebbi Rice.
The President, who commended the two governors for their commitment to bringing to fruition, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in March 2016 on substantially meeting the country’s rice requirement, expressed delight at the relatively cheaper price of LAKE Rice, especially at this period of recession.
“It gladdens my heart to get reports of our citizens rushing to purchase this cheaper local rice to enable them and their families enjoy the Christmas and New Year celebrations.”
According to President Buhari, what the two states have done is “evidence of a new base being laid for the Nigerian economy, founded and propelled by agriculture, away from substantial dependence on oil and gas for national revenue.”
The President recalled that in his 2017 Budget presentation before the National Assembly, he said that “a new era is rising in which we must grow what we eat and consume what we make,” adding that the LAKE Rice achievement is in furtherance of the set goal.
He advised other state governments to replicate the laudable example of LAKE Rice and other staple crops and dairy products; even as he pledged that his government is ready to continue to support such initiatives by providing the enabling environment, policies and incentives for agriculture to thrive in order for the nation to achieve food security.
He is optimistic that going forward, Nigeria will attain rice sufficiency by year 2019.
Also, the minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi has said that President Buhari is eager to reflate the Nigeria’s economy and deliver to the people the gains of his administration.
A statement by the Director of press and public Relations of the Ministry, Mrs. Yetunde Sonaike, quoted the minister as saying that one of the core mandates of the present administration was to fulfil the needs and aspirations of Nigerians, adding that government would ensure it achieve its promises.
The minister said that the ministry was able to complete the Abuja–Kaduna Railway modernisation project and provided safety measures at the nation’s airports through rehabilitation of the existing infrastructure within the airports.
He said that there were also ongoing rehabilitation of infrastructure at the seaports and the railway as well as instilling financial discipline in the ministry and its agencies among others.
Amaechi said the focus of the government was the rehabilitation of the old railway lines of Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri and also ensuring that the construction works on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Rail line was completed within the specified time.
According to him, the government is determined to ensure that works on Lagos-Kano Rail line commence in earnest to facilitate the movement of goods and passengers unhindered.
“The construction work on the Lagos-Ibadan segment of the Coastal Rail line will commence in January 2017.”
On the issue of the National Fleet for the maritime sector, the minister said that government had gone far in getting interested investors to come in.
He said that the government was mindful of the provision of the law which stipulates 60 per cent for local investors and 40 per cent for foreign investors. [myad]
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has cut off electricity supply to Chibiri community, a suburb of Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over none payment of bills by some of its customers in the community.
Information available to Greenbarge Reporters confirmed that many others who have been paying their bills were joined in the offence committed by none paying customers and similarly thrown into darkness.
It was gathered that the officials of the company have placed the responsibility of asking the none paying consumers on those who have been paying, as a condition for reconnecting the community.
One of the customers who had been paying his bill simply said: “the AEDC officials are simply shifting their responsibility, of going after those that are owing them to others, and punishing those who have been paying. This is unfair.”
More facts are being gathered and will shortly be published. [myad]
Taraba State government’s workers have shut down the state secretariat in the state capital, Jalingo to protest against the non-payment of their salaries.
The protesters carried placards, some of which read: “One year of impunity and insensitivity must stop’’, “salary is a right not a privilege’’, “Starter Up must go’’ and “pensioners have right to a dignified living.”
Acting on the platform of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC), the workers accused the state government of insensitive to their plights.
Addressing the workers, Mr. Peter Gambo, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said on Thursday that they were protesting against other irregularities in the payment of salaries of workers and pensions of retirees in the state.
He said that local government workers and teachers have not been paid for eight months and have been subjected to untold hardship.
The chairman listed other irregularities as illegal deductions from salaries and subjection of workers to meaningless screenings and futile verifications by the government.
Gambo also alleged that the union dues were deducted indiscriminately without being remitted to the respective accounts of the unions and that government had given no explanations for this.
“Government has shown that the welfare of workers in the state is not its priority. Workers have been subjected to all kinds of belittling treatments in the name of screening and verification that have not yielded any fruits apart from subjecting them to extreme hardships.
“The consultant has proven to be very incompetent in handling payment of salaries while the bank handling payment has clearly shown that it is confused. All these must stop now”, he said.
The state Head of Service, Mr. Samuel Angyu, addressed the protesters, saying that the government is aware of the workers’ complaints and is already taking steps to address them.
Angyu appealed to the workers to end the protest and make way for “peaceful and civilized discussions on the way forward.” [myad]
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has advised 47 newly appointed career Ambassadors to explore possibilities of attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Nigeria in general and the FCT. The minister gave the advice today, Thursday, when the Ambassadors paid him a working visit at in his office in Abuja. The Minister emphasized that with Foreign Direct Investment, the economic challenge the nation is facing today would become a reduced to a minimum level as the nation’s dependence on imported goods and services would drastically reduced. Muhammad Bello said that there are a lot of investment opportunities in Nigeria and FCT which could be marketed by the new Ambassadors to their host countries. According to him, the FCTA would leverage on their expertise to sell Abuja to the world even as he drew attention to opportunities for light industries in the capital city Territory. He said that the Idu Industrial Layout has been provided with adequate infrastructure for such purpose, adding that his government has provided an enabling environment for would-be genuine investors. The minister reminded the Ambassadors that Abuja is the only city that is a creation of law in Nigeria, the home to all Nigerians including the new Ambassadors, and the window through which the world sees the country. Muhammad Bello assured them that his Administration would continue to guard the Abuja Master Plan and that all the diplomatic plots meant for embassies and High Commissions in the city would be protected. The Minister prayed that the new Ambassadors would make the nation proud, saying: “you know all the challenges of the Federal Capital Territory because all of you live here and therefore you can best market the city by bringing Foreign Direct Investment to tackle all those challenges.” Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye who led the group, said that the visit is part of the induction programme organized for the new Ambassadors to acquaint and remind them of the government policies in terms of protocol and its priority in terms of domestic agenda. These, he said, are built into the change, good governance, economic, security and anti-corruption stands of the Muhammadu Buhari government. “This is to help identify the foreign policy component of the government programme to enable the new Ambassadors go out there to engage and advance the domestic agenda of Nigeria.” [myad]
Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has surprised Christians in the state, with the donation of a new bus to their umbrella body, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and promise to sponsor 117 Christians to Jerusalem on pilgrimage. The governor, whose action was interpreted to mean that his government is not marginalizing Christians and any other group in the state, that the gesture is part of effort to allay the fears that Christians are being marginalized in the state. A statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Jonathan Tsado Vatsa, quoted the governor as debunking the notion in some quarters that the Sharia court in the state was created by his government. He said that the outcry of marginalization by Christians in the state was not caused by his administration but that it is an age-long situation, which will be laid to rest soon as he had ordered the immediate employment of Christian Religious Knowledge teachers across the state by January 2017. Governor Bello spoke when the leadership of CAN, led by the State Chairman, Rev. Mathias Echioda, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House. He assured them of cordial relationship, saying that both Islamic and Christian Religious Knowledge would be taught in schools to help improve students’ moral lessons. Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Information, who spoke to news men at the first Niger State Christmas Carol Festival, which held 40 years after it was last observed, appealed to Christians to shun every form of division and to speak with one voice to achieve results. “For the fact that Mr. Governor sponsored the first Christmas carol since the inception of the state 40 years ago, it shows that the government is not religiously biased and despite the ban on pilgrimage sponsorship to the Holy land, the Governor in his own benevolence still sponsored 117 Christians to Israel and the first batch left on Monday.” Vatsa called on Christian politicians to come together and champion a cause for Christians as well as a positive course that will benefit the state rather than continuously complaining and making accusations. [myad]
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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has advised 47 newly appointed career Ambassadors to explore possibilities of attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Nigeria in general and the FCT.
Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has surprised Christians in the state, with the donation of a new bus to their umbrella body, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and promise to sponsor 117 Christians to Jerusalem on pilgrimage.