The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed that two people lost their lives in a communal clash in Ikende community in Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State between the Ebira and Bassa Kwomu speaking people of the community.

During the clash, which occurred on November 26 and 28, various dangerous weapons, including guns were freely used, even as the village has been deserted. No information as to the cause of the conflict as at today, Tuesday.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, William Aya, told newsmen in Lokoja that corpses of the two victims have been recovered by policemen deployed to the area, and that four other persons were seriously wounded in the clashes.
According to him, 15 houses, five vehicles and 15 motorcycles were burnt by the warring groups.
Aya said that the situation has been brought under control, and that no arrest has yet been made.
The PPRO said that Ikende town has been deserted by residents who are now hiding in the bush.
He said that anti-riot policemen will remain on ground until the safety of live and property can be guaranteed, adding that investigation into the immediate and remote cause of the clashes has commenced. [myad]

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a condolence message to the family and professional colleagues of veteran journalist and renowned social commentator, Abdulkarim Albashir, who died yesterday, Monday.

In a statement by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, President Buhari described the late journalist as brilliant broadcaster and writer, who used his talent to promote the cause of the poor and the helpless.

The President commended “the fearlessness and forthrightness of Abdulkarim’s columns in tackling social ills,” adding that the years he spent in the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and as Editor-In-Chief of the Democrat Newspapers were most historical and remarkable in developmental journalism.

He said that Abdulkarim’s legacy of giving ‘‘voice to the voiceless’’ will be long remembered.

Abdulkarim died today, Tuesday at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Shika, Zaria, at about 3:47pm after a protracted illness. He was aged 68.

Announcing his death, the deceased’s son, Gaddafi Albashir, said on his Facebook wall: “join me and my family in prayers. We lost our dad, Mallam Abdulkarim Albashir. May his soul rest in peace. Baba, we love you but Allah loves you more.”

“The body has just been transported home at Kinkinau GRA in Kaduna and we are currently preparing for his burial tomorrow (today) by 11am,” one of the deceased’s sons also stated.

The late Albashir worked at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and was also editor-in-chief of the defunct New Democrat newspaper.

The fearless writer later became a notable columnist and maintained columns in several newspapers.

Before his death, he suffered an undisclosed ailment which led to the amputation of one of his legs about two years ago.

Earlier this month, the senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial zone, Shehu Sani, visited and donated $3,000 to the deceased to enable him secure an artificial limb.

The late Abdulkarim is survived by one wife and seven children.

In a condolence statement issued by his senior special adviser, political and ideology, Suleiman Ahmed, yesterday, Senator Sani described Abdulkarim as a journalist who exemplified himself in his field of discipline for decades.

He also described Abdulkarim as a man of dignity and honour who lived a reputable life of service to his country and to humanity.

“His unmeasured contribution to the development of journalism in Nigeria can never be forgotten in the history of the profession.” [myad]

Former Nigerian House of Representatives’ Deputy Speaker, Chibudom Nwuche has raised an alarm that the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) have concluded plan to embarrass him by laying siege on his Abuja residence, portraying him as a criminal.
Nwuche said that EFCC operatives had in a Gestapo style, invaded his Abuja residence while he was out, and are still laying siege on it, ostensibly to arrest him for a yet unknown reason.
He said in a statement that the manner EFCC operatives invaded his house was a sign of the commission’s disregard for due process.
He said that he had never declined the commission’s invitation to warrant this manner of approach.
According to the politician, he can hear the voice of Jacob though it was the hairy hands of Esau, in his travails, stressing that a particular minister from his zone may have engineered it.
He said that the only time he had to face the EFCC was when an NGO he chairs had an issue, which is currently before the court of law, otherwise, he has never been a corrupt person even when he held public office.
Nwuche’s personal residence in Maitama has been under armed siege by operatives of the EFCC since 2pm on Monday.
Operatives involved in the operation said, they were not there to force him to do anything, but to ask him a few questions in an investigation which links him with an unwholesome activity. [myad]

President Muhammadu Buhari has promised that with reforms being put together by his government,  Nigerians who spent the productive years of their lives serving the nation will not experience difficulties in getting their pensions.

The President, who spoke today, Monday, at a meeting with the Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Barrister Sharon Ikeazor, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, directed a speedy completion of the ongoing nationwide verification of pensioners.

He said that the exercise is necessary because the success of the administration’s goal of putting in place an efficient pension scheme hinged on the availability of a reliable database.

In a presentation to the President, Barrister Ikeazor said that the PTAD management is determined to restore dignity to pensioners by protecting their funds and paying their entitlements promptly.

The Executive Secretary said that in line with the anti-corruption posture of the current administration, the PTAD has put measures  in place to ensure accountability, compliance with regulations and zero-tolerance for corruption. [myad]

Facts have emerged to show that over 740 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) out of the over 800 of them in Nigeria have not been complying with the provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act since it was signed into law in 2011.
According to a Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Benjamin O. Okolo, the lack lustre attitude of the government’s institutions towards the implementation of the provisions of the Act has been impeding the anti corruption war now in progress.
Okolo spoke today, Monday, at the commencement of a 2-day Round-Table talk, organized in Abuja by the Media Initiative against Injustice, Violence and Corruption (MIIVOC), in collaboration with the Freedom of Information Coalition-Nigeria, with support from Justice For All (DFID).
The Round Table, which was attended by various Civil society organizations (CSOs), media executives, top level judicial officers and other stakeholders, was aimed at increasing citizens’ usage of the Act.
Okolo regretted that many Nigerians are still not aware of the operation of FOI Act, over five years after it was signed into law by ex President Goodluck Jonathan.
He said that if Nigerians have been active in the use of the Act, the corruption war which the government of Muhammadu Buhari has waged, would have achieved much more than it has now.
He asked the Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders to engage more vigorously in the campaign for the proper application of the Act, to fast-track good governance, that is borne out of corruption-free society.
Also in his paper at the Round Table, titled: “The implications of the FOI Act to Nigeria’s Anti-graft War, the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Freedom of Information Coalition, Nigeria, Dr. Walter Duru lamented the low level of understanding of the Act by Nigerians, some of who are supposed to be well knowledgeable.
Dr. Duru recalled that the FOI Act was signed into law on May 28 2011, after the longest legislative debate in the history of Nigeria. The law was passed to enable the public to access information from government and its institutions, in order to ensure transparency and accountability.
He said that the Act aims at making public records and information more freely available as well as enables citizens to hold the government accountable in the event of the misappropriation of public funds or failure to deliver public services.
“It also seeks to protect serving public officers against any adverse consequences from the disclosure of certain kinds of official information, and to establish procedures for the achievement of these purposes.
“Available statistics show that there is an extremely low usage of the Act in Nigeria by the citizens, especially, Media and Civil Society practitioners.”

Dr. Duru insisted that for the anti corruption war to succeed, it must be consistent with the operatives of the anti corruption agencies being honest and transparent. He added that if government officials know that questions would be asked about how they manage the public funds in their care, they would be careful not to divert such funds into their personal accounts.
Professor Des Wilson also delivered a lecture on: “FOI Act: Relevance challenges in the scheme of National Development.” [myad]