No Innocent Christian Was Killed For Blasphemy In Zamfara, Police Boss Clarifies

August 27, 2016

The Zamfara state commissioner of Police, Adaji Gabriel has said that no innocent Christian student of the Abdu Gusau polytechnic was killed over alleged blasphemy as reported in some media organizations recently.
The police boss recalled that some media gave bad impression that eight Christian students of Abdu Gusau Polytechnic were killed for alleged blasphemy,”which was not true.”
He told news men at the Command headquarters in Gusau that there was no single innocent soul that was taken by the unwanted development that occurred in Talata Mafara town.
“In Our record, we have so far eight people who were burnt alive and were hoodlums who took advantage of the boiling situation in the town and went to a house belonging to a good Samaritan who rescued the embattled student for safety.
“T,they entered and are not lucky as the innocent family had vacate already.”
He said that the hoodlums were nine but that eight died while one hide in a toilet, thereby escaping the death.
The police boss said that the suspect is currently assisting the Police with the required information.
“With this development, there was no innocent life lost and there was no single Christian student who lost his live, It was mere argument between three students that stay in the same room at Abdu Gusau Polytechnic,Talata Mafara.” [myad]

FCT Minister Wants Staff Who Would Tell Him Truth, Not Sycophant

Greenbarge Reporters

August 27, 2016

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has said that he wants a staff of his ministry that would tell him the truth about the situation on ground, not sycophant.
“I want the Federal Capital Territory and indeed the entire Nigeria to get to a stage where for instance, the Director of Urban & Regional Planning will tell the Minister or any political appointee that the plot of land you are asking me to earmark cannot be allocated because it is a green area meant for aesthetic, beautification or relaxation points for generations yet unborn.”
The minister who spoke at a special congress meeting of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), organised in his in his on Saturday at the Council Secretariat in Utako District, Abuja said that achieve such ideal, his administration will strengthen the various institutions in the Federal Capital Territory and maintain extant rules in carrying out all its statutory activities.
Muhammad Bello explained that under the proposed dispensation, that institutions would be allowed to do their work to ensure that all wrongs in the Federal Capital Territory in the past are corrected.
He reminded the people that Abuja is a creation of the law and in that in administering it, the rule of law would take precedence over other considerations.
“We need to strengthen the institutions to eradicate individual or selfish interests in our actions and inactions, especially with those in the position of leadership.”
The Minister said that the ongoing Abuja Light Rail project has reached 70 percent completion and that it would be completed and operational in December 31, 2017.
The Minister appreciated the media for the support it has been giving to his administration even as he appealed for continuous understanding.
Chairman of the Abuja Council of the NUJ, Mr. Paul Abeche Ella recalled that since 1976 when FCT got its first Minister, none of the other 16 Ministers had ever attended the NUJ Congress which Muhammad Bello had done.
He regretted however that 30 years in the life of the Abuja Council of the Union, it had no a permanent secretariat even as he appealed to the Minister to assist in completing the ongoing work at the Secretariat.
The NUJ Congress meeting was also attended by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, National President of NUJ, Acting Secretaries of all the Mandate Secretariats, Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, NUJ Zonal officials, all the state chairmen of NUJ in North Central as well as some FCT Directors, including Information & Communications, Development Control and Abuja Environmental Protection Board. [myad]

Buhari Has No Hand In Ordeals Of Man Who Named His Dog ‘Buhari,’ Presidency Swears

Greenbarge Reporters

August 27, 2016

The Nigeria Presidency has made it clear that President Muhammadu Buhari has no hand in the ordeals a man who named his dog ‘Buhari’is reported to be going through.

The President’s spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, who reacted to the controversy, for the first time since it started, said that if anything, his boss has always been in love with cartoons and caricatures.

“He (President Buhari) enjoys cartoons and likes to share them. The ones that he enjoys most are those that caricature him”

In his reaction via microblogging site, Twitter, to the general public, Garba Shehu said: “when he picks a paper the first page he reaches for is page the page on caricatures. He (would) laugh and laugh. It is cheap and sensational to say he can order a police action against a caricature. People should listen to the real story behind this dog incidence…”

There has been a running controversy over a trader from the South East, Joe Chinakwe, who named his dog ‘Buhari’ which the law enforcement agency consider to be capable of causing public disorder. [myad]

President Buhari Approves Governing Boards For NPA, NIMASA

Greenbarge Reporters

August 26, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the composition of the Governing Boards of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

A statement by the Director of Press in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Bolaji Adebiyi, listed members of the boards as:

For the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA)

(i) Emmanuel Olajide Adesoye-Chairman

(ii) Supo Shasore-Member

(iii) Suleiman Ibrahim Halilu-Member

(iiii) Constance Harry Mashal-Member

(v) Umar Shu’aibu-Member

(vi) Charles Efe Emukowhate Sylvester-Member

(vii) Hadiza Bala Usman-Member

(viii) Mohammed Bello Koko-Member

(ix) Dr. Sekonte Davis-Member

(x) Professor Idris Abubakar-Member

(xi) Mrs. I. J. Uche-Okoro-Member

For Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), members are as follows:

(i) Major General Jonathan India Garba -Chairman

(ii) Asekomhe Oakhia Kenneth-Member

(iii) Mohammed Gidado Muazu-Member

(iiii) Hon. Barrister Ebele Obi-Member

(v) S. U. Galadanchi-Member

(vi) Ms Nene Betty Dike-Member

(vii) Dakuku Peterside-Member

(viii) Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo-Member

(ix) Bashir Yusuf Jamoh-Member

(x) Joseph Oluwarotimi Fashakin-Member

(xi) Gambo Ahmed-Member. [myad]

Petroleum Minister Wants To Know How Niger Delta’s $40 Billion Was Squandered In 10 Years

Greenbarge Reporters

August 26, 2016

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu has challenged the traditional rulers, leaders and indigenes of the Niger Delta to embark on soul searching on the roles they played in the application of the $40 billion which the federal government disbursed for the development of the region in the last10 years.

The minister, who spoke to the traditional rulers from the Niger Delta when they paid him a visit in Abuja, regretted that when he went round the creeks, he found no infrastructure that reflects the money disbursed to the region through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) or the 13 per cent derivation from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).

Kachikwu, who is from Delta State, said that the Federal Government is interested in releasing money for the development of the Niger Delta, if governance and transparency are addressed, saying that unless the issue of transparency in the management of funds is solved no further release of cash would be made.

“If you look at the amount of money that has been out into the Niger Delta over the last 10 years, in papers it is over $40billion. These have come from NDDC; it has come from derivation, it has come from oil companies’ investments.

“Over $40billion, but as I go to the creek, I see no single infrastructure that you can point to to say this is the result for these investments. So what it means is that we must begin to do some soul searching ourselves: where did all this money go to. Who to them, what where they applied for ? What were the roles of our own people and others no necessary from the Niger Delta and how this money was applied .

“Because unless you solve the governance and transparency issue in terms of spending this money it doesn’t matter how much money put into the place you are going to go back to square one.

“So the first fundamental question we must begin to ask now is how are these institutions run? How are these monies placed and what roles do our traditional rulers play in the decision making process on how these projects are supposed to …

“And how can we put a sense of responsibility on delivering on the infrastructural imperative ? So there is a lot of home truth that must happen.” [myad]

Limit EFCC Power Only To Investigation, New NBA Chairman Suggests

Greenbarge Reporters

August 26, 2016

The new President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abubakar Mahmud, has suggested that the Act setting up the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), limited its power only to investigation. He said that the commission`s mandate to prosecute should be handled by an independent highly resource prosecution agency.
Mahmud, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who spoke on Friday as he was being inaugurated in Port Harcourt, said: “the critical institutions involved must be repositioned, re-equipped and re-tooled to confront the problem of corruption on a consistent and sustainable basis.

“As a start, we commend the efforts of the Economic and Financial Crimes Institution for the work it is doing and for its modest achievements.

“However, going forward, the NBA must demand the reform of the institution itself. We need to define its mandate more narrowly and more clearly.

“In my view, its broad objective as an investigative and prose curial agency should be reviewed.

“I recommend strongly that the EFCC be limited to investigation.”

The NBA boss said that the anti-corruption committee would be mandated to develop clear recommendations toward enhancing the fight against corruption and improving the effectiveness of the agencies involved.

Mahmud said that the NBA would advocate urgent reforms that would reposition the judiciary and make it play crucial roles.

He said that a clean, efficient and knowledgeable judiciary, was a foundation for building orderly, peaceful and prosperous society.

“The NBA under my watch will fight judicial corruption. We shall make the legal profession unattractive for corrupt lawyers.”

Mahmud wanted the NBA to take active interests in the happenings in the North-East and Niger Delta Region, adding that the NBA would set up a North-East task force to assist members affected by the conflict, provide legal services to individuals and communities who were victims of the conflict and monitor human rights issues.

He said that the association would set up a Niger Delta task force to carry out similar assignments in the area, especially providing legal support to advise on general challenges to enhance environmental protection and quality of life.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, congratulated the NBA on the inauguration of its new executive committee, headed by Mahmud.

Buhari also commended the outgoing executive led by Augustine Alegeh for the resourceful exchange of ideas, commitment and support for national development.

The President urged the new NBA president to use his vast experience in private practice, and public service, which he garnered over the years, to build on the legacies of his predecessor and contribute to reforms across the country.

He said that he expects a strong and sustainable relationship between the presidency and the leadership of the Association, especially in jointly tackling the challenges currently facing the nation. [myad]

Confessions Of Armed Robbery Gang

Greenbarge Reporters

August 26, 2016

Members of an armed robbery gang who were arrested at various points have confessed how they have been operating. They owned up to the recent kidnap of Senator Iyabo Anisholowo, using military uniform.

They are Ikechukwu Daniel, also known as Ike, Mohammed Babuga, Mamman, Boyi, Abubakar, Alayidi, Muhammedu Ganiu, Saliu Nanayi and Katune. They operated with three rifles: an AK 47, AK 49 and a pump action gun.

Mamman’s gang confessed to have carried out six kidnapping raids: two in Ibadan, two in Ilorin and two in Kebbi State, and various ransoms were collected. The Kebbi State operation fetched the gang six million while it got N26.1 million from the Ilorin and Ibadan cases.

Babuga, aged 32, said: “I am from Kebbi State. I am married with two children. I grew up in Ilorin and studied Business Administration at Kwara Polytechnic. In 2011, I used to drive some armed robbers who usually rob on the Kaduna road in Kwara State. I used to take them to the scene, and they paid me N156, 000 in three operations.

“On the third operation, when taking them back to Ilorin, some vigilante men on guard arrested us and took us to the police where we were charged to court and I was remanded in prison. While I was in prison, I met Ike. But when I left prison, I joined a kidnap gang led by Boyi and Bubah Bube, and we kidnapped a Fulani man. We got four million naira and I was given N700, 000.

“We did our second job (kidnapping) at Rejob, a boundary between Kebbi State and Niger. We collected two million and I got N250, 000. After that operation, I left Kebbi and relocated to Oyo State because there were no good roads. Boyi called me and said he wanted to join me, and he had an AK 47 rifle. One Abubakar, a herdsman, also had a pump action gun.

“We contributed money and we bought a Honda Bullet car. Boyi brought a job which was to kidnap a man, but before we went for the job, Ike came and joined us and we did four jobs together before I was arrested. I was arrested because of a senator’s kidnap case.”

Ike, aged 28, confessed that he dropped out of school and took to a life of crime. “I am from Imo State,” he said. “I dropped out from school in ABU Zaria. I was reading laboratory science in school, but I went to LAUTECH to initiate some new students (into robbery), but after the process we were arrested on our way back home. I was taken to prison and I spent one year in prison. My case was later struck out of court. When I returned I could not go back to school.

“I was born and bred in Kaduna State and I speak the Hausa Language fluently. While I was in prison, I made friends with Mohammed, who is Fulani. We were in the same cell. After my one year in prison, I realised that prison wasn’t a place for reformation and I discovered that inmates were arranging jobs from the prison.

“Mohammed came out of prison before me. But when I came out, he told me that he had joined a kidnapping gang.

“Before I went to prison I was into diversion (of goods). When I came out of prison I went back into diversion, and I did two jobs, but Mohammed asked to come and join his kidnap gang. In 2014, I joined Mohammed’s gang and we kidnapped a man. I don’t know the man’s name and we kept him in a forest in Ilorin, and we were paid five million naira.

“On the second job, we kidnapped an Alhaji who was one of the people who later died at the stampede in Mecca. I did the negotiation in that kidnapping case and we got N15 million from the man’s family. I got N2 million as my share. I bought a car with my share.

“The third operation was in Kwara State. We kidnapped a man who identified himself as Akintola. We received three million naira as ransom from the family. On the fourth operation, we kidnapped a victim who did not pay us something reasonable. I stay in festac town. I paid the rent myself and I stay alone.” [myad]

Reformed Avengers Alleges Nnamdi Kanu Collected Huge Money From Local, Foreign Sources

Greenbarge Reporters

August 26, 2016

The Reformed Indigenous People Of Biafra (RIPOB) has said that it sacked the leader of IPOB Nnamdi Kanu and the TRIPOB because it discovered Kanu collected huge sums of money from local and foreign sources to betray the cause.
Spokesman of the group, Ikemba Biafra, accused Nnamdi Kanu of insulting and denigrating respected Biafran and Igbo leaders and converting the Radio Biafra set up by the MASSOB leadership for his private propaganda machinery.
The also accused Kanu of making utterances and statements that led to the death of so many innocent Biafran youths and the detention of many others.
It said that Nnamdi Kanu is not actually sincere about the Biafran struggle “but is just playing to the gallery and using the platform for fame and fortune seeking.
Ikemba Biafra said that TRIPOB emerged as a result of internal in the IPOB, saying that members and officers of IPOB loyal to Emma Nmezu, one of the spokesmen of IPOB were behind the TRIPOB.
“There is nothing actually different between IPOB and TRIPOB, and for that reason, the two groups have been sacked.”
The Reformed IPOB spokesman said that the group would name its leader on Monday, 29, adding that it would also name its proposed Mediators to any possible Dialogue with the federal government if need be.
The group advised all pro-Biafra groups to remain calm and to cease any contact with Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB or TRIPOB and await further information from Reformed IPOB new leadership..
The group called on the Nigerian Army not to molest or kill pro-Biafran agitators so as not to escalate the tension in the country. [myad]

Nigeria’s Oil Producing States Get Over N12 Billion From Federal Allocation For July

Greenbarge Reporters

August 26, 2016

The Oil Producing States have benefited a total sum of N12.874 billion as 13 percent derivation revenue from the Federation Account for the month of July.
From the Statutory revenue, Federal Government got N129.212 billion, representing 52.68 percent; States received N65.538 billion, representing 26.72 percent and Local Government Councils got N50.527 billion, 20.60 percent out of a total of N493.828billion shared as Federal Allocation.
According to the figures released by Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the gross statutory revenue, including solid minerals is N275.102 while the net allocation is N258.151billion. The gross value added tax is N66.987 billion and the total distributable revenue is N335.759 billion.

The shared amount comprised the Month’s Statutory revenue of N258.151 billion, Value Added Tax of N66.987 billion, Exchange gain of N70.037 billion, Exchange Gain differential claim of N36.494 billion for the month of May 2016 , additional distribution of N50.165 billion from excess PPT and N1.373 billion as excess bank charges recovered from 2008 to 2012. There was also a N6.330 billion refund to the Federal Government by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC).
The statement showed that from the Revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT), Federal Government received N9.646 billion (15%); States received N32.154 billion (50%) while the Local Government Councils received N22.508 billion (35%) and less 4%cost of collection to FIRS. Also the N50.165 billion from the Excess Petroleum Profits Tax is to be shared among the three tiers of Government according to the revenue allocation formula.

The Communique from the FAAC sub-technical committee also explained that there was a decrease in the Volume of Crude oil export by 2.8 million barrels in April 2016 due to a subsisting Force Majeure at Forcadose Terminal. There was also a shut-in and shut-down of pipelines due to the activities of vandals as well as for maintenance which impacted negatively on production. [myad]

Buhari Listens To And Learns From Criticisms, Says Garba Shehu

Greenbarge Reporters

August 26, 2016

Presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is leveraging on the democracy which the country is practicing to listen and learn from critizems instead of picking quarrel with the critics.

Garba Shehu, who was reacting to the statement credited to the Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi on the running of the nation’s economy and similar one by a former minister of finance, Chukwuma Soludo, insisted that the presidency regards criticisms as healthy for democracy.

“This government will not fight people for criticizing the present administration led by President Buhari. This kind of criticism is healthy for our democracy. One cannot get better without being criticized. I can assure you that this government is listening.” [myad]

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