Military Coup In Turkey

July 15, 2016

There are strong indications that some military officers have staged a coup d’état in Turkey on Friday night, though the identity of the officers were not immediately made clear.

An announcement on the Turkish state broadcaster TRT said that a curfew has been declared across Turkey and that airports are closed.

The announcer said that the officers are being made to read a statement by the military.

The statement promised a new constitution for the country and said that democracy and the secular rule of law had been undermined.

Martial law has also been imposed.

The head of the Istanbul branch of Turkey’s ruling AK party told reporter that some soldiers entered the party building and asked them to leave

More details from the statement read out on the state broadcaster TRT at the behest of the military faction that seems to be behind the coup: It said that the freedom of Turkish citizens is guaranteed by what is referred to as a “peace council,” regardless of religion, race or language.

It said that the Peace Council will not allow public order to be damaged.

However, the Turkish government still claims to be in charge.

An EU source monitoring events told Reuters that military forces have control of airports and strategic points in Istanbul.

Meanwhile, the US President, Barack Obama has been briefed by aides on events in Turkey, the White House said Friday.

“The president’s national security team has appraised him of the unfolding situation in Turkey,” said National Security Council spokesman, Ned Price.

“The president will continue to receive regular updates.” [myad]

Police Traces Kidnappers’ Den To Egume, Ayimgba In Kogi

Greenbarge Reporters

July 15, 2016

The Nigeria Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) has traced the hideouts of notorious kidnap gangs that have been terrorizing Kogi State and its environs to the outskirt of Egume and Anyimgba towns of the state.

The police team also rescued four kidnapped victims at different locations in the State.

Force spokesman, DCP Don Awunah, in a statement said that a special intelligence operation conducted by the operatives of the Intelligence Response Team of the IGP’s Monitoring Unit at different black spots in Kogi State, unmasked three members of a notorious kidnap gang that have operated in major cities in Kogi and neighbouring States.

The statement said that the leader of the gang, who gave his name as Ibrahim Nasarawa led the operatives to their den where one Edward Abutu Amedu was held hostage.

It said that on sighting the operatives, the armed guards who were stationed by the gang to keep watch over their victims opened fire on the Police.

“Officers responded and overpowered them in a tactical operation that saw three members of the kidnap gang suffer fatal injuries while their victim was rescued unhurt.

“Sadly, two of our men sustained gunshot injuries and are currently responding to treatment in the hospital while the other members of the gang escaped with bullet wounds.

“In another coordinated operation, three members of a dare-devil kidnap gang that abducted Mrs. Mayo Ohemi, Nichodemus Kadiri and Miss Victoria Abdul from Acharu Egume area of Kogi State were arrested and their confession led to the rescue of the victims who were incarcerated in the kidnappers’ camp from where they demanded a ransom of twenty million naira.

“Suspected arrested were Ojonimi Negedu ‘m’ Aged 32 yrs; Awodi Ezekiel ‘m’ Aged 26 yrs and Micheal Sule ‘m’ Aged 21 yrs.

“The rescued victims who sustained various degrees of injuries in the hands of their abductors are now receiving treatment in the Hospital.” [myad]

Fani Kayode Returns From Detention, Says ‘I ‘m Happy To Be A Free Man’

Greenbarge Reporters

July 15, 2016

Former Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has been left off the hook on Friday evening after meeting his bail conditions, even as he said that he is happy to be a free man again.

Fani-Kayode has been in detention since his arrest on May 9, 2016, in Abuja.

Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court in Lagos had on July 4 granted a N250 million bail to the former spokesman of the Goodluck Jonathan 2015 presidential campaign organization.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had arraigned Fani-Kayode, former Minister Nenadi Usman alongside Danjuma Yusuf and Joint Trust Dimensions Nigeria Limited before Justice Hassan on a 17-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, corruption and making cash payments exceeding the amount authorized by law.

They are being accused of diverting about N4.9 billion belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria for political and personal uses.

His media aide, Jude Ndukwe, had earlier confirmed on Friday night that Fani-Kayode was released in Lagos after meeting his bail conditions.

Fani-Kayode said that he is glad to be out, adding: “I am back to the land of the living. It was quite an experience. I am very happy to be a free man again.

“My appreciation goes to all Nigerians that showed concern, my friends and family, the media and above all, God almighty.” [myad]

President Buhari To Aminu Dantata: You Are An Inspiration For Nigeria

Greenbarge Reporters

July 15, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has described Kano-based businessman, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, as an inspiration for Nigeria in view of his numerous philanthropic gestures, especially the lying-in-ward.

Dantata also gave out Amenity Rooms and Intensive Care Unit, built and equipped to international standards, at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, Kano State.

In a letter of commendation dated July 15, 2016, President Buhari said: “these gestures are practical demonstrations of your deep seated concern for the well-being of Nigerians. You are, indeed, a source of hope and inspiration for the nation.”

President Buhari expressed the profound gratitude of the government and people of Nigeria to Alhaji Dantata, for his “significant contributions to national unity and national renewal.”

He then prayed to Allah to bless him in his business endeavors. [myad]

Massive Cassava Production Can Trigger Industrial Revolution In Nigeria – Expert

Greenbarge Reporters

July 15, 2016

National President of the Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA), Segun Adewumi, has said that massive cassava production can trigger industrial revolution that will create employment for millions of Nigerians.

Adewumi who spoke at the policy intervention forum on industrial cassava in Lagos, said that the nation is in desperate need to get out of this problem, as orchestrated by world experts at different fora that the only solution is to diversify the nation’s economy into agriculture.

He said that the potential of cassava to generate wealth for the Nigeria Nation cannot be overemphasized, adding that cassava can be grown on commercial basis in most states of the country unlike other food crops.

He said that apart from the over twenty local food types that are made from cassava, it is also raw material to many utility items with limitless domestic and export market potentials.

“Let me state clearly here that most of the cassava varieties in the country are not meant for industrial use. The world has moved forward and left us behind in the method of cultivation and the result in terms of yield and their starch content.

“Beyond the experiment of micronutrients demonstrated to us at the Word Starch Conference meeting held in Thailand recently, which made cassava yield 100 metric tonnes per hectare, a cassava expert in Thailand is convinced that he can take the yield of cassava to 200 metric tonnes per hectare with 40 per cent starch content.”

He said that even if only 50 per cent of the above is achieved on the field, cassava will become the best crop in the world for industrial starch and ethanol.

“That presupposes the yield from 100 hectares cassava farm in Malaysia or Thailand will surpass that of 500 hectares in Nigeria. How then can our products compete in the international market?”

Adewumi, however, said that there has to be two cassava programmes, one for industrial uses and the second for food security.

He added that research should be encouraged for the preservation and elongation of the shelf life of the various local food items derived from cassava so that they will be durable for both local and international market.

“It is my opinion that if gari, Lafun, fufu were discovered in the Western world, cassava would have been a major food in the world competing with Rice and Bread. It is an instant food that can be eaten as it is. The compelling aroma of gari on its own creates appetite even when the eater is full. We should advertise and promote it to the rest of the world.”

He called for a cassava industrial programme, stressing that it is the aspiration of NCGA that the above programme should be well planned to meet the challenges of competition in the quality and cost of production of the various items produced from cassava. [myad]

Ex Minister Obanikoro To State Security Service: Leave My Wife Out Of Political Trial

Greenbarge Reporters

July 15, 2016

Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has asked the Department of State Security (DSS) to leave his wife, Alhaja Moroofat, whom he described as innocent, out of what he called political trial it had embarked on.

A statement by his media aide, Mr. Jonathan Eze, said that his wife, Alhaja Moroophat has always been in the country managing her businesses as against the lies that she sneaked in last week from the United States.

Obanikor, who asked media houses not to malign his wife in whatever way, described her as “a patriotic, hard-working and innocent woman, who was completely apolitical.

“We are saddened by the fact that the media was awash with false and conflicting information about the invitation of Senator Obanikoro’s wife. Ordinarily, we considered ignoring these concocted lies but for the sake of the discerning and right thinking public, hence the need to straighten matters.”

The former minister said that there were documents found in his wife’s possession and that the lies that she was arrested while trying to evacuate documents were a fabrication and can only survive in their warped and distorted minds.

“It should also be noted that the officials only came to invite her for questioning and as against the phrase that she was whisked away; her driver actually drove her in her own car to the office of the DSS.

“Third, it was shamefully reported that the DSS were involved because there were so many armed policemen guiding her. This is another fabricated lie. The Obanikoros stopped enjoying police protection from the day he left office as minister and as a woman, who is above board in all her dealings, she does not need one.

“Finally, we are using this medium to call on the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to desist from persecuting an innocent woman, who has no dealings at all with either Sylva McNamara or MOB integrated that they are investigating.

“For emphasis, the innocent woman has a history of High Blood Pressure and heart related ailments and as such, should not be dragged into their biased and politicised investigations. We have absolute confidence in the judiciary and we hope to get justice in the course with the proviso that they obey the rule of law and avoid arbitrariness that we are seeing on daily basis.” [myad]

Ex US Speaker Wants Muslims Who Believe In Sharia Law Deported

Greenbarge Reporters

July 15, 2016

Former United States House Speaker, Newt Gingrich, is demanding that a test be run on all Muslims to determine if they believe in Sharia law and that those found to believe in the law should be deported.

Sharia is a legal code based on the Quran and other Islamic scriptures.

Gingrich was reacting to Friday’s attack in the French city of Nice, which killed at least 84 people.

Also his comment was to the opinion held by likely Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, who has said Muslims should be stopped from entering the U.S.

He said: “Western civilization is in a war. We should frankly test every person here who is of a Muslim background and if they believe in Sharia they should be deported,” the BBC quoted Gingrich as saying.

He added: “Sharia is incompatible with western civilization. Modern Muslims, who have given up Sharia, glad to have them as citizens. Perfectly happy to have them next door.” [myad]

Militants Sack Lagos Community

Greenbarge Reporters

July 15, 2016

Many residents of communities in Ikorodu in Lagos State have fled their homes for fear of being attacked by militants who have taken over the area.
The fleeing residents said on Friday in Lagos that life has become unbearable for them following the activities of the group.
According to them, the militants have laid siege on the community for consecutive two weeks, robbing, vandalizing, kidnapping, raping and maiming their victims. They also steal domestic animals and raw food stuffs.
They said that the gangs were armed with dangerous weapons in carrying out the incessant nefarious activities on the unsuspecting militants.
The fleeing residents of Igboolowu community said that they had sent an SOS to the Lagos State Police Command over the development.
Mike Faleke, one the fleeing residents told NAN that he had left the area with his family due to the criminals’ increased activities.
“The hoodlums are pipeline vandals who have resorted to going to people’s homes to dispossess them of whatever they could find, including foodstuffs, goats, chicken, pigs and other domestic animals. They have now moved to Isawo community where they take over their house.
“These criminals now ask the occupants to identify the wealthy people within the community after which they proceed to attack them.
“There is a robbery attack by the militants in our neighbourhood during which a resident escaped to inform the police about the activity of the gang.
“But to the dismay of the residents, the police informed him that their schedules do not extend to the inroad but only on the main road,’’ he said.
A school teacher, who simply gave his name as Ayo, claimed that with the nonchalant attitude of the police toward their plight, the militant were now on the loose, ravaging the community.
He also alleged that the police had turned back on them, making them to ask “if there is any government in the state?
The teacher said that the militants had restricted the movement of those who could not escape from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on working days, adding that at weekend they seized their operations.
Ayo added that the weapons the hoodlums were carrying were highly sophisticated and could not be compared with that of the police.
Another eyewitness, Mr Musibau Alao, said that the hoodlums were also raiding filling stations.
He added that the police kept saying that they were on top of the situation which was not true as the criminals had continued to lay siege on the communities.
When contacted, the police spokesperson, SP Dolapo Badmos, said that enough personnel, including the military had been deployed to the areas.
She said that the security agencies were expected to put the situation under control.
Badmos, however, advised the public not to “panic unnecessarily or move out of their homes.
“If the public have information about the gunmen, they should report to the police on time.” [myad]

Vice President Osinbajo Heads To Rwanda For AU Summit

Greenbarge Reporters

July 15, 2016

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo leaves Nigeria for Kigali, Rwanda on Saturday to attend the African Union Summit, scheduled to hold between July 17 and 18. He will be representing President Muhammadu Buhari.

A statement by the senior special assistant to Osinbajo, Mr. Laolu Akande said that the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) would be preceded by a retreat of African Heads of State and Governments on July 16 ahead of the formal summit opening on Sunday.

“The Session has been preceded by the 32nd Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) and the 28th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the Union at the ministerial level ending today.

“The AU summit theme is African Year of Human Rights with a particular focus on the Rights of Women.”

The statement said that 2016 would be celebrated by the Union as the year of Human Rights with the aim of raising awareness on human and peoples’ rights, particularly women’s rights, on the continent and taking stock of progress or efforts made, including major challenges and/or obstacles encountered.

It said that Vice President Osinbajo, would be accompanied to the Summit by the Finance Minister Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe among other functionaries.

He and his entourage, who leave for Rwanda today, are expected back in Nigeria on Monday. [myad]

Court Remands Man Who Allegedly Collected N2.4 Billion From Dasuki Without Contract Award

Greenbarge Reporters

July 15, 2016

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has remanded one Oludgenga Obadina in Kuje prison, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for allegedly receiving the sum of over N2.4 billion from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki without any contract awarded.

Obadina, who is being charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is joined in the suit with Almond Projects Limited, a company owned by the defendant.

He is facing an eight-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering to the tune of N2.4billion.

According to the prosecution, Odadina allegedly collected N2. 417 billion paid into his company’s account in tranches, between 2013 and 2015. The money was paid from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser, under retired Dasuki without a contract award.

The offence, according to the prosecution, was contrary to Section 15(2), (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended, and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

The prosecution also alleged that Obadina in April 2014 in Abuja, directly took possession of N648 million paid into the account of Almond Projects Ltd.

Obadina also in February 2015, directly took possession of N510 million paid into the account of Almond Projects, from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.

Upon his plea, EFCC counsel, Aso Larry Peters, asked for a date for trial and urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody.

The accused counsel, Chris Uche, prayed the court to grant the defendant bail, as he had a pending application to that effect, which had been served on the prosecution.

Presiding judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, ordered that the accused be remanded in Kuje Prison.

He adjourned the case till July 18, for ruling on bail application. (NAN). [myad]

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