Abia Governor, Sacked By Court, Says He Remains The Governor

June 27, 2016

The Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has called on Abians not to panic, but remain calm over the judgment of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja delivered on Monday in favor of Mr. Uche Oga against him, in the case of alleged falsification of tax receipts.
Governor Ikpeazu, who said that he has faith in the judiciary and rule of law, added that he will appeal the ruling as he has instructed his lawyers to file an appeal immediately against the said judgment.
The Governor noted that as an appointee of the Abia State Government from 2011 to 2014, when he served as the General Manager, Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS), and first Deputy General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) Aba and Environs respectively, before his resignation in October 2014 to contest the Governorship election in the state, his taxes were deducted at source.

He said that when he had need of his tax clearance in 2014, he applied to the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, and was duly issued with his tax receipts for the period in question.
He maintained that he remains the Governor of the state according to law and will await the final determination of the matter by the appellate courts. [myad]

Thieves Now Steal Cooked Food On Fire In Kwara

Greenbarge Reporters

June 27, 2016

In Kwara State, cooking a pot of soup is now an invitation to robbers, as cases of eagle-eyed hungry men absconding with cooked food still on the fire is now a daily occurrence.
The incident is widespread in areas without perimeter fencing and among women who cook or have opted to cook with coal pots. At each of such areas such as Tanke, Basin, Sango, Offa Garage, and Kilanko, the incident according to The Guardian investigations occurred over five times in just a week.
According to Alhaja Hamidalat Olawale at Sango, “I was cooking around 5.00p.m. in readiness for the breaking of the fast for the day. It was beans and I decided to use coal pot at the open backyard. I had added all the food condiments and was waiting for the broth to dry up. But to my greatest surprise, I did not see the pot of the beans again.
“I was shocked discovering this. What amazed me was that the thief did not come for it before it was ready; he or she came when the food was ready and we were already salivating, meaning the person must have been closely monitoring me.”
Another victim, an undergraduate of the University of Ilorin, Anita Bazuaye, said it was her pot of soup that disappeared beside her window.
“It was painful because as a student, it was difficult for me to get money again for another soup. In fact, when I managed to start cooking again, I did not leave the place until I had securely packed the pot inside my room.”
Reacting to the development, the Police spokesman, Ajayi Okasanmi (ASP), said no formal report to that effect had come to him or anyone within the state command, but warned that “it is a serious matter and we will not take it lightly with anyone caught in the act. The Penal Code frowns at theft and we will treat anyone in the act accordingly.”
A former chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Emmanuel Ayeoribe, said the development could not be divorced from the non-payment of workers’ salaries.
“If nothing is urgently done to commence regular payment of salaries, very soon, people will start leaping over the fence to steal food, not just from unfenced quarters,” he warned. [myad]

Why Corruption Thrives In Maritime Agency – Dakuku Peterside

Greenbarge Reporters

June 27, 2016

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has given some reasons why corruption has continued to thrive in the agency despite several measures to curtail it.
Peterside who spoke on a Live programme: Business Nigeria, on Television Continental (TVC) in Lagos argued that corruption is not limited to the maritime industry but expressed confidence in the ability of the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari to tackle the scourge.
According to him, human contact in any payment system is a precursor for corruption and that the Agency is automating its processes and systems to eliminate human contact in order to engender efficiency and eliminate leakages.
“We noticed over time that corruption in NIMASA was propagated through external influences as such we are reforming our people, putting them through a re-orientation process, making them understand that the little things we do in NIMASA affect our global perception.”
This was even as he called for the integration of the maritime industry into the economic development agenda of the country saying it is a prerequisite if the nation is to harness the vast opportunities in the sector.
He said that a lot of areas in the sector have not been developed, citing the issue of ownership of ocean going vessels as a case in point.
“We are perhaps the only country in the world that only foreign flagged vessels lift our crude to the international market. We do not have a single Nigerian flagged vessel that lifts our crude. Our ferry services are also underdeveloped and there are vast opportunities for ship building, leveraging on the Cabotage Act.”
The Director General said that the multiplier effect of Nigerian vessels with Nigerian crew lifting Nigeria’s crude can better be imagined given the cost of freight and the wages of seafarers involved.
Dr. Peterside said that comparatively, Nigerian ports are better positioned and more viable than her other African counterparts if the necessary funding is injected into the maritime sector to develop the infrastructure.
”There has been a global drop in the price of crude oil which has affected the revenue derivable from the maritime sector and the fiscal regime that had existed also affected importation to a large extent.” The Director General is confident that the maritime sector will still experience growth this year and contribute significantly to the Nigerian economy.
On maritime security, he said that it is work in progress with relevant partners to rid the Nigerian waterways and the Gulf of Guinea of maritime crimes.
He cited the collaboration with the Nigerian Navy who recently launched an electronic based surveillance facility called the ‘Falcon Eye’ as a major step in the right direction.
Peterside said that NIMASA has also keyed in to the ECOWAS integrated Maritime Security Strategy as well as that of the African Union (AU) all aimed at combating piracy and other maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.
“We are committed to showing continuous presence on our waters. The Air Force has Maritime Patrol Aircrafts (MPA) to provide aerial surveillance while the Navy does the sea patrols.
“With the Falcon Eye of the Nigerian Navy and our own satellite surveillance system, we will constantly keep an eye on our Exclusive Economic Zone. What we need to do now is to improve our response time which was quite a challenge previously.
“In the meantime, NIMASA is championing the enactment of an anti-piracy bill to deal with the prosecution and punishment of offenders. Once all these are in place, I can assure you that our water ways will be safer to do business and we would get more of our people employed and make more money for themselves and our country.” [myad]

Pope Francis Wants Church Apologize To Gays People

Greenbarge Reporters

June 27, 2016

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis has said that the Church should apologize to gays for all the offences it has committed against them.

The Pope said this at a press conference aboard the Papal Plane on his way from Armenia, while responding to a question from a journalist about a German Cardinal who said the Catholic Church should apologize for being “very negative” about gays.

The Pope was also asked whether Christians bear some blame for hatred toward the LGBT community, as horrifically demonstrated in the Orlando massacre at a gay night club that killed 49 people on June 12.

“I repeat what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: that they must not be discriminated against, that they must be respected and accompanied pastorally,

“The Church must ask forgiveness for not behaving many times — when I say the Church, I mean Christians! The Church is holy, we are sinners!

“I believe that the church not only should apologize to the person who is gay whom it has offended, but has to apologize to the poor, to exploited women, to children exploited for labor; it has to ask forgiveness for having blessed many weapons.

“One can condemn, but not for theological reasons, but for reasons of political behavior…Certain manifestations are a bit too offensive for others, no?

“But these are things that have nothing to do with the problem. The problem is a person that has a condition, that has good will and who seeks God, who are we to judge? And we must accompany them well.

“There are traditions in some countries, some cultures, that have a different mentality about this question (homosexuals)” and there are “some (gay) demonstrations that are too offensive for some.” [myad]

Buhari’s Economic Plan Is Strong On Fiscal Discipline To Get The Country Working – Adeosun

Greenbarge Reporters

June 27, 2016

Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s economic plan is on strong discipline aimed at getting the country going.

“We will continue to improve discipline on an ongoing basis. Federal Government has commenced similar reforms at the federal level, with success; Ghost workers which we prefer to call Payroll clean-up has been very successful and the continuous audit unit at the FG level will continue to monitor and improve our efforts there.

“We have saved N6.6 billion on a monthly basis. This is all about good housekeeping. The efficiency units have already had success with travel, food, sitting allowance and they will now look at adverts. We are all aware of the efforts on plugging leakages and recoveries.”
The minister was speaking on the Channels TV where she insisted that if Nigeria is to achieve sustainable growth it needs a planned approach to financial discipline, targeted investment and economic diversification.
Speaking on the Sunrise programme, Adeosun said: “The government’s Economic Plan is strong on fiscal discipline, because people know we need to get our country working. And to do that we need to do three things: get the country’s spending in check with firm financial controls, raise money for targeted investment in much needed infrastructure; and see us diversify the economy from a damaging dependence on oil.”
Asked about her Ministry’s decision not to reinstate special bonus and overtime payments paid to civil servants in 2013/2014, the Minister said: “This is part of the same clear goal: ensuring fiscal discipline. We recognise the value of our staff and have made sure salaries are paid and we’ve worked hard to avoid redundancies. Although I understand the disappointment some staff may have, any special payments wouldn’t be appropriate and there simply aren’t any provisions to pay out the N1.2bn. We need to return fiscal discipline not just to the Ministry of Finance, but to every arm of government.”
“Any delayed legitimate overtime payments will be paid. The Director of Finance Administration will address these and ensure that they are paid. Staff will get what they are legally entitled to.
“The task now is for management and staff of the ministry to work together to achieve the goals of the administration: real reform through financial discipline, providing targeted investment and diversifying our economy. The staff work hard and they are committed so they must be paid what they are due.” [myad]

Court Sends Senator Saraki, Ekweremadu On Remand, Quickly Grants Them Bail

Greenbarge Reporters

June 27, 2016

The Federal High Court, Jabi, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja has pronounced detention on the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and two other persons over alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules.

The court however, quickly granted bail on the would-be detainees on condition that they must provide two sureties each who must have landed properties in any of Maitama, Asokoro or Wuse 2 area of Abuja.

They, along with a former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, Ben Efeture, were arraigned on Monday before Justice Halilu Yusuf of Court 32.

In granting the bail, Justice Yusuf said that if they are unable to meet the conditions of the bail, they should be remanded in Kuje Prisons.
The accused had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Federal Government, which opposed bail for the accused through a counter-affidavit seeking their remand, the maintained that the defendants had by their conduct, committed an offence punishable under Section 97 (1) and 364 of the Penal Code Act.

There was heavy security presence within perimeters of the court which shares boundary with the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), where Saraki is also answering to another 16-count charge bordering on his alleged false/anticipatory declaration of assets.

Supporters of the embattled lawmakers thronged the court premises in their numbers to observe the proceeding.

Earlier, armed security operatives barred photo-journalists from gaining entrance into the court premises, a development that led to protest by the journalists.

It took the intervention of lawyers to persuade the mobile police men to grant the camera men entry into the premises. [myad]

European Union Ministers Hastening Britain Out

Greenbarge Reporters

June 26, 2016

Foreign ministers from six founding countries of European Union (EU) met on Saturday in Berlin, pushing for a speedy exit procedure of Britain.
“This process should start as soon as possible,” said German Foreign Minister, Frank Walter Steinmeier, after a meeting with his counterparts from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg in Berlin.
“The aim must be “not to fall into a prolonged stalemate,” Steinmeier added.
“We’ll start immediately,” said French Foreign Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, adding: “We now expect that the process will be triggered under Article 50.”
Ayrault said British Prime Minister, David Cameron, initiated this referendum in the UK, and “he must now live with the consequences”.
With his colleagues he would send the signal that “Europe is alive,” Ayrault said.
Cameron had announced on Friday his intention to step down in October after his country has voted to leave the EU.
“I hope that we are not playing cat and mouse,” warned Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister, Jean Asselborn, with a view at London’s policy.
“The people have spoken. and we need to implement this decision,” Asselborn said, adding that Britain must now quickly start up the mechanism for exit which was defined in Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.
In a related development, Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that the relations between the Islamic republic and Britain will not change after the latter voted to leave the EU, Mehr news agency reported on Saturday.
Iran fully respects the votes of British people on leaving the EU and deems it consistent with the will of the majority of Britain’s people in determining their own foreign relations, said Iran’s Foreign Ministry statement
US President Barack Obama has said he is confident that Britain is committed to an orderly transition out the European Union.
The British “Leave” camp has won the historic referendum held on Thursday by obtaining nearly 52 per cent of ballots, pulling the country out of the bloc after 43 years of membership.
Gianni Pittella, the President of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats group in the European Parliament, said the Brexit vote was used to reshape the internal political balance in Britain.
“A very serious topic of membership to the EU was used to redesign the internal political balance in UK and this is unacceptable,” Pittella said.
Xinhua/NAN. [myad]

Workers Are Out For Sabotage, Kogi Government Cries Out

Greenbarge Reporters

June 26, 2016

The Kogi State Government has described as sabotage the call on the workers in the state by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to embark on an industrial action with effect from Monday.

in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Hon. Mohammed Awwal Imam, the state government said that it perceived the move unfair as the state government had embarked on payment of arrears of salaries two weeks ago.

The statement said that 48 MDAs out of the total 55 MDAs have been paid, while seven MDAs are yet to be paid because the correct grade levels of the workers are being verified.

“Salary variations were received from many MDAs for the month of February to April 2016. 14 Local Government Areas with correct information has been paid, while work is in advance stage for the payment of both Local Government Areas and State Pensioners.” [myad]

Panic In Banks As EFCC Set To Probe Them Over Dasukigate

Greenbarge Reporters

June 26, 2016

There seems to be panic in many banks in Nigeria as the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) is set to investigate them over the Dasukigate.
Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu announced the move to go after the banks, especially their Managing Directors and Chief Executives, whose banks are involved in money laundering, especially through the use of private banking
“We had a discussion with the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and I insisted that this so-called private banking should be stopped. It is illegal. It is wrong. We are not only going after the personnel of the banks but also after the banks.
“What happens is that when a staff of the bank is involved in such activities, what the bank does is to take the person out of the system through dismissal. But now, we are going to go after the banks and the personnel used to perpetrate the fraud. It takes two to tango. In fact, very soon you will see us going after the Managing Directors of the banks. We don’t care what happens because the right thing has to be done. These people have given a lot of room for the money laundering activities to thrive. They were used to hide all the stolen money.”
Source: Vanguard. [myad]

Alleged N2 Billion Loot: EFCC Declares Fayose’s Associate, Abiodun Wanted

Greenbarge Reporters

June 26, 2016

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has declared Governor Ayodele Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele over a N2 Billion he allegedly deposited into the governor’s account
According to the EFCC, Agbele received N1, 219,490,000 from Obanikoro on behalf of Fayose and was flown to the Akure Airport from where it was conveyed to Zenith Bank.
Five Zenith Bank deposit slips show that Agbele made deposits of over N900 million into his personal accounts and that of Fayose.
On June 26, 2014, Agbele made a deposit of N137 million into a Zenith Bank account with account number 1003126654 belonging to Ayodele Fayose with teller number 0556814.
On June 17, 2014, Agbele also made a deposit of N100 million into account number 1010170969 belonging to Spotless Investment Limited, a company owned by Fayose and his wife, Feyisetan.
On June 18, 2014, Agbele made another deposit of N219,490,000 into the account of De Privateer Limited with account number 1013835889. The company allegedly belongs to Agbele.
On June 19, 2014, he also made a deposit of N300 million into the same account while a third deposit of N200 million was made into the same account on June 23, 2014.
The EFCC said: “Agbele is an associate of Fayose. We are currently looking for him because he has a lot of explanations to make. He held some of the money in trust for Fayose.”
In his reaction, governor Fayose admitted that Agbele was a trusted friend who paid money into his accounts. [myad]

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