Metuh’s Family Finally Agrees To Refund N400 Million Loot

May 26, 2016

The family of the immediate past National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, has said that their son is ready to refund the N400 million he allegedly collected from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki.

Chief Gilbert Metuh, who issued the statement on behalf of the Metuh family, said his brother’s life is in danger because of his alleged spinal cord injury.

He said that the family is aware that the matter regarding their son was subjudice, but said the family is only reacting to issues that are in public glare.

Gilbert Metuh said: “Since his (Metuh’s) arrest and even up to about a week ago, our son has made several overtures to the arresting authority for him to refund the money since they now claim in court that it came from government coffers. All efforts have been unsuccessful.

“It is instructive that out of over 300 names listed as having received money from the ONSA, all those who offered to refund money were not arraigned in court.

“Our son is the only one whose offer to refund money was rejected and has been arraigned in court and his case given accelerated hearing. On each trial date the hostility in the courtroom is palpable.”

Metuh is currently being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission for allegedly receiving the money, which the prosecution said was from government purse.

But the accused has consistently said he was not aware that the money came from the government coffers.

The money was said to have been released to him to launder the alleged bad image of the former President some months to the 2015 presidential election which Jonathan eventually lost.

Metuh had lost in his bid to quash the charge as both the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and the Court of Appeal said he had a case to answer on the issue.

He had also lost at the High Court in his bid to secure his passport to enable him travel abroad to seek medical treatment of his alleged illness. [myad]

Ex Senate President, Wabara Says PDP Can’t Die

Greenbarge Reporters

May 26, 2016

Former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, has made it clear that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot die in spite of the deepening divisions amongst its top leaders across the country.

Wabara who spoke to news men in Abuja, on Thursday said that the party has sufficient internal mechanisms to deal with its issues as has been demonstrated time and time again.

The former Senate President who said that the current challenges will not be different said that the main demand of almost all of the party’s factions was for the former Chairman, Ali Sheriff to step aside and that since that has been achieved, most of them have commenced reconciliatory meetings.

According to him, members of the party are determined to reinvent and reposition it to attain greatness again.

He said that the insistence that the right things should be done gave rise to factions such as; the PDP Rescue Group which he belongs to and the Prof. Jerry Gana-led Concerned PDP Stakeholders Forum.

“First of all, the PDP is just like a Beatle. A beatle they generally say never dies.There is nothing that can kill PDP, no matter the factions, no matter the factional politics going on there now. I think for the problems, I don’t want to apportion blames. We have come out of it now.

“So we are looking forward to see how we can bring the factions together. We pray that this does not repeat itself again. PDP is not owned by any individual or group of people or organization. PDP is very national in nature.

“Since we lost the Presidency, it would appear that the 12 Governors that we have are in charge; but in the future, the Governors should reach out and consult widely before they take certain decisions.”

The former Senate President said that contrary to claims in some quarters that Sheriff’s emergence as National Chairman was by consensus: “some of us kicked against that decision and wisely too, not because of any personal problems with the person in question; but because of our knowledge of that person.”

He said that the decision to throw up the former Borno State governor as National Chairman was in itself a very bad decision which is largely responsible for the crisis that threatened the party’s existence.

Speaking on the role the party’s BoT is expected to play in resolving the crisis, Wabara said: “the BoT has a very vital role to play and I think it has already started playing that role to galvanise the factions, get them together and then move the party forward.

“Senator Jubril Walid, the BoT Chairman and of course, Ambassador Ojo Maduekwe will use their wealth of experience and wisdom to really get the warring parties together, including the Governors.”

He appealed to Governors on the party’s platform to in the interest of the survival of the party give up some of their authority to the BoT to enable it bring all sides together. [myad]

Veteran Journalists Appointed As Heads Of NBC, FRCN, NAN, NTA, NOA

Greenbarge Reporters

May 25, 2016

The Federal Government has announced the appointment of veteran journalists to head the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

Those who were appointed, according to a statement from the office of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed are Ishaq Kawu as Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, Mansur Liman as the Director-General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and Yakubu Mohammed as Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority.

Others are Dr. Garba Abari as Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Bayo Onanuga as Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria and Osita Okechukwu as the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria.

The statement which was issued by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Information and Culture, Segun Adeyemi, said: “the new appointees replace the chief executives of the parastatals, who were disengaged on Feb. 15, 2016. The appointments take immediate effect.” [myad]

Nigeria Made Mistake By Being Mono-Product Economy, Buhari Regrets

Greenbarge Reporters

May 25, 2016

“We made a terrible mistake by becoming a mono-product economy hinged on oil and we are now in a volatile situation, due to the crash in oil prices.

“We have seen the benefits of diversification which helped Iran to survive many years of sanctions and still come out strong.

“We are now fully committed to economic diversification. Most of the things on our import bills can be produced here. And we are determined to achieve that self-dependency,” President Buhari told the outgoing envoy.

These were the statements of President Muhammadu Buhari when he had an audience with the outgoing Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Saeed Koozechi, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.

President Buhari said he was convinced that with greater diligence, hard work and patriotic determination to achieve self-sufficiency, Nigeria can produce most of the items currently on its import list.

At a separate audience with the outgoing Chinese Ambassador, Mr. Gu Xiaojie, President Buhari gave an assurance that the Federal Government will continue to do its best to meet its obligations under bilateral agreements with China for the development of critical infrastructure in Nigeria.

The President said that because of their importance to Nigeria, his administration will uphold contractual agreements with Chinese companies for the development of essential infrastructure which it inherited from past administrations, and work to ensure that the projects are speedily completed.

The President reiterated his particular commitment to the completion of the Mambilla Power Project which, he said, was of great strategic importance to his government’s efforts to ensure that Nigeria does not become over-reliant on gas-powered electricity generation.

President Buhari commended the outgoing ambassadors for their efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and their countries during their tenure in Abuja. [myad]

Ebonyi Set For Large Scale Cassava Production, Signs MoU

Greenbarge Reporters

May 25, 2016

Ebonyi State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Union Dicon Salt Plc for large scale production and processing of cassava in the state.

The state government said that move to engage in cassava cultivation and processing in commercial quantity is another bold initiative by the Governor David Umahi-led government to mechanize the agricultural sector and propel the much needed economic diversification in the state.

In the terms of agreement, Ebonyi State Government will contribute 15,000 hectares of land spread across the state for the Union Dicon Salt to grow cassava and establish a factory where cassava products would be processed into raw materials for export and domestic use.

Governor Umahi, who was represented at the ceremony by Prof. Odoh, expressed optimism that the partnership would open up a new vista of opportunities for investments in the state, create jobs and bring about economic prosperity for the people.

The governor explained that the volume of raw materials from cassava from the factory would create a large market for the products and support brewery companies in brewing.

Umahi encouraged the company to hasten action and complete documentation with the state to enable it start off the agricultural project.

The Commissioner for Justice, Nwankwegu who gave an insight into the terms of the agreement, said that apart from the 15,000 hectares of land to be provided, no financial commitment was required from the state government for the agro business.

He said that owners of the land would be entitled to five per cent benefit from the project yield and the state government, 10 per cent even as he expressed happiness that the agro investment was coming at a time when the state was in the process of revolutionalizing the agricultural sector as an alternative to solving its economic problem.

The Managing Director of Dicon Salt PLC, Chuka Mordi, said his company was willing to invest in the state to take subsistence agriculture to industrial level.

According to him, Union Dicon would engage in growing of cassava in commercial quantity and process them into various products like sweeteners and industrial starch for export.

He stated that his company’s target was to contribute to the industrialisation of the state and reduce the importation of industrial starch and other products .

Mordi noted that in spite of the fact that Nigeria is one of the world’s largest producers of cassava, it still imports over 200,000 tons of industrial starch and sweeteners yearly .

The agricultural project is expected to commence within the next quarter of this year.

Those who attended the ceremony which took place in Abakaliki on Wednesday, were the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Benard Odoh, who signed on behalf of the state, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Chief Augustine Nwankwegu and the Managing Director of Union Dicon Salt, Chuka Mordi, who signed for his company. [myad]

How Family Friend Sexually Violated Me, Rita Edochie Narrates

Greenbarge Reporters

May 25, 2016

Popular Nollywood actress, Rita Edochie, has said that she was once sexually violated by family friend when she was just six years old.

Edochie who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja said: “I was a victim of sexual abuse. That was when I was in primary six.

“I was going to the hospital and somebody called me. The boy used some diabolic means and sexually violated me.

Edochie, who was a guest at a seminar to end violence against children, said that when she could not see her menses, she refused to tell her mother because she was very strict.

“I love sharing my experience because at the end of the day, I succeeded. If I had not succeeded, I would not have been able to be saying it.”

She explained that the pregnancy was about seven months before her mother noticed it, adding that her mother was shocked at the pregnancy because she thought her being strict would not allow such a thing to happen.

“My mother asked how it happened and I told her everything. My brother picked a knife and wanted to kill me, but my mother stopped him.

“It happened that the mother of the boy that violated me was my mother’s friend. The boy’s mother was surprised, but the boy denied.

“My mother took me to hospital to abort the pregnancy with a plan of taking me to my grandmother’s place at Ogede to stay for one week before returning home.

“I told her I may lose my life in the process and because she loved me, she then aborted the planned abortion. I feel it was God that spoke through me. My mother took care of the baby while I went to school.

“If not for my mother, I would not be where I am today.”

The veteran actress called on parents to communicate regularly with their children and make them their best friends.

“Parents should always listen to their children’s complaints on happenings both in and outside the home.” [myad]

April Federation Allocation: Federal, States, Local Governments Share N207.878 Billion

Greenbarge Reporters

May 25, 2016

The Federal and State governments as well as Local Government Councils have shared the sum of N207.878 Billion as statutory allocation from Federal Allocation for the month of April.
The allocation was shared among the three tiers of government as follows: Federal Government 52.68%, States 26.72%, Local government 20.60% and 13% derivation of Mineral Revenue for oil producing states.
A communiqué released by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee and signed by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, indicated that the Gross Revenue of N213.817 billion received for the month was lower than the N232.619 billion received in the previous month by N18.802 billion.
Oil production increased slightly between December 2015 and January 2016 despite explosions at Escravos Terminal, Force Majeure declared at Brass Terminal as well as Shut-in and Shut down of Pipelines at other Terminals for repairs and maintenance.
However, there was revenue loss of $45.90 million as a result of drop in average price of Crude Oil from $39.04 in December 2015 to $29.02 in January 2016.
Also, a marginal drop in income was recorded from Oil and Gas Royalty and Import Duty.
The distributable Statutory Revenue for the month is N213.817 billion.
The sum of N6.330 billion was refunded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to the Federal Government.
Also, there is exchange gain of N2.424 billion, which was also proposed for distribution.
The total revenue distributable for the current month, including Value Added Tax, is N281.500 billion.
The details of the Statutory Revenue distributable for the month of March 2016 is as follow: Federal Government received N101.215 billion (52.68%), States received N51.338 billion (26.72%) and the Local Government Councils received N39.579 billion (20.60%), while the Oil Producing States received N15.745 billion as (13% of Mineral Revenue – Oil & Gas).
Furthermore, for the month of April 2016, the gross revenue available for the Value Added Tax was N65.259 billion as against N64.234 billion distributed in the proceeding month, resulting in a decrease of N1.025 billion.
The breakdown of the Value Added Tax distribution for the month is as follows: N65.259 billion out of which the Federal Government got N9.397 billion (15%), States got N31.325 billion (50%) and the Local Government Councils received N21.927 billion (35%). [myad]

FCT Minister Sacks Director Of Environmental Board, Others

Greenbarge Reporters

May 25, 2016

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has approved the immediate sack of the Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Baba Shehu Lawan.

The Minister has also approved the immediate removal of all heads of Department as well as Heads of Unit under the Board and directed their deputies to immediately take charge.

The Minister ordered the sack on Wednesday when he met with the former management team of the AEPB.

Muhammad Bello directed the Director of the FCT Establishment and Training who was also part of the meeting to issue the new appointees with their appointment letters.

He warned that all lackadaisical attitudes to work must be stopped forthwith as Abuja must be rid of filth, street beggars, street hawkers and all other environmental nuisances immediately.

The Minister remarked that a lot of things are not going on well at the Board and further warned the new team to work to change the tide immediately.

He said that the former Director and his management team should ensure that all handing over processes are completed by Friday 27^th May.

Meanwhile, the Minister has directed that the former management team of the Board be constituted into a Special Task Force on the Recovery of N9.8 billion debt owed AEPB.

Muhammad Bello instructed that the new Task Force be headed by the former Director of the Board and was given 8 weeks to do the recovery into FCT Administration’s coffers.

At the meeting, the Minister also approved the appointment of Squadron Leader Abdullahi Adamu Monjel (Retired) to head a special team of 200 security personnel drawn from the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to assist in the enforcement of environmental laws in Abuja.

The Minister warned that the FCT Administration will not tolerate any act of abuse of fundamental human rights of the residents in the discharge of their duties.

He urged them to diligently do their job by following and applying the law and due process.

The new Acting Director, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Omolola Olanipekun was formerly the Deputy Director, Environmental Degradation & Development Monitoring in the Abuja Environmental Protection Board. [myad]

16 Political Parties Go To Court To Challenge Kogi’s Reconstitution Of Local Councils

Greenbarge Reporters

May 25, 2016

No fewer than 16 registered political parties in Kogi State have dragged the state government to court for alleged reconstituting local governments without recourse to the democratic process of election.

The political parties are UPP, Action Alliance, Advance Congress for Democrats, Alliance for Democracy, Citizen Popular Party, Hope Democratic Party, Kowa Party and Labour Party.

The others are Fresh Democratic party, Peoples Democratic Party, Independent Democrat, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Unity Party of Nigeria, Peoples Democratic Movement, Young Democratic Party and Peoples Party of Nigeria.

Their originating summons, signed by counsel to the political parties, Williams Aliwo, dated May 18, was made available to newsmen in Lokoja on Wednesday.

They joined the Kogi State Government, the Attorney-General of Kogi State, the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Attorney-General of the Federation as co-defendants.

The applicants contended that the state government contravened Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution as amended by reconstituting the 21 local governments on May 6 without recourse to elections.

They want the court to declare the reconstitution unconstitutional, unlawful, wrongful, null and void.

They also urged the court to declare that the purported reconstitution “is not recognisable for purposes of enjoying financial patronage of the Federal Government through the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.”

They urged the court to direct the Accountant-General of the Federation to stop any allocation or any kind of financial resources to the councils until they were properly and democratically reconstituted.

They also sought an order directing the Kogi State Government to reconstitute local councils in the state by democratic process.

The originating summon was supported by a 33-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Iliyas Badanga, the state Chairman of the United Progressive Party.

They want the court to determine whether the state government was right in reconstituting the councils and whether the action was democratic.

The other issue was whether the councils could be granted financial allocations in view of the anomalies associated with the constitution.

In their motion on notice, the political parties urged the court to restrain the respondent from recognizing the reconstituted councils.

NAN. [myad]

Food Security In Nigeria Is Being Threatened, Idahosa University Vice Chancellor Warns

Greenbarge Reporters

May 25, 2016

University Vice Chancellor of the Benson Idahosa University in Edo State, Professor Ernest Izevbigie has warned that food security in Nigeria is being threatened even as he announced that the university’s Faculty of Agriculture is getting set to grow tomatoes and carefully monitor them for quality.

The Vice Chancellor, who spoke against the backdrop of the tomato disease that has been ravaging some states in the North, remarked: “we are at risk of food insecurity; that is what is happening now. If you have food security, you will have plenty of food available. But food security in this country is being threatened.”

Professor Izevbigie said however that in order to address the challenges posed by the tomato disease, his university is planning to produce 800,000 tons of tomatoes, saying: “we are making an audacious statement that Benson Idahosa University is poised to produce 800,000 tons of tomatoes to ameliorate the present shortage in the supply of tomatoes in Nigeria in the next one year,” he said.

He noted that the university’s agriculture department also had the technology to cultivate grass, which would ameliorate the effects of cattle grazing, adding that Nigeria should become more self-sufficient in terms of forage crops production, as the country has the proper soil and climate for such crops to thrive. [myad]

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