I Will Honour All Agreements By PDP Govt With China, Buhari Assures Chinese Leader

April 13, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the Chinese government that his administration will honour all agreements concluded between Nigeria and China under previous administrations of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ensure the speedy completion of outstanding joint projects. The project including the 4,000 megawatts Mambilla Hydro-Electric Power Project.
Buhari who spoke at a meeting with the Premier of the State Council of the Peoples Republic of China, Mr Li Keqiang, in Beijing today, Wednesday however, regretted the failure of past governments to meet Nigeria’s obligations in joint projects with China.
The President told the Chinese Premier that his administration is committed to the completion, in the shortest possible time, of all joint power, rail, road and aviation projects that will directly and quickly improve the lives of Nigerians.
President Buhari said that he is particularly keen on actualizing the Mambilla Power Project because of its huge potential to boost employment and national economic growth.
The Chinese Premier commended ongoing efforts by the Buhari Administration to improve Nigeria’s infrastructure.
He assured the President that China is ready to work with his administration to complete all joint projects, including the Mambilla Power Project. [myad]

Kogi Lawmakers Suspend 10 Colleagues

Greenbarge Reporters

April 13, 2016

The Kogi State House of Assembly has suspended 10 members for their alleged involvement in the leadership crisis rocking the state legislature since November 2015.
The suspension order, issued on the floor of the House at plenary on Tuesday, followed the adoption of a report of the ad hoc committee commissioned on March 10.
The ad hoc committee was asked to investigate the sponsorship of the crisis and the involvement of the National Assembly and its failure to ensure due process even at the instance of a court injunction.
Presenting the report, John Abah (PDP-Ibaji), the Chairman of the ad hoc committee, said the committee found that the House of Representatives was misguided by members who had interest in the crisis.
Abah said the situation in the state had not resulted to a breakdown of law and order for the National Assembly to exercise its powers in invoking section 11(4), leaving out the provision of 11(5) of the constitution.
He said the 10 members had persistently fuelled the crisis and made it extremely difficult for the House to resolve the leadership impasse peacefully in order to carry out its lawful and constitutional responsibilities.
The committee, according to the chairman, recommended that all legal processes instituted in various courts be exhaustively determined to ensure due process, rule of law and justice to all parties.
Abah said it recommended that further deliberation on the action of the National Assembly would be tantamount to prejudice and urged the House to restrain itself from engaging the National Assembly on the matter.
The committee recommended that the 10 members indicted by the committee be suspended from sitting.
They are the embattled Speaker, Momo-Jimoh Lawal (PDP-Okene II), Matthew Kolawole (PDP-Kabba-Bunu), Aliyu Akuh (PDP-Omala), Victor Omofaiye (PDP-Ijumu) and Sunday Shigaba (PDP-Bassa).
Others are Alfa Momoh-Rabiu (APC-Ankpa II), Enenche Linus (APC-Olamaboro), Obaro Pedro (APC-Mopa-Muro), Ndako Idris (APC-Lokoja II) and Zakari Osewu (APC-Kogi-KK).
Seconding the motion for the adoption of the report, the Majority Leader, Friday Sanni (PDP-Igalamela-Odolu), urged the House to adopt the three recommendations of the committee.
The Speaker, Umar Imam, ruled on the adoption of the recommendations of the committee following overwhelming voice votes in favour of the report.
NAN. [myad]

I Never Know My Husband Is A Criminal, House Wife Says

Greenbarge Reporters

April 13, 2016

A Ghanaian woman, Rose Oyesunmi who is married to a Nigerian Segun Oyesunmi has opted out from her seven-year old marriage saying that she did not know that she was married to a criminal.

Rose spoke during interrogation by the Nigerian police after her husband Segun was declared wanted for his alleged involvement in the assassination attempt of premier lotto boss in Lagos state, southwestern Nigeria.

The principal manager of Baba Ijebu in Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA), Alhaji Akins Abubakar escaped assassination after Segun Oyesunmi who was one of his staff paid an undisclosed amount to assassins to snuff life out of him.

The mother of two kids explained that all she knew was that her husband had a strange character and he kept to himself all the time and refused to relate with their neighbours.

She said that she did not know that his strange character translated to his involvement until she was informed by the police.

She confessed that he often slept outside their matrimonial home for days and made her to believe that he was going for work at construction sites.

She revealed that the man, Abubakar who he planned to kill was the one taking care of their family and that he even employed him to earn money on his own before he planned to kill him.

She said when the issue first came up, she did not believe until she confirmed from her husband through telephone. She added that he told her to find a way to leave the house.

Segun Oyesunmi allegedly contacted two suspects, Gbenga Olunuga, 35 and Paul Alimele, 35 and paid a certain amount of money so that they can rob and kill Abubakar, to enable him take over leadership of the business in Alimosho LGA.

The suspectsd were arrested and charged before a Magistrate’s court in Ejigbo with attempted robbery and murder under the Criminal Code.

Segun Oyesunmi who provided information to the suspects including where they would recover some money in Abubakar’s home and office is now on the run.

However, before the suspects would carry out the operation at Abule-Oki area of Iyana Ipaja in Lagos where Abubakar resides, they were rounded up on a tip off.

The suspects who reside at Agbara area failed after they contacted a man identified as Wale to join in the operation and to help them to acquire equipment for the operation.

While they were discussing the operation in a hotel, Wale who pretended to be interested leaked their plans to the local vigilante in the area who contacted the police.

When they arrived at Abubakar’s office at Abule-Oki in Iyana Ipaja for the operation, they were rounded up and handed over to the police at Gowon estate.

It was gathered that the police recovered masks, rope, knives and other dangerous weapons from them as exhibit.

During interrogation, the suspects confessed that it was one Segun who was the staff of Alhaji Abubakar that sent them.

Meanwhile, Segun is at large.

Source PM NEWS. [myad]

Angry Sports Minister Pushes Reporter Away

Greenbarge Reporters

April 13, 2016

Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, today, Wednesday, physically pushed away a sport reporter, Andrew Abah at the venue of the Extraordinary Congress of the boiling Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) held at Chinda Hotel in Abuja.

It all started when Abah asked Dalung to comment on the crisis rocking the NFF but instead of answering the question, the minister accused the newsmen of collecting bribes from the two parties to the crisis – Amaju Pinnick and Chris Giwa.
When Abah went further to ask the Minister to mention the names of the journalists involved, he (the minister) physically pushed the reporter away.
Pinnick, who convened the NFF extraordinary meeting, had to intervene and appealed for calm. [myad]

India Bursts Drug Cartel, Arrests A Nigerian As Kingpin

Greenbarge Reporters

April 12, 2016

Delhi Police in India have burst a drug cartel that have been operating in the country and arrested a 33 year old Nigeria, whose name was given simply as Fill, as the kingpin.

Fill is said to be cooling off in Tihar Jail under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Fill, alias Steve (who uses only one name) is said to be heading a well-organized drug racket that used to supply high quality cocaine at Delhi’s plush pubs and bars.

He was nabbed on a tip-off on April 2 from Rajendra Nagar in central Delhi, where he had gone to supply 54 gram of pure cocaine to one of his well-heeled clients.

The drug was worth between Rs.10 lakh and Rs.50 lakh, depending on negotiation, and would have fetched at least Rs 54 lakh in the international market.

Joint commissioner of police (Crime Branch), Ravindra Yadav told IANS that Fill was the “kingpin” of the drug racket, which was running in Delhi since 2009. The racket had a network of suppliers, comprising youngsters, who did dealings with clients.

Top Delhi Police sources told IANS they are close to capturing the other members of the gang.

The drugs business, though, was apparently not in Fill’s scheme of things when he landed in India in 2008.

According to what he has told police, he had come here to start a business venture in readymade garments. However, Fill was cheated by a fellow countryman of all his money — leaving him penniless, which forced him to take up the drug peddling business.

Fill is lodged in Tihar Jail on charges of possessing, purchasing, selling, storing and transporting contraband drugs in the national capital.

After he was cheated of his money, Fill told police, he had to beg to fulfil his daily needs, and later started providing consultancy to Nigerian visitors about Delhi.

“Thereafter, he came in contact with another Nigerian named KC, a supplier of cocaine in Delhi, in the beginning of 2009 and joined his gang,” Yadav said.

The officer said that Fill started selling cocaine to Indian customers along with KC in south Delhi pubs and bars.

“Later in 2011 or 2012, KC was caught by police and deported to Nigeria. But Fill continued to evade the police. His illegal cocaine business was thriving. He used different mobile phone numbers for his cocaine business,” the officer said.

Fill used to sell one “pudia” (one gram) of cocaine for between Rs.15,000-Rs.1 lakh, depending on the demand and time of day. The rates would go up as the evening advanced.

A crime branch team of ACP Ranbir Singh, inspector Devender and his team, led by DCP MA Rizvi arrested Fill from Rajendra Nagar on a tip-off on April 2. [myad]

Buhari Set To Settle Nigerian Contractors With N350 Billion

Greenbarge Reporters

April 12, 2016

Information reaching us indicated that President Muhammadu Buhari is set to release the N350 billion which the federal government set aside to boost the economy.

A Presidency source said in Abuja today, Tuesday that the money is available and would be released as soon as the budget is passed.

The source said that the strategy is one of the various first-line actions of the federal government to put life into the economy that has been under stress for several months.

Meanwhile, contractors have already expressed their readiness to return to sites of various uncompleted projects across the country.

Many of the contractors, especially those constructing various roads across the country returned to site early last month when the decision of the federal government to push the N350 billion into the economy was announced. Indeed some of them started skeletal works but was halted almost immediately, as they adopted an attitude of “wait and see” on the modalities of disbursing the said amount.

Federal Government compiles list of N5,000 monthly beneficiaries It was also learnt that the list of beneficiaries of the federal government monthly N5,000 conditional cash transfer is already being compiled. One million poor Nigerians will benefit from the programme. [myad]

Boko Haram Flees Sambisa Forest, Disperses Into Communities – Army Alerts Nigerians

Greenbarge Reporters

April 12, 2016

The Nigerian Army has said that the Boko Haram terrorists are now fleeing their strong hold in Sambisa forest and are trying to disperse to various parts of the country.

According to acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman: “due to aerial bombardment and concerted efforts of the ground troops, and facing imminent annihilation, Boko Haram terrorists have been deserting Sambisa forest in droves trying to disperse to various parts of the country.

“The cowards are running away from their well noted enclave in Sambisa forest for their lives.

“Consequently it becomes necessary to inform the public, especially well meaning Nigerians, to be more vigilant and security conscious.

“The public are please requested to be observant and report any suspicious persons or group of persons to the military or any of the security agencies to enable timely detection and apprehension of the fleeing insurgents before they mingle with the society and commit havoc.

“We would like to reassure the public of the confidentiality of the information provided and reiterate our commitment to the clearance of the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists.” [myad]

Don’t Turn Nigeria Into Dumping Ground For Your Products, Buhari Tells China

Greenbarge Reporters

April 12, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on China to stop using Nigeria as a dumping ground for its products even as he stressed the need for Nigerian and Chinese business communities to reduce the trade imbalance between both countries which is currently in favour of China.
Speaking at the opening of a Nigeria-China Business/Investment Forum in Beijing, China today, Tuesday, President Buhari said: “you must not see Nigeria as a consumer market alone, but as an investment destination where goods can be manufactured and consumed locally.”
President Buhari insisted that trade and economic relations between both countries must be mutually-beneficial and conducted with reciprocated respect and trust.
“Although the Nigerian and Chinese business communities have recorded tremendous successes in bilateral trade, there is a large trade imbalance in favour of China as Chinese exports represent some 80 per cent of the total bilateral trade volumes. This gap needs to be reduced.
“Therefore, I would like to challenge the business communities in both countries to work together to reduce the trade imbalance. You must also imbibe the spirit of having a mutually beneficial relationship in your business transactions.

President Buhari said that his administration is committed to supporting investors that are ready to establish manufacturing and processing facilities in Nigeria.
“Last year during our meeting in New York, President Xi Jinping and I agreed to explore ways of practical cooperation in trade, investment, finance, human resources, agriculture and fishing.
“We also agreed to strengthen industrial capacity cooperation in the manufacture of cars, household appliances, construction materials, textiles, food processing, and others.
“This is in line with our government’s focus on import substitution through the creation of a diversified and inclusive economy that will meet most of our consumption needs.
“Already, our Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is working on projects and programmes that will correct the wrongs of the past and enhance the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
“The ministry’s efforts will be complemented by investment tax incentive programmes, public sector reform initiatives as well as our zero tolerance stance on corruption.
“We also have an aggressive but realistic infrastructure development programme that forms the backbone of our economic diversification policy. We are embarking on major power, road, rail, seaport and airport development programmes that will enhance the competitiveness of manufacturing businesses in Nigeria.
“The future is bright and I am very confident that our policies will make Nigeria the investment destination of your choice.”
The Nigerian President assured them that his administration is doing everything possible to address concerns about security in Nigeria, adding that to consolidate on recent successes against Boko Haram, close to 20 per cent of the 2016-budgeted expenditure has been allocated to the Ministries of Defence and Interior and as well as other security agencies.
“We are committed to protecting all lives and property within our borders. You can therefore be rest assured that your investments in Nigeria will be safe and secure.”
Business and trade relations between Nigeria and China have grown astronomically in the last decade with bilateral trade volumes rising from USD2.8 billion in 2005 to USD14.9 billion in 2015.
Nigeria accounted for 8.3 per cent of the total trade volume between China and Africa and 42 per cent of the total trade volume between China and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries in 2015.
Meanwhile, President Buhari has directed that technical committees be immediately established to finalize discussions on new joint Nigeria/China rail, power, manufacturing, agricultural and solid mineral projects.
The President gave the directive after talks between his delegation and high-ranking Chinese government officials led by President Xi Jinping.
The technical committees are to conclude their assignments before the end of next month.
President Buhari had at the talks welcomed China’s readiness to assist Nigeria in her bid to rapidly industrialize and join the world’s major economies.
President Jinping agreed that Nigeria’s chosen path of development through economic diversification was the best way to go.
To help Nigeria to achieve this, China promised to fully support the country through infrastructural development and capacity building.
China also expressed an interest in setting up major projects in Nigeria such as refineries, power plants, mining companies, textile manufacturing and food processing industries as soon as the enabling environment is provided by the Federal Government.
In response to President Muuhammadu Buhari’s desire to make Nigeria self-sufficient in food production, President Jinping offered 15 million U.S. dollars agricultural assistance to Nigeria for the establishment of 50 Agricultural Demonstration Farms across the country.
China and Nigeria also agreed to strengthen military and civil service exchanges as part of a larger capacity-building engagement.
In line with this, China offered to raise its scholarship awards to Nigerian students from about 100 to 700 annually. In addition, 1,000 other Nigerians are to be given vocational and technical training by China annually.
President Jinping applauded the war against corruption being waged by President Buhari.
The Chinese leader assured President Buhari that Nigeria will always have a special place in the affairs of the Peoples Republic of China.
After the talks, President Buhari and President Jinping witnessed the signing of several agreements and memorandums of understanding by Nigeria and China.
The agreements include a “Framework Agreement Between the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the National Development and Reform Commission of the Peoples Republic of China.”
Others were a “Memorandum of Understanding on Aviation Cooperation between the Ministry of Transportation (Aviation) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Ministry of Commerce of the Peoples Republic of China” and a “Memorandum of Understanding Between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Government of the Peoples Republic of China on Scientific and Technological Cooperation.”
A Mandate Letter Between the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and the Central Bank of Nigeria on Renminbi (RMB) Transactions was also signed. [myad]

Nigeria Foreign Minister Embarrassed By Newspaper Reports On Swiss Ambassador

Greenbarge Reporters

April 12, 2016

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has expressed shock by what he called a defamatory article in a national newspaper against the Switzerland Ambassador to Nigeria, Eric Mayooraz.

In a statement in Abuja today, Tuesday, the minister said that he had ordered an investigation into the matter even as he threatened that “appropriate measures will be taken for any wrongdoing.”

Onyeama distanced the federal government from the issues discussed in the newspaper, adding that it could not have authorized anyone to speak on its behalf in respect of them.

The statement read: “The government has learned with shock and dismay of a defamatory article in a Nigerian newspaper against the Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Nigeria.

“I wish to state categorically that the government has no knowledge whatsoever of any of the matters discussed in the article and could therefore not have authorized anyone to speak on its behalf in respect of them.

“With regard to the defamatory article, the government has ordered an investigation and appropriate measures will be taken for any wrongdoing. It is to be emphasised that Nigeria and Switzerland enjoy very cordial relations.”

The newspaper had, on Sunday, published a news item titled: FG probes swiss envoy over ‘gay spouse’ and went on to say that the federal government has launched an investigation to unravel the circumstances that led to the coming of Switzerland’s Ambassador to Nigeria with a male spouse alleged to be his gay partner.
Eric Mayooraz, who was posted to Nigeria last year to head the Swiss mission, is alleged to have arrived the country in the company of his gay partner, a Brazilian whose name was given simply as Mr. Carlos.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Thursday that it was aware of the issue and has commenced probe.
Efforts to register Mayooraz as a member of the Association of Spouses of Heads of Mission (ASOHOM) in Nigeria have been generating controversy.
embassy to introduce the male partner of the ambassador to ASOHOM as a member, the response from the embassy reads: “The Swiss Ambassador is not married. As he is not married, the Swiss Ambassador, upon request of the President of the ASOHOM, designated an employee of the Embassy, the Administrator/Intendant of the Swiss Residence, to represent him in ASOHOM, which created some misunderstanding among members. As this designation seemed not to be accepted by some of the members, the Swiss Ambassador decided to withdraw from the association in December 2015.”
Efforts to get the reaction of the ASOHOM’s leadership on the matter proved abortive, even as Daily Trust on Sunday learnt that the seat of the association’s president is currently vacant. It was gathered that when the last chairperson completed her tenure last year, none of the members indicated interest in the leadership position.
When our reporter sought an audience with the immediate ex-president of the association, who is the wife of the Mexican ambassador to Nigeria, her husband denied him access, saying that ASOHOM was a private organization which does not want media coverage.
We are investigating the issue – Foreign Affairs Ministry
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Akinremi Bolaji, said it had been brought to the notice of the ministry that an envoy had a male spouse in the country.
In a telephone chat with our correspondent, Bolaji said: “We are aware of the development and have started investigation. It is either they have deceived us because we would never have allowed such a person to enter the country if we were aware before now. We have a law, which must be obeyed by all. If we find him culpable, he will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
What the law says about same-sex relationship in Nigeria
On 13 January 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, which parliament passed in May 2013. The law imposes life imprisonment for some types of homosexual acts.
Section 1 prohibits any marriage contract or civil union entered into between persons of same sex. Such marriages shall not be recognized as entitled to the benefits of a valid marriage.
Such a marriage is void in Nigeria even where the marriage contract was entered into between persons of same sex by virtue of a certificate issued by a foreign country, and any benefit accruing therefrom by virtue of the certificate shall not be enforced by any court of law.
Section 2 forbids a Church, Mosque or any other place of worship in Nigeria to solemnize same sex marriage entered into between persons of same sex. Also no certificate issued to persons of same sex in a marriage shall be valid in Nigeria.
According to Section 3, only a marriage contracted between a man and a woman shall be recognized as valid in Nigeria. Any person who enters into a same sex marriage contract, according to the law has committed an offence and is liable on conviction to 14 years imprisonment.
A person, who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organization, or directly or indirectly makes public show of same sex amorous relationship in Nigeria also commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment.
While a person or group of persons who administers, witnesses, abets or aids the solemnization of a same-sex marriage or civil union, or supports the registration, operation and sustenance of gay clubs, societies, organizations, processions or meetings in Nigeria commits an offence and is liable on conviction to 10 years imprisonment.
Same-sex rights in Switzerland
While Switzerland has recognized same-sex couples since 2007, same-sex marriage is not yet legal. However, in February, the law committee of the Lower House of parliament in the country voted in favour of same-sex marriage.
It’s a start, as any move to legalize marriage for gay couples would require a change to the Swiss constitution and the passing of a national referendum. In a recent poll for Pink Cross, 54 per cent of Swiss people said they supported same-sex marriage. [myad]

Female Soccer: Nigeria Sacks Senegal

Greenbarge Reporters

April 12, 2016

Nigeria’s Super Falcons have sent the Senegalese national team packing with a 3-1 win on aggregate. The Nigerian side would now move to the next level in this year’s African Women’s Championship.

The first leg which was played in Senegal produced 1-1 draw.
The Falcons who are the defending champions, will be seeking a 10th continental crown at the final in Cameroon from November 19.
Rita Chikwelu put Nigeria ahead after 36 minutes in a good combination play with Francisca Ordega. This was six minutes after Nigeria failed to tuck away a penalty.
Ebere Orji was fouled inside the box, but Arsenal Ladies star, Asisat Oshoala, failed to put away the resulting penalty on the half hour mark when her well-taken kick crashed against the post and the rebound was blasted off target.
The home team doubled their lead a minute after the interval, when Osarenoma Igbonovia fired home with an assist by Oshoala, who thereafter missed several begging chances.
In the 50th minute, the Senegal coach was sent to the stands for dissent.
In summary, Senegal sat back in their defence, inviting the Super Falcons to attack them ceaselessly. [myad]

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