The Nation Newspaper has expressed regrets that it has been linked to the arms procurement scandal, with the former National Security Adviser, retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki in the centre of it.

Obviously embarrassed by the revelations, the Nation newspaper, owned by National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and owner of the Nation Newspaper, Bola Tinubu, has quietly returned the sum of N9 Million which was its share of the money handed over through the Newspaper Propriators Association of Nigeria (NPAN).

It would be recalled that investigations from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), had traced a suspicious transfer of funds from the former Dasuki to Newspaper outlets including Tinubu’s own Nation.

In a statement, the Board and management of the newspaper company said: “we are again compelled to comment on the N9 million received by Vintage Press Limited as compensation from the government of ex- President Goodluck Jonathan through the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) for the seizure of our publications, The Nation and Sporting Life in June, 2014.

“We do this for two reasons. First, to restate the sequence of events that culminated in the payment , thereby debunking insinuations about the motive for the compensation. Second, to inform the public that the N9 million collected from NPAN on behalf of the Jonathan government has been returned to the association .

“This decision was arrived at on Wednesday by the Board and Management of Vintage Press Limited after a painstaking examination of the legal and moral issues arising from the compensation.”

“In our first comment published in the Saturday, December 12 edition of The Nation, we provided the background to the compensation. We recalled the mindless, illegal and unjustified seizure of thousands of copies of both titles by soldiers in major cities and towns across the country.

“Not only were copies of both papers impounded, our vehicles and drivers were arrested and detained in military barracks. They were released very late, in some instances at 7pm, when it was practically impossible to put the consignments in the market.

“We know of no other newspaper that was so harassed and maltreated by soldiers who claimed that they had intelligence reports that newspapers vehicles were to be used by insurgents to ferry arms.

“Our response to this unjustifiable infringement of our rights was go to court to get justice and ask for Compensation. We briefed the legal firm of Femi Falana (SAN) to institute an action against the government and the military authorities and demand N300 million compensation.”

“Soon after the clampdown, Jonathan hosted the NPAN in Lagos and the issue of compensation was raised with him. He promised to get back to the association through its president, Nduka Obaigbena the publisher of Thisday.

” Obaigbena later briefed members that the government had agreed to pay N10 million to each newspaper. A mail followed from the association asking newspapers to submit their statements of claims for compensation.

“This development was discussed with our lawyer who advised that the N10 million compensation was reasonable, following which we resolved to stay action on the suit .

“At subsequent meetings in Lagos and Abuja , NPAN assured members that the government had not changed its mind . At the Abuja meeting in March but year, the association resolved that N1million be paid by each newspaper on receipt of the N10 million towards the acquisition of a befitting corporate office for it.

“In May, the secretary of NPAN, Mr. Feyi Smith, brought a draft for N9 million to Vintage Press Limited. The draft was accepted in good faith, believing it was from the account of the association and also from the appropriate department of government.

“Who was in a better position to deliver a draft from NPAN to Vintage Press than the NPAN secretary? Vintage Press, like other newspapers that received drafts/cheques from the NPAN, did not know that the money was paid to a private company by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and from funds collected by that office specifically for the procurement of arms ?

”This was until The Nation, in its edition of Friday, December 4, published details of the stupendous sums of money collected by individuals and organisations from the ONSA.”

“Now, the source of the payment to us is beyond contention. We now know it came from the ONSA and routed through a private company, General Hydrocarbon Limited.

”This company is unknown to NPAN. Facts in the public domain show clearly that the money the company collected was for ‘energy consultancy.

”That this company would collect the compensation on NPAN’s behalf was never disclosed to the association in line with corporate best practice. As a business that subscribes fully to the tenets of sound governance, we are not at ease with this revelation.

“We are also uncomfortable with the revelation that the compensation was from the money earmarked for the purchase of arms for troops fighting insurgency.

“This point was stated clearly in our editorial of Wednesday, December 23 in which we said: ‘it is unclear to what extent the extension of the anti- terror war was due to fraud – related factors. But it is clear enough that the war effort was deliberately hampered by fraudulent activities.”

“It is a shame,” we said further, “that there is even a possibility, however slim, that media players helped to create an enabling environment for terrorists, wittingly or unwittingly, by linkage with Dasuki.

“In the light of the foregoing, Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation and Sportinglife, on Wednesday resolved that the N9 million compensation be returned to the NPAN for onward delivery to the source of the money. A draft for N9million was handed over to Mr Smith today in Lagos.

“The Board and Management of Vintage Press have also resolved not to resume the legal action it asked the firm of Femi Falana (SAN) to initiate against the government and the military authorities but to regard the losses incurred during the period as part of the sacrifice The Nation has made to the enthronement of a new order in our country.

“It was noted with satisfaction that no law of the land was breached in asking for compensation and receiving same from the government but that with the sordid disclosures about the ONSA, Vintage Press cannot in good conscience regard the compensation as a closed case on which nothing can be done.

“However,, we find most uncharitable the infantile claim that the compensation was meant to compromise us.” [myad]

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan on Friday urged the Federal Government to pardon those involved in money laundering if they were willing to return such funds.

Onaiyekan made the appeal at the St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Nyanya as part of his New Year message for the nation in Abuja.

He said that the best strategy to ensure the return of the monies would be an agreement with the people involved to have them return what they had stolen.

He said that the ongoing developments had shown that corruption could be eradicated over time, adding that the fight against fraudulent acts must be handled with care.

“It is okay to expose people and disgrace them, but that will not solve the problem.
“If we want our money back, we have to strategize so that the countries that are keeping our money can feel challenged to return them.

“The easiest way to get the money back is to convince them to go bring the money back, and then it will be easy.
“One way to convince people to bring stolen money back is to promise them that they will not be disgraced.”

Onaiyekan said that the amnesty is not like a plea bargain which only leads to the return of some stolen funds, adding: “this is different from plea bargain where you tell a person who stole hundred billion of naira to return fifty billion and be forgiven; that for me is not the right thing.

“If you have stolen hundred million and you are ready to bring back all, then we will leave you and not send you to jail, Nigeria can do that.’’

The cleric said that corruption is embedded in the Nigerian system, therefore, required a systemic change to reverse the situation even as he earlier advised the government to swing into proper action in the New Year, for the fulfilment of all its campaign promises.

“The success of the party that won was built on a promise of change and will be in the spotlight of spectators in this New Year.

“We can say that from May till now, it has been a period of consolidating, making strategies and preparing.
“2016 will be a year that we will now begin to see exactly where we are going and how we are moving,” Onaiyekan said.

Onaiyekan said that the movement would include all the nation’s challenges in terms of security and anti-corruption campaign, “which is at the forefront of the country’’.

“We must find a way to discuss and negotiate the peace and tranquility of our nation,” he said. [myad]

Agitators for the return of over 200 students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, abducted by members of Boko Haram, have scheduled a peaceful protest to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on January 14.

According to the convener of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) Aisha Yesufu at daily sit-out session to mark ‘Day 627’ since the girls were taken from their school’s dormitory in Chibok, January 14 would be exactly 21 months since the incidence took place.

She said that the group would stage peaceful march to the Presidential Villa to engage President Muhammadu Buhari on the way forward.

This was even as the group asked the government to set up a special search and rescue team to find the missing schoolgirls.

The group expressed disappointmentd that President Buhari did not say anything about the missing girls in his New Year message to Nigerians.

The group would not accept the President’s statement during the media chat on Wednesday that the government has no credible intelligent report on the whereabouts of the girls, adding that government needs to consider acquiring credible intelligence.

The group said that there was a credible report on the whereabouts of the Chibok girls from the testimonies of the former Chief of Defence Staff, retired Air Marhall Alex Badeh and Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State.

In the heat of demands from the BBOG and global outcry for the rescue of the girls, Air Marshall had told reporters that the military had a tip off about where the girls where, but that the military was being cautious to avoid civilian casualties.

The girls were abducted by members of the Boko Haram terrorist group on April 14, 2014.

Meanwhile, another leader of the group, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili had recently asked the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to cause the reinstatement of the soldiers that were jailed for cowardice against the Boko Haram insurgency and mutiny. [myad]

Head Adoration Ministry in Enugu Nigeria, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka has accused former President Goodluck Jonathan of killing Nigeria after which he handed over the skeleton to President Muhammadu Buhari, even as he raised alarm over what he called, plans to kill President Muhammadu Buhari due to the war he is currently waging against corruption posture.

Mbaka, in his 2016 New Year message, which he delivered today before millions of worshipers in Enugu said: “My beloved Nigerians, those who led us from last year downwards, they have killed this country. None of them is qualified to stay in this country by now: the President, the Senators, the Reps, the chairmen of Local governments, the governors, they are wicked. It doesn’t matter the man of God they worship with; I tell you, before God and man, all of them are wicked. They hate this country, they succeeded in removing the liver, kidney and cardio vascular system of this country, and handed over to President Buhari, shambles, skeletal organs of this country..”

“No matter how malignant the problem is, God says He will be in charge; fellow Nigerians, let us wait upon God; I have a new message; I’m blessing and covering the message we are giving now in the prophetic name of Jesus; Father speak now as your servant listens.

“In 2013, there was a prophecy that was going to be an oil doom after several years of oil boom, and when that message came out of this ground, many started calling me a prophet of doom. How can there be oil doom in oil boom? And the oil price continued to climb, but the message said people should start to gather as in the days of Joseph, that the people in government should continue to gather, let them stop squandering our wealth; but they never listened; throughout the six years we passed in the past administration, God blessed our oil with high prices, over N140 per barrel, but the message kept coming, don’t mind the oil boom, there is going to be oil doom, our politicians stop embezzling our wealth but they said the money will continue to come, our oil will continue to flow.

“During these moments of the oil boom, there was excess crude money, they didn’t know what to do with our money, when our youths were suffering and still suffering, graduates had no jobs, new industries were not built, our roads were not reconstructed, our hospitals were in shambles and total collapse; our educations systems were in shambles and these politicians were building good schools outside the country, Ghana, etc, even hospitals in South-Africa, and other neighbouring countries and when any of them is sick he will be flown outside the country because there is no hospital in the country worthy of authentic medication, you cannot find any country in Nigeria that has worthy diagnostic facilities; not one; the entire money voted for hospitals were looted out, corruption was in quantum, to the level that the Nigerian Bishops had to convene a prayer against bribery and corruption and enjoined all Catholics to be praying that prayer daily.

“All the money voted for roads were swindled; many of them became millionaires, billionaires over night in naira, in dollars, in pounds, in euro when they have no workshop; no business centre; somebody who has nothing doing, just because he is a politician, and they wasted our oil money, now the doom came and there is no preparation for it; the economy of Nigeria is an oil based economy.

“Nigeria, as we speak now, economically, security wise is in the intensive care unit; if the oxygen is removed, Nigeria will die, people of God prayed, from here and there and God gave us Buhari. God has told us that Buhari is prayer answered; President Buhari is an answered prayer; whether you hate him or like him, Buhari is prayer answered; the Bishops of Nigeria, the Catholic Bishops prayed against bribery and corruption and this President came with a charter that has to do with war against corruption; all the prayers we have been doing about bribery and corruption, God answered it in Buhari who decided not to discriminate; there is nothing like religious or political discrimination in Buhari’s government. He needs all the support, unstoppable support; spiritual and otherwise; because if he is not the man in power now, had it been the last regime continued, by now, Nigeria would be for sale. All the monies voted to buy this and but that few people stole it; but we see joblessness, many have died because of a few people, and these same people want to use you to engineer crisis that Igbos are marginalized, nobody is marginalized; nobody marginalized us;

“I am not a sycophant; but I want to tell you that so far God is happy and he who God has blessed none can cause. Many people are planning to kill Buhari; there are many plans on how to eliminate his life so that corruption will continue; so that embezzlement will continue. But I speak to Buhari that God who put you there will protect you; be firm, remain resolute, don’t be intimidated; President Buhari God and his people are behind you, you are the answer to the prayer of His people.

“Can you eat your cake and still have it? Our past looters, not leaders, you may not understand, thieves in political positions, have eaten the cake of this country and now everybody is suffering it; the youths are suffering it, they want to tell you that you are marginalized; the Yorubas are not marginalized; the Hausas are not marginalized, Efik people are not marginalized; and it is only you people that are marginalized. In the present political scenario, the Igbos have the position of minister for external affairs in the person of Onyeama; the Igbo people have the position of science and tech in the person of Ogbonnaya Onu; if you go to Abia, you have industry and commerce, coming back to Anambra you have labour and productivity and the problem of our country today is unemployment and once there is job, there will be no kidnapping. The Igbos in the North are doing well; the Igbos in the West too, go to Alaba, they are treated with kindness, why are we engineering things that don’t exist; and like I said before, those saying this have their children abroad and they want to use you.

“Listen fellow Nigerians, as it is right now, most of what we are suffering now and we are going to suffer were caused few years ago but the Lord asked me to encourage you. Suffering is coming but it is not suffering under damnation, there is solution, it may take some time, but at the end of it, there will be testimony;
Nigeria is the giant of Africa, Nigeria is the best country in this world; with the best weather; the country that produces the most strongest people; people who can survive everywhere, people who can relate with any type of person, people who can survive any type of weather- Nigerians; people who can prosper anywhere; the destiny, the dynasty, the authority, the destiny, what it takes to make Nigeria great is restored this year.

“As I have told you, there is going to be crisis but God will handle it. This year, God said my people will be over-comers, things will be hard but my people will be over-comers.” [myad]

Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu has given assurance that the President would consult with relevant stakeholders on the possibility of banning Hijab which is a dressing mode for Muslim women.
President Buhari had said during a Presidential media chat on Wednesday that he might ban wearing of Hijab by Muslim women if members of Boko Haram continue to use it, as they have been doing, as a cover to attack innocent Nigerians.
However, it was learnt that some people have been going about spreading the rumour that the President had actually banned Hijab.
In a statement today, Garba Shehu denied that the President had banned the Hijab, saying that the President would not take any decision on the issue without due consultation with all the stakeholders.
He said that the insinuations and rumours that the Buhari administration has banned Hijab, the Muslim women’s dressing symbol of modesty was an unfounded speculation.
Garba Shehu, whose statement sought to clarify the pronouncement of the President on Media Chat, said that the Buhari administration would always respect the rights of Muslims to protect their modesty and allow religious freedom as it affects everyone.
The Presidential spokesman admitted that the Hijab is being abused by terrorists to carry out suicide attacks on innocent people, which violates the teachings of Islam, but that everything will be done to balance national security requirements with the rights and obligations of citizens under their religions as protected by the constitution.
According to him, the increasing abuse of the Hijabby terrorists to perpetrate criminal mass murder and other atrocities is a reality, and that the government would address the security challenge in consultations with Muslim leaders with a view to finding a workable solution. [myad]