David Mark Won The Election Clean, Tribunal Rules

October 6, 2015

The National and State Elections Petition Tribunal, presided over by Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu has ruled that the former senate President, David Mark won the election that returned him to the red chamber in a clean way.

Justice Dipeolu who dismissed the petition brought by Daniel Onjeh of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against David Mark held that the petitioner (Onjeh) failed on the burden of prove to substantially proof that the senatorial election in Benue South district did not compile with the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

Onjeh is contesting that the re-election of Mark was marred by irregularities such as ballot stuffing, manipulation of votes, inducement, falsification of results, abuse of office, over-voting as well as mutilation of results sheets.

Justice Dipeolu disagreed with the petitioner, arguing that the evidence of his witnesses were contradictory as they were based on hearsay which is not admissible in law.

“Witnesses contradicted their statement in admitting that the election held free and fair in their polling units. Their evidence is based on hearsay.”

The tribunal said that the documentary as well as oral evidence did not show that the election was fraudulent held and that the people who tendered the documents were not the makers. He stressed that the documents were tendered without linking them to the petitioner.

“The petitioner and his witnesses did not link documents to the case. They did not show figures to prove non compliance. He did not prove that non compliance affected the result of the election. Ballot boxes and papers should have been brought to court to prove the case beyond reasonable doubts. Issue of falsification should have been made by the polling agents even as the petitioner did not produce or invite anyone who alleged harassment or intimidation.

“Their evidence is based on the hearsay including that of the data analyst who admitted that his report was erroneous. Based on all these, I hold that the petitioner failed to prove that the election was not held in substantially compliance with the electoral act and the petition fails and is accordingly dismissed.” [myad]

PDP Laughs Off Buhari’s Ministerial List, Says It Is Not Exciting

Greenbarge Reporters

October 6, 2015

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has laughed off the list of ministerial-nominees by President Muhammadu Buhari, as announced by the Senate today, saying that it is not something to rejoice about.

“By a mere look at the list, one can tell that there is nothing to be excited about, especially considering the length of time it took the President to come up with it.”

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, who said that in a statement in Abuja today, said: “looking at the list, it is hard to put a finger on why it should take any serious-minded and focused government, six months after its election to assemble such a regular team.”

He said the list and the length of time it took had further confirmed the fact that the All Progressives Congress-led administration was driven by propaganda and deceit, a development, he added, raised doubts on the sincerity of its anti-corruption crusade. [myad]

Nomination Of Amaechi As Minister: Rivers Set To Burst, Police Raises Alarm

Greenbarge Reporters

October 6, 2015

Nomination of the former governor of Rivers state, Chief Rotimi Amaechi on the President Muhammadau Buhari’s ministerial list to the Senate has set a stage for trouble in Rivers state as the state Police Command has raised alarm that two opposing groups are planning to protest for and against.

The Command said that while one of the groups would be protesting against the emergence of Amaechi as a ministerial nominee, the other would embark on a rally in support of the former governor’s expected emergence as a minister.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Kimo, in a statement signed by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, warned the opposing groups to jettison the planned protest in order not to truncate the existing peace in the state.

Kimo made it clear that the command would not tolerate a situation where the protest would lead to the breakdown of law and order in the state.

“The Rivers State Police Commissioner has uncovered clandestine moves by two opposing groups to stage a protest in Port Harcourt purposely to express their support or opposition to the ministerial nomination of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi by Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Accordingly, the Commissioner of Police hereby warns these groups to jettison the plan to stage the protest so as not to truncate the existing peace in the state.

“While the Command respects the individual’s right of peaceful assembly, it will not tolerate a situation where such protests will lead to breach of the public peace and breakdown of law and order.”

The police boss called on the people of the state to remain calm, confident and trust in the ability of the command to discharge its responsibility of ensuring public peace and security as well as upholding democratic rights and rule of law. [myad]

Diezani’s Arrest, Trial: Buhari Thanks British Government For Helping To Recover Stolen Nigeria Money

Greenbarge Reporters

October 6, 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed appreciation to Britain and Switzerland for the renewed support in the recovery and repatriation of public funds stolen by the past corrupt leaders from Nigeria.
At separate audiences with the new British and Swiss Ambassadors, who were at the Presidential Villa to present their letters of credence today, President Buhari said that British, Swiss and other foreign anti-crime agencies had already given his administration much help with relevant information and intelligence on public funds that were stolen and illegally transferred to personal bank accounts by officials of past administrations.
The President however, called for the speeding up of the processes of investigation, prosecution and repatriation of Nigerian funds stolen by corrupt public officials and their accomplices.
“Switzerland and Britain have been very helpful indeed in the recovery of our assets. But we must build on what we have started.
“It is also important to send a signal to the elite that it is no longer business as usual. I personally appreciate the efforts of Prime Minister David Cameron on this issue.
“He has honoured his commitments to us. He promised to support our government to build a strong and dynamic economy and he has been faithful to his words,” President Buhari told the new British High Commissioner, Mr. Paul Arkwright.
Arkwright had earliier assured Buhari of Britain’s preparedness to give Nigeria the fullest possible support and assistance in the recovery of its looted resources.
‘‘We are most ready to help. We have a good team at the National Crime Agency (NCA) working with your Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Tell us where and how we can help and we will provide the assistance,’’ the British High Commissioner assured the President.
President Buhari also welcomed assurances from the new Swiss Ambassador, Mr. Eric Mayoraz that his country will expedite action on the repatriation of millions of dollars stolen by Nigerian public officials and still held in Swiss Banks.
“I am very pleased and we will get our Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work with you to ensure that all the stolen funds are returned safely to government coffers as quickly as possible,” the President told the Swiss Ambassador.
President Buhari also received the letters of credence of the Ambassador of the State of Palestine, Mr. Saleh Fhied Saleh, the Ambassador of Myanmar, Mr. Tha Aung Nyun and the Ambassador of Slovakia, Mr. Peter Holasek. [myad]

Fall Out Of Diezani’s London Arrest, Another Oil Magnate, Jide Omokore Arrested In Nigeria

Greenbarge Reporters

October 6, 2015

The arrest in London and trial of the former Nigerian’s minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison Madueke may have triggered more arrests as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has just arrest the owner of SPOG and Atlantic Energy, Jide Omokore. Omokore is being held for his alleged involvement in multi-billion dollar oil deals, including kerosene scam that rocked the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

It would be recalled that just on Friday last week, Omokore’s no 9 Turnbull Street home in Ikoyi as well as his office on Glover Street, also in Ikoyi were sealed off by the operatives of EFCC.

Recently, a group of anti-corruption advocates called for the arrest of Jide Omokore using the Twitter hashtag #ArrestOmokoreNow.

Omokore has been undergoing investigation by the EFCC.

More details later. [myad]

Army Nabs Boko Haram Sponsor, Faking Military General

Greenbarge Reporters

October 6, 2015

The Nigerian Army has arrested a suspected Boko Haram sponsor, Aliyu Hussaini, who was said to be pretending to be military brigadier general.

In a statement today, military authorities said Hussaini was apprehended by soldiers from the 33rd Artillery Brigade in Bauchi State during the course of a raid.

“The 33 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army, has recorded another landmark success in the ongoing Operation Zaman Lafiyah as troops of the brigade recently arrested one Aliyu Hussaini, popularly known as Colonel, a suspected Boko Haram terrorist and an Impostor who has been parading himself as a Brigadier-General in the Nigerian Army.

“The troops, who were acting on a tip-off, said Aliyu Hussaini was a sponsor and also a member of the Boko Haram terrorist organisation. (They) carried out a raid operation, which led to the successful arrest of Aliyu and another suspected Boko Haram member, one Ibrahim Mohammed, who is also known as Yuram.

“It was later gathered that Aliyu had been defrauding innocent citizens (with the claim) that he was a general in the Nigerian Army.” [myad]

Ghana Suspends 7 High Court Judges For Allegedly Receiving Bribes

Greenbarge Reporters

October 6, 2015

The government of Ghana has suspended seven out of 12 High Court judges for allegedly receiving bribes as shown in a documentary made public by an investigative journalist. The documentary was followed immediately by public outcry after the judges accepted bribe money through intermediaries, as shown in a three-hour film last month in Accra.

However, the documentary put Chief Justice Georgina Wood and other judicial leaders under pressure to show a forceful public response.

The country’s Judicial Council in a statement said: “the judges’ suspension follow the establishment of a prima facie case of stated misbehaviour against them by the Hon. Lady Chief Justice (Wood).’’

The Council had previously suspended 22 junior judges who appeared in the video and investigated the conduct of high court judges to see if there was a case for their impeachment.

Some of the judges had denied any wrongdoing and had filed a challenge in court, saying their suspension had no legal basis because documents relating to the video that were submitted by the journalist were not made available to them.

Ghana’s judiciary is revered for its efficacy and impartiality and seen as a bulwark of society that prides itself on its reputation as one of Africa’s most stable and peaceful democracies.

Ghana’s judiciary is revered for its efficacy and impartiality and seen as a bulwark of society that prides itself on its reputation as one of Africa’s most stable and peaceful democracies. [myad]

Senator Saraki Reads Out Full Names Of President Buhari’s Potential Ministers

Greenbarge Reporters

October 6, 2015

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has finally announced the 21 ministerial nominees contained in the list sent to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari last week Wednesday.

Senator Saraki said that the list contained the first batch of nominees and that the subsequent names according to the president would come shortly.

The Senate announced the names of the potential ministers as follows:

Chris Ngige Anambra

Kayode Fayemi                                               Ekiti
Rotimi Amaechi                                             Rivers
Babatunde Fashola                                         Lagos
Abdulrahman Danbazau                                 Kano

Aisha Alhassan                                              Taraba
Ogbonaya Onu                                                Abia
Kemi Adeosun                                                Ogun

Abubakar Malami (SAN)                                Kebbi
Sen Hadi Sirika                                               Katsina
Barr. Adebayo Shittu                                     Oyo
Suleiman Adam                                              Jigawa

Solomon Dalong                                             Plateau
Ibe Kachikwu                                                             Delta
Osagie Ehanire                                                Edo
Audu Ogbeh                                                Benue

Lai Mohammed                                               Kwara
Ahmed Isa Ibeto                                             Niger
Amina Mohammed                                        Kaduna. [myad]

Dangote Rubs Shoulders With Obama, Pope, Others As World’s Most Influential People

Greenbarge Reporters

October 6, 2015

President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has been named along with President Barak Obama of the United States, Pope Francis, Angela Merkel who is Chancellor of Germany as some of the 50 World’s influential personalities by Bloomberg. The group of personalities chosen by the Bloomberg Market, consists of Chief Executive Officers, world leaders and religious leaders.

Bloomberg said: “those on the list build companies and assemble fortunes. They shape economies and spread ideas. They manage money and wield the clout that goes with the billions of dollars they invest.”

“Aliko Dangote, founder, Dangote Group, Africa’s most successful businessman built his fortune in sugar, textiles, and cement in his native Nigeria where, today, he’s a political as well as a financial power broker. He’s expanding in other countries and may list his cement company in London.”

This is even as Aliko Dangote expressed confidence that Nigeria would endure the oil price crash that has reduced government revenues if it steps up its fight against corruption.

In a statement yesterday, Dangote at the Financial Times Africa Summit in London, insisted that Africa’s most populous country would flourish, adding: “Nigeria’s GDP won’t stagnate and we will have a short term shock but people should remember the Nigerian economy is resilient and huge.”

Dangote said that if the government of President Muhammadu Buhari continued its crackdown on corruption, the near 50 per cent oil price slump in the past year would be mitigated.

“The government has also suffered a lot of leakages; when oil was $100 a barrel we weren’t seeing all that revenue collected.

“If the government collects all its taxes and duties, I think we will be okay. We will not have as much as we had before but it will be okay.” [myad]

To Reform Education, Nigerian Teachers Need Change Of Attitude, Orientation, Behaviour – Buhari

Greenbarge Reporters

October 5, 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear that the reform in the education sector cannot function without a fundamental change of the attitude, orientation and behavior of teachers.

President Buhari who spoke today during the 2015 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Abuja said: “it is commonly acknowledge that the quality of learning depends, first and foremost, on the quality of teachers. Consequently, in 1966, the international community adopted a standard to promote quality teachers and teaching. In this new world order, knowledge is power and all the strategic sectors of society are expected to be manned only by individual whose capabilities and understanding of the sectors are not in any way doubtful. Logically therefore, like other professions, only those who are adequately prepared and regulated should be entrusted with the teaching and learning process.”

The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the government of the Federation, (SGF), Babachir Lawal, ordered therefore that only those adequately prepared and regulated should be entrusted with the teaching and learning process even as he promised that Federal Government will not rest in its efforts aimed at improving the standard of teaching and learning by empowering teachers through its agencies.

He said that government would rely heavily on the activities of agencies like the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria, National Teacher’s Institute, National Commission for Colleges of Education, National Universities Commission, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, and various faculties and departments of institutions of higher learning to improve teachers performances and education.

“These institutions are directed towards the realization of government’s goals in the improvement of quality of teacher education programs, registration and licensing processes and, the overall professionalization of teaching.

“However, this process cannot function without a fundamental change in the attitude, orientation and behavior of teacher towards greater values, ideals and practices. A comprehensive ethical framework is, therefore, required to define what the new values, ideals and practices should be. There might also be the need for the new legal instruments and programs that are designed to enforce the provisions of the ethical framework.” [myad]

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