Oodua Peoples Congress Organizes Search Party For Olu Falae And His Kidnappers

September 22, 2015

Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), a Yoruba ethnic militia has organized itself to search for the former Nigeria Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae, who was kidnapped by unknown persons on Monday in Akure, Ondo state.

Founder of the OPC, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, who announced the search party stressed that he had ordered OPC operatives to immediately launch a manhunt, combing all nooks and crannies of Ondo State and beyond, for the abducted politician.

Dr. Fasehun who accused the Federal Government of being silenct 24 hours after the kidnap described the kidnap as an assault and insult on the Yoruba people, and challenged security operatives and agencies to produce Falae within 48 hours.

This was even as he summoned all members of the group in the country to attend an emergency meeting on Sunday.

“OPC is not interested in crisis but it was founded primarily for the protection of its own and for building bridges in Nigeria. All lovers of Nigerian unity like OPC, communal peace and national progress must rise up to this challenge.”

Fasehun warned against the possible consequences of the kidnap of Falae, even as he alleged that that Falae had been taken by strangers.

“At my turning 80, the entire world would expect me to be a bridge builder. And I have prepared myself to be just that. But if any missile is thrown at you, and it is likely to affect your eyeball, you must avoid it at all costs. This is my view of the insult now being unleashed, being flung at Nigeria by the enemies of Nigeria’s unity.”

The kidnappers have reportedly demanded a ransom of N100 million.

Recalling that Falae had rendered “impeccable” service to the country as a Permanent Secretary, then Minister of Finance and Secretary to the Federal Government, Fashaun described the victim’s current ordeal as uncharitable.

“When we heard that Falae was kidnapped, we thought it was impossible, as kidnappers would not be mad enough to kidnap a man of peace, a man who has selflessly served Nigeria.

“Falae is by any standard a leader of the Yoruba people, a leader of Nigeria and a significant leader in Africa. He is a leader of Afenifere. He was a leader of NADECO. And any assault on him is an assault on Nigeria and Nigerians,” he said.

On the Federal Government not officially reacting react to the incident, Fasehun said: “Over 24 hours after this disruption of the life of a dignitary, government has not issued any statement; rather what we hear is a loud silence from the Federal Government. It is a shame; it is a big shame.”

According to the OPC President, the kidnapping of the top-flight politician portended ill for his fellows.

“We believe this is a political issue. And any politician in Nigeria must make sure that Chief Olu Falae is released immediately. Otherwise OPC will take any step available to defend its own.” [myad]

Buhari Turns Back Trailer Load Of Rams To Friend Who Gave Them To Him As Sallah Gifts

Greenbarge Reporters

September 22, 2015

Information reaching Greenbarge Reporters has indicated that President Muhammadu Buhari has turned back a trailer load of rams brought to him as Sallah gifts by aBottom of Form

prominent Katsina elder statesman who has been his long time friend.

The friend was said to have been shocked when his trailer load of rams arrived Abuja from Katsina and the President immediately asked that the trailer and the rams init be returned to the sender.

According to sources in the Aso Rock, President Buhari, a native of Katsina, was highly embarrassed by such gesture, though presentation of rams as gifts to leaders has been the norm in the government circle for a long time.

This development is believed to have further confirmed Buhari’s statement during his swearing-in ceremony, where he said he belonged to everybody and to nobody.

Just recently, Washington Post adjudged President Buhari as the least corrupt leader in Africa. [myad]

Saraki’s Trial Is Purely Criminal, Tribunal Chairman Rules, As Saraki Pleads Not Guilty

Greenbarge Reporters

September 22, 2015

“I hold that the trial before the tribunal is purely criminal.” This was the verdict of the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Yakubu when the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki got underway today in Abuja.

This was even as Senator Saraki pleaded ‘not guilty’ to a multiple charges of fraud brought against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau. He was subsequently granted bail on self recognition.

The Senate President is facing a 13-count charge bordering on corruption and alleged false declaration of assets.

As the case opened, Saraki’s lawyers argued that the matter was not a criminal case, and challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal.

The prosecution opposed the argument even as the tribunal ruled that the matter was criminal and directed Saraki to go ahead with his plea.

On jurisdiction, the prosecution counsel argued that according to section 2 of the Administration of Justice Act, 2015, the matter could be heard alongside any preliminary objection regarding the tribunal’s jurisdiction.

The new law was signed by former President Goodluck Jonathan in March 2015, as part of a major reform of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

The Act is expected to speed up corruption cases before the courts, by dealing with issues of preliminary objections, adjournments, and jurisdiction.

The law says such objections must be addressed by the courts concurrently with the corruption charge, unlike the past when interlocutory injunctions could go to the Supreme Court and return, before the main trial begins.

Asked to take his plea, Senator Saraki said: “I believe that I am here as the Senate president to indicate my respect for the tribunal. I am puzzled why I am being compelled.”

He pleaded not guilty.

On the various assets he acquired, which the Code of Conduct Bureau said his earnings did not qualify him to acquire, Saraki said he got them through his investment in rice farming.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge concerning his failure to declare his assets when he was Kwara State governor. He also denied making false declaration of assets.

He pleaded not guilty on the charge regarding his alleged use of foreign bank accounts while serving as a public officer in Nigeria.

The matter was adjourned to 21st, 22nd and 23rd October for hearing. [myad]

Falae’s Family Raises N2 Million For Kidnappers, As Kidnappers Reduce Ransom To N90 Million

Greenbarge Reporters

September 22, 2015

Information reaching Greenbarge Reporters has indicated that the family of the kidnapped of the former Secretary to the Federal Government, Olu Falae, has been able to raise the sum of N2 Million even as the kidnappers have reduced the ransom demanded for his release from N100 million to N90 million.

A special aide to the politician, who would not want his name mentioned said in Akure today that the abductors called the family on Monday night and agreed that they could bring N90 million if they could not afford N100 million demanded.

The source, however, said the family has only been able to raise N2 million.

The septuagenarian was kidnapped in his farm on Monday by gunmen who were also said to have wounded some of his workers.

Although the Police in the state insisted the incident was a ‘’mere attack by some Fulani herdsmen. When they called us on Monday night, they said they could only reduce the ransom to N90 million, but we cannot afford that.

“We begged them to take N2 million but they rejected it; they said they would call us back today but as at this moment, they have not called,” the source said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Wole Ogodo, said the command was still making effort to ensure that Mr. Falae, also a former Minister of Finance, was released unhurt.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Isaac Kekemeke, has called on the Ondo State Government and security agencies in the state to ensure that the abductors of the former SGF are brought to book.

Mr. Kekemeke, in a statement, urged the government to regulate the activities of Fulani herdsmen ‘’just as it regulates citizen’s use of public utilities’’.

“These lawless herdsmen, if they must live in Ondo state, cannot be law unto themselves,” he said. [myad]

Army To Shekau, Boko Haram Leader: Surrender Now Before It Is Too Late

Greenbarge Reporters

September 22, 2015

The Nigeria Army has advised the leader of the Boko Hara Islamic Sect, Abubakar Shekau, and his top commanders to surrender to the Nigerian security forces before it is too late for them.

The Acting Director, Defence Information, Colonel Rabe Abubakar, in a statement today said that the time had come for Shekau or his impersonators to give up the fight as there was no longer any hiding place for them.

He advised Shekau and his commanders to emulate Boko Haram members said to be surrendering to the troops in large numbers by giving themselves up.

He warned those claiming to be leaders of the deadly sect that the era of chief propaganda was over as Nigerians, and indeed the world, would soon know the current reality about the insurgency.

The Acting Defence Spokesman stressed that the military had decimated the capacity of the terrorists in the North-East and had liberated communities which were under the control of the insurgents.

Abubakar said the successes recorded by the ground troops and the fighter pilots of the Nigerian Air Force against the insurgents could be verified by any interested person.

“The Armed Forces wish to reiterate that it is a well-known fact that the terrorists have been seriously decimated and the tremendous achievements recorded in recent time by combined forces of the Nigerian Army and the Air Force are commendable.

“The Armed Forces did not lie about the successes recorded so far in its counter-insurgency operations. For avoidance of doubt, the liberated communities in the North-East, which were hitherto under Boko Haram terrorists, are free for interested person or body to explore.

“The military does restate that in recent time, a number of Boko Haram members have been surrendering and denouncing radicalisation. Our candid advice to Shekau or his ghost, cohorts or impersonators is to toll the line of their fellow comrades and surrender now as there is no more hiding place for him or his criminal gang to operate freely.

Abubakar said the military would not allow Shekau or any other person to interfere with the ongoing military operation designed to flush out the insurgents from the North-East.

He described as irrelevant and fruitless, the efforts behind a recent audio clip said to have been released by Shekau.

He urged Nigerians to be calm, stressing that the message contained in the audio clip was nothing more than “the usual antics of a drowning person struggling to hold onto anything to remain afloat.” [myad]

How Jonathan Government Starved Federal Road Maintenance Agency Of Funds, Retiring MD, Amuchi Complains

Greenbarge Reporters

September 22, 2015

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engineer Gabriel C. Amuchi, has complained that the government of President Goodluck Jonathan starved the agency of funds to properly carry out its mandate.

This came against the background of billion of naira and dollar which that government voted, at Federal Executive Council (FEC) level at its weekly meetings, for various road projects across the country.

Engineer Amuchi who spoke as he retired from service, lamented that during his tenure, the Agency witnessed a drastic reduction in budgetary provision for road works even as he called for an alternative and improved funding for the Agency to enable it meet up with the expectations of Nigerians.

A statement by the Agency’s Assistant General Manager, Communications and Public Relations, Maryam M. Sanusi quoted the retiring Managing Director as saying that he was proud of his team as the percentage of road failure decreased significantly with good number of Nigerian roads being motorable.
Amuchi handed over to a transitional executive management committee with Engr. Peter Odeh Ibu, as the Acting Managing Director/CEO,
The outgoing CEO was appointed by the former President Goodluck Jonathan on the 6th of September, 2011 with six executive directors.

While responding, the Ag. MD/CEO, Engr. Peter Odeh Ibu, commended the outgoing MD/CEO and his team for working satisfactorily despite daunting challenges. He assured Nigerians that the attention of his team would focus more on fixing critical inter-state roads nationwide. [myad]

I Can’t Turn Potential Investor Like Mikel Away, Niger Governor Responds To Critics Of His Visit To Chelsea, Arsenal

Greenbarge Reporters

September 22, 2015

The Niger state Governor Abubakar Sani has made it clear that his recent trip to London to watch Saturday’s Premier League game between Chelsea and Arsenal was part of his government effort to attract investors to the state.

The governor, who was reacting to the critics of his visit, especially the Niger state residents who saw such trip as frivolous explained on his Twitter page that he was at Stamford Bridge to watch the match at the instance of Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi, who plans to set up a football academy in the state.

“I was at Stamford Bridge to watch the derby between Chelsea and Arsenal at the invitation of John Obi Mikel,” he wrote.

According to him, Mikel approached the state government to partner with the state in developing its sports, stressing that it will be wrong to turn down an investor who is willing to invest in the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ibraheem Dooba, said that the governor was in Europe and his visit to Stamford Bridge was part of his itinerary, since he was to meet other international development partners, adding that he was invited by Mikel.

But a trader, Moses Akwu said: “Things are hard for us in Niger while our governor is travelling to watch matches. I heard they said he was invited but is it not government resources that he used to go on the trip?

“We did not vote him in to watch football, we voted him because we want him to work and bring back the lost glory of the state. Watching matches is not governance, it is absolute recklessness.”

Another resident, Gambo Mohammed, said the governor needed to focus on governance, saying: “sports development is not what Niger State needs now. We need jobs for our unemployed youths, boost for our economy and agriculture, and good roads.” [myad]

Sule Lamido, Sons, Others Return To Court On Corruption Charges

Greenbarge Reporters

September 22, 2015

Former Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, his two sons: Aminu and Mustapha, as well as Aminu Wada Abubakar and one Bartholomew Darlington Agoha have returned to the Federal High Court in Abuja on an amended 27-count charge bordering on corruption and money laundering. They are being charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC).

The other companies arraigned along with them were companies through which they allegedly perpetrated the fraud, including Bamaina Holdings Limited, Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited, Bamaina Aluminium Limited and Speeds International Limited.
Lamido and his co-accused had been arraigned before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court, Kano State, on July 9 2015 for allegedly misappropriating funds belonging to Jigawa State.
Their case was later transferred to the Federal High Court, Abuja, where Justice Gabriel Kolawole, a vacation judge, granted the accused persons bail, and adjourned the matter to September 22, 2015.
At the resumed hearing today, presided over by Justice Ademola, counsel to the EFCC, Chile Okoroma, presented the court with the amended charge, dated September 15, 2015, which added Agoha, manager of Speeds International Limited, as one of the accused persons.
The hearing which commenced at about 9.11am was, however, adjourned briefly to allow the registry to assign a new charge number to the amended charge sheet, since the case was originally heard in Kano.
On resumption, the charges were read to the accused persons.
One of the charges read: “That you Alhaji Sule Lamido (while being Governor of Jigawa State, Nigeria), Aminu Sule Lamido, Mustapha Sule Lamido, Bamaina Holdings Limited, Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited, and Speeds International Limited between 15th October and 18th December, 2008 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did convert an aggregate sum of N124,649,915 paid by Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Nigeria Limited into the account of Speeds International Limited. [myad]

National Emergency Agency Warns Of More Floods

Greenbarge Reporters

September 22, 2015

The Director-General of the National Emergency Agency, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi, has warned that ‘frontline’ states in the North should expect more flooding before the end of the year.

The frontline states, according to the NEMA boss, include Kaduna, Kebbi, Adamawa, Niger, Kogi and Jigawa states as well as other states mentioned in the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s prediction.

The NEMA boss said so far 63 Local Government Areas in the North had been ravaged by flood.

“NIMET seasonal prediction indicated that about 10 local government areas were affected by this flood in Kaduna State, about 16 local governments in Jigawa, about 17 local governments in Kebbi, almost 20 local governments in Adamawa State and other states that were mentioned in NIMET prediction.”

He said that with the release of water from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon, flooding was imminent in the northern parts of the country.

He noted that the only solution to avert future occurrence was for Nigerians to avoid building houses in flood-prone areas.

“You recall in 2012, we had a similar incident, even more devastating than what we are witnessing now, that was when Cameroon released water from Lagdo Dam.

“It is a routine maintenance that they carry out when their dams are about to over flow, so they release water annually.

“We keep saying that early warning must be matched with early actions, but that has never been done. So, we should expect more flood. More states, especially the frontline states, will be flooded. The lasting solution is that people must desist from building their houses in flood-prone areas.

“They should not build near natural waterways and green zones.” [myad]

ECOWAS Chairman, Sally Calls For Elections In Burkina Faso In November

Greenbarge Reporters

September 22, 2015

Senegalese President and Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Macky Sally,‎ has called for elections for democratic government in the troubled Burkina Faso latest, November this year.

This was even as he asked the military junta which had taken over government to quickly hand over power to the interim administration as the country awaited the conduct of the general elections.

The Senegalese strongman spoke today at an Extra-Ordinary Session of ECOWAS in Abuja, just as the host President, Muhammadu Buharu of Nigeria commended the West African Leaders for their commitment to the pursuit of peace and stability in the sub region.

He said the recent development in Burkina Faso ran contrary to the expectations of ECOWAS and commended the efforts so far deployed towards the restoration of constitutional order and democracy by the ECOWAS, AU, UN and international development partners.

President Buhari praised ECOWAS chairman, Macky Sally and his Benin Republic counterpart for their visit to Ouagadougou on September 17 to commence the process of engagement with the military junta and the understanding reached towards the resolution of the crisis.

Present at today’s meeting were the Presidents of Cote D’voire, Togo, Mali, Guinea, Ghana, Niger, Benin and Senegal and their host, President Buhari. [myad]

1...2,0972,0982,099...2,490 Page 2,098 of 2,490