National Association of Seadogs has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to take urgent steps to dismantle the bureaucracy in the Presidency so as to bring in new persons with fresh ideas and orientation.
The group said that Buhari’s second coming would start on good note if he first beamed his anti-corruption searchlight on his immediate environment by ordering all senior members of his government to publicly declare their assets on assumption of duty.
These were some of the recommendations contained in a paper presented by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Paul Erokoro, on the occasion of the association’s feast Barracuda held in Abuja over the weekend.
The lawyer who spoke on effective measures to deal with the pervasive corruption in the land, said one of the things President Buhari must do if he is to be taken serious in fighting corruption is to dismantle the bureaucracy around the presidency and to ensure that only persons who are qualified and above board are appointed to strategic positions. [myad][Htab] [tab title=”tab_title_1″]Tab_content_1[/tab] [tab title=”tab_title_2″]Tab_content_2[/tab] [tab title=”tab_title_3″]Tab_content_3[/tab] [/Htab]
A 20 year-old female student (name withheld) of the Adeyemi University of Education, Ondo has been allegedly gang-raped by her boyfriend and his three male friends.
The culprits are said to have been arrested by the Police and are currently cooling off at the Police detention.
It was gathered that the suspects, who are students in the Department of Business Education in the institution allegedly had canal knowledge of the girl until the lady became unconscious.
The incident was said to have taken place at the residence of one of the suspects in Oka area of the ancient town.
It was learnt that the Police swung into action immediately the case was reported at the Ondo Police division, after which, the matter was reported to the management of the college through the Dean of Students Affairs of the college.
According to a source, the victim who resides outside the campus of the institution was said to have followed her boyfriend to visit another friend, where four of them eventually had canal knowledge of her.
The source explained that, on returning to her residence, the victim collapsed on the road, with blood stain on her body, a situation that attracted passersby who rushed her to the hospital and reported the matter at Enuowa police station in Ondo.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Mr. Wole Ogodo was unavailable for comment but a source in the Ondo Police division confirmed the incident and said the matter would soon be transferred to the Headquarters of the command in Akure for further investigation.
He also disclosed that the sexually assaulted lady had been receiving treatment at a private hospital in the town. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari, Signing Bilateral Agreement in Germany
In line with the request by the G7 Industrialised nations, the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Munich, Germany with the “wish list” of Nigeria. Top on the wish list are the issues of Boko Haram insurgency, corruption, power, unemployment and the economic downturn. The G7 had earlier requested the then President-elect to prepare a shopping list and come with it for their consideration in what is seen as an excellent goodwill gesture towards the new leader and the country. According to a statement from Munich today by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Malam Garba Shehu, President Buhari placed greater emphasis on the security challenges. President Buhari was quoted as saying: “we have a problem which they know.” The President said he has used every opportunity at his disposal ahead of the G7 Summit to discuss the country’s needs with specific reference to terrorism and development needs at person-to-person levels and phone conversations with some of the leaders. “These development issues, many and varied as they are, touch on the economy, combating corruption, increased foreign direct investment, FDI; power and energy, infrastructure, environment, enhanced transparency in elections and good governance.” President Buhari is happy that the leaders of the industrialized nations have shown a preparedness to work with Nigeria to help the country solve some of its problems. In the course of the Summit, President Buhari will hold meetings on the sidelines of the Summit with the host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the French President, Francois Hollande, Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe and the World Bank President Dr. Jim Yong Kim. [myad]
The Nigeria under 20 football team, the Flying Eagles, has moved from its final group game to the group of 16, having today, thrashed its Hungarian counterpart by two goals to zero. The team will now face Germany in the next round in the ongoing FIFA Under 20 World Cup championship.
The team finished with 6 points from three games while Brazil finished top of the group after spanking Korea DPR also today.
It was Taiwo Awoniyi that got the two goals for Nigeria in the game against Hungary as the young striker popularly referred to as the ‘New Yekini’ finally came to the party after firing blanks in the Flying Eagles first two games against Brazil and Korea DPR.
Awoniyi opened his goal scoring account in the 33rd minute when he dodged his marker to volley in at the near post after Saviour Godwin gave in him a low cross.
He sealed second place and all three points for Nigeria in the 54th minute when he made the most of the chance gifted him by Hungary defenders who committed a comical error.
While African champions, Nigeria, face European champions, Germany, on June 11, other pairings involving African teams pitch Ghana against Mali; while Senegal, the fourth team from the continent, will play Ukraine in the Round of 16. [myad]
A senior official in the Federal Ministry of Health, Martins Ugwu, who has been practicing as a medical doctor for close to 10 years, has been arrested by the police upon discovery that he stole the medical license from his friend.
Ugwu, who is a Senior Medical Officer II on Grade Level 13, was found to have impersonated his friend, Dr. George Davidson Daniel, who is undergoing a residency training programme in Jos, Plateau State.
He allegedly stole the license from his friend for whom he was best man during his wedding in 2006. They both hailed from Orukpa in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State.
It was learnt that Ugwu, who was due to be promoted as Assistant Director in Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Health, has been working in the civil service since 2006 under the name of Dr. George Davidson Daniel until he was indicted by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria as an impostor.
Ugwu, who was arrested by the police last Thursday, was however released a few hours later, fueling speculations that the policemen might have been compromised.
Ugwu’s arrest was sequel to an investigation by the MDCN, which registers all Nigerian doctors and regulates their practice, after investigations uncovered two Dr. Daniels—the same name on two separate identity photographs.
The MDCN, in a letter to the Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission, dated June 4, 2015, signed by the Registrar, Dr. A. Ibrahim, described Ugwu as an impostor, adding that the case had been reported to the police for further investigation and action.
It reads: “Records available to the council revealed that this Dr. Davidson Daniel George is an impostor as he is impersonating another Dr. Davidson Daniel who is the genuine doctor and currently undertaking his residency training in Jos, Plateau State.
“Council summoned and interacted with the genuine doctor who gave some vital information on the impostor. Council has reported the matter to the law enforcement agency as a case of impersonation, with the genuine doctor deposing to a statement with regards to what happened between him and the fake doctor whose real name is Mr. Martins Ugwu.
“As it is, Mr. Martins Ugwu is an imposter. You may therefore wish to take further actions to deal with this matter in accordance with the provisions of the law.”
But the MDCN said it was dissatisfied with police handling of Ugwu’s case and promised to take up the matter with the Inspector-General of Police.
The council cited a previous arrest of a fake doctor arraigned for prosecution, insisting that prosecuting police officers have never called the council’s investigators to court as witnesses while the case stalled in court.
The council said so far, it is currently investigating and prosecuting some 40 cases of quacks in courts.
Ironically, Ugwu was part of a government committee that met more than 200 contingents returning from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea where they had volunteered to help fight Ebola under an African Union mission, last week in Abuja.
The Head of Inspectorate Department, MDCN, Dr. Henry Okwuokenye, who led the team of investigators, confirmed Ugwu’s arrest in Abuja. [myad]
Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately revoke the multi-billion Naira pipeline protection and waterways security contract awarded to a company owned by ex-Niger Delta warlord, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
The anti-corruption group, in a statement issued today said that it is unfortunate that despite the huge sum of money the immediate past administration expended on the annual contract, “the water ways are still largely insecure and thousands of barrels of crude oil are still lost daily in oil theft and pipeline vandalisation.”
The chairman of CSNAC, Olanrewaju Suraju, said that there could be no justification for the newly inaugurated Buhari administration to continue the contract when more crude oil has been lost to pirates and other oil thieves since the contract was awarded.
“As a matter of fact, crude oil theft increased from 250,000 barrels/day before the contract to 400,000 barrels/day since the ceding of Nigeria’s territorial water to a private company without any record of experience in similar service,” he said.
Suraju recalled that in 2012, the Goodluck Jonathan administration signed a $103 million contract with Global West to protect the country’s maritime areas and stop piracy and oil theft, a job he explained was the primary function of the country’s navy as spelt out in the constitution.
He quoted the pioneer chairman of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Ahmed Ramalan, as saying the agency, through which the contract was issued, pays Tompolo N1.5 billion monthly for the pipeline protection contract, calling for the revocation of the contract as a means of revamping the economy.
Suraju further noted that other ex-militants under the aegis of the National Coalition of Niger-Delta Ex-agitators have also called for the contract to be reviewed.
The anti-graft network argued that since “the Nigerian Navy in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies were established to maintain security of the Federation and her waters,” adding that it is “improper delegation of duty to assign such an enormous task to a private company instead of equipping the relevant agencies to enable them carry out their constitutional role effectively.
“CSNAC is therefore by this petition demanding the immediate revocation of the said contract and the transfer of the said assignment to the Nigerian Navy and other relevant law enforcement agencies.
“Also, the Nigerian Navy and other law enforcement agencies should be equipped with the necessary equipments and resources required to enable them appropriately safeguard our waterways, in order to curb crude oil theft and pipeline vandalisation.
“That way, our economy would experience tremendous revamp as the profit that will be made from the sale of crude oil which hitherto would have be lost can be utilised for the benefit of the Nigerian people.”
Global West Vessel Specialist Agency Ltd, a company linked to Tompolo was given the $103 million contract during the immediate past Goodluck Jonathan administration. Tompolo was one of the Niger Delta militants who accepted the Nigerian government’s amnesty programme in 2010. The contract and other similar ones secured by Global West and other companies linked to the ex-militants have generated lots of controversy since they were made public. [myad]
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has formally assumed its new role as opposition, as it opened the first fire on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of playing double standard and insincerity as the party that once chastised immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan for seeking regional cooperation to finding solution to the challenge of insurgency is now hailing President Muhammadu Buhari for toeing the same line.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in a statement today said that in the days ahead, Nigerians should expect further unmasking of APC’s double standard and blackmail upon which they rode to power.
The party also condemned the venom with which the APC attacked well-meaning Nigerians for daring to offer constructive criticisms to President Buhari, following apparent loss of tempo in the fight against insurgency since he took office, describing such as unacceptable in a democracy especially in a country like Nigeria where the citizens have been enjoying freedom of expression in the last 16 years under the PDP.
“The APC must understand that the hallmark of democracy is freedom of expression and opinion, particularly on governance issues; inalienable rights of all citizens guaranteed by the constitution and which must not be denied them under any guise whatsoever.
“Though we had decided to give President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling party sometime to settle down, indicators show that the APC is not getting its bearing right and the PDP as a party that has nurtured and sustained democracy in the last 16 years, we cannot fold our hands and watch our nation drift towards dangerous undemocratic paths.”
The PDP lamented that since the APC took over power at the centre, there has been no clear sign of seriousness and direction, but confusion, selfish infighting and hysteria for positions of power while the nation drifts, noting that the situation is unhealthy for democracy and national development.
“The concern of well-meaning Nigerians is that this may be a pointer to the fact that the APC lacks clear-cut directions on how to govern a nation as complex as Nigeria.”
The PDP observed that though some jostling for political offices are expected among politicians in a democracy, Nigerians are not comfortable with the confusion in the APC camp and the dimension it has assumed.
“The negative effect of the glaring political commotion in the APC is compounding President Buhari’s self confessed nervousness and puzzlement, his flip-flops and worrisome reneging on campaign promises for which Nigerians will continue to hold him accountable.
“Instead of fighting for positions, which betrays their lust, APC leaders should be more concerned with how to help President Buhari, who is still struggling with his ministerial list and basic appointments more than a week after his inauguration.
“They should be more concerned with how to end insurgency by the end of July as promised by President Buhari in his April 2, 2015 CNN interview.
“They should be concerned about how to pay N5,000 each to 25 million poor Nigerians beginning from the end of June; how to bring the naira to the same value with the dollar; provide allowances to the discharged but unemployed Youth Corps members for Twelve (12) months; provide free education and meals for school children among others as they promised during the campaigns.
“We invite the APC to note the concern of Nigerians that the pictures emanating from their camp are not reassuring in this direction.” [myad]
Former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke
The immediate past minister of petroleum resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has said that she is not a thief and therefore she had not stolen from the nation’s oil money all through her tenure as minister.
She said in an interview that she would go into her grave with a clear conscience that she never touched any money that belonged to Nigeria all through the time she was in charge of the nation’s cash cow.
This is against many corruption allegations that have been leveled against her, including the alleged missing $20 billion oil money and deals entered into by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), the exploration arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). [myad]
The members-elect of the 8th House of Representatives on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), today, elected Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila from Lagos as the next Speaker. In a shadow election that was conducted by APC for its members of the House. Gbajabiamila polled 154 out of the 161 members-elect that voted while eight votes were invalid. It was gathered that 183 members-elect were in attendance. It was also learnt that Gbajabiamila’s major rival, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, walked out of the venue of the shadow election when it was clear that he did not have the number. Dogara, a returning lawmaker from Gombe, left the venue with 18 members-elect. Hon. Monguno from Borno State was elected as Deputy Speaker. It was learnt that the leadership of the APC is set to conduct the primaries for the Senate Presidency even as the Bukola Saraki’s camp called for a shift of the primaries to Monday. However, the party leadership is said to be insisting on holding the election today, Saturday. Saraki is contesting against Senator Ahmed Lawan for the Senate Presidency. Both Saraki and Lawan have been claiming that they are enjoying majority support from the 59 APC senators. [myad]
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