Super Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama, has been shortlisted for the 2014 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Player of the Year award. Enyeama, along with Super Eagles teammate, Ahmed Musa, have been announced in the final five for the African Player of the Year award. Reacting to the nomination, the Eagles captaon said that he owes it to Nigerians for the love and support they have shown to him. “I have to thank Nigerians for their love and support. I am really grateful to them and I hope a Nigerian wins it this time. “I thank them for helping me get this far and I appreciate their support.” The 32-year-old, alongside Musa, are the only Nigerians on the shortlist that also included 2013 winner, Ivory Coast’s Yaya Toure of Manchester City, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Borussia Dortmund, and Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan of Al-Ain. Enyeama had earlier said that if he were to choose, he would pick qualification to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations over the African Player of the Year award, adding: “it would be great if a Nigerian wins the award again.” The last Nigerian to win the award was Nwankwo Kanu in 1999, although Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha came very close to winning it in 2004, but lost out to Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o Fils.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, complaining of having no confidence in Justice E.S.J. Chukwu of Court 8 in a fresh suit filed against him by a member of the House, Abidun Akinlade. The suit, No. FHC/ABJ/CS/871/2014, has Tambuwal, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Federal Government as respondents. In the suit, Akinlade, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP in Ogun State is seeking a “judicial interpretation” of an earlier judgment of the same court, where it held that there was no division in the PDP. The aim of the fresh suit is to justify the PDP’s stance that the defection of Tambuwal from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on October 28 was “illegal” and in breach of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). But, in Tambuwal’s petition, dated November 30, he said he had no confidence in Chukwu to treat the case without “bias,” having given a judgment in 2013 that there was no division in the PDP. He observed that Chukwu’s judgment had been relied upon for subsequent decisions on defections, such as the one by Justice A.F.A. Ademola of the same Federal High Court, who also declared the December 2013 defection of 37 PDP lawmakers to the APC as illegal. The speaker appealed to the chief judge to re-assign Akinlade’s case to another judge in the spirit of fairness. Tambuwal, who is a lawyer by training, noted that the new case was like asking Chukwu to “sit on appeal over his own judgment.” Part of the petition reads: “Sometime in 2013, the said Presiding Judge, Justice ESJ Chukwu, presided over the case of PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY & 12 ORS VS. INEC & 4 ORS, wherein he made a judicial pronouncement, which has been interpreted by some , to the effect that there was no division in PDP. “The above decision of Justice Chukwu was heavily relied upon and cited severally in the case of PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY VS. (1) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; (2) THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES & 52 ORS, Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/4/2014. “Consequently, Justice A. F. A Ademola, relying on the said judgement of his brother Justice Chukwu, even though, the said suit before him, had nothing to do with defection, ruled that there was no division within the PDP. “And as such, the defendants in that case, who are members of the House of Representatives, who have similar cases as mine, currently pending in the Federal High Court Abuja, were not protected by proviso to Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution. “He rested his decision on that earlier judgement of Justice Chukwu aforementioned.” The speaker added that Ademola ‘s judgment too had elicited “four” appeals that are still pending at the Court of Appeal, Abuja division. Similarly, the speaker said five other cases filed by “various parties” relating to the same issue of defection were before the Federal High Court in Abuja awaiting disposal. “My Lord, my apprehension is particularly in respect of the presiding Judge, Justice Chukwu,ESJ, having made a pronouncement on similar issues, in similar cases, decided by him, clearly shows that he has an iron-cast judicial position or opinion in respect of Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/871/2014, concerning me sir, which has just been assigned to him.” Meanwhile, there were doubts whether the December 3 scheduled resumption of the House would be a reality. Findings showed that both PDP and the main opposition APC members of the House would be preoccupied with the primaries of their respective parties, taking place between December 6 and 8. “You don’t expect members to come and sit in Abuja on December 3, just days to their primaries, do you? “Why does anybody want us to come and sit here when we should be contesting for our return tickets?, ” a member asked.
Report reaching us from Russia has indicated that under the direct order of President Vladimir Putin, Russia has begun to dump the U.S. dollars. The report said that over the last few days, the amount has added up to an estimated $2 billion. However, new details are emerging that suggest this direct attack on American currency may quickly escalate. Putin is said to have been taking a series of calculated measures to expose weak spots in the America’s economy and national security that pre-dated his Crimean invasion. Experts are saying that what Putin is now setting in motion could bankrupt millions of Americans virtually overnight.
THE federal and state governments across the country have finally agreed on granting financial autonomy to the judiciary as provided for in sections 81(3), 121(3) and 162(9) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended. To this end, the implementation of the constitutional provision is to commence in the next two weeks, when the next Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting will be held. The decision followed an order by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on January 13, which directed that funds/amount standing to the credit of states’ judiciary in the Federation/Consolidated Revenue Fund be paid directly to head of courts in various states, in compliance with sections of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. Already, the Accountant General of the Federation has been directed to commence implementation of the judgment during the next Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting, holding in Abuja in the next two weeks. The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has consistently put pressure on the government, following the court ruling. The union has also planned to resume its suspended nationwide strike today, if the issue is not resolved. It had earlier given a seven-day ultimatum after a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other stakeholders on November 19, which ended today. However, in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) reached and signed at the end of a meeting held with the Supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity, Kabiru Turaki and other stakeholders, it was concluded that the Accountant General of the Federation should make deductions during the next FAAC meeting to the National Judicial Council (NJC), in line with the court judgment. “Based on the above, it was concluded that the AGF will make deductions during the next FAAC meeting to the NJC, in line with the court judgment, based on the actual funds released that can be defended by the respective states and concurred by JUSUN,” the MoU said. It also stated that the deductions would be done based on the actual funds that could be defended by the respective states and concurred by JUSUN. The MoU was jointly signed by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Clement Illoh; the Accountant General of the Federation, Jonah Otunla; JUSUN President, Marwan Mustapha Adamu and the Director, Home Finance, Federal Ministry of Finance, K. Zaji. Following the agreement, the signing of the MoU and the directive to the Accountant General of the Federation, JUSUN also agreed to put on hold the threat to resume its suspended strike today.
A group calling itself Ekiti Restoration Initiative (ERI) has accused Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state of having brought bad luck, pain and anguish upon Ekiti people. Reacting to an incidence today where unidentified gunmen invaded Ado-Ekiti prison along Afao road and freed all the inmates after killing one official, the group solicited the prayer from the good people of the state for divine intervention. In an unsigned statement, the group said that this is the first time such a security breach would be experienced in Ado-Ekiti prison. “Since Governor Fayose assumed office, there have been many security breaches, ranging from serial bank robbery, kidnapping, thuggery, arson and murder. “With the coming back of Mr. Ayodele Fayose to Ekiti politics, all manners of strange men who are criminally inclined had infiltrated the state and the result is the state of insecurity we are witnessing.” The group recalled that in the last four weeks, there have been more than five cases of bank robbery such that banks have refused to open for business for many days due to fear of armed robbers. “It is now a case of storming the prison and freeing all the inmates there. “Fayose’s body language and actions encourages criminals and criminality. The beating up of a judge and the invasion of the courts, the attack on the House of Assembly, including sending thugs to sit in the house, his disdain for law and order are all encouraging criminality in the state.” The group regreted that the police force and security agencies are now so immersed in the politics of fayoses survival that they are not able to protect those living in the state. “We are now witnessing capital flight and the reluctance of investors to come to the state. This incident further affirms the tragic image of the state as a state where lawlessness is the order of the day “We are praying to God for divine intervention in our state.
Security operatives of the Joint Task Force, today, rose to prevent the deadly Boko Haram from taking over Damaturu, the capital of Yobe state as the fighting between the twon began in the early hours of the day and continued far into the day.
Members of Boko Haram were reported to have gained entry into Damaturu through the border town of Gugba with the intention of taking over Damaturu and declaring it the Headquarter of their ‘nation.’
According to information, the Nigerian fighting forces prevented the Boko Haram from hoisting their national flag: “a yellow, white and red stripes” with weapons of mass destruction inscribed, at the centre in Damaturu.
Explosions and gunshots, according to frightened residents of Damaturu, were heard in some parts of the Yobe State capital, adding that the shooting started at about some minutes to 5a.m. A resident of the city, Yaya Haruna, said: “It is as if they have surrounded us all here; there is sound of explosion and serious shooting. We are all lying down on the floor with our families. Please pray for our safety, that we survive this… ” “We are in serious confusion now, we are just hearing gunshots and explosions on the southern part of the city and people are fleeing,” said Malam Abdulmalik who said that he was woken by loud sounds of gunshots and explosions. An official of the State Security Service (SSS) in Maiduguri confirmed that “Damaturu may be under attack now.” Damaturu is 135 kilometres west of Maiduguri, the Borno HaramAn
Air Force jet has arrived Damaturu, and is engaging the Boko Haram fighters.
“We are hearing the sound of the jet fighter hovering the skies amid heavy sounds of explosions. We don’t know what to do. We are still lying on the ground inside our room,” said Yaya Haruna, a civil servant and resident of the city. The military personnel on ground in Damaturu are said to be careful in their response to the sudden attack. They said they want to try as much as possible to avoid the shooting of civilians in their exchange of gunfire with the terrorists. Residents said that the shootings have subsided and that everywhere is now quiet in Damaturu. “We no longer hear the gunshots and blast anymore but the whole town is quiet except for the movement of vehicles that sound like military trucks”, said Yaya Haruna. A police officer, who does not want to be named said that the gunmen invaded the town coming through Gujba town. “They came through Gujba town and their first attack was the Police Mobile Force Base along Gujba road. We don’t know the details on casualty, but I fear it could be bad.” “We are still under fire,” the Yobe State Police Commissioner, Marcus Danladi, said, adding: “Kindly sympathise with us. There is nothing I can tell you now.” As Police Commissioner Danladi disclosed that loud sounds of gunshot could be heard in the background in a telephone chat. “I’m sure you can hear the sound. That tells you we are still under fire.” Meanwhile, in what looks like a coordinated attack coinciding with developments in Damaturu, heavy explosions were reported this morning near a cantonment in Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital. It was gathered that residents were greeted with heavy bomb blasts in the early hours of this morning with attendant panic and pandemonium in the neighborhood.
The disclosure was made just as security sources said indigenes of Borno, Bauchi, Yobe and other states harbouring the sect’s ‘cells’ are under immense pressure and fear owing to threats on them to support the group with funds by a percentage of their salaries or profits made from their businesses, which is said to be non-negotiable.
The Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Sir Gabriel Igbinedion congratulating the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed after his conferment with an honorary doctorate degree in Governance of the Igbinedion University, Okada, Saturday
Former Nigeria minister of foreign affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru is dead. He died in a South African hospital yesterday after what family sources said “a protracted illness.” Ashiru, who was a career diplomat was credited with re-energising Nigeria’s presence in international diplomacy in the post-Olusegun Obasanjo era. The deceased has been described by President Goodluck Jonathan as “the exemplary diplomat” who gave the most productive years of his adult life to the patriotic service of his nation. In a condolence message today, President Jonathan said that Ambassador Ashiru will be remembered and honoured as one of the few elites, who after a long and very distinguished career as a Foreign Service Officer in the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was recalled from retirement to serve as Minister and political head of the same ministry in recognition of his widely acknowledged leadership qualities and diplomatic skills. President Jonathan beleived that Nigeria will always owe the late Minister a huge debt of gratitude for his notable contributions, over many years, to the establishment of mutually-beneficial relationships with other countries where he served as diplomat and ambassador, and for the country’s many diplomatic successes in the international arena during his tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs. The President condoled with Ambassador Ashiru’s wife, children, other relatives, friends, associates, former colleagues and staff of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the loss and assured them of the fullest sympathy, solidarity and support of the Federal Government as they mourn.
Former Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government, Umana Umana has described the former Nigeria Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari’s regime between 1983 and 1985 as the best period in Nigeria’s history. Umana an Economist, said Buhari’s regime effectively strengthened the value of the naira, making it stronger than the dollar. He spoke at the weekend when he formally announced his defection from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC) in Asan Ibibio, Akwa Ibom state. He said that it was for this reason that Nigerians want Buhari back as President. Umana, who was also ex Chairman of the Industrialization Implementation Committee in Akwa Ibom State, insisted that Buhari won the 2011 Presidential Elections but was denied through massive sharp practices by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He made it clear that he will muster all his strength to deliver Akwa Ibom to APC in 2015. Meanwhile the media aide to Umana Umana, Mr Iboro Otongaran has said that Umana’s support for Goodluck Jonathan has been withdrawn, and that the Goodluck Support Group(GSG) which he initiated had been renamed Buhari Support Group(BSG). Umana’s defection rally to the APC in Asan Ibibio at the weekend was witnessed by top APC chieftains and supporters.
Minister of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed has solicited the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria towards the establishment of a Security Trust Fund aimed at boosting the fight against crime in the Territory. Speaking when the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele paid him a visit in his office at the weekend, the minister said that the apex bank could assist the FCTA in the area of working out a good financial framework for the operation of the trust fund. Senator Bala said that the CBN could assist through the window of its corporate social responsibilities, adding that the administration is already taking measures towards establishing its own Internal Revenue Board. He said that when operational, the board would enable FCT to float bonds as part of measures to strengthen it to operate the security trust fund. “I know the CBN has been the front runner in terms of giving corporate social assistance so that people will sleep with their eyes closed. We are doing so well and we want to make sure we establish an institution that will access funds from security services.” He said that with such method, his administration would be in good stead to lend its support to security organizations so that they can provide effective surveillance, monitoring and closed circuit television (CCTV) networking. He added that the security protocol would be such that corporate institutions and individuals are supposed to comply with. Senator Bala said that the FCT Administration would approach the CBN for the needed support once the security protocol is approved “so that you can see visible areas and we will establish a trust fund that you will be part and parcel of. “We must leverage on your presence in our capital to maximally benefit from your generosity and economic buoyancy that you are associated with.” Emefiele had earlier commended the Minister for providing a conducive environment for the apex bank to operate. He said that since he resumed as CBN Governor five and half months ago, he had witnessed a lot of transformational developments across the FCT. According to him, there are certain projects that the CBN is doing in Abuja apart from banking transaction and services. “I want to thank you for the excellent job you have been doing. As the Governor and Mayor of Abuja, you have transformed the city. You have ensured that the growth of Abuja is in line with the master plan.”
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Super Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama, has been shortlisted for the 2014 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Player of the Year award.
