How Judiciary Promotes Corruption Through Long Prosecution Of Cases – Senate President

September 28, 2020

Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, has fingered judiciary in the promotion of corruption through long prosecution, sometimes lasting for years.

The Senate President, who answered reporters’ questions today, September 28, after attending the 2nd National Summit on Corruption, at the presidential villa, Abuja, dismissed the notion that the present administration’s fight against corruption has been selective.

“The emphasis is to ensure that all hands are on deck. First of all, without the Legislature there wouldn’t have been the ICPC. In the fourth session of the National Assembly, the ICPC bill was passed, which was assented to by the then President, that is to tell you the level of the need and imperative for togetherness in the fight against corruption.

“When you have a judiciary that works to ensure that cases of corruption are treated with dispatch, you will agree with me that that will help in the fight against corruption.

“If a case of corrupt practice or alleged corrupt practice will last up to four, five, six or ten years or so, you’ll know that something is wrong and that is giving some kind of tacit support to the corrupt practice.

“But if there’s always dispatch in the treatment of such cases, that will expedite action by the Judiciary to give support to the fight against corruption.

“So, that I believe is the kind of togetherness that is so important, that is so necessary for us to ensure that we fight corruption at the level of governance.

“But fighting corruption also require the support of the populace. Citizens need to be on board and one way of ensuring that citizens are on board and remain on board is to see genuinty, sincerity and honesty in the way and manner the fight against corruption is carried out and I believe that so far this administration has done quite a lot on this.

“Some people will argue that sometimes there’s selectivity in the way and manner that the anti-corruption fight is fought. I think that is a matter of misunderstanding because when you have a set of people interested in public funds for 16 years, where do you think most of those that will be alleged to have done the wrong thing will come from?

“Certainly from that set of people and I believe that given the types of cases that were completely dispatched, we had APC or people who are supposed to be part of this administration, party or government, who are also incacerated or prosecuted.

“So I believe that the fight against corruption by this administration has been quite open, quite non-partisan and I believe that going forward, we all the three arms of government, all the three levels of government, we need all the citizens to be part and parcel of the fight against corruption in Nigeria.”

The Senate President also dismissed insinuation that there is more corruption under the present administration than previous ones, recalling that the government campaigned on anti-corruption mantra an had followed up on it.

“I don’t know who they are and I don’t know what their facts are, but I will not speak to speculations, I speak to facts. I want to see the facts that there’s more corruption in this administration than the previous administrations.

“You’ll recall that in a particular former administration, we know that somebody once said that what people accused the government of corruption was simple stealing. This administration does not see anything that appears like corruption or thievery and leaves it untreated. So I believe it depends on who is talking.

“If you have an opposition, it is likely the opposition will tell you there’s so much ‘persecution’ of the opposition, that there’s so much corruption in this administration than the previous one, but we know that previous administrations…let me be a bit more descent and may be non-political, but with I want to tell you that this administration has done so well because we campaigned on the basis of three pillars of anti-corruption, the fight against insurgency and insecurity across the country and the revitalisation of our economy.

“So, no administration or political party, in the history of Nigeria, that fought its campaigns on the basis of fighting corruption in Nigeria, in fact there were administrations that never mentioned corruption in their entire tenure.

“This administration has stood firmly, trying to fight corruption and I want to believe that those who are saying that there’s more corruption in Nigeria today than before are simply trying to be partisan or petty.”

Anti Corruption Agency Traces N2.67 Billion School Feeding Funds To Private Accounts: N2.5 Billion In Dead Man’s Account

Editorial staff

September 28, 2020

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has traced the sum of N2.67 billion payment made to some federal colleges for school feeding during lockdown when children are not in school in personal accounts, even as it announced the discovery of over N2.5 billion appropriated by senior civil servant in ministry of Agric now deceased for himself and cronies.

It also listed other assets recovered in the Agric ministry to include 18 buildings, 12 business premises and 25 plots of land.

The Chairman of ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, who delivered a keynote address at the second National Summit on Diminishing Corruption with the theme: “Together Against Corruption and Launch of the National Ethics and Integrity Policy” today, September 28 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja said that under Open Treasury Portal review carried out between January and August 15, 2020, out of 268 Ministries, Departments and Agendas (MDAs) 72 of them had cumulative infractions of N90 million.

According to him, while 33 MDAs tendered explanations that N4.1 billion was transferred to sub-TSA, N4.2 billion paid to individuals had no satisfactory explanations.

“We observed that transfers to sub-TSA was to prevent disbursement from being monitored. Nevertheless, we discovered payments to some federal colleges for school feeding in the sum of N2.67 billion during lockdown when the children are not in school, and some of the money ended up in personal accounts. We have commenced investigations into these finding.”

The ICPC chairman said that under its 2020 constituency and executive projects tracking initiative, 722 projects with a threshold of N100 million (490 ZiP and 232 executive) was tracked across 16 states.

He noted that a number of projects described as ongoing in the budget, were found to be new projects that ought to have been excluded in order to enable government complete exiting projects; absence of needs assessment resulted in projects recommended for communities that do not require them being abandoned; projects sited in private houses on private land thus appropriating common asset to personal use, hence denying communities of the benefit; absence of synergy between outgoing project sponsors and their successors.

Owasanoye said that the commission also found that uncompleted projects sponsored by legislators who do not return get abandoned to the loss of the community and the state; use of companies owned by sponsor’s friends or relatives or companies belonging to civil servants in implementing MDAs to execute projects which are abandoned or poorly performed; conspiracy between legislative aides of sponsors and implementing MDAs and contractors to undermine quality of project without knowledge of the sponsor; vague project description that result in diversion of funds by implementing MDAs or project sponsor with collusion of contractors and absence of community ownership of project because they were not consulted or largely ignorant of projects allocated to them.

The ICPC chairman said in education sector, 78 MDAs were reviewed and common cases of misuse of funds were uncovered.

Some of the discoveries include life payment of bulk sums to individuals/staff accounts, including project funds; non-deductions/remittance of taxes and IGR; payments of unapproved allowances, bulk payment to micro finance banks, payment of arrears of salary and other allowances of previous years from 2020 budget, payment of salary advance to staff, under-deduction of PAYE and payment of promotion arrears due to surplus in Personnel Cost, abuse and granting of cash advances above the approved threshold and irregular payment of allowances to principal officers.

On asset recovery, Owasanoye said the commission recovered N16 billion from ministry of agriculture, paid into individual accounts for non-official purposes.

Also covered were payments to Agric contractors for no job done or over payment for jobs done, appropriation of projects to private farms of senior civil servants of the ministry. It also discovered N2.5 billion appropriated by an individual now deceased for himself and cronies.

Other assets recovered include 18 buildings, 12 business premises and 25 plots of land.

“We have restrained or recovered by administrative or court interim and final orders assets above N3 billion, facilitated recovery of $173,000 by the whistle blower unit of FMFB&P from an erring oil company, retrained £160,000 in a UK-bank in an ongoing interim forfeiture. This figures exclude quantum of recoveries on return or contractors to site as a result of projects tracking initiatives.

“It should however be noted that some of these assets are subjected to ongoing cases and where suspects proved their cases physical or liquid assets will be released in accordance with laid down laws, guidelines or court directives.”

The ICPC chairman said that in order to boost community involvement for its 20th anniversary, it launched in July, N20 million from ICPC @20 project with two main competitions aimed at provoking youth creativity and support for the fight against corruption. These were the National Music Competition and National Essay Competition for Junior and Senior Secondary Schools with Anti-Corruption or Integrity Clubs.

Why We Called Off Nationwide Strike, Labour Unions Give Details

Greenbarge Reporters

September 28, 2020

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the two major labour unions in Nigeria, have given reasons why they called off the nationwide strike action against the federal government that would have commenced today, September 28.

In a joint communique between the labour unions and the federal government after a meeting at the presidential villa, Abuja, last night, September 27, the unions said that to cushion the impacts of the downstream sector deregulation and tariffs adjustment in the power sector, the Federal Government will implement the following:

A specific amount to be unveiled by the FGN in two weeks’ time will be isolated from the Economic Sustainability Programme Intervention Fund and be accessed by Nigerian Workers with subsequent provision for 240,000 under the auspices of NLC and TUC for participation in agricultural ventures through the CBN and the Ministry of Agriculture. The timeline will be fixed at the next meeting.

Federal Government will facilitate the removal of tax on minimum wage as a way of cushioning the impacts of the policy on the lowest vulnerable.

Federal Government will make available to organized labour 133 CNG/LPG driven mass transit buses immediately and provide to the major cities across the Country on a scale up basis thereafter to all States and Local Governments before December 2021.

Housing: 10% be allocated to Nigerian workers under the ongoing Ministry of Housing and Finance initiative through the NLC and TUC.

Consequently, the NLC and TUC agreed to suspend the planned industrial action.

Part of the communique is reproduced here:

A Bipartite Meeting between the FGN and the two Labour Centres – Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC),

Having been convened at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja to discuss emerging labour issues arising from recent cost – reflective Electricity Tariff adjustments and deregulation of the downstream sector of the Petroleum Industry,

Recognizing the public outcry and protest over the recent Federal Government twin policies on Electricity Tariff Reform and full implementation of deregulation of the downstream sector of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry resulting in the planned nation-wide industrial action by Organised Labour,

Bearing in mind the spiral and negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic on world economy,

Further bearing in mind that due to impact of COVID-19 pandemic the world is undergoing socio-economic transition which has affected price stability, sustainability of enterprises, employment, and other socio-economic indices,

Acknowledging that the spiral and negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy has given rise to the need for a new socio-economic order,

Recognising the need to sustain enterprises for retention and creation of jobs as well as sustainable growth and development,

Acknowledging the need for social concertation between the Federal Government and workers’ representatives, namely the two Labour Centres – The NLC and TUC,

To aid in the dialogue and communication, the Federal Government side made presentations to show the state of economy and the drive behind the recent cost – reflective Electricity Tariff adjustments and deregulation of the downstream sector of the Petroleum Industry,

Bipartite meeting to address and resolve the issues in dispute between the FG and Labour Centres were held on September 15, 24, and 27, 2020,

After exhaustive deliberations on the issues raised by Labour Centres, the FGN stated that it has fashioned out palliatives that would ameliorate the sufferings that Nigerian workers may experience as a result of the cost – reflective Electricity Tariff adjustments and deregulation of the downstream sector of the Petroleum Industry. The palliatives will be in the areas of transport, power, housing, agriculture and humanitarian support.

After thorough debates and negotiations on various issues raised by all parties, the following resolutions were reached and mutually adopted:

ELECTRICITY TARIFF REFORMS

The parties agreed to set up a Technical Committee comprising Ministries, Departments, Agencies, NLC and TUC, which will work for a duration of two (2) weeks effective Monday 28th September 2020, to examine:

the justifications for the new policy in view of the need for the validation of the basis for the new cost reflective tariff as a result of the conflicting information from the fields which appeared different from the data presented to justify the new policy by NERC;

metering deployment, challenges, timeline for massive roll – out.

The Technical Committee membership is as follows:

Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN – Hon. Minister of State Labour & Employment – Chairman

Mr Godwin Jedy-Agba – Hon. Minister of State Power – Member

Prof. James Momoh – Chairman National Electricity Regulatory Commission – Member

Engr. Ahmad Rufai Zakari – SA to Mr. President on Infrastructure – Member/Secretary

Dr. Onoho’Omhen Ebhohimhen – Member (NLC)

Comrade Joe Ajaero – Member (NLC)

Comrade Chris Okonkwo – Member (TUC)

1no. Representative of DISCOS – Member

The Terms of Reference (ToR) are as follows:

To examine the justification for the new policy on cost – reflective Electricity Tariff adjustments.

To look at the different Electricity Distribution Company (DISCOs) and their different electricity tariff vis-à-vis NERC order and mandate.

Examine and advise Government on the issues that have hindered the deployment of the six million meters.

To look into the NERC Act under review with a view to expanding its representation to include organized labour.

The Technical sub – committee is to submit its report within two (2) weeks. During the two weeks, the DISCOs shall suspend the application of the cost – reflective Electricity Tariff adjustments.

The meeting also resolved that the following issues of concern to Labour should be treated as “stand – alone” items:

The 40% stake of Government in the DISCO and the stake of workers to be reflected in the composition of the DISCO’s Boards.

An all-inclusive and independent review of the power sector operations as provided in the privatization MOU to be undertaken before the end of the year 2020, with Labour represented.

That going forward, the moribund National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) be inaugurated before the end of the year 2020 to institutionalize the process of tripartism and socio dialogue on socio – economic and major labour matters to forestall crisis

DOWNSTREAM SECTOR DEREGULATION

Consequent upon the critical review of the various challenges of the downstream sector of the Nigeria oil and gas industry vis a vis the incalculable losses associated with a subsidy regime the Country has been incurring in terms of, stifled growth in the downstream sector, diminished human capital development and massive financial leakages and flight. This is in addition to the dire financial circumstances of the Federation that precludes any ability to sustain any subsidy on PMS and making deregulation of PMS inevitable. Consequently, the Parties agreed to the following:

All parties agreed on the urgency for increasing the local refining capacity of the nation to reduce the overdependency on importation of petroleum products to ensure energy security, reduce cost of finished products, increase employment and business opportunities for Nigerians.

To address (1) above, NNPC to expedite the rehabilitation of the nation’s four refineries located in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna and to achieve 50% completion for Port Harcourt by December 2021, while timelines and delivery for Warri and Kaduna will be established by the inclusive Steering Committee.

To ensure Commitment and transparency to the processes and timelines of the rehabilitation exercise, the management of NNPC has offered to integrate the national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) into the Steering Committee already established by the Corporation.

A Validation team comprising the representatives of the NNPC, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), NUPENG and PENGASSAN will be established to monitor progress of the rehabilitation of the refineries and the pipelines/strategic depots network and advice the Steering Committee periodically.

Post rehabilitation, NNPC shall involve the PENGASSAN and NUPENG in the process of establishing the operational model of the Nation’s refineries.

The Federal Government will facilitate the delivery of licensed modular and regular refineries, involvement of upstream companies in petroleum refining and establishing framework for financing in the downstream sector.

NNPC to expedite work on the Build Operate and Transfer framework for the nation’s pipelines and strategic depots network for efficient transportation and distribution of Petroleum products to match the delivery timelines of the refineries as agreed.

The Federal Government and its agencies to ensure delivery of 1 million CNG/LPG AutoGas conversion kits, storage skids and dispensing units under the Nigeria Gas Expansion Programme by December 2021 to enable delivery of cheaper transportation and power fuel. A Governance Structure that will include representatives of organized Labour shall be established for timely delivery.

GENERAL INTERVENTION

To cushion the impacts of the downstream sector deregulation and tariffs adjustment in the power sector, the Federal Government will implement the following:

Federal Government will facilitate the removal of tax on minimum wage as a way of cushioning the impacts of the policy on the lowest vulnerable.

Housing: 10% be allocated to Nigerian workers under the ongoing Ministry of Housing and Finance initiative through the NLC and TUC.

Consequently, the NLC and TUC agreed to suspend the planned industrial action.

Over 1 Million Deaths From Coronavirus Recorded Across The World – Report

Greenbarge Reporters

September 27, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has now claimed one million lives around the globe, according to the latest official death tolls, with more than 33 million cases.

The milestone was passed shortly after the UK government on Sunday announced a further 17 deaths.

In total, 1,000,207 people have died according to worlddometer, which calculates the total from sources including governments. The Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre, which also calculates global totals, was reporting a figure of 995,190.

Since the first-known cases emerged at a Wuhan wet market in December 2019, the pattern of life has been drastically, perhaps in some ways irrevocably, altered the world over.

Within six months, Covid-19 had taken at least 500,000 lives and infected 10 million people. It has taken just half that time for the known death toll to double.

The virus has now spread to 210 countries and territories, infecting at least 32 million people.

However, the true number of deaths and infections are likely far higher due to a lack of sufficient testing and reporting in many countries.

Europe, which emerged as an early epicentre of the virus is now battling a second resurgence as the continent enters the winter months, with governments and citizens grappling with the prospect of renewed curbs on personal freedoms.

And with populists at the helm in US and Brazil, where both Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro have sought to publicly play down the seriousness of the virus and resisted mitigation efforts that could hamper the economy, the Americas remain the hardest-hit, having quickly seen their death tolls soar once the virus took hold.

Soon after, India emerged as a further hotspot, and continues to record new daily caseloads in the tens of thousands, with more than 85,000 infections identified on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the impact on the economy has little to no precedent, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in April describing the resulting global recession as “a crisis like no other”.

But while the abrupt plunges into the red cut an alarming trajectory, many economists were buoyed by the promise of a relatively sharp rise once lockdowns and curfews were lifted.

However, speaking on Thursday, the second-in-command at the IMF – which has poured $90bn in funding to nations since the crisis began – warned that the recovery was taking longer than expected, and that it could take some countries years to return to states of growth.

Yet following an unprecedented reconcentration of scientific efforts worldwide, our ability to adapt to and combat the virus grow ever stronger.

The virus’s genetic makeup was quickly sequenced, allowing for successful tests to be quickly developed and creating a groundwork for vaccine creation.

As contact-tracing systems around the world grow increasingly advanced, and work on creating faster, more accurate tests continues, trials are also underway on promising treatment methods, such as dexamethasone and convalescent blood plasma.

And of some 200 inoculations being developed globally, eight are in the final phase of clinical trials. The UK’s top advisors have suggested a vaccine could be widely available by autumn 2021.

Gov Zulum To Borno People: Don’t Despair, We Shall Defeat Terrorists

Editorial staff

September 26, 2020

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has called on the people in the state not to be despaired in the face of what he called “tribulations” from sporadic attacks by Boko Haram and other group of terrorists, assuring that they will eventually be defeated.

“The situation facing us is a tough one but we must choose between doing something which gives us some hope and doing nothing which will leave us more vulnerable to Boko Haram’s ultimate wish to takeover Borno and bring it under their sovereign brutal administration.”

In a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Isa Gusau, Governor Zulum said: “we must continue to keep hope alive even in the face of tribulations and believe that with sustained efforts and prayers, Borno will eventually regain peace.

The Governor, who attended Baga’s first Jumu’at prayers in nearly two years, confirmed that eight policemen and three civilian JTF members were killed in the ambush on his convoy, on their way to Baga as security back-ups in reconstruction efforts.

He expressed sadness over the unfortunate carnage, adding that he shared the grief of families of these 11 priceless heroes to whom Borno shall remain grateful.

The governor prays for the repose of their souls and urges all stakeholders to remain committed to ongoing peace building efforts.

Baga, Borno’s largest fishing community close to Lake Chad with waterways to neighboring countries, is considered strategic to Boko Haram’s operation.

It was captured by Boko Haram fighters 21 months ago with most residents now in Monguno and Maiduguri.

You Are Not Helping Workers If You Go On Strike, Governors Tell Labour Unions

Editorial staff

September 26, 2020

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has pleaded with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to stop their plan to embark on nationwide strike, starting from Monday, as such strike will not improve the already bad economic conditions of the Nigerian workers.

The governors, who met with leaders of the organized labour today, September 28 at the Abuja residence of the Chairman of the NGF, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, said: “the plight of workers in the country was already in dire straits and that any action embarked upon by the union at this time would further worsen their situation

The governors’ chairman was quoted, in a statement by the NGF’s spokesman, Abulrazaque Bello-Barkindo as saying that no one that is conversant with the prevailing situation in the country would disagree with labour and its demands, as it were, but pleaded that Governors be given time to consult more broadly with the various stakeholders, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, the Vice President and the President.

The statement said that Dr. Fayemi expressed the hope that this gesture from the governors would also energize the leadership of labour to put a hold on their planned action, adding that Government and Labour are not that far apart in the negotiation and the differences are not irreconcilable.

“Our President who is always on the side of workers will not be averse to the issues being raised and I’m hopeful for an amicable settlement on the issues highlighted.”

At the meeting which was attended by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the TUC President, Quadri Olaleye, the NLC General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboajah and the Director General of the NGF, Asishana Okauru, the NLC accused the Federal Government of violating the time-tested global process of dialogue.

The NLC President was quoted as saying: “when the cost of PMS rises, the cost of everything in the country rises with it,” even as he praised the NGF Chairman for agreeing to broaden the mechanism for consultation on the matter.

“I praise you for showing a good grasp of this matter and I believe that if they had widened the mechanism for consultation and involved people like you, we wouldn’t have come to this pass.”‎

4 Nigeria Air Force Officers Convicted Of Theft, Conspiracy, Misappropriation

Editorial staff

September 26, 2020

Four Nigeria Air Force officers and Executive members of the 151 Base Services Group (151 BSG) Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Makurdi, have been convicted for Criminal Breach of Trust, Theft, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Misappropriation and criminal embezzling of over N41,000,000.00.

They are Flt Lt Olawoore who was found guilty of negligently performing his duty as the President of the Cooperative and awarded six months loss of seniority; Fg Officer Adekoya convicted also for negligently performing his duty as Secretary of the Cooperative and awarded one year loss of seniority.

Others are MWO Michael Oyebanji, who was the Vice President of the Cooperative, and was convicted for on a 46 count charge, including; Criminal Breach of Trust, Theft, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Misappropriation, Making of False Documents and Conduct to the Prejudice of Service Discipline, contrary to Sections 114 and 103 (d) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Sections 312, 287, 96 and 309 of the Penal Code Cap P3 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. He was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment, cumulatively, as well as reduction in rank to Corporal and ordered to refund all monies misappropriated.

A statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said that the four convicts were tried by a General Court Martial (GCM), sitting at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base, Makurdi, Benue State.

The statement read in part, “four Executive members of the 151 Base Services Group (151 BSG) Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Makurdi, who were standing trial before a General Court Martial (GCM), sitting at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base, Makurdi for criminal misappropriation of over N41,000,000.00, were, on 24 September 2020, awarded various sentences.

“The four NAF personnel, who were arraigned before the GCM for Misappropriation of Cooperative Funds, amongst other offences, include Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Sherifi Olawoore, Flying Officer (Fg Offr) Ademola Adekoya, Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Michael Oyebanji and Warrant Officer (WO) Paul Atteh. The personnel were sentenced based on their levels of involvement.

“Delivering his judgement, the President of the GCM, Air Commodore Nazib Aliyu, pronounced the 4 accused personnel guilty of various charges. Flt Lt Olawoore was tried for negligently performing his duty as the President of the Cooperative, found guilty and awarded 6 months loss of seniority. In the same vein, Fg Offr Adekoya was tried for negligently performing his duty as Secretary of the Cooperative. He was found guilty and awarded one year loss of seniority.

“He was found guilty on all 46 counts and subsequently sentenced to serve 21 years imprisonment, cumulatively, as well as reduction in rank to Corporal and ordered to refund all monies misappropriated.

“In the same vein, WO Paul Atteh, who was tried for negligently performing his duty as the Treasurer of the Cooperative as well as for the Making of False Documents and Criminal Breach of Trust, was found guilty of all 3 charges. He was awarded reduction in rank from WO to Sergeant, in the first instance, and then eventually reduced to the rank of Corporal. He is also required to pay a fine of N1,000,000.00. Meanwhile, the GCM has ordered the release of WO Atteh from detention.

“While pleading in mitigation, the Defence Counsel urged the Court to show leniency, describing the Accused Persons as first-time offenders. The sentences were announced as being subject to confirmation by the Appropriate Superior Authority. However, it is within the rights of the Accused Personnel to appeal the judgment of the GCM, if they are dissatisfied.”

Insurgents Ambushe Borno Governor’s Convoy, Kill 15 Security Personnel

Editorial staff

September 26, 2020

Insurgents ambushed the convoy of Borno State Governor, Umara Zulum yesterday, September 25, killing 15 security personnel.

Sources said that eight policemen, three soldiers, and four members of a government-backed militia were killed in the attack on vehicles carrying Governor Babagana Umara Zulum near the town of Baga on the shores of Lake Chad.

The insurgents opened fire with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades as the convoy was passing through a village close to the headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force, a military coalition of troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

“The governor escaped unhurt but 15 security men on the convoy were killed in a fierce battle with the terrorists”, one source said.

Zulum was on an assessment tour of Baga in preparation for the return of thousands of residents displaced from the town by the jihadists in 2014, the sources said.

The governor flew on a helicopter into the garrison town of Monguno, 60 kilometres (40 miles) away, and headed to Baga in a convoy under tight security, one of the sources said.

The IS-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group maintains most of its camps on islands in Lake Chad and the region is known as a bastion for the jihadists.

The militant group has recently intensified attacks on military and civilian targets in the region.

In July, Zulum’s convoy came under gun attack from ISWAP outside Baga, forcing him to cancel his trip to the town.

Last week, the group killed a Nigerian army commander along with three soldiers in an ambush near the town of Damboa.

Civilians plying highway linking Monguno and the regional capital Maiduguri said the terrorists set up daily checkpoints, robbing, killing and abducting passengers.

Source: AFP.

NNPC GMD Hosts Stakeholders In Oil Sector (Photo)

Editorial staff

September 25, 2020

Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NBPC), Mallam Mele Kyari (3rd from right), with the President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Comrade Victor Usifo (2nd from right); Deputy National President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Matthew Duru (right); and President of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Comrade Williams Akporehe, after a Downstream Stakeholders’ Meeting at the NNPC Towers… Thursday.

Don’t Pander To Agents Of Anarchy In Nigeria, Presidency Tells UK

Editorial staff

September 25, 2020

The Presidency has called on the United Kingdom’s lawmakers, legal experts and campaigners not to pander to agents of anarchy by playing on religious differences of the people in the country.

Reacting to challenge by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group working with the Commonwealth and all concerned parties on the herder-farmer clashes, and the threat posed to all Nigerians from Boko Haram terrorists and their allies, the Presidency asked the British lawmakers and lawyers to visit Nigeria, whether formally or informally to discuss all the points raised in their letter.

A statement by the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu said that the government of Buhari is made up of Christian and Muslim cabinet members.

“Our Vice President is an Evangelical Pastor. We have everything to gain as a country through international cooperation with concerned, senior British parliamentarians and policymakers. The threat to civilians and peaceful co-existence between different ethnic and religious groups from Boko Haram, banditry and land disputes is of serious concern to the President and the government.”

Garba Shehu said that it is incorrect to assert that the government has or is doing nothing to address these intertwined threats.

“Firstly, there are on-going efforts for the establishment of cattle ranches to prevent or curtail open grazing, the practice that brings herders and farmers into conflict. This is an age-old problem facing Nigerian Governments since the colonial days. However, matters of land distribution are dealt with at state level. This means willingness has to be shown by state governors to drive the process forward. The Federal Government launched a plan last year to work with states to address these issues – together. Unfortunately, this has been lacking in some states.

“Secondly, with regards to the long and determined battle waged against Boko Haram, Nigerians are aware of the efforts made by this Government. When the government came to power, the terrorist group held and administered an area the size of Belgium. Now they hold none. The terrorists are hiding out amongst remote forests and across borders. This makes it difficult to extinguish the final flames of the insurgency, and the government has no illusions of the potent threat still posed. However, the progress made cannot be denied.

“Thirdly, in the face of rising crime and insecurity, the government’s new community policing initiative was launched this month. 10,000 new constables are being recruited from the areas they will safeguard – as opposed to past practice. The government hopes this will bring policing closer to local communities. N13 billion has been earmarked for this initiative.

“At the same time as we take note of the lawmakers’ letter, it is also important to stress to our partners and colleagues in the United Kingdom that not all who press them have the best interests of either democratic governance or peaceful coexistence in mind. For example, the former Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, named and quoted in the letter as a source on military matters, relinquished that position some 40 years ago – in 1979. He was last in a government position 17 years ago in 2003 (as Minister of Defence). At that time, religious and ethnic riots erupted in two states of the federation, (2001 and 2002), these were violently and ruthlessly put down by the military under his authority, leading to the loss of thousands of lives and the displacement of some further 50,000 persons. He is, therefore, not a natural source of pressure for good governance.

“Another, signatory to the letter, is well-known to be associated with the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, a Nigerian-blacklisted terrorist group. The IPOB are running a well-known (source-of-financing-unknown) international campaign intended to damage the reputation of Nigeria and its government in order to further their cause of “independence.”

“He jumped bail in Nigeria. He frequently travels on a Nigerian passport but urged his supporters to burn their passports! The IPOB barely mention their aims in their publicity; neither do they mention that their own leadership do not claim to be Christian. Yet, their media and lobbying campaign has focused near-exclusively on promoting matters related to Christianity in Nigeria, promulgating false claims that a government with 50 per cent of its cabinet and 50 per cent of its State Governors who are Christian somehow works against Christians. We call on our British friends and colleagues to join us in addressing genuine solutions not pander to agents of anarchy.”

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