How 16 Local Government Chairmen Shared N100 Million Out Of N4 Billion Loan – EFCC

November 1, 2019

The Kwara State Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has narrated how 16 local government chairmen, recently suspended by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, shared the sum of N100 Million from N4 Billion loan and 10 percent of the state’s internally generated revenue.
In a statement today, November 1, Head of the EFCC Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said the commission gathered that the council chiefs, after securing the controversial loans, held a meeting and decided that N100m of it be shared among themselves.
According to the EFCC, the council bosses had, on the 7th of February 2018, written to the Ilorin branch manager of Sterling Bank requesting a N4bn loan in order to pay the salary arrears of the State Universal Basic Education Board teachers, local government staff and the local government pensioners, while the provisions for N100m for council chairmen were not appropriated in the request.
It alleged that the council chiefs were also accused of diverting monthly 10 percent of the internally generated revenue for their personal use, which was paid directly into their personal accounts.
The EFCC said that all the suspects, while undergoing interrogation by the operatives of the Commission, admitted that N100m was shared from the loan and that they also received 10 percent of the internally generated revenue.
The statement added, “The council bosses are now pleading with the EFCC to give them some time that they would pay back what they had benefited from government’s money.”
The EFCC said the politicians were still being held in custody and might spend the weekend there.
It said they would be charged to court after the investigations had been concluded.
Names of the local government chairmen involved were given as Risikat Opakunle, Saidu Yaru Musa, Umar Belle, Ayeni Dallas, Fatai Adeniyi Garba, Lah Abdulmumeen, Raliat Funmi Salau, Aminat Omodara, Muyiwa Oladipo.
Others are, Oladipo Omole, Abdullahi Abubakar Bata, Saka Eleyele, Lateef Gbadamosi, Oni Adebayo Joseph, Omokanye Joshua Olatunji and Jibril Salihu.

Nov 16 Governorship Polls: Thugs Being Mobilised In Kogi, Bayelsa – INEC Boss

Editorial staff

November 1, 2019

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu has said that desperate politicians are already mobilising thugs from inside and outside for the November 16 governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states.
At a quarterly meeting with inter-agency consultative committee on the electronic security today, November 1, Professor Mahmood Yakubu said: “there are already warning signals in the two States. Both are politically volatile. Elections have been severally disrupted by violence in the past. Our own risk assessment which will be shared with the security agencies at this meeting has identified some flash points. We are also concerned that thugs have been mobilised from within and outside the States with the aim of either influencing the elections or disrupting the process on behalf of partisan sponsors.
“This calls for a robust response before the elections, on Election Day and during the process of collation and declaration of results. Nigerians expect that by now we have learnt enough lessons from previous elections to ensure a swift security response to the increasing desperation by political actors to disrupt elections and subvert the will of the electorate.
“If that happens, many Nigerians will blame the electoral umpire and the security agencies. We must continue to rise to this challenge.”
The INEC boss recalled how in the last two weeks, the Commission met a couple of times with the leadership of the Nigeria Police, being the lead agency in election security.
Professor Yakubu said that at the meeting, INEC reviewed the security situation in Bayelsa and Kogi States and how best to secure the environment to enable the Commission to conduct free and fair elections.
According to him, “doing so means providing security that will guarantee the safety of voters; protection of INEC officials (both regular and ad hoc staff); unimpeded movement, including access to polling units and collation centres for election officials, accredited polling agents, observers and the media; effectively and dispassionately dealing with disruptive behaviour by some political actors and persons acting on their behalf; enforcement of the restriction of movement in both States on election day; and the prompt arrest and prosecution of offenders.”
He expressed the commitment of INEC to ensuring a free, fair and credible election, adding that the security agencies have also resolved to ensure that security is fool-proof during the polls.
“On our part, INEC is committed to the integrity of the process. Over the last seven months, we have been working assiduously to ensure that we conduct credible elections. We cannot undermine the processes we have so laboriously established. We are equally confident in the assurances we have received from the security agencies of civil and professional conduct by their personnel deployed for the elections.
“We have been reassured by the security agencies that Election Day activities at polling units and collation centres will not be disrupted by the activities of hoodlums neither will thugs be allowed to cart away results sheets or compel our Returning Officers to make declarations under duress. We are equally re-assured that security personnel will adhere strictly to the standard operational guidelines and deal decisively with misconduct by their personnel on election duty. We are equally confident that with the sheer number of personnel the security agencies are deploying in the two States, there can be no excuse for the processes to be undermined by anti-democratic elements.
“I am glad that we are joined at this meeting by our Resident Electoral Commissioners for Bayelsa and Kogi States as well as the Commissioners of Police for the two States. They will brief us on the level of electoral and security preparations in the two States. We will also discuss and finalise the security deployment plan for the two elections in line with the provision of Section 29 (3) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) so that the security agencies are not perceived to be running parallel arrangement with INEC.
“Rather, it should be INEC’s plan for the election that we should all be implementing. “We shall continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure peaceful and credible polls. On Thursday 7th November 2019, the Commission is organising another meeting with stakeholders in Bayelsa State to be followed by another meeting on Monday 11th November 2019 in Kogi State. We will be joined by the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of NYSC and representatives of all the security agencies to listen to the concerns of stakeholders and fine-tune our plans in full consultation with the stakeholders.”
Source: Vanguard

Nigerian Journalists Kick Against Move To Regulate Social Media

Editorial staff

November 1, 2019

Journalists in Nigeria,under the canopy of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have kicked against move by the federal government to regulate social media operators in the country.
The union, in a communique signed by the National Secretary, Shuaibu Leman, at the end of the National Executive Council Meeting in Lokoja, capital of Kogi State, today, November 1, called on the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, not to succumb to the temptation of restricting the social media as the attempt could easily lead to “gagging the media.”
The union also rejected the position of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on the New Minimum Wage.
The governors had said that they would only pay according to the financial standing of their respective states.
It urged the governors would have to implement the new minimum wage captured on the federal government’s template as agreed upon with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The NUJ also appealed to the federal government, INEC, security agencies and political gladiators, to ensure hitch-free conduct of the forthcoming Kogi and Bayelsa states governorship elections.
On the lingering dispute among members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) the Union set up a five-man committee to reconcile the two factions involved in the leadership crisis rocking the association.
The NEC also suspended indefinitely, former President of NUJ, Waheed Odusile and the Vice President, Zone C, Petros Obi, as well as National Vice-chairman, Zone C of NAWOJ, Chibota Edozie, and a NAWOJ member, Ngozi Agbo for persistent anti-union activities.
It approved the employment of two additional Assistant National Secretaries, just as it offered contract appointment to Bamidele Gbemiga who retired as a Senior Assistant National Secretary.

‘Operation Show Your ID’ Meant To Track Fleeing Boko Haram Members – Army Chief

Greenbarge Reporters

November 1, 2019

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, has said that the operation ‘show your identity’ proposed by the Nigerian Army, is targeted at identifying fleeing Boko Haram members and other criminals.

The army chief of army staff, who was represented by the Director, Civil/Military Affairs at the Army Headquarters, U.S Mohammed, spoke when he faced a panel of the house of representatives committee on army, headed by Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa).

He told the committee that the operation would be intelligence-led, adding that there would be no deployment of troops or mounting of roadblocks.

He said: “the public may not even notice his men in the course of the exercise.”

He said that Nigerians would not notice any significant changes from the ongoing military operations in the country. He gave a lengthy explanation on why Nigerians need to support the initiative.

“What is happening is that the military has been involved in Operation Lafiya Dole in the North-east. Within the major operation, we have subsidiary operations and one of them is this Operation Positive Identification.

“It came about as a result of positive information about the activities of Boko Haram in the North-east the fact that they are making inroads to other parts of the country.

“From our intelligence, they are spreading from their traditional stronghold. Based on that, this idea came up to embark on our cordon and search operations. We will make some arrest and do some identification. The operation started on the 22nd of September, 2019.

“For this period of the year, the military has introduced some exercises aimed at tackling the security challenges in parts of the country.

It is aimed at training ourselves and carrying our security operations. We use the opportunity to carry out specific and targeted activities.

“We felt that as these exercises are going on, we should carry out the Operation Positive Identification to areas where we are going to carry out these exercises.

“It is nothing new. Operation Positive Identification is intelligence-led activity. Based on credible information, we go to certain areas, make an arrest and profile those arrested by identifying them and through that, we may be able to identify some Boko Haram members and other criminals.”

He said that there would not be an increase in the number of troops.

“There will be no additional checkpoints because it is all intelligence-led. The fact that we are extending it to other parts of the country does not mean there are changes. It is strictly based on credible information and intelligence.

“We are going to observe our usual rules of engagement and code of conduct for troops during internal security arrangements. Some of these things are being done in conjunction with other sister security agencies which is assisting us in the operation.”

He said that the fact that the army is spreading it across the country does not mean they are making changes to it.

“You will not even notice anything. The exercise is nothing different, but will assist us and add value to whatever we are already doing.”

The official said the army is undertaking three major exercises “beginning from 1st of November to 23rd of December.”

“We’re going to conduct raids within those areas. It is essentially aimed at ensuring that some of those security challenges are curtailed to the barest minimum as we approach the yuletide.

“I want to assure the House and law-abiding Nigerians to go about their lawful duties. It is not going to involve additional troops on the road. “Anywhere we get credible information about the gathering of these bad guys, we conduct raids or cordon and search and if in the process, we make an arrest, you will be asked to identify yourself.”

He said that the major focus is on the Boko Haram and terrorist groups and criminals from the North-east and North-west.

“We have information that they are trickling down to other parts of the country.

“During the operations, if individuals are arrested, they will be asked to identify themselves and to know who they are. But we are not going to base it on any particular means of identification. We are just trying to ensure that we apprehend some of these criminals that may have escaped from the North-east.”

The army chief said President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff “ are aware of the operation”.

The lawmakers, however, expressed their concerns that the military, by its training, may engage in excesses.

They wondered whether the army has the constitutional right to carry out the proposed exercise. The committee’s members were divided on whether the army should be allowed to go ahead with the exercise. Some were not convinced that rights will not be violated.

A member of the committee, Christopher Ngoro (PDP, Cross River), said it is not the duty of the army to subject Nigerians to that exercise and described it as unconstitutional.

“According to the Constitution, the military are supposed to support the Police in internal security operations.

“The military should not lead an operation like this. If any other organisation was leading this operation, the planning will emanate from that organisation.

“But the operational planning for this operation is emanating from the Aamy. Therefore, we cannot be swayed by your persuasiveness to think that you are just cooperating with other organisations. No, you are not in any way.”

Also speaking, the committee chairman, Abdulrazak Namdas, said the House learnt that the operation would require Nigerians carrying some form of identification when they leave home.

Namdas noted that the major role of the army is to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity.

“Soldiers could be invited to assist other security agencies.”

He said that although there were serious security threats in the country, “the army cannot usurp the role of the police.

“Given the number of issues at hand, we are shocked to hear that the military is adding to its authority by taking the job of the Police or Immigration.”

Emir Sanusi’s Lamentation! By Abiodun Komolafe

Editorial staff

November 1, 2019

The 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II recently told a moving story of how a mother watched her sick child die while waiting to ask the Emir for financial assistance, because she could not afford to buy prescribed drugs of N3000.00, which, in context, was less than $10. Since “he who feels it knows it”, the ‘Aristocratic banker’ was overwhelmed, and the croaky, breaking voice of the eminently affable Emir, betrayed his emotions!

Well, Emir Sanusi’s address to the United Nation’s meeting on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been appropriately documented for posterity. However, Nigerians ought to salute his courage for identifying with the downtrodden and appreciating the dilemma and the economic-unfreedom of the poor in the society! Furthermore, that the Emir could muster enough courage to apologize to Nigerians for any ‘unintended consequences’ of the classical, free market policies he pushed during his tenure as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reveals the enormous social capital ascribed to his social status, the purity of nobility, and his sincere love for humanity.
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the educated, onetime CBN Governor, ruled Nigeria’s economic firmament, believing in the classical, neo-liberal macro-economic philosophy, only to discover later – after the deed has been done – that those theories were designed to keep us perpetually in the valley of socio-economic backwardness. However, Sanusi has blazed the trail by being blunt in expressing his regrets, and firmly calling for a paradigmatic shift in our applied economic theories, and an overhaul of our Public Administration. This is indeed the dawn of a new era in public leadership. It has not always been like this. At least, that is what a synoptic view of past leadership in the country reveals.
Yakubu Gowon ruled Nigeria, not as a College Graduate; but later went abroad to bag a Doctorate degree in Political Science. He came back to the country, well read, but did not see the need to reminisce about his past blunders. Murtala Muhammed’s regime was short-lived. But Olusegun Obasanjo’s first and second stints at the highest office in the land portrayed him as an ‘all-wise’ leader. As such, he has neither admitted, nor apologised for his misrule or the mistakes of his regimes. Though Shehu Shagari was a “reluctant president”, the economic ruination of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) government under his watch was never accounted for by the Grade II Teacher-President. Muhammadu Buhari’s regime attempted critical reforms in a highly corrupt, polarised, and sceptical society but the excesses of the regime were never atoned for. Ibrahim Babangida’s 9-year rule was characterised by widespread conscientization towards deceit and corruption in governance. Unfortunately, Babangida never apologised for squandering our collective patrimony. Sani Abacha never had a clue about civilian public administration but he clung to power, until … power left him. He did not live to regret or apologise for his misdeeds. From Abdulsalami Abubakar, to Umaru Yar’Adua; to Goodluck Jonathan; to Buhari’s second coming, the stories have disturbingly remained the same.
That said, it must not be lost on Nigerians that Sanusi’s argument is how we must seek the prosperity of the average Nigerian for peace that is contingent on the prosperity of the citizenry to reign in the land. It is instructive to note that Sanusi is now an Emir, a royal father. So, he has his domain to worry about! As an Emir, he also has multiple roles to play! He is a respected Islamic scholar and a religious priest whose pronouncements are weighty in religion. In the political spheres, he is the father for everybody in Kano and its environs, no matter one’s political affiliations. He is a banker, nobleman and public analyst. He is a father and a husband. He is an uncle to some people; and a cousin to others. So, the man has a lot on his plate; and uneasy lies the head that wears the crown!
Like Karl Marx, Sanusi has spoken about how deep our challenges are. He has also prophesied what is likely to happen to us if certain things are not done. He has challenged the elites of this country who are currently standing aloof or pretending not to see the obvious fact that the country has for some time been haemorrhaging. He has also drawn their attention to the fact that their being rich is also defined by the existence of the country; and that, if the country is no longer there, the definition of who they are will have to be reconfigured.
Basically, the truth about democracy is that, no matter the politics of the government in power, the people must come first. Again, this is where the current actors on the political scene must learn to be faithful to their calling. It is a shame that, every year, the first thing they fight for is their personal budget or those things that will accrue to them. If they are not careful, it will get to a stage where there will be no budget to fight for. This is not a prediction of doom. The truth is: if those who are privileged now don’t begin to attend to the needs of the society, it will get to a stage whereby the dignity and the honour, which their positions attract, will disappear. For example, a senator is supposed to be somebody who is revered in the society. But, by the time poverty makes the people to look at him with suspicion – as somebody who has flashy cars, owns monstrous buildings and runs a life that is flashy, then, the society is in for a big trouble. So, it’s time the political class keyed into Sanusi’s optimism by locating the algorithms that Nigeria needs with a view to understanding the mechanics of governance in a way that will take Sanusi’s worries seriously before things get worse.
Finally, Sanusi has a word for the recalcitrant leaders: “They call you ‘Rankadede’ now. In a couple of years, they will throw stones at you.” The question is: are we going to wait till people start stoning people, which, of course, can be likened to a point of no return? Well, Sierra Leone (1991) and Ivory Coast (2000) have eloquently spoken to the options before us!
May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria!

*KOMOLAFE wrote in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State, Nigeria (ijebujesa@yahoo.co.uk)

Sokoto Gov, Of PDP, Congratulates Buhari Over Supreme Court Verdict

Editorial staff

November 1, 2019

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, under the umbrella of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory at the Supreme Court on Wednesday against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who lost the February 23 Presidential election in the country.
In a statement today, October 31 in Sokoto by his spokesman, Malam Muhammad Bello, Governor Tambuwal advised the president to be magnanimous in his victory.
“This is a time for circumspection and rallying of Nigerians for the arduous task of tackling our huge developmental challenges.
“This is also a time to run an inclusive government and strive to forge a true Nigerian nation and spirit,” he said.
Tambuwal added that the verdict of the Supreme Court brought to a conclusion the long drawn legal battle.
“I want to specially commend Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for his doggedness, tenacity and strong belief in the judicial process.
“His stance has contributed in no small measure in advancing our democracy. He is without doubt an icon of democracy. His place in Nigeria’s democratic journey is assured.
“Therefore, I urge our party members not to be dismayed, the legal way has a terminal stage. The verdict of the Supreme Court is final, in politics you win some and lose some.
“Since our presidential candidate chose the legal way, it is a clear indication that he is not a supporter of resort to self-help, or violence, after all power comes from God and He alone gives it to whom He wishes at His own time and on His own terms.”
Source: NAN.

Prison Is The Safest Even For Judges, Justice Binta Assures Nnamdi Kanu

Editorial staff

November 1, 2019

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, has asked the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu to return to Nigeria and be locked up in prison, assuring him that prison is safer for anyone now in Nigeria, even judges.

“Even judges are being abducted in the country. So prison is the only safest place for him.”

Justice Binta Nyako was today, October 31, responding to Kanu’s request seeking for guarantee of his safety as a condition for him to face his trial after jumping bail.

Speaking through his counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Kanu told the court that the application to restore his bail so that he could face his trial was filed on April 1.

“We have an application for bail filed on April 1, 2019.
“The application was served on the prosecution and it is ripe for hearing.
“We urge the court to restore his bail on the ground that the court will guarantee his safety when he comes back to the country to continue his trial.”
But counsel to the Federal Government, Labaran Shuaibu, who told the court that he was just seeing the process, opposed to the application.
Shuaibu urged the court to adjourn the matter to enable him file the necessary processes.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Nyako, who adjourned the matter to January 16, said the only way he could guarantee Kanu’s safety was to keep him in the prison.
She said even judges were no longer safe in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Justice Nyako had ordered the re-arrest of the self-proclaimed leader of IPOB.
The judge gave the order in a ruling after revoking the bail granted to Kanu.
She explained that the court gave the order because Kanu had failed to appear in court after his bail was granted in April 2017.
The judge also ordered that trial would continue in the absence of the IPOB leader and directed that a bench warrant be issued for his arrest.
NAN reports that Justice Nyako had granted Kanu bail on health grounds on April 25, 2017 and asked him to present three sureties, one of whom must be a serving senator, a Jewish religious leader and a highly respected person who must own a landed property in Abuja.
The judge warned the IPOB leader against granting press interviews, holding rallies or being in a gathering of more than 10 persons while on bail.
She had also warned him that the bail would be revoked if he flouts any of the conditions.

Ghana Vows To Ban Rice Importation By 2022

Editorial staff

October 31, 2019

The Federal Republic of Ghana has set a target of three years for the country to put a stop to rice importation.

According to the country’s Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Kennedy Nyarko Osei, Ghana is working round the clock to stop the importation of rice into the county based on recent projections.
The Deputy Minister, who spoke today, October 31, in an interview with Kwame Tutu on “Anopa Nkomo” on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7, said: “we import billion dollars of rice into the country, but the Agric Ministry, led by Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, is determined that by the end of 2022, we will stop importing rice from other countries based on our projections.

“The two crops we are focusing on are rice and soya; soya because of the poultry industry and rice because of import substitution.”

The Deputy Minister’s position was published on the website of Kingdom FM 107.7, said:

It will be recalled that Ghana recently put pressure on Nigeria to open its borders for goods from other countries.
President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria had ordered the closure of Nigeria’s borders to stem the importation of goods with local substitutes, especially rice.
Reports had it that the Republic of Benin, which does not consume parboiled rice, is the largest importer of the rice type through its ports.
The border closure came after years of ban by the Central Bank of Nigeria of access to foreign exchange by importers of 43 prohibited products.
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, retired Colonel Hameed Ali, said within one week of the closure of Nigeria’s borders, over 500,000 bags of locally manufactured rice that had been lying in warehouses of the producers were sold.
According to available information, rice constitutes 82 per cent Ghana’s import, accounting for $1 billion.
The amount was at almost 2 per cent of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product, according to Ghana’s Deputy Trades Minister, Robert Ahomka Lindsay.
Osei told Kingdom FM 107.7 further: “Changing the structure of our economy through diversification and value addition will not happen overnight.
“It remains a major pre-occupation of the government because it is our pathway to reduce dependency, expand the economy, create jobs, increase exports, reduce imports and support the value of our currency.”
It would be recalled that Afriyie-Akoto had told the West African nation of plans to cut food importation through a flagship programme: Planting for Food and Jobs.
The programme is expected to provide farmers fertilizers at low rates to help boost local yield.
The subsidised rate, which is 50 per cent, is catered for by the Government as an incentive to smallholder farmers.
So far, farmers who used to produce three bags of rice per acre in the past, now produce 10 bags.
The ripple effect has led to the creation of more jobs as the need for hired hands in the harvesting and processing of farm produce has spiked.
Jobs created as at 2017 stood at 745,000, which is now improving to 900,000, according to the Minister of Agriculture.
In addition to this, a spinoff of the programme, tagged: “Rearing for food and jobs,” is set to begin.

Falana Moves To Stop Army From Carrying Out Operation Positive Identification

Editorial staff

October 31, 2019

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has sued the Nigerian Army, it’s Chief of Army Staff and the Attorney-General of the Federation, praying for an order stopping the planned Operation Positive Identification by the army.

The suit marked FHC/L/CS/1939/2019 was filed before the Federal High Court in Lagos, saying that the planned nationwide operation scheduled for November 1, to December 23, 2019, by which Nigerian citizens would be required to move about with means of identification is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

He argued that the planned operation violates his right and that of other Nigerian citizens to liberty, “as encapsulated in Section 35 respectively of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as Amended and Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, (Cap A10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

He filed along with the suit an order seeking an interim injunction restraining the three defendants from going on with the plan pending the hearing of the substantive suit.

In a supporting affidavit filed along with the suit, Falana recalled that on October 8, 2019 the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai disclosed that the Operation Positive Identification, said to be ongoing in the North East theatre of Boko Haram insurgency would be extended to cover the entire nation.

He said the operation required Nigerian citizens to move about with legitimate means of identification such as the National Identification Card, Voters Registration Card, Drivers’ Licence and passports or other valid official identification.

He noted that the increase in deployment of security forces nationwide would be with potential of movement disruption, and the army had thus advised Nigerians to ensure that they always carry valid means of identification.

Falana argued, through his lawyers, Mrs. Funmi Falana and Taiwo Olawanle, who filed the suit on his behalf, that by virtue of Section 215 (3) of the Constitution, the Nigeria police force “has the exclusive power to maintain law and order and secure public safety and public order in the country” and not the army.

He contended that going by section 217(1) of the Constitution, the Nigerian President of could only deploy the armed forces for the suppression of insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore law and order.

“There is no insurrection in every part of the country which the Nigeria police cannot contain to warrant the deployment of armed troops all over the country from November 1, 2019 to December 23, 2019.

“Neither the Constitution nor the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 LFN, 2004 has empowered the Nigeria Army to arrest any citizen who is not subject to service law.

“The 1st respondent (the Nigerian Army) under the leadership of the 2nd respondent is not empowered to take over police duties and the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces lacks the power to deploy members of the armed forces in the maintenance of internal security in any part of the country by virtue of Section 217 (a) (b) and (c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.”

Source: Punch.

Nigeria, Saudi Arabia Agree To Form A Council For Investment Promotion

Editorial staff

October 31, 2019

Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have agreed to establish a Council for the promotion of investments and enhancement of relations between both countries.

The decision, which was taken at a meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salma in Riyadh, Federal capital of Saudi Arabia today, October 31, was the highpoint of a bilateral meeting between the Nigerian leader and the Crown Prince which took place on the margins of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference.

The meeting was initially scheduled to hold in the office of the Crown Prince but out of courtesy and respect for the Nigerian leader, Prince Salman insisted that he would meet with President Buhari in his hotel room at The Ritz Carlton, Riyadh.

The Council will be made up of government officials and business leaders from both countries and the areas of focus are: economic growth and development, investments in oil and non-oil sectors, and security cooperation.

President Buhari and the Crown Prince agreed that the first assignment for the Council is to establish a legal and operational framework that will facilitate investments beneficial to both countries.

The Council will be established in the next two months while meetings will be held twice every year.

To ensure that relations between both countries remain active, it was also agreed that leaders of both countries, at the highest level, will meet at least once every year to review the progress of the joint council and ensure closer collaboration on issues of mutual interest.

President Buhari thanked the Crown Prince for the Kingdom’s interest in investing in Nigeria and the initiative to establish the Council which would form the foundation for a stronger Nigeria-Saudi relationship.

‘‘Nigeria has a large population mainly made up of dynamic, young people and partnerships of this type will help them to be productive and prosperous,’’ the President said, assuring that his government will continue to provide the enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the country.

Speaking on regional and international issues, President Buhari shared the view of the Crown Prince that with the collapse of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, the next frontier for terrorism is the Sahel region.

The Nigerian leader commended the concern by the Saudi authorities to keep the issue of the security situation in Sahel region on the front burner.

Earlier, the Saudi Crown Prince had noted that the security challenges in the Sahel should be seen as a global issue.

‘‘Saudi Arabia is prepared to participate in the engagement and sensitisation of the whole world to the problems in sub-Saharan Africa,’’ he said.

On bilateral issues, the Crown Prince reiterated the preparedness of the Kingdom to support Nigeria’s development agenda, noting that the country had the potential to be among the top 20 economies in the world.

‘‘Saudi Arabia is eager to support Nigeria and we want to be a part of Nigeria’s journey to be among the top 20 economies in the world.”

Prince Mohammed bin Salman told the President the Saudis have invested 40 billion U.S. dollars in India, 10 billion dollars in Pakistan and 20 billion dollars in Indonesia and are willing to do the same in Nigeria given the favourable business environment.

The Nigerian President re-emphasized that enabling a conducive business environment will remain a priority for his administration.

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