Wike Back to Square one..Rivers State Election

The judgement in the petition filed by the APC candidate
Dakuku Peterside against the election of Governor
Nyesom Wike.
Having being satisfied that the petitioners have proved their case, Tribunal then ordered INEC to conduct fresh elections.

Anti Corruption Campaign Score Card

EFCC recovers $6.55m, €248,340 from 49 suspects

NNPC, NIMASA, Amnesty under probe

Cash seized by EFCC in 90 days

•$3,902,229 and €248,340 (49 suspects) in MMIA
•$2,198,900 from a suspect at Lagos Airport
•$454, 050 (four suspects) at Aminu Kano Airport
•$99,000 (one suspect) at Azikiwe Airport, Abuja

Detectives are poring through the books of nine states as part of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s anti-corruption war.

Besides, the war seems to be yielding bountiful harvests, going by the performance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

EFCC has filed 71 high-profile cases in three months.

The commission also seized over $6.555m and €248, 340 from 55 money laundering suspects at the airports in Lagos, Kano and Abuja.

The cash includes $3, 902, 229 and €248, 340 from 49 suspects at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos; $2, 198, 900 ( Lagos Domestic Airport); $454, 050 from four suspects at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano; and $99, 000 from a suspect at the private wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

A former top official of an agency and his mule might be arraigned in court as soon as an ongoing investigation into a $2.1m laundered cash is concluded.

The anti-graft commission said it had established links with its counterpart in Niger Republic on the recent arrest of some Nigerians smuggling hard currency to the Middle East.

The EFCC said it was probing activities of some past government officials in nine states.

Besides, it is investigating the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, and the National Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

These disclosures are contained in an Executive Brief on the activities of the commission by its Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde. It was exclusively obtained by The Nation.

Part of the brief reads: “Operational activities of the Commission have been stepped up in line with the current policy directive of the President, especially in public corruption related investigations.

”A total of 71 cases were filed in the various state and Federal High Courts between 1st June and 1st September 2015.

“ Only 31 of the cases have been arraigned, as the period coincides with the vacation of the Judges and pockets of labour strikes by some state judicial workers. Some of the high profile arraignments include: Ex-Governor Sule Lamido and two others(adjourned to September 28); former Governor Ikedi Ohakim (adjourned to September 30); and former Governor Murtala Nyako (adjourned to October 21); and ex-Governor Timpreye Sylva with no definite date

The EFCC said the trial of a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, will come up on October 21, but added that it had referred the case to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for “reassessment based on the allegation of bias”.

“Other major public corruption and abuse of cases opened in the last three months include those involving; Akwa Ibom, Kebbi, Enugu, Lagos, Plateau, Benue, Kwara, Katsina and Cross River state governments, as well as Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Niger Delta Amnesty Program, and the National Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA).”

The brief added: “Laundering of crime proceeds through large cash transactions has increased, due in part to the new policy stopping the lodgment of foreign currency into local domiciliary accounts. Arrests and seizures made by the Presidential Committee on Trans-border Cash Movement at the International Airports are transferred to the Commission for further investigation.”

The brief added: “Suspects who either failed to declare or under-declare the currencies would be prosecuted under the Money Laundering Act 2012, as soon as the courts resume from their annual vacation

”The cash sum of $2, 198, 900 belonging to a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was intercepted at the Lagos domestic Airport from a mule conveying the money to Abuja on 8th July 2015. The suspects would be arraigned in court at the conclusion of the investigation.”

Regarding the smuggling of currency out of the country to the Middle East, the EFCC said it as in “close” contact with the anti-graft agency in Niger Republic.

The commission added: “We are in close communication with the Nigerien High Authority for Fighting Against Corruption and Related Offences (HALCIA) on recent arrests of Nigerians smuggling large volumes of foreign currency through Niamey Airport to the Middle East.

“We intend to contact the appropriate Authorities in Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Togo and Ghana for intelligence on current bulk cash smuggling trends by Nigerians.”

The EFCC confirmed the arrest of 10 crew members and detention of a vessel for alleged oil theft.

The document added: “ Ten crew members of MV PEACE who were arrested off Lagos Fairway Buoy by the Nigeria Navy Ship BEECROFT with suspected stolen crude oil were arraigned on 22nd July 2015 before Hon. Justice Idris of the Federal High Court Lagos. The trial was adjourned to 22nd September 2015.

“The case of MT EUROPORT, a vessel arrested by the Joint Task Force Operation PULO SHIELD on 15th June 2015 at Furopa Waterways in Bayelsa, will be in court as soon as the forensic report of the product sample is received from the Department of Petroleum Resources. Both vessels are detained in lawful custody.”

On advance Fee Fraud scams, the anti-graft commission said it has returned €20,540 and $6, 500 to some foreigners.

It said: “Although the Commission has drastically reduced the prevalence of rampant advance fee fraud in Nigeria, we continue to convict perpetrators and return their lost money to demonstrate that we have the capacity to provide justice to our local and foreign victims. Internet fraud has impacted our national image negatively.

Such direct cash restitution includes:-

€10, 540 to a Belgian citizen through the Embassy in Abuja on 2nd September;
$6, 500 to an American citizen through the Embassy’s Legal Attaché on 19th August; and
€10, 000 sent by direct bank transfer to a French victim, who is suffering from terminal cancer in June
The brief also highlighted the benefits of President Buhari’s interaction with the international community to anti-graft war in the last three months.

It said: “We received several valuable capacity building assistance from the United States Government through the Department of Justice, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Institute of Peace, Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Other benefactors include; the German Consulate, Spanish Embassy, Interpol Singapore, United Kingdom National Crime Agency etc.

“The trainings were held in Abuja, Lagos, Dakar, Malta, Singapore, United States, Thailand, Spain, the Netherlands, Mauritius & China between June and September 2015.

“The United States Government through the FBI and the Homeland Security Investigations also donated a Forensic Recovery of Evidence Device (FRED workstation) and a currency detection/counting machine to the Commission in August 2015 to further strengthen our technical capacity.

Hmm!! Asari at it again "we'll meet at the BATTLEFIELD APC!"

 Alhaji Mujahideen Dokubo-Asari who is the Leader of Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, has vowed that the Ijaw nation will not allow Governor Henry Seriake Dickson and former President Goodluck Jonathan to be disgraced by losing the December 5 gubernatorial election to the main opposition party in the state, All Progressives Congress, APC.

Dokubo spoke on Tuesday when Governor Dickson formally declared his intention to seek re-election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“We Ijaws don’t run away from our enemies. Jonathan did a lot for all those who have turned against us. Nobody, wherever he is, can move the Ijaw nation. We’ve never been conquered, the British knows this fact. This fight is beyond Henry Seriake Dickson, it is beyond you and me, it is for all. He will never be disgraced on December 5. They have boasted that they have control of the Army, INEC, Police, Navy and SSS. But we will meet in the battlefield on election day.”

While speaking at the occasion, Governor Dickson vowed that his government will wind up the APC on December 5 when the election would take place.

In his declaration held in Yenagoa, at the popular Samson Siasia Stadium, the governor said even though the opposition is relying on federal might, security agencies and and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to assist them to rig election,”Bayelsa has no room for APC.”

The governor’s declaration was attended by senior citizens including ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan; former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; former governor of Bayelsa State and Governor-General of Ijaw land, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha and 12 PDP governors led by chairman of PDP Governors Forum and Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

PDP Governors Visit Goodluck Jonathan at Home

Former President Goodluck Jonathan received a host of PDP Governors who paid him a solidarity visit in his country home at Otuoke, Bayelsa state. The governors who visited include: Chairman PDP Governors Forum, Olusegun Mimiko, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and the host Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson. Four Deputy Governors represented their governors.

Aminu Masari, lied to PMB to get more than N11 billion bailout

The governor of President Muhammadu Buhari’s home State, Katsina, Aminu Masari, lied to the president to get more than N11 billion bailout supposedly to pay workers’ salary arrears, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report today.

Feigning insolvency, Katsina State applied as one of the 27 states in need of bailout from the Federal Government to pay workers owed salaries for months.

In a letter to the speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, titled: “Bailout on Outstanding Salary for Workers of the State and Local Governments” with number S/SGKT/154/3 dated August 26, 2015, Mr. Masari said when he took office on May 29, his government inherited two months outstanding salary of workers of the state and local government from the previous Ibrahim Shema administration.

“I would like to request for the Honourable House’s consent for the State government to collaborate with the Central Bank of Nigeria for a Bail Out of outstanding workers’ salary in the State and Local governments,” Mr. Masari wrote.

“Mr Speaker may wish to know that at the time of the take-off of this administration, the State and Local Governments in the State owed workers two months’ salary to the tune of N11,086,632,741.32 broken down as follows: Katsina State: N3,646,943,099.80; 34 local government councils: N7,439,689,641.32; Total: N11,086,632,741,.32.

“It is in the view of the need for the State Government and Local Governments to meet their obligation in the payment of outstanding workers’ salary, considering the lean resources inherited from the former administration, that it has become necessary for the State Government to apply for the bail out on behalf of the State and Local Governments.” he added.

However, PREMIUM TIMES’ investigation revealed that the state had no business being among the group of insolvent states in need of federal bailout to pay workers salary arrears.

Katsina State civil servants as well as workers in the state’s 34 local governments received their full salaries and allowances up to May when Mr. Masari became governor.

In fact, the governor’s chief press secretary, Abdul Labaran, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that workers were not owed and that their salaries had been completely paid up to August.

“Katsina State government doesn’t owe anybody any salary,” Mr. Labaran said over the phone after a long pause.

He also answered in the affirmative when asked if he meant that the state government had paid workers in the state up to August. “That is correct,” he said.

However, when confronted with questions about why the government requested a bailout as contained in the letter to the state assembly from his principal, Mr. Labaran refused to answer saying he was not aware of any such letter. He also refused that the letter to be read to him.

“I don’t know the letter you’re talking about. How do I know you’re quoting from the letter. You could be quoting from anywhere,” he said.

Oluwabusola Olawale, a former media aide of the immediate past governor, Ibrahim Shema, seemed shocked when asked if the last administration bequeathed two months unpaid salaries to the present administration of Mr. Masari.

“Throughout the tenure of Ibrahim Shema, workers’ salaries were paid latest on the 25th of every month. As at May both the state and local government salaries were paid on the 25th. So he left office without owing any worker any salary. So this news is strange to us. We don’t know what could have necessitated this letter,” he said.

“There is definitely no justification to ask for a bailout of two months salary,” he said.

The N338 billion federal bailout, paid by the Central Bank of Nigeria, was authorised by President Buhari to help insolvent states that had failed to pay workers for months.

The loan is repayable with an interest of nine per cent over a 20-year period.

By August 31, Kwara, Zamfara and Osun States had received the bailout to clear their backlogs of salaries.

Twenty seven states are expected to receive the aid.

Amongst other conditions for the accessing the credit, the CBN requires the resolutions of the respective state executive council mandating the loan, and an approval from the House of Assembly.

Also, the state must issue an Irrevocable Standing Payment Orders (ISPOs) to ensure timely repayment of the loan from the state’s Federation Account allocations.

The CBN said it gives approval for the fund to be released within 24 hours after a state meets all the conditions.

Source:
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/189658-how-katsina-governor-aminu-masari-lied-to-buhari-to-get-n11-bn-bailout.html

2face @ 40!!

2face Idibia today at a radio show said he is set to hold a concert for his 40 birthday which falls on September 18, 2015.
The celebration concert, which he has themed the ‘FORTYfied All-Star Tribute Concert’, is the subject of huge planning and promotion.

The event will hold at the Eko Hotel Convention Center on Sunday, September 20, 2015, and will be anchored by Nigeria's comedy icon, Basketmouth.
Artistes slated to perform include; Burna Boy, D’banj, veteran highlife musician Dr Victor Olaiya, Sound Sultan, Wizkid, fellow Plantshun Boiz group member Blackface, Seyi Shay, Vector, Timaya, Wande Coal, Omawumi, Patoranking, 9ice and others.

This morning (September cool, 2face Idibia was on the Good Morning Nigeria Show at Cool FM hosted by on-air-personality Manny, to promote his ‘FORTYfied All-Star Tribute Concert’. The pop star shared a few words of wisdom about the social media generation.

"Everybody is feeling the need to show off something, you know. Make the next man look like oh they are not doing anything, 'I am the one doing something'. So these days it is just trying to impress by all means, no matter wetin happen" said the former Kennis Music artiste.

"So its taken away that real life. There's too much fakeness going on" 2face further said on the Good Morning Nigeria Show

Buhari to recruit 10,000 police officers, expand CCTV monitoring system

He said that his administration was also considering the expansion of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) monitoring system across major cities and towns to address national security challenges.
President Buhari  (Daily Post)
President Muhammadu Buhari said on Monday that the Federal Government would recruit 10,000 additional police personnel to strengthen the capacity of the Nigeria Police in the fight against insurgency and other criminal activities in the country.