EFCC raids 3 vehicles loaded with money

Abuja - A shocking incident occurred in Abuja as operatives of the EFCC and Nigerian Army raided three vehicles and found huge sums of money hidden in ‘the cars at Shendam Close, off Anthony Anyaoku Street, a neighbourhood of Area 11.

The operation  which was conducted on Tuesday by a combined team of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the army raided three vehicles with money concealed in several (Ghana must go) bags.

According to Independent, the vehicles, a Mercedes Benz S350 series with Bauchi State registration number, KTG 01 AA, a Lexus SUV Jeep registered in Abuja and marked ABC 77 AKK were all stuffed full money huge bags.

The third vehicle, a BMW 640i series unmarked equally had several ‘Ghana must go’ bags at both the back seat and booth. The EFCC operatives numbering about seven and accompanied by two army personnel, according to eyewitnesses, stormed the area about 4.50p.m.

Independent reporter met the team scurrying through one of the vehicles, counting the money and taking video shots. It was also observed that the SUV had much of the bags in its booth. The daylight drama went undisturbed as shocked residents watched in disbelief till about 6p.m when the team drove off the vehicles to EFCC headquarters.

A young man in his thirties who did not give out his identity told Independent that one of the three men seen standing with the operatives claimed that the vehicles were brought there by his friends, now at large, who asked him to look after the vehicles.

The operatives refused to say who owned the large cache of money as they maintained stern attitude. (Independent)

Usual Friday Aso Rock Drama: Magu meets DSS DG as Buhari prays

President Muhammadu Buhari Flanked by National Security Adviser , Major General, Babagana Monguno and Commander of Brigade of Guards Brig Gen MS Yusuf after Juma’at prayer at the Aso Villa in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. APRIL 21 2017.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Juma’at service keeps throwing up some drama on the sidelines.

The last time, Senate President Bukola Saraki met face-to-face with Colonel Hameed Ali, head of Customs, who Saraki’s colleagues had harassed over not wearing the agency’s uniform. Both men shook hands over the controversy.

Yesterday, it was the turn of Ibrahim Magu, head of Nigeria’s most visible and most hardworking anti graft agency and Lawan Daura, head of the nation’s secret agency, DSS who had sent a ‘damning’ report to the Senate that stopped Magu’s confirmation.

L-R; Acting Chairman EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, National Security Adviser to the President Major General, Babagana Monguno, Commander of Brigade of guards Brig Gen MS Yusuf and Director General DSS, Lawan Daura in a chat after Juma’at prayer at the Aso Villa in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE.

Still having a tete-a-tete : L-R; Acting Chairman EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, National Security Adviser to the President Major General, Babagana Monguno, Commander of Brigade of guards Brig Gen MS Yusuf and Director General DSS, Lawan Daura in a chat after Juma’at prayer at the Aso Villa in Abuja.

Magu had debunked the report as not reflective of the true situation of things.

President Buhari had since rebuffed the Senate demand that he replace Magu by retaining him in the post and Magu had since then gone ahead to perform even more salutary anti-corruption operations.

Well, Magu and Daura shook hands today, with National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno being the apparent peacemaker.

Lawan Daura and Acting Chairman EFCC, Ibrahim Magu still talking

Back to President Buhari: he made time to chat with the younger generation of the family after the prayers at the Aso Villa Mosque

President Muhammadu Buhari chats with Children after Juma’at prayer at the Aso Villa in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. APRIL 21 2017.

President Muhammadu Buhari chats with Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and Children after Juma’at prayer at the Aso Villa 

President Muhammadu Buhari with SSAP Domestic and Social Events, Sarki Abba, Senator Mustapha Bukar and others after Juma’at prayer.

 NAN

IMF Endorses Nigeria’s Economic Recovery Plan (ERGP)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Wednesday endorsed the Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017- 2020, launched recently by the federal government applauding it as “how fiscal policy should be thought in developing countries.”

The Fund’s Director, Fiscal Affairs Department, Mr. Vitor Gaspar, conveyed its position on the plan while responding to a question from THISDAY, during a media briefing on the IMF Fiscal Monitor press conference at the ongoing IMF/World Bank Spring meetings in Washington DC.

Also, IMF’s Assistant Director/Head, Fiscal Policy and Surveillance, Catherine Pattillo, welcomed the country’s ERGP, saying its focus on diversification and attention to some of the problems facing the economy were steps in the right direction.The IMF official said he had the privilege of visiting Nigeria some months ago and was very happy to understand that for the Nigerian government, fiscal policies in general and tax policy in particular were part of the strategy for development.

According to Pattillo: “We very much welcome the ERGP. As you are aware, Nigeria went into recession last year, there have been forecasted recovery, but still very fragile this year and the need to address the fiscal situation is urgent. Our recommendation is for the continued fiscal consolidation.

“One striking statistics I think is the fact that over the past years, the ratio of interest payment to tax revenue has doubled to 66 per cent in Nigeria. So, two-thirds of all tax revenue is going into interest payment, illustrating the need to raise tax revenue. That would allow the government to implement the social and growth-friendly policies that are part of the objectives of the ERGP.”

A fortnight ago, President Muhammadu Buhari launched the ERGP 2017-2020. The Medium-Term plan has among its broad strategic objectives, the restoration of sustainable, accelerated and inclusive growth and development; investing in the people and building a globally competitive economy.

Meanwhile, the economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa has been projected to rebound in 2017 after registering the worst decline in more than two decades in 2016, according to the new Africa’s Pulse, a bi-annual analysis of the state of African economies conducted by the World Bank.

The region is showing signs of recovery, and regional growth is projected to reach 2.6 per cent in 2017, the report released on the side-lines of the ongoing meetings in Washington stated.

However, it anticipated that the recovery will remain weak, with growth expected to rise only slightly above population growth, a pace that hampers efforts to boost employment and reduce poverty.

“Nigeria, South Africa, and Angola, the continent’s largest economies, are seeing a rebound from the sharp slowdown in 2016, but the recovery has been slow due to insufficient adjustment to low commodity prices and policy uncertainty. Furthermore, several oil exporters in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) are facing economic difficulties,” the journal said.

The latest data revealed that seven countries (Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Rwanda, Senegal, and Tanzania) continued to exhibit economic resilience, supported by domestic demand, posting annual growth rates above 5.4 per cent in 2015-2017. These countries house nearly 27 per cent of the region’s population and account for 13 per cent of the region’s total GDP.

According to the journal: “The global economic outlook is improving and should support the recovery in the region. Africa’s Pulse notes that the continent’s aggregate growth is expected to rise to 3.2 per cent in 2018 and 3.5 per cent in 2019, reflecting a recovery in the largest economies.

“It will remain subdued for oil exporters, while metal exporters are projected to see a moderate uptick. GDP growth in countries whose economies depend less on extractive commodities should remain robust, underpinned by infrastructure investments, resilient services sectors, and the recovery of agricultural production. This is especially the case for Ethiopia, Senegal, and Tanzania.

Quoting World Bank Chief Economist for the Africa Region, Albert G. Zeufack, it said: “A stronger-than-expected tightening of global financing conditions, weaker improvements in commodity prices, and a rise in protectionist sentiment represent downside external risks to the outlook. On the domestic front, risks to the current recovery stem from an inadequate pace of reforms, rising security threats, and political volatility ahead of elections in some countries.

The report which was written by World Bank Lead Economist, Punam Chuhan-Pole, explained that as countries moved towards fiscal adjustment, there was need to protect the right conditions for investment so that Sub-Saharan African countries achieve a more robust recovery.

“With poverty rates still high, regaining the growth momentum is imperative. Growth needs to be more inclusive and will involve tackling the slowdown in investment and the high trade logistics that stand in the way of competitiveness,” it said.

Source: Thisday 

Meet the family that smokes weed together

Paige, Mike and Lauren Cecchi. (Photo: Yahoo News)

It was Thanksgiving afternoon in Madison, Conn., four years ago, and the Cecchi family was getting ready for dinner. Just before the turkey was served, Paige Cecchi, then an 18-year-old college freshman, gave her older sister, Lauren, “the look,” Paige remembers. “Then we realized Dad had caught ‘the look,’” she says of her father, Mike, who is now 66. “And Aunt Denise picked up on ‘the look.’”

Wordlessly, and much to their collective surprise, about half of the assembled guests headed out to the chilly patio, where they lit up a joint and smoked marijuana together as a family for the first time. “Pass, pass, puff,” Mike describes it. “Pass, pass, puff. Everyone is looking out the window at us.”

Whom do you smoke with? That is one measure of social acceptance of weed, and when it comes to parents smoking recreationally with their children, an exclusive Yahoo News/Marist Poll finds it to be far more common than one would think, but not nearly as common as, say, families sharing a bottle of wine.

The younger the children, the less likely this is to happen. Of those parents in the survey who say they use marijuana (which is 18 percent of all parents), 93 percent say they do not smoke in front of children younger than 18 years of age. In contrast, nearly half of parents of adult children — 47 percent — say they have used marijuana with and/or in front of their kids. On the flip side, only 26 percent of adults say they have used the drug with or in front of their parents. This discrepancy likely reflects the fact that a greater proportion of millennials currently use marijuana than baby boomers.

So while it’s not the norm, the family that smokes together is a glimpse of a possible future, should trends toward legalization and acceptance continue. The survey reveals that it is less taboo now for Americans who have had experience with marijuana to be open with family and friends.

“It’s more relaxed than when I was their age,” Mike Cecchi says of the fact that he could not imagine sharing a joint with his own father when he was a teenager in the 1960s but now does so regularly with his daughters. “There’s still a stigma, because the law hasn’t changed everywhere, but it’s so much less than it used to be.”

In that way, he is typical of his generation, the poll finds, because 72 percent of baby boomers say their parents did not even talk about marijuana with them, while today, only 28 percent of parents say they have not had that talk with their kids.

Mike began using weed in 1966, when he was 18, he says, and has continued to use it throughout his life, though he hid it from his children for many years — smoking only in his bathroom and opening the window to dissipate the smell. In retrospect, there were hints, his daughters say now. (Paige and Lauren’s grown brother smokes rarely and declined to be interviewed for this article. Their mother, who the family says prefers wine to weed, also chose not to be included.)

First Lauren, now 28, started to notice that “when I was in high school … when I had a party, I might find [Mike] outside with the high school crowd.” Then there was the time that Paige, now 23, vacationed in Jamaica with her parents when she was a high school sophomore. They took a tour of Bob Marley’s house, Paige remembers, and “my dad’s the first on line” at the cannabis store there.

“That’s when I first started to figure out he might” have some experience with the drug. She would not be the first to figure such a thing out. Many Americans who use marijuana, 62 percent, think their parents have at least tried it.

After the Jamaica trip, Mike’s use became a sort of open secret in the Cecchi house. He continually reminded his children that possession of the drug was (and still is) illegal in Connecticut and that they should not drive while under the influence of any substance. At the same time, though, “we had this quiet understanding that we all enjoyed cannabis,” Paige says. “But we kept it to ourselves.”

Agrees Mike: “I didn’t go out of my way to say, ‘I have it, so you can have it.’ They were going to have to find their own.”

Other parents report the same “don’t ask, don’t tell” dynamic. But, in fact, 60 percent of parents who use marijuana say their children are aware of it, and 72 percent of adult users say their parents are aware.

“Until the past couple of years, we have persisted with the slightly awkward, slightly humorous lie to our children that we don’t indulge,” says a Los Angeles lawyer, the father of two college-aged children, who, like many interviewed for this story, asked that his name not be used because even though possession of marijuana was made legal in California on Election Day of last year, he feared a possible tightening of federal enforcement under the Trump administration. “It was this knowing charade.”

The transition from unspoken to out in the open varies from one family to the next. For the Cecchis it came when each daughter was in high school, and Mike told them directly, “I know what you’re doing,” Lauren remembers. He made no effort to stop them from smoking, she says, but he did make it clear that they should do so carefully. The family rule was that a cellphone call from Mom or Dad must be returned within 15 minutes, the Cecchi parents’ way of monitoring their children’s partying. “If Dad called you and you were so messed up that you couldn’t speak, that would have been the end,” Lauren says.

For the L.A. lawyer, the moment of acknowledgment came when his then-high-school-aged daughter came home one night “and found me smoking out back with a buddy.” After that, they developed a winking goodbye routine when she went out for the evening.

“Don’t drink and drive,” he would say.

“I don’t drink and drive,” she would answer.

“Don’t smoke weed and drive.”

“I don’t smoke weed and drive.”

“Don’t do coke and drive.”

“I don’t do coke.”

The step beyond, to parents and children smoking together, is apparently still a greater hurdle, as evidenced by the fact that the majority of parents say they never cross it.

“When they’re little, you tell them there are things that are just for grownups,” says one Colorado mother of two young adults, who have hinted that they would like to indulge as a family. At least she thinks they are hinting. She hasn’t allowed the conversation to proceed far enough to be sure. Yes, hers is one of eight states plus Washington, D.C., in which recreational use of the drug is legal, but she is still reluctant.

“Now they are adults, so I guess now I think there are things that are just for grown-er grownups,” she says. “I wouldn’t have sex with my kids in the room, and I feel the same about getting high.”

 “That would be weird,” said a 30-year-old medical marijuana patient outside the New England Treatment Access dispensary in Brookline, Mass., one of seven currently operating in that state, of using weed with one’s family. Though he assumes that his parents have used weed recreationally, he says he has not told them that he has a prescription card for the drug. (He would not say what condition he is being treated for. Massachusetts has a short list of named illnesses that qualify for medical marijuana and also a provision that covers “other debilitating conditions as determined … by a patient’s certifying physician.)

“I’m not sure my family is evolved enough to do it together,” he said.

For the Cecchis, the decision to do so was spontaneous, when they went out to the patio before Thanksgiving dinner. “It wasn’t just us,” Mike says, noting that a number of aunts, uncles and cousins joined in. “There was enough of us out there that it had to be half the party.”

Now the family members not only use cannabis (their preferred term, as it has more medicinal connotations and fewer “stoner” ones, they say) when they gather socially but are going into the cannabis business together. Paige works for Women Grow, a group that encourages female ownership of cannabis-based companies, and also is developing her own line of marijuana accessories. Lauren is a handbag designer whose line includes designs that incorporate the symbol of the marijuana plant. And Mike, whose career has been in pharmaceutical sales, is an adviser and investor.

Not so for the L.A. lawyer. Smoking with the parents was his older daughter’s idea, he says. His wife was neutral on the subject, and he was at first reluctant, but he agreed because his daughter seemed to think it would be a bonding experience.

Read More: Yahoo News

Police arraigned 53 for attending gay marriage

The police in Zaria, Northwest Nigeria have arrested 53 persons during a gay marriage and arraigned them on Wednesday before a Magistrates’ Court in Chediya in Zaria.

The prosecutor, Mr. Mannir Nasir, alleged that the accused were arrested on April 15 at Zaria Motel.

They were being charged with conspiracy, unlawful assembly and belonging to a gang of unlawful society.

He said the offences contravened Sections 97, 100 and 197(a) of Criminal Procedure Code [CPC].

“On April 15, 2017 at about 2100 hours a team of policemen led by DSP Muhammad Lawal-Mashi arrested and brought to police station 53 persons.

“The arrested persons included; Jibril Abdullahi, Sagir Abubakar, Anas Mohammed, Mustapha Ababukar, Musa Ibrahim and Suleiman Usman among others, all of various addresses.

“Information reached the police that these group of persons conspired to celebrate a gay marriage at Zaria Motel between one Faruk and Sanusi both at large,” the prosecutor said.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges, and their counsel, Mr. Yunusa Umar, asked the court to release them on bail in line with sections 35 (4) and 36 (5) of the Constitution.

Umar lamented that the accused persons were detained in police custody for more than 24 hours contrary to the provisions of the constitution.

He told the court that most of the accused persons were students in their tender age.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Auwal Musa-Aliyu, granted bail to the accused persons in the sum of $1,200 each, with one surety each in the like sum, who must be a blood relation to the accused.

He ordered that each surety must present two passport size photographs, valid identity card, bank account number, letter of credence from a traditional ruler, a 2015 utility bill and a valid GSM number.

The Chief Magistrate adjoined the case until May 8, for further hearing.

(NAN)

President Buhari Orders Suspension Of SGF Babachir Lawal And The DG Of NIA, Oke with immediate effect

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered an investigation into the allegations of violations of law and due process made against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr David Babachir Lawal, in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE).

The President has also directed the suspension of the SGF from office pending the outcome of the investigations.

In a related development, the President has ordered a full-scale investigation into the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, over which the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has made a claim.

The investigation is also to enquire into the circumstances in which the NIA came into possession of the funds, how and by whose or which authority the funds were made available to the NIA, and to establish whether or not there has been a breach of the law or security procedure in obtaining custody and use of the funds.

The President has also directed the suspension of the Director General of the NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, pending the outcome of the investigation.

A three-man Committee comprising the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the National Security Adviser, headed by the Vice President, is to conduct both investigations.

The Committee is to submit its report to the President within 14 days.

SGF Babachir Lawal

The most senior Permanent Secretary in the SGF's office, and the most senior officer in the NIA, are to act, respectively, during the period of investigation.

Ayodele Oke

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

Nigerian UN employee arrested in New York for robbing four banks

The Nigerian UN Employee Abdullahi Shuaibu arrested for robbery in NY : New York Post

A United Nations headquarters employee was arrested on Monday for robbing four banks over a two-month span, The New York Post reports.

Nigerian national Abdullahi Shuaibu, 53, was charged with two counts of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery.

All robberies were committed during his lunch breaks at banks within walking distance of the UN headquarters.

Mr. Shuaibu committed the first robbery on February 27 when he walked into a Santander Bank and demanded that the teller hand him cash, threatening to shoot if the employee did not comply.

In March, he tried but failed to rob a Bank of America. Later that month, he successfully robbed a separate Santander Bank location.

On Monday, Mr. Shuaibu walked into an HSBC bank and passed a note demanding cash to the teller, who did not read the note and asked for identification. He then told the teller he had a gun and gestured to his hand in his jacket pocket.

After returning to work that afternoon, police arrested Mr. Shuaibu. A retired police officer working at the UN recognized the robber from a surveillance photo previously released by the New York Police Department and led the authorities to his arrest.

Nigeria Economy Pulls out of Recession

Latest economic indicators are showing that after a few quarters of negative growth that saw the slow down of businesses, the Nigerian economy is out of recession, but “conditions remain difficult for businesses,” World Economics said Tuesday.

World Economics is a London-based organisation dedicated to producing financial analysis, insight and data relating to questions of key importance to the world economy.

“April Sales Managers’ Index (SMI) data suggests that the Nigerian economy is continuing to grow out of the recession which saw 10 months of consecutive contraction in 2016,” it said in a release published on its website.

“The Market Growth Index grew to 58.5 in April as the monthly Sales Growth Index ticked up to 56.7, its highest value since 2015 and representative of rapid growth. Price inflation for April, which is tracked by the Prices Charged Index, remained high at 58.7 – indicative of high levels of inflation – however, a slowing trend has developed for the past 9 months.”

Nigeria’s economy receded at the end of Q2 in 2016 after falling oil prices ate deep into the country’s earnings and caused the naira to weaken thereby causing inflation to spiral upward. Spates of attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta by militants, who were protesting for better deals from the government, almost crippled oil production.

But the government’s recent engagements in the oil-rich region, spearheaded by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has seen attacks on oil facilities petered out, at least, for now.

Last Thursday, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said the inflation rate dropped by 0.52 percent in March to close at 17.26 percent, the second decline recorded in two months.

“This is the second consecutive month of a decline in the headline CPI on a year-on-year basis,” NBS said in its report.

“It represents the effects of stabilising prices in already high food and non-food prices as well as favourable base effects over 2016 prices.”

But World Economics noted that there are still issues the economy handlers need to fix before it can be out of the woods.

The organisation said “panellists have explained that although conditions remain difficult for businesses, they are adapting to the challenges and the recent changes to the Naira’s FX rate are aiding sales transactions.

“Overall, conditions in Nigeria have improved further over the past month and managers are expressing renewed optimism that the economy will continue to grow and regain strength after the recession.”

Source: The Guardian

Mystery man pays N42m tithe to Benue church

Pastor Frederick Ikyaan(left) with his wife: Admits the tithe was paid

By Philip Dzeremo

Makurdi - A man whose identity has been shielded by a local church in Makurdi, has shocked church members with a tithe offering of N42 million.

Investigations by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi revealed that the money was paid into the UBA account of the NKST Church High Level  Makurdi.

Although the pastor of the church, Dr. Frederick Ikyaan, initially denied knowledge of the offering, a copy of the church’s quarterly financial report, covering the months of January – March, confirmed the payment of N42million tithe to the church.

The report showed that the lodgement was the highest single offering from an individual for the quarter.

The money was paid into the church’s account in January.

The breakdown of the church’s financial report showed an income of N56.2 million and an expenditure of N33.7 million within the same time frame.

The church’s records also showed that out of the income, N44.6 million was generated from tithe offerings while a single person accounted for N42 million.

Reacting to the financial report, the pastor said his initial denial was based on the allegations that the donor was an appointee of the Benue government.

” I still stand by my words that the person that gave us that money is not an appointee of the state government. In fact, he does not even stay in Benue but is an indigene of the state.”

He said there was nothing wrong with the offering and insisted that the church had nothing to hide.

Meanwhile, the tithe offering has stirred controversy in a state struggling to pay the salaries of workers.

Public discussion centred on  the legitimacy of the donors income, as a man who pays N42m to a church as tithe must have made an income of N420 million in the month that he paid.

The NKST Church is an abbreviation for ‘Non go Kristu  U Sudan hen Tiv’, meaning the Church of Christ Amongst the Tiv. (NAN)

Zik, Awo, others on Obasanjo

13th January 2017

There is this personality complex often exhibited by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in presuming himself to be another of those past reputable political figures in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. If Obasanjo is not parading himself as Nigeria’s Nelson Mandela, he is engaging in unsolicited and mostly unprovoked, intermittent letter-writing, as Nnamdi Azikiwe and Obafemi Awolowo (in exchange of letters) occasionally entertained us in the First Republic. Despite political differences, each of the two giants thrilled us with finesse, dignity and intellectualism, never without something or phrase for which to remember them. Those were rival politicians in the struggle for power. But once elections were over, it was usually straight to the business of governance.

In 1983, Awolowo slightly deviated, but with decency and patriotism, when he wrote a letter to (the then) incumbent President Shehu Shagari, drawing his attention to the deteriorating national economy, with suggestions for halting the drift or be faced with eventual consequences. Shagari politely acknowledged the letter and disagreed with Awolowo’s observations. There were never brickbats from both sides.

In contrast, when he writes letters or about others in his never-ending memoirs, Obasanjo observes no reck or reason. In his first foray at writing his experiences in governance, Obasanjo made shocking, scurrilous remarks about Zik, Awo, Shagari, Aminu Kano and Waziri Ibrahim, the five who contested the 1979 presidential election. From that book, “Not My Will,” it was obvious Obasanjo’s grouse against the big five was the attempt of any of them to succeed him, as he wrote off all of them. That empty, self-glorification of “only Obasanjo” is evident in his disdain for any public figure till today.

Ordinarily, Obasanjo’s remarks on Zik and Awo would have attracted some response from the two men. Instead, none of them dignified Obasanjo with any comment, a silence known over the ages throughout the world as the best answer for a fool. Apparently, that rebuff gave Obasanjo the wrong impression that he could thereafter be having it at anybody and everybody.

Obasanjo’s next book, “My Command,” was a classic piece of immodesty. Supposed to be Obasanjo’s reminiscences of his Nigerian civil war exploits, two vivid observations could be made, only Obasanjo distinguished himself throughout the war while every other brilliant officer was either deliberately discredited or not recognised.

Zik

With no more memoirs to write, Obasanjo, therefore, saw himself in the mould of Azikiwe and Awolowo, exchanging letters publicly. Unfortunately for him, the more Obasanjo wrote, the more his nose was bloodied in the display of holier-than-thou rhetoric. Despite the sleepless nights he caused, Shagari ignored Obasanjo, the same man who rabble-roused against Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as military Head of State. Former President Ibrahim Babangida was also at the receiving end of Obasanjo’s incendiary criticism, even after leaving office in 1993. Eventually, IBB had to fight back in 2007 by putting Obasanjo on notice that, henceforth, it would be “fire for fire.” Obasanjo then stepped back and exposed his inner feelings that there was something unusual in IBB’s open revolt. Since then, Obasanjo never dared IBB.

Obasanjo gambled on Gen. Sani Abacha and barely escaped death, following his trial by a military tribunal for alleged subversive activities.

A man lucky in life to return to office as an elected president after a treason trial, Obasanjo should be humble and content by steering clear of public controversy. Obasanjo ran down ex-President Umaru Yar’Adua on BBC Television. Who was that predecessor that ever went on television at home or abroad to run down Obasanjo?

Then the crunch. Obasanjo disgraced himself by taking on then President Goodluck Jonathan with two letters released to the public, alleging corruption. If Obasanjo felt vindicated, the fact was that Jonathan, in written response, disclosed that he was tackling corruption through meticulous investigation of, especially, the Halliburton bribe scandal. That alert from Jonathan immediately sent Obasanjo back to his enclave with the message to Nigerians that he would no longer comment on public matters. Even “small boy” Jonathan silenced Obasanjo with a technical knock-out.

It is, therefore, amusing that Obasanjo, a man whose stock in trade is to accuse old and new contemporaries as well as professional colleagues, cannot absorb accusations. Jonathan, for example, had to allude to some of his critics with the euphemism of motor park touts.

Herein comes the autobiography of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, against which Obasanjo kicked and made efforts to deny the allegations against him (Obasanjo). To start with, for years, Obasanjo’s cronies had built a bogus reputation around him that the man with thick skin never bothered about criticism. What then happened this time? Surely, Obasanjo, with the allegations against him in Awujale’s autobiography, was rattled and felt completely discredited, which is true. Hence, he, Obasanjo, misfired in all directions. Otherwise, Awujale’s autobiography was published and elaborately launched in 2010, exactly seven years ago, to mark Oba Adetona’s 50th year on the throne. It would be a surprise if Obasanjo never had a copy before now. Is Obasanjo just waking up to the allegations against him?

And if Obasanjo felt so bad about the allegations against him, as contained in Awujale’s autobiography, why did he receive the same Oba, along with APC leaders, three years ago, as he claimed, at the request of the Awujale?

Then, Obasanjo denied the allegations except some, including the one that labelled him a Judas to the Yoruba cause. Which fact about Obasanjo in his public life did he never deny? The most notorious was his attempt to be Baba Nigeria for Life through the mutilation of the Constitution. The fact known to Nigerians was that members of National Assembly were each bribed with N50 million. Nwon gba oju e (they reduced him to a fool), took the money and rejected Obasanjo’s proposed amendment to the Constitution and he became bitter, going on to directly or indirectly scheme out presidential and gubernatorial candidates he believed never supported him.

Till today, Obasanjo continues to tell the lie that he never discussed any third term ambition with anybody. Including the then incumbent American President George W. Bush. The following is an excerpt on Obasanjo from the memoir of former American Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, “No Higher Honour,” page 638.

“… In 2006, when President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria sidled up to the President (George Bush) and suggested that he might change the Constitution so that he could serve a third term, the President (George Bush) told him not to do it. ‘You have served your country well. Now, turn over and become a statesman.’ After a strong public rebuke from the United States and condemnation of his (Obasanjo’s) efforts by the international community, the Nigerian Senate rejected the constitutional amendment proposal that would have allowed Obasanjo to serve a third term. The crest-fallen Obasanjo was initially angry, accusing Jendayi Frazer (American official) of undermining him in the press and with Nigerians.

“‘I will never deal with her again,’ he told the president. The president responded, ‘Well, she is a good person. But the main thing is that your country needs you to do the right thing.’ Obasanjo did cede power, to a handpicked successor, but at least he was unsuccessful in changing the Constitution.”

Once a liar, ever a liar on most things. Did Awujale also make this allegation against Obasanjo? Obasanjo also denied intimidating Mike Adenuga to construct hostel blocks for his  Bells University in Ota. Instead, Obasanjo fingered Julius Okogie, then vice-chancellor of Bells University, as the man who demanded from Adenuga the construction of the hostels, without (Obasanjo’s) knowledge. Was Julius Okogie also responsible (without Obasanjo’s knowledge) for inviting Nigerian dignitaries, including Federal Government contractors, for extortion to foot the cost of Obasanjo’s private library in Abeokuta? Blatant corruption. Obasanjo abused his office in full realisation that, if the ceremony was held after his tenure as president, nobody would contribute a kobo.

In fact, after leaving office, Obasanjo lamented that not up to 60 per cent of those who pledged bothered to honour their pledge. He then had to specially re-invite state governors from the North to contribute the cost of a mosque on the library complex. The man has this feeling of self-aggrandisement that Nigeria owes him everything. Must there be a mosque in Obasanjo’s library complex? If so, he should fund it.

Another lie Obasanjo told in denying Awujale’s accusations was that he (Obasanjo) never influenced EFCC under Nuhu Ribadu against Mike Adenuga. Na so? Who but Obasanjo boasted publicly in Akure before the 2007 gubernatorial election that he would send EFCC (under Ribadu) after the then outgoing Housing Minister, Segun Mimiko, for resisting Obasanjo’s order not to challenge serving Ondo State PDP governor, Segun Agagu, for the 2007 election?

In 2002, another lie. Seven members of the House of Representatives displayed the sun of N3,500,000 from Aso Rock with which they were influenced to impeach Speaker Ghali Na’Abba. Who bribed them? Awujale?

Obasanjo, in his denial of Oba Adetona’s accusations, faulted Mike Adenuga for fleeing Nigeria for his life. Why not? Nnamdi Azikiwe left words for Nigerians that only a mad man would argue with or even wait for a man carrying a gun. Was Mike Adenuga expected to wait for armed EFCC men sent to his house, even if not by Obasanjo?

Who, anyway, ran into hiding for his life on the morning of February 13, 1976, when armed, dissident Nigerian soldiers were assassinating their Commander-in-Chief and Head of State, Gen. Murtala Mohammed? Was that Mike Adenuga?

Whose personal aide is on trial for collecting $5 million as a share in the Halliburton bribe scandal?

And Yoruba leaders are reported to be contemplating settling what they called the rift between Awujale and Obasanjo. Nigerians, including Yoruba, have consigned Obasanjo to the dustbin of history and anybody or group that needs him can maintain collaboration with him. Dressing Obasanjo in the toga of indispensability is the very reason the man throws his weight about.

Meanwhile, any willing and capable Nigerian intent on affirming Obasanjo as a liar on his abortive third term bid should endeavour to purchase the memoir of ex-American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Page 638.

Culled from The Sun

DSS foils attack on US,UK embassies, arrest five suspects

Abuja - The Department State Services (DSS) has arrested five suspects alleged to have perfected plans to attack the United States and United Kingdom embassies in Abuja.

A statement, Wednesday by DSS official Tony Opuiyo said the Service busted the ISIS linked Boko Haram members based in Benue State and the FCT.

He said: “The group had perfected plans to attack the UK and American Embassies and other western interests in Abuja.”

He added that: “during the operation to thwart this plan, five key suspects, namely: Isa Jibril, Jibril Jibril, Abu Omale Jibril, Halidu Sule and Amhodu Salifu, were arrested.” 

Source: Daily Trust

Ex-Ebonyi governor Elechi defects to APC

Fmr Governor Martin Elechi

The immediate past governor of Ebonyi, Chief Martin Elechi, has defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Elechi, a two time governor of Ebony, registered for the APC at his country home in Echialike, Ikwo Local Government Area, in front of national party leaders.

The party leaders were in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi capital, for a thanksgiving church service for the recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari from his ill-health, after which they moved to Ikwo.

According to Elechi, he decided to join APC due to his love for Buhari and the current state of the PDP occasioned by its protracted crisis.

“I knew Buhari 49 years ago when I started the movement for the creation of Ebonyi as he intervened during my arrest with nine other comrades, by officers of the defunct Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO).

“I was interrogated while standing for nine hours and he as the Brigade Major in Abakaliki at that time, ordered our immediate release.

“I thank God for his health as he had favoured the people of Abakaliki and will triumph in his onerous task of rescuing the country from misrule.’’

Boko Haram and corruption issues could have been indescribable if God had not brought Buhari to power, he said.

The former governor said that he was proud of the PDP due to the democratic ideals of its founding fathers, but its present leaders have truncated the ideal.

“I was elected governor on two occasions under its platform as it used to be the pride of Africa, but was suddenly ravaged by self-inflicted crises and afflictions.

“In 1983 when I was the Secretary of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the old Anambra, the budget for the national elections in Anambra and Imo, now South East zone, was N170,000.

“In 2015, however, the budget for my impeachment was N3 billion and this was followed by the distortion and malpractice recorded in the primaries and congresses to elect the PDP candidates.’’

He described the APC as the alternative for Ebonyi people and the Igbo race and thanked the party for offering him and his supporters, a political platform to identify with.

“Three years ago, I would have attacked anyone who said Ebonyi belongs to APC, but currently, me identify with PDP–God forbid,” he said.

Dr Ogbonnia Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, thanked Elechi for the decision and noted that President Buhari will be pleased to receive the news.

“What you did today will never be forgotten in the history of the state as we all should support President Buhari to actualise all his objectives for Nigeria.

Elechi was the leader of the campaign team when Onu contested Ebonyi governorship in 1999, on the platform of All Peoples Party (APP).

Alhaji Kasheem Imam, APC National Leader called on the Igbos to identify with the APC.

Mr Emma Enukwu, the APC South East Zonal Vice Chairman, noted that he was in the state on the orders of the National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun to ensure that Elechi registers with the party.

(NAN)

JAMB extends UTME registration

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Saturday announced the extension of registration for the  2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

It earlier  postponed the mock examination it scheduled for  Saturday, blaming the failure of  its technical partners .

The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-Haq Oloyede, told newsmen in Abuja that sale of forms and registration would now close on May 5 instead of April 19.

Oloyede said that consequently, the 2017 UTME had also been postponed to start on Saturday May 13, and end on May 20  as against May 6 to May 20.

He added that the mock examination earlier slated for Saturday April, 8, 2017 had been put on hold so as to accommodate more candidates.

According to him, this is because the appropriate rehearsal and test-running of the new system has not been substantially achieved.

“The postponement of the UTME mock examination was due to failure from our technical partners. Yesterday (Friday) we told you people that if there was need for extension, we would do that.

“Today (Saturday), we put the system on trial and discovered that there were certain failures from our technical partners. The plan was to trial-test the readiness of our facilities and address the challenges that may likely confront the main examination.

“”The mock examination remains free for willing candidates, even the fee due to the Computer Based Test (CBT) centre owners is being paid by JAMB.

“At this moment, we have realized that the plan to hold this mock examination was good for us. We are now in a  position to achieve better than we would have done without this trial testing.’’

“It is our strong conviction that this exercise is an experience for us; our systems analysis has revealed interesting findings that will engender a seamless and successful 2017 UTME exercise . ‘’

He  apologised to candidates and other stakeholders for the inconveniences experienced and thanked them for being part of the experiment.

“”Every disappointment is a blessing and the blessing that will trail the suspension of this mock examination and extension of registration deadline will manifest in our main UTME by next month,’’ he said

The Registrar added that the mock examination was also part of the board’s determination  to ensure  a successful UTME this year and in the future. NAN

S’Court Sacks NASS Member from Anambra, Orders Him To Refund Salaries, Allowances

Sopuluchukwu Elbert Ezeonwuka, Orumba North/South

The Supreme Court has removed Sopuluchukwu Elbert Ezeonwuka of the PDP from representing Orumba North/South of Anambra Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.‎

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun gave the order on Friday in a judgment in an appeal filed against Ezeonwuka’s election by a member of the party, Ben Nwankwo.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mr. Nwankwo’s name was wrongly substituted with the first respondent, Mr. Ezeonwuka, after he had obtained the nomination of the party to contest the National Assembly election.

Dissatisfied with the February 20, 2015, judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja and the decision of the Court Appeal to uphold it, Mr. Nwankwo approached the apex court.

“Conclusion: having resolved the key issues in favor of the appellant, the appeal succeeds and it is hereby allowed.

“The judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on June 26, 2016, is hereby set aside for being a nullity having exceeded its jurisdiction by granting relief not sought by the parties before it.

“This follows that the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on February 20, 2015, was delivered without jurisdiction and it’s a nullity. It is equally set aside.

“The Originating Summons filed on Dec.15, 2014 in FHC/ABJ/CS/1013/2014 is hereby struck out,” she said.

Justice Kekere-Ekun further held that: “the consequence of the above order is that the parties shall revert to the status quo ante.

“The existing position before the first respondent (Ezeonwuka) filed a suit at the trial court was that not only was the appellant’s name submitted to INEC for the March 28, 2015 election, he won the election.

“It was at the point of being issued the Certificate of Return that he was confronted by a letter conveying the order of the trial court stopping that action.

“In the circumstances, it is hereby ordered that the appellant, Chief Ben Nwankwo, being the candidate duly sponsored by the PDP in that election is entitled to be issued with the certificate of return.

“The second respondent (INEC) is hereby ordered to issue Chief Nwankwo a certificate of return in respect of the National Assembly election held March 28, 2015, forthwith’’, she said.

The judge also further said: “the first respondent (Ezeonwuka) is hereby ordered to vacate the seat of the Orumba North/South Federal Constituency of Anambra State in the National Assembly forthwith’’.‎

“It is further ordered that Ezeonwuka shall refund to the National Assembly all monies collected by him by way of salaries and allowances since he took the seat within 90 days.

“And finally, a fine of N500, 000 is awarded in favor of the appellant against the first respondent’’, the judge held.

NAN reports that the appellant had asked the court to decide whether the lower court had jurisdiction to deliver judgment dated June 26, 2015, without considering and determining pending motion on notice dated June 18, 2015.

The appellant had in that motion sought permission of the court to appeal against the judgment of the trial court as an interested party.

He also urged the court to decide whether the court below was entitled to determine who should be the sponsored candidate of the party.‎

Source: Elombah.com