Category : Local

Ex-minister’s missed flight stalls Belgore’s money laundering trial

A missed flight by former National Planning Minister, Prof Abubakar Suleiman, yesterday stalled his trial and that of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Dele Belgore, at the Federal High Court in Lagos. Suleiman’s lawyer, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), informed Justice Rilwan Aikawa that his client was not in court because he missed his flight to Lagos. Oyetibo said it was not in Suleiman’s character to be away from court as he had always been present for his trial. He apologised for the former minister’s absence. Prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo confirmed that he was informed, but said he would reluctantly concede to the adjournment request. During an earlier hearing, Belgore told the court that he never met or dealt with former Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is also named in the charge but is said to be “at large”. Read also: Alleged N450m fraud: Court adjourns Belgore’s trial to June 19 The lawyer said he was not aware that the N450 million he signed for in 2015 came from her as he believed that the funds came from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headquarters following a fund-raising. Belgore was the Goodluck Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation coordinator in Kwara State ahead of the 2015 general elections. He also told the court that he di...

Scandalous pay

•SERAP and others’ suit against lawmakers’ jumbo allowance is commendable The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), BudgIT and Enough is Enough Nigeria have gone to seek legal intervention from a Lagos High Court to stop the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) from paying the members of the ninth assembly N4.68billion as take-off allowance. The leadership of the National Assembly, the NASC and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission were all joined as defendants. SERAP, since its inception in 2004 as a non-profit, non-governmental organisation, has been concerned and working towards the upholding of international human rights laws for increasing transparency, accountability and protection of economic and social rights in Nigeria. The organisation seems to have been actively and dedicatedly pursuing their goals in the country. Since the return to democracy in 1999, the salaries and other financial benefits of the National Assembly members have been like a financial sore on the nation’s budget annually. At some point during his tenure, the then governor of the Central Bank, Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, decried the fact that the National Assembly’s budget alone takes out a very reasonable percentage from the nation’s annual budget. Even...

Overbearing regulator?

•NBC law is product of military rule; it needs a review It required the intervention of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to restore the licence of DAAR Communications Plc, owners of African Independent Television (AIT) and Ray Power FM, which the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) suspended on June 6. The privately owned broadcasting organisation had gone to court to challenge the suspension of its licence. The court ordered both parties to maintain the status quo as at May 30, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit before it. This conflict raises questions about the powers of the NBC, and the exercise of such powers, particularly whether the commission was overbearing by suspending the media organisation’s licence. The agency said the media group operated “as if it is beyond the regulatory direction of the commission. They don’t pay their licence fees as and when due.” Other allegations: “Its broadcast is patently partisan and one-sided and deliberately inciting and heating the polity.” The agency also accused AIT/Raypower of using “divisive comments accredited to the segment of “Kakaaki”, tagged, “Kakaaki Social”, where inciting comments like, “Nigeria is cursed, we declare independent state of Niger Delta”, “Nigeria irritates me”, “this country is gra...

No Excuses APC

The All Progressive Congress (APC) chairman Adams Oshiomhole surely has his faults, but he also has the courage to dare. Some say he is abrasive and rash when pushing his view. But regardless of what one says about the petit former labour leader, it is dangerous to take him for granted in any contest, where being loquacious is an added advantage. Politics is one such contest, where being bombast could be a bomb against your opponents. In the run up to the 2019 general elections, the APC chairman was up and about shredding the reputation of the opposition PDP and asking Nigerians to move unto the NEXT level. Again, as the National Assembly prepared to elect their leaders last week, the APC chairman was so upbeat about the chances of his party, that he declared all the leadership positions a no go area for the opposition. He warned that any legislator who sells any piece of the family silver would be severely punished. His warning came when there was palpable fear that the PDP could take advantage of the potential division within the APC camp, to gain one of the four coveted seats. Luckily, with President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC national leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu flexing their muscles, the party cleared the senate president and the deputy, as well as the speaker and dep...

Re: Postmaster-General or banker

SIR: Your editorial ‘’Postmaster General Or Banker?’’ on Monday, May 6, with the rider ‘Instead of opening 2000 MFB outlets, NIPOST should focus on its core mandate’ not only created the erroneous impression that NIPOST has been issued license to operate Microfinance Banks but also portrayed the Postmaster General of the Federation, Barrister Bisi Adegbuyi as someone who is veering off his official mandate in pursuit of a different agenda. Inadvertently , perhaps , or, due to misinterpretation of piece of information available to your office, the article did not explain the role of NIPOST in the collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), The Nigeria Incentive based Risk sharing System of Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) to drive the federal government finance inclusion program. NIPOST management is therefore worried that such a report is capable of creating erroneous impression that NIPOST is abdicating its mandate of providing efficient and reliable postal services to its esteemed customers and Nigeria at large. For the records, NIPOST has not been issued for the operation of Microfinance Banks. The MFB in question is an initiative of the collaboration between CBN and the Bankers Committee and NIPOST was identified as one of the agents to implement the project. The 200...

What triggered more bloody conflicts in Nigeria than Boko Haram — UN Official

A United Nations official said on Monday that land degradation and competition over access to land and water had triggered more bloody conflicts in Nigeria than Boko Haram. Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ankara, Turkey. “More lives have been claimed in conflicts over access to land and water than Boko Haram. “Every day, you have more conflicts between people that are competing for access to land and water. “The root cause of the competition is access to natural resources,” the UN official told NAN on the sidelines of 2019 World Day to Combat Desertification in the Turkish capital. World Day to Combat Desertification is celebrated every year globally on 17 June to promote good land stewardship for the benefit of present and future generations....

‘Tyrants never end well’ – Fani-Kayode reacts to ex-president, Morsi’s death

Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation has reacted to the death of Egypt’s former president, Mohammed Morsi Morsi, who was ousted by the army in 2013, fainted in court, DAILY POST reports. The 67-year-old former Egypt leader fainted and subsequently died after a court session where he was facing espionage charges. He was overthrown in […] ‘Tyrants never end well’ – Fani-Kayode reacts to ex-president, Morsi’s death

Masari condemns girl-child street hawking, warns mothers

Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina state has condemned mothers that sent their girls to partake in street hawking and called on them to eschew such hazardous and dangerous attitude. Masari made the condemnation on Mondsay in Katsina when he received 120 youths, trained by UNICEF to serve as Girl-child education advocates who were on a courtesy visit. “Some recalcitrant mothers are still indulging in sending their female wards to participate in street hawking instead of sending them to schools,” he said. He said that street hawking was highly dangerous for female wards adding that they could be raped, maimed or killed in the process. “Some of the Girl-child that hawk cooked food even take their commodity to construction sites and uncompleted buildings where labourers eventually rape them. “We are calling on parents to stop sending their children, both males and females, to indulge in street hawking....

Angry Nigerian Man Goes On Rampage… Destroys Cars At Nigeria Embassy In London [VIDEO]

A Nigerian man today went on rampage, destroying cars at the Nigerian High Commission’s office in London, United Kingdom after officials in the Commission reportedly failed to act on his request. A video making the rounds on social media, shows the Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK, George Oguntade, inspecting the vandalised cars and asking […] More The post Angry Nigerian Man Goes On Rampage… Destroys Cars At Nigeria Embassy In London [VIDEO] appeared first on GQBuzz.com.

Taraba Gov, Ishaku imposes curfew in Jalingo

Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba, on Monday night, imposed curfew on Jalingo following fresh outbreak of crisis in some communities in Kona and ATC areas, near Jalingo. This was contained in a statement by Mr Bala Dan Abu, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity. According to the Governor, the curfew […] Taraba Gov, Ishaku imposes curfew in Jalingo

2019 Elections: Army absolves itself of Wrong doing

The Nigerian Army has absolved itself and personnel of any wrongdoing during the 2019 general elections. It also dismissed allegations of attempted assassination, hijack of INEC materials as well as imposition of curfew in Rivers State as untrue. A statement signed by Army spokesman Col. Sagir Musa said the Army would, however, embark on administrative transfer of some personnel from the 6 Division in Rivers state to douse tension in the area. It added that the Committee set up by the Army Chief to look into matter met with all stakeholders before arriving at its decisions. The statement reads: “The Nigerian Army has absolved its personnel from allegations of misconduct during Operation SAFE CONDUCT 2019. Read also: Army trains 2,000 Customs personnel as smugglers’ become defiant “A committee set up by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai to investigate the allegations of unprofessional conduct leveled against the Nigerian Army personnel during the 2019 general elections interacted with stakeholders including Governors of Bayelsa and Rivers States, among others. “The Committee analyzed and reviewed the petitions received against Nigerian Army personnel from various stakeholders and found that most of the allegations were untrue, base...

Boko Haram used children for Borno bombings – UNICEF

UNICEF, on Monday, condemned the use of children as suicide bombers in Nigeria. The UN body said this in reaction to suspected Boko Haram suicide bombings in Mandarari community in Borno. “According to several reports, three children – two girls and a boy (ages unknown) – were used to detonate explosives that killed 30 people […] Boko Haram used children for Borno bombings – UNICEF

What may trigger Third World War in Nigeria – UN official

A United Nations official said on Monday that degradation and competition over access to land and water may cause war in Nigeria. “Land restoration is about security, reducing clashes between farmers and herdsmen over access to land and water, which may trigger the Third World War”, Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of UN Convention to Combat […] What may trigger Third World War in Nigeria – UN official

Constituency projects: ICPC to storm Kano, Benue, other states

The Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it is set to commence tracking of its first phase of constituency projects in 12 states. This was contained in a brief statement signed by the commission’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Monday. The News […] Constituency projects: ICPC to storm Kano, Benue, other states

Cross River: INEC re-affirms John Owan-Enoh as APC governorship candidate

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday at a renewed sitting of the Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal in Calabar, Cross River, reaffirmed the nomination of Senator John Owan Enoh as the lawful candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the March 9 governorship election. The commission, while arguing in a suit no EPT/CAL/COV01/2019, however, […] Cross River: INEC re-affirms John Owan-Enoh as APC governorship candidate