Osinbajo, Fintiri, minister meet over humanitarian and security situation in the North-East.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, met with Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa over humanitarian and security situation in the North-East.

Also at the meeting were Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno; Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) among others.

Fintiri told State House correspondents afterwards that the meeting was successful and fruitful.

“These are strategies we need to keep for ourselves so that we move the country and the North-East forward.

“I think it is too early to divulge the information at the moment.”

He said that a key humanitarian issue in the region was the movement of food and other aids to the badly affected areas.

According to him, the military has been doing well of late while the communities are opening up.

The governor said that serious efforts were being made to address the issue of the flooding in the region.

“The flooding does not affect the North-East generally, but my state is one of those that have been identified by NEMA to have flooded this year.

“And personally, I have been making efforts in addressing the flooding challenge in my state.”

On the issue of shelter for Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs), he said that the IDP camps in the region were well taken care of.

He said that more houses were being built for IDPs in Borno.

“They are building more houses in all the local governments in that state for them to relocate IDPs camps to their various local governments of origin.

“That is also happening in Adamawa. We are addressing them headlong and we are moving forward in ensuring that our citizens are well taken care of and they are settled properly the way it should be in their communities.”

On COVID-19, Fintiri said that the curve had been flattened in the whole North-East, adding that efforts would be stepped up to ensure that the protocols were kept.

On her part, Umar-Farouk said that it was only Borno that still had a high concentration of IDPs.

“In Adamawa, there are one or two IDP camps and they originated from Borno State.

“In Yobe, we do not have official IDP camps; they are all back in their communities.

“So, what we are really working on now is Borno where we have a high concentration of these IDPs; and the government is doing everything possible to support, assist and to ensure that they are being catered for,” she said.

Source: News Agency Of Nigeria 

CAN tells Buhari to suspend controversial CAMA 2020

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to issue directives to suspend implementation of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.

Rev. Samson Ayokunle, CAN President, made the call at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

Recall that the National Assembly passed the CAMA bill earlier this year and the president signed it into law on Aug. 7.

Ayokunle said that comments in public domain were beginning to indicate that the Act was capable of further undermining the faith of stakeholders in the Nigerian state.

The CAN president, represented by, Rev. William Okoye, General Overseer, All Christians Fellowship Mission (ACFM), said that the association had not been availed with the authentic version of the Act.

“We consider the Act a complex of statecraft compendium, laden with issues inimical to peace and stability and overall wellbeing of the country.

“From the reactions of stakeholders and a cross-section of the people it is apparent the Act either did not receive input from various interest groups or failed to accommodate their views.

“There is need for stakeholders to seek judicial intervention or amendment of the Act.

“We must allay stakeholders’ fears and encourage them to exercise their democratic rights, hoping that when citizens approach the state institutions they shall rise up to the challenge,” he said.

The CAN president urged Buhari to issue the appropriate directives to suspend the implementation of the Act based on stakeholders’ opinions and affirm a thorough reappraisal of the legislation.

He said the directive should be in correlation with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), other extant legal and policy frameworks, the national economy, national security, national interest and the wellbeing of the people.

Source: News Agency Of Nigeria

Reps To Probe Alleged Infractions In NDDC, NBET

The House of Representatives on Tuesday vowed to investigate alleged infractions contained in a six-year audit report on the Niger Delta Development Commission and the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc.

The report on the NDDC was from 2013 to 2018 while that on the NBET was from 2017 to 2019. Both were submitted by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Public Accounts.

The chairman of the committee, Wole Oke, told reporters in Abuja that the committee would give the reports accelerated deliberations when the House resumes from its annual recess in September.

In the queries, the NDDC is to, among other things, explain the alleged payment of N459.350m as medical check-up expenses to part-time board members, payment of N1.358bn as imprest to executive board members, engagement and payment of N1.58bn to external solicitors without the consent of the Attorney-General of the Federation, award of N3.001bn emergency contracts, payment of N698.1m to some retired generals for regional security surveillance on projects.

Other alleged infractions in the report included payment of N2.5bn for the supply of 3,852 doses of Hepatitis B vaccines and 1570 doses of Typhoid vaccines and supply of Lassa fever kits to NDDC warehouse in Port Harcourt and distribution, transportation and storage was queried by the Auditor General.

Similarly, the committee received from the Auditor-General, the report querying the NBET on non-submission of annual audited financial statements for six years 2014 to 2019.

Troops Raid Zamfara Goldmine, Arrest 150 Suspected Bandits

Troops of Operation Sahel Sanity conducted a well-coordinated intelligence-based raid on an illegal mining site located along Gadan Zaima in Bukuyyum LGA of Zamfara State and arrested 150 suspected armed bandits, the acting Director, Defence Media Operation, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, has disclosed.

“During the raid on the goldmine, which served as a hideout to armed bandits, the troops also recovered 20 locally fabricated Dane guns. One of the suspects was neutralised while trying to escape.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that aside from sabotaging the nation’s economy, banditry is being financed through these illegal mining activities.

“Similarly, troops on a fighting patrol encountered three bandits on motorcycles around Maigalma village in Anka LGA of Zamfara State who were attempting to attack innocent residents.

“During the encounter, one of the bandits was neutralised while others escaped. Troops recovered one AK-47 Rifle, one AK-47 Rifle magazine loaded with five rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and two motorcycles from the fleeing bandits,” General Onyeuko said.

He said a repentant bandit leader named Bornon Kejo willingly surrendered to troops and submitted two AK-47 Rifles and two AK-47 Rifle magazines at Zurmi in Zurmi LGA of the state, adding that efforts were ongoing to recover more weapons as well as encourage others to embrace peace and submit their arms.

“In the same vein, seven trucks loaded with cattle suspected to have been rustled were arrested along Jibia-Katsina road and Gusau-Zaria road respectively,” he said.

Ex-Workers, NAHCO Disagree Over N1.1bn Benefits

The management of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc and their ex-workers have disagreed over N1.1 billion severance benefits.

About 750 former staff have instituted a court action alleging a short-change over the severance benefits after the termination of their appointment 15 years ago when the company was privatized.

But NAHCO said it cleared the payment earlier. However, the ex-workers who had engaged a lawyer, claimed the money NAHCO was said to have paid at the time of their disengagement does not amount to the terminal benefits they are entitled to.

They also alleged some underpayment from Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) after serving NAHCO for 15 years.

General-Secretary of the workers’ forum, Sanmi Alademoni, confirmed that NAHCO actually paid them some money at the time of the privatization but the information they got was that the said amount was ‘Golden Handshake’.

“It is not the terminal benefit or severance package that they are talking about,” he said.

But NAHCO management yesterday said workers including those disengaged and those remaining with the company had been paid their entitlement.

When contacted, the Head, Corporate Communication, Samuel Akinrinmade, said the payment was made between April and May 2008 when the ground handling firm was privatized.

He explained that the gratuity of N1.1bn was paid to 936 people and it started seeking a refund from the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) with several letters to the bureau in line with the decision of the board.

Daily Trust learnt that in 2015, BPE transferred the issue of refund being sought by NAHCO to PTAD to carry out the required verification.

“NAHCO was actually being proactive. The management felt there was a need to pay the money at the time because of the tense situation while the board decided to seek a refund from the BPE,” Akinrinmade said.

NECA Seeks Concerted Action On Economy

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has called for concerted efforts by stakeholders to pull the economy away from the downward slide.

The Director-General of NECA, Dr Timothy Olawale, while responding to a damning economic report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday, said: “The economic data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is a call to urgent action. The economic contraction, leaving GDP growth rate at -6.10% is not only alarming but also worrisome.”

He said while it was expected that the Covid-19 pandemic would create economic shock and disrupt business activities, recent releases have shown that the level of shock and disruption was highly underestimated.

While shedding light on the realities and consequences of the economic slide, the NECA boss said, “It is highly worrisome that the economy is facing unusual times, similar to the pre-2016 recession. A period of increasing inflation, unprecedented high youth unemployment and underemployment rate, the dwindling value of the naira occasioned by limited access to foreign exchange and a negative growth rate.”

Olawale urged the government to “take a bold step in stopping the slide by refocusing monetary and fiscal policies to support economic sectors that have potentials for large scale production and employment as a means to kick-start the economy.

‘FG To Take Delivery Of 11 Locomotives Soon’

In less than two months, the Federal Government will take delivery of additional 11 units of locomotives to be deployed on both the Abuja-Kaduna and Lagos-Ibadan rail lines.

CRRC, the contractor procuring the locomotives in a tweet Tuesday said the locomotives have left China and are headed to Nigeria.

“The second batch (11 units) of diesel locomotives made by #CRRC Qishuyuan for export to #Nigeria for Abuja-Kaduna Railway and Lagos-Ibadan Railway were shipped from Changzhou Port to Shanghai, starting their journey to Nigeria.”

Recall in 2019, China Civil Engineering Construction Corp awarded CRRC Qishuyan a contract for the supply of 21 diesel locomotives and multiple units to Nigeria.

The locomotives are part of the rail contracts being executed in Nigeria from about $1.8 billion loan from China.

The first ten locomotives and two locomotives had arrived Nigeria during lockdown Nigeria from Shanghai.

Under the contract, CRRC Qishuyan will deliver four diesel trains, six passenger locomotives, nine freight locomotives and 2 shunting locomotives.

Controller-General of  the Nigerian Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandele

Operators Decry 400% Rise In Freight Rate

Stakeholders in the maritime sector have expressed concern over the increased cost of freight by 400 percent due to the drop in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Stakeholders who expressed their worries in an interactive session in Lagos on Tuesday.

The Chairman Port Consultative Council (PCC), Otunba Kunle Folarin, said before now the sector’s growth rate had been affected by the lockdown occasioned by the CONVID-19 pandemic.

“The summary of all these is that the economy is gradually going into recession. There is no doubt about that and there is no intervention by government to shore up the dollar.”

He warned that if the dollar rate is let loose, it could go beyond N500 to the dollar.

On his part the President of National Association of Stevedoring Companies (NASC), Mr. Bolaji Sunmola agreed that the economy is heading towards a recession.

“From indices available, the economy is heading towards a recession, we have a situation whereby the capacity to produce is not there, the capacity to buy is not there.”

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr. Hassan Bello said the fall in the GDP is expected following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic which affected virtually other economies of the world.

I inherited N3.2 billion debt –NAFDAC DG

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), said on Tuesday that she inherited a debt of N3.2 billion when she assumed office in November 2017.

Adeyeye speaking at an online news conference to highlight the activities of the agency, said that, however, the debt had been settled.

“I am happy to inform you that we have been able to pay our debts and we are also training our 2,200 members of staff to enhance competence, capability as well as productivity.”

According to her, the sum of N7 billion was generated in 2017; while N2.5 billion and N3.1 billion were generated from the agency’s IGR windows in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

She also said that the agency was in dire need of an overhaul to achieve its mandate.

“About 80 per cent of the equipment in the agency’s laboratories are not functioning, directors have no laptops to work with, incessant industrial actions and lack of utility vehicles are the many problems facing the agency.

“When I resumed office, it was like being thrown into an ocean of problems, so, I started digging into why the agency got into such debt and how to get out of it.

“For 30 years as a professor, my life has been in the laboratory.

“I was shocked when I saw that 80 per cent of the equipment in the NAFDAC laboratories were not functioning.

“And everything the agency does requires laboratory tests – from water to drugs, food products, chemicals and others.

“We decided to review and overhaul our operations by adopting quality management system which enables us to upgrade the ICT system to ensure online documentation, computerised transactions, e-registration and e-certification of food and drug products,” she said.

“I also met about 6,000 backlog of applications for approval of different products.

“We also adopted ‘Customer First’ strategy and gave a mandate for the applications to be cleared within two months and it was done.

“Time of approval used to take months but when I came in, the duration for the approval was reduced to 90 days for food products and 120 days for drugs.

“It is very expensive to equip a laboratory as it costs between N270 million and N350 million for one piece of equipment in the laboratory.

“So, we started to save for the purchase of equipment while we pay off our debt gradually.

“We have seven laboratories across the country and we have bought eight basic equipment. It is not enough because the goal is to have 20 of such equipment,” she said.

Adeyeye said that the quality management system and customer first strategy adopted had helped to sanitise the agency’s budget and increased its internally generated revenue.

The NAFDAC’s D-G also said that the agency decentralised its operations across the country by establishing 23 directorates for faster and effective service delivery.

According to her, the agency resumed its operations at the nation’s ports and borders in May 2018 to prevent and reduce the influx of substandard and counterfeit products entering the country.

Adeyeye said that the agency was working hard to attain the level-3 of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Benchmark System that would enable vaccines to be produced in the country.

Source: News Agency Of Nigeria

Police Rescue 2 Children Locked Up In Toilet In Garki, Abuja.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has rescued two children that were allegedly locked up in a toilet in a house in Garki, Abuja.

In a statement, the spokesman of the command, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, said the two kids were subjected to inhuman treatment by their guardian who lives on the second floor of a two-storey building in the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Quarters, Garki.

He said one of the children, Wisdom Christopher, 9, whom he said miraculously escaped through the window of their guardian’s apartment located in a two storey-building, raised the alarm which led to the rescue of the second victim, Angel Nwoga, also 9-years-old, from the apartment.

He said the second victim was rescued from the apartment by operatives from Garki police division and some officials of the Federal Fire Service.

According to him, the guardian of the victims, Mrs Loveth Ilobi, was reported to have been subjecting the children to inhuman treatment.

“Information has it that she often starved the children and locked them up in the toilet pending her return from work late at night,” he said.

Manzah said the culprit had been arrested by police operatives from Garki police division and that investigation had commenced.

Newly Recruited Soldiers Vow To Deal With Civilians In Viral Video ( See Video)

Troubling video purportedly shows newly recruited soldiers vowing to deal with Nigerian civilians

A video making the rounds on social media shows the moment some newly recruited soldiers vowed to deal with any civilian who steps on their toes.

In the video, the new recruits are seen warning civilians of what will happen if they err.

One of the new recruits was asked what she thinks of civilians and she said: “They are very useless and hopeless. If I catch them, body go tell them. Tell them say make them no cross my lane o. If them try am…”

Another said in the video: “The worstest thing on earth is to be a civilian.”

Another said “I’ll flog them. I’ll flog them,” when asked what she will do to erring civilians.

Sharing the video to Twitter, Ibn Rabiu wrote: “So, this is actually what is coming out from the mouth of the people that are supposed to protect us. We are really f***ed up in this country.”

Nigerians reacted to the video by tagging the Nigerian Army, while some defended them, saying they were just joking.

WATCH VIDEO BELOW

CAN: CAMA 2020 is satanic and ungodly

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has described the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA) as “satanic”, “ungodly” and a “time-bomb waiting to explode”, saying it rejects government control of churches and worship centers.

The body also said the CAMA 2020 will “snuff life out of the church and rank the church as a secular institution under secular control.”

Newsmen report that President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Companies and Allied Matters Bill 2020 into law on August 7, 2020, after the National Assembly successfully amended the 1990 law

CAN President, Reverend Samson Ayokunle in a statement Thursday said, “The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria rejects outrightly the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 that was assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari recently.

“The law, to say the least, is unacceptable, ungodly, reprehensible, and an ill-wind that blows no one any good. It is a time bomb waiting to explode.

“While we are not against the government fighting corruption wherever it may be found, yet we completely reject the idea of bringing the church, which is technically grouped among the NGOs, under control of the government.

“The Church cannot be controlled by the government because of its spiritual responsibilities and obligations.”

“How can the government sack the trustee of a church which it contributed no dime to establish?

“How can a secular and political minister be the final authority on the affairs and management of another institution which is not political?

“How can a non-Christian head of government ministry be the one to determine the running of the church? It is an invitation to trouble that the government does not have power to manage.”

Can therefore advised the federal government to “face the business of providing infrastructure for the people. Let them focus on better health provision, food, education, adequate security employment, etc.

“The government should not be a busy body in a matter that does not belong to it. The government does not have the technical expertise to run the church of God because of its spiritual nature.

“If the government is bent on imposing a law on us which the entire Church in Nigeria is against, then, they have declared war on Christianity and the agenda to destroy the Church which we have spoken against before now is coming to the open more clearly.

“If you cannot give us good amenities of life, we would not allow you to take away our liberty to worship our Maker.”

The body counseled the president to “stop the implementation of the obnoxious and ungodly law until the religious institutions are exempted from it” and “return the law to the National Assembly for immediate amendment.”

Source: Today.ng

PTF: 14 medical doctors die of virus infection in Nigeria

The Presidential Taskforce PTF on Covid-19 has blamed Nigerians for the continued non-compliance with Covid-19 safety protocols, saying it would have flattened the curve by now, but for the lackadaisical attitude of Nigerians towards containing the pandemic.

It also lamented the increasing Covid-19 case fatalities in the country, disclosing that of the 985 deaths recorded so far, 14 of them were medical doctors who contracted the virus in the line of duty.

“In coordinating this national response, I can assure you that our biggest challenge has been the attitude of some Nigerians. That is our biggest challenge. Everything to fight Covid-19 has been placed out our disposal. We arrested the 2020 budget and got it revised, all in an attempt to deal with the financial means in fighting Covid-19.

“We are not in short of any resources to fight Covid-19. We have coordinated a national response that took in everybody that matters in this country. The corporate world through CA-COVID has amassed a huge war-chest of resources.

“So, our major challenge as a Presidential Taskforce has been the attitude of some Nigerians. With our response, we would have flattened the curve. We would have dampened this ravaging virus by now if we had just complied with simple instructions and that brings me to a major thing which was aptly demonstrated yesterday when I presented a memorandum to the president for the introduction of a National Policy on Ethics and Integrity. Most of us think that as Nigerians we only have rights but there are corresponding responsibilities that you are expected to exhibit as a citizen of the country.

“This morning, Nigerians woke up to the stark reality that our confirmed cases of COVID-19 have crossed the 50,000 marks standing at 50,488 and a death toll of 985 bringing us close to the unenviable record of 1,000 fatalities. These records are not landmarks to be celebrated especially as every single death further underscores the grief and pains of families and friends, scuttled lives that could have contributed to national development and abridging God’s purpose for the lost soul. This is aptly demonstrated by the fact that 14 of these paid the supreme sacrifice as they were doctors who toiled daily to save lives”, said Boss Mustapha, Chairman of the Taskforce and Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF.

Mustapha who disclosed this during Thursday’s briefing of the Taskforce said the coronavirus continues to display unpredictable characteristics that show its relentless nature on populations that disregard common and simple protective measures.

He said it would be extremely selfish for Nigerian youths to continue to flout the safety protocols and carry on without sparing a thought for their safety and those of the vulnerable.

“Such behaviour has been amplified in the surge in some states of the United States of America. Similarly, this unpredictability is reflected in the last twenty-four hours when Plateau State witnessed the highest daily number of confirmed cases.

“In the last two days, the World Health Organisation WHO had issued warnings on Vaccine Nationalism and that young people are aiding the spread of the virus. The latter is more germane for us as Nigerians with our over 80% youthful population and should give us more cause to be on our guard. It would border on extreme selfishness for our youths to believe that since they are asymptomatic carriers they can carry on with life as they please. More so that being asymptomatic does not guarantee immunity forever. The PTF is, however, encouraged by the fact that majority of our youths are in the vanguard of this fight and still call on the few non-conforming ones to join”, he said.

According to the SGF, Nigeria’s testing infrastructure has been increased to undertake up to 15,000 tests per day, but unfortunately, Nigeria is currently testing between 3,000 to 6,000 daily due mainly to people still not subjecting themselves to testing.

The government explained that the increasing number of cases from Plateau state was due to an improvement in testing, saying a lot of people are now being tested daily in the state.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika who reiterated the decision of the federal government to commence international flights as from August 29, adding that Nigeria would implement the principle of reciprocity with countries who have barred Nigerians from flying into their countries.

He said Nigeria will treat citizens of other countries the way their home countries treat Nigerian citizens, saying those who have barred flights from Nigeria would not also be allowed into the country

Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said the Federal Government is working with relevant partners to be able to access vaccines when they are eventually developed.

“Nigeria is also working with the World Health Organization to finalize enrollment with ACT Accelerator, a global mechanism tracking and sponsoring research Organizations working on covid19 vaccine development. We are also interested in the COVAX facility, a GAVI supported global initiative to procure and assure equitable access to vaccines, as soon as they are available, especially for Lower and lower middle-Income Countries (LMIC). This will prioritize Nigeria for allocation of a part of 2 billion vaccines doses that will be secured, in a special plan to protect the interests of poorer countries”.

Source: Today.ng

Ghana Demolishes Nigeria’s Diplomatic Building in their country

Adedayo Akinwale The federal government has demanded an urgent action from Ghana over the attack on the Nigerian High Commission in Accra, the Ghanaian capital. Armed men had invaded the commission in Accra to supervise the demolition of a building under construction by the high commission. The attack violates the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations

Source: list.ng

Five dead in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway accident

The Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps said five persons died while one was injured on Thursday in an accident after Sagamu Interchange, on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, the Ogun Public Relations Officer of TRACE, disclosed this in a statement made available in Ota, Ogun.

Akinbiyi said the multiple accident, which happened about 9.30 a.m., was caused by reckless driving and wrongful overtaking.

He said three vehicles comprising a Daf tanker with no registration number, a Benz truck marked FST 340 XW, and a Mazda space bus marked GGE 296 DC, were involved in the accident.

The TRACE official said five persons died while one sustained injuries in the accident.

“The corpses of victims have been deposited at Idera Hospital morgue, Sagamu, while the survivor is also receiving treatment in the same hospital,” he said.

Akinbiyi said that the three vehicles involved in the accident had been taken to Police MTD Area Command, Sagamu, Ogun.

He advised motorists to refrain from reckless driving and wrongful overtaking that could lead to unnecessary loss of lives.

Akinbiyi condoled with the family members of those that lost their lives in the multiple accident

Source: Today.ng

Salami Panel: Magu Seeks Access To All Petitions Against Him

The suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu has reached to the Salami panel to grant him access to all the petitions against him.

The embattled EFCC boss noted that the only way he could get a fair hearing is when the relevant documents are made available to him.

In an August 20, 2020 letter to the commission, which is headed by Justice Isa Ayo Salami, Magu said he made the demands in line with Section 36(6) (a) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

There were indications that Magu might be directed to open his defence next week.

The letter was sent through his counsel, Mr. Wahab Shittu, who claimed that the constitution says a Nigerian accused of the criminal offence be given adequate time and facility for the preparation of his defence.

The petition: “Please refer to Section 36(6) (a) (b) CFRN 1999 which provides as follows ”Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be entitled to (a) be informed promptly in the language that he understands and in details of the nature of the offence; (b) be given adequate time and facility for the preparation of his defence.

“Based on the foregoing we request ahead of the defence of our client before this judicial commission of inquiry for the following:

Copies of all presentations/petitions against our client tendered in these proceedings

Access to all exhibits tendered in these proceedings

Access to relevant case files and documents tendered In these proceedings

Any other materials that will be relevant for purposes of the defence of our client in these proceedings

“Please note that the foregoing request has become urgent and compelling in view of paragraph 5 of the instrument establishing this judicial commission of inquiry which provides as follows

“AND I hereby direct the Judicial Commission to submit its interim reports to me from time to time, but the judicial commission shall In any case submit its final report not later than forty-five days from the date of its first public sitting or within such extended period as may be authorized by me in writing”

Magu added: “We humbly request you to note that in view of the timeline stipulated above and the need to clarify the duration of the sittings and whether the appointing authority has extended the period, it is of utmost importance that access to the requested documents is granted to our client and his counsel to ensure seamless proceedings and the guarantee of fair hearing as enshrined in the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.

”In spite of the foregoing, as officers in the temple of justice, we owe it a duty to reaffirm the contents of our previous letters on the legality of these proceedings and to further draw attention to the following, in the belief that having offered our principled positions on the issues, the judicial commission of inquiry will then be entitled to determine how to proceed subsequently in its absolute discretions.

He pleaded with the commission to take notice of its powers in the Tribunals of Inquiry Act 2004, especially its right to exercise of judicial powers.

He said: “We observe that this judicial commission of inquiry is headed by His Lordship, who is a respected former President of the Court of Appeal (Retired). We also observe that contrary to earlier understanding, this is not just an administrative or investigative panel but a Judicial Commission of Inquiry entitled to exercise full judicial powers as a tribunal deriving its powers and authority from the Tribunals of Inquiry Act 2004.

”Against this background, we draw attention to Section (6) (1-5) and Part IV (interpretation citation and commencement) provisions of the constitution particularly Section 318(1) thereof providing for the exercise of judicial powers by courts and tribunals and the meaning of “judicial office and judicial officer” as stated therein

“It Is Important to note that Judicial officer is a reference to the holder of any such office while “judicial office” means “the office of Chief Justice of Nigeria or a Justice of the Supreme Court, the President or Justice of the Court of Appeal, the office of the Chief Judge or a judge of the federal high court, the office of the chief judge or judge of the high court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the office of the Chief Judge of a state and Judge of the high court of a state, a Grand Khadi or Khadi of a Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, a President or Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, a Grand Khadi or Khadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of a state, or president or a judge of the Customary Court of Appeal of a state; and a reference to a “judicial officer” is a reference to the holder of any such office.

”In view of the foregoing and the status of His Lordship as a retired judicial officer heading this judicial commission of inquiry, we draw attention to this constitutional provision so that same can be taken on board by the honourable members as reflections on the legality of these proceedings and the determination on how to further proceed in the circumstances.

”Having raised this important constitutional provision, our duty as counsel is done. Please accept our best professional regards in the expectation that all of these issues will be reflected upon and our request for materials in aid of our defence graciously granted.”

We don’t need Chinese loans if MDAs remit revenues –Reps

THE House of Representatives has decried the non-remittance and under-remittances of Internally Generated Revenue by ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government, directing the Budget Office of the Federation to deduct the balance of such revenues from the allocation of defaulting MDAs.

The House issued the directive in Abuja on Wednesday at an interactive session organised by the Joint Committee on Finance; Appropriation; National Planning and Economic Development; and Aids, Loans and Debt Management on the 2021-2023 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper.

According to the House, Nigeria does not need to seek external borrowings especially from China if the MDAs properly remit their internally generated revenues.

Already, Nigerians are becoming agitated by the rising debt profile of the country, with the National Assembly raising concerns over external loan agreements between Nigeria, global bodies and countries, especially China.

Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, James Faleke, who is also the chairman of the joint committee, said the Federal Government had lost over N7bn to under-remittance by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control.

He said, “In the past few weeks, we have been talking about Chinese loans when the money is there in the system. We have the money in Nigeria but we are not doing the needful.

“We are not remitting what we are supposed to remit. The private sector will not remit the taxes and you, government agencies, being paid salaries, will not remit.

“Where will the government get money to fund the capital projects when we have deficit budget every year. I don’t think it is fair on the system. An agency came here and said they will generate N100m but will spend N130m; how?”

The committee had discovered that NAFDAC had failed to remit revenue of about N10bn to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, as the agency claimed to have spent the money on inspection of factories belonging to its clients, who wanted to either establish a factory or want to import products.

The Director, Administration and Human Resources, NAFDAC, Joseph Aina, who represented the Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency obtained the permission of the Budget Office of the Federation to spend the money generated through its User Fee platform.

Faleke, however, said, “The fact that you have a shortfall in releases, does not empower you to spend your IGR. Tell Madam (Adeyeye) that we will not take it.

“She is there to reform the system and we trust that she will do that. But you cannot spend the IGR the way you like. If you do that, the accounting officer can be prosecuted and we as National Assembly will see to that.”

Meanwhile, the committee also scrutinised the revenue performance of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

The Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy of NNPC, Meyiwa Eyesan, said, “While the NNPC remitted N1.249tn in 2018 and N1.146tn in 2019, the figures were net of cost recovery.

“For 2021, there is a projected revenue of N3.54tn; 2022, N4.385tn; and for 2023, N5.341tn and we are projecting a flat crude oil price for the period. I think that is understandable given the precarious situation that we find ourselves in 2020.”

No ELECTION IN SOUTH WEST NIGERIA 2023, Doom lies ahead Yoruba Nation Warns

No ELECTION IN SOUTH WEST NIGERIA 2023 

*Doom lies ahead Yoruba Nation Warns*

Fasoranti, Adebanjo, Akintoye, Adams, Awolowo-Dosunmu, Mimiko, Adegoke, Others to Nigerian Government: No Restructuring, No 2023 General Elections

...suspect foul play on Air force Pilot, Tolulope Arotile's Death, demand Independent Probe

...say nothing must happen to Major-General Adeniyi in Military Custody

...commend South West Governors on Amotekun 

Just like how every cognisant yoruba parent would react when their children are derailing from omoluabi ethos, topmost Yoruba elders and opinion shapers on Friday raised concerns over the socio-economic and political problems bedevilling the nation of Nigeria with a stinker to the Nigerian government: No Restructuring, No 2023 Election.

Arising from a very important meeting on the platform of the Yoruba Summit Group (YSG) in Lagos, Afenifere Leader, Pa. Rueben Fasoranti, his Deputy, Pa. Ayo Adebanjo, Leader of Yoruba World Congress (YWC), Professor Banji Akintoye, Chairman of renowned Yoruba Intelligential group, Voice of Reason (VOR), Dr. Olufemi Adegoke, daughter of late yoruba political sage, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu and Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba Land, Iba Gani Adams unanimously declared via a statement that unless the social, political and economic structures of Nigeria are restructured in line with the Independence Constitution of 1960, the unity, peace and development of Nigeria will continue to be a dream dreamt that would never be achieved. 

Others at the meeting were former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oye Ibidapo-Obe, Afenifere Chieftains, Mr. Yinka Odumakin and Dr. Amos Akingba, former presidential spokesman, Mr. Akin Osuntokun, retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Chief Tunji Alapini, former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Chief Mrs Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, amongst others accused the Buhari led administration of frustrating the restructuring of Nigeria to consistently favour the north, notwithstanding the realistic fact that Southern Nigeria contributes 90% of the country’s revenue to the federation account. 

The communiqué of the meeting, released to newsmen on Friday by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Yoruba Summit Group, Mr. Mogaji Adejumo, said “the preponderance of permutations for 2023 presidency, zoning, selecting, rather than addressing the nature of the Nigerian union, the dilapidated structure of the farcical "Federation", never known to Federalism, this unitary unworkable morass, we the Yorùbá observe will only lead to the kind of chaos never before seen and experienced in history.

“We the Yorùbá Nation therefore reject the holding of a future general election before Restructuring Nigeria fiscally and structurally. We state that the ship of state is veering off precariously into a precipice, and that Nigeria is at the very edge of a political subsidence.

“We are persuaded that nothing short of Restructuring can save this country. Any attempt to go ahead with elections in 2023 without addressing the issue of Restructuring would spell doom for Nigeria. 

“Notwithstanding the interests of some elements in our midst, it would be presumptuous to assume that the masses of the educated Yoruba Nation will dive headlong into being part of the 2023 elections, when all elements of its execution - the military, paramilitary, INEC, the judiciary have been rigged and appropriated by a single very tiny minority ethnic group in a small corner of the country. 

“The emerging resolve of the Yoruba not to be part of vassal state that Nigeria has become, is better managed with due accommodation before any further degeneration and obvious consequences. Our quest shall henceforth be to mobilise the masses of our peoples not to participate in any further elections until the goal of Restructuring or Self-determination is attained. 

“The Yoruba Nation is therefore making the clarion call for confidence building steps to taken by the Buhari regime immediately, especially as the historic 60th Anniversary of Nigeria as an independent Nation beckons on October 1, 2020. 

“Steps towards an urgent meeting of all Nationalities has to be taken now to determine the nature of our relationships. Unless this peaceful step is heeded to, so that Nigeria heads in the right direction thereafter, the clear alternative would be for self-determination quests to proceed rapidly without any further restraint. 

“It has become patently untenable for the Yoruba Nation to tolerate further incompetence and impunity as has been foisted on all other Ethnic Nationalities across Nigeria,” the statement reads.

Commending South West Governors on the successful take off of the region's  informal security outfit, Operation Amotekun, the leaders said “with the granting of licenses for prospecting for gold in Yorubaland, we are aware of the dangers banditry, kidnapping and sundry criminalities this portends. Yorùbá Nation has noted with great interest, the creation of the Àmọ̀tẹ́kùn Security Network in the South-West states. 

“We extend our warmest felicitations to the Governors who have started in earnest to fulfil the task of filling the huge gulf of various, serious insecurity issues plaguing our region. We hereby call on states yet to put this structure in place to do so in earnest. The Yorùbá do not forget.”

On the death of first female Air force combat  pilot in Nigeria, late Tolulope Arotile, who reportedly died at the Air Force Base, Kaduna , recently, the leaders called on the Nigerian government to constitute an independent panel of inquiry to look into the death of the 25 years old Okun born combatant, alleging that there is more to the death of the late Arotile than being reported.

The leaders also warned the Buhari- led administration of dire consequences if the detained former Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Olusegun Adeniyi die in military custody. 

“We are also aware of the initial casual manner Tolulope Arotile's killing was treated by the authorities of the Nigerian Air Force which is capable of raising suspicion in the minds people. It is better to quickly douse tension and apprehension by coming out in the open. 

“The authorities did not imagine that so much noise would be made, and so many questions would be asked. Her death was treated with levity, just as many other cases where the lives of Nigerians do not seem to matter anymore. 

“The Yorùbá nation therefore demands a full-scale independent investigation by an inclusive panel of experts. The Yorùbá nation notes with sadness that on the very day our daughter Tolulope goes home, a senior Military officer: Major General Olusegun Adeniyi is being court-martialled for daring to voice out the lack of tools and equipment needed to prosecute a Boko Haram war that has become far too prolonged and far too controversial in light of the numerous calls to the Federal Government to change the Military ’Service  Chiefs  who have failed to provide the highest quality of security, leadership and delivery of forthrightness in their duties. 

“We the Yorùbá condemn in strong terms, the cherry-picking of our fighters, soldiers, officers as either cannon fodders easy-targets, operational fall-guys and being used for experimental disciplinary measures, whilst the real culprits, go free! 

“Critical to this development are also pieces of news items of friendly fire from soldiers of a particular part of the country using their guns on our fighters who dare carry the battle deep into the Boko Haram held territories” the statement concluded. 

Others who signed the communiqué are HRH Kabiesi Ọba Oladipo Olaitan, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, Dr. Ebun Sonaiya, Mrs Tokunbo Ekukanim, Dr. Akin Fapohunda, Mr Femi Adefemiwa, Otunba Aderemi Abdul, Chief Olufemi Kufo, Mr George Akinola, Mr Ademola Folarin, Chief Supo Shonibare, Basọ́run Segun Sanni and Mr. Willy Thomas.

The Federal Government has warned that the apparently fewer COVID-19 positive cases of the past few days should not be a reason to rejoice or to lower the guard.

Dr. Osagie Ehanire

The Federal Government has warned that the apparently fewer COVID-19 positive cases of the past few days should not be a reason to rejoice or to lower the guard.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said this on Monday in Abuja at the 58th joint national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

Dr. Osagie Ehanire said that, as of Monday, 17 August 2020, Nigeria has recorded 49,068 COVID-19 cases from 352,625 samples tested so far, with 36,497 persons successfully treated and discharged.

He equally said the nation sadly recorded 975 deaths and a case fatality rate still about two percent.

“We continue to strive to lower the case fatality rate to less than one percent, because we believe more lives can be saved from COVID-19, with the knowledge and system strengthening we have achieved over the past six months, even though I hasten to add that we do not yet know enough about COVID-19,” Ehanire said.

He said that what is sure of so far, is that a strong response to COVID-19 is a collaborative effort between citizenry and government for the benefit of all Nigerians and that while the government provides direction, guidance, and resources, citizens are to take ownership of the response.

“The apparently fewer COVID-19 positive cases of the past few days give us no reason to rejoice or to lower our guard.

“As we expand and include small towns and rural areas in our testing scope, a more accurate picture of our COVID-19 status will emerge.

“There is good reason to prepare for COVID-19 invasion of rural areas with testing, first aid, ambulance service, and commensurate Isolation and treatment centers,” the minister said.

He, however, expressed concern with the development in many overseas countries, of a sharp upsurge in COVID-19 cases, after they lifted or relaxed restrictions in air travel, commerce, and especially in social activities.

He said, “We know that some countries had to quickly restore lockdown or limit movement of citizens and even to postpone elections, in order to deal with the COVID-19 spike.

“In one country thousands of members of the congregation of a religious group had to be put in quarantine, having tested positive.

“These are significant lessons for us, as we prepare to reopen our economy and as we consider options for resuming flights and travel operations, or opening schools and land borders.

“Unless we utilize lessons learned to define and set measured precautionary steps to mitigate the risks, the danger of falling into the same negative balance in our own COVID-19 strategy and losing the gains made so far, is real.”

The minister said that the continuity of health routine services, capacity building of health workers, and their protection are paramount, to the Federal Ministry of Health and it is therefore a good opportunity to now urge the nation’s health workers to continue to focus on their assignments, from traveller screening, surveillance, sample collection, laboratory analysis to hospital and other forms of care.

He said, “It is critical to maintain strict Infection Prevention and Control measures at all times, help to educate the citizenry, support uptake of testing and reporting early for treatment when the test is positive.”

He said that the National Health System is responding well enough so far to the COVID-19 challenge and that collaboration with states and local governments remains a cornerstone of a successful strategy.

How To Obtain Your Nigerian National ID Card Through the NIMC Mobile App

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has now made it possible for Nigerians to get their National ID cards in an entirely online process. Many Nigerians have complained about not being able to easily obtain their National ID cards, which has hindered them from being able to fully take advantage of the benefits of owning one.

This is due to the fact that they only possess a national identity slip containing their unique national identity number (NIN).

The NIMC has allayed these concerns by introducing a quick means of getting your national identity card through an online app.

Here are all the steps involved in the process.

Download the NIMC Mobile ID App

First, you have to download the NIMC Mobile ID app, powered by its mobile services platform (MWS). Android users can visit the google play store to download and install the NIMC Mobile ID app. For iPhone users, they need to visit the app store to get the ios version of the app.

Input Your NIN and Mobile Number

After downloading and installing the NIMC Mobile ID app, the next step is to correctly enter your 11-digit national identity number (NIN) found on your national identity slip. In case you cannot remember or find your NIN, you can dial *324# via Nigerian sim cards only. Do not input your bank verification code (BVN) as your NIN to avoid being blacklisted.

Select +234 as your phone country code if that is not the default selection before entering your remaining 10-digit mobile number. Use the mobile number registered with your NIN. Ensure that you do not make any errors when filling in your information and check again to correct any mistakes. Click ‘next’ on the top far right.

Read the Attestation and Click “I Agree” to Continue

Now read through the attestation carefully and hit the ‘I Agree’ button to proceed to the next step.

Enter Your Preferred PIN twice and click “Finish”

Fill in your chosen PIN twice. Be sure it is one you can easily remember or you may choose to write it down as well. Click ‘Finish’ to go to the final stage.

Congratulations, You’re Almost There

This is the last stage where the NIMC Mobile ID app’s user interface displays all your command options. Click on ‘Show my ID’ and your national identity card is ready for download.

Nigerian National ID Card

Voila! You now have your Nigerian national identity card.

You must have a NIN number to complete the process. This means if you haven’t applied or enrolled with the NIMC, you are not eligible for a National ID card. Enrollment for the National ID card is free according to the Head of Corporate Communications of NIMC, Kayode Adegoke.