March 2021 – Page 35

Post Date : March 15, 2021

Bandits Storm Primary School In Kaduna, Abduct Teachers, Pupils

Bandits have abducted students and teachers from UBE Primary School in Rama, a village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Members of the community told Daily Trust that the incident occurred while pupils where trooping into the school around 9am on Monday. Abdulsalam Adam, a resident, said the gunmen came on about 12 motorcycles. “I have been told that three teachers and some pupils have been abducted but we are trying to ascertain the true situation. Right now, our vigilante boys and other volunteers have gone after the bandits,” he said. “We are in the school right now, what we are trying to do is comb the bushes because some of the children ran into the bush. So, we don’t know how many were abducted at the moment.” Mai Saje Rama, another resident, said: “There is a particular parent whose name is Halilu. He said he saw them carry his son on a motorcycle. Most of them decided to brave it by going after the bandits. We are in the school and we have sent for security agents but they have not arrived yet.” Mohammadu Birnin Gwari, a resident of Birnin Gwari, said two of his brothers were among the teachers abducted. He gave their names as Umar Hassan and Rabiu Salisu Takau. However, the Councilor of Rama, Aliyu Isa, told Daily Trust that no pupil was abducted. He said the bandits attacked a nearby village and abducted two persons and also stole cows. Kaduna State Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, did not respond to calls and a text message sent to his phone. Daily Trust reports that this latest abduction happened 24 hours after security agents thwarted an attempted abduction of 307 students of Government Science Secondary School in Ikara Local Government Area of the state and another attack at the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) quarters in Igabi LGA of the state. On Thursday night, bandits had invaded the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, in Igabi LGA and abducted 39 students comprising 23 females and 16 males. Security agents had earlier rescued 180 of the students but the gunmen who made away with 39 students are now demanding for a ransom of N500 million.

Post Date : March 15, 2021

I am challenging anyone who hasn’t received his/ her salaries to come to govt house – Uzodimma

Ibe Pascal Arogorn, Owerri IMO governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma has challenged anyone who alleges non payment of salaries to come to govt house with employment details. He also condemned the continued existence of ghost workers in the state’s payroll. Addressing newsmen on Monday as part of activities marking his first anniversary in office, Uzodinma said ghost workers and ghost pensioners had been receiving monthly salaries and pensions in the state. “This government has paid every genuine worker; those complaining of non-payment are either ghost workers or fraudsters. “I am challenging anybody who has not received his or her salaries to come to Government House with his employment details and we will pay him or her immediately,’’ he said. The governor said that the era when Permanent Secretaries were chosen through appointment was over. He added that Directors must pass promotion examinations and interview processes before being appointed as Permanent Secretaries to ensure that only competent people were appointed. He also promised to revive all abandoned state-owned industries to enhance the state’s economy. The governor said that to this end, he had commissioned a consulting firm to identify such industries and recommend ways of rejuvenating them. Uzodinma said he would upgrade the Imo State Zoological Gardens and Wildlife Park to a world-class facility to position the state as one of the tourism centres in the country. He said he would address the challenge of encroachment on the zoo premises by the host community. On his achievement in the last year, the governor said he had delivered good governance and assured that he would not renege on his campaign promises. Uzodinma also pledged to ensure the protection of lives and properties of the people and condemned the recent killing of two siblings in Ihite-Uboma council area. The murder led to the burning of the Police Divisional office in the area by a mob. The governor promised to ensure that the dead got justice and warned against the destruction of social infrastructure during crises.

Post Date : March 15, 2021

How FG tried to frustrate Ibori London trial — Falana

LEADING people’s lawyer, Mr Femi Falana isn’t happy the central government is trying to reap where it didn’t sow, by appropriating looted fund, recovered from former Delta State governor, James Ibori. On Sunday, in a lengthy OpEd, the senior advocate of Nigeria said, “It is on record that the Federal Government openly opposed the trial of Chief Ibori in the United Kingdom. In fact, in utter breach of the provisions of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between Nigeria and the then UK Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Michael Aondoakaa rejected the request to make relevant documents available for the trial in the UK on the grounds of sovereignty. “In particular, Chief Aondoakaar refused to entertain the request of the UK Metropolitan Police and made under bilateral mutual assistance to Nigeria on the ground that the request was not made by the Home Office. “The request was to question Chief Ibori about his involvement in corruption and money laundering that occurred in UK.” Aondoakaa said: “I think Nigeria, as a sovereign nation, deserves some respect. They [the Metropolitan Police] knew they were wrong, otherwise why did they write through the Home Office requesting mutual assistance to quiz a prominent Nigerian? I cannot compromise the sovereignty of this country, if they make incompetent requests, I will turn them down 20 times. Any request from Metropolitan Police would be refused by this office, period. “From the foregoing, it is undoubtedly clear that the huge success recorded in the prosecution of the case was anchored on the collaboration between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Metropolitan Police. To that extent, the Federal Government which had set out to frustrate the trial of Chief Ibori cannot turn round to lay claim to the fund confiscated on the orders of the British courts.” The Silk also lambasted the immediate administration of Delta State which denied any revenue loss, a submission being clawed at, by the central government, to justify appropriating the recovered loot. “In opposing my position on the legitimate right of the people of Delta State to the sum of £4.2 million confiscated and recovered from the Ibori loot, some colleagues have argued that the fund should be forfeited to the Federal Government on the ground that the Uduagban regime had said that no money was missing from the coffers of the state government.” He said, “No doubt, the former Delta State government had denied any loss of money during the proceedings of the Federal High Court for the confiscation of the $15 million bribe given to Mr Nuhu Ribadu by Chief James Ibori. Hence, the presiding judge, Kolawole J. (now JCA) directed that the fund be paid into the Federation Account for distribution in line with the provisions of the Revenue Allocation Act. But the Delta State Government never said that the over £100 million confiscated from Chief Ibori in the London trial did not belong to the people of Delta State. “Finally, no doubt, the former Delta State government was irresponsible to have denied that Chief Ibori looted the treasury of the state at the material time, but such denial cannot be a justification for the confiscation of the Ibori loot of over £100 million that is expected to be repatriated to Nigeria by the British Government. “After all, before his assumption of office as President in May 2015, General Muhammadu Buhari had repeatedly maintained that the late General Sani Abacha did not steal a dime from the account of the Federal Government. But the Federal Government under the President’s watch, has continued to recover the remaining Abacha loot and no one has suggested that such recovered loot be paid to the account of the United Nations (UN) or African Union on moral grounds.” Knocking some of his colleagues for saying the UK was doing Nigeria a favour by returning the looted fund, Falana argued that, “The British Government is releasing the stolen money to Nigeria in strict compliance with international law and not out sheer generosity as erroneously argued by some lawyers. “But out of sheer colonial mentality, some lawyers are asking the Nigerian people to clap for the British Government for returning £4.2 million out of Ibori loot of over £100 million warehoused illegally in the UK in defiance of the money laundering laws of that country. “It is interesting to note that many Nigerian lawyers are not aware that banks and other financial institutions in the UK have recently been ordered to pay hundreds of millions of dollars as damages for aiding and abetting corrupt public officials and drug barons who live in foreign countries.”

Post Date : March 15, 2021

Malami: I recommended Bawa for EFCC job based on his competence

Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), says he recommended Abdulrasheed Bawa as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) based on his competence and capacity to deliver. In an interview with Daily Trust, Malami said he is happy that the comments against Bawa’s nomination did not have anything to do with his competence. Bawa, 40, was confirmed by the senate in February as the substantive chairman of the anti-graft agency following his nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari. Ibrahim Magu, his predecessor and former acting chairman of the EFCC, was suspended and later removed from office over allegations of corruption. In the interview, Malami said four names were sent to President Muhammadu Buhari but Bawa was eventually picked. The justice minister said the EFCC chairman will add value to the fight against corruption. “I am happy that most of the comments made are not on his capacity, intelligence, competence and associated ability to deliver. His capacity to deliver was never questioned across the nation,” he said. “The question is whether justice has been served, whether public interest has been served having the chairman appointed with a particular regard to his capacity and ability to deliver. “My answer is yes. He has the capacity, ability and institutional history of the institution to do justice by way of bringing about added value. “[Bawa] has held various authorities, inclusive of serving in various divisions as the head of operations, including Port Harcourt, Lagos and Ibadan which are adjudged to be the high point.”

Post Date : March 15, 2021

Ugandan opposition leader, Bobi Wine, arrested

Security forces in Uganda have arrested the country ’ s main opposition figure, Robert Ssentamu popularly known as Bobi Wine . Bobi Wine had last week called on Ugandans to “ rise up peacefully and unarmed” in protest against President Yoweri Museveni , who has ruled the East African country for nearly four decades. He was arrested during the protest when he led members of parliament against the torture of his supporters , according to a tweet posted on Monday by the administrators of his verified Twitter handle . “ Bobi Wine arrested as he led MPs and other leaders in a peaceful protest against the abduction , torture and murder of his supporters. The protest was taking place at City Square, Kampala. ~ ADMIN, ” the tweet stated . Museveni won a sixth term in office in January with 58 percent of the vote. His main rival was Wine , who came second with 35 percent and decried the election as rigged . The singer- turned- lawmaker refused to accept the result and challenged it in court , saying he won the day . But the 39-year- old later withdrew his petition, saying the judiciary was stacked in favour of Museveni . Speaking earlier at the headquarters of his National Unity Platform in Kampala, Wine said the time had come for public demonstrations against Museveni , who took power in 1986 and has ruled ever since . “ I call upon you to rise up peacefully and unarmed to demonstrate against the regime that has oppressed us , exploited us and turned us into slaves in our own country, ” Wine had said . “ We invite you to march to your respective district offices and seek answers, ” he had added . Demonstrations against Wine ’ s arrest in November during the election campaign were brutally dispersed by security forces and at least 54 people died . Since the January 14 election , the opposition has alleged that security forces have been abducting their supporters. Museveni and government officials initially denied these claims , but later admitted that citizens accusing of plotting against the state were being held by the military and other security agencies . The police pre -emptively declared Wine ’ s call for protests illegal and warned “ organisers of these unlawful demonstrations to desist from participating in any unlawful activities” . “ The police will not hesitate to arrest and charge in courts of law anyone, who will be found participating in these illegal activities, ” Uganda ’ s police force said in a statement on Monday night. Joint police and military patrols have blocked off several roads in Kampala and a police helicopter buzzed low over the NUP premises.

Post Date : March 15, 2021

Sowore, AAC factions clash at INEC headquarters in Abuja

Members of the African Alliance Congress led by Omoyele Sowore and Chief Leonard Ezenwa, are currently occupying the headquarters of INEC in Abuja to counter each other, The Punch reports. The Sowore group is seeking recognition as original owners of the party whereas INEC has already recognised the Ezenwa led group . More to follow…

Post Date : March 15, 2021

Petrol subsidy may rise to N102.96bn in March

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation may spend N 102. 96bn on petrol subsidy this month going by the recent pricing template for the commodity. A Federal Government agency , Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency , on Thursday published the expected new lower and upper prices for petrol at retail outlets in March 2021, putting the rates at N 209. 61/litre and N 212. 61/litre respectively . It also put the ex -depot price of petrol for the month at N 206. 42/litre and pegged the expected landing cost at N 189. 61/litre. PPPRA is the regulator of the downstream oil sector. It pulled down Thursday’ s template for petrol with an explanation that the earlier published guiding price did not translate to a hike in pump price despite reflecting market realities . However, the ex – depot price approved by NNPC for March was N 148. 6/litre and the corporation insisted that it had not and had no plan to increase petrol price this month. Ex- depot price is the rate at which NNPC sells the commodity to depot owners , from where retailers make purchase before dispensing at the pumps in filling stations . “ There is no increase in petrol price and our position is that the ex – depot price for petrol in March remains the same. So , no need to panic because there is no hike in price , ” NNPC ’ s spokesperson, Kennie Obateru , stated. NNPC is the sole importer of petrol into Nigeria for more than three years . Nigeria consumes about 57. 44 million litres of petrol daily , going by the most recent daily consumption figure released by the NNPC in its financial and operations report. Therefore, the difference between the N 206. 42/litre ex -depot price published by PPPRA as the expected cost for March and the N 148. 6/litre price being sold currently to marketers by NNPC shows that the corporation subsidises petrol by N 57. 82/litre. Multiplying this by the 57. 44 million litres consumed across the country daily and the 31 days in March , it implies that the government through the NNPC will spend about N 102. 96bn as petrol subsidy this month. When contacted on Sunday night, the spokesperson of NNPC confirmed that the pump price of petrol was not reflective of the true market price, meaning that the commodity was being subsidised by the corporation. Obateru said , “ The minister and our group managing director had explained that the current pump price is not reflective of the market forces but that engagement is ongoing with labour on this issue . “ This is to find a way in which the cost issues are addressed so as not to impact negatively on Nigerians. That engagement is still ongoing and that is why we said there will be no increment . ” He added , “ Initially we said it ( no increment ) was in February but the engagement still continued in March , which was why we said we are not increasing it in March . “ But the fact is that the current pump price is not reflective of the expected market price for petrol. However, we have to agree with labour before taking any action. ” NNPC’ s position that petrol price would not increase in March was further reaffirmed by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources , Timipre Sylva. Sylva had apologised to Nigerians on Friday over the publication of the petrol pricing template by PPPRA as well as the panic and fuel queues caused by the development across the country . He insisted that despite the template, which actually reflected the realities in petrol price, the government would not increase the cost of the commodity this month, meaning that the product would be subsidised . The minister said President Muhammdu Buhari had also not approved an increase in petrol price. He said , “ Neither Mr President who is the Minister of Petroleum Resources , nor my humble self who deputise for him as Minister of State , has approved that the pump price of petrol should be increased by one naira. ” Sylva explained that the Federal Government was still engaging labour unions on the matter of petrol price and would not increase the cost of the commodity without reaching an accord with the unions. He urged oil marketers not to dispense the commodity at the N 212. 61/litre rate published by PPPRA, as defaulters would be sanctioned . The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry said a halt in petrol subsidy was inevitable if the economy must make progress but this should be done strategically . Read full details here https://punchng.com/petrol-subsidy-to-gulp-n102-96bn-in-march/

Post Date : March 15, 2021

Nigeria records 120 new COVID-19 infections, total now 160,657

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 120 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 160,657. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Sunday. “On the 14th of March 2021, 120 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria. “Till date, 160657 cases have been confirmed, 145399 cases have been discharged and 2013 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. “The 120 new cases are reported from 14 states- Lagos (32), Rivers (25), Kaduna (20), Bayelsa (13), Kano (7), Jigawa(5), Borno (5), Abia (4), Oyo (3), Plateau (2), FCT (1), Ogun (1) Nasarawa (1) and Imo (1),” the NCDC said.

Post Date : March 15, 2021

Gunmen attack travellers in Ekiti, kill one

Gunmen have attacked travellers at a location between Ikere-Ekiti and Iju, a boundary town in Ondo state, killing one person while the whereabouts of other passengers remain unknown. Sunday Abutu, spokesman of the Police Command in Ekiti, who confirmed the incident said the incident occurred on Saturday evening. He disclosed that the police has launched a “discreet investigation and serious manhunt” to unmask the gunmen. Abutu said that the driver managed to escape with the vehicle and ran to Ilupeju-Ikere divisional police headquarters in Ekiti to report the incident. “The driver accounted that he was brave enough to have speedily escaped with his passengers from the scene but in the process, one of the passengers was unfortunately hit by a bullet and was rushed to General Hospital, Ikere-Ekiti where he later died,” he said. “The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police implores everyone in the State not to panic as the Command shall join force with Ondo State Police Command to ensure that the perpetrators are made to face the full wrath of the law.” In December, the Ekiti state chapter of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun, rescued a traveller on the Isan-Iludun-Ekiti highway in Oye LGA of Ekiti from being abducted by gunmen.

Post Date : March 15, 2021

EFCC detains Ondo lawmaker, Clerk, others over alleged fraud

THE Economic and Financial Crime Commission has detained the Clerk of Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr Bode Aladeyelu , a member of the House, Mr Felemugudu Bankole, and two civil servants over an allegation of fraud . It was earlier reported that the anti – graft agency invited the alleged persons over the fraud case allegedly committed in 2019 and were said to have been in the detention of the agency since last week . A source in the Assembly on Sunday informed our correspondent that the persons responded to the invitation of the EFCC and went to report at the commission’ s office where they were said to have been detained . The source said , “ It is true. The Clerk of the House and Hon. Felemugudu Bankole , along with two civil servants in the Assembly are there in the EFCC’ s custody. They were detained there . “ Based on that invitation, all of them went there and they were detained last Thursday. I think the EFCC must have commenced investigation into their matter.’ When contacted , the spokesman of the Assembly , Mr Gbenga Omole , declined to comment on the matter .