News
Former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume has written the All Progressives Congress, in a letter addressed to its National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, to inform him of his decision to run for the office of the President of the Senate of the ninth National Assembly.
Ndume in a letter of intent dated March 25, 2019 and addressed to Oshiomhole, specifically sought the blessing of the party to actualise his aspiration.
The senator representing Borno South on the platform of the APC said he is “throwing his hat into the ring believing that the Senate President position would be zoned to the North East geopolitical zone” where he hails from.
He said the decision to seek election into the office was borne out of his desire to help accelerate socioeconomic development of the nation.
He said, “Following the successful conduct of the 2019 general elections and the overwhelming victory of our great party the APC at all levels, I hereby forward my letter of intent to contest for the office of the President of the Senate in the 9th National Assembly.”
Punch
A pregnant woman, the proprietor of the Nursery/Primary School and 19 others, including no fewer than 12 pupils died in the collapsed building at Massey Street, Itafaji on Lagos Island on Wednesday, witnesses and hospital sources said.
However, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said eight persons died, while 34 others were rescued in the wreckage of the building that collapsed about 10:00 am.
Lagos State Emergency Management Agency did not give the number of the dead, but said it rescued 10 persons out of the wreckage. The agency said its rescue team and other agencies brought out 10 people alive, made up of three adult females, one adult male, two teenage boys, one young boy and three teenage girls.
The South-West Zonal Head of Public Affairs of the Agency, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, said the rescue operation was ongoing as at 8pm. Most of the victims were rescued from the rubble on Wednesday, but died at the General Hospital as doctors failed to save them.
The pregnant woman was one of the persons rescued from the rubble, immediately after the building collapsed, but she died in the hospital. Other persons reported dead as at 8:00 pm included the proprietress of the school, Ohen Nursery and Primary School, about 12 pupils and some other occupants of the building.
About 10 families occupied the first and the ground floors, while the school occupied the second and fourth floors.
The building at 63 Massey Street, it was learnt, had been marked for demolition by officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency. However, the occupants of the building frustrated the demolition.
Seventeen of the rescued students and occupants of the building were taken to Massey Children Hospital, very close to the scene, while others were taken to the Lagos Island General Hospital on Broad Street.
A worker at the Massey Children Hospital said that four out of those brought in, died few minutes after. The medical staff said that six of those who were rushed to the Lagos General Hospital also died.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who visited the scene, said the government would ensure that the trapped victims were rescued.
The school moved to the collapsed building some years ago. Distraught parents of pupils and residents of the building jammed the scene of the rescue operation, hoping that their children and relatives would come out alive.
Miss Bukola Salami, a former teacher in the school, said the proprietress of the school had been told to vacate the building but she balked on account that she had no money to rent another apartment.
"It was because of the situation of the building that forced me to resign from the school in December, because I don’t want to risk my life.
"It is unfortunate that such incident happened. It looks like a dream to me,” she said.
A resident of the collapsed building, who simply gave his name as Akin, said that the building was marked for demolition but that the developer found a way to stop the demolition.
Akin said he had gone to work, when he received the news of the incident. He also stated that the owner did some renovation two years ago.
A neighbour, Mr Adewale Owoso, likened the moment the building collapsed to a bomb explosion.
“We were just sitting down in front of the school, when we heard a loud sound .
“We all ran in various directions but after the dust had settled, we realised that it was the building that collapsed.
“We quickly mobilised and began some rescue operation and we had rescued more than twenty people, before the emergency workers arrived,” he said.
Mrs Aishat Onilenla said three of her sister’s three children were trapped in the collapsed building. ‘My friend has seven children also trapped in the rubble”, she said.
“I don’t know how she is going to survive it. It is too big for her to bear,” she said.
The deputy speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Wasiu Esinlokun, who visited the scene, said that a notice for demolition was served on the building on Tuesday, a day before the building collapsed.
Esinlokun, while speaking with journalists, said that the Lagos State Government would ensure that victims of the incident are treated free.
As at 8.30pm, some of the parents whose children died in the hospital had gone to pick up the corpses for burial.
Suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Mr Walter Onnoghen is suffering from high blood pressure and tooth ache, his lawyer, Mr Adegboyega Awomolo, told Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) yesterday.
The embattled CJN is standing trial before CCT in relation to alleged breach of code of conduct for public officers.
He was arraigned by Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) over alleged infractions in his asset declaration forms.
Onnoghen, who attended proceedings on Monday when the tribunal ordered a day-to-day hearing in the case, was absent at the resumption of proceedings yesterday.
Awomolo told the tribunal that he was informed Monday night that Onnoghen has developed tooth-ache. He tendered a medical report in support of his claim.
Lead prosecution lawyer, Mr Aliyu Umar, also said he got a copy of the medical report, which was signed by one Mr Francis Uche, Medical Director of Ideal Medical Services.
Umar said he could not make any observation in view of what the doctor said about the blood pressure of the defendant, which was said to have risen to 410/121.
The prosecution lawyer added: “As an old man, I know how dangerous that could be.”
He said the medical report suggested that Onnoghen was given 72 hours bed rest.
Umar said, though prosecution witnesses were present, the trial could not be conducted in the defendant’s absence.
He added: “Under the circumstance, I will concede that there is a justification for the defendant to be absent.
“Taking into consideration the order of the court yesterday (Monday) on day-to-day proceedings and the health condition of the defendant, I urge the court to adjourn the matter till Monday when we can have five days straight.”
Ruling, tribunal Chairman Danladi Umar, said: “In view of the medical report, explaining the absence of the defendant in court and in consideration of the level of his blood pressure, and with the prosecution having agreed for an adjournment till Monday, the tribunal concede to the adjournment of the matter to Monday, March 18 for hearing.”
The Nation
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced March 23 for supplementary elections in states and constituencies where elections were declared inconclusive.
Governorship elections were declared inconclusive in six states: Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau, and Sokoto.
The governorship race in each of those six states is between Nigeria’s two largest parties, APC and PDP.
In a statement on Tuesday evening, INEC spokesperson, Mr Festus Okoye, said the supplementary elections will also be held for inconclusive state assembly elections.
The commission said there were several reason for declaring these elections inconclusive. These include discontinuation of use of the smart card readers, the failure to deploy them, over-voting, widespread disruption in polling units and the margin of lead principle.
In the affected states, the commission declared that the margin of lead was less than the cancelled votes.
In compliance with the Margin of Lead Principle derived from Sections 26 and 53 of the Electoral Act (as amended) and paragraph 41(e) and 43(b) of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines, the outcome of these elections could not be determined without conducting polls in the affected polling units, the commission said.
The commission promised to make available details of the constituencies including number of polling units and registered voters, on its website on Wednesday March 13.
Furthermore, the commission said it has also considered a report submitted by Resident Electoral Commissioner for Bauchi State and seen the need to investigate further.
Collation was disrupted at the Tafawa Balewa LGA collation centre, Bauchi State leading to the cancellation of results for the entire local government.
“The Commission found that there are issues that need further investigation and has set up a team led by a National Commissioner to resolve them,” INEC said.
PT
The New Generation Leadership, NGL, has again cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to compromise the electoral process but allow the will of Nigerians to prevail in choosing their Governors and House of Assembly members across the Country.
The caution which was contained in a statement released by the Secretary of the group, Adedayo Adegbayibi while speaking on the forthcoming election, this Saturday, encouraged Nigerians to come out en-masse to perform their civic responsibility.
"No one should be intimidated to sit at home during the voting exercise. If we want a better society, we must all come out to vote and ensure we protect our votes".
The New Generation Leadership condemned the violence and various electoral malpractices that marred the presidential and National Assembly poll saying, "it is a minus for Nigeria's democracy".
The youth group said it was sad that the exercise was fraught with many complaints, an indication that the wishes of the people were not respected.
NGL expressed its determination to continue to enhance good governance, vibrant leadership and credible candidates warning INEC to ensure the election reflect the wishes of the people.
According to the statement “democracy must be allowed to thrive in the country by allowing a natural internal seamless change of government without any let or hindrance, when desired by the electorates, in a free and fair election.
" And this is what must be encouraged in Nigeria. A situation where a candidate has to force himself on the people he wants to serve is not healthy".
NGL which has been supporting credible youth contesting on any political party in any part of Nigeria and genuine candidates, who have virile developmental programmes for the youth, had endorsed the All progressives Congress, APC, Governorship Candidate in Lagos, Jide Sanwoolu and his Sokoto counterpart,
Ahmad Aliyu as well as his Deputy, Farouk Mallami Yabo.
Others include Olumide Ojerinde APC, Freedom Jollof AAC, Oloye Akin Alabi APC, Tunde Aleshinloye-Williams PDP and Olumuyiwa Owadara RMD, PDP who are contesting for various political positions in the Country.
The group advised Youth in the country to rise up to take responsibilities as the strength of the Nation and stop being used as political thugs.
It also advised that the 2019 elections should not be about political parties, but about personalities who are competent, credible and committed to a new Nigeria that will work for all”.
Few hours after the Presidential and National Assembly elections were cancelled, the New Generation Leadership, NGL, has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to compromise the electoral process but ensure a level playing ground for all the political parties.
This was contained in a statement released by the Secretary of the group, Adedayo Adegbayibi while expressing disappointment at INEC's cancellation of the election to elect representatives at various levels.
The New Generation Leadership which expressed its determination to continue to enhance good governance, vibrant leadership and credible candidates said, the election must reflect the wishes of the people even if it takes them many years to conduct.
According to the statement “the beauty of democracy lies in Its natural internal seamless change of government without any let or hindrance, when desired by the electorates, in a free and fair election.
" And this is what must be encouraged in Nigeria. INEC must conduct a free and fair election, it should not be an appendage of government in power".
"We are calling on the youth to participate actively in the electoral process ".
“To avoid anarchy, the 2019 elections must be well conducted in a free and fair setting”.
NGL which has been supporting credible youth contesting on any political party in any part of Nigeria and genuine candidates, who have virile developmental programmes for the youth, had endorsed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, All progressives Congress, APC, Governorship Candidate in Lagos, Jide Sanwoolu and his Sokoto counterpart, Ahmad Aliyu as well as his Deputy, Farouk Mallami Yabo.
Others include Bankole Wellington, Banky W- MDP, Olumide Ojerinde APC, Freedom Jollof AAC, Oloye Akin Alabi APC, Gbadebo Rhodes PDP, Kingsley Moghalu YPP, Tunde Aleshinloye-Williams PDP and Olumuyiwa Owadara RMD, PDP who are contesting for various political positions in the Country.
The group advised Youth in the country to rise up to take responsibilities as the strength of the Nation.
The New Generation Leadership, said “though it was disheartening to note that the system is skewed against the youth, there is hope in the fact that the youth has great numerical strength, that can always sway elections, if they come together as one”.
According to the statement, “the youth must come together and support those in the category to be heard and seen in the political space.
The 2019 elections should not be about political parties, but about personalities who are competent, credible and committed to a new Nigeria that will work for all”.
The end may not have been heard on the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State as it deepened on Monday with the two rivals for its governorship ticket, Buruji Kashamu, and Ladi Adebutu, launching separate campaigns for the 2019 election.
The Ogun East Senator, Buruji Kashamu, whose name is on the list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), launched his campaign in Ijebu-Igbo, while the House of Representatives Member, Ladi Adebutu, who the National Headquarters of the party has handed the party’s flag in the state, launched his campaign in Abeokuta.
Venues of both campaigns were well attended by their loyalists, supporters and candidates for various positions who claimed that each factional head was the authentic PDP flagbearer.
The two factions in the state had conducted parallel congresses, but INEC acting on a court judgement recognised Kashamu as the party’s candidate.
This made Kashamu’s supporters believe that his candidature has been affirmed by the electoral body.
However, It will be recalled that the zonal flag off of the PDP campaigns in the Southwest last week in Ibadan, witnessed the party presenting its flag to Mr Adebutu as its governorship candidate for Ogun State, even as Kashamu was at the event.
Adebutu’s supporters said the presentation of the party flag to their leader, by the national leadership of the party affirmed his candidature, stressing that Mr Kashamu and his supporters were only wasting their time and resources.
PDP had earlier suspended Mr Kashamu and the Dayo Bayo-led executive in the state. But they went to court and obtained judgement against it.
While the Bayo Dayo led PDP State executives loyal to Kashamu insists on being the authentic, the Sikirulai Ogundele faction loyal to Adebutu is also claiming same.
The crisis over who the authentic governorship candidate is, is also affecting other candidates vying for various political positions at the State and National Assemblies in the PDP, with the two factions claiming authenticity.
Meanwhile, the case over the PDP flagbearer in Ogun State is still in court.
Attempts by thugs suspected to be loyal to a failed aspirant in Owan Federal Constituency, Edo State nearly disrupted a rally by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In fact, the hoodlums who were armed with knives, cutlasses, iron rods, sticks and other dangerous weapons had disrupted the rally at Sabongida Ora, headquarters of Owan West local government area but a similar attempt to scatter the rally at Afuze, headquarters of Owan East local government area was foiled by angry youths who retaliated, resulting in a free for all.
The state PDP chairman, Dr Dan Orbih, had mounted the podium at Sabongida Ora and was in the middle of his speech, lashing out at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) when the heavily armed hoodlums turned loose, threatening fire and brimstone.
With the chairman on the rostrum were the party Senatorial Candidate for Edo North, Alhaji Abubakar Momoh, the House of Representatives candidate for Owan Federal Constituency, Mr Johnson Abolagba, Prophet Ojo Agge for Owan East constituency and Hilary Ozogo for Owan West constituency who eventually joined them at Afuze.
It was learnt that the source of their anger has to do with the fallout of the recent PDP primary which saw the emergence of Mr Johnson Abolagba, a former member of the House of Representatives against his main challenger, Mr Tanko Ileogbe.
The hearing in the outcome of the primary which is currently the subject of litigation between a dissatisfied Ileogbe who is challenging the candidacy of Abolagba comes up tomorrow, Wednesday, December 12 at the Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State.
It took the quick intervention of the police who hurriedly drafted officers from the divisional police headquarters at Afuze to save the thugs from the angry mob as they threatened to beat them to pulp for the audacity.
Speaking at Sabongida Ora after normalcy was eventually restored, Orbih accused the APC led federal government of planning to vote with Abacha loots instead of attempting to deliver on campaign promises.
He said: “Buhari is taking our money and sharing it to APC members in the name of fighting poverty.
Abacha Loot should not be for buying votes.
Oshiomhole from Edo North did not do anything to better the lives of Owan people and so do not deserve their votes.”
Undeterred by the bedlam, over 4,000 APC members defected to the opposition party at Afuze and pledged to work for the victory of the PDP.
Led by the Secretary of APC Elders Forum in Owan East and West local government areas, Mr Raphael Haruna said that he and his supporters could no longer tolerate the maladministration of APC which has greatly impoverished Nigerians in the last three and a half years.
Tribune
President Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has been described to be of no match to the Presidential candidate, of the People's Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, in character, integrity, competence and public acceptance.
This was contained in a statement released by the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) , signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, in reaction to a statement credited to the APC, that Atiku was yet to pass integrity test by Nigerians.
The PPCO noted that the APC, in raising the issue of personal character of candidates, in its statement, has unwittingly sunk President Buhari’s campaign by opening a flank that ultimately exposes him to public opprobrium.
According to the statement, the campaign organisation said "in as much as the PDP is committed to issue-based campaign and finding solutions to the myriad of problems the incompetent, divisive and extremely corrupt Buhari administration has plunged Nigeria into, our party is ready and will not hesitate to take on the APC, any time, any day on issues of personal character and integrity, which President Buhari is in clear deficit before Atiku Abubakar".
"It is on record that nothing incriminatory has ever been found on Atiku Abubakar, despite being the most investigated politician in our country, particularly by the Buhari Presidency; but can such be said of President Buhari, who has been jittery over Atiku Abubakar’s soaring popularity and acceptance across the board, ahead of the 2019 general elections".
The PPCO stated that, "In the interim, between President Buhari and Atiku Abubakar, Nigerians know the leader, who is allegedly bugged by integrity issues and under whose watch the Presidency became “fantastically corrupt”, with issues of certificate forgery and allegations of sundry frauds in which family members and close relatives are being mentioned".
"Nigerians are aware of the leader under whose direct watch, over N11 trillion has been allegedly stolen from the petroleum sector and billons of naira frittered away from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIS) and other revenue agencies in the last three and a half years".
The statement reads that "the people are aware of the leader who has reneged in all his campaign promises; who stays aloof always to the plights of the people and only parades as pro-poor, just to win their votes".
"On the issue of achievement, the whole world knows the Nigerian leader whose allegedly corrupt administration plunged the nation into economic recession and who cannot point to any developmental project he initiated and completed in any part of the country or any personal contribution he has made to the development of the nation, either in office or as a private citizen".
The campaign organisation said, "since the APC has raised the issue of character, it should be ready to face the debate when the heat is on".
Nigeria’s third-quarter growth figures, scheduled to be announced Monday, are expected to show the economy’s still struggling, at least if the latest fiscal figures are anything to go by.
Africa’s biggest oil producer raised 682 billion naira ($1.9 billion) of revenue in October, barely 60 percent of the average monthly estimate in the 2018 budget.
The government’s fallen short of its target every month this year, which is one reason why Emmanuel Kachikwu, the oil minister, said when asked why Nigeria would only make a small contribution to OPEC’s supply cut: “We need the money.” Bloomberg
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A building housing an apartment occupied by two sons of Atiku Abubakar was searched by anti-graft operatives in Abuja over the weekend, PREMIUM TIMES has revealed.
The building also houses an apartment occupied by Chiemeka Orji, son of ex-Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji.
That apartment was also reportedly searched by anti-graft operatives.
Although sources said the home of Mr Abubakar’s children was the primary target, an anti-graft spokesperson suggested Chiemeka might have been the target.
The raid on Aliyu and Mustapha Atiku-Abubakar’s residence in the posh Maitama neighbourhood on Saturday comes a day after claims emerged that Mr Abubakar’s running mate, Peter Obi, had his bank accounts frozen by federal authorities.
Two anti-graft agencies, EFCC and ICPC, denied freezing Mr Obi’s accounts.
Paul Ibe, a spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar family, confirmed the search on Sunday, saying the officers who conducted the “grievous act of intimidation” were “unable to find anything implicating.”
While no specific law enforcement agencies were immediately linked to the purported block of Mr Obi’s accounts raised by the Peoples Democratic Party, sources informed about the raid on the home of the presidential candidate’s sons said those who executed the search were from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Neither Aliyu nor Mustapha was in town when the anti-graft agents arrived — as both are said to be studying for master’s degrees at foreign universities — but those with whom they share the building were reportedly taken to the EFCC office and some of their properties confiscated, sources said.
Amongst those arrested was Chiemeka whose father is now a serving senator and a subject of an ongoing EFCC corruption investigation.
Chiemeka was said to have been taken to the EFCC office in Abuja alongside his brother, and two vehicles confiscated from them.
“When the EFCC officers arrived on Saturday, they met Theodore Orji’s sons at home, because they both live in the same building,” a source said.
“They asked to see the apartment of Aliyu and Mustapha Atiku-Abubakar but Theodore Orji’s sons refused to show them, saying their friends are out of the country, anyway.”
“The EFCC operatives then said they have intelligence that a large cache of dollars had been kept in the apartment which they had come to recover,” the source said. “They forcibly searched the apartment, but there was no hard currency or anything that could be construed as fraudulently damning.”
Sources said Chiemeka and his brother were released soon after they were questioned at the EFCC office, but two cars belonging to them were still in possession of the anti-graft agency as of Monday morning.
Chiemeka could not be reached for comments, with his telephone line refusing to connect after multiple dials.
Aliyu Atiku-Abubakar also did not immediately return messages seeking comments from PREMIUM TIMES.
A spokesperson for the EFCC said he has no immediate knowledge of the operation, but expressed strong doubts that Mr Abubakar’s son’s home could be raided.
Tony Orilade said the EFCC has been investigating Mr Orji, and it was possible the former governor’s children were the target of further investigation into how state funds were used during his tenure from 2007 to 2015.
Coming over the same weekend that the PDP alleged restrictions were placed on the bank accounts of Mr Obi and his family, as well as claims that EFCC attempted to arrest Doyin Okupe, a PDP top shot, Mr Ibe accused the Buhari administration of raising the stakes of 2019 election higher than the country could absorb.
“Atiku Abubakar is destined to win the 2019 presidential election, and Nigerians are set to ensure that destiny holds by voting for him en masse,” Mr Ibe said.
“The actors in Buhari’s government have now realised this possibility and are gripped by the fears of Atiku Abubakar.”
“This grievous act of intimidation now has an expiry date that is dwindling faster than a twinkle,” Mr Ibe said.
PT
Depot and Petroleum Products Marketing Association (DAPPMA) yesterday directed its members to shutdown services as from 12 midnight.
A directive from DAPPMA Executive Secretary, Mr. Olufemi Adewole, sent to members, said the association’s efforts to make the Federal Government pay its N800 billion subsidy debts were not successful.
But, the news came as oil workers sought a quick resolution of the disagreement between the Federal Government and oil marketers over outstanding fuel subsidy claims.
The oil workers, under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), said the resolution would avert another fuel crisis.
Adewole, however, said the association “took the bold step to stop the financial hemorrhage of its members by the painful disengagement of its loyal workforce after three years of engaging the Federal Government in its efforts to secure payment of all subsidy induced debts owed marketers”.
DAPPMA Executive Secretary said efforts made till date have not yielded desired results, hence the decision to shut down the depots.
He said the association duly notified Federal Ministry of Finance, Debt Management Office (DMO) and the Presidency of its challenges in paying workers’ salaries beyond last month.
He added that the association pleaded with the Presidency, DMO and the ministry to no avail to pay outstanding debts like subsidy, interest, forex differentials with summation calculated up to 31st of this month.
Adewole said as a result of the notice, the association was invited to meetings.
His words: “Further talks to which we are usually invited, which now seem to be their response to follow ups on these debts, never consented to our requests for full cash payment of these debts, hence the regrettable decision we have had to take to let go our loyal staff, who we have sustained through bank facilities at outrageous interest rates.”
DAPPMA Executive Secretary added: “Premised on our inability to pay December 2018 salaries and to avoid owing staff for work done without any hope of pay, it is hereby agreed that, since our staff have been disengaged, all DAPPMAN member Depots are not in a position to operate and hence will shut down all loading operations at midnight, Sunday December 9, 2018, until Federal Government pays our calculated claims: the remaining subsidy (to few members), forex differential interest incurred up to December 31, 2018.
“This decision is binding on all members of the association and full compliance is expected of every member company of the association.
The association shall revert in the same vein with any other directives as might be deemed necessary.” Oil workers’ leaders yesterday assured that their interests are aligned with Nigerians.
They spoke while addressing reporters after a meeting with officials of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiary, Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), as well as Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and DAPPMA).
PENGASSAN National President Mr Francis Johnson, who spoke on behalf of oil workers, said the association intervened in the crisis to protect interest of its members as well as that of the country.
According to him, “PENGASSAN, as one of the major stakeholders in oil and gas industry, we are concerned.
We are also looking at it that the year is coming to an end; they are also talking about 2019 politics and elections. We do not want to do anything to overheat the polity and make Nigerians go through a lot of stress.
“For us, we have said and we are aware that there have been series of meeting to resolve the issue. We stand by that and we appeal to both government and oil marketers to look at the larger interest of Nigeria and do what is needful for Nigeria to grow from strength to strength.
“I believe in the commitment and sincerity of both parties to reach an amicable solution to the issue. I believe that both parties would allow the larger interest of Nigeria to supersede. I advise them to fast-track every process to resolve this issue and make sure they keep to the terms of agreement reached.”
He expressed concerns that if not resolved amicably, the subsidy debt issue might lead to the sack of its members by oil marketers.
However, he cautioned its members against joining any strike action not called by the leadership of the unions.
NUPENG National President, Mr William Akporeha assured Nigerians that there would be an unhindered distribution of petroleum products during the Yuletide, as all its members would not be embarking on any strike.
He said: “This regime of NUPENG believes in dialogue. Until we are pushed to the wall, we do not take strike as the first option.
So far, between now and December ending, I can assure Nigerians that there won’t be shortage of petroleum products in our streets.”
On his part, PTD National Chairman, Mr Salimon Oladiti said: “We are trying to mediate in the crisis between Federal Government and oil marketers.
We are major players in the distribution of petroleum products, but at the same time, we have gotten assurances from Federal Government that between now and Friday, December 14, 2018, part of the money owed oil marketers – about 50 per cent of the money – would be paid to them.
“We do not want to issue threats, but we are losing our members; because if these marketers carry out their threats, we are going to be seriously affected.”
PPMC Managing Director Mr. Umar Ajiya, however, warned that the Federal Government would not tolerate any attempt by any individual or group to disrupt the distribution of petroleum products during Yuletide.
He stated that such actions would be seen as economic sabotage.
The Nation
President Muhammadu Buhari has constituted a Presidential Implementation Committee on Autonomy of State Legislature and State Judiciary in accordance with the 4th Alteration to 1999 Constitution.
Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said the committee will drive the actualisation of the autonomy granted to the legislature and judiciary at the state level.
It will be chaired by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, with Mr Ita Enang, Presidential Liaison (NASS), acting as Secretary.
The committee has representatives of state judiciary, such as Mr N. Ajanah, Chief Judge of Kogi State and Mr K. Abiri, Chief Judge of Bayelsa.
Other members are Mr Abdullahi Maikano Usman, Grand Khadi, Gombe State Sharia Court of Appeal, and Mr Abbazih Musa Sadeeq, Ag. President of FCT Customary Court of Appeal.
State legislatures are to be represented by Mr Mudashiru Obasa, Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria and Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, as well as Mr Abel Riah, Speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly.
Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria is to be represented by Mr Marwan Mustapha Adamu, while Mr Bala Hadi will represent Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria in the committee.
Other members of the committee are Mr Musa Agwai, Body of Chairmen of Houses of Assembly Service Commissions; Mr David Umaru of Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters; Mr Aminu Shagari, House of Representatives Committee on Federal Judiciary, Accountant General of the Federation, and Secretary of National Judicial Council.
Director-General of Nigerian Governors Forum or such other representative as the forum may wish to nominate; Chairman of Forum of Finance Commissioners in Nigeria; President of Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Paul Usoro, and Mr Chike Adibuah representing Civil Society Organisations are members.
The committee will assess and review the level of compliance by all 36 States of the Federation with Section 121(3) of 1999 Constitution (as amended).
It will monitor, ensure and cause the implementation of Financial Autonomy across the Judiciary and Legislature of the 36 States and to consult and relate with the appropriate Federal and State MDAs.
It is also to ensure and where necessary enforce the implementation of the constitutional provision, and to come up with appropriate modality or model to be adopted by all States of the Federation for implementation and/ or compliance with Section 121(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Formal inauguration of the committee by Mr President will be done in due course,’’ Adesina said.
NAN
A foremost human rights group, Amnesty International, on Monday called on International Criminal Court (ICC) to urgently investigate the federal government over alleged failures to sanction military commanders and terrorists suspected of grievous human rights abuses in the Boko Haram war.
“The Nigerian government is unwilling and unable to meet its obligations as a member of ICC to investigate and prosecute both Boko Haram and Nigerian military,” the group said in its reaction to fresh findings published by ICC that reaffirmed a widespread lack of accountability on the Nigerian government.
ICC’s office of the prosecutor said in the December 5 report that most of the Boko-Haram-linked cases being pursued by the government are related to membership of, support for or failure to report terrorists.
Office of the prosecutor should urgently open “a full investigation into the atrocities that have been committed in northeast Nigeria,”
Amnesty International’s Africa director for research and advocacy, Mr Netsanet Belay, said in a statement accompanying the group’s latest report titled: ‘Willingly Unable: ICC Preliminary Examination and Nigeria’s Failure to Address Impunity for International Crimes’.
Belay said since the government’s prosecution of Boko Haram has focused only on membership or support for the sect rather than the horrific crimes of key actors in the insurgency, it was obvious that Nigerian authorities have only undertaken superficial criminal proceedings regarding crimes committed by Boko Haram; only a couple of which may be relevant for the conduct that may be covered by one of the potential six cases being reviewed by ICC prosecutors.
“The Nigerian government has no intention to undertake genuine investigations’ Belay emphasised.
“Instead it has pursued ‘sham’ criminal proceedings to ‘shield’ perpetrators from an ICC investigation and to give a ‘veneer’ of accountability in Nigeria.
” The report has also demonstrated that ‘mass trials’ conducted against suspected members of Boko Haram since October 2017 have been so flawed that it is impossible to conclude that those who were convicted were actually guilty of any crime at all. In fact, many of these “mass trials are an effort to give a pretence of legality to the mass unlawful detentions committed by the Nigerian military throughout the conflict, which have seen thousands die in captivity through starvation, thirst and overcrowding, Amnesty International said.
Nailing the state actors
As Boko Haram terrorists continued their murderous campaign across Nigeria’s north-east, Nigerian security forces have also faced serious charges of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, including extrajudicial executions, mass arbitrary arrests and unlawful detentions, torture and other ill-treatment, enforced disappearances and rape.
As of June 2015, Amnesty International had documented that Nigerian military forces had extra-judicially executed more than 1,200 people and arbitrarily arrested at least 20,000, of whom at least 7,000 have died as a result of the inhumane conditions in custody.
The group said its findings also showed that Nigeria has failed to open a single relevant criminal case against military officers and members of Civilian Joint Task Force, an allied vigilante group, a situation that flouted Rome Statute on crime against humanity.
Several panel of inquiries raised for the purpose of unearthing and correcting cases of abuses by the military have ended without any serious conclusion, Amnesty said.
“Despite much publicity and posturing neither military-led inquiry – the Special Board of Inquiry or the Presidential investigation panel – was ever intended, designed or conducted with a view to result in criminal prosecutions, or even to identify perpetrators and recommend further criminal investigations or prosecutions,” it said.
Overcoming a distraction
Even though ICC prosecutors have published preliminary findings around rights abuses and killings in Nigeria in recent years, including their November 2015 damning report on military chiefs’ conduct in Boko Haram war and their ongoing inquiry into Shiite and pro-Biafran massacres, the Nigerian military only focused on the role of Amnesty International in amplifying the atrocities and their investigations.
“Amnesty International has become a major distraction that we have to overcome in the war against Boko Haram,” Mr John Agim, a spokesperson for the Defence Headquarters, said Sunday afternoon.
“They are always claiming a crime has been committed here and there but never presented any evidence.”
Agim, a brigadier-general, said Amnesty International has evolved a habit of accusing only serving military commanders, indicating that its aim was to frustrate the government’s effort rather than help in ending the war or getting justice for victims.
“They usually spend years accusing serving commanders, but when those ones are out, they immediately leave them and shift their focus on the new ones in service,” Agim said.
“They should take any evidence they have to ICC and leave the Nigerian government and military out of it.”
PT