News

Benue killings: Fayose mocks Buhari for saying IGP disobeyed his order

Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, has mocked President Muhammadu Buhari over his claim that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, disobeyed him over the lingering crisis in Benue.

President Buhari on Monday denied knowledge of number of days the IGP spent in Benue State after he was ordered to relocate to the state.

Addressing stakeholders at the Government House in Makurdi, the President said he was just learning of the alleged noncompliance by the IGP.

He promised to call the police boss for inquires upon his return to Abuja, the ‎Federal Capital Territory.

“What I did was to call him and give him the directive. I didn’t know he moved here (Benue State) and didn’t spend … and then moved to Nasarawa. It’s only now that I am knowing that.

“But I know I dispatched him here,” the President said.

Reacting, however, Fayose said it was unfortunate that the president might not know what was happening in Nigeria.

He tweeted: “What manner of a President will give order to the IGP on January 9, only to be telling Nigerians on March 12 (2 months after) that he never knew that the IGP disobeyed his order? Does this President really know anything about happenings around him, not to talk aboutNigeria?”

DailyPost

Buhari’s minister accuses APC government of corruption, deceit

More signs of the troubles within Nigeria’s ruling party, APC, emerged on Monday as a minister of the federal government accused an APC governor of mismanagement, corruption and deceit.

The party is faced with separate crises in many states, including the ones it governs.

On Monday, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, accused the Plateau State Government of mismanaging over $2 billion loan collected.

According to the minister, the APC administration in Plateau was not prudent in managing resources.

“Where is the $2 billion loan collected from African Development Bank for potatoes processing factory payable in 25 years? Where is the factory located? Or where is the money kept and whose account? Why did the state government keep the issue of the loan secret?” the minister said in a statement he personally signed in response to an attack on him by the APC chairman in the state.

Mr. Dalung was not done. He also accused the state government of mismanaging local government (LG) funds.

“What is happening to LG funds? What is happening to 5 per cent meant for the traditional council?”

The minister also accused the Governor Simon Lalong administration of lying about the security situation in the state; and of deceiving President Muhammadu Buhari.

”And if peace has returned to Plateau, why was the LG elections suspended because of security concerns? Is it not true that Governor Jang constructed all the roads in Jos and Bukuru metropolis except for state low cost -Dong road? You were present when former President Goodluck commissioned Federal Secretariat bridge, why did Governor Lalong mislead the president to recommission it again?” he said.

REASONS FOR OUTBURST

President Buhari was in Plateau State last Thursday as part of his visit to violence-ravaged states.

Scores of people have been killed in ethnic-related violence in Plateau, mainly between nomadic herdsmen and farming communities. Over a dozen people were killed in the state even on the days the president visited.

A day after the president’s visit, the minister accused Governor Lalong of side-lining him from the visit. He said he was not officially informed of the visit by the state government, despite being a minister from the state; and that even when he attended a reception organised for the president, he was not allowed to speak. He also accused the governor of playing to the gallery by renaming a road, formerly named after a former military ruler, after Mr. Buhari.

“Another disaster of the president’s visit was the renaming of Yakubu Gowon way to Muhammadu Buhari way. To say the least, it is embarrassing,” the minister said in an interview he posted on his Facebook page.

“Gowon was the president’s boss, how can he be stripped of a 40-year privilege and honour in his home state? This is the worst thing that can happen to a man like the elder statesman. I believe that General Gowon is feeling betrayed and abandoned by his own people.”

In response to the minster’s outburst, the APC chairman in Plateau, Latep Dabang, criticised the minister, allegedly describing him as a lunatic.

The chairman, who spoke in an interview with ViewPointNigeria on Saturday, accused the minister of working against the party in the state.

In his response on Monday, the minister thanked Mr. Dabang “for speaking your minds even though uninformed about the facts.”

“Let me appreciate the chairman of my party, Latep Dabang, for referring to me as a mad man. Of course he is free to his opinions but certainly not correct too.”

“I am of a sound mind because mad people do not possess capacities to raise weighty issues.”

According to Mr. Dalung, the APC chairman was frustrated.

Nigeria President, Muhammadu Buhari and Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong

“I can understand the problems confronting my friend and brother, Latep Dabang. His mentor has left the party, so things are falling apart, the centre can no longer hold.”

Taking a swipe at Governor Lalong, Mr. Dalung said the governor ”never heed to his (Dalung) wise counsel”.

“For Governor Lalong, I honestly have respect for him because he is my leader. I have given him series of advice and will continue to do even though he has not taken any,” he said.

He said he was not ”eyeing Mr. Lalong’s office in the 2019 governorship elections”.

“The Governor should realise where we are coming from and save the state from further drifting into chaos. I have been quite supportive to the governor and his administration despite his repeated turning down of advice. I am concerned about the state and do not have any political ambition.”

APCs MANY CRISES

The conflict between an APC minister and a government controlled by the party is not unique to the state.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, boycotted a presidential campaign programme organised his state by the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu. Mr. Shittu is also from Oyo and plans to succeed Mr. Ajimobi, who rounds off his second term next year.

The Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, [Photo credit: THISDAYLIVE]

The APC is also facing major crises in other states like Kogi, Kaduna, Ogun and Kano where APC governors are locked in battle with APC senators.

President Buhari has since set up a committee headed by ex-Lagos Governor, Bola Tinubu, to resolve many of the crises. There are, however, doubts if the Tinubu-committee can resolve the various disputes.

2019: Ladoja shops for new political party as Oyo PDP crisis deepens

The lingering crisis within the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took another dimension on Monday when a former governor of the State and one of the leaders of the party, Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja announced his plan to leave the party due to what he called perceived impunity rearing its head again in the party.

DAILY POST gathered that to underscore the seriousness attached to the move, a committee has been set up to shop for an alternative party by the Ladoja group as the 2019 election gathers momentum.

It will be recalled that about three weeks ago, the crisis in the party reared its ugly head following moves by the national secretariat to divide the state executive into two with Ladoja group given 14 slots of the state executive and 12 slots to a group loyal to one of the governorship aspirants, Engineer Seyi Makinde in the 26-member state executive.

But Ladoja while speaking on a live radio programme on Splash F.M, Ibadan, monitored by DAILY POST on Monday said he was miffed that the impunity which drove him away from the PDP in 2010 and which he was promised was over had surfaced again.

He also used the occasion to reaffirm his decision not to contest the governorship election again in the state, stressing that his preoccupation was how to install a people’s government in the state in 2019.

Ladoja stressed that he had no axe to grind with one of the governorship aspirants in the party, Engineer Seyi Makinde, declaring that a father-son relationship still subsists between them as well as other guber aspirants in the party.

He said “There was only one state congress held as far as I am concerned and Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha emerged as the chairman. The issue of the state executive being shared 14 and 12 does not even arise at all. There is and there will be nothing like that.

“It was impunity that drove us from the PDP and if they allow the impunity to return, we will leave the party for them. We brought Accord less than four months to the 2011 elections and the people of the state accepted the party.

“Wherever there is impunity, you will not find me there. How will some people think of going to Abuja to ask them to help to substitute names of their preferred candidates in the list of duly elected officers? It is very wrong and we will not accept that” .

On the judgment nullifying the coronation of 21 new obas by Governor Abiola Ajimobi last year, Ladoja said the court made a declarative judgment which must be complied with, irrespective of the appeal filled by the defendants.

“By the judgment, these people should cease to call themselves oba and should not be wearing their so-called crown or coronet. There was a picture of one of them sent to me from Kano State that he wore the coronets.

“I will ask my lawyer to call the attention of the court to the flouting of its judgment. They are acting in contempt of court. The governor, my aburo should have called them to order and ask them to desist from illegality. They can wear the coronet in their houses, after all they can be kings of their houses, but outside their homes.

“The court gave a declarative judgment which means that irrespective of the appeal filed by them, the judgment subsists until set aside by a court of higher jurisdiction. The court said the retired Justice Akintunde Boade-led Commission of Inquiry is unknown to law and does not exist. These so-called obas too do not exist in the eyes of the law. That judgment still stands”, he said.

Ladoja reiterated that he had nothing personal against Governor Ajimobi whom he repeatedly called his brother, adding that he opposed his policies which he considered anti-people.

DailyPost

INEC seeks electoral offences tribunal before 2019 poll

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the National Assembly and other stakeholders to expedite action on the bill to establish the National Electoral Offences Commission/Tribunal ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The Commission also disclosed that it recorded 1,080 cases of electoral offences during the 2015 general elections and subsequent bye-elections.

INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated these in a memorandum he submitted to the Senate joint committee on INEC and the Judiciary on Monday.

He said 124 of the cases were filed and 60 convictions secured in various courts across the country.

Yakubu expressed dismay that reports of the Electoral Reform Committee (the Uwais Report) of 2008 and the Post-election Violence (Lemu Report) 2011 have been left to gather dusts on the shelves.

He said the two reports recommended the establishment of the Electoral Offences Commission/Tribunal to address all forms of electoral violence and impunity that had continued to undermine the stability of the nation’s democracy.

Yakubu lamented the fact that though INEC has the powers to prosecute, it lacks the powers to effect the arrest of electoral offenders.

This, he said has continued to hamper effective prosecution of electoral offenders.

Yakubu said: “While the Uwais Report was transmitted by the executive to the National Assembly in 2010, the White Paper on recommendations of the Lemu Report directed the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minster of Justice to take steps towards the establishment of the Electoral Offences Tribunal.

“Nearly a decade later, there has been no legislative action on these aspects of the recommendations of the Uwais and Lemu reports, making the present effort by the Senate and the concurrent effort by the House of Representatives a welcome development.

“The failure to systematically and consistently enforce sanctions has encouraged impunity and the violence that often characterised electoral contest in Nigeria, thereby subverting the will of the people and undermining the nation’s electoral democracy.

“At present, INEC is saddled with the responsibility of prosecuting electoral offender. Section 150(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) empowered INEC to prosecute electoral offenders through its legal officers or any legal practitioner appointed by it without the powers to arrest and investigate thus depending on the police for this purpose.

“Without the capacity to make arrest and investigate violations, the prosecutorial role is severely hampered. INEC cannot effectively focus on this role given its other variegated responsibilities under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).”

The Nation

French fashion icon Givenchy dies aged 91

Hubert de Givenchy, founder of the eponymous French fashion house, has died, his family announced today via French news agency AFP.

The esteemed fashion giant passed away on Saturday at the age of 91.

In an impressive career that spanned more than five decades, Givenchy was renowned for dressing the likes of Jackie Kennedy, the Duchess of Windsor and Audrey Hepburn, his long-time muse.

“His are the only clothes in which I am myself. He is far more than a couturier, he is a creator of personality,” Hepburn was quoted as saying of the legendary designer.

After founding la maison Givenchy in 1952, the late fashion designer sold his label to LVMH in 1988 and remained involved as head of creative design until his retirement in 1995.

Renowned for his aristocratic aesthetic, Givenchy was loved by some of Hollywood’s most prominent starlets in the 20th century, with everyone from Elizabeth Taylor to Grace Kelly singing his sartorial praises.

A number of lauded fashion figures have taken the reigns since his retirement, including John Galliano, Alexander McQueen and Riccardo Tisci, who recently accepted the creative director post at Burberry.

The French fashion house is now headed up by Clare Waight Keller, who is the label’s first female artistic director having previously been creative director at Chloé.

Independent

Why we are negotiating for release of Dapchi, Chibok girls – Buhari

President Muhamamdu Buhari on Monday said the desire of the Federal Government was to have schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram from Chibok and Dapchi back alive.

He said that was why his administration chose negotiation, rather than military option, to secure their release.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President spoke while receiving the United States Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Adesina quoted the President as saying that Nigeria was working in concert with international organisations and negotiators to ensure that the girls were released unharmed by their captors.

“We are trying to be careful. It is better to get our daughters back alive,” the President said.

Buhari thanked the US for assistance rendered in the fight against insurgency, noting that Nigerian forces are good, “but need assistance in the areas of training and equipment.”

The President promised that his administration would continue to do its best to secure the country, adding that he would be in Yobe State, from where Dapchi schoolgirls were abducted, later this week “as part of my condolence and sympathy visits to areas where we have had unfortunate events.”

Punch

How Alison-Madueke allegedly paid ex-minister Akinjide, others N650 million – Witness

Usman Zakari, a witness in the ongoing trial of a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke Akinjide, on Friday told Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, how Ms. Akinjide and others received N650 million in the build-up to the 2015 general election.

Ms. Akinjide alongside Ayo Adeseun and a Peoples Democratic (PDP) stalwart, Olanrewaju Otiti, were re-arraigned on January 16 on an amended 24-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N650 million.

They were alleged to have received the money from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the build-up to the 2015 general election.

The money was part of the $115 million allegedly disbursed by Mrs. Alison- Madueke to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.

In his testimony at Friday’s sitting, Mr. Zakari, who is an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told the court how the commission had received what he described as “classified category A intelligence report’’ against the defendants in a case of money laundering to the tune of N650m late 2014.

He further told the court that there was a meeting, sometime in 2015, at the residence of Mrs. Alison-Madueke, in which the managing director of a new generation bank and some oil marketers were in attendance.

Mr. Zakari also told the court that it was during the meeting that Mrs. Alison-Madueke informed the bank chief that some oil marketers and other individuals would lodge some foreign currencies in his bank on her behalf.

“Upon receipt of the intelligence report against the defendants, information was sent to the Special Taskforce Team 4, where I head, for analysis and further investigation.

“We then sent letters of investigation activities and letters of invitation to the banks and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat in Oyo State.

“The letters of invitation was also extended to the defendants,” he added.

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness also told the court that in the course of investigations, it was discovered that Allison-Madueke, three oil marketers and some individuals held a meeting on December 2014, adding that “after the meeting, Alison-Madueke told the bank executive that three oil companies would pay some dollars to his bank.

Embattled former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke

“The companies are: Acuts Intergrated Limited, which paid $17.8m; Northern Belt Oil/Gas Company, which paid $60m; Med-western Oil Services Limited, which paid $9.5m dollars and one A. Williams, who paid $1.8m.”

The witness said his findings showed that three oil marketers and individuals paid $89 million, while the aides to Alison-Madueke made available $25 million in suite cases, totalling $115 million, which he said were housed in the bank.

“Alison-Madueke, on March 26, 2015, ordered the bank to convert the said $115 million, which was equivalent to N23 billion – the bank complied.

“After the conversion, she directed the bank to pay the sum of N650 million to the 1st and 2nd defendant and one Yinka Taiwo through her son, Ogbonna Madueke.

“Findings revealed that the first and second defendants and one Yinka Taiwo went to one of the bank branches in Oyo and signed the receipt for the payment of N650 million. They took the money to the residence of the 1st defendant and made the payment of N650 million, without following any financial institution,” he added.

The defence team led by Bolaji Ayorinde, objected to the evidence of the witness on the grounds that he did not attend the meeting between Mrs. Alison-Madueke, oil marketers and the individuals.

They told the court that the evidence of the witness did not relate to the charge against the defendants, adding that it was unconstitutional.

“He can only give evidence of taking possession of N650 million not $115m because it was not mentioned in the charge against the defendants, ” they said.

Mr. Ayorinde prayed the court not to use the evidence by the witness to form part of court records ‘‘because all his evidence was hear-say rather than direct evidence.’’

In his response, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the evidence of the PW2 was the finding of his investigation, which could not amount to hear-say.

“My Lord, a charge against the defendants cannot be bad because the charge did not contain all the particulars given as evidence by the witness,” he added.

Mr. Oyedepo, therefore, prayed the court to admit the evidence of the witness.

Justice Hassan adjourned the case to March 23 and April 9 for continuation of hearing

Benue killings: I’m surprised IGP Idris disobeyed my directive – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said he was ‘surprised’ that the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris disobeyed his directives to stay in Benue until the bloodletting between farmers and herdsmen was resolved.

Mr. Buhari also said his government was deeply worried about the incessant attacks on Benue’s rural communities and vowed to end the menace “very soon”.

The president, in the wake of public outcry that greeted the murder of over 70 persons by suspected herdsmen had instructed the IGP to relocate to the state until the carnage was contained. The police boss had reportedly spent less than 24 hours in the state before leaving; attracting more condemnation from Nigerians even as the presidency failed to reprimand him.

Mr. Buhari, who met with farmers, herdsmen, government officials and other stakeholders in Makurdi on Monday as part of his visits to troubled states however, denied insinuations that he was not interested in what was happening to Benue state.

“I cannot overlook the killings in Benue or any other part of Nigeria. I cannot do that. I am genuinely worried about the attacks in Benue and we are doing everything to end them,” he said.

He said that the insecurity in some states was a major concern to his government, adding that concerted efforts were being made to restore normalcy to every part of the country.

Mr. Buhari said that he was surprised at the revelation that the IGP did not spend 24 hours in Benue, when he directed him to relocate to the state and remain there till peace was restored.

“I am getting to know this in this meeting. I am quite surprised,” he said.

He, however, said that the meeting was not the best place to expose the inefficiency of his appointees, and appealed to Benue people to exercise restraint and live in peace with their neighbours.

Why the president did not know that IGP Idris disobeyed his order remained unclear.

But in his speech on Monday, Mr. Buhari appealed to the people to pay more attention to farming, especially rice cultivation, saying that rice importation had dropped by 90 per cent since some states embarked on massive production of the commodity.

Speaking earlier, Governor Samuel Ortom appealed to the president to upgrade the ongoing military exercise in the state tagged “Ayem Akpatema”, to a wider operation to effectively curb herdsmen attacks.

“If the exercise is upgraded to a wider operation, it will assist greatly in ending the incessant attacks and senseless killings by herdsmen,” he said

He urged Benue people to learn to live in peace with other people.

Mr. Ortom said that many states were currently involved in massive cultivation of rice, and urged his people to join the trend.

The governor reiterated his call for the arrest of the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, alleging that the body was responsible for the killings in Benue.

Mr. Ortom maintained that ranching was the best option for cattle breeding in Nigeria, and advised herdsmen to embrace it so as to minimise the clashes caused by open grazing.

He also called on the federal government to take over the management of the Benue University Teaching Hospital, College of Education, Katsina-Ala and Benue Polytechnic, Ugbokolo.

Shetima Mohammed, a representative of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Benue Chapter, however, denied responsibility for the Benue attacks.

“Our association is a peace-loving one and the exact opposite of what is being portrayed,” he declared.

Last modified on Monday, 12 March 2018 16:43

Herdsmen killings: Protest as Buhari visits Benue

Families of those killed in New Year Day’s attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen staged a peaceful protest against President Muhammadu Buhari in Makurdi, Benue State, on Monday.

President Buhari was on one day visit to Benue State to find lasting solution to herdsmen and farmers clash in the state and other parts of the country.

The protesters who were about 50 in number carried placards to Government House in Makurdi, venue of the meeting between Buhari and people of Benue.

Security personnel however prevented the protesters from going into the Government House.

They, however, staged a peaceful protest at Government House roundabout and openly displayed placards.

The protesters, who were decked in all black outfits, sang songs of mourning and asked President Buhari to end the killings or resign.

Some of the placards read: “End the killings or resign, Buhari every one is a Yusuf.”

The placards featured pictures of those killed on New Year Day.

At the time the President was leaving for the airport, the protesters displayed their placards boldly and sang on top of their voice.

It was not clear if the President heard or sighted the protesters.

The Nation

CBN Asks Court Not to Slam First Bank With N122bn Judgment Debt

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has asked a Federal High Court in Owerri not to make absolute the temporary garnishee order it granted six chiefs representing the Ogoni community, compelling it to pay the sum of N122.53 billion on behalf of First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank).

CBN’s lead counsel, Professor Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) while responding to a new suit filed by the judgment creditors (Ogoni chiefs) seeking to commit FirstBank, its chairman, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, and managing director, Dr. Sola Adeduntan, to prison for alleged contempt for not paying them the sum of over N122.53 billion, stated that making the order absolute and compelling the CBN to pay out the huge sum would be against the interest of justice because the matter was still pending at the Supreme Court.

There are concerns that compelling the CBN to pay the N122.53 billion from FirstBank’s funds domiciled with the central bank could have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s oldest and biggest lender by assets and deposits, and a systemic impact on the rest of the financial system and wider economy.

But in a statement yesterday, the bank said it was a responsible and law abiding corporate citizen with the capacity and character to, on a consistent basis, meet its obligations as and when due.

The case, which started in 1991, was originally instituted at the Rivers State High Court, Nchia Division, by six indigenes of Ogoniland against the Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Netherlands, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, United Kingdom, and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria Limited over alleged oil spills that occurred when Shell operated in the community.

The plaintiffs alleged that it was the same case that led to the Ogoni struggle championed by the late Mr. Ken Saro Wiwa.

Judgment was eventually entered in their favour against Shell by the state High Court, whereupon the defendant appealed against the said judgment.

However, in 2001, a fresh suit was commenced by some representatives of the Ogoni people before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba claiming N17 billion and interests on the said sum for the losses allegedly caused by the oil spills.

Justice Buba, after listening to the submissions of the parties in the suit, in his judgment in 2010, awarded N17 billion to the representatives of the Ogoni people.

The court equally granted the Ogoni chiefs 25 per cent interest charge on the principal sum of about N17 billion.

SPDC then appealed against the judgment and applied for a stay of execution of the judgment pending the appeal.

As a condition for granting the stay of execution, the court required Shell’s bankers, FirstBank, to provide a guarantee of the judgment sum.

This condition was complied with. But Shell’s appeal failed at the Court of Appeal on technical grounds, ostensibly because it filed its processes out of time and without regularising them.

When the oil giant proceeded to the Supreme Court, it also failed as the court upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal.

Accordingly, last December, the judgment creditors (Ogoni representatives) commenced garnishee proceedings at the Federal High Court in Owerri presided over by Justice Lewis Allagoa.

They urged the CBN to pay them N122.53 billion out of FirstBank’s account in its custody.

THISDAY gathered that they calculated the principal sum of N17 billion and the accrued 25 per cent interest charge per annum to arrive at the sum of N122,533,403,392.

In January, Justice Allagoa granted them a temporary order (garnishee nisi) ordering the CBN to pay them the sum from FirstBank’s account with it.

The judgment creditors, Chief Isaac Osaro Agbara and five others (representing the Ogoni community) are represented by Mr. Lucius Nwosu (SAN) as the lead counsel, while FirstBank is represented by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) as lead counsel.

Shell, against whom the judgment was made and who wants to be joined in the garnishee proceedings, having filed a motion for joinder, is represented by Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN), while the garnishee, CBN, which is allegedly in custody of the N122.53 billion is represented by Ajogwu.

When the suit came up for hearing before Justice Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Owerri last Friday, Ajogwu, filed a motion before the court to set aside the temporary garnishee order on the grounds that the CBN was not indebted to and does not have the private funds of FirstBank in its custody.

However, Akoni’s motion for Shell to be joined in the garnishee proceedings could not be taken.

Ajogwu contended that the consent of the Attorney General of the Federation was not obtained to attach the money alleged to be in the custody of a public officer, contrary to the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act.

He also argued that the funds alleged to be in the custody of the CBN could only be statutory funds, which cannot be attached for payment of judgment sums.

He further averred that in view of the several suits and appeals in the matter, the proceedings were an abuse of the court’s process and amounted to forum shopping.

In his motion, counsel to FirstBank, Olanipekun, also asked the court to set aside the temporary garnishee order.

He argued that the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case, and therefore asked the court to transfer the case to Abuja or Lagos.

But in his response, Nwosu stated that the Ogoni judgment creditors were entitled to the benefit of their judgment and opposed all motions by the CBN, Shell and FirstBank.

After hearing all the parties in the case, Justice Allagoa adjourned the matter to April 11, 2018, for the continuation of hearing.

But in a statement sent to THISDAY yesterday, FirstBank’s Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, said her organisation was a responsible law abiding citizen with the capacity and character to meet its obligations as and when due.

She said the events culminating in the issuance of the bank guarantee at the request of Shell and all the lawsuits arising from the case were before the courts.

She expressed confidence that the courts would dispense justice in the cases in line with constitutional obligations.

According to her, “FirstBank is a responsible and law abiding corporate citizen with the capacity and character to, on a consistent basis, meet its obligations as and when due.

“The events culminating in FirstBank’s issuance of the said bank guarantee at the request of Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited as well as all matters arising therefrom and associated therewith are subject matters of different lawsuits including Suit Nos. FHC/OW/CS/C4/2017, FHC/L/NJR/1/2018 and Appeal Nos. SC/511/2017 and SC/731/2017 which are ongoing.

“We are confident that the various courts will dispense justice in the cases in line with their constitutional obligations.”

Also, a source conversant with the case explained that FirstBank’s appeal was still at the Supreme Court and hearing on the case will come up on October 16, 2018.

He said irrespective of the fact that the Supreme Court had not ruled on the case, the counsel to the Ogoni chiefs, Nwosu, has been pushing for FirstBank to honour the guarantee.

He said FirstBank, however, has maintained that the parties have the right to exhaust their rights in law and that includes going to the Supreme Court.

According to the source, this was another attempt by Nwosu to stampede the bank into paying the N122.53 billion.

Opening up on other tactics employed by the counsel to the Ogoni chiefs to compel FirstBank to cough up the sum despite the fact that the matter is still being adjudicated, he said Nwosu had also petitioned the two legislative chambers of the National Assembly.

“Not stopping at that, he has petitioned the central banks of other countries where FirstBank has operations; he has initiated winding up proceedings against the bank in Lagos and Abuja which he discontinued; he took an action against FirstBank at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt which he abandoned; he obtained the garnishee at the Federal High Court in Owerri seeking to attach FirstBank’s funds at the CBN; then last week he filed contempt proceedings against the chairman and managing director of the bank.

“All these he has done irrespective of the case at the Supreme Court. But FirstBank from what I can tell is confident in the judiciary to do the right thing,” he said.

Thisday

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FG’s websites inactive despite gulping billions

Many federal ministries and agencies lack active websites despite spending billions of naira on information technology last year, Daily Trust investigations have shown.

Two key agencies under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology are absent online. One of them is the National Space Research Development Agency (NASDRA), which is responsible for Nigeria’s space programme and policy development of space science and technology.

Another key agency absent online is the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI). A part of its mandate is to synergise with other related agencies to commercialize Nigeria’s indigenous products in the areas of technology and business management.

Similarly, the website of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) is rarely updated. When Daily Trust reporter visited it last night, the former Director General of the agency, Prof Lucy Ogbadu, whose tenure ended about two months ago, was still displayed on the website, as the DG.

Even the link to the press release that announced the appointment of Mr Abayomi Oguntade as acting DG on January 28, 2018, was not found on the website.

Almost all the menus on the website were either not active or found, or outrightly blank. Of the 10 menus on the website, only that of the ‘Office of the DG’ was active.

Even at that, of the six sub-menus under it, only the one with the DG’s profile was active. All the remaining ones were blank.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development website is active only half way as most of the sections are blank.

President Muhammadu Buhari administration is giving priority to agriculture, but there is very scant information regarding that on the website when our reporter checked last night.

Though there was provision for agencies, research institutes and colleges in the website, only the link to agencies display the agencies under the ministry.

Even then only about three of the agencies have an active link that will take you to their websites. The hyperlink for research institutes and colleges was blank when Daily Trust visited last night.

The value chain sub-sectors were also not updated, apart from the names of the items displayed. The addresses of the ministry’s state offices were also not available. The last press release posted on the ministry’s website was dated January 26, 2018.

The website of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) is also displaying outdated and wrong information. For instance, under ‘Special Advisers’ only two names were displayed even though there are dozens of them, as of last night.

The displayed information was also wrong. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, was addressed on the SGF’s website as special adviser on ‘new media’ to the president.

Though N65 million was spent on the website last year, according to the SGF Boss Mustapha, the last news item posted on the website was in October last year.

Most of the other ministries that have websites rarely update them.

Only last week, the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) disclosed that over 70 percent of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in Nigeria have no websites.

The agency said less than 25 percent of them have functional telephone numbers and e-mail. The acting Director General of the bureau, Mr Dasuki Arabi, said this during the first edition of BPSR Lunch Time Reform Seminar in Abuja.

He spoke at an event themed: “Using ICT within the Public Service in the Ease of Doing Business to Enhance Public Access to Information.”

Arabi said there is a huge gap and constraints to doing business in Nigeria as many institutions of government have no avenue to disseminate needed information by business operators.

“This shortcoming has not only created a huge gap and constraint to doing business in Nigeria but is also responsible for the country being ranked number 169 out of the 190 economies in the world.

´In line with global best practices, institutional websites provide the means through which relevant information for starting business process could be obtained,” he said.

“It is also requisite where information concerning the activities of government organisation could easily be accessed. It is noteworthy to inform you that the federal government has adopted the scorecard in a letter dated 10 December 2017 which would serve as peer review mechanism among the MDAs to boost compliance to standards for government website and improve operationalization of the Executive Order E001 on Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria,” he said

An analysis of the 2017 budget shows that N20 billion has been spent by federal ministries and agencies on information technology services and consultancy.

The budget breakdown shows that the funds were meant for setting up data banks, e-governance, simplifying information dissemination, as well as digitizing work in the agencies.

The allocations were listed under sub-headings for internet access charges, information technology consulting, satellite broadcasting access charges, computer software acquisition, information technology training, reforms communication, and purchase of computers.

Despite these spending, processes of information dissemination by government ministries remain antiquated and slow.

Several visits to the websites of these agencies in the past weeks revealed that only a few of them display up-to-date information.

Most are rarely updated, have blank pages or contain links that lead to no pages at all.

Also, the Foreign Affairs ministry website is not being updated as most of the pages were blank with “coming soon” displayed, including pages on travel advisory, trade, and investment.

The page designated “Nigerian missions oversees” was blank. And the website was last updated on December 7, 2017. The ministry’s links to business, government, visiting, and employment were all not active as of last night.

The Nigeria Police Force has an active website but with very scant information. When this reporter clicked on the link of “wanted persons” it was found to be blank even though the police have lots of wanted persons still on the run.

Among the agencies with regularly updated websites are those of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Budget Office of the Federation, Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

Others in this category are the websites of the ministries of Information and Culture, Communication Technology, Power, Works, and Housing, among others.

Some of the big spenders on computer software acquisition and other IT related services according to 2017 budget are power, works and housing N5.5bn, DSS N1.04bn, communications N1.05bn, OSGF N1.04bn, National Security Adviser N1.04bn, and Code of Conduct Bureau N1.01bn.

Salaries and wages commission spent N917m, National Population Commission N741m, National Immigration Service N600m, Voice of Nigeria (VON) N663m, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) N355m, Transports N357m, Finance N344m, Foreign N276m, Defence N281m, Interior N252m, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) N204m, and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) N288m.

Others include Debt Management Office N130m, Information and Culture N126m, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN)N122m, Trade and Investment N115m, Environment N147m, Education N111m, Economic Planning N169m, Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) N232m, ICPC N145m, Petroleum N170m, and Mining N245m.

Board of Prisons, Immigration and Civil Defence spent N163m, Fiscal Responsibility Commission N85m, Nuclear Regulatory Agency N100m, Sports and youths N68m, Water Resources N40m, Federal Character Commission N95m, State House N181m, among others.

DailyTrust

Osun poll: Aregbesola, Oyinlola may clash over gov candidate

A former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, may clash with Governor Rauf Aregbesola over the choice of who succeeds the latter as the preparations for the governorship election in the state begin to gather momentum.

Oyinlola, on Friday tasked the people of the Osun West Senatorial District to search for a young and educated candidate with the capacity to lead the state after the expiration of Aregbesola’s tenure in November.

But it is believed in many quarters that Aregbesola is backing his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, who is from Iragbiji in Osun Central Senatorial District to succeed him in the election scheduled to hold in September.

Speaking in Ede at the 10th coronation anniversary lecture of the Timi of Ede, Oba Adesola Lawal, Oyinlola said he was ready to support whoever the people of Osun West would present as their governorship candidate.

Oyinlola, who has publicly identified with the coalition proposed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, explained that Osun West had only ruled the state for 22 months out of the 27 years of existence of Osun State.

He noted it would be unjust to deny the senatorial district the chance to produce the next governor of the state, stressing that he would support the district in order to correct the imbalance.

Oyinlola urged the people of the state to dismiss the rumour that he had a particular person in mind.

He insisted that he had nobody in mind but promised to support anybody brought forward by the district to contest the governorship poll.

He, however, said he had no interest to contest despite the calls that he should contest again.

He said, “ Out of 27 years of existence of Osun State, the West has only been there (governorship position) for just 22 months. The aspiration of the founding fathers of the state is that no part should be marginalised.

“I don’t mind if I stand alone. I have told my political family to find an educated young person from the West Senatorial District who can lead the state after the tenure of the governor. I said that is the man I will want you to bring to me.

“Please, Oyinlola has nobody in mind. I am saying that in all sincerity and in all honesty. In the West, scout for us somebody to lead us after the expiration of the tenure of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbeola, I’m not bothered about what anybody has to say.”

However, the Media Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Sola Fasure, when contacted by our correspondent, said Aregbesola had nobody in mind but that the governor would support anybody the party leaders brought forward as the consensus candidate.

He said, “The leadership of the party is holding a series of meetings on the matter and the governor says it is the candidate that the leadership of the party agrees on that he will support.”

Asked if the All Progressives Congress would go through primary to pick its governorship candidate, the governor’s spokesperson said the party would resort to this if the consensus arrangement failed.

Fasure said, “You know that the tradition of the party from the time of the Action Group to the Alliance for Democracy has been to have consensus but it is when consensus failed that they would go to primary.”

Punch

Contrary to social media narratives, Buhari is transforming Nigeria – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said that naysayers had taken to social media and spending huge amounts of money to distort the situation in Nigeria.

The minister stated this at a mini town hall meeting which he organised for members of staff of the Nigerian Embassy in Berlin, Germany and a cross-section of Nigerians residing in the European country.

Mr. Mohammed was in Berlin to attend a meeting of African Tourism Ministers, on the side-lines of the International Travel Trade Fair in the German capital.

A statement issued on the mini town hall meeting in Berlin was made available to journalists in Abuja by the Segun Adeyemi, the Special Adviser to the minister.

The minister said the naysayers, who were hoping to override the string of achievements by the present administration in the country, were spending huge amounts of money to spread fake news about Nigeria.

He said: “Contrary to the fake news being peddled in the social media by the naysayers, President Muhammadu Buhari is putting Nigeria back on its feet.

“That is why Nigerians at home and abroad must ensure they have access to authentic information.

“One way is to download the FGNiAPP on their hand-held devices. It is free.”

“The economy is on a steady growth, as attested to be by the latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics:

“The economy attracted 12.2 billion dollars in foreign investments in 2017, up from $5.38 billion in 2016.

“That represents 138 per cent increase.

‘’The economy further consolidated its recovery from recession with GDP growing by 1.92 per cent in Q4 2017, compared to 1.40 per cent in Q3 2017 and a contraction of -1.73 per cent in Q4 2016.

“This means the economy ended 2017 with a growth of 0.82 per cent compared to a
contraction of -1.58 per cent in 2016.

“GDP growth in Q4 2017 was driven by growth in crop production, crude production and natural gas, metal ores, construction, transportation and storage, trade, electricity and gas production.

“These are indications that the administration’s diversification effort is working.”

Mr. Mohammed blamed the incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen on environmental, rather than ethnic or religious issues.

He noted that contrary to the narrative being pushed in certain quarters that gave ethnic and religious coloration to the clashes, they were caused by purely environmental issues.

Mr. Mohammed said whereas, Nigeria’s population in 1963 was about 48 million, ‘’it is now about 180 million with the country’s land mass remaining the same.’’

He said the implication was that, there were more people per square kilometre, adding that this development raised the chances of clashes over dwindling resources.

The minister also said that Lake Chad that which used to provide water and other resources to more than 30 million people in four countries, including Nigeria in the early 1960s had shrunk by about 90 per cent.

He said the lake which had shrunk from 25,000 square kilometres to 2,500 square kilometres, forced those affected to move south in search of resources.

“These and other reasons, like desertification, have altered the resource landscape, heightened competition for dwindling resources and raised the possibility of clashes between farmers and herders.”

Mr. Mohammed, who assured of the Federal Government’s commitment to finding lasting solution to the clashes, noted that the establishment of ranches was one sure way of reducing such clashes.

He, however, said that in resolving the crisis, both the farmers and the herders must be willing to shift slightly from their positions grounded in their way of life over centuries.

For his part, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Tuggar, commended the patriotism and dedication of the Nigerians in Diaspora, especially those in Germany.

“There is a burgeoning Nigerian community (in Germany), committed to
the prosperity of Nigeria.

“They are well in tune with the policies of the Nigerian government and they are accomplished men and women and worthy ambassadors,” he said.

In their comments, some leaders of the Nigerian Diaspora commended the government for the progress being made in lifting up the country.

They stressed the need to step up efforts to ensure the security of life and property in order to attract more foreign investors to the country.

A naysayer is a person who says something will not or is not possible, or one who is sceptical or cynical about something.

NAN

Economic integration: South-East Govs to construct 430km ring roads

South-East Governors on Sunday announced of plans to undertake the construction of 430 kilometres of road across the five states in the zone.

This formed part of the decision taken by the South-East Governor’s Forum during their meeting at the Enugu Government House.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting, which lasted for over four hours was read by the Forum’s chairman, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State.

Other Governors at the meeting included Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Eze Madumere. The governor of Anambra State was absent.

The communiqué reads: “the South East Governors Forum at its meeting discussed extensively on the possible strategies towards economic development of the South East and at the end of the meeting resolved as follows:

“To undertake the construction of ring road covering a total area of 430 kms, that would connect all the States of the South East, to promote economic development of the South East States and for ease of transportation system in the region.

“Took presentation for Gas Pipelines in the South East and advised the Consultants to follow up on details of implementation especially as it relates to right of way.

“We commended presentation on Aba Independent Power Project by Prof. Barth Nnaji and asked him to liaise with the Secretariat for further implementation with the Presidency.”

The forum chairman further disclosed that the governors also received presentations on several issues, particularly, from National Addressing System of Nigeria and the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) on assessment of MDAs for effective performance.

“A private business enterprise presented to the forum a Lottery business proposal in the South East states. After much deliberation, the Forum advised him to reach out to various states in the South East in going about the proposal.

“Directed that the Five South East States Chairmen of Traditional Rulers Council be invited for amicable resolution of their crisis in our next meeting.

“Expressed deep appreciation to the Governors and the people of the South East for the able way they worked together to give the former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, a befitting burial and enjoined them to continue in such spirit to move the South East States forward”, he said.

DailyPost