The United States has approved the sale of military equipment worth $997 million to Nigeria.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the US department of defence, the weapons include 12 attack helicopters, 2,000 advanced precision kill weapon system guidance sections, and night vision imaging system.

The approval comes after months of back and forth on the matter, with the US initially reported to have denied Nigeria’s request over human rights concerns.

But Lai Mohammed, minister of information, had claimed at the time that there was no such deal with the US.

According to the statement, the US said the sale of the weapons is part of efforts to boost security for Nigeria.

“The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Nigeria of AH-1Z Attack Helicopter Related FMS Acquisitions and related equipment for an estimated cost of $997 million,” the statement reads.

“The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

“The Government of Nigeria has requested to buy twelve (12) AH-1Z Attack Helicopters; twenty-eight (28) T-700 GE 401C engines (24 installed, 4 spares); and two thousand (2,000) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) guidance sections. Also included is Night Vision Cueing Display (NVCD); commercial variant GPS with Standard Positioning Service (SPS); communication equipment; electronic warfare systems; AN/AVS-9 Aviator’s Night Vision Imaging System; M197 20mm machine gun; Target Sight System (TSS); support equipment; spare engine containers; spare and repair parts; tools and test equipment; technical data and publications; personnel training and training equipment; Mission Planning system; U.S. Government and contractor engineering; technical, and logistics support services; U.S. Government and contractor assistance and oversight of facilities construction to include the provisioning of plans, drawings and specifications.

“$25M of case funds will be allocated for institutional and technical assistance to the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to continue Air Ground Integration (AGI) program, which includes developing targeting processes that are legally compliant with International Humanitarian Law and the Laws of Armed Conflict; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated program cost is $997 million.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a strategic partner in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“The proposed sale will better equip Nigeria to contribute to shared security objectives, promote regional stability and build interoperability with the U.S. and other Western partners. This sale will be a major contribution to U.S. and Nigerian security goals. Nigeria will have no difficulty absorbing the equipment and services into its armed forces.

“The proposed sale of this equipment will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractors will be Bell Helicopter, Textron, Fort Worth, TX; and General Electric Company, Lynn, MA. There are no known offset agreements in connection with this potential sale.

“Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Nigeria for mobile training teams and contract logistics support. The case will include special training on the law of armed conflict and human rights, and air-to-ground integration to minimize civilian harm in air operations.

“This proposed sale will also require multiple trips by U.S. Government and contractor representatives to participate in program and technical reviews plus training and maintenance support in country, on a temporary basis, for a period of five (5) years. It will also require approximately three (3) contractor support representatives to reside in country for a period of two (2) years to support this program.

“There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

“This notice of a potential sale is required by law. The description and dollar value is for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.”

APG Interline E-Ticketing (APG IET), an airline servicing firm, on Wednesday announced that it would begin sales of air tickets in U.S. dollars from April 19 amidst scarcity of foreign currency in Nigeria the Premium Times reports.

“Dear travel partners, warm greetings from APG. This is to bring to your notice that with effect from April 19, 2022, GP would only accept issuing of tickets in US dollars and not naira,” APG IET said in a travel advisory to its trade partners.

The group said the move became necessary due to the difficulty in repatriating airlines’ funds stuck in Nigeria and other countries, coupled with foreign exchange fluctuations.

“This is mainly due to repatriation issues and the forex situation in the country. This would most likely be a temporary measure till the forex situation improves,” the firm said.

This is coming less than three weeks after Nigeria’s aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, asked the federal government to grant access to both local and foreign airlines to foreign exchange.

Trapped funds

Last month, Sirika asked the Nigerian government to facilitate the repatriation of ticket sales proceeds trapped in Nigeria.

The minister said Nigeria currently holds $283 million worth of foreign airlines’ funds in the country.

“Aviation business suffers from issues of foreign exchange by local and foreign airlines and their inability to repatriate blocked funds. Nigeria currently holds $283mn worth of foreign airlines funds in the country. I humbly ask for the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria through the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari, to aid access of both local and foreign airlines to foreign exchange,” the minister said.

According to the Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs) with countries, airline tickets are mostly sold in naira while the airlines would repatriate the funds in dollars through the country’s central bank.

The federal government in 2018 cleared $600 million blocked funds but there has since been a backlog.

Analysts say the decision by the APG IET may worsen the challenges faced by air travellers in Nigeria who may have to source forex from the black market to purchase their tickets.

Notable carriers on the APG IET platforms include; South African Airways, Fly Dubai, Kenya Airways, Middle East Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Rwandair, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, French Bee, Egypt Air, ASKY, Air Seychelles, Air Algerie, and Air Namibia.

Others are Air Panama, Air Burkina, Avianca, Bangkok Airways, Cabo Verde Airlines, Fiji Airways, Hong Kong Airlines, and Malaysian Air amongst others.

Some of the carriers which fly directly into Nigeria are South Africa Airways, Turkish Airlines, Asky Airlines, Egypt Air, Royal Air Maroc, Middle East Airlines, Rwandair and Kenya Airways.

Hoodlums numbering over 30 disrupted proceedings in the hearing of a suit into the disputed ward, local government and state congresses of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the Bayelsa State High Court.

The claimant, Alex Blackson and his brother, Osom Blackson, were injured during the stampede in the court room, while the presiding Judge, Nayai Aganaba, was stoned.

The Judge was later whisked to safety by his police orderly.

Most of the lawyers were chased out, while those who came with the claimant were brutalised.

The hoodlums were said to have been provoked over the alleged insistence of Aganaba to hear the suit filed by Alex Blackson, seeking the order to set aside the disputed congresses of the APC held last year.

There was also sporadic shooting at the State Secretariat of the APC following the attempts by policemen to arrest some chieftains of the party over their alleged involvement in the court invasion.

Two persons were reportedly arrested.

Chairman of APC in the state, Dennis Otiotio-Odoni, who distanced members of APC from the fracas at the court, alleged that those involved were PDP supporters.

He expressed confidence in the ability of the Judiciary to adjudicate in matters concerning the party and urged the police to fish out those behind the court invasion.

He said, “APC has nothing to do with the invasion of the Court. We are a law-abiding party and we have faith in the Judiciary over cases before it. We condemn the act in its entirety and call on the Police to fish out those behind it.”

Counsel to the claimant, P.J. Fawei, described the invasion as a show of disrespect to the sanctity of the court.

A Chieftain of the party and brother to the claimant, Osom Blackson, told newsmen that those who tore his shirt and dealt him several blows were known APC members.

Another chieftain of the Party, Sunday Frank Oputu, condemned the attack, describing it as an open show of disrespect to the symbol of the law.

Management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Plc, has  felicitated with Christians as they mark this year’s Easter celebration, charging them to imbibe Godly values of righteousness, peace and justice.

Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the company, John Ayodele, in a statement issued in Ibadan, while wishing all customers and Nigerians a safe and memorable Easter holiday, assured customers across the network of the company quality service delivery during the Easter break.   

“We recognize the fact that the demand for electricity always increases during the festive season, we have therefore positioned our technical crew to ensure that the allocation we get from the national grid is equitably distributed, and that faults are cleared as fast as possible so our customers enjoy an energy hitch- free holiday", he said.

Ayodele also used the opportunity to caution and appeal against harassment of the company’s employees on duty, noting that IBEDC has provided multiple channels and customer care centers through which customers may seek redress. 

He however advised customers to ensure that their homes and business premises are properly wired and earthed only by licensed technicians to ensure safety of lives and property.

“It is illegal and dangerous for anyone to trade, live or work near electricity installations or even tamper with them, motorists are also admonished to avoid drinking under the influence of alcohol and observe traffic rules to prevent collision with electric poles and other accidents", he added.

The COO further encouraged customers to take advantage of the company's hassle free channels of payment to pay bills and vend such as Quick teller, etransact, Payarena, Jumia, Watu, Buypower and ATM to avoid disconnection during the holiday period.

Mr. Nwokorie Anthony, an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been shot dead in Imo State.

The official was killed during the Continuous Voter Registration Exercise (CVR) exercise in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of the state.

According to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Emeka Ezeonu, Nwokorie was killed at Nkwo Ihitte (PU 004) in Amakohia Ward (RA 02) of Ihitte Uboma LGA, while whereabouts of two other staff involved in the registration exercise were unkown.

Based on the tragic incident, the electoral commission suspended the exercise in the LGA.

A National Commissioner of INEC and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, announced this on Thursday.

“Prior to this incident, the commission had suspended the CVR in Orsu and Njaba Local Government areas of the state on account of insecurity while the exercise is taking place only at the INEC LGA office in Oru East, Oru West, Orlu and Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Areas of the state.”

“The commission extends its condolences to the family of Nwokorie Anthony and prays that God will grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

The incident has been reported to security agencies to unravel the circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident and bring the culprits to justice,” Okoye said.

He urged the President General of the various Town Unions in Imo State as well as all the critical stakeholders to protect staff of the commission engaged in national assignment.

He said, “The safety and security of staff is of paramount importance to the commission, particularly with the devolution of the voter registration exercise beyond our state and local government area offices nation in our determination to serve Nigerians better.”

The National Council of State has granted state pardon to former Governors Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame of Plateau and Taraba States respectively, who are serving terms in jail for corruption.

The governors were among 159 prisoners pardoned by the Council at a meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa in Abuja on Thursday.

Among the beneficiaries are a former military general and minister under the Sani Abacha regime, Tajudeen Olanrewaju, an army lieutenant colonel, Akiyode, who was an aide of former deputy to General Abacha, Oladipo Diya; and all the junior officers jailed over the 1990 abortive Gideon Orkar coup.

The full list of those pardoned is not immediately available.

According to a presidency source, the two former governors were pardoned on health and age grounds.

Mr Nyame, 66, governor of Taraba State from 1999 to 2007, was serving a 12-year jail term at the Kuje prison for misappropriation of funds while he was in office. The Supreme Court upheld his conviction in February 2020.

Mr Dariye, 64, who governed Plateau between 1999 and 2007, was jailed for stealing N2 billion of public funds during his time as Plateau State governor between 1999 and 2007.

The former governor, elected as senator representing Plateau Central in the Senate in 2015, was sentenced in June 2018 but still completed his tenure from jail in June 2019.

In 2021, he led a partly successful appeal at the Supreme Court with a five-man panel of the court headed by Mary Odili, quashing his conviction in respect of criminal misappropriation in a unanimous decision.

The offences he was discharged of only attracted two years’ imprisonment and, so had no impact on his overall number of years of imprisonment. The apex upheld the ex-governor’s conviction in respect of criminal breach of trust, which attracted a 10-year jail term.

Adebukola Banjoko of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, had on June 12, 2018, convicted Mr Dariye and originally sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment on charges of criminal breach of trust and two years jail term for criminal misappropriation.

But following his appeal against the judgment, the Court of Appeal in Abuja on November 16, 2018, commuted the 14 years jail term to 10.

While the Court of Appeal affirmed his conviction, it held that Section 416 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, prohibited the imposition of a maximum sentence on a first offender, such as the convict.

The former governor had appealed to the Supreme Court.

Ejembi Emo, a member of the apex court’s panel noted that Mr Dariye’s appeal “succeeded in part” after quashing his conviction in respect of charges of criminal misappropriation.

The meeting of the Council of State was attended by former presidents and military heads of state, except former President Olusegun Obasanjo who is in the United States on medical vacation.

The Nigerian Council of State is an organ of the Nigerian Government as stipulated by Third Schedule Part 1B of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The membership of the Council includes the President, who is Chairman; the Vice-President, who is Deputy Chairman; all former Presidents of the Federation and all former Heads of the Government of the Federation; all former Chief Justices of Nigeria; the President of the Senate; the Speaker of the House of Representatives; all the Governors of the states of the Federation; and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The Council has power to:

(a) advise the President in the exercise of his powers with respect to the:-

(i) national population census and compilation, publication and keeping of records and other information concerning the same;

(ii) prerogative of mercy;

(iii) award of national honours;

(iv) the Independent National Electoral Commission (including the appointment of members of that Commission);

(v) the National Judicial Council (including the appointment of the members, other than ex-officio members of that Council); and

(vi) the National Population Commission (including the appointment of members of that Commission); and

(b) advise the President whenever requested to do so on the maintenance of public order within the Federation or any part thereof and on such other matters as the President may direct.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has denied reports that Eberechukwu, wife of the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, was in its custody, the Vanguard has reported. 

Online media (not Nigerian Newstrack) had reported the arrest and detention of the former first lady of Anambra state. The media said she was arrested over alleged fraud.

However, when contacted EFCC’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren debunked the report, saying that she is not in EFCC’s custody.

Recall that her husband, Willie Obiano was apprehended about a month ago at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, after handing over to his successor, Soludo.

Eberechukwu had  last week declared interest to contest in the 2023 elections to represent Anambra North District at the Senate under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

Dayo Dasilva, Ogun

The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) in Ogun State at the early hours of today picket the Omida branch of Fidelity Bank Plc in Abeokuta, the state capital over non-payment of Anambra State Staff workers and disregard to a court judgement delivered in favor of the union.

Members of the Labour union gathered at the entrance of the bank as early as 6.30 am preventing customers coming to transact with the financial institution from doing so, in a protest to compel the bank to respect the ruling of the court.

They were seen carrying placards with various inscriptions such as “Our salary is our rights fidelity bank don't support illegality and corruption trading with workers money is bad, fidelity bank pay us”; “Your action is tantamount to contempt,Justice delayed is justice denied you are wicked” and “We no go gree, aupctre” among others.

Ogun State Chairman of AUPCTRE, Comrade Folorunso Olanrewaju who disclosed that the protest was ongoing in all branches of Fidelity bank across Nigeria, complained that many of their members had died and those living can not meet up their basic needs due to the bank’s attitude which he said is ‘illegal, irresponsible and wicked’.

He explained, that the 2019 judgement delivered by Justice O. Arowosegbe at the National industrial court of Nigeria, Enugu Judicial Division mandated Fidelity bank, First City Monument Bank PLC and First bank of Nigeria to pay staff of Anambra State urban water asset holding corporation and Anambra State Waste Management Authority the sum of two billion seven hundred and ninety one million, one hundred and sixty four thousand, one hundred and fifty three naira eighty kobo being the outstanding salaries, promotion increment, gratuities, pensions, entitlements and benefits owed them. 

Comrade Olanrewaju disclosed that while First city monument bank plc and first bank Nigeria plc obeyed the court ruling, Fidelity bank plc appealed and lost the case and still refused to obey the decisions and rulings of the Court.

The State Secretary Comrade Taiwo Adesola said the Fidelity bank was given several ultimatum which it refused to obey.

Officers of the Nigerian Police were seen at the bank maintaining law and order while some customers of the bank were seen turning back in disappointment.

All efforts to speak with the bank manager as at the time of filing this report proved abortive.

The United States of America government has said the Federal Government’s failure to consistently implement laws which penalises corruption led to massive, widespread and pervasive corruption which has affected all levels of government.

In its 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices which covers 198 countries and territories, published on April 12 on the website of the US Department of State, the US government noted that while Nigeria’s laws penalised corruption, enforcement was not followed through, thereby, allowing civil servants and elected government officials to partake in corrupt practices.

In a section of the report, entitled: ‘Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government’, the report said there were numerous allegations of government corruption in 2021 and failure of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to consistently implement the laws allowed civil servants and elected officials to partake in corrupt practices.

“Massive, widespread, and pervasive corruption affected all levels of government, including the judiciary and security services. The constitution provides immunity from civil and criminal prosecution for the president, vice president, governors, and deputy governors while in office. There were numerous allegations of government corruption during the year.

“Although, the law provides criminal penalties for conviction of official corruption, the government did not consistently implement the law, and government employees, including elected officials, frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity,” the report stated.

The US government said impunity, exacerbated by corruption and a weak judiciary remained a significant problem in the security forces, especially in the police, military, and the Department of State Services. However, it said government regularly utilised disciplinary boards and mechanisms to investigate security force members and hold them accountable for crimes committed on duty, but the results of the accountability mechanisms were not always made public.

“Significant human rights abuses included credible reports of: unlawful and arbitrary killings by both government and non-state actors; forced disappearances by the government, terrorists, and criminal groups; torture and cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government and terrorist groups; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detention; political prisoners; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy; serious abuses in a conflict, including killings, abductions, and torture of civilians; serious restrictions on free expression and media, including violence or threats against journalists and the existence of criminal libel laws; serious restrictions on internet freedom; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association; serious government corruption; lack of investigation and accountability for gender-based violence, including but not limited to domestic and intimate partner violence, sexual violence, child, early and forced marriage, female genital mutilation/cutting, and other harmful practices; crimes of violence targeting members of national/racial/ethnic minority groups and the existence of the worst forms of child labour.

“Domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Government officials sometimes cooperated and responded, but generally either dismissed allegations, did not provide a substantive response, or did not publicise any investigation they conducted.

“In the North East, there were reports that the military threatened non-governmental organisation and humanitarian organisations after aid provided by these organisations purportedly reached insurgent groups,” the report stated.

Passengers are currently stranded at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos after a Max Air flight did not take off as scheduled.

The Max Air flight ADJW7G was supposed to leave Lagos for Kano by 5:20pm on Wednesday. 

According to Aliyu Muhmeen, one of the stranded passengers who spoke to TheCable, the flight was rescheduled to 10pm from the initial flying time based on “logistics”.

After waiting for another two hours, at some minutes past 12am on Thursday, Muhmeen said he and three other passengers approached the Max Air counter to know the state of the flight, but were told the pilot was “tired and feeling sick”. 

“We approached the counter and this man (a Max Air staff member) told me the pilot is feeling sick and could not fly again,” he said.

“We have been here waiting since 3pm so as to fly by 5pm. That’s more than seven hours.”

Muhmeen added that the stranded passengers were more than 60, and included children and women. 

Many of the stranded passengers are said to be Muslim faithful who are fasting, while some had made plans to join an international flight at the Kano airport for lesser hajj.

Protesting the delay, the passengers asked that the airline refund them or lodge them in a hotel, and make plans to fly them to their destination on Thursday morning.

But as of the time of filing this report, the situation was yet to be resolved and some of the passengers have resorted to sleeping on the metal chairs in the waiting area.