Breaking: Buhari appoints Atteh Acting Comptroller General of Customs

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Dr. John Atteh as Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Atteh who takes over from Dikko Abdulahi was until his appointment a Deputy Comptroller General,  Finance Administration & Technical Service (FATS).

He hails from Eniwari community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

 

However, his appointment is pending the appointment of a substantive CG by the President. Atteh is the most senior serving Deputy Comptroller General.

Other senior Customs officers in the ranks of DCG and Assistants Comptroller-General (ACG) are seriously lobbying to succeed Dikko with the DCG Tariff and Trade, Adewuyi Akinade and DCG, Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, Musa Tahir said to be enjoying the backing of some powerful politicians from the South West and North East respectively.

Buhari Appoints William Fowler As New FIRS Chairman

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday approved the appointment of Dr William Fowler as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

William Babatunde Fowler
Chairman, FIRS

 

This information is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.

According to the statement, Fowler was one time Chief Executive Officer/Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue from 2005 to 2014.

He had his higher education in the U.S., where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Business Administration degree from California State University.

Before joining the service of the Lagos State Government, Fowler had worked in the banking sector for about 20 years with long stints at Credit Lyonnais Nigeria Limited and Chartered Bank.

Under his leadership, the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue reportedly achieved a sharp increase in internally generated revenue from an average of N3.6 billion per month in January 2006, to an average of about N20.5 billion per month in 2013.

Fowler, who holds an Honorary Doctorate Degree of the Irish International University, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and the Business Management Association of the UK.

According to the statement, he will serve as Acting Executive Chairman of FIRS until his appointment is confirmed by the Senate.

The statement further maintained that the appointment on Aug. 18 of Aliyu Gusau as Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, by Buhari, was for a term of four years.

It said that Gusau’s appointment was renewable for another four years, unless he attained the retirement age of 60 years or completed 35 years of pensionable service. (NAN)

AMAECHI’S KINSMEN THREATEN LIVINGSTONE WECHIE, INTEGRITY GROUP WITH LIBEL

LEADERS and youths in Ikwerre-speaking areas of Rivers State threatened to sue a non-governmental organisation known as the Integrity Group over an alleged attempt to malign their son and the immediate past governor of the state, Mr Rotimi Amaechi.

 

The leaders and youths, who are from four local government areas of the state, warned that it would institute a N2bn libel suit against Integrity Group for publishing an alleged defamatory statement on Amaechi in the media.

It will be recalled that the group had accused the immediate past governor of involvement in corrupt practices, an allegation the All Progressives Congress and the the former governor’s aides had faulted.

But leaders from Obio/Akpor, Emohua, Ikwerre and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas under the Ikwerre ethnic nationality, gave the Integrity Group and its sponsors a seven-day ultimatum to present evidence to back their allegations of fraud against Amaechi or be ready to face litigation.

Mr. Lucky Worluh, who spoke on behalf of the four Ikwerre-speaking local government areas in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, explained that the decision to sue the group was to show that Amaechi was innocent.

Worluh, who was one of the council chairmen removed by the court, said, “Nothing will stop us from dragging the NGO and its paymaster to court if it fails to back the libellous publication against Amaechi with evidence.

“We do not only condemn the unholy allegations against Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, but we also challenge the leader of the unregistered NGO, Mr. Livingstone Nwechie, his paymaster and sponsors to make public all relevant documents relating to the allegation within seven days from this publication.”

Worluh said leaders and elders of the four Ikwerre speaking Local government areas and the leaders of APC in the area were in support of their action to defend their son (Amaechi) who had brought honour and development to Ikwerre land.

According to him, “The PDP and their leaders in the state are only interested on how to bring Amaechi down. With his (Amaechi) rising profile in Nigeria, especially for leading a common sense and armless revolution that ousted Goodluck Jonathan from office, one should expect more hatred from PDP against Amaechi.”

Speaking on behalf of Ikwerre youths, the National President of Ikwerre Youth Movement, Mr. Azubuike Wanjoku, pointed out that Ikwerre sons and daughters would not allow a publication that blackmailed and insulted Amaechi to stand.

“We wish to state categorically that Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality, Rivers State, Niger Deltans and Nigerians are indebted to Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi to have offered his life to lead a common sense revolution against the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We demand those genuine documents to back the libellous publication against Amaechi and after the expiration of the ultimatum and nothing is done, IYM will drag both the NGO and the sponsors to court.”

RIVERS PDP IN DISARRAY: WIKE, SECONDUS, IBANI AT WAR OVER RERUN

As events unfold at the Rivers State Elections Petitions Tribunal giving strong indication that the April 11, 2015 gubernatorial election that brought Nyesom Wike to office as Governor would be annulled, high level scheming has seen the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, allegedly scheming to replace Wike with his younger cousin and immediate past Deputy Governor of the State, Tele Ikuru, at the rerun.

Former Rivers Dep Gov, Tele Ikuru, presenting 2015 guber election result to Nyesom Wike

Enigma Reports learnt from close family members that several events leading up to the emergence of Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani wer all focused on Andoni producing the next Governor of the State.

On his part, Wike, who has got wind of the plot, is on a warpath with the Andoni politicians and putting final touches to ousting Ibani as way of scuttling their plans. Secondus on the other hand, it was learnt has also threatened to crash the party in the State if Wike tampers with Ibani.

Reliable sources told Enigma Reports that the plot began with the last minute defection of Ikuru to the PDP from the All Progressives Congress (APC) which saw him going to sign the Final Result sheet of the election which by law renders the said document null and void thus truncating the election itself.

Ikuru in a tete-a-tete with Evans Bipi during the fracas at RSHA

With the realisation by Wike’s camp of the dastard act begun the cold war between Wike and Secondus with the former allegedly sponsoring the campaign to oust the national working committee of the party in order to render Secondus incapable of installing his “boy” as the next Governor of the State.

Informed sources within the party in the State say the plan was to undermine Wike by rendering the most important document that will validate his claim to the governorship seat invalid. Upon cancellation of the election and arrest of Wike by the anti-graft agencies for alleged fraud committed during his stint as Minister of Education or by the security agencies for electoral fraud, Ibani steps in as acting Governor and leader of the party in the State.

This would pave way for replacement of Wike with Tele Ikuru as flagbearer of the party in the rerun and subsequent emergence as elected Governor with Secondus as the godfather.

But apparently, Wike is not taking this lying low. He has perfected plans to oust Ibani as Speaker of the State House of Assembly. His henchmen are sourcing for a suitable replacement as at the time of filing this report. 



Ikuinyi-Awaji Ibani
Speaker, Rivers State House of assembly

Credible sources reveal that Secondus has issued a stern warning to Wike to stay off Ibani, threatening "Touch Ibani and I will sink this ship".

A source close to our correspondent has it that, the recent silence between the Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, and the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, is a fallout of the power tussle between them.  

Meanwhile, family sources disclose that former Deputy Governor, Ikuru has allegedly issued his own threat too, warning that any attempt at frustrating their plans will be met with counter offensive.

"We will make sure he does not finish intact. Apparently, he is poised but we are ready to play until the last whistle. We dare him (Governor Wike) to try it with us".

Demystifying Judas: a hard look at Jonathan, Amaechi and Wike

by Solomon Nmam Okocha

The term Judas can be found in many languages as a synonym for betrayer, and Judas has become the classic exemplar of the back-stabber, in art and literature. The character 'Judas' plays a critical role in virtually every work of fiction and appears in most modern movies and books. In order to fully comprehend how the mind of Judas works, this writer takes a brief slide in an amateur attempt at drawing a correlation between former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and Governor Nyesom Wike, and their impact in the Niger Delta Region, and Nigeria at large.

Enter Jonathan: This former President is perhaps the luckiest politician in the history of Nigeria. From his incidental emergence as the Governor of Bayelsa State, to his ascension as Vice President, and President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is an epitome of unmerited favour, and his story is best told in a movie or best seller.

But the irony of it all is that like the colloquial 'money miss road' cliché, Jonathan will score the highest mark as that President who did little or nothing for his motherland - Bayelsa/Niger Delta, all through his six years in the saddle of power. From zero Federal Projects allocation to Rivers State, his refusal to implement the UNEP Report, non-completion of the second Niger Bridge, to the substandard Federal University of Otuoke, amongst many others. The only difficulty I have in expressly tagging this one a Judas, is my limited knowledge as to whether or not his wanton negligence of his people was in exchange for silver or gold.

Meet Amaechi: Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is perhaps the most intriguing character in our recent political history. From his highly competitive emergence as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, his landmark victory at the Supreme Court, and subsequent eight years reign as one of the strongest governors in Nigeria, to his two terms victorious survival as the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum during the '16 is greater than 19' saga, Amaechi is nothing short of a colossus.

During his years as governor of Rivers State, Amaechi became almost restless about the condition of the masses. He embarked on numerous people oriented and capital intensive projects, many of which he completed before his exit from office. He also championed the course of Education, the UNEP Report, Treasury Single Account (TSA), Subsidy Probe, and he ferociously fought against the ceding of Rivers State Oil Wells to other States by Jonathan.

The man Nyesom Wike represents different things to different sets of people in Nigeria. The more enlightened people see him as the worst Minister of Education in the history of Nigeria - a period when students and lecturers roamed our streets like touts for almost a year, simply because of his refusal to keep to government's agreement with Lecturers. The Politically exposed see him as a man whose Governorship ambition cost him the friendship of his political master and brother - Amaechi, and according to some of his Rivers supporters, he is the 'the high tension, meaning that he has the ability to ruthlessly clinch unto any political interest, not minding the outcome.

Throughout his stay as Minister of Education, Wike was of little or no advantage to the Niger Delta Region, rather his main focus was the entrenchment of a volatile group of young people in the political system of Rivers State, for the sole purpose of achieving his unpopular Governorship ambition. The only time that Wike mentioned the UNEP Report was when he visited Ogoni land during his campaign tour, sadly but, he made a mockery of the report when he lied that it would be implemented in two weeks. You know the rest of the story.

I have taken my time to highlight the advent and political growth, public view, and overall impact in Niger Delta and Nigeria at large, of the above mentioned characters in order to ascertain whose participation in the politics of our country has brought good tidings to us or not, and who sold us out because of politics. Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus is a subject of many shades, and it is impossible to explore all its angle in this simple cogitation, but the point is this: there is always a conspicuous Judas in every story.

 

Solomon Nmam Okocha, a social activist, writes from Abuja

RSG TO STRENGTHEN LAW ON WASTE MANAGEMENT

Rivers State Government says it will strengthen and implement existing legislation on waste management to maximize its economic potentials to the benefit of Rivers people.

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Ipalibo Harry-Banigo (left) in a handshake with Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Furo Green (right), at the event 

To this end, the Government plans to encourage and promote efficient use of resources through the ongoing initiative to ensure high quality recycling of ‘waste to wealth project.

The State Governor, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike stated this while declaring opens the 2015 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Rivers State Branch, in Port Harcourt.

Governor Wike who was represented by his Deputy Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, expressed appreciation to members of NMA for the sacrifice made towards building a healthy, safe and prosperous Rivers State.   

The Governor said the theme “the impact of waste Management and Sanitation Practice on the Health of the citizens,” was in tandem with his administration’s desire to return Port Harcourt to its Garden City status, adding that the immediate intervention of his Government saved the State from the embarrassing heap of refuse legacy left in the streets of Port Harcourt by the past administration.

He decried the indiscriminate attitude of citizens in disposing their waste into the drains, noting that the resultant effect of such acts is flooding, erosion, breeding of rectors, massive environmental degradation and pollution.

 “As a government, we are concerned not only with the human and environmental health of our people but also their wellbeing and economic prosperity, the issue of effective waste management in our state requires a collective effort to tackle, as our new direction is to see the waste being generated as a resource with tremendous economic opportunities.” He declared.  

The State Chief Executive further said his administration would support the capacity development of Medical Practitioners to deliver healthcare services to the people of the state.

Chairman of the occasion, and the State Head of Service, Mr. Rufus Godwin, represented by the former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Weli Ogbonda said the 2015 Annual General Meeting was an event to fine-tune and appraise the activities of Medical Doctors for the year.

In his address, Dr. Furo Green, Chairman Nigeria Medical Association used the occasion to appreciate the Governor Wike-Led administration for the quick resolution of the inherited labour conflict in the Primary Healthcare Sector, the resolve to renovate and equip some dilapidated general Hospitals and abandoned roads projects.

Dr. Green noted that the Governor’s effort at cleaning up the state shows that the health and wellbeing of the people is paramount and urged the Government to entrench a system that would allow steady growth and evolution of quality in the pursuit of efficiency and specialization.

According to Dr. Green, Nigerian Medical Association has carried out several free medical outreaches at the rural communities and prisons.

Highpoint of the event was a lecture by Mr. Emeka Ezeaku with the theme: “Rethinking of Waste Management in Rivers State: The role of Public Private Partnership (PPP).”

BONNY PDP: WHO IS FOOLING WHO

By Lawrence Tuotamuno Banigo

Much ado about the negativity of politicking. No house divided against itself can stand. Bonny to the best of my knowledge is abundantly blessed with resources and skilled persons to harness her potential. However bad a person may be tagged in order to be hung, there must be sterling qualities in that person which may be ignored.

Earlier this year, we heard about a whopping N140million tenement from NLNG which was judiciously expended on projects, capital and human development, etc; and a certain fraction of people for whatever reasons politicised the whole story and tagged Bonny APC leaders "criminals".

The likes of Hon. George F. Tolofari (Ex-Commissioner for Transport), Hon. Edward E. Pepple (Ex-chairman), Hon. Omuso G. Abbey (Executive Chairman), Hon. Henry Halliday (APC RSHA Candidate), Hon. Aye Pepple (Former RSHA Member), Hon. Adonye Wilcox and Hon. Adonye Wilcox (Santos) were not spared in this campaign of calumny. Even little children on the streets of Bonny are not unaware of these tales, for every stakeholder or aspirant of the APC there are 1million tales to be told. 

Digging deep into why a Bonny man does not wish his brother well and why we must "bring him down" as a lot believe, I came across a story of a certain Chief Halliday, who was denied his right to ascend the throne and in a fit of anger proclaimed that there shall no more exist peace amongst the Bonny people and there shall never be a time when one would support the ambition of his fellow brother. However true this is, I cannot tell but will make more findings on that.

That being said, it is imperative to note that the spurious allegations have caused an untold bickering without these allegations being addressed in the open. Be rest assured that the truth to such claims will be made open in a few weeks as investigations have begun in earnest so as to save us the wild tales being spread in the name of politics.

In the Odili Administration, we had a Chairman, Hon. Rodaford Long-John. Subsequently, in the Amaechi Administration, we had a Chairman, Hon. Edward E. Pepple. Both of them, now on two ends of the divide, in the two administrations. We  had Hon. Toru Ofili and Hon. George F. Tolofari as Commissioners, respectively. Now there are issues bothering on projects and we have had all these politicians while some put in effort assiduously others did nothing. However, the Bonny people have been torn apart due to the unnecessary mudslinging from the PDP camp against the APC stalwarts.

Enough is enough! Our people cannot continue to grope in the dark over the inefficiencies of a microscopic few who have no vision for the people except to enrich themselves.

Enough is enough! We are tired of hearing how Mr A and his group looted the commonwealth of the people just hearsay without proper documentation to show.

Enough is enough! We cannot continue to have outsiders come in repeatedly to tear us apart with false promises that they never fulfil but yet live in peace within their people and their communities.

Enough is enough! We cannot continue to show unnecessary respect for elders who have thought it wise to short-change the people and leave them impoverished in the midst of plenty.

Enough is enough! We cannot continue to accept lies being peddled in a bid to smear the hard-earned reputation of well-meaning Bonny sons and daughters.

Who is actually fooling who? After all the accusations of illegal sharing of N140million from NLNG, our people are wiser. N35million came in from SPDC and going by the feelers our intelligence gathering team have been gathering, it's been shared amicably among party faithful.

The people have been disconnected from governance, ever since the CTC Chairman, Idawarifagha Benjamin Ibietonye, was installed by Nyesom Wike, there has been little or nothing to point to and this has reduced the people to massive wailing. Unlike previous administrations, we don't see people thronging the Council Secretariat in numbers as before.

Can the CTC Chairman, Idawarifagha Benjamin Ibietonye, Hon. Rodaford Longjohn, Toru Ofili, and other Bonny PDP bigwigs come out openly and show us what our N35million was spent on?

We use this medium to request that the CTC Chairman engage a forensic expert to please conduct a thorough investigation/inspection of the Council Accounts as we are tired of the endless tales of looting by the APC-led administration. This audit should preferably start from Hon. Rodaford Long-John's administration to the current CTC Chairman. Let's see who short-changed the people.

This is the 21st century and a certain percentage of us are well enlightened. So we know that if a letter/cash comes in, there are procedures before it gets to the Chairman and there's not only one-man access to the accounts. There's no need pulling down whoever held the seat of Chairman, show the people from the official records what went down. Till this is achieved there's no point in painting the APC as black.

We are coming out to the public with facts in due time because when one finger is stained it rubs off on the others. If one is guilty because he is in the APC, then there was a time when you were all together and you knew/took part in what transpired. We demand for a probe, let the people know who is actually fooling who.

Goodbye for now, till I'm able to write you again which won't be long. I eagerly await your response.

PRESIDENT BUHARI TO PERSONALLY WELCOME PDP DEFECTORS IN BAYELSA TOMORROW

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to welcome over 10,000 politicians defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa tomorrow.

President Buhari will this Saturday pay his first visit to Bayelsa state since assuming office where he will personally welcome the defectors.

The President will be joining the state party leader, Chief Timipre Sylva, and the Chairman of the State Working Committee of the party, Chief Timipa Tiwei Orunimighe to welcome the defecting leaders including the former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission and ex-Presidential Special Adviser, Chief Ndutimi Alaibe; Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Admiral Festus Porbeni; former Acting Governors, Nestor Binabo and Werinipre Seibarugu.

Others also in the pack of defectors to the APC are Senator John Brambaifa, Senator Clever Ikisipo, Ambassador Emmanuel Otiotio, Chief Nathan Egba, Dr. Silva Opuala-Charles, former House of Representatives member, Dr. Stella Dorgu and former NDDC Chairman, Prof. Tarila Tebepah.

WIKE, PDP PANICS AS APC, FORENSIC INVESTIGATORS BEGIN INSPECTION AT INEC OFFICE, PH

There is serious panic in the camp of the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and the State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the national leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) finally grants access to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their forensic investigators to inspect materials used for the just concluded General Elections in the State.    

Enigma Reports learnt that the inspection is currently ongoing at INEC office in Port Harcourt as the APC and the forensic experts have been granted access to inspect the materials used for the elections.

It would be recalled that two months after the elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, refused to comply with the relevant section of the Electoral Act to provide parties who have applied for materials with all the materials said to have been used for the election.

In spite of several court orders, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Gesila Khan, has bluntly refused to obey the law. Khan is not alone as other officials of INEC have also joined in the act.

But the force of desperation by the APC yesterday led by Dakuku Peterside, at the headquarters of the commission, has paid off.

The pain of the humiliation and police brutality through the use of chemical weapon against the protesting candidates and members of the APC has yielded some gain.

The INEC Chairman, Amina Zakari has deployed three senior officials, Administrative Secretaries to Rivers State to oversee the inspection of the materials. Forensic experts are already at the INEC office in Port Harcourt for inspection and analysis. There really may not be any need for the motion filed by Dakuku Peterside asking the Tribunal to order INEC to move the materials to Abuja.

It is left for the APC to prove their petition that there were no elections in Rivers State. Recall that the central server of INEC has shown that the Card Reader used for accreditation only captured 292,000 accredited voters, yet the PDP was declared winner with over 1,000,000 votes during the governorship and State Assembly elections.

Police teargas Peterside, Abe, others at INEC office

Security operatives yesterday tear-gassed Rivers State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the April 11 election, Dakuku Peterside, and Senator Magnus Abe at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.

 

Peterside and Abe led a team of 48 candidates who contested in various elections in the state and reporters to submit a protest letter to INEC’s Acting Chairman, Hajia Amina Zakari, against the state Resident Electoral Commission (REC) for allegedly refusing to give them certified true copies (CTC) of the materials used in the elections.

 

The APC candidates, who arrived at the INEC headquarters at 11:15am, were prevented from getting close to the gate by a combined team of mobile police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

 

The security agencies insisted that the team would not be allowed to go beyond the barricaded areas since it had no prior information of the visit.

 

INEC’s Deputy Director in charge of security, Victor Egbun, told the party stalwarts that they could only send a representative to meet the commission’s acting chairman and submit their protest letter to her.

 

The team comprised former House of Representatives members, like Andrew Uchendu, Otelemaba Amachree, Dawari George, Igochukwu Aguma, former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and Rivers State APC Chairman Denis Ebiamo Ikanya.

 

The security officials threatened to shoot the party chieftains, if they crossed the barricaded areas.

This forced them to raise their voices and move towards the INEC gate, which the security operatives had locked.

 

As the APC chieftains approached the gate, chanting solidarity songs, the security officials released some canisters of tear gas in front of them and reporters to disperse the crowd.

 

Peterside said: “We are candidates of the APC at various categories in the last elections. We are here to register our protest to INEC.

 

“Immediately after the elections, in accordance with the law, we applied for the certified true copies of documents used in the conduct of the elections.

 

“It is unfortunate that till date, we have not got the certified copies of the election materials, even when it is clear in the law that it must be released within seven days of receiving the application. As if that was not enough, we have approached various tribunals, which have also ordered the release of the materials. But unfortunately, those orders have not been complied with till date.

 

“We do not have the documents to prosecute our cases. INEC in Rivers State has done everything humanly possible to frustrate our cases at the various tribunals. Dame Ghesilla Khan, who is Rivers State REC, has insisted that she was under instruction from the national office not to release the documents to us. That is why we are here to deliver our protest to INEC’s Acting Chairman.

 

“We have written between 26 and 27 petitions on this issue and we have not got any serious response. We are aware that the acting chairman has made several memos to the Rivers REC, asking her to comply with the law by releasing the required materials. But she has wilfully refused to comply with the law by releasing and properly certifying those documents for us to use to prosecute our cases at the various tribunals.

 

“All we need is for INEC to abide by the law, by releasing to us all the certified materials we have requested for. We are not asking anybody to do us any other favour. The Electoral Act is very clear: if you apply within a period of seven days, those documents must be released to you.

 

“I am shocked that our peaceful request and visit today was greeted with canisters of tear gas which INEC officials have ordered their security operatives to suffocate us with.”

 

Senator Abe expressed surprise at the way security officials treated the APC team.

 

The lawmaker urged the government to investigate the incident.

 

He noted that INEC security officials violated the delegates’ human rights by using tear gas, since they were peaceful.

 

Abe said: “This singular act of the Rivers REC, if not checked, could lead to a breach of the peace in the state. Our simple request is now being frustrated by the same INEC that caused the crisis in the state. The only way to ensure peace in Rivers State is to ensure that INEC obeys the law and releases those documents to allow our cases to be determined by law. We, as law-abiding citizens, will obey the outcome of our cases at the various tribunals.

 

“But a situation where the same person, who created this same situation, is allowed to frustrate the case, I do not know how our people would take that. Nigerians need to be aware that Rivers State is still a flashpoint, if these issues are not dealt with expeditiously…”

 

INEC’s Director of Security, Shettima Ngilade, after two hours, urged the APC team to obey the directives of INEC Acting Chairman and send only their representatives.

 

He said: “…This is a public place. We cannot refuse you entry into the premises; we have procedures of doing things.

 

“With the way you arrived, we had every reason to fear because even the Rivers State Electoral Commissioner is inside, meeting with the Acting Chairman. There was no prior information about your coming to the commission for us to arrange so that you can see the Acting Chairman.

 

“What we can only do here is to allow a few of your representatives to go inside and meet with the ACTING Chairman or you hand over your protest letter to us to give her. We cannot allow you to move in this your numbers.”

Security agencies watch-list Supreme Court justices

       

Supreme Court justices and judges serving on nine election petitions tribunals have been placed on a security agencies’ watch-list, it was learnt yesterday.

The tribunals are those of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Yobe, Gombe, Benue, Plateau, Kogi, Delta and Taraba states.

Besides, a governor and a former governor are being investigated for allegedly offering to pay for some judges’ vacation trips .

According to sources, the Federal Government is disturbed that some governors and candidates in the last general elections have become desperate in their bid to influence tribunals.

It was gathered that some petitioners and defenders had been dangling mouth-watering bribes before judges to sway judgment in their favour.

The development was said to have irritated the Muhammadu Buhari administration, which asked security agencies to bring errant judges to book.

It was learnt that the row generated by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike’s controversial visit to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmood Mohammed, has further motivated the government to ask security agencies to watch and protect judges.

“The new administration is out to protect the sanctity of the judiciary. The era of impunity, judgment-fixing and hijack of the court or tribunals for selfish ends is gone,” a source said.

It added: “The position of the Buhari administration is that each litigant and respondent should go to the tribunals to defend his or her petition. This position applies to all political parties.”

It was learnt that security agencies have been trailing a governor and a former governor who offered to pay for some judges’ vacation trips.

“The serving governor has been boasting that there is no judgment he cannot fix because he has the head of one of the courts at his beck and call. He also said he will be paying for vacation trips of some judges.

“The former Chief Justice of Nigeria threatened to sanction the said head of a court when insinuations of his under-the-table deals got to her.

“The ex-governor is also noted for bragging that there is nothing money cannot buy.”
A source at the Supreme Court, who spoke in confidence, confirmed the development.

The source said: “All judges are really on security watch-list, including those at the apex court. The security agents were called in to monitor judges and movement of money.

“There is no tribunal sitting without any official of the Department of State Services attached to it.
“But there are more discreet security personnel putting close tabs on election petition tribunals than those officially attached.

“The position of the government is that these judges must be allowed to discharge their duties without fear or favour.”

Determined to stave off pressure from election petitioners, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, recently banned politicians from his residence – a development The Nation reported exclusively .

He also directed that his security detail from the State Security Service (SSS) and police orderly will henceforth be part of any interaction with Politically Exposed Lawyers seeking audience with him.

The CJN has limited official courtesy calls by governors with outstanding petitions against them at election tribunals.

The CJN put all these measures in place following subtle moves by some election petitioners to drag the Judiciary into politics.

JUDGMENT DAY FOR LOOTERS! Trial of corrupt persons begins soon - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari said Tuesday in Abuja that the prosecution of persons who have stolen national resources will begin in a matter of weeks.

Speaking at a meeting with members of the National Peace Committee led by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar in the Presidential Villa, President Buhari declared that his administration was irrevocably committed to doing all within its powers to break the vicious cycle of corruption, unemployment and insecurity in Nigeria.

A statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Mr. Femi Adesina quoted Buhari as saying; “Nigeria has to break this vicious cycle before we can make progress,” the President said, adding that his administration was diligently getting facts and figures pertaining to the nation’s stolen funds, before proceeding to the prosecution of identified culprits.

The statement said that President Buhari told General Abubakar and members of his committee that the Federal Government, under his leadership, will not only ask for the return of stolen funds that have been stashed in foreign banks, but will also ensure that those who stole the funds are put on trial in Nigeria.

The President also said that as part of its actions to address the national problems it inherited, his administration was reorganising Nigeria’s revenue generating institutions.

The President explained that a single treasury account had been established for all Federal revenue to ensure greater probity, transparency and accountability in the collection, disbursement and utilisation of national funds.

“We have really degenerated as a country. Our national institutions, including the military, which did wonderfully on foreign missions in the past, have been compromised. But we are doing something about it. The military is now retraining and morale has been resuscitated.

“As Petroleum Minister under Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo in the 1970s, I could not travel abroad until I had taken a memo to the Federal Executive Council asking for estacode. Now, everybody does what he wants.

“That is why security-wise and economically, we’re in trouble,” President Buhari told his guests, adding that those who have stolen the national wealth “will be in court in a matter of weeks and Nigerians will know those who have short-changed them.”

Gen. Abubakar and members of his committee urged the Federal Government to be guided by the rule of law in its fight against corruption.

Members of the National Peace Committee who accompanied Gen Abubakar on the visit were Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, Primate of the Anglican Church of Nigeria.

Others were Justice Rose Ukeje (rtd), Prof Ameze Guobadia, Vanguard Newspaper Publisher, Sam Amuka, Dame Priscilla Kuye, Senator Ben Obi, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, and Dr Arthur-Martin Aginam.

The National Peace Committee, formed before the 2015 general elections, was granted permission by the President to transform to a National Peace Council.

NO MORE FRAUD IN AMNESTY PROGRAMME, AS PRESIDENCY INTRODUCES BIOMETRICS

Barely two weeks after his appointment as the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig.Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd) has begun the overhauling of the office with a view to making it more proactive and beneficial.

Paul Boroh
Coordinator, Niger Delta Amnesty Programme

As a first step towards putting to an end the perennial problem of payment of stipends to their rightful owners, the Coordinator has ordered an immediate authentication of the actual number of such beneficiaries through a biometric data capturing exercise.

Similarly, Boroh has directed the office to harmonise all issues that affect the prompt payment of tuition fees of students and other trainees being sponsored by the PAP with immediate effect.

These directives were contained in a press release made available to Vanguard on Tuesday by the Chief of Staff to the Coordinator, Col. Dedis Abel (rtd).

The statement said that Boroh had also commenced the immediate re-organisation of the PAP in line with the President’s directive to reposition the office to engender sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta.

The statement was however silent on the nature of the re-organisation and what had been changed under the new direction.

NNPC appoints 4 new Group Executive Directors, MDs, trims top management staff

The Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has appointed four new Group Executive Directors to man the four new directorates that have been approved by the Presidency.

 

Dr Ibe Kachikwu
GMD, NNPC

This is contained in a statement by Ohi Alegbe, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC in Abuja on Tuesday.

The statement said that the new Group Managing Director, Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, disclosed that the new appointments were in line with the Federal Government’s aspiration to transform the corporation.

 

It stated that the appointment was to ensure a lean, efficient, business-focused, transparent and accountable national oil company in line with international best practices.

 

It stated that the appointments, which were approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, includes Dr Maikanti Baru, Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production; Mr Isiaka Abdulrazaq, Group Executive Director, Finance & Services.

 

Others are Engr. Dennis Nnamdi Ajulu, Group Executive Director, Refining & Technology; and Dr Babatunde Victor Adeniran, Group Executive Director, Commercial and Investment.

 

The statement added that a new Company Secretary, Legal Adviser and Managing Directors have also been appointed for the Strategic Business Units.

 

According to the statement, they are Chidi Momah, Group General Manager, Company Secretary and Legal Adviser.

Mrs Esther Nnamdi Ogbue, Managing Director, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC).

Engr. Chinedu Ezeribe, the Managing Director, Warri Refinning and Petrochemicals Company (WRPC).

 

Mr Babatunde Bakare, thr Managing Director, Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), Mr Inuwa Ibrahim Waya, the Managing Director, HYSON.

Mr Abubakar Mai-Bornu, the Managing Director, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and Mr Ladipo Fagbola, the Managing Director, NNPC Retail.

 

Others are Mr Rowland Ewubare, the Managing Director, Integrated Data Services Ltd. (IDSL); Mr Modupe Bammeke, Managing Director, NNPC Properties.

 

Mr Abdulkadir Saidu, the Managing Director, Duke Oil; and Mr Dafe Sejebor, the Group General Manager, Nigerian Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS).

 

According to the statement, the corporation also retired 38 top management staff, reducing the number from 122 to 83.

 

It stated that 12 personnel had also been recruited from the private sector into top management cadre to jump-start a new business outlook.

 

It added that the new appointees would make the operational environment more profit-driven business as against the current civil service orientation. (NAN)

NLNG DRYDOCK SAGA: NIGER DELTA YOUTHS BERATES NLNG OVER INTIMIDATION, HARASSMENT

A strategic Youth group in the Niger Delta known as the Niger Delta Youth Advancement Assembly (NDYAA) has berated management of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Company, NLNG to henceforth bring to a halt incessant use of security operatives for intimidation and harassment of youths the Niger delta who had largely spoken out against the company’s decision to locate NLNG Drydock in Badagry.

R-L Niger Delta Youth Leaders: Justice Ajemina Jumbo, George Banigo, Emmanuel Bristol-Alagbariya, Aladiokuma Hart, Simeon Wilcox, and Livingstone Membere

Speaking to a group of journalist in Port Harcourt the leader of the group, Comrade Asinyetogha Brown condemned in strong terms the recent development saying latest invitation of the Leader of Bonny Youths Federation, Barr. Simeon Wilcox, President of Kalabari Youths Federation, Livingstone Membere, IYC National Secretary General, Emmanuel Bristol Alagbariya among others to the office of the State Security Service and to the office of the Rivers state Police command perfectly fits into this emerging pattern.

The Niger Delta Youth Advancement Assembly helmsman stressed that no matter the level of intimidation or harassment, Niger delta youths will never back down on its demand to have the drydock reverted to the Niger Delta region. According to him, the recent antics by NLNG have further proven that the company is neither moved by the significant concerns of its critical stakeholders nor bothered about the state of unemployment and abject poverty ravaging the region.

“We are using this medium to alert Nigerians that if anything happens to this group of youths they should know where it is coming from, but for us there is no going back because we are resolute and shall pursue this matter until we reach a logical and regionally acceptable end.” He said.

The emerging situation according to him also shows that the company’s policies are anti Niger delta, he explained that the management of NLNG led by the ethnocentric Managing Director, Babs Omotowa is yet to come to terms with the fact that the headquarters of NLNG has moved from Lagos to Rivers state prompting such erratic corporate decisions against the people of the region.

Hear him: ”Niger Delta Youth Advancement Assembly has watched with rapt attention the activities of NLNG since the appointment of Mr. Babs Omotowa as Managing Director of NLNG and has come to the conclusion that NLNG has moved from a company who supposedly should give some level of heed to its host communities to a company rather bent on subjugating and marginalizing its host communities state and region”.

“Our take on this is that NLNG should not start a war they cannot end, the Niger delta region has provided the best atmosphere the company can ask for in terms of security, providing the best atmosphere for operations to thrive as host even in the face of lack, environmental degradation and various degrees of deprivation meted out to the people” he was quoted as saying.

“We want NLNG to see reasons why they should heed to the call for reversion of the location from Badagry to the Niger delta region. We must also sound it loud and clear that the Niger delta youths have the right to a peaceful gathering, including agitations against unacceptable corporate decisions against the people that bear the consequences of their gas activities” Brown averred, adding that Niger delta youths are glad that instead of weakening their resolve and enthusiasm orchestrated by these emerging NLNG actions it has further galvanized them to be more determined to fight for their right.

SAGAY HEADS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION

Poised to firm up his anti-corruption campaign, President Muhammadu Buhari today appointed Itse Sagay as Chairman of a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption. Prof. Sagay is a prominent professor of law and civil rights activist.



Prof. Itse Sagay

In a statement issued today by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the Committee's brief is to advise the present administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria's criminal justice system.

 

 

Other members of the Committee which is also expected to develop comprehensive interventions for achieving recommended reforms are Femi Odekunle, Professor of Criminology, Ahmadu Bello University, Benedicta Daudu, Associate Professor of International Law, University of Jos, Emily Etannibi  Alemika, Professor of Sociology, University of Jos, Sadiq Radda, Professor of Criminology, Bayero University, Kano, Hadiza Bala Usman, Civil Society Activist, Bolaji Owasanoye, Research Professor and Head, Department of Commercial and Property Law, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, who will serve as Executive Secretary of the Committee.

In support of the Federal Government’s efforts, an Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund has been established by three international development partners namely the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation.

Prof. Emily Etannibi  Alemika

The $5 million fund is to assist implementation of key components of the Action Plan and the work of the Presidential Advisory Committee. The fund will be managed by Trust Africa, an international development Civil Society Organisation with programme presence in more than 25 African countries.

 

Prof.Femi Odekunle

Hadiza Bala Usman