Court adjourns for final argument in Cynthia’s murder case

A Lagos High Court in Igbosere has adjourned till November 16, 2015 for adoption of final written addresses in the murder case of Cynthia Osokogu. Osokogu, then 25 years old, and a postgraduate student of Nasarawa State University, was on July 22, 2012 murdered at Cosmilla Hotel, Lake View Estate, Festac Town, Lagos. The deceased was said to have been lured to Lagos by a supposed Facebook lover before she was robbed, chained and strangled to death in the hotel room by the assailants. Since February 2013, four men – Okwumo Nwabufo, Olisaeloka Ezike, Orji Osita and Ezike Nonso – have been standing trial over Cynthia’s murder. The men are facing six counts bordering on conspiracy, felony, robbery and murder. The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions alleged that the suspects murdered Osokogu by administering Rohypnol Flunitrazepan tablet into her drink, chaining her hands and legs and strangling her to death. The DPP, which opened its case immediately after the arraignment of the defendants on February 8, 2013, had since September 19, 2014 closed its case and left the floor open for the defence to open its case. The case had, however, thereafter been severally stalled at the instance of the defence and often to the annoyance of the trial judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade. The judge on Monday has however fixed November 16, 2015 for both the prosecution and the defence to adopt their final written addresses and canvass final, summary arguments, after which the matter will be adjourned for judgment. Akinlade ordered the counsel for the third and fourth defendants, Chris Obama, to file a joint written address while the prosecution was ordered to file a comprehensive written addresses replying to all. In the charge filed against the defendants, the Lagos DPP alleged that they chained and strangled Osokogu to July 22, 2012. The defendants were accused of acting contrary to sections 221, 249, 285 and 327 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011. But they had pleaded not guilty and also denied willingly volunteering a confessional statement to the police.

Ex-militants threaten violence over unpaid three-month allowances

No fewer than 500 ex-militants under the Presidential Amnesty Programme have vowed to unleash mayhem in the Niger Delta region following their alleged exclusion from payment of three-month allowances by the Amnesty Office. The former militants said they would breach the peace in the region if the Coordinator of PAP, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd.), failed to pay them after five days. The aggrieved ex-militants said after a meeting in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on Monday, that they would begin their showdown by blocking the East-West Road, a major gateway to other parts of the country from the South-South. They explained that when Boroh took over the office, he paid them two out of their five months outstanding allowances. They, however, said their names were excluded from the list when the office paid the three months outstanding allowances, accusing the management of PAP of diverting their money. One of the ex-militants, Bipelede Enere, said in last two weeks, the Amnesty Office paid some of their boys in the third phase of the amnesty programme their three months allowances. He, however, said when the authorities paid the money, they didn’t pay over 500 of them under the Third Phase. Ekere said, “They have not told us the reason we have not been paid. As I speak with you, I have not been paid my three months allowances but when they paid the two months some months ago, we received the money. “We don’t want them to push us to the point where we would take drastic action that would make anybody feel we want to fight against the state. That is why we are using this medium to appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to advise the leadership of the amnesty programme to pay us our money. “If they fail to pay us our monthly allowance from now till Tuesday, we would go out en masse to block the East-West Road on Wednesday.” Also speaking, another ex-militant, who gave his name only as Kpaikpai, said their children were out of schools because of non-payment of their allowances. He said, “My children can no longer go to school because they have refused to pay us our allowances. With the flood that have taken over some of our communities and our farmlands, our only means of livelihood have been taken over by the flood. “So, we are using this medium to send a signal to Boroh that if he fails to pay the money from now till Tuesday, we will not rest, we will continue to protest until our allowances are paid.”

Alleged N1trn diversion: Justice Ministry orders Larmode’s probe

The Federal Ministry of Justice has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the allegation leveled against its chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, that he diverted about N1tn proceeds of corruption recovered by the anti-graft agency. This followed a petition dated September 18, 2015, to the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Abdullahi Yola. The petitioner, Chief Executive Officer of Panic Alert Security Systems, a security firm,George Uboh, had sent a reminder letter dated September 28, to Yola, threatening to sue the ministry if he failed to respond to his petition within seven days. Uboh had in his petition asked the justice ministry, “through which EFCC derives its power to prosecute to immediately rescind the fiat to prosecute criminal suspects from EFCC.” He also sought an immediate issuance of “fiat for the prosecution of EFCC’s past and present leadership and their known and unknown co- conspirators via the 22-page preliminary criminal charges the undersigned has prepared.” Uboh, who had earlier petitioned the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, leveling the same set of allegations against Lamorde, finally got the ministry’s letter dated October 8, 2015. The ministry’s letter which was signed by the Director, Public Prosecutions of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Muhammad Diri, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, was dated October 8, 2015. The letter, made available to journalists in Abuja on Monday indicated that Yola had directed the EFCC to investigation the allegation against Lamorde and forward the result of investigation to him “as soon as it is completed”. The letter with reference number, DPPA/PET/ EFCC/006/2008 reads, “I refer to your letter dated the 28th September, 2015, in respect of the above mentioned subject matter. “I am directed to inform you that your petition has been sent to the EFCC for their response to the allegation contained therein. The commission has been directed by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary to forward the result of its investigation as soon as it is completed. “Accept please, the assurances of the highest regards of the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary.” But Uboh insisted on Monday that “pursuant to the Civil Service Rules, Ibrahim Lamorde, must step aside during the pendency of the investigation by the commission.”

Amaechi’s screening: Senate in order says presidency

The presidency on Monday, said the senate acted within its constitutional right with its decision to screen Former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, last week Tuesday despite the fact that, the report of a petition against him had yet to be considered. The Peoples Democratic Party senators had last week protested the decision of the upper chamber to proceed with Amaechi’s screening without first considering the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, which allegedly, advised against the exercise. The leader of the opposition in the red chamber, Senator Godswill Akpabio, had said that his colleagues would not participate in the screening until the report of the panel on the allegation of fraud against the ministerial nominee, was deliberated upon. But the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters ( Senate ), Senator Ita Enang, told journalists in Abuja on Monday that the senate reserved every right to adopt any procedure to carry out its legislative business. Enang said, “They (senators) are within their constitutional rights to regulate their own proceedings.The constitution authorises the senate and the House of Representatives and every legislative House to regulate its own proceedings including managing matters that are brought before them. “Therefore what the senate did is domestic to the senate and I am not in a position to speak about it but they are within their constitutional rights. What they did is domestic to it, internal to it and it is within their powers so I am not in apposition to speak one way or the other about it. Enang commended the senators and the nominees so far screened, for the maturity they displayed in handling the exercise which according to him was very peaceful contrary to insinuations that it would be rancorous. He said, “They have shown in the handling of the matter on the floor of the senate, their personal interaction, the reception of the senators in the course of the consultation even outside the floor of the senate. “They have shown the candour and the real characteristics nature of a mature senate. I want to thank them in words that I cannot describe, in words that I cannot really utter. “We are very grateful to them and we are confident that the few that are remaining we will be able in a not distant future conclude it and then get done with it. “I want to really appreciate them because Nigerians thought that the process will be very tumultuous, the process will be very rancorous. “Some people thought that the questions to the nominees will be very personal and attacking but the senators in the course of their questions showed their intellect, their candour, their appreciation of national issues. “They addressed the issues that relate to governance, and the international perspective to the quality of candidates. “I also want to appreciate the candidates who have appeared so far for the matured way they answered all questions put to them. I think they are what Nigerians are waiting for and a good team of Mr President.” Meanwhile, the senate will on Tuesday, resume the screening of the remaining 11 ministerial nominees forwarded to it by Buhari. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, told our correspondent on Monday that the All Progressives Congress members in Sokoto State had filed a petition against the nomination of Ms Aisha Abubakar. He also said that another petition had been filed against the Cross River State nominee, Mr. Usani Uguru but that none of the two fresh petitions had been formally laid before the senate.

UN declares Somalia polio free

The UN agencies on Thursday declared the 2013 to 2014 polio outbreak in Somalia, which affected nearly 200 people, most of them children, over. According to a joint statement by the UNICEF, World Health Organisation and the partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the announcement came 14 months after the last polio case was identified. An assessment team conducted a review in Somalia in October and decided the polio outbreak was over. Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia Peter de Clercq said the achievement was a great credit to the Somalis and volunteers, who “put their lives at risk to save lives of others in need.” He praised the Somali government for their actions fighting the disease. “The Somali authorities have placed polio outbreak response as one of their national priorities and they exerted tremendous effort to ensure children are vaccinated,” he said. Polio was detected in Somalia in May 2013, for the first time in six years, after parents of a two-year- old girl in Mogadishu found she was unable to walk. The virus, which can cause paralysis or even death, spread quickly affecting 194 people in 2013. However, number of the affected was contained to five in 2014. Over 2.1 million children underage five were targeted in multiple immunisation campaigns launched by the Somali health authorities, with the support of the UN agencies and GPEI. Two UNICEF staff, who took part in the counter- polio campaign, was killed in a suicide blast in Garowe, Puntland in April.

Ooni: Contestants hail Ogunwusi’s appointment

One of the contestants from Giesi Ruling House, Oba Kole Ojutalayo, who is also the Laroka of Wanikin- Ife, has hailed the appointment of Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi as the new Ooni of Ife. Ojutalayo, who spoke on the telephone with our correspondent said he would support the new monarch to further develop the town. He said, ” We have an Ooni-elect and we thank God for that. The kingmakers have done their job and we thank God for them. “I have always said that I would support anybody and I thank God that the Ooni-elect is from Giesi Ruling House because that has been our agitation.” Ojutalayo spoke just like another contestant from Giesi family, Sikiru Ayedun, congratulated the new monarch. He said this in a statement made available to journalists in Osogbo on Monday. The statement read, ” I, Omo Oba Sikiru Adetona Ayedun of Giesi Ruling Family, hereby congratulate the Kabiyesi, the new Ooni of Ife, Omo Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on his emergence as the 51st Ooni. “I equally wish you a memorable and eventful coronation in advance. Igba re atuwa lara . The efforts of the Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola cannot but be commended for his leadership role in making the process crisis free. Sir, you remain cautious and steadfast.” “The Ife kingmakers also deserve commendation for their unity of purpose. Ile Ife is greater than all of us and we must all work together for his greater upliftment. Above all, I congratulate all Ife sons and daughters both at home and in the diaspora.”

Six killed, 20 injured in Pakistan bomb blast

At least six people were killed and 20 others injured when a bomb hit a passenger train in Pakistan’s southwestern Sibi district on Tuesday afternoon, local media reported. Capital TV said that the train “Jafar Express” was parked at a railway station when it came under attack in Sibi area, a district located in the country’s southwest Balochistan province. According to initial investigation by police, the bomb was triggered off by a remote-controlled blast and explosives were fixed inside a compartment of the train that was destroyed in the explosion. The train, which was carrying passengers to southwestern Quetta city from northern Rawalpindi city, caught fire following the explosion. Police said that the blast happened around 10 minutes after the train stopped at the railway station. The injured have been shifted to a civil hospital of Sibi while more wounded are being brought to other hospitals. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. Police cordoned off the area and started a search operation. The blast happened one day after paramilitary troops, Frontier Corps, killed 30 militants including those believed to be involved in carrying out attacks at railway tracks and trains in neighboring Khuzdar area.

At last, Senate screens Amaechi, supporters jubilate

The Senate on Thursday finally screened the former Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, a ministerial nominee from Rivers State. The Senate had twice postponed the screening of the former governor owing to some allegations of fraud levelled against him by the Rivers State Government and the scheduled trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on alleged false declaration of assets on Wednesday. At the inception of the screening on Thursday, however, Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, had opposed Amaechi’s screening on the grounds that the report of the ad hoc committee, set up by the Senate to look into the petitions against Amaechi’s nomination, had only been submitted but not considered by the lawmakers. Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, argued that it would be inappropriate to ask the ministerial nominee questions when the report of the panel set up to investigate the allegations against him had not been considered. He added that the Peoples Democratic senators, whom he represents, would not ask the nominee questions as the report of the committee had not been considered. Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume, citing a point of order, faulted Akpabio’s argument, saying the screening of Amaechi could not be tied to the panel’s report as the two issues, according to him, are different. He moved that if the PDP lawmakers were not interested in asking the nominee questions, Amaechi could be asked to take a bow and leave. Saraki asked the senators to ask the ministerial nominee questions, after which Amaechi was questioned on alleged corruption, agitation of the Niger Delta states for more allocations from the federation accounts and the controversial 2013 Nigerian Governors Forum’s election. Responding to a question from the Senator, representing Lagos East, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, on alleged fraud by the Rivers State Government, the former governor, holding what he described as a panel report, said the panel, set up by the state government, did not indict him in its report. Amaechi added that it was the White Paper the Rivers State Government issued on the panel report that alleged that he was indicted. After Saraki asked Amaechi to go after 50 minutes of questioning, hordes of supporters, who had taken over the lobby of the Senate Chamber and the assembly’s complex, started a mini celebration along the corridor, singing, “You don win!”

Rwanda genocide: Kenya apologises for EAC failure

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta offered an apology for the East African region’s failure to intervene in Rwanda during the genocide in 1994. He made this known on Tuesday in Kigali, during the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of mass killings in the country. Kenyatta, who is also the Chairman, East African Community, said the ‘pain and death’ that characterised the genocide was a reminder of the failure by the world to prevent mass death. Addressing the World leaders that gathered in Rwanda to lay commemorative wreaths, he expressed the hope that, “Leaders gathered here need to ensure there is no return to such wanton killings.” Kenyatta said to prevent a return to similar mass killings such as those which occurred in Rwanda, Kenyan and Rwandan peacekeepers had regularly deployed to quell potential mass killings. He said the ambassadors from both nations were active diplomatically to prevent atrocities. Kenyatta reiterated that: “We have learned that no one from far away can be relied on to come to our aid. We must build an independent capability and will to protect the lives of our children and their futures.” He said to avoid a return to such security vacuums in future, the Great Lakes region was working towards its stabilisation force. Kenyatta said stabilisation force was part of an AU plan to ensure rapid response to regional crises such as those of genocide. “This is why as the chairman of the EAC I believe that we must ensure that our region is as strong on security and mutual aid,” President Kenyatta said.

Boastful Mourinho Reveals Why Chelsea Cannot Sack Him Even If He Finishes In Mid- Table

The Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho has insisted that the Stamford Bridge side cannot so away with his services even if the team ends in mid-table. Speaking ahead of this afternoon’s clash against Aston Villa at the Bridge, Mourinho he remains the right man to turn the tide around for the Premier League defending champions. According to Skysports, his remarks may not be unconnected to the first vote of confidence of Roman Abramovich’s 12-year ownership recently, where the team’s board declared maximum support for the coach. On whether he would still be in charge if they finish in mid-table, the manager said: “Yes” and quickly added: “No. I was not told that because we don’t expect to finish mid-table.” He explained further: “It’s different for many reasons, since the moment I came back in 2013, when I had my first conversation with the owner and the board in 2013. “Somebody will be out [of the top four]. Do I think it’s Chelsea? No. “For me the important thing is the owner and the board’s message to myself. “Before the statement came out, I was having the feedback from the owner and the board. So the statement was not something new for me. I met the owner before dinner so, when I went to dinner, I knew. “But even before that, I knew what brought me here. I know the conversation we had two years ago. I know what made me sign a new contract, and the reasons why the owner and the board decided to give me a new contract. “They didn’t have to. I had still two more years, so they didn’t have to give me a new contract. After a bad result – which is not the first bad result of the season, it’s one more bad result – obviously I was not happy, far from it. But I never thought about that (being sacked).” Mourinho, who is known for his outspoken virtue, was recently slapped with a one-match stadium ban and a fine of £50,000 over comments he made against match officials in a recent match. Source:Naij

Blame Obasanjo For Yar’Adua, Jonathan’s Failure – Pastor Bakare Speaks

The Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain a $$embly and President Buhari’s one time presidential running mate, Pastor Tunde Bakare, spoke to Punch on why Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo should be blamed for Jonathan and Yar’Adua’s failures. Those eight years (Obasanjo spent as president) should have been formidable years of putting Nigeria upon a pedestal that nobody can reverse it. And above all, whether it is insecurity or selfishness, which is the greatest curse on the face of the earth, he gave the weak and the sick to the nation. Whatever happened during Umar Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan era – yes, they will have their own portion of the blame – but Obasanjo thought he could manipulate things from Ota. That is my opinion; that is my pain. He robbed this nation of quality leadership and he robbed this nation of being put on a pedestal of predictable progress. That should be his regret. Now, he should repent and contribute his quota towards giving quality leadership to this nation. He did (mess things) big time; time will tell. On those jumping shop and claiming Ex president Jonathan failed to fight corruption, he said I will put it this way: failure is an orphan, success has many fathers. I’ve seen in this country that we are quick to shoot the wounded. If Jonathan did not accomplish much in the time he was president or vice president, I thank God for one thing: he did not allow a bloodbath in the process of handing over power. If he had decided to use all the powers at his disposal, he could still be unseated but there would have been bloodbath that was unnecessary and President Buhari alluded to that both in Washington—I was there with him when he made that statement—and here, when he received the baton in May. On October 1, he still alluded to it that he (Jonathan) saved Nigeria from an unnecessary bloodbath. As for those who are talking, especially those he (Jonathan) looked up to as father figures; it’s too soon to abandon a person, no matter what he has done wrong or right. Let the law take the full effect if he has done anything that borders on crime. I am not supporting abuse of office, but please, ‘Do not rejoice over me, my enemy,’ as the Bible says, ‘because if I fall, I will rise again. The righteous man falls seven times; the Lord picks him up again.’ What am I saying? I am trying to say, ‘let’s give credit where it is due and let’s give correction that is necessary.’ We must not shoot the wounded because we are now teaching future people to sit tight because of the shame that will come as a result of handing over power.

Ministerial Nominee, Babatunde Fashola’s CV

This is an exclusive presentation of a cla$$ified document on President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominees as prepared by the Senate. According to the document, some of the nominees are said to have corruption cases leveled against them. Name: Babatunde Raji Fashola Date of Birth: 28th June 1963 Babatunde Raji Fashola Education He attended Birch freeman high school Lagos and Igbobi College He studied law and obtained his Bachelor of laws (LL.B) at the University of BENIN MARITAL STATUS: Fashola is married with kids In 1988 Fashola was called to bar as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria He has a decade and half in the profession and awarded the ffg honour /achievements Distinguished Alumnus Award from University of Benin Notary Public of the Supreme Court of Nigeria Successful containment and eradication of Ebola outbreak in Lagos Lagos State Public Service Club (Platinum Award) 1st member of the Nigerian law school graduating cla$$ of 1988 First ever Chief of Staff to be honoured Member , Nigerian Bar a$$ociation Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria Introduction of BRT (Bus Rapid Transport) to ease transportation Recovery of Lands in Victoria Island being lost to erosion Fashola launched an appeal to raise $1m for victims of Haiti earthquake Chief of Staff to former governor, Bola Ahmed Honourable Commissioner to the Governor’s Tinubu office Secretary of the Lands Sub-Committee of the Transitional Work Groups 1999 Panel Member on allocation of houses on Member of the State Tenders Board- 2002- Member of the State Security Council – 2002- Chairman Ad-Hoc Committee on Review of Transitional Work Groups 1999 Mobolaji Johnson Housing Scheme Lekki 2006 2006 a$$et distribution among LGs Executive governor of Lagos State between 2007 – 2015.

Fuji maestro KWAM 1 In Police Net Over Shooting Of Female OOU Student

Popular Fuji musician, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Anifowose, has been questioned by Ogun state police following the shooting of a female student of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, Kofoworola Azeez, at his show. Kofoworola was on Sunday shot by an aide of the singer, who is popularly known as KWAM 1, during a musical show at the popular Limelite Hotel in Ago Iwoye, PM News reports. The show, organized as part of the Ago-Iwoye Day celebration, ended due to the chaos that followed the shooting. Spokesman of the state police commend, Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said KWAM 1, who left the scene with his team after the shooting, was invited for question on orders of the State Commissioner of Police, CP Abdulmajid Ali. “Before the policemen got to the scene, the musician and his team had left the place,” he said. “The Commissioner of Police has instructed that KWAM1 should be invited and he has been invited to tell the Police how it all happened and who among his band members pulled the trigger. “We are expecting him to come and give us the account of everything that happened so as to a $$ist us in our investigation. “He is expected to come with his band boy that fired the gun.” Adejobi said the victim is being treated after she was taken to the hospital by officers. “We got the report of the incident and we have taken the victim to the hospital,” “The bullet has been removed from the victim’s body.” Information gathered reveals that Kofoworola was hit in the buttock by the bullet which entered through the rear door of the car she was sitting in. She is reportedly responding to treatment at the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode.

Nigeria's Buhari sends second batch of cabinet nominees to parliament

President Muhammadu Buhari has submitted a second list of candidates for his cabinet to the upper house of parliament for approval, Senate President Bukola Saraki said on his Twitter feed on Monday. He did not disclose the 15 names but is expected to read them out in parliament on Tuesday. Buhari submitted a first list with 21 names to the Senate earlier this month. He needs to nominate 36 candidate to fulfill the constitutional need for a minister from each of Nigeria's states. Buhari, a former military ruler, has been criticized for failing to appoint a cabinet since taking office on May 29, while Africa's biggest oil-dependent economy has been hit by a plunge in crude prices. Among prominent names in the first list published by Saraki last week was Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, the head of the state oil company. Saraki did not specify portfolios, but oil industry sources say Kachikwu is expected to become state minister of petroleum to oversee daily operations under Buhari. The president has told Reuters he would hold the petroleum ministry portfolio himself. Buhari appointed Kachikwu, a former Exxon- Mobil manager, to head state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) last August, after firing the previous board in an overhaul to fight graft and mismanagement. Buhari's other cabinet nominations in the first published list included former state governors such as Babatunde Fashola, the former governor of the commercial capital, Lagos. He also proposed Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of the oil producing Rivers State. SoURCE: REUTERS

EFCC arrests former Benue Governor, Gabriel Suswan

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, reportedly arrested the immediate past governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan, over alleged corruption during his tenure as governor. Suswam who governed the state between 2007 and May 2015 was in the morning being quizzed at the EFCC office in Abuja over alleged graft in his state. A call put across to spokesman of the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwajuren, went through but was picked by another officer who promised that the spokesman would get back to DAILY POST on the clarification sought as soon as he is on seat. But he was yet to respond as the time this report. Suswam had on Saturday stated in a statement obtained by DAILY POST that he was ready to face the anti-graft agencies. The ex-governor also insisted that his predecessor, Samuel Ortom should extend his probe to George Akume’s government which lasted between 1999-2007. He asked those he had offended in the course of governance to forgive him, saying that in life, one cannot avoid crossing the lines. SOURCE : DAILY POST

How Alamieyeseigha died as Nigerians speculate on cause of death

The death of Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, a one-time helmsman of Bayelsa State, who passed on at the age of 63, is generating mixed reactions across the country. His demise was confirmed by Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Esueme Dan-Kikili. Dan-Kikili said Alamieyeseigha, who had been actively involved in the re-election campaign of Governor Seriake Dickson ahead of the December 5 Bayelsa governorship, died of cardiac arrest. In his reaction, Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson described the sudden death of Alamieyeseigha, “as a personal loss to him, the Government and people of the State”. “Alamieyeseigha was a strong pillar of support to the restoration government,” he said, stressing that his demise “is a very painful and monumental loss to the entire Ijaw nation, which he has always stood firm for in all its ramifications,” he said. Bayelsa State Government also commiserated with his wife, Margret, his immediate family, the Alamieyeseighas and the entire Bayelsans. DAILY POST recalls that last year, tragedy struck the Alamieyeseighas when one of his sons, Oyamiefa, was found dead in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he was studying. Oyamiefa, 30, was found dead in his father’s palatial house, where he reportedly stayed alone. Speaking to DAILY POST on Alamieyeseigha’s death, a state government source said he died at about 3pm on Saturday. According to him, ‘Alams’ as fondly called was “deeply worried” about his planned arrest and transfer to the UK for further prosecution. “The matter has been troubling him and he disclosed this to those around him. “He went to Dubai for his routine check-up and treatment. He goes there once in a while since he was diagnosed for diabetic. He was also hypertensive,” said the source. “When he is not in Nigeria, he is mostly in Dubai to rest and see his doctors. “This time around, he returned during the week but went into coma shortly afterwards. “He has been on support since then at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.” Meanwhile, many Nigerians are claiming different versions of his death. Their claims can, however, be ciphered into one – that Alamieyeseigha committed suicide. While a group says he took his life by taking poison others said he may have deliberately asked that the life support be removed. According to them, his death happening at a time he was a target of extradition to the United Kingdom by the Federal Government is suspicious. The government, it was gathered, had concluded plans to begin the court processes to that effect. Alamieyeseigha was impeached on allegations of corruption on 9 December 2005. Alamieyeseigha, while a serving governor, escaped from the custody of the British authorities when he fled back to Nigeria from detention in September 2005 dressed like a woman. He was later convicted on similar money laundering charges on July 26, 2007, in Nigeria after he was removed as the governor. In March 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan granted Alamieyeseigha pardon via the state clemency. Earlier in September, the UK through its British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock, insisted that Alamieyeseigha, has an outstanding case of money laundering to answer in the UK. “The former governor skipped bail in the UK on a charge of money laundering and returned to Nigeria. So, he has an outstanding charge in the UK, which is there for him to answer,” Pocock said. “We have already discussed it and the Nigerian government knows our views. But we would like to see him return and answer the charge in the UK.” SOURCE: DAILY POST

Hajj stampede: Death toll rises to 145 for Nigeria, 165 pilgrims missing

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Sunday confirmed that 145 Nigerians were killed in the Sept. 24 stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia. More than 769 pilgrims from across the world were confirmed dead and 1,000 injured during the stampede on one of the roads leading to the Jamarat complex (stone throwing site) in Mina. Briefing newsmen in Mecca in an update, NAHCON’s commissioner in charge of Planning, Research, Information and Library Services, Dr Saleh Okenwa, said that seven of the 42 injured pilgrims were still on admission at various hospitals in Saudi Arabia. He, however, said that the number of pilgrims earlier declared missing had reduced from 214 to165 following the discovery of additional bodies of some Nigerians killed in the stampede. On the transportation of pilgrims back to Nigeria, NAHCON’s Commissioner in charge of Operation, Dr Saleh Modibbo, said that more than 60 per cent of the pilgrims had been transported back to the country. Specifically, he said that 40,850 of the 76,000 Nigerians, who performed the pilgrimage had been transported back to the country. Among those transported back to Nigeria are pilgrims from Kwara, Gombe and Nassarawa states. Modibbo said that the various committees set up by NAHCON helped in processing the pilgrims’ documents and luggage. The Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar, said while fielding questions from newsmen that the Nigerian mission in Saudi Arabia would continue to monitor the seven injured pilgrims still on admission at various Saudi hospitals even after the Hajj operation. “We have consistently been monitoring them; the Nigerian mission in Saudi Arabia will continue to monitor them after the hajj operation until they are discharged,’’ he said. Mukhtar said that bodies of the deceased had been buried according to Islamic rights. He said it was not true that the deceased were buried en masse as speculated in a section of the Nigerian society. The chairman said that the Saudi authorities took finger prints of the deceased and that DNA tests would be conducted on mutilated bodies to ascertain whether those declared missing were dead or alive. “Blood samples of the deceased pilgrims already in Saudi Arabia were taken while that of those who do not have immediate members of their families here will be taken in Nigeria and transported to Mecca for the test,” he stated. On victims of the crane crash, he said that the Nigerian mission had details on the affected persons, adding, “the mission is pursuing their cases until compensation is paid.” (NAN)

Nothing is wrong with the age bracket of ministerial nominees – Presidency

The Presidency yesterday reacted to the intense criticisms generated by the age grade of the prospective ministers, urging Nigerians to evaluate the nominees on the basis of their mental alertness, not on age defined by number. It insisted that there is nothing wrong with the average age of the 21 nominees being 53. The oldest of the pack is Audu Ogbe who is 68 years of age. Six others are in their sixties, eleven are in their fifties while two others are said to be 48 years old. But speaking in a Channels Television programme monitored by DAILY POST in Abuja, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, argued: “These people who have been nominated are qualified and are Nigerians. Talking of age, there is a saying that “age does not matter. It does not mind, if you don’t mind it.” I don’t think that age is an issue. And talking of age, you should rather talk about mental and chronological age. If you have a chronological age of 30, which makes you a youth, and mental age is not at par, what do we gain? Nothing. “And you may have a chronological age of 68, which is the age of the oldest of the nominees, if that nominee now has a mental age of 15 or 20, what do we gain? We must rather talk of the mental age rather than the chronological age. It is not the chronological age that matters as long as that person has what he is bringing to the table,” he stated.

I won’t join issues with Tinubu – Saraki

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, yesterday declared that he was not ready to join issues with a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Tinubu had lambasted the Senate President, describing him as indisciplined, disloyal and member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. But in a reaction, Saraki said, “I saw the statement said to be issued by Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu over a story published by The Sun newspapers. I have decided not to join issues with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. However, I know that most Nigerians are aware that there has been no meeting or communication between me and Asiwaju Tinubu since I was elected Senate President. Therefore, I do not see any basis for a newspaper to report that we are both plotting to oppose the President. “I recognise Tinubu as one of the leaders of the APC who contributed so much to the victory of the party in the last election. Some other people also contributed and I believe the collective efforts made it possible for the first time in the history of our party for an opposition party to win the general elections, “Let me state clearly that I remain a committed member of the APC and will do all in my power to ensure the party fulfill its promises to bring positive changes into the country. “Since my election as Senate President, my focus and efforts have been devoted to doing the job that I was elected to do by my constituents and my colleagues in the Senate. Twice, my colleagues have confirmed their support for me as the primus inter pares in the Senate. “As I said in my speech when we resumed from our recess late September and in Ikenne yesterday, the screening of ministerial nominees will be handled by me and my colleagues with all sense of responsibility and in adherence to the provision of the constitution. We will be fair to all and be guided by the interest of Nigeria. The screening will be devoid of sentiment and it is not an opportunity for anybody to settle scores. We are equally eager for us to make a positive difference in our polity and Nigerians will be able to judge us whether we acted in their best interest or not.”

Buhari sacks his Liaison Officer over embarrassment at UN General Assembly

President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked his Presidential liaison officer, Nura Rimi. Rimi was fired just five months after he was appointed into the post. No reason was given for the president’s decision, which has also not been officially announced. But DAILY POST gathered that it may not be unconnected with the embarrassment Buhari suffered at the recently concluded United Nations General Assembly in the United States. Rimi coordinated Buhari’s itinerary, entourage and facilitated most of the meetings that President Buhari attended in the sidelines of the UNGA. But Buhari reportedly missed some key meetings due to misinformation by his team. The feeling in the presidency is that Rimi failed to effectively communicate with the president’s team and must be punished. Rimi, who served as President Goodluck Jonathan’s Chief Protocol Officer was posted to Nigeria Embassy in Abu Dhabi shortly before the presidential election. He was recalled by Buhari, who appointed him as his PLO before his inauguration. Rimi is a career civil servant who had served in Nigeria’s embassy in the US before he was posted to the presidential Villa as a Protocol officer where he served both former Presidents Umaru Yar’Adua and Jonathan.

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources: Chevening Scholarship removes Diezani from honours list

The United Kingdom- based Chevening Scholarship has removed the embattled former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, from its list of female achievers, according to a report by Sahara Reporters. Chevening is an international scholarship scheme which enables students with leadership qualities from 144 countries and territories to undertake postgraduate study or courses in universities in the UK. After receiving a Chevening scholarship in 2002, Diezani attended Cambridge University for her MBA and then returned to Nigeria where she became the first female Executive Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company. After emerging as the first woman to hold the position of Minister of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria and the first female President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Chevening on its website, listed her as one of its best female alumni in commemoration of the March 8 International Women’s Day. Diezani was listed among other international and accomplished women like the Vice President, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Wang li; a former Minister for Social Development in Jordan, Hala Bsaisu Lattouf; and a Deputy Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Hertzegovina, Denisa Sarajlic-Maglic. After recognising Diezani as one of its best alumni, Chevening had stated on its website that “We are proud of all our alumni who carry Chevening values with them through their careers, and on this day, we take special delight in recognising and applauding just some of the many women associated with Chevening across the world who work tirelessly to bring about positive change. “We hope that the trail they are blazing will empower the next generation of young female leaders to ‘make it happen’ on an even bigger scale in the years to come.” Besides, the UK Independent in a report on Wednesday had made references to Chevening’s high rating of the embattled minister. However, following Diezani’s arrest by the UK’s National Crime Agency along with five other people on allegation of bribery and corruption offences, Chevening delisted her name from its website but retained the names of its other ‘celebrated women.’ Checks by one of our correspondents on Thursday showed that Diezani’s name had indeed been removed from its website. Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission may have arrested a special assistant to the embattled minister. It was gathered that the Diezani’s aide was ýpicked up by operatives of the commission at Banana Island in Lagos. The source said the aide had been with operatives of the EFCC for a few days and had made some statements. Diezani has four personal assistants and it is not clear if more of them will be quizzed in relation with the ongoing probe. “You know that the EFCC operatives are really going after Diezani’s aides. One of them was picked up at Banana Island on Tuesday. He has been singing like a bird. The man has made useful information,” the source said. When one of our correspondents contacted the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, for his comment, he said that he did not know anything about the investigation. Since the UK police started collaborating with the EFCC in the ongoing investigation into the oil deals under Diezani, the EFCC has come up with a policy not to comment on it. It was gathered that it was in line with the official policy of the UK agency to keep everything secret about those being probed.

No asset forms, no screening, Senate tells ministerial nominees

The Senate on Thursday released the criteria for screening President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominees. The screening is scheduled to commence on October 13. On top of the demands from the nominees is: come with a proof that you have declared your assets. Briefing journalists at the end of plenary, Chairman, Senate ad hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Dino Melaye, said the upper chamber at its closed session agreed on hurdles to be scaled by the nominees before their eventual clearance. Melaye explained that the senators insisted that each nominee must submit proofs of their asset declaration; must have their nomination approved by two senators from their states; and must have a clean bill of health from its public petitions committee, among other conditions. Submission of asset declaration form was not included in the modalities for screening ministerial nominees in 2011. President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, is currently on trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged false asset declaration when he was governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011. Melaye said, “We considered a number of issues that had to do with the approach and the procedure for the screening of the ministerial nominees. So, we developed two modalities for the screening of the ministerial nominees. “The first criterion is using constitutional provisions as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as a fundamental procedure for the screening of ministerial nominees. “Section 120 of the Standing Rules of the Senate states that the Senate shall not consider the nomination of any person, who has held any public office as contained in Part 2 of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution prior to his nomination unless there is a written evidence that he has declared his assets and liabilities as required by Section 11(1) of Part 1 of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “Such declaration shall be required for scrutiny by the senators. What this Section is saying is that every ministerial nominee must produce proof of compliance as required by the Constitution and the Rules of the Senate. “You must declare your assets, and you must have a certificate of proof that you have declared your assets, and that you are given a certificate of proof by the Code of Conduct Bureau. “We also, in line with our convention, agreed that for you to be cleared as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, minimum of two senators from your state must, at least, show support for your nomination. “It’s a convention by the Senate, and we have decided to uphold that convention in the sanctity of the integrity of the Senate. The era of take-a- bow-and-go is over. We are still going to maintain that, except with slight modification as regards former senators and former members of the National Assembly. “For those who have been members of the House of Representatives and senators before, for them to become members of the House of Representatives and senators, they must have met those conditions before now. “So, they would not be exposed to the same rigorous scrutiny that those who were not members of the National Assembly will face.” He added, “The Senate is also going to give priority to former members of the National Assembly in terms of the time for the screening. What I’m saying is that we may call up those, who are former members of the National Assembly before we begin to consider those, who are not members. “We also, as a matter of modification for the take- a-bow-and-go, where it concerns only former members of the National Assembly, they may be questioned only by the chairman of that sitting, who is the President of the Senate.’’ No fewer than 25 petitions have been submitted by various individuals and groups seeking to stop the clearance of some of the 21 ministerial nominees. Checks at the office of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions showed that 25 petitions had been submitted to it as of the close of work on Thursday. Apart from the petition against former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi , which was submitted by the three senators from Rivers State to the senate president on Wednesday, another senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, Danjuma La’ah, submitted his on Thursday against the nomination of Mrs. Amina Mohammed from Kaduna State. La’ah wrote on behalf of the Southern Kaduna Coalition, an amalgamation of all the pressure and public interest groups of Southern Kaduna extraction. Mohammed’s accusers said she was not from Kaduna. The petition, signed by the group’s coordinator, James Kanyi, read in part, “We have credible evidence to believe that she is an indigene of Gombe State and not Kaduna State as constitutionally required.” Eleven of the ministerial nominees were however at the National Assembly on Thursday to submit their Curriculum Vitae ahead of next Tuesday’s screening. The deadline for the submission of the CVs, according to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, is Friday (today). Saraki on Thursday asked the committee of the Senate currently investigating the petitions against the nominees to submit its report before the screening starts next week. Meanwhile, the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has disagreed with the Senate new rule that a ministerial nominee must get the support of at least two senators from his state to scale through screening. The spokesman for the APC in Rivers, Mr. Chris Finebone, told our correspondent in a telephone interview on Thursday that something was wrong with such a rule on the screening of ministerial nominees. Finebone explained that a ministerial nominee did not need the support of any senator to be confirmed a minister. The three representing Rivers State in the Senate – Olaka Nwogu, George Sekibo and Osinakachukwu Ideozu – are all members of the Peoples Democratic Party. Amaechi, the nominee from the state is of the APC. Calling on the Senate to forget about such criterion, Finebone recalled that Musiliu Obanikoro, who was from an APC state, but a member of the PDP, was able to scale through and became a minister. He said, “I am sure that there is something wrong there; there is something not correct there. I know we have had cases where, for an example, Obanikoro never got the support of any senator and he scaled through. So, there is something I suspect that is not right there. “Beyond Obanikoro, we have also had other examples where ministerial nominees never got the support of senators from their states and they scaled through. How about states where the senators are all from the opposition party? Does it mean that the Federal Government would surrender to the opposition? “I don’t think it has been happening in the past. There were places where the senators were from the opposition, yet the Federal Government got its ministers not from the opposition party. “The Senate should forget about such a rule because in the past it never came to play. I want to be sure that it is a new thing they have invented. But it does not work that way; it will not work that way. I don’t want to also believe that the rules are changing with some persons in mind.” Also, a former aide to the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Tony Okocha, recalled that two senators in the past had opposed the nomination of Mr. Henry Ogiri for a position in the Niger Delta Development Commission but that Ogiri eventually scaled through despite such opposition. “It does not follow. Are we not Nigerians? Obanikoro, who was from a state in the opposition party in the past, was made a minister in recent past despite coming from the state from the opposition party,” Okocha said.

Ebola: Calabar hospital quarantines 15 patients •Doctor, nurses under watch •FG sends team to UCTH

Fifteen persons have been quarantined at the accident and emergency ward of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital after an Ebola Virus Disease scare in the hospital on Wednesday. Those quarantined included nine nurses, one doctor, four health workers and one patient. The EVD scare in the UCTH resulted from the death of a patient, who was said to have manifested the symptoms of the killer disease though the hospital authorities said the patient might have died of any Haemorrhagic fever. The patient’s identity as of Thursday remained unknown. Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee of the teaching hospital, Dr. Queeneth Kalu, said the blood sample of the patient had been sent for testing while identified contacts had been quarantined. At a press briefing in Calabar on Thursday, Kalu said that the National Centre for Disease Control, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Cross River State Government as well as the Department of State Services had been informed of the development. She said, “On Wednesday October 7, 2015, we managed a patient who presented with symptoms mimicking viral haemorrhagic fever. Due to the remote chance of it being contagious, we have sent the blood samples for testing and quarantined identified contacts. “Further information will be made available as soon as we receive the results of the samples sent for analysis.” Also at the briefing, Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Edet Ikpi, said all necessary precautions as prescribed by the World Health Organisation had been taken to forestall any eventuality. He however said that there was no cause for panic by members of the public. Ikpi urged the media to be cautious of what was being reported as no case of EVD had been established. The Federal Government on Thursday confirmed that it had despatch a team of medical experts to the UCTH. The Director, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, Prof. Abdulsalami Nasidi, told The PUNCH that the team was already on ground in Calabar. “The NCDC team is on ground and containment measures are already being put in place. The samples are being tested and we should know by tomorrow (today). The Federal Ministry of Health is sending additional support on Friday (today),” Nasidi said. Our correspondent, who went round the hospital in Calabar on Thursday, learnt that those quarantined were mainly medical personnel and others within the ward moments before the patient died. Medical workers at the UCTH, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, alleged that the isolated persons had not been given food to eat almost 24 hours after they were quarantined. One of the workers said, “Those isolated have not been communicated with in the last 24 hours. The ward is a no go area for us at the moment. The isolated persons are even threatening to set themselves free if nothing was done soon. They are hungry and have not eaten.” The hospital had on Wednesday shut its accident and emergency ward after the death of the unnamed patient that gave rise to the Ebola scare. The deceased was said to have been brought to the hospital from the Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State on Tuesday with high body temperature, vomiting, stooling and bleeding from the nose. A source said the patient died shortly after samples were taken from him for investigation. The source said, “A patient was brought in on Tuesday vomiting, stooling and bleeding from the nose and mouth. He had a high temperature. It was suspected that he had a haemorrhagic fever but it has not been confirmed. He died around 2pm and his body has been quarantined while the ward was shut down.” The first Ebola case was reported in Nigeria on July 20, 2014 when the late Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian, flew into Lagos. Sawyer, who was without Ebola symptoms at the time of his admission at the First Consultants Medical Centre, Lagos, infected two doctors, a nurse and a ward aide. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, a total of 19 Ebola cases were established in the country –15 in Lagos and four in Port Harcourt. Seven deaths were also recorded while the outbreak lasted. One of the dead was Dr. Stella Adedavoh, a senior consultant, who treated Sawyer. Her death on August 19, 2014 was the fifth. The World Health Organisation formally certified Nigeria free 42 days after Ebola was reported in the country.

I won’t take insults to my mother —Enyeama

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has reacted to the face-off which occurred between him and the team’s coach, Sunday Oliseh, at their Hotel Verviers camp on Tuesday. The Lille goalkeeper was stripped of his captaincy on Tuesday after his arrival in camp for the Eagles’ two friendly matches against DR Congo and Cameroon on October 8 and 11. The captaincy was then handed to CSKA Moscow forward, Ahmed Musa, and efforts by Enyeama to explain himself were reportedly rebuffed by Oliseh, who refused to listen to him, saying he should leave the room for the team or the team would leave for him. The coach called on security officials to eject Enyeama from the camp before some officials of the Nigeria Football Federation waded in to calm the situation. Enyeama on Wednesday took to Instagram to explain his side of the story, lamenting the treatment meted out to him by the coach. He wrote, “After 13 years of national service, having this smiles on my face and this passion in my heart, through the billows, the waves of the ocean, the tears of defeat, the sound of rejoicing from victory chants. “Now the thought of being stripped naked and security agents throwing me out breaks me completely. I will take anything but not insults to my dead mother.” Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has assured that peace has returned to the team’s camp after Tuesday’s disagreement. NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, said on Wednesday, “I’m happy there is absolute peace in the camp and the players and coaches are thinking of nothing other than the two matches against DR Congo and Cameroon.”

Senate in rowdy session over Amaechi petition

THERE was a mild drama on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday when a lawmaker representing Rivers East Senatorial District, George Sekibo, rose to present a petition against the nomination of former governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, as a minister. No sooner than Sekibo, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, raised a point of order to submit the petition than the All Progressives Congress senators kicked against the submission, and raised their voice, shouting No!! No!!! Notwithstanding the reaction of the APC senators, Sekibo went ahead with his point of order and got the permission of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to submit the document on behalf of his other colleagues from Rivers State. Saraki, who ignored the protests of his party members, referred the petition to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate the allegations against Amaechi and report back to the Senate. Speaking with journalists in his office shortly after the plenary, Sekibo said the petition was based on an investigation carried out by a Port Harcourt- based group, called the Integrity Group. Sekibo said the same petition had earlier been forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari and the various anti-graft agencies in the country about two months ago when the group concluded its investigation. He said, “The Integrity Group, based in Port Harcourt, believes in transparency, fighting against corruption. They (Integrity Group) believe in good governance and effective utilisation of every fund that is allocated to any state government. “They went into a research and discovered that over N70bn were transferred from hard currency account to places outside the country. A petition on this note was written to Mr. President. I believe the President has not read it. “If he has read it, he may not have hurriedly nominated Rotimi Amaechi to be a minister. Amaechi is qualified to be a minister, but when issues of corruption and fraud are openly X-rayed by people, it is necessary for Mr. President to take a critical look and examine the allegations whether they are true or not.” Sekibo said senators from Rivers State were not kicking against the appointment of a Rivers man to be a minister, but that Buhari should pick another member of the APC from the state with cleaner records. Reacting to the action of the APC senators, a Peoples Democratic Party member representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ighoyota Amori, lamented the development, stressing that such behaviour would send negative signals to Nigerians. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye, on Wednesday explained why the APC members in the upper chamber protested the submission of petition against the nomination of Amaechi, as a minister. Melaye told one of our correspondents in an interview that his colleagues in the APC protested against the submission of the petition because it was submitted by senators. He said, “Our responsibility as senators is to screen the ministerial nominees based on petitions received from outsiders like civil society organisations, and communities and not from senators. “We specifically objected to Senator George Sekibo presenting the petition not because we are against the investigation of allegation against Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, but because the petition was brought by senators. “Petitions should come from outside. They should not be sponsored by members within the chamber. We should not be the judge in our own case.” Meanwhile, the Rivers State chapter of the APC has flayed Sekibo for his attempt to submit a petition against Amaechi’s nomination as a minister. The State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Chris Finebone, said Sekibo lacked the basic knowledge of how Amaechi administration worked. Finebone recalled in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that Amaechi had supported Sekibo’s second term bid for the Senate against the wish of the current governor of the state, describing the lawmaker as a man that bit the finger that fed him.

Diezani’s ally, Kola Aluko, faces extradition to UK •Switzerland gets Britain’s request to probe oil baron

There were strong indications on Wednesday that Switzerland might extradite a Nigerian oil baron, Kola Aluko, to the United Kingdom. The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, in an electronic mail to one of our correspondents, confirmed that the UK had sought for mutual legal assistance from its country. In an e-mail sent to it, the office of the AGF of Switzerland was asked if it had received extradition request from the UK on the businessman. It was also asked to specify the time the extradition process would begin and when he would be extradited. In his response, Nathalie Guth of the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, stated, “I refer to your request of today and we can confirm that the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has received a request for mutual legal assistance from England in this context.” He declined to give further information on the request. But The PUNCH learnt that “the mutual legal assistance” could lead to eventual extradition of Aluko to the UK in connection with the investigation of former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke. When contacted on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the UK High Commission in Abuja, Joe Abuku, said the official that could give information on Aluko’s extradition was out of town and could not be reached on the telephone. “I can’t give any information on the extradition issue because the official that would brief me is out of town and cannot be reached on the phone, but I will try and get him tomorrow (today),” he said. One of our correspondents also sent a mail requesting information on the extradition to the Home Office email, but it had not been responded to as of the time of this report. A top security official in the United Kingdom told The PUNCH that the probe of Aluko may lead to his deportation to the United Kingdom. He said, “There are srong links between the former oil minister and Aluko. Extradition is not out of question.” Aluko is an associate of Alison-Madueke, who was arrested in the UK last week for alleged bribery and money laundering. Another oil baron and Chairman of Atlantic Energy, Jide Omokore, was on Monday quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the ongoing investigation into the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Operatives of the EFCC had Friday last week searched the residence of Alison-Madueke in Asokoro, Abuja. The operatives stormed the ex-minister’s residence shortly after she was arrested by the police in the UK. Alison-Madueke was arrested by the operatives of the National Crime Agency in London in connection with fraud and bribery offences. The spokesman for the UK High Commission in Abuja, Joe Abuku, had confirmed to one of our correspondents that five persons were arrested by the agency. The International Corruption Unit of the NCA had also confirmed the arrest of five people across London as part of an investigation into suspected bribery and money laundering activities. Meanwhile, the UK is still interested in the extradition of a former Bayelsa State governor, Diprieye Alamieyeseigha, to Britain to face charges of money laundering, The PUNCH has learnt. A diplomatic source on Wednesday told one of our correspondents that the British Government would press for Alamieyeseigha’s extradition all over again. The source noted that the UK had earlier requested Alamieyeseigha’s extradition but that did not get any response from former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. The source cited the statement credited to the former British High Commissioner, Andrew Pocock, who said the UK had asked Nigeria’s Ministry of Justice for Alamieyeseigha’s extradition. “As Pocock said, the UK had requested the former governor’s extradition and the request is still pending, which means that the British Government will press the (President Muhammadu) Buhari’s administration to respond to the extradition request and we have no doubt it would be carried out,” he said. Abuku could not be reached for comment as several calls made to his phone indicated that it was not available. He had yet to respond to a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report. Pocock had, during a media interview, said Britain was still waiting for Nigeria’s response to the extradition request for Alamieyeseigha. The envoy had said, “The former governor skipped bail in the UK on a charge of money laundering and returned to Nigeria. So, he has an outstanding charge in the UK, which is there for him to answer. “We have already discussed it and the Nigerian government knows our views. But we would like to see him return and answer charge in the UK. “We have asked the Attorney General. He will have to tell us what his position is on extradition. I haven’t had a reply yet, but we still wait for it.” The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, had also said the UK had every legal right to demand the extradition of Alamieyeseigha to London. Sagay said Buhari would do well by extraditing the former governor to the UK. Alamieyeseigha was jailed by a Nigerian court in 2007 for corruption and was made to forfeit stolen properties to the government but he received pardon from Jonathan in 2013. The former President had served as Alamieyeseigha’s deputy in Bayelsa between 1999 and 2005, when he was arrested at the Heathrow Airport in London for money laundering. SOURCE: PUNCH.

NFF consignment not seized – Gen Sec

Mohammed Sanusi, the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation on Thursday said the Nigerian Customs Service did not seize the federation’s consignment at the Apapa Ports. Sanusi told the News Agency of Nigeria from his Abuja base via telephone that the consignment, which arrived at the Lagos port on September 4 was in the process of being cleared by the Customs. According to him, the federation is following due process in the clearance of the jerseys and other equipment from its kitting company, Nike. NAN reports that the inability of the NFF to clear a consignment of kits from its sponsors, Nike, at the Apapa Ports had resulted in shortage of kits for the various National teams. The U-23 team, which participated at the football event of the 11th African Games, used only a set of jersey in Congo to prosecute their matches. The general secretary attributed delays in arrival of the consignment to change of the mode of transportation of the goods. Sanusi said, “One of the reasons for the delay in the early arrival of the consignment was due to change in the mode of transportation. Instead of the consignment arriving via air transportation, they were sent by sea.” “I can assure you that they are in the process of being cleared. “I want to clarify the fact that the consignment has not been seized but are being cleared at the moment. We have been used to receiving the consignments by air but this time it came via shipment. “The NFF is following due procedures to ensure the kits come out in time for our teams abroad.” NAN reports that the Golden Eaglets are presently in Argentina camping ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. The Chile world cup will run from Oct. 17 to Nov. 8. The players and officials have made passionate appeals to NFF for provision of more kits.

Issa Hayatou named FIFA Acting President

Issa Hayatou will serve as acting president of Fifa, the world governing body has announced. Fifa said on Thursday morning that Sepp Blatter had been relieved of his duties and that Issa Hayatou, the head of African football from Cameroon, would be acting president. The Fifa statement said, “Today, in accordance with Fifa’s code of ethics, Joseph S. Blatter was relieved of all his duties as Fifa president following the decision to provisionally ban him from all football activities on a national and international level. “Joseph S. Blatter, for the duration of the 90-day ban, is not allowed to represent Fifa in any capacity, act on the organisation’s behalf, or communicate to media or other stakeholders as a Fifa representative. “Issa Hayatou, as the longest-serving vice- president on Fifa’s executive committee, will serve as acting president of Fifa.” Blatter is disappointed that Fifa‘s ethics committee did not speak with him before provisionally suspending him, lawyers for the world soccer body‘s president said on Thursday. “President Blatter was disappointed that the Ethics Committee did not follow the Code of Ethics and Disciplinary Code, both of which provide for an opportunity to be heard,” Blatter‘s lawyers said in an emailed statement. “Further, the Ethics Committee based its decision on a misunderstanding of the actions of the Attorney General in Switzerland, which has opened an investigation but brought no charge against the President.” Blatter’s lawyers said he was looking forward to presenting evidence that will prove he did not engage in any misconduct.

Attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes, UN warns

The UN Security Council has warned that it may tag attacks on peacekeepers as war crime. The 15-Member council gave the warning in a statement in New York while reacting to the attack against a convoy of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic . The peacekeepers were said to be travelling from Damara to Ngerengou (Ombella-Mpoko prefecture), when they were attacked. The UN says one peacekeeper from Burundi was killed and another was injured. Council reminded all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law. They called on the Central African Republic authorities to investigate the MINUSCA attack and bring the perpetrators to justice. Council condoles with the families of the killed and injured peacekeepers and to the Burundi Government as well as the Transitional Authorities and the people of the Central African Republic. They stressed that those responsible for the attack shall be held accountable. Members reiterated their full support for MINUSCA to assist the Central African Republic Transitional Authorities in protecting people as enshrined in the 2015 Security Council Resolution

Buhari’s meeting with N’Assembly leadership signals good relationship – Saraki

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, described the closed-door meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly held on Wednesday night as a welcome development. Saraki, according to a post on his social media page on Thursday, explained that the meeting signifies a good working relationship between executive and legislative arms of the country. He described such interactions as “a necessity for National development. Additionally, the meeting demonstrates that the nation is working.” Buhari met with the leadership of the National Assembly, which included, Saraki; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; and other principal officers of both chambers. Also in attendance was, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. The meeting lasted for about two hours.

Screening: Senate in closed session on meeting with Buhari

The Senate resumed plenary around 11:15 am on Thursday and went into closed session to discuss critical issues relating to the screening of the 21 ministerial nominees sent to it for confirmation and approval by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, had told our correspondent last week that the upper chamber would discuss the procedure for the screening after the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had read out the names contained in the sealed envelope sent to him by Buhari. A senator, who craved anonymity told our correspondent shortly before the closed session this morning that the meeting would discuss the details of the closed session Buhari had with the leadership of the National Assembly last night. He also said the petition presented to the senate by the three senators from Rivers State against the nomination of Former Governor would also be discussed. Meanwhile some ministerial nominees were sighted at the Senate wing of the National Assembly on Thursday, obviously to familiarise themselves with the senators and to submit their Curriculum Vitae for necessary scrutiny by the senior federal lawmakers. Some of those sighted as of 11:30am were Former Governor Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Chris Ngige, Senator Udo Udoma and a former Chairman of the Peoles Democratic Party, Audu Ogbeh.

Enyeama retires from Super Eagles

Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, on his Instagram page, says he is no longer available for international duties after 13 years of national service. Details later. . .

Suspected poachers kill 14 elephants in Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe National Wildlife Agency on Wednesday said that suspected poachers used cyanide to kill 14 elephants in Zimbabwe’s western Hwange National park. Hwange, home of Zimbabwe’s most famous lion, Cecil, who was killed by an American dentist in July, holds 53,000 elephants, twice the park’s carrying capacity, the park’s agency says. The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokeswoman, Caroline Washaya-Moyo, said six elephants were killed on Sept. 26 inside Hwange Park and their tusks were removed. Similarly, on Oct. 2, rangers discovered the carcasses of another five elephants which had been killed after poachers mixed cyanide with coarse salt and maize cobs as bait for the animals, she said. Washaya-Moyo added that three other elephants were poisoned by oranges laced with cyanide in a game park in Kariba, north of Zimbabwe, bringing to 14 the number of elephants killed. Cyanide is widely used in Zimbabwe’s mining industry and is relatively easy to obtain. “No arrests have been made in all the cases and investigations are still in progress,” Washaya- Moyo said. Over the years, poachers have used rifles and other traps to poach Zimbabwe’s elephants, but started using cyanide in 2013.

Five countries declare interest in Nigeria’s mining sector

Alhaji Sani Shehu, the President, Miners Association of Nigeria, on Wednesday said five countries had declared interest to invest in Nigeria’s mining sector. Shehu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the countries were Thailand, South Africa, Dubai, Canada and Australia. He said they had declared interest to come to Nigeria with their equipment and start mining very soon. He said their investment in the sector would boost Nigeria’s economy and create job opportunities for the youth. While encouraging the investors, the president said the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, and its Regulations 2011, were in line with international standard and guaranteed security of tenure. He also said Nigeria had a favourable geology and readily available geosciences data for prospective investors. According to him, Nigeria is richly endowed with various minerals that manifested in multiple occurrences all over the country. “There are 44 minerals occurring in no fewer than 500 locations in Nigeria; the notable minerals are Metallic, Tin, Tantalite, Columbite, Iron ore, Nickel, Lead, Zinc, Zircon, Silver, and Copper. “Among them are industrial minerals, Barytes, Talc, Limestone, Clays, Marble, Graphite, Asbestos, Feldspars, Glass sand, Gypsum, Talc, Mica, Precious minerals, Gold, Silver, Gemstones Coal, Bitumen, Lignite and Uranium.” The president said currently, mining contributed only 0.3 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Products.

EU anti-trafficking mission launched in Mediterranean

Six European Union warships have started military operation, patrolling international waters in the Mediterranean Sea to catch human traffickers who bring refugees to Europe. The mission off the coast of Libya – the departure point for many of the refugees – launching on Wednesday includes an Italian aircraft carrier, a French frigate and one British, one Spanish and two German ships. On board the Werra, one of the German ships taking part, the 100-person strong crew has already carried out several exercises, including a simulation of an attack carried out by traffickers, to which they responded by opening fire. For this mission, the team includes sailors trained in boarding ships on the high seas, the Werra’s captain Stefan Klatt told AFP news agency. The EU gave the go-ahead for the operation in international waters in September, but its ships are not, for now, allowed to pursue traffickers into Libyan waters. “We follow the traffickers and want to arrest them and seize their ships,” the captain said, adding that he’ll get as close to Libyan waters as he can. At least three other vessels supplied by the Belgian, British and Slovenian navies are expected to arrive in the area at the end of October to complete the force, which also include four aircraft and 1,318 personnel. The planning of the mission – EUNAVFOR MED – started in June with the first phase focusing on compiling and analysing information on the trafficker networks.

Somali militants vow to attack British peacekeepers

Somalia’s militant Islamist group, al Shabaab, has pledged to greet British troops “with fire” when they arrive to provide support to a peacekeeping force in the conflict-ravaged country. Prime Minister David Cameron, last week announced plans to deploy up to 70 troops and experts to provide logistical, medical and engineering support to the AU led peacekeeping force in Somalia, which is struggling to emerge from two decades of chaos and is also battling the Islamist insurgency of the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab. Like other Western powers, Britain has long avoided the Horn of Africa country, which until recently was widely viewed as a failed state, but it has made some progress in restoring order and setting up a functioning government. “We hope we shall see the beheaded bodies of whites,” Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage, al Shabaab’s spokesman, said in a report. The statement branded Britain “an enemy to Muslims” and accused the country of trying to colonise Somalia. “We shall welcome British forces with fire and you will see their dead bodies displayed on the web pages,” Mohamud said. A spokesperson for the British High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya, declined to comment. African peacekeeping forces drove al Shabaab out of the Somali capital Mogadishu in 2011, but the group has waged a series of gun and grenade attacks to try to overthrow the government and impose its strict version of sharia law. AMISOM, the African Union’s force in Somalia, has been battling al Shabaab alongside the Somali army, pushing the rebels into increasingly smaller pockets of territory.

Mourinho’s sacking will cost $30m – Chelsea

Chelsea Football Club have revealed that Jose Mourinho will be owed £30 million in compensation should Chelsea choose to sack him following a poor start to the season.

Soldiers kill 100 terrorists in Yobe

The Nigerian Army said on Wednesday that troops of the Army 120 Task Force Battalion in Yobe, have killed more than 100 fleeing terrorists at Goniri area of the state. The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja. The statement said seven soldiers died while nine others were wounded when the terrorists attempted to invade the military base at Goniri, early on Wednesday. “The fleeing Boko Haram terrorists in a desperation to create an impression that they remain relevant, early today made a futile attempt on 120 Task Force Battalion troops at Goniri, Yobe State. “During the encounter, our gallant troops successfully repelled the attack and inflicted heavy casualty on the invaders, as all of them were killed. “More than 100 terrorists died but unfortunately however, seven of our gallant soldiers paid the supreme price while defending our father land, one officer and eight soldiers were also wounded.” According to the statement, the troops recovered arms, ammunitions and other equipment from the terrorists. The arms and ammunition recovered include, one general purpose machine gun; two rocket propelled grenades, nine AK-47 rifles and belted rounds of 7.62 (NATO) ammunitions. It said that various wires used for Improvised Explosive Devices, 7 Primed IEDs, different types of spanners and a torch light were also recovered. It said the troops had consolidated on the encounter and would continue blocking any fleeing terrorist using the Nigerian Air Force aerial bombardment and other troops artillery fire. The statement read that troops of 21 Brigade on fighting patrol from Bama to Ngurosoye, had destroyed Boko Haram terrorists camps along that axis. It stated that soldiers on patrol came across some of the terrorists’ hideouts that also served as fabricating area for IEDs and the terrorists’ training area along Bama-Kawuri axis. The statement said the Nigeria Army with the support of the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies would not relent in the determined effort of defeating Boko Haram insurgents.

Russian air strikes in Syria cause civilian deaths

Civilian deaths are being reported from apparent air strikes by Russian fighter jets in the Syrian province of Hama and in areas bordering the Idlib province. Russian forces carried out the air strikes on Wednesday morning, in addition to targeting anti- government armed groups with surface-to- surface missiles, said the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. A video of the purported raids uploaded to YouTube by activists said at least four people were killed and dozens injured, and that the death toll was expected to rise. Al Jazeera could not independently verify the reports of the air strikes. Meanwhile, Syrian army forces have launched a ground operation in the country’s west, reports say. The offensive is targeting Khan Shaykhun, a town in Idlib strategically situated on a rebel-controlled route that connects Aleppo and Damascus. The developments come at a time when Syrian fighters are targeting government forces and pro- regime units in Hama with Grad missiles, the Syrian Observatory said in a statement. It said it has “no information about casualties” yet. Russia, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al- Assad’s government, started carrying out air strikes in areas across Syria last week. On Tuesday, Russian jets hit areas under the control of the Islamic State of the Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group in Palmyra and the northern outskirts of Aleppo.

Bomb blast hits Buhari Housing Estate Yobe, 16 killed

Sixteen people have died and 10 others injured in multiple explosions on Wednesday morning in Damaturu, Yobe State capital. Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Musa Idi, confirmed the story to newsmen in Damaturu on Wednesday. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the explosions took place around Ministry of Housing quarters and Buhari Housing Estate in Damaturu. NAN reports that normalcy had returned to the state capital as schools opened, while workers and other residents had resumed their normal business.

Warplanes violation: NATO rejects Russia’s explanation

NATO has rejected Russia’s explanation that its warplanes violated the air space of alliance member Turkey on the weekend by mistake and said Russia was sending more ground troops to Syria. The comments by the alliance on Tuesday came as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was losing patience with Russian violations of his country’s air space, and Russian officials said they would welcome talks with their Turkish counterparts to avoid “misunderstandings”. “An attack on Turkey means an attack on NATO,” Erdogan warned at a Brussels news conference. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance had reports of a substantial Russian military build-up in Syria, including ground troops and ships in the eastern Mediterranean. “I will not speculate on the motives … but this does not look like an accident and we have seen two of them,” Stoltenberg said of the air incursions over Turkey’s border with Syria. He noted that they “lasted for a long time”. The incidents, which NATO has described as “extremely dangerous” and “unacceptable”, underscore the risks of a further escalation of the Syrian civil war, as Russian and US warplanes fly combat missions over the same country for the first time since World War Two.

ISIL claims suicide bombings in Yemen’s Aden

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group’s Yemen affiliate has claimed responsibility for an attack on an Arab coalition base that killed at least 15 troops, including four Emirati soldiers. The armed group made the claim through its affiliated accounts on Twitter on Tuesday, posting a series of photos depicting the bombings and pictures of the suicide attackers involved. “Four martyrdom operations targeted a gathering of Saudi, Emirati, and Yemeni offices,” a statement released by the group said. The names of the attackers in the pictures suggested those involved were all Yemeni in origin. Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra said the claim of responsibility by ISIL marked the start of “strange scenario” in Yemen. “On one hand we have government forces and the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis, and now you have ISIL fighting the government and Houthi forces,” Ahelbarra said. “You’ll have the [southern] secessionists fighting al-Qaeda, and ISIL fighting al-Qaeda at the same time…It will be a complete nightmare scenario in the near future. “In 2014 ISIL emerged saying that they were there to defend Sunnis who had been undermined by the Shia…they were present in the capital Sanaa but now they’re trying to build a platform in the south.”

Charles Okah attempts suicide in court

A suspected mastermind of the October 1, 2010 bombing in Abuja, Charles Okah, caused a row, by attempting to commit suicide during Tuesday’s proceedings in his trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja. Okah, after ending an emotion-filled comment about his protracted trial during the court session, grabbed a nearby chair with which he made repeated but futile attempts to break a window in order to create an opening through which he could jump down from the courtroom located on the third floor of the five-storey building. His frustration on Tuesday was ignited by his lawyer’s absence in court. Defence lawyers – Mr. Samuel Zibiri and O.O. Otemu – were provided by the Federal Government-owned Legal Aid Council, after Okah in October last year, dispensed with the services of a Lagos lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, whose law firm had defended him since the case started in 2010. Okah, who is standing trial along with Obi Nwabueze for terrorism charges arising from the October 1, 2010 bombing incident, sought the permission of the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, to speak after it was discovered that his lawyer was not in court. After the judge granted him permission to speak from the dock, Okah in an emotional outburst expressed frustration about his long incarceration and the attendant deprivation of the opportunity to cater for his family. Okah said, “I have been incarcerated for about five years now, and I have a family to cater for. “My children would grow up without feeling the warmth of their father. I’m tired of this endless trial.” It took the intervention of lawyers and some other persons who were in the courtroom for their respective cases to stop his attempt to commit suicide after his emotion-laden speech. The chair with which he attempted to break the window was collected from him after he was overpowered and Justice Kolawole promptly adjourned the case till October 20. The lead prosecuting counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN) , was in court during the Tuesday’s dramatic event. Okah, is a brother to former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Henry Okah, who is already serving jail terms in South Africa for the bombing near the Eagle Square, Abuja, on October 1, 2010 in which about 12 persons were said to have died. The prosecution had a major breakthrough in the case when it called its first witness on April 23, 2015. For over four years, Okah and his legal team deployed a flurried interlocutory applications which hindered progress in the case. At the opening of his case, Izinyon called the first prosecution witness, Mr. John Afolabi, who is an exhibit keeper at the Department of State Services, and through whom 14 exhibits were tendered and admitted by the court as exhibits on Tuesday. The witness said during his evidence-in-chief that the items were retrieved by DSS investigators at “scenes of investigation” into the bombing incident. The first exhibit admitted by the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, was a list of items which Afolabi said were retrieved during the investigation conducted into the bombing by the DSS. Other exhibits were the 13 items contained in the list. The list comprised an old Mazda 626 car with registration number LAGOS BY 318 FKJ, military wear and camping materials.

Buhari’s list not worth the long wait –PDP

Opposition political parties and some socio- political groups on Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial list read out by Senate President Bukola Saraki did not worth the long wait by Nigerians. The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, the Labour Party and the Yoruba pan socio- political group, Afenifere, were some of the groups that said the list did not show any surprise commensurate to expectations. The PDP, in a statement in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, stated that Buhari’s delay in constituting his cabinet could not be justified. It said, “By a mere look at the list, one can tell that there is nothing to be excited about, especially considering the length of time it took the President to come up with it. “Looking at the list, it is hard to put a finger on why it should take any serious-minded and focused government six months after its election to assemble such a regular team.” He said the list and the length of time it took to present it had further confirmed that the All Progressives Congress-led administration was being driven by propaganda and deceit, a development he said raised doubts about the sincerity of the government’s anti-corruption crusade. The National Chairman of LP, Alhaji Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, said that the President’s list was filled with “recycled politicians and individuals.” He said, “From independence till date, the same people are being recycled. Governors who ruled their states recklessly are on the list. They never considered any youth worthy of consideration as a minister. Many of them are analogues and are not in tune with modern day expectations. “None of the ministerial nominees can meet our yearnings and expectations. It is very unfortunate that President Muhammadu Buhari will delay Nigerians for five months just for a list of recycled people and 21 names for ministerial positions. The implication is that before he brings the rest, four years tenure would have gone. This has shown Nigerians that nothing good will come from Buhari and the APC. “This is to show Nigerians that the change mantra is fake; there is no sincerity of purpose there and no commitment to the Nigerian cause. They just deceived Nigerians with ‘change, change’ slogan and won the heart of Nigerians.” Also, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, said that there was no fresh face on the list. Odumakin, speaking for Afenifere, said, “One would have loved to see fresh faces who can at least offer hope. The list is however replete with a lot of faces that have been active part of the rot of the past years. There are persons perching on mountains of corruption and we can only hope that the Senate has enough resolve to do a proper screening. These are all Genesis people and not Revelation.” A human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, said that nothing was inspiring about the list of the ministerial nominees. He said all the nominees were familiar faces. The lawyer said, “The impression that the President gave to everyone was that he was searching out for ‘saints’ to work with him. We could not have wasted the past three months waiting for Fayemi, Fashola, Amaechi, Ngige and Audu Ogbeh. These are people who had worked with the President, whose names he should have compiled even before he was sworn in. “There was thus no need for all the hype and melodrama about the ministerial list, in the manner that the President has kept the whole nation in such frenetic suspense and deliberate guesswork. “They all appear to be people of conscience, on the face of it, who ordinarily should help midwife a new Nigeria, but given the internal contradictions currently plaguing the ruling APC, then we may not expect any miracle from those names already announced.” A member of the African Regional Representative, International Bar Association Human Rights Working Group, Ms. Carol Ajie, faulted the inclusion of only three women. She said, “Three women out of a list of 21 is seven male nominees to one female, falls short of our sustainable development goals of promoting gender equality, empowering women in politics and the professions. “Nigeria is one of Africa’s leading lights, hence our political leaders should position our country to attain the development agenda ratified by all countries, in keeping true to the millennium momentum.” But a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Joseph Nwobike, said the President reserved the right to nominate those he believed would help him to achieve his agenda for the country. “The President knows what his agenda is. He knows what he wants to achieve by way of giving dividends of democracy to Nigerians. So what it means is that those the President has nominated are those he believes will assist him in achieving his agenda and to deliver the dividends of democracy. We cannot assess them now because they have not assumed offices,” he said.

Controversy as Ayefele allegedly collapses after show

Controversy surrounded the performance of gospel musician, Yinka Ayefele, in Ado Ekiti on Monday, as he was said to have collapsed after the show. According to his publicist, David Ajiboye, he was immediately rushed to an undisclosed hospital in the town. The musician, who was attacked by hoodlums in Akure, Ondo State on Saturday, was in Ado-Ekiti on the invitation of the Ekiti State Government to perform at the World Teachers Day. Apparently, he had not recovered from the injuries that he sustained during the attack on Saturday. “The doctors are treating Yinka in his home now. He is responding well to treatment,” Ajiboye said in an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday. But the Special Assistant to the state Governor Ayo Fayose on Public Communications and New Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, noted that there was no problem during the show. He said in a telephone interview, “The programme was televised live. It started well and ended peacefully.” Other sources contacted denied knowledge of the incident. Ajiboye, however, said the singer’s condition was serious but not critical. But he painted a grim picture of Saturday’s sordid encounter with the hoodlums in Akure, saying, “They hit him on the chest with a piece of wood. They threw stones and other missiles at him. There was no way that he could defend himself because he was sitting on a wheelchair.” Even the armed mobile police guard that was assigned to provide security for the musician was wounded during the attack. Ajiboye said the guard could have fired at the hoodlums, but the musician had previously instructed him not to shoot so as to avoid a scandal. With the wounded policeman out of the way, there were no bodyguards to confront the attackers. Explaining why Ayefele, unlike most other popular artistes of his calibre, did not keep bodyguards, Ajiboye said, “Normally when we go out for a show, we take some money along for the settlement of area boys. So, we didn’t think it was necessary to hire bodyguards for this particular show.” Not less than three different sets of hoodlums, he said, approached Ayefele and his band for ‘settlement’ on Saturday. The first two sets were given N100,000 each. Then the third set demanded N500,000 from the musician. An argument had ensued between Ayefele and the hoodlums after he refused to grant their request. According to Ajiboye, the musician was saved from being murdered by a team of Civil Defence Corps operatives who promptly intervened in the matter and chased the hoodlums away. Earlier, a press statement signed by the publicist after the incident had indicated that Ayefele’s Ford Explorer 2015 model was vandalised and his recently acquired musical equipment, valued at N150m, was also destroyed by the attackers.

Access Bank, Irish firm improve ATM, e- banking channels

Access Bank Plc has collaborated with CR2, an Ireland-based self-service banking software provider, to modernise its Automated Teller Machines, Internet and mobile banking channels. CR2, in a statement, announced that the Nigerian lender had selected BankWorld, its omnichannel suite, to manage its self-service channels including ATMs, Internet and mobile banking platforms. The strategic alliance was inked at Access Bank’s London headquarters, CR2 said in the statement. Access Bank, which received its first banking licence in 1988, currently has five million retail customers and over 1,500 ATMs. The statement read, “Access Bank understands the importance of the self-service channels in supporting Nigeria’s retail banking growth. As such, they sought a solution which would allow them to launch the right product, in the right place, at the right time which can only be achieved through a true omnichannel approach. “By selecting BankWorld and holding CR2’s self- service platform at the core of its strategy, Access Bank now has the tools to stay competitive and highly flexible to market changes as well as personalising each interaction with its customers at every touch point.” It added, “With CR2, Access Bank will be empowered to reduce its operational costs by managing all channels from a single point while also having the opportunity to generate revenue through the launch of targeted and personalised services.” The Ireland-based firm said the development would enhance Access Bank’s capacity to offer a range of innovative and convenient payment facilities new to the Nigerian market. The statement quoted the Group Managing Director, Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, as saying, “We aim to become the leading bank in Nigeria and provide new services that will change the way people bank. “Having a best of breed self-service offering, providing convenient banking and managing all our client’s relationship from a single place are at the heart of our strategy and we believe that BankWorld will help us to achieve our vision.” The Chief Executive Officer, CR2, Franky Van Damme, said “I welcome Access Bank as a new client of CR2 in Nigeria. “We believe that CR2 can help Access Bank in offering their customers innovative and unique services across their entire electronic self-service network. We are committed to innovation and look forward to working with Access Bank to deliver cutting-edge banking and enhanced customer experiences.” According to Van Damme, CR2 is enhancing its experience in the Nigerian financial market and that the latest move follows its strategic alliance with Global InfoSwift, its local partner in Nigeria. The General Manager, Global InfoSwift, Mr. Solomon Edun, was quoted as saying, “Global InfoSwift has joined forces with CR2 to bring the latest banking technologies to the Nigerian market and make banking easy and accessible to all. “This alliance and the agreement with Access Bank is a first step towards the banking revolution that Nigeria will go through. We are very proud to take part in Access Bank’s journey and help them achieve their vision using cutting edge technologies.”