Amotekun Has Made Restructuring Inevitable –Dickson [PUNCH]
Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson insists Operation Amotekun has made the restructuring of the country inevitable.
The Federal Government has come under attack for declaring the security initiative of South-West governors to check criminal activities in their states illegal. And Dickson, who has thrown their weight behind Operation Amotekun, says the governors opted for the outfit because of “the politicisation and collapse of the centralised national security apparatus in the country”.
“The politicisation and overcentralisation of security without an effective funding mechanism and arrangements for professionalism has reduced Nigeria to an un-policed country,” the governor said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Fidelis Soriwei, on Monday.
He warned that if the country was not restructured, there might be nothing left for Nigerians to restructure when they were ready.
Dickson, who described “Amotekun as a component of the restructuring” which he had championed, said every South-South state had some form of internal security mechanism to collaborate with the law enforcement agencies.
Renewed Attacks: Uncover, Block Sources Of Boko Haram, ISWAP Funds, DHQ Tells EU, Others [PUNCH]
- Terrorists brandish brand new weapons, says military
- Insurgents encircling Maiduguri, residents warn
The Defence Headquarters has called on the international community to uncover and block sources of funding for Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province and other terrorist groups in the country.
The Defence Headquarters said this just as residents of Maidiguri, in separate interviews with The PUNCH on Monday, raised the alarm that insurgents were encircling the Borno State capital.
Also, the apex northern group, the Arewa Consultative Forum, supported the North-East residents as it expressed concern about the renewed attacks by Boko Haram insurgents on travellers on the Damaturu – Maiduguri road.
But the acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Monday, insisted that the military had made progress in the war against insurgents.
Malami Writes Makinde To Reinstate Sacked ALGON Members [PUNCH]
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN), has asked Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to reverse the dissolution of local government administration in the state.
This was contained in a letter dated January 14, 2020, addressed to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, Prof. Oyewo Oyelowo.
The letter, marked HAGF/OYO/2020/Vol.I/I., was titled, ‘Unconstitutionality of dissolution of elected local government councils and appointment of caretaker committee: the urgent need for compliance with extant judicial decisions.’
The AGF said in view of the decision of the Supreme Court on the matter that is binding on all the 36 states of the federation, “The common practice by some state governors in dissolving elected local government councils is unconstitutional, null and void.
“The need to immediately disband all caretaker committee and restore democratically elected representatives to man the local governments has, therefore, become obligatory.
“Mr President and other relevant agencies will be advised further on compliance measures that should be taken in national interest.”
Copies of the letter were sent to the Inspector-General of Police; Director-General, DSS; acting Chairman of the EFCC and the NFIU.
Supreme Court Affirms Ganduje, Tambuwal, Lalong, Mohammed’s Elections [PUNCH]
…Dismisses appeals against Kano, Sokoto, Plateau, Bauchi governors
John Ameh, Kamarudeen Ogundele, Chukwudi Akasike Ade Adesomoju, Armstrong Bakam, Adeniyi Olugbemi,James Abraham and Ted Odogwu
The Supreme Court on Monday affirmed the elections of governors Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Simon Lalong of Plateau State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.
The governors and their parties – Ganduje (All Progressives Congress), Tambuwal (Peoples Democratic Party), Lalong (APC) and Mohammed (PDP) – were in March 2019 declared the winners of the governorship elections after two rounds of polls held in the four states on March 9 and March 23, 2019.
The apex court, in its separate unanimous judgments delivered by two panels, dismissed the various appeals challenging the governors’ elections.
The two panels, comprising seven Justices, had five members in common.
Tension In Benue, Adamawa Over Ortom, Fintiri’s Fate [SUN]
- Apex court affirms Tambuwal, Lalong, Ganduje, Mohammed’s election
The Supreme Court, yesterday, affirmed the election of Governors Aminu Tambuwal, Abdullahi Ganduje, Bala Mohammed and Simon Lanlong as validly elected governors of Sokoto, Kano, Bauchi and Plateau states respectively.
By this development, the apex court has shifted anxiety to Governors Samuel Ortom and Ahmad Fintiri of Adamawa States, when it takes on the appeals challenging their elections today.
Consequently, fear and apprehension has enveloped Adamawa and Benue.
The election of the two governors, who are of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were challenged by candidates of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Emmanuel Jime and Jibrilla Bindow, respectively.
Jime and Bindow had approached the apex court having lost at the state’s election petition tribunal and the Court of Appeals.
EFCC Arraigns Ex-AGF, Adoke, Today [SUN]
- Files N1.7bn money laundering charge, to prosecute him on Malabu, Halliburton case too
Barring any last minute change, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, will be arraigned by the Federal Government over alleged money laundering today.
The government had filled a seven-count charge against Mr. Adoke before the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.
Adoke, who is the only defendant in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/39/2017, is accused of money laundering estimated at about N1.7 billion.
Part of the charge signed by Bala Sanga of the EFCC reads: “That you Mohammed Bello Adoke, sometime in September 2013, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, accepted as payment the sum of US Dollars equivalent to N300,000,000.00 from Abubakar Aliyu, and you thereby committed an offence as specified under section 1 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 16 (2)(b) of the same Act.
Count Me Out Of Senatorial Rerun –Akpabio [SUN]
- You’re candidate, INEC insists
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has said having taken higher national responsibilities as minister, he cannot be a candidate in the Akwa Ibom South West Senatorial rerun ordered by the Court of Appeal, Calabar, to be conducted only in Essien Udim local government area.
Regardless, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akwa Ibom State has insisted that it was too late for Akpabio to withdraw from the race.
Akpabio’s Chief Press Secretary, Anietie Ekong, in a statement, said the minister has declared his support for a former member of the House of Representatives, Ekperikpe Ekpo, who All Progressives Congress (APC) picked as his replacement, having emerged as the runner up in the primary and urged his supporters and the people of Essien Udim to vote for Ekpo.
Buhari Meets UK PM, Seeks Extradition Of Fugitives To Answer Graft Charges [SUN]
- Says border closure due to influx of arms, drugs, others
President Muhammadu Buhari has sought the cooperation of the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom in the investigation of fugitives from Nigeria finding accommodation in that country.
In a statement yesterday, presidential spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, said Buhari made the call during a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in London.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the UK-Africa Investment Summit 2020.
Buhari said the ongoing anti-graft war needed the cooperation of the Agency.
Former minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and other Nigerian fugitives in the UK had fled into exile since 2015 when the current administration of Buhari came on board.
In 2017, a Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice Abdulazeez Anka, had ordered the final forfeiture of N7.6 billion alleged loot recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from Alison-Madueke.
APC Chairmanship Tussle: Edo Chief Judge Re-Assigns Suit To New Judge [SUN]
Edo State Chief Judge, Justice Esther Edigin, has re-assigned a suit involving Anselm Ojezua, who is challenging his removal as the chairman of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, following a petition alleging bias against the trial Judge, Justice V. O. Oviawe.
The transfer of the suit was sequel to a petition by Col. David Imuse (rtd), who has assumed the acting chairmanship position of the party in the state in the Suit No B/177/os/19.
Buhari Seeks Extradition Of Fugitives From UK [NATION]
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Monday sought the cooperation of the United Kingdom (UK) to extradite Nigerian fugitives.
He made the request during a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in London.
Both leaders met on the sidelines of the UK-Africa Investment Summit 2020.
According to a statement by Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina, Buhari said the ongoing anti-corruption war in Nigeria, though slow but painstaking, needed the cooperation of the UK National Crime Agency.
Former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and other Nigerians found a safe haven in the UK and other European countries after fleeing into exile after the 2015 when the the Buhari administration came on board.
In 2017, a Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice Abdulazeez Anka, had ordered the final forfeiture of N7.6 billion alleged loot recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from Mrs. Alison-Madueke.
He said the though there were challenges in the area of resettling displaced people, it was being tackled frontally.
Malabu: EFCC Files 42 Charges Against Adoke [NATION]
- Trial of Ex-AGF, others begins
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday filed 42 charges against a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), and six others in connection with the controversial $1.09b Settlement Agreement on Malabu Oil Block.
Others facing trial are Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited(ENI); Shell Nigeria Ultra Deep Limited; Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited; Malabu Oil and Gas Limited; Aliyu Abubakar and Rasky Gbinigie.
They are to be arraigned today before the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Although a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dan Etete and two others Munamuna Seidougha and Amaran Joseph – were implicated by the EFCC, they are unable to face trial because they are “at large.”
A Nigerian, Emeka Obi and an Italian Gianluca Di Nardo were jailed for four-years in 2018 by a court in Milan, Italy.
Obi and Di Nardo, were jailed for allegedly being middlemen and collecting kickbacks.
Others awaiting trial are Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi and four ex-Shell managers including former Shell Foundation Chairman Malcolm Brinded.
Dickson, Reps Member, Salvador, NANS Back Amotekun [NATION]
- Bayelsa governor says collapsing central security apparatus necessitated Southwest arrangement •Osun Muslims reject Amotekun •Police in Ondo meet organisers, warn protesters to be peaceful
Bayelsa State Governor Seraike Dickson; member of the House of Representatives Mr. Taiwo Kolawole; chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State Moshood Salvador; National Association of Niferian Students (NANS); and Interfaith Dialogue Forum For Peace (IDFP), on Monday backed the Western Nigeria Security Network code-named Amotekun.
Also, Yoruba Leadership and Peace Initiative (TYLPI) flayed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), for unduly overheating the polity.
The group said the minister was putting the nation on the boil, following his declaration that Amotekun is illegal.
Osun State Muslim Community (OSMC), however, described Amotekun as “unconstitutional, confrontational and sectional.”
But the police in Ondo have warned that it would not condone any unruly behaviour by protesters during today’s peaceful demonstration by Yoruba pressure groups in the state in support of the Amotekun security initiative.
Anger Over PDP’s Protest Against Supreme Court [NATION]
Buhari, Ohanaeze, SANs knock opposition party
THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came under fire on Monday for staging street protests against last week’s Supreme Court judgment which sacked Emeka Ihedioha as Imo State governor.
President Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ohanaeze Ndigbo and senior lawyers faulted the PDP for the protests staged in Abuja and some state capitals.
Following the judgment, Senator Hope Uzodinma, the APC candidate in the March 9, 2019 election, has been inaugurated as governor.
President Buhari said it was wrong for the opposition party to constantly attack both the electoral and judicial systems whenever things do not go their way.
PMB Meets UK PM, Seeks Extradition Of Indicted Nigerians [LEADERSHIP]
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met with British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and appealed to him to speed up the extradition of Nigerians indicted for corruption to face trial in their home country.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the United Kingdom (UK)-Africa Investment Summit 2020, in London.
President Buhari presented his achievements since he assumed office in agriculture, leading to Nigeria’s near self-sufficiency in rice and other grains production, anti-corruption war, and infrastructural development.
He said that the sweeping reforms saved the country billions in foreign exchange, which are being deployed to other sector of the economy.
In a statement issued on the meeting by his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the Nigerian leader said that it was no longer business as usual in the country.
Buhari said that his administration has successfully the minds of the people on the true philosophy of Boko Haram insurgency, adding that the main challenge being in the area of resettling displaced people, was being tackled frontally.
He remarked that “we have a long history with the British military, and we are collaborating.”
On the anti-corruption war, the president said though it was slow but painstaking, stressing that the cooperation of the National Crime Agency of UK was still needed, particularly in the investigation of fugitives from Nigeria finding accommodation in Britain.
Commenting on climate change, President Buhari said that it was a big challenge to Nigeria and neighbouring African countries, especially with the shrinking of Lake Chad to a minuscule of its original size.
Electronic Funds Transfer Hit N10trn In 2019 [LEADERSHIP]
The volume of electronic transactions done via the NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) rose from 109.55 million to 126.56 million as the value rose to N10.73 trillion from N9.62 trillion as a total of 4.19 million customers were issued Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) by financial institutions in the country last year.
Data released by the NIBSS, total BVN enrolment stood at 40.59 million as at January 12, 2020.
With NIBSS’ Electronic Payments Fact sheet for January to December 2018 showing that total BVN enrolments stood at 36.4 million at the end of December 2018, it means that a total of 4.07 million new BVNs were issued in 2019. In 2018, total new BVN enrolment stood at about 5.7 million
Volume of transactions done via the channel had grown from 101.03 million in September to 106.51 million in October while value of transactions rose from N8.48 trillion in September to N9.33 trillion.
Police Parade 60 Suspected Kidnappers, Recover Weapons [LEADERSHIP]
The Nigerian Police force, yesterday, paraded 60 suspected kidnappers and armed robbers along the Abuja/Kaduna highway in Kaduna state.
Force Public Relations Officer (PRO), DCP Frank Mba, while briefing newsmen at the Nigerian Police Force divisional Headquarters at Katari in Kachia local government of Kaduna state, said that 31 assaulted weapons were also recovered from the kidnappers.
The weapons recovered from the criminals included 10 AK47 rifles, nine AK 49 riffles and many other weapons of assaulted mix.
According to him, “Between the time we had our last press briefing and today, a total of 60 male suspects, all implicated in several cases of conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnappings and homicide related offences are here today”.
The FPRO while restating its commitment to security and safety of lives of Nigerian citizens, revealed that the kidnappers and armed robbers have deployed new arm smuggling strategies to move weapons from one part of the country to another by hiding it under motorcycle seats.