Ethiopian Airlines Confirms Bid for Nigeria's Arik Air

Ethiopian Airlines is negotiating with the Nigerian government to take over the bankrupt Arik Air, a senior official confirmed in Addis Ababa.

The Director of International Service at the Ethiopian Airlines Group, Mr Esayas Weldemariam, Wednesday said they were expanding their presence in West Africa.

"Following the bid opened by the Nigerian government, we are negotiating to secure management contract of Arik Air," Mr Esayas said, responding to the rumours about the impending deal.

The negotiations

"Based on the terms and conditions set by the Government of Nigeria, Ethiopian Airlines has submitted its offer to take over the management of Arik Air... We are bidding with other airlines, if we agree on the negotiations, we are ready to go and take over the management," he said.

Arik Air, which is one of the largest private airlines in Nigeria, has been serving as the de-facto national carrier for the most populous state in Africa.

Following the failure to service its debts and pay employees' salaries, Arik Air was last February taken over by the government.

thiopian Airlines also manages Asky Airlines in Lome, in a joint ownership with the Togo government, and the Malawian Airlines, also jointly with the government.

Business wings

The Addis Ababa flag carrier, which began operations in April 1946, has won several accolades in the recent past including African Airline of the Year in 2015 and 2016 by the African Aviation and in 2014 ranked the largest in Africa in revenue by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Ethiopian Airlines Group, which has several related business wings, envisages becoming a $10 billion revenue generating company by 2030, with a total of 140 aircraft, according to Mr Esayas.

It currently has a fleet of 92 aircraft, flying to 104 international 19 local destinations.

The airline reported a 70 per cent jump in full year 2016 net profit to $265 million boosted by an 18 per cent increase in passenger numbers over the period.

Source: Allafrica.com

We don’t have power to arrest hate campaigners –Military

The Defence authorities have denied the claim that the military is monitoring hate campaigners  with the aim of arresting them, saying it does not have the powers to arrest Nigerians for such infraction.

The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, who said this while featuring on Sunrise Daily on Channels Television on Wednesday, added that the military had no information about where Boko Haram insurgents were keeping the remaining Chibok girls.

He explained that the military would only monitor the social media to sheave out information that could be useful for the planning of its operations.

When asked to respond to the accusation that the military was planning to arrest hate campaigners, he said, “There was nothing like that. We do not have power to arrest people for hate speeches. It is just false assertion, against the military, and against my humble self that I said that we will be arresting people or checkmating people.

“The military is not going to be monitoring hate speeches. Did I tell you hate speech in your recordings? We have a strategic media centre, our strategic media centre monitors the media, simple. And it is like that all over the world. And we take that because it helps us to transform the nature of the intelligence to enable us to prepare for whatever call up we get to ensure security in this country.

 “Let me tell you and tell the public without fear of anybody; we are trained to do threat analysis of anything that would threaten the security of this country. So, it is part of our threat analysis. Any person can interpret it to mean that it is a follow up to the speech of the Vice-President (Yemi Osinbajo), the then Acting President and then the minister of interior; then that person can be right. Where do we take instruction from, where do we get information from? But on the whole, it is part of what is called threat analysis.”

When asked whether the military had information on where the leader of the Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, may have been hiding and where the remaining Chibok girls could be, Enenche said, “ No (intelligence about the location of the remaining Chibok girls.) Well, if you are talking about a Shekau which we have always referred to because there have been so many Shekaus, and I believe that there will be more Shekaus.  Shekau is a synonym as far as I am concerned, and Shekau has become a big name like we use to have Bruce Lee, James Bond in those days.

“So to talk about a definite intelligence or location of a Shekau, I don’t think is necessary. But what we are bound to do and committed to do is that anywhere there is any Shekau, we will always knock him off.

“You will agree with me that within this period that was given, well, you may not have got that information, but there was something about somebody somewhere around a location in Sambisa somewhere and the Air Force went and neutralised the whole place. And after the battle impact assessment, the whole place was finished.

“So, if there was a Shekau according to that information we got that went into hiding in that place, then that one must have been neutralised. And I won’t be surprised to hear that another Shekau is somewhere.

“I don’t expect you to put words into my mouth that I will tell you categorically a Shekau or the Shekau that you know very well has been neutralised. All I have told you is that there have been several Shekaus, there have been several instances, over five times and we will continue to knock out any Shekau that comes on stream. That is what I still stand on that.”

Meanwhile, the military has identified a Boko Haram commander, who allegedly masterminded the abduction of the members of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s exploration team in Borno State.

Director, Defence Information, Maj-Gen. John Enenche

The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafia Dole, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, who disclosed this at a press conference in Maiduguri on Wednesday, identified the suspect as Abor Mainok.

At the press conference on Wednesday, Attahiru stated that on August 8, 2017, troops of the Operation Lafia Dole arrested a sect member, Bako Umar (a.k.a. Abu Ibrahim) at Tasha Kano Motor Park, Maiduguri.

He said, “Umar is now also cooperating with our investigation team and giving useful information on Abor Mainok, the suspected mastermind of the ambush of the NNPC exploration team. We are factoring all the information from the investigations into ongoing operations.”

Attahiru also said that parents in the area had not stopped donating their  children to Boko Haram so that they could be used as suicide bombers.

He stated, “During the period, two cases of children donated by their parents to BHT for them to be used for suicide missions were recorded.

“One involved a female named Zainab Abubakar of about 11 years from Geidam who was arrested during a suicide mission in Konduga.

“The other involved 16-year-old Abba Bor Kura of Sabsawa Village in Bama Local Government Area, who was arrested by the Cameroon Defence Forces along our borders while on a suicide mission and subsequently handed over to our troops.”

Source: Punch Newspaper 

I am no longer with Ooni – Olori Wuraola

Zaynab-Otiti Obanor

Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi, the estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife, on Wednesday confirmed her separation from the monarch.
In a statement on her Instagram page, the queen who has also reverted to her maiden name Queen Zaynab-Otiti Obanor, said there is absolutely no truth in the report of infidelity and infertility published about her.
Wuraola’s marriage to the Ooni lasted 17 months.
The statement reads: “We have got to stop this culture of shaming and vilifying women with false stories of infidelity and nefarious behaviour. The spreading of false information (through ‘sources’ afraid to be identified) is the mark of cowards and a cover up for guilty parties to justify their horrific actions. There is absolutely no truth to the media circulated lies of infidelity and infertility on my end.
“What I can confirm, is that the Ooni and I are no more. I inhale love and exhale gratitude. My journey continues as humanitarian aiding women and victims of domestic violence and abuse with the United Nations. No matter how much time you’ve invested, no matter the use of media to silence and manipulate, no matter the circumstance, slander, embarrassment, threats and lies: Get out and seek immediate help.”


Source: The Nation

UNILORIN, ABU are Nigeria’s most sought after universities

The University of Ilorin, Kwara State, in Central Nigeria, has emerged the 2017 university of first choice among student-applicants as the foremost citadel of learning in the country.
It is followed by 17 others from 148 officially recognised universities in Nigeria drawn from the federal, state and private institutions, the Economic Confidential reports.
In a new report obtained and carefully computed and analysed report by the Economic Intelligence magazine from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, on the preferred first university of choice in 2017, the University of Ilorin has the highest applications with 104,038 student-applicants. The figure represents almost about 10 per cent of the 1,212,818 total applicants seeking admissions into the 40 federal universities in Nigeria. The Unilorin also led last year with 103,238 student-applicants.
Using the JAMB’s report of most preferred universities in the country, the Economic Confidential gathered that applicants seeking for admission into universities considered academic stability, popularity, affordability, available facilities and quality of lecturers as part of their check-list before making choices in their applications. Of the 40 federal universities in the country, UNILORIN is number one followed by Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria in Kaduna with student-applicants of 89,688.
University of Benin, Edo State, is third in the ranking with 85,486 applicants; University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu, is the fourth with 79,073 applicants, University of Lagos, UNILAG, is the fifth with 78,899 while Bayero University Kano, BUK, comes sixth with 68,241 students applicants.
Meanwhile, among the federal universities in the country, three universities had the lowest applicants. These were Federal University Dutsima Katsina, Federal University Gashua Yobe, and National Open University which are ranked as 38th, 39th and 40th and have student-applicants of 3807, 1897 and 110 respectively.
State Universities: Of the current 41 official sate universities, Lagos State University, LASU, is number one with 36,119 applicants; followed by Kaduna State University with 28,914 applicants; Delta State University Abraka, is third with 28,672 student applicants, Nasarawa State University is fourth with 29,142 applicants; Benue State University Makurdi, and Adekunle Ajasin University Ondo came fifth and sixth with 27, 611 and 27,579 student-applicants respectively.
In the lower ladders in the ranking of state universities, the institutions with lower patronage of admission seekers are Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Edo University, Iyamho, and Eastern Palm University, Ogboko in Imo State which are ranked 39th, 40th and 41st and have student-applicants of 399; 165 and 12 respectively.
Private Universities: As for private universities in the country numbering 67, the four leading institutions are all from the South-western states of Nigeria. The number one position is grabbed by Covenant University, Canaan Land, Ota with 2,438 applicants, followed by Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State 1,599, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State 1,455 and Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State with 485 students applicants. The fifth and sixth positions go to Abuja based Nigerian Turkish Nile University with 478 and Baze University with 476 student applicants.
The Economic Confidential discovered that out of the 67 private universities in Nigeria, these ones occupy the lower rung in the ladder with five applicants each: Chrisland University, Owode Ogun State; Koladaisi University Ibadan, Oyo State and Legacy University Okija, Anambra State. The least patronage by university seekers in the last position of 67th is Kwararafa University, Wukari, Taraba State with just 4 applicants.


Source: Premium Times

You are too old, step aside – Niger Delta group tells Edwin Clark

Chief Edwin Clark

The Pan Niger Delta Peoples’ Congress, PNDPC, Tuesday, called on the leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, Chief Edwin Clark, to step aside for younger leaders to pilot the affairs of the region.
They were reacting to the call by agitators and people of the Niger Delta to give the region a more vibrant leader.
PNDPC, led by the former national chairman of Traditional Rulers of Oil Minerals Producing Communities of Nigeria, TROMPCON, and paramount ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom, Delta State, His Majesty Charles Ayemi-Botu, made this decision after a meeting in Warri, Delta State.
Ayemi-Botu, who addressed newsmen after the meeting said age was no longer on the side of Clark.
He said, “In recent past, stakeholders of the region have approached the leader of PANDEF, Chief Clark, who we are all proud of, to groom younger leaders, step aside and allow these younger leaders in the region to take over, but he refused as it is customary with him.
“He failed to properly utilize his highly patronized office as ‘Father of the President’ for six years to address and solve most of the issues contained in the 16-point agenda. It is time for change and nobody can stop change when it comes because it is like a tsunami.
“This is why the proclamation of a new platform by the agitating groups to lead the Niger Delta struggle and dialogue with the Federal Government did not come as a surprise. We are accepting this call, not just from the agitators, but from the peace-loving people of the Niger Delta, who have encouraged us to do so in order to give the region a more vibrant leadership and better focus.
“Papa Clark has paid his dues, but he is currently having challenges leading the region.
“The time to bow out and rest is now, let the younger ones go out and report to him.
“It must be emphasized that this fresh mandate is a call by leaders, stakeholders and agitators in the Niger Delta to inject a new lease of life in the leadership of the region.
“The Niger Delta has suffered hiccups in recent times due to the political leaning, antecedent and advocacy style of our leaders, which has made the Presidency to continually deride the region.”
Also, Coordinator, PNDPC, Chief Mike Loyibo, said that PNDPC accepted the call by the agitators and people of the region to provide a new leadership for Niger Delta because it was expedient.


Source: Daily Post

Buhari govt will not stifle the press – Minister

Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said the Federal Government will not make any law or directive that will stifle the press in its ongoing effort against hate speech and fake news.
The Minister gave the assurance on Monday in Lagos when he visited the headquarters of TV Continental.
Mr. Mohammed described as fake news, the alleged directive from National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) regulating phone-in programmes and newspaper review on TV and radio programmes.
He said there was no directive whatsoever from NBC or his office to any media house, regulating phone-in programmes and newspaper review as reported in the media.
The Minister said there was a brainstorming meeting among stakeholders including NBC, media owners and others in Lagos where issues affecting the industry were discussed.
He said it was one of the participants at the meeting that leaked out the issues raised, which were never adopted as government directive or policies.
Mr. Mohammed reiterated that “no government that stifles the press, ever succeeds” and the Federal Government will not make laws or issue directive to gag the media.
He said the position of the government has been and still remains that the industry should regulate itself.

He, therefore, underscored the need for media houses to discharge their responsibilities in accordance with the dictates of their guiding codes to check the alarming rate of hate speech and fake news.
He said many Nigerians relied on newspaper review on radio and TV as their source of news daily and such review should, therefore, be done from the holistic perspective.
The minister also underscored the need for media houses to regulate the calls received during phone-in programmes to checkmate opportunists from using such avenue for hate speech.
The minister said the government would not make any new laws to tackle the challenge of hate speech because there are enough provisions for it.
He said the Anti-Terrorism Act 2011 defines hate speech amongst others, as an act deliberately done with malice and which may seriously harm or damage a country or seriously intimidate a population.
Reacting to why there was upsurge in incidents of hate speech and fake news in the country, the Minister said that the purveyors were being paid with stolen funds to whittle down the anti corruption stance of the government.
He said the upsurge was also about the 2019 general elections, to whittle down the “many achievements” recorded by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
He said no amount of hatred would obliterate the solid achievements recorded by the Administration.

He said no amount of hatred would obliterate the solid achievements recorded by the Administration.
The Chief Executive Officer of TVC, Andrew Hanlon, thanked the minister for the visit.
NAN reports that the minister also featured on a live interview programme of the station.

Source: NAN

Court orders final forfeiture of Diezani’s N7.6bn loot

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke

Nigerian court seized $21 million on Monday from bank accounts linked to a former oil minister accused of corruption as investigators continue to claw back her fortune.
Federal high court judge Abdulazeez Anka ordered the immediate forfeiture of 7.6 billion naira ($21 million, 17.9 million euros) allegedly held in local bank accounts by Diezani Alison-Madueke, who was once one of Africa’s most prominent female politicians.
Nigeria’s anti-graft Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which accuses Alison-Madueke of corruption, argued in court that she had illicitly laundered the funds with the help of top oil officials.
Since leaving office in 2015, Alison-Madueke has been implicated in bribery, fraud, misuse of public funds and money laundering cases in Nigeria, Britain, Italy and the United States.
 he former president of the global oil cartel OPEC, the first female to hold the post, Alison-Madueke has always denied the allegations which involve billions of dollars syphoned from oil deals and state accounts.
The ruling followed two applications by the EFCC which earlier this month successfully seized properties worth $44 million that Alison-Madueke allegedly purchased with the proceeds of corruption.
President Muhammadu Buhari, elected in 2015 on an anti-corruption platform, is seeking to stamp-out Nigeria’s widespread graft.

Source: AFP

Naira maintains N367/$ at parallel market

The Naira on Monday remained stable at the parallel market, exchanging at N367 to a dollar, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The Nigerian currency maintained its Friday rate, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro traded at N478 and N433 respectively.
Trading at the Bureau De Change segment saw the Naira closing at N363 to the dollar, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro traded at N478 and N433, respectively.
The Naira appreciated at the investors’ window closing at N359.58, stronger than N361.13, its opening rate.
Traders at the market expressed the hope that the Naira would remain stable in the days ahead.
NAN reports that the Naira made a comeback last week after demand forces caused it to depreciate for almost a week.
Industry watchers believe that though a liquidity boost by the CBN was necessary to shore up the value of the Naira, efforts should be directed toward reviving the manufacturing sector.

Source: NAN

Samsung heir sentenced to 5 years in jail

© Getty

 A court in South Korea has found Lee Jae-yong, the vice-chairman and de facto head of the country’s largest company, Samsung, guilty of corruption in a watershed moment for the east Asian nation as it seeks to roll back the excesses of its mighty conglomerates.Mr Lee, arguably South Korea’s most powerful man, was sentenced to five years in jail after being convicted of a string of crimes, including bribery, embezzlement and perjury, in a case that had been dubbed the “trial of the century”.The verdict on Mr Lee, heir to the Samsung crown, could prove a damaging blow to the company’s global reputation and long-term strategy.The decision also raises questions about Mr Lee’s plans to officially take over the business from his ailing father, chairman Lee Kun-hee, who has been incapacitated since a heart attack in 2014. Lawyers for the younger Mr Lee immediately pledged to appeal against the verdict. It is also not uncommon in South Korea for business leaders to receive presidential pardons given the oversized role the conglomerates play in the nation’s economy.While better known internationally for its smartphones, Samsung is a sprawling empire that permeates every aspect of life and business in the Asian nation. The core Samsung Electronics affiliate alone accounts for more than 20 per cent of the main board of the country’s stock exchange.Despite Mr Lee’s incarceration since February, its business has been booming. Last month, it overtook Apple to become the world’s most profitable technology company after raking in quarterly profits of $9.9bn.It also recently eclipsed Intel as the world’s largest chipmaker — a title the US company had held since 1993.
 But the conviction will raise questions about Samsung’s direction and whether the group should continue to be run as a family dynasty.Prosecutors had originally sought a 12-year sentence for Mr Lee in a trial that was closely enmeshed with the case of former president Park Geun-hye, who is also now on trial.Mr Lee was convicted after the court upheld charges that he offered or pledged millions of dollars to Ms Park and her shadowy confidante Choi Soon-sil in exchange for business favours.Prosecutors successfully argued the bribes were used to secure government backing for a contentious merger between two Samsung affiliates that was crucial for Mr Lee to cement his hold on the organisation, but was widely criticised for not benefiting shareholders.He was also convicted of hiding assets overseas, embezzlement and lying to the parliament under oath.“This is a case where political power and business power colluded immorally. It won’t be easy for the public to regain trust in our institutions as these corrupt ties between the president and big conglomerates are still present, not something that happened in the past,” said judge Kim Jin-dong. “Especially, as the defendants are the representatives of Samsung Group, the negative impact that this case has on our society and economy is very big.”Two other Samsung executives, Choi Gee-sung and Jang Choong-ki, were also convicted in the same trial and sentenced to four years in prison.A verdict in Ms Park’s trial is expected in October.The corruption scandal, which first came to light in October last year, exposed the deep-set ties between the country’s business and political elite and triggered mass demonstrations that culminated with the impeachment of Ms Park in March.Since then, the country has elected a new leader, Moon Jae-in, who has pledged to crack down on corporate excess and cronyism, and focus on the wellbeing of ordinary South Korean citizens.Following the verdict, Wu-cheol Song, Mr Lee’s lawyer, said:"As a legal professional, I cannot possibly accept any part of the lower court's guilty verdicts . . . I am confident that the appeals court will definitely find the defendants not guilty on all counts."


Source: Financial Times

Why I’m against restructuring of Nigeria – Obasanjo

Obasanjo

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has distanced himself from the clamour for the restructuring of Nigeria by some section of Nigerians.
Obasanjo, who faulted the call said what Nigeria needs now is not restructuring of the country but that of individual mentality.
He made his stance known on the sidelines of the African Leadership Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The former President said Nigerians should restructure their minds before calling for restructuring of the country.
Obasanjo said Nigerians’ focus should be on how to include everyone in a nation that is already well endowed.
He said, “We have to restructure our mentality, we have to restructure our minds we have to restructure our understanding of Nigeria, what country do we want and if we decide on what country we want, how do we get that country, all hands on deck.
“How do we get inclusive, how do we get every Nigerian feeling a sense of having a stake in the country.”


Source: Daily Post

Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer speaks on Nigerian govt’s move to revoke client’s bail

A request by the Nigerian government seeking the revocation of the pro-Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu’s bail, is “misconceived”, his lawyer has said.
The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on Friday demanded the revocation of Mr. Kanu’s bail which was granted the defendant in April.
The application which was based on 12 grounds of appeal, followed an allegation by the AGF that Mr. Kanu exhibited flagrant disobedience of court orders on his bail conditions.
“Among other conditions for the bail of the 1st defendant are as follows: “That he should not be seen in a crowd exceeding 10 people,” Mr. Malami said in a statement.
“That he should not grant any press interviews, hold or attend any rallies. And that he should file in court medical updates of his health status every month.
“Rather than observing all the conditions, the 1st defendant/respondent in flagrant disobedience to the court order flouted all conditions given by the court. The first defendant has in furtherance to the offence he was charged, inaugurated Biafra Security Service, ” the statement said.
In a reaction to the application, however, Mr. Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, told PREMIUM TIMES on Friday that his client had “successfully challenged the bail conditions referred to by the government”.
“Though we intend to file a formal response to their most misconceived motion, it is my position that it does not lie in the power of the AG to ask for the revocation of the bail granted to my client. The prosecution can’t be seen at the same time as the persecutors.
“We have successfully challenged the bail terms we considered offensive to our clients constitutionally guaranteed rights. So their recent application is belated.
“Section 169 of the ACJA being relied upon by the AG can’t avail the Attorney General absolute power to ask for the revocation of bail. Parties must be heard on the merit by the court, ” Mr. Ejiofor said.
Mr. Ejiofor also said the alleged security outfit created by Mr. Kanu is a “mere group” formed in the exercise of the citizen’s constitutional right.
He added that the group cannot “by any stretch of the imagination” constitute themselves into a security threat.
“Let the federal government open their case if they have any genuine charge against my client. They are beating about the bush because they have no case against my client,” Mr. Ejiofor said.
Mr. Ejiofor further said the bail granted his client should be viewed in terms of its essence to ensure attendance at court hearings.
“Let me remind the public that the main essence of bail is to ensure that the person affected stands his trial and nothing more.
“Our client is ready to stand his trial but the federal government is not willing to open their case, they are rather interested in keeping my client behind bars which can’t happen again.”
The application filed by Mr. Malami was pursuant to sections 169 and 173 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA.
According to section 169 of the ACJA, the AGF is empowered to make the said demand, in the event where: “circumstances arise which in the opinion of the AGF would justify the court cancelling the bail.
“Where a defendant has been admitted to bail and circumstances arise which in the opinion of the AGF would justify the court in canceling the bail, or requiring a greater amount: a court may on application being made by the Attorney General of the Federation, issue a warrant for the arrest of the defendant and after giving the defendant an opportunity of being heard, may commit him to prison to await trial, or admit him to bail for the same amount”.
In section 173, the court of law is exclusively empowered to act in a similar circumstance.
Section 173: subsection (2) states thus: “the court may, where circumstances appear just (a) vary the order of release of the defendant at any subsequent hearing: (b) at any subsequent stage of the proceedings cause a defendant who has been released on bail to be arrested and committed to prison custody, provided that the judge shall state in his proceedings the reason for the variation of the condition or commit a of the defendant”.
Part of the allegations against Mr. Kanu includes making separatist comments and inciting Igbo natives to refrain from exercising their rights to vote.
Mr. Kanu also spearheaded a sit-at-home protest in the Southeast region on May 30, after he was released.


Source: Premium Times

FG Asks Court to Revoke Nnamdi Kanu’s Bail

Nnamdi Kanu

The Federal government has approached the Abuja division of the Federal High Court for an order seeking to revoke the bail granted the self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. 

On the same day, a group of United Nations human rights experts called on the federal government to take decisive step to deal with those behind hate speech, incitement and quit notices. 

The request to revoke Kanu’s bail was premised on the grounds that the defendant had flagrantly violated all the conditions attached to his bail. 

In a release by Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Salihu Isiah, the Federal government is seeking for the revocation of Kanu’s bail and to have him in custody pending the determination of his trial. 

Some of the grounds the Federal government is seeking the revocation of bail are: That the offence for which he is standing trial is not ordinarily bailable; that among other conditions for the bail of the 1st defendant is that he should not be seen in a crowd exceeding 10 people; that he should not grant any interviews, hold or attend any rallies; that he should file in court medical updates of his health status every month; that rather than observing all of the conditions listed above, the 1st defendant in flagrant disobedience to the court order flouted all conditions of the bail. 

The federal government further stated that the first defendant had in furtherance to the offence he was charged, inaugurated Biafra Security Service, adding that such an act is a grave threat to national security and unity of the country. 

Justice Binta Nyako granted Kanu the bail to enable him attend to his ailing health. In granting the bail, Justice Nyako had ordered that Kanu must never be seen in a crowd of more than 10 people and should not grant any press interviews nor hold rallies. 

“The first defendant Nnamdi Kanu has appealed to the court for bail based on health grounds and it is only the living that can stand trial. So I am minded to grant him bail so that he can attend to his health and face his trial alive”, she said then. 

Kanu, Onwudiwe Chidiebere, Banjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi were arraigned by the federal government on an eleven count charge bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony and illegal possession of firearms amongst others.

Justice Nyako struck out six out of the 11 count amended charge filed against the defendants on grounds that the charges lack competence.

The United Nations human rights said Nigeria had witnessed a spate of inciting hate messages since a coalition of Arewa Youth groups issued a quit notice to Nigerians of Igbo extraction living in the North by October 1, claiming it was in reaction to the separatist activities of IPOB.

In a statement issued yesterday in Geneva, three UN experts urged the federal government to also take immediate steps to arrest those behind the quit notice and a song that seeks to disparage the Igbos. 

The statement was signed by Mr. Mutuma Ruteere, Special Rapporteur on Contemporary forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and related Intolerance; Mr. Fernand de Varennes, Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, and Ms. Anastasia Crickley, Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. 

The UN experts said any incidents of hate speech and incitement to violence had to be investigated and the perpetrators prosecuted and punished. 

“This includes the people behind the ultimatum and those responsible for the creation, publication and circulation of the hate song and audio message,” they added. 

An ultimatum telling Nigeria’s Igbo minority in the north of the country to flee their homes is of “grave concern”, they warned. 

The experts also deplored a hate song and audio message being circulated on the internet and on social media. The Hausa-language audio message urges northern Nigerians to destroy the property of Igbo people and kill anyone who refuses to leave by 1 October, the same date given in the ultimatum. 

“We are gravely concerned about this proliferation of hate messages and incitement to violence against the Igbo and their property, especially considering the previous history of such violence,” the experts said. 

“The Government must be vigilant, as hate speech and incitement can endanger social cohesion and threaten peace by deepening the existing tensions between Nigeria’s ethnic communities.”  

The human rights experts noted that some local and national figures, as well as some media representatives, had publicly denounced any form of hate speech and incitement, but said other officials still needed to follow suit. 

“We are deeply concerned that some prominent local leaders and elders have not condemned the ultimatum, hate speech and the perpetrators,” the experts stressed.

Source: This Day

Biafra: Why Buhari won’t look back in crushing Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB – Paul Unongo

Paul Unongo

The chairman of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Dr. Paul Unongo has explained why President Muhammadu Buhari’s marching order to security chiefs to crush the Indigenous People Biafra, IPOB, is perfect.
Unongo feared that if the Nnamdi Kanu-led IPOB was allowed to carry on with its activities, it would drag the nation back into another civil war.
President Buhari had earlier given the security chiefs marching orders to crush the IPOB, Boko Haram and other groups that pose threat to national unity.
The NEF chief told Sun, “I know Buhari very well. It was in my hometown, Gboko that Buhari and Ojukwu met for the first time after the war.
“I arranged for Buhari and Ojukwu to meet in Gboko. So I could feel Buhari’s pain. You feel pain when young men that were not even born when we went and suffered so much and inflicted so much suffering on our people are using such verbiage and such type of rhetoric.
“They cannot even talk in such a sophisticated and philosophical manner like Ojukwu. They cannot match Ojukwu in any way.
“Remember all the troubles that we went through to try and say look if we make ourselves to fight a war, we are going to come back to the same basic problems that we would sit down, talk about it and sort out.
“Ojukwu said let us go to Aburi and I would stand on Aburi and everybody said take Aburi; then something changed and he said give me confederation now or give me war.
“They were young people; both Ojukwu and Gowon were colonels. They told Ojukwu take federalism, let us dialogue and Ojukwu said no, let us fight and they now said, okay, if you fight, I would respond.
“And we saw these things for two years between 1967 through 1968. Then you have young persons who did not see what happened going around and matured people making the young boy feel that he is something special.
“They are using half the idioms that Ojukwu used. They speak half the English that Ojukwu spoke and they are delivering the message less than the way Ojukwu delivered it and people are saying let us go to war.
“So, I can understand Buhari, a man who was a commander in the warfront, fought against Ojukwu and three years they never talked nor greeted, and after the war, they refused to greet, until I arranged and brought them to Gboko; Ojukwu from Nnewi and Gen. Buhari from Daura and we met at St John’s Catholic Church, Gboko. I think it is annoying.
“What kind of country is this? What sort of human beings are we to now prove that man does not learn from history?
“Shall we, Nigerians, start all over again and not move forward. After 50 years, we come back to the same rhetoric to abuse people and heat up the polity with tribal feelings right to the pitch and we fight a war. Last time, we lost 3million people. If we go with Nnamdi Kanu now, how many millions are we ready to part with?
“Maybe 15 million and we wait for another 50 years and the cycle continues. I support the position of Professor Ben Nwabueze who is one of the constitutional lawyers in the world.
“The position is, please, let us come and sit down in a Sovereign National Conference; we are all very educated; even our children have become professors.
“Nigerians can sit down and talk over their differences very coolly. They can shout and abuse themselves if they want, but I do know one thing, the state of friendship, and love that was shown during the Nigerian civil war proves that Nigerians can reach agreement on every single thing, but the insensitivity of people who do not know the trauma of those who participated in the war are going through is the problem.
“They are talking as if there was never a Biafra. We fought a war for three years, very serious and devastating that you can’t imagine. People sought for food and anything.
“In fact, it got to a stage that people could have consumed human beings. The people out there who saw this horrific suffering, how are they allowing these young children to do what they are doing?


Source: Daily Post

Buhari meets PDP, APC Leaders in Aso Villa

The national caucuses of the ruling All Progress Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) his morning paid a joint courtesy call on President Muhammad Buhari at the State House.
The APC chairman, John Oyegun led his party’s group while their counterparts from the PDP were led by the party chairman, Ahmed Makarfi.
In his remarks, Makarfi said the PDP prayed for Buhari’s recovery from his health challenges, as the party has never wished him ill-health or death.
He pledged the cooperation of the PDP with the Buhari administration on any policy or programme genuine to designed to take the country to greater heights, including the war against corruption.
Makarfi however, tasked the government to be responsible and law abiding by reapsecting all court orders or judicial pronouncements.
Speaking afterwards, Oyegun said it was quite instructive that the two major parties were joined in the courtesy call initiated by the President.
He expressed the hope that the message inherent in such cooperation would permeate the entire country as there were far too many national challenges needed to be surmounted besides politicking.
The two party leaders, on behalf of their delegations, wished Buhari robust health to be able to steer the ship of nation aright.
Buhari thanked the guests for coming to see him, saying it was not a party gathering and showed the improving maturity of party politics in the country.

Democracy needs responsible opposition, he said and asked the delegation to extend his appreciation to their other members who prayed for his recovery from ill-health.
In a video shared through the President’s twitter handle, the PDP Chairman, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi was seen leading the party’s delegation to the Villa.






Source: Breaking Times

APC playing politics of do-or-die – PDP

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa state, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state plays politics of do-or-die.
The PDP stated this while expressing concern over the increase perpetration of violence within the state by the APC.
The PDP in a statement by its Bayelsa State Chairman, Cleopas Moses, after its emergency Executive Council (EXCO) meeting said, recurring bloodshed in APC had become a threat to grassroots democracy and embarrassment to Bayelsans.
He said, “The fight for supremacy between the two warring factions of the APC, which led to the firing of arms and ammunitions on the streets of Yenagoa, is a clear fact that the APC plays politics of do-or-die. The recorded violence is an embarrassment to Bayelsans and a threat to grassroots democracy.
“The PDP is worried about the cases of violence which resulted in reported cases of deaths and destruction of Bayelsans, all in the disguise of Politics.
“Extreme violence has become a recurring decimal in almost all APC activities in the State vis-a-vis the APC 2015 governorship primaries, APC 2017 non-elective congresses and the attempted inauguration of their acting state chairman on August 18, 2017.
“These same characters have a predominantly evil nature which played itself out during the last Bayelsa State governorship elections where innocent people were killed in Silga, Ekeremor, Brass and other Local Government Areas, in their fight against the matchless candidate of the PDP, Henry Seriake Dickson.”
Moses, therefore, raised the alarm that the spate of political violence among APC members was an omnibus signal of what they could be planning for subsequent elections.
He, therefore, called on the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies not to relent in their efforts to ensure that the culprits were found and brought to justice in accordance with the laws of the land.


Source: Daily Post

Recession self-inflicted, Utomi, Soludo insist

Pat Utomi

A notable political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, on Wednesday maintained that the gruelling economic recession in the country was self-inflicted, noting that wrong policy choices led to the hardships facing Nigerians.

A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Charles Soludo, also said although the economy would technically be out of recession soon, Nigerians would continue to suffer the consequences of the economic decline for a while.

The duo spoke at a seminar on entrepreneurship organised by a not-for-profit organisation, Uche Ahubelem Centre for Human Development, in Lagos.

Utomi said, “Our recession is self-inflicted. I am one of the persons that have always insisted that our recession is self-inflicted. We need to re-programme ourselves as a country. God loves us as a country. The recession is, therefore, an opportunity to do a rethinking.”

He said that just as the case in many African countries, slow economic growth in Nigeria could be linked to wrong policy choices, inadequate human capital and weak institutions.

Utomi lamented that a recent investment report rated Nigeria as the least place to do business in Africa, wondering how this happened despite the country’s enormous population and entrepreneurs.

The seminar, tagged, ‘Succeeding in recession’, had other notable economists and speakers in attendance.

Utomi, who is the founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership, however, advised the audience at the seminar, mostly youths and entrepreneurs, never to allow the economic recession to prevent them from engaging in meaningful ventures that would enhance job creation.

Challenging the participants, the expert gave local and foreign examples of entrepreneurs who started small and became household names both in Nigeria and globally.

He posited that the recession was an opportunity for Nigeria to rediscover itself.

Soludo, in his remarks, maintained that Nigerians might not be out of the problems created by the recession immediately and advised entrepreneurs and unemployed youths to work harder to overcome the challenges posed by the recession.

“Nigeria will be out of recession soon, technically. When you achieve 0.01 growth, you are out of recession. But the scars of the recession will remain with us for a while,” Soludo said.

The former CBN governor advised Nigerians, both individuals and businesses, to adopt measures and strategies that would help them to overcome the effects of the recession.

Soludo gave seven keys entrepreneurs and unemployed youths could use to unlock doors of opportunities in a recession.

He itemised ways the participants could succeed not only in recession but in a world of continuous disruption occasioned by technology and growing population, among other factors.

He added, “Oil is gradually becoming a history. In the next couple of decades, changing technology and growing population will change the business and economic landscape.”

Other eminent speakers at the seminar are the Chief Executive Officer, Reality Point Limited, Mr. Debo Adejana; a mind, emotions and behavioural coach, Mr. Lanre Olusola; the CEO, Advantage Health Africa, Abimbola Adebakin; the CEO, Thistle Praxis Consulting Limited, Ini Abimbola; and the CEO, Brickwall Group, Mr. Uche Ahubelem, who is also the host of the event.

Olusola spoke about 13 mistakes people could make in times of recession, challenging the entrepreneurs and youths to embark on a journey of self-discovery.

Adebakin, who spoke on the topic, ‘Growing your business during recession’, stressed the need for small business owners to create value with their products.

Describing the recession as an opportunity to expand business, she advised participants to explore existing and new opportunities to expand their businesses.

Adejana, in his presentation, told the participants that the only way they could benefit from the recession was to have a change of mind, mindset and attitude.

He stressed the need for the SMEs to move out of their comfort zones.

Abimbola noted that many Nigerian youths were lazy, adding that the development was partly responsible for the teeming population of unemployed youths in the country.

She challenged the youths to take the bull by the horn by taking practical steps in order to become successful in life instead of giving excuses for their failures.

Ahubelem said the programme was organised to develop and mentor the youths, noting that the human capital was crucial to the country’s quest to become a global player.

Source: Punch Newspaper

Buhari Cancels Wednesday’s FEC Meeting

What would have been the first meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) Wednesday to be presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari after 103 days of medical vacation in London has been cancelled.

The cancellation of the weekly FEC meeting, which held every Wednesday when Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo held sway as acting president, was announced by the president’s Special Adviser, Media, Mr. Femi Adesina.

  Adesina gave no reason for the cancellation but added that Buhari would only receive the report of the Osinbajo-led committee on the suspension of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke, Wednesday at 12 noon.

The cancellation has further heightened tension about the president’s state of health as it creates the impression that the meeting might have been cancelled because the president lacked the stamina to preside over it.

Adesina said: “The meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) will not hold today. President Muhammadu Buhari, will however, receive the report of the investigation committee into the allegations against the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke, headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, at 12 noon, in his office.”

Source: This Day

Aba to have 24 hour Electricity in 6 months

Geometric Power/Aba Power Limited promises it will light up Aba, the commercial hub of the South East region five months from now. The next two months will be used to resolve its outstanding financial obiligations, while the remaining three months will be used for servicing the machines which have been idle since 2013 when the facilities were installed.
“Our power plant is done. Everything is ready. It is just to get the ring fence back, so that we can begin the process of commissioning. That is what is left. Anybody who has gone to Aba will see that the power plant is totally finished”, said Barth Nnaji, a professor and chairman, Geometric Power/former Minister of Power, on the sideline of a conference organised by the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC) held in Lagos recently.
During the 2013 power sector privatisation exercise by the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) in what was described as an “administrative error”, the BPE did not take into consideration the pre-existing agreements on Aba ring-fence and thus, did not excise it from Enugu DISCO sphere. The ring fence remained part of Enugu DISCO acquired by Interstate Electrics.
“Right now, we are raising funds to pay back the money Interstate, which owns Enugu DISCO, used to buy Aba ring fence”, Nnaji said, adding that Geometric is going to pay back $26 million, even though Interstate actually paid $11 million for it.
Nnaji also lamented the huge cost his company is incurring as a result of the previous government’s lack of respect for sanctity of contract it entered into with the Federal Government.
“Our power plant which was completed in 2013 has been lying idle and for that reason, we will need to run some checks on the machines before commissioning. There is no place in the country where this can be done, so we will have to take back all the machines to the original manufacturers for the checks, after which they will give us necessary guarantees. This is going to cost millions of dollars”, Nnaji said.
It will be recalled that on May 11, 2004, the Federal Government, the now defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) and Geometric Power Limited (GPL) entered into and executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) under which GPL was granted the exclusive right to construct a 3 x 35 MW open cycle gas turbine power plant and designated sub-stations in Aba, Abia State, which would generate electric power for distribution by Aba Power Limited (APL) to residential and commercial customers and to industrial clusters in a ring-fenced island in Aba.
The government, NEPA and Aba Power Limited (APL) executed a lease agreement on April 28, 2005 for the distribution of power to the ring-renced residential and commercial consumers in Aba. By the terms of the agreement, NEPA assigned its right to distribute electric power in the ring-fenced area of Owerri-nta, Osisisioma, Ogbor Hill, Factory Road and Port Harcourt Road in Aba and also leased its distribution facilities within the contract area.

A supplementary agreement was made on August 31, 2006 between the Federal Government, represented by the minister of power and steel, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Enugu Distribution Company (EDC) and Geometric Power Limited. EDC and TCN were substituted for NEPA, as parties to the lease agreement of 2005 and assumed their respective obligations.
The $500 million Geometric/Aba Power Plant has capacity to produce and distribute about 141 megawatts (MW) of electricity in its first phase, with new distribution lines, four new sub-stations and three rehabilitated sub-stations. Each plant is to produce 47 MW of power, supported by a 60 MVA per transformer. The power plant is to be powered by gas from Shell company flow station at Owaza in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State. The company has also laid a pipeline spanning 27 kilometers from the flow station to the power plant at Osisioma.


Source: Breaking Times

Buhari works from home, writes National Assembly

President Muhammadu Buhari receives briefing from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House on August 22, 2017.

Gets briefing from Osinbajo
President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the National Assembly notifying it of his resumption of office after returning at the weekend from his May 7, 2017 medical trip to the United Kingdom.
His Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, who transmitted the letter, said the exercise was in fulfillment of constitutional provisions.
With the transmission, it is hoped that governance would take full steam and the struggle for powers by the various brokers in the corridor of power while he was away would abate.
Kawu noted that the yearly vacation by the lawmakers did not invalidate the process, as there were legislative staff on ground to receive the correspondence.
He pledged that his principal was fit for the task ahead, adding that there were no indications that the president would be returning anytime soon for another round of medical vacation.
The notification read: “In compliance with Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), I write to intimate the House that I have resumed my functions as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with effect from Monday, August, 21, 2017 after my medical follow-up in the United Kingdom.”
The Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, yesterday confirmed a receipt of the letter. Buhari, on May 7, transferred power to his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, as acting president.
Meanwhile, there are indications that the president would be running the government from his official residence as a presidency source told The Guardian that renovation was being carried out on his office by construction giant, Julius Berger. The time frame for his governing from home was, however, not disclosed.
Also, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, confirmed the transmission of the letter to State House correspondents. “Yes, some few minutes past 11:00 a.m., the president signed the letter notifying the National Assembly of his resumption,” he said.
On his principal’s nationwide address yesterday, Adesina said “that broadcast was just one step of many steps that are going to be taken in the days, weeks and months ahead so you can’t expect that everything will be said in one day.”
Also yesterday, Osinbajo briefed the President. The Personal Assistant to Buhari on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, who confirmed the development through his twitter handle@BashirAhmaad, explained why his principal was working from home.
In another development, the president and a group, Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA), have disagreed over the indivisibility of the country. While the nation’s number one citizen maintained that Nigeria’s unity remains non-negotiable the group insisted on the contrary.
In his national broadcast, Buhari said agitations for the division of the country was a waste of time, as he and other leaders, including the late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, had voted for the unity of the nation.
He cautioned Nigerians who use the social media as another platform to fan the embers of division, to desist from the act.
“In 2003 after I joined partisan politics, the late Chief Emeka Ojukwu came and stayed as my guest in my hometown of Daura. Over two days, we discussed in great depth till late into the night and analysed the problems of Nigeria. We both came to the conclusion that the country must remain one and united.  Nigeria’s unity is settled and not negotiable,” the president affirmed.
But ECA, in a statement yesterday by its Secretary General, Elliot Uko, said the situation of the country was indicative that its unity was shaky and should be renegotiated.
Besides, the Buhari Support Organisation (BSO) has warned that the clamour for secession would not advance the cause of Igbo people, saying the agitators were enemies of the Igbo.
During a solidarity rally yesterday in Enugu, the group maintained that the Southeast region would benefit more in a united Nigeria.


Source: The Guardian

BBC Launches Pidgin Service

Bilkisu Labaran

The British Broadcasting Corporation on Monday launched BBC Pidgin as part of the biggest expansion of the World Service since the 1940s.
The BBC Pidgin, the first African digital service, will provide news, current affairs and analysis of Nigeria, West and Central Africa – as well as international news from the BBC’s global network of correspondents. The new service will also provide the BBC’s global audience with a better understanding of the region.
The new digital service – aimed at younger and female audiences – will also feature BBC Minute, broadcasting six times a day, with a round up of the world in 60 seconds available online and social. New programming will also feature a specially commissioned drama which will illustrate the beauty of the language and the fun people have in following the language.
The World Service Director Francesca Unsworth said, “For more than eighty years the BBC World Service has brought trusted news to millions across the globe. I’m delighted that millions of people in Nigeria and beyond, will be able to access the BBC in such a popular language as Pidgin.”
Bilkisu Labaran, the Editorial Lead, said, “We are so proud to be launching the BBC’s first digital service in Africa. Pidgin is the language spoken among so many people across West and Central Africa and for the first time we will be connecting with the next generation of speakers. Pidgin is the common thread in the region, the language of unity spoken by people from all walks of life, and we are excited at the prospect of providing this service.”
The BBC Pidgin will aim to serve a younger audience and women with social media playing a key role. In addition to news and current affairs, there will be extensive coverage of culture, entertainment, entrepreneurship, science & technology, health and sport – including the English Premier League.
Pidgin is spoken by 75 million people in Nigeria alone, with additional speakers in Cameroon, Ghana, and Equatorial Guinea. It is primarily an oral language, without a standard agreed written form. With the introduction of the new service, the BBC said it hopes to contribute to the development of the language.


Source: Premium Times

Buhari may return to London, if his Health fails – Femi Adesina

Buhari

Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina while speaking on Sunrise Daily on Channels TV Monday morning, has called on Nigerians to pray that Buhari remains hale and hearty, contrary to that, the President might return to London to continue attending to his health.
“What Nigerians should hope for is that our president will remain whole. But if there is any reason to go out why not, you need to first stay alive before you can lead a country so whatever it takes for our president to remain healthy should be done but we want to hope and believe that the worst is over,” he said.
The President who had been in the UK for 104 days before returning on Saturday, addressed the nation on Monday and Adesina confirmed he is ready to resume office, as he will notify the National Assembly in writing.

“Later this morning, that letter will be transmitted and which is what signifies his coming back into office – It will be done today.
“They don’t have to read it or debate it, No. What the Constitution requires is for him to send it. Once it is sent he assumes office,” Adesina added.


Source: Breaking Times