UNILAG Begins Victimization Of Students Over Protest Against Poor Welfare On Campus

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A letter from UNILAG addressed to one of the student protesters

The authorities of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have set up a Senate Disciplinary Panel to punish students believed to have participated in the recent protest on campus. Already, the panel has started inviting the students for interrogation in a bid to punish them for lawfully expressing their dissatisfaction with the deplorable welfare conditions in the university.

The move is an extension of the punitive action against the University of Lagos Students' Union, which resulted in  the suspension of its constitution as well as the executive and legislative organs of the union just one year after these were restored by the authorities. On 8 April, the university authorities issued a school closure and vacation order to all the students in response to their protest through which they demanded solutions to poor water and electricity supply on the campus. 
 
But on reopening the university, the authorities ejected all members of the Students' Union from their campus accommodation, citing their protest against poor welfare in April.  In newspaper publications, the university authorities attributed the students' demonstration to exuberance and accused the Students' Union leadership of lacking integrity.
 
So far, the disciplinary panel has invited nearly every member of the suspended Students' Union.
 A source familiar with workings of the university authorities told SaharaReporters that the move is part of a plot to distract the students from launching a fresh protest for the restoration of the suspended union. 
 
The source added that the students have launched a social media campaign for the restoration of the University of Lagos Students Union (ULSU) under a hashtag #RestoreULSU. This, he added, has caused the authorities huge embarrassment, forcing them into a crackdown on students leading the agitation.

Buhari Appoints Ibrahim Kpotum Idris As Nigeria's Inspector General Of Police

President Muhammadu Buhari will announce a former Kano State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris as the new acting Inspector General of Police. Mr. Idris is an Assistant Inspector General of Police who once led the Kano state police command.

Idris will replace Solomon Arase, who retires from the police force today. The President is currently meeting with the new IGP for a presidential briefing.

Ibrahim Kpotun IdrisPres. Buhari, outgoing IGP Solomon Arase and new Acting Inspector General of Police Mr Ibrahim Kpotun IdrisBayo Omoboriowo/State HousePres. Buhari, outgoing IGP Solomon Arase, Chief of Staff Abba Kyari and new Acting Inspector General of Police Mr Ibrahim Kpotun IdrisBayo Omoboriowo/State House

Niger Delta Avengers Is Sponsored By Tompolo, Has Kachichukwu As A Sympathizer -NDPF

A Niger Delta group, the Niger Delta Patriotic Front (NDPF), has described  the violent agitation of Niger Delta Avengers (NDA)  as nothing but a ploy to gain personal benefits for members of the group. The NDPF made this known in a press statement issued on Sunday.                     

Signed by Mr. Joel Tamarakepreye, its  Directo‎r of Information, the statement said the Niger Delta Avengers' message is empty, heavy on propaganda, outright falsehood and marked by a desperation to attract  ‎media headlines and government attention.                    

According to the NDPF, the NDA is sponsored by Chief Government Emuokpolo aka ‎Tompolo and has Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, Minister of State for Petroleum, as its  biggest sympathizer. ‎ On its claim that NDA's message is characterised by emptiness, the NDPF said: "In their publications, which are a poor effort at meaningful propaganda and decoy, they in one swoop called on Boyloaf, Ateke Tom and Tompolo to stay clear of any negotiation with the government on their behalf and in another,  they generalized by imputing the names of Timipre Sylva, Ayiri Emami and Boyloaf to stay clear of negotiations and focused on Boyloaf for the remainder of their press statement."‎

The NDPF wondered ‎why the ‎NDA, which it described as cowardly,  and Tompolo are  fixated on Boyloaf, Emami and Timipre Sylva, insisting that their agitation is not ‎ in the larger interest of the Niger Delta region.‎

‎"​When they had a God- given opportunity to impact positively on the region  by the countless favours and benefits they accessed from our brother, the former President, what did they do with it?                                                                  "Rather they cheated their own very community, unintelligently stole and diverted government funds like primitive men that they are and abused the privileges of their offices for personal gains.

"‎​It is unfortunate that the Ijaw Nation has been on silent mode since this senseless criminal action orchestrated by Tompolo.                                                                      

"By their silence, they have acquiesced to Tompolo’s madness, and they should remember what Ijaw stands for and know that the struggle for inclusion, environmental, economic and political rights of the Ijaw Nation cannot be championed by known thieves in the guise of freedom fighters and occasional resource control enthusiasts," said the NDPF.‎

‎​The group asked where the NDA and its Niger Delta fervour were during the Goodluck Jonathan Presidency, adding that if the Niger Delta wants to be taken seriously by locally and by the international community, its indigene s must be honest by describing the NDA as a band of brigands. 

The NDPF said the claim that a negation is in progress between the NDA and the federal government is a charade authored by Kachiukwu and the Delta State Deputy Governor, who it claimed is  a member of the NDA. The NDPF reckons that  NDA lacks  the capacity to sustain its agitation, the reason it wants the negotiations it is involved in to end in a political solution that will require the Attorney General of the Federation to discontinue the criminal trial of Tompolo and also Colonel Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser. 

"Is it not laughable and a clear pointer to the political agenda of the cowardly NDA that the unconditional release of Colonel Dasuki is a major item in their demands?                                        

  "What relationship does the trial of Colonel Dasuki has to the Niger Delta demands for a fair deal from Nigeria?" asked the NDPF.

 TompoloMinister of State for Petroleum Resources, Emmanuel Ibe KachikwuVanguard Newspaper

EFCC To Arraign Jide Omokore, Former Group MD Of NNPC Andrew Yakubu And Three Others Today

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC will today, June 20, 2016,  arraign Jide Omokore and Andrew Yakubu, a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja on four counts of Money Laundering.

Other persons and corporations to be charged include Victor Briggs, Abiye Membere, David Mbanefo, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited.

 The anti-corruption agency detained Mr. Omokore over the weekend over allegations that he connived with former Nigerian oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke to steal billions of dollars in shady oil transactions.Jide OmokoreEx- General Managing Director of the NNPC, Andrew Yakubu

Nigerian Lawmakers Accused Of Sexual Misconduct While In The US

The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, has accused members of the Nigerian House of Representatives of improper conduct while on an official trip to the U.S. Specifically, the ambassador accused these members of attempted rape and solicitation of prostitutes.

Mr. Entwistle made this allegation in a letter dated June 9, 2016 addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
The ambassador stated that the offending representatives were Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC – Bauchi), Samuel Ikon (PDP – Akwa Ibom), and Mark Gbillah (APC – Benue). The three members allegedly attempted to rape a hotel housekeeper at the International Visitor Leadership Program held in Cleveland, Ohio.
Mr. Entistle petition reads: “It is with regret that I must bring to your attention the following situation. Ten members of the Nigerian National Assembly recently travelled to Cleveland, Ohio as participants in the International Visitor Leadership Program on good governance.
“We received troubling allegations regarding the behavior of three members of the delegation to the U.S. Government’s flagship professional exchange program.
“The U.S Department of State and the Cleveland Council on World Affairs received reports from employees of the Cleveland hotel where the representatives stayed, alleging the representatives engaged in the following behavior:
“Mohammed Garba Gololo allegedly grabbed a housekeeper in his hotel room and solicited her for sex. While the housekeeper reported this to her management, this incident could have involved local law enforcement and resulted in legal consequences for Representative Gololo.
“Mark Terseer Gbillah and Samuel Ikon allegedly requested hotel parking attendants assist them to solicit prostitutes.”
The ambassador expressed concern that these acts of misconduct could jeopardize American diplomatic relations, adding that it also negatively impacts Nigeria’s public image.
“The conduct described above left a very negative impression of Nigeria, casting a shadow on Nigeria’s National Assembly, the International Visitor Leadership Program, and to the American hosts’ impression of Nigeria as a whole. Such conduct could affect some participants’ ability to travel to the United States in the future.
“While the majority of Nigerian visitors to the United States do behave appropriately, even a few Nigerians demonstrating poor judgment leads to a poor impression of the Nigerian people generally, though it is far from accurate.
“Such incidents jeopardize the ability of future programming and make host institutions and organizations less likely to welcome similar visits in the future.
“In addition, most of the members of this group reacted very negatively to my deputy when she brought this matter to their attention, further calling into question their judgment and commitment to the goals of the International Visitor Leadership Program. This leads us to question whether to include National Assembly members for other similar programs in the future.
“I request, in the strongest possible terms, you share this message with members of the National Assembly so they understand the seriousness of these issues, and the potential consequences of their actions, not only for themselves as individuals, but also for the future of such programs designed to benefit Nigeria.”

Sacking Of Senior Military Officers Timely, Says Army Chief

The Chief of Army Staff, (COAS) Lt. General Tukur Buratai on Monday said that the Army followed due process leading to the sacking of over 35 senior military officers last week, describing the action of the authority as timely and appropriate.

“There is no better time than now because everything has been taken into consideration and procedures have been followed to ensure that we don’t pick the innocent ones. You can see it started with the enquiries first of all, then legal review and after the legal review, we forwarded the report and recommendations to the authority for consideration”, General Buratai said.

The Army Chief made the clarification while fielding questions from newsmen during a courtesy call on the Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, in Abuja.

Flanked by top military officers, Gen Buratai said the call on the minister was necessitated by the need for collaboration and partnership with the Ministry for the deployment of Information and Communication Technology, ICT,  equipment and facilities to achieve peace in the country.

He also said the military high command is awaiting the outcome of the on-going dialogue between the federal government and other stakeholders on the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers to know the next line of action.

Gen Buratai, however, added that whatever the outcome, the military has the responsibility and duty to maintain peace, law and order in the country.

He said the military authority is not overwhelmed by the sudden upsurge of militant activities in the Niger Delta region in view of their commitments to route-out insurgents in the northeast.

His words: “The Niger Delta issue did not come up yesterday or today,  we are already deployed to the Niger/Delta for a very long time. The operations there comprise the armed forces and other security agencies. It entails operations where you have the Army, Navy and Airforce, the Police, Civil Defence and other security agencies, so I don’t think it is overwhelming, it cannot overwhelm the army forces and we are responding appropriately and ensure that things take shape.

“We are instruments of the political class so whatever decision that the government passes out to us, we want to assure you that we are waiting for whatever decision that will come out from their discussion, but our role is very clear we must ensure that the security of that place is attained. As we await the directive of the authority”, Gen Buratai said.

On the sacking of the senior military officers, he said:” why not now, there is no better time than now because everything has been taken into consideration and procedures have been followed to ensure that we don’t pick the innocent ones. You can see it started with the enquiries first of all, legal review and after the legal review, we forwarded the report and recommendations to the authority for consideration.

“So it takes time, it is just like a court process, so we follow our own process, our administrative process and legal review as well. It is the right time and no any other time than now,” Gen Buratai noted, adding that the military high command has also commenced the process of deradicalisation of insurgents and their victims in the northeast of the country.

“The issue of indoctrination. it is one of the programmes that we have. We have a camp  in Gombe, which the Defence Headquater is handling, it involves  the de-radicalising of the insurgents and their victims especially those who would have been indoctrinated.

“So the process of their de-radicalisation is ongoing and it is a good point that you raised. Please it is not only the government that should be doing this, we appeal to the clergymen , Imams and Pastors to use all those their fora in the Mosque and Churches to preach against this type of indoctrination and ideology that are contrary to the teachings of the holy books. so it is the press responsiblity also to sponsor articles in papers to bring this issue out and point out the dangers of indoctrination.”

Responding to his remarks on areas of collaboration with Military, the Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu commended the military high command for putting the insurgents on the run in the northeast of the country.

He said the Ministry was prepared to collaborate with the armed forces to ensure that modern technology and equipment for communications are deployed to achieve peace in the country, noting that without peace no meaningful development can take shape.

Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Yusufu Buratai

Soldiers Write Chief of Army Staff Over Illegal Deduction Of their Salaries

ldiers of the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, headquartered in Kaduna, have cried out that their monthly salaries are being deducted by the Army Finance Department without explanations. Their outrage is contained in a letter to the Director of Army Finance Accounts (DAFA). The letter, exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, said the unexplained deductions have gone on for 17 months. 

According to the letter, a staff sergeant, who is on a monthly salary of N73,500 is docked N8,500 monthly, leaving him with N65,000.

Sergeants, who should earn N65,000 have been having N7,000 deducted without explanation, leaving them with a take-home pay of N58,000. Corporals entitled to N58,000 monthly are being paid  N52,000, while Lance Corporals are paid N49,000 instead of N52,000 as prescribed by the Army salary structure for officers in that category.

In the letter, the soldiers called on the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, to look into their complaints.

Some of the affected soldiers serving in 1 Brigade Sokoto, 35 Battalion, and 3 Brigade Kano told SaharaReporters that there is anger within the lower cadre in the I Division.

 “I am a corporal, and my monthly salary, which is supposed to be N58,000:00 has been slashed to N52,000. I was given a letter signed by Brigadier General C.O Udeh, the then Commander of the 1 Brigade, Sokoto, to the Finance Department of 1 Division, Nigerian Army in Kaduna, but the complaint received no response,” said a soldier.

Some soldiers also lamented that they were promoted to the next rank since September 1, 2014, and  2015 respectively, but they are still being paid salaries on account of their previous ranks.

 A soldier promoted to the rank of sergeant on 1 September 2015 said he was  paidN1,990 as his promotion arrears on 30 January 2016. He also complained that he is still being paid the old salary even after he was paid the measly promotion arrears.

The affected soldiers include those carrying gunshot injuries sustained while on deployment to "Operation Zaman Lafiya," which has  been renamed "Operation  Lafiya Dole."

COAS General Tukur Yusuf

President Bukola Saraki is tactically delaying his trial to avoid “final consequences”

Danladi Umar, chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), says Senate President Bukola Saraki is tactically delaying his trial to avoid “final consequences”.

Umar made this statement while addressing Saraki’s lawyers on Tuesday.

Speaking on the cross-examination of the prosecution witness by Saraki’s lawyers, the CCT chairman directed them to ask straight questions and to avoid technicalities.

”When you are asking a witness, go straight to the point. You don’t have to find your way of distorting the witness. This is delaying us. You are a senior lawyer, I don’ t want you to do that kind of tactics to delay the matter. We assure you that whatever happens, we are going to be fair,” he said.

“But it seems you are employing tactical delay to avoid final consequences.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m a gentleman.”

Reacting to the statement of the chairman, Kanu Agabi, Saraki’s lead counsel, said: “We are actually afraid of the final consequences. We really are, and all that we are doing  is because we are scared of the final consequences.

“Now,  it is time for us to disabuse the minds of the court. Please bear with us. We are not worried about the law. We are worried about the prejudice. We are not afraid of you. I pray for you everyday that your lordship sits here for many more years.”

Saraki dozing off on in Court on MondayPunch newspaper

$1.6billion Local Govt Judgement Debt Scam: Group Urges EFCC To Probe Alleged Diversion of By Adoke, Okonjo-Iweala

Anti-graft coalition, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to investigate a court judgment obtained by the 774 local government councils in the country, ordering the Federal Government to pay them $3.188billion and the diversion of $1.6billion.

 The call is a sequel to a report in THE PUNCH edition of 15 June and headlined "Controversy Rages Over $3.2 billion Judgment Against FG”. The coalition's National Chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, said the group has petitioned the anti-graft agency to investigate the activities of the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN); former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and a lawyer, Mr. Joe Agi (SAN) in the alleged fraud. 

CSNAC claimed that its private investigation revealed that heinous economic and financial crimes were committed by the listed public officers and private individuals, who facilitated the how judgment was obtained.

 According to CSNAC's petition against the judgment in the suit ( No FHC/ABJ/129/2013), filed on 11 June, 2013, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, some local councils and Linas International Limited sued the Attorney-General of the Federation, Ministry of Finance and Accountant-General of the Federation over the illegal deductions made by the Federal Government from the statutory allocations of the local councils. These were in respect, respectively,  of the 1992 London Club Debt buy-back and the 2006 London Club Debit exit.

The plaintiffs in the originating summons, said the petition, claimed the sum of $3.2 billion payable to them from the Federation Account.

CSNAC observed that the suit challenged the decision of the Federal Government taken in 1992, when the action was based on the 1999 Constitution, which did not become operational until May 1999. “Besides, the case was filed to challenge the decision taken by the Federal Government 21 years earlier.

"With respect to the payment of Paris Club debt in 2006, the action took place seven years earlier.Ngozi Okonjo-IwealaSaharaReporters Media

" Yet the trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola gave judgment to the plaintiffs contrary to the Public Officers Protection Act, which has barred the institution of any action against the action of a public officer after three months," CSNAC explained.

 The coalition claimed that Joe Agi, the lawyer who filed the case, is a personal friend and lawyer to Justice Ademola, having represented the judge free of charge when he was investigated over allegations of judicial misconduct by the National Judicial Council (NJC). 

In the judgment delivered on December  3, 2013 , Justice Ademola ordered the Federal Government to pay the sum of $3, 188, 079,505.96 ( Three billion, one hundred and eighty-eight million, seventy-nine thousand and five hundred and five naira, ninety-six kobo) to the plaintiffs.

The defendants, noted CSNAC,  did not appeal against the judgment and did not draw the attention of  the Federal Executive Council to the judgment sum.

"The application for the fiat of the Attorney-General to authorize the payment of the judgment debt was granted by Mr. Adoke (SAN ), while Dr. Okonjo-Iweala authorized the payment of the judgment sum.

“Out of the judgment sum of $3.2 billion, $1.6 billion has been paid to the plaintiffs," CSNAC said.

The coalition pointed out that $1.6 billion was paid into Agi's Skye Bank account (No is 10060003931), with the sort code No is 076151019.

CSNAC noted that the Debt Management Office (DMO) found the judgment curious and opposed it, as evidenced by its letter to the Office of Accountant General of the Federation advising against payment of the claims by Linas International Limited. The letter, dated  July 12 2012, bore the No: DMO/DRS/01/057/11/430.

 The letter, it explained, reminded the Attorney-General of the legal error in challenging an action that took place seven years before the promulgation of the 1999 Constitution.  It also drew attention to the fact that repayment done in 1995 was under a unitary structure under a military government, where decisions affecting state and local governments were taken at the federal level.

Yet,  Office of the Attorney General, CSNAC observed, via a letter ( Reference no: HAGF/CJD/2014/VOL. II/357 and dated  March 24, 2015), gave Adoke's consent, pursuant to section 84 of the Sheriffs and Civil Act, for the judgment payment from government accounts.

"It was on the basis of the fraudulent consent that the sum of $1.6 billion was paid and shared by the criminal suspects,” CNSAC noted. 

The coalition further observed that though the Federal High Court directed that the judgment sum be used for the provision of security and mobile health care system in each of the 774 local councils, $1.6 billion of the sum had been diverted.

The payment of the sum, it added, was not reported in any of the meetings of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) and the National Economic Council (NEC).   

After the initial ruling, Justice Ademola was said to have, in another suit between the same parties, delivered judgment on the same day and also ordered the consultants to be paid.

According to the  judgment, the plaintiff is entitled to be paid consultancy fees of N1,000,000.00 per Local Government plus 20 percent of all refunds made or yet to be made to each Local Government in settlement of Paris Club debt, whether the refunds were made to the Local Government or through any of their agents or agencies including the 4th defendant. 

 That a declaration is made that the 2nd and 3rd defendants are entitled to deduct at the source and pay to the plaintiff through his lawyer all consultancy fees due to the plaintiffs from all Local Governments of Nigeria on account of the excess crude funds used by the Federal Government in settlement of Paris Club debt.

That a mandatory order is hereby made on the 2nd and 3rd Defendants to deduct at source and pay to the Plaintiff through his lawyer Joe Agi SAN all consultancy fees.

 That a mandatory order of injunction is hereby made restraining the 2nd and 3rd Defendants from releasing further funds to the Local Government unless all consultancy fees have been deducted at source and paid to the Plaintiff through his lawyer’s account with Skye Bank Plc, Sort Code 076151019 – Account No: 1060003931.

CSNAC said from both judgments; Justice Ademola awarded N774 million to the consultant as consultancy fees and another 20 percent of all recovered funds as consultancy fees to him in the second suit.  It also pointed out that the judge ordered that the remaining fund be paid to companies and individuals, who were not parties to either of the two suits.

In the Order of Garnishee issued by Justice Ademola 20 May, 2015, he directed that payment be made to companies and individuals that include   Phil-Tech Nigeria Limited ($157,755,935.56 via First Bank of Nigeria A/C No: 2025939578),  Prince Orji Nwafor-Orizu ($1,354,933.78 via Diamond Bank Plc. A/C 0051329942), Barrister Bello Olaitan Busayo ($239,105.96 via First Bank A/C 2025921142) and  Riok Nigeria Limited ($315,619,871.1 via FBN Plc A/C 2025947832).

Also ordered to be paid were Prince Orji Nwafor-Orizu ($2,709,867.67 via Diamond Bank A/C 0051329942), Barrister Bello Olaitan Busayo ($478,211.92 via FBN Plc A/C 2025921142),    XI Nigeria Limited ($154,621,856.128 via GTB A/C No:0022764433),  Prince Orji Nwafor-Orizu ($4,064,801.37  via Diamond Bank Plc. A/C 0051329942), Barrister Bello Olaitan Busayo $17,317.80 via  FBN A/C2025921142), Snecou Group of Companies Limited ($157,755,935.56 via UBA A/C No: 300093201) and Prince Orji Nwafor-Orizu ($1,354,933.78 via Diamond Bank Plc A/C 0051329942).

The rest were Barrister Bello Olaitan Busayo ($239,105.96 via FBN A/C2025921142),  Wells Procurement Services Limited ($318,807,950.596 being 10% of the judgment sum), Systematic Engineering Limited ( $156,215,601.79 via Diamond Bank Plc. A/C No: 0054426581) and, Prince Orji Nwafor-Orizu the sum of ($3,188,073.50 via Diamond Bank Plc. A/C 0051329942).

 CSNAC urged the EFCC to accelerate the investigation, so that local councils, a majority of which are owing arrears of workers' salaries could benefit from the recovery of the $1.6 billion wrongly paid to the plaintiffs.Ex-AGF Mohammed Bello Adoki

Organisation Of Islamic Cooperation Condemns Terrorists' Attack On Nigerien Military Base

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned the deadly attack on a military base in Bosso in the southeastern part of the Niger Republic by Boko Haram on June 3, which claimed the lives of 30 Nigerien soldiers and two from neighboring Nigeria.

Boko Haram militants

Another sixty-seven soldiers were reportedly injured during the audacious assault.

A statement issued by the Director of the Information Department of the OIC, Maha Mostafa Akeel, quoted the Secretary-General of the organization, Iyad Ameen Madani, as expressing dismay at the continuation of senseless violence by the insurgent group in the Lake Chad Basin as well as conveying deep sympathy and condolences to the authorities of the two countries and families of the victims.

Mr. Madani reaffirmed the principled stance of the OIC against terrorism and assured countries in the region of the organization's determination towards continued support for counterterrorism.

“We hereby called on the Lake Chad Basin countries who are also member states of the OIC to activate as a matter of urgency the Multinational Joint Task Force as a regional initiative towards shoring up the fight and accelerating the defeat of Boko Haram terrorists, who remain a threat to the region.”

Nigerian Government Releases Interim Report On Financial, Assets Recoveries From Looters

The Nigerian government has released statement declaring the total amount of cash recovered from looters of the federal treasury since the inception of President Muhammadu Buhari's tenure. A statement issued by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, however, did not reveal the names of persons from whom the recoveries were made.

 Below is the full statement of te minister showing a breakdown of the recoveries of assets made so far:

The Federal Government made cash recoveries totaling N78, 325,354,631.82 (Seventy-eight billion, three hundred and twenty-five million, three hundred and fifty-four thousand, six hundred and thirty-one Naira and eighty-two kobo); $185,119,584.61 (One hundred and eighty-five million, one hundred and nineteen thousand, five hundred and eighty-four US dollars, sixty one cents); 3,508,355.46 Pounds Sterling (Three million, five hundred and eight thousand, three hundred and fifty-five Pounds and 46 Pence) and 11, 250 Euros (Eleven thousand, two hundred and fifty Euros) from 29 May 2015 to 25 May 2016.

In a statement in Lagos on Saturday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also disclosed that Recoveries Under Interim Forfeiture (cash and assets) during the period totaled N126,563,481,095.43 (One hundred and twenty six billion, five hundred and sixty-three million, four hundred and eighty-one thousand, and ninety-five Naira, forty-three Kobo; $9,090,243,920.15 (Nine billion, ninety million, two hundred and forty-three thousand, nine hundred and twenty Dollars, fifteen cents; 2,484,447.55 Pounds Sterling (Two million, four hundred and eighty four thousand, four hundred and forty seven Pounds, fifty five Pence) and 303,399.17 Euros (Three hundred and three thousand, three hundred and ninety-nine Euros, 17 cents ).

According to the statement, which is based on the interim report on the financial and assets recoveries made by the various government agencies from 29 May 2015 to 25 May 2016, the Funds Awaiting Return From Foreign Jurisdictions total $321,316,726.1 (Three hundred and twenty one million, three hundred and sixteen thousand, seven hundred and twenty six Dollars, one cent); 6,900,000 Pounds (Six million, nine hundred thousand Pounds) and 11,826.11 Euros (Eleven thousand, eight hundred and twenty six Euros, 11 cents).

It showed that Non-Cash Recoveries (Farmlands, Plots of Land, Uncompleted Buildings, Completed Buildings, Vehicles and Maritime Vessels) during the period total 239. 

Nigerian mob

Angry Muslims youths in Kano on Thursday evening decapitated a woman trader over allegations that she blasphemed Prophet Muhammad. 

The victim, who was said to be of Igbo extraction was accused of blasphemy during a religious argument at Wambai market. 

The woman, who sells plastics at the local market was in the company of her husband when she was murdered.

Contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Kano Police Command, DSP Musa Magaji, confirmed the incident. 

He said  '' At about 4 30 pm, there was a disagreement between the murdered woman and some traders bordering on religion.

''The woman was said to have blasphemed Prophet Mohammed, which did not go down well with the mob.  

He said, the woman whose named he didn't disclose, was in the company of her husband when the incident happened but the timely intervention of the police saved the husband, who was immediately whisked for safety.

Niger Delta Militants Met At Governor Dickson's Office And Promised To Make Nigeria Ungovernable For Buhari-'General' Akpodoro

You had a meeting with representatives from the federal government in Transcorp Hilton recently, what transpired at the meeting and what should we expect from the meeting?

We had a meeting at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, and it was called for by the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, National Security Adviser, Monguno, Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty Program, Paul Boroh, Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole. The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs was also there, Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Agric was there and so on. At the meeting, I told everybody that Boroh needs to be sacked. I told the NSA that Boroh should be sacked from that office.

Was Boroh there when you said so?

Yes, he was there. I said so because I believe that 70 percent of the cause of the current problem in the region was caused by Boroh. He doesn’t know who to reach in this matter. When Kingsley Kuku was in office, he does not allow matter to get to this level. He would reach out to the people. In fact, he created three phases of meetings to resolve the matter. We have had phase one of the programme, phase two and phase three. In each of the phases, he will reach out to relevant stakeholders like ex-militant leaders. He will get them to talk to their boys. Since Boroh assumed office he has called nobody. Rather he is harassing some of us who are working for Buhari. Boroh was in the security committee of Jonathan’s campaign. I don’t know who nominated that man for this appointment. Buhari should speedily sack him along with his CSO, Lt. Col O Kugbere. Both of them worked for Jonathan. Kugbere was CSO to Kuku, too. Today, he has been going about condemning Kuku. In fact, Boroh is still working with the same set up left by Jonathan. I am even aware that Tompolo tells him what to do. Can you tell us exactly what is going on in the Niger Delta and among the militants? The truth is that we do not want another civil war in Nigeria. What is going on now has nothing to do with attempt to arrest Tompolo. That is the misinformation out there. I say this because as far as the Niger Delta ex-Militants, myself, General Africa and Akpariasa were the only people who declared our support for President Muhammadu Buhari before and after the 2015 election. I can say that a great many of us do not want any conflict in our region. We want peace and nothing more. If you say you want peace, then it appears that the ex-militants are no longer speaking with one voice. You are saying you don’t want war; others like the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, and another Isoko Liberation Front are doing the exact opposite.

What really is responsible for this?

Like I said, the renewed fight in the region has nothing to do with EFCC declaring Tompolo wanted. Before the election, sometime in January 2014, we had a meeting in Bayelsa State, at the Government House. The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson was there, Kingsley Kuku, former Amnesty Program DG was there, all the prominent ex-militants like Tompolo, Asari Dokubo, many other were there. The only person, not present was Ateke Tom. At the meeting, a motion was raised that if our brother, then President Goodluck Jonathan did not win the 2015 election, we would make the country ungovernable for whoever emerges. There was a motion to divide the country and blow all oil installations in the region. If you recall, General TY Danjuma replied them at the time. I opposed the move too at the time. I argued that the man who gave us amnesty was a man from the North. This was late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. I said that whoever wins should be who we would work with, that we should not cause any problem. When I said this at the meeting, they almost killed me. They called me a betrayer and spy for Buhari. They then declared war on me. They withdrew all my security personnel.

By security personnel do you mean police, army or private security?

I had Mobile Police attached to me. They withdrew all of them from me because of what I said. Now that Buhari has emerged as president, their promise at the time is what we are seeing now. Nigerians should not look at the matter as people agitating over neglect. The neglect in Niger Delta has been long. It was there even before Jonathan came to power. In fact, Jonathan did not address it. We agitated over resource control, marginalization and unequal distribution of oil wells before Jonathan came on board. Jonathan stayed in power for six years but couldn’t address the matter. Look at the East-West Road; he did not complete it. Look at the Umaru Yar’Adua Airport awarded to Bayelsa; Jonathan did not implement it. Jonathan contributed a lot to what has been happening. That is why three weeks ago, I told the country that Jonathan is behind the Avengers. Ever since the bombing started again, Jonathan did not say a word. Even ministers who are from the region present Buhari’s cabinet are saying nothing. Yet they still claim to be APC people. The people around the President are also not helping him. The man does not know what is going on in this country. They are not telling him the truth. I have a personal relationship with Buhari. I met him in 2013 and urged him to contest. I told him that we are behind him. When I met him, I told him I was breaking away from the ranks of the ex-militants to support him.

How did you meet him?

I met him through Colonel Abdul. He was the one who took me to see him at that time. Buhari told me that there was no problem and that he was ready to work with me. Even before the election, I met with the leaders of APC. I met with Rotimi Amaechi, then governor of Rivers. When I met him and told him that I was coming out to endorse Buhari, he warned that they would kill me. I told him that nobody would kill me and that the worst that could happen is that we end up killing each other. They promised to mobilise funds for me for the endorsement, but they failed. I endorsed Buhari on national televisions, on papers, on the internet. I took full pages in newspapers to endorse the president. I did all this with my money and got no kobo from APC. I sent text messages to Amaechi asking whether he saw what I have done in the media. He replied yes. I met Amaechi again at Eko Hotel when Tinubu was having a function there. I told him again of what I did, to which he replied that he saw it all but that we could not talk at the place. I said no problem. Since then till this moment I am talking to you, I have not heard from Amaechi. He has even refused to pick my call. This put me in a bad situation with my people.

How did it put you in bad situation?

The people I used to do the endorsement expected me to pay them allowances for the trips we undertook. At a point, they thought I was deceiving them after collecting money from Amaechi, pretending I had no money. They came to my house and threatened to burn my home. I had to run around to source money to settle them before the election. 

Five days to that election, I went to see Bola Tinubu to report the matter. 

I told Tinubu of Amaechi’s failed promise. I showed Tinubu all the works I have done. Tinubu then told his Chief Security Officer to write my name as the number one APC ex-militant general. He then gave me some money for transport; I don’t want to mention the figure. He then asked that I put down my account number and that he would reach Amaechi and asks him to wire money to me. As soon as I left, Tinubu has since refused to pick my calls. Amaechi has refused to see me. As I am talking to you now, I am facing a lot of challenges both from APC politicians and those in the government who do not believe in Buhari’s agenda.

Can you explain further on those in Buhari’s government who don’t believe in his agenda?

I am talking about people like Paul Boroh and his chief security officer, Col Kugbere. They have been after me saying that I am supporting government against my people. As I am talking to you now, I don’t sleep in my house anymore. My children and wife have to look for a safe place to stay.

So if you are to rate Amaechi now, will you say that he has passed leadership test for Niger Delta?

My brother if I tell you that Amechi has not failed then it means I am a total liar. Amaechi failed 100 percent, even 200 percent. Amaechi was a former governor, now a minister. Israel Akpodoro is a private citizen. But see what I am doing now in this matter. He is one that put Dakuku Peterside as NIMASA DG. He is the one who put Ibim Semenitari as NDDC boss. These people have failed to use their office to reach out to their people to calm things in the region. They are not making statements to condemn these bombings. This shows that Amaechi is a total failure. On October 17, 2015, while the Senate was screening Amaechi, myself, Michael Jonny, Akpariasa, warned the Senate of dire consequence if Amaechi does not scale the screening hurdle. We passed a vote of confidence on Amaechi. We did this on AIT. Could you believe that on 18th, Paul Boroh, who was security official during Jonathan’s campaign, led security agents to my place to kidnap me? 

They invaded my place, blindfolded me, handcuffed me and took me away. One of the people who abducted me queried me on why I was supporting Amaechi. I was shocked. Initially, they claimed that it was Nyesom Wike who sent the operatives after me. I later learnt that it was not him. Boroh kidnapped me using his CSO, Kugbere and took me to an unknown destination. For two days I was in a blindfold. It was after they removed the blindfold that I realised that I was in EFCC. They then stated that I had been petitioned. When I looked at the petition, I saw that it was Boroh that petitioned me through his chief of staff. They accused me of not paying my boys under the amnesty program. I had only 39 slots while Tompolo has 6, 000. Others have 5,000. Nobody petitioned them. I don’t know how that was possible because the money is paid to individuals accounts. After the three days, they gave me bail. The bail conditions were like the ones they grant governors. But in two days,  I managed to perfect the bail conditions. Back to what you said about Amaechi’s appointees in NDDC and NIMASA, you said they are in Position to solve this renewed insurgency? These agencies have the means to reach out to the common people and the stakeholders in the region. If they had done their bit and put their ears to the ground, they would have known that the crisis was coming. Since the bombings started, they have refused to make any meaningful comment condemning the activities of the Avengers. This shows that these appointees are not capable; they have refused to help Buhari.

On this resurgent militancy, have you met with Mr. President on how to solve the problem?

A week to the inauguration of Mr. President, I met him. I met when Olorogun Otega, governorship candidate of Delta State in 2015 led a delegation to see Mr. President; I went with him. Otega introduced me to Mr. President saying that I was the only ex-militant that stood by Mr. President during the election. When the president shook my hand, I then said ‘Sir, I was the one who met you in 2013 to pledge my support for you and asking you to run for election.' The President then said no problem, that I should calm the region until after the inauguration then we would meet. Until this moment, I have been unable to see the man. People around him have refused me an audience. They have caged him. I have been going to the Villa severally but have met with no success. What is now happening in the Niger Delta, I had forewarned. I wrote some letters through some security personnel in government but got no response. I told them where their arms and camps are located, but nobody paid attention. I don’t want to mention names here, but if I meet Mr. President, I will mention names of those I gave the letters to. I warned that after the Bayelsa election, this people will start to bomb. This happened as I predicted. In January this year, they started to bomb the places. I am not going to blame the president for the insurgency because he is not the cause. The people around him are the cause of the problem. We have leaders in the Niger Delta who know what to do to solve this problem but have refused to do so. Only a few of us, myself, Africa, Akpariasa, we are the ones facing this person. As I am talking to you now, we have become targets. Even some Northerners are involved in this scheming against Buhari because of his fight against corruption. This matter should not be taken lightly because these Avengers mean business. Now they have their own currency. They want to share this country.

The US and the UK have urged Buhari to thread with caution on the use of the military to quell the Niger Delta crisis. What is your view of the use the military to quell the insurgency?

What the West is saying is partly true. Without the military, we can solve this problem. This is so because their people on the ground in the region from various communities who know them. The Avengers are not ghosts. The president should engage these people to work with the JTF. They have to do this so that innocent people will not be killed. What the UK government is saying is that they don’t want innocent blood to be shed while trying to quell the conflict.

Governor Seriake Dickson is believed to have sponsored the group of militants that issued a threat todaySahara Reporters Media'General' Akpodoro