President Buhari urges African leaders to ensure peace, political stability

 The President gave the challenge at a joint press briefing with the visiting Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, after a closed door meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Abuja – President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday challenged African leaders to ensure socio-political stability in their respective countries to achieve peace and speedy regional and sub-regional integration in the continent.

 He noted that, even though the situation in the ECOWAS sub-region was relatively stable, there was the need to continue to persuade the leaders to pay more attention to security and development.

 “The situation in our sub-region is relatively stable but there is the need for us to continue to persuade our colleagues to show appreciation on the efforts the sub-region is doing to make sure that we pay more attention to security and development.

 “I have appreciated very much your efforts and I also congratulate you on your successes.

 ”I believe you may even go outside the region, to African Union, so that before the AU meeting we try and persuade the leadership of those countries in our sub-region to show more patience and accommodation with politics of their countries.”

 President Buhari stated that the forthcoming 3rd Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security would discuss some political developments in two countries of the sub-region. While commending the Liberian leader for handling the affairs of the ECOWAS diligently, Buhari lauded Sirleaf’s efforts in stabilising her country.

  “I have to very sincerely congratulate you with the way you have stabilised your country and with the small contributions Nigeria was able to make throughout those difficult times that you went through.

 “And also thank you very much on the way you are handling ECOWAS responsibility. “We have one or two countries that I believe we will discuss when we go to Senegal today, tomorrow and maybe on Wednesday, in terms of peace and security.’’

 In her remarks, the Liberian leader who is also the Chairperson of the Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS nations, said she was in Nigeria to be updated on the focus and challenges of the work of the ECOWAS Commission According to her, the visit is also meant to enable her meet with the entities of ECOWAS, the Commission, the Parliament and the Courts in preparation for the forthcoming Summit of the Authority of the ECOWAS, slated for Abuja on Dec. 17.

 She stressed the need for leaders in the sub-region to continue to maintain peace and stability to achieve regional integration and economic prosperity.

 “I’m glad once again to be back in Abuja. I’m using the opportunity of this visit to be updated on the focus and challenges of the work of the ECOWAS Commission, to meet with the entities of ECOWAS, the Commission, the Parliament and the Courts in preparation for the reports I will present at the Summit of the Authority, which will be held here in Abuja, on Dec. 17.

 “But, I’m so grateful that while here, I reached out to the President and asked him for the opportunity to call on him to be able to brief him on some of the findings I have had in my two days of consultation with the commission.

 “I also exchanged with him some of the developments in our sub-region, political development; economic development, and to get his wise counsel on how we can ensure that we monitor the situation in all the West African countries so as to maintain peace and stability in all of our countries.’’

 The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Liberian President, who arrived Abuja on Sunday on a two-day official visit to Nigeria, visited the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja on the same day The ECOWAS chairperson also held closed door meetings with the President of the commission, Mr Marcel de Souza, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and senior officials of the commission.

PDP to APC: Fayose will never join you

The Ekiti State chapter of the peoples Democratic Party has described as unfortunate the statement credited to the’ All progressives Congress in the state that Governor Ayo Fayose is not wanted in their party , saying that no reasonable Nigerian would even want to join APC that has brought Nigeria to its knees within short period it’s in power.

 PDP said that Fayose can never contemplate going to APC for anything talk less becoming it’s member, saying that decamping from from the party to APC is like jumping from land into a dangerous deep sea .

In a statement by the State publicity secretary of PDP in Ekiti State, Mr Jackson Adebayo, the party maintained that the statement by the APC can not be separated from the level of intelligence of those who sprang up the propaganda in the first instance, stressing that APC has confirmed that its handlers have been sold into the delusional mentality hence they don’t know how well to promote their party again.

Adebayo who contended as the governor had said earlier that he would never have anything to do with APC noted that it’s only a politician who deliberately want to commit political suicide that could be nursing the ambition of decamping to the dying party now.

 The PDP spokesman added that Fayose do not posses the characteristic of an average APC person whose only political strategy is propaganda and economic innovation is recession and depression and whose government ant corruption war is fake like what we are experiencing under President Mahammadu Buhari.

 He stressed that if the APC should have a dream of having a new member they should not want their time looking in the direction of Governor Ayo Fayose rather the party should focus it’s attention on how to solve it’s internal crisis which has pitched it’s former governor in Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi against his mentor, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu. PDP added that Fayose is not given to deceit and fake promises which is the hallmark of the APC while welfare of the people is more paramount to him unlike the APC who want to improvise the country. According to the party, the APC statement has also confirmed that all the so called ant corruption war of the Buhari led administration is designed to threaten opposition so that they could decamp to APC and become saint .

 “We want to say without sounding immodest that even if APC consult oracle from now till 2018 ,Fayose will not join them because nobody would leave city for the jungle to search for mansion. “

Reckless drivers killed 70 FRSC officials this year, says Oyeyemi

 

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, announced on Friday that 70 operatives of the commission were killed by reckless drivers this year.

 Oyeyemi, who made the announcement in Abuja at the FRSC end of the year management strategy session said that the FRSC officials were killed performing their jobs.

He said that although the figure was lower, compared to the 160 deaths recorded last year, the trend was disturbing and needed to be addressed.

 Oyeyemi said the FRSC had declared war on reckless drivers because such drivers were responsible for about 40 per cent of deaths of officials of the FRSC in active duty.

 “I have been raising this alarm since last year that we are experiencing increase in violence among drivers and lawlessness. “Losing 70 personnel is not a joke, may their souls rest in peace.

 “It is sad to note that some killing and maiming of operatives, including those from sister agencies is very worrisome.

“A recent occurrence was the happening in Talata Mafara in Zamfara, where a motorist ran into the mobile court in session killing three operatives almost instantly, including a civil defence operative.

 “The occurrence is no doubt ironic and a sad commentary on road safety in Nigeria but must we give up on our country and abdicate leadership to mediocrity?’’ Oyeyemi said, however, that the government was working to address the problem.

 He said that President Muhammadu Buhari was aware of the problem and that the issue was being looked into, nothing that reckless drivers would always be made to face the wrath of the law.

 He said also that as at the end of week 47 of this year, 4,005 deaths were recorded from 7,657 vehicle crashes nationwide.

 The corps marshal said that as at last September, the company had achieved 77.19 per cent crash reduction while 83.33 per cent level was attained in fatality rate reduction.

 The corps marshal said that 99 workers of the company had been punished for indiscipline that entailed extortion and helping motorists to evade arrest. He said further that 66 workers, comprising 10 officers and 56 marshals were sacked while 33 had their ranks reduced because of cases of indiscipline.

 Mr Babachir Lawal, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who was represented by Amb. Bamgbose Olukunle, Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs in the Office of the SGF, reiterated government’s commitment to road safety.

 Lawal said that although there were challenges in the country in terms of road administration, plans were on to address the issues. He said that government had approved the recruitment of more than 4,000 people to meet the set goals of the FRSC in service delivery.

 Mr Abubakar Yunusa, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Road Safety, said the FRSC Act was currently undergoing amendment. Yunusa said the bill on the amendment had been sent to the Nigerian Law Reforms Commission for further contributions.

Kaduna State Govt. inaugurates first sexual assault referral centre

Kaduna,The Kaduna State Government on Thursday inaugurated its first Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) that would provide psycho-social counseling, forensic examination, medical treatment and legal services for victims of sexual assault.

 Inaugurating the centre located in Gwmna Awan General Hospital, Kakuri Kaduna, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs Amina Sijuwade, said the development was the initiative of the Justice Reform Committee.

Sijuwade said that the centre would be run by the Ministry of Justice, in partnership with the Ministry of Women and Social Development, Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders..

She said that the Ministry of Health would provide forensic examination and treatment, the Nigerian Police would investigate, and the Ministry of Justice would provide legal services.

 Sijuwade added that the Ministry of Women Affairs would equally provide psycho-social counseling for the victims, making it a complete package in response to the increasing cases of sexual assault in the state.

 “The Ministry of Justice has already designated a gender desk officer who will prepare all legal documents for legal action for victims.

 “Also, all the officials that will work at the centre have already been trained with support from the Department For International Development (DFID).

 “This initiative will greatly help in curbing the alarming rate of violence and sexual assault against minors in the state,’’ she said. The commissioner said that three additional centres would be established, one in each of the three senatorial districts in the state, for victims to increase access to the services.

 She commended DFID for supporting the initiative through Justice For All project. Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Rabi Abdulsalam, said that the centre would serve as a convergence ground for all stakeholders to act in addressing the scourge of sexual assault in the state.

 Abdulasalam, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs Mary Sawok, said that the services to be provided at the centre would equally help in addressing trauma and stigmatization.

 On his part, the Chairman of the Justice Reform Committee, Justice Darrius Khobo, said that the centre would serve as a healing ground for victims. Khobo, represented by the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Kaduna Chapter, Sherif Sule, noted that a larger percentage of sexual assault in the state have remained unreported.

 The representative of the DFID at the occasion, Mr Godwin Ode, called on all relevant stakeholders to support the initiative and contribute to ending sexual assault in the state.

16 vandals get life sentence in Calabar

ABUJA – The Calabar Division of the Federal High Court has sentenced to life imprisonment no fewer than 16 suspected vandals who were charged with adulterating 100 tonnes of diesel.

The suspects were also ordered to forfeit to the federal government, their vessel MV ALEZZA LILAH which they used for the operation.

 A statement issued by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC Thursday in Abuja and signed by its spokesperson, Emmanuel Okeh, said “the affected persons were arrested by the Bayelsa State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps along Brass River on their way towards the sea in Bayelsa on a vessel MV ALEZZA LILAH”.

 He said receiving the verdict of the court, the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Abdullahi Muhammadu Gana however read the riot act to vandals, illegal dealers on petroleum products and product adulterators to desist or face the wrath of the law.

 The statement said suspects were charged for conspiracy and adulteration which is contrary to sections 1(17) and (18) (a) and (1) of the Miscellanous Offences Act Cap, M17 LFN 2004 and punishable under the sections.

 It added that the trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo convicted the 16 accused persons on all the charges and consequently sentenced them to life imprisonment.

 Gana charged the NSCDC personnel not to relent in their crusade of ”Operation Zero tolerance to vandalism”, illegal bunkering, oil theft and other associated crimes.

”Enough is enough, we must rise to the challenge of tackling this ugly phenomenon of vandalism and other related crimes; attacking our personnel will not deter us from fighting the scourge rather it makes us to be more rugged and dogged in the crusade.

 ”I therefore use this opportunity to warn all those in this illicit business to quit as the law is no respecter of anyone”, the NSCDC boss was quoted as saying.

 Gana said the judgement by the Federal High Court will serve as a deterrent to others, praising the court and urging other judges to emulate Justice Inyang Ekwo and ensure speedy dispensation of cases before them.

Kanu’s trial: Pro- Biafra protesters besiege court chanting war songs

ABUJA – Scores of pro-Biafra protesters, on Thursday, besieged the Federal High Court in Abuja, chanting war songs.

 Armed security operatives however barred the protesters from gaining access into the court room where the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu was being tried by the Federal Government.

The incident occurred on a day Kanu who is facing trial alongside three other pro-Biafra agitators, Mr. Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, was denied bail by trial Justice Binta Nyako.

 Shortly after the proceeding, armed operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, took the defendants away from the court premises in a commando style, even as the protesters threw stones at the prison van. Justice Binta refused to grant bail to any of the defendants pending the determination of the 11-count criminal charge the Federal Government preferred against them.

 Charges against the accused persons border on reasonable felony and their alleged involvement in acts of terrorism. The defendants had in the course of the proceeding, alleged plot by the Federal Government to import foreigners to testify against him.

 Their separate bail applications were predicated on sections 158, 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, as well as section 35 and 36 of the 1999 constitution, as amended.

 The defendants contended that charges against them were not only bailable offences, but also not felony punishable with death.

Arguing that the presumption of innocence under the Nigerian constitution was in their favour, the defendants said their release from detention would enable them to properly defend the charge against them.

 Besides, they insisted that their right to self determination was guaranteed both by the Nigeria constitution and Article 20 of the Africa Charter on Peoples and Human Right. They maintained that IPOB which they said has been registered in over 30 countries, has not been proscribed or declared as a dangerous organisation under any law.

 They defendants expressed their readiness to produce reasonable sureties before the court. However, FG, vehemently opposed release of any of the defendants on bail. Government lawyer, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran, told the court that the defendants would constitute “a threat to national security”, once freed from prison custody.

 Labaran, who further applied to the court for protection of witnesses billed to testify against the defendants, drew attention of the court to the fact that the 1st defendant, Kanu, has dual citizenship. He argued that Kanu who he said has both Nigerian and British passports, would escape out of the country if released on bail.

 While praying the court to allow the defendants to attend their trial from Kuje prison, FG, stressed that Onwudiwe was a major threat, saying he was the only one facing a particular count of “preparatory to commit an act of terrorism”. Meanwhile, in her ruling, Justice Nyako, held that charge against the defendants “are very serious in nature”, and therefore not ordinarily bailable.

 “Irrespective of what the charge is, the court has to exercise its discretion on way or the other”, the Judge held, adding that some of the charges against the defendants could attract life imprisonment if proved by FG.

 Justice Nyako also dismissed contention by the defendants that President Muhammadu Buhari had openly directed that they should not be released on bail.

 The Judge held that President Buhari, being a citizen of Nigeria, was at liberty to exercise his freedom of speech.

 She maintained that the President lacks the capacity to influence the decision of the court, saying the defendants did not place any new fact or law capable of persuading the court to reverse an earlier ruling of the court that denied them bail.

 “The offences are serious in nature and carries very severe punishment if proven.

 “I hereby therefore refuse bail of the applicants. But in the alternative, I hereby order accelerated trial of this matter to almost commence immediately, but not later than two months”, the Judge held. Immediately after the ruling was delivered, FG, applied for all the witnesses to be allowed to testify behind screen.

 It also prayed the court for identities of the witnesses not to be revealed in any record of the proceeding. The defendants however opposed the application, contending that granting such request would amount to a gross violation of their rights to fair hearing. “We vehemently oppose secret trial of the defendants.

 They were accused in the open, we also request that they be tried in the open. The defendants need to see those testifying against them eye-ball-to-eye-ball. We are ready for this trial”, Kanu’s lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor submitted. Similarly, one of the defence lawyers, Mr.

 Maxwell Okpara, told the court that most of the proposed witnesses were foreigners he said the government imported from neighbouring countries. “My lord, we have uncovered their plan to bring Ghanaians and people from Cameroon to appear in this court to testify against the defendants.

 “We as Nigerians will resist that plot. It cannot work. That is why they are insisting that they should testify behind screen. That plot has failed, it will not work”, Okpara stated.

 After listening to all the parties Justice Nyako fixed December 13 to rule on FG’s application. Specifically, FG had in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, alleged that the quartet conspired to commit treasonable felony contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, CAP. C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014.

 FG alleged that they committed the offence along with others now at large, on diverse dates in 2014 and 2015, in Nigeria, London and United Kingdom.

 It told the court that the defendant conspired among themselves to broadcast on Radio Biafra which is monitored in Enugu and its environs, preparations they were making for states in the South-South zones and other communities in Kogi and Benue states, to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a view to constituting same into a Republic of Biafra.

 Whereas FG identified Kanu as the arrow-head behind the “hate broadcasts”, it fingered Onwudiwe as the National Coordinator of the IPOB movement. The defendants had on November 8, pleaded not guilty to all the charges against them, even as the court adjourned to hear their bail applications.

 Kanu was previously facing a six-count treason charge with Madubugwu and Nwawuisi, before FG amended the charges to include Onwudiwe as one of the defendants. Justice Nyako is now the third judge to handle the trial. It will be recalled that the former judge handling the matter, Justice John Tsoho had on September 26, disqualified himself from presiding over trial of the defendants.

 Justice Tsoho who earlier denied the defendants bail, premised his decision to hands-off the case on a petition pending against him before the National Judicial Council, NJC.

 Kanu and his co-accused persons had in their joint petition, alleged that Justice Tsoho indulged in act of “judicial rascality”, by delivering conflicting rulings on the same subject matter.

 They alleged that the judge summarily reversed his previous ruling that barred the Federal Government from masking all the witnesses billed to testify against them. The defendants maintained that the Judge denied them fair hearing on the day he gave FG the nod to produce “masquerades” to testify against them.

 Justice Ahmed Mohammed who was the first judge Kanu was taken to by FG, had in a bench ruling he delivered on December 23, 2015, also distanced himself from the matter.

 Kanu who was hitherto the Director of Radio Biafra and Television, ‎has been in detention since October 14, 2015, when he was arrested by security operatives upon his arrival to Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom.

 The defendants were alleged to have committed treasonable felony, an offence punishable under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. FG alleged that they were the ones managing the affairs of the IPOB which it described as “an unlawful society”.

 Kanu was alleged to have illegally smuggled radio transmitters into Nigeria, which he used to disseminate “hate broadcasts”, encouraging the “secession of the Republic of Biafra”, from Nigeria. The IPOB leader earlier denied the charges, even as the court, on January 20, ordered remand of the defendants at Kuje prison ‎in Abuja.

 Count one of the charge against the defendants read: “That you Nnamdi Kanu, ‘M’, Onwudiwe Chidiebere ‘M’, Benjamin Madubugwu ‘M’, David Nwawusi ‘M’ and others now at large, on diverse dates in 2014 and 2015 in Nigeria and London, United Kingdom, did conspire amongst yourselves to broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu and other areas within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, preparations being made by you and others at large, or states in the South East and South South zones and other communities in Kogi and Benue States to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a view to constituting same into a Republic of Biafra and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, CAP.C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2000”.

Suspected thief electrocuted in Kano

KANO – A suspected thief identified as Jamilu Adamu, was Wednesday electrocuted at Kawon Maigari, Hotoro Area in Kano, whie trying to vandalise a fenced public transformer. In a statement by KEDCO’s spokesperson, Mohammed Kandi, it said the deceased 35 years old was found dead with some tools including sizes 17 and 20 ring and flat spanner in his possession. Kandi also quoted the firm’s Head of Health Safety and Environment (HSE) Aminu Abubakar as saying, “at the time the Police evacuated the corpse, one of the HV Bushings of the Transformer was loosened from the base, indicating the intention to vandalize the Transformer by removing the Bushings, and possibly the armored cable, as well.”

According to Abubakar, “Judging by the whitish burn on his palm and a huge open gash on his left arm, it is highly likely that power was restored while he was operating, resulting in electric shock, and the ceramic insulator of the bushing shattering to cause the wound on his arm.”

However, an eye witness account disclosed that the deceased was seen loitering around the substation area three days earlier, saying “when he was approached, he told residents that he was there to visit his relative.”

According to Abubakar, “Judging by the whitish burn on his palm and a huge open gash on his left arm, it is highly likely that power was restored while he was operating, resulting in electric shock, and the ceramic insulator of the bushing shattering to cause the wound on his arm.” However, an eye witness account disclosed that the deceased was seen loitering around the substation area three days earlier, saying “when he was approached, he told residents that he was there to visit his relative.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/suspected-thief-electrocuted-kano/

According to Abubakar, “Judging by the whitish burn on his palm and a huge open gash on his left arm, it is highly likely that power was restored while he was operating, resulting in electric shock, and the ceramic insulator of the bushing shattering to cause the wound on his arm.” However, an eye witness account disclosed that the deceased was seen loitering around the substation area three days earlier, saying “when he was approached, he told residents that he was there to visit his relative.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/suspected-thief-electrocuted-kano/

Again, fuel scarcity looms as FG owes oil marketers $1.7bn

The country may be plunged into another round of excruciating fuel scarcity in the next couple of weeks as oil marketers disclosed that they are running out of patience over the Federal Government’s refusal to pay its $1.7 billion debt owed them since May 2015.

 One of the oil marketers who spoke to Vanguard in Abuja, under the condition anonymity, disclosed that the seeming sanity in petroleum products distribution and sales across the country can be likened to the “peace of the graveyard,’ as he noted that marketers are only ensuring that they are not seen as individuals seeking to sabotage the efforts of government.

 He stated that the marketers had written series of letters over their predicaments to the Presidency and that the Presidency had agreed to grant them audience, while he warned, however, that if nothing is done to address the issue of the debts owed them, they would be forced to take drastic measures that might lead to the return of another fuel crisis.

 He explained that the amount owed the marketers was for foreign exchange differentials owed both major oil marketers, independent oil marketers and other petroleum marketers.

 He said the amount was the balance from the payments made by the Goodluck Jonathan administration, before handing over to President Muhammadu Buhari, while the rest was incurred in May 2016, when the Federal Government devalued the naira. According to the source, major oil marketers are owed about $500 million, while independents, depot and petroleum products marketers were owed about $1.2 billion.

 The source also confirmed that some of the oil marketers are indebted to the government, stating, however, that their indebtedness pales in comparison to the huge debt the Federal Government owes the oil marketers. He further stated that the oil marketers’ indebtedness to the country was more recent, while the Federal Government’s debts dated back to May 2015.

 “Irrespective of the fact that our own debt is recent, very small and insignificant, compared to the amount the Federal Government owes us, the government is asking us to pay, while nothing is said about their own debt which is huge and dates back to 2015,” he said.

 He noted that as a result of the huge debts, majority of the oil marketers had sacked a large number of their staff, as many of them are finding it extremely difficult to pay staff salaries and even sustain their operations, as a result of the unfavourable operating environment.

 He added that the oil marketers are currently at loggerheads with a subsidiary of the NNPC, the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, over the introduction of obnoxious rules that are detrimental to existing contractual obligations, without proper consultations with oil marketers and other stakeholders.

 He also disclosed that majority of the oil marketers had since stopped the importation of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, while he confirmed that the NNPC is currently the major importer and has enough stocks of the commodity on ground to guarantee several months of supply. However, he said, “While I can tell you that the NNPC has adequate quantity of the product to last the country for months, we the oil marketers have agreed that we cannot continue to allow the NNPC to supply its products to Nigerians through our facilities, both depots and retail outlets, while nothing is done to address the debts owed us.

 “We might be forced to stop the NNPC from using our facilities; then let us see how the NNPC can supply its millions of litres of PMS to the public. It is a known fact that the NNPC cannot supply its products to the public without using the facilities of oil marketers.

 Confirming the development, the NNPC, in its latest Monthly Financial and Operational Report for September 2016 released recently, disclosed that as regards downstream sector, NNPC remains the major importer of petroleum sector. This, according to the NNPC, was despite the liberalized price regime due to inaccessibility of foreign exchange (FOREX).

 However, it stated that the “FOREX intervention by the international oil companies (IOCs) cushions the effect. Also, the ongoing Turn around Maintenance (TAM) is promising to entirely change the anemic outlook of the country’s refineries.”

Arrest more judges, Mbaka exhorts FG

 ENUGU—Fiery Catholic priest and Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Emene, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has called for the arrest of more judges, saying that God was revolutionalising Nigeria with the arrest of judges who were hitherto, the untouchables.

Mbaka, who commended the Federal Government for the arrest of the alleged corrupt judges, said that it would be nice to even arrest more judges as well, as those who influence them to pervert justice.

 The fiery priest, who stated this at the thanksgiving mass to mark the Enugu State Judiciary 2016/2017 legal year at the Adoration ground, Emene, said that though some of the arrested judges may not be corrupt as alleged, it is good that they be investigated and if found culpable, imprisoned to serve as a deterrent to others.

 Mbaka described the arrest of the judges as supernatural, adding “the arrest of the judges is a supernatural brand new revolution that is going on in all dimensions, in all the three arms of government.

 “When a revolution starts, you cannot imagine where it would reach. “I urge judges to remain incorruptible or be arrested and whoever arrests them should be praised.” He also lauded the performance of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State. , describing it as an exemplary display of visionary leadership.

 Rev. Fr. Mbaka also noted that it’s instructive that Ugwuanyi’s administration has enthroned peace across the state and united diverse political interests, urging the people to “continue to support his administration because it has been anointed by God”.

 He noted that the governor’s leadership style has fostered development especially in this period of recession, praying God to grant him the grace to expand infrastructural growth to suburban communities to link up such areas with the urban centres.

 The cleric spoke during the Holy Mass organized to inaugurate the 2016/2017 Legal Year of the Enugu State Judiciary held at his ministry in Emene Enugu.

 Describing the new legal year as “a year of favour”, Mbaka advised legal practitioners to have the fear of God and eschew corruption in the discharge of their responsibilities. He also enjoined the younger practitioners to imbibe the ethic of hard work and discipline that would enable them to rise to the apex of their career.

Akwa Ibom gov nominates 20 as Commissioners, Special Advisers

 Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has forwarded the names of 20 persons to the State House of Assembly for appointment as Commissioners and Special Advisers.

 The names were read on the floor of the House by the Clerk of the assembly, Mrs Mandu Umoren on Friday at plenary.

 Those for appointment as commissioners included; Mr Paul Udofia, Mr Ime Okon Ekpo, Dr Nse Essien, Prof. Eno Ikpe, Mr Idoroenyin Udo and Mr Linus Nkan.

 Others are Mr Uduak Udoinyang, Mr Charles Udo, Mr Orman Esin, Dr Iniobong Essien, Dr Dominic Ukpong, Mr Uwemedimoh Nwoko and Mr Victor Antai.

 Also on the list of nominees are Mr Monday Uko, Dr Glory Edet, Mr Udo Ekpenyong, Mr Akan Okon, and Mr Ephraim Inyang. Two names, Mr Ekong Sampson and Mr Ekemini Umoh, were submitted for appointment as Special Advisers by the governor.

 The Speaker, Mr Onofiok Luke, who presided over the sitting, referred the list to the House Committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Rights and Public Petitions for further legislative action.

 He directed the committee to report back to the House within one week. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 20-man list shows that nine of the nominees were part of the State Executive Council dissolved by the governor on Oct. 15, while 11 were new.

CBN sells $356m to raw materials sector in October

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday said it sold $356 million to support importation of raw materials in the month of October.

 This, according to the apex bank, represents 40.9 percent of the total foreign exchange sold during the month estimated at $876 million.

 CBN disclosed this in its data on foreign exchange utilisation for October 2016. The data revealed that the apex bank received granted access to about 7,792 requests for foreign exchange, valued at over $867 million through the inter-bank window to enable them source vital raw materials and spare parts for their respective industries.

 A summary of the Forex utilisation for the month showed that the raw materials sector received the highest allotment, getting access to foreign exchange valued at $355,744,861.05 or 40.99 per cent of the total value of Forex utilization for the month put at $867,834,186.26. It also showed that manufacturing and petroleum industries got access to $91,276,699.30 and $150,815,804.73, respectively.

 Companies and other interests in the agricultural sector got access to $13,714,552.83 for the period, while entities in the aviation sector received $10,313,648.29 for the same period.

 Finished goods and others got allotments of $43,838,044.04 and $10,795,488.92, respectively.

 Invisibles, comprising of school fees, students’ upkeep and medicals, among others, received $191,335,087.10 or 22.05 per cent of the figure.

 Commenting on the data, the Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Isaac Okorafor, said the release of the figures underscored the transparency of the bank in Foreign Exchange Management. According to him, the CBN remained committed to its pledge to ease the foreign exchange pressure on manufacturing and agricultural sectors through forward sales under the new flexible Foreign Exchange regime.

 It will be recalled that in the month of September 2016, Manufacturing industries in Nigeria were given access to foreign exchange valued at over $660 million in the inter-bank Market to source raw materials and spare parts for their industries courtesy of the interbank forex market.

The threat of a new political party By Reuben Abati

When aggrieved politicians within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) decided to join forces with members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the All Progressives Peoples Alliance (APGA) to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013, they had well-defined, if not so clearly stated, even if poorly conceived objectives: to send President Goodluck Jonathan out of power, displace the PDP which had clearly become a dominating hegemonic party, exert vengeance and offer the people an alternative.

 The triumph of the APC in the 2015 elections resulting in victory at the Presidential level, in 23 states out of 36, and also in the legislature, state and federal, was propelled on the wings of the people’s embrace of this slogan of change. Change became the aphrodisiac of Nigeria’s search for democratic progress. The new party’s promises were delivered with so much certainty and cock-suredness. Those who were promised free meals were already salivating before casting the first vote.

 The permanently opportunistic players in Nigeria’s private sector could be seen trading across the lines as they have always done. Everyone knew the PDP had too much internal baggage to deal with. The opposition exploited this to the fullest and they were helped in no small measure, not just by the party’s implosion, but also the offensiveness of the claims by certain elements within the PDP that their party will rule Nigeria forever. This arrogance had gone down the rank and file resulting in bitter conflicts among the various big men who dominated the party.

 The party failed from within, and even after losing the 2015 elections, it has further failed to recover from the effects of the factionalism that demystified it and drove it out of its hegemonic comfort zone. It took the PDP 16 years to get to that hubristic moment. It is taking the APC a much shorter time to get to that same moment. The displacement of the PDP gave the impression that Nigeria’s political space, hitherto dominated by one party, and a half, out of over 30 political parties with fears of a possible authoritarian one-party system, had become competitive. But the victory of a new party over a dominant political party in power such as occurred in 2015, has not delivered the much-expected positives: instead, questions have been raised about the depth of democratic change and the quality of Nigeria’s political development. The disappointment on both scores has been telling. The ruling APC has not been able to live up to expectations.

 In less than two years in power, it has been behaving not like the PDP, but worse. Not a day passes without a pundit or a party member or a civil society activist suggesting that the only way forward is the formation of a new political party. There are over 30 registered political parties in Nigeria; no one is saying that these political parties should be reorganized and made more functional; the received opinion is that a new political party would have to replace the APC. The implied message is the subject of political science. Many political parties in Africa, not just in Nigeria, lack substance. They reflect the problematic nature of party politics in the continent, even after the third wave of the continent’s democratic experience. Party organizations are weak, their organs are inchoate, their fortunes are mercurial.

 In Nigeria, this seems to be more of a post-military rule reality, for in the First and Second Republics, some of Nigeria’s political parties appeared to be more relatively people-based and socially-rooted. The military left behind an authoritarian streak at the heart of Nigeria’s party politics, producing political parties since 1999 that do not fully reflect or assimilate the people’s yearnings. There isn’t therefore yet in place a mass-based, people-driven political party to replace the elite-based hegemonic parties we have, despite early efforts in the past in this direction by the likes of Aminu Kano and his People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s Movement of the People (MOP), Tunji Braithwaite’s Nigeria Advance Party (NAP), Gani Fawehinmi’s National Conscience Party (NCP) and Wole Soyinka’s Democratic Front for the People’s Federation.

 There was also the Labour Party, mentioned separately here, advisedly, because it ended up abandoning its social democratic base, and became like the regular parties, an elite cabal, with the initial progressives who championed it on the platform of the Nigeria Labour Congress, moving ideologically to the right in an attempt to align with the Nigerian mainstream and its ready benefits. A profile of this political party and its initial principal promoters would reveal just how alimentary Nigerian politics is. Our immediate concern, however, is to argue that those who are raising the flag of a new political party as the answer to the emerging failure of the APC and the growth of factions among its members, and by extension, the spreading despair in the land, are missing the point.

 They are not promising any revolutionary change nor are they interested in deepening Nigeria’s democratic change. Permit me to quote Danjuma Gambo, of the Enugu Chapter of the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) who reportedly said: “A new political party is what we need. A new party with new plan, (and an) ideology that will bring succor to the sufferings of Nigerians is the answer.”

 Gambo deserves some credit: he phrases the matter delicately as a commentary on the incumbent dominating political party and government. His “what we need”, “new plan” “ideology” means change, another form of change to end, he tells us, “the sufferings (sic) of Nigerians”. We ask him, although he seems to have answered the question already: what happened to the change that happened in 2015? So we ask another question: if the formation of a new political party did not solve Nigeria’s problems since 2015, what is the guarantee that a new party would gain power and perform better than the ruling APC? Professional politicians don’t comment on the matter as carefully as Gambo attempted. They are brazen about it and they have been loud too. They make it sound like a threat and a given solution.

 When you hear them boasting that a new political party is on the way, you are left in no doubt that they are issuing a threat. But is a new political party the solution to Nigeria’s foreign exchange crisis or the people’s angst? The conundrum is easy to resolve. It is easy for the political elite in Nigeria to change their garments, sans remorse, ideology or sentiment and that is how some of the most prominent political figures in Nigeria today have changed party membership cards more than five times in the last 17 years. The politics of elitism in Nigeria is simply about access to power, position and privileges. It has nothing to do with the people’s interests.

 The APC is in crisis for this reason, very much like the PDP, and even the smaller parties, because these are political parties of big men of influence. Conflict results when they are not allowed to exercise that influence by other competing big men, who are similarly if not equally driven by ego, religion and superior ethnic considerations. The exercise of influence as a party big man follows a known pattern: after electoral victory, the big man wants the spoils of victory; he wants positions for his followers, contracts for wives and children and the freedom to have a say in the new government. Any attempt to shut him down, oppose him, or sideline him or her, immediately creates a crisis within the party. The greater the number of such big persons who feel short-changed and marginalized, the greater the chances of such factionalism that would trigger threats of a new political party. New groups can create new tendencies in society, but in Nigerian politics, new groups don’t really emerge, it is the same recycled set moving from one political party to a new or another one, looking for benefits.

 Poverty, low literacy and the weakness of public institutions make the people vulnerable. The people embrace slogans and the dividends of what is now known in Nigeria as “stomach infrastructure.” They are deceived by the politicians’ display of affection and empathy. Because they are hungry, they accept money to attend rallies to help create an illusion of populism and acceptability. On election day, they sell their votes and sign off their freedom. After the election, they are too ashamed to speak up or they compensate for their psychological distress by subscribing to the politics of vengeance. A patrimonial and neo-patrimonial political system such as we run in Nigeria promotes nothing but difference, disappointment and distrust. Those who are plotting to create a new political party should be told that the harvest is predictable: more intense leadership competition, high level conflict among big men, greater deception, increased difference and tension within the polity. Political parties are governed by rules: the Nigerian political system operates above rules.

 It is possibly one of the most Machiavellian in Africa. What do we need? Not recycled politicians posing as new party men and women. But this: effective party organizations, like the NCNC, the NEPU, the NPC, the AG, APGA, UPN, UMBC of old which belonged to the people and reflected their aspirations. The only difference should be a necessary disconnect with the politics of ethnicity at the heart of the party formation process in Africa which, as seen, defeats the objectives of true democracy and modernization. Institutionalization of the political party system will also ensure stability within the democratic order: after a bitter political contest in the United States in 2016, the two dominant political parties – The Republican and the Democratic have remained stable, and the country is being projected as supreme. We should end this then where we started: leadership is the principal challenge. Until we sort that out, Nigeria’s politics will remain trapped in the throes of ethnicity, patrimonialism, authoritarian dominance, the threat of system volatility and fragmentation and the politics of revenge.

I can’t do without “garri’’ and dried fish- Lagos Senator

 

Sen. Solomon Olamilekan (Lagos West Senatorial District) on Thursday said that having soaked “garri’’ and dried fish as a meal gave him more satisfaction than any other food.

 Olamilekun, a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that garri and dried fish was his favourite food.

 “I don’t know why I just like garri and dried fish, it gives me the kind of satisfaction I can`t describe, I just feel good after having it.

 “Some people would ask me, why would a senator like garri and not all these expensive stuffs? and the answer I give is that it makes me feel great.

 “It is so amazing that sometimes when I am having stomach upset, and I take garri everything disappears within minutes. I think garri is best suited for my body,’’ he said.

 Olamilekan stated that he preferred mostly local foods to foreign delicacies. Speaking on his political career and speculations that he intends to contest for the governorship position of his home state Ogun in 2019, Olamilekan did not give a direct answer.

 “I am from Ogun state. I visit and interact with my people. It will be an honour to serve them. But we would not make any announcement for now.

 “At the right time, we would come out and tell the people. The concentration is on the Senate right now. We are waiting on God to determine our next move,’’ he said. (NAN)

Sen. Solomon Olamilekan (Lagos West Senatorial District) on Thursday said that having soaked “garri’’ and dried fish as a meal gave him more satisfaction than any other food.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/cant-without-garri-dried-fish-lagos-senator/

Kanye West is ‘broken and lost’

 Kanye West’s family think he is “broken, lost and hurt”.
An unnamed family member thinks Kanye West is “broken, lost and hurt” and says he is always “sensitive” around the holiday season.

The 39-year-old rapper – who has children North, three, and Saint, 11 months, with wife Kim Kardashian West – was hospitalised due to exhaustion earlier this week, and insiders say he is always “highly sensitive” at this time of year because it is approaching Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the anniversary of his beloved mother Donda’s death.











And Kanye’s heartache, combined with the pressure of his career and his wife’s recent ordeal when she was robbed at gunpoint, have led to him experiencing a meltdown.

 The unnamed relative told the DailyMail.com: “Any time around the holidays is tough for him, he is an only child.

 “But he was very close to his mom, so this time of year… it’s really difficult.

 “Then on top of it, everything that happened with Kim in Paris, the build up to it is a lot, it’s a lot of pressure.

 “Kanye is highly sensitive and highly protective of certain things which doesn’t help.

 “But people are so used to seeing him as a performer or as an icon, they don’t see him as a normal person. “And really he is just like we all are, broken and lost and hurt, we all are made of different fragments as human beings.

 “With too much pressure it bursts and right now with everything hurting for him Kanye has burst.” The relative admitted the death of Kanye’s 98-year-old grandfather, Portwood Williams, three years ago also still weighs heavily on the ‘Famous’ rapper.They added: “Some of the people he really connects with are not here any more which hurts.

 “If you think Kanye is brilliant, well the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, his mother was a top educator, his grandfather was smart as hell, was a community activist, he has a statue in Oklahoma, there’s a long line of high achievers in the family.

 “But a lot of these big influences in Kanye’s life are no longer here.” And the anonymous family member also thinks the ‘Only One’ hitmaker’s strong self-belief can lead to him piling too much pressure on himself.

 They said: “Kanye has a lot that he wants to accomplice, which is admirable, but you also have to learn how to balance it.

 “But he is committed to the game of winning. He really believes he can do anything, he really believes that. That’s powerful, but to a fault.”

 Kanye is expected to remain in hospital during Thanksgiving on Thursday (24.11.16).

MMM membership grows despite Reps order to security agents

 Some Abuja residents on Thursday said that they have benefited immensely from the popular financial programme, MMM Nigeria Scheme, and have no intention of leaving the scheme anytime soon.

 The Mavrodi Mondial Movement popularly known as MMM has gained popularity among Nigerians as the programme promises a monthly payment of 30 per cent interest on loans provided by participants.

 This is against the backdrop of the House of Representatives order in November that operators of the scheme should be arrested to protect Nigerians from financial devastation.

 The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in spite of the order, MMM’s membership had continued to grow. Some residents who spoke to NAN said that MMM was very beneficial to Nigerians. Ebube osakwe, a civil servant told NAN that she doesn’t see the programme as a Ponzi scheme and believed it could help many Nigerians.

 “When I heard about it, I was skeptical at first, but I decided to test the system by putting in N20,000 to see if I would get the money they claimed.

 “To my surprise, a month later, I got my N20,000 with my 30 per cent interest and an extra bonus. “I was amazed by the success so I put more money into the system and have benefitted from it.

 “This programme has helped many Nigerians deal with this recession so I don’t see the wrong in it.” Godwin Dickson, a mechanic said that the scheme had helped him with his finances, adding that it had assisted him immensely in paying his debts.

 “I don’t care what anyone has to say about MMM because as far as I am concerned, it has saved my life.

 “I have paid off my debts and I have been able to generate extra change to take care of my household.
 “I owed someone a large sum of money and someone introduced me to MMM and loaned me N500,000 to put into the scheme.

 “The money I got back was able to clear all my debts at once and I was able to finally breathe again. 
 “I am aware of the risks of this programme, but it is also a lifesaver and I will advise more Nigerians to get involved at least for now that it seems safe,” he said.

 Joyce Okoh, an entrepreneur, said that she was certain the business would crash at a point, but she would take advantage of it while it lasts.

 “I know that this programme has failed before in some countries and I admit it is a sort of Ponzi scheme but why should I complain when I am benefitting from it?

 “MMM is bound to fail whether the government bans it or not, because the process is supported by new members funding the profits to be made by older members which will crash at some point.

 “However, I have made a large sum of money from this programme and I am willing to continue reaping the benefits it is offering for now.

 “I just have to ensure I don’t get greedy and invest my whole savings or sell my property like many people have done because when it crashes, people will become suicidal.

 “I think the key thing here is to know your limit and know when to bow out of the programme,” she said. (NAN)

Ondo: PDP Sen. Omogunwa defects to APC

Chief Yele Omogunwa, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District of Ondo State, on Thursday confirmed his defection to All Progressives Congress (APC).

Omogunwa confirmed his defection in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure.



 “It is very correct that I have decamped to APC and it was done in my country home, Ode-Irele.

 “I am no more in PDP, but now a bonafide member of APC. My reasons for joining APC are personal,’’ he said.

 NAN reports that with the defection of Omogunwa ,all the three Senators representing Ondo State at the upper chamber of National Assembly, are now members of APC.

 The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Nov. 26 for the Ondo State Governorship Election. (NAN)

The lawmaker, who was a former Commissioner for Works in Ondo State, said that he had formally joined APC at his home town, Ode-Irele in Irele Local Government Area of the state.

My arrogant wife tells me to ask Google – divorce seeker

Lagos – A commercial driver, Taiwo Oladepo, on Wednesday prayed an Agege Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve his 11-year-old marriage over alleged lack of care and submission by the woman.

 Thirty-five-year-old Taiwo, father of four, resides at No. 29, Anthony Nwosu, Ileke Estate., Meiran, Lagos.

He claimed that his 36-year-old wife, Biola, was troublesome, disobedient, not submissive and not caring.

 “My wife is too troublesome; she is stubborn, arrogant and not submissive. She is also lazy and wayward. “There has been no peace in this marriage; we live like cat and rat,’’ he told the court.

 The petitioner submitted that his wife went out and returned any time she liked, adding that each time he asked her where she had been, she told him: “Go and ask Google’’.

 “I am no longer interested in the union,’’ he submitted. Responding, Biola, a petty trader, denied the allegations. She said that the petitioner lacked respect for her and beat her regularly.

 “There was a time his friends tried to caution him about his attitude toward me. “The beating is unbearable but l kept bearing it because of my children,’’ she said.

 She added that Taiwo had illicit affairs with different women. Biola consented to the dissolution of the marriage, but appealed to the court to give her the custody of the children, urging that Taiwo should be responsible for the children’s education and healthcare.

 The Court President, Mr Philip Williams, adjourned the case till Jan. 31, 2017 for judgment.

Ilorin Prisons riots caused by frustrated Inmates — FG

 Abuja—The Federal Government has ordered an investigation into the riot at Oke Kura Prisons, Ilorin, Kwara State, which resulted in the death of six inmates on Thursday, November 17, 2016. Minister of Interior, Lt.

 General Abdulrahman Dambazau, retd, who gave the order in Abuja yesterday, blamed the riot on the frustration of condemned inmates in the condemned prisons cell.

 Consequently, the Minister directed an Intra-Ministerial Committee to work closely with Nigeria Prisons’ management team to unraveling the remote circumstance surrounding the incident, with a view to avoiding a recurrence  in any of the nation’s penitentiary and to sanction any official found culpable.






He maintained his stance on the need to adhere to the United Nations Minimum Standards for the Treatments and Rehabilitation of Prison inmates, including condemned prisoners, in line with Mandela Rules.

 Findings overtime have shown that such riot involving condemned criminals had been a result of frustration of being on death row for a period of 10yrs or more.

 Moreover, the Minister noted that a Prison that was built in 1914, with capacity for 121 inmates, now accommodated 417.

 According to him, this is bound to create difficulties in management. He said government had, therefore, embarked on reconstructing old Prisons, while also building new Prison facilities in some locations. Dambazau reiterated his ministry’s resolve to retool the country’s Prison Service to effectively play its pivotal role of reforming, rehabilitating and reintegrating transformed inmates back to the society, while ensuring that the rights of Prisoners were well protected.

APC Governors Forum condemns bandit attacks in Zamfara

 Gusau – The All Progressive Congress Governors Forum, on Tuesday condemned the persistent attacks on villages by armed bandits in Zamfara, describing the killings as unfortunate and unacceptable.

 No fewer than 155 people were killed and over 50 people kidnapped in less than a month by bandits in Maru, Shinkafi, Maradun and Zurmi local government areas of the state.

 A delegation of the forum led by Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, urged people in the state to remain calm and support efforts of government to dislodge the bandits.

 Tambuwal, accompanied by Kebbi Governor, Atiku Bagudu said they were mandated by the forum after its meeting in Kano on Monday, to express its solidarity with the people of the state and sympathise with the victims.

 “We were delegated by the Progressive Governors Forum after our meeting in Kano to come to Zamfara today and condole with Governor Abdulaziz Yari and also sympathize with the people of the state over the incidences.

 “On behalf of progressive governors, I want to use this opportunity to condole with the families of those who lost their lives in the attacks and the entire people of Zamfara state over the loss of our bothers and sisters, and we pray Almighty Allah to forgive them.

 “We are also appealing to the general public in this state to remain calm as Zamfara and the Federal Governments are doing their best to ensure that peace is restored in the affected areas.”

Why stock crash has not bottomed-out

 Amidst server bear run pervading the stock market in the month of November, 2016, some new reasons are emerging to explain the ugly situation.
Reflecting on this, analysts at Nairametrics, a Lagos based financial information outfit,

stated: “We’ve also seen multi year lows for stocks like Transcorp, Forte Oil, Diamond Bank and Skye Bank with billions wiped out of their market value. Investors are reeling as those who can’t sell loss making stocks can’t do nothing but watch as their investments filter a way to the brutal devoir of the bears.

 “No one knows precisely what is the cause of this sell-off. A lot of the macro-economic indices currently out there have been with us for months now. The inflation story is nothing new and the gyration in the forex market is also not recent.

 “Some however believe that the alleged forex manipulations by the CBN could also be a major reason why stocks are sliding. It is believed in most circles that foreign investors who are the lifeblood of this market have no cogent reasons of coming back any time soon, especially with the dollar scarcity still biting hard and oil prices still stuck below $50.

 “Some even point to the Trump presidency as a major factor. With a populist approach to the presidency, it is believed that Mr Trump could favour policies that reward investors for investing in America rather than extending support to African countries.

 “One other reason however does seem quite plausible and it has to do with history. According to the monthly performance of the Nigerian Stock Exchange over the years, November has always been the worst month for stocks.

 “For 12 out of 19 years of the trading in the Nigerian Stock Exchange, stocks have lost in the month of November. In fact, stocks have post end of month losses for 8 out of 9 years and 11 of our 13 years in the month of November. No other month shares this record with November. It’s a remarkable trend that makes our analyst call the month of November, “nevermber” for stocks”.

 Analysts believe this is probably because most fund managers like to sell-off and book profits before the end of the year to avoid booking lower asset values by year end. Another November analogy has it that “smart money” typically leaves the market in November ahead of the December rally.

 Smart money, by their definition, refers to investors who quickly cash out before a major stock market downturn. The theory continues that as the smart money exits the building, weak money goes into panic mode ensuing in a major sell-off. By the time the market is down and almost out, smart money reenters for the December rally hoping to close the year on a high.

 This theory corroborates with the theory that fund managers also like to exit so they can close their funds on a high. The analysts at Nairametrics stated: “The Nigerian stock market is one crazy place at the moment and like we have often opined, passive investors ought to stay out. It’s a market for the savvy and brave”.

‘CBN not planning to amend Forex Act’

 The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said it was not planning to amend the Foreign Exchange Act or recommend jail term for anyone that holds the dollar for more than 30 days.

 Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor stated this in a statement issued yesterday in response to a report by Reuters titled: “Nigeria considers foreign exchange reforms as dollar shortages bite”.

Okorafor stressed that the CBN, in line with its mandate, was committed to safeguarding the international value of the country’s legal tender.

 He, however, denied knowledge of the proposed clause recommending a jail term for as long as two years or a fine of 20 per cent of the amount for any holder of foreign exchange in cash.

 “To the best of my knowledge, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has not proposed any bill seeking to arrest and jail persons holding foreign exchange for more than 30 days,” Okorafor said.

 He also denied that the CBN was planning to confiscate funds in domiciliary accounts of individuals, saying any such claim was false. It will be recalled that media report broke suggesting that the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria were considering imprisoning anyone who holds foreign currencies, particularly the United States dollars, for more than 30 days as a way of stemming the volatility in the exchange rate and strengthen the international value of the Naira.

 Reuters had reported that a draft bill prepared by the Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC), contains provision to amend the foreign exchange laws to curb illegal fund transfers and insider dealing and stop individuals holding hard currency outside the banking system. The new proposals were aimed at promoting the orderly development and maintenance of the currency market in Nigeria. Its provisions include making it an offence to hold hard currency in cash outside the banking system.

 “The possession of foreign currency by any person without depositing same in a domiciliary account within 30 days of its acquisition constitutes an offence liable on conviction to two years imprisonment or to a fine of 20 percent of the amount of the foreign currency involved,” the draft bill said.

 The NLRC said the existing currency law made it difficult to regulate foreign exchange transactions in Nigeria, which the reform seeks to address. The law currently “prohibits the seizure, forfeiture or expropriation of imported money by the government without providing for exceptions” and is “narrow in scope”, it said.

 The NLRC said the amendments were necessary to “strengthen the framework for effective monitoring and control, and to ensure probity in foreign exchange transactions in Nigeria”.

Mighty Jets unveils Usman as technical adviser

Mighty Jets FC of Jos on Monday unveiled Coach Adams Usman as the team’s Technical Adviser alongside other newly appointed coaches.

 Chief Alexander Wukari, Chairman, Mighty Jets, charged the technical adviser and his crew to take the 1972 league winners back to the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) at end of next season.

 It will be recalled that Wukari had last week sacked all the coaches of the Nigerian National League (NNL) side and advertised their positions.

 The chairman said that the club was confident that the technical crew would take the club to the promise land.

 “We know that there may be challenges but we are ready to give you 100 per cent support. “Don’t hesitate to contact us immediately you encounter any challenge as we are ready to listen to you.





“The management board will not tolerate anything less than the best which is to return the club to the first tier football in the country, he said.

 He appreciated the Plateau Government for the unalloyed support the club was enjoying from it. Usman in his remarks said that he accepted the job in good faith and was ready to achieve the target set for him. 
 The technical adviser said that he would work closely with the technical crew as well as the management to achieve the target which is achievable.

 “The target is achievable considering my experience with Ranchers Bees of Kaduna, Sunshine Stars of Akure and most recently, Nasarawa United. “NNL is a terrain that I am very conversant with; I believe I can surmount the challenges,’’ he assured the club’s management.

 The helmsman, however, said that he and technical crew alone could not achieve the target without the support of the management, the fans and the media. He said that he would not hesitate to recruit the services of new players if need be.

 “I believe in continuity, we are going to work with the crop of players we met on ground if they can give us what we need. “But anyone who fails to meet up with the standard that will help us to achieve our target, we won’t hesitate to show him the exit door,’’ he added.

 Those unveiled alongside Usman are the Coach Dairo Adeyemi, the Chief Coach and other assistant coaches.

Military unveils photographs of another 55 wanted Boko Haram terrorists

 

Maiduguri – The military on Monday in Maiduguri unveiled the photographs of another 55 Boko Haram terrorists it had declared wanted, bringing the number of wanted terrorists so far to 257.

 

 It had declared 202 insurgents wanted in two batches in 2015.

Unveiling the photographs at the headquarters of the Theatre Command, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, called on Nigerians to join in search for the terrorists.

 Olonisakin said that counter insurgency was a field operation which required adequate awareness by the stakeholders.

 “With this launch of additional photographs of wanted Boko Haram terrorists, it is hoped that all members of the public and other peace loving citizen will provide useful information that will aid in riding the society of these terrorists and criminal elements,’’ he said.

 Earlier in a remark, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, noted that many of the 202 terrorists earlier declared wanted had either been killed or arrested during operations.

 “We have earlier in the course of our campaigns against the insurgents from late 2015 published two editions, comprising 202 individuals that have been identified, key members of the Boko Haram insurgents. “In the course our counter insurgency operations, quite a significant number of these wanted terrorists have either been killed or arrested.

 “Those arrested have been providing useful information that has assisted the Nigerian army undertake successful operations,’’ he said. Buratai also called on Nigerians and the media with useful information about the suspects to provide it, saying that such information would be treated with “utmost confidentiality’’. “No item of information is too little or should be ignored,’’ he said.

 He said that the Nigerian Army had achieved significant progress in the fight against the terrorists by degrading their combat power as well as decimating their ranks.

 The army chief restated that 60 per cent of the remnants of the terrorists were not Nigerians and appealed to the citizens to contribute to the efforts to flush them out of the country. “It is very clear that the Boko Haram terrorists have been defeated.

 “To continue to have any doubt in this regard or to continue to re-echo or insinuate that these terrorists have not been defeated is only a way of encouraging these terrorists,’’ Buratai said. He assured the people of Kaito, Damasak, Gashiga and indeed Mallam Fatori in northern Borno that the roads leading to their communities would soon be re-opened to enable them to return before the end of 2016.

Maiduguri – The military on Monday in Maiduguri unveiled the photographs of another 55 Boko Haram terrorists it had declared wanted, bringing the number of wanted terrorists so far to 257. It had declared 202 insurgents wanted in two batches in 2015.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/military-unveils-photographs-of-another-55-wanted-boko-haram-terrorists/

Obama threatens Trump’s presidency

U.S. president Barack Obama has said he may speak out after leaving office if he feels his successor Donald Trump is threatening core American values. By convention, former presidents tend to leave the political fray and avoid commenting on their successors.

Speaking at a news conference at the Apec summit in Lima, Peru, Mr Obama said he intended to assist Mr Trump and give him time to outline his vision. But he said that, as a private citizen, he might speak out on certain issues.

 “I want to be respectful of the office and give the president-elect an opportunity to put forward his platform and his arguments without somebody popping off,” Mr Obama said. But, he added, if an issue “goes to core questions about our values and our ideals, and if I think that it’s necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, then I’ll examine it when it comes”. The president described himself as an “American citizen who cares deeply about our country”.

 Speaking at a news conference to mark the end of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, Mr Obama reiterated that he would extend to Mr Trump’s incoming administration the same professional courtesy shown to his team by his predecessor George W Bush. Mr Bush has refrained since leaving office from commenting on Mr Obama’s presidency.

 “I don’t think it does any good,” he told CNN in 2013, after Mr Obama was elected for a second time. “It’s a hard job. He’s got plenty on his agenda. It’s difficult. A former president doesn’t need to make it any harder. Other presidents have taken different decisions; that’s mine.”

U.S. president Barack Obama has said he may speak out after leaving office if he feels his successor Donald Trump is threatening core American values. By convention, former presidents tend to leave the political fray and avoid commenting on their successors.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/obama-threatens-trumps-presidency/

U.S. president Barack Obama has said he may speak out after leaving office if he feels his successor Donald Trump is threatening core American values. By convention, former presidents tend to leave the political fray and avoid commenting on their successors.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/obama-threatens-trumps-presidency/

U.S. president Barack Obama has said he may speak out after leaving office if he feels his successor Donald Trump is threatening core American values. By convention, former presidents tend to leave the political fray and avoid commenting on their successors.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/obama-threatens-trumps-presidency/

U.S. president Barack Obama has said he may speak out after leaving office if he feels his successor Donald Trump is threatening core American values. By convention, former presidents tend to leave the political fray and avoid commenting on their successors.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/obama-threatens-trumps-presidency/

2 Nigerians arrested for drug trafficking in India

Two Nigerians have added to the shame of the nation after they were arrested in India for trafficking in drugs.

Two Nigerian men, Joseph Nduba, 25, and 32-year-old Sunday Nwite, have been arrested in India for drug trafficking after 50 grammes of cocaine was found on them.

The two suspects, according to Indian Crimes, were arrested by the Narcotics wing of the Central Crime Branch (CCB), following a sting operation they mountedThe report has it that Nduba and Nwite who have been living in the country illegally, were arrested while trying to sell the drugs at their apartment in Indiranagar in the Bangalore area on Friday, October 14, 2016.

During interrogation, the suspects were said to have confessed that they used to get cocaine from their contact, another Nigerian, whom they identified as Ben from T.C. Palya, to sell to end users.The police have seized their passports and remanded them in judicial custody while efforts are being made to arrest the supplier who is said to be on the run.

Eccentric star writes on Buhari, Aisha, 'the kitchen, 'the other room'

 

  Following President Buhari's statement after Aisha Buhari's interview, Charly Boy has his own opinion and he wants you to read it.

Veteran musician, Charly Boy, has just penned his opinion on the current state of the nation.

Following President Buhari's statement after Aisha Buhari's interview, Charly Boy has his own opinion and he wants you to read it.
Read his statement below:

"My people, how many of una hear or read Aisha Buharis BBC interview. In that interview I could see a woman who has considered all her options and all consequences and is simply crying out for help because domestically things are perhaps not peaceful or that her husband's power and authority has been hijacked by the treacherous cabals who insist on making some of our Presidents (past and present) a mere figure head. The same cabal hijacked Goodluck Jonathan administration, an easy going man who was never wired for treachery and evil, in fact that one personally confessed to me himself that he is under siege by the Cabal.

I know that it is very lonely at the top. If you're a family man, you know how easy or difficult it is in running your family how much more a country/nation as big as Nigeria.

From where I stand, I feel the Cabal have succeeded in overpowering our President, hence, Aisha's cry for help. And it doesn't make it any easier when the person in question has a mungo park mentality. Kai wahala dey.

My people what do we do? how can we help to get our oga to see our predicament and take immediate action to rescue our future?. Nigerians are no longer happy, they are hungry and angry. God ain't going to send down manna from heaven so forget about night vigil and your pastors, it is our call to face this monster or we will all die one after another before our time.

Any suggestions is permitted because this doesn't look good at all."

Omawumi, Toolz, others stun at maiden edition of She Rocks!

The event which was held to spotlight ‘woman crush’ and ‘Honoree’ had in attendance several female celebrities from the entertainment industry.

 The first edition of the highly anticipated She Rocks! Concert held yesterday, August 17, 2016 at Hard Rock Café, Victoria Island, Lagos with Eva Alordiah celebrated as the headliner.

 

 

  The event which was held to spotlight ‘woman crush’ and ‘Honoree’ had in attendance several female celebrities from the entertainment industry including, Annie Idibia, Toolz, DJ Lambo, Dolapo Oni, Bolanle 'Bolinto' Olukanni, Krystn Enem and others.

 

 Female singers Imanse, Maya, and Brenda (from The Voice Nigeria) wowed the audience with a lovely performance while honouree Dolapo Oni and Wana Udobang delivered an inspiring piece to empower and inspire other women guests at the event.

Chigurl another honouree had a great improv on stage.

The headliner for the night, Eva Alordiah delivered an electrifying and sensual performance of her singles ‘Zombie’, and ‘War Coming’ before proceeding to speak on her childhood and teen years, growing up as a tomboy.

According to her, she once rejected everything feminine, and was busy with clothes that were associated with masculinity before finally embracing her feminity.

“I wanted to be a boy, and so I became a tomboy”, She said. “I wore bandannas, baggy jeans, do-rags, and checked out women”.

Meanwhile, Girlfactor band thrilled the audience with an electrifying performance while the music for the evening was provided by DJ Nana, and DJ Switch, who sent the crowd into a frenzy.

She Rocks is a first of its kind event in Lagos, Nigeria and will be held monthly every 3rd Wednesday of the month at Hard Rock Cafe Lagos.

Other performances were from Korra Obidi and Khemmie from The Voice.