Our Quit Notice Stands, Arewa Youth Tell Igbo

Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (ACF) on Thursday August 3 insists that the quit notice given to Igbo people residing in the northern part of country is still in force. 

The youths who had earlier insisted on the Igbos leaving the north claimed the quit notice issued to the easterners stands. 

The group however claimed that those interested in being part of Nigeria are welcome to stay while those who are not interested should leave before expiration of the notice. READ ALSO: Full text of speech by Osinbajo on how to stop Biafra agitation, 

Others According to Shettima Yarima, chairman of the forum who spoke in Kano on Thursday August 3, the group's mission is for a peaceful co-existence of people in the country. 

Going further, the group gave reasons for insisting on the initial quit notice issued to the Igbo people to leave the country. 

The group however claimed that they will continue consultation to north-central and north-east to determine if they should reconsider their position. 

source: www.naij.com

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BENUE PRISONS COMMAND BURY KILLED INMATE WITHOUT FAMILY'S CONSENT

BENUE PRISONS COMMAND BURY KILLED INMATE WITHOUT FAMILY'S CONSENT

.Family Cries Out, Seeks Legal Redress

  In a desperate move to cover up their negligence of duty, authorities of Nigeria Prisons Service, Benue State Command early in the week secretly buried an inmate, Mr. Tersoo Agidi at the premises of Nigeria Prisons Farm Centre, Jato Aka without consent of the deceased family.

  Inmate Agidi Tersoo, 25, an indigene of Iyon in Turan of Kwande local government area of Benue state who was serving a jail term at the Nigeria Prison Farm Centre, Jato Aka was killed by Fulani militia who had attacked Turan land with just a few months left on his sentence.

  Available records shows that the remains of the deceased inmate, Tersoo Agidi were deposited at the NKST Hospital Jato Aka mortuary on 25th March, 2017 by an officer of the Prisons Service, Mr. Thomas Wua PIP 11.

  According to Mr. Agidi Denen, the deceased inmate's immediate elder brother, the family only received the news of the demise of their beloved one some three months later by Chief Timothy Aloko, district head of Yaav ward of Turan via a letter dated 21st June 2017 addressed to Mr. Gber Agidi, their family member.

  The letter by the district head Chief Aloko confirmed that the inmate was killed while serving a jail term in custody by Fulani militia and requested the family to come over and discuss with the Prisons authority for burial arrangement.

  But before the family could show, a non family member, one Pastor Abachi James, a Kwande local government council staff believed to have connived with the Prisons officials to cover up the offence of negligence against them without the consent of the family wrote to the Benue State Command Controller seeking permission to bury the killed convict.

  The fraudulent letter titled: Application/Permission to Bury A Convict Agidi Tersoo by the imposter pastor James Abachi was addressed to The Controller of Prisons, Benue State Command through The Officer Incharge Nigeria Prisons Service Farm Centre, Jato Aka  dated 22nd July 2017 and signed by same pastor Abachi one month earlier on 22nd June 2017.

  According to records, the Benue Command of Nigeria Prisons Service granted the imposter pastor Abachi's request via a letter with reference no. NPS/BNS/SHQ 128/VOL.IV/153 dated 29th June 2017 and signed by Adike Patience (DCP/MED) for Controller of Prisons, Benue State Command.

Investigation shows a disparity in dates which suggest criminality.

  Whereas the imposter pastor Abachi's letter was written on 22 July, 2017 and signed by him on the 22 June 2017, one month earlier, the reply of the Controller of the Benue Command to the said suspicion letter was conveyed on 29th June, 2017 clearly more than twenty days before the said letter was written.

  Dissatisfied with the foregoing conspiracy, the Agidi Tor family had contacted Chief EK Ashiekaa SAN for legal action against the Prisons Service.

  It was gathered that in swift compliance with the family brief, Chief Ashiekaa SAN via JT Injuwa had written the Prisons Authority demanding the cause of the death of inmate Agidi Tersoo, a development which is believed to have angered the Prisons authority resulting to their decision to ignore the family and bury the deceased inmate in the prison yard.

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Man Kills Mother Over “disappearance” Charm

An 18-year-old man, Agugu Adau, has allegedly killed his mother for refusing to give him a “disappearing” charm he claimed was his inheritance from his late herbalist father.

A family source told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) that Agugu committed the crime at his Kisaghyip village farm in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau.

The source said that Agugu, after killing his mother, removed the sum of N20,000 from her blood-sucked clothes and used it to buy a mobile phone, a shirt and a pair of slippers.

Mr Tyopev Terna, spokesman of the Plateau Police Command, confirmed that the suspect was being held, but declined further comments.

“Investigation is ongoing. The details are not ready. Please understand with us and be patient,” he told NAN on phone.

But Agugu, who spoke with our correspondent, said that he killed the woman because she refused to give him a charm that was his inheritance from his father.

“When I was 14 years old, my late father, who was a native doctor, showed me a charm that enabled him to disappear and reappear at will. He promised to handover the charm to me when I turn 18.

“On his dying bed four years ago, he gave my mother the charm and asked her to give me when I turn 18. But I am now 18 and she has refused to give it to me.

“On this fateful day at the farm, I asked her about it, but she threatened to throw the charm into the river, if I disturbed her too much.

“Her response infuriated me and I suddenly felt that she was of no value as a mother. I immediately slaughtered her with the knife I was using to harvest potatoes.

“After slaughtering her, I dumped her body in the bush,” he said.

Mr David Adau, senior brother to the suspect, has, however, dismissed the suspect’s claim that he killed the mother because of a charm.

“Prior to the incident, the family had faced several problems with Agugu. He was fond of stealing and causing trouble.

“I believe he killed our mother because of the N20,000 I gave her a day before the incident. I work at the mines in Barkin-Ladi, and usually give my earnings to our mother to keep for me.

“I handed over the money to my mother in his presence; in fact, when I gave her the money, she expressed fear that Agugu could attack her to get the money. He has proved her right,” David said.

David said that on his return from work a day after the incident, he asked after the mother but Agugu said he did not know of her whereabouts.

“He said he did not know where my mother was. Later in the day, I saw him with a new mobile phone, a new shirt and slippers, and I became curious.

“I asked him (suspect) where he got them from, but he could not give me satisfactory answers.

“Other family members joined me and we kept pestering him over our mother, but he insisted he knew nothing.

“Three days later, I invited the Police to question my brother. That worked immediately as he confessed to killing her,” he said.

David said that the suspect later led family members and the police to the farm where they saw the already decomposing corpse of the woman. (NAN)

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ISIS Cuts Off Hand Of A Man Accused Of Stealing (Photo)

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The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said that the National Assembly was ready to legalize a new Minimum Wage for Nigerians.

He, however, said that the legislature was only waiting for the executive to make a formal presentation to the National Assembly on the issue.

Saraki, who made this known in Abuja, said that the senate was aware of the need to review the current minimum wage.

He said that all the indices upon which the last minimum wage of N18, 000 was approved had changed and that there was, therefore, no need leaving the wage unchanged.

He acknowledged that the sufferings of Nigerians were glaring, and said that the national assembly was only waiting for the executive to present a bill for a wage review.

“I have said it myself and the Speaker of House of Representatives said it the last time that we are fully in support. We are waiting for the executive to make a move on it.“We are in support; we are waiting for the executive. We have told them to go ahead with the idea.

“We are prodding the executive to do that; we have done that many times and we are still doing that.

“It is justifiable to have a new minimum wage. How will it not be if you look at the challenges the people are going through."

“More so, all the indices have changed since then, and should that be the only index that should stay the same? It is not possible,” he said

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Albinos To Get Free Sun Glasses, Sun Protection Cream In Ondo State

The Secretary, Agency for the Welfare of Persons With Disabilities, in Ondo State, Mrs Olutope Fashuyi, on Friday said the state government will soon commence the distribution of free eye glasses and sun protection cream to albinos . 

Fashuyi, who stated this during eye tests for albinos in Akure, said Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has already approved the scheme.

According to her the distribution will start immediately the on going screening was concluded. She said that the albino group had been neglected for too long, hence they deserved to be given a sense of belonging. 

“This kind gesture of the governor is to ameliorate the pains of these special people and prevent them from having skin cancer, sun burns and freckles usually caused by the scorching sun. ” 

We urge parents and guardians of albinos to bring them immediately for eye test at the agency’s office at the Ondo State Development and Property Corporation . 

”There is assurance that eye glasses and sun protection creams will be distributed when the eye test is completed,” she said.

 Fashuyi appealed to albinos in the state to take advantage of the opportunity which , she said , was the first of its kind since the creation of the state.

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EFCC Arrests 46Year Old Chinese Man For Fraud And One MAlam Aminu Kano

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a 46-year-old Chinese man known as Ma Yongbin for fraud.


EFCC said that it nabbed Ma Yongbin at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.

The anti-graft agency also noted that it arrested him when he wanted to board Egypt Air to China.

EFCC made this information available via its Facebook page saying that Yongbin was arrested and was found to have in his possession undisclosed sum of N305,000. 

The anti-graft agency also said that it arrested Yasir Salihu Abdullahi at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport with 849 ATM cards. He was on board Egypt Air en-route Dubai.

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NAVY CHANGES DATE OF 2017 RECRUITMENT EXERCISE

The Nigerian Navy (NN) says it has rescheduled the date for its 2017 recruitment aptitude test from Oct. 7 to Aug. 12.

The Acting Director of Information, Navy Capt. Suleman Dahun, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

“All shortlisted candidates are to contact their chosen centres in the various States of the federation on Aug. 12, for the test by 8. a.m.

“Candidates are reminded to come along with copies of their online completed forms to the designated examination centres.

“Names of candidates who are successful in the Aptitude Test will be published online on Aug. 21,” he said.

Dahun explained that the successful candidates would attend a selection interview from Aug. 25 to Sept. 23 at the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Ojo, Lagos State.

The NN regretted any inconveniences this new date might have caused the candidates and the general public.

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PEACE CORPS : "WE ONLY LOBBIED SENATORS , WE DIDN'T BRIBE THEM

The promoters of Nigerian Peace Corps have said they carried out ‘intense lobbying’ of lawmakers before they rammed through a bill that seeks to upgrade their non-governmental organisation into a federal law enforcement agency.

PREMIUM TIMES reported Saturday that members of the Peace Corps, led by its national commandant, Dickson Akoh, bribed lawmakers with job slots and cash reward to secure votes needed to pass the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill.

The Senate approved the harmonised version of the controversial bill on Tuesday, despite deep scepticism from its own committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters that the proposed para-military agency offers virtually no unique service to the public.

In a statement to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, the group’s spokesperson, Milicent Umoru, denied any illicit motives on the part of the Peace Corps and lawmakers prior to the passage of the bill.

“In advanced democracies of the world, people lobby legislators to pass bills,” Ms. Umoru said. “And that is exactly what Dr. Akoh and those who believe in the nobility of this project did.”

The spokesperson said purported enemies of the Peace Corps erroneously tagged the pressure her organisation mounted on senators as “bribery.”

Ms. Umoru, however, failed to explain if offering cash to lawmakers while promising them other favours was an acceptable component of lobbying in a decent society.

Moreover, Ms. Umoru said promoters of the Peace Corps will remain resolute in their pursuit of presidential assent to the bill, although she did not highlight unique impacts a nationalised Peace Corps would engender for the country.

Questions about why a country crippled by fiscal challenges occasioned by a bloated civil service would need another paramilitary department even as existing ones become increasingly exorbitant to run have continued to pop up.

David Umaru, the committee chairman who was mandated by the Senate to look into the significance of the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill, delivered a scathing review of the paramilitary group when he laid the findings of his committee before the Senate Tuesday.

“The powers, functions, e.t.c., of the Peace Corps ‎call for concern and this committee would wish that they are subjected to further examination,”Mr. Umaru, APC-Niger East, said.

But Ms. Umoru said Mr. Umaru was only expressing his opinion, mocking the senator for being in the minority.

“Umaru is entitled to his opinion as guaranteed by the Constitution,” Ms. Umoru said. “But thank God, in a democracy, while the minority may have their say, the majority will certainly have their way.”

Ms. Umoru also dismissed an observation by Mr. Umaru that the Peace Corps in Nigeria had departed from the principles of its sister organisation in the United States.

“Nigerian Peace Corps, though patterned after its America counterpart, its current proactive leadership under Dr Akoh has positively redefined its concept to suit our local environment,” she said.

Mr. Akoh, 43, started the Peace Corps in Nigeria in 1994, running it for four years until 1998 when he formally registered it as a non-governmental organisation.

Amongst the objectives of the organisation were capacity building for youth creativity and intervention; capacity building for youth development and empowerment in agriculture; and peace education and conflict resolution.

According to documents from the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mr. Akoh originally named his group Nigerian Leadership and Marshall Corps when he first floated it in 1994.

In the ensuing years, the former Nigerian Army cadet officer, gave his group different names until he finally settled on the Nigerian Peace Corps in 1998.

Afterwards, Mr. Akoh began mobilising the youth for different paramilitary missions across the country.

The organisation told PREMIUM TIMES earlier this year it had no fewer than 113,000 regular officers and volunteers scattered across its formations in the 36 states of the federation ‎and Abuja.

But existing security agencies and the Ministry of Interior, under which a nationalised Peace Corps would be domiciled, refused to warm up to the group.

The security agencies, especially the State Security Service and the police, warned that the Peace Corps could prove detrimental to the country’s national security because the organisation was founded by disgruntled ex-servicemen who were either compulsorily retired or dismissed from service.

At a House committee hearing during consideration of the bill, the Office of the Head of Service (HoS) said several government agencies with similar mandates as Peace Corps already exist and listed the Ministry of Youth Development and Ministry of Employment, Labour and Productivity and Ministry of Environment as examples.

Other existing law enforcement agencies include: Ministry of Education, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, National Orientation Agency, National Poverty Eradication Programme and, National Directorate of Employment. The list is far from being exhausted, the head of service said.

Consequently, the HoS urged lawmakers to consider “the implications of the proposed creation of Nigerian Peace Corps on the cost of governance and duplication of duties of existing agencies.”

Law enforcement agencies have taken measures against the Peace Corps since at least 2003 when the State Security Service arrested Mr. Akoh and shut down his offices across the country.

He resumed operation in 2007. But when the SSS clamped down on his organisation again, he launched a civil lawsuit which has dragged since then.

This year alone, the police have detained Mr. Akoh at least twice.

At the first incident, armed officers from police, SSS and the Nigerian Army stormed the head office of the Peace Corps and took Mr. Akoh and more than 40 others into custody.

The head office was also shut by the police, and has not been reopened ever since.

But in her statement Sunday, Ms. Umoru said the agencies “are either ignorant of the core mandate of the Corps arising out of sheer misinformation or they willingly elected to be on the same page with those who have sworn on their grandfathers’ graves to serve as undertakers for the Corps.”

Meanwhile, the man amid the storm, Mr. Akoh ,also said he will not be intimidated by the “false allegations”, saying his organisation will remain focused on its mission to give a decent future to Nigerian youth through law enforcement and community service.

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NPOWER TEACH ASSESSMENT TEST SHIFT TO AUGUST 9

Information reaching betajist.blogspot.com indicate that the much awaited Npower teach assessment test which is scheduled to start tomorrow 2nd august 2017 is now shifted to 9th of August 2017.

The information which we obtained from Npower official Facebook page does not state the actual reason of the adjournment of the assessment test but promise to do by tomorrow.

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Governor Yahaya Bello Seeks N11b Supplementary Budget

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has proposed a supplementary budget of N11 billion for the 2017 fiscal year.

Bello said the supplementary budget will take care of areas of economic development not previously captured in the budget, adding that it will enable the administration continue in executing its projects and programmes. 

The governor’s request for a supplementary budget was contained in a letter sent to the state’s House of Assembly. Governor Bello had, earlier in the year, signed N174,851,544.523 billion appropriation bill into law, after it was approved by the state Assembly. 

The Speaker, Ahmed Umar, after reading the letter, directed the Majority Leader, Mathew Kolawole, to slate it on the order paper for consideration at the next legislative day. The House is expected to consider the governor’s request today.

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/08/bello-seeks-n11b-supplementary-budget/

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Two Customs Officers Were Shot Dead In Katsina

The Katsina State Custom Command of the Nigerian Customs Service has confirmed the killing of two of its officers by suspected armed robbers.

The Spokesman of the command, Mr Peter Duniya, who confirmed the killing in Katsina on Monday, said the officers were killed on July 30 while on duty.

He said that the officers were shot dead by people, suspected to be armed robbers on Daura Road in Katsina.

Duniya said the officers were on routine patrol at Dogon-Hawa Community, near Shargalle Village in the Dutsi Local Government Area of the state when they met their fate.

The spokesman named the dead officers as Assistant Superintendent of Customs Babandi Nuradeen and Chief Superintendent of Customs Maidama Yabo.

“The command has already commenced investigation into the circumstance that led to the shootings of the officers,” he stated.

Duniya said that the command had deployed officers from the intelligence unit of the customs to unravel the reason for the killing.

The state had been witnessing series of armed robbery attacks in recent times.

It will be recalled that security agents had recently smashed a gang of cattle rustlers, who had been terrorising herdsmen in the state.

(NAN)

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3 Policemen Arrested Over Looting of Jonathan’s Abuja Home

Mobile policemen attached to the house of former President Good-luck Ebele Jonathan in Abuja have allegedly burgled it, carting away expensive properties worth millions of Naira. 

Reports on online portal, vanguard news, alleged that the theft was carried out by three mobile policemen in the residence located at No. 89, Fourth Avenue in the Gwarimpa district of Abuja. 

Jonathan’s home in Abuja This came as FCT Police Command disclosed, yesterday that a case of theft had been reported against the policemen, saying the suspects were being investigated. 

In fact, the Police authorities said they would soon commence orderly room trial of the policemen. The stolen items, according to Premium Times, include “sets of furniture, dozens of plasma television sets, refrigerators, air-condition units and box-loads of clothes, such as designer suits imprinted with the former president’s name, male and female Ijaw traditional attires, lace materials and bowler hats. 

“It was gathered that the three mobile police officers allegedly conducted the systematic looting over a period of three months beginning from around March 2016, until they totally stripped the house of all movable items, which they sold piecemeal to dealers at Panteka second-hand materials market at Tipper Garage, Gwarimpa. 

According to a security source involved in the investigation, by the time family members of the former President were alerted to the looting early this month, the house had been stripped bare. 

On getting wind of the arrest of the policemen, two dealers who had been main recipients of the stolen items were said to have closed down their shops at Panteka market and have since remained at large. 

Whistle-blowing neighbor The source revealed that the looting was discovered when a neighbor noticed “severe damage  in the house” and called a member of President Jonathan’s family to ask whether the house was undergoing renovation. 

The former President was said to have personally gone to inspect the property after which he reported the vandalism to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris. “After a team of officers dispatched to the scene confirmed the crime, Mr. Idris was said to have ordered the arrest of the three police officers who were still on guard duty at the residence.  

They were arrested about two weeks ago,” the source stated. A trader at Panteka market, who confessed to being close to one of the fleeing buyers of the stolen items, according to sources, said the police officers first brought some items to the market for sale in early 2016. 

Sgt Musa at Panteka Market “It all started sometimes around March 2016 when a mobile police sergeant came to Tipper Garage market and brought some items for sale. 

He approached one of the wholesalers to buy them, but the trader said he does not buy items from an unconfirmed owner. “The officer who identified himself as Sergeant Musa told the trader that he was one of the security men guarding Mr. Jonathan’s private residence at Gwarimpa. 

He took the trader to follow him to confirm that he was not a thief who had come to sell off stolen properties in the market. ‘’The trader followed him to the residence where he met two other policemen, an Inspector and a Sergeant. They convinced him that the items were part of gifts to them,’’ the source said. 

Sources said it was noticed subsequently that the stream of transaction had no end, as Sergeant Musa continued to invite the trader to the residence to pick up fresh items. The source said: “At a point, the trader became scared when he suspected foul play and told Sergeant Musa that he was no longer interested in the transaction.  

However, the officer later got another customer, a wholesaler in the market, who would eventually buy almost 80 per cent of all the properties removed from  President Jonathan’s residence. 

Jonathan had lived in the house for about a year when he was vice president. His mother was also said to have lived in the house after the former President moved to Aso Rock Villa upon becoming Acting President in 2010. 

Jonathan’s spokesman confirms burglary When contacted, former President Jonathan’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze, confirmed the development. He said: “The house was burgled and I think the police is already handling the case. 

I cannot confirm whether the case was reported to the Inspector-General of Police or not  but, I know they must have made arrests.” How looted property were sold Premium Times in its report said that its undercover reporter went to the Tipper Garage market and found out that both the purchase and resale of the items were not hidden, as many of the traders were aware of the racket. “Whenever particular or specific items of our interest were brought for sale from Mr. Jonathan’s residence, we used to buy from the wholesaler who bought them in large quantity,” a trader said. 

Further probes by the online portal confirmed that the traders sold off the stolen items such as suits, women wears, traditional cloth popularly called ‘babban riga,’ Ankara fabrics at about N5,000.00 apiece and bowler hats. It could, however, not be confirmed how much the bowler hats were sold.  A petty trader at the market said he witnessed the sale of one of the sets of furniture. “The policeman sold one to the wholesaler who is now on the run at N50, 000.00. The wholesaler sold it at N180,000.00 to a lucky buyer in the market who in turn instantly sold it at N390,000.00. “I personally bought babban riga, and a suit with Jonathan’s name printed underneath it at the cost of N5,000.00 each.” The petty trader, who claimed to be an apprentice at Tipper Garage, said they were scared when they heard that the three police officers had been arrested in connection with the theft of the properties from Mr. Jonathan’s residence. 

Three Policemen to face Orderly Room Trial Confirming, yesterday, that the policemen would face orderly room trial, spokesman of FCT Police Command, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, said in a statement:  “The FCT Police Command wishes to inform the general public that it has commenced full-fledged investigation into the case of theft in the Gwarimpa residence of former President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. 

“Preliminary police investigation on the matter has revealed that some items were found to be missing in the house. “Meanwhile, the Policemen who are supposed to be on guard duty at the house have been detained for questioning. 

“Investigation to find out what actually happened is currently in progress.  The command wants to assure all that the result of findings on the on-going investigation will be made public.”

source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/08/3-policemen-face-trial-looting-jonathans-abuja-home/

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Taraba PDP wins all LG Cases.

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Taraba State has won all local government elections cases at the appeal tribunal. 

Speaking on the victory, Mr. John Okezie, who led the party to victory at the tribunals, said the verdicts showed that democracy is still the best system of government. 

He said the wins did not come as a surprise as the appellants had no concrete case. 

His words: “In dismissing their cases, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Joel Agya, said they lack merit and are incompetent.” 

The cases involved four local governments chairmanship and 12 councillorship.

In a related development, Chairman of PDP in the state, Victor Kona, has said All Progressives Congress, APC, is dead in the state. 


He said the opposition is in disarray and does not have a place in the state politics. 

He mocked those with federal appointment, noting that they are merely seeking relevance, adding “even you as a journalist know that we cannot have opposition in this state. They are dead.” 

Members of the appeal tribunal included Justice Joel Agya of the High Court of Justice who served as Chairman. Others are Justice Nuhu Adi, Justice Alfred Yakubu, Justice Musa Babajo and Barrister Mike Tyonongo.

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1,112 Officers to Be Recruited By Nigerian Immigration Service

The Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede has said the recruitment exercise is in the process of hiring 1,112 officers in its ongoing recruitment exercise. 

The recruitment exercise is the first since 2014 when a similar exercise was mired by controversy following a stampede that killed many applicants, including seven in Abuja, the nation’s capital. 

Babandede speaking in an exclusive interview with Premium Times on Monday, July 31, said the current recruitment drive is meant to fill the shortfall of slots left after the service had absorbed 888 of 2,000 officers engaged in May 2015 that were later disengaged in August of the same year. 

The current recruitment exercise, is for three cadres of Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (II), Immigration Assistant (III) and Assistant Inspector of Immigration. 

Babandede in reference to the 2,000 officers that were fired by the Muhammadu Buhari administration in August, 2015, said: “I inherited a big problem when I came on board with a lot of young officers protesting on the streets about the recruitment that was cancelled in 2015.” He said although the 2,000 persons were employed to correct the 2014 impasse, their recruitment did not follow due process as they were issued offer letters without due process being followed. The Comptroller General said the ongoing employment was aimed at providing replacement for the 1,123 laid off by the screening of the initial 2,000 hired in May 2015. 

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Presidency: Non-Performing Ministers To Go

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has concluded arrangements to effect major changes in the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The action, which will be taken this week or at most next week, will see some ministers being shown the way out of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government while many others will have their portfolios swapped. Already, the planned shake-up in the cabinet is causing anxiety among most members who are aware, but not sure of their fate.

“You will notice that attendance at the last FEC meeting was unusual. Almost every council member attended because they were not sure of what the outcome would be. “President Buhari and the Acting President have agreed to overhaul the cabinet and have been discussing on this since Osinbajo visited him in London,” a presidency source privy to the current arrangement told New Telegraph. A minister confirmed the imminent cabinet shake-up.

“Let them drop those they want. God will help us. If you are given a job, do your best. So whatever happens, you are sure that you have done your best. I heard the cabinet shakeup will happen this week or next. So I’m waiting for any eventuality,” the minister said.

A senior presidential aide who pleaded anonymity confirmed to New Telegraph at the weekend that the Acting President, before now, considered the option of waiting for the return of President Buhari who is currently recuperating in London, United Kingdom (UK). Buhari, he said, will actually be returning to the country soon.

The source said that the Acting President has got a green light from President Buhari in London and is proceeding with the decision to shake up the cabinet. An aide of President Buhari confirmed the impending cabinet reshuffle. He, however, stated that the exercise would have to wait until the president returns from London. “One thing I know for sure is that the President is interested in the cabinet reshuffle. They will have to wait until he is back. “This is the reason why the two ministers were not given portfolios.

The understanding is that there will be no need to do it now and again later,” the top aide of the president told New Telegraph yesterday. Another source said some of the ministers are considered to be under performing and have no business in the government which is committed to delivering on its electoral promises to Nigerians.

Some of the junior ministers (Ministers of State), it was gathered, are engaged in what has been described as unnecessary friction with their senior ministers, slowing down the process of initiating and implementing policies that would impact on the people.

There are also cases of abuse of office by a few ministers which the government is not prepared to take lightly. Speaking further, the source explained that the planned cabinet shake-up was responsible for the delay in assigning portfolios to the two new ministers inaugurated by the Acting President last week Wednesday.

Osinbajo, on Wednesday, swore in Prof. Stephen Ocheni and Suleiman Hassan, but failed to announce their portfolios, explaining that they would be assigned portfolios later. It was learnt that those likely to be affected in the shake-up include one of the female ministers. Our correspondent also gathered that the Presidency is no longer comfortable with her recent political involvement.

The Presidency has been furnished with reports of her alleged “unwholesome” practices which the government feels strongly will dent the anti-corruption war of the administration. Another minister that is also likely to be affected in the exercise hails from the South-South. 

There are intelligent reports against the minister of state who is believed to be having serious conflict with his senior colleague, a favourite of President Buhari handling a critical sector of the economy.

It was learnt that one of the ministers from the South-West has been pencilled to be dropped from the cabinet. However, a couple of ministers will retain their portfolios while one of the ministers of state will likely become full minister. 

On the fate of former governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, the source stated that the minister will still retain the Works, Power and Housing portfolio. According to the source, “There are certainly few persons who will not be touched.

I can tell you that Babatunde Fashola will retain the three portfolios he is holding; they will not be split. “Most people don’t understand that the only thing left in power is transmission. Even at that, we are going to privatise the transmission. So Fashola will keep the three portfolios. He is one of the performing ministers.” New Telegraph also gathered that the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, and Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, will also retain their current portfolios. 

While the Minister of Education is considered as highly disciplined and favoured by President Buhari, Adeosun is seen as one of the performing ministers.

“Adeosun is seen as one of the performing ministers. She has the capacity and is one of the people that are delivering,” the source said. On the fate of Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), it was learnt that he is likely going to retain his seat on account of his closeness to the president.

“The President will have to come in regarding the Minister of Justice because you know that he is President’s man. Really, President Buhari will determine the AGF’s fate, but I think he might survive the cabinet shake-up and retain his portfolio,” he added. 

The shake-up in the cabinet, it was learnt, is to reposition the Council for efficiency in the delivery of government policies and programmes since some of the ministers were unable to handle their portfolios well. 

Investigation revealed that the Presidency has already carried out an evaluation audit on the competences of each minister.

This exercise is to enable the Presidency do proper placement in assigning of portfolios for effectiveness considering that the administration has less than two years to wind up, with general elections coming in 2019. “It is about putting round pegs in round holes,” a source stressed.

https://newtelegraphonline.com

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Manchester United Signs Nemanja Matic

Manchester United is delighted to announce the signing of Nemanja Matic from Chelsea on a three-year contract, with an option to extend for a further year.

The 28-year-old Serbian international midfielder has won a number of club and individual honours including league titles in both England and Portugal.

Jose Mourinho said: "Nemanja is a Manchester United player and a Jose Mourinho player. He represents everything we want in a footballer; loyalty, consistency, ambition, team player.

"I would like to thank him for his desire to join us because without that, it would be impossible to have him here. I am sure our players and supporters will love him. A big welcome to our new number 31."

Nemanja Matic said: "I am delighted to have joined Manchester United. To work with Jose Mourinho once again was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.

"I have enjoyed my time at Chelsea and would like to thank the club and the fans for their support. I cannot wait to meet my new team-mates and to start training with them.

"This is a very exciting time for the club and I am looking forward to playing my part in creating more history for this great club."

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2017/Jul/manchester-united-announces-the-signing-of-nemanja-matic-from-chelsea.aspx

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