A Catholic Church archdiocese in the US state of Minnesota reached a $210 million settlement Thursday with hundreds of victims of clergy abuse, resolving a years-long battle.The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2015 citing its exposure to an onslaught of abuse claims, said the settlement would resolve all of those claims, conclude the bankruptcy process and establish atrust fund for 450 victims.“Abuse survivors could expect payments soon after the court approves the plan,” said ArchbishopBernard Hebda.“I am grateful for all of the victim survivors who have bravely come forward,” he said at a news conference. “I recognize that the abuse stole so much from you… The church let you down. I’m very sorry.” citizenVictims welcomed the settlement with relief, but stressed that their emotional scars remained.“This is a great day for us and all of the survivors,” said Jamie Heutmaker at a separate news conference.Marie Mielke added: “What was done to me has really interfered with the joy of being a mother.”A 2013 Minnesota law was creditedby victims with opening the flood gates in the Midwestern state, by allowing for the filing of lawsuits in abuse cases dating back decades.The settlement ended one of the lengthiest processes of reckoning of church abuse cases in the US — a protracted battle victims blamed on the preemptive bankruptcy filing.Experts speaking at the Vatican said in 2012 the number of abused American minors is probably close to 100,000, with cases dating back to 1950 and implicating thousands of clerics.
Gunmen abduct 25 persons in fresh Birnin Gwari attack
At least 25 persons were abducted along the Birnin Gwari-Funtua road inKaduna state on Thursday May 31st.Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) inBirnin Gwari, Danladi Duyina, who confirmed the abduction, said the kidnappers struck between Kiryoyi and Maganda villages of Birnin Gwari local government area and reportedly stopped vehicles carrying passengers and ordered the people into the bush.“I am not in a position to say precisely the number of people abducted, but they are many.May be 25 or more than that. I cannot not say, but all passengers in the vehicles were abducted. They stopped five vehicles, one of the driver who was driving a gulf car managed to escape. This is what we go through on the road and we are pleasing with the authorities to help us address this problem. People cannot go to farm and they cannot travel, this is too bad.”Recall that last week, 44 passengers travelling in five vehicles were also abducted in similar circumstance.
Armed robbers allegedly snatchN9m local government workers’April salary in Kebbi
Authorities of the Gwandu Local Government Area of Kebbi says suspected robbers have stolen over N9m meant for the payment of April salary of workers of its Departments of Health and Agriculture.At a press conference today May 31st, the chairman of the council, Shehu Bagudu, said the robbery attack happened on May 24th.“The incident happened when the cashier of the area, Bashir Gwandu, collected the money from the bank and went to his house. As he was about to open the gate of his house and unknown to him, the thieves had been trailing him from the bank. As he was opening the gate to enter his house, the suspects who had laid ambush for him, attacked him, snatched his car with the money inside and drove away.The car was later discovered in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State,” he saidThe council chairman also denied allegations that he was shielding the cashier of the local government who happens to be his son in-law.“I have not slept ever since this incident happened. The boy is my son-in-law ever since before I became the chairman of the council, and he is known to be trustworthy in the council. We wrote to theMinistry for Local Governmentand Chieftaincy Affairs on the incident, but we are still waiting for their response. At the same time, the Criminal Investigation Department of the state Police Command is on top of the situation, doing proper investigation,” he said.Confirming the incident, the state police command's spokesperson, DSP Mustapha Suleiman, said the cashier is being interrogated.
2019: House of Reps rejects electronic voting
The House of Representatives, on Thursday, May 31 rejected the use of electronic voting system in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.The rejection was sequel to a bill, which seeks to amend the provisions of the Electoral Act, considered by the Committee of the Whole, NAN reports. - that the lawmakers, however, approved the use of smart card readers for accreditation before elections are conducted in any polling unit across the country.The Bill for an Act to Amend the Provisions of the Electoral Act, No. 6, 2010 to further improve the Electoral Process and for Related Matters has 41 clauses.The lawmakers, in their submission, removed the amendment in the bill which seeks to introduce the use of electronic voting into the Electoral Act.They resolved that while an electronic instrument; the card reader, will be used only for accreditation, the voting will be strictly done manually.During the consideration, Rep Chinda Ogundu (Rivers-PDP) had sought to add a new amendment that the election in any polling unitshould be suspended if the card reader malfunctioned until another functional card reader is brought.The amendment reads:“The presiding officer shall use the smartcard reader for accreditation of voters. Where the smartcard fails in any unit, the election in that unit will be suspended and conducted within 24 hours.”This, however, triggered reactions from some of the lawmakers, who warned of the delay such suspension would cause.Reacting, the deputy speaker, Yusuf Lasun (Osun-APC), who presided over the section, said:“If the card reader fails to read in a polling unit, that means you are delaying resultof the election in the entire ward.”Ogundu, on his part, argued that there would be no delay except in cases where the result from the polling unit would affect the entire ward’s outcome.“If that unit’s result will not affect the entire outcome, INEC doesn’t have to go back. But if it will affect the outcome, their (INEC) policy is that they must go back to do the accreditation with a card reader and conduct the election,”he said.They also proposed for the disqualification of a candidate if he or she is found to have filed fake documents for his qualification, while his party would pay a fine of N1 million.The proposal also seeks to disqualify the candidate from participating in a fresh electionin cases where the initial election has been conducted.However, the House did not pass the bill as there are two clauses in it awaiting approval.The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, had previously stated thatelectronic voting will not be used in 2019.The INEC boss however, said that electronics would be deployed in the collation and transmission of elections results.
Why I can’t appear before Senate - IGP
Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has given reasons he cannot personally appear before the Senate.The Nation reports that the IGP, who faulted the Senate’s insistence on his personal appearance, said his presence at the Senate was unnecessary because the issues for which he was invited were not personal.comgathered that he said if he was to personally honour every invitation sent to the office of the IGP, he would have no time for hismain responsibilities.The IGP said he was allowed under the Constitution and Police Act to delegate responsibilities, including directing some of his subordinates to represent him where he is invited.His position is contained in a suit filed by the IGP before the Federal High Court, Abuja through his lawyer, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN).The IGP queried the propriety of the Senate’s decision to insist on his physical presence andits decision to enquire into issues relating to the charges filed against Senator Dino Melaye and on which he had been arraigned.The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/457/2018, has the President of the Senate and the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as defendants.The Senate, in a letter dated April 25 this year, invited the IGP to appear before it in relation tothe purported inhuman treatment of Melaye and killings in the country.The IGP honoured the Senate’s invitation on April 26 this year, but was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) and commissioner of police, Kogistate.The Senate denied the two representatives of the IGP audience, but instead, rescheduled the meeting for May 2 and insisted that the IGP must honour its invitation in person.The IGP, in a supporting affidavit, stated that his choice of the DIG (Operations) and CP, Kogi state was because they were conversant with the issues for which he was invited.He argued that it was not compulsory that the occupant of the office of the IGP must honour every invitation in person.The IGP noted that the invitation letter from theSenate, with the title:“Invitation to brief the Senate on the inhuman treatment of Senator Dino Melaye over a matter that is pending in court,”showed that the Senate was aware Melaye“is facing a criminal charge in a court.”The plaintiff argued that he is not answerable to the defendants in respect of a case pendingin court, but to the judicial arm of government, before whom the case was pending.He added:“The said Senator Dino Melaye is facing a charge of criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms before a court ofcompetent jurisdiction in Kogi state.“The heading of the said letter, which reads inter alia inhuman treatment meted to Senator Dino Melaye, who is a member of the 1st and 2nd defendants, clearly show the motive of thebriefing.“Once a charge is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it is only the judicial arm of government that adjudicates and disposes of the matter one way or the other, and not subject to the oversight functions in Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution as claimed by the defendants.“Chapter Viii Rule 53(5) of the Senate’s Standing Order prohibits any reference to any matter in which any judicial decision is pending, in this case, the pending charge against Senator Dino Melaye before the court in Lokoja, Kogi state.“There is no how the discussion on the Dino Melaye’s case by the 1st and 2nd defendants will not relate to or impact on the matter in court,”the IGP said.The plaintiff therefore prayed the court to among others; restrain the defendants, any of their committees or agents from insisting that he must appear before them in person.The IGP also urged the court to declare as unconstitutional, the defendants’ insistence that he appears in person before them or any of their committees is contrary to the combined provisions of Section 21d(1)(a) of the Constitution and sections 2, 5, 6 and 7(1) of the Police Act.The defendants, in a counter affidavit, accusedthe IGP of using the court to shield himself from being scrutinized by the Legislature.They stated that the IGP’s representatives were denied audience because of “the weighty issues which requires clarification, as they touched on the very soul of our national existence and in order to ensure fruitful and meaningful deliberations.”They prayed the court to reject the plaintiff’s prayers and dismiss the suit.When the case was called on Thursday, May 31, Izinyon informed the court that it was scheduled for the hearing of the substantive suit, and that he was ready.The defendants were not represented, but the court confirmed receiving a letter from the defendant’s lawyer, seeking a stand down till 12noon.Izinyon agreed to wait, the trial judge,Justice John Tsoho elected to adjourn to another date on the grounds that a stand downwas not feasible.He adjourned to June 29 for the hearing of the substantive suit.
2019: Our presidential candidate must be a nationalist - PDP
The PDP has said it does not have any preference for any of its presidential aspirants for the upcoming 2019 presidential election.
The party said it would present an acceptable candidate that would shock the ruling All Progressives Congress (2019) in the presidential contest.
The national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, told The Punch on Thursday, May 24, that the party was already working out modalities on how to get the best out of its array of aspirants jostling to fly the party’s flag in 2019.
Secondus said that the National Working Committee of the party had resolved not to back any of the aspirants, adding that all the aspirants had been given the mandate to market the party to Nigerians ahead of the general election.
His words: “We, the national leadership of the PDP, have no preferred presidential candidate for the 2019 election. We have eminently qualified members of the party and other Nigerians who are still aspiring to come to the PDP that can fly the flag of the party come 2019.
“While we continue to monitor the activities of these individuals, we want to assure Nigerians that we will present to them a nationally and even an internationally-acceptable candidate that will thrash whoever the disorganised APC presents as its candidate.
“The NWC met, and agreed not to either as an individual or as a body, back any of the aspirants because we are like fathers to them all.
“But I can assure you that, once the aspirant emerges, the party and majority of Nigerians will line up behind him and his running mate.
“We are working round the clock to ensure that our members are united and join us and others, to rescue this country from the hands of incompetent individuals and cabal.”
Asked what would be the criteria for the picking of the party’s presidential candidate, Secondus said that the party would release the guidelines on that soon.
He however said that anyone aspiring to lead the country “is expected to be a nationalist who is interested in the progress of the entire nation.”
He added: “We will field someone who knows Nigeria and Nigerians. We won’t field someone who sees himself and his household as the geographical entity of the country.
“We will give Nigerians a candidate that will travel round the entire country not to give promises he cannot fulfil, but someone they can trust. We will give them a candidate who will not upon assuming office; deny any of his campaign promises.”
Asked on the progress made concerning the ongoing alliance talks with other political parties, Secondus said the committee set up by the PDP and headed by a former governor of Cross River state, Liyel Imoke, was making progress.
“We have a committee that is making steady progress on that. All the opposition parties are working together and as soon as the committee submits its reports, we will swing into action,” he added.
Presidential aspirants in the party at the moment include ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; a former Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido; the Gombe state governor, Ibrahim Dankaambo; and an ex-minister of education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, former chairman of the party, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi and former minister of special duties; Alhaji Tanimu Turaki. Meanwhile, about 7,000 defectors from various political parties were on Monday, May 14, received by the PDP in Kanam local government of Plateau state. Some of the defectors were those that cross carpeted to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after the 2015 general elections.
PDP chairman in Plateau state, Damishi Sango, who received them during the commissioning of Kanam PDP office and inauguration of chairmanship campaign committee and appeal fund raising, said the defectors would be accorded the same privileges as other members of the party.
PDP's Magnificent 7 for 2019 on
Board sets May 26 for rescheduled examinations for over 12,000 candidates
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Sunday said that it had set May 26 for rescheduled Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) for more than 12, 000 candidates across the country.
The Board’s Head of Media, Dr Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
According to Benjamin, more than 12, 000 candidates are expected to sit for the mop up examinations in few of its centres across the country.
This category of candidates, he explained, are those whose biometrics were not captured during the initial period of the UTME in March.
He said: “ “It would also include those, who are yet to see their results since the end of the examinations in March till date and have not been involved in any form of malpractice.
“
“It will also include those, who were unable to print out their e-slip before the earlier examinations and those whose centres were cancelled for suspected malpractices.’’
According to him, “there are centres that were cancelled because of suspicious activities but the board was unable to identify the actual culprits.
However, he said that those, who were involved and caught in illicit acts and centres where a case of malpractice has been established against them would not partake in the rescheduled examinations.
He advised candidates, who might have fallen into any of the categories qualified for the examination to print their e-slips from Monday, May 21.
NAN recalls the board had earlier promised to reschedule the examinations for some candidates whose cases were exceptional, adding that candidates, who fall under such categories would be contacted before then.
Nigeria will cease to exist if you rig Ekiti election – PDP warns APC
Uche Secondus, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says Nigeria might go into extinction if the July governorship election in Ekiti state is rigged.
Speaking at the flag-off of PDP’s local government election campaign in Rivers state, the opposition leader said his party would resist any attempt to thwart the will of the people.
He alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) rigged the Kaduna local government election, where his party won four LGAs, while APC swept 14.
“The forthcoming Ekiti state election is going to be a litmus test. We warn that if you attempt to rig Ekiti, it will be a recipe for crisis and we don’t know whether there will be Nigeria or not,” he said.
“We are bold to say it because you cannot take the peoples rights, you cannot deny them of their votes and we are saying and we want APC to say the same that it will be ‘one man, one vote’, ‘one woman, one vote’, ‘one youth, one vote’.
“We will never allow an evil individual to destroy this nation or to destroy our state. If you like wait for us, we refuse to be intimidated. We saw all that happened in Kaduna last Saturday. PDP won in all local government areas, but they over-turned the results.” Secondus said that with the help of Nigerians, PDP is united to take over from the APC in 2019.
He said his party would provide the leadership that will create platforms of the unity for Nigerians.
During a dinner with the southwest caucus of APC at the presidential villa in Abuja earlier in the week, President Muhammadu Buhari urged the members of his party to take the mission to rescue Ekiti from PDP seriously
Court adjourns Dino Melaye’s case indefinitely on Health grounds
Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of FCT High Court, Maitama, has adjourned indefinitely the trial of Senator Dino Melaye docked for allegedly giving false information. The court adjourned the trial sine die (indefinitely) following the confirmation by the National Hospital, Abuja that Melaye was on admission at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital.
The embattled senator was dragged to court on a two-count charge, bordering on giving false information, offences he denied committing. He was arraigned on March 1st by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) on a two-count charge for allegedly giving false information to the police to incriminate the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Edward Onoja David, as the mastermind of the said assassination attempt on him.
N1.9bn: Billionaire businesswoman, Bola Shagaya, loses bid to unfreeze account
Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, May 17, 2018, described as “judicial rascality” the issues raised by a businesswoman, Bola Shagaya, in an application seeking an order of the court to set aside the ruling given by Justice M.S. Hassan of the same court ordering the interim attachment of her
account pending conclusion of investigation.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had on December 29, 2016, secured an order of Justice Hassan to freeze a Unity Bank account with a balance of N1,902,673,399.93 belonging to Shagaya. The money was the balance of a total of N3,305,150,000, which Shagaya allegedly received as “Finder fees” on behalf of an organisation, “Women for Change” being promoted by a former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.
It was further alleged that the N3.3bn was realized through Shagaya’s fraudulent activities in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, where she was said to have influenced the allocation of Dual Purpose Kerosene to Index Petrolube Africa Limited, with the aid of the former First Lady.
The N3.3bm was allegedly paid by Index Petrolube Africa Limited and sister company, Autodex Nigeria Limited, which are said to belong to Hon. Ezeani ThankGod.
It was also alleged that the reason for the payment of the N3.3bn was to “fraudulently facilitate allocation of Dual Purpose Kerosene to ThankGod’s company, Index Petrolube Africa Limited.”
It was also alleged that the reason for the payment of the N3.3bn was to “fraudulently facilitate allocation of Dual Purpose Kerosene to ThankGod’s company, Index Petrolube Africa Limited.”
Out of the N3.3bn, Shagaya was said to have “paid a cumulative sum of N1,212,000,000 to the former First Lady through her '‘Women for Change Initiative" account domiciled in Diamond Bank, to which the former First Lady is the sole signatory.”.
Shagaya allegedly "warehoused" the balance of N1.9bn in her account in Unity Bank.
Through her lawyer, Shagaya, in an originating summons, had urged Justice Oguntoyinbo to grant her access to the account, which has been frozen since December 29, 2016. Shagaya, who is claiming violation of her constitutional right to fair hearing, filed an originating summons dated October 20, 2017 supported by a 19- paragraph affidavit seeking the court’s order to set aside Justice Hassan’s ruling and also asking for the declarations
that the ruling was unconstitutional, null and void as same violates her right of fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36(1) & (2) of the 1999 Constitution.
that the ruling was unconstitutional, null and void as same violates her right of fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36(1) & (2) of the 1999 Constitution.
She is also seeking a declaration that she has the right to own movable properties as guaranteed by Section 44(1) & (1c) of the 1999 Constitution.
In response to the application, the EFCC, in a nine-paragraph counter- affidavit deposed to by Musbahu Yahaya Abubakar, an investigator with the EFCC, urged the court to dismiss the prayers of the applicant and declare it an abuse of court process.
At the resumed hearing today, Justice Oguntoyinbo dismissed the application and held that an interim order of the account of the applicant or forfeiture of her account pending investigation and prosecution did not violate her right to fair hearing.
She also held that “Section 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 of the EFCC Act provides that immediately
after the commencement of investigation, the Commission can attach a property to last till the commencement of criminal trial.
after the commencement of investigation, the Commission can attach a property to last till the commencement of criminal trial.
“The order made by Honorable Justice M.S. Hassan was made within jurisdiction and this court cannot stand as an appellate court against its decision. This suit is an appeal presented in form of originating summons by asking the court to preview the status of a court of concurrent jurisdiction, it is a judicial rascality."
''It was doctored'' Nigeria Police Force finally reacts to a trending embarrassing video of IGP Ibrahim Idris
The Nigeria Police Force has finally reacted to the trending video of the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris.
In a tweet chat today, the police said the video was doctored. Nigerians on twitter have however asked for the original video of the police chief speaking at the event.
Photos: NDLEA seize 4 Tonnes of Tramadol at Lagos airport
Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) today seized four tonnes of Tramadol drugs at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.
The NDLEA commandant at the airport, Ahmadu Garba, in a chat with newsmen, said the seized consignments were imported into the country through the United Arab Emirates (UAE) airline, Etihad Cargo and that the antinarcotic agency is yet to determine the importer of the banned substance.
Garba said the first batch of the two consignments arrived Nigeria on April 23rd 2018 while the second consignment arrived on April 25th at the airport. He explained that the two consignments arrived in four waybills while the fifth waybill arrived its command yesterday and that the command only got hold of the consignment today after the owners refused to come forward for clearance.
“We collected the consignments from the Skyway Aviation Handling Limited (SAHCOL) shed today (Thursday) and we got to know of the consignment even before it arrived the country through our foreign intelligence. Since then, we have been monitoring it and waited for either the importer or any clearing agent to come forward for clearance, but no one came. The approved dosage for Tramadol is between 50m and 100m, but what thee importer brought into the country was 250m, which is above the approved milligrams by the government. The total waybills were five.”
“We collected the consignments from the Skyway Aviation Handling Limited (SAHCOL) shed today (Thursday) and we got to know of the consignment even before it arrived the country through our foreign intelligence. Since then, we have been monitoring it and waited for either the importer or any clearing agent to come forward for clearance, but no one came. The approved dosage for Tramadol is between 50m and 100m, but what thee importer brought into the country was 250m, which is above the approved milligrams by the government. The total waybills were five.”
He added that the command had made a total seizure of 187.22kgs of illicit drugs between January and April this year. The breakdown of the seizures indicated that cocaine was 1.88kg, heroin; 4.48kg, cannabis Sativa; 15.64kg, methamphetamine; 41.06kg, ephedrine; 89.06kg and, Phenacetin with 8.2k.
Lai Mohammed denies orchestrating arrest of Kwara youths
Read the statement form the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Moahmmed.
The attention of the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has been drawn to the accusation by the Kwara South Youths Stakeholders that he orchestrated the recent arrest by the police of some youths in the Kwara South.The Hon. Minister vehemently rejects this accusation. He has nothing to do with the arrest of the youths in Kwara South, and believes - contrary to the allegation by the stakeholders - that the arrest has nothing to do with the Ward Congress in his hometown of Oro. Afterall, suspected cultists were also recently arrested and paraded by the police in Ilorin.The Hon. Minister wishes to state that the police, in the exercise of its constitutional responsibility, does not need to be goaded by anyone to carry out arrests where necessary.Concerning the outcome of the election in his Oro Ward 2, the Hon. Minister has made his observations on the conduct of the election known to the appropriate party authorities, in line with his strong belief in the rule of law.Suffice it to say, however, that the only credible Ward election was the one held by the genuine party members in Oro Ward 2. That explains why, after the election, there was a rally around Oro Town that eventually terminated in the country home of the Hon. Minister. He does not believe there is any linkage between the election and the arrests.
Borno state government official defends his decision to empower youths with Shoe shinning kits, bags of oranges
The Borno state Commissioner for Higher Education and aspirant for the house of representatives in 2019, Usman Jaha (Babawo) has defended his decision to distribute kits with shoe polish, bags of oranges and other items to youths in Gwoza as part of his personal welfare programme.
In a statement he released, Usman said he empowered the youths of the area based on their peculiar needs.
Nigerians on social media condemned Usman's choice of empowerment materials immediately the photos surfaced online.
Read part of Usman's statement below
''The programme is my personal effort and it is based on the peculiar needs of the beneficiaries in Gwoza. All communities have their needs and these needs change from time to time. In my years as a politician who served at the Borno State Assembly before becoming a Commissioner, I have always interacted with constituents before making any welfare intervention. I make interventions based on their peculiar needs. There are times people ask for a particular support and we don’t have the liberty of imposing our preferences. We support communities in all sectors that include education, vocational skills and businesses.
There are records. “What do what our people want. I have once seen the picture of a serving Governor from a different part of this country distributing life chickens to citizens and I am sure it was based the peculiarities of needs. A good politician must be conscious of the peculiarities of needs in the communities he or she represents. A politician must be pragmatic and must not shamed of doing what his people want because the people make the politician. What is important to me is the happiness of our people in Gwoza, nothing else really matter”.
Fulani herdsmen kill five farmers in Benue State
Suspected Fulani herdsmen on Thursday, killed five farmers at Ukemberagya district, near Anyiin, in Logo local government area of Benue State.
A community leader, Chief Joseph Anawah, who confirmed the incident told The Nation on phone that the attackers who were armed with sophisticated weapons stormed the settlements in Ukemberagya at 6:30 a.m. and operated for about three hours.
“They moved from one village to another, shot sporadically and razed houses,” he said.
Anawah listed those killed as Bem Torjem, Apedzan Chia and Ikpuku Korya.
Photos: President Buhari in closed door meeting with Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai
President Buhari today received in audience the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, in the State House Abuja. The Army chief briefed the president on the activities of the Army and how it is tackling the challenges of insecurity. See more photos from the meeting below...
EFCC detains another PDP Senator for receiving N303m worth of cars as gift
A member of the Nigerian senate, Senator Albert Bassey who represents Akwa Ibom North East in the senate, has been arrested by EFCC operatives for allegedly receiving vehicles worth N303 million from Babajide Omokore, an oil magnate who is standing trial for allegedly helping ex-petroluem minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke in money laundering.
Akpan was said to have given contracts worth billions of naira to Omokore, who allegedly used the vehicles as payment in return of the favour.
A top source in the antigraft agency who spoke in confidence to The Nation said Bassey has been invited repeatedly to react to the allegations of financial impropriety leveled against him but he has refused to honor all the invitations.
“We have been interrogating Senator Bassey in the last 12 hours on the allegations against him. One of the allegations against him is how N303million worth of vehicles were given out as gifts to Bassey by the owner of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited between July 30, 2010 and January 8, 2014.” he said
A fact-sheet from the EFCC reads
“The Senator as Commissioner for Finance was also the Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee. About N30billion hit the account managed by the committee during the period. The fund came from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and statutory allocations. Following allegation of massive wiring of the cash into private accounts, the EFCC decided to invite Sen. Bassey to give account. This agency is looking into allegation of money laundering against Bassey. Detectives have uncovered how contracts worth N618million to two companies namely Bay Atlantic Energy Services Limited and Sahel Energy/Power between 2010 and 2014 were awarded. The companies belong to the owner of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited Chief Jide Omokore. At about the same period, vehicles worth N303million were given out as gifts to Bassey by the owner of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited especially between July 30, 2010 and January 8, 2014. From investigation by detectives, there is a correlation between the transactions and the gifts. The Akwa Ibom State Government has refused to make relevant documents available to the EFCC.”
The embattled senator has however denied collecting kickbacks from Omokore.
”The vehicles are gifts from Omokore on the need to ensure my personal safety. I have known him for 19 years. They were also contributions to my governorship campaign in 2014,” he said
Police officer arrested for extorting N5k from roadusers in Ikorodu
A police officer who extorted N5, 000 from road users in Ikorodu, Lagos state yesterday has been arrested and is currently undergoing interrogation.
Twitter user @@ife_luv12 lodged a complain to Abayomi Shogunle, the Head Police Complaints Commission Unit who just informed her that the erring police officer has been identified and is being interrogated. See their exchanges below...
PDP expresses worry over plots to implicate Saraki
Read the press statement from PDP below
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is deeply concerned over reports by Senate President Bukola Saraki of alleged plots by the Police to use suspected cultists, who have been in detention, to implicate him and the Governor of Kwara state, Abdulfatah Ahmed.The PDP, as a party, has taken judicious note of assertions by the Senate President that the said plot is allegedly being hatched by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Idris Ibrahim, “to settle scores” with the Senate over its recent declaration that he is not fit to hold public office.The PDP is alarmed by the trend of brazen assaults on the institutions of democracy, particularly the National Assembly and the judiciary, in addition to unrelenting attacks on dissenting voices, especially as we approach the 2019 general elections.Nigerians will recall that the PDP had earlier alerted of plots to arrest, harass, detain dissenting voices and opposition members on trumped-up charges, as well as intimidate institutions of democracy and pave the way for a one-party state in our country.Nigerians will further recall the invasion of the Senate chambers by thugs, who disrupted proceedings and carted away the mace. Only last Friday, hoodlums violently attacked a High Court in Rivers state with guns, in a bid to stop the judiciary from making pronouncements on an electoral matter.The PDP therefore charges the National Assembly to defend the nation’s democracy by sparing no energy in pursuing its resolution of engaging President Muhammadu Buhari on these assaults, in addition to putting in motion, all legislative instruments available to it, to curtail all excesses in government before the situation finally gets out of hand.
