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Fayose granted permission for medical trip

By
Toby
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0

A Federal High Court in Lagos has granted permission to former governor of Ekiti State Ayodele Fayose to embark on medical trip.

Mr Fayose and his firm Spotless Investment Limited are being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged N2.2billion fraud.

Justice C.J. Aneke granted the permission on Friday following an application by Fayose’s lawyer Ola Olanipekun.

EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs did not oppose the request.

The judge adjourned further hearing in the case till January 22, 2021.

In the charges, the EFCC alleged inter alia that Fayose, on June 17, 2014, “took possession of the sum of N1, 219, 000,000 to fund your 2014 gubernatorial campaign in Ekiti State, which you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing.”

The ex-governor was also alleged to have on the same day “received a cash payment of $5,000,000 from Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the then Minister of State for Defence, which sum exceeded the amount authorised by law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 1 and 16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16 (2)(b) of the same Act.”

In January, a video of Fayose dancing with a white woman on a cruise ship abroad surfaced on social media.

The ex-governor was on a medical trip at the time granted him by the same court in his trial for allegedly receiving and keeping N1.2 billion and $5 million stolen funds from the office of National Security Adviser (NSA).

Maryam Sanda’s death penalty stands as Court of Appeal rejects appeal

By
Toby
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0

A Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday dismissed the appeal filed by Maryam Sanda against the death sentence handed her for killing her husband Bilyaminu Bello.

In his two-hour judgement, Justice Steven Adah held that the court was duty-bound to do justice according to law and not sentiments.

Justice Adah said Sanda’s appeal lacked merit.

Justice Yusuf Halilu of an FCT High Court had on January 27 given the sentence.

He sentenced Sanda after she was convicted for stabbing Bello to death on November 18, 2017.

Bello was the nephew of former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Haliru Bello.

In the notice of appeal predicated on 20 grounds, Sanda had prayed the appellate court to set aside the verdict of the lower court and acquit her.

She claimed Justice Halilu was tainted by bias and prejudices.

Sanda alleged that the judge gave the verdict despite the reasonable doubt that was created by evidence of witnesses, lack of confessional statement, absence of murder weapon, lack of corroboration of evidence by two or more witnesses, and lack of autopsy report to determine the true cause of her husband’s death.

Those killed in Zarbamari were Boko Haram informants, not farmers -Community Source

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admin
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0
People attend a funeral for those killed by suspected Boko Haram militants in Zaabarmar, Nigeria, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. Nigerian officials say suspected members of the Islamic militant group Boko Haram have killed at least 40 rice farmers and fishermen while they were harvesting crops in northern Borno State. The attack was staged Saturday in a rice field in Garin Kwashebe, a Borno community known for rice farming. (AP Photo/Jossy Ola)

By Yemi Itodo

Contrary to the believe that victims of Boko Haram attack last Saturday in Borno were rice farmers; fresh fact has emerged Friday morning that they were actually informants and logistics suppliers to the insurgents.

About 48 persons were reportedly slain Saturday morning in Zarbamari, a town in Borno State, North East Nigeria, by the Boko Haram insurgents, who later claimed responsibility.

The recent attack which was believed by many to be on rice farmers, has elicited commentaries and condemnations from all spheres of life.

But Mallam Kabiru Zanna, a local of Zarbamari, who spoke with this Correspond Friday morning, said those affected were mainly collaborators of Boko Haram who hailed from Zamfara and Sokoto states.

“The people that were killed were actually logistics suppliers and collaborators with Boko Haram. They supply them food, fuel. They also help the insurgents in selling rustled cows”, he said.

Zanna who spoke in Hausa, also narrated what actually transpired on that fateful Saturday and how the transaction between the insurgents and their erstwhile collaborators went awry.

“Last week, these same people were on their way to meeting the insurgents for business when they were accosted by soldiers and after the soldiers couldn’t find anything on them they let them go.

“Meanwhile, the insurgents who were waiting saw them with the troops who later killed 5 of them after an ambush, so the insurgents accused those guys of providing Intel to the soldiers. This is the main reason why the terrorists began killing them.

“The insurgents called them to meet on Thursday but they said they wouldn’t be able to make it unless on Saturday. They agreed to meet early morning 5:00am on that Saturday. They even had their morning prayers there.

“From there, the insurgents began to tell them about those guys who used to supply them food, who also betrayed them by providing Intel to the troops.

“Normally if there are betrayers in a town the entire community would pay the price for such acts. At that moment, the insurgents ordered that everyone be tied. They instructed that no gun should be fired in other not to attract troops.

“That was exactly what happened. Those people mostly are collaborators of the terrorists”, he added.

Zanna, who has been keeping tabs with activities of Boko Haram in the state, said, though some that were killed were innocent, “but very few of them. I swear most of them are traders with the insurgents. None of them is a rice farmer, they are all in trade with the insurgents”.

When contacted on phone, a Media Aide to Governor Babagana Umar Zulum, Mr. Ahidjo Abdu Likita, confirmed the revelation.

“Yes, it has been confirmed that the victims slaughtered were agents of Boko Haram”, he told our reporter on phone, adding that, further investigation was being carried to reveal more.

When asked why did the Governor go ahead to disburse money to perceived family members of the victims, since they were collaborators, Likita said, the Governor didn’t “know the real of all the scenario till today”.

He said, “everybody was thinking it was the real people of Zabarmari village”, until the information got to the Governor Friday morning.

NPA generated N291bn in 10 months – MD

By
Toby
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0

THE Nigerian Ports Authority generated N291bn revenue between January to October 2020.
This was disclosed by the Managing Director, Hadiza Bala-Usman, in a television programme on Thursday.
According to Usman the revenue generated this year does not surpass the N298bn record set last year.
She, however, noted that the differential was marginal and could be equalled between November and December.
She said, “Despite the challenges within the economy, the Nigerian ports between the period of January to October, was able to raise 291bn as revenue.
“In 2019, we raised 298bn between January to December. You can see that the differential is marginal.
“In November-December we may be able to meet up to what we made in 2019 or we may not. There was a reduction but it was not huge in terms of revenue.”
The NPA boss said port operations suffered a downtime of two days after recent attacks on port headquarters.
She said, “Regarding our operations, we had a downtime of two days sorting Internet services provisions for payment. We were up after 48 hours to continue operations.
“The offices torched were corporate and strategic communication and some part of the audit department- the windows got burnt but we didn’t lose any documents.
“On one side we look at it as random hoodlums, on the other hand, we also have a lot of questions to answer like why your office? However seven people were arrested and we have CCTV footage of the attack.”

Dangote refinery named among 20 most influential projects

By
Toby
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0

Dangote oil refinery has been listed among the top 20 influential projects surveyed in the last 18 months by the Project Management Institute.

Dangote Industries Limited said in a statement on Thursday that the refinery was recognised for the potential to fuel Nigeria’s economic transformation from an importer to a self-sustaining powerhouse in petroleum refining.

According to the statement, the PMI said the 2020 Most Influential Projects list highlights compelling projects around the world and across industries that achieved significant milestones and impacted society.

It said the list identified the noteworthy projects that had defined the past year – a year that has been dramatically transformed by the coronavirus pandemic.

PMI’s Vice President of Global Engagement, Otema Yirenkyi, was quoted as saying, “When it’s completed in 2021, the Dangote oil refinery in Nigeria will be the largest oil refinery in Africa and one of the largest in the world, processing 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day and creating nearly 35,000 jobs in and around Lagos.

“But its benefits run deeper than that. By creating a self-sustaining supply of high-quality refined petroleum products, the project will reduce the country’s reliance on imports, help stabilise its currency and aid in the fight against poverty.”

The President and Chief Executive Officer, PMI, Sunil Prashara, said the most influential projects reflected how project managers and change managers had found ingenious ways to keep initiatives moving forward in the face of unexpected obstacles associated with the pandemic.

 

 

Maina remanded at Kuje prison till end of trial

By
Toby
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0

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Taskforce Team Abdulrasheed Maina at Kuje Correctional Centre pending the conclusion of his trial.

Justice Okon Abang gave the order on Friday following resumption of trial.

Maina’s counsel Adaji Abel formally withdrew from the case while the counsel engaged by Mr Maina asked for a short adjournment to enable him to study the facts of the case.

Justice Abang granted the application for adjournment on the ground that the defendant who is presumed innocent is entitled to legal representation.

The case was adjourned to December 8.

Maina who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on N2billion money laundering charges was on Thursday extradited to Nigeria from Niger Republic after he jumped bail.

QED

45-year-old civil servant, student emerges NANS president

By
Toby
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0

A 45-year-old civil servant has been elected the new president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

Amid chaos and violence that characterised the convention at the old parade ground, Abuja on Thursday, Sunday Asefon who works with the Ekiti State Government, got 155 votes to defeat his closest rival, Olushola Oladoja, who scored 100 votes.

Oladoja , reported to be a student of  Ekiti State University, replaces Bamidele Akpan.

COVID-19: Arik Air sacks 300 staff

By
Toby
-
0

The management of Arik Air has  declared 300 staff members redundant to its current level of operations.

Adebanji Ola, manager, PR & Communications in a statement said the leadership of the impacted unions had been contacted to negotiate a redundancy package for the affected staff.

“It is important to note that over 50 percent of Arik Air’s workforce of over 1,600 staff have been on furlough in the past six months on a base allowance.

“Decisions to let go off staff is naturally a difficult decision. Arik Air wishes the impacted staff well in their future endeavours,” Ola added.

Those killed in Zarbamari were Boko Haram informants, not farmers – Community Source

By
Toby
-
0

By Yemi Itodo

Contrary to the believe that victims of Boko Haram attack last Saturday in Borno were rice farmers; fresh fact has emerged Friday morning that they were actually informants and logistics suppliers to the insurgents.

About 48 persons were reportedly slain Saturday morning in Zarbamari, a town in Borno State, North East Nigeria, by the Boko Haram insurgents, who later claimed responsibility.

The recent attack which was believed by many to be on rice farmers, has elicited commentaries and condemnations from all spheres of life.

But Mallam Kabiru Zanna, a local of Zarbamari, who spoke with this Correspond Friday morning, said those affected were mainly collaborators of Boko Haram who hailed from Zamfara and Sokoto states.

“The people that were killed were actually logistics suppliers and collaborators with Boko Haram. They supply them food, fuel. They also help the insurgents in selling rustled cows”, he said.

Zanna who spoke in Hausa, also narrated what actually transpired on that fateful Saturday and how the transaction between the insurgents and their erstwhile collaborators went awry.

“Last week, these same people were on their way to meeting the insurgents for business when they were accosted by soldiers and after the soldiers couldn’t find anything on them they let them go.

“Meanwhile, the insurgents who were waiting saw them with the troops who later killed 5 of them after an ambush, so the insurgents accused those guys of providing Intel to the soldiers. This is the main reason why the terrorists began killing them.

“The insurgents called them to meet on Thursday but they said they wouldn’t be able to make it unless on Saturday. They agreed to meet early morning 5:00am on that Saturday. They even had their morning prayers there.

“From there, the insurgents began to tell them about those guys who used to supply them food, who also betrayed them by providing Intel to the troops.

“Normally if there are betrayers in a town the entire community would pay the price for such acts. At that moment, the insurgents ordered that everyone be tied. They instructed that no gun should be fired in other not to attract troops.

“That was exactly what happened. Those people mostly are collaborators of the terrorists”, he added.

Zanna, who has been keeping tabs with activities of Boko Haram in the state, said, though some that were killed were innocent, “but very few of them. I swear most of them are traders with the insurgents. None of them is a rice farmer, they are all in trade with the insurgents”.

When contacted on phone, a Media Aide to Governor Babagana Umar Zulum, Mr. Ahidjo Abdu Likita, confirmed the revelation.

“Yes, it has been confirmed that the victims slaughtered were agents of Boko Haram”, he told our reporter on phone, adding that, further investigation was being carried to reveal more.

When asked why did the Governor go ahead to disburse money to perceived family members of the victims, since they were collaborators, Likita said, the Governor didn’t “know the real of all the scenario till today”.

He said, “everybody was thinking it was the real people of Zabarmari village”, until the information got to the Governor Friday morning.

Coalition hails troops, says North-East closer to safety with killing of Lake Chad Boko Haram Governor

By
Toby
-
10

The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) says the North-East region is closer to safety following the killing of high-ranking Boko Haram commander,  Amir Goni Maina.

Goni Maina was the acclaimed Governor of Lake Chad Tumbuns.

He perceived the area as his territory from where he orchestrated several deadly attacks.

The once-inviscible terror kingpin, however, met his waterloo on Wednesday, following an offensive by the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.

This comes few days after a recent charge by President Muhammadu Buhari to the military to take the battle to the insurgents.

And in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Gabriel Onoja, on Thursday, the CATE applauded the military, it’s leadership  and the troops that carried out the succesful operation in line with President Buhari’s order.

According to the coalition, Goni Maina’s death is a befitting consequence for the massacre of scores of farmers in Koshobe and Zabarmari areas of Borno State.

It further charged the troops to maintain the momentum and fish out all the remnants of terrorists in the Lake Chad region.

The group, however, assured that with the demise of Goni Maina and sustained onslaught by the troop, the North-East region would soon experience a new lease of life.

Read full statement below: 

The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) is pleased to learn of the exploit by the Nigerian Military with the killing of a high-ranking Boko Haram commander, Amir Goni Maina, who in his lifetime posed as the Governor of Lake Chad Tumbuns. With Amir Maina’s death the northeast region of Nigeria is one step closer to being made safe for civilians to live their lives in peace.

CATE unequivocally commends the Nigerian military, it’s leadership  and the troops that carried out the operation for their success in striking at the heart of the insurgency in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive. The Army has continued to  show  that it is capable of holding its own and taking the battle to the insurgents in all their hideouts and enclaves.

Amir Maina’s death is a befitting consequence for the massacre of scores of farmers in Koshobe, Zabarmari area of Borno state, Nigerians want more terrorists -whether Boko Haram or ISWAP- to pay for the heinous crime of going after civilians.  It is our firm belief that other unrepentant terrorists will soon be doing escort duty for Amir Maina as they are dispatched from the face of the earth.

We therefore charge the military to fish out all the remnants of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the Lake Chad region dead or alive within the shortest period possible. The military should ensure that there is no terrorists spared in this round of operation against the terrorists to ensure that they do not have time to recover or ever regroup again.

Even if the terrorists should indicate interest in a ceasefire or peace talks such overture should be spurned by the military and the government since such had in the past turned out to be mere ploys by the terrorists to buy time, regroup, recruit new fighters and train them.

In CATE’s opinion, anyone or any organization that broaches the idea of ceasefire, peace talks or any suggestion that could potentially buy Boko Haram terrorists some moments of reprieve must seen  as an enemy of the state and enemy of Nigerians. These are individuals and entities that failed to demand that the terrorists abandon their evil ways and allow the people of the northeast live their lives in peace.

CATE is stating this because we have heard of plans by some individuals and some organizations so slow down the impending escalation of military actions against Boko Haram terrorists by rushing to offer themselves as peace brokers in order to corner the military into accepting a ceasefire. They will also request for the opening of humanitarian corridors for relief materials and safe passage for civilians, which in reality would be escape routes for terrorists that would be cornered in the impending offensive. Where these approaches fails, these persons and organizations will accuse the military of committing human right abuses by claiming that some of the terrorists to be killed in the operations are civilians.

Several foreign news networks have been placed on standby to publicize skewed versions of whichever of these plans is being implemented in order to draw international condemnation to the military operation to crush Boko Haram.

We urge the military, particularly the Nigerian Army, not to be deterred in the resolve to carry out Mr. President’s directive to flush all terrorists out of the Lake Chad Basin irrespective of what blackmail is directed at it.

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