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COVID-19: Russia to roll out mass vaccination against Corovirus in October

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COVID-19: Russia to roll out mass vaccination against Corovirus in October

Russia’s local news agencies have revealed that the country’s Health Minister, Mikhail Musashko, has concluded plans for a mass vaccination campaign against  Coronavirus starting from October.

Interfax News Agency had quoted Musashko as saying that a state research facility in Moscow, the Gamaleya Institute, had completed clinical trials of the vaccine even as the paperwork for registration are being prepared.

Murashko said that doctors and teachers would be the first to be vaccinated against the virus. According to him,  “We plan wider vaccinations for October.’’

Nairametrics had reported that Russia, which is currently the world’s fourth most COVID-19 infested country, has concluded plans to register a coronavirus vaccine as early as August 10, 2020. This is to make way for what could most likely become the world’s first officially approved vaccine against the Coronavirus pandemic.

The head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev, has compared what he described as Russia’s success in developing a vaccine to the successful launch of Sputnik 1, the world’s first satellite, by the Soviet Union in 1957.

Meanwhile, the western media has called to question whether Russia is putting national prestige before science and safety, considering the speed at which it is moving to roll out the vaccine.

While the vaccine has been described by its developers as safe and potentially the first to get to the public, the data has not been published yet and other countries are raising questions over the speed at which Russia is moving.

Russia, which have been badly hit by the pandemic, has a total number of 845,443 reported cases as of Saturday, August 1, 2020, with a total of 14,058 deaths.

The World Health Organization had disclosed that about 150 possible vaccines against the coronavirus disease are currently under development across the globe. The United Health agency said that at least 4 of the vaccines are in final phase 3 human trials.

These include the 3 developed in China and another one in the UK.

China Loan: Nigeria Will Pay Back in 20 years, Says Amaechi

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China Loan: Nigeria Will Pay Back in 20 years, Says Amaechi

Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has given the assurance that the Nigerian government has the capability to pay back the loans collected for the construction of rail projects within the stipulated period of twenty years.

Amaechi stated this Friday when he appeared on a live television programme (Democracy Today) aired on AIT in Abuja.

He said China is the only country willing to give out loans with a low interest rate of 2.8 percent as no country in the world would give out a loan with such pay back rate.

“The trade agreement between Nigeria and China: The first thing is that the ministry of transport doesn’t take loan, everything about loan is directed to the ministry of finance, so I couldn’t have signed any loan because I don’t take loan. What I signed is what is called commercial contract, which is contract between the federal government and CCECC as a contractor, the contract between Nigeria and China is usually signed by the ministry of finance., Amaechi said.

“Whether it is the ministry of finance that signed it or the ministry of transportation, the issue is that nobody will give you loan free of charge , there must be an agreement and such agreement must contain some terms, that doesn’t mean that you are signing away the sovereignty of the country, no country will sign out its sovereignty.

“What clause 8 does is to say to you, I expect you to pay according to those terms we have agreed, if you don’t pay, don’t throw your immunity on me when I come to collect back the guarantee that was put forward, that is all.

“We are paying the loans. In the same National Assembly sitting, they were told that the 500million dollars loan, we have paid 96 million dollars already, Nigeria is already paying and the 500 million dollars was not taking by us, it was taken by President Goodluck Jonathan in his term and that clause was there.

“Nigeria has the capacity to pay back for the period of 20 years at 2.8 percent, which country will give you that loan? secondly , these loans are not giving to us, they are paid directly to the contractors, once they sign that the job has been done , they pay the contractors and that has never happened before and this project are in place, are they trying to rubbish the fact that there is a railway from Abuja-Kaduna?

“There is no loan in Nigeria either internal or external that is not approved by the National Assembly, none. Chinese government will not even give you a loan without an approval by the National Assembly because if they give you a loan without the approval from NASS that is no loan,” he explained.

Reacting to fears by Nigerians that the country is being sold out to China because of the loans, Amaechi said ” when we stop collecting the loans, then we stop developing because there was no money by the time we came into government, by the time we came the money has been blown away”, he said.

Amaechi further said that the sovereign guarantee and sovereign immunity clause raised by the National Assembly was just a term used to ensure that loans collected were paid back and in the case of a default only the assets constructed with such a loan would be taken back.

According to him, even commercial banks would not give anybody a loan without an asset that can be used to pay back the loan collected, same with the Chinese loan or any other loan in the world.

Hear him, “What you do is you give a sovereign guarantee and that guarantee is the immunity clause they are talking about. When we say I give you a sovereign guarantee and we get immunity clause, the immunity clause is that if tomorrow am not able to pay you and you come to collect the items that we have agreed upon, that these are items that am putting down as guarantee, I can waive my immunity and say no you can’t touch it am sovereign country.

” So, they are saying if you are not able to pay, don’t stop us from taking back those items that will make us recover our funds, so is China our father that will give us money for free? It is a standard clause in every agreement whether is America we signed it with, whether is Britain, any country would want to know that they can recover their money.

“Anybody that is saying he doesn’t know what a sovereign guarantee or immunity is, too bad for the person, because it simply means in trade that I am not giving you this loan free of charge, just like you go to the bank to collect a loan, the moment you don’t pay they go after your assets you put down, that is all about the clause, the Chinese can never come and take over Aso rock and become President or Minister.

” And if the assets you put down become depreciated then you negotiate which assets they can go after. Chinese will never take over what was not constructed with the loan.”

Amaechi said it would be unconstitutional to take a loan not approved by the National Assembly, but for the issue of confidentiality in government he would have published the clauses generating the dusts.

“The National Assembly are aware of all these loans, we can’t take loan without the National Assembly, so ask why they are investigating? The Chinese is just asking us to show them the evidence that we will pay back which is the immunity clause. If we don’t pay, they can take back their assets,” he noted.

Speaking about the Zambia experience, where the country could not meet up with its loan agreement, the minister said that the Chinese government will never take over infrastructure that was not constructed from the money taken.

He also acknowledged that the finance ministry in a payment plan had started paying back some of the loans collected.

“The payment plan is the responsibility of the ministry of finance, ours is to implement the contract. They are meeting the requirements, at any point in time that we need to pay, we’ll pay, adding, “1.6 billion dollars was taken to fix Lagos to Ibadan, we are asking for 5.3 billion dollars to fix from Ibadan to Kano, 3.2 billion dollars to fix Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, then Lagos to Calabar which is about 11.1billion dollars, if those things were done when we had money, will we be here today? The answer is no.”

Amaechi who also called on the National Assembly and Nigerians to appreciate government effort in providing infrastructure said the Itakpe /Warri rail project in the South South which was abandoned for thirty four years by successive governments was fully rehabilitated by the present administration without seeking for loan.

Edo Election: Obaseki Has Seen His Defeat – John Mayaki

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Edo Election: Obaseki Has Seen His Defeat – John Mayaki

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Campaign Organisation for the Edo State governorship election, has described the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, as a confused man merely projecting the criminal plans his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are perfecting.

The APC campaign said it was dawning realization for the PDP that they have been rejected by the people of Edo State.

The APC said that it is the only party campaigning on its documented manifesto because of it sole strategy to win the election is by winning the hearts and goodwill of the people through well-thought-out programs and policies that will bring relief and erase the failures of the past four years.

This was contained in a statement signed and made available to APR by Prince John Mayaki, Chairman, Edo State APC Media Campaign Council

“Despite spending four years in office, Obaseki has neither achievements nor plans to show,” the statement added.

“He is campaigning largely on empty rhetorics, revisionism, and shameful blackmail and propaganda.

“Election may be weeks away but the truth has finally dawned on Obaseki. He is on his way to a sound, comprehensive defeat so like all failures, he is already preparing the grounds for his defeat with false, ridiculous accusations.

“He is also trying to deflect attention while himself and his party, already renowned for violence, continue to ferry thugs and cultists into the State to rig the election.

“But he will be resisted. Together with our people, we are going to keep watch and ensure the votes to return Obaseki to where he came from are protected.

Despite Baga attack, Zulum delivers food aide to 80,000 IDPs in Monguno

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Despite Baga attack, Zulum delivers food aide to 80,000 IDPs in Monguno

… Military commander praises Zulum’s resilience

Despite an atttack on his entourage in Baga, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum continued his humanitarian activities in Monguno, where he delivered food aid to over 80,000 internally displaced persons.

The Governor arrived Monguno on Monday for a humanitarian tour of northern part of the state, he supervised the distribution of relief items to IDPs from Marte, Guzamala, Kukawa, Nganzai and Monguno.

Thousands of bags of food grains and cooking oil was distributed to the IDPs and the vulnerable households in the host communities.

Male households received bags of grain, and cooking oil, while females received cash amount of 5,000 naira each.

Meanwhile, Governor Zulum’s resilience was commended by the sector 3 Commander of operation lafiya Dole, Brigadier General I. Garba.

The commendation was made when Zulum paid a visit to the soldiers, and officers of the Nigerian military at the Nasara Barracks, Monguno.

Before leaving Monguno to Maiduguri, Prof. Zulum inspected various ongoing projects, which includes High Islamic Secondary School project, 1000 housing unit project and a Mega Primary School.

While at the 1000 housing and the High Islamic School project sites, Zulum charged the contractor to maintain quality of their work.

“I have seen your job in Uyo, I have seen that of Mbala. By and large the work here is poor. We need to call your attention to stick to the quality. What matters are not the mere construction, but to deliver a quality building.”

Army launches inquiry into killing of Lieutenant by depressed soldier in Borno

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Army launches inquiry into killing of Lieutenant by depressed soldier in Borno

The Nigerian Army says it has began investigations into the killing of a subaltern by a soldier suffering from depression in Borno State.

Television Nigerian reports that a trooper of the Nigerian Army serving in 202 Battalion of 21 Special Armoured Brigade Bama, Borno State, went beserk at about 1030 hours on the 29th of July 2020 and fired at an officer (a Subaltern) which led to his death.

According to the Acting Director of Army Public Relations Col Sagir Musa, the incident happened when the soldier approached the officer who was standing infront of the Unit’s Headquarters making a phone call.

The soldier has been arrested, is in custody undergoing investigation. General situation in the unit is calm.

”The remains of the deceased officer has been evacuated to 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital.

”Investigation into the case has since been instituted to determine the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident.

”The family of the deceased has already been contacted.The Nigerian Army sympathezes and condoles with the family at this trying moment, and pray to the Almighty God to repose the soul of the departed and grant his family and other loved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. May his gentle soul rest in peace.” Musa added.

The Buhari the International Community Knows

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The Buhari the International Community Knows

By Femi Adesina

The Nigerian President is different things to different people, depending on the prism from which he is being considered. To some people, Muhammadu Buhari is a father figure. At 77 years old, he qualifies. To some others, he’s the greatest crowd pulling politician the country has seen for some time, and may yet see for a long time to come. True. And yet, to some others, he’s the strict man of discipline and integrity, who sets his face as flint against all forms of graft and avarice. Very true.

President Buhari is all these, and even more. But how does the international community see him? How do leaders of other countries, and people of weight and reckoning see the man who is a gift to the Nigerian nation?

For those of us who travel with the President round the world, it is sheer delight to see how the Nigerian Leader is venerated, and held in high esteem by the international community. Never to be forgotten are the words of the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, when he met with President Buhari at the sidelines of the 74th United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States of America, in September, 2019.

Inviting the Nigerian President to Euro-African Forum that his country was to host, de Sousa said: “Please come and declare the event open, even if it’s for half a day. We have been waiting for you to visit for three years. Many African leaders have come, but we want Nigeria.”

Truly, President Buhari is that Nigerian Leader that is in demand not just in the West African sub-region, where his colleagues virtually compelled him to be Chairman of Ecowas in July 2018, in Africa, where he was made Champion of Anti-Corruption by the African Union (AU), and in the uttermost parts of the world.

One of his earliest international visits was to America in July 2015, just two months after assumption of office for the first term. He was guest of the then American President, Barack Obama, who said of him during a bilateral meeting at the Oval Office:

“President Buhari came into office with a reputation for integrity and a very clear agenda, and that is to make sure that he is bringing safety and security, and peace to his country.”

In September of 2016, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, President Obama said of the Nigerian President again: “I am very pleased that we have been able to build a very strong working relationship with President Buhari, and he’s come in and initiated some very bold efforts at reform.
“On the security front, because of President Buhari’s leadership, he has been able to reform the Nigerian military.”

What of President Donald Trump, who succeeded Obama in office? At a meeting during an official visit by the Nigerian Leader in April, 2018, he declared: “I especially want to thank President Buhari for Nigeria’s partnership and leadership in the fight against terrorism. He’s been a real leader.”

And never to be forgotten is that meeting between Presidents Obama, Buhari, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, during the Nuclear Summit in America in May, 2016.
President Obama introduced the Nigerian President to Trudeau, saying; “Have you met President Buhari? He’s doing a good job.”

Every good Nigerian felt proud of his President round the world, at that endorsement.

Let’s go back in time to London, May 2016. The Queen of England had just turned 90, and after a thanksgiving service, she was in conversation with the then Prime Minister David Cameron, and Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. It was in the build up to a summit on corruption that London was hosting, and unknown to Cameron, a microphone was picking their conversation. He said: “Actually, we have got some leaders of some fantastically corrupt countries coming to Britain. Nigeria and Afghanistan- possibly two of the most corrupt countries in the world.”

But the Archbishop interjected, talking of Buhari. “But this President is not corrupt.”
Another fine moment in praise of integrity.

President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China: “Under the leadership of Your Excellency, the Nigerian people have been committed to safeguarding the nation’s stabilization, development of economy, and elevation of livelihood and achieved gratifying outcomes.”

At another time, President Jinping said: “ President Buhari is as decisive in dealing with terrorism as China.”

Thabo Mbeki, former South African President: “Here you have a person whose principle and practice is hostile to corruption. His detention (in 1985) was not for corruption, but for standing against corruption.”

Dame Patricia Scotland, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth: “Nigeria’s effort to combat corruption has been awe-inspiring. Thank you, Mr President.”

And Rex Tillerson, then American Secretary of State: “President Buhari’s work has resonated across Africa with his recent recognition as the African Union’s anti-corruption champion.” That was in March, 2018.

How about a fellow African leader, Dr Hage Geingob, President of Namibia? “A brave son of Africa is here, who has declared war against corruption.”

Many other testimonials trail President Buhari from different parts of the world, but this piece won’t be complete without mentioning the inspiring words of the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, about Nigeria’s exploits against the global plague, Covid-19. And it was all under the leadership of President Buhari.

“Nigeria is a developing country that has shown a remarkable capacity to respond to the Coronavirus… I was quite impressed to see, for instance, Nigeria putting in place and immediately establishing a hospital. And I saw difficulties in countries that are much more developed to do quickly the same.”

Of a truth, Nigeria is blessed to have President Buhari at a time like this. His footprints are surely already left on the sands of time. Indelibly.

Adesina is Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity

FG, NNPC avert payment of $125m to alleged international fraudster

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FG, NNPC avert payment of $125m to alleged international fraudster

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC in collaboration with officials of the Federal Government has saved Nigeria from losing a whooping sum of $125m to an international crime syndicate led by one Messrs. Ramirez and Mr Jose Salazar Tinajero and their company Samano Sa De Cv.

The refusal of the NNPC to stop FG from paying the huge sum was contained in a letter by Counsel to the NNPC, Kehinde Ogunwumiju SAN of Afe Babalola and Co.

In the letter dated July 30 and addressed to Gboyega Oyewole SAN, the NNPC denied the claim that information was provided to the Corporation or the FG which information led to the identification and recovery of 48 million barrels of stolen Nigerian Bonny Light Crude Oil stored in Peoples Republic of China.

Stating the background, Ogunwumiju, noted that Samano had contacted officials of the Federal Government of Nigeria sometime in 2015 with information in respect of 48 Million Barrels of Nigerian Bonny Light Crude Oil allegedly stolen from Nigeria and stored in various ports and terminals in the People’s Republic of China. SAMANO offered to purchase the alleged stolen crude upon its recovery.

“Even though its claim was difficult to believe given the stern procedures underpinning crude oil handling and export operations, the Federal Government in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) set out to verify these claims and requested for evidence to that effect, which was never provided by SOMANO.

“Notwithstanding the failure to provide evidence to support its claims, relevant officials of the Government were mandated to proceed to China to verify the claims of the existence of the said stolen Nigerian Crude Oil” .

He however added that the said delegation discovered that the SAMANO’s claim was false and baseless.

“Consequently, the Government severed communications with the syndicate.

” Miffed by this, Messrs. Ramirez and Mr Jose Salazar Tinajero, acting as agents of SAMANO, resorted to the blackmail and intimidation of key officials of the Government and the NNPC threatening to make public the fact that the said 48 million barrels of stolen Nigerian Crude Oil in China had been recovered, sold and the proceeds therefrom looted by some government officials and the NNPC when it was aware that this was untrue.

“They also demanded $125,000,000:00 (One Hundred and Twenty-Five Million Dollars) from said government officials, which was conveniently and rightfully ignored.

” Thereafter, NNPC reported this case of attempted blackmail to the Department of State Security and the Nigeria Police Force.

” They, upon investigation, discovered that SAMANO and its agents were international fraudsters”.

NNPC lawyer further stated that Ramirez, for instance, was indicted by the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Texas as the mastermind of a scheme leading to the loss of several millions of dollars through various mail and wire frauds between 2010 and 2013.

“In fact, there is a warrant for Mr Ramirez’s arrest and extradition to the United States to face criminal justice on account of the said fraud schemes. Mr. Jose Salazar Tinajero, a co-conspirator, has been in and out of jail in South America due to the involvement of SAMANO in elaborate smuggling and money laundering scams.

“Mr Ramirez is also facing two separate and unconnected criminal charges at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in Charge No: FCT/HC/CR/147/2016 and the Federal High Court, Lagos in Charge No: ID/2763/2016.

” Both charges were preferred against Mr Ramirez by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for economic and financial crimes.

” The said Mr. Ramirez and his cohorts have since been charged to several courts in Nigeria for criminal offences ranging from fraud, forgery, extortion, blackmail, conspiracy, etc.

” The charge which relates to the attempt to fleece the Federal Government and NNPC is Charge No.: FCT/HC/BU/CR/134/2019 between the Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Marco Antonio Ramirez & 4 Others pending before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja”.

Ogunwumiju stated that, ” Accordingly, it is our client’s position that your client is not entitled to the payment of five percent of the value of the allegedly stolen crude or any amount whatsoever as compensation for information it purportedly gave to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in respect of the said stolen crude stored in the People’s Republic of China.

“Our clients furthers posits that your clients claims are not only unfounded but frivolous and of no consequence.

” With utmost respect, your clients claims are a contribution of gold digging scheme involving local and cross border fraudsters aimed at blackmailing and extorting money from out client and Federal Republic of Nigeria.

” Based on the foregoing, our client is unable to accede to and hereby rejects your clients demand that the NNPC and Federal Government pay to its five percent of the value of the purported stolen crude or any amount whatsoever as compensation for the false information it gave to the Federal Government in this matter.

“While denying your clients claims in its entirety, we have our client firm instruction to demand that your clients issue withing seven days of the date of your receipt of this correspondence, a written unequivocal retraction of these allegations which your clients know to be false, baseless and unfounded, failing which we will explore all legal remedies to enforce our client right to seek redress against your client in both civil and crimila actions arising from its attempt at harrasing, intimidating, blackmailing and defrauding out clients and officials”.
End

Nigeria Cannot Be Defeated By Evil Forces, Inter- Faith Clerics Declare At Ongoing Prayers

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Nigeria Cannot Be Defeated By Evil Forces, Inter- Faith Clerics Declare At Ongoing Prayers

Clerics at the ongoing 21 days prayers and fasting for Nigeria have said the country cannot be defeated by evil forces.

The prayer session led by the National Inter-Interfaith and Religious Organizations for Peace is aimed at interceeding for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as well as the various security agencies in the country.

Led by the National Coordinator, Bishop Sunday, the clerics unanimously agreed that Nigeria is God’s project and no  enemy can defeat it.

He said, ” I  bring Calvary greetings to you all my beloved brothers and sisters gathered here in prayers and fasting for our dear country against the forces of evil that have conspired against it. This gathering is indeed ordained by God to rescue Nigeria in this critical point of our existence.

“This gathering that consists of our brothers and sisters from both faiths is indeed a testimony that Nigeria is on the path of greatness, and we shall overcome the forces of darkness that have conspired against us.

“My brethren, I stand here before you not to preach the gospel of Christ, but rather to give a message of hope from the Most High God to all of us here as we continue in our fasting and prayers.

“There is indeed a statement from God that Nigeria is His project and therefore no matter the amount of conspiracy against it, it shall not succeed and Nigeria shall never be defeated. Those planning evil against the country would have their selves to blame because God has sent His angels to guard over the affairs of Nigeria.

“The promise of God concerning Nigeria was revealed to us in the Book of Psalms 125:2 “Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, both now and forever.” This is the promise of God towards Nigeria. God indeed revealed that he would cause the mountains to surround Nigeria both now and forever, and no harm shall befall us.

“This was further revealed in the Book of Psalm 91:7 wherein the Bible stated that “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.”

“My brothers and sisters, no harm can come near Nigeria regardless of the evil conspiracies against us. They will gather, but the Lord shall scatter them in Jesus name. I tell you, my brothers and sisters, that our gathering here shall never be in vain.

“Our prayers and supplications have indeed gone ahead to the Host of Heaven to open the doors of blessings for our dear country Nigeria. My joy knows no bound because from the revelations from God; indeed, something good is about to happen in Nigeria.

“My brothers and sisters, in line with the biblical injunction of touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm, is indeed applicable to Nigeria because President Muhammadu Buhari is God sent to Nigeria to lead us to the promised land. All those that are planning against his noble desires for the country shall be consumed by the fire of the Holy Ghost.

“I  have a message for those that are fuelling acts of violence in Nigeria to undermine the efforts of our military. They should have a rethink and retrace their steps because the wrath of God is about to be visited on them in truckloads.

“They must indeed realize that with this revelation from God, all their efforts shall be null and void because God is not a man that he should lie. His words are yes and amen and what God has decreed concerning Nigeria shall come to past in Jesus name.

“My brothers and sisters, this great intercession that we have embarked on behalf our dear country is not by any stretch of the imagination an endeavour that would not yield the much-desired outcome because we have cried unto God. He has promised to grant us our heart desires”he said

Garuba said the desires of the group for Nigeria are simple; all those that want to see the end of Nigeria shall meet their waterloo in the fullness of time. The wrath of God shall visit all those that want to rise against our peace and progress. Those that want to undermine and distract our military shall never succeed because ours is the Lord’s army devoted to ensuring that all threats posed by the Boko Haram group and other criminal groups are neutralized.

“Nigeria is the apple of Gods eyes, and as such nothing, evil shall befall it. Even though they plan and plan against our peace and development, we shall come out unscathed and in praise and adoration for God almighty the author and finisher of our faith.

“My brothers and sisters, I declare today by the anointing of God upon my life that in the coming weeks, there shall be a massive revelation in the country that would expose all those conspiring against the peace and progress of the country.

“Hear me, my brothers and sisters, I stand before you under the authority of God to declare that no enemy can defeat Nigeria. God would indeed fight our battles and put our enemies to shame. All their evil plots shall be null and void.

“I  want to encourage us to continue to pray and fast throughout this 21-day fasting and prayer session because at the end of the day we shall all lift our voices in appreciation to God almighty for His great deeds in the life of our dear country.

“We must also commit our military into Gods hands because of the level of conspiracy against it. Our military have continued to push and push in the preservation of the territorial integrity of the country.

“The efforts of our military are indeed commendable. We owe them a duty to continue to put them in our prayers for God to continue to grant hem victory in all of their operations till we see the end of Boko Haram and other militant groups in the country.

“My brothers and sisters, I want to thank you all for your patience and perseverance during this programme. I prophesy that at the end of the 21-day prayer and fasting programme, we shall all sing out loud in appreciation to God almighty for his great and wondrous deeds in Nigeria.

“Our prayers must also remain with President Muhammadu Buhari as he pilots the affairs of our great country to the glory of God.

I thank you all for your great sacrifice. The God of Isaac, Abraham and Jacob would grant us our heart desires and led us to a new Nigeria where peace and tranquillity shall reign supreme”he added

Buhari/Service Chiefs: Lawyers vow to render pro-bono service to protect Nigeria’s sovereignty

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Buhari/Service Chiefs: Lawyers vow to render pro-bono service to protect Nigeria’s sovereignty

Some legal practitioners have pledged to defend Nigeria’s constitution and sovereignty for free against persons attempting to undermine the powers of the President and efforts of the Service Chiefs.

The groups, under the aegis of Patriotic Nigerian Lawyers (PNL) and Concerned Citizens made this vow on Thursday at a World Press Conference in Abuja, warning paid sabotuers to stop taking Nigeria for a ride.

Speaking at the press conference on behalf of the groups, PNL’s Executive Secretary, Barrister Abdulmalik Alfa, described the suit by the spokesperson of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) Ikenga Ugochinyere calling for the sack of the Service Chiefs as an “exercise in futility”.

He added that Ugochinyere’s actions isn’t surprising owing to his known alliance with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and utter desperation with other “enemies” of the country.

The legal practioners, however, welcomed the CUPP spokesperson to meet them in court and assured that neither Mr. President nor the Security Chiefs would be distracted by his paymasters’ antics.

They also vowed to rise up in “defence of the letters of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and other laws of the land, defend our selfless men and women who on daily basis risk their life whilst we are asleep”.

Read full statement below:

Gentlemen of the press, we welcome you to this press conference and we thank you for coming. We are glad that you honored our invitation to be here today because of the magnitude of the matter we are raising for the attention of Nigerians.

You must be aware by now that one Ikenga Ugochinyere, speaking for and on behalf of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), ostensibly to dramatize the failed suit that the coalition filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The suit, which is practically a futile attempt at judicial spearfishing, is seeking to coerce President Muhammadu Buhari to sack his Military Service Chiefs. The suit therefore joined he Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai; his Air Force and Navy counterparts, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; and Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas as respondents.

In taking this step, we sense confusion on the part of CUPP. They apparently decided to develop selective amnesia about the extent of powers the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Had they as much as educate themselves to the provisions of the grand norm they would have realized that their journey to the Federal High Court is an exercise in futility since they are in essence asking the court to usurp the roles of the legislature by rewriting the law on the bases of the declarations they are asking the court to make.

We beg to deviate from the processes of the court and address the other serial deficits that is around the character running CUPP even though the designation he awarded himself is that of a spokesperson, ostensibly to cater for his attention seeking disposition.

If Ugochinyere’s case, which he presents as CUPP’s case has a plank to stand on, why does he have to pass a vote of confidence on President Buhari and the Service Chiefs? We see this action as constituting himself into a parallel court and his organization into an arm of government. Passing a vote of no confidence on them is akin to him saying he has sacked them; which we know he has no powers to do.

The bizarre became ridiculous when the same Ugochinyere/CUPP that has approached the court for various declarations and a directive admitted that President is constitutionally empowered to hire and fire security heads. The expectation is that such admission will provoke profound contrition that should have made Ugochinyere retrace his steps. On the contrary, he persisted in sliding down the wrong path by exposing the political motivation for his actions by a jaundiced pronouncement that men who have given their best to the country were failures.

It is pertinent to question the CUPP’s spokesperson’s sense of patriotism considering his decision to further congest already choked dockets of the courts with his spurious suit. Gentlemen of the press, you can imagine how people like this man regularly compound the plight of awaiting trial inmates by slowing down court processes by matters that will not entertain even village union meetings. What is playing out here is an attempt to hamper Nigeria’s democracy by dragging the judiciary into the government baiting that has become the staple of the opposition.

In this regard, we want to refresh the minds of Nigerians to the period preceding the 2019 General Elections and how the opposition at the time was angling for “alternate” routes to power. This gentleman calling for the heads of the Military Chiefs was in the thick of this alternate plot. Provoking security breaches, undermining the military and overwhelming the courts were among the strategies that the opposition reportedly planned at that time with some entities making references to plans A, B, C and D. Now that Ugochinyere, a well-known opposition factor in the 2019 Elections, is maligning the Service Chiefs perhaps Nigerians should be worried about the fate and safety of their democracy.

Whilst one can ignore Ugochinyere who is a known drug addict, his sponsors such as Dumebi Kachukwu, a businessman who allegedly aided American Congressman Jefferson to defraud Nigeria. He is also in cahoots with Uche Secondus of the PDP. These are known state enemies. These are people smarting from loss of access to the government of the day so we may not expend energy trying to understand the CUPP’s spokesman’s source of inspiration.

Patriotic Nigerian Lawyers assure Ugochinyere that Nigerians will meet him in court to ensure that neither Mr. President nor the Security Chiefs are distracted by the antics of his paymasters and will neither be stampeded by him.

Nigerians already know them him and his associates. The looters of Nigeria’s treasury have seen a pliant agent in Ugochinyere, who claims to be a lawyer but knows scant about Nigerian legal system and cannot be bothered to even understand judicial terms. If he knew, he would have been told that he who must come to equity must do so with clean hands.

He can be assured that very selfless and patriotic Nigerian lawyers will rise up in Defence of the letters of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and other laws of the land to defend our selfless men and women who on daily basis risk their life whilst we are asleep.

Court affirms INEC Power to deregister 74 political parties

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Court affirms INEC Power to deregister 74 political parties

Renewed battle by 74 deregistered political parties to bounce back in business  was nailed yesterday as the Appeal Court siiting at Abuja  affirmed the powers of the National Independent National Electoral ommission ( INEC) to  deregister  Political Parties .

The Appeal court Presided over yesterday  by justice Muhammed Baba Idris in a landmark judgment ruled that the INEC did not err in law in the deregisteration of NUP and 73 other  political parties .
It upheld  the judgment of a federal High court in Abuja which had earlier in May 27 this year sacked the 74 political parties   .Justice  Taiwo   Taiwo in his judgment ruled that INEC acted in acciordance with section 225 A of the 1999 constitution
Similarly Justuce Chikere of a federal High court Abuja in another  judgment in June 11   also nailed the fate of another 33political parties , earlier sacked by the commission .
The court ruled that the 34 political parties having not complied with the  rules had since lost their registration. .
The Appeal court in a ruling i a suit filed by NUP  political affirmed INEC powers to have deregistered NUP and 73  political parties
.Appeal Court held that INEC was right to have eregistered NUP which was one of the 74 political earlier axed by the commission .
..Pending Appeals by other deregistered parties now an academic exercise as Appeal Court sitting at Abuja today delivered Judgment affirming  the constitutional powers of INEC to deregister  political parties.

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