Television Nigerian

Nigerian Army court martial trigger happy soldier, hands him to police for prosecution

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August 21, 2019

Nigerian Army court martial trigger happy soldier, hands him to police for prosecution

The 82 Division of the Nigerian Army has dismissed Lance Corporal Ajayi Johnson who allegedly killed an okada rider Mr Chimaobi Nwaogwu at Umoukereke Ngwa Community of Abia State on 7 August, 2019.

The Army had earlier assured the general public that the arrested soldier would be tried according to extant rules and regulations of the Nigerian Army and if found wanting appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against him.

In a statement by the Division’s acting Director of Public Relations, Colonel Ali Yusuf, the soldier has been dully charged, tried and reduced to the rank of a private, subsequently dismissed from Service and is hereby formally handed over to the Nigerian Police Force, Abia State Command Wednesday the 21st of August 2019 for further necessary action.

He assured that 82 Division will not condone any act of Lawlessness and unprofessional conduct from any of its personnel, and wherever that happens, decisive action will surely be taken against erring personnel.

He noted that the Nigerian Army will continue to assist in the protection of lives and property of all Nigerians as provided for in the constitution of the country.

World Bank, AfDB blacklist more firms, consultants in Nigeria for corruption

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August 21, 2019

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World Bank, AfDB blacklist more firms, consultants in Nigeria for corruption

The World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have sanctioned and blacklisted more companies and consultants operating in Nigeria for various breaches of their contracting processes considered fraudulent and corrupt.

Similar sanctions were issued to several contracting firms and individual consultants in other jurisdictions around the world.

The latest culprits exclude the six Chinese firms earlier reported exclusively by this newspapers on Monday to have similarly been blacklisted by the World Bank for fraud and corruption.

The affected Chinese companies in Nigeria include China Railway Construction (International) Nigeria Company Limited, China Railway 18th Bureau Nigeria Engineering Company Limited, CCECC Nigeria Lekki (FTA) Company Limited, CCECC Nigeria Railway Company Limited, CRCC Petroleum & Gas Company Limited, and CCECC Nigeria Company Limited.

These companies are big players in various sectors of the Nigerian economy. They are handlers of ongoing or completed multi-billion Naira contracts for the construction of railway systems, highways, housing estates, airport terminals, municipal engineering, water resources, and hydro-power engineering projects in the country for federal and state governments.

They were debarred and declared ineligible to be awarded any World Bank-financed contracts for at least a year, between June 4, 2019 and March 3, 2020.

The latest list of companies and individual consultants are among those in the August 16 updated publication by the World Bank on its website of companies and individuals found to have violated the bank’s policy.

Some of the companies and consultants were accused of violating the provisions of the guidelines for the selection and employment of consultants under International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loans and the International Development Association (IDA) credits and grants by World Bank borrowers.

Others were sanctioned for infractions of the policy as spelt out in the Procurement Guidelines and the World Bank Procurement Regulations for Investment Project Financing Borrowers for projects after July 1, 2016.

Among the companies and individuals are those currently serving various terms of sanctions expected to terminate at various times till 2023 or 2024.

They include Idemia Nigeria Limited (Formerly Oberthur Technologies Nigeria Limited), with RC No, 677257 and offices in Lekki and Lagos; Best Scan Solutions Limited, with office in 10, Obanle Aro Avenue, Ilupeju, Lagos; Quick Projects Limited of 19, Allen Avenue, Lagos, and Marabef Global Limited, with offices in Abuja and Abia State.

Others include Lutoyilex Construct Limited of Gwarimpa, Abuja; Efemaz Construction & General Services Limited, with offices in Abuja and Delta State; Oceanic Construction & Engineering Nigeria Limited of 1133 Aminu Kano Crescent Wuse 11, Abuja, and Snc-Lavalin International (Nigeria) Limited, with office at 35 Moloney Street, Lagos.

The list also includes Emmajoko Nigeria Enterprises of No. 4 Onyemekaiha Close, Warri, Delta State; Rojoke Cne Services Limited and Cne Environmental & Waste Services Ltd, booth of No. 2, Pinto Avenue, Gana Sapele, Delta State, and Sharda Impex (U.K.) Limited of Lagos.

Also, a Kano-based company, Shereena Agriculture Limited; Contransimex Nigeria Limited of 8, Adekunle Fajuyi Way, Ikeja; Sego Ventures Nigeria Limited of 17b Canery Drive, MKO Abiola Gardens, Ikeja, and D.A. Construction Limited of No. 1,114 Road, 1st Avenue, Gwarinpa, Abuja.

Individual consultants sanctioned

The individual consultants on the list include Victor Dike of 19 Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos; Iyke Ambrose of 10 Obanle Aro Avenue, Off Coker Road, Ilupeju, Lagos; Patrick Alozie Onwuka, with addresses in Garki, Abuja and Aba, Abia State, and Bamidele Obiniyi of Suite 295, Soar Plaza, 1st Avenue, Gwarimpa Abuja.

The others are Henry Chinedu Ojoko (the Proprietor, Emmajoko Nigeria Enterprises) of No. 4 Onyemekaiha Close, Warri, Delta State; Benson Ojoko, Project Coordinator, Delta State Employment agency in Asaba; Robinson Ekenedilichukwu Ojoko of No. 2, Pinto Avenue, Gana Sapele, Delta State, and Kamal Sharda of Lagos.

Those said to have violated procurement Guidelines 1.16a(i) are those accused of engaging in “corrupt practice” by either offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting, directly or indirectly, anything of value to improperly influence the actions of another party.

Those accused of “collusive practice” are those found to have colluded between two or more parties to achieve an improper purpose, including to influence improperly the actions of another party.

Those in this category include Idemia Nigeria Limited, which was blacklisted for the period between November 29, 2017 and May 28, 2020; Efemaz Construction & General Services Limited and Efe Michael Udumebraye, both debarred for four years between December 13, 2018 and December 12, 2022.

Also in that category are Rojoke Cne Services Limited, Cne Environmental & Waste Services Limited, and Robinson Ekenedilichukwu Ojoko, all debarred for the period between February 5, 2019 and February 4, 2024.

Those sanctioned for violating Paragraph 1.22(A)(V) (Aa) of the October 2006 and May 2010 Consultant Guidelines are those whose Request for proposals and the proposals were prepared in languages other than the national language of the Borrower approved by the Bank.

Those affected include Victor Dike (debarred for two years between April 23, 2018 and November 22, 2020), Best Scan Solutions Limited (January 24, 2017 and January 23, 2021), Iyke Ambrose (January 24, 2017 and January 23, 2021), and Quick Projects Limited (April 23, 2018 and November 22, 2021).

Violators of Procurement Guidelines 1.14(a)(i) are companies accused of “mis-procurement”, by providing services for which the contract was not awarded in accordance with the agreed provisions of the Loan Agreement with the bank.

Those affected include Marabef Global Limited (blacklisted for the period between January 11,-2018 and January 10, 2022), Patrick Alozie Onwuka (debarred January 11, 2018 January 10, 2022), Contransimex Nigeria Limited, Sego Ventures Nigeria Limited and D.A. Construction Limited, all currently serving various subsisting sanctions.

For consultants that violated the Procurement Guidelines 1.23(a)(i), the World Bank said they were engaged in “corrupt practices” earlier defined in this report.

Those involved included Emmajoko Nigeria Enterprises and its proprietor, Henry Chinedu Ojoko, and Benson Ojoko (all debarred from World Bank contracts effective January 29, 2019 till January 28, 2024).

Besides, violators of Guidelines 1.15(a)(i) & (ii) were accused of issuing References to the Bank considered not in line stipulated standard, which suggested suspicious intentions towards fraud and corruption.

The World Bank report listed the culprits to include Snc-Lavalin International (Nigeria) Limited debarred for ten years (April 17, 2013 and April 17, 2023).

For Gurpreet Singh Malik, Kamal Sharda, Karitex Limited, Sharda Impex (U.K.) Limited and Karitex Limited, they all received permanent debarments from the World Bank since February 2000.

Two of the companies, Lutoyilex Construct Limited and Oceanic Construction & Engineering Nigeria Limited as well as a consultant, Bamidele Obiniyi, received cross debarment sanctions from the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) between July 31, 2019 and May 13, 2022.

Cross-Debarment is a practice where firms and individuals debarred by one multilateral development bank (MDB) may be sanctioned, for the same misconduct, by other MDBs participating in the regime.

The World Bank said the period of ineligibility imposed on each of the defaulting companies and individual consultants extends to any legal entity they may control directly or indirectly.

According to the World Bank, the minimum period of ineligibility covers about three-years, provided the companies and individuals demonstrate to the Bank Group’s Integrity Compliance Officer sufficient readiness to take remedial measures to address offences as well as establish effective integrity compliance programme acceptable to the Bank.

A senior official of the World Bank who requested that his identity should not be revealed told our reporter the sanctions to the companies and individuals followed due process, as they were all granted the opportunity to defend themselves before World Bank Group’s Integrity Compliance Department.

BREAKING: Supreme Court Dismisses PDP, Atiku’s Appeal To Access INEC’s Server

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August 20, 2019

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BREAKING: Supreme Court Dismisses PDP, Atiku’s Appeal To Access INEC’s Server

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed an appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, seeking access to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s sever.

The Dattijo Muhammad-led five-man panel, in a unanimous judgment, dismissed the appeal, saying there was no basis to interfere with the earlier decision of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal rejecting the appellants’ request to access the said server.

Justice Centus Nweze, who read the lead judgment of the apex court, said the appellants failed to establish that the tribunal wrongfully exercised its discretion in dismissing their request.

He added that they also failed to place sufficient materials before the apex court to show that the tribunal’s exercise of its discretion was either arbitrary or illegal.

He added that the allegation by the appellants that they were denied fair hearing by the June 24, 2019 ruling of the tribunal was unsubstantiated.

Atiku and PDP had alleged in their petition pending before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal that the “authentic” results of the February 23, 2019 election which gave them victory were stored in the said INEC server.

Earlier, leading their argument on Tuesday, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), told the apex court that his clients were still within time, as the 180 days meant for the tribunal to hear and determine the case had not lapsed.

But the respondents — INEC, President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress — opposed the appeal through their respective lawyers, and urged the apex court to dismiss it.

While INEC was represented by Yunus Usman (SAN), Buhari was represented by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), and APC by Chief Charles Edosomwon (SAN).

They maintained that granting the prayer sought by the appellants would be of no utility value as presentation of evidence at the tribunal had closed.

The tribunal had fixed Wednesday for final arguments in the case.

Atiku and the PDP are, by their petition before the tribunal, challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 23, 2019 election.

Buhari’s food import directive in line with our existing policy — CBN governor

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August 20, 2019

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Buhari’s food import directive in line with our existing policy — CBN governor

The governor of Nigeria’s central bank, Godwin Emefiele, on Monday said the presidential directive against the provision of foreign exchange for food importation runs in consonance with the apex bank’s existing policy.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in the past week asked the CBN to stop providing forex for food importers, with a view to bolstering local capacities.

But critics have expressed worries over the bank’s autonomy as well as the country’s local capacity for to meet national food demands.

According to World Market and Trade, USDA, data, cited by Guardian, Nigeria in 2018 produced 4.66 million tonnes of rice and is expected to produce 4.90 million tonnes in 2020.

But the country’s rice demand is estimated to be 7.30 million tonnes in 2020, implying over three million tonnes rice shortage.

But, speaking at the State House on Monday, Mr Emefiele defended the president’s directive and said the bank would vigorously drive the policy.

“Let me say this, Mr President’s comment on the issuing of forex to people who import food items into the country is in the logic of CBN’s management foreign exchange policies that we started since 2016,” stated Mr Emefiele. “If you recall, we started with about 41 items (food and non-food items), because we believe that those items can be produced in the country.”

He continued, “It is important for me to say that the attempt to misrepresent the comments of Mr President is very unfair and unfortunate.

“But, what we will say from the CBN is that Mr President has made this comment purely to strengthen the position of the CBN, to say that he believes in what the CBN has been doing since 2016 and there is need for us to reinforce that going forward.”

He added that apart from not being able to source forex from the apex bank, food importers would not also be able get forex from commercial banks.

He said: “I will like to stress that we would ensure that more of these items will get on the list of items that are going to be restricted from accessing foreign exchange in Nigerian banking industry not just from the CBN source.

“Because, I have heard some comments that maybe it’s about the CBN’s source, it is not the CBN’s source, we are saying is you will not be able to access foreign exchange from the Nigerian banking industry because it is important for us to produce these items in Nigeria and we will follow through on them.”

He indicated that the policy would have positive implications for job creation, foreign reserve, and national security.

He queried, “Why should we be exporting jobs to other countries? Today we are complaining that there is a high rate of unemployment, leading to some extent the level of insecurity in the country, why should we allow people to import food that can be produced in the country?

“We need to improve wealth in our rural communities and I am saying we will not change course, we will even be more aggressive on this program.”

Benue adopts the National Livestock Transformation Plan

Headlines

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August 20, 2019

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Benue adopts the National Livestock Transformation Plan

Stakeholders in Benue State North Central Nigeria have changed their stand on the Federal Government’s National Livestock Transformation Plan which they rejected last week.

The stakeholders drawn from traditional institutions, churches, socio-cultural organisations, the academia and civil society, had earlier rejected the Federal Government’s proposed National Livestock Transformation Plan, NLTP, describing it as a “round peg in a square hole”.

“It has become necessary to state that the Benue State Government at no time rejected the National Livestock Transformation Plan, NLTP, approved by National Economic Council, NEC which has the 36 state Governors as members” said Mr. Terver Akase, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ortom.

Mr. Akase noted that “what Benue rejected and still reject are cattle colonies, Ruga settlements and grazing reserves which were neither discussed nor approved by NEC”.

Adopting the Plan

The National Economic Council had agreed that each state would be free to adopt aspects of the plan which suit its peculiarities.

According to the Chief Press Secretary, “In the case of Benue State, we already have a law on ranching and there is no provision in the legislation for open grazing”.

The stakeholders recently met and dissected the NLTP document resolving that the plan had other aspects of infrastructural development from which the state would benefit.

Prominent among the provisions in the document according to the Press Secretary “is the plan for resettlement of those affected by herdsmen attacks and other forms of violence whose property have been destroyed in different parts of the state”.

The position is different from the initial thinking of the stakeholders when they met with a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

At the meeting, the stakeholders said they expected the Federal Government to rebuild homes, schools, churches and other properties destroyed during herders invasion of the state and to rehabilitate people who are still languishing in Internally Displaced Persons camps.

The stakeholders subsequently issued a communique which made it clear that the state would embrace the National Livestock Transformation Plan to the extent that it does not breach provisions of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the state.

They urged the state government to set up a technical team of experts to study the NLTP document and identify areas suitable for implementation in Benue State based on peculiarities of the state.

Source: VON

Ortom suspends three traditional rulers

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August 20, 2019

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Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has suspended two third-class chiefs and a district head for their roles in the protracted crisis between Shitile and Ikyurav.

Those suspended are; Chief Tivlumun Ubugh, Mue Ter Chongo, Chief Ayoleve Orgunga, Mue Ter Ipusu and Chief Luke Atomigba, the district head of Mbachar.

The affected traditional rulers are to face a panel to be constituted by the paramount ruler of the Tiv nation, the Tor Tiv, HRM Professor James Ayatse to investigate them and determine the appropriate sanctions.

According to the statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Terver Akase, the suspension of the chiefs followed the recommendation of the State Security Council at the meeting held in Makurdi on Monday.

The governor said that the traditional rulers had neglected their duties and exhibited a nonchalant attitude towards attempts at resolving the crisis.

Ortom said instead of the chiefs to work towards ensuring peace, they had rather fueled the crisis based on vested interests, thereby contravening the code of conduct enshrined in the Local Government and Chieftaincy laws of the State.

According to the Governor, the council directed that all the district heads from Sankera area who declined an invitation to attend security meeting with the first-class chief in the zone, Tor Sankera, Chief Abu King Shuluwa will be sanctioned.

The governor also said that the council advised the Tor Sankera to be a father to all his subjects and ensure that peace reign in his domain.

Ortom said that security operatives were directed to ensure that criminals responsible for the crisis in the area were apprehended and made to face appropriate sanctions.

The governor advised people of the area to go about their normal business and to report to security agents any suspicious elements, stressing that President Muhammadu Buhari had given marching orders to security agents to tackle banditry in the country.

Nigerian seeking Ghanaian passport arrested

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August 20, 2019

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Nigerian seeking Ghanaian passport arrested

The Ghanaian National Security Operatives have arrested one Don Ofori Donny, a Nigerian, who was attempting to fraudulently acquire a Ghanaian passport.

Myjoyonline reports that Donny would have obtained the Ghanaian passport but for the timely arrival of the operatives. It was also reported that he had fraudulently in the past obtained a Ghanaian birth certificate and a voter identification card.

When asked why he needed the passport, he said ‘he wanted to belong’.

“I am a Nigerian who has been based in Ghana for a long time…I have been part of the people and I made myself part of the people so I decided to do everything [the people do],” he told Myjoyonline.

Investigation is still ongoing.

Juventus Coach Sarri Suffering With Pneumonia

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August 20, 2019

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Juventus Coach Sarri Suffering With Pneumonia

Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri is suffering from pneumonia, the Italian champions said on Monday, five days before their opening Serie A match of the season.

Sarri, a chain-smoking 60-year-old, who was appointed in June to replace Massimiliano Allegri, went down with flu last week, Juve said, and missed the friendly against third-tier Triestina on Saturday.

Juventus said that Sarri, who left Chelsea after one season to return to Serie A, had been present at the club’s training centre on Monday “where he coordinated the work of his staff” but did not conduct training on the pitch.

“In the late afternoon, he underwent further tests that confirmed he has pneumonia, for which specific therapy has been prescribed.

“Juve said in a statement. “The coach has authorised the club to communicate his state of health.”

Juventus did not say whether Sarri would be able to take charge of the team at Parma on Saturday.

The Turin side has won the last eight Serie A titles, including three under Antonio Conte and five under Allegri.

Sarri was previously coach of Napoli, who finished runners-up twice and third once in his three seasons in charge.

Repentant Bandits Now Help Us To Fight Banditry- Gov. Matawalle

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August 20, 2019

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Repentant Bandits Now Help Us To Fight Banditry- Gov. Matawalle

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has said that repentant herdsmen are now helping the security operatives in the state to fight banditry.

The Governor stated this today while presenting a goodwill message during a three-day workshop organised for the Nigerian Army which held in Gusau, Zamfara state.

Governor Matawalle said, following the peace initiatives introduced by his administration in finding solutions to armed banditry, the repentant bandits have now decided to assist his government in fighting criminals.

Matawalle said, “The repentant Fulanis had killed a recalcitrant bandit two days ago and brought his AK 47 rifle to me”.

The Governor, therefore, maintained that he would continue to adopt dialogue as a means of solving all forms of criminalities, calling on other governors to adopt the same measure.

He reiterated his government’s resolve to establish Ruga settlement for the Fulani herdsmen in the state, calling on the Federal government to assist him in that direction.

The Governor, however, commended the Nigerian Army and all other security agents who have contributed immensely in the fight against insurgency in the state.

EFCC RAIDS AMBODE’S EPE HOME

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August 20, 2019

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Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday morning raided the home of the former governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode in Epe area of Lagos.

A top aide of the former governor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that EFCC operatives raided Ambode’s home.

He revealed that Ambode was not in the country and the home had been raided in his absence.

The commission’s spokesman, Mr Tony Orilade, said the operatives were in Ambode’s house as part of investigations.

He said the visit was not a raid but “We are there for ongoing investigation.”

Orilade in a statement, he later issued said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has since early hours of today, been inundated with calls that operatives of the Commission raided the residence of the former governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode.

“We need to state for the records that the EFCC did not raid Ambode’s house. It is instructive that his administration, like other former governors, is under investigation, since they no longer constitutionally enjoy immunity against prosecution.

“The Commission hereby states with high sense of responsibility that the operatives did not raid Ambode’s residence.

“Whatever the Commission is presently doing with regards to the investigation is in line with its mandate and the rule of law.

“We wish to inform the social media to be circumspect in the reportage of any news with regards to investigation activities of the Commission.

“As a tradition, the Commission does not carry out investigation on the pages of the newspapers or through the media. Our operations are always covert until at a time when we file charges in court.

“Therefore, the attempt to cast the Commission in a bad light is unacceptable as the EFCC will never engage in illegal act. We remain committed to the war against corruption.”

The anti-graft agency had in a recent statement by Orilade announced the freezing of three banks accounts linked to Ambode which were allegedly used in the diversion of N9.9bn in September 2018.