Okonjo-Iweala: SERAP ‘A Tool For Corrupt Vested Interests’.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former minister of finance and co-coordinating minister for the economy, has described the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) as “a tool of corrupt politicians”.
Reacting to the organisation’s demand of her probe over the management of the loot of Sani Abacha, former military ruler, Okonjo-Iweala said SERAP was hiding under the umbrella of civil society to perpetrate mischief.

Stealing Is Now A Crime, Says Adeosun.

Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance, says stealing of public funds is now a crime and would not be excused for any reason, now that the guidelines are being made clear.
While speaking in Abuja, at the inauguration of a recently approved efficiency unit by President Muhammadu Buhari, Adeosun said poor remuneration should be no excuse for stealing.
“We are setting a benchmark; at the moment, there are no guidelines; and where there are no guidelines, there is no sin. So, we need to establish those guidelines to guide how people spend money,” she said.

Ishaku: Appeal Court Will Restore My Mandate.

Darius Ishaku, governor of Taraba state, says he is confident the court of appeal will restore his mandate.
Yusufu Akirikwen, the state attorney-general and commissioner for justice, said on Monday that Ishaku’s team of lawyers had appealed the decision of the tribunal which held that he was not a valid candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The tribunal had declared that Aisha Alhassan, the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, should be sworn in as governor.
Akirikwen said APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Alhassan had also filed cross appeals before the appellate court.
Ishaku described media reports that he failed to appeal the judgment as “misleading” and “untrue”, urging the the people of the state not to take the laws into their own hands but allow the judiciary to decide the case.

Adeosun: FG To Focus On Cutting Cost Of Governance

Nigeria will focus on cutting the cost of running the government rather than on slashing jobs next year, and will present its 2016 budget proposals by the end of the year, the new finance minister told Reuters on Monday.
Widespread corruption and mismanagement have stunted development in Africa’s biggest economy and left it with paltry savings, dangerously pot-holed highways and constant power outages after a period of record high oil prices.

Kemi Adeosun, the new minister appointed at the start of November, has launched an Efficiency Unit based on a UK model aimed at pinpointing spending excesses and imposing guidelines in an effort to cut the vast amount of waste.

Lagos Slams 111 Charges Against Synagogue, Others

The much anticipated arraignment of the Trustees of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) and other defendants over the September 12, 2014 building collapse in Lagos which claimed 116 lives was stalled yesterday. The planned arraignment before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo at Lagos High Court was stalled owing to the non-availability of three defendants in court.

UPDATED) Arms Probe: EFCC Arrests Dokpesi, Bafarawa

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has continued the arrests of suspected corrupt public office holders in the country with the arrest of a former Governor of Sokoto State, Mr. Attahiru Bafarawa, on Tuesday. The commission also arrested the Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, for alleged involvement in the arms deal. It was learnt that while Barafawa was arrested in the early hours of the morning, Dokpesi was taken to the Idiagbon House of the commission by noon. He was said to have been picked up to make clarifications on some monies traced to his account. Details later

Buhari’s Govt Will Not Give Excuses – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said Nigerians will soon get the change they voted for, pledging that the government will not give them excuses.
Mohammed told representatives of civil society organisations in Abuja on Tuesday that the current administration would start “firing from all cylinders”, starting with the unveiling of the 2016 budget, a statement by his Special Adviser, Segun Adeyemi, said.

Ambode Asks Lagosians To Change Attitude

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday canvassed the need for Lagosians to embrace attitudinal change and shun all forms of unethical activities in the interest of socio-economic wellbeing of the State.
Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Iyalode of Lagos Forum/Health Screening with the theme: “Improving the Ethical Standard of the Citizenry in Lagos State,” expressed delight at the return of peace among youths and various trade groups, especially in Lagos Island.
Represented by Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Mr. Olaide Kehinde Joseph, the Governor said he believed that such attitudinal change recorded on the Island would be replicated in all the nooks and cranny of Lagos State.

Judge’s Absence Stalls Trial Of Kanu

The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, Director of Radio Biafra, suffered a setback on Tuesday due to the absence of Magistrate Shuaibu Usman of the Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court, Abuja.
Kanu is standing trial on a three-count of criminal conspiracy, intimidation and belonging to unlawful society, to which he pleaded not guilty.

Nigeria To Assist S’Sudan In Debt Management – Nwankwo

The Director-General, Debt Management Office, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, has said, the Nigerian government will assist South Sudan in managing its huge debt profile and develop its bonds market.
Nwankwo, speaking on Tuesday when he received a South Sudan delegation on a study tour, stressed the need for cooperation among African countries.
He also assured the delegation that Nigeria would assist South Sudan to set up its own Debt Management Office.

“Nigerians Will Get The Change They Voted For”

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has assured Nigerians that the change they voted for is guaranteed, promising better times.
The Minister on Tuesday said that “this Government will not give excuses. The painstaking and methodical approach by the Buhari Administration, its deep analysis and understanding of the challenges and the recent inauguration of the cabinet will herald a new dawn.”
Alhaji Mohammed, who stated this at a meeting with representatives of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Abuja on Tuesday, said that in the next few days, the Administration will start firing from all cylinders, starting with the unveiling of the 2016 budget.

Abacha Loot: SERAP’s Call For My Probe Politically Sponsored – Okonjo-Iweala

A former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has noted that the call by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, for her probe over the management of the Abacha loot is a politically sponsored campaign to serve an agenda.
According to a statement issued yesterday by the ex-Minister’s Media Adviser, Paul Nwachukwu, “It is curious that SERAP, ignoring more worthy issues, decided to embark on this fishing expedition of a 10 year old process that was handled in an exemplary and transparent fashion. This shows that neither the organization nor its charges should be taken seriously.

Benue South: David Mark Campaign Rice, Salt Flood Otukpo, To Construct Four Roads Before Xmas [PHOTOS]

Following the nullification of the 5th term election of former Senate President, David Mark by the Appellate Court, the campaign team of the ousted legislator have flooded the city of Otukpo with iodized salt, rice and tin tomatoes.
This is just as the Akpegede-born retired soldier has also commenced work on four different roads in the ancient Otukpo town.
A source told DAILY POST that among the roads billed for reconstruction are Otukpa street, Owukpa street and two others dominated by Idoma enone (West).

Nigerians Expect You To Do More Than You Did As Head Of State – Maitama Sule Tells Buhari

A former Federal Commissioner of Public Complaints, Maitama Sule, has observed that Nigerians currently expect more from the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari than they got from his government while he was a military Head of State from 1983 to 1985.
The former federal commissioner, who served in 1976, advised that the fight against corruption by the present government must be seen to be yielding positive impacts, since Nigerians have high hopes in the President.

Buhari Proffers Solution To Migrant Crisis In Europe

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Paris asked developed countries to make strong financial commitments to the 14 billion dollars urgently needed to revive the Lake Chad and save communities dependent on the river from extinction, noting that, this will curb migration to Europe.
Addressing a high level meeting on “Climate Change Challenges and Solutions in Africa”, on the sidelines of the on-going UN Climate Change Conference, COP 21, President Buhari said no fewer than five million people living in the Lake Chad Basin countries have been displaced by the depletion of the lake due to climate change.

Lai: We Will Soon Start ‘Firing From All Cylinders’.

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, has assured Nigerians that they will soon get the change they voted for.
In a chat with civil society organisations, the minister said better days were ahead, maintaining that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not renege on its campaign promises.
“In the next few days, this administration will start firing from all cylinders, starting with the unveiling of the 2016 budget,” Segun Adeyemi, the minister’s special adviser, quoted him as saying.
“This government will not give excuses. The painstaking and methodical approach by the Buhari administration, its deep analysis and understanding of the challenges and the recent inauguration of the cabinet will herald a new dawn.

Oil Prices May Fall Again As OPEC Raises Supply.

Ahead of its meeting on Friday, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is currently fuelling an oversupply of crude oil, despite falling prices.
The oversupply in crude oil is currently being fuelled by Saudi Arabia, the group’s largest exporter, and Iraq, the world’s fastest growing source of ‘oversupply’ in 2015, among others.

OPEC supply rose in November to 31.77 million barrels per day (bpd) from 31.64 million in October, less than a million barrels from the organisation’s record high, a Reuters’ survey has shown.
The oil body has its 168th ordinary meeting set for December 5, where experts expect it to cut supply in order to push up the oil prices for the benefit of producing states.

Fuel Scarcity: Senate Jacks Up Subsidy Budget

The senate has approved the supplementary budget of President Muhammadu Buhari, increasing it from N465 billion to N574 billion to cover fuel subsidy claims.
While presenting the supplementary appropriation bill on Tuesday, Danjuma Goje, chairman of the senate committee on appropriations, explained that the initial amount budgeted for the settlement of subsidy claims only covered the period from January to September.
Goje said it was important to include October to December in the budget in order to avert scarcity of fuel.

Group Accuses Police Of Cover Up In Attack On Jonathan

The Ijaw National Frontiers (INF) has called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase to investigate an attempt by the Bayelsa State Police Command to cover up the facts about the alleged attack on the former President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday.

Iraq's Popular Forces Answer US Defense Sec.: We'll chase and Fight Any American Force Deployed In Iraq

Iraqi popular forces have pledged to combat any US troops deployed to the country.

Members of Iraq’s Badr Movement march during a demonstration in the capital Baghdad, July 10, 2015. ©AFP

Kata’ib Hezbollah, Badr Movement and Asaib Ahl al-Haq groups stated this on Tuesday.

“We will chase and fight any American force deployed in Iraq. Any such American force will become a primary target for our group. We fought them before and we are ready to resume fighting,” Jafaar Hussaini, Kata’ib Hezbollah spokesman said.

This statement followed the US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter claims that Washington will deploy special operations forces to fight ISIS in Iraq. The US special forces will also conduct raids over the border in Syria.

Dasuki: Buhari On A Revenge Mission With Corruption Fight – Fayose

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, has described Tuesday’s arrest of the immediate-past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) by men of the Department of State Services (DSS), as continuation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime of vengeance, saying “disobeying court order and later arresting and detaining the same person the court ordered to be allowed to travel abroad for medicare is the peak of dictatorship.”

Governor Fayose, who reiterated his support for the fight against corruption, maintained that it must be done within the ambit of the law and must not be used to seek vengeance.

Fires kill 3, displace 3,000 in Cape Town informal settlements

At least three people have died and some 3,000 have been left homeless after two separate fires broke out in informal settlements in the capital of South Africa on Sunday, Africa News Agency reported. Some 800 constructions were destroyed after "an extensive area of reeds and informal structures caught alight," Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille said in a statement, adding that an emergency shelter had been opened in the city. The South African Red Cross and other local humanitarian organizations are coordinating relief efforts in the area, providing food, blankets, and other necessities. The SA Police Service is investigating the cause of the fire, the news agency said.

5 Polish seamen abducted, cargo ship attacked off Nigeria

Five Polish seamen, including the captain and three officers, have been abducted from a ship in Nigerian waters, AP reported. Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said on Friday that the seamen were abducted on Thursday night from the Polish cargo ship Szafir. Eleven other crew members escaped abduction by barricading themselves inside the ship. It was damaged when the attackers opened fire. Warsaw is ready to open negotiations with the abductors and is waiting for contact.

Blast Hits Istanbul Metro, Casualties Reported

An explosion has hit an overpass near a metro station at Bayrampaşa in Istanbul, local media report. At least one person killed and several people injured.

​​According to preliminary reports, the explosion was caused by a bomb. ​



At least one person was killed and six injured in an explosion in Istanbul.

New Video Of Russian Aerospace Forces Airstrikes At terrorists Positions in Syria

Al-Latamna Province

 Turkish Weapon Convoy in Aleppo Province
Watchi after the jump break.