US Lists Two Boko Haram Leaders For Sanction

The US Department of Treasury on Tuesday named two leaders of the Boko Haram sect for economic sanctions, saying both are closely involved in deadly attacks in Nigeria, AFP reported.
The Treasury Department said Mohammed Nur, a Boko Haram commander who has represented the group in negotiations with the federal government, was placed on its financial blacklist for his involvement in suicide bomb attacks, including one on the United Nations headquarters in Abuja in 2011.

Shell Agrees To Pay N3 Billion Over Its Involvement In The Killing Of Ken Saro-Wiwa, Others

In what is clearly a landmark settlement, multinational oil giant, Royal Dutch Shell, on Tuesday agreed to pay a settlement of $15.5 Million (N3 billion) over the killing of novelist and environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and eight other Ogoni leaders.
Mr. Saro-Wiwa was sentenced to death by hanging by a military tribunal set up by late dictator, Sani Abacha, in 2005.

N2.1bn Arms Money Scandal: What I Know About EFCC Probe Of Dokpesi — Lawyer

Mike Ozekhome, the lawyer to Raymond Dokpesi, founder of Daar Communications, Raymond Dokpesi, has said he was not aware his client received money from the office of the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki.
Mr. Ozekhome also said reports that Mr. Dokpesi was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ,EFCC, over the alleged payment, were not correct because Mr. Dokpesi went on his own to the anti-graft agency after receiving a call from its chairman.
“I am not aware the chief collected any money,” he said, referring to Mr. Dokpesi.
A source at the EFCC had told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Dokpesi was interrogated by investigators because he received N2.1 billion from the NSA’s office on the eve of the 2015 general election.

Buhari Administration’s Anti-Corruption War Political — Shehu Sani

The Senator representing Kaduna Central in the Nigerian Senate, Shehu Sani, on Tuesday challenged the Code of Conduct Bureau to look into asset declarations of other Governors who served at the same time as the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, saying politics should not be mixed with anti-graft war.

Mr. Sani spoke at the 8th Forum of the laureates of Nigerian National Order of Merit in Abuja where he criticized Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign as being driven by political considerations.
According to him, after insurgency, no issue should dominate national discourse more than corruption. He said political considerations could hamper the anti-graft war.
Mr. Sani said corruption had consequences, referring to the ongoing investigation into arms deal supervised by the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

FACT CHECK: Police IG Arase’s Claim 90,000 Officers Killed In Boko Haram Insurgency False

Nigeria’s House of Representatives resolved last Wednesday to investigate claims earlier in the month by Nigeria’s inspector-general of police, Solomon Arase, that 90,000 police officers have been “lost” to the Boko Haram insurgency since 2011.
“Based on the figure I have in my disposal, we have 90,000 widows. So invariably, that can be translated to mean that we have lost about 90,000 officers and men since the commencement of the insurgency four years ago,” the inspector-general reportedly told police officers in Sokoto on 11 November.

Fayose On Dasuki: Why Should DSS Probe Fraud?.

Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, has faulted the arrest of Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser, by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Accusing the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari of seeking “vengeance”, Fayose wondered why the DSS is the one investigating Dasuki.
“Is it the duty of the DSS to investigate fraud? If Dasuki committed fraud as being alleged, why not let the appropriate government agency handle his matter? Why first torturing him emotionally with the DSS siege on his house?” he asked in a statement issued ion his behalf by Lere Olayinka, his special assistant on public communications and new media.

Paul Biya Resigns Paul Biya

At 11:30 Am this morning delegates of the C.P.D.M met at the Unity palace for a meeting called upon by Paul Biya. He declared his resignation as president of Cameroon few hours ago as a motive of health and a change to bring democracy.

This is very surprising as many don’t understand why the president who has made 30 years in power decided to quit without any plan of a next leader. Now the question is. What will become of Cameroon now and who is going to be our next leader?

Police To ‘Biafrans': Stop Testing Our Patience.

Solomon Arase, inspector-general of police (IGP), says Biafra campaigners are testing the patience of the police, threatening to clampdown on protesters.
Arase warned the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) activists to “stop threatening public peace or face the full weight of the law”.


According to Olabisi Kolawole, police spokeswoman, the warning followed “the observation by the Nigeria police force leadership of the increasing resort to acts of brigandage by sets of misguided individuals who apparently are hiding under the cloak of MASSOB and IPOB to threaten national security and public peace in parts of southeast geopolitical zone and some other conterminous states”.

Okonjo-Iweala Must Be Prosecuted – Oshiomhole

Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole has urged the federal government to also prosecute former President Goodluck Jonathan and immediate past finance minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for approving spending of funds from the excess crude account without appropriation by the National Assembly.

Dokpesi Must Not Face Secret Trial, Says PDP.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the arrest of Raymond Dokpesi, founder of Africa Independent Television (AIT), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as political persecution.
The party condemned the arrest, saying it “had been made aware that more of its leaders had similarly been listed for arrest over unproven allegations pursuant to the plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to cow and silence opposition in the country”.

U.S. Advises Rwandan President To Step Down After Tenure Expiration In 2017

U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, says Washington expects Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, to set an example for the region and step down at the end of his second term in office in 2017.
She told reporters on Wednesday that “President Kagame has an opportunity to set an example for a region in which leaders seem too tempted to view themselves as indispensable to their own countries’ trajectories.
“We really do expect President Kagame to follow through on the commitments that he has made many times in the past to allow the next generation of leaders to come forward.
“We expect Kagame to step down at the end of his term in 2017.’’

Bayelsa Governorship Poll: No Card Reader, No Voting – Yakubu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Nigeria police have assured that they are ready for the conduct credible governorship election in Bayelsa State on Saturday.
The national chairman of the INEC,Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said the commission has put necessary arrangements needed to conduct free and fair poll despite the allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the plot by the All Progressive Congress (APC) to rig the elections.
The INEC boss added that no voter would be allowed to vote without accreditation through the card reader.

250 Nigerian Students In Canada Risk Deportation

More than 200 Nigerian students schooling in the Canada are on the brink of deportation as a result of the failure of the River states government to fund their scholarships. Osho Samuel, a graduate student of mechanical engineering in the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, confirmed the development to TheCable, saying the students have lost all hope.

“This is a national disgrace, considering the fact that these students are here to learn, they’ve lost all hope and I believe strongly that the government can respond and pay their bills,” he said.
“This is a critical situation for the students, they are actually preparing for their exams, they should be writing their exams in the next two weeks.

Corrupt Customs Officials Will Be Jailed - Comptroller

The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), has warned officers and men of the service to desist from corrupt practices, saying anyone found culpable will be dismissed and jailed.

Ali gave the warning in Calabar while addressing officers and men of the Customs Service on the need to be of good conduct and show professionalism while carrying out their duties.
He said his administration has zero tolerance for corruption, hence the need for officers and men of the Service to shun all corrupt practices.

IG Orders Anti-Riot Police To ‘Maximally’ Restrain Pro-Biafra Protesters.

 The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase has issued a stern warning to MASSOB and IPOB activists to stop threatening public peace or face the full weight of the law. The warning followed the observation by the Nigeria Police Force leadership of the increasing resort to acts of brigandage by sets of misguided individuals who apparently are hiding under the cloak of Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to threaten national security and public peace in parts of South East geopolitical Zone and some other conterminous States.

Dokpesi: Money I Received Was For Publicity And Media.

High Chief Aleogho Dokpesi, Daar Communication (Ray Power and AIT) founder, has explained what transpired on Tuesday 1 December 2015 when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) invited him. In a statement signed by the management of DAAR Communications Plc, he said that around 2.00pm that day, the Ag. Chairman of the EFCC, Alhaji Ibrahim Magu, through a phone call, invited him to the Commission. On getting there, he was requested to, “shed more light on some payments that were made to him through the office of the erstwhile National Security Adviser to the former President, Malam Sambo Dasuki.”

Russian Defense Ministry Presents Evidence of Illegal Oil Trade on Turkish-Syria Border (PHOTO, VIDEO)

The Russian Defense Ministry has provided evidence of Turkish participation in Daesh illegal oil trade. During the press briefing for the international media, the Russian Defense ministry has provided hard evidence of Turkish participation in ISIL illegal oil trade. The ministry has shown photo and video proof.

According to the ministry's statement, the briefing is titled "Russian Federation Armed Forces fighting against international terrorism. New data."

11 Things in November; an Overview of the Senate’s Legislative activities.

by Abang Dove

The month of November has been a busy but eventful one in the Nigerian Senate. Lots of Bills were presented and a few other motions passed. Out of all the Bills presented, a number of them also passed for second reading.

Some of these Bills presented to the house include:

Poor Remuneration Should Not Be Basis To Steal Funds – Finance Minister To Civil Servants

The Minister for Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, yesterday, while reiterating Federal Government’s resolve to stop all forms of inefficiency and wastage in the utilization of the nation’s resources, cautioned civil servants against complaining of poor remuneration and using that as a basis to loot public funds.

Adeosun disclosed this during the inauguration of the Efficiency Unit in Abuja.
According to the Finance Minister, the rate at which the country’s resources had been mismanaged by past administrations was a major reason Nigeria had not recorded any significant progress in the area of capital projects.

Okorocha: We Don’t Want PDP To Die

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo has said that the All Progressives Congress–led government and the people of the state do not want the state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to die, noting that, the government and the citizenry would benefit more if the PDP remains alive to play the role of an opposition party.

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.