Kano Blast: Boko Haram Not Responsible –Zakzaky

Leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky has said last week’s bomb explosion in Kano which killed 24 persons during Arba’een symbolic trek, was not carried out by Boko Haram even when it claimed responsibility for the attack.
Spokesperson for the group, Ibrahim Usman in a statement, quoted Zakzaky as saying, “we know the names of the contractors and those contracted to commit the massacre; their identity is not hidden from us.

Nigeria Blew N2.7trn On Electricity – Dogara

• How NERC raised salaries unilaterally, Reps panel told
Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, yesterday revealed that it is a shame that N2.7 trillion was wasted to generate power which remained epileptic since 1999.
He spoke in Abuja when he opened the House Committee on Power investigating the payment of N2.7 billion severance package to the Chairman and seven commissioners of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Dasuki Arrest Is The Peak Of Buhari’s Dictatorship – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has described the arrest Tuesday, of the immediate past National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, by 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.
He declared support for Mr. Dasuki’s demand for an open trial as against the federal government’s demand for a secret trial.

“We Saw Hell On Asaba-Onitsha Road” – Motorists, Passengers Lament Biafra Protest In Anambra

Travellers were held to a stand still for hours on Tuesday along Asaba road as the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, shutdown activities in Onistha, Africa’s largest commercial hub.
The protest was organised to warn the Federal Government of Nigeria on the need to free their detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu without delay.
The protesters also affirmed that they needed their independence as a nation.
DAILY POST gathered that the eastern gateway, River Niger was blocked for several hours as nobody was allowed to enter or go out of the state.

Arrest Of Dokpesi, Political Persecution By Buhari – PDP

The National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned the arrest of Chairman of Daar Communication, Raymond Dokpesi, describing it as political persecution.
PDP in a statement signed Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, noted that the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government was after Dokpesi because of his romance and relationship with the PDP.

Metuh said, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemns in its entirety, the arrest of media mogul, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi and other opposition elements by the APC-led Federal Government.”

“This Is Not Democracy” – Wada Reacts To INEC Acceptance Of New APC Candidate, Bello Governor Idris Wada of Kogi

 State has described the decisions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the governorship election conducted on November 21 as the height of mischief that has only succeeded in putting the country’s democracy on trial.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Chief Communications Manager, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, the governor said INEC should not have swallowed the directive of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) hook, line and sinker, especially “since it is now being rumored that the AGF’s action is part of a grand plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to grab Kogi State at all costs.”
Shaibu slammed the decision of INEC to allow APC to substitute its candidate in the middle of an election, saying such directives were null and void for inconsistency with the provisions of the constitution.

How Dasuki Aided Importation Of Illegal Arms Into Nigeria – NATFORCE

The National Task Force on Illegal Importation of Firearms, NATFORCE, on Tuesday threw more light into its claims that the ex-National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), among others, allegedly aided the importation of several trailers of illegal arms and ammunitions into the country.
The NATFORCE alleged that the arms were delivered to the Islamic terrorists, Boko Haram, a group that has gruesomely murdered tens of thousands of innocent Nigerians.

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: