Fashola Bans Mini Skirts, Body Clinging Dresses Among Public Servants

 

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola’s administration has banned indecent dressing among female and male public servants at the Lagos State Government Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja. All forms of clothes exposing the female breasts and other sensitive female body parts have been banned, because it was getting to rampant and out of hand at various departments.

A circular issued by the Head of Service, Mrs. Josephine Williams dated 7 February, 2014 has been sent to all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, calling on all Directors of Finance and Administration, to immediately move against indecent dressing in the secretariat.

Part of the new dress codes for female civil servants are; skirts above the knee level are not allowed. Your skirt must be below your knees, with moderate slits and not body clinging skirts.

If you must wear trousers, such trousers should neither be tight nor revealing and must be worn with a jacket.

Also, gowns to be worn by female public servants must be of knee level, moderate slit, not sleeveless or body clinging.

Lastly, if native attires must be worn, they must be worn completely.

The men were also not left out, as they were also given dress codes;

Administrative officers must wear suit and tie as professionals and other officers could wear suit and tie or French suit.

Junior and clerical staff are allowed to wear shirts and trousers and French suit while complete native wear is allowed for all cadres of public servants.

Mrs Williams also stated that all Directors of Finance and Administration are ordered to ensure that officers within their purview adhere strictly to the dress codes.

Jonathan suspends Sanusi as CBN gov

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday suspended Mallam  Lamido Sanusi as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The suspension order was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.

Abati said Jonathan had found out that Sanusi’s tenure as the CBN governor has been characterised by acts of financial recklessness and misconduct which are inconsistent with his administration’s vision.

He named a Deputy Governor of the CBN, Dr. Sarah Alade, as the acting governor. He said Alade would remain in charge until the conclusion of ongoing investigations into breaches of enabling laws, due process and mandate of  the CBN.

The statement read, “Having taken special notice of reports of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria and other investigating bodies, which indicate clearly that Mallam Sanusi Lamido  Sanusi’s tenure has been characterized by various acts of financial recklessness and misconduct which are inconsistent with the administration’s vision of a Central Bank propelled by the core values of focused economic management, prudence, transparency and financial discipline.

“Being also deeply concerned about far-reaching irregularities  under Mallam Sanusi’s watch which have distracted the Central Bank away from the pursuit and achievement of its statutory mandate; and “Being determined to urgently re-position the Central Bank of Nigeria for greater efficiency, respect for due process and accountability, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has ordered the immediate suspension of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi from the Office of Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“President Jonathan has further ordered that Mallam Sanusi should hand over to the most senior Deputy Governor of the CBN, Dr Sarah Alade who will serve as Acting Governor until the conclusion of on-going investigations into breaches of enabling laws, due process and mandate of the CBN.

“The President expects that as Acting Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Alade will focus on the core mandate of the Bank and conduct its affairs with greater professionalism, prudence and propriety to restore domestic and international confidence in the country’s apex bank.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria reassures all stakeholders in Nigeria’s financial and monetary system that this decision has been taken in absolute good faith, in the overall interest of the Nigerian economy and in accordance with our laws and due process.”

SGF Senator Anyim Sleeping In Public

 

Leaders of the PDP were shocked on Thursday when the National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, openly called on the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Pius Anyim, to learn not to fall asleep at public events, because many people already know him for that.

Mu’azu was speaking when leaders of the party from Ebonyi State visited him and the leadership of the party to pay homage and wish him well following his emergence as PDP chairman.

“Mr. Anyim, I hope you have not started doing what you like doing best,” Mu’azu said, making the motions of a dozing person. The laughter that followed from the audience woke up Senator Anyim who had already gone deep in his sleep...

Commotion as Reps refer 2014 budget to committees

The 2014 budget passed second reading  in  the House of Representatives on Thursday after it went through three days of debate by lawmakers.

The budget of N4.6tn was later referred to the committee stage where the various standing committees of the House would invite agencies to defend their proposals.

However,  the session was not devoid of drama, as the Peoples Democratic Party members and the Minority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, exchanged words several times.

The PDP members made efforts to distract Gbajabiamila as he contributed to the debate, by interjecting with shouts of “point of order”, “point of order”, “point of order.”

The All Progressives Congress  lawmaker from Lagos State came under a barrage of attacks when he described the Appropriation Bill as a document of “voodoo economics.”

$1.6 billion TAM and N971 billion fuel subsidy

NIGERIA’S profligate spending on fuel subsidy will continue in 2014 with the N971.1 billion provided for it in the budget. A breakdown of the budget released by the Ministry of Finance states, “Subsidy payments were maintained at the 2013 level of N971.1 billion.” Such spending this year is questionable, given the Turn Around Maintenance of the country’s four refineries that began in January 2013.

The renovation was geared toward making the refineries reach 90 per cent capacity utilisation, according to the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who stated this in October 2012. To achieve the goal, she said the Federal Government would inject $1.6 billion into the refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna.  This was done. The TAM schedule she unfolded before the Senate Committee on Petroleum chaired by Magnus Abe in 2012 showed that a Japanese company, JGC, the original contractor that built the Port Harcourt Refinery, was contracted.

Alison-Madueke effusively said, “…we have put in place a new plan, complete with new schedules and timelines to bring the refineries back to life and get them to run at higher capacity. The maintenance and upgrade will start with the Port Harcourt Refinery, which has stayed the longest period without turnaround maintenance.” The repair of the last refinery, she added, “comes on stream by the beginning of the last quarter of 2014.”

But with more than one year of repairs in the other refineries, there ought to have been a rebound, felt in increased production output, which invariably should have reduced substantially the N971.1 billion voted for subsidy on imported fuel this year.

EFCC investigate Oduah and others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission  has said  that all those involved in the controversial purchase of  N255m  bulletproof cars  by the Nigerian Aviation Civil Authority, including the sacked   Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, were still being investigated.

 A   source at the EFCC, who made this know said  the outcome of the investigation would determine those to be  prosecuted.

 “We are progressing in the investigation into the scandal and I can assure you that anyone who is found culpable will be prosecuted; just wait and see,” he  stated.

Bisola clerk whose children died in Iyabo Obasanjo's car writes her an open letter

 

wife of Chief E. K Clarke whose two children, Adeife(10) and AKinola (14) were killed in Iyabo Obasanjo's convoy on the 20th of April 2003 has sent an open letter addressed to the Obasanjos expressing her distaste in the manner they handled the death of her children.

Mrs Clarke, who wasn't married to the elder-statesman when the incident happened, said she saw the need to speak up after Iyabo said in her open letter to her dad that the death of the children was what spurred her to pursue political appointments. 

In the open letter, Mrs Clarke said none of the Obasanjo's have been there for her emotionally since the sad day she lost her two children in assassination attempt on Iyabo Obasanjo's life.

‘Fourth Mainland Bridge on course’

 

Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat

The Lagos State Government says the plan leading to the actualisation of the Fourth Mainland Bridge is ongoing.

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, stated this on Tuesday during a press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja.

The commissioner explained that the project was government’s response to the need to create a ring around the state which would allow ease of movement.

He added that the bridge was the missing link, saying despite challenges being faced, the government was determined to get it done.

He said, “Three alignment options are being proposed for the bridge construction. The options come with its own financial implications and challenge. Bridge component is only about 3.5 kilometres, while the rest are road component.”

He said part of the reason government was taking its time on the project was that it had tried to avoid demolition, adding that the citizen’s attitude of purchasing lands indiscriminately without verifying government’s interest was a major issue.

“For now, most of the preliminary works involving soil test, environment impact assessment, survey of topography and biometric survey have been conducted,” Hamzat added.

He assured the state residents that government would continue to engage them on the progress of the project.

The commissioner said, “This represents more than a transport  facility, it will afford students of engineering in Nigeria an opportunity to see such development first hand. Capacity building is also a core consideration in the effort at building the bridge.”

I’ll leave Nigeria better than I met it –Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday inaugurated the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan and the National Enterprise Development Programme.

He also said the various policies so far put in place by his administration were clear indications that he would leave the country better and stronger than he met it.

Jonathan recalled that prior to the launch organised by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he had inaugurated the Mortgage Refinance Company, the Dry Season Farming and had also hosted a conference on the private sector financing of the power sector.

He said all these were borne out of his desire to build legacies that would outlive his administration.

Jonathan said, “This year, we have launched the Mortgage Refinancing Company, that is another area that will revolutionarise the housing sector, where people will be able to build their own affordable houses instead of paying rent.

“We have also launched the dry season farming scheme and have revolutionised agriculture with our new initiatives that all the players in agriculture including the World Bank are commending the Nigerian programmes and today, we are launching this twin programme – Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan and the National Enterprise Development Programme.

“These are clear indications that we will leave this country stronger and better than we met it.

“With diligent implementation of these revolutionary programmes that we are launching today, we can tell Nigerians that our country is set for development.”

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, had earlier in his opening remarks, explained that NEDEP was designed to address the neglect that SMEs had suffered in the past.

Aganga said his ministry had so far created 10,000 cooperatives societies while his target was to create 50,000 every year and produce one million direct jobs yearly.

He said with the present administration’s feat in the cement industry which led to the exportation of the commodity, his ministry was ready to replicate same in 15 other sectors.

“If we can do it in cement, we can do it in 15 other sectors. The plan is holistic. We intend to create industrial cities and parks in conjunction with the state governments. We must consume what we produce which means local content is a must,” the minister added.

Biometric registration of bank customers will commence this Friday

The Bankers’ Committee on Tuesday rose from its 315th meeting and announced that the biometric registration of bank customers would commence on Friday.

As a result, all Deposit Money Banks will on that day commence the registration of their customers’ details, including their fingerprints.

The Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, briefed journalists at the end of the bi-monthly meeting held in Lagos.

He said the biometric identification system would help the fight against fraud and money laundering, and also enhance the protection of bank customers.

INEC releases 2015 election timetable

The Independent National Electoral Commission has released the timetable for the 2015 elections.

The commission, in a statement issued in Abuja late Friday night, fixed the Presidential and National Assembly elections for February 14, 2015.

The statement was signed  by the Secretary of the Commission, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu.

The commission also fixed state assembly and governorship elections for February 28 same year.

The statement added that the governorship election in Ekiti State would hold on June 21, 2014 while that of Osun State would hold on August 9, 2014.

Ogakwu said the timetable was released after the retreat of the commission in Kaduna, which she said, was held between  Tuesday and Friday.

She said the release was done in pursuant of the powers conferred on the commission by the constitution and the Electoral Act  (2010) as amended.

The statement was however silent on when politicians could declare their interest in contesting for any of the offices.

The Electoral Act 2010, Section 31 (1) states that, “Every political party shall not later than 60 days before the date appointed for the general election under the provisions of this Act, submit to the Commission in the prescribed forms list of the candidates the party proposes to sponsor at the elections.”

Reacting to the development on Friday, the Peoples Democratic Party said that it was ready for the elections.

The ruling party also said it was sure of winning the Presidential election, adding that it would also win more states in the governorship election to increase the number of states under its control from the present 18.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, stated this while speaking with one of our correspondents on the telephone on Friday night.

Metuh said though he was not sure if the opposition party would be ready for the election, he noted that he would not be surprised if the All Progressives Congress directs its members to boycott the elections.

He said, “We are ready for the elections as shown by the timetable released by the commission. We are sure of winning the Presidential election and I can also tell you that we are going to win more states.

“I’m not sure whether the opposition will not ask its members to boycott the elections because they know that they are going to lose. But as for us, we are sure of winning more states and more seats at both the National Assembly and Houses of Assembly.”

But, the Labour Party said that it was still studying the timetable.

The National Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, who stated this in a telephone interview with our correspondent, however, expressed surprise at the sequence of the election.

He also expressed surprise at the plan to hold presidential election before the governorship election. He said, “ We would study it(the timetable). It is good that the commission released the timetable on time. We are going to look at it and discuss it.

“But are you sure that the presidential election will hold before the governorship election? That is not good enough.”

Also reacting, the Chairman, All Progressives Congress, Osun State chapter, Mr. Adelowo Adebiyi, described the announcement of the timetable as a welcome development, stressing that the party was confident of victory.

He said, “I wish that all things like voter’s register, movement of personnel and logistic would be got right because we don’t want a repeat of what happened in Anambra State.

“We are ready for the polls; we have mobilised and enlightened our people. By the grace of God, we are winning.”

His Peoples Democratic Party counterpart, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, said, “Now, the days of the Osun APC in government are numbered. We are happy that we can at last begin the countdown to our legitimate return to power.

“The PDP is winning the election resoundingly because the APC has betrayed the expectations of the masses. Go to all the nooks and crannies of Osun State, you will see that the people are earnestly desirous of PDP’s return.”

On his part, the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Sunday Akere, said: “Everyday for us is like election day; this is why we have always been working round the clock daily, breaking new grounds for our people, expanding the frontiers of development and restoring hope.

“We are always prepared, ever ready and the people are happy with our government. One good term, deserves another. We have confidence and trust in God that the people will return Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for second term.”

Also, Spokesperson of the APC in the South-West, Chief Ayo Afolabi, said the “overwhelming achievements of Aregbesola will ensure the re-election of the APC in Osun,” adding that “Osun people will show their appreciation for the landmark infrastructural development of Osun through massive votes.”

A former spokesperson of the PDP in the South-West, Taiwo Akeju, said, “The people are yearning for PDP’s return in Osun. Even if the election is tomorrow, we are prepared and ready. There was no crisis in Osun schools when we were in power. Indeed, we established the Osun State University, which has remained an enduring legacy.”

Also, the Chief Press Secretary to Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, said, the governor and Ekiti APC were fully prepared for the election.

Oyebode said, “The election is going to determine whether the state is going to move forward or backward; we know that the people of the state desire forward movement and that they appreciate the immense contributions of the governor to the development of the state.

“We urge INEC to do everything needed to ensure a free, fair and credible election. We want to also appeal to the people of the state to remain as peaceful as they have always been and to cast their votes wisely.

“The state government is going to ensure that the election holds in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. We have done a lot to restore public confidence in government. It is going to be a victorius outing by the grace of God.”

A governorship aspirant on the platform of the PDP in Ekiti State, Chief Dayo Adeyeye, predicted the victory of Ekiti PDP in the forthcoming election, saying, “we need to liberate the state from the plundering APC.

“I’m personally very prepared. The party is united and has agreed that whosoever is picked as candidate will be supported by all the other aspirants.”

Elders urge Amaechi to cancel rally in Ogoniland

Elders from four local government areas that make up Ogoni have called on the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, to cancel his plan of leading a rally of the All Progressives Congress and the Save Rivers Movement to Bori, Khana Local Government Area on Saturday (today).

The elders, who spoke under the aegis of Concerned Ogoni Elders Forum, made this call on Friday shortly after their meeting to address the political crisis rocking the state.

Amaechi had vowed to lead the rescheduled rally organised by the Save Rivers Movement in Khana after the previous meeting in the area was botched by hoodlums suspected to be militants.

The group maintained that it was necessary for the governor to shelve the idea of holding a rally in any part of Ogoniland in order not to heighten the tension in the area.

Leader of the forum, Chief Kobani Bere, explained that all political gathering in Ogoniland would only be allowed if organisers of such gathering applied and received police permission.

Bere recalled the shooting and attack by political thugs on innocent Ogoni youths on January 19, 2014, adding that Ogoni appears to have been marked for extermination.

He said, “The forum observed that the shooting and the alleged physical attack on our innocent youths by political thugs and stooges amongst us are of grave concern to us as an ethnic nationality.

“The group also observed that in view of the recent actions by agents of government functionaries, including media reports that Governor Rotimi Amaechi will this weekend lead a rally of the APC and the Save Rivers Movement to Bori, Ogoni appears to have been marked for total extermination to pave the way for the much anticipated imposition and marginalization.”

Bere explained that since the electoral laws only allowed campaign to begin 90 days to elections, the governor and his groups should not flout the provisions of the law.

“All political gatherings and or rallies intended to be held in any part of Ogoni (Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme) be communicated to the police and the appropriate permit secured from the police authorities before such gathering is organised,” he said.

Jonathan stops SSS from quizzing Obasanjo

The Presidency may have put on hold its earlier directive to  the State Security Service  to investigate the weighty allegations contained in the controversial letter  written by  former  president Olusegun Obasanjo to  President Goodluck Jonathan in December last year.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that the Presidency decided to halt the investigation of  the issues raised in the former president’s  letter in order to amicably settle the rift between President Jonathan  and his political benefactor.

It was learnt that notable political leaders in the country were already engrossed in moves to bring the President and Obasanjo together.

It was further gathered that security operatives were directed   to stop the investigation as a result of the ongoing efforts in high political circles to broker a truce between the two political figures.

A  source close to the Presidency, who craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on behalf of the President, told one of our correspondents in Abuja on Thursday  that the President was more interested in settling his differences with Obasanjo than carrying out the investigation that could deepen the crisis.

“The President was the one that gave the directive but I think another counter directive is in force now; they might not go into investigating all those things in the letter. I think they are making efforts to settle this matter.

“Political elders are intervening in it so the President asked them to stay action on it; so, for now there is nothing on it.

“There is the need to take a look at the political implication of the course of action. Besides, the President believes that his differences with Obasanjo are not irreconcilable,” the source said.

Security operatives had earlier contacted   the former president  over the controversial letter two weeks ago in response to an earlier directive by President Goodluck Jonathan.

A security source told one of our correspondents   that the SSS wrote Obasanjo following a presidential directive to security operatives to investigate the grave issues raised by the former president in his letter to the President late last year.

It was learnt that the SSS wrote to notify Obasanjo of the impending investigation.

Obasanjo had in an 18-page letter to the President, accused him, among other things, of not honouring his words that he would not run in 2015, and taking actions calculated at destroying Nigeria.

In the letter dated December 2, 2013 and titled, “Before it is too late”, Obasanjo accused the President of pursuing “selfish personal and political interests” based on advice from his “self-centred aides.”

He also alleged that the President had failed to deliver on his promises to Nigerians and to curb insurgency and corruption in the country.

Obasanjo also alleged that the President had put 1,000 politicians on a watch list and was training snipers.

“Nigeria is bleeding and the haemorrhage must be stopped,” an obviously angry Obasanjo had lamented. He went ahead to declare that “Jonathan had betrayed God and Nigerians,” who voted him into power.

In his response, Jonathan described the former president’s letter as a threat to national security.

The source added that the agency wrote Obasanjo on the week he wrote the then Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, to announce his decision to withdraw from the activities of the PDP at the national and regional levels.

It was further learnt that the leadership of the SSS might decide to put the investigation on hold because of a move by the Federal Government and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party to resolve the matter through peaceful means.

The source said, “Obasanjo ought to have been summoned, but we have also been instructed to put investigation on hold for a possible peaceful resolution of the issues at stake.’’

However, a source close to the former president said that the SSS could not have summoned the former President even though the person was not specific in denying if a letter was written to the former President to notify him of the investigation.

The source also said that the issue of the SSS inviting Obasanjo was not likely as ‘they couldn’t have done so’ now that efforts were being made to settle the whole problem.

The source added that Obasanjo had been out of the country since last week, noting that he was expected back into the country within the week.

When contacted on Thursday, SSS Deputy Director, Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar, pleaded for time to find out the status of the probe. “I will find out and get back to you,” the SSS spokesperson said.

But attempts to get Ogar’s reaction on Friday did not yield fruits as she neither pick her calls nor respond to text messages sent to her phone.

The police however claimed that they were not involved in the probe of the allegations made by former president Obasanjo.

A senior police officer confided in one of our correspondents that the police did not have record of investigation of the allegations made by Obasanjo.

The officer described the issues as political which he said would be resolved by the parties concerned. He added adding that the Force would not be involved in political issues.

“Do we have any record of such an investigation of Obasanjo’s allegations? I will say we don’t have such information with us. In any case, there is no way we can investigate the former president and those close to him would not know. Such an investigation cannot be hidden and the police will have to comment on it publicly if it is true, but for now, there is no information or record on any probe against Obasanjo,” the source said.

In previous attempts to confirm the status of the probe with the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Dr. Reuben Abati, he had always said he would not comment on alleged reversal of any directive that was officially issued by the President.

But the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Olisah Metuh, has said  that the new National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, is likely to  meet former president Obasanjo as he commences efforts to woo aggrieved PDP members to the party next week.

Metuh said that the new chairman of the party would unveil his agenda for reconciliation in the party with effect from next week.

He said that Mu’azu placed emphasis on the issue of reconciliation when he hosted the Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, in Abuja.

He said that Mu’azu’s agenda for reconciliation also included how to get the former president to participate in the party’s activities.

Metuh said, “The National Chairman is unveiling his agenda next week, but he has already said that the issue of reconciliation is paramount and very important.

“He stated this when he received the Governor of Jigawa State and he said categorically that he would try and bring the people that left.

“And the National Chairman has enormous, complete respect for our former President and our former Chairman, Board of Trustees, (Chief Olusegun Obasanjo) and I am sure that he would unveil his agenda and the way that he would engage him in the coming weeks.

“He is unveiling his agenda for reconciliation and everything from next week, and would include the process of engaging the former President to ensure that he remains involved in the activities of the party, but let us wait for the national chairman to unveil his agenda from next week; from next week, he would start making policy statements on it.”

SSS storms El-Rufai’s house, arrests security guards

Operatives of the State Security Service on Friday stormed the  Maitama,Abuja residence of a former FCT Minister, Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

The operatives arrested the former minister’s guards when their bid to arrest him for making inflammatory statements on 2015 elections failed.

The operatives visited the Mambialla Street mansion twice in a Toyota Hilux vehicle around 12 pm, but were denied entry by the security guards at the gate.

Unable to apprehend their target, the security personnel headed to the residence of one of his wives at 50, Madeira Street off Yedsteram Street, after farmers’ market,  Maitama, and arrested three security guards around 7pm.

It was learnt that the SSS operatives whisked away the hapless guards when they could not arrest their prey.

Our correspondent, who visited the Mambilla Street residence  of the former minister, gathered that the guards locked the gate and refused to allow the SSS operatives access to the residence to arrest their boss.

The security operatives who were frustrated by the guards’ action, threatened to arrest them and left after spending about ten minutes.

The head of the security guards at El-Rufai’s residence, Gregory Bassa, told our correspondent that the SSS personnel initially pretended to be visitors and asked after their boss, but were informed that he was not available.

He said, “They (SSS operatives) left, but after about an hour or so, they came back and demanded to enter the compound. I didn’t even know they were security men until I saw their guns. They demanded to know oga’s whereabouts and the last time I saw him.

“One of them attempted to open the gate and when he saw that it was locked, he threatened to break the padlock. He collected my two phones and they said they would come back and arrest us (security guards) when next they come back. I demanded for my phones and told them I was a retired military officer, so they returned the phones and left.”

The service had on Thursday summoned the stalwart of the All Progressives Congress to  appear at its headquarters on Friday  for saying there would be violence in the 2015 elections and that “the only way to take power is by force.”

El-Rufai did not however honour the invitation, saying the agency should rather produce a warrant of arrest or meet him at his office.

His Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, in a statement said the assault on El-Rufai’s house “continues a sorry tradition of serial violation of his rights by the SSS which has arrested him at airports and hotels.”

He said, “The most recent was the action of the SSS in violating his right to freedom of movement in Awka during the Anambra elections. Without any just cause or formal charge, the Directorate of State Security Services had unlawfully detained El Rufai, the Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress at the premises of Finotel Hotel, Awka, Anambra State, from the 15th day of November, 2013 to the 16th day of November, 2013.”

Armed SSS officials invade Nasir el-Rufai’s house

According to reports from Premium Times, the armed operatives are trying to force their way in to arrest the former minister.

It was gathered from El-Rufai that no arrest warrant has been produced by the operatives, saying he would rush back home as soon as he picks his children from school.

Premium  Times reports:

The SSS had on Thursday invited Mr. El-Rufai,  the Deputy National Secretary of the opposition All Progressives Congress [APC] in connection with a statement credited to him that there might be violence if the 2015 general elections were not free and fair.
The former minister made the comment while speaking at the Transformed to Transform, T2T Nigeria, Conference and Career Fair, a leadership and empowerment initiative for the National Youth Service Corps members in Abuja on Wednesday.
He was reported to have said the 2015 elections could be marred by riots and other forms of violence that might lead to loss of lives and properties unless the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the security agencies ensured they were free.
The former minister however refused to respond to the SSS’ invitation on the ground that he had a pending suit against the agency over his detention in a hotel in Awka, Anambra State,  during the governorship election in that state last November 16.
He also told the Director General of the Service, Ita Ekpeyong, that he was willing to meet with him in his home or office or that in the alternative the SSS should produce a warrant of arrest.
Spokesperson of the SSS, Marylyn Ogar, declined comments when contacted by PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday night.
But she had earlier issued a statement Thursday warning those making provocative statements ahead of the 2015 general election to desist from such or face the full weight of the law.
Ms. Ogar said the attention of the service had been drawn to incessant provocation statements by some Nigerians threatening violence ahead of the election. She did not mention any name
“Such comments are offensive, misguided and directed at stirring hate among Nigerians,” she said.
“This service and other law enforcement agencies have the mandate to protect the country and its citizens.
“We, therefore, warn all subversive elements that are bent on promoting divisive and disruptive agenda to refrain from such as the full weight of the law shall henceforth be brought to bear accordingly.”
She urged Nigerians to remain law abiding and assist security agencies in ensuring the safety of all

Corruption not cause of all Africa’s problems – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that in terms of security, the onslaught being unleashed on the people of the northern part of the country by members of the fundamental sect,  Boko Haram, remains the biggest challenge of his administration.

“In terms of security,  Boko Haram is the biggest challenge we have at the moment,” the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati quoted the President.

Jonathan spoke during a televised debate titled, “Africa’s Next Billion,” held at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

His positions were contained in a snippet of the debate posted by Abati, on his Twitter handle.

President Jonathan said on Wednesday it was wrong for anybody to hold the belief that corruption was the cause of all the problems confronting Africa.

“Everything that does not happen the way it should in Africa, people say corruption is the answer.  I don’t agree,” Abati quoted Jonathan as saying.

The President also reportedly told the gathering that the power sector privatisation carried out by his administration was already yielding positive fruits.

He claimed that Nigerians had started witnessing increased electricity supply within a short period.

He also assured them that that positive development was just the beginning.

In a statement Abati later made available to journalists, the presidential spokesman quoted Jonathan as calling on all stakeholders in the continent to continue to work for greater security and political stability, which he described as prerequisites for sustained socio-economic development.

“Security and political stability are key to development. Investors will not come to any country that is insecure or politically unstable. Happily, many African countries now enjoy political stability. It is a major reason for the positive economic growth rates, which we are now witnessing on the continent and we must continue to do our best to maintain and expand the frontiers of political stability on our continent,” Jonathan said.

He also said African governments must accord the highest possible priority to promoting inclusive economic growth on the continent to avoid problems associated with poverty and financial equality.

He said his administration was already doing a lot to enhance inclusive growth in Nigeria through policies and programmes that focussed on wealth creation rather than poverty alleviation.

He said, “Economic inclusion is very important and we are already taking necessary steps to improve financial inclusion in our country. Transforming our agricultural sector is one way in which we are doing so.

“We are doing all that we can to transform agriculture in Nigeria into a much more productive and job creating sector. We are also working to create more inclusive wealth through better education, skills acquisition programmes and policies that encourage the addition of value to our primary products before exportation.”

The President said with Africa’s population projected to exceed two billion persons by the year 2050, wealth creation and job creation must remain at the top of the continent’s developmental agenda.

Jonathan, President John Mahama of Ghana, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and other participants in the debate agreed that the objective of achieving more inclusive economic growth would be better served, if African leaders took more positive action towards boosting intra-African trade.

He said the current situation in which only 11 per cent of Africa’s total trade took place within the continent was unacceptable.

The President said that African leaders must do everything possible to remove all impediments to trade among African countries, including inadequate air and land transportation links between their countries.

He also said while Africa’s private sector must play a greater role in driving economic growth on the continent, governments must remain proactively engaged in evolving and implementing policies that would enable businesses to thrive and create more wealth on the continent.

Speaking to journalists after the debate, the President said the World Economic Forum on Africa, scheduled for Abuja in May this year, would provide a platform for exhibiting the immense economic potential of Nigeria and the West African sub-region to the world’s leading investors and companies.

2015: Ndigbo Must Support Jonathan’s Re-Election Bid In Their Own Interest – MASSOB Leader

 

Leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has advised Ndigbo to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition.

The MASSOB leader, made this call in Owerri, the Imo State capital, when he received the recently reinstated National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Maxi Okwu.
Uwazuruike stressed that it would be in the interest of Ndigbo to support Jonathan’s re-election in 2015.
He said, “I want to advise Ndigbo to continue to support the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan because he is our brother and has also shown that he loves Ndigbo, especially the respect he accorded our late leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu by giving him a state burial and he has equally done a lot of other things for Ndigbo which I will not want to say now. But for the time being, Ndigbo must continue to support him”.
While thanking Okwu for the courtesy call, Uwazuruike, in a veiled reference to Chief Victor Umeh, decried how the ‘former leadership’ allegedly destroyed the party by making it look like a private property.
While charging the leadership of the party to mobilize its members in support of President Jonathan’s second term ambition, the MASSOB leader said they must not renege on the pact made between the president and the late Ndigbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Speaking earlier, Chief Maxi Okwu, said they were in the Imo State capital to brief Uwazuruike, who is also the moral leader of Ndigbo, on the latest development in the party and to seek his advice on the way forward.

Amaechi protesters threaten to shut down P’Harcourt airpor

THOUSANDS of youths from the four local government areas of Rivers State that make up Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality, on Tuesday, threatened to shut down the Port Harcourt International Airport, if the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, was redeployed to another state.

The protesters, who carried placards and sang songs of praises for the CP, had blocked a portion of the busy Port Harcourt-Aba-Enugu road for an hour.

The youths also warned that they would not hesitate to shut down other entry points to the state from Ikwerre, oil wells and flow stations within the four local government areas.

While travellers going to Aba, Enugu and Umuahia were stranded for an hour as a result of the heavy traffic build-up, others coming into Port Harcourt could not get to their destination as a result of the huge crowd on the expressway.

Some of the protesters’ placards read, ‘With Mbu, no more political assassination’; ‘Ikwerre disowns Amaechi’; ‘IG, they will kill us all if you transfer Mbu’; ‘No CP Mbu, no International Airport’; ‘Mbu is needed in Rivers more than ever’ and ‘Jonathan government is the best’.

The four local government areas that make up the Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality are Port Harcourt, Emohua, Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre.

Addressing the crowd during the demonstration, the spokesman for Ikwerre Peoples Assembly, Mr. Chima Boms, said the state police commissioner had performed well and deserved commendation.

Boms said, “Consequently, the Ikwerre Peoples Assembly will resist any attempt to redeploy Mbu as the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, as such move will take us back to the dark era.

“Any redeployment of CP Mbu at this time will be asking for the total shutdown of all entry points to Rivers State, including the (Port Harcourt) International Airport, which the Ikwerre people play host to, and all oil wells, flow stations and other facilities in our land.”

Boms said that Amaechi, prior to Mbu’s assumption of duty as the state police commissioner, arrested those with contrary views to that of his government.

Otudeko’s $48m suit against Dangote for hearing Feb. 6

A Federal High Court, Lagos, on Tuesday fixed February 6 to hear a suit filed by Oba Otudeko against Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the Nigerian Ports Authority over a land dispute.

Justice Okon Abang adjourned the case at the instance of the counsel to Dangote, Mrs Fola Sowemimo, to enable her to file written statement on oath.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Otudeko, Chairman of Honeywell Group, had filed the suit in 2006 at Justice Ramat Mohammed’s court.

He is claiming $48m against the defendants as damages for breach of contract over a 10.8 square metres of land within the Lagos Ports Complex, known as the 5th Apapa Wharf Extension.

In the suit, the NPA, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Dangote Industries Ltd, Dangote and Greenview Development Nig. Ltd, are listed as first, second, third, fourth and fifth defendants respectively.

NAN reports that the suit was subsequently transferred to Justice Abang after the retirement of Mohammed.

When the case came up on Tuesday, counsel to the plaintiff, Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), told the court that the case was slated for trial.

According to Nwobike, he is faced with the challenge of retrieving the exhibits tendered before the former judge.

The counsel, therefore, asked for an adjournment to enable him to retrieve the exhibits.

Meanwhile, counsel for the third, fourth and fifth defendants, Sowemimo, has argued that the case was not yet ripe for hearing since the defence had yet to file its written statement on oath.

She urged the court to grant an adjournment in favour of the defence, adding that “since the defence was unprepared it would serve the interest of justice to give them time to regularise.”

Abang had in a bench ruling adjourned the case to February 6 and ordered the defence to file its written statement before the next date of adjournment.

In his statement of claim, Otudeko averred that by an agreement, NPA leased the land to him for five years for N2.2m yearly.

He said the land was to be used for the setting up a bulk food handling facility, adding that in keeping with the agreement, it paid the amount and additional N290,000 for survey.

According to the plaintiff, the BPE suddenly suspended his pre-existing rights, and granted the concession to Greenview Development Ltd belonging to Dangote.

He said that NPA and BPE later asked him to vacate the facility to ensure its smooth transfer to the new operator.

Otudeko averred that Dangote, through his agents, harassed, threatened and ordered his employees to vacate the land.

He said by the forceful eviction, he lost the profit he would have made and was “greatly injured in his business.”

Otudeko urged the court to declare Honeywell Group as the exclusive legal occupier of the land and to restrain the defendants from treating it as a stranger or trespasser on the land.

He also wants the sum of $48m as damages for additional expenses

Court orders Reps not to change leadership

An Abuja Federal High Court on Monday ordered members of the House of Representatives to refrain from changing or taking step to change the leadership of the legislative body, pending the determination of a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party.

The court, presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, ordered the lawmakers to maintain status quo.

In the pending suit, PDP is asking for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the House of Representatives; its Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal; Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha; and 49 others, including the 37 lawmakers that defected to the All Progressives Congress, from changing or altering the leadership of the House.

The court gave the order at the resumption of hearing in the pending suit on Monday, after counsel to the PDP and the defendants argued over which applications the court should hear first.

PDP lawyer, Yunus Usman, SAN, wanted the court to hear his motion for interlocutory injunction first.

Meanwhile, counsel for the defendants, including Sebastine Hon, SAN, asked the court to commence proceedings with their preliminary objections.

In a short ruling after listening to the submissions of the two parties, Justice Ademola ruled that the court would hear the preliminary objections along with the originating summons.

He fixed February 3 for the hearing.

But the judge went ahead to order the members of the House of Representatives to maintain status quo until the final determination of the case.

Noting that the court has a duty to preserve the subject matter before it, Justice Ademola stated, “The defendants, particularly the first to eleventh defendants, are to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of this suit.”

The first to eleventh defendants are namely: the House of Representatives; Speaker, Aliyu Tambuwal; Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha; Majority Leader, Mulikat Akande-Adeola; Deputy Majority Leader, Leo Ogor; Chief Whip, Isiaka Bawa; Deputy Chief Whip, Ahmed Mutkar; Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minority Whip, Samsom Osagie; Deputy Minority Leader, Sumaila Kawu; and Deputy Minority Whip, Graba Datti.

Forty-two other members of the House, including those that defected from PDP to the APC, were listed as the 12th to 53rd defendants, while the Clerk of the House was cited as the 54th defendant.

The defection of the lawmakers had reportedly given the APC a simple majority in the House, increasing its numerical strength from 135 to 172, against 171 PDP members.

In a brief encounter with journalists afterwards, one of the lawyers of the defendants, Sebastine Hon, SAN, said he and his colleagues would meet their clients to know the next course of action.

On the other hand, PDP lawyer, Usman, stressed that the order means that all the principal officers in office as at the time the suit was filed should remain in office, and must not be tampered with, until the final determination of the matter.

PDP had filed the suit against a backdrop of speculations that some members of the House would push for a change in leadership once the lawmakers resume from recess.

The National Assembly will resume today.

In the pending suit, PDP is asking the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the lawmakers, “their agents, servants, privies, or through any person or persons however, from taking any step or further steps, sitting, starting or doing anything to alter, remove or change the leadership of the House of Representatives.”

In the same vein, PDP asked the court to declare that, in view of section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, and another pending suit with No. FHC/ABJ/CS/621/2013, in which the defected lawmakers sought to stop the party from declaring their seats vacant, the 11th to 52nd defendants cannot lawfully vote or contribute to any motion for the removal or change of any of the principal officers of the House.

The court was equally asked to declare that the concerned lawmakers are not competent to sponsor, contribute or vote on any motion calling for the removal or change in the leadership of the House of Representatives or the removal of any of the principal officers.

PDP asked the court to determine whether the defected lawmakers can validly function as members of the House of Representatives and thereby contribute to or vote on any motion or debate for the removal of any of the principal officers of the House; and whether the concerned lawmakers can alter the composition of the House’s leadership.

The defendants have however, asked the court to dismiss the suit.

In their preliminary objections, they argued that the suit was incompetent, and that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter.