The State Security Service (SSS) on Monday told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the founder of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and executive director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, was sponsoring terrorism against Nigeria. Counsel to the SSS, Mosses Idakwo, therefore, prayed the court to disregard a bail application by Mr. Kanu’s counsel, Vincent Obeta, as the matter involving his client was terrorism-related. Mr. Idakwo claimed that the SSS had evidence of bank accounts owned by the accused person where monies (both in dollars and pound sterling) were allegedly used for financing acts of terrorism against the country. He…
Author: Wale Adebayo
Due to the falling price of crude oil in the global markets, Nigerian Government, yesterday, said that it would drop some planned and ongoing oil and gas projects in the country if the unit price of crude oil for such projects fails to hit a set threshold. FG put the threshold at $20 per barrel. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Ibe Kachikwu, made this disclosure at a briefing in Abuja to announce the forthcoming African Petroleum Producers Association’s (APPA) 6th Africa Petroleum Congress and Exhibition (CAPE VI) to be hosted…
The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari is concerned about the completion and effective operation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi State. Dr. Fayemi, on Monday, during a one day official visit to Ajaokuta Steel Company, said the new government is taking a holistic look at the company to ensure that the steel complex works for the benefit of Nigerians. “I want to let you know that the President is very passionate about the Ajaokuta steel company. We will take a look at the company holistically with a view of making it work for the…
In view of the strict economic policies being put in place by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, the federal government has urged Nigerians to prepare ahead for more austere conditions in the coming year. The Federal government has also planned to in that 2016 budget, reduce the Personnel cost form N1.8 trillion to N100 billion as part of moves to reduce expenditure and save cost. According to the FG, an excess of N1 trillion was spent on fuel subsidy in the year 2015 which include the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), just as it disclosed that attention would be given to Internally…
Chief Olisa Metuh, who is the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has debunked reports in a national daily that he warned pro-Biafra agitators to desist from disturbing the peace of the South-East zone. In a statement by Special Assistant to the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Richard Ihediwa, Metuh, who described the report as completely false, said that he never made such a comment at the PDP South East Executive meeting in Enugu. “For the avoidance of doubt what Chief Metuh said on the agitation was that Nigerians have the right to demonstrate as long as they do…
A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Jim Nwobodo, has denied the allegation that he received N100million from a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda. In a statement issued by his spokesman, John Okoreni, the politician said the reports that he got the money from the former minister were unfounded. According to Senator Nwobodo, he was the Chairman of the Contact Committee of the PDP Presidential Campaign for the Southeast, overseeing Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States, and he did receive money for the committee’s work. But the N100 million he received was from PDP’s National…
The Osun State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday described the alleged approval of N50million by Governor Rauf Aregbesola for fireworks and Christmas decorations in some major towns of the state as “wasteful spending and misplacement of priority”. Since his administration was inaugurated in 2010, Governor Aregbesola approves funds during festive seasons for adornment of strategic places in Osogbo the state capital and some major towns with lightings decorations and fireworks. But the state has experienced difficult financial constraint in recent times with workers being owed several months of salaries and contractors abandoning project sites, due to paucity of funds.…
Kogi State Governor-elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has promised to embark on rapid industrialization of the state as soon as he is sworn into office in 2016. Alhaji Bello, who made the pledge in a statement issued yesterday by his Media Assistant, Suleiman Abdulmalik, said only a well-coordinated industrial programme could solve the twin problems of poverty and underdevelopment that currently confront the state. The Governor-elect said he was pained that a state like Kogi that is sitting on a vast deposit of variety of raw materials and blessed with enormous human capital, had remained a shadow of its capacity, 24 years after…
The Minister of Transport and immediate past governor of Rivers State, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, on Monday directed the management of the Nigerian Maritime and Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to carry-out an immediate financial and staff audit. He gave the directive during a stop-over at the NIMASA Resource Centre, Kirikiri in Lagos State, as part of his maiden tour of Lagos ports The minister also directed the Acting Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Haruna Jauro, to forward details of contracts awarded so far by the agency to his office for verification. He demanded a detailed financial report of the agency since its inception. “Over…
The governorship ambition of Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, the Senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), has received a major boost with the Ondo South Consultative Forum (OSCF) endorsing his aspiration to emerge as the party’s flag-bearer in the 2016 Ondo governorship election. The Chairman of OSCF, Mr. Thomas Akinyomi, while addressing reporters, in Akure, the Ondo State capital yesterday, said: “After extensive and thorough consultation with party leaders and delegates in the six local government areas of Ondo South Senatorial District, we by this means publicly announce our support for the governorship aspiration…
Shi’ite Muslims on Saturday accused soldiers of the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State, of killing its members. The movement was reacting to reports that its members attempted to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai in Zaria. According to a terse statement on its website, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria said: “Soldiers in Nigerian Army Uniforms attacked Husainiyyah Baqiyattullah this afternoon and opened fire with life ammunition on beare (sic) handed brothers and sisters, killing and wounding many. They have also layed (sic) siege to it, with armored vehicles and soldiers”. The Shi’ite Muslims led by Sheikh…
Immediate past Senate President of Nigeria, David Mark (GCON); Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue state, Dr. Emmanuel Agbor; ex-Minister of Interior, Abba Moro and scores of political leaders in the state yesterday urged the people of Benue South Senatorial District to see the forthcoming rerun election as a necessary challenge to emancipate the Idoma nation from oppression. The PDP stakeholders spoke in Otukpo, Benue State, when the former Senate president was hosted to a warm reception by his supporters following the annulment of his election by the Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi, on November 28, 2015. Senator…
A former Senate President of Nigeria in the Third Republic, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, yesterday denied his alleged involvement in the unraveling arms deal scandal, saying he never collected N345m from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to buy security equipment as reported. The former Senate president explained that whatever funds from the NSA Office remitted to a company he confirmed to have interest in, Starbriid Limited, were solely for the provision of consultancy services on security and electoral matters, not for procurement of hi-tech security equipment. “To the best of my knowledge, neither the company nor I deal…
The Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) on Saturday gave reasons why some of its members were yet to receive compensation money released to the body by former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki. The publisher of ThisDay Newspapers and President of NPAN, Nduka Obaigbena, had said in his response to a letter of invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), acknowledged receiving N120million in March 2015 on behalf of the association and 12 newspapers. He said the money, contrary to speculation, was compensation to avert a class action lawsuit by the newspapers against the Nigerian military…
Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, has issued a directive to state Ministry of Works to fix portholes in Calabar. In line with this directive, the ministry yesterday commenced ‘operation zero portholes’ in Calabar, the state capital. Gov. Ayade had given the ministry a seven-day ultimatum to fix all potholes identified in the 120 internal roads in Calabar metropolis to ensure free flow of traffic during the 2015 Calabar Festival celebrations that herald Carnival Calabar on December 28. Speaking at Ikot Eyo Street, in Calabar where the ministry has commenced rehabilitation work, Director of Civil Engineering Godwin Akeke, said the ministry…
As the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) continues to dig deep into how the $2.1 billion arms deal funds was spent by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, a former Accounts Officer II, Ibrahim Idris Wambai has alleged that the Office of Former Vice President Namadi Sambo was on a monthly stipend of N20million from the ONSA. The accounts officer also fingered several presidential aides and firms as beneficiaries of the slush funds from the ONSA. Records of all cash payments to such individuals and organizations are still intact, Wambai claimed in a statement of Witness/Accused…
National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) is assuring that the current fuel scarcity will soon come to an end. The South-West Chairman of the union, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, disclosed in Lagos yesterday that massive loading of petroleum products is ongoing in different depots in Lagos and other parts of the country. Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said on December 9 that N407.07 billion fuel subsidy had been paid to oil marketers. “There is massive loading of petroleum products in different depots throughout the country, and our petroleum tanker drivers are ready to go extra mile to deliver the…
Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on Friday inaugurated the construction of an international cargo airport worth N17.5 billion in Lafia. The governor laid the foundation stone for the project at Kwandere village, about 10 kilometres from Lafia metropolis. He said the conception of the airport was informed by the desire of his administration to create a formidable platform for transportation of both domestic and international passengers. The governor explained that the project would be executed under Public-Private-Partnership, PPP, arrangement. He said the principal partner, a Chinese company, Tongyi Group, would provide 75 per cent of the cost of the…
United States Embassy has disowned the widely circulated text message purportedly emanating from the Embassy in Nigeria, which issued a security warning to American citizens resident in Abuja. In the message circulated through various channels on Thursday, the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, had purportedly called and emailed all Americans in Abuja to tell them to stay indoors, following information that three cars loaded with bombs were primed in some undisclosed locations in the capital city. The message, which was also shared on WhatsApp and social media, read: “Please, stay safe especially those in Abuja. I just got…
President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft campaign is bound to offend many, the Presidency has declared. The Presidency also pointed out that in prosecuting the anti-corruption war, big toes would be stepped on and personal interests cast aside. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Mallam Garba Shehu stated this in Kaduna State yesterday at the opening of a three-day retreat for State House correspondents. The retreat, organised by the Presidency and hosted by the Kaduna State Government, has as its theme, “Journalism and the Change Mantra: The State House in Focus”. Mr. Shehu maintained that the media could…