Nigerains Are Suffering, Poverty Is The Reason Behind Kidnapping- Dangote

Alhaji Aliko Dngote says a lot of Nigerians are living below the poverty line – He noted that this has led to increase in crime and vice – The richest man in Africa blamed the drop in the country’s revenue for government slow performance Alhaji Aliko Dangote has lamented that more than 100 million Nigerians are poor and that this will lead to increased crime. The Punch reports that Africa’s richest man said at the Executive Course No. 38, 2016 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Plateau State.

Dangote said that it was ironical that in spite of the abundant resources, Nigeria was still dealing with serious poverty.

He said:

“It is a curious paradox that Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, and the largest economy on the continent, also has one of the highest levels of poverty. “It is estimated that more than 100 million out of a population of 187 million Nigerians live below the poverty line.”

He noted that “youth unemployment had risen to 42 per cent this year, with many graduates roaming the streets of major cities such as Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt in search of elusive white-collar jobs, while for some who were employed, their situation could best be described as under-employment, as they were being underutilised and poorly paid.”

“The spate of kidnappings, intermittent vandalism of petroleum pipelines in the Niger Delta, and the protracted insurgency in the North-East are all fuelled, to a large extent, by the high level of endemic poverty in the country.”

Dangote noted that the dwindling economic had made things more difficult as the government was finding it increasingly difficult to fulfil its obligations. “Coupled with this, the activities of insurgents in the North-East have also affected the level of poverty in that part of the country.

It is estimated that there are over 2.4 million Internally Displaced Persons in the region. It will take billions of naira to rebuild the North-East and fully re-settle the victims of the insurgency.
 

Source:
http://www.aksmedias.com.ng/2016/10/nigerains-are-suffering-poverty-is.html?m=1

Orji Uzor Kalu Re-arraigned By EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday re-arraigned a former Governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, before a Federal High Court in Lagos for an alleged fraud of N2.7bn.

Kalu was re-arraigned along with two others on 34 counts of money laundering before Justice Mohammed Idris.

His co-defendants were Udeh Udeogu and Slok Nigeria Limited.

The re-arraignment of the accused on Monday followed the transfer of their case from the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to the Lagos division.

The accused had earlier been arraigned on September 27, 2016 before Justice Anwuri Chikere of the Abuja division of the court.

But the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, subsequently transferred the case to Lagos, leading to the re-arraignment of the accused on Monday.

The 34 counts pressed against Kalu and others border on money laundering.

The EFCC, in the charges, alleged that while he was governor of Abia State, Kalu siphoned funds running into over N2.7bn from the state’s treasury.

The ex-governor was accused of diverting state funds into the account of Slok Nigeria Limited, a company, the EFCC claimed was owned by Kalu and his family members.

Kalu was said to have allegedly diverted the funds in tranches of N200m, N50m, N200m, N300.8m, N545m, N429m, N288.4m, N190m, N157m, N152.8m, N100m, N84m and N50m between August 13, 2003 and January 12, 2005.

The offence is said to be contrary to Section 17 (c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2003 and punishable under Section 16 of the same Act.

The EFCC accused Slok Nigeria Limited of conniving with one Emeka Abone, said to be at large, to help Kalu retain the allegedly stolen funds in its accounts, when Slok Nigeria Limited “knew or at least suspected the said Orji Uzor Kalu to have engaged in a criminal conduct.”

The EFCC said the company is liable to punishment under Section 16 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004.

The 2nd defendant, Udeogu, was accused of helping Kalu to pay part of the allegedly stolen funds into the account of Slok Nigeria Limited with the defunct FinBank Plc.

The offence is said to be contrary to Section 427 of the Criminal Code Cap 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
Consequently, the prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Mr. Adebisi Adeniyi, asked the court for a trial date.

However, Kalu’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), informed the court that his client had earlier been arraigned and granted bail and urged Justice Idris to allow him continue on the existing bail.

Ozekhome said, “We are seeking the court’s discretion for the first defendant to continue on the existing bail granted to him on April 20, 2008 by Justice Adamu Bello.

“Since this matter has started, he has not jumped bail. He is an employer of labour; therefore, he will not undermine this court.”

On the his part, counsel for the 2nd defendant, Mr. Solo Akuma (SAN), also urged Justice Idris to allow his client to continue on the existing bail granted to him, assuring the court that his client would make himself available for his trial.

“The second accused person is a retired permanent secretary and his wife is a judge of the Federal High Court,” Akuma added.

In response, the prosecutor said he was not opposed to the application to allow the defendants to continue on their existing bail.

Consequently, Justice Idris ordered the defendants to continue on their existing bail.
Kalu had earlier vehemently opposed the transfer of his case from Abuja to Lagos.

Source:
http://punchng.com/updated-n2-7bn-fraud-efcc-re-arraigns-orji-kalu-lagos/

Wike Blasts Amaechi In Church: We're Starting Projects Afresh Because You Looted

WE STARTED INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT AFRESH BECAUSE AMAECHI SQUANDERED RIVERS FUNDS SAYS GOVERNOR WIKE

Rivers State Governor , Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the administration started the process of infrastructural development afresh because the immediate past administration of Rotimi Amaechi squandered resources that accrued to the state under his eight years of misrule.

He said it was Amaechi’s eight years of misrule that made it impossible for the former governor to construct a road to the hometown of his political mentor , Chief Godspower Ake of the APC .

The governor also urged the people of Rivers State to rise up and pray to God to handle those working with outsiders to disrupt the political process and deny the Rivers people representation at the Senate

Governor Wike spoke on Sunday during the 10th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service of the Omega Power Ministry in Port Harcourt and the Harvest Thanksgiving of Saint Luke Anglican Church , Rumuadaolu.

At the Saint Luke Anglican Church , Governor Wike said :

"Amaechi squandered the money of our people, using state resources to sponsor elections in other places.

"Because of the funds squandered by Amaechi, we are starting the development of sstatewide infrastructure afresh. For eight years, at a time that the state got approximately N20billion monthly, that administration failed to develop critical infrastructure.

"G..U Ake was Amaechi’s political mentor. Yet for eight years, he denied his community the required access road. For us, we will continue to ensure the development of infrastructure in all communities of Rivers State , irrespective of the political leaning of the people ".

Speaking at the Omega Power Ministry , Governor Wike , Governor Wike said he has presented the political problem of the state before God, urging all Christians to pray fervently for the sustenance of the state 

.

He said: "The same God who ensured that we overcame them in 2015, will answer our prayers".

The governor commended the General Overseer of Omega Power Ministry , Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere for his commitment to the welfare of the less privileged .

In his remarks , General Overseer of the Omega Power Ministry , Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere lauded Governor Wike for living up to his promise of approving the building permit of the church and also granting it certificate of occupancy .

He said all members of Omega Power Ministry , irrespective of their political party , love Governor Wike for his commitment to development and the welfare of the people.

Highpoint of the 10th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service of Omega Power Ministry was the handing over of the symbolic Government House key to Governor Wike by Apostle Chinyere .

Simeon Nwakaudu ,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor , Electronic Media .
30th October , 2016.

Source: http://www.trezzyhelm.com/2016/10/we-started-infrastructural-development.html?m=1

Police Recover 19 Cars From Arase

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has ordered an investigation into the purchase and distribution of vehicles by his predecessors.

It was gathered that the probe was informed by the discovery that retiring officers, including former IGs and Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, were in the habit of appropriating police vehicles for their personal use.

Findings by our correspondent on Sunday show that the probe, which is being handled by the Special Investigation Panel, had identified and recovered 19 police vehicles from former IG, Solomon Arase.
Some of the vehicles include assorted sedans, Sports Utility Vehicles and pick-up vans.

The vehicles, it was learnt, were apart from the four vehicles he was entitled to take away with him on retirement.

A senior officer, who is familiar with the investigation, said the SIP was still working to recover five additional vehicles from the former police boss.

It was learnt that the SIP, headed by Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ali Amodu, (retd.), had also recovered a number of police vehicles from other retired DIGs.

The recovered vehicles were said to have been distributed to newly promoted Commissioners of Police and AIGs.

The source said, “We are making progress in our investigations. We were able to trace 24 vehicles to the former IG and we have recovered 19 already. He has yet to release the remaining five, but we won’t let up until we recover all the vehicles. We have pictures of the vehicles and they have been documented, so he can’t deny it, the recovery is a fact.”

Arase had earlier denied taking away 24 vehicles when his successor, Idris, made the allegation during an interview with journalists on July 18, 2016, shortly after he assumed office.

Idris had further alleged that the seven DIGs, who retired alongside Arase, also carted away between seven and eight cars each.

Arase, however, denied the allegations of his successor, saying he did not go away with any police vehicle.

He said, “What am I going to do with 24 cars? Do I want to open a car shop? This is a malicious accusation. There are ways of verifying issues rather than engaging in media propaganda.”

Arase said all vehicles bought by the police under him were distributed to the state commands and other appropriate units of the Nigeria Police Force.

Source:
http://punchng.com/police-recover-19-cars-suvs-ex-ig-arase/

Obanikoro Offers To Refund N785m Slush Fund

Embattled former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro may soon be let out of custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following indications that he has agreed to make refunds of the money he allegedly collected from the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The anti-graft agency accused the ex-minister of collecting N785 million from ONSA while in office.

His friends and associates are understood to be rallying around him to raise the funds as a first step to secure his bail.

Obanikoro is understood to be targeting  N100 million as first installment  of the refund.

From ONSA, about N4.685 billon was transferred to Sylva McNamara Limited, a company allegedly linked to the ex-Minister.

Obanikoro told EFCC interrogators  that N3.880 billion of the N4.685 billion was allocated to Governor Ayodele Fayose  of Ekiti State  and  Senator Iyiola Omisore.

He also said he handed over $5.377 million (about N60 million then) cash to Fayose at Spotless Hotel, Ado-Ekiti in the presence of the former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Dr. Tope Aluko and other party stalwarts.

He said the balance of N785 million was expended on alleged anti-Boko Haram campaign in Lagos and the South-West.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The ex-minister has been cooperating with detectives and he appears willing to refund some cash out of the N785 million traced to Sylvan McNamara.

“I think his associates and friends have rallied around him, having discovered that the bulk of the cash from ONSA went to Fayose and Omisore.

“I think he might initially refund N100 million to get bail reprieve in order to prevail on others who benefited from the N785 million to repay the slush funds.

“The refund is one of the issues delaying the granting of bail to the ex-minister.”

Obanikoro had said:  “The balance of N785 milion were used to prosecute the following: 1. procurement of souvenirs for the promotion of anti-Boko Haram insurgency in Lagos; 2. N200million for surveillance activities; 3. N200 million and other remaining funds were for operations managed by Taiwo Kareem.

“Taiwo Kareem impressed the former NSA with his management of pre and post-election funds. To God be the glory, the two elections were carried out without any loss of life

“When bomb blast occurred in Lagos on the 25th of June 2014, the NSA was disturbed and told me of his commitment to ensure that such doesn’t reoccur.

“He expressed the grave consequence that the reoccurrence will have not only on Lagos but the economy of the entire country.

“He emphasised the need for local input to complement the activities of security agencies. This is how Sylvan McNamara was introduced.”

The EFCC had discovered that Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, allegedly owned by Obanikoro and his sons,   was used to launder the N4.745 billion.

The company, which was incorporated in November 2011 had the following as its directors: a close aide of the ex-minister, Ikenna Ezekwe (700,000 shares) of 51 Simpson Street, Ebute-Metta; Idowu Oshodi (299,000 shares) of 8, Prince Tayo Adesanya Street, Park View Estate, Ikoyi; and Elizabeth Adebiyi (1,000 shares) of 3, Adedoyin Street, Ijeshatedo, Surulere.

Ikenna Ezekwe’s account  has been  de-frozen by the EFCC since the slush funds were not traced to him.

Ezekwe has also been removed as the director of the slush company.

A document said: “To set the stage for the use of the company for money laundering, the board of directors on May 7, 2012  passed a resolution that the company should open an account and appointed Mr. Gbolahan Obanikoro, Ikenna Ezekwe, Ms. Theresa Matuluko (Secretary) and Mr. Babajide Obanikoro as the signatories to the account.

“The board added that the signing combination be that any of the signatories can sign alone.”

EFCC claimed that  when it was time to illegally draw the N4.745 billion from ONSA as war chest for Ekiti Governorship poll, ex-minister Obanikoro made the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Limited available and coordinated the disbursement.

Contacted, Obanikoro’s spokesperson, Jonathan Eze, said he was not aware of the development.

Another source close to him, however, said “it is true.”

 

Source:

http://thenationonlineng.net/obanikoro-offers-refund-n785m-slush-fund/

Benin Kingdom has a New Oba.

Vice President; Professor Yemi Osinbajo, was welcomed warmly after his arrival in Benin, to witness the coronation of Prince Eheneden Erediauwa as the 39th Oba of the Kingdom. He was received by Edo governor Adams Oshiomhole, Edo Governor -Elect; Mr Godwin Obaseki, incoming 1st Lady of Edo State, Mrs Betsy Obaseki and Alhaji Aliko Dangote amongst others at the airport..See pictures below;

Source; http://www.nationalhelm.net/2016/10/oshiomhole-others-don-traditional.html

Aso Rock Policemen Protest "Discriminatory Allowance"- The Punch

Some policemen attached to the Police Mobile Force 24, State House, are not happy over their alleged exclusion from the payment of the outstanding allowance to security men attached to the Presidential Villa, Abuja recently, The PUNCH has learnt.

The PUNCH had reported exclusively that President Muhammadu Buhari had cleared the backlog of allowance of security agents, thereby dousing the tension that was brewing among the operatives.

It was reported that the President, through the Office of the National Security Adviser, also effected over 50 per cent increase in the security agents’ allowance popularly referred to as the Risk Cautious Allowance.

Multiple sources among the policemen told our correspondent on the condition of anonymity on Thursday that about 288 personnel were exempted from the payment of the allowance.

The soqurces claimed that those who were exempted from the payment were allegedly tagged “Peoples Democratic Party policemen.”

One of them claimed that the only problem authorities had with them was because they worked in the Presidential Villa under the last administration.

He said the “discriminatory payment” was already causing disaffection among the policemen who were supposed to be working in unity.

He said, “We are calling on the NSA to come to our aid and ensure that this injustice is redressed.

“We all suffered together and we are supposed to smile together. The discrimination is not necessary.

“If our services are no longer needed, we should be paid our entitlement and then they can transfer us.

“Why will some people be smiling, while others are not? We deserve to be treated better.”

When contacted, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, denied the allegation.

Shehu said as far as the government was concerned, everyone entitled to the allowance had been paid.

He noted that there were some officers who were used to free money and would do anything to inflate the list of beneficiaries.

“There is no free money anywhere. Those who are entitled to the payment have been paid. Only security men around the President are entitled to it. Government won’t allow officers who will inflate the list for their selfish purposes,” the presidential spokesman said.

Source:
http://www.punchng.com/aso-rock-policemen-protest-discriminatory-allowance/