Sahara Reporters Latest News Sunday 10th February 2019
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 10/02/19
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target=_blank>Selling Your Vote Is Like Selling Your Destiny, Says Lai Mohammed
Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, has advised Nigerians against selling their votes, stating that it is like “selling your destiny”.
He stated this at a workshop on broadcast media coverage for the 2019 elections, organised by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), which in Abuja.
The event took place on Saturday and was tagged: ‘Fake News, Hate Speech, Vote and PVC Buying’.
Represented by Ms Grace Isu-Gekpe, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, the Information Minister said: “Selling your vote or PVC is like selling your destiny and we should not allow ourselves to sell our destiny. When you do that, you know what that means.”
Journalists were also advised to use their positions to work with government in the effort to address the spread of fake news, hate speech and vote buying.
Meanwhile, acting Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu, represented by Commissioner of Police Kenneth Ebrimson, restated the commitment of the Force to ensure neutrality and fairness.
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target=_blank>Yahaya Bello’s Wife, Aides Involved In Accident In Kogi
Amina Bello, wife of Yahaya Bello, Governor of Kogi State, alongside three of her aides were involved in an accident in Kogi State on Saturday.
The accident occurred along the Obajana-Kabba Road, while on their way to Isanlu for the women rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A statement by Onogwu Muhammed, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor listed the aides affected as: Mrs. Kenechi Ajayi, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Women and Children to the Governor; Mrs. Ejura Edward, the SSA on Women Affairs, and Mrs. Adesoro Olamide, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Governor’s Wife.
The statement read: “In appreciation to God Almighty for His faithfulness to the New Direction family, the Kogi State Government wishes to announce that three aides of Gov. Yahaya Bello and his wife survived an accident this morning.
“The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Women and Children to the Governor, Mrs Kenechi Ajayi; the SSA to Governor’s wife on Women Affairs, Mrs Ejura Edward; and the Special Assitant on Media and Publicity to the wife of the Governor, Mrs Adesoro Olamide, were involved in a minor auto accident this morning.
“The accident occurred around Oshokoshoko village, while on their way to Isanlu for the All Progressives Congress women rally, but they all came out unhurt. The government appreciates God once again, that all those involved are in perfect condition.
“The Governor’s wife’s door-to-door campaign train continues with their rally to the western senatorial district, after a successful two-day outing in Kogi East.”
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E2%80%98area-boys%E2%80%99-protest-says-oshiomhole target=_blank>As NLC President, I Mobilised Lagos ‘Area Boys’ For Protest, Says Oshiomhole
Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says when he was President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), he didn’t find it difficult to mobilise ‘area boys’ in Lagos for protests.
He stated this in his remarks during the APC presidential rally held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Saturday.
According to Oshiomhole, the 16 years the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spent in power brought poverty.
He also compared PDP to “barren women” tagged as “witches”, whom Nigerians should “divorce”
His words: “I don’t think there is anything new to be said in terms of giving you report of the performance of President Muhammadu Buhari over the past three and a half years. I think that has been eloquently done by Comrade Fashola, both in Yoruba, in English and probably some Latin in-between. And of course, Governor Emeritus, our National Leader, Comrade Asiwaju ‘Jugaban’ Tinubu, has also elaborated where Lagos was.
“The first quarrel I had with Asiwaju, and later, I extended it to Fashola, was that when I was President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, I didn’t have difficulties mobilising area boys under the bridge of Ojuelegba. Once we get them out, we block the bourgeoisie of Eko, Victoria Island, and other parts of the state.
“Those who know what Lagos was before Bola became the Governor, and later Fashola, now Ambode, and by the grace of God, Sanwo-Olu is coming to continue from where they stopped, will see the beauty when a state and a people are united and bound together by sheer commitment to embark on sustainable growth and development.”
Condemning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he continued: “My comrades, if you marry a woman for 16 years, no pikin, and even your brothers and sisters are dying and they say she’s a witch, and you divorce her; you marry another one, and in three and a half years, ‘he’ delivers on rail, power, giving Trader Moni, giving pensioners money, paying Biafran pensioners that have been forgotten, doing N-Power, creating jobs, infrastructure, why will any man or woman suggest the old party that for 16 years delivered poverty, corruption, mismanagement; why will you bring them back?”
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target=_blank>Obasanjo Is Expired Milk, Dump Him In The Dustbin, Tinubu Tells Nigerians
Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on Nigerians to “dump Obasanjo in the dustbin”.
He also accused Obasanjo of being behind the greatest election rigging in the history of the country.
He stated this in his remarks at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos on Saturday, during the APC presidential campaign rally.
However, while accusing Obasanjo of rigging the election that brought Yar’Adua into power, he also made a gaffe, stating that the election was conducted in 2003, instead of 2007.
His words: “Obasanjo came and we taught them that there is no other way for business evolution and revolution without steady power supply. I introduced independent power generation. What did he do? He and Atiku opposed it. I went to court and Osinbajo was my lawyer. I won in court and we started generating 300MW; the first state to do it. Imagine 1999, if Nigeria had made that dedication to electricity generation, you will not see Dunlop, Michelin move out of this country. Look at our roads; look at the vehicular density of Lagos alone. And they call one man Obi somewhere in one party. He said he will create jobs. He has not been able to tell us how we can make brake pads, wheel spanner on our own for those vehicles. And he said, maybe we should extend the port to Benin Republic, so that we can clear our cargo faster. I call that one ‘container economy, Obi China’.
“Who sent Michelin out of this country? PDP right? Who got rid of Dunlop Manufacturing Company? Who sent Siemens out of this country? They want to take that money and the business of this country, back to their friends in Europe and America again.
“I want to sympathise with our friends, our foreign observers. You’re welcome. Observe what you need to observe, write your report in peace and go home. This is our democracy. America is still questioning its own democracy. We’re watching CNN; Trump and China, Trump and Russia. Interference in the largest African democracy is what we are saying. G-20, in year 2003, asked Umaru Shehu Yar’Adua of blessed memory, ‘what are you going to do with the election in Nigeria?’ He said: ‘The election that brought me as president of this country is flawed and I will reform it’. Is that not correct? Who conducted that election? Obasanjo is the greatest election rigger in this country. He’s an expired meat. Dump him in the dustbin. Forget Obasanjo.”
Also present at the event were President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Adams Oshiomhole, the APC National Chairman, as well as governors and other party leaders.
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target=_blank>Patience Jonathan Knows Fate Of $153m Forfeiture To EFCC On Monday
Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Lagos will deliver judgement in a motion for final forfeiture of $153million linked to former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, February 11, 2019.
In June 2017, Justice Olatoregun had made an order for interim forfeiture of the funds, when Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC counsel, approached the court on an ex parte order under section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, section 34 of EFCC Act and other related offences Act.
The judge also directed EFCC to advertise the order in two national dailies so that interested parties can prove the legitimacy of the funds.
Consequently, counsels to Jonathan, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) led other counsel and argued that nobody complained any loss of money to EFCC, noting that Patience Jonathan was not a public office holder under her husband’s administration. As such, they urged the court to set aside the interim order of forfeiture earlier made.
However, in his response, Oyedepo urged the court to order a final forfeiture of $153million to the Nigerian government on the basis that it was proceeds of unlawful activities laundered under some fictitious companies.
He argued that the person claiming ownership of the funds must show to the court her interest, as her name was not on the list of directors of the companies allegedly used to launder the funds, neither did her name appear in the mandate card of the company’s accounts.
He then prayed the court to order final forfeiture of the funds.
After listening to both parties, the Judge had adjourned the case till February 11, 2019, for judgement.
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target=_blank>Police To Withdraw Security Aides Of VIPs
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has said it would withdraw officers attached to ‘Very Important Persons’ in preparation for the forthcoming elections.
ACP Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer, said this in an interview the Punch newspaper.
He said politicians would be affected by the recall because the force needs every officer to maintain peace and security at the coming elections.
Mba said: “The withdrawal of policemen is going to cut across all borders, including politicians, party chairmen, state commissioners and businessmen. It will affect everyone that has policemen attached to them.
“There are two basic rationales for the withdrawal of policemen; One, we need all hands on deck for the purpose of securing the electoral process.
“Number two, we also need to be proactive in ensuring that unscrupulous people do not hide under the cover of security or policemen providing security to create problems during the elections. These are some of the reasons we need to mop up as many policemen as possible.”
Mohammed Adamu, Acting Inspector-General of Police, had on Wednesday stated that the force would provide security for observers, escort sensitive materials, as well as to protect critical national assets during the elections.
“In order to ensure full mobilisation and deployment of personnel for these duties, we shall in the coming days prune down or order the withdrawal of SPU and CTU operatives that are currently on non-essential duties including those attached to certain categories of personalities,” he said.
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target=_blank>PDP Accuses APC Of Sponsoring Thugs To Attack Members During Campaign Rally In Ebonyi
Thugs suspected to be members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) have been accused of attacking the campaign train of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi.
Addressing newsmen on Friday, Fidelis Nwankwo, Director General of the Divine Mandate Campaign Organisation, alleged that APC thugs in the state destroyed the campaign billboards of PDP.
He claimed that the thugs, numbering up to 100, stopped PDP members in Edda, Afikpo South Local Government Area of the state.
During the attack, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Dorothy Obasi, allegedly sustained injuries.
He said: “Just yesterday, Thursday, the 7th of February, 2019, as a procession of the Divine Mandate Campaign Organisation headed for Edda for its local government rally, a bunch of APC thugs were mobilised and violently set upon the PDP procession, which was lawfully going about their business.
“Law abiding citizens were molested, beaten, and harassed by these mindless street urchins. Wanton destruction was also inflicted on vehicles and property of PDP faithful, whose only crime was to express their freedom of association and political affiliation.”
The party tasked the Nigeria Police Force to order the arrest of the thugs that attacked its members and make them face the full punishment of the law.
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target=_blank>God Will Punish PDP For Perpetrating Corruption While In Power, Buhari Prays
President Muhammadu Buhari says God would punish the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for its alleged corrupt activities in the country while in power for 16 years.
Buhari said this when he received both local and international support groups at the State House, Abuja, on Friday.
He said his administration would continue to prosecute those it can.
Buhari maintained that on assumption of power in 2015, he approached the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for money and he was told there was no money in the federal coffers.
He said: “Large scale abuse of trust, only God can give them punishment but those we can touch, we will get them prosecuted. We have said properties confiscated should be sold and the money put into the treasury and we will use.
“I have said this for the umpteenth time and I have challenged them to prove me wrong, but in those 16 years of PDP rule, Nigeria was getting 2.1 million barrels by $100 per barrel every day, every week, but when we came on board, the price fell to between $37-38 and hung around $40-$50. I went to the Central Bank of Nigeria governor and asked him for money and he said there is no money.”
The president added that PDP has no justification for what it spent the money on as there was no project executed during its reign at the helm of affairs.
Buhari insisted that he would continue to stand on his principle and would not throw money out for everyone to loot.
“If I didn’t stick to my principle of accountability, I would have been in trouble by now and I have no regrets. Everybody wants to be comfortable, but the most important thing is to live within your means and bear the consequence,” he said.
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target=_blank>Three Dead, 7,893 Affected In Borno IDP Camp Fire, Says NEMA
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that the fire incident that occurred at the Internally Displaced Persons’ camp in Monguno, Borno State, led to the death of three people, while 7,893 were also affected.
The agency confirmed the casualties in a statement signed by Sani Datti, spokesperson for the agency, on Friday.
Datti noted that the fire also destroyed 402 shelters and 933 makeshift homes.
He said: “The fire started at noon from one of the makeshift shelters, where a woman was cooking, and spread across the camp, destroying about 402 reinforced/transitional shelters and 933 makeshift homes.”
He sympathised with those affected in the accident, adding that the agency is working on providing relief materials for those affected.
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Banks Aiding Politicians In Vote Buying, EFCC Chair Claims
Acting EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu
Acting EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu
Ibrahim Magu, acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), says some commercial banks help politicians perfect their vote buying plans for the coming elections.
Magu said this at a meeting with managing directors of financial institutions in Nigeria, held in Lagos, on Friday.
He said illicit financial flow is on the increase in the country.
Magu also condemned the act of vote buying by politicians, stating that it would keep the right candidates from getting elected.
He said: “In Nigeria, vote buying has reached an alarming proportion to the extent that politicians have now spread their tentacles to election officials, security agencies, election observers and even the media.
“Politicians were still perpetrating and trying to finalise their acts of vote buying.
“It is also worthy of note that illicit financial flows during election are a common denominator and can be tied to vote buying. Politicians either bring in money to further their cause or try to export money to their cohorts outside the country to get them to influence the elections in one way or the other.”
“It is worrisome to note that in 2018, statistics available to the EFCC shows that out of about 28 commercial banks in Nigeria, 10 banks evacuated out of Nigeria through Travelex Nigeria Limited the sums of GBP- 50,832,560; USD-8,057,756; EURO-39,986,560 and RAND-7,500,000. The reasons for these evacuations are still sketchy. We must note that the impact of illicit financials flows from the country undermine the stability and integrity of the financial institutions.”
The EFCC boss lamented supposed large cash transactions still being carried out in some banks without proper recording and reporting being done.
He also said the banks allow customers operate without having the Bank Verification Number (BVN).
“The banks are rather complacent in dealing with crypto-currency or bitcoins as the case may be, and have not taken measures to monitor such transactions or put adequate surveillance on such accounts. The banks are observed to still hold customers accounts in their suspense accounts, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to trace and have access to those funds,” he observed.
According to him, intelligence reports have shown that banks aid their customers to receive foreign financial inflows to their accounts from neighbouring countries like Ghana, Republic of Niger and other West African countries, where the banks have branches, adding that “The money is then couriered into Nigeria through the land borders to circumvent declaration and reporting.”
Magu urged banks to act as gatekeepers, noting that no country could control illicit financial flows without the cooperation of financial institutions.
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