Buhari Set To Extradite Obanikoro, Mu’azu, Diezani, Others

President Muhammadu Buhari set to go after those who are alleged to have looted Billions of public funds and fled the country for safe havens. Mr President said no more hiding place for looters!

Don’t take people for granted, bishop tells Amosun

Amosun

Reverend Emmanuel Adekunle, the Diocesan Bishop of Egba, has advised the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, not take the people of the state for granted with his policies and programmes.

He said: All infrastructures provided would not be meaningful if the people continue to live in ABJECT POVERTY, adding that his administration should be more human oriented.

The cleric, who was apparently reacting to the recent industrial action embarked on by state civil servants in February,  urged the governor to honour agreement with the workers.

He also called on Amosun to pay attention to the payment of gratuity to all pensioners, pointing out that many of the retirees had died without the opportunity to access what they laboured for.

“Let me use this opportunity, again, to remind the governor not to take the people for granted. Let your government be more human-oriented. All infrastructures provided will be meaningful to the people if the individual and family immediate needs are met.

“The people want food on their table they want to be clothed, they want to be addressed as landlord, and they want their obligations met be it financial or relationship,” he added.

He also called on the governor to check the excesses of some officials of the town planning unit, who according to him, have been harrassing people that were displaced by the construction of new roads in satellte towns.

Boko Haram: NYSC Returns To Gombe State Two Years After

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation exercise has resumed in Gombe state after two years of suspension as a result of security challenges occasioned by the threat of insurgents.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 1,706 batch ‘A’ Corps members deployed to the state are to undergo the exercise in a temporary orientation camp in Amada, Akko Local Government Area, pending the clearing of the permanent camp in Malamsidi town of Kwami Local Government Area.

Protest in Oshodi as LASTMA officials kill tanker driver in Lagos

Confusion today at Oshodi expressway, after some officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority  (LASTMA) killed a tanker driver identified as Salisu Sani, 30.

It was reported that; the incident occurred at about 6:20am at Sanya, halted traffic for almost eight hours on the busy road, as rampaging youths burnt tyres on the expressway.
Chanting that they were tired of harassment from LASTMA, the youths comprising tanker drivers and Hausa Community rebuffed all entreaties from the Rapid Response Squad  (RRS), Festac Police Division and soldiers to leave the road.

It was gathered that the driver of the Premium Motor Spirit  (PMS) laden tanker marked ABJ 758XD beside Port Terminal to observe his morning prayers when the LASTMA team numbering about four struck.

The team comprising three officials in uniform and another wearing mufti accosted the motorboy who was praying on the culvert and asked him where his driver was.
According to the motorboy, Nurudeen Abdulahi, he showed them where his driver was and one of them went and met him.
“They were arguing. I think it was about money. As the driver and one of the LASTMA men were arguing, another one entered the trailer and was driving it off.

“The driver rushed down and asked the man why he was driving his tanker. He told the man that his tanker was on the service lane and that if he wanted to arrest him, he should have told him to come and drive his vehicle to wherever they wanted to take him.

“The man did not listen. He was still driving the tanker and so the driver ran and was climbing the vehicle through the passenger side.

“By this time, two of the LASTMA people have returned into their vehicle and they had driven off.

“So, as the driver mounted the trailer from the passenger side, the LASTMA man who was on the ground dragged his clothe, pulling him to the ground.
“As soon as he fell, the LASTMA vehicle that went to turn, crushed him on the head. As soon as the one on the ground saw that they have crushed him, he told the man on the steering that he was dead and they both entered the vehicle and all of them escaped, without parking the tanker well. I was the one who applied the hand brakes before taking my driver to the hospital.
“There was only one tanker behind me. I saw what happened from where I said my prayers and when I rushed to the scene, my driver was bleeding from his head.
“I called a tri-cyclist and begged him to assist me. We took the driver to a private hospital but the doctor there said we should take him to general hospital. By the time we got to general hospital, the doctor said he was dead,” said Abdulahi.

Continuing, Abdulahi who said the driver was his Kaduna state brother, told The Nation that the deceased was married with three children.
While some eyewitnesses corroborated the motorboy’s claim, others said it was the LASTMA official inside the trailer that pushed the deceased after hitting him on the neck with a gun.

One Chike Uwadi who said he was on his way to work, told The Nation that he saw the LASTMA official pushed the deceased from the passenger side of the trailer.

“I saw the guy climbing the vehicle from the passenger side and then the LASTMA official pushed him. The man fell and the truck ran over him. The other LASTMA man on the ground told his colleague that the man was dead and they fled,” he said.
An unnamed man claimed that the official after pushing the deceased, used his trailer to crush him, describing his action as ‘deliberate’ murder.

PhotoNews: Ambode visits Buhari at State House

Inspector General explains the Reasons why Police cannot protect all Nigerian

Solomon Arase

The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has said that the current number of Policemen in Nigeria is far too inadequate to provided security to all Nigerians coupled with poor funding of the force.

According to the IG, the size of the Nigerian Police currently put at 305,000 policemen and women is not enough to guarantee the security of all segments of Nigeria.



The Police Force and other security agencies in the country have come under severe criticism from members of the public over recent spate of attacks and killings of innocent citizens by herdsmen across the country with particular reference to the invasion of Agatu people of Benue state by suspected herdsmen and that of Enugu state.

The IG, while delivering a public lecture on the topic, “Police and Public Partnership in prevention and control of violent crime and conflicts in Nigeria” at the MultiPurpose Hall of University of Jos on Friday, said the current numbers of policemen and inadequate funding accounts for the inefficiency of the police and its inability to be everywhere in the country.

According to IG Arase, “The organizational structure of the Force consists of the Force Headquarters, 12 zonal commands, and 37 State commands including the Federal Capital Territory. Nigeria Police Force’s staff strength by 31st December 2015 was 305,000. This is inclusive of 1,331 Cadets currently on training at the Police Academy, Kano as well as specialist branches and civilian support staff.

“Female officers in the Force constituted 30,854 (9.47%), while there are 127 area commands; 1,130 police divisions; 1,579 police stations, 2,165 police posts, and 1,591 village police posts (NPF Annual Report 2013: 137).

Speaker further, IG Arase said: “The work of the police in any society is a very difficult, complex and dangerous vocation. The expectations of members of the public in Nigeria are many and varied and exceed the resources and support given to the police. Failures on the part of the police are easily observed and widely reported and condemned while achievements of the police are rarely recognized, applauded and rewarded.

“Police are in constant contact with dangerous persons and in dangerous situations. In spite of the inherent hostile policing environment and sundry challenges, the Nigeria Police has remained steadfast to its responsibility of guaranteeing the safety of the lives and property of the citizens even at the risk of their own lives.

“Between January 2014 – December, 2015 a total of 278 police officers paid the supreme sacrifice in the discharge of their statutory Mandate in relation to enhancement of community peace and security, while 194 others sustained varying degree of injuries. Similarly, between January – April 2016, we have lost a total of 72 Police personnel with 78 others injured in the line of internal security duties. Cases of killing of police personnel have increased since 2009 due to terrorist attacks by Boko Haram.

“Policing in Nigeria is particularly difficult because of several inadequacies. Many scholars and government police reform committees in the country have identified several factors that inhibit police efficiency. Some of the identified problems are:

Inadequate logistic and resources (especially transportation, telecommunication, arms and ammunition, accommodation, etc.) for police services, Inadequate personnel with training, skill and orientation required for policing a country with complex security challenges, Inadequate resources for effective law enforcement, intelligence gathering, criminal investigation and prosecution.

“Other challenges include lack of appropriate police stations, offices, facilities and accommodation, lack of modern forensic laboratory and other technological aid to law enforcement, inappropriate use of arms and ammunitions, absence of reliable and comprehensive criminal database and poor conditions of service, including low remuneration and pension benefits.

“The challenges notwithstanding, Citizens also have a responsibility towards the police. The police will be ineffective if the citizens constantly disrespect, distrust, assault, insult and antagonize the police. The Constitution, in chapter 2 obliged citizens to assist law enforcement agencies as civic responsibility. Unfortunately, most citizens are either unaware of this obligation or chose to ignore it.
Arase suggested that, “In order to enhance police efficiency, develop and sustain effective police-public partnership, citizens and communities should appreciate the duties and powers of the police and avoid criticizing them just of the inconvenience arising from law enforcement intended to guarantee public peace and safety and promote the rights and liberties of others.

“We expect the public to have respect for legitimate authority and laws, parents, religious, traditional and educational institutions should inculcate in children and youth respect for legitimate authorities and laws at all levels of society without shying away from holding those in authority accountable for their actions, decisions and conduct.

Nigeria begins preparation of 2017 budget

Buhari

The Ministry of Budget and National Planning, has said that it has started preparation of the 2017 budget to enhance economic development. This is contained in a statement by Charles Dafe, Director of Information in the ministry, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

The statement said that the Minister of State Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this when the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) paid her a courtesy visit. She added that the Federal Government had also started the preparation of the Medium Term 2016-2020 Development Programme to achieve sustainable development.

The ministry, however, solicited the support of ANAN to build the capacity of the staff on Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) application. The minister also appealed to the association to assist the present administration to fight corruption.\

“As accountants, we can resist corruption, block illegal releases; we need to start from ourselves; we must uphold the tenets of our profession and make ourselves clean and accountable always. “Our administration came on a change mantra; we shall be transparent and accountable to all Nigerians,” she said. 

Earlier, Anthony Nzom, ANAN’s president, promised to provide technical knowledge to the staff of the ministry on ZBB concept adopted in the 2016 budget. Mr. Nzom commended the ‘’visionary appointment’’ made by President Muhammadu Buhari on two fellow members of ANAN, Zainab Ahmed as minister and Tijjani Abdullahi as Director-General of Budget Office. He said that the nation would benefit a lot from their professional competence and services. 

(NAN)

Saraki pleads not guilty to amended 16 counts

Saraki

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Thursday pleaded not guilty to amended 16 counts preferred against him by the Federal Government before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The amendment to the original 13 counts added fresh counts including his failure to declare his interest in a foreign credit card account to which he allegedly transferred huge sums of money to while being Governor of Kwara State.

‎Originally, the Federal Government preferred against Saraki,13 counts, including charges of false and anticipatory asset declaration, as well as operation of foreign accounts, which he allegedly committed while being Governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011.

Saraki was re-arraigned before the tribunal on Thursday because of the amendment to the charges which added three fresh counts to the original 13 counts.

There have been two amendments of the original 13 counts which now brings the counts against the Senate President to 16.

The first amendment which brought in additional two counts  was made on April 18, 2016 while the latest made on April 27, 2016, added one fresh count.

The charges dated April 18 were withdrawn on Thursday.

The latest amendment was introduced by the prosecution and  accepted by the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar, after overruling the defence led by Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN).

Umar ruled on Thursday that contrary to Usoro’s contention, the prosecution, under section 216(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act,  argued that ‎the prosecution was not required to file a motion to give the reasons for the amendment before it could be accepted by the tribunal.

The additional charges are contained in Counts 14 to 16.

‎In Count 14, the prosecution alleged that  Saraki committed another infraction in his asset declaration form  which he made to the Code of Conduct Bureau on June 3, 2011 at the end of his second tenure as Governor of Kwara State.

In the said Count 14, Saraki was said to have failed to declare his interest in “an American Express Service Card with No: 374588216836009 wherein you (Saraki) transferred huges sums of money in dollars from your Guaranty Trust Bank domiciliary account No441441953210 in Nigeria to the American Express Service, Europe, whilst you Executive Governor of Kwara State.”

Source: PunchNG

Saraki to face fresh count of failure to declare card account

Bukola Saraki

The Federal Government has again re-amended the charges preferred against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

There have been two amendments of the original 13 counts which now brings the counts against the Senate President to 16.

The first amendment which brought in additional two counts  was made on April 18, 2016 while the latest made on April 27, 2016, added one fresh count.

The charges dated April 18 were withdrawn on Thursday.

The latest amendment was introduced by the prosecution  accepted by the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar, after overruling the defence led by Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), who argued that ‎the prosecution required a motion to give the reasons for the amendment before the tribunal could accept it.

‎The prosecution alleged in the latest count that on June 3, 2011, Saraki failed to declare his interest in “an American Express Service Card with No: 374588216836009 wherein you (Saraki) transferred huges sums of money in dollars from your Guaranty Trust Bank domiciliary account No 441441953210 in Nigeria to the American Express Service, Europe, whilst you Executive Governor of Kwara State.”

The offence is said to be contrary to section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, CAP. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 11(1) and (2), Part I o the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

It is said to be punishable under section 23(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act as incorporated under paragraph 18, Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

The charges will be read to the defendant who will plead either guilty or not guilty to it when the tribunal resumes from its break.

The defence will then continue the cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Mr. Michael Wetkas.

Originally, the Federal Government preferred against Saraki,13 counts, including charges of false and anticipatory asset declaration, as well as operation of foreign accounts, which he allegedly committed while being Governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011.

The first amendment added two charges which, include allegation that Saraki continued to receive salary and emoluments as Governor of Kwara State after the expiration of his tenue and at the same time, from the Federal Government as a senator between June 2011 and October 2013.

The offence is said to be contrary to section 6(a) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. CAP. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 2(a), Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

It is said to be punishable under section 23(2) of the code of conduct bureau and tribunal act as incorporated under paragraph 18, Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

The other additional charge is that Saraki failed to declare to the Code of Conduct Bureau on assumption of office as Governor of Kwara State in 2003, his leasehold interest leasehold in the property at 42, Remi Fani Kayode Street, Ikeja, Lagos.

He was said to have acquired the property  in December 12, 1996 through his company, Skyview Properties Limited from First Finance trust Limited.

The offence is said to be contrary to section 15(1)(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, CAP. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 11(1) and (2), Part I o the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

It is said to be punishable under section 23(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act as incorporated under paragraph 18, Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

Source: Punch Ng

Buhari meets all governors over economic crisis, Fayose absent

Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari held a meeting with the 36 state governors.

The meeting which started at exactly 2pm was held inside the COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA, Abuja.

Most of the state governors are in attendance while a few others were represented by their deputies.


One of the main critics of the President, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State was absent.

Others in the attendance are Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; and the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele also attended the meeting

The meeting was held to discuss the economic crisis facing the country and the herdsmen attacks in parts of the country among other national issues.

Pastor arrested for burying Juju in church in Ondo State

A CAC pastor identified as as Moses Abiodun, 34, has been arrested by Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for allegedly burying fetish/juju items inside his church which is located at Ikota in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo state.

Moses  who hailed  from Esa Oke in Osun State was arrested on Wednesday evening by men of the state command of NSCDC following an information that the he allegedly used human being for rituals in the church.

According to the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr. Fasiu Adeyinka said “the suspect was the founder of the C.A.C ‘Dagunro’ and he was suspected to have buried something suspected to be human head inside his church”

The NSCDC boss further explained that his men went to Abiodun’s church where some fetish items were exhumed. Consequently the pastor was arrested.

Adeyinka said (A church member) said; ” He was asked to dig some spots inside the church where various items such as cow head, pigeon head tied with colanut, big clay pot wrapped with white clothes and other numerous fetish items and charms were exhumed from the ground both at the entrance and inside the church.”

The commandant said the command had begun investigation on the matter while the pastor was still in the NSCDC’s custody.

NSCDC boss adviced the people of the state to be very vigilant and always give useful information to the Corps in order to tackle all forms of criminality in the state.

Soldiers torture this Lawyer Badly for Accusing Them of Causing Traffic

Olajide Sipe, a Lagos-based lawyer, is in a critical condition at a private hospital after he was tortured and shot at by some soldiers on the 7th Avenue, FESTAC Town in Lagos.

It was learnt that the officers were deployed in the community to guard the NNPC pipelines.

They were, however, said to have left their duty post for the Mobil Filling Station on 23rd Road to coordinate motorists queueing to buy fuel.

Punch reports that the lawyer was driving home in his Toyota Camry when he was held by a gridlock on the road. The soldiers were reported to have stopped a bus on the the road.

Olajide was said to have advised one of the officers to park the bus by the roadside to free up the gridlock they created. As he drove off, the soldiers reportedly mounted a motorcycle and began to chase him. It was said that they shot at him, but the bullets hit the car’s back tyres.

They were said to have waylaid him on 72 Road, where they tortured him, rendering him unconscious.

Narrating his ordeal to Punch, Olajide, who is married with a child, said his only 'crime' was that he advised the soldiers.

He said, “I went to buy bottles of water for my family and on my way back, I got to Mobil Filling Station and I discovered there was traffic, which was caused by a bus on the road.

“A solider stood in front of the bus and was telling the driver something. I was in my car when I advised him that he could have asked the driver to park by the roadside, instead of inconveniencing other road users.

“He asked who I was to advise him. I told him I was only trying to give a solution, but he started drawing closer to me with his gun. I was alarmed.

“Another officer stood at the front of my car and started kicking one of its headlights. He had a jerrycan in his hand with which he smashed my windscreen. As I drove off, I saw that they had become four and had mounted a motorcycle and were chasing me. I was afraid.

“When I got to 7th Avenue, I made a U-turn, but because they were coming with speed, they couldn’t do that. I looked back and saw one of the soldiers, kneeling down and aiming his gun at me. He shot at my car twice. The bullets deflated the two back tyres.”

He said he pulled up and came down to pacify them, adding that the men pounced on him.

A witness, who did not identify himself for security reason, said the officers would have killed the lawyer who is an Ogun State indigene but for the intervention of a senior military officer.

He said, “What caught people’s attention were the gunshots. They used planks to hit his head and one of them carried a big stone to smash his skull.

“He was stabbed two times in the body. One of them wanted to use a dagger to cut him when a military officer, who was passing by, intervened. He showed them his ID card and that was when they left him. As they were going, they vandalised his car.”

It was learnt that residents, who knew the victim, rushed him to the Mercy Gate Hospital, a private medical facility in the area.

The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Solomon Ekundayo, said the victim sustained serious injuries.

The case was said to have been reported at the FESTAC Police Division.

A family member, Bunmi, asked the government to give justice to his brother, saying the officers should be fished out and punished.

He said, “Those officers wanted to kill him. They were posted to the 7th Avenue to check activities of pipeline vandals; they had no business at any filling station. We want them fished out for punishment.

“We also want the military authorities to clear my brother’s medical bills, repair his car and compensate him. The case should not be swept under the carpet.”

Lagos Police PRO, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident and that investigations has commenced.

Source: PunchNG

PhotoNews: Protesters storm N’Assembly, demand Saraki’s resignation

The protesters wore green and white T-shirts, carrying placards with various inscriptions: ‘Legislators, stop budget padding’, ‘Return exotic cars’, ‘Saraki must go’, ‘Enough is enough’, “Saraki, your time is up. Resign,’ ‘Saraki must go to stop corruption in NASS’, ‘Occupy NASS to stop corruption’, ‘Legislation, yes, Legislooting, No’, among others.

Accident Report: Car run into a building in Ibadan

Scene

A woman and a passenger in her Toyota Camry car would have died today (Wednesday) as she smashed her car against the wall of a building in Ibadan while trying to avoid crushing a MOTORCYCLIST. The incident happened along a main road leading to Bodija Market and the University of Ibadan

Thank God the driver and a young passenger in it were not injured but the car suffered extensive damage due to broken blocks of the fence that fell on its wind shield.

The Woman narrating how it happens:  “We just left home and as Alhaja was joining the 

main road, the okada (commercial motorcycle) rider hit our car with a bang. He fell in front of the car and in a bid not to run the car over him and possibly kill him, Alhaja maneuvered the car away from the man and in the process, plunged into the house.

“I was shocked because we must have slid down seven feet with broken blocks smashing the windows and the windshield. We were rescued by passersby but before we climb out, the okada rider had escaped. He must have realised that he was guilty before taking the decision to run away,” she said

PDP New media director, Deji Adeyanju, Blast Saraki On Twitter

Saraki

Few PDP senators still join Senate Bukola Saraki to CCT where he's standing trial for monumental "fraud" with regards to false assets declaration, the man running PDP's new media, Deji Adeyanju has blasted Saraki and called on President Buhari to deal with him seriously

REVEALED: $15billion was stoled by Looters Through The Arms Deal -- EFCC

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission made staggering discoveries in the process of investigating the fraud relating to the diversion of $2.1bn meant for fighting the war against Boko Haram.

The EFCC had discovered that the total anti-insurgency money looted by "big men" was over $15bn.

The $2.1bn represents the arms cash placed under the Office of the National Security Adviser, then headed by the immediate past NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

Ex-military chiefs, including a former CDS, Air Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.); and ex-Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.), had been quizzed for their alleged roles in the arms scam.

Badeh, Dasuki and others are currently standing trial on charges relating to the alleged fraud.

A top source at the commission, told Punch that the EFCC and the presidential panel on arms procurement, during investigations, discovered that $2.1bn fraud was just for one of the several transactions.

The source said the commission discovered that top military officers deliberately incorporated companies to divert anti-insurgency funds for their personal uses.

“We have discovered that the total money in the arms scandal is over $15billion, not $1.2bn that was initially discovered. The $2.1bn was just for one transaction. Many of these military officers set up companies for the purpose of diverting money meant for the prosecution of the anti-insurgency war,” he said.

Mr President has vowed to deal with all the looters until they return Nigeria's money in their possession.

Another Attack: Fulani Herdmen launch fresh attack in enugu this afternoon in which their target is on schools

Confusion in Enugu State following reports that Fulani herdsmen have launched a fresh attack in Umuchigbo ( East Council Area of the State.) another community in the State.

According to some escaped Residence: “There is trouble between the Fulani herdsmen and indigenes of Umuchigbo.

“The trouble started this afternoon. The causality figure is not yet known.

“But school children have been asked to go home. It is not yet known if security men have arrived.”

Another source added that: the Fulanis mobilized to attack a school. Umuchigbo people mobilized and managed to chase them away; all is now calm

Gov Ajimobi Warns - No Free Grazing Land in Oyo State.

Oyo

Oyo Governor, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi yesterday criticized the proposed creation of grazing zones across the country as ill-advised.


The Governor stated this at the launch of the ‘Agric Oyo,’ the Oyo State agriculture initiative, at Paago, Oke Ogun, Oyo state.

According to the Governo “This is the time to call a spade a spade. Those clamoring for creation of grazing zones across the country should have a rethink. It is against the Land Use Act; it is against the law of natural justice to seize people’s land to cater for someone’s cattles.


“Grazing zones could be created for those who are traditional cattle rearers in their areas. I’m not against that. But, you cannot come here and tell me you want to occupy our land for grazing zones. The land exists in our respective states and as such the right owners should decide what to do with them.

“Anybody outside this zone willing to rear cattle here will need to approach the state to buy the land and we offer what is available with rules.There is no free land for grazing zones. We need to take this firm position. It won’t happen.”

He warned that the proposal is against the spirit of the land use act and the overriding public interest.

Poor Electricity Supply: My children have heat Rashes -- Fashola cries out

Fashola

Minister of Power, Work and housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola said on CHANNELS TV, "It's a very hot season of the year. I see my children too sweating, having heat rash and they look at me like what are you doing about this thing. Let me be very clear, this problem can be solved.

''It needs detailed and methodical approach. First work to do is to supply more gas because without gas, I am like a generator owner who can't get fuel, so I can't power my plants. There are errors of planning of yesterday but they are errors that can be corrected."


One Nigerians!! Fashola children having heat rashes??? who will believe this?
‪#‎Pacesetter‬ Omoluabi

#FulaniHerdsmen Attack: IGP Orders Detention of Policeman Involved in Enugu Massacre

Solomo Arase

It was noticed in recent report that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase on Wednesday, ordered the detention of a policeman, who allegedly collaborated with the Fulani herdsmen during the killing of residents of Nimbo community in Enugu State.


The IGP, who visited the tension soaked community alongside the Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial zone, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, ordered that one Corporal Chukwu should be detained and investigated.

The villagers had informed him that the police officer, simply identified as Corporal Chukwu, was a known collaborator with the herdsmen.

Consequently, while addressing journalists, Arase said no policeman who collaborates with criminal elements to perpetrate crime would go unpunished, stressing that such person must be dismissed from the force.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State who visited the scene yesterday wept and delcared 2 days fasting and prayer for the community.

FG vows to fix Lagos-Ibadan expressway despite Court Injunction

Funding for the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is captured in the 2016 budget and the road will be constructed despite court injunctions against its further development, the Federal Government has said.


It argued that the development of the country and the lives of the citizens should not be held in abeyance because of a court case or injunctions.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday, also noted that the Federal Government would pay more attention to developing roads that carried heavy vehicular traffic across once the budget was signed into law.

When asked if the government would consider giving out the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to a new concessionaire, Fashola stated that the funding for constructing the road had already been captured in the 2016 budget.

He said, “The Lagos-Ibadan road as you know is now the subject of a court case. Injunctions have been obtained to stop the arrangement put in by the last administration to finance the road with the private sector. And an injunction was granted by a court in Nigeria saying that nobody should raise money or finance the development of the road.

“Thankfully, there’s no injunction against the government building its road yet, and I hope there will be none. So, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is part of what we put in the budget this year. However, I got a message last night (Monday) from one of the lawyers suggesting to me that the action has been dismissed. But this was late last night. So, these are some of the problems that we see, when people write and get court orders to stop development.

“At the end of the day, in a contract, the main remedy that the law recognises is damages for breach of contract; of course, you know I am a lawyer. But why should the developmental process of Nigeria and the lives of Nigerians be held in abeyance because you are in court?”

Fashola reiterated that the amount needed to complete the over 200 roads that had been awarded was about N2tn, adding that the government would make sure that every road get some level of attention.

He said, “The strategy I recommend is let’s take the roads that carry the heaviest traffic and phase them. Phase one should be done this year and finished or taken to near completion. Next year, phase two; third year, phase three; and in each phase, let us ensure that at least every geopolitical zone of the country gets something.

“But there are some roads that are more compelling than others, and my classic case is the Ilorin-Jebba road. That road is the lifeline for agriculture as it ensures a lot of supply between the North and the South. So, our stand is to focus on those kind of roads that carry the heaviest number of vehicles and that carry critical services, which other departments rely on to survive.”

On whether the government would fund road construction strictly from the budget, the minister said, “Essentially, we can do most of those roads because we proposed a budget of N433bn for the three combined ministries. And our plan is to use N68bn for roads, N99bn for power and N66bn for housing.”

This is just as a Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday rejected the prayer by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to dismiss a suit filed by Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited seeking to halt the rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Bi-Courtney had filed the suit in 2012 to challenge the termination of the concession contract awarded to it by the Federal Government for the construction of the road.

The company contended that the fresh concession purportedly granted to Motorway Assets Limited through The Infrastructure Bank did not go through any due process.

The AGF had on November 3, 2015 filed a notice of preliminary objection challenging Bi-Courtney’s locus standi to file the suit.