Mailafia Released By DSS, NGF Calls For Investigations |The Source

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August 13, 2020

By Uche Mbah

Former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Obediah Malafia, has been released by the Jos office of the Department of State Services, DSS, after six hours of interrogation by the spy agency. His arrest was subsequent upon his a trending video where he allegedly said that a serving Governor is a Commander of Boko Haram. He was answering a question on the killings in southern Kaduna.

Mailafia is a son of an evangelist from Kaduna state. Allegations of killings in southern Kaduna, a predominantly Christian area, has been rfe in recent times, with critics implying that the governor, Nasir el Rufai is not doing enough to curtail the menace.

Though there are indications that he may have been told to report at the DSS office at regular intervals, this Magazine learned that he was released after one Reverend Gideon Para offered himself as his surety.

Addressing the press after his release, Mailafia showed his gratitude to the media “for their courage”.

“Since yesterday there has been a lot of support voluntarily from the media, I want to thank them for their courage.

“If I had retracted anything, I don’t think I would have been able to leave this place because the youths of this country are fed up, all these killings have made people fed up.

“Those who tolerate it are committing great evil, we must remain steadfast, I love Nigeria, we must love our country.” youths were reported to have been protesting his arrest, calling for his release. But he said he is averse to evil and violence.

“We must seek the progress of our country, we must work for peace, my name means peace, I am a servant of the people, I don’t use violence and do not promote the use of violence,” he said

Dr Mailafia, was the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress.

Meanwhile, the northern governors’ forum has called for a probe

In a statement Wednesday, the Chairman of the forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, said Mailafia’s allegation is weighty, and must be investigated.

“We, as Northern governors, have met severally to discuss insecurity in the region and the nation at large where we did not only condemn the activities of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, bandits and other criminals, but also engaged the President and all heads of security agencies in finding solutions to the problem’, he said.

Nigerians Spent N675 Billion Bribing Officials In 2019, Says The UN; Wikipedia Says Country Is Failed State |The Source

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Uche Mbah

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August 13, 2020

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By Uche Mbah

For the second time running, the United Nations declared that Nigerians spent a whopping N675 billion in bribes in the year ending 2019. This, however, decreased 2.2 % from the last time the assessment was made, which was 2016.

A survey by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), indicate that this was 0.5 % of the Gross Domestic Product of the the country within the year under review.

This came at a time Wikipedia added Nigeria to the list of the World’s failed states in an update. Other countries listed are Syria, Somalia, Myanmar, Iraq, Yemen, Turkey, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Liberia, Yugoslavia, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Sudan, and South Sudan.

In the survey titled, “Corruption in Nigeria: patterns and trends,” the UN agency noted that “Out of all Nigerian citizens who had at least one contact with a public official in the 12 months, prior to the 2019 survey, 30.2 per cent paid a bribe to, or were asked to pay a bribe by, a public official. This means that although still relatively high, the prevalence of bribery in Nigeria has undergone a moderate, yet statistically significant, decrease since 2016, when it stood at 32.3 per cent.”

Resorting to zonal analysis, the Agency said the zones recorded a decrease in bribery from the 2016 figures, adding that the southern zones, with the exception of the south-west, recorded a decrease in bribery.

“Three out of the country’s six zones (North-East, North-West and South-West) have recorded decreases in the prevalence of bribery since 2016, with the North-West experiencing a considerable (and statistically significant) decline in the prevalence of bribery, from 36 to 25 per cent, while the two other zones recorded smaller decreases. By contrast, the North-Central, South-East and South-South zones recorded further increases in the prevalence of bribery from 2016 to 2019”, it said, adding that this did not in reality decrease the frequencies of Bribe taking.

“Although a smaller percentage of Nigerians that had contact with public officials paid bribes, or were asked to pay bribes, those who did pay bribes continued to do so quite frequently: in 2019, Nigerian bribe-payers paid an average of six bribes in the 12 months prior to the survey, or one bribe every two months, which is virtually the same as the average of 5.8 bribes paid per bribe-payer in 2016”, the report said.

After Sack Of VC, UNILAG Appoints Soyombo |The Source

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Adesina Soyooye

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August 13, 2020

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By Adesina Soyooye

The management of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, late evening Wednesday, appointed an Acting Vice Chancellor.

He is Professor Theophilus Somoyo of the Department of Social Sciences.

His appointment follows the sudden, but not quite unexpected sack, the same Wednesday, of Professor Olawatoyin Ogundipe as Vice Chancellor, by the University’s Council.

The Council, led by Dr. Wale Babalakin, SAN, sacked him during a meeting of the Governing Council. Babalakin is the Chairman and Pro-Chancellor of UNILAG.

The Council sacked Ogundipe over alleged recklessness, maladministration and insurbordintion according to Council.

In a terse statement denying the sack, Ogundipe said he remained the Vice Chancellor, and asked the University community and members of the public, to ignore any other statement to the contrary. “It is untrue and a figment of its imagination”, he said.

Ogundipe has been having a running battle with the Governing Council.

Late evening Wednesday, the Minister for Education, Adamu Adamu, as if indirectly endorsing the sack, said the Governing Council has a right to sack the Vice Chancellor.

Defamation: Westerhof Defeats Jo Bonfrere In Court |The Source

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Akinwale Kasali

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August 12, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Former Super Eagles Coach, Clemens Westerhof, has emerged victorious in the defamation suit filed against his former assistant at the Super Eagles, Johannes Bonfere.

Bonfrere had alleged that the 1994 FIFA World Cup match between the Super Eagles and the Azzuri of Italy National team in the Second round of the tournament was fixed.

He stressed that Westerhof received money from some agents to fix the match in favour of the Italians.

Following this allegation, Westerhof sued his compatriot for defaming him.

The Rechtbank Gelderland Hight Court in Arnhem, Holland, on Tuesday, found Bonfrere guilty of the charge brought against him by Westerhof.

Bonfrere was widely quoted by the Nigerian media of having said in an interview with Lagos-based sports radio station, Brila FM, in April, that his former boss sold Nigeria’s 1994 FIFA World Cup Second Round match against Italy.

Bonfrere was also quoted as having accused Westerhof of selling the match for $100,000.

Westerhof prayed the court to compel Bonfere to prove the allegation against him, or go to jail and pay a heavy fine as damages for defaming his name.

Justice Bonnekemp, who presided over the case found Bonfrere guilty as charged and asked him to apologise in a paid advert to be published in a Nigerian newspaper.

The judge ruled that his statements on Westerhof were incorrect.

More damages to be paid by Bonfrere will be determined by the court.

The ruling has further exonerated Westerhof of the allegation levelled against him.

Why I Chose Kamala Harris As Running Mate |The Source

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The Source

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August 12, 2020

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By Joe Biden

You make a lot of important decisions as President. But the first one is who you select to be your Vice President.

I’ve decided that Kamala Harris is the best person to help me take this fight to Donald Trump and Mike Pence and then to lead this nation starting in January 2021.

These aren’t normal times. For the first time in our history, we’re facing three historic crises — all at the same time. We’re facing the worst pandemic in 100 years. The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The most powerful calls for racial justice in a generation. And we have a President who has both failed to lead on the virus — costing lives and decimating our economy — and fanned the flames of hate and division.

I need someone working alongside me who is smart, tough, and ready to lead. Kamala is that person.

I need someone who understands the pain that so many people in our nation are suffering. Whether they’ve lost their job, their business, a loved one to this virus. This president says he “doesn’t want to be distracted by it”. He doesn’t understand that taking care of the people of this nation — all the people — isn’t a distraction — it’s the job. Kamala understands that.

I need someone who understands that we are in a battle for the soul of this nation. And that if we’re going to get through these crises — we need to come together and unite for a better America. Kamala gets that.

If I’m President, I’m committed to making things better — not just in the short term, but sustainably, structurally, and permanently. We won’t have time to delay. I need a partner who can help deliver on those promises, and quickly.

I was privileged to serve this nation for two terms as Vice President alongside President Obama, a man of extraordinary character who I believe will go down in history as one of our great Presidents. So, I know a thing or two about being Vice President. More than anything, I know it can’t be a political decision. It has to be a governing decision. If the people of this nation entrust me and Kamala with the office of President and Vice President for the next four years, we’re going to inherit a nation in crisis, a nation divided, and a world in disarray. We won’t have a minute to waste.

That’s what led me to Kamala Harris.

As a United States Senator from California, Kamala represents the biggest state in the union. She’s been one of the toughest and most effective Senators on two of the most important committees in the Senate — Intelligence and Judiciary. Two committees that have directly dealt with some of the most important issues facing this nation at home and around the world.

She sits on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, where she deals with the nation’s most sensitive threats.

We’ve all watched her hold the Trump administration accountable for its corruption, stand up to a Justice Department that’s run amok, and be a powerful voice against their extreme nominations.

She’s been a leader on criminal justice and marriage equality. And she has focused like a laser on the racial disparities as a result of the coronavirus.

As California’s Attorney General, she led one of the biggest legal departments in the nation — where she was a powerful advocate for people in taking on the big banks and protecting women and kids from abuse. She’s delivered billions in settlement money to consumers, taking on companies for fraud, pollution and abuse.

I first met Kamala through my son Beau. They were both Attorneys General at the same time. He had enormous respect for her and her work. I thought a lot about that as I made this decision. There is no one’s opinion I valued more than Beau’s, and I’m proud to have Kamala standing with me on this campaign.

Her record of accomplishment — fighting tooth and nail for what’s right — is why I’m choosing her. There is no door Kamala won’t knock on, no stone she’ll leave unturned, if it means making life better — for the people.

So join me today in welcoming Kamala Harris to our team.

She will wake up every day — like I will — thinking about how to make life better for people. How to rebuild our country back better. How to make it more just. How to win the next fight in the battle for the soul of this nation.

Because that’s what the Presidency — and the Vice Presidency — is. It’s a duty to care: for you, for all of us. This will be the fight of our administration, and there’s no better partner that I could have asked for.

Biden, the presumptive Presidential Candidate of the Democratic Party in the USA’s November Presidential election, made this speech while Presenting Senator Harris as his running mate. Biden will face President Donald Trump.

Ekiti Community Accuses Monarch Of Fuelling Crisis |The Source

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Ayodele Oni

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August 12, 2020

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By Ayodele Oni

Indigenes of Ire community, Ekiti state, have blamed the traditional ruler of the community for the mayhem which claimed three lives including a newly weeded pregnant woman early in the week.

The pregnant woman, that got married less than a year ago, was a rice merchant and was on her way to meet her customers when she was hit by stray bullets fired by the police.

Youths in the community had embarked on a bloody protest over the cancellation of this year’s annual celebration of Ogun festival.

The traditional ruler, Oba Bobade Adeleke, had to be fretted out of the town following an attack of his palace where vehicles and other valuables were destroyed.

As the protest escalated on Tuesday, soldiers were deployed to complement efforts of other security agents, turning the community to a ghost of itself.

Police claimed that some miscreants had hijacked the protest, but some indigenes of the town insisted that the protest was long overdue as a result of the alleged high handedness of the traditional ruler.

According to those that spoke on the incident, the cancellation of the world acclaimed Ogun festival was just the last straw as the people have been looking for an opportunity to react to some of the hard posture of the monarch.

Allegations against the monarch include conversion of some traditional antiquities to personal use, taking over of the entire community land on which he demands for royalty from investors, and imposition of his friends as quarter heads.

“What happened at Ogun Onire festival this year was a transfer of aggression on behalf of the people to Onire .

“Out of the five quarters in Ire Ekiti there is no single quarter that the Kabiyesi is not having running battle. In Keleju quarter, the Community has been without light for the past five years and there is a transformer that is at the Kabiyesi quarter which he refused to release for the people.

Already, the state Police Command has declared wanted 15 persons in connection with the incident, while one person has been arrested.

N1.7 bn Probe: House of Reps Back Down On Osinbajo |The Source

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Bayo Bernard

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August 12, 2020

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By Fola James

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo can at least breathe a sigh of relief following disclosure by the House of Representatives that he’s not the target of ongoing probe of the National Social Investment Programme, NSIP, responsible for providing support for Nigerians in times of crisis and natural disasters.

The programme, until recently is under Maryam Uwais, Special Adviser to the President on the NSIP.

It has now been domiciled under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, created by President Muhammadu Buhari last year, headed by Hajia Sadiq Umar Farouq

The lawmakers are investigating the N1.79tn budgeted for the programme in 2019 and has summoned the immediate past Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; the incumbent Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to make presentations.

Osinbajo has been variously mentioned as the target of the probe, even though the nation’s number two man has denied spending funds allocated to the agency, which his Office supervised between 2016 and 2019.

“The Office of the Vice President WAS NOT involved in financial transactions or the disbursement of funds for the SIPs.

The Ministry of Budget and National Planning, was in charge of all matters regarding financing, budgeting, procurement and disbursement of funds allocated and released for the N-SIPs,” Laolu Akande, the Vice President Spokesman said in a statement on Tuesday.

Speaking on the probe on Tuesday, Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Wole Oke, said Vice President Osinbajo is not being investigated over alleged misappropriation of NSIP funds.

The committee chairman said “By our records, the Office of the Vice President is responsible for policy formulation and monitoring of the National Social Investment Programmes.

We have it on record that the Ministry of Budget and National Planning handled all issues of procurement from 2016 to September 2019 when the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs was created.”

Osinbajo is not under probe, Oke said

According to him “A total of N1.79tn was budgeted for the programme, for which over N600m was expended.”

Our interest now is on the Home Grown School Feeding Programme and that is what the ministry is to give us records of procurement.We are not available for anybody to use to malign anybody. We want to put that on record that we are not investigating the office of the Vice President.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Humanitarians Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajia Sadiq Umar Farouq has been criticised over her comment that no Nigerian was left out of the COVID 19 relief package by the federal government.

The country has over 200 million people, most of who reside in rural areas. “We didn’t get the packages,” many of them told the magazine.

Rivers: Wike Under Fire For Borrowing N18bn After N70bn FG Refund

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Bayo Bernard

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August 12, 2020

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By Ola Samuel

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has come under ferocious attack from the All Progressives Congress, APC and critics of his administration over his decision to obtain N18 billion loan to construct a flyover and some road projects in Port Harcourt, the state’s capital.

The state’s currently owes it creditors N291.7 billion , the second biggest debt stock in the country, according to the Debt Management Office, DMO 2019 figure.

Wike’s critics say his administration does not need loans at this time when it has recently received over N70 billion refund from the federal government.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in July returned to the Wike administration funds used for the repairs and expansion of three federal roads and three flyover bridges. Among them was the dualization of the 41.26 km Rivers’ end of the 106.4 km Port Harcourt – Owerri federal highway and Airport-Isiokpo-Elele/Omerelu road.

Others are the reconstruction of Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt from Education to Agip flyover junction and construction of flyover at Agip-Rumueme-Abacha roundabout and the construction of flyover on East-west road at Obiri-Ikwerre.

The reimbursement, critics of Wike said should have been used to develop and provide infrastructure in the oil bearing state.

The government need not borrow after receiving such humongous funds from the centre, according to close watchers of the state.

The state APC chapter on its part said the loan should be committed to providing jobs for the hundreds of unemployed youths.

But the government has defended the loan which it said will be used to build the fourth flyover in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, to address traffic congestion in the area.

In a statement on Tuesday by its chairman, ogbonna Nwuke, the party said Governor Wike was taking the state adrift.

The APC “express our opposition to the use of a whooping sum of N18bn on the construction of a flyover and road expansion project in Port Harcourt.

“That kind of money can be used judiciously in developing cottage industries and creating jobs, which will engage our youths and strengthen the economy. Roads leading to most of our local government areas have completely packed up. They require to be fixed in order to end the misery of the people.

“To date, we remain a consumer state instead of a producer state, which depends solely on federal allocations. The government should fulfill its promise to embark on agriculture. Our people cannot continue to watch, while their contemporaries elsewhere are motivated by their state governments to engage in productive activities.”

An advocacy group, Network for Defense and Good Governance, NDDGG, had last month called on the federal government to ensure that the Rivers State government gives proper account of the N78.9 billion.

“The Rivers state government should publish details as to how it and what projects the N78.9 billion would be used for in line with Public Procurement Laws,” Sobomabo Jackrich, NDDGG convener stated in a statement in July.

Meanwhile critics of the government say the N78.9 billion refund is the biggest pay-out from the federal government to any state government by the Buhari administration, and should be chanelled into life changing projects for the people of the state.

Breaking: Onigbongbo LCDA Chairman, Babatunde, Allegedly Dies Of Covid-19 |The Source

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The Source

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August 12, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

It came as rude shock to the All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos State family and the entire Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area, when the news of the demise of Francis Babatunde Oke, the Executive Chairman of the LCDA broke.

He had been diagnosed of having Covid-19 Virus and was at the Gbagada Isolation Center before his health deteriorated and was transferred to St. Nicholas Hospital where he finally gave up the ghost this morning Wednesday August 12, 2020.

The death of Oke came just four days after the demise of late Senator Buruji Kashamu, who also died of Covid-19.

Oke becomes the fourth APC Politician to have died in the past eight weeks.

Breaking: Fani-Kayode Threatens To Dump PDP |The Source

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The Source

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August 12, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may lose one of its strongest voice.

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has threatened to dump the Party, if the PDP National Working Committee takes the party structures in Cross River State away from Prof. Ben Ayade, the Governor of Cross Rivers state, and hand them over to another person

Fani-Kayode, in a statement on Wednesday, warned that if the PDP structures are taken away from Governor Ayade, and the Cross River Governor leaves PDP, many people, including him, will leave.

The PDP chieftain wrote: “It would be a big mistake for the National Working Committee of the PDP to take the party structures in his state away from Ben Ayade, the Governor of Cross Rivers state, and hand them over to anyone else. If this is done and Ayade leaves the party, be rest assured that many of us will leave with him.

“You cannot, and must not, undermine a sitting Governor or attempt to humiliate him in his own state and before his people. Some of those that are advocating, and behind this nonsense, would never allow it to happen in their own states. A word is enough for the wise.

“No-one, no matter how big or powerful, should think that they own the PDP. If there is any attempt to undermine Ayade, it will spark off a crisis in the party that will split it right down the middle, and the consequences will not be limited to Cross Rivers state.”