Sudan’s Al-Bashir Follows Abacha’s Footsteps After Stealing $4 bn

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May 24, 2020

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Ex-President Omar Al-Bahir has joined the league of thieving former African head of state such as Nigerian maximum ruler, General Sanni Abacha who stole billions of dollars from their people.

In their quest to amass public wealth for their families and cronies, the two former leaders stole enough public money to last them for generation.

But nemesis later crept on them as they were swept from power.

Abacha died in office and following his descent to the other side, over $5 billion has been recovered from the secrets account he kept abroad.

More are still being traced to secret accounts in the US and other parts of Europe.

Bashir who came to power in military coup in 1989 Omar Bashir went ahead to rule Sudan with an iron fist.

Within this period, the former Sudanese strongman amassed over $4 billion which he kept in secret accounts in Europe and Asia.

The bubble has now been burst by his country’s anti graft agency which said it has confiscated assets valued at $4 billion from former President al-Bashir, his family members and associates.

“Our initial estimates of the value of the assets, shares in different companies and buildings we have confiscated is $3.5 billion to $4 billion,” Salah Manaa, a spokesperson for the Anti-Corruption and Regime Dismantling Committee, said in an interview.

Ex President Bashir was overthrown in a coup following mass protests that he stepped down from 30 year rule.

He was later jailed in December after being found guilty of stealing millions of dollars in foreign currencies.

He has also been indicted by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity committed in the western region of Darfur.

Meanwhile, his successor, Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok has vowed to uproot any vestige of Al Bashir’s rule and recover plundered assets.

He said whatever is realized from the plunder will be used to bring his country’s economy back to its feet.

Hamdok’s has tried to salvage the economy after he was made prime minister in a power sharing arrangement with the military which ousted Al-Bashir.

Apart from recovering looted funds, the Sudanese leader has been negotiating an end to numerous civil conflicts, which if resolved, analysts insist could help slash huge defence spending, thus freeing enough funds for the government to spend on critical sectors such as health and education.

Edo Guber: My Way Or Nothing, Obaseki Warns Oshiomhole

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Bayo Bernard

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May 24, 2020

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Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki will not submit himself to the All Progressives Congress, APC governorship primaries slated for June 21.

If the embattled governor, who’s s currently in a fierce battle with his predecessor and National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole over who represents the party in the September governorship election succumbed to pressure to participate in the direct primaries, he could as well bid his ambition to rule the state for another four years good bye, analysts say.

The National Working Committee, NWC of the party has decided to hold a direct primary to choose the party’s candidate for the election coming up later next month.

But Governor Obaseki prefers an indirect primary where the state chapter of the party will indirectly chose the party’s candidate.

The governor has now made it clear that it’s either he had his way or nothing at all.

Governor Obaseki in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Crusoe Osagie said the decision on what type of primaries to adopt should not be the preserve of the APC National Chairman alone.

According to him, that decision can only be taken by the National Executive Committee, NEC, which he said has not met to decide on the matter.

Referring to the report where the NWC took the decision to conduct a direct primary in the state, Governor Obaseki said, “That report was a scoop, there was no meeting of the NWC in which the decision was taken. If the Oshiomhole camp is having it at the back of their minds that it is what they want to do, they don’t have the power to do that.”

He cited two states where the APC NEC decided on such matter adding that Oshiomhole cannot change the rule in the case of Edo.

He said “The power to direct what kind of primary to do rests on NEC and NEC at the last meeting decided that because of the dissenting voices, all modes of primary should be decided by the different state chapters as it was done in Kogi and Bayelsa.

In Kogi, for example, they determined the kind of primary they wanted, and in Bayelsa, the same thing happened.

So, in Edo, the same method will be adopted, according to the rules of NEC. We will now write the NWC to say this is the mode of primary that we want.”

But a faction of the party loyal to the National Chairman said on Friday that the direct primary must go ahead, it also accused the state’s helmsman of diabolical plot to scuttle the plan of the party’s leadership to conduct a hitch-free primary by raising a false alarm over the Corona virus pandemic.

Lawrence Okah, the Secretary of Edo APC loyal to Oshiomhole , in a letter addressed to the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, alleged that Obaseki had ordered the testing of “fictitious”300,000 persons for COVID-19 to announce fake positive results to use the development to scuttle the June 22 primary.

“It has come to our notice that the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has concluded plans to scuttle the primary election of the All Progressives Congress scheduled to hold on June 22. The pretext is that if held, the primary election will escalate cases of COVID-19 in Edo,” Okah said.

Meanwhile, a former chairman of the party, Chief Odigie Oyegun has pleaded with the party to grant automatic tickets to Obaseki and Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo as APC governorship candidates in the September election.

The Ondo state helmsman is also faced with a groundswell of opposition over his ambition to rule the state again.

Hope Dashed For Prospective Covid 19 Returnees From Canada, Says Foreign Affairs Ministry

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Uche Mbah

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May 23, 2020

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By Uche Mbah

The Canadian government has finally and firmly refused the airlifting of Nigerians willing to return home due to the impact of COVID 19, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.

The Nigerian government had contracted Air Peace ltd to help to evacuate Nigerians in the North American Country.

This refusal by the Canadian government has resulted in the cancellation of the contract the Nigerian government has with Air peace. Air peace had won the contract by beating other airlines in providing a pricing schedule no other could match.

In a letter dated May 20, 2020, with reference number NHS/OTT/ADM.56/I emanating from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry said the Canadian government has unfortunately reverted with what appears to be a final refusal.

“ The best and overall well-being of Nigerians stranded in Canada were the overriding considerations of the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa seeking a solution to their predicament,” the letter said. “The aim was to come up with the most convenient and cost-effective arrangement possible bearing in mind that the many were stranded here through no fault of their own and some had become cash strapped.

“The mission, therefore, engaged a number of airlines and eventually came up with an arrangement and pricing structure with Air Peace which no other airline was able to match. You will recall that in our public notice of 12^th May 2020, the High Commission announced that the Canadian government had expressed reservations concerning the granting of necessary clearance/landing permit for Air Peace to fly into Canada, due to safety concerns.

“Kindly be informed that after a protracted engagement, the Canadian government has unfortunately reverted with what appears to be a final refusal. As a result the Air Peace arrangement is canceled. During the negotiation with Air Peace the issue of refunds was addressed in the event that the flight did not hold due to unforeseen circumstances and as such, everyone will get refunds for their tickets from Air peace as agreed.

“In the meantime, the Nigerian High Commission is working assiduously to secure an alternative arrangement to get you home as soon as possible, safely and at the least cost possible. Further updates will be communicated in due course.”

Though Airpeace was designated as the carrier of choice in these evacuations, Canada seem to be reluctant in dealing with the Nigerian airline, preferring to deal with Ethiopian airline instead, regardless of the fact that the evacuations are meant for Nigerians. Ethiopian Airlines has been airlifting other African Countries from Toronto and Cagliari.

Air peace was the airline of choice when Israelis were evacuated from Nigeria recently.

Meanwhile, while Canada is forcing passengers to book through Ethiopian airlines, Nigerians who initially booked through Air peace are visibly frustrated at the treatment.

Breaking: Tribunal Uphold Governor Yahaya Bello Victory

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The Source

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May 23, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Kogi state governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja in a split decision of 2 to 1 affirmed the declaration and return of Yahaya Bello by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the validly elected governor of Kogi State.

The majority judgment delivered by the Chairman of tribunal, Justice Kashim Kaigama dismissed the petition brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the November 16 governorship election, Engineer Musa Wada against the outcome of the polls for lacking in merit.

He therefore awarded the cost of N500,000 against the petitioners in favour of the respondents.

Details Later…

Breaking: Nollywood Loses Another Veteran Actor, Femi Oyewunmi

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The Source

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May 23, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

In less than 72 hours, the Nigeria Movie industry has yet again lost another Veteran Actor, Femi Oyewunmi, popularly known as Laditi.

No doubt the Nollywood industry, specifically the Yoruba genre of Nollywood has been thrown into mourning over the death of veteran actor and producer, who distinguished himself with his craft.

The prolific actor died on Thursday, May 21 at the age of 58, but was made public went viral today .

His demise was announced by the deceased’s younger brother, Prince Kehinde Adegoke Oyewunmi on Facebook.

The deceased’s brother also said that Laditi had been battling chronic back ache for some months and that he was rushed to the hospital on Thursday, May 21, 2020, where he passed away.

The remains of the actor would be buried in Ogbomosho on Tuesday, May 26.

Laditi had featured in several movies such as Koto Orun, Aye Toto, Ija Eleye amongst others.

He is survived by wife and children, and will be solely missed by his colleagues, fans and families.

$61bn Debt: Firm Sues FG, Malami Fights Back

By

Bayo Bernard

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May 23, 2020

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By Tosin Olatokunbo

Abubakar Malami, Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice has been under fire for once engaging Trobell International Limited, an unknown company to recover over $61 billion debt owed the federal government by some international oil companies operating in the country.

Even though the government has stopped the firm from executing the contract after public outcry, the minister has been on the spot for alleged conflict of interest over the multi-billion dollar contract.

Recall that In 2018, the Supreme court declared that five international oil companies. IOC owed the federal government over $61 billion after the apex court’s judgment which adjusted the Production Sharing Contracts between Nigeria and the firms.

The oil firms have since challenged the judgment.

The past few days, has been for the nation’s chief law officer, a very traumatic one after he was accused of engaging the debt recovery firm based on personal gratification.

Malami has now issued a statement debunking the allegation that he had any ulterior motive for engaging the company.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr Umar Gwandu, on Friday, Malami said he has no personal connection with the company contrary to reports.

According to the statement “Malami in his personal capacity does not have personal ‘debt collectors’ for the recovery of Federal Government’s debts.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice does not engage recovery agents based on projected personal gratification or individual’s inclinations.

He said the selection of all the firms involve in debt recovery for the government was done with due diligence, sincerity and with the interest of Nigerians in mind.

“All those engaged by the Federal Government for undertaking certain tasks in the recovery of assets and generation of revenues belonging to the government did not belong to ‘Malami’ as mischievously portrayed by some certain media outlets but the Federal Government of Nigeria through the instrumentality of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

Such engagements were purely based on the interest of the general public as a guiding principle.”

He said public outburst against the choice of later made the Buhari administration to drop the company.

The Buhari’s government that initially engaged the firm, Malami stated “is the same Federal Government that engaged the Trobell in the recovery of the unpaid Federal Government revenue that asked the agency to step down based on the stakeholders’ meeting held.”

Meanwhile, the debt-recovery firm has now demanded over $1.5 billion compensation from the federal government over the botched contract.

The amount is 50 percent of the fee originally awarded to the company.

Infrastructure: FG Turns To Islamic Banking, Raises N350 bn Sukuk Bond

By

Bayo Bernard

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May 23, 2020

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By Fola James

By the end of the year, the Federal Government would have raised N350 billion from the sovereign Sukuk bond in the last three years to fund critical projects across the country, the debt management office, DMO has said.

Sukuk is an Islamic financial instrument which attracts low interest rates.

In 2017 the federal government raised a N100 billion seven-year debut Sukuk bond for the financing of 25 road projects across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

It further raised another N100 billion in 2018 for a seven-year period for the same purpose, amounting to a total of N200 billion raised in two years.

The special fund is used to finance critical infrastructure such as roads, power and others projects across the country, according to the federal government.

The DMO made this revelation two days ago following its announcement that the federal government has began the sale of its third tranche 7-year N150 billion Sovereign Sukuk bond,

The DMO stated that the seven year Islamic Sukuk, referred to as Ijarah, was at a rental rate of 11.2 per cent and would mature in seven years.

DMO stated that the bond will be used to provide key road infrastructure across the six geo-political zones and payable semi-annually.

The circular released by the Office said the subscription window for the bond would close by June 2, 2020.

It said subscribers could purchase N1,000 per unit subject to a minimum subscription of N10,000 and in multiples of N1,000 thereafter with First Bank and Islamic wealth manager, Lotus Capital managing the sale.

It stated that investors could used the bond as security based on the provision under the Trustee Investment Act.

The bond, the DMO also stated would be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE and on FMDQ Over-The-Counter (OTC) platform and be classified as liquid asset by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

Covid-19 Pandemic: PDP Knocks Buhari, APC, Says They Have Failed Nigerians Woefully

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The Source

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May 23, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has not hidden its disappointment in the handling of the outbreak COVID-19 pandemic in the country by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and his Political Party, APC.

PDP’s National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbodiyan has once again, on Friday, came hard federal government over its approach.

The PDP said the government’s approach was parochial and marred by alleged corruption, nepotism, incompetence and narrow-minded politics.

Ologbondiyan spanked the administration for rebuffing wise counsel on the pandemic, chiding the it for what it described as attempts to shift the brunt of its failures to articulate and coordinate an effective national response to the pandemic to State governors.

The PDP said the government is presently doing a damage control after it had badly managed the situation, and now looking towards State governors for a solution to the Pandemic.

The PDP further accused the federal government of muddling up the process, leading to confusion across the country and consequential spike in infection and fatality rates.

It, also, dismissed the FG’s call on governors as very late in the day, when there is little or no remedy to the situation on ground.

The PDP recalled how, at the early stage, well-meaning Nigerians called for the active involvement of state governors, the private sector and critical stakeholders for an effective multi sectoral and multilayered approach.

The party regretted that the federal government rebuffed the wise counsel and instead, chose a parochial approach.

The statement reads: “The Buhari Presidency rebuffed wise counsels and settled for a parochial response marred by corruption, nepotism, incompetence and narrow-minded politics, only to now turn to seek to transfer the brunt of its colossal failure to state governors.

“The PDP announcement by the National Coordinator of the failed Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu, that state governments should now start taking ownership of the response, is an acceptance of failure by President Buhari, who failed to lead from the front but abdicated the task to incompetent and narrow-minded officials.

“The PDP notes that the poor handling of the COVID-19 response has further highlighted the APC-led Federal Government’s lack of capacity to manage important national issues.

“Our party invites Nigerians to note that the three arears where the Buhari-led Federal Government took up the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, namely; Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states, had recorded very high statistics in infection and fatality rates compared to states where it was not involved.

“This shows that had President Buhari involved the states and allowed for a multilayered, people-based approach in the distribution of palliatives, development of therapeutics and implementation of protocols, the situation would have been better handled.

“Now that the Buhari Presidency has come to its wits end, our party urges governors elected on the platform of the PDP to assist their colleagues in the APC with information, strategies and expertise, for effective national response to the pandemic”.

The main opposition party further urged the President and the PTF to do the nation a favour by taking accommodation in the backseat and allowing competent hands to manage the COVID-19 situation.

The party also urged state governors to brace up to the occasion and rally the private sector for home-grown solutions, “which the APC-led Federal Government had failed to achieve due to sheer incompetence and corruption.”

The PDP charged the administration to immediately give detailed account of all funds and other resources it claimed to have spent, particularly on palliatives; a scheme the party said, had been exposed to be a huge scam.

Billing Chooses Denmark Ahead Of Super Eagles

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The Source

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May 23, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Nigeria has lost another mercurial midfielder to another Scandinavian country, Denmark, exactly the way it lost Emmanuel Olisadebe to Poland National Football team over a decade ago.

This time around, Bournemouth Football Club, of England midfielder, Phillip Billing, has revealed his intention to play for the Danish National Football team ahead of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

The 23-year old has told Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr his decision to play for Denmark, though he has a Nigerian father and a Danish mother.

He is, however, eligible to play for Nigeria and Denmark, but he chose Denmark Ahead of Nigeria.

He has played for Denmark’s U-19 and U-21 teams, but is yet to get a call up to the senior national side of Denmark.

Billing said Rohr wanted him to play for Nigeria but he had made it clear his dream was to play for Denmark.

“It would be strange to stand up for Nigeria when I feel 100 per cent Danish. Of course, I have Nigerian roots and am half Nigerian, but I was raised and born in Denmark.

“I have a Danish mother, Danish little brother and Danish little sister and a Nigerian father. But this is Denmark I want to stand for. That’s my big dream.

“I’ve talked to the Coach, but I know where I want to play? I want to play for Denmark, so it is no longer than that.

“He (Rohr) just said he really wanted me to play for Nigeria because the upcoming World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations will be played soon. I made it pretty clear to him that I wanted to play for Denmark. That’s my big dream,” Billing told BT.

The midfielder also said he had been in touch with Denmark coach, Kasper Hjulmand, and hopes to make his debut for them soon.

“Hopefully this is the last time I have to answer whether I choose Nigeria. I can say that I am 100 per cent in Denmark. I only think these are rumours and that’s to get people talking. But there is nothing at all,” he added.

It would be recalled that the Super Eagles of Nigeria recently lost Tammy Abraham and Oluwafikayomi Tomori to the ‘Three Lions’ of England National team, and are also on the verge of losing another mercurial Arsenal Football Club youngster, Bukayo Saka, if not addressed quickly.

Napoli Joins Osimhen Race With €60 Million Bid, As Eberechi Eze Contemplates Super Eagles Future

By

The Source

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May 23, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Super Eagles and Lille Metropole Football Club of France Striker, Victor Osimhen, is presently the beautiful bride in Europe, as top European Club sides are jostling to acquire him into their fold.

AC Milan, Internazionale Milano and Liverpool have been joined by Napoli in the race to sign the Lille striker.

It was recently reported that AC Milan is looking at potential replacements for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and while Real Madrid’s Luka Jovic is the priority for the Milan Clubside, Osimhen is also a player the club is watching to capture.

The Nigeria international replaced Rafael Leao and Nicolas Pepé who both joined Genoa and Arsenal Football Clubs respectively, both scored 22 goals in the last Ligue 1 before moving to their present clubs, with Osimhen finding the back of the net 18 times in 38 games this season.

It has been suggested that Osimhen could command a fee of up to €60 million this summer with Liverpool and Real Madrid among those strongly linked.

According to the latest from Sportitalia, Napoli is the latest team to join the race for Osimhen as they may have to replace a striker this summer.

The report mentioned how Milan and Inter are closely monitoring developments, however if the Partenopei were to sell Arkadiusz Milik, Giuntoli’s side could burn the competition and win the race.

In another development, Queens Park of Rangers, QPR, midfielder, Eberechi Eze, has given consideration to playing his international football with Nigeria, but said he is holding out on making a decision immediately.

Eze has been on the radar of Nigeria for, at least, three years without getting capped, and he was among players of Nigerian descent who were invited to train with the Super Eagles in March 2017 following a cancelled friendly with Burkina Faso.

Ola Aina, one of the players in that training camp, has gone on to become a senior international, but Eze is still on the outside and has instead been called up, and represented England at under-21 level.

But Eze, whose eye-catching performances in the English Championship has drawn praises from the likes of Graeme Souness, says he doesn’t “want to make any decision on my international career until it is time, until I feel like it is right”.

“I don’t want to make a rush decision, as much as it would be a privilege to play for either,” Eze said on The Beautiful Game podcast.

“It would be a great honour.”

Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick said in December that he had met Eze and his parents, and was hoping the player would decide to join up with Nigeria as Gernot Rohr builds a squad for the 2022 World Cup.

“I spoke to them,” Eze said on The Beautiful Game.

“But again, I am just enjoying my football right now and I don’t want any added pressure on my mindset.

“I don’t want to focus on the wrong things.

“I want to focus on what has got me to this position, continue doing it and wherever it takes me, it takes me.”

Eze’s stance seems to validate information from a Super Eagles source, who told ESPN in December that the player’s prospects of a move to an English Premier League club could be jeopardized by a rush decision.

“There are very influential people who do not want him to switch allegiance,” the source told ESPN.