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Era Of Technicalities: Court Dismises Suit Against Buhari’s Qualifications For 2019 Elections

By
Uche Mbah
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Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari

By Uche Mbah

For the second time in recent times, an Abuja court has dismissed a  suit challenging President Muhammadu Buhari’s qualification for contesting the 2019 Presidential elections on technical grounds. The supreme Court has also recently ruled on Osun governorship elections on technical grounds.

While the Supreme court carefully avoided the merits of the case but based their ruling technically on the absence of the head of the tribunal to nullify the PDP appeal ruling, the court of Appeal in Abuja hinged their ruling on the fact that the petitioners were late in filing their case.

Recall that three applicants- Kalu Kalu, Labaran Ismail and Hassy Kyari el-Kuris-had approached the three-member panel of the court led by Justice Atinuke Akomolafe-Wilson to appeal against the ruling of a lower court which also objected to the timing of filling of the case.

In a single judgement read by Mohammed Idris, the court upheld the ruling of the high court and struck out the motion.

“We have decided to settle on the preliminary objection. To determine the issue, we have to pay serious attention to when the cause of action arose.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the cause of action arose on October 18 when the documents said to be false that is the Curriculum Vitae and affidavit were submitted to INEC in form CF001,” the court had ruled.

The lower court has recused itself on ground of lack of jurisdiction, a position also held by the appeal court.

It will be recalled that the case of Buhari’s qualification to contest is one of the five point suit being pursued by Atiku Abubakar in his case against President Buhari.

Meanwhile, Atiku’s Lawyer Friday told the  Appeal Court that his witnesses have been ambushed and attacked on their way to the tribunal by bandits. The Tribunal has adjourned sittings till Monday.

Insecurity: Buhari Should Implement Confab Report, Says Jonathan

By
Uche Mbah
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Goodluck Jonathan congratulates Douye Diri as Bayelsa State governor

By Uche Mbah

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has pointedly told the Presidency that the only solution to the myriads of problems plaguing the Country is for them to implement the Confab report.

Jonathan had convened a National Confab during his tenure, when the grievances of various interest groups were tabled and openly discussed. But the coming of the Buhari administration saw the jettisoning of the report as he is not predisposed to some aspects of the resolutions.

But Jonathan in Lagos Thursday insisted that revisiting the report remains the only thing that will turn back the country from the dangerous road of perdition.

Speaking at a book launch to celebrate the birthday of a Lagos Politician, Femi Okorumu,  which he was the chairman of, Jonathan lamented that Nigerians play politics with everything.

“I understand that efforts are being made toward addressing some of these challenges, however, we seem to play politics with sensitive and serious matters,” he said. “The call for reforms has continued to grow louder, gathering the kind of momentum that should no longer be overlooked, if the nation must make real progress. I believe that the solutions to most of the problems we face today lie in our honest assessment of the recommendations of the 2014 national conference. If we take politics out of our consideration, there is every likelihood that a diligent implementation of the key recommendations of the conference will lead the nation out of the woods”.
Since he left office, Jonathan has been living a low profile life. Apart from his international engagements, he hardly interferes in National discuss.
The Confab report was submitted to him just before the 2015 presidential elections.
“I noticed that each time I express this belief and optimism, I always get hit with the counter narrative that seems to question my inability to implement the recommendations during my presidency. “My administration was prepared to change the narrative for our constitutional democracy with the assurance that sovereignty really belongs to the people,” he said.

For A Second Day Running, Shiites Clash With Security Agencies

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

The rage of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, generally called Shiites, against the federal government has remained unabated as their clash with security agencies continued Wednesday,with the Shiites again launching an assault at Federal Secretariat.

The Shiites, Who have been protesting the continued detention of their spiritual head, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, had taken their protests to the National Assembly, where there was a clash with the security agencies resulting in damaged cars and wounded policemen. The Federal House of Representatives had to hurriedly  adjourn plenary. Many new Honorable members still live in hotels in town, and were apprehensive of moving to their hotel rooms in various hotels.

This was coming on the heels of their spiritual headquarters, Iran, having a running battle with the American government. There has been threats and counter threats from both countries, precariously perching the world on the precipice of a global war of annihilation.

Fears are that the crisis may escalate right into the weekend.

The Honorable members has called on the Federal government to solve the lingering problem.

Reports indicate that despite high security presence at the Federal capital territory, which brought anti riot policemen in their hundreds, Thursday clashes saw over forty members of the sect arrested by the police. Particularly of heavy security presence is the venue of the ongoing election tribunal sitting at the appeal court.

 

Increase In Petrol Price Looms, As NNPC GMD Says Nigeria’s Price Is The Cheapest In West Africa

By
The Source
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By Akinwale Kasali

The nation is on the verge of witnessing a repeat of what happened four years ago when the pump price of Petrol jumped  from N97 to N145 a  few months after the inauguration of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

A repeat of that is allegedly in the offing. The government may increase the pump price of Petrol to much more than N145 a litre.

The new Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC,  Mele Kyari, gave this inkling  when he dismissed  the N145 pump price as the cheapest in West Africa.

Kyari, stated this during a visit to the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, at the National Assembly complex, Abuja.

Kyari  was making submissions on revenue generation before the leadership of the senate, and the way to improve it for the benefit of the nation.

He identified cheap fuel price and smuggling as the two key factors hampering revenue generation by the agency.

“The N145 per litre fuel price regime in Nigeria runs against the N350 per litre most of the other West African countries operate thus, encouraging smuggling.

“It is even very difficult for us to make the product available at N145,” he said.

The NNPC boss, also, said the Corporation   would lobby the National Assembly to ensure speedy passage of laws relating to the oil and gas industry so as to enhance performance.

The NNPC stated that the move would ensure the emplacement of an enabling legal framework for the growth of the oil and gas sector.

Immediate past GMD, Maikanti Baru,who was at the meeting, said a visit to the senate president was part of the programmes planned for the period of transition but was not realised due to exigencies.

Baru stressed that he considered it necessary to still visit, even after the formal handover, considering the good relations he enjoyed with Lawan, and also to ask the Senate to support his successor in actualising the goals of the NNPC for the sustainability and growth of the nation at large.

He stated that beyond introducing his successor, the visit was meant to canvass the senate’s support for the quick passage of the Deep Offshore Amendment Bill, which could boost the government’s revenue with about $5 billion per annum.

Super Eagles Cruises Into AFCON Semi Finals, Continues Its Dominance Over South Africa

By
The Source
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0
Super Eagles

By Akinwale Kasali

It could have been a dream year for the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, if it had defeated Nigeria In the Quarter Final of the on-going 2019 Africa Cup of Nations championship, having defeated Africa powerhouse, Egypt, in the Round of 16.

Sadly, the fairytale journey of the coach Stuart Baxter side came to an end, as it lost 2-1 to its foe, the Super Eagles of Nigeria, in a highly tensed match.

Nigeria took the lead in the 26th minute through Samuel Chukwueze, who registered his first goal at  the tournament to put the three time champions ahead.

It was Alex Iwobi who  set up Chukwueze to score the opener at the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt, to the excitement  of the vociferous fans of Nigeria.

The Super Eagles took the lead into the break.

On resumption of the second half of the contest, Nigeria continued its dominance, squandering good scoring opportunities to extend its lead.

The Bafana Bafana got the deserved equaliser courtesy of Fredericks Zungu from a set-piece lobbed inside the 18-yard box by Percy Tau.

The goal became controversial as the linesman had raised the flag for an offside, forcing the Moroccan referee to consult the Video Assistant Referee, VAR.

The goal stood. forcing the Super Eagles to go back to the drawing board to restrategise.

The South Africans were expecting the game to go into extra time, but the Super Eagles had a different opinion.

A last gasp William Troost Ekong’s goal  from a corner by Moses Simon gave the Super Eagles the victory.

With this triumph, the Super Eagles will face the winner of the match between Ivory Coast and Algeria in the semi finals on Sunday 14th July, 2019, at the Cairo International Stadium.

Apapa Customs Adds N203bn To Federation Account

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Modinat Eniodunmo

The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), generated revenue to the federation account totaling N203.2 billion in the half year 2019, the command has said.

The figure is higher than N176. 7billion generated in the corresponding year 2018 and represents 54.5% of the annual revenue target of the command.

It also recorded $46, 613, 453.75 as a Free On Board (FOB) value for exported goods within the period, according to Muhammad Abba Kura, the area controller.

Abba Kura disclosed this on Tuesday in Apapa to journalists.

According to him, the command has recorded a total of 95, 229.15 metric tons of exported goods within the period under review.

Abba- Kura explained that most of the exported products were agricultural products.

The command boss said that the monthly target of the command in 2019 was N31.046,655 billion while the 2019 target stood at N372.5 billion.

Within the period, the command seized a total 29 various items that contravened import procedures.

“The items include tomato paste, vegetable oil, ladies and girls fashion items, Tramadol and other drugs. It also includes armoured glasses without end user certificate and drilling pipes labelled in foreign language,” Abba Kura said.

He attributed the revenue success of the command to strict adherence to professionalism through sensitization of officers to their responsibilities.

“Periodic stakeholders engagement, open door policy, prompt resolution of disputes by the Dispute Resolution Committee as well as maintaining right synergy and collaboration with other sister agencies also contributed to the command’s increased revenue,” he said.

Adding that, the command was able to achieve tremendous success with the support of the officers and men of the command.

“We continue to build on existing strategies put in place by my predecessor, Comptroller Bashir Abubakar, with the 100 per cent examination along with video and pictures,”Abba-Kura said.

He said that two 40ft containers of 25kg foreign parboiled rice from Tihaland were intercepted and a container of medicament including tramadol due to false declaration.

Abba-Kura explained that the parboiled rice was declared as processed furniture and the Tramadol tablet was declared as medicament.

He charged importers to jettison the habit of false declaration.

Revealed: Ayade never met with HOLGAs

By
The Source
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0
Governor Ben Ayade

By Chidiebere Onyemaizu

Sources close to Heads of Local Governments Administration (HOLGA) in Cross River state have described as hogwash, reports circulating in the social media to the effect that Governor Ben Ayade has held a series of meetings with them over local government funds.

Multiple sources close to the HOLGAs stated that contrary to the misleading social media reports, no dime, in form of local government allocation from the federal government, has entered the accounts of local governments in the state since the NFIU policy was introduced.

“Its not true. No kobo has been received by any local government in Cross River since the NFIU was introduced to ensure the so called financial autonomy of the local governments. I don’t know if the situation is peculiar to only the PDP controlled states, but many states controlled by the PDP are are yet to receive an alert in our accounts”, findings revealed.

Sources within HOLGA ranks also spoke in a similar vein. They equally revealed that Governor Ayade did not, at anytime, hold meetings with them over council fund or, sought for such meetings.

“It amused me when I saw the report in one of these social media platforms. We have not received any allocation from the federal government and His Excellency ,Professor Ben Ayade, never held meetings with us or, requested for a meeting. Rather, it was HOLGA that,  on two occasions, requested  for a meeting with him which he turned  down, asking us to face our work instead. I wonder why some people relish fake report,” an insider source said.

Another simply dismissed the report with the wave of the hand. “Let them produce video or picture footage showing HOLGA’s meetings with Professor Ayade to convince their readers. Of course, there was no meeting with him.The reports should rather be that Ayade rebuffed HOLGA because he, indeed, refused to meet with us,” he said.

Debt: Nigeria Owes N24.9 trillion, Set To Borrow More

By
Uche Mbah
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0

By Uche Mbah

Nigeria’s total debt overhang in the first quarter of the year rose to N24.9 trillion, adding N460 billion in the first quarter of 2019 alone, with indications that Government still has intentions of borrowing more in the coming months.

Buhari is said to be shopping for donors to Finance the 2019 budget, even though the budget implementation has remained abysmally low.

“We intend to fund the 2019 budget through borrowing locally and internationally with a spread of 50:50. Our focus is on concessionary long-term loans,” the finance minister, Zainab Ahmed had said.

Even the 2018 budget was marred by piecemeal release of funds by the government. Only Salaries were paid, and most releases hovered between 40% and 45%, slowing down implementation. President Buhari, however, had said the Budget implementation was 67%. The budget was a N9 trillion affair, which is $25bn, using the official rate of N360 per dollar. This is meant to serve an estimated 200 million people.

According to figures released by the Debt Management Office, DMO, external debt overhang stood at N7.8 trillion ($25.6 billion) while domestic debt was N17 trillion ($55.6 billion). Domestic Debt grew by N458.363 Billion, but this was recorded “in the domestic debt stock of the FGN, states and the FCT”, the DMO stated. “The domestic debt stock for five states, (Anambra, Borno, Ebonyi, Ekiti and Lagos) were as at December 31, 2018, and the domestic debt stock figure for Rivers state was as at September 30, 2018.”

External debt experienced an upward spiral by N101.646 billion during the period under review..

Electric Car: Nigerians Urge UNN To Partner With Innoson

By
Uche Mbah
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0

By Uche Mbah

A cross section of Nigerians believe that the breakthrough by the Engineering Department of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, can best be harnessed if the University will partner with Innoson Motors, who are already in the process of indigenous manufacturing of  a local brand, the IVM series.

It will be recalled that the University, in response to a request by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDCD), manufactured a 5- seater Electric Car named’ Lion Ozumba 551″ . UNN was one of the Universities mandated by the Council to manufacture an electric Car. Others are University of Lagos, Usuman Danfodo University and Matrological Institute representing the three major zones-North, East and West. UNN was the first to actualise the mandate.

According to the University, the car can travel 30 kilometers when fully charged.
“We used 80 per cent local material content in building this electric car”,

said Mr Ozoemena Ani, from faculty of engineering who coordinated the UNN Metetronic team that produced the Lion Electric Car. “It cost us N800,000 to produce the car. When the car is fully charged it will go up to 30 kilometers before it can be recharged.”
But Nigerians talked to by this magazine said” the dream must not be allowed to die like other dreams that were aborted, suggesting that the University partner with Innoson Motors.
“If the government will allow it to happen, let them partner with Innoson. Innoson is already a pioneers in that business”, a banker who did not want his name in print said.
That was the general sentiment of those talked to.
Innoson is the only indigenous car manufacturer in Nigeria. Instead of Government has, ,however,  been making frantic efforts to partner with foreign car producers to site their plants in Nigeria.
Currently, Innoson supplies vehicles to some state governments, and has an understanding with the Nigerian Airforce for local maintenance of military jets.

Abacha Would Have Been Abiola’s Defence Minister – Nyiam; Says Ken Saro Wiwa Trusted Abacha

By
The Source
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0

By Gideon Njoku
If the late Chief MKO Abiola had reclaimed his Presidential mandate, former Head of State, the late General Sani Abacha, would have been his Minister for Defence.

This was sensationally revealed by Lt. Col. Tony Nyiam, a NADECO Chieftain, in an interview published in the Punch of June 30. Nyiam was, also, a major participant in the April 22, 1990 coup which sought to overthrow the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida.

In the interview, Nyiam also described Ambassador Babagana Kingibe as the greatest betrayer of Abiola, and asked him to wear that cap, instead of blaming others.

Nyiam, also. blamed, almost, the hanged environmental activist, Ken Saro Wiwa, for the fate which befell him under Abacha, revealing that both men were great friends in Port Hacourt when Abacha was a Brigade Commander, and Wiwa a state Commissioner. He revealed that Wiwa was talking to Abacha about the possibility of giving Abiola his mandate. According to Nyiam, Wiwa had believed Abacha that Abiola would be sworn- in, and so ignored their warnings to keep off Abacha.

Nyiam: ” He was already talking with Abacha and wanted Great Ogboru and I to join him to talk to Abacha. But we both warned him that certain people from one part of the country in the far North do not share political power. Great and I warned Ken Saro Wiwa.

We perceived that Ken was exposing himself to danger; we feared that he was making a mistake. We gathered that Abacha was not ready to hand over to MKO, and we passed the information to him, but he chose to believe Abacha because he trusted him.”

Tackling Kingibe who was Abiola’s running mate, he said: “Babagana Kingibe was the worst betrayer of MKO. Instead of him to defend the allegations of treachery against him, Kingibe was busy shifting blame.”

He said both Abiola and Abacha were negotiating, and were going to share power. But he also pointed out that Abacha was pretending about handing over power to Abiola. However, he revealed that Abacha would have been Abiola’s Minister for Defence.

Nyiam: “Abacha obviously would have been there as the Minister for Defence. That was the arrangement; that Abacha would hold the military until Abiola would consolidate.”

Unfortunately, Abacha clamped him into detention, and put him on a long trial. Abiola was to die in military detention.

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