Supreme Court sacks Oduah, Uba, others

     The Supreme Court on Friday sacked senators representing Anambra South, Andy Uba, and his Anambra North counterpart, Stella Oduah, as well as other state and National Assembly legislators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The apex court, in its judgement, affirmed as null and void a caretaker committee, headed by Col. Augustine Akobundo (retd.), and its list, nominating Oduah and Uba, as well as the rest of PDP state and federal legislators from Anambra State to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the party’s candidates for the 2015 general elections.

A five-man panel of the apex court, led by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, unanimously affirmed an earlier verdict delivered by Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 15, 2014, which had affirmed the Ejike Oguebego-led executive committee of the party, along with the primaries conducted by it, and its list of candidates that emerged from the exercise.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja had earlier set aside the Federal High Court judgement and affirmed the Andy Uba-faction of the state executive committee.

But Oguebego and another member of his state executive committee, Chuks Okoye, had appealed against the judgement of the Court of Appeal.

The appellants joined the PDP, INEC and another member of the party in the state, Chukwudi Okasia, as respondents.

Ruling in favour of Oguebego on Friday, Justice John Okoro, who read the lead judgement of the apex court, upturned the verdict of the appeal court on the grounds that its decision was based “on a wrong appreciation of the claim of the appellants before the trial Federal High Court.”

Justice Okor ruled, “Having resolved all the five issues in favour of the appellants, I hold that there is merit in this appeal, which is hereby allowed. The judgement of the Court of Appeal is hereby set aside.

“The order of the Federal High Court I Suit No FHC/PH/CS/2013 now Suit No FHC/AWK/CS/247/2013), recognising the Ejike Oguebego-led Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Anambra State chapter is still subsisting until it is set aside by another court.

“I hereby award costs of N100, 000 against the first and third respondents in favour of the appellants.”

Earlier, the Court of Appeal had sacked Uche Ekwunife as the senator representing Anambra Central and INEC is set to organise a re-run. Ekwunife was also one of those nominated but the Justice H.A. Ngajiwa of the Federal High Court had earlier in a judgement in the suit, FHC/PH/CS/2013 (now FHC/AWK/CS/247/2013), delivered on September 12, 2013, affirmed Oguebego and members of his team as constituting the authentic executive committee of the PDP in Anambra State.

The judge had refused the prayer by the plaintiffs asking the court to recognise a former state chairman of the party, Ken Emekayi, and some others as the authentic PDP EXCO in Anambra State.

But in defiance to the order made by Justice Ngajiwa, directing INEC and the PDP to only “recognise and deal” with only the Oguebego-led EXCO, the PDP went ahead to set up a caretaker committee, which organised primaries that submitted the list containing the names of Uba and Oduah and the rest of the legislators as its candidates.

However, on their part, Oguebego and Okoye initiated a fresh suit before Justice Chukwu, which culminated in a judgement, which among others, restrained the PDP and INEC from recognising the list of candidates which emerged from the primaries organised by the Akobundo-led caretaker committee.

The judgement of the Federal High Court affirmed by the Supreme Court on Friday had read in part, “That the second defendant (INEC), its agents, servants, privies, assigns, officials, whatsoever name they may be called, are restrained from accepting or receiving any delegate list or nominated candidates that may emerge from the congresses or primaries conducted by the caretaker committee set up by the first defendant for the Peoples Democratic Party, Anambra State chapter except those that emanate from the plaintiffs.

“That the first defendant the Peoples Democratic Party by the purported appointment of a caretaker committee to oversee, run the affairs and conduct elections for the Peoples Democratic Party, Anambra State chapter is in flagrant disobedience and contempt of the Order of this Honourable court made by Honourable Justice E.S Chukwu on the 10th day of October, 2014 and re-affirmed on the 24th in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS680/2014 – Ken Emekayi Vs. Peoples Democratic Party and others.”

Speaking after the Supreme Court judgement on Friday, lawyers representing Oguebego and his EXCO, Mr. Chris Uche, said, “The Supreme Court’s judgement has effectively restored the list of candidates upheld by the Federal High Court.”

His view was corroborated in a separate interview by INEC’s lawyer, Mr. Hassan Liman (SAN), who said he would advise his “client to substitute the list of the PDP legislators with the list upheld by the Federal High Court.”

Liman said it was unnecessary to conduct fresh elections.

286 air operations conducted on Boko Haram hideouts since December

      The Nigerian Air Force has conducted 286 air operations on Boko Haram targets in the last one month, it said on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference in Maiduguri, the Deputy Theatre Commander (Air) of the counter-insurgency operation in the North-East (Operation Lafiya Dole), Air Vice Marshall Isiaka Amao said the air component of the counter-insurgency operation has conducted 286 “operational sorties” against Boko Haram terrorists targets from December 25, 2015 till date.

He explained that this translates to 157,000 Square Kilometres of operational coverage, equivalent “to the total land mass of South Korea, Portugal and Togo.”

He said this also translates to “a total of 536 hours 21 minutes were flown by various platforms engaged in the operations, expending 316,637.5 litres of aviation fuel which amounts to N60,376,912, excluding the cost of maintenance and armament expended.”

He said the operations which was aimed at further degrading the terrorist group, also was targeted towards surveillance at locating the abducted Chibok girls and other citizens that may have been abducted by the terrorist group.

Amao said successes were recorded as during the operations there was destruction of newly discovered Boko Haram leadership hideouts, enclaves, logistics support bases and infrastructure.

He insisted that this led to the terrorist group fleeing Sambisa Forest to near locations due to aerial bombardment and has denied them the opportunity to regroup.

He said that during one of the air strikes on Christmas Day in Sambisa Forest, the leadership meeting of the insurgency group was disrupted and over 15 persons were killed.

He disclosed that apart from Sambisa Forest, air strikes have been conducted on other hideouts including Gawa, Walasa, Kote, Alagarno, Talala, Alafa North, Yele, Arra, Dure, Ajigin, Takwalla and Kumshe.

He said close battlefield air interdiction and close air support were provided for Nigerian troops at Gadzama and Ngwalimiri

What you should know about ZIKA virus

As health officials try to confine recent health disasters, Ebola Virus Disease, Lassa fever and Bird flu to the past, a new virus is fast becoming a major threat.

Although the virus, Zika, was discovered in the Americas, there are concerns that the disease may become a worldwide problem, especially as it is transmitted by mosquitoes.

The World Health Organisation has said that though the symptoms shown by people with Zika, which is currently found in Brazil, are only mild fever, skin rash and conjunctivitis for about two-seven days, it is a different story for pregnant women.

Zika reduces the growth of the foetus, leading to microcephaly or stunted brain growth, hence pregnant women have been advised against travelling to areas where the virus has been spotted.

In the meantime though, here are facts you should know about Zika virus, according to WHO:

Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.People with Zika virus disease usually have a mild fever, skin rash (exanthema) and conjunctivitis. These symptoms normally last for two-seven days.There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available.The best form of prevention is protection against mosquito bites.The virus is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.

 

Transmission

Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti in tropical regions. This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

Zika virus disease outbreaks were reported for the first time from the Pacific in 2007 and 2013 (Yap and French Polynesia, respectively), and in 2015 from the Americas (Brazil and Colombia) and Africa (Cape Verde).

In addition, more than 13 countries in the Americas have reported sporadic Zika virus infections indicating rapid geographic expansion of Zika virus

Prevention

Mosquitoes and their breeding sites pose a significant risk factor for Zika virus infection. Prevention and control relies on reducing mosquitoes through source reduction (removal and modification of breeding sites) and reducing contact between mosquitoes and people.

This can be done by using insect repellent; wearing clothes (preferably light-coloured) that cover as much of the body as possible; using physical barriers such as screens, closed doors and windows; and sleeping under mosquito nets.

It is also important to empty, clean or cover containers that can hold water such as buckets, flower pots or tyres, so that places where mosquitoes can breed are removed.

Special attention and help should be given to those who may not be able to protect themselves adequately, such as young children, the sick or elderly.

During outbreaks, health authorities may advise that spraying of insecticides be carried out. Insecticides recommended by the WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme may also be used as larvicides to treat relatively large water containers.

Travellers should take the basic precautions described above to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

Treatment

Zika virus disease is usually relatively mild and requires no specific treatment. People sick with Zika virus should get plenty of rest, drink enough fluids, and treat pain and fever with common medicines.

If symptoms worsen, they should seek medical care and advice. There is currently no vaccine available.

What you should know about ZIKA virus

As health officials try to confine recent health disasters, Ebola Virus Disease, Lassa fever and Bird flu to the past, a new virus is fast becoming a major threat.

Although the virus, Zika, was discovered in the Americas, there are concerns that the disease may become a worldwide problem, especially as it is transmitted by mosquitoes.

The World Health Organisation has said that though the symptoms shown by people with Zika, which is currently found in Brazil, are only mild fever, skin rash and conjunctivitis for about two-seven days, it is a different story for pregnant women.

Zika reduces the growth of the foetus, leading to microcephaly or stunted brain growth, hence pregnant women have been advised against travelling to areas where the virus has been spotted.

In the meantime though, here are facts you should know about Zika virus, according to WHO:

Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.People with Zika virus disease usually have a mild fever, skin rash (exanthema) and conjunctivitis. These symptoms normally last for two-seven days.There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available.The best form of prevention is protection against mosquito bites.The virus is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.

 

Transmission

Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti in tropical regions. This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

Zika virus disease outbreaks were reported for the first time from the Pacific in 2007 and 2013 (Yap and French Polynesia, respectively), and in 2015 from the Americas (Brazil and Colombia) and Africa (Cape Verde).

In addition, more than 13 countries in the Americas have reported sporadic Zika virus infections indicating rapid geographic expansion of Zika virus

Prevention

Mosquitoes and their breeding sites pose a significant risk factor for Zika virus infection. Prevention and control relies on reducing mosquitoes through source reduction (removal and modification of breeding sites) and reducing contact between mosquitoes and people.

This can be done by using insect repellent; wearing clothes (preferably light-coloured) that cover as much of the body as possible; using physical barriers such as screens, closed doors and windows; and sleeping under mosquito nets.

It is also important to empty, clean or cover containers that can hold water such as buckets, flower pots or tyres, so that places where mosquitoes can breed are removed.

Special attention and help should be given to those who may not be able to protect themselves adequately, such as young children, the sick or elderly.

During outbreaks, health authorities may advise that spraying of insecticides be carried out. Insecticides recommended by the WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme may also be used as larvicides to treat relatively large water containers.

Travellers should take the basic precautions described above to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

Treatment

Zika virus disease is usually relatively mild and requires no specific treatment. People sick with Zika virus should get plenty of rest, drink enough fluids, and treat pain and fever with common medicines.

If symptoms worsen, they should seek medical care and advice. There is currently no vaccine available.

Zika Virus: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALERTED NIGERIANS , RESTRICTS TRAVEL TO LATIN AMERICA

The Federal Government has issued an alert about the outbreak of Zika virus infection and directed that Nigerians, especially pregnant women, should be restricted from travelling to Latin America for now until the situation improves.

The government, which directed the Nigeria Center for Disease Control to include Zika virus diagnosis as part of ongoing efforts to manage the Lassa fever outbreak in the country, said anyone coming from any of the Latin American countries should be interviewed at the various ports of entry to ascertain evidence of Zika virus symptoms.

A statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Boade Akinola, on Friday quoted the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, as saying that “there is no single case of Zika virus infection in the country and there is no need to panic.”

According to him, the Federal Ministry of Health will continue to monitor the situation and update Nigerians of any other developments.

Adewole said, “The World Health Organisation has raised a global alert because the disease has affected about 23 countries in Americas especially in Latin America. At the moment, there is no cure or vaccine for Zika virus infection.

“The Federal Ministry of Health hereby advises a travel restriction especially by pregnant women to Latin America for now until situation improves. In addition, we have directed the NCDC to include Zika virus diagnosis as part of ongoing effort to manage Lassa fever outbreak in the country.

“Nigerians should be vigilant and report promptly any case of unexplained fever that lasts more than 48 hours, especially in those that travelled to Latin America recently, to health care professionals. Nigerians working at various ports of entry into the country should interview anyone coming from any of the Latin American countries for evidence Zika virus symptoms.”

The manifestation of Zika virus infection include mild fever, rash (mostly maculo-papular), headaches, joint pain (arthralgia), muscle pain (myalgia), loss of weight (asthenia), and non-purulent conjunctivitis.

The virus is also associated with higher risk of congenital malformations in newborn when pregnant women are affected. The diseases usually occur about three to twelve days after the mosquito vector bite.

A CALL TO NAIRA DEVALUATION -

Devaluation of Nigeria currency (Naira) was brought up again,

Meanwhile President Muhammadu Buhari has again rejected calls for the devaluation of the naira, saying he has yet to be convinced that the country and its people will derive any tangible benefit from such a move.

A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, on Thursday quoted the President as speaking at a meeting he had with Nigerians living in Kenya late on Wednesday.

Buhari, who is currently on a three-day state visit to Kenya, was said to have maintained that while export-driven economies could benefit from the devaluation of their currencies, such a move would only result in further inflation and hardship for the poor and middle class in Nigeria’s import-dependent economy.

The President said he had no intention of bringing further hardship on the country’s poor, who he noted had suffered enough already.

He likened further devaluation of the naira to having the currency “killed.”

Buhari added that proponents of devaluation must work harder to convince him that ordinary Nigerians would gain anything from it.

The President also rejected suggestions that the Central Bank of Nigeria should resume the sale of foreign exchange to Bureaux De Change, saying that the BDC business had become a scam and a drain on the economy.

“We had just 74 of the bureaux in 2005; now, they have grown to about 2,800,” he noted.

Buhari alleged that some bank and government officials used surrogates to run the BDCs and prosper at public expense by obtaining foreign exchange from the government at official rates and selling it at much higher rates.

“We will use our foreign exchange for industry, spare parts and the development of needed infrastructure. We don’t have the dollar to give to the BDCs. Let them go and get it from wherever they can, other than the central bank,” Buhari told the gathering.

The President reaffirmed his conviction that about a third of petroleum subsidy payments under the previous administration was bogus.

“They just stamped papers and collected our foreign exchange,” he stated.

Buhari appealed to Nigerians studying abroad to bear with his administration as it strives to address the challenges they were facing as a result of the new foreign exchange measures.

He said that he was optimistic that the Nigerian economy would stabilise soon with the efficient implementation of the measures and policies that had been introduced by his administration.

However, some economic and financial analysts have faulted Buhari’s position on the naira, stressing that the CBN would find it difficult to preserve the currency from further devaluation amid the depleting external reserves.

The Chief Executive Officer, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Ckukwu, said, “This position is not sustainable; the CBN will find it difficult to keep and preserve the naira in the face of falling forex income to the nation.

“We cannot continue like this as a country. Already, the CBN is no longer able to provide forex for basic raw materials and production inputs; this may lead to further factory closures. It is in our best interest to devalue now.”

Renowned economist and Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, said a combination of naira devaluation and forex controls by the CBN would save the country.

He said the naira-dollar official exchange rate, pegged at between 197 and 199, was not realistic, adding that there was a need for further adjustment of the official exchange rate.

A professor of Economics at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sheriffdeen Tella, is, however, of the opinion that a further devaluation of the naira will not be in the interest of an import-dependent nation like Nigeria.

He said countries like China allowed official devaluation of their currencies because they had several products to be exported in order to earn forex.

Tella said while such a move could be good for export-oriented countries like China, it would be counterproductive for an import-dependent nation like Nigeria.

“Do we have the products to export abroad if we are to devalue the naira? Devaluation will, no doubt, make exports to be more competitive in the international market, but we don’t have the products to be exported for now. This is why devaluation may not be good for Nigeria at this moment. China will allow its currency to be devalued because it has the products to be exported,” he explained.

Chukwu, however, disagreed with Tella on this position, maintaining that devaluation of the currency was good for an import-dependent economy like Nigeria.

He said, “Actually, naira devaluation is good for the economy; it will not hurt an import-dependent economy like ours the way some people have perceived it. When we devalue the naira, it will make some imported goods to be so expensive that some local substitutes will begin to spring up; this will help to stimulate domestic production.

“Again, when we devalue, it makes our exports as a country to be cheaper such that they will become more competitive in the international market.”

Last year, the former Governor of CBN, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, said Nigeria needed to devalue the naira because the CBN might not be able to sustain its current forex control polices on the long run, especially in the face of the depleting forex earnings by the nation.

Another former CBN Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, in a paper presented at a forum last year, said history had shown that forex restriction had not worked in many countries in the past.

While the naira sells for 306 against the dollar at the parallel market currently, the CBN still keeps the official rate at between 197 and 199.

Economists said the widening gap between the official and parallel market rates would continue to breed all manner of sharp practices in the forex market.

Effectiveness of the New electricity tariff begins Nextweek Monday- NERC

As reported Earlier this year that the electricity tariff will slightly go up abit  and now the new tariffs approved for electricity consumers across the country will become effective on Monday and will enable the power distribution, generation and transmission companies to acquire needed infrastructure, the acting Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Anthony Akah, has said.

Akah, who said this when he led top executives of the regulatory agency on a courtesy call on the National Orientation Agency in Abuja on Thursday, also said there was no going back on the new tariffs.

The NERC boss said the lack of cost-reflective tariffs had hindered the electricity companies from acquiring the necessary infrastructure, adding that with the new tariffs, they would not have any excuse for not delivering on agreements they entered into with the government.

He said the Nigerian power sector reform must provide an appropriate pricing template, which had been lacking, leading to deficiency in revenues from power.

This, he added, necessitated the new Multi-Year Tariff Order to enable the generating, transmission and distribution companies to provide the needed infrastructure for higher generation and supply of electricity to meet the needs of consumers.

Akah said under the new MYTO, all premises must be metered and consumers who subscribe to specific metering models must be supplied meters within 60 days after which they would not be disconnected or charged on estimation if a meter was not supplied.

He also said that a Power Consumer Assistance Fund had been put in place to cater for the electricity needs of the less-privileged in the country, adding that the visit was part of the establishment of a coordinated approach to creating public awareness ahead of the February 1 implementation date of the new MYTO.
So Nigerians are to bear with the authority in order to enjoy steady power supply.

Suicide blasts at Chibok community, killing 11 and injured 35

As I browse through the world today, to check for happenings, here is what I saw;

Twin bomb blasts on Wednesday boomed the Chibok community in Borno State, killing 11 persons and injuring 35 others.

It was learnt that the explosions went off at a military checkpoint and a market simultaneously, shattering the fragile security situation in the town where about 219 school girls were abducted by the Boko Haram sect in 2014. The girls have yet to be rescued.
It was learnt that a suspected bomber was apprehended at a different location in the town.

The number of military personnel affected by the blasts could not be immediately ascertained, but it was gathered that many of them might have been injured.

The Chairman, Chibok Community in Abuja, Chief Tsambido Abana, confirmed to our correspondent that 11 persons had so far died while 35 others were injured in the attacks which were suspected to have been carried out by suicide bombers.

Abana stated that his uncle and nephew were also injured in the blasts.

He said, “Yes, there were two bomb blasts at Chibok today (Wednesday) which claimed
11 lives, 35 others were also injured.

“A blast went off in the market while another one exploded at a military checkpoint. My uncle and niece were also injured in the blasts, they are being treated in the hospital now.”

The blasts happened at about midday when the remote town was packed with traders from surrounding villages for the weekly market, Chibok elder Ayuba Chibok told AFP.

“Ten died on the spot and another one died on the way to hospital,” said a health worker, Dazzban Buba, who volunteered to treat the injured at hospital.

The blasts bore the hallmarks of Boko Haram, which has repeatedly hit “soft” civilian targets such as markets, mosques and bus stations as well as military and civilian vigilante checkpoints.

Chibok came to prominence in April 2014 when Islamist fighters stormed a boarding school and kidnapped 276 girls, causing global outrage.

Fifty-seven girls managed to escape in the immediate aftermath but 219 are still being held and have not been seen since they appeared in a Boko Haram video in May that year.

Chibok was briefly overrun by the Islamic State group-allied rebels in November 2014 but recaptured by the military after several days.

Ayuba Chibok and Buba both said Wednesday’s blasts were suicide attacks and had prompted terrified residents to lock themselves inside their homes or flee in fear of repeat attacks.

“The first bomber set off his explosives at the checkpoint where people coming into the town were being searched,” said the town elder.

“A second bomber managed to get into the market and blew himself up.”

Buba said he rushed to help his brother who was injured in the first blast in the Bamzir Road area of the town.

The second blast happened shortly afterwards, fitting a pattern of Boko Haram suicide attacks with multiple bombers setting off their devices almost simultaneously.

But Buba said it was still unclear whether the third bomber deliberately detonated his explosives or whether the device was triggered when troops opened fire as he fled.

Buba said the 30 injured were mostly suffering from burns and fractures, and that nine had been discharged, he added.

There was no immediate comment from the police, the military or the government’s main relief agency.

Recent weeks have seen a lull in Boko Haram attacks, with only three recorded in Nigeria this month but those that have occurred underline the difficulty in protecting hard-to-reach rural areas.

The insurgents raided a village in Yobe state on Sunday, killing one man, while on January 11, another raid in the Adamawa state town of Madagali left seven dead.

Seven people were killed in a raid and suicide bomb attack in Izgeki village on January 5. Gunmen also looted food and burnt a large part of Nchiha village near Chibok earlier the same day.

On December 6, there was a similar attack in Takulashi village, also near Chibok, which again saw fighters raid food and steal more than 200 cattle.

President Muhammadu Buhari on December 24 declared the rebels were “technically” defeated but at least 66 people were then killed in raids and suicide bombings in the days following.

According to an AFP tally, more than 1,650 people have been killed since Buhari came to power in May last year, vowing to crush the insurgency, which has left at least 17,000 dead since 2009.

On Monday, 32 people were killed when at least three suicide bombers blew themselves up at a market in Bodo village in northern Cameroon.

Saraki keeps mum as Obasanjo attacks N’Assembly members

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has accused members of the National Assembly of corruption and extravagant wastage of the nation’s resources despite the harsh economic reality confronting the nation.

Obasanjo stated this in a letter addressed to Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Mr. Yakubu Dogara, dated January 13 but received at the Senate registry on January 18.

The former president, in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by one of our correspondents on Wednesday, specifically alleged that the federal legislators allocated to themselves, salaries and allowances above the template approved by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission for National Assembly members.

Obasanjo also accused the Senators and members of the House of Representatives of receiving huge sums as constituency allowances despite the fact that most of them did not have functional offices in their various senatorial districts and constituencies.

He described as wasteful and insensitive a situation where the federal lawmakers demanded a vehicle each as official cars despite the fact that the vehicles had been monetised.

The former President added, “The recent issue of cars for legislators would fall into the same category. Whatever name it is disguised as, it is unnecessary and insensitive.

“A pool of a few cars for each chamber will suffice for any committee Chairman or members for any specific duty. The waste that had gone into cars, furniture and housing renovation in the past was mind-boggling and these were veritable sources of waste and corruption.

“That was why they were abolished. Bringing them back is inimical to the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.”

However, Saraki, who spoke through his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, acknowledged the receipt of the letter from the former President and promised to formally reply him (Obasanjo) at the appropriate time.

He said, “The Senate President has acknowledged the receipt of the letter from former President Olusegun Obasanjo and he will reply him in a formal manner.”

Reacting on behalf of the House of Representatives, the Chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas, however, said a response to Obasanjo’s allegations would create a distraction for the federal lawmakers.

He stated, “We don’t want to take issue with Obasanjo, who we have tremendous respect for, as a parliament.

“Taking issue with him on these allegations will create needless distractions for us at this period that we are working on the national budget for the good of Nigerians.

“We remain focused and won’t be distracted.”

Obasanjo, in his letter, recalled one of his encounters with the parliament during his tenure when members of the National Assembly threatened to impeach him because he failed to give them some money which they demanded outside their salaries and allowances.

He said, “The commission (RMAFC) did its job but by different disingenuous ways and devices, the legislature had overturned the recommendation of the commission and hiked up for themselves that which they are unwilling to spell out in detail, though they would want to defend it by force of arm if necessary. What is that?

“Mr. President of the Senate and Hon. Speaker of the House, you know that your emolument, which the commission had recommended for you, takes care of all your legitimate requirements: basic salary, car, housing, staff, constituency allowance.

“Although the constituency allowance is paid to all members of the National Assembly, many of them have no constituency offices, which the allowance is partly meant to cater for. And yet, other allowances and payments have been added by the National Assembly for the National Assembly members’ emoluments.

“Surely, strictly speaking, it is unconstitutional. There is no valid argument for this except to see it for what it is – law-breaking and impunity by lawmakers.”

He therefore challenged the National Assembly leadership to “return to the path of honour, distinguishness,sensitivity and responsibility” by making its accounts open and transparent.

Obasanjo stated, “The National Assembly should have the courage to publish its recurrent budgets for the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. That is what transparency demands. With the number of legislators not changing, comparison can be made. Comparisons in emoluments can also be made with countries like Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and even Malaysia and Indonesia, who are richer and more developed than we are.”

He said such action could not be regarded as normal, good and decent practice in a democracy that is supposed to be exemplary.

He noted that the present economic situation the country had found itself was the climax of the steady erosion of good financial and economic management, which he contended, grew from bad to worse in the last six years or so.

He argued that the executive and the legislative arms of government in the past few years ran the affairs of the country unmindful of the rainy day, which the country was currently experiencing.

Obasanjo expressed fears that the rainy day might be difficult to manage in the current situation where one arm of government was pulling without the support of the other one for the good and efficient management of the economy.

He said efforts aimed at putting Nigeria on the path of sustainable and enduring democratic system, development and progress would remain a mirage in a situation where one arm of government shrouded its financial administration and management in opaqueness and practices rife with corruption.

Obasanjo said, “Those who, as leaders, call for sacrifice from the citizenry, are living in obscene opulence. It will not only be insensitive but callously so. It would seem that it is becoming a culture that election into the legislative arm of government at the national level in particular is a licence for financial misconduct and that should not be.

“While in government, I was threatened with impeachment by the members of the National Assembly for not releasing some money they had appropriated for themselves which were odious and for which there were no incomes to support.’’

The ex-president added, “Where budget proposals are extremely ambitious like the current budget and revenue sources are so uncertain, more borrowing may have to be embarked upon, almost up to 50 per cent of the budget or the budget may be grossly unimplementable and unimplemented. Neither is a choice as both are bad.

“Management of the economy is one of the key responsibilities of the President as prescribed in the constitution. He cannot do so if he does not have his hands on the budget. Management of the economy is shared responsibility where the Presidency has the lion’s share of the responsibility.

“Hopefully, the National Assembly will take a step back and do what is right not only in making its own budget transparent but in all matters of financial administration and management, including an audit of its accounts by external auditors from 1999 to date.

“This, if it is done, will bring a new dawn to democracy in Nigeria and a new and better image for the National Assembly and it will surely avoid the Presidency and the National Assembly going into face-off all the time on budgets and financial matters.’’

Metuh’s firm had N6.6m balance before Dasuki’s N400m

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday called an employee of Diamond Bank, Eno-Mfon Effiong, as its fourth witness in the ongoing trial of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, on charges of money laundering and fraudulent receipt of N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2014.

Effiong, the account officer who manages the five accounts owned by Metuh and his firm, Destra Investments Limited, with Diamond Bank testified before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, that the balance on the company’s account before its account was credited with N400m by the NSA office on November 24, 2014 was N6,676,576.06.

The company was said to have opened the account in February 2013.

The third prosecution witness, Mr. Bali Ndiam, who is a legal adviser at the ONSA, had testified on Tuesday that Metuh’s firm was among 78 companies and individuals paid over N1bn by the immediate past NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), without any contract awarded to them.

Dasuki is also standing trial in other courts for offences relating to alleged diversion of arms funds.

The fourth prosecution witness, who was led in evidence by the lead prosecution counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, said the company’s account statement showed that the narration of the N400m transaction showed that the money was paid into the account by the NSA.

Effiong said, “The statement of account has credit and debit transactions and it is on the bank’s letter head.

“On November 24, 2014 there was a credit into the account of Destra Investment Limited. The amount was N400m. The narration was CBN/CIFTS/NAT Security ADVIS. In simple terms, it means a credit from the National Security Adviser.

“Shortly before the inflow, the balance on the account was N6,676,576.06.”

An earlier move by the prosecuting counsel to tender the company’s bank statement and documents relating to EFCC’s investigation as well as others pertaining to the bank account was opposed by the defence lawyer, Mr. Emeka Etiaba (SAN).

Etiaba complained that some of the documents did not fulfill the provisions of the Evidence Act as they were not tendered through the makers, while some others were not certified as specified by the law.

He particularly objected to the admissibility of a letter by Diamond Bank responding to some requests by the EFCC with respect to Destra Investment Limited’s bank account.

The letter was erroneously dated January 5, 2015 instead of January 5, 2016, and the defence on the basis of that contended that the document was not admissible because it was not the same as the witness earlier referred to in Effiong’s evidence-in-chief.

But the judge dismissed the argument while upholding Tahir’s submission to the effect that despite the error in the date of the letter, it was clear that it was written in response to a letter by the EFCC dated December 30, 2015.

The judge also held that contrary to the contention by Etiaba, all the documents met the standard of admissibility set out in the Evidence Act.

The exhibits admitted on Wednesday included a letter by EFCC to Diamond Bank dated December 30, 2015 and another one by the commission to the bank dated January 4, 2016.

The others included Diamond Bank’s response letter dated January 5, 2015, Certificate of Identification dated January 11, 2015 and signed by Matilda Obigho of Compliance Department of the bank.

Effiong said she had been managing Destra’s account since it was opened on February 10, 2013.

Responding to questions under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Effiong confirmed that she was not surprised to see the credit of N400m on Destra’s account because Metuh was a “high networth customer.”

Meanwhile, Metuh’s hope for freedom from prison detention received a boost on Wednesday as the court in a ruling altered the bail terms which it imposed on him on January 19.

Going by the judge’s ruling granting in part Metuh’s application for variation of the bail conditions, the PDP spokesperson would no longer be required to produce two sureties who must have property strictly in the Maitama area of Abuja.

While the bail sum of N400m and other attached conditions remain, Metuh’s proposed sureties, who the court insisted must be resident in Abuja, could now be owners of property with valid title documents “in any district of the Federal Capital Territory.”

The court delivered a bench ruling on the application filed on January 26 shortly after Metuh’s lawyer, Etiaba, moved it on Wednesday.

But the court in its ruling rejected an aspect of Metuh’s application seeking the removal of the bail condition directing the prosecution counsel, Tahir, to within 24 hours of being notified, verify the addresses of the proposed sureties and the certificates of occupancy of the property to be presented by them.

The court rejected the second leg of the application despite disregarding the opposition by prosecution counsel to that aspect of the prayer for failing to file his objection to the application within 24 hours earlier given him to do so.

Lagos State Records second lassa death

According to the commissioner on Wednesday, the deceased may have contacted the disease after she travelled to Edo State on December 24, 2015 and returned to Lagos on January 2, 2016.

Idris noted that the health ministry had begun tracing 90 persons that may have had contact with the latest victim.

He stated, “The lady had received care in one private hospital and three churches before she was referred to Ijede General Hospital with fever. She died few hours of admission. We confirmed that she died of Lassa fever on Tuesday.

“The remains of the patient have been kept in the morgue in leak proof body bag. She is to be buried after due consultation with her family.

So far, Lagos State has recorded 20 suspected cases of Lassa fever since the outbreak of the disease.

“As of now, 14 suspected cases tested negative, while four cases were confirmed positive of Lassa fever. The results of two suspected cases are pending. The ministry has listed 537 contacts of the confirmed cases and 534 of the contacts are currently being monitored.”

 A 51- year- old man had died of Lassa fever at the Mainland Hospital in Yaba, Lagos  last week. He had also travelled to Edo in December.

Federal Govt. Approves states to exploit mineral resources in their domains,-minerals sector

NOW, it is no longer business as usual with the Federal Government’s recent approval given to the states to exploit mineral resources in their domains if they so wish. This has been a long-standing advocacy of critical assessors of the economy, deeply concerned about the danger of Nigeria’s overwhelming dependence on crude oil for its revenue to the neglect of other resources. The global crash in oil prices, which began mid-2014, is worsening by the day, and has imposed a new economic reality.

Giving the directive in Abuja, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi, said states could set up investment companies or form partnerships with private investors to realise this objective, stressing its importance in boosting their dwindling revenues and creating jobs. “Once you do that within the law, the government will at least get royalties from you, get taxes paid legitimately, have people employed in this area. This achieves our objectives of alternative revenue generation for the country and job creation for our people,” Fayemi said.

Nigeria has 34 solid mineral types already identified in commercial quantity. They include tin, iron ore, limestone, gold, gypsum, kaolin, lead/zinc, coal and bitumen. Interestingly, all the states in the country are blessed with one or more of these resources. Nasarawa State is reportedly endowed with over 20 solid mineral types. The exploitation of these resources was a major plank of the economy in the First Republic and contributed over 12 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product. The Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Wale Oluwo, said Lagos State had carried out aerial and land geological surveys as it built a solid minerals data bank to assist it in taking economic decisions. He claimed the state had an estimated 12 million metric tons of limestone around Epe, and 200 billion cubic tons of silica sand in the Ibeju Lekki zone. This is a huge dormant wealth waiting to be tapped. The remaining 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory are not less endowed.

The flood of petro-dollars from the mid-1970s changed our economic priorities. The military administration’s centralised control of economic resources put mines and minerals on the Exclusive Legislative List. Thus, local and foreign rogue miners seized control; and by 2012, 400 children engaged in artisanal activities had died from lead poisoning in Zamfara State while mining for gold. The neglect of this sector is evident in its 0.3 per cent input to the GDP as of 2010. The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative’s lamentation last week that only N113 billion was generated from the sector in five years, further mirrors our shared error of negligence and irresponsibility.

Economic linkages in mining are enormous. Coal deposits spread across 13 states, with proven reserves of 639 million metric tons, are assets in electricity generation. According to the Bureau of Public Enterprises, this could generate 7,000 megawatts of electricity. Juxtapose this with the current 4,000MW national average, for which reason most homes are in darkness, and manufacturing industries dislocated, the folly in not exploiting it as yet becomes obvious. Also, iron ore, a raw material for making steel, could breathe life into the country’s comatose railway transport sector. Steel, being heavy metal, is easier moved by rail.

Each mineral exploited means additional jobs created, and more people in the tax net. Planning should be thorough to create a value chain effect so that derivable economic gains could be maximised. The South African paradigm provides us with an example. Its mining sector, which contributes an average of 20 per cent to its GDP, triggered a raft of industries that either support it, or are end-users of its products. The country has first-rate primary processing facilities that span carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminium, gold and platinum. It is by adopting this system that Nigeria would avoid the resource-curse that has befallen it from crude oil export for over four decades.

We urge states to take advantage of this liberal space to diversify their revenue base as the days of crude oil as a money-spinner for the economy are over. The horizon remained ominous on Monday as a barrel of crude sold at $31.42, $7, below the $38 on which the 2016 budget before the National Assembly is predicated.Ironically, the solid minerals that Nigeria neglected is an economic pillar in Canada, Australia, South Africa and other nations that are creative. The Mining Association of Canada, in a report, said that mining contributed $36 billion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product and employed 308,000 persons in 2010. The industry exported $84.5 billion worth of metals, non-metals and coal, while 3,215 companies provided support services to engineering, environmental, geotechnical and financial outlets. The president of MAC, Pierre Gratton, states, “Mining in Canada is playing a leading role in Canada’s economic recovery. We are generating significant results; we are creating valuable new jobs….” It is the same success story in Australia where coal mining and coal economy in 2011-12 created 49,300 and 181,200 jobs respectively, according to the ABS.

Our 36 states, 27 of which can no longer pay salaries regularly, should seize the solid minerals initiative and free themselves from the fatal grip of oil revenue. There are 200 Australian mining companies in African countries, according to its High Commissioner to Nigeria, Jonathan Richardson. They can be tapped by serious-minded states for the partnership that Fayemi suggested. Indeed, the changing economic climate is no joke.

Government of Entrean order his men to marry two wives or face life imprisonment.

Eritrean men have been asked by the government to marry more than one wife or risk being jailed for life.

This is contained in a statement in Arabic by the Grand Mufti (the highest official of religious law in the country) which scanned copy surfaced on social media sites on Thursday last week.

In the statement, Eritrea called for all men in the country to marry at least two wives and the government assured the men that it would pay for the marriage ceremonies and houses.

According to the government, the order is because there is an acute shortage of men occasioned by causalities during the civil war with Ethiopia.

Afkinsider.com said the document, which could not be independently verified, warned that any man or woman who opposes the decision “will face a life sentence”.

TheThe document in Arabic, which is in Arabic, says, “Based on the law of God in polygamy, and given the circumstances which the country is experiencing in terms of men shortage, the Eritrean department of Religious Affairs has decided on the following:

“First that every man shall marry at least two women and the man who refuses to do so shall be subjected to life imprisonment with hard labour.

“The woman who tries to prevent her husband from marrying another wife shall be punished to life imprisonment.”

More than 150,000 Eritrean soldiers were killed during the secession war from Ethiopia between 1998 and 2000. At the time Eritrea had about four million people.

Eritrea, is a country in theHorn of Africa. With its capital at Asmara, it is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast. The northeastern and eastern parts of Eritrea have an extensive coastline along the Red Sea, across from Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

The nation has a total area of approximately 117,600 km, and includes the Dahlak Archipelago and several of the Hanish Islands. Its name Eritrea is based on the Greek name for the Red Sea, which was first adopted for Italian Eritrea in 1890.

The country ranks that worst (189 out of 189) on the World Bank’s ease-of-doing-business index.

Mosquito borne viral disease- Case confirmed in Puerto Rico

The mosquito-borne Zika virus has now been found in 19 people in Puerto Rico, although none were pregnant women, the group most at risk, the island’s health secretary said.

The virus has been linked to a surge in births of babies with abnormally small heads, and pregnant women have been advised not to travel to Latin American and Caribbean countries because of the virus.

“An infected person must have come, who infected a population of mosquitoes, which in turn infected a local population, permitting the spread of the disease,” Puerto Rico’s Health Secretary Ana Rius said.

She reported that 18 new cases of the Zika virus have been detected in the US possession, raising the total to 19 since the Caribbean island’s first case was confirmed last month.

So far the virus has not been detected in the continental United States. However, a number of residents have contracted it while travelling and officials are concerned that it could spread if they are bitten by mosquitoes after returning home.

Arkansas became the latest state to raise concerns Tuesday after tests showed a resident had contracted a mild case of Zika while abroad.

Family abandons Lassa fever victim’s corpse in National Hospital

National Hospital,abuja

About two weeks after his death, the corpse of the patient that died of Lassa fever is still at the National Hospital in Abuja and yet to be buried.

Although the details of the delay for the burial were still sketchy, a source in the hospital toldThe PUNCH that the family might have abandoned the corpse “because of the manner of the death.”

The 33-year-old newly-married man lived in Jos, Plateau State, but came to see a relative in Kubwa because of his illness.

He, however, died within 24 hours of admission at the National Hospital, Abuja.

When one of our correspondents visited the hospital on Tuesday, many of the hospital employees were not ready to volunteer information concerning the corpse.

But an employee who pleaded anonymity said, “The information we got was that the family of the deceased patient are scared that they may contract the disease in the process of the burial. Several calls have been put to them but it seems they are not convinced. A lot of work should be done by enlightening them that the body has been decontaminated and is therefore safe and harmless.”

When contacted, the spokesperson for the National Hospital, Dr. Tayo Haastrup, said the hospital management had been waiting on the Federal Ministry of Health to give proper advice and directive concerning the corpse.

He also denied that employees had been scared and panicky whenever any suspected case of Lassa fever was brought to the hospital.

“Nobody is running. Our doctors, nurses and medical staff in the Accident and Emergency Department are prepared for any suspected cases of Lassa fever. We are prepared and there is no cause for alarm. All the kits are available.

“The corpse of the dead patient was well bagged as usual and cannot contaminate anybody. We have informed the Federal Ministry of Health. The ministry, through the Director, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, Prof. Abdulsalami Nasidi, should advise us appropriately on it. We are waiting for the directive of the ministry.”

However, when contacted, Nasidi told The PUNCH that the family of the dead patient had yet to come and claim it but did not explain why it was so.

The NCDC boss also ruled out cremation of the corpse simply because the death was as a result of Lassa fever.

Meanwhile, laboratory tests conducted on the patient with symptoms of Lassa fever who was brought to Kubwa General Hospital in Abuja tested negative.

The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Mohammed Danfulani, made the clarification in an interview with The PUNCH.

The woman, who was brought to the hospital on Sunday morning, was said to be having fever, diarrhoea, passing out stool with blood, and vomiting blood.

“We have a patient that has such symptoms but the test was sent for confirmation by public health officials. The result was, however, negative, it’s not Lassa fever,” Danfulani stated.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, has said that a 24-year-old female student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and 18 others are currently under observation.

He disclosed this on Tuesday at a press conference in Abeokuta, the state capital.

He said the undergraduate had contact with the index case in Lagos State recorded in Ahmadiyyah Hospital in the Ojokoro Local Government Area of the state.

Ipaye added that the 18 other cases were workers of the same hospital but reside in Ogun State.

Ipaye, however, said of all the 19 people who had been placed under watch for between 12 and 14 days as of Tuesday, none had developed symptoms of the disease.

EFCC arraigns ex-NIMASA boss, Akpobolokemi, on fifth charge

The Economic and F i n a n c i a l C r i m e s Commission has again arraigned a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, on 13 counts of alleged N754.7m theft.

Akpobolokemi was arraigned alongside six others on Monday before Justice Raliat Adebiyi of a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere.

The fresh charge marked LD/2181C/15 bordering on stealing and forgery was the fifth that the EFCC would be filing against Akpobolokemi between December 3, 2015 and Monday.

Akpobolokemi had first been arraigned alongside nine others on 30 counts of alleged N3.4bn fraud before Justice Saliu Saidu of a Federal High Court in Lagos on December 3, 2015.

He was again arraigned on December 4, 2015 along with five others on 22 counts of alleged N2.6bn fraud before Justice Ibrahim Buba also of the same court.

There is a pending 40 counts of alleged N34bn fraud against him before Justice Buba, where he is expected to take his plea on February 8, alongside a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo and eight others.

Last Friday, the EFCC filed another 22 counts of alleged N22.7bn fraud against Akpobolokemi, Tompolo and 11 others.

In the new 13 counts before Justice Adebiyi, Akpobolokemi was charged alongside six others. His co-accused, with whom he was arraigned on Monday, are Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Vincent Udoye, Adegboyega Olopoenia and Gama Marine Nigeria Limited.

Among other things, the EFCC alleged that the accused fraudulently converted to their personal use a sum of N346,844,680 released to them by NIMASA for the implementation of Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Member State Audit Scheme (VIMSAS).

We don’t recognise Biafran passport – US, UK

The governments of the United States and the United Kingdom have said they do not recognise the passports being issued by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra.

The National Director of Information, MASSOB, Sunny Okereafor, had said two weeks ago that the passport was valid worldwide, adding that the travel document costs N5,000 while its renewal costs N2,000

He had said, “I assure you that the Biafran passport is valid. Except Nigeria, other countries of the world accept Biafran passport and allow our citizens to travel with it. In Europe, North and South America, Biafran passport is accepted. Nigeria is the only country that seizes Biafran passport. Go to neighbouring Ghana here, they will stamp the passport for you. Don’t be confused by the propaganda of the Nigerian government that there is nothing like Biafra passport.

“MASSOB appeals to Biafran citizens to procure their passport and use it to travel. If you doubt me, get a Nigerian passport while I have my Biafran passport; when we get to Europe, you will see who they will welcome than the other. Many people with the Nigerian passport have been repatriated, but have you heard of anybody with Biafran passport receiving such ill-treatment?”

However, our correspondent sent an email to the American consulate in Lagos to inquire from the US regarding the claim of MASSOB.

In his response, the Deputy Public Affairs Officer at the consulate, Frank Sellin, said, “The United States does not consider passports purporting to be from a Biafra entity to be a valid legal document for purposes of visa issuance.”

A similar response from the British Government was sent to The PUNCH via email.

The UK recalled that it did not support the disintegration of Nigeria during the 1967 Biafran War and had not changed its stance 49 years after.

A statement by the Press and Public Affairs Officer, British High Commission, Abuja, Mr. Joe Abuku, read in part, “The answer is unequivocally ‘no’. The UK does not recognise the so-called Biafran passport

“The position of the UK Government during the Biafran War is a matter of historical record. The UK Government’s position, which reflected the Charter of the Organisation of African Unity, was to recognise the borders laid down at independence.

“The Biafran War caused great suffering and the UK supported the reconciliation work that followed the conflict. The UK supports the territorial integrity of Nigeria and the Nigerian Government’s commitment to work for a secure and prosperous Nigeria for all Nigerians.”

Fresh N22.7bn charges: EFCC lines up 25 witnesses against Tompolo, others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed fresh 22 charges against an ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, and 12 others.

The charges, which were filed on Friday at a Federal High Court in Lagos, bordered on stealing, advanced fee fraud and money laundering to the tune of N22,765,900,000.

The fresh charges were filed eight days after Justice Ibrahim Buba ordered the arrest of Tompolo for his failure to appear on January 14, 2016 to take his plea on a separate 40 counts of alleged N34bn fraud earlier filed against him and nine others by the EFCC.

In the fresh charges, which had yet to be assigned to any judge, the EFCC listed 25 witnesses that will testify against Tompolo and his 12 co-suspects when the trial begins.

Among the witnesses are seven EFCC investigators, officials of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, officials of the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, and officials of the Bureau of Public Procurement.

Also to testify against the suspects are officials of four commercial banks including Access Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc.

Those to be arraigned alongside Tompolo in the fresh 22 counts is a former Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, whose four brothers – Victor, Nobert, Emmanuel and Clement – who are still at large, were alleged to have aided the suspects to commit the fraud.

The other suspects are Kime Engozu, Josephine Otuaga, Rita Uruakpa and Pondi Kestin.

Also joined as defendants in the charges are seven companies – Mieka Dive Training Institute Ltd/GTE, Oyeinteke Global Network Ltd, Wabod Global Resources Ltd, Boloboere Properties Estate Ltd, Gokaid Marine Oil and Gas Ltd, Muhaabix Global Services Ltd and Watershed Associated Resources.

The suspects were said to have fraudulently converted various sums, running into over N22.7bn, stolen from NIMASA, to their personal use between December 12, 2014 and April 10, 2015.

They were also accused of defrauding the Federal Government by making false representations, which they knew to be untrue, in order to obtain money from the government.

The offences are said to be contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3)of the same Act.

The charge sheet, signed by Festus Keyamo, also indicated that the suspects violated various sections of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 including its sections 15(3) and 18(a) and were liable to punishment under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

The suspects were also said to be liable to punishment under Section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

In count two, the EFCC alleged that the suspects “between the December 2, 2014 and April 10, 2015 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, with intent to defraud, induced the Federal Government of Nigeria to deliver to you, the aggregate sum of N11, 900,000,000.00 by falsely pretending to the Federal Government of Nigeria that all that land and its appurtenances lying, being and situate at the Mieka Dive Training Institute, Kurutie, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, to be acquired by NIMASA for the temporary Campus of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Warri South-West Local Government Area, is free from any encumbrances, which representation you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3)of the same Act.”

Akpobolokemi is scheduled to appear on Friday before Justice Saliu Saidu of a Federal High Court in Lagos, where he was first arraigned on December 3, 2015 alongside nine others on 30 counts of stealing and money laundering to the tune of N3.4bn.

His trial before Justice Buba, where he was arraigned along with five others on December 4, 2015 on 22 counts of alleged N2.6bn fraud, commenced last week with the EFCC calling three witnesses.

The case was adjourned till February 2, 2016.

Akpobolokemi is also scheduled to appear before Justice Buba on February 8, 2016 alongside nine others, including Tompolo, who was ordered to be arrested and produced in court on the hearing date.

Bloody clashes likely between soldiers, militants

A clash is likely between the Nigerian military and Niger Delta militants who have returned to their old ways of bombing oil facilities following the deployment of soldiers to oil pipelines nationwide.

Our source gathered on Saturday that the operation to take over the pipelines from the militants and vandals was being jointly undertaken by the Army, the Air Force and the Navy, as well as other security agencies.

It was learnt that the military would deploy all equipment at its disposal, including aircraft, drones and some special pipeline monitoring facilities to protect oil installations nationwide.

Bombings of oil pipelines resumed in the Niger Delta, particularly Delta State, following a court in order that a militant leader in the area, Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, be arrested for failing to appear in court over a N34bn fraud allegation.

Tompolo had, in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari last week, denied the allegation, urging security agencies to focus their search for pipeline vandals on the leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa and Delta states.

Before the bombing of oil installations in the Niger Delta, vandals had been destroying pipelines at Arepo, Ogun State and some parts of Lagos State.

Buhari, while speaking at Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday, had vowed to deal with the resurgence of oil theft, vandalism of pipelines and insecurity in the Niger Delta.

Although the security source, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, did not disclose the number of military personnel that were being deployed nationwide, he said the security agents had already taken over the protection of oil pipelines.

The Director of Defence Information, Brig-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, in an interview with one of our correspondents, confirmed that the military had taken over protection of oil pipelines nationwide.

He said, “They have taken over protection all over Nigeria. It is just modalities that need to be concluded but with this kind of thing, I believe we have enough deployment to oversee all the pipelines in the nation and we will continue to do that.”

“One person or some groups — criminal groups — cannot hold this nation to ransom. Nobody can hold this nation to ransom and will be living, no!

“All security agencies are in top gear to ensure that these people, whoever is involved, will be brought to book and whoever thinks that we cannot do it should try to continue doing it and let’s see who will pay the price at the end of the day.”

When asked the type of equipment that would be used by the military, he said the military would deploy high-tech modern security networks to protect the pipelines from attacks by vandals and saboteurs.

Abubakar restated the determination of the military and other security agencies to track down those behind the last attack on the pipelines in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, last week.

The Defence spokesman had said the government launched Operation AWATSE to ensure the protection of the pipelines.

Investigations revealed that troops of the task force had been deployed to various communities in the Niger Delta in search of suspected vandals.

Confirming the deployment, the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, also known as Operation Pulo Shield, said on Saturday that its troops had taken over the waterways, creeks and pipelines in the oil-rich region.

The Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre of Operation Pulo Shield, Col. Ado Isa, disclosed this while speaking with our correspondent in a telephone interview.

Isa said the troops had intensified patrol on the waterways and the creeks with a view to protecting further attack on the nation’s oil facilities.

He explained that athough the troops had been working round the clock in line with its mandate to secure the Niger Delta region, they had redoubled their efforts following the recent bombing of oil installations in a part of the region.

According to him, the Commander of Operation Pulo Shield, Maj.-Gen. Alani Okunlola, has directed sector commanders under him to ensure that those behind the recent attack on oil installations were brought to book

He said, “The Operation Pulo Shield is pursuing its mandate, one of which is securing the nation’s oil installations and fighting criminality with renewed vigour.

“It is not only manning or patrolling the waterways, we have dominated the entire creeks and the water channels of the Niger Delta and not only within the areas that the explosions occurred.

“You can see that all their (militants) boasting that they are going to continue with their bombings will not be possible again because the Operation Pulo Shield, in conjunction with other security agencies within the Niger Delta region, has intensified and heightened patrol.”

Isa pointed out that with the domination of the creeks, waterways and pipelines dominated by the troops, there would be no space for the militants to operate again.

“As I speak now, all the waterways, pipelines, creeks and channels have been dominated by men of the Operation Pulo Shield, in conjunction with other security agents,” he added.

Jose Mourinho has written a six-page letter for Job to Manchester United

Jose Mourinho has written a six-page letter to Manchester United outlining his credentials to succeed under-fire Louis van Gaal as manager, media reports suggested.

The Independent on Sunday claimed 52-year-old Mourinho, out of work since parting ways with Chelsea in December, outlines in detail his blueprint to resuscitate the Old Trafford giants who slumped to a 1-0 loss to Southampton on Saturday.

The timing of Mourinho’s reported contact with United is interesting as frustrated Old Trafford fans booed their team off the pitch in the aftermath of their latest setback.

According to the report, the Portuguese coach used the letter to pledge his commitment to adapting his style of management and how he would overhaul the squad.

Mourinho has been linked with the United job before when Alex Ferguson left to be replaced by David Moyes in 2013.

As well as two spells at Chelsea, Mourinho has also coached Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

A 51 years old man died of Lassa fever in Lagos

A 51-year-old man has died of Lassa fever at the Mainland Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, confirmed that the patient who was initially admitted at Divine Medical Centre, Ikoyi, may have contacted the disease after attending a wedding ceremony in Edo State in December.

According to the commissioner, the patient died on January 18 before the result of the laboratory test that confirmed him positive of Lassa fever was received at the Infectious Diseases hospital in Yaba.

Idris noted that another 36 -year -old lady,  a native of Kogi State,  who had tested positive to the disease  was currently on admission at the Mainland hospital while the health ministry had begun tracing 438 contacts related to the three index cases  that were recorded in the state.

He stated, “Lagos State has three confirmed cases out of the 14 suspected cases of Lassa fever. Two of them are responding well to treatment while one of them died.

Eight samples tested negative while we are awaiting results for the remaining three suspected cases.

“The Ministry has listed 447 contacts of the confirmed cases and 438 of the contacts are currently being monitored.

We have made available drugs and other materials at our designated facilities; and isolation centres have been prepared to manage suspected and confirmed cases.”

The commissioner  called on residents and health workers to  adhere to infection control measures in their environment and hospitals  to prevent an outbreak in the state.

APC demands Bayelsa Speaker’s arrest for defying A’Court judgment

The All Progressives Congress, Bayelsa State chapter, has called for the arrest and prosecution of the Speaker, State House of Assembly, Kombowei Benson, for disobeying Appeal Court ruling nullifying his election.

It also condemned the Peoples Democratic Party-dominated state House of Assembly for allegedly aiding and abetting illegality within its fold.

The APC noted that it was “undemocratic and dishonourable” for the House to have allowed its Speaker, Mr. Kombowei Benson, whose election was nullified by the Court of Appeal, to remain in office, over 40 days after the court’s ruling.

The APC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Panebi Fortune, said it was irresponsible, ironical and unacceptable for a law-making House to treat the sacred pronouncement of the third arm of government with disdain.

The party said it took public outcries and efforts of whistleblowers, including the legal team of the state APC, to unearth the illegality perpetrated in the House.

It called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Speaker for contempt, adding that Benson should be convicted and committed to prison for disobeying court order.

The party also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission to investigate the illegal financial dealings of Benson within the period he disobeyed the court order.

The APC said the anti-graft agencies should arrest Benson to account for December and January salaries and allowances he collected including other disbursements he made against the provisions of the constitution.

Court grants fresh N600m bail to Metuh

The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, was on Friday granted a fresh N600m bail by Justice Ishaq Bello of a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier on Tuesday granted bail to the PDP spokesperson with respect to charges of money laundering involving N400m he allegedly collected from the office of a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.

The money was meant for the procurement of arms.

The fresh N600m bail sum imposed on Friday by Justice Bello is with respect to charges of destruction of evidence by Metuh on January 5, 2016 while in custody of the EFCC.

The latest fine brings to N1bn the sum the court had slammed on Metuh in recent days even though he has yet to meet up with the conditions of the first bail application.

The FCT Chief Judge in addition to the N600m bail sum also ordered on Friday that the residences of the two sureties to be presented by Metuh must be filed before the court for verification.

The EFCC accused the PDP spokesperson in the fresh charges of destroying his statement meant to be produced as evidence before the court of law.

The anti-graft agency alleged that Metuh made the statement under caution to the operatives and investigators on January 5, 2016 while in custody.

They also alleged that the PDP spokesperson “destroyed document to prevent its production as evidence,” thereby committing an offence which is said to be punishable under Section 166 of the Penal Code CAP 532 LFN, Abuja (2004).

It also alleged that the destruction of evidence amounted to “mischief”, an offence said to be contrary to Section 326 and punishable under Section 327 of the Penal Code.

Metuh pleaded not guilty to the two counts when they were read to him on Thursday.

The application for bail was not opposed by EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, when it was heard on Friday.

In his oral application, Metuh’s lawyer, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, a senior advocate, anchored the application on provisions of sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 as well as sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution.

The judge in his ruling agreed with the defence that the offences the accused was charged with were bailable and that he was presumed innocent until proved guilty.

The judge had earlier on Thursday directed the prosecution to ensure that all its three proposed witnesses were present in court on February 25, an indication that the judge was set to hear and close the prosecution’s case in one day.

The fresh charges against him read, “Olisa Metuh, on the 5th day of January 2016 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, destroyed the document, to wit: a statement made under caution to investigators/operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the 5th of January 2016 with the intention of preventing the same from being produced or used as evidence in a court of law.

“Olisa Metuh, on the 5th day of January 2016 within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, with intent to cause wrongful loss or damage to the property of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission committed mischief by destroying/tearing into pieces a statement you made under caution to investigations/investigative of the EFCC.”

FG launches special military operation to tackle pipeline vandalism

The Federal Government has launched a special military operation code-named operation AWATSU against pipeline vandals in the country.

The operatives of the special task force have also arrested 25 members of the gang of vandals operating at the Arepo in Ogun State and parts of Lagos State.

The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, who stated this in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH, said that the operatives also seized 50 vehicles belonging to the vandals in the ongoing operation in Lagos.

He said that the military was taking proactive steps to curtail the activities of the vandals in the Lagos axis.

Last year, the military took a decision after a meeting between the leadership of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation to maintain a presence at the Arepo area following the killing of four policemen and 11 officials of the Department of State Services by suspected vandals.

Abubakar said that the arrests and the seizures made by the military were responsible for the recent call by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, for the establishment of special courts to try vandals in the country.

He also stressed that the military had done adequate deployment to ensure the protection of the nation’s pipelines in the country.

He said, “You see, we are taking proactive measures. As I speak to you, there is an operation called ‘Operation AWATSU.’ We are doing enough in that place, if you follow what has been happening, there has been serious arrests and seizures.

“Just of recent, about 25 persons were arrested with 50 vehicles in Lagos. This operation is ongoing until we sanitise the whole general area and I believe we will do that because this is a very important axis that cannot be neglected, and whoever is doing this kind of thing is not a true Nigerian.

“And some of them were arrested and we will continue to do that. That is why the chief of Naval Staff canvassed for a special court to try such persons, so as to serve as a deterrent to others and that is the position of the Armed Forces.”

The Defence spokesperson urged the people of the host communities to the pipelines to cooperate with security operatives in protecting them.

LASSA FEVER :Can cat help in the eradication of Lassa fever ?.

Concerning the critical issues of rat and its cause, we asked if you think killing rats and hunting them down with cats is the main solution to Lassa fever. We also asked you for your suggestions on what could be done to rid the country of the disease.

Please post your comments

LASSA FEVER :Plateau confirms five fresh Lassa fever cases

The Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kuden Kamshak, has said that five cases of Lassa fever have been detected in Jos, the state capital.

He said that the patients were responding to treatment.

Kamshak said, “So far, we have only five cases and they are responding to treatment. We have advised doctors not to keep patients for so long in the hospital to avoid contact and spread.”

The commissioner, who spoke in Jos on Thursday, said that Plateau State had been identified as one of the hotbed of the ailment due to its proximity to most of the Lassa fever endemic states, hence, the need for citizens to maintain a clean and healthy environment.

He added that health officers had been sent to rural communities to sensitise them on the dangers of the disease and the symptoms to look out for

Following the death of a resident doctor at the Maxilofacial Surgery Department at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile Ife, the Osun State government has also placed 55 persons under surveillance.

The Permanent Secretary, Osun State Ministry of Health, Dr. Temitope Oladele, while briefing journalists in his office on Thursday said that the state had created emergency centres to ensure that the disease was contained.

Oladele said the preliminary report of the test carried out on the blood sample of the doctor “came back as compatible with Lassa virus.”

He, however, said the confirmatory test could not be done following his death but he added that the state had gone ahead to prepare to contain the virus.

Oladele said no other case had been found anywhere in the state apart from this index case which according to him was imported from a neighbouring state he declined to mention.

He said, “We have traced 55 persons who he had contact with before his death and we have placed them under surveillance.

“As of today, none of them has shown any symptoms of Lassa fever but we are watching over them to ensure that the disease does not spread.

“We have dedicated lines of those in the emergency centres, the numbers are

08032394921; 08062473160: 08035620234 and 08034175852.”

However, the Ebonyi State government on Thursday denied reports of any outbreak of Lassa fever outbreak, insisting that no case had been recorded.

According to the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Daniel Umezurike, Lassa fever cases can only be ascertained after a laboratory test must have been carried out.

APC regime, a step to fascism – PDP govs

Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party have faulted the handcuffing of the National Publicity of their party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, to court.

They stated that the All Progressives Congress regime was a step away from what they called a full-blown fascism.

The PDP Governors’ Forum said the action was meant to deride not only Metuh but the former ruling party as well as cast the party in a bad light before Nigerians as a party of corrupt individuals even when some fraud suspects, who are members of the PDP, had yet to be convicted by any competent court.

In a statement on Thursday in Abuja by the Coordinator of the Forum, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, the governors said the APC regime had yet to learn from history, which it believed informed its “banal exhibitionism and Telemundo antics of subjecting accused persons like Metuh to inhuman treatment.”

The Forum added, “The only reasonable conclusion we have reached is that the anti-corruption agencies and other institutions of state have allowed themselves to be dictated to by a single vindictive authority, which takes pleasure in using power anyhow and in any way in gross abuse of the constitution, African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and human liberty.

“The handcuffing of the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP exemplifies a terrible decay of power by the APC regime, which sees itself as bigger than the democratic state, Nigeria, which brought it to power.

Panic as govt simulates plane crash in Lagos

Officials of the Lagos State and the Federal Government on Thursday caused panic in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos during a simulation of a plane crash in the area.

The exercise was meant to assess the level of preparedness on the part of emergency agencies in handling disasters.

But as residents saw a plane plunged into the Lagoon, there was pandemonium as they thought the crash was real. Many of them ran towards the plane in a bid to save “trapped victims.”

The government, it was learnt, did not inform the community before the exercise.

It will be recalled that a Bristow helicopter with 12 persons on board had crashed in the area on August 12, 2015, killing six people, including the pilot.

The residents said the simulation looked real and was a sad reminder of the August 2015 crash.

A resident, Bola Oluwadare, said it took him some minutes to know that the crash was an exercise, adding that residents were caught unawares.

He said, “I was dressing up around 11.30am when I heard people shouting that plane had crashed again. I ran out to see what was happening. It was after the emergency agencies arrived that we knew it was an exercise.”

A shop owner in the area, Tajudeen Olagunju, said the scare created by the simulation caused many people to abandon their shops.

“I thought it was a repeat of the August 15 incident and so did most of us. I think the agencies did not inform us so that it would look real,” he said.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the exercise was coordinated by the National Emergency Management Agency in collaboration with the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, among others.

The spokesperson for NEMA, South West, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the agencies responded 15 minutes after “a distress call”. He said the exercise enabled the emergency agencies to know their strength in managing disasters.

He said, “The exercise was to determine our level of preparedness in disaster management. The carcass of a plane was dropped into the Lagoon at about 11.30am. Five helicopters of the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Airforce and Bristow were deployed within 15 minutes after the alert. Two ships from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the Nigerian Navy, two doctors and 30 nurses were also on the ground. Thirty local divers were first to respond.

“We assumed people on board were foreigners and the Nigerian Immigration Service was there to check their nationalities to know whether some of them were of questionable characters. Traffic was the challenge we faced to arrive at the scene, but a helicopter assisted us to drop some divers via parachutes.”

The General Manager, LASEMA, Mr. Michael Akindele, said the exercise would also assist in areas such as coordination, response time, capacity building and the use of equipment and personnel during emergencies.

“The larger community was not informed so that residents will also know that it is their responsibility to assist in emergency management,” he added.

Other agencies involved in the exercise are the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Lagos State Ambulance Service and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority

LASSA FEVER :Osun state places 55 under surveillance

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Osun State, Dr. Temitope Oladele, has said the state has placed 55 persons under surveillance following the death of a resident doctors at  Maxilofacial Surgery  Department at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital  Complex, Ile Ife.

The doctor was suspected to have died of Lassa fever but confirmatory test could not be carried out because of the death of the person with the index case.

The permanent secretary spoke while  briefing journalists at his office on Thursday. He stated that the state had created emergency centres to ensure that the disease was contained.

Oladele said the preliminary report of the test carried out on the blood sample of the doctor “came back as compatible with Lassa virus.”

 He, however, said  the confirmatory test could not be done following his death but said the state had gone ahead  to prepare to contain the virus. He said no other case had been found anywhere in the state apart from this index case which according to him was imported from a neighbouring state, which he declined to mention.

He said, ” We have traced 55 persons who he  had contact with before his death and we have placed them under surveillance.

“As at today none of them has shown any symptoms of Lassa fever but we are watching over them to ensure that the disease does not spread.”

“We have dedicated lines of those in the emergency centres, the numbers are08032394921; 08062473160: 08035620234 and 08034175852.”

Buhari to renovate Aso Villa with N3.9bn, spends N1.7bn on feeding

Facts have emerged from the corrected 2016 Budget that a whopping sum of N3.9 billion will be spent on renovation of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa this year.

Also, domestic spending within Aso Villa was increased from N580 million to N1.7 billion.

They are going to renovate the Villa with N3.9 billion: what else do you want to renovate there that Nigerians will see in the Year 2016?” Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South) asked.

Senator Abaribe on Wednesday in Abuja, berated the 2016 budget and called on President Muhammaduu Buhari to withdraw it and go back to the drawing board.

Abaribe while making contributions during the consideration of the budget, said the proposal was faulty on many grounds and could not be implemented at it was.

He said that predication of oil benchmark at 38 dollars per barrel when the crude oil price had fallen below 30 dollars per barrel made the budget unrealistic.

Abaribe faulted the government for increasing spending by 30 per cent based on borrowing.

“Mr President, my colleagues, this budget is indeed unique. After the budget presentation, the finance minister has never come to explain the details of the budget as it is normally done.

“It is a budget of change I agree, but it is a change in the wrong direction. I say it is a change in the wrong direction because it says that it is based on zero budgeting requiring all expenses to be fully justified.

“Mr President, a budget that increases spending up to 30 per cent based solely on borrowing, in what way are we justified? That is the question we want to ask the people who brought this budget.

“We know what is going on in the global economy: this budget is predicated on an oil benchmark of 38 dollars per barrel and I can now say that with oil being 28 dollars today, this budget is dead on arrival.

“The job of the opposition is to help the government to get its priorities right, so I want to please urge this government to withdraw this budget and go back to the drawing board,” he said.

The senator also faulted the adjustments made in the budget as well as allocation for spending in the Aso Rock Villa, saying that it was too exorbitant.

He said that the adjustments rather than reduce spending in areas where they were not necessary only spread it into different offices.

“Mr President, a budget that moves domestic spending within Aso Villa from N580 million to N1.7 billion cannot be a budget of change.

“We were told that in the revised budget there was an adjustment due to error, we agree but what has happened is that up to N7 billion were moved from buying vehicles and spread to offices.

“It also increased the spending that is due to renovations within the Villa.

“They are going to renovate the Villa with N3.9 billion: what else do you want to renovate there that Nigerians will see in the Year 2016?” he asked.

However, in his contribution, Sen. Ahmed Lawan (APC Yobe North) blamed the previous administration for the lack of funds due to the embezzlement witnessed in previous governments.

He said that this was the 17th budget he would be debating as a legislator and noted that not more than 40 per cent implementation was achieved in the last 16 years.

“The proposal before us is the first budget where the executive has deemed it necessary to give ordinary Nigerians genuine hope.

“N500 billion allocated for school feeding and social SAFTEY NET is commendable.

“It is time to say oil should not continue to play dominant role as we have suffered economically and politically: it is time to diversify this economy.

“The direction of the executive is the way to go. `That is, we should make every effort to have the real sector-agric mining and manufacturing.

“The budget deserves the support of everyone, including my colleagues on the other side. When we were in the opposition we supported the PDP, they should support us,” he said.