Protest hits Osogbo as police arrest anti-Aregbesola APC chieftain

Hundreds of supporters of Alhaji Fatai Oyedele, an estranged chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, who is popularly known as Diekola, protested the invitation of the  politician by the police in Osogbo on Monday.

Diekola, who is no longer in good terms with Governor Rauf Aregbesola, had some months ago vowed to send the governor back to Lagos State after the expiration of his tenure in 2018.The politician was said to have been invited about three weeks ago but he said he was ill and he went straight to the police headquarters on Monday afternoon after being discharged.

But as he was being driven to the police headquarters hundreds of his supporters trooped out and followed him, chanting solidarity songs.

Diekola was arrested alongside some  of his supporters, who followed him to the police headquarters and he was arraigned immediately at the Magistrates’ Court.

There was a drama at the court as the politician, who was brought to court  at about 3pm by heavily armed security personnel, was also followed to the court by a large crowd of his supporters.

Some of his political allies, including a former  Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Mr. Adejare Bello, stormed  the court premises but the crowd was prevented from entering the court premises.

After waiting for about one and a half hours in the courtroom, one of the court clerks revealed that the magistrate declined the arraignment but the clerk did not give the reason for the magistrate’s action.

Following this, the security personnel, who brought Diekola to court, whisked him back to the police headquarters.

His supporters, who had waited outside the court premises, hailed their political leader as the police whisked him away.

Counsel for Diekola, Mr. Kola Onifade, who spoke with journalists on the court premises, said his client was invited three weeks ago but he could not honour the invitation because of his health challenge.

Reacting, Aregbesola warned residents of the state against resorting to disruption of public peace.

The Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr. Adelani Baderinwa, gave the warning on behalf of the governor in a statement issued on Monday evening.

“Government particularly condemned the lawless actions of an unscrupulous individual in the early part of today whereby he attempted to disturb the public peace to which the police promptly responded and curbed the marauders actions.

“It is the view of the government that no individual, including politician of whatever hue, has the right to cause commotion in the public because such is against the rule of law. As a government that believes and acts in accordance with the rule of law, the actions of the police in preventing breakdown of law and order are well supported and a welcome development.”

source: punchng

Real Madrid reject mega million bid from Man Utd for Alvaro Morata

Real Madrid have rejected Manchester United bid for Alvaro Morata - The Spanish club want more money before they can allow the Spaniard to leave - Morata has been a major target for United boss Jose Mourinho since last season Premier League giants Manchester United have been hit with a major blow after having their mega million bid for Spanish international Alvaro Morata rejected by Real Madrid.
Jose Mourinho's side tabled a mouthwatering amount of £70 million to lure the superstar to Old Trafford this summer. But the Spanish and European League champions have turned their backs to the money with the club's president reportedly asking for additional sum of £9 million for Morata to leave Spain. 
Morata, 24, is currently on honeymoon having married his sweetheart and has also signified his interest in joining Manchester United.

Gbolahan Salami handed 6-match ban by Finland FA

- Super Eagles striker Gbolahan Salami has reportedly been handed a six-match ban by Finland FA - The KuPS' forward was shown a straight red card in his side's 2-1 defeat to Mariehamn on Tuesday, June 4 - The Finland FA disciplinary committee sanctioned a six-match ban for the Nigerian striker following his dismissal Super Eagles striker Gbolahan Salami has reportedly been handed a six-match ban by Finland FA following his dismissal in a crucial match for his club side. The KuPS forward was given a straight red card in his side's 2-1 defeat to Mariehamn on June 4, 2017. 
The Nigerian international furiously protested to the referee following his disallowed goal in that game.

Reps panel invites Jonathan over $1.1bn Malabu oil scandal

The House of Representatives resolved on Wednesday to invite former President Goodluck Jonathan to testify in the ongoing investigations into the controversial sale of Oil Prospecting Licence 245.

Better known as $1.1bn Malabu Oil deal, an ad hoc committee of the House has been investigating the alleged diversion of the money, which was the Federal Government’s share of the deal.

In making its decision to invite Jonathan public on Wednesday in Abuja, Atunwa stated that certain information in public domain had made the need to hear from the former President necessary before the probe could be considered conclusive.The committee is chaired by a member of the All Progressives Congress from Kwara State, Mr. Razak Atunwa.

He explained that hearing from Jonathan was also an indication that “thoroughness, natural justice and fair play” were applied in the investigation.

Atunwa stated, “Mr. Jonathan was the President at the material time that (his cabinet) ministers brokered the deal that led to the allegation of $1bn diversion of funds.

“Mr. Jonathan’s name features in the proceedings initiated by the Public Prosecutor of Milan in Italy.

“A United Kingdom court judgment in relation to an application to return part of the money being investigated, castigated the Jonathan administration as not having acted in the best interest of Nigeria in relation to the ‘deal’.

“The Attorney General of the Federation at the material time, Mohammed Bello-Adoke, has recently instituted proceedings in court wherein he pleads that all his actions were as instructed by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Accordingly, pursuant to the provisions of the (1999) Constitution, the committee has decided to request that former President Goodluck Jonathan give evidence as to his role in the matter.”

He added that the secretariat of the committee had been directed to write to Jonathan, “asking for his response and submission.”

When asked whether this meant that Jonathan would come personally before the committee or the committee would meet him at a location chosen by the former President, Atunwa replied that what was most important was to write to him.

“There are parliamentary procedures, so we don’t jump the gun. What we have said here is to ask for his response. When he responds, that is when we go further.

“At this material point, we have invited him and that is where the case will rest for now,” he added.

The House had first investigated the deal in the 7th Assembly (2011-2015).

Not satisfied with the outcome of the probe, the current 8th House revisited it.

This second phase of the probe was launched in October 2016 with the committee taking representations from Shell, Agip and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

It also received the submissions of the current AGF, Mr. Abubakar Malami, among others.

However, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources in the Jonathan administration, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and Bello-Adoke reportedly shunned the panel.

According to the House, OPL 245 occupies an area of 1,958 square kilometres and holds up to “9.2billion” barrels of crude oil.

Recalling how the deal started, the committee said Chief Dan Etete, a former minister in the administration of the late Gen. Sani Abacha, awarded the block to himself in 1998, using Malabu Oil and Gas.

“He awarded it to himself for just $20m, out of which he paid only $2m,” the committee stated.

It added that former President Olusegun Obasanjo revoked the block, and later sold it to Shell at $210m, a development, which sparked off a series of legal tussles.

The committee recalled that while Malabu was still in court, Bello-Adoke and Alison-Madueke were alleged to have “contrived a series of complex agreements of a questionable nature.”

It added, “The summary of the agreement was that Shell and Nigeria Agip Exploration paid $1.1bn to the Federal Government for the oil block.”

However, instead of paying the money into the Federation Account, the committee stated that Bello-Adoke and Alison-Madueke “caused the money to be transferred to Malabu, which then spirited the money to various foreign bank accounts.

 “In this regard, it is alleged that companies, such as A. A. Oil Limited, were engaged to launder the funds.”

The committee viewed the development as unacceptable, arguing that “Nigeria and its citizens may be said to have been short-changed to the tune of $1.1bn.”

The committee stated, “As we sit here today, $110m is being held by the UK authorities from the fund as proceeds of corruption from Nigeria.

“Italian prosecutors have also requested that money from that deal in Swiss accounts should be frozen.

“So, Nigeria folds its alms while other countries protect its interest? Nigeria is the victim.
But, Malami, in his submissions to the committee in December 2016, claimed that the Federal Government could not prosecute Alison-Madueke , Bello-Adoke and a former Minister of Finance,  Mr. Olusegun Aganga, because of lack of sufficient evidence to nail the three former ministers.

Malami added that though Bello-Adoke had made written submissions, he had “not made himself available.”

The AGF, however, admitted before the committee that the payment of over $1.09bn into an escrow account by the three former government officials was illegal, explaining that the money ought to have been remitted into the Federation Account.

Attempts to get comments of ex-President Jonathan on his invitation by the committee were not successful as calls made to the mobile phone of his Media Adviser, Mr Ikechukwu Eze, did not connect while a text message sent to him had yet to be responded to as of the time of filing this report on Wednesday.

source:punchng

Magu’s confirmation controversy: Osinbajo’s statement, a personal opinion, say AGF, Buhari’s aide

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Wednesday said Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s statement on the confirmation of acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, was a personal opinion.

Also on Wednesday, the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), declared that the position of Osinbajo on Magu was not a decision of the Federal Executive Council.

He had said he aligned himself with the argument of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana, that Senate confirmation was not needed for the EFCC chairman based on the provisions of Section 171 of the constitution.Osinbajo had, in an interview in April, ruled out the possibility of President Muhammadu Buhari replacing Magu, whose nomination was rejected by the Senate twice.

Osinbajo’s statement has drawn the ire of Senators, who, on Tuesday, resolved to step down all requests for confirmation into executive positions from the Presidency.

The senators also asked the acting President to withdraw the statement “without further delay.”

Shehu explained that the statement was Osinbajo’s personal opinion, which he made as the Vice-President when Buhari, who is currently receiving medical treatment in the United Kingdom, was still in the country.

The presidential spokesmen stated this in an interview with journalists in Abuja.

He said, “Our understanding is that some remarks made by the Acting President some months ago when he was the Vice-President, because the President was around at that time, an opinion he gave is being misconstrued.

“A senior lawyer in the country offered an opinion, in which he said some categories of public officers, traditionally cleared by the National Assembly, need not go through that process, that those ones can be appointed through presidential fiat; they don’t have to go through screening.

“But several months ago, in his position as Vice-President, Prof. Osinbajo gave a personal opinion, saying what this lawyer said makes sense.”

Shehu added that the Federal Government had not taken a decision that some nominees would no longer be sent to the National Assembly for confirmation.

He said since Osinbajo gave the opinion, over 20 nominees had been sent to the Senate for confirmation.

Shehu however assured all stakeholders that the current face-off would be resolved through dialogue.

He said, “There is no official position by the government of Nigeria, and the Federal Executive Council never sat down to take a decision to say that some categories of officials will not be sent to the National Assembly any longer.

“The authority of the Senate, under the Constitution to screen and pass nominees, has never been questioned by the government or the Federal Executive Council.

“From the time the Vice-President gave that opinion till now, more than 20 nominations have been forwarded to the Senate and quite a number of them have been screened, sworn in and are now occupying positions.

“Therefore, this is not a big issue as some people want to make it. The party, government and the National Assembly will sit at a round table and this matter will be discussed and resolved.”

Also, Malami said since the council did not at any time take the decision, there was no need to make any clarification about Osinbajo’s statement.

The AGF said this while responding to questions from State House correspondents for council’s position on the face-off between the Senate and the Presidency after the weekly FEC meeting presided over by Osinbajo.

The justice minister added, “The fundamental consideration about the alleged statement is the fact that at no point ever did the Federal Executive Council sit down to arrive at the decision in one way or the other as far as the issue of nomination or otherwise is concerned.

“So, I do not think it constitutes an issue for the Federal Executive Council to make any clarification about because it has never been considered by the FEC.”Malami said he would yield the floor to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who addressed journalists with him, to speak more on the issue.

Mohammed, on his part, said there was an “excellent mechanism” in place to resolve whatever disagreement that might arise between the executive and the National Assembly.

The minister added, “Clearly, it (the issue) came up. The fact of the matter is that we have a very excellent mechanism for resolving whatever issue is between us and the National Assembly; that is being addressed.

“I don’t think we need to go to specific statements as to what was said by A or B. We believe that government is not one arm, but includes the legislative, executive and judiciary arms. Whatever might be the problem, we are resolving it and we are addressing it.”

Meanwhile, Malami also disclosed that the FEC approved the validation of a new anti-corruption strategy.

He said the new strategy was meant to review the country’s anti-graft war and put in place mechanisms for enforcement and sanctions of offenders.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, said the council also approved contracts worth N900m for the engineering and infrastructure design in different parts of the FCT.

According to him, approval was given for Ring Road B, which passes through Kubwa Express way, Airport Road, Southern Expressway and the Wasa District at a cost of N242m.

The contract for water treatment and connecting pipelines to the Abuja Water Master Plan was also approved at a cost of N233m.

Meanwhile, at the beginning of the weekly meeting, Osinbajo led council members to honour an elder statesman, Maitama Sule, who died on Monday in Egypt.

A minute silence was held in honour of the deceased who the Acting President said contributed to national development at all levels of his engagements.

Osinbajo said, “He (Sule) will be sadly missed by all of us who regarded him as a mentor and as a father of the nation and one of the great contributors to the growth and stability of the nation.

“The Federal Government was represented by a delegation, led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, and several members of the Federal Executive Council.’’

When contacted on Wednesday, the Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, said what Malami explained was that presidential nominations were not issues for FEC.

“The minister did not say that what the Acting President said was not a council decision.

“What he said was that presidential nominations are not issues for the council,” Akande said.

source: punchng

Governors angry as EFCC is set to recover $3m refund

Governors were up in arms yesterday against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which they accused of “shadow boxing” one of their own.

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) asked the EFCC to allow Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari face his job.

But the anti-graft agency told The Nation that a member of the House of Representatives had offered to surrender for investigation on how $3million was laundered for a governor from the London-Paris Club refund.

The EFCC source did not name Yari, who is also the chairman of the NGF.Of the three suspects wanted in connection with the cash, one has refunded about $500,000.

Also, in another investigation, a governor made about 24 calls to pressurise a consultant to launder N500million into a mortgage firm for him.

The consultant was paid about 0.64 per cent of the N19billion and $86million deducted from the London-Paris Club refund and remitted into two accounts of the NGF.

The House member wrote to the EFCC on June 30, saying he is ready for interrogation. But he pleaded for  one or two weeks to travel overseas.

The EFCC team was expected last night to agree on a date for his appearance subject to the convenience of the lawmaker.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Concerning the ongoing probe of a $3million traced to another governor from the London-Paris Club refunds, EFCC detectives have been able to identify three suspects and two companies.

Two of the suspects are from the same parents. They played key roles on how the cash was laundered.

“Out of the suspects, a serving member of the House of Representatives, who was a former commissioner in a state, has been implicated. He actually went underground and evaded arrest in the past few months.”

Asked of the next step, the source said: “Our immediate target actually is to recover the $3million, seize it under Interim Asset Forfeiture and return the illicit cash to the treasury.

“So far, one of the suspects has refunded $500,000. We are waiting for the House member, who controlled how the cash was wired for the governor, to face our team and tell us the whereabouts of $2.5million balance.

The NGF, in a statement signed by its head of Media and Public Affairs Abulrazque Barkindo, said Yari  had told the EFCC that he owned no land or hotel in Lagos.

Meanwhile, fresh facts emerged yesterday on how a governor routed N500million cash illegally deducted from the London-Paris Club refunds to a mortgage firm.

Another source said: “A track of the transactions showed that following the payment of about 0.64 per cent commission to a consultant, the governor instructed in less than one hour that the cash should be transferred to a mortgage firm.

“In between the transfer process, the EFCC team discovered that the governor made about 24 calls in desperation to see that the cash was paid to the mortgage firm.

“All the call logs of the governor have been traced and it is obvious that he will be arraigned anytime he is out of office.

“But all those he used to siphon the cash are likely to face trial any moment from now.”

The Presidency has released N1. 266.44trillion to the 36 states in the past two years. This includes N713.70billion special intervention funds to states.

Following protest by states against over deductions for external debt service between 1995 and 2002, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of N522.74 billion (first tranche) to states as refund, pending reconciliation of records.

Each state was entitled to a cap of N14.5 billion being 25% of the amounts claimed.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said the payment of the claims will enable states to offset outstanding salaries and pension which had been “causing considerable hardship”.

The governors sought for the refund to states and local governments at a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on May 24, 2016.

source:the nation

Bike accident: LAUTECH loses student

Sorrow gripped the hearts of friends and loved ones on the recently when Adeniyi Hikmat Abidemi  was officially pronounced dead at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso. Hikmat was rushed there after being involved in a serious mobile accident that day.

The tragic incident occurred along the Yoaco road while the deceased Hikmat was in transit from her hostel to a friend’s place at Adenike around 7:00PM.

Accounts from an eyewitness that prefers to remain anonymous has it that the motorcycle which Hikmat was on was violently hit in the rear by a reckless driver that remains as yet unnamed. The hit-and-run driver was driving a red…  The motorcycle was hit so violently that the motorcycle rider and the passenger were thrown off the bike. The bike rider suffered some severe injuries but is presently well on his way to recovery. Hikmat was also badly wounded but before help could arrive and provide her medical attention she passed away.

Friends and loved ones proved inconsolable at the Hospital when the shining light that was Adeniyi Hikmat Abidemi passed away. She was a 300Level student of Accounting, Faculty of Management Sciences in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso. The higher institution of learning has in recent times been plagued with issues resulting in its staff embarking on extended industrial action. One particularly aggrieved friend of the deceased girl was heard moaning and yelling, “This would not have happened if LAUTECH was not on strike. Hikmat would not have been where she was.”

Abidemi was laid to rest at Ilorin yesterday, wednesday at an undisclosed cemetery. Course mates and friends attended the burial en masse to say a final farewell to a bright light gone too soon. In these times of darkness we pray the good Lord console her family, friends and loved ones.

Baale of Magodo ‘kidnapped’

The Baale of Shangisha in Magodo, Lagos Mainland, Chief Mutiu Ogundare was on Wednesday kidnapped by three men along Center for Management Development (CMD) Road, Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

Ogundare was said to have received a telephone from supposed developers, who had indicated interest in a landed property within his domain.

The callers were said to have told the Baale where to meet them, prompting Ogundare to drive to the address with one of his brothers.

On arriving the location, the three men, it was gathered, appealed to the Baale and his brother to join them in their White Toyota Venza vehicle so that they could go check out the land.

But on their way, it was gathered that the Baale’s brother noticed that one of the men had a gun on him and he raised alarm.

It was learnt that the suspected kidnappers pushed him out of the vehicle and sped off with the Baale.

Ogundare’s brother, it was gathered, went to the police station and reported the kidnap.

Contacted, the command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said it was not a kidnap.

He said there has been protracted dispute between Ogundare, one Shittu Lawal and another person.

According to Famous-Cole, it was a case of rivalry between two Baales, adding that investigation had commenced.

He said: “The White Venza had no registration number. They drove to CMD Guest House to meet the people who called that they wanted to check a land. It was there that they joined the suspect’s vehicle on appeal so that they could take them to the land. I cannot say if the Baale has regained freedom unless I receive additional information from the men in the field.”

SHOCKER!! See Photos of 3 Baddo Members That Was Brutality Burnt & Butchered In Ikorodu (Graphic Photos)

Earlier today, three suspected badoo members caught in the early hours of today in Odogunyan Area of Ikorodu and burnt to death.

They were caught in a jeep parked on Oju-Emuren street as our source described, well dressed in suits.

Oil and grinding stone (popular instruments of the badoo gang) and charms were also found in their vehicle.

Angry mob delivered justice on them by killing and burning them along with their jeep.

See photo below

Kaduna trains 138 facilitators, head teachers for quality teaching

The Kaduna State Quality Assurance Board on Sunday said it had trained 68 quality facilitators as part of efforts to ensure quality teaching, learning and management of primary and secondary schools in the state.

The Executive Director of the board, Mrs Maureen Wyom, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

Wyom explained that the 68 facilitators would be responsible for the training of evaluators who would evaluate the quality of teaching and learning in public and private schools in the state.

She said 70 head teachers from the three senatorial districts of the state would also be trained this week on effective school, class and teachers management, as well as stakeholders engagement.

According to her, the training is to instill effective teaching skills in the head teachers and how to engage stakeholders for schools development in the state.

She added that “our goal is to ensure quality teachers in lessons delivery, as well as the quality of leadership in our various schools.

“This is because, sometimes most of these leaders do not know why they are made headmasters or principals.

“Our task is to enlighten them on what is expected of them. We want them to underground that their duty is not just to sit down in the office and be directing teachers.

“They need to know that their primary responsibility is to ensure that teachers are effective, pupils and students are learning smoothly and the school is well managed and in good shape.”

She pointed out that the pupils and students were the main focus during school evaluation to ensure quality.

She, therefore, said that the training focused on three components — the quality of provisions, the impact of leadership and the learning outcome.

According to her, after considering everything put in place in schools, the question is; are pupils and students acquiring any skills that will make them useful citizens?.

“That is why our major concern is whether the pupils and students are learning when we go out on evaluation. Are they acquiring skills? If they are not, then something is wrong. Is the curriculum meeting their needs?

“We also ask if the learning environment is conducive and if the learners are being supported and encouraged. We also ask if the leadership of the schools are working with relevant stakeholders.

“Our desire is to ensure that pupils and students acquire the necessary skills in primary and secondary schools that will prepare them for advanced study.”

The director added that “very soon, the board would release its report on state of education in Kaduna State for government to take necessary action in ensuring quality education system delivery.”