FG, States, LGs Share N581.498 Billion

 

The three tiers of government in the country have shared N581.498 billion as allocation for the month of December, 2013.

A communiqué issued by the Technical Sub-Committee of the Federal Account Allocation Committee, FAAC shows that the distributable revenue for the month was N538,332 billion against N702,541 budgeted for the month and N675,650 billion distributed last month.

This comprised N473,607 billion and N64,725 billion from statutory and Value Added Tax, VAT respectively. The communiqué indicated that there was no augmentation for the month.

Also distributed for the month was N7,617 billion refunded by NNPC and the sum of N35,549 billion from SURE-P from the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P.

NDLEA Discovers Abandoned 9.270kg Of Heroin, Arrests Man With 10.005kg At Lagos Airport

 

A suspected drug syndicate has abandoned 9.270kg of heroin originating from Pakistan at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos.

Sources said that operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, discovered the drug inside an abandoned luggage on the conveyor belt during inward screening of passengers on an Emirate flight.

This came as a 38-year-old auto parts dealer, Ohagwu Ernest Ifeanyi, who attempted to board a Qatar airline flight to China with 735 grammes of heroin which he swallowed was also arrested. The heroin weighing 10.005kg is valued at over N80 million.

NDLEA Commander at the airport, Mr. Hamza Umar who confirmed the story said, “This is a good start for us considering the value of the drug. The heroin seizures comprising 9.270kg imported from Pakistan and 735 grammes ingested by one Ohagwu Ernest Ifeanyi weighed 10.005kg.

“The suspect was arrested following a positive test for drug ingestion.”

Ifeanyi who hails from Enugu State said that he smuggled drugs to recover from a financial loss of N2 million.

He said: “I sell auto parts at Onitsha where I live with my wife and two children. My involvement in drugs was to enable me recover from the N2 million loss I incurred in my business. My friend in China was the one that introduced me into drug trafficking. They were to pay me $2,500. They gave me the heroin to swallow in a hotel room in Lagos but I was arrested at the airport.”

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said that the drug seizure showed there was a rise in the nation’s counter-narcotics campaign. “Drug cartels only abandon their highly valued drugs when it becomes impossible to beat security checks. Besides taking the seized drug out of illicit circulation, we have also prevented the suspect from facing possible death penalty in China for drug trafficking.

Giade stated that; “The Agency will leave no stone unturned in the fight against drug barons.” [Vanguard]

No Region Will Be Marginalized Under My Administration, Says Jonathan

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (R), CONGRATULATING THE CHAIRMAN, ALHAJI ABDULRAHEEM OBA, DURING THE INAUGURATION OF THE BOARD IN ABUJA ON WEDNESDAY (15/01/14)

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday assured that under his watch, no section of the country will feel marginalized in the scheme of things. He also promised that his administration would continue to work hard to ensure that pensioners get their retirement benefits as and when due.

The president gave the assurance inside the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, shortly before the commencement of the first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of the year, while inaugurating chairmen and members of the boards of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) and the Federal Character Commission (FCC).

The President also said his administration would work hard to ensure even distribution in appointments and employment among all sections of the country in line with the federal character principle.

He said, “I assure all Nigerians that under my watch, the Federal Government will give no section of the country any cause to feel excluded.

“That is why I hereby restate my administration’s commitment to continue to support the Federal Character Commission in successfully meeting its vital constitutional responsibilities.

“While ensuring even spread in appointments and employment in the country, government is also mindful of the fate of retirees who have served this great nation. It is therefore of paramount importance to this administration that pensioners receive their retirement benefits as and when due. Negative reports associated with the old system is a cause for concern”, he said.

Professor Shuaibu Oba Abdul-raheem, alongside 24 commissioners, was inaugurated as chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC); while former governor of Bauchi State Adamu Mu’azu, was inaugurated as chairman of the PENCOM.

Other members of the PENCOM are Chinelo O. Anohu-Amazu (South East), Omotowa Reuben Gilbert (North Central), Mohammed Ka’oje Abubakar (North West) and Adesojo O. Olaoba-Efuntayo (South West).

In their separate remarks, Abdul-raheem and Mu’azu, on behalf of their members, expressed appreciation to the president for the appointments and pledged not to disappoint Nigerians in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Sultan Accuses Northern Govs Of Ignoring Advice On Security

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday accused political leaders in the North of slowing down the quest for a peaceful and developed region. He particularly accused northern governors of failing to implement various recommendations by traditional rulers on the way forward for the region, which has been bedeviled by activities of insurgents in recent times.

Speaking at a joint meeting of the Northern Traditional

Rulers Council and Northern Elders Forum (NEF) in Kaduna, the Sultan said the northern governors were yet to act or respond to the position paper presented to them last year by the Council.

According to the Sultan, the traditional institution had been in existence long before the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914, noting that the traditional institution has a strong leadership and vision to see their communities live in peace, remain more developed and more prosperous, therefore, they were in a better position to advise the political leaders.

He said, “In our quest to develop the north because we are northern leaders, first we always try to reach out to our political leaders. I want to put it on record here that, even last year, we presented a position paper to the northern governors forum on the way forward to reduce the suffering of our people by lack of education, by insecurity and all sort of things.

“The paper has been given to them and I want to draw the attention of the northern governors forum that we are yet to hear anything on that paper we gave them. They should reach out to us to brief us so that we can continue to contribute on how really to sustain the peace and develop the north.

“We are here to continue our deliberations in our quest to have a peaceful, stable and developed north, as most of you know, in the days of Ahmadu Bello of blessed memory, things were much better than they are now.

“In our quest to have a stable and developed north, we keep up looking to all and sundry, most importantly, look up to our political leaders because they have the leading mandate to administer the north.

“Now, before the present democratic dispensation, traditional institutions have been there. Long before Nigeria was amalgamated, traditional leaders have been ruling and leading people. Today, we have our governors and other political office holders and elders here.

“I want to assure all and sundry that the northern traditional institutions do not have a political party but we are the administrators of our people. Not having a political party does not mean we will not tell our political leaders the truth when they go off the road. We will tell them where they are going wrong when we see it and tell them what to do to bring development to our people. When we give such advice, we will be very happy because we have done our responsibilities.

“If we give them the advice, it is left to them to either accept our advice or not. While we are giving advice, we can always contribute rightly to the development and peaceful coexistence of people in our various places. I want to assure you once again that we don’t have political party. Our political party is the welfare of our people wherever they are and that is our concern and nothing more.

“I read some of the Shehu Danfodio’s literature where he said since the welfare of your people is more important than the use of force, You cannot use force to develop or move people forward. If you take care of their welfare, you will find out that they are always ready to do their best to move the society forward.

“I believe this meeting is very important coming at the time when we have so much challenges in form of insecurity in the north in particular. We all see what happened yesterday in Borno and Bama. When you go to Bama, you will virtually see that there is nobody in the street.

“I think it is important for us to always look ahead to plan into the future. After our meeting and hearing from our northern elders, we will issue a communique that will still be sent to the governors forum because they are our political leaders.

“We are administrators and we will continue doing our best, Insha Allah in our quest for the political leaders to achieve designed goals of our people which is good leadership as they always ask where are the Sardaunas of today. We should also know that we are going to account to Allah our actions as leaders on the D-day. Our political leaders must fear Allah in their dealings with the people”.

Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum and governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, said Nigeria was passing through one of the most turbulent times in its history as a nation.

Aliyu, who was represented by his deputy, Ahmed Musa Ibeto, said political and electoral tension, social and economic insecurity, communal conflicts and civil unrest had reached unprecedented levels in the country, requiring the collective dedication of all Nigerians to address.

Also speaking at the event, Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State, said: “It is obvious that the present arrangement which places huge expectations on traditional rulers, without any Constitutional or legal provision, has to be changed. The responsibilities, powers and obligations of traditional institutions must be clearly defined by law and some of us are willing to support such move, anytime the issue is up for debate.

“Consequently, I believe it is time to consider an official role for our traditional institutions. Invariably, I am of the notion that the ongoing Constitution Amendment process and the proposed National Conference, has availed us viable platforms for exhaustive debate on ways to legally engage traditional leaders in the process of building a peaceful and prosperous nation”.

Rivers Crisis: Jonathan, IG Will Be Held Accountable If Democracy Fails – Tsav

A former police commissioner in Lagos State, Abubakar Tsav, yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar will be held accountable if the current democracy fails.

Tsav, who berated Jonathan and the IGP over their attitude towards the alleged shooting of Senator Magus Abe in Rivers State, recalled that a similar incident happened in the Second Republic.

He said during that period, Mohammed Goni, Abubakar Rimi and Jim Nwobodo, governors of Borno, Kano and Anambra States respectively, “faced the kind of problem [Rotimi] Amaechi is facing with the police commissioner in his state.

“We had the same situation in Borno between then Governor Goni and Commissioner of Police Atahiru Jidda; in Kano, between Abubakar Rimi and CP Sani Wali; and in Anambra, between Governor Nwobodo and CP Eiyetene. The consequences of these are well known to us. That democracy did not survive. The president and the IGP must realize that they will be held responsible if this democracy fails. The president and the IGP have continually maintained sealed lips over the constant use of armed policemen to frustrate lawful gatherings in Rivers State”, he said.

The former police boss, therefore, called on good spirited Nigerians to stand up against what he called “evil”, and to lawfully demand explanations from the president and the IGP, for their “worrying silence in the face of obvious violation and r*pe of the country’s constitution, with impunity”.

Court Orders Teenager To Be Subjected To 12 Strokes Of Cane For Theft

An Abuja Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday ordered that a 19-year-old boy, Isaiah Sunday, be flogged 12 strokes of the cane for theft.

The Senior Magistrate, Shafa Aliyu, ordered that the convict be flogged after he pleaded guilty on a one-count charge of stealing.

Aliyu said that the punishment would serve as deterrent to others, “besides, he is a young boy and the complainant has forgiven him,’’ Aliyu said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police executed the public flogging of the teenager after the judgment.

Earlier, Prosecutor Udeh David told the court that Ntibuka Linda of No. 22 Majekodumi Street, Utako, Abuja, reported the case at Wuse Police Station.

David said that the complainant came back from a journey on Jan. 5 to discover that the convict had entered her apartment.

He said the convict stole N18, 000, one curve 4 blackberry phone, one touch light Nokia phone and one carton of Indomie noodles.

The prosecutor said during the investigation the Nokia and Blackberry phones were recovered from the convict and the complainant forgave the accused.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 289 of the Penal Code.

Sunday pleaded guilty to the charge and pleaded for forgiveness.

`My lord, forgive me. She called me on phone to warm her generator and then I saw the key to her room.

“I opened the room and took only N4, 000 not N18, 000. I used the money to buy one Polo shirt and spent the balance. (NAN)

NHRC Constitutes Panel Of Inquiry To Probe Alleged Training Of Snipers

 

A five-man panel of inquiry was, yesterday constituted by the Governing Council of National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, to probe the allegation by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that President Goodluck Jonathan was training snipers and had placed 1,000 political opponents on his watch list.

In a communique at the end of its extraordinary meeting in Abuja, the council said that in line with the provision of Section 6(3) of the National Human Rights Commission Act (as amended), its investigation into the allegation against President Jonathan would not be subject to the direction or control of any other authority or person.

Describing the content of the 18 paged letter of Obasanjo vis-à-vis the allegations contained therein as “weighty and grave,” the Council, said it concluded that the letter raised issues of serious and systematic violations of the rights to life, access to fair hearing and justice, personal liberty, safety and security, equality before the law and the prohibition against discrimination.

Consequently, the Chairman of the Council, Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu is to head the probe panel while the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Professor Bem Angwe, Mrs. Eugenia Abu, D.O.C Ezeigwe, and Alhaji Ibrahim Nikau would serve as members of the panel.

Similarly, the NHRC, constituted another three-man panel to undertake a verification mission into Rivers State with a mandate to identify and verify facts and actors involved in the ongoing crisis in the state and any violation of human rights connected therewith.

The panel which has Mr. Kayode Komolafe as its Chairman, Mrs. Rita Ifeyinwa Njokanmma and Mr. Eric Bell-Gam as members, was further empowered by the Council to recommend any interim measures to ameliorate or prevent further escalation of the situation in Rivers State into serious or massive violations of human rights, as well as, undertake any other or further tasks related to or necessarily incidental to the foregoing.

“Council considered the referral transmitted to the Commission by the Honorable Attorney-General of the Federation, and Minister of Justice on December 23, 2013 in relation to allegations contained in recent correspondence between former President Obasanjo and President Jonathan.

“In taking cognizance of the HAGF’s referral, Council made it clear that Rule 79(2)(e) of the Standing Orders and Rules of Procedure the Commission provide for the HAGF or Attorneys-General of States to refer appropriate cases to the Commission.

“Council is at all times guided also by the provision of Section 6(3) of the National Human Rights Commission Act (as amended) that “in exercising its functions and powers under this Act, the Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other authority or person.

“Council considered the allegations contained in the transmission from the HAGF to be quite weighty and grave and concluded that they raise issues of serious and systematic violations of the rights to life, access to fair hearing and justice, personal liberty, safety and security, equality before the law and the prohibition against discrimination.

“Following comprehensive deliberations, Council decided, in exercise of its powers under Sections 5 and 6 of the NHRC Act (as amended) and in accordance with Rule 79(2)(a), (c) and (e) of the Standing Orders and Rules of Procedure of the Commission to constitute a panel to inquire into the following:

“Whether or not there is or has been state-sponsored killings or assassinations in Nigeria at any time since November 1995 to date; if so, what organisations, institutions, agencies or persons were or are involved in or affected by such killings; whether there is or has been at any time since November 1995, a list of persons to be targeted for watching or for such killings; if, in any of such cases, the perpetrators, known or unknown, were brought to justice or assisted, facilitated or helped by any persons or institutions to evade justice; whether the victims of any such killings were or have been afforded access to truth or to effective remedies; and undertake any other or further tasks related to or necessarily incidental to the foregoing.

“Council authorized the Executive Secretariat of the Commission to immediately issue an invitation or call for memoranda on the above-indicated terms of reference.

“Council decided that this inquiry shall be public. A calendar and schedule for the public sittings of the inquiry shall be announced once the Commission determines.

“Council also considered the deepening crisis in Rivers State and concluded that the situation calls for urgent action to verify the facts and stem any further deterioration.

“Accordingly, Council constituted a panel to undertake a verification mission into Rivers State as follows: Mr. Komolafe, Chair, Mrs. Njokanmma, Mr. Bell-Gam.

“The Verification Mission to Rivers State shall: identify and verify the facts and actors involved in the ongoing crisis in Rivers State and any violations of human rights connected therewith; identify and interact with all parties or actors connected with or affected by the crisis; recommend any interim measures to ameliorate or prevent further escalation of the situation in Rivers State into serious or massive violations of human rights; and undertake any other or further tasks related to or necessarily incidental to the foregoing.

“Council authorised the verification mission to work on an expedited time scale and report back to the next regular meeting of Council before the end of February 2014,” the communiqué said.