Government money will not be used for my campaign- President Buhari

President Buhari today reiterated his commitment to eliminate corruption in campaign financing in the country, pledging that he will not authorise the use of any money from the treasury for his re-election campaign.

Speaking at the close of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, President Buhari directed cabinet ministers to take advantage of technology to reach out to voters on the need to return the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration in next month’s general elections.

“As political parties spread their ideologies and views to every nook and corner of the country, the issue of cash payment to voters and its corrupting influence in electioneering has once again become a topical issue. Try and use text and multi-media messages to seek votes for the party and government. ‘There is no money from the treasury for use in the campaigns. I will not authorize that,” he said.

President Buhari declared that the APC-led administration has a clear development agenda best suited to take Nigeria forward and sustain economic development.

‘‘This message needs to be taken to all Nigerians but we cannot use money from the treasury to share out to prospective voters. Nigerians want change and we alone can deliver that change. Our people can no longer be swayed by money politics,’’ he said.

Photo: CAC Pastor arrested for allegedly impregnating 16-year-old girl in Ondo

 A pastor at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Ondo state, Josiah Akinsuyi pictured above, has been arrested by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC, for allegedly sexually assaulting and impregnating a 16-year-old girl in Abusoro, Ijoka area of Akure, the state capital.

Parading the suspect before newsmen, the state Commandant of NSCDC, Pedro Awili, said Akinsuyi's act was brought to light after the victim confessed to her father that she is four months pregnant and that the pastor is responsible for her pregnancy. The victim and her parents were taking refuge in the church building when the pastor seduced her and started sleeping with her.

The NSCDC commandant said the pastor who was transferred to the church last year was introduced to the girl by one Sunday Babatunde, who had also been sleeping with the girl. He added that one of the sisters of the victim knew about the development and from the investigation of the command, the girl’s sister had to intervene before the victim could cooperate with the pastor.

“Our investigation revealed that the pastor has been sleeping with the young girl for some time. A pregnancy test had been conducted which confirmed that the girl is four months pregnant. We also discovered one of the elder sisters of the girl knew about the whole development. It was gathered that the young girl rejected the Akinsuyi overtures the first time he talked to the girl but her elder sister intervened, urging the young girl to cooperate with the pastor and she has been sleeping with her since then. The young girl said the man has been sleeping with her in the classroom of one private school owned by Pastor Akinsuyi’s wife. Though the pastor denied having any intercourse with the girl”

The pastor denied the allegation, saying it was a calculated attempt to smear his image. He denied having sex with the girl.

The matter has been handed over to the police and further investigations is being conducted.

President Buhari's government is corrupt - Bukola Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki has said that President Buhari’s government has lost its moral ground in the fight against corruption because of corrupt practices within the administration.  

Saraki in an exclusive interview with Channels Television said the Buhari-led government came in on a promise to oust corruption but have rather allowed a new set of corrupt officials to thrive. Saraki said there is no way the present government can be speaking of integrity when it has “a member who has been found wanting, left without charge or prosecution”.

According to Saraki, in 2015 the Jonathan administration was ousted on three major promises which are: security, economic growth and the fight against corruption. The lawmaker, however, opined that “Nigerians are not better off today than they were in 2015”.

He said that Boko Haram insurgency has worsened, in that “more territories are being lost”.

Speaking about the economic situation in the country, the Senate President said: “creation of more jobs has failed”. He also added that Nigeria has dropped to a very disturbing position on the poverty chart.

Regarding the pace of the PDP campaign, Saraki said the steam has not fizzled out for the opposition party. He, however, noted that the environment has become very different and hostile under the All Progressives Congress.

 “the people are more edgy because of the intolerance of the government”, citing the arrest of Deji Adeyanju. The Senate President further noted that there is no issue within the PDP, arguing that the opposition presidential candidate has the full backing of all members and stands a great chance against President Muhammadu Buhari. he said

Saraki also alleged that there is massive fraud within the oil sector saying, 'applying subsidy on assumption that Nigeria consumes fifty million litres (50million litres) of fuel a day, is fraudulent.

Saraki said in the Jonathan administration subsidy was based on an assumption that the nation consumes 30million litres of fuel daily. He added that he and some other lawmakers warned that the Jonathan government was condoning corruption “by over importing fuel and because of that we were losing a lot of money”.

The Senate President said the present government instead of changing the process, jerked up the importation by 20 million litres extra.  He said, “you would have thought that a government that was to fight corruption and prevent leakages would even if you are going to continue subsidy, ensure that it is better managed.”  

Saraki added that there is no way Nigerians can consume 50million litres a day, “it is just money being stolen,” he alleged. He further argued that there is almost no way that President Muhammadu Buhari is not aware of what is going on within his government, stressing that the Senate has investigated the issue but “we have an environment where agencies of government are emboldened to disregard the National Assembly, it is a big issue”.

APC keeps accepting PDP 'moles' into their party; How do they think I got the #AmaechiTapes? - Reno Omokri

Politics is such an interesting game. Now, Reno Omokri is claiming that the recent defections from PDP to APC may not be plain.

In a tweet this morning, he said, 'how do they think I got the #AmaechiTapes. Anyway, let them just keep accepting fifth columnists and revealing their secrets to them. Those ones may or may not tell me'.

Update: Teacher suspended over disturbing photo of black pupils allocated a table away from their white classmates in SA

A teacher from Laerskool Schweizer-Reneke in the North West in South Africa has been suspended following the outrage over a photo she allegedly took of black pupils seated separately from their white classmates on their first day of school.

The announcement was made by the North West department of education during a meeting at the school following the online outrage and demonstrations by the community and political groups at the school.

According to Timeslive, the department confirmed that the teacher had been suspended with immediate effect.

Photos: Popular pastor arrested in Kogi for killing commercial sex worker for ritual; beheaded, chopped off her hands and legs

A popular Pastor of the Celestine Church in Ozuri, Adavi Local government area of Kogi State,  Shegun has been arrested for allegedly killing a sex hawker for ritual purposes.

The Senior Assistant on Media and Publicity to Adavi LGA, Jimoh Habib, who confirmed the incident, said the sex worker, from Benue State worked at a popular hotel in the area called Hollywood.

 

The pastor was apprehended alongside his accomplice, Mike and Stephen, who claimed to be his boys and church members in the early hours of Thursday, June 21.

The D.P.O of Police, who led the Administrator, Hon Joseph Omuya Salami, accompanied with some of his political appointees, the Media team and the APC Campaign chairman in Adavi LGA, Hon. Osundo to the crime scene, said the suspect beheaded the victim, severed the hand, leg as well as the head and buried the decapitated body some where closed to his church.

"When the Administrator and the D.P.O as well as his entourage got to the scene at Ozuri community, Hundreds of residents of the area trooped out to catch a glance of the incident .

The Administrator of Adavi LG, Hon Joseph Omuya Salami, described the act as the highest lever of wickedness, stressing that “man killing man” is an abomination, said ritual killing is in non biblical, unacceptable and should be totally condemned, and anyone that involved in such act must pay the price by law, he added.

He further lauded the effort of the D.P.O and the security agencies of the state ,for the efforts they have put to apprehend the suspects."

9 Killed In Fresh Attack On Taraba Community

The Taraba State Police Command on Wednesday, May 10, confirmed the death of nine persons in early morning attacks on Tutuwa community in Ussa Local Government Area of the State.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, David Misal, told newsmen that a yet-to-be identified armed militia must have carried out the deadly attack.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Misal said Aliyu Tafida, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of the command, and heads of other security agencies in the state had already moved in to assess the situation.

Rimansikwe Karma, the Chairman of Ussa Local Government Council, while also confirming the attack to newsmen, added that three people were injured.

Mr Karma said that the attackers rounded up the village at about 5 a.m. and launched the attack when members of the community were going for early morning prayers.

His words: “Every Wednesday morning, the community conducts mid-week service and most of them were on their way, when the armed militia attacked them.

“Nine persons were killed and three others sustained life threatening injuries and are currently receiving treatment at Takum General Hospital.

“The unfortunate thing is that the attackers left before the arrival of security personnel.”

Fulani Herdsmen Attack Passengers On Their Way To Kaduna, Rob, Rape Women (Pics)

A Nigerian pastor Chima Lawrence has taken to Facebook to share the story of how herdsmen attacked and robbed them on their way way to Kaduna last week.According to him,they took away their valuables and also raped women.Below is what he wrote...

'Thank God for saving my life after a horrifying attack by herdsmen on our way to Kaduna. They robbed us, raped women and took away our monies and other valuables'.

'In a hospital in Kaduna receiving treatment from multi knife cuts and stabbing during the herdsmen attack last saturday'

NYSC Increases Corpers' Transport Allowance

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced the increase in transport and local allowances of corps members during orientation programmes.

This was disclosed in a statement by Director Press and Publications department of the scheme, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi.

Adeyemi said 2018 Batch ‘A’ corps members lauded the increase when the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Suleiman Kazaure visited the Ebonyi State Orientation Camp.

“The transport allowance for each corps member has been increased from N1,500 to N1,800, while the local allowance is now N1,400 up from N1,000.

“Kazaure said the increase was in line with the Federal Government’s approved minimum wage for Civil Servants,” Adeyemi added.

Police Arrest Senator Dino Melaye

Senator Dino Melaye, lawmaker  representing Kogi West was arrested by security operatives on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The senator announced his arrest via his twitter handle.

This website had earlier reported that Senator Melaye had been declared wanted for allegations on gun running and placed them on the Interpol's watch-list along with Mohammed Audu, son of late former governor of Kogi State.

Melaye tweeted: “I have just been arrested at the international wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport on my way to Morocco for an official engagement sponsored by the Federal Govt after checking in.”

He also tweeted “Stopped from traveling and under arrest. No retreat no surrender. Talk we must.”

‘Lazy Nigerian youths’: Senator Bruce blasts Buhari, says president delivering chains not promises

Senator Ben Murray Bruce, from Bayelsa East has reacted to the recent remark by President Buhari where he described Nigerian youths as lazy.

Buhari, while speaking at the Commonwealth Business Forum in London last week, had said most Nigerian youths want everything free within a statement, the business mogul said the president had delivered chains rather than his campaign promises.

Faulting the remark, Bruce said Buhari forgot how those he called lazy youths voted for him during the last election.

He said, “Instead of finding out why young Nigerian professionals are migrating in droves to countries like Canada, President Buhari calls them lazy.

“The ironic thing is that many of them queued up for hours under hot Savannah sun to vote in a man who promised change but delivered chains!

“There is no way President Buhari, father of the Nigerian nation in every sense of the word, who equally has biological children of his own in the youths age bracket, pass a vote of no confidence on all youths. It can only exist in the imagination of those who play what the President has described as “irresponsible politics” with everything.

“President Buhari has always applauded and celebrated Nigerian youths who excel in different areas of endeavour, from sports, to academia, and other realms. And he will continue to do so, because he values the youths, and knows that they are the fulcrum on which the future of the country rests.

“Indeed, every country has its share of idle population, and it is the bounden duty of government at all levels, to create an enabling environment for them to actualize their potentials.

“It is futile for mischief makers to lie in wait, and take a minor part of the words of the President, and turn it into negative commentary, peradventure they could diminish the profile of the President.

“Nigerians across all walks of life know who is serving them faithfully and truly, and they will always reciprocate such fidelity as occasions demand.”

Gunmen abduct Catholic priest in Edo State

 

Unknown gunmen on Wednesday kidnapped Rev. Fr. Edwin Omorogbe, of St. Paul's Catholic Church Benin City, Edo State.

According to reports, the priest was abducted along Benin Ekpoma Road, on his way from Uromi.

Photos of Biafra agitators protesting in London as President Buhari meets the Queen

 

Today, a group of Biafra agitators protested at Pall Mall Street, Westminster just a few metres from Buckingham Palace, London where Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari met with the Queen of England and other Heads of state at the Commonwealth head of governments.

The protesters were seen carrying placards with different inscriptions, demanding the whereabouts of Nnamdi Kanu, the missing leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra as well as calling for a referendum.

See photos below

OAU Sex Scandal: Accused Professor Goes Into Hiding

Professor Richard Akindele, a lecturer in the Department of Management and Accounting of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, who was allegedly heard in an audio recording which has now gone viral demanding for sex to pass a student has gone into hiding.

The audio recording of the professor seeking to have sex with a student five times in exchange for mark was released on April 9 and has been trending since then.

Prof. Richard, who is also a priest in the Anglican Church has since deleted his Facebook account, it was gathered.

All efforts to reach him via his personal telephone number have been abortive.

The male voice in the audio recording demanding sex to pass a female student has also been identified by members of the Anglican Diocese of Ife, Osun State who have spoken to journalists on the issue.

It was also gathered from investigations that the lady who spoke with him is a final year student, who had failed a course taught by the lecturer.

The lecturer, who is yet to react to the issue had also been unavailable at his office since the release of the audio recording.

Sahara Reporters had earlier reported that the management of OAU had released a statement, saying that they are conducting an investigation into the matter and will take the necessary actions to reprimand the lecturer.

Nigerian Govt Releases 'Teaser List of PDP Looters'

The All Progressives Congress, APC Federal Government of Nigeria had released the list of members of  Peoples Democratic Party who allegedly looted funds from the national treasury in the 16 years the opposition party was in power.

PDP which ruled Nigeria from 1999 to 2015 had yesterday challenged Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to prove his repeated claims that members of the party stole the country blind when they were in power by naming those involved in the theft of national resources.  

Taking up the challenge, the Minister of Information and Culture, in a statement released on Friday said, “The PDP has challenged us to name the looters under their watch. They said they did not loot the treasury. Well, I am sure they know that the treasury was looted dry under their watch. Yet they decided to grandstand. This shows the hollowness of their apology to Nigerians. 

The Minister then proceeded to name PDP members and how much they looted from the treasury in the “teaser list” below

1. PDP CHAIRMAN UCHE SECONDUS

- On the 19th of Feb 2015, he took N200 million only from the office of the then NSA

2. Then PDP Financial Secretary

- On the 24th of Oct 2014, he took N600 million only from the office of the then NSA

3.  Then National Publicity Secretary Olisah Metuh

- On trial for collecting N1.4b from the office of then NSA

4.  Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman of DAAR Communications

- On trial for taking N2.1 billion from the office of then NSA

5. Former SSA to President Jonathan, Dudafa Waripamo-Owei

- On trial over N830 million kept in accounts of four different companies

6   Former President Jonathan's Cousin Robert Azibaola

- On Thursday, a Federal High Court ruled that he has a case to answer for collecting $40 million from the office of then NSA

“This list is just a tip of the iceberg, and the PDP is aware of this. We did not make these cases up. Many of these cases are in court and the records are available.

“Some of the people on this list are seeking to plea bargain, and that is a fact. We insist that Nigeria was looted blind under the watch of the PDP, and that the starting point in tendering an apology is for them to return the loot.

“It's like a robber admitting to stealing your car and apologizing, but  then saying he will keep the car anyway. It doesn't work that way. The PDP is a hypocrite. And that reminds me of what English writer

“William Hazlitt said: ''The only vice that cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy. The repentance of a hypocrite is itself hypocrisy.''

“We will not stop talking about the massive looting by the PDP. They brought Nigeria to this sorry pass. We are now looking around for loans to build infrastructure, and they ask us not to talk about it. we will talk about it,” said Mohammed.

Herdsmen killings: Benue cancels mass burial

The Government of Benue State has cancelled the planned mass burial for victims of Fulani herdsmen attack in Okpokwu area of the state.

The Government initially planned to hold mass burial for the 24 victims of the Omusu Edimoga herdsmen attack on Friday.

Governor Samuel Ortom made the announcement for the burial during his visit to Omusu Edimoga in Okpokwu Local Government Area of the state, where the attack took place on Monday, March 5, 2018.

The herdsmen were said to have invaded the community between 2pm and 3pm on the said day, following an earlier allegation that villagers had stolen some of their cattle.

Some children who were killed during the incident were said to be returning from school.

Twenty four persons were said to have been killed during the attack which left many people injured and several persons missing.

In a press statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, the governor said, “There wouldn’t be mass burial of victims of Fulani herdsmen attacks in Okpokwu.”

No reason was given for the cancellation of the mass burial.

The statement added that the burial will now take place next week Thursday.

The statement statement said, “A church service, followed by burial of the victims, will take place on Thursday, next week at Okpokwu.”

35 Out Of 36 Nigerian States Owing Workers Salaries - Trade Union President

The President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Mr. Bobboi Kaigama, has revealed that 36 out of the 36 states in Nigeria are owing their workers salaries despite the billions of Paris Club refunds they have received from the Federal government.

Mr. Kaigama made this disclosure at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union held in Lagos on Thursday.

The trade union president warned against conversion of money meant for salaries as well and other benefits of workers into electioneering expenditure by state governments.

Mr. Kaigama concluded that corruption is what has made governors to owe workers.

“We want to say without fear of contradiction that the only healthy state in this country that has no arrears of salaries and other wages or unpaid benefits is Lagos State. All the other states have one issue or the other in terms of salaries, wages or benefits of their workers that have not been paid. There is no exception.

“You will find out that, if it is not one month’s salary that is not paid, it would be 13 months of gratuities or pensions that have not been paid. Or that contributory pension deductions are not being remitted or that there are certain promotion arrears and death benefits that have not been paid. So, I am telling you, taking this issue holistically, we can only say Lagos State is the only healthy state in this country.”

“We keep saying that, if state governors cannot meet their obligations to their workers, they should just resign and leave the stage. We have continued to argue that, apart from the first generation states that were created by the military, there is no state that was created thereafter that did not have its submission that the state had the capacity to pay the wages of the workers in the state and other things.”

The union president reasoned that regional government might be the way forward for the country as the labour force has lost confidence in the current structure, particularly at state level.

He said; “So, if it is just for the purposes of payment of salaries, no other developmental issues like infrastructure, health facilities, roads, rails transportation and so on, we are better off with regional government”.

UNICEF Doctor, 4 Nigerian Soldiers, 3 Aid Workers Killed and 3 Aid Workers Abducted As Boko Haram Stage Massive Attack On Rann In Borno

Nigerian troops suffered a massive setback in the war against terrorism as Boko Haram terrorists sprung a surprise attack on Rann killing at least a dozen people and injuring several others.

A security source told Saharareporters that the terror group stormed military base of the 3rd  Battalion in Rann headquarters of Kala-Balge on Thursday at about 6 pm and engaged in a gun duel that lasted for 5 hours. The terror group also abducted three aid workers (2 from ICRC clinic team and 1 from UNICEF) in addition to killing a UNICEF doctor, and two workers from the International Organization for Migration

On the military side, the terror group abducted at least three soldiers, killed three Mobile Policemen attached to an internally displaced person camp and made away with a military truck and an Armored personnel carrier belonging to the Nigerian army.

Rann is a small town in Borno State, Northeastern Nigeria, and a home to a camp for internally displaced people. In January 2017, a Nigerian military jet mistakenly bombed a refugee camp, killing more than 100 people.

Many civilians including personnel of International Committee of the Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) were wounded in the attack.

Soldiers Arrest Fulani Herdsmen Planning Attack On Benue Community

Military authority in Makurdi, Benue State, on Thursday said that it had arrested two suspected Fulani militia who were about to attack Gov. Samuel Ortom’s fish farm and other villages in Guma Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations 707 Special Force Brigade, Nigeria Army, Major Olabisi Ayeni, said that the suspects were arrested on Tuesday while the troops were on a routine patrol along Gbamjiba- Iyiodeh road in Guma Local Government Area.

“The militia who were suspected to be converging, possibly for an attack on Governor Ortom’s fish farm and other innocent citizens were about to be approached for questioning when they opened fire on the troops who later engaged them.

“The violent herdsmen who also fought back was at the same time trying to withdraw.

“The Special Forces Operators intensified their pursuit and succeeded in arresting two of them while others fled in disarray.

“The herdsmen had since been handed over to the police,” the military spokesman said.

Punchng

Senate To Buhari: Nominate Magu’s Replacement For EFCC

The Senate on Thursday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to nominate a replacement for the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, in line with the verdict of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which affirmed its powers to confirm or reject the President’s appointments.

The upper chamber vowed not to consider the President’s confirmation requests until its resolution rejecting the appointment of Magu was complied with.

The judgement delivered by Justice J.I. Tsoho on January 15 said the Senate has statutory duty to confirm appointments referred to it by the President.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliu Sabi Abdullahi, who briefed journalists on the court verdict said:

“By this (court) judgement, for those who have been worried that the Monetary Policy Committee never met, I think this is a window for the MPC to see the light in meeting.

“If the Executive does the needful, provide another Nigerian of credible character of which we have millions of them – 180 million of them – even by arithmetic error, we should be able to get good people.

“So, it is our hope and prayer that our amiable President will find this judgement in order and will be submitting very soon another nominee to carry on with the good work of anti-corruption, especially now that we are very proud of him as the African Union Anti-Corruption Ambassador.”

Abdullahi recalled that the Senate rejected Magu’s nomination as EFCC chairman twice.

He noted that the then Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, was reported to have said the Senate lacks the power to confirm Magu in the first place.

“The issue was taken to the floor of the Senate and we resolved that the statement has to be withdrawn or we will take it that we will not confirm any other person except those expressly listed in the Constitution,” he said.

Abdullahi said that the issue was taken to court by Oluwatosin Ojaomo Esq for the court to determine.

He noted that judgement has been given that the Senate has the power to confirm presidential nominees.

“In fact the internment of the law is that we should not be a rubber stamp,” he said.