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The ship was forced to return to Europe and 254 of the refugees later died in concentration camps.

 

Aggrieved youth from Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have protested over the continued abandonment of projects by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The youth were armed with placard bearing different inscriptions such as 'NDDC Is A Scam', 'Govt Has Failed Us', 'OSOPADEC Is A Scam', 'NDDC Is A Curse To Ilaje', 'Make Our Schools Affordable', among others.

The protesters paralysed activities at office of the NDDC and sealed off the main gate with charms to prevent staff from entering the entrance.

Chanting solidarity songs, the youth complained that lots of "multi-billion naira projects" are currently littering the oil-producing communities and being abandoned by the NDDC.

Juliet Ehinmowo, the leader of the protestors, decried the high number of projects abandoned by the NDDC in Ilaje community and noted that it has hampered development.

Ehinmowo spoke about the need for the Federal Government to critically probe the activities of NDDC in Ilaje communities.

"The NDDC has been a curse to the people of Ilaje and not a blessing as our communities are on the brink of extinction because of the persistence of the sea incursions," she said.

"What the NDCC only does in Ilaje is to erect signposts with the inscription of multiple billion naira contracts and they have turned Ilaje to a dungeon by littering our land with so many ghost projects.

"So many abandoned projects every where. When you see documentaries in the media, you would notice that Ilaje community is nowhere to be found on list of completed projects. NDDC has not done any meaningful project in Ilaje for years and yet our people are suffering. Our land is not good for farming and that is why we into fishing.

"We are using this period to tell the FG to call the commission to order and let them come to our land and develop the community. We can't continue to open our eyes and leave our land to be destroyed by the sea incursions and untowards attitude by the NDDC."

Earlier, Comrade Bola Iwaloye, one of the protestors, disclosed that no project carried out by the NDDC had ever been completed in the oil-rich communities.

He said that the youth in the communities have given those representing the board of NDDC the time to do the needful or see their wrath.

"Those people who are representing us on the board of the NDDC should do the needful and if they fail to do it. They would see the wrath of the masses of the Ilaje people," he said. "We are also begging the Federal government and even the EFCC to look into the activities of the NDDC in Ilaje Local Government because the commission is not working."

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Aggrieved youth from Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have protested over the continued abandonment of projects by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The youth were armed with placard bearing different inscriptions such as 'NDDC Is A Scam', 'Govt Has Failed Us', 'OSOPADEC Is A Scam', 'NDDC Is A Curse To Ilaje', 'Make Our Schools Affordable', among others.

The protesters paralysed activities at office of the NDDC and sealed off the main gate with charms to prevent staff from entering the entrance.

Chanting solidarity songs, the youth complained that lots of "multi-billion naira projects" are currently littering the oil-producing communities and being abandoned by the NDDC.

Juliet Ehinmowo, the leader of the protestors, decried the high number of projects abandoned by the NDDC in Ilaje community and noted that it has hampered development.

Ehinmowo spoke about the need for the Federal Government to critically probe the activities of NDDC in Ilaje communities.

"The NDDC has been a curse to the people of Ilaje and not a blessing as our communities are on the brink of extinction because of the persistence of the sea incursions," she said.

"What the NDCC only does in Ilaje is to erect signposts with the inscription of multiple billion naira contracts and they have turned Ilaje to a dungeon by littering our land with so many ghost projects.

"So many abandoned projects every where. When you see documentaries in the media, you would notice that Ilaje community is nowhere to be found on list of completed projects. NDDC has not done any meaningful project in Ilaje for years and yet our people are suffering. Our land is not good for farming and that is why we into fishing.

"We are using this period to tell the FG to call the commission to order and let them come to our land and develop the community. We can't continue to open our eyes and leave our land to be destroyed by the sea incursions and untowards attitude by the NDDC."

Earlier, Comrade Bola Iwaloye, one of the protestors, disclosed that no project carried out by the NDDC had ever been completed in the oil-rich communities.

He said that the youth in the communities have given those representing the board of NDDC the time to do the needful or see their wrath.

"Those people who are representing us on the board of the NDDC should do the needful and if they fail to do it. They would see the wrath of the masses of the Ilaje people," he said. "We are also begging the Federal government and even the EFCC to look into the activities of the NDDC in Ilaje Local Government because the commission is not working."

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Inspector Kadima Useni, an officer caught on camera while drunk, has been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force.

According to the Force, he was dismissed for "conducts unbecoming of a law enforcement officer".

A video of him drunk at Akowonjo Area of Lagos State went viral on social media on Wednesday.

Useni served at the Police Mobile Force Squadron Base 22 Ikeja before he was dismissed.

News of his dismissal was disclosed via a tweet by the Rapid Response Squad that read: "A drunken police man who was caught on an online viral video has been dismissed by Inspector General of Police, IGP Idris Ibrahim, for conducts unbecoming of a law enforcement officer. Inspector Kadima Useni who got drunk at Akowonjo Area of Lagos served at Police Mobile Force Squadron Base 22 Ikeja before his dismissal which would serve as a deterrent to others".

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Inspector Kadima Useni, an officer caught on camera while drunk, has been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force.

According to the Force, he was dismissed for "conducts unbecoming of a law enforcement officer".

A video of him drunk at Akowonjo Area of Lagos State went viral on social media on Wednesday.

Useni served at the Police Mobile Force Squadron Base 22 Ikeja before he was dismissed.

News of his dismissal was disclosed via a tweet by the Rapid Response Squad that read: "A drunken police man who was caught on an online viral video has been dismissed by Inspector General of Police, IGP Idris Ibrahim, for conducts unbecoming of a law enforcement officer. Inspector Kadima Useni who got drunk at Akowonjo Area of Lagos served at Police Mobile Force Squadron Base 22 Ikeja before his dismissal which would serve as a deterrent to others".

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Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Wednesday vowed to release video footages of how his house was invaded by alleged assassins on Tuesday.

Ekweremadu said he would release the video if the Police fail to withdraw their claim that what happened in his house was a mere case of burglary.

After the plenary on Wednesday, the Senate resolved to ask the Police to conduct a deep investigation of the alleged assassination attempt on Ekweremadu, his wife and son in the early hours of Tuesday.

Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial District, blamed the Police for not investigating the case properly before reaching a conclusion.

"The Police adopted a very myopic, porous and intellectually stagnant approach to a very serious matter. To start with, burglary is not mere. Anyone who is engaged in burglary has satanic intention. It is burglary that leads to assassination," Melaye said.

“To come out and say its mere burglary shows that the Nigeria Police has identified some individuals that no matter what happen, we will not get their service. If this has happened to one of the faithful of Mr President, this will not be the reaction of the Inspector-General of Police. If this has happened to one of the close friends of the villa, this will not be the reaction of the IGP.”

While speaking, Ekweremadu said that a Commissioner of Police for the FCT and Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations visited his house on Tuesday afternoon to sympathizie with him.

“I showed them round and although they were very sympathetic of what happened,” he said.

"I was so shocked when I woke up this morning to hear the Police saying what happened in my house was a mere case of burglary. I am at a loss because as we speak, they have not taken any statement from my son who was hospitialised, they have not gone to the hospital to find out what exactly happened to my son. They have not invited security personnel attached to me who reported yesterday; some are still reporting this morning.

"They looked at the CCTV tapes operated by the DSS and a staff of my house; apparently, they were not able to figure it out, so it was easy for them to quickly dismiss what really happene."

Expressig surprise about the incident, Ekweremadu said he is in possession of the full video clip and some pictures.

“Unfortunately for them, later yesterday evening a technician came and was able to figure out and was able to produce the CCTV footage, including how they gained entrance into my house and how they got a way into my room and the fight between them, my wife and my son and all the efforts we made to save our lives. I am happy that we have that in our custody, which the Police are not aware of.

"I am sure that Nigeria will be shocked on what transpired and all the efforts made to save our lives. Now that the Police appear to have concluded the case, unless they withdraw the statement that it is a mere case of burglary, I may now be forced to release those footage to the media, international community so that Nigerians and ordinary people judge whether it was a case of burglary or attempt to kill me or whether they just want to come to my house to have a breakfast or have a handshake with me.”

Ekweremadu continued: “It appears to me that the man who said it was a mere case of burglary does not know what burglary is about. He doesn’t need any teaching; he just needs to go into the Internet and find out what burglary is really about. He can compare if it is the same with what happened in my house.”

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) advised the Senate to condemn the rapid conclusion by the Police that the invasion of Ekweremadu’s residence was a mere burglary case.

“For the Police to quickly, without interviewing the very person for whom this incident happened to, come out and determine that it was a burglary, actually burgles the mind," he said.

"We know in this country that Bola Ige was killed in his home. We know and also it is a fact the former gubernatorial candidate, Funsho Williams, was also killed in his home. Our fear today is, why is the Police engaging in a cover-up?"

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Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Wednesday vowed to release video footages of how his house was invaded by alleged assassins on Tuesday.

Ekweremadu said he would release the video if the Police fail to withdraw their claim that what happened in his house was a mere case of burglary.

After the plenary on Wednesday, the Senate resolved to ask the Police to conduct a deep investigation of the alleged assassination attempt on Ekweremadu, his wife and son in the early hours of Tuesday.

Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial District, blamed the Police for not investigating the case properly before reaching a conclusion.

"The Police adopted a very myopic, porous and intellectually stagnant approach to a very serious matter. To start with, burglary is not mere. Anyone who is engaged in burglary has satanic intention. It is burglary that leads to assassination," Melaye said.

“To come out and say its mere burglary shows that the Nigeria Police has identified some individuals that no matter what happen, we will not get their service. If this has happened to one of the faithful of Mr President, this will not be the reaction of the Inspector-General of Police. If this has happened to one of the close friends of the villa, this will not be the reaction of the IGP.”

While speaking, Ekweremadu said that a Commissioner of Police for the FCT and Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations visited his house on Tuesday afternoon to sympathizie with him.

“I showed them round and although they were very sympathetic of what happened,” he said.

"I was so shocked when I woke up this morning to hear the Police saying what happened in my house was a mere case of burglary. I am at a loss because as we speak, they have not taken any statement from my son who was hospitialised, they have not gone to the hospital to find out what exactly happened to my son. They have not invited security personnel attached to me who reported yesterday; some are still reporting this morning.

"They looked at the CCTV tapes operated by the DSS and a staff of my house; apparently, they were not able to figure it out, so it was easy for them to quickly dismiss what really happene."

Expressig surprise about the incident, Ekweremadu said he is in possession of the full video clip and some pictures.

“Unfortunately for them, later yesterday evening a technician came and was able to figure out and was able to produce the CCTV footage, including how they gained entrance into my house and how they got a way into my room and the fight between them, my wife and my son and all the efforts we made to save our lives. I am happy that we have that in our custody, which the Police are not aware of.

"I am sure that Nigeria will be shocked on what transpired and all the efforts made to save our lives. Now that the Police appear to have concluded the case, unless they withdraw the statement that it is a mere case of burglary, I may now be forced to release those footage to the media, international community so that Nigerians and ordinary people judge whether it was a case of burglary or attempt to kill me or whether they just want to come to my house to have a breakfast or have a handshake with me.”

Ekweremadu continued: “It appears to me that the man who said it was a mere case of burglary does not know what burglary is about. He doesn’t need any teaching; he just needs to go into the Internet and find out what burglary is really about. He can compare if it is the same with what happened in my house.”

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) advised the Senate to condemn the rapid conclusion by the Police that the invasion of Ekweremadu’s residence was a mere burglary case.

“For the Police to quickly, without interviewing the very person for whom this incident happened to, come out and determine that it was a burglary, actually burgles the mind," he said.

"We know in this country that Bola Ige was killed in his home. We know and also it is a fact the former gubernatorial candidate, Funsho Williams, was also killed in his home. Our fear today is, why is the Police engaging in a cover-up?"

CRIME Police News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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The Niger Delta Youths Advocate for Justice and Peace group has sent a protest letter to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over the "cases of human rights abuse" in the state, with over 300 persons languishing in the medium prison facility in the state, known as Okaka Prisons.

In a three-page petition, dated November 2, 2018 and addressed to the NBA President, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the Secretary of the NHRC, the group alleged that despite the reforms embarked upon by Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, the activities of the State Special Prosecutor, Barr. Andrew Simeon Arthur, are a disservice to the state judiciary.

It said that although investigations into the alleged cases of human rights violations by the special prosecutor, Andrew Simeon Arthur, were ongoing, sources claimed those detained were subjected to trial in three marked courts allegedly used to pervert justice and violate the detainee rights to fair hearing.

According to the statement, issued and signed by Comrade Bidemi Williams, investigations were conducted by an undercover member of the group, but the cases identified were those initiated by the Special Prosecutor, Barr. Andrew Simeon Arthur.

"He is said to have been hired by the state government through the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Kemasuode to prosecute cases with fiat. Most of the cases did not follow due process and culprits jailed without proper judicial processes."

"At the last count, the total number of detainnee on Barr. Arthur list numbered 300. The detainees claimed they were political detainees. While some said they were detained due to their loyalty and affiliation to the All Progressive Congress (APC), others claimed Barr. Arthur used his fiat, handed to him by the state government, to settle old and personal scores.

"Some of the cases are alleged to lack proper police investigation before being charged before a selected judge and the accused detained. It is gradually turning the judiciary into a subject of mockery. And we learnt that his attitude towards judges during court proceedings smacks of violation of court rules and processes to the embarrassment of the lawyers in court."

The group stated that though the state government had shown interest in the development of the judiciary through judicial autonomy and building of new courts, "Governor Seriake Dickson's administration, in partnership with the NHRC, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Office of the Chief Judge, should take a second look at the issues of Human Rights violation, use of State judges and magistrates to victimise detainees and rising prison congestion at Okaka prisons.

"We call on the relevant agencies and Human Rights groups such as the Civil Liberties Organisation,  to assist in a second Independent and open investigation into our findings to make it more verifiable and authentic. We are worried that as a State Special Prosecutor, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutor is rendered useless and cases that would have been dispensed speedily are now turned into circus of witch-huntand judicial comic."

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The Niger Delta Youths Advocate for Justice and Peace group has sent a protest letter to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over the "cases of human rights abuse" in the state, with over 300 persons languishing in the medium prison facility in the state, known as Okaka Prisons.

In a three-page petition, dated November 2, 2018 and addressed to the NBA President, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the Secretary of the NHRC, the group alleged that despite the reforms embarked upon by Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, the activities of the State Special Prosecutor, Barr. Andrew Simeon Arthur, are a disservice to the state judiciary.

It said that although investigations into the alleged cases of human rights violations by the special prosecutor, Andrew Simeon Arthur, were ongoing, sources claimed those detained were subjected to trial in three marked courts allegedly used to pervert justice and violate the detainee rights to fair hearing.

According to the statement, issued and signed by Comrade Bidemi Williams, investigations were conducted by an undercover member of the group, but the cases identified were those initiated by the Special Prosecutor, Barr. Andrew Simeon Arthur.

"He is said to have been hired by the state government through the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Kemasuode to prosecute cases with fiat. Most of the cases did not follow due process and culprits jailed without proper judicial processes."

"At the last count, the total number of detainnee on Barr. Arthur list numbered 300. The detainees claimed they were political detainees. While some said they were detained due to their loyalty and affiliation to the All Progressive Congress (APC), others claimed Barr. Arthur used his fiat, handed to him by the state government, to settle old and personal scores.

"Some of the cases are alleged to lack proper police investigation before being charged before a selected judge and the accused detained. It is gradually turning the judiciary into a subject of mockery. And we learnt that his attitude towards judges during court proceedings smacks of violation of court rules and processes to the embarrassment of the lawyers in court."

The group stated that though the state government had shown interest in the development of the judiciary through judicial autonomy and building of new courts, "Governor Seriake Dickson's administration, in partnership with the NHRC, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Office of the Chief Judge, should take a second look at the issues of Human Rights violation, use of State judges and magistrates to victimise detainees and rising prison congestion at Okaka prisons.

"We call on the relevant agencies and Human Rights groups such as the Civil Liberties Organisation,  to assist in a second Independent and open investigation into our findings to make it more verifiable and authentic. We are worried that as a State Special Prosecutor, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutor is rendered useless and cases that would have been dispensed speedily are now turned into circus of witch-huntand judicial comic."

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Four Catholic Reverend Fathers have been kidnapped by unknown gunmen around Umutu/Abraka in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

The priests were en route to Ekpoma, Edo State, from Warri, Delta State, in a convoy on Tuesday when they were attacked by unidentified gunmen and whisked away.

The priests were travelling in a convoy of four vehicles, but the assailants could only overrun two of the cars, ordering the four priests out.

Muhammad Mustafa, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, confirmed the abduction but said the kidnappers were not herdsmen as first suspected.

Christianity CRIME Breaking News News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Four Catholic Reverend Fathers have been kidnapped by unknown gunmen around Umutu/Abraka in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

The priests were en route to Ekpoma, Edo State, from Warri, Delta State, in a convoy on Tuesday when they were attacked by unidentified gunmen and whisked away.

The priests were travelling in a convoy of four vehicles, but the assailants could only overrun two of the cars, ordering the four priests out.

Muhammad Mustafa, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, confirmed the abduction but said the kidnappers were not herdsmen as first suspected.

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Shell and ExonMobil could make a return to Nigeria’s petroleum downstream sector, Bello Rabiu, Chief Operating Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), told Reuters on the sidelines of an African oil and gas summit in Capetown South Africa Monday, that

According to Rabiu, the two multinationals had exited a few years back but could be lured back in with the prospect of exchanging their crude for petrol on behalf of the Nigerian government.

NNPC signed a similar crude-for-product deal with British Petroleum last Wednesday, in the first of a rash of possible deals Rabiu describes as "stop-gap measures".

According to the official, the country is seeking the most cost effective means of bringing in petroleum products into the country ahead of an expected boom in local refining.

“Unfortunately, Shell and ExxonMobil exited the downstream sector in Nigeria a couple of years ago but they are coming back for this particular arrangement, because it’s an opportunity for them to get crude and sell their products to the refineries,” Rabiu said, explaining that the state-owned corporation hopes to repeat savings of around $1billion it achieved in 2016 with its crude-for-product swaps, as well as in 2019.

“If our refineries are back, which we want in the next 18 months, this thing will stop. So, all these things are just stop-gap measures, but the key issue is that we wanted to import at the least cost before our refineries come back onstream. It is on track and I believe if we don’t sign a final deal (on the project to upgrade refineries) this month of November we will surely sign in December."

As oil prices soared thanks to production cuts by the OPEC plus alliance, the landing cost of petroleum products increased as well. The Nigerian government were however not willing to take the risk of aligning pump prices; petrol importers were thus forced to quit.

Rather than go back to the pre-May 2016 status of issuing subsidies to these marketers, NNPC took up the burden of importation and removed funds it now calls ‘under recovery' from the revenue it remits back to the government. The company uses swap contracts to make its importations. It has entered into direct sale direct purchase agreements with 10 consortiums that include trading houses Vitol, Trafigura , Mercuria and Total.

The present deals were extended to June but several trading sources in the consortiums said they had requested new price terms.

The corporation is in the last lap of conversations with consortiums, including top traders, energy majors and oil services companies to revamp its long-abandoned oil refineries in an effort to reduce its reliance on imported fuel.

Bukola Saraki, Senate President, had asked the state-owned enterprise to present a subsidy budget to the National Assembly earlier in the year, which it had failed to do. That refusal has now catalyzed the initiation of a probe by an ad-hoc committee of the upper chamber.

NNPC News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Shell and ExonMobil could make a return to Nigeria’s petroleum downstream sector, Bello Rabiu, Chief Operating Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), told Reuters on the sidelines of an African oil and gas summit in Capetown South Africa Monday, that

According to Rabiu, the two multinationals had exited a few years back but could be lured back in with the prospect of exchanging their crude for petrol on behalf of the Nigerian government.

NNPC signed a similar crude-for-product deal with British Petroleum last Wednesday, in the first of a rash of possible deals Rabiu describes as "stop-gap measures".

According to the official, the country is seeking the most cost effective means of bringing in petroleum products into the country ahead of an expected boom in local refining.

“Unfortunately, Shell and ExxonMobil exited the downstream sector in Nigeria a couple of years ago but they are coming back for this particular arrangement, because it’s an opportunity for them to get crude and sell their products to the refineries,” Rabiu said, explaining that the state-owned corporation hopes to repeat savings of around $1billion it achieved in 2016 with its crude-for-product swaps, as well as in 2019.

“If our refineries are back, which we want in the next 18 months, this thing will stop. So, all these things are just stop-gap measures, but the key issue is that we wanted to import at the least cost before our refineries come back onstream. It is on track and I believe if we don’t sign a final deal (on the project to upgrade refineries) this month of November we will surely sign in December."

As oil prices soared thanks to production cuts by the OPEC plus alliance, the landing cost of petroleum products increased as well. The Nigerian government were however not willing to take the risk of aligning pump prices; petrol importers were thus forced to quit.

Rather than go back to the pre-May 2016 status of issuing subsidies to these marketers, NNPC took up the burden of importation and removed funds it now calls ‘under recovery' from the revenue it remits back to the government. The company uses swap contracts to make its importations. It has entered into direct sale direct purchase agreements with 10 consortiums that include trading houses Vitol, Trafigura , Mercuria and Total.

The present deals were extended to June but several trading sources in the consortiums said they had requested new price terms.

The corporation is in the last lap of conversations with consortiums, including top traders, energy majors and oil services companies to revamp its long-abandoned oil refineries in an effort to reduce its reliance on imported fuel.

Bukola Saraki, Senate President, had asked the state-owned enterprise to present a subsidy budget to the National Assembly earlier in the year, which it had failed to do. That refusal has now catalyzed the initiation of a probe by an ad-hoc committee of the upper chamber.

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There was a rowdy session at the Senate on Wednesday when Abiodun Olujimi, the senator representing Ekiti South at the National Assembly, accused the Muhammadu Buhari administration of politicising its social intervention programme.

Citing Orders 42 & 52, Olujimi, who is also the Senate Minorty Leader, brought “an urgent matter of the politicization of the Social Intervention Fund” before the Senate, saying beneficiaries were being asked to provide their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) number.

“The funds have been used for political reasons,” she said. “I have one such forms where your BVN number, PVC number, gender and account details must be written. I urge that an Ad-hoc Committee be set up to look into this issue.”

Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan stood up to counter Olujimi’s claims, but he was resisted by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers, who, led by Dino Melaye, the Kogi West senator, raised their voices.

The rowdiness lasted several minutes, with Lawan unable to speak until the situation mellowed.

Eventually, the Senate resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the matter.

It also mandated committee to investigate the implementation of Goodluck Jonathan’s Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) as well.

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There was a rowdy session at the Senate on Wednesday when Abiodun Olujimi, the senator representing Ekiti South at the National Assembly, accused the Muhammadu Buhari administration of politicising its social intervention programme.

Citing Orders 42 & 52, Olujimi, who is also the Senate Minorty Leader, brought “an urgent matter of the politicization of the Social Intervention Fund” before the Senate, saying beneficiaries were being asked to provide their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) number.

“The funds have been used for political reasons,” she said. “I have one such forms where your BVN number, PVC number, gender and account details must be written. I urge that an Ad-hoc Committee be set up to look into this issue.”

Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan stood up to counter Olujimi’s claims, but he was resisted by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers, who, led by Dino Melaye, the Kogi West senator, raised their voices.

The rowdiness lasted several minutes, with Lawan unable to speak until the situation mellowed.

Eventually, the Senate resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the matter.

It also mandated committee to investigate the implementation of Goodluck Jonathan’s Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) as well.

Politics Breaking News News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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There was a rowdy session at the Senate on Wednesday when Abiodun Olujimi, the senator representing Ekiti South at the National Assembly, accused the Muhammadu Buhari administration of politicising its social intervention programme.

Citing Orders 42 & 52, Olujimi, who is also the Senate Minorty Leader, brought “an urgent matter of the politicization of the Social Intervention Fund” before the Senate, saying beneficiaries were being asked to provide their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) number.

“The funds have been used for political reasons,” she said. “I have one such forms where your BVN number, PVC number, gender and account details must be written. I urge that an Ad-hoc Committee be set up to look into this issue.”

Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan stood up to counter Olujimi’s claims, but he was resisted by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers, who, led by Dino Melaye, the Kogi West senator, raised their voices.

The rowdiness lasted several minutes, with Lawan unable to speak until the situation mellowed.

Eventually, the Senate resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the matter.

It also mandated committee to investigate the implementation of Goodluck Jonathan’s Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) as well.

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Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has received "reassurance" from the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on his political ambition.

Sanwo-Olu was the beneficiary of a spiritual session with the Lagos CAN Chairman, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, on Tuesday.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the encounter with the Lagos CAN chairman was "spiritually soothing".

He disclosed the visit via a tweet that read: "Another reassurance from the Lagos State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Apostle Alexander Bamgbola this morning. It was spiritually soothing.

"With God and the good people of the State on our side, Lagos will surely climb to a higher pedestal."

 

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Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has received "reassurance" from the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on his political ambition.

Sanwo-Olu was the beneficiary of a spiritual session with the Lagos CAN Chairman, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, on Tuesday.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the encounter with the Lagos CAN chairman was "spiritually soothing".

He disclosed the visit via a tweet that read: "Another reassurance from the Lagos State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Apostle Alexander Bamgbola this morning. It was spiritually soothing.

"With God and the good people of the State on our side, Lagos will surely climb to a higher pedestal."

 

Christianity Elections Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has received "reassurance" from the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on his political ambition.

Sanwo-Olu was the beneficiary of a spiritual session with the Lagos CAN Chairman, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, on Tuesday.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the encounter with the Lagos CAN chairman was "spiritually soothing".

He disclosed the visit via a tweet that read: "Another reassurance from the Lagos State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Apostle Alexander Bamgbola this morning. It was spiritually soothing.

"With God and the good people of the State on our side, Lagos will surely climb to a higher pedestal."

 

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A Kaduna State High Court has declined to grant bail to the leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakzaky, and his wife.

In his ruling on the bail application filed by counsel to El-zakzaky and his wife, Justice Gideon Kurada, the presiding judge, said two accused had not provided sufficient medical evidence to warrant getting a bail.

Therefore, he ordered them to remain in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) throughout the duration of their trial.

Details soon...

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A Kaduna State High Court has declined to grant bail to the leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakzaky, and his wife.

In his ruling on the bail application filed by counsel to El-zakzaky and his wife, Justice Gideon Kurada, the presiding judge, said two accused had not provided sufficient medical evidence to warrant getting a bail.

Therefore, he ordered them to remain in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) throughout the duration of their trial.

Details soon...

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The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) yesterday gave the federal government a seven day ultimatum to honour agreements reached with members of the Academic staff of Nigerian Universities  in October 2017 or face mass action.

While addressing a press conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Tuesday, NANS spokesman, Azeez Adeyemi, said students would not fold their arms and watch their future mortgaged by the “lackadaisical  approach towards education at all levels in the country by the government.”

He commended the resilience of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union that had been on strike in the past two months.

Adeyemi “We will not fold our arms and allow our institutions to be short for months again because of Federal Government insensitivity and lackadaisical approach towards education at all level in Nigeria.”

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Amnesty International calls for the release of 10 men detained after an alleged gay celebration in Zanzibar.

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The youngest women, the first Muslim women and the first Native American women are elected to Congress.

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Beavers fight back after Moscow developers destroy their habitat.

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The US mid-term elections have left Congress divided - here is how the world's media saw it.

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A landmark deal brings Greece a step closer to separating the state from the Orthodox Church.

 

A Civil Society Organization, the Good Governance Advocacy Project, has asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate, prosecute and convict former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and erstwhile Minister of Defence TY Danjuma, for alleged involvement in war crimes and other offences against humanity that took place at various times between 1999 and 2007.

The group noted that Obasanjo and Danjuma were involved in crimes against humanity in Odi, Bayelsa State, and Zaki Biam, Benue State.

Addressing journalists at a press conference on Tuesday, Danelson Momoh, the National President of the group, recalled that it was Dajuma’s regime as Defence Minister under Obasanjo that troops massacred innocent citizens of Zaki Biam community.

Momoh said that both Obasanjo and Danjuma needs to hand over themselves to ICC for a probe over the massacre of innocent citizens in the communities.

"Instead of being elder statesmen as would be expected of them in their twilight, they have resorted to heating up the polity and making demands of the current dispensation that they were never able to fulfil in their own times.

“Of note among these yesteryears' men is former military chief, retired General Theophilus Yakubu (TY) Danjuma who of late has become synonymous with being an inciter of adherents of Christianity in the country to go to war with their neighbours under the guise of ethno-religious killings.

"He had in the past called on people to take up arms against their neighbours for which he was roundly censored by all well-meaning Nigerians. This does not however seem to have deterred him as he is back to lying bald-facedly.

“TY Danjuma purportedly issued a statement entitled 'Choose your own Fulani with care', in which he alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari is out to massacre the entire north central and southern parts of the so that he can repopulate the same areas with Fulani from other West African countries. While this irresponsible statement is condemnable in the strongest terms, the seeming saving grace is that Danjuma has eaten his words and distance himself from the dangerous utterance.

"We, however, want to place on record that it was not enough for him to distance himself from the offensive statement for several reasons. One, if he had not been in the business of making divisive utterances, mischief makers would not replicate his style of incitement to attempt doing damage to the country. He has, by the tradition he has created, made Nigeria into a land where ethnic hatred is now being treated as common place. 

"We categorically state this because historically, it was Dajuma’s regime as Defence Minister under the then President Olusegun Obasanjo that troops were massacre innocent citizens of Zaki Biam community in Benue state. 

"Much as the history of what happened in Zak Ibiam is being rewritten to obscure the actual drivers of that pogrom, TY Danjuma knows that the genocide that took place there was never about national security but was about protecting narrow interests that were not intended for the benefit of the larger population. 

"He and Obasanjo remain the architect of the genocide in Zak Ibiam, which was not their only crime because they also jointly masterminded the scorched earth pogrom at Odi. These actions were the foundation that sowed the seeds of discord amongst the various ethnic groups in Nigeria."

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