CBN remits N80bn to Federation account

11:36 PM Business, News No Comments

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, will remit N80 billion to the federation accounts, while it accounts for 70 per cent of the total remittances by MDAs to the government treasury.

The Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Oguniyi Otunla disclosed this yesterday at the public hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Finance investigating MDAs remittances to the government treasury.

Also speaking at the hearing, the CBN Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, who represented Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, disclosed that the CBN had remitted in the interim, the sum of N50billion for 2012, and will further remit a project sum of N30billion, making a total sum of N80 billion for 2012 fiscal year.

He, however, reiterated that the CBN should not be seen as a revenue generating agency; noting that over 85% of its revenue was used for conduct of monetary policy operations (mopping up of liquidity). He also stated that already the CBN had spent about N240 billion on monetary policy operations.

The House Committee on Finance applauded the CBN as one of the few MDAs and agencies that religiously remit their operating surpluses to the government treasury.

The Committee Chairman, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, was so elated that he said that from next fiscal year, agencies that will perform very creditable will be awarded a prize.







Source - Vanguard news

Read More

How Okonjo-Iweala’s mother was released…N10m ransom paid

11:33 PM News No Comments

SIX days after a 10-man kidnap gang seized Professor Mabel Kamene Titi Okonjo, mother of the Minister of Finance, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, at Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State, the 82-year-old retired professor of sociology, University of Nigeria, UNN, Nsukka, was released, Friday morning, by her kidnappers in Benin City, Edo State, after collecting between N10 to N11 million ransom.

Suspect arrested

A young boy, suspected to have been used by the kidnappers as a “sacrificial lamb” to lead the old woman to safety after the ransom was delivered to them on Saturday, has been arrested by security agents to help in their investigations on the identity of the hostage takers.

Prof Okonjo flown to Abuja

Professor Kamene Okonjo was shepherded to her Ogwashi-Uku home by security agents, who kept the information secret.

Journalists, who mounted siege in the country home of the Okonjos waiting for her to be brought home did not know that she was already inside until about 1.56 pm when they noticed movement in some the compound.

It was only then they found out that she had come back. Unlike December 9 when she was forcefully taken away, she was quietly led, yesterday, from the house, to enter a vehicle for the airport, evidently on her way to Abuja, to reunite with her daughter, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The chartered flight that took her Abuja from Asaba Airport departed at about 2.29 pm. Her son, Onyema, accompanied her. Soldiers, Police and Customs officials prevented photographers from taking pictures throughout.

Prof Kamene Okonjo mother of Minister of Finance, Prof. Okonjo-Iweala

It was gathered that because of the situation at home, her husband and monarch of Ogwashi-Uku, Obi Chukwuka Okonjo Agbogidi, who travelled 24 hours before the queen mother was abducted, was advised not to return home yet.

As it is, security would be beefed up in the palace and security agents, including soldiers deployed to the palace before the monarch would return to Ogwashi-Uku, a family source confided in Saturday Vanguard.

Jonathan, Okonjo-Iweala thank Uduaghan


Her elated daughter, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, reportedly called Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State to thank him for his immense support towards the release of her mother.

Saturday Vanguard also gathered President Goodluck Jonathan was alerted as soon as Prof Okonjo was released, Friday morning.

A source said President Jonathan was also happy with the news and commended the governor for a job well done.

Negotiation for Professor Okonjo’s release was carried out by her son, Prince Onyema Okonjo, who spoke various times with the kidnappers on phone between Sunday, December 9, when she was snatched and Friday morning.

Security agents monitored part of the negotiation with the kidnappers, but could not trace their exact location until ransom was paid.

…….
Vanguard confirmed if the security agents were put in confidence in the payment of ransom to the kidnappers, but it was obvious that they were not, as the ransom was dropped and coolly collected by the hostage takers.

Finally, between N10 m – N11 million ransom paid

Our source was not emphatic on the amount paid, but he said, “Between N10 million and N15 million was paid as ransom”
We gathered that it was after the kidnappers satisfied themselves that the Okonjos kept to their side of the bargain that they released the family’s matriarch on Friday morning in Benin City.







Source - Vanguard news

Read More

Breaking news: Okonjo-Iweala’s mother freed

11:31 PM News No Comments

Professor Kamene Okonjo, the mother of Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who was abducted last Sunday from her home, has been freed.

According to sources, the 82-year old queen is now with security operatives, just as report says Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is on his way to Ogwashi-Ukwu to receive her.

Vanguard gathered that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been informed of her release.

In a statement, Special Adviser on Media to the Coordinating Minister, Paul Nwabuikwu, said the wife of the Obi of Ogwashi-Ukwu, Chukuka Okonjo, was released Friday morning.

“I can confirm that Professor Mrs Kamene Okonjo, wife of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, Professor Chukuka Okonjo and mother of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy/Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was released this morning, five days after her abduction.

“The Okonjo Family is full of thanks to the Almighty for this happy development. The family is also highly appreciative of the support and encouragement of President Goodluck Jonathan; the Country’s security services for their excellent operations; Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, Peter Obi of Anambra, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and other Governors as well other friends and well wishers within and outside government for their prayers and encouragement during a very difficult period. May God bless you all.”

The Nigeria army yesterday said soldiers had arrested 63 people in raids conducted during the search for Prof. Okonjo.

Click here to read the details of her release.

Source - Vanguard news

Read More

Soldiers arrest 63 suspects over Okonjo’s kidnap

11:30 PM News No Comments

PROF. Kanene Okonjo, mother of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
| credits:

Nigeria Army said on Thursday that soldiers had arrested 63 people in raids as they searched for Prof. Kamene Okonjo, the 82-year-old mother of Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

“Yesterday the Four Brigade raided Ogwashi-Ukwu in search of Mama,” Army spokesperson Roseline Managbe, toldReuters.

“Those arrested are being questioned.”

Managbe said two Lebanese men working for Nigerian construction company Setraco had been abducted on Tuesday in Delta State by gunmen who killed a soldier protecting them.

“It could be my turn tomorrow,” said Tony Agwu, who lives near Okonjo’s house.

“It’s a terrible situation down here. The security agents in the Delta are compromised.”

The police said on Tuesday that two policemen had been arrested on suspicion of helping kidnappers.

Political motives have been suggested for the abduction. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s drive to reform a corrupt economy ruffled powerful vested interests, especially fuel importers.

A security source in Delta State said Okonjo was involved in local politics and seizing her might have been a scare tactic.










Source - Punch news

Read More

16 yr-old cable vandal survives electrocution

11:26 PM News No Comments

MAKURDI — A 16-year-old boy, Terseer Iorparegh, was yesterday caught stuck in a high tension cable while attempting to vandalize the PHCN cable along Naka road in Makurdi.

Vanguard gathered from the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Gabriel Suswam on Public Utilities, Mr. Gaddafi Asemanya who was at the scene said residents of the area were woken up by shout of help from the young man around 2.am on Thursday only to behold the teenager hanging between the high tension cable after he had suffered shock and first degree burns

Asemanya said the teenager who had removed the lower cable climbed the PHCN pole to vandalize the upper cable when his leg touched a line which caused a spark and fire which spread over his body while he persistently shouted for help.

According to the governor’s aide, “vandalism of PHCN property has become a serious issue in Benue State, in the last one year. I have apprehended over 30 vandals, while some were prosecuted many of these persons were set free because PHCH has no legal team to ensure the prosecution of these suspects”, he said.

Terseer before the elotrocution

He explained that the residents had wanted to lynch the vandal but for his quick intervention and assistance by men of the fire service, the police and officers and men of the civil defence corps who were on hand to assist recover the vandal.

The Special Assitant further disclosed that the suspect was receiving medical attention at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi where he lied critically ill with no one coming to identify him.

Terseer arrested after suffering burns.

Reacting, PHCN spokesman, Uche Oranya who appreciated the prompt action of the residents of the area, as well as that of the governor’s aide called on security operatives to ensure adequate safeguard of PHCN facilities in the state.






Source - Vanguard news

Read More

FG protests Cameroon’s harassment of Nigerians in Bakassi

11:24 PM News No Comments

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN)
| credits:

Nigeria, on Thursday, protested the harassment of its citizens living in the Bakassi Peninsula by Cameroon.

The oil rich peninsula, formerly in the Nigerian territory, was ceded to the neighbouring Cameroon by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government in respect of a 2002 International Court of Justice’s verdict.

The Minister of Justice and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), expressed the concern of the Federal Government at a meeting of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed-Commission in Abuja.

The meeting was attended by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, Ambassador Said Djinnit, and Cameroonian delegates led by the country’s Minister of Justice, Ahmadu Alli.

Adoke said that Nigeria had been greatly disturbed about cases of maltreatment of its citizens in the Bakassi Peninsula.

The minister said, “The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is concerned about reported cases of maltreatment of its citizens in the Bakassi Peninsula.

“As I reiterated on that occasion (at the 20th Meeting of the Follow-Up Committee) while Nigeria would continue to honour its international obligations, the government is concerned about this situation.

“The effect of this allegations and the political pressure they engender cannot be overemphasised as they impact profoundly on the level of public confidence between the Government and its citizens.

“We therefore, call on the Cameroonian authorities in the spirit of Article 4 of the Green Tree Agreement, and other International Human Rights Instruments to which our two countries are signatories, to urgently investigate and take measures to address these concerns.”

Adoke said that Nigeria was, however, comforted by the assurances given by Cameroon that the allegations would be investigated to assure the affected population of their safety.

The minister stated that Cameroun had also assured that means of livelihood of Nigerians would be protected.

Adoke also drew the attention of the UN to the issue of assistance to the people affected by ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government on Thursday began a process aimed at developing a new settlement for Nigerians displaced from Bakassi following the ceding of the peninsula to Cameroon.

Already, the government has set up a committee to work out the modalities for the new settlement.

The decision to create a new settlement for the displaced persons was taken at a meeting presided over by Vice-President Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The committee has the acting Governor of Cross River State, Effiok Cobham, as its chairman.

It has three months to submit its report to the Federal Government.

The panel was set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to look into the plight of the displaced persons.

Cobham told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that Sambo had directed the newly-formed committee to find solutions to the plight of the affected citizens.

He said, “The Vice-President has constituted a committee to look into the issues pertaining to the plight of the displaced persons and the issues are quite many.

“With me as the chairman and the membership stretches between the federal and state officials, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so that we can comprehensively look at the issues affecting the people of Bakassi and then submit a report to the Vice-President on or before the end of February 2013.

“For now, the Bakassi people, a large number of them are talking about a new settlement outside the camp for which they are presently settled.

“They want a location that will be opened to the sea since they are basically riverine people. So, that involves the development of an entirely new settlement.”

Senator Florence Ita-Giwa who also attended the meeting described the setting up of the committee by the Vice-President as a welcome development.

She expressed the hope that the step would restore the dignity of the people of Bakassi.










Source - Punch news

Read More

Banned parties dare INEC, vow to remain active

11:23 PM News, Politics No Comments

INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega
| credits: File copy

THE 28 political parties that were last week deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission have ‘declared’ the electoral commission’s act as null and void.

Leaders of the defunct parties on Thursday in Abuja asked the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to resign from office after they accused him of plotting to impose a two-party system on the country.

National Chairman of the defunct African Liberation Party, Chief Emmanuel Okereke, who spoke for the deregistered parties at a media briefing, said, “We are warning him (Jega) to tender his resignation letter because, what he has done is a clear indication that the commission under him cannot conduct a credible election.

“He has shown that he is no longer capable of managing our electoral process.

“INEC has a hidden agenda to reduce parties in the country to a two-party system. Since Prof. Attahiru Jega assumed office as Chairman of INEC, he has never called a meeting of political parties.”

Responding to the briefing by the deregistered parties on Thursday, spokesman for Jega, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said INEC did not recognise them again.

Idowu said, “How are the 28 political parties daring INEC after the commission had said it does not recognise them? If they continue to operate, what has that got to do with INEC? Do you know the implication of that, when INEC says it does not recognise candidates? If INEC has any event, INEC will not deal with them again. What INEC said was that it does not accord them recognition again.

“If for instance INEC has an election to conduct, they will not be recognised and they can’t field candidates. There is no law to be invoked on them. Even if they keep offices open and keep on addressing press conferences, they are free.”

INEC had on Thursday, December 6, announced the deregistration of 28 political parties for not winning any elective seat since their registration, hinging its action on the “exercise of the powers conferred on it by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).”

The affected parties included Pastor Chris Okotie’s Fresh Democratic Party; Balarabe Musa’s Peoples Redemption Party; and the National Reformation Party, founded by the late nationalist, Anthony Enahoro, among others.

The INEC boss on Wednesday had said that the deregistration of political parties that did not meet the standard of the Electoral Act was a continuous exercise.

“If more parties violate the requirements of the Electoral Act and it warrants de-registration, we will de-register them,” Jega told some journalists in Abuja.

He also said that INEC had no benchmark for the number of parties to be registered.

The PUNCH on Monday had also reported a plan by INEC to deregister 25 more political parties as soon as the legal tussles over the already deregistered parties were over.

But Okereke insisted that the deregistration of the 28 parties was in contravention of a court which had stopped INEC from deregistering the parties.

He also accused Jega of predicating the shift on the date of the 2011 poll in order to weaken the parties.

He insisted that the sudden change in the election date had huge cost implications on their parties and that that led to their poor performance in the elections.

He said the parties had resolved to ignore the deregistration and to go ahead with their normal activities pending the final decision of the court case challenging INEC’s action.

The leader of the deregistered People’s Progressive Party, Mr. Damian Ogbonna, also at the briefing said, “INEC acted in a most reckless manner known to democratic world and against the constitution of Nigeria by embarking on such an anti-democratic mission.

“INEC acted in contemptuous disregard of court proceedings given that the constitutionality of deregistration of political parties and the offending provisions of the Electoral Act is being litigated against at the Federal High Courts in Lagos and Abuja.

“In fact, an application for Judicial order to restrain INEC from deregistration of any political party was filed and served on INEC as far back as May 23, this year.

“In the light of the INEC’s action, we, the political parties of Nigeria, will continue to function as full-fledged political parties in strict compliance with the provisions of Section 221-2/9 of the constitution of Nigeria.”

The politicians wondered why the Commission was bent on reducing the number of political parties in the country.

They cited South Africa, where they said about 159 registered political parties existed and the United States of America, which they also said had 210 recognised political parties.










Source - Punch news

Read More

Reps threaten to order arrest of Okonjo-Iweala, Aig-Imokhuede

11:22 PM News No Comments

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
| credits:

For failing to appear before it twice, the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, on Thursday, threatened to order the arrest of the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede.

The committee, which is headed by Mr. Uzo Azubuike, said the two were needed to help resolve the N20bn fuel subsidy dispute between the Chairman of Coscharis Motors Limited, Mr. Cosmas Maduka, and the Managing Director of Capital Oil, Mr. Ifeanyi Uba.

The committee had postponed sitting last week to Thursday due to the absence of the minister and the Access Bank GMD.

But on Thursday, Azubuike was angry that they “shunned” the committee again.

He said though the committee was aware that the minister’s mother was kidnapped, it was not a reason to ignore the invitation.

Azubuike added that since the invitation was for the Ministry of Finance, the minister ought to have mandated a representative to present the position of ministry.

He warned that if a representative was not sent to the next sitting of the committee, a warrant of arrest would be issued in the name of the ministry.

It will be recalled that Aig-Imokhuede headed the Presidential Committee on Verification of Subsidy Payments.

On Thursday, his lawayers wrote the committee, saying he no longer functioned in that capacity.

He claimed that his committee had already completed its assignment and submitted a report to the Federal Government.

The Access Bank GMD added that he had no legal authority to appear before any committee in the capacity of head of the presidential panel.

He also pointed out that there were several court cases on the matter the committee was investigating, hence it would be prejudicial for him to speak on it.

But, the committee dismissed the argument and directed that he should appear unfailingly at the next adjourned date.

However, the main actors in the deal gone awry – Maduka and Uba – were present.

But, rather than respond to the questions of the committee, Maduka said the matter was already in court.

His lawyer, Mr. Osita Mbamalu, produced evidence to the committee to buttress Maduka’s argument.

On his part, lawyer to Uba, Mr. Ben Nwosu, opposed the argument that the matter was in court and should not be discussed.

Nwosu appealed to the committee to find ways of asking the Central Bank of Nigeria to pay his client’s N2.1bn Sovereign Debt Note as approved by the Debt Management Office.

Nwosu also called on the committee to help his client to be paid his N20bn subsidy claims.

According to him, there are “conflict of interests” in the Aig-Imoukhuede report and should be discarded.

“It is not possible for him to be a judge, jury and prosecutor in a matter he has interest”, he added.

The investigation will continue next week.










Source - Punch news

Read More

I thought I was going to die – Stabbed singer

11:22 PM News No Comments

Tobi, Tiwa and Olaniyi
| credits:

Tiwa Bankole, the singer who was allegedly stabbed by her landlord’s son, Tobi Obadina, has said she thought she was going to die.

According to her, Tobi constantly harasses tenants and gets away with it.

“When he was stabbing me, I started bleeding profusely and I thought I was going to die,” she said.

Bankole, who spoke with our correspondent on her hospital bed at Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos on Thursday, said she did nothing to warrant the attack.

“Tobi said no one could arrest him and nothing would happen to him. Because his father is a retired police officer and his stepmother, a policewoman, he always gets away with his misdeeds,” she said.

Bankole, who goes by the pseudonym, T Banks, described her assailant, Tobi, as a hot-tempered boy, who had on many occasions assaulted tenants at their 20 Yusuf Street home.

She said she had reported the 23-year-old boy to his father on many occasions but the landlord always ignored her.

She said, “I’ve been living in the house since 2005 with my brothers. Although the landlord lives in the same building with us, Tobi does not. He was one of my younger brothers’ friend and even used to come to our room. Some months ago, I wanted to use the toilet but Tobi blocked my way, threatening to beat me.

“After a brief argument, neighbours advised me to enter my room and ignore him which I did. I reported the matter to my dad who later reported the matter to the landlord.

“The landlord told my dad that Tobi had not been to the house in three years and that I was lying. The landlord even insinuated that Tobi and I were having a relationship.

“There is no way I could have a relationship with Tobi because I’m about 10 years older than him. My father however advised me to stay away from the boy. I have been avoiding him but he continued to cause trouble in the neighbourhood,” Bankole said.

The singer said on the day she was brutally stabbed by Tobi, she was going to fetch water in the compound when he accosted her and started cursing her.

She said she ignored him but it seemed Tobi’s attitude further infuriated him.

Bankole alleged that Tobi followed her into her room where he stabbed her and her younger brother, Olaniyi, repeatedly.

She said, “Tobi insulted me, saying that he was going to get married soon while I am still a spinster at my age. He hit me in the back and an argument ensued. My younger brother however pulled me back into the house but Tobi continued to curse us. We cursed him also and this infuriated him.

“He poured a bucket of water into our room through the window and he later broke the louvres. He threatened to deal with us. In the evening, he barged into our room with a broken tumbler and said since we had refused to come out and face him, he would kill us.

“I was able to push him to the ground as he attempted to stab my brother in the back. He stabbed my brother in the hands but he (my brother) was able to escape. As I was left alone with Tobi, he stabbed me repeatedly in the neck, hands and other parts of my body.”

PUNCH Metro learnt that another neighbour, Sola Ajayi, who intervened, was also stabbed in the process.

Tobi’s father, Ebenezer Obadina, however, dissociated himself from the incident.

He said he had warned his son to turn a new leaf and had done his best as a father.

According to him, he was sleeping when the incident occurred and did not even know that Tobi was on the premises.

“I am 76 years old and Tobi is my last child. I’ve been advising him to change his ways but he never listens. I had no hand in what happened and in fact, I was the one that got him arrested after the incident,” he said.

Tobi, it was learnt, is still being detained at Gowon Police Division.







Source - Punch news

Read More

My son not laundering money for me – Lamido

11:20 PM News No Comments

Jigawa State Governor, Alh. Sule Lamido
| credits: File copy

JIGAWA State Governor, Sule Lamido, has debunked reports that his son, Aminu, who was arrested at the Aminu Kano Airport, Kano on Wednesday, was laundering money for him.

Aminu was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Nigerian Customs Service for being in possession of $40,000 which he did not declare at the counter on his way to boarding an Egyptian Air plane to Cairo.

The governor in a statement on Thursday said, “Aminu Lamido had a daughter born with spinal chord problem and was taken to Cleopatra Hospital in Cairo, Egypt last year. She was in the hospital for three weeks for treatment and was asked to be returned after three months for the second phase of the treatment and this was done about four months ago.

“At the end of the second phase of the treatment, they were asked to return to the hospital for examination after three months.

“It was on the third leg of the visit that Lamido was arrested by the EFCC while trying to board the Egypt Air on Tuesday.

“The impression the EFCC gave that he embarks on several trips abroad on money laundering on my behalf is therefore false and mischievous to that extent.”

Meanwhile, EFCC has granted Aminu bail.

The spokesperson for the commission Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said although charges had been prepared but the governor’s son would be charged to court on a later date.

EFCC officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was granted bail because judges were not available in Kano on Thursday to take his plea following the judges conference in Abuja.







Source - Punch news

Read More