Senate presidency, South East may lose out as APC shops for President

ABUJA—Following the release of the results of National Assembly elections held last Saturday by the  Independent National Electoral Commission, indications have emerged that the South East Geo-Political Zone may have lost the opportunity to produce the next Senate President of Nigeria

The Zone did not vote for any candidate of the APC in the last election, thereby shutting out itself in the reckoning for such a post.

From the results posted by the INEC, the South East neither returned any of its APC senators nor voted for any politician to emerge on the APC platform.

It was learnt that the non-availability of any ranking APC Senator from the region to take the slot of Senate President might compel the party to zone the slot to the North Central, where the current Senate President, David Mark hails from.

Although Mark would have emerged the best choice given his rich background and experience, his membership of the PDP, which will now be in the minority in the next Senate, knocks him out of the reckoning for the post.

APC has won no fewer than 65 seats in the last NASS election pushing PDP with 45 Senators to the second position in the upper legislative chambers.

But there was unconfirmed report on Wednesday that Mark was being pressured by political interests to defect to the APC after the inauguration of the National Assembly in order to retain his post, a claim dismissed by sources close to the Senate President as mere rumour.

The source told Vanguard that it was not possible for any Senator to decamp to any other party until after being sworn in.

The source said: “The truth of the matter is that you cannot decamp to any party after election until you are sworn in. It is not an issue now and I don’t think that anybody should contemplate that at all and even the opposition party will not even welcome you.

No way for Mark—APC chieftain

But an APC chieftain told our correspondent on Wednesday that it was not possible to concede the Senate Presidency to Benue State after it had occupied the post for eight years through David Mark.

The official said that there was no way APC would accept Mark as its Senate President since there were many qualified Senators from other states in the North Central to occupy the post.

It was learnt that given the absence of any ranking APC Senator from the South East or South South, the APC would still retain the Senate Presidency in the North Central but pick the Senate President from another state outside Benue.

Former Kwara State Governor and Senate Chairman on Environment, Dr. Bukola Saraki, is being considered for the top post. But if the party keeps the post in Benue, the current Senate Minority Leader, George Akume, is likely to emerge as the Senate President.

 

Senate presidency, South East may lose out as APC shops for President

External reserves fall by $1.6bn in March

The declining fortunes of the nation’s external reserve continued last month, as it fell by $1.55 billion during the month.

Data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) indicated that the external reserve fell from $31.356 billion on February 27th February to $29.79 billion on Monday, March 30th. This represents 4.9 percent decline.

Consequently, the external reserve has fallen by $4.49 billion or 13 percent since the beginning of the year.

It would be recalled that the continued decline of the external reserve was cited by Fitch credit rating  company, for downgrading Nigeria’s credit rating Outlook to ‘Negative’ from ‘Stable’.

A statement issued by the company on Monday said, “Fitch Ratings has affirmed Nigeria’s Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at ‘BB-’ and ‘BB’ respectively. The Outlooks on the Long-Term IDRs have been revised to Negative from Stable.

“The revision of Outlook on Nigeria’s IDRs reflects the following key rating drivers and their relative weights: Medium Political uncertainty is heightened in the context of a tightly contested presidential election and potential transition issues.

The polls were officially delayed due to security concerns stemming from Boko Haram activity, however violence was very limited on Election Day and challenges were largely technical in nature. The government has made gains in the past few months in the fight against Boko Haram, but this follows a period in which the group seized large parts of the north east, where the threat remains largely contained.

“Fiscal and external buffers have been eroded significantly as Nigeria enters a period of lower oil prices and are well below the levels of the 2008/09 oil price shock. Oil accounts for around 60% of fiscal revenues and 75% of current external receipts. The Excess Crude Account (ECA, the key fiscal buffer) stood at $2 billion  at end-2014, down from $19.7 billion  at end-2008. Foreign exchange reserves were equivalent to 3.8 months of current external payments at end-2014, compared with 7.8 months at end-2008. Fitch does not expect savings to be rebuilt significantly by end-2016. High dependence on oil revenues will cause the external position to deteriorate despite a rapid policy response.

“Fitch forecasts the current account to fall into deficit in 2015 for the first time since 1998 owing to lower oil prices. A modest surplus is expected in 2016. Economic performance is likely to weaken, although non-oil growth will remain robust. Real non-oil growth is forecast to slow to 5.5% in 2015, from 7.4% in 2014 and an average of 5.6% over the past five years. Non-oil growth will be hit by the devaluation of the naira and election-related uncertainty, but will be less impacted by fiscal consolidation due to the small size of the government”.

 

External reserves fall by $1.6bn in March

25 die, others injured celebrating Buhari’s victory

KANO—No fewer than 25  persons died in Abuja, Kano, Makurdi and Kontagora yesterday, while celebrating the victory of President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

While 17 of the victims died in Kano, four died in Abuja, three in Kontagora, Niger State and one in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, while several others sustained injuries.

However, police authorities in Kano claimed only seven bodies of unknown person were discovered by their men after the celebration, Tuesday night.

An eyewitness, Ali Sufi of Naibawa quarters said three people were crushed to death at Naibawa U-turn, when a man in a Toyota Camry car lost control and rammed into those celebrating.

Sufi, further disclosed that one Sabo Ali, an ad hoc staff of communications giant, Etisalat, lost his life alongside his friend when a reckless driver knocked them down at Ungwa Uku end of Zaria Road within Kano metropolis.

Late Ali’s guardian, Mallam Idi Naibawa, confirmed that Sabo died yesterday morning at Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital from injuries he sustained in the accident.

Idi Naibawa explained that “a good Samaritan, who identified Sabo’s motorcycle reported the accident, and our fear was confirmed at Yarakwa police station that rescued and took him to the hospital.

“We have accepted his death as a fulfilment of destiny and barring any hitch, Sabo would be buried before 5p.m. local time today (yesterday).”

Another resident of Naibawa quarters, Ibrahim Dogo, said that two teenagers were crushed to death along Zaria Road by a crazy driver.

Dogo said: “We received two dead bodies this morning at the Tiga Naibawa quarters and we are set to bury them.”

Reports from Hotoro also confirmed the death of six youngsters during the crazy celebration that engulfed the commercial city.

According to a resident, Masaud Badamasi, “we lost six boys to the crazy celebration last night and we are getting ready to give then a heroic burial.”

Vanguard further learned that two persons lost their lives at Bachirawa/Kurna axis of the city, while report from Gwarzo local government indicated that two people were crushed to death by a motorist.

Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Majia, said: “We discovered seven dead bodies of unknown persons on the streets after the celebration and investigations has commenced on how and why it happened.”

He said the development had forced the command to sponsore radio jingles to sensitize the city dwellers on how to go about the victory dance.

The police spokesman revealed that Divisional Police Officers had been mandated to monitor the celebrants to minimize casualty, while victory dance lasts.

Acrobatics in Makurdi

In Makurdi, Vanguard learned that the victims were among youths in Wadata and North Bank area, who since the announcement of the election results, had been engaged in dangerous acrobatic displays with their motorbikes around the town.

According to a source, the unidentified youth met his death at North Bank, when he fell off his motorbike in one of his displays and gave up the ghost before he could get medical attention.

The source said: “Since the announcement of the presidential results, most of the youths took over the streets, many of them that have motorbikes removed the mufflers of their bikes in other to generate much noise as they rode dangerously in the streets.

“Unfortunately, one of them fell off his bike, broke his neck and eventually died before he could get medical attention.

“The other two sustained injuries in similar circumstance, but were lucky to have survived the crash and are presently receiving treatment in a private hospital in the area.”

At press time, youths were still in the streets at Wadata and North Bank areas, celebrating the victory with many of them still displaying dangerously with their motorbikes.

Eyewitness account said the four who died in Abuja lost their lives while trying to climb the Lugbe Pedestrian bridge by Julius Berger junction with their motorcycles and fell.

Several others sustained injuries.

In Kontagora, Niger State, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olusola Amore, confirmed that three supporters of All Progressives Congress, APC, were crushed by a motorist, while jubilating on the highway.

 

25 die, others injured celebrating Buhari’s victory

Court stops AIT from further broadcasting documentary against Tinubu

An Ikeja High Court presided by Justice  Iyabo Akinkugbe Wednesday granted an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the African Independent Communication (AIT), from further broadcasting the documentary ‘Lion of Bourdilion’, which allegedly presents wrong impression against the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

“I hereby order an interlocutory injunction in this suit restraining the defendant from further airing, publishing or disseminating broadcasting the documentary ‘Lion of Bourdilion’ which it started broadcasting on March 1, pending the determination of the substantive suit,” the judge said.

Ruling on an application brought before the court by Tinubu’s counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, the judge held that the interlocutoty injunction was pending the determination of the substantive N150 billion libel suit filed by the former Lagos State governor against Daar Communications Plc, owners of AIT.

The judge pointed out that the continued airing of the documentary titled  “Lion of Bourdilion”, would affect the rest of the suit which was the reputation of the applicant.

According to her, the applicant cannot be adequately compensated if the station is allowed to continue to broadcast the documentary which it started airing daily from March 1.

Akinkugbe adjourned the matter till April 16 for further direction.

It will be recalled that Akinkugbe had earlier on March 16 granted an interim order against AIT restraining the broadcast outfit from further airing the documentary.

Tinubu had sued Daar Communications Plc, for defamation of character, following the airing of the documentary which depicted him as a corrupt politician.

APC’s National Leader argued that the documentary was politically sponsored to tarnish his reputation in the eyes of the populace.

He had also asked the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining AIT whether by itself, agents, privies and or other persons from producing or continuing to broadcast the documentary.

Moving the application, Olanipekun had asked the court to restrain the defendant from airing the documentary, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Olanipekun said AIT’s argument that most of the contents in the said documentary were already on various online publication was not an excuse to continue to broadcast the document.

Responding, AIT’s counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN),told the court that the said documentary was last aired on March 6 following his advice to the station to discontinue the broadcast.

Ozekhome, had however, argued that the content of the documentary were facts which had been in the public domain for over two decades and published independently prior to the broadcast.

He exhibited other previous articles written about Tinubu which according to him had remained unchallenged till date.

He further contented that Tinubu was a former senator, two-time governor of Nigeria’s most populous state and the leader of the APC which claims to be anti-corruption.

Ozekhome said AIT had a responsibility to its audience to scrutinise their public officers, adding that Tinubu had not shown how the said documentary had damaged his reputation.

He therefore asked the court to dismiss the application because Tinubu had failed to show that he could not be adequately compensated for the damages.

 

Court stops AIT from further broadcasting documentary against Tinubu

Police nab herbalist for abducting lovers for ritual

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a herbalist, Akeem Adeniyi, for allegedly abducting his girlfriends, identified simply as Bose and Busayo, with a view to using them for money ritual.

It was gathered that Adeniyi connived with two other suspects ─ Biodun Yusuf and one Raphael, who is still on the run ─ to abduct the victims.

PUNCH Metro learnt that two of the suspects were apprehended after the residents of the Alla-Isin area of Kwara State heard somebody screaming for help in Alla Grammar School at about 11pm on March 11 and rushed to the scene.

It was said that the residents could not find the victim on getting to the scene, but saw a Sienna Space Wagon bus believed to be the property of the people that attracted the residents.

Adeniyi reportedly told them that Busayo was her girlfriend and he was only trying to forcefully have sex with her when she screamed. He was said to have initially declined to reveal her whereabouts.

Police said Adeniyi and his friends were also responsible for the abduction of Bose, who was declared missing on March 19 by her father.

The herbalist, who claimed the second victim was also his girlfriend, reportedly led security operatives to their hideout, where Busayo and Bose were rescued alive.

Our correspondent learnt that the suspects were transferred from Oke-Onigbin Police Division to the Criminal Investigation and intelligence Department in Ilorin for proper investigation.

They were on Wednesday, arraigned before Mr. A.I. Babatunde of the Ilorin Magistrate’s Court for criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and homicide.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, Inspector David Wodi, contravene sections 97 and 274 of the Penal Code.

The charges read in part, “That on March 13, 2015, one Samuel Aboyeji of Baale Compound, Alla-Isin, reported at Oke-Onigbin division that on March 11, at about 11pm, they received information that somebody was screaming for help in Alla Grammar School and they mobilised themselves to the scene where they met one Akeem Adeniyi and one Biodun Yusuf with one Sienna Space Wagon bus and when they asked about the victim, Adeniyi stated that she, Busayo, was his girlfriend and she screamed when he attempted to rape her.

“On March 19, one Gabriel Neneher also reported that on March 11, his daughter, Bose, also Adeniyi’s girlfriend, is missing.

“Police investigation revealed that you, Adeniyi, a herbalist, criminally conspired with one Biodun Yusuf and one Raphael, now at large, and kidnapped Busayo and Bose to unknown destination for money ritual.”

Wodi prayed the court to remand the defendants in custody pending the completion of police investigation.

The defence counsel, A.I. Telim, however, urged the court to grant bail to his clients, relying on Section 36 (5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which presumed defendants innocent untill proven guilty.

Babatunde, who did not take the plea of the defendants, ordered that they be remanded in prison custody while the investigation continued.

The case was adjourned till April 15, 2015.

Police nab herbalist for abducting lovers for ritual

I called, text senator-elect but refused to answer - Governor Aliyu

The Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, on Wednesday conceded defeat to the Niger East Senator-elect, David Umaru, at last Saturday’s National Assembly poll in Niger State.

Aliyu, who spoke to newsmen in Minna on Wednesday, explained that he had called the Senator-elect to congratulate him, saying his calls and text messages had not been answered.

The governor said, “I have already conceded defeat to Barrister David Umaru. I have called Umaru’s number after he was declared winner about seven times but he did not pick‎ the calls. I sent a text, saying ‘this is the Chief Servant calling, please pick’, and I have not received a reply by now.

“I have no qualms about the defeat. I did not see my defeat as an insult to my person but as God’s will.”

Appreciating the Independent National Electoral Commission for paying attention to details, Aliyu said the electoral body should appreciate the shortcomings in the election and work towards correcting them.

He also applauded what he described as “the gentleman approach” of President Goodluck Jonathan in congratulating the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, adding that his action doused whatever‎ tension that was on the ground during the collation of the results.

“President Jonathan’s approach doused whatever tension had been created. It worked to smoothen whatever rough edge the election would have created. We hope that the transition will be smooth and everyone will see a friendly handover,” he stated.

Aliyu added that the defeat of the PDP in the state would give the ruling party a chance to reorganise and put its house in order for the next election.

I called, text senator-elect but refused to answer - Governor Aliyu

Patience Jonathan seeks support for Buhari’s wife

Wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, on Wednesday congratulated Hajia Aisha Buhari, wife of the President-elect on her husband’s victory during the Saturday’s presidential election.

In a three-paragraph statement by her media aide, Ayo Adewuyi, Mrs. Jonathan appealed to Nigerian women to support Hajia Buhari in order to succeed in her new assignment.

The statement read, “The First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan (Mama Peace) has congratulated the wife of the President elect, Hajia Aisha Buhari on the election of her husband, General Muhammadu Buhari.

“The First Lady appeals to the Nigerian women to work with Hajia Aisha Buhari and give her the maximun support to make her succeed in her new assignment.

“The First Lady (Mama Peace) wishes her well in her new task.”

Patience Jonathan seeks support for Buhari’s wife