Boko Haram kill 56 in Borno State

The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, has said Boko Haram fighters attacked a village in the state and killed 56 persons.

The governor, who said this during a presentation of gifts on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari to parents of abducted Chibok schoolgirls on Saturday in Maiduguri, said 56 persons were killed in Baanu village in Nganzai Local Government Area of the state.

Shettima said, “Boko Haram crisis is a calamity that befalls us, as the insurgents do not discriminate against anybody before they kill. They don’t care if somebody is a Christian or a Muslim neither do they respect tribal affiliations. Just yesterday (Friday) they killed 56 people in Baanu village of Nganzai Local Government, as I am speaking to you their corpses still litter the streets of the village.”

Those that fled from the village who narrated their ordeal to journalists in Maiduguri however insisted that more than 68 persons were killed in the attack.

One of the fleeing residents, Abubakar Suleiman, told our correspondent in Maiduguri that 68 persons were killed while several others were injured during an attack.

Suleiman said many insurgents came on horses at about 8.30pm on Friday and went about killing everybody they came across.

He said, “We had to flee into the bush and after they left, we returned to pick some of our belongings and fled into Maiduguri but before we left I counted 68 corpses. Some were slaughtered while some were shot to death.”

Boko Haram kill 56 in Borno State

US embassy attends to visa complaints on Google Hangouts

Three officials of the United States Embassy in Nigeria, of Friday, interacted with Nigerians from different parts of the country for an hour and three minutes. They spoke on what applicants should do or avoid when processing the US visa.

The live show was not a television programme. Recognising the growing influence of digital media, the visa officers took to Google Hangouts to provide answers to questions bordering applicants while busting various myths around visa processing.

The officers said they took to Google Hangouts to help applicants relate with the embassy directly instead of patronising touts and agents.

The session, which was moderated by Oluwaseun Olaniyan, an on air personality, gave the US embassy officials an opportunity to explain the differences between the immigrant and non-immigrant visas, tricks in the application process and likely pitfalls that applicants should avoid.

The visa officers also explained the rationale behind some common questions and how responses increase or reduce applicants’ chances of getting a visa. For instance, they spoke on why social and economic ties had become an important question during an interview.

In the course of the interactive session, viewers were given an opportunity to ask personal or general questions. All that was required was a click on a keyboard.

Few days before the Google Hangouts, the embassy sent a press statement, inviting interested individuals to hook on to the event. It also gave an hashtag – #AskTheVOs – through which questions would be received.

Indeed, participants bought into the show, sending questions bordering on income range that could be considered satisfactory for anybody to be given a visa.

But the officers said that the important thing, in the case of non-immigrant applicants, was applicants’ ability to prove that they had economic ties with their countries of residence. They noted that those who satisfied all conditions were never refused.

“Ties are essentially the various aspects of your life that bind you to your country of residence: your possessions and family relationships. Visa officers pay a particular attention to ties as they have to do with an applicant’s home country or country from which they are applying,” they said.

The officers advised visa seekers against relying on agents to fill application forms, adding that visa agents were only motivated by the financial rewards instead of helping their clients to secure visas.

“We strongly discourage the use of touts and agents at any point in the visa process. These agents often give applicants false information. Ultimately, touts and companies are primarily interested in making money not getting you a visa. They do applicants a disservice.

“Touts and agents are part of the reason the consulate reaches out to the Nigerian public through events like this Google Hangouts. We strongly recommend that people apply for a visa and go through the entire process on their own,” they said.

According to the officers, visa process could be carried out by applicants without any assistance. The embassy’s website, they noted, was a sufficient guide for even a first-time applicant.

“Application for a U.S. visa is simple and straightforward. Every piece of information you need can be found on our website,” they noted.

One of the issues they emphasised during the session was that getting a visa does not guarantee an entry into a foreign country but only allows the holder to present himself at a port of entry. They described the visa as “an endorsement issued by a government.”

At the end of the Google Hangouts, the embassy’s representatives said members of the public whose questions were not addressed, could relate with them through #AsktheVOs.

But some of the participants said U.S. visa process was not as simple as the officers made Nigerians to believe, asking why hundreds of applicants were still disqualified daily if it were that simple.

For instance, tweeting on @Davidbeloveth, David Arogundade said, “Some questions are not thoroughly dealt with because I don’t think it is that simple.”

US embassy attends to visa complaints on Google Hangouts

EFCC begins probe of Alison-Madueke

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced a full investigation into the activities of the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Alison Madueke

It was learnt on Sunday that the commission constituted a four-member committee of crack detectives to probe all the NNPC accounts which were supervised by the former minister.

It was learnt that the committee was led by a Superintendent of Police, who was seconded to the commission.

Investigations revealed that the other three members of the committee were pioneer civilian operatives of the commission with high capacity for investigation.

Sunday PUNCH had on Sunday reported that the ongoing probe of the immediate-past administration by President Muhammadu Buhari was to beam its searchlight on the alleged purchase of three mobile stages, costing $6.9m, by former President Goodluck Jonathan and two of his officials.

According to a document, which was obtained from the Presidency on Saturday, the deal, which is now a subject of investigation, was allegedly carried out by Jonathan; his Chief Security Officer, Mr. Gordon Obuah; and Alison-Madueke.

The fund was said to have been withdrawn from one of the numerous accounts of the NNPC.

The $6.9m (about N1.37bn) was said to have been withdrawn for the purpose of buying three pieces of 40-feet mobile stages for use by Jonathan during the campaign.

Besides the latest allegation, it will be recalled that a group, Crusader for Good Governance, had petitioned the EFCC accusing the former minister of squandering million of dollars of public funds to charter private jets.

The petitioners also accused her of spending $300,000 on an average international trip.

The group also alleged that the NNPC, a government agency she oversaw, maintained a Challenger 850 Visa jet which serves the former minister’s needs as well as those of her family. The cost of running the jet is $500,000 per month.

She was also accused of going to a meeting of the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries in Austria in a private jet.

It was gathered on Sunday that the committee set up by the EFCC had since commenced probing the NNPC accounts and activities of the former minister.

A top operative of the EFCC, who confided in The PUNCH, said, “I think the commission has commenced investigation into this Diezani issue. It is not just about inviting her, the commission has set up a four-man team of crack detectives to investigate her operations in the NNPC.

“The terms of reference of the committee include to look into all the NNPC accounts which were under the supervision of Mrs. Alison-Madueke.

“The committee has since commenced work; they are still working. I think a very senior police officer, a Police Superintendent, is leading the other operatives in the probe of Diezani and multiple accounts of the NNPC.” The source said.

When our correspondent contacted the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, on the activities of the EFCC Special Committee on the NNPC, the calls to his mobile telephone line did not connect.

But Uwujaren had earlier said that he was not aware if the commission had commenced a probe into the allegation that $6.9m was spent on campaign stages.

Uwujaren said that he had not been briefed on any such investigation.

“I am not aware of such a probe; I have not been briefed on such a probe,” he said.

Meanwhile, Obuah has denied the allegation of purchase of three mobile stages, costing $6.9m, for public appearance of the then President.

Obuah, who spoke through his lawyer, Mr. Andrew Tsekiri, in a telephone conversation with one of our correspondents on Sunday, said the allegation was false and challenged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to produce evidence instead of putting him on trial in the media.

Tsekiri said his client had been confronted with the allegation while in the detention of the Department of State Services, which he said investigated it and found it to be untrue.

The lawyer said, “Let me tell you, nothing like that exists. Obuah did not make demand for that money for any stage. Let them show to Nigerians evidence that he took the money. When Obuah was in their (DSS) detention, they investigated this particular matter and found out that it was false.

“He was confronted with the allegation. Mr. Obuah told them that he knew nothing about it, and they found that the allegation was false. They released him, why are they bringing it up again?”

He said since the release of the former President’s CSO from the DSS detention in July, he had not been contacted over the allegation by any government agency since then.

He said, “They have investigated the allegation and they found out it was false, since then no government agency had contacted or invited Mr. Obuah.

“They should show how Diezani authorised the payment of the money and how it left Citibank to Zenith Bank, to Access Bank to Sterling Bank and they should show how it ended in Obuah’s account.”

Tsekiri said the outcome of the allegation would soon show that the Buhari Administration was not interested in governance but to frame up allegations against people.

“They are just lying against Diezani and Mr. Jonathan. That is what they are doing. Let me tell you what they want to do. They will charge Obuah to court, make all the noise about the allegation that has been published, knowing full well that the matter will not be decided in about a year or two, and by then, the public would have forgotten about it but they would have spoilt your name.”

EFCC begins probe of Alison-Madueke

We performed well; we were not corrupt - Jonathan"s ex-minister tells Buhari

The ministers who served in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan have defended their performance, saying they did well in office and were not corrupt.

President Goodluck Jonathan

The ex-ministers, Sunday, in a statement by Abubakar Suleiman, former Minister of National Planning, said “contrary to what the APC and its agents would rather have the public believe, the Jonathan administration did not encourage corruption, rather it fought corruption vigorously, within the context of the rule of law and due process.”

They mentioned some of the anti-corruption successes of the Jonathan administration to include the stop in billions of naira stolen under the subsidised government fertiliser scheme, the development of the Government Integrated Financial Management Platform, The Single Treasury Account (TSA), and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Management Systems (IPPIS).

They said they were not afraid of being probed by the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari which has vowed to ensure that all monies stolen from public purse in the last administration are returned and persons found guilty brought to book.

“We encourage President Buhari to continue with the probes, but this must be in strict accordance with his oath of office to treat all Nigerians equally and with the fear of God,” the former ministers said.

Read their full statement below:

Give Jonathan administration due credit, former ministers tell Buhari We, the Ministers who served under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, have watched with increasing alarm and concern the concerted effort by the Buhari administration and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to condemn, ridicule and undermine the efforts of that administration, in addition to impugning the integrity of its individual members.

While we concede that every administration has the right to chart its own path as it deems fit, we nevertheless consider the vilification of the Jonathan administration, to be ill intentioned, unduly partisan, and in bad faith. The effort that has been made to portray each and every member of the Jonathan administration as corrupt and irresponsible, in an orchestrated and vicious trial by media, has created a lynch mentality that discredits our honest contributions to the growth and development of our beloved nation.

We are proud to have served Nigeria and we boldly affirm that we did so diligently and to the best of our abilities. The improvements that have been noticed today in the power sector, in national security, and in social services and other sectors did not occur overnight. They are products of solid foundations laid by the same Jonathan administration.

Contrary to what the APC and its agents would rather have the public believe, the Jonathan administration did not encourage corruption,

rather it fought corruption vigorously, within the context of the rule of law and due process. For the benefit of those who may have

forgotten so soon, it was the Jonathan administration that got rid of the fraud in fertilizer subsidies, which had plagued the country for decades. This helped to unleash a revolution in agricultural production and productivity.

It was also the Jonathan administration that supported the institutional development of strong systems and mechanisms to curb

corruption in the public service and plug revenue leakages. These included the development of the Government Integrated Financial Management Platform, The Single Treasury Account (TSA), and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Management Systems (IPPIS), in addition to the biometric registration of civil servants and pensioners which saved the country over N100 billion paid to ghost

workers and ghost pensioners.

To ensure greater transparency and integrity in the oil and gas sector, the Jonathan administration ordered investigations and put

mechanisms in place to check the theft of Nigeria’s crude oil. It was also under the Jonathan administration that a Nigerian Content policy was introduced, which opened up that sector to Nigerians in a manner that was not previously the case. It was also the Jonathan administration that mobilized and secured the support of our neighbouring countries to ensure a robust multinational response to the menace of terrorism and insurgency, resulting in notable advancements in the fight against terror. President Jonathan personally initiated the collaboration that led to these advancements and ensured that Nigeria provided the needed financial support for the Multinational Joint Task Force.

It was the Jonathan administration that repaired and rehabilitated over 25, 000 kilometres of our nation’s roads. Nigeria also became a profitable and preferred investment-friendly destination. It was under President Jonathan, for example, that Nigeria’s electric power sector became more competitive and attractive to local and foreign investments.

The same administration promoted the rule of law, free speech, fundamental human rights, and a robust freedom of information regime. Women’s rights to participate in public life and the Federal Character principle as well as other Constitutional principles were also respected. In every respect, our administration promoted inclusive governance and encouraged all stakeholders including the private sector to play key roles in the transformation of Nigeria.

It should also not be forgotten that the Jonathan administration strengthened electoral institutions and created a peaceful environment for democracy to thrive. On this score, it is sad and ironic that the chief beneficiaries of that same legacy are the most vociferous today in condemning President Jonathan and his team.

Perhaps the new administration and the APC would be sincere enough to publish the details of the hand over notes they received.

In addition, the Buhari administration should be fair enough to acknowledge the good works of the Jonathan administration. No administration can be either completely bad or completely good.

President Jonathan’s achievements in moving this country to greater heights deserve to be duly acknowledged. We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to build on these achievements.

We also urge him to press on with the anti-corruption fight, but in a fair and non-partisan manner, in line with due process, and not as a

political witch-hunt.

The various lies and fabrications being peddled by some self-appointed spokespersons of the administration may entertain the unwary, but such sensationalism may achieve the unintended effect of de-marketing our

country within the international community. All such persons playing to the gallery for whatever gains should be called to order. The

name-calling of members of the Jonathan administration and the trial by news media should also stop.

We encourage President Buhari to continue with the probes, but this must be in strict accordance with his oath of office to treat all

Nigerians equally and with the fear of God.

We have reserved our comment until now, in the fervent hope that once the euphoria that may have inspired the various attacks on the past administration wears off, reason will prevail. But we are constrained to speak up in defence of the legacy of the Jonathan administration, and shall do so again, for as long as those who are determined to

rubbish that legacy, are unrelenting in their usual deployment of blackmail, persecution, and similar tactics.

Dr Abubakar O. Suleiman

Former Minister of National Planning

We performed well; we were not corrupt - Jonathan"s ex-minister tells Buhari

Bayelsa Gubernatorial Poll: Tinubu moves against spoilers, urges Sylva to contest

The former governor of Lagos State and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Chief Timipre Sylva to contest the December 5, 2015 Governorship election in Bayelsa State.

Tinubu also charged Bayelsans to ensure that Sylva becomes the next governor of the state in view of placing the state on the right path.

“I want him to contest the governorship election because of his proven leadership qualities and our belief that he can bring change to the state” he said.

Tinubu who met Sylva at his Abuja home not only endorsed him as the party’s consensus candidate for the December 5, 2015 governorship election but commended him for his contributions to the development of the party in Nigeria, particularly Bayelsa State.

“It is time for Bayelsans to unite and support a person who can effectively enhance unity, provide opportunities for all and lead the people in a different direction”

He expressed total and unreserved support for Sylva’s aspiration to clinch the party’s ticket and governorship seat.

He mandated APC leaders and members in Bayelsa State to support his choice.

“If you want change, if you’re unhappy with the direction of Bayelsa State, then you must join the governorship race and change the state for the people”.

Tinubu, who also described Sylva as an agent of change, is pushing for the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, to occupy the governorship position.

Source: Henry Ebi

Bayelsa Gubernatorial Poll: Tinubu moves against spoilers, urges Sylva to contest

DSS arrests Boko Haram Commander linked with suicide attacks

Nigeria’s secret police on Sunday, disclosed that it had arrested notable Boko Haram suspects, including a key commander, linked with several suicide attacks across the country, reports AFP.

Abubakar Shekau

The Department of State Services (DSS) said in a statement said that Usman Shuiabu known as Money and other frontline members of the hardline Islamist group were picked up in Lagos, Kano, Plateau, Enugu and Gombe states between July and August.

“Of particular note was the arrest on 8th July, 2015 in Gombe state of those responsible for the coordination and execution of the suicide attacks in Potiskum, Kano, Zaria and Jos.

“Shuaibu admitted being the leader of the team of nine sect members that was dispatched from Sambisa Forest to carry out the attacks. He disclosed that four out of the nine of them were used as suicide bombers in executing all the suicide attacks,” it said.

It said the arrest of Shuaibu and other core members of his cell had stemmed the spate of bombings by the extremist sect.

The DSS said its operatives had also frustrated plans by the insurgents to attack the financial capital of Lagos.

“The sudden influx of Boko Haram members into Lagos state points to the determination of the sect to extend its nefarious terrorist activities to the state and in fact, other parts of the country,” it said.

“The arrest of these confessed terrorist elements has however helped in no small measure to avert devastating attacks in the area,” it added.

The DSS said it would continue to work with other stakeholders in the fight against Boko Haram extremists.

The agency said on Friday it had arrested a 14-year-old boy spying for Boko Haram at the Abuja airport.

The Islamists have carried out deadly ambushes across Nigeria’s borders and in recent weeks suicide bombers, many of them women, have staged several attacks in Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad.

Boko Haram, which is seeking to carve out a hardline Islamic state in northeast Nigeria, has killed some 15,000 people since 2009.

A regional 8,700-strong force aimed at ending the insurgency is due to deploy within days.

 

DSS arrests Boko Haram Commander linked with suicide attacks

APC alleges, lists more massive looting under Jonathan

The All Progressives Congress has listed new instances of alleged looting of the treasury by some officials of the Jonathan Administration, saying the corruption mess that characterised the administration was so pervasive that until it is cleaned, Nigeria will not be able to actualise its potentials.

Lai Mohammed

”Those who would rather give comfort to the looters by dismissing the media exposure of looting cases as mere hell-raising should realise that no sane person can be silent in the face of what is unfolding as the worst cases of brazen stealing of public funds in Nigeria’s history,” the party said in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

”On August 16, 2015, we listed some instances of the breath-taking looting of the treasury by some officials of the immediate past administration. Today, we bring three more heart-rendering cases to the attention of Nigerians. We will not relent until closure has been brought to this issue,” it said, listing the new cases as:

– A mind-shattering 2.2 billion-US-dollar arms scandal.

– A 6.9 million-dollar fraud by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to President Jonathan, committed under the guise of buying three mobile stages for the President.

– A 2.5 billion-Naira scam involving the rent of house boats.

”While those charged with handling these cases are finalising the details of bringing the suspects to justice, our immediate concern is the attempt by the PDP, under whose umbrella the looting took place, to blame the Buhari administration for the mess and then infer that things have been worse in Nigeria in the last three months under the APC-led federal government than in the 16 years under the PDP. This is totally provocative, shameless and uncharitable.

”They say we are yet to fulfil our campaign promises to Nigeria, but they have forgotten that if only the PDP/Jonathan administration had not stolen Nigeria blind, there would have been more than enough money to give school children in Nigeria not just one, but three meals a day and even pay 5,000 Naira to 50 million most vulnerable Nigerians, not just the 25 million we promised in our manifesto,” APC said

Despite the almost daily discovery of cases of corruption under the Jonathan administration, the party assured Nigerians of better days ahead, as all its campaign promises would be kept because of the commitment and determination of President Buhari, not only to cleaning the Augean Stable, but also ensuring purposeful governance for the benefit of all Nigerians.

”It is clear to all Nigerians that the debilitating impact of 16 years of PDP’s misrule cannot be reversed in just three months. It is an obvious truth that it is always easier to destroy than to construct, but nothing will stand in the way of the Buhari administration’s commitment to improving the quality of life of Nigerians and making our country to function again,” it said.

It said a major cog in the wheel of faster progress for the new Nigeria under President Buhari had been the discovery that the pot housing the commonwealth had been licked dry by the looters of yesterday, hence the need to work meticulously to recover the looted funds and facilitate the delivery of good governance that would manifest in abundant jobs, strong economy and improved welfare and security for Nigerians.

APC said while the PDP, ever steeped in the pursuit of lies, presented the recently released data on job creation and economic growth as “clear signals” that President Muhammadu Buhari was failing Nigerians, the disgraced party mischievously omitted the fact that those numbers were basically a manifestation of the disastrous final days of President Jonathan’s failed economic policies.

It commended Nigerians for showing absolute understanding and faith in the leadership of President Buhari to change the way that Nigeria has been misruled in the last 16 years, saying in the days ahead, the painstaking efforts of the President would manifest even more than Nigerians had already witnessed.

APC alleges, lists more massive looting under Jonathan