Fashola urges states to take action on power infrastructure

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has called on state governors to support access to electricity through improved power infrastructure in their states.

Speaking at the opening session of NACOP, the minister said, “It is no longer news that the Distribution Companies (DisCos) are having difficulty funding distribution infrastructures. Therefore, as collective 40% shareholders, we cannot sit back without finding a solution. The point I wish to make clear, is that all state governments have a role to play to support the private sector.”

Represented by the Permanent Secretary (Power), Louis Edozien, the minister urged each state government to work with the DisCos that serve their state to identify the distribution equipment needed to deliver improved power. The council, spearheaded by the then Federal Ministry of Power, held for the fourth time after the inaugural edition was held in 2015 at Abuja.

Courtesy: Daily Trust

UAE, EFCC to Collaborate on Intelligence Sharing, Capacity Building

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has said that it is committed to supporting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the discharge of its mandate of fighting corruption in Nigeria, especially in the area of intelligence sharing and capacity building.

The new UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Fahad Al Taffat, made this pledge Tuesday during a familiarisation visit to the headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja.

Taffat, who was received by the EFCC Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu, said he was at the EFCC to acquaint himself with the work of the agency.

He noted that he had been fully apprised of the tremendous work of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in fighting corruption and violent extremism before he arrived the country.

The envoy promised to do everything possible to assist the EFCC, saying: “Whatever you need, just put it in writing, I will press for it. The UAE can assist you in the areas of capacity building, technical support and intelligence sharing.”

He assured the anti-graft agency that his country already has a robust anti-money laundering framework, with an anti-money laundering unit domiciled at the Central Bank.

Responding, Magu thanked the envoy for the visit and assured him that he would return the gesture in two weeks.

He also briefed the envoy on recent engagements between the EFCC and the UAE that culminated in the signing of a number of bilateral agreements that have increased the tempo of cooperation between Nigeria and the UAE in matters of corruption, money laundering and organised crime.

Courtesy: This Day

FG, AfDB Inaugurate Youth Employment, Skills Devt Task Team

The federal government and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have inaugurated a task team on youth employment and skills development.

The team is a think-tank saddled with the responsibility to convene a private sector roundtable engagement as an exchange platform designed for the identification and financing of eight priority projects for accelerated youth employment and skills development.

Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja Tuesday, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, who was represented by the Minister of State, Prof. Stephen Ocheni, said Nigeria has a population of about 200 million people, noting that the opportunities offered by the large population size are not being harnessed through gainful engagement of the productive age of between 15 to 54 years.

According to the minister, “Although the Nigerian youth have been described as enterprising and hardworking, yet a recent record of 18.8% unemployment rate reported for the country by NBS shows that there is a disconnect in the capacity to translate these attributes to gainful employment opportunities and thriving enterprises for wealth creation and sustainable development.

“The federal government, in its continued effort to respond to the unacceptable situation and reverse the trend, has therefore entered into partnership with the African Development Bank group to engage a broad spectrum of stakeholders in a round-table discussion on youth employment and skills development.
“The programme is planned to have a rich private sector participation due to the widely acknowledged higher potential for job creation by this sector.”

The minister revealed that work on the design and planning for the programme had since commenced, adding that the composition of the task team includes himself (Ngige) as the chairperson, a representative from the office of the vice-president, and a private sector representatives as co-chair.

Others are members such as the Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ministry of Budget and National Planning as well as the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

Also involved are the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the World Bank, Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), GiZ and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Ngige urged all hands to be on deck in solving the problem of unemployment which has far-reaching implications on the nation’s socio-economic well-being which affects every sector of the economy.

In his remarks, a Senior Director in AfDB, Dr Greg Osubor, represented by the Regional Procurement Coordinator, AfDB, Abdulahi Baba Imoru, said Nigeria makes up about a quarter of the entire population of Africa, adding that the challenges of the Nigerian youth, if well addressed, could contribute immensely to solving the job problem of Africa.

“Nigeria had to realise the potential of its youths, create jobs for them and support them to create jobs for themselves, hence the critical importance of entrepreneurship and the role of private sector.

“The AfDB has prioritised youth employment as a major emphasis across all its 54 member states. In 2016, the AfDB adopted the Youths-for-ob in Africa strategy, with the goal of creating 25 million jobs and equipping 15 million youths in Africa with employable skills, in 10 years time, it’s going to create 25 million jobs. From 2016 to date, AfDB has invested over $400 million both in public and private sector to promote job creation in Nigeria.

“In partnering with the federal government of Nigeria for this public private roundtable on youth employment and skills development, we hope that with coordinated efforts, we can tackle youth employment crisis and assist Nigeria in the strengthening results of productive opportunities that they need so as to enable them better participate for economic development of the country and inclusive job creation,” Osubor said.

He implored the task team to ensure that the roundtable results in concrete and practical actions to help resolve youth unemployment in Nigeria.

Courtesy: This Day

Stolen Funds: Court discharges Former Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa

Justice Bello Abbas of the Sokoto State High Court today July 31st, 2018 discharged and acquitted the former governor of Sokoto State Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa alongside four others on a 22 count charge of Conspiracy, Criminal Misappropriation, Theft and receiving of stolen funds.

The accused now acquitted persons were arraigned on the 16th day of December, 2009 before the Sokoto State High Court.

They include: Beedash Nigeria Limited, Nasdabap Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Nasiru Dalhatu Bafarawa and Alhaji Salihu Maibuhu Gumm

Upon arraignment, they all pleaded not guilty to the 47 count preferred against them by the commission.

Soon after their arraignment, the accused persons filed a motion asking the court to quash the charges against them. The said motion was dismissed by both trial court and the court of appeal.

On the 29th of September, 2011, the prosecution filed an amended 144 count charge against the accused persons.

However, while the case was on going, some of the accused persons were dropped from the charge.

Those initially dropped are, Umaru Kwabo, Kabiru Marafa, Salihu Bakwai, Sambo Danchadi and Adamu Gurori who were all turned to prosecution witnesses. Abdullahi Bida died while Aisha Mohammed Binji was discharged following a nolle prosequi by the then Attorney General of Sokoto State.

Of recent, the current governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal granted a pardon to five out of the remaining accused persons.

Those pardoned by Tambuwal are Alhaji Tukur Alkali, who is the Commissioner for Animal Health and Fisheries Development, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Isa Achida; the Chairman, Governing Board, National Commission for Colleges of Education, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi; the member representing Isa constituency at the House of Assembly, Alhaji Habibu Modachi; and a Permanent Secretary, Isah Bello.

On the 16th of December, 2017, the prosecution closed its case against the accused persons and the accused persons through their counsels filed an application for no-case submission which was subsequently dismissed by the court on the 31st of January 2018.

During the course of trial, prosecution called a total of 9 witnesses and tendered numerous exhibits while the defence call a total of 6 witnesses and also tendered documentary evidence.

In his judgment today, the judge said throughout the trial, the prosecution witnesses failed to give any hard evidence of conspiracy between the 1st accused person and his co-accused.

The presiding judge added that, most of the evidence given by the prosecution witnesses were based on hearsay. He said there was no documentary evidence to back it up.

Based on the above, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, Beedash Nigeria Limited, Nasdabap Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Nasiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, Alhaji Salihu Maibuhu Gummi were all discharged and acquitted by the court.

Courtesy: Politics Nigeria

Imo: Madumere reacts to his impeachment as Deputy Governor, blames Okorocha

Impeached Deputy Governor of Imo state, Eze Madumere, has accused Governor Rochas Okorocha, of being behind his impeachment.

Madumere was on Monday impeached by the state House of Assembly over alleged gross misconduct.

But the action was in defiance to the ruling of a state High Court presided over by Justice Ben Iheka on July 30, restraining the legislators and the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Paschal Nnadi, from any further moves regarding the impeachment process.

Reacting, the impeached Deputy Governor in a statement by his media aide, Uche Onwuchekwa described his removal from office as illegal, saying neither the state House of Assembly nor the seven-man panel set up by the Chief Judge of the state, Paschal Nnadi, invited him to any of their sittings.

Madumere stated that the State House of Assembly was being used as a willing tool in the hands of the governor for political witch hunting.

The statement reads in part: “The state house of Assembly has become a mere stooge in the hands of the governor.

“In disobedience to the restraining order against the the Chief Judge, the seven-man panel, Speaker and members of Imo State House of Assembly from further action on the controversial impeachment proceeding against the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, the House of Assembly in Gestapo manner, has removed the Deputy Governor of the state from office.

“The Presiding Judge of High Court 8, Justice Benjamin Iheka had restrained the seven-man panel of Inquiry constituted by the Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Paschal Nnadi, the Chief Judge, Speaker and members of Imo State House of Assembly over a matter brought before the court that bothers on constitutional breaches in the procedure adopted to remove the Deputy Governor from the office.

“The Acho Ihim-led faction of the members of the House sponsored by Governor Okorocha against the Court Order and the rule of law illegally removed the Deputy Governor in a kangaroo manner.

“Against the requirement of the law, Prince Madumere was not given fair hearing as he was neither invited during the sitting of the investigative committee in the House of Assembly nor by the seven-man panel set up the Chief Judge.”

Courtesy: Daily Post

Herdsmen and their hide outs in the SE and SS.

An Enugu-based group, Voice From the East (VEAST), has named 139 villages and forests where armed herdsmen allegedly? Hide, kill and rape women and children in the South East and the South-South geo-political zones. VEAST said that after extensive investigation, it discovered that the presence armed herdsmen was higher in the South East than the South-South and warned farmers and other residents to be careful on how they moved in the affected areas.

A breakdown of the figures showed that there are 115 of such forests in the South East while there are 24 of them in the South-South. A state-by-state breakdown of the figure indicated that Enugu State has the highest of such spots in 56 communities, followed by Anambra State with 23 villages, Imo (17), Ebonyi (12), with Abia State coming last with only seven spots. In the South-South, only two states were covered by VEAST, with Delta State coming top with 15 hotspots while Rivers State has nine hideouts.

The forests and places where the herdsmen operate in Abia, he said are Lokpanta , Leeru, Nkpa, Ohawfia, Bende, Ubakala and Owerrinta. The spots in Imo, are Okigwe, Amakohia-Ubi, Ntu, Umuowa, Iheagwa, Ulagwu, Oweri-Town, Mbaitoli, Mbaise, Oguta, Orlu, Amaigbo, Onuimo, Isiekenesi, Njaba, Ideato, and Mbano.

According Jonah, Anambara State has Nteje, Ogbunka, Ufuma, Ezira, Umunze, Umuchukwu, Akpu, Ndikelionwu, Ogboji, Ndiowu,Anam, Achala, Ebenebe, Ogbunike, Osina, Okija, Ihiala, Ukpo, Dunukofia, Agulu, Neni, Ogbu, and 3-3. He identified the affected communities in Enugu State as Ibite Ogbaku, Akpugoze, Achi, Amansii, Nachi, Ukpabi-Nimbo, Ukpata, Akegbe- Ugwu, Ugwuoba, Eka-Aku, Igbo-Etiti, Amagunze, Amaechi Idodo, Ugwu-Onyeama, Egede, Adada, Nkpologwu, Afa, Opanda, Uvuru Uzo Uwani, and Adani.

Others are Ugwu-Aboh, Waziri Estate- Nsukka, Enugu-Ezike, Neke-Uno, Akpogasi, Ugwogo, Ekpebe, Madonna University Layout, Ihuokpa- 3- Corner, Akwuke, Industrial Layout-Emene, Unity Layout, Ibagwa Nike City Layout-Amokwe, Heritage Layout-Oyoho- Nike, Odo Rice-Emene, New Zion State Layout, Ugwu Onyeama, Phase 11, Independence Layout, 4-Corner, Redemption Layout, Amokpo, Ugbaka- Nkanu , Aninri, and Awgu.

Jonah gave the locations in Ebonyi State as Emoha, Nkalagu, Afikpo, Ezii, Ezaa, Ezamgbo, Ukpo, Ekemoha, Akpoha, Abomege, and Onicha. In Anioma land in Delta State, Jonah gave the places as Agbor, Okpanam, Iselukwu, Oshimili, Onicha Ugbo, Ndokwa, Umunede, Ogwashiuku, Ibusa, Kwali, Obiaruku, Igbanke, Oshimili, Asaba and Ella. He said that in mainland Rivers State, the spots are in Oluimo, Uguruta, Omoku, Ahuada, Omuha, Emeoha, Okehi, Isiokpo, Oleh, and Umuechem.

The Convener of VEAST, Mr. Kindness Jonah, in a report he made available to The AUTHORITY in Abuja, said that the number of the hideouts for militia herders were arrived at after an investigative study on the activities and hideouts of herdsmen in Igboland and parts of the South-South. He said that study was conducted to inform Igbo about the spots and to warn be careful and vigilant while going to their farms in the affected places.

Courtesy: AUTHORITY NEWSPAPER