Transparency Int’l Rates President Jonathan's Govt As Best, Says Buhari, Obasanjo Govts Worse

According to Transparency In­ternational’s data from 1979 till date, the tenures of both General Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo were more corrupt than the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The data also showed that under the administration of President Jonathan, Nigeria has recorded its best score in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) since 1979. This is in complete contrast to the sordid picture of rampant corruption being painted by the opposition, ardent critics of the Jonathan administration and much of the media in the last few years – especially in the build up to the general elections.
But the point that the figures from Transparency International make so clearly is that, in com­parative terms, Nigeria is actually much less corrupt today, and per­ceived globally to be much less corrupt today, than it has been in the last 35 years – including under the regimes of General Buhari and President Obasanjo, both of who wear the toga and chant the man­tra of anti-corruption. Shockingly, according to the TI data, President Obasanjo’s first tenure had the worst scale of corruption during the 35 years period between 1979 and 2015.
The TI Corruption Perception Index is a rating of countries from 1 to 100 showing their corruption scale. A rating of 1 is the worst and rating of 100 means a country is completely free of corruption. The pass mark is 50 and any country scoring below 50 is considered a corrupt country.
In the year 2000, Nigeria was ranked the most corrupt country in the world – and improved mar­ginally in 2001 and 2003 when it was rated the second most corrupt nation in the world in the TI’s Cor­ruption Perception Index. This was certainly not under the watch of President Jonathan.
Since 2012, Nigeria has made steady improvements in the CPI. Indeed, under President Jonathan, for the first time in decades, Nige­ria is not in the list of 1-10 most corrupt countries in the world.
In the 2014 Transparency In­ternational’s Corruption Percep­tion Index, issued in December, Nigeria was ranked 136 out of 175 countries surveyed in the re­port. This ranking placed Nigeria, alongside five other countries, as the 39th most corrupt country in the world. This is Nigeria’s best ranking in the last four years.
With this ranking, Nigeria leap­frogged eight countries within a space of one year – from the 31st most corrupt nation in 2013 to the 39th in 2014. This may be regard­ed by cynics as a small achieve­ment: but it represents a big step in the right direction.
Indeed, the administration of President Jonathan deserves some commendation for the positive steps it has taken, and the modest achievements it has made so far, in the war against corruption – rather than the vengeful knocks it is re­ceiving from various quarters.

--

97 Killed In Mosque By Boko Haram In The North-East

Boko Haram extremists gunned down nearly 100 Muslims praying in
mosques in a northeast Nigerian town during the holy month of Ramadan,
a government official and a self-defence fighter said Thursday.

The attack Wednesday night on the town of Kukawa came the day after
the Islamic extremist group attacked a village 35 kilometres (22
miles) away and killed another 48 men and boys, according to witnesses
who counted the dead.

The people of Kukawa were in several mosques, praying ahead of
breaking their daylong fast, when the extremists attacked. They killed
97 people, mainly men, said self-defence spokesman Abbas Gava and a
senior government official who spoke on condition of anonymity because
he is not authorized to give information to reporters.

Gava said his group's fighters in Kukawa said some militants also
broke into people's homes, killing women and children as they prepared
the evening meal.

Kukawa is 180 kilometres (110 miles) northeast of Maiduguri, the
biggest city in northeast Nigeria and the birthplace of Boko Haram.

Nigeria's homegrown extremist group often defiles mosques where it
believes clerics espouse too moderate a form of Islam. Wednesday's
attack follows a directive from the Islamic State group for fighters
to increase attacks during Ramadan. Boko Haram this year became the IS
group's West African franchise.

On Tuesday night, the extremists invaded the village of Mussaram,
ordered men and women to separate and then opened fire on the men and
boys, witnesses said.

"A total of 48 males died on the spot while 17 others escaped with
serious injuries," said Maidugu Bida, a self-defence official? based
in nearby Monguno who helped bury the dead.

On Monday, two suicide bombers blew themselves up prematurely in a
village outside Maiduguri just an hour before the arrival of Nigeria's
Vice-President Yemi Osinbanjo. He visited some of the hundreds of
thousands of people displaced by the 5-year-old Islamic uprising that
has killed more than 13,000 people and driven 1.5 million from their
homes.

Some of those killed in attacks in the past month had only just
returned to rebuild towns and villages recaptured this year from Boko
Haram by a multinational army.

—

Petrol Sells For N500 Per Litre In Anambra

Residents of Anambra State woke up on Wednesday to another round of
fuel scarcity due to the closure of most filling stations in protest
over what they described as high levies imposed on them by the state
government.

As a consequence, motorists and other users of petrol resorted to
buying the product from black marketers for as much as N500 per litre.

A petroleum products' marketer, Joseph Nwakpadolu, told our
correspondent that most of his colleagues closed their retail outlets
to protest the heavy levies imposed on them by the state government.

He said the marketers had to convene an emergency meeting to discuss
the levies and taxes imposed on them by the government.

Nwakpadolu said each filling station owner was being asked to pay a
huge sum annually, which he said would kill their businesses if
implemented.

He said the general meeting had become imperative after all efforts to
get the government to rescind the plan failed.

"We met to discuss the high levies the government has billed our
businesses; they are giving us a combined bill of over N500,000 per
year exclusive of tax. Our position is that the amount is high and
cannot be sustained if we must remain in business," he added.

The Chairman, Petroleum Dealers' Association of Nigeria, Anambra State
chapter, Chief Osita Ofodile, confirmed that the marketers were being
asked to pay over N500,000 each, which their colleagues in other
states were paying.

No government official could be reached for reaction because of the
state's Executive Council meeting that was still going on at 5.30pm
when this report was sent.

—PUNCH

Health Workers Raise Alarm Over Plot To Sell General Hospitals In Imo

The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) Imo State Chapter has raised
alarm on a plot to sell General Hospitals in the state by the state
government to private individuals.

The health union also accused the senior special adviser (SSA) to
Governor Rochas Okorocha on media, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo of misinforming
Imolites through unwarranted and incessant press releases on the
health sector.

In a press release by the secretary of the health body, Deacon Ikedi
Onah, the health union condemned the act as it has the aim of bringing
public ridicule and odium to them. "The attention of the Joint Health
Sector Union has been drawn to the unwarranted and incessant press
releases championed by the SSA on media to His Excellency Owelle Anayo
Rochas Okorocha OON, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo, which tends to castigate Imo
health workers and bring them to public ridicule and odium. The
organised unions feel highly embarrassed by that for whatever purpose
he seeks to achieve." he stated.

Also, the health workers on raising alarm in plot to sell the general
hospitals, said that the SSA media must be acting on this script, "We
are very much aware of the move by some people to convince the
government to sell the general hospital to them. SSA media, we are
sure, is acting on this script and should therefore be bold to
convince Imolites on this instead of resorting to blackmail of health
workers as political excuse."

Deacon Onah said that most of the hospitals are not fenced and there
is no security to protect lives of workers and hospital property. He
questioned why the SSA media refused to tell Imolites how many times
their female workers were raped and molested severally as a result of
inadequate security. He informed that the hospitals are grossly
understaffed and not equipped properly and that they have outdated
equipment. That the hospital roofs are leaking and there are no
sources of portable water supply and even electricity. He cited the
Mbieri Hospital that has only five (5) medical doctors but was shocked
of the government's claim of having fourteen (14) medical doctors and
fourteen nurses. More so, that they are being owed salaries since
March 2015 and wondered why the government never mentioned it.

The union insisted that they enjoyed cordial and harmonious
relationship with the government over four years. They called on the
governor to admonish her spokesperson to put a stop to such propaganda
so as to avoid the infusion of 'bad blood' in the existing industrial
harmony in the state.

—Trumpeta

Court Rules On Governor Vs ISIEC Board Case, Gives Imo Gov't Ultimatum To Pay Within 30 Days

Imo State Governor, Rochas Anayo Okorocha, his party APC and
supporters are not in good mood, following the recent judgement of the
National Industrial Court sitting in Owerri on case NICW/OW/18/2013
which not only that it did not favour the governor and three other
defendants but also gave the governor 30 days ultimatum.

After years of legal fireworks between the counsel representing the
dissolved leadership of Imo State Independent Electoral Commissioner
(ISIEC) and those of governor Okorocha, Attorney General of Imo State,
ISIEC and Imo State House of Assembly (IMHA) who are 1st, 2nd, 3rd and
4th defendants respectively from the State High Court to the National
Industrial Court. Yesterday, Wednesday 1st July 2015 witnessed the
conclusion of the case with a judgement by the Industrial Court.

Delivering her judgement, Hon Justice Olufunke Y. Anowe faulted the
governor's action to be unconstitutional and illegal, submitting that
the claimants were constitutionally and legally appointed by the
Government they served under, having gone through and passed the
mandatory and necessary procedures with due processes associated to
such appointment, including the mandatory screening by the state House
of Assembly.

Having declared the sack illegal, the National Industrial Court
ordered the immediate computation and payment of the salaries,
allowances and other entitlements due to the affected persons between
June 2012 and February 2015.

The Justice Anowe judgement also stated that, the governor and the
three other defendants have an ultimatum of thirty days to implement
the judgement of the honourable Court, on the contrary, the total
benefit of each claimants will attract an additional 10% penalty from
the defendants.

It will be recalled that the case was initially filed in the High
Court by Paul Ogujiofor, Kelvin Agbaegbu, Louis Onwunali and Philip
Onyelanka Onyenwoke before it was later transferred to the National
Industrial Court in 2012.

—Trumpeta

Why Okorocha Sacked LG Transition Committee Chairmen

The dissolution spree of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo St\te which
has touched Transition Chairmen and members of the caretaker
committees of the local government areas of Imo State has been
attributed to several factors.

One of Okoroch's top aides, in a statement said the Governor sent the
transition committee members of the 27 councils packing after weeks of
speculation that they will go the way of other Exco members who served
Okorocha in the just concluded first tenure.

The dissolution which did not come as a surprise package to the
chairmen can be said to be the apogee of heightened disaffection
between the governor and the TC Chairmen over management of funds
allocated to them for developmental projects in the past.

Trumpeta reports that Okorocha who was miffed at the manner the TC
chairmen began to plot their removal moments after he came in for the
second term.

It would be recalled that in the wake of the 2015 campaigns and to
make meaningful impact at the grassroots controlled by the councils, a
substantial amount of money was released to the council chairmen. The
gesture from the governor saw each of the TC Chairmen receive not less
than N30m to renovate and rescue ailing council secretariats in the
state. Government House authorities who were monitoring the projects
noticed defaults in the execution of the projects.

Of all the chairmen, two council chairmen during an interactive
session with Okorocha at Government House, Owerri only stood tall and
were exonerated from verbal lashes.

Only the two; chairmen of Oru West and Ezinitte were given attention
while an aggrieved Okorocha asked others to go and fine tune their
projects. The governor was also said to have left them empty-handed
and refused to pay them their monthly entitlements. It was at that
point the chairmen knew their days in office had been numbered.

Another factor that contributed to their removal was the incessant
bickering between the respective council bosses with their TC members
as well as leaders. This newspaper was informed that the governor was
disturbed by phlethora of complaints trailing the co-existence of TC
chairmen and their members, complaints from leaders of APC in the
councils had continued to flood the governor's office over conduct of
some chairmen.

The "fail and fail-out" order given to the sacked chairmen before the
2015 election was the last straw that broke the camel's back in the
misfortune that befell the chairmen. It was learnt that the governor
who was embarrassed that some TC chairmen lost in their booths and
wards during the March 28, and governorship election suspected
anti-party reasons for APC failure in the affected areas. That gave
reasons for their removal.

Meanwhile, the sacked chairmen have been given grace till Friday
before handing over to the DAGs of their respective LGAs.

—Trumpeta

Imo Secondary Schools Fail To Make WAEC Exam Chart

In the just concluded West African Examination Council (WAEC) national
grading and rating of top 100 secondary schools across the federation
which is an annual event, Imolites have expressed concern and
disappointments that no government-owned secondary school in the state
be it state or federal was shortlisted.

Since the inception of the rescue mission government of Governor
Rochas Okorocha and his much-publicised free education policy at all
levels, pundits have consistently berated the said free education
policy in the state and its quality. Many Imolites have been of the
view and opinion that the free education is fictitious and lacks
merit, while some have said it is a free education that is bereft of
class and standard.

The views of those who are of these opinions have been vindicated by
the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) list
of exclusive top 100 secondary schools nationwide, where no
government-run secondary school in Imo State was shortlisted, not even
the Rochas Foundation College in Imo State.

Speaking to our correspondent, one Mr. Chibuike Ezeala, an
educationist, expressed concerns and disappointment that Imo State,
which used to be ranked high in the whole federation in terms of
education, is now plummeting. He attributed this falling standard of
education in the state to the poor quality of teachers in the
secondary schools.

Mr Chibuike Ezeala, said that the free education policy, if there is
one on ground, should have fostered academic excellence in the state,
for which the state has been known for in the past. Making reference
to the WAEC exclusive top 100 secondary schools for the year 2014, he
questioned why no school in Imo State was among even the first fifty
shortlisted. He however congratulated Marist Brothers Juniorate,
Uturu, in Abia State, who came fourth in the rankings for salvaging
the reputation of the South-East.

The renowned educationist therefore called that it is high time the
missionaries took over the running of the schools in the state, adding
that out of the first fifty in the rankings, only one government
secondary school made the cut at 12th position, which is Airforce
Comprehensive Secondary School, Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, while the
prestigious St. Peter Claver Seminary, Okpala in Ngor Okpala, Imo
State came 48th.

According to the rankings, the top 100 schools for the 2015 Awards
includes: Lumen Christi International High School, Uromi, Edo State,
Loyola Jesuit College, Wuse FCT, Igbenedion Secondary School, Okada,
Edo State, Marist Brothers Juniorate, Uturu, Abia State, Grundtvig
International Secondary School, Oba Anambra, Oritamefa Baptists Model
Secondary School, Ibadan, Oyo State, Olashore Int'l School,
Iloka-Ijesha, Osun State, The Ambassador's College, Ota, Ogun State,
Presentation National High School, Benin City, Edo City and Nigerian
Turkish International College, Kaduna.

Mr Ezeala, while speaking on the way forward to raise the falling
standard of education in the state, suggested that the schools should
be handed over to the missionaries whom he said manage school systems
better than the government.

—Trumpeta

Economics Department Of IMSU Gets Accreditation

The School of Economics under the faculty of Social Sciences, Imo
State University, during the week, gained another milestone as they
passed accreditation following the department's astonishing
preparedness on ground to impact transmission of knowledge, reading
and learning.

This was revealed by the Head of Department, School of Economics who
recently was promoted as Associate Professor, Andy A. Igwemma, through
a phone conversation in which he confirmed that the accreditation team
expressed satisfaction with their findings in the econometrics
laboratory, library, conference room, quality of lecturers, teaching
aides and the conducive learning environment.

He described the team's excitement as an assurance to produce sound
economists and academicians that can contribute favourably in the
labour market disclosing that the team who arrived last Sunday for
their inspection on Monday, on completion departed last Wednesday.

Associate Prof. Igwemma deposited that the School of Economics has
proven to have the potentials of grooming academic excellence, an envy
of some departments in the university, he said that the School of
Economics have gone steps ahead of others with evidence, and added
that he remained confident in the continued functionality of the
laboratories with the capable hands of lecturers and the school
management.

In his appreciation, Associate Prof. Igwemma thanked everyone that
supported the department during last year's dinner/fund-raising party,
saying that the fund realized from the event helped to achieve the
success recorded.

In a swift remark, a senior lecturer of the department, Prof Ndubuisi
Nwaru pointed out that the passion exhibited by his H.O.D. induced the
excellent result gotten for the accreditation team adding that the
laudable milestone will be beneficial as he thanked all who supported
the project especially M.Sc 2013/2014, students who showed courage
worthy of emulation.

—Trumpeta

Governor Of US State Of Texas Signs Bill Into Law Allowing Pastors To Reject Gay Marriages

Republican Governor Greg Abbott of Texas signed into law a bill allowing his state’s clergy to refuse to officiate marriage ceremonies that violate their religious beliefs. Abbott said it is vital that religious leaders are “secure in knowing that religious freedom is beyond government’s reach.”

“Pastors now have the freedom to exercise their First Amendment rights,” said Abbott during the signing ceremony of the so-called “Pastor Protection Act” held outside the governor’s mansion. “Freedom of religion is the most sacred of our rights and our freedom to worship is secured by the Constitution. Religious leaders in the state of Texas must be absolutely secure in the knowledge that religious freedom is beyond the reach of government or coercion by the courts.”

“Texas took a small but important step to further protect the religious freedom of clergy in the face of increasing hostility toward people of faith in all walks of life,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement. “No pastor, priest, rabbi or other religious leader should be forced to perform or recognize a marriage that contradicts his or her sincere religious belief.”

Buhari Sacks DG Of SSS, Ita Ekpenyong, Appoints New Head Of The Agency

President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the Director General of the SSS, Ita Ekpenyong. He appointed Lawal Daura as new head of the agency.
-NTA

Fani-Kayode Changes Name To Celebrate Court Victory

A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who was acquitted and discharged of corruption charges Wednesday has announced a permanent change of surname to celebrate his victory in court.
In a moving press statement released after the court gave judgment, Mr. Fani-Kayode said he was dropping the surname he has borne all his life for another – Olukayode – in appreciation to God, who he said proved to the world he was innocent of the charges slammed on him.
“As a mark of honor and respect for the Lord and as an everlasting testimony of my love for and dedication to him, I wish to make it known to the Nigerian public that as from today my name will be changed,” the former minister said.
“It will no longer be David Oluwafemi Fani-Kayode but instead, it shall be David Oluwafemi Olukayode. Olukayode means “the Lord has brought me joy” and today he has done precisely that.
“As from this day, in honour of him and as a small tribute to my love for and total dependance on Him, that shall remain my family name. Once again, I give thanks to God for all that has happened to me and for this great deliverance. To him be all the glory.”
Read Mr. Fani-Kayode full statement below. It’s really moving and interesting.
Press Statement by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode on the Occasion of his Victory at the Federal High Court on 1st July 2015.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted, humbled and relieved by this verdict. In the last seven years, I have been subjected to the most malicious, vicious, sinister, well-orchestrated, insidious and devastating form of political persecution and wickedness.
The whole process almost destroyed my life, my family, my reputation, my health and my career. I thank God for his goodness, his mercy and for the fact that today, the whole nightmare has finally come to an end.
Initially, I was accused of stealing N19.5bn of public funds when I was Minister of Aviation. It was thrown out by the courts. Then I was accused of stealing N6.5bn. It was thrown out by the courts. Then I was accused of laundering N200m. It was thrown out by the courts.
Then I was accused of laundering N99m. It was thrown out by the courts. Finally, I was accused of laundering N1m and N1.1m respectively, and today, both of these charges have also been thrown out by the courts.
I give thanks to God for today’s verdict. It is the doing of the lord and it is marvelous in our sight. Once again, he has proved that he is faithful and true and that he always honors his word.
I wish to thank my family members, leaders of the Body of Christ, intercessors, pastors, political associates and friends who never doubted my innocence and who stood by me through thick and thin. I wish to thank my lawyers who worked so hard and so diligently over the last seven years throughout this case.
I wish to thank the Nigerian judiciary for dispensing justice in an honest and God-fearing way and for refusing to be intimidated by anyone or guided by anything other than the evidence presented before them in this case.
They dispensed justice with candor and fairness, and throughout the proceedings, they were fair to all, honest, courageous, professional and true.
I thank them for refusing to send an innocent man to jail and for refusing to allow themselves to be used as tools for personal and vindictive vendettas or political persecution.
This gruesome ordeal started seven years ago and throughout that period, it was grueling and difficult. They took seven years from me but they couldn’t break me or end my life.
It was a very difficult period for both me and my family which came with enormous and unimaginable challenges, yet from day one I never doubted that I would be vindicated because God had assured me of it and I know the God that I serve. He never lies and He never fails.
He said, through his Holy Spirit, that my innocence would speak for me and that he would fight this battle for me and he did.

He has proved all that throughout my life and he has proved it once again with the verdict in this case. To him alone be all the glory.
When the ordeal began seven years ago the Lord ministered that it would last for seven years but that in the end, I would be declared innocent, I would be vindicated and I would be delivered.
Again he honored his word because the whole nightmare started on 1st of July 2008 when I was arrested in the premises of the Nigerian Senate after the public hearing on the N19.5 billion Naira Aviation Intervention Fund.
I was cleared of any wrong doing in the administration of that fund by the Senate Commitee on Aviation yet despite that, immediately after the sitting before the Comimitee, I was abducted and arrested in an unceremonious and shameul fashion and locked up by the Farida Waziri-led EFCC for 10 days and charged to a magistrate court in Abuja.
Today, the 1st of July 2015, seven years to the day from that day when I was first arrested and first put into detention, I have been discharged and acquitted of all remaining charges by the courts.
The Lord has, once again, honored his word, to him alone be the glory.
As a mark of honour and respect for the Lord and as an everlasting testimony of my love for and dedication to him, I wish to make it known to the Nigerian public that as from today my name will be changed.
It will no longer be David Oluwafemi Fani-Kayode but instead, it shall be David Oluwafemi Olukayode. Olukayode means “the Lord has brought me joy” and today he has done precisely that.
As from this day, in honor of him and as a small tribute to my love for and total dependance on Him, that shall remain my family name. Once again, I give thanks to God for all that has happened to me and for this great deliverance. To him be all the glory.
I swore that I would not leave the shores of Nigeria until this matter was finally brought to an end and the courts had pronounced my innocence. That was seven years ago.
I kept faith with that oath and it gives me pleasure to tell you that now that the whole ordeal is over I shall be leaving the shores of my beloved country for the first time in seven years for a short holiday and a long overdue medical examination.
They not only threw the whole book at me but also the entire kitchen sink but the Lord was with me. I stood on His words in Isaiah 50 v.7-9 and I never faltered or doubted Him even in the most difficult times.
Now they know that I serve a mighty God who never forsakes His own. I thank the media for their constant support and attention and I thank the millions of Nigerian people that chose to believe in me and to keep faith with me throughout this ordeal. Once again, I give thanks to the Lord. God bless you all.
Signed:
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (Chief Oluwafemi Olukayode)
1st July, 2015

Tribunal Dismisses Agbaje’s Petition, Upholds Ambode’s Election

The Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has upheld the
victory of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who was returned winner of the
April 11, 2015 poll in Lagos State by the Independent National
Electoral Commission.

The three-man tribunal, led by Justice Muhammad Sirajo, dismissed the
petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Jimi
Agbaje, seeking nullification of Ambode's victory.

Ambode polled 811,994 votes ahead of his strongest contender, Agbaje,
who polled 659,788 votes to emerge the first runner-up.

But Agbaje and the PDP had approached the tribunal claiming that the
April 11, 2015 governorship poll in Lagos State was conducted in
breach of the INEC's specified guidelines, adding that the said
election was fraught with irregularities.

But the tribunal on Wednesday, in a ruling on the consolidated
preliminary objection of Ambode and his party, the All Progressives
Congress, against the case of the petition, described Agbaje and the
PDP's petition as incompetent and therefore dismissed it.

—ThePUNCH

Court Frees Fani-Kayode Of Money Laundering Charges

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode

A Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed the money laundering
charges levelled against a former Minister of Aviation, Femi
Fani-Kayode, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The trial judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, in a judgment on
Wednesday, freed Fani-Kayode after holding that "the prosecution case
is feeble" and had failed to prove the allegations against the accused
person beyond reasonable doubt.

—ThePUNCH

PDP Rejects Zakari As INEC Boss

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has rejected
the appointment of Mrs. Amina Zakari as the Acting National Chairman
of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Zakari was appointed as the acting boss of the commission on Tuesday
by President Muhammadu Buhari following the conclusion of the term of
office of Prof. Attahiru Jega.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi,
who conveyed the appointment in a letter, said the appointment was
with effect from 30th June 2015 until the appointment of a substantive
Chairman.

But before her appointment was announced, Jega had handed over to Amb.
Mohammed Wali, a national commissioner of the commission from Sokoto
State.

While rejecting the appointment of Zakari, the PDP alleged that the
new acting boss of the electoral body "is too close to the
Presidency."

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, stated
his party's position at a crowded press conference in Abuja on
Wednesday.

Metuh said his party would want the acting chairman of the commission
to state her alleged closeness to the Presidency and one of the
governors of the All Progressives Congress from the North-West.

—ThePUNCH

Two Suicide Bombers Detonate Explosives Near Maiduguri As VP Osibanjo Visits

Two suicide bombers detonated explosives in the northeast Nigerian village of Molai on Wednesday, about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) south of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, which Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was visiting.
The two bombers killed themselves in the blast and injured two others around 11 a.m. near a hospital that was the site of an attack last weekend that left five people dead, Hassan Ibrahim, a militia member, said by phone from Maiduguri.
Osinbajo was visiting people in Maiduguri displaced by the Islamist insurgency in the northeast. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari came to office last month vowing to crush a six-year insurgency by Boko Haram. The rebels have stepped up attacks at markets and other public places since losing territory earlier this year after a regional military offensive.
“It must have been accidental detonation as no known persons or structure were targeted by the suicide bombers,” Ibrahim said. “Many residents including patients on admission at the hospital were left scampering for safety.”

--BloombergBusiness

Naira Weakens Further On Parallel Market

The naira fell further on Wednesday to 230 to the dollar on the parallel market, driven by pressure from importers excluded from the interbank market, currency traders said.
The naira traded at 228 to the dollar on Tuesday and was at 220 last Wednesday, the day the central bank introduced new rules curbing importers’ access to the interbank market to source greenbacks to buy a wide range of items.
“The market is very volatile now as a result of the restrictions placed on about 41 items by the central bank. Most importers are now patronising the parallel market to source their dollars,” said Harrison Owoh, the head of a foreign exchange bureau.
The naira was trading at 198.95 to the dollar on the interbank market on Wednesday. The central bank lowered its exchange rate peg to 196.95 to the dollar on Tuesday from 196.90 last week.

--BusinessDay

Buhari Appoints Mrs Zakari As Acting Chairman INEC

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mrs Amina Bala Zakari as the Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the conclusion of the term of Office of Prof. Attahiru Jega.

Mrs Amina Bala Zakari
This was disclosed in a statement signed by Haruna Imrana, Director of Communications for the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
According to the statement, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Barr. Danladi Kifasi who conveyed the appointment in a letter, said it is with effect from June 30, 2015 until the appointment of a substantive Chairman.
Mrs. Zakari is presently a National Electoral Commissioner at INEC.

Mikel Obi Set For Inter Milan Switch

According to the Daily Mail, one of Inter Milan’s targets is chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel. Mikel would be a second choice signing in case that Inter Milan, who just acquired Monaco’s French midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, can’t take hold of Galatasaray’s Felipe Melo.

Inter Milan is also in talks with attacking midfielder Juan Cuadrado according to Gianluca DiMarzio.

The Italian journalist reports that with Fiorentina in advanced talks to secure Salah’s definitive transfer, a window has opened to Inter Milan to swoop in for the Colombian player. The deal would be a loan with a forced option to buy, as is custom with most Italian transfers that they might consider a risky investment.

Both rumours make sense. Mikel was most recently linked with UAE club Al-Ain, but many people feel that he still has something to offer in a top European club, and Italy seems to be a perfect fit for him.

As for Cuadrado, after a less than impressive Copa America showing excluding one game against Brazil his future with Chelsea doesn’t look any brighter. Chelsea might be wise in trying to cut or diminish their losses after signing the player in the latest winter transfer window.

Express UK

CBN Extends BVN Registration Exercise

The Central Bank of Nigeria has extended the deadline for the ongoing registration for the Bank Verification number from 30th of June, 2015 to 31st of October, 2015.

"It has come to our notice that the BVN registration has elicted tremendous interst from the Nigerian banks' customers who crowded the banking halls in order to beat the deadline," a circular signed by Dipo Fatokun, Director, Banking and Payments System Department says.

"Furthermore, there is the need to give Nigerian Banks' customers in diaspora ample time to enroll on the program," it added.

The statement said it has become imperative for the bank to extend the timeline for all bank customers to have the BVN following the developments.

"The deadline for enrolment is hereby extended from 30th June, 2015 to 31st October, 2015. This extension is expected to facilitate a smooth completion of the registration exercise." it said.

The guideline for their enrolment is being finalised and will be released soon, it added.

Ebola Returns To Liberia After Nation Declared Free Of Virus

A teenager has died of Ebola in a remote Liberian village, shattering hopes the nation defeated the disease when it was declared free of the virus in early May by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Tolbert Nyenswah, Liberian deputy minister for surveillance and disease control, said Tuesday that the virus had been positively identified in the 17-year-old boy's remains. "I can tell you that a ... corpse was confirmed Ebola positive after two separate testings," Nyenswah said.
The boy fell ill June 21 and died three days later in a village of Margibi County, an area that stretches from the coastline southeast of Monrovia into Liberia's central region in the northeast. It borders Bong County, which is adjacent to Guinea where Ebola infections have persisted.
Nyenswah, who headed Liberia's Ebola response during the outbreak, said health workers are tracking 27 people who had contact with the teenager to see if they develop the disease. More people are expected to be identified as potentially at risk, he added. Nyenswah said he is confident the virus' spread is under control.
Tarik Jasarevic, a WHO spokesman, said Tuesday that "although this (Liberia Ebola death) is not the situation we were hoping for, this incident shows that the alert system is working, that there is the capacity to quickly identify, isolate, treat and track every contact and stop further spread of the disease. It is critical that the Liberian people remain vigilant."
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said one of its rapid-response teams is assisting with the investigation of the boy's death.
Until being declared Ebola free in May, Liberia had suffered more than any other West African country in this latest and most deadly Ebola outbreak in history. More than 4,800 Liberians died after the first case surfaced in December 2013, and the rate of infectious reached a crescendo early last fall.
In neighboring Guinea and Sierra Leona, the combined total number of new infections has remained steady for several weeks at between 20 and 27, according to WHO.
Despite efforts to track all persons exposed to the disease, WHO workers say new Ebola cases continue to arise among victims who are not being tracked. This makes it more difficult to break the chain of transmission for the disease, which has a death rate of 50% or more.
Also troubling are two new cases of infections among health workers, a circumstance disease-control officials had hoped to prevent. Both cases occurred in Guinea, which had not reported a health care worker infection in two months, according to WHO. More than 500 health workers have died since the epidemic began.
At the peak of the outbreak, Liberia was reporting 300 to 400 new cases every week. Last fall, President Obama sent nearly 3,000 U.S. troops to Liberia to build treatment centers, train health care staff and conduct laboratory tests of body fluids to confirm diagnoses of the disease.
That deployment dwindled to a few dozen troops in recent months and officially ended Tuesday with all service members pulling out of the nation, according to Kimberley Jurado, a spokeswoman for U.S. Army Africa.
There was a national celebration of fasting, prayer, singing and dancing when Liberia was declared free of Ebola on May 9, a decision rendered after 42 days passed without a new infection, twice the 21-day incubation period for the deadly virus. Schools and sports facilities reopened, and and the Confederation of African Football cleared Liberia to host international games.
Nyenswah said the national health system's ability to "quickly detect the (new) case means our system is working and is able to deal with any situation. No need to panic at this moment."
The case was discovered after a burial team in Margibi County was alerted to the boy's mysterious death. The team collected bodily fluid, which later tested positive for Ebola, Nyenswah said. The village where the boy was from was placed under quarantine and food was among the worst impacted areas during the outbreak.

15-yr-old SSS Student Commits Suicide In Imo

A 15-year-old senior secondary school student, identified as Paschal Egbosimba, last weekend committed suicide at Uratta in Owerri North local council area of Imo State.
Vanguard gathered that the deceased, who hailed from Ntueke, Ideato South local government  area of the state, was living with his mother and siblings around Toronto Junction, Uratta, before the incident.
“Paschal was a senior secondary school student of Passion Model Secondary School, Egbu. He used an electric extension cable to hang himself from a ceiling fan, when his mother was away for a night vigil,” a witness who pleaded anonymity, recounted.
Although the remains of late Paschal had been removed to an unknown morgue when Vanguard arrived the scene, some sympathizers were seen taking turns to console the anguished mother.
The late boy’s mother, who wept uncontrollably, was heard saying she never scolded the deceased, adding that there was no reason for him to have hanged himself.
Another sympathizer reasoned that the incident was as shocking as it had remained a mystery.
“The incident was very shocking. It has remained a mystery till now, especially as the young boy was neither troublesome nor noisy,” a source said.
When Vanguard visited Owerri North Divisional Police Headquarters, Uratta, for enquiries, a police man on duty, who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, confirmed the incident, adding that the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, had already visited the scene.

--Vanguard

Prof. Jega To Bow Out Of INEC Today

Following the expiration of his five-year tenure as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, will bow out of the Commission today, June 30th.

Jega who is from Kebbi State, North-West geopolitical zone, is leaving with six National Commissioners.

They are: Col. M.K. Hammanga (Rtd), Adamawa state, (North East); Dr Ishmael Jikiri Igbani, Rivers state, (South South); Prof. Lai Olurode, Osun state, (South West); Dame Gladys Nne Nwafor, Abia state, (South East); Mrs Thelma Amata Iremiren, Delta state, (South South); and Engr. Dr. Nuru A. Yakubu, OON, Yobe state, (North East). They were inaugurated by former President Goodluck E. Jonathan on 30th June 2010.

Four other National Commissioners will also leave the Commission in July and August this year. They are: Dr. Abdulkadir S. Oniyangi, OFR, Kwara state,  (North Central), whose tenure will expire on 21st July 2015; Mrs Amina Bala Zakari, Jigawa state, (North West); whose tenure will also expire on 21st July 2015; Dr Chris O. Iyimoga, Nasarawa state, (North Central); whose tenure will expire on11th August 2015; and Amb. (Dr.) Mohammed Ahmad Wali, Sokoto state, (North West) whose tenure will also expire on 11th August 2015.

The tenure of 16 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) has also expired, following which they left the Commission last week.

Prof. Jega was appointed Chairman of INEC in June, 2010, by ex-president Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan nominated Jega at the end of the National Council of State meeting in Aso Rock, Abuja.

Prof. Jega’s appointment followed the exit of former Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Maurice Iwu, who vacated the post on 28 April, 2010. Prof. Iwu organised the 2007 general elections labeled one of the worst in Nigeria’s electoral history. At the time of his appointment, Jega was the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, BUK, Kano. He is from Kebbi State.

He came to limelight as President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, in the early 90s, when he led the academic union during the period of former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida. He was head of Political Science, Bayero University, Kano, before his appointment as Vice Chancellor of the university. His appointment as INEC boss came 4 months before the expiry of his term as VC.

Incidentally, Prof. Jega had served as member in the Uwais Electoral Reforms Committee established by late president, Umar Yar’Adua, to suggest reforms for the electoral body. INEC, at the end of the 2007 election, had become notorious for organizing doubtful elections.

As Jega bows out today, analysts have suggested that effort be made to build on his achievements while also correcting the lapses noticed during his term. According to them, this is how the electoral body can ultimately perfect its operations.

Explosions Rock Agip Facility In Rivers, Cut Off 20,000bpd

Residents of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State were on Monday thrown into panic when a facility belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company went up in flames after two explosions, thereby cutting of 20,000 barrels per day of crude oil production.

Reuters quoted an official of the company as saying that the fire, which has not spread beyond the tanks’ containment basin, started on Sunday evening and firefighters were trying to contain the blaze.

“The impact on production net to Eni is approximately 20,000 bpd,” the source said, adding, “I can’t confirm when production will start again.”

The official said the cause of the fire was being investigated.

Some residents of Ebeocha town, who were getting set for their various businesses, were jolted by the deafening sound of an explosion in the facility.

The people became more apprehensive because a similar explosion had occurred at the same point around 10pm on Sunday.

An eyewitness told our correspondent that no casualty was recorded as fire fighters from Agip and Total Exploration and Production raced to the place to put out the inferno.

The eyewitness, who identified himself simply as Ella, said, “Nobody was injured and nobody died. When it happened, fire service men came almost immediately to fight the fire. We cannot really say what caused the explosion.

“We heard the first explosion in the night on Sunday before the second one that caused the fire outbreak.”

Speaking on the incident, the Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Mr. Augustine Ahiamadu, dismissed speculations that the incident could be as a result of sabotage.

Ahiamadu, who said the cause of the fire could be mechanical, described the site where the incident happened as a high risk zone, adding that the tanks were old and needed to be replaced.

The council chairman, however, said though two explosions occurred Sunday night, he could not confirm if there was any casualty.

Security operatives have since been drafted to the place, even as some people, who believed there would be more explosions, have begun to leave Ebeocha.

--PUNCH

Why Buhari Won’t Appoint Ministers ‘In The Next Two Months’

President Muhammadu Buhari may not appoint ministers “in the next two months”, The Nation learnt at the weekend.

Three factors may account for the delay. They are:

•the President’s plan to clear the “rot” inherited from the Goodluck Jonathan administration;

•the crisis in the National Assembly over the choice of principal officers; and

•the need to reduce ministries and parastatals.

But the reduction or merger of ministries or parastatals will, however, not lead to retrenchment of workers.

A Presidency source, who had a confidential briefing with some journalists in Abuja, said the mess Buhari inherited was “sickening”.

The source said: “You cannot even begin to imagine the situation we have met on the ground.

”Almost everything is in a state of decay. There is absolutely no way the new government can hope to achieve anything long-lasting without first building a new foundation.”

The source said President Buhari’s plan of action could be compared to that of “a doctor who first has to break a poorly set bone afresh, before resetting it to allow for smooth and proper growth”.

On the National Assembly crisis, the source said it was “yet one more excuse why forming a cabinet will be impossible until further notice”.

He added: “Look at how they are fighting among themselves.

“The Senate has now adjourned till July 21. That means no one to scrutinize or approve any ministerial list until the end of July.”

When told that the National Assembly said it was ready to cut short its break to consider any request from the President, the source asked the reporters to await the President’s “long-awaited” intervention in the crisis between the party and the National Assembly.

”The President wants to walk his talk on stable politics and being a leader for all. He has a plan for the National Assembly.”

The source debunked the insinuations that the delay in appointing ministers had stalled the government.

He said  civil servants had been “supervising the day-to-day running of ministries and that permanent secretaries of the various ministries have access to the President”.

He added: “All these reports and agitations are being fuelled by politicians who want to put pressure on the President.

“They have tried doing it other ways and those haven’t worked. Now, they are trying to use the media. They only want their cronies appointed to ministerial posts anyhow and they are fuelling the agitation through newspapers.”

He advised the media not to fall for the “old tricks and shenanigans” of politicians.

Buhari is set to reduce or merge some ministries and parastatals to make the size of the civil service manageable for efficiency.

The exercise will, however, not lead to retrenchment of workers.

The source added: “The President plans to cut down the number of ministries and parastatals.

“He wants to cut down the cost of running government. He wants to make sure that all the loopholes that enable corruption to thrive are blocked. All these are procedures that require time and careful planning. You cannot do it in a rush.

“Remember that he has to make sure that all this is done without any job losses or mass retrenchments. All this is not a day’s or one-month job.”

He added that President Buhari could not realistically have begun this process without first receiving the full report of the transition committee and ascertaining exactly the situation his government faced.

The spokesmen of the President, Mr. Femi Adesina (Special Adviser on Media and Publicity) and Mallam Garba Shehu (the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity) said this narrative as the “nearest to the truth than all that are being peddled by many others.”

The President has been criticised in the past few weeks for allegedly being slow in constituting his cabinet.

Some critics accused Buhari of not planning enough to hit the ground running since his election on March 28.

--TheNation

Legalize Illegal Refineries -- Stakeholders Urge FG

Stakeholders in the Nigerian oil and gas industry have urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to encourage more private sector players in the setting up and operation of new refineries across the country.

As part of the move, they asked the government to consider allowing some illegal refineries to start operating legally after they might have met global standards.

The stakeholders said this at a quarterly round-table programme organised by the Nigerian NewsDirect newspaper with the theme, ‘Setting agenda for the new government on private refineries, power supply, indigenous participation and financing.’

Government’s encouragement in this regard, they noted, would drive investment in private refineries in the country, while leading to refining of crude oil locally and guaranteeing the availability of refined products.

The Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shield, recently stated that it raided illegal distillation camps where it destroyed illegal refineries.

However, stakeholders who gathered at the forum said instead of the government destroying those refineries, it should rather provide an enabling environment that would encourage more investment in local refineries.

A former Commissioner for Finance, Osun State, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, who was the guest speaker at the programme, said it was amazing that security agencies were still destroying illegal refineries in the country.

He said instead of destroying the refineries, the government should look at how the owners could be engaged for the benefit of the country.

Bolorunduro said, “I agree that it is illegal to own those refineries because they didn’t go through due process before they started their operations and I also believe that the destruction of those refineries will not be in the best interest of the country.

“What the government should do is to legalise those refineries. The government should look at how they can call the owners of those refineries together and see how the country can benefit from them.” Bolorunduro said.

Bolorunduro, who was represented by a Senior Special Adviser to the Osun State Governor, Mr. Ogini Kolawole, implored the Federal Government to create an enabling environment that would encourage investment in more private refineries in the country.

A former Executive Secretary, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, Dr. Oluwole Oluleye, said building of new refineries was one of the things that was talked about while setting up the PPPRA.

He implored the government to legalise the operations of the illegal refineries in the country.

Citing the refinery being built by the Dangote Group, Oluleye stated that whether the government continued with the payment of subsidy on refined products or not, Dangote had done the right thing, adding that the project would create jobs for Nigerians.

About 11 years ago, the Federal Government through the Department of Petroleum Resources licensed some private operators to set up 18 refineries in the country. Out of this number, according to the DPR, it is only Niger Delta Petroleum Refinery that is functioning and producing 1,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Speaking on the failure of the other 17 private operators, the Head, Downstream Monitoring and Regulation, DPR, Mr. Maigida Mudei, said that lack of funds was one of the major reasons given by the operators for their inaction.

--PUNCH

Fresh Fees Payment Rocks IMSU Irrespective Of Free Education In The State

Even as the Rescue Mission government of Rochas Okorocha has reiterated its stand on absolute free education at all levels since after his victory for a second term in office, fresh levy palaver seems to have reared up its ugly head between the management of the Imo State University, IMSU, and its students once again.
Trumpeta reports that the attention of students of the state-owned university has been drawn to a notice about a new levy tagged “IMSU graduation/post-graduates levy”.
According to the notice, graduates of the institution from 2008 till date are required to pay the sum of twenty thousand naira (N20,000) before the collection of their degree certificate/statement of results/convocation. Each graduate or post-graduate is expected to present his or her original bank teller before collection of their results.
The affected students who spoke to our reporter on anonymity expressed their displeasure over the new development accusing the management of creating unnecessary hardship and tension on the students.
One of the students who is expecting to proceed for his NYSC programme by November this year noted that the action makes nonsense of the so-called free education the state government claims it is running in the state, pointing out that while non-indigenes who pay seventy thousand naira (N70,000) as school fees will pay extra N20,000 for the new levy, totalling N90,000. Imo indigenes will spend N20,000 plus another N20,000 making it N40,000they paid to access the N100,000 school fees bond from the state government.
An inside source told Trumpeta that this latest notice on payment was part of the reasons why the former Vice Chancellor, Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie was unceremoniously relieved of his appointment.
The source revealed that Prof. Awuzie was asked to see how school fees could be subtly introduced in the school again but he asked how such could be communicated to the school community and the entire state that have been told that education is free.
His total refusal to blow the false tune was part of the undercurrent why he was ousted.

--Trumpeta

Imo Govt Bans Construction Of Mortuary Near Residential Homes

In its effort to sanitize Imo and make it a modern model state, the state government has put to stop the construction of a mortuary near residential buildings at Aladinma, Owerri.
The Chief of Staff Imo Government House, Chief Uche Nwosu made this known yesterday during his working visit to different Estates in Owerri.
Chief Nwosu while at Aladinma extension near West African Examination Board (WAEC) discovered a mortuary that was sited near residential buildings and immediately ordered the owner to stop further construction on the project.
In his words “we are here to verify the authenticity of the demonstration and complains made by people especially the residents who live in Aladinma Housing Estate extension, concerning the site of a big mortuary near their homes.
Speaking further, he disclosed that OCDA has been directed to look into the building approval and compare it with what have in the master plan adding that the contractor should be properly investigated.
“I still have reservation about the mortuary because it is very close to residential buildings” Uche Nwosu submitted.
The owner of the project, Dr Ego Osuala who said he is a Chief consultant physician, in his reaction said he has heard all the complains and demonstration of people who claimed to be residents living near the hospital mortuary. “This place is designed to help people. I have a Hospital here and a Hospital of this magnitude should have” mortuary.

--Trumpeta

Why New Imo Speaker, Acho Ihim Likes Chewing Gum

Since getting the unanimous mandate to be the number one lawmaker in the Imo State House of Assembly, one common character that is noticed in the new Speaker, Acho Ihim, is the art of chewing gum.
Trumpeta authoritatively reveals that the two-time member representing Okigwe State constituency has developed the knack to always battle with his teeth during plenary session of the House. Further investigation by the newspaper however disclosed that what gyrates in the new Speaker’s mouth is “chewing gum”, thereby making his lips not to be steady.
However, Trumpeta learnt that Ihim’s love for “chewing gum” is an old fashion peculiar to his normal style of easing tension. According to those who have been associating with him since his inauguration, Ihim is yet to calm his nerves while learning how to preside over the House made up of 26 members. As first among equals, Ihim is battling to find a methodology that will keep him afloat on the elevated seat like his predecessor, Rt. Hon Ben Uwajumogu did. But to soak up the pressure, his usual chewing gum fun has come to his rescue. Ihim’s mouth-twisting is always what to watch out for during sitting of the House.

--Trumpeta

‘Abducted’ Former FUTA VC Found Dead In His House

The dead body of a former Vice Chancellor of FUTA, Professor Albert Ilemobade, who was said to have been kidnapped, has been found in his house at Ijapo in Akure, Ondo State capital on Sunday morning.

According to a family source, Professor Ilemobade’s driver and gateman killed the former University Don in his house and made away with his Toyota SUV.

However, they ran out of luck as Police intercepted the car at Ogun State, which led to the arrest of the suspects and eventual discovery of Professor Ilemobade’s dead body at the store in his house.

The decomposed body of the professor has been deposited at an undisclosed mortuary in the state capital.

Professor Ilemobade had been reported kidnapped last Sunday when his whereabouts were unknown.

The Public Relations Officer of Ondo State Police Command, Wole Ogodo, told Channels TV correspondent that the Command would brief the press as soon as they get enough relevant information about it.

Abduction Story

In the earlier report during the week, which has now been found to be untrue, Professor Ilemobade was said to have been abducted alongside his gateman at his residence.

His housemaid reportedly saw the gunmen when they took the former don away.

According to the report, the gunmen, on their arrival at the residence of the former Vice Chancellor, approached the gateman, but before he knew what was happening a gun was reportedly pointed at him and he was asked to lead them to the living room where the former Vice Chancellor was accosted and asked to follow them to their vehicle.

The so-called abductors whisked both the Professor and the gateman away to an unknown destination.

--ChannelsTV

Banks To Ban 14.6million Customers Come Wednesday, July 1

Come Wednesday July 1, 2015, Deposit Money Banks will start denying about 14.6 million customers access to banking services.

The Bankers’ Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) attributed it to their failure to obtain the compulsory Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs).

The BVN initiative which commenced in February 2014 obliges customers to do biometric registration and obtain BVN; a unique number for proper identification.

This will also help banks identify customers through their fingerprints. Each bank customer’s fingerprint is linked to a unique number.

According to the Bankers’ Committee, the exercise closes officially on Tuesday, June 30, 2015.

The committee disclosed that as at June 11, 2015, 14 million customers had been registered under the BVN project.

According to the Punch, statistics from the Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access shows about 28.6 million adults in the country have bank accounts.This figures implies that about 14.6 million bank customers are yet to obtain BVNs.

Statistical analysis from the Electronic Payment Providers Association of Nigeria also indicates that the number of bank account holders (individuals, including children, and organisations) has reached 76 million in contrast to the official population of 170 million people in the country.

“We also discussed the electronic banking space. In the area of BVN, we have done 12.5 million customers and this is a substantial mileage. There is still a need to close the gap before the deadline of June 30 and any customer that hasn’t done so will not enjoy banking services’’ Managing Director, United Bank for Africa Plc, Phillips Oduoza said.

Naij.com gathered that customers now engage in last-minute rush to register for BVN before the deadline elapses.

While long queues have surfaced in banks, some market women and petty traders interrogated by this medium however, claimed they are unaware of the policy.

Though the committee stated it is important to close the gap before the scheduled  deadline, there was no indication the deadline would be extended as at when this report was compiled.

The committed in collaboration with the CBN seem set to wield the big stick this time as any customer who fails to obtain BVN will be denied banking services from Wednesday, July 1, 2015.

--INFORMATION NIGERIA

Devise Ways Of Paying Workers Salaries – Buhari Tells Governors

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on state governors to consider, as a matter of urgency, exploring efficient means of gradually liquidating all unpaid salaries of staff, which have brought untold hardship to thousands of families.
Inaugurating the national economic council  at the presidential villa Monday morning, ‎President Buhari also called on the states to also devise ways of increasing their revenue base in order to cushion the effect s of dwindling revenue from the federation account.
The national economic Council  is made up of the 36 state governors, minister‎s of Finance and National as well as the Attorney General of the Federation.

--Vanguard

REVEALED: Buhari, Saraki Not On Speaking Terms

The crisis between President Muhammadu Buhari and Senate President Bukola Saraki is taking its toll on executive-legislature relations as both men are not on speaking terms, TheCable reports.
Buhari, who preferred Ahmad Lawan as senate president, is still livid with Saraki for cutting a deal with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and outsmarting the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in the race for Nigeria’s No. 3 position.
Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, also went against the party’s choice of Femi Gbajabiamila and won a closely fought contest.
But Buhari is particularly irked that a member of the PDP, Ike Ekweremadu, was elected deputy senate president.
Although Buhari initially promised to work with Saraki after expressing his disappointment that the party’s instructions were not obeyed, he remarkably did not congratulate Saraki and has repeatedly stalled on attempts by the senate president to reach out to him.
“Since June 9, both men have not spoken on phone, much less seen eye-to-eye. Buhari feels nauseated by the events leading to Saraki’s emergence. It was a frontal attack,” a political associate of the president told TheCable.
TheCable learnt that Saraki made efforts to reach out to Buhari but had no breakthrough as all communication channels were blocked.
“He initially wanted to know when Buhari would like to send the ministerial nominations for screening so that he could tailor the programme of the senate to fit into the timeframe, but he met a brickwall, so he adjourned till June 23, in hope that things would have calmed down by then,” a source in the know of the development said.
While Dogara and Saraki are seen as “rebels” by the APC leaders, Buhari is more disposed to working with the speaker because he was more interested in the senate leadership.
“The north-east has a very good argument to produce the senate president having been marginalised in northern Nigeria politics for long. That was why Lawan, who was never a member of PDP, was preferred by the president for the position,” the source further said.
The storm was worsened when the senate reconvened last week and appointed principal officers not favoured by the APC leadership.
It had been suggested to Buhari that Lawan should be majority leader in order to put Saraki in check, with Bola Tinubu’s ally, George Akume, serving as deputy leader.
“The original plan was that Buhari would be dealing with the senate through Lawan rather than have direct contact with Saraki, but again Lawan was rejected and Ali Ndume, who is a Saraki ally, was picked instead,” the source added.
A major problem Lawan faced was that the senate caucus from the north-east, his geo-political zone, were not well disposed to him.
“Of the 14 APC north-east senators who spoke, only two wanted Lawan. Ndume had 12 in his corner. It was going to be difficult to pick Lawan as majority leader. All the zonal caucuses chose whom they wanted,” a pro-Saraki senator told TheCable.
An already delicate situation was worsened after the choice of principal officers as Saraki and his allies are now accused of undermining “party supremacy”.
Those sympathetic to Saraki are asking, however, if the APC leaders would be sending a list of ministerial nominees with portfolios to Buhari as it did in its letters to the senate president and speaker over the appointment of principal officers of the national assembly.

--TheCableNG

Petr Cech Joins Arsenal

Petr Cech has agreed to join Arsenal from Chelsea on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.

Commenting on his new acquisition, Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, said, “Petr Cech is a player that I have admired for a long time and I am very pleased that he has decided to join us.

“He has proven over many seasons that he is one of the outstanding keepers in the world and he will add great strength to our squad.”

New signing Cech said, “I’m really excited about joining Arsenal Football Club and can’t wait to join up for pre-season. I have the same commitment to football, the same motivation and the same hunger for success as I had at the beginning of my career, and I love the challenges brought by the top quality players you face while playing in the Premier League.

“When Arsène Wenger spoke to me about his ambitions for this club, and how he saw me as part of this team, the decision was clear.”

Cech has completed his medical and will join up with his new team-mates shortly to begin preparations for the 2015/16 season.

Cech’s Arsenal squad number will be revealed soon through Arsenal’s official Instagram account.

The 33-year-old goalkeeper made over 400 appearances during 11 years at Stamford Bridge, winning multiple club and personal honours. He also won the Premier League Golden Glove award on three occasions.

A seven-time Czech Footballer of the Year, Cech made his international debut in 2002. He currently has 114 caps for his country – four short of countryman Karel Poborsky’s all-time record.

Cech began his career in the Czech Republic with Chmel Blsany, before moving to Sparta Prague. He joined Rennes in France in 2002, before arriving in the Premier League with Chelsea in 2004.

According to Arsenal website, the transfer is subject to the completion of regulatory processes but they have welcomed Petr to the club. Arsenal fans across the world are also celebrating the capture of Petr Cech from their city rivals.

--CHANNELS TV

Mixed Reactions Trail Buhari’s Plan To Build Helipad in Daura

Mixed reactions trailed the Federal Government’s plan to build a helipad in Daura, Katsina State, to ensure a direct flight for President Muhammadu Buhari whenever he visits his country home.

Insert: A view of what an Helipad looks like
Social media commentators were divided over the necessity of the project and its impact on Nigeria’s economy. While some supported the president, saying the project is inexpensive, others believe it is unnecessary in view of the government’s change mantra, particularly in reducing cost of governance.
Read more reactions on the social media:

JJ. Omojuwa
@Omojuwa
Google "helipad" so you don't look foolish. It is not an airport. It is just a landing platform for a helicopter.
A DAY AGOREPLYRETWEETFAVORITE

كرمت
@salewakudaisi
Don't let anybody lie to you & please don't let political hatred cloud your brain, an helipad is not expensive!
A DAY AGO

Usman Z
@AlUsmanZ
How can one Justify Buhari's Helipad ?
A DAY AGO

yelosisi
@Karoloflyf
You tweeples don't know that before now, most Nigerians have no faintest clue of what a helipad means. They have learnt something today.
A DAY AGO

TINUBUist
@Araabmooney
For me, it was never about the price. It's the timing and importance. Helipad shouldn't be a priority now
A DAY AGO

Aliyu Yakubu
@Yahaaas
Helipad N1B ? God is great
A DAY AGO

'Lulu | Chimabiala
@gboukzi
Lmaooo! Ugh. "@ImohUmoren: A Helipad here, A Helipad there makes money meant for development disappear. #NurseryRhymes"
A DAY AGO

Abu Sadiq
@TwtrDaddy
Don't know why the construction of a Presidential Helipad would cause controversy amongst some people. Nigerians sabi take matter upon head
A DAY AGO

Tai
@amostee1
There are helipads in several private properties in Nigeria, what's this noise on Daura helipad about. Pple, pls lets direct D energy right
A DAY AGO

Otunba Ayodeji Aje
@9ja_Boss
With less than 20bags of cement, you can actually cast the helipad base.
A DAY AGO

--Vanguard

Panic In APC Over Benue Governorship Seat

The National Working Committee, NWC of the All Progressives Congress, APC has held two emergency meetings within four days in a desperate bid to resolve the crisis rocking the Benue State chapter of the party. The problem, a complex legal web is currently threatening to un¬seat the state governor, Dr Samuel Ortom.

It was gathered that because of the dispute on who the authentic governorship candidate of APC was in the recently concluded general elections and the court case instituted by Hon Emmanuel Jime who was in January adopted as the party’s consensus candidate, Senator JKN Waku, and others at the Federal High Court, Abuja in suit number FHC/ ABJ/ CS/1057/14, the PDP had gone to the Benue governorship election petition tribunal in Makurdi to claim that APC had no candidate at the time of the election and as such, its candidate Terhemen Tarzoor be declared winner of the poll.

The PDP through its governorship candidate, Hon. Terhemen Tarzoor in its pe¬tition number EPT/BEN/ GOV/01/26 is asking that it be declared winner of the guber poll with a total of 313,878 votes. The request is based on their claim that APC, though scored the highest 422,932 votes, did not have an authen¬tic candidate for the election.

Faced with the danger of losing the party’s electoral victory to the PDP, the APC’s National Legal Adviser, Dr Muiz Banire was said to have last week drawn the attention of the party’s leadership to the imbroglio through a let-ter addressed to its National Chairman, Chief John Odigie- Oyegun.

According to the letter dat¬ed June 17, 2015 and entitled- “Re: Legal tussle over the governorship seat of Benue State: a call for urgent action,” a copy of which was sighted in Oyegun’s office at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, the le¬gal adviser urged the leader¬ship to step into the matter be¬fore the party is embarrassed by a judicial pronouncement.

“Please recall that after the emergence of Dr. Ortom Sam¬uel Ioraer as the governorship candidate of our party for the April 11, 2015, governorship election in Benue State, other governorship candidates who felt aggrieved by his emer¬gence, protested against the alleged non-compliance with the provisions of our party’s constitution and guidelines for the conduct of primaries. Eventually, four of the gov¬ernorship candidates jointly commenced an action in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1057/2014 by which they challenged the process of the emergence of Dr. Ortom Samuel Ioraer as the party’s governorship can¬didate. This suit is still pend¬ing in court.

“It is equally imperative to draw your attention to the fact that, upon the conclusion of the election, the PDP candidate filed a petition challenging the election of Dr. Ortom Samuel Ioraer. Part of the grounds of the petition for challenging the election is that the process, which produced Dr. Ortom Samuel Ioraer as our party’s candidate, breached the provi¬sions of the Electoral Act. To substantiate his petition, the petitioner is also relying on several documents which the Plaintiffs in Suit No: FHC/ ABJ/CS/1057/2014 pleaded in support of their case.

“Mr. Chairman, there are grave issues which are at the root of this impasse which I have constrained myself from revealing through this medium but which I shall share when the leaders of the party are gathered. Suffice however to say that with the present happenings in the various courts, we may be endangering that seat in favour of the opposition People’s Democratic Party.

“It is in the light of the fore¬going that I humbly advise that the party considers setting up a high-powered panel to in¬tervene in this Benue State im¬passe urgently with a view to reconciling all the parties and saving our party from public opprobrium,” the letter read in part.

One of the APC leaders from Benue, Tor Gowon Yaro had earlier written a letter to the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu intimating him about the legal moves that could rob the party of the Benue governorship seat if urgent interventions are not made.

The letter written by Yaro urged Tinubu to rally other party leaders and abort an imminent unpleasant judicial pronouncement that will em¬barrass the party.

--TheSunNews