Monday 1 February 2016

Minister accuses Jonathan administration of buying substandard weapons

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Monday in Abuja described the weapons procured by the Jonathan administration as substandard.

He argued that such substandard weapons could not have been responsible for the recent successes of the military in counter insurgency operations. 

Mohammed said that the statement attributed to former President Goodluck Jonathan in which he claimed that the weapons he left behind were responsible for the military's recent successes was unfortunate.

He stressed that the present administration owes Nigerians a duty to put the records straight since the issues raised by the former president were matters of public interest.

His words:
“The weapons, munitions and equipment which the former president said he bought were refurbished and lacked the basic components and spare parts. Additionally, the ammunition bought for both high calibre and small weapons have mostly expired, are incompatible with weapons and grossly inadequate.

“It is pertinent to state that the ammunition he was referring to were back loaded because they explode within the barrel when fired, thus leading to deaths and injuries among soldiers.

“The situation was so pathetic that soldiers were often transported in Civilian JTF vehicles, civilian vehicles, trailers and water tankers when going to the theatres of operation.

“The revelations on the sorry state of things in the past, which have emanated from the investigative panel so far,point clearly to the kind of legacy bequeathed to this administration by the past government.

”That explains why troops remained largely static and were unable to effectively deploy to completely rout the Boko Haram terrorists in all their known enclaves. 

“The high-level of casualties sustained by our gallant soldiers was most unprecedented and cannot be compared to any known military operations in recent times, all because of the terrible state of affairs suffered by the military under the Jonathan administration.

“It is also clear, as has been shown so far by the outcome of the panel probing past arms deals, that the purchase of substandard weapons apparently resulted from the massive corruption that enveloped the deals, the kind of horrifying graft that saw the purchase of refurbished choppers that lacked rotors, or fighter jets that could not be deployed to the theatre of war because they were not up to par.

“The needless loss of lives of many of our gallant troops, resulting from the lack of standard weaponry and low morale in the past, is not a matter to be trivialised under any circumstance.”

This masquerade trekked 200km to celebrate new Kogi governor

ABUJA
Even masquerades love politics, lol. This masquerade trekked over 200km from Abuja to Okene, just to celebrate the newly sworn in Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.

Photo credits. The Punch/Gbenga Odogun

New tariff regime to meter all customers - NERC

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC says that the new tariff regime which came into effect on February 1st is designed to have all customers metered within one year, thus eliminating estimated billing.

The Acting Director General of the Commission, Dr Anthony Akah told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN that “the new tariff, besides eliminating fixed charge, has a robust mechanism to ensure that DISCOs (Distribution Companies) fully meter their consumers and eliminate ‘crazy’ billing within one year."

He said that the new tariff would protect consumers, allow efficient billing and fast track the development of the economy.

He added that the new tariff regime has eliminated fixed charge and will ensure that DISCOs do not connect new customers without first providing them with meters.

The new tariff regime according to the commission is designed to encourage more investors to participate in the power sector.

Another bomb blast averted in Maiduguri.

Security personnel have neutralized Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs planted at the Pilgrims Welfare Board in Maiduguri.

The Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Victor Isuku told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN on Monday that the bombs were suspected to have been planted by Islamist terror group, Boko Haram.

“I can confirm that it was a joint police/military operation that demobilised the IEDs but thank God, no live was lost or injuries recorded, “ he said.

NAN reports that about 20 people were killed in Chibok, Borno State last month when three female suicide bombers detonated their explosive devices at the local business market.

Mbaka's transfer influenced by external forces - APC

The All Progressives Congress, APC has said that the transfer of outspoken Catholic priest and Head of the Adoration Ministries, Enugu has more to it than meets the eye.

Following Mbaka's farewell speech in which he said that he would suffer a lot because of the transfer, the APC said that the matter was beyond the routine transfer of priests. 

The APC added that the fiery priest was being punished for his prophesies which have proved to be divinely inspired.

The party expressed its reservation in a statement signed by its South-East Caucus spokesman, Mr. Osita Okechukwu,

“Our people need more liberation clergy, especially ones endowed with healing powers like Mba­ka. The liberation clergy were instrumental in returning Latin American countries back to democracy in the ’70s and ’80s. They pulled down Pino­chet in Chile and toppled dictators across the globe. We should harvest and culture them instead of hounding them.

“Whereas we accept that the transfer of priests is a routine exercise of the great Catholic Church; however, we do not wholly accept a situation where the church allows external forces to influence transfers as the Mbaka case suggests. Otherwise, ,future liberation clergy who speak truth to power will be hamstrung to the detriment of the society.”

Mbaka's transfer influenced by external forces - APC

The All Progressives Congress, APC has said that the transfer of outspoken Catholic priest and Head of the Adoration Ministries, Enugu has more to it than meets the eye.

Following Mbaka's farewell speech in which he said that he would suffer a lot because of the transfer, the APC said that the matter was beyond the routine transfer of priests. 

The APC added that the fiery priest was being punished for his prophesies which have proved to be divinely inspired.

The party expressed its reservation in a statement signed by its South-East Caucus spokesman, Mr. Osita Okechukwu,

“Our people need more liberation clergy, especially ones endowed with healing powers like Mba­ka. The liberation clergy were instrumental in returning Latin American countries back to democracy in the ’70s and ’80s. They pulled down Pino­chet in Chile and toppled dictators across the globe. We should harvest and culture them instead of hounding them.

“Whereas we accept that the transfer of priests is a routine exercise of the great Catholic Church; however, we do not wholly accept a situation where the church allows external forces to influence transfers as the Mbaka case suggests. Otherwise, ,future liberation clergy who speak truth to power will be hamstrung to the detriment of the society.”

EFCC duty log reveals why Metuh tore his confessional statement

Details of what the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh wrote in the confessional statement which he tore on January 5, 2015 have emerged.

The details are contained in the accounts of EFCC operatives who witnessed the incident as registered in their incidents record book which is part
of the documents filed along with the charges of destruction of evidence preferred against him by the anti graft agency before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

According to the record book, Metuh tore his statement on January 5, 2016 while being interrogated for an alleged fraudulent receipt of N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA and a money laundering allegation involving a separate sum of $2m.

The incidents records book also indicated that the pieces of the torn statement have been kept in the custody of EFCC's exhibits keeper.

See the time line of the event as registered in the incidents records book by Detective Junaid Sa'id.

“12.30 hours: Mr. Metuh Olisa began to volunteer his statement under words of caution.

“15.30 hours: Mr. Metuh Olisa concluded his statement which was of four pages. I passed the statements to the team leader, CSP Ibrahim Musa, to read over and endorse accordingly but in the process of reading and after endorsing pages one and two, he swiftly tore into pieces page three of his statement which read that former President Jonathan had asked him to make available, account details owed by his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, and the debts owed him personally and some media houses.

“He further stated that he gave the account details of Destra Investments Ltd. to the President and thereafter he received the payment of N400m into his company’s accounts which he used for specific assignments given to him by the President of which he was not willing to disclose for what purpose.

“I thereafter refused to give him page four of his statement for endorsement because I did not want him to tear it as well. This incidence happened in the presence of the following officers: Mr. Ibrahim Musa, Mr. Wetkas Michael, Mr. Bello Umar, Ms. Ibrahim, who were all carrying out their various assignments.

“16.30 hours: The torn page of the statement which is in pieces was registered with the exhibit keeper and the incident recorded in the incidence record book of the commission.”

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