N107b loot : Ortom drags 52 to EFCC

The governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom has dragged 52 individuals and organizations, indicted by the  Elizabeth Kpojime Judicial Commission of Enquiry, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in an attempt to recover the N107 billion allegedly looted from the state’s treasury during the administration of Gabriel Suswam.

Ortom said in Makurdi on Sunday that he took the decision following the refusal of the indicted individuals and organizations to return the loot.

“They would have been granted amnesty if they had returned the loot to the state treasury, but instead of toeing that part, they opted to take the government to court.

"We will not be deterred, we have taken the report of the panel to the EFCC and already officials of the anti graft agency from Enugu have paid assessment visits to the state pursuant to the petition.

“This administration believes in rule of law and due process, so whatever we do concerning the matter must be within the ambits of the law. We will do everything within the law to ensure that the looted funds were returned. No amount of intimidation can deter us from doing the needful in this matter, our zero tolerance for corruption cannot be compromised, and to that effect I have warned my appointees because anything to the contrary would be met with stiff sanctions.”

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12 Boko Haram terrorists killed in clash with Niger forces

Nigerien armed forces during the weekend killed no fewer than 12 of the Boko Haram terrorists who attacked the country's southern region of Bosso near the border with Nigeria.

Reuters reports Army Spokesman , Col. Moustapha Ledru, as saying on national radio that ;
“Three members of the security forces were lightly wounded during Friday’s battle and government forces captured machine guns, rocket propelled grenade launchers and mobile telephones from the enemy.

“The vigorous reaction of the Defence and Security Forces of Niger put the enemy to flight. Around a dozen terrorists were killed and several dozen others were wounded and carried away by the fleeing attackers.”

The casualty figures could however not be verified independently.

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Recovered assets: Information Ministry to provide details next week - Presidency

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu has said that Buhari has kept his promise of making public, the details of stolen/recovered public assets.

Shehu disclosed in a series of tweets on Sunday that the Information Ministry has been updating the information with records from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and other sources and will be ready with the details by Thursday.

@GarShehu
6. The minister should be ready with this when work resumes, possibly Wednesday or Thursday. #HappyDemocracyDay

Garba Shehu
@GarShehu
5. Going forward, he has asked them to update the information periodically.

Garba Shehu
@GarShehu
4. ...and actual status with regard to frozen sums in banks and assets held wherever they are.

Garba Shehu
@GarShehu
3. Records will be obtained from the CBN and the investigation agencies regarding recovery and seizures,...

Garba Shehu
@GarShehu
2. He has given directive that the information be put out by the Ministry of Information.

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Ask Information Ministry for details of recovered loot - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari during his Democracy Day broadcast on Sunday reneged on his promise to disclose details of assets recovered from corrupt public officials.

He however said that the Ministry of Information and Culture would provide those details in due course.

Buhari disclosed that several past government officials are currently standing trial for corruption and other economic crimes committed during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan.

“We are engaged in making recoveries of stolen assets some of which are in different jurisdictions. The process of recovery can be tedious and time consuming, but today I can confirm that thus far, significant amount of assets have been recovered.

“A considerable portion of these are at different stages of recovery. Full details of the status and categories of the assets will now be published by the Ministry of Information and updated periodically.

“When forfeiture formalities are completed these monies will be credited to the treasury and be openly and transparently used in funding developmental projects and the public will be informed," he said.

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IED rips through Keke Napep killing 5 in Borno

A tricycle known as Keke Napep in local parlance was on Sunday ripped apart when one of its tyres stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device buried near a military checkpoint in Borno.

According to Army spokesman, Col Sani Kukasheka Usman, the incident claimed the lives of the four occupants of the Keke Napep and a soldier on duty.

"Unfortunately, the IED exploded instantly killing 4 persons comprising of a woman with her baby and 2 other male adults.

"Three other persons were injured including a soldier and they were immediately evacuated to Biu General Hospital. We regret to state that the injured soldier also died at the hospital.

"The general area has been cordoned off and Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) team from Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Buratai have been mobilized to carryout further search of the area.

"Preliminary investigations shows that the IED was buried long time ago undetected. It exploded when the tricycle erroneously stepped on it."

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VP Osinbajo to represent Nigeria at ACP Summit in Papua New Guinea

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will be representing President Muhammadu Buhari at the 8th Summit of Heads of State of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States begins in Papua New Guinea on Monday,

According to the spokesman of the Vice president, Mr Laolu Akande, Osinbajo left Abuja for the two day event on Sunday morning and is expected back on Thursday.

President Buhari also confirmed the development on Twitter.

@NGRPresident
VP Prof Osinbajo will join leaders from 78 other countries to address the summit in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

@NGRPresident
Vice President Prof Osinbajo will represent Nigeria at the 8th ACP Summit holding in Papua New Guinea from May 30-June 1.

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British Airways not pulling out of Nigeria

British Airways has denied reports that it is planning to quit Nigeria because of a huge debt it is being owed.

Mr Kola Olayinka, Country Manager British Airways had earlier been quoted as saying that the “U.K. carrier is struggling to repatriate its share of the $575 million that Nigeria currently owes the airline from tickets sold in Nigeria.”

However, the airline in a statement issued on Sunday denied the report.

According to the statement,
“ Our attention has been called to reports in several newspapers Sunday that British Airways is considering an exit from Nigeria.

“British Airways has a long history in Nigeria, having begun operations in the country 80 years ago as Imperial Airways.

"Nigeria remains a strategic market for BA and our operations locally are very strong. We have not issued any statements at any time indicating that we are on the verge of terminating operations in the country. We will continue to operate to Nigeria.”

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