Buhari To Meet Putin, Obama, Other World Leaders At UN Summit

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Thursday leave Abuja for New York where he will attend the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The president will use the opportunity to hold a series of meetings with notable world leaders. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adeshina said in a statement he released on Tuesday that Buhari is scheduled to have meetings with UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban-Ki Moon, President Barack Obama of the United States of America, President Francois Hollande of France, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, President Vladmir Putin of Russia, President Xi Jinping of China, and Prime Minister Narenda Modi of India.

The statement also said that the meetings will focus on domestic developmental issues, bilateral relations, the war against terrorism, countering violent extremism, the enhancement of global security, peace-keeping operations, climate change and the adoption of a post-2015 global development agenda.

Three governors, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State will accompany Buhari on the trip.

Also scheduled to be on the entourage are the National Security Adviser and permanent secretaries in the Federal Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Finance, Health, Industry, Trade and Investment.

According to the statement,
“President Buhari is also scheduled to address the World Leaders Summit on ‘Violent Extremism’ – to which he was personally invited by Mr. Ban-Ki Moon during the Secretary-General’s recent visit to Nigeria.

“Also on the President’s busy schedule in New York are a meeting of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, a high-level roundtable on South-South Cooperation organised by President Xi Jin Ping of China and the United Nations, and participation in the launching of an updated global health strategy for women and children.”

President Buhari is also scheduled to meet with former President Bill Clinton of the United States, Bill Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain, and the United Nations Special Envoy on Global Education.

Buhari is expected to conclude his visit to New York on September 29 and return to Abuja the same day.

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The bribe taking killer cop

Bribe-taking policemen allegedly shoot at couple, kill wife http://lindaikeji.blogspot.com/2015/09/bribe-taking-policemen-allegedly-shoot.html

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There Is Still Hope For Chibok Girls - Army Chief.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai on Monday assured that the Chibok Girls would be rescued. More than 200 girls were abducted at night from their hostel in Chibok High School in April 2014 as they prepared for their final exams. A few later escaped but the majority have remained in captivity ever since.

Gen Buratai gave the assurance while addressing newsmen at the Third Quarter Conference of the Chief of Army Staff which took place at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

He maintained that while the military has a fair idea of their location within Sambisa forest, the safe return of the girls remains the priority.

His words ;
“The issue of the Chibok girls is very crucial. We are making all efforts to clear the terrorists and after clearing them we rescue the Chibok girls in one piece. I believe that the girls must be somewhere within the general area of the forest but we are not yet sure exactly where they are but as soon as this is confirmed we will attempt to see what we can do to bring them back in one piece. It is very crucial because their safety is very important.

“They could be somewhere else, so we are taking this issue in piecemeal so that we are sure of where we are and how we are going about it and we believe that we can find a solution to it very soon."

He added that the Army is working together with the Air Force and the Department of State Services to achieve the objective.

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Voice In Latest Boko Haram Audio Belongs To Adamu, Not Shekau - Buratai

The latest audio recording of terror group, Boko Haram has been described by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai as a desperate attempt by the insurgents to find relevance.

He disclosed that the voice claiming to be Abubakar Shekau in the recording which called President Buhari and his military chiefs liars belongs to a certain Adamu.

He said,
“I think the new Boko Haram leader, in the latest audio is just trying to sound relevant but as far as I am concerned he is irrelevant in the scheme of things, he is irrelevant to me.

“ Have you seen any of them coming out apart from the suicide bombings? You can see the number of terrorists that are escaping from their camps; he is just making noise to remain relevant."

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Sunday's Bomb Blasts Among Boko Haram's Last - Army Chief.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai has assured that Sunday's bomb blasts in Maiduguri will be among the last acts of Boko Haram as they have provided the military clues about their remaining areas of operation.

He urged the residents to remain calm as measures were being intensified to prevent a reoccurrence.

Buratai stressed that Sunday's bomb blasts "will be among those that will be the last. You can be counting them. They have opened up another window where we can now focus on where these attacks are coming from.

“It will not be possible for them to penetrate other areas, for now we have knocked them off areas along from Yobe and some parts of Borno.

“Immediately this incident happened, I gave a directive and we will comb that area thoroughly to identify where they are operating from.’’

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Drama At Tribunal As Senate President Refuses To Be Docked

A drama ensued on Tuesday morning in Abuja at the Code of Conduct Tribunal sitting as Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki initially refused to enter the dock to answer to the 13-count corruption charge preferred against him by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The trial had begun at 10.32 am but Saraki succumbed to the wish of the tribunal to mount the dock at 11. 24 am.

Following the Senate President's refusal to stand up when his case was mentioned, Tribunal Chairman Justice Danladi Umar insisted that he should leave his seat and enter the dock.

When Saraki who was sandwiched by friends and colleagues called the bluff of the tribunal by remaining seated, Justice Umar queried ;

“Where is the prosecution?  Is the accused person here?”  Meanwhile he was looking directly at Saraki from his elevated position.

Prosecution Counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs answered immediately;
“My Lord, I cannot see him. I think the right thing is for him to enter the dock first, then we will announce our appearances. Thereafter, the charges will be read to him."

But defence counsel, Mr J B. Daudu had a contrary opinion.
“With profound respect to the chairman and member of this tribunal, I disagree with my learned brother that we should enter appearances first. The order of this tribunal was that the accused should be produced today. It was not for him to enter his plea. The case was earlier adjourned for mention,” he argued, citing an Appeal Court decided case  in Igbeke vs FRN, ‎2015, 3 Nigerian Weekly Law Report, NWLR.

Eventually, Dr Saraki reluctantly mounted the dock to enter a plea of "I want to say that I am not guilty" after complaining that the tribunal did not give him a chance to rectify the anomalies in his assets declaration forms.

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As I Appear Before The Code of Conduct Tribunal - By Senate President Saraki

See the statement Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki released after his appearance before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja on Tuesday.

“Today, I appeared before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for the commencement of my trial in a case concerning the asset declaration form I filled in 2003 after I have explored the opportunity to defend my fundamental human rights in other courts.

“My appearance in court today once again demonstrates my belief in the rule of law and respect for the judiciary of our country.

“As I stated while taking the plea in the case, I reiterate my belief that the only reason why I am going through this trial is because I am Senate President. If I were to be just a Senator, I doubt if anybody will be interested in the asset declaration form I filled over twelve years ago.

“This belief stems from the fact that Section 3 (d) of the Code of Conduct  Bureau and Tribunal Act provides that If there is a breach or non-compliance with any section of the law, the person involved should be given the opportunity to either admit or deny and that in the case of a written admission, no reference to the Tribunal shall be necessary. So, If the CCB had followed the guidelines, procedure or the due process provided in its own law, we won’t be having this trial.

“It is my humble opinion that this case is a vivid example that there is still flagrant disregard for due process in our polity. This trial is not only being observed by Nigerians alone, the international community is watching because Nigeria is a key member of this community. So, the executive, legislature and judiciary should  do the right thing that will truly demonstrate that we have imbibed the spirit of positive change.

“It is however necessary for me to thank my colleagues in the Senate for the solid support and solidarity they  demonstrated for me. I also thank my counsel for the brilliance they have shown in  presenting our case and the supporters who were present in the Tribunal in their hundreds. I want to assure you that I am innocent of all the charges and will clear my name in due course.

“May God continue to bless our country.”

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