Mrs Oyo-Ita Is New Head of Service

Mrs Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita on Thursday formally took over from Mr Danladi Kifasi as Head of Service of the Federation.

In a brief handover ceremony in Abuja which also marked Mr Kifasi's formal retirement, the new Head of Service pledged to make the Civil Service more efficient and timely in their service to Nigerians.

She called for an innovative civil service that will help the new government to meet the huge expectations of Nigerians.

"Today marks yet another important milestone in our desire to improve and re-engineer the Federal Civil service to effectively work as a machine for formulating and implementing government policies and programmes.

“At a time such as this when expectations of our people on the new government are so huge, we have to be innovative and reposition ourselves to deliver efficient, timely and quality services to meet the desires of our people,” she said.

She also urged civil servants to key into government's agenda for change, social transformation and poverty reduction.

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What Amaechi Told The Senate During Ministerial Screening

Former Rivers State Governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi has at last been screened by the Senate.

Here are the answers he gave to the questions put to him at the Red Chamber.

*.Whether I become minister or not, it will be on record that I once attended the Senate screening.

*.My administration worked to restore the old glory of Port Harcourt.

*.We now have almost 24-hour power supply in Rivers State.

*.Rivers State was the first state to introduce Fiscal Responsibility Law.

*.My administration redefined governance and repositioned Rivers State.

*.Governors’ Forum acts as check to FG’s excesses.

*.I was born to fight for my rights.

*.I don’t like corruption.

*.I was chased out to Ghana because I fought for my rights.

*.Resources are in the Niger Delta and they should be treated fairly.

*.We must diversify economy and invest in education.

*.We must remove corruption and invest in power.

*.Without improved power supply, there can’t be industrialization.

*.I was never indicted by any panel.

*.Corruption is a wide concept and very difficult to define.

*.Present mono-economic situation in Nigeria cannot address unemployment.

*.If we keep to rule of law and keep away impunity, government will function.

Source : THE NATION

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Nigeria needs leaders with godly attributes - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, in Abuja, told the Christian Legislators Fellowship of Nigeria that the country needs leaders with integrity, transparent character, faithfulness and other godly attributes to overcome her present challenges.

Buhari who was represented at the 6th Annual Breakfast of the
Christian Legislators Fellowship of Nigeria by the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ibukun Odusote, said;

“The time has come for Nigeria to have godly leaders in a permanently changing world. Change, though usually resisted, is the most constant component of life.

“Thus the need of a Godly leader in our ever changing world cannot be over- emphasized. Whenever God’s people have been without godly leadership, the result has been disastrous.

“Throughout scripture, God has given us various principles for godly leadership.

“Godly leaders serve others instead of demanding to be served.  Godly leaders need to accept the responsibility which God has given them, and a godly leader must be a man with godly commitments, conduct, character and convictions.

“Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, if you love Nigerians, please choose to feed them, not just by words but by your actions at the National Assembly, in the various offices, in the market, in the streets and most especially in the church of God.”

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Abuja Bombing Suspect Pleads Guilty

Abdulwaheed Nasiru, one of the five suspects in the October 2, 2015 bombings of Kuje and Nyanya in the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday pleaded guilty to the charges of terrorism preferred against them by the Federal Government.

Nasiru admitted being in possession of twelve Improvised Explosive Devices and materials for the production of such devices.

Nasiru was arrested with the four other accused persons behind the military cemetery along the Abuja airport road on October 6.

Abdulwaheed Nasiru, the 4th accused person and Abdullahi Nasiru, the 5th accused had requested for the charges to be interpreted for them in Naija language.

While admitting guilt, Nasiru denied ownership of the explosive devices.

"No bi me get am. Na mai frend get am, " he told the court in Naija language.

The rest of the accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The five accused persons,
Abdulazeez Muhazab, Ishaka Salihu, Mohammed Jimoh, Abdulwaheed Nasiru and Abdullahi Nasiru‎ are standing trial before Justice Abdukadir Abdulkafarati on five count charges of terrorism.

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Passenger Slumps Aboard Lagos - Abuja Flight

A passenger on Wednesday slumped at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, aboard an Air Peace flight 4P7140 from Lagos

Sources at the airport said that the incident happened as passengers were disembarking from the aircraft.

They also said that it took the emergency response team of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN up to 30 minutes to show up at the scene with an ambulance.

It was however learnt that the crew of Air Peace were able to administer oxygen and stabilize the patient before the arrival of the airport's health officials.

“The crew was able to get oxygen to revive the passenger and he was a bit stable before he was transferred to the Port Health officials of FAAN, who delayed for about 30 minutes; but the good news is that the man is okay,” an eyewitness said.

The Deputy General Manager, Public Affairs, FAAN Abuja, Mrs. Henriatta Yakubu, however dismissed claims of late response by Port Health Officials. She said that they rushed to the scene as soon as they received a distress call from the crew of Air Peace.

The patient was reportedly discharged from the FAAN clinic around 6pm on Wednesday.

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Golden Eaglets Trounce Chile 5 - 1

The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria's blistering start to the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup continued on Wednesday with a 5 - 1 thrashing of host country Chile.

The Nigerian team had started the tournament on a bright note with a 2 - 0 victory over the USA on Saturday.

In Wednesday's match played at the Estadio Sausalito Vina Del Mar, the eaglets got their first goal just after 25 seconds through man of the match Samuel Chukwueze.

Team captain Kelechi Nwakali made it 2-0 in the 17th minute from the penalty spot.

Additional goals from Chukwueze in the 61st minute and Victor Osimhen in the 66th and 86th minutes completed the rout.

The Chileans got their consolation goal in the 81st minute through Marcello Allende.

The Golden Eaglets who sit atop Group A with 6 points from two matches are already through to the second round but will play their last group match against Croatia on Friday.

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Did Ohakim Pay $2.9m Cash For Abuja House?

Did former Imo State Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim pay N270m (equivalent of $2.9m) cash for a property at Asokoro, Abuja in...? Does Chief Ohakim actually own the said property located at Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, otherwise known as No.60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja?

These are allegations the EFCC is trying to prove before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

At the resumed hearing of the case against Ohakim on Tuesday, prosecution witness, Ishaya Dauda told the court that Ohakim paid N270m in cash for a plot of land at No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, also known as No.60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

He also tendered statements which he said the former governor volunteered on the subject matter as exhibits.

Following Chief Ohakim's arraignment before the court on July 8 on a three-count charge of money laundering, Justice Ademola had admitted him to bail on self recognition on July 9, 2015.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Ishaya Dauda, a Senior Detective Superintendent with the EFCC said Chief Ohakim was invited by the anti graft agency in 2013.

His words ;
“I gave him the petitions to go through and asked him if he would be willing to volunteer a statement or not and he answered in the affirmative. I then administered the word of caution and EFCC statement form on him. I also asked him whether he understood the word of caution and he said yes; then, he signed the form, indicating that he understood the word of caution.”

Dauda said that the former governor made five different statements between 2013 and 2015 in addition to the EFCC Assets Declaration Form which he filled.

Copies of the five statements allegedly obtained from Ohakim on January 25, 2013; January 31, 2013; June 18, 2015; June 22, 2015 and June 29, 2015, were tendered and admitted in evidence as exhibits EFCC 1 - 5.

Testifying further, Dauda said ;
“Working on the intelligence reports at our disposal, after the accused person had declared his assets, it was discovered that there was no banking transaction for the purchase of the property. We found out that only cash payment was made in respect of the property. So, we took the accused person to the property. When we brought him back to our office, we asked him who owns the property and he said he rented the property through one Abu Sule, Managing Director, Tweenex Consociate H.D. Limited.”

At this juncture, the court adjourned till November 12 and 13 for continuation of hearing.

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