Task Force Arrests 30 In Raid On Abuja Blackspot

A joint task force comprising DSS, military, Civil Defense and police personnel arrested about 30 suspects during a raid at a blackspot in Nyanya, an Abuja suburb.

The police said that the raid was a preventive measure to nip crime in the bud.

Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole who confirmed the raid said that the operation followed a tip-off that some crime suspects were hiding there.

“Yes, a Joint Task Force, comprising the police, DSS, the military and the civil defence corps carried out an operation in Nyanya and arrested some suspects. The task force was set up by the IG and it was being led by the police.

“The suspects that were arrested are currently being processed; the operation was meant to prevent crime and frustrate criminals before they commit crimes and it will continue throughout the FCT,” she said.

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N1.35b Fraud : Court Admits Evidence Against Lamido, Two Sons

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday tendered details of bank accounts allegedly used by former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido and his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha to steal public funds before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The former governor and his sons are facing 27 corruption charges bordering on breach of trust, money laundering, and unlawful diversion of public funds amounting to N1.35b.

Lamido is alleged by the EFCC to have abused his office as governor of Jigawa State between 2007 and 2015 by collecting kickbacks from contractors, with the bribes paid into accounts run by his sons.

He is also accused of awarding contracts to companies in which he had interest, with his sons serving as fronts.

Four companies accused of  involvement in the fraud were also joined as defendants in the case. They are Bamaina Holdings Limited, Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited, Bamaina Aluminum Limited and Speeds International Limited.

At the hearing on Wednesday, the EFCC called four witnesses (all bank officials) to tender exhibits before the court.

The witnesses are Mr. Longji Tupkop, a Relationship Manager with United Bank for Africa, UBA, PW-1; Mr. Kabir Mashi, Regional Manager, Unity Bank Plc, Kano North, PW-2; Mustapha Baba of Unity Bank Plc, PW-3; and Onyiche Agbaghara  of Keystone Bank Plc PW-4.

After admitting the documents in evidence, the court adjourned the case till November 24th and 25th for further hearing.

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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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