Former Permanent Secretary Quizzed Over N500m Sure-P Fund

The immediate past Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Mrs Nkechi Ejele was on Thursday quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over her role in the alleged misappropriation of N500 million Sure-P funds released to the ministry in 2013 and 2014.

Ejele is said to be among five former Permanent Secretaries under investigation for corruption. Some directors in her ministry are also expected to be questioned by the anti graft agency next week. 

“We invited her in connection with N500 million vote for the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation. We received a lot of observations that the funds were mismanaged,” said an EFCC source.

Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC Mr. Wilson Uwujaren confirmed the interrogation of Mrs Ejele.

“The ex-permanent secretary was quizzed on Thursday by the commission,” he said.

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Boko Haram Now World's Deadliest Terror Group.

Boko Haram has upstaged the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, ISIS as the deadliest terrorist group in the world.

According to the Global Terrorism Index 2015 from the
Sydney based Institute for Economics and Peace, ISIS is now the world's second deadliest terrorist group, behind Boko Haram.

The report  showed that Boko Haram killed 6,644 persons in 2014, while ISIS killed 6,073 people within the same period.

“Also notable over the past year is the major intensification of  the terrorist threat in Nigeria. The country witnessed the largest increase in terrorist deaths ever recorded by any  country, increasing by over 300 per cent to 7,512 fatalities.

“Boko Haram, which operates mainly in Nigeria, has become the most deadly terrorist group in the world. Boko Haram pledged its allegiance to ISIL (also known as the Islamic State) as the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) in March 2015,” the report said.

Although it is most active in Nigeria, Boko Haram also operates in Niger, Cameroun and Chad.

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See Dasuki's statement on his indictment by Buhari's panel.

Former NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki has described the report of the Presidential Arms Procurement Committee as a desperate attempt by the presidency to hang him.

The committee had indicted Dasuki for awarding fictitious contracts for the supply of military equipment.

See the statement Dasuki issued on Wednesday on the committee's report.

“To set the records straight, Nigerians should appreciate that the AVM Jon Ode-led panel did not invite the ex-NSA under any guise before arriving at its ambiguous findings. At least, fairness demands that the panel ought to hear from Dasuki instead of its recourse to hasty conclusions. If the panel had been more patient and painstaking, it would have been availed of all relevant documents on some of the jaundiced findings.

“As if acting a script, the Presidency alleged that the panel accused Dasuki of awarding fictitious contracts between March 2012 and March 2015. Contrary to this claim, Dasuki was not the NSA in March 2012 and could not have awarded any contract in whatever name. The ex-NSA was appointed by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on June 22, 2012.

“All contracts and accruing payments were made with the approval of the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces. Once the ex-President approved, the former NSA paid. So, there was due process for every purchase in line with regulations guiding arms procurement for the Armed Forces.

“The conclusions of the panel were presumptive, baseless and lacked diligence.

“While awaiting judicial process on these allegations,it is proper to make some references to show that the Presidency is just desperate to hang some former public and military officers, who served this nation at the risk to their lives.

“It is laughable for the panel to assume that four Alpha jets and 12 helicopters were undelivered.”

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Buhari Approves Judge's Retirement For Misconduct

Following the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, NJC, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate and compulsory retirement of Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court, Portharcourt.

The Acting Director, Information, for NJC, Soji Oye, while confirming Justice Akanbi's retirement in a statement on Wednesday , said he was sacked for various allegations of misconduct levelled against him by Shell Petroleum Development Corporation Nigeria Limited in a petition to the NJC.

In the petition, Shell accused Justice Akanbi of unilaterally appointing Mr. Emeka Nkwo of CYN-JAC (NIG) Ltd, who was not proposed by any of the parties as referee or valuer in Suit Nos FHC/PH/CS/434/2012and FHC/PH/CS/435/2012, contrary to constitutional provisions.

According to the statement ;
“He also appointed the same referee or valuer in Suit FHC/PH/CS/25/2003, which is another matter involving one of the parties in the first suit.

“He heard and concluded the case without dealing with the Notice of Preliminary Objection on the Jurisdiction of his court.

“He sat on the case in the Federal High Court, Yenagoa in Suit FHC/YNG/CS/30/2013 after a new judge had been transferred to the state without a fiat from the chief judge of the Federal High Court.

“The judge also delivered the ruling in suit No: FHC/PH/CS/07/2009, four months after final addresses were taken without any cogent reason contrary to the constitutional provisions that judgment should be delivered within a period of 90 days.

“Justice Akanbi also dismissed the application to set aside the report prepared by the valuer, CYN – JAC (NIG) Ltd and later changed the ruling to judgment, which prevented the respondent from pursuing the application for a stay of proceedings at the Court of Appeal.

“That Justice Akanbi also failed to give a copy of his ruling delivered on June 12, 2013 to the complainant until June 28, 2013.

“In the exercise of its constitutional powers, at the same meetings of November 4 and 5, 2015, council had suspended Justice Lambo Akanbi from office before the approval for his compulsory retirement by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.”

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Army, Police Capture Two More Wanted Boko Haram Leaders

Two more of the 100 Boko Haram terrorists declared wanted by the Army have been arrested.

Army spokesman Col Sani Usman said that a Boko Haram leader disguised as a watchman was captured by the troops while another one was arrested by police in Maiduguri metropolis after painstaking investigations.

“Yesterday, troops of 101 Task Force Battalion, 7 Division Garrison, along Lagos Street Maiduguri, Borno State, arrested yet another declared wanted Boko Haram terrorists leader.

“The suspect who gave his name as Abubakar Sadiq, works as night watchman to one Muhammad Daggash; a closer look at him shows that he was suspect number 28 among the suspected Boko Haram terrorists that were declared wanted by the Nigerian Army last month.

“The Nigeria Police, Borno State Command, arrested yet another suspected Boko Haram kingpin, Mohammed Usman, at Abuja Talakawa Ward of Maiduguri metropolis, Borno state yesterday.

“The suspect who matches the photograph of suspect Number 40 on the poster containing the photographs of the 100 wanted suspected Boko Haraam terrorists, was arrested after painstaking effort and tracking by the police.

“There is no doubt that the arrests of the suspected terrorists are important milestones which show the synergy of effort in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria among the security agencies and the public.

“The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai commended the vigilant troops and the Nigeria Police in particular, Borno State Command, for their great efforts.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to reiterate that as we move for the final onslaught against Boko Haram terrorists, there is the urgent need for all of us to be more vigilant and security conscious,” he said.

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Army Destroys Boko Haram Rocket Factory

The Army on Wednesday announced the destruction of a
Boko Haram terrorists’ rocket factory at Jamrari, Borno State.

Army spokesman Col Sani Usman confirmed this in a statement. According to the statement ;
“The troops of 111 Special Forces Battalion, 7 Division Garrison, Nigerian Army, during a special raid carried out on Tuesday at Delwa general area, discovered and knocked out Boko Haram terrorists’ rocket factory at Jamrari, Borno State.

“This unprecedented development has put paid to the much-touted ability of the terrorists to fabricate rockets and their launchers using rudimentary materials.

“This has further crippled the terrorists and greatly emboldened the troops in carrying out more offensive actions against the terrorists till they are defeated.

“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, who is in constant communication with the troops, commended them for this singular act and other similar feats and encouraged them to do more as the terrorists are on the verge of being defeated.”

Suicide bombings on soft targets have continued unabated even as the terrorists come under increasing pressure from the military in the Northeast.

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Phoney arms deals : Panel to question ex military chiefs

Security agencies are set to arrest and question some former service chiefs and security chiefs over dubious arms deals running into billions of naira. 

Former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki who has been fingered in the deals has already declared his readiness to stand trial following President Buhari’s order for his arrest.

The panel which probed arms purchases from 2007 to 2015 also indicted former Chiefs of Defense Staff and some former service chiefs, all of whom are expected to stand trial.

A source close to the panel said;
“Those accused of mismanaging N644billion include some former Chiefs of Defence Staff, about five service chiefs and some security chiefs.

“They have all been placed under surveillance and some of them may be arrested any moment from now pending their arraignment in court.

“Their names have not been released to avoid any acts that may jeopardise attempts to bring them to justice.

“Immediately they are arrested, we will release their list to the public.”

The source also indicated that Dasuki is now considered a security risk and may not be allowed to leave the country.

“With the revelations from the panel probing arms deals, Dasuki is a security threat. No sane government will allow him to travel abroad.

“So, the ex-NSA cannot step out of Nigeria, until he is brought to trial on these allegations. But no one is molesting him at all; he is still under house arrest.”

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