Military making steady progress to defeat insurgents - Buratai

“We are not there yet but we are gradually getting there. We are making steady progress."

Those were the words of Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai when he visited troops of the 72 Special Force Battalion in Makurdi, Benue State on Tuesday.

He stressed that the task of subduing the Boko Haram Islamist terrorist group must be accomplished in good time.

President Muhammadu Buhari had given the military up till the end of December to defeat the terrorist group which has killed over ten thousand persons and displaced many more in its 6 years campaign to carve out a state governed by strict Islamic laws.

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See Saraki's speech at the launch of his suggestion box

Today, the 8th Senate marks another watershed moment in our vision to take lawmaking back to the people with the symbolic launching of the Senate President’s Suggestion Box. Many may ask what we seek to achieve with this launch and wonder the correlation between the suggestion box and making laws. For the 8th Assembly, this event ticks all the boxes in terms of our vision which is to ensure that laws we make impact on our peoples’ lives.

Again, we promised the Nigerian people that this 8thSenate will be different. That we will do things differently. Some thought we were playing rhetoric but our footprints are everywhere clearly showing we mean what we are saying. We have adopted our legislative agenda, we are retooling our policy formulation process through closer engagement with key government agents, meeting with industry leaders,using courtesy call opportunities, to help us fully understand the state of things as we put together legislative interventions to help deal with the problems.

This Senate promised that we will be open to all Nigerians and engage them more robustly as we deliver laws with far reaching impact on their lives. For us this means having a strong feedback mechanism that is non-discriminatory, direct, open, uninhibited and continuous is equally as important.

With this launch today, we are saying that we are ready to hear and listen to all Nigerians of goodwill. With the Suggestion Box, which is both physical and virtual, we are saying we are interested in your opinion irrespective of your background, political orientation, social status, gender, religious or ethnic orientation. Be sure that this, your suggestions, opinions and ideas will not go unnoticed. The media is an important source of our feedback but hearing from you directly is for us much more enriching and unadulterated.

The 8th Senate is by this launch, inviting you to come share your experience with us. Whether you are an elected member, worker, tourists, government official, NGO, media or a co-citizen of this great country visiting the National Assembly, we invite you to come change Nigeria with us.

It is my hope that as we use this suggestion boxes and engage much more closely with you our constituents we are able to build a much closer relationship and a much better National Assembly.

Ladies and Gentlemen: it is my great honour to formally launch, the Senate President's Suggestion Box for the good of our people and to the glory of God.

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45,659 inmates awaiting trial in Nigerian prisons - Comptroller-General

The Controller-General of Nigerian Prisons Service, Dr. Peter Ekpendu, has disclosed that there are 45,659 inmates awaiting trial in Nigerian prisons out of a total prison population of 55,033.

Dr Ekpendu made the disclosure in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving the Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.) at the service headquarters.

He lamented that the Service lacked adequate logistics to transport inmates to courts for trial.

“The prisons formations are presently holding 55,033 out of which 1,639 are condemned convicts awaiting execution. We have 18 Black Marias, 12 non-functional trucks, 16 functional and four non-functional ambulances which are grossly inadequate to meet our transportation needs.

"The smallest prisons should have at least an operational vehicle, ambulance and escort vehicles,” he said.

Dambazau while acknowledging the challenges facing the Service, cautioned against congesting the prisons as that could harden the inmates.

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Tor Tiv Dies At 71

The paramount ruler of the Tiv nation, Alfred Torkula has died. The Tiv king known as Tor Tiv IV died at the age of 71 after 24 years on the throne.

Close sources said the Tor Tiv died on Monday morning at a hospital in Abuja.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has confirmed the death of the paramount ruler and is billed to meet the Tiv Traditional Council later in the day.

Alfred Akawe Torkula was coronated Tor Tiv IV in April 1991, following the death of King Akperan Orshi.

He was until his death, the Chairman of the Benue State Council of Chiefs.

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Army cries out against sabotage

The Nigerian Army has raised the alarm over suspected plans by certain persons to sabotage its ongoing war against insurgency.

In a statement issued on Monday by its spokesman, Col Sani Usman and titled “Alert On Impending Smear Campaign By Some Disgruntled Elements,” the Army said investigations showed that the Nigerian Army and Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai are the prime targets of the smear campaign.

See the statement here.

“The Nigerian Army has received report of some elements both within the Nigerian Army and outside, especially through the use of the social media circle to ridicule the Nigerian Army and the person of the Chief of Army Staff for reasons best known to them.

“They intend to execute this plan as from next month, December 2015, using all means possible; lies, fabricating baseless stories, falsehood, publishing and broadcasting them through some designated print and electronic media, most especially the Social Media.

“The Nigerian Army has identified some of the officers involved and their collaborators; the officers are being investigated to unravel their motive and motivation.

“It is imperative to note that the fight against Boko Haram terrorists is at critical stage, any attack on the Nigerian Army will be counter-productive and serious distraction on the fight against terrorism and insurgency.

“The public and the media are please requested to be careful and wary of these disgruntled persons; they should please disregard any such material from them.

“The Nigerian Army holds the media in high esteem; the Nigerian media is one of the best in the world and have consistently been partners in progress and very supportive, understanding and cooperative with the Nigerian Army especially in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.

“This at times comes at the risk of their personal safety and corporate existence; the role of the media in nation building and conflict resolution, peace building and social responsibility is never in doubt.

“With this and so many other things, the media, especially the online publications, should not be involved or lured into such dubious campaign. As always, our doors are open for clarification, enquiries and reactions on any issue concerning the Nigerian Army before filing or publicizing such stories.

“Consequent upon this,  we are calling on all Nigerians not to fall prey to their campaign of calumny. This is because their evil intents would be distractive and capable of reversing the gains on the fight against Boko Haram terrorists.”

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Looters are voluntarily returning stolen funds - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday told the Nigerian community in Iran that some of the public servants who looted Nigeria's treasury have started returning some of what they stole.

The president however said that he was not satisfied with fractions being returned but would stop at nothing to ensure that the entire loot was recovered.

“. . . we are collecting documents and some of them have started voluntarily returning something. But we want all.

“When we get those documents, we will formally charge them to court and then we will tell Nigerians to know those who abused trust when they were entrusted with public funds.

“So, the day of reckoning is gradually approaching.”

President Buhari is in Iran for the third summit of Gas Exporting Countries Forum holding in the capital city, Tehran.

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How lawyers are frustrating anti-corruption fight - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for urgent reforms in the judiciary.

In a speech delivered on his behalf by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday at the  year’s All Nigeria Judges’ Conference in Abuja, Buhari said that lawyers aided by some judges employ delay tactics to stall corruption trials and hinder the recovery of proceeds of crime in high profile corruption cases.

“Government’s attempt to recover such assets in accordance with the law, are often faced with dilatory tactics by lawyers, sometimes with the apparent collusion of judges.

“These tactics are often not directed at reaching any conclusion or affirming innocence or guilt, but at stalling trials indefinitely, thus denying the state and the accused person the opportunity of a judicial verdict.

“I wish to echo the sentiments of the vast majority of Nigerians in saying that we cannot afford to continue like this," he said.

The conference was organized by the National Judicial Institute.

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