Boko Haram controls no LGA in Borno - Shettima

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has dismissed claims by a senator that Boko Haram militants control half of the local government councils in the state.

, “To me, it is unbelievable that such a statement could have emanated from Senator Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai. I can’t believe he said that because as a Senator, he has access to the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the IGP and even the Presidency and he is not the type that even speaks to the media easily. So this is why I am at a loss.

“I have not been able to get in touch with him yet to get his own side, to hear from him what he actually said. But for now, I suspect he must have been misquoted or if he wasn’t misquoted, he must have spoken based on emotional outburst and not anchored on ground realities,” he said.

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Former CDS Badeh takes his turn at EFCC hot seat.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Monday played host to former Chief of Defense Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh.

Badeh's visit to the EFCC is ostensibly to explain his alleged role in the $2.1b arms procurement fund scandal.

Details of his encounter with the anti graft agency's operatives are not known at this time.

Recall that Badeh was at EFCC on Friday but was asked to come back on Monday.

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Tariff hike: Saraki addresses labour unions at National Assembly.

The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC were at the National Assembly this Monday to protest the 45 per cent hike in electricity tariffs by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.

Saraki addressed the workers' unions, promising to ensure that corporations do not make profits off Nigerians without delivering commensurate services.

See photos of the encounter

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Senate President visits Abuja Made-In-Aba trade fair (Photos)

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki was at the 3rd Abuja Made-In-Aba trade fair today.

After inaugurating the trade fair which is showcasing products made by Aba based entrepreneurs who have been assisted by SMEDAN, Saraki splashed photos of the fun event on his Facebook page.

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This blind man specializes in bailing detained cattle rustlers

His name is Muntari Idris, but his friends call him Barrister.

He lives at Ungwar-Maigiginya in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. 

This suave 50 years old blind man has a reputation for bailing, harboring and aiding criminals, especially those involved in kidnapping, cattle rustling and banditry, but he presents himself as a businessman with interest in real estate.

When Muntari was arrested by men of the Nigerian Security And Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, he denied being involved in crime. 

He blamed his boy Adamu Mohammed for roping him in by confessing that he had accompanied him several times to bail suspected criminals.

Mohammed confessed that most of the suspects bailed by Idris were those detained in connection with cattle rustling, kidnapping among others. He said he was introduced to the suspect by his late boss, noting that after realising what he does for a living, he counseled him but to no avail.

“I wish to duly state that I know my present boss, Barrister, as he is fondly called, to bail offenders, especially cattle rustlers and kidnappers particularly last year.

“He asked me to accompany him to State CID twice and many times to Rigasa Station and each time we did, I discovered that he would bail offenders who I realised were suspects of cattle rustling.”

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Counter-insurgency: Buratai leads the ground troops - Army

Following media reports that the control of officers and men of the Nigerian Army was secretly transferred to the Chief of Defense Staff, Gen Abayomi Olonisakin,, thereby causing bad blood among the soldiers, the Nigerian Army has confirmed that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai is in charge of the ground troops engaged in counter-terrorism operations.

The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, in his reaction to the report said that it was calculated to cause disaffection among the defence personnel fighting terrorists in the Northeast.

He assured that the normal hierarchy of command and control found in all military formations has been maintained since the beginning of operations in the war on terror.

“The Armed Forces Act (AFA), Cap A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004 in Section 7, clearly states the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and his powers. He therefore exercises his powers in accordance with the appropriate statute books.

“He superintends over all the Services; Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and the Nigeria Air Force. Therefore, the operation in the North East is not an exception.

“On the other hand, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is responsible for all land operations and will continue to exercise that role and as may be directed by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the Honourable Minister of Defence, the CDS or directly to the COAS as the case may be.

“Operation LAFIYA DOLE is essentially Land and Air operation. The Nigerian Army has the largest troops deployed and therefore the COAS has the responsibility for the operational, command, control and discipline of the Army. This the COAS will continue to exercise by himself or can delegate through his field commanders.

“The recent unfortunate attacks by Boko Haram terrorists on communities close to Maiduguri, despite our successes calls for concern. To this end the Nigerian Army has already commenced investigation into the attacks.

“All those found wanting will be dealt with in accordance with the Armed Forces Act. A standing Special Court Martial in the North East has already been established by the Nigerian Army.” he said.

He assured that all reported cases of misconduct including human rights abuse would be looked into.

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Trade unions shut Kaduna DISCO over tariff hike.

Workers in Kaduna State under the umbrella of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC on Monday disrupted activities at the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company in solidarity with their counterparts across the country as they protested the 45 per cent hike in electricity tariffs.

The union members who arrived the zonal headquarters of the energy company chanted solidarity songs amid fiery speeches, vowing not to back down until the authorities revert to the old tariffs.

They said that industrial action became inevitable when government refused to see reason with them. They wondered why tariffs should be increased when the quality of electricity supplied to consumers has not improved.

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