EFCC to unleash Interpol on Mahmood Ahmadu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has launched a manhunt for a major suspect in the 2014 Immigration Service recruitment scandal, Mahmood Ahmadu who is said to be a close associate of former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro.

The anti graft agency is set to enlist the help of the International Criminal Police Organization, INTERPOL and other agencies in the United Kingdom, UK to track down the fugitive businessman.

Meanwhile, the trial of Abba Moro and Mahmood Ahmadu begins today at the Federal High Court, Abuja presided over by Justice Chikere.

Also to stand trial alongside the duo are Ahmadu's firm, Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd, a former Permanent Secretary, Mrs Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia and F. O. Alayebami.

They are facing an 11-count fraud charge bordering on the alleged misappropriation of  N676.6m collected from 676,675 Immigration job applicants.

Confirming the information yesterday, EFCC spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren said that :

”Former Interior Minister Moro will on February 29 be arraigned on an 11- count charge before Justice Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

“We may enlist INTERPOL and relevant agencies in the UK to track down Mahmood Ahmadu. He used to have companies in the UK and with his biometrics, there is no hiding place for him.

“We have already watch-listed him. This makes him a security risk wherever he goes. It is in his interest to come out of hiding.”

The accused persons are to be tried for Advance Fee Fraud, abuse of Public Procurement Act, No. 65 of 2007, misconduct contrary to Section 22(5) of the Independent Corrupt Practices Act 2000 and offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act 2011.

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Rampaging Fulani herdsmen displace over 7000 persons in Agatu

No fewer than 7000 persons were displaced in the aftermath of attacks by Fulani herdsmen on some farming communities in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

The displaced persons were sacked from Okokolo, Akwu, Ocholonya, Adagbo, Ugboku and Aila by rampaging Fulani herdsmen and are presently taking shelter at makeshift camps at the Ochi Idoma square in Otukpo, Ugbokpo, Adoka, Ojantele, Ikobi and other neighboring communities.

One of the refugees who spoke to newsmen in Otukpo lamented the terrible state of affairs at the camps and called on government and well-meaning individuals to come to their aid.

“We sleep on bare floor since we don’t have mattress or mats. It is quite a difficult situation as we are exposed to mosquitoes and all kinds of insects and reptiles during the day and at night. The absence of medical officers at the crowded camp is also a disturbing factor, and you can see that the entire camp is not suitable for human habitation," he said.

The elderly man described last week's invasion of Agatu communities by herdsmen as an operation aimed at wiping Agatu people out of their ancestral lands.

“Till today, the Fulani herdsmen are still in our communities causing mayhem. As I am talking to you, their cows have taken over our land. In fact we believe that it is the government of Nasarawa State that is fighting us; the peace Governor Almakura claims to be making is a deceit. They should tell the world who provided the two helicopters which flew into Abogbe and Okokolo to provide ammunitions for the Fulanis,” he lamented.

A priest with the Justice, Development and Peace of Otukpo Catholic Diocese, Rev Fr John Attah described the condition of the refugees as pathetic.

“I shed tears when I saw old women running from their ancestral homes seeking refuge. It is pathetic,” he said.

He called on the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA to urgently complement the efforts of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA in providing the desperately needed relief materials.

Photo credits: Vanguard

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Murray-Bruce's interesting airport encounter with Obasanjo

Photos: Ben Murray-Bruce 'dobale' for Obasanjo at the airport http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2016/02/photos-ben-murray-bruce-dobale-for.html

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Oliseh can’t afford to live in Nigeria

Sunday Oliseh shares thoughts on issues with NFF, says neither he nor NFF can afford for him to live in Nigeria http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2016/02/sunday-oliseh-shares-thoughts-on-issues.html

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Buhari shocked by latest killings by herdsmen in Agatu

Shocked by the latest Agatu killings, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered an investigation into the clashes between herdsmen and indigenes of communities in Benue State Northcentral Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, President Buhari expressed his deep shock over last week's clashes, which left hundreds of people dead in four communities in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

He promised that security agencies would act quickly to get to the root of the problem.

"We will act immediately. We will conduct an investigation to know exactly what happened. The only way to bring an end to the violence once and for all is to look beyond one incident and ascertain exactly what factors are behind the conflicts.

“Once the investigations are concluded, we will act immediately to address the root of the problem,” he said.

The president urged Nigerians to learn to live together in peace and unity.

“We are all one nation and one people. There should not be any reason why Nigerians of any group or tongue cannot now reside with one another wherever they find themselves after decades of living together” he said.

Buhari expressed his condolences to Agatu people, assuring them that his government would do everything possible to ensure that no such incident ever occurred in their midst again.

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Mark donates relief materials to displaced Agatu people

Following the recent killings by Fulani herdsmen, Senator David Mark has donated relief materials to displaced persons in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

The relief materials which included rice, noodles, vegetable oil, mattresses, mats, blankets salt and buckets were presented on behalf of the former Senate President  by Dr. Adakole Elijah.

Mark expressed sympathy for the victims over their plight, urging them to look unto God even in their present condition.

He urged the Federal and state governments to not only help the victims but also find a lasting solution to the frequent clashes between herdsmen and the people.

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FG takes 23,846 ghost workers off payroll

The Federal Government has announced the removal of 23,846 ghost workers from its payroll.

Following this development, the salary bill for February 2016 came down by N2.293 billion when compared to December 2015 when the BVN audit process was yet to commence.

A statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance on Sunday said that the “figure represents a percentage of the number of non-existent workers who had hitherto been receiving salary from various ministries, departments and agencies.

” The removal of non existent workers from federal payroll and the savings on salaries was made possible because of the ongoing BVN-based staff audit and enrolment to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).”

The statement also said that Federal Government is  making efforts to recover “salary balances in bank accounts as well as any pension contributions in respect of the deleted workers. This involves active collaboration with the concerned banks and the National Pension Commission (Pencom).”

It was learnt that further investigation of other suspected cases are continuing in collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

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