The Nigerian Football Federation, NFF has announced the arrival of Arsenal youngster, Alex Iwobi in Abuja ahead of the weekend clash with Egypt in the AFCON 2017 qualifiers.
The NFF announced Iwobi's arrival by retweeting a Super Eagles post.
@NGSuperEagles@Arsenalstar@alexiwobiis first foreign based player to hit camp ahead#2017AFCONqualifiers vs Egypt.
The Presidential Committee on Defence Equipment Procurement in the Nigerian Armed Forces has decided to cast its net wider by probing the tenures of three former Chiefs of Army Staff, COAS, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika and Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah.
The panel said that in line with its mandate to look into the procurement of arms, ammunition and equipment from 2007 to 2015, it has invited about 300 serving and retired top army officers who served under the three former Chiefs of Army Staff.
About ten local and foreign firms including the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, DICON have also been invited to appear before the panel.
According to the panel's letter to Nigerian Army, “The invitees are required to clarify issues arising from procurement between 2007 and 2015 before the committee sitting at the ONSA daily.
“AHQ is required to cause the appearance of the senior officers and CEOs of the companies before the committee on dates stated against their names. Your cooperation will be most appreciated.”
THE NATION reports that the former Army Chiefs and the other invited officers are expected to answer questions on ammunition for Darfur operation, supply of training kits and equipment; purchase of 16MG and 29 RPG and 10Grenade Launchers; repair of seven assault craft; repair service and upgrade of 29 Suncraft ; purchase of 15 Free Fall Parachutes; buying of MRAP vehicles with maintenance containers; order of Radio Technologies Equipment; purchase of 10 APCs by DICON; 51 GPMG and sustenance of Operation Zaman Lafiya; emergency procurement of Combat Equipment for Ongoing Ops; Operation Internal Security; Quick Response Group and Forward Operation Bases; HE Type Mortar and purchase of Bullet Proof Vests.
THE NATION also reports that some of the officers who will be answering questions before the panel are the former Commander of the Army Finance Corps, Maj-Gen Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere (a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Edo State); former Corps Commander,Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, Lagos , Maj.-Gen. Olayemi Abidoye; ex-Chief of Policy and Plans, Army Headquarters, Major General E. E. Bassey; former General Officer Commanding 3 Armoured Division, Major General Jack Okechukwu Nwaogbo; former Chief of Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Major General M.A. Yerima; former Chief of Policy and Plans, Army Headquarters, Major General O Akinyemi; former Commandant, Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, NAOC, Major-General A. A. Martins; ex-GOC 3 Armoured Div, Maj.Gen. AB Marwa; former Chief of Policy and Plans at Army Headquarters , Major General A. Atofarati; former Commandant, Army Finance Corps, Gen. A.I. Muraina; ex- Directing Staff, National Defense College, Maj-Gen. Christian Onuorah Ugwu; former Director-General, Defence Industries Corporation, DICON, Maj.-Gen. Ekwenugo Chioba; former Chief of Policy and Plans, Army Headquarters, Major General Essien Bassey; former Chief of Logistics at the Army Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Daniel Kitchener; and former Defence Attaché at the Nigerian Embassy in Pakistan, Maj.-Gen. Daniel Kitchener.
The firms invited for interaction with the panel are DICON; Streit Group; China North Industries; Suncraft International Inc; Shangai L Electronics; Poly Trechnologies Inc; NRTC Pakistan; Kennedy Logistics; DYS Global Service Limited; Driveline System; Hadassa Investment Security Nigeria Ltd; Oraco Trade Link Limited and M/S Jatori.
A source close to the panel told THE NATION that the invited firms and officers are not under probe but are expected to help clarify issues related to arms procurement.
“Please note, none of all those invited is facing trial. They will only interact with this fact-finding committee. At the end of the day, the panel will make recommendations to the President and Commander-In-Chief, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari," he said.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP) on Sunday said it has rescued at least 50 victims of human trafficking in Kano in the last two months. .
The Commander, Kano Zonal Command of NAPTIP, Mr Shehu Umar told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN in Kano that the victims who were rescued between February and March this year included males and females and have since been reunited with their families.
Umar said that his command recorded 23 cases of trafficking, child labour, sexual exploitation and other related cases within the same period.
He said that 11 female suspects and several males were arrested for the crime.
“The cases have been investigated and one was on sexual abuse, two on child labour, one on abduction and another one on stolen baby.
“Among the cases, some do not fall within our jurisdiction so we transferred them to the police for proper prosecution,” he said.
He also disclosed that the command secured two convictions at the Federal High Court, Kano within the period
He called for more funding from the Federal Government to enable the agency carry out its activities effectively.
“Our activities require a lot of funding if we are to carry out investigation, rescued victims have to be transported to their states and some times we have to take care of them.
“We also conduct counselling exercise for the rescued victims, identify their needs and even rehabilitate them,” he said
NAN
Troops of the Nigerian Army have killed seven Boko Haram terrorists in an ambush at Dawashi, Borno State.
Army spokesman, Col Sani Kukasheka Usman confirmed this in a statement.
“The gallant troops that laid in wait at the terrorists suspected crossing point engaged them on sight, killed the 7 terrorists and recovered 1 Peugeot Station Wagon loaded with 2,010 litres of Premium Motor Spirit packed in 67 Jerri cans, uniforms, some materiels for making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
“Others items recovered include, dry cell batteries, 1 AK-47 rifle, tools and fish," he said.
The National Coordinator of the #IStandWithBuhari group, Mr Mustapha Ramalan has resigned.
Ramalan said that he took the action because he no longer has faith in the group.
“Having led the organization these past couple of weeks, I have reached a hard and inevitable decision of stepping down as its national coordinator with immediate effect.
“If I must lead the organization, I must be convinced more than anyone, on the path we chose for ourselves,” he said
A source close to the group disclosed that Ramalan had earlier overruled a proposed march for Buhari by the group.
“Mr. Ramalan is of the opinion that the nine million-man pro-Buhari march should be postponed because the government is still trying to pick up and hence should be given more time to justify the nine million-man march," he said.
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