Appeal Court voids Ikpeazu's sacking, chides Justice Abang

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Thursday nullified the sacking of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja whom it said “stood the law on its head”, and  adopted a “hostile proceeding” against Ikpeazu and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

In a unanimous decision read by Justice Morenike Ogunwumiju, the five-man panel of Judges of the Court of Appeal vacated the June 27 verdict of Justice Okon Abang which had sacked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on the
allegations of forgery and tax fraud brought against him by Mr. Sampson Ogah.

The appellate court held that the charges were “very contentious” and Justice Abang was wrong to have determined the case  based on an Originating Process rather than Writ of Summons.

The Court of Appeal held that Justice Abang “spoke from two sides of his mouth”, when in one breadth, he said that the case before him bordered on Ikpeazu’s submission of forged tax certificate, and on another breadth, insisted that he was not invited to try a case of forgery.

“You cannot say that a document is forged and still say that the matter is different from making a forged document under the criminal code.”

It noted that Justice Abang said that the case before him was not about forgery but went ahead to find Ikpeazu guilty of perjury.

The appellate court pointed out that the taxes of public officers were withdrawn at source, noting that it would have been a valid argument if there was proof that Ikpeazu, being a public officer, ran a viable business but failed to properly pay his tax.

“If the learned trial judge cannot understand how civil servants present their tax clearance certificates, does that mean that they are forged?” Justice Ogunwumiju queried.

The appellate court noted that the 2014 Guidelines of the PDP did not in any way demand that one of the qualifications for  aspirants was payment of tax “as at when due”, saying that the phrase was imported by Justice Abang from “the figment of his imagination.”

The appellate court said the trial judge “sat in the comfort of his chamber” and made findings that could not be supported by evidence.

“I found with the greatest respect, the reasoning of the trial learned judge ridiculous. How does the submission of tax papers on a Saturday, under section 31(5) of the Electoral Act, amount to forgery? For crying out loud, must we trivialise everything?” Justice Ogunwumiju asked.

She held that having appraised the tax papers submitted by Governor Ikpeazu, “I did not see anything spectacular or irregular in it. I cannot see my way to agree that the tax papers submitted by the 1st respondent is irregular or ipso facto forged."

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Air Force to acquire 12 Mi 35 helicopter gunships from Russia

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar has disclosed that the Nigerian Air Force would soon take delivery of 12 brand new Mi 35 helicopter gunships from Russia to boost its capacity in the war against terrorism.

The Mi 35 is an all weather attack helicopter capable of firing guided missiles.

Speaking at NTA's Good Morning Nigeria program on Thursday, Abubakar also said that the Air Force would be purchasing a set of new fighter jets from the United States of America as soon as the US Congress gives its approval.

He said that Boko Haram insurgents have been fleeing Sambisa forest because of constant bombardment by the NAF.

“We have degraded the capacity of the Boko Haram terrorist’s group to move around inside the Sambisa forest.

‘’The only problem we are having is that of the terrain. It is a big challenge because the place has been mined and troops cannot just move freely.”

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Misguided people want to pull me down - Jonathan

Immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed reports that the Federal Government is probing him following allegations by some militant groups in the Niger Delta.

In a statement signed by his media assistant, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan described the probe said to have been embarked upon by intelligence agencies as laughable and a figment of the imagination of malicious characters who were bent on pulling him down.

“Our attention has been drawn to two stories entitled “report links Jonathan to Niger Delta Avengers” and “FG probes Jonathan over N/Delta bombings’ published in some newspapers, of Thursday, August 18, 2016, with the claim that some intelligence reports had linked Jonathan to the renewed militancy in the Niger Delta.
“We obviously would have ignored the allegation, having responded recently to the exact same fabrication peddled by a shady militant group, but for the new dimension of bringing in the authorities, while hiding under the often-abused journalism latitude of quoting nebulous sources.
“Firstly, we note that there were similarities in the stories published same day by the newspapers that are too striking to pass the test of the normal newsroom process of diligent reporting and independent investigation.
“We are convinced that such clear coincidences are only permissible in situations where general statements are issued, but not on matters of intelligence/security reports which do not fly into newsrooms as press releases.
“We are also concerned that the stories did not differ in content and substance from the trite allegations earlier made by the so- called Reformed Niger Delta Avengers over the same lies of linking Jonathan to the militants.
“For instance, we are amazed that newspapers would be quick to report that the intelligence gathering was said to be a confirmation of a similar claim by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND”, even without subjecting such frivolity to any ethical interrogation.
“From what we know about intelligence gathering, there is no responsible government agency that would rush, as claimed in the stories, to adopt the accusations of a questionable rebellious organization as its own findings, without applying the professional processes of rigour and due diligence.
“It is sad that the publications wore the cloak of deceit from same misguided characters that are hell-bent on pulling down the former President, despite his clear record of diligent service to his country and long standing commitment to the good of society.
“There is no doubt that there exist such people who may have scores to settle with the former President but are now feeling frustrated by the fact that his national and international profile has continued to rise, despite their recourse to less- muck- raking character assassination.
“Such people will stop at nothing to continue to throw obstacles, albeit futilely, on his path.
“We are aware that the same people approached other well-meaning newspapers with the same false information, but they were wise to turn it down on account of its absurdity.
“Our media houses should then be careful not to make the country a laughing stock by being hoodwinked into passing off the perverted voices of irritant groups as that of our well respected official security authorities.
“Apart from toying with the serious issue of libel, those newspapers lending themselves to be so cheaply used by miscreants, are also doing gross disservice to our collective good and the image of the country.”

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PMB's address at the meeting of African Central Banks in Abuja

SPEECH DELIVERED BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI AT THE OPENING OF THE 2016 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN CENTRAL BANKS, IN ABUJA, ON AUGUST 18, 2016
1. It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to our capital city of Abuja, on the occasion of the 2016 Governors Symposium and the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Governors of the Association of African Central Banks. I advise our guests, especially those who are visiting Abuja for the first time, to take time out to tour and enjoy the bustle and variety of the city and the well-known hospitality of the Nigerian people.
2. Your distinguished club, the Assembly of Governors of the Association of African Central Banks meets annually to discuss and exchange views and experiences on topical issues affecting African economies and seek ways to improve macroeconomic governance in our countries. I sincerely hope that this year’s event would generate discussions and provide viable policy options that would assist to resolve the numerous economic challenges facing the continent.
3. Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I believe that the theme of this year’s Symposium—“Unwinding Unconventional Monetary Policies: Implications for Monetary Policy and Financial Stability in Africa”— covers contemporary issues and is of special relevance to us in Africa. It corresponds with a period when African economies are confronted with a number of growing and sometimes extraneous challenges that constitute threats to growth and the stability of our financial systems.
4. I am confident that you will come up with practical ways by which we can chart a way forward for the growth and development of Africa. The region is confronted with several global and domestic economic challenges. Most worrisome is the slowdown in growth; weakening global demand; rising inflation; restrictions in capital flows; rising debt levels; increased exchange rate volatility and depleting external reserves.
5. Those of us who rely on only natural resources such as Nigeria, Angola, South Africa, and Mozambique have been hit the hardest. We have also had to contend with the effect of the Ebola Virus Disease, which struck some countries in the West-African Sub-region. Furthermore, China, a major trade and business partner to a number of African countries is currently slowing down as it remodels its economy, sparking fears of further weakening.
6. Faced with these challenges, African Central Banks have been at their best in keeping African economies afloat through proactive and effective combination of conventional and innovative monetary policies. I urge you to continue to look for original home-grown solutions, not to rely on “fit for all purposes” prescriptions handed down from abroad. The world is a dynamic place and with innovation, we can survive.
7. In Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria has for many years spearheaded economic stimulus measures through specific intervention programmes. I think these measures should be sustained through good times and through difficult times.
8. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, we fully understand that monetary policy alone is not sufficient to bring about desired economic growth. We must carefully balance monetary and fiscal policy measures.
9. For us in Nigeria, while recognizing the challenges we are confronted with and the need to surmount them, we are determined to diversify the economy away from excessive reliance on oil and other primary products. Consequently, we are taking measures and implementing policies that would ensure we are self-sufficient, generate massive employment for millions of our youth, and explore our untapped human and natural resources.
10. We shall also embark on export and production diversification steps including investment in infrastructure; promotion of manufacturing through agro-based industries and expansion of Regional Trade. All these would involve integrating the informal economy into the mainstream and providing funds to Small and Medium Enterprises. We shall also continue, with greater determination and focus to pursue our goal of ensuring improved security for our country and its citizens, and without letting up on our fight against corruption and terrorism.
11. Side by side, with economic stimulus measures, we must intensify our surveillance and give guidance to the operations of our financial institutions to reverse the trend of illicit flows of funds out of Africa. We should all be serious in putting place measures aimed at ensuring that the proceeds of these illicit flows are repatriated to their countries of origin with minimal bureaucratic hitches.
12. Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I now have the pleasure and honour of declaring this Symposium officially open. I wish you all very fruitful deliberations.

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PMB with Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar at the Presidential Villa, Abuja

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House Abuja on Thursday.

He told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting which lasted about an hour that they discussed important matters of state.

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Buhari at Association of African Central Banks meeting in Abuja (Photo)

President Muhammadu Buhari today, Thursday declared open the Annual Meeting of the Association of African Central Banks, AACB, in Abuja.

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Police deploys personnel against Buhari’s bodyguards

Mobile police personnel have been deployed at the All Progressives Congress, APC Presidential Campaign Organization's office in Abuja to forestall a planned protest by persons who worked as President Muhammadu Buhari's bodyguards during the 2015 presidential election.

The spokesman of the bodyguards, Mr Badiru Olabiyi Balogun, told THE PUNCH on Thursday, that “two truck loads of mobile policemen have been deployed to our campaign office. They said the instruction was that they should not allow us access to the office and that the people outside should not be allowed to go in. So, we are meeting there by 9:00 am this morning.”

He said that they would however, go ahead with the protest against their exclusion by “cabals in the government.”

He lamented that the President has been hijacked by "some cabals" who “are now reaping where they did not sow” to the exclusion of the bodyguards.

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