(Xinhua/NAN) Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, on Wednesday, announced the establishment of a new anti-corruption unit and encouraged the public to report corrupt officials to the unit.

Museveni, while delivering his state of the nation address, said the move was aimed at fighting rampant corruption and poor service delivery.

He said the unit would be based in his office.

The only enemy we need to fight is corruption and poor implementation of government programmes.

Report any corruption you come across to this unit, Museveni said in a nationwide televised address.

People expect money for every little task.

We could not have liberated this country if we did not have a high degree of altruism.

This attitude of altruism must come back.

The president has put fighting corruption, infrastructure development, job creation and electricity as key priorities of his ruling party, the National Resistance Movement.

Anti-corruption activists argue that Uganda has good legal and policy frameworks to fight corruption but the challenge lies in the implementation.

Source: NAN

The Nigeria Police Force said today Senate President Bukola Saraki is still under investigation, as it also announced the arrest of two out of the three suspects mentioned by one of the gang leaders of the Offa bank robbery.

In an update, the police said the two men arrested were named by the overall gang leader, Ayoade Akinnibosun, during the parade of suspects on 3 June.

The newly arrested men were identified as Alhaji Kehinde Gobiri, also known as Captain and Alhaji Oba Shuaib Olododo a.k.a Jawando. The third wanted person, Alhaji Dona is still at large. Gobiri is 47 years old, while Olododo is 53 years old.

According to the police, the two men, all from Ilorin, Kwara state capital, have admitted to various crimes and criminalities that they had committed in Kwara Central Senatorial District under the guise of working as political thugs for the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

“They are currently under investigation and will be charged to court on completion of investigation”, police spokesman, Moshood Jimoh, said.

The five gang leaders and 17 principal suspects, who the police said admitted taking part in the Offa robbery on 5 April, were paraded on 3 June before the media. They were all accused of robbing six banks and attacking the divisional police headquarters, killing 33 persons, including nine policemen.

Police, meanwhile, have continued to dig more links between the Senate President and all the accused as their investigations deepened.

Police said they had discovered that Akinnibosun and two other ringleaders Ibikunle Ogunleye and Adeola Abraham followed the Senate President to Oloffa’s Palace when the Senate President paid a condolence visit after the bank robbery.

“New revelations from further investigation into the matter show that all the five gang leaders namely; Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibukunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran have direct connection to the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki as new pictures of one of the five gang leaders when paraded by the Police early in the week was in ‘Aso Ebi’ (trouser) used during the Senate President daughter’s wedding.

“The five gang leaders have further admitted that they attended the Senate President daughter’s wedding held recently,” police said.

“The Five (5) gang leaders further confessed during investigation that they are political thugs under the name Youth Liberation Movement a.k.a “Good Boys” . They admitted and confessed to have been sponsored with firearms, money and operational vehicles by the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki and the Governor of Kwara State, Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed. These confessions were made before the media and the public on the 3 of June, 2018. It is therefore, evidently clear that the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki has case to answer.”

Despite the vote of no-confidence passed on the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris on Tuesday, the police said they will not be cowed or succumb to intimidation from any quarters in carrying out a thorough and discreet investigation into the Offa Bank Robbery.

The police said significant successes have been recorded and that the investigation will be driven to a logical conclusion.

*What the five gang leaders confessed to the Police:

• Ayoade Akinnibosun a.k.a AY ‘M’ 37Yrs – Gang Leader From Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State. Confessed to have coordinated the Bank Robbery and the killing of Thirty Three (33) innocent persons during the bank robbery.

• Ibikunle Ogunleye ‘M’ 36Yrs – Gang Leader from Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State. Confessed to have killed Two (2) Persons during the bank robbery.

• Adeola Abraham ‘M’ 35Yrs – Gang Leader from Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State. Confessed to have killed Five (5) Persons during the bank robbery.

• Salawudeen Azeez ‘M’ 49Yrs – Gang Leader from Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State. Confessed to have killed Two (2) Persons during the bank robbery.

• Niyi Ogundiran ‘M’ 37Yrs – Gang Leader from Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State. Confessed to have killed Two (2) Persons during the bank robbery.

The other 17 suspects volunteered confessional statements admitting their active participation in the robbery.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday hosted traditional and religious leaders to breaking of fast.

He reassured them that he will never betray the trust reposed in him by Nigerians no matter the challenges on ground.

He also vowed that he would never allow political office holders or public servants entrusted with the nations resources to abuse such trust by way of stealing or mismanagement of the resources.

He maintained that the nations resources were meant to uplift the quality of life of the citizens and not to be diverted to private pockets by selfish individuals or groups.

This country is endowed by God with material and human resources. We are going to work very hard to explore it.

We are holding public trust and knowingly we will not abuse it and we will not allow anybody to abuse it, he said.

He charged the traditional and religious leaders to continue to educate and enlighten their followers on the importance of keeping public trust, saying that his administration would continue to promote the virtues of honesty, trust and accountability for the general good of the society.

While thanking the traditional and religious leaders for their support and understanding, the President urged them not to relent in promoting the virtues of peaceful co-existence and brotherliness among the citizens across the country.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) and Amb. Shehu Galadanchi, who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers and the religious leaders respectively, thanked President Buhari for inviting them for the Iftar.

They also lauded his administrations socio-economic policies and programmes aimed at transforming the nations economy and subsequently enhancing the standard of living of the people.

Source: NAN

A 22-year-old Libya returnee (nameswitheld), on Wednesday told newsmen in Lagos that she made the perilous journey to the North African country en route France to join a prostitution ring.

The returnee, who hails from Edo, was among the 171 Nigerians that voluntarily returned from Libya on Tuesday night.

She spoke at the Hajj Camp of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The returnees, including nine pregnant women, were brought back aboard a Buraq Airline with registration number 5A-DMG.

The returnees comprised of 70 female adults, 90 male adults, three children and eight infants.

They returned through the assistance of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Narrating her ordeal, she said that her parents were peasant farmers, who were struggling to survive the hardship in Nigeria.

She said: When I heard about the possibility of making changes in the lives of my family, I told my parents and they didnt object.

I wanted to go to France and I knew it was prostitution that I would do, but I didnt mind as long as I can make my parents comfortable.

According to her, on getting to Libya, after many sufferings on the road from Kano, I was captured by some Libyans and my trafficker had to pay money to secure my release.

The returnee narrated that she was again held by another group and had to call her parents to raise money in order to secure her freedom.

They sold everything they had to send the money to me, but I was able to return to Nigeria through the assistance of IOM when we could no longer proceed to my destination.

I was made to swear that upon reaching France and start working, I will pay my trafficker 12,000 and the herbalist 1,000 to settle all the expenses paid on me by my trafficker and the herbalist.

This was because I couldnt raise any money for the journey.

Now, I am back in Nigeria without anything to show for it. My parents will be worst hit.

How can I help my parents to recover? she said.

186 Nigerians came back voluntarily on June 1 from the volatile North African country where they had been stranded en route to Europe.

Source: NAN

Bangalore Police on Wednesday congratulated an Indian Policewoman, who breastfed an abandoned baby, prompting a slew of praise on social media.

Police Constable Archana Shivanandiyya, told newsmen she was only acting out of motherly instinct.

We salute the mother in our lady Police Constable Archana, who rescued an abandoned newborn and breastfed the infant, the Bangalore Police posted on Facebook, amid praise from many users on the site.

The baby boy was discovered wrapped inside a plastic bag near a construction site in the southern metropolis of Bangalore on June 1.

Shivanandiyya and her colleague Police Insp R. Nagesh found the baby covered in blood, with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck.

The infant was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors cleaned him and removed the umbilical cord and then brought to the police station.

The baby was really weak and not moving much, making us all worried.

I could not suppress my motherly instinct and took him immediately to an adjacent room to feed him, Archana told newsmen.

The 31-year old had recently returned to work after three months of maternity leave.

The milk was like an elixir that saved the baby.

He started kicking about and crying loudly, which sent a wave of cheer and joy to all the staff at the police station.

The newborn had been named `Kumaraswamy after the states Chief Minister, HD Kumaraswamy, Nagesh said.

He has now been brought to a childrens home.

Kumaraswamy tweeted that he was deeply moved and would meet the policewoman who nursed the little one to live to express gratitude. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN

A Niger Delta group, under the aegis ofNiger Delta Activist Forum, has threatened to shut down the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) if it fails to induct some junior production staff recruited in 2014 and 2015.

The group gave the company a 14 day ultimatum to induct the staffers who were predominantly drawn from the host communities or risk a total and complete shut down.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja, the Convener of the Forum, Comrade Success Jack, saidthe 2014/2015 NAOC host communities junior production technicians recruitment exercise in line with extant industry laws is a right and not a privilege granted to the host communities.

Therefore, NAOC should immediately induct and integrate the successful applicants within a fortnight.

He recalled that in line with Nigerias local content policy, Agip had conducted a recruitment exercise for junior production technicians and about 100 indigenes of the host communities emerged successful.

After the selection process, the successful candidates were booked for medical tests and subsequent placements, but the company abruptly aborted the exercise.

All entreaties from the traditional rulers, Rivers House of Assembly and security agencies that Agip should induct the locals fell on deaf ears.

The Niger Delta Activists Forum recently dragged Agip before the Rivers state command of the Department of State Security (DSS), where the company was advised to induct the 100 junior staff, but the company still reneged on its promise, he said.

Jack said the activists had embarked ontwenty one days of thorough consultations, with well over one hundred and twenty community based organizations, community leaders and youth groups in the Niger Delta.

He said that the consultation was to bring to the fore what he termed as disregard and total disrespect of our people in the region, extant laws and institutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Nigeria Agip Oil Company(NAOC).

He said the group had exhausted all avenues and available options to make Agip live up to its corporate social responsibility, but the company was not ready to continue doing business in Nigeria.

Failure on the part of NAOC to comply with the fourteen days ultimatum given herein; we shall commence a total and complete shut down of all NAOC flow stations and oil production facilities within our communities.

We hereby call on all Niger Delta people to boycott all NAOC products and cut all dealings with this avowed enemy of our people at the end of this ultimatum; while advising that the right things be done and quickly so, to avert the extreme position that our people may be forced to assume.

The group, however, appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari, for graciously signing the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill into law, which it said would accord Nigerian youth a place in the business of governance.

This is a historic landmark achievement, geared towards youth empowerment and inclusion and not even the worst of onslaughts from anti-youth progressive agents like NAOC can reverse it, the group added.

Source: NAN

A 36-year-old trader, Mrs Florence Anyasi, on Wednesday told a Customary Court in Igando, Lagos to dissolve her 10-year-old marriage because her husband, Staley is a chronic womaniser.

She told the court that apart from numerous cases of his following women around, her husband used to sneak into their maids room to sleep with her.

My husband is a womaniser, he used to leave me in the bed at night and sneak into my maids room. I have caught him severally on my maids bed sexually assaulting her.

A neighbour approached me and told me to warn my husband to desist from asking her daughter to have love affairs with him.

I once caught him sucking the breasts of my niece, who is a minor and he is also fond of wooing my friends, the mother of three said as she reeled out her grievances before the court.

Anyasi also accused the husband of threatening her life.

My husband always tells me that he will get rid of me and had once succeeded in poisoning me.

He bought food for me and after eating, I started having serious pain and vomiting, I was rushed to the hospital by neighbours, when I was diagnosed, it was detected that the food I just ate had been poisoned.

The petitioner said that her husband equally turned her into a punching bag, beating her at the slightest provocation, and has been calling her thief and prostitute in public.

The woman stressed that her husband was irresponsible and unable to provide food or pay for the education of their children.

She therefore urged the court to dissolve her marriage with Stanley.

The defendant, however, denied all the allegations and in turn accused his wife of adultery, claiming that her lover even bought a car for her.

In January 2017 she came home with a car of N1 million, when I queried her where she got the car from, she claimed she bought it with her money.

I strongly disagreed with her because she is only selling foodstuffs and can never afford that kind of a car.

The 40-year-old businessman said that his wife packed out of their matrimonial home in 2017 without his knowledge.

I came home from work and discovered that my wife had packed all her belonging out with the children to start living with her lover.

I called her severally, she refused to pick but she eventually picked my call last January and informed me that our last baby she delivered in May 2017 was not mine that the child belonged to the man she is presently living with.

Before she even gave birth and packed out of my house, I always received information from people that they saw my wife in hotel with men but I always ignored them.

Stanley said that he provided food and was paying the school fees of their children.

On the allegation of turning her to a punching bag, Stanley said that he only beat her once when she stabbed him with bottle on his head.

The respondent urged the court to grant his wifes wish for the dissolution of marriage saying that he too was no longer interested.

The court president, Mr Akin Akinniyi, admonished the couple to maintain peace and fixed July 3, for judgment.

Image Credits: Youtube

Source: NAN

Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation, an NGO, has called for a total ban on single-use plastics if they could not be reused or recycled.

Its Executive Director, David Michael, made the call at a clean-up exercise in the Jabi neighbourhood of Abuja to commemorate the 2018 World Environment Day, which has Beat Plastic Pollution as its theme.

Micheal said that plastic pollution had been a serious environmental menace all over the world.

He added that this explained why his organisation decided to organise the neighbourhood clean-up, in collaboration with the students of Government Secondary School, Jabi, so as to sensitise the students to the need to control plastic waste in the country.

Plastics here in the Jabi community run off to Jabi Lake. If you see the quantity of plastics in Jabi Lake, you will never believe it.

That is why we chose this community that is very close to the Jabi Lake because all the waste of the residents overflow to the lake; we want the students to understand that it is important to dispose waste safely.

We are also saying that any plastic material you can reuse, reuse it because single-use plastics are contaminating the environment.

We are advocating for a total ban of single use of plastics in Nigeria because plastics do not decay; they remain in the soil, river and ocean for years, he added.

Michael urged producers of plastic packages to use biodegradable materials such as paper bags and leaf to package consumable products.

He said that the production of paper bags would boost peoples interest in tree planting, while creating jobs for chemical engineers and other Nigerians.

Today, all over the world, is World Environment Day and UN has chosen a good theme for the day, which is `Beat Plastic Pollution.

Plastics have become a menace to our society, the environment and our heart.

We need to reduce the rate at which we are using plastics, not just only Nigeria but all over the world.

Today is a significant day for all of humanity. In fact, every day should be labelled the World Environment Day because our lives largely depend on the environment.

The air we breathe, the food we eat and even ourselves as humans, all came from the soil which is the major component of the environment.

There is, therefore, a compelling need for us to take care of our environment, he said.

Clara Okpala, a student of Government Secondary School, Jabi, underscored the need to ban the production and utilisation of single-use plastics because whenever plastic waste got into rivers, it harmed and killed fishes and other marine life.

Martins Obi, another student of the school, said that plastic waste, because of its inability to decompose, often blocked water channels, thereby causing floods which displaced people from their homes.

Source: NAN

Noble Youths Mass Support Association (NYMSA), a non-governmental organisation, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the Not-Too-Young-To-Run bill.

Comrade Godwin Onmonya, the national coordinator of the association gave the commendation while briefing newsmen in Kuje, Abuja.

According to him, the bill is a step in the right direction, adding that it will bring about new brand of leadership with sound minds.

I am happy with the passage of the Not-Too-Young-To-Run bill into law and it is victory to Nigerian Youths.

I commend the President for this particular measure and the step that this government has taken regarding the bill.

For people to think that we now have young ones who are intelligent and patriotic and allow them to take leadership positions is quite commendable, he said.

Onmonya said President Buhari signed the bill into law on Thursday, at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, barely two days after he pledged to do so during the countrys Democracy Day celebration on May 29.

He observed that the movement had already put younger Nigerians at advantage positions to participate in elective positions ahead of the future general elections.

What we have found in other countries that are developing is that they take time to build and groom the leadership that will take over.

When they do, they will see that the country is moving at a faster speed but over time in this country, we have not taken time to groom our leadership.

We keep on recycling our leaders and we dont see much improvement in our governance.

If we get the issue of leadership right but fail to deal with the issue facing it, we are going nowhere.

He suggested that Nigerians in the run up to the 2019 elections should demand that aspiring politicians did not abuse their offices.

In line with our dream of providing enabling environment for youth participation in elections and governance and to allow younger Nigerians to actively participate in elective positions in governance at all levels.

Whoever can vote can be voted for, which is a global standard, he said.

He, therefore, urged Nigerian youths to immediately take advantage of the bill to actively participate in the collective quest to move the nation forward.

Source: NAN

A Deputy Director in the Kogi Ministry of Education, Mr Haruna David, suddenly collapsed and died in his office on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt in Lokoja that late David collapsed at about 3 p.m.

He was immediately rushed to Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, where he was pronounced dead by medical officials on duty.

Until his death, he worked in the Quality Assurance department of the ministry.

The deceased hailed from Ogugu, Olamaboro Local Government and was the Unit Chairman of the ministry’s Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and Chairman, Lokoja branch of the Ogugu Development Association.

However, investigations revealed the deceased was suffering from diabetes.

His corpse had been deposited at the morgue of Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja.

The Public Relations Officer of Ministry of Education, Alhaji Seidu Adamu, confirmed the incident but refused to comment further.

Source: NAN

Dutchman Johannes Bonfrere, former Super Eagles coach has every reason to smile as the Federal Government on Tuesday in Abuja handed over the apartment promised him in 1994.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the promise was made during the late Gen. Sani Abacha administration following Super Eagles’ victory in the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, during a courtesy call on him by Bonfrere, said redeeming the pledge was a sign of government’s commitment to integrity.

“This is consistent with the commitment President Muhammadu Buhari has made to make Nigerians proud of the country and to stand by and respond to needs of the citizens.

“But the matter did not go back 24 years. Rather it actually goes back 38 years.

“The Green Eagles, like Emmanuel Okala, Martins Eyo, Tunde Bamidele, among others, became the Super Eagles after winning the first Nations Cup Nigeria won.

“They were promised houses, but in their own cases they actually received the allocations and they did not have any document.

“So, it was not until April 2017, 38 years after the promise, that they finally got letters of allocation in this administration, which simply shows that the Federal Government is committed to solving problems, no matter how old.

“Change means that the government is solving very difficult and old problems, no matter how long the problems are, be it human, social, habitation needs, including infrastructure.’’

The minister also emphasised that the second housing programme which was currently being constructed in 34 states in Nigeria was also embarked upon under the present administration.

“That again is a sign that even National Housing has seen change,’’ he said.

Handing over the keys to the three-bedroom apartment, Fashola expressed satisfaction over the fulfillment of the pledge and thanked the former coach for his contribution to national development.

He noted that in Bonfrere’s case, he did not get any allocation or the letter, even though he has finally received the house.

According to the minister, beyond housing, the government was also tackling very difficult and old problems.

“I am happy to say that the Bonny Bridge in Rivers, which has been in concession for 32 years after two previous contractors have failed, is now under construction.’’

In his response, Bonfrere expressed profound gratitude to the Federal Government for redeeming the pledge made 24 years ago as a reward package.

He noted that the gesture demonstrated the premium the government placed on integrity of commitments, particularly in relation to honour as a result of outstanding accomplishment by sports teams.

“This gesture will encourage our sportsmen and women to aspire extraordinarily for accomplishments, knowing their accomplishment will not be unrecognised.’’

Bonfrere however expressed his best wishes for the Super Eagles who are set to participate in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

“As a coach that was directly involved in the 1994 African Cup of Nations and 1996 Olympics football gold medal victories, I crave for an impressive performance by our Super Eagles in Russia.’’

The former coach called for continued support for Federal Government’s sports programmes and policies, adding that the role of sports as a unifying tool could not be underestimated.

The three-bedroom unit, located at Prototype Housing Estate, Phase II in Gwagwalada, was a fulfillment of the pledge made in 1994 for winning the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

Source: NAN

The U.S, President Donald Trump is reportedly considering

Johnson, a great-grandmother from Memphis, Tennessee who became an ordained minister behind bars, has served more than 21 years in prison for a non-violent drug conspiracy offence.

She was sentenced to lifewithout parolein 1996, despite it being her first offence.

Kardashian first read about her case in October 2017, and began tweeting about it, describing the sentence as so unfair.

On May 30 she travelled to DC to meet the president and plead for clemency.

r Trump, but the decision has divided his cabinet.

John Kelly, the chief of staff,and White House counsel Donald McGahn are described as being disturbed by the process, according to two people familiar with the discussions.

Mr Kelly has reviewed Johnsons background and her 1996 conviction and is not convinced she deserves a pardon, an administration official told the newspaper.

Mr McGahn has also argued against the possible pardon as an unnecessary action by the president, a second official said.

But the case, seized upon by Kardashian, has become a cause celebre for prison reform advocates.

Source:

Source: NAN

There are palpable fears in the Presidential Amnesty Office Abuja, following the discovery of irregularities on Tuesday in previous deployment of delegates for educational programmes at some universities in the country.

Mr Murphy Ganagana, Special Assistant to the Cordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme Prof. Charles Dokubo in a statement said the discovery followed a verification exercise ordered by the Coordinator on assumption of office.

Ganagana said that a committee set up to ascertain the number of beneficiaries of the amnesty programme hitherto deployed to universities onshore for various educational programmes, discovered that an alarming figure of students enrolled in universities under the programme were not captured in the data base.

“Against the backdrop of huge tuition fees forwarded to the office for payment by some universities in the country for supposed beneficiaries deployed to the institutions for study Prof. Dokubo constituted a committee headed by the Head of Reintegration, amnesty office, Chief Aroloyeteim Brown, to verify beneficiaries of the amnesty Programme in local universities.

“The committee was among others, mandated to ascertain admission process of the students into the various institutions and whether the students are beneficiaries of the amnesty programme, and, if not, who was responsible for their admission or deployment.”

According to him, the office is also probing the disparity in tuition fees for students deployed by the office and others undergoing same programmes at the institutions.

He said this was to ascertain if there had been insider collaboration to pad the fees for pecuniary interests.

“The committee which is rounding off its assignment, has however, uncovered large scale fraud in previous deployment of delegates not captured in the data base of beneficiaries of the amnesty programme to various universities within the country.

“Checks indicated that while a new university recently forwarded a list of 62 pre-degree students to the office for payment of tuitions fees the committee discovered that only 14 of them were captured in the data base of beneficiaries of the programme.

“And 34 out of 201 first year students at another new university in the Southeastern part of the country were also cleared as beneficiaries in the amnesty database,” he said.

Ganagana further said that the names of 200 first year students out of a total of 290 sent to the office for payment of tuition fees by three universities in the South-south could not be verified on the data base of beneficiaries.

“Only 90 students from the three institutions were verified.

“The Coordinator, Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo is deeply concerned over this development, especially the plight of the affected students and is exploring measures to address the situation,” he added.

Source: NAN

The threat by the National Assembly to invoke constitutional power against the President Muhammadu Buharis government is a gangster behaviour, Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, lashed on Tuesday.

The lawmakers incurred the displeasure of the South West socio-cultural group, following the threat by the lawmakers against the executive on Tuesday.

The forum said that the continuing interference of the National Assembly in the investigation of its indicted members could truncate the countrys democracy if not checked.

The forum, said the interference in such investigation was more like a gangsters behaviour by people who swore on oath to protect the country and its citizens.

Mr Akin Malaolu, Secretry-General of the forum, said in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja that the National Assembly was on a mission to truncate the countrys democracy due to lawful investigations carried out by government agents against some of its members.

He added that the National Assembly should remember that government was the creation of the people including the Senate and the House of representatives.

He maintained that the role of government was to disallow impunity and absolute liberty to commit heinous crimes, some of which he said were noticeable amongst leaders of today.

He added that the threat to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari for performing his duties was uncalled for.

The members of the National Assembly came out of a closed door joint session to unveil a 12-point demand bothering on insecurity, war against corruption and respect for lawmakers.

They threatened that they would not hesitate to invoke their constitutional power against the executive if it failed to implement the demands.

Their action is coming in the heat of the invitation of Senate President Bukola Saraki by the police to answer to his indictment by some five robbery gang leaders who led the attack on six banks and a police station in Offa on April 5, an operation in which 33 people were killed.

Source: NAN

The Parliamentary Support Group of the Senate and House of Representatives has unveiled what transpired at the Tuesdays emergency secret meeting of the National Assembly (NASS).

The group said that all members that spoke at the joint session were mainly members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Rep. Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC-Kano), said in a statement in Abuja, on behalf of the group.

A joint session for the National Assembly on Tuesday passed a 12 point resolution calling on the executive to implement them or risk a constitutional sanction.

Almost all the members and senators that spoke at the Executive Session are of the PDP while members of the APC declined joining the discussion to avoid a rowdy confrontation, he said .

He observed that the Speaker, House of Representatives, tactically refused to make any comment at the session even after the Senate President took time to explain the issues which are mostly personal.

He alleged that a known ally of the Senate President from Kwara, Rep Rasak Atunwa, drafted what was adopted as the resolution of the session without allowing for voting.

It is disturbing and raised many questions of pre-determined intentions, Jibrin said.

He said most of the issues raised during the session, concerning the fight against corruption, insecurity and the rule of law have earlier been severally discussed in the Senate and the House and various resolutions passed.

We commend the efforts of Mr President in the fight against corruption, tackling of the insecurity challenges and respect for rule of law and democratic institutions. Mr President is known for his non-interference policy.

Every Senator or Member of the House who has corruption or criminal allegation against him or her should clear his or her name without dragging the entire institution of the National Assembly into the matter, Jibrin said.

He advised the National Assembly to look inward and address issues suffocating senators and members with dissenting or contrary opinion through coercion or extra legal means.

We must exercise caution at this delicate period not to over-heat the polity with statements that are capable of dividing the country, embarrassing us before the watching world and creating friction between the legislature and the executive, specifically Mr President.

We wish to reaffirm our support to Mr President as he works assiduously towards dealing with the challenges of our country, Jibrin said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has asked rapper Folarin Falana aka Falz to withdraw his ‘This is Nigeria’ video and apologise to Muslims for using girls dressed in Hijab in the video or face legal action within the next 7 days.

Falz has explained that he used the ladies in Hijab to push more awareness about the Chibok girls still in Boko Haram captivity and the need to rescue them as soon as possible.

In a statement released by MURIC's director Ishaq Akintola, the group said the dancers in the video in no way depict the situation of the Chibok girls. The group described the video as “thoughtless, insensitive and highly provocative,”

“MURIC rejects Falz’ explanation that the girls in hijab in his ‘Shaku Shaku’ dance symbolize the Chibok girls because nothing in the video indicates that the girls represent the Chibok girls. At least none of the Chibok girls have been seen dancing like a drunkard. They are always in pensive mood. Do they have any cause to be dancing? Are they happy? The video manifests ethnic bias against Fulanis while it ignored the criminal activities of ethnic militia of the Middle Belt who have also massacred Fulanis and rustled their cattle in their thousands. It is a hate video. This video has the potential of causing religious crisis of unprecedented dimension. It is an assault on the self-dignity of every Muslim. It is freedom of expression gone haywire. We therefore demand its withdrawal and an apology to Nigerian Muslims within seven days or the authors and their agents will face legal action if they fail to comply. Only the scenes portraying police brutality and the money-swallowing snake in the video are near the truth” the statement read

The group called on the National Film And Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to ban the video.

“We call the attention of security agencies to this hate action. We remind Nigerians of the outcome of similar provocative actions in the past and their unpalatable outcomes. The National Film And Video Censors Board (NFVCB), a regulatory agency set up by Act No. 85 of 1993 to regulate films and the video industry has a case to answer. ‘Shaku Shaku’ video was shot and released under its watch. Instead of going violent, Nigerian Muslims should take those behind the ‘Shaku Shaku’ video to court in order to serve as a deterrent to others. We therefore give notice of impending legal action against the artist behind the ‘Shaku Shaku’ video unless the latter is withdrawn and an apology is widely published within seven days.” the statement read

Source: LIB

The Nasarawa State Ministry of Health has dismissed as untrue the reports of Cholera outbreak in Keffi Local Government Area of the state.

Dr Ibrahim Adamu, Director of Public health at the Ministry, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that there was no confirmed case of cholera outbreak in the state as erroneously reported in some national dailies.

Adamu said the samples taken from the suspected cases at Angwan-Lambu, a suburb of Keffi where the alleged outbreak was reported have not proven positive to cholera.

We have cases of some persons presenting with diarrhea and are being treated with antibiotics but cholera has not been established.

Meanwhile, about five persons are currently under observation and samples taken from them is being tested, Adamu said.

Adamu said the state government had taken measures to curtail the outbreak and spread of communicable diseases through sustained sensitisation campaigns.

He, however, called on the people to observe strict environmental and personal hygiene, especially when handling consumables.

Source: NAN

The Fouad Oki-led group of the All Progressives Congress (APC)in Lagos on Tuesday faulted the inauguration of Alhaji Tunde Balogun as the state party chairman by the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie -Oyegun.

The inauguration of the chairman was done on Monday,along with 33 other state chairmen.

Oki, who convened a parallel state congress of the party on May 19, challenging the group led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, faulted the action in a statement he issued in Lagos.

Oki accused Oyegun as being compromised and said his group would do everything possible to challenge the illegality.

I am certain we have not not heard the last of this. Truth is we knew they were going to do what they did because the Oyegun-led NWC is full of weaklings.

But we are undaunted in our resolve and we will continue to show resilience on the struggle to free our people from the shackles of a bigot, he said.

The inauguration of Balogun was in contrast to an earlier decision of the National Working Committee (NWC)of the party which overruled the main congress over issues of legality.

The Publicity Secretary of the party ,Malam Bolaji Abdullahi had explained that the NWC overruled the main congress held at the ACME Road Secretariat because it was based on 57 councils instead of the constitutional 20.

He added that the party could not have discountenanced the congress organised by Oki as it was held in the recognised 20 council areas.

The spokesman, however, said a five-man committee, headed by the Deputy National Chairman(North) had been set up to resolve the knotty issues.

However, Oyegun at the inauguration told the new chairmen in crisis states like Lagos ,Rivers and others not to inaugurate executive members as the party was working on harmonised committee members in the affected states.

Oki called on President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to prevail on Oyegun-led NWC to reverse the inauguration.

He also called on NWC members to do everything possible to ensure that its earlier decision on congresses was upheld.

The Fouad Oki group is believed to be sponsored by Muiz Banire, the national legal adviser of the APC.

1.Abia Hon. Donatus E. Nwankpa

2.Adamawa Alh. Ibrahim Bilal

3.Akwa Ibom Hon. Ini Okopido

4.Anambra Barr. Emeka Ibe

5.Bauchi Alh Uba Ahmed Nana

6.Bayelsa Jonathan L. Amos

7.Benue Comrade Abba Yari

8.Borno Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori

9.Cross River Hon. Godwin Etim John

10.Delta Chief Cyril Abeye Ogodo

11.Ebonyi Pastor Eze Nwachukwu Eze

12.Edo Anslem U. Ojezua

13.Ekiti No Congress

14.Enugu Dr. Ben Nwoye

15.Gombe Nitte K. Amangal

16.Imo Dr. Hillary Eke

17.Jigawa Hon. Ado Sani Kiri

18.Kaduna Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekeda (Rtd.)

19.Kano Abdullahi Abass

20.Katsina Shittu S. Shittu

21.Kebbi Arc. Bala Sani Kangiwa

22.Kogi Abdullahi Bello

23.Kwara Hon. Ishola Balogun Fulani

24.Lagos Alh. Tunde Balogun

25.Nasarawa Philip Tatari Shekwo

26.Niger Engr. Muhammed Liman

27.Ogun Chief Dikia Adebisi

28.Ondo Engr. Ade Adetimehin

29.Osun No Congress

30.Oyo Chief Akin Oke

31.Plateau Hon. Letep M. Dabang

32.Rivers Ojukaye Amachree

33.Sokoto Hon. Isa S. Achida

34.Taraba Alh. Abdulmumini Vaki

35.Yobe Alh. Adamu Chilariye

36.Zamfara Alh. Lawal M. Liman

37.FCT Hon. Abdulmalik Usman

Source: NAN

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who are found to be corrupt, risk being sacked and prosecuted, Mr Mutiu Agboke, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, has said.

Agboke who gave the warning on Tuesday in Ibadan at the maiden Ramadan lecture organised by the commission, said thatINEC would not hesitate in sacking and prosecuting any of its staff involved in corrupt practices.

The theme of the lecture was Free, Fair and Credible Election Role of INEC from Islamic Perspective.

Agboke said the mandate of the commission was to make election processes transparent, impartial, credible, free and fair.

INEC has no interest in any of the political parties but to carry out its constitutional responsibilities. Officers who compromise the process risk sack and prosecution.

Any INEC personnel that compromises the process risks his or her job and will be jailed.

The commission is trying its best as regards the welfare of staff and it is looking inward to improve on the welfare package.

All these are to ensure that our staff do not look up to some politicians for inducement of any kind, he said.

He urged Nigerians to have trust in the electoral body, saying there was no reason for skepticism about its ability to conduct credible polls.

The chairman of the occasion, Mr Waheed Oyewole, urged INEC in the state to build on the successes recorded during June 2 Ibarapa East State Constituency by-election.

Oyewole, who is the chairman of Intra Party Advisory Commission(IPAC) in Oyo State, pledged that political parties would abide with electoral laws and support all efforts aimed at promoting credible, free and fair elections.

Chief Adebayo Oyero, a former President-General of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, advocated sanctions for violators of electoral laws irrespective of their status.

Prof. Hafeez Oladosu of the University of Ibadan, who was the guest lecturer, admonished INEC personnel to be just in dealing with all political parties.

Source: NAN

The National Assembly(NASS) has given the Executive arm of government conditions that must be met to avert the invocation of the Constitutional Powers of the Parliament.

This was the outcome of an emergency executive joint session of both chambers of the National Legislature on Tuesday.

The lawmakers who met for over three hours in closed door, gave the executive certain conditions including, addressing the current security situation in the country.

They frowned at the constant harassment of legislators and other political actors, especially those who seem to hold a contrary view from the executive or those who are critical of the executive arm.

The legislative arm called on the executive to show sincerity in the fight against corruption, adhere to the rule of law and refrain from the intimidation of Nigerians.

They insisted that they may be forced to invoke their constitutional powers if the conditions were not met.

1.The Security Agencies must be given marching orders to contain all the sustained killings of Nigerians and protect the lives and properties of Nigerians as this is the primary duty for any responsible government.

2.The systemic harassment by the executive of perceived political opponents people with contrary opinions in the legislature and the judiciary by the police and other security agencies must stop.

3.There must be strict adherence to the rule of law and protection for all citizens by the President and all his appointees.

4.The President must be held accountable for the actions of his appointees and must be ready to sanction, those that carry out any act, that will ridicule or endanger the country and our democracy.

5.The government should show sincerity in the fight against corruption by not being selective and also prosecute current appointees that have cases pending against them.

6.The sanctity of the National Assembly should be protected and preserved by the federal government and prosecute those who invaded the Senate to seize the mace.

7.Democratic elections must be competitive and inclusive by removing the current reign of fear and intimidation particularly as we approach the forthcoming 2019 elections.

8.The National Assembly will liaise with the international community through the IPU, the APU, ECOWAS Parliament, Pan-African Parliament, EU, US Congress and the United Nations to secure our democracy. The National Assembly will also engage with civil society organisations, trade unions and NGOs to further deepen and protect our democracy.

Source: NAN