BBOG Identifies Latest Rescued Chibok Girl As School Prefect

The Bring Back Our Girls campaign group has identified the latest Chibok girl, Maryam Ali Maiyanga, found by the military as a school prefect.
“She is from Askira Uba and was abducted along with her twin, Halima Ali (Number 197), who is yet to return,” a statement on Saturday by the spokesperson of the group, Sesugh Akume, read.
The group welcomed the news of the return of the abducted girl taken with some other girls from their schools’ dormitory in Chibok community in Borno State on April 14, 2014.
It said that preliminary investigations on their part, showed that Maryam was the number 198 on their list of the over 200 abducted girls.
“We applaud the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari, the military and other security formations working day and night to rout the terrorists and rescue all Nigerians in captivity.
“The news of the death of the Commanding Officer of the 272 Task Force Tank Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Muhammed Abu Ali, a highly-rated, young officer and four other members of his team, in a separate incident at Mallam Fatori, is unfortunate and saddening.
“We send our heartfelt condolences especially to their families, and the Nigerian military,” the statement further read.
The group also said it would update the public with more details in relation to the girl as necessary.
Reports from the spokesman for the army, Colonel Sani Usman, state that Maryam was found amongst a group of fellow escapees by troops of 121 Battalion, Nigerian Army, deployed at Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area, Borno State.
Since the abduction of the girls by member of the Boko Haram terrorist group less than 50 of them had been rescued.

Osun University Gets New Vice Chancellor

Professor Labode Popoola has been appointed as the new Vice Chancellor of Osun State University, but an applicant for the position claims he was intentionally sidelined.
Professor Popoola was appointed the Vice Chancellor by the state Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola.
A statement by the spokesman for the Governor, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, says the appointment takes effect immediately.
Mr Okanlawon said Governor Aregbesola approved the appoint following the recommendations of the council of the institution.
Born on September 28, 1960, Professor Popoola hails from Inis In Osun State and worked at the Department Of forest Resources Management, University of Ibadan, Oyo State.
The new VC would take over from Professor Jellies Oguntola Alamu who has been at the helm of affairs as acting ‎VC since last year.
Meanwhile, reactions have begun to trail the appointment of the new VC.
One of the applicants for the vacant post of Vice Chancellor of Osun State University, Professor Andrew Akinmoladun, has petitioned Governor Aregbesola, alleging that there was a plot to skew the selection process of the new VC for the institution to favour a particular candidate.
Professor Akinmoladun, a founding academic staff of the University, who left the institution in 2012 for Bronx Community College of the City University of New York, United States of America, in a letter addressed to Governor Aregbesola, said he applied for the job, when it was advertised last year August.
Professor Akinmoladun said he decided to apply for the post because he met all the requirements.
According to him, he had travelled down to Nigeria from his base in the U.S. purposely to attend interview for the post of Vice Chancellor.
He, however, alleged that some elements within the university conspired and ensured he did not get shortlisted despite possessing all the requirements stated in the advert.
The letter, copies of which were obtained by reporters in Osogbo read: “I received a response to my application from the institution through the registrar, intimating me of scheduled dates of Wednesday, 2nd and Thursday, 3rd November, 2016 respectively for the interview of candidates.
“I immediately boarded the plane from New York to Nigeria to make myself available for the next procedure. On my arrival, I heard that a professor from within the university has been adopted as government candidate and that he held a meeting with the UNIOSUN internal member and persuaded them to make sure I was not shortlisted because of my ICT and international exposure.
“The said professor was also reported to have said that when professor Okesina was to be picked as vice chancellor, it was an Ijesa man that came first and he was passed over to favour the man that eventually got the job and expressed fear that it would be difficult to persuade the governor to do the same this time around, if I should be interviewed and I passed.
“He feared that the consultant and external council member would score me high and if the internal members scored me very low their scores would be questioned.
“I confronted one of those named to be part of the meeting and he did not deny, but asked me who revealed it to me. I made my concern known to hon. Wale Afolabi the former Anthony General of state of Osun who happened to be a friend. I also discussed this matter with notable friends within academic and the government circle, who can corroborate all these claims.
“It suffice to state that some candidates for the position were contacted and interviewed on Wednesday, 2nd November, 2016 and other candidates were also contacted to appear for interview on Thursday, 3rd November, 2016.
“Surprisingly I was never contacted for the two scheduled dates. I want to strongly state that the conduct and selection process so far is embellished with irregularities and discrepancies.
“Due process and transparency was never followed in the conduct and selection process but that everything was selfishly and hurriedly done just to pick and announce as already pencilled down candidate”.

NNPC Seeks $51Billion Investment In Gas Sector

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said about $51 billion investment opportunities exist today in the midstream and downstream gas sector to achieve the growth phase in the Industry in Nigeria.
Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, made this disclosure while delivering a key note address at the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) 10thInternational Conference and Exhibition in Abuja.
Speaking while delivering paper titled “New Growth Phase for Gas Business in Nigeria,” Dr. Baru posited that about $35.4 billion investment will be required in the gas exploration and production activities, power plants projects, fertilizer plants, virtual pipelines and flare gas commercialization initiatives.
The GMD added that $16 billion investment will also be needed in the Free Trade Zones (FTZ) infrastructure development and concessioning, port infrastructure, central gas processing facilities, gas transmission, LPG plants, real estate development, pipe milling and local fabrication yards among others.
Dr. Baru stated that some of the key enablers that will be required for the growth of the gas sector include clear definition of boundaries between upstream, midstream and downstream sectors, appropriate pricing structure and guarantees for payment, host communities engagement and conducive environment for investors.
“Beyond growing gas for power sector, there has been a strategic positioning of the sector to support massive gas based industrialization. The intent is to position Nigeria as a regional hub for gas based industries such as fertilizer, methanol, petrochemicals, central processing facilities, etc. The first of this effort is the planned 30 square kilometer gas based industrial park in Delta State. This will be Africa’s largest purpose built gas park supporting gas based industries,” Dr. Baru said.
According to him, to bridge the huge gas supply gap, some strategic synergy opportunities for gas development were identified amongst the Joint Ventures (JVs), Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) and independent operators which when pursued and implemented will not only bridge the unforeseen long term shortfall in gas supply but will also enable the nation to meet its gas aspiration.
The NNPC helmsman noted that seven key big bang gas development projects have been identified from the strategic synergy opportunities to deliver about 3.4 billion cubic feet of gas per day to bridge the foreseen medium term supply gap by 2020.
Earlier, the President of NGA, Mr. Bolaji Osunsanya, expressed the readiness of the association to collaborate with the Federal Government and other key stakeholders to harness the abundant natural gas resources in the country so as to reposition the country to become a regional hub of gas in Africa.
The theme of NGA 2016 conference and exhibition is: “Nigerian Gas Roadmap and Its Potential for Regional and Global Influence: Its Implementation, Challenges, Opportunities and New Way Forward.”

EFCC Docks Banker for N52million Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, November 4, 2016, arraigned one Oluwatoyin Jinadu, a former banker with First City Monument Bank, FCMB, on a 20-count charge bordering on theft and forgery to the tune of N52million.
He was brought  before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the FCT High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja
As account officer to Dr. D. K. Okoye in the Wuse 2 Branch of the bank, the accused allegedly transferred N52million from Okoye’s account without his knowledge or consent, into accounts in Zenith Bank, GTBank and Union Bank.
These transfers, totalling N52million, were alleged to have been done through forged transfer instructions.
Jinadu was first arraigned before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the FCT High Court on July 12, 2012, but the case had dragged following several frivolous applications and interlocutory appeals up to the Supreme Court, including a petition alleging bias against the presiding Judge – a situation that led to the withdrawal of the trial judge.
One of the counts reads:
“That you, Oluwatoyin Jinadu, on or about the 25th day of February 2010 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while working as a staff of First City Monument Bank stole the sum of Twenty Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty One Naira, thirteen kobo (N20,485,961.13) belonging to one Josephat Okoye and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Penal Code Act.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to her. In view of her plea, counsel to EFCC, Samuel Ugwuegbulam, urged the court to fix a date for trial.
However,  defence counsel, M. A. Awul, through an oral application urged the court to grant the accused bail relying on Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, and Section 36 (5) of the Nigerian Constitution.
According to him, “the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. We urge your lordship to allow the defendant to continue on the existing bail granted him by your learned brother or in the alternative, grant her bail on such terms the court may consider appropriate to enable her attend trial”.
Responding, Ugwuegbulam opposed the application stating that, “since the former presiding judge has declined jurisdiction on the matter, the bail has automatically elapsed. Also, my lord, punishment for the offence the defendant is being charged is enough incentive for her to jump bail”.
Justice Oriji however, granted the accused bail in the sum of N8million with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be residents in Abuja. One of the sureties must be a civil servant in the federal civil service not below GL12.
The case has been adjourned to December 5, 2016, and January 17 – 18 2017 for trial

Pastor West Arraigned for N22.4m Fraud by EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned Pastor Nimi West and his company, Nimak & Company Nigeria Limited before Justice U.N. Agumoh of the Federal High Court Port Harcourt, Rivers State on a 4-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of Twenty-Two Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N22,400,000.00).
West is alleged to have received the said amount from one Emmanuel Dike at different times in 2013 as payment for a bungalow at D/Line, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. However, the complainant later discovered that the property had been sold to another person while his efforts to recover his money did not succeed.
West pleaded not guilty to the charge when read to him.
One of the counts reads: “That Nimi West ‘m’ on or about the 13th day of September in Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud deceitfully obtained the sum of Four Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N4, 400,000.00) from one Architect Emmanuel Dike, a Nigerian citizen, under false pretence that you were going to sell a property in Port Harcourt to him, a pretext which you knew to be false and you fraudulently made it, with the intent that he may believed it, and he believed it and acted upon it as genuine, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable by section 1(3) of the same Act”.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, C.A.Okoli applied for a date for the commencement of trial while the defence counsel C.B.Osita made an oral application for bail of the accused to enable him attend to his health.
Justice Agumoh granted the accused bail in the sum of One Million Naira and two sureties in like sum.
The case was adjourned to 17th and 18th of January, 2017 for trial while the accused person is to be remanded in prison custody until he perfects his bail conditions

Akpabio’s Cousin arrested by EFCC For N10million Scam

Operatives of the EFCC have arrested Ibanga Ime Akpabio, cousin to the former Akwa Ibom Governor, Godswill Akpabio for his involvement in a N10, 000,000.00( Ten Million Naira) oil scam. He was arrested in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to the EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Ujuwaren, Akpabio’s arrest was occasioned by an allegation that he collected a sum of N10,000,000.00 from a potential investor in petroleum products.
Specifically, Akpabio reportedly approached the investor to invest the money as equity in the purchase of petroleum product directly from a floating station belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. He allegedly assured the inventor that he had secured all necessary approvals for the running of the business.

He allegedly collected the money through a Diamond Account being operated by Fastej Enterprises and neither kept faith with the business arrangements with the investor nor returned his money to him. He is urgently undergoing interrogation in the Port Harcourt’s Zonal office of the EFCC.

EFCC Assures Ugandan Parliament of Support in Tackling Corruption

Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, on Thursday, November 3, 2016 assured of closer collaboration with the Ugandan Parliament in its bid to enact better and concise legislations that will aid the East African country tackle the scourge of corruption.

He gave the assurance while receiving members of the Parliament of Uganda’s Sectoral Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs who were on a benchmarking visit to the Commission’s Head Office to fashion out ways of strengthening integrity and proper conduct in government.

According to the EFCC boss, corruption has long transcended national boundaries and it is imperative for African countries to synergise in combating the scourge.
Samo Bitangaro, who led the 8-man delegation of parliamentarians, said they were at the EFCC because of the reputation of the agency and to learn from the successes that it had recorded over the years.
Bitangaro further said that since the promulgation of the Ugandan constitution in 2005, the country had struggled with issues of probity and accountability in its public service which necessitated the visit to tap from EFCC’s wealth of experience.

Another member of the parliament, Ibrahim Ssemujju, said the committee had the mandate to amend the Ugandan Code of Conduct Act and establish a Tribunal to try offenders of prescribed laws; which is why they needed to understudy the Laws establishing the EFCC, EFCC’s mode and scope of operations and most importantly internalise EFCC’s robust anti-corruption agenda.
The meeting later went into a question and answer session between the visiting Parliamentarians and the Management of the EFCC.

N1.4Bn ONSA Cash: I Acted Under Badeh’s Instructions, Witness Insists

The trial of a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, continued on Thursday, November 3, 2016 before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presenting its eight witness, Eso Faleke, for cross-examination.
 
Faleke, a banker with Guaranty Trust Bank and account officer to Badeh’s company account (Iyalikam Nigeria Limited) had in her evidence on November 2, narrated how Badeh became a co-signatory to the company’s account in January 2015 and how he gave instructions to carry out several transactions running into millions of naira.
 
The witness, who was cross-examined by Akin Olujimi and Samuel O. Zibiri, SAN, representing Badeh and Iyalikam Nigeria Limited respectively, insisted that she received several instructions from Badeh through telephone and in writing, to transfer funds to several accounts especially Naira and Dollar accounts.The witness while commenting on exhibit E25 and E30 explained that though exhibit E30 carried a lone signature, it contained telephone instructions because the telephone number was on the mandate card of the authorized signatory.
 
According to her, the mandate card was not for instruction as to how to receive telephone calls.
Faleke insisted that she acted according to the standard procedure of the bank with respect to documentary transaction.
Speaking on exhibits E3 to E7 (the statements of account), Faleke told the court that payments can be made via deposit slip adding that the payments therein were made in cash via deposit slip, but that she did not come to court with them having not been requested to do so.
Justice Okon Abang, thereafter, adjourned to November 14, 2016 for continuation of trial.
 
Badeh is being prosecuted by the EFCC alongside his company, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, for allegedly abusing his office by using the dollar equivalent of the sum of N1.4billion (One Billion, Four Hundred Million Naira) removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, to purchase properties in choice areas of Abuja between January and December, 2013.
The offence contravenes Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

PMB: I Nearly Absconded From Office

President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that he nearly absconded from office, when he saw there was no money to work for the Nigerian people after winning the 2015 elections.

The President made this confession on Thursday while addressing the Course 38 participants of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies who presented their course work to him in the Presidential Villa.

The President again blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for perpetuating poverty in Nigeria for 16 years.

The President who blames the recession in the country on the past administration wondered what the Peoples Democratic Party did with the revenue they made when a barrel of oil sold at 100 dollar per barrel.

“We’ve had 16 years and eight consecutive governments between the other party and you know the unprecedented revenue realized.

“The average production which can be verified was 2.1 million barrels per day from 1999 to 2014. The average cost of each Nigerian barrel of oil was 100 dollars per barrel.

“When we came, it dived to less than 30 dollars per barrel and is now oscillation between 40 and 50.

“Actually, I felt like absconding because 27 out of the 36 states of Nigeria could not pay salaries and we know the lower income groups depend on salaries to pay rent and manage their families.

“I asked, any savings? I was told there was nothing remaining. ‘What have you done on agriculture, power, rail, roads?’ Nothing.” he lamented.

The President, however, promised to bring Nigeria out of recession and make it stronger than he met it.