Jega bows out of INEC, hands over to Wali

Prof. Attahiru Jega on Tuesday bowed out of office as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He handed over to Mohammed Wali, a national commissioner of the INEC from Sokoto State, whose five-year tenure will also expire on August 11, 2015.

Jega was appointed chairman of the commission by former President Goodluck Jonathan on June 30, 2010.

He conducted two elections – 2011 and 2015.

Speaking briefly at the end of the closed-door handing over ceremony at the Commission in Abuja,  Jega said the future of the country and commission was bright.

He said he was grateful to God and the country for the opportunity to serve.

He said, “We feel great; we thank God Almighty for the opportunity to serve the country. The future is bright for the commission and the country.”

Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu, confirmed to journalists that Jega handed-over to Wali.

Wali is expected to act pending the appointment of a new chairman by President Muhammadu Buhari.

She also added,  “We believe we will soon hear what will happen next from the president.”

Ogakwu said, Jega, while handing over, encouraged the commission to keep the flag flying.

“Jega said in whatever we have achieved, we should keep it up and do more, adding that there is still a lot to be done,” she said.

Jega left the commission with six national commissioners whose tenures also expired on Tuesday.

US’ll assist us to recover stolen funds –Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said his administration had received firm assurances of cooperation from the United States and other countries in his quest to recover and repatriate funds stolen from Nigeria.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President spoke while granting audience to members of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Adesina quoted Buhari as saying that it was now up to Nigeria to provide the international community with the facts and figures needed to drive the recovery effort.

He said he would be busy, in the next three months, getting the facts that would help in recovering the stolen funds.

“In the next three months, our administration will be busy getting those facts and the figures to help us recover our stolen funds in foreign countries,” Adesina quoted the President as saying.

Abandoned Boko Haram bombs explode, kill 20

An abandoned sack containing Improvised Explosive Devices exploded in Monguno, Borno State, killing and injuring many members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and residents.

Members of Boko Haram sect

Eyewitnesses gave different figures on the death toll. While one of our correspondents was told by a resident that 20 people lost their lives, theAssociated Press first reported 23 and later updated it to 63.

The resident told The PUNCH that Boko Haram members had abandoned the black “strange sack” while fleeing from the civilian JTF team on Tuesday evening. But another told the AP that the civilian JTF, which is made up of local vigilantes, saw the sack in an abandoned Boko Haram camp.

According to the resident, the civilian JTF members spotted the sack on a street   and after a prolonged argument on what to do, one of them decided to pick it up.

Our emergence not linked to 2019 elections -Dogara

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, said on Wednesday that the internal squabbles within the All Progressives Congress, which threw him up as the speaker had no links with the politics of 2019.

Yakubu Dogara Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria

He noted that the conflict over the emergence of the presiding officers of the National Assembly would not affect the stability of the APC in any way, neither would it serve some political interests linked to 2019.

Dogara explained that members of the House in particular, in their resolve to work, sought to protect the independence of the legislature with the choices they made on June 9.

Ramadan fast starts Thursday in several Muslim countries

Saudi Arabia and several other Arab countries have announced that the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan would start on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, announced on Wednesday that it would be the final day of the lunar month of Sha’aban.

Similar official announcements were made by religious authorities in Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen and Palestine.

Report says the beginning and end of Ramadan depends on the sighting of the new moon.

“During Ramadan, devout Muslims abstain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to sunset.

“Ramadan this year coincides with the summer heat in the Middle East where the fast could reach 15 hours a day.

“Fasting is one of Islam’s five pillars, alongside declaration of faith, prayer five times a day, alms-giving, and the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia,” it said.

Old age will limit my performance –Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has admitted that his age would limit his performance as the President of the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari

Buhari, who was   a military governor at 33 and Head of State   at the age of 40, said he would have loved being a President when he was at a younger age . He will be 73 on December 17, 2015.

The President spoke with Nigerians resident in South Africa on Monday after taking part in the 25th assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union   in Johannesburg.

Buhari orders release of N4bn to fight B’Haram

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday said he had directed that $21m out of the pledge of $100m which Nigeria made to the Multinational Joint Task Force be released within the next one week.

President Muhammadu Buhari

Buhari disclosed this at the   25th AU summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. He   chaired the Peace Security Council at the event.

He said he gave the directive based on the decision of the recent extraordinary summit of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin that $30m should be immediately made available to the MNJTF which is saddled with the responsibility of fighting Boko Haram.

Confusion at ports as FG increases import tariff

There was confusion at the Lagos ports on Wednesday as importers and clearing agents had difficulties clearing their goods following the implementation of the Economic Community of West African States’ Common External Tariff.

Articulated vehicles at the Tin Can Island Port end of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

All the 16 members of the ECOWAS, including Nigeria, had agreed to introduce a uniform import tariff, pegged at 35 per cent maximum, from January this year, to facilitate trade within the region.

Although the Nigeria Customs Service said the policy had taken effect on April 11, it was not enforced until Monday.

But the importers, who claimed not to be aware of this development, said many of them were asked to pay double what they use to pay as tariff on imported materials.

You can’t sanction Saraki, Dogara, PDP tells APC

The Peoples Democratic Party has dismissed threats by the All Progressives Congress against the new leaders of the National Assembly as empty boasts aimed to cover its naivety, inexperience and unpreparedness for governance.

National Publicity Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Olisa Metuh

The party was reacting to the threat made by the APC that it was considering meting out punishment to the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, for refusing to abide by the directive of the ruling party not to contest the leadership of the two chambers.

Lawan’s group threatens legal action against Saraki’s election

Members of the Senate Unity Forum, on Wednesday threatened to take a legal action against the election of Senator Bukola Saraki, which, according to them, did not follow due constitutional procedure.

Ahmad Lawan and Bukola Saraki

The leader of the group,  Senator Barnabas Gemade, stated this while addressing journalists at the National Assembly Complex, after he led members of the group to stage a walkout in the chambers.

Dogara’s election, a democratic revolution – Ex-speakers

Former speakers and other ex-principal officers of the House of Representatives on Wednesday advised the leadership of the All Progressives Congress to accept the election of Mr. Yakubu Dogara as the Speaker of the 8th Assembly, which was inaugurated on Tuesday.

Yakubu Dogara

The former speakers described the development as a “democratic revolution” which was a result of the legislature insisting on asserting its independence.

Tension rises as Senators, Reps-elect pick leaders today

Security was tightened at the National Assembly on Monday, preparatory to the inauguration of the 8th Assembly on Tuesday(today).

Femi Gbajabiamila and Ahmad Lawan

President Muhammadu Buhari, who will arrive in Abuja on Tuesday morning from Germany where he attended the G-7 Summit, is expected to   conduct the ceremony which will be followed by the election of the assembly’s leadership.

Medical researchers grow artificial arm for the first time

While there is no getting around the creep factor when it comes to topics like artificial limbs and regenerative medicine, advancement in these spheres holds out enormous potential for improving human welfare. With the stakes so high, it’s hardly surprising that research dollars have been pouring into these areas in the last few years. The fruits of such investment are just now coming into focus, and for those with a weak stomach, that focus maybe a little too sharp.

Windows 10 is coming — what will it take for you to upgrade?

As Windows 10’s release date rolls steadily onward, Microsoft has been clarifying some of the concerns and issues that users have been asking. We now know that the free upgrade offer that arrives with the operating system will allow for clean OS installs, that it won’t be locked to a previous version of Windows 7 or 8.1, and that users won’t have to keep an image of an old OS handy in case they ever want to reinstall. There are still questions about other aspects of the license, but this major point has been resolved. We also know that the OS is going to pioneer a Windows-as-a-service model, offer some interesting Xbox Live cross-play opportunities, and, of course, features like DirectX 12.

The one thing we don’t know — and by “we”, I mean both tech journalists, users, and Microsoft itself — is whether or not the mass of people still using Windows XP, 7, and 8/8.1 will actually upgrade. According to the OS data available at NetMarketShare, Windows 7’s total market share has actually increased over the past 12 months, up 6% while Windows XP marketshare fell a bit over 10%. Windows 8.1 and Windows 8 together barely account for 16% of the market. By any measure, that’s a terrible result for a version of the Windows operating system that turns three this year.

Stop chasing foreign helps, Balarabe, others tell Buhari

Former Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa

FOURTEEN opposition parties under the aegis of Credible Alternative Alliance on Thursday in Abuja said it was “too early” for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to be relying on foreign countries for support and direction on certain policy issues pertaining to governance.

The CAA, which also includes 13 civil society organisations, restated their resolve to provide a credible opposition to the All Progressives Congress.

Congregrating under the CAA are the Social Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party, Fresh Democratic Party, Nigeria Advance Party, People’s Salvation Party, Change Advocacy Party, United National Party for Development, Peoples Progressive Party and the Action Party of Nigeria.

No N3.2bn severance pay for Jonathan, others till 2016

Former President Goodluck Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan; his deputy,   Namadi Sambo; immediate past ministers and presidential aides as well as non-returning federal lawmakers will wait till next year before collecting their severance allowances, investigation by a News Agengy has shown.

Buhari, Deby reaffirm commitment to tackle Boko Haram

President Muhammadu Buhari and his Chadian counterpart, President Idriss Deby, on Thursday in N’Djamena reaffirmed  the commitment of their countries to greater cooperation in the fight against Boko Haram.  

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of Buhari’s one-day official visit to Chad as made available to journalists by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.

According to the communique, both leaders agreed on the need to quickly make the Multi-National Joint Task Force fully operational to effectively combat terrorism in North-East Nigeria and “everywhere” that Boko Haram operates. 

Court threatens to jail NDA commandant for disobedience

A Kaduna State High Court has threatened to jail the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Maj. Gen. Muhammed Idris, for disobeying the order of the court on a landed property.

This was contained in Form 48 dated May 25, 2015, and signed by the Registrar of the Court, which was duly served on the Commandant of the nation’s foremost military university.

The court document titled, ‘Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Court Order’, warned the Commandant of the consequences of disobeying court order or let alone rulings of the court on the land.

It said,  “To Major General Muhammed Inuwa Idris (Commandant of Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna). Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in this Order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

AI wants Ihejirika, Badeh, others probed for war crimes … asks ICC, Buhari to launch investigation

Badeh; Ihejirika

Amnesty International has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands to investigate some former and serving Nigerian service chiefs for war crimes.

Suicide bomber kills 50 after shouting Sai Buhari

Another bomb blast rocked the troubled Borno State capital of Maiduguri   late on Tuesday morning , leaving many dead and others wounded.

Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade

Prior to the explosion at the popular Kasuwan Shanu (meat market), residents were rudely woken up at 12:45am on Monday by gunshots that boomed in parts of the city till 2pm.

No official reason was given by the military authorities for the gunshots which many of the residents feared were fired by advancing Boko Haram insurgents.

Herbalist Man defiled his two under-aged daughters and two of his nieces

Oyo State Police Command has arrested a man who allegedly defiled his two under-aged biological daughters and two of his nieces, all between 14 and 17 years.

The crime was allegedly committed at Moniya in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.

Though the suspect, a herbalist, denied the incest allegation, saying he was being held for a crime he did not commit, the confessions of the four girls took many people at the state police headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan by surprise as they narrated how the father had sex with them at different times.

While parading the suspect, identified as Tajudeen Awoniyi, Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muhammed Katsina, said the accused person had carnal knowledge of his own daughters whenever he was drunk.

Buhari can appoint less than 37 ministers

The long-held notion in Nigeria that the President of the Federal Republic is under an obligation to appoint at least 37 ministers into his cabinet is not correct after all – at least by a holistic appreciation of the spirit and letter of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

This notion has been taken for granted that no one has bothered to read the provisions of the constitution over and again. And of course, since it suits the politicians to promote this notion, none of them has ever dared to suggest otherwise. But, with the greatest sense of patriotism, I submit that the President can, indeed, appoint far less than 37 ministers and have a very lean cabinet.

Photos from fire incident at Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos

Pictures from the fire incident that occurred this morning at Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.

50 dead in Maiduguri suicide bombing

A bomb blast has hit a busy market in the city of Maiduguri on Tuesday, killing as many as 50 people, according to eyewitnesses.  

A man blew himself up at Gamboru cattle market, according to witnesses who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. One said he counted at least 20 bodies.

Al Jazeera’s Yvonne Ndege, reporting from Abuja, said many reports are still coming in from eyewitnesses.

“We have managed to speak directly to a reliable source who is a member of the civilian Joint Task Force,” Ndege said.

Shekau absent in Boko Haram’s latest video

Boko Haram rejected claims from Nigeria’s military that it has been routed by a four-nation offensive in a video released online on Tuesday, which does not show the group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau.

The unidentified speaker, his face obscured by a headscarf, instead called Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger, who have been battling the Islamists, “the lying coalition partners”.

“Most of our territory is still under our control,” said the speaker in the 10-minute message which was posted on the video-sharing site YouTube.

The video bears the logo “Islamic State in West Africa” and follows the Nigerian militants’ pledge of allegiance in an audio message in March to the IS group, that has overrun large parts of Syria and Iraq.

The message is the first video released by Boko Haram since February, when Shekau was shown in high definition footage and vowed to disrupt Nigeria’s elections.

NYSC seeks justice for murdered female corps member

Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi

The National Youth Service Corps on Monday condemned the murder of a serving corps member in Kwara State, Yetunde Idowu, calling on security agencies to investigate the killing and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Police uncover fake currency factory in Ibadan

Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Katsina (right) and some officers of the state command at the fake currency factory.

The Oyo State Police Command has discovered a place in a remote village of Ibadan, where thousands of fake pounds, euros, dollars and other foreign currencies were being produced.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mohammed Katsina, said that the discovery was made by the command’s ambush squad in a village called Ojoku in Badeku, Ona-Ara Local Government Area of the state. The police described the area as fast transforming to an abode for criminals, having earlier served as a kidnappers’ den.

Buhari’s asset declaration

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, have both done well by declaring their assets as required by law. What Buhari and Osinbajo did, however, only satisfied the minimum requirement. This is not a minimum requirement government; we did not clamour for the minimum. The General and Prof made a promise of publicly declaring their assets; as far as I am concerned, they have not fully done so, and it is not too late.

NLC hails el-Rufai, deputy over 50% wage cut

A factional Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Alhaji Issa Aremu, on Sunday commended the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and his deputy, Mr. Barnabas Bala, for their decision to cut down their salaries and allowances by 50 per cent because of the bad state of the economy of the state.

Governor Nasir el-Rufai

El-Rufai, during swearing-in as the 22nd governor of the state on May 29, 2015 had announced the donation of 50 per cent of his salaries and allowances to the state, citing the dwindling economy of the state as reason for his action.

Officials involved in N8bn currency scam dismissed – CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Monday says it has dismissed or suspended some of its six officials that were involved in the N8bn currency fraud in some of its branches.

The apex bank in a statement in Abuja by the Director, Corporate Communications Department, Ibrahim Mu’azu, stated that some of the middle-level officers among the accused had been summarily dismissed or placed on indefinite suspension, depending on gravity of their offence.

It said, “The Central Bank of Nigeria will like to inform the general public of the chronology of events that led the Management of the CBN to hand over some unscrupulous staff to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for prosecution.