THE EFCC AND THE MEDIA BLACKOUT

STATEMENT ON THE TACTICS OF THE EFCC AND THE MEDIA BLACKOUT ON THE EVENTS THAT OCCURED IN THE COURT OF JUSTICE MUSLIM HASSAN ON 14TH NOVEMBER, 2016

On Monday, November 14th, 2016 at the Federal High Court in Lagos, Justice Muslim Hassan lambasted the EFFC and its prosecutor, one Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, in open court for arresting Chief Femi Fani-Kayode at the Federal High Court premises on 21st of October, 2016, without an arrest warrant and for detaining him illegally without any detention order for 24 days.

This was made all the more damning by the fact that Justice Hassan had previously warned the EFCC not to re-arrest Chief Fani-Kayode who had been previously detained by them for 67 days.

Justice Hassan said this because he had granted Chief Fani-Kayode

Nigeria may face famine in January, Presidency warns

The Presidency on Monday warned that Nigeria could face famine in January if drastic steps are not taken now.

Nigeria, which is currently Africa’s largest producer of cereals and grains risks famine from early next year as a huge demand in the global market is targeting Nigeria’s surplus production.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu made the grim forecast in a radio interview in Kano on Monday.

Shehu told Pyramid radio that the “huge demand for our grains in the global market is creating an excellent environment for the mindless export of Nigerian grains across our borders and unless this is curtailed, Nigerian markets will be bereft of food by January next year.”

He said the Ministry of Agriculture has advised the President on the need to draw the attention of all Nigerians to the issue which, if not addressed promptly, could lead to a shortage of grains in

Guided missile destroyer USS Ross enters Black Sea

A US guided missile destroyer, USS Ross, equipped with the Aegis advanced missile defense system has entered the Black Sea and is heading to the Ukrainian port city of Odessa to join the international maritime exercises Sea Breeze 2016.

The Arleigh Burke destroyer USS Ross is set to join the international exercises in the Back Sea that involve several NATO countries, including the US, Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania, Italy, Poland, Romania, Turkey and the UK, as well as non-NATO members, such Georgia and Ukraine.

The second stage of the drills called Sea Breeze 2016 started on Monday and will last until July 30. The exercises are the 15th iteration of Sea Breeze, which is “an annual exercise held in the Black Sea designed to enhance interoperability and strengthen regional security,” according to the US Navy.

Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim on Nigerian Army-Islamic Movement clash

The Clash Between the Nigerian Army and the Islamic Movement in Nigeria - Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim, Deepening Democracy Column, Daily Trust, 18th July 2016

It would be recalled that between December 12th and 14th 2015, hundreds of people were killed in Zaria following clashes between the Nigerian Army and the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN). On Friday, the Justice Garba Commission of Inquiry on the clashes presented its report to Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State. In his speech, the Governor promised to read the report diligently and act on the recommendations. He also promised to release the report to the public for their information and scrutiny, but hesitated when he saw the Commission had marked the report “TOP SECRET” in red and added he 

Russia to mobilize forces if Finland joins NATO: Putin

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (L) gestures during a joint press conference with Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto (unseen) at the presidential summer residence in southwestern Finland, July 1, 2016.

Russia has threatened it will mobilize its forces to areas closer to its border with Finland should Helsinki choose to join the US-led military alliance of NATO.

Fayose: My election funded by Zenith Bank, donations …Linking me with Obanikoro, Dasuki spurious

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has opened up on how his election was funded two years ago by the Zenith Bank Plc, fund raising, donations from friends and associates as well as sales of campaign souvenirs, saying;

"I have no financial transaction whatsoever with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro either by cash, cheque or electronic transfer.” 

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the governor challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to publish statements made by Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, his son or any other person associated with money from the NSA office where they claimed they gave him money for the election, adding that “EFCC is only acting a movie scripted, produced and directed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of President Mohammadu Buhari just to silence me being a major opposition voice in the country.”

Niger Delta Avengers release statement addressing the neglect of their region by FG

Read the statement shared on their website today below...

Militant Group - Niger Delta Avengers shared a statement this afternoon via their website, addressing the neglect of oil producing communities by the Federal Government. According to the Avengers, their request for portable drinking water, electricity, roads, employment, quality education/educational facilities and more have been ignored by the Government and they've had enough of the injustice. 

Their Statement reads, Since the day crude oil was discovered in commercial quantity and quality in Oloibiri, present day Bayelsa state, what we have being asking from successive governments in Nigeria is portable drinking water in the midst of plenty of water mass, electricity, roads, employment, quality education/educational facilities, resource control, participation in the oil business and inclusive governance that will engender substantial freedom.

Ogoni Cleanup: Soul Reviving Exercise – Minister

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, has described the launch of the clean-up of Ogoni land and other oil impacted communities in the Niger Delta region as soul reviving.

Usani made this remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

While noting that the exercise would revive the hope of inhabitants of the area, the minister, however, urged them to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for a smooth operation.

This, he said, was critical to ensuring that government’s effort would not be in vain.

CHINA ORDERED BANKS TO STOP PURCHASING U.S. DOLLARS

The happenings and dealings of world emerging powers should be a shining light on what acts as a guide to Nigeria's economic policies. Nigeria has a lot to learn from the developments in china with regards to China's economic policies.

In a stunning move, China suspended some banks from Foreign Exchange markets and ordered other banks to stop buying Dollars.

China’s foreign exchange regulator ordered banks in some of the country’s major import and export centers to

Lawyer Calls For Stiffer Laws Against Corruption

A legal practitioner and anti corruption activist, Mr Roland Emem, on Monday said that Nigeria needed stricter laws to ensure effective war against corruption.

Emen said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola, that Nigerians must also imbibe the right attitude to dissuade corrupt tendencies at all levels.

“I am of the strong view that with the right anti corruption laws and a properly empowered Will to fight corruption, even the devil will not like to be corrupt in Nigeria.

Borno Govt. Seeks Partnership With UN, Netherlands To Resettle IDPs

The Borno State government is seeking partnership with humanitarian organisations in the post-war phase of the counter insurgency operations.

Governor Kashim Shettima had talks with officials of the United Nations Humanitarian Affairs as well as the Netherlands Embassy who were both interested in supporting Nigeria.

The recovery of many communities hitherto captured by insurgents in Borno State has turned the focus of the government and donor agencies from merely provision of relief materials to rehabilitation and resettlement.

The Borno State government had already commenced rehabilitation of towns looted and destroyed by the rampaging outlaws.

The victims are thousands of boys and girls, either orphaned or with their parents living in makeshift camps, with relatives or just on the streets of Maiduguri begging for alms.

Steven O’brien, the United Nations Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and the coordinator of the UN emergency response, believes that the region has always had chronic humanitarian needs.

He said that the needs had been worsened by the Boko Haram conflict, further making it necessary to employ a coordinated approach towards empowering local people.

Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, is equally overwhelmed by the level of destruction and the unhabitable condition of some of the former enclaves of the militants.

The Borno State government has commended the help being offered while maintaining that poverty is indeed one of the underlying cause of the insurgency.

Nearly two million persons have been sacked by the insurgents from 20 local governments areas of the state, with many women and girls kidnapped.

The state government is conducting repairs in accessible areas to enable the displaced vacate camps and return home.