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Go And Face 'The Music' - Jonathan Disowns Fani-Kayode, Falae, Others Over N3.1b CBN Largess

There is confusion in ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s camp on how to refund the N3.1 billion allegedly shared by six Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chiefs.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is battling to recover the cash. It was learnt that some of the beneficiaries ran to Dr, Jonathan but he insisted that he will not bail out any minister or public officer involved in the deal.

It was learnt yesterday that a former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Nenadi Usman, had interacted with EFCC operatives in the last few weeks before the anti-graft agency blew open the fraud.

There was a sharp disagreement among the beneficiaries of the largesse on how to refund the cash, sources told The Nation.

Some members of the defunct Campaign Committee of the PDP were shocked that such a huge amount was collected under the table by a few directors.

They have asked the beneficiaries to bear the consequences of diversion of public funds.

Some members of the committee have also threatened to spill the bean on other public funds made available which were diverted by some stalwarts of the party.

But the real issue was on how to refund the N3.145billion to the EFCC.

While some claimed that they expended the money on Jonathan’s re-election campaign, others were running round to source for the funds from some PDP chieftains and former members of the Federal Executive Council to cover up their track.

But there was no breakthrough for some of the beneficiaries last night.

A top source said: “There is confusion in Jonathan’s camp. Many top members of the campaign committee were dazed that such huge cash was shared without any general information.

“Some of them have volunteered to testify against some of the beneficiaries if the EFCC digs deeper. They have been threatening to expose other dirty deals.

“Also, ex-President Jonathan has stayed away from the matter. One of the beneficiaries went to the ex-President for a bailout but the former leader said he will ‘not assist anybody but they should go and return whatever was given to them’.

“The beneficiary was said to have diverted N500million out of the N2billion, which he was to remit to the committee. He only gave out N1.5billion.

“The case of some public officers involved in the deal was worse because the former President has asked everyone to bear his or her own cross.
“As it is now, those given the cash will have to look for ways to refund it.”

A member of the Campaign Committee said: “We are not united on this N3.145billion. Some of us were disappointed that they got money without telling us. Let them go and face the music.”

Mrs. Usman is believed to have made a statement pending the time a comprehensive investigation will begin.
“The EFCC will interact with some of the beneficiaries soon. But the ultimate goal of the anti-graft commission is to recover the funds,” a source said.

The EFCC uncovered how N3.145b was paid into the accounts of six PDP chieftains and the Goodluck Support Group (GSG) by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the build-up to the last presidential elections.

The beneficiaries include a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (N840m); a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and leader of the Social Democratic Party, Chief Olu Falae(N100m); Mrs. (N36.9m); a former Imo State Governor, Chief Achike Udenwa and a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Viola Onwuliri(N350m)  and Okey Ezenwa(N100m).

Alleged false declaration of assets: Saraki’s fresh application stalls trial at CCT

ABUJA – The Federal Government, on Friday, opposed a fresh application by Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, challenging the powers of the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute him over the allegation that he falsely declared his assets. Saraki, in the application he filed ‎through his consortium of lawyers led by a former AGF, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, asked the Justice Danladi Umar-led Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, panel, to hands-off the 13-count charge the federal government entered against him. He argued that the charge against him was brought in bad-faith and not in public interest. Saraki ‎maintained that the AGF did not fulfil all the condition precedents capable of conferring jurisdiction on the tribunal to try him. He therefore applied for the charge to be quashed, as well as an order discharging him.  Meantime, spirited effort by Agabi to move the application was vehemently opposed by the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, who accused the ‎Senate President of engaging in “Judicial forum shopping” in a desperate bid to frustrate his trial. Insisting that the business of the day was for full-blown hearing to commence on the matter, ‎Jacobs told the CCT panel that Saraki was yet to serve him with a copy of the motion. He urged the tribunal to discountenance the application and proceed with hearing on the case, saying the witnesses were in court and ready to testify against the defendant. Jacobs contended that the issue of jurisdiction Saraki raised in his fresh ‎motion was already decided by both the Supreme Court and the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal. “My lord this is nothing but another attempt by the defendant to frustrate this case. His argument before was that there was no Attorney General of the Federation when the charge was filed, now that there is an AGF in office, he has made a U-turn to say that that even the AGF lacks the jurisdiction to file the charge against him. “These are issues that have been decided by the apex court. I urge this tribunal to resist this frivolous application”, Jacobs submitted. Placing reliance on section 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, the prosecutor argued that since the defendant had earlier entered his plea to the charge, any further objection he has against the proceeding ought to be considered at the end of the trial. ‎After listening to both parties, Justice Umar adjourned the case till March 18 for moving of the motion and possible hearing of the substantive matter. The CCT also directed‎ the defence lawyer to serve all the relevant processes to the prosecution before the next adjourned date. ‎Meanwhile, FG had earlier disclosed that it has line-up eight witnesses against Saraki, ‎among whom include detectives that investigated four assets declaration forms the Senate President submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB. ‎Those expected to mount the witness box to give evidence that could make or mar the embattled Senate President are: Yahaya Bello, Michael Wetkas, Mustapha Abubakar Musa, Nura Ali Bako, Adamu Garba, Samuel Madojemu, Abdulrahaman Bayo Dauda and Nwachukwu Amazu. Saraki who was a two-term governor of Kwara State b‎etween May 2003 and May 2011, was in the charge before the CCT, marked ABT/01/15 and dated September 11, 2015, accused of ‎breaching section 2 of the ‎CCB and Tribunal Act, an offence punishable under section 23(2) of the Act and paragraph 9 of the said Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. Aside allegation that he falsely declared his assets, as well as, made anticipatory declaration of assets,Saraki, was also alleged to have operated foreign bank accounts while in office as a public officer. He was alleged to have acquired assets beyond his legitimate earnings. FG, among other offences, alleged that Sarakiclaimed that he owned and acquired No 15A and 15B Mc Donald, Ikoyi, Lagos, through his company, Carlisle Properties Limited in 2000, when the said property was actually sold by the Implementation Committee of the Federal Government landed properties in 2006 to his companies, Tiny Tee Limited and Vitti Oil Limited for the aggregate sum of N396, 150, 000, 00. He was alleged to have made false declaration on or about June 3, 2011, by refusing to declare plot ‎2A Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, which he acquired between 2007 and 2008 through his company from the Central Bank of Nigeria for a total sum of N325, 000, 000, 00. Saraki was said to have refused to declare No1 Tagnus street, Maitama, Abuja, which he claimed to have acquired in November 1996 from one David Baba Akawu. Some of his alleged offence while in office as governor, which are said to be punishable under section 15(1) and (2) of the CCB and Tribunal Act, Cap C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, were allegedly committed between October 2006 and May 2007. His actions were classified as a gross violation of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended. Saraki had on September 22, 2015, pleaded not guilty to the charge which he said was grossly incompetent and ought to be quashed. Refusal of the tribunal to hands-off the trial resulted to Saraki’s lawyers staging a walk-out on the tribunal on November 5, 2015, after they accused the panel of engaging in acts of “judicial rascality”. The defence team had wanted the tribunal to suspend the trial and allow the Supreme Court to pronounce on the competence of the proceeding. Though the CCT declined to stay proceeding on the matter, on November 12, 2015, a Supreme Court panel headed by Justice John Fabiyi (now retired), directed the tribunal to “tarry for a while” to enable them to look into Saraki’s appeal. The Justice Fabiyi-led panel was subsequently disbanded, even as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, took over the case and reconstituted a seven-man panel of Justices of the apex court that heard the appeal. Nevertheless, in a unanimous judgment on February 5, 2016, the Supreme Court dismissed Saraki’s appeal, even as it okayed his prosecution before the CCT. The apex court which said it was satisfied that the Senate President has a case to answer before the tribunal, affirmed an earlier verdict of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which on October 30, 2015, gave FG the nod to open its case against Saraki. In a related development, Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has slated March 22 to deliver judgment on another suit that Saraki filed with a view to disqualifying Justice Umar from handling his trial. Saraki had in the suit contended that Justice Umar was not fit to try him considering that the judge also has a criminal allegation hanging on his neck. He told the court that Justice Umar was being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over allegations bordering on corruption. Saraki said he would not be accorded fair-hearing by the tribunal, alleging that the charge pending against him before the CCT was instigated by the anti-graft agency. He argued that Justice Umar, in a bid to save himself from prosecution, would dance to the tune of the EFCC which he said usurped the responsibility of the CCB by recommending his trial for an offence that was allegedly committed years back. He therefore sought an order nullifying the charge and the proceedings of the CCT on the grounds that they allegedly fell short of the requirements of Article 3 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution. ‎The respondents to the suit include the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase. Others are the CCB, the CCT, its Chairman, Justice Umar, the second member of the CCT panel, Mr. Ataedzeagu Adza; CCB chairman, Mr. Sam Saba; Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Diri; and a Deputy Director in the ministry, Mr. Muslim Hassan (now a judge of the Federal High Court). FG had since challenged the competence of the suit which it said ought to be dismissed for want of merit.‎

Watford Striker ighalo-can-rock-pharaohs-boat-says-siasia/

SUPER Eagles interim coach  Samson Siasia believes Odion Ighalo will rediscover his scoring touch when Nigeria play against the Pharaohs of Egypt in the double-header Africa Cup of Nations qualification tie billed for March 25 and 29 respectively.
       

Ighalo, has scored 14 goals this season for Watford in the English Premiership, but for 13 games going, he has been hit by a goal drought, which has also affected the fortunes of Watford. “I am not worried about Ighalo’s recent lack of scoring goals for his club,” Siasia told Goal.com in Abuja. “I have been in constant touch with the player and I know that he would deliver against Egypt home and away. “I can assure you that Odion is desperate to deliver against Egypt because he knows the importance of the two matches and he told me.” Ighalo on his path vowed to work harder to regain his lost form. “I won’t allow this [his goal drought] to put me down, it happens to all strikers, but I know the goals will soon start coming. I will continue to work hard and it will be a matter of time before I am scoring again,” “The second half of the season is often more difficult, but we will get 40 points as we already have 36 points and we still have nine games to go. We have had some bad results in the last two, three games.” He added that the game against Egypt will not be a tea party. “It won’t be an easy game, I won’t lie,” he added. “But it is possible to win, we have what it takes to win, we will fight for the whole game to win. “I have worked with Siasia in the U-20 and U-23 teams, he is a disciplinarian and knows what he wants. He will play an attacking football and we have to give him our best. I will give him 100%.”

Senate President Bukola Saraki’s trial: Tight security for CCT chair

Barely 24 hours to the resumption of the trial of the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, security has been strengthened arround the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Justice  Danladi Umar Danladi, who returned from the lesser hajj (Umrah) on Monday.

The security privilege is extended to his immediate family.

The judge has barred visitors from his residence and restricted phone calls to only “essential family” members, sources said yesterday.

Saraki’s trial will resume tomorrow.

According to sources, more undercover security agents have been drafted to the residence and office of the CCT chairman.

        

It was also gathered that the heavy security ring around the CCT chairman is aimed at staving off pressure and allowing him a free hand to carry out his duties.

It could not be immediately ascertained whether or not the extra security measures were at the instance of Justice Danladi.

Justice Danladi had  in November 2015 written the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, for a security overhaul because of the many high profile cases being handled by CCT.

The CCT judge also  sent a copy of the letter to the Department of State Services (DSS).

A source said: “There is now an enhanced security around the CCT chairman and his family.

“More plain-cloth agents have been drafted to his residence and office. His movement is now being well policed.

“I think this is due to the sensitive nature of the assignment. It is, however, not unusual because some judges who presided over ‘sensitive Election Petitions Tribunals’ enjoyed the same security cover.”

Justice Danladi has barred visitors from his residence and office, until all high-profile cases are disposed of.

“In fact, he has restricted his phone calls to only essential relations. Family members have been warned against unethical relationship,” another source said.

The Supreme Court had affirmed the validity of the 13 charges preferred against Saraki and the jurisdiction of the CCT to try him.

The prosecution, led by Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), is expected from March 11 to open its case by calling its  witnesses.

Those listed by the prosecution to testify against him are: Yahaya Bello, Michael Wetkas, Mustapha Abubakar Musa, Nura Ali Bako, Adamu Garba, Samuel Madojemu, Abdulrahaman Bayo Dauda and Nwachukwu Amazu.

A new counsel, Mr. Kanu Agabi(SAN), a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, will be representing Saraki at the resumption of the trial.

Many supporters of Saraki from Kwara State have arrived in Abuja to give what a source described as “moral support”.

One of the supporters, Isiaka Baba, said: “We are hopeful that the President of the Senate will prove his case and he will be vindicated. We see the trial as a tribulation which any man can pass through.

“Since the trial started, many of us have been coming from Kwara State and we will not stop until the case is finally determined.”

Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose plans solidarity rallies

Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose is planning a massive fight back against the crackdown on his administration by the Department of State Services (DSS), which is investigating alleged crimes committed by some lawmakers and other officials.

Our reporter gathered that some senior government officials and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been meeting on strategies to neutralise the  DSS probe.

A Government House source said yesterday that one of the plans on the cards is what he called “massive mobilisation” of interest groups, such as trade unions, artisans’ bodies, transport unions, youth bodies and women organisations to drum support for Fayose.

The source explained that various groups would embark on solidarity rallies in Ado-Ekiti and other parts of the state in support of Fayose.

He spoke of plans to involve traditional rulers and other leaders of thought sympathetic to Fayose to appeal to the Federal Government to prevail on DSS and other agencies to drop their “onslaught” against him.

An umbrella support group for Fayose known as “Fayose Solidarity Forum” has been floated to be at the vanguard of canvassing support and win public sympathy for the embattled governor.

The source said: “The Fayose Solidarity Forum (FSF) will be launched on March 21 and the occasion will be used to send a strong message that Osoko is still popular in Ekiti.

“The part one of the strategy is already working as the lawmakers have succeeded in blackmailing the DSS and part two has succeeded, with Fayose succeeding in working on the PDP members in the National Assembly to speak against the arrest and detention.

“Part three of the strategy will be massive solidarity rallies and demonstrations in support of Fayose and the  lawmakers. Watch out for these anytime from next week.”

The Nation learnt that FSF will incorporate  trade union groups and local government workers.

The state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of pencilling down some of its lawmakers and other government officials for arrest.

Federal Govt breaks NNPC into four units

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)  has been unbundled into four units in a major restructuring of   the 39-year-old oil giant.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Dr. Ibe Kachikwu yesterday announced the new structure at a briefing in Abuja.

The minister, who is also the Group Managing Director of the organisation, said President Muhammadu Buhari approved the restructuring.

He said: “The new NNPC comprises a lean headquarters and four autonomous business units.”

He told reporters that the restructuring will not lead to job losses.

The four units are:  Upstream Company, Downstream Company, Refinery Company and Gas/ Power Company.

According to him, the Upstream Company will now comprise of NPDC and the IDSL.  The Downstream Company consists of Retail, NPMC and NPSC, the Refinery Company consists of WRPC, KRPC and PHRC while the Gas and Power is now made up of NGPTC, NGMC and Gas and Power Investment.

Kachikwu said the Federal Government has approved the appointment of Chief Executives for the companies: They are:  Bello Rabiu as CEO of the Upstream Company; Henry Iken Obih for Downstream; Anibor Kragha for Refineries and Saidu Mohammed for Gas and Power.

He denied announcing the unbundling of the corporation into 30 companies, saying the GMD is still the Chief Executive of NNPC.

He said what was ignored in his statement about the new structure of the NNPC is that there will be “subsets. Subset is the unbundling. It is not a direct unbundling of NNPC into 30. It means that the subsets of NNPC are being unbundled into smaller numbers of companies. It is totally a different thing and the press got it wrong, please.”

The minister attributed the cause of fuel scarcity to the independent marketers that have refused to import petroleum products that now resulted in NNPC embarking on 100 per importation and supply instead of 50 per cent.

He expressed hope that within one year, the NNPC would overcome fuel constraints and exit importation of products.

The minister said the Port Harcourt Refinery is back on stream, working at “minimal terms.”

He said the corporation has now embarked on supplying one cargo of products daily. Three refineries, he said, are configured now to produce 50% of PMS and 50% of other products.

“The hope is that at the end of the month, the three refineries would have got crude and begin to work. Hopefully, that will soften the pressure,” he added.

The minister explained that even if the refineries are producing at 100 per cent installed capacity there will still be supply gap, stressing that this situation can only be ameliorated when there is completion of Greenfield refineries and modular ones that could be coupled for production.

He said the refineries are operational, they will increase products to a level that Nigeria will commence building a reserve of refined products.

According to him, with the efforts being made to build modular and greenfield refineries Nigeria is targeting fuel export by 2020 when Dangote Refinery becomes operational.

The minister said “when the refineries begin to work, we will see how we can save up and continue our importation process and save up strategic reserves so that in the month of difficulties you can reach out to those before you get your next set of import.

“We are working feverishly trying to see with the Joint Venture Partners how we can come with refineries. We have advertised recently for the collocated refineries.”

On whether government has removed fuel subsidy, he said there is no removal of subsidy but price modulation.

He noted that the government is now saving from the price modulation and it could use the savings to stabilise the market when it is necessary.

According to him, the government will further review the prices of petrol by April, which may lower the cost of fuel.

He said he will always support a reduction of supply by members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in order to increase the price of crude.

The minister said prior to the blast of the Forcados pipeline, Nigeria was producing 2.3million barrels per day

Arsenal Injury News:Cech, Koscielny and Coquelin

Arsène Wenger has revealed the latest team news ahead of Tuesday's FA Cup fifth-round replay against Hull City:

on team news… 

We lose Coquelin from his bad tackle on Saturday and everyone else looks available. I have to see how everybody has recovered today but overall we should have the same squad that went to Tottenham plus Alex Iwobi will certainly be added to the squad. 

on Petr Cech…

Petr’s scans were better than expected, but it will still be four weeks for him. So after the international break.

on Laurent Koscielny…

Laurent will be short for Hull. he has a chance to be available for the weekend, but I think even for then he will be short.

‘Boko Haram arms manufacturer, gunrunner arrested’ — SSS

The State Security Service has announced the arrest of a man it said manufactures and procures arms for the extremist Boko Haram sect.

In a statement Saturday, the agency said “Musa Garba Abubakar (Engr) aka Muhadis Musa Bin Haddad, was arrested at Jos, Plateau State, during a special tactical operation.

Mr. Abubakar, the SSS said, “is a major gun fabricator, arms-runner and a covert linkman/courier for the Boko Haram group.”

The statement added, “During his arrest, two pistols, 80 rounds of live ammunition and several sensitive documents were recovered from him.

“In a bid to employ propaganda to manipulate the international community against the efforts of the Federal Government, in the ongoing war against terror in the North-West region, Musa (Mr. Abubakar) had approached a foreign mission in Nigeria for logistics and financial support to fight the Boko Haram.

“However, unknown to the mission, he is actually an unauthorized gun-maker/runner with intent for mischief and communal strife in the North Central region.”

Read full statement below.

APC Crisis Deepens; Oyegun Probably 'SACKED', Oni Occupies The Chairman's Office; NWC Shun Office

Silent crisis rocking the leadership of the  ruling All progressives Congress becoming messy as members of members of National Working Committee, (NWC) staged a walk out, insisting that the national Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun resigns, the 

Authority Newspaper says.

Last week, News Punch reported that Chief Oyegun handed over the mantle of leadership of the party to former Ekiti State Governor and the Deputy National Chairman of the Party, Chief Segun Oni, stating that he, Oyegun was going on 10 days vacation.
According to our source, The development has ground­ed activities at the APC Nation­al Secretariat as all the Nation­al Working Committee (NWC) members have continued to stay away from their offices.

The AUTHORITY learnt that the APC had been facing a si­lent leadership crisis as some top members have fallen out with Od­igie-Oyegun over his leadership style and have demanded his res­ignation.

There were also reported is­sues of accountability among the party.
 It was reported that Chief Od­igie-Oyegun was forced to pro­ceed on a compulsory leave to pave the way for the resolution of the feud, but his critics have in­sisted that he must not return to the seat after the expiration of the holidays.

Odigie-Oyegun, howev­er, debunked the claims, stress­ing that he was proceeding on a 10-day leave to have some rest as demanded by his doctors after a hectic period of activities since he emerged as the APC nation­al chairman.

“I have been chairman for how long now? Going to two years, and it has been a very in­tense period building the par­ty and a very intense period put­ting the government together up to this point.

“All that has happened is that I think I deserve a bit of a break and that will start effective Mon­day and in my absence my deputy here, Chief Segun Oni, will cover my beat. It is that simple, it is that straightforward. Any speculation about not being in office is of no consequence. On Tuesday, I was down with malaria; I managed on Wednesday to attend that crucial meeting at the Presidency; yester­day I had to go to the hospital just to be sure and today I am at work, full stop”, the APC national chair­man noted, while reacting to re­ported crisis over his leadership of the party. But it was a more con­fused situation yesterday when it was noticed that the national chairman’s absence has crippled activities at the party’s secretari­at, with only the acting chairman, Segun Oni and the National Youth Leader, Dasuki Jalo, who came in briefly on Monday and Tuesday.

A staff member of the Secre­tariat, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen in confidence that “all the national officers are stay­ing away because they don’t want to answer questions as regard the running of the party.”

Another source who raised concerns over the future of Odi­gie-Oyegun as the national chair­man of the party, revealed that the acting national chairman, Segun Oni, has already moved into Odi­gie-Oyegun’s office, saying “that is an indication that the APC chair­man might not come back be­cause if he is acting as chairman, he is supposed to do that from his own office, not Odigie-Oyegun’s office.”
The APC National Caucus will meet on March 22, ahead of the March 23, 2016 Board of Trus­tees meeting, while the party’s NEC is billed to meet on March 24 to tackle most of the crises fac­ing the party.

Several attempts made by The AUTHORITY to get the reaction of the APC National Secretary, Mai Mala Bunu, who is also act­ing as the party’s Publicity Sec­retary, proved abortive as he did not pick several calls that were put across to him.
When Oni was contacted on the issue, he said that he was in an APC campaign rally ahead of the March 19 council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).