Bayelsa Election: Dickson punished 500 workers for supporting APC

There were indications yesterday that the Seriake Dickson-led Bayelsa State government has allegedly compiled the names of 500 workers for punishment for “supporting” the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last December 5 and January 9 governorship polls in the state.

Besides the punishment, it was learnt that the affected civil servants had not been paid since last October.

The government is said to be unhappy that the civil servants worked against Dickson’s re-election and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the polls that were marred by widespread violence.

The government’s action is said to be generating tension with the affected civil servants planning to seek redress in court.

Dickson was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after defeating former Governor Timipre Sylva of the APC and Moses Siasia of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM),  according to The Nation.

It was gathered that the government set up “a special committee” in each of the eight local government areas to monitor the activities of pro-APC civil servants before and during the elections.

Workers in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) within grade levels eight to 17 are said to be affected by the government’s action.

The order to sanction the “indicted” civil servants was said to have emanated from the committee’s report.

It was learnt that the names of the affected persons were forwarded to the Due Process Bureau, which operates the automated payroll system of the state government, for appropriate action.

The directive reportedly emanated from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) through the Office of the Head of Service (HOS) to the Due Process Bureau.

The bureau, headed by Dickson’s Special Adviser on Treasury Matters, Mr. Timi Seipulo, was reportedly asked to implement the order.

It was also gathered that workers in the state’s broadcasting corporation and the sport council were the worst-hit.

A source, who spoke in confidence, noted that there was a deliberate effort by the government to flush out those considered APC members in the civil service.

“Right now, a fresh verification of workers is ongoing for this singular purpose. Most of these workers have not received their salaries since October, last year. While pro-PDP workers are receiving their salaries, those perceived to be APC members are not,” the source said.

One of the affected workers, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said the accountant in his establishment told them their names were missing from the payroll.Dickson was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after defeating former Governor Timipre Sylva of the APC and Moses Siasia of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM).

It was gathered that the government set up “a special committee” in each of the eight local government areas to monitor the activities of pro-APC civil servants before and during the elections.

Workers in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) within grade levels eight to 17 are said to be affected by the government’s action.

The order to sanction the “indicted” civil servants was said to have emanated from the committee’s report.

It was learnt that the names of the affected persons were forwarded to the Due Process Bureau, which operates the automated payroll system of the state government, for appropriate action.

The directive reportedly emanated from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) through the Office of the Head of Service (HOS) to the Due Process Bureau.

The bureau, headed by Dickson’s Special Adviser on Treasury Matters, Mr. Timi Seipulo, was reportedly asked to implement the order.

It was also gathered that workers in the state’s broadcasting corporation and the sport council were the worst-hit.

A source, who spoke in confidence, noted that there was a deliberate effort by the government to flush out those considered APC members in the civil service.

“Right now, a fresh verification of workers is ongoing for this singular purpose. Most of these workers have not received their salaries since October, last year. While pro-PDP workers are receiving their salaries, those perceived to be APC members are not,” the source said.

One of the affected workers, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said the accountant in his establishment told them their names were missing from the payroll.

DasukiGate: Don’t give suspects media trial, Adebanjo tells FG

A chieftain of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has urged the Federal Government to arraign the persons indicted in the $2.1bn arms scandal.

The elder statesman noted that the eventual court judgments would determine whether they were guilty or not and not by trying them on the pages of newspapers,according to The Punch.

Adebanjo, stated that the proper thing to do was for the Federal Government to proceed to court with the evidences against the accused, told The Punch .

While commending efforts of the current administration in tackling corruption, he added that the government must follow constitutional procedures in pressing charges against the suspects.

He said, ‘‘You cannot be the accuser, prosecutor and judge in your own case. In as much as I appreciate efforts to rid the country of corruption, things must be done constitutionally. All the people indicted in the arms deal case are innocent until proved guilty by competent courts.’’

Some individuals and members of the Peoples Democratic Party had been indicted in the mismanagement of the funds earmarked for the procurement of arms for the Army to fight the violent sect, Boko Haram.

The funds were allegedly distributed to the individuals by the embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who served in the regime of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

Former bodyguard for rapper Future shot, killed inside Georgia home

A former bodyguard for rapper Future was murdered inside the Georgia home he shared with his pregnant wife, police said.

Michael Phillips was shot and killed Monday afternoon, police told FOX 5. The unidentified gunman is at large.

The 27-year-old newlywed was at home with his wife when neighbors reported hearing arguing followed by gunshots coming from the house. The couple was expecting their first child, family said.

Phillips once worked as a bodyguard, providing protection for Billboard 200 artist Future.

After giving up the guard gig, he worked as a pianist at his mom’s church, Hand of Faith Deliverance. Church members visited Phillips’ home Monday afternoon to mourn the slain musician.

Police have not made any arrests or identified any possible suspects.



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Shortage of Husband: Marry Two Wives OR Be Arrested

An unverified statement allegedly issued by the government of Eritrea reportedly ordered its men to marry at least two wives due to acute shortage of men caused by enormous casualties suffered during the civil war with Ethiopia.

In the statement written in Arabic the government gave the assurance that it will give financial support to the polygamous marriages.

“Based on the law of God in polygamy, and given the circumstances in which the country is experiencing in terms of men shortage, the Eritrean department of Religious Affairs has decided on the following .”

"First that every man shall marry at least two women and the man who refuses to do so shall be subjected to life imprisonment with hard labour.

“The woman who tries to prevent her husband from marrying another wife shall be punished to life imprisonment,” alleges the activists in their translation.

May 1998 to June 2000 Eritrean-Ethiopian war saw 150,000 soldiers killed from either sides but having a bigger impact on male population in the tiny Eritrea nation who were then just 4million people in total.

Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova to book her place in the semi-final of the Australian Open

Tennis' great rivalry that never was ended in its usual fashion when Serena Williams ended up crushing her old sparring partner Maria Sharapova.

Williams reached the semi-final of the Australian Open by scoring her eighteenth consecutive victory over the Russian with a 6-4 6-1 that quickly unravelled to end after an hour and 32 minutes.

The repeat of last year's high class final was less competitive this time, with Williams eventually overwhelming Sharapova on a hot Australia Day afternoon at Melbourne Park.

From the start, where Serena kept her waiting for the ball toss, there were all sorts of mind games going on with the subliminal message from the American that she was in control.

Sharapova's serve has been in excellent nick this tournament, but nobody returns it as well as the 34-year-old world number one, who kept up the pressure in the first set to win a real tug of war.

Williams's serve was actually a big determining factor in the match, and it delivered thirteen aces as she eased ahead in the second.

The American summoned on the trainer twice, seemingly to dispense some painkillers, but it did not seem to hinder her performance. As ever Sharapova did not lack for motivation and fought until the very end, but to her evident frustration she cannot seem to dislodge Williams.

The top seed came into the tournament with huge doubts over her after a long layoff, but normal service has been quickly resumed and she now faces fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1 6-3. 

Williams said: 'It was super intense. She's an incredibly intense and focused player who was No 1 and has won so many Grand Slams for a reason.

'When you are playing someone like that who is so great, you have to come out with a lot of fire and intensity.'

On her semi-final opponent Radwanska, Williams said: 'She's a great defender and a great girl, so regardless whoever gets to the final it will be a great thing. I'm going to do my best, I have nothing to lose.'

And Williams explained later that she had been contending with an upset stomach in recent days, and cursed her relatively slow start.

'I just started slow. I missed three or four easy shots. I felt like, All right, I didn't make those shots, but if I had made those shots I probably would have won that game. 

'I just clung onto that and knew I could play better. I was a little lethargic. It was maybe just getting out to a faster start like I had been in all the rest of my matches. I was just dealing with some food poisoning issues from a few days ago. That was it.'

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Ramires set for £25m move to China

Chelsea's Ramires to join Jiangsu Suning in £25m move.

The 28-year-old Brazil midfielder, signed from Benfica for about £17m in 2010, agreed a new four-year deal in October but has only started seven Premier League games this season, according to BBC sport.

Jiangsu finished ninth in China's top tier in 2015 and are managed by former Blues defender Dan Petrescu.

Ramires has helped the Blues win the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League and Europa League.

DasukiGate: Dasuki property confiscated by EFCC

Property believed to belong to former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki was at the weekend confiscated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Kaduna, according to The Nation.

Dasuki, NSA to former President Goodluck Jonathan, is at the centre of a massive investigation into the alleged misapplication of about $2.1 billion meant for the procurement of arms.

A panel, which investigated the way the money was spent, indicted Dasuki and others. The EFCC moved in. Dasuki has been arraigned in court.

It was learnt that the property of others linked with the scandal were also confiscated by the anti-graft agency in Kaduna.

Among them is a former Theatre Commander of the Operation Lafia Dole in Maiduguri, Major General Yishau Mahmood Abubakar.

It was learnt that occupants of some of the buildings were expelled by EFCC operatives who took over the property, which they marked with red ink.

Dasuki’s confiscated property are said to be a hotel complex on Rabah Road, Malali GRA in the heart of Kaduna metropolis and a mansion under construction on Sani Sami Road, also in Malali GRA.

Except for some workers moving out their tools, the site was empty yesterday.

Maj.-Gen. Abubakar’s residential duplex located at No. 5C, Sultan Close was sealed off Sunday evening.

It was also gathered that when the EFCC operatives arrived at the house, there was a birthday party going on. Everybody was asked to vacate the premises immediately and they obeyed.

A shopping mall allegedly belonging to Gen. Abubakar’s wife was also confiscated by the anti-graft agency. The inscription “Keep off, under EFCC investigation”  was put on it.

Sources said the property belongs to the General’s brother and not his wife –  as alleged.

Another shopping mall on Sultan Road, which is believed to belong to Gen. Abubakar’s friend who is an Ambassador was also confiscated.

Louis van Gaal: Man Utd boss did not offer to resign after defeat

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal did not offer to resign at the weekend, despite reports to the contrary.

    Van Gaal, 64, was said to have told executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward he would be prepared to quit following Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Southampton.

A source said no such conversation took place.

Van Gaal returned to United's training ground on Tuesday as they begin preparations for Friday's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Derby County.

Woodward, meanwhile, has club commitments in London rather than north-west England.

United are maintaining their long-established position of refusing to publicly discuss Van Gaal's future.

With BBC Sport

Bi-Courtney Highway Services: FG wants out-of-court settlement

There are strong indications that the Federal Government may set up a dispute resolution board on the crisis currently stalling the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway reconstruction project.

It was gathered on Monday that the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunnde Fashola, had been holding meeting with stakeholders involved in the project, including Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited.

It was learnt that one of the options being explored was setting up of a dispute resolution board involving all sides.

The Infrastructure Bank (TIB), in a public notice on Monday, said it had approached the Court of Appeal to seek the nullification of a recent court ruling that set aside a concession agreement that the Federal Government granted Motorway Assets Limited to finance the reconstruction of the road and later manage it.

A Federal High Court in Lagos, which granted the order of mandatory injunction sought by Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited on December 11, 2015, held that the concession agreement purportedly signed between the Federal Government and MAL on January 16, 2015 was a flagrant disregard of the established principles of law.

Bi-Courtney Highway Services, owned by Dr. Wale Babalakin, had sued the government challenging the termination of its earlier agreement with the latter to rebuild and manage the road. It named the Attorney-General of the Federation and TIB among the defendants.

Although the Federal Government has not formally responded to a letter written by Bi-Courtney on January 25, 2013 seeking a resolution of the dispute arising from the termination of its contract on the road, findings on Monday showed that it had commenced talks with the company.

A source in the ministry, said that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was looking into all the contentious issues as far as the road was concerned.

He said those who had taken the issue to court might be persuaded to withdraw it so as to pave the way for the setting up of a dispute resolution board.

“The new government is aware of Bi-Courtney’s letter and it is looking into it and other issues concerning the road so that we can move forward. We may set up a board or panel to resolve the issue out of court,” he said.

The source also said that Fashola met with Bi-Courtney recently on the matter, adding that the minister was handling the issue.

When contacted, the Director of Information in the ministry, Mr. ‘Bisi Agbonhin, said that Bi-Courtney had taken its case to court.

“The case is in court and it will not be nice to start responding to issues that are before a court of law. I think is better to allow the court to handle issues that are before it,” he said.

Fashola had confirmed that the litigation as well as the termination of the agreement with Bi-Courtney by the government was responsible for the suspension of the reconstruction work on the highway.

In a statement from the ministry on Monday, the minister called for attitudinal change by the government and the people concerning their reactions to national issues as this would affect investors’ perception of Nigeria.

The minister, who spoke in Abuja at a retreat for the pension industry, used the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as a case study, explaining that the Federal Government had granted concession agreement on the road to a private company and later cancelled the contract.

He said the government again entered into a construction and financing agreement with another company, adding that the first firm went to court and got an order to cancel the financing agreement made with the second company.

“As a result of this, work has stopped on the road, thereby leading to the laying off of about 2,000 construction workers, carnage on the road and loss of commuter travel time,” Fashola said.

The Infrastructure Bank said in its publication, “Appeals have been lodged in the Court of Appeal by the defendants in the matter, including the Attorney-General of the Federation and The Infrastructure Bank Plc in respect of the ruling, which at an interlocutory stage, set aside an agreement, which is the basis upon which the current funding of the rehabilitation, reconstruction and expansion of the Lagos-Ibadan road is being implemented.”

Although the bank admitted that the court action instituted by Bi-Courtney had stalled the project in the last eight months, it expressed optimism about completing the work within the stipulated four-year period.

“Commitments have been secured to accelerate the pace of work and ensure the completion of the project within the contracted four-year period,” it stated.

The bank said the project, which was progressing steadily before the litigation, had attained 30 per cent completion within two years of its commencement.

The TIB attributed the progress to its commitment to mobilising over N50bn for the project and the support of other stakeholders.

With The Punch

CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee Begins 2-Day Meeting

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank began its 2-day meeting on Monday at the nation’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Focus centered on how to make decisions that will drive the economy with particular discussions on the foreign exchange market.

The meeting, which is the first for 2016, comes against the backdrop of slowing global growth and a weakening domestic economic environment, due to the fall in oil prices, according to Channel Television.

Analysts at FBN Quest believe the depletion of official reserves, the slide in the oil price and other economic issues could make a good case for Naira devaluation.

The apex bank will make its pronouncements at the end of the meeting on Tuesday January 26.   

In the meantime, central banks around the world will hold series of meeting this week to chart a way for monetary policies in their various countries.

The U.S. Federal reserve is expected to leave interest rates unchanged at its 2-day meeting which will end on Wednesday even before the recent rout in global stocks.

Equity prices from Japan to Brazil have tumbled into a bear market, China’s economy slowed and oil prices are lower, prompting European Central Bank President, Mario Draghi to warn on Thursday that downside risks have increased.

Analysts expect a rate hike this week from the Reserve Bank of South Africa with most predicting the MPC will go 50 basis points rather than 25, as it did in July and November.

The South Africa Rand tanked and bond yields soared after President Jacob Zuma fired Nhlanhla Nene as Finance Minister in December.

Arms scandal: Okonjo-Iweala Dismisses Falana’s Call For Her Prosecution

Former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Monday night accused a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana, of a malicious attempt to discredit her by linking her to the $2.1bn arms dealm according to The Punch.

Okonjo-Iweala said in a statement by her Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, that Falana’s latest “misadventure shows that the so-called learned lawyer does not have any idea what the mandate of the International Criminal Court is about”.

The former finance minister claimed that Falana had resorted to this latest action because his previous efforts to tarnish her name through his petitions to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission failed because they lacked credibility.

The statement read in part, “This latest effort to try to attach her name falsely confirms that Femi Falana is nothing but a tool of corrupt elements whose interests were hurt by the work Dr. Okonjo-Iweala did in fighting corruption while she was in office.

“These elements have now made a habit of making false allegations against Dr. Okonjo-Iweala whenever she receives any national or international recognition for her work.

“The pattern is clear and Nigerians should be alert to it. But Dr. Okonjo-Iweala will not be intimidated from going on with her life and performing her duties. She will not give in to cowardly and unmanly bullying.”

It said contrary to Falana’s claims, the former minister had absolutely nothing to do with the alleged misuse of $2.1bn by the office of the former National Security Adviser.

“Falana and his sponsors are simply trying to invent a connection where there is none,” it added.

On the allegations that the loot recovered from late General Sani Abacha was misused, the minister in the statement said she was not in government when the amount was recovered.

“The fact is that some of the funds recovery was done under the regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar and the first term of President Olusegun Obasanjo when Dr. Okonjo-Iweala was not even in government,” it said.

Boko Haram: Nigerian Army Kills 14 Insurgents In Yobe

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division of the Nigeria Army, Major General Mohammed Aliyu, disclosed this to reporters in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State.

Maj-Gen Aliyu disclosed that one soldier sustained a minor injury during the operation and is currently being treated, according to Channel Television.

The GOC added that the insurgents had attacked Babangida town in Tarmuwa Local Government Area where they went away with two Hilux vehicles belonging to the Police and also burnt down a telecommunications mast in the area.

According to him, security forces went after the terrorists and caught two of them alive, while several others ran away with gunshot wounds.

Corruption: EFCC arraigns ex-NIMASA boss, Akpobolokemi, on fifth charge

Economic and Financial Crimes has again arraigned a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, on 13 counts of alleged N754.7m theft.

Akpobolokemi was arraigned alongside six others on Monday before Justice Raliat Adebiyi of a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere.

The fresh charge marked LD/2181C/15 bordering on stealing and forgery was the fifth that the EFCC would be filing against Akpobolokemi between December 3, 2015 and Monday, according to The Punch.

Akpobolokemi had first been arraigned alongside nine others on 30 counts of alleged N3.4bn fraud before Justice Saliu Saidu of a Federal High Court in Lagos on December 3, 2015.

He was again arraigned on December 4, 2015 along with five others on 22 counts of alleged N2.6bn fraud before Justice Ibrahim Buba of also of the same court.

There is a pending 40 counts of alleged N34bn fraud against him before Justice Buba, where he is expected to take his plea on February 8, alongside a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo and eight others.

Only on last Friday, the EFCC filed another 22 counts of alleged N22.7bn fraud against Akpobolokemi, Tompolo and 11 others.

In the new 13 counts before Justice Adebiyi, Akpobolokemi was charged alongside six others.

His co-accused, with whom he was arraigned on Monday, are Ezekiel Agaba,  Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Vincent Udoye, Adegboyega  Olopoenia and Gama Marine Nigeria Limited.

Among other things, the EFCC alleged that the accused fraudulently converted to their personal use a sum of N346,844,680 released to them by NIMASA for the implementation of Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Member State Audit Scheme (VIMSAS).