Kogi Assembly Plans Impeachment Of Deputy Governor

Mr Simon Achuba

The Kogi State House of Assembly has announced plans to serve an impeachment notice on the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Simon Achuba.

The Speaker of the House, Honourable Momoh Jimoh made the plans known at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

Honorable Jimoh denounced his impeachment by five members of the House adding that the notice of impeachment would be served on the Deputy Governor for allegedly instigating crisis among members of the House of Assembly.

The Speaker also announced the suspension of the five members who announced his impeachment saying their action is a clear violation of the rules of the House as the five members failed to form a quorum before announcing his impeachment.

Five lawmakers in a 20-member House sat on Tuesday and purportedly removed the Speaker.

The lawmakers also chose Umar Imam as the new Speaker of the House.

Friday Sanni, who briefed reporters about the impeachment, said the Speaker was impeached for not carrying other members of the House along in the affairs of the House.

He also claimed that since the new Governor, Yahaya Bello and the Speaker are both from the same senatorial district, the Speaker should vacate the seat.

Meanwhile, 15 members of the House who were seen at Hon. Jimoh’s residence insist Hon. Jimoh remains the Speaker and that their signature was forged to perfect the impeachment.

With Channel News

Kachikwu Forecasts Zero Fuel Subsidy in 2016

The Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachickwu on Thursday stated that the novel price modulation mechanism currently in place will ensure that the Federal Government records zero expenses on fuel subsidy in 2016.

Delivering the 45^th Convocation Lecture of the University of Nigerian Nsukka under the theme: The Petroleum Industry and the Future of the Nigerian National-Oil Resource Management and the Implication for National Security & Economic Survival, Dr. Kachikwu noted that the zero fuel subsidy regime is already in place and would be sustained based on the prevailing modified pricing template for petroleum products which has eliminated extraneous cost elements.

“Without necessarily removing subsidy the government will spend zero amounts in subsidy in 2016. This may sound unbelievable to some people but that is part of the change agenda of the present administration of President Mohammadu Buhari“ he said while noting that large chunks of vandalized pipelines are being  recovered which will supply more crude to the refineries .

The Minister enthused that despite the difficulties of yester-years the oil and gas industry in Nigeria is primed for greater achievements in the months and years ahead as a recent of landmark reforms being engendered and activated by the present administration.

Dr. Kachikwu outlined the central objective of the ongoing oil and gas reform agenda to include; increasing revenue for the country through sales of petroleum and petroleum products and taxes on profitable enterprises, maximizing value added on the crude oil and gas to establish linkages with other sectors through local processing and establishment of gas based industries thereby stimulating economic growth and development as well as providing employment opportunities for Nigerians.

“Significant improvement in governance macroeconomic and fiscal policies are key to harnessing oil and gas resources for the sustainable development of Nigeria through enshrining transparency and accountability, empowering good governance and transparency in expenditure and revenue management,’’ he said.

The NNPC GMD also noted that the ongoing reform is designed to create competitive framework for public private partnerships anchored on durable financial investments.

The minister expressed appreciation to the Management of UNN for considering him worthy to deliver the convocation lecture, adding that as alumni of the university he would continue to contribute his quota to the growth and development of the University. “Whatever I am today UNN contributed immensely to it, he said.

In his remark the Vice-chancellor of UNN, Prof Benjamin Ozumba said the 45th convocation lecture was unique because the lecture was delivered by  a guru in petroleum industry who had within  a record time transformed the  oil sector.

Describing Dr. Kachikwu as the pride and beacon of UNN, the Vice-Chancellor noted that University is glad to welcome a super lion and one of the profound thinkers in Nigeria.

More trouble for Manchester United

Manchester United produced another underwhelming display as they lost to Danish side FC Midtjylland in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie.

United were without a number of injured players, including Wayne Rooney, and lost David de Gea in the warm-up.

They took the lead through Memphis Depay's shot but Sergio Romero, who stepped in for De Gea, was unable to prevent Pione Sisto equalising.

United's Jesse Lingard hit the bar before Paul Onuachu struck the winner.

After losing to Sunderland 2-1 on Saturday, the Red Devils are six points shy of the top four in the Premier League, leaving qualification for next season's Champions League very much in the balance.

Winning the Europa League could represent their best chance of reclaiming a place in Europe's elite club competition, but if they are to do that they will have to be much better than they were against opponents who had not played for 71 days because of the Danish winter break.

That includes in the second leg of this tie, which is at Old Trafford in a week's time.

Midtjylland were only formed in 1999, the year United won their famous Treble, but what they lack in history they made up for with application and ability.

With 13 first-team players out and facing a side whose analytical tactical approach makes them a serious threat from set-pieces, United suffered a major setback when goalkeeper De Gea injured himself in the warm-up.

That meant a first United start in four months for Romero, but the Argentine proved an able replacement with three good saves.

One was a block to deny Vaclav Kadlec, who ran through unchallenged, just 56 seconds before United broke the deadlock through Depay's close-range finish from Lingard's cross.

Romero also produced a superb one-handed diving stop to keep out a powerful goalbound header from Onuachu in the second half.

Between those two saves, he could not stop Sisto pulling the hosts level with a shot that found the net via the shin of Chris Smalling.

Romero was equally powerless to keep out Onuachu's winner - a low drive after the substitute beat Juan Mata on the edge of the box.

A knee injury means United face a six-week insight into life without captain Rooney - an absence that could become permanent if reports of a move to China prove correct.

United have refused to comment on speculation about the striker's future, but his absence allowed Depay to make his first start since Boxing Day and gave Anthony Martial the chance to start up front.

Depay, the top scorer in the Dutch league last season prior to his £31m move to Old Trafford, had scored once in his previous 20 United appearances.

And while his display in Denmark was not a notable improvement on past performances in a United shirt he was able to add a goal to his modest tally of goals for the season, which now stands at six.

But the Dutchman, like the rest of the United team, offered little in the second half as the home side came back to win.

Martial, who has operated primarily on the left since joining the club for £36m in September, was largely anonymous in his central role.

Lingard struck the bar with a volley while the score was 1-1, but United rarely threatened as the clock ticked down.

Uganda election: Facebook and Whatsapp blocked

Social media has been blocked in Uganda on the day of presidential elections to stop people "telling lies", President Yoweri Museveni has said.

Mr Museveni, 71, is seeking to extend his 30-year rule, in a race widely seen as the tightest in the East African state's history.

His main rival Kizza Besigye was briefly detained by police.

A foreign observer group condemned the blockage of social media and lengthy delays in opening voting booths.

Interviewed on TV about social media, Mr Museveni said: "Some people misuse those pathways. You know how they misuse them - telling lies.

"If you want a right then use it properly."

Many people found a way around the controversial restrictions, including opposition candidate Amama Mbabazi who tweeted advice on how to do it.

A VPN - a Virtual Private Network - gets round government censorship by redirecting your internet activity to a computer in a different country.

Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and mobile money services were blocked.

Despite this, #UgandaDecides was trending on Twitter.

Commonwealth election observer mission head Olusegun Obasanjo said: "It is ill advised if anyone has blocked social media."

Condemning the failure of voting stations to open on time, he said: "Delays of three, four, five and even six hours, especially in Kampala, are absolutely inexcusable and will not inspire trust and confidence in the system and the process".

The electoral commission said difficulties in transporting electoral materials caused the delays.

The BBC's Catherine Byaruhanga in the capital, Kampala, reports that crowds were angry after waiting several hours to vote and police fired tear gas to disperse them.

Voting was cancelled at at least two polling stations in the city after clashes with police and accusations of fake ballots being distributed.

Some voters in Kampala, traditionally an opposition stronghold, accused the authorities of deliberately stalling the vote, AFP news agency reports.

"People are quite angry and everybody is believing that there is something wrong behind this because of the way they are delaying things," Moses Omony, a motorbike taxi driver, is quoted as saying.

Mr Besigye was arrested for demanding access to a house in Kampala where he believed vote rigging was taking place following the closure of polling stations, said Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, spokesman for his FDC party.

He is among seven opposition candidates hoping to end Mr Museveni's 30-year rule.

A candidate needs to secure more than 50% of the vote to avoid a run-off with the second-ranked contender.

Ugandans also voted in parliamentary and local elections.

Official results are expected by Saturday.

• Kizza Besigye, 59, veteran opposition leader and once personal doctor to incumbent President Museveni. He has lost the last three elections
• Amama Mbabazi, 67, former ally of President Museveni and once prime minister and also served as defence, security and justice ministers
• Yoweri Museveni, 71, in power since winning a five-year guerrilla war in 1986 and he is one of Africa's longest-serving leaders. His final term was meant to end in 2006, but in 2005 he won a campaign to lift the constitutional term limits.

NIMASA Fraud: EFCC Seeks Court Order To Seize Tompolo’s Property

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is seeking a court order to seize all property belonging to former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo.

In the ex-parte motion filed by Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Festus Keyamo at the Federal High Court, Lagos , the Commission’s sought order is pursuant to Section 80 & 81 of the Administration and Criminal justice Act, 2015.

The EFCC said the property seizure was sought pending the arrest and arraignment of Tompolo before the court.

The following property were listed in the application: Property at N0. 1 Agbamu Close DDPA Extension Warri (Effurun), Delta State, All property of Mieka Dive Limited and Mieka Dive Training Institute Limited situated at No. 77, Lioth Street, ODPA Ugborikoko, Uvwie Local Government Area, of Delta State. All property of Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, All property of Muhaabix Global Services Limited and A River Crew Change Boat named MUHA – 15.

Others are: The property known as “Tompolo Dockyard”, by the end of Enerhen Road, Effurun, Warri, the property known as “Tompolo Yard”, at the end of Chevron Clinic Road, next to Next Oil, Edjeba, Warri, the Diving School at Kurutie, at Escravos River and another known as “Tompolo House” at Oporaza Town opposite the palace.

The former militant warlord was recently declared wanted by the anti-graft agency following his failure to appear before the court to face trial on the charges preferred against him.

Tompolo and the former Director of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi and eight others were accused by EFCC of converting about 34 billion Naira belonging to the agency for their personal use.

While the others including Akpobolokemi had appeared in court to answer to the 40 count charges filed against them by the anti-graft agency, Tompolo had failed to be in court twice which made the court grant an order for his arrest.

The trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, handling the case, had on January 12 issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Tompolo.

Again on February, 8, the judge renewed his orders, and also directed all security agencies in Nigeria to produce Tompolo in court.