Profiles of 4 Nigerian, others on death row in Indonesia

Nine foreign drug convicts are set to be executed in Indonesia after losing all appeals for clemency. Here are brief profiles of the inmates, who include two from Australia, one each from Brazil, France and the Philippines, and four from Africa.
 Myuran Sukumaran.  A ringleader of the Bali Nine drugs smuggling syndicate, Sukumaran was born in London in 1981 and moved with his Sri Lankan family to Australia when he was a child. He dropped out of university and became involved in the Sydney drugs and party scene. Enticed by the prospect of easy money, in 2005 he helped to organise a shipment of heroin destined for Australia, but was caught and sentenced to death a year later.

In this tv grab picture taken from Indonesian Metro TV on March 5, 2015, show undated photograph of Nigerian death row prisoner Raheem Agbaje Salami is seen in penitentiary in Madiun, eastern Java island and Silvester Obiekwe Nwolise in Nusakambangan prison. Sukumaran said the shock of jail prompted him to change his life and he has become a model prisoner, teaching other inmates English and art. Andrew Chan Like Sukumaran, Chan, 31, also hails from Sydney. He was born in 1984 to Chinese-immigrant parents Ken and Helen, who spent some four decades running restaurants. Chan started taking drugs when he was 16 and said his parents were unable to control him. Just two years after Chan’s parents retired, they were told their 21-year-old son had been arrested in Indonesia for being a ringleader of a heroin-smuggling gang. In jail he has become a committed Christian and, after six years of theology study, he was ordained as a minister in February. Serge Atlaoui A welder by trade and father of four, Atlaoui was nabbed in a 2005 raid on a secret drug laboratory outside Jakarta. The 51-year-old French national has maintained his innocence, claiming he was installing machinery in what he thought was an acrylics plant. But police describe him as a “chemist” in the massive drugs factory. Atlaoui appealed against his life sentence only to have it upgraded to death in 2007. He has been detained on Nusakambangan island, the site of executions for Indonesia’s worst criminals, for 10 years. His wife Sabine has been making the long journey from Europe to the remote island with their children –- including three-year-old Yasin –- for many years. Mary Jane Veloso Born to a poor family in the Philippines, Veloso, 30, is a single mother of two boys who insists she went to Indonesia for a job as a maid and was duped by an international drug syndicate. She was arrested in 2009 with 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of heroin sewn into the lining of her suitcase. Veloso says she was first offered a job by a friend in Malaysia, but upon her arrival she was told the work was actually in Indonesia so immediately flew there. She claims the heroin was secretly hidden in her suitcase in Malaysia. Her sons, now aged six and 12, are spending her final days with her in Indonesia. Rodrigo Gularte Brazilian Gularte, 42, was arrested in 2004 while trying to enter Indonesia with six kilograms of cocaine stashed in his surfing gear. His family have tried without success to obtain clemency for him by saying doctors have classed him as paranoid schizophrenic, which would normally see him transferred to a psychiatric facility. 

Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise Nwolise is a 49-year-old Nigerian who was found guilty in September 2004 of trafficking 1.18 kilos of heroin through Sukarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta in 2002. His clemency appeal was rejected in February this year. The previous month, Indonesia’s national narcotics body said he was running a drugs ring in jail, according to Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Okwudili Oyatanze Fellow Nigerian Oyatanze, 45, was sentenced to death for trafficking heroin, also through Sukarno-Hatta airport in 2001. His clemency appeal was rejected earlier this year.

 Raheem Agbaje Salami The NDLEA said Salami appears to be Nigerian but holds a Spanish passport and is thought to be also known by the name Jamiu Owolabi Abashin. He entered Indonesia using a Spanish passport under the name Raheem Agbaje Salami. He was caught with five kilos of heroin inside a suitcase at the airport in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, on September 2, 1998 and was sentenced to life imprisonment the following year. That was reduced by the high court to 20 years but he was later given the death sentence by the supreme court.

In this photograph taken on March 19, 2015, drug convict and death row prisoner Martin Anderson (C), recently identified by Indonesian authorities as Nigerian after earlier identifying him to be from Ghana, is escorted by police commandos during a judicial review hearing in Jakarta. Anderson is facing execution along with nine other foreign drug convicts who are set to be shot in defiance of international anger. The foreigners — two from Australia, one each from Brazil, France and the Philippines and four from Africa — have all lost appeals for mercy from President Jokow Widodo, who argues that Indonesia is fighting a drugs emergency. AFP Martin Anderson There is some confusion about Anderson’s nationality. A spokesman for Indonesia’s attorney-general said he is Nigerian but Nigeria’s NDLEA said he is a Ghanaian citizen who was born in London in 1964. He was arrested in Jakarta in 2003 and sentenced to death.

Military rains bombs on Ijaw militants in South-West

No fewer than 100 people suspected to be militants have been reportedly killed as the Nigerian military on Saturday continued the aerial bombardment of Fatola, the base of militants and pipeline vandals in the Arepo area of Ogun State.

One of our correspondents who was around the scene of the incident at the time, observed that the attack started at about 12pm and lasted for about 30 minutes.

Our correspondent counted at least eight missiles fired by a fighter jet, which flew across the creek at intervals.

Another aircraft was observed hovering around the area.

Residents, who were caught unawares, ran for their lives due to the ground-shaking effects of the missiles.

Business activities were grounded and many residents fled their houses for fear of being hit by missiles.

A resident who was on the road when the shots were fired said the Saturday attack was more intense than previous air raids.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, she said, “The air raid started on Thursday evening. It was just a missile that was released, but the effect was serious. On Friday evening, another airplane which flew across the creek released gunfire which lasted for some minutes. I could hear the shots as if they were fired close at me. But the Thursday and Friday attacks were child’s play compared with that of today (Saturday).

“The aircraft releasing the missiles had three short wings with a sharp mouth. It maintained a visible presence in the sky and anytime it wanted to fire, it flew down as if it was about to crash. I never knew the military had such a weapon.”

Another resident, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that he lay flat in his apartment during the Saturday attack.

He said, “I was alone in the house with my son. The boy shook with fright every time a missile landed. I carried him and lay flat on the floor. The missiles shook the whole ground. I am not sure if I would  continue to live here because of this. My landlord left with his family yesterday.”

A source close to the millitants told SUNDAY PUNCH that the missiles levelled the base of the militants, adding that more than 100 people were killed.

He said, “The whole place has been levelled. From the information I just gathered, those killed today (Saturday) cannot be less than 100. I am aware that some of them (the militants) are presently in the waters where they are hiding. They are making calls and seeking escape routes from the place.”

Another source, who asked the military to intensify attacks on the militants, said the militants abandoned their ammunition in the creeks.

He said the men could regroup and cause greater havoc if given a breathing space.

He said, “The heat is on them. One of them said it was because of the kidnap of a monarch in Lagos (Oniba of Iba) that the missile attack was intensified.

“He said he had asked his colleagues to release the monarch, but they didn’t listen. I am aware that the monarch will be released between today and tomorrow, if he has not been killed.

“The military should deploy secret officials in Ibafo, Pakuro, Wawa and other villages. I believe those places will be their next hideouts. They must not be given any breathing space. If they are allowed to regroup, there will be serious problems.”

The acting Director of Defence Information, Brig-General Rabe Abubakar, confirmed the air strikes.

He said, “The joint operation will continue until the area is secure and free from all forms of unwanted and criminal gangs whether they are militants or vandals.”

Abubakar, told one of our correspondents on the telephone on Saturday that while he would not confirm the exact casualty figure, the knew that some of the camps of the vandals were destroyed.

He gave the assurance that the military would ensure the destruction of more camps in the ongoing operation.

He said, “No, we cannot confirm the exact casualty figure in the operation. There are so many camps, and we will continue to  destroy them in that operation.

“We have taken some camps. The casualties cannot be confirmed but I know that we were able to target some of their camps and locations.”

Meanwhile, in an attempt to forestall the spate of militants’ attacks, the Onijegun of Ijegun land in Lagos State, Oba Nureni Akinremi, on Friday convened a meeting at his palace.

Sunday PUNCH learnt that the meeting, which was attended by all the chairmen of community development associations in Ijegun, examined the solution to security challenges posed by the militants.

A source close to the palace and who also attended the meeting told one of our correspondents that the community had resolved to hire members of the Oodua People’s Congress to man strategic locations in the neighbourhood.

The source added that operational vehicles, motorcycles and walkie-talkies would be provided for the operatives to ensure effective performance.

He said, “We have agreed to engage members of the Oodua People’s Congress for the protection of the whole Ijegun against all the attacks that claimed lives in the community.  We plan to hire 70 guards who would be deployed in various strategic points in the community.

“The guards are specifically meant to checkmate militants’ attacks but they will also be working with the existing security men in each CDA. We have budgeted N5m to ensure their smooth operations and they will start by Monday.

“People have made donations and contributions are on going in each CDA. We want to buy three buses and at least 10 motorcycles to aid their operations. We have already bought walkie talkie for them to communicate with one another and they are well armed. By God’s grace, the buses will be available on Monday.

“The operatives are a registered security organisation and they have their uniform and identity cards.”

The source added, “Apart from that, we have resolved that from 12am till 5am, no okada rider will be allowed to operate in the community except there is an emergency.

“We also want to create awareness for all residents on the need to be security conscious. We are going to do this through distribution of pamphlets and announcements on radio stations. The abduction of the Oniba of Iba and attacks on communities in Lagos and Ogun states are very disturbing. That is why we are taking all these measures.”
Source: Punch newspaper.

FG ready for conditional release of Kanu, Okah brothers — MEND

THE Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said on Saturday that it had reached an agreement with the Federal Government for the conditional release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, and former MEND leader, Henry Okah.

The militant group in the Niger Delta disclosed that the Federal Government also agreed that Okah’s younger brother, Charles, and Obi Nwabueze would be granted conditional freedom.

MEND in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, said the agreement was reached after the Aaron Team representatives from Abia and Imo States, Senator Adolphus Wabara, made a proposal for their freedom.

The condition given by the Federal Government was that Kanu and his cohorts would renounce the agitation for the Republic of Biafra.

The statement read, “Thus far, the deliberations have been fruitful. Various concessions and guarantees have already been secured; some of which include, but are not limited to: release of Henry Okah, Charles Okah, and Obi Nwabueze, review of the life sentence handed to Mr. Edmund Ebiware based on a proposal put forward by the Aaron Team representative for Abia and Imo states, Senator Adolphus Wabara, conditional release of IPOB Leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu and others if they renounce their agitation for a ‘Biafra Republic.’

“That Mr. Government Ekpemupolo shall not be arrested, harassed and/or intimidated whenever he makes himself available as a delegate of the MEND Aaron Team 2; that international arbitrator and conflict negotiator, American Dr. Judith Asuni, shall be accepted as the representative of the Niger Delta Avengers on the MEND Aaron Team.

“That the criminal charges against Urhobo freedom fighter, Mr. Kelvin Prosper Oniarah, shall be reviewed; that the life sentence, which was handed to seven soldiers in 2008, who actively supported the Niger Delta struggle be reviewed under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

“The affected persons are: Major Suleiman Akubo; Sgt Mathias Peter; L.Cpl Alexander Davou; L.Cpl Moses Nwaigwe, L.Cpl Nnandi Anene; L.Cpl Taatihi Emmanuel; and Caleb Bawa.”

The militant group noted that one of the most immediate fallouts of the ongoing dialogue was that the Federal Government and MEND should jointly and separately take proactive steps to rescue and secure the region in the event that the Niger Delta Avengers continued with their “senseless and politically-motivated” path of attacks on the country’s oil assets.

MEND added, “To this end, both parties agreed that the Special Forces of the Nigerian Army should commence the purely routine, but strategic military exercise code-named ‘Operation Crocodile Tears’ while MEND would commence a meet-the-Government-Actors-and-People tour of the Niger Delta region code-named ‘Operation Moses.’”

Meanwhile, the Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said that all issues relating to negotiation were political and being handled by the political leadership of the country.

He stated however that any step that would bring peace to the area was welcome.

He stressed that the military would continue to maintain its presence not only in the Niger Delta but also in other threatened spots in the country.

He said, “The ongoing negotiation is clearly a political issue. The military would continue to maintain total presence in any security-threatened location, not only in the Niger Delta.

“And that is what we are doing in any other area with security issues like the North East and North Central.

“Anything that would bring peace is a welcome development.  Negotiation is completely a political solution by our political leaders, it doesn’t involve us.

“However, the military would continue to maintain a high level of presence to ensure that security of lives of properties are maintained.”

Source: Punch Newspaper

Restructuring will end Nigeria’s problems, Atiku insists

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, has insisted that restructuring Nigeria is required to enhance national integration and stability.

Atiku said this in a paper he presented at the Late Gen.Usman Katsina Memorial Conference, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Memorial Hall, Murtala Square, Kaduna, on Saturday.

He spoke on the theme of the conference, “The Challenges of National Integration and Survival of Democracy in Nigeria.”

The former vice-president explained that he has been an advocate of restructuring for over a decade because be truly believes it was the key to solving some, if not most of the nation’s problems.

He stressed that Nigeria had struggled to build a nation where the component units would feel a true sense of belonging.

Atiku said, “As a country we have struggled to live up to this ideal. We have obviously not done enough to realise national integration, and the survival of our democracy is still a work in progress.

“The cost to us has been enormous. We even fought a civil war to forcibly keep the country together.

“Since the various amalgamations that created the entity that we now call Nigeria, different segments of Nigeria’s population have, at different times and sometimes at the same time, expressed feelings of marginalisation, of being short-changed, dominated, oppressed, threatened, or even targeted for elimination.”

He explained that other pressure groups had expressed similar frustrations arising from a sense of exclusion and helplessness, believing that their voices were not being heard or that they were unable to hold those in power to account.

According to him, previous initiatives aimed at addressing these concerns have not yielded the desired results as mutual suspicions still exist adding that, “If anything, our unity has been fragile, our democracy unstable, and our people more aggrieved by their state in the federation.”

He stressed that his belief in one strong and united Nigeria has remained strong and that we are stronger together.

Nigeria’s unity he said, is worth sacrificing for and that the component units should look at the bright side of restructuring because it remains the only way to go.

He noted that it was not a secret that many Nigerians from outside the North hold the view that the main beneficiary of the status quo has been the north, an undifferentiated north.

Atiku said, “The north and Nigeria have not been served well by the status quo and there is need for change.

“Who among us who went to primary and secondary school in the 1960s had much to do with the federal government? Did the northern regional government wait to collect monthly revenue allocations from Lagos before paying salaries to its civil servants and teachers or fixing its bridges and roads?”

He urged Nigerians irrespective of their religious, political or ethnic persuasion to support the restructuring of the nation.

Source : Punch Nigeria Newspaper

EFCC probe on budget padding: SERAP asks Dogara, others to step aside

Speaker Yakubu Dogara

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr Dogara Yakubu requesting him and other principal officers “suspected to be involved in the alleged budget padding to step aside pending the outcome of investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other agencies.”

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr Dogara Yakubu requesting him and other principal officers “suspected to be involved in the alleged budget padding to step aside pending the outcome of investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other agencies.” Yakubu Dogara The letter dated July 29, 2016 and signed by SERAP executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni stated that, “Following confirmation received by SERAP from the EFCC that it has taken up and looking into SERAP’s petition to the body on the allegations that the leadership of the House of Representatives padded the 2016 budget to the tune of N481 billion, SERAP is now writing to request you to immediately step aside from your position as Speaker of the House of Representatives pending the out outcome of the investigation.” The letter read in part: “We also urge you to ensure that other principal officers of the House suspected to be involved in the alleged padding step aside from their positions to allow for the investigation by the EFCC and other agencies to go ahead unhindered. “SERAP has also reviewed several documents circulating on the internet on the alleged budget padding and we believe that these documents establish a prima-facie case of corruption, which deserves a thorough, transparent, independent and effective investigation by the EFCC and other agencies. “In the circumstances, SERAP calls on you to demonstrate your often-expressed commitment to transparency, accountability, constitutionalism, democratic governance and the rule of law in Nigeria by now stepping aside from your position as Speaker and to ensure that other principal officers suspected to be involved in the budget padding do the same, pending the outcome of the investigation already by the EFCC. “SERAP’s call is entirely consistent with the constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). As the supreme law of the land, all organs of government including the National Assembly are obliged to perform their functions in accordance with the constitution and other enabling laws. “SERAP agrees with the Constitutional Court of Uganda when it asserted in Constitutional Petition No. 47 of 2011 Twinobusingye Severino vs Attorney General that, ‘In modern democracies, the term ‘stepping aside’ is now generally taken as part of the responsibility of the holder of a public office in discharging his or her duty of being accountable to the people. Thus a culture has developed in modern democracies, Uganda inclusive, whereby a Public officer whose conduct in a public office is being questioned steps aside, on his or her own, to enable investigations to be carried out without his or her influence.’ “Indeed, SERAP believes that the necessity of being accountable to the people, by anyone holding a public office in Nigeria is clearly embedded in the constitution as provided under Chapter 2 titled: Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy. “Specifically, Chapter 2 provides among others that all public offices shall be held in trust for the Nigerian people; that all persons placed in positions of leadership and responsibility shall in their work be answerable to the people; and that all lawful measures shall be taken to expose, combat and eradicate corruption and abuse or misuse of power by those holding political and other public offices. “SERAP believes that the allegations of budget padding by the leadership of the House of Representatives have undermined the status of the National Assembly which is supposed to be the fountain of constitutionalism. The Speaker, as the head of the House, has a big role to play in guiding parliamentarians to embrace transparency by sending a powerful message that allegations of corruption will not be condoned, tolerated or covered up. “SERAP believes that the House of Representatives cannot function effectively nor enjoy public trust and confidence as long as the allegations of budget padding continue to trail its leadership. “By stepping aside and ensuring that others suspected to be involved in the budget padding also step aside until such a time as the investigations by the EFCC and other agencies are completed, you will be promoting acts that would enhance the integrity and respect for the National Assembly, as well as strict observance of the constitution both in letter and spirit.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/efcc-probe-on-budget-padding-serap-asks-dogara-others-to-step-aside/

FG workers threaten strike over unpaid salary arrears

LAGOS — FEDERAL senior civil servants have threatened to down tools over unpaid salary arrears, appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to direct immediate payment of their backlog of salaries and allowances.

The workers said their patience had been overstretched. Speaking through their umbrella body, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, the workers said the current state of affairs in the country, where sufferings had been lifted to a frightening level, was the time to settle the  arrears to calm all frayed nerves and restore normalcy in the system.

Addressing delegates at ASCSN National Delegates Conference, NDC, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, outgoing President of the body, Mr. Bobboi Kaigama, said: “You will recall that in one of our correspondences to President Buhari before his inauguration, we did set out an agenda for him towards moving the nation forward. “One of the items on the agenda is the settlement of all outstanding salaries and allowances owed workers throughout the federation.  When the issue of bailout was, therefore, announced by the government, we heaved a sigh of relief thinking the arrangement will cover public officers in the various Ministries Departments and Agencies, MDAs, both at the federal and state levels.”  

Read more @Vanguard news Nigeria

Breaking News: Indonesia executes three Nigerian drug convicts

Michael Titus Igweh

Indonesia on Friday executed one local and three Nigerian drug convicts by firing squad, an official said.

They were put to death shortly after midnight, Noor Rachmad, deputy attorney general for general crimes, told reporters. He did not say why 10 other drug convicts, who had been expected to face the firing squad, were not executed, although the island where the convicts were being put to death was hit by a major storm as the executions took place. “The executions were for now conducted on four convicts on death row,” he said. “This is not a fun job. For us, this is really a sad job because it involves people’s lives. “This was done not in order to take lives but to stop evil intentions, and the evil act of drug trafficking.”

Aisha Buhari sues Gov. Fayose, aides

President Muhammadu Buhari’s wife, Aisha, on Wednesday sued Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State for claiming she was involved in the Halliburton scandal.

Mr. Fayose had in June said Mrs. Buhari was the “Aisha Buhari” named in a U.S. court document, alleged to have been involved in bribery case involving a convicted former U.S. lawmaker, Williams Jefferson.

The governor, in what appeared to be an error, referred to the Jefferson bribery as the Halliburton scandal, which is an entirely different case.

Mr. Fayose however insisted he was right, despite Mrs. Buhari’s denial and threat of lawsuit.

In the ex-parte motion, filed July 20, 2016, and made exclusively available to PREMIUM TIMES, Mrs. Buhari prayed the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, to grant her reliefs to issue writ of summons against Mr. Fayose and his media advisers, Idowu Adelusi and Lere Olayinka.

Olukayode Adeniyi, the presiding judge, granted all reliefs sought by Mrs. Buhari, including an order of substituted service.

Mary Ekpere, counsel to Mrs. Buhari, prayed the court for the lawsuit to be served on Mr. Fayose and his two aides.

Mrs. Buhari had earlier written to the governor on June 23, demanding retraction.

In her earlier letter, Mrs. Buhari described the allegation that she was involved in either scandal as “very wild and unfounded”.

The material distributed by Mr. Fayose on June 20 said the first lady was an accomplice in the bribery scandal that landed Mr. Jefferson in jail.

Although Aisha Buhari was mentioned in the case files as having transferred a sum of $170,000 to Mr. Jefferson, former heads of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission who investigated the matter said the Aisha Buhari named in the document was an impostor and not President Buhari’s wife.

In separate interviews with PREMIUM TIMES, Ibrahim Lamorde, the immediate past chairman of the EFCC, and Nuhu Ribadu, the pioneer head of the agency, said they carried out extensive investigation into the case during their respective tenures and established that the woman named in the scandal was an impostor.

Mr. Buhari himself had in the past said he had no link with the Aisha Buhari in the Jefferson scandal.

Mr. Fayose stuck to his claims nonetheless, and dismissed Mrs. Buhari’s threat of legal action.

“Our client states and reaffirms categorically that the statement he made as regards the involvement of Mrs Aisha Buhari, the wife of President Buhari, in the Halliburton scandal, is correct and justified in law; having regards to a court judgement convicting one Mr William Jefferson for bribery in the Halliburton case,” Mr. Fayose’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, wrote last week.

“The said Williams Jefferson is currently serving a jail term in the USA and to the best of our client’s knowledge; this judgment has not been challenged, or set aside by any Appellate court of law anywhere
in the world.

“The statement of His Excellency, our client, is therefore correct and justified, same having been factually premised on an existing court judgment above referred to.”

On the immunity enjoyed by Governor Fayose against civil and criminal proceedings, Mr. Ozekhome said: “Your attention is also hereby drawn to Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as altered, on the immunity enjoyed by our client from civil or criminal proceedings for the period that he occupies the office of the governor of Ekiti State.

“You may therefore advise your client to wait until after 16th October, 2018, when our client’s tenure expires. When that happens, we shall join issues with your client in a competent court of law, in the event that your client does not have a change of heart.”

View video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr6maaiN09c

Paul Le Guen turns down Super Eagles job

French Coach Paul Le Guen has reportedly turned down an offer by the Nigeria National Football to coach the Super Eagles.

The NFF Technical Committee had on Monday named the former PSG Coach as the Technical Adviser for the Super Eagles, albeit subject to approval from the Executive committee

However reports from Le Guen’s home country (France) sparked up by French journalist, Herve Penot, who writes for L’Equipe, suggests that the 52-year-old failed to agree on some knotty issues with the NFF.

“Paul le Guen will not go to Nigeria. Conditions not met to be coach. Nothing to do with the selection today,” a tweet from the official handle of Penot read.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that one of the knotty issues Le Guen failed to agree on with the NFF was that he would prefer to operate from France while the NFF wants him permanently stationed in Nigeria.

On Monday, the committee of the Nigeria Football Federation confirmed the appointment of Frenchman Le Guen as the new Technical Adviser of the Senior National Team, Super Eagles.

The NFF Technical Committee also said Le Guen will be assisted by Nigerian Salisu Yusuf, who takes the role of Chief Coach.

Le Guen, 52, played for Brest, Nantes and Paris Saint Germain and won 17 caps for France, before coaching Rennes, Lyon, PSG (in France) and Glasgow Rangers (in Scotland). He qualified the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals and also coached Oman.Since Coach Sunday Oliseh exited the Super Eagles in February, the team has been without a substantive handler with Coach Salisu Yusuf only functioning on acting capacity.

Court orders EFCC to pay N5 million damages to Fayose’s aide

A Federal Capital Territory High Court has granted bail to Abiodun Agbele, an aide to the Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose.

Mr. Agbele was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on July 1 on allegations of fraud.

The EFCC said Mr. Agbele received huge public funds from a former defence minister, Musiliu Obanikoro, and delivered same to Mr. Fayose.

The judge, Olukayode Fadeniyi, declared that the failure of the EFCC to charge Mr. Agbele to court, since his arrest, amounted to an abuse of his fundamental rights.

He ordered the commission to pay a compensation of N5 million to Mr. Agbele.

The court also ruled that Mr. Agbele be admitted to bail with a bond of N50 million and a surety not below the cadre of a director in the civil service.

Alternatively, Mr. Agbele is required to provide a surety who is a responsible Nigerian citizen, with landed property in any part of Abuja.

“The surety shall depose an affidavit of means,” the court also ruled.

We’re in talks with Niger Delta militants – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja said his administration was talking to Niger Delta militants through oil companies and law-enforcement agencies to find a lasting solution to insecurity in the region.

Speaking at a farewell audience with Michael Zinner, the outgoing Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria at the State House, President Buhari said the government was studying the instruments of the Amnesty Programme inherited from the previous administration with a view to carrying out commitments made that were undelivered.

“We understand their feelings,” the president said. “We are studying the instruments. We have to secure the environment, otherwise investment will not come. We will do our best for the country,” he said.

The president used the opportunity to thank the government of Germany for its continuing support to Nigeria in the efforts to tackle insecurity and the on-going rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced citizens in crisis areas in the North-Eastern parts of the country.

President Buhari also thanked Nigeria’s neighbours for their firm and unflinching support in the war against terror.

The outgoing German Ambassador noted that bilateral relations between Nigeria and Germany “had improved very much in the last 12 months of this administration”.

He expressed the readiness of Germany to assist Nigeria in the rehabilitation process in the North East to help displaced persons return to their villages. He also expressed the eagerness of German businesses to invest in the country, now that “conditions for investment have been put in place”.

The German Ambassador said there was a standing invitation of Chancellor Angela Merkel to President Buhari to visit Germany.

UPDATED: Saraki appoints new leaders for Senate Committees (FULL LIST)

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, changed the leaderships of some Senate committees, offering top positions to his staunchest opponents.

Mr. Saraki will also host the All Progressives Congress Senate caucus at his Lake Chad, Maitama residence Thursday night, PREMIUM TIMES understands.

It is the first time Mr. Saraki will be hosting his APC colleagues.

The moves, apparently part of efforts to heal a senate polarized by Mr. Saraki’s election, came hours after he denied he was returning to the Peoples Democratic Party.

Under the new plan, Kabiru Marafa, the Senate leadership’s most outspoken and harshest critic, will head the committee on petroleum downstream. He will be assisted by Phillip Aduda, who is the deputy minority leader.

Mr. Marafa is the former chairman of the committee on national population, who refused to convene the committee’s 2016 budget defence session on the claim that committees were illegally composed.

Suleiman Hukunyi, the secretary of the Unity Forum, a pressure group the campaigned against Mr. Saraki’s election, was appointed chairman committee on national identity.

Mr. Hukunyi signed the Unity Forum’s petition accusing Mr. Saraki of forging the senate rules, a charge the senate president and three others are currently facing in court.

Messrs. Marafa and Hukunyi, with 12 other others, including bureaucrats, current and former Senators, have been lined up as witnesses in the forgery case.

Another top anti-Saraki Senator, Oluremi Tinubu, clinched the headship of committee on environment, previously led by Mr. Saraki in the 7th Assembly.

Mrs. Tinubu left her former position as chairperson of committee on women affairs, for Binta Garba.

Mr. Saraki moved Babajide Omoworare from the committee on business and rules, regarded as “life wire” of the legislature, to the committee on legislative compliance.

Announcing the positions, Mr. Saraki said the decision followed recommendations made to the Senate leadership during the senate’s executive sessions.

Mr. Saraki’s spokesperson, Yusuph Olaniyonu, told PREMIUM TIMES the move was to “strengthen the working of the Senate”.

Mr. Marafa could not be reached for comments.

Here is the full list of the new appointments

Customs – Hope Uzodinma
Aviation – Adamu Aliero
Environment – Oluremi Tinubu
Petroleum Downstream – Kabiru Marafa
Tertiary Education – Barau Jibril
Women Affairs – Binta Garba
Public Procurement – Joshua Dariye
Solid Minerals – James Manager
Power – Eyinnaya Abaribe
Information and National Orientation – Suleiman Adokwe
National Identity – Suleiman Hukunyi
Legislative Compliance – Babajide Omoworare
Rules and Business – Baba Garba
Federal Character – Tijani Kaura

Deputy Chairpersons

Marine Transport – Ahmed Ogembe
Land Transport – Ovie Omo-Agege
Petroleum downstream – Phillip Aduda

Forgery suit: ‘Senators testifying against Saraki, Ekweremadu face suspension’

Some members of the Senate’s self-styled Unity Forum who have expressed intention to testify in court against the senate president, Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, in the ongoing forgery case, face suspension, PREMIUM TIMES learnt on Wednesday.

Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi west, suggested the punishment during an executive session on Tuesday, and the leadership of the house appeared to be in favour of the proposal, our sources said.

Mr. Melaye said the action of senators was capable of inflicting irreparable damage to the sanctity and integrity of the National Assembly, sources present at the closed-door session told PREMIUM TIMES.

Senators Kabiru Marafa, Suleiman Hunkuyi, Ahmed Lawan, Ajayi Borofice, Gbenga Ashafa and Abdullahi Gumel are joining other witnesses to testify against Messrs Saraki and Ekweremadu.

They all opposed the emergence of Mr. Saraki as president.

Mr. Melaye said the only way to instill discipline amongst senators was to punish those who tried to do the bidding of the executive at the expense of the legislature.

The Kogi lawmaker said the only way they could deflect suspension was for the lawmakers to cease being a witnesses to the prosecutor and withdraw their case entirely.

But Mr. Saraki reminded Mr. Melaye that a committee had already been set up and was expected to submit its findings to the Senate for action.

A former senate president, David Mark, who led the committee that was liaising with the aggrieved lawmakers, said his report would be completed in two weeks, sources said.

From the audience, our sources said, a senator rose to inform the Unity Forum members that they were lucky they didn’t get suspended immediately, urging them to withdraw their suit before Mr. Mark concluded his work.

Another senator, Barnabas Gemade, pleaded on behalf of the senators, saying it would be premature to suspend them while Mr. Mark was still engaging the lawmakers.

If all Unity Forum senators, which also includes Remi Tinubu, are suspended, the PDP would have the majority in the senate and may move to take over the leadership of the Senate, our sources said.

Saraki reshuffles Senate Committees, gives Marafa, Tinubu “juicy” posts

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has reshuffled the leaderships of the Senate’s committees.

Mr. Saraki’s most outspoken critic, Kabiru Marafa, was appointed chairman of the Petroleum (downstream) Committee. He was chairman of the Committee on National Population.

Also, Oluremi Tinubu, a key member of the anti-Saraki Unity Forum, was named chairperson of the Committee on Environment.

Previously, she headed the Committtee on Women Affairs.

Mr. Saraki made the announcement shortly before the senate adjourned on Thursday.

Suleiman Hukunyi, another critic of the senate president, is now in charge of the Committee on National Identity.

The re-composition of the Senate committees was one of the conditions put forward by Unity Forum Senators for peace to return to the troubled assembly.

More details later.

Agbaje fault Buhari for indicting judiciary over delay in the Trial of Corruption Cases

A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Fred Agbaje, has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari on his recent concern over the delay in the trial of corruption cases.

Agbaje told Punch that it was up to the judiciary to redeem itself and change the negative perception raised by the president.
The lawyer was reacting to the recent call by President Buhari on the judiciary to support his anti-graft war by ensuring that the criminal cases in court were not delayed but expeditiously concluded.
Buhari while speaking at the opening ceremony of an ‘International Workshop on the Judiciary and Fight against Corruption,’ was quoted asking the judiciary to put its house in order, tackle judicial corruption, be impartial and politically neutral, remove causes of delays in adjudication of cases and stop tolerating the dilatory tactics of defence lawyers that prolonged high- profile corruption cases.
Speaking on Tuesday against the background of Buhari’s comment, Agbaje said, “It is a serious indictment to say the courts are the ones encouraging delay tactics to frustrate the hearing of corruption cases. It is a serious indictment on the judiciary. It is now for the judiciary to redeem itself.”

Agbaje, however, said the executive, through the anti-corruption agencies and the police, should also share in the blame.
However, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Godwin Obla, frowned on a situation where the President would blame the judiciary for the delay in corruption cases, saying the delays were caused by some procedural challenges in the country’s laws.

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Obla said, “The President is less than two years in the saddle and I do not think that his opinion as to whether time is wasted or time is not wasted reflects the true position of the law. The truth of the matter is that there are procedural challenges in our laws and some of us have repeatedly spoken about it.
“The fact that someone is facing trial does not mean that we’d abridge their right to actually defend themselves. They have the right to defend themselves, and at times in the course of doing so they rely on unorthodox techniques of delaying trial, but it is within their right and it is within the confines of the law.
“Mr. President cannot indict the judiciary, just as he is complaining that it is actually taking long for criminal cases to be decided, Nigerians are also saying that it is taking too long for the promises that he made to be fulfilled. It is not a one-way traffic. The law does not work in the way it works in the military. This is a democracy. The courts have tried, they’ve brought out certain practice directions, they are making certain levels of progress but it is not overnight. If we want to make substantial progress we must invest in practical amendment to our procedural rule of the court.”