2019 : Buhari again declines assent to Electoral Act (amendment) Bill

President Muhammadu Buhari has again declined assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018.

The President had earlier declined assent to the bill twice because of the order of elections and a drafting error.

Speaking with State House correspondents yesterday, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate) Ita Enang, said the President, in a communication to the Senate and the House of Representatives dated 30th August, 2018, stated the reasons for his decision.

According to him, the President again declined assent because of some drafting issues that remained unaddressed.

Enang said: “His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has by communication dated August 30, 2018, to the Senate and the House of Representatives declined Assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

“I pray for leave, that in view of public interest, the fact of the National Assembly vacation, the imperative to avoid speculation and misinformation, that I give just a few of the rationale by Mr. President.

”Mr. President is declining assent to the Electoral Amendment Bill due to some drafting issues that remain unaddressed following the prior revisions to the Bill.”

“Mr. President invites the Senate and House of Representatives to address these issues as quickly as possible so that he may grant President Assent to the Electoral Amendment Bill.

“A few of the outstanding issues are:

”There is a cross referencing error in the proposed amendment to Section 18 of the Bill. The appropriate amendment is to substitute the existing sub-section (2) with the proposed subsection (1A), while the proposed sub-section (1B) is the new sub-section (2A)”

”The proposed amendment to include a new Section 87 (14) which stipulates a specific period within which political party primaries are required to be held has the unintended consequence of leaving INEC with only nine days to collate and compile lists of candidates and political parties as well manage the primaries of 91 political parties for the various elections.

“This is because the Electoral Amendment Bill does not amend sections 31, 34 and 85 which stipulate times for the submission of lists of candidates, publication of lists of candidates and notice of convention, congresses for nominating candidates for elections.”

“For clarity, may I provide some details of the provisions referenced.

Clause 87 (14) states

”The dates for the primaries shall not be earlier than 120 days and not later than 90 days before the date of elections to the offices.

The Electoral Act 2010 referred to herein states; in Section 31:

Section 31:  ”That every Political Party shall not later than 60 days before the date appointed for a       general election submit to the Commission the list of candidates the party proposes to sponsor at the elections.

“Section 34:

”That the Commission shall at least 30 days before the day of the election publish a statement of the full names and addresses of all candidates standing nominated.

“Section 85 (1)

“That a Political Party shall give the Commission at least Twenty-one days’ notice of any convention, congress etc., for electing members of its executive committees or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices.”

“For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Constitution nor any written law allows a President or a Governor to whom a Bill is forwarded by the Legislature to edit, correct, amend or in any manner alter the provisions of any such Bill to reflect appropriate intent before Assenting to same. He is to ASSENT in the manner it is or to withhold ASSENT,” he said.

According to him, he said that the President has taken same action on seven other bills.

The seven bills earlier transmitted, Enang said, include National Agricultural Seeds Council Bill, 2018, The Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2017, The Chartered Institute of Entrepreneurship (Establishment) Bill, 2018, The Subsidiary Legislation (Legislative Scrutiny) Bill, 2018, National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (Establishment) Bill, 2018, National Research and Innovation Council (Establishment) Bill, 2017, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2017.”

“Mr. President has communicated his action to the National Assembly,” Enang said. - The Nation

PDP FAMILY !! Alleged fraud: Jonathan instructed me to collect N1.bn from Arthur Eze – Dudafa

Former Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Dr Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, on Monday pleaded innocence of any criminal charge leveled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

He explained that the sum of N1.6bn, which the anti-graft agency linked to him, were not proceeds of fraud but part of the money realised from a fundraiser organised in 2013 by the Anglican Communion of Otuoke Community, to which ex-President Jonathan was a grand patron.

According to the former presidential aide, the Anglican Communion of Otuoke Community organised the fundraiser towards the building of the St. Stephen’s Youth Development Centre in Otuoke, the former President’s hometown.

Dudafa said the fundraiser took place in Lagos and many people made monetary donations, including the chief launcher, Prince Arthur Eze, who pledged $10m (about N1.8bn), to be paid in installments.

Dudafa said the ex-president instructed him to follow up with Eze on the pledge.

He said this on Monday before the Federal High Court in Lagos, where he opened his defence in the N1.6bn fraud case filed against him by the EFCC.

Dudafa was charged alongside his account officer at Heritage Bank, Joseph Iwuejo.

In the charges, the EFCC accused Dudafa and Iwuejo of conspiring to perpetrate a fraud of N1.6bn.

Testifying in his own defence, Dudafa, who was led in evidence by his lawyer, Adegboyega Oyewole (SAN), said, “From my interactions with former President Goodluck Jonathan, I know that the funds were proceeds of a fundraiser that was conducted by the Anglican Communion of Otuoke Community for the building of the St. Stephens Youth Development Centre, Otuoke.

“The launching, which was done in Lagos on the 16th of March, 2013, was organised by the former President as a member of the Anglican Communion and the grand patron.

“About N6bn was realised from the event. Several persons made various donations at the event while the chief launcher, Prince Arthur Eze, donated $10m (about N1.8bn). The donation by the chief launcher was a pledge which he promised to fulfil in piecemeal.

“When Prince Eze started redeeming his pledge in piecemeal, the former President directed that I got somebody in the private sector that would be able to keep the funds.

“I then brought in a friend, Somprie Omiebi, who later opened an account with a bank in Bayelsa. The naira denominated account was opened to receive Prince Eze’s money.

“Anytime Prince Eze brought any money, the former President would direct that I link up with a Bureau de Change operator who would remit the money directly to the account opened by Somprie Omiebi.

“The companies listed in the charge are not known to me and I am not a signatory to their accounts. I am also not a director.

“I know Omiebi as someone in the private sector that brought those accounts and the companies to the former President and his wife for the safekeeping of their money. Omiebi is the only person that knows the details of the various accounts.”

Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned further proceedings in the case till (today) Tuesday. - Daily Post

Joke Of The Day !! 2019: Corrupt people plotting to re-elect Buhari – Secondus raises alarm

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has alleged that corrupt persons were mobilizing and ganging up to use their illicit wealth to install President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC, come 2019.

Prince Secondus said that the APC had made itself a safe heaven for corrupt persons and they were converging there not only to get relief but to help install them come 2019 for more protection.

The National Chairman, who spoke at the PDP National campaign office at Legacy House, Maitama during the inauguration of the party’s campaign council for Osun State September 22, gubernatorial election, said that the worst form of corruption was rigging of election and buying of votes which the APC was perpetuating in the polity.

According to a statement from his media office signed by Ike Abonyi, Prince Secondus warned that the PDP would not tolerate the charade that happened in Ekiti state in July to repeat itself in Osun state.

“Enough is enough, PDP will not tolerate Osun being rigged like Ekiti, we have a popular candidate and the performance of the APC ruling government has been awful with months of salaries owned to workers.

“We are aware that the electoral commission that is supposed to operate as an unbiased umpire in the conduct of elections has suddenly made itself a parastatal of the federal government, conniving with APC and security agencies to exchange results.

“Even security agencies whose allegiance should be to the constitution and people of Nigeria have allowed itself to behave as if they are operatives of the ruling APC.

“We decided to set up this high powered committee to demonstrate the importance we attach to this election, all our Presidential aspirants and some state governors are members plus all other critical stakeholders from South West and other parts of the country,” he said.

The National Chairman implored lovers of democracy globally to show more than passing interest in the Osun state election because the APC was not disposed to conducting free and fair election.

In his remark, the Chairman of the 85 member all powerful committee, the Senate President and a Presidential aspirant, Senator Bukola Saraki charged Buhari to stand on the commitment he made recently to two World leaders who visited the country that he would conduct a free, fair and credible election and use Osun as example.

Senator Saraki said that aside the popularity of the PDP candidate in Osun State, the people were yearning for change to return their state to the PDP. - Daily Post

Suspected Fulani herdsmen kill doctor in Delta

A medical doctor (name withheld) with the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba has been killed by suspected herdsmen.

The Nation gathered that two friends travelling with victim were abducted along Obomkpa road, Aniocha North L.G.A.

The Nation gathered that the victims were travelling when they ran into the hoodlums who murdered the doctor and abducted his friends.

It was gathered that the abducted friends were released after an undisclosed ransom was paid.

The Nation learnt that the doctor hails from Ndokwa East, while his friends hail from Onicha Olona and Ogwashi-Uku.

In a related development, a police sergeant has been arrested for allegedly stabbing to death for flirting with his wife.

The incident occurred in Oteri community,Ughelli North L.G.A.

It was gathered that the suspect had a misunderstanding with his wife and were separated.

The victim allegedly slept with the woman despite entreaties by the policeman to the victim to leave his wife.

The policeman who had been away, returned for a visit found the victim with his wife.

A source told The Nation that the policeman broke a bottle and stabbed the victim repeatedly and escaped.

The victim died before medical assistance could reach him.

Delta Police image- maker, DSP Andrew Animals confirmed the incident and arrest of the policeman.

He said, “The matter was reported, the officer has been arrested while investigation has commenced.” - The Nation

Shocking ! Anambra : 14-year-old arrested for allegedly raping mentally-challenged woman

A 14-year-old boy simply identified as Eberechi has been arrested by the Police in Anambra State for raping a mentally-challenge woman and abducting her three-year-old child at Umunze in the Orumba South Local Government Area of the state.

The spokesperson of the state police command, Haruna Muhammed, who confirmed the incident to newsmen said the victims were rescued from the suspects following intelligence report.

Muhammed stated that the woman who gave her name as Obiuwanne from Amazu-Ikpaocha, Arondizuogu in Imo state, said that the suspects approached her and her child simply identified as Ifeanyichukwu, promising to provide food for them.

‘’The suspects asked the woman and her child to follow them to an unknown destination.

‘’They carried the woman into the bush on a motorcycle, raped her and abducted her child.

‘’The names of the other suspects are Emeka Nnorue, 44, Ekene Obodoako, 27 from Ebonyi State, and Chika Obi, 28 from Anambra State,” he said.

The spokesperson of the state police command said the suspects would soon be charged to court after investigations has been completed. - Daily Post

Ozubulu massacre: Rights group condemns detention of 94-year-old chief priest

Rights group, International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) has waded in on the case of a 94-year old chief priest of Ndiekwulu deity, Anazo Ilomuanya, who was recently arrested and detained by the police in Anambra.

DAILY POST gathered that Ilomuanya was recently arrested alongside five others after he was approached to use the deity’s powers to invoke death on those responsible for the massacre of church worshipers at St Philip Catholic Church, Ozubulu last year.

A group of youths in Ozubulu, who were said to feel disenchanted with the police and the Anambra government over the handling of killing of their kinsmen by unknown gunmen in the church and other subsequent killings in the community, had met the the chief priest of Ndiekwulu deity with the hope of solving the violence in the community.

Intersociety, in a press statement released to our correspondent in Awka and signed by its chairman, Board of Trustees, called for the immediate release of the chief priest and others who are detained alongside him.

The group said the youths violated no known law by approaching the deity to settle what is perceived to be a drug war between sons of the community based in South Africa, who have been killing members of the opposite gangs and member of their family.

It added that the chief priest of the deity has the right to worship his deity, and that it fell under his fundamental human right of freedom of association and worship.

Part of the statement reads, “Intersociety is specifically calling on the Attorney General of Anambra State & Commissioner for Justice to as a matter of urgent public importance and inexcusability, file a motion for withdrawal and discontinuation of the said phantom charges of “trial by ordeal”.

“The six incarcerated innocent citizens especially the 94yrs old Chief Priest of Ndiekwulu Deity, Ozubulu, must be released unconditionally and discharged and acquitted.”

The group went further to say that the six incarcerated men, who are all indigenes of Ozubulu community, were being persecuted on the grounds of their faith particularly for exercising their rights to freedom of religion as traditionalists.

It said, “The youths and other indigenes of Ozubulu went to the chief priest over what they saw as diversionary, partisan and poor handling of the case by Police, government and the Catholic Church of the mass murder case which had in recent years taken lives of dozens of indigenes of the community.

“A decision was taken to consult the Community’s ancient god of justice called “Ndiekwulu Deity” to strike on mother earth her sacred and ancient staff or scepter of justice to spiritually visit her wrath on those behind the spate of killings in the Community.

“The moves by the youths and the traditionalists to resort to traditional justice did not go down well with the said cabal who visited State security and political apparatuses on the youths and the named traditionalists; accusing them of “trial by ordeal”.

“Intersociety hereby makes bold to say that the conduct of the youths and the traditionalists is not only lawful and constitutional but also a combination of exercise of right to freedom of worship and legitimate recourse to traditional method of conflict resolution.

“The incarcerated six citizens and other concerned youths and indigenes of Ozubulu Community deserve commendation and not persecution in the hands of the Government of Anambra State and the Police. They must be released immediately.” - Daily Post

11 killed, 12 injured as Plateau suffers yet another attack

At least 11 persons have been killed in a fresh attack in Jos south local government area of Plateau state.

Terna Tyopev, spokesman of the state police command, confirmed the incident to TheCable, saying it happened on Sunday night.

He said the command immediately mobilised officers to restore peace and normalcy to the area.

Plateau, among other northern state, has suffered series of attacks in clashes between herders and farmers in the region.

The state received its worst hit in June when over 100 people were killed in a night.

“Eleven people lost their lives, 12 injured and are receiving treatment in the Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau state specialist hospital,” Tyopev said.

“At 20:30 hours, we received a distress call from an anonymous caller who informed us that there was an attack. Immediately we mobilised people there. On arrival, we discovered that some people were on the ground. So, we moved them immediately to the hospitals. And it was on arrival that some of them were confirmed dead by some doctors on duty. And some are also admitted.

“No arrests have been made. Investigation is on. We are appealing to the residents of the area to give us information that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of the act. We are also appealing to them not to vent their anger on the security personnel who are there to protect their lives. Youths should calm themselves down and not take laws into their hands.”

Asked if it is another case of suspected herdsmen attack, the police spokesman said: “Investigation is on and I would not want to place the cart before the horse. Investigation would reveal who actually carried out the attack.” - TheCable

Shehu Sani describes indirect primary as a breeding ground for corruption

Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna central, says indirect primary is a breeding ground for corruption.

Sani said this while responding to division in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over primaries for the 2019 elections.

The party had initially adopted indirect primary for all elective positions apart from the presidential but later changed to direct primary for all.

Briefing reporters at the end of the party’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting, Simon Lalong, governor of Plateau state, had said it was agreed that state chapters which prefer indirect primaries would be allowed to take a decision on it.

Indirect primary election would require delegates to choose the party’s candidate while direct primary is a process where interested members of the party vote for a candidate.

Commenting via his Twitter handle on Monday, Sani said condoning indirect primary as a party would mean creating an avenue for corruption to thrive.

“If we fight corruption as a government and condone it as a party, we become moral “moral mullatoes”. Indirect Primaries is a breeding ground for corruption, an incubator for corruption and a creche for corruption,” he tweeted.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has mocked the ruling party over the disagreement over its primaries. - TheCable

NCAA generates N15.27bn from ticket sales charges in 8 months

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has generated N15.27billion as revenue from the Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) in the past eight months.

The TSC was collected from both the International and local airlines operators operating in the country.

The Director General, NCAA, Capt. Muktar Usman, who made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Lagos on Sunday, said that the amount was generated from January to August 2018.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five per cent TSC is the charges levied on passengers and collected in trust by the airlines for remittance to the government to ensure facilitation at the airports.

Usman explained that $16.98 million (N6.11 billion) was made from the international airlines while N9.16 billion was recorded from local airlines.

“The amount is recorded between the month of January and August this year through our automation system.

“It is expected that the amount to be collected by the NCAA will be more than double before the end of the year as passenger traffic increases,” he said.

The director general said air travel demand as projected by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) would continue to grow with more connectivity.

Usman said that as the second position in Africa in the July 2018 passenger traffic, Nigeria recorded 6.8 per cent increase, adding that this could be surpassed with direct link connectivity within the continent.

“There is a projection that aviation in Africa is growing and the rate of growth is one of the highest in the world. We lack that internal connectivity within the Africa region.

“Once those sectors are developed, Africa can witness increase in the movements for example, if you want to go to Niger as of today, you hardly have any direct link even though airlines have been designated,” he said.

Usman said there had been increase in travel activities since the country came out of recession, adding that there would be further increase before the end of the year.

“Yes certainly, passenger traffic is going up, do not forget that we came out of recession, but during the recession so many things happened.

“Now that the economy is out of recession a lot of commercial activities are taking place, so people are being more empowered which is being reflected in the movement of passengers,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that statistics released by NCAA revealed that passenger traffic in the past eight months had hit 2.4 million

International Passenger traffic from January to August showed that 10 of the airlines were carrying the traffic with Ethiopian airline taking the lead with over 134,104.

Emirates followed with 107, 217; British Airways recorded 86,249 while Turkish Airline recorded 70, 392 passengers.

Others are Air France with 70,144; KLM Royal Dutch recorded 63,990; Virgin Atlantic recorded 63,448; Delta Airline recorded 39,196; Qatar records 38,706 and South African Airways recorded 36,868 passengers.

Meanwhile for domestic passenger traffic, seven airlines are pulling their weight with Air Peace in the forefront with over 340,664 passengers.

Dana Air is trailing with 330, 370, AZMAN Air recorded 245,437 and Arik Air recorded 177,061 passengers.

Others are; Med-View Airline ,156,226; Aero Contractors 138,146 and Overland 78,166 passengers in the same period under review.

Enugu Airport: South-East Governors knock FG

South-East Governors, Sunday, told the Federal Government that the sorry state of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu was putting lives in danger.

They spoke during a meeting of the Forum held at the Enugu Government House.

Chairman of the Forum and Ebonyi Governor, David Umahi, read a communique issued after the meeting.

Governors of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu of Enugu and Abia, respectively, were present at the meeting.

In the communique read by Umahi, he said the condition of the runway posed threat to the lives of the people of the region in particular and Nigerians in general, as pilots were finding it difficult to land.

While appreciating the Federal Government “for the intervention on the airport, the Governors drew its attention “to the deplorable state of the runway; the runway lights and the tarmac and called on the Hon. Minister of State for Aviation to visit the Airport for an on-the-spot assessment and urgent intervention.

“The Forum also requested that urgent steps must be taken for the reactivation of the cargo section of the Airport,” adding that it was also unacceptable that the International wing could not function beyond 6 p.m.

They also announced that “the Forum received interim report from the South-East Consultative Committee on health, set up to facilitate the establishment of world class health facilities in each State of the South-East zone.

“The Forum noted the calibre of health and other professionals in the committee and commended them for the progress so far and urged them to work towards ensuring the transformation of the zone into a medical tourist destination in Nigeria.”

“The Forum received presentation from the South-East Region Development Fund, (SENDEF), a financial arm of the SEREDEC and urged them to channel all development plans in the South-East region through the Secretariat of the Forum,” they further stated in the communique. - Daily Post