Reckless sinators !!! Senate at it again, adjourned plenary for two weeks

Nigerian Senate on Wednesday adjourned its plenary for two weeks.

The lawmakers will resume for plenary on November 6, Senate President, Bukola Saraki announced on Wednesday.

Saraki explained that the break would allow committees of the Senate to carry out oversight functions.

“These are committees that are going to carry out the oversight. It is only plenary session that is being suspended. We expect our committees to carry out oversight in this period.

“Particularly if you recollect, when we debated the Eurobond, there were a lot of questions on implementation and utilisation of those loans.
But because of the expediency and the demand from the executive that we approve those loans, we did it but with the understanding that our committees will quickly go and do oversight in MDAs to see that those funds have been properly utilized.

“And also budget implementation of 2018, and also the poverty social intervention programme that we raised

“So I will like all our committees that during this period, to carry out the necessary oversight so that we can report when we do resume back to plenary. The committees will be meeting till 6th of November,” he said. - DAILY POST

US secret service intercepts ‘explosive packages’ sent to Obama, Clinton

The secret service of the United States on Wednesday intercepted packages suspected to contain explosives devices sent to ex-President Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton, Democratic Party presidential candidate in 2016.

The devices were discovered by technicians who screen mails sent to the former US officials.

The US secret service, in a statement, said a package addressed to Clinton was recovered late on Tuesday while another package was addressed to Obama’s residence on Wednesday.

It, however, said neither Obama nor Clinton received the packages, “nor were they at risk of receiving them”.

“Early this morning, October 24, 2018, a second package addressed to the residence of Former President Barack Obama was intercepted by Secret Service personnel in Washington, DC,” the statement read.

“Both packages were intercepted prior to being delivered to their intended location. The protectees did not receive the packages nor were they at risk of receiving them.”

Another package was reportedly also sent to CNN offices in The Time Warner building in New York, causing the media house to evacuate its newsroom.

The package sent to CNN was addressed to John Brennan, former CIA director.

The three devices intercepted are said to be similar to one found on Monday at the home of George Soros,  billionaire philanthropist and business magnate.

The US law enforcement agencies have started investigating the issue. -THECABLE

Global Fund announces $660m grant for Nigeria

The Global Fund, an International Financing Organisation, has announced an additional humanitarian grant of 660 million dollars to tackle HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria epidemic in Nigeria.

Its Executive Director, Mr Peter Sands, announced this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

Sands noted that the grant was expected to last for a three-year period to include more people on the treatment of the diseases.

“Nigeria has remained a country in which Global Fund had invested tremendously in the past because of its highest burden of Malaria, Tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS.

“We have invested about 2.6 billion dollars to tackle these epidemics in the past and we intend to do more to get more people on treatment.

We appreciate the hard work in the outcome of the partnership between the government and global fund but we believe that we still have a lot of work to do.

“For HIV and AIDS, we want more people on treatment; we also want to prevent mother-to-child transmission.

“We also want to reduce malaria related deaths and we want to ensure that the percentage of people on tuberculosis treatment increases.

“Above all, we will like to see a return on our investments,” he said.

The Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr Sani Aliyu, appreciated the continuous support of Global Fund in the healthcare sector of the country.

Aliyu noted that the country would have continued to struggle to deliver quality healthcare services without the support of Global Fund.

“The country is making progress in the aspect of HIV and AIDS as a lot of patients are already on treatment.

“Presently and with the support of grants as this, we have about 1.1 million people on treatment.

“We cannot have grants like this without including more people on treatment,” he added.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, assured the organisation of judicious use of the grant.

“We look forward to another visit where we will showcase positive results from your investment,’’ he said. - PM NEWS

6 persons burnt to death on Sagamu/Benin Expressway

No fewer than six persons were on Wednesday reportedly burnt to death in a multiple accident involving a container laden truck and two commercial buses at J4, Ogbere area on the Sagamu-Benin Expressway.

The accident occurred less than 24 hours after nine persons lost their lives when a luxury bus rammed into a stationary truck at Aseese end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The Sagamu/Benin accident was said to have occurred at around 2:15 pm at a section of the road where there was a diversion of traffic to a single lane.

Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, the spokesperson of the Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), who confirmed the accident, said 10 others persons suffered varying degrees of injury.

Akinbiyi added that the operatives of the state road safety agency at the scene, said the driver of the truck, travelling toward Benin, overtook another vehicle wrongly and rammed into one of the buses coming from the opposite direction.

He said the second bus also travelling in the opposite direction, equally rammed into the two vehicles, almost immediately.

Akinbiyi explained that fire broke out from the trunk of the truck, due to the impact of the accident.

“16 people were involved in the accident; six were burnt beyond recognition while 10 others escaped with varying degrees of injury.

“Out of the three vehicles involved in the accident, our operatives could only get the number plate of one of the commercial buses as BDG 06 XP,” he said.

He said the injured were receiving treatment at the Ijebu Ode General Hospital where the corpses had been deposited at the mortuary. - PM NEWS

PHC, panacea to health for all – WHO

The Director-General, World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, has declared that Primary Health Care (PHC) was the most important step that countries could take toward achieving health for all.

The director-general is quoted as saying this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by Ms Nisha Deolalikar, Manager, Global Health Strategies.

The statement explained that Ghebreyesus made the remarks after a Primary Health Care Performance Initiative at the Global Conference on PHC.

“With the data and insights that the Vital Signs Profiles provide, countries can understand where their systems are weak and take concrete steps to improve them,” it said.

According to the statement, the initiative offers a more complete picture of the state of PHC in different countries than ever before; it also provides insights into where systems are strong and where they can be improved.

Deolalikar said that the initiative helps answer several key questions on PHC systems such as Financing, Capacity and Performance, among others.

She explained that the initiative was a partnership between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, World Bank Group and World Health Organisation in collaboration with Ariadne Labs and Results for Development.

She said the initiative would help policymakers, donors, advocates and citizens better understand and ultimately improve PHC.

“Governments and donors can use each Vital Signs Profile to identify priority areas for improvement, track and trend progress over time, and ultimately improve PHC.

“Advocates and citizens can use the Vital Signs Profile to hold leaders accountable and call for specific financing or policy reforms,’’ it said.

However, the statement noted that more and better data was needed to improve PHC system across the globe.
“Half the world’s population still lacks access to essential health services, the majority of which can be delivered through strong PHC.

“Primary care is a person’s first and main point of contact with the health system, and connects people with trusted health care providers who can meet most of their health needs throughout their lives.

“Recognising the importance of PHC, policy makers, donors, advocates and partners from around the world are coming together this week for the Global Conference on Primary Health Care,’’ the read in part.

It explained that the conference would sign and adopt a new declaration committing policy makers, donors, advocates and partners to strengthen primary health care as the foundation of health for all. - PM NEWS

A housewife, Hauwa Adamu on Wednesday begged a Mararaba Upper Area Court, Nasarawa State, to dissolve her marriage to Isyaku Na’Allah, over alleged inability to sexually satisfy her on bed, NAN reports.

Hauwa told the court that her husband has never satisfied her sexually because he only “lasts for two minutes on top of her.’’

She said that she married him under the Islamic rights and the union did not produce any child.

Hauwa also alleged that Na’Allah always accuses her of aborting their baby whenever she conceives, an accusation she denied.

Hauwa said that their childlessness was as a result of Na’Allah’s lack of “sexual performance.’’

She told the court that she was no longer interested in the marriage and begged the court to dissolve it.

Hauwa added that she would return the Sadaq (dowry) the respondent paid on her.

The respondent, Na’Allah, however, denied the allegations.

The judge, Mr Ibrahim Shekarau, adjourned the case until Oct. 29 to allow the parties to settle out of court. - DAILY POST

Ekiti man sent to prison for posting lover’s nude photos online

A married man, Ayan Olubunmi, was on Wednesday handed a two year jail term with a fine of N500,000 by a Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti for posting nude pictures of his ex-lover, Arare Monica, on Facebook.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that Justice Taiwo Taiwo who handed down the sentence, said he had been lenient with the convict.
The suit marked FHC/AD/17c/2017 was between Attorney General of the Federation and Olubunmi.

Counsel to the AGF, Mrs A.Oyewole told the court that Olubunmi had earlier threatened to post nude pictures of his ex- girlfriend, Monica, on the social media sometimes in 2017, when the lady told him she was no longer interested in their relationship.

According to the counsel, Monica, a single lady, had pleaded with Olubunmi, who is married with children, not to carry out his threat, consequent upon which the convict requested that a sum of N200,000 be paid to him as inducement so as not to expose the nude pictures.

She said in spite of that, Olubunmi went ahead post the pictures when it dawned on him that Monica could not pay the money in record time.
NAN reports that Justice Taiwo while delivering his judgement, said Olubunmi was found guilty of committing the crime, after considering all evidences made available to the court.

He said the evidences were weighty and incontrovertible enough to prove that the accused actually willfully and maliciously committed the crime.
Describing the crime as “disgraceful, very despicable and barbaric”, Justice Taiwo said Olubunmi was guilty of violating Section 24 (1) of the Cyber Crime Act, 2015 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
NAN reports that the judge therefore sentenced the culprit to two years imprisonment with a fine of N500,000, to be paid into the coffers of the Federal Government.

He added that the jail term took immediate effect, stressing that the court was lenient in sentencing the culprit as the punishment for his crime attracts a fine of N7 million and three year jail term.
This, the judge said was in recognition of the plea of the defense counsel that his client has a family to look after and a first offender.

The judge however lamented that those who made the law attaching a punishment of N7 million and three year jail term to the persons guilty of such crimes did not make provisions for compensation for the victim.
He therefore called for appropriate amendment to the law to make provisions for compensation to victims.

“I find the act of the convict highly disgraceful, very despicable and barbaric to say the least, he has behaved true to the saying that hell knows no fury than a lover’s scorn”, the judge said. DAILY POST

How SARS operatives abducted, collected N6m ransom from Anambra businessman

The Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris has refunded N6million extorted from an Anambra businessman, Mr Ugochukwu Oraefo by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad(SARS) after he was allegedly abducted in May this year.

The executive director of International Human Rights and Equity Defence Foundation(I-REF), Barr Justus Ijeoma has recounted a chilling story of how SARS operatives in Anambra allegedly abducted a businessman, Ugochukwu Oraefo and extorted a total of N6million from him.

Ijeoma, a human rights lawyer who briefed journalists in Onitsha Wednesday, however, said that the money extorted has been refunded, following a petition his group sent to Ithe Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

He had petitioned the IG over the abduction of Oraefo by three operatives of SARS from Anambra who refused to disclose to him his crime, except that he paid ransom to some people in 2013 without involving the police.

They asked him to pay the sum of N20million before he could regain his freedom.

Ijeoma said, “The victim was locked up for six days and heavily tortured by the operatives who did not disclose to him his offence, but merely asked him to pay the sum of N20million to regain freedom or be killed.

“On the fifth day of his detention, the operatives carried out what could be termed as mock execution on him. They blindfolded him and drove him for a period of three hours, then they got to a spot which he suspected to be somewhere around Edo State.

“They showed him a borough pit and told him he would end up in it. The commander told his men to position themselves and shoot at him (Oraefo) when he orders so. Oraefo was asked to move towards the pit and not to look back. At the command ‘shoot’, gunshots rent the air and he fell and fainted, thinking he had been killed.”

He said it was after the mock execution that the victim went into negotiation with them and finally paid N6million before he was released.

Ijeoma said his group petitioned the IG in July and “As I speak to you now, they have paid back the sum of N5.98million, while N20,000 was kept back for a reason we do not know.

“The reason we are briefing you today(Thursday) is, however, because as we speak, despite overwhelming evidence against the officers, no sanction has been meted out to any of them and all are still in their previous postings.

“We urge the police authorities to expedite action on the investigation process and action taken against those found culpable to serve as a deterrent to others,” the group called.

Ijeoma regretted that despite efforts to reform the police, the force has remained rotten, as the ‘ransom’ extorted by the errant operatives was delayed unreasonably by officers at the force headquarters after it was recovered, as they tried to keep back part of the money, despite the pressure mounted by the group. - DAILY POST

University Don commits suicide in Benue

A Professor of Biological Science with the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Frank Onyezili has committed suicide.

It was learnt that the deceased’s decision to end his own life might not be unconnected with depression and loneliness which he was believed to have suffered lately because his family (wife and children) are said to be living abroad.
Onyezili took his own life at the weekend by drinking a substance suspected to be poison after leaving behind a suicide note.

A colleague of the deceased, who wouldn’t want his name mentioned, told journalists that the family of Onyezili had abandoned him and that could have been the reason he decided to end it all.

The Director of Protocol and Information of the university, Mrs Roseline Waku, confirmed the incident but said she was not privy to the information contained in the suicide note.

When contacted, the Police Spokesman of the Benue Command, DSP Moses Joel Yamu, said he was yet to get the detail of the incident as of the time of this report. -DAILY POST

SERAP gets court order to compel Fashola explain N900bn spent on power privatisation

Nigerians keen on knowing why the power sector reforms in the country have not yielded any tangible result and why the citizens continue to stay in darkness but still made to pay crazy electricity bills, despite the huge spending on the sector, will soon have answers to these.

The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos today granted leave to Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to seek its reliefs to compel the Minister of Power, Works and Housing Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN to account for the spending.

Hon. Justice C.J. Aneke granted SERAP leave as prayed to seek judicial review and order of mandamus to compel Mr Fashola over the “failure to account for the spending on the privatisation of the electricity sector and the exact amount of post-privatisation spending on generation companies (GENCOS), distribution companies (DISCOS) and Transmission Company of Nigeria to date, and to explain if such spending came from budgetary allocations or other sources.”

Justice Aneke granted the order for leave following the hearing of an argument in court on exparte motion by SERAP counsel Ms Bamisope Adeyanju. The Court also ruled that Mr Fashola be put on notice and adjourned the matter to Tuesday 20th November 2018 for mention.

It would be recalled that SERAP had in June sued Mr Fashola in suit number FHC/L/CS/972/18 at the Federal High Court seeking “an order for leave to apply for judicial review and an order of mandamus directing and/or compelling Mr Fashola to provide specific details on the privatization of the electricity sector, the names of all the companies and individuals involved; and to publish widely including on a dedicated website any such information.”

The suit followed SERAP’s Freedom of Information request dated 7 May 2018 to Mr Fashola giving him 14 days to provide “information on the status of implementation of the 25-year national energy development plan, and whether the Code of Ethics of the privatization process which bars staff of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and members of the National Council on Privatization (NCP) from buying shares in companies being privatized were deliberately flouted.”

The suit read in part: “Most of the companies that won the bids had no prior experience in the power sector and little or no capacity at all to manage the sector. The privatization of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) have yielded the country total darkness. The gains of privatization have been lost through alleged corruption, manipulation of rules and disregard to extant laws and lack of transparency in the exercise.

“The Goodluck Jonathan government reportedly spent over N400 billion on the power sector while the present government spent over N500 billion on the sector despite privatisation. It is unclear if this spending is drawn from budgetary allocations and if these are loans to generation companies (GENCOS), Distribution companies (DISCOS) and Transmission Company of Nigeria.”

“Publishing the information requested and making it widely available to the public would serve the public interest and provide insights relevant to the public debate on the ongoing efforts to prevent and combat a culture of mismanagement of public funds, corruption and impunity of perpetrators.

“To further highlight the seriousness of the situation, several years after the country’s power sector was privatized, millions of Nigerian households particularly the socially and economically vulnerable sectors of the population continue to complain about outrageous bills for electricity not consumed, and poor power supply from distribution firms. Millions of Nigerians continue to be exploited through the use of patently illegal estimated billing by DISCOs. One wonders the essence of the privatization if there has been no corresponding improvement in power for Nigerians.”

“Enforcing the right to truth would allow Nigerians to gain access to information essential to the fight against corruption and provide a form of reparation to victims of grand corruption in the power sector. The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in its General Comment 3 has implied that privatization process should not be detrimental to the effective realization of all human rights, including access to regular electricity supply.”

“SERAP has the right to request the information under contention on the basis of several provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011. By Section (1) of the FoI Act, SERAP is entitled as of right to request for or gain access to information, including information on post-privatization spending by the Federal Government and accounts of spending on the private entities such as GENCOS and DISCOS.”

The suit is seeking the following reliefs:

A declaration that the failure of the Respondent to furnish the Applicant with information on specific details on the spending on the privatization of the electricity sector, the exact amount of post-privatization spending to date and the names of all the companies and individuals involved; as well as explain if such spending came from budgetary allocations or other sources is unlawful as it contradicts and in conflict with the obligations of the Respondent under the Freedom of Information Act 2011.

A declaration that the failure of the Respondent to furnish the Applicant with information on the details of spending on and status of implementation of the twenty-five (25) year national energy development plan is unlawful as it contradicts and in conflict with the obligations of the Respondent under the Freedom of Information Act 2011.

A declaration that the failure of the Respondent to clarify to the Applicant the degree of compliance with the Code of Ethics of the privatization process which bars staff of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and members of the National Council on Privatization (NCP) from buying shares in companies being privatized is unlawful as it contradicts and in conflict with the obligations of the Respondent under the Freedom of Information Act 2011.

An order of mandamus directing and/or compelling the Respondent to furnish the Applicant with information on specific details of spending on the privatization of the electricity sector, the exact amount of post-privatization spending to date and the names of all the companies and individuals involved; as well as to explain if such spending came from budgetary allocations or other sources, and to publish widely including on a dedicated website any such information.

An order of mandamus directing and/or compelling the Respondent to furnish the Applicant with information on the details of spending and status of implementation of the twenty-five (25) year national energy development plan, and to publish widely including on a dedicated website any such information.

An order of mandamus directing and/or compelling the Respondent to clarify the degree of compliance with the Code of Ethics of the privatization process which bars staff of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and members of the National Council on Privatization (NCP) from buying shares in companies being privatized.

“The privatization of power assets has already caused major crises, ranging from illiquidity, load rejection, metering problems, corrupt practices, lack of gas to power the stations, disinterestedness of investors, lack of injection of fresh capital after acquisition of financing, tariff interest, consumer apathy, foreign exchange hostilities, and a host of other sundry issues associated with it.” - PM NEWS 

UK briefs Nigeria on plan to issue travel document to Kanu

British authorities have briefed the Nigerian government about the temporary travel document they are about to issue to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

According to NAN, a top official of the ministry of foreign affairs, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Biafra leader holds citizenship of Nigeria and UK.

He reportedly said the British authorities told Nigeria that they had no ulterior motive.

Radio Biafra had posted a video where Kanu was seen observing religious rites in Israel.

The IPOB leader, who was sighted in Israel last week, had pledged to return to Nigeria soon.

In his first address in 13 months, Kanu said: “I have returned full-time and I am coming home and I will bring hell with me.”

However, the presidency has dismissed Kanu’s outburst, assuring Nigerians that there is no reason to worry.

Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, gave the assurance in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

“Instead, we see the re-enactment of his bizarre, episodic threat as a mere distraction which will not be allowed to detract from the existing cordial relationships between Nigeria and other countries,” he said.

He added that the Buhari administration is in constant touch with other friendly nations and has the best assurances that they would continue to reciprocate the respect Nigeria has for the sovereignty of their nations. - THECABLE

Chelsea’s Alonso signs new five year contract

The Premier League club said on Wednesday that Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso has signed a new five-year contract that would keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2023.

Alonso, who joined Chelsea from Fiorentina in August 2016, established himself as a left wing-back under former manager Antonio Conte, and helped the club win the league title in his first season.

The 27-year old Spaniard has completed a successful transition to fill the left-back role since Maurizio Sarri took charge at the start of the current campaign.

“I am so happy to stay here longer and to keep playing for one of the best teams in the world.

“It’s been a very good two seasons and I am looking forward to more,” Alonso said in a statement.

Alonso, capped three times by Spain, has scored 15 goals in 92 appearances for Chelsea. - PM NEWS 

Bulgarian Govt survives no-confidence vote over healthcare

Bulgaria’s government survived a no-confidence vote on Wednesday brought by the opposition Socialists who accused it of failing to overhaul the ailing healthcare sector.

The Socialists said the government, which has been in office since May 2017, had not tackled high debt levels in state hospitals, inefficient management and an exodus of doctors and nurses seeking better pay.

However, coalition lawmakers defeated the third no-confidence vote against the centre-right coalition government – 133 out of the 240 members of parliament voted against it.

After the vote, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, deputy leader of ruling GERB party, said the government was “striving to solve the problems that have been piling up for years”.

The health ministry has called for a public debate on healthcare reforms and proposed bringing in obligatory monthly health insurance payments – an option opposed by the Socialists.

Political analysts expect pressure on the coalition government to grow ahead of the elections for the European Parliament in May 2019. - PM NEWS