Ex- Katsina Perm Sec Jailed for Fraud - EFCC

A former Permanent Secretary in the administration of former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, Yusuf Sule Saulawa was today December 29, 2017 convicted by Justice Sanusi Tukur of the Katsina State High Court of one count of Obtaining by False Pretense.

The convict fraudulently obtained the sum of N2,500,000 ( Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only) from the complainant while he was a Permanent Secretary attached to the office of the Deputy Governor of Katsina State on the pretext that the Office would award the complainant a contract for the supply of fertilizer to all the Local Government Areas in Katsina State.

Saulawa claimed that the money was for the purchase of bidding documents. It was further alleged that after obtaining the money, the convict cut all contacts with the complainant.

In the course of prosecution, EFCC counsel Sa'ad Hanafi Sa'ad called three witnesses and tendered many exhibits.

After both parties closed their case on the 3rd of October, 2017, final written addresses were adopted and the case was subsequently adjourned to December 29 for judgement.

In his judgement, Justice Tukur said he was convinced that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and pronounced the accused guilty as charged.

Saulawa was accordingly convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment without option of fine.

Media & Publicity
29 December, 2017

WAEC will be 100% technology driven in 2018 – HNO

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says it will sensitise and train its workforce on key areas of technology deployment in order to improve its operations in 2018.

The council’s Head, National Office (HNO), Mr Olu Adenipekun disclosed this in an interview with the News reporter on Saturday in Lagos.

According to him, the council has organised series of retreats for both management staff and the workforce in preparatory to deploy technology in its operations.

“We have worked hard in sensitising the workforce of the council and prepare their minds because it is one thing for one to strive to do something.

“But if the people that drives the system are not attuned psychologically, to doing that all such efforts will be fruitless.

“So, we want to prepare our psyche on the need to sharpen our tools in preparation to move over to a 100 per cent technologically driven WAEC and of course we have done that and we are going full blast,’’ he said.

The HNO noted that already, the council’s budget for 2018 had been fully designed to support the introduction of technology into the various aspects of its operation in Nigeria.

He explained that the move would put WAEC at the level it was expected to be in the comity of examination bodies worldwide.

“Members of staff of the council must be able to go beyond being a staff of the ICT Department. Even if one is a messenger, one should be able to ask how he can deploy technology to carry out his duties and this applies to all other operational components of council.

“So, this is an era where we are looking at 2018 as a year where we will be deploying technology in all facets of our operations, not just in conducting examination, processing of results and printing of certificates but in all areas of our operations,’’ the HNO said.

On the possibility of introducing Computer Based Test (CBT) platform for its examination, Adenipekun said that the CBT was not an examination mode that was limited to any particular examination body. 

Just like insurgency fund, $1bn should also be voted for Ogoni clean-up - Wike

Nyesom Wike, Rivers state governor, says the $1 billion approved by governors reportedly for the fight against insurgency is illegal.

He said this on Friday while speaking with state house correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Wike said while the fight against insurgency remains vital, such an approval is against the law.

He said the same amount should also be approved for the Ogoni clean-up and other issues in the Niger Delta.

“For me it (the fund) is illegal,” he said.

“However, we are talking about fighting insurgence and no right thinking individual will say that he will not support the government to fight insurgency.

“But on the other hand, I believe that we have been talking about the environmental issues in the Niger Delta particularly in Ogoni land, I believe that we can also take the same money from the excess crude account to fund the problem in Ogoni land and other Niger Delta areas. That is my position.”

The governor said contrary to insinuations, his relationship with Buhari “cordial”.

He said he had come to update the president on Rivers state security.

“I’m happy with the discussion and I believe that something has to be done about (security) it. Nothing political, just security issue that affects the state and things that may lead to the breakdown of law and order,” the governor said.

“We talked on security challenges and he received me very well. We don’t have any bad relationship, I come here when he asked me to come.”

Although Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state, had announced that the $1 billion was to be used for the fight against insurgency, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo later said it is for security purposes in all states and not just in the north-east. - Cable Nigeria

Mohamed Elneny taunts Sanchez amid Arsenal rift rumours

Elneny has teased Arsenal team-mate Alexis Sanchez over Chile's failure to qualify for the World Cup, as rumours circulate of a dressing-room row involving the unsettled forward.

Reports have emerged suggesting members of the Arsenal team criticised Sanchez's attitude following a 1-0 Premier League win at Burnley last month, allegedly prompting an angry response from the former Barcelona star.

Some players appeared reluctant to join the 29-year-old to celebrate his goals in a 3-2 victory at Crystal Palace on Thursday.

Elneny, though, seems unconcerned by the uncertainty surrounding the attacker, judging by his mischievous social media output. 

The Egypt international posted a picture of himself on Twitter on Saturday, and wrote: "Who will come with me [to] Russia?"

He tagged Arsenal's Germany, France and Spain internationals, before writing "sorry my friend Sanchez There is no place for you"

Advertisement

If claims regarding the apparently frosty state of affairs among certain members of the Gunners squad are accurate, it remains to be seen if Sanchez will see the funny side of Elneny's gag.

A proposed transfer for Sanchez to Manchester City fell through in August and he continues to be linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium. -

No Spurs rejection over Kane - Morata

Alvaro Morata has dismissed Mauricio Pochettino's claims he rejected a move to Tottenham two years ago because he did not want to play second fiddle to Harry Kane.

After Morata joined Chelsea from Real Madrid for £70m in July, Pochettino revealed he had a conversation with the striker about joining Spurs "two years ago or more".

"Morata talked about myself, in the media he said 'Mauricio called me'. That was two years ago or more," Pochettino said in August. "He said to me: 'Why do you want me if you have Harry Kane?'"

However, in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, Morata said that Kane's presence in the Spurs team played no factor in a move which failed to materialise.

"No it's not true," Morata said. "I spoke with him and he said he wanted both [of us] to play together, but there was no chance to come to Tottenham.

"For sure I would like to play with Kane, he's a big player, one of the best strikers in the world, but in this moment when I spoke with him (Pochettino) there was no chance to leave Real Madrid."

Morata has gone on to settle quickly at Chelsea, adapting to both the demands of the Premier League and the pressure of replacing Diego Costa.

While the 25-year-old says Costa offered him no specific advice when moving to Stamford Bridge, the two remain good friends when catching up on international duty.

"He is a very good player and a good man too. I'm Diego's friend and when I came here I knew that is was a big responsibility to replace him, but I've tried to do well," Morata added.

"Always when we are together in the Spanish team, we talk about football and life. We talk about everything and I always say thanks to Diego."

Morata has certainly filled Costa's boots when it comes to goalscoring prowess at Chelsea, netting 12 goals in all competitions this season.

Of the 10 league goals to his name, six have come with his head, though Morata still believes there is room for improvement as he continues to adapt to English football.

"It's a good thing in England, and important for a striker to be good in the air. But I think I can do better with the head and the feet," Morata said.

"In Spain or Italy the game is not like this, but here there are many crosses and it's better for this.

"But I can score more goals. I had many chances in the Premier League and Champions League and I need to improve. It's my first year here but I think I can do better and I need to do that.

"Always I can improve something. I'm not perfect, if there's one thing that I can improve then I try to look for that and work every day to do so." - Sky Sports

Courts rules on South Africa president’s impeachment proceedings

South Africa’s top court says that parliament failed to comply with its duties in holding President Jacob Zuma accountable over a public funding case.

The was case brought by opposition groups who wanted parliament to be compelled to begin impeachment of Zuma for allegedly using tax-payers money to upgrade his private home, Nkandla.

About $15m (£11.1m) in state money was spent.

Zuma, 75, who denies the allegation and a number of others, is expected to remain president until general elections in 2019.

The ruling said parliament must now set out rules for impeachment proceedings.

Constitutional Court Judge Chris Jafta said: “We conclude that the assembly did not hold the president to account.

“The assembly must put in place a mechanism that could be used for the removal of the president from office.”

The court insisted it could not intervene on how parliament determined the mechanism and that it had no power to order an impeachment

The court ruling was by majority. Dissenting Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said the ruling was a clear case of “judicial overreach”.

Another 134 Nigerians escape from Libya

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the European Union (EU) have evacuated 134 more Nigerians from Libya.

Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, spokesperson for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South-West Zone, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

Farinloye said the new batch of returnees arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Friday at 10.20 p.m.

He said the Nigerians returned aboard a BURAQ Airlines Boeing 737-800 aircraft with Registration Number 5A-DMG.

According to him, the returnees comprise 10 adult females, 123 adult males and one infant, including a medical case.

He said they were also received by officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Police.

Farinloye said their return had brought the number of Nigerians repatriated from Libya in 2017 to 6,806.

“The project of the repatriation is the programme of IOM with the funding for reintegration at the local level provided by EU.

“IOM paid for their accommodation to stay overnight before proceeding to their various destinations,” he added.