Sahara Reporters Latest News Wednesday 24th July 2019

Sahara Reporters Latest News Wednesday 24th July 2019

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 24/07/19

target=_blank>Some Buhari’s Ministerial Nominees Are Fantastically Corrupt, Says Yakassai

Tanko Yakasai, a founding member of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has said there are fantastically corrupt persons in President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial list.
Buhari, on Tuesday, sent a list of 43 ministerial nominees to the senate, seeking their confirmation.
Speaking on the ministerial list in Kano on Tuesday, Yakasai said the list makes a mockery of the president’s anti-corruption war.
He said the returning ministers might not be able to do anything differently from what they did during Buhari’s first term in office.
He said, “The new ministerial list submitted by the president to the senate is representative enough, but the nomination of certain people perceived to be fantastically corrupt made a mockery of the president’s war against corruption.

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“The fact remains that the returnees are many means that the policy of the new government will not be much different from that of the outgoing.
“My only observation is that since the majority of the nominees are already known to the president his delay in submitting a ministerial nomination is unjustifiable.”
But Abdulrahman Sumaila, former Special Adviser to Buhari on legislative matters, countered Yakassai’s submission by saying the ministerial list reflects competence and credibility.
Speaking with journalists in Kano, Sumaila debunked allegations of corruption and lopsidedness on the list, saying the president has fulfilled his constitutional responsibility by ensuring each geopolitical zone has a representative on the list.

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Ministerial List: Nigerians Express Anger, Disappointment Over Buhari’s Nomination

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He said, “Remember the president has said he will only appoint a person he is familiar with and that’s what he did.
“Those on the list are capable hands well known to the president especially those from Kano, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, a traditional title holder and illustrious farmer and Major General Magashi.
“And those saying the president’s list is not balanced are not aware of the constitutional right of the president. The constitution says the president should appoint one person each from the states which he did.
Again the president has the prerogative to appoint any other persons from anywhere.”

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target=_blank>PDP To Buhari: Your Ministerial List Is Colourless, Uninspiring

The Peoples Democratic Party has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial list as “colourless, stagnant, uninspiring.”
The party also said the list is replete with incompetent individuals who allegedly failed in their erstwhile ministerial assignments and left their ministries in a shambles.
According to the opposition party, the list is not worth the wait as it conveys no sense of hope or purposeful governance under the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC).
The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Nigerians received the list with surprise and “utter disappointment.”
“Indeed, such a ministerial list can only come from a leadership that does not have the mandate of the people. It is a complete waste of time and cannot fulfil the expectation of Nigerians.

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“The list has further shown President Buhari and APC’s insensitivity and disdain for Nigerians and it does not in any way reflect their hope and eagerness for a better Nigeria.”
The party also lampooned Buhari for running a visionless administration that lacks ideas on how to salvage Nigeria from its economic and security predicaments.
It added, “Furthermore, in recycling failed yesterday’s men for today’s assignment, President Buhari and the APC have left no one in doubt that they have no vision to move our nation out of the economic and security predicaments into which they have plunged us in the last four year.

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Ministerial List: More Details About Buhari’s Nomination

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“A committed and responsive leadership would have widely consulted with Nigerians before compiling a ministerial list, given the current situation in the country.
“If, indeed, President Buhari and the APC mean well for Nigerians and are interested in revamping our critical sectors, they would not have ended up with a list of those who will help conceal the huge corruption in the Buhari administration in the last four years, as well as those who will assist in channeling funds to individuals and groups used by the APC to rig the 2019 presidential election.
“Strangely, the list has no space for the youth demography, those to whom the future is said to belong.”

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target=_blank>Media Groups Condemn Killing Of ChannelsTV Reporter, Precious Owolabi

Precious Owolabi

The Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) has condemned the killing of ChannelsTV reporter, Precious Owolabi.
The group comprises African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), Civic Media Lab, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), Daily Trust Newspaper, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), International Press Centre (IPC).
Others include the Media Rights Agenda (MRA), OrderPaper, Paradigm Initiative, Premium Times, Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ), Sahara Reporters, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), TheCable and the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ).
The coalition, in a statement on Tuesday, called for the prompt investigation of the incident.

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Channels TV Reporter Precious Owolabi Shot During Shiite, Police Clash Is Dead

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Owolabi, an NYSC corps member serving with Channels Television, was hit by a stray bullet while covering the protest by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiites on Monday 22nd July 2019 in Abuja.
This protest turned violent as officers of the Nigerian Police force attempted to disrupt the protest by members of the IMN.
The groups added, “The increasing attacks on journalists encroach on the freedom of the press and it behoves on the government and other stakeholders to conscientiously work towards laws and provisions that will guarantee the safety and security of journalists in the line of duty.”

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BREAKING: Tension In Abuja As Shiite Regroup For Fresh Protest

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It called on relevant authorities to ensure justice prevails in the matter by bringing everyone complicit in the matter to book.

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target=_blank>Senate Postpones Vacation To Screen Buhari’s Ministerial Nominees

The Senate on Tuesday postponed its annual vacation scheduled to start this week.
The annual vacation was initially billed to start on Friday, July 26th 2019.
However, the upper house decided to enable it to screen the 43 names on the ministerial list submitted to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, Chairman of the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, the upper chamber decided to allow it do a “thorough job” in the screening of the 43 ministerial nominees.”

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Adeyeye said the Senate would also suspend its rules to allow the screening to last till as late as 10 pm from Wednesday.
He added that the Senate would also sit on Friday and Monday which are usually not plenary days “so that we can finish the screening exercise between Wednesday and end of next week.”

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target=_blank>Pirates Kill Two Army Officers, One Missing In Bayelsa

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Unknown gunmen have attacked and killed two soldiers at an oil flow station located at Azagbene community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
According to reports, the suspected sea pirates struck on Monday night, leaving two soldiers dead, one other missing. They carted away their riffles.
The source said the incident had led soldiers invading the community in reprisal and burning houses as villagers scampered into the bush for safety.
“When the soldiers entered our community, they directed us to leave because they were going to burn everything to the ground. They warned that anybody that fails to comply with the directive would be killed.
“Before some of us left the community, I saw the building of our paramount ruler on fire. Even my family house has been burnt to the ground. As I speak with you, we are suffering for a crime we didn’t commit.” he said.
When contacted, the spokesman for the 16 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Danjuma Jonah, confirmed the death of two of its personnel but denied burning down houses in the community.
“Our men did not burn down houses in Azagbene community. We are only combing the community and neighbouring towns in search of one soldier that is missing as a result of the attack that led to the death of two soldiers.
“And we are carrying out the search for the missing soldier in conjunction with leaders of the community.”

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target=_blank>BREAKING: Police Confirm Eight Dead In Enugu Underground Water Tank

The Enugu State Police Command has said that eight persons have been confirmed dead in an underground water safety tank.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu on Tuesday, a copy of which was made available to The PUNCH reporter through email.
Amaraizu, a Superintendent Police (SP) said the incident occurred at a building site located at Igogoro in Igboeze North Local Government Area of the state on Monday, July 22, 2019.
According to him “A yet-to-be-identified worker in the site had on that fateful day gone to evacuate water from the said tank but in the process got trapped inside it.
“After waiting for the victim to come out but didn’t, other victims started going into the said tank to offer help but were also trapped inside and became unconscious”.
Amaraizu said that the victims were later “recovered by other sympathizers and police operatives who raced to the scene and rushed them to General Hospital Ogurute where the doctor on duty confirmed them dead.”
Amaraizu said that the State Police Commissioner Suleiman Balarabe has expressed shock at the incident which he had described as unfortunate.
The PPRO added that the Police Commissioner had directed for a full- scale investigation into the incident to unravel the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident.
Meanwhile, the bodies have been deposited at the Ogurute General Hospital’s mortuary, Amaraizu has said.

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target=_blank>Lagos Landlord, Developer, Agents Defraud 66 Accommodation Seekers Of N16m

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Over 66 prospective tenants have been thrown into confusion as the landlord, Olatunji Joseph, in connivance with a developer, Aderonke Olaleye, and other allegedly yet-to-be identified agents swindled them of over N16m. The money was meant as rents for five flats in a newly-constructed one-storey building at No. 11 Abeni Close, Asa Estate, in the Gbagada area of Lagos State.
PUNCH reported that Joseph had contracted Olaleye to redevelop his bungalow into a one-storey building, but while construction was ongoing, some agents were told that flats in the building were available for rent and an advertisement was placed on two websites to attract prospective accommodation seekers.
While some intending tenants, through some of the agents, allegedly paid into Olaleye’s accounts, others were said to have initiated their payment after contacting Olaleye and her accomplice through the numbers listed in the advertisement.
After the payments were confirmed, it was learnt that the prospective tenants were issued receipts and informed that some finishing touches had to be applied on the building before they could move into the flats.
However, the matter took a new twist when the number of people claiming to have paid to secure accommodation in the building exceeded the number of flats available for rent.
One of the victims, Peace Goodluck, who lamented that over 66 accommodation seekers were defrauded to the tune of over N16m, said that Olaleye, who had gone into hiding ever since the fraud was uncovered, had remained unreachable.
The banker said, “I and my fiancé needed a bigger apartment so, we met the owner of the house, Mr Joseph, and he introduced Olaleye to us as his younger sister and agent. The landlord assured us that we were free to deal with her and we agreed to pay N400,000 for one of the mini flats in the building.
“On May 30, we paid N190,000 into Olaleye’s account and made an additional payment of N120,000 later. We became concerned when the house was not completed on the date that Olaleye gave us, but when we complained, she told us to come back on Monday, July 15.
“We were surprised when we met lots of people claiming that they had also paid for accommodation in the same house when we got there. Olaleye used different account numbers to commit the crime; more than 66 persons have paid over N16m for the five flats.
“Olaleye is nowhere to be found and she has been unreachable since the fraud was uncovered. The landlord has been denying involvement in the crime, but some of the money was deposited in his account.”
A youth corps member serving in the state, Blessing Eniola, said she paid N500,000 into Olaleye’s account for a two-bedroom flat, but was denied access to the flat.
Another victim, Bisola Quadri, who saw the advertisement online, alleged that an agent, one Yusuf, connived with Olayeye and Joseph to defraud her.
The Lagos State indigene said, “About three weeks ago, I saw the advert on a website and contacted Yusuf, who told me to meet him in Akoka and from there, we went to the house, where I met with Olaleye and Joseph. I paid N250,000 for a mini flat into Olaleye’s account and travelled to Abuja.
“When the fraud was discovered, I wasn’t around, but Yusuf knew about the whole issue and kept disturbing me to pay the balance of N180,000. I paid N80, 000 to Olaleye and N100,000 to Yusuf.
“So when I came back to Lagos, I visited the house and met other victims, who told me about the fraud. Yusuf stopped picking my calls, but through the help of other victims, we were able to set him up and compelled him to refund my N100,000.”
Another victim, Ifeanyi Onwuama, said Joseph was arrested, charged to court and remanded in prison.
He stated that the house should be sold and the proceeds used to refund the victims of the fraud.
The businessman stated, “We have too many people involved in this case; families have been crying; couples, who are about to get married and want to move into the house, have been traumatised. In fact, innocent people are still falling victim because the advert is still running on www.jiji.ngand www.propertypro.ng.
“We have tried to inform the management of these websites through their social media handles to pull the advert down but they have yet to respond. What we want the government to do is to put the house up for sale so that we can recover our money.”
Joseph’s younger brother, Wale, said his brother was just a victim, who got outsmarted by Olaleye, who was contracted to develop the property.
When asked about the prospective tenants’ money found in Joseph’s account, Wale said, “Few people paid into his account and he immediately transferred the money to Olaleye’s account; the records are in the bank for confirmation. He has never defrauded anybody, the property belongs to us and Olaleye, being a developer introduced to us by a friend, contracted to develop parts of the property.”
Efforts to get a reaction from Olaleye proved abortive as several calls made to her telephone line rang out. She had yet to respond to a text message sent to her regarding the allegation as of the time of filing this report.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, stated that Joseph connived with Olaleye to defraud the prospective tenants, adding that he had been arrested and charged to court, while the command had launched a manhunt for Olaleye with a view to arresting her.
Elkana said, “About 46 victims were defrauded and when the matter was charged to court, more victims stepped forward. The victims were swindled of over N15m and it is a connivance between the landlord and the developer. Both the landlord (Joseph) and developer (Olaleye) were charged to the court, but the developer is still on the run. We are on her trail.”

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target=_blank>Man Dies After Falling From Edo High Court Building

A man suspected to be attending a community case in Edo State High Court fell to his death in the court premises while trying to find a toilet.
The victim’s corpse was discovered when some staff members of the court saw blood dripping down the empty lift and the man’s feet dangling, according to a report by Nation newspaper.
The official explained that the deceased was at Court 10 at the last floor for a community case.
He said the deceased went to urinate and didn’t ask for directions but went through a door he thought was the toilet and fell to his death.
“We used to have a lift that has gone bad and this administration is fixing it. The company carrying out the renovation work removed the old lift and is still working on it.
“We were told the man came to Court 10 and wanted to ease himself. He went to where the lift is and fell through.
“The MD of the contractor said there was a ribbon indicating no passage but that I cannot say anything about.”
A relative of the deceased who gave his name as Johnson Obanor said they came from Ugiekhue community for a case.
Johnson explained that they were inside the courtroom waiting for their lawyer to get a new date since the court was not sitting when late Moses went out to ease himself.
He said, “It was Moses that gave the Lawyer money. After we waited for him, we went down to our car and didn’t find him.
“We called his line severely but he was not picking. Later we saw people moving somehow and we decided to follow them. They said a construction worker fell but we told them he came with us.”
A nephew of the deceased, Osasu Isoken, said he went to check and there was no sign indicating that the place is a no go area
“There is no sign that the place is bad if not my uncle would not have entered.”

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target=_blank>Ministerial List: More Details About Buhari’s Nomination

Exactly 54 days after being sworn-in as President, Muhammadu Buhari sent the list of ministerial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
This delay is not new as the President did not appoint his ministers 6 months after he was sworn-in in 2015 of his first term in office.
The delay in the submission of the ministerial nominees to the Senate for confirmation made the Senate to announce it would proceed on its annual recess on Friday.
The annual recess is meant to start on July 26 and resume on September 26.
In 2015, President Buhari did not appoint his ministers 6 months after he was sworn in.
At the plenary today, Ahmad Lawan, President of the Senate, read out the names of 43 nominees sent by President Buhari to the lawmakers.
The list contains 14 former ministers, 29 new names and 7 females
Former Ministers Retained
1. Chris Ngige (Anambra)
2. Hadi Sirika (Katsina)
3. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers)
4. Babatunde Fashola (Lagos)
5. Musa Bello (Adamawa)
6. Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi)
7. Adamu Adamu (Bauchi)
8. Lai Mohammed (Kwara)
9. Geoffrey Onyeama (Enugu)
10. Osagie Ehanire (Edo)
11. (Female) Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna)
12. Abubakar Malami (Kebbi)
13. Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu (Jigawa)
14. Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Borno) New Names On Ministerial List
1. Festus Keyamo (Delta) – Director of Strategic Communications of Buhari’s re-election bid
2. Dr. Ukechukwu Ogah (Abia) – President of Master’s Energy Group
3. Emeka Nwajiuba (Imo) – member representing Ehimembano/Ihiteuboma/Obowo Federal constituency of Imo State
4. (Female) Sa’adiya Umar Farouk (Zamfara) – Federal Commissioner of National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons
5. (Female) Sharon Ikeazor (Anambra) – Executive Secretary of Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD)
6. Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) – The former Governor of Akwa Ibom
7. Maj. Gen. (RTD) Bashir Salihi Magashi (Kano) – former Governor of Sokoto State in Nigeria from August 1990 to January 1992
8. Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo (Ekiti) – first Executive Governor of Ekiti State from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2003
9. Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa) – former Governor of Bayelsa
10. Isa Pantami (Gombe) – Director General and CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency in Nigeria
11. (Female) Gbemi Saraki (Kwara) – former Senator
12. (Female) Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu (Yobe) – the immediate past APC National woman Leader
13. Clement Agba (Edo) – former Edo State Commissioner for Environment and Public Utility
14. George Akume (Benue) – former Governor of Benue State
15. Sunday Dare (Oyo) – a former senior editor with The News Group
16. Tayo Alasodura (Ondo) – former Senator representing Ondo Central
17. Adeleke Mamora (Lagos) – former Senator representing Lagos East constituency
18. Mohammed Abdullahi (Nasarawa) – immediate past Secretary to the State Government, Nasarawa State Government
19. (Female) Maryam Katagum (Bauchi) – Nigeria’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO
20. Sabo Nanono (Kano)
21. Zubairu Dada (Niger)
22. (Female) Pauline Tallen (Plateau) – former Minister of State for science and technology to the cabinet of former president, Olusegun Obasanjo
23. Abubakar Aliyu (Yobe)- former deputy governor of Yobe
24. Eng. Saleh Mamman (Taraba) –
25. Muhammad Mahmoud (Kaduna) –
26. Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) – former Governor of Osun State
27. Goddy Jedy – Agba (Cross River) – former Group General Manager (GGM) Crude Oil Marketing Division (OMD) NNPC
28. Olamilekan Adegbite (Ogun) – former Ogun State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure
29. Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi (Sokoto) – Chairman, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) Governing body

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Air Peace Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing At Lagos Airport

An Air Peace aircraft on Tuesday made an emergency landing and was partially damaged after it experienced difficulty landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, ThePUNCH reports.
The Boeing 737 aircraft, from Port Harcourt, was said to have experienced turbulence due to the weather and the pilot reportedly requested a longer runway, where it eventually landed.
The airline while confirming the incident, said the pilot, Captain Simisola Ajibola noticed a sudden weather changes when approaching Lagos and demanded to land on the international runway as it is longer and wider than the domestic runway.
“After landing safely and rolling to the runway exit, the nose gear developed a problem and partially collapsed. The crew notified the airport authorities who quickly ensured the safe disembarkation of the passengers,” the airline said.
A passenger on the aeroplane said on Twitter that attempts by the pilot to douse tension proved abortive.

Tweeting with the handle @Ariellafitness, the Twitter user wrote, “As we arrived in Lagos on Air Peace, the pilot announced that we will be landing at the international tarmac because of visibility issues.
“Some minutes later, it seems the plane started to nosedive quickly. But the pilot applied control, it picked up speed and then bang! We dropped from the sky to the hard ground and the ceiling of the plane dropped, children were crying.
“The pilot informed that she can’t estimate the damage, however, that the plane lost its both tyres. That she had signalled for an evacuation. She kept working hard, though unsuccessfully, to calm agitated.
“They said they were waiting for the tow truck to tow the vehicle from the international tarmac to the local. I got my inhaler ad we awaited emergency rescue. They came 52 minutes later. Nigeria’s response time! We for don (sic) burn finish if not for God! Praise God for us. He averted what could have been a tragic plane crash.”
Confirming the incident to our correspondent on the telephone, the Spokesperson for the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Hetty Yakubu, said the matter had been brought under control.
She said the Accident Investigation Bureau had already begun probing the matter but argued that it was not as serious as was reported on social media.
Yakubu also denied allegations that airport rescue officials arrived at the scene late.
She promised to issue a statement on the matter soon.

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