Sahara Reporters Latest News Wednesday 30th October 2019
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 30/10/19
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BREAKING: UN Appoints Nigerian As Special Representative For Sustainable Energy for All
Damilola Ogunbiyi
Damilola Ogunbiyi
A Nigerian lady, Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi, has been appointed as the Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for the United Nations Secretary-general, António Guterres.
Ogunbiyi’s appointment was announced on Tuesday by Guterres as he also said that she would act as the Co-Chair of United Nations-Energy.
The announcement comes as the world is about to enter the final decade to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) – access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030.
Ogunbiyi succeeds Rachel Kyte of the United Kingdom as Special Representative, Co-Chair of United Nations-Energy, and CEO of SEforALL, the UN says.
“Ms. Ogunbiyi brings extensive leadership experience and a track record of supporting energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa to these roles.
“She was the first woman to be appointed as Managing Director of the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency.
“She is also responsible for implementing the Nigerian Off Grid Electrification Programme and successfully negotiating the Nigerian Electrification Project to rapidly construct solar mini-grids and deploy solar home systems across Nigeria,” the UN said.SEforALL is an international organisation headquartered in Vienna, Austria, that is dedicated to helping the world achieve SDG7 and Paris Agreement targets.
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E2%80%99s-saudi-uk-trips Presidential Committee Tackles Critics Of PMB’s Saudi, UK Trips
The Presidential Support Committee has described as diversionary criticisms trailing President Muhammadu Buhari’s trip to the United Kingdom enroute Saudi Arabia.
The President is currently attending the Economic Forum of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Condemnation had trailed the official disclosure that Buhari would travel to the UK on a private visit after his official trip to Saudi Arabia, with reports quoting interest groups and politicians from the opposition camp as saying he was abdicating his official responsibilities.
PSC in a statement by its Director of Communications and Strategic Planning, Mallam Gidado Ibrahim, on Tuesday faulted critics of the President’s diplomatic shuttles, maintaining that the trips do not have adverse effect on governance in the country. The committee said it is becoming glaring that the opposition, as alternative government, is bereft of constructive ideas to contribute to the nation’s development, and to cover up for the deficiencies it has resorted to distorting facts and realities on ground. The statement read, “We are aware that similar trips to the UK in the past had stirred animated discussions about the state of the President’s health but the latest announcement by the Presidency did not indicate that the planned trip to the UK is on health grounds.
“The President is entitled to rest. The opposition should stop spreading fake news and making inciting remarks.”
The PSC further said it amounts to crying wolf where there is none for the opposition to claim that Buhari’s trip to the UK amounts to absconding from home instead of tackling the rising insecurity and other challenges in the country.
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Dangote Flour Mill Shares Suspended On Floor Of Stock Exchange Ahead Of Takeover
The Nigeria Stock Exchange on Tuesday effected a full suspension on the trading of shares of Dangote Flour Mills as a precursor to its delisting and takeover by Crown Flour Mills.
This will be the second time the company will get sold in the last seven years after it was bought by South Africa-based Tiger Foods in 2012 and returned three years later.
“The suspension is imperative to prevent trading in the shares of the company beyond the effective date of the scheme of arrangement for Crown Flour Mills Limited to acquire the entire issued and fully paid ordinary shares of 50 kobo each in DFM held by scheme shareholders, subsequent to which the company would be delisted from the main board of the NSE,” a statement from the NSE said.
The board of directors of the company had in April received an offer from Olam – the parent company of Crown Flour Mill for the sale of the company.
The firm and the board agreed to pay N130bn for five billion worth of ordinary shares listed by DFM.
The board proposed to make the offer to its shareholders on August 5 through a high court ordered meeting that was scheduled to hold on October 14.
Tiger Foods sold DFM back to Dangote in 2015 for a single dollar after it had acquired the company for $200m.
The company had made losses in the years it was owned by the South African firm.
DFM again announced that it made a loss of N1.16bn just before it agreed to sell the firm to Olam.
Experts say Olam’s acquisition of the staggering firm is an attempt to expand its influence in the country’s confectionery space through Crown, which it purchased in 2010.
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E2%80%98klepto-tour%E2%80%99-asset-forfeited-ex-governor-katsina-state-shema HEDA Conducts ‘Klepto Tour’ Of Asset Forfeited By Ex-governor Of Katsina State, Shema
Former Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shehu
Former Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shehu
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda conducted a ‘Klepto Tour’ of some of the assets forfeited by corrupt individuals in Nigeria to anti-corruption agencies in the country.
The tour was done as part of activities in training by HEDA on new ways and usage of corruption tracking techniques for community-based organisations, bloggers, anti-corruption agencies officials and media practitioners in the country.
Speaking during one of the sessions, HEDA Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, said, “Corruption has impact on utilities like water, roads, security that Nigerians are being made to privately pay for.
“This means that the government is eroding its responsibilities. Money is allocated for services not rendered. We can checkmate this by fighting corruption.
“Public officials are building personal homes and investing in huge projects. It is time to ask questions about corruption.”
In the latest tour, HEDA and some anti-corruption team visited some properties forfeited to the Nigerian Government in Kano and Rivers states.
The team visited properties belonging to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, ex-governor Ibrahim Shema and top corrupt individuals indicted in corruption charges.
Properties linked to Alison-Madueke was visited in Rivers State while another property linked to Shema in Kano State was also visited.
Shema is currently undergoing a 24-count charge of N10bn fraud case.
He is being accused of alleged misappropriation of the N10.8bn belonging to the state chapter of ALGON between 2007 and 2015.
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EXCLUSIVE: EFCC Questions Ondo Poly Officials Over Misappropriation Of Funds
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has invited some officials of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo, Ondo State, over alleged financial impropriety, SaharaReporters can exclusively report.
The officials are being invited over an alleged misappropriating of N68m from the treasury of the state-owned polytechnic.
Among those invited for questioning are the Chairman, Governing Board of the school, Mr Banji Alabi; Rector, Gani Ogundahunsi; Deputy Rector (Academic), Olorunwa Lawson, among others.
It was gathered that the officials were invited for questioning by the EFCC at its Ibadan zonal office in Oyo State.
Our correspondent learnt that the operatives of the anti-graft agency had stormed the school penultimate week for a discreet investigation following a petition against the institution’s principal officers.
Recall that some lecturers in the school under the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics had accused the management of the institution of allegedly diverting and using some illegal means to misappropriate the school’s fund into private purse.
SaharaReporters learnt that some of the invited officials have been quizzed over their involvement in the financial mismanagement and fraud.
Sources at the EFCC told SaharaReporters on Tuesday that there are some documents linking the school’s officials to the alleged financial misappropriation.
A source said, “It’s true some of the institution’s top officials have been invited following a petition against them over the allegation of financial misappropriation.
“In the petition, the management of the school was alleged to have approved the purchase of vehicles for some principal officers at an exorbitant price just to squander the school’s funds. There are holes in some of the accounts we investigated.
“We have commenced investigations into the matter and that is why we are inviting them for questioning.”
Though none of the institution’s management staff were willing to confirm the invitation, sources within the school disclosed that there are fears among top officials of the polytechnic over the matter.
It was learnt that some senior officials of the institution had begun evading the school to avoid arrest by EFCC operatives.
A senior lecturer in the school, who spoke with SaharaReporters on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the invitation of the officials by the EFCC.
“I’m aware the EFCC invited officials of the school for interrogation but I cannot confirm which of them has honoured the invite.
“But I am sure that of Engr. Lawson, I know he was visited and must have honoured the EFCC’s invite alongside the administrative officer inside the Office of the Governing Board Chairman and the Director of Procurement, Mr Gbenga Jinadu.”
Spokesperson for the institution, Samuel Ojo, could not be reached when contacted by our correspondent.
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Chevron Quitting Nigeria To Focus On Shale Back Home
Chevron is divesting itself from oil fields in Nigeria for the shale fields in New Mexico and Texas.
Sources told Reuters that it has started discussing with buyers to sell some of its onshore and near offshore assets in Nigeria.
Information on the firm’s website shows that it has a 40 per cent stake in eight offshore oil blocks with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, which holds a 60 per cent stake in the fields.
The company, which is Nigeria’s third largest oil producer, was delivering 194,000 barrels per day, 233m cubic fit of natural gas daily and 6,000 barrels of liquefied petroleum gas as at 2018.
Chevron will not do tenders for any of the assets it intends to sell.
Reuters reports that the company joins Royal Dutch Shell and Exon Mobil in divesting itself of fossil fuel assets in the country.
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Davido Arrests Girls Who Accused Him of Impregnating Them
Nigerian musician, David Adeleke better known as Davido, has arrested the two ladies, who wrongfully accused him of impregnating them.
The two ladies had last week taken to social media to call out the singer for impregnating one of them and refusing to accept responsibility.
The artiste denied this accusation vehemently and placed a N1m bounty on anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the girls.
He also promised to sue them for N30bn in damages.
The two girls, who have done several posts on social media to say that they were only pranking the singer, were however, on Tuesday arrested at their apartment.
Acknowledging the arrest, Davido posted a picture of the girls on his Instagram page with the caption: “First to do no day pain.”
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BREAKING: ADP Picks Popular Buhari Critic, Adelaja As New National Publicity Secretary
The Action Democratic Party has picked Prince Adelaja Adeoye as its new National Publicity Secretary.
Adelaja, who is a popular critic of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, was appointed to help bolster the image and identity of the party.
Before his new post, Adelaja was the pioneer spokesperson for the party in Lagos State, a position he held for over two years until his nomination as National Publicity Secretary.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, Adelaja said, “It is time to give the party a greater image and make it the preferred political choice for all Nigerians.
“First assignment is to reposition the media arm of the party to ensure ADP becomes more visible to Nigerians as the credible alternative.”
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E2%80%93efcc-witness How Money Was Paid From Government Account Into Fraudulent Account –EFCC Witness
Femi Fani-Kayode
Femi Fani-Kayode
A prosecution witness, Shehu Shuaibu, has narrated how funds were transferred form the account of the Federal Ministry of External Affairs to the account of an alleged fraudulent company.
The company, Jointrust Dimension Ltd, was charged alongside Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said the company was used a conduit for illegal funds.
Shuaibu told the Federal High Court in Lagos that the sum of N800m was paid from the ministry’s account into an account in the name of the company.
The witness, who is an investigator with the EFCC, gave the evidence at the resumed trial of Fani-Kayode and others facing N4.6bn money laundering charge.
Also charged are a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenandi Usman, Yusuf Danjuma, a former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria.
Jointrust Dimension Ltd is the fourth defendant.
EFCC preferred a 17-count charge of money laundering against the defendants.
They had each pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bails respectively.
EFCC has since opened its case and the third prosecution witness, Mr Shehu Shuaibu, was still being examined in chief.
On Tuesday, the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, continued examination of the third prosecution witness, after the court had earlier rejected an objection to the admissibility of two document tendered through the witness.
At the last adjourned date, the defence had objected to the admissibility of bank document tendered through the witness on the grounds that they were not legible and also not public document
Justice Rilwan Aikawa however, rejected the objection on the grounds that even if the witness was not the maker of the said document, they were gotten in the course of his investigation and therefore admissible.
The court accordingly admitted and marked the document as exhibits 15 and 16 respectively.
In continuation of his evidence, Oyedepo asked the witness to tell the court his findings during investigations.
The witness, who first confirmed that exhibit E8 is the statement of account of Jointrust Dimension Ltd, further told the court that investigations revealed that on January 16, 2015, the sum of N800m was paid into the account of the company.
He told the court that the money came from the Ministry of External Affairs, adding that the signatories to the account were one Darbisu and Benjamin.
He told the court that on January 13, 2015, the sum of N400m was paid from the MEA into same account of Jointrust.
The witness told the court that these monies were paid, whereas investigations revealed that there were no contracts between the ministry and the company to warrant such payment.
Under cross examination, defence counsel, Mr Ferdinard Orbih (SAN), asked the witness who was the author of the entries in exhibit eight and the witness replied that it was the MEA.
In the charge, the defendants were alleged to have committed the offences between January and March 2015.
In counts one to seven, they were alleged to have unlawfully retained over N3.8bn, which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of stealing and corruption.
In counts eight to 14, they were alleged to have unlawfully used over N970m, which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of an unlawful act of corruption.
Meanwhile in counts 15 to 17, Fani-Kayode and one Olubode Oke, who is said to be at large, were alleged to have made cash payments of about N30m in excess of the amount allowed by law without going through a financial institution.
Besides, Fani-Kayode was alleged to have made payments to one Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No 125 Lewis St., Lagos, in excess of amounts allowed by law.
All offences contravenes the provisions of sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) of the money laundering (prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.
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Nigerian Army Redeploys Nine Generals, Approves New Postings
Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has approved the redeployment and appointment of five Major Generals and four Brigadier Generals to new formations nationwide.
Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja said the posting was a routine exercise to reinvigorate the system for greater professional efficiency.
Giving details of the new appointments and postings, Musa said Maj.-Gen F.O Agugo, the erstwhile Chief of Army Transformation and Innovation had been appointed the General Officer Commanding 6 Division Port Harcourt.
He disclosed that Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, former General Officer Commanding 6 Division had been appointed the Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna.
“Maj.-Gen. C.O Ude was redeployed from Headquarters Multinational Joint Task Force Ndjamena, Chad to Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja and appointed Director Nigerian Army Consult.
The statement added, “Others include; Maj.-Gen I.M Yusuf from Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja to Headquarters Multinational Joint Task Force Ndajamena, Chad as Commander.
“Maj.-Gen. E.N Njoku has been redeployed from Defence Headquarters to Army Headquarters Department of Transformation and Innovation as the Chief of Transformation and Innovation (Army).”
It was also disclosed that Brig.-Gen. E.J Amadasun from Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery Kontagora, has been moved to 35 Brigade Abeokuta as Commander.
Musa added that Brig.-Gen. A.M Adetayo had been moved from Department of Army Transformation and appointed as the Chief of Staff Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery.
He said, “Brig.-Gen. L.M Zakari was posted from Defence Headquarters Abuja to Nigerian Army Institute of Science, Education and Technology, Ilorin, as Acting Commandant.
“Brig.-Gen. E.E. Ekpenyong is posted from Nigerian Army Ordnance School, Ojo, Lagos to Headquarters Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps Yaba, Lagos as Director of Land Service Ammunition.
“The Chief of Army Staff, Buratai has charged them to take their new responsibilities seriously and discharge all duties professionally with utmost loyalty to service and the nation. All the appointments take immediate effect.”
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