Ebola: Southeast Govs Commend FG, States

Southeast Governors have commended the Federal and state governments over their efforts in containing the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Rising from a meeting presided over by its Chairman and Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, the forum also sought a cargo section at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

Other governors at the meeting were Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi) and Anambra State Deputy Governor Nkem Okeke.

Orji told reporters that governors in the Southeast geo-political would convene a meeting of elders in the next three weeks to discuss various issues affecting the zone.

The forum also expressed happiness over the befitting burial accorded former Information Minister, late Prof. Dora Akunyili.

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‘Hold Jonathan Responsible If Ebola Spreads Further In Nigeria’

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Nigerians to hold President Goodluck Jonathan responsible should the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) spread any further.

The party noted that the president failed to stop on Saturday a rally in his support in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, despite warnings from individuals and groups.

In a statement yesterday in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC noted that never before had a president sabotaged his administration’s policy and endangered the lives of his compatriots as Dr Jonathan had done over the issue of EVD.

It said the same president who declared a national emergency on Ebola and advised against large gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus was the first to flout his own advice by his failure to stop the rally by the so-called Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) in Port Harcourt, a few days after the virus was detected in the city and at a time that contact tracing was on going to locate all those who may have had contact with the medical doctor victim of the disease.

“On the altar of political desperation, President Jonathan put the lives of Nigerians in danger. In order to realize his ambition for re-election, President Jonathan has shown he is ready to sacrifice as many lives of Nigerians as possible. There goes the president’s statement that his political ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. This president simply says what he doesn’t mean.

“As we said in our statement of Aug. 28th, 2014, calling on President Jonathan to halt the TAN rallies, especially the one in Port Harcourt, could anyone guarantee that none of those who have had contact with the medical doctor who died of the disease will attend the rally? That is why we are calling on Nigerians to hold the president responsible if Ebola spreads more than it has in the country”, APC said.

The main opposition party said shortly after it made the call for a halt to the TAN rallies, others, including the NBA and Prof. Itse Sagay, in a clearly patriotic duty, issued similar calls.

“In fact, the APC in Rivers described such a rally most appropriately as a ‘firing squad against the people’. But because he will rather be re-elected than give a damn over the safety of the same people who voted him into office, because he will rather transmogrify than transform, President Jonathan ignored all the calls and allowed the rally to hold. This is an unprecedented act of political desperation”, it said.

APC said for those who might try to spin the issue by saying the president has no control over the organizers of the rally, they should be asked who the rallies will benefit; whose top officials, including secretary to the government, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, have been attending the rallies and what is the source of the funding of the gatherings.

“The TAN rallies are government-sanctioned.

“The TAN rallies are the Jonathan administration’s cunning way of beating the INEC ban on campaigns for next year’s general elections.

“The TAN rallies highlight the impunity of the Jonathan Administration. President Jonathan is the sole beneficiary. He can stop the rallies today, if only he wants to put the nation’s interest above his own personal interest”, the party said.

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#BringBackOurGirls Group To Hold Street Protest As Chibok Girls Spend 140 Days In Captivity

The #BringBackOurGirls Group will today march through the streets of Abuja as part of its advocacy for the safe return of the 219 Chibok schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram sect on the night of April 14, 2014.

The group, at its 124th sit-out session yesterday in Abuja, stated that the street protest would involve public engagement, including the distribution of fliers and pamphlets.

It said that it would continue to ignore any distraction and remain focussed on its goal, which is the safe return of the Chibok girls to their families.

“The advocacy for the Chibok girls is not ebbing. When we write about it, when we talk about it, when we participate in the sit-out and protest, we are lending our voices to the Chibok girls. We will not stop giving out our message”, the group said.

The BBOG group further stated that activities to mark Day 140 of the girls’ captivity would also involve advocacy visits to media houses in Abuja, Lagos and Ibadan, to continue to drive home the issue of the abducted girls and why government should work towards bringing them back home.

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Ebola: 60 Persons Who’d Contact With Late PH Doctor Yet To Be Located

The Rivers State government has disclosed that no fewer than 60 people, out of close to 200 that had primary and secondary contacts with the late Dr Ikechukwu Sam Enemuo, who died of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Port Harcourt, the state capital, are yet to be located.

Also, the state government has placed a ban on the movement of corpses within and outside the state without death certificates and explanations on the cause of such deaths, and has directed the police to demand such documents from ambulances conveying such corpses in the state.

This is as the state governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, will today meet with leaders of churches in the state, while a meeting with traditional rulers has been scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, over the spread of the Ebola virus in the state.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker, who addressed journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, said about 50 high-risk contacts had been identified among those that had primary contacts with the late doctor.

Giving a breakdown, the commissioner said that three of the people who had contacts with late Enemuo, including two staff of his hospital, Sam-Steel Clinic, and a staff of the Good Heart Hospital, where he died, had been moved to the treatment centre at Edoha community in Emohua local government area of the state.

He said, “Also, movement of corpses within and outside the state must be supervised; there must be death certificates and we must know the cause of the death. So, you cannot just move corpses here and there without clearance from the Ministry of Health. In fact, the police will stop you and ask for clearance. Before corpses are released from the mortuary, even the attendants will ask for the documents; before they come in and before they are released.

“The governor will meet with church leaders tomorrow — all church leaders in Rivers. He will meet them by 10am. He will in the same vein meet with all traditional rulers on Tuesday by 10am. I have been telling you before now that almost 200 persons have been traced. I keep on telling you that; that is because, out of this number, we are still to be in touch with about 60 of them. I will explain the reason later.

“But 50 high-risk contacts have been identified. Quickly, the reason why I said so is because a lot of the news, stigma, and all the rest, these persons are not coming up; we are still on them. In fact, we are concentrating on these names that we have found, and still going for new ones. Every day, it improves; it is getting better by the day.

“We now have three persons at the treatment centre at Edoha; a pharmacist at Sam-Steel Hospital and doctor that worked with Dr Enemuo at that Sam-Steel Hospital, and also a lady that was at the Good Heart Hospital while Dr Enemuo was there. However, they have not been confirmed; we are waiting for the result of the investigation. Today, we should have them. Also, let me quickly tell you that Mrs Enemuo is in a stable condition in Lagos. I am telling you these so that people will know that this is not a death sentence and come out”.

The commissioner advised worship centres against operating admission wards on their premises, as well as laying hands on people who may have had contact with Enemuo, and appealed to all those who had contacts with the late doctor or visited Sam-Steel Clinic, Good Heart Hospital and Mandate Garden Hotels to report to the Ministry of Health for checks.

Parker said, “At this point, I must tell you that most of them that came up early survived; only the ones that hid, going from one church to the other until they deteoriated so much that passed on. We must let the public know that anyone who had primary or secondary contact with Dr Enemuo or the clinics and hotel should voluntarily come out and contact us. It doesn’t mean that you are infested; all we need to do is just to observe you, and if there is anything you let us know.

“The chances of survival are very high. None of those that came up in Lagos had issues; most of them were cleared. It is important the churches don’t keep admission wards in their churches; some of them are running to churches and groups of them are laying hands on them without knowing”.

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Niger East: APC Candidate, Umaru, Appeals To Supporters Over Inconclusive Polls

BARRISTER DAVID UMARU

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Niger East Senatorial District by-election, Barr. David Umaru, yesterday said the party would not be deterred by the irregularities that marred Saturday’s poll and would mobilise for the September 6 supplementary election.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Minna, the Niger State capital, Umaru said that the party would not boycott the re-run, but would instead mobilise members to come out en masse for a landslide victory next Saturday against all odds.

The APC candidate expressed optimism that he would be victorious at supplementary poll and called on his teeming supporters not to despair.

We had earlier reported that the Niger East Senatorial District by-election was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr. Shem Nuhu Zagbayi leading in the interim result released.

The APC candidate was trailing behind with 84,689 votes.

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Genevieve mag editor Dimeji Alara loses dad to cancer

Genevieve magazine editor Dimeji Alara announced on social media that he lost his father to cancer yesterday August 29th. May his soul rest in peace, Amen.

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Genevieve mag editor Dimeji Alara loses dad to cancer

Genevieve magazine editor Dimeji Alara announced on social media that he lost his father to cancer yesterday August 29th. May his soul rest in peace, Amen.

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Ebola: FG Summons Emergency Meeting

An emergency National Council on Health, NCH, meeting is holding today in Abuja following the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, outside Lagos.

The meeting will be the third in series since the outbreak of the disease in West Africa.

This came as widow of Dr Ike Enemuo, who died of Ebola in Port Harcourt has also tested positive to the virus.

The NCH, which is the highest decision making body on health issues in Nigeria comprises the Minister of Health, the Minister of State for Health, all state Commissioners for Health and Permanent Secretaries Ministry of Health of the 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Deliberations are expected to focus on ongoing efforts to check the spread of the virus.

It was learnt that the meeting was called to address the outbreak of EVD in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and to avoid further spread to neighbouring states.

A source from the Federal Ministry of Health said the Council is expected to deliberate extensively on strategies to contain further spread of EVD even beyond primary and secondary case of the index (first) case, Patrick Sawyer.

At the last NCH, which held early August in Abuja, the body resolved that all corpses should be accompanied with death certificates and that all the states should enact legislation to support the resolution.

It also resolved that corpses of all persons confirmed to have died of EVD must be disposed off according to the standard of the World Health Organisation, WHO.

The body equally directed that transportation of corpses into the country as well as interstate be banned until further notice except with approved waivers issued by Federal Ministry of health.

It is not unlikely the council will investigate circumstances surrounding the escape of a primary contact from the isolation centre in Lagos to Port Harcourt. [Vanguard]

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Boko Haram funded through CBN- Australian Hostage negotiator says

It appears Australian hostage negotiator Dennis Stephen isn’t done making outrageous and some would say ‘eye-opening’ claims. Just a day after he claimed that former Borno state Gov, Alimodu Sheriff and an unnamed retired army chief are sponsors of Boko Haram, he’s now claiming that the insurgent group if funded through the CBN. In an interview with TheCable, Stephen claimed a senior official of the CBN handles the financial transactions of the sect group. What hs said below…

“One of the biggest of suppliers of arms and military uniforms to the JAS (Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, better known as Boko Haram) currently lives in Cairo, Egypt. He is the recipient of money sent by political sponsors from Nigeria. The funds go through the CBN’s financial system and appear to be a legal transaction. Meanwhile, the CBN official who handles the funding is an uncle to three of those arrested in connection with the Nyanya bombings. The three boys lived with him. They were arrested by the SSS (Department of State Security) after the bombings but they do not seem to have been interrogated about their uncle in CBN. Or if they have given up information about their uncle then the SSS has not moved against him.” Stephen said Continue…

“Also, a senior official of CBN, who recently left the bank, was very close to Sodiq Aminu Ogwuche, the mastermind of the Nyanya bombings who also schooled in Sudan. Boko haram commanders said Ogwuche’s wife used to visit this top official in his office at the headquarters of the bank in Abuja before the Nyanya bombings. They were very close,” Davis said. He said he is speaking out now because he feels the Federal government is doing little in the rescue of the missing Chibok girls “I have three daughters. I just cannot stand the thought of what those girls are passing through. I have spoken to an escapee who described how she was being defiled for 40 days by militants. I can’t stand it. It is heart-breaking. Nigerian authorities must act decisively now,” he said.

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Boko Haram: Nigerian Military Set To Reclaim Northern Borno

Military sources in Maiduguri, yesterday, said that the aerial surveillance in northern Borno was part of the military operations to reclaim the border town with Cameroon, reports Vanguard.

The military source was, however, unable to give details of the ongoing military operations launched, yesterday.

Confirming the continuous presence of insurgents, a security source in Maiduguri yesterday said that after killing 27 terror suspects in last Monday’s attack, those that survived retreated into the town to join those who were hiding among residents.

“This was why, it could take some time to reclaim this town, as the insurgents had been adopting guerrilla warfare by living among residents to prevent being hit by the military,” said the source, yesterday.

Meanwhile, there were indications in Abuja weekend that the latest of the set of fighter aircraft ordered by the Federal Government with which the armed forces will launch a final onslaught against the Boko Haram terrorists would start arriving the country this week.

Security forces were also said to be set to launch a counter offensive against Boko Haram insurgents who have established a new camp at Gamboru-Ngala, a border community with Cameroon with a view to sending them back across the border where they were initially based.

It was gathered that the sect members fled to the Nigerian side of Gamboru-Ngala, a community that extends to Cameroon following the air bombardment of their camp by the Cameroonian air force.

On the fighter jets, military sources disclosed that the aircraft which are capable of carrying out night operations will enhance the operations of the soldiers after softening the ground by the bombers adding that they were purchased directly by the Nigerian Air force.

Another set of aircraft which are also fitted with modern equipment such as the Shilka guns for the army would also arrive very soon to fast-track the Boko Haram war.

Confirming that enemies within the security forces were helping the terrorists in the insurgency battle, the source said some disloyal troops pass on strategic information on operations to the insurgents.

For instance, It was learnt that when an operation for bombing is being prepared, some insiders pass on the information to the terrorist that their area will soon be bombed and that it will be safer for them to leave the area. That is why the bombing by the air force is not having much impact on them except on few occasions when the operation is planned secretly.

The source added that the analysis so far made on the weapons recovered from the insurgents does not show that they are superior to those of the armed forces as claimed.

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Critical Stage: Joan Rivers now on life support

Dear Lord, let this woman come out of this alive. According to TMZ, Joan Rivers is on life support and sources close to the legendary comedian say she is completely reliant on machines to stay alive.

“According to our sources, the family will have to decide in the next couple of days whether to keep the 81-year-old on life support. We’re told the family remains hopeful that if they do decide to turn off the machines, she will make a turn for the better and fight through it.” TMZ reports

Just 12 hours before she was rushed to the hospital after she stopped breathing during a throat surgery on Thursday, the 81 year Fashion Police star had joked about dying. During her stand-up gig in Manhattan, Joan joked to her audience

“I’m 81 — I could go at any moment. I could fall over right here and you all could say, ‘I was there!’. God help her!

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Boko Haram Told Us To Fight Our Soldiers And Do ‘The Work Of God’ – Gamboru Youths

Over 200 Gambouru youths have resisted forceful conscription by Boko Haram as they fled to the Cameroonian border town of Fotokol and three other villages yesterday morning.

The youths, according to one of them who remained anonymous, fled because they did not want to be conscripted by the Boko Haram sect to fight both the Nigerian and Cameroonian troops in the border areas and in Gambouru town.

“I had no alternative, other than to join my colleagues by dawn yesterday to flee for our safety. These gunmen had been telling us to join them to fight our soldiers here and at the borders with Cameroon and Chad; after promising us some money and rifles ‘to do the work of God’. But some of us decided to take our fate in our hands by fleeing to Cameroon.

“By noon yesterday (Sunday), about 215 of us converged on Fotokol with broken limbs and bruises, while fleeing to cross the River and bushes with desert tracks. Once they sighted you fleeing, they shoot you, as we have refused to join them,” lamented the youth.

He said the targets of the insurgents were to “forcefully conscript” youths between the ages of 18 and 25 who are conversant with Gamboru and its border areas with Cameroon.

“They were asking all of us here in Cameroon to join them; and fight the soldiers, but we collectively decided not to, because these gunmen can never be trusted. It has happened not only in Gambouru, but most of the Borno towns and villages were attacked with the displacement of many residents and villagers,” said the youth in telephone interview from Fotokol.

He said as they reached the border town of Fotokol, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jet hovered over Gamboru town three times, but due to the mixture of innocent civilians and the terrorists in the town, and to avoid killing of innocent people, the fighter jet had to bombard an outskirt with plumes of smoke into the sky for ten minutes.

“We had feared that the town was bombarded, by the military to reclaim our town, but one of my parents called me on phone that they were safe; and there was no bombing from the fighter jet that flew in Sunday (yesterday) morning,” said the youth.

A military source, who spoke on reports that the terrorists raided communities around Gamboru, conscripting youths into their sect, said that it had been their strategy. He, however, noted that strategies that cannot be disclosed were being worked out to handle the situation.

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Employee of Gen. Theophilus Danjuma defrauds him of N2billion

An employee of former Defence Minister, Gen Theophilus Danjum rtd, Manasseh Zorto is said to be currently on the run after allegedly defrauding his boss of about N2billion.

Zorto, who was to be arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) wasn’t in court when his case was called up yesterday August 29th.

The counsel representing the SFU, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN) told the trial judge, Okon Abang that the police was still in pursuit of the accused.

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Popular music video director Matt Max weds his make-up artist

Ace music video director Biodun Aina Matthew, popularly known as Matt Max married his make-up artist turned girlfriend Eniola Efunkoye of Awele Beauty, yesterday August 30th at a very intimate secret wedding. I hear many of their friends were not invited.

According to sources close to the music video director, he was in a long time relationship – about four years – with a lady named Martina, who he dumped a few months ago to start dating Eniola. Now they are married. Congrats to them.

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Boko Haram: Nigerians Flee To Cameroon In Thousands

Thousands of Nigerians have been forced to flee their homes, swamping towns in the north of neighbouring Cameroon following incessant attacks by Boko Haram in Nigeria’s northeast, authorities said yesterday.

This came as Boko Haram terrorists, for three days, laid siege to Gamboru town, forcefully conscripting youths to fight both the Nigerian and Cameroonian troops. They were said to have killed those who resisted them.

After the three-day attack, 29 persons were killed, while 215 of the youths, who fled to Cameroon to escape the forceful conscription, have recounted their ordeals in the hands of the insurgents.

A Cameroonian police officer told AFP on condition of anonymity that: “We’ve been flooded here in Mora by Cameroonians and Nigerians fleeing Boko Haram. The day before yesterday (Friday), there were already more than 10,000 people in Mora. Not a day goes by without more people coming.”

The number of internally displaced people in Nigeria and those who have crossed its borders into Cameroon, Niger and Chad because of the militant violence has been increasing, with no end in sight to the insurgency.

The United Nations’ humanitarian office (OCHA) said on August 5 that Boko Haram attacks have forced nearly 650,000 people from their homes in the North-East states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has said that nearly 11,500 fled Gwoza, also in Borno State, when militants seized the town on August 7. Boko Haram has since declared Gwoza part of an Islamic caliphate.

The Cameroonian police officer said registration of the displaced persons had begun in Mora, while the nearby town of Kolofata had seen more than 6,000 arrive.

“People are everywhere: in schools, under trees and in the markets,” he added.

“They’re all coming from Cameroonian and Nigerian villages in the Kerawa area.”

Kerawa straddles the border and has come under attack in recent days by Boko Haram, forcing the residents to flee on foot.

Cameroon state radio said the withdrawal of its soldiers had led to a mass exodus of civilians, adding that more than 6,000 people had taken flight and were now based in the Kolofata state school, with 2,000 others around Mora.

Gamboru Ngala residents, who fled across the border to the Cameroon town of Fotokol, said on Saturday that the militants had begun to kill people “like chickens,” despite initially targeting only the police and military.

The spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri also claimed militant fighters had carried out atrocities against Christians in the town of Madagali, in Adamawa State, but there was no independent corroboration.

Cameroon security sources said Gamboru Ngala was bombed from the air on Saturday night, but it was unclear whether it was a Nigerian or Cameroonian air force operation.

The terrorists operating on several motorcycles stormed Gamboru and moved from house to house, searching for youths who refused to flee after last Monday’s attack that claimed 25 lives.

Gamboru is a border town, and 138 kilometres North East of Maiduguri, the state capital.

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EFCC Arrests Three Suspected Bank Fraudsters

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested a syndicate of scammers for attempting to defraud Enterprise Bank Plc.

Ola Lawal, Olumide Kayode and Abass Adekunle were arrested following a botched attempt to compromise the bank’s system and steal depositors’ funds using an electronic device known as Keelog Key Grabber.

A statement by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren on Sunday said the trio’s arrest was made possible by an insider who revealed to the bank’s management that some fraudsters were planning to gain access to its network, using a device called Keelog Key Grabber.

“Investigations showed that, a staff of the bank, Owolabi Agboola was contacted by one of the suspected fraudsters, who proposed a business arrangement to him on how to hack into the system of the bank. Agboola subsequently informed management of the bank and he was instructed to play along with the fraudster”, Uwujaren said.

The arrangement involved using an electronic device known as keelog Key Grabber, which had the capacity to harvest passwords of some of the key operation staff of the bank.

The fraudsters’ plan was to have the insider plug the key grabber into the computer system of the Head of Operation of a particular branch to retrieve information technology configuration settings from the computer system and pave the way for them to move customers’ funds out of the bank.

The statement stated that Lawal was arrested while trying to hand over the Keelog Key Grabber to Agboola. His arrest led to the arrest of two other suspects: Olumide Kayode Maborukoje and Abass Ajibade.

Items recovered from them include: a keylogger, a laptop, a router, a modem, sim cards, USB keyhole log with a template of keylogger and a jotter containing some account numbers which they intended to use for the fraud.

The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded, the EFCC spokesman added.

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Photos: 15 Chibok girls admitted into AUN Academy on scholarship (PHOTOS)

According to former vice president Atiku Abubakar, 15 of the Chibok girls who escaped from Boko Haram abductors have been been admitted into the American University of Nigeria Academy in Yola, Adamawa state on a scholarship. Great stuff!

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2015: Free And Fair Elections Doubtful – Nigerian Editors

The conduct of Ekiti and Osun governorship elections raised hope of free and fair elections in Nigeria come 2015, but the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) doubts its possibility.

According to the association, the high level insecurity, insurgency and kidnappings in the country would not guarantee free, fair and credible elections in 2015.

Rising from its 10th All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) in Katsina, Katsina State, at the weekend, the NGE in a communique issued at the end of the 4-day conference, said the current state of insecurity must be addressed to strengthen the nation’s democracy and instill good governance.

The communique, signed by NGE President, Femi Adesina, and General Secretary, Isaac Ighure, read: “That the Editors have a great role to play in promoting national discourse towards strengthening national unity, peace, harmony as well as political, social, economic growth and prosperity.

“That the Nigerian Editor should continue to promote the nation’s fledgling democracy and help in enthroning good governance in our country.

“That the Editor should continue to promote free and fair elections, which are key to the promotion and sustenance of democratic culture in the society through vigorous dissemination of information to the citizens.

“That the high level of insecurity, insurgency and kidnappings across the country which create atmosphere of fear and apprehension, cannot guarantee free, fair and credible elections in 2015.

“That to strengthen the nation’s democracy and instill good governance, the current state of insecurity must be addressed with a view to creating conducive environment for development.

“That the Independent National Electoral Commission should be adequately funded, to enable the commission conduct free, fair and credible elections in 2015 and beyond.

“That to ensure sustenance of good governance, the media must set a generally acceptable performance index to gauge the performance of governments at all levels, in the provision of basic amenities and infrastructure to the citizens.

“The Guild urged members of the profession to adhere to the code of journalism ethics in the discharge of their responsibilities, while advocating for a code of conduct for the media in covering the 2015 general elections.

“The NGE calls on politicians to shun hate speech, unguarded utterances, name calling, and other anti-social behaviors while using the media to canvass for public support.

“The Guild commends the government and people of Katsina State for their warmth and hospitality, and for their contributions to the overall successful hosting of the conference.”

The conference, with the theme, Credible Elections and Good Governance: Role of the Editor, which held between Wednesday 27 and Saturday, 30, August 2014, had in attendance over 250 editors from both print and electronic media.

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FG Pays Idle Ajaokuta Steel Workers N3.4bn Monthly

About N3.4 billion is being wasted every month by the federal government, to pay the salaries of workers who were doing nothing at the Ajaokuta Steel Complex (ASC) in Kogi, State.

Chairman, Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), Alhaji Kola Belgore, made this disclosure, weekend in Ilorin, Kwara State, at a social gathering organised by immediate past president of the Alumni Association of National Institute (AANI), Alhaji Jani Ibrahim, for newly promoted members of Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) from kwara state.

Belgore who was a guest lecturer at the event lamented that despite the huge potentials of ASC, it remained unproductive.

“There are 2500 engines mounted and 6000 employees, and we are paying them N3.4billion as salaries. That is what we paying them for doing nothing monthly,” said Belgore.

Speaking further, the AMCON chairman blamed the unemployment problem on closure of companies and businesses in the country, stressing that the country was importing fuel despite being an oil-producing country; this he said, was making Nigeria a laughing stock among committee of nations.

“The honest truth is that we are not happy and if here we say we are happy, it is because most of us are in a comfort zone of the society, we are privileged in the society. If we ask the masses of this country who are downtrodden, they would tell you they are not happy with the situation of the country.

“The country is virtually static. Things are not moving in the right direction and everybody is keeping quiet. It has nothing to do with politics; it has to do with our collective interest.

“God endowed Nigeria very well with human, material resources yet we are seriously under-performing as a nation. We must wake up and try to do something to move us in the right direction.

“The nation is blessed with petrol (crude oil) and yet we are importing fuel in the country.”

“We are importing petrol and we are the 7th largest producer in the world. What kind of ridicule is that? Yet we all kept quiet. You saw what happened when they were investigating those that said they imported fuel to the country. They did not bring anything yet through connivance they manipulated papers and they were collecting billions as cost of importing fuel. We should begin to look different.

Belgore however boasted that his prudent leadership as AMCON chairman has brought about success, with the company today, having asset of N6 trillion.

The honourees at the event are Corps Marshall of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Issa Aremu, Assistant Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Service, Mr. Bode Opadiran, Corps Commander of Nigeria Medical Corps, Major General Shina Ogunbiyi and the Registrar of Council for Registration of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, Engineer Kamila Maliki.

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‘I’ve The Capacity To Transform Nigeria For The Better’

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State weekend, said that he is seriously considering the option of taking a shot at the Presidency, following pressure from indigenes of the state.

Okorocha, who stated this while fielding questions from journalists in Owerri, the Imo State capital, equally boasted that he was sure to record victory for the All Progressives Congress, APC, if he is chosen as the party’s flag bearer ahead of the 2015 general elections.

The governor described the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as an embodiment of unprogressive minds who have taken the country several years backward because of what he called poverty of vision.

“I am considering taking a shot at the Presidency because the pressure is too high and I believe I have the capacity to transform our country for the better”, Okorocha said.

He gave a graphic account of monies accruing to some states from the federation account in the past three years pointing out that “only N179 billion had so far accrued to Imo State”.

Continuing, Okorocha described it as “a sharp contrast to the intimidating and unbelievable figures that accrued to such states as Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Lagos States”, adding that over 60 to 70 percent of the federal allocation to Imo, went into recurrent expenditure.

After brandishing what he called “the score card” of his administration, Okorocha insisted that he had through effective and judicious use of the lean resources, salvaged the state from stagnation.

He, however, denied allegations that his administration has no respect for rule of law and due process in the award of contracts and pleaded with Imo people to shun unwarranted criticism of his administration.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

Falae Counsels FG On How To Deal With Boko Haram Insurgency

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, has admonished President Goodluck Jonathan to apply maximum force in dealing with the Boko Haram sect.

The elder statesman said he was distressed that after more than 100 days in captivity, the Federal Government had not been able to rescue the more than 200 Chibok schoolgirls held hostage by the terrorists.

“I am very saddened and distressed that there is insurgency in Nigeria. I never thought it could come to this. If you look around the world, it is the same problem — you can see what is going on in Iraq and Syria; there is a group called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria that wants to take a part of Iraq and a part of Syria. It is totally unheard of.

“In Afghanistan, Yemen, and other places, you see wars going on. Terrorism has become a worldwide phenomenon. It is unfortunate that the Boko Haram insurgency is a different kind of war; the traditional war is a war against territory but this terrorist group kills people indiscriminately, unprovoked. They commit mindless violence”, he said.

Falae noted that the Nigerian armed forces should have gone after the radical Islamist militants with full force in the early stage of the insurgency.

“From the beginning of this insurgency, we should have gone after them with full force to stamp out insurgency. At the beginning, it was a local matter in the North-East being used by some politicians to achieve their own ends. But Al-Qaeda and Al-Shabaab have been given an opportunity to infiltrate Boko Haram; they’ve taken over, equipping them and financing them. What we have now is no longer a local issue. It is international in scope”, he maintained.

Although, he argued that terrorism was a global plague, he admitted that President Jonathan should have dealt decisively with the sect by using maximum force.

“Our government should do whatever it can to combine forces with diplomacy. But emphasis should be on force because if the government doesn’t deal with the insurgency now, it will rear its head tomorrow. Therefore, the time to have acted was yesterday, not today.

“But now that we’re here today, we should do whatever we can — we should use maximum force to stamp out this evil. It is evil; kidnapping innocent children, killing women and children for no reason. The government should do all it can to fully equip the soldiers, boost their morale and ensure their welfare is well taken care of”, the former presidential candidate said.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

Adamawa Election: PDP Appeal Committee Voids Fintiri’s Disqualification

The Governorship Appeal Screening Panel of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has cleared the Acting Governor of Adamawa State, Alhaji Umaru Fintiri to take part in the party’s forthcoming governorship primary in the state.

The go-ahead came on the heels of the acting governor’s insistence to contest the October 11 by-election in the state.

Fintiri got the green light on Sunday after the panel examined his complaint, which he lodged after his disqualification by the Ibrahim Mantu Screening Committee on Saturday.

Chairman of the appeal panel, Sen. James Manager, told journalists at the end of the panel sitting in Abuja on Sunday that Fintiri was free to contest the PDP governorship primary which holds on Saturday in Yola, the state capital.

The Mantu panel had disqualified Fintiri based on Section 191 (1) of the Constitution.

The section reads: “The Deputy Governor of a State shall hold the office of Governor of the State if the office of Governor becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity or removal of the governor from office for any other reason in accordance with section 188 or 189 of this constitution.

“(2) Where any vacancy occurs in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (1) of this section during a period when the office of Deputy Governor of the State is also vacant, the Speaker of the House of Assembly of the State shall hold the office of Governor of the State for a period of not more than three months, during which there shall be an election of a new Governor of the State who shall hold office for the unexpired term of office of the last holder of the office.

“(3) Where the office of the Deputy Governor becomes vacant -

“(a) by reason of death, resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity or removal in accordance with section 188 or 189 of this Constitution”.

Mr. Fintiri, who is Speaker of the House of Assembly, was sworn-in as acting governor following the impeachment of the ex-governor, Murtala Nyako and the resignation of his deputy, Barrister James Bala Ngilari.

Mantu said the acting governor was a child of circumstances, adding that it was morally wrong for him to participate in the process because he was expected to “play the role of a mid-wife and not the one carrying the pregnancy”.

But Manager, in voiding the disqualification of the acting governor from the race, said the reason given by the Mantu panel was insufficient.

He said, “We as members of the appeal panel, looked at issues particularly we took a critical look not just at the constitutional provision but the entire gamut of the 1999 constitution ‎as amended. And we have the electoral act and the PDP constitution.

“And we have come to the irresistible conclusion that the provisions as quoted by the screening panel does not affect the aspirant in this matter”.

Earlier on Sunday, Mr. Fintiri had while reacting to his disqualification, insisted that he was still in the race.

“I am still in the race”, he said and assured he will continue to mobilize for the election.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

2015: North-West PDP Meets In Kaduna, Endorses Jonathan

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in the North-West geo-political zone in Kaduna State on Sunday endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 presidential election.

The meeting of the North West PDP held at the General Hassan Katsina House, Kawo, Kaduna.

Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and his Katsina counterpart, Shehu Shema, were conspicuously missing from the meeting.

Also absent were Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and the Education Minister, Ibrahim Shekarau.

However, those who attended the meeting include the National Chairman of the Party, Adamu Mu’azu, National Organising Secretary of the party, Abubabkar Mustapha, the party Zonal Chairman, Ambassador Adamu Kazaure, Maj-Gen. Mohammed Magaro (retd), Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Mukhtar Shagari among others.

Speaking at the occasion on behalf of the governors from the zone, the Kebbi State Governor, Usman Dankingari, while addressing members, emphatically said the governors would ensure that they delivered the zone to the party.

“The zone which is the most sophisticated and populous than other parts of the North, will be delivered to the party in 2015”, Dakingari declared.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, who read the communique on behalf of the stakeholders, said President Jonathan had done a lot to deserve a second term from the people of the zone.

In his address, Mu’azu said the party, which is as “constant as the northern stars”, remains the party to beat and urged members of the party in the zone to remain united so as to deliver the zone in 2015.

The communiqué read, “Having carefully considered the steady and stable progress of our nation under the able leadership of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the stakeholders of the PDP in the North-West zone having in mind the monumental strides attained by this administration, have resolved to endorse Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to declare for president in the forthcoming 2015 elections so as to continue the good works he started. We ask for nothing less.

“Consequently, we respectfully call on the National Chairman of our party to convey this resolution and unanimous declaration of the entire leadership and membership of the PDP in the North-West zone to His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to surrender himself for the continued service to the nation”.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

Why Boko Haram Is Carrying Out Attacks Successfully

The Federal Government’s failure to exhibit strong political will in dealing with Boko Haram insurgency in the country has made the group believe it was gaining a upper hand, Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Audu-Bida (rtd) has said.

Audu-Bida, who made the disclosure, weekend, while speaking on the activities of The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS), with regards to managing disasters more proactively in the North eastern region of the country, also described the Nigerian Military as a competent force with the training, desire and capability that only needs the political support and motivation to defeat terrorism in the country.

The former Director General of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, noted that the Nigerian Airforce on its part is fully capable of dealing with the situation once and for all if allowed to.

“It is a sad thing that the terrorists group can hold us to ransom in this country with the capability of armed forces, whose exploits in Liberia and Sierra-Leone has remained a world record till today,” he said.

Speaking further, he noted that “The military capacity to deal with the terrorist threats is not in doubt, they are competent and well trained, but what is needed is the political will, even on that it is very difficult and requires cooperation of all stakeholders and arms of government, especially the National Assembly.”

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

Nasarawa House Of Assembly To Serve Governor Al-Makura Fresh Impeachment Notice

Members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly were may be plotting to issue Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura another impeachment notice any moment from today, indications have shown.

This came following an alleged constitutional breach by Chief Judge of the state, Justice Suleiman Dikko, in the composition of the probe panel that earlier cleared the governor of any wrong doing in the first impeachment notice.

National Judicial Council (NJC) had been petitioned, accusing Justice Dikko of contravening Section 188(5) of the 1999 constitution by appointing two partisan politicians and public office holder on the probe panel, reports Vanguard.

It was also said that the Assembly have drawn the attention of the NJC on other added issues on professional misconduct where the CJ was allegedly found culpable.

The petition includes a case whose judgment has been allegedly stalled by the CJ for over three years since the final submission by counsel as against the stipulated three months, citing personal interest as the motive behind the miscarriage of justice.

It is being rumoured that the CJ is expected to vacate office within the week either through suspension or any other means to pave the way for a new CJ expected to constitute a new panel of investigation.

The source, however, assured that the lawmakers were not going to interfere with the composition of the panel, but would object to any case of constitutional breach aimed at giving any party an undue advantage over another.

Also, in the new petition to be served on Governor Al-Makura, findings revealed that additional allegations have been raised against the embattled governor who only a month ago had impeachment case against him by the same Assembly thrown out for lack of evidence.

Al-Makura is alleged, in the new petition, to have spent over N300 million in excess of the N100 million approved by the lawmakers for Justice ministry for the execution of the Justice Joseph Fola Gbadeyan panel of inquiry into Alakyo killing of security operatives and other matters connected therewith.

It was claimed that as at the time of constituting the panel, over N26 million had been expended wondering how government financed the panel to the tune of N400 million. [Vanguard]

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

Dortmund sign Kagawa

Information Nigeria understands that Dortmund have signed Midfielder Shinji Kagawa from Manchester United for an undisclosed fee.

The Japanese signs a four-year contract with his former club, after ditching them for the Red Devils in 2012.

Kagawa,25, scored six goals in 57 appearances for the Manchester club but his attributes failed to land him a spot in United’s starting XI.

Having completed the switch, Kagawa said:

“I wanted to realize my Premier League dream but now i am happy to be back in Dortmund in this great team. Dortmund is like a family”

He managed to make a single appearance under Louis van Gaal in the Capital One Cup 4-0 thrashing by MK Dons.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

Chelsea sign Loic Remy

Chelsea football club have completed the signing of Queens Park Rangers striker Loic Remy.

The London club triggered a clause in the France International contract, paving way for a four-year deal.

“I feel very happy and very proud. When I heard Chelsea wanted to sign me I said ‘let’s go’ straight away because they are one of the best clubs in the world,” said Rémy. “I remember the amazing atmosphere at Stamford Bridge when I played there for Marseille and I can’t wait to play for the first time in front of my new fans.”

Arsenal were initially interested in his services, but manager Arsene Wenger pulled out of the deal.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

Sad Stuff: 9 year old boy slaps the heck out of his mum after finding her high on heroine on the street

A 9 year boy who found his mum high on heroine on the street, slapped the shit out her in a shocking video that was posted on instagram.

The distraught little boy can be heard screaming “mummy, wake up. Can you talk to me? Wake up” while the woman stares blankly at him, making him slap her again and again. Feel so sad for the child. With a mum like this, he’s probably raising himself. He shouldn’t have hit her like that but I can understand his frustration.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

Late PH doctor knew diplomat had Ebola Virus – Rivers State Govt

At a press conference on Friday evening August 29th, Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Samson Parker, said that late Dr. Iyke Enemou, who treated ECOWAS diplomat Olu Koye (pictured above), was aware that Mr Koye had the Ebola Virus Disease.

“He had received the late Dr. Patrick Sawyer in Lagos. Upon developing the symptom, confided in a female colleague, called Lilian, who contacted the late Enemuo. It was after contact was established with Dr. Enemuo that Olu Koye flew to Port Harcourt to see him. To conceal his movement, Koye, who had been quarantined among other people for having primary contact with the late Dr. Sawyer, the Liberian-American who transmuted the Ebola virus into Nigeria, sneaked out of the isolation unit where he was being observed and took a flight to Port Harcourt and switched off his phone so that he could not be reached or traced should he answer a call.” Continue…

When he got to Port Harcourt, he checked into Mandate Gardens Hotel in the Rumunokoro area in Obio/Akpor LGA which is close to Sam Steel Clinic where Dr. Enemuo worked.

“From what we have gathered so far, Dr. Enemuo, knowing that Koye was positive of the Ebola virus took some measures of precaution to protect himself while treating Koye.

“Knowing the enormity of what he was doing, Enemuo upon Koye’s departure for Lagos, poured bleach all over the room that Koye slept in order to sanitise the place.”

The commissioner revealed that Dr Enemuo, after falling ill, asked another doctor at Good Heart Hospital along Evo Road in G.R.A. to treat him, but at no point did Dr Enemuo tell his colleague that he may have contracted the Ebola virus, instead he lied that he had fever.

“He lied. He did not tell the doctor that was treating him his full story. But the doctor, a nice and conscientious professional, suspected that Enemuo was either hiding something or was suffering from a strange ailment because he proved negative to malaria, fever and typhoid fever.

“To be sure of what he was doing, he spoke to other very experienced doctors about the strange case he was handling in his hospital.”

The commissioner said the doctor treating Enemuo even invited some other doctors to come over to his hospital to see if they could understand Enemuo’s strange illness but no doctor came.

Dr. Enemuo’s health deteriorated until he died on August 22nd after which his body was taken to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

Do you agree that Kim K and Beyonce have revolutionized our generation’s view of what beautiful is?

Speaking with Access Hollywood last week, actress and singer Demi Lovato, 22, said Kim K and Beyoncé’s famous curves have helped refine beauty and made a whole generation of women see it is not all about being skinny, making it easier for women these days to accept and embrace their full figures.

“When I was growing up and when I was a pre-teen, the people that I had to look up to for body image were extremely underweight. They were all very bony at that time and that was the in thing. But now I’m glad I have curves and role models to look up to that also have curvaceous physiques.

‘I really credit women like Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian, they completely revolutionized what our generation’s view of perception of what beautiful is and I really think that they had a huge impact on that.” Demi said. You agree?

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

Photos: Child labour – Young girl made to wash truck everyday

Child abuse is not only when you hit a child, giving them hard labour is also part of child abuse. And I consider asking a young girl to wash a truck this big every day as hard labour.

According to an eyewitness report, one of her neighbours makes a young girl who lives with them who she says is between 12-15 years, to wash their truck either at night or in the morning…every single day. She says passersby only watch and complain but nobody has done anything about it. They believe her life is at risk because she tries to manage her space as other vehicles pass. This is happening at Kings Avenue, Ben Mill Road, Ojodu Berger, in case the authorities want to look into it.

Or are there people who think this is OK? See more photos

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

Putin Calls For Independence Of Easter Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sharply raised the stakes in the Ukraine conflict by calling for the first time for statehood to be considered for the restive east of the former Soviet state.

Putin’s defiant remarks came on Sunday just hours after the European Union gave Moscow — which the bloc accuses of direct involvement in the insurgency — a week to change course or face new sanctions.

“We need to immediately begin substantive talks … on questions of the political organisation of society and statehood in south-eastern Ukraine,” the Russian leader was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying.

Moscow has previously only called for greater rights under a decentralised federal system to be accorded to the eastern regions of Ukraine, where predominantly Russian-speakers live.

But Putin has this week sparked renewed speculation that he may be seeking to create a statelet in southeast Ukraine, after he employed a loaded Tsarist-era name “Novorossiya” to refer to the region.

Putin’s tough talk also comes as rebels turned the tide on advancing Ukrainian troops, by snatching a series of towns and trapping the army in some.

Kiev has warned that it was on the brink of “full-scale war” with Moscow that Europe fears would put all of the continent at risk of conflict.

The European Union agreed to take “further significant steps” if Moscow did not rein in its support for the rebels, with new sanctions to be drawn up within a week.

Kiev said the invigorated rebel push of the past days has included substantial numbers of Russian regular army contingents who are now concentrating forces in big towns across the region.

“Terrorists and Russian soldiers continue to concentrate personnel and equipment in regional centres,” said security spokesman Andriy Lysenko.

A ragtag mix of volunteer battalions and local residents were meanwhile bracing for a desperate defence of Mariupol, a strategic port city on the Azov Sea coast.

“We can hold them off, but for how long? We don’t have the strength to beat them,” said Panther, a tattooed fighter with the Azov battalion, said to be one of the most radical nationalist groups fighting in the area.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

Jonathan, African Leaders To Meet In Kenya On Joint Action Against Terrorism

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will join other African leaders in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city on Monday, to participate in a meeting of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council slated for Tuesday.

A statement by the president’s special adviser on media and publicity, Dr Reuben Abati noted that will receive and consider the report of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Terrorism and Violent Extremism in Africa.

The Nairobi meeting is a follow-up to talks by President Jonathan and other African leaders at Pretoria, South Africa in May this year on joint action against terrorism.

Deliberations at the Nairobi Summit and the adoption of the African Chairperson’s Report by President Jonathan, President Uhuru Kenyatta and other participating Heads of State are expected to lead to more collaborative actions by Nigeria and other African countries to rid the continent of acts of terrorism and violent extremism.

The President will be accompanied to the Summit by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) as well as other advisers and aides.

He is expected back in Abuja on Tuesday.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

Hold Jonathan Responsible If Ebola Spreads Further – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Nigerians must hold President Goodluck Jonathan personally responsible if the Ebola Virus Disease spreads more than it has done in the country.

The opposition party said this following Jonathan’s failure to stop a rally by Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), aimed at supporting his re-election bid, in Port Harcourt on Saturday, despite warning from individuals and groups.

“As we said in our statement of Aug. 28th 2014 calling on President Jonathan to halt the TAN rallies, especially the one in Port Harcourt, could anyone guarantee that none of those who have had contact with the medical doctor who died of the disease will attend the rally? That is why we are calling on Nigerians to hold the President responsible if Ebola spreads more than it has in the country,” APC said.

The party said shortly after it made the call for a halt to the TAN rallies, others, including the NBA and Prof. Itse Sagay, in a clearly patriotic duty, issued similar calls.

“In fact, the APC in Rivers described such a rally most appropriately as a ‘firing squad against the people’. But because he will rather be re-elected than give a damn over the safety of the same people who voted him into office, because he will rather transmogrify than transform, President Jonathan ignored all the calls and allowed the rally to hold. This is an unprecedented act of political

desperation,” it said.

APC said for those who might try to spin the issue by saying the President has no control over the organizers of the rally, they should be asked who the rallies will benefit, whose top officials, including Secretary to the Government Anyim Pius Anyim, have been attending the rallies and what is the source of the funding of the gatherings.

“The TAN rallies are government-sanctioned. The TAN rallies are the Jonathan Administration’s cunning way of beating the INEC ban on campaigns for next year’s general elections. The TAN rallies highlight the impunity of the Jonathan Administration. President Jonathan is the sole beneficiary. He can stop the rallies today, if only he wants to put the nation’s interest above his own personal interest,” the party said.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

FG Committed To Containing Ebola – Minister

Minister of State for Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan has assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s commitment to containing the Ebola virus disease in the country.

Alhassan gave this assurance while speaking with newsmen in Sokoto. He stated that the scourge had already been contained in Lagos state while a special team had been mobilised to Rivers state to contain it.

“Presently, a specialised team comprising staff members of World Health Organisation, Centre for Disease Control, Atlanta United States and Geneva and Medecin Sans Frontiers are already in Port Harcourt to address the situation.

“We are confident we have won the war in Lagos, though we still have one patient receiving attention there but we are still not out of the woods yet. So, Nigerians should remain calm, as we are adequately prepared to contain the spread of the scourge,” he said.

According to him, over 400 people were currently under strict surveillance in the country.

The Minister stated that adequate preparations had been made in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior to ensure proper checks of travellers at the border posts in the country.

Alhassan pointed out that vehicles and motorcycles had been mobilised to the borders. He acknowledged that the greatest challenge was getting the understanding of the public, especially those under quarantine.

“As of now, we want those under quarantine that were asked to remain indoors to cooperate and should remain calm because we are determined to contain the disease,” he said.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

Anti-Terrorism: Jonathan, African Leaders To Meet In Kenya Monday

President Goodluck Jonathan will travel to Nairobi, the Kenyan capital Monday to participate in a meeting of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council scheduled to hold in the East African country on Tuesday.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the Nairobi meeting is a follow-up to talks by President Jonathan and other African leaders at Pretoria, South Africa in May this year, on joint action against terrorism.

The meeting on Monday will receive and deliberate on the report of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Terrorism and Violent Extremism in Africa.

“Deliberations at the Nairobi Summit and the adoption of the African Chairperson’s Report by President Jonathan, President Uhuru Kenyatta and other participating Heads of State are expected lead to more collaborative actions by Nigeria and other African countries to rid the continent of acts of terrorism and violent extremism”, It stated

According to Abati, President Jonathan, who will be accompanied to the Nairobi Summit by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) and other advisers and aides, will return to Abuja at the conclusion of the meeting on Tuesday.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

Niger-East Senatorial By-Election Inconclusive – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Saturday’s by-election into the Niger East Senatorial District inconclusive.

The candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Shem Zagbayi Nuhu is so far leading by 89,640 votes against David Umaru of All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 84,698 votes.

Declaring the result inconclusive early Sunday, the Returning Officer for the election, Professor Wole Morenikeji, said there were problems in 7 units in 5 local government areas which rendered the results at the affected units void.

The Returning Officer said fresh election will be conducted in the affected units on Saturday September 6, before a final result of the by-election would be announced.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

Boko Haram Kill 14 In Borno Villages

At least 14 people have been killed in Jibwhiwhui village, Hawul local government area of Borno State and environs by gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram.

A resident of the area, who chose anonymity told Vanguard on phone that the gunmen stormed the villages on Thursday night and killed seven people before moving to the environs, slaughtering seven people in an operation which lasted till 5:00am on Friday.

According to the source, the gunmen arrived Jibwhiwhui at about 10:00 pm, entering houses and shooting residents dead.

An indigene of the area resident in Maiduguri said he was told that the gunmen who came on motorcycles killed seven people in Jibwhiwhui before moving to the nearby villages and killed another seven persons.

Hawul is about 220 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the state capital has been under severally deadly attacks by Boko Haram insurgents lately, but residents say military troops were yet to be deployed to the area despite their request.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

Military Operation Underway To Reclaim Gwoza From Boko Haram

A military operation is underway to reclaim Gwoza, Borno State from Boko Haram, a week after the sect proclaimed the town an Islamic Caliphate.

This is just as five of the 27 policemen who went missing during the Boko Haram seizure of the town and attack on the Nigeria Mobile Police Academy in Gwoza, have rejoined their units unhurt.

Expected to be liberated immediately from the control of the insurgents are Gwoza and 14 surrounding villages.

It was learnt that the terrorists blocked all access roads to the town prompting the Nigerian military to launch what a security source described as “fierce attacks”.

“Some active military operations are ongoing but we will not talk until we have regained the town and other villages”, the source said yesterday

“All I can tell you is that Nigerian troops are capable. They did it in Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and other places. There is no basis for not dealing with the insurgents at home.

“We have launched fierce attacks both on land and in the air. We are prepared to reclaim Gwoza from the insurgents who have become tired of Sambisa Forest because the terrain has become marshy”, the source added.

Responding to a question, the source noted that “Troops would have taken over Gwoza by now but the operation is tactical because we are sticking to the rules of engagement.

“We have discovered that the insurgents have been using most of their captives as human shield in launching attacks on troops and invasion of villages. But their antics cannot last”.

Meanwhile, the top echelon of the Nigeria Police remained optimistic that the remaining 22 police trainees would reunite with their units soon following the safe return of five others.

A source familiar with the development said: “Following the invasion of the Academy by the insurgents, some of the mobile policemen ran into the bush and they have been trying to find their path in the last few days.

“Do not forget that some of them are not used to the Gwoza terrain because they are not from the area. They also have to navigate their ways in such a manner that they will not fall victims of Boko Haram.

“Most often, those who survived Boko Haram attacks have been linking up with their different units through Adamawa State”, the source explained.

When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, said: “Five of the policemen have returned safely to their stations. Some may have gone back but yet to officially report.

“Let me assure you that we will recover the Academy in Gwoza from the insurgents, we are not giving in at all”, Mr. Ojukwu said.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

Eleven Policemen Dismissed Over Extra-Judicial Killing Of UNICAL Student

Eleven policemen attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Cross River State Police Command have been dismissed from service after an orderly room trial found them guilty of extra judicial killing.

The 11 dismissed policemen and three senior officers (names withheld) were indicted for the extra judicial killing of a 300-level student in the Department of Accounting, University of Calabar, Derek Maurice-Enang, and five others.

The slain student and five others were killed on April 17, 2014 in an alleged gun duel with the police at Akpabuyo Local Government Area of the state. Their cadaver was sold to the Anatomy Department of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for N11, 000 each.

But a top police source at the Zone Six Police Command, who disclosed the news of their dismissal, said after the trial there was no evidence linking those killed to allegations of robbery.

He said, “The judgment has been handed down on them. Throughout the trial, there was no evidence linking the people that were killed to allegations of robbery by the detained policemen against the deceased. It was clear that the accused policemen are not innocent of the accusations. They are all still in detention awaiting their arraignment in Court.”

A committee set up by the outgoing Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone Six, Calabar, Mr. Musa Daura, had indicted the policemen over their involvement in the death of Derek and others.

It was gathered that Daura had on Saturday finally signed their dismissal from the force.

When contacted, the Zone Six Public Relation Officer, Mr. Ibrahim Tasiu, said he had yet to get the details of the dismissal because he had not been in the office in the last two weeks due to ill health.

Also, the Police Public Relations Officer in charge of the Cross River State command, Mr. Hogan Bassey, declined comment on the matter, saying the matter had gone beyond the command.

However, speaking on the development, Derek’s mother, Mrs. Enoh Maurice-Enang, expressed appreciation to the Zone Six Police Command and the Cross River Ministry of Justice for following up the matter.

She was particularly thankful to the outgoing AIG Zone Six, Daura, and the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kola Sodipo for their cooperation and efforts so far, urging them to ensure that the dismissed corps were prosecuted in court.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..

15 Chibok Girls Awarded Scholarships To Study At American University Of Nigeria Academy

Some of the Chibok schoolgirls, who escaped fro‎m their Boko Haram abductors have been awarded scholarships to attend the American University Nigeria Academy, AUN, Yola, Adamawa State.

The girls, 15 of them, were amongst over 250 school girls lured from their hostels at the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, into captivity on the night of April 14, by Boko Haram gunmen disguised as Nigerian soldiers on a rescue mission.

At least 50 of the girls managed to escape while the rest have remained in captivity more than four months after with their fate uncertain.

The girls were preparing to write their WAEC when they were khttp://www.informationng.com/wp-admin/post-new.php#idnapped.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is the founder of AUN, said he and some unnamed individuals have awarded 15 of the escaped girls scholarships.

“‎1‎5 of the #ChibokGirls who escaped have been admitted into AUN Academy on a scholarship”, Mr. Atiku tweeted.

“My sincere thanks to the good spirited individuals and friends who raised funds for this worthy cause. #BringBackOurGirls‎”, he added.

The former vice president also tweeted pictures of the girls receiving instructions from a white woman in what looks like a classroom setting.

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Aftermath Of Osun Election, Labour Party Blames Defeat On Members Who Collected Rice, Money

LP CANDIDATE, MR. FATAI AKINBADE CASTING HIS VOTE IN THE AUG.9 POLL

The Labour Party in Osun State has reacted to the outcome of the governorship election where it placed a distant third.

A statement issued Sunday, three weeks after the polls, quoted Tunde Olatunji, the State APC Chairman, as attributing the poor showing of the party to those he claimed engaged in anti-party activities occasioned by material inducements.

The statement, which was by Kayode Oladeji, media aide to the LP gubernatorial candidate, quoted Mr. Olatunji as saying: “Just because of rice and N5, 000, some of our members here mortgaged their future. If I may ask: Where is the rice, the kerosene or the money they collected?”

The LP candidate in the August 9 election, Fatai Akinbade, polled 8,898 votes to finish third, behind Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, (292,747 votes) and Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate (394,684 votes).

Mr. Olatunji, however, noted that the party would not allow the result to cause a setback for the LP.

“For us it is no retreat, no surrender. We are surely marching forward it is just a question of time”, he said.

The statement urged members of the party across the state not to be demoralized by the outcome of the election.

Speaking to party officials at his Ogbaagbaa country home in Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Akinbade appealed to the party members not to be discouraged by the outcome of the August 9 election.

“We were never disgraced. We fought gallantly and as such, our heads remain unbowed. We are just barely seven months in this party and like you all know, we faced challenges”, the statement quoted the LP candidate as saying.

“So I will just urge us to be steadfast. Failure is never final; the battle continues”, he added.

Mr. Akinbade also used the occasion to debunk rumours that he was crossing over to the APC, saying he will remain in Labour Party, and help build it to enviable heights.

“I am not moving into APC or any other party. I am staying put in the LP to rebuild it. The party has a bright future. My rumoured and imaginary movement to any other party now is just rubbish and that is why I said we shall participate fully under the LP, in the coming election”, he said.

On the presidential candidate to be supported in the 2015 general election, Mr. Akinbade said it was the LP national secretariat that would give directive on who to support.

“On the coming presidential election, it is whoever our party in Abuja directs us to work for if we don’t have candidate”, he said.

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2015 Election: APGA Inaugurates ‘Join Jonathan Journey’, Says President Deserves Second Term

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Saturday declared support for President Goodluck Jonathan to run for a second term in 2015.

The party made the declaration at a rally and inauguration of Join Jonathan Journey (JJJ), NGO, at Ekwueme Square, Awka.

Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra said the rally was to endorse and encourage Jonathan to seek re-election in 2015.

Obiano, however, said the party would field candidates for other elective positions during the 2015 polls.

He said the party would not give automatic ticket to anyone apart from the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, who would run for the Anambra Central Senatorial seat.

On his part, Umeh explained that the endorsement of Jonathan for a re-election was supported by all the national executive council members of the party.

Umeh said the conduct of free and fair elections in Ekiti and Osun states under the president was an indication that democracy had come to stay in the country.

“He needs to be re-elected for another four years. We have seen his striking humility and calmness in dealing with the affairs of the country”, he said.

The APGA boss assured that his party was in firm control of structures in the state and would be in the position to ensure victory for President Jonathan.

According to him, the 21 local council chairmen and 318 councillors in the state are in support of the call for Jonathan’s re-election

Former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani and former Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Josephine Anenih, commended APGA for supporting Jonathan.

They stressed the need for unity and peace in the South-East geo-political zone to move forward as a people.

The Director-General of JJJ, Chief Ben Oranusi, said the organisation was the vision of Igbo people to ensure the re-election of Jonathan, who he described as “good brand”.

“The base for JJJ is the Igbo race. We do not claim to have the entire nation but will carry our campaigns to other states of the federation”, he said. (NAN)

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National eID Card Scheme To Address Identity Theft, Criminal Vices

With the launch of the new National electronic identity card scheme , there may not be a hiding place again for unscrupulous Nigerians engaging in identity theft and other criminal vices that have been threatening Nigeria’s national interests and growth



For one thing, the scheme which is expected to signal the start of Africa’s largest financial inclusion, according to keen observers, would end the regime of duplication of biometric data bases in the country.

Interestingly, by using the card as a payment tool, Nigerians can deposit funds, receive social benefits, save, or engage in many other financial transactions that are facilitated by electronic payments with the extra security assurance that biometric verification provides.

Jonathan-e-ID-CardHowever, upon completion of the pilot program, the Nigerian Identity Management Commission (NIMC), it was learnt was planning to introduce more than 100 million cards to Nigeria’s 167 million citizens.

In the pilot phase, however, the Nigerian Identity Management Commission (NIMC) will issue MasterCard-branded identity cards with electronic payments functionality to 13 million Nigerians.

This initiative is the largest rollout of a biometric-based verification card with an electronic payment solution in the country and by extension, the broadest financial inclusion program in Africa.

Accordingly, the eID card forms a key component of the Nigerian Identity Management System, deployed by NIMC as part of its mandate to create, maintain and operate the country’s first central National Identity Database and provide proof of identity to Nigerians 16 years and older.

With 13 applications, including MasterCard’s prepaid payment technology and Cryptovision’s biometric identification technology, the eID card is expected to provide millions of Nigerians with the security, convenience and reliability of electronic payments.

Speaking at the formal Launch of the Issuance Process for the National Electronic Identity Card (E-Id Card) in Abuja, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, with optimism said that the new e-card era would address identity related theft and other criminal activities affecting socio-economic development of the country. According to him, the scheme would build a window to a social security benefit system, adding that it is a card every Nigerian should get.

Already, President Jonathan had received his National eID card, heralding the official launch of the eID pilot program.

“The regime of duplication of Biometric data bases must now have to give way to harmonization and unification with the e-ID scheme, which shall be the primary data base.

“Proliferation and duplication of efforts is neither cost effective, nor security-smart. It is important to remove obstacles that may impede the NIMC from the discharge of its constitutional functions and statutory obligations.

“The combination of intricate security features and other multiple functions in the e-ID Card, improving its functionality and versatility is also significant.

“Such high standard will help create economic and employment opportunities, consistent with our commitment to National Transformation,” he explained

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Adamawa Governorship By-Election: Why Acting Gov. Fintiri Was Disqualified – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has explained that allowing the Adamawa State acting governor, Ahmadu Umar Fintiri, to contest its primary next week, ahead of the state’s governorship by-election in October, would contravene the Constitution.

The party announced Mr. Fintiri’s disqualification Saturday, saying the decision was taken on “moral grounds”.

Speaking later to reporters, the chairman of the PDP screening committee and former Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, said Mr. Fintiri’s aspiration would be a violation of Section 191 (2) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.

The section explains the circumstance under which the Speaker of a State House of Assembly can govern a state in acting capacity where a vacancy exist in which both the governor and his deputy have vacated office.

The section states: “Where any vacancy occurs in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (1) of this section during a period when the office of Deputy Governor of the State is also vacant, the Speaker of the House of Assembly of the State shall hold the office of Governor of the State for a period of not more than three months, during which there shall be an election of a new Governor of the State who shall hold office for the unexpired term of office of the last holder of the office”.

Mr. Fintiri, who is Speaker, became the acting governor after the state assembly impeached former Governor Murtala Nyako and his Deputy, Bala Ngillari, resigned.

According to Mr. Mantu, Fintiri’s role as acting governor is to ensure a smooth transition and a free and fair poll.

He said the duty of the acting governor “is to play the role of a midwife and not the one carrying the pregnancy”.

“Of all the contestants only one aspirant was found short of the requirement to contest the poll and his name is Ahmadu Umar Fintiri,” he said, adding that “Section 191 (2) does not permit anyone to transit from acting to substantial governor, he is not a deputy governor”.

He continued: “Fintiri is not qualified because he is not like a deputy governor, but a child of circumstances. He is like a midwife and not seen as the one carrying the baby. His role should be somebody who should ensure a free and fair election. But he can appeal”.

The appeal committee is expected to review the screening today.

Those cleared to participate at the primary election slated for Saturday, 6 September in Yola, the Adamawa State capital are former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu; former Military administrator of Lagos and Borno states, Buba Marwa; and Former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Ahmed Modibbo.

Others are, former political adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak; former Presidential aide, Umar Ardo; former acting governor, James Barka; Andrawus Sawa, and former Senator Abubakar Girei.

Also cleared are former Minister of External Affairs, Idi Hong; Awwal Tukur, Markus Gundiri, Jerry Kumdisi and Aliyu Kama.

The committee screened the aspirants to ascertain their commitment and loyalty to the party, verify their membership card and party dues, as well as tax clearance among others.

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Slain Abia Commissioner Buried

KENNETH NWOSU

The Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, said those who killed the State’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Kenneth Nwosu, had also been killed by security operatives in gun battle near Ikwuano.

Mr. Orji made this known at the funeral service for the late Nwosu held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Amizi-Olokoro, on Friday.

“Nwosu was shot by kidnappers. He was shot twice for resisting an attempt to kidnap him.

“They shot him in the thigh and later in his abdomen when he resisted attempts by the kidnappers to bundle him into their car”, he said.

He said a medical team, led by Austin Mbanaso, the Chief Medical Director of State Specialist and Diagnostic Centre, Umuahia, made frantic efforts to save his life to no avail.

Mr. Orji said that Mr. Nwosu distinguished himself as an agriculture expert and acquitted himself as a commissioner by bringing remarkable transformation to the ministry.

He said that the state was beginning to reap from his wealth of experience before death struck.

The governor promised to appoint another person from Olokoro as commissioner.

In his sermon, Ugochukwu Ezeoke, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Ecclesiastic Province of Aba, said the deceased lived a life of service to God and humanity.

He said those who killed him dashed the hopes and expectations of the people as he made positive impact on the lives of the people that came across him.

Mr. Nwosu retired as Executive Director, National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike in Abia before his appointment as commissioner.

He was killed by gunmen on July 9 while returning to his home at about 8.30 pm.

(NAN)

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Jonathan Should Be Given All The Support He Needs To Have A Second Term – Kuku

KINGSLEY KUKU

Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, has urged people in the South West region to vote en masse for President Goodluck Jonathan if he presents himself for re-election in 2015.

Jonathan’s victory, he noted, would ensure fairness, justice and equity in the nation’s political landscape.

Speaking with reporters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Kuku said: “The whole world can see what President Jonathan is doing and many Nigerians can testify to it. On behalf of 1.6 million voters in Ondo State and four million indigenes of Ondo State, we pledge our support for Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, because within the last 10 years, he has occupied so many positions and have left good legacies there”.

Kuku, who is also the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, said the recent efforts being made by the federal government to rehabilitate the Lagos/Ibadan expressway and provide jobs for the youth has demonstrated the president’s passion for the people of Southwest.

He faulted those opposing the president’s re-election due to the insecurity challenges confronting the country, adding, “We should not just vote based on popularity; we should imbibe the principles of fairness, justice and equity and allow others to have opportunity when that opportunity comes around, and I still maintain that position, that Jonathan should be given all the support that he needs to have a second term, because as far as I’m concerned, there are challenges, yes, but he is doing the best that he can to make this country a better place for us”.

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Adamawa APC: Fintiri’s Disqualification Right Step In Right Direction

The Adamawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has hailed the Peoples Democratic Party for disqualifying the state acting governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, saying it is a right step in the right direction.

The state publicity secretary of APC, Phineas Padio, said the action is a deserved treatment for “a traitor”, as Fintiri’s actions over time have shown he felt no compunction to betray people that assisted him.

According to Padio, Nyako singlehandedly helped Fintiri to become a member of the House of Assembly when his people rejected him only for him to come back and impeach the governor in order to take-over his office.

His words: “Despite all what Nyako did for him, Fintiri turned against Governor Nyako by spearheading the impeachment of the then speaker, Sadiq Dasin, who was loyal to Nyako. The governor had wanted the speakership slot to be given to the Central zone in order to balance the power equation in the state. Nyako as governor was from the South, his deputy Ngillari was from the north, while Speaker Dasin was from the Central.

“After the removal of Mr Dasin, Fintiri took over the speakership despite being from the North, where the deputy governor hails from and later impeached the governor just to succeed him.”

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Boko Haram Funds Channeled Through CBN, Says Australian Hostage Negotiator

DR. STEPHEN DAVIS

Not done yet with linking some prominent Nigerians with the sponsorship of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, an Australian negotiator has revealed that a large chunk of the finances of the terrorist organization may have been funneled through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The Australian, Dr. Stephen Davis, who purportedly has access to the terrorist group and was in Nigeria for four months trying to negotiate with Boko Haram to release the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls, said commanders of the sect told him a senior CBN official was fully involved in the funding of the insurgency.

In a phone interview from Australia with TheCable, his first with a Nigerian journalist, Davis said Western countries could not trace the majority of the source of funding to Boko Haram because “it is done through a legal channel, through the gatekeeper, the CBN, and that makes it very easy to cover up”.

He said Boko Haram commanders told him a senior CBN official, who currently works in the bank’s currency operations division, was the one handling the financial dealings of the sect.

“One of the biggest of suppliers of arms and military uniforms to the JAS (Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, better known as Boko Haram) currently lives in Cairo, Egypt. He is the recipient of money sent by political sponsors from Nigeria. The funds go through the CBN’s financial system and appear to be a legal transaction.

“Meanwhile, the CBN official who handles the funding is an uncle to three of those arrested in connection with the Nyanya bombings. The three boys lived with him. They were arrested by the SSS (Department of State Security) after the bombings but they do not seem to have been interrogated about their uncle in CBN. Or if they have given up information about their uncle then the SSS has not moved against him”, Davis said.

He added that “a senior official of CBN, who recently left the bank, was very close to Sodiq Aminu Ogwuche, the mastermind of the Nyanya bombings, who also schooled in Sudan”.

“Boko haram commanders said Ogwuche’s wife used to visit this top official in his office at the headquarters of the bank in Abuja before the Nyanya bombings. They were very close”, Davis added.

The Australian negotiator said he decided to come out to speak now because the Nigerian authorities seemed not to be acting fast enough and he was heart-broken by the evils being perpetrated against the kidnapped Chibok girls and the many other girls and boys being held by Boko Haram.

“I have three daughters. I just cannot stand the thought of what those girls are passing through. I have spoken to an escapee who described how she was being defiled for 40 days by militants. I can’t stand it. It is heart-breaking. Nigerian authorities must act decisively now”, he said, revealing that he spent “days and weeks” with commanders of Boko Haram in the north-east during his time in Nigeria.

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