14022018 - Workers flee as herdsmen overrun LG offices in Ondo

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018
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Boko Haram membership thinning
out — Buhari
•How FG’ll completely dismantle
A BUJA—PRESIDENT
Muhammadu Buhari,
yesterday, in Abuja said the
era of Boko Haram terrorism
was gradually drawing to
end, with the narrowing of the
recruitment base of the
insurgents, and renewed
onslaught by Nigerian Army.
The President spoke on a
day his Minister of
Information and Culture,
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said
the Federal Government was
developing narratives and
communication strategies to
completely dismantle and
neutralise Boko Haram
violent ideology and
messages.
Receiving the Letter of
Credence of Apostolic Nuncio
of the Holy See to Nigeria,
Antonio Filipazzi, at State
House, President Buhari said
the terrorist group had lost
appeal in its initial
strongholds, necessitating a
steady retreat that would
eventually culminate in
ending the insurgency.
He said: “You can’t
indoctrinate people who are
below the age of 14 years and
blow up churches, mosques,
markets and you keep
shouting God is great.
“It is either you don’t know
what you are saying, or you
simply don’t care or believe
what you are saying. It is part
of our success story that Boko
Haram is finding it more
difficult to recruit people.
“The Nigerian Army is also
not making it easy for them
to grow, with more
intelligence, orientation and
regular, measured onslaught
on their camps.’’
The president said the
ongoing effort to dismember
the terrorist group, and render
it completely powerless
would be intensified.
Buhari, who described the
Catholic Church as a strong
partner in the development
of Nigeria, noted that the
church had made very
significant contributions to the
development of the
educational and health
system of the country.
In his remarks, Filipazzi
said Pope Francis had taken
a keen interest in the fight
against terrorism, corruption
and reviving of the Nigerian
economy.
“Mr. President, the Holy
Father, sends his warm
greetings and he is keen to
denounce corruption
everywhere,” he added.
How FG’ll
completely
dismantle Boko
Haram — Minister
Meanwhile, speaking at
the public presentation of
"Poicy Framework and
National Action Plan for
Preventing and Countering
Violent Extremism," Minister
of Information and Culture,
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said
the Federal Government was
developing narratives and
communication strategies to
completely dismantle and
neutralise the Boko Haram
violent ideology and
messages.
The minister said although
the terrorists had been
defeated and now on the run,
Boko Haram — Minister
the challenge of countering
their violent ideology
remained.
“We are committed to
developing narratives and
communication strategies that
will completely dismantle
and neutralise the Boko
Haram ideology and
messages.
“Thanks to the leadership
and political will
demonstrated by President
Muhammadu Buhari, which
has served as a morale
booster for our gallant men
and women in uniform, Boko
Haram has been decimated
and put on the run by our
gallant military."
PRIZE PRESENTATION: From left, Executive Director, Retail
Banking, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Mr. Olu Akanmu;
Country Manager, Nigeria & West Africa of Virgin Atlantic Airline,
Mr. Samuel Lindfield; a winner of the FCMB & Virgin Atlantic Staff
Reward Scheme, Mr. Oritsesola Megbele; Managing Director of
FCMB, Mr. Adam Nuru and Head of Sales, Virgin Atlantic Airline
in Nigeria, Mrs. Omolola Kufile, during the prize presentation
ceremony to the winners, in Lagos.
Patience Jonathan wants
out-of-court settlement with EFCC
FORMER First Lady,
Mrs Patience Jonathan,
appears to be tired of
fighting Economic and
Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, in
court and has asked for an
out-of-court settlement.
In a January 30, 2018
letter, entitled, “Proposal
for out-of-court settlement
of all cases related to Dame
(Mrs.) Ibifaka Patience
Jonathan,” Mrs. Jonathan
told the EFCC of her
intention to settle the
matter, the News Agency of
Nigeria reported yesterday.
The letter, which was
written by her counsel,
Ifedayo Adedipe, is being
considered by the EFCC.
The letter said: “As senior
counsel, representing
Dame (Mrs.) Patience
Jonathan (former First
Lady) and companies
linked to her and some
family members, associates,
companies and NGOs, we
have thought it fit to
engage your commission
in a discussion over all
issues involving her and
the commission with a view
to having amicable
resolution of all cases as
stated above.
“This will enable both
sides create an atmosphere
for mutual understanding
and peaceful coexistence.
We will, therefore,
appreciate it, if you can
give us an appointment at
your earliest convenience to
have a discussion over all
matters involving her and
members of her family.
“We believe that an
amicable settlement will be
in the best interest of both
your commission and our
client.
“We assure you of our
utmost commitment and
sincerity of purpose in this
connection, and we solicit
your cooperation in this
regard. Please, accept the
assurances of our warm
regards.”
The news agency, NAN,
said the letter came as
EFCC stumbled on more
startling information on
how Mrs. Jonathan piled
up dollar deposits in Skye
and First banks, including
how she lavished part of the
money.
Alleged illegal appointments in
NNPC: Court hears suit against
Buhari, Baru, March 28
By Ikechukwu
Nnochiri
A BUJA—ABUJA
Division of the Federal
High Court, yesterday, fixed
March 28 to begin hearing
on a suit accusing President
Muhammadu Buhari of
approving illegal
appointments in Nigerian
National Petroleum
Corporation, NNPC.
The suit, which was lodged
before the court by a
constitutional lawyer, Mr.
Johnmary Jideobi, has been
assigned to Justice Ahmed
Mohammed for hearing.
Aside President Buhari,
other defendants in the suit
marked FHC/ABJ/CS/990/
2017 are Group Managing
Director of NNPC, Dr.
Maikanti Baru; NNPC, and
its Board of Directors.
The plaintiff is praying the
court to declare that it was
unconstitutional for
President Buhari to
unilaterally approve
appointments or any form of
re-organisation in the
Senate probes scarcity of lower
denomination currency notes
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA— THE Senate
has begun a probe into
why banks in Nigeria no
longer dispense lower
naira denominations, with
the excuse that they hardly
receive them from the
Central Bank of Nigeria,
CBN.
Consequently, the Senate
warned that if the situation
was not remedied urgently,
it might lead to total
collapse of the economy.
Against this backdrop,
the Senate mandated its
Committee on Banking,
Insurance and Other
Financial Institutions, led
by Senator Rafiu Adebayo
Ibrahim (APC, Kwara
South) to urgently carry out
a holistic investigation into
the matter, with a view to
proffering lasting solution
on the matter and report
back within two weeks.
Resolution of the Senate,
yesterday, was sequel to a
motion by Senator Peter
Nwaoboshi (PDP, Delta
North), entitled “Scarcity of
Lower Denomination
Currency Notes.”
Presenting the motion,
Nwaoboshi said: “The
Senate notes with serious
concern, protracted scarcity
of lower Naira
denominations.
“It is concerned that
scarcity of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100
and 200 naira notes poses
a severe threat to the
economy of the nation,
which is just recovering
from recession, as it is
worsening inflationary
trends, with attendant
consequences;
“It notes that the nation’s
currency is highly essential
and critical in national
development and if
mismanaged, the economy
is doomed with adverse
effect on the people and the
nation;
“It is worried that banks
in Nigeria no longer
dispense lower naira
denominations with the
excuse that they hardly
receive them from the
Central Bank of Nigeria,
CBN."
NNPC without input and
consideration of its Board of
Directors.
Among other things, the
Abuja-based legal
practitioner asked the court
to determine, among other
things, “whether in view of
section 2 subsection (1) of
the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation Act,
Laws of the Federation of
Nigeria, 2004, as amended,
read alongside Section 5(1)
(a) of the amended 1999
Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, either
of the 1st Defendant or the
4th Defendant (Baru and
Buhari), is entitled in law to
unilaterally make or approve
appointments into any
position within the Nigerian
National Petroleum
Corporation (the 2nd
Defendant herein) or any
other form of reorganization
in the 2nd Defendant,
without the prior input,
consideration and approval
of the Board of Directors of
the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation [the
3rd Defendant herein)?"
Boko Haram: Shekau on
the run dressed as
woman —Army
By Joseph
Erunke
A BUJA—THE
Nigerian Army said,
yesterday, that Abubakar
Shekau, factional leader of
Boko Haram terrorists group,
has fled the Sambisa forest,
following its troops’ intense
raid in the area to completely
dislodge the terrorists.
But the Army said the
terrorists’ leader disguised as
a woman to flee the area.
The troops of Operation
Lafiya Dole, in statement
relayed to the media through
Army spokesman, Brigadier-
General Sani Usman, said
Shekau was on the run,
disguising as a woman in
different hijab attires.
It said credible information
from surrendered insurgents
indicated that the factional
leader of the group could not
sustain the tempo of the heat
of the ongoing counterinsurgency
going on in the
forest.
Usman added that the
troops also rescued civilians
being held hostages by the
terrorists and recovered arms,
ammunition, improvised
explosives devices, IEDs,
making materials as well as
other equipment.
The statement read: “The
concerted efforts of troops of
Operation Lafiya Dole on the
ongoing clearance of the
Boko Haram terrorists
through Operation Deep
Punch II has been yielding
tremendous results.
“Credible information from
arrested and surrendered
insurgents indicated that the
purported Boko Haram
terrorists group factional
leader, Abubakar Shekau,
could not bear the heat
anymore as he has
abandoned his followers, he
is running for his dear life.
“He is desperately trying
to escape the theatre
disguised as a woman
dressed in Hijab. We
reliably gathered that to
avoid detection, Abubakar
Shekau alternates between
blue and black coloured
hijabs".