14022018 - Workers flee as herdsmen overrun LG offices in Ondo
Vanguard Newspaper 14 February 2018
Vanguard Newspaper 14 February 2018
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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018—9<br />
:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />
FG h<strong>as</strong> spent N1.2trn to support<br />
states —Os<strong>in</strong>bajo<br />
By Boluwaji<br />
Obahopo<br />
LOKOJA<br />
—Vice<br />
President Yemi<br />
Os<strong>in</strong>bajo, yesterday, said<br />
the Federal Government<br />
h<strong>as</strong> supported 36 states of<br />
the federation with N1.19<br />
trillion <strong>as</strong> at September<br />
2017.<br />
He also disclosed that the<br />
Federal Government had<br />
f<strong>in</strong>ally resolved all legal<br />
issues hold<strong>in</strong>g down<br />
Ajaokuta Iron and Steel<br />
Complex.<br />
Os<strong>in</strong>bajo said the funds<br />
were made available to<br />
enable state governments<br />
meet the challenges of<br />
shortage of funds for the<br />
execution of programmes<br />
<strong>in</strong> their respective states.<br />
The vice president, who<br />
stated this at the maiden<br />
Kogi State Economic and<br />
Investment Summit <strong>in</strong><br />
Lokoja, said the funds had<br />
enabled some state<br />
governments to embark on<br />
capital expenditures.<br />
Accord<strong>in</strong>g to him, the<br />
funds were made available<br />
through the excess crude<br />
account, Paris Club refund,<br />
loans, among others, to the<br />
states.<br />
He expla<strong>in</strong>ed that parts<br />
of the funds were the<br />
entitlements of the state<br />
that they legally had access<br />
to, while some of them were<br />
loans to be repaid.<br />
He noted that the present<br />
adm<strong>in</strong>istration had the<br />
highest capital<br />
expenditures <strong>in</strong> two years,<br />
add<strong>in</strong>g that these were<br />
evident <strong>in</strong> the ongo<strong>in</strong>g<br />
railway l<strong>in</strong>e construction,<br />
road constructions and<br />
hydro power projects,<br />
among others.<br />
He said the Kogi<br />
Economic Summit came at<br />
the right time that the<br />
country w<strong>as</strong> try<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
reduce its dependence on<br />
oil and <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>e its non oil<br />
<strong>in</strong>come with the promotion<br />
of agriculture and the<br />
abundant solid m<strong>in</strong>eral<br />
resources across the<br />
country.<br />
On Ajaokuta steel<br />
complex, Os<strong>in</strong>bajo said the<br />
government also revived<br />
110 megawatt electricity<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g generated at the steel<br />
plant and connected to the<br />
national grid, add<strong>in</strong>g that<br />
the technical <strong>as</strong>pect to the<br />
steel complex w<strong>as</strong> already<br />
function<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
He also said the rail l<strong>in</strong>es<br />
lead<strong>in</strong>g to the steel<br />
complex would be<br />
constructed <strong>as</strong> works at<br />
Itape had also commenced.<br />
On the issue of dredg<strong>in</strong>g<br />
of River Niger, Os<strong>in</strong>bajo<br />
said it had been done and<br />
that it would <strong>as</strong>sist the steel<br />
company when it comes on<br />
stream.<br />
The state governor,<br />
Yahaya Bello, said the<br />
summit w<strong>as</strong> packaged to<br />
change the identity of the<br />
27 years old state from a<br />
civil service state to an<br />
<strong>in</strong>dustrialised one.<br />
He said his<br />
•Says FG h<strong>as</strong> resolved all legal<br />
issues hold<strong>in</strong>g down Ajaokuta steel<br />
adm<strong>in</strong>istration had <strong>in</strong> the<br />
l<strong>as</strong>t two years, prepared the<br />
ground for economic and<br />
<strong>in</strong>dustrial breakthroughs<br />
for the state by solv<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
problems that had been<br />
h<strong>in</strong>der<strong>in</strong>g economic<br />
growth <strong>in</strong> the state.<br />
Bello said the state w<strong>as</strong><br />
now safe for <strong>in</strong>vestors and<br />
<strong>in</strong>vestments, add<strong>in</strong>g that<br />
the problem of security had<br />
been tackled.<br />
PRESENTATION: From left, Mr. Grama Nar<strong>as</strong>imhan, Executive<br />
Director, Retail & Consumer Bank<strong>in</strong>g, Sterl<strong>in</strong>g Bank; Ms. Evelyn<br />
Nwaokolo, Emirates Holidays Nigeria; Mr. Ob<strong>in</strong>na Henry Ezeanyim,<br />
w<strong>in</strong>ner of International Holiday Trip to Dubai; Ms. Eniola Obe,<br />
Regional Bus<strong>in</strong>ess Executive and Mr. Henry B<strong>as</strong>sey, Chief<br />
Market<strong>in</strong>g Officer, both of Sterl<strong>in</strong>g Bank Plc, dur<strong>in</strong>g the Sterl<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Bank 1dament promo prize presentation to w<strong>in</strong>ners of International<br />
Vacation, <strong>in</strong> Lagos, yesterday.<br />
Benue kill<strong>in</strong>gs: Herdsmen agree<br />
to ce<strong>as</strong>e fire<br />
By Peter Duru<br />
M AKURDI—PEACE<br />
may f<strong>in</strong>ally return to<br />
Benue State <strong>as</strong> <strong>herdsmen</strong><br />
attack<strong>in</strong>g parts of the state<br />
have agreed to lay down their<br />
arms and abide by the<br />
provisions of the Benue<br />
Open Graz<strong>in</strong>g Prohibition<br />
Law.<br />
They, however, <strong>as</strong>ked for<br />
more time to help them<br />
adapt to the new policy <strong>as</strong><br />
well <strong>as</strong> resort to graz<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
the graz<strong>in</strong>g reserves already<br />
developed <strong>in</strong> the Northern<br />
parts of the country.<br />
This position w<strong>as</strong> reached<br />
at the end of the meet<strong>in</strong>g by<br />
the <strong>herdsmen</strong>, stakeholders<br />
and governors of Benue and<br />
N<strong>as</strong>arawa states with<br />
members of Technical Sub<br />
Committee of National<br />
Economic Council<br />
Committee mediat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the<br />
<strong>herdsmen</strong> and farmers crisis<br />
<strong>in</strong> Benue, N<strong>as</strong>arawa,<br />
Adamawa and Taraba states,<br />
headed by Governor Dave<br />
Umahi of Ebonyi State.<br />
Address<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
media,yesterday, at the end<br />
of its <strong>as</strong>signment <strong>in</strong><br />
Makurdi, chairman of the<br />
committee, Governor Umahi<br />
said the team had successful<br />
meet<strong>in</strong>gs with all the parties<br />
<strong>in</strong> Benue and N<strong>as</strong>arawa<br />
states.<br />
Reel<strong>in</strong>g out the decisions<br />
reached at the end of the<br />
mediation talks, Governor<br />
Umahi said: “We observed<br />
•Accept Benue graz<strong>in</strong>g law,<br />
but <strong>as</strong>k for more time<br />
that all the parties are will<strong>in</strong>g<br />
to make peace and we are<br />
look<strong>in</strong>g at the conditions and<br />
suggestions of the various<br />
groups handed over to us <strong>as</strong><br />
the way forward to hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />
peace.<br />
“From discussions, it w<strong>as</strong><br />
agreed by the parties that<br />
Benue State h<strong>as</strong> the right to<br />
make laws and that<br />
<strong>in</strong>dividuals or group of<br />
people that are <strong>in</strong> the state<br />
have a duty to obey the law.<br />
“They also have a duty to<br />
meet with the authorities of<br />
the law to dialogue on any<br />
section of the law that they<br />
believe will not favour them.<br />
“We have agreed, from all<br />
parties to this unfortunate<br />
matter, that we will pursue<br />
peace, disarm any group that<br />
is harbour<strong>in</strong>g militia and<br />
support the security chiefs to<br />
arrest anyone found with<br />
illegal weapons.<br />
“The security people have<br />
also vowed that <strong>in</strong>l<strong>in</strong>e with<br />
the directive they have,<br />
anybody with illegal<br />
weapon must be arrested, no<br />
matter who the person is.<br />
“The cheer<strong>in</strong>g news is that<br />
the <strong>herdsmen</strong> <strong>in</strong> Benue and<br />
N<strong>as</strong>arawa states are will<strong>in</strong>g<br />
to abide by the Open<br />
Graz<strong>in</strong>g Prohibition Law of<br />
Benue State but they would<br />
need more time for ranch<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and support from the Federal<br />
Government to move <strong>in</strong>to<br />
graz<strong>in</strong>g reserves."<br />
OPL 245 ownership dispute: Abacha h<strong>as</strong> no c<strong>as</strong>e with us,<br />
EFCC tells court<br />
By Ikechukwu<br />
Nnochiri<br />
A<br />
B U J A —<br />
ECONOMIC<br />
and F<strong>in</strong>ancial Crimes<br />
Commission, EFCC,<br />
yesterday persuaded the<br />
Abuja Division of the<br />
Federal High Court to<br />
strike out its name from a<br />
suit the eldest son of late<br />
military head of state,<br />
Mohammed Abacha, filed<br />
to reclaim ownership of<br />
disputed Oil Prospect<strong>in</strong>g<br />
License, OPL, 245.<br />
EFCC, through its<br />
lawyer, Mr. J. A.<br />
Ojogbane, told the court<br />
that the suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/<br />
201/2017, did not disclose<br />
any cause of action aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />
it.<br />
The agency ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
that it w<strong>as</strong> not <strong>in</strong> anyway<br />
l<strong>in</strong>ked with any of the<br />
reliefs the pla<strong>in</strong>tiff is<br />
seek<strong>in</strong>g from the court with<br />
respect to the controversial<br />
oil block.<br />
It, therefore, moved the<br />
court to uphold a<br />
prelim<strong>in</strong>ary objection it<br />
filed on May 18, 2017,<br />
<strong>as</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g to be de-listed <strong>as</strong><br />
one of the defendants <strong>in</strong><br />
OPL 245 ownership<br />
dispute.<br />
Follow<strong>in</strong>g a no-objection<br />
$44m NIA miss<strong>in</strong>g fund:<br />
K<strong>in</strong>gibe <strong>in</strong>timidates Reps<br />
<strong>in</strong>to closed-door session<br />
By Emman<br />
Ovuakporie<br />
ABUJA—MEMBERS of<br />
the House of<br />
Representatives Committee<br />
on Public Safety and National<br />
Intelligence were, yesterday,<br />
<strong>in</strong>timidated <strong>in</strong>to submission<br />
by chairman of Presidential<br />
Review Panel, PRP, on<br />
National Intelligence Agency,<br />
Amb. Babagana K<strong>in</strong>gibe.<br />
The committee, which w<strong>as</strong><br />
charged with the<br />
responsibility of prob<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to<br />
the miss<strong>in</strong>g $44 milion<br />
belong<strong>in</strong>g to the agency and<br />
the circumstances<br />
surround<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
appo<strong>in</strong>tment of Mr. Ahmed<br />
Rufa’i Abubakar <strong>as</strong> director<br />
general w<strong>as</strong> held up by<br />
K<strong>in</strong>gibe and his colleagues<br />
when they refused to sit<br />
down.<br />
The PRP, chaired by K<strong>in</strong>gibe<br />
had been summoned by the<br />
committee to expla<strong>in</strong> its role<br />
<strong>in</strong> the alleged disappearance<br />
of the $44 million, <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong><br />
Mr Abubakar’s appo<strong>in</strong>tment.<br />
But on gett<strong>in</strong>g to the venue<br />
of the hear<strong>in</strong>g yesterday,<br />
K<strong>in</strong>gibe stood for a few<br />
m<strong>in</strong>utes when the clerk of the<br />
committee approached him,<br />
<strong>as</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g him and his<br />
colleagues to take their seats.<br />
But the former amb<strong>as</strong>sador<br />
decl<strong>in</strong>ed, say<strong>in</strong>g, “no, I won’t<br />
sit down, what is all these, do<br />
you people want to make a<br />
stance by Abacha’s lawyer,<br />
Mr. J. A. Achimugu, who<br />
said he had expected a<br />
stiffer opposition from the<br />
commission, Justice John<br />
Tsoho, <strong>in</strong> a bench rul<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
struck out the EFCC <strong>as</strong> the<br />
6th defendant <strong>in</strong> the<br />
matter.<br />
However, the court fixed<br />
April 23 to hear the<br />
prelim<strong>in</strong>ary objection the<br />
Federal Government filed<br />
to abort Abacha’s bid to<br />
reclaim OPL 245.<br />
Justice Tsoho said he<br />
would consolidate every<br />
other objection aga<strong>in</strong>st the<br />
suit and hear them together.<br />
The Federal Government<br />
had <strong>in</strong> a process filed by the<br />
Attorney-General of the<br />
show of us?"<br />
The clerk then urged him<br />
to see the committee<br />
chairman, Am<strong>in</strong>u Sani Jaji,<br />
who w<strong>as</strong> seated with his<br />
colleagues await<strong>in</strong>g<br />
K<strong>in</strong>gibe’s arrival.<br />
But <strong>in</strong>stead of approach<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the chair <strong>as</strong> protocol demands<br />
<strong>in</strong> National Assembly,<br />
K<strong>in</strong>gibe said: “No! I won’t go<br />
there, you tell him to come.”<br />
Out of courtesy, the<br />
chairman rose from his seat<br />
and met him <strong>as</strong> they both<br />
stepped out of the hear<strong>in</strong>g<br />
room.<br />
K<strong>in</strong>gibe f<strong>in</strong>ally agreed to<br />
sit, and follow<strong>in</strong>g his<br />
discussion with the chairman,<br />
K<strong>in</strong>gibe began the<br />
<strong>in</strong>troduction of his panel<br />
members.<br />
He also tried to <strong>in</strong>troduce<br />
other members of the panel,<br />
but the committee chairman<br />
<strong>in</strong>terrupted him, say<strong>in</strong>g that<br />
he should allow the men to<br />
<strong>in</strong>troduce themselves.<br />
However, the former<br />
amb<strong>as</strong>sador ignored the<br />
chairman’s observation and<br />
said: “all of these men you<br />
see here are above 70 years<br />
old, with a comb<strong>in</strong>ed age of<br />
over 300 years.’’<br />
After the <strong>in</strong>troduction, the<br />
chairman announced that<br />
journalists should leave the<br />
hall for members to have a<br />
closed door session with<br />
K<strong>in</strong>gibe and his colleagues.<br />
CBN wants shell banks<br />
abolished <strong>in</strong> Nigeria<br />
ABUJA—THE Central<br />
Bank of Nigeria, CBN,<br />
h<strong>as</strong> called for the abolition<br />
of shell banks <strong>in</strong> the<br />
country, say<strong>in</strong>g they serve<br />
<strong>as</strong> <strong>in</strong>stitutions for money<br />
launder<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Shell banks are<br />
<strong>in</strong>stitutions that carry out<br />
activities where they are not<br />
licensed.<br />
Mr Godw<strong>in</strong> Emefiele,<br />
CBN governor, who w<strong>as</strong><br />
represented by Director,<br />
Legal Services<br />
Department, Mr Johnson<br />
Ak<strong>in</strong>wunmi, made the<br />
request <strong>in</strong> Abuja,<br />
yesterday, at a public<br />
hear<strong>in</strong>g organised by<br />
House Committee on<br />
Bank<strong>in</strong>g and Currency on<br />
a Bill to amend the Bank<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and Other F<strong>in</strong>ancial<br />
Institutions Act (BOFIA)<br />
and other bills.<br />
He said the shell banks,<br />
apart from be<strong>in</strong>g used for<br />
money launder<strong>in</strong>g, distort<br />
the bank<strong>in</strong>g system and<br />
might pose a problem to<br />
regulatory agencies.<br />
Federation and M<strong>in</strong>ister of<br />
Justice, Abubakar Malami,<br />
SAN, <strong>as</strong>ked the court to<br />
dismiss or strike out the suit<br />
where<strong>in</strong> Abacha w<strong>as</strong><br />
claim<strong>in</strong>g ownership of<br />
Malabu Oil & G<strong>as</strong> Limited.<br />
Aside Federal<br />
Government and M<strong>in</strong>ister<br />
of Petroleum Resources,<br />
who are 1st and 2nd<br />
defendants <strong>in</strong> the matter,<br />
other defendants equally<br />
challeng<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
competence of the suit are<br />
Shell Nigeria Ultra-Deep<br />
Limited, Shell Nigeria<br />
Exploration and Production<br />
Company Ltd, Nigeria<br />
Agip Exploration Company<br />
Ltd and and Chief Dan<br />
Etete.