16082018 - Uproar as EFCC seeks minutes of Benue's security meetings

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VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018 —11
Farmers/herdsmen clash deliberately
orchestrated — AL MUSTAPHA
By Ben Agande
K ADUNA—
FORMER Chief
Security Officer to Late
Gen. Sani Abacha, Major
Hamza Al Mustapha,
yesterday, said the
Ebegbulem’s appointment
well deserved — NUJ
A BUJA—THE
National leadership
of the Nigeria Union of
Journalists (NUJ) has
congratulated Mr. Simon
Ebegbulem over his
appointment as the Chief
Press Secretary (CPS) to the
National Chairman of the
All Progressives Congress
(APC), Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole.
Ebegbulem, a Senior
Correspondent with
Vanguard newspapers in
the South South, was
appointed last month as
CPS to Oshiomhole.
In a congratulatory
letter signed by the
National Secretary of the
NUJ, Shu’aibu Usman
Leman, addressed to
Ebegbulem, it said: “NUJ
:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058
fclashes between farmers
and herdsmen across the
country were
deliberately orchestrated
by some unnamed
persons to divert
attention from the
present reality in the
wishes to felicitate with you
over your appointment as
Chief Press Secretary to the
National Chairman of the
APC.
“Definitely, this
appointment is in
recognition of your
immense contributions to
national development and
the administrative
capabilities and experience
acquired from a
distinguished media
career.
“Sir, it may not be out of
place to urge you to justify
this confidence reposed in
you by His Excellency. We
are confident that you will
perform exceptionally well
and we wish to assure you
of our usual support and
cooperation at all times.”
country.
Major Al Mustapha
spoke in Kaduna during
an interactive session
organized by a Christian
group, United Christian
Leaders Eagle Eye
Forum in collaboration
with 40 Christian
pressure groups
nationwide.
According to Al
Mustapha,” just as it was
in the case of Boko
Haram, Militancy in the
South- South, the
herdsmen are being
deliberately armed by
some persons to cause
havoc to divert attention of
the masses.”
He said while in prison,
he gathered credible
information from some
138 Boko Haram
members that were
detained in Kirikiri
Maximum Prison, Lagos,
which indicated that the
Boko Haram sect was being
sponsored by some people
who never meant well for
the country.
Al Mustapha, said:
“They brought a good
number of Boko Haram
members (138) to stay with
me in the prison, the
information these Boko
Haram members revealed
to me is too weighty for me
to tell Nigerians. I learnt a
lot from them. I was
surprised how they get
arms on daily basis and to
me; it is dangerous to arm
a detachment of terrorists
and refuse to arm the army.”
Recounting his
experience, he alleged that
there were 11 attempts to
kill him by people who
thought he knew too much.
The former CSO said
during those periods when
he was tortured,
dehumanized, while in
trance, he encountered
Jesus where He (Jesus)
offered him water for
survival, saying “For those
who think they can
persecute us, we say
welcome on board. I have
forgiven those who
persecuted me for 15 years
of incarceration. During
those periods when I was
being tortured, I saw Jesus,
I was given water to
survive.”
Al-Mustapha said:
''Restructuring the country
was inevitable. It must
start with the constitution,
which he alleged was
rigged to favour some
people from the beginning.''
PTDF to tackle refineries’
challenges, halt import of
catalysts
By Michael Eboh
A Petroleum
BUJA—THE
Technology Development
Fund, PTDF, yesterday,
said it was working with
some engineers and
researchers to halt the
importation of refining
catalysts to address one of
the major challenges
hindering the
effectiveness of the
country’s refineries.
Catalysts are critical
materials in the crude oil
refining process.
It is a substance that
aids in the conversion of
petroleum refinery
naphthas into high-octane
liquid products. It is used
to produce a large majority
of gasoline products
through the refining
process.
Speaking at the 2017/
2018 PTDF annual oil and
gas research grant
competition close out
seminar in Abuja,
Executive Secretary of the
Fund, Mr. Bello Gusau,
said during a fact-finding
visit to the Kaduna
Refinery, along with some
industry stakeholders, it
was discovered that
sourcing catalysts was a
major challenge for the
refinery.
According to him, it was
discovered that the refinery
was lamenting about the
high cost of importing
refining catalysts and its
attendant effect on its
overall operations.
He said, “Hitherto, this
country has been
importing catalysts for
refining processes and
one of our researchers
have developed a Zeolite
Catalyst for the purposes
of import substitution and
using 100 per cent local
materials. That is one of
the issues that would be
presented. I am happy to
note that this is one of the
issues that we would be
tackling here today.”
He noted that this was
among the mandate of the
PTDF, explaining that the
research grant
competition was aimed at
looking at congruent and
empirical solutions to the
basic challenges and
problems of the Nigerian
oil and gas industry.
Colloquium in honour of Prof Irukwu, ex-Ohanaeze Ndigbo leader
The 44th CVL Leadership Tribute Colloquium in honour of Professor JO Irukwu, former President-General of Ohanaeze
Ndigbo on his 84th birthday, held at NIIA, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday. Photos by Bunmi Azeez.
Prof. Irukwu (left) receiving his award from Prof. Pat Utomi, founder/CEO, Centre From left; Dr. Jacob Nwachukwu, Dr. Oparaugo Udebsuwa and Dr.
for Value in Leadership (CVL). With them is Prof. Oyinade Elebute.
Ifeoma Utomi.
From left: Elder A.K. Oniwinde, Chief A.O. Okenla and Dr. Titus Okereke.
From left: Prof. George Obiozor, Engr. Ladi Olajide, member, Board of
CVL and Mr. Rasheed Adegbenro, Senior Vice President, CVL.