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8 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 By Henry Umoru ABUJA — THE Senate said yesterday it would consider recommendations of the 2014 National Conference, as it began the process of another constitution review. The Upper Chamber, which said report of the 2014 Conference would form the working document of the current review, said the 58-member Constitution Committee would also consider the recommendations of the All Progressives Congress, APC, committee report on restructuting. The committee was led by Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai. Speaking yesterday, shortly after the inauguration of the Constitution Review Committee, Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ovie Omo- Agege, APC, Delta Central, said that the committee would also liaise with members of the House of Representatives, State Houses of Assembly, as well as collaborate and build consensus with all stakeholders to ensure synergy. It would be recalled that former President Jonathan had appointed 492 delegates to the National Conference which held for 151 days at the National Judicial Institute, NJI, on March 17, 2014. The Conference was chaired by late former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Idris Kutigi, with Professor Bolaji Akinyemi as Vice Chairman and Valerie Azinge as Secretary, with 492 delegates drawn from all sections of the society. 600 resolutions were passed, while such issues as true federalism, State Police, fiscal autonomy, Mayoral status for Abuja, among others, were adopted. Speaking further, Senator Omo-Agege said that the committee would also brainstorm with development partners through counsel, workshops, conferences and interactions. Omo-Agege said: "This committee will consider the recommendations of the 2014 Constitutional Conference and the Governor Nasir el-Rufai-led Committee on restructuring. We would also liaise with our counterparts in the House of Representatives, the State Houses of Assembly and collaborate and build consensus with all stakeholders to ensure synergy. ''Development partners will also play pivotal roles through counsel, workshops, conferences and interactions. The partnership :Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 Constitution review: We'll consider 2014 Confab report, says Senate ....Looks at recommendations of Gov el-Rufai's committee on restructuring ....As devolution of power, full LG fiscal autonomy, full judiciary autonomy, others, top agenda •LAUNCHING: From left — Director, Planning, Research & Statistics Department, PRSD, Musa Sa’eed Talle; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Bitrus Bako Nabasu; Deputy Managing Director, Nigeria Enterprise Marketing and Sales, Eason Dongyisong and Director, Energy Business Unit, South Africa Region, Leo Zhang at the Huawei's launch of its fully digital oilfield IOT solution, at the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit 2020 in Abuja. roles of the Executive and Judiciary and their invaluable contributions cannot be overlooked as it will enhance efficient and successful outcomes." He said senators will also consider the alteration of the Sixth schedule to make provision for new items, the establishment of National and State Houses of Assembly, Pre-election Matters Tribunal, Governorship Pre-election Matters Tribunals and Presidential Preelection Matters Tribunal, including time limits for the disposal of all pre-election matters before the conduct of the general elections. Omo-Agege said that the committee will consider the need for devolution of power, full local government fiscal autonomy, full autonomy of the judiciary in the area of administration of justice, youth inclusiveness in governance, gender parity or affirmative action. He said the committee would also consider inputs from stakeholders and different interest groups across the country. Omo-Agege said: "Accept my congratulations, Distinguished Colleagues for appointments well deserved as members of this very important Committee saddled with the responsibility of amending the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in this 9th Senate. This calls for dedication, patriotism and selfless sacrifice to our fatherland. "The need for Constitutional amendment lies at the heart of Constitutional theory and practice. Constitutionalism implies that the fundamental rules for effective exercise of state power and protection of individual rights should be stable and predictable and not subject to easy change or the whims of individuals. This is most central in our noble and continual Debts from 19 States delay NECO remittances to FG By Tordue Salem ABUJA — THE National Examinations Council, NECO, said yesterday that the debt owed by 19 states has affected its remittances to the Federation Account. NECO Director of Finance and Administration, Jacob Ekele, made this known at an investigative hearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Finance yesterday. Ekele said the body conducted examinations for students in 19 states where governors declared free registration but have not paid as expected, stressing that Zamfara topped the list with over N1 billion debt. "Our major problem as at today is that, about 19 states are owing NECO, the examination was done for them on credit especially, Zamfara. Some states, the government pay for the students and they are still owing us," he said. In his remarks, Chairman of the Committee on Finance, James Faleke (APC- Lagos), recommended that status enquiry be placed on NECO for a comprehensive investigation into the institution’s finances. pursuit of the General Will. It is for this reason that the drafters of our Constitution deliberately made the process of Constitutional Amendment very painstaking. Yet, the greater need to improve democratic governance or adjust to the ever changing political, economic and social realities has made it necessary for our Nation to embark on this journey again. "These changing times have brought new challenges and today in our country, we are faced with increased insecurity, slow economic growth, rising poverty, and a poor political culture, amongst others." These challenges that will define the way Nigerians will live in the 21st century have continued to agitate the minds of our people. It is against this background that the need for constitutional reforms has once again become necessary. Faleke ordered NECO to provide all relevant documents to show its income, expenditure and remittances, as well as it's financial statements, number of enrollees and examination fees paid since 2011 to 2019. He said the Auditor-General of the Federation report indicated that NECO was owing the Consolidated Revenue Fund the sum of N6 billion and asked the Council to provide its budget since 2011 and documents showing reconciliation made with the office of the Accountant General of the Federation. Sowore: Court orders FG to pay N.2m fine over frivolous adjournment By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA — THE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, awarded a fine of N200,000 against the Federal Government for stalling the trial of pro-democracy activist and convener of the RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore, and his co-defendant, Olawole Bakare, through frivolous adjournment request. Trial Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu further berated the prosecution over its conduct in the trial of the defendants. The Judge expressed her dissatisfaction with FG for its late filing of an amended two-count charge against Sowore and Bakare, as well as the service of same on the defendants in the open court on Wednesday. Though the court described the adjournment request that was made by the prosecution as frivolous and uncalled for, it subsequently shifted further proceeding in the case till Thursday. Justice Ojukwu warned that she would not take further step in the case unless FG paid the fine or produced the money in court on the next adjourned date. She noted that the prosecution failed to serve all the necessary documents in the case to the defendants, though the court ordered it to do so about seven weeks ago. Earlier in the proceeding, FG's lawyer, Mr. Aminu Alilu, explained to the court that the amendment of the charge was necessitated by the fact that the office of the Attorney General of the Nigeria, Ethiopia sign visa waiver agreement on defence cooperation By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA — NIGERIA and Ethiopia have signed a visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders, and a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, on cooperation in the field of defence. President Muhammadu Buhari and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed witnessed the signing of the agreement Tuesday in Addis Ababa by their Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and Gedu Andargachew, respectively, during the State Visit of the Nigerian leader. Earlier, while meeting with the Ethiopian Prime Minister, President Buhari had discussed how to explore new areas of collaboration to further enhance and expand Nigeria-Ethi- Federation took over and reviewed the case-file that was handed to it by the Department of State Service, DSS. He, therefore, applied for an adjournment to effect the service of the amended charge and other accompanying documents that included proof of evidence, on the defendants. However, the defence lawyer, Mr. Olayinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, urged the court to strike out the charge for lack of diligent prosecution. Contending that FG was not prepared for the trial, Olumide-Fusika, SAN, insisted that the adjournment request was frivolous. Responding, Alilu, opposed the application for the charge to be struck out, even as he relied on Section 396 (5) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, which he said allowed parties in a criminal case to seek for an adjournment for up to five times. He argued that FG had yet to exhaust the five adjournments it was entitled to under the ACJA. Not persuaded by his argument, though trial Justice Ojukwu declined to strike out the charge, she however awarded N200,000 cost against the prosecution and in favour of the defendants. Meanwhile, in the amended charge that was drafted by the office of the AGF, Sowore and Bakare, were alleged to have attempted to illegally remove President Muhammadu Buhari from office through a nationwide protest they masterminded on August 5 last year. opia bilateral cooperation for the mutual benefits of the two countries. A statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu explained that "The visa waiver agreement is expected to ease travels by officials and contribute to further strengthening of bilateral relations." He said that the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation was important to both countries in the coordination of efforts in the fight against terrorism and securing peace and stability in their respective sub-regions, as well as on the continent of Africa. "The MoU will also enhance bilateral military cooperation in the areas of training and education, technical assistance, exchange of visits and defence technology transfer.
Borno killings: Govs call for greater responsibility from security operatives Nigeria gets 3 centres to test for coronavirus By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA — THE Federal Government has acquired the necessary reagents to test suspected patients, as a measure to prevent coronavirus from entering the country. Consequently, the government has designated laboratories in Lagos, Abuja and Irrua in Edo State to handle such tests. Corona virus, found in Wahum, China has spread to the US, Thailand, Japan , South Korea, Canada, Philippines among others; is a new strain of virus that has not been previously identified in humans.“Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, in Abuja yesterday, said the reagents were acquired about eight days ago. He, however, assured that no case of the virus had been detected in the country or on the continent. The Minister said: “Since about eight days ago, we obtained the reagents necessary; we have the machines; they are called Polymerase Chain Reaction, vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews By Henry Umoru ABUJA — FOLLOW- ING the killing of persons and destruction of property on Sunday night by Boko Haram insurgents who invaded Auno, governors of the 36 states of the federation have condemned the dastardly act in very strong terms. The governors, acting under the aegis of Nigerian Governors' Forum, NGF, called for greater responsibility on the part of security operatives operating in the state. In a letter of condolence to Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, Chairman of NGF and Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, in a letter called for the protection of the downtrodden in the society. The letter read: "I, Dr John Kayode Fayemi, Executive Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, wish, on behalf of all members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (the 36 Governors), to express our sincere condolences on the recent needless attack on travellers last Sunday, in Auno town, just outside your state capital, Maiduguri. "While sympathising with you, Your Excellency, the Forum wishes to state categorically that a situation where a large number of vehicles loaded with goods, shops and houses can be set ablaze by suspected marauding insurgents, who sneak into the town and launch attacks on sleeping travellers at the town, barely 24km from a state capital, says a lot about the vulnerability of local people who, for all intents and purposes, should enjoy full protection from the people they put in power. "However, your efforts, Mr. Governor, in calling for greater responsibility on the part of security operatives in your state are both commendable and courageous, and, indeed, have the support of all your other colleagues. "Once again, I wish to whole-heartedly join the government and people of Borno State in this grief along with all of our colleagues and hope that the people are protected adequately that no further onslaughts ever occur again, not just in Borno State but in the country as a whole. Please accept our sincere condolences." PCR, machines which we have here for molecular diagnostics but we didn’t have the reagents. “Because for every pathogen, you have a specific pathogen that you will use to detect it and that one for Corona virus, being a new disease, was not very much available but we acquired it about eight days ago. “Now, three laboratories in Nigeria, including those in Lagos, Abuja and Irrua. can test Corona virus and, in fact, they have tested two cases already which were negative. Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 — 9 NEWS HOTLINES 018773962, 08052867058 •SYMPATHY VISIT: President Muhammadu Buhari in a handshake with the Director General of DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, as he returned to Abuja from Maiduguri, after the AU Summit in Ethiopia, enroute to Borno for a sympathy visit. Army kills 5 Boko Haram terrorists, lose soldier in gun fight •Arrest 11 ISWAP terrorists, rescue women, children By Kingsley Omonobi ABUJA — THE Nigerian Army said yesterday its troops have killed five Boko Haram terrorists in a gun fight, and arrested eleven members of Islamic State's West African Province., ISWAP. It also said the troops rescued nine women and children hitherto held hostage by the terrorists, recovered cache of arms and ammunition, but lost a soldier. Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Aminu Illiyasu, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, said: "On February 9, 2020, troops of 25 Task Force Brigade deployed at Damboa in Borno State, in conjunction with elements of the Civilian Joint Task Force, while on a fighting patrol, established contact with the remnants of Boko Haram/Islamic State's West African Province criminals hibernating within their area of responsibility with gun trucks as well as motorcycles. "During the ensuing engagement which occurred at Njaba, along Damboa- Bale Road, the troops unleashed superior and overwhelming fire power to obliterate the criminals. "At the end of the encounter, several of the insurgents were neutralized, while others escaped with gunshot wounds. One of the Boko Haram fighters, named Koise Bulama, was captured alive by the valiant troops. "Additionally, one Buffalo Gun Truck, one Anti-Aircraft Gun, 3 Machine Guns, 2 AK 47 Rifles, 141 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, one suicide vest, one Improvised Explosive Device Box,10 motorcycles, one pumping machine and some mechanical tools were captured from the marauding criminal insurgents. 'In a related development, in the early hours of February 92020, some elements of the remnant Boko Haram criminals suffered yet another defeat in the hands of troops of 121 Battalion deployed in Pulka, Gwoza LGA of Borno State during an apparent failed attempt to attack the troops' location. "The dogged troops repelled the attack and neutralised one insurgent in the process while others retreated in disarray under the cover of darkness. " Earlier on, during the night of 5/6 February 2020, troops of 112 Task Force Battalion deployed at Ngwom in Mafa LGA of Borno State thwarted an attempt by the Boko Haram criminals to infiltrate their defensive location. "In their highly responsive and well coordinated response, the troops brought to bear their superior night fighting capability against the marauding criminals, neutralising one of the infiltrators while many of them escaped with various degrees of gunshot wound as evident from the trails of blood discovered along the insurgents’ withdrawal route. "During the exploitation Tension in Isuikwuato over abduction of travellers by suspected herdsmen By Ugochukwu Alaribe ABIA — THERE is tension in Isuikwuato council area of Abia State over the abduction of travelers by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen. The incident occurred Tuesday evening. A source told Vanguard that some strange looking men suspected to be herdsmen were sighted in the bush around Onuaku area of the council and were confronted by the locals. They were said to have left the vicinity and moved towards the gully after Abia State University on the road towards Isuikwuato town. The source added that the strangers later waylaid travelers around the gully erosion site on the road. They were said to have abducted four travellers and escaped into the bush after a confrontation with the police. "They finally escaped with their victims," the source said. Contacted, the Transition Committee Chairman of the council, Mr. Osita Igbe, said it was a case of kidnapping based on the briefing by the police but added that the matter was still under investigation. He said all the security agencies were intensifying efforts to apprehend the fleeing abductors and rescue the victims. A highly placed police officer from the area who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the incident. He said a police team on routine patrol ran into the scene of the crime and the suspects "suddenly opened fire " on sighting the police van. In his words :"Our men were on patrol when they ran into a car that was stucked in the sand. They also saw another tipper in front of it. And immediately they blew the siren, firing came from a particular direction and they returned fire." He said the hoodlums later escaped into the bush with their victims suspected to be occupants of the trapped car. The police source said a Toyota Yaris suspected to belong to the victims was later recovered at the scene of the incident. According to him, the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of the council was sent to visit the area when the report came to the police. He said that the locals had reported that they sighted some strange fellows in military camouflage and decided to raise the alarm. "When the information came, the DPO went there and met with the Traditional Prime Minister of the community. They said they saw some men in military camouflage but I don't know who they saw whether it was the army or not. phase, the troops recovered one Baofeng Hand Held Radio, one Rocket Propelled Gun bomb, 101 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition and 2 rounds of 60mm mortar bombs abandoned by the escaping criminals. "In yet another development that occured on 10 February 2020, the troops of 212 Battalion deployed at Tungushe in Konduga LGA of Borno State made contact with some Boko Haram criminal elements mounted on 6 Gun Trucks within their Area of Responsibility. "The troops swiftly engaged the marauding criminals in a fierce fire fight. In the aftermath, 3 Boko Haram criminals were neutralised while one Buffalo Gun Truck, one Anti-Aircraft Gun, 2 AK 47 Rifles, 2 AK 47 Rifle Magazines and 60 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition were also captured from the insurgents as they succumbed to the superior fire power of the troops. "Regrettably, one gallant soldier paid the supreme price during the encounter. Similarly, on the same day, troops of 3 Battalion (Main) deployed at Rann in Kala/ Balge LGA of Borno State delivered a devastating blow on some Boko Haram criminal elements. "The insurgents attacked the troops’ location in 4 Gun Trucks alongside a number of their foot soldiers. The vigilant troops responded swiftly, engaging the criminals in a brief fire fight that lasted for about 20 minutes. "At the end of the encounter, the heroic troops neutralized two of the criminal insurgents. Equally, the troops captured one General Purpose Machine Gun, one AK 47 Rifle, one Baofeng Hand Held Radio and 33 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
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