Nigerian twitter reacts to Saraki's trial

Nigerians on twitter have reacted to the trial of Senate president Bukola Saraki on his alleged false declaration of assets. Many seem to approve of the trial, say war on corruption is welcome. See their tweets after the cut...

FG exempts NNPC, PHCN, BoI, FMBN, 10 others from TSA

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has exempted 13 Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) from the Treasury Single Account (TSA). In a circular released yesterday September 21st, the accountant general said they were exempted because they are entities classified as profit oriented government businesses, pay dividends to the Federal Government.

The exempted MDAs are the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Bank of Industry (BoI), Nigeria Railway Corporation, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Agriculture, Niger Delta Power Holding Company/National Integrated Power Project, National Communication Satellite Limited, Galaxy Backbone Limited, Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, Urban Development Bank, Nigerian Export-Import Bank NEXIM) and Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

A circular entitled, “Approval to Exempt Some MDAs In line With the e-Collection Mop-Up Exercise,” from the AGF’s office to The Director, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Banking and Payments System Department, referenced FD/LP2015/C/ADC/20/1/ /DF dated September 14, 2015 and signed by M. K, Dikwa, for the AGF, Federal Ministry of Finance, Funds Department, Abuja, reads in part: “Approval is hereby granted to your bank to exempt the accounts of thirteen (13) MDAs (Category 6) as listed below the mop-up in line with the e-Collection Circular No. HCFSF/428/S.1/120 dated 7th August 2015 as these are Profit-Oriented Government Business entities that are to pay their dividends into the Treasury Single Accounts whenever they are declared.

Please note that in line with the Presidential approval, the following as it relates to Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation NNPC as listed above (S/No.9) under Category 4 should also apply: That NAPIMS remains classified as an MDA that is funded from the Federation Account under Category 4 of the Circular, being the NNPC Business Unit responsible for the management of the Federation’s investment in the upstream activities and funded from direct proceeds of oil and gas revenue.

That NNPC will continue to preserve the status with respect to NAPIMS Operations Account as well as Escrow Account for Third Party Financing in view of the Joint Venture (JV) Cash funding currently being experienced. That all other NNPC’s commercial/Business Entities as re-classified as ‘Profit-Oriented Public Corporations /Business Enterprises’ under Category 6 of the Circular which requires that only dividends from these entities be paid into the TSA.”.

Saraki's trial adjourned to Oct 21, released on bail on self recognition

The trial of Bukola Saraki has been adjourned to October 21st, 22nd and 23rd. Saraki pleaded not guilty to all the 13 count charges read to him at the Tribunal. The tribunal granted him bail on self recognition.

Parents donate organs of their 8yr old daughter who was killed by a drunk driver to 3 children

John and Adrie, parents of a little girl who died on Saturday, September 19, after being knocked over by a drunk driver, has donated her organs to three children.

Nadia Bond, 8, from Kraaifontein, Cape Town was walking to a house nearby to visit a friend when she was hit by a car on Friday, September 18. She died the next day in hospital. Her heartbroken father John Bond said she suffered internal bleeding, a broken neck and extensive brain damage.

Bond said the driver transported his daughter to the Kraaifontein Day Hospital without calling an ambulance. He said the family only heard she had been injured when they got a call to say their daughter was at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.

John wrote on social media:

"Nothing stops it from being real now, no more hope, you’re gone but I still hear you calling. And I don’t know where to look, baby, I can’t find you…"

Nadia’s mother Adrie said her family received a call from staff at the Red Cross informing them that Nadia’s liver and kidneys were a successful match for three other children. "She is a real angel,” Adrie said.

The family decided to donate Nadia’s organs because they felt that saving other children’s lives was what she would have wanted. Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said a case of culpable homicide was being investigated. Bradley Gysman, 22, appeared in the Kuils River Magistrate’s Court on Monday in connection with Nadia’s death. Gysman was granted bail of R2000.

Source: IOL News

Photo: Saraki docked, pleads not guilty..

 

Saraki has been docked and he pleaded not guilty to all the 13-count charges. The chairman of the Code of Conduct tribunal has withdrawn the bench warrant against him. 

Photos: Bukola Saraki arrives at the Code of Conduct Tribunal

Senate President Bukola Saraki has arrived the Code of Conduct Tribunal where he is to answer to a 13 count charge of alleged false declaration of assets while he was governor of Kwara state. He arrived with his deputy, Ike Ekweremaadu and other senators. The tribunal has barred live coverage of the proceedings.

Ciara..looking more and more like a model these days

She's stunning!

Army Boss Promotes 5,000 Soldiers Fighting Boko Haram

The Nigerian Army has approved the promotion of 5,000 soldiers fighting insurgents in the North-East and others involved in other operations, as part of steps to boost their morale.

The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, made the announcement on Monday in Abuja at the opening of the 2015 Chief of Army Staff third quarter conference held at the Army Headquarters conference hall.

He said the approval of the promotion of the soldiers was one of the many measures introduced by the Army under his command to boost troops’ morale and reposition its operations.

“Since we came on board, we have introduced several measures aimed at encouraging our troops to give their best in the service of their nation.

“The approval of the accelerated promotion of 5,000 soldiers was to redeem the promise made by my predecessor to the troops fighting insurgents in the North-East.

“It is my belief that this promotion, coupled with other incentives, will encourage our troops to fight for our country," he said.

Mr. Buratai said that the Army, under his watch, within the short period, had recorded major successes in the areas of fighting insurgency, improving its human rights credentials as well as improving the welfare of troops.

Man Sent to Prison for Touching Woman’s Private Part in Edo

An Auchi Magistrates’ Court in Edo on Monday remanded 39-year-old Mustapha Mamud in prison for allegedly touching a woman’s private part. The Magistrate, Mr M. O. Osayi, said the accused should be kept behind bars pending advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The accused, who resides at undisclosed address in Auchi, is facing a two-count charge bordering on attempted rape. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

But the prosecutor, Sgt. Daniel Mato, told the court that

the accused committed the offences on Feb. 24 at his apartment somewhere in Auchi. According to him, the accused and the woman are living in the same house.

"The accused touched the private part of the woman (names withheld) in an attempt to have carnal knowledge of her."

He said the offences contravened Sections 3,594 and 3,609 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the defunct Bendel of 1976 as applicable in Edo.

Wike Is Spending His Last Days In Office As Governor

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Chief Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is spending his last days in office as Governor of Rivers State.

The party was reacting to the statement credited to PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, who was quoted as saying about the failure of PDP and INEC counsels to appear before the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Friday, September 18: “Even if our lawyers and witnesses didn’t appear at the Rivers Tribunal today and the remaining days, it doesn’t stop us PDP from winning at the judgment. But should we fail at judgment, we shall win even above 1.5 million votes in Rivers State re-run Governorship and other elections.”

Rivers APC in a statement issued by its Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, dismissed Metuh’s position as mere day-dreaming. The ruling party said:

“While we do not wish to comment on the likely outcome of the current sitting of the Rivers Guber Election Tribunal since the case is sub judice, we find Chief Metuh’s position laughable because the evidence before the tribunal indicates that Chief Wike is spending his final days in office as Rivers State Governor. Just like PDP, we as a political party are equally eagerly looking forward to a re-run of the Rivers State governorship election.

"Contrary to the empty boast of Metuh that PDP shall win even above 1.5 million votes in the envisaged re-run elections, we make bold to tell him that PDP died in Rivers State the day former Governor Chibuike Amaechi in November 2013 led all those who mattered in the party to join the APC and take a front seat in the vanguard for Nigeria’s political emancipation. We are convinced that our candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, shall win the expected re-run guber polls with a landslide as he has the full support of the good people of Rivers State.”

Rivers APC sympathised with Chief Metuh in his tasking new role as an unprepared spokesman of the opposition, telling him to prepare for a big shock as Wike can never be elected by the Rivers State people in any free and fair election devoid of violence, killing and rigging as Rivers people do not only know him but also know what he stands for.

“Instead of dreaming of winning the envisaged re-run election, we expect him (Wike) to explain to the world how he intends to defend the over 100 Rivers people that were murdered to install him as Care-Taker Governor of Rivers State by greedy INEC REC, Dame Gesila Khana, and other corrupt INEC officials who cannot defend their immoral and illegal actions of 1.5 million acclaimed voters is bigger than 273,000 accredited voters in the Register.

“To us, the Biblical book of Hosea Chapter Eight Verse Seven, ‘For They Have sown the Wind and Shall Reap the Whirlwind’ captures the inescapable fate of Chief Wike and his collaborators. They have no one else to blame but themselves, for they have sown the wind and shall reap the whirlwind.”