Card reader technicians’ arrest won’t affect INEC – Jega

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega, on Friday assured Nigerians that adequate preparations had been made by the commission to conduct credible election across the country today.

 

Jega gave the assurance at a joint news conference he addressed in his Abuja office with the Director-General, National Youths Service Corps, Brig.-Gen. Bamidele Olawumi.

He allayed fears that the arrest of some workers of the firm that produced the Permanent Voter Cards by security operatives would affect INEC operations throughout the election period.

Jega said, “I received a letter from the Chairman of Act Technologies Limited, the contractor that is handling the production of the PVCs and the card readers on Thursday.

 

“In the letter, he conveyed to the commission that two of his workers are under investigation and detention by the State Security Service and that the detention of the two staff, is affecting their operations in the company.

 

“It is not the chairman of the company that was arrested, but his staff. As far as I know, it is not affecting our operations for the election. We have already deployed for the election so it will not affect the process.”

 

The INEC boss described as libelous, malicious and irresponsible, a statement credited to a political party which alleged that the commission compromised the integrity of the electoral process by awarding the contract for the production of the PVCs and card reader supply to an already blacklisted firm.

 

He also clarified that the commission’s technical staff were fully in charge of the card readers’ operations and that contrary to the political party’s allegation, the supplier of the card readers was not in possession of their ‘master key.’

He said, “The Acts Technologies Nigeria Limited competed for it (contract) alongside other Nigerians; went through due diligence, bureau of public Procurement and bid for it. The contract was approved by the Federal Executive Council because the quantum of money involved was beyond what the agency can release on its own.

 

“As far as we are concerned, there is no record indicating that Act Technologies Limited has been blacklisted either by INEC or any other person with regards to procurement of materials for us.”

Jega, however, said there should not be any controversy over the choice of the electorate to vote and remain at the polling unit or to go home.

 

He said, “We are concerned about the integrity of the electoral process and we believe that the transparency of the process will be enhanced if after casting their votes, the electorate remain to know who has won in their polling units. “It is not in the guidelines that people should vote and go or to stay after voting. If people choose to, they should be allowed to stay so long as they are law-abiding and conduct themselves peacefully.”

 

The INEC boss added that over 700, 000 temporary staff, including 134, 000 corps members were deployed to conduct election in the 119, 973 polling units across the country.

Daily Post

EFCC denies freezing Father Mbaka's accounts

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has denied reports that they froze the accounts of Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka. 

 

There were media reports yesterday that Fr Mbaka had claimed during his sermon on Wednesday March 25th that the EFCC had frozen his bank accounts and that he was invited to their Port Harcourt office for questioning. He supposedly said he went to the bank on Tuesday March 24th to cash some money to buy foodstuff for the poor who had just returned to Enugu from the North and the cheque he presented was rejected.

EFCC Spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren released a statement late yesterday denying that the agency froze his account. See the statement after the cut..

"The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC has been drawn to reports in a section of the media claiming that the Commission had frozen the accounts of Enugu-based Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Mass fame. The commission wishes to state that there is no truth in the report and should be discountenanced.” the statement read

LIB 

INEC to declare winner within 48 hours

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has said that the results of Saturday’s presidential election will be announced nationally within 48 hours.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Jega‎ stated that the commission had taken measures to ensure better collation of results that in 2011.

“For the 2015 elections, we should be able to declare results nationally within 48 hours. Our aim is to im‎prove upon our performance in 2011,” he said.
Details later

Photo: Angry passengers sit on tarmac in Abuja

Angry passengers who were to fly to Adamawa and Gombe states from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja got so angry and decided to take over the tarmac and sit in protest after their flight was cancelled yesterday night. Some of the passengers said they were at the airport for their 9am flight but the airline kept delaying the flight until 9pm when they informed them that the flight had been cancelled.

LIB

Photos: Arik Air passesngers stranded at UK Heathrow airport for 2 days

According to passengers of Arik Air who reached out to LIB, they said they have been stuck at UK's Heathrow Airport since Wednesday March 25th because the airline cancelled their flights to Nigeria on both Wednesday and Thursday nights. Some of the passengers are stuck with children. Right is the bus that Arik provided to take the passengers to a hotel they provided where they can stay until a plane was available to bring them to Nigeria This was about 4am early this morning. One passenger said he was traveling back to Nigeria to vote but Arik is making it difficult.

They said the airline hasn't told them when they'll be traveling and they also offer no-refund policy. Most say they are angry and exhausted. More photos after the cut..

Photo: Father and son arraigned for $4,256 internet scam

Find the EFCC press statement below...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on March 24, 2015 arraigned Justice Unuafe and his son, Omorigho Unuafe, before Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on a 4-count charge bordering on obstruction, possession of fraudulent documents and obtaining money by false pretense.

Father and son were arrested by operatives of the EFCC upon intelligence gathered while investigating a reported case of internet scam.

The duo who are jobless, were found in possession of Honda Accord 2004 model and an Acura ZDX, without document to prove how they got the vehicles. They also have an almost completed storey building located in Delta State . The accused persons decidedly refused to give the EFCC operatives the required information needed from them for the investigation.

One of the charges reads:
“That you Justice Unuafe on or about the 12th  day of February, 2015 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this honorable court did obstruct the officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by refusing to give the details of your account number, the details of your relation who sold Acura ZDX with registration number SMK 307 DC to you and other information requested from you and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 38 (2) (b0 of the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.”

Another charge reads:
“That you Omorigho Justice Unuafe on or about 30th day of December, 2014 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this honorable court with intent to defraud, did obtain the total sum of $4,256 (Four Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty Six Dollars) by false pretence from one Cheng Chung Shin by representing yourself as MARO MOTON, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and Punishable under Section 1 (3) of the said Act.”

They pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

In view of their pleas, counsel to EFCC, Sadiq Hussain, prayed the court to fix a date for trial to commence, while the accused persons be remand in EFCC custody.

The defence counsel, C. I. Anyaghbuna, however, pleaded for bail for the accused persons.

In his ruling, Justice Akanbi granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 (Five Thousand Naira) with one surety each in like sum. The sureties must have their addresses verified by the EFCC, and must be responsible members of the society.

The matter has been adjourned to May 20, 2015 for trial.

Media & Publicity
26th March, 2015

LIB

Nigerian Army Retakes Gwoza

The Nigerian army says it has retaken the north-eastern town of Gwoza, believed to be the headquarters of militant Islamist group Boko Haram.

 

"Several terrorists died while many are captured," a tweet from the defences forces said.
Mopping-up operations are ongoing in and around the town, the military said.
News of the recapture comes a day before presidential elections, which were postponed by six weeks because of the offensive against Boko Haram.
Many thousands of people have been killed since 2009, when the group began its insurgency to create an Islamic state.

Since a regional force began helping Nigeria take on the insurgents this year, many towns have been retaken.
The last military briefing said that only three towns, including Gwoza, remained under Boko Haram's control.
The militants began taking over territory in three states in the north-east over the last year.
After his fighters captured Gwoza in August, the Boko Haram leader declared a caliphate in areas under his control.
BBC

IGP redeploys 6 DIGs, 5 AIGs, 6 CPs for election

The Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba has redeployed 17 Senior officers of the Force to different parts of the country as a way to ensure a successful election.
The redeployment affects 6 Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs), 5 Assistant Inspector Generals (AIGs) and 6 Commissioners of Police (CPs).
Consequently, the CPs posted are expected to cover their new Commands only for the period of election.
This is contained in a statement yesterday by the Force Spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu.

 

According to the statement, the DIGs and places they are expected to cover are: “Dan’Azumi Doma, Coordinator South East Zone; DIG Mamman Tsafe, Coordinator South-South Zone; DIG Hashimu Argungu, Coordinator  South West Zone;  DIG Christopher Katso, –  Coordinator North West Zone; DIG Hilary Opara,  – Coordinator North East Zone; and DIG Adeola Adeniji – Coordinator North Central Zone.

The AIGs affected by the redeployment are: “Kalafite Adeyemi,  – Asst Coordinator  South West Zone;  AIG Bala Magaji Nasarawa – Asst Coordinator North Central Zone; AIG Adisa Bolanta, Asst Coordinator North West Zone; AIG Usman Gwary,  – AIG Federal Operations (FEDOPS) Abuja; and AIG Mark Idakwo, – AIG Zone 9 Umuahia”.

Also, the CPS and their new Commands are:  “CP Hosea Karma – CP Rivers State Command; CP Adamu Mohammed – CP Anambra State Command; CP Dan Bature – CP Enugu State Command; CP Usman Abdullahi – CP Katsina State Command;  CP Jimoh Ozi-Obeh – CP Benue State Command;  and CP Hyacinth Dagala – CP Department of Operations (DOPs) FHQ Abuja”.
The IGP urged the officers to exhibit the highest level of personal and professional conduct in the discharge of their duties.
The Nation

FRSC deploys 20,000 personnel, 413 patrol vehicles for election

As the general election draws near, the Federal Road Safety Corps has deployed 20,000 personnel and 413 patrol vehicles, ambulances and tow trucks along designated routes of the highways in the country.

This move is expected to collaborate with other security agencies to ensure sanity on the nation’s highway throughout the duration of the elections.

A statement issued in Abuja Thursday by the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi said  the Corps has drawn a road map towards effective patrolling of designated routes of the highways in addition to prompt rescue services and public enlightenment campaigns, as part of measures to engender best road safety practices among road users.

  

He said this is in addition to the Corps’ 24 emergency ambulance response centres located at designated routes across the country in the FCT, Kaduna, Gombe, Jigawa, Taraba, Niger, Kogi, Ondo, Edo, Osun, Nasarawa, Plateau and Kwara states.

He urged motorists to ensure proper planning and management of trips through maintenance of their vehicles and compliance with traffic rules and regulations.
“Motorists and other categories of road users are strictly warned to desist from all road vices such as overloading, speed limit violation, non-use of seat belt, route violation (driving against traffic), making/receiving calls while driving and night trips,” he said
The Nation

Election TV debate: David Cameron vs Ed Miliband – who was the winner?

Our columnists give their instant reaction to how David Cameron and Ed Miliband coped with Paxman and handled the live studio audience.

 

David Cameron’s grilling by Paxman was the weakest public performance I’ve seen from him since he became Prime Minister. He was put on the back foot by the first question on food banks, and though he got stronger, he never fully recovered. But when he spoke to the audience he was relaxed and confident.

With Ed Miliband it was the reverse. With the audience he seemed to think he was addressing Labour Party conference. For some reason he kept referring people to his Labour Party membership card. The answer on his brother was excruciating.

“Your poor mum” said Kay Burley. It was the most human exchange

 

David Cameron looked briefly taken aback by Jeremy Paxman's gratuitous aggression, but he recovered well. Within minutes he was knocking back Paxman's serves with effective force. Faced with the rather absurdly repeated question of whether he could live on a zero-hours contract he managed not to look exasperated. (He had the presence of mind to counter with the fact that he had taken so many of the working poor out of income tax.)

 

The closest he came to rising to Paxman's provocations was a description of one of his aspersions as "completely ridiculous". But even then he looked calm and in control. Score: 8 out 10 on the interview. With the audience Q&A, he did well too: engaging, reasonably frank and almost (for him) impassioned. He got in some pretty good lines too: "changing welfare isn't just about saving money", which spoke to values rather than just competence.

 

Ed Miliband got a much rougher ride from the audience who asked some quite hostile questions about fratricide and his party's economic record. Through much of this, Ed looked seriously uncomfortable – perhaps because he had just watched Cameron doing so well. With Paxman, he seemed nervous and evasive.

Clear winner here. Cameron should have gone for a head-to-head debate.

 

Ed Miliband has more to be pleased with than David Cameron. That's because what really counts is expectations, how you perform relative to what people expect of you.

We're used to Mr Cameron being calm and assured, so his nervous and even faltering performance under Jeremy Paxman's superb scrutiny was a surprise, a negative for him that the return of his usual polish and confidence when dealing with the audience couldn't quite offset.

Mr Miliband, by contrast, entered the room with a reputation for being a hopeless ditherer, but failed to live up to it, by being warmer and more assertive than many watching would have expected. His frankness about Labour's past failings and his relationship with his brother will not hurt him either. He even stood up to Paxman's withering gaze with at least as much confidence as Mr Cameron.

Final score: Miliband 2, Cameron 1.

 

David Cameron began badly. Nervous in the face of mild questioning from Jeremy Paxman, he sounded unconvincing or evasive on low pay, welfare cuts and how much the government had borrowed. (He didn't know or wouldn't say.)

Under audience questioning, the PM was better, though his assurance veered close to complacency.

Miliband benefited from going second, getting the first applause of the night. Under tougher questioning (especially on his brother) than the PM, he mostly he did well. Against Jeremy Paxman, he came out fighting, and occasionally flailing, on migration and the sins of the last government. On trust, the underlying theme of the night, he was the winner by a head.

 

The clear winner of the night was Jeremy Paxman. When he grilled David Cameron, I half expected the Prime Minister to ask if he could phone a friend – while, back stage, Ed Miliband would’ve been forgiven for avoiding the whole encounter by slipping away through a lavatory window.

Cameron never really recovered from the shock of Paxman’s intellectual blitzkrieg and by the time he faced the audience he looked like a man who just wanted to go home.

Miliband, by contrast, was light and breezy and charming with Joe Public – and disarmingly frank with Paxman, too. No wonder Cameron didn’t want to debate him

The Telegrapg

Oyedepo’s Church, Winners Chapel burnt down over purported support for Jonathan

A branch of the Living Faith Church, popularly called the Winners Chapel, in Giwa, headquarters of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has been set ablaze.
The church, founded by Bishop David Oyedepo, was reportedly set ablaze by two unidentified arsonists.
During the incident that happened on March 20, 2015 at about 2:30pm, nothing was saved from the church.

 

The burning of the church came a few months after the reported endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by Oyedepo.
A terse statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the President of Tarayyar Masihiyawan Nijeria (Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri Christians), General Ishaku Ahmed Dikko (rtd), and the Director of National Issues of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Sunny Oibe, entitled: “Presidential Elections 2015: Signs of what to expect,” called on security agencies to act fast to avoid violence in the area.
According to Dikko and Oibe, the Christians in the North, particularly the Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri speaking Christians, who are indigenous in these states and live within and among their kith and kin, “are in serious jeopardy”.

The statement reads in full: “Giwa is the Headquarters of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. On Friday, 20 March, 2015 at about 2:30 pm, two (2) unknown hoodlums on a motorcycle drove into the premises of Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel) and set it ablaze.

“The Church was razed to the ground and nothing was saved from the Church including the building. This action surprised the Christian Community, especially the Church members, as there was no tension or any sign of it between Christians and Muslims in the town.

“It is, however, a known fact that the people of the Local Government have not been friendly with the Christian Community even though over 90 percent of them are of the same Huasa-Fulani indigenes.
“The incident actually became more worrisome when no effort was made by a passersby to assist in putting out the fire. In fact, it was a Fulani herdsman that saw the fire and reported to the Police Station. Only one Policeman and a Christian volunteer that ran to the scene and attempted to put out the fire but of course could not achieve anything.

“This situation and the circumstances surrounding the incidence are a cause of serious concern. If this can happen more than a week to the Presidential Elections, what shall we expect during or after the elections? Is this a sign of what to expect or a dress rehearsal of a repeat of 2011 Post – Election Violence? This is a wakeup call to the Federal, State and Local Government Authorities,especially the Security Agencies.

 

“The Christians in the North, particularly the Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri speaking Christians, who are indigenous in these States and live within and among their kith and kin are in serious jeopardy”.
Daily Post

Kidnapped Zamfara Emir regains freedom

The Zamfara State Police command has announced the release of Emir of Bukkuyum, Alhaji Muhammad Usman, who was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen last week Friday.

He was freed on Thursday.
Police Public Relations Officer, Sanusi Amiru, while briefing newsmen in Gusau, said the police team assigned to search for the kidnapped monarch, rescued him at Gadar Zaima.

 

The command confirmed that some arrests were made in connection with the incident.
Daily Post

Gunmen attack Amaechi in Rivers

RIVERS State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, escaped death by the whiskers in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area as some gunmen suspected to be political thugs fired gunshots at him.
Two members of the All Progressives Congress were said to have been seriously injured during the incident, which happened at about 6pm on Thursday as the governor embarked on a door-to-door ward campaign in the area.

An SMS sent to our correspondent through the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. David Iyofor, indicated that the thugs had also set bonfire along the road to prevent the governor from leaving.

The statement added that the thugs suspected to be working for the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, threw bottles, stones and other dangerous objects at the Governor Amaechi and his entourage.
“This evening, gunshots were fired at the Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi at Rumuolumeni, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area by PDP thugs.

“Obio/Akpor is the home of the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Nyesom Wike. The thugs attacked the governor and his entourage with bottles, stones and various dangerous objects. Then gunshots were fired at the governor.

“When the governor was leaving the community, bonfire was set up on the road to prevent him from leaving. More gunshots were fired at his convoy. Amaechi was on door-to-door ward campaign in the state,” Iyofor’s statement read.
Meanwhile, the Greater Together Campaign Organisation, a team in charge of Dakuku Peterside’s governorship campaign, described the attack on the state governor as part of the plan to assassinate chieftains and members of the APC.
Punch

Sexy photos: Amber Rose hot and topless at the beach

The mother of one showed off her body in a skimpy nude bikini on a beach in Hawaii. And in full glare of paparazzi, Amber stripped off her bikini top to give them and onlookers quite an eyeful. See the photos after the cut...

LIB

I’m not in this race for power, money – Buhari

The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), has said he is not in the race for power or money.
He says he is in the race in response to the yearnings of Nigerians for an improvement on their lives and the betterment of Nigeria.
Buhari said this in Abuja on Thursday in what was said to be his last media briefing before the crucial election.

He said Saturday’s election presents Nigerians a great opportunity to end impunity and incompetence in governance.
The APC candidate noted that 16 years under the Peoples Democratic Party remained a story of despair, despondency, disillusionment and pervasive fear, caused by unprecedented insecurity.
He said the basic functions of the government such as the security, welfare and happiness of the citizens appeared only on the pages of newspaper.

According to him, it is morally wrong for any government that has woefully failed in these basic responsibilities to demand or expect another mandate from the disillusioned citizens of Nigeria.
Buhari said, “I am not contesting this election because I want power and money. I am doing so because Nigerians believe I have what it takes to achieve the much-needed change. When the people express confidence in your ability and integrity to lead them, you have a responsibility to answer the clarion call to national service.

“The presidential election this Saturday, March 28, 2015, presents a great opportunity for Nigerians to come out en-masse and vote to remove an incompetent government from office. The beauty of democracy is that it gives power to the people to change the government peacefully.
“The PDP administration has exhausted all its goodwill and lost all the argument on performance and competence and is, as a result, seeking to retain power at all costs, regardless of performance, which is a shameless reflection of desperation and greed for power.

“A government that abandons its citizens to their fates has no reason to remain in office a day longer than necessary.”
Punch