30-year-old woman kill her newborn in Borno IDP camp

The Borno State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, on Monday arrested a 30-year-old woman for killing her new born baby in an Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camp in the Dikwa area of the state.

The woman, simply identified as Asma’u, reportedly confessed to the NSCDC Commandant in the state, Ibrahim Abdullahi.

According to the NSCDC Commandant, “during interrogation, she reportedly confessed to the act.”

Abdullahi said Asma’u put to birth on June 1, after she had successfully hidden the pregnancy from others but shortly after delivering the baby, she sneaked out and dumped the new born in a pit toilet.

Narrating how the suspect was caught, the Commandant said, “Immediately she committed the atrocity, she fled the camp.

“Our attention was drawn to the dastardly act after three days when the corpse started smelling in the pit.

“We conducted our investigation and were able to trace her through a man named Gulumba, the person that brought her to the camp.

“The case had since been referred to the Borno Police Command for further prosecution and interrogation.

“This is not the first case; IDPs on several occasions had been caught indulging in all sorts of anti-social behavior, like prostitution, murder and illicit drug abuse, among others,” Abdullahi told newsmen in the state.

EFCC Seizes Ex-Oil Minister Diezani’s N3.58bn Abuja Home

Ex-oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke                                        Diezani's Abuja home seized by EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has seized a mansion worth N3.58bn ($18m at the official exchange rate of N199 to a dollar) in the Asokoro area of Abuja allegedly belonging to the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke. The acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, said this during an interview with Al-Jazeera, a Qatar-based news network. Magu, in the interview, monitored by our correspondent on Monday, noted that the items in the house included jewellery, furniture, and a bulletproof gym worth about $2m.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has seized a mansion worth N3.58bn ($18m at the official exchange rate of N199 to a dollar) in the Asokoro area of Abuja allegedly belonging to the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, said this during an interview with Al-Jazeera, a Qatar-based news network.

Magu, in the interview, monitored by our correspondent on Monday, noted that the items in the house included jewellery, furniture, and a bulletproof gym worth about $2m.

He stated that the house was part of the $10bn in cash and assets that had been seized by the Federal Government in the last one year.

“We have been able to take on a lot of big shots that were hitherto untouchable in the three arms of the military, political class. We have recorded 164 convictions in just one year,” he said.

He denied claims that the fight against corruption was politically-motivated.

“No, not my EFCC; not the EFCC of today. We are not politicized. If there is an allegation against anybody, we will go after them,” he said.

The Commission had revealed in April that it seized wristwatches worth £2m from the wife of the Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited, Mr. Jide Omokore, and Diezani.

The anti-graft agency seized a wristwatch worth £1.4m from Omokore’s wife, while a wristwatch worth £600,000 was seized from Diezani.

The wristwatches were said to have been seized during various raids on houses of some suspects on Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, and other places.

Meanwhile, in a statement on Monday, the spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the commission had the right to seize properties believed to have been acquired with stolen funds.

He said, “In recent times, a lot of interest has been generated by the action of the commission in freezing the accounts of suspects that were investigated or are currently being investigated. Some commentators have tended to ascribe vindictive motives to this action.

“In order to prevent misinformation, it is imperative to explain the reason behind the commission’s actions in this regard. Freezing of accounts suspected of being used for the commission of financial crimes is a mandatory investigative step backed by law.

“Indeed, Section 34 (1) of the EFCC Act 2004 empowers the Commission to freeze any account suspected of being used for financial crimes.

“The section stipulates that ‘the chairman of the commission or any officer authorised by him may, if satisfied that the money in the account of a person is made through the commission of an offence under this Act or any enactment specified under Section 6(2) (a)-(f) of this Act, apply to the court exparte for power to issue or instruct a bank examiner or such other appropriate authority to freeze the account.”

He argued that the aim of these provisions was to ensure that the commission safeguarded suspected proceeds of crime pending the completion of its investigation.

Court adjourns hearing in Kola Aluko, Omokore’s suit

In a related development, a Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned till June 29, 2016, hearing on the seizure of assets belonging to Diezani’s associates, Kola Aluko, and Jide Omokore, and their company, Atlantic Energy.

Aluko and Omokore have been accused of suspected business transactions that illegally transferred the country’s oil assets to them and their companies.

The Federal Government had approached Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo, seeking a global freeze of $1.8bn in assets allegedly stolen by Aluko and Omokore.

Their company was allegedly granted enormous contracts from the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company on the instructions of Diezani.

According to reports, when Diezani granted Atlantic Energy contracts through the Strategic Alliance Agreements, the company did not legally exist.

According to legal documents, Aluko and Omokore took more than $1.7bn from the Federal Government.

While Aluko is a subject of an INTERPOL investigation, Omokore had been arrested several times by the EFCC.

Some of the assets the government seeks to specifically freeze include three mansions in Los Angeles; two high-end apartments in New York City; properties in Santa Barbara, California; numerous properties in Lagos, including 43 apartments on Banana Island, 58 vehicles, the Galactica Star yacht and three aeroplanes.

Jonathan denies owing £15m house in the UK

Meanwhile, former President Goodluck Jonathan has denied owning a £15m property in the United Kingdom.

A former Editor of the UK SUN, Kelvin Mackenzie, had said in his weekly column on Saturday that Jonathan had bought a property in Surrey.

He had said, “I hear the aptly named Goodluck Jonathan, the former President of oil-rich Nigeria, has bought a 12,000 square foot house on the ultra-expensive and well protected St George’s Hill estate in Weybridge, Surrey.

“I’m sure he gained his wealth legitimately but these houses are £10-£15million a pop, so, perhaps the ex-President could explain where his money came from as he has been at the forefront of the fight against his country’s corruption. Surely, it can’t all have been good luck.”

However, Jonathan, through his media aide, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, denied the report and demanded a retraction from the newspaper.

The statement read in part, “Nothing could be further from the truth. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan takes pride in the fact that he does not have any property or accounts outside Nigeria. He stated this publicly while in office and his commitment to Nigeria’s economy remains total even after he left power.

“As the Nigerian President who signed the Freedom of Information bill into law, Dr. Jonathan is well aware that the United Kingdom is a nation with good record keeping at county and national levels and as such, it will not take a serious and responsible media long to verify ownership of property before rushing to the press with potentially libellous publications.

“It is hoped that this publication will correct its error and do a retraction and that other media will likewise follow up on this story to put the lie to the details it contains.”

Source: SR

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sign condolence book at U.S. Embassy London for the victims of Orlando shooting

The Duke and Duchess this morning offered their condolences for the victims of the terrible attack on Orlando's Pulse nightclub, signing a book of condolence at the U.S. Embassy London. 

The book was signed in front of a flag presented to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by the Kaleidoscope Trust, who work to uphold the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people internationally.

Source: Kensington Palace/U.S. Embassy London

Man Who Killed Wife And 4 Daughters In Police Custody!

Authorities in New Mexico began the extradition process Monday for a man they say fled to Mexico after killing his wife and four daughters.

Roswell police confirmed that Juan Villegas-Hernandez was arrested in or near Arizpe, a city south of Nogales, Mexico, on Sunday — a day after they say he shot five family members before fleeing in a red pickup.

Investigators have not yet released a possible motive in the case, and a police spokesman said local authorities had little — if any — contact with the suspect over the years.

Records showed Villegas-Hernandez, a Mexican national, had moved to the house where the victims were found nearly 10 years ago.

Todd Wildermuth, a Roswell police spokesman, said investigators had learned that Villegas-Hernandez had visited his family in Mexico frequently over the years.

Authorities had launched a search for him early Sunday after a relative discovered the bodies in the home the night before. Investigators believed hours may have passed before anyone knew they had been killed, police said.

By Sunday afternoon, Mexican authorities alerted Roswell police that they believed they had their suspect.

Wildermuth said police confirmed Monday that the man arrested in the Mexican state of Sonora was Villegas-Hernandez and began filling out paperwork to begin the extradition process.

"We are working to speak with the Mexican authorities to get them the proper paperwork needed," Wildermuth said. "The extradition can take some time."

Roswell police had not yet released the victims' names Monday, but said the children killed were 14, 11, 7 and 3.

The mother was 34, the same age as the suspect.

Associated Press reportage

Price of oil will rise soon – Kachikwu

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, has said that the price of crude oil would rise to a level that is neither too high nor too low.

The Minister spoke at the opening ceremony of the 6th African Petroleum Congress and Exhibition, CAPE VI, which held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Kachikwu pointed out that though crude oil appears to be going through bad times as a result of prevailing low price and the campaign against the use of fossil fuels for environmental reasons, the product would soon rise up to take its place as the prime global energy source.

The minister while speaking on the theme: “Positioning African Petroleum for Global Development and Value Addition” said he would not end his speech without delivering a message from oil, stating: “My name is oil, those who are kind to me call me black gold. Those who hate me call me crude.

“I worry for my future; everyone now talks down on me. Even farmers who trembled at the sight of my name are now strategizing against me.

“And all my beneficiaries, me have they abandoned, all because producers have lost their tracks. But I will rise again, and when I do, I will take no prisoners.

“I will new technologies control; I will my supremacy confirm; I will my respect regain.

“And my pricing, not too low, not too high; but I will not allow prices to humiliate me. All of you in OPEC, APPA, GCEF and all such bodies who have shown me no respect recently, soon, you’ll eat your words.”

However, President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in his key note address, called on member countries of the African Petroleum Producers’ Association, APPA, to come together and find a lasting solution to the challenge of low refining capacity plaguing the African continent.

He also urged APPA member countries to work towards ending gas flaring and other activities that are inimical to environmental sustainability.


Source: DailyPost

Buhari Sends Powerful Message To Nigerians From London

One year after voting the All Progressives Congress into power, some Nigerians who were believers of president Muhammadu Buhari's ‘change’ agenda are no longer certain his administration can deliver on its promise.

Buhari has during the election promised to bring about the long-awaited positive  change in the country.

President Buhari, who is currently in London, lists three changes Nigeria needs In this article for American paperWall Street Journal..

Nigeria is at a crossroads. Just over a year ago, people voted in a historic democratic election to end corruption and business as usual, opting instead to build an economy that delivers for all Nigerians.

The old order was based on an unsustainable commodities super cycle. While the boom had many positives and contributed to Nigeria becoming Africa’s largest economy, it fostered an epidemic of corruption and inefficiency. Foreign businesses and financial institutions also benefited as some people spent and sometimes hid huge sums abroad, lifted by the rising tide of oil exports and dollar revenues.

Now we are living in a new world of low energy prices. The economy has slowed while unemployment and inflation have jumped. Longstanding structural imbalances and over-dependence on imports have been cruelly exposed. We are an oil-rich nation that imports most of our gasoline. We are a farming nation that imports most of our basic food staples. This is simply not acceptable or sustainable.

Our solutions must be in proportion to the challenges. Fundamental change takes time and we are driving not one but three changes to reposition Nigeria for inclusive growth.

Restore Trust

We have begun to tackle the endemic corruption and mismanagement that is crippling our economy and corroding trust in our institutions. The anticorruption fight is at the heart of combating poverty and improving security. We have stepped up enforcement and new prosecutions to get our house in order, and I have called for foreign governments to work with us to identify where funds stolen during previous administrations are lodged and for multistate cooperation to combat oil theft.

Fighting corruption is not enough. We need accountable government and a public sector that can do more with less. We have already taken initial steps by bringing all government finances into a single treasury account where we can monitor spending and impose discipline, implementing zero-based budgets and benchmarks targeted at waste and fraud, and establishing electronic platforms for government agency interface.

Rebalance Our Economy

In a world of lower oil prices and dollar revenues, the only sustainable path is to reduce Nigerians’ overreliance on imports. We must rebalance our economy by empowering entrepreneurs and producers, big and small, to create more of what their fellow Nigerians demand. The supply of foreign exchange to the economy must be increased. This requires radically increasing exports and productivity and improving the investment climate and ease of doing business.

Nigeria’s growth and job creation will be led by the private sector. 

We are a young, entrepreneurial society with vibrant success stories in new industries such as telecommunications, technology and entertainment. Government is doing its part to lower taxes on small businesses, eliminate bureaucracy to bring the informal economy out of the shadows and provide development funding for priority sectors such as agriculture. The central bank has moved to introduce greater flexibility in our exchange-rate policy. These actions are a downpayment on our people’s ability to succeed.

Regenerate Growth

We must reposition our economy by attracting investment in domestic industries and infrastructure. Nigeria has huge untapped gas reserves and also a critical shortage of electricity. Our private sector loses too much of its revenue due to brownouts and power outages. Half of my fellow Nigerians have no access to the power grid. Investment in our power infrastructure, restructuring of the state-run oil-and-gas sector and development of other industries such as solid minerals, metals and petrochemicals will help to create a virtuous circle of growth and exports while creating jobs and reducing poverty.

I am optimistic that our actions are providing the breathing room Nigeria needs during this period of fundamental change. But we cannot improve living conditions and restore fiscal health without making people feel safe and secure—just as we cannot defeat militancy without reducing poverty and dislocation.

One of our main achievements this past year has been to unite regional and global allies to push back Boko Haram. What we do in the next three years to build an economic bridge to Nigeria’s future will be just as important for bringing lasting peace and prosperity.



Source: SDK

I will do everything possible to protect oil facilities in Niger Delta — Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to do all within his powers to ensure the security of oil installations in the Niger Delta region.

The President, who was represented by the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, gave the assurance at a lecture organised by the Save Democracy Group Africa, to mark this year’s democracy day in Abuja on Tuesday.

Buhari’s assurance is coming at the heels of several attacks on oil pipelines by resurgent militant group, the Niger Delta Avenger, with Chevron Nigeria Limited being the worst hit.

According to Buhari, while he seeks a non-military solution to the vandalism and destruction of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region, he would not succumb to intimidation and blackmail by militants.

“You will agree with me that two major reasons why our economy is in such a deplorable condition is the slump in crude oil prices.

“It is also due to decline in production as a result of the recent upsurge in activities of criminals and saboteurs in the oil producing region.

“While the control of the selling price of our crude oil is not solely in our hands, the challenge of militancy, criminality and vandalism is solely within our control.

“I, therefore, wish to restate that I have directed all the nation’s security outfits to take all steps necessary to secure the oil facilities and other government assets in the Niger Delta region.

“While our doors are open to dialogue, political and non-military solution on the matter, this government will not succumb to intimidation and blackmail by criminal element, coming to inflict further unnecessary social and economic hardship on the citizens.’’

The President further urged those behind the attacks on oil facilities to desist from the act or face the consequences.

Dailypost