No Nigerian University Made It To The Top 1000 Universities In The World

In a latest university ranking by the Center For World University Ranking Show, none of Nigeria numerous universities made at least the first 1000 best universities in the world.

The ranking was done by the Centre for World University Rankings show.The center uses eight objective indicators to rank the world’s top 1,000 universities which are quality of education, alumni employment, quality of faculty, publications, influence, citations, broad impact and patents.

The United States of America has eight universities in the top 10.

Harvard University is ranked first while Stanford University ranked second, followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technolog as third.

University of Cambridge came forth while the University of Oxford was ranked fifth.

The University of Witwatersrand in South Africa was the highest ranked university in Africa which ranked 149th followed by Mansoura University in Egypt which emerged 988th.

In an earlier ranking done by Journals Consortium, only one Nigerian university made it to the list of top 10 African universities.

Nigeria’s University of Ibadan beaten by six South African schools was ranked eight on the list.

The Center for World University Rankings publishes the only global university ranking that measures the quality of education and training of students, as well as the prestige of the faculty members and the quality of their research without relying on surveys and university data submissions.

Ooni Of Ife Intervenes In OAU Crisis, Workers Suspend Strike Action

Aggrieved members of the Non-Accademic Staff Union, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, have suspended a strike they embarked upon about three weeks ago.

The strike was to protest the alleged non-payment of their 64-month hazard allowance. It was gathered that the workers suspended their strike after a meeting on Wednesday with the school management and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, as the mediator.

The workers suspended the strike following a promise by the management to pay them palliatives When contacted, the Chairman of NASU, OAU chapter, Wole Odewunmi, confirmed the suspension of the strike.

He said, “We have agreed to suspend the strike following the Ooni’s intervention. Our members will be resuming on Friday because we still need to put some things in place.”

It would be recalled that the workers embarked on a protest over their unpaid hazard allowance. In a bid to show their grievances, they paralysed activities on the university campus by closing the library and the senate building. They also blocked the major entrances and refused to supply light and water to the campus.

As the crisis deepened, the authorities of the university closed the school. The authorities later ordered students and the workers to resume in less than a week. To also prevent further protests, no fewer than three Armoured Police Carriers were positioned close to the university’s gate with about 100 policemen seen at the school’s gate on Monday.

The management, through a press release by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Biodun Olarewaju, last Thursday, vowed to punish any worker who did not resume on Tuesday (yesterday).

“These illegal activities have been reported to the appropriate security agencies. In view of the total disregard for constituted authority and the recalcitrant behavior by members of NASU, all NASU members are hereby directed to return to their duty posts on or before Tuesday, July 21, failing which appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken against erring members of the university,” the management had said.

JAMB Insists Universities Can Place Cut-Off At 300

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said that the national cut off point for screening of candidates for admission remained the minimum expectation that each candidate desirous of university admission should have.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the board, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos.

According to the statement, the attention of the board has been drawn to the challenge experienced by some candidates who could not access the University of Lagos site to register for the Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The statement said that the board sincerely sympathised with their frustration.

“We want to seize this opportunity to state that our attention has been drawn to the agitation by some parents and students who turned out for the registration for the post JAMB screening exercise for the candidates.

“We sympathise with them but wish to state categorically that the national cut off point is just the minimum expectation that each candidate desirous of university admission should have.

“However, universities are at liberty to go higher than 180, depending on their peculiarities and the performance of candidates who chose them.

“For instance, if over 10,000 candidates who made Unilag their first choice scored 250 and above, it will be difficult for them to go lower than 250 when they are to admit only about 7000.

“I wish to state that a time will come when some universities will go up to 300 as their cut off mark, depending on the performance,’’ the statement said.

It explained that because of the development, the board decided that some of the candidates who chose such institutions but fall below their cut off marks should not miss out, hence the need to send them to other schools.

The statement added that such a gesture should rather be applauded, instead of condemning the Dibu Ojerinde-led JAMB management.

Check Out Caitlyn Jenner’s Shoe Closet

The 65-year-old man turned woman showed off her shoe closet and it’s quite impressive. Lol...

Emeka Ike’s Wife Breaks Down In Court, Says Dissolve Our Marriage Now

Emeka Ike’s Wife is not a happy woman at the moment. The lady who was yesterday in court in continuation of the suit she had filed seeking to divorce her husband is unhappy and in pains. A reporter with The Nation who was in court yesterday reports the court outcome below;

Ace Actor Emeka Ike yesterday prayed the Lagos Island Customary Court not to dissolve his marriage, saying he still loves his wife, Emma. Emma had gone to court, seeking dissolution of their 12-year-old marriage.

Emeka, represented by his counsel, Abdul’Hakeem Labi-Lawal, said his client has not appeared in court because he is ill. Continue...

“My client is ill but I will try my best possible he comes on the next adjourned date. We indulge the court to give us six months from this day to see if there is possibility of settlement between the couple,” he said.

But Mrs Ike said six months was too long adding that the respondent had two years to reconcile with her but he didn’t.

She said: “The last time I wanted to speak with our children, it was my mother-in-law who

picked the call and asked if I had read Exodus 21 which says that if I go, I shouldn’t return.”

The court’s President, Chief Awos Awosola, said the court could only grant two weeks.

He said: “I am expecting Emeka Ike in this court if he really wants settlement.”

Awosola adjourned the matter till August 12 for further hearing.

After the court rose, Mrs Ike told The Nation that she wasn’t ready to return to her husband. “Over two years since I left the house, he never taught of reconciliation. He had every opportunity to ask me to return but he didn’t. So why now?”she asked.

Mrs Ike said her husband took her last two children from her when she was going for her mother’s burial in February.

“He promised to bring them to me immediately I returned from my mother’s burial but he didn’t. Even when he didn’t allow me access to see our children, I spoke with them on several occasions but now, he doesn’t allow me anymore. My children are now against me, she said.

Mrs Ike said she left her matrimonial home because she could no longer bear being tortured anymore.

“If I was still with him, I may not survive. I was 19-year old when I met him and he was the one who deflowered me. I see no reason I shouldn’t be treated with utmost respect.

“Due to physical torture, my health has been affected. There was even a time I thought I had breast cancer because I felt a lump on one part of my breast.” Mrs Ike said.

She said things became worse last Sunday when she called her husband to speak with their children.

In tears, Mrs Ike said:”I almost went mad when my first son told me on phone that if I truly loved them, I wouldn’t have abandoned them. Even my seven-year-old son whose day wouldn’t be complete without seeing me said he doesn’t love me. I love my children. I miss my children. I never abandoned them. I am in pain. They don’t have any other mother. I really need my children. I am a good woman; I endured so many things as his wife.”

The union produced four children between ages 4 and 13.

Man Snatches Friend’s Wife, 5 Children

A 52 year-old man, Gilbert Maduako, has lost his wife, Oluchi and five children after his friend, Akwusi Aluwaogu, who allegedly snatched Oluchi and took away the children claiming that he was their father.

The incident happened at Ugwuakwu Village in Umuchu in Aguate Local Government in Anambra State, southeast Nigeria.

The marriage which produced those children, collapsed after Oluchi and her children moved to Aluwaogu’s home who is an indigene of Akokwa town in Imo State and introduced the man to her children as their real father.

P.M.News learnt that both Maduako and Aluwaogu were good friends for years before he married Oluchi.

Unknown to Maduako, his friend was secretly dating his wife even though he visited them as a family friend.

He later got to know when he returned from work and did not find his wife and children.

He started looking for them and later found them at Aluwaogu’s house at his village in Akokwa, Imo State.

The wife reportedly introduced Aluwaogu as her husband and father of those five children.

It was not certain who among the two husbands actually impregnated Oluci and had the children.

P.M.News gathered from the indigeines that the children belong to Maduako because he properly married Oluchi by paying her bride price.

Trouble started after Aluwaogu planned to give the eldest daughter to a husband at a tender age to collect her dowry.

Maduako got wind of the plan and reported to the police at Umuchu Division who intervened.

The police arrested Aluwaogu and took him to the station where he was interrogated and he confessed that he actually wanted to marry off the teenager.

He said since they are living with him and their mother, who actually knew their real father of those children, he had since adopted them as his own children.

On the fate of his friend, Maduako, he said he cannot force Oluchi to marry him and suggested that he should go and get himself another wife and accept his fate.

When our correspondent visited the station, the new DPO was not around to comment on the matter.

P.M.News gathered from police sources that police stopped the marriage on two grounds-to determine the rightful owner of those children and that the girl was too young to get married.

Cross River Chief of Staff denies assault claim, alleges blackmail

Two days ago a man named Jeremiah Ashang accused the Chief of Staff to Cross River state governor of assault.

The man accused has now released a statement explaining his side of the story.

The Chief of Staff to Cross River State Governor, Martin Prim has decried allegations of assault made against him by one Jeremiah Ashang as a cocktail of lies. Orim said the entire account of the alleged assault as narrated by Ashang is riddled with half truths, contradictions and outright falsehood.

He said this was a clear case of the aggressor playing the victim, saying it was Ashang and his gang who actually assaulted his driver.

"I neither assaulted nor ordered the beating of Ashang or anybody else for that matter. This man is clearly out to blackmail me. But in his hurry to tar me and malign my person, he exposed himself for who he truly is. A liar.

"While in one breath he claimed I ordered his my security details to beat him, tie him up and bundle him into a Hilux van, in another breath he said he fled for his dear life after I purportedly ordered that he and his cousin should be shot. I am wondering how a man who was supposedly tied up and thrown into a Hilux van, could have made such an escape."

Orim said it was actually Ashang and his gang that actually assaulted his driver after they forced their way into his hotel room, claiming the said room the hotel staff checked in his driver, was reserved for them.

The Chief of Staff who said he refused to be dragged into the confusion that ensued thereafter, accused Asang of cheap blackmail.

LIB

Buhari will not probe Obasanjo, IBB, Abacha's govt, only GEJ's - Presidency

The Presidency says President Buhari will only be probing the immediate past administration and will not probe past administrations of Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha and others.

Speaking to newsmen, the special adviser to the President on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, says that President Buhari had stated during his campaign that his probe will only be limited to the immediate past administration.

"If you recall, that was already settled before he got inaugurated as president. He has said he will not waste time digging into the far past. The far past will include Obasanjo and others. But the President has said he will not waste time to go that far, ”he said.

Former President Jonathan had stated before leaving office that any probe focused on his administration will only amount to witch-hunting.

Nigerian girls rescued from prostitution in Burkina Faso

Six Nigerian girls have been returned to the country from Burkina Faso where they were allegedly taken to work as prostitutes by a woman named Balikis.

While re-uniting the girls with their parents in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday, the Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Oyo State Command, Innocent Akatu, said the girls were tricked to leave Nigeria, adding that the victims did not tell their parents about the journey.

Akatu said the girls refused to engage in prostitution in Ouagadougu, Burkina-Faso, hence were locked in a room by the trafficker.

He added that their journey back home after three weeks began when one of them escaped and alerted the Burkinabe police.

He said, “The victims, after being smuggled to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, discovered that they were going to be used for prostitution. They were not even told that they were going to Burkina Faso. These girls were told that they would be given lucrative jobs abroad; one of them was told that she was going to manage a jewellery shop owned by her trafficker.

“One of them was taken from her home in Ikorodu, Lagos State, and driven to Saki in Oyo State. When she asked why it had taken them so long to reach the airport, she was told that the plane had left and that they would have to travel by road.

“The Nigerian embassy assisted in arranging emergency travelling documents for them to return to Nigeria after their lucky escape. We have taken them to the hospital for screening and they are HIV negative.”
One of the returnees, Ganiyat Samuel, said she lived with her grandmother in Ikorodu before she embarked on the journey.

She said, “A woman, called Balikis, came to me and said that I would make more money as a fashion designer if I travel outside Nigeria. I told her that I had no passport, but she said that she would take care of it. I did not tell any of my parents.

“When we got to Saki, she said she could not get a passport for me because the office had closed. We travelled for two days to get to Burkina Faso. She took me to her house and told me that I would have to do HIV test. The test revealed that I was pregnant, but HIV negative. She told me that she brought me to the country for prostitution and that I would have to abort the pregnancy. I refused and she locked me in a room. When she brought another Nigerian a week later, I helped the girl to escape and she alerted the police. The police rescued us and arrested the woman.”

Samuel’s mother, Olasunkanmi Afuwape, said her father had died and after she re-married, she took the girl and her brother to live with her mother in Ikorodu.

Punch

Bode George's son shares sexy photos

Yinka, a Canada-based model and one of the sons of PDP Chieftain, Bode George, took some sexy pics and shared on instagram.

See photos after the cut....

PHOTO: WHO DID THIS TO MOYO LAWAL?

One of the sexiest divas in Nollywood, Moyo Lawal, who bounced back to social media few weeks back, was recently attacked and now has a disfigured face.

The hour-glass shaped actress, who went on a sabbatical from all forms of social media, and even from the press, is now back to her game and currently on a movie location.

The ‘Wicked Love’ starlet shared some scary movie location pictures for her fans via her Instagram page.

She captioned it, “Since her face is the target for her destruction, you know the killer had an emotional bond with her, but she told the killers to hang on and take pictures as her last request.”

However, she didn’t disclose much about the movie.

BOY RESCUED AFTER HE WAS BURIED ALIVE IN ENUGU STATE

A discovery has been made during a three-day fasting and prayer crusade organised to cleanse the Ngwo community in Enugu State of evil.

According to Vanguard, during the prayer session, it was discovered that a 10-year-old boy was allegedly buried alive by suspected occultic men in Ngwo, Enugu State, after he was allegedly abducted along Independence Layout axis.

However, a Catholic priest from Abia State, Reverend Father Modestus Chilaka, was invited by elders to assist in cleansing the land, rescued the boy.

Meanwhile, the traditional ruler, Ogwugwu Ebenebe 1 of Ameke Ngwo, Igwe Jerome Okolo, said: “I was here and I saw a small boy who was buried alive as a sacrifice.

“The priest said there was such thing happening and they have buried a boy for rituals.

“He prophesied and said he will go there and rescue him. He went and they rescued the boy and brought him to this ground and everybody saw him.”

HEAVILY PREGNANT STEPHANIE OKEREKE LINUS GLOWS IN NEW PHOTOS

Heavily pregnant Nollywood actress Stephanie Linus who is currently in Nigeria rocking her baby bump, stepped out in style at the Opening of Another Vlisco Store in Ikeja, Lagos.

The Vlisco ambassador was pictured at the Event with fellow Actress, Sola Sobowale while she rocked a stylish Blue Print Ankara Dress.

This is Stephanie's first pregnancy since her well celebrated marriage to Mr. Linus, three years ago.

Vlisco is a renowned Dutch fashion textile brand in Nigeria.

Nobody Will Escape Justice, Not Even Corrupt APC Members – Buhari

In an interview with CNN’s Amanpour, President Buhari talked about what he wants the US to do for Nigeria as it relates to the fight against Boko Haram

“The United States and even the G7 promised to do what they can to help Nigeria so we have brought our requirements in terms of training and equipping and in intelligence gathering for Nigeria to be able to fight Boko Haram”, he said.

As regards speculation that Boko Haram wants to trade some of their members in prison for the kidnapped Chibok girls, President Buhari said.

“We have to be very careful about the credibility of various Boko Haram leadership coming up and claiming that they can deliver. We have to be very careful indeed and we are taking our time because we want to bring them safe back to their parents and their school”, he said.

Asked further if he was against negotiating with Boko Haram, he said, “I cannot be against it because as I told you our main objective as a government is to rescue those girls back to their schools and rehabilitate them back to normal sight. If we are convinced that the leadership that presented itself can deliver those girls safe and should, we will be prepared to negotiate what they want”, he said.

Asked if he will crack down on corrupt leaders even if they were from his party, Buhari said.

“I just have to. There isn’t going to be any party member or personality that can escape justice”, he said.

Asked if he was dissapointed President Obama who is due to visit Africa soon isn’t coming to Nigeria, President Buhari said.

“I wouldn’t say I was disappointed but how I wish he will change is mind and go to Nigeria”.

Asked if he asked President Obama to come to Nigeria when they met, he said, “Well I asked him and I will send a formal invitation”.

Asked what he thinks of former Chadian dictator who is being tried in Senegal instead of the International Criminal Court, President Buhari said, “Justice is Justice whether it is done in Africa or else in the world. The important thing is let justice be done. Whatever evidence the prosecutors have in Senegal I think they should proceed to make it available to the world and prosecute him according to international law on Human rights. I support any process that is based on Justice."

Photos: Man Burnt To Death In Imo State For Allegedly Stealing A Bike

This incident happened in Okigwe, Imo State where a guy was burnt alive for stealing a bike…

See photos below:

Credit: Naij.com

Boko Haram Attacks Family Home Of New Army Chief, Kills Two

Suspected Boko Haram militants burned down houses, including the family home of Nigeria’s new army chief, in a village in the northeast of the country on Tuesday, a policeman, military source and witnesses said.

At least two people were killed and eight injured in Buratai in Borno state, resident Adamu Talba and the military source said, but Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Baratai, was not present at the time of the attack in the early hours.

Boko Haram has waged a deadly campaign to carve out a state adhering to strict Islamic law in Nigeria’s northeast for the past six years. After being pushed out of most of the territory they gained earlier this year, the group scattered and returned to attacking soft targets.

President Muhammadu Buhari has made ending the insurgency his priority and discussed how to tackle it during his first trip to Washington to meet President Barack Obama.

First Class Graduates To Serve In Tertiary Institutions – NYSC

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Johnson Olawunmi, has said prospective corps members with first class degree and their counterparts, who graduated with distinction from the polytechnics, would henceforth be posted to tertiary institutions for their primary assignment.

The NYSC chief disclosed this in Kaduna on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of 2015 Batch ‘B’ Pre-Mobilization Workshop.

The Director of Corps Mobilisation, Mr. Anthony Ani, also explained that workshop would critically “look at the data entry used for the exercise for the Senate approved list, the list of approved corps producing institutions and the list of accredited courses.”

Olawunmi, who enumerated his reform programmes aimed at improving service delivery and efficiency in the NYSC, said if fully implemented, the NYSC programme would go through a seamless process and add value to young Nigerian graduates.

He also disclosed that Nigerian universities have been banned from offering post-graduate admission to serving corps members.

CBN Governor Emefiele Runs Back To Nigeria After Buhari Disgraced Him Openly

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has hurriedly abandoned his role in the delegation of President Muhammad Buhari in the US following a public admonishing he got.

A Presidency source told Sahara Reporters that Mr. Emefiele asked to see President Buhari and then requested to leave for an “important” meeting in London. The President is said to have granted the request.

On Monday, the president had warned his aides against smuggling Nigerian businessmen into meetings during his visit. But Emefiele disobeyed that order.

And later that evening, Buhari openly lambasted the CBN governor for smuggling the former Managing Director of Zenith bank, Jim Ovia, into a dinner organized by the US Chamber of Commerce.

Presidency sources said the CBN governor’s request to leave Washington DC came as a surprise, as he had not previously informed President Buhari of any other meeting he had to attend, especially one that would deprive the President of a prominent member of his delegation.

It is unclear as of the time of publishing this report if Jim Ovia, who was the beneficiary of Mr. Emefiele’s efforts, has also left the United States out of embarrassment.

Jonathan’s Ministers Behind Oil Theft – Buhari

THE near future of some former ministers and top government officials appears to be behind bars as President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday confirmed that he had started receiving some documents, which showed that they were thieves.

The President vowed that the ex-ministers would be prosecuted based on the indicting documents while the proceeds of their fraud would be repatriated to government coffers from their multiple foreign accounts, which he said were opened for the purpose of laundering money.

Buhari said the documents at his disposal indicted some former ministers and other top government officials of massive fraud, including oil theft.

“Some former ministers were selling about one million barrels per day. I assure you that we will trace and repatriate such money and use the documents to prosecute them.

A lot of damage has been done to the integrity of Nigeria with individuals and institutions already compromised,” the President said.

He spoke at an interactive session with Nigerians in Diaspora at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC, United States of America, as part of his four-day official visit to the country.

He also said that while many Nigerians had nicknamed him “Baba Go Slow” because of the delay in forming his cabinet, he would prefer to be “slow and steady” in taking decisions.

He said the government officials who had been stealing Nigerian oil also opened as many as five bank accounts abroad for the purpose of laundering the money they made from their thievery.

The President said, “We are now looking for evidences of shipping some of our crude, their destinations and where and which accounts they were paid and in which country.

“When we get as much as we can get as soon as possible, we will approach those countries to freeze those accounts and go to court, prosecute those people and let the accounts be taken to Nigeria.

“The amount of money is mind-boggling but we have started getting documents. We have started getting documents where some of the senior people in government, former ministers, some of them operated as much as five accounts and were moving about one million barrels per day on their own. We have started getting those documents.

Punch

No information on seized $15m arms funds –SA envoy

The South African Ambassador to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, on Wednesday said there was no information on the reported release of $15m arms funds that was confiscated from the Federal Government in 2014.

There had been reports that the money had been released to Nigeria, but the envoy stated that he had yet to get any brief on the issue from his government.

One of our correspondents had reached out to the envoy last Friday following reports that the immediate past National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, explored legal and diplomatic channels to effect the release of the money to the Federal Government before he left office on July 13,2015.

The ambassador promised to find out the status of the subject from Pretoria, but when the correspondent contacted him on Monday, he explained that he had yet to get a feedback from the authorities in South Africa.

When Mnguni was again contacted on Wednesday, he said he had no update on the release of the money, adding that he would not be able to speak further on the issue.

He explained that it was not ideal for the Nigerian government to read about the matter in the media without being briefed.

He said, “We have not heard anything (from South Africa), even if we hear anything, we still have to communicate it to the government of Nigeria, we can’t go to the press without talking to the (Nigerian) government. We have to talk first to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also did not have any information on the issue. It’s spokesperson, Ogbole Ahmedu-Ode, said he did not have any update on it.

On his part, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation told one of our correspondents that it had no records that the seized amount has been returned to the government.

The Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, who spoke through his media office said, “The truth is that we don’t have any evidence to that effect and there is nothing here now to show it has been returned.

“In any case, if it’s returned it won’t come to us straight and we won’t know immediately. It will go to the office where the funds was first released before such records get to us.

“So, I advise you check with the agency from where the money was released for the arms acquisition deal.”

The Assets Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority had confiscated the $15m meant for purchase of arms by the FG in two separate tranches of $9.3m and $5.7m.

The first tranche of $9.3m cash was found stashed in three suit cases by two Nigerians and an Israeli at Lanseria Airport, north of Johannesburg in September, 2014 while the second amount was seized three weeks after.

The news of the first transaction sparked anger after it emerged that the private jet involved belonged to the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

Oritsejafor, a close ally of former President Goodluck Jonathan, said the plane had been leased to a third party and he could not be blamed for its schedules.

The FG later admitted it was behind the arms deal, claiming it acted out of desperation for arms to defeat the Boko Haram sect.

PUNCH

Nobody is above the law, Osinbajo tells NURTW leaders

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday told the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers that nobody would be treated as being above the law by the present administration.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, the Vice-President spoke while granting audience to the leadership of the union at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Osinbajo told his guests that ensuring that no one is above the law is the first rule of any developed country.

He said there was no reason why Nigeria also should not be well run like such countries.

He added, “Good economies are run by men, not spirits. Men and women like you and I, flesh and blood. There is no reason why our country cannot be well run. The key is the rule of law.

“We insist that the rule of the law be maintained, that no one is above the law. Nobody is above the law; it is the first rule. The President has committed himself to this. He said it yesterday again in the US, that nobody is above the law.

“If somebody is held according to law, we must support that. Let us support what is good and right for the country.”

PUNCH

Alleged fraud: EFCC invites Saraki’s wife

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has invited Toyin Saraki, the wife of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for questioning over alleged shady contracts during her husband’s tenure as the governor of Kwara State.

Also, the daughter of the late former President Umaru Yar’Adua, who is also the wife of an ex-Governor of Kebbi State, Mrs. Zaina Dakingari, was said to have been invited by the anti-graft agency.

Saraki’s wife is billed to appear before EFCC interrogators on July 28, a day after Yar’Adua’s daughter would have been questioned.

Mrs Dakingari, The PUNCH learnt on Wednesday, would answer questions on the alleged misappropriation of N2bn state funds.

Toyin Saraki was said to be under probe in relation to several contracts executed by companies said to be linked to her while her husband held sway as the Kwara governor.

A source at the EFCC, who confided in our correspondent in Abuja, said, “The commission has invited the wives of two former state governors, Mrs. Toyin Saraki and Mrs. Zaiba Dakingari.

“Mrs. Dakingari was supposed to have appeared before the commission on Wednesday (yesterday) but she sent a message that she was outside the country and would honour the invitation on July 27, 2015.

“She is to provide an explanation in relation to N2bn state funds.

“The commission is expecting Saraki on July 28, 2015. The exact amount of money involved in her matter is not stated for now but she is to be quizzed in relation to various contracts executed in Kwara State when her husband was governor of the state.”

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed to our correspondent that the commission had sent out invitations to some wives of former governors though he said he did not know their identities.

Meanwhile, the EFCC operators on Wednesday grilled ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s Senior Special Assistant on Schools and Agricultural Programmes, Baraka Sani.

Sani was reportedly interrogated by operatives of the commission at its headquarters for eight hours before she was allowed to go.

The former President’s aide, The PUNCH learnt, was said to have been directed to report again at the commission in the early hours of Thursday (today) to answer further questions from her interrogators.

The PUNCH had reported exclusively on Tuesday that the EFCC had concluded plans to embark on a probe of officials of the Jonathan administration.

The former public officers said to be the target of the EFCC are former ministers, special advisers, senior special assistants, heads of parastatals and agencies in the previous administration.

Sani was the first aide of the former President to be quizzed by the EFCC.

It was gathered that the EFCC grilled her in relation to funds voted for schools agricultural programmes.

The commission is said to be working on the allegation that funds voted for schools agricultural programmes were diverted.

A source at the EFCC said, “Operatives of the commission today interrogated the Senior Special Assistant to the former President on Schools and Agricultural Programmes in relation to funds voted for the programmes.

“She is being quizzed for diversion of funds meant for the schools’ agricultural programmes.

“She came in the morning and spent eight hours before she was allowed to go. The interrogation has not ended because those in charge of the investigation asked her to return tomorrow (Thursday). So we are still expecting her.

Uwujaren confirmed to our correspondent on the telephone that Sani was at the commission’s headquarters on Wednesday.

“I can confirm that she was at the commission’s headquarters to answer questions for alleged financial impropriety,” the EFCC spokesman said.

PUNCH

Kwara PDP Accuse Saraki Of Diverting Bailout Funds

Nigeria’s Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has been accused by the Kwara state Peoples Democratic Party of diverting about N3billion Kwara state received as bailout from the Federal Government to pay workers salaries.

Speaking through a statement, the state chapter of the PDP said it was shocked by the diversion describing the act thoughtless, and a total negation of the reasons behind the release of the funds.

“Our party reliably learnt that the Kwara State share of the bailout funds was paid on Wednesday, July 8. But till this very moment, over five months’ salaries being owed some categories of workers in the state had yet to be paid.

“Even more curious is the fact that the Kwara State Government has kept mute on the exact amount it got from the Consolidated Revenue Account as bailout. Whereas, virtually all states of the federation, particularly Abia, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Kano, Kastina and Kaduna states had publicly declared how much they got as bailout from the Federal Government.

“The APC-led government of Kwara State has kept silent over the funds, thereby confirming the rumor making the rounds that the sudden homecoming of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on the day the funds was disbursed to Kwara State was with a bid to partake in the illegal sharing of the bailout funds”PDP said.

The PDP however used the medium to call on labour unions in the State to prevail against the State Government to instantaneously pay the arrears of salaries, allowances and pensions to ameliorate the suffering of workers in Kwara.

Meanwhile, Saraki mourns has expressed sadness over the demise of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Aminu Saleh.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Sanni Onogu, and made available to NAIJ, in Abuja, Saraki described late Saleh  as an exemplary public officer who contributed immensely to the growth and development of the country.

He said: “Late Saleh  was one public officer who was very diligent and patriotic in the discharge of his duties to the fatherland.”

He commiserated with the Government, immediate family and people of Bauchi State, and prayed the Almighty God to grant him eternal rest.

It would be recalled that Toyin Saraki, the wife of Bukola Saraki, has said she will honour the invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). She has also expressed her readiness to assist the commission with its inquiries over corruption allegations leveled against her.

Vandals die as NNPC pipeline explodes in Arepo

A yet to be ascertained number of pipeline vandals were roasted in the wee hours of yesterday, following a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, pipeline explosion at Arepo, Ogun State.

Although an unconfirmed report put the death toll at 100, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, could not state whether any casualty was recorded, as it claimed it could not access the terrain due to the magnitude of the fire.

There were different accounts of how the explosion occurred.

A version said some of the vandals intentionally fired some shots on the broken pipeline during a heated argument, thereby resulting in an explosion that sparked off a wild fire.

Trouble, as gathered, started after different group of vandals stormed the creeks in boats loaded with empty jerry cans and engaged in a verbal confrontation over ownership of a section of the pipeline.

One of the group leaders, whose identity was given simply as Killer, was said to have ordered the other groups to vacate the creeks, stating that he was the owner of the section they invaded.

Apparently taking the order as an affront, leaders of other groups reportedly told their boys to break another section of the pipeline, from where they began to siphon the product.

In the process, a member of Killer‘s group allegedly fired a shot at the broken pipeline, resulting in an inferno.

Another version had it that the vandals had finished siphoning the petroleum product and were leaving the creeks when one of the boats developed a fault.

In the process of trying to start its engine, a spark of fire emerged, causing the explosion.

Several of them were reportedly burnt beyond recognition, while some, who managed to swim to safety, sustained severe burns.

… ground zero inaccessible

As at 6.30p.m. yesterday, the fire was still raging. No agency had reported at the scene to contain the spread of the fire at press time.
NEMA’s South-West spokesman, Ibrahim Farinloye, when contacted, could not confirm the number of casualty. He simply stated that the agency could not give details since it was yet to access the terrain.

He said: “An unconfirmed report on a clash between different groups of vandals at Arepo around midnight has led to pipeline explosion.

“NNPC has been alerted about the explosion and has immediately shut down supplies to suffocate the fire, while efforts are on to put it out by the NNPC safety unit.

“No one can confirm if there are casualties or anyone injured because no agency is yet to access the scene which is swampy. No one can confirm until we get to the scene.”

However, residents of the area have called on the relevant authorities to come to their aid, following the incessant fires caused by vandals.

A resident, Mr. Majekodunmi Fatai, said: “For a long time now, there had been no agency securing the pipelines. We noticed the absence of security agents since a pregnant woman was shot dead around this area some months ago.

“No one can access the scene today, not even officials of NNPC fire safety unit, as they are afraid that vandals could be lurking around to shoot at any intruder, just as they killed one NNPC official last year.”

Vanguard

Fuel tanker explosion kills one in Ogun

Tragedy struck in Abeokuta, yesterday, following an explosion at a government petroleum dump site, leaving one person dead and two injured.

The explosion occurred when a fuel tank exploded and caught fire at a construction site inside the  the premises of  Ogun State Road Maintenance Agency, OGROMA, located opposite Agbeloba House, Quarry Road, Abeokuta, Ogun state capital.

According to bricklayers working at the construction site, the victims were working on the three underground tankers being relocated from the government fuel dumps at the old secretariat, when the explosion occurred.

Other eyewitnesses said that the massive explosion could have been due to the improper management of the welding works on the underground tanks by the contractor.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that the incident occurred around 3p.m.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, said the explosion occurred when one of the below-the-surface fuel tanks being worked upon by welders, exploded and reverberated through the area.

It was gathered that the deceased, identified simply as Yemi, was reportedly hit by the shrapnel of the tank on which one of the artisans was working, the impact of which threw him inside a ditch.

The eyewitness added that the tanks, which were dug out from the state government fuel dump located at Oke-Ilewo area of the capital city, were being reburied at the defunct OGROMA yard, when the explosion occurred.

Meanwhile, policemen from Adigbe Police Station later arrived the scene of the incident to evacuate the remains of the dead.

Vanguard

Dasuki denies maltreating Buhari after 1985 coup

Immediate past National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), has sworn that he never maltreated nor took part in maltreating President Muhammadu Buhari when he, as military Head of State, was removed in a 1985 coup, as being erroneously alleged.

He said: “I always respect and dignify my seniors and those in positions of authority whether in service or after. Though a young officer, I was reluctant to be among those that arrested him. And I was not.

“I only met him afterward at Bonny Camp with Lawal Rafindadi. There is no way I could have maltreated him as being alleged in some quarters. I am glad most of the actors are still alive.”

The former NSA made the disclosure even as he stated that he knelt down begging Baba Bisi Akande, who was then Chairman of Action Congress Nigeria, ACN, to accept then General Buhari because “General Buhari is a man to be trusted.”

Dasuki, who spoke to blogger Yushua Shauib in Abuja, also disclosed how he and some others confronted late General Sani Abacha over June 12 election, which was won by late Chief Mashood Kashimawo Abiola.

He said: “This led to our premature retirement. The persecution that followed forced me into exile, where I teamed up with opposition elements struggling for the return of democracy.”

‘My campaign for him’ On his roles in politics, the former NSA, who had been having running battles with the Department of State Services, DSS, narrated how he supported the campaign aspiration of Muhammadu Buhari in 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections.

He said respected Northern elements like Adamu Adamu, Bashir Kurfi, Sule Hamman, Wada Maida and Kabir Yusuf are among individuals privy to his active involvement.

While revealing how he campaigned for Buhari to emerge the joint candidate of ACN and CPC in 2011, Dasuki disclosed how he pleaded with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the presence of Bisi Akande to accept Muhammad Buhari as the joint presidential candidate for ACN and CPC.

Dasuki said: “In the belief that Yoruba and south-westerners are never religious fanatics, especially regarding politics, me and my group suggested that Tinubu should be a running mate to Buhari.

“When other elements opposed that proposition, Tinubu team therefore recommended a Buhari-Osinbajo ticket. Unfortunately, the ticket failed to stick as Pastor Tunde Bakare was eventually pushed forward by other forces.”

Speaking further, the former NSA recalled how prior to the 1983 coup that ousted President Shehu Shagari, himself and two young military officers, who are still alive, travelled to Jos to brief Major General Buhari, who was then the GOC of 3rd Armoured Division, on the furtherance of the planning of the 1983 coup, which made Buhari the major beneficiary.

He said: “Buhari expressed his bitterness about insinuations on his stewardship in one of the public institutions, but I assured the then GOC not to worry about such reckless and mischievous insinuations.”

Asked why he participated in the ouster of Buhari less than two years afterward ousting Shagari, Dasuki simply answered that General Buhari should know who to blame.

Vanguard