Femi Fani-Kayode: The sons of Futa Jalon and their intentions for Nigeria (Part 1)

The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our great grandfather Uthman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities in the North as willing tools and the South as a conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us and never allow them to have control over their future”– Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Saurdana of the Sokoto Caliphate and Premier of Northern Nigeria, Parrot Newspaper, 12th October, 1960, recalled by Tribune, 13th November, 2002.

These are interesting words from the most reverred, prominent and powerful Fulani leader in the history of modern Nigeria. The Saurdana’s world-view, vision and intentions are well-encapsulated here and they are self-evident. They need no further explanation or analysis.

To add to the Saurdana’s contribution and to butress his point, in August 2001 President Muhammadu Buhari, a proud and ascetic Fulani man whose mass appeal, popularity and following has reached cult-like proportions amongst the working class Fulani population in Nigeria said the following: “God-willing, we will not stop the agitation for the total implementation of sharia throughout the federation”.

Finally to emphasise the point, on January 27th 2013, Mujahedeen Ibrahim Shekau, the young and brash leader of the most dreaded, most powerful and most deadly islamist terrorist organisation on the African continent called Boko Haram said “By Allah, we will not stop fighting until every Nigerian is living by sharia law. If you don’t abide we will kill you”.

When one hears and reads some of these things one can only look up to heaven and say ”may the Lord deliver the people of Nigeria”.

Here you have a classic case of anything and everything, including religion, being used to effect an ancient ethnic agenda of conquest and subjugation. It is not even subtle: it is brazen and real. Worse still most Nigerians are fully aware of it but they find it difficult to voice it let alone resist it.

Yet despite our awe and trepiidation at least a few questions must be asked such as the following. Who exactly are the Fulani? Where did they come from? What is their story and what is their history? What is their purpose and what are their intentions for the rest of Nigeria? I shall attempt to answer some of these questions in this two-part essay.

Futa Jalon is an area made up of beautiful plateaus and breathtaking mountains which is situated in modern-day Guinea. It is a confluence that is known as the “bitter waters” and it is the location of the Vulture mountain where, up until today, thousands of vultures gather. It is also the source of no less than five major African rivers including our very own River Niger.

The people that live in that area are known as the Fula Jalons and it is from that ethnic stock that the Fulanis evolved. From there they migrated to other parts of West Africa and settled down in what was originally known as Sakkwato but what is now referred to as Sokoto in northern Nigeria.

The Fulanis were actually the product of a beautiful racial mix and generations of cross-breeding between the Arab-like and nomadic north African Berbers and Tauregs on the one hand and the local black indigenous Fula population of Futa Jalon on the other.

That explains their unusually light complexion, their well-chiseled and refined visage, their height, their unusually slight frame, the soft texture of their hair and their essentially non-negroid features. If the truth be told, generally-speaking, they are a physically attractive people. In terms of temperament they are proud, patient, calculating, subtle, courageous and they have very long memories.

They are capable of masking their thoughts and emotions very well but they will never forget a sleight. Most importantly, unlike most, they are capable of recognising a common group cause and consequently they are in a better position to further the political and economic interests of their people more than any others. To the Fulani what is most important is what is the interest of his people and their collective cause than anything else.

It is interesting to note that the Tutsis of Central and East Africa come from the same racial root as them and they share similar physical features and characteristics. They are also both essentially nomadic in nature and traditionally they both have an intense fascination and interest in cattle and cattle-rearing. As a matter of fact the old-fashioned way of establishing a Fulani mans wealth is to find out how many cows he owns. The more cows he owns the richer he is considered to be.

It was after their mass migration to our shores and after they successfully infiltrated the Hausa kingdom of Gobir that Sheik Usman Dan Fodio, the father of the Fulani Caliphate, unleashed his violent and very bloody jihad, established the various emirates and conquered much of what is now known as northern Nigeria in the name of his Islamic faith. That is the history.

Permit me to enrich this contribution with the following words which I keep hearing in my spirt and which I believe shall prove to be prophetic.

“O ye sons of Futa Jalon and ye daughters of the Vulture mountain and bitter waters: your princes and kings shall be exposed and brought to heel, your yoke shall be broken and you shall pay a heavy price for your wickedness and many sorceries”.

Many have been killed in the most hideous manner or falsely implicated and wrongly jailed in our country for sharing such knowledge and for exposing what I am about to expose in this write-up but I have no fear because I know that my Redeemer liveth. I know that He shall stand with me even in my day of trouble.

As long as Jesus lives I know that He will never forsake me and that, until my work on earth is done, I cannot be cut short and neither can my enemies overwhelm or destroy me. Please fasten your seat-belts and consider the following.

On March 3rd 2016 there was a violent clash between Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani youths in Orile, Lagos state. A number of people on both sides of the divide together with some of our security agents were killed. Homes, chattels, property and places of worship were burnt down as the fighting raged.

This came just one day after a similar clash between the same two ethnic groups took place in Ikorodu, Lagos state which also resulted in the loss of life and destruction of property.

Again on 5th March in Ogere on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway yet another clash took place between Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani youths which resulted in even more casualties and a terrible bloodbath.

A number of days before then over 300 Idomas were killed by well-armed Fulani herdsmen in Agatu, Benue state.

At a so-called peace meeting, when asked why they did it, they told the Inspector General of Police that it was because some of their cows had been killed!

After the meeting instead of being arrested for genocide and ethnic cleansing there and then they were allowed to go home quietly. Not even their AK 47’s were confiscated from them.

To make matters worse it was later suggested that those that perpetuated the atrocity were not even Fulanis at all but rather aliens from Chad and Niger Republic. The question must be asked: who is fooling who?

Sadly there are many other examples of mass murder, genocide, official impunity and similar atrocities. Over the years the same thing has happened in Jos, southern Kaduna, Zaria, Zangon Kataf, Kano, Bauchi and many other places.

Throughout the country Fulani militias and herdsmen are wreaking havoc and are slaughtering their compatriots for one reason or the other.

Worse of all is the fact that our Fulani-led Federal Government and Fulani-led Armed Forces are killing thousands of young igbos in the east simply because of their support for Nnamdi Kanu and their call for the establishment of the independent sovereigh state of Biafra.

Again a few weeks ago the same Armed Forces killed over 1000 shia muslims and shot and abducted their leader, Sheik El Zakzaky, who has not been seen in public since.

As all this is going on our economy has ground to a halt, our people are suffering untold hardship and difficult times and the war against Boko Haram and islamist terror is still raging.

Today Nigeria has the dubious distinction of having within its borders the first and the fourth “most deadly terrorist organisations” in the world according to the Global Terror Index. According to the Index the first is Boko Haram and the fourth are the AK 47- wielding Fulani militias/herdsmen.

People are being slaughtered, abducted, pillaged, kidnapped and raped all over the country on a daily basis by these heartless terrorists simply because they believe that one of their own is now in power and that they can get away with it. All this yet no-one appears to be prepared to do anything about it or to call a spade a spade.

In the light of all these facts the question on everyone’s lips is what is to be done? We all hope and pray for peace and unity in our country but judging by the way things are going perhaps the first question that we have to address is whether we really have a country at all and, if we agree that we do, whether it will or can remain united and as one for much longer.

If we ever needed the elders and great men of wisdom and knowledge like President Olusegun Obasanjo, General T.Y. Danjuma, General Yakubu Gowon Alhaji Maitama Sule, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Chief Alex Ekweume to pull us back from the brink and bring healing, peace and unity back to our land it is now.

The rise of radical islam and the use of terror to achieve the objectives of those who espouse and believe in it has changed the world forever. Our country cannot be exempted or left out of this. We have changed forever as well and things can never be the same in Nigeria again.

Those that are in power in our country today appear to have a soft-spot for the terrorists and for reasons best known to himself our President has simply refused to condemn the murderous activities of the Fulani herdsmen and militias.

This is probably because he is, and has been for many years, the Life Patron of the Fulani Cattle Rearers Association: which is the umbrella organisation of the Fulani herdsmen and militias. To make matters worse our President told the world, as recently as 2014, that “an attack on Boko Haram is an attack on the north”. One wonders what purpose that was designed to serve and why he had to say it.

Then came the sad and pitiful case of Ese Oruru in which the Fulani Emir of Kano played an unspecified and unclear role in the abduction, forced islamisation, rape, torture and kidnapping of a 14 year old southern christian girl whilst our security agencies turned a blind eye to the whole thing and refused to rescue her for months.

It has been alleged that the girl was kept against her will at the Emir’s palace and that one way or the other she was used as a sex slave and she came out pregnant. Despite all this the police have refused to pick him up and compel him to answer the necessary questions that could have cleared the air.

All this because “his” people are in power and they believe that thay can get away with anything and everything, including pedophilia, slavery and, in many cases, murder.

Worse still there are hundreds of other cases, five of which have been exposed by Miss Toyosie Ogunseye, the editor of Nigeria’s Sunday Punch Newspaper and her incredible team of investigative reporters and one by the famous high society blogger Miss Linda Ikeji on her blog in the last few days.

These cases are all similar to Ese Oruru’s and they involve the abduction, islamisation, rape, sodomy and enslavement of young southern christian girls (some as young as 9) who ended up in royal palaces and hareems all over the north.

In each of these cases those that carried out the abductions have refused ro return the girls back to their families despite all pleas and efforts and the police have been unable to do anything about it.

In one case in Bauchi in which the southern christian girl was just 12 years old and in which she was abducted whilst on her way to church, her family was told that if they wanted her back they would have to “negotiate with the Sharia Council”!

In another case in Zamfara state the family of a 14 year old christian girl who was abducted as far back as 2009 were told by her abductors that if they persisted in asking for the return of their daughter their entire family would be killed and their home would be burnt down.

As a result of this threat the girl’s father and his entire family had to leave their home and flee from Zamfara for their lives. They were compelled to leave their young daughter behind in the clutches of her merciless abductors.

Nothing reflects the degeneration to which our country and our values have been reduced to better than this. (TO BE CONTINUED).

Mayhem: Lagos Assembly Calls For Relocation Of Mile 12 Market

The Lagos State House of Assembly during plenary on Monday called for the relocation of Mile 12 and Owode Onirin markets from its current location to a more ‘conducive place.’
Reacting to the crisis that occurred in the market last week, where some people lost their lives and properties destroyed, the House said, under a matter of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Jude Idimogu, that the incident was unfortunate and should be avoided.

Sharapova confirms failed drug test, sanction uncertain

Los Angeles (AFP) - Five-time Grand Slam tennis champion Maria Sharapova said Monday she failed a dope test at the Australian Open, and isn't sure what punishment she'll face for her "huge mistake."

The former world number one from Russia said a change in the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list for 2016 led to an inadvertent violation, for which she will be "provisionally suspended" by the International Tennis Federation.

In a sign of what the affair could mean to Sharapova's mass of money-spinning endorsements, US sportswear maker Nike said it would halt its relationship with her as the case moves forward.

"We are saddened and surprised by the news about Maria Sharapova," Nike said in a statement. "We have decided to suspend our relationship with Maria while the investigation continues."

Sharapova tested positive for Meldonium, a drug she said she had been taking since 2006 but was only added to the banned list this year.

"I did fail the test and I take full responsibility for it," a sombre Sharapova said at a press conference at a downtown Los Angeles hotel.

 

 

DG of #iStandWithBuhari Resigns, Comes Clean On Allegations Against Him By .@Ogundamisi

The Director-General of the #iStandWithBuhari campaign, Engr. Chinedu Okpalanma, has responded to Kayode Ogundamisi, the journalist and political commentator who accused him of being a fraud because of his past role as co-founder of the #BringBackGoodluck2015 initiative.

He disclosed that he was dismayed by Ogundamisi’s “vicious campaign” against his character and person just so he could pull down a “nationalistic movement to which I and millions of well-meaning Nigerians have freely subscribed to via the affirmative statement #istandwithbuhari.”

Okpalanma has also resigned as the DG of the campaign, saying that he took the step to show that the initiative is sincere and not about him. He said that following the backlash which greeted the news that he was the DG of the organisation, he felt the need to resign so that the group can achieve its lofty ideals without being bogged by distractions about his personality.

Admitting that he was one of the founders of the group, he said he was not alone as the campaign is a “collection of young Nigerians from all works of life and different religious beliefs & political inclinations who came together with one ideal in mind: that it is time for us as individuals to see ourselves as Nigeria and seize this golden opportunity towards ensuring that Project Nigeria does not fail.”

“From the time Goodluck Jonathan won the 2011 election, I was one of his biggest critics. I was vocal and marched on the streets during the #OccupyNigeria protests, I wrote open letters to the Presidency in anger at some of the names his government found worthy of national merit awards, I also wrote on various public platforms on my disappointment at the then President’s seeming inability to act even when it seemed there was overwhelming evidence of impunity against his cabinet members. In all of this though, I remained steadfast in the belief that things would change,” he said.

However, Okpalanma stated that as the 2015 elections approached, he began to be convinced that the Jonathan administration was “more under siege for political reasons and that sabotage was a scheme being used to oust him by any means necessary. Coupled with the revolution I was witnessing in the agricultural sector & seeming revival of our railway system, I felt he was my best candidate to continue and thus I put in my whole support for his candidacy without coercion.”

He however insisted that he never met the former president in person, was not sponsored by the presidency as he went about expending resources in trying to sensitize Nigerians to vote for Jonathan, and was never given a penny or contract by former ministers, agencies of government, friends of the President or even the embattled NSA Sambo Dasuki.

Okpalanma insisted in his statement that he withdrew support for Goodluck Jonathan along with his group long before the 2015 elections.

“My reasons then were simple. By November 2014, I was no longer comfortable with the information filtering out on how huge monies were moved from person to person in government circle”, he said.

“I concluded then that Nigeria was being sold off to the highest bidder without our knowledge, and I believed that even if Goodluck Jonathan won the elections, there were facts to suggest this same people around him fingered in various illicit transactions would continue in office with him, as it seemed he was incapable of acting to change things,” he said.

As a result, Okpalanma said by December 2014, he started a process of moving his support with that of 1.9 million Nigerians who had signed up to his campaign, to supporting the candidacy of President Muhammadu Buhari. He said there are people currently in government who can attest to the fact that he stood with Buhari even before the elections.

He took exception with the attempts by some people to make it seem as though only those who supported President Buhari before can participate in any cause to support his policies now. “Are these advocates now saying that President Muhammadu Buhari & his political party should not work with other well-meaning Nigerians who believe in this administration and are ready to sacrifice all to ensure things change for our collective good?” he said.

Speaking on why he supported Buhari, Okpalanma said his turning point was #DasukiGate. He lamented that such huge amount of money could have been diverted by one individual under our noses, and even though he thought at first that it was a witchhunt, he now believes it is true due to the confessions by those who received cash. Furthermore, he said he understood that the fight against corruption needed to be more people oriented than government oriented when he saw some Nigerians defending #DasukiGate. “That was when I made up my mind to sign up with #istandwithbuhari,” he said.

Okpalanma said it will be criminal to leave the task ahead to Buhari alone. “As at this moment, everything I am seeing shows me that President Muhammadu Buhari is not sleeping on the job, but doing everything within legal means to ensure Nigeria lives. To rejig a system that has completely decayed and failed needs courage, prayers and support. I am doing my bit by supporting #istandwithbuhari, not trying to bring it down. If my stand is giving certain individuals or group of individuals sleepless nights, then may they remain awake for eternity,” he said.

He insisted that the #istandwithbuhari group has no endorsement from President Buhari and has not sought any sort of financial support from the President or by extension his government.

“I have never vied for any political position in my life (and have no intentions of doing same), nor have I ever submitted my CV for consideration for political appointment to any government, thus my involvement with #istandwithbuhari is not for political favours. I am in this because I believe in this, period,” he said.

At book launch, dons unveiled what Pyrates Confraternity is all about

At the launch of Dolapo Sikuade’s book titled, “The Theatrical Aesthetics of Wole Soyinka and the Pyrates Confraternity,” A critical Work on a unique African Cultural Paradigm, held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos last week Thursday, February 25, 2016, many speakers shared their views on Pyrates Confraternity.

The book launch attracted many great scholars including the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka; Emeritus Professor of English, University of Ibadan, Professor Ayo Banjo; renowned poet and scholar, Professor John Pepper Clark-Bekederemo; and many others.

Reviewers of the book are: Dr. Tunde Awosanmi Ph D, Department of Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan and Prof Emasealu, Department of Theatre and Film Studies, University of Port Harcourt. Below are the statements made by some personalities at the event:

Don’t equate Pyrates Confraternity with secret cults -Professor Wole Soyinka

Foremost Nigerian playwright and poet, Professor Wole Soyinka, blamed the elite and parents for encouraging the criminal activities of secret cults, which he said demeaned the Pyrates Confraternity he co-founded.

He stressed that anybody who equates Pyrates Confraternity with a secret cult should go back to school and learn the difference.

According to him, the rich parents and elites who protect their children from getting punished for their unlawful acts in secret cults activities in Nigerian universities destroyed the morals and good values the Confraternity championed. He emphasized that that those who belonged to the Pyrates Confraternity become influential due to the wide knowledge they acquired as members, he said that it was ignorant to equate secret cults with the Pyrates Confraternity.

“If a public, as intelligent and knowledgeable as they are, choose to equate the expression secret cult with the word confraternity, whose fault is that? They should go back to school and learn the difference.

“As a member of the Security and Disciplinary Committee of the University of Ife, I know the pressure I received from generals, top police officials, business moguls, asking me to pardon their children. “Your child has just got involved with gang raping or pouring acid on another, and you are saying temper justice with mercy.”

“I remember a time, a group of students were found wanting, they were expelled and charged to court; the next thing, they were flown overseas to prestigious universities and never showed up in court!” he said.

He went further to explain that some members of Pyrates Confraternity who were expelled from the confraternity due to their misconduct formed the secret cults, adding that they went ahead to form different secret cult groups in the university including Black Axe and Eiye.

The book has settled the unrest -Professor Ayo Banjo

Emeritus Professor of English from the University of Ibadan, Ayo Banjo, while commending the writer said that the things written in the book has settled the unrest and further shown the true nature of the Pyrates Confraternity.

Soyinka, most worthy representative of the original ‘Gang of Seven’ -Otunba Toyin Akomolafe

The Chief Launcher, Otunba Toyin Akomolafe, remarked that February 26, 2016 would be remembered for two epoch making events, both courtesy of his friend, Dolapo Sikuade. “First is his authorship of a remarkable book that will eradicate once and for all, the creeping misconception of the essence of that great body of tertiary student-hood, the Pyrates Confraternity. In doing so, both young and old become informed and educated. The lucid and creative style will ensure it is a book of beauty forever. Dr. Sikuade has, through the years, painstakingly sustained the indispensable doctrine of the Confraternity.

“Secondly, Ladies and Gentlemen, my friend has dragged me willy nilly into ‘Igbo Irumale’ the Almighty’s gift to Nigeria, Africa and indeed the world at large, Professor Wole Soyinka- a Nobel Laureate. I am honoured to be in your presence. Prof Soyinka, to our eternal gratitude, is here today in body and spirit – a most worthy representative of the original ‘Gang of Seven’, the Confraternity founding fathers.”

He was of the opinion that the essence of the book’s intended noble message could be traced back to the fraternity’s founding fathers. “They were the seven young, highly talented, very patriotic individuals who, in their pride for their fatherland, wanted to showcase the richness of their native culture to the rest of the world and correct the ills of the society. …Wole Soyinka, and the rest of the ‘Gang of Seven’ thought otherwise, seeing an abject foolishness in abandoning the inherent rich wisdom, intellectualism, original medical and health science endeavours, an often sound and stable political organisational structure, and other sociological virtues embedded in that nativism. It was therefore, a no-barrier for them to launch a fraternity that would attempt a push-back on the relentless assault on our historical well-spring of identity”

Otunba Akomolafe asked that five copies of the book be given to the main library of every University in Nigeria, free of charge. He made a donation and requested that 20 percent of it be given to Life Care Foundation.

They were great entertainment some 50 years ago– Professor J. P Clark

Initially, Professor J. P Clark did not want to make any speech, but when he finally got up to make a speech, he said, “It is beautiful being here. I have learnt a lot from here. From last night when Ayo Banjo told me that we were going to come, I said I must be here. I didn’t meet Wole at Ibadan, but I saw a bit of the Pyrates Confraternity from the corridor of Tedder Hall. All of us who were not members including Pius Olege of blessed memory, found them very entertaining.

The pirates used to come out on Saturdays and Sundays, we came out and watched them do their parades or patrols. They were all fit and social lingo. They were great entertainment some 50 years ago. Having gone through the university system to see this transformation, for those of us from the riverine area who knew what it is, we laughed.

“I am going back home to read this book. Ayo told me that the author is a medical doctor before he joined theatre, I told myself, this is a case study itself. May we see more renaissance, men and women who cross borders or multi-disciplines to bring out a work like this. It is an educated man who will change this country. It is only education that can save this country,” he added.

Guests

Guests were thrilled with a sketch: excerpts from the play, ‘Toy Soldier, Boy Soldier, described in Ch:6 ‘Playing Dangerously’. The play was directed by Niji Akanni. Toluwanimi acted as ‘the boy’ while Monsuru Olajide played as Jon Way.

In his closing remarks, the author of the book, Sikuade, revealed that he had been writing about Soyinka for the past 10 years without his knowledge. “So I was really scared. I sent him the manuscripts and I had nightmares waiting to see whether he would shoot it down with just one statement, “This is bullshit”, and that is the end of the book as many authors have done. But he hasn’t done so.

He has been gracious enough to come here. And I was worried. Like he said, How can someone been sitting and they are talking about you? I actually don’t think it has occurred before. I consider myself exceedingly lucky that Prof has come here. I really apologise Sir, that I did some psycho-analysis of you inside the book. I am not supposed to do so except for a patient, and you are not a patient, so I apologise,

Sir. But, I think everything there was generally positive. This book serves as a milestone. It marks the very big era for me as everybody knows that the organisation is moving from one form to the other, so it is fitting to chronicle how we played in the past. For some of us, this organisation is visceral, that means it is an integral part of some of people, it cannot be legislated. It is amenable by an organisation,” he explained.

[News watch]

Islam has no age barrier for marriage — MURIC Director, Akintola

A professor of Islamic Eschatology and Director of Muslim Rights Concern, Ishaq Akintola, speaks with BAYO AKINLOYE about the abduction saga of Ese Oruru

Is child marriage permitted in Islam, looking beyond the case of Ese Oruru?

Islam is a complete way of life. As a religion, non-Muslims will have to take Muslims as they are, not as they want them to be. Neither Muslims nor their religion should be judged according to other standards. There will never be any inter-religious understanding so long as non-Muslims continue to measure Muslims and their way of life by Christian, Buddhist or Confucianist yardsticks. The simple truth is: Islam has no age barrier in marriage and Muslims have no apology for those who refuse to accept this, particularly since 99.99 per cent of such marriages are conducted among Muslims themselves. If the man is a Muslim and the girl is also a Muslim and the girl’s parents give their approval, what is the business of any non-Muslim in that? It is sheer interference in the affair of Muslims and an attempt to exert undue influence on them. More often than not, those who interfere in this manner have ulterior motives. It is either for the purpose of smearing the image of Islam or to gain a comparative advantage and score a religious point (for their own faith of course).

Labour minister, James Ocholi dies in car accident

Minister of state for Labour and employment James Ocholi (SAN) died in a ghastly motor accident on his way to Kaduna on Sunday. (06/03/16).

MB learnt that the minister’s wife and son were also in the ill-fated car.

May his soul rest in perfect peace and may his family he comforted.

Details shortly...

Gov Oshiomhole Slams Dino Melaye, Says He Is A Lunatic Without A Matrimonial Life

Adams Oshiomhole, governor of Edo state, has criticised Dino Melaye for being so “hollow” as to delve into his matrimonial life despite failing to keep one of his own.

While making his contribution on Wednesday to the debate on a motion regarding the need for Nigerians to patronise made-in-Nigeria goods, Melaye had said: “I want to celebrate the made-in-Nigeria senator for bringing this motion. In considering the made-in-Nigeria goods, we must look at enabling factors that will necessitate the made in Nigeria goods.

“It’s beyond having one made-in-Nigeria attire and you have over 70 Tom Fords and Louis Vuitton in your wardrobe. We must reduce the allocation for made-in-Nigeria goods and services to the basics. “What are those factors militating against the production of these goods? We must tackle them. We must also begin to look at our legislation then we will begin to talk about made-in-Nigeria goods.

“We will also move in order to encourage the made-in-Nigeria products in Nigeria, begin to talk about made-in-Nigeria women. Apologies to my uncle, the governor of Edo state, we must, as a people, stop paying dowry in dollars and pounds.  It is time for my colleagues here to become born again.” Displeased with the comments, Oshimohole replied on Friday, saying Melaye “only displayed his hollowness” by delving into a matter as private as his marriage to his heartthrob.

“Our attention has been drawn to the unprovoked verbal assault launched by one Senator Dino Melaye on the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, while making a contribution on the floor of the Senate on the need to patronize made-in-Nigeria goods,” Oshiomhole said in a statement by Peter Okhiria, his chief press secretary.

“As a ‘nephew’ of the Governor and members of the same party, we expected Senator Melaye to tender an unreserved public apology to the Comrade Governor, to no avail. “It is an open secret that Senator Melaye cannot maintain a decent matrimonial home hence he could descend to this pedestrian level of using the hallowed chambers to ‘cargorise’ women as if they were pieces of items for purchase. Any responsible individual that is truly worth to be called a Senator, a position that convokes respect, decorum and decent public conduct, should know the limits of his verbal diarrhoea.

“The liberty of free speech guaranteed in the hallowed chambers does not impose lunacy on anyone to disparage other Nigerians, let alone pry into their matrimony in a very derisive manner. We had intended to ignore this uncomplimentary comment as one of the several empty displays of the Senator, but the fact that it tends to reduce women to pieces of tissue calls for this response. “As we probed into Dino Melaye’s humanity, we were reminded that he is a man known for his vainglorious rodomontade and the childish display of his ostentatious lifestyle complements his love for foreign items.

Many of such eurocentric mentality he has persistently displayed on social media, to underscore his materialistic eccentricity, hence his dialectical opposition to made-in-Nigeria goods. “But an attempt at making women wear the garb of goods to be picked off the shelves was to take the issue to a ridiculous and irresponsible level. By delving into the private affair and marriage of the Comrade Governor, Senator Melaye has exposed himself as a simpleton and a court jester whose words and tactlessness cannot be taken seriously by matured people. “We advise that Melaye should mend his ways with his ex-wife and concubines before coming to the village square to display his crass ignorance and emptiness to the Nigerian people.

“If he has anything to offer, Dino Melaye should concentrate on making good laws for the people of Nigeria rather than descend to a ridiculous level, thus displaying to the whole world his unworthiness to sit in the hallowed chambers of the Nigerian Senate.

[Sahara reporters]

More trouble for embattled lawyer, Rickey Tarfa; accused of bribing another judge

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has slammed a fresh 27-count charge of corruption and bribery on senior advocate of Nigeria, Rickey Tarfa, accusing him of bribing another judge.
In the charge filed at the Lagos State High Court, the anti-graft commission accused the lawyer of bribing two federal judges to the tune of N8.83 million over a period of four years.
Court documents filed on Friday, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, alleged transfer of money in trances of mainly N1.5 million and N500,000 from Mr Tarfa’s bank account number 1002926967 with Zenith Bank, to Awa Ajia Nigerian Limited, a company allegedly owned by Justice Nganjiwa Ajiya of the Federal High Court.
An affidavit signed by G.O Adebola, an assistant detective commander, claimed that the lawyer started making the suspicious payments on  June 27, 2012 with the sum of N1.5 million from his account directly to Mr. Ajiya.
On the same day of the initial payment, Mr Tarfar, allegedly paid another N500,000.00 to Mr Ajiya.
Subsequently payment made to the judge were as follows:
Five hundred thousand naira paid on 6 August, 2013; N1.5 million paid on 29 January 2014; N835,000 paid on 3 October 2014; N500,000 paid on 22 December, 2014; N1.5 million paid on Awa Ajia Limited’s account number 0000971931 with Access Bank Limited paid on 27 October, 2015, N500,000 paid on 30th December 2015 to Awa Ajia Limited; and N500,000 paid to Awa Ajia 8th January, 2016, N200,000 to Justice Mohammed Yunusa on 30th November, 2015.

Other payments are: N500,000 paid on 15t December, 2015 to Awa Ajia Limited, and another N300,000 paid indirectly to Mr Yunusa, through Awa Ajia Limited.
The anti-graft agency claimed alleged that the monies were meant to subvert the course of justice as they were intended to refrain the judges from acting in the exercise of their official duties and therefore contravenes section 64 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No. 11. 2011.
The charges also included three charges of refusal to declare his assets  contrary to section  27 (3) (c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004 and making false statement to an officer of the EFCC, contrary to section 38(2)(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004.
The EFCC said Mr. Tarfa lied and made a false statement to Usman Zakari, a Senior Detective Superintendent of the commission when he claimed to be 43 years old.
This fresh 27-count charge comes on the heels of another on a two-count charge of obstruction of justice and attempting to pervert the course of justice the EFCC filed against the senior lawyer last month.
In the suit, the commission claimed that details of the lawyer’s call log showed that he maintained constant communication with Mr. Yunusa, a judge of the Federal High Court.
The EFCC further claimed that Mr Tarfa bribed the judge with N225,000.00 to give judgement in a case in favour of his client.
[Premium Times]

Photonews: Abba Moro & others sent back to Kuje prison till tomorrow for court ruling on bail

Nigerian Immigration Job Scam: Abba Moro & others sent back to Kuje prison till tomorrow for court ruling on bail

EFCC arrests Gov. Okorocha’s aides for pocketing N2 billion bailout funds

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 arrested three top officials of Imo State government for allegedly diverting N2billion bailout fund given to the state by the Federal Government for payment of salary arrears of the state’s civil servants.

The suspects are: Obi Paschal Chigozie, Principal Secretary to the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha; Uzoho Casmir, Director of Finance and Iheoma Kenneth, Treasurer.

Their arrest followed an investigation into the alleged diversion of the said money which revealed that the cashier had made cash withdrawal of N456.532 million between September 3, 2015 and October 10, 2015 from the Government House account domiciled in Zenith Bank.

However, it was revealed that the said amount was given to an aide of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, following approval and directive by the Principal Secretary to the Governor.

The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

[Premium Times]

I have no rift with Buhari, judiciary — Fayose

Ekiti State Governor‎ Ayodele Fayose has said that his criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari was informed by his love for Nigeria.
He also said that contrary to speculation, his criticism of the nation’s judiciary was not as a result of the feud between him and the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola.

Speaking, Tuesday, at the inauguration of members of the Ekiti State Judicial Service Commission (ESJSC), the governor said those hoping to reap from making such speculations would be disappointed.

On his criticism of Buhari, the governor said that he was doing so in order get dividends of democracy and to prevent entrenchment of dictatorial governance.
 He said: “If nobody is talking because they are afraid, you will have a dictator in every leader‎. It is to keep people on their toes, for the love of everybody.”

[Daily Trust]

Court orders Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan govts to account for recovered loot

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, in a landmark judgment, has held that successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999 “breached the fundamental principles of transparency and accountability for failing to disclose details about the spending of recovered stolen public funds, including on a dedicated website.”
The court then ordered the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to “ensure that his government, and the governments of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and former President Goodluck Jonathan account fully for all recovered loot.”
The judgment was delivered on Friday by Justice M.B. Idris following a Freedom of Information suit no:FHC/IKJ/CS/248/2011 brought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
The details ordered by the court to be disclosed include information on the total amount of recovered stolen public assets by each government, the amount of recovered stolen public assets spent by each government as well as the objects of such spending and the projects on which such funds were spent.
Justice Idris dismissed all the objections raised by the Federal Government and upheld SERAP’s arguments. Consequently, the court entered judgment in favour of SERAP against the Federal Government as follows:
1. A DECLARATION is hereby made that the failure and/or refusal of the respondents to individually and/or collectively disclose detailed information about the spending of recovered stolen public funds since the return of civil rule in 1999, and to publish widely such information, including on a dedicated website, amounts to a breach of the fundamental principles of transparency and accountability and violates Articles 9, 21 and 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act
2. A DECLARATION is hereby made that by virtue of the provisions of Section 4 (a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, the 1st Defendant/Respondent is under a binding legal obligation to provide the Plaintiff/Applicant with up to date information on the spending of recovered stolen funds, including:
(a) Detailed information on the total amount of recovered stolen public assets that have so far been recovered by Nigeria
(b) The amount that has been spent from the recovered stolen public assets and the objects of such spending
(c) Details of projects on which recovered stolen public assets were spent
3. AN ORDER OF MANDAMUS is made directing and or compelling the Defendants/Respondents to provide the Plaintiff/Applicant with up to date information on recovered stolen funds since the return of civilian rule in 1999, including:
(a) Detailed information on the total amount of recovered stolen public assets that have so far been recovered by Nigeria
(b) The amount that has been spent from the recovered stolen public assets and the objects of such spending
(c) Details of projects on which recovered stolen public assets were spent

SERAP deputy executive director, Olukayode Majekodunmi, said, “This judgment confirms the persistent failure of successive governments, starting from the Obasanjo government, to respect Nigerians’ right to a corruption-free society and to uphold constitutional and international commitments on transparency and accountability.
“The judgment is an important step towards reversing a culture of secrecy and corruption that has meant that high-ranking government officials continue to look after themselves at the expense of the well-being of majority of Nigerians, and development of the country.
“This is a crucial precedent that vindicates the right to a transparent and accountable government and affirms the human right of the Nigerian people to live a life free from want and fear. We are in the process of obtaining a certified copy of the around 60 pages judgment. SERAP will do everything within its power to secure the full and effective enforcement of this judgment.
The Federal Government had through its counsel, Sheba Olugbenga, filed a Notice of Preliminary Objection dated March 26, 2012 on the grounds that SERAP lacked the locus standi to institute the action, that the action was statute barred, and that SERAP’s affidavit evidence offended the provisions of the Evidence Act.
On May 8, 2012 the Federal Government filed additional written address in support of its preliminary objection, arguing against the retroactive nature of SERAP’s request; saying since the Freedom of Information Act was enacted in 2011, citizens cannot be demanding disclosure of government spending since 1999.
In response, SERAP argued that the FOI Act was a special specie of legislation to liberalize and expand access to information for all Nigerians; that the FOI Act does not impose any requirement of locus standi on applicants; that the only relevant limitation period in the case is that which requires filing of suit within 30 days if information is not given; that the right which the FOI Act seeks to protect is the right of the public to have access to information which is in custody of a public official or institution; and that the information sought by SERAP was not caught by the law against retroactivity, noting that the right in question is expropriatory in nature which justifies the granting of access to the requested information on the ground of overriding public interest.
SERAP also argued in its pleadings that “By virtue of Section 1 (1) of the FOI Act 2011, it is entitled as of right to request for or gain access to information which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution. By the provisions of Section 2(7) and 31 of the FOI Act 2011, the Accountant General of the Federation is a public official. By virtue of Section 4 (a) of the FOI Act when a person makes a request for information from a public official, institution or agency, the public official, institution or agency to whom the application is directed is under a binding legal obligation to provide the applicant with the information requested for, except as otherwise provided by the Act, within 7 days after the application is received.”
The organization also argued that, “The information requested relates to the spending on recovered stolen funds since the return of civilian rule in 1999. By Sections 2(3)(d)(V) & (4) of the FOI Act, a public official is under a binding legal duty to ensure that documents containing information relating to the receipt or expenditure of recovered stolen funds are widely disseminated and made readily available to members of the public through various means.”
According to the organization, “The information requested does not come within the purview of the types of information exempted from disclosure by the provisions of the FOI Act. The government has no reason whatsoever to deny SERAP access to the information sought. The requested information, apart from not being exempted from disclosure under the FOI Act, bothers on an issue of national interest, public concern, social justice, good governance, transparency and accountability.”
“The power or discretion to refuse to give access to information requested for cannot be exercised in vacuo. Such a power or discretion must be provided for by the FOI Act itself. This means, therefore, that a request for information can only be denied or turned down if the information requested is one which is exempted from disclosure under the provisions of the FOI Act. In the case at hand, the information requested for by the plaintiff relates strictly to the spending of recovered stolen funds since the return of civilian rule in 1999.”
“Obedience to the rule of law by all citizens but more particularly those who publicly took oath of office to protect and preserve the constitution is a desideratum to good governance and respect for the rule of law. In a democratic society, this is meant to be a norm; it is an apostasy for government to ignore the provisions of the law and the necessary rules made to regulate matters.”

[Premium Times]

Presidency unveils Buhari’s economic team

The Presidency has disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari has an economic management team.

 The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a telephone interview with our correspondent last light.

 Akande was reacting to a media report that quoted some economic experts as urging the president to form his economic team.

 According to him, the economic team of President Buhari has been put in place since the inauguration of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) last November.

EXCLUSIVE: Despite cash crunch, public outcry, Saraki takes delivery of new N330million exotic cars

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has taken delivery of new exotic cars purchased by the National Assembly management for his official use, brushing aside widespread criticisms against such lavish spending at a time of national economic crisis.
PREMIUM TIMES had exclusively reported that the Nigerian legislative body proposed to splash about N4.7 billion on at least 400 vehicles for leaders and members of the Senate and House of Representatives.

On Sunday Oliseh's resignation...

What are your thoughts concerning the Super Eagles coach? Will you miss him?

He tweeted his resignation today from his official account.

According to NFF spokesperson, its a good riddance to bad rubbish

Share your thoughts with us. Whats the way forward concerning Nigerian football?

Of Issuing Arrest Warrant To Lamorde

The Nigerian Senate is to begin the process of issuing an arrest warrant to  former EFCC Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde.

At the continuation of legislative proceedings on Thursday, the Senate directed its Committee on Ethics Privileges and Public Petition to begin the process of issuing a warrant of arrest to the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of diverting EFCC’s recovered loot.

The Senate Committee on Ethics is recommending that an arrest warrant be issued to the former anti-graft agency boss for failing to appear before the committee, despite several invitations from the committee.

The Ethics Committee has been investigating allegations levelled on Mr Lamorde by a petitioner, Mr George Uboh, who is asking the Senate to investigate the Former EFCC Chairman over allegations of Financial Crime and Corruption while in office

[Channels]

Let exchange rate reflect market forces, IMF tells Nigeria

The International Monetary Fund has called on the Federal Government to let the exchange rate reflect market forces.

It also urged the government to remove its restrictions on access to foreign exchange while it works to improve the functioning of the interbank foreign exchange market.

In a statement made available to our correspondent on Wednesday by the global financial body, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was urged to reduce the cost of doing business in the country through the promotion of transparency and accountability.

“Eliminating existing macroeconomic imbalances and achieving sustained private sector-led growth requires a renewed focus on ensuring the competitiveness of the economy. As part of a credible package of policies, the exchange rate should be allowed to reflect market forces more and restrictions on access to foreign exchange removed, while improving the functioning of the interbank foreign exchange market (IFEM).

 “It will be important for the regulatory and supervisory frameworks to ensure a strong and resilient financial sector that can support private sector investment across production segments (including SMEs) at reasonable financing costs. Staff is supportive of the authorities’ ongoing efforts to promote targeted and core infrastructure (in power, integrated transport network, housing); reduce business environment costs through greater transparency and accountability, promote employment of youth and female populations,” the IMF said.

The statement said Nigeria needed to make key reforms in areas such as the Petroleum Industry Bill, anti-money laundering and fighting the financing of terrorism.

[Punch]

See what the Senate President tweeted this morning

@NGRSenate took a resolution to terminate transaction fee of 1% for e-collection for TSA, saving Nigeria 25billion

Osinbajo, Tinubu, Atiku, Saraki, others in closed-door meeting

Senior leaders of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, are currently meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The meeting is taking place at the presidential villa.

Those in attendance include Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu; APC national chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun; Senate Leader, Ali Ndume; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; and a former interim chairman of the party, Bisi Akande, among others.

The meeting is behind closed doors, and its agenda was not immediately clear.

More details Shortly …….

[Daily Trust]