Blog

NAN-H-59

Management

By Constance Athekame

Abuja, Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, has called for proper management and prohibition of illegal communication gateway so as to generate revenue for the Federal Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that gateway is Nigeria’s access to the world; it can be connected either through satellite, marine or international fibre cables.

Shittu made the call while inaugurating the Inter-Ministerial Committee on International Gateway Management Service in Abuja on Monday.

He said exclusivity of the gateway for incoming and outgoing international traffic will lead to restoration of lost revenues through proper management and prohibition of illegal gateways from operating.

He added that this would ensure more control over security issues.

“There is need to generate revenue for the federal government from other sectors of the economy in the wake of the sudden drop in revenue derivable from oil resources.

“This has impacted negatively on the economy and resulted partly in the current recession Nigeria is going through.

“Apart from the importance of tracking incoming and outgoing voice and data traffic to and from Nigeria, there is the need to ensure government derives appropriate revenue from international voice and data traffic”, the Minister said.

He expressed the hope that the committee would discharge its responsibilities as it gets to work immediately.

Shittu said “the committee is expected to work out modalities and framework, including agreement between the federal government and the Gateway Service Manager for actualizing deployment of Gateway Communications tracking technology in Nigeria.’’

He said “the report of the committee is expected within a month from the date of its inaugural meeting.’’

Chairman of the committee is Mr Sonny Echono, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.

Other members are representatives of Ministries of Communications, Finance, Justice, Office of the National Security Adviser, Department of State Services, National Information Technology Development Agency and Galaxy Backbone Limited. (NAN)

COA/EAL/IEA
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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi/Idahosa Asowata

Merkel calls for solution to save German supermarket chain

NAN-F-12

Solution

Berlin, Oct. 17, 2016 (dpa/NAN) German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday stepped up pressure on the nations leading supermarket chains to find a compromise to save up to 8,000 jobs.

This has threatened in a long-running battle over their smaller rival, Kaiser’s Tengelmann group.

Talks between supermarket groups Edeka, Rewe Markant and Norma, over hammering out a solution to the crisis that has engulfed Kaiser’s Tengelmann collapsed last week.

This has resulted in the group’s owners announcing plans to proceed with breaking up the firm.

“More than half of Kaiser’s Tengelmann’s total workforce of 15,000 is threatened by the company’s breakup plans,’’ the group said.

Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert said that the companies should not leave anything untried in seeking to reach a consensus that is the interests of those affected.

He said that the chancellor backed the appeal from Minister for Economic Affairs, Sigmar Gabriel for the companies to find a viable solution to the Kaiser’s crisis and not to break off the negotiations.

“This included the possibility of appointing a conciliator to help oversee the talks, Gabriel said. (dpa/NAN)
OYE/AMY
Edited Damilola Oyewole and Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-F-11
Emergency
Addis Ababa, Oct. 17, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) Ethiopia has imposed curbs on its opposition, including travel restrictions on diplomats and a dusk-to-dawn curfew around major projects in new measures  that follow the declaration of six-month nationwide state of emergency.

Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn declared the state of emergency earlier this month, saying “months of unrest threatened the Horn of Africa nation’s stability.’’

More than 500 people have been killed in protests in the Oromiya region and other areas since 2001.

The report said this started due to anger over a development scheme for the capital sparked broader anti-government demonstrations over politics and human rights abuses.

The state of emergency has been effective since Oct. 8.

In a new directive, opposition parties were barred from issuing statements deemed to pose a threat to the “sovereignty, security and the constitutional order of the country” to both domestic and foreign press.

The raft of measures include granting security services powers to stop and search suspects, and search homes without court authorisation.

Contacting opposition groups branded “terrorist movements” has been forbidden. Ethiopia has designated five groups, including two armed secessionist movements, as terrorists.

The violence in Oromiya, Ethiopia’s largest and most populous region, and to a lesser extent in Amhara province, has overshadowed the success story of one of Africa’s fastest growing economies.

The latest flare-up in Oromiya followed a stampede on Oct. 2 in which at least 55 people were killed. (Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited Damilola Oyewole/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

Man admits offering daughter for sale in Germany

NAN-F-5
Sales
Dusseldorf, Oct. 17, 2016 (dpa/NAN) A man accused of trying to sell his infant daughter online has admitted to posting the advert, which offered the girl in exchange for 5,500 dollars, the police said on Monday.

The 28-year-old man admitted to posting the ad on eBay Kleinanzeigen, a popular online platform for buying and selling household items.

“The man said that it was intended as a joke,’’ the police said.

The man and his wife, who are being investigated on suspicion of human trafficking, initially denied posting the ad, it went up late on Tuesday, prompting employees at the website to contact police.

Police said that the family that posted the ad was refugees, without giving details as to their nationality.

The child has been taken into care. (dpa/NAN)

(Edited Damilola Oyewole/Julius Enehikhuere)

Shell faces possible Dutch lawsuit over Nigerian activist’s execution

NAN-F-10

Suit

London, Oct. 17, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) The widow of a Nigerian activist is planning to sue Royal Dutch Shell in the Dutch courts.

She alleged that the oil company was complicit in the execution of her husband by the Nigerian military in 1995, court documents filed in the U.S. last week show.

Mrs Esther Kiobel has filed an application in New York to secure documents from Shell’s U.S. lawyers, which she could use in the Dutch action.

The filings with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District Court of New York said she planned to begin that action before the end of the year.

“Kiobel will demonstrate that Shell encouraged, facilitated, and conspired with the Nigerian government to commit human rights violations against the Ogoni people,” a memorandum in the application filed last week said.

According to Shell spokesman, “Shell remains firmly committed to supporting fundamental human rights in line with the legitimate role of business.

“We have always denied, in the strongest possible terms, the allegations made by the plaintiffs in this tragic case,” she said.

Kiobel previously took her lawsuit to the U.S. but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that the case could not be heard because the alleged activities took place outside the country.

In 2009 prior to that ruling Shell had agreed in the U.S. to pay 15.5 million dollars to settle lawsuits related to other activists executed at the same time as Barinem Kiobel, including author and environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa.

Kiobel’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday.(Reuters/NAN)
OYE/AMY
Edited Damilola Oyewole and Abdullahi Yusuf

Council of Europe rebukes Turkey for removing lawmakers’ immunity

NAN-F-9

Immunity

Istanbul, Oct. 17, 2016 (dpa/NAN) Turkey must restore the legal immunity of lawmakers, a key body of the Council of Europe said in a report issued on Monday.

It challenged the process of removing their inviolability and warning that the country has a problem protecting freedom of expression.

“The current situation in the Turkish judiciary makes this the worst possible moment to abolish inviolability,” the report said.

Since the July 15 failed coup attempt in Turkey and even before, the country has been purging prosecutors and judges accused of having links to the Islamic movement of U.S.-based Turkish preacher, Fethullah Gulen.

The government blames the coup on Gulen, but he denies this.

In May, Turkey’s parliament where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) holds the majority voted to lift the immunity of more than 135 members of parliament.

The move ended up affecting 55 out of the 59 members of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).

Since then, HDP leaders have found themselves facing prosecution that could result in lengthy jail time.

The measure passed through a complex, temporary constitutional amendment, which the European report said “violates the principle of equality”.

The report argued in favour of strengthening the inviolability of lawmakers, to ensure greater freedom of speech.

Critics of Erdogan, who was prime minister from 2003 before becoming president in 2014, said he was growing increasingly authoritarian. (dpa/NAN)
OYE/AMY
Edited Damilola Oyewole and Abdullahi Yusuf

N3.4bn theft at NIMASA: EFCC leads more evidence in Akpobolokemi’s trial

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NIMASA
Lagos, Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) An EFCC witness, Mr Kanu Idagu, on Monday told a Federal High Court in Lagos how some committees were set up at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as conduit pipes to steal money running into billions of Naira.

Idagu, an operative of EFCC, gave the evidence at the resumed trial of Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director General of NIMASA, whois being tried alongside nine others on a 40-count charge bordering on money laundering.

Others charged with him are Capt. Bala Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena, Capt. Warredi Enisouh, Governor Juan, Ugo Frederick and Timi Alari.

Two companies —  Al-kenzo Ltd. and Penniel Engineering Services Ltd are also facing trial.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail by the court.

Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr Festus Keyamo, the witness told the court that as head of the EFCC Special Task Force, he was in charge of investigations and carries out searches and arrests.

He told the court that the commission received a petition in the last quarter of 2015 about activities in NIMASA during the tenure of Akpobolokemi as DG.

According to him, his team embarked on investigations and in the process, discovered that NIMASA had set up various committees some of which were used to launder monies through companies and bureau de change.

He said that specifically, a committee on intelligence was set up and headed by the second accused, with an Access bank account no. 0688939609 opened for the receipt of monies.

“Between Dec. 20, 2013 and July 7, 2015, the committee received money in tranches running into 1.5 billion.

“The chairman of the committee raised several internal memos to the Director of Finance and Accounts, wherein it was claimed that the funds were to be used for intelligence-based security activities.

“The companies used in furtherance of these activities were either owned or nominated by NIMASA staff for their personal use,” he said.

Idagu said one of such companies was Aler Integrated services Ltd. whose alter ego was one Uche Obilor.

“Another company is Kofa Fada Ltd., a bureau de change company which the second accused instructed Obilor to transfer the sum of N10 million into.

“The sum of N2 million was also transferred into the account of one Al-Kenzo Logistics, whose alter ego is the third accused, Ekene Nwakuche.

“The second accused also made a claim of a business contract between NIMASA and one Kofa Fada Ltd., with the sum of N26 million transferred to the companies’ account.

“While the dollar equivalent was handed to him.

“The second accused also transferred the sum of N86 million to one Usseinian Ltd., and the dollar equivalent transferred to him,” he added.

According to the witness, the third accused, Nwakuche who is the personal assistant to the second accused, was asked to coordinate accounts for the purpose of diverting money.

He said the third accused formulated an Enterprise Bank account in the name of Adams CDA Global Services, belonging to one of his friends.

Idagu also claimed that the accused transferred into the account the sum of N120 million, while the dollar equivalent was handed over to the second accused.

The witness said the third accused also nominated an access bank account for Gidoga Investment Ltd. with the sum of N65 million transferred into same account.

Idagu said other accounts were opened in the names of companies such as Ballon and Associates, KXM procurement Ltd, FBA Nasbela and Co, Crescent Pillars and Co, as well as Penniel Engineering Services.

He said that in all, a total of N422, 680 million was directly transferred to the second accused, who claimed that same was remitted to the first accused.

After the witness’ oral testimony, the prosecutor urged the court for an adjournment to enable him to present documentary evidence.

Consequently, Justice Saliu Saidu adjourned the case to Dec. 15 and Dec. 19 for continuation of trial.

The accused were alleged to have committed the offences between December 2013 and July 2015 and converted over N3.4 billion belonging to NIMASA to  personal uses.

The offence contravened the provisions of Sections 15 (1), (3), and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2012. (NAN)
UNS/ENN/DA
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Dele Akinsola

NAN-H-43

Forex

By Solomon Asowata

Lagos, Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) The Aviation Round Table (ART) has called for quick implementation of the special sectoral Foreign Exchange (Forex) allocation in the Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) for airline operators.

The President of ART, Mr Gbenga Olowo, made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

NAN reports that the forex concession was recently granted to the airlines by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as an intervention in the inter-bank forex market, through forward settlement.

Olowo said the move was a positive development for the foreign airlines because they would be able to repatriate their funds.

According to him, the availability of forex at the inter-bank exchange rate will also ease domestic carriers’ access to forex, which is critical to their operations.

“So, it is very positive, but I hope it is available. There was a time that they said duty of spares was removed and it was on paper, but it never happened until recently.

“This announcement will have no effect until the airlines begin to enjoy the forex concession.

“What we are saying is that there should be quick implementation and that it should not just be a policy statement,” he said.

Speaking similarly, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, Managing Director, Med-View Airline, said it was crucial for the government to open the channel where airlines could have access to forex.

“Everything we do in this industry is paid for in dollars. Aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul and D-Check; these cost millions of dollars.

“Also, you have to pay for insurance and some of the aircraft are on dry lease which are also paid for in dollars.

“But for now, there is nothing on the table. We are praying it will materialise soon. We expect the Federal Government through the CBN to start rolling out the guidelines,” Bankole said. (NAN)

ASO/SOA

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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

NAN-AE-7
Tractor
Pankshin (Plateau) Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) Each of the 17 Local Government Areas in Plateau is to receive 12 tractors to boost food production in the state under the Federal Government’s Tractorization Scheme.

Mr Stephen Jings, the Management Committee Chairman, Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau  disclosed this  on Monday  while declaring open a capacity building programme for tomato production clusters in Pankshin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organised  by the Plateau State Fadama III additional funding development project coordinating office.

Jings, who said the programme would soon commence,  said the state government and the 17 LGAs had paid 70 per cent of the cost for the tractors.

He described as timely the capacity building considering the revenue being generated from tomato production in the state.

Jings said it would be good that farmers take advantage of the programme to boost their income as well as boost the economy of the council and that of the state.

“This council paid its counterpart funding to the Fadama III running into several millions of Naira.

“Our desire is to see that Pankshin boost its Tomato production so as to feed the State and Nigeria as a whole, ’’ he stated.

Also speaking, Mr Gideon Dandam, the State Project Coordinator of Fadama III additional funding Project, commended the Gov. Simon Lalong administration for its commitment to food production in the state.

Dandam said that the World Bank would soon disburse over N21 million to tomato farmers in Plateau aimed at helping them to boost their production.

Responding, on behalf of participating farmers, Mr Gambo Kargung thanked Fadama III, the State and Council for their concern towards the wellbeing and success of farmers in Pankshin.

Kargung assured of their readiness to put into practice whatever was learned during the programme so as to improve on their production capacity to strengthen the nation’s economy. (NAN)
TYC/DO/AFA
Edited by David Onilede/Felix Ajide
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NAN-H-53
Laws
By Temitope Ponle
Abuja, Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) have initiated modalities to incorporate international humanitarian and human rights laws in security operations.

Mr Peter Maurer, President of the ICRC, dropped the hint at a workshop on humanitarian laws organised by  ICRC and ECOWAS in Abuja on Monday.

Maurer said that the inclusion of international humanitarian and human rights laws would enable troops to conduct their military duties within the law.

“They (troops) need to understand, not only the text and purpose of the law but also how these laws are translated into actual practices in the field.

“This knowledge will guide both commanders and troops in developing operational plans that would help them limit the damage that comes with military operations,’’ he said.

He said that the ICRC had contributed in the drafting of the standard operating procedures, rules of engagements and other necessary documents shaping the employment of ESF during armed conflicts.

“The documents drafted were tested for their applicability before being approved by the leadership of the commission.’’

Maurer also said that the cooperation between ICRC and the regional and sub-regional forces was an opportunity “to broaden the scope of our dialogue with armies across the world”.

“We hope that it will lead to a better understanding of the mandate and working modalities of the ICRC by the armed and security forces, and consequently to better security for our staff.

“I expect that the next phase of the relationship between the ICRC and ECOWAS Standby force, which has been going from strength to strength, will see an increased involvement of the ICRC,” he said.

In her address, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs Halima Ahmed, said it was necessary for all parties involved in peace keeping operations to have in-depth knowledge of international humanitarian and human rights laws.

According to her, such knowledge will reduce cases of human rights violations amongst peacekeepers.

Ahmed was represented at the programme by Col. Ollo Pale, head of Mission Planning and Management Cell, Department of Peacekeeping and Regional Security.

“There is the need for personnel of the ESF to be well grounded in International Human Right Law and International Humanitarian Law.

“This is so that this knowledge is further passed down to troops and other personnel involved in peace supporting operations,” she said.

The commissioner said that the workshop was an opportunity to enhance collaboration between ICRC and the ESF to further share experiences and educate personnel involved in peace operations. (NAN)

TOP/AOS/JCE
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Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Chukwudi Ekezie