Help ooo, Customs, Police Extorting Us – South East Traders

                 

The South-East Zone of the Amalgamated Market Traders Association has raised the alarm over the worsening cases of extortion by security officials on highways in the country.

The President of the association, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, who made the allegation while addressing traders at Oba, near Onitsha, accused men of the Nigeria Customs Service and the police of barricading highways to extort motorists and traders.

He said that the presence of customs men and police officers mounting road blocks to extort motorists and traders had made a mess of the anti-corruption campaign of the Federal Government.

OPEC Expects Non-Members To Increase Oil Output In 2017

                          

OPEC said Wednesday it expects some non-cartel producers to ramp up production next year, encouraged by oil prices which OPEC has fought to drive higher with a recent output cut deal.

Brazil and Canada — who did not sign the reduction agreement — and Kazakhstan are expected to be the main contributors to the non-OPEC supply growth, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said in its December oil market report.

N26m Dasuki Fund: Fani-Kayode’s ill Health Stalls Trial

                      

A Federal High Court in Abuja was unable to proceed with the trial of a former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani- Kayode, as scheduled on Wednesday because of the ex-minister’s ill health.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had on November 11, 2016, arraigned Fani-Kayode on five charges involving alleged diversion of N26m which he allegedly received from the then National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, under the guise of payment for contract.

Look @ The Way Fayose Playing Politics With Courts’

A human rights group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, has said the order of Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, which ordered the unfreezing of the accounts of Governor Ayodele Fayose may not be of any benefit to the governor.

Justice Taiwo had on Tuesday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to unfreeze the bank accounts of Fayose, which the anti-graft agency froze while investigating corruption allegations against the governor.

President Buhari Presents N7.298tn Budget for 2017

                        

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja presented a budget of N7.30tn for 2017 before a joint session of the National Assembly.

Buhari, who arrived at the assembly Chambers at 1.55p.m., apologised for shifting the time for the presentation of the appropriation bill from 10a.m. to 2 p.m.

He explained that the delay was informed by his sudden trip to The Gambia in an attempt to avert possible political in that country, occasioned by the insistence of President Yayah Jameh.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Full Speech At 2017 Budget Presentation

 

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday presented a proposed N7.298tn budget for the 2017.

Click here for the full speech

Governor Of Borno State Orders Prosecution Of IDPs Rice Thieves

                   

Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima has asked for the immediate prosecution of those arrested for diversion of bags of rice meant for internally displaced persons in the state.

The directive was contained in a statement issued by the spokesman of the governor, Mallam Isa Gusau.

In the statement, the governor said the commissioner of police in the state should expedite action on the prosecution of some officials allegedly ‎involved in the diversion of 50 bags of rice meant for internally displaced persons.

One Lost His Life In Explosion near police station in C’ River

 

At least one person is said to have died after an explosion in a building in Adadama, Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The incident, which occurred on Tuesday in a building housing many displaced persons near a vandalised police station in Adadama, was said to have injured about 30.

The people of Adadama and their Amagu neighbours in Nko LGA of Ebonyi State have for several years been engaged in violent fights over a parcel of farmland that had claimed several lives and displaced many families.

Senate Calls For Babachir Lawal Prosecution For IDP Fund Diversion

                              

The Senate has called for the resignation and prosecution of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, following alleged complicity in the diversion of North east humanitarian funds.

This followed the presentation of interim report of the Adhoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North East, by the Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Shehu Sani in Abuja on Wednesday.

The call for Lawal’s resignation followed alleged contravention of the provisions of Public Procurement Act and the Federal Government Financial Rules and Regulations pertaining to award of contracts.

Watch Live Sream: 2017 Budget presentation

 

 

Members of the National Assembly at the 2017 budget presentation

Reps Want Local Vendors In Oil, Gas Sector Paid

 

The House of Representatives on Wednesday called for the payment of local vendors in the oil and gas industry in the bid to save the industry.

This followed a motion by Rep. Henry Nwawuba (PDP-Imo), which was unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.

Moving the motion, Nwabuba explained that Local Content Act was primarily intended to promote local players in the oil and gas industry.

Buhari’s Experience Needed To Avoid Political Crisis In Gambia – Group

                      

The coalition of seven political parties that produced Adama Barrow, President-elect of Gambia, has enjoined President Muhammadu Buhari to deploy his vast experience, alongside other African leaders to resolve the political logjam in Gambia.

A statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the coalition made the call while speaking with newsmen during the high-level ECOWAS /AU/UN Joint Mission to The Gambia on Tuesday.