Arms Scandal: Jonathan’s govt spent billions, abused trust – Buhari

The former administration of Goodluck Jonathan spent billions of naira and millions of dollars on efforts to equip the Nigerian military against Boko Haram, but there was rampant “abuse of trust”, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.

Mr. Buhari said the abuse cost the nation lives and equipment.

He made the remark while addressing members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Mr. Buhari urged the legislature to collaborate with the executive arm of government to secure the country and effectively manage it.

“There are a lot of obstacles to be crossed. The objectives we have are to secure this country and effectively manage it,” the president said.

According to him, the major challenge in the security of the country was the threat posed by the Boko Haram insurgency but added that the leadership of the country had set clear targets toward the re-organisation, retraining and re-equipping the military to neutralize Boko Haram.

He said his administration had hoped that at the end of the rainy season organised attack would be launched against the insurgents, adding that government had also raised the morale of the soldiers to tackle the challenge.

The president, however, observed that his administration uncovered that the previous administration expended “billions of naira and hundreds of millions of dollars to acquire military equipment but with several abuses of trust.

“There were abuses of trust and that cost Nigeria a lot of lives and a lot of goodwill’’ he said.

Mr. Buhari observed that Nigeria, which had earned reputation in the fight against criminal activities and defence of territories abroad, found out that it could no longer defend a few local government areas occupied by insurgents.

“I seek your understanding,” Mr. Buhari appealed.

He told the legislators to think about the consequences of not acting in tandem with the government, noting that Nigerians were wiser to know those who represent them well.

He noted that he took the initiative of seeking the collaboration of the international community to be able to win the war against terrorism.

He said the Boko Haram’s attempt to divide the country was a miscalculation adding that their claim to be fighting for Islam was both misleading and working against God.

He said the group was gradually being decimated and were finding it difficult to recruit while the military was doing well.

Responding, the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, said that the support of his colleagues would be total to ensure that the government bequeathed something meaningful to posterity.

“What bothers me is the legacy we are leaving behind. After we have exited, what will our children and grandchildren say about us,’’ he said.

He noted that there was bound to be disagreements between the executive and the legislature, beginning with the handling of the provisions of the 2016 appropriation bill but said the issue would be handled in the interest of the public.

“Your hosting us today shows that there will be a seamless interface between the three arms of government to deliver to the people.

“We support you like many Nigerians will support you because there is nobody that will be in doubt that you will rid this country of corruption,” he said.

Mr. Dogara added that the time to restructure the economy was now.

“These four years are very critical. If you don’t get it right under us, this generation will forget about getting it right.

“We will support you regardless of our political differences and we have to leave something to our children and posterity,’’ he added.

(NAN)

Social Media Bill Is Not In Nigeria Interest – Muhammadu Buharia

Confirming the statement the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said “the President has promised to preserve the structure of Nigeria he swore to uphold and wouldn’t assent to any laws that may be inconsistent with the constitution of Nigeria.”

In keeping with the President, “Free speech is relevant to democratic societies anywhere on the earth. As a key factor of democratic principles, individuals in democratic societies are so emotionally attached to free speech that they'd preserve it with all their might.”

Shehu informed that Buhari t is absolutely mindful of the men and women’s discontent concerning the proposed social media bill, assuring that there’s no motive for panic “because the Senate is a democratic senate.”

It has been largely criticised by using Nigerians so that you could curb freedom of speech, in particular on social media, and punish critics of the federal government and lawmakers.

The draft bill was once proposed by means of Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah from the ruling everybody’s Congress party (APC). It has already handed a second reading at the Senate and there shall be a public listening to on the bill before it can be handed.

If the bill becomes law, humans “who deliberately propagate false knowledge or abusive statements (by way of text message, Twitter, WhatsApp, etc) that might threaten the protection of the nation or that is competent of inciting the general public against the government through electronic mail” might be jailed for up to seven years and fined up to 5m Naira.

Freedom of speech is the proper way to be in contact with one’s opinions and ideas with out worry of government retaliation or censorship. It's a normal human right and an principal aspect of any democracy.

Freedom of speech makes it possible for residents to exchange views and knowledge, to protest against injustice, to have an impact on the public discourse, and to criticize the moves of the government.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel Is 'Time' Magazine's Person Of Year

Citing her "steadfast moral leadership in a world where it is in short supply," Timemagazine chose German Chancellor Angela Merkel as its person of the year.

Merkel, the magazine writes, has led her country and Europe amid a refugee crisis, an economic crisis, and terrorist attacks.

The magazine concludes:

"At a moment when much of the world is once more engaged in a furious debate about the balance between safety and freedom, the Chancellor is asking a great deal of the German people, and by their example, the rest of us as well. To be welcoming. To be unafraid. To believe that great civilizations build bridges, not walls, and that wars are won both on and off the battlefield. By viewing the refugees as victims to be rescued rather than invaders to be repelled, the woman raised behind the Iron Curtain gambled on freedom. The pastor's daughter wielded mercy like a weapon. You can agree with her or not, but she is not taking the easy road. Leaders are tested only when people don't want to follow. For asking more of her country than most politicians would dare, for standing firm against tyranny as well as expedience and for providing steadfast moral leadership in a world where it is in short supply, Angela Merkel is TIME's Person of the Year."

Merkel also becomes the first individual woman to be given the honor in 29 years. The last individual woman to receive the honor was Phillipine President Corazon Aquino in 1986. Other women had been included as part of a group. Last year, for example, some women were included as part of the "Ebola fighters."

Striking Similarity Of Thoughts Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler

How Jonathan, Okonjo-Iweala illegally diverted N61.4 billion Abacha loot to NSA, Sambo Dasuki

The immediate past Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, illegally approved the transfer of at least N61.4 billion ($300 million and £5.5 million) from funds recovered from late dictator, Sani Abacha, to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, few weeks to the 2015 presidential election, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report today.

The former Minister signed off on the transfer but then closed her eyes to how the funds were spent, requesting then President Goodluck Jonathan to directly demand accountability from Mr. Dasuki, according to documents seen by this newspaper.

The funds were never appropriated before they were transferred, a clear violation of Nigeria’s fiscal responsibility law.

Mr. Dasuki, alongside the former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa and founder of DAAR communications, owners of Africa Independent Television and Raypower radio network, Raymond Dokpesi, are being investigated for their roles in the disbursement of $2.1 billion and N643 billion meant for the procurement of arms to fight the raging insurgency in Nigeria’s north east region.

The recovered Abacha loot are funds returned to the Nigerian government from monies stolen from the country’s treasury by Mr. Abacha.

The late dictator stole an estimated $5 billion from Nigeria and the money is being returned in tranches after agreement with countries such as Switzerland and the United States. So far $700 million has been repatriated from Switzerland.

It is not clear whether these funds in question were part of the arms procurement funds for which Mr Dasuki is being investigated.

But a letter signed by Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, showed that 50 per cent of the recently recovered Abacha loot was allotted for “urgent security need” such as the procurement of arms and ammunition while the other half was set aside to be used for development purposes.

The letter, dated January 20, 2015, which was addressed to Mr Jonathan revealed that the money was transferred following a January 12, 2015 request by the office of the NSA under Mr Dasuki for funds for the procurement of arms and ammunition as well as intelligence equipment.

“Please find a request by the National Security Adviser (NSA) for the transfer of $300 million and £5.5 million of the recovered Abacha funds to an ONSA [Office of the National Security Adviser] operations account,” the letter read.

“The NSA has explained that this is to enable the purchase of ammunition, security, and other intelligence equipment for the security agencies in order to enable them fully confront the ongoing Boko Haram threat.

“His request is sequel to the meeting you chaired with the committee on the use of recovered funds where the decision was made that recovered Abacha funds would be split 50-50 between urgent security needs to confront Boko Haram and development need (including a portion for the Future Generations window of the Sovereign Wealth Fund),” Mrs Okojo-Iweala wrote.

She added that the letter was to seek Mr Jonathan’s approval for the funds to be disbursed to the ONSA. The former minister further explained that the money being transferred formed part of the Federal Government Independent Revenue.

However, instead of insisting on overseeing how the disbursed funds were spent, as the country’s chief financial officer, she abdicated her responsibility, expecting and asked Mr Dasuki to account directly to Mr Jonathan.

“This letter is to seek your approval to borrow these funds, for now, to disburse to the NSA. These funds form part of the projected Federal Government Independent Revenue, to be appropriated, in the light and for accountability, given the peculiar nature of security and intelligence transactions, we would expect the NSA to account to Your Excellency for the utilisation of the funds,” she concluded.

In a January 30, 2015 letter, Mr. Jonathan approved the transfer.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole vindicated

This latest disclosure appears to have vindicated Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, who last week called for the prosecution of Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala for transferring funds that were not appropriated.

The governor stated that neither the president nor the minister has power to unilaterally transfer funds that were not appropriated by the National Assembly.

He therefore argued that Mr. Jonathan and Mrs Okonjo-Iweala should be charged alongside Messrs Dasuki, Dokpesi and Bafawara for allegedly misappropriating funds meant for arms procurement.

“The issue is whether the Nigerian President under the constitution has the power to approve funds belonging to local, state and federal government- funds that have not been appropriated by the National Assembly. That is a criminal offense for which Okonjo-Iweala ought to face criminal prosecution. These things are just discussed and wished away. For me, I will stick for the truth and don’t care what people will say,” Mr. Oshiomhole said.

“Talking about revelation, look at the letter credited to Dasuki – the immediate past National Security Adviser. In his defence which I read in your paper, he seems to admit that money was spent but it was approved by the President. Does the Nigerian constitution empower the President to spend money which has not been appropriated by the National Assembly? And they took cash from the CBN. The Money Laundering Act says if you take cash in excess of N5 million transaction, it is money laundering and it is criminal.

“So, by Dasuki’s letter, he has also confirmed that Okonjo-Iweala is privy to spending money never appropriated and therefore criminal, and that cash were being moved contrary to the money laundering act. Just using Dasuki’s own defence, you can see a case of conspiracy has been established between Dasuki, Okonjo-Iweala and all those involved in that transaction,” Mr. Oshiomhole said.

But in a stern statement, where she described Mr Oshiomhole as reckless, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala asked the federal government to call the governor to order.

She stated that she had “absolutely nothing to do with” the $2.1 billion arms procurement money.

“It is unconscionable for the Governor to embark on a campaign of lies against her because she thwarted his dubious loan request,” she said.

Senate will go ahead with anti-social media bill – Spokesman

The Senate has declared that no amount of propaganda will deter it from treating the anti-social media bill, also known as the anti-frivolous petition bill.

It said this was necessary to allow citizens “shape its final outcome as there is an elaborate process which the bill must undergo before it becomes a law”.

Last Wednesday, the bill seeking to curb frivolous petitions, false allegations and statements in the social media passed second reading.

Presenting the bill entitled ‘A bill for an act to prohibit frivolous petitions, and other matters connected therewith, 2015 (SB. 143)’, Bala Na’ Allah, deputy senate leader, explained that the aim of the bill was to bring sanity into the system, and make way for “credible and verifiable” petitions.

“Where any person in order to circumvent this law makes any allegation and or publishes any statement, petition in any paper, radio, or any medium of whatever description, with malicious intent to discredit or set the public against any person or group of persons, institutions of government, he shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction, shall be liable to an imprisonment term of two years or a fine of N4m,” the bill states.

“Where any person, through text message, tweets, Whatsapp or through any social media post any abusive statement knowing same to be false with intent to set the public against any person and group of persons, an institution of government or such other bodies established by law shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction, shall be liable to an imprisonment for two years or a fine of N2m or both fine and imprisonment.”

The bill further stated that a petitioner must have a sworn affidavit to back up his claim in a petition.

“Notwithstanding anything contained in any law, it shall be an unlawful to submit any petition, statement intended to report the conduct of any person for the purpose of an investigation, inquiry and or inquest without a duly sworn affidavit in the high court of a state or the federal High court confirming the content to be true and correct and in accordance with the Oaths Act,” it says.

Reacting on Sunday, Senate spokesman, Aliyu Sabi, said that some of the attacks on the bill “emanated from misconception and misunderstanding of the objective which is meant to protect all individuals and institutions, including journalists and social media users.”

“The senate is committed to freedom of speech and a fully inclusive and participatory democracy. The process of passing a bill is comprehensive and provide for inputs to be taken from all and sundry.

“The first stage is merely to read the short title of the bill. The second stage is purely to debate the general principles.

“The next stage is committal of the bill to appropriate committee or committees for further detailed legislative action where the details, intendment and clause by clause implications of the bill are dissected by the committee.

“This stage also involves public hearing in which members of the public, civil society, non-governmental organizations and all interested parties for or against the bill have the opportunity to shape and influence its content.

“The outcome from this committee stage is what will be finalised and then represented to the chamber for clause by clause consideration and approval or disapproval by the senate.

“Thereafter, if the bill is approved, then the clean version of the bill is forwarded to the house of representatives for concurrence or otherwise.

“Accordingly, the senate wants to re-assure the public about this. So, all those who are either for or against this bill or its part and any other one have ample opportunities to reshape it,” he said.

He assured that the eighth senate was conscious of its responsibility to the people and would not do anything that would stifle participation and inclusion.

“We will always ensure we pass laws, which meet best practices across the world and indeed democratic scrutiny. Suggesting that the senate wants to pass a law not even practiced in China etc is being mischievous,” he added.

“This senate is people-centred, pro-poor and participatory. We will always act in the best interest of the citizenry. In this regard, we are totally committed to performing our duties and discharging our responsibilities without let or hindrance.

“All those spreading hate campaigns as a result of the anti-frivolity bill, hauling insults at and making derogatory comments on senators of the federal republic of Nigeria and the institution of the Senate are advised to key into the elaborate legislative process that a bill must pass through before becoming law if they are interested in shaping the outcome of the bill.

“This is the right way to go and part of the change we all aspire for our democracy.

“The eighth senate is totally committed to protecting the liberty of all Nigerians and the independence of the Senate and the legislative arm of government as we deepen our democratic journey.”

Beijing smog ‘red alert’: Schools and businesses to completely shut down as Chinese capital issues first ever extreme warning

Beijing has issued its first ever “red alert” over the city’s smog, with the Chinese capital going into shutdown in an attempt to protect people from the deadly air.

It is the first time ever that the highest possible state of caution has been declared in the city, which has more than 21 million residents.

The warning means schools will have to close down and construction and other industry in the capital will be limited.

The order will last from Tuesday morning local time until midday on Thursday, when the weather is expected to change and blow away the smog.Smog levels are actually lowe than they have been in recent weeks. But authorities expect an extreme amount of pollution over the coming days, and have imposed the order to ensure safety during that time.

The city had already been in a state of orange alert, which meant some construction and industry was being curbed. The city had also issued a ruling that said cars with odd and even number plates would be stopped from driving on alternate days.

In some parts of Beijing, people can only see around 200m. The air is also packed with poisonous particles that mean that people could become ill simply from being outside.

Air pollution monitors showed areas of Beijing had more than 256 micrograms per cubic metre of the poisonous particles. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says anything over 25 micrograms is considered unsafe.

The poisonous smog in Beijing is caused by the burning of coal for industry and heating, and huge amounts of dust from the city’s many construction sites. The problem is being made yet worse by high humidity and low wind.

Last week, Greenpeace called on Beijing to issue a red alert, after four days of what it called “Airpocalypse”.

“The city is blanketed in a thick, choking smog that has covered an area of North China the size of Spain and Beijing’s most famous landmarks have been completely obscured by the yellow haze,” wrote Zhang Kai on the group’s blog.

Greenpeace praised the Orange Alert that had been declared for putting restrictions on construction and industry, but said that it was “clearly not enough”.

“At this level of response, schools and kindergartens can remain open, meaning that children are risking their health in order to attend class and car emissions haven’t been restricted at all,” the group wrote.

SOURCE: independent.co.uk