Ajimobi declares assets publicly ... has N292.4m in banks, owns houses in US, UK

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Sunday made public the assets declaration form which he deposed to shortly before his inauguration as governor on May 29.

Making the content of the form public on behalf of his boss, the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said the step was in line with Ajimobi’s promise to commence a government that lays store by transparency and accountability in the administration of the state.

Adedayo said the governor deposed to the Assets Declaration Form for Public Officers at the Registry of the State High Court, Ibadan, before Justice Ladiran Akintola, on May 27, 2011, two days before assuming office.

The assets declared, according to him, include cash in local banks, buildings, vehicles, business enterprises and household items.

According to the form filled by the governor, the total amount of cash he has in banks in the country is N292, 432, 107.00 while he has none in any foreign account.

The governor also declared that he had a mansion in Ibadan worth N250m, a building in the same city worth N150m, another one with the value of N300m in Lagos, as well as a detached house worth N300m in Abuja.

He added that he had a flat purchased through mortgage financing worth £450,000 in the United Kingdom, another worth £1.95m, purchased through mortgage in the UK and another house worth $1.5m in the United States of America.

Ajimobi also declared that he owned 131 acres of farm land in a village at the Ido Local Government area of Ibadan worth N150m, two Lagos-based companies, Viz Grandex Nigeria Limited, worth N200m and Network Petroleum Nigeria Limited, worth N260m.

The governor put the worth of all his vehicles at N94.25m and household furniture, which include generating sets and electronics at N25m.

The governor also declared that his wife, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, possesses a house in Ibadan that is worth N15m and another in Lagos that is worth N250m.

Adedayo said the new government of Oyo State laid great store by probity and accountability, and was of the belief that the patrimony of the people must be guarded jealously as the governor would give account of all that was entrusted in his care, not only to the people of the state who voted for him in the April elections, but to God “the ultimate judge” who would request for an account whenever the governor finishes his assignment on earth.

Ajimobi is the first governor of the state to publicly declare his assets.

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Boko Haram: Police foil plot to bomb NNPC HQ

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in Abuja is the next target of the Boko Haram fundamentalists, intelligence reports gathered by security agencies indicated. 

Already, security operatives in large numbers have been deployed to guard the national oil corporation head office, NNPC Towers, located in the Central Business District, Garki, Abuja. 

A lone bomber suspected to be a member of the Boko Haram on June 16 attacked the Nigeria Police Headquarters, Louis Edet House, in the Federal Capital City. One policeman and the lone bomber died in the attack in which 33 vehicles were burnt and 20 others destroyed. 

Our correspondent who visited the NNPC Towers, located on Phase 2, Herbert Macaulay Way in the CBD, observed a police armoured tank deployed at the front of the building while armed riot policemen and soldiers were seen surrounding the building. 

A top security source confided in our correspondent that the police authorities got a hint of a plan by the group to bomb the building as part of its violent campaign against the Federal Government.

The group followed the attack on the police headquarters with another on a drinking joint in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, two weks ago. Twenty-five people were killed in the attack.

A riot policeman on duty at the NNPC Towers (name withheld) told our correspondent that the security personnel at the building were hurriedly deployed.

“We (policemen) were asked to report to the NNPC Towers by our DPO because Boko Haram people are planning to bomb the building.

“The intelligence just came in, so we had to hurriedly come down here,” the policeman said.

He bemoaned the incessant threat posed by the Boko Haram members and the seeming ease with which they had been carrying out their attacks. 

President Goodluck Jonathan, during a recent visit to the bombed police building in Abuja, said if the Boko Harams had had their way they would bomb even him.

The planned bombing of the NNPC building came as the re-appointed Minister of Petroleum, Alison-Madueke, returned to her seat today, having been sworn in last Saturday along with 13 others by the President.

Alison-Madueke and 11 other ministers who were sworn in were asked by Jonathan to go back to their former offices.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, had vowed that the Army would crush Boko Haram in line with a directive from the president. 

The lone bomber launched the attack on the Louis Edet House barely three days after the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Afiz Ringim, had threatened to crush the sect.

Ihejirika described the attackers as cowards, stressing that the fact that they succeeded in igniting some explosives in some parts of the country did not make them invincible.

The COAS therefore called on Nigerians to be security conscious and to give security agencies information that would assist them combat the group.

He spoke at the Second Quarter Chief of Army Staff Conference in Abuja last Monday.

“Nigerian Army having studied the method of operation (in collaboration with other security agencies), very soon the country will notice improvement and new security agreements,” the Army chief had said.

Not less that 3000 soldiers had been dispatched in the last two weeks to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to fortify military formations in the state. The deployment of the soldiers for internal security, our correspondent gathered, had led to the depletion in the rank of soldiers needed for peace-keeping operations abroad.

Also, the FCT pedestrians and motorists had also been subjected to serious security checks at security stop-and-search operations jointly set up by policemen and soldiers.

The Islamic sect had earlier threatened further attacks in the northern part of the country as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

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Governor’s wife orderly kills armed robbery suspects

The police orderly attached to the wife of the Lagos State governor, Mr. Oladimeji Adewunmi, on Saturday night single-handedly killed two armed robbery suspects in the Ketu area of the state.

A police source, who craved anonymity on Sunday told PUNCH METRO that Adewunmi, a Sergeant, was on Olutufese Street, Alapere, Ketu, around 11pm to visit a sick friend when three armed men came down from a motorcycle and threatened to kill him if he did not heed their demands.

The source said,“The Sergeant was accosted by three armed men who came on an okada. They hit his head with the butt of a gun and pushed him into his car.

“One of the robbers drove the car while Adewunmi and another one were at the back seat. The third gunman followed them behind on the okada.” 

PUNCH METRO learnt that the suspects were not aware that Adewunmi was a policeman and was thus armed. 

According to our source, Adewunmi decided to attack immediately he had the slightest opportunity.

He said, “The policeman observed that the robbers were distracted, he brought out his pistol from his holster and shot the robber seated next to him, and he died instantly.

“Immediately the robber that was driving the car noticed what had happened, he wanted to shoot Adewunmi but being a well trained policeman, he was able to dodge just in time and the bullet shattered the windscreen.

“Before the robber was able to gather himself together, Adewunmi shot him twice from behind and he lost control of the steering and hit a median next to MRS filling station, Obanlearo Street, Ketu. Unfortunately, the robber on the okada was able to escape along with the injured one.

PUNCH METRO gathered that the injured robber, who escaped, died a few hours later as his corpse was discovered in the early hours of Sunday morning and identified by Adewunmi who had gone to Alapere Police Station to make a report.

Our source added that the corpses of the robbers had been deposited at Ikorodu General Hospital’s mortuary. The police were able to recover two double-barrelled locally-made pistols and a machine gun used by the suspects.

A member of a vigilance group in the area, who spoke to PUNCH METRO on condition of anonymity, commended Adewunmi for his bravery. He however, urged the police to beef up security in the area as the incident of armed robbery in Ketu and its environs had increased tremendously.

All efforts to speak with Adewunmi proved abortive but a source told our correspondent that he had gone to hospital for medical checkup as his ear was affected by the sound of the gun shot at close range.

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Disengaged NITEL staff sue Transcorp, BPE, others

The disengaged workers of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited have asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the planned liquidation of the company by the Bureau of Public Enterprises pending the full implementation of a judgment secured by them in the same court in 2008.

In 2006, NITEL sacked many of its workers to pave way for its liquidation by the BPE, in line with the privatisation agenda of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. 

The workers stated that the disengagement violated a valid court order, which had restrained the company from laying them off.

The November 6, 2008 judgment by Justice S. E. Oladetoyinbo, had stated that all casual workers were permanent staff of the NITEL.

It had also ordered that upon disengagement, the staff be paid the full benefits and entitlements as permanent staff of the company.

The workers expressed their position in a motion of notice filed on their behalf by their counsel, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN), pursuant to Order 7 Rule 1 and Order 31 Rule 1 FCT High Court (Civil Procedure rule).

The Transnational Corporation, NITEL and BPE are listed as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants/respondents in the suit, which processes were obtained by journalists on Sunday. 

The embattled workers in an affidavit deposed to by their representative, Mr. Tijani Aminu, insisted that the court order was not carried out.

The affidavit further states that sequel to a meeting held between them and the 2nd and 3rd respondents, it was agreed that what was due to them by the judgment was without any discrimination on items and figures, as it related to other permanent staff. 

Regrettably, they were paid without regard to the band/step they belonged and which would have affected other computations for individual payment.

They stated, “The three months arrears of salary in lieu of notice in respect of a worker adjudged to be on band/step B1/15 is not N28, 815 howsoever calculated.

“Salary arrears and several other items of entitlement have not been paid to us. These include, basic salaries with proper reflection of grade levels/bands as applicable to our counterparts in the service at the material time, monthly allowances, annual leave allowances, rent subsidy, furniture grants received by others every October, and benefit of career enhancement by promotion of eligible individuals.”

The workers said the BPE was bent on proceeding with the liquidation exercise in breach of the judgment, despite a letter dated May 24 written by their counsel to the 2nd respondent, to draw attention to the deliberate omission.

They drew attention to a document prepared by Giant Consultants Limited entitled, ‘Report on NITEL/MTEL Labour Restructuring & Outstanding Employees Entitlements.’ 

They pleaded with the court to make a definite order, for full compliance with its earlier judgment, before the liquidation of the company.

As at the time of this report, it was not certain if the case had been assigned to any judge.

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Oyo explains suspension of road managers

The Oyo State government on Sunday said it decided to suspend members of the Oyo State Road and Traffic Management Authority (OTMA), because their appointments were not properly made and the last government did not put the "round pegs in the round holes." The government said although it recognized the need to have the institution in the state, the OTMA was not properly constituted by the last administration.

In a statement made available to journalists in ibadan on Sunday, Festus Adedayo, senior special assistant to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on public communication, alleged that there was "massive irregularities, cronyism and favouritism" in the employment of members of the authority.

He said the immediate past government of Adebayo Alao-Akala made the appointment of the staff in a hurried manner and filled the body with their party and family members, adding that the process was "in flagrant disregard for the requirements of such appointments."

"It would be recollected that the Adebayo Alao-Akala-led government, at the twilight of its administration, hurriedly put together OTMA which it staffed with all manners of persons, without regard for due process," Mr Adedayo said.

The government stated that it was in the process of setting up a similar body, but that it will be done in compliance with strict adherence to the norms and practices of employment as it is done worldwide. It called on those who have the requisite qualifications among the disengaged members to re-apply, saying they would be given top priorities for the job.

Mr Adedayo however explained the readiness of the state government to pay the salary of the sacked workers till June 30 when they were officially disengaged in consonance with its respect for "equity and due process."

The new OTMA, the government official said, would encompass its vision of traffic management, security and environment management to improve the lot of the people of the state.

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Sanusi warns Muslims against joining issues with Christians

 The Central Bank Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has cautioned Muslim faithful not to join issues with Christians over their opposition to the proposed introduction of Islamic Banking System in the country, saying the idea for the new system was rooted in the 1999 Constitution.

Sanusi who addressed Muslim clerics in Kano, weekend, in Hausa language at a lecture organised by Tijjaniya Islamic Enlightenment Initiative stressed that the new banking system was initiated by his predecessor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, a Christian, and challenged those opposed to the new system which he said was already operational in some banks to go to court.

Said he: ‘’Muslims should resist the temptation of engaging in war of words with our brothers (Christians) to avoid over heating the polity.

‘’We must not take the law into our hand because of this controversy, it is simply a matter of understanding of the law and I believe we will come to terms with the aggrieved party.

‘’I am only trying to fulfil the provision of the law as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.”

Sanusi, however, lamented that the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, turned down his request for a meeting that would have given him the opportunity to allay their (Christians) fears on the new banking system.

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Boko Haram kills 10 in bloody weekend

IN yet another bloody weekend, suspected Boko Haram members have killed 10 persons in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The victims include a local government chairman. Many were injured in three attacks at different places in the city.

Government at the weekend took a major step to stem the activities of the Islamic Fundamentalist Group with President Goodluck Jonathan raising a panel to review the security situation in the country.

The panel may also probe the whereabouts of the N1.8billion released to a former Inspector-General of Police for the installation of CCTV cameras in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and some other cities.

The fear of Boko Haram gripped Abuja last night.

There was an unusual presence of heavy security around the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) following the fear of attack by the group.

Attempts to clartify the cause of the security beef up from corporation spokesman Livi Ajuonuma last night were unsuccessful.

The President has, according to sources, ruled out the removal of Inspector-General of Police Hafiz Ringim, the service chiefs and heads of security agencies over the spate of bombings in the North.

The panel is made up of some former National Security Advisers and some past and present officers from the intelligence service.

Although the list of members was kept secret, it was gathered that the panel will operate “covertly”.

It was also learnt that the panel may exchange information and compare notes with intelligence units of some countries since terrorism is a global issue.

Chairman of Ijere Local government Area, Alhaji Mustapha Baale was yesterday shot dead by gunmen believed to be members of the Boko Haram.

He was killed around 3.30pm on his way home on Old Maiduguri Road within his local government area.

Baale, a three-time chairman of the local government, was reappointed to the post barely three weeks ago by Governor Kashim Shetima. He was also a member of the sixth House of Assembly which ended its tenure last month. He contested for a House of Representatives seat but lost.

Chief of Staff to Governor Shetima, Alhaji Abua Kyari described Baale’s killing as unfortunate.

Barely two hours after the killing of the LGA boss, the Boko Haram men struck again at Wulari Police station Mammy market around 5.30 pm yesterday. They reportedly rained bullets and threw a bomb at the people drinking at the market. Five people lay dead after the attack. Many others were injured.

Sunday’s twin attacks were preceded by the killings on Saturday.

Among those killed in the Saturday attacks were two brothers – Isa Umar and Apagu Umar.

In the Sunday attacks at the Mammy market, a father of 10 was among those shot dead. There was also a retired soldier among the wounded.

Head of the Joint Police Military Task Force in Maiduguri, Maj. Gen. Jack Nwachukwu Nwaogbo confirmed the killings.

A source, who spoke in confidence on the presidential action on Boko Haram said: “Contrary to the insinuations that Mr. President’s approach to the security challenges facing the country has been weak, he has been doing a lot.

“A panel has been set up to review the security situation, what has gone wrong, stock-taking of the level of sophistication to cope with the latest challenges facing Nigeria, and how the system can be overhauled for maximum efficiency.

“The panel is mandated to complete its assignment as soon as possible. So, the team should be done in a few weeks. It comprises some former National Security Advisers, crack intelligence chiefs and other security chiefs.”

The source added: “Following reports coming up on the N1.8billion, the President asked the panel to find out if the money was spent, inspect the installed CCTV cameras in the FCT and other cities and review their impact.

“But if nothing was done, the panel is to find out the whereabouts of the money that was approved and released. The panel will speak with all those involved in the project.

“I think the outcome of investigation into the bomb explosion at the Force Headquarters where it was difficult to get the footage of the bomber might have informed a review of the N1.8billion project by the police.

“After the panel has submitted its report, the President will determine whether the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should step in or not.”

On the alleged plans to remove Ringim, and service chiefs over the Boko Haram menace, the source added: “The President has ruled out such a step because terrorism is a global challenge and it requires a global reaction.

“Jonathan has said he does not want to play to the gallery through mere grandstanding to remove security chiefs. He believes that recourse to bombing by Boko Haram is a challenge to all Nigerians, including himself as the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces.

“Instead, the President has given these security chiefs a major task to arrest the insurgency and they are on top of the situation.”

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El-Rufai defiant, I’ll not stop talking

FORMER Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, was defiant yesterday after his release, insisting that he will not stop talking.

He was arrested, Saturday evening and released  by men of the Directorate of State Security, SSS, Saturday, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, but released about 16 hours later talked tough, yesterday, saying his ordeal will not stop him from criticising the government.

El-Rufai who recounted his ordeals in the hands of security agents said he will not stop speaking on what is wrong when the need arises.

El-Rufai

He said he has just started his critical assessment of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration adding that he was not in any way inciting the people through his writings.

The former Minister who was arrested at the Abuja airport on arrival from London aboard a British Airways flight, told Vanguard yesterday that he was left to go home by the SSS at 9.00 am yesterday. He has, however, been instructed to report to the Directorate today.

Vanguard was told that Mallam el-Rufai was specifically asked why he chose to publish budget figures that were in all material details wrong.

In addition, Vanguard learnt that Rufai was remindedthat “he had been known to make some statements that were considered inflamatory in the past but had almost always been ignored.”

A source told Vanguard: “This time he was told in very clear and specific terms that the figures he gave out in his article were not only wrong but were intended to bring the Federal Government of Nigeria and, indeed, the intelligence community to disrepute by causing both disaffection in the estimation of members of the public.

Intelligence community

“The published figure for the intelligence community as published by Mallam el-Rufai was N208billion. He was asked why he did it”.

Mallam el-Rufai, in his response was said to have told security agents that he had been out of the country and was yet to get the complete volume of the budget.

Vanguard further understood that Rufai was informed that he could have got the complete volumes of the budget from the National Assembly, Supreme Court, Federal Ministry of Finance; and The Presidency.

He was then given a breakdown of the  figures as appropriated by the National Assembly on May 25, 2011, and signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan on May 26 – Vanguard published the breakdown yesterday.

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