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13 per cent Derivation arrears: pay money on High Court judgement to Bayelsa now, IYC tells FG
Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has called on the Federal Government to immediately pay the $951m awarded to Bayelsa State by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
The council explained that the court, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo on Monday, ordered the Federal Government to pay $951million being arrears due on 13 per cent derivation to Bayelsa State.
The IYC President, Peter Timothy Igbifa, in a statement in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday hailed the judgement and asked the Federal Government to activate the process of remitting the money to Bayelsa.
Igbifa further asked the federal government not to appeal the judgement describing the facts contained in the case filed by Bayelsa as evidence of an entrenched injustice in the distribution of revenue between the centre and the Niger Delta states.
Igbifa said Bayelsa and the entire Niger Delta had remained a poster boy of all the degradation, environmental pollution and health hazards associated with oil exploration and exploitation.
He said despite the outcries that13 per cent was barely enough to cater for the developmental challenges caused by the activities of oil companies in the region, the calculations and payments of the existing percentage derivation had been deliberately and erroneously skewed to favour the centre.
Igbifa said the existing injustice and inequity, which had notoriously defined the Nigerian state, remained the principal reason for ongoing agitations for restructuring and resource control.
He said: “The council after studying the judgement and the facts of the case filed by Bayelsa State is calling on the Federal Government to immediately activate the process of transferring the funds to the coffers of Bayelsa.
“The council believes that the Federal Government should not think of appealing this judgement. It is a step in redeeming and addressing the injustice and the imbalance in revenue sharing between the Niger Delta region, which is the mainstay of the country’s economy, and the Federal Government.
“This is the reason why we will not stop agitating for guaranteed resource control as Niger Delta states will not continue to labour in vain”.
June 22, 2021
13 Vehicles Burnt in Tanker Explosion Along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
Vehicles numbering 13 have been destroyed in a fuel tanker explosion around a trailer park at Ogere, Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The burnt vehicles include six tankers, five trucks, and two cars.
According to eyewitnesses, the explosion occurred at about 6:20am on Tuesday impeding traffic outward Lagos State
Fire Fighters and road safety officials are at the scene battling the fire.
Officials told Channels Television that the casualty figure cannot be ascertained for now.
The officials say as they tried to remove the burnt vehicles and open up a detour for other vehicles, the fire ignited again prompting firefighters to resume extinguishing the fire.
Details later…
June 22, 2021
Igangan: Court orders release of detained OPC members
The Chief Magistrate Court 2, Iyaganku, Ibadan, in the Oyo State capital, has ordered the release of three members of the Oodua Peoples Congress, three months after their detention by the Oyo State Police Command.
The OPC members – Awodele Adedigba, Dauda Kazeem and Hassan Ramon – had been detained mid-March 2021 after they arrested a suspected criminal reportedly from the Fulani ethnic stock, Iskilu Wakili.
Wakili had been accused of terrorising Igangan and other villages in the Ibarapa area of Oyo State.
The OPC had handed over Wakili to the Oyo State Police Command but the police subsequently detained three OPC members for allegedly burning down Wakili’s house and killing an unknown woman in the process.
However, the OPC and one of its leaders, Gani Adams, had said the murder and arson allegations were false, adding that it immediately handed over Wakili and three of his accomplices to the police in Igboora after their arrest.
The three detainees on Tuesday appeared before the magistrates’ court, presided over by A.O. Amzat, and were discharged and acquitted after the state’s Directorate of Public Prosecutions failed to prove to the court that the OPC men were guilty as charged.
Counsel for the defendants, Akwarandu Adetoun, told The PUNCH that the magistrate struck out the case and ordered the release of the detainees.
The OPC Coordinator in Oyo State, Rotimi Olumo, also confirmed the release of his men in a chat with The PUNCH on Tuesday.
Before Wakili’s arrest, farmers and residents of Igangan, Ayete, Kajola and neighbouring villages in Ibarapaland lived in perpetual fear of Wakili who was accused of displacing them from their farms, kidnapping their rich men and raping their women.
Igangan has been in the eye of the storm of late as marauding hoodlums carry out successive attacks on the rustic agrarian village, creating palpable panic and tension in residents of the area.
Earlier in June, no fewer than 17 persons were reportedly shot dead when hoodlums invaded the town on motorcycles around 11pm and started killing and destroying property, which continued until around 3am the next day.
June 22, 2021
APC chieftain, Alhaji Bello Dankande dies at 56
Alhaji Bello Dankande, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara, has died at the age of 56.
Alhaji Lawal Liman, the state APC caretaker committee chairman disclosed this on Tuesday.
Liman said the deceased died at a private hospital in Gusau after a brief illness on Tuesday.
“On behalf of the entire APC family in the state, I extend our condolences to the APC leader in the state, Alhaji Abdul’aziz Yari and other party stakeholders over the loss.
“I also pray to Allah Subhanallahu Wata’ala to grant him Aljannatul Firdausi and give his family fortitude to bear the loss,” he said.
Dankande was the state’s former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
He was the APC candidate for Dec. 2020 Bakura State House of Assembly By-election and a former Chairman, Bakura local government council.
He was survived by three wives, 20 children and many grandchildren.
June 22, 2021
Senate Confirms Farouk Yahaya As Chief Of Army Staff
The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Major General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff.
The red chamber took the decision following the consideration of the report of its joint committee on Defence and Army led by Senators Aliyu Wamakko and Ali Ndume.
The President of the Senate had on June 2, referred the request of President Muhammadu Buhari for Yahaya’s confirmation to the committees.
Details later…
June 22, 2021
BREAKING: High Court Sentences Farouk Lawan To 7Years In Prison
A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has sentenced the former Chairman of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on Petroleum Subsidy, Farouk Lawan to seven years in prison.
Lawan during trial on Tuesday was found guilty of count one, two, and three bothering on corruptly asking for and obtaining same from Femi Otedola, in order to exonerate Zelon Petroleum and Gas Limited from the list of companies in the fuel subsidy scam.
For count one and two the court sentenced him to seven years while for count three he was sentenced to five years.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
The court also ordered that the defendant return the sum of $500,000 to the Federal Government.
Details later…
June 22, 2021
Prince Popoola Lauds Buhari for citting Federal University of Health Sciences at Ila-Orangun.
By Richard Ayinde, Osogbo.
The establishment of Federal University of Health Sciences at Ila Orangun in Osun State which is a specialized University in Health, Nutrition and Medical Sciences and one of the four newly approved Universities by President Muhammad Buhari has been described as a welcome development and highly commendable for the upliftment of Medical Sciences in the Country.
This is contained in a statement issued by the former Coordinating Director, Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation, Prince Adebisi Popoola on Tuesday.
Popoola, felicitate with Asiwaju of Ila Orangun, Chief Bisi Akande for his efforts for securing the approval of President Muhammad Buhari for the location of the University of Health Sciences at Ila Orangun while opined that the name of Chief Bisi Akande, the Asiwaju of Ila Orangun will forever be remembered for his valuable contributions for the development of the entire Community.
Prince Adebisi Popoola equally thanked the Governor of the state, Adegboyega Oyetola for the support in securing the approval of Mr. President for the establishment of two Federal Institutions in the State by his administration.
While congratulating the Orangun of Ila ,HRM OBA WAHAB OYEDOTUN BIBIRE I, on the establishment of the University of Health Sciences at Ila Orangun, adding that the reign of the Kabiyesi will continue to witness more development, peace and progress.
He equally rejoice with all the indigenes of Ila Orangun at home and in the diaspora, all Political appointees and members House of Assembly.
“I recognize the contribution of Hon. OBAWALE ADEBISI, COMMISSIONER FOR TOURISM AND CULTURE and Hon. Lateef JAYEOLA, MEMBER OSUN STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.
“The establishment of Federal University of Health Sciences will no doubt open greater opportunity for overall development of Ila Orangun and will definitely place Ila Community on global perspective.
“The People of Ila Orangun will forever be grateful to Asiwaju of Ila, Chief Bisi Akande and President Muhammad Buhari for sitting the University at Ila Orangun at this time.
” I want to strongly appeal to the sons and daughters of the community at home and the diaspora to continue to support Asiwaju of Ila Orangun, Chief Bisi Akande and President Muhammad Buhari for their efforts on the development of Ila Community” the statement concluded.
June 22, 2021
Senate President presides over Tuesday’s plenary under leaking roof
The Senate lobby of the National Assembly Complex on Tuesday was filled with water with the cleaners battling to clean and control water from flowing into the Senate Chambers.
The water was leaking directly from the roof, but visitors and Senators coming into the Senate chambers at about 11.00 am became bewildered where such amount of water could be coming from.
Some Senators also stood to see the leaking water that the cleaners were trying to control even as journalists and photographers were busy taking pictures.
However, the National Assembly complex is the property of the Federal Capital Territory Administration and its maintenance too.
Recall that the sum of N37 billion was budgeted for the maintenance of the complex in the 2020 budget which elicited wild reactions from the public including the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
The controversy that trailed the budget which was considered too humongous led to its reduction but it wasn’t approved by the Federal Executive Council, DAILY POST has learnt.
Amid the leaking roof of the lobby, Senate President, Dr. Ibrahim Ahmad Lawan entered the chambers at exactly 11.00am to preside over the plenary.
June 22, 2021
Dambatta/Makoda Residents Harp With The Existence Of Tamallan Foundation
By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.
The residents of Dambatta and Makoda local government areas described the establishment of Tamallan foundation as a new down to the people of the area where by so many philanthropist programmes were made by the foundation in every sector.
This was disclosed by some of the beneficiaries of the foundation’s health care delivery services in a chats with our correspondent at Gwauron Maje Town, where they disclosed that hundreds of people of all genders benefited from the gesture free of charge which shows that the foundation’s determination to healthcare services at doorsteps would reach every nook and cranny of the Dambatta/Makoda federal constituency.
Malam Abba Garba said that” many people here at Gwauron Maje benefited with medicines provided by Tamallan foundation, we are therefore certain that the initiative being a humanitarian project would be remembered forever because it is all about health care, i wish to use this opportunity to thank the founder of the foundation, Dr. Saleh Musa Wailare for his zeal to assist his people despite that he is not holding any elective position.
Similarly, Alhaji Nasiru from Maitsidau Town announced that Tamallan foundation has gone far in assisting the less previledged in free health care services, educational supports, agricultural services and many other programmes that makes livelihood more passionate which is an indication that the foundation is a God sent like what is being witnessed.
Tamallan foundation which was single handedly founded by a patriotic citizen and the son of the soil, Dr. Saleh Musa Wailare is working day and night towards assisting people and in different ways, remained one of the best non-profit organisation established to gives free services to the needy.
June 22, 2021
No school is safe until FG negotiates with bandits – Gumi
Popular Islamic cleric, Sheik Abubakar Gumi, has said there are about 100,000 armed bandits in the North-West alone.
Gumi said the bandits kidnapping school pupils were disappointed that he negotiated with them without the involvement of the Federal Government.
The cleric insisted that until the government engaged with the herdsmen, no school could be safe.
He stated these during an interview with The PUNCH on efforts to rescue the kidnapped pupils of Tegina Islamic School, Niger State.
The bandits had demanded N200m from the victims’ parents, which was later reduced to N150m. Gumi said despite efforts to get the pupils out, the bandits were adamant in their financial demand.
He said, “But we are trying to talk sense to them that these are just innocent schoolchildren. We don’t even have any idea of the condition of the children. We are just saying these are young children trying to study and they did nothing, so why are you trying to take dirty money from their families?
“This (kidnap of Islamic pupils) actually proves to the nation that the bandits are not really indoctrinated, they are just looking for money and I think that this is a good prognosis. They are not targeting a religion; they are not ideologues, which are difficult to deal with. We should not forget that they are not educated, formally or informally. They are just going about with cattle, and suddenly they found a lucrative way of finding money.
“But with good engagement, education and enticements like jobs and other things, they will leave this work. But we need a partner and we need the government to understand. Individuals like me alone cannot do it.
“All those we met (have stopped kidnapping), except for one of them who is kidnapping again, and he told us his reason, that he was neglected and he thought we had the mandate to negotiate. But when he realised that we did not have the mandate from anybody, he said he was going back to his business.
“So, the earlier we go into engaging them, the better. The ones who have agreed to lay down arms, you can engineer them to take care of the rest.”
Gumi said the Niger State Government had been making efforts to get the children released, adding that the state had limited resources.
He insisted that the government could not protect schools without first finding means to end banditry in the country.
“To secure schools, why not engage the bandits. Engage them; they are not many. You can count them with your fingers. How can you guard schools? It is not possible. In the whole North-West, they may not be more than 100,000 bandits. And that is just a drop in the ocean. That is talking about those with weapons; because not all of them have weapons. Ninety per cent of those who have weapons use them to protect themselves against cattle rustlers. They are victims too. Aerial bombardments will only worsen the situation because when you start killing their children, you remember they also have our children,” he added.
June 22, 2021