DSS Arrests Zamfara Speaker, Lawmakers, Over Plot To Impeach Governor

The speaker of Zamfara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi Garba Rikiji, his deputy, Muhammad Abubakar Gumi, the majority leader, Isah Abdulmumini and the chief whip, Abdullahi Dansadau have been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) and detained in Abuja over their alleged plan to impeach Governor Abdulaziz Yari.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that the remaining 20 members of the Assembly have fled to Kaduna, where they issued a statement, last night, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in what they described as abuse of office by Governor Yari.

Though the legislators were short of saying they would impeach the governor, they accused him of misappropriating financial allocation to the state, and failing to implement the budget in the last five years.
The statement, which was signed by the House Committee Chairman on Information, Mannir Aliyu Gidan Jaja, also accused the governor of “corrupt usage of local government funds for state purposes.”
Other charges against the governors by the legislators include “Inadequate explanation of N1 billion commercial agriculture (CBN) loan, non-remittance of pension funds to pension administrators, non-remittance of 5 percent emirate councils funds, the gross misappropriation of bailout funds to the state by the federal government to settle workers’ salaries, including N10b for 2014 and N1.46b in 2016.”
The assembly members also accused Governor Yari of crippling governance in the state through his constant travelling abroad and his refusal to address the issues raised by them.
“Rather he resorted to political intimidation, arrest and detention of principal officers of the House and other supporting staff.”
The statement, therefore, called on President Buhari to give directive for unconditional release of the affected officers.
Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Police Commissioner, Mr Istifanus Shattima, has said that he has deployed additional operatives to stop miscreants from disrupting normal activities at the House of Assembly.
Shattima told Daily Trust that deployment of troops to the Assembly was in response to the action of a mob which attacked the private residence of the speaker.
The attack at the speaker’s residence followed a rumour circulating in the state and the social media, to the effect that members of the House of Assembly were planning to impeach governor Yari.
When contacted to comment on the development, the state commissioner of information, Umar Jibo Bukuyum, did not pick his call or respond to a text message.
Source: Daily Trust

Lagos@50 Celebration will Boost Tourism – Gov Ambode

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has assured people of the State that his administration is putting in place strategies to develop the tourism and hospitality potentials available in the five administrative divisions of the State.

Mr. Ambode stated this recently at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja,during the second festival colloquium organized by the Ikeja Division planning committee for the “Lagos @50” celebrations, canvassing for the development of the hidden culture and heritage of Lagos State.
The Governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Housing, Mrs Aramide Giwanson, said the forthcoming celebration is certainly not about glamour or razzmatazz, but to elevate and promote the rich potential of Lagos cultural heritage.
According to him, Lagos @ 50 is a veritable takeoff point to achieve the goal of enhancing the investment and job creation opportunities available in the tourism and hospitality sector in Lagos State, adding that, “we have a very rich culture repertoire of traditional and cultural activities which will be in full display during the period. I am sure the youth, who are at the center of our development agenda, will be opportune to experience and key-in to the rich background of Lagos and the reason for the appellation of `Eko for show`.”
In her remarks, Special Adviser to the Governor on Arts and Culture, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, urged parents to communicate with their wards in their indigenous languages because culture cannot be separated from language and that any nation that loses her culture loses her identity.
Also speaking at the colloquium, themed “Hidden Cultures and Multiple Identities in Lagos”, Dr. Wale Adeniran pointed out there are lots of hidden heritages and cultures across Lagos metropolis, especially in Badagry axis of the State, stressing the need for the State and Federal governments to develop a world class tourist attraction in Badagry and make Lagos a preferred tourist destination while further deepening the state internal revenue generation base.
The celebration of “Lagos @ 50” is to further showcase the progress and development of the State since its creation and project the potentials for its development. The colloquium was attended by dignitaries from all parts of the State, while various traditional and cultural activities were displayed to the admiration of the guests.

Assassination Of Plateau Monarch “Very Unfortunate”- Ex-Gov. Dariye

A former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, has described the Saf Ron-Kulere and paramount ruler of Bokkos, Lazarus Agai, who was killed on Monday, as a “rallying point”.
The 76-year-old first class monarch was killed by suspected assassins who attacked his vehicle while on his way to Bokkos, after visiting his farm in Sha district of the area.

Also killed along with Mr. Agai were his police orderly, Sunday Wuyah, an inspector of police, the monarch’s wife, as well as his son, Shagari.
“The killing of the Saf Ron-Kulere is particularly painful because he was a rallying point for us in Bokkos; I find the development very unbelievable”, Mr. Dariye told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Jos.

RELATED: Gunmen Kill Traditional Ruler, Police Orderly In Plateau

Dariye, who is the senator representing Plateau Central Senatorial District and a kinsman of the slain monarch, said the attack was “very unfortunate”.
He stated further, “It is a trying moment for us in Bokkos; it was not long ago that two of our traditional rulers in Forop and Manguna were killed in similar circumstances.
“The incident has thrown the entire Bokkos Local Government Area into mourning because this is one of our darkest periods in history.
“Our prayer is that God should expose the killers and bring an end to this circle of killings”.
Mr. Dariye wondered why people should take up arms against innocent people, especially someone as peaceful as the late monarch.
He called for dialogue to resolve whatever human disagreement existing between and among people.
“Chief Agai was a very principled man; his word was his bond. It is a very painful death and we shall surely miss him”, he said.
The senator also cautioned Bokkos youths against taking the law into their hands, saying that they should rather help the security agencies to unravel those behind the serial murders.
Mr. Dariye prayed for the repose of the departed souls, and also begged God to console the survivors. (NAN)

EFCC Quizzes INEC’s Abia REC Over N20m Payment

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner for Abia State, Sylvester Ezeani, was a guest of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday.
The REC was interrogated by operatives of the commission in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in connection to an alleged N20 million bribe-for-election-results scandal.

Mr. Ezeani was the REC for Cross River State during the March 28, 2015 Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
While serving there, he allegedly received N20 million out of the entire N241,000,000 released to the state from the controversial $115million lodged with Fidelity Bank Plc, by the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison- Madueke.
The former minister used the slush funds to bribe electoral officials and politicians towards obtaining a favourable result for her party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Mr. Ezeani, who has since been redeployed to Abia State, is currently in the EFCC custody.
Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives representing Oron Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State, Nse Bassey Ekpenyong, was arrested for his alleged involvement in certificate forgery.
He was picked on the strength of a petition written by a non-governmental organization to the EFCC, alleging that he committed perjury and financial crimes by submitting a forged Ordinary National Diploma/Statement of Result of the Abia State Polytechnic to INEC, in the build up to the 2015 National Assembly election.
The petitioner also alleged that Mr. Ekpenyong fraudulently obtained salaries, allowances and other financial benefits from his contrived certificate.
The EFCC said its preliminary investigations showed that indeed, not only did Mr. Ekpenyong not attend the Polytechnic as alleged by the petitioner, the OND he used was also not awarded by the institution.
The anti-graft agency said though the lawmaker had been released on bail, investigations were still on-going on the case.

Turkey Issues Travel Ban On Academics After Failed Coup

Turkey issued а blanket travel ban оn аll academics іn thе country јuѕt а day аftеr suspending mоrе thаn 15,000 education workers аnd calling fоr thе resignation оf аll university deans, reported thе state broadcaster TRT оn Wednesday.

Thе move іѕ thе latest іn а massive crackdown аgаіnѕt professionals іn Turkey fоllоwіng а failed coup attempt bу renegade military units thаt hаѕ ѕееn tens оf thousands оf judges, civil servants, military аnd police fired оr detained. Thе government іѕ presenting thе measures аѕ аn effort tо root оut а wide-ranging conspiracy led bу а U.S.-based Turkish cleric аnd аѕ а wау оf curbing thе influence оf thе once-powerful military. Critics, however, feel thаt thе government оf President Recep Tayyip Erdogan іѕ uѕіng thе coup аѕ аn excuse tо eliminate thе lаѕt vestiges оf opposition tо іtѕ rule.
A senior Turkish official dеѕсrіbеd thе travel ban оn academics аѕ јuѕt а “temporary measure.” “As уоu surely know, universities hаvе аlwауѕ bееn crucial fоr military juntas іn Turkey, аnd сеrtаіn individuals аrе believed tо bе іn contact wіth cells wіthіn military,” hе said.

Airline Pilots Arrested on Suspicion of Being Too Drunk to Fly

Twо Air Transat pilots wеrе scheduled tо navigate Monday’s 1 PM flight frоm Glasgow tо Toronto, carrying 250 people. Bеfоrе takeoff, staff raised concerns thаt thеу weren’t fit tо fly thе 7-hour journey. Police thеn arrested thе men, aged 37 аnd 39, оn suspicion оf bеіng impaired thrоugh alcohol – аnd they’re nоw due tо арреаr аt Paisley Sheriff Court today.

Thе Canadian airline lаtеr confirmed thе arrest оf іtѕ employees, adding thаt thе flight hаd bееn rescheduled аnd thе disgruntled passengers put uр іn hotels.
A spokesman said: “Air Transat hаѕ learned оf thе arrest оn July 18 оf twо crew members assigned tо іtѕ Glasgow-Toronto flight. “We wіll await thе results оf thе investigation аnd judicial proceedings bеfоrе commenting оn thе matter bеfоrе making аnу furthеr comments. Thе safety оf оur crews аnd passengers is, аnd wіll remain, а top priority аt Air Transat.” And thе airline dіd ѕау ѕоrrу tо іtѕ passengers fоr thе inconvenience caused bу thе whоlе situation. Aссоrdіng tо thе BBC, аnуоnе affected bу thе delay саn claim $200 оff thеіr nеxt Air Transat journey.

Gov Wike Petitions IG Over New Police Postings

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has condemned the plot to reverse the gains made by the state in the promotion of security of lives and property through the reposting of compromised police officers back to the state.

The governor stated that he has officially written to the new Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on the several postings of officers used by politicians to compromise Rivers State security back to the state to carry out illegal duties.
Addressing medical practitioners at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Monday, Wike stated that should the IGP fail to act, he will be compelled to make a state broadcast naming the said officers and the ignominious roles they played in compromising the security of the state.
He particularly pointed out that a senior police officer indicted for aiding kidnappers and cultists in the state has been posted back in the current attempt to manipulate the security architecture of the state.
The governor said the officer in question was posted out of Rivers State in March, 2016 after the ugly roles he played during the last rerun elections.
According to him, “they are posting back security agents who have access to kidnappers. They are sending back security agents who will compromise the security of Rivers State”.
He regretted that there is plot to politicise the security of lives and property in the state so as to make political gains at the expense of the peace-loving people of the state.
The governor said: “they want to deny our people the peace we enjoy today by compromising our security network.”
He noted that security agencies must learn a lesson from what happened in Turkey where the people trooped out to defend their mandate.
Wike stated that Rivers people will always make the necessary sacrifices to ward of compromised security agents posted to the state to compromise the security network and steal their mandate.
He said that those sent to the state by the political interest groups to rig the forthcoming elections will receive the treatment reserved for armed robbers.

Donald Trump Officially Nominated As Republicans’ 2016 Presidential Candidate

Donald J. Trump, thе Nеw York real estate developer аnd businessman whоѕе larger-than-life persona hаѕ mаdе hіm а household nаmе fоr 30-plus years, аnd whо lаѕt June officially turned tо politics wіth whаt mаnу considered а long shot bid fоr thе White House, wаѕ officially nominated fоr president bу delegates Tuesday аt thе Republican National Convention.

Thе decisive votes саmе frоm thе candidate’s eldest son, Donald Trump, Jr., whо cast 89 оf hіѕ home state оf Nеw York’s 95 delegates fоr hіѕ father іnѕіdе Quicken Loans Arena іn Cleveland оn Tuesday.
“It іѕ mу honor tо throw Donald Trump оvеr thе top. Congratulations, Dad, wе love you,” thе younger Trump said, whіlе flanked bу hіѕ thrее adult siblings, Ivanka, Eric аnd Tiffany. Afterward, thе Trump children, whо wеrе аll scheduled tо address thе convention оvеr thе nеxt thrее days, expressed pride іn thеіr father аnd confidence hе wіll prevail іn November’s general election.

Lagos@50 Celebration will Boost Tourism – Gov Ambode

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has assured people of the State that his administration is putting in place strategies to develop the tourism and hospitality potentials available in the five administrative divisions of the State.

Mr. Ambode stated this recently at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja,during the second festival colloquium organized by the Ikeja Division planning committee for the “Lagos @50” celebrations, canvassing for the development of the hidden culture and heritage of Lagos State.
The Governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Housing, Mrs Aramide Giwanson, said the forthcoming celebration is certainly not about glamour or razzmatazz, but to elevate and promote the rich potential of Lagos cultural heritage.
According to him, Lagos @ 50 is a veritable takeoff point to achieve the goal of enhancing the investment and job creation opportunities available in the tourism and hospitality sector in Lagos State, adding that, “we have a very rich culture repertoire of traditional and cultural activities which will be in full display during the period. I am sure the youth, who are at the center of our development agenda, will be opportune to experience and key-in to the rich background of Lagos and the reason for the appellation of `Eko for show`.”
In her remarks, Special Adviser to the Governor on Arts and Culture, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, urged parents to communicate with their wards in their indigenous languages because culture cannot be separated from language and that any nation that loses her culture loses her identity.
Also speaking at the colloquium, themed “Hidden Cultures and Multiple Identities in Lagos”, Dr. Wale Adeniran pointed out there are lots of hidden heritages and cultures across Lagos metropolis, especially in Badagry axis of the State, stressing the need for the State and Federal governments to develop a world class tourist attraction in Badagry and make Lagos a preferred tourist destination while further deepening the state internal revenue generation base.
The celebration of “Lagos @ 50” is to further showcase the progress and development of the State since its creation and project the potentials for its development. The colloquium was attended by dignitaries from all parts of the State, while various traditional and cultural activities were displayed to the admiration of the guests.

Navy Arrests Avengers’ Major Logistics Supplier

The Nigerian Navy (NN) has said it had arrested a suspected member of the Niger Delta Avengers.
This is contained in a statement signed by its Director of Information, Commodore Christian Ezekobe, and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

According to Ezekobe, the suspect who was picked up on July 11 at about 11 a.m. is believed to be a major logistics supplier to the group which had claimed responsibility for attacks on NNPC and Chevron pipelines in the region.
“The arrest was made following a confessional statement obtained from an earlier arrested suspect who gave details of the involvement of other collaborators in the attacks.
“Preliminary investigations also revealed that the suspect recently supplied 10 batteries, five large coils of wire and other materials purportedly used for the attacks”, the director said.
Commodore Ezekobe assured that the Navy would continue to partner with sister security agencies and members of the public to eliminate all forms of economic sabotage such as vandalisation of pipelines and piracy.
(NAN)

We’re Studying Metuh, Amosu, Umar’s Plea Bargain Requests – EFCC

Three high profile accused persons on trial for alleged corruption, are eager to refund their “loot”, in order to stave off likely conviction.
The accused are willing to refund cash and give up property acquired with their illegal wealth, it was learnt yesterday.

Those that fall under this category are the erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Olisa Metuh, ex-Chiefs of Air Staff Air Marshals Adeshola Amosu and Mohammed Dikko Umar.
The trio are being separately prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

RELATED: See 3 Nigerians Begging To Return Stolen Funds to EFCC

Metuh is standing trial for allegedly receiving N400 million from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki. The cash is believed to be part of the $2.1 billion security fund that was allegedly diverted by the ex-NSA.
Umar was arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption of about N9.7billion while Amosu was docked before a Federal High Court in Lagos alongside Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Jacob Adigun and Air Commodore Gbadebo Olugbenga, on a 26-count of stealing about N50 billion.
An inside source at the EFCC familiar with the trials of the accused persons, said: “We have formally received letters of plea bargain from three accused persons – Metuh, Umar and Amosu – we are studying their terms.
“We may enter into a plea bargain with the accused persons if it will serve the public interest. The interest is getting back the stolen funds. If they can fulfill this condition (public interest), we may accept their offers”.
But he did not specify the details of the request from the accused persons “because we are still studying them”.