Trapped Manatee Caught And Butchered In Bayelsa As Residents Rejoice. (Photos)

A Manatee was caught and butchered in Bayelsa state by a crowd of residents. According to Francis Oyonvie, the sea cow was found trapped in a vast woven fishing net owned by one Wilfred Okoko, along the Famgbe river, Yenagoa LGA, Bayelsa state.

The aquatic animal was killed and reportedly shared as food for all.

How coup rumours made Buratai redeploy top Army officers

Burati

Following Tuesday’s ​statement by Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General TY Buratai, that some individuals have been approaching top Army officers and soldiers for​ ​political reasons, DAILY POST has gathered that the recent redeployment ​in the Nigerian Army was not unconnected with the alarm.

Buratai, our correspondent learnt, had vowed to ​crush any coup ​plot ​against President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Recall that Buhari, again on May 7, traveled to London for medical treatment.

​Just hours after he left Nigeria, Buratai, ​it was learnt, requested to see the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo ​urgently.

​At the ​meeting in the presidential villa, Abuja, Buratai was said to have presented Osinbajo with intelligence that some prominent politicians were hobnobbing with Army officers and soldiers in a bid to compromise them.

Osinbajo, it was gathered, thanked Buratai and said he trusted the Army Chief to put his officers and soldiers in check.

Buratai responded by pledging his loyalty to the Buhari administration and hinted that he would carry out “immediate changes”, to counter any plan to topple government.

Meanwhile, there are concerns over the safety of Acting President Osinbajo and it is believed that ​he would have reached out to his principal over ​the alarming security reports.

​Femi Adesina, ​Special A​dviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, ​did not take calls put to his mobile phone Tuesday night.

​​However, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, ​said he was not aware of Buratai’s statement.

“A statement by the Army Chief? I’m just hearing this. Unfortunately, I’m not in the country at the moment so I cannot comment”.

​Shehu did not disclose his current location.

Recall that on May 10, three days after Buhari jetted out, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, Director Army Public Relations, in a statement said “In a bid to re-strategize, the Nigerian Army has posted in 147 officers into Operation LAFIYA DOLE, some Divisions, formations and training schools”.

In a posting released by the Office of the Military Secretary (Army), Major General RO Yusuf, Commander, Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, is now the Commander Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Minna, while Major General A Oyebade, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army, move​s​ to Army Headquarters as Chief of Logistics (COLOG)​.

Major General AM Dikko ​was posted from the Office of the National Security Adviser to 1 Division as GOC, while Major General I Attahiru is now the Theatre Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

Major General LEO Irabor move​s​ to Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), as the Field Commander.

Major General PJ Dauke has been posted ​from​ 3 Division to 81 Division as GOC and Brigadier General BI Ahanotu will be Acting GOC 3 Division.

​E​rstwhile Registrar of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Brigadier General IM Yusuf ​is now the Acting GOC 7 Division and Brigadier General SO Olabanji, the Commandant of Amphibious Training School Calabar, is now the Acting GOC 8 Task Force Division.

The GOC 81 Division, Major General EB Oyefolu, is now the Commander, Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora, while Brigadier General MG Ali, ​was moved to Nigerian Army Special Forces School Buni Yadi, as Commandant from NATRAC.

Brigadier General IM Obot is Brigade Commander 26 Task Force Brigade, while Brigadier General AO Quadri ​was moved from the Office of the Chief of Army Staff to 25 Task Force Brigade as Commander.

Also those affected ​were​ some Commanders and Staff Officers at the Defence, Army Headquarters and Brigades.

​In reaction, former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode,​ alleged that ​the latest Nigerian Army shake-up is political and was aimed at undermining Osinbajo.

​He said:​ “It is not by accident that every single security agency in Nigeria today is headed by a northern Muslim except for the Navy.

“And now for the first time since 1999, a northern Muslim has been appointed GOC of the all powerful and critical 1st Division which covers the north west.

“Another has just been appointed to head the Lagos Garrison and Ikeja cantonment.

“Finally, all of Osinbajo’s security team have been changed except for his ADC. Most of the Yorubas have been withdrawn and he is now being guarded by only northerners.

“He would have lost his ADC too but he objected strongly to that one and they left him. The man needs our support and prayers.

“Every Yoruba man and southerner, regardless of party affiliation, owes him and the south that much.

“There is one more thing that I know which will shock Nigerians but I will not say it now.

“It is unbelievable and shocking and when you hear it you will all appreciate the sheer humiliation that Osinbajo has been put through since PMB’s return from UK and before he went back”

Ortom speaks on private meeting with Osinbajo

Samuel Ortom

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, says his visit to the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday, was on the security situation in the state.

Ortom said he informed Osinbajo of the areas that urgently required federal assistance.

He described the meeting as fruitful and that Benue people will see the effects within a short period.

Ortom also disclosed that his government would soon sign the anti-open grazing bill into law to curb the clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

“We will soon sign the anti-open grazing bill into law and we look forward that we will receive the same cooperation from farmers and herdsmen so that we can live together as brothers and sisters

“We can do it; it is achievable, living without strife, fighting and killings; we can live. Human life is very precious to some of us and we will do everything to protect lives and property of the state.

“The herdsmen and the farmers are now cooperating and the understanding is that no one should encroach into anyone’s farm, whether cattle-breathing or farming activities.

“Those ones that cannot live within the community except they do open grazing are already exiting to other places where there is land.

“In Benue State, almost all the land is for cultivation; so it is difficult to talk about grazing and the herdsmen too are quite understanding in this regard”, Ortom said.

Boko Haram: Why we reversed decision to return IDPs to Bama – Governor Shettima

Kashim Shettima

Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima on Tuesday said the decision to reverse government’s plan not to shut down all camps and return Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, to Bama communities before May 29th, 2017, was as result of the ongoing ‘Mop-Up operations by military troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.

Bama, the second largest town after Maiduguri, the state capital, was named second Boko Haram Caliphate, after Gwoza, that fell under the control of terrorists in 2015, before it was liberated by troops last year.

The governor who had earlier wished IDPs from Bama returned home before the Ramadan fast this year, insisted that his administration would not allow the lives of any IDP(s) who had suffered in the hands of insurgents to be jeopardized.

He stated this during the official commissioning of the newly reconstructed and rehabilitated 12 public structures in Bama Local Government Area by the Nigeria Foundation for the Support of Victims of Terrorism (Victims Support Fund, VSF) in partnership with Borno State Government, BOSG.

The N370 million projects were executed by VSF in collaboration with BOSG.

Shettima while extending his profound gratitude to VSF, security forces, Shehu of Bama, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Kyari Ibrahim Umar Elkanemi and his people for their resilience, promised that his government would continue to give more priority to Bama in the ongoing reconstruction process, considering the rate of destruction perpetrated by insurgents.

He said: “I want to extend our profound gratitude to VSF, security forces, Shehu of Bama, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Kyari Ibrahim Umar Elkanemi and his people for their resilience in the fight against boko Haram sect who have inflicted serious injuries and damages to our communities.

“As government, we had earlier planned to close down all IDP camps before 29th May, 2017, so that our people can go back to their ancestral homes, because, there is no better place than home. But due to the ongoing military mop up operations in Sambisa forest and surrounding communities, we dont want our traumatized IDPs to return home for now, as their lives will be jeopardized.

“I want to however stress that although the reconstruction work is not only taking place in Bama alone, with speedy records and the rate at which the reconstruction and rehabilitation of both public and private structures witnessed under the present administration, we hope to come back to Bama in the next one month, before we allow our people to fully return,” Shettima stated.

Delivering his keynote address at the occasion, the Chairman of VSF, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, represented by his Vice Chairman, Tijjani Tumsah congratulated the BOSG, and its people, particularly victims of the insurgency, and promised that VSF will continue continue the partnership to ensure that millions of IDPs who had spent several years out of their ancestral homes went back.

Timta recalled that VSF from 2015 to date, had so far assisted 19,000 children who were victims of insurgency in the state, in addition to the rehabilitation of about 40 public buildings in Dikwa Emirate council.

He also revealed that apart from these interventions, VSF had started and will soon complete the reconstruction of four primary and post- primary schools in each of the local government areas of Gwoza, Hawul, Askira- Uba and Damboa to facilitate the return of its displaced persons.

Senate releases full list of agencies yet to submit 2017 budget

Nigerian Senate has made public, list of government agencies yet to submit their 2017 budget proposal to the National Assembly in line with extant law.

Recall that the Senate on Tuesday lamented that the situation negated President Muhammadu Buhari’s stance against corruption.

Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, who drew the attention of his colleagues to the abnormality during plenary, insisted that it was wrong for agencies to spend money that has not been appropriated by the legislature.

Na’Allah told his colleagues that he intends to bring the issue to the floor as a motion so that Senators will understand the implications and the need to assist the government to fight corruption.

“I deliberately decided that I will bring it on the floor, so that Senators will understand the implications,” Na’Allah said.

“In our commitment to assist this government to fight corruption, we must stand on our feet that every spirit of our law must be obeyed by those holding public offices.

“I think that if you permit me I will like to come tomorrow by way of motion, so it can be debated on the Floor of the Senate.

“The only approach this Senate can take to assist this government in fighting corruption, is to insist that gross abuse of power and misuse of power must be stopped by every government agency.

“The only way we can build our institutions is to radically address the issue of abuse of power and misuse of power. I think that if you give me permission, I will like to bring it tomorrow as a motion.”

The full list of agencies yet to submit their budget, as released by the Senate, below:

Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASEI), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), National Maritime Authority (NMA), Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Nigerian Postal Service (NPS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA),

Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), National Communications Commission (NCC), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

Others are National Insurance Commission (NIC), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nigerian Copyrights Commission (NCC), Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Radio Nigeria, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB), Federal Mortgage Bank, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), as well as Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGZFA)

Dasuki: Anxiety as FG fails to produce ex-NSA for fourth consecutive time

Dansuki

The trial of former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (Rtd) on alleged corruption was aborted on Tuesday due to the refusal of the Federal Government to produce him in court for trial, raising fears that the Sokoto prince may have fallen ill in detention.

The trial slated before the FCT High Court Abuja could not go on after the judge and senior lawyers had waited for over three hours without Dasuki being brought to court as agreed at the last adjourned date.

It was the fourth time the federal government failed to produce Dasuki in court and trial forced to be adjourned.

Sambo Dasuki, who had been granted bail by four different judges in the last two years, has remained in the custody of Department of State Services (DSS) without detention warrant and in disobedient to the court orders.

Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacob (SAN) told Justice Baba Yusuf that he was surprised that the former NSA was not within the court premises for the continuation of his trial but however declined to give reasons why the defendant was not produced.

He applied that the case be stood down for another one hour to enable him make contact with the agency responsible for Dasuki’s detention.

However, counsel to Dasuki, Mr Joseph Daudu SAN informed Justice Baba Yusuf that the statement of Jacob was not helpful to the court and demanded to know the whereabouts of his client.

Daudu informed the court that he was apprehensive on the whereabouts of his client who has been in the custody of the DSS since 2015, adding that the only person who can authoritatively inform the court on whereabouts of the Ex-NSA is the prosecution counsel.

In his own comment, Akin Olujinmi, SAN, a former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, informed the Court that there was no need for Dasuki’s trial to be stood down for another hour since the prosecution could not state categorically whether the defendant would be brought to court or not.

Olujimi said that the trial which ought to have commenced by 9am was delayed to 11 am, adding that it would be unfair for the lawyers and the court to be kept waiting endlessly, more so when there was no certainty in sight.

Other lawyers in the matter agreed that the case be put off till another date.

Attempt by Jacobs to convince the court to stand down the case for one hour to enable him reach out to the DSS was not appreciated by the judge.

Justice Baba Yusuf in his brief comment said that Jacob as the leader of the prosecuting team ought to have known ahead on whether the defendant would be produced in court or not by the DSS.

The Judge said that it would be decent when categorical information was obtained on whether the defendant would be available for trial or not so that the precious time of the court would not be wasted in waiting endlessly.

The Judge, however, gave the Federal Government till Wednesday May, 16, 2017 to produce Dasuki in court for the continuation of the trial and that the prosecution should do the needful to assist the court with the presence of the defendants in court.

Since 2015, when he was arraigned before different high courts, Dasuki has been granted bail by Justice Adeniyi Ademola and Justice Ahmed Rahmat Mohhamed of the Federal High Court in the charges of unlawful possession of firearms brought against him but the bails were not obeyed by the government.

At the two FCT High Courts where Ex-NSA was arraigned for money laundering, he was granted bail by Justice Peter Affen and Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf; the bail orders were not also obeyed by government when Dasuki perfected the conditions.

The ECOWAS Court had also in a judgement ordered the Federal Government last year to immediately release Dasuki from the unlawful custody and imposed a fine of N15,000,000 on the government but up till now, the judgement had not been obeyed.

Apart from Dasuki, Salisu Shuaib, Aminu Baba-Kusa and two others who were enjoying their own bails were in court, but left when the information came that the first defendant would not be brought before the court.