It’s unfair to exempt Obasanjo from probe, Ijaw Youths tell Buhari

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), on Sunday, took a swipe at President Muhammadu Buhari, for his decision to restrict the period covered by the ongoing corruption probe to 2007.

In a statement by its President, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, the IYC, said President Buhari’s decision seemed to create the impression that he is shielding his friends and associates from the investigation.
It added that the decision would only portray the President as someone who lacked courage to revisit the big corruption scandals that took place between 1999 and 2007, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo ruled the country.

Eradiri challenged the President to either extend the probe to 1960, when the country became an independent nation, or at best, 1999, when the country returned to democracy after years of military rule, to revisit some of the corruption scandals in the country.

He stressed that a genuine probe should indeed concentrate on the Obasanjo administration, which failed to procure arms and ammunition for the military in spite of huge budgetary allocations to the defence sector.

The IYC leader said the President’s probe would have made more sense if it had included the eight years of the Obasanjo administration rather than announcing the probe of the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and the immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

He noted that the Boko Haram insurgency would have been nipped in the bud if the government in power then, had equipped the military to carry out their statutory responsibility of securing the country.

He cautioned that the plan to avoid probing the Obasanjo administration would send out the wrong signal that the probe was designed to protect some of the people, who committed grave economic crimes against the country, which should be of concern to him.

Eradiri added, “We find it pertinent to react to recent media reports that our dear President, Muhammadu Buhari, has ordered a probe of weapon procurement for the military from 2007 to date.
“While we are not against any effort of the President to investigate previous administrations and indeed take steps against the scourge of corruption in the society, we hereby state without equivocation that the period covered by this probe is suspect.

“It would have made a lot of sense for somebody, who is genuinely interested in revisiting alleged cases of malfeasance, which had held our nation back, to either commence such an investigation from 1960 when the country became independent or from 1999 when Nigeria returned to democracy after years of military dictatorship.

“We hold that this is unfair and that the tenure of Chief Obasanjo is being exempted because of the role he played in Buhari emergence as President.

“In fact, if there is somebody that should be probed, it should be Chief Obasanjo, who lacked foresight and failed in the critical job to adequately arm our military, in spite of the huge funds appropriated for defence under him. If he had done so, the menace of Boko Haram would have long been dealt with in the early stages. It took the administration of Goodluck Jonathan to buy the weapons we need.”

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10 Top Boko Haram Members Nabbed In Lagos, Enugu + (Identities Revealed)

The State Security Service, SSS, has stated that it arrested over a dozen Boko Haram leaders in the past two months including nine in Lagos and one in Enugu State.

The SSS, also known as DSS, said this in a statement by its spokesperson, Tony Opuiyo, on Sunday.

Mr. Opuiyo said “the sudden influx of Boko Haram members into Lagos State points to the determination of the sect to extend its nefarious terrorist activities to the State and in fact, other parts of the country.”

The Boko Haram, whose terrorist activities has caused the death of about 20,000 people, has only carried out attacks in Northern Nigeria, particularly in the north-east.

According to the spokesperson, “the arrest of these confessed terrorist elements has however helped in no small measure to avert devastating attacks in the area.”

Read the full SSS statement below: 

In line with the Department of State Services’, DSS, re-strategised Counter Terrorism measures to combat the menace of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria, the Service has continued to make significant breakthroughs in this direction. This followed the rounding up of notable commanders and frontline members of the notorious group from different parts of the country. It should be noted that the group’s new pattern of movement and spread is necessitated by the pressure being put on them in their core areas of strength in the North East.

2. Consequently, a number of them have been arrested in Lagos, Kano, Plateau, Enugu and Gombe States between July 8 and August 25, 2015. Of particular note was the arrest on July 8, 2015 in Gombe State of those responsible for the coordination and execution of the suicide attacks in Potiskum, Kano, Zaria and Jos. They are:

Usman SHUAIBU (a. k. a. Money):
3. SHUAIBU revealed that he coordinated the attacks under reference with the sum of N500,000 which was provided by his Amir, one Isa ALI. He claimed that the said Isa ALI has links to the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar SHEKAU, from where he collects monies to fund operations undertaken by their Markaz.  Also, he revealed that he has participated in several Boko Haram attacks, including the attacks at Gwoza Divisional Police Station in 2014.

4.  SHUAIBU admitted being the leader of the team of nine (9) sect members that was dispatched from Sambisa Forest to carry out the attacks. He disclosed that four out of the nine of them were used as suicide bombers in executing all the (suicide) attacks.

Ahmed MOHAMMED (aka ABUBAKAR):
5. Suspect, an IED expert, confessed to the preparation of the IEDs used for the mentioned attacks. He also averred that he was the one who strapped the suicide bombers, notably SULE and his wives, with IED vests, which they used in the attacks in Jos.

Adamu ABDULLAHI (aka Babpa)
6. Suspect confessed that Usman SHUAIBU motivated him to work closely with Ahmed MOHAMMED (aka ABUBAKAR) in the preparation of the IEDs used in the attacks under reference.

Ibrahim ISA
7. Suspect confessed that he was the one who carried out reconnaissance on the targets in Jos ahead of the attacks.

Muttaqa YUSUF (aka Mohammed SANI/Mudtaka):

8. Suspect disclosed that one ALIYU, believed to be Aliyu GOMBE, in Sambisa forest, was the one that ordered the serial attacks which the syndicate carried out. He further confessed that he assisted Usman SHUAIBU in planning and executing the said attacks.

9. Other arrests include:
i. Bakura MODU:- He was arrested on July 20, 2015, at Kara, Isheri Berger, Ikeja LGA, Lagos State;

ii. Mustapha Alli JAMNERI:- He was  arrested on July 24, 2015, at Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Alimosho LGA, Lagos State;

iii. Abuyi SHERRIFF:- suspect was arrested on August 7, 2015, at Ebute-Metta, Lagos Mainland LGA, Lagos State;

iv. Babagana ALI and Babagana KOLOYE:- were arrested same day (August 7, 2015), at Eric Moore, Bode Thomas Street, Surulere LGA, Lagos State;

v. Abba Modu SAGMA: He was arrested on August 9, 2015, at Ijora Badiya, Apapa LGA, Lagos State;

vi. Grema ABUBAKAR and Tijani BAGUDU: were arrested on August 10, 2015, at Amukoko, Ijora Badiya, Apapa LGA, Lagos State;

vii. Baba Alhaji and Abass IBRAHIM:- were arrested earlier on the same day (August 10, 2015), at Alaba International Market, Alaba, Ojo LGA, Lagos State;

viii. IBRAHIM AUDU: Suspect was arrested on August 192015, at New Artisan Market, Enugu, Enugu State;

ix. Ibrahim HARUNA: The 30-year old suspect from  Kanawa village, Sumaila LGA, Kano State was arrested on August 21, 2015, at Kwomi village, Kwami Local Government Area, Gombe State;

x. Mal Ali MOHAMMODU: The 33-year-old suspect was arrested on August 22, 2015, at Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Fagga LGA in Kano State;

xi.   Adam Wakil Abdul JILBE: was arrested on August 23, 2015, at  Obanikoro Area, Mushin LGA, Lagos State; and

xii. Mohammed USMAN: was arrested on August 25, 2015, at  Atuashe Estate, Gbagada, Kosofe LGA, Lagos State.

10.  Nigerians and indeed the general public have to note that the arrest of Usman SHUAIBU aka Money and the core members of his cell, stemmed the spate of bombings by the extremist sect. It would be recalled that MONEY and his group were arrested on their way to Bauchi State where they had planned to execute another heart-rending bomb attack and this was frustrated by the arrest.

Furthermore, the sudden influx of Boko Haram members into Lagos State points to the determination of the sect to extend its nefarious terrorist activities to the State and in fact, other parts of the country.

The arrest of these confessed terrorist elements has however helped in no small measure to avert devastating attacks in the area. However, the Service is making efforts to conclude its investigations and commence prosecution of the suspects.

11. Drawing from the above, the DSS reiterates its avowed determination to work with other stakeholders in the fight against terror and other forms of criminality in our country. Citizens and residents are therefore called upon to rise to the occasion by volunteering useful information to the Service and relevant security agencies.

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EFCC sets up four-man panel to begin full investigation on former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced a full investigation into the activities of the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

It was learnt on Sunday that the commission constituted a four-member committee of crack detectives to probe all the NNPC accounts which were supervised by the former minister.

It was learnt that the committee was led by a Superintendent of Police, who was seconded to the commission.

Investigations revealed that the other three members of the committee were pioneer civilian operatives of the commission with high capacity for investigation.

It can be recalled that an ongoing probe of the immediate-past administration by President Muhammadu Buhari is already in progress to beam its searchlight on the alleged purchase of three mobile stages, costing $6.9m, by former President Goodluck Jonathan and two of his officials.

According to a document, which was obtained from the Presidency on Saturday, the deal, which is now a subject of investigation, was allegedly carried out by Jonathan; his Chief Security Officer, Mr. Gordon Obuah; and Alison-Madueke.

The fund was said to have been withdrawn from one of the numerous accounts of the NNPC.

The $6.9m (about N1.37bn) was said to have been withdrawn for the purpose of buying three pieces of 40-feet mobile stages for use by Jonathan during the campaign.

Besides the latest allegation, it will be recalled that a group, Crusader for Good Governance, had petitioned the EFCC accusing the former minister of squandering million of dollars of public funds to charter private jets.

The petitioners also accused her of spending $300,000 on an average international trip.

The group also alleged that the NNPC, a government agency she oversaw, maintained a Challenger 850 Visa jet which serves the former minister’s needs as well as those of her family. The cost of running the jet is $500,000 per month.

She was also accused of going to a meeting of the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries in Austria in a private jet.

It was gathered on Sunday that the committee set up by the EFCC had since commenced probing the NNPC accounts and activities of the former minister.

A top operative of the EFCC,  said, “I think the commission has commenced investigation into this Diezani issue. It is not just about inviting her, the commission has set up a four-man team of crack detectives to investigate her operations in the NNPC.

“The terms of reference of the committee include to look into all the NNPC accounts which were under the supervision of Mrs. Alison-Madueke.

“The committee has since commenced work; they are still working. I think a very senior police officer, a Police Superintendent, is leading the other operatives in the probe of Diezani and multiple accounts of the NNPC.” The source said.

When our correspondent contacted the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, on the activities of the EFCC Special Committee on the NNPC, the calls to his mobile telephone line did not connect.

But Uwujaren had earlier said that he was not aware if the commission had commenced a probe into the allegation that $6.9m was spent on campaign stages.

Uwujaren said that he had not been briefed on any such investigation.

“I am not aware of such a probe; I have not been briefed on such a probe,” he said.

Meanwhile, Obuah has denied the allegation of purchase of three mobile stages, costing $6.9m, for public appearance of the then President.

Obuah, who spoke through his lawyer, Mr. Andrew Tsekiri, in a telephone conversation with one of our correspondents on Sunday, said the allegation was false and challenged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to produce evidence instead of putting him on trial in the media.

Tsekiri said his client had been confronted with the allegation while in the detention of the Department of State Services, which he said investigated it and found it to be untrue.

The lawyer said, “Let me tell you, nothing like that exists. Obuah did not make demand for that money for any stage. Let them show to Nigerians evidence that he took the money. When Obuah was in their (DSS) detention, they investigated this particular matter and found out that it was false.

“He was confronted with the allegation. Mr. Obuah told them that he knew nothing about it, and they found that the allegation was false. They released him, why are they bringing it up again?”

He said since the release of the former President’s CSO from the DSS detention in July, he had not been contacted over the allegation by any government agency since then.

He said, “They have investigated the allegation and they found out it was false, since then no government agency had contacted or invited Mr. Obuah.

“They should show how Diezani authorised the payment of the money and how it left Citibank to Zenith Bank, to Access Bank to Sterling Bank and they should show how it ended in Obuah’s account.”

Tsekiri said the outcome of the allegation would soon show that the Buhari Administration was not interested in governance but to frame up allegations against people.

“They are just lying against Diezani and Mr. Jonathan. That is what they are doing. Let me tell you what they want to do. They will charge Obuah to court, make all the noise about the allegation that has been published, knowing full well that the matter will not be decided in about a year or two, and by then, the public would have forgotten about it but they would have spoilt your name.”

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We now have Boko Haram members all over Lagos - DSS + How to spot a terrorist

According to the the Department of State Services (DSS) we now have Boko Haram members spread across Lagos state.

The DSS revealed this following the arrest of about 20 suspected Boko Haram commanders in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Plateau and Gombe states.


The suspects, who were arrested between July 8 and August 25, 2015, include the masterminds of the suicide attacks in Potiskum, Kano, Zaria, and Jos.

The DSS in a statement by an official, Tony Opuiyo, on Sunday in Abuja, said those arrested were notable commanders and frontline members of the notorious group from different parts of the country.

The statement noted that the group’s new pattern of movement and spread was caused by the pressure being put on it by security forces in its core areas of strength in the North-East.

The service listed those arrested in Lagos to include Bakura Modu who was apprehended on July, 20 at Kara, Ogun State; Mustapha Jamberi, who was picked up on July 24 at Gowon Estate.

Others are Abuyi Sheriff, who was nabbed at Ebute-Meta; Babagana Ali and Babagana Koloye, who were arrested on August, 7 at Eric Moore, Surulere.

The service explained that it picked up Abba Sagma at Ijora Badia on August 9; Grema Abubakar and Tijani Bagudu were apprehended at Amukoko, Ijora Badia the next day, while Baba Alhaji and Abass Ibrahim were arrested earlier on the same day at the Alaba International Market, Ojo.

The DSS stated that a Boko Haram commander, Usman Shuaibu, aka Money, revealed that he coordinated the suicide attacks in Potiskum, Kano, Zaria and Jos, which claimed several lives, with N500,000 that was provided by his Amir, one Isa Ali, who had a direct access to the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau, from whom he collected money to fund operations undertaken by their Markaz.

The agency said, “Shuaibu also revealed that he had participated in several Boko Haram attacks, including the attacks at Gwoza Divisional Police Station in 2014.

“He admitted to being the leader of the team of nine sect members that was dispatched from Sambisa Forest to carry out the attacks. He disclosed that four out of the nine of them were used as suicide bombers in executing all the (suicide) attacks.

“Nigerians and indeed the general public have to note that the arrest of Shuaibu, aka Money, and the core members of his cell, stemmed the spate of bombings by the extremist sect. It will be recalled that Money and his group were arrested on their way to Bauchi State where they had planned to execute another bomb attack, and this was frustrated by the arrest.

“The sudden influx of Boko Haram members into Lagos State points is due to the determination of the sect to extend its nefarious terrorist activities to the state and in fact, to other parts of the country.

“The arrest of these confessed terrorists has, however, helped in no small measure to avert devastating attacks in the area. However, the service is making efforts to conclude its investigations and commence prosecution of the suspects.”

The DSS said a Boko Haram Improvised Explosive Device expert, Ahmed Mohammed, aka Abubakar), admitted to making the IEDs used in the various suicide bombings in the country.

“Mohammed also averred that he was the one who strapped the suicide bombers, notably Sule and his wives, with IED vests, which they used in the attacks in Jos,” the service said.

The secret service further stated that Adamu Abdulahi, aka Babpa, confessed that Shuaibu motivated him to work closely with IED expert, Mohammed, in the preparation of the IEDs used in the attacks under reference.

The service said that another suspect, Ibrahim Issa​, confessed that he was the one who carried out reconnaissance on the targets in Jos ahead of the attacks, while Muttaqa Yusuf (aka Mohammed Sani/Mudtaka), disclosed that one Aliyu believed to be Aliyu Gombe in Sambisa forest, was the one that ordered the serial attacks which the syndicate carried out.

He further confessed that he assisted Shuaibu in planning and executing the said attacks.

Other suspects include Ibrahim Audu, who was arrested on August 19 at New Artisan Market, Enugu; Ibrahim Haruna, arrested on August, 21 at Kwomi village, Kwami Local Government Area, Gombe State; Ali Mohammodu, nabbed on August 22 at Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Fagga LGA in Kano State; and Adam Jilbe, who was apprehended on August 23 at ​Obanikoro, Lagos State.

The agency restated its determination to work with other stakeholders in the fight against terror and other forms of criminality in the country and called on citizens to volunteer useful information to the service and other security agencies.

Meanwhile, the DSS has stepped up covert operations to dismantle Boko Haram cells across the country, particularly in the South-West, South-East and South-South where suspected terrorists are hiding.

It was learnt that the arrest of notable Boko Haram commanders had provided credible leads and intelligence that could assist the service to track down insurgents and their supporters, including ‘sleeper cells.’

A source said, “The recent arrest of terror suspects has provided a haul of information and intelligence that could assist the service to dismantle various terrorist cells. If the security forces can sustain the current momentum, we will destroy Boko Haram; it is a matter of time.”



How to spot a terrorist- Experts

Two security experts, Richard Amuwa and Dr. Ona Ekhomu, have urged vigilance and a more friendly relationship between security agents and residents to tackle threats of Boko Haram, especially in Lagos.

They said vigilance was the only way to recognise terrorists, adding that a friendly relationship would encourage the people to be free to report suspicious objects or persons in their neighbourhood.

Ekhomu, who is the President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria, advised Lagosians to imbibe the culture of TAPIs ─ Terrorists Attacks Pre-incident Indicators ─ to avoid unnecessary deaths and tragedy.

He said, “Boko Haram members have been with us for a while; so one thing we can do is to be vigilant against the influx of strangers into neighbourhoods. Landlords associations should register okada (motorcycle) riders and keke NAPEP (tricycle) drivers. Give them vests so that any stranger would be picked up.

“Also, ask questions if anyone moves suspiciously in your area. Look out for one another. Everybody must be their brothers’ keepers.”

Ekhomu said the ammunition of war of Boko Haram members was usually the IEDs.

“So, if you see anyone collecting cans; or anyone with bags of fertiliser; or anyone with container of diesel when they don’t have a generator, be suspicious. These are ingredients for IEDs. Boko Haram don’t have easy access to high explosives,” the security expert added.

He also urged Lagosians not to be confrontational if someone looked suspicious. He added that the suspect might be armed and could kill to save himself.

Ekhomu said, “Contact the authority immediately. You can also contact the media to ensure accountability by the security agencies.”

Also, Amuwa said the police should be ready to work with the people without creating fear in them.

He said, “The people should not hesitate to raise the alarm if they see any strange face in their environment.

“People should think less about their problems, and be more conscious of happenings within their environment.”

Amuwa, who is the Managing Director of the Mega Guards Services Limited, also advised the government to ban the wearing of hijab for the time being, saying the veil worn by muslim women, was being used by terrorists to shield explosives.

He said, “The problem is that how do you detect a Boko Haram member? If you are wearing shirts and the terrorist is wearing hijab, how do you figure him or her out? That is why we have asked the government to stop the wearing of hijab for now.”

In a related development sources told our correspondent that the security agencies had been paying attention to some area in Lagos to prevent attacks.

The areas include FESTAC, Apapa, Agege, Yaba, Ojuelegba, Obalende, Ajegunle, Alimosho, Badagry, Lagos Island, Idi araba, Bariga, Bajulaiye, Fola Agoro, Onipanu, Palmgroove, Aguda, Agbado, Ejigbo and Ikorodu, among others.

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Meet the 6 new people Buhari appointed

             President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the following appointments: 

SGF, ENGR. BABACHIR DAVID LAWAL

He graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979 with a Bachelor of Engineering Degree and worked with the Delta Steel Company, Aladja,  Nigerian External Telecommunications Limited and Data Sciences Limited before establishing his own ICT and Telecommunications consulting firm in 1990.The new Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Engr. Lawal hails from Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, north east of the country. 

He is also a member of the Nigeria Computer Society, the Nigeria Society of Engineers and the  Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria.

CHIEF OF STAFF, ABBA KYARI

Alhaji Abba Kyari, the new Chief of Staff to the President holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees from the University of Cambridge and the University of Warwick in Law and Sociology.

He has worked with the New Nigeria Development Company, New Africa Holdings, African International Bank, United Bank for Africa, Unilever, and Mobil in various capacities over the years. He hails from Borno State in the north east of the country.

COMPTROLLER-GENERAL OF NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE, HAMEED ALI

He was  military administrator of Kaduna State, north west of Nigeria from 1996 to 1998.The new Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Ali holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Criminology.

He is from Gombe State, north east of the country.

COMPTROLLER-GENERAL, NIGERIA IMMIGRATION SERVICE, MARTIN ABESHI

The new Comptroller- General of Immigration, Mr. Martin Abeshi hails from Nasarawa State, north central zone of the country. He joined the Nigerian Immigration Service in 1989 as an Assistant Comptroller. His educational qualifications include a Masters Degree in Public Administration.

SSA ON NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MATTER (SENATE), ITA ENANG

Senator Ita Enang,was the immediate past Chairman, Rules and Business Committee of the 7th Senate of the National Assembly.

He hails from Akwa Ibom State. Until the last general election in March and April, he was a staunch member of the then ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, now in the opposition.

He recently decamped to the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC.

SSA ON NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MATTER (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES)

Hon. Suleiman Kawu was a vibrant member of the 7th House of Representatives. He hails from Kano State and a staunch member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

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