Presidency rubbishes Ribadu probe report

 by Olusola Fabiyi 

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu

The Presidency on Thursday rubbished the Mallam Nuhu Ribadu-led Report on Petroleum Special Task Force. It said the report was incomplete and incapable of indicting anyone.

At a press conference in Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan’s Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, based his criticism of the report on one of its paragraphs.

Okupe said the paragraph “is an obvious DISCLAIMER (emphasis his) issued by the committee on the entire report, makes it impossible under our laws to indict or punish anyone except, and until, the Federal Government fully verifies and reconciles the facts as recommended by the committee in its submission to the government.”

According to Okupe, the offending paragraph in the report says, “Due to the time frame of the assignment, some of the data used could not be independently verified and the task force recommends that the government should conduct such necessary verifications and reconciliations.”

Okupe blamed Ribadu for the politicisation of the report. He alleged that there was a major public disinformation campaign which, he said, was calculated to overheat the polity and incite Nigerians against the President because of the report.

He said, “For instance on his Facebook page a while ago, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu remarked that he resisted overtures to make him compromise the report and rather than compromising the report, he stayed on the side of the Nigerian people.

“His claim of an overture to him to compromise the report is perfidious and false. We respectfully enjoin Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to be patriotic enough to name the proponents of this compromise.

“If Ribadu claims that to be serving on the committee he is on the side of the Nigeria people, on whose side is President Jonathan whose idea it was in the first place to set up the task Force and approved the appointment of Mallam Ribadu as chairman of the committee?”

Okupe also blamed those who, according to him, leaked the report to the foreign media before it was submitted to Jonathan. He described the people who leaked the report as unpatriotic Nigerians.

The report, which was submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan last week Friday, indicts the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for sundry economic crimes. The report became controversial after the media highlighted some of its findings and recommendations before it was submitted to Jonathan.

At the submission of the report to the President, a member of the committee, and a former Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, openly disagreed with Ribadu. Orosanye alleged that the report did not enjoy the support of all members of the committee. Ribadu had countered, however, that Orosanye did not attend the meetings the committee held.

Okupe said the committee did not achieve the task assigned to it by the government when it was set up. He read from the covering note that accompanied the submitted report to buttress his point.

The covering note stated that “we have the pleasure of reporting the conclusion of the assignment given to the Petroleum Special Task Force in accordance with its Terms of Reference as laid out at the inauguration of the Task Force.”

But Okupe said this was not correct as the committee did not adhere to the terms of reference.

He said paragraph one of the Terms of Reference of the committee mandated it “to work with consultants and experts to determine and verify all petroleum upstream and downstream revenues (taxes, royalties, etc) due and payable to Federal Government of Nigeria.”

He added that the committee did not do this.

“Unfortunately and most regrettably, this paramount duty of the PRSTF committee could not be accomplished as stated in paragraph four of the covering letter signed by the Chairman, Ribadu and the Secretary of the committee,” he said.

Okupe said the committee had failed to carry out the very critical part of the assignment and instead passed on the duty of reconciliation and verification of the data to the government.

Though he described the report as incomplete, he however added that all the work needed to be done to rectify this would be done by the government. After this, he said a White Paper would be issued and its recommendations fully implemented by the government.

When contacted, Ribadu said he was out of Abuja and could not speak on the matter.

He promised to speak with The PUNCH exclusively on the matter as soon as he returns to Abuja.

Punch

Jombo-Ofo: CJN dares Senate

  By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA — Indications emerged, yesterday, that despite the ultimatum handed to her by the Senate, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mariam Aloma Murktar, may have resolved to stick to her earlier decision not to administer oath of office on one of the newly appointed Justices for the Court of Appeal.
It would be recalled that Justice Murktar, who is the first female to attain the revered position of a CJN, had on November 5, declined to swear-in Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo alongside 11 others, despite the fact that her appointment was duly approved by President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Judicial Council, NJC.
Reacting to the directive from the Senate, asking the CJN to reverse her decision and swear-in the embattled Justice immediately, an aide to the CJN who craved anonymity, yesterday, adduced reasons why such order from the upper legislative chambers could not stand.

Why she can’t be sworn in

According to him, sequel to the petition, the CJN who is equally the head of the NJC, discovered several inconsistencies in the documents tendered by the embattled Justice, and subsequently summoned her with a view to getting her own side of the story.
He said on several occasions when the CJN confronted the learned Justice, who had been in the Abia State judiciary for over 14 years, she was unable to enter a convincing defence against allegations raised by her adversaries, a development the source said prompted the CJN to defer her swearing-in till when all the discrepancies are sorted out.
He said: “The CJN has nothing personal against Justice Jombo-Ofo. It is unfortunate that people never thought it wise to seek the truth of what happened but rather went ahead to rely on media reports to castigate and vilify the Chief Justice of Nigeria without getting the true facts of the matter.”
Urging Nigerians to always strive to hear both  sides of a story before jumping into conclusion, the source who is equally a senior staff at the NJC, said: “If the CJN were to be vindictive, the woman may have to face disciplinary measures as this bothers on the integrity of a judicial officer, but like a mother she wants to ensure that justice is done to all parties concerned.”
It would be recalled that sequel to the controversy, the Senate, on Wednesday, ordered the CJN to swear in Justice Jombo-Ofo without further delay.
The Senate, while debating on a motion moved by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and 107 others, the President of the upper legislative chamber, David Mark, described the decision of the CJN as unfortunate and posing a great implication on the sanctity of marriage.
He said: “The implication of this is that if there is anything good in the husband’s place and we say that the wife should not take it, I think is just unfortunate but more importantly, the sanctity of marriage would be destroyed by this act if we allow it and I believe that we ought to encourage professional women to maintain their professions and keep their marriages at the same time. This is going to provide for them to choose between their professions and their marriages and that will not encourage marriage life in this country.”
According to Senator Mark, the appointment of Justice Jombo-Ofo followed due process. He maintained that if there were reasons against the appointment, they ought to have been addressed before the swearing-in, which was a mere ceremony.
“The whole thing to me is fait accomplish because they have gone through the entire process. There was nothing left again. Swearing-in was just a ceremony and if the issues were not raised before but just at the point of swearing-in, either to appease those who have petitioned or because she was not from her husband’s place of origin, it was immaterial,” he remarked.
“She ought to have been sworn in. I think the judiciary or the CJN is crying more than the bereaved because Abia State is not complaining. They submitted her name and the Governor was there. Why should anybody else say she is taking Abia State slot because that is what it meant in effect, if she was not sworn-in.”
Mark, however, assured that the Chambers would do all within its power to ensure that the mistake is corrected.
“We should do whatever we can to ensure that the woman is sworn in and to encourage women to continue to remain married and continue to claim their husbands’ place of origin. This will also make us think twice about the issue of indigeneship and place of residence.
If you are resident in a place, why can’t you take appointment there? But particularly on this issue, I think it was a mistake and it should be corrected,” he said.
Vanguard

Bishop shot dead in Warri

From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE,Warri
Pandemonium rocked the oil city of Warri in Delta State yesterday as a man described as pastor to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe was shot dead by gunmen on Tuesday night. Sources said the cleric, identified as Bishop Slyvanus Keneri Kenikede was gunned down at about 11.30pm along Ughelli Agbarho Road.
Daily Sun, however, gathered that the cleric, a close confidant of Elder Orubebe, battled with life at a nearby hospital throughout Tuesday night but gave up the ghost in the early hours of Wednesday. The deceased, who is the founder and General Overseer of Voice of Faith Ministry, located in the Sokoh Estate area of Effurun was returning from one of the displaced persons’ camps after donating relief materials when he met his death. State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba confirmed the report.
Aduba, who spoke through the Police Public Relations’s Officer, DSP Charles Muoka, said efforts had been stepped up to apprehend the fleeing suspects who carried out the dastardly act. When Daily Sun visited the church founded by the deceased, scores of the members who thronged the place wept profusely. A young man, who managed to speak on the sad event, described as unbelievable that the cleric was dead.
“We are yet to believe that our amiable daddy (Bishop) is no more. The people that killed him will not escape the judgment of God and will definitely burn in hell,”he said. A close friend of the deceased, Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin, described the incident as unfortunate and unpardonable.
“Killing a man of God is a grievous sin to be committed by the perpetrators. It is definitely a curse and heavy punishment from God Almighty,” said Fufeyin, who is the general overseer of Christ Mercyland Ministry based in Effurun, near Warri.
Fufeyin, who was on his way to Christian pilgrimage in the Holy Land, however, urged the family to take heart and look unto God our saviour and redeemer. Effort to reach the minister, Orubebe proved abortive but a family member who could not control her emotion, described the deceased as a humble and God fearing man, who participated fully in a prayer meeting held last two Saturdays at Orubebe’s church located at his home town,
Ogbogbabene in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. Meanwhile, the remains of the deceased has been deposited at the Warri Central Hospital morgue. No fewer than six pastor’s have been killed in similar way while few others committed suicide.
TheSun

‘Nigeria has never bought a sniffer dog’

by: Sulaiman Salawudeen

The Director-General, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Femi Ajayi has disclosed that Nigeria has never purchased a sniffer dog in aid of security operations in the country.
According to him, all the dogs being used by the agency in policing sea, land and airports were handouts from friendly countries, including the United States, Germany and South Africa.
The NDLEA boss, who spoke at Adetiloye Hall in Ado-Ekiti at a five-day Annual Congress of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, lamented the gross underfunding of the agency.
He said “we don’t even have up to 10 dogs in the NDLEA.”
The congress, which attracted veterinary specialists/professionals across the country, carried the theme “Veterinarians in Agricultural Transformation and National Security
TheNation

Why some people want me sacked – Alison-Madueke

by: Vincent Ikuomola

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Allison-Maduekwe, has attributed the call for her sack to her insistence on doing things the right way.
The minister argued that the few individuals calling for her sack were doing so because she has refused to continue the “business as usual” tradition in the oil and gas sector of the economy.
Besides, she described those labelling her as corrupt and inefficient as people simply afraid of the ongoing reform in the sector.
She also vowed that never again will the government allow the return of the age-long cartel in the country’s oil and gas sector.
Madueke, who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Thursday assured that the attack notwithstanding, she would continue to push for the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan in the oil and gas sector.
She said those fighting the government in the media “were doing so because we have been able to frustrate their efforts in strangulating the economy through their devilish black market and questionable profiteering at the expense of the Nigeria people.”
“I would not want to join issues with those criticising me because they are crying foul that through us Mr. President has broken the old order where things are done without coordination. What is hurting them is that we have put policies in place where they can no longer cheat the government and cause untold hardship for millions of Nigerians.”
According to her, operators and stakeholders in the oil and gas sector that have the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians at heart need not be afraid of her leadership style, except those that have skeleton in their wardrobe and are scared of change and reforms.
The minister, who commended the cordial relationship between her and top officials of the ministry including those of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Petroleum Pricing and Marketing Company (PPMC), Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and other parastatals of the ministry, explained it was the harmonious relationship that has brought about the high level successes recorded by government in the sector.
TheNation

Senate probes police alleged arms supply to bandits

by: Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu

The Senate on Thursday mandated its joint committee on Police Affairs, Intelligence and National Security to investigate alleged supply of arms and ammunition to armed bandits by serving police officers.
The upper chamber also asked the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to as a matter of urgency, step up surveillance and effective policing of areas affected by recent armed banditry in Zamfara State.
This followed the adoption of a motion entitled: “Recent banditry attack on Kabaru village in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.”
The motion sponsored by Senator Marafa Kabiru Garba chronicled armed robbery attacks in various parts of Zamfara State.
Marafa in his lead debate said that he was alarmed by the armed banditry attack on Kabaru village on October 29.
The Senator noted that he was further horrified that the attack was carried out by about 60 armed men resulting in the death of 18 villagers including the village head, Alhaji Maiyara.
According to him, the earlier attack of Guru and Tungar Baure communities in August 2011 resulted in the death of many villagers.
He recalled that a similar armed banditry attack on Lingyado, Guru and Sammaje villages in September led to mass slaughter of over 25 villagers as well as the reported house to house raid in June of Dangulbi district by armed bandits resulting in the massacre of 27 people.
He noted that the spate of the attacks apart from resulting in loss of lives have disrupted the economic activities and the livelihood of the communities in the surrounding villages and districts.
Senator Sahabi Ya’u his contribution noted that what is happening in Zamfara State can only be described as barbaric, inhuman and unfortunate.
Ya’u said that of more concern to him is the discovery that bandits are getting arms from serving police officers.
He said, “The other day an armed robber that was caught confirmed that it is a serving police officer that supplied them with arms and ammunitions.
“To confirm what the armed robber said, a call was made through him (the armed robber) to the said police officer to get some arms to the armed robber.
“To the surprise of those who were there within minutes the police officer brought arms to the robber.”
TheNation

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Wants WAEC Or NECO Scraped

The Minister of Finance, Dr Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has described Nigeria’s current educational system as ineffective and advocated a paradigm shift to focus on technical and vocational training.
Dr. Okonjo Iweala, who delivered a keynote speech at the 2012 Isaac Moghalu Foundation held yesterday in Lagos, decried Nigeria’s sustained fallen standard of education over the years and blamed government, educators and parents for the problem.
The minister, who spoke on “Reforming Nigeria’s Education System: A Paradigm Shift”, said government has failed to forge a clear framework to develop the sector while the “regulatory system in the sector is largely ineffective and this reflects on the curriculum especially in many private schools of foreign origin.”
She questioned the logic of having both WEAC and NECO conducting same exams for the same set of students at the same time, saying that one of the bodies should be scrapped because the arrangement is not adding any value to the quality of education.
InformationNigeria.org