Dasuki Provides Evidence Confirming Purchase of Alpha Jets, Other Military Hardware

 Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.)

 Accuses presidency of acting out a script, says he’s ready for trial DSS deploys more operatives in his residence

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The beleaguered former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), has again responded to the allegations contained in an interim report of the presidential panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and defence sector from 2007 to date.

In a more detailed response issued on Wednesday than the one made available to THISDAY Tuesday night when the findings of the committee were released by the president’s media aide, Mr. Femi Adesina, Dasuki provided evidence of the correspondence from the army and air force acknowledging the receipt of four Alpha jets, 12 helicopters and other military equipment that the panel accused him of not procuring.

Dasuki, who has had a running battle with the present administration and is being prosecuted by the federal government for illegal possession of firearms and money laundering, and is currently under house arrest, also accused the presidency of acting out a script.

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World Bank Grants TCN N5.9bn Loan to Study Nigeria’s Electricity Demand

 World Bank

Chineme Okafor in Abuja

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Wednesday said it has secured a $30 million (about N5.977 billion) grant from the World Bank to study the nature of electricity load demand and energy mix in Nigeria.

TCN’s Deputy Managing Director, Mohammed Atiku, said at the fifth Nigerian International Power Expo and Conference that the country’s power sector lacked reliable data to plan from, hence the funding support from the bank.

Organised by BKG Exhibition Limited in conjunction with the Ministry of Power in Abuja, the event brought together key actors in the sector, with the aim of improving on the existing policies and achievements in the privatised sector.

Atiku who explained that electricity demand and supply are two critical elements that must be studied and quantified to help operators make appropriating plans, said: “Demand and supply are two critical elements in the power sector which has to be understood, to be identified, quantified and then we strategise on how to match them. Failure to do that, the sector will be in very bad shape and I am sorry to say this is what is causing the situation we have in Nigeria.”

According to him, the TCN has initiated the process for the study.

He however added: “This is one of the reason why the TCN on its own, even though it is out of our mandate, we have been seeking to get the actual demand of our electricity. We have gotten a grant from World Bank and will soon embark on a study which is going to be industry wide to determine this load demand and even our energy mix.

“If we have identified our energy demand how do we now get it addressed through our various generating methods? So, in the absence of this, as I said earlier, we have been relying on two major sources of energy that is the thermal, using gas powered station and hydro. Very little attention has been given to other sources like renewable, like nuclear to mention a few.

“When the study is concluded it is going to take 30 months to complete with grant released from the World Bank.  It is in the process. I can’t remember exactly the figure but it is going to be as much as $30 million attached to that. But I will confirm that figure. That study will be able to come up with detailed report on the energy demand and supply with appropriate energy mix for the country,” he stated.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Louis Edozien, had earlier said the ministry plans to execute a renewable energy and conservation policy, as well as, coal-to-power policy with generation utilities under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs).

Represented by the Director of Renewable Energy, Aboyomi Adebisi,  Edozien said  there are also plans to secure funding for TCN’s long term expansion plan from the Transmission Development Fund, International Development Bank and multilateral agencies to raise its wheeling capacity to 10,000 megawatts (MW).

Biafra: Court Orders DSS to Produce Nnamdi Kanu Nov 23

Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu

As lawyers battle over his representation
Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The Magistrate Court 1 sitting in Abuja has ordered the Department of State Service (DSS) to produce the Director of Radio Biafra and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu,  before it next week Monday.

The Chief Magistrate Shauibu Usman gave the order on Wednesday following the absence of the accused in court when the trial was to commence.

Usman noted that the DSS had refused to bring Kanu to court for the second time despite another order made on October 23 to that effect.

He therefore ordered the agency to bring the accused unfailingly before the court on Monday, November 23 to answer criminal charges brought against him by the federal government.

Usman insisted that no trial can continue in a criminal case in the absence of the accused, adding that the only condition that can make a court to excuse the absence of an accused has not come up.

The decision of the magistrate followed a claim by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Moses Idakwo, that the accused person was not brought to court because ordinary application challenging the jurisdiction of the magistrate court to continue the trial was slated for hearing.

Idakwo told the court that as soon as the motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court has been resolved, the DSS would now produce the accused by the court.

However, the submission of Idakwo did not go down well with Usman who reminded the prosecutor that on October 23, he made an order that the accused must at all times be brought to court throughout the trial.

Apart from the absence of the accused in court that stalled the trial, two legal practitioners, Mr. Gabriel Egbule and Vincent Ezechukwu Obete engaged themselves in war of words in the open court on the issue of which side is the authentic lawyer to the accused person.

Egbule who first announced his appearance for the accused person, informed the court that he represented the accused person on October 19 when he was first arraigned and that he was ready to continue to defend the accused person.

He produced a letter he claimed was written to him by the next of kin of the accused person appointing him as lawyer to the accused person.

Also Vincent Obete, produced a letter from the IPOB, signed by its deputy director, Alphonsus Mefor, appointing him as lawyer.

Besides, Obete also produced another letter, dated October 16 from the father of the accused person, Eze Kanu of Afara-Ukwu kingdom, also appointing him as a counsel to defend his son.

Usman, who intervened in the issue said on October 19 when Kanu was brought before him, the accused told the court that he had no lawyer prompting Mr. Gabriel Egbule to fill the gap.

He, however, told the two lawyers that the accused person would on Monday, November 23, determine his own lawyer.

Kanu is standing trial on criminal conspiracy, managing and belonging to an unlawful society and criminal intimidation contrary to Section 97, 97B and 397 of the penal code.

The fact of the case, according to DSS report was that the accused formed an unlawful society with the purpose of bringing into being a Republic of Biafra.
He was alleged to have proclaimed himself as the leader of the Republic of Biafra and established a radio of Biafra.

Kanu was also alleged to have appointed himself Commander of the Loyal Forces of Biafra and was broadcasting to the whole world the dire consequences the the government and people of Nigeria will surfer should they attempt to hinder the actualisation of the Republic of Biafra.

The trial has been fixed for November 23.

Buhari Sends N465.64bn Supplementary Budget to N'Assembly

 President Muhammadu Buhari

 Revises oil benchmark to $48/bl as Iraq prepares to flood market  President fails to hold FEC meeting

Omololu Ogunmade and Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

With only six weeks left to the end of the year, President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday sent a supplementary budget of N465,636,926,857 to the National Assembly for appropriation.

The president also sought for an upward review of the initial N882.1 billion borrowing in the 2015 budget to N2.103 trillion to finance the budget.

Of the N465.6 billion supplementary budget, N413.363 billion has been earmarked for the payment of subsidy for petrol, N39.65 billion for the fight against Boko Haram, code named 'Operation Lafiya Dole', N2 billion for the provision of prison rations, feeding for unity schools and others, and N10.62 billion for severance gratuity and allowances of outgone and incoming legislators and legislative aides.

The president, in letters addressed to Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, urged both chambers of the National Assembly to expeditiously treat the budget.

Whereas the 2015 budget was predicated on a benchmark of $53 per barrel, foreign exchange at N190 to $1 and oil production of 2.2782 million barrels per day, the benchmark has now been revised downwards to $48 a barrel; foreign exchange remains at N190 to a dollar while oil production volume has been reduced to 2.2003 million per day.

He explained that the deficit of N1.041 trillion in the 2015 budget, translating to 1.09 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), would be largely financed by domestic borrowing of N502.1 billion and foreign borrowing of N380 billion culminating in total borrowings of N882.12 billion.

He added that the expected deficit arising from the supplementary budget is 2.103 trillion or 2.19 per cent of GDP to be financed by additional borrowing of 1.601 trillion through the Debt Management Office (DMO).

Buhari, accordingly, requested an upward review of the fiscal deficit from 1.09 per cent of GDP to 2.19 per cent as well as an upward revision of borrowings from 882.1 billion to 2.103 trillion in the 2015 budget.

While giving a breakdown of the 2015 budget and its shortfall, Buhari said: “The Federal Government of Nigeria’s budget revenue of N3.452 trillion was made up of the share of oil and mineral revenue of N1.645 trillion, share of non-oil revenue of N1.215 trillion and revenue of N489.3 billion.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria’s aggregate expenditure was estimated at N4.485 trillion, comprising of statutory transfers of N354.34 billion; debt service of N953.6 billion; recurrent-non debt personnel cost of N1.828 trillion; recurrent non-debt overheads of N791.2 billion; and capital expenditure of 536.6 billion.

“However, the implementation of 2015 budget has been flawed with significant revenue shortfalls due to the continuous decline in oil prices, oil production shortfalls and non-full non-oil revenue.

“You may wish to further note that owing to the need to sustain the current progress in addressing the security challenges and other important obligations of government, emergency expenditure items require urgent funding are projected at N465.64 billion.”

But the revised budget benchmark of $48 a barrel has raised concerns that the federal government may be over-optimistic about the likelihood of an oil price recovery in the near term.

With Iran preparing to resume exports as it edges closer to sealing a deal with the United States and its allies to control its nuclear development programme and get sanctions lifted, the possibility that oil prices will rally to above $50 a barrel, at least in the immediate term, remains very remote.

However, there was some positive news for the Lagos State Government Wednesday when the Senate gave the state the nod to borrow $200 million from the World Bank in accordance with the president's request on September 29.
The approval was sequel to the presentation of the report of the ad hoc Committee on Local and Foreign Debt by its chairman, Senator Kabiru Gaya.

The report recommended the approval of the loan on the premise that the first and second tranches had been approved by the National Assembly while this third tranche has been captured in the 2015-2017 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

According to Gaya, Lagos State had justified the loan tagged development policy operation III (DPO) with an acceptable debt sustainability level and therefore was eligible to borrow more.

But Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central) cautioned against frivolous approval of loans for state governors, saying most governors mortgage the future of their states by failing to service the loans obtained and consequently accumulate huge debts for their successors.

Goje advised Buhari to always scrutinise the request for loan approvals by state governors before giving them his support.

In the same vein, Senator George Sekibo (Rivers West), who said he was not opposed to the loan request, urged his colleagues to ensure that every loan approved by the National Assembly is thoroughly followed up by the lawmakers with a view to ensuring that it is well utilised.

Meanwhile, after the swearing-in of ministers and the inaugural meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) last week, Buhari failed to convene the second meeting of FEC on Wednesday.

No official explanation was given by the presidency for the failure to convene the meeting.

Since the return of democracy in 1999, past administrations have held weekly FEC meetings every Wednesday.

Only on few occasions has the meeting been cancelled outright by the president or postponed to another day.

When contacted, the president’s media aide, Mr. Femi Adesina, explained that a memo was sent out by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal, two days ago notifying cabinet members that the meeting would not hold.

He however said no reason was given in the memo for the cancellation of the meeting.

Nigeria is Drifting Into Lawlessness Under Buhari – Labour Party

The National Chairman of Labour Party (LP), Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari over the continued siege on the residence of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, by the operatives of the Department of the State Services (DSS).

He said the action of the federal government in deploying the DSS to the premises of  Dasuki in flagrant disregard to a court order was a clear sign of lawlessness and danger  for the nation’s democracy.

Speaking in an interview with journalists in Abuja, Abdulsalam also faulted the attitude of the Buhari-led administration towards the recent upsurge in agitation for Biafra, warning that unless the government does something fast to properly engage those behind the protests, the country faces the risk of another major security crisis.

Abdulsalam warned that unless something urgent was done to address the grievances of the protesters, it could degenerate into chaos and lawlessness.

He said previous governments paid lip services to Boko Haram insurgency when it reared its ugly head during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

On the siege by the DSS at Dasuki’s  residence the LP chairman said the act amounted to disrespect to court order and an invitation to lawlessness and anarchy if allowed to continue.

“Whatever is the reason behind the disregard for a court order regarding the former NSA, spells danger. It is dangerous for democracy. If the government starts disrespecting court judgments, then there is a problem.

“What Buhari is doing is not new. Buhari is a dictator. Under him, Nigeria is drifting into a lawless state. Things are done with impunity.

“What Buhari says is different from his actions. He is always lamenting. He told us he was going to fight corruption with everything. Now he is saying he will use the same method Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Obasanjo used. He says one thing and does another. Buhari and All Progressives Congress (APC) are not consistent,” he said.

He condemned the deafening silence by President Buhari regarding the massive pro-Biafran protests in the South-east and some states in the South-south.

According to Abdusalam, “Boko Haram insurgency started like this and the government then did not take it seriously. Look at what we have now. You cannot say there is no neglect in the South-south and South-east. You might not know if you have not been there.

“The soldiers are saying they want to crush Biafran protesters, they should go and crush Boko Haram in Sambisa forest and bring out the girls first.”

The LP chieftain also lent support of his party to the threat by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to organise mass protest if the current fuel scarcity was not arrested by the federal government

He said the president has derailed on his perceived handling of the current fuel scarcity and corruption war.

Accordingly, Abdulsalam said not until the refineries are put in place, the country will continue to suffer repeated fuel scarcity. He also described the president’s anti-corruption war as a repeat of previous administrations.

“My take on the issue of subsidy is that Buhari has not undertaken any project since he came in. Our refineries are not working, and until that are done, we will not get out of this mess. It goes beyond appointing yourself as Minister of Petroleum. Nothing has happened in Nigeria since he took over. The president needs to do more.

“If the labour unions decide to go on strike because of the fuel scarcity, we will carry placards and join them. Even now, you cannot bring in foreign investors. The country is not safe. We do not have a data in this country. They said they want to pay N5, 000 to graduate how will that help Nigerians?

We are in a serious problem,” he noted.