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Nigerian Government commences issuance of biometric visa

The Nigeria Government has started issuing biometric visa, being the first in Africa.
The development was announced by the Ministry of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abudurahman Dambazau, at the 2017 End-of-Year Dinner and Award Night of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Abuja on Monday.

He said, “Nigeria is the only country in Africa that is issuing biometric visa. It started this year, but we have already launched it.

“I know the biometric visa is going to block many people that we don’t want to come to Nigeria.”

Chairperson of the event planning committee, Edith Onyemenam, said it was one of the first federal agencies to implement the Presidential Executive Orders issued earlier in the year.

Onyemenam, who is a Comptroller of Immigration, pointed out that the introduction of online pre-approval for Visa on Arrival contributed greatly to the country’s improvement in the World Bank’s ease of doing business ranking from 169th to 145th position.

Also speaking, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mohammed Babandede, said, “We achieved a lot because I have a good team.

“We have trained officers in every training institution. I think we will do more.”

Dickson says $1b ECA fund in good faith, replies Fayose

Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa: explains the $1b ECA fund for security

Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state replied Governor Ayodele Fayose and others making a ruckus over the $billion approved to fight insecurity. He said the decision by the governors was taken in good faith.

Dickson who belongs to the same Peoples Democratic Party like Governor Ayodele Fayose, who has challenged the move in court, explained why the Governors’ Forum’s decided to grant Federal Government permission to utilize one billion dollars from the Excess Crude Account for security.

The decision was announced at the end of the last National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

Fayose is a member of the forum.

The Bayelsa governor noted that the decision was not a political one but meant to strengthen the country’s security apparatus.

“It was a decision taken in good fate to support our security services, to strengthen our national security and enhance operations in the interest of everybody else.

“This is not a political issue and I thought that I should say that, but the details of what we would do and say and the clarifications will come at the end of the meeting of the governors.’’

Dickson said that the governors would meet later in the day to fine tune how to move the matter further, noting that there was a lot of unnecessary controversy on the approval in the media.

“After the meeting this afternoon, our chairman and some of us may have to talk to the media, may have the need to interact with the president and the vice president on it.

“These are issues of national security and I think that we leaders must be circumspect in terms of creating controversies on issues of national security.

“Our duty is to collaborate among ourselves, collaborate with the Federal Government on two critical issues of national security and issues of the economy, and that is what the NEC does.’’

Dickson stated that he came to consult the vice president, adding that the governors were also consulting to deal with the issues.

He said he would not prejudge the outcome of the meeting but was sure it would throw some further light in what was out there in the public domain.

On the recent assassinations and rise in crime in Bayelsa, the governor stated that increase in crime was a national phenomenon during the period of festivities `

‘`It is a national phenomenon, especially at this time of the year; Bayelsa has been known for stability and peace in the last six years. `

`That’s one area we have expended a lot of energy and resources and so we are concerned if there is any incident of criminal conduct not to talk of two, three, four or five.

“It is still within control but we are bothered about it. `

`And we are working together and supporting the security forces, mobilising the citizens of the state and activating our structures and systems to ensure that we regain control of the security situation.

“So I assure all of you, I assure the country that Bayelsa is safe and stable.

“Security forces and community leaders are working together and there is a government that understands the role and the place of security which I lead.

“So, no cause for alarm, things are okay.’’ The governor acknowledged that he came to have discussion with the Vice President on issues of national interest and concern but which he was not in a position to divulge the details.(NAN)

Alleged illicit asset acquisition: Court clears Aiteo boss Peters - The Nation Nigeria

The Federal Capital Territory High Court has cleared Aiteo Group Executive Vice Chairman Benedict Peters of illicit acquisition of assets allegations.

The court held that the allegations were baseless and that the assets were not liable to be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Justice Valentine Ashi, in a December 5 judgment, held: “From the material before me, the defendant (Peters) has a reasonable and verifiable means of livelihood and cannot be said to be living above means.

“In the absence of any specific offence and proof of commission of crime, the defendant legitimately and lawfully acquired the assets and properties, the subject matter of this suit.”

The listed assets include 58 Harley House, Marylebone Road, London worth£2,800,000; apartment 4, 5, Arlington Street, London worth £11,800,000; Flat 5, 83-86, Prince Albert Road, London worth£3,750,000, and other assets of Aiteo Energy Resources worth over $4.023billion.

Others are monies in account numbered 105277 in FBN Bank (UK) in the name of Mr. B and Mrs. N. Peters, monies in account (No 107127) in FBN Bank (UK) of Walworth Properties Ltd, and £36,674.7 held on behalf of defendant in the client account of Clyde and Co. LLP , London.

The rest are £40,620 held in a correspondent bank account at Ghana International Bank, London, and shares in Walworth Properties Limited, Rosewood Investments and Colinwood Limited.

The plaintiff, Moses Uyah, in a suit numbered FCT/HC/CV/ 0093/17, alleged that Peters acquired the assets fraudulently because he was unable to account for income or earnings from which such purchases could have been lawfully funded.

He asked the court not only to find that Peters’ acquired the properties illegally, but to hold that he lived above his means and that funds used acquire the assets were the proceeds of corrupt and illegitimate dealings.

The plaintiff asked the court to order the forfeiture of Peters’ assets to the Federal Government.

But, Peters produced evidence of his source of funds, including his business spanning over 25 years in the oil and gas industry.

He also provided evidence of funding from financial institutions which he invested over several years in his company, resulting in Aiteo Group’s considerable success.

Justice Ashi found that based on the evidence, Peters established that he had a credible and verifiable means of livelihood.

The court also held that he legitimately funded the acquisition of the properties identified in the proceedings and therefore could not be accused of living above his means.

Dismissing the case, Justice Ashi ruled that the “said assets and properties having been legitimately acquired by the defendant cannot be forfeited to the Government under any circumstances.”

The judge made an order “restraining any person, security agency or authority from disturbing the defendant’s quiet enjoyment of his assets and properties having been found to be legitimately acquired.”

The judgment follows a similar ruling quashing money laundering charges and bribery of election officials against Peters.

In the suit numbered FCT/HC/CV/0091/17, the plaintiff, Chief Akimoju Jero, accused Peters and a firm, Northern Belt Oil & gas Company Limited, of offering $115million to electoral officers to alter the results of the 2015 presidential election.

The plaintiff also urged the court to hold that Peters was liable to prosecution for allegedly making political donations.

Dismissing the allegations, the court held: “The purported allegation of bribery of electoral officials, contrary to the provisions of Section 124 of the Electoral Act, though not proved by any iota of evidence against the defendants, is also duly discredited by the material evidence before the court such that the allegation cannot stand.

“The plaintiff’s case is lacking in merit and substance. It shall be and it is hereby accordingly dismissed.”

Terry reveals why Chelsea sold De Bryne, Lukaku and Salah - FCNaija

Former Chelsea captain John Terry has revealed the reason why Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Mohamed Salah were sold by Chelsea at one point during their Stamford Bridge career, according to report.

The trio was sold to West London clubs and subsequently considered among the best players in the League.

De Bruyne has been in scintillating form for the Etihad outfit Manchester City helping Pep Guardiola to a record of 15 straight consecutive wins in the Premier League, He is also considered by many to be the best player in the league at the moment.

Lukaku was in great form for Everton last season which made Manchester United slash a lump sum of £75million to secure his service and has scored 10 Premier League goals this season.

He sold by Chelsea to Everton in 2014.

After making his deal permanent deal from Fiorentina, having been sold by Chelsea, Salah returned to the Premier League but with Liverpool.

Salah has been a shining star since the start for Premier League he has scored 14 goals so far and still counting, The Egyptian recently won the BBC African footballer of the year.

Despite their recent exploits in their various clubs, Terry believes there should be no regrets over their departure from Chelsea. ‘Not really, because at the time they didn’t make our team stronger,’ he told Sky

Sports when asked if they should regret selling them. ‘Let’s not forget we were one of the best teams probably the Premier League has ever seen, in the early days when they arrived. ‘So they were coming into

one of the best sides which was even more difficult. ‘When they come in can they make a big enough impact to sustain and keep their place? No, it’s very difficult to do.’

Terry conceded it remains difficult for young Chelsea players to break into the team, but it’s not impossible. ‘That’s why I think, even at Chelsea, you look at [Andreas] Christensen he’s come in and done great,

keeps his place. David Luiz is now out and fighting for his place. ‘When you’re a younger player like [Ruben] Loftus-Cheek coming in, can you set the world alight in a cup game or whatever game you’ve been given?

The last group game of the Champions League? ‘I don’t think that’s enough for these boys to go “that’s enough game time to show I’m a Chelsea player”. I think unfortunately he then has to go away to a Crystal

Palace. For me, he’s good enough to come back to Chelsea. But sometimes you have to go away. I did it when I was young.

Chelsea has gone from strength to strength even with the sale of these trios in the last four seasons the Blues won two Premier League titles.

220 Boko Haram Terrorists Captured, Says Nigerian Army

Approval of $1 bn anti-terrorism grant in order, NGF replies Fayose

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri

In a feat unequalled since the war against terrorism began about eight years ago, the Nigerian Army, at the weekend, said it captured 167 suspected Boko Haram terrorists in various operations in the North-east over the last fortnight. Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, and Theatre Command Spokesperson, Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri. He said 53 other insurgents had earlier been captured.

The announcement came as President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for $1 billion grant in aid of efforts to combat the Boko Haram terrorism received a boost from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. NGF also dissociated itself from the position of Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, who claimed the grant request was a ploy to garner funds for Buhari’s re-election campaign, which never received the governors’ unanimous support.

In a related development, there were divergent views at the weekend over the fate of repentant terrorists, with some canvassing forgiveness for them while others maintained that they should face the full weight of the law.

Nwachukwu said troops fighting Boko Haram in the North-east under the special military operation code-named Operation Lafiya Dole captured 167 insurgents after raiding their enclaves in the Lake Chad Basin, while 67 women and 173 children, who were identified as family members of the insurgents, were rescued. He said 53 other insurgents had earlier been captured in the northern parts of Borno State.

Nwachukwu said the troops had intensified their offensive to clear remnants of the insurgents in the region, explaining that the operations have yielded result.

The Army spokesman stated, “Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have intensified offensive on Boko Haram enclaves in the island around Lake Chad. The offensive, which commenced about two weeks ago with coordinated air and artillery bombardments on Boko Haram enclaves, is yielding positive results, as several insurgents have been killed while 167 fleeing insurgents have been captured by the troops.

“Troops also extricated and profiled 67 women and 173 children, who revealed during profiling exercise that they are family members of the insurgents, who fled the troops’ offensive.”

Nwachukwu explained that arrangements were being made to handover the women and children to the authorities at the Internally Displaced Persons camps, after the completion of preliminary investigations.

He said the troops had in the past two months conducted long range fighting patrols and ambushes, disclosing that they have cleared the insurgents’ hideouts at Saada and Juwei villages in the northern fringes of Borno State.

According to Nwachukwu, “During the operations, troops intercepted and arrested 53 fleeing insurgents, who have been profiled and are currently helping with investigations. Fifteen insurgents have also willingly renounced the sect and surrendered, dismissing it as futile struggle.”

He commiserated with families of troops who died in the encounters and suicide bombing attacks by the terrorists, and reiterated the commitments of the military to the defeat of the Boko Haram insurgency and restoration of peace to the North-east.

The army spokesperson called on the people in the region to be vigilant and cooperate with the security agencies by providing information on suspicious persons to help the military in the war against the insurgents.

Meanwhile, as the controversy over the approval received by the federal government from governors to withdraw $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account to aid the fight against Boko Haram rages, NGF has dismissed Fayose’s criticism of the approval and claim that it was not supported by all the governors. The forum said Fayose misrepresented what took place at its meeting, insisting that the governors have given the federal government the green light to withdraw $1 billion from the ECA to fight Boko Haram.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the 83rd National Economic Council meeting in Abuja, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki said the governors had mandated the federal government to take the money from the ECA as their own contribution to the fight against Boko Haram.

The balance in the ECA, as reported to the council by Accountant General of the Federation Ahmed Idris, was $2.317 billion as of December 13, 2017.

Fayose had declared in a widely publicised statement that the $1 billion to be withdrawn from the ECA was a scheme by the APC federal government to fund Buhari’s second term election in 2019. “Since they said they have defeated Boko Haram, what else do they need a whopping sum of $1 billion (over N360 billion) for if not to fund the 2019 election?” the governor had alleged.

But Chairman of NGF and governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, said the approval for the $1 billion was a collective decision by the forum, stressing that Fayose’s absence at the meeting where the decision was taken does not exculpate him from the forum’s resolutions.

In a statement by NGF’s Head of Media, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, the forum accused Fayose of being unfair with his comments, saying, “You can never spend too much on security because the safety of lives and property is the most cardinal among all the principles of governance in any democracy.”

Bello-Barkindo said, “I am saying that the statement was an unfair cut against the forum. When a decision is taken by the forum in one’s absence, once there was a quorum at the meeting, where the decision was taken, it becomes binding on all. I am sure Fayose was not making the statement to undermine the forum. He was just doing his thing.”

NGF justified the $1 billion grant as sign of synergy between the governors and the Presidency in the fight against insurgency, “which ought not to be politicised.”

According to the statement, “This same lack of unity between governors and the presidency had brought about poor governance in the past, throughout the country and now that we are working together, no one should constitute a wedge in the process.”

NGF stated that the issue of drawing from the ECA was very broadly deliberated at the forum’s meeting on the eve of the National Economic Council meeting, where the decision was taken.

Bello-Barkindo added, “If Governor Fayose was there at the meeting, he would have seen the wisdom in the decision. Yes, the administration is claiming to have decimated the insurgents out of Sambisa Forest but they are re-emerging in different flashpoints across the country. They need to be tackled wherever they are and the NGF decided to support the Presidency just as it (The Presidency) had been supporting states with their own problems.

“Governor Fayose is on his own! We have to protect our people and we have to do it with everything we have. Let me reemphasise one more thing, Mr. President is a responsible and honest leader, who does not believe in money politics and he would never divert public resources into it.”

However, Yari has restated that an internal rapprochement is on-going to reinforce the forum’s unity and indivisibility for the delivery of good governance to Nigerians. He said NGF had begun consultations with Fayose on his stance on the ECA deductions to fight insurgency. Yari said the row over the $1 billion ECA money was a minor misunderstanding among governors, which would be addressed. He remained optimistic that a middle ground would be found that would further strengthen the unity of members of the forum.

In the meantime, mixed reactions have greeted the voluntary surrender by some Boko Haram insurgents, as opinions are divided as the whether they should be forgiven or tried. Some, especially religious leaders, have argued that the repentant insurgents should be forgiven and given the opportunity to reintegrate into society. But there are those who feel that the repentant insurgents should still face the law for the total healing of the society. Those were the major suggestions from a dialogue on Peace, Justice and Accountability organised by the Centre for Democracy and Development, Presidential Committee on North East Initiative, and the Borno State Ministry for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, with input from MacArthur Foundation.

The dialogue opened on Thursday in Maiduguri with major stakeholders in the Boko Haram-ravaged Borno State sharing their thoughts on how reconciliation and social reengineering could be pursued as the crisis gradually comes to an end.

The Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Christian Association of Nigeria, and some Non-Governmental Organisations believed the victims could forgive and gradually forget over time, because time heals wounds, quoting from their respective scriptures. But Head of Department of Political Science, University of Maiduguri, Professor Ibrahim Umara, disagreed, as he doubted the practicability of forgiving and forgetting the atrocious deeds of the insurgents.

Umara told the forum, “How possible will it be for a person whose nine children were slaughtered right before him and his wife abducted; or the 90-year old at Damboa, whose nine children, the youngest of them having four children, and each of his elder brothers have so many more, were also slaughtered right before him, and he is living right now with the grand children, catering for them in his old age to easily forgive and forget?

“How can kinsmen and an entire community forgive and forget an insurgent, who killed his father right before his mother, who bore him in her womb and experienced the pains of his birth, and after killing the father he takes that mother, calling her his wife on the warped faith that she and his father were not legally married?

“If such victims of insurgency forgive, such forgiveness could practically be temporary, because the moment they see those who committed such atrocities on them now living among them as free citizens ‘pampered’ with occupational skills and start-up capitals, especially while they (the victims) are still wallowing in poverty, the dreadful memories would return to them and they might experience the urge for vengeance.”

Another academic, Professor Hauwa Biu, took a different position, saying forgiveness can gradually herald forgetting.

Participants unanimously agreed that to facilitate abiding forgiveness and forgetting, justice must be seen to have been administered on the insurgents and the perpetrators of crimes during the insurgency.

The representatives of the organisers, Senior Programme Office with CDD, Musa Shalangwa, and Abdulrahman Hamisu of PCNI said the dialogue, which would also take place in Yobe and Adamawa states, was organised following the gradual restoration of peace and security and the return of dispersed victims to their communities.

Pope tackles US-Jerusalem issue with Jordan’s King

Pope Francis (R) speaks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II during a private meeting at the Vatican, on December 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / POOL AND AFP PHOTO / MAX ROSSI

Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Pope Francis on Tuesday discussed the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, as well as the former’s role as custodian of the city’s holy sites.

“My dear friend and brother,” said Abdullah as he greeted the pontiff at the Vatican, presenting him a painting of Jerusalem’s Old City, featuring the Islamic Dome of the Rock and the Christian Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

The Vatican said the pair had “cordial conversations focused above all on the theme of the promotion of peace and stability in the Mideast, with particular reference to the question of Jerusalem.”

They discussed “the role of the Hashemite Sovereign as Custodian of the Holy Places” and pledged “to encourage negotiations among the interested parties, as well as promoting inter-religious dialogue,” it said in a statement.

Francis called for “respect of the status quo” in Jerusalem earlier this month following US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, warning against “a new spiral of violence”.

Abdullah has denounced the Jerusalem announcement as “a violation of international rights”.

Jerusalem, which contains sites considered sacred by Christians, Jews and Muslims, is of huge importance to both Israel and the Palestinians.

Trump’s recognition of it as the Israeli capital, and his plans to move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, effectively ignores Palestinian claims on the city and has led to widespread criticism and protest, particularly in the Arab world.

Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem has never been recognised internationally, and all countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv.

The UN has long maintained that the only way to forge peace is to have two states — Israel and Palestine — with Jerusalem as the capital of both and the borders returned to their status before the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.

East Jerusalem was annexed by Israel after the war, but before Trump’s announcement it had not been internationally recognised as part of Israel.

Minister says Nigerians must take possession of anti-corruption war

Mohammed said the government successfully stopped the payment of phantom subsidy of between N800 billion and N1.3 trillion.

Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Tuesday called on Nigerians to take possession of the anti-corruption war to ensure its success.

The minister made the call in Abuja at the inauguration of the Anti-Corruption Situation Room (ACSR), which includes Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), media groups, government agencies and other stakeholders.

He reiterated that Nigerians must not see the anti-corruption fight as President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight or the All Progressives Congress’ fight.

“Once Nigerians take possession of the war, there will be no more hiding place for the corrupt.

“Those accusing the administration of engaging in a selective anti-corruption fight will be exposed for who they are: apologists for treasury looters!’’ he said.

The minister challenged the CSOs to work with the media and other stakeholders to ensure that Nigerians never forget the damage done to the country by treasury looters.

“Those who turned our treasury to their piggy bank are once again presenting themselves as the saviours of the nation.

“They say the best time for Nigeria was when the proceeds of their corruption subsidised many and gave the illusion of economic boom.

“They are so emboldened as to say Nigerians are earnestly yearning for them. No contrition.

“No apologies, no shame, just sheer bravado, unbridled arrogance and revisionism.

“The CSOs, the media and indeed all stakeholders owe it a duty not to allow Nigerians to forget to say ‘Never Again’ to those who view Nigeria as nothing but a cash cow to be milked to death,’’ he said.

The minister said that the formation of the ACSR came at a better time that the Buhari administration’s fight against corruption was gaining momentum and the government winning the war.

He listed some of the gains of the anti-corruption fight as raising the country’s foreign reserves from 23 billion dollars to 38 billion dollars.

Mohammed said the government successfully stopped the payment of phantom subsidy of between N800 billion and N1.3 trillion.

He said 43 million dollars and 56 houses were recovered from just one official of the immediate past administration.

The minister commended those behind the formation of the ACSR, a platform to build synergy in fighting corruption.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, the Chairman, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) said the ACSR was the initiative of his group in partnership with other anti-corruption CSOs.

He said they were also partnering with the labour movement, the law enforcement agencies, the Parliament and the Judiciary.

Suraju said the ACSR was formed to ensure that Nigerians take ownership of the fight against corruption.

The chairman of the event, Prof. Abdullahi Shehu said “corruption is the greatest challenge to the nation’s development’’.

He said the fight against corruption must not be seen as government fight alone.