The Sun Nigerian Newspaper Today

Shocking corruption reports coming, says govt



yohaig.ngRitics of the Muhammadu Buhari administration's anti-corruption crusade yesterday got an answer - blackmail or no intimidation will stop the war.

Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed said Nigerians must be ready for more mind boggling revelations in the 2015 and 2014 report, which will be not yet been released.

For anyone doubting the allegations, the minister said they should investigate the advice he provided to know whether it was true or not.

"Let us talk more about the price of corruption. Have you ever seen that whereas the national budget in Nigeria has increased from just over N900 billion in 1999 to over N6 trillion in 2016, poverty has also grown nearly by the same proportion? The reason is not far fetched: Appropriated funds have largely ended up in the pockets of a few looters."

He added: "Do you understand that what's so far been shown as per taking in the Dasukigate is about N54.8billion Whereas, in the whole 2015 all the zonal intervention act cost N52 billion. Here is the cost of corruption for you.

The final result is the roads aren't built and the people suffer and even die in road mishaps that are avoidable when the cash meant to assemble roads is looted. We are perpetually sentenced to darkness, when the money supposed to provide electricity is looted. When a few pocket the cash meant for healthcare, we are not able to reduce infant and maternal mortality. These are the costs of corruption. Let's not simply speak about corruption in the abstract, let us be counting its price to our own lives as a way to drive home the point that corruption should be handled decisively for Nigerians to feel the impact of governance."

Mohammed spoke of two courts of corruption - the court of public opinion as well as the court of law. "The court of public opinion is also as significant as the court of law," he said.

Mohammed raised the alarm that treasury looters had resorted to fighting back, using various means.

But he assured the country that the government will not give in to their own distractions.

The authorities, he said, has achieved what it set out to achieve, which can be to sensitise Nigerians.

He said: "Well, I could let you know today that corruption is fighting back, and it's fighting hard and dirty. Sponsored articles have begun appearing in the newspapers as well as in the social networking while 'Talking Heads' have began making the rounds in the electronic media, all deriding the struggle against corruption as good as this Administration. Not stopping there, they are creating distractions by sponsoring articles to deride the Government's policies normally, tag the President a budding dictator as well as write off his 2016 budget. We are aware the only goal of the attacks is to distract focus in the war on corruption.

"It's saddening that some otherwise credible voices have unwittingly let themselves to be railroaded to the bandwagon of pro-corruption orchestra. They participate in sophistry to make an effort to rally Nigerians from the anti-corruption battle. One hack writer said the disclosure that 55 Nigerians allegedly stole no anger was triggered by N1.34 trillion between 2006 and 2013 among Nigerians! A disclosure that attracted the attention of the world's most effective country and global financial institutions, played widely in the international media and made the front page in more than a dozen Nigerian papers can't be dismissed with a wave of the hand.

"Additionally, one of those who gained from the Dasukigate even had the temerity to deride the anti-corruption war as 'selective', when in saner climes he should have been so ashamed of himself that he'd have apologised to the country and hunkered down...for good. These sponsored assaults are not about to cease. In the days ahead, they'll be much more intense and much more organized in fact. But the good thing is the fact that we are winning the war. Nigerians are now talking about corruption. Nigerians are now counting the cost of corruption to their lives.

"We call on Nigerians never to be taken in from the antics of the sponsored denunciation of the anti-graft war. The treasury looters, who have so much resources in their own kitty, and their cohorts will throw everything but the kitchen sink only at that Management, But we have no doubt that Nigerians are discerning enough to be aware of the truth which, in the words of President Muhammadu Buhari, is that unless Nigeria kills corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.

"This Administration will neither be diverted nor intimidated by anyone into giving up or weakening the struggle against corruption, which will be a war of survival for our nation. No level of media or alternative attacks will cease the fight. The pseudo-analysts and hack writers will labour in vain in heir quest to stop the train of the anti-corruption fight."

The minister said the information on corruption was meant to sensitise the state on the evil of corruption.

"Let me restate, for emphasis, that when we give instances of mind boggling acts of corruption, our aim isn't to vilify anyone but to sensitise Nigerians as to how harmful corruption would be to the country as well as the folks. The truth is that what we've revealed so far is nothing but the tip of the iceberg. Nigerians should remain tuned for more shocking revelations in the days ahead."

On why the aspects he gave on alleged treasury looters failed to contain 1999-2005, he explained that the compilation covered only periods when the anti-corruption law became fully operational and that was around 2006.

The minister said by the time the details of 2014 and 2015 are released, the state will likely be shocked.



ogenwaozuzu.comHis words: "When we make subsequent disclosures, you'll be more shocked than you're now."

The government has been criticized for trampling on the rights of accused individuals or disobeying court orders. Mohammed disagreed.

He said: "What are we even talking about? Is the human right of the 55 persons more important than human rights of 170 Nigerians? But again, allow me to make it clear that we usually do not disobey court orders".

When prodded to provide information on the 55 individuals, he said the simplest way would be to attend the EFCC or the court to find out who they are as they all have one pending case or the other in the court.

He also decried the scenario where it takes about seven or more years to prosecute the "so-called strong" people.

On the function of the judiciary in the fight against corruption, the minister reiterated his earlier appeal that both the Bar and Bench should start to see the fight as a national campaign.



yohaig.ngHe said " and I will ensure you that we've made a presentation And the judiciary is willing and prepared to collaborate with us. So we realize that judiciary is vital, and we're reaching out to them, we are appealing to also know there are several structural reforms that require to take place and we are working on them.

"On our own part too, we make sure when the administration of legal justice is actualised, it's going to decrease the amount of time it takes now to prosecute a case because under that law, I believe the most time allowed for adjournment is two."


Nigeria: New Nigerian Publishes Special Edition in the Memory of Sardauna

The New Nigerian Newspapers (NNN) Ltd, publishers of the New Nigerian group of papers, published a special edition Friday in memory of its founder, the late Premier of Northern Nigeria and Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello who died on January 15, 1966; only two weeks after creating the newspaper on January 1, 1966. Is the lead headline, In Memoriam, using the rider, 50th Commemoration of the defunct northern Area Sir Ahmadu Bello of the passing of Premier; having a large graphic of the hero in his trademark dress.

Substantially as the management and staff of the NNN made a statement by coming up with all the special variant of honouring the celebrated founder of the newspaper, their expectations from current leaders of the North were cut short. Recently, the 50th commemoration of the passing on of the late Sardauna was held from the North in attendance and part of the programme with distinguished personalities in Arewa House in Kaduna was the launching of some variants of the New Nigerian published for the occasion. The concept was to raise cash for NNN to commence operations again.

And about three hundred copies of NNN edition were rolled out. However, the result had not been the original goal as the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai merely enjoined people to purchase the special publication, saying that it's details of times and the late Sardauna's life. Daily Times Trust on Sunday thus assembled the copies sold at the occasion weren't up to 40 (at N300 each), while the remaining copies were given out to the sellers.

It would be remembered the workers of NNN stopped production since January 2013 following the inability of the management to keep paying their wages. Workers were owed several months of wages and other entitlements as well as the reason for the default was said to be operational insolvency. Since that time, there have been continued attempts to revitalize the business to no accessible First, two editions: New Nigerian Weekly and New Nigerian on Sunday were suspended. The daily edition was printing less than 2,000 copies.

In addition, the management removed some 'redundant' staff but did not pay them their benefits. Now, Daily Trust on Sunday assembled that the months of unpaid salaries and cease of work affected on the staff. Later on, the Joint Workers Consultative Union of the New Nigerian Newspaper (NNN), Kaduna called off the 31-month strike which started on January 22, 2013. A statement to that effect was signed by Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Chairman NNN Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Bulus Shabayan, Chairman National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers (NUPPPPROW) NNN Chapel. The workers said they had resolved to resume responsibility. But upon the management and also the workers not supplied resumption of duty, materials for work managed to commence online publication. And because NNN was one of the foremost legacies of the late Sardauna and also the duty of the 19-state Northern authorities, attempts were made by the workers and management to re-launch it to businesses during the 50th commemoration of his death. But the move was not successful.

Among the workers of NNN who spoke to Daily Trust on Sunday said now the move to boost funds for NNN at the 50th commemoration of the passing of Sardauna has failed, it will likely be back to status quo and the struggle will continue. He explained the claims and counter claims between the workers and the workers and between the management and the 19 Northern authorities may also continue. According to him, if any ceremony give the specified focus to NNN and project its interest and needs, he wondered what else can. On whether the governors and dignitaries knew they were to raise cash on the occasion for NNN, he said because it absolutely was in the programme, they ought to have understood.


Nigeria: airline takeover, Press awash with Buhari's vacation, trial of senate president

The five days holiday taken by President Muhammadu Buhari, Supreme Court's nod for the trial of senate president as well as the state takeover of Aero Contractor airline led many Nigerian papers on Saturday.National Mirror clarified that eight months after he took over power from former President Goodluck Jonathan on May 29, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday proceeded on holiday.

It said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would do the functions of the President.

Nation is excited that the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Friday got the green light from the Supreme Court to proceed with the 13-count fictitious strength proclamation charge brought against Senate President Bukola Saraki from the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

Vanguard Newspaper Nigeria said President Buhari has shown that his administration has within three months saved N2.2 trillion for the state through the enforcement of the Treasury Single Account, TSA.



netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/LIFE.jpg" style="max-width:410px;float:left;padding:10px 10px 10px 0px;border:0px;"></a>As issues of inferior power supply, lack surplus billings, of facilities, lack of maintenance and others persist Guardian said, Nigerians have questioned the reasoning supporting the increase in electricity tariff.

Daily Independent said Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, will hold a joint meeting with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and top executives of Electricity Supply Companies next week to avert the planned picketing of the Discos by members of the NLC.

This Day reported that the premise of complete ownership of Aero Contractors, a premium airline in Nigeria, will not change its flight operations, as Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), takes within the airline due to debt.

The Sun reported that five military personnel deployed to checkmate conduit~line vandals at Abule region of Ikorodu, Lagos State were killed in the early hours of Friday as they engaged the vandals who have been armed to the teeth.