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Tag: World

  • We’re Committed To Reducing Governance Cost; Our N130M Toyota Prado Are Work Tools To Reach Constituencies, No Matter How Remote, Says Nigerian Federal Lawmaker

    The House of Representatives through its Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs.

    Hon. Akin Rotimi has confirmed the distribution of Toyota Prado SUVs worth N130 million to each lawmaker.

    He said the vehicles are utility operational 2023 model Prado SUVs and are tied to their oversight functions and to be used in the discharge of their duties in the standing committees.

    According to him, they are not personal vehicles.

    He added that the vehicles would remain the property of the National Assembly at the expiration of the tenure of the 10th Assembly in 2027, should the extant assets deboarding policy of government still be in place.

    He said members have the option of making payment for the outstanding value of the vehicles to government coffers before they can claim ownership.

    Rotimi stated this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja while reacting to the media reports that trailed the controversial SUVs.

    The statement read, “The House of Representatives is monitoring a trending topic across multiple traditional and online media, concerning the allocation of vehicles to honourable members, and because this issue has understandably generated significant public interest, we believe Nigerians deserve feedback from their elected representatives.

    “While many versions of this story carry varying exaggerations, we can confirm that the National Assembly bureaucracy is in the phased process of procuring and distributing operational vehicles to honourable members over the coming weeks and months.

    “This development is in accordance with extant procurement laws and has been the practice in previous assemblies. It is also not peculiar to the legislature, as unelected government officials in the Executive arm of government from the Director level and above, in most cases, have official vehicles attached to their offices.

    “It is important to make a few clarifications. The vehicles to be allocated to the offices of honourable members are utility operational 2023 model Prado Jeep vehicles tied to their oversight functions in the discharge of their duties in the standing committees. They are not personal vehicles gifted to honourable members.

    “For the duration of the 10th assembly (2023 – 2027), the vehicles shall remain the property of the National Assembly. At the expiration of the tenure of the 10th Assembly in 2027, should the extant assets deboarding policy of government still be in place, honourable members may have the option of making payment for the outstanding value of the vehicles to government coffers before they can become theirs, otherwise it remains the property of the National Assembly.

    “The public is invited to note that as part of the 10th Assembly’s objective to ensure our integrity and independence, honourable members of the Green Chamber have resolved to maintain a respectable distance from the Executive arm of government, especially in issues relating to logistical aspects of oversight functions, including reaching difficult terrains in the country.

    “No matter how remote the location is, as long as there are Nigerian citizens living there, they deserve highly mobile representatives who can see first-hand what they are going through, and ensure government interventions, programmes, and policies are carried out effectively. This can only be possible with functional and reliable off-road vehicles.

    “Also, the House would like to inform the public that we remain committed to reducing the cost of governance in line with present realities. Those willing to research further would find a significant body of work with evidence that the percentage of the component of the Legislature’s budget as part of our national budget has been on a downward trend over the past decade, despite inflation and the expanding role and relevance of honourable members in the lives of citizens. It currently stands at 0.5% of the Federal budget.

    “Accordingly, as all stakeholders continue to advance the conversation about reducing the cost of governance, we encourage looking in the right direction, and not cause disaffection for honourable members who want to discharge their duties effectively and above board, without being susceptible to inducement when the enablement to function is impaired.

    “The vehicles are work tools and not status symbols – Honourable Members are diligent and patriotic elected representatives and not entitled. The anticipated allocation of vehicles will contribute to improved representation, constituency outreach and oversight functions.”

     

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  • Tinubu swears in three additional ministers, presides over FEC meeting

    Three more ministers were sworn into President Bola Tinubu’s 48-member cabinet today, Monday.

    The brief swearing in ceremony took place at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, before the commencement of Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting, which is the second in Tinubu’s administration.

    This is coming nearly two weeks after the Senate cleared the trio after screening on October 4.

    Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Ayodele Olawande, and Balarabe Lawal are the new ministers who took the oath of office today at 12:15 p.m.

    President Tinubu had nominated Ibrahim and Olawande for the positions of Minister of Youth and Minister of State for Youth, respectively, on September 17.

    Read Also: Tinubu a master forger, lied about everything in life – Atiku

    Additionally, he asked the Senate to confirm Kaduna minister Balarabe Lawal.

    Former governor Nasir El-Rufai’s secretary under him, Lawal, now serves as environment minister in Tinubu’s cabinet in place of his predecessor.

    Ibrahim, 37, hails from Kwara State. She is a medical doctor, politician and development expert and advocate of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

    Before her recent appointment, she served as the National President of the APC Young Women Forum.

    Olawande, 34, is a community development expert and youth leader within APC.

    Before his nomination, Olawande served as the special adviser on innovation to the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, office of the vice president Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. He occupied the role from 2019 to 2023.

    Present are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume; the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu.

    Also there were the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, and ministers.

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  • UN says over one million people have so far fled north Gaza

    HAMAS-ISRAEL WAR

    HAMAS-ISRAEL WAR[Credit: Al Jazeera]

    UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths, on Monday, said over one million people have fled from the northern Gaza Strip to the south of the coastal enclave ahead of an expected Israeli ground invasion.

    “My main concern right now is to get aid into Gaza,” Mr Griffiths said.

    He said it was important to help the people on the move and those already in southern Gaza “because they won’t get out of Gaza.”

    Mr Griffiths plans to travel to Cairo on Tuesday to negotiate with senior Egyptian officials on opening the southern border with Gaza for aid deliveries.

    He said the UN was engaged in “hourly” negotiations with Israel about aid access.

    His main message was “urgency” in view of the increasingly poor supply situation in the Gaza Strip.

    (dpa/NAN)

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  • Teen suspect in Hollywood mass shooting is being tried as adult. Here’s what it means

    A 15-year-old teen accused of firing a gun during the Hollywood Broadwalk mass shooting that left nine wounded on Memorial Day has been transferred to adult court.

    After a review of Jordan Burton’s case, Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor and a panel of senior prosecutors decided his case should be transferred to adult court. The charges against Burton, whose 16th birthday is on Oct. 27, were filed Oct. 6. They are nine counts of attempted second-degree murder and carrying a concealed firearm — all felonies.

    “If the case had been handled in the juvenile system, anyone found liable and committed to a Department of Juvenile Justice program would have to be released after a maximum of 1½ to 3 years and could only be kept under supervision in the community until age 21,” Paula McMahon, a spokeswoman of the attorney’s office, told the Miami Herald over email on Wednesday. “If that same individual is found guilty in the adult court system, they may still be eligible for youthful offender or juvenile sanctions.”

    What started as a verbal dispute among two groups on the night of May 29, ended with a fight, a shootout and a stampede of petrified residents and tourists. Hollywood police officers chased after suspects and aided people caught in the crossfire as paramedics arrived. Among seven bystanders wounded was a 1-year-old shot in their left foot.

    In the following hours and days, detectives analyzed security footage from the area and released stills of the suspects. The manhunt for those believed to be involved in the shooting ended seven days later when the fifth and last suspect was arrested.

    “This senseless act of violence has serious consequences under the law and they will have to face these charges and answer for the injuries they caused,” Hollywood police said at the time.

    Hollywood police said another suspect, Lionel JeanCharles Jr., 19, was the first one to fire a gun, shooting “victim 1.” Burton then shot at the opposing crew, identified by police as “group 2,” and into bystanders, according to his arrest report. Ariel Cardahn Paul, another minor, also fired at group 2 and into bystanders, police said.

    “Both groups then fled in various directions.” police said in the report.

    JeanCharles is charged with attempted first-degree murder with serious bodily injury, eight counts of attempted second-degree murder and carrying a concealed firearm. Morgan Deslouches and Keshawn Paul Stewart, both 18, are facing gun-related charges.

    Regarding Cardahn Paul’s arrest, McMahon said “this case is being handled in juvenile court and we do not comment on cases in juvenile court.”

    ___

    © 2023 Miami Herald

    Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.



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  • I Will Appoint Billionaires As Local Govt Chairmen-Otti

    Alex-Otti

    Governor Alex Otti Of Abia State has revealed he will appoint billionaires as local government chairmen to add value to governance in the state.

    He added that the era where people take up government appointments for the purpose of enriching themselves was gone.

    The Governor disclosed this when he spoke to some stakeholders in Abia State last week after the flag off of Port Harcourt Road.

    The governor revealed that only merit would determine who gets what in his administration and confirmed he will use more billionaires and even Army Major-Generals as local government transition chairmen depending on the need of the areas.

    “I will be announcing billionaires as local government chairmen. Gone are the days when local government chairmen will come and be sharing money. We don’t share money again.

    “As I am developing the whole of Abia State, I need to have my army generals in different places of the local government.

    “So, in your different local governments, you will be seeing different kinds of people”, he said.

    Continuing, the governor also revealed that he had called billionaire businessman and politician, Chief David Onuoha Ọgba(Bourdex), to be mayor of Ohafia.

    “I called Bourdex you know him? to be the mayor of Ohafia, the man will be there and I will sit down with him and discuss how to develop Ohafia.”

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  • ‘We are the most powerful nation in history of the world’

    ?We are the most powerful nation in history of the world? - Biden boasts about America

    US President, Joe Biden has boasted about the capability of the United States of America to support two wars in two different continents of the world at the same time.

     

    Ukraine is fighting Russia while Israel just started a conflict with Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has resulted in the pounding of Gaza by Israeli forces but military analysts opine that the US could be stretched by the two wars with China still on the wings over a possible invasion of Taiwan.

    Biden says that Israel has a right to defend itself following deadly incursions made by Hamas militants into Israel on October 7, which led to the killing of hundreds of people and the abduction of many people.

    On Sunday, the Gaza health ministry said at least 2,670 Palestinians had been killed and 9,600 wounded since Israel launched its retaliatory attack on the enclave.

    “We’re the United States of America for God’s sake. The most powerful nation in the history of the world,” Biden told Scott Pelley in CBS News magazine 60 Minutes on Sunday night, October 15.

     

    “We can take care of both of these and still maintain our overall international defence. We have the capacity to do this and we have an obligation to, we are the ‘essential nation’ to paraphrase the former Secretary of State. And if we don’t, then who does?”
     

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  • Alleged Illegal Detention: Court Cautions Nigerian Secret Police, DSS, Agip Oil Over Attempts To Delay Ijaw Youth Activist’s Suit

    A state High Court sitting in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital on Friday cautioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) against attempts to delay a hearing in the suit filed by an Ijaw youth activist, Comrade Collins Trueman Opumie over his arrest and detention in an underground detention facility in Abuja for 730 days.

    The presiding judge, Justice Duke Charlie warned the counsel for the DSS, George Obiora Esq, and counsel for Agip, Barr. Sonia to stop attempts to delay the time of the court and adopt all pre-trial addresses and application processes for the trial.

    At the last hearing on Friday, Justice Charlie had all parties to the suit adopt their preliminary applications to regularise their processes at the pre-trial conference.

    The matter is slated for a definite hearing for the claimant to open his case on the adjourned date – November 1.

    The claimant’s counsel, Barr. Ebipreye Sese brought an application before the court to regularise the claimant’s reply attached with the claimant’s further witness statement on oath to the 1st & 2nd defendants’ statement of defence.

    The DSS also applied to regularise their consequential amendment and the police filed their defence.

    The counsel for the DSS, George Obiora Esq, also told the court that they might not be able to produce their witness because he was attached to a politician involved in the governorship election slated for November 11.

    The counsel for Agip, Ms. Sonia Esq told the court that they might also fail to appear on adjourned dates due to the busy nature of their diary and pleaded that the court should adjourn till December to afford them time to prepare adequately.

    But Justice Charlie warned against attempts to delay the court and adjourned till November 1.

    The plaintiff, Opumie is expected to present witnesses at the resumed trial.

    Opumie had in the suit numbered YHC/324/2022 demanded the sum of N9 billion in damages against his illegal arrest and detention in an underground detention facility in Abuja for 730 days as allegedly ordered by officials of Agip Oil.

    Sese, counsel for the plaintiff, stated that the case against the DSS, Agip and the police is for false Imprisonment for two years at the instance of Agip’s false and malicious complaints/reports against the claimant and malicious prosecution without a probable cause which ended in favour of the claimant.

    He is also pleading with the court to declare that his arrest, torture and subsequent detention without proper food and medical attention and access to family members for two years were malicious.

    In his eight prayers before the court, Opumie sought the order of the court against the defendants jointly and severally “for damages suffered as a result of the false imprisonment for two (2) years under the custody of the DSS (2nd set of defendants) in their prison facilities without bail or arraignment in a court of law at the instance of the Agip (1st set of defendants) false and malicious complaints/reports against him”.

    “An injunction restraining the 2nd and 3rd set of defendants from further harassing or attempts to arrest and detain the claimant at the instance of the 1st set of defendants.”

    Opumie, who is an indigene of Opuama community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state and among Niger Delta Youths that embraced the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), in his statement of claims, accused the DSS in Yenagoa of allegedly abducting him at the instance of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in a Gestapo style, physically and mentally tortured him, tied and threw him into the boot of a vehicle and took him to Abuja like a common criminal without the knowledge of his family and access to medical care.

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  • Having EFCC, ICPC heads from same region against Federal character —Falana

    Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has faulted having the Chairmen of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), from the same South-West region.

    The senior lawyer who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Monday, said in the spirit of the federal character principle, it was wrong to have the heads of the two top anti-graft agencies in the country from the same region.

    Falana argued that in respect to the federal character principle, if the EFCC chairman is from the south, it was only fair for the ICPC head to come from another geopolitical zone, and vice versa.

    He said though the recently appointed chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede and the ICPC Chairman, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye (SAN), who has been in office since February 2019, are eminently qualified to run the agencies, being from the same South-West geopolitical zone negates the spirit of federal character.

    “If you are going to have the EFCC and the ICPC, the heads cannot come from same zone,” the senior advocate said.

    “If you are going to have the EFCC and the ICPC, the heads cannot come from same zone. If there are two positions in the public service, one must go to the North, one must go to the South.

    READ ALSO:Falana demands inquest into Mohbad’s ‘mysterious’ death

    “If there are four, two must go to the South, two must go to the North. If there are six, one must go to each geopolitical zone. That is the law in Nigeria today.

    “So, I am not comfortable with the fact that the heads of the EFCC and the ICPC are from the same zone. Apart from that, Mr Ola Olukoyede, is eminently qualified to head the EFCC. My colleagues who have criticised the appointment have not looked at the relevant provisions of the EFCC which is Section 2.

    “There is no issue; the only issue that has been raised has to be considered by the government is that we have in this country, the Federal Character Commission Act and also by the virtue of Section 14 of the constitution, appointments must reflect Federal Character,” he noted.

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  • Israel evacuates border communities as tensions flare with Hezbollah

    HEZBOLLAH MILITANTS (credit: council on foreign relations)

    HEZBOLLAH MILITANTS
    (credit: council on foreign relations)

    Following repeated attacks by the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia from southern Lebanon, Israel has ordered the evacuation of settlements up to two kilometres from the border area.

    The office of Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said on Monday that 28 towns on Israel’s northern border were affected.

    The residents were to be taken to safety at state expense and housed in guest houses.

    The Israeli army had already declared a four-kilometre-wide strip in the border area a restricted zone on Sunday.

    Since the unprecedented surprise attack by Hamas on Israel and the counter-attacks by the Israeli army on the Gaza Strip, there has been increasing violence on the border between Israel and Lebanon recently.

    This has fueled concerns about a further regional escalation of the conflict. 

    (dpa/NAN)

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  • Philippine Coast Guard: China militia destroyed coral in our waters

    This article was originally published by Radio Free Asia and is reprinted with permission.

    The Philippine Coast Guard on Monday blamed Chinese maritime militia ships for destroying coral reefs in Manila-claimed waters in the South China Sea.

    The coast guard’s announcement came after the Philippine military accused the Chinese militia of massive destruction, particularly in the seabed of Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal, features within the country’s internationally recognized exclusive economic zone (EEZ).  

    Divers had carried out “underwater surveys” of the seabed, said Commodore Jay Tarriela, the coast guard spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, Manila’s name for parts of the South China Sea within its jurisdiction.

    “The results of these surveys showed that the marine ecosystem in the subject WPS features appeared lifeless, with minimal to no signs of life,” Tarriela said in a statement.

    He said there was“visible discoloration” of the seabed that indicated “deliberate activities” meant to modify the natural topography of the terrain.

    “The presence of crushed corals strongly suggests a potential act of dumping, possibly involving the same dead corals that were previously processed and cleaned before being returned to the seabed,” Tarriela said. 

    Both reefs are near the island of Palawan, the Philippines southwestern island fronting the disputed sea.

    Monitoring between Aug. 9 and Sept. 11 showed an “average presence” of about 33 Chinese maritime militia ships near the two features, Tarriela said.

    The swarming activities of the Chinese militia fleet and their alleged destructive fishing practices “may have directly caused the degradation and destruction of the marine environment in the WPS features,” he said. 

    The South China Sea is home to about 177,000 square miles of biodiverse coral reefs, environmentalists said. There are an estimated 571 different species of coral and 3,794 different species of fish in its waters.

    By comparison, there are roughly 600 known types of coral and 1,500 different species of fish in the Great Barrier Reef off of the East Coast of Australia. 

    China, which has the world’s largest fishing fleet, claims most of the South China Sea. Six other Asian governments – Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam – have territorial claims or maritime boundaries that overlap with China’s claims.

    The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to requests for comment from BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated news outlet. The foreign ministry spokeswoman in Beijing did not discuss the issue on Monday, according to a transcript of her news conference.

    On Saturday, Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos, the Philippine military’s western command chief, told reporters that coral reefs in Rozul Reef have been thoroughly harvested by Chinese militia ships. 

    “We noticed coral harvesting in their swarming areas. After they departed, we pinpointed the location and dispatched divers for an underwater survey. They observed that no corals remained – everything was damaged, with debris scattered,” Carlos said. 

    “There’s nothing left in the area,” he said, adding divers claimed the coral harvest occurred recently, although the Philippine Coast Guard did not release pictures of the undamaged seabed.

    He said Philippine authorities had successfully driven away the Chinese militia in early July, but the militia returned the following month because it was nearly impossible to patrol the coastal area regularly.

    “We’d like to maintain [patrol] 100%, 365 days a year. But because of the weather, limited resources … our troops have to go back to port to refuel, to take some rest,” he said.

    DFA, senators speak out

    On Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines consistently “raised the alarm over ecologically harmful activities” in the EEZ.

    “We, therefore, call on everyone concerned to act responsibly and cease all activities that can damage our precious marine environment. The well-being of millions of people who depend on the South China Sea for their livelihood is at stake,” it said in a statement.

    Two senators, Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada and Francis Tolentino, an ally of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., issued statements speaking out against the damage.

    “Preserving the marine environment and coral reefs in Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal is not only a responsibility but a moral duty that we owe to future generations,” Estrada said.

    Tolentino, meanwhile, said he is crafting the Philippine Maritime Zone Law that he envisions would be the country’s legal basis for territorial disputes.

    “If we file a claim, damages, it should be in a tribunal recognized by UNCLOS, United Nations,” he said, referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which governs uses of oceans and their resources.

    Bobby Roldan, who represents the fishermen’s group Pamalakaya, urged Marcos to order a wider damage assessment of the area. 

    “There is a need to identify if the swarmed area was subjected to coral harvesting, clam hunting, or any military activities that destroyed its vast coral reefs,” Roldan said.

    “We urge the Marcos administration to take this matter urgently by tapping marine scientists and other experts to extensively assess the damage and its possible long-term implications to the local fishery production.



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