[dropcap]A[/dropcap] Knight of Saint John, Sir Moses Ugwu, has urged Catholic priests to steer clear of partisan politics by resisting the temptation to endorse candidates ahead of the 2019 general elections.
Ugwu made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Wednesday, saying that some clerics were getting it wrong by endorsing candidates or political parties.He said the responsibility of a priest is to guide his followers and win more souls for God.The knight said political leaders needed the prayers of priests, especially when they are not doing well, adding that clerics should avoid heating up the polity.
Ugwu said priests and pastors were not in any way suppose to appear partisan both in body language, preaching or activities or as fathers to all.“The whole congregation and entire people are looking up to them, taking side by endorsing candidates will be counterproductive and will promote disunity in the country,” he said.
Contributing, Mrs Angela Agbo, the President of St. Jude’s Catholic Parish, Abakpa Nike Enugu, urged the priests to be clear, straight forward and spiritual in their utterances in public.She said it is wrong for clerics to indulge in predictions of the outcome of general elections because it could go either way at the end.
Agbo said it would be embarrassing for a priest or a pastor when the result of an election turned out to be negative adding that it was not advisable for a priest to endorse a candidate, support a political party or predict the outcome of an election.She emphasised the need for catholic priests to stick to their callings which, she said, was essentially the winning of souls for God.
She reminded priests dabbling into politics of the day they would account for their actions before God who is watching their actions and utterancaes.
[dropcap]V[/dropcap]ice President Yemi Osinbajo has mocked reports that President Muhammadu Buhari died in London and was replaced as Jubril Al Sudani from Sudan. The self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, had on numerous occasion claimed that Buhari had died during his medical vacation last year and was replaced by Jubril.
Speaking at a National Consultative Forum organised by the National Committee of Buhari Support Groups (NCBSG) in collaboration with Council for New Nigeria Initiative, the Vice President wondered how a certain Jubril from Sudan would be presiding over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
He said that the fear of Buhari was making some detractors lose their senses.
Osinbajo said: “They prayed for him to die, he didn’t die. When he came back hale and hearty by the grace of the Almighty God, they mourned while Nigerians rejoiced.
“The fear of Buhari makes these people desperate even crazy. So now they say he is Jubril from Sudan. If you can’t discredit him say he doesn’t exist; they were all alive and well when Pastor Adeboye went to London and prayed for him the day before he returned to Nigeria.
“How will one Jubril sit in Federal Executive Council and conduct meetings, consult with his ministers, speak to me daily?
“Their strategy is simple, if you tell a lie often enough some will believe you; Buhari is not only alive and well, he will by God’s grace live long and well after his second term in office.”
Compt. Agbara Ojobo Micheal, Controller of The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Ogun Area Command
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]rue leaders discover and understand who they are and what their purposes are; they influence their environment more than their environment influence them. Even though every human being on this planet has an indication of leadership, most of us do not have the courage to cultivate it but smart ones like Comptroller Agbara Ojobo Micheal do. He can be described as a man who cuts on aura. A diligent man who is always focused on the things he wants and knows exactly how to achieve them.He is an excellent Icon of accountability, a result oriented fellow, who has passion for excellence and known for his dedication to duty.
Compt. Agbara Ojobo Micheal, Controller of The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Ogun Area Command who by any matrix, can be called an anti-smuggling czar, has vowed not to relent in the national assignment of ridding the country of contraband items, describing smugglers as economic saboteurs who are bent on circumventing the law. Interestingly. He has an unending catalogue of seizures and arrests made within his zone. The Ogun Customs Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has continued to strengthened its enforcement capacity to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the rage against smuggling in the zone. The Compt. Agbara led proactive team has continued to clampdown on unrepentant smugglers who are working for personal gains, to the detriment of economy . In this interview with Grassroots Publishers at Idiroko Customs Command, he bares his mind on his Command continuous fight against smugglers, and other issues.
Compt. Agbara in a group picture with members of Grassroots Publishers
Excerpts:
whatcan you say about the activities and challenges of the command?
This command has a lot of responsibilities. The vast nature of Ogun state is a big challenge; there is water creeks, land and it will interest you to know that Ogun state has seven approved borders where people can legitimately do their business but the smugglers have created over one hundred illegal `borders. So it is a problem because the vastness of the state makes our job very challenging but we are doing everything within our powers to clamp down the activities of these economic saboteurs. We have the support of other sister agencies; we also have joint operations with the Federal Operations Unit of Nigeria Customs Service. Where we are unable to impound contraband goods, they can do so and with that we are recording huge success and I am happy about that and want to repeat that we shall not relent on the war against smuggling in this command to reduce it to the barest minimum. Infact, we have intensified and renewed our anti smuggling efforts and strategies. I must appreciate my dogged officers who have maintained the tempo in combating smuggling activities across the frontier. I must tell, I am proud of my team. I also appeal to the public to give intelligence to the command, in order to enable the NCS to effectively curb smuggling. Smuggling is dangerous to the economy, so in curbing it, we need the help of the public because stemming smuggling is a team effort.
How is the revenue and seizures of the command like since you assumed office?
Since I assumed office as the CAC of this command, so many seizures have been made and so many revenues generated. Just recently in August, Ogun Area Command has raked over N799.6million revenue into the coffers of the Federal Government. The N799.6million generated out of a monthly revenue target of N727.7million, shows excess of over N71million realised in the month under review. The Command also made mind boggling seizures of 33 vehicles; 6,194 bags of foreign rice; 395kegs of vegetable oil; 1,954 pairs of second-hand shoes; seven bales of second-hand clothing, 45 cartons of smuggled poultry products, 340 gallons of petrol (25litres each), 150 cartons of red grape juice and five cartons of ribena currant juice, with total Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N382.2million, within the same month. In the same vein, operatives of this Command swiftly apprehended three suspects in connection with the seizures. The massive seizure of 6,194 bags of smuggled rice in just one month was outstanding in the history of Ogun Customs command. The unpatriotic Nigerians, who are into illicit business of rice smuggling work in synergy with their partners in Republic of Benin to sabotage Nigeria’s economy and so we are taking the issue of rice smuggling personal because we want everyone to support government’s policy in local rice production, in order to enhance food security in the country. Smuggling of rice into Nigeria is not helping our economy. Infact, it is like creating jobs for other countries, to the detriment of our own economy. As such, we are battled-ready and must continue to frustrate illegal activities of rice smugglers to protect our local industries. Also, the Ogun Command seized a brand new Range Rover (Velar), 2018/2019 model, with a Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N64.2million; a seizure which was tagged “the seizure of the month” and the second of such this year. We equally participated in a joint operation, which led to seizure of large quantity of petrol at creeks within Ijoun axis. Seizures of motorcycles, compressed packs of Indian hemp, Tokunbo vehicles, used tyres, gallons of Premium Motor Spirit, gallons of vegetable oil, among others. I must use this opportunity to commend the patriotic role of our sister agencies, traditional rulers, host communities for partnering with us in our quest to effectively perform our statutory functions in compliance with extant government policies.
Compt. Agbara showing the spirit of team work
What are the measures you put in place to curb revenue leakages?
Revenue leakage is one of the things we don’t tolerate. We have devised intelligence technique on how to curb it. The Nigeria customs Service has a system so we operate on system base and when I say that in terms of revenue collection you know we have many aspects of our job here and Ogun command collects revenue on imports. We have recently engaged in renewed efforts against smuggling activities by tightening the land border and all illegal routes, to ensure that our mandate is vigorously pursued. We intelligence technique I just had meeting/sensitization with some miscellaneous traders who import little goods to discuss on ways to check revenue leakage. You know that little drops of water forms a big river so we enlightened them on the need to pay to the federal government and the procedures to go about it.Even those who bring in palm kernel pay their baggage into the government bank account and are issued Baggage receipt. Some of them argue they are importing for the family use but we explain to them the need to pay duty (Baggage Assessment) on those goods and they understood because some of them are ignorant of that fact; the anti-smuggling war we are fighting is to block revenue leakage and protect the society from danger . If we catch any dutiable goods that duty has not been paid for, we seize it.
Sir,knowing fully well that this is a border command where sometimes there are cases of clashes between officers and smugglers and in some cases, officers may sustain injuries or even die in the clash. What is the service doing about officers’s welfare package?
The service is doing alot and I give kudos to the management of Nigeria Customs Service. Every customs officer is insured against injury or death. If a customs officer is injured, the medical bills is paid by the service. On the part of attacking officers, every job has its hazards and that is the price we have to pay in the service to our country but we have to make it loud and clear to every smuggler that Nigeria Customs Service is combat ready to fight any economic saboteur because rule of engagement of the service has given officers power to shoot if their life is in danger. Also, a lot of incentives are given to officers who are gallant. Some have been given special promotion for their commitment and handwork. In terms of improvement on the salaries, the management is doing everything possible to improve that and they are not taking it for granted. I must use this opportunity to thank the CGC, Col. Hammed Ali (rtd) for his fatherly love and assistance to us in terms of logistics, commendations, and encouragement. He is truly a leader and under his leadership, Nigeria Customs Service has been drastically reformed and transformed for good within a short period of time. “All these achievements would not have been actualised without the gallant efforts of my proactive officers and the existing synergy with other units like the Customs Intelligence Unit, Federal Operations Unit and the CGC’s strike force. We will continue to draw on the robust intelligence gathering strategy on border security and ensuring a secure environment for legitimate business transactions.
My proactive team would sustain the tempo and increase it by acquiring more working tools to boost effectiveness. Myexperience in Customs has shown that a well equipped and motivated Customs officer can deal decisively with smugglers and smoke them out of their illicit business.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I want to be remembered for commitment and handwork. Because the person who sent me here knows I can deliver, I wouldn’t want to disappoint him. So I am working hard to live up to that expectation and by the grace of God, I will achieve it.
[dropcap] T[/dropcap]he PTML Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has generated over N98.9billion into the coffers of the Federal Government in 2018 fiscal year. The Public Relations Officer, PRO of the Command, Mr. Yakubu M. A. made this known, in a document signed and made available to Grassroots Publishers in Lagos.
According to him, the Command collected the huge sum of N98.9billion from the period covering January to October this year.
Yakubu further explained that N78.2billion revenue was generated by the same Command from January to October 2017 economic year.
He said, “N78.2billion revenue was realised in the same period under review in 2017, while N98.9billion has been generated in 2018. Comparatively, this shows revenue surplus of N20.6billion, which also shows percentage increase of about 29.3”
Yakubu also said that the current Customs Area Controller, CAC, of the Command, Comptroller Florence Dixon, is working tirelessly to increase revenue collection for government, while ensuring trade facilitation for greater economic growth.
[dropcap]G[/dropcap]overnor, Rochas Okorocha son inlaw and former Chief Of Staff Mr Uche Nwosu, has finally dumped the All Progressive Congress, APC, to join the Action Alliance, AA, in order to pursue his gubernatorial dreams. Nwosu declared his AA membership, yesterday, when he was received by his teeming supporters, at the Sam Mbakwe Airport, he however added that the AA had endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for 2019 election and governor Rochas Okorocha for Imo West APC senatorial ticket.
Nwosu who contested for Imo guber under APC was declared winner on the 6th of October by Ibrahim Agbabiaka committee. This was after Ahmed Gulak committee had declared Hope Uzodimma the winner of the APC governorship primaries. Angered by the declaration of Uzodinma as the winner of the said APC guber primaries, Nwosu went to court demanding that the NWC should uphold the result of Agbabiaka, giving the reason that the process was “manipulated.” 20 Imo lawmakers dump APC
However, Nwosu said himself and the over 20 lawmakers of the Imo State House of Assembly have decamped to AA with their supporters, adding that the national chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole should be blamed for the crises currently rocking the party. He also described AA as home.
He said: “Now, we have returned home and the campaign has started. We are moving into the campaign proper. We have come back home to tell our people what we will offer them. “I cannot say that APC in general is bad, but the problem we have is that Oshiomhole cheated Imolites . Let me say this now: President Muhammadu Buhari is our presidential candidate. There are no two ways about this. We will support Buhari for presidency.
“For that fact, the national chairman of APC has denied Imolites the governorship and House of Assembly tickets. This is why all of us have moved to AA. This is now our home. This is where we will win our election.”
On the issue of Governor Rochas Okorocha still remaining in APC, he said, “he is the governor of Imo State and the senatorial candidate of APC, Orlu zone; as far as we are concerned, we don’t have a senatorial candidate of AA in Orlu zone, we have also endorsed Okorocha for the Senate.”Meanwhile, the coast still appears to be unclear for Nwosu as the holder of the gubernatorial ticket of AA, Mr. Okolienta has approached the court to seek redress.
Okolienta is, among other things, seeking explanations on why he was stripped of the gubernatorial ticket and have same allegedly transferred to Nwosu. I feel cheated —Imo APC spokesman
Also, the State APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Onwuasoanya Jones, has, via a three-page letter addressed to the State Working Committee, resigned his position, saying: “I feel like a cheap slave anytime I identify as the chief marketer of a political party, which has shown itself as not deserving of the loyalty of its members.
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]inister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has directed the Chinese Civil Engineering Company (CCECC), the contractors handling the Lagos-Ibadan railway, to ensure that the train becomes operational before February, 2019.
Amaechi said this on Tuesday during the monthly inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan rail project in Papalando, Ogun State. He said that the contractors must ensure that the tracks and bridges were completed and the train must make transport sense. “There must be train on the tracks before February. It doesn’t matter when, but there must be a train on the track that makes transport sense.
“What I mean by transport sense is that, it must be able to carry passengers from Abeokuta if not up-to Ibadan, we have agreed that everybody must work towards it.
“The next inspection is on December 18 and that is two weeks from now.
“Before, we used to have it once in a month but now it will be twice in a month to ensure that, that is achieved.
“So, we will be back here to ensure that what we have agreed to today will be implemented. The work is progressing rapidly, the weather is no longer an issue, the elements were an issue before but now it is no longer an issue.
“You should know that on the 18th, we would have started campaign, the president has emphasised that we must build infrastructure,” Amaechi said.
According to him, out of 10 bridges only two was uncompleted noting that before the next inspection on Dec. 18, one must be completed.
Amaechi, speaking on his political job as Director-General of Buhari’s campaign, said that the campaign won’t affect his work. He said that Mr President was determined to build infrastructure stating that the monthly inspection would now hold every two weeks to ensure progress on the project.
He, however, commended the contractor for the quality and progress of work done at the various sites.
[dropcap]A [/dropcap]Federal High Court in Abuja has converted the suit initiated by former speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Victor Ochei challenging the emergence of Great Ogboru as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Delta State, declaring that it was not properly filed. Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, in a judgment on Tuesday, in the suit by Ochei, held that there were contentious facts in the suit that could not be resolved through mere affidavit evidence, but would require additional evidence.
It is Ochei’s contention that the delegates that voted at the Delta APC’s governorship primary of September 30 this year, which produced Ogboru as the party’s candidate, were illegal. Ochei argued that the delegates were not those contained in “the list of delegates contemplated in the consent judgment entered on June 19, 2018 by Justice A. I. Chikere (also of the Federal High Court, Abuja) in suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/509/2018 between Odjebobo Desire Onayefeme & another v. The National Chairman of the APC & another.”
The Nation reports that Justice Dimgba, who partly upheld the preliminary objections filed by the APC and Ogboru (2nd and 3rd defendants), however rejected their requests to have this suit struck out on the grounds that it was wrongly commenced.
The judge converted the suit, initiated by way of originating, to writ of summons and directed parties to file and exchange pleadings before January 23 next year when the case would be heard again.
[dropcap]L[/dropcap]agos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday, took a swipe at the 16-year presidency of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between 1999 and 2015, saying the state benefitted nothing from the party’s reign.
Speaking at the National Consultative Forum of the National Committee of Buhari Support Groups, a coordinating body of all the groups campaigning for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in 2019, held at Nicon Luxury in Abuja, Ambode said the country would not go back to Egypt by bringing PDP back to power having crossed the Red Sea.
He said just within three and half years from 2015 till date, the All Progressives Congress (APC) had been able to lay a solid foundation for Nigeria’s economic growth and prosperity, adding that the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket remains the best option to take the country to the next level from 2019.
“Sixteen years of PDP, I can say it clearly that Lagos State never enjoyed anything from them. Three and half years of APC, I can clearly attest here that whatever it is that we have achieved in Lagos in the last three and half years, the present Federal Government has largely contributed to the things that we have achieved be it in terms of right of way, be it in terms of approval for waivers for import duties and other things that have actually made Lagos to be on the progressive trajectory that it had been in the last twenty years.
“So, for me it is very easy and it is just common sense that we have to uphold the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket to allow that economic progress and the growth in the GDP that we want for Nigeria rather than allowing it to get dismantled and then make us to go back to Egypt after crossing the Red Sea and we are not going back to Egypt,” Governor Ambode said. He said since assuming office in 2015, the Buhari administration had worked tirelessly to bring about fundamental paradigm shift and retracing the steps of the country for sustained progressive chart, adding that the onus is now on the entire country to give the APC a chance to consolidate on the massive development already embarked upon.
“I just want Nigerians to understand and also to encourage all our members here that what we have started as a support group coordinating everything that is happening is not necessarily for you but it is a selfless service to put Nigeria on that trajectory that grows prosperity and also conveniently in another four years, we would make all Nigerians proud and I am very proud to be part of this.
“We have made up our mind that we are going to work tirelessly; we would do everything that is possible in terms of supporting and campaigning to let Nigerians understand that there are two parallel lines between what we stand to offer which is growth and prosperity for this country and what PDP is trying to come and re-engineer to take us back to the debris of the past that we don’t want to ever go back to.
“So, I just want to congratulate Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari and also the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and assure them that when they look at their back, they have true Nigerians who believe that yes, we want to build a skyscraper but we need solid foundation to be able to enjoy that skyscraper and then the next level we are thinking on is to be able to put the proper aesthetics and lay the proper foundation to allow Nigeria to make progress and that is what the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket speaks about,” the Governor said.
Besides, Ambode said it was also gratifying that all APC Governors were united in ensuring the victory of APC in the presidential election next year.
“All APC Governors, I can speak on their behalf, are resolved that the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket is what Nigeria needs and that is what we are going to pursue and I am happy that a handful of our gubernatorial candidates are here to align with us to make sure that what we would deliver is what Nigerians want and what Nigerians want is the APC President,” Ambode said.
[dropcap]J[/dropcap]ustice Valentine Ashi of the federal capital territory high court, has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to arrest Diezani Alison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum resources,within 72 hours. According to Tony Orilade, the order was made following an ex parte motion made before the court by Msuur Denga, counsel to the EFCC.
Denga prayed for an order of the court to issue a warrant of arrest against Madueke, to enable the commission apprehend and arraign her for alleged financial crimes in Nigeria. “The Inspector General of Police, the Chairman of the EFCC, the Attorney General, the Department of State Services, are hereby ordered in the name of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria to apprehend and arrest the first defendant and produce her before this court for further directives within 72 hours”, the judge said.
On Monday, the court had granted EFCC leave to arraign Madueke, after the prosecution counsel, Faruk Abdullahi, told the court that the former minister left the country while investigations were ongoing.
However, the former minister is standing trial alongside Jide Omokore, a former chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Company, following a petition dated October 2, 2013, from Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) on allegations bordering money laundering and official corruption.
Meanwhile, Madueke and her accomplice were said to have engaged in illicit and fraudulent dealings in oil transactions, which she entered into on behalf of the federal government.
They were also alleged to have accepted and given gifts in properties located at Penthouse 22, Block B, Admiralty Estate, Ikoyi, and Penthouse 21, Building 5, Block C, Banana Island, Lagos.
Madueke and Omokore will be arraigned on February 25, 2019 on a five-count charge for the offences, which are contrary to sections 26(1) of the corrupt practices and other related offences act, 2000.
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t takes a special and endearing kind of love to sacrifice everything for someone else: a mother’s love. Thank you for sacrificing so much so that I could have a chance at happiness. My whole life you have always been there for me. There will never be enough words to convey how deeply grateful I am that I have a mom as wonderful as you, but I can start with “I love you so much”. Happy Birthday Mom!!! Tata Agbasi
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[dropcap] T[/dropcap]he PTML Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has generated over N98.9billion into the coffers of the Federal Government in 2018 fiscal year. The Public Relations Officer, PRO of the Command, Mr. Yakubu M. A. made this known, in a document signed and made available to Grassroots Publishers in Lagos.
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]inister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has directed the Chinese Civil Engineering Company (CCECC), the contractors handling the Lagos-Ibadan railway, to ensure that the train becomes operational before February, 2019.
[dropcap]A [/dropcap]Federal High Court in Abuja has converted the suit initiated by former speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Victor Ochei challenging the emergence of Great Ogboru as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Delta State, declaring that it was not properly filed. Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, in a judgment on Tuesday, in the suit by Ochei, held that there were contentious facts in the suit that could not be resolved through mere affidavit evidence, but would require additional evidence.
[dropcap]J[/dropcap]ustice Valentine Ashi of the federal capital territory high court, has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to arrest Diezani Alison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum resources,within 72 hours. According to Tony Orilade, the order was made following an ex parte motion made before the court by Msuur Denga, counsel to the EFCC.
