APC Gov. Masari Bans Public Assembly In Katsina

Mr. Aminu Bello Masari,  governor of Katsina State, has signed an order prohibiting any public assembly consisting of two or more people in any part of the state.

The prohibition was announced in a press statement signed by Mr. Masari's Senior  Special Assistant on Media, Abdu Labaran Malumfashi.

According to the statement, the order, signed on February  27, is derived from the power conferred on the Governor by Section 97A of the Penal Code.  
                                      
Based on this, the statement said Mr. Masari declared, as unlawful, any assembly of two or more persons in any part of the Katsina State under whatever guise. It added that it does not matter whether or not any of those gathered is armed with weapon/ instrument likely to cause death, bodily harm or intimidate members of the public. It also does not matter whether such could be used to enforce any right or compel any person to do what he is not legally bound to do.

Biafra Jews Stage Protest, As Court Dismisses 6 Out 11 Counts Against Nnamdi Kanu

A large crowd of a group of Biafran activists who dressed as Jews as well as supporters of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) have staged a protest outside the premises of Federal High Court Abuja calling for the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu who is standing trial for treason just as the court struck  out 6 counts charge out of 11 brought against him earlier today in Abuja.

The Biafra leader arrived the court premises at 8:00 am Nigerian local times donning a skullcap and Jewish clothing amidst heavy security around the court. Justice Binta Nyako while delivering her ruling on the Kanu's application to quash all the charges brought against him by the Federal Government granted part of his prayer and quashed six out of 11 counts brought against him.

The court quashed count  3,5,7,9,10 &11 which bordered on belonging to an unlawful organization, illegal importation of radio transmitter and researching on how to make Improvised Explosive Device (IED). 

Justice Nyako said that the prosecution did not place or furnish the court with any evidence to support the allegations.   
                                                     
The defendants were then re-arraigned for the remaining five counts charge bordering on treason.

EFCC Raids Former Comptroller General Of Nigeria Customs Service Warehouse Again, Recovers Items Worth Millions of Naira

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has recovered items worth millions of Naira from a large warehouse located on Nnamdi Azikiwe Road Bye Pass, Kaduna purportedly belonging to a former Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Dikko Inde.

 Operatives of the Commission’s Kaduna Zonal office acting on intelligence stormed the facility on Tuesday February 28 and executed a search warrant which led to the recovery of the following items:
 1. 42 brand new customized yellow-coloured tricycles

 2. 16 brand new cargo motorcycles

 3. 1 brand new white 32-seater Nissan civilian bus

  4. 1 MAN Diesel Truck

  5. 515 brand new imported rugs of different colours and sizes
 
6. Two metal bullet proof safe with the sum of N 1,565 ( one thousand five hundred sixty five thousand Naira only)

 7.  Documents of transactions in different currencies within and outside the country.

The operation comes on the heels of similar discovery of 17 exotic vehicles in a property belonging to the former Customs Boss.

DSS Arrests Peace Corps Commandant Dickson Akoh, 45 Corps Members

The Department of State Security  (DSS), abetted by the Police and military,  on Tuesday night, arrested the National Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Mr. Dickson Akoh.  The DSS also assaulted some officers of the corps.            

The arrest took place shortly after the ceremony to open the new PCN National Headquarters, an event attended by senators,  representatives of the Minister of Sport and Youth Development and other dignitaries.                       SahaReporters gathered that DSS officials, accompanied by police and military officers, invaded the new headquarters building and ordered the commandant to follow them.        
An officer, who witnessed the incident, reported that the DSS, Police, and military arrived while a live band was entertaining the guests.
     
"We suddenly saw a detachment of armed security operatives asking everybody to lie face down. They asked the commandant to follow them, and he obeyed, but some of the officers said that they want to follow the commandant and the security operatives started beating up everybody, including state commandants," the officer reported on the condition of anonymity.  
                          
One of the assaulted PCN officers was a female. She was repeatedly hit with a gun butt until she lost consciousness.   She was later rushed to the National Hospital.
                   
 PCN Public Relations Officer, Milicent Umoru, said over 40 officers of the corps were taken away by the security operatives. She also disclosed that Mr. Akoh is still in detention in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.
                                   
But Mr. Anwuri Manzal, FCT Police Command Public Relations Officer, told reported on the telephone that inquiries about Mr. Akoh should be made at the Force Headquarters. Phone calls to Mr. Jimoh Moshood, Force Public Relations Officer, were answered by an officer who said the Police spokesman was in a meeting.  
   
A bill for an act establishing is waiting for presidential assent, following passage by the Senate and House of Representatives. During the public hearing on the bill by the National Assembly, the Nigerian Police Force was vehemently opposed to the establishment of PCN, arguing that it will amount to an unnecessary duplication of Police duties.The PCN is a youth organization under the Ministry of Sport and Youth Development.

It was conceived as a scheme to provide jobs for unemployed graduates, who are expected maintain discipline in schools across the country.

EFCC Recovers 17 Vehicles From Ex-Customs Boss Inde

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 recovered seventeen exotic vehicles in a warehouse belonging to a former Comptroller-General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko Inde, located at Nnamdi Azikwe Street, Kaduna.

The recovery was sequel to an intelligence report the Commission received that stolen money and properties suspected to be proceeds of crime were being warehoused at the former custom boss’ premises. Upon receipt of the intelligence, a team of operatives from the Kano Zonal Office of the EFCC were deployed to carry out the investigation on the matter.

On arrival at the location, two individuals who were identified to be the custodians of the property - Dantala Mohammed and Ahmed Balarabe were presented with a search warrant. In the course of the search, a total of seventeen vehicles among which are brand new cars, shuttle busses and SUVs were found in the premises.

Consequently, the vehicles and the two individuals were conveyed to the Commission’s zonal offices in Kaduna and Kano respectively. Investigation revealed that the warehouse in question actually belongs to the former customs boss.

Particulars of the vehicles recovered include:
i. Black colour BMW 525i series, 2010 model with chassis number WBAFR7108BC262936.
ii. Ash colour Hyundai Velester, 2012 model with chassis number KMHTC6AD4CU056038.
iii. Dark Blue BMW 325i, 2003 model with chassis number WBAEV31090KL48386.
iv. Black colour Land Cruiser Prado Jeep, 2014 model with chassis number JTEBU3FJ50K082080.
v. Black colour Mercedes G wagon, 2013 model with chassis number WDB4632361X207661.
vi. Black colour BMW 335i series, 2012 model with chassis number WBA3A91040F268895.
vii. Silver colour Peugeot 406, 2002 model with chassis number VF3BBRFNR81519018.
viii. Black colour Land Cruiser Prado Jeep, 2014 model with chassis number JTEBU3FJ10K082352.
ix. Yellow colour Toyota FJ Jeep, 2007 model with chassis number JTEZU11F68K001301.
x. Black Toyota Avensis, 2013 model with chassis number SBIBL76L20E037245.
xi. Dark ash colour KIA Cadenza, 2011 model with chassis number KNALN414BC5093288.
xii. Silver colour Porsche Cayene, 2009 model with chassis number WPIZZZ9PZ9LA12738.
xiii. Golden colour Honda Accord, 2013 model with chassis number IHGCR2634DA620609.
xiv. White colour Nissan Urban Bus, 2006 model JNITF4E25Z0715833.
xv. White colour Nissan Urban Bus, 1996 model with chassis number JTFJXO29P605023996.
xvi. White Toyota Hiace Bus, 2010 model with chassis number JTGJXO2P4B5020268.
xvii. White Nissan Bus, 2009 model with chassis number JNITA4E250011697.

The two suspects arrested are in custody assisting the EFCC in investigation.

MMM NIGERIA UPDATE PARTICIPANTS

Dear participants,
You constantly reproach us stating we don’t listen to your opinions however we really do. :-)) We try to carry out the most reasonable and efficient suggestions immediately.
Particularly, in accordance with your suggestions, we will soon take the following measures:

1. We will stop the growth of confirmed Mavros acquired before the 1st of January 2017.
2. We will freeze the bonuses received before the 1st of January 2017 (so that limited withdrawal of Mavro-2016 will include only contributions, not bonuses).
3. We will introduce a new rule according to which the withdrawal amount cannot exceed triple amount of the provided help (so, GH cannot exceed PH more than in 3 times). Many participants and guiders withdraw bonuses in such big amounts without PH that it threatens the stability of the whole System. (We don’t agree, however we will accept preferences of the majority. :-)) With this rule, you can’t withdraw only bonuses without providing help.

Therefore, keep on sending us your suggestions. We will take them into account (At least, we will try :-))
Best regards,
Sergey Mavrodi.
We change the world!

Troubled Arik Air Suspends London And Jo’burg Routes

At last, crisis-ridden Arik Air suspends London, Jo’burg routes, to concentrate on local, regional flights. After struggling to make an impact on its remaining two international routes and failed, Arik Air has announced the suspension of flights to London and Johannesburg.

This is coming barely five days after the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), took over the running of the distressed airline whose 30 aircraft fleet, depleted to just nine in one year.
The airline also said that it is suspending its international routes to concentrate on local and regional routes, which have been epileptic in the past four years.

A statement by the new management of the airline also said that the airline decided to stop the two long-haul flights to find permanent solution facing its passengers.

The carrier had about two years ago suspended operations on Lagos-Dubai route due to its inability to compete with other carriers on the route due mostly to poor customer service by its staff and management.

The new management further said that the suspension would enable it to carry out a thorough assessment of the situation.

It added that the suspension of operations was a strategic business decision, which was meant to refocus the troubled carrier to concentrate on its domestic operations.

 “This is to bring to the notice of the traveling public our intention to suspend our international flight operations to enable us to find permanent solution facing our passengers as it will allow us to carry out a thorough assessment of the situation.

“The strategic business decision is meant to realign our operations and refocus on satisfying our domestic and West Africa and other international passengers.

“It will also present Arik with excellent opportunity to engage and discuss with creditors who have become restive since the intervention and have also understandably exhausted their patience due to non-payment of accumulated debt and non-performance on services and contracts,” the statement added.

The statement however assured that it would refund all international passengers of the airline affected by the decision especially those who have booked their flights on these routes ahead of time.

It also commended its international creditors for their patience and understanding and assured them that all pending issues with the airline would be duly addressed as a matter of priority.

“The international route is very critical for the strategic turnaround, growth strategy and stability of the airline. Therefore we intend to revisit the routes immediately as we address all the problems inherited, which is affecting and creating more passenger dissatisfaction.

“We appeal to all passengers to kindly bear with us as the decision is to ensure that the airline adheres strictly to international aviation best practices.”