News In Brief Today - 9/5/2016

Good Morning....

Have you read the News headline...

1- N23.3b bribe: INEC chiefs to face disciplinary panel

Some Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials have been summoned to the agency’s Abuja headquarters in connection with the alleged N23.29billion bribe the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is probing.

The EFCC has quizzed 16 top INEC officials, including 10 directors, over the scandal.

2- Train derailment claims four lives in Kwara

An eleven coach train with one cargo coach at the weekend derailed in Jebba, Moro local government area of Kwara state claiming four lives and injuring three others.

An eyewitness at the scene of the incident on Sunday said that the accident happened on Saturday night, adding that nothing could be done to rescue the victims.

3- Sufferings of Nigerians will soon end – Oyegun

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has said that the party was aware of the sufferings of the Nigerians.

He said the pains were genuine, but appealed for patience from Nigerians.

Speaking at a dinner held in his honour by Saint Patrick’s College (SPC), Asaba, Old Boys Association (Abuja Branch), Oyegun assured that the programmes put in place by the Buhari administration to cater for the poorest and vulnerable Nigerians and other economic initiatives aimed at diversifying and boosting the economy will be implemented in the interest of the people.

4- Appeal court affirms 25 years jail for Boko Haram

The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has affirmed the September 30, 2015 judgment of the Federal High Court in Lagos which convicted three men of participating in terrorism and belonging to outlawed Boko Haram sect.

In a judgment delivered by Justice Y.B. Nimpar, the appellate court upheld the decision of the lower court which sentenced Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi and Ibrahim Usman, to 25 years imprisonment each.

5- NNPC pays N1.118tr into Federation Account in one year

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) paid N69.544 billion into the Federation Account in March, according to  the oil giant’s monthly financial report for March released at the weekend in Abuja.

It added that the total amount paid into the Federation Account for domestic crude oil and gas and other receipts from April 2015 to March 2016 is N1.118 trillion.

The NNPC recorded N107.826 billion revenue in March, slightly higher than the N104.804 in February.

6- Ripples over multi billion naira Apapa Port Terminals’ project

The redevelopment contract of Bullnose I,II and III terminals in Apapa, Port Complex by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) awarded to Eko Support Services (ESS) in 2008 at $124 million (about N40,920,000,000) is causing ripples in the maritime industry.

Maritime stakeholders said they were uncomfortable, not only with the cost of the contract, but also the process that led to the award of the project to ESS which they alleged was shrouded in secrecy.

7- ‘Govt agencies, military owe DISCOs N93b’

The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) has said that the distribution companies (DISCOs) are owed at least N93billion by government and security agencies.

Its Executive Director, Sunday Oduntan, a lawyer, said the sum is made up of N39.1billion owed before privatisation and N39.5billion after.

According to him, there is an outstanding interest of N15billion arising from unpaid energy bills by DISCOs due to non-settlement of utility bills. Saying the proposed mass disconnection was justified, Oduntan said the DISCOs, for months, have been groaning under severe liquidity constraints.

8- Diezani’s N23b: EFCC traces N15b to ex-ministers, others

The Economic and Financial Crimes  Commission (EFCC) has located the whereabouts  of  N15billion of the N23.29billion ($115m)  allegedly offered as bribe by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  in connection with the 2015 elections.

The bribe was for the purpose of compromising the result of the elections which the party’s presidential candidate Dr. Goodluck Jonathan lost to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Fourteen directors of four oil firms suspected of substantially bankrolling  the N23.29b poll bribery scandal have also been identified by the anti-graft agency while some former Ministers arrested in connection with the scandal were battling for bail last night.

9- Naval rating killed, another missing in boat mishap

Two naval ratings attached to the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, Warri, were yesterday confirmed missing after one of the base’s gunboats reportedly capsized in the Escravos area of Warri South-West council area of Delta State.

The Nation on Sunday  reliably gathered from a senior naval officer, who preferred to be anonymous  that one body had been found.

The duo went missing after one of the base’s gunboats was involved in a mishap at a bay around Escravos.

10- Governors take attack on pipelines,

herdsmen’s menace to Buhari

The five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

governors in the South South geo-political zone yesterday resolved to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari over

security issues in their area. The resurgence of attacks on pipelines in

the region especially in Delta State and

the menace of herdsmen, who have been attacking farmers, were condemned by the governors who said they would take the issues up with the President. Host Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who spoke to reporters, was joined by Governors Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa) and Ben Ayade (Cross Rivers).

-The Nation

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