Umar assumes duty as EFCC acting boss

THERE was confusion on Wednesday over who steps in as acting chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as the Director of Operations in the commission, Mohammed Umar, assumed the position.

There were unconfirmed reports in some quarters that the Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory  (FCT), Bala Ciroma, had been appointed EFCC boss. 

Nigerian Tribune gathered that some members of a power bloc rooted for Ciroma to replace Magu based on the fact that he was a one-time director of operations at the anti-graft agency before he was redeployed and eventually became a commissioner of police.

According to sources, those who wanted Ciroma to replace Magu claimed that the FCT police boss is a crack detective and diligent officer who had excelled in criminal cases as a deputy commissioner of police in charge of Criminal  Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) in Abuja.

However, while the news of Ciroma’s appointment was trending, the next most senior officer at the commission to  Magu, Mohammed Umar, a deputy commissioner of police, assumed office in an acting capacity. Sources at the EFCC headquarters informed the Nigerian Tribune that there were mixed feelings among members of staff over the recent development in the commission.

A staff member who preferred anonymity told the Nigerian Tribune that the Magu saga was a dent on the war against  corruption embarked upon by the commission, particularly in the past four and a half years, adding that “this is not good  for us as an anti-corruption agency at this time.”

The source, who confirmed Umar as acting chairman, said efforts have to be geared towards redeeming the image of the commission without any further delay. He said: “the Director of Operations, Mr Umar, is our new acting chairman.

Honestly, to me, the greatest task ahead of him is to restore people’s confidence in EFCC. “The Magu saga has dented the image of the commission and this needs to be corrected. The Magu leadership of the commission has seen the fight  against corruption taken serious with more vigour, but the allegations against him have put a question mark on the anti-graft war.”

As of the time of filing this report, head, media and publicity of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, neither picked his calls nor replied a text message sent to him. Meanwhile, Magu was, on Wednesday, moved back to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID). His grilling by members of the panel sitting at the State House Conference Centre ended at about 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday.

SOURCE: Tribune

Suspended EFCC Chairman, Magu, To Remain In Police Cell As Probe Continues

 

lbrahim Magu, the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, may remain in custody at the Force Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters in Area 10, Abuja, as his probe by an interagency committee inside Aso Rock Villa continued for a third straight day.

A combined team of Department of State Services personnel and policemen stormed the EFCC office at Wuse II in three trucks to arrest and move Magu to the Presidential Villa in the Asokoro area of the Federal Capital Territory on Monday to face the panel.

Reports gathered that the interagency committee led by a former Court of Appeal judge, Ayo Salami, did not show Magu a copy of the allegations against him even though he requested to see one.  

 

After being interrogated on Tuesday, the suspended EFCC Chairman was taken back to the detention facility where he may be returned to after today’s session. It was gathered that the panel grilled him on transactions of the EFCC under his leadership that have been fraught with allegations of financial misappropriation.

Magu was arrested on Monday after it emerged that he had four houses and was moving money outside the country through third parties. The DSS in a 2016 report revealed that Magu was living in a N40m mansion paid for by a corrupt individual. 

SOURCE: Sahara Reporters

Ivory Coast Prime Minister, Gon Coulibaly, is dead

he Prime Minister of Ivory Coast and a candidate for October’s presidential election, Amadou Gon Coulibaly, has died. 

He died on Wednesday at the age 61, after falling ill at a ministerial meeting. Mr Coulibaly returned from France two weeks ago after two months of receiving heart treatment.

He received a heart transplant in 2012 and had travelled to Paris on May 2 for the insertion of a stent. Upon his return, he was quoted to have said: “I am back to take my place by the side of the president, to continue the task of developing and building our country, Ivory Coast.”

While announcing his death on public television, the Secretary General to the Ivorien presidency, Patrick Achi, said: “I am deeply saddened to announce that Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, the head of government, left us early this afternoon after taking part in a cabinet meeting.”

Alassane Ouattara, President of the Ivory Coast, in a statement said: “pay tribute to my younger brother, my son Amadou Gon Coulibaly, who was my closest collaborator for 30 years.”

In March, Mr Coulibaly was declared the candidate for President Ouattara’s party after the incumbent said he would not seek a controversial third term. His death creates huge uncertainty over the election.

SOURCE: Premium Times

Imo female lawmaker survives alleged attack from colleague

Representative of Njaba Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, Uju Onwudiwe, has survived an attack by her Ahiazu Mbaise constituency colleague, Samuel Otuibe, who threw a bottle of wine and glass cup at her in a meeting.

The incident took place during an emergency meeting of the lawmakers at the official quarters of the Deputy Speaker, Amara Iwuanyanwu in Owerri. The Guardian learnt that the meeting was convened to discuss non- payment of salaries of the lawmakers and their aides, as well as alleged impeachment plot against the Speaker, Chiji Collins.

It was also learnt that the crisis started after repres

entative of Orsu constituency, Ngozi Obiefule demanded that Collins should explain why he accused her of killing her husband. While Otuibe tried to silence her, Onwudiwe insisted that Obiefule should be allowed to make her case, since she still had the floor, which resulted in both lawmakers exchanging words at which point Otuibe threw the bottle of wine and glass cup at her. 

However, the bottle smashed the wall and injured representative of Ohaji/Egbema constituency, Heclus Okoro on his finger.Onwudiwe, who confirmed the attack on the telephone, yesterday, said it was only through God’s grace that she dodged the bottle from hitting her on the head and possibly killing her. 

On whether she would sue Otuibe, she said, “Although I have communicated my lawyer, I will allow the House to deal with the matter first. The legislature has a way of handling such matters. The House rules will be invoked and applied appropriately.”

In his reaction, Otuibe denied attacking his female colleague, insisting that they had mere exchange of words. But Obiefule said Otuibe would be lying if he denied attacking Onwudiwe with a bottle of wine and a glass cup, adding that his (Otuibe’s) attack on Onwudiwe was barbaric, “because she only told him to stop silencing me, while I was speaking, but he immediately threw the bottle at Onwudiwe, which shattered Okoro’s finger. But the Speaker has called severally to apologise.”

When contacted on telephone, Collins said he had mandated the House Committee Chairman on Information and Judiciary, Dominic Ezerioha, to handle the matter and report to the House for further action.

SOURCE: The Guardian

Boko Haram shoots down United Nations helicopter

Boko Haram terrorists opened fire on a United Nations aid helicopter in the northeastern state of Borno on Saturday, July 4, killing two civilians. The attack comes after Boko Haram warned civilians who help humanitarian agencies or the military that they could be killed.

Edward Kallon, the U.N.’s humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, told AP that a 5-year-old child was one of the victims. The crew members were not hurt and there were no aid workers on board when bullets hit the helicopter.

“The U.N. Humanitarian Air Service is essential to evacuate wounded civilians and remains the backbone to facilitating humanitarian access,” Kallon said. Some 1.9 million people have been displaced by the decade-long Boko Haram violence in northeastern Nigeria.

The U.N. World Food Program warns that a total of 3 million people are facing hunger in the region due to the conflict. Security has long been a concern for aid groups operating in northeastern Nigeria, where humanitarian workers are often kidnapped and killed by terrorists.

President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed that there will be consequences. “This latest cowardly attack on the UN humanitarian helicopter is yet another desperate rear guard action by the Boko Haram terrorists who have been under intense pressure from the Nigerian military," the president said.

“Let me reassure the international community and Nigerians that this latest cowardly attack on a UN helicopter which claimed the lives of two people, including a five-year-old baby, would not go without severe consequences.

“Boko Haram terrorists are clearly on the back foot and their increasing attacks on innocent civilians, including UN humanitarian workers, is part of their desperation to prove that they are strong in order to cover up their dwindling fortunes.”

According to the president, the security of foreigners and Nigerians remain the top priority of his administration, adding “we shall leave no stone unturned until we eliminate these remorseless enemies of humanity."

More than 50,000 people have been killed by Boko Haram in the northeast since 2009.

SOURCE: Pulse

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