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Tuesday 27 September 2016

ALAS! Avengers Force Shell to SHUT DOWN!

Avengers force Shell to shut down Nigeria’s major crude oil export line

ON September 26, 2016 8:54 PM
By Prince Okafor
Nigeria’s crude oil production suffered fresh set back Monday as
Trans Niger Pipeline, (TNP), which exports about 180, 000 barrels of crude oil per day was shut down as a precautionary measure after a fire was seen on the “right of way” at Gio
community in Ogoni land, one of the two pipelines that export Bonny Light crude oil. TNP transports crude oil to the Bonny Export Terminal and is part of the liquid gas evacuation infrastructure, critical for continued
domestic power generation (Afam VI power plant) and liquefied gas exports.
According to the spokesman for Shell Petroleum Development
Corporation (SPDC), the operator of the joint venture with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Precious Okolobo, “It was not yet clear whether export supplies will be subject to force majeure. A joint investigation visit will determine
the cause and impact of the fire.”
The line is also the right of way for a Bonny-refinery pipeline belonging to the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of NNPC.
A project officer with a local environmental rights group, Kentebe
Ibiaridor, said: “The fire is huge and still raging when I left, we do not know the cause of fire yet, whether it is sabotage or system failure. Bonny Light crude is also exported through the Nembe Creek Trunk Line.

On Saturday, the Niger Delta Avengers, a group that has claimed
responsibility for a string of attacks on Nigerian oil infrastructure
this year, said it had struck a Bonny Light pipeline, ending several weeks of calm under a ceasefire with the government.
A spokesman for the militants had said in an emailed statement
that the attack on Saturday was in the sea near Bonny island, making it unclear whether the incidents were related. Recall that SPDC shut down the Trans Niger Pipeline on the 11th of July 2016, following a leak at same location in Ogoniland, and SPDC said then that the line was shut down following a leak at Gio in Ogoniland.
The joint probe of the leaks and corresponding spills is done with
the federal government agency, the Nigeria Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).
The other major pipeline, the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) that transports Bonny Light to port was operating normally, several industry sources said. Local upstream firm, Aiteo, operates the NCTL.
The force majeure had been announced after a leak was found
on the NCTL on May 11.

Oshiomhole ‘ll ruin APC’s CHANCES_Osa Director predicts

ON September 25, 2016 9:01 PM / IN Edo Election 2016 ,

A Biochemist, journalist, lawyer, Barrister Osa Director, even
though a member of the APC is an avid supporter of the PDP’s
candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. He speaks in this interview the case for the PDP candidate. By Gabriel Enogholase IT is being said that Gov. Oshiomhole’s good work will be an
advantage to Obaseki especially in Benin.
Do you agree?

Who told you Benin people are rooting for Oshiomhole? I am not
an invincible Benin man, but I detest politics of hypocrisy, embellishment and lies. I can emphatically say that the gods and ancestors of Benin Kingdom have since forsaken Oshiomhole and all that he represents. That rejection is waiting for manifestation on September 28, 2016.
When you talk of performance, I will agree with you that no sensible person will tell you that Oshiomhole has not done anything. But there are
serious questions flowing such acclaimed performance.

What is the cost of Oshiomhole’s performance?

It may appear unfair to solely judge Governor Oshiomhole for whatever is presumed to be his personal
flaws rather than on his political
achievement while in office. Oshiomhole’s utterances are very
strange to our traditions of respect
for elders. You can disagree with elders on issues and even criticize them, but direct personal insult is intolerable. Oshiomhole literarily turned Chief Tony Anenih to his chewing stick. He has personally insulted all prominent Edo sons.
The recent one, being his calling the eminent Dr. Tony Iredia a poor man for daring to criticize him. Who is Oshiomhole with his background of peasantry to call Dr. Iredia a poor man? Even in the next world, if there is any, Oshiomhole cannot achieve and attain the professional heights of Dr. Iredia, who is a distinguished journalist and lawyer. What is Oshiomhole’s profession? Where are his educational certificates? Dr. Iredia has two academic doctorate degrees, hard-earned!
In any case, in a society where Dr. Iredia is described as poor,
then at least 95% of members of such society are poor. If 95% of Edo people are poor, where then is the much media hyped achievements and developmental strides of Oshiomhole?
Throughout Oshiomhole’s almost eight years in office, he recklessly embarked and promoted verbal hooliganism and terrorism as an art of governance. His abusive utterances were morally abominable and politically grotesque. Indeed, they were spiritually indefensible.
Many people, in your party, APC say that Ize Iyamu will not be able to perform well if elected because he is a protégé of the Igbinedion’s. Do you agree? Obaseki’s case is even a pitiable scenario because he is seen as a third term bid for Oshiomhole. He is seen as possibly more pliant and manipulable, because he has never been in politics, and in government before, and therefore lacks a full grasp of the rumble and tumble of politicking and governance. Now, Oshiomhole has even planted his boy and alter ego as his deputy. It is a tough call for Obaseki than it is for Ize-Iyamu. I
am not a very generous person in assessing others’ character.
But I challenge anyone to show me any man of Ize-Iyamu’s age who has the political savvy, organizational ability and measured experience in Edo State politics than Ize-Iyamu today? Show me a man of his age who commands the level of political goodwill and has built bridges across the three senatorial districts of Edo
State like Ize-Iyamu? Look, that young man is politically grounded
and prepared for governance.
On the issue of the Igbinedion’s, I think even Ize-Iyamu has never
denied that closeness. But I am sure he is politically mature and knowledgeable enough to balance the mix. Again, he has his father’s name to bear too. Personally, he is undeniably my good friend and ally, so if he gets into power and tries to derail, we are prepared to speak out.

"For over 30 years, I have been in the political trenches, I am not
afraid to go back or remain there. However, I am confident Ize-
Iyamu will surprise everyone by delivering the dividends of
democracy, because he has a rendezvous with history."

FIERCE LEGAL BATTLE: Between Amnesty Office Staff & Cordinator, Brigadier Boro

FIERCE LEGAL BATTLE OPENS BETWEEN  AMNESTY OFFICE STAFF AND CORDINATOR OF THE PROGRAMME,BRIGADIER PAUL BOROH

The legal battle between a staff of the Presidential Amnesty Office, Mr. Eugene Abels and the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh, comes up again at the Industrial Court, Abuja on the 30th of September 2016, over the refusal to pay his accumulated salary and allowances since May 2015.

The matter came up sometime in July 2016 in the Industrial Court 1 and due to the mix up in the Registry, relevant papers were supposedly not served on the Amnesty office and thus the Judge was forced to adjourned the matter to the 30th of September 2016.

The issues of contention on the side of Eugene Abels is the enforcement of his rights by the courts, to cause the Special Adviser to pay him his entitlements to date. While General Boroh’s argument is about the status of Eugene Abels - whether he was a staff or consultant and that Eugene Abels had no locus to sue the office.

Legal pundits observed that the fact that Eugene Abels worked for the office and is been owed for work done and thus entitled to wages is not in contention by the Amnesty office, but find it absurd that the Barrister Sweet Adesanya led legal team to advice against nonpayment for service durely rendered, despite that the funds for his allowances and wages were durely appropriated and provided by an act of parliament.

The legal pundits posit that It was unwise for legal officers to incur legal liabilities for the federal government while excercing authority on behalf of the state.They hope the Attorney General will look at such display of excesses: particularly when funds are properly provided.It is not the duty of the complainant to provide the vehicle for the disbursement of his wages except to provide his account details for the reception of his wages and allowances.

A Niger Delta stake holder who was interviewed and preferred to remain anonymous said this inhuman act by lieutenants of the President puts his administration in bad light with the people of the region, saying that “if a man like Eugene Abels who productively manned the education desk that the office today celebrate the graduands  can be treated so shabbily and also denied the right of seeing his family for over a year” then there is no incentive in been law abiding.

It is worthy to state the  need for the speedy dispensation of justice as the papers were filed in January 2016 and  nine months down the line, the matter have not really started. We hope that the change mantra of the present Administration will be applied in this sector and cause it to be resourced for efficient service delivery for now, the Complainant Eugene Abels and his family suffers while representatives of the President in the Amnesty office cruise on with their business.

We will be in court to keep you abreast of this matter on the 30th of September 2016

For more on this story read:
http://newsdiaryonline.com/amnesty-office-staff-sues-buharis-adviser-over-unpaid-salary/

A staff of the Presidential Amnesty Office, Mr. Eugene Abels, has dragged the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh, to the Industrial Court, Abuja, over the refusal to pay his accumulated salary and allowances.

Abels, a Principal Manager, is being owed salary and allowances since May 2015.

In his statement of claim, he said he had to approach the court having exhausted all the internal mechanisms at resolving the issue.He said rather than paying him, they kept him working without salary even when he impressed it on the defendants that the non-payment of his salary was affecting him and by extension his family.

In an application filed on his behalf by the law firm of Egang Agabi & Co., the claimant said the more he demanded the payment of his salary the more he was threatened.

“For instance, his project car assigned to him since November 12, 2012 and other work materials were withdrawn on September 30, 2015 even though he was still working,” he stated.

He is therefore seeking among other reliefs a declaration by the court that his “employment as a non-pensionable staff of the first and second defendant is still subsisting and as such is entitled to all the benefits accruable to those class of employees, as conveyed through his letter of employment.”

He also wants the court to declare that he is entitled to the payment of his monthly salary and Mission Sustenance Allowance (MSA) from the month of May 2015 when it was stopped until judgment is given.

The Special Adviser’s office was not represented in court at the first hearing of the case on March 18 and the matter was adjourned to May 18, 2016 according to the newsdiaryoline.com an online publication.

Monday 26 September 2016

ANOTHER Buhari's Minister, Uguru Usani INDICTED

Buhari's Niger Delta Minister, Uguru Usani, Was Indicted In Cross River For Fraud
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Uguru Usani, was indicted for fraud and abuse of office during his tenure as a commissioner in Cross River State, SaharaReporters learned on Monday.  Usani was the Commissioner for Agriculture, Water Resources, and Rural Development during the last military administration in the state, which was headed by Col. U. F Ahmed (Rtd).  It was Military Administrator Ahmed who handed over to the elected governor of the state, Mr. Donald Duke, at the beginning of the Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999.
BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORKSEP 26, 2016
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Uguru Usani, was indicted for fraud and abuse of office during his tenure as a commissioner in Cross River State, SaharaReporters learned on Monday. 

Usani was the Commissioner for Agriculture, Water Resources, and Rural Development during the last military administration in the state, which was headed by Col. U. F Ahmed (Rtd).  It was Military Administrator Ahmed who handed over to the elected governor of the state, Mr. Donald Duke, at the beginning of the Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999.

Our correspondent on Monday obtained a document published in 2000 by the Cross River State Government indicting Mr. Usani for fraud and abuse of office.

In its gazette, the state government concluded in its findings that Usani along with a firm, Gersh Henshaw & Company, defrauded the government of about N16m through a contract for the valuation of the assets of an agency under his ministry.

It recommended that the former commissioner be prosecuted and that details of the transaction be forwarded to the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

On June 21, 1999 Governor Duke inaugurated the Financial Impropriety/Verification Standing Committee to, among others: ascertain the assets and liabilities of the ministries and institutions, all forms of financial impropriety (if any) in government ministries and establishments, the perpetrators of such financial improprieties; and recommend appropriate disciplinary actions to be taken against the culprits including recovery of all such sums.

The committee, which was led by Chief Orok Oyo, included Chief Andy Ikpeme, Ekpe Essien Ita, Otu Oka, Mr. Akomaye Adie and Okoi-Obono Obla (who was later replaced by Mr. Stephen Asuquo).

The recommendations of the committee and approval of the state government were published as Cross River Gazette titled, ‘Views of the Cross Rivers State Government on the Report of the Financial Impropriety/Verification Standing Committee.'

The 37th contract involving Usani and which was investigated by the committee is titled in the Gazette as 'The Case of Gersh Henshaw & Company.'  It involved “the contract for the valuation of vehicles, workshops/equipment of the Cross River State Water Board”, awarded by Usani as the then Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development to Gersh Henshaw & Company, Estate Surveyors, and Valuers.

Usani was said to have paid about N20,750,000 to the company for the execution of the contract. The Head of Practice of the firm, Mr. Gersh Henshaw, was said to have testified before the committee, giving the impression that the firm did the state government a favour by accepting the lump sum of N20,750,000 from the then commissioner for the execution of the job.

But the committee stated that in line with the approved scale of fees for the valuation work done, Gersh Henshaw & Company ought to have been paid only N4,426,850.

The committee recommended that the sum of N16,323,150, being the excess of the payment, be recovered from Usani.

“The then Commissioner, Mr. Usani U. Usani, expressly refused to pay in accordance with the approved scales or fees although that would have meant a lot of savings on the part of government. He rather ended up paying an amount which was N16,323,150.00 higher than the approved scale or fees," the gazette read in part.

The committee had recommended to the government that a total sum of N17,031,446 comprising N16,323,150 being excess payment on the contract sum and N708,296 as tax deduction should be recovered from Usani.

But the government stated that the N708,296 tax deduction had been waved.

The government approved the recommendation that the particulars of the transaction should be forwarded to the Code of Conduct Tribunal with a complaint of “financial impropriety and abuse of office” against Usani.

According to the document: “The committee found that Mr. Usani and Mr. Gersh Henshaw deliberately failed to apply the approved scale of fees and in order to defraud the government.

“The Government of Cross River State should recover the total sum of N17,031,446.00 made up of N16,323,150 being excess payment on the contract sum for the valuation of the assets of Cross River State Water Board and N708,296.00 being total tax deduction.”

In the comment section, it said: “Government accepts this recommendation and directs that the sum of N16,323,150 only should be recovered from Mr. Usani U. Usani, the then Commissioner for Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development being excess payment on the contract sum for the valuation of the assets of the Cross River State Water Board. He should also be prosecuted.

“Government however, waives the payment of N708,296.00 being total tax deduction in view of its comment expressed in paragraph 38 (viii) above. Government shall forward particulars of this transaction to the Code of Conduct Tribunal with a complaint against Mr. Usani Uguru Usani for financial impropriety and abuse of office.”

On the issue that the firm be allowed the sum of N4,426,850 as total Consultancy fee (gross of total), the government accepted the recommendation, saying: “The Government of Cross River State should make a formal complaint against Gersh Henshaw & Company to his professional body, the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers for unprofessional conduct.”

Noting that recommendation, the government said: “The firm of Gersh Henshaw & Company should be blacklisted from further patronage by the Government of Cross River State.”

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AHEAD Of Edo Polls: Oyegun Explodes, Blasts Tinubu & Oshiomhole

We won't allow scallywags and moneybags to hijack our party.

APC Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun explodes, reacts to Tinubu:

"Governor Oshiomhole is behind the call by Tinubu to remove me as Chairman. He accuses me of not doing enough for his governorship candidate. And I told him I am not happy with his style of politics. I am not in support of imposition because APC started the campaign against godfatherism. I am from Edo state and I am the national chairman of APC, I don't like the way Oshiomhole manipulated Godwin Obaseki to emerge as Governor and Philip Shuaibu as Deputy Governor for the party in this election.

Other party leaders are not happy too. He forced these candidates on the party and we have to manage it well otherwise the party would have evaporated after the Edo primaries.

Governor Oshiomhole took his ill-conceived campaign. against me to Tinubu after the Kogi supreme Court ruling in favour of the governor our party brought out against some Tinubu's candidate. We are in a new democratic order and we won't allow scallywags and moneybags to hijack our party.

I cannot force Oshiomhole's candidate on the party and on the people. Ondo is a different case entirely.".

Friday 16 September 2016

BUHARI'S ‘ChangeBeginswithMe’ campaign suffer a Major setback

NIGERIA’S PRESIDENT BUHARI IN FRESH PLAGIARISM SCANDAL OF OBAMA’S SPEECH
-Premium Times reports
President Muhammadu Buhari’s ‘Change Begins with Me’ campaign suffered a setback Friday following a newspaper report that the president allegedly plagiarised President Barack Obama in the speech he delivered while launching the project.
The government says the campaign will help curb “widespread act of immorality” by Nigerians.
The report, which detailed how Mr. Buhari allegedly lifted quotes from a 2008 speech by Mr. Obama, came on the heels of another damaging allegation that the ‘Change Begins With Me’ campaign contained elements belonging to another anti-corruption effort, ‘Not in My Country’.
Mr. Buhari on September 8 launched the ‘reorientation’ campaign in Abuja as part of his government’s strategy to make Nigerians eschew “dishonesty, indolence, unbridled corruption and widespread impunity” and embrace daily introspection over their “immoral” conducts.
He also used the occasion to sue for national consensus amongst Nigerians on issues ranging from spirit of service to patriotism.
“We must resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship, pettiness and immaturity that have poisoned our country for so long. Let us summon a new spirit of responsibility, spirit of service, of patriotism and sacrifice, Let us all resolve to pitch in and work hard and look after, not only ourselves but one another.
“What the current problem has taught us is that we cannot have a thriving army of rent seekers and vested interests, while the majority suffers,” Mr. Buhari said.
But facts have emerged indicating Mr. Buhari did not author those quotes.
Adeola Akinremi, a columnist with Lagos-based THISDAY Newspaper, was the first to spot possible instances of plagiarism between Mr. Buhari’s speech and a speech delivered by Mr. Obama when he was first elected in 2008.
In a speech delivered after his victory on November 4, 2008, Mr. Obama said to a crowd of enthusiastic supporters:
“Let’s resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.
“So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other. “Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.”
After highlighting the seeming plagiarism, Mr. Akinremi said the act was “unethical” and lampooned Mr. Buhari for allegedly indulging in it.
“It is immoral to plagiarize other people’s work, but even worse to use dishonesty to launch a campaign about honesty.
“When you use another person’s work without acknowledgement, you have plagiarized. You simply pretend as if it is your own. It is unethical. It makes a mess of the campaign from the start. That is what Buhari has done, nobody will believe in the ‘change begins with me’ campaign, because it was built on lies,” Mr. Akinremi said.
When contacted Friday morning, presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said he was just becoming aware of the allegation and that the presidency would investigate.
Mr. Akinremi’s column was published a week after associates of Akin Fadeyi, creator of ‘Not In My Country’ accused the Buhari administration of stealing his concept to launch ‘Change Begins with Me.’
The associates said Mr. Fadeyi, a creative artist and former head of communications at Airtel Nigeria, met with the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, in December 2015 to intimate him of ‘Not In My Country,’ an episodic narrative that deploys humour to underscore societal ills and appeal to Nigerians to shun sharp practices.
They said Mr. Mohammed declined interest in the concept, only to turn around to adapt it for ‘Change Begins with Me’ campaign.
But Mr. Mohammed denied the allegations, saying he started ‘Change Begins with Me’ before he was appointed minister.
“We started working on ‘Change Begins with Me’ before the honourable minister was nominated and we’ve been working with the agency that produced the campaign,” Mr. Mohammed’s associate said.
The ‘Change Begins with Me’ campaign had earned Mr. Buhari widespread criticism, with many Nigerians accusing him of shifting blames to them and wondering why they gave him their mandate if he would ultimately saddle them with the duty of effecting the change he promised.
But the government said the campaign became necessary to rally all Nigerians in the effort to cleanse the country of corruption and other malaise plaguing it.

Tuesday 13 September 2016

B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G: AS Crocodile Smile, Militants BLOW UP

Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Militants Blow Up NNPC Pipeline, Shaming 'Operation Crocodile Smile'

One of the militant groups operating in the oil-rich region of southern Nigeria, the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM), a militant group, says it has blown up a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NDPC, in Delta State.
The group confirmed this in a statement saying the attack occurred
in the early hours of Tuesday, September 13, 2016. The Nigerian
Petroleum Development Company, NDPC, is owned by the state-owned oil company in Nigeria, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
“As a mark of our faith to totally grounding the Nigerian oil economy, the gallant “Opudo” strike forces brought down the Afiesere-Iwhrenene major delivery line in Ughelli North, leading to the UPS/UQCC operated by NPDC/SHORELINES at about 1am
today,” the militants claim.
“The Niger Delta is not a conquered territory and our people have never succumbed to intimidation before, rather we match force with the oppressor’s brutality.
“The Nigerian government should already know that the people of this part are not fools, who will not be able to see when they are being treated with disdain.”
The Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate warned people around
oil facilities in the region to vacate their residence “if you love your lives”.
The police have not reacted to the latest attack.
The militant group has refused to accept the ceasefire declared
by the leading group in the region, the Niger Delta Avengers.

Monday 12 September 2016

EXPOSED: How Boroh Lied, Defrauded Amnesty Program: 50 Stranded Student Cry!

"Boroh is pocketing a whopping sum of $700,000 in school fees for his ghost 20 ex-militants that he has fraudulently bloated to 70 delegates." - Ex-militants
BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORKSEP 12, 2016
Facts have begun to emerge on how the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Brigadier-General Paul Boroh (rtd), has been deceiving the people and allegedly amassing wealth from the PAP to the detriment of the region.

It would be recalled that a few days ago at a meeting in Abuja, Mr. Boroh informed some elders of the Niger Delta that 70 ex-militants, who, as part of the PAP, had been trained in underwater welding at the CDA Technical Institute of the West Indies in St. Kitts and Nevis, recently graduated and returned to Nigeria.

But an investigation by SaharaReporters has revealed that Mr. Boroh lied, as none of the ex-militants have returned from St. Kitts and Nevis. Furthermore, 50, not 70, ex-militants were discovered to have participated in the vocational training program sponsored by the PAP.

In a telephone interview with SaharaReporters, some of the stranded ex-militants at St. Kitts and Nevis disclosed that for about three months, they have been stranded, saying that they were all shocked a few days ago when they read an article from Sun Newspaper online in which the amnesty coordinator had told some elders of the region that 70 of them who went for the training had all returned to Nigeria fully equipped.

According to them, they are not 70, but 50 delegates, and none were provided with equipment, as stated by Mr. Boroh. They added that the amnesty office, the contractor and others who have been conspiring to defraud the country have raped Nigeria of about $700,000 in school fees from the non-existent 20 delegates.

"We the 50 ex-militants to the St. Kitts and Nevis arrived on December 26, 2015 due to some delays and here in St. Kitts and Nevis we spent over a month before we commenced the training on the 8th of February, 2016 and our program ended in July. Since then till date, we have been stranded and abandoned here with no food. Since July till date, none of us has gotten a single monthly stipend, even though we were each approved for a $500 stipend.

"Even the certificates issued to us just last week were not completed because our country has not done the needful. Barely a few months after Boroh was appointed, he has amassed wealth, defrauding the federal government billions of naira. Even N3 million for each ex-militant's kits and equipment for the training were never given to us. Now, Boroh is pocketing a whopping sum of $700,000 in school fees for his ghost 20 ex-militants that he has fraudulently bloated to 70 delegates," one of the ex-militants said.

Another stranded ex-militant who spoke with SaharaReporters disclosed that one Mr. Agama, owner of the firm Allstates Travel and Tour Limited and contractor handling the amnesty program, and one Mr. Lambert in the amnesty office in Abuja have continued to issue threats to the ex-militants in an effort to keep them quiet.

"We are dying here, journalist. Please help us with your pen. We have been abandoned here by the federal government and the amnesty coordinator [Boroh]. I can confirm to you now that as we are talking we the stranded 50 ex-militants here in St. Kitts and Nevis have hired the services of a lawyer in Nigeria who has written a series of petitions to relevant authorities about our plights," the ex-militant cried out.

A petition against the amnesty office and the contractor, addressed to the Office of President Muhammadu Buhari, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant authorities and signed by the counsel to the stranded 50 ex-militants, S. Kelechi Nnadi, called for the immediate evacuation of the trainees and the prosecution of all those involved in the fraudulent and corrupt act.

The petition titled, "Sabotage Of The Amnesty Programme Of The Federal Government Of Nigeria, Fraudulent Conversion Of Money Earmarked For Training Of Amnesty Training/Delegates In St. Kitts and Nevis (West Indies) By Allstates Travel And Tours Ltd And Their Cohorts In The Amnesty Office," noted that the program was intended to last a year but was fraudulently shortened to six months.

"Indeed, funds were adequately provided for the said training of the 50 ex-militants which was scheduled to last for a period of one year. However, contrary to the clear stipulations contained in the contract papers, the trainees were enrolled for only six months rather than the one-year training agreed upon. The entire package for the training, including payment of monthly stipends of $500 per person, feeding, accommodation, tuition, certificate cost, transportation, medicals, etc., was made available to the contractor.

"A preliminary check at the amnesty office in Abuja clearly reveals that there exists some level of conspiracy between some officials of the amnesty office and the contractor to corruptly enrich themselves. And the amnesty office, through one Mr. Lambert, has continued to issue all manners of threats to the 50 ex-militants, our clients, to use the Nigerian soldiers to shoot them upon their arrival to Nigeria and also delist their names from any payroll, for agitating for their entitlements in the amnesty package as approved by the federal government during their training in St. Kitts and Nevis," Mr. Nnadi stated.

The petition further stressed that apart from the international and diplomatic embarrassment the situation is already causing the country and the entire West Indies, the sincerity of the federal government and the presidency in its commitment to the amnesty program in the Niger Delta is also called to question should the felons be allowed to retain their looted wealth.

As at the time of filing this report, all efforts to reach the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Paul Boroh, proved abortive.

"A House Divided Against Itself" Aisha Takes A Swipe on Buhari...

Aisha Buhari tackles husband on economic recession...
President Muhammadu Buhari had on several occasions said the constitution does not recognize the office of the first lady.
He’s right. His wife, Aisha Buhari, would have occupied
that ‘office’, if Buhari had towed the path of previous presidents.

Aisha Buhari works with many NGOs in the north to alleviate poverty and support girl child education.
It was during one of such meetings which held yesterday (Saturday) at a skill-acquisition center for training women that she took a jab on her husband. The location was Katsina State and the event was part of her ‘Future Assured’ project in conjunction with the National Directorate of Employment.

Hear her: “My ‘Future Assured’ program believes strongly in empowering women.
“This will increase their household income and in the long run will bring about inclusive growth in the
economy.
“It is our sincere expectation that this effort will strengthen the hands of our women towards becoming major players in the economic development of our country.
“I have no doubt in my mind that when economically empowered, women in Nigeria would contribute
significantly to the diversification of our national economy.”
Then Aisha went for the jugular: “Unfortunately, we are at a time when the economy of the country is
experiencing great challenges.

“The leadership must retrace it steps and do the right thing.
“On this note, all hands must be on deck for us to salvage our nation,” Aisha said to the consternation of
the crowd.

This is not the first time Mrs. Aisha Buhari is taking a public swipe on her husband. During her twitter brawl with Ekiti State Governor, Aisha had described President Buhari as a 73 years old man. She obliquely described him as not having enough energy, but that she possesses same.
That tweet was hurriedly deleted after she came under attacks by the presidency.

Sunday 11 September 2016

Amnesty: Ex-Militants Reject Agric Training... "A Greek Gift" General Shobor said,

Posted on Sep 11 2016 - 1:16am by Paul Ogbuokiri Views: 44

Say oil production has destroyed farmlands
Ex-militant leaders in the Niger-Delta region have described the purported plan by the Federal Government to train no fewer than 500 ex-militants in agriculture and aquaculture, as a Greek gift. They said the Niger-Delta region has lost its farmland to pollution caused by years of oil production in the region.

They wondered where the Federal Government wants the trained farmers to get land to practice farming when they complete their training. They further said that the plan will not do the ex-militants any good and would amount to a distortion of the amnesty programme, which set out to train the youths in any vocation of their choice in the country or abroad.

An ex-militant leader, from the Urhobo nation, General Emma Shobor, who disclosed this at the weekend through his Publicity Secretary, Okiemute Kasiaka, said most of his former boys who have remained peaceful and have ensured that the Urhoboland is not dragged into the ongoing resurgence of militancy in the region, are not happy with the reported plan by the Amnesty Office to compel all of them to train in farming, not minding what is their area of interest.

According to him, the boys want to be trained in aircraft engineering, marine and nautical engineering among others, just as their counterparts from the Ijaw nation.

In the same vein, the spokesperson to the Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF), Capt Mark Anthony, also said his group will reject any attempt to train all the ex-militants on agriculture as it will not bring any form of fulfillment to the cry of the Niger Delta ex agitators.

Also speaking, the National Secretary of Niger Delta Initiative for Actualization of Peace and Development (NDIAPD), Evang. M.O. Sekegor, said the peace and development of the people in the Niger Delta will be jeopardize if the will of the ex agitators is not considered in the planned training programme “because when we fail to arrest and address the root cause of any problem no matter how much windowdressing we do, someday somehow, the problem will resurface and more dangerously than it was initially.”

He appealed to the Coordinator, Amnesty Office and Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta, Brig-Gen Paul Boro (Rtd), to listen to what the ex militants are asking for, for the sake of peace and safety in the region. It will be recalled that Brig-Gen Boro (Rtd), recently disclosed that the Federal Government will soon commence training of 500 ex-militants in agriculture and aquaculture under its amnesty programme. Boro disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after his visit to Bio-resources Development Centre (BIODEC), Odi in Bayelsa .

He said some of the exmilitants would be sent to Songhai Farms in Delta State, while others would be deployed to the various agriculture programme departments at the Delta State University, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, and the Peremabiri Rice Farms in the state.

He also said that the would-be trainees were selected from Akwa-Ibom, Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers states. The special adviser said the training would create jobs and wealth for the youths, especially now that the country intends to diversify the economy.

According to him, 18 other ex-militants had acquired skills in aquaculture under the programme. He promised that loans would be made available to the beneficiaries to enable them to establish businesses after the training.

AS Crocodiles CRIES... No fewer than 20 soldiers among those involved in the on-going military

No fewer than 20 soldiers among those involved in the on-going military
operations code-named ‘’Operations Crocodile Smile’’, have died in the
creeks of the Niger Delta, it has been confirmed. While four of soldiers died in the creeks of Bayelsa, another sixteen reportedly died along the River Ethiope in Delta State due to boat mishaps.

Meanwhile, militants in Niger Delta under the aegis of Niger Delta
Avengers (NDA), have asked President
Muhammadu Buhari to probe the
on-going military operations codenamed ‘’Operations Crocodile Smile’’, in
the oil rich but crisis-scarred Niger Delta region. The group offered condolences to the families and the President on the soldiers murdered in the ongoing military operation cum exercise.
In a statement by its spokesperson, self-styled Brig Gen Mudoch Agbinibo
said their deaths were more like murder than accidental, saying “their
death is due to negligence, administrative greed and a corruption within the military constructed and perfected by the ascendant APC political class (conflict merchants we have mentioned times without numbers) from the Niger Delta and some Abuja paid and bought up interest”.
The group added: “Mr. President, the worrisome dimensions about the
ongoing reorganization and restructuring of the unending security
operations in the Niger Delta is where two of your head of security
apparatus are boasting to the Minister of Defense that they have your ears. They assured him, it is now their turn to bloat their pockets and that they can talk you to even borrowing money to sustain the insecurity
in the region.” “We have earlier advised against timing, strategy and objectives of the show of military might and the deployment of
military hardware to the
Niger Delta suddenly when there is certainly cessation of hostilities for
peace talks to commence. But the top hierarchy of the Nigerian military
was only after pecuniary monetary gains and that of a ‘Champagne’
intelligence chief, who is desperately arm-twisting the peace processes
continuously.
“The advice is that all lives matters! Why are you in a hurry to train
over 2000 military personnel for just 4 to 14 days on amphibious military
exercise to occupy the Niger Delta region when the Niger Elders and
stakeholders are awaiting your response for peace talks?

“Have you forgotten the exploits of our great fathers during the infamous Nigerian Civil War in amphibious warfare without any military training? Is it because they were volunteers that the success was credited to Late Lt. Col. Benjamin Adekunle and Lt. Col Olusegun Obasanjo, instead of them?
“Mr. President as a veteran of that fateful war, you know that after all
failures, the amphibious warfare and successes were under the command of Lt. Gen. Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro of blessed memory, the pride and face of the 3rd Marine Commandos (3MCDOS) constituted of able-bodied Ijaw warriors voluntarily. They were not given any formal military training prior to that great contribution to the unity of Nigeria, but they succeeded
because they were amphibious by nature’’.NDA added: “Mr. President, the truth be told, "We are the ‘Great White Sharks of the Atlantic' when it come to marine warfare! ‘Operation
Crocodile Smiles’ is ironically, a simulative military operation cum
exercise for waters less than 2 fathoms in depth orchestrated by the top hierarchy of the military to undermine any genuine disposition from your government towards restoration of tranquility in
the Niger Delta and to exhaust your security budget for the year, except
you are thinking otherwise towards peace in the Niger Delta too.

“We, the Ijaw and the people of the Niger Delta occurred here times
immemorial. We have resisted, any attempt of exclusions in the control of our God- given resources, from the Portuguese and British colonial trades and periods to date. We are ever ready to continue that resistance even without guns and ammunition.
“Finally, Mr. President, in practical terms Crocodiles do not have any
capacity to swim close to the water depth small tiger sharks swim and play around, not to talk of the depths of the great whites, the heart of the
nation’s economy where we have overmastered. The mission ongoing in the Niger Delta is a brainchild of orchestrated military corruption at your face, Mr. President.
“Operation Crocodile Smiles is nothing but a conduit pipe for military contracts, political profiteers and patronages designed for the stress of your administration’s scarce resources. If it has any other purpose, it is satisfy the ego of a trigger -happy army chief, who killed over 800 Shiites just to have the right of way to a meeting even though there were other routes to his meeting.
“For the records, a depth of 2-3 fathoms in the Niger Delta region is
likened to the waters our kids of ages between 3-8 years bathe and swim
with crocodiles, alligators and other aquatic creatures in the
mangroves/freshwater swamps of Niger Delta creeks’’.

Saturday 10 September 2016

#Amnesty FALLACIES: The Eugene Side Of The Story

THE PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAMME & IT’S EDUCATION PROGRAM: THE MYTHS, FALLACIES & FACTS.
24 NOVEMBER 2015 · PUBLIC

I was head of the Education Desk in the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), which is domiciled in the
Office     of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, from January 7,     2013 till the first week of October 2015 when the intrigues became manifest. I transitioned into the new administration of the
programme basically to ‘handhold’ the new administration as is   expected of me.
This was regardless of the shabby
manner staff and consultants in the Re-integration Department were treated.
Six months down the line, I remain the only former Staff whose salary and allowances are  still being withheld.
The handholding was very essential as education timeline are universal and time specific. Inability to meet     these timelines as managers brings untold hardship on the students either  managed or sponsored by the office. The running of the PAP has its challenges (intrigues     and
threats) that we lived with for these years. We were able to
manage     this daily on the Education Desk, as daily contacts provided one an opportunity to explain oneself to the students either directly, through     emails or telephone conversation. This window of communication has been curtailed thus the need to go public.

I am left with this option following recent death threats
from some of the students that were asked to leave the United Kingdom before the expiration of their programme due to nonpayment of their     tuition fees (for a total of 184
of them ) in the 2014/15 session and     particularly the

2015/2016 academic session.
Two classes of students are been removed from the United
Kingdom due to nonpayment of tuition fees as agreed with officials of the British High Commission - (i) Foundation students progressing to Year Two (2) Middle level & Final
year legacy students who were affected by new school rules that prevent them from carrying over     courses and thus needed their visas extended by some months, and
(iii) Fresh students primed for deployment to the United
Kingdom. The same ugly situation is replicating itself in the United     States in various universities where the office has sponsored students.
I also wish to address the deliberate     misinformation that is being fed the students, graft agencies and the     public about me. Thus far the following statements have been
made about me or put to me:
That   the students do not exist and ghost names abound on the education programme.
That school fees and allowances are paid in cash to
students abroad to enable me and my team to steal the
proceeds.
Why are beneficiaries attending expensive schools in
America and not cheaper schools?
That the Kaplan United States Pathway Programme is my
vehicle to launder money and fraudulently enrich myself.
Why did we send too many students abroad?
That most of the students abroad are not academically
qualified to study abroad.
That I hid the tuition invoices of students thus
preventing the payment of their fees.
That the debts inherited from the previous
administration have made it  impossible for payment of
their fees.
That I instigated Kaplan to send the 43 kids on its USPP/
CNAU programme to the USA in June 2015 without
authorization.
That these 43 kids under the Kaplan USPP do not deserve
to attend Ivy  League schools in the United States and
thus should be sent to cheaper universities or be
returned to Nigeria.
CAMPAIGN OF CALUMNY  BY SECRET REPORTERS :
The online     publication is supposedly owned by one Mr.
Tega Sampson Oghenedoro (aka     Fejiro Oliver), who
according to media reports was a former staff of the Nigeria
Television Authority and was arrested by the Department of
State Security for involvement in     a case of  blackmailing
the former Governor of Niger State, Aliyu Babangida. http://
www.cknnigeria.com/2014/09/why-we-arrested-online-
publisher-tega.html
The said publisher  on behalf of his sponsors is bent on
defaming me and staff of the Education  Unit by making
fabricated publications based purely on falsehood.
1. I quote a January 4, 2015 publication:
http://secretsreporter.com/index.php/2015/01/04/sex-
scandal-rocks-niger-delta-amnesty/
“The     action of not paying is not unconnected with the
action of two ladies who  work in the office and have become
the sex toys of some of the top     staffers, including Eugene
Abels, the Head of Education desk, with only Mr.Oluremi
John exempted from these sex escapades. The two ladies, Ms
Timi and Oyanbo are alleged to warm the bed of Eugene and
others in order keep holding on to money meant for the
foreign students, which they control.”
The two ladies named here are married and I was their line
manager.
If I, a superior officer, could not access government funds as
I did not work in the Finance     Department nor managed
cash, how can these ladies “hold on to allowances” meant
for students?
2. I quote a June 13, 2015 publication:
http://secretsreporter.com/index.php/2015/06/13/amnesty-
fraud-continues-how-kingsley-kuku-and-his-committee-
siphoned-cash-meant-for-ex-militants/
“The committee have     (sic) signed for and collected the cash
meant for the ex-militants without  paying them because they
see it as an avenue to divert the cash since a new
government has been put in place and much questions on
their activities may not be known.
“Those fingered in  this fraud includes (sic) Mr. Kuku, Mr
Eugene Abels, Mrs. Oyanbo Owie and   Timi (who allegedly
warmed the bed of Kuku) are the persons using the money
for their personal interest to the detriment of the ex-militants
and the purpose of the fund.’
The same spurious allegations were made here. Fees and
allowances are not paid in     cash except when the 2014
budget was not passed until April 2014 and the     office
through the Finance Department had to directly intervene to
save the students from hardship in February 2014.
There is no room to  divert allowances meant for students as
they are remitted through     regulatory channels to the
accounts of the schools and the students.
These idolaters without a whiff of human sympathy have
put the marriages of these ladies on     the line.
3. I quote a October 30,2015 publication:
http://secretsreporter.com/index.php/2015/10/30/buhari-
abandons-ex-militants-on-amnesty-program-as-one-dies-
due-to-starvation-in-foreign-land/
“Mr Eugene Abels has been alleged to have diverted funds
meant for the payment     of the ex-militants which he has
been making illegal deductions from their     take home
allowances.
This     publisher without finding out did not realize that I
no longer had access     to the payment process went ahead
to make this spurious allegation.
“One     of the ex-militants is reported to have died due to
starvation of no food  and no medical care.”
This is another very  insensitive attempt to play politics with
the demise of one of the best     students on the programme
in Belarus.
The Late Mr. Udochi  Ogbonnaya was married to a
Belarusian and had a child and was entitled to     some rights
meant for citizens of that nation. The late student,
according     to the autopsy report, died from complications
arising from a tropical ailment.
It is sad and surprising that because he was a very private
person, he kept his condition     away from the office,
colleagues and family in Nigeria.
In 2014, the desk had intervened in the same Belarus for a
case of fibroid that required     surgery and a case of
orthopedic care which cost the government thousands of
naira.
The desk had also  intervened at points where the liabilities
of medical insurance end, and     this had stretched from
cataract treatment, knee surgery, sickle cell  conditions and
other ailments that are covered by medical insurance.
THE PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAMME AND EFCC     :
These acts of   misinformation and deliberate falsehood have
been extended to the anti-graft agencies.
I visited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) on October 5, 2015 and was     allowed to go on
administrative bail.
The next day,  October 6, 2015, I went back to submit
documents about the programme but     was detained over
an allegation that I lied to the Commission that my     office
had written to them that they had sacked me. My bail was
revoked     based on that allegation.
A copy of the said  letter was not shown to me. Till date, the
Office of the Special Adviser to     the President on Niger
Delta has not written to me nor even paid my wages     and
allowances from May 2015.
My bail is secured by two sureties and my two passports
withheld. I have been made (the only  staff) to report to the
EFCC daily since October 9 till date at great pains and cost.
I wish to put this on record that the financial transactions
that concern the Education desk     borders on Tuition,
Allowances, Travel Allowances, Airline Tickets and   visa-
related expenses.
I am not unmindful  of the ‘sponsored’ petitions that flood
the various anti-graft agencies to     distract them as it is
delightful to note how official documents are  availed these
hired hands determined to demonize everybody who worked
in the Amnesty Office.
THE EDUCATION PROGRAMME:
Currently, there are 3,074 students in the educational
programme. 1,620 are studying in Nigerian     universities
while the rest are in the United Kingdom, Russia, Belarus,
South Africa, Malaysia, Philippines, Canada, Kenya, Gambia,
Benin, Grenada,     United States, Ukraine, Ireland, Sweden,
Belgium and the United Arab     Emirates.
OUR DUTIES:
A total of 14 staff     managed the 3,074 students in Nigeria
and abroad. This is an average of     about one staff to 200
students.
We contact the  students, collate documents, confirm these
documents, subject the     beneficiaries to tests, prepare
them for visa interviews, place them in     universities,
provide for their welfare and ensure compliance with laid
down academic targets and attendance.
THE ADMISSION PROCESS:
The admission of  beneficiaries for educational training are
on two planks and must be duly     approved by the Special
Adviser to the President on Niger Delta -
1. The ex-agitators that were demobilized in Obubra and
approved     to pursue formal education.
2. Niger Delta youths admitted from the ‘Impacted
Community’ window. This presidential          window was
created to facilitate effective community healing (As
complaints were rife among youths who did not bear
arms  in the communities that they were been ignored by
the federal government  despite suffering in the affected
in the communities).
The impacted     community window was also to help the
region build a workforce that has     today accessed the Ivy
League institutions of the world such as North     Eastern
University Massachusetts, Kings College London, Royal
School of     Surgeons Dublin, University of Rochester New
York,Robert Gordon University  Scotland, University of
Liverpool,Liverpool just to name a few and they have
accessed courses ranging from the Medicine to Atomic
Science at various levels of study.
The Itsekiri  beneficiaries are a positive example as the
leaders deliberately chose  those to access foreign
education, the courses of study and the universities for their
indigenes.
PLACEMENT OF     STUDENTS ABROAD:
The legacy students inherited prior to my taking over the
education desk are mostly in South     Africa, Belarus,
Russia, and the United Arab Emirates.
As at January 2013, there were about 315 students in the
United Kingdom. Remnants of this     pioneer group can be
found in Portsmouth, Anglia Ruskin, Plymouth, Glasgow
and Edinburgh universities.
Beneficiaries for  studies abroad under my watch must meet
the educational criteria of the     host country in terms of
paper qualification and must sit for tests as  stipulated by the
host countries like IELTS and others.
Also we subject them  to basic tests to ascertain that they
‘own’ the paper qualifications     presented to the office.
ALLOWANCES AND     STATUTORY FEES FOR STUDENTS:
All     student-delegates (in school) in Nigeria are entitled
to the following :
Tuition and Accommodation
In-training Allowance: N70,000 monthly
Textbook  Allowance: N20,000 per semester
Laptop  (One-off)
Student-delegates (in school) abroad are entitled to:
Tuition, Accommodation, Health Insurance (depending
on the     country)
Warm  Clothing Allowance (One-off) - $500
In-training  Allowance for Upkeep: £500 or $700/$500
(where the office pays for          feeding and
accommodation) and £700 for Post-Graduate students in
the  United Kingdom.
Accommodation  Allowance: £500 or $500 (for those
outside the United Kingdom)
Laptop (One-off)
THE PAYMENT PROCESS:
The graphic expression of the payment process is as
follows:
For Bank Payment :                      Voucher-Payment -Mandate-
Form A-Documents (Admission letter, International
Passport, Invoice where applicable) direct remittance to the
Student or the University Account as the case may be.
THE ISSUES:
The University     Pathway or Foundation Programmes:
The foundation programmes or Pathway programmes were
introduced in the western countries     to prepare
international students who intended to study abroad.
These     programmes were designed to address the gaps,
style, culture and content     experienced in education in
developing nations and enable them cope with
contemporary western education and on completion of this
program,  students spend only three years to attain Bachelor
degrees.
The average cost of  this programme in the United Kingdom
for tuition and upkeep averaged     £27,000 per student and
a lot of students were struggling to cope with it     for
obvious reasons. The education desk sought and obtained
the approval of     the Special Adviser for the localization of
the programme in order to save cost and ensure that only
very competent students were allowed to travel  abroad on
completion of the programme.
A lot of  preparations and consultations were embarked
upon by the desk until Kaplan     International Colleges
approached the office to partner and participate in     their
brand new United States Pathway Program designed for
Nigeria and     China.
The former Special  Adviser, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, opted for
the Kaplan programme when it was  confirmed that it will
be monitored by the Unites States Embassy to ensure
compliance with the rules that govern education in the
United States.
This programme opened the difficult window for Niger Delta
youths to access Ivy League     education in the United States .
Kaplan United States Pathway     Programme :
The programme  entails students studying for nine months in
Nigeria and then proceeding to     the North Eastern
University in Boston to meet other students from various
parts of the world for a three-month Summer Bridge
programme, which begins   in June and at the conclusion of
the programme in August they proceed to  universities in the
Consortium of North American Universities (CNAU) based
on their grades. http://www.cnau-programs.com/univer...
The programme   started in 2013 and this was formalized
through a Memorandum of     Understanding endorsed by
the executive management team of Kaplan Inc. USA     and
Hon. Kingsley Kuku as well as the Chief Legal Officer for the
office,  Ms. Sweet Okundaye for the Office of the Special
Adviser to the President on Niger Delta.
The programme commenced with about 380 students in
2013 and this number was pruned down to 180     students
after a written test. At the end of the programme in August
2013,     only 137 students made it to the United States while
the rest made it to  schools in the United Kingdom.
The 2014-2015 session had 51 students. By May 2015, only
43 students were eligible to     progress to the three-month
Summer Bridge programme at the North Eastern University,
Boston, which had June 10, 2015 as closing date for
admissions. The former Special Adviser directed Kaplan to
stand down on deploying these     students to the United
States until a new substantive head had been     appointed
for the office on the premise that the security nature of
the     programme will cause the incoming government to
give it a priority.
The students were     kept waiting until June 16, 2015 when
Kaplan in consideration of the     welfare of the students
bore the expense of transporting the students to  meet up
with the programme and pledging to bear all their expenses
until a  substantive head was appointed for the office.
The likely reason  for this was that the 31 credit units
acquired by the students would not be     accepted by any
Nigerian university. Besides, they were not eligible for
direct entry and also did not sit for JAMB. The credit units
cannot be  carried over to another year and if the students
don’t meet the Summer  Bridge programme they would have
wasted the whole of 2015. Whether they  proceeded to
Boston or not, the office will still be indebted to Kaplan
for     unpaid tuition for the 2014/2015 session.
The current management has not shown a positive
disposition towards this action by     Kaplan and has refused
to pay either the institution or the students any  allowance
as at October 2015. The students are very likely to be
returned     to the country. The reasons by the office for
nonpayment include deployment     of the students without
authorization, expensive nature of the programme   and
allegations that the program was fraught with fraud even
without any shred of evidence.
It is on record that the office has not paid Kaplan
International Colleges, Lagos, a dime for     training 51
students in the 2014/2015 academic session, I wonder where
the fraud has emanated from to warrant such grave
allegations.
The way  forward: That these kids be spared further trauma
and be fully funded     by paying their tuition fees to the
universities they have progressed to and all their allowances
paid to them.
A visit to speak to them will also help them to feel very
Nigerian. Anything less will impugn on the image of the
country as they there are between the age of 16 and 20 years.
The Niger Delta region will appreciate President Muhammadu
Buhari for availing these kids     Ivy League education that
will position them for the very competitive  future.
BROOKSTONE SCHOOL, PORT HARCOURT:
The programme had 25 students from the office, who all
performed very well and even won prizes and acquired
admission into reputable universities in the United Kingdom.
In the light of the change in government, the students were
asked to sit for JAMB at the expense of the school and the
students excelled in the exams and also gained admissions
into very reputable Nigerian universities like the American
University of Nigeria, Yola, Adamawa State.
The refusal of the new administration to address this issue,
despite several reminders, has     resulted in these students
missing both admissions as at September 29,  2015. The
exception will be for those who made private arrangements.
The way forward : I recommend that the kids on this
programme be scheduled to proceed to the United Kingdom in
the January 2016 window and this can only be achieved when
their tuition fees are fully paid on time .
DEBTS INHERITED ON THE EDUCATION PROGRAMME:
This has been a major excuse by the current administration
in the Amnesty Office has been     responsible for the
challenges they are experiencing and has been responsible
for the problems the students are currently facing.
In the face of inheriting statutory allocations for May and
June 2015 in excess of     N10billion, it will be proper to state
the facts as follows:
The office did not owe any of the 22 private and public
universities in Nigeria for tuition for the 2014/2015
academic session.
The inherited debt for the United Kingdom schools was
N285million for 184 students.
The inherited debt for schools in the United States was
N134million for 90 students.
The inherited debt for schools in East Europe and Asia
amounted to  N62million for 55 students.
The debt to foundation schools in Nigeria  were  circa
N370million.
The Pro-forma invoice for the purchase of tickets for
graduated students amounted to N55 million.
Unpaid  allowances for students for May and June 2015:
For students in Nigeria          amounted to N230 million
monthly while for students abroad it was N565million
monthly as at when the new Special Adviser assumed
office.
The summation of these outstanding obligations was
circa N1.6bilion,
EDUCATION DESK PRIORITIES AS AT AUGUST 1,     2015 :
These priorities  were based on the level of urgency
occasioned by the age of the invoices     for Tuition fees or
welfare issues and the country-specific education timelines
for programmes.
United Kingdom:
The  plan was to clear all tuition-related debt issues for 184
students  with the British Embassy/UKBA before September
2015 to enable all prospective students meant for the
2015/2016 academic session obtain visas based on our
OSPAND Sponsorship letter.
Ensure that a meeting with the British High Commissioner
for the purpose of restoring the credit status of the Office of
the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and
bringing the new Coordinator/Special Advser up to speed on
the urgency of the matter.
Follow up with the office to provide proof of payment to the
United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) through the British
Embassy in Nigeria.
Provide new sponsorship letters to (a) progressing students
(b) all final year  students with slight extensions (after
approval) to be able to renew their visas without returning
to Nigeria.
Compile  and support with documents all approved
prospective students for study  in the United Kingdom for
the 2015/16 session to be able to obtain  visas in Nigeria.
Ensure  no visa expires on any student in the UK to avoid a
10-year ban.
Rescue  our stranded graduated students by providing them
with tickets to   return to Nigeria on time and prevent their
visas expiring on them.
Payment of May and June 2015 allowances until more funds
are received.
United States:
Payment of outstanding fees          for summer classes et.al
to the Consortium of North American  Universities for the
existing students.
Payment of allowances to  the 43 students taken to the USA
by Kaplan Int’l Colleges Lagos.
Payment of Tuition fees to Kaplan Int’l Colleges for the USPP
2014/2015 Programme.
Payment of all summer fees for other universities in the
United States like the Alabama State          University with 38
students and the University of Birmingham, Alabama, for
tuition and accommodation for 21 students.
Prepare to receive invoices for spring term by September
2015.
Russia:
Appeal to the Russian Embassy and the Nigeria High
Commission in Moscow to  verify the tuition invoices sent by
the students of People’s  Friendship University, Moscow.
Arrange for a meeting through the foreign desk for the
Special Adviser to meet  with the Russian Ambassador to
effect the rights of the students to have direct dealings with
the People’s Friendship University, Moscow  and the
Southwest State University, Kursk.
Payment  of May and June 2015 allowances.
Belarus:
Payment  of tuition for the 2015/2016 session for the 53
students in four institutions.
Payment  of May and June 2015 allowances
Obtain autopsy reports and conclude arrangements for the
repatriation and burial          of the body of a deceased
student in Nigeria.
Nigeria:
Payment  of May, June  2015 Allowances
Verification of over 1,200 applicants who scored 180 marks
in the Joint  Matriculation Examinations for the purpose of
placing them in Nigerian  universities when authorized by
the Special Adviser.
Placement of the graduates of the foundation programmes in
Nigeria in schools abroad or Nigeria as expected to be
directed by the Special Adviser.
Malaysia:
Seek approval and relocate 23 students from Nilai University
to Leeds Beckett University, Malaysia, as advised by the
Nigeria High Commission.
Provide Tickets for graduated students and six (6) expelled
students whose visas were running out.
Deal with the issue of detained students by the authorities.
What the Education Desk did :
It engaged the schools and students and kept them abreast of
issues all through the period     of no substantive who could
authorize expenditure as a signatory to the office accounts.
On assumption of  duty, Brig-General Paul Boroh (rtd) was
duly informed about the urgency to deal with the financial
situation of the education of the programme and their time
bound nature.
We went before the Gen. Boroh-constituted Verification
Committee headed by Dr. Ken Ehigie  twice to defend the
financial commitments for the education desk, particularly
as it concerned payment of outstanding tuition and
allowances  to students.
At the instance of the desk, meetings were programmed to
hold with the Ambassadors of the     United Kingdom, USA
and Russia through the Head of Foreign Desk.
All attempts to make the Special Adviser write to the Central
Bank Governor to intervene in the provision of evidence of
payment of fees (Telex Advices) and submission to the UK
High Commission were rebuffed by him.
We also submitted to the EFCC, Board of Enquiry and
Boroh’s Data team the data of our students (Comprising of
Names, Passport details, school, course, start & finish dates)
for purposes of verification.
The desk ensured all payment memos and files were
properly endorsed and put before the Special   Adviser.
Based on this, the allowances for May and June 2015 was
paid to     all students. By third week of August 2015, all
documentation for the payment of July and August 2015
allowances had been laid before the Special  Adviser.
The desk officers  compiled the list of those who sat for
JAMB 2015 examinations and submitted  same to the data
team for verification while the memos for deployment
were     submitted for approval to the Special Adviser.
WHAT THE SPECIAL ADVISER & HIS TEAM   SHOULD
HAVE DONE
The Special Adviser  should have:
1. Directed  the finance department on time to provide
evidence of payment to the          schools in the United
Kingdom for 2014/2015 for submission to the British
Embassy.
2. Prevail  on the Central Bank of Nigeria through its
Governor to give the payment of tuition priority over all
other payments.
3. Prevail  on the Central Bank Governor to support in the
provision of evidence of recent remittance or payment
called Telex Advices or Debit Notes under the TSA regime
for submission to the British Embassy.
4. Payment of May and June 2015 allowances as at October
2015 to the 43 students  on the Kaplan USPP to enable
them afford basic necessities.
5. Approve deployment plan for the 2015 /2016 academic
session for applicants who          sat for JAMB after due
verification.
CONSEQUENCES OF NON-ADHERENCE TO ADVICE :
United Kingdom:
1. All  final year students with expired visas who are to
graduate between December 2015 and June 2016 will not
meet this target.
2. All  students whose visas expired due to the inability of
the office to provide them tickets will be banned for 10
years and refused entry  into the United Kingdom to
conclude their studies or even attend their convocation.
3. Over 100 students must leave the United Kingdom before
the end of the year due to expired visas and refusal of
schools to support their visa  applications due to the
inability of the office to meet the conditions of the British
Embassy.
United States:
1. The 137 students in the Consortium of North American
Universities in United States stand the risk of been
excluded from school if their fees are not paid as soon as
possible.
2. The refusal of the office to pay Kaplan International
Colleges and maligning the firm as corrupt might result
in the deportation of the 43 students, who are averagely
under 17 years.
3. The students in the University of Alabama, Birmingham,
face been thrown out of their accommodation due to non-
payment.
Nigeria:
1. The chances of all those primed for studies in Nigeria
are unlikely as the admission window has closed.
2. They will miss this academic year except a legal
extension is granted by JAMB.
3. Their  JAMB results will become useless by next year.
THE WAY FORWARD:
1. A presidential directive to the Nigerian High
Commissions for all  related sponsored students to go and
register their problems with the  charge de affaires for
Education Counsel in the embassy.
2. This  process can be supported by the Nigeria Intelligence
Agency desk heads  in the affected high commissions
where there are Presidential Amnesty  Programme
sponsored students.
3. The   office to collate and properly inform the nation of
the problem and  come out with a plan and timelines for
resolution of these problems   instead of distorting and
misinforming the students and the public.
4. The  office to prioritize and pay all outstanding fees in
the United  Kingdom and the United States to enable the
students meet the January  2016 window.
5. Submission  of all documents and addresses of finance
contact persons in the UK          schools as agreed to the
British High Commission.
6. Convene   a talk shop to sensitize the affected students
about the plan of the office in resolving these issues with
practical timelines.
7. Payment  of my allowance and salaries for May, June,
July, August, September  2015 to date.
SUGGESTIONS FOR INVESTIGATION OF THE  EDUCATION
DESK UNDER MY WATCH BY THE ECONOMIC &
FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION :
1. The EFCC/Office, if still in doubt of the existence of
students in universities abroad, should use the payment
files at its disposal and  compare it with the list of
students submitted to them by the Education Desk and
then send these names (student ID, passport
number)          to the embassies through our Ministry of
Foreign Affairs for verification.
2. The EFCC can submit these list of students on a country
by country basis  to their embassies for confirmation
purposes such as the UK Embassy,US Embassy,Russian
Embassy et.al.
3. The fraud office in the United Kingdom and the Internal
Revenue Service in the United States can be petitioned to
see if any form of commission was paid to me.
4. The  office before sending students out of the country
inform the following offices in writing and they include
:Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the  Immigration Service,
Office of the National Security Adviser and the  Nigerian
missions abroad. These offices can be asked to submit
these  documents for verification purposes.
The  Kaplan Inc USSP program can be reported to the
Internal Revenue  Service of the United States through our
Ministry of Foreign Affairs  to investigate the allegations of
money laundry.
THE UNATTRACTIVE COST OF THE EDUCATION
PROGRAMME:
The Amnesty program     has been saddled with a huge
financial burden associated with training     Niger Delta
youths in top foreign universities in the world and it would
be     escapist to jettison this programme because of the cost
or downgrade the  students to cheaper schools.
Let these youths be  determined by their capacities and
results as the future will be very competitive and  only
excellence in education can become a foot-in-the-door for
the youths     of the region.
My fear is occasioned by the absence of a clear plan for the
programme and the outright refusal to meet financial
obligations of the education desk  despite expending more
than three or four months of statutory financial  allocations
to the program.
WINDING DOWN OF THE PROGRAMME:
We are aware of the  Presidential directive to wind down
the programme by December 31, 2015.
It will be  appropriate if the current happenings are made
public to the stakeholders     and students from the Niger
Delta and the Presidential Amnesty Office makes  public a
deliberate winding down programme for the education
program with specific timelines.
In the light of the recent change in government and
perceptions in the Niger Delta region, my     call for this
review is to prevent these anomalies stated herein to be
used  by mischievous persons to misinform or misconstrue
the intentions of     President Muhammadu Buhari
administration for the people of the Niger Delta  region
under this program.
If these issues are  dealt with as suggested, the programme
will by December 2015 graduated over  820 students from
the Niger Delta region.
God bless Nigeria!
Eugene Abels
Former  Technical Personnel –Education & Desk Head of the
Education program Office of the Special Adviser to
the President on Niger Delta and Presidential Amnesty
Programme.

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