By Isaac Aregbesola

Some anti-corruption crusaders have urged Nigerians to reject the bill passed by the Senate to whittle down the power of the chairman of ICPC.

They also urged President Bola Tinubu to withhold assent on the amended bill.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the senate had on June 4, passed a bill to amend the law establishing the ICPC, which steeply cuts down on the power of the commission’s chairperson.

Speaking in separate interviews, with NAN, they posited that signing the bill into law would undermine the war against corruption in the country.

An anti-corruption crusader, and former Executive Secretary, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption. Prof Sadiq Radda, said that passage of the bill was an issue of corruption fighting back

“My take is that Nigeria should reject it; it is corruption fighting back, most of these legislators are not happy with ICPC because it is doing an excellent job.

“The implication is that ICPC cannot perform as it is performing and Nigerians should know that is very dangerous.

“It is our duty as academics, anti-corruption agencies, as media to help anti-corruption agencies to be very strong. “

Radda, from the Department of Sociology, Bayero University Kano, said that instead of whittling down the power, efforts should be made to strengthen the office of the chairman to be independent and vibrant

“We have a problem. So we should reject what the National Assembly is doing. We should give protection to all anti-corruption agencies because they are doing a wonderful job,” he said.

Similarly, Prof. Sola Akinrinade, former Vice Chancellor of Osun State University, faulted the procedure of the bill and said that it would not serve a good purpose in the anti-corruption war.

“The only thing I will say is that they did not comply with all the normal processes, there was no public hearing, and when you are doing that kind of amendment there should be a public hearing.

“It doesn’t serve any purpose if you whittle down the power of anti-corruption agencies, particularly the chairperson because they are doing so much risky work.

“What purpose does it serve if we whittle down the power of the ICPC chair; we are actually not helping the fight against corruption

“And, it sends the wrong signal to the international community on the importance attached to the anti-corruption agencies. Instead of strengthening them; we are reducing their power to fight corruption.

“What message does that send to the international community? We need to watch out and guard against such so that we don’t end up shooting ourselves on the foot

“What I would suggest is that when it gets to the president, he should refer it to the Ministry of Justice which will take a holistic look at what is being recommended, whether it serves the purpose of its creation.”

Hamzat Lawal, Chief Executive of CODE, said that ”it would be a shame to water down the powers of the chairman, what we need is an institutional framework to strengthen the operation of the ICPC in the fight against corruption.

“If the lawmakers’ hands are clean they have no reason to be afraid of the operation of the ICPC, the commission has been doing a great job under the present leadership.

“If it has been passed, I call on Mr President to withhold assent to the bill, ” he said

A constitutional lawyer, Adegbite Adeniyi, however, said that the amendment has its positive sides.

”For instance, it will encourage and engender robust discussions by the commission before sensitive and far-reaching decisions are taken. This will prevent or at least reduce hasty and or arbitrary use of power by the chairman.”

He, however, posited that this may slow down the speed of actions expected as the chairman needs consultation with the board of the Commission before taking some sensitive decisions.

He also expressed reservation about the Bill, especially the provision of the new Section 22(3) which alters the seven years jail term and a fine of one million naira hitherto specified for bribery or official corruption.

The section also recommends a lesser fine of five hundred thousand naira without the terms of imprisonment for public officials who inflate prices or the cost of contracts during procurement processes.

He said that the details of the amendment were still sketchy and it might be too early to fully and impartially critique the same.

“ I think the speculation about “whittling” down the powers of the chairman of the Commission is being fueled by the mutual suspicion that exists between the members of parliament and the anti-graft agency,” he said. (NAN)

IAA/NNO/MZA

Edited by Nick Nicholas/Maharazu Ahmed

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Force Commander, Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Maj.-Gen. Gold Chibuisi, has urged troops to remain vigilant and ensure the safety of unarmed civilian populations in their area of responsibility.

Chibuisi gave the directive during operational visit to troops in Baga, Cross Kauwa and Bosso in Sectors 3 and 4 of MNJTF in Nigeria and Niger Republic.

The Military Public Information Officer for MNJTF, Lt.-Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Ndjemena, Chad.

The force commander assured the troops of MNJTF’s commitment to providing necessary support for their operations.

He also encouraged the troops to work in synergy with other security agencies and local leaders towards ensuring peace and security in the Lake Chad region.

Chibuisi also called on citizens in the region to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities to security agencies.

He added that the MNJTF remained committed to its mandate to protect the citizens, combat insurgency and promote peace and security in the region in collaboration with other security agencies.

The commander appreciated local leaders in the region for their continuous support for the MNJTF and national operations.

He also appealed for more support for MNJTF operations during a visit to the Bosso Regional Mayor, Arimi Shattima.

Chibuisi said that the support would help the MNJTF combat the threats to peace and security in the region. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Defence Headquarters says the military has eliminated several Boko Haram and Islamic States of West Africa (ISWAP) terrorists in both land and air operations in North East, in last two weeks.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, made the disclosure on Thursday in Abuja at the bi-weekly news conference on the operations of the armed forces.

Danmadami said the land, air and maritime component of Operation Hadin Kai had sustained the intensive efforts to decimate terrorists and other criminals in the North East zone.

He said troops conducted several operations against terrorists enclaves, hideouts, camps and training ground at villages, mountains and waterside within Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, neutralising several terrorists, captured some and recovered weapons.

He said the land troops recovered several other items and the sum of N11.04 million, neutralised 20 terrorists, captured seven, apprehended 40 suspected logistics suppliers and 15 notorious criminal gang members.

According to him, others arrested were four drug peddlers, three kidnappers and three terrorists collaborators.

“Troops equally rescued 15 kidnapped civilians, while a total of 743 terrorists and members of their families, comprising 42 adult males, 251 adult females and 452 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre of operation,” he said.

Danmadami said the air component also conducted air operations at Tagoshe, observed to be active with terrorists moving under the trees with missiles.

He said the information revealed that several terrorists were neutralised and their structure destroyed in the air strike.

Danmadami added that an air interdiction operation was also conducted at Mandara mountain in Borno, over a prominent building in the general area where it was observed with several terrorists’ movement.

“Accordingly, the building was struck, neutralising several terrorists and destroying the building.

” In the same vein on June 6, an air interdiction operation was conducted at Loghpere, a Boko Haram terrorist identified hideout on the Mandara mountains, purportedly being used by terrorists as a logistics base and hideout for their technical equipment.

“Consequently, the location was struck with bombs, and feedback revealed that several terrorists were neutralised and logistics structures destroyed in the air strike,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idowu Ariwodola/Maharazu Ahmed

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Director, Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Ayodele Famuyiwa, says the military airstrike of Jan. 24 in Nasarawa State only targeted and eliminated terrorists.

Famuyiwa said this while reacting to questions at a bi-weekly news briefing on the operations of the armed forces, on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the air strike was carried out after series of intel and surveillance, adding that innocent civilians were not killed as being speculated in some quarters.

He faulted the report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) alleging that the NAF bombarded herders who were evacuating their cattle in Kwatiri, a border community between Benue and Nasarawa.

In its report on June 7, HRW said “Nigerian authorities have provided little information and no justice” with regard to the airstrike.

“Although the authorities admitted carrying out the raid, the organisation said, they evaded “key questions” concerning the circumstances surrounding the attack.

HRW said their preliminary investigations revealed that the pastoralists had gone to Kwatiri to pay fines for the release of their cattle seized by the Benue State Livestock Guards when they were struck in the air raid.

But in his reaction to the report on Thursday, NAF spokesman challenged the organisation to produce evidence to prove the allegation that those killed in the airstrike were not terrorists.

According to him, there had been Intel from several reliable sources of the activities of terrorists in that particular area.

“You are all aware of the nefarious activities of criminal elements in that part of the country.

“We are also aware that there is an ongoing operation, that is, Operation Whirl Stroke and the Intel came from several sources and even to the commander of that operation for the air component that there was plan by terrorists within that area to carry out a massive attack.

“And then there was a secondary school in question that they also planned to kidnap students.

“To that extent, the air force carried out surveillance and the surveillance confirmed that there were terrorists and that surveillance continued for almost throughout the day until later in the evening when a truck appeared in that scene.

“The truck was suspected to have brought logistics to them and that was why approval was given by the appropriate authority that that truck be taken out and the truck was taken out.

“Now if anyone is coming around to say innocent people were killed where is the photograph of the truck that brought the cattle that they are talking about?,” he asked.

Famuyiwa said the claim that the people came there to pay for their cattle was not tenable.

He also challenged anyone accusing the military to come out with proofs such as photograph of the said truck, the cattle and dead bodies.

“The position of the air force is that terrorists were struck that day and whether it is whatever group and if they think they were innocent people, let them provide the evidence.

“If you think the military is going to give you the evidence of that operations for now, you won’t get it because there are information that cannot be declassified now.

“Let the people who said innocent citizens were killed, provide the evidence and let the press do the analysis and then the truth will come up,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

By Ramatu Garba

The Police Command in Kano State has confirmed the arrest of 12 illegal immigrants from Mali and Niger Republic.
It also confirmed the arrest of 33 other suspected criminals.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Usaini-Gumel, made this known while addressing newsmen in Kano on Wednesday.

The illegal immigrants consisted of seven Malians and five Nigerien nationals deportees from Saudi Arabia, he said.

According to him, they were discovered while being camped in a house located in Hotoro Yandodo Quarters, Kano.

“The immigrants have wounds after altering their finger prints with razor cuts to evade detection by Saudi Arabian authorities.

“The 33 other suspects were arrested for various offences which include armed robbery, theft, kidnapping and possession of illicit weapons among others,” the commissioner said.

The items recovered, he said, included 46 Mobile Phones, 21 Sim-Cards, knives, cutlass, one toy gun and a bunch of master keys.

Others included sachets of diazepam tablets, 79 pieces of exol tablets and 98 wraps of dry leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp, among others.

He said the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of investigation.

The CP commended the people of the state for their continued support, understanding and cooperation in the fight against crime and criminality in the state.

He urged all police officers to redouble their efforts, apply proficiency and remain steadfast in crime fighting.

In case of emergencies, he said, the Kano State Police Command can be contacted through the following phone numbers; 08032419754, 08123821575, 09029292926. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

==============
Edited by Maureen Ojinaka/Sadiya Hamza

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Navy is set to unveil seven additional navigational charts as part of activities to mark the 2023 World Hydrography Day.

The Chief of Policy and Plans (Navy), Rear Adm. Seidu Garba, made this known at a news conference on the occasion of the 2023 World Hydrography Day celebration on Wednesday in Abuja.

A navigational or hydrographic chart is a graphic representation of a sea region or water body and adjacent coasts or banks.

Depending on the scale of the chart, it may show depths of water and heights of land, natural features of the seabed, details of the coastline, navigational hazards, locations of natural and human-made aids to navigation.

It may also show information on tides and currents, local details of the Earth’s magnetic field, and human-made structures such as harbours, buildings, and bridges.

Garba said the newly produced Navigational charts by the Nigerian Navy linking Ondo to Lagos State through River Alape, would be unveiled on June 21.

He said the new charts in addition to the earlier 20 produced for the lower-Niger River would bring the number to 27.

According to him, the Nigerian navy has the most sophisticated hydrographic survey vessel in the whole of Africa.

He said that the vessel, NNS LANA, which came into the country in 2021, is being used extensively to do chart the nation’s coastal areas and inland waterways.

Garba said the theme of the day which is “Hydrography – Underpinning the Digital Twin of the Ocean”, would  focus on the application of hydrographic datasets for sustainable management and use of the ocean.

According to him, digital twin of the ocean is a near real-time future digital representation of the physical, chemical, biological, and socio-economical dimensions of the ocean, to facilitate well-informed decisions for effective ocean governance.

He said the ocean was everything to man, adding that it sustains life, provides food, energy, recreation and jobs.

Garba however observed that marine litters, indiscriminate marine resource exploitation, and inadequate tools for ocean management were threatening sustainable use of the ocean in Nigeria.

“Therefore, developing the digital twin of Nigeria’s waters in particular, and the entire Gulf of Guinea in general will provide the needed interface between policy makers, coastal communities, maritime security agencies, researchers, marine exploration and exploitation companies, as well as other maritime users.

“This will foster the right action for sustainable ocean governance and uses in Nigeria.

“Development of digital twin of the ocean requires the integration of a wide range of real-time and historic data sources like ocean observatory data, static data from geology and human activities, as well as hydrographic datasets.

“Currently, there are several historic and real-time datasets domiciled in many Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Nigerian Governments, as well as private oil companies, that could be integrated into the digital twin of the ocean for Nigeria,” he said.

The naval chief said that conversations during the 2023 celebration in Nigeria would awaken collective consciousness towards pooling marine datasets together to develop an infrastructure that would serve the collective good of all stakeholders for sustainable ocean development.

Garba said the event would include awareness lectures aimed at arousing the interest of young minds to consider picking up career in hydrography.

This, according to him, is to raise enough human capacity to provide quality hydrographic services to Nigeria’s policy makers and mariners.

On his part, Hydrographer of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Adm. Chukwuemeka Okafor, said that the navy had done a lot in the area of hydrographic survey in Nigeria.

According to him, there are over 3000 creeks and coastal area of about 420 nautical miles already surveyed n the country.

Okafor said that survey was a continuous process, adding that the navy had not surveyed up to half of Nigeria’s waters because of its vastness.

He said that about 20 charts have been made covering River Niger from Lokoja to the Atlantic Ocean through River Ramos and Forcados River.

Okafor said that while additional seven charts would be unveiled in coming days, the surveying of Uguta Lake through Orassi River down to the Atlantic Ocean, up to Sombrero River and New Calaba River had reached 95 per cent.

According to him, the survey team will soon round that up and the charting team will commence the production of that chart.

“That axis will also be open and most states will be able to have access to the sea when that is completed, and navy will also be able to deploy its capital ships to provide maritime security along that axis,” he said.

Okafor said that the navy was expecting delivery of additional survey vessel that would be deployed to cover more grounds.

He said the World Hydrography Day was meant to sensitise more people of what hydrography is and the values it brings to every nation. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed