Alleged fraud: I’ve never laundered money in my life —Air Peace boss, Onyema - The Punch

Maureen Ihua-Maduenyi

The Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, on Saturday, denied all the allegations of fraud levelled against him by the US.

In his reactions to the indictment of bank fraud and money laundering for moving more than $20m from Nigeria through United States bank accounts in a scheme allegedly involving false documents based on the purchase of airplanes, Onyema said that he had never laundered money in his life and every transfer made to the US for aircraft purchase had been done through the Central Bank of Nigeria LC regime.

He said,  “I confirm to you that all allegations are false and are in no way in line with my character as a person and as a businessman whose only aim has been to build Nigeria and improve wellbeing.

“As the press statement clearly stated, these are indictments that only contain charges.

READ ALSO: US govt indicts Air Peace CEO in bank fraud, money laundering

“I am innocent of all charges and the US government will find no dirt on me because I have never conducted business with any illegalities.”

“I never laundered money in my life, neither have I committed bank fraud anywhere in the world. Every Kobo I transferred to the US for aircraft purchase went through the Central Bank of Nigeria LC regime and all were used for the same purpose.

“The American companies that received the funds are still in business. I never took a penny from any US bank or Nigerian bank.

“I am willing to defend my innocence in the US courts,” Onyema said.

Onyema said his lawyers had taken over the case.

DOWNLOAD THE PUNCH NEWS APP NOW ON

from Top stories - Google News https://ift.tt/2rjqKD6
via IFTTT

Edo: Fresh moves to save APC - The Nation Newspaper

Undeterred by the failure of several earlier efforts by a number of its well-meaning chieftains to resolve the political face-off between groups loyal to Governor Godwin Obaseki and his predecessor and national chairman of the ruling party, Adams Oshiomhole, Assistant Editor ‘Dare Odufowokan reports that stakeholders within the All Progressives Congress (APC) are now making fresh moves to nip the worrisome crisis in the bud and save its Edo State chapter from electoral misfortune next year.

SINCE the stalemate over the disagreement that trailed the controversial inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly earlier in the year by Governor Godwin Obaseki, top party leaders in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), within and outside the state, have been divided over the development. While some have been busy persuading the governor to see reason and issue a fresh proclamation for the assembly as advised by the leadership of the national assembly, others are prevailing on Oshiomhole to allow Obaseki have his way with the leadership of the assembly for peace to reign in the state chapter of the APC.

The hitherto silent war between the erstwhile political godfather and godson went full blown following the controversial inauguration of the assembly last June and the subsequent election of Hon. Frank Okiye as the new Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly. All the 24 members of the state assembly belong to the APC. But nine of them, allegedly aided by the state Obaseki, hurriedly met at night to be sworn in and also elect a speaker following what the Oshiomhole camp insists is a nocturnal proclamation by the governor for the inauguration of the house.

Opponents of the governor within the party argue that the other lawmakers-elect were intentionally excluded in order to prevent the lawmakers from choosing their preferred leaders. “The governor was scared Oshiomhole had plans of taking over the assembly. That informed the step he took with minority members of the house to elect a Speaker. That is the root cause of the current crisis and one wonders how this will be resolved with both parties determined to have the house under their wings,” a source explained.

Following his controversial emergence, Obaseki wasted no time in congratulating Okiye and pledged to work with the new leadership of the assembly, even at a time Oshiomhole and others were faulting the process that produced the new Speaker. This was the first sign that the crisis between the two camps may have festered more than many people thought. Oshiomhole rejected the inauguration and called for a fresh exercise. He described Okiye’s emergence as “illegal and embarrassing”.

But the Edo government in its response said the national chairman of APC was being biased to have accused Obaseki of having a hand in the affairs of the assembly. Okiye said he remains Speaker and the remaining lawmakers-elect would be inaugurated when they are ready.

Failed interventions

Determined to prevent the crisis from escalating, members of the House of Representatives intervened with a 13-member ad-hoc committee, chaired by Abdulrazak Namdas, to investigate the crises in the Edo State House of Assembly. Later, the house gave a one-week ultimatum to Obaseki, to issue a fresh proclamation for the Edo State House of Assembly. The lawmakers arrived at the resolution while adopting the report of an ad-hoc committee mandated to investigate the crisis in the state legislature.

“All members of the Edo State House of Assembly, both those who have been inaugurated and those who have not been inaugurated should dissolve their factions in the interest of peace and stability of the house with the view to moving the state forward. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Director-General (DG), Department of State Service, should shut down the Edo State House of Assembly and provide adequate security to allay further fears of intimidation and threat as alleged by members-elect,” the recommendations read.

The house agreed that where the above recommendations fail, the National Assembly shall invoke the Provisions of Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which empowers it to take over the State House of Assembly until the situation normalises. But the governor rejected the call and dared the House of Representatives to take over the assembly if it can. In a statement in Benin City, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, insisted that “there is nowhere in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) where the House of Representatives or even the National Assembly for that matter, is granted the right or power to shut down a State House of Assembly.”

And in August, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered both the Senate and the House of Representatives to halt their plan to take over the legislative duties of the Edo State House of Assembly. Justice Taiwo Taiwo made the order at the resumed hearing in the case instituted by the Edo State government to challenge the directive by the chambers of the National Assembly to the governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, to issue a fresh proclamation of the state’s House of Assembly.

A month later, Justice Kolawole Omotoso, of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, also declared that Obaseki cannot issue a fresh proclamation. Omotoso also ruled that the National Assembly lacked the powers to direct Obaseki to issue fresh proclamation to the House of Assembly. According to him, a fresh proclamation would amount to an extension of tenure for the lawmakers.

The ruling followed an application filed by some Edo lawmakers to challenge moves by the National Assembly to seal off the state legislative chambers and take over their statutory functions following an internal crisis of the house. Omotoso said only a court of competent jurisdiction and not the National Assembly could issue such a directive. But the court pronouncements also failed to end the face-off over the inauguration of the assembly.

Worsened crisis

Findings by The Nation revealed that prompted by Omotosho’s ruling and other court pronouncements, Edo lawmakers loyal to Oshiomhole may have approached the courts too to get the governor to reverse himself and issue a fresh proclamation. “We are determined to challenge this abnormality to the very end. Obaseki and his advisers cannot hold Edo people to ransom. The rule of law will not be thwarted just like that. We will fight this to the very end,” one of the lawmakers told The Nation.

The Nation gathered that the Oshiomhole group is currently waiting for the judiciary to rule in its favour and get the governor to issue a fresh proclamation. “There is no way nine members will elect a leadership for a 24-member house. And don’t be deceived by their G15, G20 claims. What they still have till today are those original nine members. The one or two they threatened to join them will retrace their steps quickly once the courts throw out the illegality currently parading itself as leadership of the house,” another source said.

Member-elect representing Uhunwmonde constituency, Hon. Washington Osa Osifo, while explaining the situation back then, had said, “It is public knowledge that all the members-elect in Edo State are all of the same political party, the APC. It is also common knowledge that the governor, no matter how powerful, cannot impose individuals either as Speaker or deputy speaker on the legislators. At best, he can only lobby for his preferred candidates as was recently witnessed at the National Assembly.

“We urge all well-meaning individuals, including our well-respected Royal Father, His Majesty Oba Ewuare II, The Oba of Benin, President Muhammadu Buhari, the leadership of our party, APC, and the leadership of the National Assembly to prevail on Mr. Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo State, to immediately issue the letter of proclamation to enable Edo State House of Assembly to function and to avoid serious constitutional crisis.” But his advice went unheeded till date.

Also, while the disagreement was escalating, the governor dropped eight commissioners, including Oshiomhole’s nephew, from his cabinet and allegedly replaced them with his perceived loyalists. Also, many political office holders in the 18 councils of the state have been sacked with observers claiming those affected are loyalists of Oshiomhole. Of course, the state government has vehemently denied any witch-hunting while giving reasons for the sack of the affected people.

About four council chairmen, Eghe Ogbemudia (Egor);  Patrick Aguinede, (Esan West); Alhaji Yakson Musa in Etsako West and Alhaji Aremiyau Momoh of Etsako East, have also been suspended for alleged corrupt activities. Other affected council officials include special advisers, senior special assistants, secretary to local government and supervisory councillors.

Fresh peace moves

In spite of the seeming difficulty to resolve the festering crisis, party leaders and other stakeholders are said to have decided to save the party from any form of electoral misfortune by ensuring the resolution of the dispute. According to findings by our correspondents, some prominent party leaders recently met in Abuja to discuss the state of the party. It was gathered that the crisis rocking the Edo State chapter featured prominently on the agenda of the meeting held in the private residence of one of the founding fathers of the party.

“Oshiomhole was in attendance at the meeting and he expressed his readiness to support any effort aimed at restoring peace to the party in his home state. One of the leaders present also briefed the house about an earlier meeting he had with Governor Obaseki in Lagos. According to the party leader, the governor is also open to peace talks having expressed his willingness to have party leaders intervene in the festering crisis. The meeting then resolved to encourage all organs of the party to work towards unifying the chapter,” our source said.

The Nation gathered that one of the resolutions at the meeting is that the governor and his godfather, Oshiomhole, must first be reconciled before their supporters can be pacified. Subsequently, two committees were said to have been set up to look into the matter. The leaders also urged members of the NWC of the party to remain as neutral as possible over the matter. The NWC was also advised to set up a committee to investigate the crisis before taking any other action.

On Wednesday, the party’s National Working Committee also raised a five-man facts-finding committee to look into the crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the party. Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, was named as the panel chair. According to a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the committee has a mandate speaking with all sides to the crisis and report back to the NWC.

Issa-Onilu said in the statement: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, to head the party’s five-member fact-finding committee for the APC chapter in Edo State. Other members of the committee are: Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari; former governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi; former governor of Borno State and serving senator, Kashim Shettima, and Honourable Ahmed Wadada (Secretary).

“The Committee is expected to meet with all disputing interests and present its findings to the party. You would recall that the party took a decision earlier in the week to constitute a committee of prominent party leaders on the lingering crisis in our party in Edo State. This marks another step in our party’s effort to find a lasting solution to the crisis and ensure our party comes out of it even stronger.”

With the current moves, many concerned people within and outside the party are hoping that the Edo State APC will put its house in order ahead of the guber election next year.

from Top stories - Google News https://ift.tt/2Dc2be4
via IFTTT

I Have No ‘Third Term’ Agenda, Says Buhari - Channels Television

President Muhammadu Buhari has cleared the air over a third term agenda, saying he can afford to be reckless because he has no plans to remain in power after 2023 elections.

President Buhari who spoke at the ongoing National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, asked members to begin preparation for the next party conference in the next 18 months.

“I want you to accept that you are now in charge, I am the president but APC is in charge. Please, I’d like to carry you along to make sure that APC becomes a permanent body.

“You should read the constitution because I’m not going to make a mistake of attempting to run a third term or whatever term. Besides the age, I swore by the holy book I believe in that I will go by the constitution and the constitution said two terms.

“I can afford to be reckless because I am not going to ask for anybody’s vote,” he added.

He charged party members to dominate their constituencies, taunting the 16 senators who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prior to the 2019 general election for failing to secure a re-election.

Also speaking at the meeting, National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole said the 16 senators thought their defection could bring down the party, but they were punished by Nigerians who re-elected the party into power.

“The electorate also elected more members of the Federal House of Representatives on the APC platform.

“I also believe it is significant to point out that those who rebelled against this party, who sought to bring us down, who decamped at a critical moment, believing that they will destabilise us and we won’t have enough time to make up, as led by Senator Bukola Saraki, him and 15 others, by the special grace of God, the Nigerian electorates have chosen to punish them with their PVCs and their ballot papers and they were all voted out and APC senators were voted in to replace them.

Mr Oshiomhole added that the party is looking forward to the last senator out of the 16, losing his seat to the APC in a few months time.

“There is one still struggling, but as we speak, he is at 20,000ft below ground level and he is hoping that there will be a miracle that will bring him to ground level and then climb the tree to the senate. But by the grace of God, I believe that the deficit, there are no miracles in an election, particularly when they are free and fair.”

READ ALSO: Appeal Court Upholds Ganduje’s Election As Kano Governor

Meanwhile, the police dispersed two protesting groups who clashed at the entrance of the APC headquarters, prior to the NEC meeting.

A pro and an anti-Oshiomhole group clashed throwing dangerous objects at themselves, leaving passers-by within the vicinity to scamper for safety, while occupants of houses and offices hurriedly shut their entrances.

The drama started when a media briefing organised by the anti-Oshiomhole group was disrupted by another group, which stoked the attacks.

However, normalcy has returned to the area after the police dispersed the groups with canisters of teargas.

No casualty was recorded in the fracas.

Below are photos from the meeting:

from Top stories - Google News https://ift.tt/2XF3Vph
via IFTTT

David Lyon reveals what he will do with Bayelsa money, sends message to PDP candidate, others - Daily Post Nigeria

Bayelsa State Governor-elect, Chief David Lyon, has revealed what he would do with the state’s money.

Lyon said that a Certificate of Return he received from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was a social contract between him and the people of Bayelsa State.

Lyon spoke when he received the certificate from INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Bayelsa, Edo and Rivers states, Mrs. May Agbamuche.

He vowed never to disappoint the people of the state, adding that the state’s money does not belong to him or his deputy.

He also extend a hand of fellowship to the other governorship candidates in the last election, adding that there is no winner or loser.

Lyon reiterated that he would treat the state revenue as the people’s money meant for development.

He said, “The Bayelsa money is not my money. The Bayelsa money doesn’t belong to my deputy. It is the people’s money and we will use it judiciously to develop Bayelsa State. I, David Lyon, is signing a contract with the people of Bayelsa to bring peace to our state so that development will come to Bayelsa.”

He called on other contestants including the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Douye Diri, to work with him for the development of Bayelsa.

He continued, “I extend my greetings to the good people of Bayelsa, who went out with pains to decide the next government with their votes. They exercised their rights in the most peaceful election so far recorded in the history of Bayelsa.

“I assure you that David Lyon, his team and the APC will not disappoint Bayelsans. In an election, we always have many contestants especially in the one that we have just concluded in Bayelsa. Today by the will of God, I have emerged the winner. But that doesn’t mean that others, who contested with me are losers.

“They are also winners like me. There is no looser. This is the time for us to come together to develop Bayelsa. We have lost a lot. We have missed a lot. Let us come together to develop this our great state. I commend the Independent National Electoral Commission for doing a great job.

“I also commend security agencies for doing a good job. This is the first in the history of Bayelsa politics that the election is peaceful. Like the local government I come from, when the foreign observers came, they were asking that Southern Ijaw is usually violent during elections. But I told them that I was praying to God to make this election peaceful in Southern Ijaw.

“By the grace of God, it was so clear that Southern Ijaw and the entire state is peaceful. Today I greet the great, women, men, youths and traditional rulers in Bayelsa. This is not about David Lyon. It is about the people of Bayelsa State. We assure you that in this our incoming administration, security, development is key.”

from Top stories - Google News https://ift.tt/2OHSrxp
via IFTTT

Aggrieved NEC members ask Oshiomhole to resign - The Punch

Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

Some aggrieved members of the National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress, numbering 43, have demanded the resignation of the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

The aggrieved NEC members at a press briefing on Friday night in Abuja after NEC meeting accused Oshiomhole of abruptly ending the NEC meeting.

The Zamfara State APC Chairman, Lawal Liman, who spoke on their behalf, said most of the goodwill acquired by the party at inception had taken a downturn under the former Edo State governor.

He said, “The APC was founded as a platform for the progressives in Nigeria in 2014, with ‘change’ as the slogan of the party.

“The party was positively embraced by the citizens of Nigeria, culminating in record-breaking victory of President Muhammadu Buhari, as the first opposition leader to defeat an incumbent President.

“Most of the goodwill acquired by the party, by reasons of its religious adherence to the provisions of its constitution and the tenets of internal democratic practices has taken a downturn, principally due to dictatorial and despotic tendencies of the national chairman, who has usurped the powers of the national Executive Committee of the party.

READ ALSO: Full details of Allen Onyema, Air Peace CEO’s charge sheet

“This may have been responsible for the admonition of Mr President who insisted that the party organs, at the state, LGA and ward levels, must be strengthened and accorded due respect with regards to the powers and responsibilities conferred on them by the constitution of the party.

“Most, unfortunately, the facade presented by the national chairman, today, at a National Executive Committee meeting, leaves much to be desired. He completely ignored Mr President’s advice and rather defied all known rules for meetings by precluding contributions from members and ending the meeting abruptly, without achieving anything. This is most unfortunate and undesirable.

“Arising from the foregoing and having regards to the huge responsibilities bestowed on us as officers of the party and in the overriding interest of our members, we are left with no option but to demand that Adams Oshiomhole resign his position as national chairman, in order to stem the slide and provide an enabling environment for genuine healing, reconciliation and the practice of true democracy, within the party across the country.”

The signatories to the call for Oshiomhole’s removal included Bala Kangiwa (Kebbi Chairman), Habibi Sara (Jigawa Chairman), Ade Adetimehin (Ondo Chairman), Abdullahi Abbas (Kano Chairman), Abba Yaro (Benue Chairman), Omotoso Paul (Ekiti) and Mohammed Iman (Niger Chairman).

They also included Anslem Ojezua (Edo Chairman), Philips Shekwo (Nasarawa Chairman), Air Com Ikeda (Kaduna Chairman), Lakep Dabah (Plateau Chairman), Shitu Shitu (Katsina Chairman), Isah  Acida (Sokoto) and Zonal Youth Leader (South West), Lawal Bolade.

Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]

DOWNLOAD THE PUNCH NEWS APP NOW ON

from Top stories - Google News https://ift.tt/2XHV9qx
via IFTTT

APC NEC To Inaugurate Reconciliation Committee - SaharaReporters.com

The National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress has said it will set-up a reconciliation committee to address all the grievances in the party. 

The committee will be empowered to address grievances of party members and resolve existing conflicts, all with a view to fostering unity and oneness within the party.

Recall that some stakeholders had asked National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, to step down from his position over the internal crisis that  embroiled the APC.
 

from Top stories - Google News https://ift.tt/2L1HgyH
via IFTTT

After a damaging week and a bizarre Fox rant, psychiatrists and GOP strategists are worried for Trump - The Independent

For a man who craves the spotlight as much as President Donald Trump does, the past two weeks must have been hell.

The 45th president, by many reports the most voracious consumer of television news to ever sit behind the Resolute Desk, has spent the days since November 13 in virtual exile from the airwaves as most networks offered gavel-to-gavel coverage of the fourth impeachment inquiry in American history.

Download the new Indpendent Premium app

Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

Yes, most of the White House press corps still arrived each day to cover Trump's comings and goings while recording even the most prosaic of his utterances. But for the most part, the man who has become accustomed to being the center of attention since January 20, 2017 was shoved aside in favor of a new cast of characters led by Adam Schiff, a California Democrat who has become a go-to hate object for Trump and his supporters.

So when Friday finally arrived without an impeachment hearing to capture anyone's attention, Trump decided to air the grievances he'd been nursing for past 10 days, with — as the Beatles put it — a little help from his [Fox and] Friends.

For just under an hour, whatever dam that had held back the presidential logorrhea that had accumulated while most eyes were trained on the Capitol broke with spectacular results.

And as the faces on hosts Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade vacillated from excited to fascinated to very concerned, Trump spewed forth some of the same conspiracies that a succession of witnesses had debunked at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue. 

From his baseless claim that former President Barack Obama had wiretapped him to the equally baseless claim that Ukraine — not Russia — interfered in the 2016 election and there’s a server secreted away in the former Soviet republic which can prove it, it was a parade of Trump's favorite fever dreams. 

He even threw in some self-incrimination for good measure by directly tying his attempt to withhold $391 million in military aid to Ukraine to his desire for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's government to investigate that non-existence server. He then admitted — for the second time — that he'd fired former FBI Director James Comey to stave off an investigation into him.

For Republican strategist Rick Wilson, Trump's behavior came as no surprise. 

"This is classic Trump behavior — whenever he's almost out of trouble, he does something that puts him back in trouble. The stupidity is strong with this one," said Wilson, who is the author of Everything Trump Touches Dies and the forthcoming Running Against the Devil: A Plot to Save America from Trump — and Democrats.

That Trump would engage in such self-defeating behavior is evidence of both his lack of intellectual means and lack of competent advisers, Wilson said, adding that the president "is not a terribly bright man."

“He has terrible judgment, and if he had real lawyers they would've hit him with a cattle-prod before they let him do that interview," he said.  

1/22 Donald Trump

Accused of abusing his office by pressing the Ukrainian president in a July phone call to help dig up dirt on Joe Biden, who may be his Democratic rival in the 2020 election. He also believes that Hillary Clinton’s deleted emails - a key factor in the 2016 election - may be in Ukraine, although it is not clear why.

Reuters

2/22 The Whistleblower

Believed to be a CIA agent who spent time at the White House, his complaint was largely based on second and third-hand accounts from worried White House staff. Although this is not unusual for such complaints, Trump and his supporters have seized on it to imply that his information is not reliable. Expected to give evidence to Congress voluntarily and in secret.

Getty

3/22 The Second Whistleblower

The lawyer for the first intelligence whistleblower is also representing a second whistleblower regarding the President's actions. Attorney Mark Zaid said that he and other lawyers on his team are now representing the second person, who is said to work in the intelligence community and has first-hand knowledge that supports claims made by the first whistleblower and has spoken to the intelligence community's inspector general. The second whistleblower has not yet filed their own complaint, but does not need to to be considered an official whistleblower.

Getty

4/22 Rudy Giuliani

Former mayor of New York, whose management of the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001 won him worldwide praise. As Trump’s personal attorney he has been trying to find compromising material about the president’s enemies in Ukraine in what some have termed a “shadow” foreign policy. In a series of eccentric TV appearances he has claimed that the US state department asked him to get involved. Giuliani insists that he is fighting corruption on Trump’s behalf and has called himself a “hero”.

AP

5/22 Volodymyr Zelensky

The newly elected Ukrainian president - a former comic actor best known for playing a man who becomes president by accident - is seen frantically agreeing with Trump in the partial transcript of their July phone call released by the White House. With a Russian-backed insurgency in the east of his country, and the Crimea region seized by Vladimir Putin in 2014, Zelensky will have been eager to please his American counterpart, who had suspended vital military aid before their phone conversation. He says there was no pressure on him from Trump to do him the “favour” he was asked for. Zelensky appeared at an awkward press conference with Trump in New York during the United Nations general assembly, looking particularly uncomfortable when the American suggested he take part in talks with Putin.

AFP/Getty

6/22 Mike Pence

The vice-president was not on the controversial July call to the Ukrainian president but did get a read-out later. However, Trump announced that Pence had had “one or two” phone conversations of a similar nature, dragging him into the crisis. Pence himself denies any knowledge of any wrongdoing and has insisted that there is no issue with Trump’s actions. It has been speculated that Trump involved Pence as an insurance policy - if both are removed from power the presidency would go to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, something no Republican would allow.

AP

7/22 Rick Perry

Trump reportedly told a meeting of Republicans that he made the controversial call to the Ukrainian president at the urging of his own energy secretary, Rick Perry, and that he didn’t even want to. The president apparently said that Perry wanted him to talk about liquefied natural gas - although there is no mention of it in the partial transcript of the phone call released by the White House. It is thought that Perry will step down from his role at the end of the year.

Getty

8/22 Joe Biden

The former vice-president is one of the frontrunners to win the Democratic nomination, which would make him Trump’s opponent in the 2020 election. Trump says that Biden pressured Ukraine to sack a prosecutor who was investigating an energy company that Biden’s son Hunter was on the board of, refusing to release US aid until this was done. However, pressure to fire the prosecutor came on a wide front from western countries. It is also believed that the investigation into the company, Burisma, had long been dormant.

Reuters

9/22 Hunter Biden

Joe Biden’s son has been accused of corruption by the president because of his business dealings in Ukraine and China. However, Trump has yet to produce any evidence of corruption and Biden’s lawyer insists he has done nothing wrong.

AP

10/22 William Barr

The attorney-general, who proved his loyalty to Trump with his handling of the Mueller report, was mentioned in the Ukraine call as someone president Volodymyr Zelensky should talk to about following up Trump’s preoccupations with the Biden’s and the Clinton emails. Nancy Pelosi has accused Barr of being part of a “cover-up of a cover-up”.

AP

11/22 Mike Pompeo

The secretary of state initially implied he knew little about the Ukraine phone call - but it later emerged that he was listening in at the time. He has since suggested that asking foreign leaders for favours is simply how international politics works.

AFP via Getty

12/22 Nancy Pelosi

The Democratic Speaker of the House had long resisted calls from within her own party to back a formal impeachment process against the president, apparently fearing a backlash from voters. On September 24, amid reports of the Ukraine call and the day before the White House released a partial transcript of it, she relented and announced an inquiry, saying: “The president must be held accountable. No one is above the law.”

Getty

13/22 Adam Schiff

Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, one of the three committees leading the inquiry. He was criticized by Republicans for giving what he called a “parody” of the Ukraine phone call during a hearing, with Trump and others saying he had been pretending that his damning characterisation was a verbatim reading of the phone call. He has also been criticised for claiming that his committee had had no contact with the whistleblower, only for it to emerge that the intelligence agent had contacted a staff member on the committee for guidance before filing the complaint. The Washington Post awarded Schiff a “four Pinocchios” rating, its worst rating for a dishonest statement.

Reuters

14/22 Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman

Florida-based businessmen and Republican donors Lev Parnas (pictured with Rudy Giuliani) and Igor Fruman were arrested on suspicion of campaign finance violations at Dulles International Airport near Washington DC on 9 October. Separately the Associated Press has reported that they were both involved in efforts to replace the management of Ukraine's gas company, Naftogaz, with new bosses who would steer lucrative contracts towards companies controlled by Trump allies. There is no suggestion of any criminal activity in these efforts.

Reuters

15/22 Kurt Volker

The former US ambassador to NATO was appointed special envoy to Ukraine, and is thought to have played a role in linking Giuliani with Ukraine officials. He resigned just before giving evidence to Congress, which had subpoenaed him. After his testimony it emerged that he had apparently told Giuliani that he was being fed false information about the Bidens from Ukrainian officials.

Getty Images

16/22 Marie Yovanovitch

A career diplomat who was appointed US ambassador to Ukraine towards the end of Barack Obama’s presidency. She was abruptly recalled from her post in May 2019 amid claims that she was not co-operating with Rudy Giuliani’s unorthodox activities in Ukraine. In the Ukraine phone call Trump refers to her as “the woman” and “bad news” and hints darkly at some sort of retribution, saying: “Well, she’s going to go through some things.” Yovanovitch told House investigators in October that she felt as though she were targeted by a false accusations from Giuliani and his associates, who allegedly viewed her as a threat to their political and financial interests. She also said that State Department officials had told her she did nothing wrong, and that her abrupt removal was not related to her performance. Trump had simply lost faith in her abilities. Expected to testify publicly before House committee on 15 November.

AP

17/22 Gordon Sondland

A Seattle hotelier who became US ambassador to the European Union after donating $1 million to Trump’s inauguration committee, despite having no diplomatic experience. According to the whistleblower, Sondland met Ukrainian politicians to help them “understand and respond to the differing messages they were receiving from official US channels on one hand and from Mr GIuliani on the other”. Sondland told House investigators during October 2019 testimony that he had been disappointed with Trump's decision to involve his personal lawyer in dealings with Kiev — and stated that the president refused counsel from his top diplomats, and demanded Volodymyr Zelensky satisfy his concerns about corruption. Those diplomats had told Trump to meet with Zelensky without preconditions, according to Sondland. His testimony is at odds with the testimony of some other foreign policy officials, however, who indicated that Sondland was a willing participant.

Reuters

18/22 George Kent

A career diplomat, he was number two at the Ukraine embassy under Marie Yovanovitch. Kent testified before House investigators in October 2019 that he was cut out of Ukraine policymaking after a May meeting orchestrated by acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, and was told to "lay low". The deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs said that he though it was "wrong" that he was sidelines by Trump's inner circle. Following the May meeting, Kent said he was edged out by Gordon Sondland, Kurt Volker, and Rick Perry, who "declared themselves the three people now responsible for Ukraine policy", according to a politician who attended the closed door testimony. Expected to testify publicly to House committee on 12 November.

AFP via Getty Images

19/22 Ulrich Brechbuhl

An adviser to secretary of state Mike Pompeo, with whom he has run businesses. The two were also at West Point military academy together. Swiss-born Brechbuhl is said to handle “special diplomatic assignments”. Subpoenaed to give evidence to Congress in November.

US State Department

20/22 Philip Reeker

Philip Reeker, the acting assistant secretary of State, testified that he did not find out about a push by the Trump administration to force Ukraine to publicly announce an investigation into former vice president Joe Biden until the whistleblower complaint was made public. While he was asked about any quid pro quo in that regard, Reeker indicated he was in the dark and so could not provide further details. But, he did fill in details during his October 2019 testimony on the circumstances surrounding the firing of Marie Yovanovitch. Democrats described his testimony has providing further backup to other testimony they had heard.

AP

21/22 William Taylor

William Taylor, the top US diplomat to Ukraine, testified during an October 2019 hearing in the house that American aid to Ukraine was explicitly tied to the country's willingness to investigate Donald Trump's political rival. Taylor's testimony was explosive, and made him a key witness to the Trump administration's efforts to use the force of the American government to push a politically motivated investigation against Joe Biden. He said the efforts came through an "irregular, informal channel of US policy-making" led by Rudy Giuliani, Kurt Volker, Rick Perry, and Gordon Sondland. Expected to publicly testify before House committee on 13 November.

AP

22/22 Alexander Vindman

Lietenant colonel Alexander Vindman is a top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council, and a decorated Iraq war veteran. He planned to tell the House impeachment inquiry that he heard Donald Trump appeal to Ukraine's president to investigate his leading political rivals. Mr Vindman said he considered the request so damaging to American interests that he reported it to a superior — twice. He is the first person to testify before the House impeachment inquiry who actually listened in on the 25 July phone call, in which Trump urged Volodymyr Zelensky to start an investigation into Joe Biden.

Getty Images

1/22 Donald Trump

Accused of abusing his office by pressing the Ukrainian president in a July phone call to help dig up dirt on Joe Biden, who may be his Democratic rival in the 2020 election. He also believes that Hillary Clinton’s deleted emails - a key factor in the 2016 election - may be in Ukraine, although it is not clear why.

Reuters

2/22 The Whistleblower

Believed to be a CIA agent who spent time at the White House, his complaint was largely based on second and third-hand accounts from worried White House staff. Although this is not unusual for such complaints, Trump and his supporters have seized on it to imply that his information is not reliable. Expected to give evidence to Congress voluntarily and in secret.

Getty

3/22 The Second Whistleblower

The lawyer for the first intelligence whistleblower is also representing a second whistleblower regarding the President's actions. Attorney Mark Zaid said that he and other lawyers on his team are now representing the second person, who is said to work in the intelligence community and has first-hand knowledge that supports claims made by the first whistleblower and has spoken to the intelligence community's inspector general. The second whistleblower has not yet filed their own complaint, but does not need to to be considered an official whistleblower.

Getty

4/22 Rudy Giuliani

Former mayor of New York, whose management of the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001 won him worldwide praise. As Trump’s personal attorney he has been trying to find compromising material about the president’s enemies in Ukraine in what some have termed a “shadow” foreign policy. In a series of eccentric TV appearances he has claimed that the US state department asked him to get involved. Giuliani insists that he is fighting corruption on Trump’s behalf and has called himself a “hero”.

AP

5/22 Volodymyr Zelensky

The newly elected Ukrainian president - a former comic actor best known for playing a man who becomes president by accident - is seen frantically agreeing with Trump in the partial transcript of their July phone call released by the White House. With a Russian-backed insurgency in the east of his country, and the Crimea region seized by Vladimir Putin in 2014, Zelensky will have been eager to please his American counterpart, who had suspended vital military aid before their phone conversation. He says there was no pressure on him from Trump to do him the “favour” he was asked for. Zelensky appeared at an awkward press conference with Trump in New York during the United Nations general assembly, looking particularly uncomfortable when the American suggested he take part in talks with Putin.

AFP/Getty

6/22 Mike Pence

The vice-president was not on the controversial July call to the Ukrainian president but did get a read-out later. However, Trump announced that Pence had had “one or two” phone conversations of a similar nature, dragging him into the crisis. Pence himself denies any knowledge of any wrongdoing and has insisted that there is no issue with Trump’s actions. It has been speculated that Trump involved Pence as an insurance policy - if both are removed from power the presidency would go to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, something no Republican would allow.

AP

7/22 Rick Perry

Trump reportedly told a meeting of Republicans that he made the controversial call to the Ukrainian president at the urging of his own energy secretary, Rick Perry, and that he didn’t even want to. The president apparently said that Perry wanted him to talk about liquefied natural gas - although there is no mention of it in the partial transcript of the phone call released by the White House. It is thought that Perry will step down from his role at the end of the year.

Getty

8/22 Joe Biden

The former vice-president is one of the frontrunners to win the Democratic nomination, which would make him Trump’s opponent in the 2020 election. Trump says that Biden pressured Ukraine to sack a prosecutor who was investigating an energy company that Biden’s son Hunter was on the board of, refusing to release US aid until this was done. However, pressure to fire the prosecutor came on a wide front from western countries. It is also believed that the investigation into the company, Burisma, had long been dormant.

Reuters

9/22 Hunter Biden

Joe Biden’s son has been accused of corruption by the president because of his business dealings in Ukraine and China. However, Trump has yet to produce any evidence of corruption and Biden’s lawyer insists he has done nothing wrong.

AP

10/22 William Barr

The attorney-general, who proved his loyalty to Trump with his handling of the Mueller report, was mentioned in the Ukraine call as someone president Volodymyr Zelensky should talk to about following up Trump’s preoccupations with the Biden’s and the Clinton emails. Nancy Pelosi has accused Barr of being part of a “cover-up of a cover-up”.

AP

11/22 Mike Pompeo

The secretary of state initially implied he knew little about the Ukraine phone call - but it later emerged that he was listening in at the time. He has since suggested that asking foreign leaders for favours is simply how international politics works.

AFP via Getty

12/22 Nancy Pelosi

The Democratic Speaker of the House had long resisted calls from within her own party to back a formal impeachment process against the president, apparently fearing a backlash from voters. On September 24, amid reports of the Ukraine call and the day before the White House released a partial transcript of it, she relented and announced an inquiry, saying: “The president must be held accountable. No one is above the law.”

Getty

13/22 Adam Schiff

Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, one of the three committees leading the inquiry. He was criticized by Republicans for giving what he called a “parody” of the Ukraine phone call during a hearing, with Trump and others saying he had been pretending that his damning characterisation was a verbatim reading of the phone call. He has also been criticised for claiming that his committee had had no contact with the whistleblower, only for it to emerge that the intelligence agent had contacted a staff member on the committee for guidance before filing the complaint. The Washington Post awarded Schiff a “four Pinocchios” rating, its worst rating for a dishonest statement.

Reuters

14/22 Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman

Florida-based businessmen and Republican donors Lev Parnas (pictured with Rudy Giuliani) and Igor Fruman were arrested on suspicion of campaign finance violations at Dulles International Airport near Washington DC on 9 October. Separately the Associated Press has reported that they were both involved in efforts to replace the management of Ukraine's gas company, Naftogaz, with new bosses who would steer lucrative contracts towards companies controlled by Trump allies. There is no suggestion of any criminal activity in these efforts.

Reuters

15/22 Kurt Volker

The former US ambassador to NATO was appointed special envoy to Ukraine, and is thought to have played a role in linking Giuliani with Ukraine officials. He resigned just before giving evidence to Congress, which had subpoenaed him. After his testimony it emerged that he had apparently told Giuliani that he was being fed false information about the Bidens from Ukrainian officials.

Getty Images

16/22 Marie Yovanovitch

A career diplomat who was appointed US ambassador to Ukraine towards the end of Barack Obama’s presidency. She was abruptly recalled from her post in May 2019 amid claims that she was not co-operating with Rudy Giuliani’s unorthodox activities in Ukraine. In the Ukraine phone call Trump refers to her as “the woman” and “bad news” and hints darkly at some sort of retribution, saying: “Well, she’s going to go through some things.” Yovanovitch told House investigators in October that she felt as though she were targeted by a false accusations from Giuliani and his associates, who allegedly viewed her as a threat to their political and financial interests. She also said that State Department officials had told her she did nothing wrong, and that her abrupt removal was not related to her performance. Trump had simply lost faith in her abilities. Expected to testify publicly before House committee on 15 November.

AP

17/22 Gordon Sondland

A Seattle hotelier who became US ambassador to the European Union after donating $1 million to Trump’s inauguration committee, despite having no diplomatic experience. According to the whistleblower, Sondland met Ukrainian politicians to help them “understand and respond to the differing messages they were receiving from official US channels on one hand and from Mr GIuliani on the other”. Sondland told House investigators during October 2019 testimony that he had been disappointed with Trump's decision to involve his personal lawyer in dealings with Kiev — and stated that the president refused counsel from his top diplomats, and demanded Volodymyr Zelensky satisfy his concerns about corruption. Those diplomats had told Trump to meet with Zelensky without preconditions, according to Sondland. His testimony is at odds with the testimony of some other foreign policy officials, however, who indicated that Sondland was a willing participant.

Reuters

18/22 George Kent

A career diplomat, he was number two at the Ukraine embassy under Marie Yovanovitch. Kent testified before House investigators in October 2019 that he was cut out of Ukraine policymaking after a May meeting orchestrated by acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, and was told to "lay low". The deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs said that he though it was "wrong" that he was sidelines by Trump's inner circle. Following the May meeting, Kent said he was edged out by Gordon Sondland, Kurt Volker, and Rick Perry, who "declared themselves the three people now responsible for Ukraine policy", according to a politician who attended the closed door testimony. Expected to testify publicly to House committee on 12 November.

AFP via Getty Images

19/22 Ulrich Brechbuhl

An adviser to secretary of state Mike Pompeo, with whom he has run businesses. The two were also at West Point military academy together. Swiss-born Brechbuhl is said to handle “special diplomatic assignments”. Subpoenaed to give evidence to Congress in November.

US State Department

20/22 Philip Reeker

Philip Reeker, the acting assistant secretary of State, testified that he did not find out about a push by the Trump administration to force Ukraine to publicly announce an investigation into former vice president Joe Biden until the whistleblower complaint was made public. While he was asked about any quid pro quo in that regard, Reeker indicated he was in the dark and so could not provide further details. But, he did fill in details during his October 2019 testimony on the circumstances surrounding the firing of Marie Yovanovitch. Democrats described his testimony has providing further backup to other testimony they had heard.

AP

21/22 William Taylor

William Taylor, the top US diplomat to Ukraine, testified during an October 2019 hearing in the house that American aid to Ukraine was explicitly tied to the country's willingness to investigate Donald Trump's political rival. Taylor's testimony was explosive, and made him a key witness to the Trump administration's efforts to use the force of the American government to push a politically motivated investigation against Joe Biden. He said the efforts came through an "irregular, informal channel of US policy-making" led by Rudy Giuliani, Kurt Volker, Rick Perry, and Gordon Sondland. Expected to publicly testify before House committee on 13 November.

AP

22/22 Alexander Vindman

Lietenant colonel Alexander Vindman is a top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council, and a decorated Iraq war veteran. He planned to tell the House impeachment inquiry that he heard Donald Trump appeal to Ukraine's president to investigate his leading political rivals. Mr Vindman said he considered the request so damaging to American interests that he reported it to a superior — twice. He is the first person to testify before the House impeachment inquiry who actually listened in on the 25 July phone call, in which Trump urged Volodymyr Zelensky to start an investigation into Joe Biden.

Getty Images

Trump's declaration that he welcomes an impeachment trial in the Senate — a view reportedly shared by senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner — reflects equally poorly on Kushner as it does his father-and-law, Wilson added.

"Jared's strategic sense is in his ass — he's truly not that smart," he said, but cautioned that Democrats could hand Trump a victory if they move too quickly or give up trying to get more information about Trump's scheme to extort the announcement of investigations into Biden and 2016 conspiracy theories.

"If they buy into the bulls**t reality distortion field and keep the pedal to the metal, they lose," he explained. "They need to bring another round of witnesses, they need to bring [Giuliani associate Lev] Parnas, and they need to go to court to compel the State Department and other agencies to turn over the documents the White House is withholding. If you're in, you stay in the fight...until one guy is down and bleeding.”

Dr Bandy Lee, an assistant clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine, said the president's morning gab session was "very concerning," but for medical — not political — reasons.

"It's alarming because he always had a paranoid disposition… but he's entering into delusional territory,” said Lee, who is also the president of the World Mental Health Coalition, a group of mental health professionals "who have come together in historically unprecedented ways to offer our consensus view that Donald Trump’s mental state presents a clear and present danger to the nation and the world." 

"He has doubled down on conspiracy theories in the past, which seemed to indicate a psychotic spiral which can happen under duress in individuals with his emotional fragility,” Lee continued. She posited that Trump has exhibited similar behavior as part of a "maladaptive coping mechanism" when he has been criticized or challenged in the past, with impeachment being "the ultimate challenge that he has feared."

Specifically, Lee said Trump "has repeatedly show an inability… to conform his thoughts to facts and emerging information," as well as "an inability to consider consequences and not be unduly influenced by impulsivity or their own emotional needs." 

"He believes what he needs to believe emotionally and this is very dangerous," she said, adding that his behavior is that of "a person without mental capacity," which she defined as "somebody who has an inability to take in information, process that information, and incorporate that information into their belief system."

Lee heads the Independent Expert Panel Working Group, which she said has "set up an expert panel that is now available for consultation if called upon during the impeachment proceedings”.

But as things now stand, she added that Trump "has failed every criterion of our mental capacity evaluation."

While some have criticized her group as one that is mounting political attacks on the president, Lee said the concerns she and her colleagues have raised are genuine and based on valid observations. 

"People try to discredit us by saying we have not examined him, an examination is crucial for diagnosis and treatment, but when assessing dangerous [people] or incapacity… the direct reports by coworkers and close associates are considered far more valuable," she said. "Collateral information is considered far more important for assessing dangerousness or incapacity — many clinicians believe we know far more about Donald Trump than any patient we have ever seen."

Still, whether it is by her group or another one, Lee stressed the need for Trump to be examined by experts who are "non-governmental and apolitical" to determine whether he is fit to serve.  

"Because White House doctors are conflicted due to their employment and their status as subordinates to the commander-in-chief, we do not believe that the White House physician would be able to put public interest ahead of following the president's wishes," she said. "That is why we believe an independent expert panel is critical to be able to examine the president for fitness for duty."

from Top stories - Google News https://ift.tt/2qGLGE3
via IFTTT

Aggrieved NEC members call for Oshiomhole’s resignation - The Nation Newspaper

Our Reporter

A section of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which was apparently not satisfied with the way the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting abruptly ended on Friday, has called on the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to resign his position.

The aggrieved members of the NEC, more than 50 of who signed a statement in Abuja yesterday night, said their decision was reached for reasons including alleged highhandedness of the National Chairman of the party, who they accused of usurping the authorities of the NEC.

Speaking on behalf of the group, the Chairman of Zamfara State chapter of the APC, Hon. Lawal Liman, said Oshiomhole, during the meeting, ignored President Buhari’s call for respect of party organs by shutting down a call for a motion.

Read Also: Buhari to APC leaders: party must not die after my tenure

The group said: “The Party was positively embraced by the citizens of Nigeria, culminating in record breaking victory of President Muhanunadu Buhari, as the first opposition leader to defeat an incumbent President.

“Most of the goodwill acquired by the party, by reasons of its religious adherence to the provisions of its constitution and the tenets of internal democratic practices, has taken a downturn, principally due to dictatorial and despotic tendencies of the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who has usurped the powers of the National Executive Committee of the party.

“This may have been responsible for the admonition of Mr. President who insisted that the party organs at state, LGA and ward levels must be strengthened and accorded due respect with regards to the powers and responsibilities conferred on them by the constitution of the party.

“Most unfortunately, the facade conducted by the National Chairman today, the 22nd of November, 2019, as a National Executive Committee meeting, leaves much to be desired.

“He completely ignored Mr. President’s advice and rather defied all known rules for meetings by precluding contributions from members and ending the meeting abruptly without achieving anything.

“This is most unfortunate and undesirable.

“Arising from the foregoing and having regards to the huge responsibilities bestowed on us as officers of the party and in the overriding interest of our members, we are left with no option but to demand that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole resigns his position as National Chairman in order to stem the slide and provide an enabling environment for genuine healing, reconciliation and the practice of true democracy within the party across the country.”

The press conference that was addressed by the Zamfara State APC Chairman had in attendance Arc. Bala Kangiwa, Kebbi Chairman; Habibi Sara, Jigawa Chairman; Ade Adetimeli, Ondo Chairman; Abdullahi Abbas, Kano Chairman; Abba Yaro, Benue Chairman; Omotosin Paul, Ekiti Chairman; Engr. Mohammed Jibril Iman, Niger Chairman; Anslem Ojezua, Edo Chairman, Philips Shekwo, Nasarawa Chairman; Rtd Air Com Ikeda, Kaduna; Lakep Dabah, Plateau; Shitu Shitu, Katsina and Isah Sadiq Acida of Sokoto State.

from Top stories - Google News https://ift.tt/2XDsjaQ
via IFTTT

‘Are you Dele or Dele’s brother?’ – Mourinho looks to reboot Spurs stars - The Guardian

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

1. ‘Are you Dele or Dele’s brother?’ – Mourinho looks to reboot Spurs stars  The Guardian
2. Mourinho: I will never manage Tottenham, says Lampard  The Punch
3. From Benfica to Spurs – Rating each of Jose Mourinho managerial reigns  The Football Faithful
4. Mason Mount explains what Jose Mourinho told him to do as a very young player  Chelsea News
5. Report: Tottenham can sign Lille midfielder Boubakary Soumare for £43million  TBR - The Boot Room - Football News
6. View full coverage on Google News

from Top stories - Google News https://ift.tt/37vv16T
via IFTTT

Bill to increase VAT to 7.5 passes third reading - Daily Trust

The bill seeking to raise Value Added Tax (VAT) to 7.5 percent from 5 % has passed third reading on the floor of the Senate

The bill ‘Finance Bill’ submitted to the senate by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the joint session of the National Assembly on October 14, 2019.

ADVERTISEMENT

The bill was passed after consideration of report of the Committee on Finance, which was read clause by clause at plenary on Thursday.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, said the Bill specifically seeks to amend Nigeria’s tax provisions and make them more responsive to the tax policies of the Federal Government, among other things.

He added that the amendment and passage of the Finance Bill would enhance the implementation and effectiveness of government’s tax policies.

During the clause – by – clause consideration of the bill, Senate Minority leader, Senator Abaribe Enyinnya and Senator Gabriel Suswan rejected the VAT increase from 5 per cent to 7.5 per cent, saying it will bring hardship to Nigerians.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, said the bill’s passage by the Senate was not partisan but purely intended to ensure that we National Assembly streamline the tax system in Nigeria and get revenue for government to provide services and infrastructure to the citizens of this country.

The bill seek to amend Company tax amendment act Value Added Tax amendment Bill, Customs and Excise Tariff amendment Bill, Personal Income Tax Amendment Bill Tax, Capital Gains Tax amendment Bill, Stamp Duty Tax amendment Bill and Petroleum Profit Tax amendment Bill.

The finance bill seeks to amend company tax CAP C21 laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004, VAT CAP 4 2007, customs and excise tariff act CAP C49 laws of the federation, personal income tax E8 laws of the federation, capital gains tax act CAP C1 laws of the federation, stock duty act 58 laws of the federation and petroleum profit tax law..

Prostate ENLARGEMENT?

Don't Let Your PROSTATE Frustrate You! Here's A Better NATURAL Way To Shrink Your Prostate Enlargement! -No Surgery, -No Drugs. Shrink To Normal In Just 15 Days!

Normalize Your Urination And Erection! Just Click To Get It Now!

Download Daily Trust News App

from Top stories - Google News https://ift.tt/37oCftj
via IFTTT

EPL: Mourinho emerges favourite for Tottenham’s job after Pochettino’s sack - Daily Post Nigeria

Former Manchester United coach, Jose Mourinho, has emerged favourite to become Tottenham Hotspur’s new manager following the sack of Mauricio Pochettino.

DAILY POST had reported on Tuesday night that Tottenham Hotspur sacked Pochettino as their manager.

The Argentine spent five years in charge of the North London side.

Pochettino led Spurs to top-four finishes in four of his five seasons in charge, as well as their first Champions League final in the 2018/19 campaign.

However, they have won just five matches this season and chairman Daniel Levy said a change had to be made in the “club’s best interests”.

According to Sky Sports, Mourinho, who was sacked by Man United last December, is a serious contender to replace Pochettino as Tottenham manager.

The newspaper reports that RB Leipzig manager, Julian Nagelsmann, is also among the list.

from Top stories - Google News https://ift.tt/35fWF5W
via IFTTT

APC in early lead in Bayelsa East senatorial district - The Punch

Chukwudi Akasike, Daniels Igoni, Tony Okafor, Raphael Ede and  Gbenga Odogun

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State, David Lyon, may be coasting to victory as he records an early lead in the governorship election conducted on Saturday.

Results of the exercise that had trickled in indicated that the APC was leading the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in some units in Ogbia and Nembe local government areas of the Bayelsa East Senatorial District.

In Kolo, ward 8 of Ogbia constituency 3, the APC polled a total of 1,229 votes while the PDP got 923.

In Nembe ward 1 polling unit 9 at Ogbolomabiri, the APC scored a total of 67 votes while the PDP polled 20 votes.

Also, at polling unit 7 in Ogbolomabiri, the APC garnered 112 votes and the PDP scored zero vote while Accord Party got three votes with the Alliance for Democracy and Labour Party polling two and three votes respectively.

At the ward 2 polling unit 1, Ogbolomabiri 2, the APC polled 111 votes to defeat the PDP which scored three votes.

At ward 2, polling unit 14, Ogbolomabiri 2, the APC got 492 votes while the PDP polled 29 votes.

Also at ward 2, polling unit 9, Ogbolomabiri 2, the APC garnered 170 votes while the PDP scored 6 votes.

The APC was also reported to be leading in ward 4,  polling unit 9, Agudama-Epie, Yenagoa Local Government Area in Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, polling 789 votes while the PDP scored 54 votes

APC, PDP lead in strongholds

In Kogi West Senatorial District, Egbeda Ward, Unit 006, the All Progressives Congress polled 139 votes while the Peoples Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party had 34 and three votes respectively. Five votes were recorded as void in the governorship election.

For the senatorial election in the district, the APC scored 140 votes while the PDP had 37 votes. SDP scored no vote.

At the Ekinrin Adde ward, the APC had 117 votes while PDP scored 106 votes in the senatorial election.

For the governorship election in the area, the APC scored 118 votes while the PDP had 94 votes.

At the Ega unit 001, the PDP had 187 votes while the APC scored 33. At Unit 004 of the Ayetoro Ward 2, the PDP led with 167 votes against APC’s 72 votes.

At Alafemi unit, the PDP scored 230 votes, while the APC had 146 votes in the senatorial election. In the governorship election, the PDP scored 153 votes, while the APC had 145 votes.

At the Okebukun Market Square unit, the PDP scored 94 votes in governorship election while the APC had 93 votes. In the senatorial election, the PDP had 98 votes against the APC‘s 90 votes.

At unit 007 in Okekoko Ward, the PDP won with 124 votes against the APC’s 26 votes in the senatorial election. In the governorship election, the PDP also won with 124 votes to APC’s 28 votes.

At Idugbe polling unit 006, the APC scored 139 votes against PDP’s 34 votes in the governorship election.

In Kogi East’s Abejukolo Ward 1 Unit 2, the PDP scored 238 votes while the APC had 77 votes.

At Obanolu Unit 004, the PDP scored 127 votes in the governorship election with the APC polling 30 votes. The PDP also won the senatorial election in the area with 135 votes against APC’s 26 votes.

In Kogi Central, the APC had 252 votes against the PDP’s 86 in the Ajaokuta council area.

Copyright PUNCH.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]

DOWNLOAD THE PUNCH NEWS APP NOW ON

from Top stories - Google News https://ift.tt/2qbaggd
via IFTTT

Kogi, Bayelsa Elections Get Underway Amidst Reported Cases Of Violence - SaharaReporters.com

The governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states have commenced despite initial hiccups that resulted in the late distribution of voting materials in some local government areas in both places.

In Kogi, voters turned out in large numbers to exercise their civic right as the process began on Saturday morning.

At Ayetoro ward 1 unit 004 where Senator Dino Melaye voted, hoodlums in two Hilux vans a Honda vehicle shot sporadically and snatched ballot boxes in the process.

A young man was said to have been shot in the leg by the hoodlums.

Meanwhile, in Bayelsa State, voters were left frustrated following the late arrival of election materials.

Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, was disappointment over the late arrival of election materials to his polling unit in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area.

After stepping out of his house at 8:30am to cast his vote, Jonathan was shocked to find no officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission at the place.

However, voting has since commenced in many parts of both states. 

from Top stories - Google News https://ift.tt/2qZpO6y
via IFTTT

Thiago Silva blasts Lionel Messi - P.M. News

Thiago Silva and Lionel Messi.

Brazil captain Thiago Silva criticised Lionel Messi after the Argentine captain led his team to 1-0 victory against his country on Friday in a friendly in Saudi Arabia.

Silva accused Messi of using his status to force referee’s decisions to favour his team.

Thiago Silva said: “Messi wanted to rule over the game. He kicked two people and the referee did nothing. I argued with the ref and he kept laughing. You have to put admiration to one side.”

“Messi always looks to force the referee to give them free-kicks in dangerous areas, he always acts in that way. We spoke with some players who play in Spain and the same thing happens, he looks to control the game and the referee’s decisions.”

“In the Champions League, Messi doesn’t have that advantage because the referees are tougher. You don’t see him trying to rule so much. There are referees that, because of their admiration for him, start to weigh in on his side.”

On Messi’s reaction towards Brazil coach Tite, telling him to shut it.

Silva added: “It’s hard to understand when we talk about respect on the pitch, and one of the most admired players in the world does that, you don’t do that to an older person but being that it was a coach… as much as there is rivalry, respect has to come first.”

Share this:

from Top stories - Google News https://ift.tt/37bQnWF
via IFTTT

Kogi Guber: Fayose reacts to attack on Makinde, warns Yahaya Bello - Daily Post Nigeria

The immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has condemned the attack by gunmen on the hotel hosting Governor of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, ahead of elections in Kogi State.

DAILY POST confirmed that some gunmen arrived the Suitorial Hotels, Lokoja, along Stadium Road, where the Governor and some members of the PDP Campaign Council were lodged at about 12.50 p.m., shooting sporadically.

It was gathered that the hoodlums scaled the fence of the hotel and attempted to gain entrance into the main hotel.

But a number of security operatives attached to the Governor and some residents of nearby buildings, however, worked with security operatives, to stop the invaders.

Reacting, Fayose called on Nigerians to blame Yahaya Bello if anything happens to anyone during the Kogi governorship election on Saturday.

The former governor said the attacks in the state few days to the election shows that ‘Yahaya Bello is averse to free and fair election’

Fayose on his Twitter page wrote: “From the persistent attack on Natasha Akpoti and today’s use of masked policemen to attack Gov. Seyi Makinde, it is obvious that Gov Yahaya Bello is averse to free and fair elections.

“Should anything happen to anyone in Kogi tomorrow, Nigerians should hold Yahaya Bello accountable.”

from Top stories - Google News https://ift.tt/33VZtEY
via IFTTT

Kogi: Another suit challenges PDP candidate, Wada’s competence - The Nation Newspaper

Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

A Federal High Court in Abuja has been urged to compel the Independent National National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify Engr. Musa Wada. the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 16, 2019 governorship election in Kogi State.

The request is contained in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1147/2019 filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja by a party member, Femi Joseph.

The plaintiff, in the suit with the PDP, Wada and INEC as defendants, alleged that the PDP candidate forged his primary school certificate which he filled in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Form CF001 was false.

In the suit filed for the plaintiff by his lawyer, Mike Enahoro Ebah, Joseph argued that by virtue of Section 31(5) & (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) he reasonably believes that the information supplied by the PDP candidate in both his Form CF001 and the attached first school leaving certificate, as to his primary school education, were false.

Joseph wants the court to declare that the 3rd defendant’s (Wada’s) INEC Form CFOO1 and the primary school certificate, bearing number: 910922, attached therewith and submitted to the 2nd defendant (INEC) by the 1st and 3rd defendants (PDP and Wada), contain false information regarding the 3rd defendant’s primary school certificate.

He also wants the court to declare that, having regard to the clear and unambiguous provisions of Section 31 (5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (As Amended), vis-a-vis 3rd defendant’s INEC Form CFOO1 and the primary school certificate, bearing number: 910922, attached therewith and submitted to the 2nd defendant by the 1st and 3rd defendants, the said 3rd defendant is disqualified from contesting the Kogi State governorship election slated for 16th day of November, 2019, for submitting to the 2nd defendant false information regarding the 3rd defendant’s primary school certificate.

The plaintiff is equally praying the court for an order disqualifying the Wada from contesting the Kogi State governorship election slated for 16th day of November, 2019, for submitting to the 2nd defendant in his INEC Form CFOO1 and the documents attached therewith, false information concerning his primary school certificate.

Joseph also wants an order restraining the INEC from accepting the 3rd defendant as a candidate to contest the Kogi State governorship election slated for 16th day of November, 2019.

READ ALSO: Kogi 2019: We can’t be held to ransom – IGP

He is equally seeking an order restraining Wada from parading or holding himself out as governorship candidates in the Kogi State governorship election slated for 16th day of November, 2019.

While the PDP has responded to the suit, Wada is yet to file any response to the case instituted on September 27, 2019.

A similar suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/ 1375/2019 and filed by a lawyer, Sunday Ehimoni, before the Federal High Court in Abuja is also seeking Wada’s disqualification for allegedly having mental health history.

Ehimoni wants the court to, among others, “determine whether going by his medical records the candidate of the PDP, Musa Wada, ought not to be declared and certified lunatic and a person of unsound mind, sanctioned for providing false information to INEC on his forms and prevented from contesting . It will be recalled that social media and the press became awash last week with Wada’s medical records from the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba Lagos State after they were leaked by unknown persons. “

from Top stories - Google News https://ift.tt/2NMElvs
via IFTTT