INEC to decide on Poll shift today, 7th February 2015.

INEC ad hoc worker attending to
prospective voters at a PVC collection
centres
The Independent National Electoral
Commission will take a final decision on
whether to shift the dates for the elections or
not in Abuja on Saturday (today).
But before the decision is taken, the National
Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Attahiru
Jega, will have consultative meetings with
chairmen and secretaries of all registered
political parties.
He is also expected to meet with the
Resident Electoral Commissioners on the
same day, Saturday, February 7.
On Thursday, Jega, was invited to brief the
National Council of States on the
preparedness of INEC to conduct the 2015
general elections.
The INEC boss has been under tremendous
pressure to shift the polls. Some political
parties and other stakeholders have been
calling for the postponement of the election.
Jega made a presentation titled,
“Preparations for the 2015 General Elections:
Progress Report.
The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo
Dansuki and Armed Services Chiefs also
briefed the Council on the current security
situation.
The Chief Press Secretary to Jega, Mr.
Kayode Idowu, confirmed this in a statement
he signed in Abuja on Friday.
He said, “As a follow-up to that (Council of
State) meeting, the Commission has
scheduled a consultative meeting with
chairmen and secretaries of all registered
political parties, as well as a meeting with the
RECs on Saturday, February 7, 2015.
“Thereafter, the Commission will address a
press conference to brief the nation on its
decision with regard to whether or not the
general elections will hold as currently
scheduled.”
Our correspondent gathered that the dates
for the elections might be shifted.
Security agencies were said to have written
to Jega, saying the security situation in the
country does not warrant holding the election
as scheduled.
Meanwhile, Jega, in his presentation to the
Council of State said the NSA asked for a six-
week postponement of the election.
His presentation read in part, “Although our
state of preparedness may not be 100 per
cent and although a bit of more time of
additional preparation would enable us to
improve and perfect the current level of
preparedness, we believe that we’re ready for
the elections as planned.
“However, we also believe that it is necessary
to take into context the things outside the
control of the commission, such as: attitude
of politicians, political parties, candidates and
voters; and significantly, security for election
personnel, materials and voters, especially in
areas under insurgency, which only the
appropriate authorities can definitely speak
on.
“No matter the extent of our readiness, if
there are serious security concerns, the
successful conduct of free, fair, credible and
peaceful elections would be greatly
jeopardised.
“INEC has been working with these
authorities, especially under the inter-agency
Consultative Committee on Election Security,
but our concerns have not been assuaged.
“Yesterday, for example, we received a letter
from the office of the National Security
Adviser informing us of recent developments
in four of the North-East states, states that
safety and security cannot be guaranteed
during the proposed election period,
adducing reasons why this is so, and
strongly advising that INEC considers
rescheduling the elections by at least six
weeks, within which time span it is hoped to
restore sufficient normalcy for elections to
hold.
“This is a new development that INEC cannot
certainly ignore or take lightly.”
Jega said the conduct of the elections could
not be based on the electoral body’s
preparation alone, adding that some factors
outside the control of the body should be
considered before holding the polls.
He said, “In determining whether or not INEC
is adequately prepared to conduct the
February 2015 elections as scheduled, we
should separate what is under the control of
the commission and what is outside its
control.
“For the things under the commission’s
control, our accomplishments are to such a
degree that we can conduct the election, in
spite of the identifiable challenges.
“Compared with the 2011 general elections,
for instance, our systems are definitely more
robust now. Among others, we have a gently
improved registered voters, having removed
over four million multiple registrants; voters
will use PVCs; and accreditation using card
readers will reduce the likelihood of fraud.”
According to him, only relevant authorities,
not the commission, can speak on the issues.
Jega said, “No matter the extent of our
readiness, if there are serious security
concerns, the successful conduct of free, fair,
credible and peaceful elections would be
greatly jeopardised.
“INEC has been working with these
authorities, especially under the Inter-Agency
Consultative Committee on Election Security,
but our concerns have not been assuaged.”

Punch.

Barcelona accused of tax fraud in Neymar sinning.

Spanish public prosecutors have asked for
Barcelona and their former president Sandro
Rosell to be tried for two charges of tax fraud
committed in the signing of Brazilian star
Neymar.
Meanwhile, prosecutors have also asked for
the investigation of current Barcelona
president Josep Maria Bartomeu and the club
on an extra tax charge in 2014, which could
rise to 2.85 million euros.
In a judicial file released on Monday,
prosecutor Jose Perals Calleja suggests that
Rosell and Barca declared an inferior fee to
that which they paid for Neymar in 2013.
The prosecutors believe that Neymar cost in
excess of the 57 million euros ($64.3 million,
£42.7 million) declared to the Spanish tax
man.
They cite the figure at a cost of 82,743,485
euros divided into sperate contracts that
secured the signing.
According to the calculations of the Spanish
tax authorities, Barcelona owe a total of
12,148,696 million euros in tax on the deal,
which would see the overall cost of the
operation rise to 94.8 million euros.
Rosell resigned as president over the affair just
over a year ago when a complaint brought by
one of the club’s members for
misappropriation of funds was taken to court.
In his testimony before a judge on the case in
July of 2004, Rosell insisted that Neymar cost
the club 57 million euros, 17 of which went to
his former club Santos and 40 million paid to
N&N, a company owned by the player’s
father.
However, following Rosell’s resignation,
Barcelona also confirmed a number of extra
agreements including a 10 million euro signing
bonus for the player and scouting and
collaborative agreements between the two
clubs taking the total to 86.2 million euros.
In February of last year, the club announced
that they had made a voluntary payment of
13.5 million euros to the Spanish tax
authorities regarding the transfer.

Bloodbath in Maiduguri, Yobe.

MAIDUGURI—THERE was fierce fighting,
yesterday, between the Nigerian troops and
Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri, the
Borno State capital. About 80 insurgents were
killed, while several others escaped with bullet
wounds.
The latest attack came barely a week after the
insurgents tried to take over the state capital
from the Damaturu-Jimtilo axis but were
repelled by soldiers who deployed massive
artillery and fighter jets to dislodge them.

SUICIDE ATTACK—Aid workers evacuate
injured persons in the suicide blast in
Potiskum, Yobe State, yesterday. A witness
said the bomber emerged from a bus that
pulled up in front of the home of Sabo Garbu
who is running for a seat in the House of
Representatives. Photos: AFP.
The insurgents were stopped from taking over
the city by youths otherwise known as the
Civilian JTF, and other residents who risked
their lives by coming out in large numbers to
assist troops in repelling the invaders.
Meantime, a suicide bomber blew himself up
outside the house of a legislator in Potiskum,
Yobe State, yesterday, killing 10 people,
security sources said.
The bomber walked up to the house of a
member of the House of Representatives and
PDP candidate for the same position in the
forthcoming elections, Sabo Garbu, before
detonating the explosives. A bus stopped
outside Garbu’s home and dropped off the
attacker before speeding off, the sources
further said.
Also,suspected suicide bombers who
disguised as women were arrested in Yola,
Adamawa State, last night. The incident
happened barely few hours ahead of the
presidential campaign visit to Yola by the APC
flag bearer Major General Muhammadu Buhari
(rtd) scheduled for today.
The suspects were nabbed by the military at
the ever busy Mubi roundabout in the state
capital.
This came as three soldiers and 123 Boko
Haram terrorists were killed when the Islamist
group attacked a Chadian army contingent in
northern Cameroon, the Chadian military said.

Massive insugent’s casualties:

The heavily-armed gunmen attacked the
southern edge of Maiduguri at about 3 am,
yesterday, setting off explosives as they tried
to enter the city, several residents said.
They were, however, repelled by troops
backed by vigilantes but they regrouped and
tried to take the city from the Eastern end,
where they again met stiff resistance.
As the gun battles raged, “the whole city (was)
in fear,” said resident Adam Krenuwa.
Defence Spokesman, Chris Olukolade said the
assault on the town, where the extremist
group was founded more than a decade ago,
was “contained” and that “the terrorists
incurred massive casualties.
“The situation is calm as mop up operation in
the affected area is ongoing,” agency reports
quoted him as writing in a text message.
Despite waves of attacks in the city in recent
months, Maiduguri has become a place of
refuge for people forced to flee other areas in
Borno that have been taken over by the
terrorists.
The affected areas
The areas affected during yesterday’s attack
were Molai village which is 10 kilometres south
of Maiduguri; Ngom village and Mafa Local
Government Area, about 30 kilometres north
east of the city along the College of Agriculture
and the Chad Basin Development Authority
road in the metropolis.
The Molai attack started at about 7am when
some insurgents armed with AK47 rifles,
Rocket Propelled Launchers and Anti-Aircraft
machine guns in a convoy of 15 Hilux vehicles
and many motorcycles attempted to enter the
city from Dalwa-Molai axis, a suburb of
Maiduguri. Troops stationed along the
Maiduguri-Damboa Road engaged them in
heavy gun duel, and with quick reenforcement
of troops and civilian JTF, most of the
terrorists were killed while others escaped with
gunshot wounds.
Most churches were hurriedly closed down
during morning service while others could not
even open as a result of the sounds of
explosions and gunshots. A female member of
the Deeper Life Church in Molai (names
withheld) was hit by a stray bullet while trying
to escape from the scene of the attack.
The Information Officer of National Emergency
Management Agency, NEMA, Mr. Abdulkadir
Ibrahim confirmed the multiple attacks on the
city which has so far displaced many people
from their homes, but insisted that he was yet
to get details on number of casualties,
promising to get back before press time.
Sources said during the first attack on Dalwa-
Molai axis which is not far from the Giwa
Military Barracks, more than 60 insurgents
were killed. The terrorists were, however,
quick in picking the dead bodies of their fallen
members. Only 46 bodies of the terrorists
were recovered. Troops and thousands of
civilian JTF members pursued the fleeing and
injured terrorists who ran back towards the
Sambisa forest.
According to the sources, when the four-hour
battle around Molai axis was about to subside,
another group of insurgents attacked troops
along the Mafa-Ngom-Maiduguri Road, but
military and civilian JTF members succeeded
in repelling the second attack, killing more
than 30 of the insurgents.
The second attack around Mafa-Ngom area
started at about 11am and lasted for two
hours before airforce fighter jets with
assistance from ground troops repelled the
insurgents.
“Most residents of Molai, NNPC depot and
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Quarters along
the troubled Maiduguri-Damboa Road, which
was closed down for motorists since July last
year, had to flee into the city for safety”, said
Molai resident, Mallam Jubrila Usman.

PDP, Gov Shettima commend troops, Civilian JTF:

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP and Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno
State have praised the gallantry of officers and
men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for repelling
insurgents in Borno and other troubled states
in the North.
PDP reacts
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh
in a statement, yesterday, said “the members
of the armed forces have shown exceptional
patriotism while risking their lives to protect
those of other citizens and intensifying efforts
to ensure that the nation is rid of terrorist
activities.”
Metuh said the party recognized the sacrifices
being made by the military adding that “what
is needed at this point is for all Nigerians to
close ranks and support them with words of
encouragement, prayers and helpful
information where necessary.
“This is no longer the time to dwell on politics
or engage in unnecessary blame-games. We
cannot continue to seek political capital while
terrorists slaughter and maim our people. To
win this battle therefore, all citizens must
come together, stand with our government and
the military and present a common front
against terrorism irrespective of our religious,
political and ethnic differences.”
The PDP condoled with the families of the
victims of the attacks, comforted the displaced
and the wounded and prayed God to restore
enduring peace in the country.
Shettima lauds youths
Also, Governor Shettima of Borno State
commended youths in the state who
volunteered and came out in very large
numbers to defend Maiduguri from being
taken over by insurgents.
The insurgents laid siege to Dalwa from
Damboa axis as well as the Mafa entry point
with the determination to seize Maiduguri and
its massive population of residents and
internally displaced persons, taking refuge in
the state capital.
Shettima spoke, yesterday, after the
insurgents had been repelled by members of
the armed forces, and the Civilian JTF who
mobilized to the two battle fronts in defence of
their fatherland.
Isa Gusau, media aide to Shettima, quoted the
governor as saying: “I received with gratitude,
information on how youths from different parts
of Borno State, comprising those under the
Borno Youths Empowerment Scheme
otherwise called “Civilian JTF,” and other
residents of Maiduguri.
“They came out of their homes, abandoned
their families and with very uncommon
courage, sacrificed their lives and moved to
front lines to support our gallant armed forces.
“This was a patriotic battle to defend the soul
of Borno State and its people from being
seized by determined insurgents who in the
early hours of Sunday, February 1, 2015,
(yesterday) laid siege to two entry points into
Maiduguri: Dalwa community from Damboa
axis and from the Mafa-Dikwa axis.
“These terrorists had a murderous intention of
killing a massive population of residents and
internally displaced persons, taking refuge in
the state capital and destroying homes and
businesses in what would have become an
unimaginable calamity. ‘’I have never been as
proud of our youths in Borno State as much
as I am today. The youths have since 2013
risen in firm defence of the good people of
Borno State, and today, they have once again
proved to all of us, that they have by playing
complementary roles, taken our collective
destiny in their hands and we are full of
gratitude to them.”


Vanguard.

Court orders service on Buhari in fresh disqualification suit.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered
the service of court papers on the presidential
candidate of the All Progressives Congress,
Maj. Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, a fresh suit
seeking an order disqualifying him from
participating in the February 14 poll.
Already, there is a pending direct criminal
complaint against Buhari before a Federal
Capital Territory Magistrate’s Court in Abuja
asking the court to direct that the former
Head of State “be brought to book” for
allegedly claiming on an oath that he had a
certificate he did not obtain.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola who is presiding
over the fresh suit on Monday made an order
of substituted service on Buhari and the
Independent National Electoral Commission,
who are the two defendants in the suit.
The court fixed February 9 for the hearing of
the suit.
The plaintiff, Max Ozoaka, wants the court to
disqualify Buhari from participating in the
election for failing to accompany his form
submitted to Independent National Electoral
Commission with all relevant academic
credentials.
He contended that the INEC FORM CF 001
submitted to INEC by the APC candidate was
incomplete and therefore urged the court to
declare the form as “not in conformity with
the form prescribed under the Electoral Act.”
He further stated that the failure of Buhari to
accompany the INEC Form with evidence of
his educational qualifications and evidence of
his birth certificate or affidavit of declaration
of age had altogether rendered the form
inchoate.
Ozoaka, in a supporting affidavit to the
originating summons, stated that the INEC
Form submitted by Buhari did not meet the
requirements under sections 31(1)(2) & (3),
and 31(8) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as
amended).
He also faulted some pieces of information
contained in other documents attached to the
form, including Buhari’s voter card which
described the presidential candidate as a
public servant.
The plaintiff urged the court to declare the
voter card, the photocopy of which was
attached to INEC Form CF 001, was false on
the grounds that Buhari was not a public
servant as of when the voter card was issued.
In the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/14/2015,
filed by Max Ozoaka, the plaintiff raised eight
questions for the court’s determination and
prayed for among others, an order
disqualifying Buhari from contesting or
participating in the election.
The plaintiff queried the authenticity of the
statement of result or result sheet presented
by Buhari on the grounds that it was bearing
‘Mohamed’ Buhari as against ‘Muhammadu’
which is the real name of the APC presidential
candidate.


Punch.

Buhari threatens to drag NTA, AIT to court over hate broadcast.

ABUJA — The Presidential candidate of All
Progressives Congress, APC, General
Muhammadu Buhari (ret), has threatened to
take legal action against the Nigerian
Television Authority, NTA, and the African
Independent Television, AIT, for airing hate
broadcasts against his personality.
This came on a day the National Broadcasting
Commission, NBC, warned all broadcasting
stations operating in the country to adhere
strictly to the provisions of the broadcasting
code or risk sanctions.
In a protest letter lodged through the Legal
Director of APC Presidential Campaign
Council, Mr. Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume,
SAN, Buhari, insisted that the two television
stations must not only retract the “hate
documentaries,” but also issue a public
apology to him.
He said he would not hesitate to seek legal
remedy should the television houses refuse to
comply with the conditions.
Besides, the APC candidate said he had
already petitioned the Nigerian Broadcasting
Commission, NBC, and the National Human
Rights Commission, NHRC, asking them to
investigate both NTA and AIT over the hate
broadcasts and take necessary punitive
actions.
“The hate broadcast has been on from
Saturday, January 24, 2015 to Sunday,
January 25, 2015, at 11p.m. in AIT,” Buhari
noted.
Meanwhile, The National Broadcasting
Commission, NBC, has warned all
broadcasting stations to adhere strictly to the
provisions of the broadcasting code or risk
sanctions.
The Director-General of the Commission, Mr.
Emeka Mba, who issued the warning, said the
Commission acknowledged the effort of
broadcasting stations were making in
lubricating the nation’s political space, but
noted that some stations had been operating
outside the provisions of the code in a manner
that could become counter-productive to the
national objectives of peaceful, free and fair
elections.
“We are in exciting times. Political campaigns
are under way and the nation is agog with
politicians campaigning to persuade the
electorate to support them, this is how it
should, that is the beauty of democracy,” he
said.

Vanguard.

Explosion kills suicide bombers after Jonathan’s Gombe. Rally.

A bomb blast has occurred in Gombe, the
Gombe State capital barely five minutes after
President Goodluck Jonathan left the town
where he held the PDP presidential campaign
rally, Ibrahim Ahmed, a resident of the town
said.
Ahmed, who spoke to our correspondent on
the telephone, said the blast occurred on
Kashere Street near the Stadium, where the
rally took place.
He said two suicide bombers died in the
explosion that injured 18 persons.

Punch.

Bombs rock three Rivers courts, as JUSUN suspends strike

Barely 48 hours after the Judiciary Staff
Union of Nigeria declared the suspension of
the eight-month-old strike in Rivers State,
unknown persons have bombed three
separate High Courts in Degema, Isiokpo and
Port Harcourt areas of the state.
The incidents were coordinated and
happened almost simultaneously in the wee
hours of Monday, just as the State Police
Command confirmed that minimal damages
were recorded and no life was lost.
It was gathered that one of the courts in
Degema was completely razed by unidentified
arsonists with many documents burnt beyond
recognition.
Two courts in the state were attacked before
the judiciary workers embarked on strike on
June 10, 2014.

Punch.