SHOCKING:”FG SQUANDERED N4.17TN ILLEGALLY IN 9 YEARS” – REPS

 

According to a shocking report released by the House Committee on Public Accounts (PAC), the Federal Government ‘illegally’ spent over N4 trillion from 2004 to 2012 without the approval of the National Assembly.

The report not only revealed a gross misuse of the Service-wide Vote, which is provided annually to cover 

emergencies that crop up during the year, but also alleged that the Obasanjo government squandered N250 million for the upkeep of the family of former Liberian President Charles Taylor, who sought asylum in the country between 2004 and 2006

At a briefing of journalists during the weekend, the Chairman of PAC, Adeola Olamilekan, termed the expenditure incurred as an ‘abuse’ of the Service-wide Vote, explaining that PAC’s investigation revealed that the vote was converted to a recurrent fund by the government, instead of an infrastructure vote.

After cross examination of the Auditor-General’s reports on the accounts of MDAs, the report indicated the following:

1.       An expenditure of N162m from the 2011 Service-wide Vote was tagged “Closing Accounts” incurred by both the Budget and Accountant General’s Office of the Federation.

2.       N1.2bn was spent on the overseas trips of government officials to seek medical attention.

3.       N250m was used for the upkeep of former Liberian President, Mr. Charles Taylor when he sought asylum in the country between 2004 and 2006.

4.       A pattern of increases in releases from the SWV from 2007 to 2012 was also noticed, N1.7tn being the highest spending from 2010 to 2012.

5.       Two security challenges (Niger Delta militancy and the Boko Haram insurgency) were the only “real emergency spending” from the vote that was justified, which cost the government N144.4bn between 2009 & 2012.

Including other “unexplained” expenses incurred, the government spent over N4.17tn contrary to the N1.8tn approved by the National Assembly, implying that an extra-budgetary expenditure of N2.2tn was incurred in the process.

“Such extra-budgetary expenditures constitute a breach of Section 81 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and an illegality, Olamilekan explained.”

He added, “These releases were mainly used to finance recurrent expenses not targeted at critical and strategic sectors of the economy and the releases were random and did not follow any clear pattern.”

The Committee urged the House of Reps to scrap the vote if it was poorly implemented, and that the extra-budgetary expenditure during the period “should be investigated and those found culpable should be sanctioned.”

Khodorkovsky Granted Presidential Pardon

After spending a decade in jail for embezzlement, tax evasion and theft, former Russian oil magnate and prominent political critic, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, was granted pardon on Thursday by Russian President Putin on the basis of "the principles of humanity".

It was revealed during his annual press conference on Thursday, that the former head of oil giant Yukos had asked the President for clemency because his mother was ill.

In a decree signed by Mr Putin and published
by the Kremlin, he said "guided by humanitarian principles , I decree that Mikhail Borisovich
Khodorkovsky. .. should be pardoned and freed from any further punishment in the
form of imprisonment . This decree comes into force from the day of its signing."

The pardon came as a surprise to the public after Russian MPs pushed for a wide-ranging amnesty for at
least 20,000 prisoners including minors, disabled
people, veterans, pregnant women and mothers.

Although, analysts say that the pardon may actually be a ploy to push aside international criticism of Russia's human rights record ahead of February's Winter Olympics in Sochi, the Kommersant newspaper said on Friday Khodorkovsky had made the decision to seek a pardon following the threat of a
third trial against him.

Although, Khodorkovsky was imprisoned in 2010 after being convicted of stealing oil and laundering money, he has been in prison since 2003 when he was arrested on charges of tax evasion. He was due to be released next August.

OOU Lecturer Murdered by Unknown Gunmen

Dr. Olusegun Onabanjo, a senior lecturer in the Department of Sociology at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, was shot dead by unknown gunmen who stormed his private residence in the early hours of Wednesday.

According to reports, the killers suspected to be robbers, stormed the private residence of the late lecturer located in Odomo lasa area of Ilese-Ijebu within the hours of 12am to 2am.

Dr. Onabanjo was said to have been shot and left for dead while trying to challenge the robbers.

Residents of the area told reporters that they heard Mr. Onabanjo shouting "e bami gbe ibon mi (kindly bring me my gun)" to his family members hoping to scare away the gunmen at the time they were making efforts to force their way into the house.

Luck ran out on the lecturer, as the gunmen broke in, shot him dead for challenging them and made away with some of his property.

The Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the killing of the lecturer to newsmen, adding that the policemen rushed to the scene and engaged the assailants in a gun duel as soon as they received a tip-off of their activities in the area.

However, he sympathised with the family of the deceased lecturer, adding the command would do everything possible to bring them to justice, as they were currently on the trail of the suspected killers who have escaped with bullet wounds through a nearby bush.

The PPRO also urged the residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity in the area that could help bring the criminals to justice. He called on doctors in the state to alert the command should anyone with gun wounds approach their hospitals.

Dr. Onabanjo, a well-celebrated scholar of his university, was a graduate of Sociology from the University of Uyo.

Until his untimely death, he had obtained two masters degrees from the University of Lagos and University of Ibadan and was recently awarded a Ph.D by the University of Ibadan.

US Government Begins Partial Shutdown After Deadline Passes

For the first time in 17 years, the US government has partially shut down after a midnight deadline passed without an agreement on measures to continue funding basic services.

Despite a last-gasp appeal by President Barack Obama,Federal agencies were ordered to begin closing at midnight on Tuesday [0400 GMT], meaning that over 800,000 US government workers have been forced to stay at home with no guarantee of back pay once the deadlock is over.

According to reports, the Republican-led House of Representatives attempted to draw up a replacement that blocks parts of President Barack Obama's health care reforms on Monday.

The House has passed two spending bills in recent days, both of which have been torpedoed by the Democratic-led Senate. the Democratic-led Senate voted 54-46 against a bill from House Republicans that would have funded the government only if President Obama's healthcare law - dubbed Obamacare - was delayed for a year.

The House asked for a conference on the budget with the Senate. However, the Senate's Democratic majority leader, Harry Reid, said it would reject the proposal, and called on the House to pass a budget law not linked to healthcare.

"The idea of putting the American people's hard-earned progress at risk is the height of irresponsibility, and it doesn't have to happen", President Obama had said on national television that Monday.

The national parks and Washington's Smithsonian museums will close; pension and veterans' benefit cheques will be delayed, and visa and passport applications will go unprocessed with the shutdown in place.

It could affect government services including food assistance for children and pregnant women and federal home loan programmes.

"The Americans don't want a shutdown and neither do I", Republican speaker of the House, John Boehner, responded a few hours later on the House floor, adding that the new health care law was having "a devastating impact... something has to be done".

Snowden: Ecuador Laments over US "Blackmail"

Ecuador has said that they're turning down the trade benefits the United States gives them as part of the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication trade pact with the United States, claiming it had become an instrument of "blackmail" against them while considering whistleblower Edward Snowden's asylum request.

Despite, voicing support for the former National Security Agency contractor, authorities in Ecuador have said that they won't bow to U.S. pressure even though they are yet to grant Edward Snowden's request for asylum.

The pact, which covers key Ecuadorean exports such as fresh-cut roses, fruits, vegetables and tuna, is set to expire on July 31 unless the US Congress renews it.

In a news conference on Thursday, President Rafael Correa said, "In the face of threats, insolence and arrogance of certain U.S. sectors, which have pressured to remove the preferential tariffs because of the Snowden case, Ecuador tells the world we unilaterally and irrevocably renounce the preferential tariffs."

"You request asylum when you are on a country's territory. Snowden is not on Ecuadorean territory, so technically we cannot even process the asylum request," he said.

"Would he be allowed to arrive on Ecuadorean territory? This is something that, in principle, we haven't considered," he added.

"It is outrageous to try to delegitimize a state for receiving a petition of asylum.We would probably examine it, but for now he is in Russia."

"Ecuador does not accept pressure or threats from anyone, and does not trade on principles or make them contingent on commercial interests, even if those interests are important", Ecuador's Communications Minister Fernando Alvarado announced earlier, adding  that the country "unilaterally and irrevocably renounces preferential customs tariff rights".

Snowden, who is seeking aslyum after he leaked classified information on a widespread secret surveillance programme, faces espionage charges in the United States, and has been slammed as a traitor by critics while being hailed as a hero by his supporters.

The Obama administration has revoked Snowden's passport, after he leaked documents pointing to a widespread US surveillance programme in early June.

Currently, he is believed to be hiding at the Moscow airport, where he arrived from Hong Kong on Sunday.

Iran: President-Elect Vows Transparency over Nuclear Issues

President-elect Hassan Rouhani has called for more transparency and mutual trust between Iran and the West over its disputed nuclear programme during his first news conference since Friday's election.

Mr Rouhani described international sanctions imposed on his country over the issue as "unfair" even as he told reporters Tehran would not suspend its uranium enrichment activities - a key stumbling block in the continuing talks between Tehran and world powers. .

During the conference on Monday, he said, "Our nuclear programmes are completely transparent. But, we are ready to show greater transparency and make clear for the whole world that the steps of the Islamic Republic of Iran are completely within international frameworks."

He added that his government would work towards "constructive interaction with the world", thanking Iranians for "choosing moderation".

He explained that efforts to end continuing fighting in Syria and restore stability must rest with "the Syrian people" and that the economy would be his main priority.

According to him, relations between Iran and the US were "an old wound that needs to be healed".

Iran has been the target of four rounds of UN sanctions and numerous UN Security Council resolutions calling on it to cease enrichment work.

Over the past few years, the West has suspected Iran of trying to build nuclear weapons. However, Iran has defended its programme, claiming it is entirely peaceful

The new Iranian president, who is seen as moderate compared with the other five contenders, has sparked the interests of Western powers, who have given indications that they are willing to strengthen their poor relations with the Islamic republic.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Hassan Rouhani on winning the election, adding that he believes Rouhani will work hard in order to strengthen Russian-Iranian relations.

NSA Leak: UK Urges No-Fly Ban on Snowden

According to the Associated Press news agency, the British government has warned airlines around the world to refuse to fly ex-CIA worker Edward Snowden, who leaked information on top-secret US government surveillance programmes.

The agency, in a report, said that they saw a photograph of the document taken on Friday at a Thai airport of a British travel alert, dated on Monday on a Home Office letterhead, telling carriers to stop Edward Snowden, 29, boarding any flights.

The alert was issued by the Risk and Liaison Overseas Network, part of the UK Border Agency that has staff in several countries identified as major transit points for inadequately documented passengers.

They added that the alert was specific in mentioning that he "is highly likely" to be refused entry to the UK and that such a carrier may "be liable to costs relating to the individual's detention and removal" should they allow him to travel.

A British diplomat confirmed that the document was genuine and was sent out to airlines around the world. Airlines in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore confirmed the alert had been issued.

The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said such alerts were issued to carriers that flew into Britain and any carrier that brought Snowden would be liable to be fined 2,000 pounds ($3,000)

Reports from the US inidcated that the US government has begun to take steps to prosecute the  who now lives in Hong Kong, for exposing high confidential information on the secret NSA surveillance programme.

Only last Sunday, Snowden revealed that he was the source of top-secret documents about NSA surveillance programmes that were reported earlier by The Guardian newspapers in UK and Washington Post of the US.

Mr Snowden was last seen in Hong Kong. However, Snowden would have few options for seeking refuge if he were not allowed to stay in his preferred sanctuary which is a semiautonomous Chinese territory.

The revelation that the NSA is collecting millions of US phone records along with digital communications stored by nine major Internet companies has incited worldwide protests, majorly in New York and Hong Kong where about 1,000 protesters were expected to march to the US consulate and then the government to urge the administration of the semi-autonomous territory to not extradite him.
 
By using intrusive surveillance methods, the Obama Administration has sparked a national debate between security and invasion of privacy on an extremely large scale.

NANS Declares 7-day Mourning for Lost Officers

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Friday declared seven-day mourning for five of its officers who lost their lives to a road accident on Thursday.

The NANS President, Mr Yinka Gbadebo, told reporters in Lagos that the mourning would be observed as from Monday.

The NANS Senate President, Mr Donald Onukaogu, and four others died at Ariam-Ndioru Junction on the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road, on their way to Uyo on an official mission.

Four of the victims died on the spot, while one died on the way to a hospital. The accident involved a truck and a mini-bus belonging to NANS.

Gbadebo noted that the students were on their way to the University of Uyo to intervene in a crisis that erupted in the school.

Gbadebo said that he was to be part of the NANS contingent to Uyo but had to step down to be able to attend another official assignment.

He said that the union would work in conjunction with the families of the dead officers for their burial, since they died in the course of duty.

Gbadebo regretted that more than 25 Nigerian students had lost their lives this year to unrest in higher institutions of learning.

Students of the University of Uyo on Wednesday staged a  protest against payment of N2000 as “GST’’ fee, which, they said, had not been in place.

The students also protested an increase in the inter-campus transport fare from N50 to N200.

They equally protested poor power and potable water supply and poor sanitation on campus.

They called for the removal of the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Comfort Ekpo.

The protesting students became violent and threw stones and bottles at policemen who attempted to throw teargas at them to forestall breakdown of law and order.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Umar Gwadabe, confirmed the death of a student to the crisis.

Gwadabe said on Thursday that, contrary to speculations that three students died, the police could confirm the death of one.

He said that 45 students had been arrested by the police in connection with the protest.

The protesting students burnt the offices of the university’s vice-chancellor, deputy vice-chancellor (administration) and the institution’s council affairs unit.

Meanwhile, the university has been closed down indefinitely by the authorities.

Oldest Living Person Ever Dies at 116

Jiroemon Kimura, the world's oldest person and oldest ever man, has died on Wednesday after suffering from pneumonia.

Kimura, who lived in Kyotango, west of Japan, died at the age of 116 only a few months after he was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living person in Japan.

He became the world's oldest person on December 17, 2012, after the previous oldest person, a 115-year-old woman from Iowa died.

According to Guinness World Records, Kimura was born in 1897, the same year as aviator Amelia Earhart and the year Queen Victoria marked her Diamond Jubilee.

"I am always looking up towards the sky. That is how I am," Kimura once said in an interview, while trying to explain that he was not sure why he was able to live so long.
 
Currently, Misao Okawa of Osaka, another Japanese who turned 115 on March 5, holds the title for the world's oldest living person. She is also the world's oldest living woman.

Late Kimura is survived by seven children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great-grandchildren.

Guardian- Edward Snowden was NSA Prism Leak Source

UK-owned Guardian newspaper has revealed 29 year old Edward Snowden, a current employee of defence contractor Booz Allen Hamilton, as a former CIA technical assistant who leaked details of a secret US programme that gathered millions of phone and internet records.

The revelations began on Wednesday night, when a report from Guardian came out indicating that phone company Verizon had been ordered by a US ‘secret’ court to relay millions of phone records on telephone call “metadata” to the National Security Agency (NSA).

The report continued, revealing that the NSA secret surveillance system known as Prism, was undergone, in an effort to track online communication by tapping directly into servers of nine major internet firms.

However, the involved internet companies have denied the allegations, while the papers revealed that the data they (NSA and the FBI) gathered were used to track suspected foreign nationals in terrorism and spying cases.

Although, the ex-CIA man’s identity was revealed by the UK papers with his consent, he claimed that he leaked the information in order to protect “basic liberties for people around the world.”

In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, he said, “I do not want to live in a world where everything I do and say is recorded. That is not something I am willing to support or live under.”

Although, he had no intention of hiding, he replied “nothing good” when asked what he believed would happen to him after the information went public.

Snowden has decided to seek asylum in Iceland, explaining that he had gone Hong Kong because of is strong tradition of “free speech”.

US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper has condemned the revelations, calling the leaks “literally gut-wrenching”, as the NSA asks the Justice Department to conduct a criminal investigation.

Former senior NSA executive turned whistleblower Thomas Drake, said that Snowden’s act was an extraordinary act of civil disobedience, adding that the US intelligence community will do whatever it can to prosecute him.

Only on Friday, US President Obama had defended the surveillance programmes of the governnment, calling it a “modest encroachment” on privacy which is of extreme importance in the protection of the country from terrorism.