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BOKO HARAM USED CHIBOK RANSOM TO BUY POWERFUL WEAPONS – MILITARY SOURCES

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The recent ransom paid to Boko Haram in exchange for the release of some Chibok girls have contributed to the recent upsurge in the killings and disappearances of soldiers engaged in the fight against the insurgents, senior military sources have revealed.
According to Punch, the military men said despite denials by the Federal Government, money was paid to the sect to secure the release of the abducted girls.

It was learnt that the insurgents demanded for $50m for the release of the girls but about a quarter of the sum was eventually paid.

Punch reports that Federal Government paid cash in two currencies – the naira and the CFA Francs to the leaders of the sect to facilitate the release of the girls.

But, the highly-ranked military men who are engaged in the war, and who craved anonymity because they were not authorised to speak for the military authorities, attributed the recent upsurge in the activities of the insurgents to the huge ransom paid for the release of the girls.

Prior to the current increase in the attacks by the insurgents, it was learnt that the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, deployed in the North-East, had cut off food and logistics supply to the insurgents.

Some of the sources, who are also commanders at the war front, said that the troops had effectively defeated the Boko Haram members, who were on the run while a good number of them had surrendered and taken to a rehabilitation camp established by the Defence Headquarters in Yola.

In October, over 80 soldiers were reported missing days after they came under a Boko Haram attack. Though there have been increasing reports of soldiers either missing or killed since the Chibok girls were released, the military initially denied the report, it later said that only 39 soldiers were missing.

Also, on November 4, seven military men, including Lt.-Col. Muhammad Abu-Ali, were killed on their way to reinforce troops at Mallam Fatori during a Boko Haram attack. Two days later, one soldier was also killed while four others were wounded in the line of duty.

In October, 21 of the over 200 girls abducted from their school in Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014 were released by the group.

One of the sources said it was sad that the same government that was initially seen as tough enough to end insurgency in the country failed to negotiate with Boko Haram from a position of strength.

“It is unfortunate that in government’s desperation to secure the release of the Chibok girls, it has put our (soldiers’) lives in danger by yielding to the demands of the group to collect a ransom and secure the release of its commanders.

“It is now obvious that the group has reinforced and bought more weapons to fight us.”

According to another source, left to the military, the ransom and the exchange of Boko Haram members for Chibok girls would not have taken place.

“Funds were given to Boko Haram and now we can all see the result of that action; there have been renewed attacks recently and many of our men have been killed in the process but we will not relent, we will continue to do our best to secure this nation.

“The military had reservations about the arrangement but it was not in our hands; it was a political decision that we had to abide with and it was the DSS that was directly in charge of the operation,” the source added.

Another source, who is also in the war theatre, said, “They got the Chibok girls and suddenly the Boko Haram that we had beaten and chased out of Sambisa are attacking and killing men of quality.

“It is very obvious that they have used the money they got from the deal to buy equipment and recruit men to carry out their heinous acts.

“The group is still in Mallam Fatori, they have infested the entire area and their strongest point into Chad is Abadam. It is from there that they disperse their men to carry out attacks.

“Another thing you must note is that the towns around the borders are occupied by mercenaries from foreign countries. Where did they get the money to fund that?”

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Lagos state government seals Ile Iyan restaurant over waste disposal violations

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The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has sealed off Ile Iyan, a restaurant in the Sabo Yaba area of the state, for “non-compliance with waste disposal regulations”.

Lagos Waste Reporters, a publication focused on waste management, reported that officials discovered invoices and food waste from Ile Iyan at an illegal dumpsite.

The dumpsite is located near Aje Comprehensive High School, Yaba.

“Despite the establishment’s claims of registration with LAWMA, no corroborative evidence was provided,” the report reads.

LAWMA has now mandated Ile Iyan to formally register and comply with established waste management regulations.

“It is essential to maintain cleanliness in Lagos. Businesses must register with LAWMA and adhere to proper waste management procedures to prevent closure,” the report added.

Tokunbo Wahab, commissioner for the environment and water resources in Lagos, has ramped up enforcement of environmental regulations in the city, with markets, clubs and eateries often sealed over purported violations.

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‘I’ll show you the way out’ — says EFCC chairman as he sacks two corrupt officials

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Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has announced the dismissal of two officials over alleged corruption.

Speaking on Tuesday at the annual criminal law review conference organised by the Rule of Law Development Foundation in Abuja, Olukoyede said the staff were sacked two weeks ago.

He said the commission is undergoing significant reforms, including addressing staff misconduct.

Olukoyede challenged Nigerians to come forward if they had evidence of him receiving bribes.

“Just two weeks ago, I have cause to dismiss two staff. You can’t be fighting corruption and your hands are dirty,” Olukoyede said.

“He who comes to equity, your hands must also be cleaned. And I say I will not only be dismissing them, I will also be prosecuting them because that is what we prosecute others for.

“So, you will see that we are preparing the case files of some of the people we have dismissed.

“If an EFCC staff will not be able to stand publicly with his two hands up and challenge the entire public… whose goat have I collected? Whose bottle of water have I taken illegitimately?”

“And I have said this to Nigerians; who has ever given me one kobo in the course of my work, come out and say it. I stand to be challenged.

“I can’t be easily influenced by things like that. That’s why we must make up our minds to work together to do the right thing.

“Any staff that is corrupt, I will show you the way out. Again, there are some people who may want to be overzealous. Out of 12, you must have Judas.

“I can’t stand here and say all is perfect. As many as you see, report them to us and we will do justice.”

Olukoyede shared his personal experience of being investigated for two years while serving as the commission’s secretary.

“I am not just sitting there as chairman of EFCC. I have been on the other side,” he said.

“I have been subjected to investigation myself for two years. So I know what it means to subject people to investigations.

“My major objective is to use the instrumentality of this mandate to stimulate the economy and to also follow the rule of law.

“Integrity is not about law, it is not about your advocacy ability to write beautiful briefs. No.

“It is about law and morality. Your conscience must tell you to do the right thing. That is what integrity is all about.

“Finally, ethics, value and standard of legal practice must also be reviewed. These are essential to me because the job of EFCC is to ensure that corruption does not find space in our national life.”

Olukoyede said he welcomes constructive criticism of the agency, emphasising that he is not opposed to scrutiny.

“But let us do it in a responsible way. What do we benefit from running down our institutions? If you notice EFCC is doing anything wrong, come to us,” he said.

“We will sit down and I will explain some reformed agenda we are carrying out. Upon my resumption of office, we have put some reformed agenda in place.

“We have reviewed our arrest and detention policy. I have had cause to investigate a whole ministry; minister, directors and all of that without detaining anybody over night.

“And I got all the information I needed and the matter is going on fine without detaining a single soul.

“But that does not preclude that if there is the need to detain, we do not detain. We have also had cause to equip all our interrogation rooms in compliance with judgment of court.”

’CHARGES LIMITED TO 15 COUNTS’

Olukoyede said the EFCC no longer files “100-count or 150-count charges” which were common in the past.

The chairman said no prosecution should exceed a 15-count charge under his directive.

“If your case is water tight, that is why I will never rush to court until I am sure of my proof of evidence,” he added.

“I vet case files myself, particularly high-profile cases, and the lawyer must give me a draft of the charge.

“We will look at it together, compared with my proof of evidence, sleep over it before I give my go-ahead.

“If we are losing a case, it shouldn’t be on grounds of lack of diligent prosecution.

“If there are other technical issues, fine. But I will be sure that I have done my job and it’s done in such a way that I can defend long after I leave office.”

Joseph Daudu, coordinator of the foundation, said the conference aims to provide a platform for reviewing developments in crime apprehension, prosecution, adjudication, and other post-adjudicatory processes.

On November 15, the supreme court dismissed a suit filed by 16 states challenging the constitutionality of the EFCC Act.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Uwani Abba-Aji, who led a seven-member panel of justices, ruled that “the EFCC Act, which is not a treaty but a convention, does not need the ratification of the houses of assembly”.

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Lagos state government seals off three water factories for breaching quality standards

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The Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) says it has sealed off three water factories in the Lekki axis for breaching operational and quality standards.

Funke Adepoju, the executive secretary of LASWARCO, told journalists on Tuesday that the facilities were sealed after failure to meet the commission’s operational and approved quality standards.

Adepoju added that one out of four facilities inspected in the area met the approved standards.

She noted that the facilities must operate in a clean environment with functional treatment machines and good packaging, as well as batching to know the date of water production.

Adepoju reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensuring that water consumed by Lagos residents is safe.

She added that the commission would not hesitate to take action against producers who engage in substandard practices.

Mosaku Omolabake, chairperson of the association of table water producers in Lagos, said the enforcement was not targeted at specific individuals but to ensure that all factories adhered to quality standards.

Omolabake expressed the association’s commitment to upholding ethical standards and protecting public health.

The facilities sealed include H. Life Water, House 3, Road 4, Oguntayo Estate, Eputu, lbeju Lekki; Belwu Water, 1 Alhaji MKO Street Oribawa Phase 2, lbeju Lekki; and Aquadon Water, Mega Tea Road, lbeju Lekki.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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