News
Trump bars journalists from first meeting with Obama
The United States President-elect Donald Trump yesterday broke protocol by barring journalists from his first meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House.
At the end of the meeting, Obama described his conversation with Trump as “excellent” and “wide-ranging”, and stressed that his number one priority was facilitating a smooth transition of power.
Trump said he looked forward to dealing with Obama in the future, calling it a “great honour.”
The White House said that long before Trump’s stunning upset over Hillary Clinton became apparent, Obama directed officials last year “to make a smooth transition between administrations a top priority” of his last year in office.
It said officials were making sure Trump and his yet-to-be-named key officials were “prepared from day one to protect our national security.”
U.S. intelligence and defence officials have already started to give Trump daily briefings on threats to the country’s security and overseas military operations.
In addition, the Obama administration plans to host two exercises involving several government agencies to help familiarise Trump officials with how the government responds to domestic emergencies, whether terrorist attacks or such natural disasters as violent tornadoes and hurricanes.
Trump had questioned Obama’s U.S. citizenship and vowed to dismantle his legacy. During the campaign, Obama called Trump “uniquely unqualified” but later said he was “rooting” for him.
On Wednesday, thousands took to the streets of major U.S. cities denouncing Trump after his defeat of Clinton.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest insisted Obama was sincere about ensuring a smooth handover.
Trump flew from New York on his private jet and landed at Reagan National Airport, just outside the nation’s capital.
He was accompanied by his wife, Melania, who had a meeting with First Lady Michelle.
Obama, who congratulated his successor in a phone call in the early hours of Wednesday, said it was “no secret” that he and Trump had pretty significant differences.
But the Democratic president, who had campaigned against Trump, urged all Americans to accept the result of the presidential election.
Obama and Trump have a history of mutual hostility.Trump led the charge in challenging the legitimacy of Obama’s presidency through the “birther” movement, which falsely claimed the Hawaii-born commander-in-chief was actually born outside the U.S.
The businessman also called Obama “the worst president in the history of the United States.”
For his part, the president famously skewered Trump in person at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, which some have suggested may have spurred the New York billionaire to seek revenge.
With the Republicans now holding a majority in both chambers of the U.S. Congress, Trump can more easily target key Obama initiatives such as his healthcare reforms.
Vice-President-elect Mike Pence, a favourite among social conservatives, also met behind closed doors with Vice-President Joe Biden, one of the Democratic party’s most popular figures.
Trump is already setting up bilaterals ahead of his January inauguration as the nation’s 45th president.
The office of British Prime Minister, Theresa May, said yesterday that the president-elect had invited her in a phone call to visit him “as soon as possible.”
May’s office said in a statement that Trump had praised the trans-Atlantic “special relationship” while discussing his “close and personal connections” with the U.K.
Trump has family and business ties to Scotland.
The president-elect’s transition team for the 10-week period until inauguration will be led by Chris Christie, Governor of New Jersey.
Trump, who has never held elected office, has said his immediate priorities would be restoring the country’s infrastructure and doubling its economic growth.
News
Lagos state government seals Ile Iyan restaurant over waste disposal violations
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.
News
‘I’ll show you the way out’ — says EFCC chairman as he sacks two corrupt officials
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”.
News
Lagos state government seals off three water factories for breaching quality standards
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.
-
Politics1 week ago
Okpebholo fires permanent secretaries, dissolves boards
-
Politics6 days ago
DSS operatives arrest man with bags of cash during Ondo guber
-
Business4 days ago
Lagos state government to commence upgrade of major junctions in Ikeja axis, seeks residents’ cooperation
-
News5 days ago
Nnamdi Emeh: Suspect Facing Charges In Court, Process Independent Of Police Influence
-
News6 days ago
Alice Loksha, abducted UNICEF nurse, escapes captivity after 6 years
-
Celebrities6 days ago
Daddy Freeze, Akah Nnani clash over Emmanuel Iren
-
World1 week ago
French newspapers sue X for using content without paying
-
World1 week ago
Trump appoints Elon Musk to lead department of government efficiency