PAGE 2
PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, february 14, 2018
News CONTENTS News 2-14 Editorial
11
Op.Ed
12-13
Politics 15-17 Stockwatch Business
18 19-20
Metro
21
World Analysis 22 Africa News
23
World News
24
Shekau flees Sambisa Forest, disguised as woman -Army By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
T
he Nigerian Army has said that Boko Haram factional leader, Abubakar Shekau is on the run and dressed in woman attire. Shekau has been the major force behind the Boko Haram onslaught in the northern part of the country. The Boko Haram arrow head fighting to impose Islamic caliphate in the country’s north, had in the past threatened various arms of government in the country accusing them of going against the “will of God”. Meanwhile, the military severally claimed to have killed him in raids of the insurgents camp.
But yesterday’s statement released by Director Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Kukasheka Usman said the concerted efforts of troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, in the ongoing clearance of the Boko Haram terrorists through Operation Deep Punch II has been yielding tremendous results with insurgents on the run. It said troops have successfully been clearing Boko Haram camps in Sambisa forest including Camp Zairo. “They have also rescued civilians being held hostages by the terrorists, recovered arms, ammunition, Improvised Explosives Devices (IED) factories and making materials
as well as other equipment. Consequently, the terrorists are in disarray and scampering for safety while others were surrendering.” The statement added that credible information from arrested and surrendered insurgents indicated that “the purported Boko Haram terrorists group factional leader, Abubakar Shekau could not bear the heat anymore as he has abandoned his followers, he is running for his dear life. “He is desperately trying to escape the theatre disguised as a woman dressed in Hijab. We reliably gathered that to avoid detection Abubakar Shekau alternates between blue and black coloured hijabs. He was
last seen in a black hijab. “We therefore call on all those remaining Boko Haram terrorists to know that they are following a coward moving about in hijab disguised as a woman. We also request all the remaining Boko Haram members to come out from hiding and lay down their arms and be treated humanely. “While concerted efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend the fugitive terrorist leader, we implore also members of the public, especially the residents of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States to be more vigilant, security conscious and be on the look out of Abubakar Shekau and other terrorists that might disguise as women to escape.” L-R: Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, Permanent Secretary Federal, Ministry of Education, Ach Sunny Ochonu, Deputy Director, Statistic and NEMS, Mr Mathew Nganjiuzor and Director Planning Development of the Ministry, Dr, Chioma Nwadei, during the Flag-off of 2017/ 2018, annual school census exercise, held yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo
Late Yusuf Buratai
Late Yusuf Buratai fought for the unity of Nigeria - Maina Page 4
Property
25
Feature 26 Sports 29-31 Back Page
32
We want to hear from you The Peoples Daily wants to hear from you with any news and pictures you think we should publish. You can send your news and pictures to: adverts@peoplesdailyng.com pictures@peoplesdailyng.com contact@peoplesdailyng.com
Phones for News: 08142929046 08024432099
Senate, minister disagree on $350m zero interest loan By Christiana Ekpa
T
he Senate Joint Committees on Public Account and Power yesterday queried the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun for authorizing zero loan interest from the stabilization account. This is just as Adeosun said she has the authority to administer the funds kept by Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA. The senators who took turns in asking questions, queried the Minister on why she gave lone at zero interest from the stabilization accounts to NSIA for a tenured of one year to private company. Senate had mandated its Committee on Public Accounts to ascertain the $650 million balance of Eurobond with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The Upper Legislative Chamber also mandated the committee to invite the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, to render a detailed account of public funds spent on the Afam Fast Power Project. It also urged the committee to investigate and consider summoning the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Nigerian Electricity Bulk Trading Company (NBET) to establish the status of the funds. The resolution was sequel to a motion sponsored by Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi State) on “Monumental Fraud in the Power Sector”. The Senate Public Account Committee (SPAC) had threatened to issue a warrant of arrest on the Minister of finance if she fails again to honour the Committee’s invitation to appear before it to explain her role in the billion dollars Euro bond, which
prompt the minster to appeared before the joint committee yesterday The Chairman of the Committee on Public Account, Mathew Urhoghide (PDP Edo Sourth) who asked for the background and the purpose of the bond equally queried why the details of recovery did not show as the money was not be paid once. He said “the $350million was suppose to be paid to NBET but the money was used to be paid for Afam fast power, why is it so? Also the Committee Chairman on power, Eyinnaya Abaribe questioned the minister on what gave her the right to authorized the zero lone interest Others senators who also raised objections Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf (Taraba Central), Bassey Akpan (Akwa Ibom North East) and minority leader of the senate, God’swill Akpabio (PDP Akwa Ibom)
.
But the Finance Minster in her response said the $350 million did not come from Eurobond. On the issue of the authorization of the zero loan interest, the minister disclosed that she has the authority to administer the funds kept by NSIA. “The ex minister decided to invest the funds to get interest. The money came from Abacha loot in Swiss Bank and the condition was that the project to be invested it will be approved by the world back and they approached them and asked for the fast power by GE, and they decided to use the stabilization fund to pay with the abacha loot, buy, they said it will be social projects and not the power projects. “That was why they gave it to them in zero interest and if not they will not be able to get a huge project to invest the money to avoid piecemeal payment.