GREAT NEWS: Trump leads in polling in Virginia, Florida, Iowa, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania..

Donald Trump now leads in polling in swing states Virginia, Florida and Iowa.

All of the Iowa polls the last few weeks have shown Trump with a significant lead in the Hawkeye state.

Trump is also up in Ohio, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

#NEW UPI/CVOTER Polls:#Virginia:
Trump 50% (+4)
Clinton 46%#Florida:
Trump 48% (+2)
Clinton 46%#Iowa:
Trump 49% (+2)
Clinton 47%

EFCC uncovers Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia wired N18m to foreign account

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered yet another bogus financial transaction by Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia after investigations showed she wired N18 million into a foreign account.

Investigation showed that the Commission stumbled on N18 million wired to a foreign account from the justice domiciliary account for the purchase of a property in the United Kingdom.

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogbobia is among the six judges being investigated by the Commission for alleged corruption alongside some senior lawyers.

The other five judges include Justice Nasiru Mohammed Yunusa, Justice Hydlezira A. Nganjiwa, Justice Uwani Abba Aji, Justice Agbadu Jamus Fishim and Justice Musa H. Kuriya.
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According to EFCC sources, justice Ajumogobia owned up to the money but claimed it was a loan obtained privately from a family friend.

“The ‘family friend’, who is a Chairman of an Oil and Gas Company from where the funds emanated, has been invited by the Commission for questioning. So far, he had told operatives that the money was an assistance he rendered to her.

“Inquiry into the loan facility as claimed by both of them showed no formal agreement or documentation as to how and when the repayment would be made.”

The EFCC sources also said the oil and gas company chairman, whose name was not given is presently telling the Commission the extent of his relationship and involvement with the funds which was wired into the judge’s personal account sometime in 2012 while she was aready a sitting judge of the Federal High Court.

Reps to grant financial autonomy to LGs

A bill to grant financial autonomy to local government councils in the country, on Wednesday in Abuja, scaled through the second reading in the House of Representatives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill sponsored by Rep. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (PDP-Abia) seeks to alter section 162 of the 1999 constitution.

Section 162 provides for the State Joint Local Government Account, into which all revenues accruing to the local governments from the federal and state governments are paid.

In her debate, however, Onyejeocha argued that unless the joint account was abolished, the objective of strengthening local government as a tier of government would be unattainable.

She said that local governments lacked the needed financial autonomy necessary for effective management of financial resources due to them from the federation account.

According to her, the bill if passed into law will strengthen the operation of the councils because state governments have `capitalised’ on the joint account to exploit councils and starve them of fund.
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Onyejeocha stressed the need to abolish the state-local government joint account, saying that it would foster the autonomy, transparency and accountability of local government administration in the country.

“The practice of true federalism is lacking in Nigeria, especially at the local government level.

“Some state governments deprive their local governments of principal source of their revenues.

“Unless more stable internal source of revenue are exploited, and state-local government joint account abolished, the objective of strengthening local governments relationship with state and federal governments will remain a mirage,’’ Onyejeocha said.

She said the amendment bill proposed for each local government to maintain a special account to be called “Local Government Council Allocation Account”, where all funds accruing to every council shall be paid into.

“The amendment also stipulates that disbursement shall not be made from the account except by a bye-law passed by the Local Government Legislative Council,’’ she added.

Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, subsequently referred the bill to the Special Committee on Constitution Review for further legislative action.

Southern Kaduna monarchs, Fulani Fulani herdsmen leaders agree on ceasefire

Traditional Rulers and heads of Fulani herdsmen in the warring Southern part of Kaduna State have reached agreement with the top security chiefs to end the incessant attacks and killings in the area.

Parts of the resolutions reached include the immediate stoppage of any form of violent activity, illegal display of arms and hiring of machinery to cause violence or carry out attacks in the area.

The meeting, which was convened by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade had in attendance, the GOC, Police Commissioner, other top military officers, about 10 traditional rulers of Southern Kaduna extraction, including the Chief of Godogodo, National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the heads of Fulani communities and other stakeholders.

Reading the resolutions of the meeting held behind closed doors for over five hours at the Nigerian Army School of Artillery, in Kachia, the GOC, said, the meeting also resolved to stop children from grazing cattle, having identified such as, one of the sources of farmer/herdsmen clash.

According to the GOC, “we agreed that, there will be immediate stoppage to all forms of violent activities from all the stakeholders. We want to encourage the setting up of peace and reconciliation committees at the ward levels, district level and the local government level by the Fulani herdsmen, the locals and other critical stakeholders in the various communities. Their focus will be to continue the effort which is started here today to deal with all the local issues that may trigger any form of violent activities.
ALSO READ Shocking Video: Must Watch! SEE AK 47, Machine Gun: Fulani Herdsmen Boast of Weapons

“It has also been agreed that children will stop being at the helms of grazing cattle in Kaduna state and in the North West zone, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has made that commitment that they are going to make sure that all children are prevented from shepherding their cattle because it has been identified as one of the areas of conflict because they do not know much about area that they are not supposed to graze their cattle.

“Any destruction of farm lands or killing of cattle, the perpetrators will be brought before the committees that will be set up by the various levels with the aim of administering justice to make sure that if there are penalties to be paid, they should be done after being agreed by members of the committee at the various levels.

“It has also been agreed that within the next few days, efforts will be made at all levels to call all their members including the youth, the Fulani herdsmen from carrying weapons when moving around, the use of weapons by anybody other than the security forces is absolutely and completely illegal. The security officers and agencies will take decisive actions against any group that violates this decision effective from 1st November, 2016.

“We will not tolerate open display of arms by any group and we want to implore all of you to send the message across to all your people that the use of arms is prohibited and a violation of the laws of the country.
ALSO READ Enugu Massacre : S/East Senators call for emergency SE/SS Summit about Fulani herdsmen.

“Effective 1st November, 2016, anybody found blocking the main road, the high way with the purpose of stopping vehicles from plying those roads with the intention of profiling the passengers in such buses, that action will desist immediately, any form of road block by any group will be decisively dealt.

“We want to urge you all to get this message across to all your youth, any form of crime that may be committed in the days and weeks to come, efforts should be made through the ward level to resolve it and where it cannot be resolved to make the appropriate reporting to the security agencies, in this case, the Nigerian Police as the lead agency in our internal security operations.

“He urged the critical stakeholders to be mindful of introducing issues of ethnicity and religion into the crisis, we must be wary of the fact that this is a cause of action that will do no good to anybody, we must look at these issues and deal with them appropriately.

“Whether it is true or not that the Fulani or the herdsmen bring in mercenary herdsmen with the purpose of carrying out attacks in the various communities, while it has not been verified, we want to urge our brothers, the Fulani herdsmen and of course our locals to desist henceforth from bringing in outsiders into the affairs of your various communities. We believe strongly that these issues can be resolved in house.
ALSO READ Shocking Video: Must Watch! SEE AK 47, Machine Gun: Fulani Herdsmen Boast of Weapons

“These resolutions that I have read out are by no means exhaustive, whatever efforts that individually or collectively that could be brought to the table, please, you are free to do that in the spirit of peace and unity. The security forces will remain deployed in the volatile areas to make sure that any violations of some of the decision we have reached are dealt with speedily.

“It will not be in the interest of anybody to test the resolve of the security agencies to do what they must do to ensure the peace and security of the land, while we are doing that, we are also available to you to bring any issue that you feel could make some positive contributions with the aim of ensuring peace and harmony.

“Other issues such as the use of drugs, I believe those are issues that can be dealt with and discussed at your various levels. We also want to urge the chairmen of the local governments to provide the necessary support to all the committees and groups and to begin a wide spread sensitization at all levels so that they can begin to understand the decisions we have reached and to make sure that we do not experience the kind of atrocities we have witnessed over the last few days”, the GOC said.

SGF apologises to FCT indigenes over political appointments


The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engineer Babachir David Lawal has apologized to indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over their exclusion in Federal Government appointments made by the present administration, so far.

In a statement by his director media, Bolaji Adebiyi, he assured them that the omission is not deliberate and that the situation will be corrected during future appointments.

He explained that he will bring the omission to the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The SGF was speaking yesterday in his office, when he received in audience, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Adamu Baba Yunusa, The Ona of Abaji and chairman, FCT Council of Chiefs.
In his remarks, the Royal Highness specifically, complained about the exclusion of FCT indigenes in the reconstitution of the Governing Councils of Federal Universities, the composition of the Federal Executive Council and more recently, the nomination of non-career ambassadorial nominees.

The royal father urged that the anomaly should be corrected since it contravenes certain provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Federal CharacterCommission that specifies that the FCT should be treated as if it were one of the states of Nigeria.

The Ona appealed to the SGF to use his good offices to carry the FCT along when political appointments are made.

South Africa graft probe piles pressure on Zuma

South African President Jacob Zuma on Thursday faced increasing calls to resign after a damaging probe unearthed further evidence of alleged corruption at the top of the ANC government.

The country’s anti-graft watchdog ordered a judicial inquiry into possible criminal activity in Zuma’s relationship with the Guptas, a wealthy Indian family accused of wielding undue political influence.

Zuma, 74, has weathered a series of major scandals since coming to power in 2009, but rapidly declining support for the African National Congress (ANC) party has threatened his presidency.

Fears have grown that South Africa has thrown away the optimistic legacy of Nelson Mandela’s post-apartheid era — with Zuma’s alleged misconduct at the heart of public discontent.

“The mood of the people has become more and more angry,” said a statement from Save South Africa, a new umbrella group of anti-apartheid veterans, civil activists, business leaders and churches.

“(The ANC) must stop putting the interests of Jacob Zuma before the interests of South Africa,” it said. “The president must step down now.”
ALSO READ South Africa court hears Zuma bid to block graft report

Criticism of Zuma has spread in recent months, with calls for him to step down emerging from influential trade unions, corporate bosses and even senior ANC figures, as well as from opposition parties.

– New voices speak out –

“The individuals who are now joining the chorus are not only the usual suspects, but, until very recently, staunch backers of Zuma’s ANC,” the Times daily said in its editorial on Thursday.

“Voices expressing dissatisfaction with his leadership are getting louder as more damning evidence of his misgovernance emerges.”

The probe released by the Public Protector watchdog detailed allegations that Zuma ensured the Gupta family won huge preferential contracts with state companies and were able to choose cabinet ministers.

Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas told the investigation he was taken by Zuma to the Guptas’ home in Johannesburg where Ajay Gupta said he would be appointed finance minister.

When Jonas refused, Ajay allegedly offered him 600 million rand ($44 million) and asked if Jonas had a bag to take away 600,000 rand in cash immediately.
ALSO READ South Africa court hears Zuma bid to block graft report

The report also unveiled phone evidence that David Van Rooyen, then a little-known Zuma loyalist, was regularly in touch with the Guptas before he was briefly appointed finance minister last year.

The Guptas have denied all wrongdoing, and on Thursday welcomed an official inquiry.

“Now we have opportunity to… present our facts to a judge,” family lawyer Gert van der Merwe told the eNCA news channel.

– Election setback –

Zuma, who travelled to Zimbabwe on Thursday, said that he was studying the Public Protector’s report and considering a court challenge.

The president, who under apartheid was jailed on Robben Island with Mandela, has been dogged by scandals, including being found guilty of violating the constitution after he refused to repay taxpayers money used to refurbish his private rural house.

But he retains deep loyalty in large sections of the ANC, especially in rural areas, and has built up a strong patronage network of supporters.
ALSO READ South Africa court hears Zuma bid to block graft report

The ANC is due to choose a new leader at the end of next year, with the selected leader then running as president in national elections in 2019, when Zuma cannot stand for a third term in office.

Municipal elections in August produced the ANC’s worst-ever poll performance, though it remains easily South Africa’s biggest party.

Public frustration has been fanned by the government’s failure to tackle soaring unemployment, low growth and limited change for many of the poorest since the end of white-minority rule in 1994.

Airtel unveils ‘Nigeria with Airtel Business’

Airtel Nigeria has announced the launch of ‘Nigeria with Airtel Business’, a bouquet of services designed for global, large and medium organisations, both in the public and private sectors.

‘Nigeria with Airtel Business’ offers end-to-end telecom and connectivity solutions to companies under one roof, thereby eliminating the challenge of dealing with multiple vendors and integration issues associated with same.

The solution is aimed at considerably improving the ease of setting up a business in Nigeria, given the critical role telecom and connectivity solutions play in today’s environment.
‘Nigeria with Airtel Business’ offers a complete suite of ICT services Including, Mobile Voice and Data, National and International Network Connectivity on leased line, MPLS and VSAT, IP Transit, IP Access, Data Centre, Cloud, Managed Services, M2M Solution Mobile Advertising and extensive suite of Value Added Services.

Commenting on the launch, Director Enterprise Business, Tawa Bolarin said: “Given the impetus from the Government’s ‘Made in Nigeria’ initiative, Nigeria is fast becoming a definite strategic market for multinationals across the globe. With Airtel’s integrated product portfolio, we believe that we are uniquely placed to seamlessly serve the connectivity needs of companies looking to set up businesses in Nigeria.”

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