TheNewsGuru

Tag: Osinbajo

  • Concerted efforts to bring down Osinbajo will fail – UK-based pastor

    Pastor Ken Akinmade of Christ Church, London, UK, says that there is a concerted effort by some people in power to bring down Vice President Yemi Osinbajo but that their plans will fail.

    On Sunday, he said some of the people who are working frantically to drag the name and integrity of the Vice President in the mud are even members of his own party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Pastor Akinmade explained that they are deploying resources from within and without to fight the Vice President, stressing that, Nigerians must pray for the well being of the number two man.

    He said in a vision, he saw some politicians gathering and in their midst were some journalists too. They were planning how they will disgrace the Vice President and ridicule him in the eyes on Nigerians using fake news.

    “The Bible is very clear. Gather they shall gather, but if their gathering is not of the Lord Almighty it will be destroyed and scattered. I enjoin all Nigerians to pray for the Vice President,” he said.

    Pastor Akinmade said the story of the Vice President is not different from those of Mordecai and Daniel in the Bible who evil people schemed against but eventually fell for their own plot.

    He urged Nigerians to be wary of any negative report or stories that are in the media about the Vice President. “In the vision, I heard a voice saying where is their proof, where is their evidence, where is their proof.”

    “It was then I realized that there was no proof or evidence against him, it was then I saw that they had only gathered against God’s chosen to do him evil and in that instance I began to pray in the spirit.”

    He warned the Vice President to be careful of those around him and those who are his friends, especially politically and spiritually. He also warned him to be careful of some people from the Southwest.

    “His biggest enemies are those from the South, mainly the Southwest. Those who he might think are his brothers and sisters are among those who have gang up against him. They have seen his glory and they are trying everything humanly possible but they forget that man is not God.

    He urged Nigerians to pray for the Vice President, noting that the will of God cannot be truncated at all. “I do not know the Vice President personally but this is what I have to say to him, Sir, be very prayerful. You are a sheep in the midst of wolves,” he said.

  • Nigeria’s growth, success critical to sustaining Africa – Osinbajo

    Nigeria’s growth, success critical to sustaining Africa – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has reiterated his conviction that Nigeria has great hopes towards development as its success is key to Africa’s development.

    Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement in Abuja, said that the Vice President delivered the 8th Convocation Lecture of the Osun State University on Saturday in Osogbo.

    Osinbajo spoke on the topic, “Six Decades of Chequered Nationhood: Nigeria Still Holds the Key to Africa’s Development”.

    The Vice President told the audience that there was hope that Nigeria would achieve its potential.

    “This country is bound to succeed; we will get there.

    “Our founding fathers were all right, even though they had not even then seen Nigeria’s true potential Nigeria.

    “And indeed as Nigeria grows, so does Africa,” he said.

  • Presidency reacts to report of sidelining Osinbajo

    The Presidency has denied claims that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had been sidelined after President Muhammadu Buhari constituted an Economic Advisory Council to replace the Economic Management Team.

    TheNewsGuru, TNG reports that while the Management Team was headed by Osinbajo, the newly constituted Advisory Council will report directly to President Buhari.

    Dismissing the claims, the president’s Media Aide, Femi Adesina, on Wednesday in an interview on Channels TV said that all that the president has done particularly this week was just to “tweak governance and get the best for Nigerians”.

    He also maintained that the presidency remains one and that there’s been too much suspicion and different kinds of inferences which he believes are only aimed at driving a wedge between both the president and the vice-president.

    Adesina added that the team hitherto led by Osinbajo was dissolved “for good reasons” and also for “better management.”

    He said: “The Vice President is the number 2 man in the country… the new economic advisory body can also relate with the Vice President as necessary.

    “It’s just some Nigerians who want to drive a wedge between the President and the VP, that read meanings into everything and insinuate but there’s no need for that.”

    “Governance continues and the Presidency remains one. And this Presidency just wants to do what’s best for Nigeria.

    “But, unfortunately, our country is one in which even if a 100-year-old man dies, people will still want to find out what killed him.

    “In Nigeria, there are too many inferences from things that are just normal and natural; things that are designed to accelerate governance and ensure there is probity and accountability.

    “All that President Buhari has done, particularly this week, is just to tweak governance and get the best for Nigerians,” Adesina added.

  • REVEALED: Why Buhari’s men want Osinbajo silenced

    REVEALED: Why Buhari’s men want Osinbajo silenced

    Aso rock cabal punctures Osinbajo’s rising profile ahead of 2023

    Following a report published earlier in TheNewsGuru [TNG] on how the Presidency has taken decisive steps to strip the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo of some of his powers, sources close to the VP’s office have made available to this medium, scoops validating an ongoing power play by some cabals in Aso rock, who are hell-bent on cutting down the perceived influence [which the said cabals find threatning] wielded by Osinbajo under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

    The plot to sideline the VP took the stage publicly a few days ago after the Economic Management Team [EMT] chaired by Osinbajo was suddenly replaced by an Economic Advisory Council which will report directly to the President.

    The Presidency, TNG gathered is also planning to strip the Vice-President of his brainchild known as the Social Investment Programme which comprises the TraderMoni Scheme, N-Power, school feeding programme and others.

    According to a source who spoke to TNG under the condition of anonymity, the twist around Osinbajo’s fate is weaved by some of Buhari’s men in Aso Villa who have vested interest in determining the outcome of 2023 presidential permutation.

    “Osinbajo is seen as one of the most influential elements of the Buhari administration from the South and their intention is to cut him off any significant engagements with the Nigerian people as they step up the campaign against South-West presidential campaign bid.

    “This is by no means the beginning of the Cabal’s moves. When Buhari announced the ministers’ portfolios and created a new Ministry of Social DEVELOPMENT, Humanitarian & Disaster Management, many saw the hands of the Cabal trying to take away the most popular and acclaimed programs of the Buhari administration from the VP. How that move is to be done remains to be seen.

    “To achieve this scheme, the team concluded early that it was necessary to pull down the rising profile of the VP & drive a wedge between him & the President as quickly as possible.

    Our source added that the cabal successfully maligned Osinbajo in Buhari’s circle by playing up the cards the VP played in Walter Onnoghen’s appointment as Chief Justice of the Federation and the removal of Lawan Daura as the head of DSS.

    The source said, “The VP was blackmailed as working against the interest of the presidency when he took critical decisions during Buhari’s medical leave.

    “But the truth is, all their moves are targetted at cutting him off relevance ahead of 2023 election. This became especially urgent as the South West was being discussed as the Zone to produce the next President after Buhari.”

    With the Economic Management Team dissolved and the Social Investment Programmes consigned to a Ministry, it is clear that that the Cabals have somehow confused and blindsided the President to render his VP impotent.

    Currently, Osinbajo is the chairman of the governing boards of the National Emergency Management Agency, the National Boundary Commission, the Border Communities Development Agency and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company — a limited liability company owned by the three tiers of government.

    It was learnt that some agencies, such as NEMA, would rather deal directly with the President than with Osinbajo.

    There are also reports that some of Osinbajo’s aides had been transferred out of the Presidential Villa and seconded to some Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.

  • Malabu Oil Block: Magu denies being ‘used’ by Osinbajo to prosecute Adoke

    …releases evidence against ex-AGF

    The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu has said a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) has a case to answer over the Settlement Agreement on Malabu Oil Block (OPL 25).

    He said Adoke has been offering the reading public in the account of his sojourn in governance a bouquet of half-truths and plain lies.

    He said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo did not discuss, counsel, or direct him in any way on any issue concerning Adoke.

    He said the EFCC is not the battle axe of political figures and could not have been called out to deal with anyone as being insinuated by Adoke.

    He said after satisfying his long desire to titillate the public with some tales by moonlight Adoke should make himself available for trial.

    Magu, who made his position known in a statement through the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the commission’s investigation has implicated Adoke in the matter of the implementation of the settlement and resolution of agreements on Oil Prospecting License OPL 245 and OPL214.

    He said the probe of OPL 245 was not a witch-hunt in any form.

    He said: “It is important for the public to know that the investigation of the lucrative Oil Prospecting License 245 Settlement deal, otherwise known as the Malabu Scandal, by EFCC was not an enterprise in witch-hunt or malice.

    “The Magu-led leadership of the commission, in consideration of persistent public demand for closer scrutiny of the transaction, coupled with emerging information suggestive of opacity in the consummation of the deal, acted in national interest to determine that overall public good was not sacrificed on the altar of personal interest of those who perfected the deal.

    “The investigation had been discreet, with no threat of direct physical harm to Adoke or any other person implicated in the deal.

    “The commission’s investigation holds Adoke liable in the matter of the implementation of the settlement and resolution of agreements on Oil Prospecting License OPL 245 and OPL214 between Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd, belonging to former Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete and the federal government of Nigeria in 2010.”

    The EFCC chairman released the details of the investigations into Malabu Oil Block scandal.

    He added: “It could be recalled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had revoked the OPL 245, which the late General Sani Abacha granted to Etete, who was his Petroleum Minister and reassigned it Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company. Etete’s Malabu Oil and Gas, however, reclaimed the oil block in 2006 through the court. While Shell challenged the decision, a fraudulent settlement and resolution was perfected under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government with Shell and Eni buying the oil block from Malabu in the sum of $1.1billion.

    “EFCC’s investigations however revealed crimes, that border on conspiracy, forgery of bank documents, bribery, corruption and money laundering to the tune of over $1.2 billon against Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd, Shell Nigeria Ultra deep (SNUD) Nigeria Agip Exploration (NAE) and their officials. Some of those officials are already facing criminal trials in Switzerland and Italy.

    “The investigations further revealed that Etete and others fraudulently received an aggregate sum of US$ 801,540,000 (Eight Hundred Million, Five Hundred and Forty Thousand United States Dollars) from Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company, Nigeria Agip Exploration Ltd and ENI SPA in relation to the oil prospecting license.

    “Adoke as the then Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice allegedly abused his office in respect of the granting of the oil prospecting license OPL 245 to Shell and ENI.

    “A prima facie case, bordering on official corruption was established by the Commission following the investigations, culminating in court charges against Adoke, Etete and others, which is still pending before the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court.”

    He advised Adoke to return home for trial.

    “The arraignment of Adoke SAN, Etete and others could not take place because they along with other defendants have remained at large, refusing to make themselves available for trial.

    “The former chief law officer of the federation prefers to remain in self-exile, and engage the Commission in needless media war.

    “Having now satisfied his long desire to titillate the public with some tales by moonlight in the mould of a semi author-biography, Adoke should now make himself available for trial,” he said.

    Magu however faulted alleged attempts by Adoke to rewrite history.

    He said: “The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Ibrahim Magu is alarmed by the brazen attempt by former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), to rewrite history and portray himself as victim of persecution regarding the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC’s) investigation of the OPL 245 Settlement Agreement (Malabu).

    “In the last few days the Nigerian media has been awash with previews of Adoke’s book, titled: “Burden of Service: Reminiscences of Nigeria’s former Attorney General,” in which he took aim at the EFCC boss as being part of a deadly triumvirate that had been hounding and persecuting him since he left office in 2015. The other two alleged traducers, mentioned by Adoke are the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and former senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume. Adoke claims that he had been viciously maligned by this threesome to the extent that he contemplated suicide.

    “Specifically, he claimed in Chapter 8 of the book, that Magu was recruited by Prof. Osinbajo to hound and persecute him despite, as he claimed, his role in reinstating Magu to the EFCC from the police “where he had been vegetating.”

    “Adoke attributes his source of information on the alleged Osinbajo instruction to Magu against him to an unnamed governor from the North West, who according to him, claimed Magu told him that he had the instruction of Osinbajo to “deal with Adoke.”

    “Adoke also claims that an unnamed senator also confided in him that Magu nursed a personal grudge against him because he believed that he (Adoke) owned half of the Centenary City in Abuja.

    “That Adoke neither named the North-West governor nor the Senator that provided the weighty intelligence on which he took Magu to the guillotine in his book, could only mean one thing: the claims are tissues of lies, contrived to entertain and attract underserved attention to himself.

    “The acting Chairman of EFCC Ibrahim Magu categorically states that at no time did the Vice President discuss, counsel, or direct him in any way on any issue concerning Mr. Adoke. It is wicked and evil to make such a false allegation against anybody especially where it is based on hearsay.”

    Magu accused Adoke of employing marketing gimmick to wet public appetite for his book.

    He added: “These yarns, being spewed by hirelings of the former AGF are nothing but a marketing gimmick, dubiously orchestrated to wet public appetite and sufficiently stir curiosity ahead of the official release of the book on Monday, September 16, 2019.

    “But it is obvious that what Adoke is offering the reading public in the account of his sojourn in governance is nothing but a bouquet of half-truths and plain lies.

    “The accounts in Chapters 8 and 9 as it relates to the EFCC and its Chairman, Ibrahim Magu are not only inaccurate but self-serving.

    “For the records and emphasis, Magu never received any instructions from the Vice President, neither had he communicated verbally or in writing to any governor from the North-West or senator about such a patently false purported instruction from Osinbajo to “deal with Adoke.”

    “The EFCC is not the battle axe of political figures and could not have been called out to deal with anyone. Adoke’s ploy is simple. He wants to create a false narrative that the offenses for which he has been charged are not genuine but are the product of some high level conspiracy against him. But, first of all, there is no discernible reason for such a conspiracy. Secondly, it is an entirely false premise. It is clear that this is symptomatic of a drowning man clutching at straws.

    “Adoke ran well outside the track when he said he was instrumental to reinstating Magu, to the EFCC from the police “where he had been vegetating.”

    “ The Commission is unaware of Adoke’s role in Magu’s return to the Commission in 2012 after being away for a few years. It is well known that the EFCC Acting Chairman is a pioneer staff of the Commission, with many stripes to his sleeves by way of accomplishments that have no link to Adoke.

    “Magu and the EFCC have no interest in any public spat with Adoke who remains a suspect under investigation for criminal offences and against whom a competent court had issued a subsisting warrant for his arrest.

    “ The said warrant has already been executed by the International Police Organization (INTERPOL) which placed him on its wanted list. The option before Adoke is to return home and answer to his charges.

    “It is however gratifying that the former AGF abandoned the idea of committing suicide as taking that route would have amounted to a monumental waste of resources on the part of the EFCC. So much has been spent in diligently investigating the OPL 245 scandal that the Commission needs Adoke to be alive to answer to his charges, and clear his name before the court.

    “It makes no sense to deceive the people with claims that he had been exonerated of any wrong doing by the court. As a senior advocate, he should know that a civil suit cannot exonerate one from criminal liability.”

  • Osinbajo inaugurates inter-agency committee to recover N5trillion AMCON debt

    The Federal Government has inaugurated an inter-agency committee to speedily resolve the challenges in recovering over N5 trillion Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria(AMCON) debts.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who inaugurated the committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, tasked its members to deploy their expertise in the assignment.

    The committee is headed by the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye.

    Osinbajo said that by constituting the committee, the Federal Government was adopting a new approach in recovering outstanding AMCON debts.

    He urged the committee to turn the tide in what had been a difficult process where debtors have continued to default in their payment obligations.

    About 67 per cent of the outstanding N5 trillion debt is said to be owed by just 20 individuals/entities.

    Following the challenges encountered from the debt-recovery processes and the very limited results so far, the committee is expected to consider other options, including taking enforcement measures in actually recovering the debts.

    “One of the terms of reference is for the committee to prepare a report, giving us a sense of what the timelines would be.

    “I congratulate you on the very onerous task that has been set, to render this service.

    “I know that, given the kind of individuals here, you will definitely turn this whole narrative around.

    “So, I wish you all very well,” he said.

    The vice president expressed confidence in the expertise of the team to carry out the task ahead.

    Members of the committee include heads and representatives of agencies such as AMCON, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.

    Others are drawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Federal Ministry of Justice.

    The committee is expected to review the status of debts owed to AMCON, deliberate on practical, legal and other strategies for the recovery of the outstanding debts.

    It is also expected to prepare a report, which will include a debt recovery work plan with specific timelines for completion.

    Owasanoye thanked the vice president for the confidence reposed in the group, adding that the members would do their best to recover most of the debts.

  • Osinbajo inaugurates committee to recover N5tr AMCON debts

    Osinbajo inaugurates committee to recover N5tr AMCON debts

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday inaugurated an inter-agency committee to recover the N5 trillion debts owed the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, disclosed this on Tuesday.

    The statement said that members of the committee include heads and representatives of agencies such as AMCON; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit; the ICPC; Central Bank of Nigeria; Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation; and the Federal Ministry of Justice.

    “One of the terms of reference is for the committee to prepare a report, giving us a sense of what the timelines will be” Osinbajo was quoted to have said.

    The statement added that “about 67 per cent of the outstanding N5 trillion debt is said to be owed by just 20 individuals/entities.”

  • Osinbajo arrives Zimbabwe for Mugabe’s state funeral

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will be representing President Muhammadu Buhari at the State Funeral for former President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, on Saturday.

    Prof. Osinbajo, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Laolu Akande, would be joining other African leaders and Heads of State expected at the occasion scheduled for the country’s National Stadium in Harare.

    Heads of State expected to attend the funeral include President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya.

    Mugabe, who was Zimbabwean Prime Minister and later President for 37 years altogether, up until 2017, died last week at the age of 95 in a Singaporean Hospital.

    The Vice President, who would be accompanied on the trip by senior government officials, left for Harare Friday afternoon and is expected back in Nigeria later on Saturday.

  • Osinbajo inaugurates 7.1mw Solar Hybrid project in BUK

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has inaugurated a 7.1 megawatts Solar Hybrid power plant in Bayero University Kano (BUK), to ensure sustainability in power supply.

    Osibanjo said that the project would benefit thousands of students and other members of the university community, as well as enhance teaching, research and learning.

    According to him, similar projects are being implemented in 37 Federal Universities and seven University Teaching Hospitals across the country.

    The project in BUK will provide electricity for about 55,815 students and 3,077 staff of the university.

    Osinbajo explained that the project would also empower the girl child and provide job opportunities, which was one of the major focus of President Muhammad Buhari’s administration.

    In her speech, the Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Damilola Ogunbiyi said the Energising Education Programme, (EEP), a Federal Government initiative under REA was aimed at developing off grid capacity power solutions.

    She added that the EEP would provide street lighting for illumination and safety, as well as a world class renewable workshop and training centre for each of the EEP beneficiary universities.

    According to her, phase one of the EEP consists of nine Federal Universities and one teaching hospital across the six geo-political zones.

    Ogunbiyi further explained that the projects would also power 2,850 street lights that would result in the decommissioning of hundreds of generators.

    According to her, “the project was fully funded by the Federal Government of Nigeria and will train 180 female STEM students.

    “Within this phase, there are seven Solar hybrid projects currently benefiting from funding of the Green Bond issued by the Federal Government.

    “While subsequent phases are to be funded by the Nigerian Electrification Project which is also a Federal Government project administered by the REA in partnership with the World Bank and African Development Bank”.

    Earlier, in his welcome address, the BUK Vice Chancellor, Prof. Muhammad Yahuza-Bello commended the Federal Government for citing the largest solar power system in Africa at the institution.

    According to him, the immediate consequence will be improvement in power supply to the universities..

    “This in turn would improve our productivity and efficiency. Research and Technology laboratories could be operated virtually 24 hours a day as obtained in other climates”.

    Yahuza-Bello added that the station would enable the university to save about N4.5 million monthly electricity costs.

    The vice chancellor appealed to the federal government to support the institution with batteries to keep its one megawatt solar power station developed by the school at the old campus, working.

  • VIDEO: Xenophobia not what South African leaders fought, died for — Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday said that the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other nationals in South Africa were contrary to the sacrifices made by the founding fathers of the modern nation.

    He said this in Kano State when he went to inaugurate an independent 7.1MW solar hybrid power plant at the Bayero University, Kano.

    See tweet:

    Osinbajo via his verified Twitter handle said, “The recent attacks in South Africa are condemnable. It is sad and very unfortunate that the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians living in South Africa, are once again being destroyed with such wantonness carelessness and recklessness.

    “Nigeria and Nigerians invested a great deal in the pulling down of apartheid. These acts of bigotry are entirely contrary to the very ideals that all the great South African leaders including the present President fought for, and for which many gave their lives.

    “Mr. President has already spoken about this. We will take this up with the authorities in South Africa in to ensure that this sort of thing does not repeat itself. It is absolutely unacceptable.

    “We will take all actions necessary for the protection of our citizens everywhere in the world. We are currently in consultation with the South African government on the urgent need to put in place measures to end these acts of violence against our people.”