President Buhari signs 2018 budget

After much anticipation, President Muhammadu
Buhari signed the 2018 appropriation bill into law on
Wednesday, June 20.

Speaking to the leadership of the National
Assembly during the signing of the document,
the president stated that notwithstanding the
delay of the signing of the 2018 budget, he is
determined to continue to work with the
National Assembly towards improving the
budgeting process and restoring our country to
the January-December fiscal cycle.
He said: " I would like to thank the leadership of the
National Assembly, particularly the Senate President and
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as all
the Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members, for
passing the 2018 Appropriation Bill, after seven months.
"When I submitted the 2018 Budget proposals to the
National Assembly on 7th November 2017, I had hoped that
the usual legislative review process would be quick, so as to
move Nigeria towards a predictable January-December
financial year. The importance of this predictability cannot
be overemphasized.
"While the Federal Government’s budget represents less
than 10% of aggregate yearly expenditures in the economy,
it has a very significant accelerator effect on the financial
plans of other tiers of government, and even more
importantly, the private sector, which mostly operates on a
January-December financial year.
"Notwithstanding the delay this year, I am determined to
continue to work with the National Assembly towards
improving the budgeting process and restoring our country
to the January-December fiscal cycle."
A source within the government had stated that
the president frowned at an excess of N500
billion in the N8.6 trillion proposal submitted to
the National Assembly last November, adding
that Buhari is focused on not bringing the
machinery of the government to a standstill.
The president's assent to the document comes
after the joint session of the National Assembly
committee on appropriation, passed the 2018
Appropriation Bill.
The Senate increased the proposal of N8.612
trillion presented by President Muhammadu

Buhari in December 2017, to N9.120trn.

In another report, the federal government is
making final preparation to disburse $322
million fund repatriated from the accounts of
former Head of State, late General Sani Abacha,
in Switzerland to Nigerians.
Daily Trust reports that the the national
coordinator of the Open Government Partnership
(OGP), Nigeria and special assistant to the
President on justice reforms, Juliet Ibekaku-
Nwagwu, disclosed this recently in an interactive

session with newsmen.
that Ibekeaku-Nwagwu said
under MoU with Switzerland, the funds would be
paid directly into the accounts of the poorest
Nigerians through their various accounts for two
years and identification numbers to be made
available on the website being developed by the
National Social Investment office and the World

Bank.

Buhari lists important projects in the 2018 budget from which cuts were made by National Assembly

President Muhammmadu Buhari on Wednesday, June
20, signed the 2018 budget but lamented that
lawmakers made cuts amounting to N347 billion in the
allocations to 4,700 projects he submitted for
consideration.
The president added that the lawmakers also
introduced 6,403 projects of their own amounting
to N578 billion.
Recall that the National Assembly had on May 16
passed the 2018 Appropriation Bill, increasing
the proposal of N8.612 trillion presented by
President Buhari last December to N9.120
trillion.
While signing the budget at the Presidential Villa
in Abuja, Buhari noted that he was concerned
about some of the changes that the National
Assembly had made to the budget proposals he

presented.
Expressing concerns over some changes
introduced into the 2018 budget by the National
Assembly, President Buhari listed the examples

of projects from which cuts were made.
1. Mambilla Power Plant, Second Niger Bridge/
ancillary roads, the East-West Road, Bonny-Bodo
Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Itakpe-Ajaokuta
Rail Project
The provisions for some nationally/regionally
strategic infrastructure projects such as Counter-
part funding for the Mambilla Power Plant,
Second Niger Bridge/ancillary roads, the East-
West Road, Bonny-Bodo Road, Lagos-Ibadan
Expressway and Itakpe-Ajaokuta Rail Project
were cut by an aggregate of 11.5 billion Naira.
2. FCT infrastructure projects, major arterial roads
and the mass transit rail project
Similarly, provisions for some ongoing critical
infrastructure projects in the FCT, Abuja
especially major arterial roads and the mass
transit rail project, were cut by a total of N7.5
billion.
3. Additional security measures for the United
Nations building
The provision for Rehabilitation and Additional
Security Measures for the United Nations
Building by the FCT, Abuja was cut by 3.9 billion
Naira from 4 billion Naira to 100 million Naira;
this will make it impossible for the Federal
Government of Nigeria to fulfill its commitment
to the United Nations on this project.
4. Strategic interventions in the health sector
The provisions for various Strategic Interventions
in the health sector such as the upgrade of some
tertiary health institutions, transport and storage
of vaccines through the cold chain supply
system, provision of anti-retroviral drugs for
persons on treatment, establishment of
chemotherapy centres and procurement of
dialysis consumables were cut by an aggregate
amount of N7.45 billion.
5. Security infrastructure in the 104 Unity Schools
across the country
The provision for security infrastructure in the
104 Unity Schools across the country were cut by
N3 billion at a time when securing our students
against acts of terrorism ought to be a major
concern of government.
6. National Housing Programme
The provision for the federal government’s
National Housing Programme was cut by N8.7
billion.
7. Provisions for Pension Redemption Fund and Public
Service Wage Adjustment
At a time when we are working with Labour to
address compensation-related issues, a total of
N5 billion was cut from the provisions for
Pension Redemption Fund and Public Service
Wage Adjustment.
8. Provisions for Export Expansion Grant (EEG) and
Special Economic Zones/Industrial Parks
The provisions for Export Expansion Grant (EEG)
and Special Economic Zones/Industrial Parks,
which are key industrialization initiatives of this
Administration, were cut by a total of N14.5
billion.
9. Construction of the Terminal Building at Enugu
Airport
The provision for Construction of the Terminal
Building at Enugu Airport was cut from N2
billion to N500 million which will further delay
the completion of this critical project.
10. The take-off grant for the Maritime University in
Delta state
The take-off grant for the Maritime University in
Delta state, a key strategic initiative of the
federal government, was cut from 5 billion Naira
to 3.4 billion Naira.
In addition, President Buhari said that about
seventy (70) new road projects have been
inserted into the budget of the federal ministry
of power, works and housing.
"In doing so, the National Assembly applied some of the
additional funds expected from the upward review of the oil
price benchmark to the Ministry’s vote. Regrettably,
however, in order to make provision for some of the new
roads, the amounts allocated to some strategic major roads
have been cut by the National Assembly," he said.
President Buhari said despite all these
observations, he had decided to sign the 2018
budget in order not to further slow down the
pace of recovery of the economy which, he
noted, had doubtlessly been affected by the delay

in passing the budget.


previously reported
that the National Assembly explained why it
delayed the 2018 budget and made a cut of N347
billion in the allocations to 4,700 projects
submitted for consideration and why it
introduced new 6,403 projects amounting to
N578 billion.
Bala Na’ Allah, the deputy leader of the Senate
who represented Senate president Bukola Saraki,
and the chief whip of the House of
Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa, who
represented Speaker Yakubu Dogara, said the
lawmakers had no option than to tinker with the

budget estimates.

EFCC arrests operator of fake degree- awarding college

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
has arrested a fake school operator allegedly awarding
degree
- The suspect, John Ogbonnaya, was arrested in Port
Harcourt, Rivers state
- National commission for Colleges of Education,
NCCE, had in 2008 barred all Colleges of Education in
Nigeria from operating satellite campuses


Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) Port Harcourt zonal office,
has arrested a fake school operator allegedly
awarding the National Certificate of Education
(NCE) and bachelor of education degree without
authorization and accreditation.
The EFCC which disclosed this on its Facebook
page said the suspect, John Ogbonnaya, was
arrested in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. He
allegedly registered Havana International School
of Arts and Science in 2017 with two other
suspects: Monday Nwapi and Mrs Justina Okafor.
They are holding lectures in two centres in Port

Harcourt.
Brilliant International Schools, Nsukka street,
Diobu and Paragon City Light College, Agip area.
Since the inception of the main school, scores of
unsuspecting students have been defrauded and
made to pay for Application forms, school fees
and project fees.
The students were made to believe that Havana
International School of Arts & Science was
affiliated to four different institutions: Abia state
College of Education( Technical); Ebenezer
College of Education, Edda, Ebonyi state, Enugu
state college of Education and University Of
Calabar, Cross River state.
Investigations by the Commission showed that,
Havana International School of Arts and Science
had no valid affiliation with any of the four

Institutions.

OAU sacks professor involved in sex-for-mark scandal

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University
(OAU), Ile Ife, has reportedly announced the sacking
of Professor Richard Akindele for allegedly demanding
sex from Monica Osagie to upgrade her mark.
Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, the vice
chancellor of the university, announced the sack
at a press conference in Ife on Wednesday, June
20, The Punch reports..
He said the Governing Council sacked the
lecturer having found him guilty of all the

charges against him.
reported that Monica Osagie,
the student at the centre of the sex-for-mark
scandal, talked about the developments that led
to the sexual advances from the randy professor,
Richard Akindele.
In an interview with CNN, Osagie said she had
developed a mentor-mentee relationship with the
professor after she helped him edit his book.
Osagie, however, said she soon became
uncomfortable with the relationship as the
professor started to make sexual advances
towards her.
She said she had also received abuse on social
media and allegations that she was the one that
tried to seduce the professor.
Despite the criticisms, Osagie said she had no
regrets speaking about her experience.
She added that her hope is that her case will give
young women facing harassment on campuses
the confidence to reject inappropriate advances
from their lecturers.
"I am actually happy I came out. I am helping many ladies
that have gone through the same thing I have gone
through, and most of them can't talk about it.
"They are scared of coming out in public. But I know it
happens everywhere, not just in Nigeria. For me, speaking
up will bring more women to speak and eradicate what is
happening around young women and older men," Osagie

said.
"There is no work or ... education that is worth your
dignity," she added. "I will keep saying that."
Since the news broke out, Professor Akindele is
yet to speak publicly and reportedly declined to
speak to CNN.
"I have nothing to say until the university has concluded

their investigation," he told CNN.

Fact check: Is it illegal to confer the GCFR national honour posthumously?

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, June 12,
conferred the GCFR honour, posthumously on
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the presumed
winner of the June 12, 1993 general election which was
annulled by then military Head of State, Ibrahim
Babangida.

Buhari also announced that henceforth, Nigeria
will mark its Democracy Day on June 12 every
year, as the events of June 12, 1993, hold more
significance for Nigeria than that of May 29,
1999, when the military, again, handed over
power to a democratically elected government.
However, Alfa Belgore, former chief justice of
Nigeria between 2006 and 2007, said it is illegal
for Buhari to confer a national honour to a

deceased person.
Belgore said: “It is not done. It (the award) is for people
living. The only thing they could do is to name a place after
him, but national honours award, no.”
How valid is this claim made by the former chief
justice?
Checks by the ICIR shows that section 3(2) of the
National Honours Act provides that “a person shall
be appointed to a particular rank of an Order when he
receives from the President in person, at an investiture held
for the purpose”.
According to the Act, a deceased person cannot
receive anything “in person”.
However, section 3(3) reads as follows: “If in the
case of any person it appears to the President expedient to
dispense with the requirements of paragraph (2) of this
article, he (the President) may direct that that person shall
be appointed to the rank in question in such a manner as
may be specified in the direction.”
There is no specific provision in the Act stating
that national honours cannot be conferred to a
deceased person. The president is at liberty to
use his discretion to confer the honours on
anyone who could not appear in person.
So, Alfa Belgore’s claim that awarding a national
honour posthumously is illegal is false; it can
best be described as misleading.
Views from other experts
According to ICIR, Itse Sagay, a professor of law
and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said there is no
illegality in Buhari’s action.
Sagay, who also heads the Presidential Advisory
Committee on Anti-Corruption (PACAC),
disagreed with Belgore, insisting that honouring
Abiola is an action that “binds the wounds of the
nation”.
He said he does not know the specific provisions
of the National Honours Act, but there are
instances where more emphasis should be placed
on the spirit and intent of an action rather than
the technicalities of law.
“In this case, justice should prevail over technicalities of the
law. President Buhari did the right thing by acknowledging
the events of June 12 and honouring Abiola,” Sagay said.
On whether it was the right timing for such a
decision to be announced, and whether the move
is a political one, aimed at appealing to
southwest voters in the forthcoming 2019 general
election, Sagay said there can never be a wrong
timing to do the right thing.
“People are bound to say anything they like. This is the
right thing for President Buhari to have done, it doesn’t
matter whether it is a political move or not. It also does not
matter when he did it. It is the right decision.
“If Jonathan had done it, it would have been good. If
Obasanjo had done it, it would have been good. They didn’t.
Now that Buhari has done it, it is the right thing to do,”
Sagay insisted.
Also, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, reportedly agreed with
Sagay that there was no illegality whatsoever in
conferring a posthumous national honour on
Buhari.
Jacobs described Belgore’s claims as a “purely
political and personal opinion” which has “no legal
basis”.
“Posthumous awards are recognised all over the world, and
besides, it is the right thing for President Buhari to do,”

Jacobs told ICIR.
Similarly, Benjamin Obidegwu, a Lagos-based
legal practitioner, reportedly said there is
nothing illegal in President Buhari’s actions.
“I’m aware that honours are given posthumously, it’s
nothing new and it’s nothing illegal, except if the Act
specifically says that, which I don’t think is true,”
Obidegwu said.
“What Abiola’s own indirectly means is that he was
recognized as the winner of that (1993) election because
that GCFR is given only to presidents.
“The only challenge I have with that is that Abiola was
never a President. The fact that he won did not mean he
was President until you are sworn in, you are not a
president, that’s the only challenge. Otherwise, there is

nothing illegal in the decision.”

Buhari approves 12 new judges for Appeal Court, 16 for High Court

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the
appointment of 28 judicial officers for the Court of
Appeal, Federal High Court and the high court of the
Federal Capital Territory on the recommendation of
the National Judicial Council.



The 12 justices approved for the Court of Appeal are:


1. Hon. (Mr) Justice P. A. Mahmud
2. Hon. (Mr) Justice F. O. Ojo
3. Hon. (Mr) Justice I. A. Andenyangsto
4. Hon. (Mr) Justice G. O. Kolawole
5. Hon. (Mr) Justice B. B. Aliyu
6. Hon. (Mr) Justice Ebiowei Tobi
7. Hon. (Mr) Justice J. G. Abundaga
8. Hon. (Mr) Justice A. S. Umar
9. Hon. (Mr) Justice A. M. Talba
10. Hon. (Mr) Justice A. M. Bayero
11. Hon. (Mr) Justice A. M. Lamido
12. Hon. (Mr) Justice M. B. Idris


The following nine judges were approved for the
Federal High Court:

1. Sunday Bassey Onu
2. Mrs. Adefunmilola Adekemi Demi-Ajayi
3. Hon. (Mr) Justice Peter O. Lifu
4. Obiora Atuegwu Egwuata
5. Sa’adatu Ibrahim Mark (Mrs)
6. Mobolaji Olubukola Olajuwon
7. Aminu Bappa Aliyu
8. Tijjani Garba Ringim
9. Nkeonye Evelyn Maha
The president approved Seven (7) Judges for the High
Court of the Federal Capital Territory as follows:
1. Binta Mohammed
2. Modupe Osho-Adebiyi
3. Gaba Venchak Simon
4. Babangida Hassan
5. Akobi Iyabeni Anna
6. Samirah Umar Bature
7. Asmau Akanbi Yusuf
The Justices of the Court of Appeal, According to
Premium Times, will be sworn-in by the Chief
Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, National
Judicial Council, Waalter Onnoghen, on June 22
by 10 am.
adegokblog  gathered that hose appointed for the
Federal High Court will be sworn-in on June 25
at 2 pm, and judges appointed for the high court
of the FCT are to be sworn-in on June 26 by 2 pm
at the main hall of the court room of the
Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Lady calls out her aunt, narrates how she maltreated and denied her education

A Nigerian lady has taken to social media to share the
heartbreaking details of her childhood
- According to her post, she grew up with her aunt
who maltreated her all through
- She went on to place a curse on her aunt, saying
she'll never make heaven

A Nigerian lady identified as Chizoba Miracle
Emenaha, has caused quite a buzz on social
media after she shocked a lot of people with her
terrible childhood experience in the hands of her
father's younger sister.
The lady stated that although her aunt claimed to
be born-again in Christ, she treated her poorly
and used every opportunity to make her
miserable. Chizoba who shared the story on her
Facebook account, stated that she blamed her
father as well since he believed everything her
aunt told him.
She wrote: "This for my aunt..last born to my father..I
will call her by her name because I have a lot of bitterness
for her in my heart, and because of what she did..I'm yet to
forgive everyone who played one or two roles in it..De
Gladys as you are called..I will first start by telling

you....You will not MAKE HEAVEN!!!!

You say you are a Christian but you are a wicked human,
soooooo wicked that even the devil is learning from
you...You see I'm writing this now because I'm free from
you and everyone who would try to hold me back or punish
me like you do in those days..I will now start...
My dad brought me to your house because to him he said he
wanted me to get home training.. First I was deceived into
it .I was told It was just for a holiday...not knowing you two
had it all planned..I arrived your home,My first night in
your house arm robbers visited your house..
That became the beginning of my ordeal because you won't
end any of your sentence without reminding me I'm a
misfortune, a bad omen whom on her first night in your
house brought thieves...
I stayed with you.To enroll me in school became a big deal
for you..Finally when you did,it was a local school in an
uncompleted building attended by house helps..Even at that
you won't allow me go to school..I will wake up as early as
4am sometimes 3am to Prepare what your kids will eat..Go
to the shop,shade your goods. Prepare your kids for school.
Take them to school..Then come back to Go In Search of
firewood I will use to cook at night ..While you sleep..
You have the money to buy as many litres of kerosene as
you want..But because of wickedness you turned me to a
slave...Before I could finish with the day's runs..Its
10am..Some days you allow me to go to school.. Other days
you tell me not to go because its late that I should go to he
shop and stay while you enter your room to sleep..Is it the
days you beat me at every slightest provocation..You flog
me to the extent I start crying even without been hit..I talk
to myself and lament... out of all the mothers why will it be
my own mom that should die..
You made me which death for myself..When you noticed I
always talk to myself..You called my dad and told him I was
possessed...He believed you his dearest last Born.It it when
I started growing Breast..You noticed because I was using
my scarf to tie my breast while going to school to avoid
other students from teasing and laughing at my pointed
n*pple.When you saw I started growing breast instead of
you to get me a new bra..You gave me one of your old red
worn out bra..The bra wasn't even holding anything..But I
have no choice.And that was the only bra I owned..
Is it days you will starve me, when you finally manage to
give me #10 fufu,you will tell me to share it the ekuke dog
living with your family..Is it the day I was to take my last
exam in ss1..You told me to take your kids for their
graduation party and leave my exam..I suggested I take
your kids to school then go write my exam since my school
was close to your kids school..You insisted I forget my
exam and stay with your kids at their graduation
party..Because to you my future doesn't matter...All you
know is your own kids.Through out my stay in your house
you never bought me one single dress..Rather you gave me
your oversized worn out dresses...People around always
asked if I'm sure I'm truly related to you because of your
harsh treatment towards me..
When it's time for me to write waec..You told me its not
everybody that will go to school..You knew I was
brilliant..Even with the number of days I manage to go to
school I still take the second position which always leave
you amazed..But when it was time for me to get waec
form..Instead of you to buy the form for this girl who
labours day and night for your family's upkeep... You told
me its its not everybody that will go to school.. I should
learn sowing..
Even when I agreed to learn sowing you never registered
me..You kept postponing it..Till I received sense and found
out you were out to waste my life...I ran away..I ran for my
future..Maybe its something my late mom did to you.Maybe
she offended you and you swore to pay back.. Just
maybe..Cos till today I can't fathom the wickedness..Or you
were simply been too wicked in nature.
When I left your house You told my dad I stole from you
Without pointing one particular thing I stole....You labelled
me a thief..Well my dad believed you..Because right from
day one my dad never believed in me..Today I found out all
your kids attended and still attending one of the best
secondary schools in town and others iñ tertiary
institutions..And I'm thinking.. Why didn't you enrol them
in sowing training without getting their school cert just like
you suggested to me..I left your house seeing my monthly
period but you never noticed, because each time I try to talk
to you about something concerning my body...You will sày
I've started seeing man...
You damaged a huge part of my life and the damage hasn't
left me..Because of things I went through in your hands and
more..I begged God to keep me alive to train my kids to
adulthood or take me when I haven't brought any child to
this life....because I wouldn't wish want them to pass
through half of what I went through as a motherless
child..If my mom was alive...You dare not!!!
She concluded by reiterating that her aunt would
not make heaven for the way she treated a
motherless child.
"You claim to be a born again Christian, a virtuous
woman..Well laugh and I still tell you..YOU WON'T MAKE
HEAVEN..If you could treat a motherless child the way you
maltreated me..Then Heaven is clearly not for you..Blessing
Chidera Make sure your mom reads this....My dad will also
read..Maybe he will start understanding why I distant
myself from home a times..Things like this are what I
remember and I become sad at everyone...."
The post has since gone viral on the social media
platform as many people took to the comment
section to console her, urging her to forgive the
woman and move on with her life while some
shared similar experiences.
So sad!