President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday that the deadline given to the military to end terrorism in parts of the country is open to modification.

Buhari, who was represented by Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, stated this in Dutse at the opening ceremony of the 2015 annual conference of Chief of Army Staff. Said he, “Let me emphasise that the time frame given should serve as guide and if exigencies of multiple operations across the country requires modification, Federal Government will not hesitate to do so in order to address the flashpoints emerging in parts of the country.

“The Nigerian Army must therefore, develop strategies to address the current challenges facing the country and ensure total elimination of the insurgents.”

He said the Federal Government would assess the present situation and act appropriately in order to end the menace of terrorism in the country. The president said the timeline was only a guide for the military operation.

He therefore, charged the military to develop new strategies to address the emerging challenges in its operations.

His words: “Despite the achievements of the military in combating terrorism in the North East, the challenges of terrorism in other parts of the country remains an issue of serious national concern with the potential to impede our change drive.”

The president restated the support of his administration to the armed forces in ensuring that they delivered on their mandates.

He commended the leadership of the armed forces and the Army in particular, for ensuring professionalism and discipline among its ranks, which he noted, had impacted positively on its operations.

Buhari assured Nigerians that recent gains recorded by the armed forces in the ongoing offensive against Boko Haram would soon restore sanity to the affected areas.

Meanwhile, Olonisakin, during an interview with newsmen, said efforts are underway to ensure full deployment of the Multinational Joint Task Force across the Lake Chad region.

According to him, those countries yet to deploy troops for the Multi National Joint Task Force operations would soon do so. He said recent talks held with the Nigerien Military High Command were geared toward actualising that goal.

The CDS said other countries in the Lake Chad region are all committed to restoring peace to the region devastated by the Boko Haram insurgency.

News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that top on the agenda of participants at the conference would be the Boko Haram insurgency and the issue of human rights

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc has reaffirmed its position as a leading global brand with its recent recognition as the ‘Bank of the Year’ during the 2015 Banker Awards held in London, United Kingdom.
The Banker, a publication of the Financial Times, is the world’s leading monthly journal of records for the banking Industry, with over 90 years expertise in publishing development in the banking industry both Africa and on the global scale.
The Banker Awards is regarded as the industry standard for banking excellence, recognizing and celebrating the achievements of individuals and financial institutions within the global banking sector.
According to Brian Caplen, Editor of The Banker Magazine: “The banking and financial services industry continues to develop rapidly, with a few financial institutions cementing their positions as market leaders, pushing the boundaries of innovation and excellence. GTBank has over the years maintained a reputation for delivering notable financial success hinged on world class corporate governance standards and excellent service delivery.”
Receiving the award on behalf of the bank, Managing Director and CEO of GTBank Segun Agbaje, said, “We are delighted and proud to be recognized as the 2015 Bank of the Year. Our vision has always been to create an oasis and an African institution that can operate anywhere in the world. We strive to achieve this by adopting global best practices in all our business processes while conducting ourselves in a manner required of an institution with high corporate governance standards.”

(LAGOS)

Magistrate O.A Ogunbowale of an Igbosere Magistrate’s court has remanded a 45 year-old Security personnel, Musa Mohammed, in prison custody over alleged rape of a 15 year-old boy.

The defendant is facing a three count charge bordering on assualt, unlawful sexual intercourse preferred against him by the police.

The prosecutor, inspector Asu Feddy, said that the security man, who resides at 30 Glover road, Ikoyi, committed the alleged offences on November 9, 2015, at about 4:10pm.

He said that the defendant unlawfully had sexual intercourse with a 15 year old boy through his anus.

Feddy alleged that the defendant sexually penetrated the boy without his consent and spilled semen on the boy’s anus, underwear and trousers.

The prosecutor said “The defendant forcefully raped the boy and spilled sperm all over his body when the boy went to urinate in the toilet.”

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed is punishable under Sections 170, 135 and 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos state 2011.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate consequently, ordered that the defendant should be remanded in prison.

The case was adjourned to December 9 for the sentence phase.

Global business and political leaders will next week descend on Lagos for the 2015 Access Leadership Conference which is being organised by Access Bank Plc.
This year’s conference,  which holds on December 10, is titled “Leading in a transformational world – the imperative of innovation”,  features a host of speakers from around the world who will discuss major issues facing Africa, the global economy and the social transformation which is being wrought by technological change.
In both Nigeria and around the world every industry is grappling with the disruption that accompanies technological innovation. The financial system is no exception and faces changes that will fundamentally alter not just the operations of banks, but the nature of their relationships with customers.
A statement from the bank indicated that public office decision-making is rarely straightforward. “Competing interests, rapidly changing circumstances and electoral dependencies mean that uncertainty is the only reliable constant in public policy. The discussion will look at what it takes to make bold, and sometimes unpopular, decisions in the face of complexity and opposition.”
Drawing on their varied experience from careers that include central banking and microfinance, panellists at the Conference according to the bank, will discuss the impact of innovation so far, and where the next wave of disruption will take the sector.
The Access Conference 2015 closing ceremony will feature the W Awards, which have been set up to recognise and celebrate Nigerian women who defy all odds to stand out successfully.
Key categories include the W Entrepreneur award, the W Young Professional Award and the W Seasoned Professional Award. In addition to the awards, Access Bank will provide a preview of its new book, The Power of 100, which celebrates the positive contribution made to Nigerian society by women from all walks of life.

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, on Monday ordered Yanaty Petrochemical Limited, an oil marketing company, to submit itself for investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFFC, over an alleged N1.8billion petroleum subsidy fraud.
The EFCC had dragged the defendant before the appellate court to set aside the judgment of Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, that all investigations into the alleged petroleum subsidy fraud against the defendant had been concluded.
Delivering the unanimous ruling, Justice E. J. Ekanem said Justice Ademola’s judgment was an undue interference with the statutory power of the EFCC, which basic function, among others, is to investigate economic and financial crimes.
Mr. Ekanem further held that the EFCC had a measure of discretion “to determine whether an investigation should continue, has been concluded or be re-opened”.
Yanaty’s Managing Director, Elias Adeojo, was given approval by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPRA to import 30,000 tons of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, under the Petroleum Support Scheme in the first quarter of 2011.
The defendant claimed he imported 31,256.992 metric tons equivalent to 42,171,630 million litres in March, 2011 via MT Beaver.
Yanaty purportedly discharged the product at Lister Oil Jetty, Lagos, which is managed by Oando Marketing Plc.
As a result, Yanaty allegedly received the sum of N2,731,942, 103.73 as subsidy for purportedly discharging 42,773,279 million litres of PMS.
However, during investigation, Oando, operator of Lister oil jetty, disclosed that MT Beaver discharged only 10, 187.353 metric tons, which is equivalent to 13, 952.926 million litres) of PMS for Yanaty, as opposed to 31, 256.992 it claimed to have discharged.
Yanaty, therefore, allegedly received the sum of N1.8billion as unearned subsidy from the federal government.
Counsel to the defendant, Michael Anache, had filed a case against the PPRA and its executive secretary before Justice A. R. Muhammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking a declaration that all investigations against them by law enforcement agencies had been concluded.
Though the EFCC was not joined in the suit before Justice Muhammed, judgment was given in favour of Yanaty.
Also, in an effort to prevent further investigation into its activities, Yanaty, thereafter, filed another case against the EFCC before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking an interpretation of the judgment delivered by Justice Muhammed.
It urged Justice Ademola to rely on the earlier judgment delivered by Justice Muhammed declaring that all investigations against it ( Yanaty) had been concluded.
However, while moving his plea at the last sitting, counsel to EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, told the court that EFCC was not joined in the first suit before Justice Muhammed.
“The ruling today is a vindication of our appeal against the judgment of the lower court, which made an order restraining EFCC from further investigation and interrogation of Yanaty and its officials on the grounds that investigation against the company had been concluded.
“We insisted that investigation was ongoing because the case is clear. EFCC started investigation against Yanaty in February, 2012. But while it was subsisting, they surreptitiously filed a case against the PPRA and its former executive secretary, without joining EFCC.
“The core issue in that case was whether the Advance Payment Guarantee, APG, issued by Sterling Bank Plc in favour of PPRA still subsisted or had expired. It has nothing to do with the fact that they had been investigated or that the issue had been concluded.
“Two agencies of government are primarily charged with this investigation: EFCC and the Special Fraud Unit. Yes, the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee on Petroleum (downstream) as well as the Aig- Imokhoude-led Committee did some fact-finding investigations. But, at the end of their investigations, they turned

INEC, APC differ on poll cancellation
*PDP vows to defend mandate, berates military
Amid violence that marred the Bayelsa State governorship election on December 5 and 6, some National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members that served as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) adhoc staff are still being trapped in some troubled areas in the state. INEC declared the election inconclusive yesterday after it cancelled the rescheduled election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.
New Telegraph learnt that security agencies are making spirited moves to retrieve the corps members from the volatile areas. A security source informed New Telegraph that the whereabouts of some of the NYSC members are still unknown.
The source added that some of the ad hoc staff sustained injuries while others were abducted in the attacks masterminded by party thugs and ex-militants doing the NYSC-membersbidding of their sponsors in the eight local government areas of the state. Governor Seriake Dickson confirmed the development last night while speaking with journalists.
“As we speak, we are in the process of working with community leaders and other partners to identify and retrieve youth corps members who were put in danger for no fault of theirs.
“I like to use this opportunity to also commend them, these young wonderful Nigerians who came here to serve their fatherland. I want to assure them and all stakeholders who will participate in the rescheduled election and other activities that Bayelsa will continue to be home to them. The government of Bayelsa appreciates their sacrifice and will continue to partner with them to make our nation a better place,” Dickson said.
Meanwhile, the INEC and the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) have differed on the cancellation of the rescheduled governorship poll in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. But Governor Dickson, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, applauded the electoral commission for the cancellation of the election in Southern Ijaw.
However, the APC governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, rejected the cancellation of the poll. INEC had earlier announced the cancellation of polling in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa. Announcing the cancellation at a news conference in Yenagoa, Baritor Kpagih, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), said the exercise was substantially marred by some irregularities and violence.
Dickson has won in six of the seven local governments so far declared while Sylva won in one local government – Brass. Addressing journalists in Yenagoa, the state capital, Sylva said INEC had no power to cancel the election that had been concluded and the result being awaited. “APC will not take this cancellation.
The REC has no power to cancel an election that has taken place. It is only a returning officer that has power to cancel an election,” he said. The APC flag bearer said he would challenge the INEC’s decision in court. Sylva accused the REC of working for the PDP.
He said: “The election of Southern Ijaw was held on the 6th. The results were coming on the 7th after the election had been concluded. The REC did not cancel it when it was being conducted. “It was when the REC discovered that the results were not going to favour the PDP that he decided to cancel it, citing violence. If Southern Ijaw is to be cancelled, then election in other local government areas where there was violence should also be cancelled,” he said.
The former governor said there was no basis isolating the election in Southern Ijaw while election in Nembe, Ekeremor, Sagbama, Yenagoa and Ogbia local government areas was marred by violence. According to him, militants took over Ekeremor amid sporadic shooting at the home of the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, while election was going on, on Saturday December 5.
“Yet, election still went on and the results