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DEFENCE

Presidency Gives Breakdown on $1bn Excess Crude Account Fund

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By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

The Presidency has released further details on how the $1billion which was withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) for security was spent. 

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, on Monday explained that the N876.

9million already spent from the money domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria.
 

According to him, a balance of $123,111,571.

29 has remained unspent at the CBN. 

Shehu said: “Here is as much detail as we can provide at this time concerning the USD 1,000 Million from Excess Crude Account which withdrawal was authorized by the National Economic Council.

“The record we have is that the Buhari administration paid $496,374,470 for a dozen Super Tucano fighter aircraft for the Air Force in a direct, government-to-government (no Contractors or Commission Agents) transaction with the government of the United States of America. They are due for delivery in 2020.

“Various other military procurements for critical equipment have been made. These are for the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy, amounting to $380,513,958,71. 

“These procurements include money for the purchase of Navy Lynx helicopters. Total amount spent so far: $876,888,428.71. The equipment paid for have due dates of delivery of between six months to two years.

“Balance of the money that is unspent as at today is $123,111,571.29.”

He said that the entire expenditure involved in these exercises is on the basis of government-to-government procurement. 

He added “In cases where the Nigerian government dealt with equipment manufacturers, their home governments have in all cases given guarantees to the federal government. 

“Again, it is important to stress that no contractors or commission agents have been involved in the procurements under discussion.

“All USD 1,000 million was domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria and to date, not a single Dollar of it has been transferred to the Ministry of Defence or any other ministry, agency of government, individuals or political party office as was the norm under the PDP administration.

“We note that the PDP made so much of a report claiming that the National Security Adviser, NSA had declared the entire amount of USD 1,000 million as missing. The NSA will not have said this. 

“I’am sure have the correct story to tell. Without approval of end-user certification as issued by his office, no arms can lawfully enter Nigeria. 

“In these days of fake news, citizens including political parties pretending to the role opposition parties must be careful about the reports they work with.” he said 

DEFENCE

Zulum Offers N5m Each to Families of 8 Slained CJTF Members 

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 Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has donated N5 million each to the families of eight members of Civilian Joint Task Force ( CJTF) who recently died in an explosion on the Dikwa to Marte road.

Zulum who made this known on Friday during a condolence visit to the families of deceased in Maiduguri, also granted scholarship to their children.

The Civilian CJTF is a volunteer security group that supports military operations against insurgents in Borno State and other parts of the North-East.

” I want to announce a financial assistance of N5 million to each of the bereaved families to cater for their immediate needs.

” Furthermore, the Borno Government will provide full educational scholarship to all children of the deceased CJTF members.

” For those who left no children, we shall extend assistance to their close family members,” he said.

The governor said the gesture was part of his administration’s commitment to assisting the families of security personnel and members of the CJTF who paid the supreme price of defending his people

Zulum described the deceased as martyrs who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of their communities and assured that their bravery would always be remembered.

He prayed for the repose of their souls of the deceased and urged the bereaved families to take solace in the heroic legacy left behind by their loved ones.

The CJTF operatives died on Tuesday after they ran into an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the area.(NAN)

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DEFENCE

Police Nab 5 Suspected Cultists, Recover Firearms in A’Ibom 

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The Police Command in Akwa Ibom says it has arrested five suspected cultists and recovered firearms at Ibesikpo Asutan area of the state.

DSP Timfon John, the Police Public Relations Officer, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Uyo.

John said the arrests took place at the cultists’ hideout in Ikot Etuk village, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area on Wednesday.

She said that the operatives of the command, based on credible information, arrested the cultists.

John said that during the operation, operatives recovered one locally made pistol, one fabricated single-barrel gun and ⁠assorted charms.

According to her, the suspects have voluntarily provided useful information to the police regarding their criminal activities.

“This includes their involvement in a recent attack on Fulani herdsmen, which resulted in the killing of two cows.

“The stolen cows were reportedly shared among various cult groups within Ibesikpo Asutan,” she said.

John said that efforts were currently underway to apprehend other fleeing gang members and recover their operational weapons.

The spokesman further said the developments would be communicated to the public as they unfold. (NAN)

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DEFENCE

Police Arrest 4 Suspects, Recover Stolen Property in A’Ibom

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 The Police Command in Akwa Ibom said it had arrested four suspected criminals in Udi Street in Uyo and recovered numerous stolen items.

DSP Timfon John, the Command’s Public Relations Officer said this in a statement in Uyo on Monday.

John said that the suspects were arrested base on credible intelligence and in compliance with the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare’s directive.

She said that an operation which was inaugurated last Friday at exactly 1:15 a.

m., led to the arrest of the four suspects.

”In a significant intelligence-led operation, operatives of the command raided a location in Udi Street, leading to the arrest of two individuals and the recovery of numerous stolen items.

The raid also resulted in the arrest of another two suspected receivers of stolen property,” she explained.

The command’s image maker said that exhibit including 14 sewing machine heads and a generator were recovered from the suspects.

According to her, two complainants have come forward and identified their stolen machines among the recovered items.

She added that investigation into the matter was ongoing. (NAN) 

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