EXCLUSIVE: Buhari Escapes Air Crash As Presidential Jet Develops Fault, Aircraft Taken To Germany For Repairs At N2.4Million Per Night For Parking

President Muhammadu Buhari and the delegation that recently travelled with him to the United States escaped an air mishap after the presidential jet marked 5N-FGT suddenly developed a fault while they were returning to Nigeria, SaharaReporters has gathered.

Buhari had on Sunday, September 19, 2021, travelled to New York for the 76th United Nations General Assembly.

Sources told SaharaReporters that the aircraft, a Boeing Business Jet (Boeing 737-700) developed a fault while the President and his entourage were returning to Abuja on Saturday, September 25.

SaharaReporters gathered that the aircraft left the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York at 12:08 pm, landed at Sable Island Airport around 5:24 pm and had a 3-hour stopover.

The Nigeria Air Force 1 then departed the airport for Santa Maria where it landed around 9:10 pm. From Santa Maria, it flew to Nigeria and landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Sunday, September 26 at 5:01 am.

Sources said the aircraft was subsequently moved to Euro Airport in Germany on September 29 and arrived at 4.15pm after leaving the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 9.48am, with the Nigerian government paying €5,000 (Euros) (N2,385,000 at official rate of N477 to €1) per night as parking fee.

This means by Thursday, October 28, the Muhammadu Buhari-led government has paid €145,000 (N69,165,000) as parking fee for the aircraft.

To avoid backlash, SaharaReporters gathered that the registration of the 5N-FGT aircraft was done using AMACGND.

“The Presidential Boeing Business Jet registration number 5N-FGT developed a fault during his trip from New York. He travelled to Saudi Arabia with a smaller jet. A Falcon 7X jet with registration number 5N-FGV. No picture of his departure to Saudi Arabia was released to avoid the public knowing about the jet he travelled with,” a presidential source told SaharaReporters.

“The one that developed fault has been
moved to EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, Germany for repairs since September. It is registered and operated under another name AMACGND. They intentionally hid it and parked it under another name because it cost €5,000 (Euros) for parking per night.”

Travelling details for the Falcon 7X jet with registration number 5N-FGV show on Saturday, October 23, it was sighted near Ibadan, Oyo State at 6.31 pm and later at Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos at 6.55 pm.

It left MMIA at 7.58 pm and was later seen near Minna, Niger State at 8.32 pm.

On Sunday, October 24, it was seen at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja at 10.35 am and later at MMIA at 11.25 am.

By 1.05 pm, it was back at NAIA and by 4.10 pm, it was again in Lagos and was last seen at 5.00 pm.

On Monday, October 25, it was first seen near Jos, Plateau State and by 11.10 pm +03, it was at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia.

On Wednesday, October 27, it left King Khalid International Airport at 3.19 pm +03 and was seen near Buraidah in Saudi Arabia at 3.47 pm +03.

Then, it was seen near Media at 11.00 pm +03 and later at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 11.47 pm +03.

Despite promising to cut waste, the Buhari-led government has spent at least N41 billion on the presidential fleet.

After taking office on May 29, 2015, the 2016 Appropriation Act signed by the President allocated N3.652 billion for the upkeep of the presidential fleet.

In 2017, the cost of maintenance of the presidential aircraft rose to N4.37 billion (19.6 per cent). The figure then skyrocketed to N7.260 billion (98.7 per cent) in 2018.

In 2019, the cost of maintaining the PAF again rose to N7.297 billion (99.6 per cent). The allocation, however, fell to N6.793 billion (86 per cent) in 2020. But in 2021, the budget for the presidential fleet saw its sharpest Buhari-era jump to N12.550 billion (243.6 per cent).

By comparison, the 2015 budget, which was in effect upon Buhari’s inauguration, earmarked N5.190 billion for the presidential fleet. The appropriation for the Presidential Air Fleet in 2021 indicates a 243.6 per cent increase from the allocation six years prior.

"Despite promising to cut waste, the Buhari-led government has spent at least N41 billion on the presidential fleet.

After taking office on May 29, 2015, the 2016 Appropriation Act signed by the President allocated N3.652 billion for the upkeep of the presidential fleet.

In 2017, the cost of maintenance of the presidential aircraft rose to N4.37 billion (19.6 per cent). The figure then skyrocketed to N7.260 billion (98.7 per cent) in 2018.

In 2019, the cost of maintaining the PAF again rose to N7.297 billion (99.6 per cent). The allocation, however, fell to N6.793 billion (86 per cent) in 2020. But in 2021, the budget for the presidential fleet saw its sharpest Buhari-era jump to N12.550 billion (243.6 per cent).

By comparison, the 2015 budget, which was in effect upon Buhari’s inauguration, earmarked N5.190 billion for the presidential fleet. The appropriation for the Presidential Air Fleet in 2021 indicates a 243.6 per cent increase from the allocation six years prior."

Court freezes bank accounts of Benue govt, firm over failure to pay back loan

 

A Federal High Court, Abuja has made an interim order, freezing all bank accounts of Benue State Government maintained in some banks in the country following its inability to pay back the N333 million loan borrowed in 2008.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, who gave the order following an ex-parte motion brought by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), also directed that the bank accounts of HPPS Multilink Services Ltd be frozen pending the hearing and the determination of the substantive suit.

While AMCON is the claimant, the company and the state government are 1st and 2nd respondents respectively.

NAN reports that the affected bank accounts for the two respondents have domiciled with Access Bank Plc; Citibank Nigeria Limited; Eco Bank Nigeria Plc; Fidelity Bank Plc; First Bank Nigeria Plc; First City Monument Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Pic.

Others include those in Heritage Bank Plc; Keystone Bank Limited; Polaris Bank Limited; Stanbic IBTC Plc; Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited; Sterling Bank Plc; Suntrust Bank Nigeria Limited; Union Bank of Nigeria Plc; United Bank for Africa Plc; Unity Bank Nigeria Plc; Wema Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc.

The ex-parte motion, with suit number: FHC/ABJ/AMC/74/2021 dated and filed on Sept. 30, was moved by Counsel to AMCON, Darlington Ozurumba.

The motion prayed for five reliefs.

The court also made an interim order “freezing and attaching the JAAC Bank Accounts (Joint Accounts Allocation committee), Internal Generated Revenue Accounts, all bank accounts both current, savings, fixed deposits and/or investments accounts of the 2nd respondent (Benue Government) maintained with all the banks mentioned above pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

“An interim order is hereby made restraining all banks and/or other financial institutions above mentioned in Nigeria forthwith from releasing or dealing in any manner howsoever with monies held in any account to which the respondents are signatories pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

“An order is hereby made directing all banks and/or other financial institutions in Nigeria too, within seven (7) days of the date of service of this order, file and serve an affidavit of compliance disclosing with a statement on each account howsoever designated, held and/or maintained by the respondents and ail accounts to which the respondents are signatories for a period of six months prior to the date of service of this order till date.”

Meanwhile, in the affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by Abubakar Isa, a staff of AMCON, the corporation described the loan as a toxic loan of eligible bank assets transferred to it by law to recover.

AMCON told the court that the 1st respondent (the firm), which has its office in Kaduna State, had collected a N333 million loan facility from Bank PHB Plc (now Keystone Bank Ltd) on Jan. 31, 2008 “for the purpose of purchasing 5, 000 pieces of motorcycles to the 2nd defendant and its workers through the Nigeria Labour Congress of its state vide an irrevocable standing payment order (ISPO}.

“That the 2nd respondent is the state government of the beneficiaries who equally gave ISPO guarantee for the repayment of the loan through deduction from the salaries of its workers and make payment to the bank but failed to do so.

“That the loan was for the agreed period of 24 months at the interest of 19 percent per annum.

“That the loan granted to the respondents has crystalized to the sum of seven hundred and eighty-four million, three hundred and forty thousand, five hundred and twenty-eight naira, three kobos (N784, 340, 428.03) as at 2014 from the sum of N333,000,000 (Three hundred and thirty-three million naira) granted to the 1st defendant in 2008 and guaranteed by the 2nd defendant as contained in the letter of Aug. 15, 2014 which represents the interest and the principal sum as at Aug. 15, 2014, and same has remained unpaid till date.”

Justice Ekwo then adjourned the matter until Nov. 2 for mention.

The court also made an interim order “freezing and attaching the JAAC Bank Accounts (Joint Accounts Allocation committee), Internal Generated Revenue Accounts, all bank accounts both current, savings, fixed deposits and/or investments accounts of the 2nd respondent (Benue Government) maintained with all the banks mentioned above pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

“An interim order is hereby made restraining all banks and/or other financial institutions above mentioned in Nigeria forthwith from releasing or dealing in any manner howsoever with monies held in any account to which the respondents are signatories pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

“An order is hereby made directing all banks and/or other financial institutions in Nigeria to, within seven (7) days of the date of service of this order, file and serve an affidavit of compliance disclosing with statement on each account howsoever designated, held and/or maintained by the respondents and ail accounts to which the respondents are signatories for a period of sic months prior to the date of service of this order till date.”

Meanwhile, in the affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by Abubakar Isa, a staff of AMCON, the corporation described the loan as a toxic loan of eligible bank assets transferred to it by law to recover.

AMCON told the court that the 1st respondent (the firm), which has its office in Kaduna State, had collected a N333 million loan facility from Bank PHB PLC (now Keystone Bank Ltd) on Jan. 31, 2008 “for the purpose of purchasing 5, 000 pieces of motorcycles to the 2nd defendant and its workers through the Nigeria Labour Congress of its state vide an irrevocable standing payment order (ISPO}.

“That the 2nd respondent is the state government of the beneficiaries who equally gave ISPO guarantee for the repayment of the loan through deduction from the salaries of its workers and make payment to the bank but failed to do so.

“That the loan was for the agreed period of 24 months at the interest of 19 per cent per annum.

“That the loan granted to the respondents has crystalized to the sum of seven hundred and eighty four million, three hundred and forty thousand, five hundred and twenty eight naira, three kobo (N784, 340, 428.03) as at 2014 from the sum of N333,000,000 (Three hundred and thirty three million naira) granted to the 1st defendant in 2008 and guaranteed by the 2nd defendant as contained in the letter of Aug. 15, 2014 which represents the interest and the principal sum as at Aug. 15, 2014 and same has remained unpaid till date.”

eNaira App Pulled Down from Google Play Store After Bad Reviews and Poor rating

 

The eNaira application designed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and launched on Monday, October 25, 2021, in Abuja by President Muhammadu Buhari has been pulled down from Google Play Store.

On Wednesday, It was reported that the app, called eNaira Speed Wallet on the store for Android phone users, was getting negative reviews from Nigerians, who were disappointed with the process of registering for the app as required by the CBN.

Many users encountered problems after downloading the app from the play store. The main issue experienced was registering to create a wallet to enable them to enjoy the services.

For most users, including this reporter, the app keeps giving a message that the Bank Verification Number (BVN) provided does not have an email address attached to it and that the bank should be contacted for a solution.

As at the time this newspaper published the massive negative reviews of users on Google Play Store on Wednesday afternoon, there had been more than 100,000 downloads, while the average rating was 1.9.

But at about 8 pm or 9:20 pm on Wednesday, the app was no longer available on the play store for download as it has been pulled down. The reason for this was not immediately known and it was also not known if the app was removed briefly by Google or the developer.

Only the version of the mobile application for merchants, which is dubbed eNaira Speed Merchant Wallet, was still available for download (over 10,000 downloads already), though it was not without its own bad reviews.

One of the reviewers by the name of Stephen Tabi said, “I downloaded both applications in Google store and both proved to be difficult to register. It kept showing error bla, bla, bla. If from the take-off, hackers have already created their own app, I am afraid Nigerians will lose faith in the credibility of the project and I doubt if the safety of Nigerian transactions wallet will be guaranteed. CBN should act fast before Nigerians lose faith in the whole noble idea.”

“Why can’t we sign up? All information has been given and yet, registration is taking eternity [to be processed],” another reviewer, Adebayo Olumide Damilola, wrote.

Kolapo Nurain Olawale said, “I can’t sign up to this wallet, it shows that there is no available bank for now, what rubbish app is this?”

“I don’t understand this app, I can’t log in, it says try again later. CBN should fix the app very well before we can be using it,” a user, Maleek Shorunke said.

“Smooth download and registration but it hung at the last page where I was to submit. This stayed for over 20 minutes. At the time of typing, it’s still processing. The backend engineers need to be world-class else, there will be uncountable bugs,” DKM wrote.

Some observers have criticised the central bank for rushing to launch the eNaira. They said the bank should have taken the pain to sensitise Nigerians on the usage and benefits of the app, which is meant to be the digital version of the fiat Naira.

“The problems being encountered by users are expected because the CBN did not do due diligence before coming up with this project. It looks like a knee-jerk approach to me,” an Economist, Mr Odugbemi Gbenga, told the Team.

“The CBN needs to go back to the drawing board and re-strategise and come up with a better project. In fact, it should not concern itself with performing as the citizens’ bank but remain as government’s bank,” Mr Odugbemi advised.

Bank issues warning as old style £20 and £50 notes will no Longer Be in Use in 2022

 

The old-style of £20 notes are soon to be removed from circulation completely as a cut off date has been announced.

Paper £20 and £50 notes will no longer be accepted as legal tender as of September 30, 2022.

The new, polymer £20 notes were introduced in February 2020 to replace the paper ones which are more susceptible to fraud.

The polymer £50 and £20 notes contain advanced security features, completing the most secure set of Bank of England polymer banknotes yet. The newer notes are also more durable.

The note joined the Churchill £5 and the Austen £10, meaning all Bank of England banknotes are now available on polymer.

A statement by the Bank of England previously said: "Many banks will accept withdrawn notes as deposits from customers. The Post Office may also accept withdrawn notes as a deposit into any bank account you can access at the Post Office.

The new note will start to become available in bank branches and at ATM’s in the coming days and weeks.

30 September 2022 will be the last day you can use Bank of England paper £20 and £50 notes. After 30 September 2022, these paper notes will no longer be legal tender, so we encourage people to spend them or deposit them at their bank ahead of this date.

The polymer £50 note contains advanced security features, completing our most secure set of Bank of England polymer banknotes yet. The note will join the Churchill £5, the Austen £10 and the Turner £20, meaning all Bank of England banknotes are now available on polymer.

Speaking at Bletchley Park, where Turing carried out his famous codebreaking work, Governor Andrew Bailey said: “Our banknotes celebrate some of our country’s most important historical figures. That’s why I am delighted that Alan Turing features on the new polymer £50 note. Having undertaken remarkable codebreaking work here at Bletchley Park during the Second World War, he went on to pioneer work on early computers, as well as making some ground-breaking discoveries in the field of developmental biology. He was also gay and was treated appallingly as a result. Placing him on this new banknote is a recognition of his contributions to our society, and a celebration of his remarkable life.”

Speaking as the note entered circulation, the Bank of England’s Chief Cashier Sarah John said “The polymer £50 note is the most secure Bank of England banknote yet, and the features of the note make it very difficult to counterfeit. All of our polymer banknotes can be checked by looking for two key security features: a hologram which changes image; and see-through windows. So if you can check one denomination of banknote, you can check them all. The new £50 notes, like the polymer £10 and £20 notes, contain a tactile feature to help vision impaired people identify the denomination.”

The Bank of England Museum has launched an online exhibition to coincide with the Turing £50 banknote entering circulation. Find out how Alan Turing’s work inspired the new £50 note design in a multimedia tour on SmartifyOpens in a new window, the digital arts and culture platform.

To celebrate Alan Turing’s life, the Bank of England is proudly flying the Progress Pride Flag above our Threadneedle Street building today.

Features on the new £50 note include:

• A photo of Turing taken in 1951 by Elliott & Fry which is part of the Photographs Collection at the National Portrait Gallery.
• A table and mathematical formulae from Turing’s seminal 1936 paper “On Computable Numbers, with an application to the Entscheidungsproblem” Proceedings of the London Mathematical Society. This paper is widely recognised as being foundational for computer science. It sought to establish whether there could be a definitive method by which any theorem could be assessed as provable or not using a universal machine. It introduced the concept of a Turing machine as a thought experiment of how computers could operate.
• The Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) Pilot Machine which was developed at the National Physical Laboratory as the trial model of Turing’s pioneering ACE design. The ACE was one of the first electronic stored-program digital computers.
• Technical drawings for the British Bombe, the machine specified by Turing and one of the primary tools used to break Enigma-enciphered messages during WWII.
• A quote from Alan Turing, given in an interview to The Times newspaper on 11 June 1949:
  “This is only a foretaste of what is to come and only the shadow of what is going to be.”
• Turing’s signature from the visitor’s book at Max Newman’s House in 1947 which is on display at Bletchley Park, where he worked during WWII.
• Ticker tape depicting Alan Turing’s birth date (23 June 1912) in binary code. The concept of a machine fed by binary tape featured in the Turing’s 1936 paper.
• Two key security features can be checked to help confirm that notes are genuine:
  • a metallic hologram which changes between the words ‘Fifty’ and ‘Pounds’ when the note is tilted.
  • a large see-through window with a gold and green foil on the front depicting a finely detailed metallic microchip image.
• There are two green 21 spiral features based on a sunflower head (linked to Turing’s morphogenetic work in later life). The foil is silver on the back.
• A metallic hologram which changes between the words ‘Fifty’ and ‘Pounds’ when the note is tilted.
• A silver foil patch with a 3D image of the Coronation Crown.
• The Queen’s portrait in the see-through window with ‘£50 Bank of England’ printed twice around the edge. (The small clover shapes on the outside of the window are based on architectural features at Bletchley Park.)
• A smaller see-through window in the bottom corner of the note, the shape of which is based on architectural features at Bletchley Park.
• A red foil patch containing the letters ‘AT’ is based on the image of a sunflower head linked to Turing’s morphogenetic work in later life.
• Further details about the new £50 note are available at www.new50.co.ukOpens in a new window

Nigerian Student Jango Finally Graduates from UNIJOS after 13 Years

 

After over a decade in school, a Nigerian student has finally graduated from the University of Jos, Plateau

The history education graduate identified as Jonathan Ogboffa is popularly known among the UNIJOS community as Aluta Jango

As he basks in the euphoria of finally bagging a university degree, social media users have told different tales of his person while on campus

A Nigerian man has been celebrated for bagging a bachelor's degree after 13 years at the University of Jos, Plateau. Jonathan Ogboffa popularly known as Aluta Jango was treated to a rapturous celebration across social media platforms as the news of his signing out broke out.

Gistas 9ja gathered that Jonathan was neck-deep in students politics and NANS and this saw him move from one department to the other over the years till his eventual graduation.

STOP BRANDING TERRORISM AS BANDITRY - GOV AKEREDOLU WARNS

•Says Nomadic Culture Must Be Discouraged

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has warned that the various criminal activities of kidnapping, bombing and assault on the people in some parts of the country which are being referred to as banditry must be appropriately addressed as terrorism. 

Governor Akeredolu noted that infiltration of the country’s borders and burning down of railway are activities that must be addressed as terrorism and the perpetrators treated as same. 

The Governor spoke on Monday at the 27th Nigerian Economic Summit held in Abuja with the theme: “Securing Our Future: The Fierce Urgency of Now.”

Governor Akeredolu and his Kaduna state counterpart, Malian Nasiru El-rufai, and others were among the panelists at the summit which centered on addressing the security challenges in the country. 

In his introductory remarks, Arakunrin Akeredolu contended that a nation with failed security and justice systems is already set to fail. 

While lamenting that the dimension of insecurity in the country recently has been surprising, the Governor said he has always believed in multi-level policing as the best way of securing the nation. 

“In Ondo State, we don’t have terrorism. Our problem is farmer/herder clashes and kidnap for ransom. We have drug abuse and agitation for self determination. We have always preached the multi-level policing in Ondo State. We believe in layers of security,” he said. 

The Governor, who explained that although there are criminal trespasses which can be treated by the state, stressed that before the Amotekun corps was established, the Police were not always ready to make arrest. 

“Yes, you have trespass. Criminal trespass on other people’s land or farm. It falls within the purview of matters that should be treated by the state. But, all we had before Amotekun was a police system that had the duty to arrest and was not prepared to make an arrest. Things are changing and have really changed in Ondo state. 

“Today, if you trespass on other people’s land or farm, the Amotekun will go after you and arrest you. They pay compensations to the farmers and when they fail they are in court. It is the only way you can send signals to the people. 

“When you commit a crime and the hands of law doesn’t catch up with you, another person will repeat it. I can assure you that when you do not have an effective policing system, there is little or nothing a Governor can do. And the criminal trial is taking too long,” Governor Akeredolu said. 

Speaking on the recent ban on Open Grazing, Governor Akeredolu said nomadic pastoralist is a culture that must be discouraged in the interest of those involved. 

He noted that the issue of grazing routes was not a welcome conversation, adding that those were issue of the past that must not be brought back to the fore. 

The Governor said: ”Speaking for those of us who have put in place anti-open grazing law. We have our reasons and we have no apologies. 

“Grazing routes? Grazing routes to where? It is not going to work. There are things we had in the Past. Don’t let us imagine it now. Time changes. Grazing with AK 47 is an assault. Ban on open grazing, we are doing it effective in Ondo State. 

“Nomadic pastoralist is not a new thing. There were nomadic farmers all over the world. I know of people, high ranking who have ranches today. They can showcase their cows. 

“Why are we pushing these people out. It is a culture that must be discouraged in the interest of those who are involved. Even with the President order that anyone with Ak47 should be arrested, how many have been arrested?
 

Insecurity: Declare bandits terrorists, end Nigeria – Sheikh Gumi warns Buhari govt

Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has warned the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government against declaring bandits terrorists.

Gumi warned that Nigeria would stop existing as a sovereign and united entity if the Federal Government declared bandits as terrorists.

The Islamic cleric disclosed this in a Facebook post, on Sunday night.

He, however, admitted that the devastation caused by bandits in the Northwest amounted to terrorism.

Gumi stressed that despite the devastation, proscribing bandits would lead to severe consequences that will consume the entire country.

He said: “The acts the bandits are committing now in NW have gradually over time become tantamount to terrorism because wherever innocent people are fatal victims it’s pure terrorism.

“Many teaming unemployed youths may find it palatable and attractive. Shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ plus AK47 against a ‘secular’ immoral society where impunity reigns are the magnet for extremists and downtrodden – the majority of our youth. Already these deadly terrorist groups are fighting for the soul of these bandits.

“This will give criminality a spiritual cover and remove the stigma of discrediting them with such crimes since now they are fighting a ‘Jihad’ as they will claim.

“NE is already and is still devastated by this madness for over 12 years. If we allow, terror, to set in into these raw naïve unexposed bandits, NW will be in ruins sooner than later.

“Turn bandits into religious zealots. Tell me, what then remains of Nigeria?”