MOST-WANTED SERIAL KILLER ARRESTED IN LAGOS WITH BULLET WOUND ON HIS TESTICLE!

A 33-year-old alleged serial kidnapper, murderer and armed robber, who has been on the wanted list of the police in Akwa Ibom, has been arrested by the police in Lagos State.

The suspect, Sunday James Ukpe, was on Monday arrested by the police in Ajangbadi area of Lagos State, where he had been hiding, after escaping in Akwa Ibom State.
Lagos Metro gathered that Ukpe was treating his gun wounds with traditional medicine, when he was arrested by the police. It was gathered that some residents of Orisha Imude area of Ajangbadi, who suspected him, reported to the police at Ajangbadi divisional police station.

Ukpe, when arrested by the policemen from Ajangbadi divisional police station, confessed to them that the wound on him was from a gun battle with the police and that he had come to Lagos to get treated.

The image maker in charge of the Lagos State Police Command, Dolapo Badmos, while confirming the arrest of the suspect to Lagos Metro, said that he was arrested with bullet wounds in his testicles. The suspect had been rushed to a private hospital, where he has been receiving treatment, under close monitoring from policemen.

Badmus added that the suspect would be transferred to the Akwa Ibom Police Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), as soon as he gets better. She also said that the arrested suspect had been on the wanted list of the SARS in Akwa Ibom State for kidnapping, armed robbery and murder.

AKWA IBOM TRIBUNAL: PDP IN DISARRAY, AS PARTY’S DEFENSE FALTERS

It emerged at the beginning of the Tribunal that the PDP could not continue with their defense because staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was unable to bring the remaining bag of Incident Forms to the tribunal as promised yesterday.

For the third day in a row, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday, September 11, 2015 failed to proceed with their defense at the Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, despite the assurances that the Tribunal the previous day by their legal counsel Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, that they will close their case on Friday.

It emerged at the beginning of the Tribunal that the PDP could not continue with their defense because staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was unable to bring the remaining bag of Incident Forms to the tribunal as promised yesterday.

Mr. Adekunle Oyesanya, the council to the PDP, then pleaded with the unimpressed Tribunal to adjourn hearing in the case to Monday, September 14, 2015 to enable them to put their house in order. Mr. Paul Usoro, the counsel to the 1st Respondent of the petition, informed the Tribunal that he has no objection to the application and assured the Tribunal that the Respondents will not exceed the 14 days period allotted to them for defense.

On his part, Mr. Tobechukwu Nweke, the counsel to the 3rd and 4th Respondents, INEC and the Resident Electoral Commissioner Akwa Ibom State, apologized to the Tribunal for the inability of the INEC representative to be in court with the remaining one bag of the Incident Forms. He told the Tribunal that the bag, which was kept at the INEC warehouse, is yet to be located and that a search for it was ongoing.

Responding, the counsel to the Petitioners, Mr. Solomon Umoh, expressed his disappointment with the way the time of the Tribunal was being wasted. He wondered why the 2nd Respondent should even ask for an adjournment because a subpoenaed witness has not been able to produce a document when they still have 19 remaining witnesses. He however said that it was not his business if they have decided to abandon their remaining witnesses, as it is their case.

Mr. Umoh finally submitted that though he was not opposing the application for adjournment, INEC should be ready to open their defense on Monday by bringing their witnesses to court should the 2nd Respondent fail to continue with their defense. In his reply, the counsel to INEC told the Tribunal that he could not guarantee that they will open their case on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Respondents have so far spent 7 out of the 14 days period allotted to them for defense. Ruling on the application for adjournment, the Chairman of the Tribunal stated that there would be no extension of time for defense. He then adjourned the matter to Monday, September 14, 2015 for definite hearing.

GO READ GOVERNORS’ PENSIONS AND PAY YOUR TAX!…SEE WHERE ALL OUR MISEDUCATION LANDED US!

REVEALED: Pensions of Nigerian ex-governors

PART 1

If you think being a governor is very rewarding,wait until you become an ex-governor you instantly become a state liability for doing virtually nothing. You continue to collect salaries called pensions; you get new cars every now and then; your medical bills are taken care of for life; you are entitled to a full complement of domestic staff; and an untold world of goodies.

The Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Law 2014 recently passed by Akwa Ibom State house of assembly has opened the eyes of Nigerians to what ex-governors and ex-deputy governors are enjoying. The law has generated so much controversy and outrage, forcing Governor Godswill Akpabio to propose an amendment which the state house of assembly has agreed to effect.

But what is happening in other states of the federation? In the first part of a special report on ex-governors’ pensions, TheCable dissects the provisions in three states: Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Rivers.

AKWA IBOM: N100M FOR MEDICAL

The law in Akwa Ibom, which was first passed in 1998, provides free medical treatment for ex-governors, their spouses, ex-deputy governors and their spouses. Until the controversial amendment that was done in April, there was no cap for the expenses. The law said “free medical treatment”. In effect, an ex-governor could spend N500 million or more on medical per year. With the amendment, however, a former governor and spouse could not spend more than N100 million a year, and a former deputy and spouse a maximum of N30 million.
Widows/widowers of former governors are entitled to N12 million a year, while those of deputy governors would get N6 million.

THE BENEFITS
Annual Basic Salary: 100% of annual basic salaries of the incumbent governor and deputy.

Accommodation: One house not below 5-bed maisonette in either Abuja or Akwa Ibom for the former governor; 500% annual basic for the deputy.

Transport: One car and one utility car every four years for ex-governor and deputy.

Furniture: 300% of annual basic salary every four years.

House maintenance: Nil.

Domestic staff: Amount not above N5 million for ex-governor and N2.5 million for ex-deputy to employ cook, chauffeurs and security.

Medical: Free treatment and spouse not exceeding N100 million per year for ex-governor; N30 million per deputy (this provision will soon be reverted to “free” without limit following outcry).

Security: “Adequate” (not specified).

PA: One.

Car maintenance: 300% of annual basic salary.

Entertainment: 100% of annual basic salary.

Utility: 100% of annual basic salary.

Drivers: Amount not above N5 million for ex-governor and N2.5 million for ex-deputy to employ cook, chauffeurs and security.

Severance gratuity: 300% annual basic salary.

LAGOS: 6 NEW CARS EVERY 3 YEARS

HOUSES IN LAGOS, FCT The Lagos State Governor and Deputy Governor Pensions Law of 2007 provides one of the most lucrative pensions in the federation. The highlight is that the former governor is entitled to six new cars every three years and a house in Lagos and another in Abuja. Conservatively, a house in Lagos will cost N500 million and one in Abuja N700 million. The former governor and family (spouse and children-both married and unmarried) are entitled to free medical which is not capped. Another highlight is that the ex-governor is entitled to a cook, steward, gardener and other domestic staff who are pensionable.

THE BENEFITS
Annual Basic Salary: 100% of annual basic salaries of the incumbent governor and deputy.

Accommodation: One residential house in Lagos and another in FCT for the former governor; one residential house in Lagos for the deputy.

Transport: Three cars, two back-up cars and one pilot car for the ex-governor every three years; two cars, two back-up cars and one pilot car for the deputy every three years.

Furniture: 300% of annual basic salary every two years.

House maintenance: 10% of annual basic salary.

Domestic staff: Cook, steward, gardener and other domestic staff (no limit) who shall be pensionable.

Medical: Free medical treatment for ex-governor and deputy and members of their families (not just spouses).

Security: Two SSS operatives, one female officer, eight policemen (four each for house and personal security) for the ex-governor; one SSS operative and two policemen (one each for house and personal security) for the deputy.

PA: 25% of annual basic salary.

Car maintenance: 30% of annual basic salary.

Entertainment: 10% of annual basic salary.

Utility: 20% of annual basic salary.

Drivers: Pensionable (no limit to number of drivers).

Severance gratuity: Not specified.

RIVERS: 3 NEW CARS EVERY 4 YEARS

The Rivers State Pensions for Governor and Deputy Governor was passed in 2012. For all the wealth of the state, the conditions are a bit modest. A former governor is entitled to just one house“anywhere in Nigeria” and three new cars every four years. There will be free medical care (no cap) for the former governor and deputy and their families –which cover both married and unmarried children.Interestingly, like Lagos, there will be a cook, steward and gardener but unlike Lagos, they are not pensionable.

THE BENEFITS
Annual Basic Salary: 100% of annual basic salaries of the incumbent governor and deputy.

Accommodation: One residential house for former governor “anywhere of his choice in Nigeria”; one residential house anywhere in Rivers for the deputy.

Transport: Three cars for the ex- governor every four years; two cars for the deputy every four years.

Furniture: 300% of annual basic salary every four years “en bloc”.

House maintenance: 10% of annual basic salary.

Domestic staff: Cook, steward, gardener and other domestic staff (no limit) who shall be non-pensionable.

Medical: Free medical treatment for ex-governor and deputy and members of their families (not just spouses and no cap).

Security: Two SSS operatives, four policemen (two each for house and personal security) for the ex-governor; one SSS operative and two policemen (one each for house and personal security).

PA: 25% of annual basic salary.

Car maintenance: 30% of annual basic salary.

Entertainment: 10% of annual basic salary.

Utility: 20% of annual basic salary.

Drivers: Non-pensionable (no limit to number of drivers).

Severance gratuity: Not specified.

PART 2

Just how much do former governors and their deputies regularly take out of the treasury long after they’ve left office? Nigerians are just waking up to this reality. Much of the focus has been on what they spend in office, not thereafter.

The first part of this special report focused on pensions for ex-governors and ex-deputy governors in Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Rivers. In this second part, TheCable dissects the provisions in two more states: Kwara and Kano.

 

 

EX-GOV SARAKI

Kwara: 3 new cars every 3 years Kwara’s Governor and Deputy Governor

(Payment of Pension Law) 2011 copies largely from that of Lagos, but its provisions are juicier in certain aspects. For instance, it provides for “well-furnished” duplex for the former governor, whereas Lagos simply said “residential house” (they probably mean the same thing, anyway).

Kwara specifies the qualifications of personal staff: two officers not below the rank of chief administrative officer and two personal secretaries not below the rank of grade level 10 “who shall be selected by the former governor and paid by the government”. The law was signed by Dr. Bukola Saraki  in 2011.

THE BENEFITS

Annual Basic Salary: 100% of annual basic salaries of the incumbent governor and deputy

Accommodation: “Well-furnished” 5-bedroom duplex for governor; “well-furnished” 4-bedroom for deputy.

Transport: Two cars and one pilot car every three years for ex-governor; one car and one pilot car every three years for the deputy.

Furniture: 300% of annual basic salary every four years.

House maintenance: 10% of annual basic salary.

Domestic staff: Cook, steward, gardener and other domestic staff (no limit) who shall be pensionable.

Medical: Free medical treatment for ex-governor and deputy and members of their families (not just spouses).

Security: Two SSS operatives, one female officer, eight policemen (four each for house and personal security) for the ex-governor; one SSS operative and two policemen (one each for house and personal security) for the deputy.

PA: 25% of annual basic salary.

Car maintenance: 30% of annual basic salary.

Entertainment:10% of annual basic salary.

Utility: 20% of annual basic salary.

Drivers: Pensionable (no limit to number of drivers).

Severance gratuity: Not specified.

Kano: 30-day paid vacation

The Pension Rights of Governor and Deputy Governor Law 2007 was signed by Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, who was the governor of the state from 2003 to 2011. It is remarkable in the sense that the gazette has two different schedules ─ one for the former governor and the other for the deputy. It provides for the former governor’s personal staff ─ one, an officer not below the rank of a Principal administrative officer and, two, a PA not below grade level 10 “who shall be recommended by the former governor and paid by the state government”. There is a provision for 30 days vacation within and outside Nigeria, meaning allowances will be paid by the government!

THE BENEFITS

Annual Basic Salary: 100% of annual basic salaries of the incumbent governor and deputy

Accommodation: There shall be a “furnished and equipped office” in any location of the choice of the former governor within the state, as well as a 6-bedroom house; “well-furnished” 4-bedroom for deputy, plus an office.

Transport: Two cars every four years for ex-governor; one new car every four years for the deputy.

Furniture: No special provision.

House maintenance: No special provision.

Domestic staff: No special provision.

Medical: Free treatment for the former governor and his immediate “families” (could be up to four wives and countless children) within and outside Nigeria “where necessary”; ditto for deputy.

Security: No special provision

PA: One for each, paid by the state.

Car maintenance: No special provision.

Entertainment: No special provision.

Utility: Payment of all utility bills (water and electricity) for both.

Drivers: Two drivers “to be recommended by the former governor and paid by the state government”. One driver for the deputy.

Severance gratuity: Not specified.
 

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