#PanamaPapers: Law Firm Claims External Data Hack

The Panama lawyer at the center of a data leak scandal that has embarrassed a clutch of world leaders said on Tuesday 5th April, 2016 that has law firm was a victim of a hack outside of the company, and has filled a complaint with the State Prosecutors.

According to the founding partner Ramon Fonseca in his Statement; the firm (Mossack Fonseca) which specialises in setting up offshore companies had broken no law and that all it's operations were legal. Nor had it ever destroyed any document or helped anyone evade taxes, or launder money, he added in an interview with Reuters.

According to Fonseca (Age:63);

"We rule out an inside job. This is not a leak. This is a hack"

"We have a theory and we are following it"

"We have already made the relevant complaints to the Attorney General's office, and there is a government institution studying the issue"

"The (emails) were taken out on context" Fonseca said, denouncing what he called a "witch hunt". He lamented what he called journalistic activism and sensationalism, extolling his own investigative research credentials as a published novelist in panama. He said he feared that his rivals could muscle in on their business following this leak."The only crime that has been proven is the hack. No one is talking about that." That is the story.

He said his company had a staff of around 500, 300 of which work in Panama, but he declined to comment on his law firm's structure or franchises in other parts of the world.

Governments across the world have began investigating possible financial wrong doing by the rich and powerful after the leak of more than 11.5 million documents, dubbed the Panama papers", from the law firm that spans four decades.

The papers have revealed financial arrangements of the prominent figures including friends of Russian President Vladimir Putin, relatives of the prime minister of Britain, Pakistan and President XI Jinping and President of Ukraine.

On Tuesday April 5, 2016 Iceland Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, resigned becoming the first Casualty of the leak.

Source: NBC News

IFEANYI UBAH SWIPES ON EXCHANGE RATES AND NAIRA APPRECIATES AGAINST DOLLAR

Popular Nigerian Nnewi business man Dr. Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah, had on Sunday February 21, 2016 extended an open invitation to the Nigerian Federal Government on Channels Television. 

According to the Capital Oil boss (Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah), if consulted by the Nigerian government in a month he can cause the appreciation of the value of the Nigerian Naira to trade for 200 Naira to an American dollar. At the time he made this offer the Nigerian Naira was trading at about 400 Naira to a dollar.

Just about three days after the offer made by the Capital Oil boss, the Nigerian Naira appreciated considerably against the dollar and according to sources was trading at about 250 Naira to a dollar at the close of business at the Nigerian Stock exchange on Thursday 25 February, 2016.

Against the backdrop of the sudden appreciation of the Naira, after his offer, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah has been reported to have warned the Nigerian Government that; the sudden appreciation of the Nigerian Naira against the Naira was artificial, and that there are saboteurs responsible for the decline in the value of the Naira.

The Capital Oil boss further stated and was reported to have warned the Nigerian government on; Thursday February 25, 2016 that, there is a time limit within which he can prevent speculators from causing more damage to the value of the Nigerian currency.

Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah in a live programme on Ray Power FM have been reported by the Daily Post to have said:

"I have been getting threats from certain individuals using unknown numbers. The issue is this; I sincerely believe that one with God is majority. If Government is sincere with the masses, let them look into what we are saying. Let them look into what Nigerians are saying. We cannot keep this thing for long. They might still go back to their old business and the dollar will go up...".

The Capital Oil boss further said that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) lacked the right approach and political will to secure the Naira, that; "some of the policies CBN has are academic policies. It's not a market- square policy. It's not a policy that touches people. They have academic policy and there is no enforcement...".

However, It has been gathered from sources that President Buhari has extended invitation to Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah. According to information from sources close to the Presidency; President Buhari has directed Vice President Osibanjo to conduct a check on Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah so that the current administration can benefit from his commitment and vibrancy.

From information; President Buhari developed an interest on Ifeanyi Ubah, the moment he intervened to crush the cabal induced petrol scarcity days leading to the historic handover from former President Goodluck Jonathan to President Mohammadu Buhari. The Capital Oil boss as of then was able to flood the market with PMS that literarily stepped down the fuel scarcity.

It is gathered that on his twitter account Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah had on February 23, 2016 admitted that the Nigerian government had partially reached out to him. This was after he made the proposal to openly crush the dollar rates to 200 Naira on Channels Television just two days before coupled with the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari stance and strong warning that he wasn't going to allow the further devaluation of the Naira.

CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCIL(CPC) NIGERIA SLAMS DIRECTIVES ON DSTV FOR COMPENSATION OF DSTV SUBSCRIBERS

The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has issued far-reaching directives to MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, owners of the Digital Satellite Broadcast Television (DStv), to among other things, make compensations to its subscribers within 90 days, after the council established allegations of violations of consumer rights against the broadcaster.

Specifically, the council ordered DStv to henceforth put services on hold whenever consumers are away and also release of free-to-air channels even at the expiration of subscription.

DStv had often refused to release the free to air channels, which should include local television stations whenever current subscription expired.

Sources had told THISDAY that pay television stations are under obligations to unlock the free to air channels as part of broadcasting agreement signed. But this had often been in breach.

However, the CPC further ordered compensation across board to consumers for lost viewing time and introduction of local toll free lines as well as reasonable equitable spread of popular sports channels, among others.

Also, the council directed the multinational pay-tv company to present written assurances in line with Section 10 of the council’s enabling law that it will not engage in any conduct which is detrimental to the interest of consumers.

The CPC, in an unprecedented regulatory onslaught, further directed DStv to subject its processes to the Council’s inspection for 18 months from the date of the orders to ensure compliance with the directives contained in the orders.

The directions followed various allegations of viewing rights violations by consumers.

The council said investigations into the allegations were substantiated.

The CPC, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Abiodun Obimuyiwa, a copy which was made available to THISDAY explained that “During the course of the investigation, the Council observed that the company’s billing system, whereby billing is not contemporaneous with the provision of service, was not in the best interest of consumers” and therefore ordered “MultiChoice to install a billing system that ensures billing starts with the provision of service.”

It further ordered DStv to within 180 days, adopt a “technology that supports suspension of service when subscribers are otherwise unable to enjoy their service on account of being away for a limited period of time”.

It noted however, that such a request for suspension of service must be effected for a period of between 7 to 14 days and not more than twice in a year with a 72-hour notice to MultiChoice.

The pay-television company was also ordered to within 90 days provide across board compensation to its subscribers, considering the fact that many of them have over time lost legitimate and paid viewing time by its conduct of not restoring service contemporaneously after payment as well as other instances of disruptions.

The council’s Director General, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, expressed optimism that compliance with these reforms would bring about a new dawn for Nigerian consumers, who would henceforth enjoy value for money in their engagement with the company.

She further reiterated the council’s commitment towards sanitising the nation’s market-place for the benefit of consumers, assuring that no stone would be left un-turned to ensure it is no longer business as usual and that shoddy service delivery becomes a thing of the past in the country.

Meanwhile, on the non-availability of popular channels in certain bouquets, the CPC ordered the firm to within 90 days ensure “a reasonably equitable spread of popular sports and other channels hitherto concentrated in its premium bouquet over all available bouquets”.

MultiChoice was ordered to keep local and free-to-air channels open so that subscribers would have the opportunity of watching these channels, even when their subscriptions have expired.

In order to aid easy and fast access to the company by subscribers who wish to make complaints or enquiries, CPC also directed MultiChoice not only to maintain local toll-free telephone access lines for its call centres, but should also ensure the call centres operate for longer hours during public holidays and weekends.

MultiChoice was also directed to formulate within 90 days a written compensation policy which should “outline amongst other things, the procedure for compensating subscribers for injury they suffer on account of MultiChoice conduct and take into consideration not just viewing time lost, but inconveniences suffered by subscribers”.

The regulatory agency, amng other things, also directed MultiChoice to “develop a Customer Care Manual which shall contain mechanisms to address customer complaints in an accurate, friendly, timely, efficient, courteous and honest manner”.

On the DStv firm’s agreements with its subscribers, the council disclosed that several provisions of the Service Level Agreement and the Terms and Conditions of Subscription signed on by subscribers were found to be grossly unfair, unjust and one-sided, directing that such provisions should be expunged, re-drafted and submitted to the council.

Source: Thisday

UBULU-UKU COMMUNITY INSTALLS 15 YEAR OLD AS NEW KING

Ubulu-Uku community in Aniocha South local government area of Delta State has recently installed it's new kung amidst wild jubilation in the kingdom about 45 days after the community’s monarch was abducted and subsequently murdered by suspected fulani herdsmen.

The new king who is 15- year old secondary school student, is the first son of the late king, Obi Ofulue lll and he was installed as Obi m [Agbogidi] Chukwuka Noah Akaeze I.

 

The installation of Obi Chukwuka Noah Akaeze I, followed the recent demise of his father, Obi Edward Ofulue III in the
hands of persons suspected to be Fulani herdsmen who abducted him on January 5th along Igbodo- Obior road.

On the installation of the Obi,the Palace Secretary, Joseph Obaze, said it was in line with the custom and tradition of the people of Ubulu-Uku that a king is said to be dead only when a new one is installed and his first son crowned as king.

See photos of the coronation ceremony  and the new king:

PHOTOS: PRESIDENT OBAMA'S GREAT MOMENTS WITH KIDS

It's obvious that President Obama knows that, a vital aspect of governance is having time for public relations even with the youngest of citizens.

With President Obama public relations is not just about making great speeches, interacting with politicians, technocrats or deliberating with other country leaders, it also involves having a good time and taking photos with kids.

See photos of President Obama's great with kids:

TARFA ALLEDGES THAT N225000 WAS FOR FUNERAL OF JUDGE'S FATHER-IN-LAW

Recently embattled Nigerian Senior lawyer with the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission  (EFCC) Rickey Tarfa (SAN) in a Suit before the Federal High Court, Lagos has denied the bribery allegation by the EFCC of the Payment of the sum of N225,000 (Two Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand Naira) by the Lawyer to Justice Mohammed Yunusa as alleged by the EFCC.

The EFCC has alleged that Mr. Tarfa made phone contacts with Justice Yunusa in a case before the judge. The Commission provided phone numbers of Mr. Tarfa, the Judge and bank documents detailing money transferred from the Lawyer to Justice Yunusa.

The EFCC has alleged that based on investigations and data analysis of Mr. Rickey Tarfa's calls, startling revelations about secret, unhealthy communications between the Applicant and Judicial Officers emerged.

The Commission had arraigned Mr. Tarfa before a Lagos High Court for allegedly obstructing two of it's officers from arresting 'Gnanhooue Sourdu' and 'Nazaire Odeste', the owners of Rana Prestige Industries.

In response, Mr. Tarfa filled a N2.5 billion Naira fundamental Rights Enforcement Suit against the EFCC protesting his arrest and detention by the Commission. In addition to seeking N2.5 billion Naira as damages, Mr. Tarfa is also seeking a public apology from the EFCC for his alleged arrest and detention.

In the suit with the EFCC as reported Mr. Rickey Tarfa stated in an affidavit before the Federal High Court Lagos that; the N225,000 Naira which he paid to Justice Mohammed Yunusa towards the funeral rites of the judge's father-in-law, Audi Damasa.

Source: Premium Times

PRESS STATEMENT OF FESTUS KEYAMO ON LEGAL IMPLICTIONS OF DEATH OF AUDU ABUBAKIR

PRESS STATEMENT ON THE REPORTED DEATH OF PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU AND THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS. November 23, 2015 News 

"The reported death today, Sunday, November 22nd, 2015, of the APC candidate in the Kogi State Governorship elections, Prince Abubakar Audu, is extremely shocking and sad. I would like to express my condolences to the entire family of Audu and to the people of Kogi State.

However, the real question agitating the minds of everybody is the legal implication regarding the inconclusive Governorship elections at the time of his demise. To state it correctly he was said to have died AFTER the announcement of the results by INEC and after INEC had declared the elections inconclusive.

Admittedly, this is a strange and novel constitutional scenario. It has never happened in our constitutional history to the extent that when an election has been partially conducted (and not before or after the elections) a candidate dies. What then happens?

This is a hybrid situation between what happened in the case of Atiku Abubakar/Boni Haruna in 1999 and the provision of section 33 of the Electoral Act, 2010. In the case of Atiku Abubakar/Boni Haruna [which is now a clear constitutional provision of section 181(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)] the Supreme Court held, in effect, that “if a person duly elected as Governor dies before taking and subscribing the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office, or is unable for any reason whatsoever to be sworn in, the person elected with him as Deputy governor shall be sworn in as Governor and he shall nominate a new Deputy-Governor who shall be appointed by the Governor with the approval of a simple majority of the house of Assembly of the State”.

In the case of section 33 of the Electoral Act 2010 it provides, in effect, that if a person has been duly nominated as a candidate of his party and he dies before the election then the political party has the right to replace him with another candidate and not necessarily the Deputy Governorship candidate.

Now, does the Kogi situation fit into section 181(1) of the Constitution as quoted above or section 33 of the Electoral Act mentioned above? My simple position is that the Kogi situation fits more into section 181(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and as such James Abiodun Faleke automatically becomes the governorship candidate of the APC. 

This is because even though the election in inconclusive, votes have been counted and allocated to Parties and candidates. As a result the joint ticket of Audu/Faleke has acquired some votes already. James Abiodun Faleke is as much entitled to those votes already counted as much as the late Abubakar Audu. He has a right to cling to those votes going into the supplementary election.

There is only one problem, though. Who nominates Faleke’s Deputy? Unlike section 181(1) of the 1999 Constitution, he cannot approach the House of Assembly of the State to approve a nomination by him of a Deputy. This is because, in reality, he is not duly elected yet.

 Therefore it is only reasonable to conclude that it is APC (Faleke’s political party) that should submit the name of a fresh Deputy Governorship candidate to INEC for the supplementary election.

This is the only position in this situation that accords with reason and good sense."

FESTUS KEYAMO, ESQ. London, 9:40pm Sunday, November 22, 2015.

SENATOR MURRAY BRUCE TWEETS AGAIN ON NEW NIGERIAN MINISTERS

Senator Murray Bruce a Nigerian Senator elected on the platform of PDP from Bayelsa State has yet again made another set of tweets. This time he tweets on the new Ministers of the President Muhammadu Buhari led Government, who are to be sworn in as Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by tomorrow Wednesday November 11, 2015.

Senator Murray Bruce can be termed as one of the most outspoken Senators of Nigeria and his latest tweets on the new but yet to be sworn in Ministers by the Buhari led government of Nigeria are as follows:

HOW SENATOR AISHA ALHASSAN WAS DECLARED WINNER OF TARABA STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTIONS OF APRIL 2015 BY ELECTION TRIBUNAL

History can be said to have been made in Nigeria as on Saturday November 7, 2015 Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan was declared winner of the Governorship elections held in Taraba State of Nigeria on April 11 2015, by the the Taraba State Governorship Elections Tribunal sitting in Abuja.

As the Petitioner who contested the Gubernatorial Elections, Senator Aisha Alhassan, was declared as the rightful winner of the Governorship elections over the PDP candidate Mr. Darius Ishaku who had earlier been declared as winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and had since been sworn in as Governor of Taraba state since May 29, 2015.

According to our source, the details and the rationale for the decisions arrived at by the judgement is predicated on the following;

Section 138 of the Electoral Act (2010) as amended stipulates 4 grounds upon which a valid election petition can be founded upon as follows:
(1) Whether the election was marred by substantial non compliance or corrupt practices.
(2) whether the petitioner was unlawfully excluded.
(3) whether the petitioner scored the highest number of lawful and valid votes cast at the election.
(4) Whether the candidate that won the election was qualified to contest the said election.

It is clear that the election petition in Taraba state was decided on the 4th ground aforementioned. The law has gone ahead to stipulate what amounts to non qualification of a candidate. The candidate must posses at least a WASC. The candidate must not have been convicted for fraud by any court of competent jurisdiction. The candidate must be a Nigerian citizen. The candidate must be up to the required age for election into the office he or she is contesting for. The candidate must have been duly sponsored by a political party.This last point appears to be the gravamen in the decision of the Tribunal.

The tribunal held specifically that the Governorship primaries purportedly conducted by the PDP in the State was done in violation of Section 78(b) (1) & (2) of the Electoral Act which guides parties nominations to the position of Governorship candidate. It held that; contrary to the provision of the section, PDP conducted the purported primaries at it's National Secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja with no clear delegation from the local government areas from Taraba State.

"The tribunal sustained the testimony of INEC head of election monitoring that the commission was not aware of any primaries in line with the provision of the electoral Act which produced Mr. Darius Ishaku as the PDP Governorship candidate and flag bearer".

"Section 78(b) (1) (2) of the Electoral Act states: in the case of nomination to the position of Governorship candidate,a political party shall where they intend to sponsor candidates:

(i) hold special congress in each of the local Government Areas of the States with delegates voting for each of the aspirants at the congress to be held in designated centers on specified dates.

(ii) the aspirant with the highest number of vote at the end of the voting shall be forwarded to the commission as the candidate of the party for the particular state."

"The tribunal held that the defence by the PDP that, the primaries were shifted to Abuja because of security challenges in the state was rejected by the tribunal. It sustained the evidence of the INEC official that there was no primaries election in the state and the emergence of Mr. Ishaku through the purported primaries in Abuja was after the statutory stipulated time for party primaries had elapsed."

"It held that since Mr. Ishaku was not duly sponsored by the PDP, the party had no candidate in the Governorship election in the eyes of the law. The tribunal therefore voided the votes of the PDP and Mr. Ishaku in the Gubernatorial elections of Taraba State saying; "it is a waste and declared the APC and it's candidate, which came second, as the valid winner of the elections."

It seems wrong to compare this case with the locus classicus of AMAECHI v. INEC (2008) 5 NWLR (pt. 1080) p.227. Whereas the issue in Amaechi's case was on who was the lawful and rightful candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) as between Mr. Celestine Omehia and Mr. Rotimi Amaechi. The question in the Taraba's case is whether the PDP participated at all in the election in the eyes of the law.

By the provision of Section 140 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), where an Election Tribunal or court determines that a candidate who obtained the highest votes was not qualified to contest the election, it shall not declare the candidate with the highest votes as elected, but it shall order for fresh election. On the other hand, where the Tribunal or court determines that the candidate who was returned as elected did not score the majority of votes at the election, it shall declare the candidate with the highest valid votes as elected.

On the issue of whether the judgement is determined on the basis of a pre-election matter, the law is now settled that qualification/disqualification is both a pre-election and post-election matter with concurrent jurisdiction exercisable by both the Election Tribunal and the High Court. The process of nomination of a candidate touches on qualification of the candidate and qualification is on the four grounds recognizable by Section 138 of the Electoral Act earlier on given.That these four grounds may be questioned at the tribunal. See recent cases of; GWEDE v. INEC (2015) 242 LRCN 138 and; AKPAMGBO-OKADIGBO v. CHIDI (No. 2) (2015) 10 NWLR (pt. 1466) 124.

This Means that the law has endorsed the hybrid status of qualification/ disqualification of a candidate in an election. Therefore, if that be the case, it will be wrong for anyone to say that how PDP nominated her candidate, does not concern the tribunal or the petitioner or the APC her party.

That the main issue in the case is beyond the qualification of the PDP Candidate, Mr. Darius Ishaku, but whether the PDP as a political party can be said to have participated in the April 2015 Gubernatorial election in the eyes of the law.That is the crux of the matter.

Although, the Supreme court held in Amaechi's Case that it is a political party that it voted for in an election and not the candidate, the law is explicit that a party cannot participate in an election without validly nominating a candidate. The fact that the purported PDP primary election was held outside the stipulated time as stated by the INEC staff whose testimony was accepted by the Tribunal is conclusive of the fact that the PDP never validly nominated a candidate as required by law. In essence, the PDP did not participate in the election.

Having regard to Section 143 of the Electoral Act, Mr. Darius Ishaku will vacate the office as Governor of Taraba State for the swearing in of Mrs. Aisha Alhassan of the APC except he appeals against the decision of the tribunal within 21 days of the delivery of the judgement.

It is therefore presumed that the Tribunal's Consequential Order declaring Mrs. Alhassan of the APC as the winner of the election is plausible, inviolable and in obedience to the provision of Section 140 of the Electoral Act given that she scored the majority of valid votes at the elections.

The above are the summary of the point s and rationale behind the tribunal's judgement but however, the PDP and it's candidate are likely to appeal against this decision as is their lawful right to exercise.

PORT-HARCOURT CHICKEN HUNT

These are pictures gotten from our sources of what is happening in Port-Harcourt as at this week. The pictures herein displayed  are of people who are supposedly residents of the City of Port-Harcourt in Nigeria, hunting and exhuming frozen chickens which are already destroyed by the officers of the Nigerian Custom Service.

According to our source, the Nigerian Customs seized some trailer loads of contaminated frozen chickens from smugglers in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State of Nigeria, dug a pit and deposited the cartons of frozen chickens therein and thereafter poured diesel and petrol of the said frozen chickens and buried them.

As shown in the pictures, after the Nigerian Custom Officers must have left the scene, people were seen to be exhuming the already burnt, destroyed and buried chickens with the intention of probably consuming and selling the exhumed chickens.

The pictures are indeed very disturbing and it took the blogger some time to decide to share this post. however, the intention of the blog post is to bring this information to the general public that; these frozen chickens are harmful, they are unsafe for human consumption and has great consequences as regards public health.

Nigerians, most especially the residence of Port-Harcourt city should be more careful in buying their frozen chickens during this period as these same frozen chickens may be sold in the market and may be offered at even ridiculously cheaper rate. However, Nigerians are advised not to be tempted in buying or consuming these chickens, for it may mean the death or grave sicknesses for whomsoever may consume them.

Overall, this post raises the issue of grave poverty and underdevelopment which the Government of Nigeria seriously needs to address for the betterment of the Nigerian society. This is something that the Government agencies, the custom officers, men of the Nigerian Police force, should be able to put an immediately stop to. People will not condescend to exhuming contaminated frozen chickens which have already been burnt, destroyed and buried in such manner, if not for poverty. The Nigerian Government should address the issues of poverty in the country and continue dealing with it, until the complete eradication of poverty is achieved in Nigeria.