MASSIVE RETIREMENT AND RESTRUCTURING AT NIGERIAN CUSTOMS SERVICE

Nigerian Custom boss Hameed Ali has ordered the compulsory retirement of about 34 serving officers from the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS). This move came shortly after all the Deputy Inspector General of the Nigerian Custom service had earlier tendered their letter of voluntary disengagement from the service on Thursday 29th October, 2015. This move has been reported to have been made as part of the ongoing restructuring of the Nigerian Customs Service. This move is reported to have been neccesarry as part of the ongoing restructuring of the Nigerian Customs Service.

About 34 serving officers has being compulsorily retired from the customs service on Friday 30th October, 2015. Amongst the names of those who have being compulsorily retired are the five Deputy Inspector General of the Nigerian Customs  Service - John Atte, Ibrahim Mera, Musa Tahir, Austin Nwosu and Akande Adewunmi, which had earlier given their notification for compulsory disengagement from the service on the previous day to the Inspector General of the Nigerian Customs Service - Hameed Ali.

Thereafter, it has being reported that the NCS boss Hameed Ali, has mandated all serving officers of the Nigerian Customs Service to pick their Assets declaration forms and declare their assets compulsorily. Sources from within the service have gathered that, the Service will be working with the Nigerian Central Bank to detect any false financial declaration of assets through the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and details of the serving officers.

It will be recalled that Hameed Ali was earlier appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, to help sanitize the service through the fight against corruption of public officers in Nigeria.

BREAKING NEWS: TRIBUNAL NULLIFIES RIVERS STATE'S GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION

The reports reaching us is that the; Tribunal sitting over the Governorship Elections in Rivers State have delivered it's Judgement earlier today.

According to reports of the Tribunal's Judgement; the Governorship Elections which earlier held and which was declared  to have being won by the present Governor Wike Onyesom under the platform of the PDP was marred by election violence and irregularities and hence is nullified by the judgement.

The tribunal gave the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 90 (Ninety) days to conduct a fresh election in Rivers state of Nigeria.

However, it can be gathered and assumed from the provisions of Section 143 of the Electoral Law that; Governor Wike Onyesom may remain in office as the Governor of Rivers State during the conduct of the Governorship elections as ordered by the tribunal, should incase he files a notice of appeal against the tribunal's decision within 21 days.

AMAECHI'S SCREENING SEASON 2 - LIVE AND ACTION PACKED

After the Senate plenary section of Thursday 22 October, 2015; it was gathered that the PDP Senators held a closed door meeting to decide on the next line of action, over the screening of the former Rivers State Governor - Rotimi Amaechi by the Nigerian Senate.

Information gathered from the meeting is that; their decision is to oppose Amaechi's ministerial confirmation next week. It was also reported from our sources that a PDP elected Senator from the South South said:

"Amaechi has only being screened in fragrant abuse of our rules but he has not been confirmed... We will raise our voices to oppose his confirmation because his screening cannot pass due diligence test".

He further added that;

"...even if the Senate President does not mention the reports of the Ethics and Privileges Committee of the Nigerian Senate, whenever Amaechi's confirmation comes up, we are going to raise the issue of the report and the consideration of the report because we have a right to be heard."

Our Sources gathered that the reports of the Ethics & Privileges Committee of the Nigerian Senate was presented by the Chairman of the Committee to the Senate President few minutes before Amaechi was ushered into the Senate Chambers for Ministerial screening. The reports of the committee were said to have recommended that; Amaechi should be advised to go and clear himself since issues of the petitions against him are in court.

It was gathered that the issue of Amaechi's screening was discussed at a closed door meeting which the Senate held before the Plenary session of Thursday. A reliable source in the Senate was reported to have said that the Senators agreed that; it would be the consensus that Amaechi should be advised to go and clear himself of allegations of fraud, according to the recommendations of the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee.

The PDP Senators in the opposition were reported to have accused the Senate President Bukola Saraki of breaching the Senate rules over Amaechi's screening.

However, an APC Senator has dismissed these moves that is being reported to have being made by the PDP Senators. As reported from our sources, the APC Senator said:

"...Even if we go for a division of the house, do they have the number to stop the confirmation of any nominee?"

"Politics remains a game of number and as it is today, the APC has the ace in the Senate and nobody can take that away from us. PDP Senators or the party itself cannot stop the confirmation of any nominee because they remain the opposition in the Chamber."

"MR. PRESIDENT IS SHY WITH WOMEN" - SAYS PRESIDENTIAL AIDE

An Aide to Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, that goes by the name Gideon Samani, who is a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political matters, have been reported to have made certain comments in defense of the Nigeria President. The comments were that the Nigerian President hasn't appointed many women into his Government because he is shy around them.

Gideon Samani was reported to have made the said comments in Abuja on Thursday October 22, 2015 during a lecture series organized by the 'Change We Need Group'.

According to reports from our sources Mr. Gideon Samani was reported to have said:
"...Mr. President ...did not intentionally marginalize women...it is just that Mr. President is shy with women. He has been interacting mostly with men. I can assure you that in the shortest time, this issue of gender inequality will be dealt with."

HIGH POINTS OF AMAECHI'S SCREENING BEFORE THE NIGERIAN SENATE

The former Governor of Rivers State of Nigeria, Mr. Rotimi  Ameachi has being finally screened by the Nigerian Senate earlier today, October 22, 2015.

During the Screening of the former Governor as a ministerial nominee, he was reported to have said the following at different times:

"In the morning before I left my house I prayed"

"I have to put on something that I have never worn before that's why am putting on what am wearing"

"I have never collected Bribe in my life"

"Whether I become minister or not it will be on record that I once attend the senate screening"

" I was born to fight for my rights"

"Corruption is difficult to define"

"If they send a girl to you to do something for the girl then you sleep with her, then you are corrupt..."

After his screening section the former Governor of Rivers State left the Senate amidst jubilations and shouts of "You don't win", from his numerous supporters as  who were awaiting the outcome of his screening before the Nigerian senate outside the red chambers.