The 2017 diary: August

August 2 IMF cautions CBN against finding govt spending: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) advised the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) against continuous interventions in the country’s move to address her infrastructural challenges.

**No to total ban on Tokunbo vehicles: The Federal Government could not totally ban the importation of fairly used vehicles (Tokunbo) until a robust finance scheme was launched to enable Nigerians to buy brand new ones.

**Boko Haram insurgents attack Miltho Village: In Madagali Local Council of Adamawa State killing seven people
August 3. Police dismiss four over burgling of Jonathan’s house: The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command announced the dismissal of four police sergeants found guilty of theft at the Gwarimpa residence of former President Goodluck Jonathan. The officers were Sgt.Musa Musa (Force Number 436691) Sgt. John Nanpak (235422) Sgt Ogah Audu (261898) and Sgt. Gabriel Ugah (425210).

August 4. Lagos files a motion to forestall strike. To forestall any activity capable of impeding academic continuity for students of the Lagos State Polytechnic, the State Government filed a motion on notice for inter-locutory injuction before the National Industrial Court in Lagos to restrain the unions from embarking on another strike action.

Aug 5. Abia gives automatic employment to 170 graduates. One hundred and seventy graduates of the 464 pioneer graduates trained in information communication technology (ITC) related skills, in the pilot phase of the Abia State Education for Employment (E4E) programmes, were offered automatic employment.
Aug6. Tragedy as gunman kills 47 Worshippers in Anambra. An unknown gunman invaded St. Philips Catholic Church in Umuezekwe, Ofufe Amakwa Ozubulu community in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra state and opened fire on the worshippers during the morning mass. About 47 worshippers died.
Aug. 8 Lagos task force impounds 146 motor cycles. Operatives of the Lagos State task force impounded 146 motor-cycles and arrested 21 riders at the second Rainbow area of Mile 2, in Lagos.

August 9. Osinbajo, Saraki, Pledge more support for Niger Delta amnesty programme. Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Peter Nwaoboshi, commended the training in the President Amnesty programme under its Co-ordinator, Paul Borch.

Aug 10. Bill against hate speech under way, says Dambazau. Punishment awaits perpetrators of hate speech as the Federal Government concluded plans to enact a legislation aimed at urtailing the menace in the polity, the Minister of Interior, Lt-General Abdulrahman Dambazzau hinted that severe punishment awaited any person found guilty of perpetrating the act once he legislation sailed through in the National Assembly.

August 12. Buhari: I’m okay, only obeying doctors orders: President Muhammadu Buhari said there was a tremendous improvement in his health, to the point that he wished to return home. He was, however, hamstrung because he had to obey rules set before him by his doctors that were managing him.

Aug 13. Appeal Court verdict revives FHA’s N30 billion FESTAC phase II project. There was a ray of hope for prospective land allots and concessionaires under the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) FESTAC Town phase II project, following Appeal Court ruling in favour of FHA on the 1, 000 hectares property. Judgment was given by Justice Ugochukwu Anthony Ogakwu of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division. He struck out the respondents action in SUIT no. FHC/L/CS/1065/2012 without costs.

August 15. Pro-Buhari protesters attack The Guardian reporter, Dare Richards, Charly Boy, others. The members of Resign Campaign led by entertainment icon, Charles Oputa (a.k.a Charly Boy) and some journalists escaped lynching by hoodlums at the Wuse Market, in Abuja.
August 16. Nigeria police, Judges highest bribe-takers, says UN agency. From the United Nations office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) came a revelation that about N400 billion was spent on bribes early year in Nigeria. According to the report between June 2015 and may 2016, law enforcement agencies and the judiciary were the highest receivers of bribes.

August 17. Cameroon better prepared than Nigeria, Rohn confessed. Super Eagles Manager, Gernot Rohn Confessed that the indomitable Lions of Camroun were in a better shape than Nigeria ahead of their back to back 2018 Cup qualifiers in September, 2017, reports owngoal Nigeria.com
**We’ll treat hate speech as terrorism, Osinbajo warns. Acting President Yemi Osinbajo declared that thenceforth, those found to be promoting hate speech would be treated as terrorist.

August 19. 104 days, after, Buhari returns home. Exactly one week after declaring that there was a tremendous improvement in his health, to the point that he wished to return home, and 104 days after he jetted off to London to treat a mystery ailment, President Muhammadu Buhari returned to the country.

Aug. 20. D’Tigresses beat Egypt, qualify for quarter finals. Nigeria’s women national basket ball team D’Tigresses continued their impressive outing at the then-going FIBA Afro basket Championships in Mali by beating Egyptian their third game of the competition.

August 22. Again, court orders temporary forfeiture of Diezani-Madueke’s property. A Federal High Court, Lagos, again ordered the temporary forfeiture of various property valued at =N=2.6 billion, linked to the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke and her associates to the Federal Government. The court said the property under temporary seizure in Lagos, River and Abuja were proceeds of corruption. Justice AbdulAziz Anka gave the orders.

August 23, Buhari can’t restructure by fiat, says Presidency. The Presidency declared that President Muhammadu Buhari had no powers to restructure the country by military flat. It noted that restructuring and other Constitutional changes were within the purview of the National Assembly members who were the elected representatives of the people.

August 24. Northern youths suspend October 1 quit notice Igbo. The members of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) rose from an emergency meeting with a resolve to immediately suspend the quit notice issued to the Igbo. The youths’ groups recently in what was referred to as ‘’Kaduna Declaration’’, issued a quit notice to the people of the South-east to relocate from the north before October 1.

August 25. Mob sets church ablaze over pastor’s alleged killing 11 years old for ritual. A church belonging to a pastor, named Anthony Obo, was set ablaze by mob for allegedly killing of an 11 year-old girl in Calabar.

August 27. Olubadan, Rashidi Ladoja absent as Ajimobi Instals 21 monarchs in Ibadan. Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, Installed 21 new monarchs in Ibadan to change the age-long monarchical setting of the ancient city. The Olubadan of Ibadan land, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, was absent at the coronation ceremony, despite being made the royal father of the event. Also, a former governor of the state, Rashidi Ladoja, was absent despite being one of the eleven Ibadan high chiefs that were conferred with the Obaship title of His Royal Majesty’’.

August 30. Osinbajo takes over FG’s team in talks with ASUU. President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to lead the Federal Government’s team to negotiate with the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to facilitate the resolution of some academic issues.