Senate rebuffs Buhari’s would-be envoys list

The Senate yesterday rejected the President’s list of 46 non-career ambassadors-designate. The list was dumped over President Muhammadu Buhari’s new understanding with governors, lawmakers and All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, it was learnt.

The rejection will enable the Presidency to review the list in line with the new consultative deal.

Sources said names of most of the nominees were smuggled into the list by some members of the President’s Kitchen Cabinet who were asked to “harmonise” the names.

The choice of the nominees topped the agenda of the session between the President and APC governors last week, The Nation learnt.

The issue was also raised at Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s Monday meeting with APC governors and National Assembly leaders

A source said: “By the time the President realised that the list of non-career ambassadors was compiled by a few, he felt disappointed. But he did not want to recall the list in order not to hurt anyone.”

“Some states were not happy because the list affected power sharing formula and it could lead to inter-tribal crisis.”

“The President took time to explain to stakeholders that he knew only a few of the nominees. I think about three or five. But he said he gave the responsibility to some key aides who did a shoddy job.”

“It was embarrassing to the President when some of the nominees rejected their appointments because they were not consulted.”

State Capture: DA files criminal charges against Jacob Zuma

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has filed a criminal complaint accusing President Jacob Zuma of corruption in the wake of the State of Capture report.

Advocate Thuli Madonsela’s carefully worded report stops short of asserting that crimes have been committed and calls for a judge to investigate the allegations.

The State of Capture report has plunged Zuma into the latest crisis of his scandal-plagued presidency.

It focused on claims that the Gupta family influenced the appointment of ministers, and called for an investigation into whether Zuma, some of his cabinet members and some state companies acted improperly.

Party leader Mmusi Maimane laid the corruption charge at the Rosebank police station on Tuesday afternoon.

Maimane’s spokesperson Mabine Seabe says: “Like any charges that have been laid, an investigation must take place. President Jacob Zuma must be questioned by the police, and if there is a criminal case it must be taken to the National Prosecuting Authority and they must prosecute.”

President Zuma denies providing special favours for wealthy friends, including the Guptas, who run a business empire from media to mining. The Guptas also deny wrongdoing.

At the same time, on Friday Eskom Chief Executive Officer, Brian Molefe, announced his resignation just a week after he was implicated in the report.

Molefe insists his resignation is not an admission of guilt.

Angela Merkel to run for 4th term as Chancellor, politician says

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will run for a fourth term in elections next year, a senior politician in her party told CNN on Tuesday.

"She will run for Chancellor," Norbert Roettgen of the Christian Democratic Union said on CNN's "Amanpour."

"She is absolutely determined, willing, and ready to contribute to strengthen the international liberal order. But we can't see the Chancellor or Germany as last man standing."

Germans have been waiting for months for clarity on whether Merkel will pursue a fourth term in next year's elections.

Another stint would be significant because a large part of the German electorate is looking for stability in uncertain times after the Brexit vote in Britain, the election of Donald Trump in the United States and the rise of populist movements in several European countries.

If she pursues the position, she'll be the favourite to win, political experts say, even though she is facing some backlash over Germany's refugee policies and the acceptance of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing Syria, Afghanistan and other nations.

Christian Democratic Union spokesman Jochen Blind said Merkel "will announce her decision in due time."

D. Trump is US president-elect in 'America's Brexit' as Hillary Clinton concedes election

Donald Trump won the US presidential election early this morning in a stunning victory that sent shockwaves around the world.

The Republican took the key swing states of Florida, North Carolina and Ohio early this morning, as he marched towards the White House.

In an extraordinary development, Mrs Clinton did not initially concede the election - but then later called Mr Trump to congratulate him on his victory. 

The Republican surpassed expectations and confounded pollsters in Florida, where Mrs Clinton had been expected to win following a surge in the Hispanic vote.

Mrs Clinton’s hopes of a swift victory faded as the Republican picked up a series of states early on and maintained his momentum.

It’s been reported that panicked Americans are researching how to emigrate online after early election results pointed to a shock election victory for Donald Trump. 

There was an explosion in search traffic on Google for terms such as "emigrate" and "how to emigrate to Canada" following the announcement of a series of victories in key swing states for the Republican nominee. 

Huge numbers of internet surfers worldwide also began googling the phrase "end of the world" when the news broke. 

Race for President reaches final few hours

The polls are now open as America moves to elect its 45th president and the race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton remains close.

The investigations into Clinton's use of a private email server have now been concluded with no charges to be brought against the Democrat candidate. But the revelations last weekend have already done enough to give Trump momentum into the final week.

The news that the FBI had reopened its investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private server last weekend handed Donald Trump an unexpected boost ahead of the vote.

The FBI obtained a warrant to begin searching newly discovered emails belonging to Huma Abedin, a top aide of Hillary Clinton, with Clinton's use of emails also in the spotlight.

It seemed likely that Clinton would have to finish the campaign with unspecified allegations hanging over her. But she still retained the lead, according to polling figures, despite it having been narrowed to within a couple of percentage points.

Yesterday, however, the FBI cleared Clinton of any criminal wrongdoing, something she will hope will see more voters swing her way in the polling booths.

Clinton has been ahead almost continuously in the Telegraph's poll of polls, which takes an average of the last five polls published on RealClearPolitics.

NJC suspends 7 senior judges accused of corruption

 

The National Judicial Council, NJC, has suspended seven senior judges arrested in 7th October by DSS for alleged corruption.

The NJC had initially refused to suspend the judges despite public pressure, saying the allegations against them had not been substantiated.

It however, said the judges had voluntarily stepped down from court sittings.

The latest decision came after the council’s 7th meeting between Wednesday and Thursday.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting, and signed by NJC’s Director of Information, Soji Oye, said the decision was taken to avoid allowing persons under investigation to to partake in presiding over judicial matters at the same time.

“Council also decided that Judicial Officers shall not be standing trial for alleged corruption related offences and be performing judicial functions at the same time,” the communique said. “Council however decided that it will ensure that Judicial Officers who are being investigated for alleged high profile criminal offences do not perform judicial functions until their cases are concluded.”

NIPOST set to engage in postal banking services

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has indicated that NIPOST is considering plans to set up postal banking facilities in 1,500 branches, according to local sources.

Local media sources quote Shittu as saying that the Ministry is also looking at proposals to diversify NIPOST’s activities with new insurance, property development, logistics and e-government services.

Shittu has reportedly submitted proposals to Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General’s office.

“Until we get presidential go-ahead, it is a waiting game,” Shittu was quoted as saying.

“I hope that before the end of this year, we will be able to implement this vision of the new NIPOST that we are looking at.”