Former NSA Dasuki Did Not Steal $2.2billion – Ex-President Jonathan

Immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, said it was impossible for the National Security Adviser (NSA) during his administration, Sambo Dasuki, to have stolen $2.2 billion as claimed by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

Mr. Dasuki, who has been in detention since December 1, 2015, was arrested by security agencies in an early morning raid on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari for the alleged misappropriation of $2.2 billion meant to purchase equipment for the Nigerian military in its battle against Islamist group, Boko Haram.

A Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja last Friday granted the application of the EFCC to consolidate the two separate cases against the former army Colonel.

A statement by the anti-graft commission said Mr. Dasuki would be re-arraigned on November 16.

Mr. Jonathan, who was speaking at the famous Oxford Union, Oxford United Kingdom, on the subject of promoting youth entrepreneurship, argued that it was “not just possible” for Mr. Dasuki to steal $2.2 billion after his administration procured several types of equipment for the country’s military.

“They said the National Security Adviser stole $2.2billion. I don’t believe somebody can just steal $2.2 billion. We bought warships, we bought aircraft, we bought lots of weapons for the army and so on and so forth and you are still saying 2.2 billion, so where did we get the money to buy all those things?” he asked while responding to a question about the alleged missing arms procurement fund now referred to a Dasukigate by the Nigerian media.

While admitting that corruption was an issue during his administration, the former president said that some of the allegations have been “exaggerated.”

“Yes, there were some issues; yes, there are still corruption issues; but some of it were blown, I’d say exaggerated, and they give a very bad impression about our nation. You cannot say the national security adviser stole $2.2billion. It is not just possible,” he said.

He, however, said that as some of the corruption cases are still in court, he would rather allow the legal processes to reveal the facts of the matter and that he doesn’t want to appear as challenging the incumbent government.

“One thing about the issue of corruption is that these matters are in court, let’s allow some of these processes to end. Lately, some judges’ (homes) were also invaded. There are so many things involved, and we have to follow up these matters to a conclusion before we know the fact.

“I don’t want to be seen as a former president challenging what the sitting government is doing so I have decided to keep quiet for the court to look into them,” he said.

He said that allegations of corruption were not unique to his administration.

He explained that governments had been overthrown in the past because they were accused of being corrupt only for the new administration itself be pushed out of power by another junta touting the anti-corruption mantra.

“You will see that it has become a major topic whenever there is a change of government,” he said.

He further argued that corruption is a global problem but the perception of corruption is greater in Nigeria due to the Nigerian media obsession with reporting on corruption.

“I am not saying there is no corruption in Nigeria; there is corruption. If you look at corruption there is almost no country that is free, the degree varies, the perception varies.

“Transparency International talks about the way corruption is being perceived in different economies, why do we talk about the way corruption is being perceived, it depends on the issue raised in the media every day,” he said.

Dozens killed in Pakistan police academy attack

At least 59 people have been killed in an attack on a police academy in Pakistan, officials say.

Gunmen stormed the training college in Quetta, the provincial capital of Baluchistan, opening fire and detonating explosives.

More than 100 others have been injured, some of them critically.

Between four and six gunmen raided the training centre, attacking a dormitory where up to 250 police trainees were resting. 

Image Caption:The gunmen raided the Police Training College in Baluchistan's provincial capital, Quetta

"They were rushing toward our building firing shots so we rushed for safety toward the roof and jumped down in the back to save our lives," one of the trainees told Pakistan's Geo television.

Pakistani police and paramilitary forces exchanged fire with the gunmen for several hours after the attack amid reports that a number of trainees were taken hostage. 

At least one of the attackers was killed in the counter-terror operation and two detonated their explosive vests, according to Baluchistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti.

Image Caption:At least 59 people were killed in the attack

He said security forces have now completed their operation, but are still engaged in the clean-up process.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

It came hours after gunmen shot and killed two customs officers and wounded a third near the town of Surab, about 90 miles south of Baluchistan's provincial capital Quetta.

Baloch separatist groups in Baluchistan have claimed similar hit-and-run attacks on security forces and government officials in the past.

Islamic militants also have a presence in the province, which borders Afghanistan.

I was elected President to spread wealth, not poverty – Nigeria’s Ex-President Jonathan

Jonathan who spoke at the Oxford Union, with the theme ‘Fostering Youth Entrepreneurship, and succeeding US Secretary of State who spoke at the same event in May this year, said that only being entrepreneurial can completely cure poverty and not having a job or working for someone.

“I once said that I was not elected President of Nigeria to spread poverty; I was elected to generate and spread wealth.” “My belief in this regard is that getting a job or being a worker cannot completely cure the disease of poverty. It is only your own business that can provide such security and give you the financial freedom you need to prosper.” Dr. Jonathan, whose speech was streamed live, rhetorically queried his audience asking why some nations are rich and others remain poor.

”Why are some nations rich and some poor? Why do individuals that grow up in similar circumstances end up differently, with some as successes and others as failures?” “Is the wealth of nations a result of geography, weather, culture, destiny, etc.? What could a leader do to effectively lift a people out of the depths of poverty and enable them to achieve prosperity?” asked Jonathan. The former Nigerian leader talked about youth entrepreneurship programs his administration pioneered, saying that one of them, YouWIN, was a major plank of his job creation efforts.

“The motivation for this program is for young people to go into SMEs, create jobs for other young people with the expectation that some would grow to large scale businesses” Dr. Jonathan said. He concluded his speech by giving a short brief of his achievements in the economic sphere, saying, “Under my watch, Nigeria was projected by CNN Money to be the third fastest growing economy in the world for the year 2015 and rated as the largest economy in Africa and the 23rd largest in the world by the World Bank and the IMF, with a GDP above half a Trillion US dollars.”

The speech was streamed live via Dr. Jonathan’s Facebook page and will be hosted on the Oxford Union’s site. Previous speakers at the Oxford Union include the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, author of 48 laws of power, Robert Greene, the Dalai Lama, former British prime ministers Winston Churchill, Edward Heath, Margaret Thatcher and John Major. Others were Mother Teresa and former US presidents Richard Nixon (November 1978), Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton.

Dreamworld: Four killed on Australian theme park ride

Four people have been killed on a ride at the Dreamworld theme park on Australia's Gold Coast, police have confirmed.

Media reports said the accident happened on the Thunder River Rapids ride. 

Queensland police had said they were attending a "critical incident" at the park in Coomera.

Dreamworld bills itself as Australia's biggest theme park with more than 50 rides and attractions.

The theme park had earlier said it was "working as quickly as possible to establish the facts around the incident and is working closely with emergency authorities and police to do this."

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Thunder River Rapids ride

• The ride was opened in 1986
• Billed by Dreamworld as a family ride, riders must be older than two
• The park says it allows riders to "travel down a foamy water track past the Gold Rush Country"
• Ride carries up to six people per car, travelling at up to 45km/h (28mph) through rapids

Heathrow airport is favourite ahead of runway decision

After decades of procrastination and delay, the Government will today make the highly controversial decision of expanding an airport in southeast England.

The UK needs greater airport capacity to increase its trade links with the rest of the world but there has been a long-running disagreement as to where this should take place.

It is widely expected that Heathrow will be the winner but that Gatwick will be allowed to expand at a later date.

Even then, it will be at least another year before a vote by MPs and that leaves plenty of time for legal challenges and opposition.

The decision was repeatedly delayed under David Cameron who once ruled out a third runway at Heathrow with "no ifs, no buts".

In July 2015, after a three-year inquiry, the Davies Commission recommended that option but it was again put back after calls for further environmental studies.

While a third runway is favoured by the official Airports Commission and has the backing of most businesses, many simply want an end to the dithering which is costing them in missed opportunities.

The boss of Brompton, the UK's largest bike manufacturer, which exports 80% of it bikes abroad, is among those who support Heathrow expansion. But he says the critical issue is securing expansion anywhere.

"Augmenting our capacity to fly around the world is important, we have to become more global," Brompton boss Will Butler-Adams said.

"We've just had Brexit, this isn't the time to become more insular. Rather, we need the ability to hop on planes to be able to do business."

When it comes to airport expansion there are three main options on the table: building a third runway at Heathrow, a second runway at Gatwick or creating a so-called Heathrow hub which will extend one of the existing runways.

A third runway at Heathrow is seen as the most likely choice, partly because of the high level of infrastructure already in place. It is already a global aviation hub and handles more cargo than any other UK port.

Nick Platts, the airport's head of cargo, said providing Heathrow with more capacity makes sense.

He added: "Heathrow is the most valuable trading port in the UK and over £100bn worth of trade goes through the airport each year, which is seven times more than places like Gatwick.

"Heathrow is already a UK gateway and, with three-quarters of air cargo coming through the airport, we need to maximise this asset."

However, the option has faced widespread opposition for the high level of costs involved and the impact on noise and air quality. Those against include Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Education Secretary Justine Greening.

By contrast, building a second runway at Gatwick is seen by some as a cheaper and cleaner option.

Norwegian Air spokesman Stuart Buss said Gatwick offers a much better solution.

He said: "The runway debate really lies in the strength of competition.

"If we expand Gatwick then we have two airports in competition with each other and indeed other airports around the UK can then expand on their own terms as well."

Whatever choice the Government makes, it will undoubtedly have huge consequences - for communities, consumers and the economy.

For many UK businesses, after years of debate, it's a decision that cannot come soon enough.

UK to contribute £36m to Calais 'Jungle' clearance

The UK Government will contribute £36m towards the clearance and security of the Calais 'Jungle' camp, the Home Secretary says.

In a statement given to the House of Commons, Amber Rudd said the clearance was in the national interest of "both the UK and France… an important step in bringing to an end the difficult situation".

She said: "While responsibility for Calais lies with the French government, the juxtaposed controls are a vital part of the UK's border security and a valuable economic link.

"That's why the UK Government will be contributing up to £36m to maintain the security of these controls, to support the camp clearance and to ensure in the long-term that the camp is kept closed."

Image Caption:Migrants living in the 'Jungle' migrant camp

The money will also go towards keeping migrant children safe in France, she said.

:: LIVE: Buses remove migrants from Calais

Ms Rudd's speech came as the evacuation to remove thousands of refugees from the camp to centres across France got under way on Monday before the site is closed.

Work to transfer children to the UK started before this, she said.

Almost 200 children, including 60 girls - many identified as at high risk of sexual exploitation - have been moved to Britain in the past two weeks, and officials have interviewed a further 800 in the camp in the last week.

Ms Rudd vowed to bring more children from Calais to the UK in the near future, saying priority would be given to under-12s as well as those considered at a high risk of sexual exploitation and those likely to be granted refugee status in the UK.

However, she said it was important the work did not encourage more children to head to Calais.

She said UK personnel were working with French counterparts on the ground there and would continue to do so "for as long as necessary".

Ms Rudd said the priorities were to "keep our borders secure, to tackle the criminal gangs that profit from the lives of the vulnerable and to ensure those in the camp in need of protection are moved to places of safety".

However, the Government's handling of the refugee crisis was criticised by shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, who said: "We refused for far too long to go into the camp and identify those who might have a legal right to come to the UK."

Hundreds of drug addicts on the run after mass breakout

More than 200 drug addicts are on the run after a mass escape from a rehabilitation centre in Vietnam.

Security guards were overpowered by the inmates and were forced to open the main gate to let them out.

Two inmates initiated the breakout, which saw 562, including 58 women, escape from the centre in Dong Nai province, in the south east region of the country on Sunday.

Police managed to recapture 332, but 230 are still missing from the compound.

The centre accommodates 1,481 inmates.

The Vietnamese government enforces compulsory treatment for drug addicts.

Conditions in the country's rehab centres have been condemned by the US-based Human Rights Watch group, which says they should be closed.

The treatment centres are "forced labour camps" where inmates do not receive proper health care and are often subjected to physical violence, the group says.

The government's programmes involve education, communist ideology and physical labour for up to two years. They have a high failure rate and some 90% of addicts relapse within five years.

It is estimated there are 200,000 drug addicts in Vietnam, many of them heroin users.