Trial of NNPC looters to begin soon

President BuhariTERRORISM and global security are expected to dominate President Muhammadu Buhari’s address at the 70th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly as he leaves Nigeria for New York today.

President Buhari thanked President Xi Jinping for China’s ongoing help in curbing crude oil theft from Nigeria.

The delay by the president in the release of the ministerial list has been attributed to a “suffocating pressure” from some powerful political forces requesting him to shift his ground, especially, in relation to the appointment of persons who, though accused of corruption, have not been convicted in court.

He would be accompanied by the Governors of Sokoto, Kaduna and Niger states.

Buhari came in while other presidents and heads of government had already lined up to shake hands with the pope, and he was prevented by security operatives from joining in.‎ Presidency had sought to explain away the missed meeting as not being part of the official events lined up for the president.

Barring any last minutes change of mind, President Muhammadu Buhari will tomorrow or on Wednesday, transmit his list of ministerial nominees to the Senate. “We commend the countries that have announced their Intended.Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) ahead of the October 2015 deadline”.

The first strong indication that Buhari would not be dictated to in the composition of his cabinet emerged in July when he named Major Gen. Babagana Monguno as his National Security Adviser to the surprise of most APC leaders and Nigerians who had given it to Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau.

SaharaReporters has since learned that protocol and accreditation is the responsibility of Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

While assuring Nigerians that their safety wellbeing and projects remains utmost in his thoughts and actions.

The president observed that “in Nigeria, we have seen extreme weather variations, rising sea levels, encroaching desertification, excessive rainfall, erosion and fl0oods, land degradation – all of which threaten the ecosystem”.

Obasanjo who surreptitiously ditched his former party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and protégée, former President Goodluck Jonathan is bent on gaining some foothold in the Buhari’s government.