Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, on Sunday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the issue of corruption uncovered by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, regarding billions of naira and other items found.

Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director, CISLAC and Head of Transparency International, TI, Chapter in Nigeria made the call in a statement in Abuja.

Mr Rafsanjani said that billions of naira cash alongside other luxurious items reportedly uncovered during a recent raid at the home of a military contractor, K. Salam Construction Company, by ICPC in Abuja.

He said that there was need for the President to urge ICPC to fully dig deep and expose the true source and ownership of the recovered assets/items to ensure the perpetrators and their accomplices are judiciously prosecuted and adequately sanctioned.

He expressed concerned over what it described as unattended corruption issues in procurement processes in Nigeria.

“While the nation’s Defence spending has hitherto been buried in absolute secrecy and institutionalised corruption that impede efficient services and nation’s security,

“The fact-finding as detected by the anti-graft institution, has indeed validated the persistent public outcry by CISLAC/TI Nigeria for transparency and accountability in defence procurement and spending.

“We without doubt observed that the ongoing exposure is not unconnected to other entrenched symptoms of unquantified level of systemic corruption dominating defence procurement.

“This is also seen in spending like unaccounted funds as approved for the procurement of weapons and frequent denial by successive Security Chiefs of the existence of weapons,”

Mr Rafsanjani said that the diversion of defence and security funds to private pockets through procurement process constituted a serious threat to Nigeria’s Defence and Security sector and services.

He added that it had left the security operatives ill-equipped, poorly-remunerated and demoralised in spite the persistently increased Defence budgetary allocation and spending from 2011 to date.

He said that just as the Ministry of Defence’s refusal to make its spending public continued to frustrate effort by Civil Society groups and other well-meaning institutions to track the nation’s investment in the military and allied agencies.

“Consequently, Defence personnel and Security operatives are rendered incapacitated from curbing violence, insurgency, banditry and kidnapping.”

Rafsanjani said that other numerous high profile cases of corruption that were deliberately left unattended or granted with Presidential pardons; gave a clear indication of lop-sidedness and selective fight against corruption in the public sector.

He said that CSOs reiterated their position that Defence corruption had done unforgivable damage to political stability, counter-terrorism efforts, socio-economic development and well-being of common Nigerians at all levels.

He said that the group also called on President Buhari to ensure that all reported high profile cases were accorded urgent priority to discourage corrupt practices in the Defence and Security sector.

He added that there was need to build public confidence and a reputable foundation for incoming administration in 2023.

“We demand transparency and accountability in Defence spending and targeted investigation by National Assembly into reported unaccounted spending on weapons.

“We further demand adequate legislative oversight by relevant Committees in the National Assembly into the nation’s Defence and Security procurement and spending to restore efficiency, transparency and accountability into the sector,” he said.

NAN

Mr David Edijala, a young innovative Nigerian entrepreneur, has launched Zinger, a fin-tech startup to ease payment hassle for Nigerian businesses and individuals. The Abuja-based startup is revolutionizing the payment industry with their unique solution that helps business owners make, receive, monitor and keep tabs of payments easily and in a cost-effective manner.

Zinger, which has already started pre-launch operations, already serving more than 2000 businesses, is set to expand operations to the rest of Nigeria, with an official launch on the 29th of June 2022. In partnership with the CEOs Network Africa, the new fin-tech company’s launch will hold at the “Evening With The Network” event at Transcorp Hilton Hotels Abuja.

Speaking on the vision of the company, the CEO, Mr David Edijala, said, “Businesses lose a significant amount of money as a result of inadequate payments methods on a daily basis. Zinger provides a stable structure which can be trusted by businesses to foster all-round growth. Zinger was created to ease payment processes, making it cheaper, more efficient, and faster. Zinger aims to be the number one payment platform in Nigeria, Africa, and the world.”

Zinger seem to be tackling a challenge that many Nigerian businesses have been facing for a long time. This explain the massive adoption that the platform has received within the short period they have existed. Speaking on the progress that the company ha made so far, Mr David said, “We currently have schools and other businesses using Zinger as their major payment partner. In less than 5 months, Zinger has processed over 40,000 transaction running close to 100 million Naira. This proves that Nigerians and Nigerian businesses have a dire need for an effective payment solution and Zinger has been designed to be that effective payment solution.”

The launch will be graced by young business leaders, CEOs, and entrepreneurs from all over Nigeria and will be a great time of relaxation and networking in a highly electrified gathering of innovators and unrelenting entrepreneurs.

Christistruth00:




FIJ Another notorious Fake News Website

Notorious fake news? Maybe u r the fake

Obba Resources Global Ltd. has launched its flagship platform, Handyman, as part of its effort to provide jobs for over 5000 Nigerian youths per year through vocational skill training, businesses and home services.

The Handyman Platform is aimed at bringing household care and comfort to every Nigerian home by bridging the gap between homes and pre-vetted qualified artisans.

The platform also aims to solve the challenge of unemployment in Nigeria by encouraging idle youths and citizens to acquire high-end skills through the platform.

The launching ceremony, themed: “Empowering The Youth to Be Self-Employed, Enhancing Security By Eradicating Poverty In The Country,” was held at the Isa Mustapha Agwai polytechnic, Nassarawa State.

The event was graced by notable dignitaries from different sectors of the economy, including Silas Agara, Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State; Dr. Barr. George Ekpungu, EFCC Secretary; Dr Musa Ibrahim, Former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources and; Honourable Aminu Muazu, The Chairman of Lafia Local Government Area.

Commenting on the platform, Mr Agara said: “The Handyman Platform is a very welcome and well-needed initiative. As the world is evolving, we must find deliberate ways to solve the new challenges and that is what Obieke Francis has done with this initiative.

“For the good people of Nasarawa state, the platform will both help to relieve the challenge of seeking qualified artisans for homes and businesses, while also improving the economy of the state as more artisans will be gainfully engaged. Well done to Obba Resource Global.”

Also speaking at the program, Mr Ekpungu said, “The handyman platform is a strong proof that Nigerian youths are smart and are always thinking of innovative ways to solve challenges.

“Obba Resource Global has done a really great job in creating such a platform that rewards hard work and diligence. I encourage youths to take advantage of this platform to reduce the unemployment gap in the country.”

The sponsor of the platform, Obba Resource Global Ltd, has a proven track record in providing state-of-the art logistics services in construction, procurement & delivery, events & logistics management, and entertainment.

The platform will serve to provide people with reputable and dependable vendors/service providers from the comfort of their homes and offices, and provide the skilled workers an organized and professional way of getting new businesses and jobs.

Speaking about the platform, the Visionary and Lead, Obieke Francis said, “Our country is in a very unusual time. The pandemic has changed the way we work and live, while the rate of unemployment keeps soaring.

“It has become a mantra that the way to survive is to get a skill. However, before now, there has not been a proper way to compensate people for their skill and also to provide Nigerians with artisans that they can trust.

“Therefore, Handyman was designed to solve these problems by doing the hardwork of ensuring that qualified skilled workers/artisans are available for homes and offices for the jobs and that they are well rewarded in return.”

**

The Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, has warned against the use of state resources by public office holders for campaigns and other political party activities.

In a statement on Saturday, the TMG Chairman, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, who doubles as the Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, noted that the use of taxpayers’ funds and collective resources of Nigerians to fund personal political ambition is totally unacceptable.

The group said: "We are living witnesses to how ministers and other top public office holders use state apparatus such as government jets, public cars as well as funds to run their personal ambitions which wrongfully does not create a level playing ground and is a bad omen for our democracy."

Mr Rafsanjani noted that the move by 2023 aspirant-cum-public officers is shocking and alarming, saying that even with the enormous challenges facing the country at this moment, they still have the audacity to run for offices with scarce state resources.

The TMG Boss decried the exorbitant amount of money being demanded for the nomination and expression of interest forms to contest in party primaries, saying that such amounts could only be afforded by people with access to corrupt funds and those with plans to recoup their wealth when elected into public office will be able to purchase it.

He, therefore, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police, and anti-corruption agencies to spotlight the huge exchange of money at party conventions.

He urged that they should monitor the way aspirants bribe delegates with various sums of money stating that the quantum of resources doled out by aspirants usually in international currencies like the United States dollar has depicted that the highest bidder usually wins elections.

He advised INEC to ensure that parties submit their audit reports as required.

Similarly, Mr Rafsanjani charged political appointees and other public servants aiming for elective positions to tender their resignation noting that political appointees are mandated to resign their appointments as conditions to contest the forthcoming election in adherence to Section 84, of the electoral Act recently signed into law.

He said: "A lot of public government officials make a public declaration of their intentions to contest elections and are still holding on to their positions which is against Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.

“To this end, in compliance with the provision, all political appointees, and other public servants serving in government aspiring for political offices should submit their resignation letters and run their campaigns legally as this will not be condoned by Nigerians.”

Mr Rafsanjani also disclosed that the TMG and its members would vigorously observe the conduct of the primary elections and make sure that there is adequate compliance with the electoral law to ensure that there is electoral transparency in the country.

A Dataphyte review of Nigeria’s unemployment data between Q3 2018 and the recent Q4 2020, has shown that about four in every ten persons in the South Eastern part of Nigeria are unemployed.

According to the latest figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in 2020 Imo had the highest unemployment rate of 56.64%. In 2018, the state’s record for unemployment was 28.2%.
Abia state has the second highest unemployment rate after Imo, with a 50.07% unemployment rate. In 2018, the state had an unemployment rate of 31.6%.

As of Q4 2020, Anambra has 44.2% unemployment rate although it recorded a 17.5% unemployment rate in 2018.



Ebonyi recorded 40.16% in 2020 and 21.2% in 2018. While that of Enugu stood at 31.62% in 2020 and 18.7% in 2018.


More via:

https://www.dataphyte.com/latest-reports/in-south-eastern-nigeria-four-in-every-10-persons-dont-have-a-job/

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called on the Federal Government to include shisha pots and other electric smoking devices in the new tobacco tax regime.

The CISLAC’s Programme Manager on Democratic Governance, Mr Okeke Anya, made the call when he led the organisation’s Tobacco Taxation Working Group on an advocacy visit to the Technical Services Department of Federal Ministry of Finance.

Mr Anya said that adding shisha pots as well as other electric smoking devices into the new tobacco regime would crash its demand as well as increase revenue for the nation.

According to Mr Anya, tobacco has a devastating effect on the health of Nigerians, saying that Tobacco which is a luxury good, should be well taxed.

“The increase in tax will also be an avenue to generate revenue for the country. This is how many countries operate because consumption of tobacco is a luxury and not a necessity,” Mr Anya said.

He also called on the Federal Government to engage in a robust track and trace system that would curb illicit tobacco flow into the market.

“Nigerians will like to know which tobacco products that have paid the right kind of tax duties, know where these products are coming from and where they are heading to,” he added.

The CISLAC team, however, hailed the Ministry for influencing the 2018 specific tax regime that brought about an increase in taxes for tobacco products.

The organization, therefore, declared its support for the facilitation of a multi-ministerial engagement which will also comprise Ministries such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, and other organizations such as Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Services, Standard Organization of Nigeria.

Responding, the Director of Technical Services, Federal Ministry of Finance, Fatima Hayatu, thanked the CISLAC team for the visit as well as the frequent trainings they offer staff of the ministry.

According to her, the tobacco industry is a powerful one but the ministry is committed to checkmating illicit flow of the product into the market.

She stated that with the new tax regime for tobacco which will be implemented from 1st of June, the ministry was on the verge of engaging with relevant stakeholders for implementing a robust track and trace system.

Mrs Hayatu added that the ministry was setting up a tobacco tax working group to see what all other ECOWAS countries are doing on tobacco tax regime.

She said: “The taxation on a stick of cigarette was N2.90 kobo but has now increased to N4.20 kobo. What inspired this increase is the ECOWAS directive that recommended that 0.02 cents per stick of cigarette and at the current exchange rate, 0.02 cents would give N8.40 kobo.

“However, it was agreed to meet the recommendation half-way which would give N4.20 kobo starting from 2022.

“Then in 2023, and additional 50 kobo would be added to make N4.70 kobo then in 2024, 50 kobo would be added to make it N5.20 kobo.

“These will all reflect the current increase of the Ad Valorem from 20% to 30%. This is a gradual increase in the tax, and all is currently in review.

“We would further examine what other ECOWAS states are doing, because from all indications, Nigeria is currently ahead. The purpose here is for demand to reduce and revenue to increase.

“About track and trace, we are being cautious because the current system mostly covers those who manufacture and those importing, but not for those who are smuggling.

“We will also put into consideration the following factors – When taxes are increased, there will be a lot of illicit product in the market;

“The increase in tax/levies will not only be for tobacco products, but also for other smoking products such as Shisha and the classification of these products and the apparatus used to convey and consume these products.

“Shisha will also be taxed by N3,000 per liter, N1,000 per KG and it will be increased by N500 yearly."

The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani has warned against vote buying and political thuggery as the country gears towards the 2023 general elections.

According to Rafsanjani, vote trading is a disturbing trend among both leaders and followers.

He was speaking at a stakeholders' consultative forum hosted by CISLAC in Yola, Adamawa State on "Political Accountability and Political Party Financing".

He said: "The problem here is that the electoral process is often compromised resulting in elections not being free and fair. if left unchecked, will jeopardise the democratic process in Nigeria."

The CISLAC boss further appealed to stakeholders such as anti-graft agencies, the media and CSOs to make sure they play their role in implementing voter sensitisation and mobilisation, to ensure that electorates are adequately prepared to contribute towards credible elections.

He emphasised the need for transparency in the political process, the need to advocate for the enforcement of the laws guiding political party financing and the demerits of vote trading.

The Director of Legal, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Amina Elelu Ahmed, further buttressed the point that the agency will be using its offices across all local governments to sensitise citizens on the dangers of vote buying and political thuggery in the country.

Also speaking during the meeting, a representative of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, Saliu Hassan, said that the commission is also putting all apparatus in place to make sure that electoral processes are transparent and accountable so as to have a corrupt free Nigeria.

2023: TMG holds strategic meeting to chart course for seamless general elections

As the countdown to the 2023 general elections gets underway, Nigeria’s foremost election observation coalition, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), has expressed readiness to mobilize its teeming member organizations across the country to engage critical aspects of the process.

Speaking at a Strategy Planning Meeting organized by the coalition to reflect on its place in the Nigerian civic space and to relaunch itself,  the TMG Chairman, Auwal Musa Rafsanjan, said the engagement will include the period leading up to the elections, election day activities as well as the post-election period covering the election dispute resolution phase and the inauguration of winners.

A statement signed on Tuesday by Mr Rafsanjani said the frontline elections coalition vowed to utilize its experience and expertise on elections to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy, promote citizens participation in all stages of the process and strengthen good governance, especially at a time when citizen’s faith in democracy appears to be declining as a result of failure of the political elite to meet the expectations of Nigerians across various strata of the society.

Mr Rafsanjani, therefore, stressed that there were several aspects of the electoral process, which the TMG would immediately move to work on, given its numerous advantages and its over two decades of experience in election observation and promoting democratic governance.

"The Strategy Planning Meeting brought together TMG leaders and members from the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, past leaders, and former members of staff of the organization, to discuss the legacies, successes and challenges recorded by the coalition in recent years.

"Those in attendance at the meeting were unanimous in concluding that despite the challenges and setbacks encountered by the coalition in recent years, it remained relevant in the Nigerian civic space, especially with the critical 2023 general elections fast approaching. 

"They therefore identified short and long term strategies for relaunching the coalition to enable it to re-enact its award-winning performance in election observation during previous election cycles in Nigeria.

"Some of the proposed areas of work identified by the coalition include; voter education in the pre-election period, especially around the recently amended Electoral Act, 2022, linking election observation to good governance, campaign finance issues as well as interfacing with key electoral stakeholders, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with the goal of enhancing the credibility of the process.

"At the close of the meeting, the members endorsed the plan by the TMG leadership to build strategic partnership with local and international organizations, which share in the coalition’s stated goal of strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, while ensuring the democratic process delivers good governance.

"The meeting included a participatory process of assessing and analyzing the coalition’s strengths and weaknesses as well as identifying threats and opportunities facing it, as part of the effort to reposition the coalition to rediscover its relevance, while responding to the current realities of the constantly changing environment in which it operates," the statement noted.

The Executive Director of CISLAC Comrade Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani has called on INEC, anti-graft, and law enforcement agencies to work in synergy to ensure that vote buying, and illicit money is eradicated from our electoral process as the 2023 elections approaches. Rafsanjani made this call on Thursday at a working group on political integrity and political party financing under the “Strengthening Accountability Networks Among Civil Society (SANCUS)” Project organized by CISLAC which held in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Rafsanjani in his welcome remarks noted that the project aims to improve the democratic accountability of public institutions globally by empowering CSOs to demand systemic change to address accountability and anti-corruption deficits.

According to the Executive Director CISLAC, Illicit financial flows are a serious problem globally and we all know the damage that illicit financial flows have caused in Nigeria. He called on INEC to ensure that political party submit their financial documents as stipulated by the law.

Also speaking at the Meeting, was the representative of the ICPC chairman, Mr. Hassan Salihu from ICPC in his opening remarks stated that Investigation and prosecution of electoral offenders, respect for rule of law, upholding the freedom of information act, implementing the principles of open government, and strengthening whistle blowing policy among others, are necessary ingredients to ensure a stable democracy. He stated that the ICPC, and other anti-graft agencies will do their best to ensure that dirty money is reduced drastically in Nigeria’s political system.

Participants at the event were drawn from state institutions like the ICPC, NFIU, CCB, NOA, National Assembly and the Nigerian Police. Representatives from Civil Society Organizations and the media were also present.

AoifeNightfall:


Don't mind them.

If they cannot afford to take care of a particular woman, they should go for the one they can take care of.

Bro code my foot!!!

Yet, you would be saying equality, see your reasoning

Stonerobaba:
It's like calling a senior police officer when arrested by Lasma for an offence committed. Mr. Madu should have known better. Its Canada not Nigeria

Did you read the report?

By Gidado Shuaib

At the moment, the most prevalent question on the lips of Nigerians is the 2023 presidential election. Analysis is being churned out about who will become the next president of Africa’s most populous country.

But before the 2023 general elections, a few weeks from now, delegates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will elect national officials. The impending party elections aren't lacking in dramas, too.

The top spot -- the chairmanship -- is naturally the position that would generate most scramble and talking points. This is because it is naturally pivotal to the clinching of APC's presidential ticket.

A number of politicians are gunning for it. They include: Senator George Akume, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, Malam Saliu Mustapha, Mallam Isa Yuguda, Abdulaziz Yari, Ali Modu-Sherrif, Senator Sani Mohammed Musa and the youngest among them, Mohammadu Saidu-Estu.

Each of the candidates has the capacity to move the party forward even though it is being touted that the leadership of the party has been zoned to the North-Central. If the scoop is true, given his personality and profile, Malam Saliu Mustapha, the Turaki of Ilorin, should simply be given the diadem.

Turaki's political career spans over two decades. His journey in active politics started in the late 90s when Nigeria was still healing from the dictatorial rule of the military. His early days in politics were with the All Peoples Party (APP) in 1999 to the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2003.

Mustapha was an integral part of the movement that championed President Muhammadu Buhari's presidential ambition during the days of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He was also instrumental to the coalition of the parties that gave birth to the APC.

Besides being a staunch mobilizer, Mustapha possesses the trait of forging harmony among disparate groups, which is what APC needs prior to the general elections. The people who worked with him while he was the Deputy Chairman of the defunct APC are always testifying.

You can’t help but be awed upon having an encounter with him, because of the aura he exudes. My first encounter with the colossus was on one early morning at the Abuja airport, when he and his family emerged from a vehicle parked next to mine.

Having seen his poster in strategic locations, I simply walked up to him and exchanged pleasantries and he gave me his contact and that of his Executive Assistant, a very jovial and hardworking lawyer, Abdulkareem Alabi Mohammed.

I became curious and wanted to know more about him. I contacted a friend to inquire about the man I met. He said nice things about the man even though they never met in person. According to him, Turaki once brought media experts to Kwara State to train young bloggers on ethics of journalism and fake news. I was wowed by this act as not many Nigerian politicians would think of this, even though fake news has become a menace in the social and socio-political structure of Nigeria.

Although there are other big shots from the North-Central, I believe that what makes Mustapha stand out is his dexterity in managing people of different backgrounds and his administrative expertise. These are lacking in other candidates. The 49-year-old also possesses a clean slate as he holds no records of encounters with anti-corruption agencies or controversies linked to him, because it will be scandalous and disgraceful if the leadership of the ruling party falls into the hands of an indicted personality.

My warning to the APC delegates is that they must consider an aspirant that has a manifesto of prioritizing youth engagement if they want to have a party that would serve as a strong institution that will stand the taste of time because the next phase of Nigerian politics will be hinged on personalities with a general appeal. Mallam Saliu has exemplified this as his motto is doing things differently.

Gidado Y. Shuaib, a media practitioner, can be reached on giddyshuaib@gmail.com.

Governor umahis son, Osborn Nweze, who doubles his presidential campaign, has successful graduated with a masters degree from the University of Aberdeen.

Osborn Nweze umahi who is his father’s presidential campaign director was also on the news in 2019 for graduating with a degree in civil engineering from the university of Surrey in United Kingdom.

He is the Chief Executive Officer of Osborn lapalm hotels built buy his father governor dave umahi & named after osborn umahi. Founded in 1998 buy governor Umahi, Osborn hotels now have branches accross nigeria.

He is also Director of Finance Forte gcc & founder of the Osborn foundation.

By Reginald Tobin

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center, CISLAC, and Transparency International, TI, has urged the National Assembly to use its veto power to pass the electoral act amendment bill into law.

In a statement signed by the Executive Director of CISLAC, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani on Tuesday, The CSO explained that the bill will improve the country's electoral system through the use of technology with legal backing, also expressed disappointment on President Buhari's refusal to give ascent to the bill.

According to CISLAC, the bill if passed into law, will ensure transparent elections, which will build the confidence of citizens in the electoral process and encourage better participation among voters and aspirants, as well as reducing the ideology of vote buying.

“The Bill seeks to improve the electoral system by providing the legal backing for the use of technology in the accreditation of voters and transmission of election results.

“It seeks to enhance timelines for electoral activities, including voting, collation, and announcement of results, and adequately defines over-voting, confers authority on INEC to review questionable election results and monitor direct primaries for all political parties.

“We believe that this bill will increase transparency in our electoral process, encourage citizens to participate in the process as aspirants and voters as well as help improve the ideology of our elections by reducing the
reliance on dirty money.”

The CSO, however, noted that the National Assembly, can show it's independence and respect for Nigerians by using it's majority in both houses to pass the bill into law, as stated in section 58 (5) of the constitution.

“We, therefore, call on the 9th Assembly to etch its name in gold in the right pages of our history by exercising its powers under S. 58 (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) which states that “Where the President withholds his assent and the bill is again passed by each House by two-thirds majority, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required.

“If the National Assembly vetoes the president, it will show their independence and above all, respect the view of the constituents who gave them the mandate to legislate on their behalf.”

Oga, this life no hard like this. Moralists for this country na wahala.
Same thing happens elsewhere in other countries and they laugh over it but here you turn it on its head.
Despite all of this morality you show, Nigerians want us to bliv they have biggest moral values but they are immorals

DoggoneDogg:
They are laughing? Okay.

I give them 15 years, their eye go clear.

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, the National Chapter of Transparency International, TI, in Nigeria has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s failure tackle the legacies of mis-governance since coming into power in 2015, has plunged the country further into precarious situations.





In a statement on Thursday, the CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim-Rafsanjani also said that missteps by the administration have sunk the country deeper into widespread insecurity, unemployment, poverty and inequality, voter apathy, corruption and impunity, extra-judicial killings and high-handedness among law enforcement and security agencies which has created a widening distrust for government among citizens.



“The world still remembers the unprovoked mauling of young Nigerians during the #EndSARS protest, in Lagos,” it said.



Mr Rafsanjani commended President Joe Biden and the United States Government for convening the Democracy Summit.



“We commend the Nigerian Government, as well, for committing to participate in this timely global gathering of democrats and changemakers,” CISLAC said, calling on the country not to see the 2022 Summit for Democracy as another photo-op but an opportunity to mobilize partnerships and resources necessary to tackle corruption and impunity which currently poses the greatest existential threat to Nigeria.



The advocacy group called on the Nigerian government to immediately commit to the independence of anti-corruption agencies and prioritize the fight to combat dirty money in politics.



“The lack of independence for the anticorruption agencies affects funding, appointment, tenure of office of heads of the agencies, and their operational independence.

“This affects the ability of the agencies to take bold actions against dirty money, despite actionable intelligence and financial data leaks like the recent Pandora papers report,” it said.



The CISLAC further called on President Buhari to commit to addressing major corruption enablers by mandating the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, and relevant anti-graft and law enforcement agencies to prioritize and ensure financial institutions and professionals as well as designated non-financial businesses adhere to existing Know Your Customer, KYC, Customer Due Diligence, CDD, as well as Enhanced Due Diligence, EDD, requirements to prevent the cross border flow of Nigeria’s resources through illicit means by politically exposed persons, business persons, religious bodies, private individuals and their collaborators.



“The Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs should work in cooperation with their international counterparts to ensure that global enablers/intermediaries like lawyers, notaries, accountants who help facilitate money laundering and tax evasion are sanctioned appropriately while stolen assets belonging to Nigeria are repatriated.



“Specifically, the government should commit to: Extend anti-money laundering rules to all professionals and entities providing services bearing risks of money laundering, require gatekeepers to identify the beneficial owners of their clients, including both domestic and foreign politically exposed persons (PEPs), conduct enhanced due diligence on high-risk customers and report suspicious transactions to competent authorities, ensure adequate powers as well as technical, human, and financial resources for supervisory authorities, law enforcement and Nigeria financial intelligence unit to fulfill their responsibilities and subject gatekeepers to dissuasive and proportionate sanctions, ranging from license withdrawal to monetary fines for noncompliance with anti-money laundering obligations. Sanctions should cover both legal persons and senior management,” it recommended.



The organisation warned the government against working to shrink the civic space and charged it to commit to defend whistleblowers, journalists, anti-corruption activists and human rights defenders while also assuring of CISLAC’s support to help the government in implementing the recommendations which it believes will display Nigeria’s strong international reputation at the US-led Democracy Summit 2022.



Recall that US President Joe Biden on Thursday took the next steps in his plan to promote democracy against rising autocracies when he convened a virtual “Summit for Democracy,” which hosted more than 100 participants representing governments, civil society and private-sector leaders.



In a similar vein, CISLAC also convened a two-day Workshop for Journalists on Political Integrity and Political Party Accountability Reporting in Abuja.



It said it was part of its responsibility to ensure the transfer of skills and knowledge that will promote quality Journalistic work and open up space for more transparency in the country’s governance.

By Reginald Tobin

The CEOs Network Africa, a forum for young entrepreneurs, is set to hold it's third annual awards ceremony, to honour outstanding business owners under the age of 30.

The event which is themed “The Emerging Generation,” will hold on Sunday, 12th December, 2021, at the Bon Elvis hotel, Abuja, and will have in attendance top dignitaries which include; Senator Frank Ibezim, Hon. Shina Peller, HRH Prince Malik, Ado-Ibrahim, Dr Linus Okorie, Auwal Musa Raphsanjani and others.

While a total number of 33 recipients will be honoured during the event, The Rolling bricks Ltd will also be receiving the achievement award for outstanding accomplishments in the year 2021.

Chairman of the awards committee, Alli-Bob Cinwon, explained that 1379 nominations were received from across the continent, he also said that finalists were critically screened and selected from different walks of life by the award committee.

According to Alli-Bob Cinwon, he said: “It was an Herculean task selecting these finalists as there are a lot of young people doing amazing things and breaking new grounds but our final selection was based on merit and proven track record.

“The quality of the entries received simply proves that young Nigerians are indeed very resourceful, resilient and extremely hardworking.”

The CEOs Network Africa is a social enterprise set up in order to help budding entrepreneurs through their journeys as entrepreneurs via tailored trainings, our annual awards, networking and mentorship events. The network was launched on the 1st of December 2018 with our grand Under 30 CEOs award.

By Reginald Tobin
The Executive Director of CISLAC Auwal Musa Rafsanjani has urged politicians, political parties, voters, and analysts to shift from money politics to that of ideas and development.
Rafsanjani made the call in a meeting held on Thursday and Friday, in Nasarawa state noted that "Let us move from politics of money and materialism to politics of ideas, issues, and development. We seem to have so much money in politics that it appears to have marginalized credible candidates, increase voter apathy and in turn to erode our institutions."
"With a lot of resources being deployed for elections, it is not difficult to see the connection between politics and the impact of high-level corruption. Those with the most to lose are the lay people, those voters whose faith and investment in the system are hijacked and subverted because money, not their will and choice, is made the determining factor in elections."
Also speaking at the event, the representative of the Chairman of ICPC Mr. Hassan Salihu stated that the commission is playing its part in ensuring that political office holders conduct themselves appropriately. He gave an example of how the commission is ensuring that constituency projects are not being diverted for personal electoral ambitions, but that they are used for the people.
Participants from the event were drawn from the ICPC, NOA, CCB, NFIU, Nigeria Police amongst other lawn enforcement and anti-corruption agencies present.

The Senator representing Kano Central, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, are among other eminent dignitaries that will be present at the fourth edition of the Campus Journalism Awards, CJA, event.

Also expected at the 2021 CJA ceremony includes the Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Chairman, Transition Monitoring Group, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani.

Sen. Shekarau, a former Minister of Education and a two-term Kano State Governor, while confirming his attendance in a statement by his Media Aide, Sule Yau Sule, said he will be honoured to attend the event that will be honouring outstanding young journalists in Nigeria.

"It will be my honour to attend the glamorous 2021 Campus Journalism Awards," Shekarau said.

Speaking on the award, the Youths Digest Editor, Gidado Yushau Shuaib expressed delight with the fact that their annual CJA event has fostered the 'spirit of competition' among young, promising and courageous student-writers and broadcasters, who individually churn out award-winning reports, articles and investigative stories.

His words: "Our coveted CJA is the only platform and avenue that has consistently celebrated these brilliant lads.

"As campus journalists, they have been, through their explosive investigative stories and other genre of writings, remodel the face of the Nigeria media.

"Therefore, it is only appropriate that we roll out the drums to honour these exceptional writing and journalism prodigies, yearly."

According to Mr. Shuaib, the Executive Director, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Mr Dayo Aiyetan will be the keynote speaker at the awards' ceremony.

He will speak on, “The Role of Media in Trouble Times," the event's theme.

The 2021 CJA, which is slated for Saturday, 11 December 2021, in Abuja, initially received over 300 entries from campus journalists across the country.

The statement also revealed that the 'Edirin Jerry-Wesley Best Student in Broadcasting Award' was introduced to immortalise the late Managing Director, Nigerian Customs Broadcasting Network, NCBN, who was passionate about the growth of the media industry in the country.

Other categories of awards to be won at the 2021 CJA event include: Photo-Journalist, Penclub, Author (Book), Social Media Influencer, Investigative Journalist, Features Writer, Editor, Magazine, Upcoming Writer, Entertainment Writer, Sportswriter, News Reporter, Gender Equality Reporter, and ths Campus Journalist of the Year awards.

The CJA event is hosted with support from CISLAC/Transparency International Nigeria.

See event flier below:

The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, has urged Nigerian journalists to carry out more investigative reports on corrupt practices perpetrated by the country's leaders.

He made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at a workshop for select journalists on "Reporting Corruption in Nigeria".

The workshop was jointly organized by CISLAC and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS).

“We need to engage in more reporting on corrupt practices in the country because most Nigerian leaders claim saints when they all have a hidden agenda of siphoning the wealth of innocent Nigerian tax-payers,” Rafsanjani said.

According to the CISLAC Boss, who is also the head of Transparency International in Nigeria, it is necessary for Nigerians to be kept abreast of happenings in the country, especially on how their common wealth is managed.

His words: "At a time when we are faced with a dwindling economy, Nigerian leaders must be accountable and transparent in all their dealings because only then would we be able to move forward as a nation.

"We must all come together to fight the rising rate of corruption which has continued to push us backward as a nation.”

Comrade Rafsanjani, said it was necessary for journalists to conduct investigations on asset recoveries as concerns have gone from recovery of assets to managing of recovered assets.

"The case of the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu is a classic example of allegations centered on poor assets management after recovery.

"The case had stirred controversy and opened up the state of events especially on assets management thus eliciting the debate on the need to monitor properly how assets recovered are managed."

Speaking, Dr. Vladimir Kreck, Resident Representative of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, said that the role of journalists in the fight against corruption cannot be overemphasized because they serve as the watchdog for the society.

Dr Vladimir, who was represented by Mr. Samson Adeniran, KAS programme manager said: "KAS will continue to support and train journalists to equip them in the fight against corruption, which has become a menace in the Nigerian society."

Vaclav Prusa, an independent anti-corruption consultant called on Nigeria's anti-corruption agencies to investigate Nigerians mentioned in various corruption papers, stating: "Lack of investigation of indicted Nigerians will give a wrong impression on the fight against corruption."

Other speakers at the event includes: Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Adetunji Ogunyemi, an economic historian at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Samuel Asimi, Programme Specialist with CISLAC, Jide Ojo, Executive Director OJA Development Consult, Mallam Yunusa Zakari Yau, Executive Director Centre for Information Technology and Development, Ajibola Amzat, Editor International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Idris Akinbajo, Managing Editor Premium Times, and Lukman Adefolahan, Anti-corruption Expert.

Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre in collaboration with Save the Children International with the support from European Union hosted a Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Gender Dynamics and Territorial Governance on Social Protection on Wednesday 17th November, 2021 in Damaturu, Yobe State.

The event drew strategic participants from government, CSOs, Media and faith Based Organizations. Members of the Academia were strategic in facilitating the process.

The Executive Director of CISLAC, Mallam Auwal Ibrahim Musa – Rafsanjani in is opening remarks had stressed that the event dwelt on critical questions such as: What role does social protection play in reducing gender inequality? How do men and women, boys and girls, experience risks and vulnerabilities? What resources can they draw from to cope with these different challenges? How Yobe State Social Protection policy and programmes be sensitive, or responsive, to gender dynamics within and across contexts? Can they help transform harmful social norms, power imbalances, and unequal gender relations, and if so, how?

Even when social protection programmes are designed with gender in mind, this does not always translate into actual implementation. Cases exist where social protection programmes are designed with gender-responsive work arrangements, but these are not respected in practice.

Recall that State Government is concluded the Zero Draft towards actualizing a Social protection regime in Yobe State.

Speaking at the event, the Program Manager for CISLAC had mentioned that the objective of the meeting was basically was to design Gender advocacy strategy for the Yobe State Social protection policy and mainstream them into the proposed legal framework by the Legislative Forum.

This gender agenda will feed into the progress report on the implementation as adequate monitoring tool will be designed in that direction. Recognizing that risks and vulnerabilities across the life-cycle are gendered means understanding how social protection programmes are designed, and importantly, the extent to which their design features are gender-responsive.

This is critical to ensuring that these programmes effectively address gender inequalities. Gender-responsive design also reflects the level of ambition and the types of gender equality objectives set by policymakers and implementers.

Some design features can have unintended consequences and risk perpetuating gender norms that prevent women from achieving full economic participation and decent work in their communities. Other features that do not reflect gender dynamics can fail to appropriately mitigate women’s and men’s risks. Consortium members in the state have found evidence of positive effects of social protection programmes on poverty reduction, food security, school enrolment and attendance, sexual and reproductive health knowledge and information, and contraceptive use. Some have also found positive effects on mental health, employment, and other important well-being outcomes.

Yet many questions remain. In particular, there is lack of evidence on how the multiple and multidimensional ways that risks and vulnerabilities (which social protection seeks to tackle) are gendered, and on how social protection policy and programmes reflect this in their design and implementation.

The meeting identified evidence base on social protection programmes and their effects on individual well-being has expanded across many low- and middle-income state. The state currently leads with the lowest income.

Barely hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared the winner of the Anambra State 2021 gubernatorial election, foremost civil society election observation organisation in Nigeria, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), has called for the improvement of election equipment especially the Biometric Voters Accreditation System (BVAS).

The group, on Wednesday, also urged the leadership of the security agencies to investigate and charge to court all security operatives who engaged in violation of human rights, and gross misconduct during the election.

Chairman of the group, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, noted that the pre-election season which witnessed a lot of violence that marred campaign rallies of the various parties in parts of the State, eventually led to low voter turn out, an omen he said is bad for "our democracy".

“The stand of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the strong presence of security operatives had an effect on how voters came out to exercise their franchise," Rafsanjani said.

The TMG boss, however, called on government to stand up to the challenges of insecurity in the country, so that the 2023 election will not witness voters' apathy, as was the case in Anambra.

Similarly, the Vice Chair of the Group Mrs. Miriam Menkiti lamented the poor functioning of the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation Machine, BVAM and Card Readers of INEC, which frustrated voters across the 21 local government areas of the State.

“It is shocking that despite the consistent statement by INEC that the card readers were all set for the elections, we still witnessed a high rate of poor connection of the BVAM in various part of the state.

“TMG appeals to INEC to live up to the task of providing smooth elections for Nigerians in the 2023 general elections which will be cumbersome and overstretch the electoral empire,” she said.



Furthermore, Rafsanjani, TMG boss, while observing that vote-buying was the business of the day during the governorship poll, said “Voters were seen selling their votes for as low as N2000. In some cases, the security operatives looked away while vote buying was going on at some polling units.”

He, however commended residents of Ebenebe Community, Awka North, particularly women for publicly resisting vote buying in their polling unit, urging “Nigerians to emulate the sterling example demonstrated by these heroines of the elections.”



Comrade Rafsanjani who doubles as Chairman Board of Trustees Amnesty International Nigeria ,Head of Transparency International Nigeria and Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), expressed dismay concerning the protest staged by police personnel over the non-payment of their allowances for the election.



He however, appealed to government and leadership of security agencies to make sure that the allowances of security personnel are duly paid before elections, to prevent them from compromising their responsibilities on election days.



He said: “Once you deprive security operatives of their allowances during an electoral period, they are high chances that they will be forced to be corrupt in order for them to survive."

As the nation prepares for the Anambra governorship election on Saturday, a foremost independent civil society election observation organisation in Nigeria, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), has called for a credible and peaceful guber poll in the state.

A statement signed by the Chairman of the group, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, encouraged voters in the state to turn out and vote in the election, as it is an opportunity for Anambarians to exercise their democratic rights and choose their leader.

Rafsanjani also noted that it was the duty of the security agencies to ensure a hitch-free and credible election in the state without creating an atmosphere of fear.

“Security agencies should live up to the principles of impartiality, neutrality and statesmanship during the election,” he said.

The TMG boss, who doubles as the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and chairman Board of Trustees of Amnesty International, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to exhibit neutrality in the conduct of the election.

“The electorates, INEC, civil societies and traditional rulers are all urged to support a peaceful process. The TMG will closely observe the electoral process and report any suspected case of violence and irregularities to relevant stakeholders,” he said.

Comrade Rafsanjani, however, noted that though the pre-election seasons witnessed a lot of violence which marred campaigns in some parts of the state, appealed for calm during the exercise.

"Though we witnessed a lot of attacks during the build-up to the elections, it is necessary that we discourage the involvement of non-state actors in the political sphere, as damages will hinder the growth and development of the state.

"I also appeal to the media to monitor and report every irregularity that takes place in the election, and most importantly, stay safe and be watchful as they carry out their engagements.

The Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, Mr. Auwal Rafsanjani, has said that the use of dirty money in electoral processes and vote trading would continue to undermine the democratic process.

Mr. Rafsanjani added that corrupt money will prevent the electorates from reaping the dividend of democracy until adequate measures are put in place to put a stop to the 'unfortunate trend'.

CISLAC Executive Director said this while speaking at a Stakeholder Forum on “The Strengthening Accountability Among Civil Society (SANCUS)” project in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Rafsanjani says that money seems to have taken the centre stage in the political process in Nigeria, creeping into the country’s political vocabulary.

According to him, the meeting was very crucial as it was aimed at informing citizens on the need for transparency in electoral processes and political financing and their role in demanding accountability from political elites and political parties, as well as the dangers of vote trading.

Rafsanjani mentions that the SANCUS project is being implemented by Transparency International Secretariat through its branches in 21 countries, with support from the European Union.

He added that the project would improve the democratic accountability of public institutions globally by empowering CSOs to demand for systemic positive change.

Rafsanjani said that the issue of vote trading is one of the major menaces the SANCUS project seeks to address.

“In its literal meaning, vote trading is a form of economic exchange where political parties, its candidates or their agents purchase, and the voters “sell” votes as they buy and sell commodities.

He also emphasized that throughout the world, democracy is adjudged to be the best form of government, but it is being constantly assaulted in Nigeria due to the phenomenon of commercialized politics and vote trading.

"Money seems to have taken the centre stage in the political process of many countries including that of Nigeria, to the extent that word, 'money politics' has crept into the country’s political vocabulary. The problem with this situation is that the electoral process is often compromised resulting in elections not being free and fair.

"If this trend is left unaddressed and unchecked, it will jeopardise the democratisation process and in turn prevent electorates from reaping the dividend of democracy."

Rafsanjani mentioned that the project intends to address this problem by "advocating for the operational independence of anti-corruption agencies; an increased enforcement of existing anti-money laundering provisions and policies; an improved oversight function of the National Assembly; improve capacity of the media and civil societies to investigate the presence of dirty money in Nigeria’s political processes and increase citizens demand for accountability in the funding of political processes."

Speaking at the occasion the representative of the Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Hassan Salihu, in a goodwill message mentioned that the ICPC would continue to support projects that would check corruption in the democratic process.

According to him, the SANCUS Project Nigeria is focused on solving the core problem of “dirty money” in Nigerian politics.

“Same dirty money is viciously utilized to perpetrate corrupt practices in the Nigerian political and electoral processes.

"The givers and takers of dirty money are corrupt people whose offences are punishable under sections 8-26 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. It is based on this that the ICPC on behalf of Nigerian anti-graft agencies proffers valuable programmes that if implemented will reduce the use of dirty money in Nigeria.

"These programmes include - Investigation and Prosecution of electoral offenders; Establishing Anti-graft agencies’ intelligence/information sharing platform; Promoting non-conviction assets seizure and forfeiture; Implementing the principles of Open Government; Strengthening Whistle-Blowing Policy in Nigeria."

In addition the representative of the DG NOA, Amina Ahmed who is also the Director legal urged citizens to shun selling their votes and rather engage political actors on issue based standards which will go a long way.

The Federation of Muslim Women's Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN) paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Transition monitoring Group (TMG) on September 10, 2021 at CISLAC office, Abuja.

The objective of the visit is to reposition TMG and chart a new course for the group on improving the electoral process in Nigeria by reactivating TMG memberships for democratic consolidation, amongst other strategic measures and actions.

During deliberations, Mr Rafsanjani emphasized on the imperative of repositioning the TMG in its new iteration.

He said the steps are projected at an ongoing reactivating memberships for democratic consolidation; monitoring conventions and elections to ensure credibility and delivery of good governance; expanding the TMG’s role and responsibility beyond election monitoring/observation.

The steps also include pre-electoral processes that would lead to the right candidates and appropriate representation of constituencies towards realizing potential dividends of democracy; demanding ideologically-driven agenda for parties; and constructively engaging citizens through sustained civic education.

Mr. Okeke Anya on his part reiterated the Chairman’s submissions, as he opined a new agenda for improvement of electoral processes that encourages inclusion.

He also noted the need for organizing and coordinating the TMG on how elections could be transformed to benefit Nigerians and sought to know how FOMWAN intended to key into this new agenda.

Mrs. Farida Sada Yusuf thanked the Chairman for the audience and congratulated him on his recent election as the Chairman of the TMG Board. She firstly conveyed her unrelenting support to the actualization of the TMG’s objectives as she decried FOMWAN’s seeming exclusion from the TMG in the past administration, citing poor communication during and after the swift count, amongst other challenges.

She reflected on her organization’s advocacy thrust towards monitoring grass-root activities and sustained voter education beyond election cycles, through projects like the successful FOMWAN “Women in Purdah” project in 2019.

Mrs. Farida re-expressed FOMWAN’s unreserved commitment and support to the TMG cause and its willingness to be involved in electoral and security-related issues in light of the new FOMWAN election and leadership focus.

Mr Auwal Musa acknowledged the issue of poor communications in the past and conveyed his commitment to the revitalization of an effective and efficient communications strategy as well as transcending its scope despite resource limitations.

He thanked the FOMWAN team and assured that invitations will be extended to them in the course of proposed visitations, consultations and advocacies in the resuscitation drive for wider inclusion, improved civic education and delivery of good governance.

The FOMWAN team led by Mrs. Farida Sada Yusuf, was welcomed by the TMG Chairman, Mr. Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), the outgoing Vice-Chairman of TMG, Mr. Anya Okeke and the CISLAC board member and Legal Director, Barr. Adesina Oke.

Cross-section of representatives of FOMWAN during a courtesy visit to the Chairman, TMG on 10th September, 2021 alongside members of CADILLAC

NEWS DIGEST - Chairman of Tutu Group and lifestyle entrepreneur, Mr Desmond James, popularly known as Tutu of Abuja, has launched a back to school programme for children in internally displaced persons camps in Abuja.

Tutu of Abuja who was the co-host of the most talked about Dinner Class Party recently held in Abuja launched the first phase of the scheme on Thursday with 5 beneficiaries in an IDP camp near Games Village in the Apo area of Nigeria’s federal capital city.

The beneficiaries are all children from the IDP camp who are going to be under tutelage of the Evergreen Initiative, a non-profit humanitarian organisation that has supported and sponsored a lot of IDPs to school.

Speaking at the event, Mr Desmond said following the support and love that was shown to his brand and the CEOs network Africa at the Dinner Class Party, he found it worthy to give back to the society by supporting the young children back to school.

"We must all contribute towards making lives better for our neighbours most especially during these difficult times, people are finding it hard to survive and this has continued to breed insecurity in our world today.

"We actually called for support during our dinner class party and a lot of people came out for us and my partners. It is only right that we also use this opportunity to support people in this camp.

Also speaking during the event, the Executive Secretary of Evergreen Initiative, Mr Abass Oroh thanked the lifestyle entrepreneur for partnering with the NGO in carrying out the project as he said that it will go a long way in giving hope to the young children.

The News Digest observed that the beneficiaries and their parents were elated and full of appreciation to Mr Desmond for coming through for them.

"Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." – Desmond Tutu

My spirit abruptly shot up after receiving a call from Adnan Mukhtar, the Executive Assistant of Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, requesting myself and some other media practitioners to visit Kano, specifically Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN). The University was founded and funded by Professor Gwarzo.

Apparently, this feeling was inspired by the amazing stories I have read about Mr. Gwarzo's philanthropy and unflinching commitments towards boosting education and development in Northern Nigeria. The invitation, I felt, would give me an opportunity for on the spot assessment of the structures at the university and probably a face to face encounter with the philanthropist.

Licensed to operate in Kano, the Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria has since reached over 80 per cent completion in terms of infrastructure and manpower. Located in Hotoro GRA in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano, the institution has brought the entire area to life. I learnt that the presence of the university has raised the value of the area. For instance, a property initially valued at N70 million is now valued at N150 million and even more. Despite this, people are busy investing in the construction of private student hostels, business centres, and restaurants, in anticipation for the eventual take-off of this magnificent project which promises to turn around the fortunes of tertiary education not only in Northern Nigeria but in the country and beyond.

On arrival at MAAUN, we were greeted by not just the great edifice the institution has, but what these structures stand for – excellence and humanity.

We were so wowed at the sight of the university facilities which can arguably rival many higher institutions in Nigeria. I, there and then, became convinced that with these modern structures, graduates of the University will make a lot of difference in the real world in terms of standards, employability and relevance.

Indeed, Professor Gwarzo is a veritable case study of humility. Despite his elitist personality, he was personally on the ground to warmly receive us.

His action gave me flashbacks of stories I read about his magnanimity and love for people. Interestingly, despite his towering achievements, the Professor of French Linguistics is still in his early forties.

All the while we were with Professor Gwarzo touring round the institution; he never spoke about himself - as often the case with some self-effacing individuals - but was busy talking about his quest towards leaving behind a footprint of impacts in the lives of people.

To him, building more tertiary institutions in Northern Nigeria will help reduce crime rate and unemployment. He also disclosed that he was building another institution called the Franco-British University in Kaduna.

He said his vision was to have every northerner easily attend tertiary institutions by 2040. This vision awe-struck me to the point I started wondering whether this person isn't a prophet, quizzing myself that how could an individual be so concerned with the welfare of others?

A private university is often an investment and the investor naturally looks forward to return on investment, but the reverse is virtually the case in the MAAUN. One begins to doubt if indeed profit-making is Professor Gwarzo's intention for establishing the university because hundreds of students are offered scholarships to study any course of their choice in the university. Overtime, Prof. Gwarzo has prided himself of offering 100 percent scholarships to over 500 students studying Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science and Mass Communications in the Niger Republic campus of the sister institution.

Many universities in Nigeria have also benefited from his philanthropic gestures. For instance, he donated 30-seater luxury buses to select institutions of learning in Kano, Kaduna and Katsina states. Little wonder the Federal University, Dutsinma, in Katsina State named their clinic after him. To him, supporting other universities, both private and public, does not reduce the edge of MAAUN. His ultimate goal is to help Nigeria grow.

In further advancing the cause of egalitarian society, Prof. Gwarzo has a foundation in his name where he sends less-privileged children to school, provides school buses and many philanthropic gestures to students which I have come to know he does not like talking about. I also heard from a good authority that he also built a community secondary school in the area where the MAAUN is situated as part of his corporate social responsibility.

In conclusion, my visit to the Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria will continue to be one to remember and I cannot wait to see the plans of Professor Gwarzo come to fruition. Even though he does not like his trumpet blown, I believe history will forever be kind to him.

Gidado Shuaib, a media practitioner, can be reached on giddyshuaib@gmail.com

The founder of the Khalifa Abubakar foundation, Khalifa Abubakar, has donated over Twenty million Naira to the Orphans and Internally Displaced Persons in the country. Confirming this development, he also speaks on his passion and drive for helping the less privileged in the society.

According to him, there is a need to help those in the society who do not get the privilege of care and are disadvantaged.

Khalifa who doubles as the Managing Director of Khalifa Group of Companies noted that the foundation has invested a lot into helping Orphans with an Orphanage named after his mother, Justice Fatima Lami.

The foundation has also helped thousands of internally displaced persons, giving them reasons to smile and have beamer of hope. He noted that if people who have siblings and parents can complain about how hard it is to survive, there should be an imagination on what Orphans face, to him this and more motivates him to be of help to Orphans who he can plant a smile on. With donations of over twenty million naira and immense impacts in Katsina and Abuja, the foundation is set to continually make impacts and has said challenges is not enough to stop the drive. Truly, they are living the words, with many internally displaced persons and Orphans having a reason to be happy and a reason to have rekindled hope. Khalifa noted that helping people comes with its own challenges but that does not derail him, he strongly believes that the happiness of the Orphans and Internally Displaced Persons is a daily motivation to ensuring the sustenance of the values of the foundation. In one day on September 4th, Khalifa Foundation impacted over 1,700 Internally Displaced persons, highlighting the readiness to continuing in the path of rare succour to those who direly need such.
The foundation also built and donated a Mosque called Fatimatu Fauziyya Jummat mosque. Khalifa noted that the Mosque is named after someone close to his heart and would help many persons with ease of worship and getting closer to God in their daily dealings. Khalifa also encouraged people to support the less privileged with even what they consider little, he highlighted how he started and noted that starting with the genuine intentions to helping has ensured he impacted many in the society. He encouraged that helping people should start from the immediate environment.

“If you want to help, you can start from one person and ensure you help those around you because their comfortability is a good way to start in the quest to help,” the founder of Khalifa Abubakar foundation noted. He also restated his commitment to ensuring that those who may not be privileged to get help are helped and the foundation continues to stand core on its mandate of impact.

https://newsdigest.ng/khalifa-abubakar-names-orphanage/

SPECIAL REPORT: How Disobedience of Court Orders Weaken Rule of Law, Human Rights In Nigeria

NEWS DIGEST – Nigeria is most populous black nation in the world and has the largest economy in Africa. With independence gained in the year 1960, Nigeria has gone from one successive government to another , notably the uninterrupted democratic government enjoyed between 1999 till date.

Since the return of democracy, there have been core issues regarding governance in the country and chief among the issues are respect for human rights and respect for the established and set-up constitution of the country.

In this report, Olanrewaju Oyedeji takes a look at how disobedience of court orders by government authorities has weakened the rule of law and also threatens human rights in the country. Chief among the agencies often found wanting in the disobedience of court orders is the State Security Service, established on June 5, 1986, before coming the state security service, it was known as National Security Organization.
The security service is also a department of the Ministry of Defence. One of the popular cases of such abuse is that of the leader of the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria. The incident started after altercation members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria and Soldiers escorting the Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai. The incident led to a reported death of over 300 Shiite members . After the incident, Mr El-Zakzaky and his wife Zeenah were detained on charges of murder, the Kaduna state government stated that during the incident that led to the massacre, a soldier, Corporal Yakuku Dankaduna, was killed. However, in 2016, a federal high court ordered the release of El-Zakzaky and his wife while ordering payment of N50m to Shiite leader and his wife for ‘violating their rights by being held in unlawful custody’ , this pronouncement was made by Justice Gabriel Kolawole.


The SSS however failed to obey this court order, the basis for such was that keeping El-Zakzaky was for his own safety. It was not until after about five years of illegal detention that El-Zakzaky and his wife were acquitted and discharged by the Kaduna state high court on 28th of July, 2021. Another instance of disobedience of court orders is with Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate and democracy activist, was held in detention despite a November 6, 2019 bail order by an Abuja Federal High Court. The Department of State Security Services (DSS) should promptly release him. The detention led to public outcry and condemnations , the state security service had charged Sowore for treason after planning a protest tagged “#RevolutionNow”. The police said it already deemed the planned protest an act of terrorism .

Mr Sowore and other organisers of ‘RevolutionNow’ movement also condemned the federal authorities for lying against them that the protest, would be violent. In Sowore’s case, the court had threatened to imprison the Directorate of State Security Director General. “In a “notice of disobedience to order of court” issued by the court and addressed to the DSS DG, the Federal High Court directed the boss of the secret police to comply with its directive or face grave consequences, which includes “commitment to prison”. Amnesty International also reported that the Nigerian Attorney General defied an Abuja Federal High Court order to hand over the soldiers who were allegedly responsible for killing three policemen in Taraba state in August 2019. Another prominent case of such disobedience has to do with the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Mr. Dasuki is accused of diversion of $2.1 billion and illegal possession of fire arms. Although Mr. Dasuki was granted bail on at least six different occasions by various courts, the Nigerian government has persistently refused to comply with the court orders. In 2015, the SSS failed to release Dasuki despite court order stating same. After over four years in detention, Dasuki was eventually released by the Buhari’s administration. The court of appeal in Abuja, noted that the DSS and its Director-General acted outside their constitutional powers on the long period of the detention of a Nigerian citizen and imposed a fine of N5 million on them to be paid to Dasuki as compensation for breach of his fundamental right. The Nigerian government have also disobeyed other court others, in case of a human rights lawyer, Charles Ogbonna, a human rights lawyer held by the State Security Service.

Ogbonna, a lawyer was arrested for posting articles criticising the Okezie Ikpeazu-led government in Abia State, via his social media page. Shortly after the arrest, he was arraigned alongside another person at a magistrate court in Umuahia for alleged cybercrimes and for allegedly publishing false and threatening messages through the internet against Mr Ikpeazu. Five ‘Buhari-Must-Go’ activists commenced a contempt suit against the director-general of the State Security Service (SSS), Yusuf Bichi, for disobeying the court order for their release from custody. The activists commenced the contempt suit with the filing of a ‘Notice of Consequences of Order of Court, also known as Form 48, on July 30, to push for the jailing of the SSS boss. On August 4, 2021, two days after filing the contempt case, the protesters were released by the SSS after the earlier disobedience of court orders by the secret service.

The spate of disobedience of court orders have continued unabated leading to tensions about the respect for democracy in the country. The Nigerian Chief Justice, Tanko Mohammed in 2019, had vowed to resist disobedience of court orders, although the situation continues without any sign of dwindling. A report by Amnesty international noted that the Buhari’s administration has disobeyed 40 court orders as at November, 2019. Kolawole Olaniyan, legal adviser to Amnesty International, opined that President Muhammadu Buhari has shown “stunning disregard for the rule of law and human rights, ignoring Nigerian judges on at least 40 occasions”. The London-based lawyer, who also accused the President of treating judges with disdain. The Human Rights Measurement Initiative noted that Nigeria’s score for economic and social rights falls within a ‘very bad’ range.

Judicial Activism, the Only Way Out- Lawyer A lawyer and public affairs analyst, Awosusi Kehinde while weighing on the issue noted that the country is drifting towards dictatorship and the only way out is for those who are responsible for such decisions to be held responsible. He opined that there is a need for judicial activism if the menace will be curbed. “There is a need for judicial activism such as punishing heads of agencies that flout court orders. The disrespect for courts does not naturally portray the country well, and does not also portray them as a respecter of human rights, we are fast drifting to the era of authoritarianism, should things continue like that” he noted.>Disobedience of court orders not in interest of Nigerians-SERAP The deputy director of Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Kolawole Oluwadare, while weighing on the issue noted that disobeying court orders is not in the interest of Nigerians. He urged judges to be decisive in holding the sanctity of the judiciary. “Disobedience of court orders is not in the interest of Nigerians, whether as regards human rights, socio-economic rights or other rights as it were, you would understand that the 1999 constitution has concept of separation of powers and checks and balances.

When government decides to disobey the court, they are not only disobeying the constitution but also disrupting the balance of a constitutional democracy.” Kolawole posited that the judiciary must rise up to the occasion by ensuring that there are punishments for disobeying court orders, according to him, this will help in serving as a deterrent to others. “Judgment of the court must be obeyed, if the law is continually disobeyed, it means that the essence of the law has been lost” he stated. Despite the concerns on abuse of court decisions, the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration has continued to restate commitment to rule of law and respect for human rights.

Read more at: https://newsdigest.ng/special-report-human-rights/

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Transparency International has called on the National Assembly and the Executive to fast track the passage and assent of a legal framework to manage and utilize recovered assets.

The Executive director of CISLAC, Mr. Auwal Musa Rafsanjani state this during a round table meeting organized by CISLAC for representatives of Anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies with the mandate to recover asset and representatives from the House and Senate Committees on Anti-corruption.

Rafsanjani who was represented by Mr. Samuel Asimi of CISLAC stated that a legal framework will remove discretion and reduce the risks of mismanagement of these recovered assets.

The Africa Regional Advisor of Transparency International (TI), Mr. Samuel Kaninda in his remarks noted that Asset Recovery provides a good resource opportunity for African government against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic recovery.

He stressed the challenge of mismanagement of recovered asset should be handled urgently.