Racoon: ".....But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."-Revelation 21:8
Can that be why he is perpetually doing confession, restitution and penitence
Sanchez01: You are Jon Snow, no doubt. You know nothing.
To every literature student, our understanding of a good work of art is one you read and don't make meaning out of at first glance. If you pick up a literary work and understand it upon closure, then it is a bad book.
Certain elements differentiate newspapers from works of literature and that is the diction, plot, style, license (poetic, in literature), mood, tone, author's viewpoint etc. I could read a section of the newspaper and comprehend what it says first hand without having to re-read. The same must not happen to any literary work of art. It must not.
We have more generation of readers in Nigeria now, more than ever, who often only try to get themselves entertained without having to pay attention to the elements the writer/author adopted in presenting his ideas.
Wordsworth defines poetry that it is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings; it takes its origin from emotions recollected in tranquility; the emotion is contemplated till the tranquility disappears and an emotion, kindred to that which was before the subject of contemplation, is gradually produced and does prove itself that it actually exists in the mind.
The above definition of poetry extends to other genres. Achebe was an amazing storyteller but it stops there. I could give you one of Soyinka's works and you won't even spend 10 minutes on it before dropping it. That in itself is the beauty of Literature. If your mind and senses are not alive before reading/studying a good work of art, then be sure it won't make sense to you.
I have tried to keep up with your engaging contributions to this thread. I am fascinated by your mastery of the subject. Kudos. I just noticed your signature also:
Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.
Powerful message that seems to be missing for a lot of Nigerians, nay blacks. Thanks.
Na so now. Just entertain the people so they forget how you are the source of their poverty, joblessness and insecurity.
Zenithsblog: The Nigerian Police has finally arrested Senator Dino Melaye in his Abuja residence at exactly 18:34.
The information is just reaching us now, that Dino Melaye has been captured and arrested by the Police.
Meanwhile, Police has been in Dino Melaye’s residence by 12:30 pm at No 11, Sangha street, off Mississippi, Maitama, Abuja.
The Security Operatives said to have successfully arrested the embattled Senator and he would be taken immediately to Lokoja, in order to face criminal and murder case in the State.
princeade86: if these people move, wunt politicians sink? But the reverse is the case in nigeria. One politician sink 1m of people.
As the image said, it is because the people do not know their true power. Can a leader exist without followers? Can anyone be LGA Chairman, governor or president if there is no one, zero person in the LGA, state or country Reason that one wella.
Is NLC not existing in Nigeria, which is headed by a lifeless truant who agrees that everyone is fantastically corrupt Please tell us something new that we don't know already. Thanks.
Conceptman: for a project that won't cost loads of money taken from the country's money and the masses are here suffering, what happens to fixing electricity, is it that difficult for Nigeria to make available a 24/7 power supply?
We are happy to celebrate mediocrity. Imagine the applause below, by supposedly educated youths, for a whole federal executive meeting being about barracks construction? Nothing about policies to create jobs through private sector entrepreneurs, tax policy, education etc Are we not in trouble?
raybaba97: No, I don't. I believe the situation with Buhari's government exposes the extent of the corruption. while PDP was in power, there was no opposition strong enough to expose everything the way it is being exposed now.
You forgot about Lai Mohammed and Tinubu or what
given, PDP is not a model for opposition parties considering their shocking lack of patriotism and reckless statements once out of power. they do good work though when it comes to fabricating evidence and exposing scandals. for me right now...Nigeria is like a soap opera...Very interesting actors too. I was a PDP man before moving to APC. I know why I did so, what we did while at PDP and why I still stick around. basically as someone who was once in PDP, the fact that I've not gone back yet should give you cause for thought as to why.
Does APC expose its own scandals as PDP did and dealt with their own criminals
hermesprogidy: Pure stupidity on steroids. He is African American, it's his country. Reading does not kill, just read or do you have a reading problem?
Are Japanese Americans not Americans? Yet they were interned during the World War II. What is the percentage of Asian Americans who get harassed by policemen and locked up in prison for minor offence compared to their share of the population in the USA? Read and put things in context to make meaningful contributions.
The Renunciation Act of 1944 (Public Law 78-405, 58 Stat. 677) was an act of the 78th Congress regarding the renunciation of United States citizenship. Prior to the law's passage, it was not possible to lose U.S. citizenship while in U.S. territory except by conviction for treason; the Renunciation Act allowed people physically present in the U.S. to renounce citizenship when the country was in a state of war by making an application to the Attorney General. The intention of the 1944 Act was to encourage Japanese American internees to renounce citizenship so that they could be deported to Japan.
The internment of Japanese Americans in the United States during World War II was the forced relocation and incarceration in concentration camps in the western interior of the country of between 110,000 and 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry, most of whom lived on the Pacific coast. Sixty-two percent of the internees were United States citizens. These actions were ordered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt shortly after Imperial Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor.
Of 127,000 Japanese Americans living in the continental United States at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, 112,000 resided on the West Coast. About 80,000 were Nisei (literal translation: "second generation"; American-born Japanese with U.S. citizenship) and Sansei ("third generation"; the children of Nisei).
Slurity: You don't have to lie to defend your points. Saraki is in APC when his investigation started, Ononghen is Appointed by Buhari government but yet he was investigated, Okorocha is currently under fire even accusing his own party APC as his problem, former DSS boss is alleged to even relate to Buhari but yet he got sacked and investigated. Many more are the examples
How many of the above can be called successful prosecution like that of Jolly Nyame and Dariye, not forgetting IGP Tafa Balogun, Igbinedion, Alams etc Who is telling lies now?
TOPCRUISE: That's why corrupt people don't want buhari for 2nd term. They know that once Atiku gets to become president amnesty will be given
Corrupt people like Sylva
sunnyb0b0: Timipre Sylva, former governor of Bayelsa state, has retrieved 48 of his property which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seized during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan.
According to PUNCH, some of the property are located in Wuse II and Maitama, highbrow areas of Abuja.
Back then, the commission had slammed 50 charges against the ex-governor and arraigned him before three federal high courts in Abuja.
Sylva, who contested the 2015 governorship election in Bayelsa, had accused the anti-graft agency of witch-hunt and political persecution.
The case was subsequently struck out.
A PUNCH correspondent, who visited some of the houses, observed that the inscription ‘EFCC, Keep Off’, on the gates or fences of the property, had been wiped off the buildings while some had been rented out.
The correspondent, who posed as a prospective tenant, was informed that the rent for the property ranged between N2.5m and N6m per annum.
Sixteen units of service apartments at Plot 1181 Thaba Tseka Crescent, off IBB Way in the Wuse II area of the federal capital territory (FCT), cost N6m per annum including a N1.5m service charge.
The building provides seven hours of power supply from a generator. One wing had been painted while the other was under reconstruction.
“When the EFCC sealed off this property, it was rotting away. However, it was re-opened a few months ago so we started to refurbish the property. We have repainted the property and we have started renting the apartments out,” a guard at the property was quoted to have said.
At a block of flats, which comprises nine units (six one-bedroom and three two-bedroom flats) located at 8, Sefadu Street, Wuse, Zone 2, PUNCH was told that the rent ranged from N1.5m to N3m.
“Immediately the EFCC inscriptions were erased, all the flats were taken. There is no vacant apartment now,” the security guard said.
At a property located at 8 Mistrata Street, Wuse II, Abuja, it was observed that the property was a hotel, which charged between N25,000 and N45,000 per room.
TheCable’s efforts to reach Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC’s spokesman, for the reaction of the commission did not yield the desired result as of the time this report was filed.
His telephone line was out of reach, but a text message was sent.
unitysheart: Ganduje cannot be probed until he leaves office. It is as simple as that. Stop writing like unlearned individuals. I am not saying what Ganduje did should be overlooked. But he can't be probed nor tried now.
Under PDP, how many corrupt governors were dealt with before they left office
topstone4: So, where is the evidence of the huge amount of money on Nigerian economy?
Plus the billions saved from cancelled subsidy. And the stamp duty on bank deposits. As well as the billions saved on reduced food imports. Buhari and APC are taking Nigerians for a ride thinking that we are all fools and mugus.
Emefiele: $21bn Saved From Food Importation
The reductions in food import were recorded on rice, fish, milk, sugar and wheat.
raybaba97: That is an incorrect assessment. transparency international measures corruption perception and not actual corruption. its impossible to know how corrupt a country really is except by using scandals as a byline. the reason it's so high is because people are now more exposed to the high rate of corruption in the country, therefore more people believe more deeply nowadays that corruption is everywhere. the article was just another misinterpreted piece made viral by opposition in the election lead up to make Buhari less popular. common politics. I'll advice all nairalanders in general to pay more attention to what they read before commenting.
Does that mean you agree that there is more corruption under Buhari
Anyway, last last na Edo policeman go make you get sense.
Where is the sense in what you wrote? Edo policeman whose king was sent into exile by whites? Edo policeman whose girls are selling their bodies and getting killed like flies in Italy? Edo policeman whose fellow Edo people voted for the husband of a woman who called all their women commercial sex workers in diaspora? Is there another Edo that you are talking about You should get serious and stop wasting your time on inanities.
His Excellency the executive governor, of Edo State, Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomole, and our dear mother Hajia Aisha Oshiomole, His excellency the deputy governor of Edo state and his able and beautiful wife, the wife of our ... the wife of the chairman of our great party Mrs Oyegun, our zonal national woman leader, our state woman leader, the wives of the governors with me and the wives of the former governors that are with me, and the ones that we met here.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we are here in Edo to see my sisters and mothers. The moment the executive governor started introducing some women to me, I know* that I am in the right place and I met the right APC women. ((crowd cheers)) This is what is called digital! These are digital women! I am so delighted to be here and I am overwhelmed by the reception I got from the women of Edo state.
We are not here to campaign but to say a very good thank you, a very very big thank you to my sister the wife of the deputy governor, the commissioner for women affairs, the wife of the chairman of the party, the zonal woman leader, and the state woman leader for the job well done they’ve been doing in educating the electorate in Edo state.
In each zone of the country we have peculiar problems; our problems differs*. For me in this zone, girl-child trafficking should be considered one of our problems, though I know there is unemployment. The unemployment is the major factor that contributes to brain drain and also the girl-child trafficking. General Muhammadu Buhari is a leader, he was a leader, he led Nigeria some decades ago, and he is coming back now to sanitise the system.
For those that are campaigning, saying that he is coming to jail Nigerians, I don’t know what their fear*, but they shouldn’t because we are all yearning for change. The insecurity of the country, the very very very bad healthcare system, lack of education and other basic necessities that people are lacking. I think they need somebody like him now, and already some years back he have* been contesting. They have painted him black using religion. I’m happy today Nigerians discovered that they use religion as a cover to loot Nigeria to nonsense*. They’ve grounded the country. Whoever talks to you about religion in this country, a politician that can talk to you about religion, he is a liar. He is a liar, he wants to loot! He wants to loot the little resources you supposed* to enjoy, so say no to politics, comparing it, matching it with religion to deceive people.
I’m here today to let Edo women know that when my husband elected* into the office of the ... president of the federal republic of Nigeria, all these are going to be history. The insecurity, the girl-child trafficking, suffering of the widows in the south-east will come to an end. There must be a design, a cultural design that can accommodate the widow, and then a design that can make the girl-child comfortable wherever she is in this country. She doesn’t need to leave her country to go and prostitute elsewhere. It is not her portion. Her portion is to have a moral, a highly standard* moral society for her to live, get married, have children, train them ... train them and also mould them to become the future of our leaders*.
We’re here today to also educate you and to let you know that the collection of PVCs is important. You collect your PVC and don’t sell it. Don’t ever sell it. Don’t ever sell it; it’s like selling your future again. When you sell it for five thousand, you won't see five thousand* again till after four years, which is too bad for you. Get your PVC, vote for APC, vote for freedom, vote for new Nigeria. Good security, good education, good health care, good road* and all the basic necessities should be given to you.
I thank you all for being here this afternoon, being under the sun for hours waiting to see me. Thank you so much, I love you all. Thank you, thank you so much.
Last week ... sorry last week we lost a sister, a mother, a former woman leader, Mrs Modinat Omoduwa. Can we have a one minute silence* for her… ((8 second pause)) May her soul rest in perfect peace. Thank you so much.
Donald95: If you don't like the injustice, go back to your country, build it and fight aginst bad government that tries to destroy not crying online for juatice that u may never get as a visitor
After the war, Germany, Britain, Russia, and other world power didn't sit down and looked while USA carried the glory of the country with the most deadly weapon but rather they worked hard to produce their own to prevent intemidation. Until Africans and her government stop crying and start working, we will keep being pushed around like dogs
Well said. Truth is bitter but must be told nevertheless. You do well.
NOC1: Shatap, the black person in question might be a citizen, so where will he go? Police abroad to de show themselves so that they will get recommendation
Let the blacks build their own communities through hard work, savings and donations to education, research, healthcare etc instead of living beyond their means and shouting racism upandan. Check out the charitable works of white celebrities compared to that of black celebrities to understand what I am talking about.
Are all black people in America wilful immigrants?
Are the whites of America the aborigines?
Is everyone not an immigrant finally except that some arrived way before others did and conquered their environment in order to dominate it while resisting other invaders aka newer immigrants? Excuses don't yield nothing. Smart, hardwork does. Did African empires not do worse to conquered territories/kingdoms than the white Americans did to the Indian Americans they found there
michoim: Wao. Amazing. Best record in the world!!!
The worst record actually according to those who know.
WhyMoD: So I find it pertinent to create this thread because most Nigerians are seemingly very much uniformed about the happenings in the Nigerian corridors of power.
They are easily swayed by the fake anticorruption narratives of this Buharis administration that they believe everything they hear.. afterall Buhari is incorruptible..
What would you do if you find out that corruption actually worsened under Buhari than it was under Jonathan? You'd swear with your family that it's impossible right? Well lemme disappoint you.. yes corruption is actually worst now than it was as at 2114/2015 wen Jonathan left office..
Now I'd show you the transparency international corruption index report on Nigeria as at 2014 and as at 2017 (most recent) so you'd judge for yourself.. Nigeria was no 136 in 2014 and then 148 in 2017
And don't tell me that it's the people around Buhari that steals. 1. How do you know they're not stealing and keeping the money for him on his commands? 2.Whats the difference between an accomplise and the actual offender? They're served the same pursnishment by the rule of law.
So now that it's obvious that Buhari is more corrupt than Atiku and Jonathan put together, remind me why we should not vote Atiku again?
Corruption worse under President according to Transparency index
Nigeria dropped 12 places from its position of 136th least corrupt country in 2016 to 148th. Despite the widely-publicised anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buharis administration, Nigeria ranks as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, according to the 2017 corruption perception index (CPI) released by Transparency International (TI). The index ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption in the opinion of experts and business people and uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.
In the new index that was published on Wednesday, February 21, 2018, Nigeria dropped 12 places from its position of 136th least corrupt country in 2016 to 148th with 27 CPI points, one less than it scored in the previous ranking.
Slurity: If the Umbrellas has been doing same for the past years in charge Nigeria will not get to this pathetic state. The only wise way fight a war is using your guns on your enemies and not on yourself or your Armies
The war on corruption is for the society not a divisive 97% versus 5% mentality of winner takes all. The umbrellas used the guns on their own hence all the successful and pending prosecutions of political bigwigs are from the PDP era. None from Buhari's era despite his fake propaganda of fighting corruption.
checkedout: Nigerian leaders are crook and shameless set of people. I[b] don't blame them but we the masses that like to celebrate mediocrity.[/b] What da f***k is this so called conference center that looks like a mall?
In this century Nigerians still uses bamboo as scaffolding?
Seetto: It doesn't matter, let the lopsidedness continue, with the lopsidedness the system will gradually be purified.
Why has the system not purified all these years You simply align with the ruling party and remain loyal to steal even more as is being dine under Barawo Bubu gangsters.
olokeded: On Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari's letter clearing Babachir Lawal , secretary federal of the federation of allegations leveled against him was read on the floor of the senate.
shadeyinka: 300 small-time criminals arrested! 15 PDP big time crooks prosecuted e.g. Saraki, Fayose All 1674 APC criminals and thieves are forgiven unless they decide to leave the party. Gandollar et.al. TOTAL=315 Criminals and Thieves
Mathematical truth that hurts those who follow the truant Cowmander in charge of the failing country.
Aneesaaa: I Don't Know The Technology Used In Making Of Ganduje Bribery Videos - Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has responded to a viral video involving the Governor of Kano State Abdullahi Ganduje in which he was filmed collecting bribe in dollars.
eyeview: In what appears a brazen mockery of President Muhammadu Buhari’s war on corruption to date, a former governor accused of absconding amidst his ongoing fraud trial has been seen attending a rally of Nigeria’s ruling party.
Orji Kalu joined other politicians of the All Progressives Congress in Umuahia to stomp for the party’s candidates ahead of the general elections next month.
The appearance comes amidst pronouncements by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the former governor was wanted after departing Nigeria for Germany on purported health grounds in November 2018.
The N7.7 billion trial had remained stalled ever since, although the court fixed further hearing for later this month.
Mr Kalu left office as governor of Abia State in Nigeria’s South-east in May 2007, and has faced allegations he squandered state resources during his reign.
After several judicial manoeuvres which critics said were designed to frustrate his prosecution, the EFCC ultimately reactivated Mr Kalu’s case last year, filling amended graft charges of up to N7.7 billion against him.
At the resumed hearing at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on November 5, 2018, the EFCC expressed shock that Mr Kalu had departed the country despite seizing his travel documents.
The former governor’s lawyers said he travelled to recuperate in Germany following a surgical operation.
The judge scolded Mr Kalu for departing the country without due notice to the court, and gave him seven days to return to the country for his trial.
Although the matter was subsequently adjourned till November 12, 2018, Mr Kalu failed to show up. He has been reportedly sighted at different parts of the country by those who know him.
Last week, the Buhari campaign announced Mr Kalu as a key member of the president’s reelection committee.
The announcement drew nationwide outrage, even though the politician was not sighted in public.
But at the rally in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, today, Mr Kalu was shown on NTA wearing white clothes with an APC campaign lapel Friday afternoon.
It was not immediately clear why Mr Kalu seamlessly roamed about in the country without being apprehended by law enforcement authorities.
A spokesperson for the EFCC told PREMIUM TIMES the agency was not aware that Mr Kalu was in the country, much less attending a public event.
A spokesperson for Mr Kalu did not return requests for comments Friday evening.
A Trend
The seemingly sloppy manner with which Mr Kalu’s corruption case is being handled suggest that the Buhari administration has not been as enthusiastic in going after corruption suspects in his own political party as he had been with opposition, said political analyst, Sola Olubanjo.
“We have seen cases and cases where the Buhari government turns a blind eye to its allies who have been formally accused of corruption,” Mr Olubanjo said. “But we may say the soft-landing they have given Orji Kalu is the most brazen since 2015.”
Mr Kalu was a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party since 1999. He joined the APC in November 2016, and critics immediately added him to a growing list of opposition politicians moving to the new ruling party to dodge trial for fraud.
The PDP was Nigeria’s ruling party from 1999 until 2015 when Mr Buhari became the first opposition candidate to win a presidential election.
Amongst those whose corruption cases have gone cold since joining APC include Abdullahi Adamu and Godswill Akpabio.
While their cases were not entirely dropped by the EFCC, the anti-graft agency, which is under absolute control of the president, has not been vigorously prosecuting them as it has been doing with Femi Fani-Kayode, Olisa Metuh, Nenadi Usman and other opposition PDP bigwigs.
The EFCC has however convicted two major politicians affiliated with the APC: Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye. They are now serving jail terms.
fyneguy: GEJ that sacked him as CBN Governor? The one who sacked him was worse than who reduced his influence.
Was he not sacked because he was stealing and felt too big to answer query properly Learn to limit yourself to what you know.
barcanista: Since I was born, I have never witness the kind of hypocrisy, double standard and demonisation that is currently perpetrated by Muhammadu Buhari, the APC, Alhaji Sanusi, Osinbajo and their "good governance crusaders" against the person of President Goodluck Jonathan, Allison Madekwe, and other government officials.
Alhajis Buhari and Sanusi and APC have been going about using every platform to talk about a "missing $20b", cheered by their hypocritical followers that pride themselves as good governance crusaders. They have deliberately gone blind over the fraud of CBN under Sanusi as outlined by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria report in February 2014.
Sanusi Indicted And Removed For Fraud According to the report (see below) Sanusi was indicted for Gross Misconduct that bothers on fraud and financial recklessness among other offence. The FRCN subsequently advised Mr President to remove Lamido Sanusi from office for further investigation and probe after the explanation of Sanusi appeared more like a tale and outrightly illogical according to FRCN. The council indicates that the explanation provided by Sanusi is “a clear display of incompetence, nonchalance, fraud, wastefulness, and abuse of due process and deliberate efforts to misrepresent facts on the part of the leadership of the CBN.”
The council advised the President to exercise the powers conferred on him by Section 11(2)(f) of the CBN Act 2007 or invoke Section 11(2)(c) of the said Act “and cause the governor and the deputy governors to cease from holding office in the CBN.”
April 2014: VP-elect Yemi Osibanjo Filed Case To Stop Sanusi Probe Rather than Sanusi to prove his innocence in court, he filed a case in Federal High Court, Lagos to STOP FRCN and Other Security Agencies from investigating and prosecuting him through three Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, Dr. Kanyinsola Ajayi and Kola Awodien. http://www.theguardianmobile.com/readNewsItem1.php?nid=24587
13 May 2014: Lagos Judge Tshoho Grants Sanusi Prayers High Court Judge John Tshoho rather than uphold the constitutional powers of FRCN to investigate probe Sanusi, he granted the prayers of Lamido Sanusi and BARRED FRCN from further investigation or probing Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. In his own words... “Prejudice is very pronounced in the language of that document. The language of the briefing note (transmitted by the FRCN to the presidency) conveys a sense of the defendant desperately goading the presidency to deal with the plaintiff,” “The plaintiff submitting himself for investigation (by FRCN) is like the cockroach finding itself in the midst of fowls. Such a cockroach cannot be innocent,”. http://www.tv360nigeria.com/?p=11923
Despite the fact the President Jonathan commissioned PWC to audit NNPC books to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of Sanusi's claim, Buhari, APC, Sanusi and their online agents that parade themselves as good governance and anticorruption apostles have been crying blue murder but refused to comment on the FRCN report nor the APC's VP elect role in shielding Sanusi for probe.
April 26, 2015: Buhari's Display of Hypocrisy In his usual hypocrisy, General Buahri vowed to re-visit the $20b allegation but said NOTHING about the FRCN report. In his own word... “Imagine a situation where the former CBN governor who by God ‘s grace would later become the Emir of Kano raised an issue of missing billions of money, not in Naira but in Dollars, $20 billion. “What happened, instead of investigating to know whether it was true that the money was missing or not, they simply found a reason to remove him. So these are the issues we are talking about…" Contrary to the lies of Alhaji Buhari, Sanusi wasn't removed because he raised alarm, he was removed because he was indicted by FRCN. Jonathan also never kept mute, he commissioned PWC to audit the books. Buhari was also blind to talk about prosecuting Sanusi for the CBN fraud. Perhaps the Emir is as "incorruptible" as him(Buhari)
The decision to suspend the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Sanusi Lamido was based on a report of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria dated June 7, 2013.
The report was made after a review of Sanusi’s response to the query issued to him by the President over the apex bank’s financial statement of 2012. His response was dated May 20, 2013.
According to a copy of the report obtained by our correspondent on Thursday, the council indicates that the explanation provided by the suspended CBN governor is “a clear display of incompetence, nonchalance, fraud, wastefulness, and abuse of due process and deliberate efforts to misrepresent facts on the part of the leadership of the CBN.”
The council advised the President to exercise the powers conferred on him by Section 11(2)(f) of the CBN Act 2007 or invoke Section 11(2)(c) of the said Act “and cause the governor and the deputy governors to cease from holding office in the CBN.”
The report read: The particulars of the infractions against Sanusi are:
Persistent refusal and/or negligence to comply with the Public Procurement Act in the procurement practices of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
(A) By virtue of Section 15 (1)(a) of the Public Procurement Act, the provisions of the Act are expected to comply to ‘all procurement of goods, works and services carried out by the Federal Government of Nigeria and all procurement entities.’ This definition clearly includes the Central Bank of Nigeria.
(B) It is however regrettable that the Central Bank of Nigeria, under his leadership, has refused and/or neglected to comply with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act (PPA). You will recall that one of the primary reasons for the enactment of the PPA was the need to promote transparency, competitiveness, cost of effectiveness and professionalism in the public sector procurement system.
(C) Available information indicates that the Central Bank has over the years engaged in procurement of goods, works and services worth billions of Naira each year without complying with the express provisions of the PPA.
(D) By deliberately refusing to be bound by the provisions of the Act, the CBN has not only decided to act in an unlawful manner, but has also persisted in promoting a governance regime characterised by financial recklessness, waste and impunity, as demonstrated by the contents of its 2012 Financial Statements.
Unlawful expenditure by the Central Bank of Nigeria on ‘Intervention Projects’ across the country
(A) the unacceptable level of financial recklessness displayed by the leadership of the Central Bank of Nigeria is typified by the execution of ‘Intervention Projects’ across the country. From available information, the bank has either executed or is currently executing about 63 such projects across the country and has committed over N163billion on them.
(B) it is inexcusable and patently unlawful for any agency of government to deploy huge sums of money as the CBN has done in this case, without appropriation and outside CBN’s statutory mandate. It is trite that the expenditure of public funds by any organ of government must be based on clear legal mandates, prudent costing and overriding national interest.
Financial infractions and acts of financial recklessness committed by the Central Bank as reflected in its audited financial statements of 2012
(A) pursuant to Section 50 of the CBN Act 2007, a copy of the audited financial statements of the CBN for the year ended 31st December 2012 was sent to Mr. President. Based on the issues raised in the financial statement, a reaction was requested from you to enable a proper appreciation of the nation’s economic outlook.
(B) the response to this query was further referred to the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria. The review by the council, rather than allay the fears of government, further confirmed concern bout the untidy manner in which you have generally conducted the operations of the CBN.
Some of the salient observations arising from the review are;
(A) in a most ironical manner, it has become obvious that the CBN is not able to prepare its financial statements using applicable International Financial Reporting Standards (IFFS) whereas Deposit Money Banks that the CBN is supervising have complied with this national requirement since 2012.
Undoubtedly, this laxity on the part of our apex bank, apart from calling to question its capacity for proper corporate governance, is capable of sending wrong signals to both domestic and international investors on the state of the Nigerian economy.
(B) the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the CBN and other Deposit Money Banks on Banking Resolution Sinking Fund have been breached in a material manner. For example, a Board of Trustees (BOT) to manage the Fund has not been constituted since 2010 when it was established. The CBN has however continued to utilise the Fund for certain operations without approval of the said BOT.
(C) contrary to section 34 (b) of the CBN Act 2007 which provides that the CBN shall not, except as provided in Section 31 of the Act, inter alia, purchase the shares of any corporation of company, unless an entity set up by the approval or authority of the Federal Government,m CBN in 2010, acquired 7% shares of International Islamic Management Corporation of Malaysia to the tune of N0.743 billion. This transaction was neither brought to Mr. President’s attention nor was a board approval obtained before it was entered into.
(D) the CBN has failed or refused to implement the provisions of the Personal Income Tax (Amendment) Act 2007. Accordingly the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) deductions of its staff are still being computed in accordance with the defunct Personal Income Tax Act 2004, thus effectively assisting its staff to evade tax despite the generous wage package in the CBN, relative to other sectors of the economy.
(E) the CBN had an additional brought forward to General Reserve Fund of N16.031bn in 2012 but proceeded on a boy age of indefensible expenses in 2012 characterised by inexplicable increases in some heads of expenditure during the year. Examples include:
1. The bank spent N3.086bn on “promotional activities” in 2012 (up from N1.084bn in 2011). The bank spent this sum even when it is not in competition with any other institution in Nigeria;
2. The CBN claimed to have expended N20.202bn on ‘Legal and Professional Fees’ in 2011 beyond all reasonable standards of prudence and accountability;
3. Between expenses on ‘Private Guards’ and ‘Lunch for Policemen’, the CBN claimed to have spent N1.257 billion in 2012;
4. While Section 6(3)(c) of the CBN Act 2007 provides that the board of the CBN is to make recommendations to Mr. President on the rate of renumeration to Auditors, the bank has consistently observed this provision in breach and even went to the extent of changing one of the Joint External Auditors without notifying the office of the President.
5. In the explanations offered by the CBN pursuant to presidential directives, it offered a breakdown of ‘Currency Issue Expenses’ for 2011 and 2012. Interestingly, it claimed to have paid N38.233bn to the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting. Company Limited (NSPMC) in 2011 for ‘Printing of Banknotes.’ Paradoxically however, in the same 2011, NSPMC reported a total turnover of N29.370bn for all its transactions with all clients (including the CBN).
6. It is significant to note that the external audit revealed balances of sundry foreign currencies without physical stock of foreign currencies in the CBN Head Office.
Questionable write-off of N40bn loans of a bank
The above issues are only a few of the infractions highlighted by the review and which point to the gross incompetence and recklessness which characterised the operations of the CBN in the period under review.
However, the CBN also claimed that it paid Air Charter, such as payments to Emirate Airline (N0.511bn), Wing Airline (N0.425bn) and Associated Airline (N1.025bn) to distribute currency by air nationwide. Emirate Airline does not fly local charter in Nigeria, Wing Airline is not registered with Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and Associated Airline does not have a billion turnover for 2011 because upon enquiry, the management claimed that they have no financial statements and have not had any significant operations for the past two years that will warrant preparation of financial statements.
The breakdown also include “Currency Issue Expenses” of N1.158bn and Sundry Currency charges of N1.678bn under “Currency Issue Expenses.” As they are in 2011 so are similar expenses in 2012. These are difficult to understand.
Other areas of fraudulent activities include
1. Facility Management N7.034bn in 2012 (N5.751bn in 2011.
2. Foreign Bank accounts that have been closed offshore were still operational in the General Ledger for over six months after they have been confirmed as closed accounts by the offshore banks.
3. The “Know Your Customer” policy is not properly followed by the CBN to the extent that the CBN has unknown customer with account balance of N1.423bn since 2008. The CBN claim that it is taking steps to obtain the required details regarding the address of the customer.
Wastefulness
1. Training and travel expenses N9.24bn in 2012 up from N7.65bn in 2011.
2. Expenses on “ATM offsite policy change” came to N1.045bn.
3. Expenses on “Non Interest Banking” N1.359bn in 2012 up from N0.977bn in 2011.
The CBN is still very heavy on expenses on “Project Eagles” spending N0.606bn in 2012 up from N63m in 2011.
Expense on newspapers, books and periodicals (excluding CBN’s publications) is N1.678 billion in 2012 up from N1.670bn in 2011,
Crime › Re: US Police Breaks Car Window, Drags A Black Man Out, Finds Out He's Innocent by anonimi: 12:00pm On May 09, 2019
