₦airaland Forum

The Federal Government has disclosed that its whistle-blowing policy has raked in N13.8 billion from tax evaders.

It also said other massive dividends of the policy include N7.8 billion, $378 million and £27,800 recoveries from public officials.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made the disclosure while addressing reporters in his country home of Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, yesterday.

He said: “The fight against corruption has been unrelenting, without fear or favour. The administration has driven corruption under the table. Nigerians no longer celebrate the corrupt. Looters no longer sleep at night, as the long arm of the law closes in on them.

“This administration has embarked on institutional reforms to curb corruption. The diligent implementation of the Treasury Singles Account (TSA) has plugged the loopholes being exploited to steal public funds.”

Mohammed urged Nigerians to be vigilant and not to yield the space to naysayers.

He said the “gains of the past three years plus must be preserved. Nigeria must continue on its present trajectory to sustainable growth and development. Never again must we go back to Egypt.

“The year 2019 is the year of decision for Nigeria. It is the year that the critical decision will be made as to whether Nigeria will continue along the path of development, in all ramifications (social, economic, political, etc.), that this administration has embarked upon since 2015, or the country will retrogress and backslide to the throes of massive and primitive looting and lack of development.

“As we approach this critical fork on the road, I have no iota of doubt that the good people of Nigeria will choose the path of development, having seen the commitment, sincerity and patriotism of this administration. It is clear, from all indications that Nigerians are not going back to Egypt. Because of the support of the people, our party will win, even with a wider margin, in 2019, thus, sealing the fate of the naysayers.

“The fear of this impending victory explains why they have been running from pillar to post, desperate to thwart the victory of the APC in 2019. They labour in vain.”

Reeling out the achievements of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the minister said:

“Never in the history of our country has any administration embarked on such a massive infrastructure development as this administration. The whole country is one huge construction site.

Roads are being constructed in all the six geo-political zones. As you all know, I’ve been touring the various infrastructure projects of the federal government across the country, with the media.

So far, we have inspected about 10 projects, including the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail project, the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the Oyo-Ogbomoso road, the Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Port Harcourt roads, the 2nd Niger Bridge, the Abuja light rail project and the Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Bida road. The administration had built over 700 kilometres of roads and rehabilitated about 650 kilometres.

“In the area of agriculture, it has been a huge revolution. Let’s take one of our national staples, such as rice, as an example. When we came in, there were five million rice farmers.

Today, we have in excess of 11 million rice farmers. Our rice import has been cut by over 80 per cent. These didn’t happen by accident. It was a result of our Anchor Borrowers Programme.

There are more millionaire farmers today than at any other time in the history of our nation. Today, Nigeria is closer to achieving self-sufficiency in rice than at any other time in the history of our country.”

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

AWKA—PUBLIC officers expecting to start enjoying enhanced minimum wage soon may have to wait longer as the federal government committee on the issue and the state governors were yet to arrive at acceptable figures.

Minister of labour and employment, Senator Chris Ngige told reporters in Awka that although the committee was expected to conclude work on the new minimum wage by the end of this month, the date was no longer feasible because the final document had not been fine-tuned.

He said: “I am the deputy chairman of the committee and I drive it. We have a timetable and we are expected to finish everything about it by the end of this August, but it is not attainable anymore because even in the committee, we have not agreed on any figure.

“We could not agree on a figure because of two reasons. One is that the state governors have not come up with a figure and the state governors are a critical constituent of this discussion. They have six governors in the committee, one from each geo-political zone.

“The Governors Forum said they are still working on it and that was the last submission they made to us and the federal government team. We are working with the Economic Management Team and since the team dictates the economy of the country, they will take whatever the governors come up with and fine-tune it with that of the federal government committee. That is where we are.

“Therefore, the national minimum wage tripartite committee is still at work and it is until that body brings out its figures and recommendations pertaining to national minimum wage, that a bill can be sent to the National Assembly to process and send to Mr. President for it to become a National Minimum Wage Act. If that can happen in 2018, it becomes Act 2018.”

He also spoke on the allowances for members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, explaining that the committee had not concluded it because no recommendation had come to the Federal Executive Council.

Ngige said further: “As a matter of fact, some ministries, such as Youth and Sports, my ministry, Women Affairs and Budget and Planning, have been asked to make our input. However, the important thing to note is that whatever increase that would be made on the allowances of NYSC members would be hinged on the envisaged new minimum wage.

“The allowances of the NYSC persons will be on the same sliding scale with the national minimum wage, except that it is a top up,. That is why today the national minimum wage is N18, 000, and the top up for NYSC members is about N1, 500, making it N19, 500.

“This is the allowance the Federal government will give to them. Areas or persons and bodies or agencies where they do their primary assignments can also give them what they call special allowances and that is irrespective of this monthly stipend from federal government.

“Their employers in their places of primary assignment can give them another top-up so that in some establishments you see them paying extra N10, 000 to the NYSC persons some are as generous as even giving N20, 000, which is about the same thing that they earn.”

Bitterleafsoup:
what are you peeping

President Muhammadu Buhari has hailed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as one of the best things to happen to Nigeria.

The president hailed the programme after he was visited by corps members at his Daura home in Katsina State on Tuesday, August 21, 2018, as part of the Sallah celebrations by Muslim faithfuls across the country.

In tweets posted on the president's official Twitter account (@MBuhari), he said the programme offers Nigerian youths a unique chance to understand different parts of the country other than their own.

He said, "One of the Sallah traditions I look forward to the most is the visit by Youth Corpers posted to Daura. I think the NYSC is one of the best things that has happened to Nigeria, because of the opportunity it gives young Nigerians to see and know different parts of the country.

"Many of the Corps members posted to Daura are from southern Nigeria, and have never lived in or experienced this part of the country. For them to be brought to the desert or near the Sahel region is a difficult thing, but I have no doubt it will make a positive impact on Nigeria.

"I welcomed them to my ancient town of Daura, and asked them to enjoy their service year, and the hospitality of the people. Regardless of where they're from, Daura is also their home, and I hope that in the years to come they will look back to this time with fond memories."

Buhari remains mute on minister accused of NYSC fraud

The president's comments on the NYSC programme comes in light of his refusal to comment on allegations that the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, forged an NYSC certificate.

Investigations by online news platform, Premium Times, uncovered the minister's alleged forgery of an NYSC exemption certificate after failing to enroll for the one-year mandatory scheme for all Nigerian graduates.

Despite the public pressure on Buhari to fire the minister or, at least, acknowledge the situation, he has not said anything about the controversy which first surfaced 45 days ago.

Earlier in August, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the president's image has not been dented in any way by the controversy.

He said the president cannot act until the allegations have been proven to be genuine by the the appropriate authorities.

In July, NYSC promised to investigate the origin of the purported exemption certificate but no update has been provided after several weeks.

Bitterleafsoup:
I am by no means a prude but this is too much, even I am turned on

Bitterleafsoup:
Monster Ball
yeah makes me think of sex as soon as I seen it. What came to your mind

dlondonbadboy:
It's a lie...Wow.

Buhari should trek more often o. Thank God, at last we now have a trekking President.

Saibohary you too much..

dlondonbadboy:
Because Buhari trekked today, no more power failure. Herdsmen have stopped killing...No more BokoHaram. Every thing is now cheap...

The zombies and the butterflies have lost it completely...

All Progressives Congress, APC, has felicitated with the Muslim faithful on the joyous celebration of Eid-El-Kabir.

The party in a statement by the acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena, urged Nigerians to pray and support President Muhammadu Buhari in his quest to move the country forward.

Nabena appealed to Nigerians to imbibe the lessons of love, sacrifice and peaceful coexistence as that was the only way to promote unity in the country.

The statement read: “On this momentous occasion, we share below the inspiring message by Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, the 83-year old Islamic cleric who courageously saved the lives of over 300 multi-faith people in Nghar village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State when conflict broke out there in June.

“The holy prophet Mohammed lived in peace and harmony with diverse groups of different faiths. In following his teaching and steps, we must all appreciate the fact that the Almighty Allah created us with our diversities. We must embrace the diversity and strive to live in peace with one another.

“If Almighty Allah wanted us to be the same, it would have been so, but Almighty Allah brought us together to create a harmony. We should all respect one another and be selfless advocates for peace for we are all of equal values in the eyes of the Almighty Allah.

“It is only in an environment of peace we can achieve meaningful and true development we desire for our great country, Nigeria.

“We urge all Nigerians to continuously support and pray for President Muhammadu Buhari in its determination in to steer the country on the right path and deliver of election promises.”

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday promised Nigerians that he would never surrender to corruption.

He said fighting corruption was a task that must be done in order to protect the larger interests of the ordinary Nigerians whom he said were the worst victims of diseases, poverty, malnutritionBuhari spoke in his Eid-el Kabir message to Nigerians made available to journalists by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

The President said surrendering to corruption was not an option because it destroyed society and progress of nations.

“Even if some people hate you for fighting corruption, you should not chicken out from the task as a leader because doing so is a betrayal of public trust,” he said.

The President explained that religion was a major factor in influencing human behaviour towards good conduct and action.

He, however, regretted that selfishness, greed and corruption had overwhelmed human beings to the extent that people abandoned their religious beliefs in pursuit of their greed.

On the current economic challenges facing Nigerians, the President reassured Nigerians that such were temporary because the welfare of the people was the main thrust of the change agenda of his administration.

To buttress this point, Buhari cited the many initiatives unfolded by the administration under the Social Investment Programme among which was the recent decision to distribute recovered looted funds to the poor against the past practices of re-looting such funds by some people in authority.

Buhari spoke in his Eid-el Kabir message to Nigerians made available to journalists by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

The President said surrendering to corruption was not an option because it destroyed society and progress of nations.

“Even if some people hate you for fighting corruption, you should not chicken out from the task as a leader because doing so is a betrayal of public trust,” he said.

The President explained that religion was a major factor in influencing human behaviour towards good conduct and action.

He, however, regretted that selfishness, greed and corruption had overwhelmed human beings to the extent that people abandoned their religious beliefs in pursuit of their greed.

On the current economic challenges facing Nigerians, the President reassured Nigerians that such were temporary because the welfare of the people was the main thrust of the change agenda of his administration.

To buttress this point, Buhari cited the many initiatives unfolded by the administration under the Social Investment Programme among which was the recent decision to distribute recovered looted funds to the poor against the past practices of re-looting such funds by some people in authority.

Buhari urged Nigerians to rise above personal, group, sectarian and other interests, and promote harmony and tolerance in dealing with one another at all times.

He urged all Muslims to use the Eid-el Kabir for sober reflection and self-examination, and strive to be good ambassadors of their religion by upholding high moral values

He reminded Muslims that this occasion of Eid-ul-Adha is a remembrance of the submission of Prophet Ibrahim Allaihis-Salam to Allah, his Creator, by which he taught the world the value of sacrifice in relating with one another, and when it comes to nation-building.

“We must sacrifice for others and remember always those who are less fortunate than ourselves,” the President declared.

Meanwhile, President Buhari is billed to celebrate this year’s Eid-el Kabir with his kinsmen in his home town, Daura, Katsina State on Tuesday.

The President on Monday left Abuja for the purpose.

His convoy left the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at about 3.06pm.

Some top government officials saw Buhari off as he left for his home town.

The government officials included his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari; the National Security Officer, Babagana Monguno; and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

The President is expected back in Abuja after the Sallah break.

Recall that the Federal Government had earlier declared Tuesday and Wednesday as public holidays to mark the Sallah.

Homeboiy:
Just probe tinubu not even jail and we will take you guys serious

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has said that its members, even those in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet will not be excused in the fight against corruption.

The Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena, in a statement yesterday, challenged Nigerians to petition the anti-corruption agencies against any person they considered corrupt.

The APC was reacting to the barrage of attacks that trailed the threat from President Buhari to jail corrupt persons on arrival from London.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and other Nigerians had demanded that Buhari should start the jailing with the ruling party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, David Babachir Lawal and others.

The party stated, “It is not true that Mr. President is targeting opposition by that statement.

“We are all in this country to know that a serving APC Senator is currently facing trial over corruption.

“When he said he is going to jail more people, he was not targeting only the opposition.

“The law will always take its course and it does not matter where he starts. If Nigerians want Mr President to prosecute Oshiomhole or anyone close to the President, they should do the needful.

“If anyone can establish any case against them, let the law takes its course.

“Nobody is shielding anybody and we challenge the judiciary to live up to the expectations of Nigerians in handling corruption cases.”

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

crazygod:
Pls where is Fabinho? Introduce fabinho to this game

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki is corrupt, therefore not fit to be President.

The position of the party came on the heels of the APC National Leadership, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s earlier comment that the defection of the Senate President to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was driven by his presidential ambition.

According to the APC, Nigerians should be wary of his ambition as Saraki’s Presidency would take Nigeria back to the dark years.

The embattled Senate President, who recently defected to PDP has declared his ambition to contest the Presidential ticket of the PDP.

But faulting the Presidential ambition of the Senate President, APC asked if he (Saraki) would pass integrity and corruption test to become President.

The party chronicled all the corruption acts of the Senate President, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yekini Nabena.

The party said, “Against the backdrop of the litany of corruption allegations trailing the Senate President, Saraki’s declaration, brings to the fore our earlier call to anti-graft agencies to check the use of stolen public funds to finance elections in this country. We reiterate our position that the Nigerian electorate must have the opportunity to choose from candidates that can pass the integrity and anti-corruption test.

“Let us refresh our memory on some of Saraki’s corruption allegations.

“Allegations of fraud which led to the collapse of the Saraki family-owned Société Générale Bank (Bukola Saraki who was Director of the defunct bank was indicted over N1bn alleged to have been looted from the bank’s treasury);
Misappropriation of Kwara State funds, disregard of government due process and conversion of State government assets into his and cronies when he served as two-term governor of Kwara State; History of betrayals, treachery and sabotage – Family, political party (PDP, APC), Senate, government; Saraki was questioned by the Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit over a N11 billion financial scandal at the defunct Intercontinental Bank; Gluttonous property acquisitions and hidden multi-billion dollar assets spread across the world as disclosed by the Panama Papers revelations.”

Further, the party enumerated Saraki’s corruption act, “The multi-million dollar white elephant Shonga Agricultural Project in Kwara State when Saraki served as two-term governor; Falsification of Senate standing order; Saraki’s link to the N298m armored Range Rover SUV seized by the Nigeria Customs Service; Saraki’s link to $19.5b Paris Club Loan refund scandal; Oversaw budget padding in the National Assembly; and Among other numerous corruption scandals.”

APC therefore warned, “Nigerians should be wary of a man whose personal ambition will always supersede the interest of the majority and national interest as currently displayed in the National Assembly. While Saraki refuses to reconvene the National Assembly, the 2019 election budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is dangerously delayed, an action deliberately taken to sabotage INEC’s ability to conduct free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2019.

“While Saraki refuses to step down as Senate President as rightly and severally demanded by the APC-dominated Senate, he is bent on foisting a PDP-minority rule (Senate President and Deputy Senate President) in the Upper Legislative House.

“The only politics that Bukola Saraki plays is self, himself only and only himself. The interest and welfare of the people of Nigeria do not mean anything to him. Now it is the Presidency Saraki wants. And we ask with what antecedents is he doing this? Conspiracy, blackmail, treachery and vaulting ambition which overleaps itself and falls on the other, as rightly captured by William Shakespeare. Bukola Saraki will rather rule in hell than serve in paradise.

“Ahead of 2019 elections, Nigerians must ensure that we never again entrust the leadership of this great country to thieves whose sole aim is treasury looting and returning us to the dark ages where impunity and institutionalized corruption was the order of the day.”

The Peoples Democratic Party has welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration to jail treasury looters.

It, however, challenged him to show integrity by starting with the investigation and prosecution of members of his party, the All Progressives Congress.

Buhari had in an interview shortly after his return from London on Saturday said, “Most Nigerians are expecting that we are going to jail more of the thieves that brought an economic problem to the country. I think that is being expected of me and I will do it.”

Commenting on Buhari’s declaration, the PDP specifically asked the President to start by investigating the National Chairman of the APC, Mr Adams Oshiomhole.

The party also challenged President Buhari to allow an investigation into the allegations against the sacked former Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr Lawal Daura; a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal, and the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof Yusuf Usman.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, added that President Buhari should immediately allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to commence Oshiomhole’s investigation.

He said, “The PDP further challenge President Buhari to allow an investigation into the alleged frittering of over N11tn in the petroleum sector under his direct supervision as minister, including the alleged N9tn illegal oil contract as detailed in the leaked presidency memo, the alleged N1.4tn corrupt subsidy regime and alleged diversion of N1.1tn worth of crude oil, using 18 illegal companies allegedly linked to the Presidency cabal and the APC chieftains.

“The President should also allow the investigation of his ministers, who as former governors, were indicted in stealing billions of naira belonging to their states, particularly, a former governor, who was indicted by his state for allegedly diverting over N40bn to finance APC’s 2015 Presidential campaign.

“Mr President must also investigate how billions of naira allegedly moved from parastatals under his Petroleum Ministry to finance the failed attempt to change the leadership of the National Assembly as well as the certificate scandals among his ministers and special advisers and jail all those involved.

“These are the people Nigerians have been expecting President Buhari to investigate, prosecute and if found wanting send to jail.

“Unfortunately, Mr President has been pursuing perceived political enemies, and innocent opposition members while dining and wining with corrupt persons, a development that has completely called to question the integrity of his anti-corruption fight.”

Ologbondiyan added that since the President Buhari came into office, he had allegedly not allowed an investigation into the corrupt activities under his Presidency.

Instead, he further alleged that the President had been attracting to himself, “all manner of corrupt persons and giving them the perfume of sainthood, once they identify with his APC.”

Start with Adeosun, Akpabio, Obasanjo’s coalition tells Buhari

On its part, the Coalition for Nigeria Movement led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo called on Buhari to begin his anti-corruption war with the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun; and a former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The spokesman for the CNM, Mr Akin Osuntokun, it was laughable that a President whose minister had been accused of forging her National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate could claim to be fighting corruption.

The CNM spokesman said the fact that the Chairman of Buhari’s anti-corruption advisory team, Prof Itse Sagay (SAN), could defend such allegation was an indication that the President’s anti-corruption war was only targeted at members of the opposition.

The spokesman for Obasanjo’s coalition said it was ironic that Buhari could threaten corrupt people while at the same time hail Akpabio’s defection to the APC despite the fact that Akpabio was under probe for allegedly diverting N100bn from the Akwa Ibom treasury.

He said, “The President’s threat is not new. He is a man who fails to set a good example. What action has he taken to show that he is a man of integrity? His minister allegedly forged her NYSC discharge certificate. The chairman of his anti-corruption advisory committee, Prof Itse Sagay, defended the finance minister. So, this tells you the kind of war they are fighting.”

“His Special Assistant on corruption, Okoi Obono-Obla, has been shown to have forged WASCCE certificate. While in London, he received Akpabio who his government had accused of stealing billions.”

Testifying before the House of Representatives ad hoc Panel investigating Mr Obono-Obla’s alleged forgery, WAEC Registrar, represented by the Deputy Registrar, Mr Femi Ola, had on June 5, 2018, said, Obono-Obla’s result was “fake, not genuine.”

He has no authority to jail looters –CSO

The Coordinator, Advocate for People’s Rights and Justice, Victor Giwa, described Buhari’s statement as arbitrary, noting that it was capable of undermining the judiciary.

Giwa said, “The statement is arbitrary; he doesn’t have the authority to jail alleged looters, only the court can jail them. He can prosecute the looters, but he cannot jail them except he wants to be dictatorial and that is against the rule of law. It is also a form of threat and should not be encouraged. The pronouncement also has the capacity to undermine the judiciary.”

Buhari, APC on the same page –Nabena

But the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr Yekini Nabena, said President Muhammadu Buhari and the party were on the same page in the war against corruption.

Nabena said this in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja, on Sunday.

The party’s spokesperson said, “This has been the position of the President and the party from day one, our position on the anti-corruption war has not changed.

“If the law catches up with you, you will go for it. People should also remember that one of our Senator, Joshua Dariye, is serving his term in prison so there is nobody above the law.

“It doesn’t matter if you are in our party or in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, once you are found guilty of the crime, you will do the time, it is that simple.”

Aide defends President’s medical trip

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political Matters, Mr Gideon Samani, says President Muhammadu Buhari is fit to run for a second term, adding that his recent visit to the United Kingdom was a mere medical checkup.

Samani said this while addressing journalists in Abuja on Saturday on the sidelines of the President’s arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, could not be reached for comments as calls and a text message sent to the phone number of her Media Adviser, Oluyinka Akintunde, were not responded to.

When contacted, the spokesperson for Adams Oshiomhole, Mr Simon Ebegbulem, said, “If those making that allegation have any evidence against the former Comrade Governor, they should take it to the EFCC.”

When contacted, the media aide to Akpabio, Mr Aniete Ekong, said, “Senator Godswill Akpabio has never been charged to court. Like any other Nigerian, that frivolous petition was written to the EFCC against him, he was investigated but nothing has been found against him. His giant strides as Governor of Akwa Ibom State have remained a reference point for development.”

It has emerged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is seeking to interrogate the sacked Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, has spread its investigations to cover spendings by the service under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and the funds inherited by Daura from his predecessor.

Sources close to commission told the Sunday Tribune at the weekend that investigators of the EFCC have zeroed on funds Daura received from the previous administration and what exactly happened to the funds.

Following the interrogation of the former Director General of the DSS, Mr. Ita Ekpeyong, it emerged that the service actually returned more than N3 billion unspent operations funds during the period.

The EFCC has also received details of the funds inherited by Daura.

A source in the commission said following the failure of the investigators to make expected discoveries when the searched the home of Daura, attention has now been zeroed in on what happened to the funds he inherited from Ekpetong.

It was learnt that the need to get to the roots of every kobo handed over by Ekpeyong necessitated the search of his house, his interrogation and the decision to place him on stand by for further investigations.

A source in the know said: “With the apparent lack of substantial evidence in the searches conducted so far in the residences and guest houses of Daura, investigating authorities are holding on to suspected depletion of funds he took over from his predecessor, Ekpenyong Ita.

“The monies handed over are a public knowledge. When the director general of such Service hands over, copies are customarily sent to the President, the National Security Adviser, the Service itself, the incoming and outgoing directors general would have their copies.”

The source said that some of the funds already accounted for included the various sums $21.23m and N12.96 billion in pension fund, N2.2 billion in serial account, and another N2.2 billion earmarked for insurance.

There are different other us heads totaling about 20, a source at the EFCC said, adding that Ekpeyong has actually been cooperating with investigators by appearing at the Commission’s headquarters almost every other day.

Sources said while the EFCC was actually not probing the operations accounts of the DSS, it’s investigators were worried about some bulk movements.

For instance, a source said that there may be questions as to why the accounts of the commission stood at about N6 billion as of June this year from the N12.9 billion that was handed over by Ekpeyong.

The investigators are concerned and checking out if the funds were diverted and who authorised such

“The EFCC is only interested in just some basic questions that he (Daura) may need to provide answers to. Mind you, this is not a probe of the DSS, we are only seeking clarifications,” a source said.

The ongoing probe is, however, said to be causing some confusion in Intelligence circles following reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had last year given a directive that probes of DSS, the National Intelligence Agency(NIA) and other Secret services would only be undertaken by close insiders in order not to expose Nigeria to ridicule and suspicion by the global Intelligence networks.

Sources in the administration said at the weekend that if the ongoing probe continues, it could go against against the tide in inquiry into intelligence matters all over the world.

It was also gathered that the Ambassador Babagana Kingibe-led Committee, which investigated the NIA funds discovered in Lagos, had also recommended as such.

It was learnt that the confusion reigning so far could stall further probe and questioning of Daura by the EFCC.

A source familiar with the situation said: “The committee had advised the President, and it was approved, that matters of intelligence should be discreetly handled by a special body of former members of the community and the report turned in to the President for necessary actions.

“This (investigations of DSS) would be a clear case of blatant disregard of the Presidential directive arising from the report of the committee, and the norm all over the world.

“If it goes this way, nobody would volunteer information that could be processed into intelligence, there may be no bilateral collaboration between Nigeria intelligence agencies and some known cracked foreign agencies in the world like the FBI, CIA, MI5, MI6 and more, for fear that they could be exposed, compromised and the lives of their operatives compromised in the course of open probe. And I know that we (Nigeria) have enjoyed that goodwill over years.

“An open investigation by outsiders might just be penny wise, pound foolish. A bubble of pyrrhic victory that would evaporate and expose Nigeria to ridicule.

“Either way, even if there’s misdemeanour anywhere, any inquiry without a presidential imprimatur in line with the world best practices and as recommended by the committee would be a bastardized effort.”

In furtherance of the ongoing probe of the blockade of the National Assembly on July 24, sources have confirmed that suspected collaborators have been cleverly placed on watchlist.

It was confirmed that some of the collaborators allegedly mentioned in the interim report have been placed on watchlist.

The list of those placed on close watch was said to have been longer then expected as according to sources, it contained top officials of the administration suspected to have held secret meetings that led to the blockade of the legislature are also on the list.

The unusual thing about this move is that the agency in charge of the close watch is not your usual agency and the administration is keeping the identity of the agency under wraps, a source said, adding that the suspects include heads of some parastatals, and agencies.

“Those involved cannot leave the country for now,” the source said.

Kyase:
Make i enter politic section..

Kyase:
lol you know how many fake fasting and prayers i under go, or how hard e dey to bring all this verses to convince Dem to sow?

Kyase:
no be for my HARD earn money sha...
Only offering you see chop, but tithe na my own