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In this investigation, BusinessDay exposes how a company owned by a former campaigner for David Umahi received N60.1 billion solely from the Ministry of Works in two years, despite ongoing EFCC case. FAWAZ ADEBISI writes…

As Nigeria’s 2023 general elections approached, Joshua Okoro stood before students in Ebonyi State and urged them to vote for David Umahi, then the state’s governor and a candidate for the Ebonyi South senatorial seat.

Okoro, who was chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Stakeholders Forum in Ebonyi State and coordinator of the Divine Mandate Students Campaign, was canvassing support for Umahi’s Ebonyi South senatorial seat. He urged the students to “vote wisely” and choose Umahi.

“Your support and vote will be reciprocated in many ways,” Okoro told the students.

At the time of the campaign, Okoro’s appeal appeared to be a routine show of political support.

Umahi won the election, but the Senate seat would not hold him for long. He resigned from the Senate and became President Bola Tinubu’s Minister of Works, one of the most contract-heavy portfolios in the federal government.

Months later, after Umahi became Minister of Works, a company led by Okoro began receiving payments from the ministry.

BusinessDay Investigations found that in just two years, Reinforced Global Resources Limited received N60.1 billion from the Federal Ministry of Works, with its entire recorded federal payment history coming from only the ministry.

Read more: https://businessday.ng/investigation/article/how-umahi-violated-procurement-law-with-n60bn-contracts-for-loyalist/

POOR oversight and negligence of the Nigerian Police have led to an increasing population of awaiting trial suspects in custody of the country’s correctional service.

The judiciary and other prosecuting agencies are also not left out of the blame for the surging number of awaiting trial inmates in Nigerian correctional centres/prisons.

Read more at https://www.icirnigeria.org/how-police-judiciary-failures-increase-number-of-awaiting-trial-suspects-in-prison/

Biyi Otegbeye rejects Dapo Abiodun’s appointment

Chief Biyi Otegbeye has rejected the appointment by Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun as Chairman of the  Agric Development Corporation.

Otegbeye made this known to The BeatNG in a reaction to the appointment by the state government.

Read More: https://www.thebeatng.com/biyi-otegbeye-rejects-dapo-abioduns-appointment/

Tragedy has gripped the families Afeez Kegbeyale, a recent graduate of Federal Polytechnic, Offa in Osun State as three men allegedly stab him to death.

The 30-year-old poultry farmer was attacked following an altercation with the yet to be identified three men on his way to his farm.

Read More: https://www.thebeatng.com/how-three-men-allegedly-stab-young-graduate-farmer-to-death-in-osun/

Muhammad Dingyadi, the Minister of Police Affairs, has vowed to ensure a comprehensive investigation into allegations of infractions against personnel of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police.

This was made known by the Press Secretary to the Minister, Mr Osaigbovo Ehisienmen, in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

According to Dingyadi, the idea was to secure justice for the victims and reprimand erring officers involved in such violation of citizens’ right and unprofessional conducts.

Read More: https://www.thebeatng.com/police-minister-investigation-sars/

As the race to occupy the governorship seat of Ondo State continues, ten out of the 17 political parties contesting in the governorship poll has withdrawn their candidates to support the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Eyitayo Jegede.

This followed a resolution between the parties on Monday in Ondo State Capital, Akure.

Read More: https://www.thebeatng.com/road-to-ondo-ten-political-parties-dump-governorship-race-to-back-pdp-candidate-jegede/

Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has once again laid blames on the previous administrations of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over the current state of the country.

While delivering his speech to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Nigeria, Buhari blamed the previous administration for the poor development of the country.

“No government in the past did what we are doing with such scarce resources. We have managed to keep things going in spite of the disproportionate spending on security.

Read more: https://www.thebeatng.com/again-buhari-blasts-pdp-on-his-independence-day-speech/

Samson Ayokunle, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has highlighted some reasons Nigeria is still crawling after 60 years of independence.

Ayokunle said this in a statement he titled ‘Pursuing the right path to greatness,’ in commemorating the 60 years’ anniversary of Nigeria.

According to Ayokunle, one of the reasons for the slow pace of development in Nigeria is the cost of governance.

He stated that lip service to godliness and patriotism and self-enrichment are also major hindrances to the proper development of the nation.

Read More: https://www.thebeatng.com/nigeria-60-years-independence-president/

Former Chelsea forward, Eden Hazard has suffered another injury blow making it five muscle injuries and 27 ankle issues since joining Spanish giants, Real Madrid in 2018.

Real Madrid on Wednesday disclosed that the Belgian star has sustained another injury that would keep him out of the field for few weeks.

Read More: https://www.thebeatng.com/injured-again-hazard-suffers-5-muscle-injuries-27-ankle-issues-since-joining-real-madrid/