₦airaland Forum

Some federal permanent secretaries have started submitting responses to their queries on the alleged job racketeering scandals going on in their ministries in writing, to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

Investigation by our correspondent at the secretariat of the panel during the week revealed that many of the accounting officers submitted the written documents personally.

It was also discovered that while some of them sought audience with the Chairman of the committee, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, others simply submitted their responses and left.

The Senate said on Monday that it had demanded detailed written submissions from the permanent secretaries through the office of the Head of Service of the Federation, on their levels of involvement in the job racketeering scandal going on under their watch.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, wrote the strongly-worded query to the various heads of the MDAs, through the HoS, which was despatched to the accounting officers by the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

The official communication was titled, “Petition against the permanent secretaries and directors of human resources and administration of various MDAs for a deliberate failure to document engaged and deployed qualified candidates to their various MDAs between 2016 to 2019.”

The letter alleged that the non-documentation and deployment of the affected successful candidates had led to fraud and gross mismanagement of appropriated funds annually.

The Senate alleged further that the various MDAs were harbouring syndicates who were acting as fronts for some key officers in the establishment.

He said the criminals were collecting between N500, 000 and N1.5m from each candidate already engaged by the Federal Civil Service Commission before their documents would be processed and they would be deployed accordingly.

Confirming the latest development in an interview with our correspondent, Akinyelure said while the permanent secretaries were submitting written responses, the HoS and the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission would answer verbal queries from the panel members.

He said, “We have started receiving responses from the permanent secretaries and we are treating the cases as they respond.

“What we discovered so far is that when letters are issued by the FCC and sent to the ministries, some officials will sit on the letters for one or more years and by the time they act on them, events would have overtaken it.

“We are therefore asking the HoS, FCSC and the permanent secretaries to tell us what happen to the funds appropriated for the salaries of the declared vacancies over the years.

“At the end of each financial year, the accounting officers will come and tell us in the National Assembly that their personnel cost performed 99.9 per cent.

“The HoS, the civil service commission would be summoned and asked to tell us the process they are undertaking.

“We want to know who takes money from applicants and eventually issued them with fake letters of employment and when the civil service commission eventually sends their names to the ministries to be engaged, they would wait for between one and three years before they would be finally documented.

“We are also inviting the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission and the Director of Human Resources so that they can be on the same page with the National Assembly by giving us information that will enable us to track down the syndicates who are obtaining gratification from innocent Nigerian graduates.

“The HoS and FCSC will tell us the declared vacancies in the various ministries and parastatals over a given period of time.

“We will find out how many of them have been documented, how many of them have been issued with genuine letters and how many of the declared vacancies have been engaged officially by the FCSC.

“The FCSC should tell us at what time they send the lists to the various ministries and what actions the ministries have taken on them.

“Some ministry officials usually sit on the letters for one year before writing the FCSC to find out about the genuineness of the letters, it is in the process, that syndicates defraud innocent Nigerians.”

On how the panel got its information about the alleged job scandal, Akinyelure said, “We have petitions written by whistle-blowers, challenging the system of employing people to work in the federal ministries and agencies of government.”

He said, “The Senate is prepared more than ever before to go all out to check the abuses that have been going on for years.

“We are now telling Nigerians that those who have information should not hide it from their elected representatives in the legislature.

“We are determined to clean up the system. The belief in Nigeria today among graduates is that if you don’t know anybody, you cannot get a job.”

Some armed men invaded the Nigerian high commission in Accra, Ghana, on Friday, destroying some apartments under construction.

The affected buildings were reportedly being constructed to house staff and visitors.

A Ghanaian businessman had accused the commission of encroaching on his land.

He was said to have visited the place last week, presenting evidence that he is the real owner of the land.

However, he reportedly returned to the site on Friday in the company of armed men who supervised the demolition.

Officials of the commission reportedly contacted the police but efforts were not made to prevent the demolition.



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The building before it was destroyed


The Nigerian and Ghanaian authorities are yet to react to the issue which comes five months after the ministry of foreign affairs denied reports that the Nigerian commission in Ghana had been evicted in Accra.

In a statement, Ferdinand Nwonye, spokesperson of the ministry, had said there was no “diplomatic row between Nigeria and the Republic of Ghana”.

Nwonye had said though the lease of the property on No.10 Barnes Road, Accra, has expired, the high commission was exploring the possibility of renewing the lease agreement with the host authorities.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has been able to get the 9th Senate to confirm at least 207 appointees for him in the last one year of the existence of the current Senate, Sunday PUNCH reports.

The 207 already confirmed include judges, ministers, ambassadors, commissioners and heads of agencies.

However, Buhari has not considered the re-appointment of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu.

Magu was appointed by the President on November 9, 2015 subject to confirmation by the Senate. But he has remained in acting capacity since then.

He was rejected twice by the 8th Senate, under the leadership of Dr Bukola Saraki, based on a security report by the Department of State Services. He, however, remained in office.

Saraki’s tenure as Senate President was characterised by a frosty relationship between the Presidency and the National Assembly.

However, since the inauguration of the 9th Senate led by Ahmad Lawan on June 11, 2019, Buhari has sent the names of 200 individuals to the upper chamber for confirmation but has not sent that of Magu.

This is despite assurances by Lawan that the Senate would act swiftly if Magu’s name is forwarded to the Senate for approval.

When the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption, Itse Sagay, paid him a visit at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on November 21, 2019, Lawan said there was no request before the 9th Senate for the confirmation of Magu.

Magu is expected to retire from the police force in the next 23 months when he would have turned 60.

The 9th Senate, which prides itself on friendly towards the executive, has rejected the confirmation of only one of Buhari’s nominees in the last one year and she was rejected because of her refusal to show up for screening.

In July 2019, Buhari wrote the Senate seeking the confirmation of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, which was swiftly granted.

Two weeks later, the President nominated 43 persons to be confirmed by the Senate as ministers. They were all confirmed within a week with many of them being asked to “take a bow and go”.

In September 2019, the upper chamber received a request for Adeleke Adewolu to be confirmed as an Executive Commissioner of the Nigerian Communications Commission to replace Sunday Dare, who had resigned to take up a ministerial appointment. The request was granted.

The following month, Buhari sought the confirmation of 16 nominees for the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission. They were all confirmed, except Joy Nunieh of Rivers State for failing to appear for screening. Those confirmed have, however, not been inaugurated to date.

In November 2019, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Justice John Tsoho as the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, based on the President’s request.

For December 2019, the Senate approved 13 nominees as chairman and commissioners of the National Assembly Service Commission. The nominees were inaugurated by the President.

In the same month, Buhari got the Senate to approve 18 nominees for the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, with Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan as chairman.

In December 2019 as well, the President asked the Senate to confirm the appointment of Muhammad Nami as chairman and 11 others as members of the board of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, while Edward Adamu was confirmed the Chairman, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria.

In January 2020, Buhari sought the confirmation of the appointment of Kingsley Obiora as the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, as well as Musa Nuhu as the substantive Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority

The President also sought the confirmation of the appointment of Adeolu Akande as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the NCC and Uche Onwude as a member (South East) of the board.

All the nominations of January were endorsed by the upper chamber.

In April 2020, Buhari wrote the Senate for the confirmation of 38 persons to the board of the Federal Character Commission with Muheeda Dankaka as chairman. On the same day, he forwarded seven nominees for the membership of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

For the month of May 2020, he sought the Senate’s approval for the confirmation of 42 ambassadors, which was granted.

In June, the Senate approved the President’s request to confirm Lamido Yuguda as the Director-General of the apex capital market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Three others were also confirmed as SEC commissioners.

In June 2020, the Nigerian Senate confirmed the appointment of two non-executive directors for the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation and three members of the Board of Nigerian Law Reform Commission.

In the same month, the Senate confirmed Monica Dongbam-Mensem as the President of the Court of Appeal.

Also in June 2020, Buhari wrote the Senate for the endorsement of Prof Umar Danbatta as Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC.

The government of Chad Republic has formally requested the Nigerian government to connect the country to the Nigerian electricity grid.

The request was presented by the Chadian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abakar Saleh Chachaimi during a working visit to the Minister of Power, Engr. Sale Mamman in Abuja.

While describing the need as pressing, the Ambassador stressed the historical and economic value of connecting Chad to Nigeria’s electricity as a means of continued collaboration between the countries.

Reacting to the request, Engr. Mamman welcomed the development, stressing that it will help in enhancing the long existing relations between the two countries.

The minister said the request from Chad Republic came at the best time as he reassured the Chadian envoy that Nigeria will evaluate it within the various projects under the Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme (TREP) for possible integration of the request.

"I, therefore, direct the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) whose representatives are part of this meeting, to come up with a business case and implementation modalities. Based on that, we will write to the Presidency to secure all the necessary approvals,” Engr. Mamman said.

The minister also approved the request to host his counterpart from the Republic of Chad for a technical analysis of the request. He further informed the Chadian delegation that currently, Nigeria has bilateral contracts for supplying electricity to Niger Republic and Benin Republic which have been ongoing for decades.

Engr. Mamman also noted that under the framework of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) whose objectives include promotion of power exchange among the ECOWAS member states, the Republics of Benin, Burkina-Faso, Niger and Nigeria, are building an 875 kilometre distance of 330 kilovolt power transmission line, the “North Core Transmission line”.

The line will interconnect the four countries for improved power supply from Nigeria. He said, “this project got the concurrent acceptance of the World Bank (WB), African Development Bank (AfDB) and French Development Agency (AFD) to finance different segments of the proposed transmission line. “As at September 2019, all the financing became effective and the implementation structure for the project has earlier been established with Project Implementation Unit (PIU) located in Abuja.”

Nigeria has said that former Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, remains its candidate for the position of the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

According to it, Nigeria, like other sovereign states, reserves the right to nominate, withdraw or replace a candidate for any position, especially when a consensus has not been agreed to endorse a single candidate.

The federal government made its position known in a Note Verbale dated June 18, 2020, that was addressed to the African Union Commission, Members of the Ministerial Committee on Candidatures, among others.

The Note Verbale is a response to an earlier statement that was attributed to the Office of the Legal Counsel (OLC) of the African Union, which had earlier faulted the nomination of the former minister.

The OLC had stated that the nomination of Okonjo-Iweala was against the rules of procedure and the decision by the AU Executive Council.

A document from the office of the OLC stated that Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination violated Rule (11), 1, 2 and 3, Rule 12 and Rule 15(3) of the rules of procedure of the committee on candidatures within the International System of the AU.

However, Nigeria in the diplomatic document, rejected the judgment of the OLC in a June 15, 2020, Note Verbale by the Legal Counsel, saying it, “failed all parameters of objectivity, academic rigour and unbiased submission, a high standard for which the African Union is to be held.”

The document stated that the Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would not be a party to any propaganda and/or actions that supplant the vision and objectives of the African Union, by supporting a willful, obviously partisan and outlandish interpretation of rules and decisions.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the central objective of Note No. 150/2020 dated 8th June, 2020 from the Mission of Nigeria, is anchored on a request for a simple and uncomplicated clarification, that is, an express proclamation by the OLC, where Decision EX-1090 foreclosed the substitution/replacement of candidates by any of the three AU member states.

“Truth be told, the long, winding and tortuous opinion demonstrated in Note No. BC/OLC/24/5056.20 of 15th June, 2020 from the OLC, is a classic case of red herring – a demonstration of unsolicited and unguarded submission under the guise of a legal opinion.

“This is because, at no time should our minds and attention be moved away from the grundnorm, as to do so amounts to willful and deliberate acquiesce to re-writing the rules, in obvious contravention of our noble Constitutive Act,” it added.

The federal government noted that the OLC had the opportunity to set the records straight, by admitting its obvious error in the advisory opinion provided to the Candidatures Committee at the latter’s meeting on June 4, 2020.

It said: “Neither individuals nor institutions are immune to mistakes,” adding that, “the challenge only comes when we become defensive in admitting errors made inadvertently, by attempting to wish away or covering it with effusively lame, egregious and outlandish display of words and misinterpretation of rules and decision.”

It added: ‘It is obvious that the OLC is stubbornly trapped to the unfounded notion that the candidature of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a fresh submission and cleverly refraining from recognising it as replacement for Ambassador Yonov Frederick Agah, an earlier submission, duly made in line with all known rules.

“By the same token of illogic, does it then mean that a country whose candidate steps down as a result of natural causes or act of force majeure becomes ineligible to replacing such candidate according to OLC?

“Such conclusion is not just patently wrong, but worrisome and grossly uninformed.”

According to the Permanent Mission of Nigeria, the Rules of Procedure referred to in the Note Verbal by OLC, relates fundamentally, to the submission of a new candidature for a position and not “by any shred of imagination, a substitution/replacement of an earlier submission duly made in line with all rules.”

“Hence, Nigeria’s substitution/replacement of Ambassador Yonov Frederick Agah with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as candidate for DG-WTO cannot be treated as fresh nomination for the position, and as such cannot be said, or even imagined “not to conform” with Rules 11 (1,2,3,4,5), 12 or indeed any of the Rules of Procedure deliberately highlighted by OLC to mislead.

“To state that the same submission is not in line with Executive Council Decisions EX 1072 and 1090 of July, 2019 and February, 2020 is an aberration, as none of these decisions preclude any member state from substituting its candidate, especially given that a sacrosanct decision was yet to be taken by the executive council to endorse one particular candidate in this instance.

“That neither the stated decisions of the executive council nor any of the AU Rules of Procedure on candidatures, expressly or impliedly, forbids the substitution/replacement of candidates by any member-state,” it said.

In addition, the federal government explained that to state that “Nigeria is latching on its sovereign right to change existing rules of procedure and relevant decisions of executive council as well as decisions of other policy organs,” was unbecoming, unfortunate and a gross misinterpretation and misrepresentation of facts from an office established to be dispassionate, neutral and professional.

“Nigeria, like other sovereign states, reserves the right to nominate, withdraw or replace a candidate for any position, especially when a consensus has not been agreed to endorse a single candidate.

“It is in the spirit of the stated Assembly Decision 795(XXXIII) of February, 2020, as well as other relevant decisions, that after due consultations, the Republic of Benin stepped down her candidate in total support of Nigeria’s Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for DG-WTO; and,

“That the WTO has acted upon the withdrawal of the nomination of Ambassador Yonov Frederick Agah and accepted and processed the nomination of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as appropriate.

“In view of the highlights provided above, it is demonstrably clear that the OLC has substantially failed to substantiate how the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in exercising her sovereign right, flouted any of the said decisions or rules of procedure, as none of them categorically precludes the substitution of a candidate by the member-states.

“In this regard, the Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to put on record that only advisory opinion that does not neutralise the time-honoured practice of respecting the sovereign right of member states to nominate, withdraw or replace candidates, as applicable will be respected.

“Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is, and remains, the candidate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the position of DG – WTO,” the Note Verbale stated.

It thanked the Republic of Benin and other AU member states for supporting the Nigerian nominee.

Meanwhile, in a June 15, 2020, Note Verbale, the country had explained that it was true that the Executive Council, through Decision EX.CL/Dec.1072 (XXXV) of July 2019, called on all AU member-states to consider presenting competent candidates to the AU Ministerial Committee on Candidatures in the International System for the position of DG-WTO by 30th November, 2019, with a view to endorsing one candidate during the February, 2020 36th Ordinary Session.

However, no single candidate was endorsed at the 36th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council. Rather, the executive council, through Decision EX.CL/Dec. 1090 (XXXVI) of February, 2020, “endorsed” the candidatures of Benin, Egypt and Nigeria, as a shortlist.

Nigeria explained that the council further requested the Ministerial Committee on African Candidatures within the International System to consider the matter and report to the executive council at its 37th Ordinary session, with a view to agreeing on a single African candidate.”

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has commenced the replacement process for the post of the Deputy National Secretary of the party declared vacant on Wednesday by the National Working Committee.

The office was occupied by the embattled self acclaimed acting national chairman of the party, Hon. Victor Giadom who resigned from the office in 2018 to contest the River State Deputy Governorship during the last general elections.

The National Vice Chairman, South South, Hon. Hillard Etagbo Eta disclosed this in a chat with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

Eta who has been standing in for Senator Ajimobi, the acting National Chairman said the NWC has directed the South South geo-political zone to commence the process of the filling of the vacant post of the Deputy National Secretary as declared by the NWC.

According to the APC boss, “in the wisdom of the NWC, they now asked us in the South-South to bring forth a name to fill that vacancy that had been created.

“As a member of the NWC and National Vice Chairman of the party and as one who coordinates the activities of the party in the South-South and who represents the National Chairman, I have now communicated the Rivers State chapter to who this particular position has been micro-zoned, to now meet as a party to bring out the name and forward that name to the South-South zone for ratification and onward transmission to the NWC, that is what we are in the process of doing”.

Sheeding light on how Giadom office became vacant, Eta said, “Chief Victor Giadom resigned to contest as Deputy Governorship candidate of the party, and it is on record, we transmitted his name to INEC, he printed posters and he could not have done so, we could not have transmitted his name, he could not have campagined has Deputy Governorship candidate of our party without first resigning his office.

“So, in the wisdom of the NWC, they now asked us in the South-south to bring forth a name to fill that vacancy that had been created. I think we should be very clear on this, I think whatever mistakes, whatever missteps have been done cannot viciate the grand law of the party, which is the Constitution of the party”.

But when told that Giadom claimed that the NWC granted him a wavier which enabled him to return back to office after the election, the National Vice Chairman maintained that Giadom has ceased to be a NWC member, arguing that the former deputy national Secretary was economical with the truth.

Hear Eta: “You see the Constitution of our party is not a voluminous book for you to find out whether anyone can be given a waiver from resignation, we don’t even have it in our constitution.

“If Chief Victor Giadom feels very bad or very strongly about what the resolution of the NWC, of course, like he is always doing, like his likes are always doing, he can proceed to court, but that is the resolution of the NWC,” Eta advised.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday inaugurated the Edo State Election and Appeal Panels to conduct the June 22 party primary election for the emergence of its flag bearer ahead the September governorship election.

The acting National Chairman, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, represented by the National Vice Chairman, South South, Hon. Hillard Etagbo Eta directed the committees to ensure the success of the emergency of the party flag bearer for Edo State governorship election.

The seven-man Election Panel is headed by Imo Governor, Senator Hope Uzordinma and Senator Ajibola Bashiru as Secretary.

The five-man Election Appeal Panel has Dr. Yusuf Nawai and Dr. Kayode Ajulo as Secretary.

The federal government on Wednesday hinted of plans to unify the current Naira multiple exchange rate regime as a strategic monetary policy option to generate more local currency from its dollar inflows and manage the rate in a sustainable manner.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, was quoted by Reuters, based on what the online medium linked to an official document, as proposing as replacement of the current exchange regime.

Ahmed was also quoted as saying that the government will also, amongst other options being considered to strengthen the national currency’s exchange rates, direct oil companies to sell dollars to the Central Bank of Nigeria instead of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The document by the ministry also reiterated government’s commitment to full deregulation of petroleum prices as part of measures to safeguard oil revenues.

According to the document, the proposed policy will be implemented over a 12 month period. It would be recalled that the monetary authorities had, over the past years, subscribed to a multiple exchange rate regime to mitigate the exchange rates volatility in the market and by implication, avoid major devaluation of the Naira.

However, latest developments in the international oil market occasioned by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global economies, particularly oil exporting nations’, have continued to threaten Nigeria’s forex accruals as earnings from crude oil exports have dwindled significantly over the past months.

Meanwhile, the Naira opened on the exchange market at 6.2% depreciation against the U.S. dollar yesterday as traders quoted the currency close to the over-the-counter spot market rate on the back of speculations that the monetary authorities will sustain, with stronger zeal, efforts to beef up the nation’s foreign reserves.

Plateau state government on Wednesday shut down a private hospital after 17 staff tested positive for COVID-19.

The hospital which is known as Rayfield Medical center is located in Rayfield, Jos South Local Government Area of the state.

The commissioner for health, Dr Nimkong Lar, who made the disclosure in Jos told journalists that two patients who were being managed in the hospital had developed COVID-19 virus.

“Screening of primary and secondary contacts revealed that 17 staff of the hospital have tested positive for the virus and are also being attended to by the state ministry of health officials.

“Unfortunately, we lost one of them.” The commissioner however said as of of Wednesday, 29 health workers have tested positive to the virus in the state.

The commissioner further called on residents of the state not to panic as government is on top of the situation, calling on all and sundry to obey government directives against the disease.

Sunday Aborisade, Abuja

The Federal Government has concluded plans to concession 10 major highways in the country.

Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, stated this on Wednesday while presenting details of the project to the National Assembly Joint Committee on Works.



He told the lawmakers that the project titled, “Highway Development and Management Initiative”, is anchored on a private sector engagement.

He said the investors would carry out the development and management of the road networks.

He said the rationale behind the private sector engagement is that it would provide an avenue to mitigate paucity of funds, which had hindered roads development in the past.

Fashola said the first phase of the project will attract a capital investment of N163.323bn at a cost of about N16bn per each of the 10 roads.

He also said about 23,322 jobs would be created in the first phase.

The roads are Benin – Asaba, Abuja – Lokoja, Kaduna – Kano, Onitsha – Owerri – Aba, Sagamu -Benin, Abuja -Keffi – Akwanga, Kano – Maiduguri, Lokoja – Benin, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Ilorin-Jebba.

He said the investors are expected to provide streetlights, toll plazas, rest areas, and weighbridge stations.

The Minister further explained that the total length of the federal road network is 35,000km but that the total length of the proposed first phase routes is 2,275km

He said another 10 routes are being identified for the second phase of the Value Added Concession.

He said “The Value Added Concession through the construction of rest areas will reduce fatigue on the highways thereby causing a reduction in accidents as the routes will be better managed and maintained.

“Through the Value Added Concession, there will be job creation in communities that fall along the route which will bring about an increase in rural development.

“Improvement on weighbridge stations will reduce the incidence of roads having to bear loads above their design weight. This will improve the lifespan of the road pavement.”

On the capability of the would-be investors to handle the project, Fashola said, applicants will be evaluated on their financial and technical competence.

The lawmakers commended the Minister’s initiative and described it as a worthy project that would enhance development, provide security and jobs for young Nigerians.

There was pandemonium at Itigidi, Abi Local Government Area of Cross Rivers state as a popular man of God, and General Overseer of Paul’s Ministries, Prophet Paul Abam, was caught burying charms in someone’s house.

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Vanguard learnt that the Prophet, who was a Pastor in an orthodox church in Ugep, Yakurr LGA a neighbouring town before leaving to open his own ministry, was caught right in the act as he was trying to bury the charm in his “victims” house.

The prophet was paraded around Itigidi, Abi LGA, Cross River in a traditional way to shame him and deter others with such intentions because the act is considered taboo in the area.

Prophet Paul Abam paraded in the traditional way

An eye witness, who pleaded anonymity, said he was caught after being identified by someone who saw and identified him while allegedly burying the charms in the building.

The eyewitness said that Pastor Abam popularly known as “Miracle Pastor” was paraded in traditional handcuffs after he was caught in the act.

“We apprehended Prophet Paul Abam in his home town Itigidi when he was burying charms in someone’s building and dealt with the matter by parading him in our traditional way to deter others like him,” the witness said.

It was gathered that President Buhari decided to take the step after Daura, one of his closest confidants, was seen weeping as he made his way to his office.

The last may not have been heard in the crisis rocking Aso Villa, Nigeria's seat of power in Abuja, where wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha, has waged an open and bitter war against some persons close to her husband including his Personal Assistant, Sabiu 'Tunde' Yusuf, and Mamman Daura, a nephew to the President.

The crisis, which started with Yusuf's refusal to embark on a 14-day isolation period after returning to Abuja from a trip to Lagos last week, led to the arrest and eventual redeployment of the Aide De Camp to Mrs Buhari and other security details attached to her after it was claimed that they threatened to kill the President's Personal Assistant in the process of trying to get him out of the Villa.

However, fresh facts at the disposal of SaharaReporters have indicated that President Buhari, who was deeply angered by the embarrassing situation, is set to fire his security details and some top aides for the roles they all played in dragging the Presidency into the mud.

Reliable insiders disclosed that the President is set to fire his Chief Security Officer, Kassim Idrissa, his ADC, Col. Mohammed Lawal Abubakar, his Chief Personal Secuirty Officer, Abdulkareem Dauda, whom Yusuf, a son to Buhari's niece, claimed to be threats to his life.

It was gathered that President Buhari decided to take the step after Daura, one of his closest confidants, was seen weeping as he made his way to his office.

Daura was said to have informed Buhari that his security aides were not only after Yusuf’s life but his own as well.

Outraged upon hearing this, Buhari gave the nod for all persons involved in the alleged threat to the lives of the two men to be removed.

However, Daura managed to save the 'head' of his son-in-law, Abdul Muktar, who works as Senior Special Assistant to the President in the office of the Chief of Staff.

This is despite the fact that it had been established that Muktar had been signing documents illegally since the demise of late Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Abba Kyari.

Sources revealed that the latest move by the President may further escalate tension in Aso Villa as Aisha already sees the move by her husband as a way to placate Daura and other members of the 'cabal' she feels are manipulating and turning Buhari against his immediate family.

The First Lady, it was gathered, is doing all she can to have Yusuf fired and other perceived 'enemies' removed from the Villa.

At the moment, the fate of Yusuf is not known as it was gathered that he may have fallen out of reckoning with the President for his role in the entire saga that has brought ridicule to Nigeria's Presidency in recent days.

By Henry Umoru


ABUJA- THE Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, the umbrella body of the thirty- six State Governors said yesterday that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State remains an old and very strong member of the forum.

Reacting to Wike who lampooned the Nigeria Governors Forum, describing it as being a “beggars forum.”, the NGF through its Head of Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazaque Barkindo said, “Beggars Forum: Governor Wike is an old member of the NGF and a strong one at that.

“He could not have referred to the NGF as a Beggars Forum. Blame it on the author of the release, Mr. Nsirim the Information Commissioner in Rivers State who could not distinguish between the NGF and the Progressive Governors Forum which is the political platform of APC Governors.

“The NGF has six core mandate areas and politics isn’t one of them. The NGF is happy to state that Gov Wike is one of its strong members and has delegated his Deputy Governor to the Forum and she has never missed any meeting.

“The NGF appeals to all media advisers to seek to acquaint themselves with the different groups that their Chief Executives belong to in order to avoid making such misrepresentations that are entirely political and not governance-related.”

Recall that Governor Wike had taken a swipe at the Governors Forum, describing it as being a “beggars forum.”

Wike’s attack on the forum, of which he is a member, was apparently in connection with the travails of Governor Godwin Obaseki who has been disqualified by the All Progressives Congress (APC) from contesting the forthcoming governorship primary of the party in Edo state.

Obaseki’s disqualification on Friday climaxed the protracted political battle between him and his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, who is the APC national chairman.

Hadi Sirika, the minister for aviation, says the flight that conveyed Naira Marley to Abuja for a concert was approved for a different purpose.

Answering questions during the daily briefing on the presidential task force on COVID-19 on Monday, Sirika said the company has been suspended indefinitely.

He also said the flight captain will be sanctioned for providing false information.

Orange, France’s largest telecom operator, believes it would benefit from having a wider footprint in Africa and will give itself a few months to make a possible move, Chief Executive Stephane Richard, told Les Echos business newspaper.

“It could make sense to be in economies such as Nigeria and South Africa,” Richard was quoted as saying. “If one considers there are things to do, the time frame I am considering is rather a few months than a few years.”

Richard declined to comment on a possible interest in South Africa’s MTN Group Ltd.

The Middle East and Africa, where Orange has a presence in 18 countries, is the company’s fastest-growing market.

The region makes a large chunk of its revenues from payment transfers – a key part of the group’s diversification into financial services.

Orange said earlier this year it was bringing its operations in the Middle East and Africa into a single entity, paving the way for a potential listing of the operations that could raise cash to invest in overseas expansion.

Richard said Orange would also be looking at bolstering partnerships with health companies or institutions.

Godwin Obaseki, the embattled governor of Edo state, had his moment not too long ago and almost brought down Adam Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of the All Progressives (APC).

Mr Obaseki, other APC governors, and some ministers from the South-South had put in all their political might in a plot to remove Mr Oshiomhole before the commencement of the party governorship primaries.

And, of course, that appeared to be the safest route for Mr Obaseki to easily pick the APC ticket to run for a second term as Edo governor after a once-promising relationship between him and Mr Oshiomhole became horribly sour.

Back home in his Edo State where he had served before as governor, Mr Oshiomhole had been suspended by the local chapters of the APC and thoroughly discredited in the state, obviously through the prompting of Governor Obaseki.

Time was ticking against Mr Oshiomhole.

In a matter of days, he would be kicked out of office as the APC chairman, most people had concluded.

And just in the nick of time, Bola Tinubu, the man that is highly regarded as the party’s national leader, stepped in. He said those who were plotting Mr Oshiomhole’s removal saw the national chairman as the obstacle to their 2023 political ambition.

“The Chairman has been a tireless campaigner and mobilizer for the party. He has steered the party through difficult elections. His contributions should not be undervalued now that the bulk of elections are behind us,” Mr Tinubu said in a statement in March.

Mr Tinubu said it would, therefore, be “an act of ingratitude” to remove the APC chairman.

“It is no secret that the Chairman and Edo Governor Obaseki are in dispute. This is unfortunate. However, the party has moved through proper procedures within the proper organs of the party to hopefully resolve this spat,” he added.

The sea became calm, quiet, and safe for the APC chairman, after Mr Tinubu’s statement.

Nigerian politicians share a common belief – if you do not “finish” your political enemy, if you give him a breather, he is likely to come for you with every strength he could muster, and with every ‘weapon’ he could lay hands on. And also when the fight gets dirtier, you could actually be fighting under the rule that there is no rule.

Mr Oshiomhole survived the plot, gathered some strength, and, with Mr Obaseki’s disqualification on Friday from contesting the forthcoming APC governorship primary in Edo State, it seems he has now taken his pound of flesh from his erstwhile protégé.

Oshiomhole-Obaseki political fight has been on for several months. In fact, it became an open secret in June 2019 that the two leaders were at war against each other.

The fight divided the APC in Edo state and crippled the Edo House of Assembly, where 14 elected lawmakers, out of 24, are yet to be inaugurated several months after their elections. The 14 members are loyalists of Mr Oshiomhole.

Governor Obaseki, in order to take complete charge of Edo politics, kicked Mr Oshiomhole’s loyalists, one after the other, out of political office.

But in the latter days, when it became clearer that Mr Oshiomhole and his supporters were closing in on Mr Obaseki, some of the governor’s aides, including his chief of staff, resigned from the administration.

What is Tinubu saying?

Mr Obaseki and other APC governors met with Mr Tinubu recently to seek a possible resolution of the Oshiomhole-Obaseki rift.

“Though I cannot quote exactly what he (Tinubu) said because I was not there, but essentially he took side with Oshiomhole, by insisting that they should go and do direct primary with this COVID-19 challenge that we are faced with,” Mr Obaseki’s spokesperson, Crusoe Osagie, told PREMIUM TIMES, Friday evening.

Shortly after Mr Obaseki’s meeting with Mr Tinubu in Lagos, Joe Igbokwe, an APC chieftain in Lagos and a strong supporter of Mr Tinubu wrote on Facebook, “But they said Edo is not Lagos,” apparently mocking those who had boasted that Mr Obaseki was going to trounce Mr Oshiomhole, unlike the former Lagos governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who failed to secure a second term because of his disagreement with Mr Tinubu.

“Please fear PMB, Jagaban and Oshiomhole. These are not small boys,” Mr Igbokwe added in his Facebook post.

When the national leadership of the APC announced that the party would use direct primary (against the indirect primary canvassed by Obaseki) to choose their governorship candidate in Edo it became obvious that Mr Tinubu and others, probably including President Muhammadu Buhari, had turned their back against the Edo governor.

The disqualification may just be a confirmation that Mr Obaseki has been abandoned to face his fate.

On June 12, a few hours after Mr Obaseki’s disqualification, Mr Igbokwe again took to Facebook to celebrate the development. “Please know that APC is not PDP. Men in APC are not boys. Sometimes they take hard decisions to send some strong signals out there,” he wrote on the social media site.

PREMIUM TIMES asked Mr Obaseki’s spokesperson if the governor felt betrayed by Mr Tinubu. “I wouldn’t know, let me not react to that,” he responded.

Is Obaseki leaving APC?

Mr Obaseki’s initial statement, through his spokesperson, Mr Osagie, appeared as though he had given up on Mr Oshiomhole and APC.

“We have decided that it would be effort in futility to appeal whatever the unjust outcome of the evaluation and screening process of the APC will be, especially when Comrade Oshiomhole has declared that he is the Supreme Court and ultimate determiner of the fate and future of our great party,” the governor’s spokesperson, Mr Osagie said in the statement.

“We wish Oshiomhole well in his maladministration of the party and trust that the Almighty will help our country to find the path to true liberty, freedom and justice,” he added.

But when PREMIUM TIMES contacted Mr Osagie, Friday evening, to ask him specifically if Mr Obaseki was leaving APC, he said the governor had not said so.

Mr Obaseki has told his supporters to remain calm and wait for a further directive, Mr Osagie said.

Mr Obaseki, as it is now, has the option of heading to court to challenge his disqualification. He could also get the ticket from another party to contest for his re-election.

The chairman of APC in Edo State, Anselm Ojezua, a loyalist of the governor, gave an induction that may be Mr Obaseki’s direction.

In a statement late Friday, he said the APC only stopped the governor from using its platform not from contesting the election. He vowed Mr Obaseki will contest and win.

Nigerian politicians share another common belief that 24 hours before any election is enough time for any political maneuvering to take place and that anything can happen within such available time.

The governorship election in Edo is in September, about three months from now. Mr Obaseki still has enough time to pull out all his cards against Mr Oshiomhole.

By Bennett Oghifo

The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has addressed a circular to all diplomatic, consular and international organisations accredited to Nigeria on the COVID-19 protocols to be observed by passengers arriving Nigeria, which includes depositing their passports with the Nigeria Immigration Service for two weeks, pending the verification of their COVID-19 status.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama confirmed this development to THISDAY in a telephone chat last Night.

On the same day, the number of COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 15,181, with 4,891 patients discharged and 399 deaths recorded.

The circular is in line with the revised quarantine protocol released by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 last Monday for the evacuation of Nigerians stranded abroad and other persons arriving Nigeria from any country

According to the revised quarantine protocol which comes into immediate effect, the arrivals are expected to self-isolate for 14 days and to remain in the city/state where the point of entry is located (i.e Lagos or Abuja), throughout the duration of self-quarantine.

The protocol states further: “If not resident in Lagos, passengers shall make arrangements for accommodation at their own cost. Please note that the federal government will not be responsible for providing accommodation or transportation to the place of abode.

“Passengers will be cleared through the Nigeria Immigration Service System’s Migrant Identification and Data Analysis System and their passports retained until after successful completion of 14 days self-quarantine, except diplomatic passport holders.”

It said after all the COVID-19 protocols had been followed, instructions would be given to the NIS to release the passports to their owners.

According to the protocol, alternative arrangements could be made to collect passports via special delivery.

The protocol said persons who are unable to remain in Lagos or Abuja throughout the period of self-quarantine may return to their states of residence only after their samples had been collected and had tested negative for COVID-19, adding, “such persons must also make their full contact details available.”

All persons, whether citizens or foreigners, are to comply with this protocol.

Other features of the PTF’s revised protocol are: “Passengers arriving/returning to Nigeria must have tested negative for COVID-19 (pre-boarding PCR test in country of departure). PCR test must be within two weeks before departure and preferably not less than five days pre-boarding.

“Tests done more than two weeks before departure are not valid and persons will not be allowed to board; but for the five days minimum, this advisory will not preclude boarding.

“On board, passengers are required to fill in the health declaration/self-reporting form and the sample collection time allocation form.

“Passengers should ensure that the information/contact details provided on the form are correct, verifiable and they can be reached on the phone number and address provided.

“They will be given an appointment time and date to present themselves at the Sample Collection Centre located in Lagos or Abuja for a repeat COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of arrival.

“Passengers must provide their full and correct address and phone number before exiting the airport. They must comply with self-isolation/quarantine guidelines and ensure that they can be reached/can be located during the period.

The Federal Government has congratulated media entrepreneur and filmmaker Mo Abudu over her partnership with leading global streaming service Netflix to create two original series as well as multiple Netflix-branded films.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, by his SA on media, Segun Adeyemi, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the partnership, for on-screen adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s ‘Death and The King’s Horseman’ and Lola Shoneyin’s ‘The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives’, adds another feather to Mo Abudu’s already well-adorned creative cap.

For criticising Lai Mohammed, court remands Osun-based poet Nigeria’s Anthony Alabi stars on Netflix show, ‘Family Reunion’ The Minister also described the deal as a big boost for the country’s Creative Industry, at a time the industry is reeling from the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

”Coming after Netflix’s first Nigeria original film, Lionheart, this is a great recognition of the immense creative talents that abound in Nigeria and the provision of a global platform for Nigeria storytelling,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed expressed the hope that this partnership will signal the beginning of a bigger, mutually-beneficial working relationship between the streaming service and Nigeria’s Creatives.

Partnership

American media streaming service and producer, Netflix, announced a partnership with Nigerian filmmaker, Mo Abudu to create new content from the country.

The partnership with Netflix will see on-screen adaptations of literary works by two award-winning Nigerian authors, Lola Shoneyin and Wole Soyinka.

Shoneyin’s debut novel, “The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives,” will be developed into a series, and Soyinka’s play, “Death and the King’s Horseman,” will be adapted into a film.

“We’re thrilled about this first-of-its-kind partnership in Africa that will bring some of Nigeria — and Africa’s — most iconic storytelling to screen. We look forward to supporting Mo as she brings all these diverse Nigerian stories to the world,” Netflix’s lead for original series in Africa, Dorothy Ghettuba, said in a statement on Friday. Abudu said the partnership is a testament to Netflix’s investment in African storytelling.

The former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to former head of state, Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha in defence of his former boss has stated that the Abacha administration consulted Emirs, Chiefs and VIPs before moving billions of naira now referred to as “Abacha loot” overseas.

Al-Mustapha who was speaking during a program aired on BBC Hausa, monitored by Vanguard said former head of state, General Sani Abacha made such move because “there was a period Nigeria was to be sanctioned”, so there was a need to “keep money overseas so that Nigeria and Nigerians would not suffer, when the sanction was imposed on the country.”

“We gathered Emirs and Chiefs from the South and from the North, together with VIPs of that time, those in government and those not in government.”

He said it was a decision carried out after a meeting with relevant stakeholders and monarchs from all over the country.

According to him, “I’m saying this based on what I know and based on trust to Nigerians, their dignity and honor. ”

“We met at a place called Camp Bassey officer’s mess in the Brigade of Guards. It was there we deliberated on the threat to sanction Nigeria. Many decisions were made.”

“The meeting was also attended by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning, the CBN, etc.”

“It is surprising…. you should know when a person is opening an account, it is that every person that will go to the bank for biometric capture.

“The person’s photograph will be taken, he will avail the bank with the required information, the source of the money, all these are requirements that must be met. The portfolio capital movement, also the time and date of the movement.”

“But for him, that had not gone to these countries where the money was kept, what justification have they to say the accounts belonged to him? Have they ever seen where late Abacha appended his signature or thumbprint that the money belonged to him.?

“I’m surprised by the way Abacha is been blackmailed .”

“I am surprised because when he assumed leadership, Nigeria had less than 2 billion in the foreign reserve. Things were not organised. “.

“But within 4 years and 8 months, he did what was possible to raise it to over 9 billion dollars ”

“But after his death, all these billions vanished in 9 months.”

“The person that raised Nigeria’s image and enhanced security is now the subject of insult. But those who shared the money he left, are still alive and untouchable. ”

“Let me tell you something about Abacha. The 8th coup was being staged to topple him, at the time he died.”

“But Nigerians knew of only 3:coup attempts against Abacha. There were 8 coup attempts, he died when they were plotting the 8th,” he said.

The Federal Government has said a modern Boeing 737-NG Full Flight Simulator has arrived in the country and is currently at the seaport undergoing Customs clearance process.

The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, disclosed this during a television programme, while analysing the strides of Nigeria’s aviation industry in the last five years.

The FFS, which is expected to curb capital flight, will be installed at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology in Zaria, Kaduna State.

A simulator for training and retraining is one major hindrance the aviation industry is facing, costing it millions in foreign exchange as pilots had to travel out for recurrence exercises.

Sirika stated, “As we speak, the simulator is at the seaport in Lagos, we are clearing it. The housing component which would house the sim has been built and it will be on its way to Zaria for installation.”

There have been fears over reports of mysterious deaths in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State as the number of burials has increased in various cemeteries across the council area.

A source close to the biggest cemetery along Zaria Road in the local government revealed that the number of the dead brought for burial in the past three weeks has suddenly increased and given the attendants serious concern.

One of the gravediggers who spoke with Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity declared thus: “We don’t know the cause of the deaths, but we are worried about the sudden increase in recent time. In the past three weeks, the rate of burial in this cemetery alone is more than double compare to the previous rate. Today alone we have buried five persons, we may still bury more.”

Though those in charge of the burial ground did not allow Tribune Online to have access to the records, a source said the figure was far above 50 in the past three weeks.

The chairman of the local government, Shehu Bala Usman, who confirmed the surge in the number of deaths in the area declared that: “What you observed is true. Right now, we have opened a register in all cemeteries within the local government. Before it has been a tradition that corpses must be registered with the appropriate authority, before burial but these days people don’t follow the protocol again.

“What we do now is to open register so that corpses can be registered at cemeteries before they are buried. This will enable us to evaluate what is happening, before we can establish that there is a mysterious death in a large number, there must be data and indices to back up the claim.

“But now, any corpses for burial within this local government will have to be registered before they are buried. We would look at the present figure and compare it to the previous ones” he said.

On coronavirus pandemic, Hon. Usman said the council has stepped up its awareness campaign and took it to the ward level since it has become a community issue and called for a change of attitude towards the pandemic.

He said the council in the past three months has been complementing the efforts of the State government in taming the COVID-19 adding that his council will not relent in its efforts to arrest the situation.

Two Lagos housemaids, probably from hell, were docked at the Igbosere Magistrates’ court on Tuesday, charged with defiling their employer’s daughters.

The sexual assault was done with their fingers and wooden sticks, causing their victims severe injuries.

The maids, from Benue state, were identified as Peace Sunday, aged 19 and Bose Augustine aged 18.

Their pleas were not taken, when the case was mentioned in court today.

They were charged with three counts of unlawful and indecent penetration sexually into the virginal and anus of two girls, a two-year-old and a 17 year-old, with fingers and wooden sticks.

The presiding Magistrate in charge of emergency cases at the court, Mrs Doja Ojo, ordered that the accused persons be temporarily remanded at the police station pending the advice from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution, ( DPP).

The maids were arrested by the Police at the Ilasan Division, Lekki, following the complaints of the parents of the
their two victims.

The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, CSP Onyinye Onwua Meagbu immediately directed her team at the juvenile and women section, led by Inspector Orukoton Lonikola, to investigate the matter.

The investigation led to the charge at Igbosere Magistrates’ Court .

Police Prosecution Counsel, Inspector Peace Chukwudi told the court in charge No C/52Q/2020 that the accused persons committed the offence between 24 and 27 May, 2020 at Lekki Garden Horizon 2 Estate, Lekki, where they work and live with the two complainants.

Chukwudi informed the court that the parents of the victims reported to the Police that they left their daughters aged 2 and 17 in the care of the accused persons and went to work.

Before they returned their maids allegedly defiled their daughters with fingers and wooden stick and in the process inflicted severe injuries on their private parts .

Chwkwudi said that following the report, the Police referred the victims to Mirabel Medical Centre for examination.

The medical report, she said, revealed that the accused persons had defiled the victims several times with fingers and wooden sticks.

She said the offences the accused persons committed were punishable under sections 411 and 261 of the criminal law of Lagos State, 2015.

Magistrate Doja Ojo adjourned the case till 4 July 2020 for the DPP reports.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday fixed June 25, 2020, for the arraignment of two supermarkets and two pharmacies charged for hiking prices of key hygiene products such as hand sanitisers and face masks.

Tribune Online reports that the companies were charged to court by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council (FCCPC) for allegedly taking undue advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to inflate prices of key hygiene products including hand sanitisers and face masks contrary to Section 108(1) of FCCP Act 2018.

However, when the matter was called on Monday, prosecution counsel, Babatunde Irukere, told the court that the matter was for arraignment and that they were ready for the matter as scheduled.

But counsel to the first and second defendants (H-Medics and Sandra Ejekwe), Abubakar Mohammed, announced that the second defendant could not appear in court as she was not served with the court notice.

In a separate matter of similar offence involving Bakan Gizo Pharmacy and Store, Ray Opia and Luter Irene, the defence counsel, Festus Okpe, informed the court that the second defendant, who has been in Lagos since January was restricted from appearing in court due to the ban on interstate travel.

Other defendants in the matter, Prince Ebeano Super Market and David Chukwuma sent an electronic communication explaining their reasons for being absent in court.

In his explanation, Chukwuma blamed his inability to appear in court on interstate movement restriction by the Federal Government due to COVID-19.

Earlier, the presiding judge, Justice Nkonye Maha, raised the issue of jurisdiction, stressing that the matter ought to have been taken to the tribunal.

The judge, however, settled down to hear the matter after the issue was cleared and after due consideration, the judge adjourned the matter till June 25 and ordered that all parties to the matter be served with notices to ensure they are all in court on the next adjourned date.

Some of the charges are: “That you, H-Medix Pharmacy &Sons Ltd, Sandra Ejekwu(f) and John Oluwagbemiga (m) at various times between the 28th day of February 2020 and the 6th day of March 2020, at H-Medix Pharmacy & Sores Ltd, 43 Ademola Adetokumbo crescent, Wuse 11, Abuja and other retail trading outlets of H-Medix Pharmacy and stores Ltd, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did engage in making false, misleading, deceptive representation in relation to the price of sanitisers, hand-wash liquids and disinfectants of various existing brands on display at your retail outlets and thereby committed an offence contrary to Sector 125(1) (a) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018 and punishable under Section 155 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.

“That you, Prince Eleanor Supermarket Ltd and David Chukwuma Ojei (m) at various times between the 28th day of February 2020 and the 6th day of March 2020, at Prince Eleanor Supermarket Ltd, Plot 551, Abdusalam Abubakar Way, Gaduwa, Lokogoma Junction, Abuja and other retail trading outlets of Prince Eleanor Supermarket Ltd, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire, combine, agree and arrange to unreasonably enhance the price of sanitisers, hand wash liquids and disinfectants of various existing brands and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 108(1) (b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018 and punishable under Section 108(4) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has agreed to the delay of the process of gazetting of the Executive Order 10 for some concerns of the state governors to be sorted out.

Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, disclosed this to state house correspondents on Monday, after a meeting with representatives of the President.

It would be recalled that President Buhari had recently signed the Executive Order 10, which sought to give autonomy to state Legislature and Judiciary.

However, state governors, under the NGF platform, had kicked at provisions of the Order, citing constitutional concerns.

However, on Monday, at a meeting organized by the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, between representatives of the NGF, led by its Chairman, Dr Fayemi, and the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, and the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, the federal government said the gazetting of the Order would be delayed.

The meeting was also attended by Governors Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and his Kebbi State counterpart, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.

Speaking at the briefing after the meeting, Dr Fayemi said after listening to the concerns of the governors about the constitutionality of the Executive Order, President Buhari agreed that its gazetting would be delayed.

“We have a delegation of the governors’ Forum here to discuss some matters of fundamental importance to the nation and the President has asked that we meet with the Attorney General, the Chief of Staff and the Minister of Finance Planning and Budget on the issue.

“It is an issue that has seized the interest of many of you in the media and a lot of people in the federation, it is about the autonomy of the State legislature and the judiciary and we’ve met with the President before now on it and the President was very pleased that for us as Governors, we are all united in support of the autonomy of State judiciary and the legislature; that’s the position of the 36 Governors of the federation.

“What is at issue is on the constitutionality of the modalities of what had been put in the Executive Order and the President was gracious enough to say ok, given your concerns about that we will delay the gazetting of the order and allow you meet with the Attorney General and the Minister of Finance out work out the modalities.”

He went on to say that the governors had also been consulting with the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, in order to work out an amicable resolution of the matter.

“In any case, we have been meeting at our level with the conference of Speakers. The Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum; Governor Tambuwal of Sokoto State, was delegated as the Chair of a number of Governors who have gained legislative experience either because they were in the House of Representatives or they were Speakers of State Assemblies, or they were Senators and that committee has been meeting with a delegation of the Conference of Speakers, working out this modalities and we believe that all of that would be settled amicably without any resort to court,” he said.

The Federal Government has said that schools may reopen in the country after the ban on interstate movement has been lifted.

The government said that it was been careful not to lead Nigerians into danger as Nigeria continues to record increased cases.

It pointed out that some countries that opened schools hurriedly shut them when their cases spiked.

Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba stated this during the briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja on Monday.

He stated that the government had not published any date for school reopening as being speculated on the social media.

The federal government had in March shut all schools in the country as part of measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The minister said: “We want to open when it is safe to do so. We have heard about neighbouring countries that opened and shut. We have heard about cases spiking with children getting into school. Of all the things I will like to do, I will not like to experiment with your children.

“We want a situation where once we are sure it is safe, we can then take them into school.

“I have just finished a meeting with the representatives of WAEC and NABTEB and I understand how that worries our parents at the moment and how anxious our children are to know what next.

“As soon as those in charge of the blockade lift it because there is no way we can open our schools if teachers can’t come.

“So, we are looking at somewhere after the interstate lockdown is lifted. Because we will need that kind of openness for the children to move.”

There was a mild drama at the Senate on Monday when the Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Professor Hussain Ibrahim, identified the development of Kilishi technology as its major breakthrough since the agency’s creation, 33 years ago.

Ibrahim, who appeared before the Senate Committee on Science and Technology to brief the senators on the activities of his agency, caused a stir when he said the Kilishi technology was the only major breakthrough it had successfully developed for commercial use.

Kilishi is a locally spiced roasted meat made of beef, and it is very popular in the northern part of Nigeria.

The Chairman of the Senate panel, Senator Uche Ekwunife, had asked the DG to tell Nigerians what specific raw material the agency had successfully produced in the country in partnership with other research institutes.

Ekwunife said, “Your core mandate is to develop local materials.

“Can you tell us the local raw materials you have developed in the areas of health, brewery, construction, science, and technology, or agriculture?

“Just give us the synopsis of what you have developed or generated for local industries. Tell us about your breakthrough.”

An elated Ibrahim proudly told the panel that despite its lack of laboratory, the 33-year-old agency had succeeded in producing the local meat delicacy for commercial production as part of the agency’s breakthrough.

He said, “We have developed two varieties of Sorghum. We collaborated with agricultural research institutes, pharmaceutical industries because we produce ethanol from it and that is the basic raw material for the production of sanitizers.

“Also from the same Sorghum, we developed other products like Glucose syrup, livestock feeds, material for breweries, and starch.

Ibrahim threw the bombshell when the Chairman asked if the agency had developed the glucose syrup to the stage where Nigeria would no longer import it.

The DG said, “We have not reached that stage. It goes through processes. We have tested it now but the stage we are now is the pilot stage.

“That pilot stage will now lead to the optimisation of the products. At that pilot stage, we would now see if what we have finally done are technically feasible or commercially viable. We have to determine that.

“After we had determined that. We will now ask relevant industries to take them for mass production.

“In our 30 years of research activities, we are still the largest research Institute. But to be candid with you, we are making progress.

“For now, we have developed technology to optimize Kilishi production. Research activities take time.”

His submission led to prolonged laughter from the audience but drew the anger of the lawmakers.

A member of the panel, Senator Clifford Ordia said, “is this the success story that you are going to tell us after 33 years?

dapsoneh:
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