₦airaland Forum

Following Federal Government’s decision to keep the nation’s borders closed indefinitely, die-hard smugglers are beating men and officers of the Nigeria Customs Service to their duties by taking advantage of porous waterways and creeks to intensify their illegal trade.

Findings by New Telegraph revealed that the daring action by the criminals is made possible as the new patrol boats acquired by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at a whopping cost of N180 billion are yet to function properly.

Currently, the service is facing inadequate patrol boats to combat the illegalities at Port Novo, Gbaji, Badagry, Yewa, Ologe, and Commodore creeks.

It was gathered that unscrupulous businessmen and women have been exploiting the loopholes to smuggle goods since the closure of the borders.

The borders were closed in August 20, 2019 by the Federal Government to curtail influx of fake goods and arms smuggling.

However, the service has not recorded much success on the waterways because of the dangerous and sophisticated weapons used by smugglers.

The gun boats are presently redundant as they have not been adequately fitted with the necessary surveillance and combat kits and guns.

An official within the NCS’s Western Marine Command, who does not want his name mentioned, said that smuggling of fuel products through the sea was on the increase, noting that tankers were no longer carrying fuels to border communities where the products are smuggled to neighbouring Benin Republic with jerry cans.

Notwithstanding, he explained that Customs had trained some officer on sea smuggling combat both in the western and eastern commands, saying that insufficient equipment was the main problems of the command.

“This has put the service’s marine command under unbearable pressure to combat the illegal traders using the creeks and lagoon to smuggle banned imports,” he stressed.

When the joint border exercise was launched, the Customs Comptroller General, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), said that the two gunboats would strengthen anti-smuggling activities on the nation’s waters and enhance the ongoing joint border closure exercise.

He added that with the boats, the marine operatives of NCS could now sail to intersect smugglers right on the high sea.

The Controller in charge of the command, Comptroller Boyiliya Binga, advised the unscrupulous traders last month to stop the illegal trade, saying that with new patrol boats acquired by the service, days of confrontation by smugglers were over.

He said: “We have been making pleas to these smugglers to stop their evil trade and engage in meaningful businesses that will benefit them and the country, but they are determined to go ahead with their nefarious activities.”

Binga listed the seizures made in the period to include 433 bags of 50kilogrammes foreign parboiled rice, bags of second-hand clothes, bags of second-hand shoes, buffalo horns, bales of foreign fabrics, bales of mobile police, immigration and navy uniforms, machetes, tramadol and 3,000 empty kegs.

The comptroller general had said earlier that smugglers would no longer take advantage of NCS vulnerability on water to smuggle in contraband with the launch of the new patrol vessels.

Lagos / Abuja – Despite leading the All Progressives Congress (APC) to victory in the just concluded Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections, majority of the governors elected on the party’s platform are resolute in their demands that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the national chairman of the party, must resign and allow a new helmsman take charge of the affairs of the party.

Daily Independent gathered that despite claims by loyalists of Oshiomhole that he has been winning elections for the party, the governors and former governors who are hell-bent on removing the embattled national chairman are of the opinion that the party is more divided than ever before under his leadership and thus the need for a change.

They insisted that Oshiomhole’s continuous stay has polarised the party, a development they fear may lead to the party’s collapse, especially when President Muhammadu Buhari who is perceived as the rallying figure in the party will not be contesting again.

One of their major arguments is that it does not speak well for the party when the home base of Oshiomhole in Edo State is a theatre of war with no peace in sight.

“Contrary to the impression being created that APC governors are pulling out of the plot to remove Oshiomhole, those who want him out are increasing on a daily basis even though his supporters too are doing all they can to thwart the plot.

“They are claiming rather than seeking his removal, Oshiomhole should be celebrated for leading the party to victory in the just concluded elections in Kogi and Bayelsa. However, the governors and other stakeholders are saying they are not looking at the present but the future as they doubt that the party can survive beyond 2023 under Oshiomhole’s leadership.

“They are worried that post-2023, what will be the fate of the party if President Muhammadu Buhari is no longer contesting and one person is waging war against every other person in the party? They are also brought to the table the fact that the Buhari effect which is a very strong political effect that makes people vote for APC will no longer be present in 2023.

“A lot of harmonisation and dialogue is needed to hold the party together beyond 2023. A large percentage of the governors are of the opinion that he should honourably turn in his resignation because he has not shown capacity to lead the party without rancour. The president has always shown him support but it seems that will not happen this time around.

“A lot of people who wanted to fund the party are staying away because of the attitude of the national chairman and these APC stakeholders believe that this is dangerous to the party’s continued existence.

“A lot of concerned stakeholders believe Oshiomhole is unfit to lead the party based on his combative character but only a few bold ones such as Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Prof. Itse Sagay and Charles Idahosa have publicly come out to demand for his removal”, our source said.

Our correspondent, however, gathered from another source that Oshiomhole has insisted that he will not resign, saying he has devoted his time and energy into instilling discipline in the party and has been leading it to victories before, during and after the 2019 general elections.

“Oshiomhole will not resign, I can tell you that for free. Most of the state chairmen are solidly behind him and they have expressed that to President Buhari during their meeting with him few days ago. Some state chairmen who are appreciative of Oshiomhole’s efforts in repositioning the party have said they will never be part of the plot to remove him from office.

“Don’t also forget that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the party’s national leader is solidly behind him. Can a key project such as the removal of a national chairman be done without Tinubu’s input? He never wanted Oyegun and he was removed. He supported Oshiomhole and he became the national chairman. That shows you how influential he is.

“Initially, they said they will get him out by December. We are already in the middle of December. Now they are saying January next year, we will all be alive by January and see if their desires will come to reality”, he said.
Also speaking, the Osun State chairman of the APC, Gboyega Famoodun, at the weekend said those plotting to remove Oshiomhole are doing so for selfish reasons.

He said most of his colleagues believe that Oshiomhole was better than his predecessor (Oyegun) and since those moving for his removal could not provide tangible reasons, many state chairmen rallied support for the former labour leader to retain his job.

“We are all living witnesses to what befell PDP in this country. The party has retinue of chairmen. Within four years, they had about six chairmen and they changed Senate President more than four times. These are all the factors that led to the fall of PDP. And we decided to run away from it.

“The reason why they wanted to change him was not because he was not doing well, but because some believe that if another person is the chairman, they will have their way.

“Some people came to lobby me when we want to make our resolution. They said Oshiomhole has not been talking to us but, as far as I am concerned, he has been an improvement over the former chairman.

“His system is direct primaries which is sinking into the fabrics of our party. My own state has benefited from his policy of allowing direct primaries which is easier for us. Osun was the first state to embark on direct primaries and this had been practised in some other states too.

“This has brought some level of sanity into the system. Oshiomhole championed it and he has succeeded. Another reason they wanted to remove him is because we lost Zamfara State to carelessness, which is not enough”, Famoodun said.


How Presidency Stopped Edo Controversial APC Rally

Meanwhile, the presidency is said to be behind the police order stopping APC faction from holding last Friday’s mega rally in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

The directive had followed the not-too-clear position of President Buhari on the fate of the national chairman of the APC, Oshiomhole.
Daily Independent gathered that close presidential aides had analysed the president’s body language, especially his insistence on “due process”, as not enough support for the national chairman who is facing an internal uprising.

Consequently, the presidency was said to have ordered the police chief to issue a counter approval which earlier granted the APC permission to hold the rally.

Following the clash of interest between Governor Godwin Obaseki and Oshiomhole, including their supporters in Edo State, the rally scheduled for Friday by the Oshiomhole faction was suspended till further notice by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, citing overriding internal security interests.

Daily Independent sources revealed that the Oshiomhole’s group was said to have moved the idea of Ize-Iyamu’s rally to test the waters.
Sources revealed that all South South ministers, except Rotimi Amaechi (Minister of Transportation), as well as the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, were to attend the Benin rally meant to make a big statement.

Afterwards, the group – which has its focus on the South West – was to move to Ondo State where a rally was meant to take place on Saturday, December 21, 2019.

Impeccable sources disclosed that the Ondo rally would have passed a vote of confidence on Oshiomhole and insist on the dissolution of the State Executive Council of the APC led by Ade Adetimehin for a caretaker committee to be headed by a former commissioner, Solagbade Amodeni, who was recently sacked by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

The train would then move to Ado Ekiti, Osogbo, Ibadan, and Abeokuta, all on a weekly basis for six weeks and then hold the grand finale in Lagos and would have had Oshiomhole in attendance.
In each of these states, pockets of would-be defectors were to be received into the party.

Sources revealed that the coordinator of the plot for Ondo is Olusola Oke, a former governorship aspirant, who was already in Benin ahead of Friday’s aborted rally with the national chairman.
The sources added that the Ondo leg was being bankrolled by some governorship aspirants, except Isaac Kekemeke.

They are Ife Oyedele, Olusola Oke, Segun Abraham, and Jimmy Odimayo.
Daily Independent gathered that a larger chunk of the money for the rally was released by the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, who is believed to have opted out of the pair with Akeredolu for the 2020 race.

Prominent ex-militant leader and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) major financier, Bibopiri Ajube (Shoot-at-Sight), who is now Ajayi’s mobiliser in the riverine area of the state, was to join the APC in Akure.

In the case of Ondo State, the most effective opposition to Akeredolu’s second term is the Unity Group led by the former deputy governor, Ali Olanusi.

All the aspirants, except Kekemeke, belong to this group. However, the aspirants are said to be unhappy with the latest romance between APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and Akeredolu as well as his (Tinubu) lukewarm stance on the issue of dissolution of the state executive of the party.

They had extracted commitment from Tinubu that he was going to midwife the dissolution of the pro-Akeredolu state executive when he visited the state to intervene in the crisis but he had budged and never said anything near the dissolution.

The aspirants were said to have concealed their anger and went back to the drawing board.
The next option for the group, according to sources, was to use the deputy governor, who is believed to be equally eyeing the PDP ticket, and that if they succeed, the likely running mate would be someone from Ondo North Senatorial District.

Sources added that the two persons on the card are Solagbade Amodeni and Taofeek Olawale Abdulsalam, both former commissioners sacked by Akeredolu lately.

Amodeni is from Akoko South East while Abdulsalam is from Akoko North East.
Daily Independent learnt that in spite of their exit from the cabinet, Ajayi still pays the duo from running grants approved for his office.

However, the deputy governor denied all the allegations, saying they were all meant to soil his reputation before Akeredolu.

The deputy governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Babatope Okeowo, told
Daily Independent on Sunday, on telephone that his boss was presently on vacation outside Nigeria, and that he had no governorship ambition.

“The deputy governor is presently on his annual vacation approved by the Ondo State House of Assembly. He is outside Nigeria.

“All the allegations against him are laughable because he does not know anything about them. He is in constant touch with Governor Akeredolu as they are both on same page on the development and growth of Ondo State,” Okeowo added.


Obaseki, Shaibu Were Unpopular When I Chose Them – Oshiomhole

In another development, Oshiomhole said he was aware that Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, were unpopular candidates yet he supported them to lead the party in the state.

He said both chieftains of the APC lost their wards, local government areas and senatorial districts in the last general elections, noting that the governor was being represented by a candidate of the PDP in his senatorial district.

He was responding to reports credited to Shaibu and Obaseki that their ongoing fight against godfatherism in Edo State was part of the tutelage they received from Oshiomhole.
However, Oshiomhole, who said he had always been a winner, said he did not teach both men how to lose election.

“I have read them on several occasions saying that I taught them all they are doing today. This is laughable because I never taught them how to lose elections.

“As we speak today, the governor (Obaseki) lost his ward, local government (area) and senatorial district in the last presidential election.
“As we speak, the governor is being represented by the PDP in his federal constituency and senatorial district.

“This, in my view, were early morning signals about the need to change tactics, stop threatening people, saying you will crush – who are you crushing?
“But I won my entire senatorial district for Mr. President and I am being represented by an APC senator and House of Representatives’ member.
“Then his deputy, Philip, in Jattu where he comes from, in his polling booth where he and his family voted, Philip Shaibu lost.

“He lost his booth during his own governorship election in which he was standing as deputy governorship candidate. So, if he learnt from me, he should have learnt well because I never lost election in my village.

“There is no body in my village who can work against me because when I go home I relate with them, I am an ordinary man. You see, when you have power and you don’t use it you are even more powerful.

“And you must know when to talk tough and when to talk soft. When I am in my village, I am just like an ordinary man. I argue and play with my people.

“The only man that was doing PDP in my village, the youths said how can he be doing PDP but I said no, you have to persuade him to join us.
“And today that young man is one of my PAs. So, he (Philip) is one of my very poor students, Kakhi is not a lesson and fighters must be tactful and strategic.

“No sensible man will fight people who vote for them. Those they are fighting now, some of them delivered 95 percent of the votes in their units while they lost their own areas.”

In a statement released by his media aide, Simon Ebegbulem, Oshiomhole said Governor Obaseki was not being strategic in his politics in Edo.
He accused the governor of unleashing mayhem on members of the APC in the state.

He said: “Even a professional fighter, you choose your fight. The other day when Shaibu led thugs to my village with ‘okada’ riders and he said during my court case ‘okada’ people were following us.

“It shows how poorly he can interpret situations. Did we ever use ‘okada’ riders to intimidate ACN elements then? Never!
“And those ‘okada’ riders were not hired by me, they bought into my vision. They have heard of me as president of the NLC and on that basis they all voted for me, so when I was rigged out they took the fight to the PDP.

“The problem is that Philip does not know the difference between family disagreement that can be settled through conversation and political opponents that need to be fought and defeated. But even my language is defeat my opponent and not crush my party members.

“It is only Philip and his boss that talk about crushing APC members. If you become a crushing machine and God enables you to crush your people, who will you govern assuming you win?
“When elections start between us, and PDP unleash that energy, you cannot possibly be making electoral sense by using your office or position to attack, brutalize and intimidate and even lie against your party members.

“And all I have tried to do is to tell him (Obaseki) that you will never have a political party that looks like a golf course.

“A political party is like a forest. In that forest you have many animals. The politician is the guy who goes into this forest, knowing full well that all the dangerous animals are there but he is going for the antelope or the grass cutter which he wants to use to feed his family.

“He goes there, gets his antelope or grass cutter home and feast without being crushed.
“So, the minimum requirement of political leadership is to be able to deal with all kinds of characters, use them to get what you want. And I said to him, you have to manage these people because, for me, as long as they deliver their units on the day of election, you have to manage them.

“In my first term election when I didn’t know the politicians too well, I won Oredo, Egor, Ikpoba Okhai – we were only rigged out in Ovia and Orhiomwon in 2007.

“It is those Benin votes and the small we got from Edo North that we used to defend my mandate in court.

“Look at the way they humiliated Ogbemudia’s daughter for refusing to abuse me, the woman only said I cannot abuse Comrade; rather, as a mother, I will join hands to settle the dispute between you people.

“But they said they don’t want settlement, they want to crush. Three days later they crushed the woman by suspending her as chairman of Egor Local Government.

“So, it is a pity that they don’t know the difference between internal contestation and internal mechanism for resolving them and fighting the opposition.

“Killing is out of the kind of politics we practice, maiming is out of it. Now I told him Mr. Governor, with all the reservation people were raising, talking about history, we convinced them to support you and it worked for you and you got elected, even if the margin of defeat was not as much as my own, but they worked for you.

“Then why do you now want to distort the system by creating so-called new political structure? Is there a structural defect? He said he will retire all the politicians, but I said to him, will you retire somebody you did not hire.”

ANAYO ONUKWUGHA (Port Harcourt)and OSA OKHOMINA (Yenagoa) write about the Cold War between the outgoing Bayelsa State Governor and Govenor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike seems not to be happy with the second visit of outgoing Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, to some Ijaw communities in Rivers State.

Few days ago, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike hosted prominent chiefs and leaders of Kalabari Kingdom, a clan of the Ijaw ethnic nationality in the state, who were on a solidarity visit, at Government House, Port Harcourt.

During the meeting, Wike did not hide his feelings as he queried why his Bayelsa State counterpart, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson would visit Abonnema and Buguma, two out of the three major towns in Kalabari Kingdom without informing him.

Rivers and Bayelsa States are currently before the Supreme Court over the ownership of the disputed Soku oil fields, which was ceded to Bayelsa State by the Federal Government in 2012 during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

It is worthy to note that Wike as the Minister of State for Education had led other prominent Indigenes of Rivers State, including the current National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus and State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Felix Obuah, to receive Dickson at Abonnema in 2013, during the governor’s visit to Ijaw communities in Rivers State.

It is also worthy to note that Wike was among PDP governors and leaders, who stayed away from the grand finale of the party’s rally ahead of the November 16, 2019 governorship election in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

Addressing the Kalabari leaders at Government House, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Governor called on the leaders of Kalabari Kingdom to prevail on their monarch, King Professor Theophilus Princewill, not to allow himself to be used by external forces to create disunity in the State.

Wike, who expressed regrets that the Kalabari monarch deliberately allowed Dickson to use him to promote divisiveness, said: “I want to publicly lay a complaint on the action of Amayanabo of Kalabari. The next time it happens, I will act as a governor.

“The Amanyanabo of Abonnema (King Disreal Gbogbo Bobmanuel) didn’t do it, he called me on phone when the Governor of Bayelsa, Dickson tried to create problems in Rivers State.”

The governor stated that the outgoing Bayelsa State Governor visited the state, without getting in touch with the relevant authorities, under the guise of coming to see Ijaw people.

He said, “He said he was coming to see Ijaw people in Rivers State and he would be hosted by the Amayanabo of Kalabari and Amayanabo of Abonnema.

“The Amanyanabo of Abonnema called me and said how can that be? The Bayelsa State Governor did not call me. The Amanyanabo of Kalabari did not call me. What he did was to roll out drums to receive the Bayelsa State Governor.”

He informed the Kalabari delegation, that should the Amanyanabo of Kalabari take such illegal action in future, he will face sanctions.
Wike said: “That day I would have removed him, but I held myself. What they would do is to go to Radio and abuse me. But I am use to insults. I am trying to complain to you people.

“You can see how people are trying to divide a State. A fellow Governor would come from somewhere to create Division.”
The governor stated that Dickson professes love for Ijaw people in Rivers State, but is busy working to take the State’s oil resources in Soku and Kula.

He said: “Already, we have gone back to Court in relation to Soku oil wells. This is the man who is claiming Kula oil wells and Soku.
“I have gone back to court and we will reclaim the Soku Oil Wells for Rivers State. This is the same man you claim loves you and you roll out drums against protocol.”

Wike, who reiterated that the Kalabari monarch will face sanctions if he continues acts of Division, said: “If any of such things happen again, I will take the necessary action.
“I will not listen to any further excuse, that is why I am saying this publicly. Tell him to respect constituted authority.

“It is not good for anyone to come and divide Rivers State, because the state is one. It is unfortunate what my colleague did. I handed him over to God and prayed for God to do his will.”
But, to Prince Tonye Princewill, a politician and scion of the Kalabari monarch, the King had been in hospital bed in Port Harcourt and never received Bayelsa State Governor.

Tonye, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, said the Royal Family will reply the governor at the appropriate time.

The statement reads in part: “I am here by the King’s hospital bed in Port Harcourt where he has been for almost a week now, so you can see why my priority is not responding to Wike.

“The King will be 90 in a few days so if a small boy speaks, his superiors do not always have to answer him. Especially if he is the garrulous kind.
“Yes, I have heard what he said and I saw the video where he was fidgety, unsteady and accompanied by that slurred speech. I watched it well. I suspect he was drunk.

“It appears that he doesn’t understand that everything is not politics. I think we should pray for him and put him in God’s hands. I will be doing it daily.

“Rudeness is a weak man’s imitation of strength. His tenure is almost over. At the appropriate time, he will feel my response.”

For Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, leader of the defunct Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Rivers State Governor, Wike, deliberately allowed his Bayelsa State counterpart, to use him to promote divisiveness.
Dokubo-Asari, in a short video circulated on social media, reeled out how Wike schemed his way into power, with the help of former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, and how the Rivers Governor had been funding disaffection in his state and the entire South South.

However, the Bayelsa State Governor, Dickson has offered reasons why he visited Rivers State without a call on his Rivers State counterpart, Wike, saying his visit was to commiserate with the people of the state over the killing of Ijaws during the last Governorship and Presidential election.

Governor Dickson who dismissed Wike’s claim that the visit was illegal, said he was in the state to sympathise with the people over the alleged outrageous killing of 40 Ijaw youths during the polls.

Dickson, who reacted through his chief press secretary, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, noted that he is a member of the prestigious Kalabari Ekine Sekiapu Club and that he also visited Buguma in April to commiserate with the Amayanabo of Kalabari.

He said; “Over 40 Ijaw youths were murdered in the Rivers election in February, 2019. The only Governor of Ijaw extraction in Nigeria, the Governor of Bayelsa State, the Hon. Seriake Dickson, a member of the prestigious Kalabari Ekine Sekiapu Club, visited Buguma in April to commiserate with the Amayanabo of Kalabari.

“Before the visit, the Governor made efforts to reach his Rivers State counterpart, but when he couldn’t get him on the phone he contacted the Chief of Staff to Gov. Wike to inform him. No new visit has taken place. When did it become a crime to mourn with the bereaved in Ijaw land?” he asked.

Meanwhile, the umbrella body of Ijaw Youths worldwide, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) has faulted the threat issued by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike on the removal of the revered Amayanabo of Kalabari over the private visit of the Bayelsa State Governor to the Kingdom.

President of IYC, Barr. Pereotubo Oweilaemi Pereotubo, described the threat as not only an insult to the entire Ijaw nation but also a sacrilege to its sacred traditional institution. “The Rivers State Governor has over stepped his boundary for daring to insult and ridicule the Ijaw nation in such a despicable manner.

“Governor Seriake Dickson as a law abiding citizen of Nigeria is free to move to anywhere in the country. He does not need to seek permission from anybody including the Rivers State Governor in taking a private visit to his fellow Ijaw people. Similarly, Bayelsa State being the only homogeneous Ijaw State, its Governor is the number one political leader in Ijaw land.

“As a leader of Ijaw nation by reason of his position as the Governor of Bayelsa State, Rt. Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson or any other person occupying that exalted office can visit any Ijaw kingdom or community for the promotion of our oneness as Ijaw people and to build our national cohesion.”

The IYC president recalled that in the course of promoting Ijaw unity, Governor Dickson on assumption of office in 2012 appointed Ijaw people from the six states where Ijaws are Aborigines into his government.

While noting that the same trend continues till date, Pereotubo said it was expected that the Bayelsa Governor will continue to provide leadership role to Ijaw people which includes visiting Ijaw communities.

“The Governor has been paying visits to Ijaw clans in Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Edo and Ondo States. The Governors of these states know that Ijaw people anywhere in the world see the Bayelsa State Governor as a Governor to all Ijaw people.

“Governor Wike should not create an unnecessary tension in his state. The Kalabari King did the right thing to have received the Bayelsa State Governor. The revered Amayanabo has not committed any offence to incur Wike’s wrath.

“The Governor should rather apologize to Ijaw people, especially the Kalabari Kingdom for reducing the Clan to such disrepute with his disdainful threat of eviction. The Ijaw nation will not allow her respected traditional institutions to be insulted with such impudence,” Pereotubo stated.

The former public officers who had their funds or assets forfeited to the government include; former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke; former first lady, Patience Jonathan; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, his wife, daughter and aide.

Others are; former Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita (through a suspect linked to her); former governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, former Group Managing Director of NNPC, Engineer Andrew Yakubu; former Managing Director of Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Haruna Momoh and his wife, Ochuko Okor and former chairman of Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Nigeria’s two key anti-corruption agencies, have always emphasized on the recovery of stolen assets as key in the fight against corruption.

EFCC’s acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, while interacting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, in September, stressed the commitment of the agency in the recovery of stolen funds wherever they are.

Magu revealed that some government agencies had already benefitted from allocation of recovered assets. These agencies include; Voice of Nigeria, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, North East Development Commission, National Social Investment Office and Fiscal Responsibility Commission.

However, not long after that, reports emanated that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), had whittled down the assets recovery powers of the EFCC and ICPC, but he was quick to dispel that report.


Forfeited assets

The value of the forfeited assets, according to findings, which stands at N21.8bn, $273.3m (N83.9bn at CBN’s exchange rate of 307) and £74,000 (N29.3m at CBN’s exchange rate of 396), did not capture several other assets forfeited but not valued.

Findings by this newspaper revealed that a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, had about N86bn worth cash and assets linked to her permanently forfeited to the federal government.

A breakdown of the assets linked to Mrs. Alison-Madueke that have been permanently forfeited revealed that the Federal High Court in Lagos on September 11, 2019 ordered that the 2,149 pieces of jewellery and a customized gold iPhone valued at $40m (about N12.2bn) recovered from her Abuja home be permanently forfeited to the government.

In the court’s ruling, Justice Nicholas Oweibo held that Diezani, through her lawyer, Awa Kalu (SAN), failed to show cause why the items should not be permanently forfeited.

The EFCC had told the judge that the jewellery and gold iPhone were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of fraud.

According to the schedule attached to an application filed by the EFCC, the expensive jewellery, categorised into 33 sets, include; 419 bangles, 315 rings, 304 earrings, 267 necklaces, 189 wristwatches, 174 necklaces and earrings, 78 bracelets, 77 brooches and 74 pendants.

In 2017, four permanent forfeiture orders were issued against the former petrol minister.
On October 11, 2017, Justice Abdul-Azeez Anka of a Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the permanent forfeiture of 56 houses situated in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja valued at $21,982,224 (about N6.7bn) allegedly linked to her.

The forfeited property include 21 mixed housing units of eight four-bedroom penthouse apartments, six three-bedroom apartments, two three-bedroom apartments and one four-bedroom apartment, all en-suite and located at 7, Thurnburn Street and 5, Raymond Street, Yaba, bought through Chapel Properties Ltd.

Others are: 16 four-bedroom terrace located at Heritage Court Estate, Omerelu Street, Diobu GRA, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, bought through Blue Nile Estate Ltd, 13 three-bedroom apartment with one room maid’s quarter situated at Mabushi Gardens Estate, Plot 1205, Cadastral Zone B06, Mabushi, Abuja, bought through Azinga Meadows Ltd and six flats of three-bedroom and one boys’ quarters located at Plot 808 (135) Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, bought through Vistapoint Property Development Ltd.
Earlier on August 28, 2017, the same judge had ordered the permanent forfeiture of N7,646,700,000 linked to the former petroleum minister.

During proceedings leading to the order, the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, while moving the application, noted that the money was part of the sums allegedly diverted by the former minister from various units of the NNPC.

Oyedepo further claimed that the anti-graft commission published an advert after the court ordered the money’s temporary forfeiture but no one claimed its ownership.

An investigating officer with the commission, Usman Zakari, in a supporting affidavit attached to the application, stated that the former minister held a meeting with a bank chief in her office informing him that some officials of her ministry would be bringing funds to his bank.

According to him, the minister directed that the funds must neither be credited into any known account nor captured in any transactional platform of the bank.

On August 7, 2017, Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court in Lagos also ordered that a $37.5m (about N11.5bn) mansion on Banana Island, Lagos linked to Mrs. Diezani, be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
The court also ordered that $2.7m (about 841.2m) and N84.5m realised as rents on the property should equally be forfeited to the government.

Earlier on February 16, 2017, Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the permanent forfeiture of $153.3m (about N47bn), which was said to have been diverted from the coffers of the NNPC by the former minister. The EFCC had traced the money to three commercial banks in the country where it was kept.


Patience Jonathan

Former first lady, Patience Jonathan, also had battles with the EFCC over the forfeiture of N9.2bn and $8.4m (about N2.6bn). The order of interim forfeiture of the funds went up to the Supreme Court, which ordered her to return to the court to challenge the forfeiture.

However, on June 1, 2019, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the permanent forfeiture of the funds to the federal government.

The EFCC told the court that the funds were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime. Though Patience, through her lawyers, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), opposed the application and insisted that the funds were legitimately hers, the judge held that she had no doubts at all that the monies were proceeds of unlawful activities.


Bukola Saraki

A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on December 2, 2019, ordered an interim forfeiture of two houses in Ilorin, Kwara State belonging to the immediate past Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

The EFCC had approached the court presided over by Justice Ridwan Aikawa for an order of interim forfeiture of the properties said to worth about N1bn on the grounds that they were acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities.

However, Saraki, through a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the application leading to the order was an abuse of court process and a violation of a subsisting order of the Federal High Court, Abuja restraining the commission by themselves, their subordinates, agents, servants, or privies whosoever, from seizing, impounding, taking over, confiscating or otherwise forfeiting his right to own and peacefully enjoy any of his assets and properties.


Winifred Oyo-Ita

On September 26, 2019, Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo-Giwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the permanent forfeiture of some assets returned by a suspect linked to a former Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita.

Oyo-Ita was placed on indefinite suspension over corruption allegations launched against her by the EFCC and while moving the application for the forfeiture, the anti-graft agency’s lawyer told the court that the funds were voluntarily returned to the commission as proceeds of crime by the unnamed suspect.

While details of the case were not read out in the open court, the EFCC lawyer informed the judge that the money had been paid into an account with the Central Bank as soon as it was returned by the suspect.


Rochas Okorocha

Earlier in September, the EFCC revealed that it obtained orders for the interim forfeiture of assets traced to a former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, his wife, Nneoma Nkechi and their daughter on August 22. The order was got from a vacation judge, Justice A. T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt.

The Head, Enugu Zonal Office of the commission, Mr. Usman Imam, who disclosed this, added that the EFCC also obtained a similar order on a property, Dews of Hope Hospital, traced to a former aide to Okorocha, Mr. Paschal Obi, and the former governor’s daughter.

He listed some of the properties to include a 16-block 96-flat structure and an eight-bungalow multi-million naira estate, hotel, two schools, shopping plaza, supermarket, hospital and four vehicles.

The EFCC chief said while the hospital was traced to Obi, the remaining properties were traced to the former governor and his family, including his wife and daughter.

The EFCC made headway on the permanent forfeiture on December 6, 2019, when Justice T.G Ringin of a Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, ordered the final forfeiture of Dews of Hope Hospital, a N1.5bn state-of-the-art 200-bed hospital allegedly owned by Obi.

The commission said its investigation revealed that Obi, a former Permanent Secretary and Principal Secretary to then governor Okorocha, was a signatory to the accounts of the hospital.
It also revealed that there was evidence that the facility may have been acquired through proceeds of illicit activities, as funds from the Government House in Owerri were traced to the hospital.

Obi, now a serving member of the House of Representatives and a member of the board of the hospital, reportedly denied ownership of the medical facility.

The EFCC said the managing director of the hospital on invitation could not also explain how the hospital was funded.


Jolly Nyame

Following the conviction and sentencing of Jolly Nyame, a former governor of Taraba State, an Abuja court presided over by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, also ordered that all the funds previously recovered by the EFCC from aides to the ex-governor and other government officials involved in the scam be forfeited to the Taraba State government.


Andrew Yakubu

A former Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Engineer Andrew Yakubu, has also forfeited to the government, $9.7m and £74,000 allegedly stashed in a fireproof safe.

The Federal High Court in Kano presided over by Justice Z.B Abubakar on February 13, 2017 ordered the interim forfeiture of the funds that were uncovered on February 3, 2017 by operatives of the EFCC after storming a house allegedly belonging to Yakubu. The Kano court’s order has since been affirmed by the Kaduna Division of the Court of Appeal.


Haruna Momoh

On November 4, 2019, the ICPC announced that it had started moves to recover N2.4bn and some landed properties alleged to have been illegally acquired and linked to a former managing director of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Haruna Momoh and his wife, Ochuko Okor.

The move was subsequent to an interim forfeiture order from a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to seize the funds said to comprise foreign and local currencies, stashed in multiple accounts in four different banks as well as five landed properties located in different parts of Abuja.

The Momohs have however returned to the court to challenge the order. Ruling on their application has been reserved by the judge, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, to a date to be communicated to the parties.


Abdulrasheed Maina

The Federal High Court in Abuja on October 22, 2019 ordered temporary forfeiture of 23 properties linked to a former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina. According to the EFCC, the temporarily forfeited properties are in Kaduna, Borno, Sokoto and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

By Babajide Komolafe



The Bankers Committee yesterday introduced a classification of the Biometric Verification Number (BVN), namely BVN Premium and BVN Lite, in order to fast track the achievement of the financial inclusion goal of 20 per cent by 2020.

The Committee which comprises the chief executive of banks and senior management of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), also announced fresh steps to stop cyber attacks on Nigerian banks.

Governor, CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele disclosed this at a press briefing at the end of the 11th annual Bankers Committee retreat held in Ogere, Ogun State.

Emefiele said that classification marks the second phase of the BVN initiative which was introduced in 2014.

The BVN is a centralized biometric identification system for the banking industry. The BVN represents a unique identity for every bank customer that can be verified across the banking industry. Presently, over 40.2 million bank customers have been enrolled and have a BVN.

Speaking on the rationale for the classification of the BVN, Emefiele said: We now have about 40 million people on the BVN platform. We think that because of the benefits of the BVN to bank customers and the economy there is a need to consolidate and move BVN to a new level, something like 2.0.

Explaining further, he said: This entails, for instance, to reclassify and segregate transactions that could be done on BVN. We have two classifications. The existing BVN that we have in the system has about 18 lines of information.

“We decided that we classify into BVN premium and BVN lite.

There should also be a system where people who are financially excluded can now be included. If you are on BVN Lite there is a limit to the kind of transactions you can do in terms of deposit and in terms of loans.”

Explaining how the classification will boost the nations financial inclusion efforts, the CBN boss said: The important thing is that we want to make you financially included where you can conduct basic banking services.

There are people who are currently financially excluded, like people in our rural communities that carry phones but not having financial services. With the collaboration of NCC, we are putting this BVN arrangement to allow them to conduct minimal financial services.

It should be possible for us to migrate this person into the BVN Lite arrangement where they can conduct minimal financial services, not just banking services, but minimal financial services, insurance and anything you want to conduct in terms of finance whether electronic payment or anything, you can do it with the aid of your phone. Now as you bring them into the financial system, what it will do is that it will help to increase our rate of financial inclusion and reduce the exclusion rate.


Measures to stop cyberattacks

Meanwhile, the Bankers Committee said it would soon introduce measures to stop cyber-attacks on banks.

Emefiele disclosed this, saying this is to ensure a safe and conducive to cyberspace which is critical to promoting the digital economy that Nigerians deserve.

He said that the measures to be introduced include Panic Alert which would help to reduce losses to the minimum losses cyber attacks in the industry.

“The Committee agreed to put in place measures such as a panic alert to protect not just the deposit money banks but also the depositor’s funds that are in the custody of the deposit money banks, he said.

Speaking further, Emefiele said that the Committee noted that the lack of capacity to control and manage cyber risks have been resulting to incidences of loss money not just only to the bank customers but also to the customers themselves.

Hence, he said, the Committee resolved that every deposit money bank should develop and invest massively in tools, both soft and hardware that will stop cyber attacks on their operations so as to reduce to the barest minimum not just to the banking industry but also to the customers.


CBN’s Cyber Security Operations Center in the offing

Speaking further, Emefiele said the CBN as part of its efforts to forestall cyberattacks on the industry is developing a cybersecurity operations centre, which would serve as a gateway to checkmating such attacks on the banking industry.

He said: On our part in CBN we are looking at investing in a security operations centre that will act as a gateway not only for banks. It’s like you have a baby, and somebody is about to attack that baby. As a parent, you see to it that you abort or nip in the bud that attacks in order to protect the child from being attacked by an intruder.

Unfortunately, we are all naked today as a result of internet and cyber and we all have to do everything to protect ourselves.

by the time the security operations centre being built by the CBN is ready am sure that even some of our security agencies will be able to tap into some of the capabilities that are being developed by this centre.

Okechukwu Nnodim
The Federal Government has ordered Turkish Airlines to suspend its operations into Nigeria due to repeated cases of poor passenger treatment by the international carrier.

It gave the directive through the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority , directing the airline to suspend its operations until it was ready to operate with the right size of aircraft that could transport all passengers with their baggage at the same time .

It was gathered that the government ’s directive came as a result of recent cases in which the airline failed to bring in passengers into Nigeria together with their checked -in baggage .

In a letter to the airline by the acting Director -General, NCAA , Capt . Abdullahi Sidi , which was made available by the Federal Ministry of Aviation in Abuja on Thursday , the authority expressed displeasure at the incidents , which it said had been going on for over two weeks.

Sidi said the incidents had become so bad that most recent Turkish Airlines flights arrived in Nigeria without more than 85 per cent of passengers ’ baggage on board .

He said , “ Our airport authority has been facing a serious crisis controlling the passengers at the airport whenever they arrive without their baggage . This issue has made passengers to carry out several mob actions at our airports and it is a great threat to our airport facilities .

“ In view of all these , and a series of meetings held with the Turkish Airlines personnel , which did not yield any solution to this problem , the NCAA is therefore left with no option than to direct Turkish Airlines to suspend its operations into Nigeria until such a time when the airline is ready to operate with the right size of aircraft that can transport all passengers with their baggage at the same time .

“ If no remedial action is carried out by your airline , this suspension shall be effective from the 16 th of December, 2019 .”

Kinsmen of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), have faulted his wife, Aisha, over her Wednesday’s statement, which attacked the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Garba Shehu.

The kinsmen in Daura, in separate exclusive interviews with the Kastina State correspondent of The PUNCH, on Wednesday evening, berated Mrs Buhari for making what they called a purely private family affair, public.

Mrs Buhari, had in the statement on Wednesday morning, said, “It was Garba Shehu, who claimed that the government would not allow the office of the first lady to run. He was later to confirm to one of my aides that he was instructed to say so by Mamman Daura and not the President. This antic attracted the anger of Nigerian women. He didn’t realise the fact that the first lady’s office is a tradition which has become an institution.”

Commenting on the statement by Aisha Buhari, residents of Daura, the home town of the President, said the first lady should have reported the matter to her husband.

Attack on Shehu akin to attacking Buhari – Daura associations

The Chairman of the Coalition of Associations in Daura, Mallam Muhammed Saleh, in an interview with The PUNCH, said Mrs Buhari’s feud with Shehu should be seen as a pure private affair.

He said that the outburst by the wife of the President was not good enough. According to him, attacking Shehu was akin to attacking Buhari.

Saleh said, “I try as much to refrain myself from commenting on the issue as some people are bound to misinterpret whatever one says on the issue. But I need to stress that this is a family affair which should be resolved.

“Attacking Garba Shehu who is the spokesperson for the President is akin to attacking the President himself and I think , this is not good enough. I will urge all of them to resolve any issue at stake privately.”

Aisha is giving wrong impression of her husband – Daura elder

Ronaldo’s market value drops in Serie A
But another elder in Daura, Alhaji Usman Kalgo, said the first lady’s public outburst on Shehu was an insult to Buhari.

Kalgo said, “ If Aisha sees any shortcomings on the part of Garba Shehu or any other person working for her husband, the best person to complain to is her husband and not making the issue public.

“The President knew that Garba Shehu was competent before giving him the job of a spokesman and if there is a feud between Aisha and him or any other person, Aisha should respect her husband. She should report Shehu to her husband and not making it public. By making the issue public, she is giving a wrong impression of her husband, which is not good enough.”

A lawyer, who is an indigene of the town, Ado Lalu, said the wife of the President’s approach of making the issue public would not solve the problem.

Lalu said the feud between the first lady and Shehu or any other person in the Presidency ought to have been resolved behind closed doors.

Lalu said,” Logically, attacking Garba Shehu publicly by the first lady is not good enough. The first lady has a direct access to the President and she could have discussed the issue that concerns her with him. Making her grievances public will not help matters.

“Even if he (President) is busy to attend to her complaints now because of his tight schedule, she will always get time to discuss the issue with the President. There are several ways of making one’s grievances known not by making such public, which will only aggravate matters. This is a strictly private matter and should be settled privately.”

It’s a family affair – Daura emirate

But the Spokesman for the Daura Emirate Council, Mallam Usman Ibrahim, when contacted on the phone, said, “It is a family matter and we don’t speak on family issues.”

It’s a family affair – Emir of Gusau

In Zamfara State, the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello, told The PUNCH through his Protocol Officer, Alhaji Abdulkadir Usman, that the issue was entirely a family affair.

He stated, “It is a family affair; it is not an official issue, as such, I wouldn’t want to talk much about it.”

Before the 2019 elections, the President’s wife had alleged that those who did not contribute to the election of her husband in 2015, were benefiting from the regime.

The crisis between the first lady and Daura’s family worsened in October, when the President’s nephew’s daughter, Fatima, released a video.

Fatima, in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, admitted that she recorded the video that went viral to provide proof for her parents and security officials about Mrs Buhari’s outburst during an encounter with the first lady.

In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service after her return from Europe in October, Mrs Buhari reacted to the viral video.

She said, “I was the one in the video, those behind me were the security personnel given to protect me, but Mamman Daura’s daughter, Fatima, shot the video in the presence of security officials and everybody. She was laughing at me because my husband said they should vacate the place (Glass House) for my son to occupy.”

Abuja – Despite attempts to manage a protracted conflict in Aso Rock that has squared up President Muhammadu Buhari’s wife, Aisha, against the president’s cousin, Mamman Daura, it became open on Wednesday when the first lady finally spilled the beans in a statement in which she accused Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Media and Publicity, of disloyalty.

The first lady’s outburst, Aso Rock sources said on Wednesday, has unsettled the presidency that is embarrassed by the statement.

In the statement she personally signed, the first lady accused Shehu of transferring his loyalty to Daura and working against the interest of the first family, noting that he had been “a willing tool and executioner of their antics”.

She said Shehu took instruction from Daura at the beginning of the Buhari administration to declare that there won’t be an office of the first lady, a development which, she said, embarrassed the president.

The first lady insisted that the president’s media aide had betrayed the trust of the first family and advised him to resign.

She said: “As spokesperson of the president, he (Garba Shehu) has the onerous responsibility of managing the image of the president and all the good works that he is executing in the country.

“Rather than face this responsibility squarely, he has shifted his loyalty from the president to others who have no stake in the contract that the president signed with Nigerians on May 29, 2015 and 2019.

“To make matters worse, Mr. Shehu has presented himself to these people as a willing tool and executioner of their antics, from the corridors of power even to the level of interfering with the family affairs of the president.

“This should not be so. The blatant meddling in the affairs of a first lady of a country is a continuation of the prodigal actions of those that he serves.

“We all remember that the chief proponent appropriated to himself and his family a part of the Presidential Villa, where he stayed for almost four years and when the time came for him to leave, he orchestrated and invaded my family’s privacy through a video circulated by Mamman’s daughter, Fatima, the public was given the impression that on arrival into the country I was locked out of the villa by Mr. President.

“Garba Shehu, as villa spokesperson, knew the truth and had the responsibility to set the records straight, but because his allegiance is somewhere else and his loyalty misplaced, he deliberately refused to clear the air and speak for the president who appointed him in the first place.

“Consequently, his action has shown a complete breakdown of trust between the first family and him.”

Recalling some of the actions of Shehu, she said: “Mr. Shehu was privy and part of the plan and its execution and he was shocked when he realised that I had publicised my return to Nigeria on October 12, 2019 and cleared the air on the many rumours that took over social media, a job he was supposed to do but kept mute to cause more confusion and instability for his principal and his family.

“Garba then vented his anger on the National Television Authority (NTA) management insisting that the media crew to my office must be sacked. He succeeded in getting them suspended for doing their job.

“I had to intervene to save the innocent staff from losing their means of livelihood by involving the Department of State Services (DSS) in order to ascertain roles played by key actors in the saga.

“It is at this late hour that I recall, sadly, that it was the same Garba Shehu who claimed that the government will not allow office of the first lady to run.

“He was later to confirm to one of my aides that he was instructed to say so by Mamman Daura and not the president. This antic attracted the anger of Nigerian women. He didn’t realise the fact that first lady’s office is a tradition which has become an institution.

“Today, even without a budget, I am able run my humanitarian programmes.

“In saner climes, Garba Shehu would have resigned immediately after going beyond his boundaries and powers.

“The latest of his antics was to wage a war on the first family through an orchestrated media campaign of calumny by sponsoring pseudo accounts to write and defame my children and myself.

“Based on Garba Shehu’s misguided sense of loyalty and inability to stay true and loyal to one person or group, it has become apparent that all trust has broken down between him and my family due to the many embarrassments he has caused the presidency and the first family.

“We all have families to consider in our actions and therefore it is in the best interest of all concerned for Garba Shehu to take the advice of the authority, given to him sometimes in the first week of November, 2019.”

Put Your House In Order, PDP Mocks Buhari
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday mocked President Buhari over the first lady, Aisha Buhari’s outburst.

Challenging President Buhari to put his house in order, PDP said that the public outburst by the first lady is another sad commentary that further exposes president’s incompetence and why governance has failed in his hands.

The party, in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said that the development has also exposed President Buhari’s failure to lead and enforce an organised governance structure, and that the governance of “our nation has been ceded to the chaotic and selfish whims of a cabal.

“It is indeed appalling that under President Buhari, our once productive and highly organised presidency has been bastardized and reduced to Kunle Bamtefa’s soap opera, Fuji House of Commotion.

“Instead of governance, the Buhari presidency has continued to serve Nigerians and the international community with tragicomedies that make mockery of leadership.

“Nigerians can now further see why nothing works under the Buhari presidency; why the administration has remained shambolic and plagued with policy summersaults and executive recklessness; why our economy has remained comatose and why our nation has been dangerously drifting to the brinks under President Buhari’s watch.

“Indeed, the Buhari presidency has proven to be a huge national embarrassment and a big problem for our nation.

“Never in the history of our nation has the office, essence and symbol of Nigeria’s presidency been so stripped and ridiculed.”

The PDP urged President Buhari to immediately put his house in order and save the nation further embarrassments under his very incompetent, disorderly and messy regime.

Sanni Onogu, Abuja

The Senate on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to set up a sustainable unemployment fund for the payment of living stipends to jobless Nigerians until such persons secure any kind of employment.

The Senate also urged governments at all levels to declare emergency on the provision of employment to the youth of Nigeria.

The upper chamber further urged the Federal, State, and Local Governments to revitalise existing industries, build new ones, and provide conducive and enabling environment for the Private Sector to build more industries in the country.

Besides, it called on the government through the Ministry of National Planning, “to put up mechanisms and programmes that would provide employment for our teeming unemployed graduates/youth at all tier of government.”

These resolutions of the upper chamber followed the consideration of a motion titled: “Escalating rate of unemployment in the country” moved by a former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

Ekweremadu in his lead debate, urged his colleagues to be alarmed that the huge number of graduates being turned out annually by the nation’s tertiary institutions without requisite employment spaces to absolve them.

According to him, the ugly development represents a time bomb waiting to explode.
The Enugu West Senator noted that a report published by the National Bureau of Statistics in 2019 stated that Nigeria’s unemployment rate stood at 23.1 per cent of the workforce in the third quarter of 2019.

He lamented that according to a statement credited to the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, showed that Nigeria’s unemployment rate will hit 33.5 per cent by 2020.

He urged the upper chamber to be worried that “any nation with such number of unemployed, but employable youth population, is only sitting on a keg of gunpowder.”

He further called on his colleagues to be perturbed that the most pressing demand on the hand of every legislator and public officer in the country today is the rising number of Curriculum Vitae and application for employments from constituents and Nigerians.

He said that he is convinced that a situation where every graduate has to queue up for job only in government offices is an indication of the breakdown of the private sector, “which is the major driver of world economies.”

The Senator lamented that the energies and potential talents of youths that are lying idle and wasting away are usually misdirected toward many unprofitable and harmful ventures and lifestyles.

He further averred that the most active percentage of the nation’s population is forcefully caged by unemployment “from participating in the economic development of fatherland and from contributing toward the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“Aware that high level of crimes in any society are most times related to high rate of unemployment.

“That unemployment is one of the major causes of the upsurge in Rural-Urban migration, which puts pressure on facilities at the urban centers.
“That unemployment is one of the major reasons insurgency, kidnaping, armed robbery, cybercrimes and other vices are on the increase.”

Ekweremadu recalled that various intervention programmes by successive governments targeted at “reducing youth unemployment and eradicating its co-traveler, poverty, have not yielded the desired results.”

In his contribution, Senator Istifanus Gyang (PDP, Plateau North), described unemployment as “a monster that, if we (Nigerians) are not careful, can consume us as a nation.”

On his part, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (APC, Ekiti North) decried the inability of the private sector to address the escalating rate of unemployed persons in the country.

He argued that the government lacks the capacity to create jobs, “as doing so would create an expansion in the fiscal responsibility of government.”

A Highfield form three girl is reported to have died on Saturday evening at PamaStones Shopping Complex in a generator room whilst having sex with a man only identified as John.

The Highfield High 1 School pupil, only identified as Daisy, is reported to have entered a generator room of a local bottle store at the complex with John for a ‘pleasurable moment’ which ended up taking her life.

John is said to be a tuck-shop attendant at one of the tuck-shops at the same complex.
Daisy, who is said to be asthmatic, suffocated during the act due to the carbon monoxide produced by the generator.

John who is reportedly in hospital survived by a whisker after he was found gasping for air when people broke into the generator room after he had fallen on the power cable which cut off power in the bottle store.

“The guy was found gasping for air; people had to break into the generator room.

“He fell onto the power cable which disrupted power in the bottle store, so people rushed to the generator room only to find it locked and broke in and found the girl with no pulse but the guy still had pulse and was gasping for air.

“He had to be rushed to the hospital but I’m not sure which one,” said a source.

Another source revealed that the girl’s family were not taking the issue lightly and did not want to bury their daughter until the bride price has been paid.

“It is being said the girl’s family don’t want anything to do with the burial until John’s family pays bride price because John was already taking her as a wife by sleeping with her,” said the source.

Sanni Onogu, Abuja




A motion seeking to pass vote of confidence in the leadership of the 9th National Assembly and the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, suffered a setback in the upper chamber on Tuesday.

The motion which was contained in the Order Paper which lists the activities of the Senate for the day, was sponsored by Senator Kassim Shettima, representing Borno Central and co-sponsored by 35 other Senators.

However, when it was time for the motion to be debated, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, who stood in for the Senate Leader, moved a motion to stand down the motion and for it to be taken in the next legislative day.

Senator Abdullahi’s motion was seconded by the Minority Whip of the Senate, Senator Philip Aduda.

While Abdullahi did not give any reason for the abrupt decision to step down the motion, it was however learnt that some Senators who were listed as co-sponsors of the motion were not comfortable with their names being on the list.

Some of them were said to have protested to the Senate President, that they were not consulted before being listed as co-sponsors of the motion.
Lawan was said to have directed that the motion be stood down to allow for further consultation, hence the motion by Abdullahi for it to be stood down.

Meanwhile, the prayers of the motion as contained in the Order Paper had called for special commendation for Lawan and equally urged all “Senators to endeavour to sustain the present goodwill of the Senate under the leadership of Senator Ahmad Lawan.”

The motion in another prayer further called on Nigerians and the Federal Government, “under the leadership of President Muhamadu Buhari, to support the 9th National Assembly in its determination to pass legislations that would impact meaningfully on Nigerians and take it to the next level.”

The motion was titled: “Vote of confidence in the leadership of the National Assembly.”

Shettima had called on the Senate to observe with satisfaction, the stability and unity of purpose witnessed by the 9th National Assembly under the leadership of Senator Ahmad Lawan since its inauguration on Tuesday, 11th June, 2019.

He noted “with much satisfaction” the modest achievement of the 9th National Assembly in the discharge of its constitutional responsibility “with much diligence and candour as exhibited by the Senate” through:
“The realignment of the Budget Calendar to January-December budget cycle through the timely passage of the 2020 Appropriation Bill on Thursday, 5th December, 2019.

“The timely passage of the Finance Bill 2019 to drive the Fiscal Reforms as proposed for the 2020 financial year.

“The timely passage of the Public Procurement Act (Amendment) Bill, 2019 to reposition the procurement process.

“The timely passage of the Production Sharing Contract Act (Amendment) Bill, 2019 given its potential to impact on the revenue base of the Federal Government.

“Timely consideration/screening and confirmation of Ministerial Nominees to ensure immediate commencement and implementation of government policies in line with this administration’s agenda.”

Shettima urged the Senate to be impressed by the existing cooperation among all Senators and indeed members of the National Assembly in the interest of the nation and the improved Executive Legislative relation.

He called on the upper chamber to be “further impressed by the selfless and patriotic leadership of the 9th National Assembly generally to work for Nigeria and Nigerians in line with its Legislative Agenda.”

The Borno Central Senator called on the Senate to accordingly resolve to: “Pass a vote of confidence in the leadership of the 9th National Assembly and particularly commend the President of the Senate and urge all Senators to endeavour to sustain the present goodwill of the Senate under the leadership of Senator Ahmad Lawan; and to “Call on Nigerians, the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhamadu Buhari to support the 9th National Assembly in its determination to pass legislations that will impact meaningfully on Nigerians and take it to the next level.”

There are strong indications that some All Progressives Congress governors are plotting to seize the control of the party as part of efforts to install President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor in 2023 .

The PUNCH gathered on Monday that despite Buhari’ s meeting with the APC governors on Thursday and his discussions with the party ’s state chairmen on Friday , some governors were pressing ahead with the plot to remove the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole .

It was learnt Oshiomhole ’ s fate was linked with the desperation of the governors to install Buhari’s successor and determine those who would succeed them .

The Chairman of the Forum of the APC State Chairmen , who is the party ’s Chairman in Zamfara State, Ali Bukar , had at the meeting with the President on Friday appealed to Buhari to caution the governors.

He had said, ” Let me also express our recent worries regarding the activities of some of the governors who are undermining the efforts of the national chairman of our great party, Adams Oshiomhole , to reposition the party by plotting his removal .

“ It is more worrisome knowing full well that they are not doing this because the national chairman is not performing his duties , according to the constitution , but they are fighting him due to their 2023 presidential ambitions when it is a notorious fact that Mr President had just commenced his second term in office a few months ago .”

A top member of the APC National Working Committee , who confided in The PUNCH on Monday , said that most of the party ’s ambitious governors were behind moves to remove Oshiomhole .

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution , said, “ Everything that is happening is all about 2023 .
We know that these things are being propelled by the desire of governors to secure their political future post - Buhari, don’ t forget we are the ruling party and we are doing everything lawful to ensure it remains so beyond 2023 .

“ Outgoing governors want to pick those who will succeed them . They also want President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor to come from within their ranks and they hold the opinion that for this to happen , they need to control the party at all levels.

“ Whether you like it or not , any group , which controls the party at whatever level , has leverage over others . They know Oshiomhole is strong- willed so they want someone who they have a hold on to fit into their plans. That is all that is happening nothing more .”

Efforts to get a response from the Progressives Governors ’ Forum were futile . When contacted, the Press Secretary to the Kebbi State Governor , Abubakar Mua ’zu , said, “ His excellency ( Atiku Bagudu, Chairman , PGF ) is out of the state on an official assignment . I believe the PGF has a person who speaks for them , contact him .”

Calls to the mobile telephone of the Director -General of the PGF , Salihu Lukeman , were neither picked nor returned. A response to a text message sent to him on the subject was still being awaited as of 8 : 03 pm .

State chairmen’ s meeting with Buhari to save APC chair – Forum source

But a source in the APC governors’ forum told The PUNCH that Oshiomhole arranged the state chairmen ’s meeting with Buhari, as part of efforts to prevent his removal .

The source said , “ It is becoming increasingly clear to Oshiomhole that more governors were turning against him . A few weeks ago , five governors were supporting him . Even , a North -West governor , who was supporting him a few weeks ago , has abandoned him . At the last count , those supporting him are not up to four . ”

The director - general of the forum , had last month asked the national chairman of the party to convene a national executive committee meeting of the party or resign.

He had said that under Oshiomhole ’s leadership , the APC was battling with crises in Bayelsa, Anambra , Edo , and Ondo states.

Efforts to get the Chief Press Secretary to Oshiomhole , Simon Ebegbulem , did not succeed as he did not answer calls to his phone on Monday . He had also yet to respond to a text message sent to him as of 8 : 40 pm .

Also the APC National Publicity Secretary , Lanre Issa - Onilu, in a text message said he was in a meeting when called .

However, he had yet to reply a text message sent to him as of 8 : 40 pm .

We can ’ t shut govs out – National Vice -Chairman ( North )

But the National Vice Chairman ( North ) , Inuwa Abdulkadir, said, in an interview with one of our correspondents , that the APC could not shut governors out of the party .

He said, “ They are important stakeholders in any party . The stage we are democratically has shown how strategic governors are. Even as members of the National Assembly , you are elected from a state and the governor is the leader of the party at the state level . Party politics is about service and interests . This is normal in a democracy .”

On his part , the Cross River State Chairman of the APC , Mr John Ochala , in an interview with one of our correspondents , gave more insights into Buhari’s meeting with the party state chairmen .

He said, “ What took us there was to congratulate him on the party’ s victory at the Supreme Court . We also appreciated him for his efforts to put the economy together and also the degrading of insurgents as well as the fight against corruption. ”

Ochala added that the chairmen told the President that the party faithful were not happy that those who worked for the success of the party in the last general elections had not been compensated .

He stated , “ We urged him to try to compensate the party faithful . Finally , we frowned on some governors who are distracting the national chairman of the party because of their selfish ambition .

“ We said that the call for the removal of Oshiomhole was uncalled for . We told him ( the President ) that he should not listen to them and that it was a distraction ahead of 2023 . He ( President Buhari) should caution them . ”

Consultation delaying Edo, Cross River , Rivers APC peace committee

Meanwhile, the APC in the South -South has said it is still consulting members listed on the peace committee on the crises in Cross River , Edo and Rivers chapters of the party .

The APC National Vice -Chairman ( South - South ) , Chief Hiliard Eta , disclosed this in an interview with one of our correspondents on Monday .
The party had at its November 28 emergency zonal meeting in Abuja agreed to raise the committee .

The meeting was called to appraise the performance of the party in the last general elections and the recent victory in Bayelsa State, among other issues .

Speaking with our correspondent, Eta said the list was ready but had not been made public . “ The list is ready but we have to make proper consultation with the members before we can release the list to the public ,” he said .

Eta stated that the party wouldn’ t want its efforts to go in vain so had ensured that members were men of proven integrity and active members of the party.

President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated Muhammad M. Nami as the new chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said in a statement issued today that his nomination followed President Buhari’s approval of the composition of a new board for the FIRS subject to Senate confirmation.

Shehu said the former FIRS Chairman, Babatunde Fowler, whose term of office expired today, Monday, December 9, 2019, was expected to hand over to the most senior director on the board, who would take charge, pending the senate confirmation of the new board.

Here are few things you should know about the man who will take over as head of the FIRS from Fowler:

1. Nami is a well-trained Tax, Accounting and Management professional with highly rated qualifications and professional practice and licenses from relevant professional bodies.

2. He has almost three decades of practical working experience in Auditing, Tax Management and Advisory and Management services to clients in the banking, manufacturing, services and public sectors as well as non- profit organizations.

3. He is an expert in rendering advisory support services to investors in respect of new business start-ups and management of existing businesses.

4. Nami has also continuously rendered outsourced services to clients in trading, service and manufacturing sectors of the nation’s economy.

5. He attended Bayero University Kano and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology (1991) and a Masters of Business degree (2004) respectively.

6. He is a fellow of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Institute of Debt Recovery Practitioners of Nigeria and Associate Member of Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) and Association of National Accountants of Nigeria.

7. Nami started his career with PFK in 1993 and rose to the position of a senior Consultant in charge of Tax management and advisory services.

8. He is currently the managing consultant of Manam Professional Services (Chartered Tax Practitioners and Business Advisers) based in Kaduna, Abuja, Niger State.

9. Mr Nami has served, and is still serving, on many companies’ Board and Statutory Board Audit Committees.

10. He was appointed as a member, Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Stolen Assets in November, 2017 by President Buhari.

11. He is married with children.

Daniel Kanu

After all the political braggadocio and tragic comedy experiences that trailed his bid to return to the Senate in the just concluded Kogi West Senatorial election, Dino Melaye finally lost to his arch-rival, Smart Adeyemi, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Dino and Adeyemi have both contested and occupied the seat for Kogi West in the Senate for 12 years. Adeyemi was first elected Senator in 2007 and served for eight years till 2015. Melaye replaced Adeyemi at the Senate after the 2015 election.

Their rivalry again came to the fore during the 2019 election after which Dino was declared the winner until the tribunal and Supreme Court declared the election as null and void while ordering the INEC to conduct a new election for the office.

INEC said Adeyemi polled a total of 88,373 votes to defeat Dino who polled 62,133 votes in the re-run election that took place on November 16.

Dino, who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said that the election was a charade, describing the results as “magic”, insisting that “anyone congratulating Adeyemi for the election amounts to congratulating an armed robber after a robbery operation.”

At a press conference in Abuja, last week, Dino accused Adeyemi and the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello of using violence, intimidation, and inducement to frustrate the electorate in areas where he was popular.

Since the announcement of the result, both candidates have been embroiled in a war of words as they fight dirty in media platforms.

Dino, who described Adeyemi as his ‘political wife’ did not chew back his words despite the fact Adeyemi has been sworn-in on Wednesday.

He had insisted that “Adeyemi remains my political wife. I won the election.”

Dino said he remains superior to Adeyemi on all fronts.

The former lawmaker said he sponsored over 200 bills during his four-year stay at the Senate compared to Adeyemi, who was there for eight years.

Adeyemi, on the other hand, said it is a shame that “an individual like Dino Melaye became a Senator in Nigeria.”

According to him, “I have a proven track record before I joined politics. Dino is just a thug on the streets of Abuja who joined politics and became a senator through corrupt means, flaunting exotic cars at the detriment of the people”.

He declared that by the latest defeat at the rerun election, Dino has become his political house-boy.

As things stand, the 9th Assembly will be sailing with vintage Dino missing in action, unless, the court decides otherwise.

The story of Dino is perhaps that of an eclectic personality that seamlessly navigated his way through the world of activism, patronage, and politics, capturing the minds of Nigerians with his actions, and sometimes inaction.

As a lawmaker, Dino has been perceived as one that has pushed his destiny through sheer resilience, determination, perseverance, courage and some time with brute force.

From a mere student agitator to higher activism and to the Green Chambers before stepping up to the Red Chambers, Dino, hate him or like him, has remained fascinating, sometimes enigmatic.

He became the unofficial defender of Patricia Etteh, Speaker of the House of Representatives then, taking the bullets for her when most lawmakers, even some of her friends in the chamber, deserted her during her impeachment brouhaha.

By the time Etteh had vacated her position, it was a Dino that was left at the mercy of his colleagues and to reclaim his legitimacy as an honourable member, he had to employ different surviving mechanisms, including fighting physically.

In one of these infamous outings, Dino was reduced to unclothedness as every piece of clothing on him was shredded in rags. And this followed with eight months suspension from the House.

As a Senator in the 8th Assembly, Dino became more daring than ever. With the unpopular emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President as against the wishes of his party, Dino assumed the position of a defender, attacker, and striker for Saraki. He was firing from all cylinders. No one was spared in his protection of Saraki’s territorial dynasty as he played the undertaker.

So daring and impulsive was Dino that he almost beat up Senator Remi Tinubu, wife of the National leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, threatening to put her in the family way.

From every corner, Dino was perceived to be fighting everyone, including the police, sometimes to seek for justice, sometimes to create entertainment as a fun-loving man.

At a point during one of his arrests, he jumped out of a moving police van, at another point you found him recording and dancing to his music that he posted on social media platforms.

There was what perhaps seemed like a hilarious drama when it was reported that Dino on one occasion had to climb a tree to save himself from kidnappers.

So notorious was his fight that he did not spare even President Mohammadu Buhari.

It is believed that during the 2018 Budget presentation, Dino was alleged to have led the booing gang that jeered and humiliated President Buhari.

Some political watchers say he bit more than he could chew with some of his actions that put him on the watch-list of those to be decapitated politically.

It is believed in some quarters that his gutter fight engagement with his governor, Yahaya Bello, another young man with pulsating energy to fight dirty, was his greatest undoing.


The question is: Can Dino stage a comeback politically?

Perhaps, Abdullahi Haruna, Public affairs commentator, captured it best: “Take a bet, the Dino Melaye I know, a perilously intelligent, an uncommon fighter defined in sheer doggedness will bounce back again. He has defined an impenetrable template of survival. I dare to say that Dino has broken the ceiling of limitations”.

Dino Melaye was born on January 1, 1974. He attended Command and Air Force Secondary School, Kaduna for his secondary school education. Dino graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he studied geography in 2000. He later studied law and has attended various training at different institutions outside the country.

Nigerian and Iranian governments are holding fresh talks on the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Seyed Mousavi, on Sunday, told the FNA that negotiations are on with Nigerian officials on how to improve the conditions of El-Zakzaky who has been in jail for the past four years.

He said the Iranian Vice President for Economic Affairs, Mohammad Nahavandian, met with President Buhari in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on El-Zakzaky’s case.

The recent meeting, he said, took place on the sidelines of the fifth Summit of Gas Exporting Countries Forum held in Equatorial Guinea.

Mr Mousavi said, “The two sides spoke of mutual economic relations, regional and international affairs, as well as El-Zakzaky in this meeting.

“The Islamic Republic, in the held meetings with the Nigerian side in Tehran and Abuja, is negotiating Zakzaky issue to follow up the improvement of his conditions.”

A Nigerian High Court had, on December 5, ordered the Department of State Services to transfer the cleric and his wife, Zinat, to the Correctional Centre in Kaduna State.

The IMN leader and his wife are standing trial over allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace, among other charges.

More facts emerged at the weekend on how Governor Abdulrahaman Abdulrazak of Kwara State and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Yakubu Salisu Danladi, escaped being implicated in the ongoing probe into the N200 million allegedly shared among some aides of the governor by the former chairman of the Kwara Inland Revenue Service (KWIRS), Prof. Murtala Awodun.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had invited the Chief of Staff to Governor Abdulrazak, Alhaji Aminu Logun, because Awodun had claimed that he gave him some money to help influence the extension of his tenure as KWIRS chairman.

This was shortly after Logun was named the chairman of the Transition Committee 2019 and was believed to have some influence on the then governor-elect. Logun has since refuted the allegation.

Although Governor Abdulrazak was said to be in the dark about the deal, Sunday INDEPENDENT gathered that Awodun actually approached Danladi for assistance because of his closeness to the governor.

But, Danladi was said to have rejected the offer because that would have prevented him from becoming the Assembly Speaker.

A source in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state said those linking AbdulRazaq to the alleged corruption were “either mischievous or were not thinking through their utterances.”

“If Awodun had indeed given money to AbdulRazaq for election as is being alleged, why would the same governor not retain him as KWIRS chairman as a payback? And how can anyone even think that such a thing can ever happen in a parastatal where Senator Bukola Saraki had so many grips?

“What happened was that Awodun was trying to remain there and he met with anybody who he felt could help him,” he said.

The source said Awodun originally wanted to be the vice chancellor of the Kwara State University (KWASU), a position for which he had been pencilled down by former Governor Ahmed Abdulfatai. He was said to have been edged out by some rules and forces.

“But, the plan failed as a result of internal power struggle within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) then. That was not helped by the election outcome in March. So, the man felt he should just try to retain his seat in order to protect himself and other powerful interests from probe,” he added.

Unlike in the case of the N5 billion KWIRS allegedly shared among some former members of the House of Assembly in which the EFCC had confirmed invitations to some persons, the anti-graft agency did not confirm or deny the invitation of the Chief of Staff and others said to have been questioned in relation to the Awodun’s tenure extension bid.

However, all the sources said the tenure of Awodun saw daring misuse of public funds to oil the defeated political machine.

Another source said Logun was not alone in the messy situation as some other top politicians and influence-peddlers were also implicated by Awodun’s confession.

“We have taken statements from Logun, just like some other persons too. This has nothing to do with election. It was about how the former KWIRS chairman was trying to influence his reappointment with public funds,” the source said.

“Clearly, none of the influence-peddlers was able to influence the governor. The man was eased out of the job and the rest is history. We are still investigating some of the discoveries in this regard,” he said.

While admitting to have been invited by EFCC, Logun, however, claimed that the commission only wanted him to shed light on matters pertaining to an ongoing investigation.

“First and foremost, I will like to state that I truly visited the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of an ongoing investigation into the activities of some past officials, including the former chairman of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS).

“Save for public officials with immunity under our law, every public official has an obligation to the state to assist in the investigation of any crime. I am no exception, hence my first and only appearance on November 26, 2019 to answer the EFCC summon to volunteer information as I know it.

“However, my visit to the EFCC has been given several misleading interpretations, especially on the social media where some persons are unfairly using that to smear my hard-earned image. I understand this is one of the burdens of being in public office.

“I state unequivocally that at no time did Prof Awodun give me any money for the claimed purpose or for any other purpose whatsoever.

Similarly, I was not involved in any funneling or distribution of money from KWIRS and/or any other source for any political campaign or political party. All the stories and theories in the media concerning those allegations are baseless and totally untrue.

“I have instructed my lawyers to review the false publications with a view to taking legal actions as may be appropriate.

“I remain humbled by and grateful to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, for the trust reposed in me as the chairman, Kwara State Transition Committee 2019, which was further concretised by my appointment as the Chief of Staff to the executive governor.

“I remain very proud of the giant steps and achievements of the executive governor since he assumed the reins in Kwara State and shall continue to dutifully support His Excellency in advancing the Kwara Project for the betterment of the good people of Kwara State.

“I am also of one mind with His Excellency that the task at hand is much too important for us to succumb to sponsored fabrications that are patently designed to distract and cause disaffection,” he said.

Investigations by Sunday INDEPENDENT revealed that there were more inclinations in Ilorin to see that the matter would go beyond both Logun and Awodun.

Abdulfatah was, howeve, unavailable to respond to the allegation, as an aide to the former governor who begged not be mentioned in the matter, said that it was “complicated” and would not want to be mentioned at all in the case.
Though the former governor travelled out of the country, the aide said his boss had nothing to hide.

helinues:
But you are not new on NL now.. You supposed don know the guy with his yeye comments

Obinna Chima

Moody’s Investors Service, one of the global credit rating agencies, wednesday changed its outlook on Nigeria’s ratings to negative from stable.

Concurrently, Moody’s affirmed its B2 long-term local and foreign currency issuer ratings, the B2 foreign currency senior unsecured ratings, and the (P)B2 foreign currency senior unsecured MTN programme rating on the country.

According to the rating agency, the negative outlook reflected Moody’s view of increasing risks to the government’s fiscal strength and external position.

It explained: “Already weak government finances will likely weaken further given an extremely narrow revenue base and persistently sluggish growth that hinders fiscal consolidation.

“As pressures mount, there is a risk that the government resorts to increasingly opaque and costly options to finance a moderate but rising debt burden.

“Moreover, vulnerability to an adverse change in capital flows is building in light of Nigeria’s increasing reliance on foreign investors to fund the country’s foreign exchange reserves.”

Furthermore, it pointed out that Moody’s decision to affirm the rating at B2 recognized a combination of credit strengths, including the country’s large and diversified economy supported by vast oil and gas endowments, notwithstanding persistent credit weaknesses such as its very weak institutions and governance framework and in particular poor public finance management.

“Concurrently, Moody’s has maintained Nigeria’s country risk ceilings at their current levels: Foreign Currency bond ceiling at B1, Foreign Currency deposit ceiling at B3, and Local Currency bond and deposit ceilings at Ba1.”

Moody’s also said the drastic reduction in Nigerian banks’ non-performing loans (NPLs) will help in reducing the risk of capital erosion from unexpected losses and lessens the need for loan loss provisions.

Nigerian banks’ NPLs reduced to 6.6 per cent at the end of October compared to the 14.1 per cent it was in 2018.

This was the first time the NPLs would drop to a single digit in the past 42 months.

But the rating agency’s banking analysts, Mr. Peter Mushangwe, in a note obtained by THISDAY yesterday, described the development as credit positive.

“The Nigerian banking system’s non-performing loans ratio reduced to 6.6 per cent at the end of October from 14.1 per cent a year earlier, according to the central bank. This is credit positive, as lower NPLs reduce risk of capital erosion from unexpected losses and lessen the need for loan loss provisions. The improvement in asset quality is mainly due to banks’ growing loan books, write-offs and successful workout of exposures,” he stated.

Moody’s has maintained a stable outlook on the Nigerian banking system.

“Our view reflects the banks’ resilient capital buffers and their stable deposit bases. Although Nigerian banks’ asset risk and profitability will remain key rating challenges, we expect these challenges to gradually ease in 2020 as the economy improves further,” the agency added.

It predicted that economic growth would be modest as the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would expand to 2.3 per cent in 2019 and 2.8 per cent in 2020, up from 1.9 per last year.
However, it noted that the GDP projection would be well below the level required to improve Nigerians’ living standards.

It said: “Lending growth will recover in the second half of the year following a contraction in 2018, but it will remain subdued and will not appreciably boost banking revenue.

“The Nigerian economy will remain vulnerable to oil price movements. Loan quality pressures will ease but remain banks’ main weakness.

“Higher oil prices will constrain new NPL formation while high loan-loss reserves will allow banks to write off some of their bad debts.

“These credit positives will be moderated by lingering risks from high loan concentrations and high delinquency levels. Capital buffers will remain stable.

“System-wide tangible common equity will be stable at 16 per cent of risk-weighted assets at year-end 2018, which will be sufficient to absorb losses under our baseline scenario.”

A member of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Prof. Adeola Adenikinju, had said the financial systems indicators were in the right direction.

He noted that unemployment, poverty and weak growth were major structural problems in the economy, saying that unfortunately, there was a limit to the potency of monetary policy alone to address problems of power deficit, infrastructural gaps and other factors contributing to high costs of doing business in Nigeria.

These problems, unless addressed, would also limit the extent to which the country can effectively benefit from the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), he said.

MelesZenawi:
Supreme Court should just hand OYO to APC


So that Yorubas can have peace and stop disturbing makinde..

Let the judgement be up turned.

Linus Oota, Lafia



A sex scandal has exploded at the Federal University Lafia, Nasarawa State, as a student in the Department of Computer Science is alleged to have impregnated a female lecturer in the department.

Allegations are rife that the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Muhammad Sanusi Liman, is shielding victims to save the integrity of the institution.

The VC is alleged to have unilaterally sacked a staff, Mr. Jibrin Osajibo, without query or approval of the governing council for blaming the him over his role in certain rots going on in the institution under his watch.

Prof. Liman, who was appointed in February 2016, has also been accused of promoting an ethnic agenda by sacking foundation staffs of the university who are not indigenes of the state without any justifiable reason.

Our correspondent authoritatively gathered that the recent casualties of the VC axe are Mr Ekarete Akpadion and Christian Moris, both from Cross River State who were sacked in the last two months and replaced with the VC’s biological children.

There is a notion in the state that he has embarked on a studied religious purging, especially those not from the state.

Speaking to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, a key principal officer of the university said the VC is faithfully implementing Islamic war of conquest.

“There is a considerable stir among Christians because the VC is an agent of predetermined political agenda, a syringe that was carefully chosen by the Muslim oligarchy in the state to Islamise the university,” the source said.

He claimed the VC’s appointment was in violation of the NUC guildlines which state that you must be 10 years at the professorship. “He was just eight years when he was appointed to implement this agenda. Under him, the hostility against Christians is intense and the system has gone down, the standard has kept depreciating since he came into office, there are high cases of admission racketeering.

“Th university under his watch had been steeped in scandalous admission racketeering, sexual abuses as well as certificate scandals…

“Staff recruitment, promotion and appointment as well as admission are done based on religious and indigenous consideration and any attempt to complain will earn you a sack.

“Eighty per cent of students on admission since he came in 2016 are Muslims and only Muslims are recruited as lecturers at the expense of merit and fair-mindedness.”

But speaking to our correspondent, the Public Relations Officer of the University Abubakar Ibrahim dismissed all the allegations.

He explained that the governing council of the university has the power to appoint anybody as vice chancellor and not the NUC, noting that the VC cannot sack any staff without the approval of the governing council.

He said the council has not sat in recent time.

Chinenye Anuforo




Despite the fact that 44 percent of mobile subscribers in the country are still on 3G service and about four percent are using 4G as contained in the Jumia 2019 mobile report, it is still imperative that Nigeria embraces the 5G technology.

The above is the position of Information and Technology experts who spoke exclusively to Daily Sun.

According to them, offering significant improvements over previous generations, the fifth generation (5G) of cellular technology can certainly not be ignored.

They argued the essence of 5G adoption is to ensure the country is not left behind in the digital age adding that, it is not about simply participating in a rat race. “There must be purpose and direction. As various issues and possibilities emerge, the question is how will Nigeria use 5G? Critical to improving the level of preparedness entails having an inclusive multistakeholder plan. It should entail how 5G networks will be launched to work alongside existing older generation networks.”


What is 5G?

5G, the fifth generation of mobile wireless communications promises to lower latency, offer greater stability, the ability to connect many more devices at once, and move more data due to its fast speed. These features have the potential to improve businesses and that’s one of the reasons 66 percent of enterprises plan to deploy 5G by 2020, according to a study by Gartner.

Ultimately, 5G takes advantage of higher-frequency bands in the radio spectrum that has high capacity but shorter wavelengths. Cisco estimates that by 2020, 5G will generate three times more traffic than the average 4G connection and those connections will make up three percent of total mobile connections.

Many industry experts believe that 5G networks alongside existing 4G LTE networks will be 10 to 20 times faster than 4G when fully deployed in the real world. Standalone, 5G could reach gigabit-plus browsing speeds, making mobile internet as fast, if not faster, than hardwired fiber connections.

According to Jide Awe, an IT expert, much of the attention on 5G comes from a realisation that it will distinguish countries in the new digital economy.

He said, “For Nigeria, leveraging on 5G can improve competitiveness and create immense possibilities in innovation and transformation towards building a new digital economy.”

Although Nigeria still has challenges in telecom infrastructure provision, Awe argued that 5G offers huge potential for new unexplored growth areas. “The ongoing trial of 5G is a good start. The trial should be used to explore use-cases and applications in Nigeria, especially those that have not been practical due to limitations of existing networks,” he said.

He stated that, the eventual full-scale rollout of 5G demands huge investment to design. “It is impossible to overemphasise the need to create an environment in the entire telecom space (5G and existing networks) that enables investment and deployment. Critical aspects such as access of providers to equipment, support of investment, partnerships and facilitating infrastructure rollout should be addressed.”

Awe added that the recent draft Executive Order declaring telecommunications infrastructure ‘a critical national infrastructure’ is a welcome development.

“Closing the digital inclusion gap is a major concern. Broadband penetration needs to be improved. Even without 5G, large segments of the population are still unable to benefit from the digital revolution due to lack of access to reliable internet services. Those issues hindering broadband rollout throughout the country still need to be addressed. States should become smart states that foster and encourage infrastructure rollout; they should not hinder or constitute roadblocks.

“The plan should consider privacy and security implications of 5G. With the increased speed and improved connectivity, security concerns need to be considered. In the new digital economy, protecting our information and security should be prioritised. Furthermore, effective 5G adoption requires meaningful capacity building. There should be focus on building capacity towards smooth implementation and sustainable operations and growth,” he said.

The Chief Executive Officer, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) and President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Muhammed Rudman, said Nigeria needs to follow the global trend. He said even though some places in Nigeria currently have only 2G and 3G, there is need to follow global trends in order not to be left out. “Most areas don’t have the internet access to 4G. Even in Lagos, not all the areas have 4G network but the reality is, we need to follow the global trend because technology constantly evolves,” he said.

Rudman stated that because Nigeria did not succeed in the initial technology evolution doesn’t mean it shouldn’t try and catch up with the next wave.


Ahead of 2020

Ahead of the 2020 set date for the roll out of 5G networks in Nigeria, the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) said it will look at three strategic areas of interest that will be beneficial to the country and Africa. These areas of focus include enhanced mobile broadband applications, the low ultra-reliable, low latency applications, and the Machine to Machine application.

According to NCC, Nigeria and other parts of Africa will subscribe quickly to the enhanced mobile broadband application. The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said the reason for this is because African countries are trying to roll out broadband infrastructure for broadband applications. “This will spur us on to ensure we put in place the necessary infrastructure,” he said.

In terms of readiness of the continent for 5G evolution, Danbatta said Nigeria and other countries within Africa are trying to reserve the spectrum for the roll out of broadband services. Specifically, Danbatta said in Nigeria, the focus is on 26, 38 and 42 GHz. He noted that these frequencies exist and are not licensed for any other application.

Just recently, by working with Huawei, MTN had 5G demo trial. At the trial, the first in West Africa, the operator was able to provide a glimpse into a range of 5G use cases and applications at a test Lab designed to show proof-of-concept.

MTN explained that 5G will enhance technological development because of the extremely fast transfer rate of large quantities of data. The firm said 5G is designed to keep self-driving cars aware of one another, stream virtual and augmented reality experiences; allow delivery drones to function safely and efficiently. Overall, it enables interconnected devices for instant communication.

Managing Director of Huawei Technologies Nigeria, Zhang Lulu, has said that with the new 5G network, telecommunications subscribers in the country can experience the fastest internet and mobile connectivity.

Lulu said Huawei’s partnership with MTN would enable the telecom firm serve its subscribers with advanced technologies for the future. He said the trial demonstrated the capability of the new technology while giving consumers a glimpse of what the future holds, due to its low latency rate.

“Huawei will keep supporting MTN through its challenges and requirements, providing the most innovative product and solution for MTN, bringing the ultimate experience to the subscribers,” the MD said.He noted that the firm was leading the 5G rollout globally, despite issues with the United States ban with more than 60 commercial contracts and shipment of over 400,000 base stations.

Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, said the 5G technology would improve operations and provide efficiency for security equipment. According to Ndukwe, all security concerns over the 5G network will be taken on board when the roll out starts properly. His words, “I am happy today that Nigeria is leading in demonstrating the 5G network. In due course, rules of engagement would be provided and that will enable us ensure that things are done in the way that is in line with the aspirations and requirements of the country.
“5G has a lot of potentials. For instance, the technology will provide efficiency for equipment like drones, and the possibilities are unimaginable.”

Two persons were said to have died and several others wounded in a bloody war that erupted between two rival cult gangs in Ijora Badia area of Lagos state on Tuesday.

The cult gang members, Aiye and Eiye, have been at war for quite a while now, Daily Trust gathered.

Tuesday’s clash saw the hoodlums carting away mobile phones and accessories from looted shops while passersby were also attacked by the urchins.

It was learnt that shops looted include E-Plus Global Communication Ltd located along Fadaini Road.

Baale, Ireti Owoseni and Railway line roads were deserted as residents including mobile traders scampered for safety.

The attack, which climaxed this evening, started from Fadaini road and Oke-Eri Community, and later spread to other areas.

It was learnt that the rival gangs had engaged themselves in a bloody war since last Sunday.
The rival groups identified as Suara and Railway boys, according to our reporter’s findings are members of the “Aiye” and “Eiye” Confraternity.

According to witness account, the Railway boys, who are mainly of “Aiye” confraternity had killed one Akin Ajayi (a.k.a Akile), who was butchered during a clash on Sunday night at Baale street.
Identified as the ring leader of “Eiye”
Confraternity in the area, he was said to have been matcheted severally on his head and stomach, leading to his death.

Consequently, his members were said to have mobilized themselves and headed to the base of their opponent in Railway area, where an innocent person was shot dead during a cross fire.

It was reliably learnt that his corpse was removed and deposited in a public morgue by police operatives from Badia Police Station.
Not satisfied, the Saura boys, accordng to the source, stormed Railway line around noon today to retaliate the killing of their leader.

Our correspondent gathered that they were however repelled by some soldiers attached to the workers of China Civil Engeering and Construction Company working on the Iganmu railway track.

Afterwards, some of them numbering about 20, led by boys identified as Tobi and Yomi Idowu, Biliamin and others proceeded to some shops at Oke-Eri community, where the shop of one Mrs. Adenike Odusola was vandalized and goods worth thousands of Naira carted away.

They further proceeded to Fadaini Road where they carted away mobile phones, accessories and other items estimated to worth about N1million.

Other adjoining shops were also said to have been attacked by the hoodlums where they made away with yet to be estimated cash and goods.

Our correspondent who visited the area at about 3:00pm sighted the DPO Badia Division and his operatives at the extreme end of Baale street dismantling the wooden bridge through which the miscreants link themselves.

Also, at the police station, our correspondent sighted Mrs. Odusola who was filing a formal complaint about the looting of her shop.

In a telephone chat, the police spokesman in Lagos state, DSP Bala Elkana, said he was yet to be briefed on the incident and asked our correspondent to call back. He’s yet to return the phone as at the time of filing this report.

by Dyepkazah Shibayan


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President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated the first-ever made in Nigeria military war vehicle.
The war vehicle was inaugurated in Kaduna on Tuesday. It is to be used for military operations in the north-east.

The vehicle was manufactured by Defence Industrial Corporation of Nigeria, Kaduna.
Apart from the vehicle code-named ‘Ezugwu’, the president also inaugurated an ultra-modern army hospital.


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Speaking at the event, Buhari condoled with all the soldiers who have lost their lives in the bid to keep the country safe.

“This government is aware that the activities of the army come with key consequences, with some personnel who have sustained various injuries,” he said.

“I once again send my condolences to those who have paid the supreme sacrifice in an effort to secure this country. May their souls rest in peace.

“I urge our soldiers to continue to abide by their ethics and keep to the rules of engagement and code of conduct while ensuring that human rights and international humanitarian laws are promoted and respected in the conduct of military operations.”

The president added that a lot had been achieved by the army since he assumed office.

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Two passengers boarded yesterday (Monday) from Lagos around 4 pm while the train arrived Iju today with just four passengers making only six passengers who have so far taken advantage of the free ride.





Hours after federal government declared free train rides between Lagos and Ibadan on the new standard gauge train, only six passengers have boarded the train in two separate trips.

Transport minister Rotimi Amaechi had declared the free ride on Saturday after a test-run of the train from Iju in Lagos to Ibadan, Oyo state where the 157-kilometer project terminates.

Though the project is yet to be completed, the government commenced operations on the Iju-Ibadan axis where rail tracks have been completed while finishing touches are being put on the stations.

Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria had said two luxury coaches would be deployed on the standard gauge daily, adding that because of the limited space, only about 60 to 80 people will be able to benefit from the free ride on first come, first served basis.

However, for the two days that the service commenced, only six passengers used the free train service. Two passengers boarded Monday from Lagos around 4 pm while the train arrived Iju today with just four passengers making only six passengers who have so far taken advantage of the free ride.

An NRC official who refused to be named said the Corporation is optimistic that more passengers would turn up before the week runs out.

Collins Nweze


THE $60 billion inflow from the Investors’ and Exporters’ Foreign Exchange (I&E Forex) Window has been identified by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele as one of the policies that sustained the stability of the naira.
Speaking at the 54th Annual Bankers Dinner in Lagos at the weekend, Emefiele said that as part of the bank’s priorities for next year, the regulator was determined to maintain its stable exchange policy stance in the near to medium term given the relatively high level of reserves.

Emefiele, who spoke on the theme: “Delivering a strong Sustainable Growth for the Nigerian Economy”, said the Investors’ and Exporters’ Forex Window has attracted over $60 billion worth of transaction since the inception of the window in April 2017, adding that the inflows has supported naira’s stability.

He said: “With a moderated inflation rate, positive Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and improvements in our external reserve position, the naira-dollar exchange rate at the I&E Forex window has remained stable for the past 29 months at N360 – $1 and we have witnessed significant convergence in the exchange rate across the various market windows. Local currency has also remained at N306 to dollar at the official market.”

Emefiele said the headline Inflation declined from its high of 18.7 per cent to 11.08 per cent in August 2019.

The CBN boss said: “We recently noticed an uptick in headline inflation, which stood at 11.61 per cent in October 2019, partly driven by cost – push factors such as the recent border protection measures of the Federal Government.
“We believe this effect will be temporary, as efforts are currently being made to induce greater production of staple food items.

However, core inflation as at October 2019 is now under nine per cent. This decline in inflation has been due to our maintenance of a tighter monetary policy rate at 13.5 percent, and improved inflow of foreign exchange.

Besides, the forex reserves remained above $40 billion as at October, relative to its low point of $23 billion in October 2016. We have been able to build our reserves in the midst of lower oil prices, as strong reserves aid the confidence of domestic and external investors. Today, our current stock of external reserves is able to finance 9 months of current import commitments.

Emefiele also listed the bank’s other priorities for 2020 to include support for greater economic growth, price stability and low inflation, even as he hinted on the continued tight monetary policy stance of the bank and the establishment of a Bankers’ Charitable Endowment Fund.

The CBN governor announced the establishment of a Bankers’ Charitable Endowment Fund that will fund a major charitable initiative every year starting in 2020. According ‘to him, the endowment will directly fund strategic social programmes in states and local communities across Nigeria.

He expressed the hope that the Fund would spur a trend across other industries and sectors to collaborate and work together to better the lives of all Nigerians.

Speaking on economic and financial sector developments and how they affect the macro-economic outlook for 2020, he said in spite of the positive growth the economy experienced, growth had remained slow due to “some structural constraints in the economy”.

According to him, the pace of growth, given Nigeria’s growing population, exposed the economy to shocks, such as changes in the oil price, and sentiments in the global financial markets.

Disclosing plans by the apex bank to support the economic recovery and enable stronger growth for the country’s GDP, he said that the Bank would continue its current tight stance, particularly in view of rising inflation expectations.

“Though we will act to appropriately adjust the policy rate in line with unfolding conditions and outlooks, the CBN will continue to ensure that the policy interest rate is delicately set to balance the objectives of price stability with output stabilisation,” he explained.

Doing a recap of the outgoing year’s highlights, Emefiele recalled that the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) remained positive, adding that the positive growth in GDP had been driven by improvements in Agriculture, Oil and Gas, Manufacturing and ICT as well as the intervention programmes of the CBN, along with sustained supply of foreign exchange and stability of the naira.

The governor also highlighted the bank’s effort in development financing, which, he said, the CBN had sustained in order to help support growth in critical sectors of the economy such as agriculture and the manufacturing sectors, through programmes such as the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme and the Bankers Committee Agri-Business/Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS).

Alluding to the economic face-off between some countries, as well as the likely challenges the economy could face due to moderate oil prices, he stressed the need for Nigeria to build up the necessary buffers that would protect the economy from pressures in the global market. He then restated the need to boost local production and diversify the country’s export base.

Emefiele stressed: “We should encourage Nigerians to consume goods that can be produced in Nigeria, knowing full well that a time will come when we may not have the foreign exchange to aid such activities, if we continue to rely on earnings from the export of crude oil,” he emphasized.

Lagos – Four years after the current administration came onboard in the sector, Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation, is yet to inaugurate board of directors of agencies under the ministry, despite their appointment and approval.

About two years ago, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the appointment of board of directors of five out of the six agencies in the sector, while Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), also gave a deadline for the inauguration of the board members over a year ago, but despite the approvals and directives, Sirika is yet to inaugurate the board members.

The agencies with board of directors, according to the Acts setting them up, are the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT).

Others are the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), while the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) does not have a board of directors.

It was gathered that the Act setting up NCAA stipulated the appointment of professionals as chairman and members of the board, as well as representatives from three ministries.

A source close to the Ministry of Aviation, over the weekend, told our correspondent that the inauguration of the boards was stalled by Sirika who claimed that their compositions and appointments negated the Acts setting up some of the agencies.

It was learnt that the minister said that the Acts establishing the agencies stipulated the qualification of the persons to be appointed into the boards, a requirement he alleged the Federal Government did not consider when announcing their compositions.

Besides, another source in one of the agencies confided in our correspondent that “some people in the ministry are not comfortable with having a board to direct their affairs, rather they want to be the only ones regulating and controlling activities in the agencies without supervision”.

Also, the agency source added that if the composition of the appointees negated the Acts setting up some of the agencies as claimed by the minister, he ought to have officially met with the appropriate authorities to address the perceived challenge in the composition, saying that the minister had always been reluctant to inaugurate the board members.

Some of the stakeholders spoken with by our correspondent said the non-inauguration of the boards would have a grave effect on the agencies as the chief executive officers (CEOs) had a limit of what they could spend without recourse to the board of directors.

Comrade Olayinka Abioye, the immediate past General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), in a recent interview with our correspondent, said that the non-inauguration of the boards indicated that something was actually wrong in the sector.

He insisted that since the Acts setting up the agencies stipulated that they should have board of directors, the minister ought to have set up the boards immediately they were appointed.

He said the minister might have willfully delayed their inauguration in order to continue to have influence in the agencies.

He said: “The implication is that the minister wants to still control the happenings in the parastatals. You are aware that by the Acts establishing these agencies, they are supposed to report to a board and, in the absence of a board, the minister takes charge.

“So, if the minister has the audacity to set aside the directive of Mr. President, it goes to show that something is definitely wrong with our system.”

Besides, Group Capt John Ojikutu (rtd), aviation analyst, in a recent interview, observed that it was not the first time the directive of President Buhari would not be implemented by the ministry.

Ojikutu cited the directive to NAMA on the agency’s taking over of the country’s territorial water from Accra, Ghana, and the directive to NCAA to carry out audit of Dana Air after the recent minor and major incidents involving the airline as among president’s directives not carried out in recent times.

James Odaudu, the Director, Publicity, Ministry of Aviation, could not be reached for comments.

It would be recalled that in the last week of February, Buhari had in 2018 directed all ministers to inaugurate the boards of various parastatals under their supervision.

The president issued this directive through a circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

Names on the NAMA list were Dr. Yakubu Lame, Abdullahi Y. Gashu’a, Capt. Ibraheem Olugbade.

FAAN had Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Akingbesote Akinyeye, Suleiman Mohammed, and Bello Babura.

NCAT had Mrs. Deborah Iliyas and Chie Simon Owhofa.

The names that appeared on the list for NiMET were Otunba J.F. Faleke and Dr. Chichi Ashwe.

It would also be recalled that Comrade Oshiomhole had, about a year ago, given Sirika and Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour, a week ultimatum to inaugurate their boards.

The Sokoto state government has granted amnesty to about 8,000 suspected ghost workers and those collecting abnormal salaries under its pay roll.

Alhaji Abdussamad Dasuki, the Finance Commissioner and Acting Chairman, Sokoto state Steering Committee on Integrated Payroll and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), disclose this in a news conference on Thursday in Sokoto.

Dasuki said the initiative was to enable civil servants collecting salaries they don’t earn and those engaged in improper practices against regulations to come forward and open up under confidentiality and guaranteed state pardon.

He said that the period of the amnesty began from Nov. 27, to end on Dec. 9, 2019 by 12 midnight.

“Government is therefore calling on those concerned to avail themselves of this initiative.
“At the end of this period appropriate sanctions will be meted out to those found wanting in accordance with Civil Service Rules and relevant laws,” he said.

The commissioner added that in the course of the committee’s activities, a lot of wrongdoings were discovered.

“These include suspected ghost workers, wrong computation of salaries, and inappropriate and inflated implementation of salary scales of certain cadres of civil servants.

“Similarly, civil servants or members of the public with relevant information that can assist in the discovery and/or resolution of problems in the payroll system are invited to approach the committee.

“However, this is with the assurance of confidentiality and reward where appropriate.
“Those willing to cooperate can contact the committee directly or reach out through the following phone numbers: 08105475900, 08144885521 08106010490,” he said.

According to Dasuki, they can also reach the committee through any of its members, member of the State Executive Council, Special Advisers, Permanent Secretaries or Directors-General, with equal guarantee of secrecy and appreciation. (NAN)

By Daniel Atori, Minna


A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State and a former Commissioner for Information, Mr. Jonathan Tsado Vatsa has said that the ruling party has no moral right to sponsor the hate speech bill or any law for that matter that seek to gag the press.

Speaking at the Social Media Summit in Minna, organised by the Progressive Media Practitioners (PMP), Vatsa said the ruling APC benefitted immensely “from this thing we call hate speech”
“Before 2015, I can remember, we used all forms of propaganda against the ruling PDP, we said anything to make sure that the people hated the party.

“Our focus at that time was to ensure that we discredited the then ruling party and we won. We should not be afraid of the poison we gave PDP that time.

“Personally I will not be a party to a law that will gag the press. In some other climes, people would have commenced the process of recalling the sponsor of that bill,” Vatsa asserted.

He commended former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida for throwing his weight behind those opposed to the bill and advised those behind the bill to sponsor bills that will impact positively on ordinary Nigerians.

The convener of the summit, Prince Daniel Atori in his welcome address, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to impress upon the lawmakers on the need for them to provide dividends of democracy to the people rather than embarking on a wild goose chase of making laws that are of no benefit to the people.

By Bassey Willie

A civil rights group in Bayelsa State, the Bayelsa Rainbow Coalition for Good Governance, has advised the governor-elect of the state, Chief David Lyon, to be careful with the last minute decisions of the outgoing governor, Seriake Dickson, to avoid making early mistakes in government.

Chairman of the group Barr Francis Wainwei while speaking with journalists in Yenagoa on Tuesday, explained that most of the people appointed by Dickson were not even qualified to be permanent secretaries according to the civil service rules.

Governor Dickson last Friday appointed 35 new permanent secretaries into the state civil service and one commissioner into the state executive council amidst criticisms from the people of the state.

The coalition chairman flanked by the Chairman of Civil Society Advance Forum for SDGs 2030, Chief Clifford Joseph Wilson, said the last minute appointments by Dickson were not in the best interest of Bayelsans but to place high wage bill on the incoming government.