₦airaland Forum

Kayode Oyero
Months after receiving the report of the probe panel on the alleged role of the suspended Head of the Intelligence Response Team, DCP Abba Kyari, the Inspector-General of Police, Baba Usman, has not forwarded any disciplinary recommendations to the Police Service Commission, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.

Kyari was investigated for his alleged role in a $1.1m Internet scam carried out by an Instagram influencer, Abbas Ramon, aka Hushpuppi, and four others.

The probe followed Kyari’s indictment by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigations, which recommended that the cop be extradited to the US to face trial.

The US Attorney’s Office at the Central District of California declined comments on the warrant of arrest it issued over six months ago that the FBI should apprehend Kyari and other defendants in the case.

The court’s Director of Media Relations, Thom Mrozek, in an email interview with Saturday PUNCH on December 13, 2021, also said the sentencing of Hushpuppi, who pleaded guilty to money laundering charges, was still pending.

The Dubai Police in the United Arab Emirates had in June 2020 arrested Hushpuppi and his gang. They were later extradited to the US for prosecution by the FBI.

The FBI Special Agent, Andrew Innocenti, had alleged that Hushpuppi contracted the services of Kyari after a “co-conspirator,” Chibuzo Vincent, allegedly threatened to expose the alleged $1.1m fraud committed against a Qatari businessman.

Innocenti, who said he obtained voice calls and WhatsApp conversations between Kyari and Hushpuppi, had also alleged that the latter paid the police officer N8m or $20,600 for the arrest and detention of Vincent.

Kyari had taken to Facebook on July 29, 2021 to deny the allegations, but he later deleted the post after editing it about 12 times.

The IG had recommended the suspension of Kyari, which the PSC carried out on July 31, 2021.

The police boss had on August 2, 2021, constituted the Special Investigation Panel headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department, Joseph Egbunike, to probe the allegations.

Egbunike on August 26, 2021 submitted the panel’s report, which he said “is an outcome of a painstaking, transparent and exhaustive investigative process.”

He revealed that the report contained the case file of the probe, evidence and findings as well as testimonies from Kyari and other persons and groups linked to the matter.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, had on September 14, 2021, during a television interview said the findings and recommendations on Kyari had been submitted to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), for “legal opinion” and thereafter for presentation to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), adding that the final decision would be taken by the PSC.

But three months later, the PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, told Saturday PUNCH that the commission had not received any disciplinary recommendations from the IG through the Force Disciplinary Committee almost four months after the Egbunike panel submitted its report to the police boss.

The recommendations of the FDC will inform the commission’s decision and also determine Kyari’s future in the force, but the matter is now inconclusive.

The PSC spokesman said, “What we received was the communication to the commission that the IG had received the Joseph Egbunike panel’s report and that they were working on it. So, it is not like they have sent a complete report to the commission; the commission is still expecting it from the police; they have not also made their recommendations known to the commission.”

Ani added that as far as the PSC was concerned, the Borno-born police officer remained suspended.


Hushpuppi: Kyari not reinstated —Police sources

“He (Kyari) is still on suspension because we have not lifted it officially at the commission, because the commission approved his suspension,” he said.

On the in-house panel set up by the PSC to probe Kyari’s indictment, he said, “We are waiting for the police to send their own report; ours is an internal arrangement that will guide the commission in taking a decision. It is not a different panel, but we are working ahead of time to prepare the commission so that when the report comes from the police, we will have all the facts needed to assist them to make a decision on it.

“The commission is bound by the provisions of the constitution and as far as discipline for serving police officers from constables to DIGs is concerned, the constitution has given the responsibility to the commission. Because the IG is the operational head of the police, we will normally seek his advice and recommendations, but the final decision lies with the commission. It is a constitutional matter.”

The PSC spokesman said the police would be in a better position to give a reason why no disciplinary measure had been taken yet on the matter.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, did not take his calls and had yet to respond to a text message seeking the NPF’s position on the matter as of press time.

Malami’s spokesman, Umar Gwandu, promised to respond to Saturday PUNCH inquiries on the instructions of the AGF, but he had yet to do so as of the time of going to press on Friday.

The spokesman for the United States Attorney’s Office at the Central District of California, Thom Mrozek, had in an email chat with our correspondent on July 30, 2021, said, “A US magistrate judge has issued arrest warrants for the defendants in the case, including Mr Kyari. This is standard operating procedure in nearly all of the criminal cases filed by this office.”

But when our correspondent contacted him on December 13, 2021, on the order of the court for the FBI to arrest Kyari, Mrozek said, “I have no comment on Mr Kyari.”

Asked if the court sentenced Hushpuppi in October 2021 as earlier scheduled, Mrozek stated, “As we noted in our July 28 news release titled: ‘Court documents ordered unsealed today show that Abbas, a 37-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty on April 20’. His sentencing is currently pending.”


CSOs slam FG, IGP for delayed tactics

Meanwhile, civil society organisations have since faulted the delayed tactics of the Buhari regime on the scandal, saying the reluctance of the police to make known their findings on Kyari’s involvement with Hushpuppi and the IG’s alleged tardiness to send his disciplinary recommendations to the PSC are signals of a cover-up.

Activist, Deji Adeyanju, of Concerned Nigerians said, “I am not surprised and I am not expecting the Nigeria Police to indict Abba Kyari. He has got away with it despite the indictment by the FBI and he has moved on as if nothing has happened. The lack of transparency in the way the whole thing has been done calls to question the integrity of the government. This particular government has exhausted its credibility limit and is now in deficit of same.

“The anti-corruption crusade of the Muhammadu Buhari regime died in his first year in office because of several double standards and it is only concerned about fighting opposition.”

Also, the National Coordinator, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, Emmanuel Onwubiko, slammed the IG for employing delay tactics in arriving at a conclusion on the matter.

He described as “huge shame of global dimension” that months after the FBI indicted Kyari for alleged collusion with Hushpuppi, the Nigerian government had refused to do the needful

By Ayodeji Adegboyega


Federal ministries, departments and agencies failed to account for N323.5 billion in 2019, with many offices violating rules on payments, remittances and tax, the government’s latest audit report has said.

The dubious spending included unapproved allowances, unretired advances, irregular award of contract, payment for services not executed and payments without voucher.

Most of the violations were observed across 27 MDAs with at least four of them recording cross-cutting issues from non-compliance and internal control weaknesses issues, the audit report, the latest from the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, said.

The largest chunk of the expenditure was N132.5 billion used in paying unapproved allowances to staff in 20 MDAs, the report said. The Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc spent the highest amount of over N97 billion, while the National Commission for Colleges of Education, Abuja, spent N2 million, the least.

According to the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, the authors of the report, the spending violated Paragraph 415 of the Financial Regulations that states, “The Federal Government requires all officers responsible for expenditure to exercise due economy. Money must not be spent merely because it has been voted.”

The second biggest waste noted by the audit report was N127.1 billion, being internally-generated revenues and other funds not remitted to the government by 15 MDAs.

Under government laws and regulations, all federal agencies that are fully funded from the treasury are mandated to remit 100 per cent of their internally generated revenue to the government’s central account. A circular in 2011 requires all federal agencies to limit their utilization of internally generated revenue to not more than 75 per cent of the gross revenue while the balance of not less than 25 per cent should be remitted to the government purse.

Of the N127.1 billion unremitted money, Nigeria Customs Service had the highest amount of N125 billion, while Anambra-lmo River Basin Development Authority, Owerri had the least amount of N5 million.

Also, nine MDAs spent N49.5 billion on unbudgeted items, with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development having the highest amount of N48 billion, while the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Abuja, recorded the least amount: N1 million.

Ten MDAs misspent over another N18.2 billion. The agric ministry again took the lead here with N11 billion.


More infraction

The report said N6.5 billion was recorded as payment made without payment vouchers by four MDAs with Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, having the highest amount of N5 billion.

Over N6.2 billion was expended on contracts/services not executed by five MDAs. Of this, the Nigeria Ports Authority had the highest amount of over N4 billion while Federal Government College Enugu has the least amount of N 83 million.

According to the report, 12 MDAs did not remit taxes totalling N5.8 billion. “Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has the highest amount of N2.9billion while Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, New Bussa has the least amount of N1million,” the report said.

Twenty four MDAs granted the sum of N4.5 billion as advances which was above statutory limits of N200 thousand.

The report also recorded N4.3 billion as vouchers being paid by 27 MDAs without attachment of relevant supporting documents. The Code of Conduct Tribunal topped the chart here.

Obinna Chima


The last may not have been heard of some of the revelations in the newly published autobiography by a former governor of Osun State and erstwhile protem national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, who claimed in his book, “My Participations”, that President Muhammadu Buhari, reneged in his promise to make a former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, his running mate ahead of the 2015 elections.

But many of Buhari’s close allies and foot soldiers, who were privy to some of the negotiations and horse-trading that preceded the 2015 elections, dismissed the account by Akande as being twisted and far from the truth, because according to them, “Buhari truly and only promised Tinubu a workable partnership, which included conceding the vice presidential slot to the South-west as a bloc, not to exactly make him his running mate.”

A lot of the Buhari boys, yesterday, called THISDAY with respect to its lead story last Friday, titled: ‘Akande: Buhari Promised to Pick Tinubu as Running Mate in 2015, Then Reneged,’which was an extract from Akande’s autobiography, saying they were dismayed over the report and strongly disagreed with the author’s account of events.

According to them, all that Buhari said was that he was going to partner and work with Tinubu, in the context of a partnership between the South-west and North-west, reiterating that the presidentnever promised Tinubu vice president or running mate, contrary to claims by Akande in the book.

This, the sources, who often glibly referred to themselves as Buhari’s boys, added was because they recognised “the role Tinubu played in helping them and the role of the South-west for voting en bloc during the convention that produced Buhari, which was pivotal and he presented the vice presidential slot in the partnership.

“And, in all of this, what Akande did not disclose was that Buhari sent a delegation of Farouk Aliyu, Hadi Sirika and Sarki Abba, to meet Tinubu and explained to him that the Muslim-Muslim ticket would not work, but that they would be partners to work together.”

The Buhari boys, have however, concluded that the former Osun governor appeared to have taken up the task of “a political bull, trying to force Buhari’s hands to support Tinubu in 2023. But that, we will not accept, even though no one is opposed to his aspiration.”

They maintained that Chief Akande’s account was deliberately slanted, to not only make Tinubu look good and weep up sentiment for him, but also send the president on a guilt trip and compel him to side with the former Lagos governor, who has shown keen interest, albeit clandestinely, in the 2023 presidential election.

In the THISDAY lead report of Friday, which detailed how Akande, in his autobiography, published by Gaskia Media Limited, disclosed that Buhari, apparently under pressure from certain interests and forces, dropped Tinubu from running with him on the party’s ticket, concluded that the then candidate of APC reneged on the agreement they had even after the merger had been sealed.

In the book, launched in Lagos, Akande, who also took a swipe at some Yoruba leaders including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olu Falae and Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, claimed that despite the pledge to make Tinubu his running mate, Buhari later faltered, saying he only wanted the former Lagos governor to “partner with him.”

His account stated thus: “In April 2014, I was in Abuja when Buhari called me and asked me to persuade Bola to run with him. Governor Masari was the one who came to call me. When I followed him into Buhari’s private lobby, Bola Tinubu was already seated there.

“So, when Buhari tabled the matter, I cautioned them that this must not get out beyond the four of us. ‘How could he be talking of a running mate when he had not secured the ticket? I thought such information, if leaked to the general public, might affect the conduct of the party’s congress at the presidential primaries, if not its choice of candidate. I thanked Buhari for thinking so highly of our friend.

“Bola later told me that Buhari’s emissaries had been coming to him, but he tried to dodge the gesture and not to show interest. We agreed that we would reopen the matter, when Buhari had secured the ticket,” he explained.

He, however, expressed surprise that, when Buhari became the party’s candidate, things changed, with former APC chair, Odigie Oyegun, who was supported by Tinubu to become chairman of the party, asking for names from the geopolitical zones from where Buhari would pick his running mate.

“He said it was from this list that Buhari would choose a running mate. I objected. I turned to Buhari. ‘General, where are you choosing your running mate from?’ He answered, ‘The South-west.’ ‘Oh! I didn’t know,’ Oyegun said. He apologised. I didn’t know why Oyegun made that proposition and at whose behest. As the chairman of the party, maybe some people pushed him to do that.

“Then, I called Buhari aside. ‘Is our arrangement still standing?’ I referred him to our discussion in April. He said yes!”
Akande further said some members of the party eventually agreed that a committee should be set up to search for Buhari’s running , a move himself and former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, opposed.

“Adams Oshiomhole, then Governor of Edo State, stood up and said we were being dishonest. He said he was a serving governor and many of those in the Elders Committee had been governors.

“Did we set up a committee to give us our running mates?’ He asked. ‘It is not fair!’ He further said what we were pushing was a dangerous act and that we should allow Buhari to choose his running mate. So, we left,” he narrated.

Akande stated that he later came to know later that some people constituted themselves into a group, called the Northern Interest Group, and they prevailed on Buhari not to allow a Muslim-Muslim ticket, and that it was the following day after the Elders’ Committee meeting, which was deadlocked, that Buhari phoned Tinubu to give him three names from which he would pick a running mate.

“We were all in Abuja and Tinubu rushed to me with this information. He wanted to know whether the understanding we reached with Buhari had changed. I called Buhari and he told me he now needed three names from us. I was angry with him.

“General, this was not what we agreed upon,’ I said in annoyance. ‘You are changing our agreement?’ He knew I was getting angry. He said he was under pressure from some governors from the north, including those who were Muslims. I told him the slot belonged to the South-West and among the Yoruba, religion is not a factor in leadership.

“Oshiomhole was surprised about the narration. ‘If indeed you promised to make Asiwaju your running mate, it would not be fair to renege,’ he said. Buhari now said he never meant it that way. What he meant originally was that Tinubu should partner with him.”

The former Osun governor explained that he didn’t know what that meant because before they discussed the issue of Tinubu as the partner or vice-president’s ticket, a merger had been accomplished and they had already partnered.

“We were registered in July 2013, and he called me to prevail on Tinubu to be his running mate in April 2014. Buhari knew I was upset but we tried to manage the situation. Perhaps he was overwhelmed by all those pressures. We decided to let him go,” Akande said.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Leo Irabor has ordered 50 Generals in the Nigerian military to tender their resignation with immediate effect.

They cut across the Air Force, Army and Navy; around 25 of the senior officers are in the Army.

An impeccable source told DAILY POST that Irabor gave the directive at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

At a 2pm meeting, the CDS thanked them for their service and told all present that it was high time they left office.

But the Course 36 Generals still have more than three years before their retirement.

“They are about 50; 2 of them in the Army will retire in 2022, while the rest have about 3 and half years left in service”, the source revealed.

Another source wondered why the Armed Forces are eager to ease out scores of capable and experienced hands at a time the country is battling insecurity.

Ironically, Irabor recently intervened in the 2016 forceful retirement of 38 Army officers via a letter (Ref. No. CDS/8/A) to Defence Minister, Bashir Magashi, a retired Major General.

They were asked to go in June 2016, an action described as arbitrary by those affected, security personnel, experts and Nigerians.

Till date, the military and the federal government are yet to comply with extant court judgments ordering the officers’ reabsorption.

In January 2020, Justice Rukiya Hasstrup at National Industrial Court in Abuja faulted the Army decision and directed their reinstatement.

In May 2020, Justice Edith Agbakoba approved that contempt of court charge is filed against military chiefs for failing to comply with a valid order.

By Tijjani Ibrahim

Reactions, at the weekend, trailed plan by the Daura Emirate Council to turban Yusuf, the son of President Muhammadu Buhari, as ‘Talban Daura’ amid a spike in insecurity in the president’s home-state of Katsina and other parts of the North.

Many social media users and other Nigerians expressed mixed reactions on the planned ceremony, with many of them condemning the planned fanfare.

A copy of the invitation letter sent to one of the northern emir’s was widely circulated in social media platforms over the weekend, generating reactions from Nigerians.

A resident of Katsina, Armaya’u Abdulhamid, said it would be “callous” on the part of leaders to attend and give prominence to such an event.

“But if they do it in a very low key, then I believe that is okay as stopping it will not change the situation the country is in,” he said.

Abdurraman Abdullahi, the chairman of the coalition of civil societies in Katsina, said it would be an open display of nonchalant attitude by the family of the president to organise a flamboyant ceremony when people are being killed on a daily basis.

“If you look at Katsina as one of the states most hit by this problem, where people are killed, raped and their property looted, and the first family decides to invite people from all over the country to celebrate and make merriment, then it shows their total indifference to whatever is happening in the country.

“But if it is just an emirate affair and they decide to conduct a ceremony that will not attract the attention of the nation, that is a different thing because Daura has relative peace compared to Katsina emirate. Even at that, courtesy demands that it should be done with caution,” he said.

Aliyu Daura, the President of Daura Emirate Development Association, and National President of Katsina Indigenes Association, said though he had not been informed officially, the occasion could be used to pray for the peace and security of the nation.

“What is happening is not peculiar to Nigeria; it is all over the world. So, the most important thing is not to blame leaders and all these accusations, but to return to God, because all of us need to reflect on our deeds and see how we can mend what is between us and our creator,” he said.

A member of Daura Emirate Council, Galadiman Daura, and the District Head of Mai’adua, Alhaji Ahmad Diddiri Ahmad, confirmed the planned event, saying the emirate was waiting for the approval of the state government to go ahead with the turbaning ceremony.

When asked whether that would not be tantamount to I-don’t-care attitude on the part of the emirate as well as the presidency, taking into consideration the insecurity in the country, particularly with the recent killings in Sokoto and Katsina states, the council member said the emirate did not look at it from that perspective.

He, however, said people were entitled to their opinions.

“But any sensible person that considers how long we have come through in this issue will not but salute our courage. We have cancelled Sallah Durba on a number of occasions and by doing so, even other emirates followed suit.

“We are equally disturbed by this issue of insecurity which affects all of us. It is as a result of the problem of security that even our markets are closed. Why then should people think that we are not showing concern about it?

“But the situation we are in cannot prevent us from holding the turbanning ceremony of a district head if the need arises. If you consider the fact that other things like wedding ceremonies, going to markets and the like are still going on, this one will not also be different.

“Some of these accusations are politically motivated and the emirate council will not allow such political talks to disrupt its line of activities and the moment the state government gives the nod, I assure you we will go ahead with it.

“In this nation, whatever you intend to do, no matter how beneficial, somebody will go against it, so we are not disturbed, worried or angry about the opinions people are holding; what is not good is baseless and unfair accusations, otherwise, people are entitled to their opinions,” he said.

By Lanre Adewole


A serving Nigerian governor has allegedly withdrawn N60billion from his state’s purse.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said that he has lifted about N60 billion cash from state coffers in about his six years in office.

The governor remains unnamed and his state, partially identified as domiciling in the North Central of the country.

In the latest edition of its in-house magazine named “EFCC Alert”, the agency’s czar, Abdulrasheed Bawa, was quoted as saying that Nigerians would soon hear more, about the developing sleaze story.

Bawa’s interview, originally given to TVC, was published under the “Setting the records straight” column of the monthly e-magazine, by the agency’s media unit.

He said, “Very soon, Nigerians are going to see some of the things that we are doing. I can tell you for free that the new Department of Intelligence that we have created is working wonders. They have come up with a lot of intelligence. 

“In one of them, a governor in a North-Central state within the last six years (one individual) has withdrawn over N60 billion in cash.

“We are looking at all of that, and I assure you that at the end of all of our investigations, Nigerians are going to be briefed of what we are doing behind the scene on cybercrime, politically-exposed persons, as well as engaging government agencies to ensure that we have better processes and procedures on how to do government business.

“We are not setting out to be engaging with people on the pages of newspapers or press conferences. We are working hard trying to see what we can do behind the scenes [to eradicate corruption].”

Bawa also disclosed that contrary to widely-held opinion that alleged corruption cases against former governors, are marooned, they, according to him, are being actively-pursued and investigation reports would be out soon.

“I can assure you that we are working [on them]. We don’t want to talk about matters that are under investigation. Yes, we invited a former governor [Lucky Igbinedion] for interrogation. He was with us for two days and he has been released; investigation is ongoing, but we are being careful and cautious, so we won’t be accused of engaging in a media trial,” he said.

Starting with those who served between 1999 and 2007, more than 50 former and serving governors are believed to be under alleged corruption investigation.

Five former governors have since been convicted, with higher courts overturning the sentencing of two, former Abia governor, Orji Kalu and Bala Ngilari, who briefly ran Adamawa State.


The commission is pursuing a fresh judicial approval to re-prosecute Kalu.

Two former governors are currently serving jail terms.

Former Plateau State governor, serving senator, Joshua Dariye and his Taraba State counterpart, former Governor Jolly Nyame.

On the celebrated conviction of the former boss of the federally-controlled Pension Scheme, Abdulrasheed Maina and his son, Faisal, the anti-graft agency leadership says its focus is now on banks, deemed complicit in the saga.

Bawa was quoted saying, “We are going to implement the pronouncement [of the Court] to the letter. The banks are complicit and there are some issues raised there and we are looking at that already. Anything that has to do with judgement of the Court has to be complied with in total. And so, the banks are involved, so we are going to go after them as well.

“We are very happy that we secured the conviction. And of course the restitution to the government. We still have another case that is ongoing. We also have civil forfeiture cases on some of these properties. So if you look at the big picture, I think we are good to go.


“The issue of pension fraud is something that is mind-boggling and we are looking at that. We recently held a sensitisation programme titled, “Eradication of Pension Fraud in Nigeria”. So we are working to ensure that we have sanity within the system.”

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, revealed this in an audio recording obtained by SaharaReporters on Saturday.




The Nigerian Government has stated that it will place the United Kingdom, Canada and Saudi Arabia on a red list over the outbreak and spread of Coronavirus' Omicron variant.

The President Muhammadu Buhari's administration say it will also stop airlines from those countries coming into Nigeria in retaliation for the three nations banning travels from Nigeria over the new COVID-19 variant.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, revealed this in an audio recording obtained by SaharaReporters on Saturday.

The minister noted that if the countries placed Nigeria on a red list, they lacked a moral right to have their airlines coming to Nigeria for commercial services.

Sirika said, “There is also a case of Saudi Arabia that put Nigeria on the ban list; Canada. Today, there was a meeting in which I participated from the COVID-19 Task Force.

“We have given our input that it is not acceptable by us and we recommend that those countries – Canada, UK, Saudi Arabia and Argentina – be also put on the red list.

"So, like they did to us, if they don’t allow our citizens into their country; who are they coming as airlines to pick out of our country?

“So, they are not supposed to come in. I am very sure in the next three days; Monday or Tuesday, all those countries will be put on the red list of COVID-19.

"Once they are on the red list, which means they are banned, their airlines will also be banned. I am so sorry we are going through difficult times, but it is in the interest of our country.”

SaharaReporters had reported earlier that citing the increasing cases of Omicron, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia suspended flights from Nigeria.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation in Saudi Arabia had confirmed the flight suspension in a circular to all airlines operating in the Kingdom.

On Wednesday, there were unconfirmed reports that there were preparations for repatriating Nigerians in the Kingdom over Omicron.

The UK on its own had last Saturday included Nigeria on a red list of country where non-British travellers were banned over the new COVID-19 variant.

The British High Commission had also last Sunday said it would stop issuing visitor visa applications from all red list countries including Nigeria.

The Federal Government had rejected the ban imposed on Nigeria by UK and Canada over Omicron.

United Kingdom-based intending couple, Emmanuel and Urenna Okonkwo, have lamented how the travel ban slammed on Nigeria by the British authorities over the spread of the Omicron Variant of COVID-19 will disrupt their wedding plans.

It was learnt that the intending couple arrived in Nigeria to tie nuptial knots on December 29 but after inviting over 600 people, they were now doubtful if the wedding would go ahead.

According to them, they have already spent £15,000 (N8,700,000) but are now anxious that their family and friends in the UK might not grace the wedding, due to costs that are involved after the UK placed Nigeria on red list.

MyLondon reports that with Nigeria placed on the UK's red list, whoever leaves England to celebrate with them faces a £2,285 (N1,325,300) per person hotel quarantine bill.

The couple based in Blackheath, South-East London, were hoping to be joined by friends and family, but said they have not been able to sleep due to worries.

After picking December for the traditional wedding because their family would already be flying back home to spend Christmas with their loved ones, they thought it was the ideal time.

Miss Okonkwo said, "We booked hotel rooms for guests, money we can't get back if this doesn't go ahead, it's a nightmare.

"The past few days have been very stressful, finding out alternative solutions, I've barely slept since Saturday evening, I don't want to dwell too much on the problems, right now we are thinking of solutions.

"I have a very big family so quarantine would be an extra £20,000."

The wedding plans will be a waiting game with the red list reviewed every three weeks, meaning they will not know more until December 20.

Alongside this, the couple will also be spending £25,000 (N14,500,000) on their English wedding next summer.

They disclosed they have been left with no choice but to look for alternative plans.

"We don't know how rules will change so we are looking at going somewhere else after Nigeria, rather than coming directly back to UK," the bride-to-be added.

"We are exploring different options, because no one can pay that £2,000 unless you're a millionaire, then you add up Covid tests - my whole family won’t be able to do that.

"Also, some of my immediate family work in healthcare so they cannot take time off work to quarantine or go somewhere else, they have January exams, they can’t even have the extra ten days - they wouldn't be able to go there at all if it stays on red list.”

Recall that the UK added Nigeria to its travel ‘red list’ over the weekend, meaning arrivals from there will be banned except for British and Irish residents.

The Nigerian government on Monday criticised a travel ban imposed on the country by the British government amid fears about the new Omicron coronavirus variant as “punitive, indefensible and discriminatory.”

The British travel ban is “not driven by science” and is “unjust, unfair, punitive, indefensible and discriminatory,” Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said.

Two sacked directors of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) is suing the agency over their dismissal.

The ex-NFIU officers asked the National Industrial Court to set aside their dismissal from public service.

In an affidavit supporting the motion, the plaintiffs claimed their ordeal began in 2020 when they wrote memos to local and foreign authorities after initiating a probe against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

The agency fired Muhammed Abdulrahman, an associate director in charge of intelligence and investigation and Fehintola Salisu, associate director of compliance and analysis, for insubordination.

In the suit marked NICN/ABJ/253/2021, the plaintiffs prayed the court to set aside their dismissal from public service because it contravened the law.

As the most senior person in the organisation, in the absence of the director of NFIU, Modibbo Hamman-Tukur, Ms Salisu initiated action to respond to the request for information as expected by the partner organisation in Malta, according to the affidavit. Mr Abdulrahman also wrote to investigative authorities in Nigeria requesting details about the subject.



They alleged that the NFIU accused them of bypassing the appropriate authority before initiating the probe in separate queries served on them and later suspended indefinitely after the queries in August 2020.

They added that six months after their suspension, the NFIU invited them to appear before the Appointments, Promotions and Disciplinary Committee in February, following which they were dismissed from service.



They disclosed that the committee indicted them of negligence, dereliction of duty, and gross misconduct in its report.

“The grounds or allegations which the committee found us liable and recommended our dismissal, under Public Service Rules, 2008, can only give rise to a retirement or termination and not dismissal,” their affidavit stated.

In the suit filed by their counsel, PT Akan, the plaintiffs prayed for an order setting aside the findings and recommendations of the committee on appointments, promotions and discipline constituted by the director, upon which the defendants in the suit relied upon to dismiss them.

They also prayed the court to determine the following whether, in light of “Rules 030102 of Chapter 3 of the Federal Government Public Service Rules, 2008,” the defendants were vested with the power to dismiss the claimants from its services without such power expressly delegated to them by the Federal Civil Service Commission.

In addition, they wanted the NIC to determine whether, within the meaning and definition of “Section 1 of Chapter 16, Rules 160101 and 060102 of the Federal Government Public Service Rules, 2008,” NFIU does not qualify as parastatal.

Among other things, they asked the court to determine that “if it is, whether the defendants are not bound to comply strictly with the provisions of the Public Service Rules, 2008 before dismissing the claimants from its service.”

They also prayed the court to declare that their dismissal from the NFIU was arbitrary and unlawful and consequently null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

They are also seeking an order directing the defendants to issue a letter recalling and re-instating them into the service of NFIU and restoring all the privileges, entitlements and positions held by the claimants before their purported dismissal by the defendants.

“An order directing the defendants to pay to the claimants’ salaries, allowances and all their entitlements from the period of their purported dismissal to the period of reinstatement,” added the document.

The matter will be heard on Wednesday.

(NAN)

Some police personnel have cried out over the non-payment of their November salary, saying the situation has worsened their economic plight.

The officers who spoke to SaharaReporters on Tuesday, December 7, on condition of anonymity, said that unlike their colleagues from other security agencies, they have been resuming at their respective duty posts without pay.

“Today is 7th and no policeman has been paid salary. How on earth will policeman not take bribe when the peanuts they get as salaries don't even come on time. Any government that don't take the welfare of its security personnels seriously has lost the way. Yet they government wants a better and active police force. Funny enough, every other security agencies has been paid,” one of the officers told SaharaReporters.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba has confirmed the development.

According to a police wireless message with reference number CV:3940/PB/FHQ/ABJ/VOL45/8 DTO: 031350/12/2021 obtained by SaharaReporters, the IGP said the issue is being treated appropriately.

“PAYMENT OF NOVEMBER 2021 SALARY X INFORMATION RECEIVED MINE FROM IPPIS UNIT OF OAGF X INDICATES DELAY IN PROCESSING OF FUNDS FROM FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE FOR PAYMENT OF NOVEMBER 2021 SALARIES X WHICH IMPLIES THAT THERE WILL BE DELAY IN PAYMENT OF NOVEMBER 2021 SALARY X HOWEVER X INGENPOL APPRECIATES THE SACRIFICES AND DEDICATION OF PERSONNEL OF THE FORCE X HE IS THEREFORE MAKING FRANTIC EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE DELAY IS MINIMIZED.”


Meanwhile, Nigeria is broke and has been borrowing to fund its budgets and relying on loans to pay salaries.

For example, Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Chris Ngige, while doctors were on strike over poor allowance, had in September 2021 confirmed that the Nigerian government under President Muhammadu Buhari borrowed funds from international sources to pay salaries of workers because of a shortfall in the country’s revenue.

Ngige had said the government took borrowed funds from foreign institutions like the World Bank to offset some recurrent expenditures.

Also, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, had in April 2021 admitted that Nigeria’s economy was facing a difficult time, saying borrowing was inevitable.

She had said, “We have very low revenues, we have very high expenditures. What we have done so far is just to provide some stability to make sure salaries are paid, pensions are received every month; that we send funds to the judiciary and the legislature; that we meet our debt service obligations.

“That’s what we are doing. It also means we have had to borrow more than we had planned before the COVID-19 started because we need to still continue to invest in infrastructure using our national budget. We borrowed to invest in key projects such as roads, rail, airports, seaports and several other investments that are required in health and in education and upgrading the social standards and quality of life of our people and Nigeria is not unique as several countries of the world went into recession.

“Almost every other country has had to borrow more than it planned. It means we expanded our deficit very fast in 2020. 2021 is a year that we see as the year of recovery.”

“So, FAAC reduces and whenever FAAC reduces, it is a very difficult situation and in the past one year, we have tried to fall back on some specific accounts that are meant to be saved; savings that when you have such a situation, you fall back on the resources and augment.

“So, we take funds based on Mr President’s approval either from Excess Crude or Stabilisation Account or in some cases, President approved for us to take funds from LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) dividends. In the month of March, we had a shortfall of FAAC that was about N50 billion; we didn’t have enough accrued in any of those accounts other than some N8.5 billion that we took from the exchange rate differential account so we added that and we ended up with the FAAC of N605 billion.”

Nigeria’s dwindling finances had also come under intense pressure as the Muhammadu Buhari-led government has been amassing foreign loans.

The country’s debt profile according to the Debt Management Office was N33.10 trillion as of the end of the first quarter of 2021.

This represents an increase of N191 billion compared to the N32.91 trillion recorded in December 2020.

The DMO in a statement had said the debt figures include the debt stock of the federal and state governments, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

Dayo Adenubi


The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, says the military is unrelenting in the prosecution of war against terrorists and bandits across the country.

He also said weapons to be acquired from the recently approved supplementary budget might not arrive earlier than one year because manufacturers needed time to produce the military hardware.

Amao made the remarks at the presentation of a Christian devotional book titled, “The Amazing Life” on Saturday in Lagos. The book was written by an aviation professional, Damilola Ogunseye.

Speaking on what the Federal Government is doing to tackle insecurity, the CAS said, “Speaking as the Chief of Air Staff and member of the leadership of the national security architecture of the nation, I wish to assure you that we are working assiduously to ensure that lasting peace is restored to all troubled parts of the country so that the current security challenges we are experiencing will soon become a thing of the past.”

Amao said while the government was doing the needful in tackling the security challenges.

He added, “I can also assure you that the President has given us all we want to see that the security challenge is brought down. One thing you should understand is that recently, the supplementary budget was approved for us.

“But the money approved cannot buy anything until one to three years because most of our equipment cannot be purchased on the shelf; they have to be manufactured.

“For instance, the Super Tucano had been paid for more than three years ago, and we are just receiving them. That is the development with military equipment.”

Speaking on the new book, Amao said, “God’s promise of an amazing life does not only apply to us as individuals, families or churches alone but also to the entire nation.

“I believe that as we collectively apply these biblical principles and guidance in this book, our nation, Nigeria will begin to see the blessings of God as they become manifestly evident in the affairs of the nation and the desired transformation will be revealed.”

Ogunseye said the move to author the book started in 2018 when God instructed him to author a devotional that people could read and have their lives transformed.

He attributed moral decadence among the youth to lack of the fear of God, noting that humanity had relegated the word of God to the background.

President Muhammadu Buhari will be in Lagos State to inaugurate some projects on Thursday.

SaharaReporters exclusively learnt the President will be leaving Abuja this week on an official visit to Lagos.

Moves are already underway to provide heavy security in some parts of the commercial city ahead of the President’s visit, it was also learnt.

Such presidential visits are accompanied by heavy traffic congestion across Lagos.

"The President is going to commission projects in Lagos on Thursday," a source told SaharaReporters on Monday.

SaharaReporters had last Wednesday reported how junketing Buhari departed the country to attend Expo 2020 in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Shortly after hosting and meeting South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, Buhari left the nation's capital, Abuja for the UAE capital
Meanwhile, Buhari's last visit to Lagos was in June 2021 to inaugurate Ebutte Meta Terminal of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, among other things.

He was also in Lagos for the opening of the Lagos-Ibadan rail project for commercial operations.

Governors including Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State were present at the event.

Presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad had disclosed in a statement on his Facebook page, “Construction started in March 2017, and test-running commenced in December 2020.

“The Ebute Metta Station, known as the Mobolaji Johnson Station, is the largest railway station in West Africa with a holding capacity of 6000 passengers.

“President Buhari is committed to developing a modern national railway network that will connect every part of Nigeria, and promote trade, travel, tourism, commerce, and national integration.”

However, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, was conspicuously absent at the one-day working visit of President Buhari to inaugurate various projects in Lagos.

SaharaReporters had reported the conflict between the camps of both political actors ahead of 2023.

SaharaReporters had learnt that the Presidency, against its usual custom, did not extend an invitation to Tinubu ahead of the visit which should make him feel welcome at the ceremony.

President Buhari had previously visited Lagos on April 24, 2019, during the tenure of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

During the visit, Buhari inaugurated some projects which include the Institute of Maternal and Child Health at Ayinke House; an ultra-modern 170-bed Obstetrics and Gynaecology specialist hospital located within the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and Lagos Theatre at Oregun, Lagos.

The President also inaugurated the Oshodi Interchange terminal for a modern transportation hub; 822 high capacity mass transit buses; and a 10-lane world standard international airport road.

Android users have been identified as potential victims to a malware scam that seeks to obtain personal information, through their phone.

By answering a simple phone call, users become at risk of having their digital banking credentials stolen.

Recently, a malware named BRATA was discovered in Italy.

As part of the scam, “threat actors” contact Android users who are victims of SMS attacks to steal their online banking information.

Clearly researchers say the variant, which is new, has the ability to go undetected by the vast majority of AV scanners.

Their research further stated that the malware was only previously discovered in Brazil.

There, it was distributed through Google Play Store applications.

In June 2021, this Android scam was identified using SMS phishing, also known as smishing, to distribute various Android applications.

Earlier this month, The Sun reported that malware disguised as banking, fitness and document scanning apps had gained access to the phones of over 300,000 Android users.

The nefarious Trojan software was able to log keystrokes and remotely send personal data to offsite criminals, then hack messaging apps and spread the infection to other phones in the same network.

A November report by ThreatFabric detailed the infected apps, which included QR code readers, crypto wallets and document scanners, and have been downloaded by a total of more than 300,000 users.

The apps seem innocuous, and according to ThreatFabric, the malware can even be dormant when first downloaded, then activated remotely to harvest information.

If you believe your phone is infected, the first thing to do is delete any of the suspicious apps as quickly as possible and run an anti-virus scan.

Also, if there is a sudden spike in your data or battery usage, it could be that malware is running background tasks on your device.

Check to make sure none of your friends have received mysterious messages from you, especially with strange links.

Malware can use your phone to send messages to people in your contacts list, and further infect your network.

Your best options for protection: installing strong antivirus software and doing regular security checks, and making sure you’re always on the latest operating system.

The crisis rocking the Taraba State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have taken a nosedive as some critical stakeholders of the party are threatening to collapse the entire party structure into another political party, following what they called negligence of the chapter of the party by the national leadership.

A stakeholder who spoke to our correspondent in confidence on Sunday said that the party has done very well in ensuring that President Muhammadu Buhari gets overwhelming support in the state since 2015 but was disappointed that the President has never reciprocated the gesture to the party.

He said that the failure of the President to appoint another Minister for Taraba several months after he dropped the then Minister of Power Saleh Mamman has shown clearly that the President may not have the interest of the party at heart especially now that the party is warming up for another general election.

“In 2015, the APC gave the President overwhelming support in Taraba. Infact, you will remember that the crowd that came out to welcome him was so much that it led to a stampede and the death of several persons. The only thing we got was the minister of Women Affairs who later left the party ahead of the 2019 elections. We went into that election almost naked. Even at that, we still have him landslide in Taraba.

“Now again, after the 2019 elections, the President appointed someone who was little known in the party and he could not galvanize the party. But at least he was there. Sadly, we are facing the next general elections and there is no clear plan for the party. Several months after the President sacked the minister, Taraba state has remained with a minister and no serious national appointee. This is detrimental for the party.

“We had hoped that the President will look at the records and see those that actually worked for the party over the years and appoint someone who has the track record of bringing the people together so that all the issues bothering the party could be addressed and yet nothing is been done. So what is the point staying in the party? As it is, the party needs a leader apart from the state officials who can bring all the stakeholders together to sort out our issues and prepare ahead of 2023.

“I can tell you in confidence that already consultation is underway to move the party structure in Taraba to another party. What is the point staying when we are not appreciated and have been abandoned by our leaders? What is the motivation here when hard work and absolute loyalty counts as nothing? It is this same action that cost the party Taraba state governorship in 2019. We can not sit back and watch that happen again.

“To further worsen the situation, we learnt that some people in government are lobbying for some persons who are either not party members at all or are, at best, Fairweather members, to get tickets and appointments. What message are they trying to send to those that have worked faithfully and tirelessly for the party? So don’t be surprised if you wake up tomorrow to witness the death of the APC and birth of a new party in the state”.

The APC has been through some challenging times in the state with some attributing it to a lack of clearly acceptable leader of the party at the state level who can bring all the stakeholders to a round table and sort out their differences in a manner that will be tolerable by all parties involved.

Another member of the party Alhaji Sani Umar noted that the reward system of the party seems to work well everywhere else except in Taraba state.

Umar said that “the APC does not consider Taraba chapter of the party for anything at all. As a state where the President won election back to back even though the PDP is the ruling party in the state, it is sad that we are not considered for appointments and other good things that come with been in leadership.

Fikayo Olowolagba

Nigerian music manager, Ubi Franklin has disclosed that one of his colleagues in the entertainment industry is the owner of Dowen College, Lekki.

Ubi made this known in a post shared on his official Twitter page while seeking justice for 12-year-old, Sylvester Oromoni who died from internal injuries after he was assaulted by some students.

According to him, some of his colleagues in the industry wouldn’t speak up because they are covering the owner.

He urged them to reveal the truth and seek justice for the 12-year-old.

His tweet read: “I know some of my colleagues or Abi some celebrities will not speak up about this “Dowen college matter because one of our colleague is the owner of the school. I have been watching your pages and I know she is very close to you, yes you.

“Say something now, she might see our rage on your page.We are talking about a 12-year-old here, what if this boy were to be your son?”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State government has shut down Dowen College indefinitely in order to carry out investigation.

Sylvester Oromoni’s death became public knowledge after a family member, identified as Perri, on Thursday posted on social media about the incident.

However, Dowen College Principal, Mrs. Adebisi Layiwola, in a statement denied any form of bullying or attack on the student.

Nigerian-born Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been named among Financial Times’ 25 most influential women of 2021.

Okonjo-Iweala, who is also the Director General of the World Trade Organisation, was listed as number one.

However, FT said the list is unranked, adding that “We put the list together in collaboration with FT journalists from dozens of international bureaus, former women of the year and readers like you.

“Across continents, industries and issues, all of these remarkable women have shaped this tumultuous year. Each of them is sure to help shape the better ones to come.”

Christen Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, described Okonjo-Iweala as fierce and talented a competitor.

“I have known Ngozi since 2005 and have seen her work tirelessly as a seasoned negotiator and crisis manager. Her 25 years at the World Bank demonstrated her resolve, including her handling of the food and financial crisis of 2008-09 and her determination to recover stolen assets.

“She has shattered glass ceilings with her complete competence, absolute integrity and good humour, becoming the first female finance minister and foreign minister in Nigeria, where she implemented tough reforms to enhance the transparency of the country’s public finances, and is the first woman and first African to lead the WTO.


“Ngozi is a force to be reckoned with.”

Full list: Okonjo-Iweala tops Financial Times’ 25 most influential women of 2021

1 – Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Director-General, World Trade Organization

2 – Lina Khan
Chair, Federal Trade Commission

3 – Mary Barra
Chair and CEO, General Motors

4 – Gita Gopinath
Chief Economist, IMF

5 – Luiza Trajano
Businessperson and philanthropist

6 – Nancy Pelosi
Speaker, United States House of Representatives

7 – Mariam Al-Mahdi
Politician, Sudan

8 – Kate Bingham
Former Chair, UK Vaccine Taskforce

9 – Cathie Wood
Founder and CEO, Ark Investment Management

10- Rosalind Brewer
CEO, Walgreens Boots Alliance

11- Tsai Ing-Wen
President, Taiwan

12 – Frances Haugen
Data scientist and whistleblower

13 – Naomi Osaka
Athlete

14 – Elisa Loncón Antileo
President, Chile’s Constitutional Convention

15 – Agnes Chow
Democracy activist

16 – Liz Cheney
Congresswoman, United States House of Representatives

17 – Vanessa Nakate
Justice advocate

18 – Sotooda Forotan
Student and activist

19 – Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
Leader, Co-ordination Council of Belarus

20 – Chloé Zhao
Film-maker

21 – Sally Rooney
Author

22 – Shonda Rhimes
Television producer, screenwriter and author

23 – Scarlett Johansson
Actor

24 – Paula Rego
Artist

25 -Gabriela Hearst
Creative Director, Chloé; Founder and Creative Director, Gabriela Hearst

Sylvester Oromoni, the father of the late student of Dowen College Lekki, Lagos, has alleged that parents of students responsible for torturing his son are on the move to fly them out of the country.

“The parents of the boys are wealthy. They withdrew them. The school called the parents to pick their wards; interviewed them. Some of the parents are planning to fly the children out of the country,” Mr Oromoni alleged.

The 12-year-old student, Sylvester Oromoni Junior, was allegedly tortured by his fellow students who pressured him to join a cult group in the school.

Although the school management claimed that the student died as a result of injuries sustained while he played football, videos of his last moments indicated that he was beaten, as his lips were swollen and blood was spotted on his teeth, an indication that he also had injuries in the mouth.

But Mr Oromoni who spoke to The Cable, said his son’s waist was bent and swollen along with one side of his stomach as a result of the torture.

He said the boy repeatedly denied playing football, but maintained that he was tortured by other students who threatened to kill him if he opened up on his ordeal.

“Junior said, ‘mummy, I didn’t play ball; I didn’t fall.’ He jumped off his hostel bed. They kicked him, matched his waist. Other students ran off,” Mr Oromo said.

Other students were also allegedly warned not to tell staff members about the incident.

“They warned Junior to say he sustained injuries while playing ball. They threatened him. If you ask the roommate, they’d all lie. They matched his ribs and waist. All that pain for a 12-year-old,” he said.

The deceased’s father also noted that steps were being taken to seek justice for young Oromoni just as he queried the management for allowing students leave the school premises while investigations were ongoing.

“How can Dowen allow those boys to leave the school without informing the police? The boys are five in number: four are in SS2 while one is in SS1. When the result comes, Nigerians will know the truth,” the father said.

It was alleged in a video shared on Twitter by young Oromoni’s cousin, Perrison, that one of the students was picked up with a convoy around 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, while another allegedly flew over the fence from the premises.

Several attempts to reach the director of students affairs, Lami Williams, and other top representatives of the school for comments were futile.

Since the incident, there has been outrage as many called for a complete shutdown of the school and demanded justice for the 12-year-old with #Justiceforsylvester trending on Twitter.

Meanwhile,the government of Lagos State has shut down Dowen College indefinitely until investigations are concluded.

Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has warned Nigerians to be wary of deceptive politicians who might present themselves as impeccable candidates of the various political parties in the 2023 general elections. Kukah gave the warning while delivering a lecture on: ‘National Cohesion for Growth and Progress – The Nigerian Dilemma at the Inaugural Lecture and Gold Prize’ organised by This Nigeria Media Limited in Abuja.

The cleric, who was one of the prime movers of the National Peace Committee (NPC), an eminent persons group that supported the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, lamented that the administration had grossly failed to deliver on its promises to the people. Apparently admitting that he and others made a mistake, Kukah said that 2023 presents another opportunity for Nigerians to choose credible leaders at all levels and enjoined them to look well before they leap to avoid another disastrous outcome.

“We can’t deceive ourselves by pretending that all is well and nothing is wrong, let’s keep carrying on. No. Something is substantially very wrong and the responsibility of fixing this country falls on us all. “With the knowledge I have now, if I pay for transport, I must know where the bus is going. So we have a chance and the best thing is for all of us to open our eyes.

“We are going to have another election and I am saying that we must look for people that have shown us evidence that they understand where we are hurting,” he said. Kukah had at the event stirred the hornet’s nest and sparked altercations with veteran labour unionist, Comrade Isa Aremu and legal luminary, Chief Mike Ozekhome over the state of the nation and the seeming lack of cohesion among the diverse ethnic and multi-cultural groups in the country.

In the said lecture, Kukah said that there has been a negative trend of rising insecurity, poverty and despondency across Nigeria. He said the government of the day had continued to pay deaf ears to the genuine complaints of the citizens and appears to have capitalised on the ethnic and religious diversities to subdue certain groups within the country.

The cleric referred to his last year’s Christmas Day homily in which he chronicled the woes of Nigerians under the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, but insisted that nothing has changed since then. The trio, who were later made panelists at the lecture, gave different perspectives on the state of insecurity, poor economy and lack of good governance in Nigeria. While the fiery and vocal cleric blamed the situation on the inability of the current administration to do justice to all citizens and groups without fear or favour, Ozekhome drew a nexus between the present day challenges and the constitutional foundations of the country. According to the lawyer, Nigeria is sick, in a coma and requires oxygen to survive from her current ailment. Ozekhome postulated that the clamour by some Nigerians to do away with the military imposed 1999 Constitution and replacing it with a people’s constitution must be achieved before there can be equity, justice and national cohesion in Nigeria.

But Aremu sharply disagreed with both positions, accusing the duo of promoting divisive narratives rather than highlighting the bright sides and achievements of the present administration. Aremu accused Kukah of being part of those who brought Buhari to power and advised him to look at the bright side of things. He said that rather than agonising, Kukah and his likes should be organising to make things better in the country. When Kukah was given the right of reply to the attempt by Aremu to discredit him, he said it was erroneous to accuse him of making divisive utterances whenever he spoke the truth about happenings in the country. He acknowledged that he was part of those who promoted the idea of a Buhari Presidency but said his contribution was based on a genuine conviction that it would bring about positive change as promised.

Veteran broadcaster and moderator of the discourse, Prof Tony Iredia, urged the media to be prepared to perform the constitutional duties without fear of intimidation from the ruling class. The event featured the presentation of awards to three eminent Nigerians who had distinguished themselves in public service. They include Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu and Prof Ishiaq Oloyede, Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Civil servants without proof of COVID vaccination were allowed into their offices at the federal secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.

In October, the federal government mandated civil servants to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), had said workers who fail to get vaccinated would be barred from entering their places of work from December 1.

“With effect from 1st December 2021, federal government employees shall be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours, to gain access to their offices, in all locations within Nigeria and our Missions. An appropriate service-wide advisory/circular will be issued to guide the process,” he had said.

On Wednesday, TheCable observed that civil servants at the federal secretariat were allowed into their offices — though after they were initially barred by security operatives.

Some workers were seen receiving COVID vaccine at the vaccination centre at the federal secretariat complex before going into their offices.

Those who are yet to be vaccinated were told that they would be stopped from accessing their offices from Thursday.

A civil servant at the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) in the nation’s capital told TheCable that all workers were allowed into their offices.

“Everyone was allowed into their offices even those not wearing facemasks,” he said.

TheCable had reported that Nigeria detected its first cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, which is said to be highly infectious, and spreading rapidly globally.

Below are photos.

From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

The Imo State Government White Paper Implementation Committee on Lands and other Related Matters said it has recovered and returned a total of 987 properties from former governor of the State, Rochas Okorocha, to their owners.

Chairman of the committee, Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie, who made the disclosure to Daily Sun yesterday, also alleged that he has been receiving threatening calls from strange people while trying to complete the task before him.

Awuzie noted that the number returned excluded so many others the White paper recommended for investigation.

He said: “I don’t know the number yet, but it has been published; according to the White paper, those who have challenges are about 987. There are so many other people whose land the White paper said, investigate and find out if the acquired land is within a government area, and we have not done that,” Awuzie said.

On the threats he said “basically there are no serious challenges because we have the maximum support of the State government and agencies. I was an ASUU president, I don’t reckon with threats. I know the God I serve will have to do what is right at all times; we would all meet our creator one day.

“Yes, I have been receiving some strange calls, but they will not distract me from what I’m doing now, I don’t answer any calls. I don’t know who the caller is again,” Awuzie confessed.

Speaking on other discoveries, the committee chairman said they discovered that all of the process of land revocation and allocation during Okorocha’s administration never followed due process.

He said: “What was alarming was that the government was run without due process and all the challenges we had arose from the government not following due process.

“If you want to revoke lands, there are processes; you don’t revoke personal land and turn it to personal use.

“You can only revoke when there is a compelling government use at that moment; you don’t revoke land and give it to your families or friends.

The committee, in their seat last week, had accused Senator Okorocha of partitioning and appropriating the properties located in various areas of the State to himself and his family members.

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju


LAGOS, Oyo and Rivers states, with the highest Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, subsidise the other 33 states with respect to VAT as the trio take far less than they generate while the other states earn more from the sales tax than they contribute into the federation account. 

Nigerian Tribune’s analysis of VAT revenue generation and allocation between January and August 2021 revealed that although Lagos State generated N429.203 billion, the state only got N139.587 billion (32.52 per cent) of VAT revenue generated. 

In the same vein, Rivers State generated N90.293 billion within the same period but got N46.270 billion (51.24 per cent), while Oyo State generated N64.646 billion but was allocated 45.136 billion (69.8 per cent). 


Nigerian Tribune findings also showed that the revenue generated by Oyo State in the period under review is more than the total amount generated by 17 of the 19 northern states. 

While the VAT revenue generated by Oyo State within the period under review was N64.646 billion, the combined VAT revenue of Benue (N1.268 billion), Kogi (N3.286 billion), Kwara (N3.471 billion), Nasarawa (N2.495 billion), Plateau (N5.208 billion), Niger (N3.723 billion), Adamawa (N3.689 billion), Bauchi (N5.309 billion), Borno (N3.442 billion), Gombe (N4.028 billion), Taraba (N1.756 billion), Yobe (N9.445 billion), Jigawa (N3.375 billion), Katsina (N3.738 billion), Kebbi (N1.284 billion), Sokoto (N4.978 billion) and Zamfara (N598.33 million) states stood at N61.174 billion, which is N3.472 billion less than the amount generated by Oyo State. 

Similarly, Rivers State generated N90.293 billion, which is higher than the N85.666 billion combined revenue generated by Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Plateau, Niger, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano and Zamfara, 18 of the 19 northern states within the period under review, while Lagos State generated N429.203 billion, which is more than the N339.722 billion generated by all the 19 northern states and the FCT. 

In the period under review, the South-West geopolitical zone generated N518.856 billion, which is more than the N499.084 billion generated by the other five zones and the FCT. 


North-Central zone with N19.451 billion had the lowest VAT revenue in the period under review. 

The South-East had N23.548 billion, the North-East generated N27.75 billion, North-West had N56.727 billion, the South-South had N135.814 billion, while the FCT generated N235.794 billion. 

The South-West had the largest share of the VAT revenue shared during the period under review as it got a total of N276.493 billion but that is just 53.28 per cent of the N518.856 billion it generated. 


North-West zone got the second highest allocation of N219.813 billion. 

This is 387.49 per cent of the N56.727 billion generated. South-South got N162.598 billion, which represents 119 per cent of the N135.814 billion generated by the zone. 

North-East zone, in the period under review, was allocated N130.413 billion, which is 469.9 per cent of the N27.75 billion it generated. 


The North-Central got N129.154 billion, representing 663.9 per cent of the N19.451 billion generated by the zone, while the South-East got N109.629 billion, representing 465.5 per cent of the N23.548 billion it generated during the period under review. 

Zamfara State, which generated the lowest amount of N598 million during the period under review, had the fifth highest allocation of N35.716 billion within the same period. This is 5,972.6 per cent of what it generated. 

Similarly, Benue State, which generated N1.268 billion, got N24.527 billion, representing 1,934 per cent of what it generated.


Kebbi State got N22.162 billion, which is 1,726 per cent of the N1.284 billion it generated, while Imo State got N25.111 billion, amounting to 1,293.7 per cent of the N1.941 billion it generated. 

Under the current VAT sharing formula, the Federal Government gets 15 per cent of the total revenue. Fifty per cent goes to the states, while 35 per cent is shared by the 774 local governments. 

In addition, each state keeps 20 per cent of the VAT revenue derived from it, while 30 per cent of the VAT is allocated based on the population of the states, and 50 per cent is then shared equally. 

The sharing formula has come under serious attack in recent times as, at least, three states are seeking the intervention of the courts to effect a change of the current arrangement so that states can keep the VAT revenue they generated. 

On Monday, August 9, 2021, the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt and presided over by Justice Stephen Dalyop Pam, in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/149/2020, filed by the Attorney General for Rivers State (plaintiff) against the Federal Inland Revenue Service (first defendant) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (second defendant), declared that it is the Rivers State government and not the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), that should collect VAT and Personal Income Tax (PIT) in the state. 

The court also issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Attorney-General of the Federation from collecting, demanding, threatening and intimidating residents of Rivers State to pay to FIRS, personnel income tax and Value Added Tax. 

But the FIRS approached the Appeal Court to stop the execution of the judgment. 

The Appeal Court, in an interim order given on September 10, 2021 ruled that both Rivers State and the FIRS should maintain status quo on the issue of VAT collection. 

Not satisfied with the order, Rivers State approached the Supreme Court, praying it to set aside the Appeal Court’s ruling and asking it to disband the panel of the court which gave the interim order, and order another one to be constituted to hear the case.

A syndicate in the Federal Ministry of Justice has been selling off forfeited and recovered assets belonging to the Federal Government, investigation by The PUNCH has revealed.

The syndicate, comprising top justice ministry officials, including directors, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (name withheld) and political aides to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has allegedly been disposing off some properties mostly in Abuja and Lagos, and pocketing the proceeds.

It was gathered that former members of the defunct Ad Hoc Committee on the Sale of Non-essential FGN Residential Houses in Abuja were also involved in the property racketeering going on in the ministry.

The committee was disbanded in 2014 but its members were said to be deeply involved with senior officials of the ministry in illicit property deals.

A reliable source in the ministry confirmed to our correspondent that the members of the syndicate, who had access to title documents of forfeited and recovered properties, had been making millions of naira from selling government properties.

The source, who was indignant, stated, “The former committee members give people offer letters, which they use in obtaining Certificates of Occupancy on government properties. When you trace it, you find that payments on the affected properties are not made to the government. The syndicate members are simply pocketing the proceeds from the sales of those properties.

“The impunity going on is mind-blowing, but the AGF, unfortunately, is not aware of how his aides have been using his name and office to perpetrate all manners of illegal activities. Come to the ministry and see all manners of characters sealing eye-popping deals on government properties. It is shocking.”

The modus operandi of the group, it was learnt, involved doctoring the dates on property titles by backdating them to the year 2013 and thereabouts, before selling off the properties at below market prices.

Our correspondent gathered that a recent deal carried out by the officials and their accomplices involved some buildings estimated at over N2bn, which were allegedly sold for less than N1bn.

The proceeds, our correspondent was told, were allegedly shared by the syndicate members, which included a female deputy director known to be close to the AGF.

Findings also indicated that the Inter-ministerial Committee on Disposal of Forfeited Assets, which claimed to have marked for auction 1,620 forfeited properties in 25 locations across the country, might have under-reported the number of recovered properties in Abuja.

The committee had reportedly claimed that less than 100 properties forfeited in Abuja would be auctioned alongside others, but an official put the number of confiscated properties in the nation’s capital at over 500.

Only in October, the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, disclosed that the anti-graft agency recently recovered over 300 houses from two civil servants in Abuja.

Owasanoye, who spoke at a public hearing on real estate organised by the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Investigation of Operations of Real Estate Developers in the FCT, stated that public officers were using real estate developers as conduits for illicit financial flows.

Attempts by our correspondent to ascertain the number of properties recovered and submitted to the committee were rebuffed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as the anti-graft agency referred all inquiries to the committee members.

The AGF had on November 9, 2020, inaugurated the inter-ministerial headed by Dayo Apata, SAN, the erstwhile Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, who retired in July.

The committee, which included representatives of the Presidency, the police, Navy, the EFCC, the ICPC as well as ministries of finance, justice, works and housing, among others, had a mandate to collate and dispose of all assets permanently forfeited to the Federal Government within six months.

But one year after its inauguration, the committee said it was still in the process of carrying out the disposal of assets, including landed property, plants, machinery, vehicles, electronics, furniture, ships and equipment.

Briefing journalists last month, the new chairman of the committee, Umar Mohammed, announced that 68 independent valuers had been shortlisted for the forfeited assets.

Mohammed, who is the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, disclosed that 229 proposals were received for the valuation of plants, machinery, motor vehicles, furniture and equipment, while 75 companies submitted bids for the valuation of marine vessels and 25 companies presented bids for the valuation of jewellery, ornaments and clothing materials.

But a licensed auctioneer, who participated in the exercise, said the committee had already awarded auction slots to certain persons to handle the sale of the properties, noting that the process for the disposal of the assets was less than transparent.

A source in the justice ministry corroborated the auctioneer, saying some of the assets had been sold off to cronies and fronts, adding, “The announcement by the committee was just a mere formality.”

Mohammed declined to speak when asked about the alleged illegalities going on in the ministry.

“Come to my office on Monday; but if you don’t like, do whatever you like,” he told our correspondent on the phone on Saturday.

The media aide to the Minister of Justice, Umar Gwandu, could not be reached for comments as calls to his phone rang out. He had yet to respond to an SMS sent to his mobile phone as of the time of filing this report.

By Abdulyassar Abdulhamid



The Ugandan government is on the verge of losing its major airport to China for failing to repay a loan.

The government has failed to reverse a loan agreement with the Chinese which had repayment conditions of attaching its only airport.

Entebbe International Airport and other Ugandan assets were attached and agreed to be taken over by Chinese lenders upon arbitration of the loan.

According reports, President Yoweri Museveni had sent a delegation to Beijing hoping to renegotiate the toxic clauses.

The visit was unsuccessful as China authorities refused to allow any alteration in the original terms of the deal.

The Uganda government, represented by the finance ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority at the time, had on 17 November 2015, signed an agreement with Export-Import Bank of China (Exim Bank) to borrow U$207 million at two per cent upon disbursement; with a maturity period of 20 years including a seven-year grace period.

The deal signed with the Chinese lenders virtually means Uganda “surrendered” its most prominent airport to China.

The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) said some provisions in the Financing Agreement expose Entebbe International Airport and other Ugandan assets to be attached and taken over by Chinese lenders upon arbitration in Beijing.

The rejection of Uganda’s plea to renegotiate the toxic clauses of the 2015 loan has left Museveni’s administration in limbo.

According to the Daily Monitor of Uganda, the Ugandan government waived international immunity in the agreements it signed to secure the loans, exposing Entebbe International Airport to take over without international protection.

Last week, Uganda’s Finance Minister Matia Kasaija apologised to parliament for the “mishandling of the $207 million loan” from the China Exim Bank to expand Entebbe International Airport.

“I apologise that we shouldn’t have accepted some of the clauses,” Kasaija told members of the committee in response to questions asked by the legislators.

There were also questions over the interest rate that was set by the China Exim Bank for the funds placed in an off-shore Standard Bank account that was used as collateral for the project.

Built in 1972, Entebbe International Airport handles over 1,9 million passengers per year.

A federal high court in Abuja has declared the activities of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda bandit groups as acts of terrorism.

Taiwo Taiwo, presiding judge, gave the order on an ex parte motion filed by the federal government.

Mohammed Abubakar, director of public prosecution (DPP) at the federal ministry of justice, who filed the motion ex-parte, said President Muhammadu Buhari gave approval for his action, of which objective is the proscription of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups and other terrorist groups in the country.

In its supporting affidavits, the federal government said security reports have confirmed that the bandit groups were responsible for the killings, abductions, rapes, kidnappings and related acts of criminality in the north-east, north-central and other parts of the country.

It alleged that the group is responsible for the growing cases of “banditry, incessant kidnappings for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abductions of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling, enslavement, imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities and commuters and wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria, particularly in the Northwest and Northcentral states in Nigeria are being carried out by Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups and other groups associated with or engaged in the same or similar activities as Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups in Nigeria.”

“The activities of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups and other similar groups constitute acts of terrorism that can lead to a breakdown of public order and safety and is a threat to national security and the corporate existence of Nigeria,” the government added.

Delivering ruling on Thursday, the court specifically declared the activities of the “Yan Bindiga group” and the “Yan Ta’adda group” and other similar groups in any part of the country, especially in the north-west and the north-central as “acts of terrorism and illegality”.

The court proscribed the activities of the group as well as other similar groups in any part of Nigeria, “either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called”.

The judge also made an order restraining “any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever, in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the Yan Bindiga group and the Yan Ta’adda group under any other name or platform however called or described”.

The court asked the federal government to publish the proscription order in the official gazette and two national dailies.

Two people, a male and a female, have been found dead inside a car, along Katsina road area of Fagge local government in Kano.

An eyewitness told Daily Trust that the deceased were identified as Steven Ayika, who is a married man with two children and one Chiamaka Emmanuel, who is billed to be married in December.

He said the car with tinted glasses was parked in front of Chiamaka’s family house along Katsina road.

The witness said it was discovered locked from inside with phones of the deceased switched off.

Another witness said police officers discovered the deceased persons in a compromising position.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Kano State Police Command, DSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said their team rushed to scene after receiving a report and rushed them to hospital were doctors confirmed them dead.

“On the 23/11/2021 at about 0450hrs, a report was received that a car was sighted along Katsina Road, Fagge LGA Kano State with two (2) occupants, a male and a female motionless.

“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, raised and instructed a team of detectives to proceed to the scene.

“The team immediately rushed to the scene. Victims, a male and a female inside the back seat of a Siena Motor Vehicle were removed and rushed to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital Kano, where a Medical Doctor confirmed them dead.”

Kiyawa said on preliminary investigation, the male deceased was identified as Steven Ayika, of Jaba Quarters Kano while the female deceased identified as Chiamaka Emmanuel, of the same address.

He however, said investigation is in progress.

INTERPOL has elected Nigeria's Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG GARBA Baba Umar as the Vice President (Africa) and Executive Committee Member of the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO) - INTERPOL.

Umar was the Head of INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Nigeria.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba on Thursday said Umar was elected in the early hours of that day "in the 89th INTERPOL General Assembly currently holding at the Halic Congress Hall, Istanbul, Turkey".

The statement said, "The year 2021 General Assembly, which have in attendance 470 Police Chiefs, Ministers and Senior Law Enforcement Officials from the 195 INTERPOL member countries, seeks to identify areas where the organization can reinforce the global security architecture and enhance collaboration against national and transnational crimes.

"AIG Garba, one of Nigeria’s finest criminal investigators and professional strategic police manager, with over thirty (30) years policing experience both at national and international levels, polled the highest number of votes in the elections. With this appointment, which will span through a period of 3yrs, AIG Garba is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear in coordinating INTERPOL operations targeted at ensuring a safer world for people and communities across the African continent.
"This is in addition to drawing international policing support and cooperation towards advancing public safety and security, protecting the cyberspace and generally addressing challenges faced by law enforcement officers and policing managers in the continent.

"The Nigeria’s delegation to the 89th INTERPOL General Assembly was led by the Honourable Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, ably supported by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc. The other members of the delegation are: the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (represented by the Naval Provost Marshal)."

Joe Chukindi

Controversial human rights activist and supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Kenechukwu Okeke has been killed in Anambra State.

Okeke was said to have been macheted by his attackers numbering seven.

The controversial activist who had dragged many celebrities and media outfits, including CNN to court for defaming President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration was killed in Nkpor, near Onitsha, Anambra State, in the presence of his wife, Mrs Blessing Odinakachi Okeke and his little daughter.

Okeke’s wife who made the allegations disclosed to DAILY POST said: “Kenechukwu Okeke was killed by his tenant.

”The Tenant, Chiadiobi, was living in our house, but when he packed out without our knowledge and asked to be given two months of his rent that he left, we told him he should have notified us that he was packing out”, the wife told our reporter.

“My husband was not around the day he came but I told him he packed out of the house without our knowledge and should not be given back any money. He threatened to deal with us, saying he will teach my husband a lesson. I called my husband and told him what the boy said and that he should not come to confront him, since they say he is a bad boy.

“My husband later reported the matter to the DSS and to the police, and he was made to write an undertaking, but he was still coming to terrorize us. Sometimes he will come to our house and break open the gate and come in and pick whatever he wants to pick.

“One day, he came to our house and my husband confronted him, without knowing that he had many boys with him downstairs, and before my husband could do anything, they macheted him, and the fuel we wanted to pour into our gen, they poured it on him and lit him up, and that was how my husband died.

“That day was Sunday and not everyone was around, and the few people around tried to quench the fire and also stop it from burning our house, and later we took him to hospital in Enugu, and that was how he died.”

Mrs Okeke lamented that since after her husband’s death in October, the family has been left alone with the burden of catering for his burial, just as no mention or quest by any organisation to take up his matter has been heard of.

She said what was more heart-rending was that her husband’s killer; Chiadiobi, is still in the neighbourhood, bragging about having dealt with Okeke, while also confronting her husband’s aged mum.

“He even recently confronted my husband’s mother, warning her that he heard that she is taking the matter up, and was warning her to be careful. The boy is still free, going around and without remorse, and we are just left alone to do the arrangements of the burial.

“Up till now, he has not been arrested, even though we took him to police and DSS, and he was made to write an undertaking that he will not disturb us again, but he has finally killed him. I’m not even understanding the police on this matter. I’m confused. The boy is behaving like he is untouchable, and everyone is saying that he is a bad boy and we should be careful. We live in Nkpor, near Onitsha, Tarzan junction.”

When DAILY POST reached out to the Anambra State Police Command, the spokesperson of the Command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenganyia, said that the police is aware of the matter.

“It is a reported case, but for now I can tell you that the matter is still sketchy. Just give me some time, I will get back to you with the full details of the matter,” he said.

Okeke had been a staunch supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari administration and was reputed to have backed the federal government and its activities during the EndSARS protest in October 2020.

He had also dragged some celebrities, including Davido, Flavour, and others to court for leading the EndSARS protests in various cities in the country.

He recently dragged Vanguard Newspapers and one of its reporters to court over its title of March 9, 2021, where the paper reported that the self-acclaimed human rights activist is an alleged fake lawyer.

The Nigerian army says it has started an investigation into the killing and assault on its personnel by officers of the Nigeria Police Force.

In a letter dated November 23, 2021, to all formations and units, the Chief of Army Staff called on military officers to “forward all recorded incidence of police brutality against personnel of the Nigerian Army.”

The letter exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters was signed by Major General J. A. Ataguba titled, ‘Evaluating Incidences Of Police Brutality Against Personnel Of Nigerian Army.’

It is also mandated to evaluate and present evidence surrounding the circumstances and draw conclusions as to the validity of the complaints raised.

The letter read, “The NA is constitutionally tasked to provide aid to civil authorities when called upon. This responsibility has occasioned conducting joint activities with members of the civil and paramilitary organizations. These joint operations with other security agencies particularly the Nigerian Police (NP) create occasions for the police to equate its hierarchy with the NA and this has often led to friction, especially at the lower levels.

“This friction has occasionally led to bodily harm and in some cases death to our troops. This is in spite of the fact that the victims have been identified and established to be serving personnel.

“This Dept is therefore conducting an evaluation of these occurrences with a view to establishing the frequency and recommend possible remedial measures to stem the tide. Consequently, all NA corps, formations and establishments are please requested to forward all recorded incidence of police brutality against personnel of the NA.

“The report should cover the last 2 years. Returns to reach this NLT 8 December 21 and should be forwarded using enclosed formal.“

Police brutality is common in Nigeria and was responsible for sparking the #EndSARS protest in Nigeria last year.

Nigerian youths in October 2020 took to the streets to protest against extrajudicial killings and brutality by the police, especially by a unit of the police known as the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

Malam Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, has said that subsidy would have been eliminated in 2020 but certain factors prevented it.

He, however, said that the law provides that by the end of February 2022, the nation should be out of the subsidy regime.

He said this at the presentation of the World Bank Nigeria Development Update, November 2021 edition titled “Time for Business Unusual”.

“There will be no provision for it legally in our system, but I am also sure you will appreciate that government has a bigger social responsibility to cater for the ordinary and therefore engage in a process that will ensure that we exit in the most subtle and easy manner.”

Kyari assured that fuel subsidy removal would definitely be achieved in 2022 as it was now fully backed by law, adding that the price of the product may range between N320 and N340 per litre.

On the hike in prices of cooking gas, he said that it was a demand and supply issue as there was a global crunch on supply of gas and many countries were now threatened by lack of supply in December.

He added that the product was not under any subsidy regime and therefore irrespective of where it was produced, would follow the global trend.

Kyari, however, assured that the company was working on increasing local production to meet the needs of consumers.

The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, says state governments are ready to support the Federal Government in the elimination of fuel subsidy regime.

El-Rufai, a panelist who joined virtually, said that if the regime of fuel subsidy was not eliminated, 35 out of the 36 states of the federation may not be able to pay salaries in 2022.

According to him, kerosene which matters most to the masses had been regulated without any hitches, while diesel which was most important to transporters had also been regulated for a long time.

“This hullabaloo about petrol is something that we must as a country have a conversation and agree that it has to end.

“We cannot continue to provide petroleum to our neighbouring countries, which is what we are doing.

“Why are we doing this? For whom are we doing it? Who is the beneficiary? Which is the cabal that is the beneficiary of this and why should they hold this country to ransom and bankrupt the Nigerian economy?

“Right now, we are losing N250 billion a month and this has to end. State governments are committed to supporting the Federal Government on this.

“We do our bit, engage stakeholders and put the facts on the table so that everyone understands the danger the country is in if the subsidy continues, as well as the benefits that will accrue.

“Not only to the budgets of the states and their capacity to deliver social services, but also what will go directly to the pockets of the poorest Nigerians that will bear the brunt of any withdrawal of subsidy.

“This is the position of the state governments and we met just a few days ago to take this position.”

El-Rufai said that the governors saw the dangers in continuing on the path of petroleum subsidy and support policy measures needed to improve the fiscal situation, such as price stability.

This, he said, was by ensuring that there was alignment of the exchange rate and good coordination between fiscal and monetary policy.

Mr Shubham Chaudhuri, the World Bank Country Director, said even though Nigeria’s economy exited a pandemic-induced recession, several challenges persist including double-digit inflation, declining incomes, and rising insecurity.

“While the government took bold policy measures to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, the reform momentum has slowed which hinders Nigeria’s ability to reach its growth potential,” Chaudhuri said.

According to him, the issues of insufficient supply of foreign exchange, exchange rate management, unsustainable petrol subsidy, trade restrictions and sizeable fiscal deficit financing by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), were undermining the business environment.

He added that they were also compounding underlying constraints on domestic revenue mobilisation, foreign investment, human capital development and the delivery of public services.

Mr Marco Hernandez, World Bank Lead Economist for Nigeria and co-author of the report, said while in 2022 the Federal Government plans to spend about N3,000 per person for health, the cost of petrol subsidy for 2022 could reach N13,000 per person.

“Not only is the petrol subsidy costly, but it mainly benefits richer households.

“Nigeria has the opportunity to establish a “compact” with citizens that eliminates the subsidy and uses the savings to provide targeted cash transfers to lower-income-households, invest in job-creating programmes, and improve its fiscal position.”

According to the report, under a business-as-usual scenario, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita will continue to decline, but reforms could accelerate growth.

“Thus, Nigeria faces a critical choice: it can continue to pursue a business-as-usual policy approach while its economy and job market deteriorates, or it can undertake bold measures that put Nigeria on a robust and sustainable long-run growth trajectory.”

The report, however, highlights urgent policy priorities that could be implemented over the next three to six months in four key areas.

It suggests eliminating petrol subsidy while protecting poor and vulnerable households from any inflationary impact and reducing inflation through a coordinated mix of exchange rate, trade, monetary and fiscal policies.

It also said Nigeria could catalyse private investment by enhancing foreign exchange management, easing trade restrictions and fostering a better business environment, as well as addressing fiscal pressures through enhanced domestic revenue mobilisation and reducing reliance on CBN deficit financing.

Mrs Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, said that ahead of the target date of mid-2022 for the complete elimination of fuel subsidies, the Federal Government was working to cushion the impact on Nigerians.

“We are working with our partners on measures to cushion potential negative impact of the removal of the subsidies on the most vulnerable at the bottom 40 per cent of the population.

“One of such measures would be to institute a monthly transport subsidy in the form of cash transfer of N5,000 to between 30 to 40 million deserving Nigerians.

“I agree with the report that with the expansion of social protection policies during the pandemic, the government has an opportunity to phase out subsidies such as the petroleum subsidy while utilising cash transfers to safeguard the welfare of poor and middle-class households.

“Towards this end, we intend to accelerate our structural reforms, particularly in the power sector, in governance, in business environment to unlock the huge potentials of the economy, scale up social safety net and deepen financial inclusion to reduce poverty and inequality gaps.”

(NAN)

Despite that the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not publicly declared his interest to contest in the forthcoming presidential election, there have been swirling rumours that he is keenly interested in the race.

Several groups across the nation have been campaigning on his behalf while posters and billboards of the APC national leader are in major cities in Lagos State and across the country.

Notwithstanding, some prominent personalities and groups have endorsed him for the 2023 contest.

Meanwhile, sources close to the former Lagos governor have leaked his manifesto.

The leaked document tagged: “The Rebirth Manifesto”, contains a 7-point agenda.


1. LEADERSHIP
Provide transformational leadership that has the ability to unify all of Nigeria and lead us to the attainment of shared goals and vision.


2. TECHNOLOGY
Leverage modern technology for digital transformation and economic growth.


3. SECURITY
Create conditions that allow citizens move and transact freely across the Nation.


4. INFRASTRUCTURE
Commence extensive infrastructural development by building basic foundational services (24 hrs access to electricity, roads, bridges e.t.c) that connect (power) people and businesses ultimately improving the quality of living.


5. HOMEGROWN BUSINESSES
Build platforms that enable and empower homegrown businesses to scale and compete favourably in the global market.


6. EDUCATION
Deploy initiatives targeted at promoting knowledge and equipping learners of all age groups with the skills and values needed to address modern-day challenges globally. Propagate and activate strategies that also promote a sense of pride and awakening amongst all Nigerian citizens to the extent that people feel extremely patriotic and ecstatic to be Nigerians.


7. TRUE FEDERALISM AND DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES
Promote democracy, realize human potential and create conditions for prosperity and progress.

All efforts to reach Tinubu’s media adviser, Tunde Rahman for a comment proved abortive as of the time of filing this report.

By Abdullateef Aliyu


The Kogi State Government has reacted to the statement of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that it returned N19.3 billion bailout funds reportedly hidden by the State Government to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

In a statement by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, the commission had said it transferred the said money to the apex bank.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has acknowledged the receipt of the sum of N19, 333,333,333.36 (Nineteen Billion, Three Hundred and Thirty-three Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-three Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty-three Naira, Thirty-six Kobo) recovered the EFCC from the Kogi State Salary Bail-out account domiciled in Sterling Bank Plc. This effectively puts to rest the campaign of misinformation and unconscionable denials by the Kogi State Government that no fund was recovered from its bail out account,” Uwujaren said.

But the Kogi State Government which has consistently denied hiding any money in any bank accused the EFCC of an attempt “to desperately wriggle out of a bad case with another mischief aimed, again, at misleading Nigerians.”

It vowed that it would take legal action to maintain the “innocence and transparency” of the government.

It said the EFCC had finally exposed the fact that it had been pursuing a political agenda all along.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos, the Commissioner for Information and Communications in Kogi State, Kingsley Fanwo, said the Government would prepare a comprehensive response to the moves by the Commission “to save its face in view of its obvious goof and unethical conduct in the matter in dispute.”

“The press statement by the Commission is a malicious attempt to rope the state into a matter that ordinarily has nothing to do with our dear state,” he said.

“We maintain the unassailable truth that the Kogi State Government did not operate such account with the bank as affirmed in a letter by the bank. We sympathize with the EFCC as it has been a herculean task to cover the initial misinformation and deliberate deceit by the Commission.

“Kogites and indeed, Nigerians should rest assured that we will get to the root of this matter,” he added.