₦airaland Forum

A former Director of Nigerian Navy Accounts, Rear Admiral Tahir Yusuf (retd.), on the wanted list of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reopened his two hotels sealed by the anti-graft agency.

SaharaReporters had reported that EFCC operatives last weekend sealed off Emerald hotels and suites located in Zaria and Kaduna and other properties owned and acquired with suspected proceeds of crime by former Director of Nigerian Navy Accounts.

The anti-graft agency placed the red inscriptions, ‘EFCC Under Investigation’ all over the hotels.

However, sources told SaharaReporters that the EFCC inscriptions had been covered with patches at the two facilities.

They added that both hotels have been reopened with guests lodging in and other activities going on.

“After EFCC marked Rtd Tahir Yusuf’s hotels in Kaduna and Sokoto, guess what he did, he asked his people to wipe and clean the EFCC markings. This man is so arrogant. As we are talking, business activities are ongoing in the hotels.

“One of his staff (members) said he told them not to panic as those who came to seal off the property are fake EFCC operatives.

“He was boasting around that he has reached out to the EFCC through his younger brother, Abdulbari Yusuf, who is a banker with Zenith Bank, Maiduguri branch.

“He said he gave money to many EFCC operatives, including a Director of Operations, so nothing can be done to him again.”

SaharaReporters had in a series of detailed investigations exposed how Yusuf, a fugitive, sneaked back into Nigeria with the help of some corrupt government officials, mainly in the military through Niger Republic.

He had fled Nigeria to Dubai, UAE in 2018 after he was accused of stealing N2 billion belonging to the Nigerian government while serving as Director of Nigerian Navy Accounts.

In 2020, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the permanent forfeiture of about N500 million found to be fraudulently amassed by the military officer to the Nigerian government.

The total amount forfeited was N392, 695,857.87, including $91,955.38 and the sum of £15,050 held in domiciliary accounts.

Yusuf, previously second-in-command to the Chief of Account and Budget, Naval Headquarters (NHQ), held the cash in seven accounts- both private and corporate in two banks.

The seven accounts were operated under the name of a company, Bitmas Enterprise, in Zenith Bank while two were held in Yusuf’s name in the defunct Skye Bank, now Polaris Bank.

SaharaReporters gathered that the fugitive has been moving round the country with military guards provided by the Navy authorities since he came back illegally.

By Muideen Olaniyi


President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a fresh N656.112billion Bridge Financing Facility to the 36 States.

This was announced Thursday at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The vice president’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement issued after the meeting, said each state would receive N18.225billion with a 30-year tenor, and a 2-year moratorium at an interest rate of 9%.

He said the facility was to help the states afford the repayment of previous bailout facilities guaranteed for them by the Federal Government.

He said the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed, informed the council that the Bridge Facility is now being processed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Akande said the approved bridge facility of N656.112billion would be disbursed in six tranches over a period of six months to the States.


He recalled that on 15th of July, 2021, the council had received updates on the Budget Support Facility to States, where the finance minister informed them that the deductions from State Governments would commence soon as repayment for the previous bailout from the CBN.

He said the States subsequently sought further support leading to the idea of bridge financing.

He said the Executive Director/CEO of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, informed the Council on the Status of the country’s COVID-19 Vaccine roll-out.

Though he has not openly confirmed it, sources have said Tinubu is nursing presidential ambition ahead of 2023.



Human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, has taken a swipe at the presidential ambition of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Adeyanju said no matter how bad the image of President Muhammadu Buhari might be before Nigerians, he cannot endorse Tinubu for the 2023 presidency as the latter may ruin the country.

He wrote on Facebook, “No matter how bad we think Buhari is, I don’t think he will allow a Tinubu misfortune to befall Nigeria.

“Buhari may hate Nigeria but I don’t think he hates the country that much. Tinubu will not only use Bullion Vans to destroy the country, he will sell the Republic to himself.”

Though he has not openly confirmed it, sources have said Tinubu is nursing presidential ambition ahead of 2023.

Many of his loyalists have been campaigning for him already.

Some months ago, people loyal to Tinubu commenced the distribution of branded bags of rice and other food items to Kano residents.

In several photos and videos, residents were seen with bags of rice with the inscription ‘JAGABA - Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’.

In December 2020, he met with some scholars who threw their weight behind his “2023 presidential ambition”.

Tinubu has also been to Kaduna and Katsina states, which are among the states with the largest voting populations in the country.

In March, he donated the sum of N50 million to victims of a fire outbreak at Katsina Central Market in Katsina State.

In September, campaign posters for the APC leader to run for Nigeria’s president in 2023 emerged in London, United Kingdom.

In a viral video shared, images of the APC leader were on display at some London train stations.

Several groups have been campaigning for the APC leader and showing support for his presidential ambition, even though he has yet to officially declare his interest in succeeding Buhari in 2023.


Adverts were also said to be on display at the popular London’s Heathrow Airport with Tinubu’s photographs splashed on the walls.

Multiple awarding winning popstar, Davido, has been trending on the Nigerian social media space for hours after he asked his friends and fans to donate N1m each to him for his birthday.

Fans and followers thought the singer and songwriter was joking when he posted a video on his Instagram story, calling on those he had helped in the music industry to send him a million naira each.

Davido said, “We rise by lifting others abi? Me I don dey rise dey lifting others for the past 100 years. So, I want to know who my friends are. All of my friends one one million Naira. They said we are 30BG. If you don’t send your own. You out of here. You are gone (sic).”

However, he received over N53m in cash transfers in less than one hour after asking colleagues for N1m. So far, the pop star has gotten about N150m.

Some of his donors include Nigerian businessmen, Obi Cubana and Femi Otedola. The singer, however, did not disclose the amount sent to him from the likes of Femi Otedola, Obi Cubana, E-Money, Patoranking, and some others.

Celebrities that gifted Davido N1m includes Zlatan Ibile, Adekunle Gold, Mr Eazi, Nengi, Chike, Teni, Charles of Play, Cubana Chiefpriest, Naira Marley, M.I, Phyno, Eniola Badmus, Nasboi, Sydney Talker, and Peruzzi.

Others are Pasuma, Toke Makinwa, Don Jazzy, Focalistic, Ned Okonkwo, Ubi Franklin, Bella Shmurda, Friday Osanebi, Rema, Tunde Ednut, Larry Gaaga, Dorathy Bachor, Bizzle Osikoya, among others.


Brands that donated to Davido include Kolaq Alagbo, Munch It, TravelBeta, among others.

Kid comedians, Ikorodu Bois, however, sent the singer a sum of N5000 while Baba Ali sent N1.5m. Musician and singer, MC Galaxy, sent N3m while Oba Elegushi sent N5m to the singer.

Davido’s baby mama, Sophia Momodu, also sent money to the singer. However, he did not disclose the amount sent.

The singer further took to his verified Twitter account to announce that the bank he opened the account with for the fundraising, Wema Bank, wants to have a meeting with him.

Davido tweeted, “Wema wanna have a meeting.”

However, as the fundraiser got heated, the bank hopped on the trend and made a post online with the inscription, “Na bank wey Davido dey use we go dey use now.”

More so, the singer tweeted that he was emotional due to the overwhelming show of love. He wrote, “I’m actually crying !! Just be good to pple man !!!! God ! I really love you guys man.” (sic)

On Monday, the Lagos state judicial panel on police brutality submitted its report to the state government.

Two sets of reports were submitted by the panel — a consolidated report on police brutality and the investigation of the Lekki incident.

Over the past year, the panel, as part of recommendations put forward during the #EndSARS protests, has heard petitions on police brutality and has also investigated the Lekki tollgate incident of October 20, 2020.

Soldiers besieged the tollgate where protesters had gathered and fired shots, in what appeared to be an attempt to disperse the demonstrators.

Two weeks after the shooting at the tollgate, Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), said it was likely hoodlums wearing military fatigues — and not soldiers — who shot #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos.

Malami said it was “pre-emptive” to conclude that there had even been shootings, adding that “hoodlums” may have been hired to create a scene.

“You cannot rule out the possibility of perhaps hoodlums that set in to create a scene… could equally partake in the process,” the AGF said.

But in its report on the Lekki incident submitted to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos state governor, on Monday, the Lagos panel confirmed that officers of the Nigerian Army who said they were invited by the Lagos state governor, did in fact, shoot at and kill protesters at the Lekki tollgate.

The panel also concluded that the police shot at protesters and picked up bullets to cover-up.

“The Nigerian Army was invited for intervention in the State and was deployed to Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th of October 2020. At the Lekki Toll Gate, officers of the Nigerian Army shot, injured and killed unarmed helpless and defenseless protesters, without provocation or justification, while they were waving the Nigerian Flag and singing the National Anthem and the manner of assault and killing could in context be described as a massacre,” the report reads.

“The panel found that the Nigerian Police Force deployed its officers to the Lekki Toll Gate on the night of the 20th October, 2020 and between that night and the morning of the 21st of October, 2020, its officer shot at, assaulted and battered unarmed protesters, which led to injuries and deaths. The police officers also tried to cover up their actions by picking up bullets.

“The panel found that there was an invitation of the Nigerian Army to Lagos State made by the Lagos State Government through the Governor before the hierarchy of the Nigerian Army deployed its soldiers to the Lekki Toll Gate on the night of the 20th of October.”

Abubakar Malami, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and current Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), is always in the news for various reasons, especially in the course of his duty as Nigeria’s Minister of Justice. Last Wednesday, he was credited with a statement that says there is no going back on the federal government’s decision to commence deducting $418million from the 36 states’ accounts to settle their indebtedness to consultants and private firms concerning the Paris and London clubs refund.

This is despite the governors’ opposition to it and the recent order issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja stopping the deduction of the money from the accounts of the 36 states to settle the judgment debts. The debts had accrued from court judgments awarding some consultants and contractors to the states and local governments, various sums of money which currently stand at $418 million. Expectedly, the statement attracted a lot of reactions with some individuals and groups, accusing the Minister of working for consultants instead of defending the interests of the country.

Malami argued that it was too late in the day for the governors, through the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) to backtrack on the indebtedness having earlier agreed to pay. But the governors, in a reaction that further drew attention to Malami, accused him of backing contractors and private firms by insisting on the payment of the disputed consultancy fees. NGF’s Chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, wondered why the AGF was bent on enforcing the payment of the arbitrary consultancy fee when cases relating to the loan refund are still pending in the court.


Clarifying that the disputed fee is $419 million, and not $418 million, as previously claimed by the minister, Fayemi urged Malami to allow the court to determine the case. He further traced the genesis of the controversy to the activities of an illegal faction of the forum, led by former Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang. And express concerns that the minister, who is aware of all the shady details of the case, is on the side of people ‘intent on defrauding the country.” But in spite of the growing opposition to his position on the matter, the AGF is insisting that Nigeria must respect its earlier commitment and pay the claimants.

While that was still on, a fake Chief Superintendent of Police, Lawrence Ajodo, arrested alongside others over the invasion of the residence of Supreme Court’s Justice Mary Odili, called out the Malami with a claim that he is a consultant to the Minister. The suspect however clarified that the AGF did not send them to carry out the invasion. “I am not an officer of the Nigeria Police Force, but I am a consultant for the AGF. He did not send us on the raid on Mrs. Odili’s house,” he said. Not a few people took to the social media to wonder what manner of consultancy services Ajodo could be rendering to the Malami and or his office.


Not to be cornered, the AGF was swift in denying Ajodo and his claims. An outraged Malami asked the Police to also find out those bent on destroying him. He denied ever hiring the fake CSP to consult for him. He said with the array of professionals at his beck and call, only an insane person would believe he would need the services of a fake CSP as a consultant. In a statement signed on his behalf by his Media Aide, Dr. Umar Geandu, the AGF asked Ajodo to disclose where, how, and for what purpose he would keep him as a consultant. He described the suspect as “a drowning man scavenging for a dying partner.”

A few days earlier, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had joined those dragging the Minister when it said Malami risks losing the SAN title over the same issue. Olumide Akpata, President of the NBA, described the raid on Justice Odili’s house as egregious, adding that it was reminiscent of how operatives of the Department of State Services in 2016 raided the homes of seven judges and how a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen (retd.), was “illegally removed from office,” ahead of the 2019 general elections.


Apata vowed that the NBA would stop at nothing to ensure that those behind the latest operation were unmasked and punished, to put a stop to “the assault on the judiciary.” He said the NBA would not accept the flurry of denials by the AGF and security agencies that they knew nothing about the operation. He said the NBA also rejected the panel being set up by the AGF to investigate the matter because the AGF himself has a case to answer and he could not be a judge in his own case. Akpata called on President Muhammadu Buhari to set up an independent panel to investigate the matter.

And as if the above weren’t enough for just one man in a week, news broke that the House of Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee on Assessment and Status of All Recovered Loots Movable and Immovable Assets from 2002 to 2020 by Agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria for Effective Efficient Management and Utilisation, is likely to invite the AGF over a claim that he ordered a bank to convert revenue collected in dollars to naira before remittance. Keystone Bank had told the committee that Malami instructed it to remit part of the $136m in its custody in naira while also determining the exchange rate, a revelation that the lawmakers criticised.

The Executive Director, North and Public Sector Directorate, Keystone Bank, Lawal Ahmed, in a presentation before the committee, said, “Our position, as confirmed by the CFO of NNPC, was that we have remitted all the funds that were with us at our last meeting. You asked for clarification regarding some reversals from the statements of account, which we reviewed and confirmed that they were actually failed transactions. We are using NEFT. We sent the money; it reversed and it was sent again. So, it was showing in and out on the statements. It was part of the documents that we submitted.

“You asked for where we got the rates and we provided the letter from the Attorney-General of the Federation directing us to make the payment and the rate with which to transfer. We also submitted that with our letter.” The Chairman of the committee, Adejoro Adeogun, hinted that the committee will further investigate the matter with a view to unraveling the contentious issues therein. Members of the committee called for the invitation of the AGF to defend allegations by Ahmed and other respondents. The Minister is yet to respond to this development.

Poor welfare

Also, the seeming lackadaisical attitude of policemen towards confronting these enemies is hinged on their poor remuneration and other welfare packages. Most of them who spoke on the condition of anonymity, lamented that their monthly salary was nothing to write home about, when compared to the amount of time and energy put into policing.

Some of them alleged that whenever they sustained injury during operation, their colleagues were made to contribute money for the treatment. Sometimes too, they alleged that they used their personal money to fuel vehicles for patrol.

Most of them, especially those in the Rank and File cadre, who are largely the foot soldiers said they were barely managing to pull through like every other struggling Nigerian, a situation attributed to some of their inglorious excesses.

At the moment, a recruit earns N10,115 monthly, a Police Constable II earns N42,000; Constable I,N43,998; Corporal N45,737; Sergeant, N50,534; Sergeant Major,N63,992; Inspector II/cadet Inspector, N87,000and an Inspector, N130,171.

On the other hand, a Cadet ASP earns N130,000 monthly; an ASP II, N139,171; Asst Superintendent of Police I, N153,989; a DSP N168,820; a Superintendent of Police,N179,813; and a Chief Superintendent of Police N220,160.

When compared to their contemporaries elsewhere in the world, the margin is a far cry. In order to make ends meet, policemen scramble for juicy postings , especially to homes of eminent Nigerians, all in a bid to shoot up their incomes.


Budgetary allocation

Budgetary allocation is another major issue of the Police. At one point, their salaries were not paid as when due. Some of them were even denied their allowances. Former IGP Mohammed Abubakar once expressed worry over difficulty to pay police salaries. He had to approach the Minister of Finance to see whether he could release some of the budget allocation to him to pay.

Also, the present Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba while in acting capacity also raised the alarm over the incapability of the police force to tackle rising insecurity in the country due to lack of funds. At a meeting with the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Usman lamented that Nigerians expected his officers to perform a ‘miracle’ of securing the country without adequate funding.

He said: “We have no account to go and dip our hands and do the quick deployment in terms of mitigation or even proactively stopping what is to come. Sincerely speaking, year-in, year-out, besides what we have as allocations, we have problems meeting emergencies. Normally, operations should have a fund that you can quickly deploy to areas whether it is a natural or man-made crisis. The police do not have that at all. We always rely on our budgetary allocations which are not enough.”

Paucity of funds, according to many Police chiefs, had over the years made it impossible for an average Police officer to be adequately trained and retrained for an enhanced service delivery and enhance professionalism in terms of weapons handling , investigation and human rights observance and operational equipment deficiency.

There had been insinuation that nobody monitors budget allocation and how they are disbursed. Unfortunately, they (IGPs) can’t shout or complain because they are under the President’s payroll. That is why some of them go cap in hand begging governors for vehicles and other logistics to fight crime. But for some state governors , the Police institutions would have been grounded for long.


Protest

Another area of grave concern by the Police is the call for an improved retirement benefits. This course was championed recently by retired policemen who protested across the country. Their request included the withdrawal of the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme like that of the Military .


Corruption

To make ends meet, those in service indulge in despicable corrupt practices, in spite of drastic measures taken by authorities to checkmate them. Some of these practices include demand for bail, even when it is bodly written at the stations that bail is free. Others include extortion of commercial vehicle drivers and motorcyclists, as well as indiscriminate harassment of Nigerians.

It is however on record that the Nigeria Police Force is the only security agency that names and shames erring personnel publicly , even though the action does not augur well with most personnel.

Many erring policemen, including officers have either been dismissed , demoted in rank , queried and even suspended according to the degree of their offence, after undergoing due process of investigation.

As the country celebrated its 61st independence anniversary in October this year, it is expected that the Nigeria Police Force is given the wherewithal to be operationally at par with its counterparts elsewhere in the globe.

To this end, the Nigeria Police Trust Fund ,NPTF signed into law in 2019 by President Buhari, to provide guaranteed funding to support Police welfare , logistics and equipment, should live up to its expectations by being transparent in the purchase of these equipment and ensure that standard equipment are procured to match and surpass those of the armed bandits.

There is also a need to ensure that uniforms and kits provided by police authorities get to Rank and File, who are the foot soldiers.

Again Police authorities should ensure that square pegs are put in square holes during postings to various units and departments, either at the command or zonal levels, instead of posting their loyalists and preferred personnel without considering their competence.

To enhance professional efficiency, a high premium should be attached to regular training and retraining of Police officers and men, especially in the area of weapon handling, to avoid unnecessary killings of innocent Nigerians.

Politicians on their part should desist from unnecessary interference in Police activities , especially state governors who determine which Commissioner of Police should be transferred to their domains. There had been several instances where some state governors out-rightly rejected postings of CPs to their states and sidelined them if the Police high command insisted.

Synergy among other security agencies and the Military should go beyond the face value, if indeed the security of life and property of Nigerians is the top most priority of them all.

The decision of the Federal Government to inject additional 280,000 recruits into the Police Force is a welcome development in addressing the shortage of manpower in the Police . But equipping them with modern day technology to address the scourge of banditry, kidnapping and other forms of crimes in Nigeria should be the main focus , if the Nigeria Police will remain relevant and regain its past glory.

By Evelyn Usman

It is unbelievable! A policeman in Nigeria, in the course of performing his duty risks his life everyday but at the end of month, his salary is nothing to write home about. The remuneration of the personnel of the Nigerian Police is not only scandalous but also very embarrassing. Yet, the Nigerian public expects so much from the police.

Last Tuesday, the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi said that a new salary package was underway for the officers and men of the Nigerian police. He explained during a session of 2022 budget defence with the Joint National Assembly Committee on Police Affairs that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Salaries and Wages Commission to work out the package and submit it to the government for consideration.

According to him, “in recognition of the take-home pay of the police which necessitated the need to motivate them for better performance, the President directed the Salaries and Wages Commission to work out a new salary package for the Nigerian Police and submit it to the government for consideration. In keeping with this directive, the Commission in consultation with the relevant stakeholders has submitted a proposal to the government which is being given the desired and urgent attention.”

The minister’s announcement, however may not excite the Nigerian police because President Buhari’s directive for upward review of police salary had been flouted three times by the appropriate office.

In a move to improve their welfare, President Muhammadu Buhari, on three occasions directed the review of police salary. Surprisingly, policemen who spoke with Saturday Vanguard disclosed that this directive had not been carried out.

The first time was in 2018 when the president disclosed his approval of a new salary package for police personnel, during an audience in the State House, Abuja, with members of the Nigeria Police Service Commission and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force on a “Thank You” visit.

The visit followed his approval of Rank Salary Structure Adjustment, by which salary, allowances and pension of police officers would be increased.

The second instance was last year. This followed a directive to that effect by the Presidency, in compliance with one of the demands of the EndSARS protesters.

A top official of the National Salaries and Wages Commission, NSWC the federal government agency that determines salaries and allowances of its workers, disclosed to Vanguard that it had commenced the review of salaries and allowances of the nation’s police personnel.

In June 2021, the President, during his one day visit to Lagos where he inaugurated various projects, disclosed that he had directed the upward review of Police salaries and benefits.

He was quoted as saying, “I have directed the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to carry out an upward review of Police salaries and benefits. We are currently recruiting 10,000 new police officers to reinforce our personnel capacity across the country.”

President Buhari said that no government since 1999, had been as committed as his administration in reforming and repositioning the Nigeria Police Force and national policing architecture.

But investigation revealed that the president’s directive had not been carried out. Findings revealed that what some policemen got as salary review was an increment between 2,000 and 25,000 difference.

The Nigeria Police being the principal law enforcement and lead security agency in Nigeria was founded in 1820. It kicked off with the strength of a 1,200 member armed paramilitary, when the Hausa Constabulary was formed in 1876, to when the northern and southern regional Police forces were later merged in 1930, to form the colony’s first national police – the Nigeria Police Force.

Sadly, with the prevailing spate of insecurity in the country and wanton killings of Nigerians in the six geopolitical zones, there are glaring pointers that the Nigeria Police may be gradually losing grips of its constitutional responsibility of providing internal security.

Various strategies have been applied by the Police to tackle insecurity in the country. But these strategies staggered midway, owing to prevailing challenges beyond the handling of policemen and women.


Standard operation

One of these challenges is the standard of operation. It is a sad reality that policemen in Nigeria operate under the most nerve-racking and heart-rending experience in the world.

For instance, the Nigeria Police Force is bereft of modern day technology to combat crime. While other countries in the world are using polygraph test, otherwise known as lie detector, to detect deception by evaluating message content as well as non verbal clue, our policemen still resort to its analogue method of torture most times, to extract truth from suspects.

Another modern day equipment to detect crime is the use of mobile phone tracking device, which is used to identify the location of a mobile phone , whether stationary or moving.

Although the Nigeria Police Force acquired these devices, the distribution was limited to its tactical units. This helped in the arrest of kidnap and robbery suspects involved in high profile abductions. Some of these suspects were tracked to their enclaves in thick forests, creeks, water side and even outside Nigeria.

Unfortunately, this device has been inactive for several months, as the NPF is said to be owing several millions of naira for its reactivation.

At the moment, the lead security agency relies on the Department of State Service, DSS for usage of this device during investigation.

Another analogue-based mode of crime prevention, detection and control in the age of technology in the Police is the absence of gunshot detection, a system that uses a network of outdoor acoustic sensors to automatically detect, verify, and rapidly notify police dispatchers and officers of the specific times and locations of firearm discharges.

The facial recognition software is another technological minus in the NPF. This software is capable of matching a human face from a digital image or a video frame against a database of faces, typically employed to authenticate users through identity verification services. It works by pinpointing and measuring facial features from a given image.

Others are : automated license plate readers, body cameras, drones, and numerous databases to prevent, respond and investigate crimes.

Its forensic laboratory is near comatose. Some of its forensic tests are being taken outside the country and the results brought back. This tends to delay investigation and it is also attributed to the cause of unsolved murders in the country.

The presence of these technologies and their usage by our policemen on mission service outside the country have earned them accolades . But back home, they are being tongue lashed for their seeming lapses, without consideration of the peculiarities and situational differences.

An average policeman out there, faces men of the underworld almost with bare hands. Those on patrol both day and night are hardly seen wearing bullet proof vests that will protect them from bullets during encounters with armed men.

They are also hardly seen with ballistic helmets and helmets with cameras, communication systems or Bluetooth light.

There are also inadequate vehicles to patrol the nooks and crannies of the country as well as helicopters for aerial patrol and boats for adequate surveillance of the nation’s back waters and creeks which fall under its purview.

Most of the vehicles are grounded while many of the few remaining ones were destroyed during the EndSars protest that took a violent dimension last year. They are still being destroyed by hoodlums at the slightest provocation.

Sadly, members of the public meant to be protected by the Police are at the receiving end, especially during distress, as hoodlums would have finished their operation before the arrival of policemen and that is, if they show up at all.

In other cases, policemen ask for transport fare and fuel money from complainants if they must go and effect an arrest.

Former Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Mohammed revealed that the Police needed not less than 1,000 Armoured Personnel Carriers ,APCs, 250,000 assault rifles/corresponding ammunition , 2,000,000 tear gas canisters/smoke grenade,200,000 Riot gunners and smoke Pistols,1,000 Tracking devices,774 Operational drones among other needs, to cover the length and breadth of the nation’s infrastructural and logistics deficit gap between the citizens and Police.

Absence of the above listed equipment was the main reason hoodlums gained upper hand during the EndSARs protest , overran police stations and made a caricature of the once revered police institutions.


Accommodation

Accommodation is another major challenge faced by the ordinary policeman, especially those of the Rank and File. Some of them who are not privileged to live in barracks, have their accommodations very far from their stations. It is not because they want to live far. Rather, it is because their monthly take home pay cannot afford a befitting accommodation of their desire. By the time they get to the office, they will be fatigued and this affects their proficiency.

At the moment, policemen sleep in stations, not because they do not want to return to their families after the day’s work, but because they want to minimize spending of their salary on transportation. Before now, they augment this by wearing their uniforms which automatically exempted them from paying fares. But with the recent attacks on policemen, such acts have drastically dropped. Others who are transferred outside their states of abode, sleep in ramshackle buildings before they are able to gather money to rent accommodation.


Strength constraint

The Nigeria Police Force has a strength of less than 400,000, leaving a policeman to over 400 Nigerians, which is a far cry from the United Nations standard for policing which stipulates a ratio of one policeman to 350 to 400 people.

Out of this number, a good percentage of policemen are assigned to protect so-called Very Important Personalities, VIPs , either in the public or private sectors , with some of them treated as domestic workers, leaving the limited number to over stretch themselves, thereby creating operational difficulties.

Unfortunately, with the renewed hostility, especially in the South East region, these escort policemen have become an endangered species as they are killed at will. These unwarranted attacks on policemen have further dampened the resurged glimmer of hope and self esteem, after the EndSARs crisis. Most of them, especially those in the South East, are no longer proud to wear their uniforms on the streets. Rather, they wear mufti to their duty posts and back.

Their enthusiasm for Police work has dropped abysmally, thereby giving room for a lackadaisical attitude. With the foregoing, Nigerians are faced with double jeopardy as those meant to protect them in times of distress may never make a move geared towards security of their lives and property in the case of eventuality.


Inter-agency synergy

Another major reason why the Police may be seen to be reactive instead of being proactive is poor synergy with other security agencies and the Military, especially in intelligence gathering.

Police intelligence gathering network is a critical element of crime fighting, as it helps them nip crimes in the bud before they are perpetrated.

Being the lead security agency, every other security agency is expected to convey intelligence reports to the Police to act upon. But Saturday Vanguard observes that most of these agencies hoard intelligence and sometimes act on them , all in a bid to outshine the Police and take glory for the feat.

There have also been cases of duplicate investigations by the Police and other security agencies. At the moment, almost all internal security operational functions of the Police are being implemented by the Military, the DSS and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, not by their own making but the Federal Government’s.

This action has not only stripped the Police of its core mandate but has also painted an imagination of incompetence in the minds of most policemen.

The audit report, a copy of which was obtained by SaharaReporters, queried why Emefiele and the CBN claimed zero recovery within the four years.



The newly released Auditor-General for the Federation Annual Report for 2019 has revealed that Governor Godwin Emefiele-led Central Bank of Nigeria failed to keep records of recovered funds between 2016 and 2019.

The audit report, a copy of which was obtained by SaharaReporters, queried why Emefiele and the CBN claimed zero recovery within the four years despite the “various public statements of recovered funds by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other agencies of government.”


CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele
The report titled, “Auditor-General for the Federation’s Annual Report on the Federal Government of Nigeria Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended, December 31, 2019,” mandated Emefiele to “furnish reasons for the nil recovery records between 2016 and 2019, and otherwise, apply sanction relating to gross misconduct specified in paragraph 3129 of the Financial Regulations.”

The report partly reads, “Audit observed from the review of Recovered Funds component of Inflows of Foreign

Reserves that: CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER, 2019 CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN); At the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the following observation was made;


ISSUE 1 NON-DISCLOSURE OF RECOVERED FUNDS FROM 2016 TO DATE

Paragraph 112 (i)(l) of the Financial Regulations (FR) states “The functions of the Accounting Officer shall include ...ensuring that any revenue collected is not spent but remitted to the appropriate authorities promptly”. Furthermore, Paragraph 112 (i)(f) of FR states “The functions of the Accounting Officer shall include ...ensuring accurate collection and accounting for all public money received and expended...”.

“Audit observed from the review of Recovered Funds component of Inflows of Foreign Reserves that: i The sum of $40,502,645.06 (Forty million, five hundred and two thousand, six hundred and forty-five dollar, six cents) was reported in the Summary of Monthly Foreign Exchange Cashflows last in December 2015. ii No amount was shown as Recovered Funds between 2016 and 2019, and iii There was no justification for the nil recovery between 2016 and 2019 despite various public statements of recovered funds by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other agencies of government.

“The above anomalies could be attributed to weaknesses in the internal control system at the Central Bank of Nigeria. Risks; i Incomplete report. ii Misinformation of the public.

Management’s Response; There was no inflow for the period January 2016 – December 2019. However, a review of the account showed credit interest for the period. Kindly find attached a summary of the review. Recommendations; The CBN Governor is requested to: i Furnish reasons for the nil recovery records between 2016 and 2019, and ii. Otherwise, apply sanction relating to gross misconduct specified in paragraph 3129 of the Financial Regulations, and relating to failure to collect and account for Government Revenue as in FR 3112(ii).”

SaharaReporters had in several investigations uncovered how the Emefiele-led CBN has been subject of various multi-billion fraud investigations and how the bank had played to major influences in the government to frustrate the probes.

SaharaReporters had on October 5, 2021, reported that the EFCC began an investigation into an alleged multi-billion naira fraud at the CBN which centred on the disbursement of a loan facility being managed by the Director in charge of the CBN agricultural loans.

SaharaReporters had learnt that the CBN Governor was jittery and fighting hard to stop the probe through the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), who would expectedly wade into the EFCC investigation of the CBN director of Development Finance Department (DfD), Yila Yusuf.

Yila’s DfD is in charge of agricultural loans at the CBN.

The latest investigation by the EFCC only adds to the growing list of atrocities and scandals that the lavish CBN governor, Emefiele, is enmeshed in.

SaharaReporters had on September 20 reported that the Arewa Youth Assembly, a socio-economic and socio-political group, called for the resignation or sacking of Emefiele.

According to the northern group, doing so will save the nation from further economic meltdown.

They had insisted that the sum of N500 billion which was stolen in a private Dubai investment towards the end of 2018 should be investigated as well as other funds that went missing during Emefiele’s administration.

SaharaReporters had in May 2019 made public a phone conversation of Emefiele; his deputy, Edward Lametek Adamu; Director for Finance, Dayo M. Arowosegbe and one of the Special Advisers to the CBN Governor, Emmanuel Ukeje discussing how to cover up the loss of over N500 billion stolen from the CBN in a private investment that collapsed.

Two audio files, exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, revealed how the governor and top officials of the apex bank discussed plots to conceal the loss of huge sums of money in a Dubai investment.

The CBN claimed the audio conversation was genuine but no money was missing from the bank.

Also on September 23, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asked the CBN governor to resign over allegations of overseeing looting of funds in the nation’s apex bank.

According to the PDP, the allegations are based on the affirmations from the Secretary of the National Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator John Akpan Udoedehe during a Channels TV programme.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) demands the immediate resignation and prosecution of the Governor of the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele going by allegations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he superintended over massive looting of funds in the CBN.

“Our party calls on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately invite Emefiele for questioning over allegations by the National Secretary of the illegal APC National Caretaker Committee, Senator John Akpan Udoedehe, that the CBN governor supervised over the pillaging of the nation’s vaults under his watch,” the party had said.

“Our party insists that beyond Akpan Udoedehe’s allegation, the tenure of Emefiele as CBN governor under the APC administration has witnessed colossal failures of monetary and fiscal policies, requiring him to vacate the office and hand himself over for investigation.

“It is instructive to note that when Emefiele took over office as CBN Governor in 2014, naira exchanged for N164 to a dollar. Today, in the hands of Emefiele and the APC, the naira has tumbled to a near N600 to a dollar, putting the nation’s economy on its knees.

“Painfully, under the leadership of Emefiele, the CBN has failed in its core mandate of managing the economy and took a dive into propaganda with claims that do not reflect the harsh economic reality on the ground.

“The PDP, therefore, urges the EFCC not to allow this revelation to be swept under the carpet as it borders on serious economic sabotage for which sanctions are clearly spelt out under our laws,” it had added.

On September 16, a coalition of civil societies backed the Arewa Youth Assembly, calling for the resignation of Emefiele.

Seven different groups joined others who wanted the governor to resign over his alleged inability to stabilise the country’s bleeding economy.

By Joseph Erunke


The federal government has explained that millions of graduates in the country are unemployed because they do not have specific skills required for the job market.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Arch. Sonny Echono, who said this, Thursday, in Abuja, at a two-day National Conference on Technical and Vocational Education and Training, TVET, explained that the development “has created a shortfall of the adequately skilled educated workforce which is one of the major constraints to the growth and development of our nation.”

The conference was organised by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Skills Development for Youth Employment, SKYE programme, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Development and implemented by the German Development Cooperation, GIZ.


“Most of the graduates produced in various universities of technology, polytechnics, colleges of education (Technical) and technical colleges nationwide do not have specific skills required for the job market (market-relevant skills).

“The situation results to having millions of Nigerian graduates that are unemployed,” he said.

Speaking at the event aimed at repositioning the technical and vocational education and training through policy and legislative options in Nigeria, Echono explained that given the situation, the present administration’s emphasis is majored on Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and skill acquisition, adding that, it was “born out of the recognition that TVET is the bedrock of socio-economic growth and development of any nation.”

Echono said, “Government at all level has been making frantic efforts to equip the youths by establishing technical colleges, polytechnics, mono-technics, Vocational Enterprise Institutions (VEIs) and Innovation Enterprise Institutions (IEIs) and Model Skills Training Centers (MSTC) for equipping youths/learners with technical and vocational skills through formal and non-formal channels across the states of the federation.”

Speaking further at the conference, tagged: “Repositioning Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) through Policy and Legislative Options” for National Development”, the Permanent Secretary explained that the “main focus of this conference is to develop synergy among the stakeholders of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nigeria through policy and legislative options which will serve as a foundation for (TVET) development, coordination and effective implementation in Nigeria.

“There is no doubt that there is an epic gap between the skilled manpower required and that which is currently available,” he said.

According to him, “This initiative is highly welcomed by the Federal Government of Nigeria as it will further enhance the achievement of this Administration’s ‘Change mantra’ through an effective manpower development with a viable skill acquisition programme specifically in areas of technology, and other aspects of resourcefulness to enhance national development; hence the establishment of Skill Training Centers (STCs) especially now that government is making comprehensive efforts in youths skill capacity building through investment in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET).”

He commended the efforts and support of GIZ in bringing together all the stakeholders of TVET as think tanks in repositioning TVET through policy and legislative options.

“We sincerely hope that this will create a window opportunity for public and private establishments to further support and promote the development of TVET,” he added.

Speaking at the event, Head of Programme, Skills Development for Youth Employment, SKYE, Hans Ludwig Bruns, said it was the right time for all relevant stakeholders within the TVET sector to jointly work on the TVET reform process, adding, “This is needed to provide better vocational education for the young people in Nigeria”.

According to him, “Nigeria is currently facing tremendous challenges in terms of sustainable job creation and productivity.”

“The high numbers of unemployment and underemployment have become major socio-economic challenges over the past decade.

“It is connected to the issue of skills development, which is interlinked to the challenges of adjusting TVET policies, regulations, and implementation.

“It cannot be overemphasised that high quality and relevant vocational education and training is a prerequisite for economic development.

“The topic is a high priority in the reform agenda in many countries and Nigeria is not an exception.

“It is worthy to note that the Government of Nigeria has taken important steps forward in establishing the National Skills Council under the chairmanship of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with the objective to develop skills for the nation through TVET.

“However, challenges are still remaining-Public education providers need to make education and training more relevant to the demand of the private sector.

“The momentum of reform to achieve good results is now and will need rapid steps to provide quality vocational education to the high number of young people who are already or will be joining vocational education and training in the coming years,” he said.

By Abdullateef Salau


The federal government is to borrow N25.5bn ($62.1m) to construct 17MW hybrid solar power infrastructure for the National Assembly.

The loan is part of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s N7.6trn external borrowing request approved by the Senate Wednesday.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Clifford Ordia, said his panel found that of the $22.8bn approved by the National Assembly under the 2016-2018 External Borrowing Plan, only $2.8bn, representing 10 percent, had been disbursed to Nigeria.

The committee, in its report, listed various proposed projects to be financed by the loans.


The $62.1m loan earmarked for construction of solar power plant in the National Assembly would be sourced from SINOCURE/Standard Chartered Bank.

The contract, according to the report, was awarded at a total value of $60.1m.

However, the report was silent on what the balance of $2m would be used for.

According to the report, the government also earmarked $100m to execute a project in the Ministry of Women Affairs tagged “Nigeria for Women Projects”.

The project, according to the document, is to support livelihoods for 324,000 women over the age of 18 years in targeted local governments in states of Abia, Kebbi, Niger, Ogun and Taraba States.

Fourteen persons have been arrested in connection with the recent siege on Justice Mary Odili’s apartment in Abuja.

The police authorities disclosed this on Thursday.
.
One of those arrested is a fake Superintendent of Police, the police said.

Security operatives had on Friday stormed the residence of Justice Odili, claiming that they received information on “illegal activities” in the house.

Some court documents subsequently emerged online indicating that a police officer named Lawrence Ajodo had applied to the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Wuse Zone 6 for a search warrant to be executed at the address.

The signatory, Ajodo, claimed to have signed the application as the officer in charge of Assets Recovery Investigation Team.

The application was written on a letterhead of a body named ‘Ghost Account For Local Government Whistleblowers & Assets Tax Recovery Panel’.

Then, the footnote of the letterhead has the contact details of what was described as ‘Head of Criminal Litigation’ with its address given as 18, Tunis Street, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

Along with three telephone numbers, the email address of the “unit” was given on the document as Agf.asstsrecovery@gmail.com.

Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) denied any involvement in the act, which drew widespread condemnation.

A Nigerian activist and Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, paid for his botched Cotonou-Paris-Hamburg flight through a United Kingdom-based travel company, findings by The PUNCH have shown.

Further findings also revealed the ticket was paid for in British pound sterling using a cheque as means of payment.

Igboho, following a security raid on his Ibadan home in Oyo State by operatives of the Department of State Services, planned a trip to Germany to join his family but was arrested at the Cotonou Airport on July 19, 2021, by the Republic of Benin authorities.

The activist was arrested at the request of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The Nigerian government later requested Igboho’s extradition but the Republic of Benin government reportedly refused the request on the grounds that Igboho needed to complete his trial in the country for allegedly violating its travel laws.

The Yoruba Nation agitator is still facing trial in the Republic of Benin as his lawyers continue to battle the West African nation’s government for his release.

However, latest findings by The PUNCH showed that Igboho was to travel on Air France from the Republic of Benin via France to join his family in Germany on July 19, 2021.

He was to travel on flight AF700, which would depart the Republic of Benin for France before a connecting flight to Germany.

According to findings from airport and aviation officials, the Cotonou-Paris-Hamburg flight was to depart Cotonou Airport at 11.35pm and arrive at the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport at 5.20pm the following day, July 20, 2021.

Igboho was them expected to connect his next flight at CDG by 09.30am to arrive at Hamburg Airport by 11.40am on the same day.

However, he could not make any of the flights due to his arrest by the Republic of Benin authorities.

Further findings revealed that the UK travel firm, which bought the ticket using cheque as means of payment, had since claimed the ticket refund.

It was gathered that the Business Class Cotonou-Hamburg ticket had cost £2,685

A Federal High Court In Abuja on Tuesday remanded Gloria Okolie, a 21-year-old young woman arrested and enslaved by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Imo State.


Despite the public outcries and clamour for her release, the police charged Okolie to the court for terrorism in a case, FHC/ABJ/CR/297/2021, with the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant and Emeoyiri Uzoma Benjamin and Okolie Glory as the defendants.


The suit was in accordance with the court order issued by the court on Friday 27th August 2021.

The police had arrested Okolie for allegedly being friends with a suspected member of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

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BREAKING: Court Remands Enslaved 21-year-old Glory Okolie Dragged To Court By Nigeria Police Over Links To IPOB, Terrorism
4 Comments3 Hours Ago
She was later transferred to Abuja, despite efforts by her family members to secure his release.

After 66 days in detention, the police, in a statement said she was arrested for alleged membership of IPOB and for working with one Benjamin Uzoma Emeoyiri to attack officers and stations in Imo.

Her detention stirred public outcry as many Nigerians, including civil society organisations, have called for her release.

According to court documents obtained by SaharaReporters, Emeoyiri was charged on count one to count eight while Okolie was charged on count nine to count 12.

The four charges against Okolie, bordering on the alleged links to IPOB and terrorism can be found below:

COUNT NINE

That you, Okolie Glory Temale, adult of Obor-Otonomus (Autonomous) Community Orlu Local Government Area, Imo State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed an act of terrorism by providing information to Emeoyiri Uzoma Benjamin, a member of indigenous people of Biafra, a proscribed organization in Nigeria on the presence of the Police Officers in the area in order to evade apprehension by the Police and you thereby committed an offense punishable under section 5 of the Terrorism (prevention)(Amendment) Act, 2013

COUNT TEN

That you, Okolie Glory, female, adult of Obor-Otonomus Community Orlu Local Government Area, Imo state sometime in 2021 at Amaifeke, Banana junction, Orlu in Imo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court directly rendered to Emeoyiri Uzoma Benjamin, a member of Indigenous People of Biafra, a proscribed organization in Nigeria by providing your account details Okolie Glory Njideka, Fidelity Bank with account number 6552466814 to him for collection of the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Naira from one Chinasa Nworu in furtherance of acts of terrorism and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 5 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.

COUNT ELEVEN

That you, Okolie Glory, female, adult of Obor-Otonumus Community Orlu Local Government Area, Imo state sometime in 2021 at Amaifeke, Banana Junction, Orlu in Imo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court directly rendered support to Emeoyiri Uzoma Benjamin, a member of Indigenous people of Biafra, a proscribed organization in Nigeria by providing your account details: Okolie Glory Njideka, Fidelity Bank with account number 6552466814 to him for collection of the sum of Three Hundred Thousand Naira from one Chinasa Nworu in furtherance of act of terrorism and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 5 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amended) Act, 2013.

COUNT TWELVE

That you, Okile Glory, female, adult of Obor-Otonums Community Orlu Local Government Area, Imo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly concealed information about acts of terrorism which you know to be of material assistance in securing the apprehension of Emeoyiri Uzoma Benjamin, a member of Indigenous People of Biafra, a proscribed organization in Nigeria but failed to disclose such information to any law enforcement or security agency as soon as possible as practicable and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 8(b) of the Terrorism (prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.

A26-year-old male member of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ameer Sarkee, is seeking to be elected the national women leader of the party.

This is not the first time Sakee will be eyeing a post exclusively reserved for a woman.

In 2019, he contested for the post of women leader in a Kwankwasiyya group – a group loyal to former governor of Kano Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The group has a larger followership within the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The Kano State polytechnic graduate lost on that occasion.

It is not clear when Ameer joined APC.
He, however, said he would not let himself be defeated this time around, saying he has experience dealing with women’s issues.

He promised that he would ensure that women’s voices are heard more in politics and governance if he becomes the national women chairperson in the APC.

“Ever since I was a child when I saw a woman in need of help I tried to help her – like helping them to carry their loads or buying them something – and that’s why I wanted to be the female leader of our party,” Sarkee told BBC.

“Some people ask me why I am running for the post and my answer is ‘God created men to guide the affairs of women,” Ameer told BBC Hausa. “So it is not a bad thing for me to want to lead women especially given that I mean well for them.”

Ameer said he hopes the women of the APC will agree to vote for him even though he is a man, saying his greatest challenge remains women who see him as stripping them of their positions

“The biggest challenge I face is gaining the trust of women; some are jealous of seeing me lead them, others think I’m going to take what belongs to them but it’s not,” Ameer said.

In contrast to his fears, Ameer said, while he is face with challenges of being accepted by some women, some others are routing for his emergence as the APC national women chairperson.

“At the same time I am getting encouragement from women, even yesterday some women’s groups came to show their support for me and many of them are supporting me on social media,” Ameer said.

Some of the ad-hoc officials deployed for the ongoing supplementary election in Ihaiala Local Government Area of Anambra State have stayed away from their polling units over security concerns.

Elections did not hold in Ihiala on Saturday because of insecurity.

While declaring the exercise inconclusive, Professor Comfort Obi, the returning officer, said the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) did not deploy materials in Ihiala because of situation report.

NAN quoted an Electoral Officer as saying there were areas where electoral personnel refused to go to for security reasons.

The officer, who preferred anonymity, identified the area as Lilu, Isseke, Orsumoghu, Ubuluisiuzo, Mbosi and Azia.

The person said that development had escalated the situation in the area.

Also, an official of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) alleged that some corps members who were made available for the election were being replaced by non corps members.

The official, who refused to disclose his name, said the scheme deployed 1,000 corps to INEC for the Ihiala election but regretted that most of them were stranded and still loitering at the secretariat.

The officials insisted that the trained corps members must be deployed and paid.

CP Echeng Echeng, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra said adequate security deployment had been made to ensure that the supplementary election was hitch-free.

Echeng who spoke at the Uzoakwa Headquarters of Ihiala while monitoring the situation, said there was no cause for alarm.

“We have made our deployment, it is very robust and we are confident that we are going to conduct elections in every location that we are supposed to have elections in Ihiala today.”

“We are not saying that there is no fear, there is fear everywhere as far as Anambra is concerned but we have had elections in 20 Local Government Areas, this is just one Local Government Area.

“With what we have on ground including the Police, Army, NSCDC, DSS and others, we are going to handle the situation,” he said.(NAN).

AHMED OLUWASANJO

The Returning Officer in the ongoing governorship election for Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra, Micheal Otu, said election did not hold in the local government he presided over because he was locked up in the toilet and forced to sign election papers.

“I was made to sign the election papers under duress,” Mr Otu narrated during collation of results at Akwa on Sunday.

“I almost collapsed. I was locked in a toilet. As far as I’m concerned, there was no election in Orumba North.”

Mr Otu’s statement comes amidst reports that the governorship election held on Saturday was peaceful, free and fair throughout the state.

Orumba North has 93,608 registered voters.

INEC has taken a break from the ongoing collation of results to examine if election actually took place at Orumba North Local Government Area, or not.

From results of 16 local government areas collated so far Charles Soludo of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won 15, while Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won Ogbaru LGA.

By Ebuka Onyeji and Abdulkareem Mojeed

The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Charles Soludo, has won in 10 of the 11 local government areas formally announced by the electoral commission, INEC, at its headquarters in Anambra.

Mr Soludo defeated all the other 17 candidates in each of the 10 local governments. However, Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) won in Nnewi North Local Government Area.

The 11 local governments are those that have been announced and formally accepted at the INEC state collation centre in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

The final announcement is expected to continue later on Sunday afternoon.

Apart from the 11 local government areas announced at the INEC secretariat, Mr Soludo also won in some other local governments whose results have been announced in the local governments but not yet at the INEC secretariat in Awka.

The 11 local governments so far announced at the INEC secretariat are Orumba, Nnewi North, Njikoka, Onitsha North, Idemili, Ayamelum, Anambra East, Aniocha, Oyi, Awka South and Dunukofia. Of the 11, Mr Soludo only lost in Nnewi North.

The governorship election was held in all of Anambra’s 21 local government areas.
See the full results so far announced at the INEC secretariat below.

In the said local government area, the YPP got 6, 485 votes; APGA, 3, 369 votes; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), 1, 511 voted and the APC 1, 271 votes.

Soludo has so far won in 10 out of the 11 local government areas whose results have officially been collated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In Awka South, the APC: 2, 595 votes, APGA: 12, 891 votes and the PDP: 5, 498.

For Oyi LGA, APC: 2, 830 votes; APGA: 6, 133 votes and PDP: 2, 484 votes.

Anaocha LGA:
APC: 2, 085; APGA: 6, 911 and PDP: 5, 108.

Anambra East LG, APC got 2, 034 votes; APGA: 9, 746 and PDP: 1, 380.

In Ayamelum local government area, the APC garnered 2, 409 votes, APGA: 3, 424 and the PDP: 2, 804 votes.

For Idemili South Local Government Area, the APC got 1039 votes, the PDP, 2016 votes and the APGA 2, 312 votes.

Dunukofia LGA: APC got 1,991; APGA got 4,124 while PDP got 1,680.

In Orumba South local government area, the results are as follows: APC: 2060; APGA: 4394; PDP: 1672 and the YPP: 887.

From Njikoka LG, the APC garnered 3, 216 votes; APGA: 8, 803 and the PDP: 3, 409.

Onitsha South, the APC got 2, 050 votes; APGA - 4, 281 and PDP - 2, 253.

For Nnewi North, the PDP has 1,511; the APGA has 3,369 while the YPP has 6,485.

A Supervisory Presiding Officer in the ongoing gubernatorial election in Anambra State has absconded with 42 result sheets.

Dr. Gabriel Odor, Collation Officer of Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra, announced this at the head office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Awka, the state capital, during the final collation of results on Sunday.

Odor, who is a lecturer at the University of Calabar, said because of the development, elections could not hold in the affected areas.

Prof Chukwuma Soludo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APGA), won in Idemili South.

He polled a total of 2,312 votes to defeat Mr Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who had 2,016 votes and Senator Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who secured 1,039 votes.

The final collation is ongoing.

An offshore rig under construction by Shelf Oil and Gas Drilling Company Nigeria Limited has exploded in the Atlantic Ocean close to Sangana, Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

It was gathered that the explosion, which occurred at the Otuo Oil Field on Tuesday, caused massive gas leaks into the Ocean and the entire Sangana community.

The incident from the facility called Adriatic One was said to have forced most residents of the area to flee while others were still waiting for boats at the jetty to relocate from the community.

The Adriatic One facility located deep into the Atlantic is just about 20 metres away from the residential area.

Some of the residents protested the development with placards and called on the Federal Government to prevail on the oil company to stop the leakage.

The entire area was said to be saturated with gas as the residents, who complained of their inability to breathe well, expressed fear of fire outbreak.

The oil company was said to have evacuated all their workers abandoning the leakage to continue and leaving the people to their fate.

The Legal Adviser, Oil and Gas Community, Sangana, Ayebatonye Christopher, called for immediate clamping of the leaking facility.

He said: “Our community is in danger. The entire environment of this Sagana Kingdom has been devastated by this pollution. We need quick intervention of the government. We need immediate remediation of this environment”.

The Chairman, Bayelsa State House of Aseembly Committee on Information, Mr. Tari Porri, said the issue was brought before the House under matters of urgent public importance on Thursday by the member representing Brass Constituency 1.

He described the situation as serious and said the explosion occurred when the company workers were erecting the rig for gas exploration.

But he said the workers were all evacuated from the platform immediately after the incident leaving the local folks to their fate.

Porri said the lawmakers called on their senior colleagues at the National Assembly to take up the matter and asked the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to investigate the development.

The lawmaker said the gas spread had gone beyond Sangana to include other communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

“The state government has already taken up the matter. The Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide are on this issue”, Porri said.

An e-mail sent to the address of the company, info@shelfdrilling.com, was yet to elicit a response.

The Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, has finalised plans to tie the nuptial knot with a 16-year-old Kano State girl, identified as Hussain on Friday (tomorrow), SaharaReporters has learnt.


A source told SaharaReporters that the event is set to take place at 274 Daurawa, Maiduguri Road in Kano.

The source added that the marriage between the underage girl and the Accountant General may likely be consummated before Juma’at prayers on Friday.

“The Accountant General is planning to marry the underage girl on Friday at House D24, Dabah Homes Estate, opposite Tulsi Chanrai Eye Hospital, Oladipo Diya Street, Kukwaba
"At No. 274 Daurawa Maiduguri Road, Kano at the office named Bagudu Kebbi Nigeria Limited. It is adjacent to Tarauni Market Junction.

"You will notice that things and preparation are taking place and I'm suspecting the marriage might hold before Juma'at Prayer or after. They may decide to beat people's intelligence. His marriage will be consummated tomorrow."


SaharaReporters had last month reported how the family members of the young girl kicked against her marriage to the Accountant-General of the Federation.

The family accused Idris of luring the teenager with millions of naira.

A source told SaharaReporters that Hussain’s family had kicked against the wedding but Idris insisted on marrying her despite being 44 years older than the underage girl.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsa0hhUKuSU&feature=youtu.be


Idris will turn 61 on November 25, 2021.

“This is our late sister’s daughter by name Hussain; she’s just 16, not long that she clocked 16 years old but it’s very unfortunate that a lady called Amina was the one that linked or brought the Accountant-General to our house in order to seek her hand in marriage.

“This, she did, knowing that this is a very young girl, what does that mean? It shows the Accountant General is just after that small girl to take advantage of her youthful age.

“Immediately I heard, I messaged him because when I was working with the then Head of Service, I had the opportunity of having his contact when we met over a serious matter about the country. So I messaged him on WhatsApp regarding his wedding; I sent him my picture, that of my son, my late sister and the daughter, Hussain. He replied that it’s a small world which confirmed the wedding was true,” a top family source had confided in SaharaReporters.

The family source added that the Accountant-General had bribed some media organisations they contacted for help and their request to expose his atrocities was, therefore, turned down.

"He went as far as bribing this girl with gold of over N200 million, iPhones, buying cars for her, giving her millions of naira – all to buy her attention. He started meeting different people that he wanted to know the girl’s family; he married the girl, just like that.

“There was no investigation just because he is the Accountant General of the Federation. Why are things happening in this country like this? He even told the girl to go and look for any house of her choice in Abuja, that he is ready to purchase it for her.

“He is spending the government money and every media house we go to report him, he pays them not to air or report the story. Please help us for justice to be done. This girl is just sixteen years old,” the source had added.

SaharaReporters had in a series of detailed investigations exposed how Idris acquired several properties whose value run into many billions of naira since he was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as the administrative head of the treasury in June 2015.

A visit to Gezawa Commodity Market Limited and Gezawa Integrated Farms Limited owned by Idris lend credence to the allegations made by concerned citizens and some stakeholders on how and where the AGF got the money he used in acquiring the multi-billion naira firms, both in Kano through his direct family members.

The shareholdings of both firms indicate a spread of Idris family members on the official board.

There have also been questions asked about how the AGF bought 'Sokoto Hotel' in Kano with N500 million cash.

SaharaReporters gathered that Idris upon acquiring the hotel, ordered its immediate demolition to build a multi-billion naira shopping mall on the property.

Despite turning 60 in 2020, Idris succeeded in pulling different strings in the Presidency to secure an extension of his appointment beyond the legal limit.

SaharaReporters gathered that he engaged the services of highly placed persons including governors, senators and emirs who prevailed on President Buhari to give him the extension.

The action is however against the civil service rules, which state that a career civil servant must disengage from service either after attaining 60 years of age or having worked for 35 years, whichever comes first.

It was also against a recent circular from the office of the Head of Service to all agencies of the Nigerian Government which says, “For the avoidance of doubt and in order to maintain discipline and integrity of the extant public service rule which prescribed 60 years of age or 35 years of service for mandatory retirement, should strictly be complied with.

“Accordingly, the following guidelines shall apply. (I) that career officers who take up tenured appointments should at the point of taking up the appointment retire from service to ensure they run their term uninterrupted.

“(II) that career officers who have not retired from service before the commencement of their tenured appointment must leave office on the attainment of mandatory age/years of service for retirement and (iii) that career officers who are currently holding tenured appointment are required to retire from service with immediate effect and continue to run their term. Failure to do so would mean that they would vacate office on attaining the mandatory age or at the expiration of their term whichever comes first.”

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

The Central Bank of Nigeria spent the sum of N58.618 billion to print 2.518 billion Naira notes, valued at 1. 063 trillion in, 2020.

This was contained in the bank’s 2020 Currency Report posted on its website.

It indicated a decrease in the bank’s expenditure on currency printing, which stood at N75. 523 billion, in 2019 and N64. 040 billion, in 2018.

The current management of the CBN under the leadership of Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has been driving the cashless policy with a view to cutting the cost of printing bank notes and cash management, in the country. The new e-Naira was also initiated in line with the policy.

According to the report, “The total cost incurred on printing of banknotes in 2020 amounted to N58,618.50 million, compared with N75,523.50 million in 2019, indicating a decrease of ₦16,905.00 million or 28.84 per cent.”

CBN indicated in the report that the notes were printed in-country by the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (NSPM Plc).

The report indicated that CBN, “approved an indent of 2,518.68 million pieces of banknotes of various denominations in 2020 to satisfy the currency needs of the economy, compared with 3,830.94 million in the preceding year.

“The NSPM Plc was awarded the contract for the production of the entire indent. At end-December 2020, NSPM Plc had delivered 100 per cent of the approved indent.”

It put the total stock of currency (issuable & non-issuable) in the vaults of the bank at end December, 2020 at 2.747 billion pieces, compared with 2.641 billion pieces in 2019, indicating an increase of 105.73 million pieces or 4.00 per cent.

“At end-December, 2020, the total issuable notes (newly printed notes and Counted Audited Clean notes) was 592.94 million pieces, compared with 726.43 million pieces in 2019, representing a decrease of 133.49 million pieces or 18.38 per cent,” the report showed.


Forex

The report also indicated that a total of $1.830 billion was procured over the course of 2020.

According to the report, “This value represents a decrease of USD2,120.00 million or 53.67 per cent relative to the USD3,950.00 million procured in 2019.

“This was used to fund Bureaux De Change (BDC) operations, payment of estacode and Personal Travel Allowances (PTA) to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).”

CBN said that the receipt and authentication of foreign currency deposits by Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) reduced significantly due to the downturn in global trade in 2020.


Currency in circulation

The report indicated, however, that Currency-in-Circulation (CIC) increased by 19.06 per cent from N2.441 trillion at end December, 2019 to N2 .907 trillion at end-December 2020.

“The growth in CIC reflected the continued dominance of cash in the economy. Analysis of the CIC shows that a greater proportion was in higher denomination banknotes (N100, N200, N500 and N1000).

“The higher denomination banknotes together accounted for 63.47 per cent and 98.08 per cent of the total CIC, in terms of volume and value, respectively. The volume of lower denomination banknotes (N5, N10, N20, N50), accounted for 28.43 per cent of the total CIC and 1.92 per cent, in terms of value as at end-December 2020.”


Currency processed

In 2020, a total of 173,585 boxes of banknotes valued at N980. 758 billion was processed, compared with 260,651 boxes of banknotes valued at N1. 533 trillion in 2019.

This represents a decrease of 33.40 per cent in the number of boxes or N552. 971 billion in value of processed banknotes.


Counterfeit Notes decrease

On counterfeit notes, the report showed that a total of 67,265 pieces of counterfeit notes with a nominal value of N56.83 million was confiscated in 2020, indicating a 20.80 per cent decrease in volume and 12.18 per cent decrease in value, compared with 84,934 pieces valued at N64.71 million in 2019.

It said, “The Global standard for the number of counterfeit per million is 100. The ratio of counterfeit notes to volume of banknotes in circulation was 13 pieces per million in 2020, compared to 20 pieces per million banknotes in 2019.

The N1000 and N500 denominations constituted the most counterfeited, accounting for 69.06 percent and 30.79 per cent, of the total counterfeit notes in 2020, respectively.

Three days after he was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged money laundering, popular socialite and businessman, Obinna Iyiegbu, aka Obi Cubana, has been released

The Anambra-born club owner, who was arrested on Monday, breathed the air of freedom on Thursday evening.

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed to our correspondent that Cubana had been released.

During his stay with the EFCC, he was quizzed several times over his alleged involvement in money laundering and tax fraud.

It was a dramatic Monday at the house of representatives as staff of Premium Steel and Mines Limited (PSML) walked out on lawmakers during a probe into alleged mismanagement of the company.

The house committee on steel is investigating the collapse of the Delta Steel Company (DSC) in Udu, Delta state.

In 2019, the lower legislative chamber mandated the committee to investigate the collapse of the company said to have been built with the sum of $1.89 billion in 1982 and was handed over to PSML after it was privatised in 2005.

Speaking during the public hearing on Monday, Jite Brown, chairman of Udu LGA, Delta state, said PSML is incapable of managing the company.

He accused PSML of looting and vandalising equipment in the facility.

“We have all the pictures of the arrests we have made and other investigations,” he said.

“We have called several security meetings to address the residents and Premium Steel. The only response we get from them is that they don’t have any obligation with the government; that they only have business with Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and AMCON has given them all the right to do all what they are doing.

“We want this committee to revoke the sale of DSC. They can’t handle the company; the company is dying.”

But Albert Anozie, who represented AMCON, denied the involvement of the agency in the collapse of the company.

“AMCON came into the picture as a result of a loan. AMCON was created to resolve all outstanding loans and one of the loans was that which has to do with Delta Steel Company,” Anozie said.

“We took over the asset that was charged to the loan that was borrowed and as a result of that, we realised the loan that was taken.

“AMCON did not take over the running of and management of Delta Steel. Whatever transpired beyond the loan, beyond the assets that were charged beyond the various banks, we cannot say anything about that.

“What we took over was the asset that was charged to the loan which the banks gave to the company.”

Also speaking, Uche Ogah, minister of state for mines and steel development, said the ministry was not carried along when the privatisation was done.

“I believe that one of the things we are doing here today is to investigate to know the reasons. First, what led to the collapse of DSC? Two, the process of sales and three, the continuity — the growing concern of the business,” he said.

“So, for us at the ministry, when all the assets were transferred to BPE, we have little or nothing; we were not carried along. So, we may not have much to say.”

When PSML was asked to make its presentation, the leader of the delegation who introduced him as a lawyer, refused to be put on oath.

The committee subsequently prevented him from speaking and demanded that the managing director of the company should appear instead.

At this point, the staff of PSML led by the counsel staged a walkout.

Infuriated by the development, the representatives of the host community started protesting in the hall and described the action as an “insult”.

The fierce argument continue for about five minutes before relative calm returned.

After the drama, Abdullahi Ali, chairman of the committee, described the walkout as “criminal behaviour”.

He summoned the MD of PSML to appear before the panel on Wednesday, adding that if the MD failed to appear, the lawmakers will issue a warrant of arrest.

“You have all seen the criminal behaviour of Premium Steel and everybody is embarrassed. They cannot walk out on the parliament because this committee is an offshoot of the parliament and we cannot tolerate that,” he said.

“In view of their criminal behaviour — for Premium Steel to have walked out of the parliament is a disgrace to this nation — I hereby summon the MD of Premium Steel to appear before the parliament on the 3rd of November.”

An audio tape of an unidentified official of the Department of State Services (DSS) has revealed how a former caretaker chairman of Ibarapa North Local Government Area, Omolewu Tunji Francis assisted in the raiding of the residence of secessionist leader, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho.

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) invaded and raided Igboho’s house in Soka, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, in July, killing two people and arresting some others.

The aftermath of the incident which was widely criticised led to the trial of some of Igboho’s associates who were later released in batches.

The DSS alleged that arms and ammunition were recovered from his house, but the Yoruba separatist agitator has since denied the claims.

Igboho and his wife, Ropo were later arrested by Beninese security agents at a Cotonou airport, Benin Republic while trying to travel to Germany. He has since been detained in a Beninese prison.

However, the viral video and audio tape said Omolewu, also known as Janbele, led the secret police to burgle Igboho’s house.

The male voice on the viral audio tape, speaking mainly in Yoruba, said the person who linked the security agents to capture Igboho was very close to him.

"We used his ribs to fight him (we used what is close to him). You know despite how mighty a person is, if something happens to their ribs (what is close to them), they will bend," the audio tape said.

BREAKING!
The Babalawo/Herbalist That Went With The DSS And The Nigerian Soldiers To Invade Chief Sunday Igboho’s House On The 1st Of July Speaks Out. Remember that few days ago I made a program where I exposed them and ask to search their conscience. Today one of them is out! pic.twitter.com/ACfu6YLQbJ

— Simon Ekpa (@simon_ekpa) November 1, 2021

In another audio tape, it was revealed that Omolewu was behind how DSS officers successfully raided his house.

The voice said, "The person that hinted the DSS on the in and out of Sunday Igboho is his close associate. He is a very trusted friend in his agitation and movement.

"He was the one that gave them (security agents) the time to attack his house. He told them Sunday Igboho was very powerful but they could storm his house at midnight.

"This person I'm talking about is called Janbele. He was the informant who told the DSS officers how to raid Sunday Igboho’s house. If he wasn't responsible, let him come and deny it. He betrayed Igboho because of money."

Indications have emerged that South -East Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential hopefuls tactically shunned the parade of campaign posters during Saturday’s national convention of the party because of the uncertainty over the zoning of the 2023 presidential ticket.

The convention at Eagle Square, Abuja, attracted leaders of the main opposition party from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In what looked like a carnival, some of the party faithful stormed the venue displaying posters and banners of their choice candidates for the 2023 presidential election.

Those whose posters were seen at the convention ground included ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar; ex-Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed; and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal. All the four are from the North.

Incidentally, there were no posters announcing the presidential ambition of any prospective candidates from the South-East laying claim to the party’s ticket on the basis that 2023 will be the turn of the region to produce the President.

The clamour for the zoning of the ticket to the South- East has been very loud and has been partly responsible for the unrest in the region.

In the build-up to the convention, ex-Anambra State Governor and Vice Presidential candidate of the party in the 2019 election Peter Obi and ex-President of the Senate Anyim Pius Anyim, were touted for the ticket.

However, the conspicuous absence of their posters and supporters have left many wondering whether they are still interested in the project. Ex-Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, wrote on his Twitter handle: “At the PDP convention, Atiku, Tambuwal, Bala Mohammed, Kwankwaso and Saraki dominated the arena with presidential posters.

No Igbo man even shared a leaflet.” Chidoka was disappointed that a region which made so much noise about zoning and power rotation swinging in its favour didn’t expressed its readiness to contest the 2023 presidential poll like others from other regions did at the convention.

Two days after returning from Saudi Arabia where he attended a summit and also held prayers for Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari is heading for Glasgow, Scotland.

He is to attend the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the country before heading for France.

According to Garba Shehu, Presidential spokesman, who announced his European trips, Buhari is scheduled to deliver his national statement at the High-Level segment for Heads of State and Government at the conference on Tuesday.

Shehu said the address will highlight Nigeria’s key priorities and action to tackle climate change as well as progress on the country’s transition to low carbon economy, consistent with achieving the Paris Climate Agreement.

The conference, hosted by the United Kingdom in partnership with Italy, will bring parties together to help accelerate action towards the Paris Agreement as well as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.


“Given Nigeria’s leading role in taking climate action and as a signatory to the Paris Agreement, COP 26 will afford a unique opportunity for the Nigerian delegation to work with other parties to make progress on the main goals of the conference including securing global net zero by mid-century and keeping 1.5C within reach; adapting to protect communities and natural habitats as well as mobilising the much needed finances to meet the set targets.”

“In Glasgow, President Buhari will participate in some side-line events hosted by US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron,” the statement read.

Shehu said after the Scottish Summit, Buhari would travel to Paris, France, on an official visit to reciprocate an earlier one to Nigeria by the French President, Emmanuel Macron, and also attend the Paris Peace forum 2021, the fourth edition to be hosted by the French President.


The Peace Forum will have Heads of State and Government and CEOs of major multinationals, as well as several civil society actors, gathering to advance concrete solutions to the enormous challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to improve global governance in times of COVID-19.

According to the Presidency, the Summit will focus on spurring a more solid and inclusive recovery by addressing the various gaps in global governance, offering initiatives to better tend to the global commons, and putting forward new principles of action for the post-COVID world.

The President will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor; National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (Rtd) and Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has taken a swipe at the Muhammadu Buhari-led presidency, saying its day of reckoning has come because it failed to listen to the people.

Obasanjo also called for the creation of state police as a measure to tackle the ravaging insecurity in the country.


The former president made the call while delivering his speech at a lecture titled, “Social responsibility in nation building,” to mark the 78th anniversary of Island Club in Lagos on Friday.

He said only a safe environment could guarantee nation building.

Obasanjo said, “I have said it before and I will say it again. Nigeria should have state police in all the states so that they can adequately tackle insecurity. Guaranteeing citizens a safe environment and round security is one thing a government must do.

“No nation can be built where peace, security and stability are not assured or guaranteed and with reasonable predictability of the President and the future not enthroned. Any government that is deaf, dumb and blind is a government that will not last.

“As a government, you need to listen to the people. If you fail to listen to the people, the day of reckoning will come for you and it will come soon. We can see it all around us; it has come.

“You have to realise that there is an element of hazard in life itself. What would make you not talk? Fear? There is a Yoruba proverb that says, ‘You talk, you die; you don’t talk, you’ll still die.’ Death is inevitable. As I am here, I am not afraid of death.

“It is painful what we are seeing. There are currently over four million out-of-school children in Nigeria. That is a fact. They cannot hide that. No Nigerian should bury their faces because they are scared of death. State the fact; if they want to deny it, let them deny it.”

He urged Nigerians to embrace their diversity and work as one nation towards a common goal of one Nigeria.

He added, “Diversity is of God; sameness is of the devil. We, as Nigerians, must learn to manage our diversity so that we can have one goal – the Nigerian dream. A nation is not formed until there is a stake and mutual dignity and responsibility and purpose for every component.

Documents have revealed that the warrant presented by security operatives to search the Abuja residence of Mary Odili, a justice of the supreme court, carries a wrong address.

The security operatives, who stormed the residence on Friday, said they received information on “illegal activities” going on in the house.

Documents seen by TheCable showed that one Aliyu Ibrahim had, on October 13, deposed to an affidavit stating that he has “observed some illegal activities going on in some houses within Abuja and its environs”.

“That I am sure and convinced that the kind of activities going on in those houses within Abuja is illegal and hereby report the said matter to the law enforcement agency,” the affidavit reads.

“That I hereby state that all information provided by me to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

“That this affidavit is made in good faith and for record purposes.”

Consequently, one Lawrence Ajodo, identified as a chief superintendent of police and a member of the investigation team under the asset tax recovery panel of the ministry of justice, sought a warrant to carry out a search.

“That on the strength of the affidavit, we seek for a search warrant to enable us carry out investigation at No. 9, Imo street, Maitama, FCT, Abuja,” the police officer had said.

The warrant was granted on Friday by Emmanuel Iyanna, a chief magistrate at Wuse zone 6 magistrate court.

However, TheCable can confirm that the address for which the warrant was obtained is not that of the judge.

While Odili’s address is 7, Imo river street, Maitama, the address on the warrant is 9, Imo street, Maitama.

The search warrant also did not carry the name of the occupants of the premises.

Speaking to journalists at the premises on Friday, Mike Ozekhome, lawyer to Odili, described the warrant as one with “fundamental flaws”.

“It is a fundamental flaw. A search warrant must have the name of the person that you want to carry out a search on his or her house,” he said.

“Also, if they were looking for Imo street, they should look for Imo street elsewhere. There is an Imo close nearby. There is another Imo close somewhere in Garki, but this place is number 7, Imo river street.

“For that reason alone, they missed the point badly.

“If one wants to give them the benefit of doubt, one can say it was a genuine mistake which was why they quietly withdrew, contrary to the information circulating that justice Odili resisted search.

“On the other hand, it might be politically motivated to embarrass the justice of the supreme court and to embarrass her husband.”

The supreme court justice is the wife of Peter Odili, former governor of Rivers, who is currently on the watchlist of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A young man, Dada Fasoto Arifanlajogun who is said to be the witch doctor who 'spiritually fortifies' Yoruba agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since he was arrested three months ago in his home in Ekiti.

This was disclosed by his mother, Olomitutu Fasoto in an interview with BBC Yoruba.

The aggrieved mother said since her son was arrested three months ago by men perceived to be from the office of the DSS, no one has heard from him.

She said his whereabouts were also not known.

Olomitutu said the 28-year-old, since his arrest, had yet to be charged with any crime.

According to her, all efforts to find the young man particularly with visits to the offices of the DSS, police and other security agencies have been futile as they claimed to know nothing about his whereabouts.

She said, "There are several indications that my son was taken away by the DSS because other security agencies do not have my son with them, and they do not know anything about where he was taken to."

She added that her son is a very gentle and easygoing person who practises traditional medicine with the fear of God.

She, however, expressed surprise that he could be arrested simply because he is a herbalist 'spiritually strengthening' Sunday Igboho.

Olomitutu said she had consulted the gods and performed all the necessary rites as a traditionalist but everything had been in vain.

She further called on all Nigerians to help to secure the release of her son so he could return to his wife and 5-year-old son.

Speaking on Dada's disappearance, Aderonke Apalara, the sister-in-law said officers in mufti arrested Arifanlajogun.

She said the officers who were up to 10 in number were fully armed and had arrived in two white Hilux vans.

Apalara added that the officers arrived at the herbalist's residence at 5 pm on the 16th of July, 2021 to arrest Arifanlajogun.

Aderonke said, "When the family members tried to stop the officers from arresting him, they cunningly called the police station at Okesha and told us to come for him at the station.

”When we got to the station, we were told the officers that arrested Arifanlajogun were not from Okesha station, it was there it dawned on us that the officers lied to us and all efforts to know his whereabouts for about three months now have proved abortive.”

The report further quoted the Ekiti State Police spokesperson, Sunday Abutu as saying the Police Command was not aware of the incident.

He, however, advised the family to report the incident at the police station nearest to them.

Also, the DSS office in Ekiti stated that it could not comment on the issue but advised the family to reach out to the DSS office in Abuja.