₦airaland Forum

Jonathan doled out N100bn, $295m cash in two weeks – Osinbajo
africanspotlight.com



Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the massive looting of the nation’s resources by the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is responsible for the economic crunch the country suffers from under the present administration.

Speaking yesterday in Lagos at a ‘Greater Nigeria Pastors Conference’ organised by Rev. Yomi Kasali’s-led Berean Ministers Group, Osinbajo said the Nigerian system is deeply infested with corruption, adding that graft should be pointedly tackled at all levels of institution. According to him, the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration decided to borrow to fund the budget because the nation’s earning had dropped and millions of Naira are still unaccounted for in the last administration. He said:

“The theft of resources in this country is the first and primary reason for our poverty.

That is why we have to address the issue of corruption pointedly, not once in a while because the system is corrupt; it is a corrupted system that we are running. This is not a system where corruption is just an exception, corruption is generally the rule in the Nigerian system.

“It is easy to say how come we don’t have money or why are we borrowing money? If you as an individual have N1million and somebody stole N900,000 from it, you won’t ask the question how come I am poor? You will immediately tie the theft of your money to your poverty. “When we came in, we had a foreign reserve of $32 billion, but there was $15billion used for defence contract that was unaccounted for.

Weeks before the 2015 elections, the government then, gave out N100billion in cash and $295million in cash ostensibly for security within two weeks. Those are the reasons why we don’t have money.”

Osinbajo stated that despite earning the lowest from oil in the past 15 years, the Buhari administration had spent more on infrastructure and social service than any government in the history of the country. Speaking on the Abdulrasheed Maina’s saga, the VP said the ex-pension reform task force head was an ally of the PDP, adding that the president will decide on the matter soon. “Many of us know what happened to Maina. He was the person that was supposed to head a pension reform commission.

He was accused of several different offences. “I am sure that many of us followed the story then because so many things were supposed to have happened; he was supposed to have been living at a time in Aso Rock, he was supposed to have been protected by the government at a time and all that.

“And at some point, he ran away, nobody could find him anymore. He surfaced and when he did that was when we now found that he is back. What the president did as soon as he heard that this has transpired was to immediately say how could this happen and he ordered his immediate disengagement.

While stating that he wont be able to preempt what step the president will take next on the matter, the VP said,

“When you look at the huge structure of the federal government of Nigeria, you may be able to hide somewhere for a day or two, they will fish you out.

Maina had not even been there for a week before he was disengaged,” Osinbajo said. On Kachikwu-Baru saga, the VP said the issue over time has been who is responsible for the approval of contract within certain levels between the Board of NNPC and NNPC Tenders Board.

He noted that there are many conflicts within Ministries, adding that the “ the only reason why this has become an issue is because it became a public document and once it became public document, people started making all forms of insinuation and twist. It is a normal conflict which can only be resolved by the SGF or the Federal Executive Council.

If you look at the NNPC law, it says only the President can approve all contracts over a certain sum. “ On the delayed of action over the suspended Secretary to the Federal Government report, Osinbajo said, “The president will decide very soon, I am sure we will get a response from him soon.

But as you know, he remains suspended and the president will certainly speak on the matter soon.” Speaking on the military action on IPOB and its proscription, Osinbajo said, “There have been an agitation before now from MASSOB and it was never proscribed. Part of the reason why IPOB took a different turn was because first, there were issues around setting up a security force by the IPOB and secondly, the attack on the police station and the killing of policemen.

These are actions that are not acceptable. “If all you are doing is advocating and saying that you want your state or country, although its unconstitutional until you amend the constitution, still nobody will go after you.”

Don't tell anyone, but senator is running for president in 2019
pulse.ng

Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso is running for president in 2019. We just can't keep this secret to ourselves any longer.

Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso 61st Birthday Cocktail Party (Pulse)
When Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso stepped into the Oriental Hotel in Lagos on Saturday, October 21, 2017, the entire place sprang into life.
He was making an appearance exactly how he had wanted to. This was all part of the script.

He had a handful of senators and House of Rep members behind him. He was making a statement without saying very much.


He was late for his own 61st birthday party but it was okay. In Nigeria, politicians and public officials often turn up late at ceremonies because it’s written somewhere in the ‘big man’ manual to show up way behind schedule for an event.

Kwankwaso answered a question or two from the media and made sure to personally greet and shake everyone who had lined up on the way to his seat. The event had been labelled as a ‘non-political gathering’ for the non-discerning.

As events unfolded, it soon became clear that the former Kano State Governor is beginning to set out his stall for another presidential run in 2019.

“Of course he’s running again”, one of the organisers of this red cap birthday party whispered to Pulse. “It’s why we put this together, but of course it’s not time to declare yet”.

The event itself was well attended but poorly publicized on purpose.

Kwankwaso made the red cap Kwankwasiyya movement popular in Kano during his second stint as Governor. From all indications, the Kwankwasiyya movement is beginning to seize the Southwest as well for obvious reasons. Almost everyone had a white agbada and red cap on—totems of the Kwankwasiyya movement.

“We’ve been given a target of one person converting 1,000 persons into Kwankwaso devotees ahead of the 2019 campaigns”, one banker told Pulse over juice and Kolanuts. “He’s still young by Nigerian standards. He’s just 61 this year and he’ll make a good president”.

As the event panned out, speaker after speaker stopped short of endorsing Kwankwaso for president. No one mentioned the words ‘president’ or ‘2019 campaigns’—not even Kwankwaso himself—but when the senators and Reps neared the end of their speeches, you could tell that’s why they all flew from Abuja to make their colleague’s cocktail birthday party.

A man of few words, Kwankwaso spoke for less than five minutes and then the cake cutting followed. It was a giant cake as well. More wine, more small chops and plenty of music from a live band.

Kwankwaso contested the APC presidential primary and polled second behind candidate Buhari in Lagos in 2014. The APC has just announced that anyone can contest the presidency on its platform and that President Muhammadu Buhari won’t be handed an automatic ticket should he consider a re-election.

Like you already know, the 2019 presidency has been zoned to the north of Nigeria by the two biggest political parties in the land. Meaning that Kwankwaso is in with a fighting chance.

What I will miss after my tenure – Fayose
nigeriannewsdirect.com


Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, on Tuesday declared that the only thing he would miss after relinquishing power is Ekiti people, who gave him immense support while in office.

The governor also declined comment on his car, Mercedes Benz Jeep, G Wagon, which got burnt at Apapa-Osodi expressway in Lagos State on Wednesday.

Speaking while distributing a sum of N94.08 million to 11 communities for grassroots development at the government house pavilion in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, Fayose said: “I will miss Ekiti people so dearly, because I have been used to them. I love finding myself in their midst and this is what I will miss sorely”.

The project was financed by the Ekiti State Community Development Agency (EKCIDA) in partnership with the World Bank.

Fayose, who used the opportunity to rally support for his preferred governorship aspirant and Deputy, Prof Kolapo Olusola, added that the people will benefit more when they have a governor they can easily access and control.

“Do you know that I have not entered my office in the new governor’s office in the last one year. I have always been with the people on the streets to fraternize with them and that is the essence of leadership.

“No governor must rate himself higher than the people that elected him. That is why you must support continuity project. That is why you must vote for Prof Olusola .

“I am the first governor to spend second term in Ekiti and it will be to your benefit if you can allow me to hand over to a man of our choice.

“So, henceforth, you can call my deputy governor-in-waiting because with these your supports, I could say he had already won”.

He said the project, which will be done in phases, was to help the communities execute projects they can’t undertake through their financial power.

“Our aim is to ensure that all the 133 communities benefit from this programme. All they need to do is to pay the 10 % counterpart funding and they can access the fund for community development”, he said.

When asked about his burnt car, where he escaped death by the whiskers, he quickly retorted: “I don’t want to comment about it”.

Fayose appealed to the committees set up by each community to use the

money judiciously in their overall interest.

The Chairman, Council of traditional rulers in Ekiti and Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju and the Olojudo of Ido Ile, Oba Obaremi Adeleye, commended the governor for his grassroots and participatory approach to governance.

Oba Ademolaju said: “This is not about a king playing politics, but about laying the facts bare. Governor Fayose is accessible. He is a man of the people and that is why we must support him to be able to give a good successor that Ekiti can be proud of.

“How many governors in Nigeria can choose their deputies as successors even when they always see each other as enemies? Governor Fayose choosing his deputy to succeed him is commendable and he must be backed by people because it shows that the team we are having is good”.

The monarchs told the benefitting communities to spend the funds on projects that would be of tremendous benefits to the people.

Maina’s return: We did our best – Magu
sunnewsonline.com
From: AIDOGHIE PAULINUS, Abuja


Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has absolved the Commission from any blame over the return of embattled former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina.

Magu spoke with journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Abuja, at a meeting between the African Union delegation and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olukunle Bamgbose.

The meeting was a follow-up to the endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari by the 29th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in July, 2017, as the champion of the Union’s theme for 2018 titled “Winning the Fight Against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation.”

Magu, who was asked to comment on how Maina entered the country without the knowledge of the EFCC, initially said the issue of Maina should be reserved for another time.

Magu, however, shifted ground, saying that the best the EFCC could do was to have declared Maina wanted.

In his words, “We should reserve that for another time. We have done our best. We have declared him a wanted person. It is on our website. So, if you happen to come in… I think you should be reading, you should be reading.”

Asked to comment on efforts to unravel those behind the reinstatement of Maina into the Federal Civil Service, particularly, the Ministry of Interior, Magu said he would speak at the appropriate time.

“No. At the appropriate time, I would make statement on this issue,” Magu declared.

Earlier, Magu said the visit by the AU delegation was an indication that there is an effective political will to fight corruption in the country.

He added that the fact that the whole world recognised President Buhari as an anti corruption person was encouraging.

“You and I know that he is not kidding. He is not pretending. There is no pretence there in his will to fight corruption. There is no doubt about that,” Magu stated.

Magu assured that the fight against corruption would be heightened in the country.

“You know me enough and we would go ahead. We will not disappoint the rest of the world. They have recognised that the president is doing well and they have come here, the African Union, our brothers and sisters and we will do everything possible to contribute positively,” Magu assured.

In his remarks, Bamgbose said the trust and confidence reposed in President Buhari was evidently inspired by his administration’s commitment to frontally tackle corruption in the country and globally.

“The successes achieved in this endeavour thus far with the result-oriented policies put in place have been remarkable; all geared towards building a sustainable, prosperous and peaceful continent,” Bamgbose said.

On his part, the leader of the delegation and African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson, Quartey Thomas Kwesi, congratulated President Buhari for his recognition as the African Union Champion Against Corruption.

Kwesi said President Buhari’s new role was a clear recognition of his tireless efforts to fight corruption and the results he had achieved so far.

“As we deliberate on what needs to be done in advancing the theme for the year under the leadership of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, let us explore various means in which different activities can be promoted and scaled up in combating corruption and consolidating the gains already made in this regard,” Kwesi said.

Military kills Shekarau’s wife, 11 terrorists
championnews.com.ng

Military kills Shekarau’s wife, 11 terrorists
…As Shettima urges troops to clear 3 LGAs of insurgents
AHMED MARI, Maiduguri with agency report



The wife of Boko Haram leader, Malama Fitdasi Shekau, may have been killed in recent successful airstrikes on Durwawa settlement on the outskirts of Urga, near Konduga in Bornu State by the Nigerian Air Force, NAF.

Also, the Nigerian Army said its troops attached to Operation Lafiya Dole under the army’s 3rd Battalion, 22 Brigade have killed 11 terrorists and rescued 85 hostages in its ongoing daily clearance of the remnants of Boko Haram in the North East.Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja. Adesanya said Fitdasi was reported to have been representing her husband in a coordinating meeting with other insurgents at the location of the airstrikes.

He said NAF had carried out aerial attacks on large number of insurgents at Durwawa on October 19.“Battle Damage Assessment had indeed revealed that the aerial attack set off a fire, causing damage to the insurgents’ structures within the settlement. The airstrike also succeeded in neutralising most of the insurgents with a few of them fleeing the location,” he said. Adesanya said that efforts were ongoing to confirm the reported killing of Shekau’s wife, alongside other insurgents.Meanwhile the operation carried out on Tuesday by the army ended with the rescue of the hostages at Mogola, Ngaiwa, Tongule and Warsele villages in Borno state.

But Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state on Wednesday urged the military personnel to redouble their efforts in clearing the remnants of Boko Haram insurgents who are still occupying some communities in Guzamala, Abadam and Marte Local Government Areas in Borno North Senatorial District to enable thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) return to their communities. Shettima who made the call when he paid a courtesy call on the Brigade Commander/Sector 3 of Multi National Joint Task Force, MNJTF, Brigadier General O.O. Soyele and his troops at their headquarters in Baga town said “Some of the IDPs are still taking refuge in Niger Republic, Chad and other resettlement areas in the country”.

However a statement signed by Sani Usman, army spokesman said the operation which was successful in achieving its objectives was supported by the Nigerian Air Force alongside some civilian JTF.“Earlier today, the unit in conjunction with gallant 22 Mobile Strike Team accompanied by some Civilian JTF, based on credible information carried out offensive operations at suspected Boko Haram terrorists hideouts at Mogola, Ngaiwa, Tongule and Warsele villages in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State”, Usman said.

Brigadier general Usman said that the troops discovered and destroyed Boko Haram terrorists’ logistics base and workshop at Ngaiwa.
“The gallant troops neutralised 11 Boko Haram terrorists”, he added.Weapons reportedly recovered from the raid are: one gun truck, four already prepared suicide vests, various IED making materials, three dane guns, one Barretta pistol and 22 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. Five motorcycles, 13 bicycles and a wheelbarrow were also recovered from the terrorists den.

Similarly, Shettima frowned at the current situation where thousands of IDPs whose communities are still under Boko Haram occupation but willing to go back home cannot do so due to pockets of attacks.He said the situation had forced many IDPs into professional beggars and depend on food and other relief items from United Nations and other humanitarian donor agencies for survival, insisting that, it was not in the culture and tradition of Borno people to beg for alms. Baga town is commercial located on the fringes of Lake Chad Basin and the largest producer of fish in the country. It was formerly occupied by Boko Haram who with massacred over 300 residents and fishermen and destroyed over 2000 houses on 16th April, 2013, before it was later liberated by military in 2015.

Shettima while addressing officers and men of the MNJTF said, he was on a two- day official tour of six Local Government Areas of Magumeri, Nganzai, Guzamala, Marte, Monguno and Kukawa to flag off the distribution of 11,000 bags of massavita, rice, soya beans, sorghum and other relief items to households and IDPs under the Federal Government Emergency Food Intervention in the North East.
He said, “We are in your area of responsibility to see our people especially thousands of the IDPs who are in dare need of food and other incentives. We as government had started rebuilding all destroyed public and private infrastructures. We are building new General Hospitals in Baga and Gajiram town, in addition to over 20 Model Primary and Secondary Schools in Monguno, Gajiram, Kukawa and other Local Government Areas across the state.”

“We are rebuilding houses of our people that were completely razed down by activities of insurgents; including business centers/shopping complexes and places of worship. It is interesting to know that most of these projects being handled by Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, RRR have been completed while others at various stages of completion”, he added.”We have also commissioned a lot of completed projects such as school classroom blocks, shopping complexes, mosques, residential houses, government lodges and other public buildings that were destroyed by the insurgents. I am highly impressed with troops performance in this part of the country, and I want to appeal to the military here to intensify efforts in clearing remnants of Boko Haram in Abadam, Gudumbali and other communities for their people who are displaced go back and pick up their pieces”.

“As government, I assured you of our unflinching support in the fight against insurgency and other criminals terrorizing our territories. Staying in this inhospitable area with risks involved is highly shocking, but commendable. I promise to be coming to this area on monthly basis for the period of six months to see how we can partner together, degrade Boko Haram and restore dignity of our people”. Shettima said. Briefing the governor on the activities of the command, Brigadier General Soyele said the security situation in Baga and other parts of area of responsibility is calm, though unpredictable. He admitted that there were pockets of attacks by insurgents in communities of Doro Duguri, where five fishermen were killed recently.

He explained that even in some surrounding communities of Doron Baga, Ali Sheriffti, Tumbun Jaki, other highlands/islands and riverine areas around the Lake Chad Region, where relative peace has returned, there were renewed attacks by insurgents, adding that the ongoing ‘Riverine Clearance Operations’ by troops under his command, with support by fishermen and other locals, pockets of Boko Haram attacks will soon be a history. His said “We have some challenges regarding our operations, but I assure the people of this region, that very soon, we will all sleep with our eyes closed. We have been receiving full support from the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, particularly on the ongoing operations and the free medical outreach to people.”

“The challenges have to do with the nature of some riverine/ highland areas, where these Boko Haram took advantages to perpetrate their evil acts, but with support from the Chief of Army Staff in collaboration with Nigerian Navy, Civilian JTF, fishermen, locals and government at all levels, these challenges will be surmounted soon”, he said.He therefore thanked the governor for the visit and the state government’s support to the military in the fight against Boko Hara. Meanwhile, two persons were reported killed Tuesday night during an attack in Jol, a village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.The chairman of the transition committee of the local government, Emmanuel Jugul, disclosed this to PREMIUM TIMES in an interview on Wednesday.

He said two other people were injured in the attack and are in hospital.“Four people were yesterday (Tuesday) night attacked in Jol, two died, the other two persons were badly injured,” he said in Jos. According to Jugul, the attack came a day after the corpse of a herdsman earlier declared missing was discovered in the area.“It is unfortunate that we are recording incidents of attacks again in Riyom Local Government. Two days ago, the corpse of a Fulani boy that had been missing since last week was found by a search party we organized.” He said the incident of the missing Fulani man was reported to the Special Taskforce on Jos crisis.

The Riyom transition committee chairman had made several appeal for peace to residents of the area. About 44 persons were reported killed in communal clashes in two local government areas of the state within September. President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the Plateau attacks and mandated security agencies to forestall such incidents.

Again, APC shifts national convention to 2018
thecitizenng.com



The much-anticipated mid-term national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will not hold until the first quarter of 2018, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said yesterday in Abuja.

Abdullahi, in an interview with journalists, however said the meetings of the party’s National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) would hold as planned next week.

“I can tell you that the convention is not going to take place until the first quarter of next year. There will not be any implosion or explosion because we are not going to invite Boko Haram to the convention.

“Let me emphasise that we have not decided on the date of the convention because we have to hold NEC meeting that will agree on a date and agenda for the convention,” the APC spokesperson said.

Though no reason was given for this resolution, Daily Trust gathered that the decision might not be unconnected to the party’s funding challenge and the fear that the convention might be used to effect an “unexpected leadership change” in the ruling party.

Pundits say that if the NEC meeting acceded to the plan to hold convention during the first quarter of 2018, the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led APC National Working Committee (NWC) would be conducting an elective convention that would usher in a new set of party executives since their tenure is expected to end by June next year.

It would be recalled that the ruling APC had been postponing the conduct of its convention since the March 24, 2016 NEC meeting, where it was resolved that the party’s constitution should be amended.

Speaking on the purported plan by some APC governors to remove Chief Odigie-Oyegun, Abdullahi said, “When you talk of 17 governors planning to impeach our national chairman, it is just a newspaper report people are reacting to. We have come out to dismiss such report telling Nigerians that we are not aware of the 17 governors referred to.

“We made it clear that there would not have been anything like that because they would have expressed such displeasure whether against the party or chairman in particular during the series of meetings we have had with them.

“I was opportuned to attend all the meetings and there has never been any time any of them stood up to say that they are not happy with him,” he said

Buhari postpones FEC meeting over unfinished budget
pmnewsnigeria.com

The Federal Executive Council meeting has been postponed till Thursday following the non completion of the 2018 budget.

The Presidency on Wednesday disclosed this on its official Twitter handle.

It said a special session of the council will hold to discuss the 2018 Appropriation Bill.

“Federal Executive Council (FEC) Meeting will hold tomorrow, Thursday Oct 26. Agenda is #Budget2018, which is currently being finalised,” it tweeted.

The Federal Government had promised to ensure that the 2018 Appropriation Bill gets to the National Assembly this month.

Biafra: How Ojukwu’s ‘lies’ caused civil war – Gowon
dailypost.ng

Former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) has disclosed how lies by late warlord, Odumegu Ojukwu after the Aburi accord led to Biafra civil war, between 1967 and 1970.

Gowon made the claim while giving insight into what happened at the Aburi Conference, in Ghana, convened to resolve Nigeria’s political logjam.

He said the Federal Government went to Aburi unprepared, following a disagreement which broke out between the Supreme Military Council (SMC) and the Eastern region, led by Ojukwu.

Speaking on AIT’s programme “People, Politics and Power,” on Tuesday, Gowon said the decision to go to Aburi was borne out of the desire to win back the trust and confidence of Nigerians.

He maintained that secession was never part of the resolutions they agreed on.

Gowon said, “We agreed to put our heads together, to regain the trust and confidence of Nigerians. We went to Aburi, to agree to deal with the situation of our country, by ourselves.

“We did not go with any prepared position on the federal side, but, Ojukwu came with a paper he prepared. His prepared position was on a pink paper. Usually, pink paper at the Staff College is directing staff solution to the problem.”

Gowon said most of the positions presented by Ojukwu at the conference were accepted and upon their return to Nigeria, he was determined to keep the country united by assuaging the South East but Ojukwu felt otherwise.

He said Ojukwu’s refusal may have been as a result of killings of Igbos in the North, a situation that made him (Ojukwu) insist on Nigeria’s breakup.

Gowon disclosed that part of the agreement reached in Aburi was that upon return to Nigeria, he would be the first to make any statement concerning the resolutions before any governor makes any statement.

He said, “But, by the time I returned, I was ill; I had fever. I could not make any statement. But, Ojukwu went to the radio, to make a statement and said the things we never agreed on.

“David Ejoor was the one who called me one early morning to ask if I had heard what Ojukwu said, and I said no. He then reeled out all that Ojukwu had said and I asked David, in all honesty, if that was what we agreed. He said no.

“To keep the country together was not a task that I could do alone. I needed the cooperation and understanding of every Nigerian. And, in order to ensure we kept the country together, I reckoned that we needed to have discussions among ourselves. We had a civil servant who was exceptionally experienced and good.

“We went there (Aburi) to restore the trust of our country. If we were working together, anyone with conscience will assuage the feelings (of the South-easterners). But, Ojukwu thought otherwise. He had in mind all along, based on what happened to his people in the North, that secession was the only way out. But, we were thinking of the whole country, because all parts of the country were involved. The military was not involved in the killings of South-easterners in the North.”

Jonathan Hosted Corruption But Buhari Sweeping It Under The Carpet - Shehu Sani
thewhistler.ng

Shehu-Sani-and-Muhammadu-Buhari (1)
The Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has accused the administration of President Buhari of sweeping corruption under the carpet.

Senator Sani was reacting to the controversy trailing the recall of ex-pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina, who was sacked from the Federal Civil Service in 2013 over corruption allegation running into billions of Naira.

The Senator, who is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), did not spare the Goodluck Jonathan administration in his remarks.

Sani said while corruption used to be hosted under the Jonathan regime, it is however being swept under the carpet by Buhari’s government.

“Corruption has become a cat with nine lives.It used to be hosted under the shade of an umbrella now it’s swept under the carpet,” Sani said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirmed on Tuesday that it had launched fresh manhunt against Maina.

The Commission also said it had sealed properties worth $2 million belonging to the fugitive ex-pension chief.