As a follow up to the auctioning of seized vehicles by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the anti graft agency is set to sell not less than 150 houses.
The properties are located in different towns within the Country.
Chairman of EFCC, Abdulrosheed Bawa, who disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday, said the Commission has, also, recovered over N30 billion from the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris.
The EFCC is currently prosecuting the embattled AGF over alleged N109 billion fraud.
The EFCC alleged that between February and December 2021, Idris accepted from Olusegun Akindele, a gratification of N15.1 billion, in a bid to accelerating the payment of 13 per cent derivation to the nine oil-producing states in the country, through the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that N84.3 billion from the Federal Government’s account was converted by the suspended AGF and Akindele between February and November 2021.
The EFCC said the offence contravenes sections 155 and 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.
The EFCC Chairman, speaking at a media briefing as part of the highlights of the activities of the anti-graft agency for the year 2022, disclosed further that the commission made efforts to recover some of the stolen funds.
Speaking on the achievements of the EFCC from January to December 2022, Bawa gave other recoveries to include N134,33,759,574.25, $121,769,076.30, £21,020.00, €156,925.00, and ¥21,350.00, CFA300,000.00, among others.
The EFCC boss disclosed that over 3,615 convictions were recorded within the period, stressing that the commission is serious about its anti-corruption programme.
He announced that the nationwide auction of forfeited automobiles will be followed by the disposal of over 150 houses to interested buyers.
Bawa, however, assured that by the time the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCMUL) becomes fully operational, it will be difficult for money to be laundered in the country.
If he could, he might have built a highway to Sharm el-Sheikh where the world’s great and mighty gathered between November 6 and 18 at COP27 to discuss climate change. But who knows, he might yet do so. Thirteen-year-old Musa Sani, who has already taken infant steps in civil engineering, might live a bigger dream someday.
At an age when his mates are dodging bullets and running scared with nothing on their backs in the midst of the chaos that Borno, a Boko Haram hotbed in Nigeria’s North East has been for nearly two decades, Musa is building things, literally, with his bare hands.
After the state government built its first flyover, as part of its effort to rebuild infrastructure ruined following years of violent Boko Haram insurgency, Musa, who was at the time in a Quranic school in Borno’s capital, Maiduguri, asked himself what he could also do for his community.
Even though his family had just been resettled around the Gwange area of Maiduguri from one of the numerous internally-displaced-persons camps in the state, Musa was still occasionally haunted by the fear of an uncertain future.
“We lived in fear. Fear of Boko Haram,” Musa said. “Fear of being attacked and killed. Fear that something bad could happen to us at any time. At such times, I often ask myself, ‘What can I do with my life?’”
The first hint of an answer came to Musa when the Borno State government opened the state’s first flyover at Customs Roundabout, Gwange, a filthy, congested commercial spot in the capital, not far from Musa’s house. In a state pockmarked by years of violent extremism and broken infrastructure, beauty remains a rare thing. Imagining it, even rarer.
“Scenes of the opening of the flyover and the beautification of the Customs Roundabout touched me,” enthused Musa, who snuck out of the house to take it all in after the opening ceremonies. “I immediately started asking myself what I could do to beautify the environment.”
That was how he came about constructing his own prototype Roundabout – not with asphalt or steel, but with a mixture of cement, clay and stones! He sourced the materials locally, with little money provided by his mother, a food seller. To the discomfort of his eight other siblings, he quickly converted a portion of the verandah inside their three-room bungalow into his construction site!
He said building the model bridge with locally sourced materials was “an important win for conservation” and that it also opened his eyes to what he could do to improve his environment which, apart from insurgency, is also severely threatened by desert encroachment.
“I used my clay model to test my creative ability and also to show the world my talent,” he said.
Azu Ishiekwene
The model bridge is a mishmash of clay, cement, and oil painting done in six days of July this year. Musa worked at it whenever he had time off Quranic school, hoping that it would take him closer to his dream of becoming a civil engineer one day. That day may not be too far away.
In the six days that it took to complete the biblical story of creation, Musa’s model clay bridge was ready. It may be a far cry from the model that guided the concrete Roundabout in his community, but for the 13-year-old, it’s an engineering wonder that may have changed the course of his life for good.
Did neighbours and friends think he was just mucking about with clay and paint when he started out?
“At first,” Musa said, “people were wondering what I actually intended to do. A few were even laughing. But when the work got fully under way, more and more people took me seriously. They saw that I was not joking.”
He still bears the scars on his hands and knees from wounds sustained while he mucked about on the floor with cement, stones and a water paint brush. But the joy of his finished work and the fame that it has brought have wiped off the pain.
His mother, Hafsat, said she knew her son was not joking. “He’s been like that since he was three,” she said. “He’s always loved doing things with his hands, especially things from nature. I’m not surprised.”
And that means a lot in a region of the country with an estimated 20 million out-of-school children, who are also potential recruits for Boko Haram and violent extremism.
Musa’s clay model bridge has become a museum of sorts. State governor, Babagana Zulum, visited Musa’s Gwange home in July to see for himself, with scores of state officials in tow. Apart from a cash gift of N5 million to Musa, the governor also withdrew him from the Quranic school and enrolled him, on a scholarship, in Primary Four at Golden Olives Academy, where he has a far better chance to turn out well.
Musa hopes to go on to the university to study architecture or civil engineering and, beyond clay models, build greater things to beautify his community.
“The little that I have done,” he said, “has brought recognition and positive attention to my community. My success will encourage me and others to do more, instead of being idle.”
And just when he thought he might be starting a mini-museum, misfortune struck! The model Roundabout that he had carefully laid on the verandah, making his parents’ house a tourist centre of sorts, was destroyed!
“There was insufficient space in the house,” he said in an interview this week. “Also, people were trooping to see the work, causing chaos in our compound. Some boys even fought before they could come through to see the Roundabout.”
Alas, the same talisman that brought Musa a small fortune and considerable fame, including a personal visit by the governor, now lies in ruins! Has his magic become his misery? He is taking it all in his stride, blaming the lack of space at home for this misfortune.
“The destruction could have been prevented if we had enough space at home,” he said.
Is he planning a re-make or would another project almost amount to a re-invention of the wheel? Musa is not fazed. The talent that produced the crushed prototype appears ready to rebuild or even produce a bigger surprise. For now, though, he is occupied by the challenges in his new school environment and is relishing the opportunities and competitive spirit.
An immediate concern for him appears to be plans by his family to relocate to old Maiduguri, in Jere Local Government, about three kilometres away from his new school. If he cannot find a place or family to stay with in town, he’ll have to commute this distance to school daily and live with the uncertainty that his parents would be able to provide daily transport fare.
“I have so many things on my mind to construct in the future. These would include houses, cars and even airplanes,” he said.
By the time the world is ready for Cop28 in Dubai, who knows if Musa might have built more than a clay bridge to connect not just his community, but perhaps his country, to the big stage?
Three senators representing Ondo state at the red chamber of the national have admitted working against a nominee for the board of the Niger/Delta Development Commission, (NDDC).
The nominee, Charles Ogunmola was among those whose names were forwarded to the Senate for confirmation as a member of the NDDC board last month by President Mohammadu Buhari.
The three senators, are Ayo Akinyelure, Ondo central; Ajayi Borffice, North and Nicholas Tofowomo, south.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions and Senator representing Ondo Central in the Legislative Chamber, Ayo Akinyelure gave reasons for the rejection of Mr Charles Ogunmola as NDDC Nominee from Ondo State.
Briefing the press in Abuja, shortly after the rejection of the NDDC nominee on Thursday, Akinyelure said Mr President must have been misinformed about the nomination of Ogunmola.
“Though Mr Charles Ogunmola is from Ondo State, but he is not from the oil producing area. That was why the three Senators from Ondo State unanimously rejected his nomination.”
Akinyelure urged President Muhammadu Buhari to kindly re forward another nominee to be screened on the Board of NDDC to represent Ondo State.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed has disclosed the reason why the Federal Government has not been able to perform optimally and embark on certain projects. She said that the Government is owed a whopping N5.2 trillion by Companies and individuals.
She added that over 5,000 Companies are owing the FG and its agencies and have as well failed and refused to honour their obligations.
The Minister made this disclosure during a two-day sensitization workshop on Project Lighthouse organised for ICT and Account Staff in Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies across the North Central Zone in Minna, on Thursday, December 15th, 2022.
Represented by Director of Special Projects in the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Victor Omata, she said that the debts are owed by debtors spread across 19 Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The Minister cited the lack of visibility of these transactions, poor information sharing, and enforcement as reasons why these revenue loopholes remain.
“The Ministry through the consolidation efforts of the Debt Analytics and Reporting Application has been able to aggregate monumental debts of approximately N5.2 trillion. These debts came to the spotlight from data aggregated from over 5,000+ debtors across ten Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. The debt aggregation effort is still ongoing.
“These debts are in the form of debt liabilities to the Federal Inland Revenue Service; refunds to the government by companies who failed to deliver on projects for which payment had been effected, unpaid credit facilities granted to both corporate entities and individuals by the Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture; judgment debt in favour of Government, debts owed Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate by Insurance Companies among others.”
Speaking further, the Minister stated that the Project Lighthouse initiative has enabled the aggregation of relevant economic and financial information from multiple agencies that hitherto did not share data.
The lighthouse project is said to be one of the portfolio projects under the Strategic Revenue Growth Initiative aimed at improving Federal Government’s revenues by targeting and increasing revenues from non-oil revenue sources.
“An important part of our policies and strategies is to leverage big data technology to help block revenue loopholes, recover debts, identify new revenue opportunities, optimize existing revenue streams, especially non-oil revenue as well as improve fiscal transparency,” he stated.
She called on Government MDAs to cooperate and provide quality and relevant information which is debt-related to populate the platform as it would improve the economic base of the country adding that the project would soon be institutionalised.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has been urged by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, South West Diaspora Group in the United Kingdom to further unite the Party by forming an all inclusive Government in which everyone has a sense of belonging irrespective of Political and Religious affiliations.
The Group stressed that Governor Adeleke needs to rise above past differences in the Party that has seen the Party plunge into internal crisis with less than few months or the 2023 General Elections.
The Group made this assertions when it paid a courtesy call to the Governor in Osogbo, Osun State Capital, led by its Chairman, Soji Adewusi.
Adewusi said that unity would play a key role in PDP recording a good outing in the 2023 general elections.
He explained that all hands must be on deck to ensure victory for all ruling party candidates in the coming polls.
As part of moves towards rebuilding the party in the state, Adewusi promised to discontinue the litigation instituted against the candidature of Bamidele Salam, who emerged as the party’s flagbearer for Ede Federal Constituency in the 2023 poll.
Adewusi later presented a talking drum to Adeleke to signify the support of the group.
“Unity of the party in the state is paramount to the party winning 2023 general elections, and all hands must be on deck to ensure victory in the coming elections,” Adewusi said.
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has said he will always stand for a better judiciary and encouraged stakeholders to join him to ensure that it remains the last hope of the ordinary man.
He spoke on Thursday while declaring open the 2022 Imo Justice Summit at the Concorde Hotel, Owerri with the Theme: TOWARDS AN EFFECTIVE JUSTICE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN IMO STATE.
The Governor acknowledged that the theme is apt and that his passion for the it and his desire to better Imo Judiciary was the reason the first bill he signed into law as Governor of Imo State was the ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT.
He said that the law which he signed was to accelerate quick justice delivery as against what existed before his assumption of office on January 15, 2020.
The Governor said it is unthinkable that a suspect could be kept on awaiting-trial for over six years “when if sentenced could have stayed only 18 months,” and described the situation as a matter that gave stakeholders concern that resulted to huge investment of capital in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
He said that “ADR was an indictment on the Judicial system just because of lack of manpower or whatever the system that was operated could not accelerate.”
The Governor asserted that “the society could only get a quick and actionable reform when the administration of Justice is accelerated and when we come together such as in seminars and workshops of this nature to brainstorm.”
The Governor said the above are the reasons he approved the summit and other trainings for the judicial officers and their management to sanitize the state judicial system and encourage speedy justice delivery to Imo people.
The Governor congratulated the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr COC Akaolisa and the Chief Judge of Imo State, Hon. Justice Theresa Chukwuemeka Chikeka, for “putting together the idea and for the opportunity created for the learned and very intellectual men and women of justice delivery in Imo State to attend this summit.”
He encouraged them not to despair, noting that “gradually the 3R administration in Imo State is sanitizing the system,” as what he met on ground in 2020 when he assumed office as Governor is now a “far cry from what we have now.”
Governor Uzodimma insisted that with commitment and proper synergy, the Ministry of Justice, the Judicial Service Commission, the people of Imo State and all Stakeholders will get to the targeted destination.
Welcoming the Governor, the Imo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. COC Akaolisa thanked the Governor for his approval that made it possible for the summit to hold and most importantly for coming in person to declare the summit open.
He assured the Governor that from what is put together in the summit, the judicial officers will leave the summit better than they met it.
The Media Office of the Obi-Datti Campaign Organization has, once again, affirmed its strongly held view that Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi’s candidacy is driven solely by a patriotic determination to birth a new Nigeria, and not by any sectional or religious considerations.
The clarification from the Obi-Datti Media Office issued via a statement on Thursday signed by Diran Onifade, Head of the Office, came in the wake of attempts in the media to label Peter Obi a champion of sectional interests, in a bid to douse his current popular standing as the obvious choice of majority of Nigerians.
The statement noted previous efforts by detractors to tag Peter Obi as a mere social media candidate without structure.
“Having seen their previous attempts at whittling down Obi’s popularity among Nigerians founder in the most spectacular manner, they are currently embarking on another miserable attempt at derailing what is obviously a fast moving train. Their mission now is to label Obi a jingoist of religion and tribe in a bid to curry favour with other religious or ethnic interests,” the statement said.
The statement noted that Obi, being a frontrunner in the presidential race, his movements–whether private or public–are more trailed now than before. It said because of Obi’s high visibility, mischievous people see his frequent appearances at churches or secular programmes as religious adventures with political undertones but said anyone knowledgeable about the LP flag bearer’s past knows that he has always been a regular sight at church services irrespective of the denomination.
“Even as Governor, Obi has always been involved in religious issues whether Christianity or Islam. He always seeks prayers for himself from those around him including subordinates because he sees himself as a child of God’s abundant grace and therefore needs constant supplications.
“As Governor, Obi sponsored Muslims to Mecca, for Hajj and always urged them to pray for him. Obi although a Catholic, has not limited himself to his faith even before becoming a presidential candidate. We recall vividly that when Pastor Adeboye visited Anambra state to dedicate a church built by one of the top Anambra citizens in Nnewi, Obi was physically there with the revered Pastor. These instances are verifiable to buttress the fact that the LP Presidential flag bearer has been consistent in his way of life as it relates to his faith, prayers and relationship with his maker”, the statement said.
The Obi-Datti Media Office said Obi’s visits to churches are for prayers not for campaign but only to solicit for prayers for his candidacy from worshippers.
There is nowhere he gave a kobo to any church or pastor. We also understand the frustration of Obi’s opponents who lack the physical and mental strength to go round seeking God’s face in his project and have chosen the easy way, which is blackmail and slander”, the statement said.
The Media Office pointed out that Obi has said repeatedly that he should not be voted for because he is a Christian or Igbo but he wants to be voted for because he is coming to the table with solutions to the problems facing the country. It said Obi’s antecedents, backed by an unimpeachable character of high moral standing, competence, and capacity, make him a natural fit for the job of being Nigeria’s president.
“If Obi is to be cubby-holed, he should be seen as a candidate of the youths and the poor in society whom he identified as the victims of successive federal administrations. While Obi is making frantic efforts to market himself to the Nigerian people with issue-driven campaigns, his detractors are busy trying hard to tag him as a candidate of one faith. But the plain and irreducible truth is that Obi’s candidacy cuts across every divide”, the statement said.
The Obi-Datti Media team said Obi has refrained from joining issues with anyone because he sees these variables as instruments used in the past to deceive and misrule Nigerians.
It called on Nigerians to be watchful and to try as much as possible to undermine and frustrate these agents of the old brigade who have been holding the country down.
“Our candidate cannot be distracted by these agents no matter the provocation since to do so is to fall into the trap of his competitors who have nothing to sell in the country’s political markets and have thus chosen to distract and divert attention. Obi’s message of taking Nigeria from consumption to production has resonated with millions of Nigerians who have risen in unison to reject the reactionary politics of the past and have opted for a more pragmatic approach to governance, which Obi represents.
“We believe that those struggling to tar Obi with the sectional brush will fail because as conveyors of falsehood in the past, the people will not trust them. For us here and to many, Obi is a solution provider, representing a brighter tomorrow, hence the admiration of the youth and other sections of the Nigerian populace. Obi has antecedents, which show that he can be trusted and we urge discerning minds to disregard the mischief makers and agents of a decaying order bent on holding Nigerians down in perpetual servitude”, the statement said.
After 40 Years of existence, the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, PMAN, has acquired a befitting edifice as its Corporate Head Office.
The acquisition was part of its quest to reward Nigerian musicians with befitting standing and proper remuneration.
The Multi Million Naira edifice located at the high brow area of Lekki, Lagos State, was unveiled to the admiration of colleagues, well wishers and friends of the industry.
This feat is happening 40 years after the umbrella body of Nigerian musicians was first formed.
According to Pretty Okafor, President of the Association, the decision to get a permanent office for the apex music association became paramount because of the union’s ongoing developmental programmes amongst which is the biometric card registration drive which is being implemented in conjunction with Zenith Bank.
He said: “For 40 years, getting a permanent corporate office for the union was not a priority for past Presidents and executives but we believed that every Nigerian musician deserves the best treatment. We considered this acquisition necessary because we need a business space that is accessible to all artists and the corporate sector.”
Explaining further, he said it is also part of the biometric registration strategy which purpose is to have a database that will seamlessly and efficiently cater for the over five million members of the association in the country.
“This is so because the PMAN Nigerian Music House only belongs to musicians that are registered through the biometric system”, he emphasized.
Musicians who were present at the official unveiling described the acquisition as a “dream come through”.
Okafor also said that the acquisition is a management strategy. “Now the corporate world will believe that we are ready for business”.
Investigations showed that the cost of the edifice was N350 million. Okafor revealed that payments had been made through the banks.
Throwing more light on why PMAN’s executives chose to get the property at the Lekki area of the Island, he said : “It was a deliberate decision. You know our former rented corporate offices were in Ikeja. We realised that Lekki is the new hub for the Nigerian music industry and the hotbed for the new wave Afrobeats culture”.
The ding dung continues between the immediate past administration and incumbent government in Osun State over the position of the State finances.
On the eve of his departure, former Governor Gboyega Oyetola announced: “We are leaving behind cash of over N14 billion. In addition to the N14 billion cash, another N8 billion is being expected between December and January from our performance in SFTAS and the IGR.
“Also, another Seventy-Two million Dollars will come to the State soon from RAMP 3, NG-CARES, Nigeria for Women Project and Ease of Doing Business.”
However, Governor Ademola Adeleke has disclosed that the State is indebted to the tune of N407.32 B including N76 billion debts on salaries and pension.
Adeleke said his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola, took a N18.04 billion FGN Bridge Finance Facility loan after the July 16th, 2022 election, which Oyetola lost, and that there is no information on the repayment terms.
The Governor made this revelation in an address he delivered at a meeting with the State Traditional Rulers in Osogbo, on Thursday.
He said the amount owed contractors is yet to be determined.
Adeleke said his administration inherited eight outstanding loan facilities from Oyetola, apart from salaries and pension debts.
According to him, the repayment period ranges from 16 months to about 28 years.
Some of the loans listed include Budget Support Facility, Salary Bail Out Loan, Restructured Commercial Bank Loans, Excess Crude Account (ECA) Loan, CBN Infrastructure Loan, FGN Intervention Loan, FGN Bridge Finance Facility and Foreign Loans.
Stating that the only fund in government coffers as at Monday 29th November was for November 2022 Salary, the governor insisted that he would ask questions and demand answers on how the funds were expended.
He said that Oyetola must also explain why Osun state owes salaries and pension to the tune of N76 Billion after collecting a N50 Billion Salary Bail Out Loan from the Federal Government.
Governor Adeleke pointed out that creditors, especially the Commercial Banks must explain why various loans were given to an administration beyond its four year tenure.
Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has commiserated with the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government over the sudden demise of Ademola Razaq Seriki, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain. Seriki died of Cancer in Madrid, Spain Capital.
The 63-Year old who was a former Minister of State, Defence, died in the early hours of Thursday. His children confirmed his passing in a statement.
Obasa, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Eromosele Ebhomele, said the incident has depleted the ranks of great and passionate Nigerians who mean well for the Country.
The Speaker said it is painful that Lagos and Nigeria lost a great man whose contributions to national growth cannot be quantified.
“The death of Demola Seriki, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, is shocking beyond description.
“It is difficult to describe the pain and heartbreak that the death of Seriki has brought to us. Personally, I am devastated. I lost a brother, who loved his Country and showed that passion to see it succeed.
“As an Ambassador, he worked assiduously to improve the image of Nigeria, helping our country earn international respect.
“He was a deep thinker and team player who, until his demise, worked for the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We, at the Lagos State House of Assembly, mourn with the bereaved family of our dear Ambassador, his friends and associates.
“While we pray that Almighty Allah grant him Al-janah Firdaus, we also pray that He grant us all the fortitude to bear this loss, amin,” the statement said.
