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Ned Nwoko Wins Delta North Senatorial District PDP Primary

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Ned Nwoko, Billionaire Husband of Nollywood Actress, Regina Daniels, has clinched the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to contest the Delta North Senatorial District Election in 2023.

The former member of the House of Representatives polled 242 delegates’ votes to defeat his rival, Paul Osaji who scored 67 votes.

Nwoko  who is vying for the Senatorial Seat for the third time after previous failed attempts will now hoist the Party’s flag to represent the Anioma Nation as Delta North is fondly called.

A total of 310 delegates from 98 wards across the nine Local Government Areas of the District were accredited for the primary election which held in Asaba, the State capital.

The Grand Patron of the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, contested in 2011 on the platform of Democratic Peoples Party, DPP and lost to incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.

He again lost at the 2019 PDP senatorial primary to incumbent Senator Peter Nwaoboshi who has now defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

In next year’s National Assembly, Nwoko would be slugging it with Nwaoboshi who will fly the APC flag.

Kwara NUT Calls Out Gov. AbdulRazaq; Asks Him To Obey Buhari; Pay Arrears Owed

By
Akinwale Kasali
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AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and NUT

By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, has lamented the failure of the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration to implement the pronouncement of President Muhammadu Buhari that pegged the retirement age of teachers to 65 Years and 40 Years of Service.

Like some States that have keyed into the Federal Government’s pronouncement, the  Kwara State NUT Secretary and Senior Assistant General Secretary, Moni Mike Modesty Itua, said the Governor should join the bandwagon of other States that have aligned with the pronouncement.

Itua added that the Governor AbdulRazaq-administration has been supportive and formed a cordial relationship with the NUT, but stated that it isn’t yet uhuru, urging the Governor to take steps in liquidating the 342 Percent Arrears owed the Kwara State teachers.

He made this remark during the Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists, NGIJ, Governance Assessment Tour to the State.

Stressing further, Itua said that from 2017 to 2021, there has been limited promotions for Teachers, with no financial backups, which isn’t palatable.

“It should be noted that all this aforementioned is the rights of the teachers and not a privilege. The Teachers must be catered for, because they have over the years showed commitment, zeal and passion for the job. There is need for this government to step up its game in this regard.

“The Governor is trying his best as he is not owing any teacher their salaries, and he is trying all possible means to change the narratives. There have been consequential adjustment done by this government since I came into the saddle in 2021, there is massive commitment by this government to improve and revamp the educational sector in the State.

“But the government should further prioritize the welfare of teachers within the limited available resources in the State coffers”.

Deborah Samuel: Soyinka Faults Islamic Virtues

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Nobel Laurette, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has aired his view on the inhumane killing of Deborah Samuel, a 200-Level undergraduate of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, who was publicly gruesomely murdered by her fanatic Muslim colleagues over a WhatsApp post which they  said, allegedly, denigrated Islamic revered Prophet Muhammed.

Soyinka, at the One Year Memorial of the Late former Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru, dismissed the “theocratic rhetoric” by Muslim faithfuls in Nigeria when discussing the virtues of Islam or the person of Prophet Muhammad.

Speaking, Soyinka said, “It is no longer adequate for everyone to proclaim that Islam is this and that, that Sharia is this and that, that Prophet Mohammed set this and that example and made this and that humanistic proclamation.

“We have progressed beyond theocratic rhetoric that pays lip service to civilised norms. Let affirmative action back up all pietistic condemnations.”

He also called for the immediate dismissal of Ibrahim Maqari, Imam of the National Mosque in Abuja, for his comments on the killing and lynching of Deborah Samuel.

He accused the Islamic preacher of directing his Muslim followers to take the law into their hands under the guise of protecting their religion.

He also demanded that Maqari be removed from office as an “apostate of humanity’s credo”, and  observed that what the Islamic cleric has done with his message is to incite his followers to kill anyone who again, allegedly,blasphemes prophet Muhammad.

Fmr NIIA Boss Akinterinwa Flays ‘Stunted’ Polytechnic Education In Nigeria, Wants Supervisory Commission

By
Ayodele Oni
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Prof Bola Akinterinwa

By Ayodele Oni

A former Director General of the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, (NIIA) Prof Bola Akinterinwa, has observed that the growth of polytechnic education in Nigeria has been stunted due to poor funding and inept leadership.

The former NIIA boss also called for the establishment of Polytechnic Commission in the country.

Akinterinwa spoke while delivering the  fourth Foundation Anniversary Lecture of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile – Oluji in Ondo state titled: “Polytechnic Education in National Development: Global challenges and strategic leeway for the FEDPOLEL in Nigeria.”

While enumerating some of the problems causing the stunted growth of Polytechnic Education in Nigeria, stated that “poor leadership; financial crisis and poor funding; poor infrastructure; management; dichotomy between University Education and Polytechnic Education, or poor perception of Polytechnic Education; brain drain; lack of Polytechnic Commission; volatile and militant students’ unionism, secret cults, examination malpractices and sexual harassments, among others.”

Citing a Polytechnic teacher, Obasi, he stated that “Polytechnics exist to boost industrialization efforts, create technical manpower and especially middle-level cadre to contain the industrial dynamics, develop indigenous technical capacities for self-reliance, and make up for the inadequacies of ill equipped Universities in terms of technical contents, and technical skills development.

“Today, the situational reality in Nigeria points to the sad fact that the objectives of Polytechnic education have not been fully realized as noted earlier.

“The problem is not simply that there is unemployment of many graduates, but more seriously that the few graduates who are lucky to get employed are underemployed, not well-paid, and are rated as middle or low-level employees in the Technical Manpower Team. This should not be so.

“Thirdly, Polytechnic education is, and should always be, an instrument of sustainable national development. It is yet to be seriously taken as such.

“The implication of this is that opportunities through access to information and advanced technologies have been made available to all educational institutions particularly technical education institutions in the globalized world.

“There is the need for total restructuring of the polytechnic educational system, with emphasis on creative thinking, entrepreneurial skills, positive social and cultural values.

“Put differently, the review of the structure of Polytechnic education in Nigeria and their relevance to current global and national socio economic developments towards the realization of sustainable national development must be taken as a desideratum.”

Akinterinwa criticised the unimpressive way polytechnic education is being handled by the nation’s policy makers, saying: “First, my appreciation is against the background of my strong belief that polytechnic education cannot but be the bedrock of a self-reliant industrial development in any developing country.

“In many parts of the developed world, polytechnics also have a university status and award undergraduate and post-graduate degrees. Many global leaders also have polytechnic educational background.

“Yet, in Nigeria, whose government recognised in the 1980s the need for a Crash Programme and therefore sent hundreds of students abroad to acquire technical education for purposes of mid-level manpower, has not given due attention to monotechnic and polytechnic education.

“In fact, impression is wrongly given, because of differences in the scope and methodology of teaching and learning, that polytechnic education is inferior to university education.”

He noted that despite the recent Federal Government’s decision to put first degree and HND holders on the same pedestal, the perception of inferiority is still much there.

He agreed with the observation of Mr. Obafemi Omokungbe that “the perception of polytechnic education in Nigeria is not what one should be proud of.

“Many, even among policy makers, still view polytechnic education as inferior compared to university education. This inequality and perception continue even when government has stated its willingness to remove the dichotomy between polytechnic certificate and University B.Sc.”

Akinterinwa said: “In addressing this lecture topic, let me respectfully ask you what your understanding of polytechnic education nationally and globally is. What should we mean by national development in a globalizing world?

“Can there be national development without community development that is a constituent of it? If the whole world is considered a community, and even as a village, is Nigeria not a community and another village? Is Ile-Oluji kingdom not a community, not a village?

“In every sense, to me, any community where the people are not belligerent, where there is peace and tranquility derived from traditional parliamentary democracy and where development policies predicated on self-reliance, altruism and rule of law, such community cannot but be a global village per excellence and should be internationally emulated. Ile-Oluji is undoubtedly a community, a global village that is worth seriously studying as a model.”

Ekiti: How APC Aspirants Stalled Their Disqualification

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ekiti State APC Secretariat

By Ayodele Oni

Following a stalemate which was occasioned by the dropping of some aspirants for Ekiti State House of Assembly, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the State has reversed its earlier stand disqualifying 17 aspirants.

The aspirants, seeking the House of Assembly tickets to contest the 2023 polls in the state on the ticket of APC, were disqualified last week by a Committee set up to interview them.

The Committee had disqualified 17 aspirants, some of whom were sitting members of the State Assembly from contesting during the primary election slated for later this week.

Sensing that their political future was being mortgaged, the affected aspirants mobilized their supporters who staged a peaceful protest at the State Secretariat of APC in Ado Ekiti.

The aspirants were later re- invited for fresh screening and cleared to participate in the primary by the House of Assembly Appeal Panel.

It was gathered that the Appeal Panel found out that some of the aspirants were disqualified by the screening Committee over “untenable and flimsy excuses.”

A statement by the Screening Committee member, Dele Akinleye, confirmed their disqualifications, but gave no reason for the action.

Another allegation against those disqualified was that they refused to fill a section of the nomination form indicating their withdrawal from the race even, when no primary had been held.

Some serving lawmakers and aspirants cleared for reelection include: Deputy Speaker, Hakeem Jamiu, (Irepodun/Ifelodun 2), Yemisi Ayokunle(Ekiti South West 2), Adeoye Aribasoye(Ikole 2), Teju Okunnuga(Gbonyin constituency), Lateef Akanle(Ekiti East 2), Adeoye Oyekola(Ekiti West 2), among others.

Tension rose at the JKF centre, Ajilosun area of Ado Ekiti, the screening venue, on Friday, as the aggrieved aspirants massed and threatened to protest against the party and subsequently take legal action individually to challenge their disqualifications.

Some of the aspirants alleged that they were disqualified to give way for the return of some incumbent lawmakers seeking reelection, which they described as undemocratic.

Sensing that the legal backlash may portend danger to the party, as primary conducted under that “shoddy” exercise might be annulled, a powerful government official, was said to have stepped in and gave legal advice that their former action must be rescinded.

The official was said to have overtly submitted that all the reasons adduced as responsible for the aspirants’ disqualifications were flimsy and couldn’t stand legal scrutiny.

An unsigned statement by the party, said: “It has been resolved that every aspirant is now cleared and should go to the field in preparation for the coming primaries, which in extant, is scheduled to hold on Friday 27th May 2022.

“Further briefing will be duly communicated. May the best emerge to represent our party, APC, in the general election.”

When called to ascertain the authenticity of the statement, the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe said: “The statement was genuine. All the aspirants have been told to prepare for primary.”

Some of the affected assembly aspirants have applauded the party for the decision saying that allowing all aspirants to participate will lend credence to the fact that APC is truly democratic.

“APC is a party of peace and love and this decision has confirmed that.

“But we appeal to the national leadership to as a matter of fact protect us further by ensuring that the primary is conducted in line with the provisions of the law.

“I am a loyal party man with huge respect for the leadership. If I lose at the primary, that won’t stop me from supporting whoever the party picks.”

Presidency vs NASS: Buhari Yet To Sign Over 100 Bills

By
James Orji
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By James Orji

As President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly continue to bicker over the amended Electoral Act, it has been revealed that the president has yet to sign more than 100 bills sent to him for his assent in the last three years.

Reports, according to a National Newspaper, The Nation, indicate that Buhari has only assented to 19 out of the 131 bills passed to him by the lawmakers, despite the perceived good working relationship between the Legislature and the Executive.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan had, recently, claimed that a better synergy exists between the Ninth National Assembly and the Presidency.

Th Senate President, who is also the Chairman of the National Assembly, had shocked also many Nigerians when he said in June last year, that the Assembly will continue to approve loans for the administration, despite Nigerians’ outbursts to huge borrowing by the Buhari administration since it swept to power in 2015.

Ahmed’s assertion seems not to fly, considering that Buhari has signed less than 20 per cent of the Bills sent to him by the National Assembly, the latest being the amended Electoral Act which the president has refused to sign, close to two weeks after the National Assembly sent it to him.

Presidency sources told The Source that Buhari’s aides have failed to agree on the Bill, which, when signed, grants voting right to statutory delegates to vote during political primaries.

The implication of the President’s action, keen watchers of the nation’s politics insist, is that Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, members of the National and state assemblies, amongst other, will not be able to vote at the ongoing political party primaries.

According to the report, the Senate has introduced 976 bills on the floor of the Senate in the last three years, 27 sponsored by the executive while others were Member’s Bills.

According to orders 76 (a, b and c) of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 (as amended), there are three classes of Bills namely: Executive Bills, Member’s Bills and Private Bills.

Apart from 2020, 2021 and 2022 Appropriation Bills, other Bills sponsored by the Executive include the Finance Bill 2019 (Nigeria Tax and Fiscal Law) introduced on November 5, 2019 and passed on November 21, 2019.

Others are the Nigerian Meteorological Agency Act 2003 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2019, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Act Cap N96 LFN 2004 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2019, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency Act Cap N90 LFN 2004 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2019, Civil Aviation Act 2006 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2019, Federal Airports Authority Act Cap F5 LFN 2004 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2019, and Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (Est. etc) Bill 2019, all of which have been passed.

The Executive also sponsored the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap C20 LFN 2004 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2019, Finance Act (Amendment) Bill 2020, Petroleum Industry Bill 2020, which was introduced on September 30, 2020, and passed on July 1, 2021, Proceed of Crime Bill 2020, Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Bill 2021, Copyright Act Cap C28 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill 2021 and the National Metallurgical Training Institute, Onitsha (Est) Bill, 2021.

Other Executive Bills are the Explosive Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2021 and the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill 2021.

Prominent among Members’ Bills that have been passed by the Senate are the National Rice Development Council Bill 2019, National Health Insurance Commission Bill 2019 and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Bill 2019, Sexual Harassment Bill 2019, Public Procurement Act 2007 (Amendment) Bill 2019, and Public Procurement Act 2007 (Amendment) Bill 2019.

Others include Older Persons (Rights and Privileges) Bill 2019, Teaching Hospitals Development Fund (Establishment, etc) Bill 2019, Sickle Cell Anaemia (Prevention and Management) Bill 2019, National Food Reserve Agency (Est, etc) Bill 2019, Electoral Offences Commission (Est, etc) Bill 2019, and Prohibition of Discrimination Between First Degrees and Higher National Diplomas Bill 2020.

CBN: Foreign Education Gulps $220m In 3 Months

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

By Tosin Olatokunbo

At least $220 million was spent by Nigrians on foreign education within three months, according to figures made available by the Godwin Emefiele-led Central Bank of Nigerian, CBN.

Many Nigerians are worried that the amount spent on foreign education is having a serious toll on the nation’s foreign resrves and the stability of the Naira. The foreign reserves stood at $39 billion,  while Naira exchanged for N600 per dollar at the end of work last week.

The figure, financial experts say, is excluding foreign exchange, sourced from the open market by Nigerians who are desirous of their wards schooling out of the shores of the country. The exact figure of how much is spent- in foreign currency- by the rich to educate their children abroad may never be known, those familiar with the issue told the magazine.
“The figure that the CBN provided is based on the foreign exchange request made by Nigerians though the official window. By the time you add foreign exchange sourced for that purpose from the bureau de change, you will realise that what’s provided by the apex bank is just a shadow of the actual figure,” a source said.
According to the figures contained in the CBN data in the educational service category, the apex bank said over $90 million ws spent in December last year on the item, while the figure rose from $60 million in January to $70 million in February this year. The bank has yet to release the figure for March, April and May.
Those monitoring the situation insist that the figure will continue to go up, as long as few privileged Nigerians try to get qualitative education for their wards, in the face of decay in the nation’s educational systems, and incessant strike by unions in the country’s ivory towers.
The experts, also say that it will be very difficult to stop this aspect of foreign exchange flight as long as government officials are attracted to foreign education for their children.
Recently, Nigerians have been unhappy at the number of top government officials whose children graduated from foreign schools. They include the children of President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, amongst others.
A bill to stop government officials from sending their children to school in foreign countries, sponsored by Sergius Ogun, a member of the House of Representatives was also recently shut down by majority of the members of the lower chamber of the National Assembly.
Specifically, the bill sought to ensure that only public officers who can show they can afford foreign education for their children without using public funds are allowed to do so.

2023: South-east APC Presidential Aspirants Agree To Support Any Of Them (If) Chosen By APC To Run

By
The Source
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South East APC Presidential Aspirants

By Gideon Njoku

In a very watery communique issued on Sunday, South-east Presidential Aspirants under the All Progressives Congress, APC, agreed to, totally, support any of them chosen by their Party to run for the office of the President in 2023.

The seven of them, including the only woman, Barr. (Mrs) Uju Ken Ohanenye, met on Sunday, at the Abuja residence of Senator Rochas Okorocha, himself, an aspirant, under the Chairmanship of the immediate past Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, another aspirant.

They commended their Party and the “entire people of the South-east on their avowed commitment to the unity of the Nigeria”

They also commended Nigerians who “are committed to the Nigerian project by the whole hearted support of the aspiration of the South-east to produce the next Nigerian President in 2023.”

The full text of the Communique reads:

A COMMINIQUE ISSUED BY THE MEETING OF SOUTHEAST PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS (APC)

“At its review meeting held today the 22” of May, 2022 at the residence of Senator Rochas Okorocha, under the chairmanship of His Excellency Ogbonniya Onu, the Aspirants agree to make the following statements;

“1, That the President of the federal republic of Nigeria and the All Progressive Congress and Its National Working Committee as well the teaming members of the party are commended by the entire people of the southeast on their avowed commitment to the unity of Nigeria and the inclusion of all parts of Nigeria In the governance architecture of the country.

“2. That we commend all Nigerians who are committed to the Nigerian project by the whole hearted support of the aspiration of the south east to produce the next Nigerian president in 2023.0

“3. That in furtherance of these commitment all aspirants here commits to align with any of the south east aspirants that is accepted by and chosen by other Nigerians to fly the APC flag.

“Dated this 22nd May 2022 and signed by

*H.E Ogbonnaya Onu

*Chief Molukwu

*H.E. Sen. Ken. Nnamani

*Barr Mrs Uju Ken Ohanenye

*H.E. Dave Umahi.

*Hon. Chukwuemeka *Nwajiuba

*H.E. Sen. Rochas Okorocha”

However, they have been criticised for saying little or nothing in the communique.

For instance, they did not assert that it is turn of the Zone to produce the President by appealing to their fellow contestants from other Zones to let go.

They, also,  shied away from discussing the worsening security situation in the Zone.

Noted a very Senior Journalist of Igbo extraction: “This communique said practically nothing. Very empty.”

Anambra: More Troubles For Soludo As Gunmen Kill Mother, Her Four Children, Two Others

By
The Source
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0

By Charles Igbo

For the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Soludo, it’s a journey from one nightmare to another. That has been his life, and the state of his State, in the past couple of weeks.

He thought the limit was the beheading, on Saturday, May 21, 2022, of Honourable Okechukwu Okoye, the House of Assembly Member, representing the Governor’s Constituency, Aguata 2. But no, more was in the offing.

24 hours after Okoye was beheaded, and his head hung at the Chisco Park, Amichi, Nnewi, it was again a river of blood in the State.

On Sunday, May 22, gunmen  shot and killed seven people  in Anambra State. The most heartless:  A mother and her four children were shot and killed in one fell swoop, at Isulo, Orumba North Local Government Area. Another man was also shot and killed at Nanka in same LGA.

Elsewhere in the State, specifically, Abatete, in Idemili North LGA, another man was, shut and killed, bringing the number of fatalities from gun shots to seven.

Eye witness accounts said there was no provocation at all, and it didn’t seem like the Gunmen had any specific targets. “They just opened fire on soft targets”, it was concluded.

The State Police Command was yet to confirm the tragedies at the time of writing this story. But the State has been in a state of siege from gunmen, especially, in the past one month.

They have been attacking security agents and Local Government Headquarters and other public facilities which they usually set ablaze. Tens of vehicles have also been set ablaze. The LGAs attacked include, but not limited to, Nnewi and Aguata LGAs.

A shocked Governor Soludo has placed a N10m bounty on credible information that could lead to the arrest of the gunmen who killed and beheaded Hon. Okoye. His Aide who was kidnapped with him, it is assumed, may have been killed too. However, nobody has any confirmation on that, or the whereabouts of Honourable Okoye’s body which was taken away by those who beheaded him.

A confident-sounding Soludo insists: “Anambra will win.”

N80bn Fraud: Buhari Appoints Nwabuoku As ‘Acting’ Accountant General

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0
Accountant General Ahmed Idris

By Tosin Olatokunbo

President  Muhammadu  Buhari  has approved the appointment of Imo State- born Anamekwe Nwabuoku to oversee the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

Nwabuoku’s appointment  comes on the back of the ongoing investigation of the Ahmed Idris,  the disgraced Accountant General  who, allegedly, stole N80 billion from the Federal Government.

Idris was arrested on May 16 in Kano  by operatives of the Economic and Fiancial  Crimes Commission,  EFCC, who have now moved him to Abuja for further investigation.

He was alleged to have used the stolen funds to acquire properties across the country and the Middle East., and has since been suspended from office by the President.

According to the statement issued on Sunday by the Ministry of Finance and Budget, Nwabuoku will oversee the Office until investigation  is concluded on the matter.  The statement was signed by Aliyu Ahmed, Permanent Secretary (Finance) in the Ministry.

The statement said Nwabuoku will supervise the office until the conclusion of the ongoing investigation by the EFCC.

It reads:  “In this position, Mr. Anamekwe is expected to carry out his duty in strict compliance with extant rules and observe the highest sense of professionalism expected of an officer working at his level,” the statement reads.

“Mr. Anamekwe was born on 15th October, 1962 to the family of Mr. Robert O. Anamekwe in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.

“He holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accountancy from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu, and Master of Science (M.Sc) in Financial Management from Commonwealth University, Belize.

“He started his Civil Service career with the Centre for Democratic Studies (CDS) and rose to the position of Principal Accountant between 1992 and 1995. He was deployed to the Office of the AGF, Abuja, from 1996 to 2001 as Assistant Chief Accountant. He served at the National Assembly, Office of the Senate President, from 2001 to 2003 as Special Assistant to the Senate President on Public Affairs and his duties included Advisory Services to the Senate President on Media and other issues.

“He assumed duty as Chief Accountant in the Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Abuja, and served as Head of Accounts Administration.

Following his promotion to Assistant Director, Accounts, he was placed in charge of Funds in the Ministry from 2009 to 2012.”

Meanwhile, the magazine learnt that Idris is not likely to come back to office as the evidence against him is overwhelming. “He may end up in jail”, one EFCC source privy to the investigation, said on Sunday.

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