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FOUYE Sacks Registrar, Appoints Ibrahim |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Federal University, Oye Ekiti

By Ayodele Oni

A new acting registrar for the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, was named on Wednesday following the sack of the embattled Registrar, Mr Olatubosun Odusanya.

Mr Mufutau Ibrahim was named acting registrar following the ratification of the sack of Mr Odusanya by the Governing Council of  the University.

Odusanya has been having a running battle with the Vice Chancellor, Prof Abayomi Fashina, since the selection process for the office of the VC last year.

He had allegedly teamed up with the immediate past VC, Prof Kayode Soremekun, to truncate the appointment of Prof Fashina.

He was suspended 10 days ago for an alleged misconduct, bordering on recruitment of workers.

At its sitting on Tuesday, the Governing Council, chaired by Dr. Mohammed Yahuza took the decision to sack Mr Odusanya.

A statement co-signed by the Chief Information Officer and the Special Adviser on Media, to the Vice-Chancellor, Foluso Ogunmodede and Wole Balogun in Ado-Ekiti, disclosed that Odusanya’s appointment was terminated on Tuesday during the Council’s meeting.

Mr Odusanya was suspended from office to pave the way for proper investigation into allegations of irregular appointments during the recruitment excercise of the University between 1st August, 2020 and 10th February, 2021.

His sack, however, was approved by the University Governing Council on Tuesday after critically looking at a report by the Council Disciplinary Committee set up to review the report of the Investigative Committee which reviewed all appointments during the said period.

Reacting to fears that more workers that went against the emergence of Prof Fashina as VC or fall under the period of the alleged illegal recruitment should start packing their bags, Prof Fashina explained that  “for me as the VC, my emergence was God’s divine mandate and project.

“So, l will not work against anyone. I have no plan to sack any staff member of our great Ivory Tower. However, in line with the Council’s directive, we will review all the said appointments with a view to regularising all to measure up to our standards, most notably departmental needs, qualifications, proper placement and due process.

“My passion has always been to make life very conducive and comfortable for anyone around me and this is what I have always dedicated my life to.

“God has really helped me and fought for me. I have nothing to do than to love people around me and spread happiness to all.

“I assure you, no one will be a victim of the suspension of the Registar by the Governing Council of our great Citadel of Learning.

“Rather, staff member shall continue to enjoy the best in terms of incentives to work, proper training to refresh their skills and amazing welfare packages that will continue to gladden their hearts.”

Darkness Looms Over Nigeria – Atiku |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has Condemned the recent attack abduction and killing of students of Greenfield school in Kaduna State.

The 2019 Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, on Tuesday warned of imminent danger over the continuous attacks on schools in the country.

Atiku warned that darkness awaits Nigerians if the attacks on schools are not curbed.

He spoke while condemning the abduction of three students of the University of Agriculture in Makurdi, Benue State yesterday.

He lamented that the latest abduction was one too many.

In a statement he titled: “Darkness Awaits Us If We Do Not End The Attacks on Our Citadels of Learning,” Atiku said: “The abduction of yet an unspecified number of undergraduates of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, is one abduction too many.

“It marks both an unacceptable escalation and an expansion of this menace, and we must not only ensure that the abducted youths are rescued, but even more importantly, we must put in measures to prevent future reoccurrences.

“This must not be allowed to become our new normal. It is time for us as a nation to face the reality that we have an emergency on our hands. A catastrophe that must be decisively dealt with before it snowballs into an existential crisis.

“We must stop treating these acts of criminality with kid gloves. Enough is enough! There must be the safety of lives and property in our citadels of learning.”

“Without it, there would be a loss of confidence in the sector, which will result in low enrolment rates in a country that is already the world headquarters for out of school children.

“This is all the more reason why I have maintained in the past that impunity must give way to punitive measures. When criminals profit from their criminality, crime will increase.

“The only response from all governments in Nigeria to acts of abduction, kidnapping and unlawful detention of persons ought to be to bring the full weight of the law on the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.

“Once these criminals have clarity on what awaits them should they toe such evils paths, then their audacity to commit evil will be weakened, and gradually, this ugly chapter in our national life will become a thing of the past.

“I renew the call I made on Monday, March 15, 2021, for a state of emergency to be declared in the education sector and for 24 hour armed guards to be posted at all schools in the affected states”.

Saraki Warns Insecurity May Consume Us, Asks Buhari To Seek Help |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Again, former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has advised President Mohamadu Buhari to stop treating the mirage of security challenges in the country with kids glove.

Dr Saraki, in a statement released on Tuesday, where he catalogued series of security challenges in recent times, pointed out that the issue has gone beyond what the present administration could handle alone.

The statement explained “it is obvious that President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) government need help.

“They have been overwhelmed by the situation and they sure need assistance from all. Thus, I urge Mr. President to seek help wherever it can be given.

“This matter has gone beyond what the government can handle alone. The President should know that calling for help in our present situation is not a sign of weakness.

“Just as I stated in my press statement on the same issue on January 24, 2021, I want to reiterate that the President needs to bring together all former Presidents and heads of state, serving and former chief justices, serving and former presiding officers of the National Assembly, serving and former heads of security agencies, traditional rulers with relevant experience, leaders of the private sector, development partners, friends of Nigeria in the international community and all others who can help in finding solutions to the problem at hand.

“The meeting must hold expeditiously and must be followed by immediate actions. I know there are many people who believe that the fact that this suggestion is coming from a source outside government is a good reason for the President to ignore it.

“I think the attitude this time around must be different. This is definitely not a time for partisanship or for people to play politics with the lives of the citizenry and the future of the country.

“Security of lives and properties is the first and most important duty of government and it must be taken seriously.

“My suggestion here is an appeal made out of genuine concern with what is going on in our dear country.

“More important, in the democracy that we practice, the institution charged with holding the executive accountable is the legislature.

“In this regard, I strongly call on my colleagues in the National Assembly to be more assertive in finding solutions to this issue of insecurity.

“l need to make it clear that they will not be helping the administration if they do not become more insistent and decisive in their approach to getting this security crisis tackled immediately.

“Doing this cannot be logically interpreted as antagonising the executive. Just as treating the issue in a mild manner does not amount to co-operation.

“They must stand up and put Nigeria first before any other consideration. It is by doing this that they can genuinely help both the government and their constituents.

“The leaders of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) also have a vital role to play. They must do all that is necessary to help the administration to get solutions to this national crisis.

“This is a time for them to be part of the search for the solution and getting the Government  to act swiftly in implementing good ideas that will return the country to normalcy and the path of genuine development.

“Even those of us in the opposition party recognise the fact we can only exist if we continue to have a country.

“Thus, we are willing to cooperate with the Government in finding solutions to this problem. Our former leaders, I am sure, are ready, willing, and able to assist the government with their wealth of experience.

“With their active role in combating the COVID-19 crisis, even the private sector has shown that if called upon, at any time and on any issue, it is ready to help solve this crisis. Our friends in the international community, have also demonstrated their willingness to help us out.

“However, all these actors will not jump into the arena without the government facilitating their intervention. The government needs to call on them before this problem consumes all of us.”

Channels TV: SERAP Calls For Immediate lift Of Ban, Condemn NBC |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Kolawole Oluwadare

By Akinwale Kasali

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to, immediately, reverse the arbitrary, unconstitutional and illegal decision to suspend Channels Television,  and  cancel the N5 million imposed on the station  for, allegedly, breaching the broadcast code.”

The Acting Director General of the Commission, NBC, Professor Armstrong Idachaba had,  in a letter to the Managing Director of Channels Television referred to Channels 7pm live broadcast programme of Sunday, 25th April, 2021, and accused the TV station of interviewing a leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) allegedly without “caution or reprimand.”

The Station had interviewed the Spokesman of IPOB, Emma Powerful.

But SERAP, in a statement on Tuesday, signed by its Deputy Director,Kolawole Oluwadare said: “The suspension of Channels Television is unconstitutional, illegal, arbitrary, and without any legal basis whatsoever. The Government and NBC should immediately lift the suspension and reverse the fine. We will pursue appropriate legal action if the arbitrary, unconstitutional and illegal suspension and fine are not reversed within 48 hours.”

SERAP continued: “This action by the Government and NBC is yet another example of Nigerian authorities’ push to silence independent media and voices. The Government and NBC should lift the suspension and uphold the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and international obligations to respect and protect freedom of expression and media freedom.

The statement, read in part:

“This is a new low in Nigeria’s protection of freedom of expression, and the ability of independent media to function in the country. The suspension of Channels Television is detrimental to media freedom, and access to information, and the Federal Government and NBC must immediately reverse the decision.”

“Media freedom and media plurality are a central part of the effective exercise of freedom of expression and access to information. The ability to practice journalism free from undue interference, to cover diverse views are crucial to the exercise of many other rights and freedoms.”

“The media has a vital role to play as ‘public watchdog’ in imparting information of serious public concern and should not be inhibited or intimidated from playing that role. The Federal Government and NBC should stop targeting and intimidating independent media and voices.”

“The Government of President Buhari has a responsibility to protect Nigerians’ rights to freedom of expression and access to information.”

“This suspension amounts to an arbitrary and unjust application of regulations against the media. International standards allow only official restrictions on the content of what the media can broadcast or print in extremely narrow circumstances.”

“Article 20 (2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Nigeria has ratified requires states to prohibit only advocacy that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence. Restrictions must be clearly defined, specific, necessary, and proportionate to the threat to interest protected.” “President Muhammadu Buhari should caution the NBC to stop intimidating and harassing independent media houses and to respect the Nigerian Constitution, and the country’s international human rights obligations, including under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”

Citing freedom of speech in Ghana,  Twitter recently snubbed Nigeria, a bigger market for the company, and established its African Headquarters in Ghana.

Channels TV Sanction: NBC Is Overzealous – NUJ |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Mr Chris Isiguzo

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) has advised the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to exercise more restrain in dealing with perceived infringements by broadcast stations in the country.

National President of NUJ, Mr Chris Isiguzo, made the remark in a statement, while reacting to the N5 million fine imposed on a private television station, Channels.

The NUJ President pointed out that “we are specifically disturbed by the recent threat to suspend the broadcast licence of Channels Television Station for hosting the Spokesperson of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in a live interview programme.

“The fine imposed on Channels TV is outrageous and should be withdrawn immediately.

“While we do not intend to join issues with NBC, we however caution that threats like this will only create unnecessary feuds in an already cracked society.

“At this very difficult time in the history of the country, what the nation needs more from the broadcast regulator is to create an avenue for more unfettered access by all Nigerians to independent and free media to engage with other stakeholders, even when it is to vent their anger and frustrations.

“It is pertinent, in view of recent sanctions on various broadcast Stations by NBC that the NBC code is inimical to free speech and press freedom and should be amended to be compatible with international best practices.

“We call on media houses to be circumspect in their work so as not to play into the hands of overzealous politicians to destroy the Nation’s democracy.

“It is also instructive to note that no matter the perceived excesses of the media, they still are germane in the quest for genuine democracy and should be carefully nurtured and protected.”

Wike Blocks Rivers Land Borders; Imposes Curfew |The Source

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0

By Adesina Soyooye

At once, worried and outraged over the killings of Security Agents in the State, especially in the past few days, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has blocked all land borders into, and out of the State.

In a broadcast to the people on Tuesday, Wike blocked Rivers State off its neighbouring states. In doing that, the Governor imposed a curfew between the hours of 8.00pm and 6.00am. Thus, no vehicular movement will allowed into or out of  the State between those hours. He has asked Security Agents to strictly enforce the curfew.

Within two days, Saturday and Sunday, over eight Security personnels, made up of soldiers police men, Civil Defence and Customs have been shot dead in the State, and in, at least, one instance, their  bodies burnt. Wike had earlier condoled with families of the dead.

In a statement, Kelvin Ebri, the Governor’s Media Adviser, said that Wike has imposed night curfew at all entry and exit points with Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Imo States.

The curfew according to Ebri, which takes effect from Wednesday night, April 28, is  a result of the recent security breaches and bloody attacks on security personnel by yet to be identified gunmen.

He said: “The Government of Rivers State has decided to restrict night movements into and out of the State from the land borders of the State.

“Consequently, a night curfew is hereby imposed and no person or vehicle is allowed into and out of Rivers State from 8.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. from tomorrow (Wednesday) 28 April 2021 until further notice.

“We wish to advise that those who have any legitimate need or reason to come into or go out of the State must do so before 8.00 p.m. when the curfew shall come into force daily.”

The governor stated that security agencies have been posted to monitor and enforce strict compliance with the curfew at all borders and or entry and exit points with Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Imo States.

Ebri disclosed that “on Saturday some innocent officers of the Customs, Police and Civil Defence services on their duty posts along the Port Harcourt – Owerri Expressway were ambushed and gruesomely murdered in cold blood by armed attackers.

“And similarly, on Sunday, the State witnessed another deadly attack and killing of officers and men of the Nigerian Army right in their duty post at Abua town in Abua Odual Local Government Area of the State.

“The governor said although the security agencies are investigating these attacks with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice, nobody yet knows where and when the next attack would take place.

“Neither do we also know the motives of the deranged characters or group behind these senseless assault on our State and the lives of security operatives working to keep us safe and secure.

“However, what is obvious is that the attackers and their sponsors are people who came from outside Rivers State, and as a Government, we are determined to do everything within our powers to prevent the re-occurrence of such senseless and murderous acts aimed at creating an atmosphere of gross insecurity and panic among the citizens.

“In view of what is going on therefore and its implications to the security of the State and citizens, and in discharge of our constitutional responsibility in that regard, the Government of Rivers State has decided to restrict night movements into and out of the State from the land borders of the State.”

Wike urged all citizens of the State to be vigilant and report every useful intelligence or suspicious movements to the security agencies for immediate action.

Ebri; “He advised the people to understand that these are strange times and nothing can be more paramount than their collective safety and security.”

Electricity: NERC Says Increase In Tariff Imminent

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Tosin Olatokunbo

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC has put electricity consumers in the country on notice of another imminent increase in tariff. The government agency in charge of regulating electricity sales and consumption, said on Monday that it was in the process of concluding the Extraordinary Tariff Review, ETR for the country’s 11 electricity distribution companies, Discos.

The notice comes on the crest of a report by the World Bank that over 78 per cent of people living in the country have less than 12 hours access to electricity daily. The federal government has faulted the report.

NERC said the review, which is a minor one, began in the first quarter of 2020 and has remained inconclusive.

According to the notice issued by Sanusi Garba the Chairman of the Commission, the agency expressed its readiness to commence the processes for a minor review of the tariff in July, based on changes in inflation, foreign exchange, gas prices, and available generation capacity, among other factors.

The notice reads “Pursuant to the provisions of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (“NERC” or “the Commission”) adopted the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) Methodology in setting out the basis and procedures for reviewing electricity tariffs in Nigeria. The MYTO provides for Minor Reviews (every 6 Months), Major Reviews (every 5 years), and Extraordinary Tariff Reviews in instances where industry parameters have changed from those used in the operating tariffs to such an extent that a review is urgently required to maintain the viability of the industry.

Further to the above, the Commission held series of Public Hearings and stakeholder consultations in the first quarter of 2020 on the Extraordinary Tariff Review Applications of the eleven (11) electricity distribution companies (“DisCos”) to consider their respective 5-year Performance Improvement Plans (“PIPs”). However, the evaluation of the DisCos’ requests for review of the Capital Expenditure (“CAPEX”) proposed in their PIPs could not be concluded for the consideration of the Commission during the Minor Reviews undertaken in 2020.

“Specifically, Section 21 of the MYTO – 2020 Order provides for consideration of DisCos’ CAPEX application upon further scrutiny and evaluation of the investment proposals. Accordingly, this notice is issued to inform the general public and industry stakeholders of the Commission’s intention to conclude the Extraordinary Tariff Review process for the eleven DisCos;
“Commence the processes for the July 2021 Minor Review of MYTO – 2020 to consider changes in inflation, foreign exchange, gas prices, available generation capacity, and CAPEX required to evacuate and distribute the said available generation capacity in accordance with EPSRA and other extant industry rules.

This notice is hereby issued in compliance with the provisions of EPSRA, the Business Rules of the Commission and the Regulations on Procedures for Electricity Tariff Reviews in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry to solicit for comments from the general public on the proposed reviews,” NERC said.

Last week, the World Bank in a report indicated that 78 per cent of power consumers in Nigeria get less than 12 hours of daily electricity supply. The government in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure, Ahmad Rufai Zakari, in Abuja, debunked the claims, saying that the report cannot stand in the face of facts.

Zakari while responding to the Power Sector Recovery Programme Opinion Research Fact Sheet released by the World Bank on Friday, said it is improper to say 78 per cent of Nigerians have less than 12 hours daily access, citing empirical evidence from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC which he said showed that only 55 per cent of citizens connected to the grid are in tariff bands D and E which are less than 12 hours supply.

According to him, “it is inaccurate to make a blanket statement that 78% of Nigerians have less than 12 hours daily access. The data from NERC is that 55% of citizens connected to the grid are in tariff bands D and E which are less than 12 hours supply.

”Those citizens are being fully subsidized to pre-September 2020 tariffs until DIsCOs are able to improve supply. “There is a N120 billion CAPEX fund from CBN for DIsCOs to improve infrastructure for these tariff classes similar to the metering program that is ongoing.”

Zakari also spoke on the aspect of metering electricity consumers in the country after the Brenton Wood based Bank said 58 percent of electricity consumers in the country are being cheated by Discos because they have no meters to determine their electricity consumption

The Presidential aide said, “It is unclear who did this survey and what the timeframe is. All citizens that have gotten free meters report they are happy about the reform trajectory. To date, more than 600k meters have been delivered to DISCOs out of the 1 million in phase 0 with installation ongoing. Meters are sourced locally and are creating jobs in installation and manufacturing/assembly.

He further stated that the Service Based Tariff ensures that citizens pay more only when and if they are receiving high quality of service. “All consumers have been communicated their bands and bands are published during billing. It is inconceivable that anyone would imply that 4 out of 5 Nigerians are not intelligent enough to understand tariff classes and what they are paying for.”

N20tn Buhari’s Debt Worries Many Nigerians

By
Bayo Bernard
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Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed,minister of finance

Nigeria’s rising debt has become a source of worry for many well meaning financial stakeholders and indeed Nigerians, following reports that the nation’s total debt stock has risen beyond N32 trillion.

There are even more concerns because over N20 trillion of the debt was incurred by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari within six years that it took power. According to a recent report by The Daily Times the anxiety over the rising debt comes at a time when it’s widely believed that the country utilizes a large chunk of its revenue to service debts.

For instance, in the 2021Appropriation Act, the Federal Government budgeted N3.12 trillion for debt servicing out of a projected revenue of N7.89 trillion. Similarly, in a report of budget implementation of the government which ended in December 2020, the total federal revenue  earned by the in 2020 amounted to N3.93 trillion.

The newspaper said the federal government recorded a 27 per cent drop from the target revenue of N5.365 trillion. However, to the amusement of many experts and stakeholders, debt service for the year was put at N3.26 trillion which represents about 82.9% of the total revenue earned in 2020.

In another development, the Senate again approved fresh external loans of N1.02 trillion ($1.5 billion and €995 million) for the Federal Government.

This followed a letter written to the upper legislative chamber by the President in May last year to grant permission to borrow the said amount. After considering the report of the Clifford Ordia-led committee on local and foreign debts, the loan request was approved on Wednesday, 21st April 2021.

The Daily Times understands that the €995 million loan will be utilized for agricultural mechanisation across the 774 LGAs.

The $1.5 billion loan is meant to fund critical infrastructure due to the huge impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

With the loan approval, The Daily Times can authoritatively report that the country under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has now borrowed about N20 trillion without any viable plan for repayment.

According to checks the public debt stock of the country has risen from N12.118 trillion in 2015 when Buhari assumed office to N32.89 trillion in 2021. This represents over 160 per cent increase in public debt profile Official figures from the debt management office shows that Nigeria’s debt grew from N12.118 trillion in May 2015 to N12.6 trillion in December 2015,

In 2016, it jumped to N17.36 trillion, then N21.725 trillion in 2017, N24.387 trillion in 2018 and N27.401 trillion in 2019.

Subsequently, the figure went further to N29 trillion in the year 2020 Major funders of these loans include the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Chinese Exim Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Only recently, the federal government sourced a $3.4 billion loan from the IMF, $2.5 billion from the World Bank, $1 billion from the AfDB, as well as N850 billion domestic capital market loans among others.No cause for alarm – DMO

Recall that the Debt Management Office announced that Nigeria’s public debt as at end of 2020 stood N32.915 trillion.

The DMO attributed the rise to the harsh economic challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic which has also forced advanced countries to increase their level of borrowing.

Nigeria’s public debt stock comprises that of federal and state governments as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

The DMO was however emphatic that the borrowing of the country was not under any threat as it was still within its limit.

Total Public Debt to Gross Domestic Product as at December 31, 2020 was 21.61 per cent which is within Nigeria’s new Limit of 40 per cent.The various initiatives of Government to increase revenues such as the Strategic Revenue Growth Initiative and the Finance Act, 2020, should help shore up Government’s revenue and reduce the Debt Service to Revenue Ratio,” the DMO added.

However, with the worsening economic situation, it will be difficult to align with the DMO’s assertion that Nigeria has no issue with borrowing. For instance, due to the hike in prices of food items, the country’s inflation rate rose to 18.17 per cent in March 2021, from the 17.33 per cent  recorded in the previous month, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

This indicates that the country hasn’t had it this bad in the last four years as the figure remains its worst Inflation rate. In the same vein, unemployment reached 33 per cent in the last quarter of 2020, putting the country among the highest in the world.

Reacting to the high rate of borrowing, a finance analyst and President, Association of Capital Market Academics, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, said to an extent, the borrowings are justified if they are being appropriated for.

“It’s ok if it’s part of what is already provided for in the 2021 budget. Recall that the current year’s budget has a deficit of over N5 trillion to be financed largely by domestic and foreign loans,”

“That the loan is tied to agric mechanization and infrastructure development is comforting due to its positive multiplier effect on the economy. Having approved such foreign loan, it behoves on the National Assembly to monitor its disbursement and application in order to ensure that it is used for the purpose for which it is meant,” he said.

However, another expert, Suleiman Musa, tends to disagree with the initial position of Uwaleke.

He said: “It is highly troubling to see that our borrowings have amounted to this in just about six years. How do we repay all these loans without a definite national plan? We all know there is trouble when we use almost 80% of our revenue to service debts.

It is not just feasible, “As such, the government must look for other means of augmenting the budget or even borrow locally than going to borrow foreign loans with huge interests.”

Death In the Bank: How It Happened

By
Bayo Bernard
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0

By Fola James

More facts have emerged over the death of a customer at the premises of a new generation bank in Port Harcourt, Rivers state on Monday. The unnamed customer was said to have died as he was trying to withdraw some money from his account to treat himself of an undisclosed ailment.

Some reports claimed that the customer died because of the delay he experienced while trying to withdraw money from his personal account. Sources told the magazine that the customer had already performed the transaction, drove out from the banking hall and was on his way home when the unfortunate incident happened.

An eyewitness to the incident, had earlier posted the picture of the late victim on a Facebook with account Uwaifo Oviawe, noting that the victim died out of frustration.

The witness said: “A customer banking with one of the new generation banks in Port Harcourt has died due to frustration and unfriendly treatment by the customer service attendants of the bank.

“The man who is a customer of the new generation bank just died now in front of the bank. He was refused access to his own money since Friday even when he came with his next of kin. He was asked to go to the court to get an affidavit knowing the court is not in session.

“The source stated further that the man following the task of getting an affidavit collapsed and died outside the bank. However, the drama started at the open bank premises when a young lady and two men came to the scene demanding that the bank opens the access door so they could deposit the man’s remains in the banking hall.

“The bank had shut operations based on the development and barred the panicking family members from accessing the hall. The young lady who was in tears mentioned that the victim was her father, adding that the man was sick and had come to the bank to enable his treatment.

She said: “He had come to the bank on Friday to withdraw money, but they said he should bring a next of kin and affidavit over an issue I don’t know. “When he came today they said he should go and bring court affidavit and the man told them that he is sick and the courts are not on, they refused. He died out of frustration.”
But the source who spoke with The Source narrated the story differently. According to him, the customer did not die at the bank’s premises, but was on his way home ”after he had been attended to when the sad event occurred. It is true that the customer was told by the customers’ representative that a third party cannot be allowed to cash a cheque on his behalf, that for that to happen he must obtain an affidavit.

“But the matter was later resolved and the transaction completed. The customer was later taken away in his car only for him to be driven back by the driver and one of his relations that he had died. That is what actually happened. Those claiming that he died in the premises of the bank are just peddling lies to discredit the commercial bank,” he said.

Meanwhile, sources from the new generation bank told the magazine that it has nothing to do with the death of the customer because “all we are trying to do is to ensure that the accounts of our customers are protected. We only ensured that the customer followed the rules as prescribed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and once that was done the transaction was carried out without further delay.”

PDP Tackles Afegbua Over Petition To EFCC, ICPC Against Party |The Source

By
The Source
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Kassim Afegbua

By Gideon Njoku

The main opposition Party, the  People’s Democratic Party, PDP, is battling to extricate itself from a corruption allegation by Mr Kassim Afegbua, against its Leadership.

Afegbua had, allegedly, boasted that he had petitioned  both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the ICPC, asking the anti-graft agencies to investigate the Party over the sum of N10 billion, allegedly, realised in 2019 from sale of forms during the General Elections.

Afegbua was a strong member of the party, having defected from the APC, where he rose to become the Commissioner for Information, under the APC Government of Adams Oshiomhole in Edo.

During the 2019 General Elections, he was one of the Spokespersons of PDP’s Presidential Campaign Team.

But he and the Party fell apart during the Edo State Governoship Election in 2020. Afegbua was publicly against the Party when it chose and endorsed Governor Godwin Obaseki as its candidate.

Obaseki had just defected to  the PDP, having been inexplicably denied the return ticket by the Oshiomhole-led APC National leadership.

Afegbua campaigned vigorously against Obaseki.

Since then, his relationship with the PDP had soured and they have parted ways.

In a statement, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan dismissed Afegbua’s allegation as  spurious and Irresponsible.  It said that the party realised the sum of N4.6 billion  only, and followed every due process in its disbursement.

The statement chided Afegbua, and wondered why he had to resort to fictitious allegations.

The statement reads:

“The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a spurious and irresponsible allegation by one Kassim Afegbua, upon which he claimed to have petitioned the EFCC and ICPC, asking that the leadership of the party account for an alleged sum of N10 billion.

“According to this Afegbua, the said sum was allegedly realized from the sale of “forms in 2019”.

“While the PDP, our leaders and members are aware that there is no truth in the allegation, however for the benefit of the public and our teeming supporters, the PDP states as follows:

“The PDP did not raise Afegbua’s fictitious sum of N10 billion as alleged by him. For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP generated the sum of N4.6 billion and raised a budget for its expenditure, in line with all known financial regulations of our party.

“This budget passed through the organs of our party and received the approvals from the NWC, the Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees as well as other organs of the party.

“As a law-abiding political party that respects the doctrine of rule of law and transparency, the budget was presented to the National Executive Committee (NEC) where it also received a final approval.

“It is imperative to state that all the sums received and budgeted for passed through the due process of approval by the necessary organs of the party.

“Moreover, the PDP has no account under the name or guise of Afegbua’s ghostly Morufu Nigeria Limited.

“Having said that, as a political party, under whose administration the EFCC and the ICPC were formulated and established, our party strictly adheres to best practices of transparency, accountability and probity in all issues including our financial administration.

“In addition, our party has since submitted the audited account of its financial expenditures to the INEC for 2019, in line with statutory requirements of the law.

“The PDP will not in any way be distracted by an inconsequential blackmailer hired to mudsling our party and its leadership, in order to divert attention from the salient issues of insecurity and drooping economy trailing the failures of the APC administration to provide good governance.

“For the benefit of unsuspecting members of the public, the activities of a certain Afegbua have always been suspect and we urge Nigerians to be wary of such characters and their backers.”

It is not yet known if any of the anti-graft agencies – EFCC and ICPC – has started any investigation of the PDP Leadership based on Afegbua’s petition.

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