Nigeria Earns N651.77 Billion In Six Months From VAT |The Source

By

-

July 28, 2020

By Uche Mbah

Figures released from the National Bureau of Statistics Monday indicate that Nigeria generated N651.77 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT) in the first half of 2020, as against N600.98 billion. This indicates an 8.45% rise in revenue earned from the consumption tax within the same period of last year.

Local non-import VAT accounted for N335.82 billion of the total amount while N161.74 billion was generated as Non-Import VAT for foreign concerns. The Nigerian Custom service generated of N154.21 billion on import VAT during the period under review.

N95.92 billion was earned from professional services, while other aspects of Manufacturing generated N67.63 billion with Commercial and Trading generating N31.10 billion.

From the Mining, sector comes N127.58 million while Textile and Garment Industry generated N499.19 million. Pharmaceutical, Soaps and Toiletries contributed N648.78 million to the VAT basket.It was expected that the revenue generated will be more than the ones generated last half-year because the implementation of VAT commenced recently. Government had raised VAT from 5% to 7.5%, and that was expected to boost revenue, though some analysts believe that in real terms this is not so.

How Dogara’s Ambition Pushed Him Out Of PDP – BOT Chair |The Source

By

The Source

-

July 28, 2020

0

By Adesina Soyooye

The reasons given by former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, for dumping the Peoples Democratic Party, the PDP, hold no water, the PDP, has said.

Instead, the Party said Dogara quit the party for the APC because of his vaulting ambition.

Speaking through the Chairman of its Board of Trustees, BOT, Senator Walid Jibrin, the Party said he left because of his ambition to run for either the office of the President or the Vice President in 2023.

Jibrin said Dogara knows nobody would offer him the opportunity to run for those offices in the PDP, so he had to quit.

Admitting that he received Dogara’s exit with mixed feelings, he said he was, also, disappointed that Dogara, a member of the BOT, never discussed any of the reasons he gave with the leadership of the party, or with him as the BOT Chairman.

While chiding Dogara, he asked Nigerians to disregard the reasons he gave.

He said: “I am beginning to suspect that Mr Dogara has a plan of becoming President or Vice President in 2023, which he knows he will never achieve in PDP. I want to assure the former Speaker that PDP shall continue to be very strong and United, and it’s doors shall remain open to all Nigerians, therefore, PDP, will never accept any plan by anybody to destroy the party”.

Many people are of the opinion that if the office of the President. or Vice President, is the reason Dogara quit the PDP, his credentials do not recommend him.

They say he had jumped from the PDP to the APC, from the APC to the PDP, and now from the PDP, again, to the APC. These moves, they say, diminish his status.

Uzodimma Dissolves Imo Traditional Council, Sacks Eze Ohiri |The Source

By

The Source

-

July 28, 2020

0

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma has dissolves the Imo Traditional Council, thus sacking the Chairman of the Council, Eze Samuel Ohiri from office. The Governor, also, issued guidelines to traditional rulers in the state on the implementation of a new proactive, effective, and efficient security architecture that will guarantee the security of lives and property in the respective communities in Imo.

Uzodinma told a gathering of the Monarchs on Monday in Owerri that the arrangement of the Community Policing Initiative was conceived by the Federal Government and to be implemented by the state, ward, and communities in the state.

In dissolving the Imo State Traditional Council Uzodinma promised to reconstitute it soon. Ohiri, the Traditional Ruler of Orodo, was appointed by former Governor Rochas Okorocha, a couple of days after he became the Governor in 2011, and has since remained the Chairman until Monday afternoon when he was removed from office.

On the Community Policing Initiative, Uzodinma said if is a new comprehensive programme that seeks to uproot crimes from the grassroots, hence a burning passion of the State and Federal Governments to stamp out crimes in the country, particularly at the grassroots level.

“The arrangement is specifically to prevent crime, and abort criminal activities of all forms at the grassroot. The body will be established at each ward, community, LGA, Zonal level up to State,” the Governor explained.

He emphasized that the success of the initiative will depend completely on credible, suitable and reliable indigenes to man its operations, noting that the innovation is aimed at giving indigenes charge of security challenges in their communities with the guidance of the Nigerian Police. “Therefore such indigenes must be men and women of impeccable characters.”

The Governor, therefore, charged traditional rulers who are leaders of their respective communities to take responsibility as Chief Security Officers of their communities and get involved in the appointment of men and women of repute respected by other members of the community to be part of the arrangement.

He also enjoined Traditional Rulers to be involved in the selection and appointment of Town Union Presidents and members in their communities, tasking them to liaise with stakeholders and genuine leaders of their communities to conduct credible town union elections.

The Governor who said that the Town Union President will be held accountable for the security of their communities said the traditional rulers will be solely responsible for the success or failure of same community as regards security and leadership.

He said that traditional rulers will have no excuse for not nominating credible people, as the Community Policing Initiative is a well thought out programme aimed at eliminating crimes such as rape, banditry, burglary, armed robbery and kidnapping.

The Governor warned that failure on the part of the Monarchs to do the right thing is as good as self resignation by the traditional rulers. He advised traditional rulers to reside in their communities, insisting that “the era of Diaspora Eze has gone.”

Governor Uzodimma promised the monarchs a new welfare package that will enhance their status and make them concentrate on their assigned roles as custodians of culture and tradition.

He charged them to carry the good news of prosperity government home, informing them that he has done his best to pay all verified civil servants and pensioners their allowances and allowances, carried out some infrastructural projects and is making efforts to recover the destroyed original Owerri Master Plan.

On the position of the dissolved Eze Imo Council, the Governor said, when the COVID-19 pandemic abates, he will consult with stakeholders of the traditional institutions before reconstituting the State Council of Traditional Rulers. He assured that the reconstitution will be done soon

The Governor reiterated the need for peaceful coexistence among the traditional rulers and promised that at the end of the day the new Council, when put in place, will be to the benefit and satisfaction of all concerned.

He used the opportunity to inform the traditional rulers that the repeal of the CGC Law was for the benefit of the traditional institution in the state.

Some of the monarchs who spoke thanked the Governor for providing good leadership and for finding time to interface with the traditional rulers despite the COVID-19 challenge. They promised to work with the Governor to ensure that the security at the community is enhanced.

Buhari Honours Tinubu, Names Railway Station After Him |The Source

By

The Source

-

July 27, 2020

0

By Adesina Soyooye

President Muhammadu Buhari has added to the profile of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, by naming a National Concern after him. Both Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, and former Premier of the old Western region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, also had federal concerns named after them.

On Monday, the Federal Government announced that the Apapa (Lagos) Railway Station has been named after Bola Tinubu.

This was contained in a press statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Transportation, Eric Ojekwe. A couple of other Nigerians, including Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, and the late Senate Leader, and strongman of Kwara politics, Dr Olusola Saraki, former Governor of Ogun state, Segun Osoba, former Governor of Lagos state, and Minister for Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, forner Lagos Governor, Latest Jakande and, Mrs Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti also had railway stations named after them.

The Minister for Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, said the stations were named “after deserving citizens who have contributed to the progress and development of their respective communities, and the nation at large”

In the statement entitled: Buhari Names Railway Stations After Prominent Nigerians, the Minister said that the Kajola station is named after Vice President Osinbajo, Ibadan station was named after Awolowo, Abeokuta Station has been named after Soyinka, while the Ajaokuta Station is named after Olusola Saraki, father of former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

Agege station was named after Fashola.

Papalento station was named after Ransome-Kuti, Osoba, Olodo station.

Of all the past State Governors in Nigeria since 1999, nobody commands as much clout as Tinubu, with the possible exception of late Umaru Yar’adua and Dr Goodluck Jonathan, both of whom became Presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Recently, Buhari named the Railway Complex in Agbor, the operational hub of the Itakpe-Warri Line, after Jonathan.

Onuoha Elected New Archbishop, Owerri Province, Anglican Communion |The Source

By

The Source

-

July 27, 2020

0

By George Best Okoroh

The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has elected a new Archbishop for the Owerri Province.

The Archbishop-elect is Bishop David Okechukwu Chikezie Onuoha.

Onuoha is currently the Bishop of Okigwe South Diocese of the Church.

The announcement of his appointment has been received with excitement by Parishioners in the Province. And they looking forward to a lively tenure that would push the Province, and evangelism to the highest level.

Described as urbane and cerebral, the Archbishop- elect would come into office in September 2020, with a rich background in Church affairs and administration.

Born to the family of Late Sir Humphrey and Lady Selina Onuoha of Umuike Lowa in Ihitte/Uboma L G.A. Imo State in November 23 1962, Onuoha had his Primary Education at Central School Lowa and Central School Umuihi before proceeding to Uboma Secondary School Ikperejere where he got his West Africa School Certificate in 1982.

As a growing young man in Lowa, he was very active in Church activities like Boys Brigade, Youth Fellowship and Choir. He became a Children Sunday School teacher at the age of 14.

Bishop Onuoha joined the services of the then Diocese of Owerri as a Church Teacher in 1983.

He was trained for the Ordained ministry at the famous Trinity Theological College Umuahia from where he obtained a Diploma Certificate with distinction in 1987.

Onuoha was ordained Deacon and Priest in 1987 and 1988 respectively by Rt Rev S. C. N Ebo, the then Bishop of the Diocese of Okigwe /Orlu. He was also installed Canon and Collated Archdeacon in 1998, and was elected and consecrated the third Bishop of the Diocese of Okigwe South in 2004.

Bishop Onuoha has served the Church as a Clergyman and Bishop. He was Chairman Okigwe/Orlu Diocesan Youth Board, Lecturer and Registrar of Trinity College Umuahia, Lecturer at St Paul’s University College Awka, Lecturer Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Episcopal Secretary of the Church of Nigeria among others. He has also played prominent role in the fight against secularism in our Church through the instrumentality of GAFCON.

As the Bishop of the Diocese of Okigwe South, through various seminars and workshops, he has tried to restore discipline among Church workers and prepare them for the task of soul winning for which they are called. The transformation of a virgin land to an Episcopal Villa, housing the Bishop’s house, Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Chaplain’s residence and Ultra modern office complex is an an eloquent testimony of his giant strides in infrastructural development in the Diocese of Okigwe South.

In keeping to his believe that the Church should be a refuge for the downtrodden, he has awarded scholarship to students at all levels of Education.

Bishop David Onuoha holds a B.A (Hons), M. A. PhD, all from the Department of Religion and Cultural Studies of the University of Nigeria Nsukka.

Married to the lovely Mama Okigwe South, Blessing, Onuoha will take over as the Archbishop of the Province of Owerri in September, after a Presentation ceremony in Abuja to be performed by the Primate, Church of Nigeria, His Grace Henry Ndukuba.

Fani-Kayode: Shinkafi Emirate Says Title Irreversible, Irrevocable |The Source

By

The Source

-

July 27, 2020

0

By Akinwale Kasali

The controversy over the chieftaincy title bestowed on former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, which led to the resignation of some Traditional Chiefs in the Shinkafi Emirate, Zamfara State, has taken another dimension.

A couple of chiefs has given the Emir an ultimatum to withdraw the title bestowed on Fani-Kayode, or face their resignation and legal action.

But the Emirate Council has stated that the “Sadaukin Shinkafi” title conferred on Femi Fani-Kayode, by the Emir Of Shinkafi, Alhaji Muhammad Makwash is irrevocable and irreversible.

Last week, the media was awash with the controversy surrounding the conferment of the title on the PDP chieftain which led to the resignation of five title holders in the Shinkafi Emirate Council.

The Wambai Shinkafi traditional title holder, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, who spoke on behalf of the Emirate, insisted that conferment of titles by the Emir cannot be reversed and also a gesture to deserving recipients exercised within the powers and the discretion of Emir.

He frowned and warned against playing the ethnic and religion card in the traditional exercise.

In his words; “Femi Fani-Kayode is not the only non-Muslim to bag a title from the North. It is worthy of note that several Northern traditional rulers had conferred titles on Southerners like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who was conferred with Chieftaincy title of Yallaban Sokoto, Chief Rochas Okorocha; Danjekan Sokoto; Senator Orji Uzo Kalu; Wakilin Anka, and former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who was conferred with the Garkuwan Manoman Zamfara.

Others include the former Minister of Sport and Youth Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung conferred with Magayakin Bukkuyyum; Sen David Mark as Jarumin Kaura Namoda; Senator Victor Umeh as Jagaban Shinkafi; the APC leader, Bola Tinubu has also bagged such title with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. Why is FFK’s title different?

“There is no hatred between Muslims and Christians or Northerners and Southerners, but some people who want to ignite hatred are reading political meaning to it. He was chosen so that we can foster unity. He served as a minister and represented the whole of Nigeria”, he concluded.

But those vehemently opposed to it insist that the former Minister is undeserving of the title because he, allegedly, sees nothing good in the North, and “insults our leaders regularly”

Boko Haram: Senator Ndume Slams FG For Rewarding Fighters |The Source

By

Bayo Bernard

-

July 27, 2020

0

By Ola Samuel

Senator Ali Ndume representing Borno South in the Nigerian Senate has slammed the state and federal government’s decision to re-integrate over 600 repentant members of killer Islamic group, Boko Haram in to the society.

Ndume’s outburst came on the crest of public angst against the government for pardoning the terrorists, known to have killed many Nigerians, including women and children in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states in their quest to establish an Islamic caliphate.

Some of the fighters released in the past were said to have rejoined the Abubakar Shekau-led terror group, unleashing a new round of mayhem on the besieged communities, raising fears that those released newly are likely to do the same.

The Borno state government, on Sunday, announced that the former fighters have been given N20,000 each to begin a new life.

But speaking on a TVC programme on Monday, Senator Ndume said it was too early to release the fighters, adding that they should have been kept in custody for a while to really find out whether they have indeed repented of their crime.

Ndume, the Senate Committee Chairman on Army said the people of Borno and other North east state where the terrorists committed most of the bloodshed are not happy that those that killed their loved ones have now been made free men.

He said the people of the state are still living with the horror that the terrorists “killed over 1000 persons in Bama and dumped their bodies” in a mass grave.

He cited the United States of America, USA who after several years of capturing Al qaeda terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan, refused to release them into public life.

The captured terrorists, he said, are “still in Guantanamo Prison” several years after they were captured by USA soldiers.

Borno state commissioner of information, Babakura Shatau, while speaking on Sunday said the repentant terrorists had been given starter packs by the North East Development Commission, NEDC and the International Migration Organisation to start various vocations.

Shatau said “They are 601 of them and the question of government giving them N100,000 each does not arise. What happened is that the North East Development Commission gave them starter packs. Some of them trained as barbers so they were given clippers and generators and then given N20,000 cash and their shops will be paid for.”

What the government will do is that they will be brought to Borno State from Gombe and they will be housed in two orientation camps where there are facilities for training and for them to practise whatever they were taught in Gombe.“

Meanwhile, Nigerians from all walks of life have expressed their dismay after the Defence Headquarters announced the reintegration of 601 repentant Boko Haram terrorists back into society.

Southern Kaduna: Senator Sani Says There Is No Nation, North Has Lost Its Conscience |The Source

By

The Source

-

July 27, 2020

0

By Akinwale Kasali

Human Rights Groups, over the weekend, lamented the killings in Southern Kaduna, calling for an immediate intervention by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Military, Security Agencies and the Kaduna State Government.

Also, a former Senator who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), Shehu Sani, raised an alarm that Southern Kaduna has become a grave yard.

Sani said that the continuous violence and bloodshed has turned southern Kaduna to a mortuary and a graveyard.

In a statemen on Sunday, Sani said that the North had lost its conscience and the nation has lost its will and spirit.

He said: “The blood of the innocent is being spilled in the most unimaginably cruel and unspeakably evil manner and with impunity.

“In southern Kaduna, the North has lost its conscience and the Nation has lost its will and spirit. Terrorists have turned Southern Kaduna to a mortuary and a graveyard.

“The Federal and State governments must live up to their moral and constitutional duties and responsibilities by ending the slaughter and the carnage now.

“The killings in Southern Kaduna are not a revenge, its terrorism and must be treated as such.

“Gunmen have become the government.

“Funeral services have become a daily routine and we are becoming a nation of endless mourning and ceaseless bereavement.

“Where women and children are killed and buried every day, the evil that will haunt and torment the nation has been planted.

“Nigerian political elites shed more tears when their friends die and no tears when their poor people die.

“The Nigerian poor respectfully mourn the death of the rich or the powerful, the rich or the powerful have no tears for the death of the poor.

“Where the people cannot be protected from systemic killings and are not allowed to defend themselves, the government carries the sum of the moral burden of guilt and complicity.

“The national flag is splashed with blood each time an innocent man or woman is killed,” Sani concluded.

NDDC Probe; Akpabio To Gbajabiamila: “I was Shut-up, Not Alowed To Respond To Abuses By A Lady, Called Boma” |The Source

By

The Source

-

July 27, 2020

0

By Akinwale Kasali

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has dared the National Assembly.

Akpabio who has been in trouble with the National Assembly, since he alleged that some of them were NDDC contractors, said he was shut-up, and not allowed to respond to what he called “abuse” by Hon. Boma Goodhead.

When the Minister wanted to respond to Hon. Boma’s question, desperate efforts were made to stop him from talking, and to stop Boma to stop her line of questioning.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila had later given Akpabio 72 hours to make public the names of NASS members who had collected contracts from the NDDC.

The former Akwa Ibom State Governor has now released the names of lawmakers involved in the alleged contract scandal at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Recall that the former lawmaker had forwarded a letter to the National Assembly where he noted that he did not accuse the lawmakers of receiving 60 per cent of the contracts for NDDC.

However, the part where the minister stated the names were not read on the floor of the house but were in the letter forwarded by the minister to the National Assembly.

The National Youth Council of Nigeria who released the document to the public in Abuja on Sunday expressed disappointment that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, refused to disclose the list of federal lawmakers who benefitted from the contracts awarded by the (NDDC).

According to the document, Akpabio listed Nwaoboshi’s name against 53 projects which included, Emergency Repairs of Asue Street, Owa Phase 2, Emergency Repairs of ldumuogbe Road via Ojemaye, Emergency Repairs of Otolokpo College Road, Otololkpo, and Emergency Repairs of Police lshu Ani Ukwu Road, Issele Uku

“They also included Emergency Repairs of old Sapele Agbor Road, Obiaruku, Emergency Repairs of Ehwerhe Obada Road Agbarho Road, Emergency Repairs of Hon. Ifeanyi Eboigbe Street Boji Boji Owa/Goodwill Street, Owa Alero, and Emergency Repairs of Ahiama Okwu to Obuocha Okwu among others.”

“Also the Minister listed Mutu’s name against 74 projects which included various emergency road projects in Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Rivers states.”

“Other lawmakers that Akpabio listed projects against are, Senator Mathew Urhoghide (6), James Manager (6), Sam Anyanwu (19), and others simply identified as Ondo and Edo reps.”

The President of the council, Solomon Adodo, while speaking with newsmen on Sunday said, “Mr Speaker did not do us justice when he did not disclose to the National Assembly that the list of the beneficiaries he demanded had been disclosed and attached to the letter sent to him.”

“Gbajabiamila’s decision to cover up his colleagues is unfair to the fight against corruption, quest for transparency, and to the commonwealth of our nation.”

“We, therefore, urge Mr Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, to resign for covering up for a set of people who had erred and breached the rules of the contract.”

“All the National Assembly members who benefited from the contracts without executing them should be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to those who may want to follow a similar path.”

“It is a clear case of organised crime to have individuals who benefited from illegality now rising to probe the fact that their illegality is being exposed.”

“We call on all the anti-graft agencies and security agencies to, in line with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, immediately proceed and go ahead with their investigation of the matter.”

The group noted that they are in full support of the forensic audit instituted by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs because it had exposed those who had benefited in the corruption that had festered in the NDDC.

In the document displayed by the Youths Council, Akpabio was quoted as having said that his letter became necessary because “the investigating Committee on NDDC refused and/or neglected to give me the opportunity to explain that reference to most NDDC contracts yearly being awarded since 2001 from the records allegedly to members of the National Assembly in both Chambers were done without the knowledge of the alleged beneficiaries.”

“However, the two chairmen of the Committees in both Chambers had adequate knowledge,” Akpabio reportedly stated.

Akpabio’s letter, as released by the Youth Council, further reads: “To show you some typical examples, herewith attached are documents showing nature of contracts amount of such contracts (in some cases), date of awards and beneficiaries some were awarded to the two chairmen of both committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively, serving at the period of the awards (Annexures ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’).”

The Council condemned the Minister for sending the letter to the National Assembly and not making the document forwarded to the house public.

The contracts were mainly for road construction, reconstruction rehabilitation within the nine Niger Delta States.

Akpabio’s letter, which was also copied to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, read in part: “May I extend to Mr Speaker the compliments of my office and those of the staff of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.”

“I refer to the resolution of the House passed on the 21st July 2020 and forwarded to me on the same day Ref.NASS/HR/LEG/3/36/VOL.ll/O8 directing me to respond to the contents therein within 48″

“The investigating Committee on NDDC refused and/or neglected to give me the opportunity to explain that reference to most NDDC contracts yearly being awarded since 2001 from the records allegedly to members of the National Assembly in both Chambers were done without the knowledge of the alleged beneficiaries. However, the two chairmen of the Committees in both Chambers had adequate knowledge.”

“I never referred to members of the 9th National Assembly as beneficiaries of NDDC contracts as NDDC is yet to fully implement any NDDC budget since the commencement of the 9th National Assembly. In fact. the 2019 budget passed in February and harmonised between the 4th and 5th of March 2020 was received by the Commission in the middle of April, 2020, when same was designated to expire on the 31st of May, 2020.”

“However, it is pertinent to point out that the Clerk of the National Assembly forwarded a letter Ref. NASS/CNA/115/VOL.38/1175, dated 20th March 2020, without attaching the budget details indicating that the 2020 budget of the NDDC passed into Law was being forwarded (copy of the letter is attached as Annexure ‘A’). This anomaly was brought to the attention of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee investigating a purported financial recklessness by the management of the commission in July 2020, though the first outcry was on allegation of missing N40bn which was totally untrue.”

“It has always been known that the two chairmen of the committees on NDDC in both chambers yearly exhibit unusual influence to the exclusion of committee members and even the management of the NDDC in appropriating funds to details embellished in the budget after the passage of line items at the plenaries. In the 2019 budget, the Executive Director Projects forwarded to me the attached list of 19 Nos. old contracts amounting to almost N9bn after tax, that the House of Representatives Committee Chairman on NDDC, Honourable Tunji-Ojo, insisted the IMC of NDDC must pay before 2019 budget details could be released to the commission (see Annexure ‘A1’).”

“To show you some typical examples, herewith attached are documents showing nature of contracts amount of such contracts (in some cases), date of awards and beneficiaries some were awarded to the two chairmen of both committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively, serving at the period of the awards (Annexures ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’). However, due to the 48 hours notice, the forensic auditors could not sift through the thousands of files in their possession to provide more.”

“The above explanation would have been made if the investigating committee did not shut me out from responding to the abuses on me by the lady representative called Boma.”

“May I assure Mr Speaker that as a former Minority Leader of the 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I shall forever promote the ideals of the National Assembly as an institution. Hence, I would not make the attached documents public since I obtained the documents from the lead forensic auditors in confidence (find attached Annexures ‘E’ and ‘F’ is my request to the lead forensic auditors and their response).”

“Permit me to explain that any reference to 50 per cent or 60 per cent during the investigative hearing was in answer to a question by an honourable member of the committee as to whether or not, a medical doctor could act as Executive Director Projects within the confines of the NDDC Act 2000. I answered in the affirmative, pointing out that the greatest project in the world today is COVlD-19 pandemic, which is medical in nature. Furthermore, I am made to understand that 50 to 60 per cent of NDDC yearly budgets are medical in nature. Therefore, it is fitting for a medical doctor to act as Executive Director Projects in these trying times.”

“Please accept, sir, the assurances of my esteemed regards and do pass my explanation to my colleagues in the 9th Assembly who probably misunderstood my assertion”.

NDDC: Gbajabiamila’s Ally, Others Named in Multi-Billion Contracts’ Scam |The Source

By

Bayo Bernard

-

July 27, 2020

0

By Fola James

The bubble has finally burst. Dr Cairo Ojougboh, executive director, Project of the embattled Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC has named House of Reps member, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, popular as BTO as one of those that were awarded multi-billion naira contracts by the Commission.

Tunji-Ojo is the chairman of the House Committee on NDDC and close ally of Speaker of the House of Reps, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Recall that the lawmaker from Ondo state recused himself from the NDDC probe, two weeks ago after the Managing Director of the interventionist agency, Professor Daniel Pondei accused him and other members of the National Assembly of benefitting from contracts awarded by the Commission.

The lawmaker had challenged the NDDC to show evidence that he or any other lawmaker was awarded contracts.

The probe got more controversial after Gbajabiamila also dared the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio to mention the names and companies of members of NASS that have benefitted from NDDC contracts.

But while speaking at the Palace of Asagba Asaba, Dr Ojougboh disclosed that Tunji-Ojo, Senator James Manager and Peter Nwaoboshi were among lawmakers awarded mouth watering contracts, that were sometimes, never executed, through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF.

He said the Commission has become a cash cow for corrupt lawmakers who saw it as their own goose that lays the golden eggs, adding that returning the agency to the SGF’s office, as the lawmakers have repeatedly clamoured, would worsen corruption in the commission.

According to him, Senator Nwaoboshi is the arrowhead of the group of senators and house of Reps members who have turned the NDDC to a business venture.

Dr Ojougboh said of the senator from Delta state thus “Look at our son, Nwaoboshi, his factory is the warehouse of NDDC, they will award the contract, they will now say they received the contract in his factory.

We have the list of the contracts given to NASS members, all of them were collected through Mutu, Nwaoboshi, Manager and Ojo.
What the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs said was very right, he did not recant, that is what people don’t understand.”

The NDDC director said the scam was perpetrated without the knowledge of other lawmakers.

“Ninth Assembly is not involved, the involvement of the Ninth Assembly is through Ojo,” Ojougboh said adding that “in the probe, NASS members are the contractors, they are the judge, they are the prosecutors and they are the jailers.

That is the country we find ourselves. If this country must move improve, we must look at NASS, and I will tell them where to go at NASS.”

Since inception in 2000, NDDC has received at least N15 TRILLION project funds, without much to show for it, according to checks by the magazine.