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N80bn Fraud: “I’m Not Guilty”, Ex-Gov Bello Tells Court Today

By
James Orji
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Yahaya Bello in Court

Former Governor of Kogi state has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him that he stole over N80 billion belonging to the state. Bello, took the position on Friday when the charges were read to him at the Federal high court Abuja, where he’s currently being tried for corruption.

The former governor is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFFC which accused him of money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds while he was governor.

The ex-Kogi strongman  was in office for eight years until he left last year.

Bello took the no-guilty plea after the 18-charge was read to him today during his arraignment before Justice Emeka Nwite.

When the case was called for hearing, counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed Justice Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, of the intention of the prosecution to withdraw an earlier application for abridgment of the earlier date fixed for arraignment.

He said the application had been overtaken by events.

However, the defendant’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not object, and Justice Nwite accordingly granted the request.

The magazine reported that Bello was a fugitive for several months until he handed himself over to the anti-graft commission on November 26.

Three days ago, a federal high court in Abuja presided over by Justice Maryann Anenih denied him bail after his counsels applied for same in the court.

Justice Anenih later adjourned his bail hearing till January 25 next year.

OPINION: Grid Collapse: A trillion Dollar Economy Impossible Without Stable, Reliable Electric Power

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Power station

By Adekunle Adekoya

On Wednesday, the national power grid managed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, collapsed for the 11th time in 2024, leaving the country in complete blackout. Some people said that it wasn’t the 11th but the 12th time, on the average, a collapse of once a month.

Data from the National System Operator, NSO, showed that as of 2pm that day, none of Nigeria’s 26 power plants was on the grid.

Confirming the collapse of the grid, Abuja DisCo, Eko DisCo and Ikeja Electric apologised to their customers over the failure in supply.

It is only in our country that this shame will endure, to the consternation of all victims and nothing will happen to anybody, not even a query. We seem so used to the negative, including mass killings and kidnaps perpetrated by criminal gangs that we have stopped being surprised by their occurrence.

I had written about this before, wondering how, in a bid to simplify the problem, we don’t use one switch for all the appliances in a building. Somehow, we have insisted that just one switch is enough for the whole country.

I also averred that this needs a political solution, since politicians make policy which technocrats simply implement. By March, the grid had collapsed four times, and between then and now should have been ample time to look at the situation dispassionately towards generating a solution that will endure. No. All we see are just agbadas flying from one private jet to one airport terminal or the other in pursuit of things that have little to do with the welfare of the people who elected them.

What is worrisome about the power situation is the unrelenting release of platitudes on what will be done, can be done, but which never gets started and will never get done. It is a sign of mega unseriousness in the management of public affairs.

A few weeks ago, the National Bureau of Statistics released GDP growth figures, which the Presidency celebrated. In a statement, a presidential aide reiterated the president’s commitment to growing a trillion-dollar economy. Words that have no relation to reality. How do you grow a trillion dollar economy without stable, reliable electric power? Of all the power generation options available globally today, we remain stuck somehow with only hydro and thermal options.

It is clear that there exists a lot of potential with other options, especially solar and wind. Where are the policy frameworks to actualise these? Zip.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu told Nigerians that by year end, 150 MW of electricity would have been added to the national grid.

Adelabu said this while speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and visiting German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Adelabu added: “We have completed about 80 per cent of the pilot stage, which includes the importation, installation, and commissioning of 10 power transformers and 10 power mobile substations.

“These efforts have already added 750 megawatts to our grid capacity, and by year-end, an additional 150 megawatts will be realised upon full completion of the pilot phase.”

These efforts might come to nought if there isn’t a mindset change to deal with the single national grid. I’m no engineer, but common sense dictates that the single national grid cannot efficiently serve a huge area like Nigeria. We simply need to have smaller grids, perhaps on regional basis.

If not, the 750 MW already added and the 150 being expected, according to Adelabu, will remain shut-in due to inadequacies of the existing grid.

In short, breaking up the grid will open up an audit of aged and obsolete equipment, which will be easier to deal with. What I think Minister Adelabu should do is to engage his engineers on blueprints for smaller, more manageable grids and get the necessary political support to actualise it. Our electricity conundrum is not insoluble; what has kept us in the dark all these years is the mindset that insists on one grid. Most Nigerians agree that the little we generate can serve us more if better distributed. Distribution starts with transmission. In fact, I venture further to suggest complete privatisation of the transmission system after the grid has been broken down. What is National Control Centre? It is not only unneeded, but a carry-over from our experiences with military command and control. Even then, modern militaries function better with decentralised control systems, so long as operations are in tandem with political objectives.

One other thing being overlooked is electricity supply based on need and demand. Apart from the Lagos-Ibadan axis, the other part of the country that needs all the electricity it can get is the South-East. There are clusters of home-grown industries and enterprises in that part of the country that have thrived so far on generator power and will do better with public electricity. All these and more are what should inform ministerial policy initiatives on power.

Then, our state governors also have a lot to do about this. Since removal of subsidy, far more money has flown into state coffers than before. Let governors invest in power projects, instead of competing to build unviable airports that gulp billions with little effect on their states’ economies. Power projects will yield greater dividends than airports, and most of them won’t cost as much as airports.

Now that local government autonomy is assured by the recent Supreme Court judgment, local governments too can weigh in and invest in power, perhaps solar or wind. We need to break out of the binding chain of generated power with its convoluted and expensive distribution systems and embrace embedded power. But, let the politicians put on their thinking caps and provide the policy frameworks to make this happen. In terms of national development, it’s morning, yet!

LG Financial Autonomy: Chairmen Not Allowed To Build Airports

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Local government chairmen in the country have received stern warning not to mismanage funds belonging to local governments in the country.

Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, gave the warning on Thursday in Abuja, at the 2024 annual conference of the National Association of Judiciary correspondents stressing that they risk jail if they tamper with the funds.

He said the financial autonomy will allow the chairmen to discharge their duties effectively to their people.

According to the nation’s chief law officer, the LG chairmen have no immunity to protect them from prosecution, and as such they must think deeply before dipping their hands in the till.

Fagbemi also warned the chairmen that financial autonomy does not give them the rights to embark on bogus projects such as the construction of airports which do not directly benefit their people.

The AGF, according to analysts, was referencing some state governments which have embarked on the construction of airports, believed by many not to be a priority to their people.

Fagbemi stated this on Thursday in Abuja, at the 2024 annual conference of the National Association of Judiciary correspondents where he charged the council chairmen to fulfil their responsibilities effectively, adding that local governments play key roles in promoting grassroots development.

He explained that road construction and repairs, provision of primary health and education, are among the constitutional roles that LG chairmen should embark on.

He warned that “Projects like building airports, which are outside their scope, will not be tolerated,” saying they must be accountable with the resources put under their care.

The AGF stated, “If they choose to tamper with public funds and fail to deliver on their constitutional mandates, they risk going to jail. The trust placed in them must not be betrayed.

“Primary education must be accessible to every child, pregnant women and infants must receive quality healthcare, and the vulnerable in our society must benefit from sustainable welfare programmes.”

In July this year, the Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment, gave financial autonomy to the 774 local governments in the country, removing the third tier of government from the apron strings of the state governments which they had been tied to for years.

Judiciary Is ‘Sacred’ Nigeria Will Collapse Without It- Ozekhome

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Mike Ozekhome

Mike Ozekhome, has affirmed  that the judiciary still remains the best hope for the country despite the teething problems facing the sector.

He said the judiciary is still better compared to the two arms of government, the Executive and Legislature.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, made the remark on Thursday in Abuja, the nation’s capital while speaking at the 2024 Conference of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents, NAJUC.

The senior lawyer made the admonition amidst the recent bashing the nation’s judicial system has faced recently, over suggestions among not a few Nigerians that corruption is highly endemic within the system.

A lawyer and rights activist , Dele Farotimi have pointed out the alleged many rots in the nation’s judicial system in his controversial book ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’ for which he’s now being tried for defamation.

His trial has further worsened the negative impression among not a few Nigerians that corruption, indeed thrives in the nation’s justice system, highlighting for instance, that justice is cash and carry in the country.

Speaking yesterday, Ozekhome said the country faces imminent collapse without the judiciary despite the obvious challenges, saying anarchy looms without an efficient judicial system.

He however warned those aggrieved to continue seeking reprieve in the court, rather than attacking the system, urging the courts to ensure that justice is dispensed.

He said, “I still want to believe that despite all the issues the judiciary may have, it remains the best of the three arms of government. If you remove the judiciary, Nigeria will collapse like a pack of cards.

“The role of the courts is very sacred in the functioning of society and must be held with the highest esteem.”

“We Have Arrested Marketers of  Recalled Deekins Amoxycillin Capsule” – NAFDAC

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Deekins Amoxylin 500

By Akinwale Kasali

Kingsley Ekeanyanwu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Divine Kings Pharmaceutical Limited has been arrested.

Ekeanyanwu was arrested on the orders of the National Agency for Food and  Drugs Administration Control, NAFDAC, for marketing recalled Deekins Amoxycillin 500mg Capsules.

He is presently in Police custody.

NAFDAC’s Director General,  Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, on Thursday confirmed the arrest.

Adeyeye who disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja, also noted that the agency is investigating the suspected substandard Deekins capsule, manufactured by Ecomed Pharma Ltd.

“If we see bad actors, we go after them, we shut them down. We inspect their facility. If they don’t meet Good Manufacturing Practices, we shut them down temporarily or permanently, depending on the gravity; we have done that, and we have record.

“For this particular case, the Managing Director of Divine Kings Pharmaceutical is in custody in Lagos,” she said.

Adeyeye emphasised that the investigation of the capsule stemmed from reports of serious adverse drug reactions being experienced by patients that took the medication across the country.

NAFDAC had on Wednesday stated that the drug has been recalled due to reports of serious adverse drug reactions associated with this batch.

The NAFDAC boss said, “According to Ecomed Pharma Ltd, reports of serious adverse drug reactions were received from a hospital that reported three cases of serious adverse drug reactions from patients administered with the batch of Deekins Amoxycillin 500mg.

“In the statement obtained from Mr. Kingsley Ekeanyanwu, the Marketing Authorization Holder, capsule, Divine King Pharmaceutical Ltd, stated that all products were manufactured by Ecomed Pharma Ltd.

“The manufacturer Ecomed Pharma Ltd in his statement claimed to have produced only 20 packets of the affected batch number 4C639001 for the purposes of renewal of his registration. He also claimed to have manufactured 1,961 packets, Batch No 4C639002. However, 790 packs of Batch 4C639001 with manufacturing 03/2024 and expiry date 02/2027 were recalled, which he did not manufacture,” Adeyeye stated.

She said that the products have been sampled for laboratory analysis against the suspects, Pharm Ekene Christopher, Ecomed Pharma Ltd and Mr. Kingsley Ekeanyanwu, of Devine Kings Pharmaceutical Ltd.

She noted that the analysis is currently pending determination while the investigation is ongoing.

“Meanwhile, the Quality Control and Production Managers have been invited for further investigation, The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, the agency that issue site license for the site and the Pharmacist in charge has been notified.

“The public is hereby warned to avoid the use of the suspected substandard Deekins Amoxycillin 500mg Capsule. NAFDAC implores distributors, healthcare providers, and patients to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid distribution, administration, and use of the affected lots of the product. All medical products must be obtained from authorised/licensed suppliers. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.

“Anyone in possession of the affected lot is advised to immediately discontinue the sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office. If you have used this product, or someone you know, has used it, or suffered any adverse reaction/event after use, are advised to seek immediate medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

An alert has been placed against this product on December 3, 2024,” she highlighted.

She advised healthcare professionals and consumers to report any suspicion of substandard and falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: [email protected].

“Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of the medicinal product to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med-safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on [email protected].

“Furthermore, note that this notice will be uploaded to the WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System,” she added.

SEDC: APC Writes President Tinubu, Demands Removal Of MD, Recomposition Of Board

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Mark Okoye

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Anambra State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC, has called on President Bola Tinubu to, as a matter of urgency, withdraw the appointment of Hon. Mark Okoye as the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer MD/CEO, of the South East Development Commission SEDC.

The Source reports that the President had, last week,  named former Labour and Productivity Minister, Chief Emeka Wogu, from Abia State, as the Chairman of the SEDC and, Okoye, from Anambra State, as the MD/CEO.

President Tinubu also named other Executive Directors for the nascent  South East intervention Agency.

The appointees are currently waiting to be screened and possibly cleared by the Senate .

But before then, the Anambra APC,  in a letter addressed to the President and copied the Senate, dated Thursday December 12, 2024, expressed strong reservations over the appointment of Okoye.

In the letter signed by Hon. Basil Ejidike and Engr Chidi Oji State Chairman and Secretary, respectively, the APC alleged that Okoye is a well known card-carrying member of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA ,and, as such, can not hold such a sensitive office as the Managing Director of SEDC.

The Party, also faulted the  nominations and appointments pattern to the Board, insisting that they seriously violated the provisions of the Act establishing the Commission.

According to the APC, the glaring exclusion of Ebonyi and Imo states from the membership of the Board of the Commission, clearly violates the provision that  demands that all the component states from the region be accommodated.

Similarly, the party described the appointment of Hon Okoye as the MD/CEO ,as a serious injury to both the leadership and members of the APC family in Anambra state.

It noted that Okoye, as a full fledged member of APGA , can not and will not be assumed to be representing the interests of the APC and its members.

To buttress its position, the Anambra APC ,informed that presently ,Hon.Okoye ,is the Managing Director of Anambra State Investment ,Promotion and Protection Agency ANSIPPA ,a position given to him by Governor Charles Soludo APGA led administration in the state.

” Sir ,we in Anambra state APC were aghast on receiving the news of the composition of the membership of the SEDC Board.

Permit us to use this medium to point out our observations with the above appointments.

From the membership of the Board ,it was observed that the nominations of members did not follow the provisions of the Act establishing the Commission ,which posit that Board memberships be drawn from the five South East states of Abia ,Anambra ,Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.

Sir ,the appointment of Hon.Mark C Okoye as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer is a big minus for the leadership and members of APC in Anambra state.

Considering the person and political affiliation of Hon Mark Okoye ,the party feels terribly injured and bruised if the appointment is allowed to stand.

Hon.Okoye is a full fledged member of the All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA and has served as Special Adviser to the Governor of Anambra state on Budget and Economic Planning in the Chief Willie Obiano APGA administration.

He is currently the Managing Director of the Anambra state Investment,Promotion and Protection Agency ANSIPPA ,in the Anambra state Government led by Prof.Charles  Soludo of APGA.

More worrisome is the fact that Your Excellency , appointed and inaugurated a serving member of APGA BOT ,Mrs Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu as the Minister of State ,Ministry of Foreign Affairs ,thereby representing Anambra state in the Cabinet of Mr President and the Federal Executive Council.

These appointments of non-APC members from.Anambra state have continued to debase the entire stakeholders and members of the party in the state” APC stated.

Consequently, the party called for an immediate review of the composition of the Commission’s Board accommodate all the states in the region.

It also demanded the reconsideration of Hon Okoye as the MD/CEO ,with a view to appointing an APC member ,who will be able to carry party members along.

“The party in Anambra has the capacity to produce very competent persons that can effectively man these offices and sincerely deliver on the mandate of Mr President in line with the party manifesto and programme”, the statement further noted.

Labour Party Loses Another Lawmaker To APC

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Ajang Illiya

By Akinwale Kasali

Less than a week after losing five of its members in the House of Representatives to the ruling All Progressives Congress, the Labour Party, LP, has once again lost another Lawmaker to the APC.

Ajang Illiya, a member of the LP caucus in the House of Representatives, representing the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, Plateau State, has defected to the APC.

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen announced Iliya’s defection during Thursday’s plenary after reading a letter from the lawmaker.

Illiya gave the reason for his defection as the political wrangling in the Labour Party and the need to align with the APC’s national development agenda under President Bola Tinubu.

The Labour Party has been in turmoil following the leadership crisis that is yet to abate.

Fmr Gov Bafarawa, Rights Activist, Naja’tu Rally Northern Youths, Float Empowerment Initiative

By
Ayodele Oni
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Attahiru Bafarawa

By Ayodele Oni

An initiative aimed at addressing the myriad of sociopolitical and economic challenges facing Northern Nigeria, has been birthed, courtesy of two prominent figures in the zone.

They are former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, and human rights advocate, Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed, that launched the Northern Star Youth Empowerment Initiative (NSYE).

Speaking at a press conference held at the Arewa House in Kaduna, Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed, Co-Chairman of NSYE, emphasized that the organization’s vision is to ignite a transformative era for Northern Nigeria.

She stressed that the movement is not politically motivated and will focus on empowering the youth to drive positive change in the region.

According to Mohammed, the current challenges facing the North extend beyond politicization of security, social, and economic issues.

She emphasized the need for bold and innovative solutions that require significant contribution and collaboration between leaders and youth.

The objectives of NSYE, as outlined by Mohammed, include galvanizing and harnessing the mental and physical strength of individuals across the Northern region to achieve social and economic development.

Former Governor Bafarawa lamented the decline of the Northern region, which he described as the stabilizing factor of corporate Nigeria.

He emphasized the need for elites to take responsibility for the region’s development, rather than sitting idly by while the region declines.

Bafarawa charged the youth to take the initiative with vigor and seriousness, igniting a torch that would light their path to Northern greatness, regardless of religious, ethnic, or personal sentiments.

The press conference also witnessed the appointment of NSYE representatives from various Northern states.

Kano Police Command Rescues Victims Of Human Trafficking

By
Ayodele Oni
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Nigerian Police

By Ayodele Oni

The Kano Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has received 10 rescued victims of human trafficking.

The agency’s Zonal Commander, Mr Abdullahi Babale, disclosed this on Thursday in Kano while receiving the victims from the Nigeria Police Force, Kano State Command.

According to him, the victims were rescued on December 7 at about 2.40 p.m. in a house situated at Rijiyar Lemu Quarters in Kano by a team of policemen,

Babale added that the rescued victims, aged between 22 and 42, comprised six females and four males, explaining that “they were on their way to Libya for labour exploitation.

“The rescued victims are from Delta, Edo, Osun, Ogun, and Lagos states.”

The zonal commander commended the Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Mr Salman Dogo-Garba, for his support and cooperation toward rescuing the victims.

He explained that the victims would be counselled and rehabilitated before reuniting them with their families and urged parents to protect their children from being exploited and lured into slavery in the name of seeking for greener pasture.

Babale also urged the public to report suspicious cases of human trafficking in their respective communities.

Workers Protest Wage Disparity: Gov Aiyedatiwa Says: “Allow Them To Protest”

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ondo State Internal Revenue Service Workers Protest

By Ayodele Oni

Workers of the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS) on Thursday, shut offices, protesting over disparity in  the implementation of the new minimum wage.

The protesting staff of ODIRS, who are majorly junior staff are kicking against the contrast between the lavish compensation of senior executives and the meagre wages of junior staff in the establishment.

The workers, who took control of the  office premises as early as 8am, blocked the major road and other offfices, complaining about their non inclusion in the payment of the minimum wage.

Armed with placards of various inscriptions, they vowed not to return to their various offices until the matter is resolved.

According to the workers, the management had been briefed about the disparity but that nothing was done over the matter which prompted open confrontation.

They alleged the management of the ODIRS of insensitive to the plight of its workers and accusing them of embezzlement.

The workers called on the state government to urgently look into their demands in order not to down tools, saying they deserve a better remuneration.

While responding, Special Adviser to Ondo Governor on Union Matters, Bola Taiwo, said the protest is a minor issue, which will be resolved soon and assured the protesting workers that the state government will urgently address their demands.

“This protest is a minor issue because all core civil servants, including local government employees, parliamentary staff, and political appointees, have received their salaries.

The affected workers of the ODIRS are from the private sector, not public servants, but the governor directed yesterday that they should not be paid the old salary but the new minimum wage.

“We asked for their demands, but they provided none. We are unsure of the protest’s motivation. Normally, they should have submitted a formal letter of demand to the government.

“The governor who is currently in Abuja called some few minutes ago, instructing us not to force them out but to allow them to protest.

“The minimum wage approval will be signed within the next 30 minutes. There is no salary problem in Ondo State. If they have unresolved issues with their management, they need to present their demands formally”

He frowned at the no prior notice over the protest saying “the governor was very concerned upon hearing about it yesterday, which is why he instructed us to be here early today.

“I arrived at 7am with representatives from all organized labor unions in the state. We came to listen and address them. When the Director of Finance and Administration (DFA) arrived, we reviewed the salary details, and the governor’s directive was signed immediately.

“We are here to communicate with them, pass necessary information, and resolve any outstanding management issues. This is the first time such a protest has happened, and we are ready to engage with them in good faith”

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