Photo: 2shotz meets his daughter 6 months after she was born
No immunity in government house APC tells Fayose
“Let us educate Fayose that a Government House is not the same as foreign embassies or missions that enjoy physical immunity from security activities by local armed forces. While a governor enjoys immunity from physical and body security search, the same cannot be said of the Government House because no law in the nation’s constitution says the Government House should be a breeding ground for insurrection and insurgency where state enemies can assemble arms to topple a legitimate government and we suspect Fayose as an accomplice in the arms stockpiling saga in the Akwa Ibom Government House, otherwise there is no reason for him to be edgy and agitated in his response.
We know why Fayose is blackmailing DSS in this matter. Ekiti Government House is home to thugs and criminal elements armed to the teeth that the governor has been using against the opposition. They were used on massive scale during the last elections to attack the opponents. As we speak, they are still lodged in the Government House where they take off at nights to rob and kidnap innocent Ekiti people. We never had this kind of experience for four years of Governor Kayode Fayemi until Fayose started his campaign with importation of criminals that have been stalking the state residents.
We call on DSS to be alert to its responsibilities of maintaining internal cohesion and security integrity across the country and should comb everywhere, including the Aso Rock if need be, to ensure that no man in authority constitutes himself as a security risk to the nation’s unity
Photo: 2 pupils who got injured in the Jos school building collapse
Two Nigerians charged with the murder of a 17-year-old boy in UK
"There was a big chase," she said. They ran through the estate, some on bikes, some on foot. By the end of it when he died there were about 15people around him. I just heard the screams, the cries - a primal scream of death. I could really hear it. I don't know if it was one of his friends who realized that he was dead but it was the most echoing, crying noise"
Earlier statement from the Metropolitan Police indicates that Akeem Gbadamosi and Eugene Ocran were charged on Wednesday, September 9 and appeared in custody at Hendon Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 10 September. Sodiq Adebayo appeared in custody at Hendon Magistrates' Court on Saturday 12 September.
2015 elections: I saw PDP defeat coming – Ogbemudia
A former Governor of old Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, has attributed failure of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general election to the party’s refusal to take full assement of its previous victories.
Ogbemudia, who stated this when he was registered for the PDP biometric registration in Benin on Monday, said the party mismanaged its successes in previous elections.
He also noted that the defeat would have been avoided if the leadership of the party had listened to advice from well meaning members and some leaders of the party.
The former governor, who expressed believe that the party would regain it lost glory, he said he is always available to provide whatever support needed to bring the party back to its pride of place in the country’s history.
He, however, debunked the insinuation that he has relinquished his membership of the PDP.
Ogbemudia said, “The party initial mistake was made when it refused to take full assement of its victories. Therefore we mismanage the successes recorded in previous polls. It is the outcome we are all suffering now.”
“I will do all that is necessary to enable the party get back to its winning way.
“I will only cease being a member of the PDP when I can no longer breathe. While I am alive, I will continue to support a PDP that is well led by a remarkable Nigerian who understands the act of service.
“This card, I will treasure it, I will continue to believe that it is the only passport to a destination that is yet to be carved out.”
FG bars tax consultants from collecting tax
Tax consultants have been shut out of assessing and collecting tax revenue on behalf of the federal government.
This clarification was given Monday by the new Acting Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Mr. Babatunde Fowler in Abuja when he met with members of the Joint Tax Board (JTB).
Fowler admitted that consultants will be engaged by the FIRS to gather data only.
He said the FIRS has “under 1,000 staff in audit function so you can imagine 1,000 staff trying to review or audit the books of 450,000 companies, it just won’t work, to improve the levels of transparency and accountability these consultants will only gather data, the law does not allow them to do assessment or collect revenue on behalf of government they’re just to assist our staff to collect data.”
The FIRS he said; “will do the assessment with the States Board of Internal Revenue and issue the demand notices for the tax due.”
Some state members of the JTB had complained that “many consultants come to make huge claims so that they can get huge commissions, but they don’t have the capacity to actually collect the huge revenue they claim to have collected in some states.”
On recent calls for an upward review of the Value Added Tax (VAT) collected by the federal government, Fowler noted that “it is the responsibility of the federal government and the federal ministry of finance to decide whether that (VAT) will change.”
Fowler agreed that 5 percent VAT charge was low “when you consider other countries who charge VAT both in West Africa and in Europe but those other countries have reached what I will call the maximum level when it comes to paying taxes or public tax. Those countries have 99 percent tax compliance so I think we should first of all get there before we consider increasing VAT, when everyone is paying their taxes then we can look elsewhere.”
In order to build on the achievements of his predecessors Fowler said he would reached out to States Board of Internal Revenue for collaboration stressing that “there are many stones left unturned as far as our current tax administration processes are concerned. For example it is common knowledge that administration of VAT is greatly hindered by many factors, ranging from inadequate coverage of vatable persons to non-remittances of VAT deductions, tax revenue loss in this aspect can only be imagined,” he said.
Speaking to journalists on how the FIRS will operate under his watch, Fowler said his “strategy is going to change a bit, our objective is to have 99.9 percent level of compliance meaning that everyone and corporate entities that are taxable are captured in the tax net and pay the appropriate tax.”
The FIRS he said will “exchange information with states boards of internal revenue so that we have all the information on their own data base, we’ve given them ours already meaning that if there is any company that they don’t have in their data base they can capture such company so immediately we will have a growth in the number of tax payers at both the federal and state levels within one week.”
Alleged N1.7b fraud: EFCC arrests Lagos businessman
Firm loses fortune in phoney deal
Outdoor giant Afromedia is battling to handle its most difficult brief ever — how to retrieve a fortune invested in a phoney deal.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is helping.
The anti-graft agency has arrested a Lagos businessman, Alhaji Mohammed Gobir, for allegedly defrauding the foremost outdoor advertising company of cash estimated to be N1.7 billion in various currencies.
Gobir was picked up at his Ikoyi home and put in detention.
A source in the commission said: “The mega heist allegedly fetched Gobir $3,500,000, N514,457,151.87, $2,102,740, and 51,000 pounds sterling at various times.
“Gobir, a 55–year-old father of two, was picked up by EFCC operatives early Saturday at his Ikoyi residence and is still being interrogated at the Lagos office of the anti-graft agency.
“The suspect allegedly defrauded the advertising company through a phoney investment deal.
“The suspect was allegedly introduced to Afromedia sometime in 2008 by their private placement consultants, Synergy Capital Advisory Limited, as a high networth investor who was willing to inject N1,000,000,000 into the company, through the acquisition of shares.
“Based on his touted pedigree as potential investor, Gobir cozy up to the management and in no time became chairman of the Business Development Committee of the board of directors of the company, a position which he later used to defraud the company.
“Having earned the trust of the company owners, Gobir started demanding large amounts of money, which he termed as business expenses to international consultants, Royal Exchange Burue in the United Kingdom in order to facilitate and secure investments from his bank in the UK, Natwest Bank London.
“The company gave Gobir $1,000,000 in cash and paid for his travel expenses on a first class return ticket to UK where he would meet with the purported investors, which investigation later showed never existed nor were the meetings ever held.”The commission said the fraud was uncovered when the group managing director of Afromedia followed Gobir to London on a business trip.
The source added: “On one good day after the suspect had collected several amounts of money and made several trips to the UK to meet with the purported investors, the group managing director of Afromedia accompanied him to the UK for another round of meeting ostensibly to close the deal.
“But as soon as they landed in the UK, Gobir made a telephone call in which his travel companion overheard him scream aloud, saying his assets were seized by UK anti-money laundering authorities.
“He even showed the GMD an email sent to him for the alleged seizure.
“The suspect confessed to the MD of Afromedia that his money( $250,000,000) was seized by the British authorities five years earlier for alleged money laundering and that he was currently financially handicapped and he needed a bailout of $3,817,000 to get the European Union Money Laundering Waiver Certificate.
“The suspect later presented a “waiver certificate”, to the company and promised to pay them the monies he had collected.”
The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren who confirmed the arrest, said investigation into the scam continued.
Edo police chief to lead raids on criminals
Edo State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, has said he would personally lead raids on criminal hideouts as well as embark on street patrols throughout his stint in the state.
Ezike, who last week resumed as the new police boss in Edo, charged officers and men of the state police command to sacrifice their personal comfort for the safety of the people.
He spoke on Monday while delivering his inaugural address at a meeting with senior officers, area commanders, Divisional Police Officers and heads of departments.
Ezike ordered immediate recall of policemen posted to unauthorized individuals as well as other policemen who were posted illegally.
He said office personnel in the state should be reduced by 50 percent because “adequate policing is done in the field.”
He identified armed robbery, kidnapping and cultism as major security challenges in the state and charged the officers to use scientific method in tackling crimes within their jurisdiction.
UNTH Doctors vows to continue ten weeks old strike
The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) has vowed to continue its indefinite strike until the hospital yields to their demands.
In a communique issued in Ibadan by the President of ARD, Dr Ugwuoke Aloy Ifedinso and it’s General Secretary, Dr Ndiokwelu Chibuzo,said after an exhaustive and careful debate by the members of the association, they unanimously resolved that the ten weeks old strike of the association will continue indefinitely until the hospital management makes adequate commitment towards meeting all their legitimate demands.
“The management has done nothing different from the state of things before the strike commenced.
W advised the hospital management in the best interest of the numerous patients of UNTH to liaise with their colleagues in other Federal Teaching Hospitals in the country to know how thy implement and paid the salaries and hence industrial harmony exist.
“The payment of our Teaching Allowance Arrears, advancement arrears, months relativity arrears, all outstanding update and exam refunds and capitations due to ARD UNTH is sacrosanct and must be cleared to bring our members at par with their colleagues in other centres.
” all the excos and all volunteering members of our association are mandated to do all within the ambit of the law to expose the injustices being meted out on our members to the whole world and cause the UNTH management to do the needful.” they said
The association also demands for the forensic auditing of UNTH personnel records in conjunction with NMA Enugu State and MDCAN UNTH as agreed in a meeting between the NMA and Committee of CMDs/MDs several months ago.
They said:”This of course will include the critical review of UNTH warrant of pay and nominal roll to ascertain how UNTH personnel cost has been utilized in the past four years at least.
”We express our full commitment and support for the ‘Change’ agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari which has already started yielding enormous and palpable fruits to the ordinary Nigerians. We however appeal to the President to cause the UNTH management to immediately put an end to this impasse by shifting grounds in favour of our demands which are not only legitimate but attainable,” the communique said.
Buhari greets Bamanga Tukur at 8O
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated one of Nigeria’s foremost entrepreneurs, political leaders and elder statesmen, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as he celebrates his 80th birthday on Tuesday.
Buhari joined Alhaji Tukur’s family, friends, associates and well-wishers in rejoicing with him as he marks another notable milestone in a very worthy and fulfilled life.
The President, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, seized the opportunity of the Tafidan Adamawa’s 80th birthday to reaffirm the nation’s enduring gratitude for his significant contributions to Nigeria’s political and socio-economic development over the years.
He particularly commended Tukur’s diligent and patriotic service to his community, state and country as a public servant, political leader and accomplished businessman of international repute.
The President also extolled the exemplary political maturity and commitment to national peace and development displayed by the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in being one of the first people to congratulate him after his victory in the March 28 presidential election.
He prayed that Almighty Allah will bless Tukur with many more years of good health and the company of his loving family and numerous friends within and outside Nigeria.
Labour union invades La Casera
Last Friday, the manufacturing operations of The La Casera Company, makers of the market leading Apple drink, La Casera, were over-run by an out of control mob led by representatives of the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco of Employees (NUFBTE).
According to the spokesperson of The Lacasera Company Mr. Tola Bademosi, “Over 200 shouting demonstrators, some bussed in from out of state, broke into the factory which employs over 780 people at its site near Mile 2.
“Caught unawares with no prior notice, security guards were unable to hold back the unruly group who broke into the complex, entering offices and production areas. Production line workers were compelled to stop work and assemble in the factory yard where they were forced to sign membership consent forms to join the union on the spot. Some of those who refused to sign were brutalized.
He also said that employees who were caught filming the disturbance were beaten and their mobile devices were seized.
SInce then, the production plant has remained closed because the organization could not guarantee the safety of their workers.
“Management was compelled to shut operations and send everyone home. The plant has remained closed over the weekend with its fate uncertain as leaders of the mob have threatened to return again with an even larger force.
Since its launch in Lagos 15 years ago, La Casera Apple Drink has become one of Nigeria’s top soft drink brands found in stores and traffic situations across the country. Its success has made The La Casera Company the largest local manufacturer of Carbonated Soft Drinks and 3rd largest in the country, in a market dominated by large multinational groups.
In the last 12 months the company has also invested in the creation of 2 new brands – Smoov Chapman, Nigeria’s first on-the-go Chapman and most recently, Bold Bitter Lemon Extra.
Police restates commitment to rid FCT of criminals
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu, has assured residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of the command’s commitment to rid the territory of criminals.
Wilson gave the assurance at a meeting with Media Executives, motor mechanics and panel beaters in Abuja on Monday.
“We want to assure you that our raid on black spots in the territory is ongoing and some arrests and discoveries have been made,“ he said.
He said that the meeting was part of the strategies adopted by the command to fight crime in the territory.
“The police will continue to interface with members of the community for safe environment.
“FCT is safe and secure, there are no major issues of concerns, but we are on red alert,“ he said.
The commissioner said that all entrance and exit points into the territory were secure.
He said that the command’s operation was not limited to the city centre alone but also to the satellite settlements.
Wilson assured that the command would not hesitate to punish any personnel for any acts of indiscipline in the course of carrying out their duty.
“The Command will not condone any acts of indiscipline, we will deal decisively with it,“ he said.
On the cases of car theft in the territory, he urged motor mechanics and panel beaters to always report to the police before painting or replacing parts of accident vehicles.
“We must know why you are changing the colour or part of the vehicle, “ he said.
He added that there would be massive operation by personnel of the command against unpainted taxis operating in the territory.
Wilson said that the command would work in collaboration with the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation and FCT Transportation Department, to allow painted taxis access to some places.
He said that the command was collaborating with neighbouring states of Kogi, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Niger to check crime.
The commissioner commended the media for partnering with the command in the fight against crime in the territory.
Contributing, Chris Okenwa of We FM radio, urged the commissioner to ensure that residents of satellite towns in the FCT benefited from services of the police.
Mr. Chris Agbambu, Abuja Bureau Chief of the Nigerian Tribune, commended the efforts of the command in responding quickly to distress calls by residents
Permanent Secretary stalls budget probe
Reps
House of Representatives’ investigation into the performance of the capital component of 2015 budget could not take off again for the second time in a week.
The absence of the Federal Ministry of Finance’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Anastasia Mabi Daniel-Nwaobia at the public hearing halted proceedings at the hearing despite the presence of seven agencies of government invited for the hearing.
The committee will begin the investigation next Tuesday after being informed that the Permanent Secretary will still not be available throughout this week. The decision to go on with the hearing on Tuesday followed the intervention of President Mohammadu Buhari’s National Assembly liason officers, Senator Eta Inang and Suleiman Kawu.
They said the permanent secretary would be on official duty outside the country throughout the week.
The committee summoned the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
The agencies that appeared before the committee yesterday included the Budget Office of the Federation, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the Fiscal Responsibility Commission among others.
The committee refused to allow the representative of for Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Aliyu Gusau who is the director general Budget Office to make any presentation on behalf of the Finance Ministry.
Members of the committee, who were unanimous in their decision to postpone the hearing, took turn to explain the implication of the absence of the Permanent Secretary at the hearing.
The Chairman of the Committee, Pategi, said his panel would not compromise the transparency mantra of the current administration.
“We need to know the budget performance, do we have difficulties implementing it, is the nation broke, there are lots more to know.
“For instance, we are concerned that Zenith bank is laying off about 1000 workers and that’s part of the reasons the House is worried about the capital expenditure of the budget because of it’s implications on Nigerians”.
Nicholas Ossai noted that the Permanent Secretary may not be aware of the enormity of the hearing by sending a representative after failing to appear before the committee a week earlier.
THE NATION
Autogenius unveils website relaunch, records 100% paid claims
Nigeria’s first online auto insurer, Autogenius launched last October has recorded a 100% paid claims processed by its five leading insurance partners AIICO Insurance, Custodian and Allied Insurance, Leadway Assurance, NEM Insurance and Royal Exchange. As part of its efforts to enhance the quality of customers’ shopping experience and availability of information, the company has launched its redesigned website.
With the use of simple explanatory banners, the website directs visitors to their preferred auto insurance options and available providers. The product page at a glance offers a detailed introduction to the various auto insurance packages available.
Speaking at the event, Kola Oyeneyin, Chief Executive Officer Venia Technologies, parent company to AutoGenius,sauid: “The new website was created with the user experience firmly in mind. This is a result of talking with customers and gaining valuable feedback. We are excited to be able to provide the ultimate user-friendly experience with improved navigation and functionality which enables customers access auto insurance products easily”, he said.
He added that AutoGenius provides users with a start-to-finish e-insurance experience. Allows vehicle owners and operators search for quotes from their preferred insurance providers, compare prices and features and purchase auto insurance online.
THE NATION
Tiwa Savage shows off post baby bod
NECO records 68% five credits pass
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released its June/July 2015 results with 511, 931 or 68.56 per cent of the students recording five credit pass and above in all subjects including English Language and Mathematics.
Announcing the release of results yesterday at the Council National headquarters in Minna, the Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Prof Abdulrashid Garba said the result shows 12 per cent improvement to the results of the 2014 result released by the council and a remarkable improvement to the results in the last four years.
According to him, 969, 991 candidates registered for the examination out of which 969, 491 sat for the examinations in centers across the country.
Giving a breakdown of the results, the NECO Registrar said 83.28 per cent credit pass in English Language and 80.74 per cent credit pass in Mathematics.
The Registrar lamented that despite the adequate vigilance and monitoring by his organisation, NECO still recorded substantial malpractices which led to leading to cancellation of
43,608 culprits results and black listing of culpable adhoc staff.
Garba said 13 states were partially indebted to NECO, with commitment to pay and the Council released the results of those states adding that some private schools also owe the organisation but all results were released except those involved in malpractices.
In the analysis of candidates performance by states, Delta State? scored the highest in five credits and above including English and Mathematics with 83.51 percent, and Edo state follows suit with 83.42 percent.
THE NATION
FG sends technical team to investigate electrocution of UNILAG student
A statement by the Deputy Director in charge of press at the Ministry of Power, Timothy Oyedeji, said the technical team, led by Engr. Peter Ewesor of Nigeria Electricity Management Services Limited, (NEMSL) arrived Lagos State yesterday September 10th and is already at the scene of the incident. The statement in part reads..
“At the end of the exercise, the team is expected to find out what actually went wrong and which groups or individuals are culpable after which appropriate sanction will be forwarded to the regulator, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Furthermore, the report will also contain future mitigating measures that would prevent future occurrence of this kind of fatalities.”
Workers demand death for all treasury looters
Labour yesterday called for death penalty for corruption convicts.
To the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the anti-corruption laws are too weak to stop potential treasury looters. They must be strengthened.
The NLC demostrated its support for the Muhammadu Buhari administration’s battle with rallies and picketing of Government Houses in state capitals.
Many streets were paralysed by the protesters, who carried placards
In Abuja, NLC President Ayuba Waba led the protest. The team marched on the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF) and the National Assembly premises.
Presenting a letter to the SGF, Mr. David Bachir Lawal, Waba said:
“Gone is the day when people that are corrupt will get perpetual injunctions restraining EFCC from prosecuting them. If we have such cases, Nigerian workers are ready to go to their residences and bring them to court and also interrogate the judge.
“Our judiciary must sit up. Gone are the days when perpetual injunctions are issued,,restraining agencies of government from prosecuting corrupt public officers. We must be on the same page and therefore, Nigerian workers are ready to invade the courts and the sanctity of such judges.
“We are also demanding that the penalty of corrupt public officers should be made very strict, including capital punishment. If has worked elsewhere and there is no reason why it should not work here. Therefore, all of us are here to try to present our position.”
Lawal commended labour for standing beside the Buhari administration in its quest to make corruption a thing of the past. He assured them that the government will not fail Nigerians in the fight against corruption.
The Government secretary said the government considers labour as partners in the development of the country and not enemies, pointing out that with the workers supporting the government’s fight against corruption, the fight is almost won.
He said if the country must move forward, corruption must be made unattractive, while those who engage in corrupt practices should not be given any place to hide.
There was a mild drama at the first gate to the National Assembly when security agents locked the gates, preventing labour and civil society organisations from gaining access to deliver their protest letters.
The angry workers who were kept at the first gate to the National Assembly for about 10 minutes threatened to pull down the gates if they were not allowed.
The workers and civil society organisations who began their march at the Unity Fountain also took the campaign to the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Some of the placards they bore read: ‘Payment of workers’ salaries is not negotiable’; ‘Stop corruption; Nigeria can create million of jobs alone in agriculture’; ‘Invest in agriculture today; Corruption has damaged our communication sector, stop it’; recover our monies in the hands of past leaders now; corruption has increased poverty, fight it now; if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us; corruption promotes insecurity, stop it now, among others.
Waba said further labour abhors a situation where those who stole public funds are given light sentence or an option of fine, only to come out and enjoy the money they stole adding that in China, those found to be corrupt are shut to serve as deterrent to others.
“Our leaders must use their brains to come up with policies and programmes that will impact meaningfully on Nigerians. This is a struggle for all of us a struggle for a new Nigeria, a struggle for good governance and a struggle against corruption.
“We are here because our laws are very weak. Even if one steals N100 billion, he get two years jail term or part with a fraction of the money and is allowed to go and enjoy.
“The one that comes to mind is the case of Atiku Kigbo who stole billions from the Pension fund and what he got was two years imprisonment and N750,000.00 fine.
“We are also demanding that all political office holders both elected and appointed must declare their assets before assumption of office, mid way into their tenure and at the end of their office so that we can know whether they have stolen or not.
“Our generation and generation yet unborn will suffer for the consequences of not fighting corruption. For the first time in our history, workers went eight months without salaries. Let us not fight the symptom. The disease is corruption and lack of good governance”.
President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Boboi Kaigama said this was the first time in over 20 years that workers had to stay for several months without salaries as a result of corruption.
He said labour had always been in forefront of the fight against corruption, pointing out that President Buhari had only come out to align with the position of labour, pointing out that the onus of fighting corruption lies on the workers who are the only people paying taxes in the country.
He said that workers cannot afford to wait for the EFCC, ICPC or the police to fight corruption in the country, pointing out that the time has come when Nigerians should stand up and stamp out corruption.
Chairman of EFCC Ibrahim Lamorde commended the labour efforts in supporting the fight against corruption and assured that they will act on the letter with dispatch.
Lamorde assured that they will not be deterred in their zeal to fight corruption in the country in line with the aspiration of Nigerians and President Muhammadu Buhari.
At the National Assembly, Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena received the letter on behalf of the Senate President Bukola Saraki.
He assured them that the Senate was in agreement with the President’s anti corruption campaign and will do everything possible to ensure that fight against corruption in the country is a success.
Alimikhena said as part of the senate’s fight against corruption, it had asked for the abolition of waiver on the importation of rice as well as investigating investment in the power sector since 1999.
House of Representatives member Sani Zorro who represented Speaker Yakubu Dogara, apologized to labour for the difficulty encountered while trying to access the National Assembly.
He said the House of Representatives is in full support of the fight against corruption in the country.
General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, Comrade Isa Aremu and President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) Dr. Nasir Fagge, also spoke at the rallies.
Buhari and the new anti-graft battle
•President Buhari
It looked complex when it started, but President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption battle is gaining more converts by the day. BUNMI OGUNMODEDE examines the development and and states the conditions that will make the war successful.
I don’t think any Nigerian is in favour of corruption or is against the President’s commitment to ensuring that we turn a new leaf.” That was Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, speaking to reporters at the Presidential Villa, Abuja after President Muhammadu Buhari hosted members of the Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar –led Peace Committee.
President Buhari has not left anybody in doubt on his stance on corruption. Even before winning the March 28 election, the desire to tackle insecurity and corruption was pivotal in his electioneering campaign. To him, something must be done about corruption as the social menace may pull down the country if allowed to thrive.
Going by a survey conducted by the TNS, a leading global research agency with offices in more than 80 countries, 91 per cent of Nigerians are in support of the President’s anti-corruption crusade. Considering his antecedents and spartan lifestyle, about 86 per cent of Nigerians believe that Buhari has what it takes to make the country work again.
Some Nigerians who expected action from the blast of the whistle have expressed reservations as the government has not flung open the prison gates for those who plundered the commonwealth of the land. Many people expected much from the Buhari administration in its first 100 days. They branded the President as “Baba Go Slow”, a name tag he described as fitting. “I am going to go slow and steady. Nigerians should be patient to allow this administration put some sense into governance and deal with corruption,” he told those who see him as a slow coach. He gave the reply at an interactive session with Nigerians in the Diaspora at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC, United States (U.S.). He said he would rather go slow and steady in fulfilling his campaign promises.
But, the corrupt got a clear message – time is up – yesterday, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), marching in support of the President’s anti-corruption battle in major cities across the nation. They urged the President to go after corrupt officials, recoup stolen funds and punish offenders within the ambits of the rule of law. After their solidarity marches, the workers recommended capital punishment for corruption convicts.
There are speculations that some people have on their own been making moves to return stolen cash to stave off the pending embarrassment. Such people, it is believed, will get a soft landing as they would have saved the government the time and resources that would have gone into their prosecution. “They will be asked to go and sin no more,” a source said.
The President’s searchlight has been on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) – for obvious reasons. Oil accounts for over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue. Preliminary probes launched into the activities of the NNPC and other revenue-generating agencies, including the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); Nigerian Customs Service (NCS); Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), among others, discovered the agencies as conduit pipes for public office holders.
The Excess Crude Account (ECA) – the savings for the rainy day – is also being examined.
At its maiden meeting, the National Economic Council (NEC), under the chairmanship of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, raised a committee of five to look into allegation of sharp practices in some money-generating agencies. Specifically, the NEC mandated the panel to investigate a shortfall of N3.5 trillion in remittances by the NNPC into the Federation Account since 2012.
Headed by Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the panel’s other other members are ; governors Nasir El Rufai (Kaduna), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe) and Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos). The NEC decided to set up the committee after a briefing by a director of Funds in the Office of the Accountant-General on the status and management of the Federation Account, which indicted NNPC for remitting only N4.3 trillion out of its earnings, estimated at N8.1 trillion in three years.
The Oshiomhole-panel has since concluded its assignment, with the government appointing Pricewater house Coopers (PwC) and KPMG to forensically audit the books of the NNPC and other agencies.
To curtail the looting spree, the international community, with the U.S. as its arrow-head, has promised to assist the President in tracking the accounts into which stolen funds are kept in foreign banks and help recover same. Back home, the management teams of major agencies (NNPC, FIRS, NPA, NCS, NIS and others) have been changed by the President, who has assured that sinners will not go unpunished.
Apparently buoyed by the President’s body language, anti-graft agencies – the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) – got their energy renewed. Both agencies have woken up to their statutory responsibilities. Those who had written the agencies off as toothless bulldogs have since changed tunes. To them, the agencies have become tools of oppression, used against the opposition. But, President Buhari says anybody giving political colouration to the anti-corruption battle will be missing the point. The upright and incorruptible has nothing to fear, he has said.
In just 90 days, the EFCC has recovered $6.55 million and 248,340 Euros from 55 money laundering suspects at the international airports in Abuja, Kano and Lagos. Besides the seizures, the anti-graft agency has also initiated 71 high profile cases. They include the arraignment and trial of former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Steve Oronsanye, former Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim and his Jigawa counterpart Sule Lamido.
Detectives are poring through the books of at least nine states – Akwa Ibom, Kebbi, Enugu, Lagos, Plateau, Benue, Kwara, Katsina and Cross River. In the past, the states, especially, those governed by the ruling party, were untouchable. But the states under watch cut across party lines.
The Sagay
anti-corruption panel
The President demonstrated his commitment to the war against graft on August 9 when he named prominent Law professor and civil rights activist Prof Itse Sagay as chair of a seven-man Presidentail Advisory Committeee Against Corruption.
Expectedly, the Sagay committee’s brief is to advise the Buhari administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
Three international development partners bought into the anti-graft crusade by jointly establishing a $5 million Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund to boost the Federal Government’s efforts. The partners are: Ford Foundation; MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation.
The Fund, to be managed by Trust Africa, an international development civil society organisation with programme presence in more than 25 African countries, is to assist in the implementation of key components of the Action Plan and the work of the Presidential Advisory Committee.
As part of its mandate, the seven-man Committee is to develop comprehensive interventions for achieving recommended reforms.
Other members of the committee are: Prof. Femi Odekunle, a Professor of Criminology, Ahmadu Bello University, Dr. Benedicta Daudu, an Associate Professor of International Law, University of Jos, Prof. E. Alemika, a Professor of Sociology, University of Jos, Prof Sadiq Radda, Professor of Criminology, Bayero University, Kano and Hadiza Bala Usman, a civil society activist.
Prof Bolaji Owasanoye of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) is member/executive secretary of the Committee.
Likely obstacles
There have been calls in certain quarters that probing past financial misdeeds may, after all, be a waste of time as it will slow down governance. But advocates of a New Nigeria say those who plundered the nation’s wealth must be brought to justice. Some believe that leaving stolen cash in the hands of former officilas is sleeping under a roof on fire and that this could spell doom for the government of the day. Such funds, they caution, could be used to destabilise the administration. Some former ministers in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan have regrouped in Abuja to articulate how best to respond to allegations of corruption being heaped on Dr. Jonathan’s aides. They warned the Buhari administration to refrain from portraying them as corrupt. The former President chaired the meeting, at the end of which the former National Planning Minister, Dr. Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, was appointed to henceforth speak for them. Already, some of them are challenging President Buhari to publish the names of corrupt ministers.
Many have identified inadequate funding as one major hindrance that may slow down the prosecution of corrupt officials when they are eventually arraigned by the State. Observers fear that getting enough resources to prosecute super-rich officials might become an albatross, especially when such offenders have the financial wherewithal to hire the services of the best of lawyers.
Investigating officers will also need funds to work.
Learning from the pitfalls of the past, where judges pander to indiscriminate requests for adjournments by defence counsel, there have been demands for the establishment of special courts to try corruption cases.
The question is what effect will yesterday’s solidarity rallies have? The fact that the workers trooped out en masse to support the anti-corruption war is a strong signal that majority of Nigerians are on the same page with the President.
Will the judiciary rise to the occasion? Will there be more cash for investigators? Will lawyers join corruption to fight back – all in the name of defending their clients? Who will carry the day – Nigeria or corruption? Time will tell.
source; THE NATION
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)