Various revenue generating agencies in Nigeria shortchanged the government of N526 billion and $21 billion between 2010 to 2015.

This was revealed Thursday by Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State while briefing State House correspondents after a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC).

The meeting was chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Mr Dankwambo said the infractions were identified by KPMG who were contracted to carry out a forensic audit of revenue remittances to the Federation Accounts by the NEC.

Mr Dankwambo said a committee he chaired briefed NEC on the findings and it was resolved that the audit period be extended up to June 2017.

The Gombe governor said all the revenue generating agencies such as the NNPC, NPA, Customs and others were found to culpable.

“A sub committee will be set up to look at the details of the infringements. Those that are criminal in nature will be handed over to AGF for action,” he said.

The Nigerian Police High Command has promptly debunked the alarm raised by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, that the police were about to implicate him using ‘‘coerced’ cultists”.

The Police said the alarm was a ruse, misleading and amounted to an obstruction of justice.

Saraki raised the alarm on the floor of the Senate today, with the Senate resolving to send a 12-man delegation to discuss the matter with President Muhammadu Buhari.

But in a swift statement, the police expressed shock at what they described as “unbelievable claims, unverifiable allegations and unfounded accusations”, by the Senate President.

“There is no iota of truth in the allegation and false assertion by the Senate President of plot against him by the IGP to implicate the Kwara State Government and the Senate President in any criminal matter. Until investigation is concluded, any person (s) or group(s) who tries to interfere in the investigation process by action or utterances is committing an offence”, the Police spokesman, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Jimoh Moshood said.

Moshood explained that the Kwara State Police Command on the 11 May, 2018, paraded six suspected hired killers, all from Ilorin, who it said had admitted and confessed publicly killing innocent persons in kwara State and other States of the country.

“The victims according to the suspects were targeted and killed on the instructions of their sponsors”, Moshood stated.

The suspects were identified as Abolaji Safti Ojulari, Lanre Mohammed Soliu a.k.a Askari, Azeez Moyaki, Suleiman Babatunde, Yusuf Habeeb, Umar Yahaya, all from various quarters of Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.

The police also listed the 11 victims of the alleged hired assassins as Bukola Ajikobi, Azeez Lawal and Bayo Ajia, all killed between 2016 and 2018 in Ilorin..

Other alleged victims were identified with their first names only: Lateef, Jamiu, Segun, Wasiu, Musiliu, another Lateef, Abbey a student of Kwara Polytechnic and Lanre, who was killed on 23 August, 2015 at Isale Aluko Area of Ilorin.

“Consequent upon the public confessions of these vicious and notorious killer squad to the killings in cold blood of more than 11innocent people in Kwara State and other States of the Federation, the statutory procedure and practice in the Force is that such a heinous crime and capital offence is transferred to the Force Headquarters for further investigation. This is to enable a thorough and discreet investigation into the crime.

In ordering the transfer of the case, the police headquarters denied any vested interest by the Inspector General of Police.

It said the interest of the IGP is to ensure that “justice prevails in the matter”

“Nobody, no matter how highly placed would be allowed to interfere or obstruct Police investigation to pervert the course of justice”, Moshood said..

The police also claimed that the transfer of the suspects was consistent with their investigative tradition.

According to the police: “Suspects arrested over the mayhem and killings of innocent people in Ile-Ife, Osun State and those arrested in Southern Kaduna crisis in Kaduna State and suspects arrested in connection with Zaki-biam killings in Benue State were all transferred to the Force Headquarters, Abuja for further investigation before they were arraigned in court of competent jurisdiction. Therefore, transferring this hired assassin gang masquerading as cultists in Kwara State to Force Headquarters, Abuja for further investigation is in accordance with Police investigation procedures.

The police warned that with the red-herring statement credited to the Senate President, the families of the victims could be discouraged from coming forward to give evidence against them.

Saraki told the Senate today that Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed alerted him about the police move.

He said he was told by Ahmed that a group of suspects who had been in police cells for several weeks for cultism and whose investigation had been concluded with prosecution about to commence under the State law based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Ministry of Justice were ordered to be transferred to Abuja this morning.

“ According to the information available to the Governor, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Idris Ibrahim directed the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State to immediately transfer the men to the Force Headquarters.

“The plan, as the Governor was made to understand is that, under duress, the suspects would be made to alter the statements they already made in Ilorin. They will then be made to implicate the Kwara State Government, and in particular, myself, in their new statement.

“This plot is part of the strategy by the IGP Idris to settle scores over the declaration by this honourable Chamber that he is not qualified and competent to hold any public office, within and outside the country and that he is an enemy of Nigerian democracy based on his usual disrespectful conduct towards lawful authorities.

”In my own view, this plot is an act of desperation, blackmail, intimidation, abuse of office and crude tactics aimed at turning our country into a Police State where top officials cannot be made to obey the law, follow due process and subject themselves to constituted authorities.

“I want to bring this dangerous development to the attention of all of you my colleagues, the entire country and the international community so that you can be aware of the level of impunity in our country and the danger it constitute to our democracy,” the President of the Senate said.

The President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki is set to meet President Muhammadu Buhari to relay to him an alleged plot by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to implicate him (Saraki).

The President of the Senate is to lead the leadership of the upper legislative chamber to meet with President Buhari over the alleged plot which Saraki disclosed on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday.

Saraki had raised the alarm on the floor of the Senate over a plot by the IGP to implicate him using ‘coerced’ cultists.

“My Distinguished colleagues, there is an issue which I need to bring to your attention very urgently. Last night, my State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatai Ahmed revealed to me an information at his disposal that a group of suspects who had been in police cells for several weeks for cultism and whose investigation had been concluded with prosecution about to commence under the State law based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Ministry of Justice were ordered to be transferred to Abuja this morning.

“ According to the information available to the Governor, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Idris Ibrahim directed the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State to immediately transfer the men to the Force Headquarters.

“The plan, as the Governor was made to understand is that, under duress, the suspects would be made to alter the statements they already made in Ilorin. They will then be made to implicate the Kwara State Government, and in particular, myself, in their new statement.

“This plot is part of the strategy by the IGP Idris to settle scores over the declaration by this honourable Chamber that he is not qualified and competent to hold any public office, within and outside the country and that he is an enemy of Nigerian democracy based on his usual disrespectful conduct towards lawful authorities.

“”In my own view, this plot is an act of desperation, blackmail, intimidation, abuse of office and crude tactics aimed at turning our country into a Police State where top officials cannot be made to obey the law, follow due process and subject themselves to constituted authorities.

“I want to bring this dangerous development to the attention of all of you my colleagues, the entire country and the international community so that you can be aware of the level of impunity in our country and the danger it constitute to our democracy,” the President of the Senate said.

Saraki explained that he was bringing the issue to the attention of his colleagues to let them know the gravity of the situation.

“I know the gravity of the issue that is why I am bringing it to your attention and to continue to let our colleagues and the world know presently the danger we are going with and the levels of the rascality that is going on with some of these actions.

“I have brought it to your attention and we must continue to play our own role in doing what we believe in the course of our duty.

“It is very unfortunate but that it the information I have as of now,” the President of the Senate said.

The Senate resolved that the Senate President should lead a delegation to relay the concerns raised on the floor by Saraki. The delegation would consist of the Senate President, the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan; the Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye; and the Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

Other members of the delegation would included Senator Danjuma Goje, Senator Sam Anyanwu, Senator Aliyu Wammako, Senator Fatima Raji Rasaki, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged the South-west caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure victory for the party in Ekiti.

The president gave the charge during a dinner meeting with the caucus on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that the people could achieve the target by ensuring electoral victory for the APC gubernatorial candidate, Kayode Fayemi, in the July 14 governorship election in the state.

Mr Buhari said that members of the party must work together in the state to ensure that the will of the people was not subverted.

“I know Ekiti fairly well and Ekiti people are well known for their forthrightness, candour and integrity.

“All of these values seem to have been lost and we must restore these values and return Ekiti to its pride of place in the comity of states.

“As we approach the 2019 elections, the return of Ekiti into the fold of progressive states is important as the election of July 14 is going to be a key pointer to subsequent elections,’’ he said.

Mr Buhari reiterated his determination never to interfere in the internal affairs of the party at any level. He commended the Minister of Solid Mineral Resources, Kayode Fayemi, for reaching out to his co-contestants who lost in the Saturday primary.

He urged all members and supporters of APC in Ekiti and beyond to see the July 14 governorship poll as a collective mission to rescue Ekiti and promote development.

A leader of the party, Bisi Akande, who spoke to State House correspondents after the meeting, assured that the caucus would do all it could to secure victory for the APC candidate in the election.

Among those at the dinner were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, a national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu; and National Chairman of APC, John Odigie-Oyegun.

Rev. Arnold Jibila, Chairman of Numan local government area in Adamawa has urged religious leaders to utilise the media in the propagation of peaceful coexistence in the state. Jibila gave the advice on Tuesday when the leadership of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) paid a courtesy visit to Numan.
The chairman stressed the need for the religious leaders to show case justice, equality and honesty at all times. He enjoined them to propagate tolerance, and peaceful coexistence among group in the society. He expressed his determination to partner with the NIREC in achieving a peaceful society. He also advised the council to take the gospel of peace to the grassroots, In his remark,  Bindow Dami Mamza,  Chairman of the Adamawa Chapter of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN)  said that peace and harmony were critical for the state. Mamza eulogised the political leaders not to create unnecessary tensions, adding that such situations could affect religious practice. He also expressed his determination to promote cohesion among various groups in the state.  Also, Alhaji Abubakar Sahabo, State Chapter Chairman of the Moslem Council appealed to the two faith to eschew bitterness for the society to experience growth.
Sahabo, who is the co-chairman of NIREC said that the group would continue to partner with the local councils in the state to preach peace down to the grass root.

The Nigerian Senate said Monday night that it will not stop Senator Ovie Omo-Agege from attending plenary on Tuesday, in compliance with a Federal High Court order.

The Senate had initially stated it would not respect the order, since it has filed an appeal, in a higher court.

But in a sudden twist, the Senate gave its new position in a statement by its spokesman, Senator Sabi Aliyu Abdullahi, chairman of the Committee on Media and Publicity.

“The Senate leadership has been briefed by our lawyers on last Thursday judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on whether the Senate has the legal authority to suspend a member for certain misconduct or not.

“We have equally filed an appeal against the judgement of the court and a motion for stay of execution of the judgement at the Court of Appeal.

“As an institution that obeys the law and court orders, the Senate has decided that it will comply with the judgement of the Federal High Court and do nothing to stop Senator Ovie Omo-Agege from resuming in his office and at plenary from tomorrow May 15, 2018, pending the determination of the application for stay of execution.

“The Senate has been advised that since the motion for stay of execution of the Thursday (May 10, 2018) judgement shall be heard and possibly determine on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, we shall therefore respect the subsisting High Court judgement and await the appellate court decision on the pending motion”, said Sabi Abdullahi.

The senate backpedalling came hours after Senator Omo-Agege vowed to attend today’s session despite the reported beefing up of security by the National Assembly authorities.

Omo-Agege spoke at the APC National secretariat citing his legal victory.

Last week Thursday, a Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the suspension of Omo-Agege for 90 days by his colleagues and declared it illegal.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba ordered his reinstatement with immediate effect.

The senator representing All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta Central, was suspended by the senate because he openly criticised the amendment of election sequence carried out by the senate.

He accused the senators of making provision for election sequence in the amended Electoral Act to disfavour President Muhammadu Buhari,

The 2019 general election sequence released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) placed the presidential election first, but the senators reversed it

Buhari refused to assent to the bill and the court had also ruled that the senate had no power to alter the sequence of election as fixed by INEC.

The court also presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba declared Omo-Agege’s suspension unconstitutional.

Dimgba said that the reason given by the Senate and the Senate President for suspending Omo-Agege was unconstitutional.

“While the legislature has powers to take disciplinary measures against its members, the reason given for the punishment is an unconstitutional reason.

“I hereby nullify the suspension of the plaintiff (Omo-Agege) which was based on the recommendations of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions with immediate effect.”

Dimgba also ordered the Senate to pay Omo-Agege any outstanding salaries or allowances which were due to him during the period of the suspension.

The judge stated that the decision recommended by the committee to punish Omo-Agege for going to court was wrong and contravened Sections 4 and 6 of the constitution adding that he had a right to go to court.

“Access to court is one key indicator of a democracy, the exercise of his rights cannot be a basis for punishment.”

The judge further stated that the court took judicial notice of the fact that while the suit was pending in court, the senate went ahead to suspend the senator for 90 legislative days.

“In sanctioning a legislator, the legislature must act within the law. While this suit was pending, and to the knowledge of the Senate and the Senate President, they went ahead and imposed a sanction on him.”

The judge also said that the 90 legislative day suspension was against Order 67, Rule 4 of the Senate Standing Rules which provided for a lawmaker to be suspended for only 14 legislative days.

He maintained that suspending the senator for more than 14 days was denying his constituents the required representation.

He, however, held that the legislature had the powers to sanction any lawmaker who set out to make comments or act in a way that could bring disrepute to the institution.

But that the legislature went out of track and arrived at a wrong and false end by punishing the senator for exercising his rights.

According to him, Omo-Agege’s right was not breached when the senate referred him to its committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions as he erroneously believed.

Omo-Agege filed the suit to challenge his suspension from the senate.

He asked the court to among other reliefs, grant an order restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, privies or officers from interfering with his rights and privileges as a senator and to make any order that it may be deem fit

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has said that the defection of members of the nPDP from the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), cannot affect the chances of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 election.

Members of the “New PDP” who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the APC in 2013, include five governors, some former governors, then Speaker of the House of Representatives and some members of the National Assembly.

Last Wednesday, some members of the “nPDP” wrote a letter to the National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, lamenting the lack of appreciationof their contributions to the success of the APC and Mr Buhari in the 2015 general elections.

A splinter group of the nPDP has since distanced itself from the claims of marginalisation. This faction, led by a former governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Adamu, made this known on Monday at the national secretariat of the ruling party after it submitted a letter noting the fortunes of the nPDP bloc under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with Mr Buhari on Tuesday, the Kaduna governor said the president had been winning states where the former governors came from since 2003.

He also said Mr Buhari will win those states, ”with or without the support of the ex-governors.”

Mr El-Rufai also spoke on last Saturday’s local council elections in Kaduna State in which electronic voting was used for the first time.

Excerpts:

Why did you deploy electronic voting in your state for the local government elections?

I didn’t come about it, it was the chairman of the state independent electoral commission, Saratu Dikko Audu, who was my chemistry teacher in the university that proposed the idea of electronic voting. She felt that since we used the card readers in the 2015 elections, the next logical step is to connect the card reader to an electronic voting system and we supported it.

They went on a study tour to Brazil, India to study their own voting systems and they finally ended up with a manufacturer in China. The same manufacturer that manufactured the card reader, designed and manufactured the electronic voting machines for us.

The Independent Electoral Commission of Kaduna State, brought in 300 of the machines and spent some months going round the state, market places, people’s homes to test the use of the machines to show that ordinary people can use it.

It cost us a lot of money, the entire election cost us in the region of N4 billion. But, mind you with the electronic voting now we don’t need ballot paper, so we saved N1.7 billion in ballot papers alone. And, these machines can be used for three or four more elections because they can last for 10 years. All we need is to upgrade the software to add more parties and so on.

So, we believe that overall, it is good value for money and it has worked very well. What we are very happy about is that ordinary people could use it, the interface was friendly, simply and you can finish voting for the chairman and councellor in less than 15 seconds.

So what difference did it make in terms of credibility?

I think it gave people the confidence that their votes mattered and for many people that didn’t even want to go out to vote in the elections, curiosity of the electronic voting machines brought them out.

It made a lot of difference because the electronic voting machine has a record of how many people have voted and once the time for voting closes, it closes and you cannot take it and add more votes. Of course human factors intervened, some people abducted the presiding officers with the machines and engaged in multiple voting.

Some people tried to change the results and of course we are still doing manual collection. But the data in the electronic voting machine can still be used to discredit some of those changes during the tribunal process. And in areas where there were gross abuses in some of the wards and local governments, KASIEC (Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission), has decided that there will be bye-elections.

One of the problems that led to the human factor problems that I mentioned was because INEC denied us the use of the card reader. When we were designing the machine, we had the option of integrating the card reader, so that you come with your voters card, put in your voters card biometrically, confirm that it is your card and then the machine will open for you to vote.

But we thought that will be too complicated since people are used to being accredited separately, it is better we take INEC’s card reader for accreditation and then our machine for voting. But a week to the election, INEC said they are not going to give us the card readers. The reasons they gave to me were not acceptable.

I called the chairman and I tried to persuade him to make it available to us but we didn’t get the card reader. I am hoping, I have spoken to him again, that for the bye-elections, the two local governments and the other wards, we are going to get the card readers so that the human link that is subject to abuse would be eliminated and then you cannot change anything.

If you change anything the card reader, it will expose the number of those accredited and that number must tally with the number of people that voted, otherwise the result gets automatically cancelled. So we are working on that. I have just seen Mr President, I have briefed him on this and he has expressed his pleasure at the way and manner as a party in Kaduna, we are allowed free and fair elections.

The president believes in free, fair and credible elections and he said it doesn’t matter if you lose some local governments, what is important is for the elections to be free and fair. This is an APC government, it is a government of fairness and justice.

Some people are also saying that the electoral law does not support electronic voting. What do you have to say to that?

I don’t agree with that. There is an amendment to the Electoral Act that President (Goodluck) Jonathan signed a few days before he left office which legitimises the use of the card readers and other electronic systems for voting. So, in my view, the current Electoral Act has provision for the electoral voting.

But, that is not even what we used in Kaduna. In Kaduna, we enacted our own electoral law that made provision for electronic voting machines and card readers, everything was totally legitimised and passed by our State House of Assembly and I think every state can do the same. But, I also believe that the current legal framework allows for it.

Are you recommending the use of electronic voting generally?

Absolutely. I recommend it highly to everyone, I have already offered to my colleagues state governors that are yet to conduct local government elections that they can come to Kaduna and we can give them the machines on mutually acceptable terms.

All you will need is to change the software, it will have the logo of the state and the number of parties active in the state and the number of parties active in the state and they can use it. It is easy. At the federal level, I will recommend it as well because with the card reader and the electronic voting machine, the era of rigging elections is almost over and I think that is then people will have confidence in the process.

The machines have already been manufactured, the designs are there, you only need to place the orders to the Chinese and I’m sure they will deliver them in no time. But, you need some months to go round and do some advocacy, to show people how to use it. I think it may be possible to use it in the next elections but I am not INEC. INEC has a better appreciation of their logistics challenges. I can only give my own opinion.

Some people are saying with the grievances of the nPDP, the president’s electoral value will diminish. Do you agree with that?

I don’t agree and I want to go back to 2003. What are we talking about? Who are these new PDP people that are threatening? This is Kwara, Kano, Sokoto, Adamawa, Rivers but I don’t think (Rotimi) Amaechi is part of them. So let’s take these four states, go back to 2003 and check.

Buhari then under ANPP won in all these four states. Go back to 2007, Buhari won in these four states. Even when Shekarau was running as a presidential candidate in 2011, Buhari defeated him in Kano. And, I have no doubt in my mind that even if the people threatening to leave, leave, it will have absolutely no impact on the presidential elections. The president will win Sokoto, Kwara and Adamawa easily. Kano is already in the bag.

I mean, if you saw the crowd that welcomed the president. Without the former governor (Rabiu) Kwankwaso, Kano has always been the president’s base. To me that is not the issue, the issue is that they have written, they have expressed grievances, some of the grievances are legitimate and should be looked into. But to threaten to leave the party is neither here nor there.

If they are honest with themselves they know that President Buhari will win those states with or without them. But if you have a grievance, we are a party and politics is a game of addition not subtraction, so we don’t want to lose anyone.

So, I think those the letters were addressed to ought to study it and look into what is reasonably possible to accommodate them because politics as I said is a game of addition.

The Senate and House of Representatives joint adhoc committee investigating the April 18 Senate invasion has summoned two senators.

Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta) and Ali Ndume (APC, Borno) were summoned for allegedly aiding the invaders who stole the Senate mace.

The mace was later recovered by the police, who say they are still investigating the incident.

The chairman of the investigating committee, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, issued the summon at the committee meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

The summon follows testimonies from heads of different security agencies within the National Assembly alleging that Mr Omo-Agege led seven unauthorised personnel into the red chamber and disrupted plenary.

It was also alleged that Mr Ndume hindered the mace keeper from taking away the mace to safety.

“Based on the testimony of the sergeant at arms before the committee, you (Mr Ndume) are alleged to have prevented the mace keeper from taking away the mace to safety.

“The committee has, therefore, deemed it necessary to invite you in order to respond to that allegation.

“As regards to Omo-Agege, based on the testimony of the DPO, the SSS and the sergeant at arms, you are alleged to have entered the National Assembly accompanied by seven persons who allegedly took the mace of the Senate during plenary session on April 18, at about 11:30 a.m.

“All those who testified, stated that the said people were cleared into the chamber based on your confirmation that they were with you.

“The committee,in pursuance of this,has deemed it necessary to formally invite you to respond to these allegations on Wednesday, May 16 at 11:00am,” Mr Na’Allah read out the format of the letter to be issued to the summoned lawmakers.

Last week, the National Assembly Divisional Police Officer, Sulu-Gambari Abdul, accused the lawmakers of conspiring with thugs who invaded the Senate chamber and took away the mace last month.

Mr Sulu-Gambari said the Senate invasion was an act of internal conspiracy among some security agencies and some lawmakers, confirming an earlier report that revealed the complicity of security agencies in the invasion.

The Senate invasion was condemned by most Nigerians including the federal government. The two chambers of the National Assembly subsequently set up a joint committee to investigate the incident.

Nobel Literature laureate, Wole Soyinka, has said that for the fight against corruption in Nigeria to succeed, the frontline anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would have to take on some of the country’s former leaders.

He said “until we make some of our leaders walk through those doors [of the EFCC new office]” the fight against corruption would not have the needed traction.

Mr Soyinka spoke on Monday at the opening of a meeting of heads of anticorruption agencies from Commonwealth Africa which opens in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.

Mr Soyinka said he was at the new office building of anticorruption agency at the weekend, “to see what will he the modest hospitality” for suspects.

The renowned writer said he asked the EFCC acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, for the “presidential wing” of the cells, saying he asked out of his human rights concerns to ensure such personalities are well treated while in detention.

“But Magu said they are an egalitarian organisation that treats peoples equally,” he said to chuckles from the audience.

Mr Soyinka said all the money stolen by former Head of State Sani Abacha should be fully recovered.

He recalled making similar request at a Commonwealth meeting during the reign of Mr Abacha over some monies alleged to be shared as bribes to some leaders for the military leader to remain in power.

The Nobel laureate particularly made reference to a leader of a neighbouring country who, he alleged, collected millions for the purpose.

He urged the EFCC leadership and heads of other anticorruption agencies attending the meeting to help repatriate the money for Nigeria.

In his welcome address, Mr Magu described the presence of his colleagues from Commonwealth African countries for the meeting as an endorsement of Nigeria’s efforts against corruption.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari has kept faith with his promise not to interfere with the operations of the anticorruption agencies in the country.

However, Mr Magu stressed that “the most valuable support you need to do this job is that of the masses admixed with the political will at the very top”.

He said the meeting would avail the anticorruption chiefs the opportunity to share experiences and forge alliances that could subdue “bureaucratic bottlenecks and red tapes” in terms of cooperation.

He said the anticorruption agencies need to fraternise more closely because “the criminals who collectively supply our raison d’etre have absolutely no qualms forging such cross-border operational alliances to perpetrate crimes and cover their tracks”.

The Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland also picked on the point of cross-border collaboration as basis for the conference.

She said the Commonwealth Secretariat takes the issue of tackling corruption seriously because of the level of squalor and deprivation on account of corruption globally.

Quoting figures from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), Ms Scotland said Africa loses $148 billion per annum to corruption.

She therefore called for closer collaboration and peer reviews among African and other Commonwealth countries to tackle the problem.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday arraigned the duo of Peter Ojedele and Ali Ahmadu, former Director General and Bursar of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) respectively, before Justice Abdul Dogo of the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State on a 9-count charge bordering on forgery and obtaining money under false pretence.

The offence is contrary to Section 16 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 58 (5) (a) of the Public Procurement Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

The duo in their capacity as Director General and Bursar of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) respectively, allegedly received over N208 million from the federal government as Personnel Funds in 2011 and 2012 but never remitted the excess fund into government treasury. It was also alleged that the defendants claimed to have liaison offices in most states of the federation whereas none is functional while some have no traceable addresses yet funds were drawn for office rentage.

Investigations however revealed that the budgetary proposals for the Institute for the year 2011 and 2012 included some fake names of staff on the Institute’s payroll. Also, the defendants inflated the price of the DVD duplicator they purchased for the institution.

When the charge was read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty.

In view of their plea, the EFCC counsel, Cosmas Igwu, applied for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants in prison custody. However, counsel to the first defendant, Abel Kosoko, and counsel to the second defendant, Olushola Oke, both prayed the court to allow them move oral applications for bail. Justice Dogo, however, refused the defence prayers to move an oral application for bail and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the EFCC custody pending the hearing of their bail applications.

The case was adjourned to May 18, 2018 for hearing of the bail application and June 25, 26 for trial.

One of the charge reads: “That you Dr. Peter Kolawole Ojedele and Ali Ahmadu whilst acting in your capacity as Public Officers, to wit: Director-General and Bursar respectively, of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration, Ondo, Ondo State sometime in 2012 at Ondo within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N115,380,488.24 (One Hundred and Fifteen Million, Three Hundred and Eighty Thousand, Four Hundred and Eighty Eight Naira, Twenty Four Kobo) only from the Federal Government of Nigeria under the false pretence that the sum was for staff emolument for year 2012 which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.”

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Dutse, Jigawa State, said his administration is delivering on promises with clear-cut targets, prudent management of resources and a deliberate policy to plug wastage and pilfering of government resources.

Speaking at the palace of the Emir of Dutse, Nuhu Muhammadu Sanusi, during a two-day visit, President Buhari said the odds of initial dwindling oil prices did not discourage the government from setting targets for lofty developmental projects and achieving more in three years than the 16 years of Peoples Democratic Party’s misrule.

The president said the growing support the administration currently enjoys can be attributed to the understanding of Nigerians of the unpleasant realities it inherited, and the efforts to reposition the economy in spite of “what the opposition keeps sponsoring in the press.”

President Buhari directed the Minister of Water Resources, Sulaiman Adamu, to work with the Jigawa State Government to alleviate the challenge of water scarcity in the state capital, following a complaint by the Emir of Dutse.

On arrival in Jigawa State, the president began his engagements at Auyo, near Hadejia, where he inaugurated the expansion of an irrigation scheme and paid a visit to the Emir of Hadejia, Adamu Maje.

The president, who was received by a tumultuous crowd, thanked the Emir of Hadejia and his people for always supporting him, even when he was an opposition candidate.

He said his visit to Hadejia was more of homecoming, promising to give more attention to the needs of the people in the Emirate.

In his remarks, the Emir of Dutse commended the federal government for its efforts in addressing the challenges of corruption, terrorism and drug abuse in the country.

The emir requested that the Date Palm Research Centre in Dutse, currently under the National Oil Palm Research Institute, be moved to the federal university, explaining that the research centre would be more relevant and functional in the university.

Both Emirs held special prayers for the President and his administration.

The federal government on Monday in Abuja announced that $320 million stolen funds by late military dictator, Sani Abacha, would be spent on the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme of the administration to support the poor.

Declaring open the 8th Commonwealth Conference of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa, Mr Buhari, represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said it was one condition given by the Switzerland authorities for the repatriation of the funds.

Mr Buhari said that The Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) after its inaugural meeting in Washington, DC, in December 2017, had facilitated efforts toward asset recovery and return.

“The GFAR saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and the Government of Switzerland for the return of an additional $320 million of the Sani Abacha loot.

“Included in that agreement is the commitment that the funds would be invested in one of the Nigeria’s flagship social investment programmes, the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme targeted at the poorest and most vulnerable households in our country.’’

The president declared that corruption had continued to be one of the greatest challenges in the continent and called for international collaboration to stem the “scourge”.

He quoted a 2014 report by the One Campaign titled: “One Trillion Dollar Scandal”, which claimed that developing countries lost $1 billion annually to corporate transgressions, with most of them traceable to activities of companies with secret ownership.

The president recalled another report in 2015 by the High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa, chaired by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, which stated that Africa had lost over $1 trillion over a 50-year period.

The report added that Africa had lost more than $50 billion annually to illicit financial flows mostly perpetrated in the extractive sector and through companies with hidden ownerships.

Mr Buhari noted that the cost of corruption imposed on all African countries and governments a moral obligation to fight it with vigour and political will.

He said it should be done by strengthening all institutions and systems involved in law enforcement as well as in promoting a culture of transparency and accountability.

According to him, while public sector corruption is the usual focus, the private sector’s complicity is significant, such as when large multinational corporations engage in tax evasion or transfer pricing.

He noted that it was the complex web of public-private collusion and connivance that resulted in proceeds of corruption ending up in foreign countries and especially in their financial institutions and systems.

“Dismantling the conspiracies that facilitate export of stolen assets is probably as important as the theme of this conference, “Partnering towards Assets Recovery and Return.”

“It underscores the fact that fighting corruption is futile if we do not ensure that the proceeds of corruption find no safe haven.

“Recovering stolen assets not only accomplishes the goal of restitution, it also serves as a potential deterrent to future corruption,’’ he stated.

Mr Buhari decried the absence of a legal basis for cooperation in some countries, differences in legal and procedural frameworks, language barriers, bank secrecy, jurisdictional issues, a lack of funding as obstaclestoeffective mutual legal assistance.

He, however, expressed gladness on the renewed commitment to collectively identifying the most effective means of overcoming all of the existing legal and technical obstacles to asset recovery and return.

The president urged African countries to come together to keep the issue of asset recovery and return on the front-burner of international discourse and also work hard to build cooperation and mutual understanding with global partners.

“We must insist that recovered stolen assets be returned to the country of origin, without any preconditions, in line with Article 51 of United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC),’’ he added.

Mr Buhari said that states should agree to apply the highest standards possible of transparency at all stages not just of the recovery and return process, but also in the management and disposal of recovered and repatriated assets.

He also called on governments of African States to adequately fund their anti-corruption agencies as the fight against corruption was far more sophisticated, vicious and nuanced than ever before.

“We must provide adequate resources to investigate, adequately equip operatives, protect their families, protect whistleblowers and witnesses.

“Let me say to you Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa that you have found yourselves in roles that could change the destinies of your nation if you deliver on your mandates.

“You simply cannot afford to fail; on our part as the Government of Nigeria we are irrevocably committed to the fight against corruption,’’ the president declared.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of being violence prone and of dragging the nation towards a state of anarchy.

It said the party was doing this by engaging in actions that instigate bloody conflicts and breakdown of law and order among Nigerians.

The party said this in a statement on Sunday by its Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, while reacting to the recent ward and local government congresses of the APC which was characterised by violence and killings in some communities.

it was reported the killings that occurred during the ‎congresses in states like Lagos, Rivers, Delta, and Gombe.

The PDP expressed horror at the rate of violence which it claims has been “the way of the (APC) party since its emergence”.

The statement read in part:

“We are terrified by the spate of violence, mayhem, bloodletting and massive corruption associated with the All Progressives Congress (APC), both in governance and its internal activities.

“Since its emergence, the APC and its leaders have continued to drag our nation towards a state of anarchy by engaging in actions that instigate bloody conflicts and breakdown of law and order among Nigerians, including in their fold as a party.

“From the rascally attempt to overrun a court of competent jurisdiction in Port Harcourt, Rivers State to halt the wheel of justice, the burning of their own secretariat in Owerri, Imo state, the gruesome murder of their own members in Lagos and Oyo States to the malignant disputation and lust for power by its leaders across the nation, it is clear that the APC is not organic but a soulless mob without any form of conscience and integrity; an ‘evil wind that blows no good’.”

According to the party, party congresses which are designed to allow members interface and resolve divergences amicably “has been an issue for the APC as it could not actuate this simplest tradition of political parties, making its congress a threat to our democracy.”

“APC has become a symbol and harbinger of malevolence, which, by every indication, is on a sordid throttle of taking our nation to the long forgotten state of nature where only the mighty rules; the state of anarchy.

“From its cannibalistic proclivities, the world can see why the APC and its insensitive federal government care less about the lives and welfare of Nigerians, resulting in the escalation of violence, bloodletting, mass killings, extra-judicial executions, persecution of citizens, abuse of human rights, constitutional violations, including invasion of the National Assembly as well as attack on federal lawmakers and judicial officers,” the statement added.

The PDP charged Nigerians, “irrespective of creed, class or sectional persuasion, to be at alert, look beyond personal interests, rise in unison and use all democratic instruments to stop the APC in this dangerous drive to further wreck the nation and plunge it into a state of anarchy.”

Senator Abdulaziz Nyako has come under attack from the Concerned Hong Constituents over his campaign against Gov. Umar Jibrilla Bindow ahead of the 2019 general elections.

In a strongly worded statement signed by its General Secretary, Stanley, on Saturday night, the group said Nyako was trying to deceive Adamawas again with “rhetorical and platitudinous speeches”.

The statement came barely 24 hours after  Nyako Abdulaziz’s voice featured in an audio which he boosted that  political platform to be deployed to unseat Bindow/Buhari in 2019.

Concerned Hong Constituents, a staunch supporter of the current Governor of Adamawa State, said it was not surprised by Nyako’s several statements to hoodwink Adamawa people and Nigerians.

The socio-political group said it rather found it surprising that Senator Nyako and his “fellow travellers took Nigerians for fools”.

It said, “However, Adamawa Citizen do sincerely and mournfully remembered what the conditions of things were in relation to unemployment, corruption and general decadence of our many institutions of governance in the 7 years of the immediate administration in Adamawa State, cannot be forgotten in a hurry.

More details Later….

Sen. Magnus Abe, a strong ally of transport minister Rotimi Amaechi, has fallen out with the minister following recent maneuvering in Rivers state politics.

The governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), confirmed that his disagreement with Amaechi was political.

Abe’s spokesman, Mr. Parry Saroh Benson, said Amaechi has publicly declared that he (Amaechi) would not support governorship aspirations of Abe.

“I am amused by some of these allegations and stories making the rounds. For the records, the disagreement between me and the Minister (Amaechi) is political.

He is the leader of the party; but, he has said publicly on several occasions that he can never support me.

“That means the entire country knows that he cannot pretend to be neutral or an unbiased umpire in any matter in which my interest and the interests of those interested in me are concerned. Yet, as the leader, it is his responsibility to provide a level playing field for us all”.

Abe, who is the senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, insisted that those, who converged at the APC secretariat in Port Harcourt on Friday, May 4, 2018, were not thugs, but members and supporters of the party.

“The people he (Amaechi) is referring to as thugs and hoodlums today, were the same people that were his heroes yesterday.

“They were the people we used to blockade the Rivers State Judiciary when his government was threatened.

“They were the people that slept for days outside the Rivers State House of Assembly to protect his government.

“A lot of them were members of Save Rivers Movement, who risked and gave their all to birth the APC in this state, and he knows a lot of them by name. But, today they are thugs and hoodlums because he is now the oppressor.

“We are politicians; tomorrow, when we need voters, who will these people now branded as thugs be? People paid for forms, they had their tellers and no one was telling them what was going on. They besieged the state secretariat for explanations.

“Rather than the leader to come and address them, they brought armed policemen to open fire on innocent party men and women. That attack led to the pandemonium at the secretariat.

“They were there from morning and there was no violence until the police came and opened fire on APC members who were totally peaceful. Who authorised the shooting and why?” Abe asked.

Source: The Sun