THE Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has said that it is a dangerous development to criminalise all Fulanis living in any part of the country on the account of few criminal ones among them.
The forum noted that it was the responsibility of government through security agencies to fish out criminals amongst Fulani herdsmen and not the duty of ethnic champions to usurp the function of the government.
“There are decent hardworking Fulani who are not criminals in this country and those people must be protected. This idea that all Fulani are criminal is a very dangerous development. It criminalises an entire ethnic group, puts millions of Nigerians under threat,” said Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, NEF spokesperson on Tuesday night while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
“It creates an image of reality which is not true and it also puts other ethnic groups in danger because all you need to do is to identify a particular crime with an ethnic group. If we begin to demonise people and profile an ethnic group and we link them up with a crime, this is dangerous.
“Yes, there is some infiltration among the Fulani, we accept that. We also believe that it is the responsibility of the state to identify that infiltration; it is not up to any ethnic champion or anybody. People cannot assume responsibilities for the state. It is the Nigerian state that should fish out and determine criminals whether Fulani or whatever.”
He added that “if people start usurping the responsibilities of the Nigerian state, chasing people and burning down their homes, their cattle, killing them, harassing them, that is not acceptable.”
The statement is coming after weeks of tension in the South-West region of the country, over a one-week quit notice by Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, to Fulani herdsmen in the Ibarapa area of Oyo State.
When the notice elapsed, Igboho, who accused the herdsmen of being responsible for the killings and kidnapping for ransom in the area, led a group of irate young men to a Fulani settlement in the area where properties belonging to the herdsmen were burnt and destroyed.
On Monday, Igboho also led some youths to Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State where herdsmen were said to be terrorising farmers and residents.
A Fulani settlement in Igua area of the local government was reportedly set on fire by some of the youth after Igboho’s visit to the community.
The Ogun State government has since distanced itself from the move, stating that it would not need Igboho to resolve the security challenges facing the people of the state,
FAISAL Maina, son of Abdulrasheed Maina, the embattled former chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT), has again violated the terms of his bail by fleeing to the United States, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed.
Mohammed Abubakar, counsel to the EFCC, who stated this on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, said the Commission got credible information that Faisal sneaked to the U.S through the Republic of Niger.
Background Story
Faisal, who is being prosecuted in a separate three-count money laundering case, jumped bail and stopped attending trial, according to the EFCC. But the trial has continued in his absence.
EFCC alleged that Maina’s son had, sometime between 2013 and 2019, received the sum of 58.11million naira, being proceeds of a corrupt act by his father.
He was also accused of failing to properly declare his assets before the EFCC.
Before he was released on bail, the defendant was initially remanded in police custody after the prosecution notified the court that he was being investigated on allegation bordering on alleged possession of an illegal firearm.
Faisal reportedly pulled a gun to challenge operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) that arrested his father at a hotel in Abuja on September 30, 2020.
Justice Okon Abang, on November 24, 2020, revoked the bail granted him and ordered his arrest after he was reported to have fled the country and violated the terms of his bail.
He was, however, reportedly rearrested in December, 2020.
Earlier on Thursday, the trial judge, Okon Abang, had ordered Faisal’s surety, Sani Dan-Galadima, who is a member of the House of Representatives, to forfeit a property used as a bail bond.
Dan-Galadima, who represents Kaura-Namoda Federal Constituency of Zamfara, had entered into an 60million naira bail bond on behalf of Faisal.
It will be recalled that his father, Maina, who is facing a separate 12-count money laundering charge, also jumped bail and was later arrested in the Niger Republic by the Interpol.
THE Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned Agbaeze Francis Chinedu, a Nigerian man living in Switzerland, for filming what it describes as a defamatory video where he called for the closure of the embassy of Nigeria in Berne, Switzerland, over poor services rendered and for failing to serve the interest of Nigerians in the country.
In the video which has since gone viral, Chinedu who had driven for more than two hours to get to the embassy was disappointed to see that the office was locked against visitors; he accused officials of failing to respond to calls or emails sent, actions which according to him, do not justify taxpayers money spent in running the embassy as they rarely perform their task.
“Nigerian government bikonu (please), I use God beg you people, its better we close this embassy here because this nonsense embassy has no simple feeling about the Nigerians in Switzerland. You will book an appointment in embassy, call them, call them, register for the passport, do everything; calling embassy from day one, nobody will pick your call.
”Write email to embassy, embassy will never, never, reply your email, and there is people receiving salary,” he alleged in the video.
However, the statement signed by Ferdinand Nwonye, spokesperson of the ministry, said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, “there has been varying levels of lockdown measures implemented by several countries and our Missions are obligated to respect and comply with the directives of their host countries”.
Nwonye further explained that in compliance with the new developments in Switzerland, as regards the mandatory teleworking directive, strict restrictions and limit on the number of people in workplaces, the Immigration Officers had informed that all cancelled appointments will be re-booked when the lockdown is lifted.
“In line with the mandatory COVID-19 policy measures and directives (third-tier lockdown) announced by the Swiss Government on 14th January, 2021, the Immigration Officers of the Embassy were obliged to cancel all earlier booked appointments and all applicants were informed accordingly,” the statement said.
Nwonye reiterated that “Information regarding discontinuation of consular services were sent via public notices to the President of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDO) Swiss chapter, relevant media in Switzerland and also uploaded on the official website of the Mission,” insisting also that Chinedu had no prior booking with the Embassy and neither did any records show or prove that he contacted the Immigration officers of the Embassy.
Recall that The ICIR in July published report of an investigation it carried out on 46 Nigerian diplomatic missions and embassies located in the United States, US, Germany, China, amongst other countries, to determine how they respond to the concerns of Nigerian citizens residing in those countries via their official online mailing addresses.
The investigation revealed that 53 per cent of the emails sent to 66 addresses accounting for 35 email addresses as announced by the mail delivery subsystem were “inactive” and four consulates were without websites.
Last year, another video surfaced online alleging that officials of the Embassy of Nigeria in Switzerland had called the police on some Nigerians who had come to receive their passports, but the Nigerian government had refuted the allegation saying that the Embassy protection unit was only invited to bring calm and decorum after 64 Nigerians overcrowded a hall that was meant to receive only 10 people at a time in line with Covid-19 protocols.
Meanwhile, the ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Nigerian citizens in their various host countries to “kindly abide by the online booking systems of their Missions and refrain from disorderly conduct,” to ensure that consular services at the Embassies are carried out with the observation of COVID-19 protocols, and in the interest of all.
OFFICIAL documents from Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAuGF) have indicted the staff of Federal Ministry of Finance, National Boundary Commission, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and seven other government agencies of receiving fictitious estacodes valued at 3.77 billion naira under President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The 2018 OAuGF audit report revealed that most of the oversea travels upon which estacodes were claimed had no authorisation from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, a clear violation of the financial regulation guidelines.
There was also no document to show that officials of these government parastatals undertook foreign trips.
Most of the cases investigated by the reporter revealed that the accused government officials had no boarding passes, air tickets and other relevant documents to validate the oversea trips as claimed.
The National Boundary Commission, one of the federal government’s establishments indicted in the latest audit report. Photo Credit: Olugbenga Adanikin, The ICIR
Not only did the civil servants claim money for the trip they did not undertake, they also violated the directive of President Muhamadu Buhari who, in 2015, banned civil servants including top executives of government agencies from embarking on oversea training except those approved by the head of the civil service.
“…proposals for participation or attendance of international conferences, seminars, workshops study tours, presentation of papers and negotiating/signing of Memoranda of Understanding abroad at government expenses, shall no longer be allowed except those that are fully funded by sponsoring/inviting organizations,” a circular issued by Danladi Kifasi, a former head of civil service of the federation stated.
President Buhari reaffirmed this decision after tenure of the former president Goodluck Jonathan. In 2016, Buhari banned distribution of souvenirs at public events organised by MDAs.
By October 2019, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation rolled out stricter measures on the policy, all to reduce costs and cut wastages in the public service. Hence, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government were directed to submit yearly travel plans to the SGF or office of the head of the civil service of the federation for approval within the first quarter of the fiscal year.
The report by OAuGF has shown that many government functionaries did not comply with the directive.
Those accused of this infraction are officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, National Primary Health Care Development Centre (NPHCDA), the Investment and Security Tribunal (IST), Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), and the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN). Officials of the Federal Ministry of Environment and Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also indicted.
NSITF paid estacodes for international travel without approval to spouses of management staff, others
On seven different occasions, NSITF officials were paid several benefits either directly or through proxy for unapproved international trips and training.
Between January and December 2017, the audit showed how staff of the Fund got N180.8m as estacode allowance, air passage, return tickets and the likes to embark on an unapproved foreign trip.
Another N31.3m was paid to unidentified four top management staff and their spouses as estacode allowances, airfares for vacations abroad, but without approval from the right authorities.
Also, officials of the NSITF was accused to have paid N467.41 million to four Bureau De Change (BDC) agents in 2013 and 2014, according to the auditor-general’s report. The payments were reported as estacode or course fee which should have been paid directly to the account of beneficiaries of the training or consulting firms in charge.
“…evidence of a contractual agreement between the Fund and the BDC was not provided for audit. In addition, there was no evidence to show that the amounts paid to the BDC, got to the ultimate beneficiaries,” the report reads partly.
The above offence contravenes the Financial Regulation guideline which says, “A public officer who makes an irregular payment from public funds shall be given 21 days’ notice to offer an explanation, where no satisfactory explanation is given, the amount involved shall the recovered from the officer and such officer shall be removed from the schedule”.
Similarly, other undue payments including N4.94 million; N9.45 million and N11.33 million. N4.42 million were also received as pocket expenses.
In total, the NSITF spent N708.88 million on unapproved foreign trips including estacodes and other benefits.
Ministry of Finance Building, Abuja
Opacity around N2.88 billion released to Finance ministry from the ‘Service Wide Vote’
In recent years, the federal government has criticised MDAs of arbitrary spending from the Service Wide Vote. Though, the law requires agencies and ministries of government to include in their annual budgets, proposed spending for the year, but, in situations where an agency of government needs an important procurement not reflected in its budget, the ‘Service Wide Vote’ is considered an option.
The service-wide vote otherwise known as contingency budget targets developmental activities.
The federal ministry of finance got a release of N2.88 billion from the service-wide vote which it used to pay estacodes and other allowances of government officials assigned to represent the FG at international conferences such as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
From the allocation, “payment vouchers were raised for N113.5 million, leaving the sum of N2.8 billion unaccounted for,” the audit reads in part.
Reacting to the allegation, the finance ministry said N2.82 billion (N2,828,771,854.37) was Nigeria’s contribution to OPEC, and it was released by the cash department of the ministry to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, and not the finance ministry.
“With regards to the sum of N113,558,372.85 spent on annual board meetings, conferences and workshops, the sum of N57,000,638.90 was funded from the Service Wide Vote while the balance i.e. N56,557,733.95 was funded from the ministry’s 2017 budget. All the payments made are in line with the mandate of the ministry and all necessary documents including the payment vouchers attached,” response from the ministry read.
The auditor general’s office, however, insisted the accountant general’s office should account for the N2.82 billion.
Foreign Affairs ministry takes loans to fund estacode allowance
The Financial Regulation guideline (2019) prohibits that, “no loan or any form of advance shall be obtained from the bank without prior approval from Debt Management Office.” But, the foreign affairs ministry was found guilty of flouting this guideline.
The audit report revealed that on December 13, 2017, a payment voucher N0: MFA/OC/1281/2017 was raised for N26.40 million in favour of an official of the ministry, and actual payment was made on December 28, about two weeks after.
While officials of the ministry could not provide a valid justification for their actions, the auditor-general’s office posits that loans obtained without authorisation could be diverted for private use.
Besides, the investment and security tribunal was accused of overpayment of estacode above the approved rate. This is to the tune of N3.23 million.
The NPHCDA was also allegedly involved in the irregular payment of estacode to its staff up to N19.56 million.
According to the report, grade levels of the NPHCDA officials were not declared to ascertain how much of estacode allowances was received. Also, the number of days spent on the trip was not stated and the payment documents presented lack approval of the SGF.
Still, the auditor-general’s office claimed no response was provided to justify the amounts released as estacodes.
Similarly, officials of the national hajj commission of Nigeria were indicted of raising payment vouchers to the tune of N79.05 million.
The four vouchers were reportedly raised on December 18, 2017, for a pre-visit, ahead of 2018 hajj to Saudi Arabia. As observed in other agencies, the vouchers lack relevant supporting documents such as stamped pages on their international passports, air tickets or boarding passes.
Moreover, the federal ministry of environment was accused of spending N10.84 million on unapproved foreign conferences, training and workshops. Similarly, the ARCN also expended N6.62 million on an unauthorised oversea trip.
In 2017, contrary to the directive from the SGF, the VCN also paid its staff N1.07 million to attend the World Organisation on Animal Health (OIE) conference, held in Bangkok without approval.
The registrar has been directed to return the sum into the government’s coffer.
Surv Adamu Adaji, Director-General, National Boundary Commission.
Officials of Boundary commission receive N12.05m estacode on repairs carried out within Nigeria
Based on discovery from the audit report, the national boundary commission paid N12.05 million as estacode to reconstruct pillars at the Nigeria-Niger international boundary. But findings revealed the pillars were still within the Nigerian border, yet, the officials took the money.
“…there was no need for payment of estacode as they did not cross over to Niger Republic for any further activities,” the report stated.
“In addition, the officers that travelled for this programme were engaged to work for fifteen (15) days while the local guide and security personnel were paid for forty (40) days each, and there was no evidence that money paid to officers representing the State and Local government amounting to N960,000.00, got to them.”
A separate N26.78 million was also spent by the agency to attend the 33rd meeting of the Nigeria-Cameroun mixed commission in Yaounde, Cameroun. The event held between 3rd and 14th June, 2018. The audit revealed $2,000 set aside for contingency could not be accounted for. Moreover, there was no evidence of travel such as immigration stamped pages in delegates international passports. Both air tickets and boarding passes were not provided.
Still, no response was provided to the AUGF to justify the spending. The DG has, however, been directed to account for the sum.
Reactions
Yunusa Abdullahi, Director of Information, Ministry of finance pushed the blame to the Permanent Secretary (PS). He said the PS is the accounting officer of the ministry, thus, he is the most appropriate to comment on the discovery.
The ICIR requested for the PS’s contact but Abdullahi did not provide it. He said he was driving, thus promised to share at a later time. As of the time of filing this report, he is yet to fulfil his promise.
Also, Mohammed Ohitoto, the NPHCDA spokesperson told The ICIR he has “no reaction” to the allegations. Nevertheless, he promised to share the contact of Stephen Yusuf, the agency’s Director of Finance and Account but he never did.
He later called to inform the reporter that the director truly confirmed the anomaly. “Yes, there was something like that,” Ohitoto stated in a phone conversation. However, he claimed the estacode problem has been sorted, stressing that it was no longer an issue.
Then, Ohitoto fixed an appointment with the reporter to meet with Yusuf on Monday, February 1. He promised to present a justifiable document to validate the director’s claim on the set appointment date.
At about 11 am, on the set date, this reporter met with Ohitoto, and he introduced The ICIR to the director of finance and account.
“It is not an infraction,” Yusuf started with an explanation. He said the trips were not funded by the government but development partners such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Bank, at different periods.
The beneficiaries, he said, were paid estacodes by the partners but it was not commensurate with the regular estacodes payable to civil servants once they travel abroad. Thus, upon arrival to the country, Yusuf said the staff applied to get the “estacode difference.”
A document sighted by The ICIR showed names of the said beneficiaries. There were 19 names including the NPHCDA’s Executive Director, Faisal Shuaib. It also included dates the estacodes were paid, the descriptions as well as the exact amount paid.
“It is the difference in estacodes that they paid and not the full estacodes,” Yusuf stressed.
Curios, the reporter queried the rationale for paying an “estacode difference,” since the trip was not approved by the head of the service or the SGF. While the clarification was ongoing, Rotimi Okunade, a deputy director from the same department interjected. He said the normal civil service rule permits public servants to get estacode refunds on foreign trips of that nature.
Okunade, argued further that the agency’s ED approved the N19.56 million payments. All the while, Ohitoto was seated while these explanations were made.
Eventually, Yusuf said the needed clarifications have been produced and would be presented to the House Committee on Public Accounts as well as the office of the accountant general.
Silence in environment ministry, foreign affairs
To get a reaction, Sagir Mohammed, Director of Information, the federal ministry of environment did not respond to calls and text message sent to his line.
Ferdinard Nwonye, spokesperson for the foreign affairs ministry also did not respond when contacted through text message.
Nimma Egun, the Head of Media, investment and security tribunal told this reporter she cannot react to the allegation, except her chief executive officer does, who she claimed was travelling to Kano.
Surv. Adamu Adeji, Director-General of the national boundary commission acknowledged the irregularities exposed by the audit. He disclosed that the National Assembly (NASS) has summoned the commission, thus, he would rather wait for the hearing before he makes any further comments.
“The panel has given the commission a date to appear and until then, we cannot speak on it,” he said through Efe Ovuakporie, the commission’s head of media and publicity.
Kayode Aiyedogbon, ARCN Head of Media and Public Relations told The ICIR, in a text message he knew nothing about the allegation. “You may wish to carry out your investigation on it,” he said.
At headquarters of the national hajj commission, officials from the media department could not provide an answer to illegal disbursement of N79.09 million. A senior official referred the reporter to the office of the Director of Finance and Account. But, the DFA was said to be in a meeting with the chief executive of the commission. The ICIR waited. After a while, a senior official from the same department who pleaded anonymity disclosed that a response to the query was sent to the Public Account a day before the reporter’s visit. “I don’t think it will be right to say anything for now because this same response would be provided to the national assembly. So we are waiting for the National Assembly’s invitation. Once that is done, we can respond.”
The ICIR also independently verified from another department if the response was sent as claimed. It was gathered 10 issues were responded to and submitted to public accounts committee but it is uncertain if the N79.09 million was included.
Ezenwa Nwakonobi, VCN Registrar, was contacted for reaction on the unapproved trip to Bangkok but he repeatedly terminated the call. Text message sent to him was not returned.
Is Buhari really fighting corruption?
It is worthy of note that most of these allegations of corrupt practices exposed in public service occurred while Buhari is in power. This is despite the President’s repeated commitment to tackling corruption. However, the popular perception remains that he might need to do more.
Beyond this report, other cases of corrupt practices under his government have been reported by the media.
Recent, Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency International also revealed how the country is perceived differently on corruption and its continuous drop in the global ranking. Nigeria ranked 149 from 180 nations.
Prof. Bola Akinterinwa in a recent interview with The ICIR advised for a holistic approach in tackling corruption in the system. “So, how do you cut off a tree from the top when the root is still being wet with water. I have not read the report itself. I only heard it over the radio but the report cannot but be right because we see it on a daily basis. Why will the NIMC be demanding for N5000 to register people? They request for money openly and the TI are there, so these are the reasons. No big deal, in fact, if TI has done its work very well, there is no reason why we should not be the 180th country,” he stated.
DAPO Abiodun, governor of Ogun State, has appealed to Nigerians to learn how to live together by managing the country’s diversity.
He made this appeal during the commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the state on Wednesday.
The governor, who stressed that there would be no meaningful progress and development in an atmosphere of insecurity, credited the development of his state to good management of its diversities.
“Let us also use the occasion of the 45th anniversary of our dear state to appeal to the rest of Nigerians. We must eschew all forms of violence and learn to live together. We must also appreciate that there can be no development in an atmosphere of insecurity. We must learn to manage our diversity and turn it into our strength,” he said.
“There can never be a better lesson in the management of diversity as a source of strength than from us in Ogun State. With over 10 sub-ethnic groups, this diversity has been one of the major forces propelling the development of our dear state. We keep harnessing the strengths and potential of these sub-ethnic groups for the general good of everyone.”
While stating that those fanning the embers of division across the country must not be allowed, he added that ”Ogun State is for all Nigerians and as such, folks from other tribes and every part of Nigeria should be accommodated by indigenes in the spirit of oneness.”
“Today, Ogun State is the home to not just indigenes of our dear state, but people from diverse backgrounds all over the country and even to a lot of foreigners.
“Yes, I agree there may be reasons for us to disagree on certain issues of our essentials. But, we will only disagree to agree and move forward. We must not encourage those stoking the embers of violence for the disintegration of our great nation. A country where tribes and tongues may differ but stands in brotherhood is where unity in our diversity thrives.
“We all have duties, responsibilities and obligations to aid better understanding of our local and national realities. All we need to do is manage our differences effectively and efficiently and Nigeria will be greater.”
The governo’s appeal is coming days after Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, led some youths to Yewa North Local Government Area of the state where herdsmen were said to be terrorising farmers and residents.
A Fulani settlement in Igua area of the local government was reportedly set on fire by some irate youths after Igboho’s visit to the community.
The state government has since distanced itself from the move, stating that it would not need Igboho to resolve the security challenges facing the people of the state,
SULE Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa state says Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has brought a culture of hate and division since it assumed power in 2015.
The former governor said this on Wednesday when he featured on ARISE News ahead of the 2023 general elections, the choice will rest solely on Nigerians to decide whether to continue with the APC in power or not.
Lamido said “Nigeria is a very clear history of two pages. The first page is PDP, the second page is APC, this is how it has been for the past 25 or 23 years.
“Page one, PDP, uniting Nigerians, love, respect for each other, mutual understanding, prosperity, stability and then of course development.
“Page two, APC, a culture of hate, a culture of division, a culture of vilifying people, a culture of impunity, mocking Nigerians and calling them whatever.
“So the choice is for Nigerians not for me. They should look at page one- PDP, page two-APC make your choice if you want APC forever, fine so be it, I have no problem,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lamido who is also a former minister of foreign affairs described moves by the APC governor to persuade former President Goodluck Jonathan to run for 2023 presidency as hypocrisy.
“I begin to wonder, are we really serious? This is somebody who offered himself, a very humble person, somebody you can reach and talk to any time, yet Nigerians vilified him. They called him all kind of names, they called him clueless, vilified his wife and called her all kind of names.
“And he was defeated and this is somebody who was demonised and called all kind of names and now you want him back? Why was he defeated in the first instance?”
When Lamido was asked if the governors were trying to harass the former president’s mentality, he said “They wanted to defeat him, they wanted to flush him out, they have flush PDP out and now they are going back to him again.
“Are they saying that Buhari has failed them? Are they saying there is no material in the entire APC for them to fill? This is what I call dripping hypocrisy.”
THE Kwara Police Command has confirmed that it received reports from residents concerning the influx of Fulani herders into the state.
Okasanmi Ajayi, Kwara State police public relations officer, confirmed this to The ICIR during a telephone conversation on Wednesday.
According to Ajayi, there had always been presence of Fulani herders in Kwara State, but some residents recently said they noticed an influx of the herders into the state.
However, he noted that there had not been any reported conflict connected to the Fulani herders in the state.
Ajayi added that Mohammed Bagega, Kwara State commissioner of police, at a stakeholders’ security meeting with traditional rulers, said measures were being taken to prevent a break-down of law and order.
Bagega, who advised traditional rulers not to abdicate their responsibilities as the leaders of their communities to youths, said that the youth should be put on check at all times for peace to reign in their communities.
While the police have not confirmed seeing large numbers of Fulanis herders migrate to the state, there are reports that the Seriki Fulani confirmed that he now lives in Kwara State after he was ‘chased’ out of Igangan town in Oyo.
Saliu Abdulkadri, Seriki Fulani of Igangan town, left the state following the expiration of an ultimatum issued by Sunday Adeyemo, a youth leader in Oyo State, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.
Saliu Abdulkadri, the Seriki Fulani of Igangan town. Photo Credit: Premium Times
According to Igboho, Abdulkadiri was responsible for the several violence unleashed on the people of Igangan by Fulani herders.
After the expiration of the ultimatum, Igboho and his team attacked the residence of the embattled Fulani leader in Igangan community.
Igboho and some residents of Igangan town accused the Seriki Fulani of conniving with some Fulani herders to attack residents of the state.
Fulani herders’ crisis has once again generated tension across some southern states in Nigeria due to alleged destruction of farms, kidnapping and attacks on residents by Fulanj herders.
Recently in Ogun State, some residents of some villages in Yewa North Local Government Area were beaten by soldiers for rejecting Fulani herders in their communities.
After the viral video was made public, Igboho visited some villages in Ogun where a series of violence was reported to have been perpetrated.
THE Kogi State government has accused both the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) of scaring away investors through deliberate lies regarding COVID-19 in the state.
The PTF had, on Tuesday, warned against travelling to Kogi after classifying the state, Yobe, Jigawa, Zamfara and Kebbi as ‘high-risk’ COVID-19 states.
The PTF hinged its decision on the state government’s repeated denial of the existence of the deadly disease and its poor attitude towards report tests and isolation centres.
Reacting, Kingsley Fanwo, state commissioner for information and communication, said the government believed that the intention of the PTF and NCDC was to drive away investors from the state.
“Despite their unreliable figures, Kogi emerged as the preferred investment destination of Nigeria in the last quarter of 2020. They felt embarrassed and the best way to hit back is to create a picture of health crisis in the state.”
According to him, Kogi was the first state to procure face masks in thousands and distributed to all the councils, as well as the first to set up a team to combat the spread of the virus.
“We set up isolation centres with state-of-the-art equipment. We have done sensitisation more than any other state. So if we don’t believe that Covid-19 exists, we won’t be doing all we are doing to ensure it doesn’t ravage our state.
“What we said and are still saying is that Covid-19 is not worth all the marketing going on just for a few to make billions; that we do not have to suffer innocent Nigerians while a few smile to the banks,” the commissioner said.
He said that the cases reported in Kogi were fraudulent, saying that the named institutions could not have been working in the interest of public good. He noted that the NCDC data was unreliable and inconsistent.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, Yahaya Bello, state governor, has consistently denied the existence of COVID-19 in his state and the country.
In July 2020, some unknown gunmen invaded the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Lokoja to disrupt a COVID-19 press conference scheduled to demand a COVID-19 screening centre in the state and to address the challenges facing health workers in their fight against the disease. Some medical officers in the facility were severely beaten and injured.
Last month, Bello was seen expressing doubts on the authenticity of the vaccine and alluding that there was no cure for Covid-19, HIV and many other diseases troubling mankind before a crowd of supporters in a viral video.
Citing a 1996 Pfizer vaccine in Kano that had an adverse effect on its recipients, the governor stressed that the vaccine was intended to introduce diseases that would kill Nigerians and the rest of the world.
“Vaccines are being produced in less than one year of COVID-19. There is no vaccine yet for HIV, malaria, cancer, headache and for several other diseases that are killing us. They want to use the (COVID-19) vaccines to introduce the disease that will kill you and us. God forbid,” he had said.
“We should draw our minds back to what happened in Kano during the Pfizer polio vaccines that crippled and killed our children. We have learned our lessons.
“If they say they are taking the vaccines in the public, allow them take their vaccines. Don’t say I said you should not take it, but if you want to take it, open your eyes before you take the vaccines.”
THE Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has since distanced itself from Bello’s comments and claims, saying it would only be guided by science and take decisions with public and professional trust.
TWO months after an investigative story by Metrodaily Nigeria about the abandoned primary healthcare facility project at Garun Sheme, Kunchi LGA of Kano state, where no fewer than 100 women die annually during childbirth due to lack of functional healthcare facilities, the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON has revisited the site.
The investigation, supported by the John D. And Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) discovered that the project, awarded sometimes in 2007 was abandoned two years later and not completed till date.
The 27 – room hospital and a doctor’s residential quarter has been left uncompleted since 2009 by the contractor , Trustcon Nigeria Limited due to non-release of funds.
However, a recent visit to the village revealed that the Association has revisited the project site after the report, and erected a new signboard showing the contractor’s detail.
When contacted, the District Head, Garun Sheme, Mal. Haruna Abubakar said it was a relief for the villagers to see the new signboard with the Association’s name and that of the contractor erected at the site of the abandoned project.
Although, he hasn’t been informed about the continuation of the project, he expressed hopes that work would resume soon at the project site.
Abubakar reiterated that the villagers still experience health complications which often results in death as a result of lack of standard and functioning clinic.
The situation forces the residents to travel to Kano city, a journey of not less than 50 kilometers, or to other places such as Kazaure, Kunchi town or Bichi to access good hospital.
He said the diseases such as malaria and typhoid pose great threats to the lives of the villagers particularly the children, leading to grave hardship and deaths.
Haruna called on government to come to their rescue and charges ALGON to speedily complete the hospital so as to help save the lives of the villagers from more deaths.
Recall this reporter visited the ALGON headquarters in Abuja, October, 2020 where he was informed that the national president who doubles as the chief accountant and resides in Lagos is in custody of the file containing the needed information as such, no information was available at the head office in Abuja.
An FOI letter was subsequently sent requesting information on the Garun Sheme contract but no reply was also given three weeks after the visit.
In the request letter dated October 14, the agency was asked to provide information, including the name of the contractor, contract amount, amounts released so far as well as the contractor’s address but the agency declined the request.
The Member representing Kunchi/Tsanyawa Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon Sani Bala, had previously promised that as a result of these investigations he would henceforth collaborate with the incoming local government chairman from the district to ensure that he includes the completion of the abandoned project as part of his priorities.
He stressed that efforts would be made for the state government to take over the project being an immovable project in the local government.
Hon. Bala stated that the investigation had drawn his attention to the abandoned project and would henceforth ensure the state government come to the aid of the people from the affected villages.
When Contacted over the recent development, Hon. Bala described it as a welcome move saying that the people of Garun Sheme a notable ward in the LGA have peculiar challenges bordering around health and drinkable water.
According to him, in a bid to alleviate the sufferings of the people in the area in terms of access to quality healthcare system, the available primary healthcare hospital in the area was supplied some equipment but much couldn’t have been done because the primary facility has no space to accommodate much.
In view of the above, Hon Sani pledged that he would continue making efforts to ensure that the village’s major problems are presented before the 9th Assembly and included in the budgets for execution.
The lawmaker also promised to see to the completion and functioning of the healthcare centre.
A coalition of civil society groups has alleged that the Nigerian Army secretly executed six soldiers at the Abacha Barracks, in Abuja, on January 25, 2021.
The Eastern Nigeria’s Rights and Intelligentsia Coalition, in a statement released on February 2, 2021, said it had incontrovertible evidence that the soldiers, who were attached to the Armory Department of the Nigerian Army, Abacha Barracks, Abuja, “were secretly executed under the instruction of now-retired Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai, a day before he left office on Tuesday, 26th January 2021.”
The said soldiers – Prince Ukwuoma, Ebube Isaiah, Amos Azubuike, Ekene Ebere, Moses Anyim and Godwin Uchendu – were allegedly executed after a military court-martial, according to the CSOs coalition.
But the Nigerian Army denied the allegation when contacted by The ICIR on Tuesday, February 2, 2021.
The coalition, in the statement, said it obtained information concerning the alleged executions from E. R. Okoroafor, a human rights lawyer.
Okoroafor said he was “contacted by one of the slain soldiers through his family to defend them in the trumped-up charges, executed using hazy and clandestine military court-martial.”
The lawyer, according to the coalition, disclosed that the execution was connected to allegations of missing weapons at the Abacha Barracks.
Quoting Okoroafor, the statement issued by the coalition said, “Sometime in September 2020, an allegation of missing weapons was made at Abacha Barracks and it was immediately traced to a senior colonel (of Hausa-Fulani origin) and instead of the chief of army staff (Buratai) to issue query and sanction the colonel, he exonerated him on the grounds of his tribe and religion.
“The COAS turned around and ordered for the arrest of 12 soldiers guarding the armory, comprising six Igbo soldiers, three Yoruba soldiers and three Fulani-Hausa soldiers. In the end, the latter soldiers were shielded and exonerated under questionable circumstances and the six Igbo soldiers made to face secret court martial during which they were blocked and prevented from having access to their families and defense lawyers of their choice.”
Okoroafor also told the CSOs that his attempts to stand in for the soldiers were stiffly opposed and he was flimsily told by the Army’s Legal Department that “civilian lawyers are not allowed to defend the accused soldiers except military lawyers.”
“Their trial was totally shrouded in secrecy and never disclosed to the public through army statements till date. Likewise, their constitutional right of appeal to Court of Appeal and Supreme Court was also totally denied. The persecuted and executed soldiers protested their innocence to the point of tendering their resignation in protest; all to no avail,” the statement further said.
The statement was jointly signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law; Anthony Ejiofor, World Igbo Congress (USA); Uzodimma Nwala, Ala-Igbo Development Foundation (ADF); Justice Chidi, Concerned Elites for Better Society Initiative; Justin Akujieze, Ekwenche Research Institute (USA); Moses Nwaigwe, Biafra Genocide Survivors Group (USA); Austin Okeke, Igbo Board of Deputies (UK); Kanayo Odeluga, Igbo League, Inc.(USA); Mercy Alu, International Association of African Authors and Scholars (USA); Onyenkachi Orjiako, International Society for War Against Lawlessness (USA); Okezie Kelechi, Neighborhood Environment Watch Foundation and Jerry Chidozie Chukwuokoro, International Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights Initiative.
Other signatories were Zulu Ofoelue, Igbo National Council; Ezekwike Chekwube Violet, New Home Mentoring and Development Initiative; Aloysius Attah, Civil Liberties Organization, South-East; Tochukwu Ezeoke, Igbo Ekunie Initiative; Justine Ijeoma, Human Rights Social Development and Environmental Foundation; Vincent Ezekwueme, Civil Liberties Organisation, Anambra State; Peter Onyegiri, Center for Human Rights and Peace Advocacy; Alex Olisa, South-East Good Governance Forum; Nnana Nelson Nwafor, Foundation for Environment Rights Advocacy and Development; Nkwocha Anozie, Initiative for Ideal Development Emancipatory Leadership; Emeku Uche, Easy-life Initiative for Rural Youths; Samuel Njoku, Human Rights Organisation of Nigeria and Ngwobia Ngwobia, Primate Salvation Initiative.
When contacted by The ICIR, a spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Sagir Musa, acting director of army public relations, forwarded to our correspondent a montage of pictures of the alleged slain soldiers with ‘Fake News’ written over it.
Musa forwarded the pictures as a response to enquiries made by our correspondent through a WhatsApp conversation.
The army spokesman did not make any other comment.
CSOs insist soldiers were executed, claim Nigerian Army never owns up to extra-judicial killings
The ICIR confronted a member of the coalition, Umeagbalasi, with the Nigerian Army’s denial of the alleged execution.
Umeagbalasi, in response, insisted that the six soldiers were actually executed.
“Everybody knows the antecedents of the Nigerian Army – denial is their second name. Look at what happened at Lekki during the #ENDSARS protests where protesters were killed and they are still denying till today. That will tell you the nature of the Nigerian Army,” Umeagbalasi told The ICIR on February 2, 2021.
“People should not be deceived by the army’s denial. There is no way you will expect the army to admit the truth. Let them produce the soldiers if they are not lying,” he added.
Lawyer tell The ICIR that soldiers were indeed executed
The ICIR also contacted Okoroafor, the lawyer who said he was representing the alleged executed soldiers.
After obtaining Okoroafor’s contact details from Umeagbalasi, our correspondent informed the lawyer that the Nigerian Army had described his allegations as ‘fake news’.
Okoroafor told our correspondent that he got involved in the case after a US-based brother of one of the soldiers contacted him.
Insisting that the army indeed executed six soldiers, the lawyer said, “Up till now, none of their (six soldiers’) phone numbers is going through and an insider confirmed that they have been executed.”
He said the coalition would, next week, petition the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the alleged executions.
