AN Abuja military court has demoted Olusegun Adeniyi, a former theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, by three years for producing and publicizing a video that embarrassed and ridiculed the Nigeria armed forces.
According to The Punch, Adeniyi was convicted on Monday after he was found guilty of violating Section 15 (g) of the policy of the Nigerian armed forces which forbids personnel from posting on social media “any video, audio, materials pictures during exercises/operations.”
The report further stated that Adeniyi’s orderly, Tokunbo Obanla, a private, was also found guilty and sentenced to 28 days in jail with hard labour.
In March this year, Adeniyi was seen in a viral video urging military authorities to supply them with weapons and accurate intelligence to combat the ravaging Boko Haram terrorists in the northeastern region.
He was seen in the videos that were widely circulated on social media giving a situation report to the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, a lieutenant general.
He blamed the deadly attack his troops suffered on “very wrong intelligence assessment” earlier conducted before they deployed.
“Since yesterday we have been met with very strong resistance – from more than pockets of Boko Haram. This morning, from every flank not less than 15 gun trucks were facing us,” he said.
In the video, the theatre commander was seen amongst troops lamenting that his team suffered a massive loss of men and equipment because it was outgunned by Boko Haram.
He also revealed how he lost several types of equipment and was almost rendered immobile due to a massive attack on troops’ vehicles.
“But what we have here, I will give you some estimates, sir. Boko Haram has fired more than a hundred mortar bombs at us; they have fired 80 to a hundred RPGs at us; in addition to eight to 10 gun trucks firing at us from all sides. We have not run, and the soldiers are not misbehaving or disobeying orders.
“We have casualties. I will come and see you in person on what we need to do. But we are not running.
“As you can see over that’s one of ours that bullets tore, we lost about 20 MRAP tires here. We have changed close to 250 Hilux tires due to the terrain.
“This is what we are facing in the Timbuktu triangle, sir. We are not running, we are fighting as a system to curtail the situation and achieve your mission, sir,” Adeniyi said.
He was subsequently removed and was directed to proceed to Abuja for trial by the Nigerian Army.
PEOPLE in Akwa Ibom are demanding proof of implementation of constituency projects in 2019 from their representatives in the state House of Assembly.
The call was made following claims by the state government that it spent N1.057 billion for “facilitation of 26 constituency development projects in the 26 State constituencies of Akwa Ibom State”, in the 2019 annual report and audited financial statements of the state for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Members of the House of Assembly who spoke to our reporters said funds were budgeted or spent no constituency projects in 2019 and expressed shock that N1.057 billion was posted in the report as expenditure for that purpose during the year.
The Akwa Ibom State Government on November 18 circulated an annual report and audited financial statements for the year 2019 after a news report raised an alarm about extra-budgetary expenditures in the annual report of the Accountant General of the state.
The government told journalists that figures in the previous report were a “coding error” which occurred during the preparation of the report.
In the new annual report and audited financial statements, an expenditure of N1.057 billion is posted for constituency projects in 2019.
Both serving and immediate past members of the House of Assembly whose tenure elapsed in June 2019 have said that they did not execute constituency projects in 2019.
The immediate past Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Onofiok Luke, said members of the House of Assembly did not nominate constituency projects, as it is usually the tradition, in 2019.
However, it was confirmed that members of the House of Assembly were allowed to nominated constituency projects in 2018, some of which have not been completed.
The projects dominated by each of the 26 House members in 2018 cost N40 million.
“Most of the constituency projects embarked upon were not completed because the funds were not released. The projects were costed at N25 million including relevant taxes. N15 million was agreed as what will remain for us which would help some members use and support small businesses and other sundry expenses”.
“Sadly, till date, the resource persons who did the jobs have not been paid balance for the job; that is why most of us could not complete the projects we embarked upon. Those who used their money to complete some of the projects because of the elections are still owing banks the loan they got to facilitate the job”, a lawmaker who did not want to be named told these reporters. Other members of the House corroborated this.
A cross-section of Akwa Ibom citizens who met in Uyo on November 26 for the 2020 Community Forum on Constituency Projects called on the House of Assembly to show proof of implementation of the 2019 constituency projects published in the report.
The forum, which was convened by Policy Alert, with support from Actionaid Nigeria and the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), in a communique requested the House of Assembly to publish details of the 2019 constituency projects and how much they cost.
The communiqué reads in part:”Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (AKHA) members responsible for nomination of constituency projects across 26 state constituencies should publicly disclose the type of nominated and implemented constituency project(s) for 2019 and 2020 in their respective State constituencies.”
“AKHA members responsible for nomination of constituency projects across 26 state constituencies should publicly disclose the sites or location of the nominated and implemented constituency project(s) for 2019 and 2020 in their respective State constituencies.
“AKHA members responsible for nomination of constituency projects across 26 state constituencies should publicly disclose the current status of the project(s) nominated and implemented for each constituency project(s) for 2019 and 2020 in their respective State constituencies.”
“The members of the House responsible for nomination of constituency projects across 26 state constituencies should publicly disclose the contractors for the project(s) nominated and implemented for each constituency projects for 2019 and 2020 in their respective State constituencies.”
“The House members responsible for nomination of constituency projects across 26 state constituencies should publicly disclose the date of commencement, completion, and commissioning of nominated and implemented constituency project(s) for 2019”, the communique reads.
The forum said that henceforth members of the House of Assembly should provide details of proposed constituency projects in the budget for transparency and to enable grassroots actors track, ensure efficient implementation, exercise ownership and protect such projects.
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY REACTS
Some members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly who spoke to our reporters said the expenditure posted in the report might put them and their family members under attack from their constituents.
Following the controversy generated by the state’s audited report for 2019, the House of Assembly held a closed-door meeting on November 25 with the Accountant General, Uwem Andrew-Essien.
The meeting, which was held in the office of the leader of the house of assembly, mr udo kieran, between 10a.m and 11:25 a.m was attended by deputy chief whip of the house, nse essien; aniekan uko member representing ibesikpo asutan; usoro akpanusoh (esit eket/ ibeno) charity ido (ukanafun); ifiok udoh (nsit ibom); Anietie Eka (uyo); kufreabasi edidem (itu); Esse umoh (ssien udim); and udeme otong (abak).
At the meeting, which was inconclusive, our source said the lawmakers agreed that the Accountant General should be invited to give explanations on the expenditure when the House of Assembly resumes from recess on December 3.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Information, Aniefiok Dennis, has said that the House of Assembly will address the people of the state on the issue when the House resumes from recess.
“I’m working with the chairman, Public Accounts Committee and the chairman, Committee on Appropriations and Finance; in few days the House will have opportunity to address the press on the budget be it 2019 or 2020”, Dennis said.
EXECUTIVE RESPONDS
The Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, Akan Okon, explained that the expenditure posted for the facilitation of 26 constituency projects in the 26 state constituencies in the 2019 report was payment for constituency projects done in 2018.
“Money was not paid in full for all the projects. And mind you, some of the projects were completed in 2019, so the expenditure posted in the report is for payments done in 2019. It does not necessarily mean payment for new projects, but ongoing ones”, Okon said.
Also, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ini Ememobong, in response to enquiry on the controversial expenditure in 2019 for constituency project, said via SMS that the expenditure was payment for ongoing projects.
“In 2019, the Assembly transited from the sixth to the seventh assembly. The fifth and sixth Assemblies had undertaken constituency projects which had to be paid for in 2019. That accounts for the sum you find attached thereto”, Ememobong said.
Only one out of five serving members of the House of Assembly who spoke to these reporters admitted that the constituency projects he nominated in 2018 was paid for in 2019.
Two former members of the House of Assembly said though the projects they nominated were completed, the government is yet to pay for them.
THE idea of building an Independent Power Plant, IPP, for Delta State to address its power problems was first mooted in 2000, during the administration of Governor James Ibori. During his tenure, Ibori appointed a consortium of engineering firms to undertake a power survey of Delta State. The consortium was made up of three companies: Engineering Management Support Limited, Optimal Power & Control Engineering Limited, and George Spiropoulus & Associates. At the conclusion of its assignment, the consortium submitted a report that estimated that the power demand for Delta State would be between 440MW and 570MW.
However, Ibori, who left office in May 2007, did not take on the IPP project, but Emmanuel Uduaghan who took over from him did.
Entrance of abandoned IPP project, Oghara
The N23B IPP Project in Oghara.
In an executive council meeting held in May 2009, Governor Uduaghan approved the contract award for the acquisition and installation of two Open Cycle Rolls Royce Trent 60wle phase 111 Gas Turbine generators capable of being fired by natural gas and diesel oil.
The turbines were to have an installed capacity of 116MW and expected to generate 100MW of electricity for the State Independent Power Plant (IPP) project.
The contract was awarded to Davnotch Nigeria Limited, in partnership with an American firm, Southern Integrated Energy Limited, at the cost of $125million (one hundred and twenty five million dollars). The dollar exchange rate used for the contract was N176 to a dollar, which translated to N21,750,000,000.00 (twenty-one billion, seven hundred and fifty million naira).
In 2010, Ovuozorie Macaulay, the then Commissioner for Energy, in his brief to the state’s Economic Management Team, disclosed that the government paid 60% of the contract sum to Davnotch that same year. At the time the contract was awarded, one of its owners of the company was Victor Ochei who was at that time the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.
Further investigation revealed that the contract sum of N21.7 billion did not include land acquisition, appointment of Prime/Resident Consults, Insurance coverage, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), construction of 132/33KVA transmission line to evacuate power to be generated and construction for gas supply for the IPP project, a development that led to the upward review of the contract sum in 2010 to N23.2 billion.
Governor Uduaghan Fails to Complete IPP Project.
On July 26, 2011, Uduaghan boasted to journalists during a briefing that work on the power project would be completed before he leaves office in May 2015, noting that with the successful completion of the turbines in Europe, work had reached an advanced stage. He added that he was optimistic that the turbines would be shipped into the country by August 2011.
But his promise to complete the project before he leaves office was never fulfilled.
Our reporter gathered that in line with the contract agreement Davnotch Nigeria Limited supplied the two Rolls Royce Gas turbines at the stipulated time, but the turbines were still awaiting installation when the contractor demobilized from site in Oghara, in 2014.
The lPP project was aimed at providing adequate, stable electricity for the people of Oghara, the hometown of Chief James Ibori and other parts of Delta State, however ten years later the project remains uncompleted and abandoned.
Governor Okowa’s government inherits IPP Project in May 2015.
The state Independent Power Project (IPP) was among the many projects inherited by Ifeanyi Okowa, when he assumed office on May 29, 2015. In 2016, to ascertain why the IPP project was abandoned, Okowa set up a 16 – man committee headed by David Edevbie, then commissioner for Finance, to investigate, proffer solutions and advise his administration on what could be done to revive the moribund multi-billion naira project. While inaugurating the committee, Governor Okowa also said his administration would prosecute anyone found culpable considering the huge resources that the project had gulped.
Edevbe’s Committee Swings into Action.
In 2016, Edevbe and members of his committee went on an on the spot assessment tour of the IPP facility. The delegation included the project consultants, A & A Global, officials of Access Bank, the financial advisers on the project, and representatives of the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
Since the IPP project remains completely abandoned, frantic efforts was made by this reporter to obtain Edevbe’s panel report but all efforts hit a brick wall. Not deterred Sunreporters wrote a Freedom of Information Act, FOIA, request to the office of the state governor, copying the Chief of State to the Governor, now incidentally occupied by Edevbe and the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Power and Energy but there was no response until October 12, 2020, when the newspaper got a letter from the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice notifying it that the Delta State Government cannot release such documents under this federal Act and advised it to apply for the information under the Delta State Freedom of Information Act 2019, an advise the newspaper acted upon.
However, Edevbie, who spoke to this reporter on phone, explained that his committee submitted its report in 2017 but refused to disclose the recommendations in the report, stressing that government does not disclose internal reports to journalists.
“The committee report was submitted to the governor, we do not disclose contents of internal reports to reporters,” he stated.
Okowa’s Commissioner for Power and Energy Evades Interview
Okowa’s commissioner for power and energy, Basil Ganagana
Also all attempts made to speak with the state’s Commissioner for Power and Energy, Basil Ganagana, proved abortive as calls, and text messages sent to obtain comments from him on the said project were ignored. Our reporter also visited his office on several occasions, booked appointments through the ministry’s spokesperson but all efforts hit a brick wall.
Sources in the ministry also told our reporter that from 2016 to 2020 it has not made any budgetary provision for the completion of the moribund multi-billion naira project.
Contacted on phone Ovuozorie Macaulay, who was the Commissioner for Energy in 2010, declined to comment saying that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is investigating the project. He, however, said that the turbines were ready for installation before he left office as Commissioner.
Governor Okowa & CPS contradict each other.
Contacted to ascertain Okowa’s readiness to complete the abandoned project before the end of his administration, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Olisa Ifeajika, expressed his principal’s readiness to complete it before the end of his administration, stating that the project was never abandoned.
“The IPP project was never abandoned by His Excellency. I know it’s one of the projects inherited by this administration, I can tell you no inherited project will be abandoned, we are not known for abandoning projects.”
Ifeajika called for patience with his principal, just as he averred that the governor is taking his time to study the report submitted by the David Edevbe’s committee.
However, Governor Okowa earlier said in 2017 at a town hall meeting at the James Ibori Civic Center, in Oghara, that the Delta State government can no longer continue with the multi-billion IPP project as the project would still gulp over N200 billion.
On the Spot Assessment of Project site by our Reporter.
Entrance Gate of the abandoned IPP project in Oghara
When our reporter arrived the project site at Oghareki-Oghara in Ethiope West local government area, on August 25, 2020, for an on the spot assessment, he observed that the project site gate was locked. The site had a perimeter fence, three uncompleted buildings, a gantry and an access road constructed by Levant Construction Company. Looking at the site, it was obvious that what is on ground does not justify the huge amount expended on the project.
Devoid of human activities, the site was deserted and overtaken by weeds, with grasses as tall as1.2 meters covering the entire landscape. The current surroundings presents a conducive habitat for dangerous reptiles to breed. Also, the 1800 by 600 hectares of land acquired lies waste, a resource that could have served as farms to produce food for the host community. In addition, the access road to the IPP project site awarded to Lervant Construction Company has not been completed.
Some of the equipment sighted at Ibru warehouse awaiting installation. Photo by Markson
Some of the equipment sighted at Ibru warehouse awaiting installation. Photo by Markson
Our reporter also visited the rented warehouse where the two gas turbines and other equipment for the project are believed to be kept. The facility was also locked but a community source told this reporter that the turbines, among other machines purchased, are still lying there fallow. He disclosed that in January 2015, fire broke out on a nearby farm which spread due to the harmattan winds burnt the warehouse but he believes the fire did not do damage to the turbines.
Gas Turbines laying fallow waiting installation. Photo by Markson
The community source stated that Oghara, the host community for the abandoned IPP project, currently suffers epileptic power supply, a development that has slowed down business activities in the area. He hinted that part of Edjemuoyavwe community, the host community to Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, has been in total darkness for over three years, a development that made staff of the institution to relocate to as far as Edo State and other neighboring cities.
A welder, Mr. Esemedafe Oviri, disclosed that his marriage cashed because he could not afford to buy a generator plant to stay in his welding business. He said, since getting electricity in Oghara community has become a mirage, he was no longer able to provide for his wife and two kids.
Also the Oghareki Chief Priest, Prince Scout Akpoteheri Tegbeje, while speaking to our reporter at his residence, disclosed that for over three years, the community has suffered total blackout, noting that the IPP project if functional would have boosted economic activities and improved the standard of living of the people.
Akpoteheri also said the community lacks portable water as there is no electricity to power the community’s water system. Thus, people have resorted to water from River Ethiope to drink, cook and bath, a development that has caused them to continuously suffer from all kinds of water – borne diseases.
Abandoned Ago lane-Oghareki water system occasioned by no electricity to power it.
At the Oghara General Hospital, Oghareki and Ejemuoyavwe Health Center, our reporter observed that the health facilities had no power supply, but staff on duty declined to speak saying they were not authorized to speak to the press.
However one of the health officers lamented that the health center had no running water and electricity two important elements that will enable them function effectively.
Hotelliers and business owners also suffer the same ordeal. One of the hotel managers said they spend between N30,0000 to N40,0000 to buy diesel daily, a situation that has always made them run at a loss.
Another hotelier said he is set to sell off his hotel located at the heart of Oghara because of the huge cost of powering its operations.
In Asaba, capital of Delta State, residents and business owners have also decried the continuous power outage in the capital city.
At Infant Jesus, Anwai , Nnebisi, DLA, DBS and NTA roads in particular they lamented the frequent power blackouts in the capital city, appealing to Governor Okowa to look beyond his personal interests and give Deltans stable power.
Ogbolu Nneka, who owns a provision store along DLA Road lamented that she spends additional money to buy ice blocks to sell her water and drinks, which makes her profit almost zero. She noted that the power outage in the area spanning over four months with unpredictable rationing had crippled many businesses in the capital city while others have resorted to using generators.
She wondered why the Okowa-led government signed an MoU with a private power company to power only government facilities leaving most Deltans to suffer total blackouts.
The situation is, perhaps, worse at Delta Broadcasting Service, DBS road where hotelliers and residents said that the blackout has lasted over nine months because of a faulty transformer feeding that axis of Asaba.
Ifeoma, a fashion designer, said since there was no electricity to iron and sew clothes, her customers have all deserted her, leading to a downturn in her business.
Our reporter observed that hoteliers along DBS Road have increased their room rates considering the high cost of using generators. A visit to some of the hotels along DBS Road and its environs revealed that the average room which would normally cost N10,000 per night now costs about N15,000 per night, leaving lodgers at the receiving end.
N16B Asaba Integrated Power Project
In an effort to improve the power situation in Asaba, Governor Okowa’s government on August 15, 2016, signed an MOU with Bastanchury Power Solutions Limited, to build the Asaba lntegrated Power Plant expected to generate 8.5 megawatts of electricity at the cost of N16 billion.
Bastanchury Ltd MD/CEO, Mr. Goziem Chidi signing MOU with Delta State Government, represented by Mr. Newworld Safugha.
On March 28, 2017, the governor sent a letter to the State House of Assembly to ratify an earlier approval of the State Executive Council for the building of the Asaba Independent Power Plant Project (AIPPP) by Banstanchury Power under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The project, which is a public/private partnership (PPP) will require the State Government to pay one hundred and N134 million monthly for ten years to Banstanchury Power Limited. The State House of Assembly on March 29, 2017, ratified the agreement and the financial implications for the State over the next ten years.
According to Okowa, the PPA required government to issue an Irrevocable Standard Payment Order (ISPO) in support of monthly power tariff and a related bank guarantee covering the cost of the project as required by Banstanchury Power financiers.
The governor also stated that he approved an additional N30 million monthly gas fuel pass-through charge bringing the total monthly cost to a maximum N164 million.
Government offices, to be covered by the Asaba power plant include New Government House, Old Government House, Felix Ibru Secretariat, House of Assembly Complex, Customary Court of Appeal, Office of Deputy Governor, Office of the Secretary to State Government, Ministry of Works/ Energy and Housing, Cabinet Office, Old Secretariat and Ministry of Information.
Entrance Asaba IPP
Some of the residential estates/ quarters to be covered include Fine Homes, commissioners Quarters, Permanent Secretaries Quarters, VIPs and New VIP lodges, VIP lodge Annex, House of Assembly Quarters, SSGs residence and others, Chief of Staff’s residence, Deputy Governor’s residence, Chief Justice’s residence and the Presidential lodge.
Investigations as to why the initial IPP project in Oghara remains uncompleted have raised more questions than answers. How come a project that was to cost about 23billion naira in 2011, now requires an additional 200 billion naira to complete? Why has Okowa’s government preferred to initiate another N16 Billion naira IPPproject that will only serves some areas in Asaba rather than complete the 116 MW IPP in Oghara?
Interestingly, after the State Assembly ratified the agreement between the State Government and Bastanchury Power in 2017, the then Commissioner for Power and Energy, Newworld Safugha, stated that the project would be completed in 2018.Two years after with N164 million being paid monthly for the said project, it is still not completed.
A visit to the site revealed that the project is still ongoing. An insider in the ministry told our reporter that the project would soon be commissioned for use. However, a top government official who prefers to remain anonymous described the AIPPP as a covert scam being used to settle some persons in the Governor’s kitchen cabinet, adding that irrespective of all the payments being made the project will remain uncompleted.
Delta state gov’t has no investment in N16b Asaba power project, says contractor
CHAIRMAN of Bastanchury Power Solutions Limited, Goziem Chidi has debunked speculations that the Delta State Government has invested huge funds as a contribution in the N16 billion 8.5MW Independent Power Project under construction in Asaba, the state capital.
The chairman has also denied that the state has been paying Bastanchury Power 164 million Naira monthly for the past three years, revealing that the company was not entitled to receiving any money until it had supplied power to the government.
Speaking at the site of the IPP with our reporter, Chidi said allegations that the project was a drain pipe were totally unfounded, pointing out that Bastanchury ought to be commended for initiating and executing the 8.5MW scheme at no cost to the government.
“The real challenge is that our people are convoluted in their understanding of how embedded independent power is funded. This is not a contract. So, no money is paid to a contractor. ASABA IPP is funded through a consortium of financial institutions. The process is transparent and the are internationally recognised standards for sourcing such funds,” he explained.
Chidi revealed that the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed between the Delta State Government and Bastanchury, backed by an Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) was the guarantee needed to source for funds, adding that as result, the project has been concluded under the estimated 18 months period.
Rather than condemn the Asaba IPP, or speculate that the project was a drainpipe, the Bastanchury boss said the state, especially, Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, the state governor should be specially commended for foresight and exceptional courage to see the project to the end at no cost to the government.
“Governor Okowa should be commended for exhibiting foresight and exceptional courage for this project at no cost to the Delta State Government. There are no scams anywhere. Once we takeoff, all our traducers will shut their mouths,” he declared.
* This report was done with is support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting.
*The report was updated on Friday, January 15 to reflect the viewpoint of Goziem Chidi, chairman of Bastanchury Power Solutions Limited.
Abdulrasheed Maina, the wanted former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) was on Monday evening arrested in Niger Republic by the operatives of Niger Republic intelligence service in collaboration with Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
According to PR Nigeria, the arrest was made possible due to an existing mutual relationship and security agreement between the two neighbouring countries. According to sources in the EFCC, its operatives learnt of Maina’s escape to Niger about two weeks ago and have been working with that country’s security forces to effect his arrest.
Maina is facing a 12-count money laundering charge levelled against him and a company by the prosecuting EFCC.
The agency alleged that Maina, as chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, used the account of the firm for money laundering to the tune of about N2 billion, part of which he used to acquire landed properties in Abuja and elsewhere
He, however, has not been attending trial since the September 29, 2020 proceedings, a development that Monday prompted Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court to order the arrest of Senator Ali Ndume’swho stood surety for Maina.
But the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday granted bail to the Borno South Senator, over his suretyship for Maina, believed to have jumped bail.
Justice Abang, in a ruling, said he chose to grant the senator bail based on his record of good behaviour before the court, notwithstanding that the other grounds of his bail application failed.
AS part of its mandate, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Monday says it has secured an interim order to forfeit a sum of $919,202.07 fraudulently kept in a bank by some officials of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt.
The sum which is about 450 million Naira was discovered after the Commission received a petition against the suspected officials.
According to the ICPC, its investigators at the Rivers State Office traced the money to an interest yielding account kept secretly since 2014.
Upon discovery, the Commission stated that its lawyer, Dr. Agada Akogwu filed an Ex-parte Motion for an Interim Order of Forfeiture of the money.
The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Sani of the FHC in Port Harcourt, however, granted the Commission’s prayers for interim forfeiture of the disclosed sum pending the final hearing on the matter.
Part of the ruling by judge says “the interim forfeiture shall be published in any daily newspaper within 14 working days for any person interested in the said property sought to be forfeited to appear before the court.”
Whoever claims responsibility, according to the ruling should be willing to prove to the court why the final forfeiture orders should not be made in favour of the Federal Government.
The matter was adjourned to December 14, 2020 for reports and final forfeiture hearing.
Meanwhile, the above incident is one of similar discoveries made by the anti-graft agency.
The most recent was the case of the Acting Director-General (DG) of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), accused of allegedly defrauding the federal government of N400 million.
ICPC intelligence-led investigation revealed the money, which the Acting DG claimed to be an intervention fund for the biotechnology agency was diverted into private pockets.
The unnamed professor of Microbiology and Biotechnology was alleged to have shared the huge sum with some other top management staff of the agency.
He was therefore arrested by operatives of the Commission to answer questions on how the said amount belonging to the government could disappear under his watch. The Acting DG is also facing questions bordering on conspiracy and abuse of office.
The commission says the Prof’s actions are contrary to and punishable under sections 19 and 26 of the ICPC Act, 2000.
“Further investigations into the Acting DG’s alleged fraudulent activities are still ongoing and the Commission will take appropriate action once they are concluded.”
THE Federal Government has blamed international partners for the reason it is yet to successfully prosecute the war against Boko Haram insurgency in the northeastern region.
Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, said this on Monday in Makurdi while reacting to issues of insecurity and the killing of 110 rice farmers in Borno State during the weekend.
Mohammed said the Buhari administration has made an attempt to acquire a better platform to prosecute the war but it has been denied this support for some unknown reasons.
While stressing that there is a need for more global support to tackle terrorism, he stated that without adequate weapons, the nation will remain at the mercy of terrorists.
“But you must also note that we are dealing with terrorists who are financed globally and we also need more support from global partners. For instance, Nigeria has made an attempt to acquire a better and more effective platform to deal with terrorists but for one reason or the other we have been denied this platform, these weapons and without adequate weapons or platform we remain at the mercy of terrorists,” he said.
“You see fighting terrorists is not a joke because what actually happened in Borno State is unfortunate but you must also look at the strategy of the terrorists.
“Terrorists use media and publicity as oxygen, so when they go on this kind of mindless killing of people. It is not that the government is not doing enough. Terrorism whether in Afghanistan or anywhere in the world has the same concept, a group of people who are extremist in their thoughts who don’t think that you and I should be alive.
“When we talk about terrorism, people don’t seem to appreciate that terrorism is not a local issue, it is a global issue and there is no part of the world that doesn’t experience its own pocket of terrorism.”
Mohammed’s statement failed to acknowledge repeated and renewed calls by Nigerians and socio-political organizations that the president should create room for fresh ideas in the fight against terrorism and ravaging insecurity in the country by sacking his service chiefs who he appointed in 2015.
In July, the Nigeria Senate asked President Buhari to ask the service chiefs to step aside in a resolution moved by Ali Ndume who was ambushed by suspected bandits in Katsina State, leading to the death of 16 soldiers and 28 others, wounded.
But in a swift response, Femi Adesina, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, then said the presidency noted the “resolution and the president as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, will do what is in the best interest of the country at all times.”
Adesina reminded the senate how it is only in the prerogative of the president to appoint and sack his service chiefs.
OLUSEGUN Obasanjo, Nigeria’s former President, says the action exhibited by leaderships of Ghana’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) will determine the fate of the country’s general election.
In a letter personally signed by Nigeria’s former Head of State, he told the political actors to do everything possible to ensure the election scheduled to hold on December 7 is peaceful and credible.
Nana Akufo-Addo, the incumbent President is the flag bearer of the NPP while John Mahama, former Ghanaian president is contesting under the NDC.
“I write to you, leaders of the two main political parties in Ghana, to urge you to do all you can to ensure a peaceful conduct of the general elections,” Obasanjo said.
“My concern about the elections in Ghana is not only as an African but also because of our shared colonial history, our anthropological background…”
“…the success or failure of the elections, a key aspect of democratic consolidation in Ghana will largely depend on the posture of the NPP and NDC leadership and how that is manifested by the actions of their supporters.”
Olusegun Obasanjo Letter on Ghana Election: Source BBC
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s Letter on Ghana General Election Page 2
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s Letter on Ghana General Election Page 3
He acknowledged the ‘significant’ contributions of both parties to developing the socio-economic and political growth of Ghana. The legacy, he noted, should be sustained irrespective of the political differences.
Other major candidates in the presidential election are Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, wife of the late president John Rawlings, Christian Andres of Ghana Union Movement, Ivor Greenstreet (Convention People’s Party), Akua Donkor Ghana Freedom Party), Henry Lartey (Great Consolidated Popular Party) and Hassan Ayariga (All Peoples’ Congress).
There is also an independent candidate, Asiedu Walker who is contesting in the poll.
33, 367 polling units have so far been approved by the Ghana Electoral Commission for the 17, 027,655 registered voters in the country.
Obasanjo, however, campaigned for the unity, peaceful conduct of the poll. He charged the electorate to respect democratic values and preserve democratic gains the country had witnessed since the advent of democracy in Ghana.
“The NPP and NDC must constructively engage with all national institutions to identify, address or mitigate any potential threats to the smooth organisation of the electoral process,” the letter reads in part.
Both Frederick Blay, NPP Chairperson and Samuel Ofosu-Amofo, NDC Chairperson and their members of executive committees were copied in the letter.
IN response to reports by the United Nations that no fewer than 110, were killed by Boko Haram terrorists in Maiduguri, Borno State as against 43 persons earlier reported, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters has said that military operatives are still searching for more bodies.
The Defence Headquarters said this on Monday when the military spokesperson, John Enenche featured on Sunrise Daily programme on Channels television to discuss the rate of insecurity in the country.
“I had to contact the people in the theatre, right from the commander, the UC and then the media operation officer and then they gave me a synopsis of what happened. When the governor was to go and after they had recovered the dead, the troops had to move in there and they counted 43.
“Of course, some people ran into the bush and they started coming back and trickling in.
“As at 2 pm yesterday (Sunday), I called them and they got back to me at about 7 pm yesterday, still counting, looking if they will recover (more corpses). We call it Exploitation After Action Review,” said Enenche.
He added that the military may eventually count up to the figure quoted by the United Nations but only 43 has been counted so far.
“Probably we may count up to the figure he (UN officer, Kallon) gave in the future but as it is now, what we have counted with the locals is still 43 and we are hoping that we don’t get beyond that.
“This is the real situation. I did not sleep, we had to follow it because this is very relevant coming from the United Nations,” he stated.
According to reports, Edward Kallon, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator had said the at least 110 were killed in the attack by Boko Haram.
However, in a telephone conversation with The ICIR, Eve Sabbagh, the Head of Public Information, United Nations Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Nigeria said the 110 figures have been retracted.
“We got initial numbers that there were more bodies being recovered on Sunday and it could be up to 110 people killed but we can’t confirm these numbers. So on the official statement, we are saying 110 because all we can confirm so far are the 43 recovered bodies.
“However, there was an initial version that had gone with the initial numbers, so that is why the press is reporting that (110) but we have retracted it and the official statement that we published online says tens of civilians,” Sabbagh told The ICIR.
NORTH-EAST Nigeria has recorded at least 612 deaths from the month of June to November 27, data gathered by the Nigeria Security Tracker, NST, has shown.
The deaths from the affected states – Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba were as a result of banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes and Boko Haram insurgency in the region.
While 233 state actors such as security operatives and government officials were killed within the six months period, 379 civilians from the region lost their lives to insecurity.
Based on data gathered from the Nigeria Security Tracker (NST), an initiative of the Council on Foreign Relations (cfr), Borno state recorded the highest mortality with 534 total deaths (231 state actors and 303 civilians).
From the figure, Boko Haram insurgency was responsible for more than 50 percent of the casualties put at 534 deaths.
In Bauchi, only 13 deaths were recorded. Though none of the killings was attributed to the insurgency, they were a result of the communal crisis and political clash.
Gombe recorded no deaths within the period.
Data on Deaths in the North East
However, Yobe, Adamawa and Taraba recorded multiple deaths due to insurgency, banditry and kidnapping.
In Adamawa for instance, a total of 27 people were killed in six months due to insecurity.
One of such killings in Adamawa occurred in June. On June 9, about 23 bodies were recovered after a communal clash between the Lunguda and Waja tribes in Zakawon community, Lamurde Local Government Area of the state. Houses were burnt and domestic animals and foodstuffs were also destroyed.
Suleiman Nguroje, former spokesperson of the state police command later confirmed the arrest of 32 persons accused of the crime.
While death was recorded in Yobe state within the period, Taraba had a much higher casualty figure of 37 civilian deaths.
One of the Taraba killings involved the attack on Emmanuel Bileya, a clergy at Christian Reformed Church-Nigeria (CRC-N) and his wife, Juliana while the two were working on their farmland in Mararaba, Donga LGA.
“killings of this nature have happened too often recently in Southern Taraba communities…,” Bala Dan Abu, Media aide to Darius Ishaku, the state governor, stated while reacting to the incident.
Killings too many
The series of reported killings in the country has sadly become a source of worry to Nigerians and the international community. However, the above casualty data excludes the slaughtering of over 40 farmers in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, as widely reported last Saturday. The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon later pegged the casualty figure to 110 victims.
Despite the public reactions the incident generated, no official statement has been issued by the security authorities.
The ICIR earlier reported the silence of the Nigerian Army and the Police over the incident. But hours after the incident, President Muhammadu Buhari reacted, describing the killings as insane and senseless.
“I condemn the killing of our hardworking farmers by terrorists in Borno State. The entire country is hurt by these senseless killings. My thoughts are with their families in this time of grief. May their souls Rest In Peace,” Buhari stated in a statement released by Garba Shehu, his spokesperson.
Meanwhile, beyond attacks on civilian populations in the country, the military is not excluded in the seemingly continued attacks that have led to the deaths of several military personnel.
The Federal Government has continued to insist it is winning the battle over the insurgents but the current reality cast doubts on this claim.
Beyond the North-East area, other regions in the country have witnessed one form of insecurity or the other.
The most recent in the South-West, for instance, is the killing of Oba Gbadebo Ogunsakin, the traditional ruler of Odo-Oro in Ikole Local Government of Ekiti State.
GARBA Shehu, the spokesperson to the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has said that the slain farmers in Zabarmari, a community in Jere Local Government Area were not cleared by the military to resume operations.
Shehu said this in an interview with BBC on Monday while answering questions over the killing of about 43 farmers in Borno State.
“Much of those areas have been liberated from Boko Haram terrorists but there are a number of spaces that have not been cleared for the return of villagers who have been displaced. So, ideally, all of these places ought to pass the test of military clearances before farmers or settlers resume activities on those fields,” Shehu said.
Following his comment, the BBC interviewer asked if he is blaming the deceased farmers for getting killed, Garba said ‘not exactly but the truth has to be said’.
“Not exactly but the truth has to be said. Was there any clearance by the military which is in total control of those areas? Did anybody ask to resume activity? I have been told by the military leaders that they had not been so advised and certainly, therefore, it was a window that the terrorists exploited,” Shehu responded.
Although in March 2015, during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian Army had claimed that all but three local governments had been recovered from Boko Haram, Shehu said on Monday that the military is not present in all of that area where the attack took place.
Also in December 2015, President Buhari said Nigeria has “technically won the war” against Boko Haram militants.
He told the BBC that the militant group could no longer mount “conventional attacks” against security forces or population centres.
Five years later, the Buhari administration is now doing a 360-degree turnaround with the new claim.
“The military is not present in every inch of space in that area. Even if the people are willing to go back, a lot of those areas have been mined and mine clearance needs to be carried out and those areas must be cast as being ok for human habitation or agricultural activity,” Shehu said.
As at the time of filing this report, there has not been a definitive number of the casualties beheaded by Boko Haram terrorist, while the Nigerian Army said 43 bodies have been counted, the United Nations said apart from the 43, some bodies were reported to have been recovered on Sunday.
