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ICPC declares Ex- Presidential aide, Obono-Obla wanted

Lukman ABOLADE
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ICPC declares Ex- Presidential aide, Obono-Obla wanted

THE INDEPENDENT Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, have on Tuesday declared the suspended chairman of the now dissolved Special Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Okoi Obono-obla wanted.

The ICPC said the action is borne out of his refusal to honour all invitations sent to him to give answers to questions on allegations of fraud and corruption while he served as the chairman of SPIP.

The commission reported that it received several petitions against Obono-Obla on abuse of office, falsification of admission records, living above his income and collection of gratification from suspects under his investigation.

“The suspended chairman is also facing allegations of working outside the guidelines governing the panel by investigation unauthorized petitions and prosecuting suspects without recourse to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, the statement read,” ICPC wrote.

The commission said that Obono-obla violated the provision of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after series of investigations conducted by the commission.

The ICPC revealed that it had sent several invitations to Obono –Obla, which he ignored without giving any reason and all attempts to track him so as to make him appear before them the agencyfailed.

The commission stated further that his refusal led to the ICPC employing the help of other security agencies which resulted to a disclosure by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), which showed records of his travel out of the country.

ICPC revealed that according to the records of the NIS, Obono-obla left the country to an undisclosed location on August 17th, 2019 through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja and has not returned since then.

President Muhamadu Buhari approved the suspension of Obono-obla on August 14 , 2019 before eventually dissolving the panel on September 17, 2019 on the basis of giving room for an investigation by the ICPC.

USSD charge at MTN discretion, we have nothing to do with it say bank CEOs

Jennifer UGWA
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USSD charge at MTN discretion, we have nothing to do with it say bank CEOs

Banks have denied asking MTN to impose a new charge on customers for conducting financial transactions using the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD)

Last week Friday, one of the telecom giant MTN Nigeria with over sixty five million subscribers  on its network, making up the 37.20 per cent of all telephone service users in Nigeria, through text messages and emails announced the decision to increase the cost of using the code from N4 per session to N4 per 20 seconds.

MTN notified users that the new development was initiated by a directive from various Deposit Banks.

However, the Body of Banks’ Chief Executive Officers in a press release claimed the controversial USSD charges were initiated by the communications company and had nothing to do with it.

“That the banks did not ask MTN to start charging customers as contained in the text message. The decision on whether, and what amount, to charge a customer for accessing USSD is entirely that of the telco company, in the same way, a customer is billed for calls, SMS and data.

“MTN is the only Telco that is yet to implement end-user billing which is the standard practice for customer-initiated transactions. This is despite the fact that the banks, working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), have engaged MTN over a period of more than one year to try and bring down the cost of USSD to aid financial inclusion, read the statement in part.

The statement by the group comes a day after the Minister of Communications ordered an immediate halt of the action by the telecom company until the matter had been discussed with the ministry.

“Yello, please, note that from Oct 21, we will charge N4 per 20 seconds for USSD access to banking services.  Thank you,” read one of the text messages sent by the telecom company.

 

P&ID tussle: EFCC arraigns two Britons, charged with money laundering

'Kunle ADEBAJO
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P&ID tussle: EFCC arraigns two Britons, charged with money laundering

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has charged two British citizens with money laundering and arraigned them in connection to the controversial Process and Industrial Developments Ltd (P&ID) gas agreement.

James Richard Nolan and Adam Quinn, who was said to be at large, were arraigned before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, on Monday, the commission disclosed in a statement.

Both directors of Goidel Resources Limited and ICIL Limited, the two are suspected of complicity in the $9.6 billion arbitral award to P&ID by the English Commercial Court in London, United Kingdom. A 16-count charge bordering on laundering was preferred against them.

The first count read: “That you James Richard Nolan and Adam Quinn (at large), sometime in December 2013 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being Directors of Goidel Resources Limited, a Designated Non-Financial Institution (DNFI) aided the said Company in failing to comply in the requirement of submitting to the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments a declaration of the activities as specified under Section 5 (1)(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 16 (2b) of the same Act.”

Goidel Resources, according to a different count, failed to report to the EFCC in writing the deposit of $125,000 in its account with Guaranty Trust Bank as required under the law.

“After the charges were read to them, the defendants pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges, while Justice Abang struck out count nine of the charge on the grounds that ‘a court of law has no jurisdiction to entertain a charge against a non-registered person’,” the EFCC said.

“The prosecuting counsel, Bala Sanga asked the court for a trial date and an order to remand the defendants in prison custody. However, defence counsel, Okwudili Anozie moved an oral application for the bail of his clients. Sanga objected to the oral bail application.”

Justice Abang refused the oral application for bail and adjourned the trial to November 20 and 21 for commencement.

The court also ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody till their bail applications are considered.

A UK court had in August granted P&ID “rights to claim $9 billion worth of assets from the Nigerian government for breaching the terms of their agreement after aborting a gas project”.

Pay minimum wage arrears from April to avoid fresh protest, Labour unions warn

'Kunle ADEBAJO
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Pay minimum wage arrears from April to avoid fresh protest, Labour unions warn

LABOUR unions in Nigeria have urged the Federal Government to ensure the new minimum wage’s implementation covers the period between April 18, when the law was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, till date, in order to avoid fresh confrontation.

This demand was made in a statement released to the press on Monday by the Trade Union Side of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC). It was signed by the acting chairman, Simon Anchaver, and secretary, Alade Lawal.

The group, which comprises eight public service trade unions present in all states including the Federal Capital Territory, commended workers for their patience, understanding, and for trusting the TUS leadership with the negotiation.

“We are also glad that government has taken note of the need for a general salary review in the Public Service,” it said. “We are looking forward to this review and we hope that the Federal Government will keep to its promise which was made during the negotiation of consequent adjustment.

“We also wish to advise that since the 2019 national minimum wage was signed into law by Mr. President on April 18 2019, the implementation should start from that date so as not to trigger off another avoidable round of agitation by Public Service employees and their trade unions.”

As President Buhari signed the Minimum Wage Repeal and Enactment Act in April, Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, had assured journalists that the law’s implementation was immediate. But this did not happen and trade union leaders accused the government of being unserious while also threatening to go on strike.

Finally, on Friday, the parties reached an agreement on the consequential adjustments to the new wage of N30,000 according to various grade levels.

In its press statement on Monday, the TUS also praised the leadership of the Trade Union Congress and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for contributing to the successful negotiation.

“The TUS equally hailed the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, for properly managing the trade dispute when the government side tried to derail the negotiation leading to marathon meetings in his office before an agreement could be reached,” it said.

“We are particularly glad that the Honourable Labour Minister has urged all employers covered by the 2019 national minimum wage Act to commence payment failing which the trade unions should declare trade disputes against such employers at the Ministry or drag them to the National Industrial Court.”

It commended acting Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, for promising that all necessary arrears will be paid, and all stakeholders for exerting “so much energy, dedication and intellect during the prolonged negotiation on consequential adjustment before reaching agreement acceptable to both parties”.

Following Friday’s agreement, Ayuba Wabba, President of the NLC, has also urged the government not to increase the personal income tax, electricity tariff, and price of petroleum products as this would only “amount to collecting with the left hand what is given to workers with the right hand”.

Meanwhile, an analysis of the National Bureau of Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures by The ICIR has shown that workers who earned N18,000 in 2015 and now earn N30,000 still aren’t better off due to inflation. This is because the average civil servant would have still lost 1 per cent of his purchasing power.

Put differently, “the new wage can only buy about the same amount of items which N18,000 could buy four years back … as a result of an increase in the prices of commodities as well as other economic activities”.

Plans to start electronic birth registration ongoing, says NPC boss

Jennifer UGWA
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Plans to start electronic birth registration ongoing, says NPC boss

BELLO Suleiman Yahaya, National Population Commission Territorial Director on Monday has appealed to vital registration field registrars to desist from extorting nursing mothers and unsuspecting members of the public who apply to register the birth of their children. 

In an engagement with the group at NPC office in Abuja, Yahaya said that plans for an e- registration platform in the commission are well underway.

He said regardless of the inadequacy of the commission due to lack of funds and facilities to fully carry out its functions, birth registrars should conduct themselves properly in public.

“We pray that sooner than later the commission will be able to do something about this registration, we hope to see a transmission from analog to e- registrations very soon. It is a project that is especially personal to me. We want to ensure that contact during the registration process is limited, as a means of ensuring that these actions by certain persons within the commission would be limited.

“Always know that the publics’ eye is on you. There is no utopia society without corruption, however, when it has to do with the NPC, the agency will do its part in seeing that the culprits will be punished.

“Please birth certification for persons under 18years is free, do not collect a dime from anyone
“Issuance of birth certificate twice is unlawful. It is only allowed if, there is a reasonable error on the original certificate, but then the issued document has to be retrieved in place of another, otherwise it is the issuers’ funeral.”

Yahaya admonishment came after The ICIR’s investigation where it was revealed that birth registration was low in the Imo and Rivers  States due to extortion by NPC officials.

Aisha A. Adamu, NPC, AMAC Area Council Chairman during the workplace engagement also attested to extortion by officials in the commission, although she said it was a situation that can be handled if proper plans were put in place for the field agents.

“During a training for the field registrars, I had to facilitate the feeding arrangement for my officials from my own purse just to get the programme going and if there is anything anyone here would tell you I always say is that –any action you take out there in the public that is against what this commission is set up for and you are caught, you only have but yourself to blame.

“If I tell you that there is no corruption or extortion ongoing during the registration by some unruly officials, then I am lying, “she said.

Although it would seem the new initiative for electronic registration in the commission could be the best thing to happen to it yet, some of the officials actually frown on this proposed idea.

Since The ICIR investigation, there have been calls for reforms in the sector and collaborations between Civil Society Organisations, the commission and state government to ensure accurate documentation of births.

 

Senate rejects Niger Delta ministry’s budget over exclusion of uncompleted projects

Rebecca Akinremi
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Senate rejects Niger Delta ministry’s budget over exclusion of uncompleted projects

THE budget of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs for 2020 has been rejected by the Senate Committee on Niger Delta for neglecting uncompleted capital projects in place of new ones.

The Committee’s chairman, Peter Nwaobishi, who is also the senator representing Delta North senatorial district made this known on Monday during a budget defence session led by Minister God’swill Akpabio.

The Niger Delta Affairs presented the budget of N25,910, 486,285 but Nwaobishi asked the Ministry to reappear before the Committee next Monday to re-defend the budget.

Explaining why the budget was rejected, Nwaobishi said the Ministry is afflicted by abandoned projects littering all over the nine states in the region.

“There is no state, I dare to say, that there is no local government where there are no abandoned projects in the Niger Delta. We cannot continue like that. With all the abandoned projects in the Niger Delta and we are talking about new projects; these new projects are designed to fail.

“Honourable Minister, we need to look at this budget again and we expect you to do your cleanup because the documents we needed were not supplied to us,” said Nwaobishi.

None of the Ministry’s projects has been commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari in the last four years, he said.

Also, Enyinnaya Abaribe, senator representing Abia-South Senatorial District has expressed reservation over the disappearance of uncompleted projects in the budget

“I have been looking at the 2020 budget and have seen that many projects have been removed that is why the chairman said there are about 10 projects in the 2019 budget which have disappeared.

“If some work has been done on the budget as part of 2019 and some stretched from 2017 to 2018 and this one stretches from that what happened?” Abaribe asked.

He advised that the budget be reworked while taking into cognisance the missing uncompleted projects for inclusion.

Sandy Onor Ojang representing Cross River Central, complained of a situation where the capital “outlay is even lower than personnel and other costs.

“We must work together. A budget is not just a piece of paper or something theoretical. It must have a practical basis. So I think that this year, we should work together – all of us, all of us – in the interest of our country to make sure that this budget is truly a budget.

“If not it becomes a ritual to have us come and sit here. When there are no capital releases, what are we really talking about?

But the Niger Delta Minister appealed the lawmakers to join him to appeal the Minister of  Finance, Budget and National Planning to increase the capital component of the ministry’s budget instead of rejecting the budget.

He noted that the 2020 capital budget of the ministry could not complete a 10kilometre road in the region.

“Again, there is nothing we could have done about the budget based on the fact that we are yet to receive even one naira for the capital project for 2019 that is still being processed in the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

Akpabio while analysing the 2020 budget, stated that an average sum of N2, 626,705,599.00 is allocated to each of the nine states of the region based on the capital ceiling.

“This amount which is expected to cater for roads, environment, health, social inclusion and provision of water, which are priority needs of the people of the region, in accordance with the ERGP, cannot conveniently pay for a quality 10km road in any part of the States in the region, thus underscoring the inadequacy of the ceiling given to the Ministry.

“This gross inadequate funding has led over the years to the following: Plethora of abandoned/uncompleted projects. A protracted delay in project delivery, negative perception of the Ministry and loss-of-faith in the Federal Government by the people of the region, and difficulty in the realization of Mr. President’s vision for the region,” he said.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the session, Tayo Alasoadura, Minister of State for Niger Delta,   said if the ministry was to capture all the projects identified as uncompleted, “very paltry amount of money would be allocated for each. And this, he added, “would not make sense and would be a budget designed to fail”.

“If we have 300 projects and you have money that can capture only 150 why put everything there and allocate a small amount of money that will not make any difference at the end of the day?,” said Alasoadura

Akpabio said he would visit the Ministry of Finance to see “whether it is possible to have capital released for this year.”

Vote buying commences ahead of Kogi/Bayelsa guber polls – Report

Olugbenga ADANIKIN
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Vote buying commences ahead of Kogi/Bayelsa guber polls – Report

NEW Report from Watching the Votes (WTV), a project of YIAGA Africa, a civil society organisation revealed that the trend of vote-buying has commenced ahead of the gubernatorial election scheduled to hold on 16th November in Kogi and Bayelsa States.

The report says voters’ inducement was observed in at least one in every three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kogi as well as Bayelsa.

The affected local governments include Adavi, Okehi, Ankpa, Idah, Kabba/Bunu and Koton Karfe while and in Bayelsa state – Southern Ijaw, Ogbia and Sagbama.

The coalition had earlier deployed 48 Long Term Observers (LTOs) – in eight LGAs of Bayelsa and 21 LGAs in Kogi, to monitor pre-election activities in the concerned states.

“Buying and selling of PVCs is one of the predominant election malpractices recorded in 2019 general elections. As such, it was pertinent for WTV LTOs to continue to monitor cases of purchase of PVCs in their assigned LGAs,” the report advised.

“Findings from this observation period reveal that buying or selling of PVCs still exists. This was recorded as witnessed or heard by WTV LTO in both Kogi (Adavi, Okehi, Ankpa, Idah, Kabba/Bunu and Kogi K.K) and in Bayelsa state (Southern Ijaw, Ogbia & Sagbama)”.

The report is an outcome of the survey carried out by YIAGA Africa WTV from 19th September to 3rd October in both states.

The ICIR, during the 2019 General Election had reported prevalence of vote-buying and how the anti-graft agency, Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested culprits in selected locations across the country.

The anti-graft body has also embarked on a sensitisation campaign against vote-buying across the geo-political zones.

But, the new report has stressed how vote-buying is prevalent in the two states ahead of the November 16 election.

“Generally, voter inducement was reported in at least 1 in every 3 LGAs of the 21 LGAs in Kogi state, and in all the LGAs in Bayelsa state. Reports on Buying and Selling of PVCs: The attempt to undermine the integrity of the electoral process was observed as reflected in the report indicating a replica of the ugly incidence in 2019 general elections.”

In terms of voters’ education, the LTOs reflected increased participation of the electoral commission, CSOs as well as the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

Specifically, the report identified special attention given to vulnerable members of the States such as women and people living with disabilities.

“The findings from Bayelsa state reveal that voter education activities were conducted by INEC, NOA and CSO in 80 per cent, 50 per cent and 85 per cent LGAs respectively, and in Kogi state, voter education activities were conducted by INEC in 58 per cent of LGAs, by NOA in 19 per cent of LGAs and by CSO in 65 per cent LGAs.

“Most notably, voter education messages are targeted at marginalized groups like women and People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) was poor across the states, however, this was measurable for youth (45 per cent by INEC and 60 per cent by CSOs in Bayelsa state and 12 per cent by INEC and 42 per cent by CSO in Kogi state).”

Court orders forfeiture of Saraki’s properties

Lukman ABOLADE
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Court orders forfeiture of Saraki’s properties

A FEDERAL High court sitting in Lagos on Monday has ordered that the properties of the immediate past Senate President of Nigeria, Bukola Saraki be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria due to unlawful acquisition.

Economic and Financial Crime Commission through one of its counsel Nnaemeka Omewa approached the court to forfeit to the Federal Government Saraki’s properties in Ikoyi, Lagos state.

He alleged that Saraki acquired the properties through proceeds of unlawful activities.
Omewa prayed to the court to grant an interim forfeiture of the properties located at 17A McDonald Road, Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local government of Lagos State.

Saraki is alleged by the EFCC to have withdrawn over 12 billion in cash from the Kwara State Governmewnt account out of which some of the money was deposited into his domiciliary accounts in Access and Zenith banks through Abdul Adama, one of his personal assistants at different times.

While giving the order of the forfeiture, the sitting judge Mohammed Liman, read that “An order of this honourable Court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria landed property with appurtenances situate, lying and known as No. 17A McDonald Road, Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State found and recovered from the respondent which property is reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity”.


Liman also ordered that the EFCC publish the order in a national newspaper in 14 days so as to give room for anyone with interest in the properties to state why the properties should not be completely forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.


While serving as the Senate President of Nigeria, Saraki was arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over making an anticipatory declaration of assets as well as withholding information concerning his assets when he served as Kwara State governor between 2003 – 2011.

However, he was completely discharged of the case on July 6, 2018, by the CCT panel chairman, Danladi Umar who ruled that the evidence tendered by the prosecution was insufficient to make good the charges he was charged with.

PDP, APC disagree as governor plans to spend N8bn on Iwo road

Lukman ABOLADE
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PDP, APC disagree as governor plans to spend N8bn on Iwo road

GOVERNOR of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde said his administration is set to spend about 8 billion naira for expansion of the Iwo road interchange, but his decision has attracted condemnation from the opposition party, All Progressive Congress (APC).

Makinde during his visit to Adogba Central Mosque at Iwo- Road appealed to the congregation that the mosque would be demolished so as to give way for the re-construction of the road. But he assured the congregation that land will be provided for the construction of another mosque.

The project scheduled to be completed in eleven months would cost the Oyo State government nearly N8 billion, the governor has said.

However,  APC has criticized the plan as a misplaced priority and a means to squander public funds.

In a statement signed by Ayobami Adejumo, APC Oyo State publicity secretary, Makinde administration is depicted as incompetent, with an avowed desire for mismanagement of public funds.

The opposition said there is no record of the presentation of the project at the state executive council meeting.

PDP in a swift response to APC’s attack released a statement signed by Oyo state PDP publicity secretary Akeem Olatunji, who said that the criticism of the APC is borne out of their disregard of the impact of the several manhour wasted due to traffic congestion at the interchange.

PDP described the APC’s reaction as a show of shame, noting that the immediate past governor, Abiola Ajimobi spent eight years “romancing” the Iwo Road problem.

“Let us place it on record that Iwo Road is not just a segment of a road located within the Oyo State capital, it is an interchange that has become the melting point of all travelers within Nigeria as it brings those coming from the North face-to-face with travelers across the South West, South-South and South-East as well”.

NCC approves partial disconnection of Glomobile from Airtel

Nneoma BENSON
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NCC approves partial disconnection of Glomobile from Airtel

THE Nigeria Communications Commission has announced the partial disconnection of Glomobile from Airtel Networks Limited (Airtel) by October 28.

NCC made the announcement in a statement by it Director, Public Affairs, Henry Nkemadu, stating that the disconnection was in accordance with Section 100 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 and the Guidelines on Procedure for Granting Approval to Disconnect Telecommunications Operators.

NCC noted that GloMobile was notified of the application and was given the opportunity to comment and state its case.

The statement read, “the Nigerian Communications Commission hereby notifies the general public and subscribers of Glomobile Limited (Glomobile) that approval has been granted for the partial disconnection of Glomobile from Airtel Networks Limited (Airtel) as a result of non-settlement of interconnect charges.”

“Glomobile was notified of the application and was given an opportunity to comment and state its case. The commission, having examined the application and circumstances surrounding the indebtedness determined that the affected operator does not have sufficient reason for non-payment of interconnect charges.”

“The Commission has approved the Partial Disconnection of Glomobile by Airtel in accordance with Section 100 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 and the Guidelines on Procedure for Granting Approval to Disconnect Telecommunications Operators.”

“At the expiration of 10 days from the date of this notice, subscribers on the network of Glomobile will no longer be able to make calls to Airtel but will be able to RECEIVE CALLS.”

“The Partial Disconnection, however, will allow in-bound calls to the Glomobile network. Please note that this disconnection will subsist until otherwise determined by the Commission.”

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