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Six Edo State Officials Arraigned For Fraud

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Six Edo State Officials Arraigned For Fraud

From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

An Edo State Magistrate Court will on March 24, 2014 commence hearing in a case preferred against six officials of the State’s Information and Communication Technology Agency, ICTA, who were indicted for fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, while arraigning the suspects told the Oredo Magistrate Court that the accused persons used fraudulent means to steal public funds.

Those arraigned are Festus Asemota (45), Eyohan Uyi Emema (28), Fadahunsi Tayo Idowu (36), Oseni Al-Hassain (37), Uwaifo Eghosa (35) and Yakubu Omokhudu (32).

In the suit with charge number MOR/131/2014, the suspects were accused of putting on the pay roll the names of 18 persons whose appointments were earlier terminated by the state Rapid Response Agency and the Ministry of Education.

Besides, Omokhudu was accused of forging a letter of notice of appointment for himself, purporting it to have been issued by the Chief of Staff to Edo State Government, Patrick Obahiagbon.

In his own case, Ememah, was accused of forging the document of one Enoghama Elizabeth purporting it to be the document of one Osaze Ogbemudia Elizabeth.

All the accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them and the trial magistrate, Peter Edo Asemota, granted Eyohan bail in N200, 000 and two sureties in like sum who must be house owners within the Court jurisdiction, while others were granted bail in N100,000 and to produce one surety each.

The magistrate then adjourned the case till March 24, 2014.

President Jonathan Inaugurates N8 Billion Katsina Govt House

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President Jonathan Inaugurates N8 Billion Katsina Govt House

Caption: President Goodluck Jonathan during the visit

President Goodluck Jonathan has in Katsina State inaugurated the new Government House which the governor, Shehu Shema, said cost the state N8 billion.

The Government House complex includes the Governor’s Office, Governor’s lodge, office complex for the governor’s wife and additional offices for principal staff of the governor.

The edifice also includes a presidential lodge and chalets for presidential aides, 200 capacity banquet hall and an indoor games and fitness centre.

Performing the inauguration ceremony as part of the activities lined up for his two-day official visit to the state, President Jonathan said that the completion of the edifice about a year to the end of Shema’s eight year administration was a demonstration of selfless service and committed leadership.

Jonathan said he was impressed with the quality of work and commended Shema for leaving an indelible blue print behind.

He also hailed the governor for his efforts in the education sector and development of infrastructure in the state.

Earlier, Shema had said that the concept behind the project was that politics should be about service to humanity and not about self aggradisement or personal interest.

He said that the N8 billion used in constructing the edifice was sourced neither from federal allocation nor internally generated revenue, but from interest accruing from bank savings of the state.

According to him, proceed from the interest was also used in constructing the N400 million government house in Abuja.

Beside the edifice, Shema said his administration had constructed 200 secondary schools, 38 new primary schools while education from primary to secondary schools is free in the state.

He said his administration had also sent 600 students to study specialised courses like medicine, engineering, environmental sciences in universities abroad.

In the area of agriculture, Shema said the state had provided tractors, irrigation equipment, fertilizer and seedling to farmers.

The governor added that the state built 2000 houses which were sold to indigenes at 50 per cent discounted rate with 15 years instalmental payment.

Freed Jonathan’s Uncle Narrates Traumatic Kidnap Experience

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Freed Jonathan’s Uncle Narrates Traumatic Kidnap Experience

The 70-year-old uncle of President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday said the he was tortured by his abductors to force the first family pay a ransom for his release.

Inengite Nitabai, who was abducted by about 10 gunmen at his home in Otuoke on February 28, was abandoned by his kidnappers at Ogboma, off Odioma in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa, according to the Police.

“I was tortured and beaten with guns and kicked with legs on the floor. When I was young, there was no such thing as kidnapping. I don’t know why it must be me,” the septuagenarian recounted.

Nitabai, who described the experience as “traumatic”, said the gunmen tied his hands, blind-folded him and tortured him in order to make him convince the president and other family members to pay up the ransom.

“I thank God for keeping me alive. I was made to sleep on the bare floor and fed with Garri and red oil for three weeks in the bush,” he added.

Earlier, the commissioner of Police, Hilary Opara, told newsmen that no ransom was paid for his release and hailed the special anti-kidnapping squad led by Chris Nwogwu, for applying ‘utmost professionalism’ in the way they carried out the operations that led to Nitabai’s freedom.

“No ransom was paid. We are going to arrest other persons involved in this crime,” he stated.

Senate Gives PPPRA 2 Week Ultimatum To Submit Subsidy Report

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Senate Gives PPPRA 2 Week Ultimatum To Submit Subsidy Report

The Senate committee on Finance has given the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, two weeks to submit certification details of subsidy for kerosene and petrol from July 2013 to December 2013.

The committee is investigating the alleged non-remittance of $20 billion to the federation account by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

The PPPRA management had earlier requested for three weeks to enable it collate all details on the certification of subsidy for kerosene and fuel for six months.

The committee, however, turned down the request and granted the agency only two weeks to furnish it with the necessary documents to enhance its probe into the allegations.

Chairman of the committee, Ahmed Makarfi, said the committee was expecting the report of the independent consultants it appointed to conduct forensic examination and audit of expenses incurred by NNPC.

Makarfi said that the auditor- general of the federation, Samuel Ukura, had written to the committee confirming he had commenced forensic checks on the alleged unremitted funds.

He said Ukura had also assured the committee that the result of the forensic check would be made available to the committee.

“We want to lay to rest the issue of unremitted revenue or unaccounted for revenue without further delay. So, we want to stand down on other issues that have to do with the other mandate of the committee,” he said.

Makarfi noted that all submissions have been made except the report which the PPPRA is expected to submit on the certification of subsidy from July 2013 to December 2013 both for kerosene and PMS.

He said that the report will enable the committee establish how much really were the total expenditure on subsidy for the two years running.

“We have given them (PPPRA) up to the end of next week. They requested three weeks but we gave them only two weeks and two weeks would expire next week,” he added.

Wazobia FM Journalist Kidnapped, N10 Million Ransom Demanded

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Wazobia FM Journalist Kidnapped, N10 Million Ransom Demanded

Some unknown gunmen Thursday abducted a journalist with Wazobia FM in Port Harcourt, Anthony Akatakpo, at his residence in the Rumuekini area of the state.

According to his wife, Candy, the kidnappers stormed their residence at about 2am and shot her husband in the leg before whisking him away in a Mitsubishi Endeavour car with registration number LSD 871 CM.

She said the kidnappers have demanded for a ransom of N10 million but appealed for his unconditional release as the family cannot raise such an amount.

Journalists in the state have continued to condemn the abduction, saying that it is sad that anybody could kidnap a journalist while lendinf their voice to the appeal for Akatapko’s unconditional release.

The state chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Opaka Dokubo also enjoined the kidnappers to release their hostage to enable him take care of his health.

“He needs to treat himself. It is unimaginable that this could happen to a journalist. They should please release him,” he said.

Withdraw Centenary Award To Abacha, Transparency International Tells FG

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Withdraw Centenary Award To Abacha, Transparency International Tells FG

The global anti-corruption group, Transparency International, has called on the federal government to withdraw the award given to the late military dictator, Sani Abacha, during the centenary celebration.

Noting that Abacha was investigated for corruption and human rights violations during his lifetime, the international anti-corruption watchdog reasoned that honouring such a person sends a wrong signal about the seriousness of the government in fighting corruption.

Just last week, the United States government froze US$458 million in assets it claims the former Head of State and his co-conspirators stole from Nigeria.

“Honouring a person with a reputation for abusing his position of power for personal gain sends the wrong message about the priorities of a country like Nigeria which has claimed that fighting corruption is at the top of the government’s agenda,” regional director for Sub-Sahara Africa at Transparency International, Chantal Uwimana.

The organisation maintained that giving an award to a public official implicated in numerous acts of corruption contradicts Nigeria’s international commitments and obligations to stop corruption.

The director also applauded those who rejected their Centenary Awards in protest, saying “they send a clear message that there are social consequences for honouring those who abused their positions of power”.

Nigerians In South Africa Mobilise Against Police Brutality

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Nigerians In South Africa Mobilise Against Police Brutality

The Nigerian Union in South Africa on Wednesday says it is mobilising Nigerians in that country to sign a petition against police brutality on Nigerians.

President of the Union, Ikechukwu Anyene, made this known in a telephone interview from Pretoria, South Africa, with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.

Anyene said that three Nigerians have been killed by South African police since the beginning of this year and that the union had contacted the various chapters of the body to mobilise Nigerians to sign the petition in the provinces.

“The union will send the petition to the ministry of police affairs in South Africa, copy the Nigerian mission and the National Assembly. We want the world to know that Nigerians are being manhandled in South Africa by the police,” he said.

Anyene also said on March 11, a Nigerian businessman, Emmanuel Prosper, was shot dead by a South African citizen.

He said Prosper, 32, a native of Igboukwu, Anambra State, was allegedly killed by the South African for cheating on him in their gay relationship.

“We are alerted that a Nigerian had been shot at the Pretoria business district yesterday, (March 11). On getting to the scene, we saw the Nigerian dead and were told that the South African killed him for cheating in their gay relationship,” he said.

Anyene said the police has arrested the suspect and would charge him to court today.

No Money Missing From Pension Fund – Okonjo-Iweala

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No Money Missing From Pension Fund – Okonjo-Iweala

The minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said on Wednesday that no money was missing from the Police Pension Fund.

This is contained in a statement issued by her special adviser on Media, Paul Nwabuikwu.

The minister said reports that N24 billion was missing from the fund were false and that the amount which was discovered to be an over-estimation of pensions arrears, has been returned to government coffers, in accordance with standard practice.

“Contrary to media reports, the sum of N24 billion is not missing from the Police Pension Fund,” the statement stated.

It stated that Okonjo-Iweala had told the Senate Joint Committee on Pensions Administration at a public hearing that she ordered the account frozen to prevent fraud based on reports of suspicious transactions.

“Of the amount in the account, N24 billion was discovered to be an over-estimation of pensions arrears. The money was subsequently returned to government coffers as is the standard practice,” the minister said.

Defence Ministry Denies Aliyu Gusau’s Resignation

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Defence Ministry Denies Aliyu Gusau’s Resignation

The ministry of Defence has debunked media reports that the defence minister, Aliyu Gusau, a lieutenant general, appointed only last week has resigned from his position.

A statement by the director of press in the ministry, Shehu Maikai, said that there is no truth in the reports.

“Our attention have been drawn to a media posting on the social network to the effect that the Honourable Minister of Defence, Lt Gen Aliyu Gusau has resigned; and wish to state, categorically, that the minister has not resign his appointment.”

Gusau, who was sworn in on March 5, 2014 was rumoured to have resigned his position after an altercation between him and military commanders.

The statement reassured that he remains committed to his duty and thanked all those who called to verify the rumour.

The Presidency has also dismissed the media report as false, saying there is no iota of truth in the rumoured resignation of Gusau as the  minister of Defence.

Senior special assistant to the President on Media, Reuben Abati, said: “It is not true that he (referring to Gusau) has resigned.”
There had been initial misgivings about Gusau, a retired Army General serving as the minister of defence when a colonel, SamboDasuki is the National Security Adviser, a position regarded as senior to the minister’s.

A retired senior army office who spoke to our correspondent on the issue but who does not want to be named, however, said that the story that Gusau resigned due to insubordination by some serving officers was “most unlikely”.

The source, a retired brigadier, said that hierarchy in the military forces is so strictly that “it is inconceivable that a junior officer would be rude to a superior serving or retired.”

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Alakyo Killings: Indicted Senator Solomon Ewuga Says He Is Being Witch-Hunted

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Alakyo Killings: Indicted Senator Solomon Ewuga Says He Is Being Witch-Hunted

Senator Solomon Ewuga (APC-Nasarawa state), who was identified as a sponsor of the Ombatse Cult group responsible for the killing of several security agents and recommended for prosecution by the Justice Joseph Fola Gbadeyan-led Commission of Inquiry, has faulted the report of the panel, saying he is being witch-hunted.

Ewuga told newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja that though he was yet to see the report, he was surprised that the governor of the state, Tanko Al-Makura, has not only read the report but has come out with appropriate punishment within two days.

He expressed surprise that a panel, which invited him as a witness and not as an accused, could find him guilty of an offence without giving him the opportunity of fair hearing.

“The report was handed in on Friday (last week) and it is a six-volume report. The fact that the White Paper is already out indicates premeditation. It was an ingenuous thing to have read those volumes and to decipher the appropriateness of the punishment or otherwise within two days,” he said.

Speaking further, he said: “I have not seen the white paper and the panel’s recommendation, but whatever my response is today is based on what I saw in the media. First on AIT on Monday and then on the pages of newspapers on Tuesday.”

While distancing himself from the alleged financing of the activities of the Ombatse group, the lawmaker said he was being witch hunted for being politically active in the state, describing the accusation of financing the group as ‘curious’.

The report, submitted by the panel was set up by Nasarawa state government to look into the Alakyo killings of May 7, 2013.

The report indicted Ewuga, Joseph Kigbu and Nathaniel Agyo Mesa, members of the House of Representatives, Zakariya Zamani Alumaga, Mohammed L. Agu, Zabura Musa akwashiki, Felicia E. Samuel, Joseph Gabi, Saleh Angulu, Village Head of Angwan, Yakubu Agyaragu and Yohanna Labaran Envoh, for being financiers, sponsors, promoters and supporters of the outlawed Ombatse Cult group.

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