LAWMAKERS loyal to the former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, have given the incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara a seven-day ultimatum to re-present the 2024 budget.
According to a report by Channels TV, the decision was reached at the first sitting of the pro-Wike lawmakers, led by Martin Amaehwule, months after they were sacked by a court.
They gave the directive while a parallel sitting was taking place by the other faction of the House of Assembly led by Victor Oko-Jumbo.
The Oko-Jumbo-led faction presided over a sitting where a commissioner-nominee, Emeka Frank-Fubara, would be screened before being confirmed as a member of the State Executive Council.
While the Amaehwule-led team held their session at the House of Assembly Quarters, the pro-Fubara lawmakers sat in an improvised Hallowed Chamber within the Government House.
Fubara earlier presented the budget to five lawmakers loyal to him in December 2023, after 27 of the 32-member Assembly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He subsequently signed the budget into law, but the action was nullified by the Federal High Court in January 2024.
In a judgment on Monday, January 22, delivered by James Omotoso, the court mandated Fubara to represent the budget to the lawfully constituted House of Assembly under Amaewhule, describing the actions of the pro-Fubara lawmakers as null and void.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja, had, on Thursday, July 4, also nullified the expulsion of Amaewhule and 24 others from the Rivers State House of Assembly by the Rivers State High Court.
A three-member panel of the appellate court held that the lower court did not have the jurisdiction to grant the exparte order.
Fubara, however, assured his supporters that there was no cause for alarm.
“I want to assure every one of you and the good people of Rivers State that we are not deterred. We have made our promises, we will continue to give you good governance, no matter how difficult it is.
“But, like I said before, the worst is over. We are moving on to ensure that we continue to provide what is needed for the development of our state,” Fubara said.
The ICIR reports that Wike and Fubara have been at loggerheads over who controls the PDP structure and other issues in the state.
Though a PDP member, Wike currently serves in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government.
The feud had degenerated into nearly a physical combat between their loyalists and possible chaos was palpable in the state that President Tinubu had to intervene twice before tempers were calmed.
However, camps of both leaders have continued to threaten a showdown with each other less than a year that the leaders were gambolling in the same political space.
THE Pulitzer Center is organising and inviting entries for the AI Accountability Fellowships.
The programme seeks to support journalists working on AI (artificial intelligence) accountability stories that examine governments and corporations’ uses of predictive and surveillance technologies to guide decisions in policing, medicine, social welfare, the criminal justice system, and more.
Interested journalists must apply for a reporting project they wish to pursue during their fellowship.
Staff and freelance journalists can participate in a fellowship and receive up to US$20,000 to pursue a reporting project.
Enterprise and accountability projects that use a variety of approaches – from data analysis to records requests, and shoe-leather reporting – and delve into the real-world impact of algorithms on policy, individuals, and communities are preferred.
This year, the programme seeks to support at least one project that examines transparency and governance in relation to AI.
The 10-month fellowships are remote, begin in September and continue until July 2025.
Journalists can be based anywhere.
The deadline for the submission of application is August 10, 2024.
THE Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) is seeking entries to its Human Rights and Religious Freedom Journalism Awards.
The award aims to recognise courageous, groundbreaking, and in-depth reporting on pressing issues concerning Indian minorities and marginalised communities.
Journalists can submit entries in four categories: Best Text Reporting on Human Rights and Religious Freedom, Best Photo Story on Human Rights and Religious Freedom, Best Video Story on Human Rights and Religious Freedom, and the HRRF Young Journalist of the Year Award 2023.
Winners in each category will receive INR50,000 (US$599) and a plaque.
Journalists worldwide who have reported on human rights and religious freedom issues in India can compete for an award.
Reports published between August 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024, are eligible for submission.
The IAMC will also honour independent media organisations with the Human Rights and Religious Freedom Best Media Organisation Award. The winner of this award will receive INR100,000 (US$1,198) and a plaque.
The deadline for submission of the application is July 31, 2024. Interested applicants can apply here.
THE Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) has condemned the invitation of a journalist with Premium Times, Emmanuel Agbo, by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) over a report that had not yet been published at the time of the invite.
In a statement by the coalition, the situation was described as disturbing and an attempt to suppress press freedom.
The journalist was asked to report to the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team (NPF-IRT) in a letter dated May 31, 2024, to respond to a petition by Homadils Realty Limited, a land developer and key party in a land dispute referenced in the unpublished report.
Premium Times reported that one of its lawyers showed up at the NPF-IRT office to honour the invitation, but the Police insisted that Agbo appears in person to disclose the sources behind the report he was working on.
“CWPPF finds the invitation of Mr Agbo by the Police, and the intention of the Force to compel the journalist to disclose his source disturbing as such an act undermines the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of the press and the protection of their sources.
“The persistent use of the Police Force by powerful individuals and organisations as a tool to harass journalists to suppress investigative journalism needs to stop. It is high time the Inspector General of Police addressed this manifestation of outright disregard for the rule of law and democratic principles,” the statement read in part.
The statement urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to immediately end the harassment of journalists by the Police.
“The harassment signals an attempt to restrain and censor him from publishing his findings. Journalists have the right to discharge their constitutionally charged duties without fear of reprisal, and the Nigeria Police Force should not allow itself to be used as a tool of oppression against journalists,” it added.
Journalists have been invited and, in some cases, detained by operatives of the NPF for long periods.
In May 2024, the Force through its National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) invited The ICIR publisher, Dayo Aiyetan, and a journalist with the organisation, Nurudeen Akewushola, over an investigation published by the organisation, which indicted two former IGPs and other top police officials of corruption.
In its invitation, the Police claimed it was probing a case of cyberstalking and defamation of character based on a petition received by the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigative Department.
Upon honouring the invitation, both men were detained for nine hours by the Police, during which neither they nor their lawyers could be reached.
Police officers also abducted a reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) Daniel Ojukwu and detained him for 10 days after which he was released.
MORE than six weeks after a circular from the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) directed some senior servants to move to new ministries, two top civil servants in charge of procurement are yet to move to their new places of deployment.
In a circular sighted by The ICIR and dated Tuesday, May 7, 2024, titled: “Deployment of procurement (pool) officers (SG1-15-17) by the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation,” the HCSF, Folashade Yemi – Esan moved some senior civil servants to new ministries and retained some.
The circular signed by the permanent secretary, career management, Adeleye Adeoye stated that the posting was with immediate effect.
The circular instructed all the deployed officers to be accepted and documented by the respective ministries. It warned that the office of the HCSF would not condone the rejection of officers.
According to the circular, all handover and taking-over processes must be completed on or before Thursday, May 16, 2024.
“All directors of human resources management/administration are required to submit details of compliance to this posting instruction to the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation not later than Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
“All officers concerned are reminded that failure to adhere to this posting instruction contravene the provision of the Public Service Rule 100301 (b) and 020602 (iv) and will be met with appropriate sanctions,” the circular stated.
Directive flouted
Findings show that despite the strict instruction on the deadline of May 22 for the resumption of the deployed officers, some affected civil servants have refused to move to their new posting.
One of them is the deputy director (DD) of procurement in the ministry of Art, Creative Economy and Tourism, Ukpong Kufre Joseph.
Ukpong who was transferred to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) ministry to occupy the same position is yet to move The ICIR gathered. According to reliable sources from the ministry, Ukpong is still operating at the ministry of Arts and Culture despite his posting.
“I still saw him in his office yesterday (First week of July), I am not sure he is ready to move to SDG. Maybe he is still trying to clear his table,” a source said.
Contacted by the The ICIR, Ukpong, who did not accept or reject the claim, directed the reporter to the director of press in the ministry.
“As a civil servant, we don’t respond to faceless people. Under the Freedom of Information Act, you are free to access the office and get information in the manner that you ought to get.
“I am a civil servant; I don’t talk to journalists without approval from my bosses to do that. So if you feel you want to go further with this your line of questioning why don’t you write to the permanent secretary,” he stated when asked why he has not moved to his new ministry.
Another affected top civil servant is the deputy director of procurement of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Momodu Jenifer Jeminetu.
Momodu who confirmed to The ICIR in a phone call on Thursday, July 4 that she is still the deputy director of procurement at the information ministry has been accused of not moving to the Ministry of Arts and Culture where she was posted.
A source at the office of the HCSF, said her case is unique because she was formerly at the ministry of information and culture before it was split into two.
Momodu reportedly went to the information ministry after the split and remained there but in the circular from the the HCSF, she was asked to remain at the Arts and Culture ministry.
In trying to make Momodu remain at the information ministry, the permanent secretary, Ngozi Onwudiwe personally wrote a letter to the office of the HCSF to plead on her behalf.
A copy of the letter written by the PS Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Ngozi Onwudiwe to the HCSF asking the DD procurement to remain
In the letter dated May 16 and signed by Onwudiwe, she informed the HCSF that the office of the deputy director of procurement in her ministry was not vacant.
She explained that Momodu who had been in the old ministry was moved to the new place as procurement director when the ministry was split by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Consequently, she appealed to the HCSF to leave Momodu at her current position.
“I wish to request that you kindly leave the deputy director procurement to remain in the federal ministry of information and national orientation while Mr Adamu Ibrahim be posted to federal ministry of arts, culture and creative economy or any other ministry you may deem appropriate,” she stated.
Meanwhile, sources within the office of the Head of Service told The ICIR that the new deputy director of procurement, Adamu Ibrahim posted to the ministry to replace Momodu, has been floating without a permanent office.
Letter of request for clearance to publish advert for 2024 capital projects in the Ministry of Information signed by Momodu
“The man is always loitering around there, no office for him to work because the woman has refused to leave,” a source stated.
The ICIR also gathered that the affected procurement officers wanting to remain in their current offices might be due to the upcoming 2024 procurement exercise which sources say are usually beneficial to senior civil servants and filled with fraudulent practices.
“The directors are well protected by their permanent secretary because they are all into shoddy deals through procurement that is why they are always disobeying the Head of Service but there are still some good ones who have resumed at their new postings immediately,” a source claimed.
An error?
In her response, Momodu told The ICIR that she moved to her new location but had to return due to an error.
“I was documented there but the only thing was that there was an error which the permanent secretary noticed and she wrote to the Head of Service so we are awaiting the reply.
“In government service, we obey before we complain. So I have obeyed by documenting myself in culture but there is a letter written by the perm sec,” she said.
All efforts to clarify these developments with the permanent secretary, Onwudiwe, yielded no response. After several attempts, she asked the reporter to call back because she was in a meeting.
“I am in a meeting now, call me back,” she said.
The ICIR reporter called back several times but she did not answer or return the calls. She did not also respond to messages sent to her phone.
According to a document obtained by The ICIR, the federal ministry of information and national orientation is preparing to embark on 56 projects in 2024. Sources claimed this was the reason for the disobedience of the HOSF order.
The ministry’s 2024 Procurement Planning Committee (PPC) is chaired by the permanent secretary, Onwudiwe and Momodu as secretary.
When contacted, the director of press ministry of Arts and Culture, Amadu Chidaya simply responded: “I am not aware.” But when probed further, he refused to respond.
The special adviser to the HCSF, Ibukun Fasan when contacted, directed The ICIR to the director of communication in the office of the HOSF.
‘There are consequences’
Speaking to The ICIR on the matter, the director of communications in the office of the Head of Service, Mohammed Abdullahi said there are consequences for any civil servant that refuses posting.
“Going by the civil service rule, there is a disciplinary action for anyone who refused posting. It is an offence to refuse posting,” Abdullahi stated.
This is not the first time senior civil servants will flout a directive from the office of the head of service
In August 2023, The ICIR reported that the information ministry before it was split flouted a federal government directive that all directors who have spent eight years or above should proceed on retirement in line with the revised Public Service Rules (PSR).
The directive was issued in a memo dated July 27 by the office of the HCSF, Yemi–Esan.
The revised PSR 020909 stipulates that: “A director or its equivalent by whatever nomenclature it is described in MDAs shall compulsorily retire upon serving eight years on tenure policy on the post.”
However, rather than adhere to this directive some senior civil servants disobeyed the directive.
But despite this directive, most of the affected Directors in the ministry stayed glued until a report done by The ICIR exposed their disobedience which led to their compulsory retirement.
Some of the affected persons included the director of federal government press, Itu Itu, director of finance and account (DFA), Kayode Musbau and Willie Bassey, director of information, office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
NIGERIAN President Bola Tinubu has been re-elected as the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), having served for a year tenure expected to elapse on July 9, 2024.
At the 65th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja on Sunday, July 7, Tinubu emerged for the second time as ECOWAS chairman.
His re-election will see him steer the affairs of the ECOWAS bloc for another year. He was unanimously emerged as the chairperson of ECOWAS on July 9, 2023.
During the summit, Tinubu urged the ECOWAS member states to make financial commitments to help in the fight against terrorism in the region.
“As we move to operationalise the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) in combating terrorism, I must emphasise that the success of this plan requires not only strong political will but also substantial financial resources.
“We must therefore ensure that we meet the expectations and recommendations set forth by our ministers of defence and finance in order to counter the insecurity and stabilise our region. Member states must make extra commitments on providing resources for stabilising the region,” Tinubu said in his opening remark, Channels Television quoted.
In the last year of his leadership as ECOWAS chairman, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have abandoned the regional bloc and formed a military rule which following coups d’etat that ousted their civilian governments.
Efforts by the ECOWAS bloc to prevail on the countries to return to the bloc and civilian rule have yet to yield the expected results despite its politico-economic sanctions.
From the onset of his chairmanship, Tinubu had made it clear that threats to regional security were destabilising and should be quickly taken more seriously.
Despite the peace he sought among the bloc, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso on Saturday, July 6, reportedly formed a new alliance, and had signed a confederation treaty not to return to the ECOWAS bloc.
“On peace and security, the threat has reached an alarming level, and needs urgent actions in addressing the challenges. Indeed, without a peaceful environment, progress and development in the region will continue to remain elusive.
“In this regard, we must remain committed to the utilisation of all regional frameworks at our disposal to address the menace insecurity,” Tinubu had said.
THE Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered a former minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, to account for payments of N729bn to 24.3 million poor Nigerians for six months.
The court also directed the former minister to furnish a list and details of the beneficiaries who received the payments, the number of states covered, and the payments allocated per state.
The judgment, delivered in June by a justice, Deinde Isaac Dipeolu, came as a result of a Freedom of Information (FOI) suit number FHC/L/CS/853/2021, filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
In his judgment, Dipeolu held that: “The former minister is compelled by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act to give information to any person, including SERAP. I therefore grant an order of mandamus directing and compelling the minister to provide the spending details of N729 billion to 24.3 million poor Nigerians in 2021.”
Dipeolu directed the minister to disclose details on how beneficiaries were selected and the payment mechanisms as requested by SERAP.
Additionally, the judge instructed the minister to justify the allocation of N5,000 to 24.3 million impoverished Nigerians, amounting to five percent of Nigeria’s 2021 budget of N13.6 trillion.
The ruling further stated that the minister failed to provide reasons for withholding the requested information, despite SERAP citing relevant sections of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 that were allegedly breached.
SERAP had petitioned the court under sections 20 and 25(1) of the Act for a mandamus order compelling the minister to furnish the requested information.
Dipeolu dismissed the objections raised by the minister’s counsel and upheld SERAP’s arguments.
Consequently, the court entered judgment in favour of SERAP against the minister.
In response to the verdict, Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director of SERAP, stated that the ruling represents a victory for transparency and accountability in public spending.
He remarked that the judgment underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.
Oluwadare emphasised that Juudge decision highlights the critical need for the Tinubu administration to address pervasive allegations of corruption within the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disasters Management and Social Development, and other governmental bodies, as highlighted by the Auditor-General of the Federation.
He also commended Justice Dipeolu for her courage and wisdom, urging President Bola Tinubu to promptly comply with the court’s directives.
In a letter dated July 6, 2024, sent to President Bola Tinubu on the judgment, and signed by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation asked him to direct the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disasters Management and Social Development and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation to immediately comply with the ruling.
The organisation also asked the president to order the release of the spending details of the N729 billion as ordered by the court.
The ministry of Humanitarian Affairs under former President Muhammadu Buhari has been enmeshed in various allegations of corruption. Recall that the former minister was also recently detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of corruption in the handling of N37.1 billion social intervention funds during her tenure.
In April, the commission said it recovered N32.7 billion and $445,000 from the ministry.
THE Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Aliyu, has accused some local government and local government education authority officials of diverting N30,000 stipends meant for workers in the state to celebrate the just concluded Eid-el-Kabir.
The governor asked the state officials to return the fund or face serious consequences.
According to Punch, the governor gave the warning on Friday, July 5 while addressing a crowd of well-wishers and supporters at the government House, in Sokoto following a successful Hajj exercise.
The governor decried the nefarious attitude of some finance officers especially at the local governments level who denied its staff of the N30,000 approved as Sallah gifts by the state government.
“I wonder how somebody would deny our workers the stipends we gave them in order to make them financially stable during the Sallah festive season,” Aliyu lamented.
“Those who diverted those funds must return them immediately or else we will take serious punitive measures against them.
He vowed to punish the perpetrators in order to serve as a deterrent to others.
The governor further charged all heads of agencies where such corrupt tendencies were perpetrated to hasten the compilation of all the affected workers and ensure that they are refunded.
He also assured the people of the state of his administration’s determination to ensure accountability, transparency and the prudent management of public funds for the good of all.
THE Federal Government has threatened to take legal action against Daily Trust newspapers over its publication on the Samoa agreement.
The minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who disclosed this at a press conference on Saturday, July 6 in Abuja, said the government would also file a complaint to the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) over the report he described as “fake and mischievous.”
He noted that the report has the potential to spark up religious and social tensions in the country.
Daily Trust had reported that the federal government signed the agreement with clauses requiring Nigeria to endorse the rights of Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex(LGBTQI+) people.
It also said Nigeria would collect 150 billion dollars to endorse the deal.
Samoa agreement was signed on June 28 at the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States(OACPS) Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium.
Details of the agreement indicated that the partnership is between the European Union and its member states on one hand, and members of OACPCS on the other.
Negotiations on the agreement began in 2018, and it was signed on 15 November 2018 by all 27 EU member states and 47 of the 79 OACPS states.
The African Regional Protocol on the matter consists of two parts framework for cooperation and areas of cooperation that include inclusive and sustainable economic growth, environmental and human rights protection, among others.
Reacting to the Daily Trust’s report on the matter, the minister described it as gross falsehood.
He said it followed a pattern that Daily Trust had become used to since the Bola Tinubu administration came on board.
While noting that Mr Tinubu had maintained a good relationship with the media in line with his philosophy as an avowed democrat, he said it was “disheartening that some elements are abusing this free environment guaranteed by the government.”
The minister said that the federal government would take the matter to the NPAN Ombudsman “on this irresponsible reporting.”
He added that the federal government will also use every lawful means to seek redress in a court of law.
Idris restated the government’s friendly policy toward ethical media and free speech but warned that it would not accept fake news and disinformation that could injure the peace of the nation and hurt national security.
THE Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has extended the registration of Point of Sales (PoS) operators till September 5, 2024.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had in April mandated PoS agents to register their businesses with the CAC to aid financial security checks.
In a statement on Saturday, July 6 signed by its management, CAC said it has extended the deadline till September to allow all PoS operators enough time to register.
It said the extension provides the PoS merchants 60 days more to comply with the apex bank’s order.
“The Corporate Affairs Commission wishes to notify Fintech Operators also known as Point of Sales Operators that the initial deadline July 7, 2024 given for the registration of sole agents, super agents and agents has been extended for sixty days beginning from July 7, 2024 to September 5, 2024.
“This is to give sufficient time to Operators particularly those in remote areas who might have encountered network challenges to register and continue with their businesses,” CAC stated.
The commission added that PoS agents who failed to register at the end of the extended deadline run the risk of losing such businesses and prosecution for aiding and abetting criminal activities.
The ICIR reports that on April 30 this year, the CBN issued a memo directing all non-individuals on the agent banking authorisation, to immediately take steps to register their businesses with the CAC in line with section 863 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.
Section 863(1) states: “A person or association of persons shall not carry on business in Nigeria as a company, limited liability partnership, limited partnership or under a business name without being registered under this Act.
“(2) If an individual, corporation or association of persons required under this Act to be registered carries on business without registration or under a name registration of which has been refused or cancelled under this Act, the individual, corporation or every partner in the firm commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine prescribed in the commission’s regulations from time to time, of N200.00 for every day during which the default continues, and the court shall order a statement of the required particulars for the registration of the business to be furnished to the commission for registration within such time as may be specified in the order.”
The Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of CAC, Hussaini Magaji, had enjoined the banks to ensure maximum compliance with the requirements of the law to ensure economic growth, The ICIRreported.
It noted that a fraud report by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System revealed that PoS terminals accounted for 26.37 per cent of fraud incidents in 2023.
According to the CAC boss, the mandatory registration of PoS operators nationwide will reduce kidnapping and help security agencies arrest recipients of ransom payments from kidnap victims.
