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Tag: Adamawa

  • Atiku defeats Buhari in Adamawa

    Atiku defeats Buhari in Adamawa

    Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, has won the Saturday’s presidential election held in his home Adamawa State.

    Atiku polled 412, 266 to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari, his closest challenger who scored 377,488.

    Buhari, however, won 11 of the state’s 21 local government areas, while Mr Abubakar picked the remaining 10. The results show a difference of 34,778 between them.

    The outcome, despite its closeness, effectively flipped Adamawa back to the PDP, four years after Buhari’s All Progressives Congress won it by over 100,000 votes in 2015 presidential election.

    Although Atiku was tipped to narrowly win the state in the lead up to the February 23 election, fears that he may not clinch it gripped his supporters after he lost his polling unit to Buhari on election day.

    The PDP candidate, who was Nigeria’s vice-president from 1999 to 2007, polled 167 votes, losing by 19 votes to Mr Buhari, who scored 186 votes.

    Buhari, on the other hand, heavily defeated Atiku at the president’s own polling unit in Daura, Katsina State.

    A cursory analysis of the results shows Atiku scored heavily in Christian dominated areas of the state, while Buhari did well amongst both Muslim and Christian voters.

    The results would now be on their way to Abuja, where they would be collated alongside others from across the country in an exercise already underway in Abuja.

    See the full results of Adamawa presidential election below:

    Mubi North Local Government
    APC – 26,746
    PDP – 23,156

    Shelleng Local Government
    APC – 13,531
    PDP – 11, 912

    Girie Local Government
    APC – 17,765
    PDP – 14,673

    Yola North Local Government
    APC – 43,865
    PDP – 27,789

    Numan Local Government
    APC – 10,610
    PDP – 23,469

    Demsa Local Government
    APC – 6,989
    PDP – 29,997

    Hong Local Government
    APC – 20,471
    PDP – 23,039

    Ganye Local Government
    APC – 20,360
    PDP – 17,770

    Guyuk Local Government
    APC – 10,825
    PDP – 22,059

    Lamurde Local Government
    APC – 8,123
    PDP – 21,404

    Yola South Local Government
    APC – 34,534
    PDP – 20,414

    Mayo Belwa Local Government
    APC – 20,842
    PDP – 23,734

    Mubi South Local Government
    APC – 19,361
    PDP – 10,514

    Madagali Local Government
    APC – 8,208
    PDP – 14,594

    Maiha Local Government
    APC – 17,034
    PDP – 7,916

    Song Local Government
    APC – 17,352
    PDP – 22,648

    Fufore Local Government
    APC – 29,507
    PDP – 16,430

    Gombi Local Government
    APC – 12,805
    PDP – 18172

    Jada Local Government
    APC – 21,322
    PDP – 22877

    Michika Local Government
    APC – 10,669
    PDP – 32,085

    Toungo Local Government
    APC – 7,149
    PDP – 5,614.

    Total:
    APC – 377,488
    PDP – 412,266.

  • #NigeriaDecides2019: Atiku maintains lead in 18 Adamawa LGAs

    #NigeriaDecides2019: Atiku maintains lead in 18 Adamawa LGAs

    The results of the presidential election in three more LGAs in Adamawa State have been announced with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar maintaining the lead.

    Atiku had been in the lead since about 9am on Monday when results of 15 LGAs were released.

    But more results have since been announced from three more LGAs namely Song, Fufore and Gombi, bringing to 18 the total number of LGAs where results have been announced since the collation exercise started Sunday evening.

    Atiku has a total of 349,690 votes from the 18 LGAs while Buhari has 338,926 votes.

    In the latest results Atiku polled 22,648 votes in Song, 16,430 in Fufore and 18,172 in Gombi while Buhari polled 17,350 votes in Song, 29,507 in Fufore and 12,805 in Gombi.

    The Presidential Collation Centre in Yola adjourned sitting to 2pm after announcing the Gombi LGA result with pending results from the remaining Michika, Jada and Toungo LGAs.

  • JUST IN: Buhari wins first declared local government in Atiku’s Adamawa

    JUST IN: Buhari wins first declared local government in Atiku’s Adamawa

    President Muhammadu Buhari won the first local government area to be declared in the Saturday’s presidential election in Adamawa State.

    Buhari polled 17, 765 votes to defeat Abubakar in his home state.

    The opposition candidate scored 14, 673. A total of 34,628 were cast, out of which 1,373 were deemed invalid. Other.

    The state has 22 local government areas, and results are still being expected from the remaining 21.

  • Adamawa SDP rejects adoption of Buhari as party’s presidential candidate

    The Adamawa State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has distanced itself from the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for next week’s presidential election.

    The chairman of the SDP in Adamawa State, Mr. John Muva, said during a press briefing at the state secretariat of the party in Yola Friday that members of the party in the state will have nothing to do with Buhari come February 16.

    The NEC of the SDP in Abuja had endorsed Buhari on Thursday, attributing its decision to the “lingering legal battle” between the winner of the SDP presidential primaries, Donald Duke, and his major challenger, Jerry Gana, but the Adamawa SDP chairman insisted Friday that the stalemate over the party’s presidential candidacy is not a sufficient reason to mix the loyalty of members among different political parties and candidates when elections come.

    “We are not part of that endorsement and we were not a part of the meeting held in Abuja to decide that endorsement. We respect the rule of law and the constitution of the Social Democratic Party, but the differences between Donald Duke and Jerry Gana cannot put our state chapter in jeopardy. We are not part of that endorsement,” John Muva insisted.

    He said that in Adamawa State SDP members are not thinking of supporting Buhari or Atiku (of the People’s Democratic Party) for the presidency but of supporting the state SDP governorship candidate, Emmanuel Bello, and other party candidates at the other levels.

    “We won’t mix things up in Adamawa State. We can’t do SDP for National Assembly election, Buhari’s party in presidential election, and SDP in other elections. It is SDP top to bottom,” Muva asserted.

  • Unknown gunmen kidnap APC chairman in Adamawa

    Unknown gunmen on Wednesday kidnapped the chairman of the ruling the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Mijinyawa Hamisu.

    The Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Sajoh, who confirmed the development, said it happened around 3am on Wednesday.

    He stated the kidnappers have been in contact and were demanding N20 million for Hamisu’s release.

    The Adamawa State Public Relations Officer of APC, Muhammed Abdullahi, said he had just been told of the incident.

    Abdullahi said: “I have been informed that some people took the chairman of our party in Demsa but we don’t know their motives as to whether it is political or other things but I am on my way to the place to confirm the true state of things.”

    The incident happened hours before a scheduled campaign visit to the Demsa LGA by Governor Mohammed Bindow.

    Our correspondent couldn’t confirm the incident from the State Police Command at press time.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Othman Abubakar, could not be reached on phone.

    He was said to be out when The Nation correspondent visited his office.

  • Adamawa Deputy Speaker, Majority Leader sacked

    Adamawa Deputy Speaker, Majority Leader sacked

    The Speaker Adamawa House of Assembly, Alhaji Kabiru Mijinyawa said the deputy speaker and majority leader have all been sacked.
    Mijinyawa in a telephone interview told the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) on Saturday in Yola said that the deputy majority leader of the House was equally removed.
    ” The Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Emmanuel Tsamdu, the majority leader ,Mr Hassan Barguma and the deputy majority leader, Mr Abubakar Isa, all APC, were impeached ” Mijinyawa said.
    He said that the house elected Mr. Lunsumbani Dili , APC , from Demsa local government area as its new Deputy Speaker.
    Muhammad Hayatu is now the majority leader, while Muhammadu Sani-Shehu is the deputy leader.
    The Speaker, however, did not give the reason behind the impeachment.

  • Adamawa governorship candidates who are enmeshed in corruption allegations

    As the campaign season kicks in, there are palpable fears in Adamawa, in the camps of four of the leading gubernatorial candidates, because of various corruption cases hanging over their candidates.

    Candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the State are among the various candidates stomping round, soliciting for support to emerge the Governor who will take over the Government House, Yola, come May, 2019.

    The four candidates are the incumbent Governor, Senator Umaru Jibrilla Bindow of the APC; a former Acting Governor of Adamawa State, the Rt. Hon Umaru Fintiri; the Senator representing Adamawa Central, Senator, Nyako Abdul-Aziz; and a former lawmaker, Hon Emmanuel Bello.

    As the election campaign gathers steam from this week, TNG, (TheNewsGuru.com), has launched investigations into the background of various persons in Nigeria, across party lines, who are vying for political offices.

    In Adamawa State, TNG found out that the following candidates, at various times were accused of corrupt practices.

    Umaru Fintiri

    One of the governorship candidates eyeing the Adamawa governorship seat, Mr. Fintiri was Adamawa’s State House of Assembly Speaker and one time Acting Governor for over 74 days before he was sacked by the Federal High Court Abuja and replaced with Barr. Bala Ngillari. On September 21, 2019, Mr. Fintiri declared his bid to contest on the ticket of the PDP in Yola, the state capital.

    But his ambition is dogged by allegations of corruption while he was in office as Acting Governor for 74 days.

    In June 30th, 2008 the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and a company linked to him, Mayim Construction and Properties Limited before Justice A.R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on a 5-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N2.9billion.

    Fintiri, a former speaker, who also served briefly as the acting Governor of Adamawa State, allegedly laundered monies through his naira and dollar accounts domiciled at Ecobank Plc., and made large cash payment for the purchase of a property at Plot Number 7, Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja.

    He was also accused of making other large cash payments for the purchase of landed properties in Abuja during the three months he held sway as the governor of the state.

    Ibrahim Welye, former Secretary to the Adamawa State Government, told newsmen that certain contracts awarded by the former acting governor, including the electrification of Kirshinga Village in Madagali Local Government Area of the State, had no approval.

    Welye had in a petition dated May 11, 2015 to the EFCC, alleged that Fintiri fraudulently diverted N497million meant for the construction of a lecture theatre for the Faculty of Law, Adamawa State University, Mubi, laying only the foundation and never completed the project.

    The petitioner corroborating his petition said:

    “I still stand by the content of my petition regarding the renovation of Adamawa State House of Assembly, the construction of Mararaba Garta to Kamale roads, the construction of road network Malamre Ward in Yola, as well as the reconstruction of five roads and storm water drains in Yola.” The Welye, however, added that he had no knowledge of any virement granted by the State’s House of Assembly, in respect of the projects.

    “Investigations reveals that , Ahmadu Umaru (Alias Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri) and Mayim Construction and Properties Limited on the 9th October 2014 did indirectly disguise the origin of the aggregate sum of N550,000,000 (Five Hundred and Fifty Million naira) through a term loan of twelve months purportedly granted to him by Ecobank Plc for the acquisition of a tea plantation farm from Nigeria Agricultural Bank in Taraba State which loan he will repaid within three months as acting Governor of Adamawa State, a fund he diverted to his personal use.

    Abdul-Aziz Nyako

    Mr.Abdul-Aziz was a Navy Commander before he resigned under controversial circumstances and joined politics. In 2015. He was elected into the senate and has since been there.

    Senator Nyako and his father, Admiral Murtalal Nyako rtd who was a former Governor of the state are facing a 37-count charge bordering on corruption.

    Senator Nyako and his father were specifically accused of allegedly laundering state funds to the tune N40billion.

    Others charged with the money are Zulkifik Abba and Abubakar Aliyu, while the firms allegedly used in laundering the funds are Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms & Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited.

    Nyako, in connivance with other accused, allegedly diverted the said sum from the Adamawa State treasury between January 2011 and December 2014 during his tenure as governor.

    EFCC Documents show the transfer of about N1, 384, 525,000 diverted from the Adamawa State government, during the tenure of Murtala Nyako,

    to the account of Crust Energy Limited.

    Chinedu Ayogu,a compliance officer with Diamond Bank, corroborate The Finder Newspaper investigation while being led in evidence by O.A. Atolagbe, told the court that the bank received request with respect to some companies linked to the defendants.

    “We received a request from the EFCC to provide the account opening packages of Sentinel Production and Exploration Limited and the statements of account which consisted of the Naira and Dollar accounts, and we complied,” Ayogu said.

    Ayogu identified the various documents sent to the EFCC in response to the anti-graft agency’s request, which were subsequently tendered as exhibit against them. There was no objection from counsels to the defendants, as to there admissibility, and they were accepted and marked as exhibit AD.

  • 2019: INEC uncovers 1,224 dead persons in Adamawa register

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has detected 1,224 dead persons’ names in its Adamawa voters’ register for the 2019 general elections.

    Mr Kassim Gaidam, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, disclosed this during the opening of a two-day workshop for North East Zonal lmplementers on election monitoring and support, holding in Yola on Thursday.

    Gaidam said that the statistic was uncovered during the recent display of voters’ register for claims and objections.

    The commissioner said that the exercise was successfully conducted across the state.
    He explained that during the exercise, the commission recorded 2,113 claims and out of the 1,588 objections, 1,224 were reported death.

    The commissioner noted that during the exercise, 38,658 Permanent Voter Cards were collected across the state.

    Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC Chairman, said that the election monitoring and support centre was one of the significant tools used by the commission in planning, monitoring and implementation of support provision to field officers for credible conduct of the elections.

    Yakubu, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Prof. Muhammed Kuna, said that the commission would use all resources at its disposal to ensure fair and free conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    He explained that the workshop was to strengthen the commission’s capacities to monitor the mechanisms and activities put in place for smooth conduct of the 2019 general elections, among objectives.

    Also speaking, Mr Samson Fadare, the representative of European Centre for Electoral Support, said the EU was proud to support INEC’s laudable initiative that sought to ensure free, fair and smooth conduct of elections.

    “It will be recalled that European Centre for Electoral Support supported the conduct of the election monitoring support implementer workshops for the off-cycle governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun in 2017 and 2018, among others,” Fadare said.

    He noted that the workshop was the second of its kind designed for zonal implementers and would be organised across the six geopolitical zones to educate and familiarise the functionaries of the commission across the nation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was organised by INEC and supported by European Union.

    Five out of the six INEC resident electoral commissioners from North East with their top management staff were participants, excluding Bauchi State.

  • DSS arrests IS bomb expert, 10 kidnappers in Adamawa

    The Department of State Service (DSS) has arrested an alleged expert producing Improvised Explosive Devices for terrorist group, Islamic State, in West Africa, Abbas Abubakar, in the Toungo Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

    The DSS said Abubakar, also known as Sambo, was arrested on Monday by operatives, while 10 suspected kidnappers were also arrested in Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi and Edo states.

    According to findings, Sambo was believed to an IED expert for the Islamic State and investigations were ongoing to fish out his accomplices.

    The DSS said on October 25, its operatives also arrested five suspected kidnappers in the Riga Chikun area of Kaduna State. Their names were given as: Isa Ahmadu, Suleiman Umar, Ibrahim Mallam, Ishaku Saidu and Mansur Mallam.

    According to the DSS, after preliminary investigation, the group’s hideout in Katsina State was raided and two other members, Muhammadu Ibrahim and Muhammed Isa, also were nabbed.

    Also in the Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, three kidnap suspects – Abdulhamid Isa, Adamu Adagiri and Nuhu Ahmed – who were allegedly in areas between Kogi and Edo states operating, were arrested.

    The DSS Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, confirmed the arrest of the suspected IS bomb expert and the kidnap suspects.

    He noted that the suspects would be charged to court after investigations.

    He said, “In its determination to contain the menace of kidnapping, the DSS has arrested high profile kidnappers and notorious elements in different locations. At Toungo LGA of Adamawa State, Abbas Abubakar, a suspected Improvised Explosives Device expert for the Islamic State in West Africa, was apprehended.

    “Investigations have so far uncovered leads that will enable the DSS and other sister agencies to address the menace. All the suspects will undoubtedly be prosecuted in accordance with the law. The DSS reassures the public that the tempo of these operations will be sustained and strengthened.

    “The service, therefore, enjoins everyone to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and avail them information that would guarantee peace, especially during the coming Yuletide and the general elections.”

  • EXCLUSIVE: Why Adamawa PDP flag bearer, Umaru Fintiri’s name appeared on Buhari's travel ban list

    Investigations by TNG has revealed why a former acting governor of Adamawa State and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s name appeared on President Muhammadu Buhari’s list of 50 high profile Nigerians banned from travelling outside the shores of the country.
    Recall that the president last week Saturday issued the ban under Executive Order 6 (EO6).
    The travel restriction followed the judicial affirmation of the constitutionality and legality of the Executive Order 6 (EO6).
    The watch-list and restriction were put in place pending the conclusion of the cases against those affected.
    Why Fintiri made the list
    Checks by TNG revealed that Fintiri who was also a former speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly has been in and out of the court for allegations bothering on fraud and bribery shortly after leaving office as acting governor in 2016.
    However, like some other people on the list, Fintiri’s trial has spanned over two years with several adjournments and no judgement in sight.
    Having emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa in a keenly contested election amongst other former governors in the state on October 1, Fintiri’s hope of becoming the next governor of Adamawa State may suffer serious setback with the ban.
    The Aisha Buhari’s connection
    Recall that the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari also has a stake in the coming election in Adamawa.
    Despite the fact that the incumbent governor, Bindo Jibrila is of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and also indicated interested in a second term ticket, the president’s wife is rooting for his immediate younger brother, Mahmud Halilu Ahmad as the party’s flag bearer in 2019.
    Aisha Buhari in a straightforward statement shortly after the primaries which edged out his brother condemned the primaries while also indicting the party chairman, Adams Oshiomhole for presiding over such ‘impunity’. She also threatened to boycott party activities if the controversies which thrailed the APC primaries were not resolved before the deadline issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
    Aside the president’s wife, a former chairman of the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu also expressed interest in the top Adamawa job. Ribadu, a former presidential aspirant also condemned the primaries which produced the incumbent governor Jibrin as its flag bearer and called for its immediate cancellation.
    More so, both Aisha Buhari’s brother and Ribadu lost their chances as the APC Appeals Panel submitted its report to the National Secretariat on Thursday.
    However, according to anonymous sources, Aisha’s brother may likely defect to the the PDP in a desperate attempt to achieve his governorship ambition. Since the party had already chosen Fintiri as its flag bearer, sources claim that concerted efforts were been made to ensure
    his (Fintiri) disqualification to allow for a change of name of the party’s flag bearer with INEC. This was not difficult to achieve as Fintiri still has loads of pending corruption cases before the EFCC.
    Fintiri’s ‘sins’
    Specifically, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/131/2016, alleged that the former governor had between October 2014 and August 2015, diverted public funds to the tune of N1.9billion.
    The anti-graft agency also charged a firm that allegedly served as conduit pipe through which the fund was siphoned, Mayim Constructions & Properties Limited, as the 2nd defendant before the court.

    EFCC alleged that Fintiri had at various dates, within the ten months the fraud was perpetrated, transferred funds from account number: 0313000301 domiciled at EcoBank Plc operated by Timeplex Nigeria Ltd, into account number: 5742019591 domiciled at the same bank but operated by the 2nd defendant.
    Aside allegation that he used N220million to acquire a property at No 7 Gana Street, Maitama Abuja, Fintiri was said to have within three months he held sway as acting governor of Adamawa State, repaid a N550m loan he secured from Ecobank for the acquisition of a Tea plantation farm from Nigeria Agricultural bank in Taraba State.
    EFCC said its investigations revealed that the bank had initially allowed the defendant to repay the loan within twelve months. It said that Fintiri attempted to disguise the origin of the funds which the agency described as “proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: bribery and corruption”.

    The prosecution maintained that the defendant committed an offence contrary to sections 15(2) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended in 2012 and punishable under section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act. Count-five in the charge dated June 16 and signed by the Deputy Director, Legal & Prosecution Department of the EFCC, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, read: “That you, Ahmadu Umaru (Alias Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri) and Mayim Construction and Properties Ltd, between the 3rd of June 2014 an 4th of August 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did retain in your US Dollars account number 5742019601 domicile at Ecobank Plc, the aggregate sum of $4, 830, 000.00 (US Dollar Four Million eight hundred and thirty thousand) which sum you know form part of proceeds of unlawful act to wit: corruption and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act”.
    49 others affected by the ban
    TNG reports that apart from Fintiri, others on the list include; ex-governors Saminu Turaki (Jigawa), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Rasheed Ladoja (Oyo), Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto), Muazu Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Gbenga Daniel (Ogun); and Ibrahim Shehu Shema (Katsina).
    The ex-ministers are Nenadi Usman, Bashir Yuguda, Jumoke Akinjide; Bala Mohammed; Abba Moro and Femi Fani-Kayode.
    Others include a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh; ex- Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral A. D. Jibrin; a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar; a former Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero; and a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu; Chairman Emeritus of AIT/ Raypower, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi; Waripamowei Dudafa (a former Special Assistant (Domestic) to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan); a former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike; a former judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia;
    Also on the list are a former National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh; Chief Jide Omokore; Ricky Tarfa; and Dele Belgore (SAN).
    Most of the affected persons are currently facing trial for alleged corrupt practices in different courts.
    The list was generated from cases and proceedings filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Nigeria Police, and 17 other agencies.
    The document indicated that many of those affected had earlier been placed on similar legal restrictions by the courts and security agencies including restriction of movement, seizure of passport, temporary forfeiture of assets, freezing of accounts and others.
    Executive Order not witch hunt – Presidency
    Reacting to condemnations that trailed the executive order, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Mallam Garba Shehu in a statement on Sunday said: “Following the instant judicial affirmation of the constitutionality and legality of the Executive Order 6 (EO6), President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice to implement the Order in full force.
    “To this end, a number of enforcement procedures are currently in place by which the Nigeria Immigration Service and other security agencies have placed no fewer than 50 high profile persons directly affected by EO6 on watch-list and restricted them from leaving the country pending the determination of their cases.
    “Also, the financial transactions of these persons of interest are being monitored by the relevant agencies to ensure that the assets are not dissipated and such persons do not interfere with, nor howsoever corrupt the investigation and litigation processes.
    “It is instructive to note that EO6 was specifically directed to relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that all assets within a minimum value of N50 million or equivalent, subject to investigation or litigation are protected from dissipation by employing all available lawful means, pending the final determination of any corruption-related matter.
    “The Buhari administration reassures all well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians of its commitment to the fight against corruption, in accordance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the general principles of the Rule of Law.
    “Accordingly, this administration will uphold the rule of law in all its actions and the right of citizens would be protected as guaranteed by the Constitution.
    “We, therefore, enjoin all Nigerians to cooperate with the law enforcement authorities towards ensuring a successful implementation of the Executive Order 6 which is a paradigm-changing policy of the Federal Government in the fight against corruption.”