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Tag: AGF

  • AGF Madein denies making payments on behalf of MDAs

    AGF Madein denies making payments on behalf of MDAs

    The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr Oluwatoyin Madein has clarified that her office does not make payments on behalf of government agencies.

    Madein made the clarification in a statement by Bawa Mokwa, Director, Press, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) in Abuja on Saturday.

    According to Madein, the OAGF does not make payments for projects and programmes implemented by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government.

    She was reacting to media reports concerning a request from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and Poverty Alleviation for payment of grants to vulnerable groups in some states of the federation.

    She said that allocations were released to self-accounting MDAs in line with the budget, and such MDAs are responsible for the implementation of their projects and payments for such projects.

    Madein said that, although her office received the said request from the ministry, it did not carry out the payment.

    “The Ministry was, however, advised on the appropriate steps to take in making such payments in line with the established payment procedure,” she said.

    She said that in such situations, payments were usually processed by the affected miniseries as self-accounting entities.

    Maiden said that no bulk payment is supposed to be made to an individual’s account in the name of “project accountant”.

    She said that such payments should be sent to the beneficiaries through their verified bank accounts.

    Madein reiterated her determination to uphold the principles of accountability and transparency in the management of public finances.

    She advised MDAs to always ensure that the requisite steps were taken in carrying out financial transactions.

    The clarification is connected with the current probe of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

    President Bola Tinubu recently approved the suspension and investigation of Halima Shehu,  National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Program Agency (NSIPA), over alleged financial impropriety of about N30 billion.

    Shehu, however, reportedly told her investigators that that she moved the N30 billion she is accused of embezzling to other accounts because the minister, Dr Betta Edu, wanted to embezzle it.

    She reportedly said that Edu had already misappropriated N585 million by transferring the sum to a private bank account.

    In a letter that has since leaked to the public, Edu asked the AGF to transfer N585 million to the said private bank account in UBA, belonging to one Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.

    Reacting, Edu said that the N585 million grant for vulnerable groups was approved, adding that the funds were meant to be grants for vulnerable groups.

    She said that the transfer of the N585 million followed due process.

    According to the minister,  Mojisola, whose bank account was stated to receive the payment, is the project accountant for the Grants for Vulnerable Groups (GVG) scheme.

  • Terror financiers: We won’t list them until investigation has been concluded – AGF

    Terror financiers: We won’t list them until investigation has been concluded – AGF

    The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has said those bankrolling activities of terrorists won’t be revealed until investigations are concluded.

    He disclosed this in an interview on the sidelines of the 27th Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) Ministerial Committee Meeting in Abuja, had earlier stated that the Federal Government has identified terrorism financiers in the country.
    This was even as the government has flagged off the release of 4,068 prisoners in various correctional centres across the country. Fagbemi said the government would not go into name and shame because it may jeopardise further investigation or apprehension of other people involved.

    Earlier in his speech, Fagbemi, while commending the good work GIABA is doing in the effort to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in West Africa, noted that it is incumbent on member states to provide all the support that is necessary for the group to conduct its work in a more effective and efficient manner.

    “As a capable and technically confident organisation, GIABA can and should put before the rest of the global Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism financing (AML/CFT) network, the aspirations and peculiarities of our region.

    “I also believe we need to take some time for introspection and an assessment of where we have fallen short. In particular, looking at the effectiveness of our AML/CFT/CPF frameworks, it is clear that across the region there is significant room for improvement,” Fagbemi said.

    He called on all the member states to recommit themselves to becoming champions for truly effective national AML/CFT/CPF systems; “to become leaders who push our national institutions to perform to the highest of their capabilities; to recognise that the FATF Standards are not punitive measures but tools to help us assure the safety, security and prosperity of our countries, our region, our continent and indeed the global community.”

    The Minister of Interior, Mr. Tunji Ojo, who disclosed the release of the inmates in an interview, said the inmates are the non-violent offenders and those that are remanded in prison because they are unable to pay some fines. He said he had earlier promised to raise N585 million through CSR from corporate bodies to help clear the fines.

    “We have been able to raise the money and we have been able to offset those fines. That is to show you that when we give our word, we want to keep it,” he said. The minister noted that the correctional centre is transformatory.

    “It is a place that is meant to ensure that the fundamental rights of the inmates are protected and that they are rehabilitated to be reintegrated into the society. The target of the judicial system is not just to punish people but also to remodel and rehabilitate them so as to reintegrate them,” Ojo said.

    The Director General of GIABA, Mr. Edwin Harris, commended the member states for their commitment to the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing in West Africa.

    He, however, said there was a need to improve the effectiveness of their strategies. The low level of effectiveness is a major challenge in our fight against transnational crimes. This is a call to action by all and the need to defer same could be cataclysmic in implementing sound measures that deter and prevent unlawful activities,” Harris said.

  • Alleged N109bn fraud: Court revokes ex-AGF Idris, co-defendant’s bail

    Alleged N109bn fraud: Court revokes ex-AGF Idris, co-defendant’s bail

    Justice Yusuf Halilu of an FCT, Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday revoked the bail earlier granted one of the defendants in the trial of a former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris over an alleged fraudulent diversion of public funds to the tune of N109.5million.

    The defendant, Geoffrey Olusegun Akindele’s bail was revoked by the judge following his non-appearance in court for continuation of trial.

    Akindele, who is the second defendant in the case marked, CR/199/2022, and Idris are standing trial alongside Mohammed Kudu Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dragged them to court on a 14-count charge bordering on stealing, fraudulent diversion of public fund to the tune of N109.5 billion.

    Idris, among others, was alleged to have between Feb. and Dec. 2021, while being a public servant by virtue of his position as Accountant-General of the Federation accepted from Olusegun Akindele, the second defendant, a gratification of the aggregate sum of N15, 136, 221, 921.46, which was converted to dollars equivalent by Akindele.

    The money, according to the prosecution, did not form part of Idris’s remuneration but a motive for accelerating the payment of 13% derivation to nine oil producing states in the federation through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

    EFCC alleged they thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 155 of the Penal Code Act Cap 533 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and punishable under the same section.

    Idris and Akindele, who was Technical Assistant to the Accountant-General of the Federation, were accused of committing criminal breach of trust while being entrusted with certain property, to wit N84,390,000,000 between Feb. and Nov. 2021 by dishonestly receiving the said amount from the Federal Government through Godfrey Olusegun Akindele, trading under the name and style of Olusegun Akindele & Co.

    By this, acccording to EFCC, the first and second defendants were alleged to have committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

    The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the anti-corruption commission.

    At the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, Akindele was absent in court as of the time the case was called, though Idris and Usman were in court.

    Despite pleas by counsel for Akindele, S.E. Adino that his client was on the way to court, submitting that he (Akindele) has always been in court to face trial, Justice Halilu insisted on revoking the second defendant’s bail.

    The judge held that after listening to what Adino said, when a court grants a defendant bail, such person must reciprocate the gesture by attending court for trial.

    He added that, Akindele had clearly not shown good character and conduct by his refusal to attend court.

    ” The second defendant had abuse the terms of his bail.”

    Halilu subsequently revoked his bail and ordered the FCT Commissioner of Police and the EFCC to arrest Akindele and produce him in court in the next adjourned date.

    He then adjourned the case until Feb. 1, 2024 for definite hearing.

    Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, had informed the court that the prosecution received a letter from counsel for Idris and did not receive any from the counsel for Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.

    Atolagbe said despite the fact that there were competent lawyers in the office of Idris’ lawyer, none of them announced appearance for the former Accountant-General of the Federation.

    He added that he saw two lawyers from the office yesterday morning in court, saying that, “This is not fair on the prosecution. It is definitely a ploy to delay trial.”

  • NHF: Reps summon AGF over non-remittance of workers contributions

    NHF: Reps summon AGF over non-remittance of workers contributions

    …demand to know why there are disparities in various bodies contributory scheme

    The House of Representatives has summoned the Accountant General of the Federation to appear before it to explain why monies deducted from workers salaries are not remitted to the National Housing Fund.

    This was the resolution of the House Adhoc Committee investigating the non remittances of funds to the National Housing Fund and non utilisation of the funds from 2011 till date.

    The Committee also directed the
    AGF to explain why there are disparities in the deductions from workers of various agencies of government and why only N20 billion has been remitted to the Federal Mortgage Bank since 2011.

    Representatives of the Director of the integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System, Ekwem Dem in his submission told the committee that while deductions from salaries of workers was automatic, remittances was not automated.

    He however could not disclose how much has been deducted as Housing Fund from workers since 2011, he said even though they have the information, he need to “query the system” before responding to the question.

    Chairman of the Adhoc Committee, Danchung Baggos and members had observed from the documents presented by the IPPIS that N23,000 was deducted from the University of Calabar for NHF for one month, while Federal Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi contributed N9,000.

    They further requested the Accountant General to furnish the committee with information on what has been deducted from workers so far, when such money was deducted and why the money has not been remitted.

    A member of the committee, Hon. Timehin Adelegbe said: “if the deduction if automated, the remittances should also be automated.”

    The Committee also asked the Accountant General to remit all deductions of the Housing fund remitted to the federal Mortgage Bank with immediate effect and receipt presented to the committee.

    Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Madu Hamman appeal to the Committee to amend the act establishing the Bank and the National Housing Fund to give more effect to the operation of the NHF.

    Hamman said the Bank collected about N591.523 billion as remittances from both the formal and informal sector of the Nigerian economy since 2011 till date out of which N238.557 billon was collected from government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

    According to him, the bank also have outstanding payment of about N26.573 billion with the office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

    Giving a break down of the outstanding payment, he said the Accountant General erronously deducted about N11.6 billion from remittances of workers to the bank between October and December 2022 as part of government revenue mistaking the remittances to be revenue coming into the bank.

    He said: “We had to explain to them that the money was remittances of workers contributions to the NHF before the deduction was stopped through Treasury Single Account”.

    He also explained that between January 2022 and December 2022, the IPPIS failed to remit about N11.587 billion deducted from workers salaries and another N3.356 billion between April and July 2021.

    He disclosed that contributors to the National Housing Fund are eligible for a full refund of their contributions over the years with accrued interest of 2 percent upon retirement after attaining the age of 60 or inability to continue contributions due to incapacitation or death.

    He said so far, the Bank has refunded N66.678 billion to N444,637 billion, adding that out of the N591.523 billion collected for the Nation Housing Fund within the period, about N347.570 billion was invested in various projects financed by the Bank.

    These projects include Cooperative Housing Development Loan (N44.019 billion), NHF Mortgage loan (N139.095 billion), Ministerial Pilot Housing Scheme (N38.037 billion), TUC/NLC/NECA housing scheme (31.659 billion), Individual construction loan (N269.044 million), Home Renovation Loan (N92.468 billion) and Rent to Own (N2.021 billion).

    He listed some of the major challenges to include over concentration of Primary Mortgage Banks in Lagos and Abuja, while none exist in most states of the Federation, adding that only 34 primary mortgage Banks exist in the county.

    Hamman also said that the contradictions between the FMBN Act and the CBN prudent guideline on single obligation limits for PMBs is affecting loan disbursement by the banks as well as lack of loan affordability by majority of contributors as a result of low income

  • Accountant-General of the Federation denies allegation of engaging ghost workers

    Accountant-General of the Federation denies allegation of engaging ghost workers

    The Accountant-General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein on Tuesday in Abuja denied allegations that her office was enrolling ghost workers.

    She also said her office was addressing problems associated with the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), the IT platform used in paying salaries of federal civil servants.

    Madein made the declarations while fielding questions before the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating alleged employment racketeering and mismanagement of the IPPIS by agencies of the Federal Government.

    She said her office was working hard to fish out ghost workers who existed in the system before the introduction of the IPPIS in October 2006.

    “Having realised that this is a system that needs to be reviewed, I organised a stakeholders meeting with all service providers around the IPPIS on my assumption of duty,’’ she said.

    She said the service providers made presentations and it was discovered that only 640 out of the more than 900 agencies of the Federal Government were enrolled in the IPPIS.

    “As of today we have 640 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) enrolled in the IPPIS.

    “Some agencies, like security agencies are not in the scheme,’’ she said.

    Madein also told the committee that some revenue-generating Federal Government-owned enterprises and some self-funding ones were not enrolled on the IPPIS.

    She listed some parastatal agencies that have different arrangements for the payment of salaries and those receiving first line transfers such as the National Assembly as not enrolled in the IPPIS.

    “If we input Federal Government agencies currently outside the IPPIS in the scheme, there should be more than 900 agencies enrolled in it.

    “It is only an Act of the National Assembly that can make it compulsory for all government agencies to be enrolled in the IPPIS,’’ she said.

    In her submissions, Director of the IPPIS, Ms Emma Deko, accused some universities of sending more names than required to be enrolled in the scheme.

    “We are all aware of the issue of ASUU. We were told to enroll ASUU members and the enrolment did not pass through the normal process because it was an ad-hoc thing. It was an emergency.

    “They refused to come on board. But when government persuaded them to come, we were asked to enroll them without going through the process.

    “In a bid to increase their nominal roll, some of them enrolled more than what was previously on their payrolls,’’ she said.

    Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, summoned the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force and the Police among other agencies of government to appear before it on Aug. 4 over allegations of job racketeering.

  • Court orders AGF to take over EFCC’s suit against Senator Oduah, others

    Court orders AGF to take over EFCC’s suit against Senator Oduah, others

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, ordered the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to take over the N5 billion suit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) preferred against Sen. Stella Oduah and others after their arraignment.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, who gave the order shortly after the defendants took their non-guilty plea, said the order was necessary in view of the controversy the case had generated since instituted.

    Justice Ekwo had, on June 15, ordered the EFCC to fish out persons behind breaching his privacy through text messages on his phone and another group who petitioned the chief justice of Nigeria regarding the ongoing suit.

    The judge also directed the deputy chief registrar of the FHC in charge of Litigation to liaise with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to obtain the identities of the promoters of the organisation for the purpose of bringing them to the court, saying the sanctity of the court must be maintained.

    The development had stalled the arraignment of the defendants, as the judge insisted that the anti-graft agency must produce the people behind such action in court.

    He then adjourned the matter until July 17 (Monday).

    But on Monday, counsel who appeared for EFCC, Hassan Liman, SAN, prayed the court to allow the defendants to take their plea, having filed the charge against them since Dec. 17, 2020.

    Liman begged the court to allow the arraignment of the defendants’ while the agency continued with the investigation.

    The senior lawyer told the court that the investigation carried out so far by commission had been able to reveal the identity of the person, who sent a message to the judge, via the telephone number.

    According to the lawyer, he is said to be one Mr Okolo Obinna Johnson, a promoter of two companies.

    However, Liman said that the anti-graft agency made all efforts to track the physical person, in conjunction with other security agencies, but were yet to be successful.

    He assured that the EFCC would not leave any stone unturned in bringing the culprit to book.

    Unsatisfied with Liman’s information, the judge insisted they the EFCC should produce the person before arraignment.

    Besides, Justice Ekwo also gave Liman details of the information of the group called, Anti-Corruption Network, which wrote the petition to the CJN.

    Ekwo said the order given to the deputy chief registrar, Litigation of the court to get the certified particulars of the organisation involved in the matter at CAC had been carried out.

    He then gave copies of the particular to Liman for further investigation, saying the order to arrest the person was still subsisting,.

    “The order was find him, bring him to court and let me deal with the matter,” he declared.

    He expressed displeasure in the manner the trial was allowed to degenerate, saying “the court is never without an option, but out of respect to you, I will not take those options.”

    Liman, therefore, appealed that the defendants be ordered to take their plea, even as investigation continued with persons behind the letter and the text messages.

    The judge consequentky granted Liman’s prayer and adjourned the matter until today for plea.

    On Monday, Justice Ekwo fixed the date after counsel that appeared for EFCC, Hassan Liman, SAN, prayed the court to allow the defendants to take their plea, having filed the charge against them since Dec. 17, 2020.

    The ex-lawmaker, who represented Anambra North Senatorial District at the 9th National Assembly, are being charged alongside Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi and Chukwuma Irene Chinyere.

    Others include Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd, Sobora International Ltd and another.

    Oduah was arraigned on alleged N5 billion fraud and financial misappropriation while she served as Minister during the Jonathan Administration.

    In the 25-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/316/2020, they are accused of conspiracy, money laundering and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with a commercial bank.

    Upon resumed hearing on Friday, EFCC’s lawyer, Offem Uket, informed that the matter was for plea and that they were ready

    Defence lawyers, including Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN; Ogwu Onoja, SAN, and others, said they were ready too.

    The only counsel for 5th and 6th defendants were not in court and a non-guilty plea was entered for them and other defendants (7th, 8th and 9th defendants) that were companies in the charge.

    And after the 25-count charge was read to them, they all pleaded not guilty and the judge admitted them to bail in terms of the administrative bail earlier granted then by the EFCC.

    Justice Ekwo then asked EFCC’s lawyer, Uket, about the directive he gave to produce persons behind the action that had earlier stalled the trial.

    “I gave you the photocopies of these organisations. Are they here? Did you invite them?,” the judge asked, but Uket was unable to give a direct answer to questions asked.

    Ekwo then said that though he would give a date for trial commencement, the EFCC must invite the affected people.

    “I will give a date for trial and make a consequential order because you have allowed this matter to degenerate this way.

    “You think you can shield any of these persons who have interfere in these proceedings?,” he asked rhetorically.

    The judge also warned journalists against reporting what did not transpire in court.

    He said the records of proceedings are always available for any interested journalist to access.

    Justice Ekwo, who adjourned the matter until Oct. 17 for trial, ordered that in view of the controversy the case had generated, “I make an order that the AGF shall take over this case and the EFCC shall handover the records of proceedings to the office of the AGF.”

    NAN

  • IPPIS: AGF meets service providers, calls for permanent solution to challenges

    IPPIS: AGF meets service providers, calls for permanent solution to challenges

    The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein has urged the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) service to permanently resolve challenges in the payroll platform.

    According to a statement issued by Mr Bawa Mokwa, the Director of Press, OAGF on Sunday in Abuja, Madein made the call at a meeting with IPPIS service providers in Abuja.

    She said that the Office of the OAGF had initiated engagement with the service providers and other stakeholders as part of strategies to find permanent solutions to challenges in the operations of IPPIS.

    The OAGF had blamed technical glitches in its paynent platforms for the delay in payment of June salaries of federal civil servants.

    According to Madein, glitches in IPPIS are worrisome to the government, and it is imperative to entrench efficiency in the operations of the payroll system to justify government’s huge investment in the project.

    “The OAGF is determined to consolidate on the gains of the IPPIS and will work assiduously to maintain an efficient and trustworthy payroll system for the country.

    “We have taken notice of the challenges in IPPIS and we will do everything possible, not only to resolve them, but to forestall future occurrence, ” the AGF said.

    She reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to IPPIS, adding that there was no going back to the analogue payroll system.

    According to her, all that is necessary must be done to move forward.

    Madein called for continuous interaction and collaboration between stakeholders in IPPIS.

    She also constituted a technical committee comprising officers from the OAGF and the IPPIS service providers to find ways of avoiding future technical glitches that could delay payment of salaries.

  • Reps probe: Malami dismisses involvement in alleged $2.4b crude oil theft

    Reps probe: Malami dismisses involvement in alleged $2.4b crude oil theft

    The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami has dismissed his involvement in the House of Representatives Committee investigation alleged oil loss of over $2.4B dollars in oil revenue.

    The oil revenue is said to be from the illegal sales of 48 million barrels of crude oil export in 2015 including crude oil exports from 2014 till date.

    He said the investigative hearing by the committee was not necessary because it has nothing to do with his office and personality.

    The committee had severally invited the Minister which was not honoured, this however led the committee to reissued a summon against the Minister on May 24.

    Rep. Mark Gbillah, the Chairman of the Committee said the minister was invited in order for him to shade light on topical issues concerning involvement of his office regarding receipt authorisation and general payment remitted over the subject matter.

    Malami had earlier claimed that the matter as raised by the whistleblower leading to his involvement was baseless and lacking in substance

    Reacting, Malami said he was not privy to any documents involving him, adding that the Auditor General of the Federation had not also made documents available to him or his office.

  • BREAKING: Ex-AGF, Prince Bola Ajibola is dead

    BREAKING: Ex-AGF, Prince Bola Ajibola is dead

    Former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and ex-Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola is dead.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Prince Ajibola, who is a former Judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Hague, Netherlands, died in the early hours of Sunday at the age of 89.

    It was gathered that Ajibola, who was the founder of Crescent University, Abeokuta, died after a protracted illness as a result of old age.

    The eldest child of the late jurist, Segun Ajibola, SAN, disclosed this in a statement, on Sunday via Facebook.

    He wrote, “With very deep heart and gratitude to Almighty Allah. Our Dad, Prince Bola Ajibola, departed this world over midnight. May Almighty Allah bless him with Aljanah Firdaus.”

    TNG reports Ajibola was a Judge of the International Court of Justice between 1991 and 1994. He was Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice of Nigeria from 1985 to 1991.

    A Prince from Owu, he was born on 22 March 1934, and was president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) from 1984 to 1985.

    Ajibola obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Law (LL.B) at the Holborn College of Law, University of London between 1959 and 1962 and was called to the English Bar at the Lincoln’s Inn in 1962.

    He returned to Nigeria to practise Law, specialising in Commercial Law and International Arbitration.

    The Owu Prince was chairman of the panel set up by the Plateau State government to probe the 2008 Jos riots.

    He established an Islamic and co-educational institution, Crescent University, in Nigeria in 2005, and he serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN).

    He was the High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2002.

  • NAIRA REDESIGN: APC demands immediate resignation of Emefiele, Malami

    NAIRA REDESIGN: APC demands immediate resignation of Emefiele, Malami

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) North West zone has called for the resignation of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele and Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, following Supreme Court’s judgment on naira redesign policy.

    A statement signed by Salihu Moh. Lukman, National Vice Chairman (North-West) of APC on Friday, said President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government was not properly guided by Malami and Emefiele on its move to phase out old naira notes.

    It is also unfortunate that President Muhammadu Buhari could be misled into such acts of illegality and abuse of executive powers as pronounced by the Supreme Court

    The statement which lauded the apex court decision restoring old N500 and N1,000 notes as legal tender , reads in full :

    “Leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from North-West received with delight the ruling of the Supreme Court declaring the Federal Government’s cashless policy as unconstitutional and violation of the fundamental rights of Nigerians as provided under the 1999 Nigerian constitution as amended. By this ruling of the Supreme Court as delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, the old N1,000, N500 and N200 remain legal tender and Nigerians are free to have access to all their monies deposited in Nigerian banks without any form of restrictions as contained in the Federal Government cashless policy.

    NAIRA REDESIGN: APC demands immediate resignation of Emefiele, Malami

    “On behalf of our party leaders and members from North-West, we salute our three Governors, Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, Alh. Yahaya Bello and Alh. Bello Matawalle, respectively of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states for their courage and initiative to challenge the action of the Federal Government in the Supreme Court. It is a patriotic duty to challenge the policy of government, which unfortunately plunge Nigerians into hardship and unimaginable shock, notwithstanding partisan affiliations. By so doing, our leaders in APC led by Mallam Nasir, Alh. Yahaya Bello and Alh. Matawalle have once again demonstrated superior commitment to democracy.

    “It is also unfortunate that President Muhammadu Buhari could be misled into such acts of illegality and abuse of executive powers as pronounced by the Supreme Court. We, and indeed all Nigerians, are grateful to the Supreme Court Justices led by Justice Akomaye for this landmark judicial intervention.

    “Given the injurious nature of the consequences of the cashless policy of the Federal Government as was implemented thus far, and the damage of the Supreme Court ruling to the profile of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami must take personal responsibility for this act of illegality by the Federal Government. In advanced democracies, public offices who commits such acts of illegality voluntarily resigns from their appointments.

    “Therefore, if indeed, the cashless policy of the Federal Government was supposedly designed to conform with extant legal provisions of the Nigerian Federation, now that it turned out in the direct opposite, both the CBN Governor, Mr. Emefiele and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Malami should accept the limitations of both their knowledge of the law and commitment to democracy by resigning from their respective offices forthwith. Rule of law is fundamental to democracy and individuals who flagrantly violate the laws or promote acts that breach the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria must not be tolerated.

    NAIRA REDESIGN: APC demands immediate resignation of Emefiele, Malami

    “We call on Nigerians to take note of the fact that the crusade against the Federal Government cashless policy was led by APC, not minding the attempt to sensationally politicise it to the benefit of opposition political parties and their candidates in this election season. It is gratifying that Nigerians resisted the antics of subversive politicians who wanted to use such crude methods, including inflicting untold hardship and pains on Nigerians to provoke citizens into voting against the APC during the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    “We commend and salute Nigerians for their faith in our party, APC and determination to support our party and our candidates during the 2023 elections. We are indeed confident that Nigerians across all the 36 states of the Federation will reaffirm this confidence during the Governorship and States’ Houses of Assembly election on Saturday, March 11, 2023.”