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Tag: Ahmed

  • Former Kwara gov Ahmed allegedly gulped N5bn UBEC funds-Witness

    Former Kwara gov Ahmed allegedly gulped N5bn UBEC funds-Witness

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday called a witness, Abubakar Hassan, to testify in the trial of the immediate past Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed.

    Ahmed and his then Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, are currently standing trial for the alleged theft and mismanagement of Kwara State funds.

    Among other things, the duo were accused of conspiring to steal money meant for the payment of teachers’ salaries working with the State Universal Basic Education Board.

    EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a statement, saying the trial has resumed.

    He said the former governor and his commissioner were, however, arraigned in October 2024, and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The Matching Grant Funds from the Universal Basic Education Commission are meant to provide certain infrastructural facilities for both students of primary and junior secondary schools. Such facilities include the construction of buildings for primary schools, provision of laboratories for students, construction of toilets, provision of water and sanitation, and cultural education,” the statement read.

    “The commission made lodgment for 2013, 2014 and 2015. Kwara State got a Matching Grant of about N2 billion in 2013, N876 million was released in 2014, and they got N982 million in 2015, totalling about N5 billion.

    “The implementation of the 2013 Action Plan had already commenced, and contractors were already being mobilised to work at the site, but surprisingly, during our project monitoring exercise, we discovered that the monies meant for the project (2013) had been diverted by the Kwara SUBEB. We discovered that about N2 billion was diverted,” Hassan narrated.

    After this discovery, the witness said the report of the projects monitoring committee was sent to the Kwara SUBEB, asking them to comply with the recommendations of the committee, but there was no response.

    The trial judge, Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar, adjourned further hearing on the case till February 17, 2025.

  • NNPP appoints Ahmed as acting National Chairman

    NNPP appoints Ahmed as acting National Chairman

    The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has appointed Dr Ajuji Ahmed, as its acting National Chairman.

    Mr Yakubu Shendam, the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, stated this on Tuesday in a statement in Abuja.

    Shendam said that the appointment of Ahmed, who was the Deputy National Secretary of the party, followed the resignation of Malam Abba Ali, who was the acting National Chairman of the party.

    “Ali announced at the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting of the party in Abuja that he was resigning due to medical advice by his personal physician.

    “This prompted a motion for the nomination of Ahmed as the new acting National Chairman, which was unanimously endorsed by all members,” he said.

  • 41-year old man stoned to death for burning Quran

    41-year old man stoned to death for burning Quran

    A 41-year old man, Mushtaq Ahmed, has been stoned to death by an enraged mob for allegedly burning the Muslim holy book (Quran) inside a local mosque at the district of Khanewal in Punjab province, Pakistan.

    The custodian of the local mosque, Mian Mohammad Ramzan, said he saw the deceased burning the Quran on Saturday evening.

    Ramzan pointed out that he saw smoke inside the mosque, which is adjacent to his home, and rushed over to investigate.

    According to him, he found one Quran burned and saw a man attempting to burn another, saying “people were starting to arrive for evening prayers as I was shouting for the man to stop.”

    The ill-fated man has been mentally unstable for the last 15 years and according to his family often went missing from home for days begging and eating whatever he could find

    Police spokesman, Chaudhry Imran, explained that police rushed to the scene, where a man was found surrounded by an angry crowd.

    “Officer Mohammad Iqbal and two subordinates tried to take custody of the man but the group began throwing stones at them, seriously injuring Iqbal and slightly injuring the other two officers,” Imran said.

    Chief of Tulamba police station, Munawar Gujjar, said he rushed reinforcements to the mosque but they did not arrive before the mob had stoned to death the man and hung his body from a tree.

    A police team that reached the village before the stoning began took custody of a man but the mob snatched him away from them

    “The ill-fated man has been mentally unstable for the last 15 years and according to his family often went missing from home for days begging and eating whatever he could find. The body was handed over to the family,” Gujjar said.

    He said investigators were scanning available videos to try to identify the assailants, adding that the police had so far detained about 80 men living in the mosque’s surroundings but that about 300 suspects took part.

    Witnesses said a police team that reached the village before the stoning began took custody of a man but the mob snatched him away from them and beat the police as they tried to rescue him.

    The witnesses asserted that later, more officers and constables reached the scene and took custody of the body.

    Prime Minister, Imran Khan, expressed his anguish over the incident and said he was seeking a report from Punjab’s chief minister on the police handling of the case.

    “They failed in their duty. We have zero-tolerance for anyone taking the law into their own hands and mob lynching will be dealt with the full severity of the law,” Khan said in a tweet hours after the incident.

    The Prime Minister also asked the Punjab police chief for a report on the actions taken against perpetrators of the lynching.

    The killing comes months after the lynching of a Sri Lankan manager of a sporting goods factory in Sialkot in Punjab province on Dec. 3 who was accused by workers of blasphemy.

  • APC at all levels deserve the trust of Nigerians- Lawan

    APC at all levels deserve the trust of Nigerians- Lawan

    “This is to tell you that we desire to develop our country and that APC at all levels deserves the trust of Nigerians because we will always tell Nigerians what it is. We won’t hide anything because you gave us your trust.”

    These were the words the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Sunday in Lagos at the fifth edition of the empowerment programme of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola who is representing Lagos West Senatorial District.

    The event, which was held at the premises of the Nigeria Police College, Ikeja, was also witnessed by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    PDP may tell you something funny about the administration of APC at the national level but PDP ruled Nigeria for 16 years and all that they did was to leave and bequeath so many challenges to us in 2015

    Urging Nigerians to continue to entrust the affairs of the country to the All Progressives Congress(APC), Lawan stressed that APC is the party to trust.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi, which was made available to journalists, Lawan described Lagos as a home for APC and expressed the confidence that “APC, by the Grace of God, will continue to rule Lagos and rule Nigeria.”

    “All that we need to do is to continue what we are doing now. Support our leaders. Tolerate us. Unite ourselves and of course, remain focused.

    “PDP may tell you something funny about the administration of APC at the national level but PDP ruled Nigeria for 16 years and all that they did was to leave and bequeath so many challenges to us in 2015.

    “We are dealing with those challenges one after the other and if on the way, we encounter new challenges, we are equal to the task.

    “By the Grace of God, we are going to turn around the fortunes of this country for the better. We have done so much but we are also challenged especially in the area of security.

    “When someone tells you that the APC administration only takes loans or borrows money, PDP had 16 years of so many resources and they did very little infrastructure in the country if any. The money disappeared and our options are limited.

    “But one option that is not on the table at all is not to do anything. Because you don’t have money, so we shouldn’t develop your country? Nigeria’s administration at the national level is responsible and responsive.

    “We wouldn’t like to take loans or borrow money but when the options are limited and the imperative of development of infrastructure in the country is there, what do we do?

    “If we have to borrow, we have to borrow responsibly, targeted at capital development and today I want to say without any fear of contradiction that in every part of this country, there is infrastructural development either in terms of roads, bridges, dams and so on and so forth.

    “What you witness in Lagos is to tell you one of the best the APC can do and we have many APC states that are working so hard to develop those states.

    “I want to assure Nigerians that APC as a political party is the one that you can trust because, for us, the citizens of this country are the most essential elements and people that we must always focus on,” Lawan said.

    The Senate President urged Lagosians to consider Governor Sanwo-Olu for another term based on his commendable performance.

    On the Senate President entourage from Abuja were Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele and Senator Yakubu Oseni.

  • My father died because of Wizkid’s failed promise – Singer

    My father died because of Wizkid’s failed promise – Singer

    A young rapper, Ahmed has called out Nigerian music sensation Wizkid for failing to fulfil his promise.

    Ahmed revealed that Wizkid was yet to fulfil his pledge towards him, stressing that it was the main reason he went back to the street to beg.

    Ahmed also claimed that his father died because Wizkid reneged on his promise to sign him and give him N10million.

    Recall that Ahmed was promised the sum of N10M by Grammy winner, Wizkid after a mind-blowing and exceptional performance at the singer’s concert in 2017.This saga was rekindled after Wizkid was called out for an alleged audio signing and money gift which never saw the light of the day.

    Watch:

     

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    A post shared by Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja)

  • Nigerian footballer Ahmed Musa dismisses COVID-19 rumours

    Nigerian footballer Ahmed Musa dismisses COVID-19 rumours

    Nigeria Super Eagles player, Ahmed Musa, has dismissed claims on social media that he had tested positive for coronavirus.

    Musa, who plays for Al-Nassr Football Club in Saudi Arabia described the reports as fake news on his verified Twitter handle.

    He tweeted; “Please, ignore any false news about me or my family testing positive to COVID-19.

    Pls ignore any false news about me or ?? ?????? testing positive to Covid 19.We are self isolating for 14 days as we just got in from Saudi Arabia as the law stipulates. Stay safe! Maintain social distance. AVOID FAKE NEWS! ? pic.twitter.com/SjzjmNWcOy

    — AhmedMusa718 (@Ahmedmusa718) April 22, 2020

    “We are self-isolating for 14 days as we just got in from Saudi Arabia, as the law stipulates. Stay safe! Maintain social distance,’’ he added.

    Saudi Arabia, where Musa says he just returned from, has over 12,772 confirmed coronavirus cases.

  • Ahmed, Emefiele join other world economic experts at IMF/World Bank meetings

    Ahmed, Emefiele join other world economic experts at IMF/World Bank meetings

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed and the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, will join other economic experts from around the world to discuss issues affecting global economy in Washington DC, US.

    The discussions are scheduled to hold between April 9 and April 14, under the auspices of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC.

    The 2019 Spring Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank is expected to bring together central bank governors, ministers of finance, parliamentarians, private sector executives, representatives from civil society organisations and the academia.

    The experts will discuss issues of global concern, including the world economic outlook, poverty eradication, economic development and aid effectiveness.

    The meeting will also feature seminars, regional briefings, press conferences and many other events with focus on global economy, international development and the world’s financial system.

    Nigeria attends the meeting each year because of the quantum of investments and technical support it receives from both the IMF and the World Bank.

    Although Nigeria currently has zero loans with the IMF, it enjoys technical support from the organisation.

    The World Bank Group, on the other hand, is helping to fight poverty and improve living standards in the country through 33 Core Knowledge Product Reports and 29 ongoing National and Regional projects.

     

  • Ahmed, Emefiele join other economic experts at IMF/World Bank meeting

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed and the Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, will join other economic experts from around the world to discuss issues affecting the global economy.
    Discussions would take place under the auspices of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund.
    The 2018 Annual Meeting of the IMF and the World Bank would bring together ministers of finance, central bank governors, parliamentarians, private sector executives as well as representatives from civil society organisations and the academia.
    The experts would discuss issues of global concern, including the world economic outlook, poverty eradication, economic development and aid effectiveness.
    The meeting would also feature seminars, regional briefings, press conferences and other events with a focus on global economy, international development and the world’s financial system.
    The meetings will hold between October 8 and 14.
    Nigeria attends the meeting each year because of the quantum of investments and technical assistance it receives from both the IMF and the World Bank.
    Although Nigeria currently has zero loans with the IMF, it enjoys technical support from the organisation.

  • EFCC commences probe of Saraki, Kwara gov, others over alleged misappropriation of N17b bond

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is probing Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State and the Accountant-General of the state over how a N17billion bond secured by the State Government was spent.

    The anti-graft agency suspects that part of the funds may have been diverted into private use.

    The bond was intended to cover 13 projects and loan refinancing package during the tenures of Saraki as governor and Ahmed,his successor.

    According to a report by The Nation, the investigation is digging into what has become of the N2billion Asa Dam Mixed Use Development Project and the Ilorin Water Distribution Project which has gulped N3.736billion but without water to drink by residents.

    The EFCC has already interrogated the Secretary to the State Government, two Permanent Secretaries, the Accountant-General of the state, and about three contractors.

    All those invited were said to have made “voluntary statements.”

    Two ex-commissioners and two members of the House of Representatives may be arrested by the anti-graft agency in connection with the affected projects.

    But a source in government in Kwara State claimed that EFCC is on a “wild goose chase because the bond has been fully repaid since 2014 without any outstanding liability for the people of Kwara State.

    “We suspect sheer politics and a plot to intimidate Saraki and Ahmed because 2019 polls are around the corner.”

    The fact-sheet sighted by our correspondent listed the affected projects as Aviation College –(N1.5b budgeted, N2.448, 663, 386.56b spent); Asa Dam Mixed Use Development Project (N2b); Kwara State University (N1b); Ilorin Water Distribution Project (N2b allocated, N3.736b spent); Shonga Irrigation Project (N2.9b allocated, N882.9 million paid to contractor); Kwara Advanced Diagnostic Centre( N750m allocated, N1.861b spent); Urban roads (N1.5b allocated but N1.609b spent); Rural and Feeder roads(N200m); Ilorin Metropolitan Street Lights Project(N250m); Kwara Vocational Centre (N650m); Loan refinancing (No evidence of payment of N2.4b to AFDB); Ilorin Township Stadium Project—N1b allocated but N1, 117 430, 700.54 spent; Electrification Project—N462, 144, 291.10; Kwara Mall Project—N500m allocated, $2m deposit in another account

    The fact-sheet said: “We are investigating a petition forwarded by the Code of Conduct Bureau, Abuja. It was alleged that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and the incumbent Accountant-General of Kwara State allegedly conspired and misappropriated N17billion raised through bond in 2009.

    “Letters of invitation were sent to the Secretary to the State Government, the Accountant-General of the state as well as Permanent Secretaries for ministries that handled the projects.

    Some snippets of the investigation include the following:

    “Asa Dam Mixed Use Development project: The project had N2billion allocated from the bond. However the sum of N83.688 431.68 was spent on consultancy by ECAD Designs Limited and nothing else was done.

    “Ilorin Water Distribution Project was allocated N2, 000,000,000. However, N3, 736,505,126.49 was spent on the project. The only contractor for the project was C.G.C Nigeria Limited. An analysis of the Kwara state Government’s First Bank of Nigeria Plc account revealed that the sum of N1billion was paid to C.G.C apparently for the project. Investigation is still ongoing.

    “Another project which benefitted from the bond was Kwara State University with a N1billion vote. But a total of N1, 675 607.905 23 was spent. The project had the following contractors: Charvet Nigeria Limited, Akit technology Limited, Integrated Concept Limited, Golden Consult and the University Itself.

    “The project was handled by the Ministry of Works and the Commissioner as at the time was one Kolawole Abdulrauf Shitttu. Investigation revealed that Mr. Shittu and one Engr. Akintola Taiwo are both directors and the accounts signatories to a company called PTL Consult Limited. “Shittu is also a signatory to another company called Strudev Consultancy Services. Analysis of the companies’ accounts and the Mr. Shittu’s personal account revealed that transfers were made by Charvet Nigeria Limited and Archon Nigeria Limited; the two companies were among the contractors of the University Project.

    “The Managing Director at Archon was invited and he stated that he was the project manager for the construction of the Kwara State University and that he was informed by the State Government that PTL Consult is the consultant on the project and that he worked with Engr. Taiwo during the period which was why they made payments to PTL Consults’ account. Efforts are being made to arrest Mr. Shittu.”

    Concerning Kwara Mall, the fact-sheet claimed that the project was allocated N500million and the entire sum was utilized by the Ministry of Commerce.

    It added: “The Permanent Secretary was unable to provide us with details of how the money was spent but did state that they were in partnership with a private company; Persians Investments Limited and that the Kwara Mall was constructed and is being fully utilized. A search of the company showed that they were into real estate and property management; parts of their properties included Kwara Mall, Viva cinema, Polo Park Enugu among others. Analysis of the company bank statement showed N500million paid to the company by the Kwara State Government on the 10th of June 2010. While the investigation is ongoing, the sum of two million USD $2,000,000 deposit was traced to one of the company’s account. The depositor is being tracked by detectives and all relevant agencies.”

    Regarding the irrigation project, the EFCC detectives alleged that the “document recovered from the Accountant-General did not show this project but the Permanent Secretary stated that the project also known as Shonga Irrigation Project was handled by the Ministry and the contract was awarded to C.G.C Nigeria Limited for N2,998,966,827. However, only N882, 944,215 was paid to the company. He further stated that the project was later taken over by the Federal Government.

    On the International Aviation College, whose licence was suspended recently, the detectives in their report said it was allocated N1.5billion from the bond but N2,448.663.386.56 was spent in on the construction and purchase of equipment.

    “Contractors that handled the project were: Godab Nigeria Limited. Henry George Nigeria Limited, ECAD Design (Consultants) and the college itself. The College is alleged to be fully owned by the Kwara State Government and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) R C; 746511. Its board included the current State Governor, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Razak Atunwa (a former commissioner in the state) Popoola Captain Shadrack Taiwo and Yusuf Tunde. The registrar of the college was invited for an interview and questioned on the finances of the college as well as aspects in which the college handled during the construction of the college. He stated that the bursar of the school died recently but most contracts were handled by one Harlequin Aviation Information Service Limited (HAIS).

    “A search at the company found that one Yusuf Tunde is a Director as well as signatory to the accounts of the company: he is also a Board member of the Aviation College. Based on this the accounts of HAIS were placed on caution and the company’s representative is to report for an interview on the 30th of August 2018.

    The report clarified the status of loan refinancing by the state government.

    It said: “The prospectus of the bond stated that Kwara state had indebtedness of N4, 980,000 in external loans out of which N3.3billion amounted to legacy obligations preceding the then administration They proposed utilizing N2, 400,000,000 from the bond proceeds of the bond to service part of the legacy obligations which were (a) African Development Bank(AFDB)- construction of four specialist hospitals in Jebba, Offa, Oke-Ode and Sobi at a cost of N1,440, 828, 000; (b) AFDB-equipment procurements to the four specialist hospitals; ( C) World Bank Essential Drug Projects.

    “The total debt was N3, 301, 162, 42. Only Documents obtained from the Accountant-General of the State did not show any indication that monies were paid to AfDB or the World Bank instead another list with heading ‘OTHER PAYMENT’ showed the names of Government Agencies and private companies being paid a total of N974, 896,343.47.

    “The companies were invited. One of the companies, Lolada Investment Limited reported and stated that they were awarded a contract valued at N285, 652, 200 by the Kwara state Government to install CCTV system for Ilorin metropolitan.

  • What Tambuwal, Saraki, Ahmed’s defection mean to us – APC

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it is neither distracted nor surprised by the defection of Senate President Bukola Saraki; Governors Abdulfatah Ahmed and Aminu Tambuwal of Kwara and Sokoto States; National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; and others from the party.

    In the first official reaction, APC said the defectors had the right and freedom to pursue their political ambitions wherever they desired. In the statement by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, the party also saluted the resolution of the defectors to come openly and declare where they belonged.

    The party advised Saraki, Ahmed, Tambuwal, Abdullahi and the others to maintain in their respective environments the spirit and atmosphere of “freedom created by the APC, which enabled them to leave without let or hindrance.”

    Read full statement below:

    APC Neither Surprised Nor Disturbed by Defections

    The defection of Senate President Bukola Saraki; Governors Abdulfatah Ahmed and Aminu Tambuwal of Kwara and Sokoto States; National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; and others, to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) neither surprises nor distracts the All Progressives Congress (APC). Every follower of events in recent times could decipher the signs that foretold the exit of Saraki, Tambuwal, Ahmed, Abdullahi, from our great party.

    We thank them for their contributions to the APC for the period they were with us. We also salute their courage to openly declare where they belong, as we had always advised.

    APC is a party founded and run on the principles of freedom, sincerity, and forthrightness. Saraki and the others have the freedom of association and the right to pursue their political ambitions wherever they deem fit.

    Our advice and hope is that those who have left would also have the courage to inspire in their respective political environments the atmosphere of unencumbered freedom created by the APC, which enabled them to leave without let or hindrance.

    As a party, our attention is on the matter in hand, the 2019 general election. We are united and focused, with an eye to continuation of our winning streak in all elections this year, next year, and beyond. And we will win!

    To our members in Kwara, Sokoto and the other 34 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), remain steadfast and courageous. Encourage one another in our streets teeming with APC members and supporters from North to South, and East to West.