TheNewsGuru

Tag: DG

  • Probe committee lists nine firms for invitation over suspended SEC-DG, Gwarzo

    The panel, set up to probe the suspended Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, is set to invite nine firms alleged to have been used by him to siphon funds from the commission.

    The report of the panel is expected to be sent to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, which is also investigating Gwarzo.

    The firms include Outbound Investment Limited, Medusa Investment Limited, Northwind Environmental Services, Micro-Technologies Nigeria Limited, Tida International Limited, Outlook Communication, Acromac Nigeria Limited, Balfort International Limited and Interactive Worldwide Nigeria Limited.

    According to some petitions against Gwarzo, some of the companies allegedly belong to him or his relatives.

    In one of the petitions, it was alleged that one of the companies, Outbound Investment Limited, is owned by the suspended SEC boss while another firm, Medusa Investment Limited, is jointly owned by Gwarzo and his wife, Khadija.

    The petition read in part, “Mr. Gwarzo and two of his relatives are directors of Outbound Investment Limited. Since Mr. Gwarzo assumed office as the DG of the commission, the company has been the sole supplier of diesel to the commission.

    “The company has also supplied air conditioners to the Lagos zonal office of the commission as well as supplied fridges to the commission. Payments made by the commission to the company for contracts executed can be verified from the company’s bank account held with account number 1016723428.

    “Mr. Gwarzo is also the director of Medusa Investment Limited. The only other director of the company is Khadija Mustapher, his wife. The company has actively been used to carry out illegal transactions through the company’s bank account with Guaranty Trust Bank with number 0023953920.”

    In the petition, sent to the House of Representatives, Gwarzo was accused of diverting money from the commission under the pretext that he was organising staff training.

    Some shell companies, which lacked the requisite expertise, were alleged to have been paid bogus sums of money for the training.

    The petitioner added, “Prior to Mr. Gwarzo’s tenure, the commission used to pay between N60,000 and N150,000 to reputable training providers such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Management, Financial Institutions Training Centre, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Lagos Business School and Centre for Management Development to train staff of the commission.

    “However, when Mr. Gwarzo assumed office as SEC DG, he commenced paying sums ranging from N700,000 to N780,000 per staff (sic) as training fee to training institutions owned by his friends and associates.

    “Some of the training providers were disguised as reputable foreign training organisations even when it was evident that some of the training providers did not have any pedigree or history of training anyone abroad.”

    Gwarzo also allegedly collected the sum of N6m from the commission to fly first-class to Hong Kong in October 2016 in total disregard for the Federal Government’s directive issued in April 2016 in circular SGF/6/S2/X/545, which prohibited public officials from flying first-class.

    The N6m was said to have been paid into his Guaranty Trust Bank account with number 0023868895.

  • N2.6bn NIMASA fraud: “You have case to answer” court tells ex-DG, Akpobolokemi, others

    A Federal High Court Lagos, on Monday, overruled a no case submission by former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, charged with N2.6 billion fraud.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on Dec. 4, 2015, arraigned Akpobolokemi alongside five others, for allegedly diverting N2.6 billion from the coffers of NIMASA between December 2013 and May 2015.

    EFCC claimed the funds were approved by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for the implementation of a security project.

    Also charged along with Akpobolokemi are: Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Ltd and Al-Kenzo Logistic Ltd.

    The accused had pleaded not guilty to the 22 charges pressed against them.

    The prosecution had then opened its case and during trial, called a total of 12 witnesses and tendered 77 exhibits in a bid to establish its case.

    After the prosecution closed its case, the accused, through their lawyers, filed no-case submissions, contending that the prosecution failed to established a prima facie case against them to warrant their entering any defence.

    They had urged the court to uphold the no case submission and discharge the accused.

    Delivering his ruling on Monday, the trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba noted that a plethora of cases had been cited by learned counsel in arguing their application for a no case submission.

    Buba, however, pointed out that in delivering ruling on such no case submission the court is enjoined to keep its ruling as short as possible.

    He said:“There are a plethora of cases listed by counsel, but the court is enjoined not to write its ruling as if it is writing its final judgment, but must keep its ruling as short as possible”.

    Buba held that the charge was before the court and its ingredients are clear.

    “The court, therefore, cannot see the fuse in the argument that the prosecution has not made out a prima facie case against the defendants.

    “When a judge is faced with a ruling on a no case submission, it is permissible for the ruling to be brief and simply read: “you have a case to answer.

    “Consequently, the no case submission fails and is hereby overruled”.

    The court, therefore, adjourned the case to Oct. 30, Nov. 7 and Nov. 9 for the defence to open its case.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in arguing Akpobolokemi’s no-case submission, his lawyer, Mr Joseph Nwobike (SAN), had contended that the EFCC failed to link his client with the alleged diversion of funds from NIMASA.

    He added that his signature to such effect was never shown to the court, as such the first accused could not be held liable because he did not approve the security project and money disbursed.

    Nwobike had also described the evidence given against the accused by prosecution witness, as mere hearsay with no legal weight.

    He, had therefore, urged the court to come to the conclusion, that the first accused cannot be called upon to enter any defence, because no prima facie case had been established against him.

    Other defence counsels had also made their arguments on their no case submission.

    In response, the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, maintained that the testimonies of the 12 witnesses and 77 exhibits tendered had successfully linked Akpobolokemi to the alleged fraud.

    He had argued that being the head and chief accounting officer of NIMASA at the time of the alleged fraud, Akpobolokemi could not by any stretch of imagination, claim to be innocent.

    The prosecutor had further argued that even if it was the former president that approved the security project, Akpobolokemi was the head of NIMASA at the time, and constituted a committee to handle the project and also approved its funds.

    He further submitted that the prosecution had established that, rather than its intended purpose, the funds were illegally converted to the personal use of the accused.

    In the 22 count charges, the EFCC alleged that the accused induced the Federal Government to approve and deliver to NIMASA the sum of N795 million under false pretence and that the sum represented the cost for the implementation of the Security Code in Nigeria.

    The alleged offence contravened the provisions of Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

     

     

    NAN

  • FG appoints Magbojuri as acting DG of NAFDAC

    The spokesperson of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Dr. Abubakar Jimoh, on Saturday said the Federal Government has approved the approval of Mr. Ademola Magbojuri as the new Acting Director General of the Agency.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Magbojuri takes over from Mrs Yetunde Oni.

    He explained that the immediate past Acting director general reached the retirement age of 60 years on Sept. 21 and Federal Government directed that the most senior director in the the agency take over.

    He said that Magbojuri, who would pilot the affairs of NAFDAC until the new substantive DG is appointed, had received handing over notes on Friday.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Magbojuri, until this appointment, was in charge of NAFDAC’s training and research institute in Kaduna.

    However, as at Friday, the NAFDAC head office in Abuja was still sealed by the union that was agitating over none payment of allowances and appointment of either an acting or substantive DG.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the NAFDAC’s Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria started an industrial action on Friday Sept. 22, over improved allowances and appointment of the new Director General of the agency.

    The Vice President of the union, Mr Idzi Isua told NAN on Friday that they were around the office to ensure total compliance by the members.

    Isua said that the union was demanding for an allowance known as a specific allowance which other agencies in the same salary structure with NAFDAC were benefitting.

     

  • Former NYSC DG, Yusuf Bomoi is dead

    A former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brig. Gen. Yusuf Bomoi is dead.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Bomoi died in Abuja on Monday.

    The TheNewsGuru.com reports that the incumbent DG of the Scheme, Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure condoled with the late DG’s family on Tuesday.

    Kazaure, who paid a condolence visit to the family in Abuja on Tuesday along with top management staff of the NYSC, said the death of the former DG was a ‘rude shock’ to the scheme.

    He said although, the death of the ex-NYSC DG was the will of God, the overflowing grief from the family, friends and colleagues was a clear testimony of the footprints he left in the scheme.

    The director general assured the family of the late Bomoi of the scheme’s total and unflinching support at its time of grief.

    Kazaure, who described Bomoi as a pragmatic and inclusive leader, said his sense of innovation and compassionate disposition endeared him to the hearts of all.

    The director general said the death of Bomoi had left a big vacuum that would be hard to fill, adding that the scheme was, however, consoled by his exemplary life of service to God and humanity.

    “It was during Bomoi’s time as the director general of the NYSC that the scheme was able to move its directorate headquarters to the permanent site in Maitama, Abuja.

    “Bomoi made a lot of landmark achievements when he served as the director general of the scheme from 2004 to 2009.

    “The scheme will support the family members in every way possible so that his demise would not weigh heavily on them,” Kazaure said.

    The director general said the scheme would hold a management meeting soon to conclude on plans to immortalise the late former director general.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Bomoi, who died in Abuja after a brief illness, has been buried according to Islamic rites.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Bomoi was the second ex-corps member to head the NYSC scheme; he was appointed the 13th director general of the NYSC on Oct. 29, 2004.

     

  • Policing: An integral element of a virile Maritime sector – NIMASA DG

    …Assures Nigerian Police Force of continuous collaboration

    The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stated that effective policing is an essential component of the development and growth process of the Nigerian Maritime sector.

    The DG stated this while receiving a delegation of the Police Force, Maritime Command led by the Commissioner of the Command, CP David Folawiyo who paid him a courtesy visit at the Nigerian Maritime Resource Development Centre (NMRDC), Lagos.

    He noted that the Police Officers’ first order of business was to serve and protect; and that as an Agency of the government of Nigeria, whose mandates include ensuring the safety of the Nigerian’s waterways, NIMASA places premium on security and all legal Agencies and instruments that facilitate and complement the delivery of these mandates.

    According to the DG, “let me commend you for what is in the offing to improve the nation’s maritime sector, particularly your plan to provide more police personnel to secure our waterways. We are impressed for the plans you have put in place to complement our efforts in ensuring that our maritime domain is safe for maritime and shipping activities to thrive. We are opened to partnership and collaboration, especially with the Nigerian Police Force”.

    He observed that security has a wide implication for the maritime sector and that NIMASA is taking the issue of Maritime security seriously in line with the global industry benchmark and standard, particularly the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code to enhance growth and regional stability.

    Speaking further, Dr. Peterside commended the delegation and the entire Maritime Command of the Police Force, noting that a symbiotic relationship between NIMASA and other institutions of government in Nigeria was necessary to guarantee safety and security of our Maritime corridor, hence further promote ease of doing business in the country, in line with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

    Speaking, the Police Commissioner, Maritime Command, CP David Folawiyo noted that his command was in NIMASA to fraternize with the Agency for its achievements since the assumption of Dr. Peterside as Director General; and to also chart a path of possible partnership and collaboration as well as inform the Agency of the Command’s plans and activities.

    He noted that a strong cogent relationship between NIMASA and the Nigerian Police Force was necessary to ensure a safe and secure maritime environment and that his team was ready to support the Agency to realize it enabling mandates.

    CP Folawiyo disclosed the number of Police Officers deployed to the 63 police outposts within his Command. He added that the existing 2,500 Officers and men within his jurisdiction would be augmented to 5,000 on or before December 2017. He informed the NIMASA Management that 1,300 men would be deployed to cover maritime alone, while 1,200 and 200 Officers and men are expected to be deployed to cover ports and coast activities respectively.

    According to CP Folawiyo, “We are planning to bring in two helicopters to provide aerial surveillance of our maritime domain; and we are also seeking the approval of government to establish the Western and Eastern Maritime Zone to ensure effective policing and we know that this visit to NIMASA is a step in the right direction”.

    It would be recalled that NIMASA recently renewed its MoU with the Nigerian Navy and also received the Federal Executive Council’s approval for the acquisition of some Fast Intervention Vessels, which are all aimed to improve and foster security of the Nigeria’s territorial waters for safe and secure shipping.

     

  • Maritime sector strategic for investors – Amaechi

    Maritime sector strategic for investors – Amaechi

    …as Dakuku assures of conducive environment

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has stated that the Nigerian maritime sector is a haven of opportunities for the world maritime industry to tap into.

    The Minister who made this known while speaking at the “Africa@Nor” session of the recently concluded Nor-Shipping 2017 which held at Lillstrome, Norway, assured the audience that Nigeria is a strategic destination for investment opportunities, stressing that Nigeria epitomizes a broad spectrum of the continent in Africa.

    “Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with about 183 million people and by extension, with the cumulative population of two Landlocked countries of Chad Republic which is 14.9m people and Niger Republic with 21.3m people creates a huge consuming market and comparable cheap labour”, he said.

    Amaechi also used the opportunity to assure the Nor-Shipping participants that the anti-corruption stance of the Federal Government and the establishment of the National Trade Data Centre are expected to eliminate inherent corporate governance abuses and assured investors that they will have good returns on their investments.

    In the area of security, he stated that the enhanced synergies between the various arms of security Agencies have resulted in efficient performance.

    “I wish to assure you that the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration is committed to ensuring that Nigeria becomes a maritime hub for the West and Central Africa sub region, we therefore call on both local and international investors to join hands with us in enhancing Nigeria’s per capital income by supporting the various developmental initiatives”, he said.

    In the same vein, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dakuku Peterside stated that Nigeria as a maritime nation is endowed by nature with over 850 kilometers of coastline.

    He further pointed out that the country has six modern port complexes and a fast developing intermodal transport system as well as abundant trained workforce combined with a standard regulatory regime amongst others which are benefits accruable to investing in the Nigeria maritime sector.

    According to the DG “We are bounded by two land locked countries of Chad and Niger, so we are not just serving goods coming into Nigeria, we are also serving goods going to Chad and Niger” Dakuku averred.

    He hinted that Nigeria will soon take delivery of the fifth largest floating dock in Africa, which is expected to be delivered by the last quarter of the year.

    In addition, as part of the efforts to ease doing business in Nigeria, Dakuku informed the audience that the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) was established to fast track investment entry into Nigeria, among which is the commencement of a 24-hour ports operations.

    The NIMASA DG also identified the key areas of achieving a hub status such as; putting the right infrastructure in place, right regulatory regime and a proper maritime security.

    He said that, “Nigeria has not only put the right infrastructure in place, but has put the right regulatory regime and also a set of incentives to make us a hub. So, talk about stability, you can say Nigeria has it, and the government is also working on intermodal transport system to facilitate the ease of doing business and of course good regulatory regime.”

    Nor-Shipping is a bi-annual event that brings together Stakeholders in the maritime sector from various continents aimed at improving the global maritime sector. The event also featured exhibitions amongst others. The main theme for this year’s event is “Catalyst for Change”.

     

  • Apostle Suleman: Court slams N250,000 damages against DSS DG

    A Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, has asked the Department of State Services, DSS, to tender an unreserved apology to the son of the South-South Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Mr Tareri Avwomakpa, over his illegal arrest by DSS operatives in February.

    Justice T.B. Adegoke gave the ruling on Tuesday in a suit numbered FHC/ASB/CS/14/2017 filed by Tareri, a Warri-based legal practitioner against the Director-General, Department of State Services and the Delta State Director, DSS, following his arrest and detention over a message calling for support for the General Overseer, Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that operatives of the DSS had in February arrested and detained Tareri over an alleged message sent through a social media platform, Whatsapp, wherein he called on Christians in the country to support and accompany Suleman to honour the invitation by the DSS at its head office in Abuja.

    Justice Adegoke while delivering his ruling on the case, held that Archbishop God-do-well Avwomakpa son’s arrest was unlawful and unconstitutional even as he awarded N250,000 damages against the DSS director-general and the Delta state director of the organisation.

    According to a copy of the judgment sighted on Thursday in Asaba, the court ordered the DSS authorities to write a formal letter of apology to the claimant for a breach of his constitutional human rights

    Tareri also confirmed the ruling when contacted on Thursday and dedicated the judgment to Nigerians who had been killed, maimed and were currently suffering oppression for being Christians across the country.

  • NIMASA DG, Dakuku Peterside elected new AMAA chair

    The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has emerged Chairman and President of the Association of African Maritime Administration (AMAA), in a new election held on Friday.

    This was made known to newsmen in Abuja by Alhaji Bashir Jamoh, the Executive Director, Finance of NIMASA and Chairman AAMA Conference Local Organising Committee.

    At the event, which drew the curtain on the third conference of the association, Jamoh said Peterside was collectively elected by all member nations of the association.

    Peterside took over from Mr Sobantu Tilayi, presently the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the South African Maritime Administration.

    “The election would serve as a platform for African countries, Asia and European nations to support Nigeria in getting elected into Category `C’ of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council”, Jamoh said.

    The 4th session of the conference, according to him, holds in Egypt in 2018, while Namibia and Seychelles have the provisional hosting right for 2019.

     

  • JUST IN: DSS raids PenCom office, summons ex-DG over refusal to quit office

    JUST IN: DSS raids PenCom office, summons ex-DG over refusal to quit office

    Following her refusal to quit office despite a formal release from the presidency stating her sack as the Director General, the operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS on Saturday raided the office of National Pension Commission (PenCom) in Abuja, in obvious search for the sacked DG, Mrs Chinelo Anohu- Amazu.

    TheNewsGuru.com gathers that the ex-PenCom DG was said to have continued giving instructions as at Friday (yesterday) in spite of her sacking by the President.

    When the DSS operatives visited the PenCom office on Saturday (today), Anohu-Amazu was said to have evaded arrest and gone into hiding.

    However, the DSS operatives mandated her to appear at the its headquarters in Abuja on Monday for question.

    Details later…

  • Suspended NIA DG did not shed tears – Presidency

    Suspended NIA DG did not shed tears – Presidency

    The Presidency has condemned media reports that the suspended Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ayo Oke, cried during his visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, who spoke on the incident in Abuja on Thursday, described the reports as “unfair and uncharitable.’’

    He stated that witnesses to Oke’s visit to the Vice President on the fateful day and his own personal account clearly indicated that the DG did not cry as widely reported in the social and some traditional media.

    The Presidential media aide, who narrated how the incident happened, said: “the widespread reports that Oke of the National Intelligence Agency had cried are unfair and uncharitable.

    “Witnesses to his visit to the Vice President and his own personal account, said that Oke arrived to a swarm of journalists which he wanted to avoid.

    “He asked his driver to make a quick turn and instead, he headed to the Glass House, the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS).

    “From there, he put a call to the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, and requested that he help to clear the journalists so that he can make a quiet entry to the VP’s office and that is what happened.

    “In an SUV with darkened windows, no one could have seen an occupant crying.’’

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday met separately with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal and the NIA DG, Ayo Oke, barely an hour after the announcement Lawal’s and Oke’s suspension from office.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the closed-door meeting was in connection with the work of the Presidential Committee set up to investigate allegations of misconduct against the SGF and the DG, NIA.