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  • Kogi govt threatens to sue EFCC

    Kogi govt threatens to sue EFCC

    The Kogi Government has threatened to sue the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over alleged harassment of state officials.

    Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, issued the threat in a statement on Thursday in Lokoja.

    Fanwo said that the action became imperative in view of the anti-graft agency’s alleged undermining and flaunting the orders of a High Court in a case between it and the state.

    The state government accused EFCC for illegal harassment of state officials “over a bail-out fund the Commission tried fruitlessly” to prove was stashed in an account, despite a Court injunction restraining it.

    “A High Court had in Suit No. HCL/128/2021, filed by the Kogi State Government against the EFCC and other Defendants with respect to the said bail-out funds, issued an injunction on Dec. 3, restraining the EFCC or its agents from inviting or arresting any government official or requesting for any document relating to the matter pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.

    “But in spite of that EFCC attempted to arrest the Cashier of the Kogi State Government House even without its appeal against the court order was yet to be heard and determined.

    “This attempt by the Commission is a clear and flagrant violation of a subsisting order by a competent Court of jurisdiction, which will be challenged in the law court.

    “We believe that EFCC as an anti-graft agency ought not to disobey court Orders whatsoever.

    “More ridiculous is the claim by the EFCC operatives that came to effect the arrest of the officials that they were unaware of the injunction,” he said.

    The commissioner wondered why EFCC could claimed ignorance of an Order of Court, which they have already appealed against.

    He said: “To us (government), this is an attempt by an agency created by law to drag the rule of law in the mud and operate above the law.”

    According to him, the commission had clearly moved from fighting the Kogi government to disrespecting the Judiciary, “which is the last hope of the common man”.

    He said Kogi was one of the state governments that are supporting the anti-corruption agenda of the APC-led administration by strengthening her institutions to remain transparent and accountable.

    “This posture has garnered for us many laurels as we now receive yearly awards from credible agencies, including the World Bank on Fiscal Transparency and Accountability,” Fanwo stated.

  • PRIMORG’s Constituency Project Tracking: Corruption Declining, Implementation Still Challenging Says ICPC

    PRIMORG’s Constituency Project Tracking: Corruption Declining, Implementation Still Challenging Says ICPC

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has reduced the incidence of corruption in the execution of constituency projects through its projects tracking exercise across the country.

    The anti-graft agency disclosed that following the advent of constituency project tracking in 2019, there had been a decline in the incidence of individuals diverting constituency projects to their private properties or contractors abandoning projects after receiving payment.
    ICPC made this known during a radio town hall meeting on constituency project tracking in Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, organized by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, at the weekend in Lokoja.
    During the town hall meeting, ICPC’s Principal Superintendent Operations, Nathaniel Diton Sipki, who represented the Commission, revealed that compared to the level of corruption and mismanagement of constituency project funds uncovered in 2019 when tracking of constituency projects started, the narrative is now very different.
    According to Sikpi, ICPC set up a steering committee to track constituency projects in 2019 following a massive complaint by Nigerians that projects are only executed on paper.

    “in the first two phases of constituency project tracking by ICPC, there were a lot of issues of project abandonment and diversion of projects, but right now those issues have reduced.
    “From the third phase of the tracking exercise, we now discovered that the idea of collecting money and running away has reduced; and in the fourth phase of project tracking, almost all the projects randomly selected and visited were completed,” He said.
    Sikpi, however, disclosed that quality service delivery in implementing constituency projects is the current hurdle faced by constituency projects across Nigeria, adding that monitoring empowerment projects has also proven to be a difficult task for the ICPC’s tracking team.
    “In relative terms, the work ICPC has done has changed the narrative. The problem now is implementation. ICPC is still receiving reports of poorly implemented projects.
    “Another challenge we face is empowerment projects because they are challenging to track.

    This is because empowerment items are usually distributed months before the tracking team visits.”
    He stated that the Commission, in a bid to address the poor implementation of constituency projects, evaluate such projects and, if not satisfied, recommends recovery of the monies spent from the contractor immediately.
    On his part, a Member representing Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf has called on his constituents to take full ownership and sustain every project brought to their communities in the guise of a constituency project.

    Hon. Yusuf, who commended ICPC and PRIMORG for tracking projects and educating the general public, stated that the initiative has brought about a marked increase in project execution in Federal Constituencies across the country.

    Represented by his Special Assistant on Media, Richard Otitoleke, who revealed that his principal prioritizes needs assessment before nominating any project in his constituency and also is in constant touch with the people he represents.
    Otitoleke called on Nigerians and the people of Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency to disabuse their minds on the notion that lawmakers fund constituency projects moving forward.

    “It is instructive for Nigerians to know that lawmakers only initiate or facilitate a project, and its execution is routed through government agencies.
    “Funds meant for constituency projects are not domiciled in the bank account of any legislator. It is the government agency whose mandate covers the area that receives the budget of that particular project.
    “There is no legislator that receives the fund,” He stressed.

    Meanwhile, Woman Leader Lokogoma Community in Lokoja, Favour Bala, said she would take the exposure and experience she garnered from the town hall meeting to further educate her community on the need for them to take ownership and protect constituency projects brought to their community.
    The PRIMORG’s Radio Town Hall Meeting on Constituency Projects seeks to encourage citizens to take ownership of Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIP) and promote accountability and sustainability in their execution and usage.

  • Court stops Kogi Govt from shutting down Dangote Cement

    Court stops Kogi Govt from shutting down Dangote Cement

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, restrained the Kogi government from shutting down Dangote Cement PLC in Obajana area of the state.

    The court also stopped the state government from disrupting or suspending the activities of Dangote Coal Mines Ltd and Dangote Industries Ltd in Okaba, Ankpa Local Government Area, and in Olamaboro Local Government Area respectively.

    Justice Binta Nyako gave the interim order following two separate ex-parte motions moved by counsel for the companies, Regina Okotie-Eboh.

    The Kogi government and Dangote group had recently locked horns over the ownership of Obajana cement factory.

    The state government had, on Oct. 13, gave the cement factory at Obajana i48 hours to shut down in honour of the Kogi House of Assembly which ordered the company to sealed until the conglomerate furnishes it with the requisite documents demanded by the legislature.

    But the companies, in a motion ex-parte with suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1876/22, had sued the Kogi House of Assembly, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and Mining Cadastre Office as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

    The applicants in this suit include Dangote Coal Mines Ltd and Dangote Industries Ltd.

    Also in the second motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1877/22, all the defendants in the first application, except Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), were listed as defendants.

    The applicants, in this case, are Dangote Cement PLC and Dangote Industries Ltd.

    The two applications, dated Oct. 13 and filed Oct. 14, were filed by Rickey Tarfa, SAN.

    Dangote group prayed for “an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants/respondents or any person purporting to act on their behalf from extending the exercise of the defendants’ oversight functions outside the concurrent and residual legislative list and unto the executive legislative list of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

    It also prayed for an order of interim injunction restraining them or any person purporting to act on their behalf from making any resolution or order, disrupting, suspending or shutting down the facilities or activities of the applicants anywhere in the state in contravention of the provisions of Section 4(2) and item 32 of part 1 second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    Besides, it sought an order of interim injunction restraining them from further giving effect to any resolution, declaration or decision purporting to suspend the activities of the applicants in the state in contravention of the 1999 Constitution.

    When the matter was called, Okotie-Eboh, who appeared for the companies, informed the court of the motions.

    The lawyer said the crux of the matter was the restriction of the operations of the applicants, the invasion and disruption of the business by the defendants.

    She argued that the closure of the cement factory by the defendants would affect the production of cements in Nigeria and put thousands of jobs at risk.

    Okotie-Eboh alleged that the state’s house of assembly and the its commissioner for justice disrupted cement production despite the fact that they did not have the power to do so, adding that the commissioner also threatened to invade the company again.

    She, therefore, sought an order of the court preserving the res (subject matter) pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

    Justice Nyako, who granted the reliefs sought, ordered the applicants to serve the defendants with the motions on notice within 14 days and adjourned the matter until Nov  21 for hearing.

  • BREAKING: INEC fixes date for Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa Gov polls

    BREAKING: INEC fixes date for Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa Gov polls

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi governorship polls for November 11, 2023.

    The Commission approved the timetable at its weekly meeting on Tuesday.

    It fixed primary elections by parties for March 27 to April 17, 2023.

    According to a statement by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye: “This decision is in fulfillment of the requirement of Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which mandates the Commission to publish the Notice of Election not later than 360 days before the date fixed for the elections.

    “Similarly, Sections 178(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 mandates the Commission to conduct such elections not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of the last holder of the office”.

    It added: “The tenure of the incumbent Governor of Imo State ends on 14th January 2024 while those of Kogi and Beyelsa States end on 26th January 2024 and 13th February 2024 respectively.

    “Accordingly, the Commission has decided to conduct the three elections on Saturday 11th November 2023.

    “The statutory Notice for the elections will be published in the three States on 14th November 2022. Party primaries will be held from 27th March to 17th April 2023, while the online portal for the submission of nomination forms (EC9 and EC9B) by political parties opens at 9.00am on 24th April 2023 and closes at 6.00pm on 5th May 2023.

    “The final list of candidates will be published on 9th June 2023 while campaign by political parties commences on 14th June 2023 and ends at midnight on 9th November 2023.

    “The full Timetable and Schedule of Activities has been uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms”.

  • Flooding: Nigeria’s out-of-school children increase by 1.5 million

    Flooding: Nigeria’s out-of-school children increase by 1.5 million

    Deadly floods have submerged communities in Nigeria, killed over 600 persons and displaced over a million people after the government failed to act on earlier warnings, posing a setback for the country’s education target as schools are forced to shutdown.

    The government of Anambra and Bayelsa states explained that the closure of both public and private schools became necessary to ensure the safety of schoolchildren.

    In June, the Nigerian government launched a Human Capital Development (HCD) strategic plan where it highlighted key targets for the education sector, including reducing the number of out-of-school-children by 70 per cent before 2030.

    The HCD strategy aims to promote a quality, inclusive and functional education system and build the capacity of youths to create or seek employment, as part of measures to address poverty and ensure participatory and sustainable economic growth.

    An investigation carried out by Thenewsguru.com (TNG) three months ago, reported that there were about 18.5 million out-of-school-children in Nigeria, but this figure has now increased by 1.5 million, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

    The new UNESCO data shows that 20 million out of the estimated 98 million out-of-school-children in sub-Saharan Africa, are in Nigeria, the highest in the region, leading countries like Ethiopia with 10.5 million, the Democratic Republic of Congo (5.9million) and Kenya (1.8million).

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) recently called off it eight months strike action, but may students are unable to resume school as a result of the floods which have blocked access roads and hiked cost of transportation.

    Students of the Federal University Otuoke, are yet to resume school more than one week after the strike was called off by ASUU, as a result of the flood which has affected major roads leading to the institution.

    In an internal memo signed by the Registrar
    Yousou Donal Iruo, sighted by our reporter, the school will be open for on-premises lectures on November 20th, even though lecturers have been directed to commence online interface with students via zoom.

    “Senate in its 80th (Emergency) Meeting took cognizance of the precarious in Bayelsa State and scheduled completion of 2020/2021 academic session.

    “Lecturers are directed to commence online interface with students (via Zoom) for completion of remaining lectures, project supervision and revision, pending the approved week of physical interaction and continuous assessment,” the notice stated.

    Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, directed the Minister of Water Resources to lead and coordinate with the Ministries of Environment and Transportation as well as State Governments to develop a Comprehensive Plan of Action for preventing future flood disaster within the next 90 days.

    The directive comes a day after an advocacy group, Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) urged the government to respond to the impacts of the flooding, and climate change.

    In a statement, SERAP expressed concern that years of allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the spending of Ecological Fund and entrenched impunity of perpetrators have undermined the ability of governments to prevent the impact of flooding on the human rights of socio-economically vulnerable Nigerians, and to effectively respond to the problem.

    “Allegations of corruption and mismanagement have undermined the ability of authorities at all levels to invest in drainage systems, and to tackle soil erosion and climate change challenges across several parts of the country,” the statement said.

    The Nigerian Government has also been advised to explore Public Private Partnership, in the dredging of the two major rivers – Niger and Benue – in Nigeria and construction of dams that will mitigate the impact when excess water is released from Lagdo Dam in Cameron. resolving the perennial flooding disaster facing the country.

     

  • Floods: Spike in snakebites, village head’s wife killed in Plateau

    Floods: Spike in snakebites, village head’s wife killed in Plateau

    More cases of snakebites have been reported across the country as humans and reptiles clash in dry lands while scurrying away from devastating floods.

    Correspondents of NAN who visited areas prone to snakebites and the treatment centres, found a sharp rise in the cases with more deaths recorded as the floods had equally blocked access to treatment centres.

    Among those killed is the wife of the village head of Magama in Langtang South Local Government of Plateau.

    “Yes, I can confirm that there is a huge rise in snakebite cases; one of the victims is the wife of the village head of Magama.

    “It is a scary situation. Snakes and humans are all running away from the floods and would usually clash in the dry lands in the struggle for space,” said Dr Nandul Durfa.

    Durfa, Managing Director, Echitap Group, producers of Anti-Snake Venom (ASV), regretted that many lives were being lost to the menace.

    The former Chief Medical Director of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, also decried the shortage of ASV in the treatment centres.

    Dr Abubakar Saidu Balla, Research Officer, Snakebite Research Hospital, Kaltungo in Gombe State, who also spoke with NAN, described the situation further.

    “Because of the devastating floods, farmlands are wet and the snakes go to higher grounds where they mix with people.

    “The situation is worse in Riverine areas around Borno, Adamawa, Kogi, Gombe and Bauchi.

    “The floods force snakes to migrate or carry them along and deposit at the forests, homes or over river banks.

    “The situation is worsened by the fact that victims cannot go to medical centres to get attention because the roads and bridges are either washed away or flooded.

    “In the rural areas, the motorcycles usually help, but they cannot ride through the water now. Very often, victims reach treatment centres dead.”

    Balla said that it had become dangerous to go to the farms, especially in Gombe.

    “It is time to harvest groundnuts and maize, but going to the farm is very dangerous now because the snakebites are rampant.

    “Farmers cannot leave their crops in the bush, so contact with the snakes is often inevitable,” he said.

    Meanwhile, statistics from the hospital indicate that 1,900 victims of snake bites had been admitted since January.

    According to Dr Suleiman Mohammed, its Chief Medical Officer, 34 of the victims died.

    He said that most of the victims were herders and farmers that were mostly in the bush and usually at risk.

    “When the rains get to the peak, we tend to have more patients because most of the snakes are dislodged from their holes and hiding places by the waters.

    “So, when there is flood, it is linked to incidents of snakebites because the flood tends to move the snakes away from their usual habitat and they often go to areas where humans live.”

    He said that six deaths had been recorded in October with the rest spread across January to September.

    Reports from Lokoja in Kogi also indicated that snake attacks had become common with people living in fear.

    “We live in fear of snakes, but we thank God that we have not recorded an incident of snakebite,” Usman Agbaje, a resident said.

    He said that travellers plying the Ganaja-Lokoja flooded road had often encountered big snakes while in the boats.

    Another resident, Joseph Benjamin, said that snakes had been sighted at the Army Barracks.

    “A big one was seen in a room recently; we were lucky that it was killed before it could harm anyone.

    “Not long ago, a little girl sighted a snake under a chair and quickly notified her parents who later killed it,” he said.

  • Living Faith pastor slumps, dies in Kogi

    Living Faith pastor slumps, dies in Kogi

    A pastor in charge of Living Faith in Lokoja, Pastor Fred Attabo, 68, is dead.

    Church Associate Pastor Edwin Okolo who confirmed the death of his boss described it as “very shocking.”

    Okolo, however, refused to speak further on the incident, promised to issue a statement later.

    According to NAN, Attabo slumped and died in his office shortly after a morning prayer programme held at the church at Lokogoma, in Lokoja metropolis of Kogi.

    “Our senior pastor slumped in his office shortly after Friday’s Covenant Hour of Prayer this morning

    “When it happened, we took him to the Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, for medical attention.

    “We accepted his death in good faith and have taken his body to the mortuary at Specialist Hospital, Lokoja,” a parishioner said.

  • Police confirm killing of 2 persons in Kogi Church attack

    Police confirm killing of 2 persons in Kogi Church attack

    The Police Command in Kogi, on Monday confirmed the killing of two persons in an attack on worshippers in a Church by gunmen at Felele Quarters, Lokoja.

    SP William Ovye-Aya, the Command’s image maker, confirmed the development while speaking with newsmen in Lokoja, adding that several others sustained serious injuries during the attack.

    Ovye-Aya said gunmen had invaded a Celestial Church, “Blood of Jesus Parish,” at Felele quarters, around 8.00. p.m. on Sunday, and opened fire on worshippers, killing two persons and injuring many others.

    “There was a distress call made to our command over the attack, which left two female worshippers dead, and several others injured.

    “On getting the alert, our command quickly deployed a response team to the area with a view to restoring normalcy in the area, and arresting the perpetrators.

    “Although there is no arrest yet, investigations are on to fish out the perpetrators who would face the full wrath of the law.

    “Already, the corpses of the victims of the attack have been deposited at the Morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, where the injured are also being treated,” he said.

    Ovye-Aya, however, called on the public to remain calm, peaceful and go about their normal activities as the Police were on top of the matter.

    The attack was the second in a space of three weeks as another Church was attacked within the same Felele Quarters of Lokoja.

  • NiMet predicts 3-day thunderstorms, sunshine from Monday

    NiMet predicts 3-day thunderstorms, sunshine from Monday

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted thunderstorms and sunshine from Monday to Wednesday across the country.

    NiMet`s weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja predicted sunny skies over the northern region on Monday with haziness over parts of Katsina, Yobe and Jigawa in the morning hours.

    It also forecast isolated thunderstorms over parts of Southern Taraba later in the day.

    “Sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North central region in the morning hours with slim chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Kogi, Kwara and Benue later in the day.

    “Cloudy conditions are expected over the inland cities of the South with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom in the morning hours.

    “Later in the day, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Edo, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Delta, Rivers, Lagos, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa, “ it said.

    According to NiMet, sunny and hazy atmosphere is expected on Tuesday over parts of Katisna, Yobe and Jigawa with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Taraba in the morning hours.

    The agency envisaged sunny and hazy conditions over the entire Northern states later in the day.

    “Cloudy conditions with intervals of sunshine are expected over the North central region in the morning hours with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Kogi and Benue in the afternoon and evening hours.

    “The inland and coastal cities of the South should be predominantly cloudy with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Ebonyi, Enugu, Cross River, Rivers and Akwa Ibom in the morning hours.

    “However, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Ebonyi, Enugu, Osun, Ogun, Imo, Ondo, Oyo, Rivers, Cross River, Bayelsa, Delta and Lagos States in the afternoon to evening hours, “ it said.

    The agency predicted sunny and hazy conditions over the Northern region on Wednesday with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Adamawa and Taraba in the afternoon and evening hours.

    NiMet anticipated cloudy conditions with spells of sunshine over the North central region in the morning hours with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa and Benue later in the day.

    “The inland and coastal cities of the South should be cloudy with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Osun, Ogun, Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River during the morning hours.

    “Later in the day, thunderstorms are expected over the inland and the coastal belt. The Southern parts of the country are still at risk of flash floods.

    “Emergency agencies are expected to be at alert. Strong and destructive winds are likely to accompany the thunderstorms. Citizens and Emergency agencies should be at alert and take necessary precautions, “ it said.

    NiMet urged airline operators to get updated weather reports from its office for effective planning in their operations.

  • ‘We own Obajana Cement plant’ – Kogi counters Dangote Group 100% ownership claim

    ‘We own Obajana Cement plant’ – Kogi counters Dangote Group 100% ownership claim

    Kogi State Government has dismissed the Dangote Group’s claim of 100% ownership of Obajana Cement plant, saying the govt maintains its stance on the ownership of the plant.

    “As a government, we maintain that Obajana Cement Company was solely founded in 1992 and owned by the state,” it stated in a statement issued on Thursday in Lokoja.

    According to the statement, the state government holds 100 per cent of its shareholding in trust for its people.

    The statement said that this had been the position “long before Dangote Industries Ltd., ventured into the state and longer still, before Dangote Cement Plant came into existence.

    “Dangote Industries Ltd.’s insistence on 100 per cent ownership of Obajana Cement Company is an effort at making Kogi’s demand appear unreasonable.

    “This administration notes that successive administrations had always invited Dangote Industries Ltd., and Dangote Cement Plc.” to prove facts on this development.

    “But unfortunately each time, Dangote Industries Ltd. and Dangote Cement Plc. have failed to do so.

    The statement said “the Kogi Government revealed to the world that the then administration took a loan of at least 15 million Deutsche Marks to conduct feasibility assessments which confirmed the existence of those vast limestone deposits that Dangote Industries Ltd. found so enticing years later.

    “Dangote Industries Ltd. then started posting profits from the operations of the Obajana plant, the Kogi government was still labouring to pay off the said loan and interests accruing thereon.

    “Nonetheless, the state government called on Nigerians and all persons of goodwill everywhere to ruminate on the issues raised and draw conclusions”.

    But Dangote Industries Ltd. had earlier said in a statement on Wednesday that it had acquired Obajana Cement factory from the state government a hundred per cent.

    It said that the land on which the Obajana Cement Plant is built was acquired solely by Dangote Industries Ltd. in 2003, well after it had acquired the shares in Obajana Cement Company in 2002, following a legally binding agreement.

    “Dangote Industries Ltd. was issued three certificates of occupancy in its name after payment of necessary fees and compensation to landowners.

    “The plant and machinery were conceived, designed, procured, built, and paid for solely by Dangote Industries Ltd., again, well after it acquired the shares in Obajana Cement Company,” the statement said.