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Tag: Officials

  • LASTMA terminates employment of 6 officials

    LASTMA terminates employment of 6 officials

    The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has terminated the employment of six officials in line with the directives of the Lagos State Civil Service Commission (CSC).

    The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said this in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.

    He said that another personnel management board session would be convened soon to address more indicted LASTMA officials.

    The statement was signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Mr Adebayo Taofiq.

    Bakare-Oki said that the termination  followed the recommendations put forth by the Personnel Management Board.

    “Formal disciplinary notices were issued to the implicated officers at LASTMA’s Headquarters in Oshodi, Lagos.

    “The Lagos State Civil Service Commission had fully endorsed the Personnel Management Board’s recommendations, which pertained to severe misconduct and general inefficiencies.

    “These disciplinary actions were rigorously implemented in accordance with the Lagos State Civil Service Rules and Regulations,” he said.

    He reiterated LASTMA’s commitment to enhancing its operations and called on Lagos residents to actively engage with the agency.

    Bakare-Oki urged residents to provide both positive feedback and reports of any observed misconduct, along with relevant evidence.

    “I wish to inform the general public that this is an ongoing exercise aimed at purging the Agency of errant officers.

    “Another personnel management board session will be convened shortly to address additional indicted LASTMA officials,” he said.

    The general manager also urged road users in Lagos to strictly comply with traffic regulations.

    The official warned that violations would attract penalties, including fines, as enforced by the Lagos Mobile Courts in accordance with legal provisions.

    He emphasised that adherence to traffic laws was crucial to the realisation of the “Greater Lagos” vision, as outlined in Gov. Babajide  Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Development Agenda.

    He noted that the first pillar of the agenda, focused on traffic management and transportation, was essential for its actualisation.

    Bakare-Oki reassured the public of LASTMA’s  commitment to addressing complaints promptly and impartially.

    “Citizens are encouraged to lodge complaints through the toll-free hotline 08000527862 or by visiting the Walk-In Complaint Centre at LASTMA’s headquarters in Oshodi,” he said.

  • How our colleague was killed by hoodlums – LASTMA officials

    How our colleague was killed by hoodlums – LASTMA officials

    Two Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials on Tuesday told an Ikeja High Court how their colleague, the late Godwin Obasu, was allegedly killed by hoodlums.

    The LASTMA officials are Mr Olayinka Adeoye and Mr Salam Olajide.

    The Lagos State Government had arraigned five tricycle riders, Babalola Femi, Ayodele Yusuf, Oyeniyi Ayomide, Ridwan Ramon and Waris Yusuf, over the alleged murder of Obasu.

    The defendants are standing charges bordering on murder, assault and grievous bodily harm which they pleaded not guilty to.

    Adeoye, while being led in evidence by the state counsel, Mr M.C Adewoye, told the  court that he was at the Anthony area of Lagos when he got a call from his colleague, one Mr Sanni Ekundayo, that they needed help.

    The witness said he was eating when Ekundayo came and said they wanted to arrest a vehicle and he was having some difficulties.

    “So, I asked some of my colleagues to go with him and by the time I finished eating, they told me that they had already towed the vehicle and it was inside the yard.

    “That was around 2.00 p.m. and we went into our changing room because we had just finished our morning shift.

    “While we were there, we heard a loud knock on the door and our colleague informed us that there were some hoodlums outside that we should not come out.

    “So, we were like, why? So, myself, Orokoto Sunday and another colleague went out and when we saw the crowd, we decided to go back inside and wait for the backup we called,” he narrated.

    The witness went further to tell the court that he heard a gunshot 15 minutes after which gave him confidence that their backup had arrived.

    “So, we rushed outside and we saw the late Obasu in the pool of his blood.

    “We rushed him to our clinic in Oshodi and later to the Gbagada General Hospital but the case could not be handled that night.

    “But two days later he died,” Adeoye said.

    During cross-examination, the witness said that the deceased was at the Anthony taxi park before the incident and that he did not see the person who shot him.

    The witness reiterated that it was after he heard a gun shot and came out that he saw the deceased in his pool of blood.

    The second witness, Olajide, in his testimony, told the court that March 16, 2021 was a sad day because he was one of the officers attacked by the hoodlums with different weapons.

    Olajide said that the hoodlums attacked them with knives, bottles, cutlass and other dangerous weapons.

    “I ran into a shop with some of my colleagues and the backup we called arrived 15 minutes later.

    “The back up that we called were able to capture most of the miscreants.

    “On this same sad day I was charging my phone somewhere but it was stolen and the sum of N59,000 was removed from my bank accounts before I was able to block the phone the next day.

    “The sum of N12,000 was removed from my First Bank account and the sum of N47,000 was removed from my Zenith Bank account,” he said.

    The witness, while being cross-examined, told the court that he ran away when he saw the crowd.

    The prosecution told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offences on March 16, 2021, during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic.

    The prosecution submitted that the defendants were also alleged to have assaulted other officers, Adeniyi Hakeem, Salam Olajide and others at Anthony area of the state.

    The prosecution added that the defendants were said to have assisted a tricycle rider who was their colleague to use machetes and other dangerous weapons on the LASTMA officers which later led to the death of Obasu.

    It was alleged that Obasu and Hakeem were attacked with machetes and other dangerous weapons by the driver of a commercial bus with registration number FKJ 452 YC, after his vehicle was apprehended for contravening the traffic law of the state.

    It was also alleged that the two officers who were said to be in mufti before the attack were on their way home before the commercial bus drivers went berserk and attacked the officers for carrying out their statutory duties.

    The prosecution alleged that Obasu was struck severally with machetes resulting in deep lacerations on the head and his eventual death, while Hakeem, who was also attacked in a similar manner, was in a coma.

    Justice Hakeem Oshodi adjourned the case until Sept.30, for continuation of trial.

  • EFCC to arraign 2 top officials of Binance on Thursday

    EFCC to arraign 2 top officials of Binance on Thursday

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will, on Thursday, arraign Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, two top officials of Binance Holdings Ltd on five counts of money laundering charge.

    NAN reliably gathered on Tuesday that Binance, Gambaryan and Anjarwalla, who escaped from lawful custody on March 22 and fled Nigeria, will be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja.

    Although the crypto exchange firm, Gambaryan and Anjarwalla are listed as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively, Anjarwalla, who is described to be “at large” by the EFCC in the counts, is expected to be arraigned in absentia.

    In the charge dated and filed on March 28 by the anti-graft agency, the trio is being accused of money laundering to the tune of $35,400,000.

    Count one accused the defendants between January 2023 and January 2024 in Abuja of carrying on specialised business of other financial institution without valid licence.

    The offence is said to be contrary to Section 57(1) and (2) of the Banks and Other Financial, Institutions Act, 2020 and punishable under Section 57(5) of the same Act.

    NAN had, on March 28, also reported that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) will, on April 4, arraigned Binance Holdings Limited, Gambaryan and fleeing Anjarwalla, on allegations bordering on tax evasion.

    In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/115/2024, the three defendants will equally be arraigned before Justice Nwite on four counts.

    Though the FHC’s Easter vacation, which began on March 22, will come to an end on April 8, the Chief Judge of FHC, Justice John Tsoho, directed the transfer of Binance case file to Justice Nwite, even though he is not a vacation judge.

    The chief judge granted the fiat for the judge to handle the case during vacation being a matter that concerns dire national interest.

    In the charge dated and filed March 22 by the FIRS, the defendants were alleged to have committed the offence on or about Feb. 1.

    Count one alleged that while involved in carrying and offering services to subscribers on their platform, known as Binance, failed to register with the FIRS, for the purpose of paying all relevant taxes administered by the service.

    The offences are said to be punishable under Sections 8 and 29 of the VAT Act of 1993 (as Amended), Section 40 of the FIRS Establishment Act, 2007 (as amended) and under provisions of Section 94 of the Companies Income Tax Act (as amended) respectively.

    The two cases were fixed for Thursday to allow for accelerated hearing.

    On March 18, Justice Nwite ordered Binance Holdings Limited to provide the EFCC with the comprehensive data or information of all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform.

    The judge granted the interim order after ruling on the ex-parte motion moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho.

    The interim order was granted to enable the anti-graft agency unravel the alleged money laundering and terrorism financing on Binance platform.

    The commission said it uncovered users who had been using the platform for price discovery, confirmation and market manipulation which had caused tremendous distortions in the market, resulting in the Naira losing its values against other currencies.

    The EFCC said that from the information afforded to its team of Investigators by Binance showed that the total trading volume from Nigeria in 2023 alone stood at 21.6 billion dollars.

  • Ekiti Speaker expresses worry over refusal of Govt officials to honour summons

    Ekiti Speaker expresses worry over refusal of Govt officials to honour summons

    The Speaker of the Ekiti House of Assembly, Mr Adeoye Aribasoye, has expressed worry over refusal of some Government officials to honour legislative summons.

    Aribasoye at plenary of the Assembly on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, said:” The house may be compelled to invoke its constitutional powers against the erring officials and sanction them appropriately”.

    ”Some members of the executive and some officers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies have failed to appear to answer questions from the lawmakers and bring documents required from them for legislative scrutiny in the interest of the people of the state.

    ”The house can bark and bite. We should not be taken for granted,” he said.

    He warned those who have been summoned to provide documents or to appear before a Committee not to delay in doing so because the house may exercise the powers vested in it by the Constitution.

    “We heard it on good authority that some MDAs were asked to produce some documents and some of them are foot-dragging.

    “I want to advice them not to push the house. It is better for them not to push us to that level, they should not wait until we use our powers against them.

    ”This is a warning to all officers that have been invited and those asked to produce one document or the other.

    “The house of assembly reaffirms its commitment to put the good people of Ekiti first. We will not yield to the demands of any individual or group seeking to serve their own agenda. Our duty is to represent the people.

    “Furthermore, we want to make it clear that no government official, particularly those in the executive branch, should underestimate our authority.

    “To those who have been summoned to provide documents or appear before a committee, we urge them not to delay. It is in their best interest to honourably comply before this house exercises its powers in accordance with the rules and laws.

    “They should know that the law is above them. This is my note of warning and let it be heard everywhere, the speaker warned”.

     

  • Bauchi Govt sacks 2 officials for alleged forgery, corruption

    Bauchi Govt sacks 2 officials for alleged forgery, corruption

    The Bauchi State Civil Service Commission (BSCSC), has terminated the appointment of two senior civil servants for alleged forgery and diversion of fund.

    This is contained in  a statement by the Information Officer, BSCSC, Mr Saleh Umar, in Bauchi on Friday.

    The statement said Nasiru Sama’ila, Chief Clerical Officer and  Awwal Jibrin, Assistant Chief Clerical Officer, both from the state’s Ministry of Finance were dismissed having confessed to have perpetrated the crimes.

    “The commission took the decision during its 18th plenary Session on 15th of August, 2023 during the deliberation on disciplinary cases the two officers were found guilty of forging documents.

    “This act enabled them to divert the sum of N332,000 belonging to former and deceased staff, Jibrin Zalanga of the ministry.

    “The act contravenes section 327 of the Public Service Rule (PSR) and they admitted to have committed the crime in their responses to the queries issued to them individually by the ministry.

    “They were earlier arrested by the police and arraigned before the Chief Magistrate to get the wrath of the law,” said Umar.

    The information officer further revealed that the commission had, also during the session promoted 73 officers during the routine activities in the plenary session.

    He explained that the State Ministry of Religious Affairs took the centre stage with 59 personnel promoted to various grades.

    Umar added that the Chairman of the commission, Alh. Abubakar Husman, had lamented that the issues of financial disciplinary had become worrisome.

    “The chairman however , enjoined the workers in the state to be grateful and fear God in the discharge of their official duties.

    “He further urged the workers to be mindful of the financial instructions in their day-to-day activities,” he said.

    The commission approved the termination of one Ibrahim Garba attached to the state Pension Board during its 17th plenary session held on Aug, 1. for a similar offence.

  • Ekiti Assembly extends tenure of Local Government Officials

    Ekiti Assembly extends tenure of Local Government Officials

    Ekiti State House of Assembly has approved the extension of the tenure of local government officials to three years, taking effect from the next administration.

    The extension is contained in a bill passed into law, titled, “Ekiti State Local Government Administration, 2023”, during the Assembly plenary on Thursday.

    The passage of the bill was sequel to the submission of the report of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, headed by Hon. Reuben Awoyemi.

    Awoyemi, while reading the report, stated that the submission was in response to an appeal from various stakeholders in the Local Government systems.

    He also expressed that the bill was to further enhance the operations of council establishments, composition, finance and administration of the councils and the provision of the necessary time for Local Government officials to deliver on their mandate.

    In their contributions, members, including Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye; Adegoke Olajide, and Johnson Oyekola Adeoye, remarked that the bill was essential to development at the grassroots.

    The bill was passed by the lawmakers after careful consideration of the report.

    Another bill, titled, “Yoruba Language Preservation and Promotion, 2023”, was equally passed by the lawmakers at the plenary.

    The bill seeks to reinforce a wide usage and general acceptance of the Yoruba language in the country, and to sustain the promotion of Yoruba language as the second official language in Nigeria, and a language for business transaction in the southwest.

    The bill was unanimously passed after consideration by members.

  • Yahaya Bello reinstates resigned officials who contest governorship ticket

    Yahaya Bello reinstates resigned officials who contest governorship ticket

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has announced the reinstatement of five of his key government officials that resigned to contest for the governorship ticket on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), for the forthcoming election.

    Secretary to the State Government, Folashade Ayoade, made this known in a statement issued in Lokoja on Monday.The SSG said: “The Office of the Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello, has officially announced the immediate reinstatement of five key officials in the state.”

    Ayoade gave the names of the individuals approved to resume in their previous positions to include Jibrin Momoh, former State’s Accountant General; Pharmacist Jamiu Abdulkarim-Asuku, former Chief of Staff to the Governor; and Yakubu Okala, former State Auditor-General.

    Others were Idris Asiwaju Asiru, former Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning; and Momodu Ozigi-Deedat, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

    “The reinstatement of the Auditor-General and the commissioners was subject to the scrutiny and confirmation of the House of Assembly before they could resume their duties,” the SSG said.

    “We trust that the reinstatement of these officials will further enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the state government in delivering its mandate to the people of Kogi.”

     

  • Algeria 2023: CAF names officials for Nigeria/Morocco clash

    Algeria 2023: CAF names officials for Nigeria/Morocco clash

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has named Malian official Ousmane Diakate as centre referee for Wednesday’s clash between Nigeria and Morocco in Constantine.

    The match is at the ongoing Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    Queency Clodia Victoire from Mauritius will be the match’s Assistant Referee 1, while Cape Verde’s Djêry Gomes Lopes will be Assistant Referee 2.

    Ben Amisy Tsimanohitsy from Madagascar will serve as fourth official while Negash Teklit Negassi from Eritrea will be the Match Commissioner.

    Raphael Evehe Divine from Cameroon will be in the role of Referees Assessor and Gabonese Eric Otogo Castane will be the General Coordinator.

    In the 12-team tournament, the first two top-placed teams in each of the three groups will advance to the quarter-finals.

    They are to be joined by the best two third-placed teams.

    The quarter-final matches will produce the four semi-finalists, who will also automatically qualify as Africa’s representatives at this year’s FIFA Under-17 World Cup finals.

  • Alleged extortion: LASTMA summons 3 officials

    Alleged extortion: LASTMA summons 3 officials

    The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has summoned three officers before investigation panel over the alleged extortion of drivers.

    The General Manager, LASTMA, Mr Bolaji Oreagba, said this in a statement through the Public Affairs Unit of LASTMA in Lagos on Sunday.

    Oreagba said that the agency had summoned all officials mentioned in the matter to appear before a seven-man investigation panel set up to look thoroughly into those allegations as published.

    LASTMA was  reacting to an allegation against LASTMA officials that they clamped down on motorists with trumped-up charges.

    The officials of the agency were accused of collecting sums of N13, 000, N15, 000 and N20, 000 from different commercial bus drivers in Lagos.

    Oreagba stated further that all evidence contained in the allegation would be thoroughly scrutinised by the panel.

    He said that any official found culpable would face the consequences under the extant rule of the State Civil Service as specified.

    “We have set up a seven-man investigation panel to thoroughly look into those alleged extortions levelled against some of our officials.

    ” I assure the public that the outcome of the panel would be made public.

    “We have it on record that some of our officials alleged to be found wanting for official misconduct or unethical behaviour recently are currently facing disciplinary panel.

    “The management would not condone any act of indiscipline from any official,” Oreagba said.

    He  encouraged members of the public to always come forward with their complaints with evidence against any misbehaved officials via the Agency ‘Complaint hotlines:(08100565860/08174722227/08129928597).

    The general manager, however, pointed out that there were many LASTMA officials that were dedicated, conscientious and professional in carrying out their official functions.

    He said this was  observed during the LASTMA connect programme on Traffic Radio with many Lagosians acknowledging the good work of traffic control personnel.

    The LASTMA boss advised road users in Lagos to obey the traffic regulations so as not to run foul of the law.

    Oreagba  stressed that some violators were fond of offering traffic personnel bribes to avoid prosecution without realising that the law frowned on both the giver and the taker.

    He added that any motorists with genuine complaints or reports should equally reach out to LASTMA via the Agency’s various social media channels (Instagram- ekolastma), (Twitter- @followlastma), (email –info@lastmalagos.com), (Facebook -ekolastma) and (YouTube – LastmaTV).

  • 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.