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Tag: Probe

  • Obaseki demands probe of N20bn NDDC Emergency Fund expended in Edo

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has called for a probe into the utilisation of the N20 billion emergency funds allegedly expended on projects in the state in the last six months, by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    This is even as he disclosed that the State Government would explore the option of suing contractors handling the Commission’s projects for allegedly delivering sub-standard projects, which he said caused flooding in parts of the state.

    Obaseki said this while receiving the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on abandoned NDDC projects in the State.

    He noted that the State Government will stop NDDC contractors from executing sub-standard projects, adding that there is a need for synergy between the State Government and NDDC in delivering quality projects.

    “This kind of action is embarrassing to our administration and causing us political problems as our citizens are confused about the roads we are constructing and the sub-standard roads executed by NDDC contractors.

    “I have instructed the State’s Solicitor-General to begin the process to take legal action against NDDC contractors, who execute sub-standard work in the State, particularly the contractor who handled the project on Apostolic Street, off Sokponba Road, which led to flooding in the area. We will blacklist them.

    “I am surprised that the NDDC management is here as I invited them months ago when I received complaints about the quality of work done by their contractors, but they ignored the invite. There is no need having NDDC in the State when they have total disregard for the State Government,” he said.

    According to the Governor, the interim management of the NDDC claimed that N256 billion was spent on emergency project work, out of which N20 billion was spent in Edo State in the last six months.

    “A year ago, barely 10 per cent of the NDDC budget for Edo State was implemented. The immediate past interim management team of the NDDC needs to come and show us how they spent N20 billion in the State.

    “Beyond what the House Committee is doing, there must be a judicial enquiry into the activities of the NDDC. People must go to jail for their corrupt acts. The 13 per cent derivation fund collected from oil-producing communities that was supposed to be used for the development of the region has not been spent by NDDC.

    “We have registered our displeasure on NDDC projects in Edo State and contest the claims of their spending N20 billion in the State for emergency work. We signed a tripartite agreement with NDDC. They were supposed to commit 40 per cent while the State provides 60 per cent. We opened an account but they didn’t remit one kobo into it,” he noted.

    Earlier, the leader of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committees on NDDC abandoned projects in Edo State, Hon. Sergius Ogun, said they were in the State to investigate abandoned NDDC projects.

    Ogun said the standing committee that will take over from the Ad-Hoc committee will be announced soon.

    “This is pro-active. That was why the Ad-Hoc committee was set up, not waiting for the standing committee to be inaugurated.”

    On his part, the Director, Edo State office of the NDDC, Mr. Gbubemi Ogor, said the Commission agreed with the position of the Governor on NDDC projects in the State.

    He said: “We have agreed to review a lot of our projects in Edo State. The Governor has expressed his dissatisfaction on our projects and we have taken his words to heart and have set up a committee. We will be meeting with the Commissioner of lnfrastructure next week on the issues.”

  • P&ID: FG commences probe of six fresh suspicious petroleum deals

    Indications emerged on Saturday that the federal government may have commenced probe into six suspicious deals allegedly entered into by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to avert a repeat of the Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) saga.

    Recall that Nigeria is currently in court in the United Kingdom (UK) with P&ID to reverse the award of a $9.6billion debt judgement in favour of the Irish firm.

    According to sources, the six suspicious agreements are awaiting arbitration.

    Moments after returning to Nigeria from UK where he was part of the FG team fighting the P&ID debt judgement, Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Saturday gave an insight into how P&ID lost its bid to enforce the payment of the $9.6billion judgment against Nigeria.

    Malami said government was still weighing options on the payment of $200million security deposit as a precondition for a stay of execution of the $9.6billion.

    One of the options borders on whether or not to go to the Court of Appeal to contest the order on the $200million.

    Responding to enquiries on Saturday, Malami described the UK trip as successful.

    He said: “The outing was a sign of success since the legal team was able to convince the court to halt the execution of the judgment (payment of the $9.6 billion to P&ID) and also secure its nod to proceed on appeal against the award.

    “The Commercial court allows a procedure by which a party praying for an order has the order drafted in the terms it requires the court to have it drafted.

    “In this case, the draft prepared by P&ID contains a provision for £250,000 legal cost and the order drafted for leave to enforce the judgment, which was considered by the court was part of it.

    “It is from the drafted order that the order for enforcement of the judgment was considered and refused while the order as to cost, which was incidental order, was not contested.

    “The implication is that the order for cost stands granted while the order for enforcement stands refused and the stay of execution was in effect granted on the terms relating to the payment of security deposit of $200 million.”

    Notwithstanding, Malami said the Federal Government is weighing options on the $200million security deposit demanded by the court as a condition for granting the stay of execution.

    He added: “Raising the $200m is not exclusive option at our disposal. We are studying the ruling and all other available legal and judicial options open to exploit.”

    The Nation gathered that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other agencies are looking into six other agreements awaiting arbitration.

    “The government wants to review these agreements in order to look at the circumstances behind such deals to avert more problems for Nigeria at the arbitration table,” a source familiar with the development said.

    Details were not given.

    The UK Court on Thursday ordered a stay of execution of the $9.6billion damages secured against Nigeria by P&ID pending the determination of an appeal by the Federal Government.

    It however asked the government to make a security payment of $200million to the court within 60 days

    The court also granted Nigeria’s leave to file an appeal against the award.

    But the court upheld the award and refused to reverse the damages.

    Malami however said the battle to quash the award has shifted to the UK Court of Appeal.

  • Protesters besiege Lagos Assembly, demand ex-gov Ambode’s probe

    Protesters besiege Lagos Assembly, demand ex-gov Ambode’s probe

    Scores of protesters under the aegis of Lagos Youth Vanguard (LYV) on Tuesday protested at the Lagos State House of Assembly complex demanding the probe of former governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    The protesters, who chanted solidarity songs, were led by the Patron of LYV, Mr. Rasak Olokooba, and the President of the Group, Mr. Ibrahim Ekundina.

    Some of the placards carried by the protesters read: “Ambode, submit yourself for probe,” “Ambode must be probed,” “EFCC, do your job.”

    The LYV stated in its leaflets distributed to journalists that Ambode “deliberately laid landmine through the obvious improper, inappropriate and insufficient content in his handover note that should serve as a guide to the incoming administration in the tradition of every civilised public officer.”

    The group accused Ambode of flouting official procedures, saying that he refused to abide by the procurement laws.

    He was accused of wrong priority in policies and programmes as well as abandoning the track that could bring about development in the state.

    The LYV said: “We call for his probe and investigation with a view to apportioning appropriate penalties.

    “We want to assure the good people of Lagos State, and all the people that care about Lagos that we will continue to pursue every legitimate means until justice is done.”

    The group’s Patron Olokooba said it was good to be fair to every administration.

    Olokooba added that they had watched events for 90 days and that there were clear indications that the former governor had been making attempts to sabotage the current administration.

    He said: “For every government that is going out, you leave a template for the coming government to succeed. Ambode handed over a very rickety handing over note that cannot assist the current administration.

    “If you go round the state today, you will see that there is no governor that would inherit such state and the people of the state would be happy with him, but thank God the goodwill enjoyed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is still intact, if not, by now the people of Lagos State would have been complaining bitterly.”

     

  • Probe of ex-governors Abubakar, Yuguda, not a witch-hunt – Bauchi gov

    Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has said the inauguration of the Assets and Funds Recovery Committee in the State to recover assets and funds allegedly taken away by officials of Isa Yuguda and Mohammed Abubakar’s administrations is not meant to settle old scores neither witch-hunt.
    The governor who on Thursday formally inaugurated the 19-man committee to recover all assets and funds allegedly diverted from the state by individuals, which is not in accordance with the provision of the law, said no responsible government will bear the situation where the state resources is being misappropriated.
    Mohammed said: “ If this State of financial profligacy is allowed to go unchecked, we may wake up one day to have our state reduced to the status of a glorified or amplified Local Government”
    “These glaring facts clearly show how the serious business of government in Bauchi State was conducted with reckless abandon, corruption and impunity. No responsible government will bear this situation which is pushing the state further into abject poverty, serious abandonment and decay.”

    “The exercise is not a witch-hunt. It is not meant to settle old scores either. It is meant to recover our misappropriated commonwealth and reset the button, so that integrity, probity and accountability will henceforth remain the guiding principles as well as article of faith in the conduct of government business”

    He, therefore, charged the Committee to be focused resourceful and remain unemotional in the discharge of their assigned responsibilities.
    The Chairman of the Committee is Sen. Isa Misau while Prof.Sylvester Shikyii, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (S.A.N) is the Secretary.
    Other top members are; Brig Gen Markus Yake, Hamisu Makama, Alhaji Musa Gora, Alhaji Umar Ningi, Alhaji Kamel Isah, Maryam Bagel among others .
    The committee was given three months to submit its report to the governor.
    The Chairman of the Committee Sen. Isa Misau assured that the Committee will carry out its assignment with all sincerity without harassing anybody as he solicited for support from the public.
    The committee is to ascertain and appraise all cases where government’s developed landed properties were disposed of by past administrations from May 2007 to May 2019, with a view to determining the legality or otherwise of the transactions that culminated in the disposal of the assets and recovering them for the state.
    The terms of reference of the Committee includes: “ To identify and compile a comprehensive list of state government properties which include real estate , shares , funds or any other movable and immovable asset of the same kind, an actual or constructive possession of any person or corporate legal entity whosoever and wherever it may be located in Nigeria and recover them for the State”
    “ Liaise with Federal Government Agencies and Corporate bodies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN)”
    ”The Debt Management Office (DMO) and commercial banks with a view to ascertaining and recovering any such amount of funds , belonging to the state government in whatever currency as may have been misappropriated by individuals or groups of individuals who held offices of the state government and individuals or corporate legal entities who have been in breach of terms of contract awarded to them by the state government but have remained liable to refund monies in line with the extant laws of the Federation and the State”

  • BREAKING: [Assault] Senator Abbo surrenders to Police for investigation

    Senator Elisha Abbo, who was seen in a viral video assaulting a lady at a sex toy shop in Abuja, has surrendered himself to the operatives at the FCT Police Command for investigation.
    Following public outcry and protest against his act, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu on Wednesday ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault on a female Nigerian by the Senator Abbo.
    The IG had specifically directed the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, CP Bala Ciroma to provide a personal and round-the-clock supervision of every facet of the investigation, including the Forensic analysis of the video currently in circulation as well as the actions and inactions of the Policeman seen in the video footage.
    As a follow-up to the order, CP Ciroma said an invitation letter was written to the Senator.
    The CP, while confirming to The Nation that the Senator has surrendered himself at the Command, said the Senator got to the Command on Thursday afternoon, adding that investigation has commenced.
    Confirming his presence at the Command, Ciroma said: “Yes, it is true that he has surrendered himself. He has already come in and we are investigating.
    ‘He came into the Command this afternoon after we sent an invitation letter to him based on the directive of the IGP and he honoured it.”
    It is, however, unclear whether the Senator would be detained after interrogation or not.

  • Exam malpractices: JAMB launches probe of candidates’ credentials from 2009 – 2019

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has commenced a probe into the credentials of applicants dating back to 2009.

    This implies that persons who cheated the system to pass the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to get into school and may have even graduated and participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will be arrested and their certificates withdrawn.

    The Head, Media and Information of JAMB, Fabian Benjamin, said this during an interview on 95.1 Nigerian info FM Abuja.

    Benjamin said the probe had begun and it would be completed in record time as JAMB had acquired software which would be able to identify fake biometric data.

    The JAMB spokesman during the interview said, “We want to do what we call biometric verification dating 10 years back. Even if you are now working and we discovered that someone wrote exams for you, we will publish your name and the law agencies will do the needful.

    “We have the biometric data from 10 years ago. We will compare the photos with thumbprints and names. We discovered that a candidate could have taken exams with 30 different names.”

    Explaining how impersonation takes place, Benjamin added, “This is how they operate: My name is Fabian Benjamin but I will register as Abdullahi Musa and do exams for Abdullahi Musa but I will use my picture and my biometric data; only the name will be different.

    “I will register as John David, as Austin Steven. I will register in the name of anyone that pays me, do exams for that person but I will use my picture. What this means is that when I get into the hall, the biometric data verification will allow me to enter but I will do the exam for someone else.

    “The person whom exams were taken on his behalf would get into university and of course most universities don’t use the pictures of JAMB during admissions but what we want to enforce now is that the institutions must use the picture of the person. We will give the institutions the photo and it must match. In fact, only our pictures must be accepted by the institutions.”

    Speaking with on why the examination body is commencing the probe, the JAMB spokesman said it had become important to expose exam cheats to serve as a deterrent to others.

    He said the photos of those found culpable would be published for all to see even if they were now working class persons.

    Benjamin said, “If you graduated from university and you did not take UTME, it means the foundation is faulty and the building cannot stand. We have already started the probe but we will go deeper after the exams.

    “It will not take too long. We are using software, so it will just check the biometric data of candidates and if the biometric data of someone shows about six different names, then it will notify us. So, if one person’s photo brings up different names and we have spotted this, we will find out where the person is and then we will pick them up.”

    He said the agency had been able to arrest over 100 persons nationwide for malpractices in the ongoing examinations.

    Benjamin said JAMB had written a letter to the Attorney-General of the Federation for advice on prosecution.

    “Even if they are not punished, let the public know that Mr A who is a doctor became so after someone did exams for him. That shame alone will serve as a deterrent to others. We must start from 10 years ago so that others will learn,” he said.

  • $16b power funds: Obasanjo replies Buhari over probe threats

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has responded to allegations that his administration squandered the $16 billion power funds with no visible improvement in the country’s electricity generation/transmission.

    In a reply to queries on what happened to the $16 billion power sector funds under his administration, the former president said it was wrong for anybody to reply on what he called “unsubstantiated allegations against him by the then leadership of House of Representatives over the project”.

    Recall that before President Muhammadu Buhari hinted on Tuesday to probe the multi-billion dollar project, he (Buhari) had in May last year, queried where the funds went.

    The former President, who responded through his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, blamed the query on lack of proper understanding.

    He said: ”It has come to the attention of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo that a statement credited to President Muhammadu Buhari, apparently without correct information and based on ignorance, suggested that $16 billion was wasted on power projects by “a former President.

    “We believe that the President was re-echoing the unsubstantiated allegation against Chief Obasanjo by his own predecessor but one.

    “While it is doubtful that a President with proper understanding of the issue would utter such, it should be pointed out that records from the National Assembly had exculpated President Obasanjo of any wrong-doing concerning the power sector and has proved the allegations as false.

    “For the records, Chief Obasanjo has addressed the issues of the power sector and the allegations against him on many occasions and platforms, including in his widely publicised book, “My Watch” in which he exhaustively stated the facts and reproduced various reports by both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which conducted a clinical investigation into the allegations against Chief Obasanjo, and the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Review of the Recommendations in the Report of the Committee on Power on the Investigation into how the Huge Sums Of Money was Spent on Power Generation, Transmission And Distribution between June 1999 and May 2007 without Commensurate Result.

    “”We recommend that the President and his co-travellers should read Chapters 41, 42, 43 and 47 of My Watch for Chief Obasanjo’s insights and perspectives on the power sector and indeed what transpired when the allegation of $16 billion on power projects was previously made.

    “If he cannot read the three-volume book, he should detail his aides to do so and summarise the chapters in a language that he will easily understand.

    “”In the same statement credited to the President, it was alleged that there was some bragging by Chief Obasanjo over $16 billion spent on power. To inform the uninformed, the so-called $16 billion power expenditure was an allegation against Chief Obasanjo’s administration and not his claim.

    “The President also queried where the power generated is. The answer is simple: The power is in the seven National Integrated Power Projects and eighteen gas turbines that Chief Obasanjo’s successor who originally made the allegation of $16 billion did not clear from the ports for over a year and the civil works done on the sites.

    “”Chief Obasanjo challenges, and in fact encourages, anybody to set up another enquiry if in doubt and unsatisfied with the EFCC report and that of the Hon. Aminu Tambuwal-led ad-hoc committee.”

  • Osinbajo: Presidency orders probe of crashed helicopter

    …says all 12 on board the crashed helicopter safe

    The presidency on Sunday hinted that a procedural investigation by the aviation authorities will be carried out on Vice President’s Yemi Osinbajo’s helicopter that crash-landed at Kabba, Kogi State on Saturday.

    This was revealed by the Vice President’s spokesman, Laolu Akande.

    According to Akande, a total of 12 people were on board the Vice-President’s chopper.

    Apart from Osinbajo, there was the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Prof Stephen Ocheni, senior presidential aides and the crew

    Akanded stated, “Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, departed Abuja around 1pm today on a chopper ride to Kogi State in continuation of the Family Chats & Next Level engagements.

    “Prof Osinbajo headed first to Kabba, and while landing at the Kabba Stadium, the helicopter suddenly skidded sideways until it halted on its side few metres away from the intended resting spot.

    “Alongside VP Osinbajo, the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Prof Stephen Ocheni, senior presidential aides, security officials and the crew; there were a total of 12 people on board. Everyone came out safely after the incident.

    “We are grateful to God for His protection and safety, and we thank the crew and security personnel for their prompt response and service. We are also grateful for the tremendous expressions of concern and affection, as well as prayers from all.

    “As is procedural, a full investigation into the causes of the incident would be conducted by aviation authorities.

    “The Vice-President is continuing the planned engagements in Kogi State according to plan.”

  • Murder: Police, NAF intensify probe, grill Badeh’s security aides, domestic staff, others

    Murder: Police, NAF intensify probe, grill Badeh’s security aides, domestic staff, others

    Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have intensified investigations into the murder of a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.

    The concerned security agencies have been cross-examining the security detail and workers of the former CDS.

    A top military source who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter on Friday said that the security detail attached to the former CDS underwent “very strict confidential interrogations” even as the mobile phones and contacts of the former CDS were reportedly being analysed.

    The NAF also said late on Thursday that it had made “substantial progress” in arresting the killers of Badeh, confirming that the former CDS was given the full compliments of security personnel commensurate with his status as a four-star general in the Armed Forces of Nigeria, until his death.

    This confirms the report that security men were with Badeh on Tuesday when he was shot dead at Tudu-Uku on Gitata-Keffi Road while returning from his farm located in the Panda Development Area of Karu Local Government Area of the state.

    The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said the Air Force was working closely with other relevant security agencies to determine the circumstances surrounding Badeh’s death with a view to ensuring that the perpetrators were brought to justice.

    Daramola said, “We wish to state categorically that the driver is alive and recuperating extremely well at one of our NAF Hospitals. Substantial progress has already been made in the ongoing investigation and details would be communicated at the appropriate time.

    “You expect that the security detail have some questions to answer in this matter. They have to explain everything they saw and everything they heard. It is a highly confidential matter but other people are being interrogated as well,” he noted.

  • Unremitted Revenue: Reps ad-hoc committee commences probe, orders detailed report from CBN, others

    Unremitted Revenue: Reps ad-hoc committee commences probe, orders detailed report from CBN, others

    By Gabriel Okoro, Abuja

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has charged the ad-hoc committee investigating the under remittances of revenue to federation account to correct the ills associated with revenue remittances in the country towards improving the country’s economic fortunes.

    Dogara gave the charge in at the opening of the four day investigative hearing organised by the ad-hoc committee of the House on Tuesday in Abuja.

    According to the Speaker, “There should-be no issues of cover up or connivance.

    He said it is disheartening to hear repeated allegations of non-remittances of huge amounts of revenue by Agencies required to generate and manage the country’s revenue at this period, when government is making efforts towards
    diversifying the economy in order to reduce the country’s over-reliance on the oil sector.

    On his part, chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Mr. James Faleke while noting that the current state of affairs in the country shows a crunch and cash-strapped economy that seems to be crawling at a slow pace out of recession explained that this has occasioned a bizarre situation where state governments can barely pay salaries, with borrowing categorising a large chunk of government spending and overall budgetary expenditure being adversely affected by dwindling revenues.

    Faleke said the current system has continuously encouraged unpatriotic Nigerians to device ways of diverting revenue of the country for personal use at the expense of the poor.

    He said: “It could be right to assert that given a transparent and accountable revenue remittance system, we would successfully reduce the over dependence on oil as well as the large amount of borrowing evident in our society.”

    “It is our hope that the outcome of this exercise will help in no small measure to reposition the revenue generating system at all levels of government towards adequately achieving their goals and mandate”, he said.

    While interrogating agencies and parastatals concerned, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN declared that it does not have records of unremitted monies into the Federation Account.

    CBN’s Director of Banking Services, Dipo Fatokun who was represented by Jack Okituetu, an acting director said “We don’t have any record of under remittances as CBN is simply a government bank.

    “We’ve never falsified reports as all the revenue agencies have access to their various accounts and we are not also a revenue collecting agency of government, he added.

    The ad-hoc committee therefore demand for a comprehensive list of all mandates given to the apex bank and also direct other Commissions like Nigeria Communication Commission to provide other necessary details come Thursday to make it a complete process.