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Tag: Reps

  • Alleged money laundering: Reps set to probe EFCC, NCS over N15m received from Bobrisky

    Alleged money laundering: Reps set to probe EFCC, NCS over N15m received from Bobrisky

    The House of Representatives has moved in favour of a motion to investigate the allegations of corruption against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Nigerian Correctional Service by Martins Vincent Otse a.k.a VeryDarkMan for collecting N15m for money laundry from Idris Okuneye (Bobrisky) to drop charges.

    This was sequel to a motion of urgent public importance by Rep. Patrick Umoh on the “Urgent need to investigate the disturbing allegation of corruption against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correction Service to save Nigeria from ridicle”, on Thursday at plenary.

    Leading the debate emphasised that has beena very disturbing and widely circulated publication emanating from VeryDarkMan against the EFCC and NCS on the alleged dropping money laundry charges against ‘Bobrisky’ and also that upon conviction for defacing the naira did not serve his time at the prison.

    The motion reads: “The House notes the disturbing and widely circulated publication emanating from Martins Vincent Otse (also known as VeryDarkMan) against critical Nigerian law enforcement institutions; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service;
    “Also notes the publication alleges that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dropped money laundry charges against Idris Okuneye (also known as Bobrisky) upon collection of the sum of Fifteen Million Naira (N15, 000, 000):
    “Further notes that the publication alleges that the Idris Okuneye, upon conviction for abuse and defacing of the Naira, by the court did not serve his time at the Nigeria Correctional Service, but was lodged outside the confines of the Service”.
    The House expressed worries about the negative image this has on Nigeria as a country.

    “Disturbed about the damning allegations against Nigerian critical law enforcement agencies of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correction Service established by this hallowed Chambers to fight correction and incarcerate persons convicted of crime for correctional purposes, respectively;
    “Worried about the negative image and portrayal of Nigeria as a corrupt nation and Nigeria’s struggle to redeem itself from such perception”, the motion further stated.

    The House unanimously adoption the motion to set up an ad-hoc Committee comprising of persons of unquestionable integrity to immediately probe the allegation and report back within 3 legislative weeks for further legislative actions.

  • Borno flood: Reps dump proposed N300bn grant to assist victims

    Borno flood: Reps dump proposed N300bn grant to assist victims

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday dumped a proposal for a N300 billion grant from the Federal Government to assist Borno State flood victims.

    Recall the Borno flood happend after the collapse of the Alau Dam, which led to the death of 40 persons and caused severe damage to the Palace of the Shehu of Borno, Maiduguri Correctional Centre, and other public institutions.

    This resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Rep. Amos Magaji, lawmaker representing Jaba/Zangon/Kataf Federal Constituency of Kaduna State highlighting the devastation caused by the flooding in Maiduguri.

    He noted that homes, markets, and health facilities were heavily impacted, including the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, which became inaccessible.

    Magaji said, “The Cancer Centre, one of the largest in the country, was submerged, destroying vital equipment, medical records, and administrative files.”
    He also noted that electricity at the hospital had collapsed to prevent electrocution as transformers and power sources were affected.

    Responding, Rep. Inuwa Garba, lawmaker representing Yamaltu Deba Federal Constituency of Gombe State, proposed an amendment calling on the Federal Government to grant N300 billion to support flood victims.

    However, when Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put the amendment to a vote, the house rejected it, and argued that donations from government agencies and private citizens, already in the billions, were sufficient, urging the government to provide additional support without specifying an amount.
    Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, lawmaker representing Kanke/Pankshin/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State described the flood’s impact as serious, saying, “despite contributions, the disaster’s effects can’t be fully addressed.”

    Similarly, Rep. Ahmed Satomi from Borno State thanked donors but stressed the need for stronger intervention due to the extent of the damage.

    The House unanimously adopted the motion and urged the Federal Government to focus on repairing key infrastructure, including the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Shehu of Borno Palace, and Maiduguri Correctional Centre.
    It also mandated its relevant committees to ensure compliance with these resolutions.

  • Reps endorse probe of petition seeking forensic audit of GT bank N1trn profit, suspension of Agbaje

    Reps endorse probe of petition seeking forensic audit of GT bank N1trn profit, suspension of Agbaje

    The House of Representatives has resolved to look into corruption and money laundering allegations against Mr Segun Agbaje, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, and the bank.

    The President of Arewa Consultative Youth Movement, Alhaji Yusuf Kabiru had submitted a petition to the lawmakers seeking investigation of Agbaje and forensic audit of GTBank over allegations of fictitious 1 trillion Naira profit, alleged use of family members as front, corruption and money laundering.

    In a petition dated September 23rd, 2024, and addressed to the Speaker of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, the group noted that the bank has been a prominent player in Nigeria’s banking industry since its inception, however, recent reports have raised concerns regarding the integrity of its financial practices under Mr Segun Agbaje’s leadership.

    The petition laid by Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi at the resumption of plenary on Tuesday sought, urged the lawmakers to look into these allegations promptly so as to serve not only justice but also restore faith among investors and citizens alike in financial institutions.

    The petition read in part, “We respectfully submit this petition to request a thorough investigation into serious allegations against Mr Segun Agbaje, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, and the bank itself. The allegations include fictitious reporting of profits amounting to 1 trillion Naira, utilization of family members as fronts for illicit activities, round-tripping practices, fraud, corruption, and money laundering.

    The allegations suggest that GTBank may have engaged in deceptive accounting practices to artificially inflate profit figures. Such actions not only undermine investor confidence but also pose significant risks to the stability of our financial system.

    “Fictitious Profit Reporting: It has come to light that GTBank may have reported profits that do not reflect its actual financial performance. Specifically, claims indicate that the bank reported a profit exceeding 1 trillion Naira without substantial evidence supporting such figures.

    “Use of Family Members as Fronts: Credible reports suggest that Mr. Agbaje has utilized family members as fronts in various business dealings related to GTBank. This practice raises ethical concerns about conflicts of interest and transparency within the bank’s operations.

    ” Round-Tripping Activities: Allegations have surfaced regarding round-tripping—where funds are moved in and out through different accounts or entities to create an illusion of legitimate transactions. This practice is often associated with money laundering and other fraudulent activities.

    “The combination of inflated profit reporting and unethical business practices points towards systemic issues within GTBank that could be indicative of broader fraud and corruption. Given the scale of these allegations, there is an urgent need for scrutiny regarding potential money laundering activities facilitated by GTBank’s operations.

    “In light of these serious allegations, we urge your esteemed committee to take immediate action by: Conducting a Thorough forensic Investigation: An independent investigation should be initiated to examine these allegations comprehensively. This should include forensic audits and interviews with relevant stakeholders.

    “Suspension of Mr Segun Agbaje: Pending the outcome of this investigation, we call for Mr Agbaje’s suspension from his position as Group CEO of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc to prevent any potential interference with the inquiry. Involvement of Regulatory Bodies: We request that both the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) take immediate steps to secure depositors’ funds at GTBank during this period of uncertainty. It is crucial that measures are put in place to protect customers’ investments from any potential fallout resulting from these allegations.

    “We recommend you seek assistance in this investigation by engaging relevant regulatory bodies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).”

    The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas who presided over the plenary session, referred it to House Committee on public petition for investigation.

  • Reps C’ttee directs GTB to remit VAT on Remita from 2015-2022

    Reps C’ttee directs GTB to remit VAT on Remita from 2015-2022

    The House of Representatives has asked Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) to remit Value Added Tax (VAT) on the commission received from Remita between 2015 and 2022 to the Federal Government recovery account.

    The Chairman, Public Accounts Committee (PAC), of the lower chamber, Rep. Bamidele Salam (PDP- Osun), gave the directive on Thursday during the ongoing investigation into alleged revenue leakages through REMITA platform.

    The committee is also investigating non-compliance with the standard operating procedure and other related matters.

    Remita is a financial technology used by the Federal Government for collection of revenue from agencies of government into the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

    Bamidele’s directive followed a unanimous resolution of the committee after scrutinising the records and listening to the management of the bank.

    Earlier, the Executive Director of GTB, Mr Ahmed Liman, said the bank did not remit the VAT for a period of eight years.

    He said that the bank believed that Remita had deducted the VAT before sharing commissions with the bank.

    “We believe that Remita is saddled with the responsibility of sharing the commission fees between the payment receiving parties.

    “In our mind, we think Remita has done the needful before sharing the fees between the parties,” he said.

    The executive director said that the bank charged 0.75 per cent on all the payers who used the Remita platform.

    He added that the bank received N254, 489, 013 from the Accountant General through Remita in 2018.

    Other banks whose records are still be scutisined by the committee include Keystone, Zenith Bank, Sterling Bank, Polaris Bank, FCMB, Ecobank and Wema.

  • Account for N10bn spent on firms registration, Reps tell BPE

    Account for N10bn spent on firms registration, Reps tell BPE

    The House of Representatives has urged the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) to account for about N10 billion alleged used to register two companies for the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST).

    Rep. Bamidele Salam, Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts made the call in Abuja at the resumed investigative hearing of the committee.

    “No reasonable Nigerian will believe that N10. 4 billion was spent to register the two companies.

    ”These companies eventually folded up one year after takeoff,” he said.

    He also said the companies, NIPOST Transport and Logistics Ltd., and NIPOST Property reportedly took off in May 2023, and folded up through a Presidential directive in May 2024.B

    The BPE Head of Finance and Accounts who stood in for the Director-General of the Agency, Mr Imam Rilwan, told the committee that of the said amount, N10 million was given to the two companies for their take off.

    He said that about N400 million was given to the BPE to prepare the ground for the takeoff of the companies.

    He said the issue of registering the two companies for NIPOST was approved in 2017.
    This, he said, paved the way for BPE to expend about N423 million in registering and carrying out other activities for the eventual take off of the companies.

    He said when the money was eventually released in 2023 the bureau had to recover its money, adding that the N423 million given to the BPE was used to rent office accommodation among other essential services.

    He said while the bureau paid rent for the two companies from 2022, the companies took possession of the offices in May 2023, while they folded up in May 2024.

    He said all property belonging to the two companies had been officially handed over to NIPOST management.

    Responding, Salam said spending money from the government coffers before the money was released was a violation of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act.

    Salam, however, directed the Director-General of BPE, Ayodeji Gbeleyi, to personally appear before the committee on September 11 at 12 noon with all relevant documents relating to the transaction.

  • Reps committee urge FG, NNPCL to revert to old PMS price

    Reps committee urge FG, NNPCL to revert to old PMS price

    The House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) has demanded the reversal of fuel to old price, urging the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd.  (NNPCL) to comply.

    Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, the Chairman of the committee in a statement in Abuja, described the hike in petrol as unacceptable.

    He said that a situation where private companies took advantage of gaps in the system to make arbitrary profits at the expense of Nigerians was inimical to the country’s progress.

    “We urge the Federal Government and, of course, the NNPCL to consider the plight of Nigerians and suspend this recent increase in pump price.”

    According to him, Nigerians are currently going through a lot of challenges, and adding to the burden is not in our collective best interest.

    “Let us revert to the old pump price as soon as possible and probably intensify engagements with major stakeholders to address the problem,” he said.

    Doguwa, who is also the Chairman, Special Committee on Crude Oil Theft and Vandalisation of Pipelines, also pledged to tackle the challenge caused by the loss of revenue to the government owing to the loss of crude.

    “As a special committee, we will aggressively seek modalities to interface with the youths and community leaders in the oil-producing areas.”

    This, according to him, is to address the frequent cases of crude oil theft, which is  capable of affecting petrol supply across the country.

    “We are working in collaboration with security agencies in their quest to secure oil pipelines and other critical facilities in the country.

    “We believe that a return to the old pump price will calm frayed nerves, thus enabling Nigerians to go about their daily activities with ease,” he noted.

    The lawmaker also advised Nigerians to give the President Bola Tinubu-led administration a chance to reposition the oil and gas sector.

    He stated that with the Petroleum Industry Act, coupled with the effort to revive the nation’s refineries, Nigeria would in no distant time,  reap the benefits of her oil and gas endowments.

    “We believe that with interventions the government is making to commence operations at Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, these challenges will come to an end,” he said.

    NAN reports that the NNPC Ltd had on Tuesday directed its fuel sales outlets to increase their pump prices from the average of N617 to N897, a development which has almost immediately spiked prices, including market commodities and transportation.

  • Reps to address challenges in accessing N500bn tertiary institutions’ funds

    Reps to address challenges in accessing N500bn tertiary institutions’ funds

    The House of Representatives Committee on Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and Related Services has pledged to engage with tertiary institutions to address challenges in accessing crucial intervention funds.

    The Chairman of the committee, Miriam Onuoha, made the pledge on Thursday when she led the committee’s members on a courtesy visit to the Kaduna State Government House.

    Onuoha said that one of the key mandates of the committee was to ensure proper oversight of the tertiary intervention.

    She also said the committee would ensure proper account of all the monies that had been disbursed to bridge infrastructure gaps,  improve teaching and learning across all tertiary institutions.

    Onuoha raised concern on the issue of over N500 billion in unaccessed funds currently held by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), earmarked for the nation’s tertiary institutions.

    According to her, the TETFund intervention goes to three major state- owned tertiary institutions in Kaduna State; Kaduna State University; Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria; and College of Education, Gidan Waya.

    She said that the Kaduna State University has N547 million unaccessed fund, Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic has unaccessed intervention  fund standing at N724 million, while College of Education, Gidan Waya has N30 million unaccessed fund.

    Onuoha said that the three institutions in Kaduna State have a combined N1.3 billion in unaccessed funds.

    She said that stringent conditions have prevented many institutions from accessing these funds.

    According to her, the committee plans to conduct a nationwide tour to understand and address the specific barriers the educational institutions are facing.

    The chairman assured that the committee was committed to ensuring that these funds were disbursed and utilised effectively.

    Onuoha also commended Gov. Uba Sani’s administration for its dedication to education.

    She expressed the committee’s readiness to collaborate with local institutions to facilitate the timely release and efficient use of available funds.

    Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, thanked the committee for its  efforts to resolve the challenges that impeded higher educational institutions from accessing federal intervention funds.

    Balarabe encouraged the Heads of the state’s tertiary institutions to openly share their challenges, particularly those related to fund accessibility, to foster a collaborative approach to finding sustainable solutions.

    She also underscored the importance of maintaining consistent standards across all departments and elevating the state’s educational institutions to new heights.

    The meeting was attended by leaders from various federal educational institutions in the state.

  • Reps to investigate financial activities in S/South universities

    Reps to investigate financial activities in S/South universities

    The House of Representatives has resolved to carry out a forensic investigation into  financial activities of universities in the south-south region of the country.

    Rep. Abubakar Fulata, Chairman of the House Committee on University Education, said this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, following an oversight function by the lawmakers to ascertain their performance.

    The universities are: University of Calabar, Cross State, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurum, Delta State, Federal University Uyo, and Akwa Ibom State, among others.

    This, according to Fulata, is due to the inconsistencies observed in their submissions during the committee’s oversight visit to the universities in the South-South region.

    He said the forensic examination became necessary following discrepancies and irreconcilable data observed in the documents presented to the committee.

    Other universities the committee visited and required further investigation included Federal University Otueke, Bayelsa State, and Nigerian Maritime University Okerenkoko, Warri South, Delta State.

    The committee urged some of the newly established universities to avoid the mistakes of older universities.

    This, according to the committee, is based on non-compliance with federal character principles and spending internally generated revenue without appropriation.

    The universities include the Federal University of Medical and Health Science Kwale, Delta State, and the Federal University of Technology Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State.

    Fulata said the committee had visited over 30 federal universities in 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in the last few weeks.

    He added that there was no going back on their decision and determination to make a difference in spite of the obvious challenges.

    Fulata said that apart from logistics challenges like cost of transportation (traveling by air, land, and water), among others, there is also the challenge of traveling on the roads and water for several hours.

    He said the oversight visit enabled the committee to get first-hand information regarding the challenges in the universities and come up with better ways of addressing them.

  • Rep defends Kalu over call for Abia gov, Otti to join APC

    Rep defends Kalu over call for Abia gov, Otti to join APC

    Rep. Ginger Onwusibe (LP-Abia) has defended the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu’s  call for Gov. Alex Otti of Abia to join the All Progressives Congress(APC).

    Onwusibe, the leader of the Labour Party caucus in the House, said this in his response to a statement credited to Rep. Obi Aguocha (LP-Abia) in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Aguocha had said that Kalu’s open remarks against Otti and Abia were condescending and disrespectful to the governor.

    In his response, Onwusibe said, “the Deputy Speaker did nothing wrong by marketing his party, asking Otti to join the APC.

    “What is wrong with what Kalu said? If you listen carefully to what he said, he is only marketing his party and indirectly calling on Oti to come and take an APC ticket.

    “In the video, he said Otti is his friend; they speak every day, and most importantly, he is performing; he didn’t denigrate the governor in this video unless you have another video,“he said.

    The lawmaker said Aguocha would gain nothing by twisting the video to suit his purpose, adding that Kalu’s intention was misinterpreted.

    According to him, he knew Kalu since 2021, and worked with him during his campaign to become the Deputy Speaker, and luckily he emerged.

    He said that as the Deputy Speaker, he was bound to hold him in high regard as his leader in the House of Reps.

    “If we investigate deeply, I may be the least that has benefited from Kalu among us, but that will not make me deny my friendship and loyalty to him.

    “I am a Labour Party member who is loyal to my leader, the Governor, wherever he is, I will be, but for this video, Kalu has done what he needs to do for his party,“ he said.

    He said some of his colleagues had gone and blackmailed him before the governor  that he and Kalu would pair as Governor and Deputy in 2027.

    The lawmaker said that such had never been discussed before, saying, “This is exactly how the PDP forced me out of the party with unfounded lies.”

    He urged lawmakers not to heat up the polity and to treat Kalu’s statement as a mere commitment to his party’s victory in 2027.

  • Reps minority urges security agencies to change tactics to curtail insecurity

    Reps minority urges security agencies to change tactics to curtail insecurity

    The minority caucus in the House of Representatives has called on security agencies to change their tactics of engagement, and act swiftly and decisively to curtail insecurity in the country.

    Rep. Kingsley Chinda, the leader of the caucus, said this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday while expressing concern over insecurity in the country.

    Chinda said that the frequent abductions of travellers on the nation’s highways had become worrisome.

    He decried a series of recent kidnappings of commuters in the country, adding that the kidnapped citizens should be rescued unharmed and the perpetrators brought to justice.

    He added that the 29 medical students whisked away by gunmen in Benue while travelling for a conference threatened the future of education and healthcare in the country.

    “These young men and women, dedicated to pursuing knowledge and bettering the lives of their fellow Nigerians, must not be left to suffer in the hands of criminals,” he said.

    He condemned the kidnapping of Malam Isa Bawa, the Sarkin Gobir of Gatawa district in Sokoto State, and his son, describing it as an affront to traditional institutions.

    The lawmaker also said that the killing of Tanimu Kunbiya, the Gara of Chanchanji, and his son Yusuf in Taraba State did not augur well for the country.

    According to the Chinda, our interstate highway systems, which serve as the backbone of our transportation system, have become deathtraps and the staging posts of kidnappers.

    “Extortionists and criminal elements of the dark underworld have taken over the nation’s highways.

    “The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives is gravely worried about the prevailing conditions of our interstate highways and the general state of insecurity in our country, ” he said.

    He expressed concern and outrightly condemned the recent kidnappings that have further highlighted the alarming state of insecurity in the country.