TheNewsGuru

Tag: Residence

  • Despite ravaging hunger, FG spends N5bn on Lagos VP’s residence

    Despite ravaging hunger, FG spends N5bn on Lagos VP’s residence

    Despite ravaging hunger and ongoing economic challenges and escalating inflation affecting millions of Nigerians, the Federal Government has come under scrutiny for allocating a significant N5 billion towards the renovation of the Vice President’s official residence in Lagos.

    In November 2023, the Federal Government outlined a supplementary budget of N2.17 trillion, which included N3 billion specifically allocated for refurbishing the Vice President’s Lagos residence and an additional N2.5 billion for his official quarters at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. These expenditures were part of an effort to upgrade government infrastructure, yet they have sparked widespread concern among citizens facing economic hardships.

    According to findings from GovSpend, a civic technology platform that monitors federal expenditures, the actual amount spent on the Vice President’s Lagos residence renovations in 2024 totaled N5,034,077,063.

    This sum, spent between May and September, exceeded the initial budgetary estimates, raising questions about the use of public funds amid broader financial constraints.

    A closer look at the spending details shows that on May 31, 2024, the State House disbursed N2,827,119,051 to Denderi Investment Limited, an engineering firm, to undertake renovations on the Vice President’s Lagos residence.

    Later, on September 5, 2024, additional payments were made for further work on the property, including N726,748,686 from the Office of the Chief of Staff for additional renovations, and N1,480,209,326 for a second phase of the project.

    The substantial scale of these allocations has drawn attention from both the public and civil society organizations advocating for fiscal responsibility.

    In addition to the Lagos renovation costs, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) announced in November 2023 a plan to construct a new residence for the Vice President in Abuja, at an estimated cost of N15 billion. FCT Minister Nyesom Wike presented this plan during a House of Representatives committee session to justify the FCTA’s supplementary budget of N61.5 billion.

    The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a prominent civil rights organization, criticized these expenditures, labeling them as misaligned with the nation’s current financial challenges and a violation of constitutional principles. SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, highlighted the strain that debt servicing places on the country’s budget, with an estimated 30 percent (N8.25 trillion) of the 2024 budget of N27.5 trillion earmarked for debt payments. Oluwadare argued that allocating billions for a new vice-presidential residence in such times represents a breach of public trust.

    Other advocates have voiced similar concerns. Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, questioned the sincerity of the government’s commitment to reducing governance costs, pointing out that budget allocations for executive expenses have seen minimal cuts in the past 16 months. Likewise, Debo Adeniran, Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, emphasized the need for a constitutional framework to control government spending, suggesting that a new, more restrictive constitution could help curb excessive financial allocations in the future.

    These calls for restraint underscore the pressing need for policy decisions that prioritize public welfare, particularly as citizens face economic pressures on a daily basis.

  • Gunmen invade Labaran Maku’s residence, injure 4 security personnel

    Gunmen invade Labaran Maku’s residence, injure 4 security personnel

    Yet-to-be-identified gunmen on Saturday night invaded the residence of Mr Labaran Maku, former Minister of Information, at Akpata community in Akun, Nassarawa-Eggon Local Government Area in Nasarawa State.

    The invaders injured four security personnel.

    One of the injured security personnel disclosed on Sunday that the criminals invaded the residence at about 7:50 p.m.

    “The criminals forced their way into the residence and started shooting sporadically, injuring four of us in the process.

    “They were many and kept communicating in Hausa langauge while banging the main gate to the house.

    “When I refused to open the gate for them because I did not know who they were, they started shooting and jumped the fence into the compound,” he said.

    Commenting on the incident, Maku decried the spate of kidnapping, banditry and other forms of insecurity in all parts of the state.

    The former minister particularly said the state was under siege, adding that it was the third time his residence and relatives were attacked by criminals.

    “You will remember that about a month ago, these criminal elements invaded my father’s compound at the village and kidnapped three of my family members.

    “About two years ago, they killed two of my elder brother’s children at his residence in Gudi community of Akwanga Local Government Area.

    “What happened today shows clearly that our state is under siege,” Maku said.

    Meanwhile, Gov. Abdullahi Sule has condemned the attack and directed the security agencies to arrest the perpetrators.

    The governor’s directive was contained in a statement by Mr. Peter Ahemba, his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Public Affairs.

    The statement quoted the governor as saying that government had adopted modalities toward tackling all forms of insecurity in the state.

    NAN

  • Terrorists negotiator: DSS finds incriminating materials in residence of Tukur Mamu

    Terrorists negotiator: DSS finds incriminating materials in residence of Tukur Mamu

    The Department of State Services (DSS) recovered incriminating materials when it searched the residence of Mr. Tukur Mamu.

    Mamu is the negotiator between the Nigerian government and terrorists who abducted passengers from the Abuja-Kaduna train service of March 28.

    DSS spokesman, Dr Peter Afunanya said appropriate security agencies executed the search warrant.

    He stated in Abuja on Thursday that incriminating materials recovered included military accoutrements, large amounts of different currencies in different denominations and financial transaction instruments.

    Afunanya assured that Mamu would have his day in court to defend himself.

    The DSS on Wednesday confirmed the detention of Mamu in its facility.

    Mamu was intercepted by Nigeria’s foreign partners in Cairo on Tuesday as he was jetting to Saudi Arabia.

  • BREAKING: Unknown gunmen attack Igboho’s residence, rain bullets on vehicles

    BREAKING: Unknown gunmen attack Igboho’s residence, rain bullets on vehicles

    The Soka Ibadan residence of Yoruba Nation Agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho was raided in the early hours of Thursday by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

    The incident reportedly occurred around 1:00am.

    The media page of Igboho’s spokesperson, Mr Olayomi Koiki, in a live feed monitored by TheNewsGuru(TNG), alleged some men adorning military uniforms carried out the attack

    It was observed Igboho’s vehicles, including his G-wagon, Prado Jeep, some valuable properties including furniture, and windows were destroyed.

    Read Also; Sunday Igboho insists on Lagos rally in July
    Bullet holes were found in cars parked in the premises while blood stains were seen at the premises.

    It was also alleged that some persons in the house including a close ally of Igboho identified as ‘Lady K’, were whisked away.

    It was learnt Igboho was not at home during the attack while some alleged he ‘mysteriously’ disappeared.

    Oyo Police Command was yet to confirm the attack.

  • Overdue loans: Heritage Bank Management backs staffs’ protest at Senator Andy Ubah’s Abuja residence

    Overdue loans: Heritage Bank Management backs staffs’ protest at Senator Andy Ubah’s Abuja residence

    The management of Heritage Bank Plc has confirmed and declared its support for the peaceful protest the bank’s staff held at the Abuja residence of Senator Andy Uba on Monday over his indebtedness to the financial institution.

    This was disclosed by the Managing Director of the bank, Ifie Sekibo, via a message shared with the Bank’s staff.

    In the memo, he explained that the bank did not deliberately put the staff’s action on social media but the development is part of the bank’s effort to prioritize the recovery of all its outstanding loans.

    “Consequently, the recent visit of our colleagues was in line with our objective and solely to address the indebtedness of the customer.

    “I encourage us all to be bold and tenacious, fiercely engaging the market and refusing all forms of intimidation, which the current phase may present,” the memo read in part.

    Meanwhile, neither the bank nor the embattled senator have revealed the actual amount of loan payable.

  • BREAKING: Burglars attack Buhari’s COS Gambari’s Residence close to Aso Villa

    BREAKING: Burglars attack Buhari’s COS Gambari’s Residence close to Aso Villa

    The official residence of the Chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Ibrahim Gambari was on Monday attacked by daredevil gunmen.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that some online media outlets on Monday alleged the CoS residence and that of the Administrative Officer of the State House, Abubakar Maikano, were targeted by suspected armed robbers.

    Confirming the report in a couple of tweets Monday evening, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba, said there was indeed an unsuccessful attempt to burgle Gambari’s house, which is located within the Villa area, a short distance away from the State House, Abuja.

    According to him, the attempted attack on Gambari’s residence happened 3am on Monday.

    According to Shehu; “The Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari has confirmed that there “was a foolish attempt” to burgle his residence at 3:00am this morning but it turned out to be unsuccessful.

    Professor Gambari, whose house is on a street next to the Villa has assured that there is nothing to worry about from the incident”.

  • Herdsmen allegedly invade Sunday Igboho mother’s residence

    Herdsmen allegedly invade Sunday Igboho mother’s residence

    Suspected herdsmen on Sunday allegedly invaded the residence of mother of Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho.

    Igboho’s spokesman, Olayomi Koiki, confirmed this on Sunday night via his Twitter handle.

    He wrote: “Chief Sunday Adeyemo’s mother’s house at Igboho was invaded by three Fulani men this evening around 7:54pm.

    “Two of them escaped, one is currently held at Igboho police station.”

    A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode also confirmed the development on his twitter page.

    He stated: “Three terrorists were caught in Sunday Igboho’s mothers house and not two. One was caught and two escaped.

    “I just spoke to Sunday Igboho and he told me that two foreign Fulani terrorists were apprehended in his mother’s home in Igboho, Oyo state this evening.

    “Their mission was to harm Mama. One of them escaped whilst the other is with the police. Those that sent them are playing with fire.”

    He added: “I am appealing to those who are behind these provocations against his person & reckless attacks to desist from this nonsense.

    “Sunday is a heroic figure in the South West and by far the most powerful, vocal and popular figure in Yorubaland today.

    “Harming him or his family members will not augur well for the peace and stability of our nation.”

  • Gunshots fired by arsonists who burnt Igboho’s residence – Police

    Gunshots fired by arsonists who burnt Igboho’s residence – Police

    The Oyo State Police Command has said it received a report that the hoodlums who burnt the residence of popular Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, otherwise known as Sunday Igboho, loaded themselves in a bus and shot into the air several times.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi, said this in a statement on Tuesday.

    Fadeyi noted that the police were told that the arsonists shot around the residence located in the Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State, several times as they put fire to the house.

    He said the police had begun an investigation into the incident.

    The house was said to have been burnt at around 3 am on Tuesday after the power supply to the area was cut off.

    The police statement read, “At about 0620 hrs of today 26/01/2021, a report was received at the Santo Police Station that some unidentified hoodlums came to Sunday Igboho’s house at Soka area of Ibadan in a Hummer bus and Micra (taxi) firing sporadically, and set the house ablaze.

    “The mini sitting room got burnt in the process while the value of other properties has yet to be estimated.

    “Immediately the DPO Sanyo got wind of the incident, he contacted fire service while he also went to the scene for on the spot assessment.

    “The fire was eventually put out. An investigation has commenced into the incident while the police are on the trail of the hoodlums.”

  • Obasanjo’s residence gutted by fire

    Obasanjo’s residence gutted by fire

    Fire erupted in the store of the famous home of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta on Wednesday night.

    The fire which started around 9.30pm was believed to have been caused by power surge.

    Residents of the area reportedly trooped out to assist the domestic workers in the house at Ita-Eko area to put out the fire. The items destroyed were not immediately known.

    The state Director of Fire Service, Fatai Adefala said the fire only razed a store and not the main building in the former president’s compound.

    He said officials of the agency swiftly responded to distress calls about 10:00pm and succeeded in putting out the fire.

    Obasanjo resided in the house for decades until he moved to the Presidential Palace on the Hilltop in the Government Reservation Area of the city in 2007.

  • Siege: Court rejects Melaye’s suit to order police out of residence

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday refused Senator Dino Melaye’s request that the Police should vacate his residence.

    Melaye had approached a court to seek for an order for the Police to leave having laid a siege on his residence since December 28th, 2018.

    An ex-parte application could have allowed the judge to grant the order without hearing from the police.

    While ruling on the ex-parte application on Thursday, a High Court Judge, N. E. Maha, failed to grant the application, but ruled that the matter at hand be granted a faster and more definitive hearing.

    The Police had said in its statements that Melaye is wanted for his involvement in a culpable homicide and the arming of thugs.

    The Police have also said they will continue to be at Melaye’s residence till he surrenders himself for arrest.