The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Storm in Enugu over rape, murder of pregnant woman

    The Enugu State government on Saturday ordered an autopsy into the circumstances surrounding the death, earlier in the week, of a pregnant housewife, Mrs. Regina Mba of Nchatancha Nike, Emene, as outrage spread over the incident.

    Mrs. Mba was allegedly raped, killed, ripped open and her unborn baby taken away by her assailants, while returning from farm.

    President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo,    called for a  thorough investigation into the killing of the  woman  while in Nchatancha Nike in Enugu State while the Founder Igbo Youth Movement (IYM), Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko said  that by the incident, the Igbo “have been pushed  to the wall.”

    The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Ortuanya said in a terse statement that government had directed the Management of the Enugu State University of Technology Teaching Hospital to immediately carry out an autopsy on the deceased.

    He said the medical exercise was to assist the security agencies in their ongoing investigations.

    Nwodo calls for thorough investigation

    The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, asked for a ‘thorough investigation’ into the murder.

    Read Also: Mob ‘critically’ injures ASP, two other policemen for shooting pregnant woman dead in Lagos

    Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Emeka Attamah, he said that though the Executive of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu State had visited the home of the victim, it was still necessary for him to add his voice to the condemnation of the dastardly and inhuman act.

    Nwodo alleged that some detractors of the state government are out to destabilize the peace and tranquility in the State and rob it of its sobriquet of the most peaceful state in the country.

    The President General enjoined the state government not to be distracted by enemies of progress, but to continue to carry out measures it has put in place to secure lives and property in the state.

    He called on security agencies to unravel the conspiracy and tendency of hoodlums who want to make the state insecure through incessant kidnappings and killings which hitherto were absent.

    Nwodo commiserated with the family of the deceased and urged them to bear the loss with fortitude.  He called for general vigilance and precautions among the people to nip these acts in the bud.

    Ugochukwu-Uko: ‘We’ve been pushed to the wall’

    The founder, Igbo Youth Movement, Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, said the murder is “simply put, unpardonable and unacceptable.”

    He blamed the killing on herdsmen and said their horrific brigandage   “has gotten way beyond what is condonable and tolerable.”

    He said: “Every once in a while, the devil seems to take total control of events in a kingdom. The result usually is avoidable bloodshed, bedlam, mayhem and utter destruction which takes decades to rebuild. We are sadly, inexorably heading towards that path, the government is either overwhelmed or complicit.

    “Traditional rulers, priests and community leaders seem preferred targets of choice, these expansionist demons of death are schooled by their sponsors and masters to hunt.

    “General Danjuma screamed they are being protected by the military and security forces. Killing of policemen by soldiers in Taraba confirm soldiers could be compromised, confessions of arrested culprits that helicopters drop guns and ammunition for them, in the forest, simply completes the horror script. We have been under siege for four years now.

    “The hapless communities now have no other choice than to defend themselves or perish. The days of endless endurance and era of trusting the security agencies to protect our people are over.

    “The ferocious incursion into our farmlands and homestead with rape, beheadings, amputations and general terror is the age old well known trademark of these expansionist warriors for centuries. Our people are clearly in trouble.

    “The obvious inability or deliberate lack of interest or both, by the government of the day, to rein in these vermin has already resulted to lack of trust between our leaders and the masses who are incensed that politicians are not doing enough to protect them, as seen in the Nuremberg, Germany incident.”

  • OPay launches ‘OTrike’ in Kano

    Opera-founded startup, OPay, has introduced ‘OTrike’, a tricycle hauling service, in the northwestern city, Kano offering prices for as low as N30 per trip and 50% discount as part of its launch promotion.This development has met with positive reactions from the residents of Kano State.

    OTrike, like ORide and OBus, is a tricycle hailing service that will operate using branded tricycle popularly known as Keke Napep for intrastate trips within Kano.

    In 2018, the startup started operations as a mobile payment platform. It has since diversified its product offerings into motorcycle ride-hailing, ORide; food delivery service, OFood; OBus and the current one OTrike.

    Speaking during the launch, Director of Operations at ORide, Ridwan Olalere said; “This is in continuation of the founding vision of ORide which is, to make smart commuting accessible to people of all walks of life, at an affordable rate.

    “ORide is about creating opportunities by helping people move from where they are to where they need to be, to make it happen”.

    Read Also: Tackling unemployment through ride-hailing technology

    Meanwhile, the ‘OTrike’ riders have received android smartphones as part of their on-boarding kit and have also been trained with respect to international safety and security standards.

    The firm further disclosed that it has engaged the Kano State Government and upon the official launch of ‘OTrike’, it was invited by the Government to further clarify and educate the Government on its business model including its pricing approach.

    Upon concluding its Government verification, the firm has gained the confidence of the state government in the platform and as such leveraged on OTrike’s solutions for regulating the Tricycle business in Kano.

    The firm promised to restructure its business to fully integrate with the State’s commerce laws by partaking in the Keke registration via KAROTA.

    Since launching in Kano, OTrike has delivered several benefits including, providing employment to many Kano residents; paying well above the minimum wage; direct investment in the state through its operations and also providing a safe and secure ecosystem for passengers commuting through Keke.

  • Weekly Round-up: Top stories you might have missed this week

    It’s been such a busy week with so many activities hence you may have missed some of our most interesting stories. We take a moment every week to bring you top stories you might have missed.

    Buhari’s new Ministers, Re-arrest of Wadume, NASU, SSANU warning strike, IPOB’s attack on Ekweremadu, EFCC’s probe of Obasanjo govt’s $16bn power project, fraudulent practices by 80 Nigerians in US, and other controversial news dominated the socio-political discourse this week.

    To make sure you’re up-to-date, The Nation brings you a brief round-up of the major stories this week. Alao Abiodun Reports

    Here is a recap of the week’s big news:

    Taraba Killing: Police Re-Arrest Suspected Kidnapper, Wadume

    The Police have arrested suspected kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Wadume who was named in the clash between the police and soldiers two weeks ago in Taraba State.

    Mr Wadume was arrested in the Layin Mai Allo Hotoro area of Kano State by Inspector General of Police (IGP)’s Intelligence Response Team.

    Reacting to the suspect’s arrest, IGP Mohammed Adamu commended the police operatives for their perseverance and painstaking efforts.

    He also thanked Nigerians for their support and empathy to the police and the families of the officers killed in Taraba.

    Buhari swears in ministers

    Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, has sworn in his 43 new ministers.

    The ministers were sworn in on Wednesday, inside the Federal Executive Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Among those present at the event was the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha and the national chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole.

    President Buhari had on July 23 appointed a total of 43 ministers from the 36 states and Abuja.

    Among the appointees are former Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio; senior lawyer Festus Keyamo; ex-Benue governor George Akume; and 40 other nominees.

    The president also retained Babatunde Fashola, Chris Ngige and a few other returnee ministers.

    The appointments were made across the six geopolitical zones.

    80 Nigerians charged for massive fraud, money laundering in America

    The United States Department of Justice has released a statement announcing that 80 defendants, most of whom are Nigerians have been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud, conspiracy to launder money, and aggravated identity theft.

    A 252-count federal grand jury indictment charged 77 Nigerian nationals with participating in a massive conspiracy to steal millions of dollars through a variety of fraud schemes and launder the funds through a Los Angeles-based money laundering network as uncovered by the FBI.

    The indictment was unsealed after law enforcement authorities, led by the FBI, on Thursday morning arrested 14 defendants across the United States, with 11 of those arrests taking place in the Los Angeles region.

    Two defendants were already in federal custody on other charges, and one was arrested earlier this week. The remaining defendants are believed to be abroad, with most of them located in Nigeria.

    NASU, SSANU, demand N30 billion earned allowance

    Nigerian university workers held a warning strike from Monday, to press the federal government to meet their demands.

    The one-week strike lasted from August 19 to 23.

    Non-academic staff of universities had earlier planned for a nationwide protest on July 15 ahead of an indefinite strike over the failure of the federal government to implement its agreements with them.

    The agitation is coming four months after the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) suspended their two-month strike.

    Nigerian non-academic university workers have demanded N30 billion as payment of their earned allowances from the Nigerian government.

    The union lamented that 80 per cent of the money earlier released to the universities was for academic staff which it described as ‘discriminatory’.

    In its address, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the non-academic unions, Solomon Alfa, said the five-day warning strike embarked upon last Monday to press home their demands was very successful.

    The striking unions include the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU).

    Read Also: Six fake NYSC members nabbed in katsina

    133 Nigerian refugees return from Cameroon

    Nigerian refugees

    About 133 Nigerian refugees have returned from neighbouring Cameroon.

    The returnees are part of the over two million Nigerians displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.

    Most of those displaced are within Nigeria, but several thousands are also living as refugees in neighbouring countries like Cameroon and Chad.

    The 133 returnees touched down at the Yola International Airport aboard Nigerian Airforce C130 at about 5:00 p.m. local time on Thursday.

    Officials of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, said the refugees volunteered to return home on their own.

    Some of the refugees described their experiences while in Cameroon as nasty, with one saying “life over there was difficult.”

    Condemnations trail IPOB’s attack on Ekweremadu

    This week, more condemnation trailed the attack on former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu by suspected members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Germany.

    He was to give a keynote address at the Second Annual Igbo Cultural Festival and Convention organised by Ndi-Igbo in Nuremberg, Germany, on Saturday.

    IPOB claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on Sunday, saying it ordered its members in 100 countries to attack Igbo leaders when they see them.

    Reacting to the attack, the All Progressives Congress (APC) asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to apologise to Nigerians for supporting IPOB.

    APC National Publicity Secretary Lanre Issa-Onilu described PDP’s reaction to the attack as hypocritical.

    “No Nigerian should be assaulted in the manner Senator Ekweremadu was. It is an indecent action and it is below the acceptable standard of behaviour expected of our citizens, whether in Nigeria or abroad.”

    Southeast Governors’ Forum Chairman and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi said that the problem with the members of the IPOB is illiteracy.

    He said that majority of them were suffering from illiteracy and needed to be enrolled in school.

    Tribunal nullifies Dino Melaye’s election

    An election tribunal sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has nullified the election of Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi West.

    The tribunal ordered a fresh election to be conducted in the senatorial district.

    Mr Melaye’s closest rival, Smart Adeyemi of the APC, had challenged his victory at the tribunal.

    Mr Melaye was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2007 to represent Kabba/Ijumu federal constituency. He served two terms and later won election as a senator in 2015. He was declared winner of the February 2019 to serve another term in the Senate.

    Mr Melaye in June confirmed he would be contesting the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi State. The Kogi governorship election holds on November 16.

  • Lai Mohammed: we must work hard

    Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed has urged the management and staff of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture on the need to double their efforts.

    Mohammed, who spoke at the inaugural meeting with the Permanent Secretary and directors of the ministry, said: “My charge to all of us is to please redouble our effort so that we can justify the confidence Mr President has reposed in us. That Mr President has reappointed and posted me back to this ministry is a measure of the confidence he has in me. So I think we all need to work hard.

    “Let me express my joy at the prospect of working again with the Directors that I worked with in the last administration. Whatever success we had achieved was because of the cooperation and collaboration of Directors who worked with us,” he said.

    Mohammed said he would continue to work very closely with the Permanent Secretary and the Directors in order to implement the core mandate of the ministry.

    Read Also: Fashola gets Works as Ngige, Amaechi, Lai retain portfolios

    “There must be synergy between the Minister and the Permanent Secretary and I must say that I have enjoyed a very cordial working relationship with my Permanent Secretary, and I am very glad that that relationship contributed in no small measure to the moderate success we achieved. We need your cooperation because we can’t do it alone,” he said.

    The Permanent Secretary, Deaconess Grace Isu-Gekpe, expressed delight at the reappointment of Mohammed and pledged the readiness of the management and staff of the ministry to support and cooperate with the Minister to enable him to achieve his mandate.

    “It’s actually been my desire to have you back sir. We are all very glad to have you back to continue where you stopped. There is a lot of work here and I believe that you will surely take this ministry to the next level.

    “I want to say welcome back to your family and all of us are ready to work with you to take this ministry and the whole nation, in areas of information and Culture, to the next level,” she said.

  • NNPC fails to remit N77.92b, says NEITI

    The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) on Thursday accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of under-remitting N77.92billion to the Federation Account in 2017.

    The report which is pilot study on the sale of crude oil, however, noted that there is an ongoing reconciliation of the amount that arose from KPMG Forensic audit.

    In a statement endorsed by its Director, Communications and Advocacy, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, NEITI said:  “N77.92 billion was under-remitted by NNPC to the Federation Account from Domestic Crude Allocation in 2017. NNPC acknowledges the under-remittance and states that there is an ongoing reconciliation to net off the N77.92 billion from “the established Federation indebtedness to the Corporation of N797billion arising arising from KPMG Forensic audit of the Corporation at the instance of the Federation.”

    It said the total revenue from sale of federation share of oil and gas for 2017 was $14.5 billion—$13.18 billion or 90.8 per cent from crude oil and $1.32 billion or 9.1per cent from gas.

    Read Also: NNPC gets NHIS accreditation for medical services

    The report said the NNPC, deducted N297 billion from earnings from the Domestic Crude Allocation as costs and losses, broken down as follows: N141.6 billion for under-recovery on petroleum products; N25 billion for crude and product losses; and N130.4 billion for pipeline repairs and maintenance.

    According to NEITI, from the report, the total crude oil production for 2017 was 692 million barrels.

    Out of this volume, the share that went to the federation was 240.9 million barrels representing 35per cent of the total crude oil production for the year 2017.

    Analysis of the year under review showed that the federation share was four per cent higher than the 231.6 million barrels in the same category for 2016 but was 19per cent lower than the 297.8 million barrels for 2015.

    The report said  it showed that while there was a slight improvement on the figure for 2016 (a year characterized by vandalism and sabotage of oil facilities), crude production for 2017 was about a fifth less than the 2015 level.

    The statement read: “A further breakdown of key findings in the report show that 240.9 million barrels federation share for 2017 was disaggregated as follows: Domestic Crude Allocation (DCA): 105. 9 million barrels or 44 per cent of federation share; Federal inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Liftings: 57.3 million barrels or 24 per cent of federation share; Federation Export: 50. 2 million barrels or 21per cent of federation share; Third Party Financing: 17.6 million or seven per cent of federation share; DPR liftings: 9.9 million barrels or four per cent of federation share.

  • NERC to justify tariff hike decision

    The Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Prof. James Momoh on Thursday said the Commission was ready to present the market fundamentals that resulted in the tariff hike to its opposers.

    Momoh, who spoke to reporters in Abuja said: “If any customer or NLC (Nigeria Labour Congress) comes, we will show them how we did it. And I am sure they (NLC) will show the customers how we did it to understand us.”

    The NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba had on July 16, warned the commission against any tariff hike.

    The labour leader insisted that the hardship in the country was already unbearable that the congress was not ready to tolerate an increase in any cost in the country.

    Read Also: JUST IN: FG injects N600b into electricity market

    He said: “On our part, anything that will add cost to the consumers at this point in time, certainly, as a consumer and somebody that represents a large constituency, we will not be able to bear the cost.”

    He said the electricity distribution companies (DisCos) were defrauding consumers with fraudulent and unsubstantiated estimated bills.

    But asked what would the NERC do to manage the concerns of the NLC and other consumers that are opposed to the hike, Momoh promised to make a presentation of the parameters to them.

  • TCN seeks DisCo’s liquidation

    The Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Usman Gur  Mohammed on Thursday, said he has made recommendation that one of the 11 distribution companies (DisCos) be liquidated.

    He told the new Minister of Power, Engr. Mamman Sale and the Minister of State, Goddy Jedy Agba, who were taking their inaugural briefings from the Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) heads in Abuja that the recommendation was due to lack of performance of the DisCo.

    Mohammed who did not mention the name of the power firm, insisted that the TCN has the power under its Act to make such recommendation.

    He said: “Honourable Ministers, as we speak with you, we have actually recommended the liquidation of one DisCo for lack of performance.”

    Responding,  Agba said he was aware of the need for an effective and efficient power sector in Nigeria that has remained an unending pain to the citizenry.

    Read Also: Senate seeks divestment of 40% govt’s stake in DisCos

    He said: “There is no reason why we cannot change this despicable and miserable narrative. This is what Nigerians expect from us as we begin this new journey. We must therefore brace to face this challenge.”

    Meanwhile, the Managing Director, Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Company, Dr. Marilyn Amobi, said  in the last payment, last month, the company has borne a payment of N181billion to five generation companies (GenCos) for electricity that Nigerians did not use.

    According to her, in the context of the N701billion power sector intervention fund, the Federal Government paid N105billion as five per cent to GenCos for unused electricity. The payments, she said, were due to the power purchase agreements that government had with the companies.

    Reacting to the comment, the Permanent Secretary, Louis Edozien, told the minister that Nigerians were agitated about the quality of service in the industry.

    “We created an industry that places a huge continent liability on the government. We have to apply our intellect to this problem to solve it. The Minister of State, I know this is an area you are familiar with. Both of you have to lead us out of this quagmire,” he said.

  • Olubadan chieftaincy case: Appeal Court rejects out-of-court settlement

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan on Thursday refused to accede to an out-of-court settlement filed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde in the Olubadan chieftaincy case involving the controversial coronation of 21 kings by former Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    Instead, the appellate court in its judgment yesterday ordered that the case to be remitted  back to the High Court for trial before another judge.

    The appeal was filed by former Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi against Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland Senator Rasidi Ladoja and Chairman of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Review Panel Justice Akintunde Boade (retd) as respondents.

    Both the Olubadan, Oba  Saliu Adetunji and the Osi Olubadan separately sued the former governor, the state government and the 21 new kings at the state High Court.

    While the lower court had delivered judgment in the case filed by Ladoja, it has not done so in the litigation instituted by the Olubadan.

    Read Also: Ibadan 21 kings may lose crowns soon

    Makinde, who inherited the matter had last Tuesday opted for an out-of-court settlement to restore peace, unity and good relationships between the Olubadan and his estranged chiefs.

    Ladoja had earlier secured the judgment of the High Court, which ruled that the processes leading to the crowing and installation of more kings in Ibadan as illegal, null, void and of no effect.

    Following moves by Makinde to reconcile the Olubadan-in-Council via terms of settlement, the Attorney-General, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, informed the appellate court of the progress made on the matter.

    He subsequently filed an application to settle the case out-of-court.

    However, the appellate court, in its judgment delivered by Justice Abubakar Ma’ud Talba, said the matter had been fixed for judgment, saying that the court allowed the interlocutory appeal of the appellants.

    Ma’ud Talba said the case of the first respondent ought to have been commenced by a way of writ of summons as opposed to an originating summon.

    He, therefore, ordered that the case be remitted back to the lower court for trial before another judge of the state high court.

    On January 19, 2018, an Ibadan High Court presided over by Justice O. I. Aiki granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining the governor, his agent or servant from accepting, implementing or gazetting any recommendation made by the judicial commission of inquiry over the 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration of the Olubadan and other related matters.

  • Dare laments 38 per cent youth unemployment

    Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare has pledged to work with relevant agencies and stakeholders to address youth unemployment.

    The minister spoke on Thursday in Abuja at the 2019 International Youth Day, with the theme “Transforming Education’’.

    He lamented the large number of Nigerian youths out of school and the growing number of those unemployed with a pledge to address it headlong.

    “Youth unemployment as at the 2nd quarter of 2018 stood at 38 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    “We will work hard to reduce this figure by applying principles and objectives that cut across different sectors of development.

    “We must consciously work to provide enabling environment for the Nigerian youth to excel and reach his full potentials,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Veteran Journalist Sunday Dare is new sports minister

    Dare said the ministry would collaborate with relevant agencies of government as well as development partners to improve the employment situation of Nigerian youths.

    “The ministry will seek and explore linkages with other federal ministries, agencies and development partners towards leveraging on technology and innovation.

    “We have already identified ministries such as Trade, Industry and Investment; Communication; Science and Technology; Agriculture, and Education,’’ he added.

    He said the Federal Government was ready to tap into the large population and vibrancy of the youth to fast track national development.

    Dare is to convene a meeting of the various factions of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) as part of efforts to resolve lingering issues in youth development in the country.

    In his keynote address, he said: “As a practical demonstration to this cause, I will in a couple of days convene a meeting of critical stakeholders in the area of youth development. Unity of minds and purpose must drive our engagements going forward.

    “In this way the Youth Organisations and in particular, the National Youth Council of Nigeria will be refocused to complement the efforts of Government to expand the reach and advance the cause of transforming education among our youths.

    “Furthermore, Government will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to adequately empower the youth; enhance youth civic engagement and participation in the political processes and in decision-making as well as established institutions,” the minister explained.

    NYCN is split across factional lines with contenders either laying claim to the group’s leadership.

    The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Olusade Adesola, called on youths to be good ambassadors of the country and contribute to national development.

    The International Youth Day is celebrated yearly, on Aug. 12.

    The 2019 commemoration was postponed in Nigeria because of the Eid-el Kabir festivity.

    The event was attended by officials from UNFPA, NYSC, Ministry of Labour officials and other development partners.

  • Fed Govt to prosecute those behind $9b UK judgment, says Malami

    The Federal Government will prosecute everyone linked with the contract that resulted in the judgment of the United Kingdom, Business & Property Courts (the Commercial Court) which awarded a cumulative sum of $9bn award against Nigeria and in favour of a private firm, Process & Industrial Developments Limited, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami has said.

    Malami, who questioned the sincerity of those behind the contract, awarded in 2010, argued that it formed part of the inglorious legacies of past administrations, which this government is being made to grapple with.

    Malami spoke in Abuja on Thursday, while unveiling his agenda on his first day of resumption at the Federal Ministry of Justice. He said henceforth, contract of certain categories will be vetted by the Federal Ministry of Justice before it is signed by any Federal Government agency.

    He said: “Sadly, in spite of the spirited and concerted efforts of the current administration to combat corrupt practices and rent-seeking in all its forms, Nigerians woke up on Friday 16th August, 2019 to the rudest consequences of the underhand dealings of -the past administration that has resulted in the award of $9billion against the Federal Republic of Nigeria by a British court, which ruled that Process and Industrial Development Limited (P&ID) had the right to seize $9billion in Nigerian assets.

    “It may interest you to know that the dispute that led to the arbitration between the FGN and P&ID, which consequently resulted in the said court ruling arose from a twenty (20) year Gas Supply Processing Agreement: (GSPA) purportedly entered with P&ID by the past administration in 2010, which contract the P&ID never performed as agreed.

    Read Also: Malami: what Buhari told me about justice ministry

    “That being said, it must be placed on record that the Federal Government strongly views with serious concerns the underhand manners by which the negotiation, signing and formation of the contract was carried out by some vested interests in the past administration in connivance with their local and international conspirators all in a bid to inflict grave economic adversity on the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the good people of Nigeria.

    “As a government that has the mandate of the people and their interests at heart, we shall not fold our arms and allow this injustice to go unpunished as all efforts, actions and steps shall be taken to bring to book all private individuals, corporate entities and government officials home or abroad and past or present that played direct and indirect roles in the conception, negotiation, signing formation as well as prosecution of the purported agreement,” Malami said.

    Malami, also appeared worried about the impact of public corruption and the connivance of financial institutions in the thriving crime of illicit finance flow out of the country. He said henceforth, financial institutions, linked with financial crimes, will be prosecuted along with the culprits

    The AGF blamed the current increasing hostile political environment and other challenges in the country on the long years of the failure of the judicial system and the lawless acts of the corrupt and unpatriotic few, who always derive pleasure in seeing the nation falters,

    He expressed his commitment to upholding the rule of law and promised to champion a robust reform of the nation’s justice system to make it function effectively in aid of the administration’s policies targeted at building a great and prosperous nation.

    Malami said “We have done much, but the reality is that there is a lot more to be done especially at this crucial time in the annals of our country when the soul of Nigeria is currently being threatened by an emerging class of mutinous elements at a time that our nation needs cohesion like never before. Nigeria is today bedevilled with an existential crisis of nationhood that is threatening to tear the country apart, with needless calls for separation, dismemberment and ill-motivated restructuring.

    “However, a deep reflection and interrogation of the system and issues in my vantage position as Attorney General of the Federation clearly reveal that a critical part of the problem arose from the long years of failure of our justice system, which has consequently created a very vulnerable political environment.

    As we all know that any society where laws are observed in the breach than in the observance, such a society will automatically degenerate to Hobbesian state of nature when life was brutish, whimsical and short a state to which no Nigerian should pray we return as a country.

    “We, therefore, cannot afford to fail on account of the lawless acts of the corrupt and unpatriotic few who always derive pleasure in seeing us fail as a nation. The law must work; it must speak its firm language of justice at all times, no matter whose ox is gored. It is beyond doubt that the law is the secret that binds societies together.

    “As a social engineer and reformer, I am determined as ever before to use the law as a means to shape society, regulate people’s behaviours and balance the competing interests in the Nigerian society because of the ‘defence of the corporate interest of the Federal Republic Nigeria. And the rights of her citizens, are my primary goal as Chief Law Officer,” he said.

    .Malami argued that the major reason “for the seeming failure of our system is the structural defects

    of our constitution and laws, non-adherence to laws, institutional failure of enforcements, and dysfunctionality of our judicial system which only judicial reforms can reverse if we must exist as a nation.”

    The AGF said he will devote his second coming to working on ways to address all the identified challenges by collaborating with other arms of government and relevant agencies of the Executive arm of government.

    Malami assured that under his watch, the Federal Ministry of Justice shall devote its efforts at developing measures to help reverse “this dysfunctional system” by rigorously pursuing judicial reforms targeted at

    achieving some identified objectives.

    They include:

    *To protect the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, wellbeing and prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by defending the Nigerian constitution in such a manner that will guarantee the unity and indivisibility. of the Nigerian State;

    *To promote and remain steadfast to the policy thrusts of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration by contributing our own quotas to improving security, fighting corruption and fixing the economy for the greater benefit of all Nigerians;

    *To use the instrumentality of our legal system to improve accountability in public financial management with a view to ensuring that the government and its officials, as well as private individuals and corporate entities, are accountable to the Nigerian people under the law;

    *To apply laws in such a manner that abuse of power by private individuals, corporate entities and national authorities are checked in a way that the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the citizens are protected without any form of discrimination;

    *To ensure the processes of enactment, administration and enforcement of the law are open, accessible, just, equitable and efficient.