The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Civil war: Police recover 10 unexploded ordnances

    More Unexploded Ordnances (UXOs) planted during the Nigerian Civil War have been located and successfully recovered from Anambra, Imo and Delta States, the police said on Thursday.

    The recoveries, which were executed by the Explosives Ordinance Disposal (EOD) command of the police, were discovered mostly by builders while digging foundations for their properties, Police Commissioner (EOD) Maikudi Shehu told reporters on Thursday.

    Shehu, who was in Lagos for the CP EOD’s third quarter conference with senior officers, base/unit commanders, said the UXOs were recovered and demobilised between May and August.

    He said: “The successes recorded during this period are in the area of UXOs which were left after the civil war. We recovered some of them in Imo, Anambra and Delta States. They were discovered by builders while digging foundations and who quickly notified the police. We moved in quickly to see how to secure those things and demobilise them without any injury to the public.

    Read Also: Fake cylinders: LPG advocate warns `bomb-like’ explosions may hit Nigerian homes

    “We also ensured we did it quietly to avoid causing panic among the people. About 10 incidents were recorded, and we successfully recovered and demobilised those UXOs. There is need for us to continue to upgrade and ensure that our technicians receive the best training to stay on top of their game for the people’s safety.

    “We advice people against touching suspicious objects but they should alert the nearest police station so that EOD experts would be dispatched to inspect, recover and diffuse such objects if they are harmful.”

    Addressing the conference themed “Curtailing Internal Security threat in line with Global Best Practices,” Shehu said that command had received two mobile radiation detection equipment donated by the United States Department of Energy (US-DOE), Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence (NSDD).

    According to him, the donation was in furtherance of National Nuclear Security (NNS), and the equipment would be deployed after the training of operators and maintainers.

    He added: “They (US) just gave the police two vans which will be inaugurated by the Inspector General of Police (IG). The Americans are sending their personnel here to train our men. They will train the drivers and technicians who will be using these equipments so that they can also train others.”

    On the expectations for the next quarter, the police chief said the department would focus on improving on structures, including the expertise of its operatives to continue to deliver good leadership as the lead security agency.

  • EFCC quizzes three Kwara officials over ‘N150m fraud’

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday quizzed some management staff of the Kwara State Scholarship Board over alleged N150 million bursary fraud.

    Those interrogated by the operatives of the commission’s Ilorin Zonal Office  include the board’s chairperson, Hajia Fatimoh Yusuf, Executive Secretary Fatai Lamidi and Accountant, Stephen Ajewole, among others.

    As at the time of filing this report, the officials were still being grilled by the operatives.

    It was gathered that the state government in 2017 and 2018 released N150 million as bursary allowances for 10,000 students, who are indigenes of the state in tertiary institutions.

    It was also learnt that the board did not pay up to 4,000 students, but allegedly fraudulently converted the remaining ones to personal use.

    Read Also: EFCC moves to prevent Internet fraud

    The petitioners, who are students of some higher institutions, had alleged that their names appeared as beneficiaries of the bursary allowances, but never received the money.

    During interrogation by the operatives of the commission, the students, who sighted their names, matriculation numbers and signatures, became very angry, insisting that the names and matriculation numbers were correct but their signatures were forged.

    They claimed not to have been the original beneficiaries of the controversial bursary allowance despite their particulars on the scholarship board’s documents.

    The officials of the board had earlier told the operatives of the anti-graft body that the students were issued cheques, but the commission discovered that only few beneficiaries were given cash.

  • U.S. charges Nigerians for stealing millions of dollars

    A Federal grand jury indictment unsealed on Thursday charged 80 people, most of whom are Nigerians, with participating in a massive conspiracy to steal millions of dollars through a variety of fraud schemes.

    The Department of Justice (DoJ) said the suspects plan to launder the funds through a Los Angeles-based money laundering network.

    The indictment was unsealed after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted a series of raids yesterday morning and arrested 14 defendants across the United States (U.S.), 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 in the week. The  remaining defendants are believed to be abroad, with most them located in Nigeria.

    According to the indictment, the individuals charged used various online fraud schemes – including business email compromise (BEC) frauds, romance scams, and schemes targeting the elderly – to defraud victims out of millions of dollars.

    According to a criminal complaint also unsealed yesterday, co-conspirators based in Nigeria, the U.S. and other countries contacted the lead defendants in the indictment – Valentine Iro, 31, of Carson, and Chukwudi Christogunus Igbokwe, 38, of Gardena, both Nigerian citizens – for bank and money-service accounts that could receive funds fraudulently obtained from victims.

    Once members of the conspiracy convinced victims to send money under false pretences, Iro and Igbokwe coordinated the receipt of funds and oversaw an extensive money-laundering network, according to the 145-page indictment.

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    The indictment and criminal complaint allege that Iro and Igbokwe, who were among those arrested, were involved in schemes resulting in the fraudulent transfer of at least $6 million in fraudulently-obtained funds – and the overall conspiracy was responsible for the attempted theft of at least an additional $40 million.

    The individuals named in the indictment targeted victims in the United States and across the globe, including individuals, small and large businesses, and law firms, the FBI said. Some of the victims of the conspiracy lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to fraud schemes, and many were elderly.

    Each of the 80 defendants named in the indictment is charged with conspiracy to commit fraud, conspiracy to launder money, and aggravated identity theft. A number of the defendants also face substantive fraud and money laundering charges.

    Additionally, Iro, Igbokwe, and five other defendants –Jerry Ikogho, 50, of Carson, Adegoke Moses Ogungbe, 34, of Fontana, Izuchukwu Kingsley Umejesi, 30, of Los Angeles, Tityaye Marina Mansbangura, 33, of Palmdale, and Obi Madekwe, 31, of Nigeria – are charged with operating illegal money transmitting businesses. Ogungbe and Mansbangura were also among those arrested yesterday morning, and Umejesi is a fugitive currently being sought by authorities.

    U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna held a news conference to announce the domestic arrests and the unsealing of the federal indictment charging the 80 defendants.

    He was accompanied by officials from the FBI, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.

    Hanna said the case was part of an ongoing effort to protect citizens and businesses from email scams.

    The attorney said: “Today, we have taken a major step to disrupt criminal networks that use [business email scam] schemes, romance scams and other frauds to fleece victims

    “This indictment sends a message that we will identify perpetrators — no matter where they reside — and we will cut off the flow of ill-gotten gains.”

    These business email scams rely partly on deception and in some cases hacking. Scammers send specially crafted emails to their targets in order to trick them into turning over sensitive information about the company, such as sending employee W-2 tax documents so scammers can generate fraudulent refunds, or tricking an employee into making wire transfers to bank accounts controlled by the scammers. More often than not, the scammers use spoofing techniques to impersonate a senior executive over email to trick the unsuspecting victim, or hack into the email account of the person they are impersonating.

    The FBI says these impersonation attacks have cost consumers and businesses more than $3 billion since 2015.

    Valentine Iro, 31, and Chukwudi Christogunus Igbokwe, 38, both Nigerian nationals and residents of California, are accused of running the operation, said the prosecutors.

    The alleged fraudsters are accused of carrying out several hundred “overt” acts of fraud against more than a dozen victims, generating millions of dollars’ worth of fraud over several months.

    In some cases, the fraudsters would hack into the email accounts of the person they were trying to impersonate to try to trick a victim into wiring money from business into the fraudster’s bank account.

    Iro and Igbokwe were “essentially brokers” of fraudulent bank accounts, prosecutors allege, by fielding requests for bank account information and laundering the money obtained from victims.

    The two lead defendants are accused of taking a cut of the stolen money. They also allegedly used illicit money exchanges to launder the money.

    Many bank accounts run by the fraudsters contained more than $40 million in stolen funds.

    The FBI said the agency has seen a large increase in the number of business email scams in the past year targeting small and large businesses, as well as nonprofits.

  • Governors give condition to refund N614b to Fed Govt

    Governors on Thursday gave the Federal Government a condition to refund the N614 billion budget support intervention fund given to 35 states.

    They insisted that there must be a reconciliation of what each state will refund before any step could be taken. The governors spoke at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, The Nation has learnt.

    As a result of their insistence, a committee was set up to work things out and report back at the next meeting.

    The money was released to states by President Muhammadu Buhari during the recession when many of them were unable to honour their obligation to workers. Apart from Lagos, all the remaining 35 states benefitted from the fund.

    A governor, who spoke in confidence, said: “We agreed in principle on the need to refund the N614billion but with a condition that deductions must be done after reconciliation of the actual intervention funds given to each state.

    “We all decided to set up a reconciliation committee, comprising all parties and stakeholders. We do not want a repeat of how states paid in excess for London-Paris Club loans. It was only when President Muhammadu Buhari came on board that the refund of the excess loan repayments was effected.

    “The Federal Government and the states mutually consented to defer the deduction of the N614billion from statutory allocations or other accruals until a proper reconciliation has been done to the satisfaction of all parties.

    The states fear that refunding the money might plunge them to further financial crisis. Many of them are struggling to pay salaries and carry out other activities.

    However, Finance, Budget and National Planning Minister Mrs. Zainab Ahmed said each state is likely to refund N17.5billion.

    According to her, the NEC reviewed the state of the economy.

    She added that arrangement has been concluded to forward the 2020 budget estimates to the National Assembly next month for consideration.

    The objective is to return the country to the January-December budget cycle.

    Read Also: Governors discuss update on NFIU guidelines, SDGs, others

    Mrs. Ahmed, who briefed State House reporters at the end of the NEC meeting, said: “Council agreed to constitute a committee of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) to meet with the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to finalise modalities for repayment.”

    According to her, Council was briefed on preparations for the 2020-2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the revenue generation challenges faced by the government.

    She said the stabilisation fund account and natural resources fund balances as at August 20 is $95,329,245.24; the balance in the natural resources development fund account, she said, is N95,896,886,829.69.

    She said reports on the Excess Crude Account and other special federation accounts are expected at the next meeting.

    According to the minister, the macroeconomic environment is recovering gradually.

    “There have been eight successive months of economic growth since emerging from recession.

    “The Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) remains the basis for the medium term fiscal strategy.”

    Highlighting successes recorded, she said: “Macro-economic stability has been achieved with growth in end Q3 2019 at 3.01 per cent.”

    The minister added that there was an increase in real GDP from 1.89 per cent in the first quarter of last year to 2.01 per cent in 2019.

    “There has been significant growth in non-oil sector. Contribution of the non-oil sector to GDP has increased by 90.4 per cent in Q1 2018 to 90.9 per cent in Q1 2019.”

    Ahmed said the unemployment rate was at 20.1 per cent as at the third quarter of last year, adding that there was the need for more diversification to boost inclusive growth.

    According to her, the President is committed to employment generation in the second term of his administration.

    She said considerable success has been recorded in containing insurgency in parts of the Northeast, with economic activities recovering.

    She noted that recurring conflicts between farmers and herdsmen, as well as incidences of flooding, had affected agricultural products.

    Breaches in petroleum pipelines, the minister said, partly accounted for low oil production volume in the first half of the year.

    “Inflation has continually declined since 2017 from 18.72 per cent to 11.08 per cent in July 2019,” she said.

    On the $9 billion judgment debt against Nigeria, she said that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), had assured that the Federal Government will appeal the judgement.

    Some governors attended the meeting, the first after the ministers’ inauguration.

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki noted that August 21 marks a three-year milestone without a case of Wild Polio Virus (WPV) in Nigeria.

    He underscored the need for improved campaigns to stop the outbreak of the CVDPV2 (a type of poliovirus), even as there is the need for increased routine immunisation.

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, who chairs the NGF, gave an update on NEC Ad-Hoc Committee on Security and policing.

    He said the Inspector-General (IG) had initiated community policing, adding that there is a plan to use N-Power beneficiaries and youth corps members as police officers in their Local Government Areas.

    He said that the Council also received a presentation from the Chief Executive Officer, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Oscar Onyema.

    The NSE, he said, is one of Africa’s foremost Exchanges, with a market capitalisation of N25.7trillion ($70.7bn).

    “Over the last five years, N10.3trillion in long term capital has been raised by federal and state governments in the form of Government Bonds,” the governor quoted Onyema as saying.

    According to him, the capital market offers innovative financing solutions for Nigeria’s $100billion infrastructural challenge.

  • Wadume testifies before DHQ panel as more suspects held

    Re-arrested kidnap suspect Hamisu Bala Wadume made shocking revelations on Thursday when he appeared before the Special Investigation Panel in Abuja.

    The panel is probing the circumstances of his escape when he was first arrested and the killing of policemen by soldiers at a checkpoint.

    Wadume, who was re-arrested in Kano after a manhunt, was drilled for many hours by the Rear Admiral Ibikunle Olaiya -led Special investigative panel, The Nation learnt last night.

    It was gathered that the suspect who was smuggled into the panel’s meeting venue in Abuja gave a vivid account of his alleged dealings with Army Captain and the financial transactions he had with him and other security personnel.

    It was gathered that investigators had sent correspondence to some of the banks mentioned by the Wadume, to verify his claim of sending money into certain accounts.

    Read Also: What you should know about Wadume

    A source said the panel was shocked by the suspect’s testimonies, adding that certain actions would be taken in a matter of days on his matter.

    He said: “The police brought Wadume before the panel today. He was interviewed for several hours and more evidence was presented. He made shocking revelations and explained how he gave money to security personnel.

    “He also admitted paying money into the account of an Army Captain and that other personnel were on his payroll as well. He mentioned names of some of the security men at checkpoints.

    “Certain actions will be taken in a few days time. It was a good thing that he was presented before the panel.”

    The Nation also gathered that two of Wadume’s accomplices, including the major firearm supplier who was being trailed by the police, have been arrested.

    It was learnt that they were arrested by the police at Ibi in Taraba State and a cache of assorted firearms, ammunition recovered from them.

    The force spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, is likely to issue a statement today on the arrests and the seized arms.

    Wadume was arrested in Taraba State by the police special squad following complaints about his kidnapping activities.

    However, when he was being taken away, soldiers at a checkpoint on Ibi-Wukari road opened fire on the vehicle, killing three policemen and a civilian.

    Wadume, who was in handcuffs, was freed. He subsequently  escaped and the police declared him wanted before his arrest in Kano

  • FAAC shares N769.523b JULY 2019 revenue to Fed Govt, States and LGAs

    The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared a total of N769.523 billion to the three tiers of government for the month of July 2019. The N769.523 billion comprised revenue from Value Added Tax (VAT), Exchange Gain and Gross Statutory Revenue.

    The Committee announced that as at 22nd August 2019, the balance in the Excess Crude Account was $274.407 million.

    The gross statutory revenue for the month of July 2019 was N674.365 billion. It was higher than the N652.949 billion received in the previous month by N21.416 billion.

    For the month of July, revenue from the Value Added Tax (VAT) was lower than what it was in the preceding month. A gross revenue of N94.159 billion was available from the Value Added Tax as against N108.631 billion distributed in the preceding month, resulting in a decrease of N14.472 billion. Exchange Gain yielded a total revenue of N0.999 billion.

    Read Also: FAAC: Fed Govt, states, councils share N617.566b

    A communique issued by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) confirmed that from the total revenue of N769.523 billion, the Federal Government received N299.799 billion, the States received N190.381 billion, and the Local Government Councils received N143.569 billion. The Oil Producing States received N42.917 billion as 13% derivation revenue and the Revenue Generating Agencies received N92.857 billion as cost of revenue collection.

    A breakdown of the distribution showed that from the gross statutory revenue of N674.365 billion, the Federal Government received N285.767 billion, the States received N144.945 billion, the Local Government Councils received N111.746 billion, the Oil Producing States received N42.816 billion as 13% derivation revenue and the Revenue Collecting Agencies received N89.091 billion as cost of collection.

    From the N94.159 billion Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, the Federal Government received N13. 559 billion, the States received N45.197 billion, the Local Government Councils received N31.638 billion and the Revenue Generating Agencies received N3.766 billion.

  • PAACA, EFCC tasks religious, traditional rulers on anti-corruption

    The Head Public Affairs, Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Ibadan Zonal Office, Ayo Oyewole has appealed to traditional institutions to join in the whistle-blowing campaign against corruption assuring them of their protection.

    Oyewole said this at the Anti-corruption Town Hall for Traditional and Religious Leaders organized by Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) supported Action Aid, UKaid, Department for International Development and SCRAP-C held yesterday at Presken Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

    The workshop tagged Strengthening Citizens Resistance Against Prevalence of Corruption had in attendance over 100 persons from different traditional and religious institutions. It’s also witness the launch of Religious leader’s Anti-Corruption Network.

    He said that EFCC is committed in the fight against corruption in Nigeria and we call for support and cooperation of all Nigerians including religious and traditional institutions to join in the fight against corruption within their domain.

    He noted that traditional and religious leaders can partner with the agency by providing intelligent and verifiable information and the agency will acts accordingly.

    He said that anybody that comes with intelligent information found to be true will be rewarded and protected, stressed that whistle blowers must be discreet with the information that they give.

    Read Also: How corruption fuels insecurity, by Magu

    He however warned that whistle blowers should do their due diligence and never acts on hearsay but ensure that the information they are given are true.

    Oyewole added that information on financial crimes must not be given to anybody in the agency but senior officers like him, noting that whistle blowers should manage their tongue well and not divulge confidential information in public spaces as their life might be endanger.

    He restated that the agency commitment in operating best international standards in its operation.

    Earlier in his presentation, the State Chairman of National Orientation Agency, Waheed Ishola charged religious leaders to preach more of salvation rather than prosperity.

    He said that it is sad that many religious centres worship money and celebrates persons whose sources of wealth are unknown and shady.

    Ishola appealed to religious leaders to be alive to their responsibilities of letting their congregation know the ill involves in being corrupt.

    In his words, the Executive Director of PAACA, Mr Ezenwa Nwangwu said that the aimed of the programme is to enlist traditional and religious institutions in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

    He said that from research, we have discovered that citizens have outsource the anti corruption fight to the government and thus do not see it as a personal fight and unfortunately the consequence of corruption is more grave on the people than the government.

    He noted that religious leaders have a lot of work to do in stemming the tide of corruption in our country, stressing that they cannot be missing in action as the ones lies on them as the moral custodians of the society.

    Nwangwu posited that it will be tantamount to ineptitude for them to be indifferent on this matter as some people tend to do.

    He said “traditional must take particular interest in issues that concerns them which include the length and breadth of this country are abandoned projects, abandoned roads, health care centres, youths centres.

    He added that getting this thing fix do not requires meetings but the determination by the community themselves to find out who are the contractors that have abandoned the projects and demands that the projects be carried out.

    He cited the ICPC Constituency working Group where we have found out Senators, who diverted agricultural project equipments and health care facilities equipment to their houses and farms have seen been retrieved and given them back to the people.

    Nwangwu who pointed out that the fight against corruption should start from ourselves in our different community, added that proper monitoring of projects by community leaders would curb corruption.

  • Olowo’s installation ‘ll be hitch-free, says Ondo govt

    Ondo State Government on Wednesday assured residents that the installation ceremonies for the new Olowo-elect, Prince Gbadegesin Ogunoye, which begins tomorrow, will be peaceful.

    Invited dignitaries within and outside the country have been assured of adequate security arrangements ahead of the occasion.

    Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Security Matters and Chairman, Security Sub-Committee on the installation Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo gave the assurance while updating the people on the security arrangements put in place for the traditional installation rites.

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    He warned hoodlums and pickpockets to stay away from the arena or be ready to face the consequences.

    Dojumo said members of the security sub-committee have met with the installation committee and other relevant stakeholders, including the Omo-Olowos, to ensure peaceful processes.

    He stressed that the government was leaving no stone unturned to make the entire installation ceremony hitch-free.

    The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Security Matters added that all strategic areas and points, where installation rites would take place have been well-manned by the joint security operatives in a bid to protect the lives and property of both the citizens and the invited guests, before, during and after the installation.

  • Ibadan 21 kings may lose crowns soon

    The 21 kings installed by former Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration two years ago amid controversies may lose their crowns soon, it was learnt on Wednesday.

    Ajimobi, in a well-attended ceremony, handed the instruments of office to the kings in August 27, 2017 at the historic Mapo Hall, Ibadan.

    It followed the controversial review of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and Other Related Chieftaincies in Ibadan land by a panel headed by Justice Akintunde Boade, culminating in the elevation and crowning of the 21 kings, including the Olubadan high chiefs and baales.

    A source confided in The Nation yesterday that the state government has opted for out-of-court  settlement and discontinuation with the prosecution of the appeal before the Court of Appeal.

    Read Also: Why we reversed appointments of Perm Secs made by Ajimobi, by Makinde

    The terms of the settlement between the state government (appellant) and Senator Rashidi Ladoja (respondent/applicant) was filed in the Registry of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan on Tuesday, August 20.

    The terms of the agreement are in respect of the suit No. M/317/2017 and Appeal No. CA/99&99A/2018.

    The parties gave reasons why they wanted the out-of-court settlement as follow:

    • The parties herein are aware of the rancour and acrimony that exist upon the publication of the report of the 2nd respondent herein in relation to the Olubadan of Ibadan chieftaincy declaration and other chiefs in Ibadanland and the implementation of the said report;
    • The parties are aware of the disharmony created by the publication of Gazette No. 3 Vol. 43 dated March 29, 2018, and the subsequent elevation of chiefs in Ibadan among the chiefs and the Olubadan of Ibadanland;
    • It is of utmost importance to maintain peace and communal relationships that had existed before the said report and Gazette in Ibadanland; and
    • The new administration of Oyo State stands upon the doctrine of rule of law.

    They, therefore, opted for an out-of-court settlement and  discontinuing the prosecution of the appeal before the Court of Appeal.

  • Advance cause of justice delivery, Lagos CJ urged

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday swore-in Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba as the 17th Chief Judge.

    The swearing-in took place at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

    Alogba served in acting capacity for almost three months and was confirmed by the Assembly on Tuesday.

    Speaking after the oath-taking ceremony, the governor said his assumption of office as the substantive CJ will bring a new and glorious chapter in the history of justice administration in Lagos state and “will further consolidate and advance the cause of justice delivery for the benefit of all”.

    Sanwo-Olu assured the CJ of the total support and cooperation of the executive because a greater, Lagos which is the dream of his administration, would not be achieved without an important and independent judicial system.

    “The task before us is to build on the achievements that have brought accolades to the state’s judicial system and I have no doubt that you have what it takes to move Lagos to the desired height,” Sanwo-Olu told Alogba.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu to new Perm Secs: deliver your best for Lagos

    According to the governor, Lagosians expect so much because “everything we have now is brand new, brand new administration with a brand new governor, Chief Judge, Exco, 9th House of Assembly; everything is new with new visions, competence, energy, zeal etc.

    “You are a very credible individual, who has been part of the landmark reforms in the state judiciary and the goal is to ensure speedy delivery of justice and expansion of the judiciary. We must continue to pursue that objective because it is the only way of assuring the citizens of our desire to make life better for all.”

    Sanwo-Olu assured the chief judge that he has taken note of his entire request to put the judiciary in a better standing to deliver, promising the request would be attended to within the available resources.

    The governor assured that the three arms of government will work resolutely together and will not shy away from delivering dividends of democracy to citizens, and “Lagosians, Nigerians and Africans will be better for it”.

    Alogba thanked the governor “because I consider myself fortunate to be sworn-in by a brand new and quintessential governor and also screened by a veteran Speaker and presented by a new Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.”

    He promised to work relentlessly with others to ensure he provides world-class standard administration of justice system in the state and also “work with your administration to ensure goals of the administration are achieved to make Lagos greater”.

    The chief judge promised to pursue prison decongestion vigorously and ensure that inmates come out better and not worse.

    Alogba promised to pursue zero-tolerance on corruption, promising to fight corruption to the last.

    He promised better welfare for staff and to pursue vigorously staff training and skills acquisition for all categories of staff, saying an unhappy workforce cannot achieve anything and without training nothing can be done.