The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Why we are under constant attacks, by SPIP Chair Obono-Obla

    The Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Okoi Obono-Obla, has explained why his agency’s offices in Abuja are always closed by policemen.

    Although the SPIP’s offices were reportedly sealed last Saturday as a prelude to a supposed planned change in its leadership, Obono-Obla was silent on whether or not his office was threatened. Rather, he blamed entrenched interests for the current state of affairs at his agency.

    In a statement yesterday, Obono-Obla said the agency was under constant attacks, rather than being praised for its positive efforts to enforce the current administration’s anti-corruption policy.

    He said: “The past few days have been aghast with reports of the police sealing the offices of the Special Presidential investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP).

    “My attention was drawn to the unfortunate news item making the rounds and thereafter inundated with calls from members of the public seeking to know the true position of events on the purported sealing of the SPIP offices in Abuja by armed policemen.

    “I am yet to receive an official briefing on the issue since SPIP’s workers are observing the Eid-el-Kabir holiday and away from our desks.

    Read Also: Apapa gridlock: Presidential Team to meet residents Tuesday

    “It is time we call the myths out for what they are, as the news making the rounds appears to us as a smear campaign from people with their protectionist agenda in favour of persons being investigated.

    “The picture being painted of SPIP bears no resemblance to the reality on the ground.

    “The SPIP, from inception, has worked within the dictates of its mandate and takes tremendous pride in the work it does towards recovering misappropriated government funds.

    “SPIP officials have made and continue to contribute vitally to the fight against corruption, and daily, we are recovering money owed the government in billions and calling upon high profile persons and seemingly ‘untouchable’ persons who have illegally enriched themselves from government coffers at the expense of members of the public, to come forward and answer to their crimes and make refunds of misappropriated government money.

    “The efforts of the SPIP in the fight against corruption in Nigeria deserve to be recognised instead. We are being dismissed with misleading scary stories and arm-twisting of the panel officials by ‘highly placed Nigerians’ wishing to protect some persons under our investigation and thereby distracting the panel from carrying out its lawful mandate.

    “We have examples of many high-profile cases where misappropriated public funds were traced to the personal bank accounts of public servants; rather than explain the source of the funds, they resort to false petitions and unfairly attacking the officials of the panel.

    “We, therefore, reiterate SPIP’s commitment to the essential work we do,” Obono-Obla said.

  • Buhari hails election of Akinfeleye into World Journalism Education Council

    President Muhammadu Buhari has praised the recent election of foremost Mass Communication teacher, Prof Ralph A. Akinfeleye, into the World Journalism Education Council, being the first African to achieve the feat.

    The President said the Federal Government would always treasure those who bring honour to the country, particularly in the areas of scholarship and other lofty endeavours.

    Read Also: Buhari hails appointment of UK-born Nigerian Kemi Badenoch as British Minister

    In a statement by his Special Adviser (SA) on Media and publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, President Buhari noted that the election of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) don in Paris, France, last week, “hoists Nigeria’s flag proudly once again in the international arena”.

    He urged Prof Akinfeleye to serve diligently in the three-year term, in which he would represent not only Nigeria but the entire African continent.

    More than 600 participants from 70 countries participated in the World Journalism Education Congress, where Prof Akinfeleye was elected.

  • COZA rape allegation: ‘PFN panel to submit report this week’

    After exceeding the two-week ultimatum given to the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) by the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Samson Ayokunle, the panel set up to probe the rape allegation against Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), will finally submit its report this week, it was learnt on Monday.

    PFN President, Rev. Felix Omobude, who confirmed the development to our correspondent in a telephone conversation, was asked what could be responsible for the delay.

    He said one of the concerned parties, early last week, asked for an extension of time before the committee concluded the report.

    Omobude said: “You are right that a two-week ultimatum was given. The committee is working and would have delivered within the two weeks but one of the parties involved in the matter asked for an extension of time. The extension was last week. But by this week, the committee will conclude its report and the media will be briefed.”

    Busola, wife of a popular musician, Timi Dakolo, accused Fatoyinbo of raping her 20 years ago when she was 16 years old.

    But Fatoyinbo denied the allegation.

    Read Also: How celebs stand in COZA pastor’s face-off with Timi Dakolo, wife

    Following the allegation, scores of protesters stormed the church in Abuja and Lagos in early July to protest against Fatoyinbo. The action forced the COZA senior pastor to step down, leaving his wife, Modele, to take charge of the church.

    The reason the probe panel delayed the final report on the rape saga is explained by the resumption of Pastor Fatoyinbo a month after stepping down.

    Top Christian leaders told The Nation in confidence that they were worried the probe report should have been made public before the resumption of Pastor Fatoyinbo.

    During his last briefing on the matter, Ayokunle said the allegation, no matter how bad it might be, remained an allegation until proven otherwise. He added: “That was until it was properly investigated and we have a truth to hold on to.”

    Our correspondent also contacted CAN’s National Director, Legal and Public Affairs, Kwamkur Vondip, who also corroborated what the PFN president said.

    He said: “The fact is that the committee is working on it and they are trying to get everything in black and white.

    “What the leadership of the PFN told me is that the committee was working. But they requested for an extension of time. They have seen one of the parties, since there are two major parties involved. Of course, you know it is not easy for people who are far from each other to come together to investigate issues.

    “I was told that they granted them the extension of time and it is an issue of the next two weeks or so. It was Friday last week that the two parties reported back to the committee, asking for an extension of time.”

  • #RevolutionNow: we didn’t plan to topple govt, says AAC stalwart

    A stalwart of African Action Congress (AAC) and member of the Take It Back Movement, Mr Elias Ozikpu, has said the recent #RevolutionNow march organised by the movement and some groups was not to forcefully take over the government. Ozikpu made the clarification while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    NAN reports that the #RevolutionNow march organised by AAC presidential candidate and leader of the Take It Back Movement, Mr Omoyele Sowore, along with some groups was disrupted nationwide by law enforcement agents on August 5.

    The Department of State Services (DSS), on August 4, arrested Sowore, and has since detained him.

    The security agency said the march threatened public safety and constituted an act of treason.

    Ozikpu and eight others were arrested and detained by security agencies for participating in the protest, which held, in spite of Sowore’s detention.

    Some Nigerians have condemned security agencies for stopping the protest and detaining some participants.

    They said the action violated freedom of expression of the protesters. Others, including Mr Leonard Nzenwa, a chieftain of AAC, have faulted the revolution march, saying it was a presumptuous move to force a takeover of government.

    But Ozikpu, who only regained freedom last Thursday, told NAN that the objective of the march was misinterpreted by some Nigerians. The activist described the arrest and detention of protesters as unfortunate.

    Read Also: Lawyers disagree on Sowore’s arrest, #RevolutionNow protests

    He explained that the #RevolutionNow march was organised to put pressure on government to render effective governance and not to topple the government, as believed in some quarters.

    Ozikpu, also the Lagos Publicity Secretary of AAC, said protesters could not have planned to take over government by just calling for good governance in some locations across the country.

    He said: “Our #RevolutionNow march was misinterpreted; we were not planning to take over government but only calling for a change in governance.

    “How can we take over government from the National Stadium in Surulere, where the protest was most pronounced? If we really wanted to take over government, will it be at the stadium?

    “I think people misunderstood us and our objective, which is a call for change in the way we do things, a call for a change in governance for the benefit of the common man.

    “The stoppage of the protests midway by security agencies shows that the present government does not want people to complain or protest, and that is not right.

    “Revolution in the way we have used it in the protest is a call for a better country; unfortunately, people are giving the march all sorts of meanings.”

    Ozikpu said the country was faced with many problems, including insecurity and poverty, adding that it was the right of Nigerians to call on government for change in a democracy.

    Giving details of his arrest and detention, the Take It Back Movement member said he and eight others were arrested at the protest ground at the National Stadium, Surulere, on August 5.

    He said three of them were identified as journalists by security agencies and were released, adding that he and five others were subsequently arraigned in court for involvement in the protest.

    “The six of us were arraigned the second day at Yaba Magistrates’ Court and after the whole thing, only one of us was able to get bail, based on self-recognition, as he is a lawyer. The rest of us were sent to prison because we could not perfect our bail conditions of N100,000 with two sureties.

    “We were only able to do that on Thursday, and that was when we were released,” he said. On the counter-claims by Nzenwa and Sowore over the AAC’s national chairmanship seat, Ozikpu described Nzenwa as an impostor.

  • Don’t obey governors to misuse local govt funds, NULGE warns chairmen

    The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has warned local government chairmen across the country against obeying governor’s orders in spending local government funds on non-local government projects.

    In a letter to the local government chairmen, the union leader said NULGE would not hesitate to report any local government chairman who engages in frivolous spending of local government funds on the directives of governors to the National Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) for prosecution.

    In the letter by the NULGE’s National President and dated August 9, the union warned that any local government official who diverts local government funds would be personally liable.

    The letter reads: “I bring you very warm fraternal greetings from the National Executive Council (NEC) and members of our union in all the 774 local government areas and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    “You will recall that the leadership of our union and entire members had over the years been in the forefront for the autonomy of the local government system to free it to perform its function in accordance with its philosophy.

    “Our relentless campaign for local government autonomy gained national popular support and invariably the backing of the Seventh and Eighth National Assembly, which had voted overwhelmingly in support of key clauses seeking to grant autonomy to the third tier of government.

    “As you are aware, on each attempt, governors had truncated the exercise as in the needed amendment could not get the required two-thirds majority of Houses of Assembly’s concurrence to scale through.

    Read Also: Is local government autonomy feasible?

    “While we have not relented in the struggle to achieve autonomy for the system that we operate in through constitutional means, and have learnt very valuable lessons from our past campaigns and ready to re-strategise for future struggle, we are, however, encouraged by the content of the NFlU’s recent guidelines with respect to the operation of States-Local Governments Joint Accounts.

    “Given the passion with which the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) had opposed this initiative, it is clear to us in NULGE that they will go to any length to either bend these guidelines or find ways of administratively/bureaucratically undermining them.

    “In other words, from their pronouncements and action, our state governors are still as determined as those before them to continue the looting of local government resources with their stranglehold on these joint accounts.

    “Honourable chairman, sir, it is with respect to the above context that we wish to use this opportunity to caution the leadership of Local Government Councils (LGCs), particularly Honourable Chairmen of LGCs, Treasurers of Councils and Directors, General Services and Administration (DGSAs), to exercise a high degree of restraint in carrying out directive(s) of governors in releasing any fund whatsoever through back channels or organisations or agencies of state governments.

    “In the light of the above, it is noteworthy to make reference to ‘Provision 9’ of the NFlU’s Guideline, which clearly asserts that: ‘It is hereby provided that any public officer anywhere in the country and/or any private citizen found undermining or violating these guidelines will be investigated and prosecuted under the NFIU Act, 2018, the ML(PA), 2011 (as amended), the EFCC Act, 2004 and the ICFC Act, 2000, by the Independent Corrupt and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    “From the above, it is clear that any officer of the local government who blindly follows instructions of governors to transfer or divert local government funds to non-local government projects will be in personally liable.

    “We look forward to collaborate with both the political and key administrative leadership of the local government in our future engagements, campaigns and struggle for local government autonomy.

    “Please, accept the renewed assurances of our esteemed regards.”

  • Suspected herdsmen attack ‘ex-teenaged governor’s dad’

    Mr. Eze Chikamnayo, the father of the first teenaged governor of Abia State, Joy Eze Chikamnayo, has narrowly escaped death. This followed an attack on him by suspected gun-wielding herdsmen.

    The Nation learnt that the suspected herdsmen attacked his car.

    Joy, who is studying Law at the Abia State University, Uturu, on December 11, 2017, presided over the affairs of Abia State for 24 hours at the age of 14, after emerging top in a week-long rigorous essay competition.

    The attack, our reporter gathered, occurred on the Enugu axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.

    Although no injury was sustained during the attack, the fender and radiator of the car the popular Abia politician was travelling in with one of his workers identified as Prince were, however, riddled with bullets.

    Read Also: Hausa leader condemns killing by suspected herdsmen

    Narrating his ordeal to our reporter when contacted on the phone, Chikamnayo, who was the Abia House of Assembly candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for Umunneochi State Constituency in the 2019 general election, said it was by the special grace of God that he escaped being killed by the gunmen, who dressed like herdsmen.

    Chikamnayo, a former commissioner for Information, said the attack was a terrible experience for him, which he would not wish his enemies.

    He said the incident happened after Awgu junction, as he was driving to Enugu from his hometown, Isuochi, in Umunneochi Local Government.

    Drivers and commuters travelling along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway have called on heads of security agencies in the Southeast to ensure that security on the expressway is tightened, following recent incidents on the road.

  • Hausa leader condemns killing by suspected herdsmen

    The head of Hausa community in Akwa Ibom State, Alhaji Hassan Sadauki, has condemned the August 8 killing of Mr Friday Etor, a farmer from Ikot Obio Nso, Mkpat Enin Local Government by suspected herdsmen.

    Sadauki made the condemnation while reacting to the incident, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo on Monday

    The community leader noted that the Hausa/Fulani settlers in the state had coexisted for years with the farmers without any such incident.

    “It very sad indeed; we are not praying for such a thing to happen again.

    “We the Hausa/Fulani that reside within this very environment have been enjoying very peaceful coexistence with the host community,” Sadauki said.

    He urged the Hausa/Fulani resident in the state to be law abiding and report any misunderstanding they might have with the people to their leaders in the state for peaceful settlement.

    Read Also: Engage youths to tackle killer herdsmen -Ohanaeze tells S’East govs

    Sadauki reminded them that there could be no meaningful development in any atmosphere of rancour and misunderstanding among the different ethnic groups in the state.

    “There was no reason for the killing and attack; though as human, even in one family we are bound to have one misunderstanding or the other because of individual interests.

    “So it is very uncalled for to lose a life. We pray that relevant security agencies will do their best to bring the perpetrators to book.

    “No matter the level of misunderstanding, there should be a peaceful way to dialogue and find a way out of such a situation.

    “We have the Myetti Allah in the state which represents the Fulani herdsmen.

    “In case of any misunderstanding, they should bring it to the notice of Myetti Allah for peaceful settlement, instead of taking laws into their hands.

    “I can recall that in the past, we have settled such misunderstandings amicably.

    “I pray that we coexist in peace and harmony. I pray to the Almighty that this should be the last; we should not be having crisis among ourselves

    “I use this medium to draw the attention of our faithful to the fact that they should be law abiding citizens,” he said.

    NAN recalls that the Chairman of Ikot Obio Nso Village Council, Chief George Okodi, had informed Governor Udom Emmanuel about the incident when he visited the place on August 9.

    The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, commiserated with the family of the deceased and victims of the attack.

    He directed the police command and other security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the violence, which also left a boy, Nsikak Udoh, 11, hospitalised, following the bullet wounds he sustained.

  • Police arrest farmer for alleged murder of business partner

    Enugu State Police Command has arrested Mr. Sampson Nwaobasi, an Enugu-based farmer, for allegedly killing his business partner, Mr. Friday Ani, over payment of proceeds made in farm business.

    Spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said in a statement on Monday in Enugu that the incident happened on July 31 at Agbani community; while the suspect was arrested on August 7 by operatives.

    He said the deceased and Mr. Paul Eze were partners in the planting of cucumber, as the deceased and Eze had raised money for the suspect, who does the farming, sells same and shares profits.

    “It was gathered that his victim, Ani, a student of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology and his business associate met his untimely death when he demanded from the suspect payment of his share of the proceeds.

    “It was gathered that they were to share N6 million, as the business thrived for four months. However, the suspect allegedly started avoiding his partners, which made them believe that he might have craftily reinvested the proceeds without their knowledge.

    Read Also: Abia youths protest murder of kinsman over N100

    “The deceased traced the suspect to the farm to find out what has been happening; and on the farm, misunderstanding arose between them, which allegedly resulted in the killing of Ani by the suspect. He buried him inside the bush.

    “The deceased was said to have been reported missing by relations who could not immediately find out what happened.

    “Following the suspicious ways the story appeared, Police Commissioner Mr. Sulaiman Balarabe ordered investigation. The suspect was nabbed by operatives in partnership with neighbourhood watch group members from the community where he was hiding,’’ he said.

    Amaraizu said the suspect had been helping the operatives in their investigation in relation to how he allegedly killed his victim and quickly buried him inside the bush.

    He said the suspect had, however, maintained in his confessionary statement that the money in question was not to the tune of N6 million but N300,000.

    The spokesman said the suspect also maintained that he never wanted to kill the deceased and that the deceased wanted to kill him over the money, but he had to snatch the knife from him and he stabbed him to death.

  • Hard times await kidnappers in Ogun, says Abiodun

    Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has said hard times await kidnappers.

    He spoke on Monday when he received the Remo League of Imams, who paid him a Sallah visit at his Iperu home.

    The governor described kidnapping as an economic crime that must be stopped by all means.

    Read Also: Police recover N6m from kidnappers in Niger

    He said most of the kidnappers were foreigners who disguised as herdsmen, adding that it would not augur well if criminals were allowed to operate and hurt Ogun State regarded as the industrial hub of the nation.

    “We don’t want criminals to cause problem for us. The state hosts a lot of companies and industries. It will not augur well to hear that crime is prevalent in our state.

    “I have asked that those caught in the recent kidnappings be brought to me. My government will not spare anyone caught in kidnapping henceforth,” Abiodun said.

  • Man held for allegedly impregnating daughter 

    The police in Ogun State have arrested a 52-year-old man, Emmanuel Ikhine, for allegedly raping and impregnating his teenage daughter.

    The suspect was arrested last Saturday at his 6, Iyaniwura Street, Joju home in Sango Ota, Ogun State.

    It was learnt that a neighbour, Yemisi Ashade, took the 18-year-old victim to a police station to lodge a complaint after the teenager disclosed how her father had been allegedly raping her.

    The victim alleged that Ikhine usually raped her whenever she was home alone, adding that he would threaten to deal with her if she disclosed it to anyone.

    Read Also: Man loses wife in gamble, asks friends to gang rape her

    She alleged that he always targeted when her two brothers were away to rape her.

    The Nation gathered that when the victim could no longer bear the torture, she informed a neighbour, who took her to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Sango Ota, Godwin Idehai, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP).

    Confirming the incident, spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the suspect had been arrested and he confessed to the crime.

    “He made a confessional statement that he has been having carnal knowledge of the victim long before now.

    “The victim was taken to the general hospital where it was confirmed that she is pregnant.

    “Police Commissioner Bashir Makama has ordered the transfer of the suspect to the anti-human trafficking and child labour unit for further investigation and prosecution,” Oyeyemi said.