The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Alleged $2.4b loot: Magu faults UK’s slow action on ex-Minister Diezani

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu on Wednesday faulted the United Kingdom (UK) for foot-dragging on the investigation and trial of former Petroleum Resources minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Mrs. Alison-Madueke, who has been in the UK since 2015, is being investigated by the UK government on issues of corruption.

    But Magu said it was regretful that the matter has dragged on in the UK for more than four years with no visible result and no end in sight.

    He spoke when a team of International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) at the Abuja headquarters of the EFCC.

    Magu said: “There is the case of Mrs. Alison-Madueke which has been going on for over four years and the amount involved is about $2.4 billion and no kobo has been recovered from overseas.

    “Though we have recovered some of the proceeds of the crime, we are still tracing others.”

    He, however, said the commission’s relationship with INTERPOL has made it easier to place suspects on red notice.

    He added: “Though we have not been able to arrest some of these fleeing people, it is good that they know they are on red notice, as there are Nigerians like Alison-Madueke whom we have applied for.”

    Read Also: EFCC marks nine choice assets linked to Okorocha, family members

    A statement by the agency’s Acting Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Tony Orilade, quoted Magu as saying: “Getting Alison-Madueke, Dan Etete, (former petroleum minister), Mohammed Adoke (former attorney general and minister of justice), all of whom are overseas and facing fraud cases in Nigeria, back to the country has been a problem.

    “He therefore, urged their new countries of residence to either prosecute them or hand them over to Nigeria since they are Nigerians.”

    The EFCC boss assured Interpol of the commission’s continued support towards the strengthening of collaboration, particularly in information sharing.

    He added: “We are willing to cooperate with Interpol at all times, if there is anything other enforcement agencies cannot provide especially in financial crime, the Interpol is sure to get result here in EFCC because we specialise in financial crime, money laundering and terrorist financing.

    “We are thankful for Interpol residency in the EFCC i24/7. We are delighted that the collaboration with Interpol is yielding results, especially in the area of intelligence.”

    He, further, thanked Interpol for capacity building it offers the staff of the commission, especially in the light of the upcoming programme in Ghana.

    The Interpol’s Coordinator on Anti-corruption, Sebastian Bley, commended the efforts of the EFCC in the fight against corruption.

    He said: “We are fostering our relationship with selected law enforcement agencies in Nigeria because we are doing a set of activities which have been fruitful. One area we will need to be stronger is the area of case coordination support.

    “What we do basically is capacity building, expert working group meetings and regional training workshop. The next workshop is coming up in August in Ghana and the EFCC will participate.”

    Bley further informed the Commission that the Interpol was ready to offer it support in all areas of its mandate.

    He said: “INTERPOL can take care of logistics; we can give support in terms of investigation and recovery of funds. Interpol is the platform, the channel that allows law enforcement agencies to gather together and exchange sensitive information among themselves as a closed group.

    “We thank the great collaboration we have with the EFCC and we are looking forward to foster the relationship. The capacity building in Ghana which the EFCC is contributing is a good step.”

    On the INTERPOL delegation were: Umar Garba Baba Commissioner of Police (CP); Ude Sunday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP); Ogundele Adewale (Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) and Olude Ademola a Police Inspector.

  • Makinde sends commissioners list to assembly

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has transmitted the list of commissioners to the House of Assembly.

    Chief Press Secretary Taiwo Adisa confirmed to The Nation that the list was submitted in a sealed envelope yesterday, adding that it is expected to be opened and read at the House of Assembly today.

    The Nation gathered that some break-away members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) made the list.

    They include Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun and Seun Asamu, who is the son of Senator Monsurat Sunmonu.

    A former state lawmaker, Adeniyi Farinto and the Director General (DG) Seyi Makinde Campaign Organisation, Chief Bayo Lawal and Prof. D. K. Shangodoyin, who coordinated Omituntun campaign in the Diaspora, also made the list.

    Read Also: Oyo APC tackles Makinde over N10 billion infrastructure loan

    A top member of the party told The Nation that the list is a mixture of technocrats and politicians, who the governor believes will key into his vision for the state.

    The list has been delayed largely by Makinde’s desire to accommodate the 14 federal constituencies in the state as well as substitution done by members of the coalition with the governor’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The break-away APC members grouped under the Unity Forum and moved to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    The party was in coalition with the PDP, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in the governorship election.

    The governorship candidates of the parties stood down for Makinde to enable him defeat APC.

  • ‘We prevent smuggling to suppress crime’

    Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Col. Hameed Ali has said the service is directly suppressing violent crimes in the country through its sustained fight against smuggling of illicit drugs.

    Ali spoke in Sagamu, Ogun State, during the destruction of smuggled tramadol and other illicit drugs seized by the service.

    Represented by the Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Zone A, Mrs. Kaycee Ekekezie, Ali said smugglers of prohibited substances have been deploying antics of packaging to disguise the items to beating Customs check.

    He said: “I am standing here with mixed feelings because money that should have been used for better productive purposes will be destroyed. People should never see smuggling as a trade; it is a crime. I urge all importers to take advantage of the customs portal and be sure of the status of whatever they want to import.”

    Chairman of the joint committee comprising Customs and National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Aminu Dahiru said 58 containers valued at N14,706,322,871 are up for destruction.

    Read Also: Sell over N20b exotic cars in Customs commands, Ali urged

    Dahiru added that his CGC believes in the synergy between customs and other organisations in the fight against sub-standard, unregistered drugs and abuse of regulated products.

    According to him, most violent crimes like robberies, kidnappings, banditry and others, are linked to consumption of illicit drugs.

    “We are starting the destruction here because of the high volume of seizures made in the Southwest where a lot of Customs activities take place. We shall be doing similar destructions in Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Bauchi, where we have customs zones.

    “Residents and stakeholders in these areas should await our invitations soon. These drug seizures were made in the face of attacks, maiming, killings and other unwarranted provocations. Even as we are here, some of our anti-smuggling officers have been receiving threats for their exploits.

    The Director-General of NAFDAC, who was represented by Emejezie MD, hailed customs efforts in preventing smuggling. According to her, the approved milligrams for tramadol is 50 and 100 milligrams, while the higher milligrams above 100 are prohibited.

  • Fayemi reinstates former TUC boss

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has reinstated former Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman Kolawole Olaiya into the civil service.

    The reinstatement was consequent on the report of the State Committee on the Review of Irregular Appointments chaired by Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi nullifying Olaiya’s disengagement from the civil service.

    The reinstatement was also in accordance with the order of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Akure Division.

    Olaiya, a lawyer, was compulsorily retired from the civil service in February 2016 by the Ayo Fayose’s administration, which accused him of involvement in partisan politics.

    Olaiya ran into trouble with the Fayose regime in September 2015 when he warned the ex-governor against diverting the bailout funds received from the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to pay arrears of workers’ salaries and retirees’ benefits.

    Read Also: Ekiti spent N3.9 billion on pensions, says Fayemi

    The former TUC boss was subsequently queried by the Fayose administration for speaking to the media on the alleged plan to divert the bailout funds.

    The Fayose government subsequently set up an Administration Panel of Inquiry, which recommended Olaiya’s compulsory retirement from service.

    Apart from being axed from service, Olaiya, who was a Principal Legal Officer in the Ministry of Justice, was also demoted from Grade Level 12 to the post of State Council Grade Level 10.

    The labour leader filed a suit at the Nigeria Industrial Court of Nigeria, where he fought a two-year battle to get his job back.

    The court, in a judgment delivered by Justice O.O. Oyewumi, on July 3, 2018, held that Olaiya was not given a fair hearing and his sack did not follow due process.

    The Fayose administration refused to obey the court order despite being served with the copies of the judgment until the expiration of its tenure on October 15, 2018.

    But, Fayemi, through the State Civil Service Commission in a letter signed on behalf of the Permanent Secretary by one Mr. Salami A. Olusola, formally reinstated Olaiya into the civil service.

  • Pension fund not for budget deficits, says Oshiomhole

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has declared that funds from workers’ pension deductions are not meant to be used for budget deficit by Federal and state governments.

    He said they are rather meant to address the critical issues of the masses, the contributors of the money.

    Oshiomhole spoke on Wednesday at the opening of the Presidential Policy Retreat at the Council Chamber of the State House, in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had declared the retreat open.

    The APC National Chairman also called for rejig of the nation’s security architecture.

    He urged participants to brainstorm towards getting practical solutions to the problems facing Nigeria.

    On corruption, the former Edo State governor advised the government to effectively block leakages with all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) by reviewing how to achieve it.

    Oshiomhole also recommended long-term national economy plan to replace the current Economic Growth and Recovery Plan.

    Read Also: Oshiomhole, Obaseki reunite, shake hands at Aso Rock

    Acknowledging that so much progress had been made in the past four years in the fight against corruption, economy and security, the APC national chairman said there were still huge challenges and room for improvement.

    He said: “The logic behind introducing the pension scheme under PENCOM was that the workers’ social capital, which they deducted every month and which they would not need to draw on until they retire about 30 years or 35 years later, provides a basis for long-term fund.

    “Happily, PENCOM has generated over N5 trillion to N6 trillion since it started operation. Unfortunately, the money is borrowed by government, both Federal and states, and it is not available to address the social purpose of the working people whose contributions the pension fund evolved.

    “I asked our experts to recognise that the primary purpose of the workers’ social capital is that it would be creatively managed and deployed to workers’ social needs, including housing, education and all the other factors.

    “It wasn’t meant to fund government’s deficit; it wasn’t meant to support Federal Government’s deficit; it was meant to address the primary social purpose of those who work so that they are sure that by the time they finish their employment, that they are retired, they have a modest home to retire into.

    “I think we must visit these issues, address them because this President, if he has opposition, it is among the rich; if he has support, it is among the poor. The poor people’s money must be used to address the critical challenges of the poor.

    “May God drive our thoughts, our processes and rejig everything so that at the end of the day, those people would say, ‘Yes, Sai Baba! We elected him, we trusted him and he has delivered’.”

    Top government officials at the retreat included Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; business mogul Alhaji Aliko Dangote; frontline banker, Mr Jim Ovia and former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn.

    The governors included those of Kebbi, Plateau, Kano, Kaduna, Kogi, Imo, Bauchi, Ekiti, Edo, Borno and Lagos states.

  • Ajimobi lauds Buhari on Oyo ministerial nominee

    Former Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has hailed the choice of Dr. Sunday Dare as a ministerial nominee from Oyo State.

    Ajimobi, who spoke on Wednesday, also praised President Muhammadu Buhari on the ministerial nominees, describing them as “quality choice”, considering their experience and pedigree.

    The former governor described Dare as an eminently qualified individual who has contributed immensely to the fortunes of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the country.

    Read Also: I prefer being senator, not minister, says Ajimobi

    He said: “We are happy and proud that such a quality person is nominated from Oyo State. As one of the back room organisers and engine room of the APC, he has contributed to the fortunes of the party in the state and at the national levels. His political exposure and participation at the party’s highest hierarchy will prove him in good stead in the task ahead. I can confidently say that such a highly cerebral nominee will contribute further to the fortunes of the party in Oyo State.”

    Ajimobi also called on APC members to support Dare to succeed in the task ahead. “He is equipped with the necessary experience and skills that will prove invaluable as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he added.

    The APC leader also felicitated with other nominees from the Southwest, describing them as accomplished and competent persons who  have contributed immensely in various ways to their states, the party and the country.

    He urged them to see their nomination as a national assignment towards raising the bar of governance and moving the country to the next level in line with President Buhari’s development initiatives.

  • Afenifere urges Fed Govt to halt killings

    Afenifere on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to halt the incessant killings in the country.

    It said the past few years had been traumatic for many Nigerians due to bloodletting across the country.

    At a conference in Lagos titled, “Killing of Mrs. Olufunke Olakunri (nee Fasoranti): Our stand”, Afenifere leader Chief Ayo Adebanjo said it was disheartening that government kept giving excuses on the killings instead of addressing the issue.

    He added that those accused of perpetuating the murderous acts were still moving freely with their AK-47 guns without recourse to disarming them.

    Adebanjo explained that over 30,000 people have been killed by herdsmen and militia, noting that people now live in fears and unsure of what would happen to them next at home or during a journey.

    He said: “We must not fail to mention the influx of herdsmen across Africa to Nigeria with the immigration looking the other way as the levers of power in our immigration service under the control of officers over the years downplays the consequence.

    Read Also: Time for Yoruba monarchs to save Afenifere

    “We have been perplexed that instead of the government enforcing the laws against these marauders, foreign or local, it has been galore of excuses by the authorities. When President Buhari visited the Archbishop of Canterbury in 2017, he blamed Ghaddafi for the killings in Nigeria.”

    The Afenifere leader said the failure of the government to own up to this challenge and accept responsibility as well as identifying the culpability of herdsmen working with militia, suggest that the security apparatus has collapsed.

    “While every life lost to these marauders is a deep wound in our hearts, the mindless killing of Mrs. Olufunke Olakunri took everyone by surprise and dealt a devastating blow to the Yoruba nation.

    “The killings followed an established pattern of raping, kidnapping and killing in a coordinated way. Apparently, to create fears through insecurity across Nigeria, it is certainly that all that is needed to be done was not done.

    “We hold government responsible and accountable for the senseless killings of law-abiding citizens. The government has failed in its primary duty of providing security for life and property,” he said.

  • Community policing is panacea for insecurity, says Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has declared that community policing remain the only solution to tackling the country’s insecurity.

    Osinbajo spoke to reporters after a meeting with over 80 traditional rulers and security chiefs in Osogbo, Osun State.

    The traditional rulers include Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Owa Obokun of Ijesaland Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran and Oluwo of Iwo Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi.

    They were also joined by Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone II Mr. Leye Oyebade and the Commissioner of Police Mrs. Abiodun Ige.

    Osinbajo said the traditional rulers and local communities must be involved in the fight against insecurity.

    The vice president, who described the traditional rulers as important component of security architecture in communities, said the Federal Government would keep consulting with critical stakeholders across the country.

    He said: “We are meeting purposely to understand the security architecture of the region; you know we have already had consultations with state governors from the Southwest.

    “We are meeting with traditional rulers because they are important components of our security architecture, particularly because we are working on community policing.

    Read Also: We’re tackling insecurity, human trafficking with quality education, says Obaseki

    “Community policing remains one of the methods of policing we have adopted, and I am sure you heard the Inspector General of Police talking about recruiting police locally from their local governments; those who understand the environment, the language and the culture of the people they are policing.

    “We are confident that this method will work with these men and women on ground in all our communities.”

    Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola explained the effort of his administration in tackling insecurity in some parts of the state.

    Oyetola, who was represented at the meeting by his deputy, Gboyega Alabi, said: “We held security meeting with all stakeholders in the state in Osogbo and followed it up with another meeting in Ife-Ilesa Zone, the mining-rich area, to address the influx of criminals into the communities.”

    He added that the Southwest governors also held a security summit and decided to work together to tackle the menace.

    The governor said: “We have collaborated with the neigbouring states, mobilised vigilance groups and local hunters to police the flashpoints and other parts of the state. I have visited mining sites to assess the security situation there and the extent of environmental degradation.

    “I have visited the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector General of Police and the Director-General of the State Security Service to solicit support for our security plans. The General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army has visited us in Osogbo on the directive of the Chief of Army Staff to pledge support for our security plans, including the joint patrol by security agents. Government has increased logistics support for security agencies in the state.

    “Mr. Vice President, your visit today is another vista in the relentless search for adequate security for our people, because the security of the people and their welfare are the main constitutional responsibilities of government.”

    The governor thanked President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration for being pro-active and for showing interest in the security of Osun State and the Southwest.

  • Omatseye to deliver Ekiti varsity’s lecture

    Editorial Board Chairman of The Nation Sam Omatseye will today deliver the Annual Faculty Lecture of Ekiti State University.

    The lecture is titled, “To secure, we have to love: Herdsmen, kidnappers, Boko Haram and the climate of fear”. It will start by 10a.m.

    Heads of Departments, lecturers, students and the public are expected to attend.

  • NIS Lagos Command launches anti-corruption campaign

    The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Lagos State Command, on Wednesday launched “anti-corruption campaign” to ensure transparency and seamlessness in the process of getting international passports.

    Speaking at the launch at the NIS Lagos State Command office in Ikoyi, the Comptroller of Immigration, Lagos Command, Ekpedeme King, said the launch was to reawaken the war against corruption and to ensure transparency in the process of getting passport.

    According to him, getting a passport does not need anyone to come to the passport office with cash.

    He said: “We have made the process easy to be done electronically. The forms can be gotten online and filled before approaching the passport office. You should have made payment and don’t need to come with cash, because the process is now cashless in all our facilities in the immigration.”

    He urged those who want to get passport to follow the online procedures, noting that once this is done, it will make it easier for the officers to deliver on the seamless facilities expected from them.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests Immigration Officer, 14 others for alleged passport racketeering

    “Following the online process is transparent; you will be given a date for an interview when you complete the forms online which is programmed. It is done in a way to help you and to help us give you the seamless facility you wanted. If all Nigerians are to honour the date, it will be easy for us because it is programmed.

    “I want Nigerians to know that we have launched the anti-corruption and transparency war in the NIS. We have started from the headquarters to the state command and we want to assure Nigerians that we are going to listen to complains and petitions and we want to improve on that transparency so that it will impact not just the immigration service but other government agencies and the country at large,” King said.

    He explained that the campaign was first launched at the service’s headquarters in Abuja on the July 11, by the Comptroller General Mohammad Babandede.

    “The idea is to reawaken the war against corruption and the command will have to continue with the campaign.  For Lagos State Command, we want to continue to improve on our ratings when it comes to corruption and we believe that if we do this, other agencies will do the same.  We will be engaging with the public more to make them understand the need to use the electronic format. We are working with both the Independent Corrupt Practises Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),” he said.