The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • How ex-Gov Yari looted Zamfara, by ICPC

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and othe related offences Commission (ICPC) has disclosed findings from its preliminary investigation of allegations of money laundering and diversion of public funds against the immediate governor of Zamfara State, Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari.

    The ICPC, in documents filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja gave details from the report of its interim investigation of Yari’s asset declaration before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB and accounts linked to him in two banks.

    The agency, while accusing Yari of not being truthful in his assets declaration, claimed that the ex-governor diverted Zamfara State’s funds, using some companies in which he allegedly has interest – Kayatawa Nigeria Limited and B. T. Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.

    The ICPC also claimed that it found that Yari, who was the then Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum transferred funds from the group to one of his firms.

    It alleged that on June 18, 2015, the 3rd respondent i.e B.T. Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited received a transfer of the sum of N150, 000, 000.00 from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum through the 1st respondent when (he) the 1st respondent was the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum

    Yesterday, Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja granted an ex-parte motion by the ICPC, in which it sought to temporarily freeze the accounts allegedly linked to Yari and both companies in the two banks, pending the conclusion of investigation.

    Read Also: I informed ICPC about ambulance in my house, ex-Deputy Whip

    ICPC’s lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, had argued that motion, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/916/2019 on Wednesday following which Justice Taiwo fixed ruling for August 16, 2019. The motion has Yari, Kayatawa and B.T. Oil and Gas as respondents.

    Justice Taiwa, in the ruling yesterday, granted the nine reliefs sought by the ICPC. He ordered the agency to make the order public by publishing it in a national daily within 14 days, and for any part affected by the order to respond within seven days by justifying their ownership of the affected funds and convincing why the money in the accounts and other affected assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    The reliefs granted by the court, and as prayed by the ICPC are the following, among others:

    *An order of interim forfeiture of the sum of N12, 912, 848.68 being proceeds of some unlawful activity allegedly stashed in Zenith Bank Plc with account number: 1001381684 in the name of Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari.

    *An order of interim forfeiture of the sum of $56, 056.75 being proceeds of some unlawful activity allegedly stashed in Polaris Bank with account number: 21 10000928 in the name of Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari

    *An order of interim forfeiture of the sum of N11, 159, 674.17 being proceeds of some unlawful activity allegedly stashed in Zenith Bank Plc with account number: 1010757436 in the name of Kayatawa Nigeria Limited.

    *An order of interim forfeiture of the sum of $301, 319 being proceeds of some unlawful activity allegedly stashed in Zenith Bank Plc with account number: 5360050304 in the name of Kayatawa Nigeria Limited.

    *An order of interim forfeiture of the sum of N217, 388.04 being proceeds of some unlawful activity allegedly stashed in Zenith Bank Plc with account number: 1012556798 in the name of B.T. Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.

    Justice Taiwo has however fixed ruling for Monday in an ex-parte motion filed and argued yesterday by Yari’s lawyer, Mahmoud Magaji (SAN), seeking, among others, to void the seizure of his properties by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (INEC)

    The ICPC, stated that its motivation for seeking the orders was because of the “victim of the alleged crime is the Zamfara State Government and by extension the Federal Government of Nigeria and innocent taxpayers which include judges of courts across Nigeria.

    “The moveable properties being described are alleged to have been acquired through some unlawful activities, which proceeds if not illicitly taken from the coffers of the Zamfara State Government and by extension the Federal Government of Nigeria, same would have been used to meet the infrastructural needs of citizens of Zamfara State and Nigeria at large.

    “The respondents may likely dissipate the alleged suspicious moveable properties should the court not intervene at this moment to preserve the res (the subject of the dispute). The respondents did not acquire the alleged funds legitimately.

    “The alleged moveable properties may likely be used by the respondents to fund activities that may make the country unstable and ungovernable by the present administration which may also spill over to successive administrations in the future. ”

    In another court document, the ICPC gave details of what informed its decision to investigate the ex-governor and what its preliminary findings are.

    Magaji, while arguing the motion yesterday, contended that the EFCC was in error by sealing his client’s properties without abiding by the provision of the law.

    The lawyer said that the motion was to ensure that each government agencies operates within the confines of the law, and urged the court ”to invoke his power to direct the EFCC to go and remove the red inscription pasted in the house. We urge your Lordship to direct parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the suit.”

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo, after listening to Yari’s lawyer, adjourned till August 19 for ruling.

  • Fayemi’s aide bags UN award

    Governor Kayode Fayemi’s Special Adviser on Development Partnership, Mrs. Margaret Taiwo Fagboyo, has been conferred with a leadership award by the United Nations.

    The award, Distinguished Leader and Role Model Award, was bestowed on her for her exemplary support for the development and empowerment of youths.

    Prior to her appointment as aide by Fayemi, Mrs Fagboyo was the Programme Manager, South-West for the Department for International Development (DFID).

    Read Also: Fayemi swears-in Alawe as chairman of traditional council

    The UN award was by Centre for Leadership and Good Governance International in conjunction with NGM Group. It was part of activities marking the United Nations’ 2019 International Youth Day.

    Delivering a keynote address at the event, Mrs. Fagboyo declared to the distinguished gathering that “human capital, particularly the youth, not oil, will determine Nigeria’s future”.

    Speaking further on the topic, “Transforming Education”, she said population growth will make Africa’s youth to be 10 times the size of the young population of the European Union by 2050 which could be a demographic dividend if the right action is taken on time.

    She challenged youths to be agents of change and ensure that they use today’s opportunity to develop leadership capacity for tomorrow’s opportunities.

    The award has been hailed as a well-deserved recognition for her contributions to youth development and other human capital development activities

    She was recently appointed as the Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Ekiti State on Development Partnership after a glorious career at the Department for International Development (DFID).

    where she served as an International Development Professional, taking the lead on the implementation of social inclusion, gender mainstreaming programmes, youth development and DFID programme implementation framework in the South West Region

  • NUC okays doctoral degrees for OUI

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved doctoral degree programmes for the Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu (OUI), Osun State.

    Speaking during the fourth memorial lecture for the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Chancellor of the institution, Dr Ramon  Adedoyin,said: “Last year,  the school  played host to officials of the National Universities Commission (NUC) who were at the university for the resource inspection of post-graduate programmes leading to master’s and doctoral degrees in Mass Communication, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Computer Science.

    The seven-man team was made up of senior NUC officials and academics drawn from different universities.

    Read Also: Oduduwa university holds 4th Sijuwade memorial lecture

    Speaking at the memorial lecture, titled: ‘Traditional Institution in Conflict Management,’ which was delivered by Dr Nurudeen  Arogundade, Adedoyin eulogised the virtues of the late Ooni and attributed the success so far recorded in the institution to him.

    ”Just yesterday, we heard the good news, though the letter might have been written about a week ago, that the Federal Government, through the National Universities Commission, NUC, has approved that the university could start offering doctorate programmes in courses like public administration, computer science and so on. The news came yesterday and today we are doing this ceremony.”

    According to him, the development was a result of the prayer of the late monarch for him while he was alive that as long as he continued to serve the people of Ile-Ife, God will continue to bless him.

    He described Sijuwade as his father, a mentor and his benefactor who he would forever remember.

  • Experts blame infectious diseases on disruption of ecosystem

    Medical experts have attributed the re-occurrence of Emerging Infectious diseases (EIDs) to the inability of the government to control the disruption of the eco system through human activities.

    According to them, inadequate funding of health care research and environmental impact studies together with government’s inability to regulate the way people destroy the environment have led to the increasing cases of outbreaks caused by dangerous pathogens.

    The experts stated this during the 5th African Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity in Abuja organized by Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment Consortium (GET).

    The Principal Investigator, GET, Prof Akin Abayomi, noted that Nigeria and Africa in general have been destroying the ecosystem through the destruction of forests, causing  animals to move out  into  human communities.

    Read Also: SEC trains judges, others on commodity trading ecosystem

    He said the interaction between animals and humans is increasing due to population expansion and destruction of the ecosystem, thereby forcing animals out of forests.

    He said the consequence of this is the increasing frequency and range of EIDs: ebola, lassa, yellow fever, monkey pox, cholera, bird flu and meningitis, adding that shrinking natural resources is creating human competition for water leading to demographic conflict.

    The don stressed the need for government to spend more on health care delivery research and the creation of awareness, lamenting that there is a lag between what the government should be spending and what is being spent.

    The Chief Operating Officer, GET, Dr Dotun Babadoye, lamented that the impact of changing climate and increasing security challenges in Africa are impacting on the emerging infectious diseases and biosecurity threat on the continent.

    The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Professor Chile Ihekweazu, pointed out that with the nation’s exponential growth rate of 2.8 per cent, including the internal and external migration coupled with poverty and lack of education are all responsible for the spread of infectious diseases.

  • ‘How to reduce poverty in society’

    Government must ensure that all children of school age are in school to reduce poverty in the society and prepare youths for future challenges.

    A member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Enitan Dolapo Badru, representing the Lagos Island Constituency One, made the remarks while flagging off the fourth edition of his holiday coaching for students of his constituency.

    Dr. Badru said that the level of poverty was high in the society because of the high degree of illiteracy in the country.

    He stated that “the most effective weapon to fight poverty is education and that is why all eligible children must be in school”.

    Read Also: Extreme poverty in Nigeria worrisome, says Osinbajo

    Honourable Badru said that the students were about two hundred and they were given free big notes and mathematical sets.

    The lawmaker said that the students were also given free T shirts for proper identification, and they filled free admission forms for the programme.

    According to Dr. Badru, “the students, who have equal representations from the ten wards that constitute the constituency, are being taught in two public schools during the holidays”.

    The schools are Olowogbowo Methodist Primary School and Saint Patrick Primary School, Aroloya.

  • ‘UNILAG got N5bn for research’

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG) was able to attract up to N5 billion in research in the past one year, a lecturer in the university has said.

    Speaking during a press conference ahead of the institution’s 14th Annual Research Conference and Fair coming up August 21 to 23, Chairman of the Abstract Sub-Committee, Dr Diran Akinleye, said the grants, which came from mostly foreign sources had helped boost the institution’s international ranking to first in Nigeria and 12th in Africa.

    “In the last one year, the university has attracted about N5 billion in external research funding. This is why, among other reasons, at the moment the University of Lagos is ranked the best in Nigeria and 12th best in Africa, according to Times Higher Education ranking.

    “Activities like the research fairs are organised to position the university among the top three in Africa in the next three years,” said Akinleye, an associate professor.

    Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Prof Abayomi Okanlawon, said Dr Dere Awosika, an independent non-Executive Director in Access Bank, and Chairman, Chams PLC, would deliver the keynote address on the theme: “Automation and Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities for the 21st Century Research and Development” at the conference, while former Group Executive Director, NNPC and now Executive Partner, Africa Capital Alliance, Mr Afolabi Oladele, an engineer, would serve as the Plenary Speaker.

    Read Also: UNILAG student-activist demands reinstatement after seven semesters ‘suspension’

    Speaking on the relevance of the theme to Nigeria, Akinyele said it was pertinent for Nigerians to begin to understand the many ways that Artificial Intelligence (AI) was impacting their lives and prepare for the changes.

    “A lot of things we take for granted are becoming automated. Much of the work humans do are being automated.  A clear demonstration of the impact of AI is our mobile phones which has eliminated the need to go to the post office. You don’t even have to use a desktop before you respond to your mails; you can use your phone.

    “This, while good, also has its other side – ethical issues about privacy, unemployment and so on. African countries lag behind in the level of automation worldwide.  If we don’t do something to get on board, we would be further disenfranchised,” he said.

    During the fair holding at the Jelili Omotola Halls of the university, Okanlawon said a zero-emissions car being designed by a team led by Prof Samson Adeosun and and an improved brake pad for the aviation sector by Dr Olumuyiwa Agunsoye would be among innovations on display.

    Okanlawon said the aim of the research fair, which is open to academics, researchers, students and industry experts, is to stimulate the interest of young scholars in research.

    “We have a strategic purpose; we want to attract young academics and keep them.  We believe that for anybody looking for mentorship, this is the conference,” he said.

    This is the Olympics of research fairs,” he said.

    Also speaking, a member of the Abstract Sub-Committee, Dr Olaolu Olufemi, said the fair would not only feature innovations in sciences but the humanities as well.

    “The theme for this year would almost conclude it is purely a scientific affair. But the conference and fair are all-embracing and you see works from arts and humanities. For example, how AI will change dialectics, languages. For example, the contemporary English we learn in school is no longer the language of the youths on Whatsapp,” he said.

    Over 200 oral and poster papers would be presented at the event which is being sponsored by the university, Access Bank, Vitafoam, UBA PLC, Chams, Union Bank and others.

    The event would feature the best researcher competition in which the top researchers would be rewarded.

  • Meningitis: 26.7m kids at risk in Nigeria—Agency

    About 26.7million Nigerian children between one and seven years of age are  currently facing the  risk of contracting meningitis, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) warned on Friday.

    The Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said in a message in Calabar during the introduction of “Men A” vaccine into routine immunization in Cross River that 25 states  and the FCT are  within the meningitis belt.

    He described the use of vaccines as the only way to prevent meningitis for now.

    “The introduction of Men A vaccine into the EPI schedule will provide protection against Neisseria Meningitis Serotype A,” Shuaib said.

    In his speech, Prof. Ivara Esu, Deputy Governor of Cross River, said the state had trained hundreds of health workers to ensure the success of the exercise.

    Read Also: Meningitis currently in 15 states, says NCDC

    Esu said that since Cross River was among the 25 states that fell within the belt, the government would do everything possible to ensure that every eligible child was immunised.

    “Immunisation remains the protection against meningitis. Meningitis is a devastating disease that affects children.

    “We will ensure that every eligible child in the state is immunised,” he said.

    The deputy governor urged all women to take their children within 15 months of birth to the nearest government health facility for immunisation.

    He expressed appreciation to all the partners in the fight against meningitis, including the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nation’s Children Education Fund and the NPHCDA.

    Also, Mr Rilwan Raji, the State Coordinator of WHO in Cross River, appealed to the state government to ensure the vaccines were well protected.

    Raji said there was need for periodic review of routine immunization in the state.

    He appealed to traditional rulers and religious and opinion leaders to sensitize their subjects and followers on the need to take advantage of the exercise to immunize their children.

  • Don’t pit police against army, military warns

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has appealed to Nigerians to refrain from comments and actions that could pit the police against the army.

    The appeal followed public criticism of the killing of three undercover policemen and a civilian last week by soldiers on the Ibi-Wukari Road in Taraba State.

    Acting spokesman for the DHQ, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, reminded Nigerians that the police and the army are two very important services in the country.

    He said it would be very unfair to the nation to pit them against each other, adding that concern should be geared at ensuring the joint panel constituted undertakes an exhaustive investigation.

    According to Nwachukwu, the panel headed by Rear Admiral Ibikunle Olaiya, has representatives of the Police, Army, Navy, Air Force and Department of State Services (DSS) with a clear mandate to unravel the unfortunate incident.

    Read Also: Army appoints commander for Operation Lafiya Dole

    He spoke on the phone.

    Asked about the captain alleged to have been responsible for the unauthorised shootings and release of the suspected kidnapper, Nwachukwu said he was not aware of the source of the information as it never came from him.

    He said: “That information did not come from me. Our concern is to allow the panel do a thorough job and avoid comments that heat up the situation. We are trying to apply some restraint on this issue to avoid pitching the police against the army.

    “These are two very important institutions in Nigeria and it will be most unfair to this nation to pit them against each other or the personnel of each service against the other.

    “What is important is that lives have been lost and this is a difficult time for the families of the victims. We should be more concerned at looking into the human angles, the psychological traumas these families are going through.

    “Our concern should be that the panel does exhaustive investigation and gets to the bottom of the matter. So, I would not like to begin to make comments that would pre-empt the investigation or its outcome.”

  • Nigeria to challenge British court order granting seizure of $9bn assets

    The Federal Government is appealing a British court order which granted the prayer of a UK gas firm to seize Nigeria’s assets to the tune of $9billion.

    Counsel to Process & Industrial Developments Ltd, Andrew Stafford Q.C, said yesterday in London that Judge Christopher Butcher “ruled decisively in P&ID’s favour and has comprehensively rejected Nigeria’s efforts to avoid payment of this award of over $9.6 billion.”

    “P&ID is committed to vigorously enforcing its rights, and we intend to begin the process of seizing Nigerian assets in order to satisfy this award as soon as possible,” Staffford added.

    The $9billion – almost 2.5% of Nigeria’s annual gross domestic product – is about the largest financial liability in the country’s history.

    The verdict paves the way for the British Virgin Islands-based company to start making applications to seize Nigerian assets in Britain.

    However, Solicitor-General of the Federation, Dayo Apata, said a few hours after the news broke that the Federal Government had instructed its lawyers to initiate appeal proceedings against the judgment at the British court.

    Apata, who said government would do everything possible to defend vigorously its interest and that of the people of Nigeria, hinted that part of the move was to seek for a stay of execution of the said judgment, adding that the issue is a current litigation issue at the United States of America.

    Read Also: UPU flays Federal Government over insecurity across the country

    He said:”As regards the recent judgment of the English court of 16 August 2019, the Federal Government’s counsel have been instructed to pursue an appeal on the judgment of the English court dated August 16, 2019 and at the same time seek for a stay of execution of the said judgment.

    “In view of the above, please be informed that the Federal Government of Nigeria is making vigorous efforts to defend its interest in this matter and would not relent in exploring every viable option in doing so.”

    The litigation stemmed from a 20-year gas and supply processing agreement (GSPA) between P&ID and the Federal Government in 2010 to build a state-of-the-art gas processing facility in Calabar.

    The plant, in which Nigeria was to have a 10% stake, was to refine associated natural gas into non-associated natural gas to power the national electric grid as conceived in 2006 when President Olusegun Obasanjo was in power.

    The project, however, collapsed because Nigeria did not meet its end of the bargain.

    The firm then resorted to litigation.

    It was first awarded $6.6 billion in an arbitration case in January 2017 by a US District Court.

    The Federal Government refused to pay the sum.

    The damages increased to $9 billion after interest.

    The Federal Government explained the US court’s decision away then as a “default entry made by the clerk of the United States’ District Court.”

  • Buhari’s ex-aide Ahmed makes list of Top 100 Most Influential Africans

    Immediate past Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Social Investment Program, Ismaeel Ahmed, has been named among the 100 global Most Influential People of African Descent (MILDA) Under 40, it was learnt.

    He thus joined 99 other global leaders to be recognised with the special recognition as one of MIPAD Global in the Politics and Governance category.

    It was also learnt that Ahmed is expected to ring the closing bell of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos on August 30, as part of the MIPAD celebration of excellence.

    The former presidential aide, who has officially joined the ‘MIPAD Class of 2019’, will receive his honour in September in New York City, the United States of America (U.S.A), following the opening of the 74th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

    Read Also: Ex-CAMPUSLIFE man among 100 Most Influential Young Africans

    He will push for the support of the implementation of United Nation’s International Decade of African Descent 2015 -2024.

    According to MIPAD, a New York-based organisation, Ahmed was honoured based on his “commitment to excellence”.

    The recognition also comes in line with the first pillar of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent: RECOGNITION.

    Among those to be honoured in New York are: Naomi Osaka from Japan, Prince E. A. of U.S.A, Kamissa Camara from Mali, Lukwesa Morin of France/Zambia, King Rukidi IV of Toro from Uganda, William Heard from U.S.A, among others.

    Joining Barrister Ismaeel in the ringing of the Closing Bell of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) are Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin, founder, Pearls Africa Youth Foundation; popular Nigerian songwriter and singer, Asa Bukola Elemide; US Foreign Service Officer, Visa Chief, US Embassy, Abuja, Carolyn Joy; CEO of Del-York Creative Academy, Linus Idahosa; Director-General, Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Moses Umoru, and amongst others.

    MIPAD is a global civil society initiative in support of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, focusing our efforts on the 1st pillar; RECOGNITION.

    MIPAD publishes a unique global 100 list that identifies high achievers of African descent worldwide, pairing those based across the Diaspora with their counterparts inside Africa, across various verticals, annually until 2024.